tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-299647152024-03-29T07:37:55.973+00:00SpoilerTVDarkUFOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464721245509617190noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-62885753174011988262022-06-17T21:54:00.002+01:002022-06-17T21:54:24.548+01:00Shining Girls - Bright + Offset + 30 - Review<a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt1LGx1U8wLDEeIt8bd3aTi53OJLoGxArZZS6MoSSDzR9svCjziOMXh4w82urBv4KC5fP7FQqIWkGY2c0U5zssAfwt7VoevxxSY59cmM-44iRR_rjoae99yTYApFV0fILdsdrFBE1gF_I1gC9Z8R3OiQvweYudU-uF9-3XRbJhETfdckU15k/s1600/shininggirls.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="726" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt1LGx1U8wLDEeIt8bd3aTi53OJLoGxArZZS6MoSSDzR9svCjziOMXh4w82urBv4KC5fP7FQqIWkGY2c0U5zssAfwt7VoevxxSY59cmM-44iRR_rjoae99yTYApFV0fILdsdrFBE1gF_I1gC9Z8R3OiQvweYudU-uF9-3XRbJhETfdckU15k/s1600/shininggirls.jpg"/></a></div><br /><br /><br />
<br /><i>Shining Girls</i>’ last three episodes propelled the storyline to its gripping conclusion; renewed for a second series because nothing is a limited show anymore, it looks at the wider implications of characters putting together the consequences of Harper and Kirby drifting back and forth through time and realities and Harper’s attacks escalating with damning effects, whilst also spending much of episode six devoted to Harper’s backstory. It’s a tragic one that takes you back to the first world war – almost plunging you into the middle of a 1917 type scenario from the opening seconds but given all the films that have tackled the ‘great war’ recently you’re in familiar territory with Leo and Harper. Leo watches Harper’s back as he runs through the gas-covered terrain, and he’s drifting – falling through time, spending his life in bars – chasing people out onto the street in war uniform before waking up in a future that’s very different from the one he left. It’s chaotic – showcasing the range of <i>Shining Girls</i>’ true potential; and really adds depth to these episodes that prove it maybe shouldn’t have been a movie despite the initial critic reviews labelling it as such and there’s enough meat on this show’s bones for a series.<br />
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You can’t go on for so long without holding answers back from the viewer and those who gave <i>Shining Girls</i> some faith in that television is a longform media were rewarded this week; examining the friendship between Harper and Leo, Leo always having Harper’s back. Harper needs allies as much as he has enemies, and it’s a superb performance from Jamie Bell in this role – boiling towards the conclusion that puts him face to face with Kirby. It’s a story with a lot of puzzles being drawn together as the mystery intricately reveals itself, first showing Harper’s history of violence back in the Battle of Cantigny in 1918. The mustard gas sequences are chaotically orchestrated capturing the horror of war – Harper getting knocked to the ground and finding his gas mask rendered useless betrays his survival at any cost approach; and he kills a downed soldier to take his mask before the mustard gas hits. It’s a ruthless, cold sequence – much of Harper’s character coming from World War One also feels reminiscent in a way of Twice Upon a Time, the Twelfth Doctor’s swansong, where the soldier brought along with the first and twelfth Doctors realises that the “Great War” was not the last war – and there are more wars beyond that. It’s chilling, even for people like Harper – and punctuated by an effective realisation. With the similarities to Blink earlier in the season and the general understanding of time travel formulating its way in the narrative, <i>Shining Girls</i>’ showrunners being Doctor Who fans would surprise absolutely nobody.<br />
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The relationship between Harper and Klara in the dressing room wrapped up some answers there too regarding the video that Leo gave to Kirby about who Klara is as a person, with the two having history back to their past – Harper likes Klara more than Klara likes him; but it’s refreshing to see this other side of Harper without ever once glorifying him – we’re almost seeing Harper and Kirby, two sides of different coins, putting the pieces together and the show is at its best when it feels like both characters view themselves as the protagonists – incorrectly in Harper’s case, of course – and that always makes the shocking violent acts that Harper commits all the more disturbing, and one of the characters’ biggest strengths – Jamie Bell is excellent right the way through opposite Moss. Harper’s able to gradually impress Klara about Paris – and Klara taught Harper how to rob and steal in the first place when they were younger; being surprised that he still does do these things now as an adult. Patterns repeat itself here as we’re seeing Harper wasn’t just a one-off in the trenches – he’s capable of stealing multiple times, even from someone as innocent as Britta. <i>Shining Girls</i> illustrates this point rather bluntly by having Harper steal from a literal nun; but sometimes the lack of subtlety is the way to go. <br />
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The final telling point is the confrontation with the old man – who has not been to October 9, 1920 yet. He claims asks if Harper’s a craftsman, but Harper is then told he doesn’t create; only steal – and that gives some hint into the lore of the show’s world as we progress. The 1980s’ timeline switch to the sound system and Jim Croce’s “Operator (That’s Not the Way it Feels)” blasting over the soundtrack only illustrates this point – with the old man determined to keep his answers guessing. The house itself acts as a door – “we can only pass through here” he tells him. He knows that Harper will be unable to resist the lure of the house; and it’s tempting – pulling him back into a timey-wimey building that acts as a puzzle box. This eventually puts him on a collision with a blonde-haired; younger Kirby – as we see him drawn into the mystery in his own right. <br />
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Offset is the stage-setter for the finale and after a few perhaps slightly struggling middle act episodes, <i>Shining Girls</i> finds its form. Jinny may have escaped death, but Harper still has both Jinny and Harper in his sights – and we get to learn more about Kirby’s attack this time out with Moss taking over the directing chair once more; with the brutal attack that did not shy away from being depicted in a horrifying manner. <br />
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The slow sense of dread is eating up inside Jinny and the tension is ever present – Harper had her right where he wanted her; but it was Kirby who found her – and the two are beginning to place trust in each other all the more now, and we’re really exploring the friendship of the two in this episode in fascinating ways. Harper can’t keep track of them both if they’re working together to stop him – and they’re smart enough to stay one step ahead of him.<br />
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Kirby and Dan do some investigating that leads them to Teeny’s where Klara was murdered in 1920, which sends shockwaves through both of them, the time difference would alarm almost everyone. This is the first time that Dan’s had proof of evidence that clashes with all things rational, but Marcus on the other hand is less than easy convincing (it’s great to get Dan on board though, he always seemed the most likely of the two) – the desperation in his voice for Kirby to take some time off work is evident and you can easily see things from his perspective. I like that we’ve seen both the two of them at their best here before now, it helps understand where Marcus is coming from so we don’t completely get a muddled sense of perspective that turns our attention away from who he is. Abby is on the same page as Marcus though, and that bodes ill for Kirby, who’s told to take a leave of absence. But just because she doesn’t work there anymore, doesn’t mean she’s going to stop looking for him – she has to, because otherwise she’ll keep existing as she is now. <br />
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Dan is able to get on board whereas Marcus is not. What if Marcus knew everything that Dan did? What would happen then? All these what if questions are lingering about, but it’s understandable that Kirby doesn’t want to get Marcus too caught up, as we’re just about to see what happens to people who know to much, and it isn’t good – Dan is taken out of the picture after tracking down a receipt from 1981 linking back to the bar that Kirby worked in, with Harper stabbing him and leaving him in a heap on the floor, taking his jacket to boot. <br />
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And just like that; dominos fall. Not only is Kirby changing, but Jinny is as well – and Dr. Gary Hegland is the one making her speech. For Jinny, reality has shifted, and she’s now experiencing what Kirby has had. <br />
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And now we get to the real changes in the book that eschew the ending. Dan’s dead – he was Kirby’s love interest in Lauren Beukes’ <i>Shining Girls</i>, and the pair ended up together after Kirby defeated Harper. The episode was all about getting them together for a final showdown, putting everyone else around them in danger and shutting off Kirby’s allies completely. She is eventually able to find out that Harper is tied down to a time travel portal in his house, and is able to take him out in the present. But she gives him the chance at a life that he would never have given her, meaning that Kirby – for the first real time, has a sense of agency and purpose where she’s in control for this series, driving the narrative. <br />
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It’s enough for the pieces to be put back together again, Dan is alive once more, Jinny has her old job back – and whilst Offset’s changes may not have stuck the landing it gives Kirby a sense of closure on that loop. She no longer has to worry about the shifting and she no longer has to worry about who she’s meeting each day. Whilst Dan may not know Kirby, she writes in his notebook: “if you ever remember, you know where to find me”, and it’s good to see that the writers are making changes that feel right for the script – a Kirby/Dan romance would have added maybe one too many extra narratives for the series given its limited eight episode length. It’s already pretty packed as it is, and there was so much going on in the finale it’s hard to keep track of it all. <br />
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The sense of cat-and-mouse narrative dominated <i>Shining Girls</i> throughout its run and gave it a real sense of thrilling unpredictability. The narrative tied together perfectly and wrapped things up in a way befitting of the book, understanding that the changes had been made without feeling the need to break it. Its ending note was a successful example of how to use a hook to draw audiences in and keep them there – making <i>Shining Girls</i> one of the better examples of mystery shows with a sci-fi twist. At this stage, we don’t know yet whether or not there’ll be a second series. But given that we’ve pretty much gone through the book, there really does feel like little left to tell. <br />
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Milo MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05145862452794634877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-32270768074072644312022-06-03T11:10:00.000+01:002022-06-03T11:10:02.832+01:00Shining Girls - Season 1 - Open Discussion + Poll *Updated 3rd June 2022*<a name='more'></a><img class='headerimage' width='726px' src='https://files.spoilertv.com/headers/shining-girls.jpg' />
Season 1 of Shining Girls has started airing on Apple TV+. This post will be bumped during the season as new episodes are released.<br>
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Let us know your thoughts as the season progresses in the comments below and vote in the poll.<br>
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NOTE: Obviously people will be posting their thoughts/reactions to the season as a whole, so there will be spoilers in the comments. We advise you not to read the comments until you have watched the latest available episode.<br>
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NOTE: You can change your vote as the season progresses.<br>
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</div>Rainahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181748888795028975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-69866533797716525922022-05-27T11:00:00.003+01:002022-05-27T11:00:03.331+01:00POLL : What are you watching Tonight? - 27th May 2022<a name='more'></a><img class='headerimage' width='726px' src='https://files.spoilertv.com/headers/header-waywt-white-sharp.jpg' />
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</div>Rainahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181748888795028975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-69435001419415769882022-05-19T19:43:00.001+01:002022-05-19T19:43:17.624+01:00Shining Girls - Attribution + Screamer - Review<a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt1LGx1U8wLDEeIt8bd3aTi53OJLoGxArZZS6MoSSDzR9svCjziOMXh4w82urBv4KC5fP7FQqIWkGY2c0U5zssAfwt7VoevxxSY59cmM-44iRR_rjoae99yTYApFV0fILdsdrFBE1gF_I1gC9Z8R3OiQvweYudU-uF9-3XRbJhETfdckU15k/s1600/shininggirls.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="726" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt1LGx1U8wLDEeIt8bd3aTi53OJLoGxArZZS6MoSSDzR9svCjziOMXh4w82urBv4KC5fP7FQqIWkGY2c0U5zssAfwt7VoevxxSY59cmM-44iRR_rjoae99yTYApFV0fILdsdrFBE1gF_I1gC9Z8R3OiQvweYudU-uF9-3XRbJhETfdckU15k/s1600/shininggirls.jpg"/></a></div><br /><br />
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<b><i>Shining Girls</i> 1.04 "<i>Attribution</i>" - Review</b>:
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNVxnQNhUyGLCj6nHDZ9UefzeFVDeyYm3yJf7fjwEfr9254LWQ5PrKa3C4peKZKfyoEMfiS6xX4FCMhV5-caikm3p5LXN7P7VWMW4zpKXa8OKidEzHJRIHkWoUF9D3jtiBb5PT2VF-ityUPrqWis0d3j6SsZxsUtbqI7YKXRkBa3wOJiP6Oo/s6000/Shining_Girls_Photo_010401.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNVxnQNhUyGLCj6nHDZ9UefzeFVDeyYm3yJf7fjwEfr9254LWQ5PrKa3C4peKZKfyoEMfiS6xX4FCMhV5-caikm3p5LXN7P7VWMW4zpKXa8OKidEzHJRIHkWoUF9D3jtiBb5PT2VF-ityUPrqWis0d3j6SsZxsUtbqI7YKXRkBa3wOJiP6Oo/s320/Shining_Girls_Photo_010401.jpg"/></a></div><br /><i>Shining Girls</i> continues the David Fincher aesthetic touches of this serial killer drama with threads being discovered on both sides of the storyline – with Kirby and the killer circling around each other. The mood and lighting continues to be exquisite in this series, episode four directed by Daina Reid – who has collaborated with Elisabeth Moss before on The Handmaid’s Tale and brings an appropriate air atmosphere to the set that creates grunge buildings feel live and instantly lived in – the atmosphere and graffiti betray rich history in key scenes – in stark contrast with the urban metropolis of the daytime above. We’re seeing the seedy underbelly of Lauren Beukes’ world come to life here – the more we spend time in it it’s a great place to be in. Unless you’re Kirby, of course. <br />
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The multi-layered thread of investigations is deepening and the weekly release schedule demands your constant attention, there’s no looking at the phone here – there’s no background viewing. For good or for ill the daunting world of <i>Shining Girls</i> requires your undivided attention – and there’s a lot to take in. Harper wants to know why Dan knows so much about what he’s been up to, and Kirby’s new reality is still a question mark to her. The world-travelling is completely new.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8kfw6z82vxw8dXGQNtHyNe7KudZBZhYFqui0XcwVlC844P1dg_rfWTcnbU0rcF6fkyn_I4OPbPT4UTvlNvG9fCjVbP6SpeXHfFlcyS6gGY7-uCvcGuarz-HMORMetKScu0TTfD8b28kmG1PG6KZk4AfhiGd03B0hYn3sik1c0gXJT-Me3XI/s3840/Shining_Girls_Photo_010403.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8kfw6z82vxw8dXGQNtHyNe7KudZBZhYFqui0XcwVlC844P1dg_rfWTcnbU0rcF6fkyn_I4OPbPT4UTvlNvG9fCjVbP6SpeXHfFlcyS6gGY7-uCvcGuarz-HMORMetKScu0TTfD8b28kmG1PG6KZk4AfhiGd03B0hYn3sik1c0gXJT-Me3XI/s320/Shining_Girls_Photo_010403.jpg"/></a></div>Harper is figuring it out too – he’s retracing his murder sites over the years and everything’s the way he left it up until 1986. It’s an investigation of his own alongside Kirby’s – both searching similar goals. She finds Sharon Leads (who is, for all accounts, Kirby) in the hospital – after Sharon was able to drag herself there. Whilst unable to spend time with Sharon in the hospital ward despite infiltrating it enough to see it - he does get to see Rachel – Sharon’s mother, but the conversation is hostile from the get go – I’d get annoyed if someone sat next to me on an empty set of seats too – and no further answers are given. Jamie Bell is appropriately chilling from the start as Harper and a formidable invisible antagonist – nobody knows who he is yet – hence the <i>Zodiac</i> comparisons, and the show has already given us plenty of similar scenarios to the office so far.<br />
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Kirby and Marcus are tracing their own steps in their timeline of 1992 after looking at the audio that Kirby stole – Kirby tells Marcus that something on the tapes may have happened to her although she wasn’t aware of it – and she doesn’t want to drag Marcus, understandably, into this – but Marcus is insistent that he stays. He’s asking all the right questions – and is smart enough to play along with Kirby’s investigation. Having someone supportive on her side helps. Dan’s story is pitched to his superiors but understandably – the pushback is due to the sketchy acquisition of evidence. Kirby’s anonymity also doesn’t help matters – but Dan wants to stick with the case. Marcus, also working there – knows about the murders too – but doesn’t want his wife to be put in a position like this. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI1IX2BgTPIDlKsgZ5HSrF6sbPYT3BgYyNAgul3GveI5MSLlB4CV9imE8RrOJuyI86FQvQMQRI5B05wncKxzjyC-YWgHq1KeZfQKAS45NwhxjpTHkBzOHba0KMiiQ1MS9VLBca9BOOSv7DGNQDfSkUW231MC4t03o1ZMJjo8gUobZyWZkfLo/s3840/Shining_Girls_Photo_010405.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAI1IX2BgTPIDlKsgZ5HSrF6sbPYT3BgYyNAgul3GveI5MSLlB4CV9imE8RrOJuyI86FQvQMQRI5B05wncKxzjyC-YWgHq1KeZfQKAS45NwhxjpTHkBzOHba0KMiiQ1MS9VLBca9BOOSv7DGNQDfSkUW231MC4t03o1ZMJjo8gUobZyWZkfLo/s320/Shining_Girls_Photo_010405.jpg"/></a></div>I do feel at this stage <i>Shining Girls</i> may be keeping its cards a bit too close to its chest and will have to start giving audiences more payoff soon – the reality-shifting runs the risk of being deployed as a deus-ex-machina a little too often. There’s a connection between Kirby and Harper and we will get these answers eventually – and I love that this episode was used to explore more of Kirby as a character as we got to see other dimensions to her past and character too – exploring her mother’s band’s recording session. Her hair was blonde then – and she seemed much happier. There’s an air of tragedy to these scenes watching them – knowing what happens. <br />
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I did appreciate the nod to not only Leonard Cohen and <i>The Ballard of the Absent Mare</i> – with the words Sharon’s Gone Like the Smoke being inscribed in the wall – but it also reminded me a lot of <i>Doctor Who</i>’s <i>Blink</i> and the message left by the Doctor to Sally Sparrow from the past to warn her of the Weeping Angels.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTrHesIHsJ1VPGQmyrAfwgJG01E4G-x7lVoqirb0I8GNfSiEdXu-zA9Cei9QdiZwP7qehpkYboRiLal18aY3jHm7xKMtZpdWBdVh8tpJrkBiWUqSOLvi5dTpKcI_P8_2dviPHsDzTzf-Z3MD_mnZqNPeG9g-PTx1Tcf7HN4jHghPwaH0g3-g/s3840/Shining_Girls_Photo_010404.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTrHesIHsJ1VPGQmyrAfwgJG01E4G-x7lVoqirb0I8GNfSiEdXu-zA9Cei9QdiZwP7qehpkYboRiLal18aY3jHm7xKMtZpdWBdVh8tpJrkBiWUqSOLvi5dTpKcI_P8_2dviPHsDzTzf-Z3MD_mnZqNPeG9g-PTx1Tcf7HN4jHghPwaH0g3-g/s320/Shining_Girls_Photo_010404.jpg"/></a></div>And then we get the final showdown of the episode at the end of it all – between Kirby and Harper that’s as chilling as they come. It’s an opportunity for Kirby to learn more about Harper and find that he looks the same – and Harper is insistent that he killed Kirby. The fight is tense, brutal, sharp and uncompromising – both characters want to know more about the other. This time, Kirby’s able to escape – run away – before finding herself in another reality again, setting us up nicely for episode five.<br />
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<b><i>Shining Girls</i> 1.05 <i>Screamer</i> - Review:</b>
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Episode 5 pushes things to the next level with Kirby coming clean about her reality switches. It’s a brilliant piece of acting for Elisabeth Moss as she desperately tries to convince Dan about the truth of what’s happening, but everyone, from the sketch artist to Dan himself, is sceptical. It’s frustrating for Kirby to get the point across about who the killer is – and far more frustrating knowing that we’ve also been following Harper’s own journey; watching him interact with the likes of Dan, knowing that they’ve come this close to finding him but not discovering him. You can tell <i>Zodiac</i> was watched multiple times in the runup to this show – but <i>Mindhunter</i> too leaves a heavy shadow. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaeHLXjl3bIWCR0gFefdE_TEPLeZF2xrvRkwH8h8TlycZHc8HuXhyAlo0FKvRcoZL2sLlJ97DeluKVef9VrU4NlbF3X7fRnJCO7TaVw0pmGKNDGms_zGRuj2so7NCOui7NnSrD0Z7HhiaAN_CEiqd9pFQgQHRXJpxVAOrhFJhYDc6FJxYYGw/s838/shininggirls1.05a.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="838" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaeHLXjl3bIWCR0gFefdE_TEPLeZF2xrvRkwH8h8TlycZHc8HuXhyAlo0FKvRcoZL2sLlJ97DeluKVef9VrU4NlbF3X7fRnJCO7TaVw0pmGKNDGms_zGRuj2so7NCOui7NnSrD0Z7HhiaAN_CEiqd9pFQgQHRXJpxVAOrhFJhYDc6FJxYYGw/s320/shininggirls1.05a.jpg"/></a></div>Dan’s article is starting to gain traction across the city as it grows – more and more people are calling in with information about the suspects. Kirby wants to run with what happened to her last night and has a copy of the police sketch – but she argues that people cannot wait. Dan is cautious: releasing the name will only make things much worse for the police. Jin-Sook tells Kirby about her past with Harper – that she knows that he’s come to where she works but is negative when Kirby asks her about reality switching and Jin-Sook says no. Whatever the phenomena is, it’s unique to Kirby – and Harper saw it at the bar last night too. Jin-Sook offers a warning: whatever effect happens; so too will something respond to it. And she’s right – Harper is aware of the changes, talking about them to Leo too – is actions mirror Dan’s in that of disbelief. Harper’s now out of the hospital he woke up in and walking about but has likely lost the money he was carrying. Harper even mentions Kirby – but avoids telling Leo as to why they’re involved. Maybe, Leo suggests – it’s not Harper’s first change. Maybe she knows something he does not. It’s refreshing to have a protagonist ahead of the curve for a change in terms of driving the narrative forward – but Kirby is now back in danger again, at the same building Harper was at. <br />
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The suspense is constant, the ever sense of dread is always there. Kirby offers a warning about peoplewatching, but Jin-Sook says let them – she’d rather have the lights. In the shadows – in the dark, Harper looks at them – watching. The music quickens – it’s brilliantly tense; a great bit of chilling acting between Moss and Jaimie Bell. The closer they are to each other – the worse it gets, for Kirby especially. The lingering thread of doubt about always being watched, the constant paranoia – it is putting everybody on edge. It’s also having spiralling consequences for her home life with her husband – Marcus, who gives her a toasted sandwich (peanut butter, cheese and grapes? Not my thing, thanks) that she’s never had before convinced it’s her comfort food. Dan follows up leads and goes to Kirby’s mother – who’s convinced that she’s not crazy, that’s her job – one of them has to have their shit together. Amy Brenneman is so good in this role – Leftovers fans will be right at home. Both Marcus and Rachel are left to orbit around Kirby and question her as she discovers her shapeshifting realities – and it’s hard to wonder whether they will emerge out of the series unscathed. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzj89dIb8a4sAOXcgBAk136kQwIA84-KKneR9emEkD-t5wgzphsaYQvFVI_olrlC_Vo1oMJ3xzTARGprw94PqnaIrCfzxsHXHTjZH7U0xJwD4zP6KxJR2dt1Jo71C_mORZQuv9FQ7kpluHDkZyAfBNZtrVoNc0cS25fPsm13i8Vj2MTzkjCw/s838/shininggirls1.05b.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="838" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzj89dIb8a4sAOXcgBAk136kQwIA84-KKneR9emEkD-t5wgzphsaYQvFVI_olrlC_Vo1oMJ3xzTARGprw94PqnaIrCfzxsHXHTjZH7U0xJwD4zP6KxJR2dt1Jo71C_mORZQuv9FQ7kpluHDkZyAfBNZtrVoNc0cS25fPsm13i8Vj2MTzkjCw/s320/shininggirls1.05b.jpg"/></a></div>I like how the show is making Jin-Sook more important as the series progresses – you could argue, it’s not in the grand scheme of things – just about three main characters, Kirby, Dan and Harper anymore. Marcus too, sheds some light on his past – and a similar tattoo is found in his old war photos that Harper had. This points them in the direction of Leo – who can possibly time travel. Leo worked in the residence where Julia Madrigal worked – and where Harper now visits frequently too. After Kirby gets the chance to talk to Leo and manipulates him into getting the information that she wants, we get to see a side of her that we haven’t before – agency-driven, unafraid to get what she wants. Leo offers a warning: don’t tell them that Kirby came to visit, and to stay away from Harper – don’t go near him under any circumstances. <br />
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Things are getting closer and closer to the end of the road now – Elisabeth Moss taking over directing duties really shines here. I’d love to see her direct a feature. The grit and atmosphere of the cinematography is remarkable – and the scene with Kirby and Leo was brilliantly done. And then – just as Jin-Sook said earlier – change has a reaction to it – and Harper shows up on the rooftops of the observatory to question her about how she knows Sharon – or who Jin-Sook thinks is Kirby. When Harper feels something – Kirby knows – and the show does a brilliant job at keeping you in suspense about whether you feel this is game over for Jin-Sook or not – first comes Harper’s warning about being acting as a message for Kirby – and then comes the chilling ending, that’s going to stay on my mind for a long, long time – chilling because nothing happens – but the threat is there – the warning – “not today” - with Kirby realising that Dan’s car is different to the one that she’s familiar with.<br />
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Now Dan believes Kirby about the car – when she mentions that it was one that he used to have. In her reality; he still has it – and asks her about the car. He’s on board now. Or at least, until Kirby’s reality changes again. <br />
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Milo MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05145862452794634877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-73386509108300397922022-05-13T11:00:00.004+01:002022-05-13T11:00:02.457+01:00POLL : What are you watching Tonight? - 13th May 2022<a name='more'></a><img class='headerimage' width='726px' src='https://files.spoilertv.com/headers/header-waywt-white-sharp.jpg' />
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</div>Rainahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181748888795028975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-73641060113460322782022-04-30T16:21:00.004+01:002022-04-30T16:22:55.128+01:00Shining Girls - Review<a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt1LGx1U8wLDEeIt8bd3aTi53OJLoGxArZZS6MoSSDzR9svCjziOMXh4w82urBv4KC5fP7FQqIWkGY2c0U5zssAfwt7VoevxxSY59cmM-44iRR_rjoae99yTYApFV0fILdsdrFBE1gF_I1gC9Z8R3OiQvweYudU-uF9-3XRbJhETfdckU15k/s1600/shininggirls.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="726" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt1LGx1U8wLDEeIt8bd3aTi53OJLoGxArZZS6MoSSDzR9svCjziOMXh4w82urBv4KC5fP7FQqIWkGY2c0U5zssAfwt7VoevxxSY59cmM-44iRR_rjoae99yTYApFV0fILdsdrFBE1gF_I1gC9Z8R3OiQvweYudU-uF9-3XRbJhETfdckU15k/s1600/shininggirls.jpg"/></a></div><br />
<br />Based on Lauren Beukes’ terrific novel; <i>Shining Girls</i> is yet another winner for AppleTV+, a streamer that have transformed in the space of a few short months into the most reliable one out there: <i>Slow Horses</i>, great, <i>The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey</i>, great, <i>The Afterparty</i>, great, you get the picture – this might have been my most anticipated series of the lot – having read Beukes’ novel back when it came out and having the name attached feels like a killer start. <br />
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First thing’s first; <i>Shining Girls</i> is not your typical thriller. Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, it inserts a time-travel narrative when a Chicago reporter is attacked by a serial killer in a brutal twist that follows a lifetime of character-driven faults. The core premise of the show is a spoiler in itself – but the show takes a radical turn from the book to the point when you’re best left going in blind – but rest assured; this is not another case of having seen everything here before. Much of this is due to the heavy lifting, both in front of and occasionally behind the camera, by Elisabeth Moss; who has guided The Handmaid’s Tale and The Invisible Man. One of Hollywood’s most reliable stars it seemed only a matter of time before AppleTV+ cast her in something, and Shining Girls feels like a perfect casting: Moss is so good at playing damaged characters and brings an air of depth and quality to Kirby Mazrachi, who lives with her mom, played by Amy Brenneman. Six years earlier Kirby was attacked and left for dead by someone who was never caught – and it’s shaped her entire life since, more withdrawn than she was before. This is a story that's not treated lightly by <i>Shining Girls</i>' creative team and it feels given the care and attention that it deserves. <br />
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You have the ingredients for a fairly standard conventional thriller when you throw in Dan, Wagner Moura’s reporter; Jamie Bell’s serial killer and Phillipa Soo’s Jin-Sook in the all-star cast as the fairly standard TV detective drama tropes, but it isn’t long before it not only do these characters have more depth than they first appear but the story is not what it seems – the first episode; although taking its time to get there, ends on a pretty shocking cliff-hanger that creates an instant narrative hook. It’s the only downside about the first episode that <i>Shining Girls</i> requires a little patience as those knowing nothing of the source material may dismiss it as something they’ve seen before; but the second episode opens with a twist: Kirby has jumped realities seemingly into another dimension, where she’s face to face with – rather than being stabbed – a new boyfriend – who was told by Kirby that her mom wasn’t being invited over tonight. <br />
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It’s a shock – understandably, and Kirby starts freaking out when more arrive, plunging her into a completely alien reality of her own. The journey is brief, short – she glimpses of a life where she’s married to Marcos; and then she’s pulled back to her own world. She’s experiencing little changes in reality that put her on edge – she has a different haircut, a different variation of characters trapped in the same puzzle. It’s not clear yet as to where the answers lie; the why isn’t there yet. All of this is presented in a manner that feels heavily influenced by David Fincher – there are shades of <i>Zodiac</i> all over the stylistic touches for this one. One of the plus sides about it being stretched out to a film is that <i>Shining Girls</i> has room to breathe – it’s not crowded by the feature length restrictions and takes its time to get going; deliberately slow, anchoring it around its protagonist. <br />
