STACK November 2016 Issue 145

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52 NOVEMBER 2016
DVD&BD
REVIEWS
adly, Penny has been dropped by Showtime and it's
readful that one of the best horror series on TV has
ome to an end after only three seasons. In this last
urrah, Dracula's seduction of Vanessa Ives triggers
he end of days. As darkness falls over London, Victor
rankenstein enlists the help of fellow doctor Henry
ekyll to find a cure for Lily, who is becoming increasing
ore unhinged. Elsewhere, The Creature attempts to
econnect with his family and Ethan Chandler returns
to the American West, where he discovers his Apache
heritage and the pivotal role he must play in the oncoming apocalypse.
John Logan's high concept period saga brought horror literature's
greatest creations together in a manner that wasn't contrived, and Eva
Green's tragic clairvoyant Vanessa was its bloody heart and soul. SH
Darkness falls.
PENNY DREADFUL: THE FINAL SEASON
Release Date: 23/11/16 Format:
Oops, we spilled some Doctor Who into our historical
drama. Not to worry, for it worked a treat. Outlander,
based on Diana Gabaldon’s novels, is one of those
rare shows that captivates people of any age (our
mum even has a mad crush on Jamie: “I wouldn’t
mind having known him when I was 21 or so.”). This
second season sees our time travelling heroine in an
increasingly bigger pickle; beyond the issues back in
1700s Paris and trying to infiltrate the Jacobite uprising,
there’s the return of the despicable Randall and the
Battle of Culloden to deal with. Then there’s the more complicated
stuff, like making sure that your husband from your own time actually
gets to be born someday and explaining how you’re pregnant to
another man. “But it was hundreds of years ago, honey, honest!” AF
The etiquette of war.
OUTLANDER: SEASON 2
Release Date: 02/11/16 Format:
his lavish British-French-Canadian production could
asily be seen as the Gallic Tudors, and although the
rench monarch here, Louis XIV, didn’t have quite as
any wives as Henry VIII, he had an equally colourful
ife by all accounts. The focus is on the eponymous royal
hateau, which the young king (played by former Vikings
tar George Blagden) is determined to transform into
urope's most magnificent palace. However, his nobles
re restless, with a number of them actively plotting to
overthrow him. He also has a love/hate relationship with
his gay brother Philippe (Alexander Vlahos), whose wife is one of the
king’s many mistresses. All this makes for a juicy historical romp – and
the fact that the Sun King ruled for more than 70 years means there's
plenty of material for future seasons. JF
Rise of the Sun King.
VERSAILLES: SEASON 1
Release Date: 02/11/16 Format:
ver the past eighteen years, South Park has prided
tself on being as politically incorrect as possible,
hich is one the reasons we love it. So when the
chool gets a new frat boy principal, who tries to force
is PC values on the students, the you-know-what is
eaded for the fan. Moreover, the arrival of grocery
iant Whole Foods and new hipster district SodoSopa
hreatens to gentrify the town – but not if the boys
ave anything to do with it! This is the first full season
to use a serialised format, and the PC arc takes aim
at everyone from Donald Trump to Caitlyn Jenner. The insidious
nature of online advertising is also taken to ludicrous – and brilliant –
extremes, but you'd expect nothing less from Trey Parker and Matt
Stone, whose sharp satire remains as caustic as ever. SH
PC Park.
SOUTH PARK: SEASON 19
Release Date: 02/11/16 Format: