TV REVIEW - THE DR BLAKE MYSTERIES

The ABC does a lot of very fine work. Last year, they produced the two best local shows on Australian television (Rake and Redfern Now), so we can forgive them a mediocre murder mystery series every now and again. Last year gave us the distinctly average Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, which buried sub-standard case-of-the-week stories under a period setting and a charming lead performance by Essie Davis. I was hoping The Dr Blake Mysteries would have a bit more spark to it, but it’s just a second foray into the unimpressive. The ABC has clearly decided there’s a niche on Friday nights for fall-asleep-if-you-want-to television, and they’re going to make it theirs.

TV REVIEW - ELEMENTARY

The natural reaction when one finds out about the new CBS procedural Elementary (Sunday, 8:30pm, Channel 10) is a cynical one; surely this idea of a modern-day Sherlock Holmes will be hopelessly inferior to the BBC’s Sherlock? Throw in the casting of Lucy Liu as Dr Joan Watson and the cacophony of cynicism only grew louder, with some critics and fans assuming that Watson and Holmes might be more than just friends as soon as the writers run out of other plot lines. Sherlock Holmes fans might not agree on everything, but they’re pretty consistently against Holmes and Watson having sex with each other.

Comic Book of the Week: Hawkeye #7

Serialisation can be an interesting beast, especially when it comes to comic books. I normally struggle with television shows or comic books without at least an element of serialisation to keep me coming back, week after week. Which is why the fact that I love Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye as much as I do is such a remarkable achievement. Fraction doesn’t need plot twists or over-the-top villains with convoluted schemes to keep us coming back week after week – he’s created two outstanding lead characters that do the job for him.

The Podcasting Couch - Django Unchained

The (Pod) Casting Couch reviews the new Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained and introduces a brand new segment - Movie Warrior! Featuring Shannon Harvey (@SJHarvey77), Quickflix critic Simon Miraudo (@quickflix, @simonmiraudo), Stephanie Lee (@stephinitelee) and Andrew Williams (@DrewWilliams9).

If you would like to give us feedback or suggest a Feature Four/Movie Warrior topic,  please e-mail us at thepodcastingcouch@gmail.com, tweet us at @podcastingcouch, or comment at boxseattv.podbean.com!

Links - Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepodcouch, Shannon's websitewww.chocbomb.com.au and Simon & Andrew's reviews at www.quickflix.com.au/news

THE MOVIE WARRIOR (MARVEL COMICS EDITION) BRACKET

1. THE AVENGERS

vs.

16. (WILDCARD) BLADE 2

8. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

vs.

9. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

5. CAPTAIN AMERICA

vs.

12. IRON MAN 2

4. X-MEN 2

vs.

13. SPIDER-MAN 3

3. IRON MAN

vs.

14. HULK

6. SPIDER-MAN

vs.

11. X-MEN

7. THOR

vs.

10. THE INCREDIBLE HULK

15. (WILDCARD) GHOST RIDER

vs.

2. SPIDER-MAN 2

The (Pod) Casting Couch: Les Miserables/Gangster Squad

The (Pod) Casting Couch reviews big-budget musical adaptation Les Miserables,Ruben Fleischer's Gangster Squad and lists our Most Anticipated Films for 2013! Featuring Shannon Harvey (@SJHarvey77), Quickflix critic Simon Miraudo (@quickflix, @simonmiraudo), Stephanie Lee (@stephinitelee) and Andrew Williams (@DrewWilliams9).

(Quick note: There are a few minor audio volume issues early in the podcast but they iron themselves out. Stick with it!)

If you would like to give us feedback, tell us your most anticipated film for 2013 or suggest a Feature Four topic,  please e-mail us at thepodcastingcouch@gmail.com, tweet us at @podcastingcouch, or comment at boxseattv.podbean.com!

Links - Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepodcouch, Shannon's websitewww.chocbomb.com.au and Simon & Andrew's reviews at www.quickflix.com.au/news

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TV Review: The Hour - Season Two, Episode Three

Full spoiler review of Season Two, Episode Three of The Hour after the jump:

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK: BATMAN #16 REVIEW

Scott Snyder has been on some kind of run ever since he took on DC’s flagship Batman title back in 2011. First, he gave us the inspired Court of the Owls/Night of the Owls storylines, which traded in stunning atmospherics and an inspired revelation. Now, he’s giving us a Joker story every bit as demented and twisted as it is steeped in comic book lore. That shows no signs of abating in this, the terrifying, thrilling penultimate installment of Death of the Family.

THE REST OF THIS REVIEW CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS FOR BATMAN #16: