"I won't sit and watch it go cold / when summer has left the room"
Studying is what I've pretended to be doing the past week, but in reality I've been glued to the television, watching Jekyll on DVD. And now I really need to fangirl about it, because omg!awesomeness! Oh, the BBC how I love thee. ♥
So, basically, Jekyll is the tale of Jekyll & Hyde told in a present day setting, emphasis on the word "basically". Tom Jackmann (James Nesbitt) has made a deal with his dark side and they live in a sort of a co-existence. It soon becomes clear, however, that it is not quite as simple as that: Hyde is constantly becoming stronger and stronger, and as there are other enemies around Tom as well, mayhem soon ensues.
I don't want to give away too much (there are some incredible plot twists along the way), but here's a few reasons why I loved the first series to bits:
James Nesbitt is amazing as the reincarnation of Dr. Jekyll. Someone said in a documentary that he was born to play the part and that is so true. He's unbelievably good.
When I saw Hyde for the first time, I was in awe. Nesbitt is amazing. I know I said that already, but it honestly bears repeating.
Yeah. Absolutely phenomenal.
There are some amusing cameos. It took me days to figure out that the guy who plays Mr.Syme is Denis Lawson who used to be in Holby City (I know because of that one summer when I was bored and watched the show; I'm more of a Casualty person).
And the actor who plays Benjamin (Paterson Joseph) I know from Casualty. Wait, do I sense a pattern here?
The comic relief moments are fantastic: they had me laughing out loud on several occasions. Like this one:
[after waking up in a brothel where Hyde has taken him]
Tom comes out to the street, looking around as if in search for something. Then he sighs in an annoyed way.
Tom: [to the recorder] Just once, JUST BLOODY ONCE would you mind telling me where you parked?!?
And Min. ♥ Oh, I adore Min. She's a total spazz:
[Tom has fallen asleep while waiting for Min to show up, so he could secretly follow her]
Min: *knocks on the window* Hello, sweetie. This is the part where you're supposed to follow ME. It would be ever so helpful if you were awake. [...] I'm in that tangerine car over there. Pop your engine on, try to keep up. [wiggling her eyebrows] If you're careful, I bet I shan't suspect a thing.
And this brings me to...
Miranda & Min. Their relationship is so cute and adorable. Their scenes always made me happy.
Usually it's them that bring on the comedy.
[after Tom has hung up the phone because the bad guys are listening]
Miranda: I sure hope he turned the phone off.
Katherine: Of course he did. He knows better than that, he's not that stupid.
Miranda: *re-dials* Oh, he's exactly that stupid.
Gina Bellman as Tom's wife, Clare, is also brilliant. I was really skeptical at first, because to me she will always be Jane from Coupling. But she really nailed the role (Clare's character is refreshingly strong for a female lead), and in the last three episodes her scenes were the ones I looked forward to the most.
She also does the grab-whatever-weapon-is-available tactic really well without going too over the top with the comedy. And for once hitting the bad guy over the head with a bottle actually knocks him out.
And if you're looking for someone younger, Michelle Ryan as Tom's assistant, Katherine, is very believable in her role as well. And, obviously, totally gorgeous. She almost makes me want to watch the new version of Bionic Woman this autumn.
This show is visually very pretty as well.
But really, when you put Hyde and Clare in the same scene? HAWT. Honestly. This series would be worth it for that alone.
So, I'm in love. Quality BBC drama with a lesbian cherry on top. What more can a person ask for, really?
And speaking of TV obsessions, I've sort of...gotten into *coughsouthofnowherecough*. I blame the We're Getting Nowhere vlog for everything. It pains me to admit that I'm hooked on a high school drama (especially one that I basically swore I would never watch), but I am. Hopelessly. How could this not attract you?! Yes, somebody shoot me now. Please.
I have a serious book phase going on at the moment (damn Book Depository!), but I still caved and ordered the 4th Season of SVU the other day. Because, well, it's SVU and Alex/Olivia and "doink! doink!" and Season 4 rules anyway and I don't know why I feel the need to explain this. So yeah, ahem, I bought Season 4 of SVU.
As for RL, right now I'm actually fairly excited about university and all the projects for the autumn term. I need to start working on my BA thesis quite soon (writing it about netspeak, bwaha!), and then, for a General History course, I get to do my presentation and paper about medieval heresies, which makes me ridiculously giddy. I feel like such a geek at times.
