ISSUE: 001
MARVEL’S THE DEFENDERS
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FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE
JULY 2017, PRINTED IN THE UK £4.50
PLUS EWAN HOUSE OF MCGREGOR “Whenever Marvel CARDS vvvvvvvvvvvvv gets messy, it works THE out really well” WINDSORS THE Jeph Loeb RIVIERA HANDMAID’S TALE
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CONTENTS WELCOME TO
FEATURES 11 EWAN MCGREGOR
Interview with the actor as he joins the cast of Fargo
Do you love TV? Are you a night owl? Are you part of the bingewatching generation? Yes? Then this magazine was made for you, so get reading...
14 THE HANDMAID’S TALE A new level of dystopia
In our first ever issue we talk to the superhuman heroes that are Marvel’s The Defenders in our cover feature of the month; do a double take with Ewan Mcgregor as he chats duel roles and Fargo; delve into the deep criminal underworld of the French Riviera with Julia Stiles; and struggle to grow-up with Friends From College Plus exclusive teasers of TV Shows to come and excellent trustworthy reviews of shows gone by.
16 RIVIERA
Irresistible corruption
20 FRIENDS FROM
COLLEGE Growing-up disgracefully
ENJOY THE ISSUE!
24 MARVEL’S THE
DEFENDERS Cover feature: Marvel teams-up
40 THE WINDSORS
Interview with the co-creators, Bert Tyler-Moore and George Jeffrie
Louise Busfield, Editor-in-Chief
REVIEWS 32 MERCY STREET
BINGE-WATCH
05 SUITS
32 TWIN PEAKS
41 THE WINDSORS
06 TOP TEN SHOWS
33 JAMESTOWN
42 THE AMERICANS
07 MIDNIGHT TEXAS
35 AMERICAN GODS
43 THE OA
09 CHICAGO PD
36 SHADOWHUNTERS 44 SUITS
10 GAME OF THRONES 37 GLOW
38 THE DEBATE
45 KIMMY SCHMIDT
Front Cover Photo: Netflix Media Center
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Photos left to right: Channel 4 Press/David Lee Netflix/ No copyright clearance
TEASERS 04 THE LEFTOVERS
TEASERS
THE LEFTOVERS SEASON 3
Pictured inset, left to right: Justin Theroux (Kevin) and Amy Brenneman (Laurie). Bottom/top: Amy Brenneman. Bottom: Justin Theroux
Photos: HBO Press
SHOWRUNNERS Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta, Peter Berg CAST Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston PLOT Three years after the disappearance of 2% of the global population, a group of people from New York struggle to continue their lives, while they cope with the tragedy of the unexplained nature of the event. After being pushed back several times, the third and final season will finally be made available to UK viewers on July 4th and for all you binge-watchers (basically all of you) all eight episodes will debut at the same time as a Sky Atlantic boxset so you can binge-watch to your heart’s content. Returning to the show will be, central character and chief of police Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) and his season one survivors Nora (Carrie Coon), Reverend Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston), As for season three, this season’s newbie comes in the form of Tony Award-winning British actress Lindsay Duncan (Rome, Birdman). 4 SMALL SCREEN JULY 2017
Following suit to previous seasons, season three will once again relocate, this time around to Australia. A move designed to give a more realistic representation of the end of the world according to the vision of co-creator Damon Lindelof. As well as moving destinations, the show will also jump three years into the future, and we will meet up with the characters just a few weeks before the seventh anniversary of the Sudden Departure, the date, which most of the survivors believe to indicate the end of the world. This being the last season in the series, viewers will be forgiven for feeling a little apprehensive about the finale, bearing in mind how David Lindelof ended his previous TV mystery drama. But don’t expect an ending that will neatly tie up all its loose ends, HBO’s official synopsis for the season says, ‘Nothing is answered. Everything is answered.” Thrilling, heart-breaking and a little bit mystifying, The Leftovers third and final season will definitely be one to remember in 2017. The Leftovers S3 airs July 4, Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.
TEASERS TOP FIVE QUOTES FROM THE MIGHTY ANNALISE KEATING:
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“NEVER TAKE A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY AWAY FROM ANOTHER STUDENT, NO MATTER HOW SMART YOU NEED EVERYONE TO THINK YOU ARE.” “THINK CAREFULLY. EVERYTHING AFTER THIS MOMENT WILL NOT ONLY DETERMINE YOUR CAREER, BUT LIFE.” “PRAYERS ARE FOR THE WEAK. I’LL STICK TO BEATING YOUR ASS IN COURT.”
“CHOOSE YOUR HUSBAND CAREFULLY, MISS PRATT. YOU’LL ONLY HAVE YOURSELF TO BLAME IF IT ENDS BADLY.”
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“LET ME HELP YOU. BECAUSE IF YOU DO, I PROMISE YOU WILL GET AWAY WITH THIS.”
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“SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND SHE SHALL APPEAR.”
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“EVERYONE’S VIOLENT, GIVEN THE CHANCE.”
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“YOU CALL IT CRAZY. I CALL IT WINNING.”
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“I AM WHO I AM. IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, I DON’T CARE.”
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“WHAT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IS NOT MY CONCERN.”
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER SEASON 3 SHOWRUNNERS Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes
Pictured inset: Viola Davis (Annalise). Bottom left: The ‘Keating 5’ viewing damning footage of a client
Photos: abc Press
CAST Viola Davis, Billy Brown, Alfred Enoch, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Matt McGory, Karla Souza, Charlie Weber, Liza Weil PLOT A group of ambitious law students and their brilliant criminal defence professor become involved in a twisted murder plot that promises to change the course of their lives. God only knows why you’d drop such an intensely popular drama such as How To Get Away With Murder after only two seasons, but no need to worry UK viewers, Sky Living have come to the rescue picking up the show ready for its scheduled summer viewing slot. Returning to the show will of course be Annalise Keating (Viola Davis), joined by her loyal legal partner Bonnie Winterbottom (Liza Weil) and her legal lackeys, Wes (Alfred Enoch), Connor (Jack Falahee), Michaela (Aja Naomi King), Asher (Matt McGorry), and Laurel (Karla Souza). Fans of the show may be wondering if Frank (Charlie Weber) will make an appearance in the show after his disappearance at the end of last season’s finale. Well you will be please to know that Frank will be returning, and with a whole new look. With the statement beard gone and a buzz cut to boot it is clear we will be experiencing a completely different Frank compared to the previous seasons. The revelation of his role in the death of Annalise’s unborn child, left him out in the cold and now he
must desperately claw his way back in. Be prepared to find out more about Frank and Annalise’s relationship. Its time to find out the reason for Frank’s unwavering loyalty towards her. As for the rest of the cast, ‘the Keating five’ are again pushed to their seemingly infinite limits as they involve themselves within another high profile murder case. If you were lucky enough to avoid the spoilers from across the pond, congratulations. Season three will provide the mother of all roller coasters. With a member of the cast leaving the show, there’s murder afoot and another team accusation, this time in the direction of Annalise, providing some interesting plot twists. As always morals are forgotten, blame is twisted, emotions are stretched and boundaries are put to the test, but that’s just another day at the office for Annalise Keating and her guilt-ridden team of helpers. The show improves with every season and this season has definitely not lost its appeal. Get ready for popcorn stuffing, soft drink slurping, edge of your sofa binge-watching! How To Get Away With Murder S3 airs July 13, Sky Living. JULY 2017 SMALL SCREEN 5
TOP 10
SMALL SCREEN’S Ultimate binge-worthy TV shows
1. GAME OF THRONES
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2. ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK h 3. AMERICAN GODS
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4. GLOW
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5. THE HANDMAID'S TALE
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6. PREACHER
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7. TWIN PEAKS
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8. HOUSE OF CARDS
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9. FARGO
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10. PRETTY LITTLE LIARS
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TEASERS
ED IT PICOR’S K
SHOWRUNNERS Monica OwusuBreen, David Janollari, Niels Arden Oplev, Mark Hentemann CAST François Arnaud, Arielle Kebbel, Dylan Bruce, Sarah Ramos, Peter Mensah PLOT Midnight is a safe haven for those who are different, but with the presence of outsiders, the residents band together and form a strong and unlikely family. Welcome to Midnight, a town full of creatures, where the only people that stick out are the normal ones. From the author of True Blood, Charlaine Harris comes Midnight Texas. Staring François Arnaud as Manfred, a powerful and charming psychic who can communicate with the dead. The series consists of several different creatures, including Bobo, proprietor of Midnight’s local pawnshop, witch Fiji, assassin Olivia, angel Joe, vampire Lemuel, aspiring writer Creek and Reverend, Emilio Sheehan. We meet Manfred in the first episode, working as a high-end psychic.
