Scammers I have known: the fake Debon Emmanelle to do a German translation of Six Positions

Posted on 25 October 2026 by andyq

As if… Though I think they’ve used the real name of someone.

1 September 2026 from debonemmanuelle.translator@gmail.com

Dear Andy,

What stayed with me in Six Positions is the way the book turns the question of sexual “position” into something much larger than sex. In “Why I’m,” the narrator’s refusal to accept the role others try to assign him as an Asian man becomes a sharp examination of how racial stereotypes can shape desire itself. That tension between erotic freedom and the assumptions imposed on the body is what gives the collection considerably more depth than its “sex writing” label suggests.

I also found the way you move between fantasy, humour, vulnerability and cultural identity particularly effective. The stories can be playful and unapologetically erotic, but underneath that surface they keep returning to the question of who gets to desire freely, and who is expected to fit someone else’s idea of what they should be.

The book was published in English by Green Candy Press in 2005, and I could not find a German edition. That leaves a very particular gap: a work that has already had a life in gay-literary and erotic anthologies in North America, Australia and elsewhere has never had the chance to enter the German-language queer literary conversation in its own book form. Your writing has appeared widely in anthologies and journals, and Six Positions itself grew out of stories that had already found readers through publications such as the Best Gay Erotica series.

I think that matters because a German edition would not need to present Six Positions simply as erotica. It could be positioned as queer literary writing that uses sex, humour and desire to examine race, identity, stereotypes and the politics of the body. That combination, particularly the perspective of a gay Asian writer negotiating how he is seen within queer culture, is what makes the book distinctive.

I’m Emmanuelle Debon, a literary translator working across English and several European languages. My approach is always to preserve what makes a writer’s voice recognisable, including its rhythm, humour, ambiguity and emotional texture, rather than simply transferring the words from one language into another.

I would be interested in discussing the possibility of bringing Six Positions into German and what a German-language edition could look like for the book today.

Warm regards,

Emmanuelle Debon.

Posted in Scams, Writing | Leave a comment

Scammers I have known: James B. Sine of the Chapter Map

Posted on 25 October 2026 by andyq

It really is amazing how AI is being used to summarise books these days. And then they’re trying to make a convincing pitch to me so that I believe it’s a real person who believes this, and they’re trying to stroke my ego so I will say, yes, yes, I want more opportunities and attention … for a book of poetry that had few readers. This is what really fails for me: the idea that you would promote a book that is old and not easily available anymore. I also dislike that you can’t easily report this to gmail, and I wonder if they are actually using their AI to delete these accounts?

4 September 2026, from jamesbsine@gmail.com

Dear Andy Quan,

What makes a book worth bringing into a room full of readers? Sometimes it is the way a collection of poems turns the ordinary milestones of a life into an invitation to reflect on memory, identity, love, and the passage of time. Bowling Pin Fire immediately stood out to me for the way it traces a deeply personal journey through moments of discovery, loss, intimacy, travel, family, and cultural identity.

I was especially drawn to the way the collection moves from growing up Chinese in Vancouver through the fearless experiences of youth and toward the quieter awareness that comes with approaching midlife. Firsts such as discovering Joni Mitchell’s Blue, losing a friend, and sharing a first dance with a man become points of entry into larger questions about sexuality, culture, belonging, relationships, and how we remain present in our own lives.

I’m James B. Sine from The Chapter Map, and I’m reaching out because we are currently selecting a limited number of books for an Author Spotlight and Reading Challenge.

The Author Spotlight is a 40 to 60 minute live conversation where readers can hear directly from the author, ask questions, and explore the experiences, themes, memories, and creative choices behind the work.

The Reading Challenge gives readers an opportunity to continue that engagement after the conversation, exchanging thoughts and interpretations, discussing memorable poems and themes, sharing reviews, and recommending the book to others. Together, these create a space where a book has a reason to pause readers, invite conversation, and keep them talking.

We are selective about the books we bring forward, and I believe Bowling Pin Fire is a strong fit because it offers readers something deeply human: an honest examination of how memory, culture, love, friendship, and change shape a life, without pretending that meaningful questions always require simple answers.

Would you like me to show you why I selected your book for consideration?

Best regards,

James B. Sine
The Chapter Map

Posted in Scams, Writing | Leave a comment

Scammers I have known: Book Spotlight Invitation from Larry Miller

Posted on 25 October 2026 by andyq

(I guess the idea is that they’d make you pay to be featured: send money to this untraceable bank account!)

