The Peripheral | Raymond and Ray | Gangs of London | Richard Hammond's Workshop | The School for Good and Evil

Well, hello and welcome to Binge Watch the podcast where we take a look at the hottest new TV and film releases on streaming television platforms. I'm Hannah Pand, the editor of Warren Magazine. And

st of October,: 2022

Apple TVs Raymond and Ray starring you and McGregor and Ethan Hawk as grieving siblings and the mind bending Amazon Prime sci-fi, the peripheral.

We'll also be looking at the return of ultraviolet now TV Crime Drama Gangs of London, and a second series of Richard the Hamster Hammonds Workshop on Discovery.

But first in what is in the news, a

sequel to the long running sitcom Frazier will reportedly air on Paramount Plus and Star Kelsey Grammar once again as Seattle Shrink Frazier Crane, who is starting a new life in a new city. What else is in the news, Hannah? In the ITT

vx Kerry Grant biopic Archie Harriet Water will play Elsie Leach, the troubled mother of the Hollywood Star who will be portrayed by Jason

Isaacs.

Well, a pretty good selection this week, I would say. First up on Amazon Prime Video. It's a new sci-fi series called The Peripheral, and here's a clip your inside, what we call a peripheral. What do you. You think this is a game, but it's real.

It just hasn't happened yet. So this is from the team behind Westworld, and it follows a young woman called Flyn, who's played by kick ass actress, Chloe Grace Martz. Looking a lot more grown up in this. She works in a 3D printing shop and her brother earns money by playing computer games for other people and also trying out new games.

But she's actually much better gamer than he is. So, uh, sometimes she helps him out. So one day he gets sent this new. Strange looking headset to road test. And so he, he, he persuades his sister to do it. They're, they're quite poor. They're mum's ill, They need to raise money to get mum's medication and we first see her doing this, playing this game, which is a sort of war game.

It's incredibly realistic. But this new game, when she puts the headset on, she finds herself in a futuristic version of London. What's remarkable about him and it looks incredible. And also she is, the avatar is her brother, cuz the, the, the people who are hiring him think he's doing it. She's playing it, but it's his avatar.

Hopefully that makes sense. What's remarkable about this new game? Is that it's sensory, so she can feel everything that's going on. And the London Skyscape actually reminded me a bit of naughts and crosses, if you remember that dystopian drama with with giant statues on the skylight. This game. It starts off, she finds herself, she's riding along the streets of London on a motorbike in a computer game.

It looks amazing. And then someone's, she hears someone's voice who's giving her instructions on what to do in the game. She has to go to this very posh party. She has to seduce a woman at the party. I'm not gonna say anything. I don't wanna give you any spoilers, but things get very complicated back in the real world because of this game that she's testing.

If you're a sci-fi fan and if you are a gamer, You're gonna love it. It looks incredible. It's a brilliant premise. I really enjoyed it and it's very exciting as well. So, , what did you think, Hannah? I think you're right.

If you're our scifi fan, you will like it. But equally, if you are a gamer, it's actually a bit scary, isn't it?

Because I feel like each time as the world sort of moves on, it builds these things. Ever more, more credible basically, that it could actually happen. And it's re it's quite, um, the way they do it is quite clever, isn't it? And it's quite creepy in places and, and quite, um, gruesome as well. I'd say sort of.

There's a few moments that you kind of, well, I did anyway, but I'm a bit wet. Put your hand, you know, over your eyes. And I think. It's toying with the possibility of things happening, um, that you kind of, your brain tells you couldn't possibly happen. But as I say, it's, it, it's, it's blurring those lines and I think it does it really quite well.

And it should add, it arrives on Friday, the 21st, and there are eight episodes now. Feature film up next on Apple TV plus. It's called Raymonds and Ray, and you are going to tell us about it. Hannah, our father is dead. His last wish was that his sons attend his funeral. We have to go. He's dead. He'll never know.

You're a very tender man. You know that. Okay. Your father's last will. It wasn't his wish that you dig his grave.

What, So this starts Ethan Hawk and also you McGregor. Um, and it's a, it's a really nice but sad tale I would say. So it's produced by Oscar winner Alfonzo Kuron Quran. I think that's how you pronounce it.

Um, and it just basically follows. Two very troubled brothers. They're half brothers and they both kind of, for years I suppose, and that sort of very stereotypical male style sort of held it all in and not talked about their, their growing up and their resentment of their, of their father. He was very cruel.

Um, he was abusive and they come together when he passes away, which of course, you know, does happen to a lot of. And, um, there's no great, you know, there's not a lot of tears for the father because he is not so particularly decent human being, but they make a road trip to his to see him buried and he has some final wishes, including them, um, actually digging his grave.

But there's lots of things that they said. First of all, you're kind of a fly on the wall, I suppose, for their journey and what they're talking about. And as those sort of, the very kind of emotional stuff of when they're talking. What's happened in their childhood and actually for the first time, reliving lots of it.

That's really quite emotional. And then there's some really sort of comedic parts as well, um, which is, and I don't wanna give too much away, but it's kind of meeting the people in their father's path that they never knew existed and, and almost, um, showing them a different side of the father that they hadn't, that they hadn't seen.

