I've recently become a fan of "binge" television viewing. By this I mean I find it much more fun to watch an entire series at once rather than waiting for weekly installments. With a long weekend upon us, I highly suggest hunkering down and choosing something entertaining, but not too heavy. Acorn online has a service you can sign up for which allows you to stream series all at once. OR, if you prefer you can purchase some of the many titles they have in their collection. http://acornonline.com/ Here are a few of my favorites (some are recent releases).
JACK TAYLOR: SERIES 1 - British Noir series
Kicked off Ireland’s police force for booze-related infractions, now working as a “finder” (private eye) in Galway, Jack Taylor takes on cases the cops won’t touch. Based on the bestselling crime fiction by Ken Bruen, this acclaimed Irish series stars Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey) as Taylor: battered, disheveled, hard-boiled, and a softhearted defender of the lost and broken. Set includes three feature-length mysteries: The Guards, The Pikemen, and The Magdalen Martyrs. 4 ½ hrs, 3 DVDs, SDH. Mature audiences
ISLAND AT WAR - Masterpiece Theatre
What would any of us do if we had to live side-by-side with the enemy? Hitler's army invaded the Channel Islands in June 1940 and held its residents hostage for five years; it was the only part of Britain to be occupied by the Nazis. Seen on Masterpiece Theatre, this haunting British drama blends heart-pounding suspense with unexpected romance. The scene—the island of St. Gregory—is fictional; the story is based on the real experiences of Channel Islanders. James Wilby (Gosford Park) and Clare Holman (Prime Suspect 6) star. CC; approx. 398 min. on 3 DVDs. For mature audiences.
DOC MARTIN - Series 1-4
He’s surly, self-centered, rude, and uptight—but he’s the only doctor in town. Martin Clunes stars as Doc Martin, a hotshot London surgeon forced to change careers when he develops a fear of blood. Relocating to a sleepy, scenic Cornish fishing village, he offends everyone in town and falls in love with a beautiful teacher. “Absolutely bloody hilarious
PRIME SUSPECT MARATHON July 1-28 - Starring Helen Mirren
Oscar® winner Helen Mirren is Detective Jane Tennison, "one of the great character creations of our time" (Washington Post), in a series that won more than 20 major international awards and raised the bar for police dramas. Tenacious, driven, and deeply flawed, Tennison rises through the ranks of Britain’s Metropolitan Police, solving horrific crimes while battling office sexism and her own demons. Set includes all 7 series of the Emmy®-winning crime drama seen on PBS. "A masterpiece"—USA Today. Approx. 25 hours on 9 DVDs. SDH subtitles (series 1–6), CC (series 7).
Sandi Berg is also a freelance journalist and writes about television for several magazines including Written By (Writer's Guild of America), Life After 50 and Whole Life Times Magazine.