Dear Andy,

My name is Larry Miller, and I’m the organizer of the Washington D.C. Literature and Classics Meetup, a community of nearly 2,400 readers who enjoy thought-provoking books about identity, relationships, culture, and the experiences that shape our understanding of the world.

We’re preparing for our upcoming Book Spotlight on November 15, and I’d be delighted to feature Six Positions in our discussion.

What caught my attention is the way your work explores intimacy, desire, and human connection through the lens of gay experience. Your writing offers an opportunity to consider how personal stories can challenge assumptions, reveal the complexities of relationships, and capture experiences that are often left out of mainstream conversations.

I believe our members would enjoy exploring how literature can make private experiences more understandable and encourage thoughtful conversations about identity, vulnerability, and connection. Your book raises an interesting question: How can honest storytelling about intimate experiences help readers better understand lives and perspectives different from their own?

Our discussions are relaxed and reader-centered, giving members room to exchange perspectives, explore different interpretations, and reflect on the ideas and experiences behind a book.

If your schedule allows, we’d be delighted to welcome you for a brief virtual Q&A, a recorded message, or a written note to our readers.

Would you be open to having Six Positions featured in our November 15 discussion? I’d be happy to share more details about our community and the event.

Thank you for contributing your perspective to contemporary literature. I believe your work could inspire a thoughtful conversation about intimacy, identity, and the power of personal storytelling.

Best regards,
Larry Miller
Organizer
Washington D.C. Literature and Classics Meetup

Posted in Scams, Writing | Leave a comment

Scammers I have known: the fake Jane Harper

Posted on 18 October 2026 by andyq

Since my book Six Positions has just been released in a new edition by Rebel Satori Press, the timing of this email is pretty good.

And they’ve used a real identity again. Poor Jane.

As if a best-selling novelist would be reaching out for inspiration from someone who wrote a not best-selling book of short stories about gay sex.

Hi Andy

I recently picked up your book Six Positions from a shelf and started reading, and I wanted to say hello as a fellow author. Your writing blends honesty and lyricism in a way that feels both intimate and brave, and I am learning from how you hold identity and desire in the same sentence without flinching.

The themes of belonging and self-definition in gay and Asian spaces really speak to me, and the way you turn vulnerability into narrative momentum is a craft lesson I am taking into my own work. I would love to hear what challenges you faced while writing this book and what project you are working on right now.

If you are open to it I would enjoy a short exchange by email about process and themes, and maybe stay in touch as peers.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Harper
janeharperauthor2@gmail.com

Posted in Scams, Writing | Leave a comment

Scammers I have known: the fake Freida McFadden

Posted on 18 October 2026 by andyq

A little over a year ago was when I received my first AI-supported scam email. This one was strange but I just ignored it to start with. It was so general. ‘I’d love to hear more about your writing journey’.

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Freida McFadden <authorfreidamcfadden@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Andy!

I’m Freida McFadden, a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author passionate about crafting dark, twisty psychological thrillers that keep readers up all night. Over the years, I’ve written gripping stories filled with secrets, unreliable narrators, and shocking endings, including The Housemaid series, Never Lie, The Inmate, and more, books that have connected with readers who love fast-paced suspense and jaw-dropping twists. My newest release, The Coworker, continues that journey.
Here’s a link to one of my bestselling books on Amazon:
And here’s my Amazon Author Page:
You can also find more about my books and sign up for my newsletter at my official site: https://www.freidamcfadden.com/
I’d love to hear more about your own writing journey and the stories you’ve brought to life. If you’re open to sharing, I’d be glad to check out your work as well, feel free to send over your book links, website, Goodreads, or Amazon page.
A little note about me: I’m not someone who enjoys showing my face online, I much prefer to let my books and shocking characters speak for themselves. That said, I’m still very much around! I’m active on Instagram and Facebook, and I’m always available through email for connections and collaborations.
Here are my links:
Instagram – @fmcfaddenauthor
Facebook – Freida McFadden Facebook Page
Website – freidamcfadden.com
Looking forward to connecting with you!
Warm regards,
Freida McFadden

And then, there’s a follow-up email.

On 29 Sep 2025, at 11:34 am, Freida McFadden <authorfreidamcfadden@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Andy,

A couple of days ago, I reached out to introduce myself and share a bit about my work (The Housemaid, Never Lie, The Coworker, etc.) and I also asked if you’d be open to sharing your own writing journey or book links so I could check out your work as well.