Pictured inset: François Arnaud (Manfred) taking on the spirits. Bottom/ top left: Peter Mensah (Lemuel) having a snack. Bottom left: The vampire, the assassin and the witch interrogate Manfred
Photos: NBC Press
MIDNIGHT TEXAS SEASON 1
Something goes wrong and a ghost, who almost murders a client, possesses him. He is also in bad water with a someone named Hightower, who he owes money, so he takes off for Midnight, Texas. The town folk aren’t really happy to see him, top that off with a murder, Manfred begins to realise that there’s much more going on in Midnight than there appears. It’s not their powers that make the characters interesting though, they themselves are interesting and they just happen to have powers, which makes the storyline a lot more exciting than just another show about the supernatural world. There’s a lot of hidden gems in Midnight Texas, that make you appreciate the creative ideas coming from the showrunners and Harris. Manfred’s tattoos aren’t just drawings etched in skin, each one has meaning - the arrows that go up one arm and down the other are the way he channels energy, which leads interesting plot theories in future episodes. If the popularity of True Blood is anything to go by, Midnight Texas is going to be a hit. Midnight Texas airs July 27, Syfy UK. JULY 2017 SMALL SCREEN 7
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TEASERS
SHOWRUNNERS Dick Wolf, Matt Olmstead, Michael Brandt, Derek Hass CAST Jason Beghe, Sophia Bush, Jesse Lee Soffer, Patrick John Flueger , Marina Squerciati, Elias Koteas, LaRoyce Hawkins PLOT Follows the uniformed cops and the intelligent unit of the District 21 - Chicago Police Department.
As one show out of a total four in the Chicago series, Chicago PD has always had a grittier more realistic feel to it compared to the others in the franchise and season four will be the most brutal yet. At the end of season three fans witnessed first hand, Voight’s heart-breaking emotional journey as he investigated the body of a widowed mother, only to discover the connection she had to his newly returned son, Justin. If you’re a fan of the show you will know things didn’t
Pictured inset: Sophia Bush (Erin) and Jesse Lee Soffer (Jay). Bottom/top, left to right: Patrick John Flueger (Adam) and LaRoyce Hawkins (Kevin). Bottom, left to right: Jason Beghe (Hank), Sophia Bush and Jesse Lee Soffer
Photos: NBC Press
CHICAGO PD SEASON 4
turn out well. By the time the team managed to trace Justin, he had been brutally assaulted and shot and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. This set Voight out on a brutal rampage, killing his son’s murderers, no matter the cost. Fans of the show are now curious to know what sort of role Sergeant Voight will have in the new season. And its a ruthless one. The fall-out of Voight’s actions at the end of season three will create the centre plot for the show and will expose a completely different side to Voight, sending him into a spiral of selfdestruction and violence. On a much happier note, executive producer, Matt Olmstead has teased to fans that detectives Jay Halstead and Erin Lindsay will slowly take their newly rekindled relationship to the next level and move in together, which will add some much needed softer notes to the show and a little bit of humour to distract from the show’s other serious plot themes. Expect one intense start to season four. Chicago PD S4 airs July 6, 5USA. JULY 2017 SMALL SCREEN 9
TEASERS
GAME OF THRONES SEASON 7
Pictured inset: Kit Harrington (Jon Snow). Bottom/top: Richard Brake (The Night King). Bottom: Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jamie Lannister)
Photos: HBO Press
SHOWRUNNERS David Benioff, D.B. Weiss CAST Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams PLOT Nine noble families fight for control over the mythical lands of Westeros, while a forgotten race returns after being dormant for thousands of years. Winter is here... Well almost, but its fast approaching. Game of Thrones season seven is just around the corner, but before it arrives, here’s six things you need to know about the penultimate season... One. The stakes are getting high this time around it will be less about the family quarrels and more about the bigger picture and the threat of the White Walkers. Characters will unite and new alliances will form. Two. Sansa’s not 100% team Snow - Sansa’s always been team Stark and this season’s all about how she struggles with Jon’s leadership. 10 SMALL SCREEN JULY 2017
Three. There’s fewer episodes, but just as much action showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss originally planned a seven season series, but they have now pushed to eight, ending with two slightly shorter seasons. Four. There’s no reunion for Jon and Samwell - this season Sam is cast into the wilderness to begin his training as maester. Five. Bran has a huge secret - last season Bran’s ‘greensight’ vision revealed the truth about Jon’s birth heritage and his real name: Jaehaerys Targaryen. Bran has enough information to change the entire story, and he also knows the origin of the White Walkers. Six. There will be spin-offs - George R.R. Martin has revealed his world will continue beyond Game of Thrones and five plot scripts are already being worked on, all of them prequels. If that’s not enough, Ed Sheeran pop ups in a cameo and yes he sings. Game of Thrones S7 airs July 17, Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.
INTERVIEW
EWAN MCGREGOR TALKS FARGO AND HIS THIRD DUEL ROLE
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s one of the most unique and greatest television shows available right now, (Well Small Screen think so) renowned by TV fans and critics alike, Noah Hawley’s Fargo enters it’s third season with another brand new cast. Leading the show is Ewan McGregor, taking on the duel role of two very distinctive brothers, Ray and Emmitt Stussy… What attracted you to join the cast of Fargo? I was in Utah, skiing with my family, and another family, who are friends of ours. We stopped for lunch, and they introduced me to this guy who is one of the head producers at FX. He said: ‘Look, have you seen Fargo?’ I hadn’t, so he suggested I watch them, and said that they were casting the third season, and they were looking for an actor to play two brothers who weren’t twins. He suggested I have a look at it and get back to him, so I went and watched them, and I thought they were amazing. Noah Hawley has managed to catch the essence of Fargo, but without it being the same story. So I met him, and he let me read the first episode, and I was in. It’s the most amazing writing, that’s the truth. It’s just blinding writing. How did you find playing such different characters? The opportunity to get to play these two very different people, and try and make that work, and try and create two unique characters, has been really exciting, I loved it. I’ve done it before; I did it in The Island, and in a film called Last Days in the Desert. You had to bulk up a bit to play Ray. How did you find the experience of putting the weight on? I’d been waiting all my career for someone to tell me to get fat, and I did it wholeheartedly. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and I made sure I had chips with everything. And I got to a point where I felt like I was heavy enough. I had to be on my Christmas holiday like that – I was bald and fat on my Christmas holiday, because I had to have my head totally shaved to play Ray.
Do you think, after Fargo, Bridge is going to become the hipster’s choice of card game? I think we’re the first show that’s made bridge sexy. I’m proud of that. I think it’s got a new future. A sexier one. Fargo is out now on Channel 4 and All4 catch-up.
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How did you find mastering the accent – it’s got a very peculiar and unique quality to it, doesn’t it? The accent is the hardest I’ve done, I think. I’ve never spent any time in Minnesota, and it’s not really in my ear. Even when I was doing it right, I didn’t feel like I was doing it right. Some of the sounds are so close to Scottish, and a lot of it sounds like a bad Irish accent, and for maybe the first month, I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right. It certainly got more comfortable for me the further into the work we went, and now I feel very happy with it. But it’s something I really had to work on.
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TEASERS
HOUSE OF CARDS Pictured inset: Kevin Spacey (Frank Underwood)
SHOWRUNNERS Frank Pugliese, Melissa James CAST Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Michel Gill, Michael Kelly PLOT A Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.
Jane Davis (Patricia Clarkson), two high-powered political advisors with something on everyone. Though they avoid the spotlight their ambitions remain shrouded. Over at the Washington Herald, Tom Hammerschmidt (Boris McGiver) and young reporter Sean Jeffries (Korey Jackson) try to unlock mysteries behind Zoe Barnes’ death and Rachel Posner’s disappearance – two shocking events that continue to haunt those affected by them. “Season five is just the past is catching up with some of these characters,” Pugliese says. Even House of Cards’ viewers may factor into this game-changing season. “Francis has always been inviting the audience’s complicity, and there’s a question about how much the audience will take,” Pugliese says. “How long are they gonna be along for the ride, and to what extent?” Season five is marked by violent power plays, new alliances, stunning betrayals and, as always, a desire to win at any cost. Lets just say the show isn’t running out of ways to show how truly awful people can be. House of Cards S5 is out now on Netflix.
Photo: David Giesbrecht/Netflix
“We don’t submit to terror. We make the terror.” These were the final words spoken directly to the audience by Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) in season four’s finale, but this time he wasn’t alone. No this time he’s not breaking the fourth wall alone, this time he is joined by Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) and she is staring straight down the lens same as Frank. This is the first time in the show’s history that another character, other than Frank has acknowledged the audience’s existence and the use of “we” instead of “I” leads for an interesting fifth season. The fifth season picks up where it left off - After a tense presidential election the Underwoods are now on the same ticket against energetic
Republican upstart Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman). Audiences will see how their heated campaigns play out as well as which alliances dissolve in the aftermath, but perhaps the biggest question is if Frank and Claire’s relationship is among them. “I think there’s something about (the Underwoods) trying to find some sort of détente,” says Frank Pugliese, showrunner for House of Cards. “Both of these characters are such survivors, but who’s ultimately going to have the greatest stamina? It’s unclear,” adds Melissa James Gibson, this season’s showrunner along side Frank Pugliese. As the Underwoods told the nation to prepare for war against ICO in season four, they invited new allies and adversaries. “The battlefield is the American psyche, basically,” Gibson says of the new season. “Terror ultimately lives in the imagination of the voter, and we wanted to take advantage of that,” adds Pugliese. “There are ways that gets manipulated, and there’s a price you pay,” This season’s newcomers includes Mark Usher (Campbell Scott) and
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A NEW LEVEL OF DYSTOPIA The Handmaid’s Tale could not have arrived at a more prescient time...