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It allows Moss the chance to explore a character on multiple accounts; <i>Shining Girls</i> was filmed out of sequence in different orders meaning that she had to juggle the different realities at different stages of production in a shooting schedule already hard to get consistently right, but Moss nails it. It’s her <i>Orphan Black</i> – although don’t go in expecting clones; but the shift in reality reminded me a lot of the Tatiana Maslany starrer and fans of shows like that, <i>Dark</i> and the rest of Moss’ filmography will find themselves right at home; it’s a rich world that Silka Luisa has penned, lending her production experience from <i>Strange Angel</i> and as a supervising producer on an episode of Halo. A lot of the heavy lifting of the narrative would live or die based on the conviction that Moss brings to the role as it’s her show; and it’s to her credit that the <i>X-Files</i> of it all is completely convincing and believable; and the show never loses its momentum; unravelling like a mystery box to answer all mysteries. Individual episodes are directed by Michelle Maclaren, and Shining Girls benefits from having a creative talent whose experience who has worked on series like <i>Game of Thrones</i> and <i>Westworld</i> in the past; HBO heavy hitters. <i>Shining Girls</i> feels appropriately cinematic as a result. <br />
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Emotional heartache is the biggest strength of <i>Shining Girls</i>, it’s a fantastic character study that really shines in that department. There’s never too much attention given to Jamie Bell’s antagonist in the early stages but enough to make you aware of how creepily unsettling he is - and the script balances that with the revelations that it feeds you about the plot that require a degree of patience, you never feel one step ahead of Kirby; finding out things as she finds them out unless you’re in a situation where you’ve read the book, but the show plays with things differently than the book does – faithful enough to be a true adaption but inventive enough to offer something fresh. <br />
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If there is perhaps one complaint about these early episodes it is that <i>Shining Girls</i> could have almost benefited from being a feature film although there – as mentioned above – are times where it is both a benefit and a curse. The same can be said about <i>The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey</i> and arguably; as great as they both are, <i>Slow Horses</i> too. But there is enough weight in the episodes released so far allows it to keep you hooked and there from start to finish, and releasing three episodes at once in true AppleTV+ tradition is a good call that pays off, giving audiences enough time to adjust to its pacing and accept that it never once feels exploitative in its subject matter as it never ranges too far into pulp. <br />
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<b>The first three episodes of Shining Girls are available to watch on AppleTV+ now; with resulting episodes to air on Fridays.
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<script type='text/javascript'>var authorcode='MJ';</script> Milo MJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05145862452794634877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-11876444792354859312022-04-29T11:00:00.003+01:002022-04-29T11:00:02.729+01:00POLL : What are you watching Tonight? - 29th April 2022<a name='more'></a><img class='headerimage' width='726px' src='https://files.spoilertv.com/headers/header-waywt-white-sharp.jpg' />
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</div>Rainahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05181748888795028975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-47867651102599955342022-03-29T15:29:00.001+01:002022-03-29T15:29:41.336+01:00Shining Girls - Promos, First Look Photo + Release Date *Updated 29th March 2022*<a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGj0MpnxeksIGyO1Y-S9ns4uc9tOEF_o648ynVHC_rZFX7wHCAI3VbrbFEg4Ytu4eabAoacFSfEiF9cReibUVl2Q1fA_zGpEOzYEMa7M4Z_kWgxiaSS49llrN5Qky2zqXO2Gq_HasFzm3GGOhB1o28X8xDbFFWG8j8_JvFJgV4z_DzGPw" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="726" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGj0MpnxeksIGyO1Y-S9ns4uc9tOEF_o648ynVHC_rZFX7wHCAI3VbrbFEg4Ytu4eabAoacFSfEiF9cReibUVl2Q1fA_zGpEOzYEMa7M4Z_kWgxiaSS49llrN5Qky2zqXO2Gq_HasFzm3GGOhB1o28X8xDbFFWG8j8_JvFJgV4z_DzGPw"/></a></div>
<div class="newindent"><div class="indentheader">Exteded Promo</div></div>
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<br><div class="newindent"><div class="indentheader">Press Release</div></div><div class="newindent">Years after a brutal attack left her in a constantly shifting reality, Kirby Mazrachi learns that a recent murder is linked to her assault. She teams with veteran reporter Dan Velazquez to understand her ever-changing present and confront her past. <br> <br>RELEASE DATE <br>April 29, 2022<br><br><div class="sourcewrapper"><div class="newsource">Source: </div><div class="newlink"><a href="https://www.appletv.com">AppleTV+</a> </div></div></div>
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<div class="newindent"><div class="indentheader">Promo</div></div>
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SpoilerTVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383371041855468000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-38379511466150563902021-08-24T02:00:00.008+01:002021-08-24T02:00:04.995+01:00Shining Girls - Amy Brenneman Joins Cast<a name='more'></a><img class='headerimage' width='726px' src='https://files.spoilertv.com/headers/appletvplus.jpg' />
<div class="newindent"> Amy Brenneman (Tell Me Your Secrets, Judging Amy) is set for a key recurring role opposite Elisabeth Moss in Apple’s Shining Girls, a metaphysical thriller based on Lauren Beukes’ 2013 best-selling novel The Shining Girls, starring and executive produced by Elisabeth Moss, and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way.