I know things get busy, but the reason I’m following up is simply because I’d really love to learn more about your books and connect as fellow authors. Could you let me know if you’d be open to sharing your links or pages? Even a short reply would mean a lot.

I truly believe our exchange could be a meaningful one, not just about books, but about the stories and journeys behind them. I’d love the chance to discover your story.

Warmly,

Freida McFadden

I’m a little embarrassed that I actually replied.

Hi Freida

That’s an interesting approach, to build community among authors.

But I’m not actively writing anymore, it’s been many years, so I’ll decline your kind invitation.

Good luck with your work!

Andy

Which of course elicited another reply! In fact, two replies

On Mon, Dec 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM Freida McFadden <authorfreidamcfadden@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Andy,

Thank you so much for your message, and my sincere apologies for the delayed reply. I’ve been sorting through quite a lot these past few days, and I didn’t want to rush a response to you.

I completely understand where you’re coming from about stepping back from writing, but I have to admit, your note made me curious: what made you stop? As authors, we all go through those seasons where life pulls us in other directions, or the spark feels dimmer, but that spark rarely ever truly goes out. Sometimes it just needs the right moment or the right encouragement to reignite.

And honestly, right now is one of the best times for writers. We’re heading deeper into the winter season, the months when readers are actively seeking new books to cozy up with, discovering new authors, and diving into stories that stay with them. It’s a period when visibility naturally increases, and even previously published books get new traction. If there was ever a time to bring your work back into the light or share something you’ve written before, this is it.

You’ve already built something meaningful with your writing, enough that it’s still part of your identity years later. That alone says a lot. If you ever choose to return to it, even slowly, your words still have a place in today’s market.

Either way, I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond, and I wish you all the best in whatever creative path you continue to follow.

Warm regards,
Freida McFadden

And then: 9 December 2026

Hi Andy, I hope your week is off to a great start! With the holidays just around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas in advance and a joyful week ahead.
I’ve been thinking of you and wondering how things have been going on your end. I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to and catch up whenever you have a moment.
Wishing you warmth, laughter, and all the little joys this season brings!

Freida

I finally got them to stop with this email (after some research):

Hi.

I’ve now blocked you from sending me more emails, having read this on the real Freida’s website:

Currently, there are a large number of scam emails targeting indie authors, going out from people claiming to be Freida (and other authors).  Freida will NEVER reach out to you randomly to offer marketing advice or a collaboration. Sadly, there is nothing she can do about these emails, but warns you to be careful corresponding with anyone online.

Posted in Scams, Writing | Leave a comment

Scammers I’ve known: the fake Leigh Drew from Casey Radio

Posted on 18 October 2026 by andyq

I was going to just delete these, but I thought it might be amusing to keep a record of it, and perhaps it will help other people.

This one came through on 9 October 2026.

Dear Andy Quan,

I hope you’re doing well.

My name is Leigh Drew, and I’m a host and presenter with Casey Radio 97.7 FM in Melbourne, Australia.

I’ve been curious about the story behind Swallowing Clouds not simply what you’ve written, but what led you to write it in the first place. I found myself wondering what was happening, personally or intellectually, that made this particular story worth telling.

I’d love to invite you to join us for a relaxed conversation on Casey Radio about Swallowing Clouds and the ideas behind it.

Rather than treating the conversation as a straightforward discussion of the book, I’d be interested in going a little deeper: what first sparked the idea, which questions stayed with you while writing, whether anything surprised you along the way, and what you find yourself hoping readers notice or think about after finishing the book.

There’s often a story behind the story that readers never get to hear the unexpected experiences, turning points, doubts, discoveries, or small moments that shape a book before it ever reaches the page. That is the part of your journey I’d be particularly curious to explore.

The conversation would be informal and conversational, with plenty of room for you to speak naturally about your work, your experiences, and the ideas that matter to you.

Would you be open to having that conversation with us?

If so, I’d be happy to send through a little more about the format, recording process, timeframe, and arrangements.

Warm regards,

Leigh Drew
Casey Radio 97.7 FM
Melbourne, Australia

hello.showbiz.ad@gmail.com

I did a quick search and Leigh Drew is a breakfast radio presenter, described on the Casey Radio webpage as ‘Our Mr Showbiz! Leigh first broadcast at 3SER Casey Radio 97.7 FM in 1990’. Which means that the email address that they chose from gmail is pretty good. I wonder how they do that with these AI scam programs? Ask them to choose a well-known person and then generate a plausible user name? I guess that would be it.

If I was an Australian author who had just published a book and was looking for publicity, and I was unfamiliar with these scams, I might just fall for it. But for the fake Mr Drew to be asking about a book published in 1999 on Chinese-Canadian poetry is … ludicrous. Sorry AI scammers. Not good enough.

Posted in Scams, Writing | Leave a comment

Carol Shields’s Various Miracles

Posted on 19 June 2026 by andyq

Various MiraclesVarious Miracles by Carol Shields
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve long had Shields’s ‘The Collected Stories‘ on my shelf and truth to tell, I was a bit intimidated by its length. Silly me. On finally starting the tome, I see that it is three short story collections compiled and that I can read one of them at a time! Thus, the first book, ‘Various Miracles’ (preceded by an unpublished short story, ‘Segue’).

It’s interesting to be reminded of Shields’s work. I have read all three novels but long ago, though ‘Unless’ was for many years on my all-time favourite list (though it’s been so many years, I’m not sure whether it still is).

She is a beautiful writer, and in a sophisticated way evokes a light-hearted folksy tone which then jars with the circumstances, and says, I think, that it is actually not jarring at all to live with tragedy, to weather life’s hardest lessons while enjoying moments of humour and grace.

Her stories indicate a love of travel, a love of language (and with various characters who are academics or researchers or writers) and I noted some lovely descriptions of accepting the ageing body. She is aware of the injustices of the world (as in ‘Unless’) but her characters seem to rise above them with wry observation and conversation. A number of stories grab onto a theme and are driven by the theme more than the protagonists or one clear situation: ‘Dolls, Dolls, Dolls, Dolls’ is an example of this.

And while it could feel mechanical, this device, I generally noticed it rather than was distracted by it. The final story, ‘Others’, is driven by a device, an annual Christmas letter from near-strangers, and it takes the couple from their honeymoon to a reconciliation after late-in-life marital discord. I was distracted in this story by the idea that this letter would arrive annually, without a return address, to three different residences. but it felt a bit like theatre in the service of the story, like when you watch a play and you know it’s a play with actors, so you wait to see what the playwright has to say. And here, as in other stories (though this is the longest story, I believe, in the collection and my favourite), the humanity is so deep, the gentle assertion about how life is random, mysterious and miraculous, that I did find ‘Various Miracles’ a great pleasure to read.

View all my reviews

Posted in Book, Book Review, Books, Review | Leave a comment

2026 in lists: Movies

Posted on 12 March 2026 by andyq

Stay tuned…

Movies: seen on TV, probably on a streaming service, or on an airplane

  • Goodbye June. The critics called it formulaic and trite, while acknowledging the acting. I don’t expect much these days from movies seen on TV, so I found it enjoyable enough and thought the acting was sensational, and the family dynamics did feel true, for the most part. 
  • Sinners. Wow, this was a strange film. Riveting acting and some incredible scenes, but unfamiliar in many ways, a film about black history and culture and music fused with a vampire horror film. 
  • Bugonia. Jesse Plemons, as usual, is incredible, and this film, in a good way, is bonkers. 
  • Pillion. This film was also bonkers. And engaging, sad, sexy and quite beautiful. 
  • Sentimental Value. I tend to like Scandinavian entertainment, and I thought this was engaging and complex with sensational performances. I was rapt. 
  • One Battle After Another. We didn’t read about this (except for the awards nominations) and so thought, from the title, that it was a war movie. Instead, a fast-paced nearly three hours with a crazy, inventive soundtrack, jarring tonal shifts and magnetic performances. I can see why it’s gotten all the praise. 
  • We tried to watch Marty Supreme and found Marty so unappealing and uninteresting that we gave up!
  • We Are Jeni. An extraordinary documentary from SBS about Jeni Haynes and her Disassociative Identity Disorder and her successful battle for justice and putting her monstrous father in prison. 
  • The Roses. I would agree with the critics that the supporting cast were superfluous, but I enjoyed Benedict and Olivia so much in this. 
  • Hamnet. Wow. Such an interesting story. Amazing actors. And I was transported into the story, without a doubt, immediately. Beautiful. And hard to watch.
  • Perfect Days. A friend wanted to see this and we found it on TV on streaming and my god, it was a perfect film, apparently Wim Wenders’ best. Timothée Chalamet received so much praise for his crying scene at the end of Call Me By Your Name, but I say that paled in comparison to Kôji Yakusho’s magnificent finish to this film, such a quiet film, about noticing, about being in the present. 
  • Project Hail Mary. I read that this film was liked, and Ryan Gosling is always dependable, but managed not to read anything about it. So, it was a great surprise for this science fiction comedy buddy film to unfold. I was greatly entertained. 
  • Dix Pour Cent, Le Film (Call My Agent! the movie). I really did enjoy this series when it came out and it was a bit of a phenomenon with the non-French remakes. So, I should have loved this, checking in with the old gang. But somehow, the magic was gone for me. Critics seemed to love it though. 

