Netflix's Wednesday - Season 1 (Based on The Addams Family) ★★★★☆

There were three things I loved as a kid: Tim Burton, The Addams Family and the colour black. I can’t even begin to explain how happy it makes me that the three have collided in splendid serendipity on Netflix’s Wednesday.

About

If one thing is true about Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega), it’s that the only person allowed to pick on her brother Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) is Wednesday. When she finds out that the school bullies have picked on Pugsley yet again, Wednesday reacts in the only reasonable way a big sister can: she puts piranhas in the school swimming pool, while the bullies are swimming in it.

Unfortunately for Wednesday, she manages to get caught

Her parents, the besotted duo Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Gomez (Luis Guzmán), decide that it is time for Wednesday to attend the school where they met. Designed to be a home and finishing school for young outcasts, Nevermore Academy is the place of Wednesday’s nightmares, and not the good ones either.

As a brilliant, independent and terminally cynical young person who just happens to be allergic to colour, Wednesday is horrified to discover that she must room with the bright, cheerful and colourful Enid (Emma Myers). This is not going to turn out well for anyone.

Things do take a turn for the better however when Wednesday discovers that there is a vicious monster lurking in the woods, targeting both townspeople and students at Nevermore. With her emerging psychic abilities providing dark glimpses of the future, Wednesday realises there is a place for her at Nevermore and a mystery to solve.

Now if she can only get the messy business of making friends and forging alliances out of the way before she becomes the monster’s next victim.

What Wednesday is Really About

Wednesday is about friendship and trust, about how there is always a lot more to people than their appearance and insecurities will betray. Wednesday is not a hugger and emotions are definitely not her strong suit, but over time she learns that team activities and school dances are not so bad after all absolutely the worst thing ever.

She finds friendship in places she doesn’t expect and learns to care about people in ways that she couldn’t have imagined in her worst nightmares.

Throughout it all, Wednesday is plagued by an innate sense of right and wrong and will always choose to stand up for others in the face of bullying and injustice. It’s the story of her life: if anyone is going to make people’s lives a misery, it is Wednesday.

Wednesday Has All the Original Characters

The enduring appeal of The Addams Family lies in its cast of kooky, spooky characters dating back to the original black-and-white series. They all return for Wednesday including Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Lurch (George Burcea), Thing (Victor Teodor Dorobantu) and even Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen).

Ten Times Wednesday Addams Spoke the Absolute Truth

Wednesday is full of one-liners that remind me of how witty and punny the original material was. Here are ten times Wednesday Addams spoke the truth.

I find social media to be a soul-sucking void of meaningless affirmation

Editors are short-sighted, fear-based lifeforms

We all die alone

Dead people are notoriously bad at returning calls

Emotions are a gateway trait. They lead to feelings which trigger tears

I don't hold seances very often. I can barely tolerate the living, why would I want to commune with the dead?

Every day is all about me. This one just comes with a cake and a bad song

I don't bury hatchets. I sharpen them

The dead can be just as annoying and unreliable as the living

Ultimately, thieves turn on each other

Six Pet Names for Wednesday Addams

Adorable as she is confounding, Wednesday gets under people’s skin and provokes a variety of pet names, some more fond than others and many undeniably spot-on.

• “My little death trap” – Gomez
• “Grim Reaper Barbie” – Tyler
• “Exhausting” – Principal Weems
• “Velma” – Sheriff Galpin 
• “My little rain cloud” - Morticia
• “My pig-tailed protégé” – Uncle Fester

Of course, she prefers to think of herself as different, an original thinker and an intrepid outlier.

Verdict

Like any good Tim Burton production, Wednesday is fun, irreverent and has a whole lot of heart. It’s full of one-liners, delivered with superb timing and there were times when I cackled maniacally out loud. Wednesday has the best facial expressions and Jenna Ortega gave a brilliant performance as the sardonic little burned cupcake.

Just like with my favourite Burton films Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands, Wednesday has you caring for characters you did not expect to care for, always rooting for the outcasts and being surprised by the actions of supposedly good people.

Honestly, the only disappointment was me because I absolutely did not guess who the monster was. I was shaken, I tell you, so much so that I had to rewind that scene and witness again how it all fell apart.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Wednesday navigate the minefield of human connections and friendship. A great example was her unexpected rapport with Sheriff Galpin (Jamie McShane) and how the two came to grudgingly respect the other.

It was extremely refreshing for a teen, paranormal series not to only focus on romance. There were definite interests amongst the characters and exploration of identity, including an LGBTQI+ storyline with a character at risk of conversion therapy, but it was more an exploration of character depth than a plot point and I appreciated that a lot. I also appreciated the message that it’s okay not to be interested yet, if at all.

If I had to compare Wednesday to my Netflix favourites I would say that it's got the heart of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina but not the diversity, and it doesn't have the plot depth or quality of writing of The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself. Nevertheless, it's a lot of fun, has excellent acting all round and I hope we see a second season.

★★★★☆

WEDNESDAY premieres globally November 23, only on Netflix

Wednesday Trailer (Dir by Tim Burton)

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Netflix's The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself - Season 1 (Based on Sally's Green's Half Bad Trilogy) ★★★★★

The problem with reviewing television shows before they release is that there is a point in time where you're not even allowed to talk about them. All I could do after finishing episode six of The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself was post a vague quote tweet of the Netflix promo, saying 'this is everything'. Because this show is everything. Based on the Half Bad trilogy by Sally Green, The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself lands on Netflix on 28 October 2022. I think fans of the books are going to like this adaption a lot but so will viewers unfamiliar with the series.

About The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself

In modern-day Europe, two warring factions of witches live amongst humans. The Fairborn witches have power in England after expelling most of their rivals, the Blood witches, to mainland Europe. Wanted by no one and hated by all, sixteen-year-old Nathan Byrne (Jay Lycurgo, The Batman) lives with his grandmother and half-sister in England. He is the illegitimate son of a Fairborn mother and Marcus Edge, the most notorious, violent Blood witch in history. The Fairborn Council is terrified that Nathan will follow in his father's footsteps and Nathan is monitored constantly.

How Are You Sleeping At Night?
Do You Ever Have Violent Dreams
Do You Have Fantasies About Hurting People?
Do You Find Yourself Getting Quick To Anger?
Do You Ever Have Negative Feelings About Other Witches?
If You Listen Carefully Can You Hear My Heartbeat?

Nathan is fast approaching his seventeenth birthday when he will receive three gifts and drink the blood of a family member, as all must witches do, in order to develop his true witch power. The only problem is that Nathan is running out of family members and his options are similarly diminishing after certain instigators manage to provoke his anger. Armed only with his friendship with Fairborn witch Annalise (Nadia Parkes, Domina) and the mysterious Blood witch Gabriel (Emilien Vekemans, Transferts), Nathan will have to outrun those who would destroy him and learn that sometimes the worst times are the best times, and that good and bad depend on what you do, not who you are.

The Cast

Characters We Love

Jay Lycurgo is Nathan Byrne

It is impossible not to like Nathan in the books, he does narrate them after all, but we grow to love him in the series as he grows from a cheeky, irreverent child into a defiant and determined teen. We watch as his innocence is eroded by the irrational, zealous hatred directed at him yet still he struggles to hold on to his humanity. He's not even safe at home and is constantly targeted by his own sister, Jessica. We'll get to her later. The casting for Jay Lycurgo was spot on and his performance is superb. There wasn't a single moment when I wasn't completely invested in Jay as Nathan.

Emilien Vekemans is Gabriel

I loved Gabriel in the Half Bad trilogy but nothing could have prepared me for much I loved every minute he was on screen in The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself. Emilien Vekemans is perfect as Gabriel, as is Charles Nicol as Young Gabriel. Gabriel is funny and sarcastic but don't underestimate him because beneath that beautiful, ultra-cool exterior lies one of the most complex, loyal characters ever written. I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series takes Gabriel.

Those We Hate

Isobel Jesper Jones is Jessica

Hate is a strong word, I wonder if there are any stronger words I can use to describe Nathan's sister, Jessica? Jessica is a study in psychopathy, the most despicable character ever seen on screen. Isobel Jesper Jones does a fantastic job as Jessica in her professional debut. I've genuinely never hated a character this much; every moment on screen, every decision, every facial expression, Jessica is horrible and irredeemable and someone needs to put her down.

Paul Ready is Soul

Soul is a Hunter, leader of the Fairborn Council Protection Unit and father of Annalise and Niall. He is also utterly bereft of any moral compass whatsoever, except that which points him in the most dastardly direction. It's difficult to describe how good Paul Ready is as Soul but he absolutely captures his weak-mindedness and blind ambition, making me want to reach through the screen and strangle him myself.

There is one other character who I hated but I fear that to mention them by name would be too much of a spoiler. Suffice to say, I'll have an entire section dedicated to them next season.

Those Who Surprise Us

Karen Connell is Ceelia

Ceelia is one of the Fairborn witches who discover Nathan and Jessica on the day their mother is murdered. She is the one who monitors Nathan throughout his childhood and the one who keeps him in an outdoor cage when he is removed from his home. Ceelia is written with incredible depth in The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself, adding so much more to her than we saw in Half Bad. It was surprising and devastating. Karen Connell gives a nuanced performance, saying more in her facial expressions and gestures than would ever need to be spoken in words. I didn't much notice Ceelia in the books but she will go down as one of my favourite characters in the series, if not ever.

Nadia Parkes is Annalise

Another very surprising character is Annalise, Nathan’s best friend and sometimes girlfriend. She exists mostly in the past tense in the first book, Half Bad, on which season 1 is based, but she is central to the story in the series. It was impossible not to notice from the very first episode how good of an actress Nadia Parkes is and how well she portrayed Annalise. Like Gabriel, I'm excited to see where the rest of the series will take Annalise and how her storyline will progress.

The Writing: From Page to Screen

The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is one of the best page-to-screen adaptions I've seen in years. Joe Barton is the principal writer along with Ryan J Brown, Helen Kingston and Emer Kenny.

The writers made a lot of changes in the story but that is to be expected given the glacial pace at which the story moved in Half Bad. The effect was that we got to see a lot of new characters and more depth to the characters we did know than we saw in Half Bad. Sadly, that also opens viewers up to falling in love with characters they didn't expect to fall for and having their hearts destroyed by merciless writers.

There was a brief moment in the first episode where I thought that perhaps the series wasn't going to be as dark or grim as the books but I was swiftly disabused of that notion.

My favourite episodes were two of the most devastating ones: episode 6, written by Helen Kingston and episode 7, written by Emer Kenny. There will be no spoilers in this review but these two episodes represented the very best of television and its power to make you feel every emotion possible, from desolation to joy to astonishment. Yes, there was a fair bit of screaming at television screens going on.

Episode 7 also includes the best line in television history:

Ceelia: F*ck you, Robin Hood, and your merry band of c*nts

Oh, did I mention that The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself has a lot of swearing in?

As the first season neared its heart-stopping conclusion, the stakes became ever higher and the stress of it all became palpable. Never before have I wished for an ad break just so that I could calm my heart from beating out of my chest; just thinking back on it is causing palpitations.

Cinematography, Locations and Music

As is to be expected from Netflix and production company The Imaginarium, The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is beautiful to watch. The story moves across England from the suburbs to the City of London to the countryside Up North, before moving to Paris and the French Alps. There are bursts of psychedelic colour, panoramic vistas and scenes so gory that you might need to pause for a moment to compose yourself.

The series is accompanied throughout by an excellent score by British pop group Let's Eat Grandma and also includes great song placements. I really hope they release both the score and soundtrack for this show, because both were brilliant.

Verdict

I'd like to say I loved every minute of The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself but unfortunately I spent too much of it being devastated and having my heart broken into tiny pieces. I also spent a not-insignificant amount of time crying during the final episode. I will say that it's probably my favourite show to debut on Netflix this year and directors Colm McCarthy, Rachna Suri and Debs Paterson did a great job bringing this to life. I give it an excellent five out of five stars and recommend to fans of NOS4A2, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Shadow & Bone and Fate: The Winx Saga or any fans of witches, horror and urban fantasy.
★★★★★

The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself launches on Netflix on 28 October 2022

The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself - Trailer

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First Look: Stranger Things 4 Returns 27 May 2022

It's official: Stranger Things returns to Netflix on 27 May 2022 which means you need to watch 2 to 3 episodes a week if you want to complete your rewatch by then. As before, Stranger Things 4, Volume 1 will premiere on 27 May 2022 and Stranger Things 4, Volume 2 will premiere on 1 July 2022.

About Stranger Things 4

It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.

Stranger Things stars Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas and Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, the boy whose disappearance signals the beginning of the fight against the the Upside Down. Winona Ryder stars as Will's mother Joyce and David Harbour is local cop Jim Hopper. Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton and Joe Keery star as older siblings and unexpected teen heroes Nancy, Jonathan and Steve and the cast was joined in Stranger Things 2 by Sadie Sink and Dacre Montgomery playing siblings Max and Billy.

Scroll down to see more exclusive images as we get a first look of Stranger Things 4.

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First Look: Sally Green's 'Half Bad' Trilogy Is Coming to Netflix in 2022

There is great news for fans of Sally Green's incredible Half Bad trilogy today: the series is coming to Netflix in 2022 and we get a first look at the cast! The eight-part drama series will feature Jay Lycurgo (Titans) as Nathan , Nadia Parkes (Domina) as Annalise and Emilien Vekemans (Transferts) as Gabriel.

Multiple Brit Award and Mercury Music Prize nominee Roísín Murphy will be making her drama debut on Half Bad and the cast will be joined by Isobel Jesper Jones, Paul Ready (Motherland), David Gyasi (Carnival Row), Kerry Fox (Conversations with Friends), Liz White (Unforgotten), Karen Connell (Vikings), Fehinti Balogun (I May Destroy You) and Misha Butler (Kiss Me First).

Half Bad is produced for Netflix by The Imaginarium, the production company co-founded by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish. They've brought in British screenwriter, Joe Barton to adapt Green's novels for the show, with additional writing by Ryan J Brown, Dionne Edwards, Helen Kingston, and Emer Kenny.

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Disney's 'Monsters at Work' Sneak Preview

They're back! If you're a fan of Pixar's Monsters, Inc (and even if you're not) the big news is that the world of Monstropolis is returning to our screens on Disney+ on Wednesday 7 July 2021. Legends Billy Crystal and John Goodman reprise their roles as Mike and Sully and events in Monsters at Work begin shortly after screams were swapped for laughs at the end of Monsters, Inc. Produced by Disney Television Animation and inspired by the world of Disney and Pixar's Academy Award- winning Monsters, Inc, the series introduces new monster characters alongside returning favorites.

Even bigger news? I got a sneak preview of the first two episodes!

Monsters at Work - S01E01 - "Welcome to Monsters, Incorporated"

Tylor Tuskmon (Ben Feldman) graduated top of his class at Monsters University and lands his dream job as a Scarer at Monsters, Inc. Only problem? He arrives on his first day to discover that scaring is out and laughter is in and his skills are not exactly transferable. What's a young monster to do?

Tylor gets reassigned to MIFT, the Monsters Incorporated Facilities Team but like many before him, he's convinced he doesn't belong there. Will he find his place at Monsters, Inc before he causes utter mayhem? Only time will tell.

Monsters at Work - S01E02 - "Meet Mift"

Tylor is initiated into MIFT and the team hope that he will become a fellow mift-fit. Meanwhile, Mike begins giving comedy classes in the hopes of getting more monsters on the laugh floor and he performs a hilarious skit on the dangers of comedy.

Monsters at Work Verdict

Monsters at Work is a lot of fun and a very welcome return to Monstropolis. As can be expected from Disney and Pixar, the animation is superb with incredible detail to the monsters. My favourite aspect is the eyes and how each monster has different experiences based on how many they have.

While we see less of Mike and Sully (and it's uncertain if Boo would ever return), the new characters steal the show and I especially enjoyed the supremely irritating Val Little (Mindy Kaling), Tylor's earnest MIFT-supervisor Fritz (the legendary Henry Winkler) and Tylor's mum Millie (Aisha Tyler).

Most importantly: will kids like it? I think they will. It's fun, irreverent yet very wholesome. This kid will be watching all ten episodes when they're released.

The first two episodes arrive on 7 July 2021 on Disney+ with episodes airing every week thereafter.

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TV Review: NOS4A2 - "Bats" (Season 2 finale)

The final episode of NOS4A2's second season is here. The events in "Bats" take us to the end of Joe Hill's novel, with a few notable differences, some of which you may have already picked up in previous episodes.

I was very wary of whether the season was going to finish the story or whether we were simply going to be set up for another season. I’m very happy with how this episode played out but it will be impossible to discuss further without divulging spoilers. I’m therefore going to split the post into spoiler-free and spoiler-heavy sections.

Spoiler-Free: NOS4A2’s Second Season Rocked

Building on the false victories of season one, NOS4A2’s second season has been strong throughout. Characters such as Chris and Linda McQueen (Eben Moss-Bachrach and Virginia Kull) showed great character development, moving on from being abusive, alcoholic teen parents to being towers of strength when Vic needed them most.

A common theme in this season was generational grief, pain and anger and the possibility of redemption. The McQueen family had a heavy burden to bear but each of them showed that you can both escape and build upon your past.

For her part, Vic McQueen (Ashleigh Cummings) struggled with her demons, going on to repeat many of her parents’ mistakes as she fought to come to terms with the trauma that Charlie Manx has created. The one major change was the birth of her son Wayne McQueen (Jason David) and her determination to protect him from Manx.

Much time was spent this season on the origin of Charlie Manx (Zachary Quinto). Have no fear, it didn’t make anyone dislike him any less but it did introduce some interesting characters to the show, most notably his wife Cassie Manx (Celeste Arias).

In a deeply moving and emotional season, two beacons of light were the love Lou Carmody (Jonathan Langdon) had for Vic and Wayne as well as the love between Maggie Leigh (Jahkara Smith) and Agent Tabitha Hutter (Ashley Romans).

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here: Significant Spoilers Ahead

Seriously, if you somehow missed the spoiler warning above, the next section is absolutely drenched in spoilers, partly because I really need to speak about the events in “Bats” and partly in the hope that there will be a third season of NOS4A2 and we’ll want a season 2 recap.

