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Things started out typically enough with Constantine and Zed being drawn to a Southern Baptist Church where a faith healer had developed miraculous healing powers. Because every episode of this series has to write out one of the co-leads, Chas is conveniently pushed out of the episode as Zed and John investigate this snake handling man of God. Zed and John question the nature of religion and divinity and the whole thing is rather interesting if mundane....

So in “Minute Man,” Kiera needs Alec’s help to solve her own murder and find the true culprit! But which Alec? I was surprised at how blunt Kiera was about her mistrust of “Scar Alec” (which I learned on Twitter is the Continuum writers’ name for the “black hoodie” version), yet only the time-traveling Alec could possibly remain unsuspicious as investigations are made into the CMR archives, which the now camera-less lab houses....

We can only assume that he’s had an interesting time since the Royal Navy cut his head off in 1718, and his headless body swam three times around the ship. Malkovich plays an impressive and believable madman, surrounded by acupuncture needles, far Eastern statuary, and beautiful women. He’s the show’s main draw, and he earns his keep. My favorite line in the whole show? “Not all those unflattering legends about me are untrue....

Dark Matter Season 2, Episode 4 Although Three’s backstory took center stage in this week’s Dark Matter, the more compelling bits of story took place along the periphery of the episode. Those who prefer the puzzle-solving nature of this series as much as the character-driven plots certainly did not leave disappointed. If anything, there were almost too many new twists and unresolved details to keep track of, but honestly, this level of complexity is welcome in a series like this....

1.11 Past Is Prologue That’s not to say it was bad. There were some very interesting sequences in which we saw what the Tarr tribe is like when they smell an opportunity to advance themselves. The particular prize they’re after is the mine, via Datak becoming Mayor and selling the good townsfolk out to the Earth Republic. Earlier in the season we were sold the notion that Stahma was more complicated than her husband, but the reality of that very minor difference is now rather abruptly exposed....

3.10 When Twilight Dims The Sky I’m not sure why writers like such hackneyed concepts as ’12 hours earlier’ starts to shows. This week’s episode of Defiance rolled it out for another tired outing while managing to miss the whole point of the trick, which generally requires that you present a situation that couldn’t normally happen, thus confusing the viewer with how this may have come about. Except in this case, Nolan and Irisa being chased through the town and shot at isn’t anything but wholly predictable....

It’s a moving interview to watch, but I found at the time of viewing it that it was almost too much to take in. As much as you’re listening to what he’s saying and engaging with it, you’re also looking at a very ill person and your thoughts are also taken up with that – the way he looks, and the obvious pain he’s in. It’s an overwhelming experience, and so it’s helpful to read Melvyn Bragg’s thoughts on the interview that serves as the book’s introduction....

Clagett’s book embraces the failures as much as the successes, and that’s what makes it a great read. This isn’t about Friedkin’s personal life, or his many arguments with others in the film industry (if you’re interested in that side of his story then Peter Biskind’s Easy Riders Raging Bulls might well be the book for you). It’s an in-depth look at every film Friedkin has directed, including aspects such as structure and dialogue, followed by critical and public opinion, and Clagett’s own thoughts on why the film worked, or failed....

The confidence of the creative people behind Dexter is almost palpable now, and Blinded By The Light is a fine example of how well they know their characters. Being so in touch with their subtleties allows them to exploit your expectations, and make them surprise you in the way that real people occasionally do. In the middle of this story the inimitable Vince Masuka and Debra Morgan are trying to establish the cause of a woman’s death, when completely unexpectedly Vince comes out with something that’s borderline sensitive and caring....

After learning her father has died, Disobedience’s Ronit (Rachel Weisz), who has been going by the name Ronnie, returns to the England and to the Orthodox Jewish community she grew up in. She’s there to pay her respects to the rabbi who was seemingly a father to everyone but her. With no original plans to stay very long, she heads straight to the home of her childhood friend, Dovid (played by an almost unrecognizable Alessandro Nivola)....

Since the show was revived back in 2005, the Doctor Who Christmas special has featured, to varying degrees, lots of Yuletide staples, and no shortage of festivities. Granted, these have tended to be subverted to various degrees – we had dangerous Christmas trees the one year, remember – but there’s been no shortage of upbeat seasonal spirit in there too. Christmas songs, crackers, a big nosh-up: the traditions have been very much observed....