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Pictured left to right: Elizabeth Moss as Offred, Alexis Bledel as Ofglen, The Handmaid’s forced to ridicule and bottom right The Handmaid’s cleaning up the blood of the innocent
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
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In this terrifying society where one wrong word could end her life, Offred must navigate carefully between Commanders, their cruel wives, domestic Marthas and her fellow handmaids in order to survive and find the daughter who was taken from her in the shows first opening scene. The show is about morality and is deliberately political, but it focuses on the human aspect of which Moss and Miller were very keen to demonstrate: “Ultimately, it is the story of one woman who is in this world and in this situation,” says Moss. “It was very important to us for the show to be relatable on a human level. We wanted it to be real and truthful. Stories that are told from the human level are the best stories.” “Humour is also injected into the show through Offred’s personality,” Miller points out. “She has so much personality, strength and courage and that will never be stomped out of her, no matter what happens. That personality points out the absurdity of the situations. These situations are so terrible in some ways that they are almost unfathomable, but watching Offred’s story, you come away
Photos: Channel4 Press
ased on the awardwinning feminist classic by Margaret Atwood, published in 1985 and now adapted by Bruce Miller for the small screen, The Handmaid’s Tale speaks directly to today’s audience, with many of its themes mirroring the political climate of present-day. Bruce Miller is the showrunner of post-apocalyptic drama The 100, but we are talking about a very different level of dystopia here with The Handmaid’s Tale. Set in a world facing environmental disasters and a plunging birth rate, what is formed is a bleak existence for fertile women in the oppressive Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly part of the United States. The show follows the story of Offred, (Elizabeth Moss – Mad Men, The West Wing) as one of the few remaining fertile women, known as Handmaids, forced into sexual servitude in the Commander’s (Joseph Fiennes – Shakespeare in Love, Enemy at the Gates) household, as a last desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world.
with a great amount of hope for what we can endure,” adds Miller. As devastating as the show sounds, it’s main theme is that of hope, which is shown to us through Offred, (or June as she is previously known) as she remembers her life before the dark times, as a pot smoking youth turned book editor enjoying life with her husband Luke, daughter Hannah and best friend Moira. “The tone of The Handmaid’s Tale is very much drawn from the tone of the book, which is an unquestionably a dark world, but it’s not a dark show,” explains Miller. “The show is about hope and perspective. It is about not losing the hope of getting out and getting your life back and never losing the idea that this is not the real world.” It is the flashbacks that keep these women going and bring a welcoming division between reality and what life used to be like for the handmaids. It gives the audience the chance to get to know these characters and relate to them in their own way, but it also demonstrates how these women have changed and how they have had to obey and conform themselves to this new distorted way of life. “I love it when the story flashbacks to the women’s lives before Gilead because you get to see who they really are,” says Alexis Bledel, (Gilmore Girls, Sin City) who plays Ofglen, fellow handmaid and friend to Offred. “Under the rules of Gilead you don’t get to see them for who they really are and it is interesting to explore their stories,” she adds. “I think it will be interesting for people to see how the women change under these circumstances and what the challenges bring out in each of the women.” Cinematographer, Reed Morano best known for Vinyl and Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade, directs the first three episodes and her story and vision provides the perfect backdrop for this new threatening reality the handmaids face. “When I read the pilot I thought it was unique and there was potential for so much to be said without words,” says Morano. “It felt like it could be internal and visceral and really could be told from a singular point of view. The world is so unsettling in one sense and so familiar in another, that I wanted to create a heightened sense of raw reality.” It is safe to say that Morano’s ‘unsettling’ and ‘familiar’ reality is not something normally seen on TV in terms of storytelling, but she has done exactly that and the result is extraordinary and extremely exciting and to have a show lead mainly by women is extremely relevant. The series has done so well it has already been commissioned for a second season. The Handmaid’s Tale is available now on Channel 4 and All 4 Catch-up.
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IRRESISTIBLE
Pictured: Julia Stiles (Georgina). Photo: Sky Press
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RIVIERA
CORRUPTION Take a look at some of Sky’s in-house studio dramas that have surfaced your small screens recently. They may not have achieved as much noise as those say from Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, but they certainly have a knack for attracting hugely successful names and incredible shooting locations...
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RIVIERA
“Riviera is, at its heart, a story of the genuinely filthy rich” Neil Jordan
Pictured inset: Julia Stiles (Georgina). Below left/ top: Adrian Lester (Robert). Below middle: Lena Olin (Irina). Below bottom: Iwan Rheon (Adam)
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However, it’s Georgina’s supposedly dead husband who conceals the most secrets and she must now navigate her way through the elaborate web of corruption he has left behind, with all threads leading back to one constant theme: art. The shows idea is to expose the darker flipside of the Riviera’s usual glitz and glamour appeal, hoping to be both a compelling family drama and an intelligent and thrilling crime series. “Somerset Maugham described the south of France as a sunny place for shady people,” says executive producer, and former manager of the hugely successful rock band U2, Paul McGuinness. “Rich people are very keen to keep their privacy and there’s a lot going on in the south of France that is not written about in the newspapers – lots of rumours, lots of mysteries and rich people doing terrible things to one another, but out of sight.” In other words it is the perfect setting for a show like Riviera. “There is something about the French Riviera that has always attracted some of the most glamorous people in the world and where there is glamour and money there is also corruption and dirty secrets,” adds fellow executive producer Kris Thykier. The production value definitely reflects this, with helicopter shots, boat filming, and yacht explosions - all on location, the show lives and breathes riches. It goes without saying that a story filled with sex, art, money, murder and scandal set in the glamorous, sun-soaked world of the French Riviera would catch anyone’s attention. Lets just hope Riviera lives up to the hype. Riviera is available now on Sky Atlantic and Now TV catch-up.
Photos: Sky Press
iviera is no different. It is set in several glorious areas along the Riviera, including Monaco, Nice and Cannes. Lead by Julia Stiles (The Bourne series, Silver Linings Playbook), created by the Oscar winning writer Neil Jorden (The Crying Game) and starring a sea of international names – Iwan Rheon, Adrian Lester and Lena Olin, the show looks set to become fearsome competition for the power house studios across the ocean. Julia Stiles plays Georgina Clios, the smart and resourceful second wife of billionaire banker, Constantine Clios (Anthony LaPaglia) who dies in a yacht explosion. His death sets off a domino effect of revelations that leads her into the dark world of the Riviera’s super-rich. There, she is forced to learn to adapt, survive and thrive if she is to save the Clios family and its fortune. Georgina goes from being an art curator to being plunged deep into the underworld of the “filthy rich” and to do that an actress needs to be tough, which after her role in the Bourne series Stiles is believably so. “It’s a privilege to play a sophisticated lead in a show and have the opportunity to play her in all different situations,” says Stiles. “At times she is naive and at other times she is cunning.” It would seem that everyone around her has an agenda and with the disappearance of the Clios family fortune, Georgia must battle with the family she married into from Constantine’s revengeful first wife, Irina (Lena Olin, Chocolat, The Ninth gate), her drug-addicted stepson, Christos (Dimitri Leonidas, The Monuments Men), and her estranged stepson, Adam (Iwan Rheon, Game of Thrones, Misfits).
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GROWING UP DISGRACEFULLY Nicolas Stoller brings his hilarious genius to the small screen this July in the form of Netflix original Friends From College. The cast and crew give us their take on the brand new comedy series....
