Autumn watching on Netflix

THE LAST KINGDOM - NETFLIX

Reviewed by Sue Burgin

Uhtred, son of Uhtred, Lord of Bebbanburg, known as the Dane-slayer, but a warrior of great contradiction. Fierce, stubborn, gentle and kind.

Leading the Saxons one minute and at home among the Danes the next.

Uhtred is played by German born actor Alexander Dreymon, a name I’d never heard of until watching the BBC/Netflix drama series The Last Kingdom - but one thing’s for certain, if that name pops up again, I’ll be sure to watch.

This epic financed originally by the BBC and then after series two by Netflix, has much to recommend.

It’s a fascinating lesson in history. I thought I knew my English Kings and Queens but turns out my knowledge did not go back as far as 866 and as a result, the story of how King Alfred of Wessex and his heirs managed to unite the Kingdoms into one known as England had escaped me.

Uhtred the Dane-slayer managed to achieve what my history teachers could not.

The Last Kingdom is based on Bernard Cornwell’s novel series Saxon Stories, and Uhtred based on a real person, Uhtred the Bold, an ealdorman of all Northumbria from 1006 to 1016.

It’s a perfect blend of history and fiction, about a clash of cultures between the Saxons and the Danes and Uhtred’s struggle to find his way while being part of both.

The photography is breath-taking, with Hungary the backdrop for much of the story, and there’s humour to be found among the bloodshed, believe it or not.

Fabulous costumes and some very impressive acting talent all come together to keep you onboard all the way. Bingeworthy? Yes. Engrossing? Absolutely. Am I recommending it? Highly. Filming has begun on series five and I can’t wait.

EMILY IN PARIS - NETFLIX

Reviewed by Sue Burgin

After reading the Ukraine’s Culture Minister had lodged an official complaint with Netflix over the highly rated Emily in Paris show I was intrigued.

He wasn’t the only one unhappy with stereotyping and cliche overload in the Netflix show.

French critic Charles Martin was irate. “Frankly, watching Emily in Paris there’s plenty to feel insulted about. When they decided to caricature us, the authors didn’t hold back – no cliche is spared, not even the weakest,” he says.

I’m a sucker for anything filmed in Paris at the best of times, and this top level panning of the show had me reaching for the remote. This I had to see.

Emily Cooper, played by Lily Collins, works for an American marketing firm and is sent to Paris to work for a marketing firm there. Her obsession with documenting and sharing every aspect of her life means she quickly becomes a social media influencer.

Emily’s Paris is vastly different the city I know and love. There’s no dog poo on the pavement. No annoying crowds of tourists, tacky t-shirt kiosks or beggars at every stunning city landmark. Emily’s Paris sparkles. Everyone’s beautiful, speaks English when required and dresses like a runway model. C’est la vie isn’t it? Well no, it’s France viewed through an American lens. But then does it really matter? At a time when the real world isn’t exactly sparkling, Emily’s Paris appears to be just the panacea we need. Is it the worst show on TV? Yes it probably is. But the question is - why can’t I stop watching it?

THE MAID - NETFLIX

Reviewed by Paula McKay

Reviews of this Netflix series earned it a place on my Christmas watchlist.

MAID, featuring real life mother/daughter team Andie McDowell and Margaret Qualley, is based on the book Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive by Stephanie Land. It was a slow starter but I’m so pleased I persevered. It quickly developed into a very real and powerful story about life.

Mum (Alex) left her abusive partner with her daughter (Maddy) to keep them both safe. The series then takes you through Alex’s journey as she tries to provide a stable, secure, happy and safe environment for Maddy, albeit with very little physical and emotional support.

With little to no money, dealing with continual knockbacks brought on by other people and being let down by other human beings was frustrating to watch.

But Alex remained positive and committed to providing the best for her daughter while keeping the moral high ground throughout.

The real life mother and daughter actors Andi McDowell and Margaret Qualley probably had an edge when it came to strong convincing performances. Both put in exceptional performances.

It’s probably not bingeworthy - more like meeting up with a close friend – you can always pick up where you left off. But I enjoyed it and will now be looking for the book to fill in any gaps.