Midsomer Murders Seasons 1-13 (DCI Tom Barnaby years)

Midsomer Murders Seasons 1-13 (Caroline Graham, 1997-2011)

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Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Psychological

As you all know, I love a good mystery series. I especially love British mysteries and get totally sucked into them. This is the type of show I binge-watch and revisit after several years. I've been doing just that with Midsomer Murders. I've watched the first 13 seasons twice, now, and decided to share my ratings and favorite episodes. The thing I like the most about this show is that the format stays the same but the stories are new and never fail to surprise me. Well written, well acted. I'm currently watching seasons 14-21 and will review those when I finish.

Season 1 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=7 / Sweet Treat

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=4

Favorite Episode from Season 1 = "The Killing's at Badger's Drift"

Season 2 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=6 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3

Favorite Episode from Season 2 = "Dead Man's Eleven"

Season 3 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=6 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3

Favorite Episode from Season 3 = "Judgement Day"

Season 4 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=6 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3

Favorite Episode from Season 4 = "Garden of Death"

Season 5 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=6 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3

Favorite Episode from Season 5 = "Ring Out Your Dead"

Season 6 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=6 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3

Favorite Episode from Season 6 = "Painted in Blood"

Season 7 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=6 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3
Favorite Episode from Season 7 = "The Straw Woman"

Season 8 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=6 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3
Favorite Episode from Season 8 = "Hidden Depths"

Season 9 Rating: DSQ=9, SP=6 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=3
Favorite Episode from Season 9 = "Vixen's Run"

Season 10 Rating: DSQ=8, SP=5 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=2, Scale D=2, Scale E=3
Favorite Episode from Season 10 = "Picture of Innocence"

Season 11 Rating: DSQ=8, SP=5 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=2, Scale D=2, Scale E=3
Favorite Episode from Season 11 = "Talking to the Dead"

Season 12 Rating: DSQ=8, SP=5 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=2, Scale D=2, Scale E=3
Favorite Episode from Season 12 = "The Creeper"

Season 13 Rating: DSQ=8, SP=5 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=2, Scale D=2, Scale E=3

Favorite Episode from Season 13 = "Master Class"

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Tampopo

Tampopo (Jûzô Itami, 1985)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Japan, Food, Comedy, Parody

What a fun film! Japan truly has a love relationship with food and this film does a great job of showing it in many interesting and hilarious ways. I was hungry for Japanese noodles the entire time. It was also enjoyable to see how Itami referenced and parodied popular cinema, genres, and movie motifs.

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Green Book

Green Book (Peter Farrelly, 2018)

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Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=2, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

1960s, Biopic, Prejudice, Race, Music, Journey

It took me nearly a year to watch this controversial Oscar 2019 Best Picture winner. Partly because I had read so much about why the film should not have received the award, partly because I wasn't ever in the right mood. But now I've seen it. I certainly don't agree that it's Best Picture worthy, but to me, the film wasn't as problematic as articles I had read said it was. On the topic of prejudices and race, it was definitely surface-level and shallow for 2019, but the story is still enjoyable and an escape. The focus of the film is certainly on Viggo Mortensen's character Tony, and very little depth is given to Dr. Shirley (played extraordinarily well by Mahershala Ali). This feels off and is definitely a missed opportunity. Overall, it was predictable and appeals to that human need to see everything seem to "work out in the end."

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Black Mirror Season 5

Black Mirror Season 5 (Charlie Brooker, 2011-present)

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Rating: DSQ=9, SP=4 / Average Snack

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=3, Scale D=2, Scale E=2

Favorite from Season 5 = "Striking Vipers"

Science Fiction, Future, Thriller, Horror, Psychological

With just three episodes, I felt unsatisfied...I want more! Season 5 is definitely not as mind-bending or memorable as previous seasons, but it is still enjoyable. There is more political/sociological statements and less science/technology. I hope Charlie Brooker is writing and planning more...

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