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FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE
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indeed, while the show’s humour is aimed at adults, so are the very real subjects it tackles, from infidelity to infertility to, well, crippling immaturity. “The show is so hilarious and also heartbreaking. Its characters are noble and, like, horrifically immoral, and I think that’s what makes the show so interesting and so funny,” says Annie Parisse. Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele, Fargo) plays Ethan Turner, a struggling and neurotic writer who has recently moved to New York from Michigan with his wife, Lisa (Cobie Smulders). On top of trying to pen a successful novel and conceive a child, Ethan is holding on to a pretty big secret: his ongoing 20-year affair with Sam (Annie Parisse), another college friend. “He feels lots of ambivalence and lots of guilt pretty much all the time,” says Key. “He and his wife have a good relationship, but clearly, there’s something pulling at him; he’s not getting something from her that he gets from this other woman.” Fans of Key’s sketch comedy will appreciate his versatility on the series, which showcases his comedic and dramatic skills. “He does such amazing impressions of people, and I think that’s kind of what he’s known for, but he’s also such a great dramatic actor,” says Smulders. “This show is giving him the opportunity to
Photos: Barbara Nitke/David Lee/Netflix
Pictured inset right to left: Annie Parisse (Sam) and Cobie Smulders (Lisa). Top left: Cobbie Smulders. Bottom left: Keegan-Michael Key (Ethan) and Cobbie Smulders. Top right: Annie Parisse and Cobbie Smulders. Bottom left: Fred Savage (Max) and Keegan-Michael Key
et in New York City, the show follows a group of friends that met while attending Harvard almost two decades ago. As their careers and personal lives undergo major changes, they discover their friendships may not stay the same, either. “They’re still doing a thing that people really do all the time, which is struggling to figure out, ‘What do we still have in common?’” says Keegan-Michael Key. “And that’s what I think separates it from other shows. (It) doesn’t ring true when people are just like, ‘We’ve been friends for 25 years, and nothings changed.’” Known for directing, writing and producing character-driven comedies, Friends from College marks Stoller’s first Netflix project. The series is also somewhat autobiographical for Stoller and co-creator Francesca Delbanco, who both attended Harvard University. “I think that there is a sort of universal idea to a group of people who you’ve known forever, and they love you with all of your messiness and flaws – but that also makes you want to kill them, because they can remember that and access it at any time,” Delbanco says. Cobie Smulders says the series offers an “amazing combination of real-life drama combined with hilarious moments.” And
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Photo: No copyright clearance
FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE
Pictured inset: the gang from Friends From College. Top right: Annie Parisse (Sam). Bottom right: Jae W. Suh (Marianne)
moments and then have some really intimate scenes.” As Lisa Turner, Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother, the Avengers films) plays a scrupulous, hard-working lawyer who’s trying to start a family and adjust to her new, higher-paying job. “She worked for the ACLU and now has sort of sacrificed her beliefs to work for a firm in New York that’s run by terrible people,” says Smulders. Lisa relies on her college friends for support, but they don’t always give her what she needs and so she occasionally regress back to the days when she was dubbed “Froshy” for being a few years younger than the rest of them. Actress of stage and screen, Annie Parisse (Law & Order, The Following, Broadway’s Prelude to a Kiss) plays Sam, a successful interior designer who is hiding her affair with Ethan from her husband (played by Greg Germann). “She’s got the perfect job. She’s really successful. She’s married to a great guy who also happens to be insanely rich. She has two adorable children,” says Parisse, adding, “Everything looks awesome on the surface, and broiling underneath is kind of a hot mess.” “When we saw Annie’s first audition, we were like, ‘That’s exactly what we’re talking about.’ She’s just casual and funny and ... charming as hell,” says Delbanco.
Photos: David Lee/Netflix
While Sam and Ethan pledge to end their affair when he moves to New York, the promise is short-lived. “They have a raw passion for each other, but they also enjoy each other’s company,” Key says. I think that Sam made Ethan, when he was younger, feel vibrant and confident.” While Friends from College will appeal to a variety of viewers, it may resonate most with those who are around the same age as its characters. “It’s a moment that a lot of people feel like they are choosing between their dreams and growing up,” explains Delbanco. “The other thing about this age that interested us is it is an age where you feel like the things that defined your youth are kind of slipping away from you a little bit. You don’t want them to be gone from your life forever, but how is that gonna work now?” These dilemmas play out in different ways among the group, whether it’s by sabotaging relationships, making major career changes or simply refusing to be a grownup at all. “This is definitely a comedy that looks at what it is to be a grownup and how you reconcile that with how you were and what you thought you’d be,” adds Savage. “It allows us to see how their the friendships have enhanced their lives, but also how their friendships have held their lives back.” Friends From College will be available to watch exclusively on Netflix, July 14. JULY 2017 SMALL SCREEN 23
COVER FEATURE
MARVEL Pictured inset, left to right: Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones) and Finn Jones (Iron Fist)
Photo: No copyright clearance
24 SMALL SCREEN JULY 2017
THE DEFENDERS
TEAMS-UP
Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Daredevil and Iron Fist unite to reignite the spark of Marvel’s TV universe...
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I
COVER FEATURE t’s safe to say Marvel hasn’t had the best luck when it comes to TV, and with Luke Cage and Iron Fist signalling a recent dip in quality, Netflix’s new Marvel venture The Defenders, has a fair bit of pressure on it’s shoulders if it is going to deliver the goods. If there’s one thing people love more than superheroes, its more superheroes; teaming up, hanging out, arguing, oh and lets not forget the fighting evil part. The Avengers did it in 2012, now its TV’s turn, superheroes taking on the bad guys in the middle of your living room, streaming straight to your sofa - the latest binge-watchable series.
THE SERIES BRINGS together the four heroes introduced to us over the last three years in their own individual styles - Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock/Daredevil, Kristen Ritter’s Jessica Jones (Small Screen’s favourite of the bunch), Mike Colter’s Luke Cage, and the most recent addition, Finn Jones’ Danny Rand/Iron Fist. All standing together to fight the evil threat that is Sigourney Weaver, as the mysterious and ultra powerful Alexandra and the lethal ninja organisation The Hand. “There’s an escapism to being in the villain’s world,” says showrunner, Marco Ramirez, “and we wanted these four characters to face one really powerful person, the same way that Daredevil faced Wilson Fisk and Jessica Jones faced Kilgrave.”
“I think that The Defenders is the most ambitious television project to date, period,” JEPH LOEB
“From the very first moment that we talked about who was going to be our antagonist, we knew we needed somebody who presented themselves in an iconic way,” says Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s Head of Television and showrunner of The Defenders. “Someone who could be as big as each of these characters combined and we were very lucky that Sigourney’s schedule opened up. For Sigourney Weaver the excitement of playing the multifaceted character of Alexandra was immediate. “She’s a very confident, smart and persuasive leader,” says Weaver. “When people say that I’m the villain, well, I think, that is just one way to look at the character. To me, Alexandra has a lot of wisdom because she’s been doing what she does for a long time and she has a lot of empathy. She’s a very complex character and I felt delighted to be a part of that.” For a series, The Defenders will attempt a most ambitious feat - crossing over the four individual series and their cast of characters to form a show that combines the worlds of each show into one unique world of its own. “I think that The Defenders is the most ambitious television project to date, period,” says Loeb. “We really set out to do something that had never been done in the history of television. From the very beginning, we started and committed to four separate television series, not knowing whether any of them would work. The idea was that at the end of completing all four of them, we would take all of our actors, not knowing if any of them would even be suitable for the roles, and put them together in a story where they would interact with each other and fight a common problem,” This being the same model the Marvel film studio division used when they made The Avengers. 26 SMALL SCREEN JULY 2017
Production on the series was initiated with the welcome return of Director S.J. Clarkson who came back into the Marvel Netflix universe after directing the first two episodes of Marvel’s Jessica Jones. Clarkson returned to direct episodes one and two of Marvel’s The Defenders and also served as an executive producer on the first episode and proved instrumental to the production in setting the tone and visual style for the series. “S.J.’s unique and interesting take on these complex characters made her the perfect choice to set the stage for Marvel’s The Defenders,” remarks Loeb. Ramirez likened the process to putting the Super Bowl together. “We were just taking the big trip that everyone had been anticipating for so long,” says Ramirez. “From the very beginning, the way I perceived these shows, both as a writer and as an audience member, is that they aren’t about how these superheroes do what they do, it’s more about why they do what they do.”
GOING INTO HIS third season of playing Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil, Charlie Cox says that he appreciates more than ever the importance that fans place on these stories and is excited for them to see what has now been created in Marvel’s The Defenders. “One of the greatest things about being part of this Marvel Netflix team has been really understanding the fandom behind these characters,” he says. “They’ve been beloved for decades and the way that these characters are portrayed is immensely important to a huge number of people. Knowing that, and seeing these characters come together in the same room, develop relationships and witnessing their diverse personalities within this group is something that I know will mean a lot to fans.”
THE DEFENDERS
In determining the approach for this new series, Ramirez says, “We wanted to pay respect to Brian Michael Bendis and to a lot of the creators who have worked really hard on the comics and who have already established this very layered, back streets of New York world,” this being very important to the fans of the comics as well.
Pictured: Charlie Cox (Daredevil) and Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones).Below: Fin n Jones, Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Krysten Ritter. Bottom: Finn Jones and Jessica Henwick (Colleen). Top right: The Defenders fighting crime alongside Stick. (Scott Glenn)
IT’S CLEAR THAT the fan’s reaction is a very important aspect to the creators and actors of the show, and rightly so. “I think that some of the fun has been seeing where a storyline can intersect with the comics and give fans, like myself, some really fun moments,” adds Ramirez. “We’re doing our own things, but definitely nodding to cool comic moments.” Something else for fans to be excited about, the series also brings to the screen for the first time one of the most eagerly anticipated duos in comic book history, Luke Cage and Danny Rand, known in the comics as the Heroes for Hire. “I think it’s one of the cooler partnerships,” says Mike Colter (Luke Cage). “They start in a state of contention and they are battling at first, but they then realise that they are more similar than not and
“When people say that I’m the villain, well, I think that is just one way to look at the character.” SIGOURNEY WEAVER
Photos: Sarah Shatz/Netflix
they begin to build trust. They’re from the opposite sides of the track. Iron Fist is a billionaire rich kid who comes from money and Luke Cage comes from nothing. It’s so interesting to see them come into contact because their ideology is completely different as well as their fighting style.” “I think Danny sees in Luke an older brother or mentor figure and someone who can take him under his wing,” says Finn Jones (Iron Fist). “Danny is very keen to develop these relationships, not only with Luke Cage, but also with the other Defenders.” Just think about what it must feel like to have these gifts that you couldn’t or wouldn’t want to talk about. Charlie Cox does: “If you think about all four of these characters and the possibility that on a daily basis they all live with a level of loneliness and shame around who they are, there is suddenly the possibility to feel part of something, to feel heroic in a completely new sense of the word and to feel understood in a way that they haven’t been understood before.” That excitement of seeing the different combinations of cast from each show appear on screen together never wore off for Loeb. “You can’t take the fanboy out of me,” he says.