The situation is pretty dire in Christmasland. It may very well be too late for Wayne who is rapidly succumbing to the dark side and stabbed Vic with a pair of scissors and Maggie Leigh is seriously wounded after her encounter with Manx. Vic has to make the most painful decision of all and decides to rescue Wayne, dropping him off with Lou Carmody by the Christmas trees, before going back for Maggie.

Somehow Charlie Manx is driving the Wraith again after Vic nearly destroyed him in the ice maze. As he guns for Vic and Maggie in his Wraith, Vic rides the Triumph with all she has and heads for her bridge. The scenes on the bridge are spectacular. Realising that they cannot lead Manx through the Shorter Way to Lou, Tabitha and Wayne, Vic harnesses the full power of her mind and brings her Inscape crumbling down around the Wraith, sending it plummeting into the static below.

Destroying the Christmas Ornaments

Meanwhile, Lou and Tabitha realise that by destroying the Christmas ornaments, they can release the souls of the children and suddenly all of them appear in the real world from Christmasland. Gone are the demon teeth and evil ways, except for one particular demon child who I knew we shouldn’t trust! Millie Manx watches from the trees, hanging on to her intact ornament and pointy teeth for dear life.

Wayne McQueen and Millie Manx

One month later and Wayne McQueen is subsisting on sugar alone. He escapes to the Christmas trees to find Millie Manx (Mattea Conforti) subsisting on live bunnies and bambis.

Wayne admits that he desperately misses Christmasland and that he never wants to grow up.

Wayne (on adults and growing up): "They pretend they're happy but they're really just tired" .

Millie Manx blames Vic McQueen for the death of her father and vows to rebuild Christmasland, neatly setting us up for a third season. (Yes please, pretty please AMC).

The Destruction of Charlie Manx

Meanwhile in Haverhill, Massachusetts, Charlie's body is discovered in the Merrimack River amongst the ruins of his wrecked Wraith (I’ve been waiting 20 episodes to say that). Just in case you’re expecting a repeat of the previous season, I can confirm that this is it. They've cremated his body, crushing the Wraith and by doing so have successfully destroyed the strong creative, his knife and his Inscape.

The Legacy of Chris McQueen

Linda and Vic are packing up Chris’s stuff and Linda remarks that she has been cleaning up after Chris McQueen her whole life. While he may be gone, his sacrifice and legacy remains and just for today, Vic manages not to take a drink.

She works on her art, a legitimate creative outlet that doesn’t drive her towards an aneurism and Wayne is working on art of his own - creepy, disturbing, weird art – but art nonetheless.

Vic: “No more running away for either of us. Hmm? No more pretending like we feel okay when we don’t, Dad included. Team McCarmody, alright, yeah? We’re staying in the real world”.

An Addict Cannot Stop

While Vic may have her addiction under control, Maggie does not. After failing to convince Vic to explore other Inscapes with her, Maggie asks her tiles how she gets into the World of Thought and lands up at the hotel where she dispatched The Hourglass. I suspected he’d be back! His demise was far too simple and easy and even if he is indeed truly gone, there is a lot in store for another season.

One vital thread that ran through the episode was the inevitability of it all. Maggie Leigh lost her tiles in Christmasland when the demon children robbed her of them but ultimately they found their way back to Maggie. As Maggie tells Agent Hutter, they would have found their way back whether Hutter had brought them back or not. The significance is that while Vic (and Lou and Hutter) want to move on in the real world, fate (and Maggie and Wayne and Millie) are going to drag them right in again.

I am so pleased that we reached a proper ending for Charlie Manx’s story arc. I love it when shows get to end and I’d be equally satisfied if NOS4A2 ended here or if it went on for a third season. I’m also thrilled that Maggie Leigh and Vic McQueen reached less horrible endings in the TV version of the NOS4A2 compared to the book version and am excited that the alternative-book-ending featuring a still-alive Millie Manx is being explored.

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TV Review: NOS4A2 - "Welcome to Christmasland"

As we reach the penultimate episode of NOS4A2's second season, I'm starting to realise that I don't like Charlie Manx very much. This isn't helped by the fact that Zachary Quinto does smug so well and by the middle of "Welcome to Christmasland", I just about want to strangle Manx. Fortunately, it's not just me.

Vic McQueen is not alone

It's all pretty dark on NOS4A2 after the devastating events in "Chris McQueen". Try as she might to push people away, Vic McQueen (Ashleigh Cummings) is not alone.

Maggie Leigh: "I started hunting the Wraith, before you, so I'm going to finish it, with you".

I always did love Maggie Leigh (Jahkara Smith) from the moment I met her and Maggie is one of my favourite characters ever. I suspect this is not going to end well for me.