Movies (seen in the cinema)

  • Le Chant des Forêts (Whispers in the Woods): A French documentary with probably the best wildlife filming that I’ve ever seen. The film was beautiful and captivating.

Posted in Film, Review | Leave a comment

2026 in lists: Musicals, theatre, concerts, books and exhibitions

Posted on 5 March 2026 by andyq

A work in progress …

Musicals, theatre and cabaret

  • The Normal Heart, Sydney Theatre Company. I’ve never seen this though it’s part of my history as a gay man in the Western world, and for this reason, reviewers, now and at the time, find this an important work. Yet while it was well-acted and staged, I recalled the earlier criticisms that I’d heard of the play and Kramer: it seems like the whole play is spent justifying his political approach, which is strident, and he makes it seem like he was a one-man show, the only person willing to Act Up! to fight AIDS, at the time. It gave me some bad flashbacks, honestly, to my work in the HIV sector, so I can’t say in the end that I appreciated this (and know I wasn’t meant to enjoy it). 
  • Andy Freeborn’s Brand New Dress, Qtopia. What a wonderfully talented composer and performer. My husband and I loved this small, sweet cabaret show at the Sydney’s relatively new queer museum.
  • Afterglow, Eternity Playhouse. Who knew what was in store for this play from New York City aimed at gay men? I steeled myself that it might be mediocre and then was very happily surprised. The play is not bad at all, exploring non-monogamy, and the actors were uniformly wonderful (and sexy, which is not a bad thing with all the time they spent out of their clothes). 
  • Lion King: I finally saw Broadway’s highest grossing musical ever … and … amazing spectacle. And beautiful. And some great songs and orchestration. But also junior with some terrible songs and a silly script. 
  • Theo Chen’s Pretty Ugly: Theo went to Pearson College in Canada, as I did, and is a queer Asian, like I am, so I was happy to see his show at the Sydney Fringe Festival, open and vulnerable and beautifully performed.

Concerts and performances

  • Khalid Abdalla’s Nowhere, Sydney Festival. With an actor as experienced and engaging as Abdalla, he really can present anything he wants to, so what would he talk about in his one-man show. He used everything in his arsenal to draw us in: dance, song, video projection, confession, personal history, and a tribute to an artist friend that died. I wondered where it would end up. It ended as a powerful statement from an Arab artist asking us to protest the genocide in Gaza. Bravo.
  • CMAT, Enmore Theatre. Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson is a powerhouse, quirkly, magnetic and electric. Even when I didn’t recognise the songs, I was drawn in. Such a diverse crowd (meaning old and young) and a lot of Irish green. A fun night!
  • Jensen McRae (with Betty Taylor), Metro Theatre. I think Jensen is super-interesting, talented and inspired, with an emotional quality to her voice that I love. As usual with concerts these days, I’m amazed that so many fans know all the words to her songs and, with one exception at the end of the night, sing along with surprisingly beautiful voices. I generally hate the concert singalongs (since I go to concerts to hear the artist, not the audience) but these days, people seem to be able to sing!
  • Pub Choir, the Hordern Pavilion. Astrid Jorgensen came to Sydney in March and 5,500 people sang ‘Better the Devil You Know’. It was joyous. 
  • Bic Runga, with Silicon, at City Recital Hall. It was a pleasure being introduced to Bic’s new album, her first in 15 years, as well as her old hits. A low-key star, and well loved by the low-key audience that came. The opening act, her partner’s musical project, Silicon, not so much, though they started to grow on me. Zero contact with the audience, and some strange simplistic musical accompaniment to heavily synthesized vocals. 
  • Pub Choir, Enmore Theatre. August. Singing one of my favourite songs ever, ‘Take on Me’. I loved it. 

