So here we are, the final topic of this year's HOW I SPENT reviews - television. There's actually been some pretty decent TV shows that I've wanted to watch this year, which makes a nice change as for years now there's maybe been, say, a couple or so series of shows I've been watching for well over a decade that comes out, and then nothing til the following year. But for 2019, I had reboots, new shows, and continuing series to choose from, gee golly. So let's have a look at them.
This Time With Alan Partridge | 25th February
Anything Alan Partridge does is going to be gold in my eyes, so this may all come across a little bias. I think it's great that the character can be easily picked up and dropped into so many versatile scenarios, due to the hard work and devotion of a fantastic writing team who have perfectly captured what makes the character so funny, a character that can be found deep down within the worst parts of all of us, which is probably why so many people connect with him.
With the This Time series Alan is back at the BBC and (co)hosting a talk show once more, though this is a whole new beast for the ageing Alan, and he has to compete with modern times, a more popular co-host, and the shadow of the man he is filling in for. Alan of course stumbles through all of his appearances and just barely holding onto his job, but given his finger is forever on the pulse of what your average white, angry, fed up British person is moaning on about, he is always just able to keep the audience in his favour, and as the series goes on, he begins to find more confidence and arrogance, essentially becoming a not-quite subtle dig at Piers Morgan and his behaviour on GMB. Funny then, that Piers was not a fan of This Time yet enjoyed previous Alan Partridge outings.
It's silly, it's subtle, it's cringe-inducing, and it's pure Alan Partridge comedy. A modern take on the set up of Knowing Me, Knowing You, it's a great wee treat to see things come full circle after almost a quarter of a century.
Should you watch it? yes and yes and yes again.
The Twilight Zone Season 1 | 1st April
I was very excited at the seemingly surprise announcement of The Twilight Zone coming back, and it was all the more tantalising when it was revealed that Jordan Peele would be filling the shoes of the series' iconic narrator, because frankly I can't think of anyone else more worthy of the role right now than Peele.
And you know what? He did a stellar job channelling the same mystical charisma of the series' father Rod Serling, whilst also bringing a streak of his own finesse to the role to really seal the deal. But the series itself? It wasn't all that to begin with, but it slowly found its footing and managed to live up to the legacy left by the original series' run of the 50s. I found the first two episodes to be interesting ideas with poor execution, and following episodes were still on that same shaky foundation, however by the end of the season's run I was very pleased with the finished work. It brings the mysterious nature of the original series kicking and screaming into modern settings, (occasionally) captures the same charm of the originals, and features some gleefully mind-bending episodes.
Should you watch it? Aye man, the first episodes might leave you feeling a little dissatisfied, but that's the beauty of an anthology series - you can just skip the shite ones. Aaaayyy.
Stranger Things Season 3 | 4th July
I'll be honest guys, I'd completely forgotten Stranger Things 3 was this year. It feels like so god damn long ago that I watched it I just assumed it came out in 2018. I didn't even question why it was still being used for Netflix and Sky adverts, I just figured fuck all else had been released recently so that's all they had to try and spin sales. Still though, it was pretty good.
It was neat that they finally decided to create a new threat and new type of creature for the kids to fight, but there was certainly still a bit too much of retreaded ground. The newest and most loved character to be introduced of course ended up getting off'd, Eleven's only function in the show seems to be either giving Mike a chub on or using her mind powers then falling over all tired, Will is a little bitch, and there's some cool 80s stuff going on.
Don't get me wrong, it doesn't make for a shit viewing or anything, its just that with how strong season 1 was it'd be nice to see the writers explore a couple of new avenues. They've certainly shown they're capable of it with the new ideas they have implemented in season 3, which is a far cry from the second season which played things very safe with new ideas, so it'll be interesting to see what happens in season 4 now that a lot of the tropes we're used to seem to have been etched out for the continuation of the story. Also once again Steve and Dustin absolutely steal the show with their chemistry along with the addition of the newcomer Robin.
Should you watch it? I'm fairly certain everyone who would watch it has already seen it, and anyone who doesn't want to watch it isn't going to be swayed by my three paragraphs. I got my mum to watch it this year though I guess, so who knows.
Taco Chronicles | 12th July
Did you know that there's a mini docu-series on Netflix about the different kinds of tacos made in different regions of Mexico, that cover the history, tradition, and preparation of said tacos, all of which is narrated by the disembodied spirit of the tacos? Well if you didn't know it, you may now find yourself very much intrigued, and rightfully you should, because fans of Mexico's darling foodstuff are in for an absolute treat with this series.
Given tacos' place in pop culture you'd be excused for thinking this six-part series is just a cash in of people's obsession with them, but I feel I must state that this is very much not the case. Taco Chronicles is packed full of interesting information that should appeal to food lovers and people interested in Mexican culture alike, just as much as it does to fans of the titular dish even - with each episode explaining how these regional variations came to be, then discussing the history of those regions. Hell, we're even educated on the history of tacos, showcasing their kebab ancestors travelling from the middle east to Mexico, where access to new ingredients and the local's own diets shaped them into the tasty treat we know and love today.
All in all, this is an incredibly insightful and unique docu-series that should offer instant appeal to fans of Mexican cuisine, and its passion to educate viewers on Mexico's most famous export should hopefully appeal to those who aren't.
Should you watch it? If you love things tasty and fun-ducational, this is a short and sweet watch you should definitely check out.
