Steve Taylor

I am old enough to remember the very early days of Top of the Pops. From the onset I disliked Jimmy Savile because of his irritating antics. Like many of the BBC DJs he became way too powerful. It should never have been the case that Radio 1 DJs had the power to make or break an artist's career but that was how it was and the BBC allowed it to happen. To my mind the only long serving Radio 1 DJ with any real musical knowledge was John Peel. Although I disliked Savile never in my wildest dreams did I think he would turn out to be the evil monster he was. Hannah Arendt coined the phrase "The banality of evil" in respect of Adolf Eichmann and it certainly applies to Savile. She meant that the most evil deeds can be committed by people who look perfectly normal. I felt I had to watch this programme but had some concerns over what it would achieve. Having watched it I still feel that to be the case. It certainly highlighted how Savile managed to escape detection for so long but didn't we know that already? After his evil deeds were discovered there were many documentaries which covered the matter in some detail so why another at this late stage? It is true that we should never become complacent about child abuse and I feel the series helped keep the issue in our minds and gave an awareness of the things to look out for but despite this I still can't see what new information we were given and why it needed to be a dramatisation. A documentary would have been just as useful. I know I will be flying against the majority of opinion on here but I didn't feel Coogan was all that good. A very difficult role to take on I know but I feel there are many other actors who could have done a better job. As is often the case with an established comedian/actor is can be difficult not to think of them in previous roles when watching them in something new. Whilst I watched the full four hours I cannot say that it engaged me. Perhaps had I not watched so many of the previous programmes about Savile I would have gotten a lot more out of it. On balance I felt it was something I had to watch and I am glad that I did. I give it three stars because the BBC has kept Savile's evilness in the public eye and his victims certainly deserve that and much more. It is the format in which it was presented which I have to question.

I suppose that after watching the ludicrous "Stay Close" anything was going to be better. I am still shocked that so many decent actors were in such an appalling series. Not the finest moment for any of them by any stretch of the imagination. I bookmarked The Defeated some time ago but didn't get round to watching it till now. I have always had an interest in the Third Reich and Berlin is one of my favourite cities. I have been there many times and hope it isn't too long before I return. I thought this was an excellent series. It got better and better as it progressed and I got to know the characters. I have fallen short of giving it five stars as there were a couple of inaccuracies in it and I felt that we didn't really need so much detail of the Nazi's being tortured. It probably painted post war Berlin in a better light than it actually was. 4.5 out of 5 would be my rating. The storyline was plausible and it was well acted. Michael C Hall had an important part but wasn't in it a huge amount. Top marks go to Nina Hoss as Elsie Garten as she was excellent. I recollect being impressed by her when she was in Homeland a few years ago. Overall I can thoroughly recommend this series. I think a second season is being made and I can't wait.

Alarm bells should have rung when I saw that this series was on Alibi. Hardly a channel you associate with cutting edge drama. I pressed the series record button and forgot about it until all the series had been recorded. I wish I had forgotten about it all together as it is one of the most tedious things I have had the misfortune to watch. Paint dries more quickly than this woeful plot. I have watched a huge amount of foreign language series and this one is at the bottom of the list. I fell asleep for 20 mins in one episode but it didn't matter as nothing happened! This is the best example that Nordic Noir is not all good and is running out of steam. Avoid at all costs.

If you intend watching this I suggest binge watching. I don't say this because it is good but by watching it quickly the agony is not prolonged. I have to say it is one of the worst things I have seen for some time. The characters were completely and utterly uninteresting, the acting appalling and the storyline banal. I fail to understand why Harlan Coben is so highly regarded. I have not seen one of his stories which has been any good. This is the last straw and I will watch no more of his. It is a complete mystery to me why this was made at all and why so many decent actors wasted their time on it.

I am genuinely perplexed by some of the positive reviews and wonder if they watched the same thing I did. This is pretty well one of the worst things I have ever seen. The characters were totally uninteresting, the acting wooden and the boring plot dragged along like a three legged tortoise with arthritis. One reviewer said it was "fast paced". Really? Tedious does not even begin to describe it. I find it inconceivable that a second series is being considered. Unless you are suffering from chronic insomnia I suggest that you give this rubbish a miss. It does no favours for the mass of genuinely good European drama which is available.

"Who is Erin Carter"? I don't know and frankly I don't care! I started watching this series thinking it was another one of the excellent Spanish series which Netflix have aired. How wrong I was. I struggled through five episodes of this rubbish until I gave up. Everything about it was appalling. The main character was probably the second worst actor I have seen. The worst actor was, by far, her daughter. Quite unbelievable that Netflix would invest money in a series. The glowing reviews of this are perplexing and the one star reviews are more accurate. Avoid.

This programme is an absolute gem. Gripping from start to finish with many twists and turns. Certainly the best thing I have seen this year. There is not a weak link in the cast and the acting is superb. Beranger in particular is an excellent character. Do not make the mistake I did and start watching "Public Enemy Redemption" first. There are two earlier series. Luckily I found them after watching only one episode of Redemption. Very highly recommended indeed.

I am utterly perplexed that anyone could give this implausible tosh a five star rating. I read the reviews before starting and thought I was in for a West Wing Mk II. Also, having thoroughly enjoyed Keri Russell in the magnificent "Americans" I thought I was in for a treat. How wrong I was and I began to wonder if I was watching the same show as the reviewers. I tried my best to watch it all but the risible story-line and absolutely awful performances defeated me. The characters were completely irritating especially Russell. The guy who wrote the review about the ability of this show to put you to sleep was spot on. I am still not sure if it was meant to be a comedy but irrespective of what genre it fell into, the appalling cliche ridden script-writing ensured that the concept of this series should be consigned to the dustbin of history. All of those who took part in bringing this travesty to our screens should hang their heads in shame. Avoid at all costs.