In The Flesh: Series 2, Episode 1 - TVReview

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Article author: Alwyn Ash

"The living can be just as dangerous, son. You mark my words."

Dominic Mitchell's zombie drama "In The Flesh" returns for a second season and, just like its first outing, delivers right on the money, with a shocking opening involving terrorism and the murder of former Roarton resident Ken Burton (Ricky Tomlinson) and his young nephew. Most of the cast return, including Luke Newberry, Harriet Cains, and Emily Bevan. There is also a new face as actress Wunmi Mosaku ("Moses Jones") joins the production.

In Series 1, PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome) sufferers were reintegrated back into their old communities following treatment, with much suspicion and tension firmly present. Family, friends and neighbours watched for signs of danger, some unable to accept that anyone who had died and been resurrected during The Rising, in 2009, were capable of reintegration. There was much hostility, and killings, as two worlds collided. In the end, old friendships were reignited. It was to be a difficult struggle, but one with hope.

Series 2: it has been eighteen months since "Rotters" were resettled into their homes, but all is not well. A radical group calling itself the Undead Liberation Army (ULA) is striking fear into the living community, this is brought into tragic focus within the first four minutes with an attack on a tramcar involving members of one cell who have access to an underground drug called Blue Oblivion ("...Still on the streets even after supposed crack down..."). Within moments of taking the drug, the group of four revert back to their primal zombie state, indiscriminately killing other passengers. This scene really touched upon a raw nerve, as the zombie thriller embraces a political and extremist edge.

Meanwhile, back in the English village of Roarton, Lancashire, Kieren Walker (Newberry) is adjusting to life, working at the local Legion pub. His relationship with Jem (Cains), his nineteen-year-old sister, could not be better. Amy Dyer (portrayed by Bevan) returns as lively as ever, last seen leaving for a commune. However, she is not alone, accompanied by the mysterious Simon (Emmett J. Scanlan). Apparently Amy has been "chosen", and we are yet to learn just what consequences will lead from this further into the new series.

Kieren is restless, and wants to travel; his sister suggests Paris, to follow his passion as an artist. Both are holding back emotions, scars that will take longer to heal emotionally than physically. Jem is the best example of this - no longer a member of the "Human Volunteer Force" (HVF) vigilante group, her attempts at readjusting to every day life is taking its toll, best demonstrated during a visit to the local supermarket with her mother, where haunting memories remain. And, of course, there are parents Sue and Steve (Marie Critchley and Steve Cooper), who are clearly delusional about their son's activities as a Rotter following The Rising. However, this is a family determined to bring itself together, and leave the past behind. Other residents are clearly not so keen to let go...

A potential new threat to the peace of Roarton comes in the form of devious MP Maxine Martin, a member of Victus, a political party whose hatred towards PDS sufferers continues to ignite retaliation by the radical ULA. Martin's personal feelings towards the undead are very clear, leaving a distinct foul taste - we can only imagine what horrors will be unleashed upon her victims, just ask Vicar Oddie (Kenneth Cranham).

With the length of Series 2 doubled from three to six episodes, there will be plenty of time to explore new ground and widen the world in which writer and director work so passionately to create. Dominic Mitchell once more crafts an ingenious tale, skillfully maneuvering both tension and drama from one scene to the next. As with the first season, we take a look at stigma, suspicion and hatred, all manifesting within the hearts and minds of ordinary people. Though Rotters and the Undead Liberation Army are terrifying, it is the actions and prejudices of Human beings that are to be feared most. And, believe me, there are still Rotters at liberty, attacking unsuspecting folk!

As I have said in previous reviews, what makes "In The Flesh" different to other zombie fiction is its appealing look at the reanimated as beings that can be rehabilitated, medicated and released back into society to resume their lives. Agreed, they cannot grow old, and without makeup and contact lenses their appearance is startling; but deep within them lies a soul, capable of feeling. They yearn to be accepted. This style of writing has heart in a way unexplored previously. Mitchell won the Drama Writer category in the 2014 BAFTA TV Craft awards for "In The Flesh" and, with talent like this, you can see why...

Purchase In The Flesh from the Store:
DVD / Blu-ray - Series 1-2

Picture: BBC

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The Secret Of Crickley Hall - TVReview

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Article author: Alwyn Ash

"During World War II, Crickley Hall is a home for orphans evacuated from London. In their attic bedroom, the eldest boy, Maurice Stafford walks in and says to a small Jewish boy, Stefan Rosenbaum that 'Mr Cribben wants to see you'. Stefan runs out onto the landing and hides in an airing cupboard..."

Based on the best-selling 2006 novel by James Herbert, "The Secret of Crickley Hall" is one of those haunting tales that brings together child abuse and murder, loss and pain. Set during two parallel time periods (1943 and 2012), we witness first hand the cruelty of Augustus Cribben (played by Douglas Henshall) as he subjugates his charges to his warped sense of morality, aided by his sister Magda Cribben (Sarah Smart), and eldest charge Maurice Stafford (Bill Milner). The past of Crickley Hall is perfectly balanced by the dramas of the present day, as parents Eve and Gabe Caleigh (played by Suranne Jones and Tom Ellis respectively in the 2012 sequences) move from their old family London home to the old house of Crickley after the disappearance of their son Cameron (or "Cam"). The former believes their child to still be alive, refusing to accept any other possibility. This, as it turns out, will be the driving force for her interest in the ghostly goings-on at the Hall.

Throughout the drama, we visit both eras as a story unfolds of cruelty and suspicion, as young Nancy Linnet (Olivia Cooke) accepts a position at Crickley (in 1943) as a tutor for the resident children. The young woman also meets Percy Judd (Iain De Caestecker) and a close friendship develops. In 2012, the Caleigh family (completed by daughters Loren and Cally) live life as best they can, with eldest daughter Loren (Maisie Williams) going to a new school. But something is wrong at the Hall, and pretty soon disturbances convince Eve that their new residence is haunted - and that, somehow, Cameron is connected!

A dramatic retelling is only as good as the cast, and there is exceptional talent to be found in "Crickley", including David Warner as the elderly Percy Judd. Scriptwriter and director Joe Ahearne ("Ultraviolet", "Doctor Who") delivers the best possible piece, masterfully delivering a suspenseful and intriguing play. Originally airing on BBC One between Nov-Dec 2012, the three-part serial may have attracted an average of five million per episode but its elegance remains - this is quite definitely BBC drama at its finest!

As the tale progresses we learn that Cribben is both deranged and especially hateful towards a Jewish German orphan boy called Stefan Rosenbaum (Kian Parsiani), taking to his whip far too often and for the most minor of "misdemeanors" - the master of Crickley Hall even keeps a punishment ledger, which we later see reflects the cruelty of his "justice" with crimes such as "Crying", "Refusing to speak" and "Wetting the bed". The pretty Nancy is resolute in exposing Cribben's own immorality, and protect the children in his care from any further harm. They are afraid, and Maurice's subservience acts as a major barrier.

Olivia Cooke fans will, of course, now know her as Emma Decody in the "Bates Motel" television series, and her performance in "Crickley" is a strong one as Nancy, who eventually gains the interest of Parish priest The Reverend Horace (portrayed by Craig Parkinson). But it is undoubtedly Suranne Jones who hits the mark as a grieving mother - a phone call in the last chapter brings Eve the news she had hoped would never come, and her reaction to this is just as haunting as the ghostly drama itself - what else can be expected from an actress whose talents have also touched such roles as Sarah in "Single Father" (2010) and Rachel in "Scott & Bailey"?

There are many surprises, including a visit to an elderly Magda (the part taken by Annie Kelly for these scenes) in the "present day", and the ghostly apparitions of children running up the stairs of Crickley Hall, observed by Eve and her youngest Cally (played by the adorably cute Pixie Davies). And then there is the unseen whipcracking, heard by many including a school bully who takes an immediate dislike to eldest daughter Loren. This adaptation was so good that I just had to go out and visit my local bookstore, purchasing a copy of Herbert's finest example of a ghost story. In the end, it was less Poltergeist-scares and more tragedy-based, with two tales interlinking nicely.

One thing that can be said, the BBC has a way of adapting books for screen, with a sharp eye for period drama especially. You only have to look at its recent track-record: "Little Dorrit" (2008); "Great Expectations" (2011); and this year's success "The Crimson Field" (also starring Suranne Jones), marking the BBC's World War I centenary season of programming. In a 2012 interview, author Herbert had some scepticism regarding the transfer of his novel onto screen, believing its complexity would be impossible to adapt, "For a writer the hardest part is handing your work over to someone else, and letting their vision take over". He seemed genuinely pleased with Ahearne's take on "Crickley Hall".

Thoroughly entertaining, and gripping, with enough emotion to sustain through almost three hours, this is one drama that I recommend to anyone who enjoys a good old-fashioned ghost story. Sadly Herbert passed away in 2013, but he leaves behind an intriguing legacy, one that will be studied and celebrated for many years to come...