South Park Season 23 | 25th September
In recent years South Park has tried throwing about a few new ideas to keep the show fresh and worth your viewership, which I'm pretty sure I discussed last year when giving my I tell ya hu'wut about Season 22. Some of those ideas haven't quite stuck the landing, with a couple of the season 20+ seasons starting to strain ever so slightly the viewing pleasure of the show. With Season 23 however Matt and Trey seemed to be steering back once again to the show's roots, pumping out serialised episodes with just a pinch of the season long story line ideas they've been pushing for in recent times.
Season 23 on the whole was a blast, with some stand out episodes that, for the first time in a while now, I can say are new South Park episodes I'd go back and watch again as stand-alones. Some of the social commentary and politics were a little on the nose and unimaginative in their lampooning, but swipes at entities such as Disney and China were on top form and made for some of the best storylines. The main storyline focus for season 23 of course was the Marshes on Tegridy Farms, which was a funny idea at first that started to outstay it's welcome towards the end, much as the whole Randy Marsh focus of recent seasons has. Look man, I fucking love Randy, but I think we've had our fill now. We've had mass focus on Cartman, Butters, and Garrison in the past, but none of these had the longevity of Randy's focus. Come on boys, let's give someone else a pop in the spotlight.
Should you watch it? I'm fairly certain the only people watching South Park now are the people who have always been watching South Park, much like how I imagine the Simpsons' audience works. Unlike the Simpsons though which just continues to go through the motions, at least South Park is trying to stay fresh, and with more hits than misses, I can't see a reason not to recommend season 23, even though the people I'm talking to have probably already seen it all.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 14 | 25th September
Look man, Always Sunny is hands down the best TV series on-going right now, and if you feel differently then you're either just not getting it, not giving it the chance, or the kind've fuckwad who pays a Netflix subscription just to watch The Office at every free moment of your life you get. Just pick up the box set man, Christ.
Season 14 continues to showcase why this is just a fact of life we all have to accept, with some standout episodes worth mentioning being Dee Day, The Gang Texts, and Thundergun 4 : Maximum Cool. I mean every episode is a winner to be honest, but by this point in the series' lifespan I'm just giving props to the most phenomenally stand-out episodes, and much like previous series, Always Sunny continues to provide an abundance of these. Here's hoping it isn't going to end any time soon if it continues to hold itself at such a great standard, with just the right amount of new ideas being brought in to avoid stagnating.
Should you watch it? Absolutely. Once again Always Sunny proves why it deserves to be regarded as the best thing on television.
Creepshow Season 1 | 26th September
The horror anthology classic Creepshow is an absolute hoot, though unfortunately the same can't be said for its sequels and spin offs. But with news of Shudder taking the reigns to produce a Creepshow TV series akin to the similar gem that is Tales From the Crypt, everything seemed lined up perfectly to give the franchise some much deserved oomph.
Sadly however there isn't much oomph to be found in the Creepshow television series, which kinda comes across as a husk of its former self, and a cheap carbon copy of Tales From the Crypt. If you take it out from the shadows of these two juggernauts of horror entertainment however, you can see a concept with good intentions that perhaps could have just used a little more time in the oven.
Stories are interesting enough and will keep you engaged until the very end, but production and script writing just seems to let them all down. I'm not gonna go as far as to say the series is bad, just that it's pretty average. It lacks the same charm and urge for multiple viewings that Creepshow and Crypt exhibit, and I just can't say I'm jonesing for a season 2. But hey, it wasn't terrible, just your average viewing.
Should you watch it? you can take it or leave it really, I guess it makes for some Halloween viewing See you in October 2020, Creepshow.
Are You Afraid of the Dark | 11th October
The Nickelodeon Canadian classic has been adapted to appeal to a new generation of younger viewers. On paper this doesn't make for such a good read, with the instant mental image being a bunch of suits in a boardroom trying to define what's "down" with the kids these days, but I can honestly say this new instalment of Are You Afraid of the Dark is a fantastic revitalising of the original that is just as appealing to fans of the original as it should hopefully be to any newcomers.
The isn't too much of the original show transitioned over to this rebooted series, other than the inclusion of the midnight society and their obsession with sharing ghostly tales with one another, however this has been completely re-worked into a miniseries that follows the actual lives of the midnight society members, as well as a very real and sinister ghost story that is transpiring outside of their own tales.
It's a clever way of revitalising the franchise, especially given that just a straight up continuation of the old set-up would have had it pitted against other anthology revivals this year such as Twilight Zone and Creepshow, as well as the recent and on-going Inside No. 9. It dares to do things differently, though with a vision in mind and love and care implemented along the way to ensure everyone, whether new or old fans, are happy.
Should you watch it? It's got a yes from me!
So there you have it, the last load of reviews I have to give for 2019. Man, it's been a blast, huh? Me writing my opinions on media I consumed this year, and you, reading through it to learn about things you probably hadn't heard of from 2019, or to see if my opinion held any validity against your own. I kinda wish I'd got round to watching The Mandalorian, or The Dark Crystal, but I'll probably do that some time next year. I heard they were good though, so there you go, there's my review for those two. But let's get to what matters here in the final paragraph of the HOW I SPENT MY 2019 reviews - which ones were the best.
Winner - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's good guys, it's so fucking good, and it's showing no signs of stopping the goodness. The whole of Dee Day was just one laugh after another, and the final scene of The Gang Texts might very well be one of my favourite moments of the entire show's run.
Runner-up - This Time With Alan Partridge
Comedy prevails for 2019, with This Time just narrowly losing out to the Always Sunny juggernaut for my best of the year. I only hope they make more.
Well that's it then folks. Another year over. See you again in 2020. Adios.
Comments