Mark Ahern's Blog

Derek feels a stiff breeze blow across his face. “Wow, it’s cold here. Is this not the planet where humans are meant to have evolved?”

Jessica looks back at him with a quizzical look. “Eh, not on this part of the planet. Come on, we’d better get the two of yous inside.”

Soon, she was pointing to a nearby white-finished bungalow. “Come on, this way.”

For a moment, Derek worries his wheelchair is too wide for the door, but fortunately, he has an inch on either side to spare.

Immediately, he feels the burst of warm air. It felt good.

Jessica led them to a small kitchen. “Now, what about a nice cup of tea for the two of you?”

Maeves face lit up. “Oh, yes, please. They are mad about their tea in these parts, Derek.”

Derek smirks. “I’ll have to give it a try, so!”

And lovely tea, it turns out to be.

“So, what’s next?” Jessica asks. Her tone is more serious.

Derek and Maeve look at each other, unsure what to say.

Maeve takes the lead. “Auntie, it was all somewhat rushed. We had to take our chances; there was no time to plan ahead.”

“It’s okay, love, you should be fine here for quite some time. They’d never expect you to come to this remote place. That’s for sure.”

Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is a series currently being aired on Sky. It is not for the faint of heart and can be quite dark at times. Any comedy is pretty black.

It follows the life of Bunny, played by Matt Smith, and his unfortunate son (Bunny Junior). Bunny is a narcissistic womanizer who uses the people around him to his own end. His only redemption is his son, who idolises him at first but gradually sees him for who he is.

It starts with the suicide of Bunny’s wife leaving him as the sole caregiver for his son. This is not the story of someone embracing their responsibilities and rising to the plate. Bunny and his son go on the run to avoid social services. At the same time, a horned serial killer is on the loose.

Bunny shows himself to be a truly disgusting character as he slips deeper into the abyss.

At some point you realize this is a story about the son. The only message I got was that Social Services do a vital job.

You have to suspend your reasoning. There is no police alert about the missing child. They spend hours driving around but all roads lead to Brighton.

The ending is nonsensical and I wasn’t bothered by Bunny’s death at the end. He was too unlikeable.

I give the series two stars out of five. You’ll find something better to do with your time.

So have you watched it? Let me know what you think.

“I am indeed.”

The lady walks over and wraps him in a warm embrace. “Thanks so much for everything you’ve done for Maeve. I don’t know what we would have done without you!”

“There is no need to thank me. I would do anything for her.”

The lady takes a step back, looking into his eyes. He can see her wrinkled, weather-battered face now. Still, there is a beauty there, mixed with determination. “You can call me Jessica.”

She waves her hand for Derek and Maeve to follow her. Derek’s wheelchair bobbles up and down on the uneven, pebble-filled surface. It bothers him, not.

Jessica points at one of the few buildings. An unappealing, simple building that is somewhat derelict. “That was once the most northerly post office in the UK.”

Derek and Maeve look at each other in confusion.

“Oh lord,” Jessica says in exasperation, “doesn’t anyone teach you young people history anymore? The UK, or the United Kingdom, once had an empire so large that the sun never set. And now, it might as well have never existed. I guess that the northerly part is lost on you two, you being from space and all.”

Jessica continues muttering to herself as they start to make their way up a road.

Hi readers. I do hope you are all keeping well. I’ve been watching this gem over the last week.

From Wikipedia :

The series depicts the election and presidency of James A. Garfield, the 20th United States President, including his anti-corruption and pro-civil rights stances, as well as how his path crossed with Charles J. Guiteau, a deluded admirer, who ended up shooting him, leading to Garfield’s death.

It states at the start that Garfield and Guiteau had been lost to history. And well, I’d never heard of them.

Visually, the series shines. It really takes you back to the 1880s. I loved the scenes of old New York, although I still had the feeling they were CGI. There’s something about the time period of the late nineteenth/early twentieth century for storytelling.

From the very first episode, the show establishes a distinct identity, depicting an accidental President.

We are also introduced to the troubled Guiteau. Gradually, he is overcome with delusions.

Michael Shannon gives a satisfactory performance, though it can be wooden at times. I think what I like best was the show’s depictions of the time.

The historical record is, in a way, a hindrance, as the show comes to an end just as it was getting going.

For that reason, it gets 3.5 stars out of five.

Hello, my dear readers. Took an annual leave today and decided that it was important for it not to be wasted. So, I watched TV and the above documentary, in particular.