Speaking of which, I don't think things are going to end up quite like Vic and Maggie planned but more about that later.

Welcome to Christmasland: can we leave yet?

I judged Millie Manx (Mattea Conforti) for sixteen episodes for her demonic ways but even Charlie Manx can't rob her of her humanity. Or is it childlike aspirations? Whatever it is, she wants something and daddy dearest isn't providing it anymore.

Once again, Charlie finds himself in the Sleigh House, with Mr Tim banging to be let out of the closet. The question is, who created the Sleigh House? While Manx is extremely uncomfortable, Millie Manx is not. It's clear that the Sleigh House is Manx's own creation, his superego, his conscience.

Cassie Manx: "You say that Christmasland is a safe haven for children but really it's a place for you to escape yourself, a place where you are not a failure, where you are not a coward who devoured his own family to feed his insatiable ego".

Millie is really growing on me.

Carmody and Hutter

While Vic and Maggie breach Christmasland, Lou Carmody and Tabitha Hutter keep showing up. This scene with the two people who support our powerful creatives is long overdue and underlines the challenge of loving someone who is (literally in this case) single-mindedly destroying herself.

Scissors for the Drifter

Things are pretty dire in Christmasland with Wayne too far gone to be of any help at all. Millie Manx shows incredible resilience to Manx's charms; oh, how strong must her spirit be to throw off the shackles of Manx's thrall! Yes, I'm aware that she's likely to turn around and prove herself to be the ultimate demon child but she is not impressed with Manx.

Millie Manx: "I'm not enough. I never was"

Explosive Finale

"Welcome to Christmasland" is a pretty explosive episode but as we hurtle towards the finale next week, I can't shake the feeling that this is not going to end like Maggie and Vic think it will end.

NOS4A2 returns next week with the season finale "Bats". I haven't read Joe Hill's novel yet but anticipate that the final episode will destroy me. You can catch NOS4A2 on AMC and BBC America (US) with new episodes added every Sunday and AMC UK (BT TV 332) with new episodes every Thursday.

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TV Review: NOS4A2 - "Chris McQueen"

This week's NOS4A2 is all about Vic's father and is aptly named "Chris McQueen". We begin the episode with a flashback to Larry McQueen's funeral, a Vietnam vet who spent a lifetime chased by the ghosts of war. Eben Moss-Bachrach is such a good actor and you truly believe it when Chris says that being a Gulf War veteran made him understand his father's violence, anger and alcoholism.

Please tell me this isn't Chris McQueen's final episode.

This week is all about forgiveness; can Vic forgive Bing, her parents, herself? Can Vic ever get over her parent's past actions without acknowledging that her same actions have put Wayne in danger?

There are mild spoilers in what follows, focusing on situations but not outcomes. Proceed with caution!

The Junk Yard

Magical Lou Carmody has fixed Vic's bike and Vic and Chris McQueen are off to the junk yard after Wayne. Except that Chris loses his temper, costing Vic precious time in saving Wayne.

The Interrogation

The good news is that despite Chris's violence, Bing (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) survives and is brought to interrogation and Vic gets five minutes with him. Typical of Bing, he shows absolutely no self-awareness, believing that if he'd not met Manx it would all be different and he could still be friends with Vic. Because, as we know, Vic definitely needed a violent murderer and rapist in her life. Luckily Vic is quite aware of just how poisonous Bing is.

Vic: "I miss the person I thought you were"

Burn!

Maggie Leigh

I love Maggie Leigh (Jahkara Smith). We all need a friend who'll tell you they'd "shake a thousand assholes for your mopey ass".

The problem is that the more vital Maggie is to a positive outcome for the McQueens, the further it drives her from Tabitha Hutter (Ashley Romans).

The Christmas Trees

Before they enter Christmasland, the children must all hang their ornament on a tree and this is where it gets exciting. We're teased with the tantalising possibility that the children in Christmasland could be saved and Millie Manx (Mattea Conforti) herself appeals to Vic McQueen.

Right on cue, Charlie Manx (Zachary Quinto) arrives in the Wraith with Wayne (Jason David). Manx is looking dubiously dapper and young, while Wayne definitely isn't.

Is it too late for Wayne?

The last five minutes of the episode are pretty devastating, so much so that I found it hard to write about "Chris McQueen" through what felt suspiciously like genuine grief. Kudos to the NOS4A2 team and Joe Hill for writing a story that destroys but man, I feel pretty raw right now.

All the Feelings

I have so many mixed feelings now and a lot of that has to do with the possibility of a third season. I would really like the current story arc to wrap up over the next two episodes. The final two episodes of the first season were not my favourites because they so clearly did not resolve the story and simply set up for the second season.

