tehomet

Here are some suggestions of shows you might like, if you haven't seen them already. In ascending order of awesomeness.

<strong>This Is Going To Hurt</strong> Based on an English doctor's memoir, this is a black comedy and a moving documentary-style rollercoaster of his work through various hospital shifts in a London obstetrics ward. A bit grim and misogynist but thought provoking and funny.

<strong>Shogun</strong>. From a novel based on fact and set in 1600s Asia, this is the story of an English sailor who washes up in Japan and has to deal with love, political machinations, violence, and a culture that is so alien to him he might as well as be on Mars. 

<strong>Line of Duty</strong> Fiction but draws on real life cases of a police internal affairs unit, with a strong cast who are led by a woman, an Irish guy, and a Scottish actor. So very enjoyable. Great relationships between the leads. Twisty plots, great acting, amazing writing. Nail-biting, edge of your seat stuff. OMG!

<strong>True Detective: Night Country</strong> Two women, detectives, in Alaska grapple with the fallout of the murder of an indigenous midwife and activist. The supporting characters such as the junior officer, the bar owner, and the lady played by Fiona Shaw were fantastic. This is the third series of True Detective; I hadn't seen the earlier ones and it didn't matter. Deeply spooky in parts and always gripping, I loved this and the ending had me literally punching the air in glee.

A new graphic novel is up on a crowdfunding site. Looks interesting! :D

<a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/robin-of-sherwood-the-hooded-men/x/10640526#/">Robin of Sherwood - The Hooded Men</a>

Not that I'm obsessed.

I apologise for that dreadful pun but here are two recommendations. 

<strong>The Last of Us</strong> - a TV series based on a game set in a post-apocalyptic world. I've never played a computer game so I can't comment on whether it does the game justice. The TV series stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, both of whom starred in <em>Game of Thrones</em>. This show is of similar quality. I am not a fan of horror generally but I got hooked by my niece playing episode one while I was in the room. I can highly recommend this series - nail-biting, heart-warming, funny, and thought-provoking. Pascal and Ramsey are amazing. <a href="https://youtu.be/uLtkt8BonwM">Here's the trailer</a> if you want to see it.

<strong>The Last Kingdom</strong> - a TV series and an epilogue movie based on a series of books set in Anglo-Saxon times. Again, I haven't read the books. If this isn't the best TV series I've ever seen, it's certainly in the top ten. It concerns a young lad who is born a Saxon in what is now England and is raised by Danes, and what happens to him as he attempts to reclaim his birthright. It doesn't have the budget of the likes of <em>Game of Thrones</em> but IMHO exceeds it in terms of sheer quality. The grounding in actual history is the icing on the cake. Pure unadulterated enjoyment and totally absorbing. <a href="https://youtu.be/WxPApTGWwas">Here is the trailer.</a>

Both of these are emotionally scarring but fun! And I'm obsessed with them both. :D

My love for Severus Snape is unconfined. Imagine my glee when I stumbled across <a href="https://youtu.be/EmsntGGjxiw"><strong>this shenanigans? It's a fan-made Marauders-era <em>Harry Potter</em> prequel</strong></a>. (I realise I came across this several years after it was made, but I don't care. :)

I haven't seen the sequels yet. I'm saving them for later.

* happy sigh *

In honour of Holocaust Memorial Day today, here is a farewell letter written by Vilma Grünwald, a 39-year-old Czech lady who was about to be murdered, to her husband. See the original and what happened afterwards <a href="https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/into-eternity">here at Letters of Note</a>.

<em>11 July 1944

You, my only one, dearest, in isolation we are waiting for darkness. We considered the possibility of hiding but decided not to do it since we felt it would be hopeless. The famous trucks are already here and we are waiting for it to begin. I am completely calm. You—my only and dearest one, do not blame yourself for what happened, it was our destiny. We did what we could. Stay healthy and remember my words that time will heal—if not completely—then—at least partially. Take care of the little golden boy and don’t spoil him too much with your love. Both of you—stay healthy, my dear ones. I will be thinking of you and Misa. Have a fabulous life, we must board the trucks.

Into Eternity, Vilma</em>

*

Human beings. I don't know what to say.