Song of the day: Andrea Corr - Ten Feet High
So, basically, Jekyll is the tale of Jekyll & Hyde told in a present day setting, emphasis on the word "basically". Tom Jackmann (James Nesbitt) has made a deal with his dark side and they live in a sort of a co-existence. It soon becomes clear, however, that it is not quite as simple as that: Hyde is constantly becoming stronger and stronger, and as there are other enemies around Tom as well, mayhem soon ensues.
I don't want to give away too much (there are some incredible plot twists along the way), but here's a few reasons why I loved the first series to bits:
James Nesbitt is amazing as the reincarnation of Dr. Jekyll. Someone said in a documentary that he was born to play the part and that is so true. He's unbelievably good.
When I saw Hyde for the first time, I was in awe. Nesbitt is amazing. I know I said that already, but it honestly bears repeating.
Yeah. Absolutely phenomenal.
There are some amusing cameos. It took me days to figure out that the guy who plays Mr.Syme is Denis Lawson who used to be in Holby City (I know because of that one summer when I was bored and watched the show; I'm more of a Casualty person).
And the actor who plays Benjamin (Paterson Joseph) I know from Casualty. Wait, do I sense a pattern here?
The comic relief moments are fantastic: they had me laughing out loud on several occasions. Like this one:
[after waking up in a brothel where Hyde has taken him]
Tom comes out to the street, looking around as if in search for something. Then he sighs in an annoyed way.
Tom: [to the recorder] Just once, JUST BLOODY ONCE would you mind telling me where you parked?!?
And Min. ♥ Oh, I adore Min. She's a total spazz:
[Tom has fallen asleep while waiting for Min to show up, so he could secretly follow her]
Min: *knocks on the window* Hello, sweetie. This is the part where you're supposed to follow ME. It would be ever so helpful if you were awake. [...] I'm in that tangerine car over there. Pop your engine on, try to keep up. [wiggling her eyebrows] If you're careful, I bet I shan't suspect a thing.
And this brings me to...
Miranda & Min. Their relationship is so cute and adorable. Their scenes always made me happy.
Usually it's them that bring on the comedy.
[after Tom has hung up the phone because the bad guys are listening]
Miranda: I sure hope he turned the phone off.
Katherine: Of course he did. He knows better than that, he's not that stupid.
Miranda: *re-dials* Oh, he's exactly that stupid.
Gina Bellman as Tom's wife, Clare, is also brilliant. I was really skeptical at first, because to me she will always be Jane from Coupling. But she really nailed the role (Clare's character is refreshingly strong for a female lead), and in the last three episodes her scenes were the ones I looked forward to the most.
She also does the grab-whatever-weapon-is-available tactic really well without going too over the top with the comedy. And for once hitting the bad guy over the head with a bottle actually knocks him out.
And if you're looking for someone younger, Michelle Ryan as Tom's assistant, Katherine, is very believable in her role as well. And, obviously, totally gorgeous. She almost makes me want to watch the new version of Bionic Woman this autumn.
This show is visually very pretty as well.
But really, when you put Hyde and Clare in the same scene? HAWT. Honestly. This series would be worth it for that alone.
So, I'm in love. Quality BBC drama with a lesbian cherry on top. What more can a person ask for, really?
And speaking of TV obsessions, I've sort of...gotten into *coughsouthofnowherecough*. I blame the We're Getting Nowhere vlog for everything. It pains me to admit that I'm hooked on a high school drama (especially one that I basically swore I would never watch), but I am. Hopelessly. How could this not attract you?! Yes, somebody shoot me now. Please.
I have a serious book phase going on at the moment (damn Book Depository!), but I still caved and ordered the 4th Season of SVU the other day. Because, well, it's SVU and Alex/Olivia and "doink! doink!" and Season 4 rules anyway and I don't know why I feel the need to explain this. So yeah, ahem, I bought Season 4 of SVU.
As for RL, right now I'm actually fairly excited about university and all the projects for the autumn term. I need to start working on my BA thesis quite soon (writing it about netspeak, bwaha!), and then, for a General History course, I get to do my presentation and paper about medieval heresies, which makes me ridiculously giddy. I feel like such a geek at times.
Song of the day: Andrea Corr - Ten Feet High