Purchase The Secret of Crickley Hall from the Store:
DVD - Book - Running time: 175 minutes

Picture: BBC America

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Doctor Who: Dimensions In Time - TVReview

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Article author: Alwyn Ash

"Mayday, mayday. This is an urgent message for all the Doctors. It's vitally important that you listen to me for once. Our whole existence is being threatened by a renegade Time Lord known only as the Rani..."

I have never understood the dislike for Doctor Who's 1993 two-part charity event "Dimensions In Time", designed as a nod and a celebration of the show's 30th anniversary. According to statements that have been made since, "Dimensions" was to be a rather different affair, with intelligible plot and solid dialogue. However, due to time restraints, cost issues, and other requirements, Doctor Who marked an important occasion with a host of faces old and new, and monsters galore. The Daleks were perhaps absent, due to legal reasons, but this was something quite special - utilizing a 3D method called the "Pulfrich effect" (accompanied by the viewer wearing special spectacles with one darkened lens and one transparent one) to give an extra dimension to the Doctor's adventure. It was not, as some see it, a "final insult" - perhaps proceeds raised going to charity is irrelevant?

I can fully appreciate the fans' longing for something quite special, in line with previous celebrations "The Three Doctors" (1973) and "The Five Doctors" (1983), and I for one wished a grander affair had been approved. But let us not forget that, sadly, the show itself had been cancelled in 1989, and there was not a single sign that Doctor Who would ever return as a drama series every again. Even the originally planned 30th Anniversary feature-length drama "Lost in the Dark Dimension" failed to materialise, which would have starred Tom Baker reprising his role as the Fourth Doctor and joined by companions and fellow Doctors - as various actors and production crew have stated in interviews following the cancellation of "Dark Dimension", the presence of Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy would have been little more than cameos, which was not only a disappoint to the actors but would not have become the true equal gathering of the show's stars that fans would have surely wished for at that time...

Had "Dark Dimension" been both produced and a huge success, perhaps the BBC would have given the green light for a new season, but that is now uncertain. And so, with nothing else on the agenda other than a documentary entitled "Thirty Years in the TARDIS", it was decided to go ahead with "Dimensions In Time". One of the ideas settled upon during the genesis of this "Children In Need" reunion was that Doctor Who must intergrate with another popular BBC drama show at that time, "Eastenders", a soap opera following the residents of Albert Square in London. Not such a strange notion when you take into consideration that this was to be a fundraiser for children, and not a canon-based chapter in a long-running television series...

This is perhaps where I feel slightly amused. It is hard to believe that some members of Doctor Who's fanbase have tried to place or explain "Dimensions In Time" into the canon, as if just accepting that it was nothing more than a charity event is too difficult an idea for them to comprehend. It was a sketch, nothing more. And if it is true that "Dimensions" raised over £101,000 for Children in Need, perhaps just a thank you to everyone who took part is required, instead of criticism? 3-D week, which televised a number of special BBC shows using the Pulfrich 3D technique, included "Dimensions" as part of its one-off programming.

The story. Well, the "plot" focuses on renegade Time Lady the Rani (Kate O'Mara) attempting to trap all of the Doctor's incarnations in a time loop. The First and Second Doctors have already been snared, and the Fourth Doctor (played by Tom Baker) sends out a distress message to his remaining other selves; one can only watch and admire the man who had portrayed the role of the Doctor the longest. Following this scene we meet the Seventh Doctor (McCoy) and companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) who arrive in London, 1973, after the TARDIS is drawn off course - McCoy was, at the time of filming "Dimensions", the current Doctor, having starred in the show's last classic canon serial "Survival" in 1989. Using the method of time jumps, we are introduced to other Doctors and companions as the Time Lord attempts to understand the reason for this phenomenon.

Seeing familiar faces again such as the wonderful Nicola Bryant, Sarah Sutton, and Carole Ann Ford (playing companions Peri Brown, Nyssa and Susan Foreman respectively) is always a delight, and the all-too short scene between Colin Baker and Nicholas Courtney is a reminder of just how good the Sixth Doctor and his old friend Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart would have been together in a televised story had Baker remained for further seasons. Talking of a union between these two fabulous actors, it is always a blessing to hear them perform in Big Finish's audio drama "The Spectre of Lanyon Moor", released in 2000, featuring a Cornish landscape and a haunted moor...