The first impression upon listening is that these sound more filmic than most TV soundtracks, and that this is the territory the Christmas Specials are trying to muscle in on. Now that On Demand and streaming services have rendered the Yuletide TV film premières that little bit less special, in steps Doctor Who to fill the breach. It’s got to look and sound the part. So, with help the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (also known under the acronym of BBC NOW, which sounds dying wish of an ex-pat) it brings in blaring brass, sinister strings and occasional bouts of choral flourish....

Twice Upon A Time It kicks off, of all things, with the kind of recap that only Doctor Who could get away with, before resuming where things were left at the end The Doctor Falls. Two Doctors – David Bradley as the first Doctor, Peter Capaldi as the incumbent – holding off their own regeneration. Neither willing to succumb to the change and uncertainty that lies ahead. In the midst of this is a 1914 World War I battlefield, where Mark Gatiss’ British soldier (and Gatiss is brilliant) is pointing a gun at Toby Whithouse’s wounded German troop....

The Rings Of Akhaten The answer? No it wasn’t. It’s something that took on importance just one episode later. The mystery of the leaf barely lasted a few minutes of The Rings Of Akhaten, as Luther writer Neil Cross’ maiden Doctor Who adventure (at least the first to be screened!) started off by filling in some more of Clara’s backstory, tree foliage included. It also began with the Doctor reading the Beano Summer Special, an inspired way of relating to us that the year, initially, was 1981....

Dragon Ball Super Episode 16 “Is this the best that I’m capable of? I’ll surpass Kakarot and show them all!” In a lot of ways “Vegeta Becomes a Student?!” is designed to reflect the two extremes of Vegeta—his unquenchable desire to become stronger and his ability to become the perfect jester given the right change in circumstances. The top of the episode tries its best to remind everyone just how bad ass and dedicated Vegeta is to his trade, knowing that the Saiyan Prince is going to have to endure the most humbling of trials by the time the episode’s over....

Dragon Ball Super Episode 20 So we totally need an episode that’s just Beerus and Champa sneezing at one another now, right? That’s the sort of madness I want from this show. It’s nice to get to hear Frieza actually reminiscing about how awful his version of Hell was and the weirdly specific, cute displays of affection that he had to endure while imprisoned there. Personally, this works a lot better than leaving that brief glimpse of Frieza in Hell as a one-off gag....

Say hellooooooo to Golden Frieza! It’s also nice to see the series poking a little fun at itself, as Goku’s new form’s real name is “Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan,” meaning he’s now ascended beyond the base level of a Super Saiyan God. That title is such a mouthful that thankfully the much catchier, color coordinated name of “Super Saiyan Blue” is invented as a more colloquial alternative. Before the actual fighting, there’s a lot of talking about the fighting....

Dragon Ball Super Episode 32 “It’s Frieza! They have him in their universe, too?” It’s also quite satisfying to get some golden moments between Goku and Vegeta while they’re alone together. Goku’s excitement over having new strong opponents to face is hardly new territory, but it doesn’t get much better than Vegeta shooting the guy down and telling Goku to start acting his age and to take this a little more seriously....

On the other hand, Masters of the Universe demonstrates exactly how not to do it. The 1987 flick gets thrown in the Dungeon thanks to its many, many crimes against cinema. However, while the fans were undoubtedly presented with the right man for the job, they were certainly not given the right story. For the biggest problem with Masters of the Universe, and the reason it’s shackled up and being whipped by eager guards right now, is that the film adaptation criminally discards almost everything you know about He-Man’s universe in a way that makes The Phantom Menace’s midi-chlorian fiasco look tame in comparison....

3.2 The Five Orange Pipz This week’s case – which in characteristic Elementary style bore only a superficial resemblance to its source material – wasn’t just lacklustre, it was a waste of a good Doyle story. Based on recent real-life events, the Pipz plot was merely an exposition-heavy framework on which to hang the now-solved mystery of Kitty Winter. Luckily, Ophelia Lovibond’s Kitty is an interesting enough prospect by herself for the time being....