So this is kind of all about healing. Um, as I say, it's quite comedic in places. I thought it was really quite enjoyable. I could see, I could see a lot of people relating to this, and of course, Ethan Hawk and you and McGregor, when I sort of started to look at this, they wanted, Well, I think they came onto the scene at a similar time in terms of their acting and they've always wanted to work together, but it's taken them quite a long time to actually do this, and they do gel really, really well.

That there is a, um, A closeness between them that works very well, um, as them being brothers. So I, I thought it was, I thought it was really very good. What did he think in?

I really liked it. Two great actors. At one point, one of the characters says, We come from chaos because you get increasingly, you get glimpses into this horrendous parent that they had and what their upbringing was like.

But they've reacted in different ways. So you and McGregor's character, Raymonds is quite sort of straight and he likes his life to be very ordered and boring. But he's had, he's been married several times. Whereas his sibling Ray is a musician. He's got sat from his job. He's just not in a relationship.

He hasn't got any kids. So they've, each of them's reacted to this traumatic childhood in quite a different way. And the two of them are great together. I mean, McGregor has done lots of good stuff in an American accent, hasn't knee, including that brilliant series of Fargo where he played twin brothers.

Uh, and it slightly reminded me of that in a funny way. So yeah, it's got some nice comedic moments. It's, it's got the feel of a road movie. Even though as you say Hannah, it's only the first bit. That's kind of the road movie element when they go to. The funeral, but they're in all these new, they're in their dad's house and they're at the funeral part, and then they're going to the cemetery to dig the grave, and it's just really nicely done.

Great dialogue. Elements of it, almost have the feel of a sort of two-handed. Stage play, especially the first scene where, where, uh, Raymonds turns up at Ray's house, Ray comes to the door with a gum. So yeah, I think it's, it's very gentle. It's aic really nicely drawn characters, good performances, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Over on now tv. We're going to look at the returning Crime Drama Gangs of London, and here's a clip.

The city's changed. The investors have a new player. He has a major stake in this town. Now, manpower Power our lives is not to be underestimated.

Elliott's. I want them to know fear. So this arrived this Thursday. If you didn't see series one, it was about an undercover cop called Elliot Finch, played by so paid dsu. Who infiltrates a London gang and at the start of season one, I mean, you need to go back. I would say probably watch. Season one just to understand what's going on.

But spoiler alert, at the start of season one, Cole mean played the head of a gang who was killed, and then things started to unfold. Sort of power struggle amongst London's gang. It, it hit the headlines really for it's incredibly choreographed, but incredibly violent. Fight scenes. I mean, they are astonishing.

It also had Joe Cole in it as the one of the sons of the dead mobster. I'm not gonna say what happened at the end of season one because that is a, a big spoiler alert if you, if, if you've not watched it. But anyway, as we rejoin the action, this undercover cop is, Working as an assassin, but he's drinking heavily.

He, he's in all sorts of trouble. Meanwhile, in London. And this new enforcer called Cobra. Uh, he's played by walled waiter who was Bath, nominated for Baghdad Central, the Channel four series. He's an interesting character. He wears a pork pie hat. He's got cropped. Blonde hair. He's got a quiet air of menace and the, the first time we meet him, he's forcing a member of this Algerian gang who've been smuggling weapons without the permission of kind of the cartel of gangs.

He forces him to eat bullets. So this guy's not messing about. Once again, I mean, the first time we see Elliot Finch, there's a, there's an amazing action scene. It is a, a director who works on the first season, but is now directing all of this season, and it's in a, I think it's in a ladette in Istanbul, and it's a brilliant.

Piece of action. It's superbly choreographed as you'd expect from this series. Although it's all about sort of violence and crime. This kind of is a family drama as well. It's got the brilliant Papa Sdu in it. He's the son of the sort of conciliary from season one who is now trying to go legit as a businessman, but it's really kind of.

As with Ray and Raymond in a way about trauma being passed from one generation to the next. So, I mean, I would say if you're a bit squeamish, you may find this too violent for you, but it's a really well, well made and well written series. And Duris Sue, I think is this great in the lead role. Uh, not sure this is gonna be one for you Hannah

No, it, it, it's not what I would choose, but I can see why it is great. Um, and I do think you are right. You need to see, um, So one first because it kind of gives you the context and it gives you the background. What interests me about something like this is that whilst it's really quite Bob Barrack in places, whilst you are witnessing really horrible things, which is kind of the reason I'm not so keen on it.

The same time, it also delves into. Why they're like it and kind of the, the backgrounds and what they've seen when they were younger and why. So it, it sort of has that kind of, that other level, that deeper level to it, which I think is quite good. So, so for me, no, it's not one for me. I, I, I wouldn't choose to watch it, but I can see why, why it's good.

And I, and I say I do like that kinda other element rather than, some things are just, they're just barbaric and that's it. This does goes some way to explaining why this is.

Well, a welcome bit of light relief over on Discovery. Plus, it's the return of Richard Hammond's workshop. Here we go again, another year.

I am aware some of the ideas I've had have been a bit . This I believe is a good one. He put his money. Where is mouthpiece? You've gotta speculate to accumulate, but will this business wipe the smile off his face? Buzz?

