395. Web-series Reviews – 210

More web-series reviews…

Lockerbie: A Search for Truth – Came in 2025.  Pan Am Flight 103 explodes over Lockerbie 38 minutes after takeoff on Dec. 21, 1988, killing 259 on board and 11 on ground. Dr. Jim Swire loses daughter Flora and seeks justice with wife Jane.

A review from IMDB...

My first review for 2025 is here and it is a tv show that focuses on the real life events of the Lockerbie plane disaster, so it is a pretty serious watch. I have watched all of the 5 episodes and here is my review for the show. The premise of the show focuses on a doctor who is trying to get justice for his daughter and all the lives that were affected by the Lockerbie Plane Disaster that took place in 1988.

Main Character Colin Firth plays Dr Jim Swire and you won't see too many better performances then this all year, he is truly fantastic. You see the real emotion and harm that comes to him during the entire show and the longer the case takes the more it takes out of him and his family. Firth really delivers this strong performance of this real man and you are really on his journey and support him.

Supporting Characters Catherine McCormack plays his wife Jane and she is also brilliant. Though we see this show mostly through Jim's eyes we really see how it affects Jane and makes her feel like she is sleepwalking through life without her husband. McCormack really nails it and though she isn't the focus she is an integral part of the show.

Sam Troughton plays Murray Guthrie who is a journalist that works with Jim Swire and I really liked their dynamic. He clearly cares about the story and wants to get the evidence required to help Swire and the families affected. The chemistry between him and Firth is really great and I really enjoyed all the scenes they had together.

There is a big supporting cast and everybody just feels very genuine and appropriate for the story that is being told here and I give credit to every performer and this is a great ensemble cast.

Story The story is obviously very upsetting and emotional and it handles it really well. It was gripping and kept me interested as there was twists and turns about who might have been responsible for the plane crashing in Lockerbie. But the films ending didn't quite work for me, it is difficult when you do a show based on real life events as you can't change it too much, but the ending was pretty drab compared to everything else that was shown during the show.

Script Due to the subject matter, I was expecting an intense and emotional script and we get exactly that but it works really well. You really feel the emotion that is being conveyed on screen. It was a really well written show and though it gets complicated at times, I thought it explained everything pretty well.

Style The show is well filmed and does a really good job of conveying the intense subject matter and does enough to keep you hooked for the next episode. Though, I do think the show drags at times and maybe could have cut an episode and really tightened everything up to create an even better experience.

Overall Overall, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth is a Great Show. It is a hard watch and I will probably never watch it again but it is a really interesting watch and has some excellent performances. I would recommend watching this show once so you can truly understand more about this tragic story.

My Take – An excellent series based on true events.

 

On Call – Came in 2025.  Follows a pair of police officers on patrol as they respond to a new radio call, arriving on the scene to resolve incidents.

A review from IMDB...

"On Call" manages to bring a fresh perspective to the well-trodden genre of police dramas. The series stands out with stellar performances, particularly from Troian Bellisario and Brandon Larracuente, who bring depth and authenticity to their roles. With its compact 30-minute episodes, the show invites binge-watching, feeling more like a gripping feature-length film broken into chapters.

Each episode focuses on a single incident, following the call from dispatch to resolution, creating a tight and intense narrative. The dialogue is sharp and purposeful-every line counts, and no moment feels unnecessary. Despite the brevity of each episode, the series manages to explore complex issues and deliver meaningful character development.

A standout aspect of "On Call" is its realistic portrayal of day-to-day police work, enhanced by the use of body cam and dash cam footage. This approach immerses viewers and lends the series a raw, documentary-like authenticity that sets it apart from others in the genre.

Overall, "On Call" is a refreshing addition to the world of police dramas. With outstanding performances, concise storytelling, and innovative filmmaking techniques, it's a must-watch for fans of the genre and anyone looking for a gripping, well-crafted series.

My Take – A nice series!

 

Playing Nice – Came in 2025.  Two couples discover their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up and face the horrifying dilemma of keeping the sons they have raised and loved, or reclaiming their biological child.

A review from IMDB...

My Review- Playing Nice Streaming on SBS on Demand My Rating - 7.5/10 This interesting and emotionally charged four part one off mini series poses a question no parent would ever hopefully be faced with .

How would you react if you were called to a meeting by the Chief of a Hospital to tell you how sorry they were that the young child you had nurtured from birth was not actually yours ?

Due to a mix up of name tags accidental or otherwise each baby had in fact been handed over to the wrong parents which later was confirmed by DNA testing.

Now two couples face the horrifying dilemma of either keeping the sons they have raised and loved from birth or reclaiming their biological child.

James Norton and Niamh Algar star as a couple Pete Riley and Maddie Wilson the parents of Theo their young son.

The other couple Miles and Lucy Lambert are played by James McCardle and Jessica Brown Findlay are parents to David who has health some issues .

Miles when told that Theo the more active outgoing child is actually his son sets in place a devious set of legal challenges and investigations that threaten Pete and Maddies custody of their son .

Playing Nice is an excellent title for this series because The Lambert's appear to be playing nice in the beginning however as the excellent screenplay by Grace Ofori-Attah based on a global best seller by J. P. Delaney progresses the true colours of Miles Lambert are revealed.

I found this series very well produced , directed and I enjoyed the performances from all the cast ,especially James Norton.

My Take – A nice series!

Adios till next time😊!!