I do find it quite a shame that "Dimensions In Time" may never be available, even as a DVD extra. Due to both cast and crew giving their services free of charge, conditions were laid down unequivocal by Equity, the actors' union, which stipulated that "Dimensions" would be transmitted the once only and should never be "exploited commercially in any way". Though I am sure there are some who would not care if this light-hearted sketch was ever seen again, it does make a nice example of what can be achieved when people are brought together to help those who are less fortunate. Television presenter Noel Edmonds (whose popular UK show "Noel's House party" aired both parts of the Doctor Who charity special) could not have worded it better when, referring to a phone-in to decide the outcome of a moment in the sketch, said, "When you make your call you will be invited to make a pledge for Children In Need. So you'll not just be helping the Doctors, but you'll actually be helping children everywhere..."

Ironically, during the special two-parter, we see Jon Pertwee and Elisabeth Sladen visit Albert Square in 2013 - it seems they are with us in spirit for the 50th Anniversary! And a final word from McCoy, who says at the end, "Certainly I, I mean 'we', are difficult to get rid of." Never a truer word said.

Purchase More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS from the Store:
(Included in The Legacy Collection)
DVD - Feature running time: 200 minutes (Includes "Shada")

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Wentworth: Episode 1 "No Place Like Home" - TVReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


Taking a look at the most eagerly-awaited re-imagining.

Prior to the broadcast of the debut episode of Wentworth, there had been much discussion from fans of popular cult television Australian drama Prisoner (known as Prisoner: Cell Block H in the UK and US, and Caged Women in Canada) whether a new treatment would serve to be as popular...

Airing between 1979-86 (692 episodes) on Network Ten, Prisoner focused on the lives of women behind bars, tackling both prison adjustment and personal conflict. It had given us strong female characters played by equally inspirational women such as Bea Smith (Val Lehman), Joan Ferguson (Maggie Kirkpatrick), Erica Davidson (Patsy King), Rita Connors (Glenda Linscott), and Ann Reynolds (Gerda Nicolson).

Now, more than twenty years after the original show ended, welcome once more to Wentworth Detention Centre. Except, this time, some of those familiar names have returned, albeit with difference faces and personalities...

So is Wentworth (a brand new drama commissioned by Foxtel) a remake, sequel or prequel? Honestly, it is none of the latter; more of a re-imagining along the same rout as Ronald D. Moore's Battlestar Galactica took with its revival. Though characters such as Bea, Lizzie Birdsworth and Frankie Doyle are present, it is clear that any connection with the original series is very loose indeed. For example, Doreen Anderson is portrayed here by Shareena Clanton, and Lizzie is so far from her original counterpart that she might as well be a different person entirely.

Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack), Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva),
and Jacs Holt (Kris McQuade) - Wentworth

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A rip-off then, and something that fans of Prisoner should distance themselves from, as some people seem to have done long before its initial airing? In all fairness, Wentworth is a familiar tread through the world of prison life, but there is no doubt that this update has something of its own - the characters, though familiar by name if not looks, have the same potential as their originals, the scripts are tight and engaging, and the casting is first rate. That said, I do wonder why Cormack was cast as Bea when she would have been so perfect as Karen Travers, jailed for the murder of her husband (as in the 1979 production); McQuade could have then been cast as Bea; Nicole da Silva as Franky is an excellent choice however.

And perhaps Wentworth would have served better as a sequel to the original rather than any other type, with fresh characters altogether? Regardless, for this fan, there is definitely room for both. I am still happy.

If the writing and direction remain constant throughout its run, there should be no reason why this new concept from Lara Radulovich and David Hannam (based on Reg Watson's original vision) shouldn't be a long-term success. It does have much to live up to compared with Prisoner, Bad Girls (UK drama produced by Shed Productions), and even Within These Walls (UK drama produced by London Weekend Television) - all television dramas focusing on a women's prison.

As for the debut episode itself we are introduced to housewife and hairdresser Bea Smith (Cormack), who arrives at Wentworth Detention Centre on remand for the attempted murder of her husband. This is her first time in prison and there is much to adjust to, as she quickly discovers. A power struggle between fellow inmates Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva) and Jacs Holt (Kris McQuade) is reaching boiling point and it isn't long before something occurs - with horrifying results...

Shareena Clanton will undoubtedly be the other star as we see her character's story develop. By "Episode 2: Fly Me Away" we will learn of Doreen Anderson's personal heartbreak. And Leeanna Walsman, cast as Prisoner Advocate Erica Davidson, is another face to watch, as there are changes afoot at Wentworth... As for Danielle Cormack and Nicole da Silva - excellent performances ladies!

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In The Flesh: Episode 3 - TVReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


"There is no denying that In The Flesh is the kind of television drama needed."

Set in the fictional English village of Roarton, the final part was all about departure (as Amy Dyer - portrayed by Emily Bevan - said an emotional farewell), revenge (Bill Macey's execution at the hands of Ken Burton), and a family reunited (this has always been the heart of the tale). In other ways, Part Three felt rushed...