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COVER FEATURE
DEFENDERS ASSEMBLE TOP TEN FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DEFENDERS...
1
THE WHOLE SEASON WAS SHOT ON LOCATION IN NEW YORK.
2
THE COMIC WHICH INSPIRED IT WAS CREATED BY ROY THOMAS IN 1971.
3
THE SHOW’S PRODUCTION TITLE IS, GROUP THERAPY. SOMETHING THE CHARACTERS COULD ALL DO WITH.
4 5 6 7 8 9
THE SHOW WILL ALSO INCLUDE COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS, MISTY KNIGHT, STICK, COLLEEN WING, FOGGY AND KAREN AND CLAIRE TEMPLE. LUKE CAGE WILL ACT AS THE VOICE OF REASON AND MENTOR TO IRON FIST.
THE SHOW WILL BE THE FIRST TO BRING TOGETHER THE HEROES FOR HIRE DUO LUKE CAGE AND DANNY RAND THE VILLAIN, ALEXANDRA WILL BE PLAYED BY SIGOURNEY WEAVER AND WILL BE “A VERY POWERFUL FORCE.” THE SHOW WILL BE KEEPING THE SAME GRITTY TONE USED IN THE OTHER SHOWS.
EACH HERO HAS THEIR OWN PAST WOES TO OVERCOME BEFORE THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER AS DEFENDERS.
10
THE HEROES WILL RETURN TO THEIR SOLO SHOWS AFTER THE EIGHT PART SERIES FINISHES.
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“The moment when Matt walks in and introduces himself to Jessica Jones or the moment where Danny punches Luke in the face, that’s why we do this, it’s why we tell these stories to see iconic moments like that. You’ve got so many lovely stories that are interwoven that we were very carefully planting.” As a fan herself, Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones) found it incredibly exciting to film scenes with these characters and to see them all in one place. “I was actually finding myself just as excited to read the scenes that I wasn’t in, as I was reading my own scenes,” she says. Her co-stars agree: “This has been really thrilling because I had nothing to do with the shows Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist and so I was just watching those shows as a fan,” says Cox. “I really enjoyed seeing the work that those guys were doing. It was such a bizarre experience to admire those shows and then get to team up and work with them as well.”
AT THE END of Marvel’s Jessica Jones, the title character has just killed her tormentor, Kilgrave. “He was her abuser and a source of her psychological trauma and damage,” explains Ritter. “When she kills him, that’s big news in New York City and so her phone’s ringing off the hook. However, she’s become more reclusive and she’s not answering her phone or taking on any cases. Kilgrave was her reason for getting up in the morning for a long time and now that she doesn’t have that, she’s trying to figure things out and is flailing a little bit.” But Jessica Jones is not the only hero struggling with their place in the world is, Luke Cage is also trying to break free from past events. “At the beginning of the show, we find Luke going through another transition and trying to resolve the things that are in his past,” says Colter. “He’s going to be a very different person once he stops running.
THE DEFENDERS
Pictured: Mike Colter as Luke Cage. Top left: Rachael Taylor as Trish and Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones. Top middle: Sigourney Weaver as Alexandra. Bottom left: Fin Jones as Iron Fist and Mike Colter
As a free man, he has to think about rebuilding, figuring out what his next step is, what he’s going to do for a living and ultimately what he’s going to do with his life.” As for Finn Jones, his character’s story at the end of Marvel’s Iron Fist dovetails straight into Marvel’s The Defenders. “I think that the story in the first season of Iron Fist felt like Danny’s adolescence,” explains Jones. “It was about him coming back to New York for the first time, getting to grips with the western world and coming to terms with his purpose and responsibilities. Moving into The Defenders, it becomes about Danny’s renewed purpose after finding out that he was responsible for so much destruction in K’un-Lun.” “Each series ended at a defining moment,” says Loeb. “Each of those characters were at a critical moment in their lives and that’s where The Defenders starts. That’s the stuff of good drama because it’s messy and whenever Marvel gets messy, it works out really well.”
Photo left: No copyright clearance
“That’s ultimately what being a hero is. Some people just feel right doing what is right.” MIKE COLTER
world,” says Ramirez. “We knew that it would be something that needed to still exist in the back alleys of New York, but also something really big and powerful enough to necessitate all four of these forces together.” “At what point can you just ignore that?” Says Colter. “That’s ultimately what being a hero is. Some people just feel right doing what is right. New York has problems and there’s nobody around to rescue these people, so we have to do it.” It may not rival The Avengers in terms of scale, but just think about this - The Avengers saved the Marvel Cinematic Universe and box office for The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America, The Defenders then, might just do the same for Marvel’s TV universe and with that said - Defenders assemble! The Defenders is available on Netflix from 18 August, but if you can’t wait till then - all episodes of Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Daredevil and Luke Cage are available to watch now.
Photos: Sarah Shatz and Jessica Miglio/Netflix
IN UNITING THESE four characters on screen for the first time, the production team wanted the first meeting of The Defenders to feel authentic to these reluctant heroes who, to a certain extent, are all vigilante lone wolves. “These are four heroes who really don’t want partners, but they’re forced into partnerships in order to take down this ancient threat that has got a death grip on New York City,” remarks Ramirez. Of course this is the Marvel universe so the consequences of not teaming up will be catastrophic. The only way the
four can save New York is if they work together and in true Marvel style it has to be during a terrifyingly large-scale event. “We knew that the event that would justify bringing all four of these people together had to be grounded, because the villains that everyone had faced on each of these individual shows had all been really grounded and relatively organic to a crime
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Photo: No copyright clearance
THE NEXT ISSUE
JAmeSTOWN THE ORIGINALS vvvvvvvvvvvvv
GOTHAM
“There’s nothing soft about these women” Niamh Walsh
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR SEASON 2?
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THE FLASH
Photo: Sky Press
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REVIEWS
MERCY STREET NOW OUT DRAMA CHANNEL Its difficult at first to imagine Josh Radnor in anything other than How I Met Your Mother. His first appearance as a Civil War surgeon in Mercy Street takes some getting used to, but audiences should give it some time as the show is truly great. As the first original American-based drama to come out of PBS in more than a decade, Mercy Street can definitely hold its own against the giants of British period dramas, such as Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge. A medical drama at heart by way of a historical setting, it is an American story, but it takes its cues from British pieces and is supported by a strong American cast (Gary Cole and Hannah James to name a few). The first few episodes set up the conflicts and relationships of the characters, both political and personal, but the series really comes into its own when the personal stories become the main focus and begin to drive the show, creating great TV drama. Each episode gets better than the last and the shocking events of the season finale sure promise a superior second season.
Photos: UKTV Press
VERDICT: The Americans have finally produced a period drama that could rival even our expertly produced British pieces and with a strong cast to support it, Mercy Street is definitely one to watch.
Photos left to right: Showtime Press/Channel 4 Press/NBC Press
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TWIN PEAKS
FARGO
CHICAGO PD
OUT NOW SKY ATLANTIC The Twin Peaks reboot is David Lynch unleashed. His deeply weird revisitation is a triumph thanks to the sinister world he creates, alongside a haunting soundtrack by Angelo Badalamenti Twin Peaks: The Return could quite possibility be Lynch’s darkest production yet and yes his most disturbing, but devoted fans of his unusual mind will love it. Lynch seems to have a free rein with this one as opposed to the slightly more controlled network production he had to abide by for the first two series, but it would seem that today’s network’s are breaking the moulds, finally giving audiences what they want and what they want is David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.
OUT NOW CHANNEL 4 The show where anything can happen to anyone, anywhere, any time when you least expect it. With the usual themes of guilt and paranoia this new season of Fargo is turning out to be the best one yet. It does start off a little slower than the previous seasons, but it’s just building the tension, once the hammer drops there will be lots of surprises coming our way. Part thriller, part detective drama, its ingrained with the trademark Coen brothers’ hilarity and that Minnesota friendly feeling that made the film so popular, but it still manages to give a fresh take to the Fargo saga. Its slick and strangely beautiful, a great third season.
OUT NOW 5USA Like its previous seasons Chicago PD season 4 doesn’t disappoint. In its opening episode the tension is building between Hank Voight and his daughterlike figure and fellow officer Erin Lindsay. After the devastating end to season three, its not a surprise. Voight’s waiting for her to crack, which brings excitement for future episodes. It will be interesting to see how things play out between them. Its nice to see a bit more female energy on a show filled with male testosterone, as we meet Burgess’ new partner and the addition brings in the possibility of more storylines. A great start to the season.