Books

  • Charlotte Wood’s Stone Yard Devotional. I still can’t get over how much I loved this deceptively simple book about quiet and life choices and a lot more.
  • Kiran Desai’s The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. I didn’t get this book but I made it through to the end. I just didn’t like the characters enough and while some of them are meant to be unlikeable, I was unmoved overall in the face of the type of novel that I usually enjoy: the South Asian diaspora, a globe-trotting family portrayal.
  • Carol Shields’s Various Miracles. Her first short story collection, as part of her The Collected Stories. See my review here.
  • Lee Lai’s Stone Fruit. I do find it fascinating since I read some of the first graphic novels (which were of comic books) that the genre now also includes narrative of daily lives, including of queer people. I wanted to love this book, but only liked it. I do think it’s interesting, the way the art supports the story, and that the story is an unusual one, about a female couple, one cisgender and one trans, and their relationship with family members, especially the niece of one of them. But it didn’t seem particularly deep.
  • Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart. I enjoyed reading this biographical story of a favourite singer, aka Japanese Breakfast, losing her Korean mother to cancer just before she hits it big.

Exhibitions

  • We start 2026 with a visit to MONA, Tasmania’s Museum of New and Old Art; we last visited in 2016! I love pretty much everything about MONA, the vibe, the messaging, its origin and the eclectic and engaging collection of artwork.
  • LOVING: Photographs of Men in Love 1850s to 1950s, Qtopia. Some gorgeous images and my first visit to Qtopia. 
  • Westwood & Kawakubo, NGV. How wonderful with this perfectly curated exhibition to see the work of two visionaries, and in an interesting conversation with each other. Loved it so much. 
  • Ron Mueck. Art Gallery of NSW. His first show in Sydney for over 20 years, I first discovered his work in London, I believe, and elsewhere, included in modern art exhibitions. I’ve always found his work incredible: emotional and unsettling and mind-boggling in his technical prowess. 
  • Avatar: Forms of Vishnu. Art Gallery of NSW. How interesting. A beautiful grouping of work, matching a few more modern works alongside the ancient, and curated and presented so beautifully. The statues felt holy and deserving of reverence and attention. 

Posted in Concert, Exhibition, Review, Theatre/Show | Leave a comment

2026 in lists: Television

Posted on 11 February 2026 by andyq

A work in progress. 