Episode 1 of King of Lies: Football’s Greatest Con launches the series with an enticing blend of mystery and tension, but it’s not without its stumbles. The premiere does a solid job establishing the central scandal, which revolves around the sale of Notts County Football Club (the oldest professional football club in the world), teasing just enough information to pique curiosity without revealing too much too soon. The opening sequences are atmospheric and stylish, setting a tone that’s equal parts investigative thriller and sports documentary.

The documentary’s greatest strength is its interviews. I was stunned to see Sven-Göran Eriksson pop into the story. The interview is from the depths of sickness shortly before he died. Unfortunately, he gets caught up in it all and quite bizarrely ends up in North Korea at one point!

However, the pacing is noticeably uneven. Some sections feel stretched out, lingering on details that don’t yet carry emotional or narrative weight. The editing sometimes jumps abruptly between timelines or perspectives, which can make the episode feel scattered,

Russell King is the conman leaving ruin wherever he goes. It’s quite a complex con, almost masterful. But it’s impossible to see his out. He needed the con or new cons to keep being successful, to not get caught.

An interesting documentary. I learned that you can’t get people to do what they don’t want to. The art of persuasion is giving them a reason to do what they want.

Yes, so, not sure if that’s a positive, but what the hell.

It gets three stars out of five from me.

Have you seen it? What do you think?

Episode 1 of King of Lies: Football’s Greatest Con is currently available on Sky Documentaries.

A few moments pass, and it comes into view. White dots surrounded by green jutting out of the ocean.

“Is this it?”

“It sure is.” Her voice is full of excitement.

More interesting than the moon, I suppose.

The ship comes to a halt, and Derek feels the vibration of the landing thrusters firing. A few seconds later, a thud as it hit the ground.

Derek shakes. The reality of landing on an alien world hits him.

“You okay, Derek? My Auntie is waiting for us. Everything is going to be fine.”

She places her hand on his shoulder, and he turns the wheelchair.

They go to the rear of the ship, and the hatch opens. A silver-haired, plump woman is waiting for them at the bottom of the ramp.

Maeve rushes forward and wraps her arms around the older woman.

Derek drives down the ramp before coming to an abrupt halt. The smell of the sea, the beautiful cloudy sky, the feel of the wind on his face, it’s so different.

Maeve looks back at him and frowns. “You okay, Derek?”

He looks over at her and smiles. “Oh, yes. I’ve never experienced anything like this. To hear the waves and the wind. I knew it would be different, but this is incredible.”

The grey-haired woman then spoke. “You must be Derek.”

Anybody within seven or eight years of my age (I’m forty-six) would have fond memories of Eddie Murphy. I still remember seeing Beverly Hills Cop for the first time. A great film that would never have made it without him. It was the first time I saw on-screen a black character who was clearly more intelligent than the white people around him. All the curses stuck out as well.

But what happened to him recently? I haven’t heard his name in an age. I was also interested in what other aspects of his life were like.

That’s why I watched the documentary “Being Eddie” on Netflix a couple of nights ago.

If you are looking for something visceral, raw, then this is not it. Some critics think it’s more like a prelude to him returning to stand-up more than anything else. It retreats from anything awkward/contentious. He comes across as a family man and reminisces about voicing the donkey in Shrek. There is nothing about the paternity suit with Mel B, for example. He has ten children. Musk would be proud.

The best part is when it just lets him speak. I found his tendency towards OCD intriguing. Great minds appear to have a likelihood for such things, and I doubt it’s a coincidence.

He also brings up that he has never won an Oscar, despite his great performances and sometimes playing multiple characters in the same film. I wouldn’t worry about it if I were him; their value has greatly diminished over the years.

The interviews with other comedy legends, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, and more, show what a powerful influence he was on the industry. They all say nice things. What a pity!

I give it three stars out of five. It’ll make you feel warm. Just don’t expect anything beyond the bland, though.

Have you seen it? Let me know what you think.

I remember when I first watched an episode of The Walking Dead, an American post-apocalyptic horror drama of the Zombie kind, I was entranced. Still, little did I think I would be watching one of many spin-offs fifteen years later. I guess that the joy of watching people getting eaten alive was also missing from other people’s lives.

The third season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon proves that this spinoff isn’t just surviving — it’s thriving. After two strong installments set against the haunting backdrop of post-apocalyptic France, Season 3 expands the world once again with confidence, style, and surprising emotional depth.