On the other hand, I'm not sure my heart can stand the next two episodes because I suspect we're going to lose some characters we've grown to love. Conversely, I'd also really like a third season because that's a win for the show, hence the abundance of feelings.

NOS4A2 returns next week with the chillingly named episode "Welcome to Christmasland". You can catch NOS4A2 on AMC and BBC America (US) with new episodes added every Sunday and AMC UK (BT TV 332) with new episodes every Thursday.

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TV Review: NOS4A2 - "Cripple Creek"

It's the beginning of the end for the second season of NOS4A2 and "Cripple Creek" makes for very disturbing and unsettling viewing. There were several points in the episode where I considered whether this was entertainment because, as could be expected from an episode about Bing and Manx, things got very dark indeed.

The Good

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson is chilling as the deluded and deranged Bing Partridge. I recently saw him in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga so I know he can be perfectly lovely and charming when he wants to be. Bing Partridge is neither charming nor lovely but he has Charlie Manx (Zachary Quinto) tied up so kudos to him.

Bing's torture of Manx results in two things, a visit to Manx's childhood and a visit to Christmasland.

Oh, Millie Manx, how we've missed you, horrible little demon child! ! This week we're seeing double as the excellent Mattea Conforti plays both Millie Manx and... Mille Manx. Millie seeks her mother's counsel when the lights begin flickering in Christmasland again and Cassie Manx (Celeste Arias) has had close to a century to contemplate Charlie Manx's weaknesses.

Cassie Manx: "His deepest fears reside inside this house. Fears he's locked behind these doors".

Millie Manx gets to meet herself and remember how she once had dreams, ideas and most of all, a desire to grow up.

Can Cassie save her daughter from beyond the veil?

Cassie Manx: "Don't die here, trapped in your father's sad fantasies".

The Bad

In Cripple Creek, we meet a teenage Charlie Manx (Aidan Pierce Brennan) and learn about the events that stole the light from behind Manx's eyes. We also learn about the other childrens' lives he helped destroy and who he held responsible for those outcomes.

Justice is served and vengeance is delivered but the viewer is left cringing in revulsion and despair.

The Dire

Bing Partridge is the epitome of a small-minded beaten and broken man who turns to sexual assault to exert his power on the world and "Cripple Creek" gives us a nauseating look into the mind of this hideous man. The effect is not unlike being dipped in a vat of an unknown sticky, viscous substance; there aren't enough showers in the world to cleanse my mind of what he did to Paul Demeter and later, Bing Partridge.

The Gas Mask Man is back.

It occurs to me that despite Manx's strongly held beliefs of his own virtue, he and Bing are essentially the same. Both are guilty of parenticide, neither own their crimes and both destroy other lives for the glory of Christmasland.

"Cripple Creek" is gritty, edge of your seat viewing and for one, small moment there was hope. And then there wasn't.

Wayne: "I made a mistake".

Yes, you definitely did Wayne (Jason David) but not as big of a mistake as Bing.

Charlie Manx: "Slow as molasses and dumb as a box of hair".

NOS4A2 returns next week with "Chris McQueen". You can catch NOS4A2 on AMC and BBC America (US) with new episodes added every Sunday and AMC UK (BT TV 332) with new episodes every Thursday.

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TV Review: NOS4A2 - "The Hourglass"

NOS4A2 was brilliant this week and despite the hype over last week's "Bruce Wayne McQueen", I think this week is the more thrilling episode. Not even a minute into "The Hourglass" Jonathan Beckett (Paul Schneider) has his clutches in Dr Gregory. Ultimately, it is Maggie Leigh who puts herself in the most danger this week but leave your expectations at the door because there are two very unexpected outcomes (which I will not spoil, so carry on reading).

Aside from the Unexpected Outcomes Which Shall Remain Unmentioned, there is, as always in season 2, a lot of focus on the characters and how different they are eight years after the first season.

Linda McQueen

Virginia Kull is still billed as Linda McQueen but we learn that it's McNulty now. Linda is doing a good job of pretending to be a good person but for a moment there is a serious risk that her good intentions might result in them losing Wayne.

Linda: "We are Americans, okay? My husband works for the postal service. I go to church. Do better!"

Craig

I hesitated to write about Craig on a supposedly spoiler-free review but what the heck, you'll see Dalton Harrod on the cast list anyway. I was not a fan of Craig at all (creepy boy takes advantage of best friend vibes, anyone?) but he's back and I've never been happier to see him!

I'm hoping we see a lot more of Craig in the episodes to come for the fate of the McQueens might rest on his charred shoulders.

Maggie Leigh and Tabitha Hutter

Maggie is spot on when she intuits the true threat facing the McQueens; she absolutely makes a great amateur sleuth and partner for Agent Hutter.

