vondiesel-1 Reviews

Mr Inbetween: I'm Your Girl (2021) Season 3, Episode 7

Calm before the storm?

[1 July 2021]

Ray's been in a bit of a funk this season, he misses Bruce and still has what was lost with Ally dwelling occasionally on his mind as tends to happen until someone else comes along and refocuses your romantic attention to them, this was possibly that moment when Ray meets Zoe. Emily Barclay gives Zoe a natural feel and a believable spark of interest in Ray and who he is as she slowly feels around his edges. This episode feels like a first part of a final 3 part run to end the show and I'm already concerned for Zoe's health as we've seen this organisation likely views her as disposable/future pig food and well, it's nice to see Ray have some happiness again.

We also check in with the other characters, Britt and Gary poking fun at each other, Ray showing he still has a soft spot for Freddy by covertly helping him out on Michele's behalf. They all need Ray, he's like the actual and metaphorical dad that's always there for them all so hopefully that status quo is not disrupted by shows end.

Lovely episode that reminds us what's at stake in the final straight.

Secret History of Comics: City of Heroes (2017) Season 1, Episode 4

New York, Home to Heroes, Past & Present, Real & Fictional.

[4 December 2017]

As a longtime comic reader for over 4 decades, much of this series, whilst interesting is stuff I already knew but worth covering again and to educate younger and newer comic readers to the history behind our favourite books. This episode in particular stood out because whilst it has been covered in print, I don't recall almost an entire hour of TV where the impact of a tragic event in 9/11 on comics as been covered, I own books like 'Moment Of Silence' & 'Amazing Spider-man #36', it's a part of comics history I felt and lived and it is great to see it all talked about with the emotional level of the time that spawned those books. 'City Of Heroes' obviously is a reference to New York which many of Marvel's superheroes call home, so the happenings & moods of real life have resonated in the pages of these comic books over the decades which has helped integrate these characters as a relevant part of pop culture.

I should point out another reviewer had issue with Van Jones' comments which he erroneously pointed out that Van said 'Afghanistan had nothing to do with 9/11', he did not say this, Van said 'Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11' which is true. The episode is quite factually based and covers general feeling of the times pretty fairly.

Update to respond to the other reviewer: I did watch the episode a 4th time with subtitles on to be fair in my reporting, and Iraq is mentioned 4 times, Afghanistan is mentioned 0 times in the episode. The line disputed takes place at 21min 8secs, copied verbatim "Suddenly, we're going to invade Iraq, that had nothing to do with 9/11". People can check it out for themselves however. Take care.