Norman Reedus delivers one of his most nuanced performances yet as Daryl. He’s still the gruff, resourceful loner we’ve always known, but this season gives him space to show real growth — vulnerability, reflection, and a renewed sense of purpose. Watching him evolve from a weary wanderer into a reluctant leader and mentor feels deeply satisfying, especially for fans who’ve followed him since the early days of The Walking Dead.

It’s humorous to think now that when he first appeared, I was sure he could not be trusted and would come to a quick end. I’m sure there is a lesson in there somewhere.

One of the biggest highlights is the long-awaited reunion with Melissa McBride’s Carol Peletier. Their chemistry is nothing short of electric — equal parts tenderness, tension, and mutual respect. Every scene between them is a reminder of why their bond remains one of the emotional cores of the entire Walking Dead universe. Together, they bring a warmth and familiarity that beautifully contrasts with the harshness of the world around them.

Visually, Season 3 is stunning. The European landscapes — this time making powerful use of Spain’s dramatic scenery — give the show a unique texture and sense of scale. The cinematography is gorgeous, balancing moody atmosphere with bursts of kinetic action. It’s clear that AMC has invested heavily in production quality, and it pays off: this season looks and feels more cinematic than ever.

The writing, too, feels sharper and more purposeful. Themes of faith, survival, and belonging run through every episode, but they’re handled with restraint and maturity. The show doesn’t rely solely on zombie horror — it explores what it truly means to rebuild and to believe in something again after the end of the world.

Nothing’s perfect, though. Some of the landscapes just didn’t look apocalyptic enough. It looked too ordered. The show needs one of its main characters, whether in a spin-off or not, to die an agonizing death. I need to feel some dread.

Season 3 gets five stars out of five from me. It’s currently available on Sky Max.

The ship finally stops rattling, and a blue sky appears with white puffy shapes below.

Maeve shouted back to him. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?” That’s clouds below us.”

“Wow, much more beautiful than the moon.”

She looks back and smiles. “You haven’t seen anything yet!”

There is a crackling sound over the communications array –

“You are about to enter His Majesty’s airspace. This is an unscheduled flight. You have sixty seconds to identify yourself. Otherwise, the aerial defence system will be activated.”

Derek’s heart sinks. “What do we do now?”

Maeve twitches her fingers. “I have an idea.”

She then replies, “This is the vessel 4573 requesting permission to enter. Code Alpha Beta Two niner omega tr34”

The voice replies, “You are cleared to land.”

The thought crosses Dereks’ mind – How did she know what to say?

Seconds pass, and the ship descends below the clouds. A blue sea is revealed. Derek’s eyes open wide with wonder. It is one of the most beautiful things he has ever seen.

“Incredible, isn’t it?” Maeve says in a hushed tone.

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

“The island will shortly come into view. It will be unlike anything you have seen before. Let’s hope you like it.”

Well, let’s face it. Russia is fairly topical at the moment. But how did we get here? Well, any story about Russia has to include the Romanovs, who ruled for 300 years. The Last Czars is an ambitious attempt by Netflix to blend historical documentary with dramatized storytelling, chronicling their downfall —and the rise of the Bolsheviks. The result is an intriguing, visually lavish production that succeeds in moments but often struggles to find its identity.

The lavish costumes, ornate set designs, and snowy Russian landscapes evoke the grandeur—and isolation—of the Romanov dynasty. The performances, especially Robert Jack as Tsar Nicholas II and Susanna Herbert as Alexandra, bring depth to historical figures often seen as symbols rather than people. And rather flawed people they turn out to be.

At times, I felt sympathetic to their plight as their Empire collapsed around them. Other times, not so much as they make one poor decision after another. The Bolsheviks shouldn’t have shot the children, but Nicholas II and Alexandra cared little for the ordinary Russian. It reminds me of someone, I can’t quite put my finger on it.

The most interesting character is, of course, Rasputin. He is someone I have always been interested in. A religious man. God saves sinners; therefore, it is important to sin. Only then can you ask for forgiveness. He tries his best to drink and to make love to as many women as possible. God bless, he loves his God. The Romanovs fall under his spell, a sick son creating a wedge between them and their people (well, she’s German, it’s complicated).

The inclusion of documentary-style narration and expert interviews gives the viewer valuable historical grounding. However, this same hybrid format is also the show’s greatest weakness. The constant switching between drama and documentary can feel jarring, breaking immersion and undercutting any attachment to what is happening.

Personally, I found it a bit of a struggle to keep watching. Three stars out of five for me. If you’re committed to hours of TV every day, give it a try. If time is precious, there is much better out there.

But let me know what you think? Have you seen it?