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REVIEWS
OUT NOW NETFLIX
How do you incorporate the election of Donald Trump as the American President into a show that frequently uses its fair share of dramatic and irrational versions of US politics? The answer is you don’t, because the reality has become far more absurd than the fiction. Apart from a few trivial turns in the later end of the series, Season five is by far one of the best. Frank is absolutely ruthless even more so than usual and its fantastic. With wife, Claire Underwood by his side things start to change and a team is formed. Their relationship is put to the test, but the chemistry from Spacey and Wright is undeniable. People can be so awful.
ORANGE IS THE PREACHER NEW BLACK OUT NOW NETFLIX
After four season’s based at Litchfield prison, its such a relief to see that this show is still capable of firing out fits of laughter from its viewers while providing some truly scary moments at the same time. The narrative can shift in a heart-beat from funny and amusing to deadly serious in a matter of minutes. This is not an easy accomplishment and its one of the many reasons that the series has become so popular and stayed that way. Season 5 is equal parts shocking, outrageous, scandalous, sardonic, silly, and sad and as it should be deeply unsettling, but in the best way possible.
OUT NOW AMAZON PRIME
Season one of Preacher struggled a little and forgot to tell non comic book fans what exactly it was. Season two however has come into its own and now fully established has found its popularity. The first two episodes set us up nicely for a trip to New Orleans, as errant God is apparently a huge fan of jazz, sending our unconventional heroes to the Mardi Gras city. Not before completing a couple of side missions that end with some very hilarious results. It’s a funny show, that combines incredibly violent fun with the ever so delightful childish humour. If it can keep it up, the rest of the season will be a genuine roller coaster.
Photos left to right: David Giesbrecht/Jojo Whilden/Netflix/
HOUSE OF CARDS
JAMESTOWN OUT NOW SKY1 OR NOW TV The British just have a knack for the retelling period drama genre. Jamestown, set after the story of Pocahontas is an origin story of the historic 17thcentury settlement made by the British of what would come to be known as Virginia, America. The show provides an emotional storyline that would engage any TV fanatic. The show surrounds itself around the lives of three main women, Alice, Verity and Jocelyn, all from very different backgrounds. It comes at a time when female empowerment is at an all time peak, and rightly so. Jamestown is full of that, these women don’t mess around. Their cunning, conniving, intelligent and most of all their efficient - no damsels in distress here. Its fantastically written, beautifully shot and wonderfully acted - the make-up and wardrobe department have created a realistic look into what life would be like back in the 17th century, well minus the hair products. If Sky can keep the focus on the three main women and their attempts to fight against the establishment then season two will be another triumph. VERDICT: Don’t judge this book by its cover, Jamestown is a fantastic piece of period drama with and added kick of female empowerment. Its funny, its beautiful and it has a voice. Photos: Sky Press
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Photo: No copyright clearance
REVIEWS
OUT NOW NETFLIX Better Call Saul hits its stride in season three, putting the focus back on Jimmy McGill making him the centre of the season, as he fights his way through a life that seems determined to pull him down at any opportune moment. There is still time to focus on other characters, such as Mike (the season hasn’t ended yet) and the narrative gets fleshed out a bit more with the addition of some brand new characters, which create some interesting storylines. Season three manages to perfect the balance of filling out Jimmy’s story alongside the other threads that make up Better Call Saul making it one of the best seasons so far, so good its almost on par with its predecessor Breaking Bad.
GLOW
RANSOM
OUT NOW NETFLIX Brand new to Netflix this June is GLOW and for a wrestling drama its surprisingly both emotional and incredibly witty, not to mention its beautifully acted hosting the likes of Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin and Kate Nash, yeah Kate Nash. What truly makes GLOW special though is how conscious it is of its own differences. Based on the real Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling promotion of the 80s the show follows a small group of women who’ve been passed up by Hollywood for not being the right size, race and the right level of attractiveness. What GLOW does really well is it creates a voice for empowerment and exploitation and it proves that the two are not always perceived in the right way.
OUT NOW UNIVERSAL CHANNEL Another CBS drama playing by the book, its something we’ve seen time and time again. Ransom needs to do more to stand out amongst the original and though provoking television of today. With the likes of the wonderfully weird Stranger Things and incredibly ruthless but intelligent House of Cards, Ransom needs to up its game if it has a chance of making it to a second season. Though I have to say it is refreshing to see a lead character, working as a negotiator for the American police force, who can actually negotiate his way out of a troubled spot without the use of a weapon. This, however acts as the only original element of the show. Not a great start, but there is promise.
Photos left to right: Bob Odenkirk/Erica Parise/Netflix/CBS Press
BETTER CALL SAUL
AMERICAN GODS
OUT NOW AMAZON PRIME VIDEO Daringly weird, but intensely mesmerising American Gods is the new Game of Thrones. Based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name from Neil Gaiman, the show delves into the narrative of the story with immense pleasure and certainty. It’s so visually impressive it deserves to be watched on the biggest TV screen you own - no iPhones please! But that description can’t even begin to describe just how alluringly weird American Gods is. If you’ve read the book you will now just how addictive its premise can be, alluring but repellent at the same time, but in a really good way. Its fantasy philosophy while consciously confusing you, does not alienate you from its focus, which is Shadow, the main character played by Ricky Whittle. You experience everything for the first time with him because he’s experiencing everything for the first time too. The show makes the real world feel like a dream and a dream feel like reality, it’s trippie, but extremely attractive. I don’t feel like there’s anything quite like American Gods out there, its exciting, its gory, its unapologetically bizarre, but approve all its unforgettable. VERDICT: If you watch anything this summer American Gods should be it. Nothing like you’ve ever seen, it promises to give an unusual thrill ride and keep you mesmerised till the very last episode. Photo: No copyright clearance
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REVIEWS SHADOWHUNTERS OUT NOW NETFLIX If your looking for a show where you can escape from the mundane (pun intended) boring world that is reality into a fantasy world where the people never grow old and the action never runs cold, look no further for there are so many extraordinarily beautiful people that belong in the unique world of Shadowhunters that you’ll find yourself wondering why you were so worked up in the first place. Yes its a little cheesy and the acting is a little wooden, and okay its a little too by the book, but that’s just part of its charm. Plus its doing a lot better than the film and it seems to be pleasing fans of the novels. The first few episodes show that this season is going to contain more action and a lot more drama than the last. Jace has a new Grandmother, Alec is head of the institute, Simon is becoming a lot more assertive with his new found ‘daywalker’ status, Isabelle is coming to terms with her yin fen addiction and of course there’s the slow burner that is Jace and Clary’s relationship. Now they both know there not actually related, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out, its only just begun.
Photos: John Medland/Netflix
VERDICT: A little bit cheesy, but that’s just part of the Shadowhunters charm. If you fancy a break from reality, this show does the job just don’t go second guessing it, its smarter than it appears.
Photos left to right: Netflix Media Center/BBC Press/Universal Channel Press
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ORPHAN BLACK
OUT NOW NETFLIX Season 5 is Orphan Black at its best, feeling far more focused than its previous season, despite a few noticeably abrupt scenes within the narrative - setting up Neolution’s endgame and Rachel’s recent decision to turn criminal, still without actually getting to the real reason why we should be affected or more devoted than we already are in the oh so secretive and elusive founder. However it does feel like co-creators Graeme Manson and John Fawcett have started to include some pieces of information in order to provide or set up some sort of closure for the series, the end now being in sight. It’s great to see Orphan Black back on top and a great set up for the final season.
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POLDARK
CHANCE
OUT NOW BBC ONE Poldark’s third season involved all the usual - turbulent love affairs, Cornish cliff top galloping, pantomime villainy, all the things we love most about the BBC One favourite. After so much drama and shocking devastation from the last series I was worried for a minute that none would be left for season three, but of course its back and in deliciously full force. Its been an intense instalment so far. There’s been a birth, a wedding, an addition of three new characters and the up-rising of a French Revolution and that was just in the first episode. It acts like a soap opera, but it speaks like a BBC One hit show and it plays heavily on its swashbuckling action to great effect. A brilliant third season.
OUT NOW UNIVERSAL CHANNEL Chance is a series that never really reaches its full potential, at least not in the first season, but its a mini-series so we shall see about a second. It’s a good start and is beautifully shot, but as a mini-series it doesn’t quite meet the standards of shows like Broadchurch and Sherlock, programmes in which the BBC specialises in. Chance shows promise in the way it approaches the subject of psychological behaviour and violence, but it filters off somewhere in the middle and nothing really comes of it in the finale. Even so the series still remains attractive enough to watch all the way through, but you yearn for just a little bit more urgency and personal development.
REVIEWS
SENSE 8
I LOVE DICK
OUT NOW NETFLIX Netflix’s new therapist thriller unfortunately leaves you needing a few therapy sessions yourself, or at least a time machine so you can have your wasted hours back. There’s so much going on, but nothing going on that achieves any authentic meaning. Gypsy loses its focus, for what could of been an intense psychological thrill ride, has instead become a boring reminder of what could of been. Naomi Watts is wasted on a show like this, her performance is somewhat saleable to the show, but I get the feeling the narrative just isn’t there for her to be able to grow and work on her character successfully. Don’t bother with this one.