Bad. Bad. Why is

nothing ever simple?

Oh. The hamster Hammond, I mean, what, what, what can you say?

Um, he's got a second series, so he has. This is an interesting one because I think everyone assumed that because it's Richard Hammond, it would automatically this business do really, really well. And he's teamed up with the mechanics, the people that know what they do, and he's kind of the, he, he loves cars and he's fronting it.

And the celebrity status, really, it should be a winning combination, shouldn't it? But what we're finding out is, of course, it, it's actually not making a penny. In fact, it's, you know, it, it, he talks about it, you know, possibly going. So it's called the smallest, um, co his business and it specializes in restoring, um, classic cars.

And then they are, then the camera crew basically follows them. And it's funny because, I mean, Richard just has a really good. Command of TV, I suppose, and what he does. And he's very kind of engaging and you see him do an interview with um, Susanna Reid off gmb and they're chatting away and it's all quite funny.

And the rapport he's got with the guys that work there is really good. But essentially they need to do something quite big to turn it around cause he can't just keep pouring thousands of pounds worth into the business despite probably. Almost definitely being paid to do a TV show. It doesn doesn't quite work like that.

So you see him trying to run the business? I, I, I have to say I, I thought he looked really tired in, in this, um, series. I thought he just looked a bit exhausted by it all. But, you know, it happens to us all. To be fair, I think one of the guys actually suggested he should have some makeup on, which was sort of made me laugh a bit.

It's, I, I, I really enjoy it. I don't think you have to be a carb boss. I don't think, I don't think that matters at all. I think he's a likable character. Um, you, you, you see him trying to teach his, um, his daughter to drive, which every parent probably dreads, so that brings some laughs to Yeah. De definitely wants watch.

And I, I think it's a, it would be a great shame if he doesn't actually make it work. So fingers crossed that they.

Yeah, I, I'm a fan of the hamster and what I particularly like about this is she really opens up his family life to the cameras in this cuz you see him, um, well his wife gets involved in the business, she comes to visit, then you see him with his daughter who's got ponies and he's helping her kind of feed the, the ponies and the donkey.

So you get real sense of his, his home life. Um, And yeah, there's a bit of jeopardy. Will the business survive? Will they get any clients? So yeah, I enjoyed it. Um, glad to see it back. Now we've just got time quickly, Hannah, cuz there's a lot of, lot of new stuff out this week. And I do want to flag up a fantasy drama on Netflix called The School for Good and Evil.

The School for Good. Where the

true story behind every

great fairy tale begins, The School for good praises, the heroes, the School for evil, the villains. You're trying to tell me that Snow White and Cinderella and Jack and the Be stalk were real. Cause I'm sure. People have thought, Well, how can I do something that's a bit Harry Potter esque, but, but not quite Well, I'd say this fits the bell just briefly to give you the gist.

Two teenage best friends, Sophie and Agatha. Sophie is obsessed with princesses and particularly with the dresses they wear, uh, whereas Agatha, everyone in the village calls her a witch, but they're best mates, but then they're whisked off to this enchanted school. . Well, there were kind of two separate schools as the title suggests.

One. For good and one is fully evil. So heroes are sort of taught in one where Lawrence Fishburn plays the school master and villains goes to the other one, where Char's Theron is terrific as, um, Lady Leonara lasso. So it's quite a subversive look at sort of fairy tales and that kind of thing. Uh, I think it's really nicely done.

Kate Blanchett is the narrator. Ben Kingsley and Rob Delaney both have roles. So, um, yeah, I thought it was great. And I wonder if this is something that your, your family might enjoy. Hannah, what you reckon? Yeah, I reckon

it is. And Nino, what? Thank Kingsley was one of the first people that I ever interviewed when I came onto the journalistic circuit, and he was very, very nice.

So just for that reason alone, I'll watch it. Yeah. I, I, I, I think this is definitely one for the family actually. It's kind of two worlds really do collide in this, don't they?

What have you been binging on this week, Hannah? Well,

do you know what it's all about strictly, isn't it? Because loads of, um, It happens every year, but it kind of ramps up as it goes along.

And the will there be the strictly curse or won't there? And there's already been a few whisperings and things going on. Judges, people aren't happy with the judges. Oh, calling for them to be fired. Mm-hmm. So yeah, it's all the stuff that goes on around the show that I love as much as watching the show.

How about you?

On the same theme. I watched the That Brilliant Bros documentary, I think it's called, When The Screaming Stops, which is available on Netflix. And if you haven't seen it, I know Matt's GOs has, has left strictly now, but if you haven't seen it, it is a must watch. It is superb. Now we've just got time, Hannah, to look ahead to what we're gonna be talking about next week.

So yeah, what's on the menu? Jessica

Rain and Peter Capaldi face off in a terrifying psychological thriller. The Devil's Hour on Amazon Prime Video

and Jessica Chestain and Eddie Red Mae. We've got two Jessicas next week Star in a True life Netflix drama called The Good Nurse, which is about a nurse who murdered multiple patients.

So we look forward to those and more, but. In the meantime,