TV: The Doctor Blake Mysteries Seasons 1-3 (2013-2015)****

Doctor Blake the character falls into a category I usually don't like: Men who get away with breaking every rule and putting other people in physical and/or career danger, but who end up getting a pass because they solve the crime. I'm thinking of that TV show, The Mentalist, right now, which is a show I gave up on because I just couldn't believe this dude never had consequences for his risky and sociopathic behavior.

There are some similarities between The Mentalist and Doctor Blake. Both actors are Australian (In The Mentalist Simon Baker is playing an American character, though that's neither here nor there!). Both Thomas Jane (The Mentalist) and Dr. Blake are crime solvers who don't normally play by the rules. Both characters have sad nuclear family backstories. Both characters have a group of good back-up and sidekick crime fighters who suffer from their reckless methods, but also get to stand in the spotlight when they solve the crime.

Back to The Doctor Blake Mysteries: I've watched three seasons and despite him being one of those reprehensible badboy-always-forgiven characters, I really enjoy this show. The situations are interesting, the supporting characters are strong and have lives of their own. In fact, although this is a procedural crime drama, there is a strong storyline that delves into the personal history and current issues that plague Dr. Blake, as well as the stories and concerns of the supporting characters.

Season 3 ends in a much anticipated surprise. Can't wait to see more!

I'm giving The Doctor Blake Mysteries four stars**** because I want to watch this again, I highly recommend it to both British drama fans and crime drama fans and its just plain darn good.

I started watching this on PBS, but would never be home in time to catch them. Then finally the library got the DVDs. Right around the same time, they loaded seasons 1-3 on Netflix, so I watched most of the episodes on Netflix.

TV: Dear White People (2017)****

A really interesting dramedy about a group of black students at a prestigious university who listen to and/or or interact with the host of Dear White People, a radio show on the university’s station.

I like the unique storytelling method of looking at the same situations from different characters perspectives while at the same time moving the storyline forward. This was a good looking movie. They did a great job on the production design and costuming. And politically speaking, I like how it shows that black activism comes in varying degrees and forms, and uses differing strategies. 

I had heard and seen the name Dear White People before this TV show and I somehow got it mixed up. Turns out there was a movie DWP (HA!) in 2014. I plan on checking that out from the library soon. There is also a book, which I may or may not read. I’m a terribly slow reader as the title of this blog might lead you to infer. 

I’m giving the TV show Dear White People four stars**** because I already want to watch it again and I thought it was done really well and in a unique way. I’m not ready to call it a favorite, but it is really good. 

This is a Netflix original series, and I watched it on Netflix.

Movie: The Accountant (2016)**

An autistic boy grows up under the thumb of an Army specialist father only to become accountant to the biggest criminals in the world and world-class killer. What happens when the criminal client turns on their bookkeeper? That's what this movie is all about along with a few less than surprising reveals.

This movie was weak. A good cast gave okay performances at best. The comedic elements (Were they even meant to be be comedic elements?) were awkward. The action happened. The last reveal I figured out halfway through the movie. Duh. The Accountant felt like it was trying to be superhero movie. It felt like it was trying to set up for a sequel. I don't see a need to ever watch it again and I hope there is no sequel. Why, Ben? Why? Why must you make these half-assed films.

I'll give this two stars ** because I watched the whole thing. I didn't really hate it, but there wasn't much to like.

I checked The Accountant out from the library.  

TV: Transparent Season 3 (2016)***

The first episode is just an exploration of how self-centered and entitled  Maura (Jeffrey Tambor) really is as she finds herself wandering up and down the aisles of the Slauson Swap Meet. I hate her and I was so happy to see her carted off to a County hospital on a 5150. I cheered and I kept watching.

I hate this entire family, but the way they bounce off of and crash into the other people in their lives is so enthralling. How can they be such horrible people and attract such interesting and loving human beings? Its the side characters that make this season and the flashbacks to the post-Berlin storyline. 

I’m giving  Transparent Season 3 three stars*** because I don’t see myself watching this over again on purpose, but I did find it to be entertaining and well done TV.

Transparent is an Amazon original so I watched it on Amazon

The Light Between Oceans (2016)***

Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave), Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl) and Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) star in a movie about a happily married lighthouse keeper and his wife who are unable to have children of their own. One day the ocean deposits a boat on their shore and inside they found a baby. How perfect is that? Blue Lagoon anybody? Happiness under mysterious circumstances doesn't last forever, so that's what this movie spends most of its time exploring.

This was drama light and would have made a great two-part made for TV Sunday matinee movie. The cast was great and the roles weren't terribly demanding. The locations were beautiful. The story was interesting. This movie just lacked umph. Something meaty to sink your mental teeth into.
The Light Between Oceans gets 3*** stars from me because I watched the whole thing, it was pretty engaging, but I don't want to watch it again. If you would not like to watch it, but pretty much get the gist of the movie, click here for a little featurette.

I watched this movie on a DVD checked out from the library.