OUT NOW NETFLIX After being unnecessarily cancelled after its latest season, I get the feeling Sense 8 never really got the chance to tie up all its lose ends and this has disappointed numerous fans of the show, who will never get the ending they deserve. After a slow start in season one, season two really brought its A-game, providing a thrill ride for the masses and builds on the message that love can make us, braver, smarter, stronger and just better people even if we aren’t psychologically connected across all continents. It’s sad to see such a well liked, and genuinely great show go and with no real explanation as to why. Sense 8, enjoy it while you can.
OUT NOW AMAZON PRIME I Love Dick turns the male gaze on its head, running a female lens through what has been a decidedly male perception for so long. At a time when femininity and masculinity demand a darkly serious necessity, I Love Dick is outspoken in its approach on the subject, but in a gentle less urgent way than what we are used it, and its extremely refreshing. The show is sure to start up discussions, worthy of the beloved novel that inspired it. It’s forthright yes, and daringly so and superbly acted. It’s great to finally see a show in which Kathryn Hahn can really show not just her comedy genius but her ability to lead. I Love Dick has the potential to become something revolutionary.
Photos left to right: Alison Cohen Rosa/Netflix/ Murray Close/Netflix/Amazon Prime Video
GYPSY
Photo: No copyright clearance
THE DEBATE
WILL THE DEFENDERS HELP SAVE THE MARVEL TV UNIVERSE? With the quality of Marvel’s Iron Fist and Luke Cage coming into question in recent months, Small Screen asked two of its avid readers to give their thoughts on the future of the Marvel TV franchise...
YES
CHRIS’ TOP FIVE BINGE-WORTHY SHOWS
CHRIS JONES, 27 PAYROLL
I
don’t believe that the Marvel TV universe needs saving. I’m a big comic book nerd and for me the creators have stayed true to the comics. I hate it when they change things around or try to include too much of the supporting cast. I’ve heard that The Defenders will include most of the cast members from each show, but that the main focus will be on the four superheroes, which it really has to do, with just eight episodes there’s not much room to play. It also means no filler content, just pour, decent superhero content, which is absolutely amazing news. Insinuating that Luke Cage and Iron Fist aren’t performing well is just bogus - first of all Iron Fist drew in one of the biggest audiences yet for a Marvel-netflix series premier. Daredevil is still going strong after three seasons and watching Luke
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Cage is like viewing some sort of hybrid western/gangster movie, its so gritty, I love it. As for Jessica Jones... I binge-watched that within a couple of days, what a masterpiece and what a villain - props goes to David Tennant for that one, absolute killer! Combining the four shows into one will only make the Marvel world a better one. Take a look at The Avenger movies before Avengers Assemble - only Iron Man was riding high, the rest yes they were good, but they could have been better. Then Avengers Assemble came along and everything changed, they even include them in the solo films - take Spider-Man Homecoming for example, it includes Iron Man, which makes it 100% more watch-able. I think that’s what the combination of The Defenders will do for the Marvel TV universe, it can only make it better.
1. JESSICA JONES 2. AMERICAN GODS 3. GAME OF THRONES 4. BREAKING BAD 5. DAREDEVIL
THE DEBATE
Pictured: Mike Colter (Luke Cage). Middle, left to right: Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones), Finn Jones (Iron Fist), Charlie Cox (Daredevil) and Mike Colter. Top right: Krysten Ritter
NO
KEELEY’S TOP FIVE BINGE-WORTHY SHOWS
KEELEY JONES, 29 GRAPHIC DESIGNER
T
hese characters are just too independent, I can’t help but think how are they going to work together as a team? Each character is struggling with their past and doing their own thing, trying to include a storyline for each character for them to overcome their past problems at the same time and then join together to fight the ultimate evil, The Hand (which by the way, the ultimate evil? Let’s not) is going to be hard and lets face it unachievable. Take a look at The Avengers, they are all different - Iron Man’s a cynic, Captain America is annoyingly optimistic, The Hulk... Well he just can’t quite control his anger issues and Black Widow is the ultimate image of self-control. The Defenders are all just too similar, they are all
just a little too depressed and for me its the coming together of different personalities that gives a film or a TV show its spark, otherwise its just boring and unrelatable and that’s just not gonna work. Let’s come back to the villains... In Jessica Jones, Daredevil and Luke Cage the villains are all a little bit more realistic, well at least in terms of theme. The Hand however seems a little far fetched and more formalistic, where is the sophistication? A bunch of ninjas running around New York, the only thing that will save that is Sigourney Weaver’s performance as top villain Alexandra, maybe then it will all make sense and the show will actually turn into something that is binge-worthy or at the very least watchable, but for the time being I’m sticking with No.
1. GAME OF THRONES 2. THE AMERICANS 3. SENSE 8 4. THE WALKING DEAD 5.HOUSE OF CARDS
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INTERVIEW
THE WINDSORS SEASON 2
Pictured inset: The Windsors gathering for the yearly family photo
Photos: Channel 4 Press
The satirical comedy soap opera lampooning the lives of our muchloved royal family has returning to Channel 4 for a second series. Writers and co-creators Bert Tyler-Moore and George Jeffrie tell us what we can expect from the new series... What is new this series? George: We have Harry’s new girlfriend Meghan Markle portrayed as a strong, independent woman in control of her own life but she wants to marry a prince and live in a fairy castle. Where does this new series pick-up from? George: It picks up from where the real royal family are now. Or where they were when we were filming. Bert: For example Pippa’s got a new fiancé who is a psychopath hedge funder, but she’s still very jealous of Kate. George: There are similar themes to series one: Wills is looking for a role; Beatrice and Eugenie are looking for a job, Prince Andrew is still wheeling and dealing. How would you describe the show to someone who hasn’t seen it before? George: A Ken Loach docudrama. Bert: It’s the real members of the royal family but in a very over the top comedy soap drama. 40 SMALL SCREEN JULY 2017
How do you both keep coming up with new ideas? Where do you get your inspiration from? Bert: Very much from real events, like Wills being a hands on dad. We also found out he had been fast tracked in his helicopter training and we made that into a story. George: We do a lot of research, well we read the Mail Online a lot, its all stories in the press that are out there. Bert: So in real life Beatrice was signed up to be a motivational speaker so we’ve got her and Eugenie doing that. They address a factory of steel workers at Port Talbot and save the British steel industry. George: And we sometimes give a nod to classic stories and fairy tales- we’re not suggesting Charles has an identical twin locked up in a tower but he does in our show. Do Royal events overtake you? George: Pippa kept her wedding quite close to her chest so we didn’t know the date until we had virtually finished filming so she’s engaged for most of our
series. Things like that can be a bit tricky but hopefully people understand how it works, we’re not mind readers. Are The Queen and Prince Philip going to be in this series? Bert: We tend to avoid The Queen as she isn’t as silly as the others. She never makes a fool of herself, she’s never organised It’s a Royal Knockout or built a silly town on the outskirts of Dorchester like Charles. Philip is sort of tangentially in the show through his abusive letters and telegrams. Why did you decide to base the show around The Windsors? Bert: We thought they would be good to take the piss out of and no one has done it for a while. Do you ever worry about offending royalists? George: No we wouldn’t mind that. The Windsors is out this summer, Channel4
BINGE-WATCH
Pictured inset and below: Matthew Rhys (Philip Jennings) and Keri Russell (Elizabeth Jennings)
THE AMERICANS
Photos: No copyright clearance
SHOWRUNNER Joseph Weisberg CAST Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Keidrich Sellati SERIES One to five NETWORKS Amazon Prime Video S1-5 (1-4 Prime), ITV Encore PLOT Two Soviet intelligence agents pose as a married couple to spy on the American government. The Americans is one of those insanely good, insanely underrated programmes. You’ve probably been told by someone, at some point to watch this amazing, sexy, must-see TV show, and you haven’t yet, but now you will... Promise. It would seem that no one watches The Americans. Critics hale it as the best show on TV and yet ask the person sitting next to you they probably haven’t even heard of it. Set in the 80s, Philip (Matthew
Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) pose as travel agents living just outside of Washington DC, but they are really Russian spies sent undercover and strategically integrated into the community as American citizens. Audiences don’t only witness the pairs terrifying dare defying missions to save their country and terminate imperialism during the pinnacle height of the cold war, but they also get to experience their challenges to live a normal family life together and bring up their two children. There’s also a killer 80s soundtrack and undercover outfits galore, which add a lot of humour to the show giving it some light against the dark, serious moments. Because the Jennings are spies, logically that leads to lots of suspenseful, adrenaline-high situations, the near-misses alone are enough to give you a heart-attack. There’s car chases, explosions, gunplay, and of course gruesome deaths, as the two get up to all sort of illegal and dangerous behaviour. JULY 2017 SMALL SCREEN 41
THE OA
Pictured: Brit Marling (Prairie Johnson)
Photos: JoJo Whilden/Netflix
Photo: N o copyright clearance
SHOWRUNNER Zal Batmanglij, Brit Marling CAST Brit Marling, Jason Isaacs, Scott Wilson SERIES One NETWORKS Netflix S1 PLOT Missing for seven years and previously blind, Prairie returns home, now in her 20s and her sight recovered. Some believe it to be a miracle, others just think she’s dangerous. Netflix are on the top of there game at the moment, with programmes like Stranger Things and House of Cards taking the world by storm they definitely prove to be a formidable rival for the American TV network giants. Enter The OA originally met with mixed reviews, the series is now seen to be one of the most unusual programmes out there.
It’s different, but it works and the imagery used is, pardon the pun, but out of this world. Compared to the usual programmes spilling out the same old bland city background, The OA supplies its audience with beautiful scenery, its visual aesthetic is basically part of the shows plot, it may as well be a character itself. If you enjoyed shows like Hannibal and The Leftovers you will enjoy this. There are comparisons to be made, both in tone and stylistically. It may seem a little confusing at first with all the flashbacks and scenarios, but its meant to be like that. Stick with it to the end and everything comes together. The show is endlessly captivating, wonderfully acted and will infiltrate parts of your brain you never thought possible. Its incredibly refreshing because it always feels like you’re watching something brand new and different.
Pictured, left to right: Rick Hoffman (Lewis), Patrick J. Adams (Mike), Sarah Rafferty (Donna) and Gabriel Macht (Harvey)
SUITS
Photos: Dave Press
SHOWRUNNER Aaron Korsh CAST Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Meghan Markle SERIES One to Six NETWORKS Netflix S1-5 PLOT On the run from a drug deal gone bad, Mike Ross, college drop-out with an eidetic memory finds a job working with Harvey Specter, New York City lawyer and one of the best. Now is the time for you to binge-watch till you drop. If you want something that’s dramatic, funny, exciting and suspenseful then look no further, Suits is the TV programme for you. Trying to escape reality? Because the characters of Suits are the funniest, most beautiful people you will ever get to know on screen. They
say what they mean and don’t mess about. Everything is slick even when things aren’t exactly going to plan in the storyline. Suits doesn’t ask you to figure out the agenda of the situation at hand it demands to tell you. It a soap opera at heart - a very well done and extremely smart soap opera. That’s why it works so well. It’s even got it’s own catchphrases, via Louis Litt ‘You just got Litt up!’ It is one of the most quotable shows of all time and provides some lessons to live by. Overall it is a programme about family and what we are willing to do for them. In the end family always steps up. Fans of The Goodwife will appreciate a great law show, such as Suits and with the last season aired and finished there’s room for another. On top of the dramatics it has an incredible cast, drips with pop-culture references, and has it’s own ‘god dam’ drinking game. I’m in!
Photo: No copyright clearance
Photo: N o copyright clearance
BINGE-WATCH
UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT
Pictured, left to right: Lauren Adams (Gretchen), Ellie Kemper (Kimmy Schmidt), Sara Chase (Cyndee), Sol Miranda (Donna Maria). Top left: Ellie Kemper and Carol Kane (Lillian). Bottom left: Tituss Burgess (Titus)
Photos: Eric Liebowitz / Netflix
SHOWRUNNER Robert Carlock, Tina Fey CAST Ellie Kemper, Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess SERIES One to two NETWORKS Netflix S1-2 PLOT Rescued from a doomsday cult, Kimmy Schmidt must start her life over again and she chooses to do it in New York City. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is one of the best comedy shows on Netflix that you have probably never seen, you probably haven’t even heard of it. You’re missing out. Season two premiered on April 15th and with 13 episodes in each there’s plenty of binge-watching to be done. The good news is that there’s two more seasons to come that have already aired in America, so no need to worry about waiting a long time till you can watch the next season.
The combination of creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock and the superb comedic talents of its lead actor Ellie Kemper are such a stroke of comedic genius that they seem to be able to jump so comfortably into the show’s strange and wonderful premise. All the actors are fantastic, but one stands out just a little bit further than the rest – Titus Andromedon played by Broadway vet and Emmy nominee Tituss Burgess. Every episode he delights with his grand delusions of stardom and his endless stream of sass. Carol Kane, who plays Lillian in the show, Titus and Kimmy’s landlord, has perfect comedic timing throughout, providing just the right level of disturbed hilarity to the already side-splittingly chaotic show. You can tell the show was written by Fey and Carlock, their use of pop culture references is off the chain, thanks to some good practise in a little known show called 30 Rock and their use of puns are something that needs to be witnesses rather than told. JULY 2017 SMALL SCREEN 45
QUIZ
SMALL SCREEN QUIZ 1. HOW MANY DUEL ROLES HAS EWAN MCGREGOR PLAYED IN HIS CAREER SO FAR? A) 2 C) 4 B) 3 D) 1
11. NED FLANDERS IS THE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOUR TO WHICH FICTIONAL FAMILY? A) Family Guy C) American Dad B) South Park D) The Simpsons
2. SOPHIA BUSH CURRENTLY STARS IN THE HIT TV SHOW CHICAGO PD, BUT WHAT OTHER CHARACTER IS SHE FAMOUS FOR PLAYING? A) Marissa Cooper - The O.C B) Leighton Meester - Gossip Girl C) Brooke Davis - One Tree Hill D) Annie Wilson - 90210
12. WHAT IS THE NAME OF DOCTOR WHO’S HOME PLANET? A) Gallifrey C) Gameworld Gamma B) Galaxis Bright D) Galaxis Dark
3. SEAN BEAN HAS DIED 24 TIMES IN OVER 70 FILMS AND TV SERIES, BUT WHICH LATE GREAT ACTOR HAS A ‘HIGHER ON SCREEN BODY COUNT’? A) Mickey Rourke C) Leonardo DiCaprio B) John Hurt D) Charlize Theron 4. WHAT COLOUR IS THE CHAIR USED IN THE END OF THE SHOW GAME ON THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW? A) Blue C) Green B) Pink D) Red 5. WHAT NAME IS GIVEN TO THE ANCESTRAL CASTLE OF HOUSE STARK? A) Winterfell C) Riverrun B) The Dreadfort D) Dragonstone 6. THE HANDMAID’S TALE IS BASED ON THE 1985 NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME, BUT WHO WAS IT WRITTEN BY? A) Toni Morrison C) Zadie Smith B) Margaret Atwood D) Harper Lee 7. WHO PLAYED THE MOTHER IN HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER? A) Cristin Milioti C) Cobie Smulders B) Alyson Hannigan D) Jennifer Morrison 8. IN WHICH EPISODE OF BREAKING BAD SEASON 4 TAKES PLACE IN JUST ONE LOCATION? A) Half Measures C) Fly B) Sunset D) I see you
14. IN WHICH CITY IS THE AMERICAN LEGAL DRAMA SUITS SET? A) Chicago C) Philadelphia B) New York D) Washington 15. IN THE COMEDY SHOW FRIENDS WHICH SPORT IS THE ‘GELLER CUP’ A PRIZE IN? A)Baseball C) Basketball C) Hockey D) American Football 16. WHICH AMERICAN PIE STAR PLAYS PIPER CHAPMAN BOYFRIEND IN ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK? A) Chris Klein C) Jason Biggs B) Seann William Scott Thomas Nicholas 17. WHICH FAMOUS MODEL APPEARS IN E4’S MUSIC DRAMA EMPIRE? A) Naomi Campbell C) Cara Delevingne B) Kendall Jenner D) Kate Moss 18. WHICH BLOOD SUCKING DRAMA CAME TO AN END THIS YEAR? A) The Originals C) The Vampire Diaries B) True Blood D) Being Human 19. IN THE BIG BANG THEORY WHAT IS SHELDON COOPER’S MIDDLE NAME? A) Eric C) James B) Lee D) Stanley
9. WHICH TV SERIES, WRITTEN BY JOSS WHEDON WAS CANCELLED IN 2003? A) Buffy the Vampire Slayer B) Firefly C) Angel D) Agents of Shield
20. WHICH BRITISH SITCOM IS SET IN THE LONDON OFFICES OF THE FICTIONAL REYNHOLM INDUSTRIES AND REVOLVES AROUND THREE STAFF MEMBERS? A) The IT Crowd C) Absolutely Fabulous B) My Family D) Outnumbered
10. WHICH 90’S TV SERIES HAD THE SLOGAN ‘THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE’? A) Twin Peaks C) The X-Files B) Cheers D) Charmed
SO... HOW DO YOU THINK YOU SCORED? Check the answers at the bottom of the page!
Answers: 1-B. 2-C, 3-B, 4-D, 5-A, 6-B, 7-A, 8-C, 9-B, 10-C, 11-D, 12-A, 13-B, 14-B, 15-D, 16-C, 17-A, 18-C, 19-B, 20-A.
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13. WHAT FAMOUS TV SHOW DOES LADY GAGA STAR IN? A) The Walking Dead B) American Horror Story C) Scream D) Scream Queens
Photo: No copyright clearance
Photo: No copyright clearance