Television

    • Billionaire’s Bunker: We begin 2026 with mediocrity. The premise is great and we absolutely loved Money Heist (Casa de Papel). But perhaps that was creator Álex Pina’s peak. This was a soap opera with too many stories and such melodrama! Painful. 
    • Stranger Things, Season 5: I actually skipped Season 4. Seeing the kids bickering and whining just felt too much, even though I’d watched the first three seasons. I sort of felt: Ugh. Teenagers. But I wanted to check this season out and I did enjoy how they wound things up, for the most part. The special effects are spectacular and Will’s coming out was wonderfully done. Some things didn’t make sense and I think it would have been better to make clear that Elle really did die at the end.
    • The Pitt, Season 1: I didn’t expect how much I’d love this. Life and death decisions and situations every episode anchored by an incredible team of actors. 
    • The Beast in Me: Stressful. 
    • The Muppet Show (2026 special). I think Sabrina Carpenter is pretty great, as is Seth Rogan. The jokes are classic slapstick Muppets humour, and we actually found it slightly more dated than nostalgic. 
    • The Pitt, Season 2: Just as good as Season 1 so far … And in the end, I liked it as much, I think. The characters are so engaging. 
    • The Killing (Danish version), Season 1: We missed this when it came out, and watching it now, we can see that it birthed two series we liked very much, the Bridge, and Borgen (Parliament). So, 20 episodes of an hour each. This was such a different experience and the writing and acting were amazing. The story didn’t seem to hold together in the end, but I was willing to forgive this when the rest was such good TV.
    • Starfleet Academy, Season 1: I think that they managed to redeem themselves with two strong last episodes, as some of the earlier ones were terrible. Just really junior, like Harry Potter meets Star Trek. That lead Sandro Costa is very, very genetically gifted and it was great to see Tatiana Maslany on the screens again, reminding me of how amazing she was in Orphan Black. 
    • The Testaments. Looks pretty good so far. But in the end, I thought that it was poor in comparison to Handmaid’s Tale and didn’t grab me in the end (with plot points that I didn’t buy). 
    • Legion, Season 1. This was a surprise. I thought the storytelling and acting were very strong, and we’ll watch the other seasons. Strange to see such familiar landscape (as it was filmed in Vancouver) and also to see Jean Smart in such a different role when I’ve only seen her in Hacks!
    • Legion, Season 2. What an interesting experiment. Such a non-linear narrative, and did it make any sense? I was drawn into it by the acting, visual effects and storytelling, nonetheless, and I’m impressed. Hang onto one large theme and you don’t have to coddle the viewers. Or was that why it was cancelled?
    • Forbrydelsen II (The Killing II): We bought the box set from JB Hifi since we couldn’t find this online. With only 10 episodes, this was sharper than the first season, and has some of the same narrative techniques. But we really do love them.
    • Legends: I enjoyed this show a lot. The tension was amped up, knowing it was based on a true story. Great actors. Gripping, gritty story. 
    • The Bear, Season 5: I’ve always loved this show. It has a different rhythm and feel to others, and I have fallen in love with the characters (maybe not the Faks). It’s poetic, dreamy and emotional. And surprisingly gripping and stressful. Through in the food porn, and this was one of my favourite series.
    • Widow’s Bay: Why the award nominations and rave reviews? It’s not terrible but after two episodes (and that’s enough for us), I don’t see the appeal.
    • Bodies: Not sure how we missed this one, but we’re finding it so inventive and compelling, a great mixture of sci-fi and historical thriller.
    • Beef, Season 2: I read that it wasn’t as good as Season 1 so avoided it for a while, but we’re really loving it. 
    • 100 Years of Solitude: As epic and beautiful (and complex) as the first season. We really enjoyed this. Such amazing TV.
    • The Killing, Season 3: Oh boy,  we’ve started it. And hmm. A dark ending, and continued in the tradition of the previous seasons but interesting to see the mother of all the Scandi-noir shows. 
    • Ted Lasso, Season 4: I loved this show when it came out, but for me, it seemed very much of the moment. I’m surprised it’s still such a hit. The current season had lazy storytelling, didn’t give us characters to get to know or barrack for, and I was all around both bored and disappointed.
    • The Chestnut Man: As recommended by my Danish friend Nils, since we like the Killing. Hmm. Another creepy Scandi-noir show. We’re addicted, evidently. 
    • The Final Problem: Four episodes of a Spanish version of Sherlock Holmes. The setting, costumes and cultural differences did make it interesting enough, as I suspect in English we would have found it flat. 

Documentaries and Reality Television

    • Great Pottery Throw Down, Season 9. Yup, we’re still watching. For some reason, I didn’t love this season as much as some, but it was still good. 
    • Great British Bake Off, Season 6. Because I have loved the latest seasons so much, and having only discovered it recently, I thought we’d return to one of their most famous seasons, that discovered Nadiya. It was a lot of fun, and I got to see the fuss about Mary Berry, who is a national treasure. 
    • Survivor, Season 50. Starting to watch this series, entirely of returning cast members (fan favourites, all of them), we realised that we had somehow missed Season 49. Oops. In the end, we loved it!
    • Survivor, Season 49. We’re watching! Oh. We watched it. It was OK, though not my favourite season. 
    • Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model. I’d caught episodes of this show during the decade or so it was on air. It was a guilty pleasure. There was something so trashy and juicy about it, I wasn’t sure why I liked it. But now, years later, it really has aged badly and this documentary shows how bad it was, and how Tyra Banks is … a monster, really. She takes no responsibility for her part in this, and the worst is watching a young, innocent woman, abroad for the first time who was basically sexually assaulted (being too drunk to give consent) and then had her story, framed as ‘cheating on her boyfriend back home’ exploited and blown up. Wow, what a clusterfuck. The ugly birth of the most ugly parts of reality TV. 
    • Masterchef Australia, Series 18. In the end, this was a great series. I loved the cast: so talented and while they were beyond my expertise, I was still inspired by them in my own cooking. I like when they’re all new contestants instead of returnees. 
    • Project Runway, Season 22. I barely made it through the last season and made it through two episodes of this one. But there’s no fashion commentary, it’s all drama. Law Roach is repugnant and mean. Tyra. Why Tyra? And the cliff-hanger endings are annoying. And so many awful contestants, perhaps chosen just for the drama. I won’t finish this one. 
    • Great British Bake-Off, Season 17. How I love this show and I love Nigella as the new judge. 

Posted in Review, Television | Leave a comment