It was always going to be interesting, seeing just how this tale of Partially Deceased Syndrome (PDS) sufferers being returned to the community would work out, and on the whole writer Dominic Mitchell has worked a miracle; In The Flesh is perfect original entertainment, offering more than just a zombie rising and scenes of gore as they eat their way through the residents of Roarton. Instead, the zombies are not traditional zombies at all but victims of PDS, which caused them to rise from their graves and, yes, eat the residents of Roarton. But we see this purely as flashbacks.

The tale handed to us as a slice of BBC Three entertainment focuses on rehabilitation as "Rotters" are treated, before being permitted to see their friends and families. Reintegration. This, in itself, is dangerous - members of the HVF (Human Volunteer Force) are on the look out for any "Rotter" and will likely shoot to kill, which is precisely what happened to Ken's wife in one disturbing consequence.

Ricky Tomlinson as Ken Burton

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Without going into too much past detail (see reviews for In The Flesh), it was clear from day one that 18-year-old Kieren Walker's relationship with his parents and sister Jem was always going to be resolved in a positive way - it would be heartbreaking not to; Jemima Walker (played by the talented Harriet Cains) had shown hostility toward her brother from the moment he first returned and yet... she was far from being a cold-hearted participator of the HVF, nor did she harbour the same feelings of disgust that someone like HVF leader Bill displayed - this was apparent many times, including her reaction to the killing of Ken Burton's PDS suffering wife at the conclusion of the opening episode. It is therefore heartfelt, during a flashback, that we discover Jem's reluctance to destroy her own brother during a moment in his untreated state, following the rising.

Kieren's parents, too (portrayed by Marie Critchley and Steve Cooper) had to finally face the reality of their new life - the latter, Steve (who had discovered his son's body following the suicide that would eventually lead to Kieren's PDS condition), had suppressed so much emotion that he was finally able to let rip. This was encouraged by Kieren, as father and son were finally able to engage in a way not seen since Kieren's rising. Add to that the beautiful scene between mother and son, as Sue exchanges such a perfect moment of comfort in the cave where Kieren had originally died, "This time, you live, you don’t leave, you stay" in response to her son's loss...

...and this is where the story regained its cruel footing - the murder of PDS sufferer Rick Macey (David Walmsley), at the hands of his own father! As with Ken Burton's wife, this was a tragic set of events as Bill's twisted sense of morality finally urged him to take action and destroy the doppelganger that had dared to live in his home, taking the place of his deceased son. This, of course, was followed by the equally shock shooting of Bill, as Ken (whose presence in Part Two had been sadly lacking) finally sought the justice he felt was deserved. Brutal, and perhaps a little empty with its execution (pun intended); perhaps a scene depicting Ken's arrest would have balanced out the story, demonstrating that a "Rotter" is not protected by law - hence Bill's heartless actions receiving no legal comeuppance...

Kieren's old hunting partner Amy didn't have too much to sink her teeth in to with the final episode, instead choosing to leave Roarton. However, once more this scene was touched with genuine passion as both Bevan and Luke Newberry said their farewells. Seeing Luke confronting his own demons, facing his nightmares head on by visiting the parents of one of his victims also demonstrated the power of the script writing.

Perhaps three parts were never quite enough, as there was so much more that should have been developed further. However, that said, there is no denying that In The Flesh is the kind of television drama needed. Indeed, writer Mitchell must be congratulated on his vision - a debut in more ways than one...

Thank goodness for ‘Northern Voices’, the BBC Writersroom scheme that gave us, the viewers, an opportunity to enjoy the skills of a very talented man. And, equally, a very talented team that brought his world to life.

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In The Flesh: Episode 2 - TVReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


Second part manages to be more than just a zombie outing - even the Rotters in the woods show their Human quality...

The debut of new BBC Three drama In The Flesh had Kieren Walker (Luke Newberry) returning home after undergoing rehabilitation, medicated and his true nature disguised, only to find a hostile and suspicious community preparing for the arrival of any PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome) sufferers who dare to return to the remote Northern village of Roarton. A shock ending saw the heartless killing of Ken Burton's wife, Maggie, who had, until treated and medicated, been a "Rotter", one of the walking dead. As Bill Macy had put it, "I seem to recall, Ken, last time I saw yer wife, she were in a casket." Actor Ricky Tomlinson portrayed the role excellently, as a man forced to watch his wife die, for a second time.