<br><br>Brenneman will play Rachel, Kirby’s (Moss) larger-than-life single mother.
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<div class="newsource">
Source: </div>
<div class="newlink">
<a href="https://deadline.com/2021/08/shining-girls-amy-brenneman-elisabeth-moss-apples-thriller-series-1234820305/">Deadline</a> </div>
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</div>SpoilerTVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383371041855468000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-58171766334581659352021-05-10T22:14:00.000+01:002021-05-10T22:14:30.104+01:00Shining Girls - Jamie Bell Joins Cast<a name='more'></a><img class='headerimage' width='726px' src='https://files.spoilertv.com/headers/appletvplus.jpg' />
<div class="newindent">Jamie Bell will star alongside Emmy Award-winner Elisabeth Moss and Wagner Moura in Shining Girls, a new metaphysical thriller based on the 2013 best-selling novel by Lauren Beukes.
<br><br>Bell will play the role of a mysterious loner with a surprising connection to Moss’s Kirby.
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<div class="newsource">
Source: </div>
<div class="newlink">
<a href="https://deadline.com/2021/05/jamie-bell-apples-shining-girls-elisabeth-moss-1234753404/">Full Details @Deadline</a> </div>
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</div>SpoilerTVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383371041855468000noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-56359286476409818452020-07-24T08:29:00.001+01:002020-07-24T08:31:17.368+01:00Shining Girls - Ordered to Series by AppleTV starring Elisabeth Moss <a name='more'></a><img class="headerimage" width="726px" src="https://files.spoilertv.com/headers/appletvplus.jpg" /><br />
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<div class="newindent"><div class="indentheader">Press Release</div></div><br />
<div class="newindent">Apple today announced a series order for “Shining Girls,” a new metaphysical thriller based on the 2013 best-selling novel by Lauren Beukes and starring Emmy Award winner Elisabeth Moss. Hailing from MRC Television, the series will be adapted for television and executive produced by Silka Luisa, who will also serve as showrunner.<br />
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Moss will star as a Chicago reporter who survived a brutal assault only to find her reality shifting as she hunts down her attacker.<br />
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In addition to starring, Moss will executive produce through Love & Squalor Pictures alongside Lindsey McManus. Leonardo DiCaprio will executive produce through Appian Way alongside Jennifer Davisson. Author Lauren Beukes and Alan Page Arriaga will also serve as executive producers on the project.<br />
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“Shining Girls” follows Apple’s recently announced a straight-to-series order for “The Shrink Next Door,” a new eight-episode limited series from Civic Center Media in association with MRC Television, starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd.<br />
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<div class="sourcewrapper"><div class="newsource">Source: </div><div class="newlink"><a href="http://www.apple.com">AppleTV</a> </div></div></div>DarkUFOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464721245509617190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29964715.post-15521018360496245302018-12-31T23:00:00.000+00:002021-02-26T20:53:14.012+00:00Shining Girls - Wagner Moura To Star In Apple’s Thriller Series<a name='more'></a><img class='headerimage' width='726px' src='https://files.spoilertv.com/headers/appletvplus.jpg' /> <br><div class="newindent">Narcos star Wagner Moura has been tapped as a lead opposite Elisabeth Moss in Shining Girls, Apple TV+’s metaphysical thriller series based on Lauren Beukes’ 2013 best-selling novel, which comes from Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and MRC Television. <br> <br>Moura will play Dan, a veteran journalist breaking the widening story of a copycat attack. Moss plays a Chicago reporter who survived a brutal assault only to find her reality shifting as she hunts down her attacker. <br> <br>Created and written by Silka Luisa, The Shining Girls book centers on a Depression-era drifter who must murder the “shining girls” in order to continue his travels.<br><br><div class="sourcewrapper"><div class="newsource">Source: </div><div class="newlink"><a href="https://deadline.com/2021/02/shining-girls-wagner-moura-cast-apple-r-series-elisabeth-moss-1234702071/">Deadline</a> </div></div></div>Elvishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10697679734455223451noreply@blogger.com0