Maggie tracks The Hourglass down to The Providence Hotel and they both clock each other immediately from across the room.

Hourglass: "I have a rule not to let a beautiful woman buy herself a drink"
Maggie: "That's funny. I have a rule to not let a man do anything for me"

Don't let him turn that hourglass, Maggie!

We learn that The Hourglass's cost is his memory, which is very interesting, and Maggie begins a dance with the devil. The Hourglass makes Maggie an offer she can barely refuse - so tempting but so dangerous. Just when you're beginning to wonder whether Maggie is brave or very reckless, "The Hourglass" delivers the first very unexpected outcome.

Lou Carmody

No week can go by without a bit of Lou Carmody (Jonathan Langdon) appreciation. He really is the best.

Lou: "Baby, I'm the best mechanic west of the Rocky Mountains. I can fix this bike".

That Ending

The second unexpected outcome arrives right at the end of the episode. I can't talk about that but I can tell you that according to Screen Rant, while he didn't exist in the novel NOS4A2, The Hourglass was created especially for the TV show by author Joe Hill. There is also a very subtle hint that there may be a third season in the article. I'm not sure how I feel about this to be honest, I love this show but I'd love to get that rare moment of closure that comes with a show properly wrapping up before they're cancelled.

NOS4A2 returns next week with "Cripple Creek". You can catch NOS4A2 on AMC and BBC America (US) with new episodes added every Sunday and AMC UK (BT TV 332) with new episodes every Thursday.

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TV Review: NOS4A2 - "Bruce Wayne McQueen"

We're at the midway mark in NOS4A2's second season and things are getting hectic at the Lake House. Not surprisingly given the name of the episode, this week is all about "Bruce Wayne McQueen". As Vic (Ashleigh Cummings) races against time to reach the Lake House, Chris McQueen (Eben Moss-Bachrach) and Lou Carmody (Jonathan Langdon) do everything they can to protect Wayne (Jason David). The thing is, given everything he sees in this episode, the damage may have already been done.

"Bruce Wayne McQueen" is riveting, edge-of-your-seat viewing. There was more than one occasion where I screamed out loud at the TV, as the stakes are higher than ever before. The story is told in alternating viewpoints between Wayne and Vic which completely ratchets up the tension, making this an incredibly nail-biting experience.

It's also impossible to say anything at all about the events of this episode without spoiling the whole thing, so I'm going to talk around it in a non-spoilery way instead and discuss where we are with the characters.

Lou Carmody and Chris McQueen

I think I've said this every week this season. Lou is the best dad ever and one of the only beacons of light in this episode. Surely Manx's plot won't work if he tries to snare a child who is so entirely loved? (Cue narrator lamenting on how naive I am and how this isn't Harry Potter). I remain thrilled that Chris McQueen has redeemed himself so completely and reclaimed his original position as one of my favourite characters in this show.

The Hourglass

Is Jonathan 'The Hourglass' Beckett (Paul Schneider) the most chilling character ever? How powerful is he? Step aside Charlie Manx, this guy is the real villain! I hope we get to know more about this character, his motivations and his backstory because The Hourglass has the potential to be a very interesting creative, if only we get to know him better. Next week's episode is called "The Hourglass", so hopefully I'll get my wish.

Bing Partridge

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson deserves all the awards for his portrayal of Bing, one of the most dastardly and cowardly characters to ever grace the small screen. He's not Joffrey Baratheon levels of evil, but more the type to make you vomit in your mouth a little and want to wash your hands after seeing him. I very much look forward to the day when Bing gets his comeuppance.

Charlie Manx

Manx (Zachary Quinto) goes all out The Handmaids Tale on Vic in this episode, lamenting on how such a wicked woman doesn't deserve to be a mother. (Oh yeah, how about how one man's vanity complex causes him to consume the souls of young, innocent children?) Maybe he could find a partner in Aunt Lydia? He'd definitely deserve that.

One can't help but wonder about Manx's continued use of Bing. Manx makes it clear that Bing will become the next feast in Christmasland but surely his association with this flawed, disgusting character makes him as bad as the people he deigns to judge. Then again, Manx never had a moral leg to stand on, forever acting out on his eternal sense of inadequacy and petty revenge.

Yes, this episode inspired some strong emotions. All of this is just my way of saying the events in this episode are pretty dire and I don't know if there is any way back from this, there hasn't been before. It's left me pretty broken and apprehensive for the remainder of the season. Bring it on team NOS4A2!

NOS4A2 returns next week with "The Hourglass". You can catch NOS4A2 on AMC and BBC America (US) with new episodes added every Sunday and AMC UK (BT TV 332) with new episodes every Thursday.

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