It is therefore ironic that Bill (played by Steve Evets), leader of the Human Volunteer Force vigilante group, is forced to face his own demons in the form of his soldier son, Rick Macy (David Walmsley), who was believed to be dead until recently. Quite clearly this is a man who hates "Rotters" with every fiber of his being and yet... acknowledging the truth about his own grown-up child is going to be painful and soul searching; and how hypocritical that he leaves neighbour Ken without a wife but choices to ignore the reality of his own situation. He is not alone either - Rick is also in denial, it seems.

Emily Bevan in the flesh

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There is also a question to be asked concerning the close relationship between Kieren and Rick; are they simply friends, or is there more to it? This is where In The Flesh works extremely well, focusing less on the traditional zombie elements and instead piecing together the lives of the residents. There is love, hate, suspicion, guilt and so much more where the series demonstrates its true power. For example, though Jem Walker (Harriet Cains) is a member of the HVF, her loyalty to her family is obvious, even if she does make it known that her actions were not born out of any concern for her brother.

And when Kieren finally steps through the doors of the local British Legion, there is far less hostility than expected; instead these are people who simply feel uncomfortable around a reanimated friend or neighbour, not eager zombie killers who might be seen in more traditional tales (In The Flesh may have its footing in the wake of American filmmaker George A. Romero's movies but its own focus reflects an intriguing side not touched upon before in this way: what happens if a zombie can be treated?) - this is a close community and their reaction to events not so predictable.

Emily Bevan wonderfully portrays Kieren's old "Rotter" hunting partner, Amy Dyer, as the two are reunited while Kieren visits his own grave (it becomes clear that his wishes to be cremated were ignored by his parents). Amy remembers him, and soon a new uneasy friendship is formed. They are on opposite ends of emotion, as it becomes apparent that Amy feels no regret whatsoever for her actions during an untreated state, "Back then, we were in survival mode, out of our minds".

We are also treated to a touching scene between Kieren and Amy as the two share something about their deaths; Amy had died of Leukemia, Kieren sucide. Amy undoubtedly brings both humour and warmth with her vivacious personality, and is easily the perfect foil to Kieren - whereas he is full of guilt, she has been given a second chance at life and will damn well make the most of it! Her decision to go "au naturale" by rejecting both makeup and contact lenses is a perfect example of Amy's nonconformity, even if the rules were set in place to both keep her safe and the public from panicking.

On a last note, the sighting of a rabid Rotter in the woods leads to one of the most astonishing moments in television history - a grown male zombie demonstrating primitive and yet clear paternal instincts toward a zombie female child, both untreated and still in a feral state of being. Though Bill urges his son to shoot these two Rotters, it is Kieren who steps up, persuading both his friend and the others in the group to capture the Rotters instead. This is where we realise just how possible it was to treat the infected in the first place, for they never truly lost "themselves"...

If the 'rising' is a metamorphosis, are the "Rotters" a moth or butterfly? In Amy's case, I would say the latter. And if "Zombie theology" suggests that the soul is separated from the body at the point of death prior to it being reanimated, then what of Dominic Mitchell's creations? They have souls, they remember. That is where In The Flesh sets new ground; to die is to be reborn, albeit in an unprecedented new world.

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In The Flesh: Episode 1 - TVReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


"In The Flesh is a human story, looking at tragedy, guilt, acceptance, and both justice and injustice..."

Imagine, a world of zombies, the kind of soulless creatures that rise from their graves to devour human flesh, aimlessly stalking the neighborhood, a ravage hunger and a violent nature for killing. There would be a fight for survival, as those who lived fought the dead, destroying these ghouls in the most traditional of methods - the head! But what if... the state of a zombie could be conditioned with medication, and the deceased returned to society?

In Dominic Mitchell's well-crafted drama for BBC3 we are introduced to a world proceeding a zombie apocalypse; those who were once monsters undergo treatment and rehabilitation, before being released back into the community, where they are returned to families and friends. How will people respond? The unease of knowing what the zombie - now officially recognised as a sufferer of PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome) - has done in the time of its untreated state would always sit in the back of anyone's mind.

Eighteen-year-old Kieren Walker (played by Luke Newberry) is one such person. We are introduced to him at a Partially Deceased Treatment Centre in Norfolk. This is the place where he has been prepared for his new life in the remote Northern village of of Roarton, where he lived before his death. Adjustment is key, a chance to exist again. That is, unless the Human Volunteer Force (HVF), a vigilante group, has other ideas...

Sisterly love, Cains as Jem

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His sister Jem Walker (excellently portrayed by Harriet Cains), who has been a member of the HVF since the rising, clearly has mixed feelings toward her brother; however it is pleasing to see that her loyalty to the family outweighed any existing apprehensions.

