TV

Derren Brown: The Events - Live
1x03 How to Be a Psychic Spy
Derren once again perpetrates a great hoax on the nation -- note the sheer volume of concentric circles on display, not least right behind the 'hidden' picture! Also, the way curator-girly-on-the-TV was lit also made her eyes into very obvious concentric circles, for just one other blatant example we were invited to stare at.
Do I mind that it's just a trick? Not in the slightest -- that's what he does. But some people are now going to toddle off believing it worked, and they really shouldn't.
(Additionally, 4oD seem to be a bit slow at getting stuff online, so last week's episode is now available.)

Merlin
2x02 The Once and Future Queen
Much better than last week's too-generic opener.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Mock the Week
7x12 (24/9/09 edition) [season finale]
I say "season finale" -- episode 13 will air around Christmas.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Red Riding reviews at 100 Films

Last night I posted reviews for all three films in the Red Riding Trilogy over at 100 Films. You can read my thoughts on the trilogy as a whole here (including links to the individual film reviews), or just read film-by-film from the links below.

Red Riding: 1974 (2009)

a stock noir tale, dressed up with fancy filmmaking techniques and claims of realism to look like something more truthful, more real, more Important. And it makes me a little bit angry because of it.

Read the full review at 100 Films.

Red Riding: 1980 (2009)

it’s all too straightforward: the people you suspect did it actually did, as it turns out, and there’s no serious attempt to conceal that.

Read the full review at 100 Films.

Red Riding: 1983 (2009)

builds on previously-seen events and characters... bests its predecessors in almost every assessable value. The story and characters have more genuine surprises and suspense than ever

Read the full review at 100 Films.

There are currently 15 further films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.