It’s been a while since our last What’s On The Box?! post and I have to say there has been a lot of brilliant TV over Christmas and the New Year. With the New Year means the return of some fantastic shows and the debut of some fab new ones! This week it was particularly hard to narrow my choices down to just three, but I got there in the end.
Taboo – BBC1
Photo Credit: FX Networks/BBC
This week saw the start of new period drama Taboo on BBC1. It saw the brilliant Tom Hardy return to our small screens in a big way! Set in 1814, the story centres around adventurer James Delaney (Hardy) who returns to Britain from Africa. Delaney returns to find out his father has passed and the country is at war with the United States and France.
I have to say for the first half of the opening episode I did find myself lost at times. However with a little perseverance I got to grips with the story and found it very interesting. There is going to be many levels to Hardy’s character and we have only just touched the shell. Hardy has always been able to play dark and brooding characters very well so I am intrigued to see who this character James Delaney really is. Not forgetting the great visuals and costume design used for this period drama, they really are something special.
If you missed it, catch up on BBC I Player, it’s definitely one to watch if you’re into dark period dramas!
The Halcyon – ITV1
Photo Credit: ITV1
I fear I may have a slight period drama theme going on with this weeks instalment. However I just had to include The Halcyon. Set during the the 1940’s in a five star hotel in London, The Halcyon is the perfect backdrop for scandal, lust and drama. At the end of last weeks episode we saw the owner of The Halcyon, Lord Hamilton suffer from a heart attack, leaving his eldest son in charge of the glitzy hotel, and his mourning mother Lady Hamilton left to pick up the crumbly pieces. All the while the Halcyon’s manager Mr Garland, played by the amazing Steven Mackintosh, is having issues of his own with the pressure of Lady Garland’s presence within the hotel.
Photo Credit: ITV1
All of the drama is evened out by the glitz and glamour of the hotel entertainment, played wonderfully by former Eastenders actress Kara Tointon, not to mention the special guest appearance of Beverly Knight in the most recent episode. Then there is the drama and gossip of the staff of course. If you like scandalous period dramas with some fantastic costumes and entertainment, The Halcyon is definitely for you!
Sherlock – BBC1
*Spoiler Alert (if you’re not up to date skip ahead)*
Picture Credit: BBC/Hartswood Films/Todd Antony
Now I have to be honest and it’s quite embarrassing but… before last week I’d never seen any of the Sherlock series with Benedict Cumberbatch. I haven’t been actively avoiding it, I guess I just never got round to it. So I decided it was time to watch Sherlock and what a great way to start. Last weeks episode saw the death of Mary, after she jumped in front of a bullet to save Sherlock’s life. After trying to reach out to John after Mary’s death it was apparent to Sherlock he wanted nothing more to do with him.
Photo Credit: BBC/Hartswood Films/Todd Antony
This weeks episode returned with an even more loopy Sherlock than we have known before. Sherlock had fallen into a dark pit of drugs and isolation with no one but the fabulous Mrs Hudson, after being shunned by John. This weeks episode was a bold move by the BBC and a great one, the plot revolved around a beloved public figure Culverton Smith a successful businessman and an all round eccentric, giving back to the communities and funding charities and children’s hospitals, as well as having great connections in high places, much like the case of Jimmy Saville, whereas Smith is very much into murder. Sherlock finds himself being approached by Smith’s daughter asking for help to bring down her serial killer father. The episode is full of great twists and turns and of course classic Sherlock, not to mention Mrs Hudson wildly driving a sports car. I won’t say too much more just in case you haven’t seen it and decided to read on anyway. But trust me it is definitely one to watch and next weeks final episode is sure to go out with a bang!
Let us know which shows you have been watching this week and what you’re loving, and what you thought about my latest picks. Drop us a comment below or get in touch via our social media!
Thanks for reading.
Chloe @ Team Hurley
xo
Sarah Hurley Blog 