Three-part drama In The Flesh is a human tale, looking at tragedy, guilt, acceptance, and both justice and injustice; a cleansing, the need for some to hunt down and destroy those who had died only to rise again (those who had murdered family, friends and neighbours in the process), and the existence of informers within the village, had my mind visualising the persecution of the Jewish community during the Second World War under German occupation; how people would be dragged out of their hiding places into the street, and shot in front of neighbours and loved ones, or forced to leave due to the constant fear of being caught, always looking over your shoulder, through gaps in curtains, questioning who to trust... It is an uneasy reminder that, given extraordinary circumstances, the unthinkable is possible.

Even the very idea of a PDS sufferer being released back into their old lives, once more interacting with friends and family, medication keeping their condition at bay, reminded this reviewer of someone recently out of a psychiatric hospital, now medicated but memories of their previous imbalanced actions still present in people's minds. Stigma and discrimination, an uneasy sense of suspicion and fear, the doubt of whether this person might just revert back to how they used to be, especially if they had once been violent and dangerous, as these "Rotters" clearly were... The world that Dominic Mitchell has visualised is more than just a story of survival in a zombie apocalypse - In The Flesh portrays the walking dead as victims that must face anger, suspicion, and guilt.

The cast is nicely gathered, with fine performances by Marie Critchley and Steve Cooper (as Kieran's parents Sue and Steve), Ricky Tomlinson (as Ken Burton), Steve Evets (playing HVF leader Bill Macy), and Kenneth Cranham (as Vicar Oddie - he's all about forgiveness, this one!)

Jonny Campbell directs superbly, clearly loving Mitchell's script as he takes every scene, shining such visual depth and haunting bite that, every step of the way, we are drawn into the drama with a sense of our very own apprehension - we want everything to work out, for the past to be forgiven, and these sufferers to be accepted; but we fear the possible, know that any one of these medicated "Rotters" could be held accountable for their "crimes". Or that, without treatment, they are nothing more than mindless killers...

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The Fades: Episode 1 - TVReview

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Can they survive the Fades?

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Sinister things are coming...


It is almost difficult to believe that anything else could match the pure escapism and magic that Doctor Who currently enjoys. However, last night something so different, a television event, dropped out of the sky (just like dead birds) and took us in. The Fades is a supernatural thriller written by Jack Thorne (Skins, This Is England '86) and from the off there was something special about it. A woman is murdered, an unearthly creature stalks a building, a young man encounters a world of darkness that not everybody else sees... welcome to Paul's nightmare! So what makes this new drama so compelling?

Firstly the chemistry between actors Iain de Caestecker and Daniel Kaluuya, who play Paul and Mac, is remarkable in itself and helps to raise the characterisation to beyond satisfactory - even in a tale that explores death, it is always good to make light of a situation. And talking of light, I shall get to the ghosts in a moment.

The second delight in this mix of supernatural is the introduction of elements that will make this story a classic: poison in the eye, the moth (in a fantastic Jaw-dropping scene featuring Daniela Nardini and Johnny Harris), lonesome phantoms on rooftops straight out of a Charles Dickens ghost story, and souls searching for their afterlife...

And so to the darker elements (as if a moth out of the mouth wasn't dark enough *spoilers*), the sinister creature introduced from the start is committing murder - but why? Paul's night terrors envision an apocalypse, a possible future event? And just what makes him so special? Not only can he see spirits of the dead, but by the end of the episode he collapses and... absorbs some kind of energy, the same power that Helen (Nardini) displayed in an earlier scene?

So just what are the Fades? It is explained that they are dead people who have been unable to ascend - they are trapped on this Mortal coil, forever doomed to observe but never again interact; it is also revealed that these pathetic beings burn up and reform each time organic matter passes through them.

There is much to admire here, and both cast and crew deserve credit for giving us something new and incredible. I suppose the question is: can the quality be maintained in further episodes? Let us hope so, because this is one series that has the potential to make Wednesday nights an event...

Further reading: Check out the blog by The Fades writer Jack Thorne.

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Torchwood: Miracle Day - The New World - TVReview

GUEST article author: Beth Evers


"With all the extra people, resources are finite. It’s said that in four month's time, the human race will cease to be viable."

Torchwood is back, bigger and better than ever! Convicted pedophile/murderer, Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman) is scheduled to die by lethal injection. This fails, and we see that something strange is happening across the world. "Someone changed the rules. Miracles got easy." No one has died, anywhere. People still get sick or injured, but no deaths.

Much of this first episode is set in Wales, and we see where Gwen (Eve Myles), Rhys (Kai Owen) and baby Anwyn have been in hiding for the past 12 months. Torchwood no longer exists. Jack (John Barrowman) has disappeared, and all the rest are dead. The CIA gets involved and starts investigating Torchwood following an email sent at the same time of the last recorded death.

John Barrowman and Eve Myles

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There are some classic Russell T Davies scenes and definitely some funny tongue-in-cheek moments throughout this first episode. Miracle Day was well written, and set up future episodes nicely. It provided enough back story for new viewers, but was fast paced enough for existing fans. And the moment where Jack and Gwen see each other for the first time was a definite payoff. British fans needn’t worry that it has become too "American"; Torchwood: Miracle Day still has all of the charm and flavor that the previous series’ had.

It’s great to see old friends Barrowman, Myles, Owen, and Tom Price back on the screen. Their chemistry together is terrific. Pullman has aged and is über-creepy as the baddy. He is almost unrecognizable. I haven’t warmed yet to the CIA agents played by Mekhi Phifer and Alexa Havins, but their acting was good, and I think that they will be interesting players in the next episodes.

Definitely looking forward to episode two!

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Outcasts: Episode 1 - TVReview

Article author: Alwyn Ash


Taking a look at new drama...

Welcome to Forthaven, the year: 2040. Ten years ago thousands of travellers left Earth in search of salvation. They discovered Carpathia, a planet named after the steamship that had rescued survivors of the ill-fated RMS Titanic in 1912. This new world was to be their home, a colony. It was to be a place of new beginnings, peace and prosperity, hardships and sacrifice perhaps. But death came. Children became sick. A virus took hold. In the end quarantine was ordered. Life continued. Other spacecraft had been dispatched from Earth, long ago. No one else arrived. At least, that is not until last night.

And this is where we join Outcasts, a new sci-fi drama from the BBC. The trouble is, I am not really convinced by the "sci-fi" label. Yes, it had a spaceship, and stars, and the whole piece was set on a distant planet (which takes five years to reach from Earth) but for most of the time it gave us Lost instead (and I found that absurd and boring).

There wasn’t even any sign of native wildlife to give us an inkling that we really were on an alien world. Remember, these settlers had been on Carpathia for ten years by this point – are the writers really trying to tell us that a world capable of supporting life had no local inhabitants to begin with? I find that very difficult to believe. Maybe Episode Two will shine some light on this question. Or not.

And so, what are the positives…? From start to finish Outcasts had us wondering just where the excitement and action would jump out at us from. Of course, the first episode was completely focused on character development, but maybe that is another thing wrong with all of this: some of the characters just didn’t sit right with me. It certainly didn’t help that a couple of the actors just couldn’t… act. Or, to be frank, they acted badly. OK. It wasn’t all negative. I was very impressed with Liam Cunningham as the President of the colony; his interaction with the captain of the newly arrived transport certainly had its uses – it was during this dialogue that we learn of the virus that had infected their young.

Hermione Norris and Amy Manson as Stella Isen and Fleur Morgan respectively gave nice performances, Isen the head of Protection and Security and Morgan as PAS Officer. Daniel Mays as Cass Cromwell, however, failed to deliver any real depth. For a man who gave us such a compelling performance as Uday in the 2007 television drama Saddam’s Tribe, Mays disappointed. Yes, Cromwell was a geezer, but one whose presence could have been easily ignored in the opening episode. Even Jamie Bamber’s presence wasn’t indulged further. His character, Mitchell Hoban, attacked his wife after discovering that she had been spying on him, kidnapped his son from school, and went on the run beyond the colony. But this was extremely short-lived.

PAS Officers Morgan and Cromwell are sent after him, find him and he is killed. Hoban’s son is alive and well. As a fan of Battlestar Galactica, I would have welcomed more of Bamber in this. Oh well. The real drama remained with the transport and its passengers, survivors from Earth. From the start we learn that the spacecraft is in danger of breaking up during atmospheric entry, the ship has already gained severe damage during its voyage and repairs are needed. But nothing is certain.

And so we are left hoping, our fingers crossed. We learn that Stella Isen’s child is also aboard the transport. This, quite clearly, adds to the apprehension that we feel for Norris’ character. It is therefore a sad moment when we learn of impending disaster for most of the transport crew and passengers. Escape pods are launched, though only a small number of people will survive. We are given a glimpse of the craft as it burns up, a sad reminder of the true-life 2003 disaster when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members. This, for me, was the true drama of the episode. Ironically, RMS Carpathia was sunk by a German U-boat in the Atlantic on 17th July 1918 during the First World War. Maybe this is an omen: for either Carpathia 2011 or Carpathia 2040.

You decide.

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