Resolution Update

At the start of the year, I made several resolutions relating to this blog. It has gone way past the date in the year when most people give up on their resultions, so I thought I'd revisit them to see how I've done.

1. To update this blog more - I'm doing pretty well on this front. I've made double-figure posts each month so far and well on target for a bumper April.
   
2. To watch more detective shows - not so sure about this one. I have tried to mix things up a bit and watch a greater range of shows, but still room for improvement!
   
3. To discover at least one new show that I like - this has been achieved with Criminal Minds, I loved the first series and am keenly awaiting my next installment of it.
   
4. To work my way through the Remington Steele box set (22 episodes is looking pretty daunting right now) - very poor showing on this one, I'm afraid. I think I've watched about 8 episodes at the most.

Steele Watching Remington

I’m making slow progress with Remington Steele box set. I’m five episodes in. There are 22 in total Each one with a title including the word Steele, usually as a weak pun on the words Steal, Still or Steel (hence my tribute title above). That’s 22 Steele puns for the first series alone. Last night I watched ‘Thou Shalt Not Steele’.

Remington Steele isn’t one of the better known detective programmes so for anyone reading who might not know, the premise is thus:

Laura Holt is a trained detective but nobody wanted to hire a female detective. So she makes up a male boss, Remington Steele, puts is name on the agency and the work floods in. Things are going along smoothly but then in the first episode Pierce Brosnan, a mysterious man with a shady past and unknown identity turns up, and ends up assuming the identity of Remington Steele. As he is charming and dashing, it helps out the agency top have a real Remington Steele to introduce to clients, but of course he gets involved in the cases and there is an on-going will they/won’t they romance between him and Laura.

In each episode they take on a new case, usually investigating a theft, providing security or looking for a missing person, although often there is a murder thrown in for good measure. It is what I would call a light-hearted detective show - the murders aren't gruesome or sad and there is a fair bit of wit from Mr Brosnan. The show's creators went onto do Moonlighting and it is pretty similar in tone to that.

Along the way there are little bits of information given about Remington’s past and true identity, although knowing it runs for 4 seasons means I’m not hopeful of finding out who he is within this box set.

Watching the Detectives Resolutions for 2008

• To update this blog more
• To watch more detective shows
• To discover at least one new show that I like
• To work my way through the Remington Steele box set (22 episodes is looking pretty daunting right now)

My ambition to solve the Zodiac killer mystery while I’m in San Francisco in March might be asking a bit too much and might get in the way of enjoying the sights.

All I Want for Christmas is SVU

I look forward to time off work at Christmas but am always disappointed when regular daytime television (i.e. crime shows aplenty) are forced off the schedule in favour of family films and Christmas specials. So it makes it an ideal time to watch some DVDs instead.

Here’s a list of what I’d like from Father Christmas (or anyone else this year)

1. Remington Steele Season 1
I loved Pierce Brosnan in this when I watched it one summer holiday about 12 years ago. I haven’t seen it since though, so I’m hoping I still like its corniness. I know I’m getting this off one of my sisters but I only asked for the first series in case I don’t like it.

2.. The Complete Morse
We saw this once a few years ago in special edition where it came in a wooden box. It cost £200, which is a lot of money. I did suspect that the OH may have bought me this for Christmas this year, perhaps not in the wooden book edition, but I’ve seen the small gift box he claims contains my presents, so I’m beginning to think it might not be this.

3 Homicide Life on the Street Season 4 onwards
Seasons 2 and 3 were released in quick succession but no sign of Season 4 getting a release in the UK yet. I want to see it and I want to see it now (or sometime after 25th December anyway).

4. Law & Order Special Victims Unit Season 5 onwards
As above – release them on Region 2 DVD pronto.

5. A New Year Schedule of Intelligent Crime Dramas
I would like the BBC and HBO to make something new, exciting and challenging. I can’t survive on Law & Order alone.

6. Sam Waterstone to leave Law & Order
He is dull and rubbish and has been there forever. I demand a new District Attorney.


Ok so the last two aren't strictly speaking DVDs, but I'd still like them. Please.