Masterpiece update

I thought it was high time for a Masterpiece update. For the past three weeks, Masterpiece Mystery has been airing Case Histories which was a total bust as far as I'm concerned, except for this:

I couldn't resist. *wink*

This Sunday, Masterpiece Contemporary begins with a brand-new drama entitled Page Eight.

I'm actually quite curious about this one -- I love me some Bill Nighy, and the rest of the cast is fabulous -- Rachel Weisz, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon! Here's a bit about the story:

What happens when spies grow older in a post-9/11 world? Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing. And the right thing, in this morally ambiguous new era, is unclear — as unclear as the motives of Johnny's neighbor, Nancy, who draws Johnny in with her sad beauty and a secret of her own.

Starring Bill Nighy (Love Actually, He Knew He Was Right), Michael Gambon (the Harry Potter films, Cranford), Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener) and Judy Davis (Husbands and Wives), Page Eight is written and directed by David Hare (The Hours), whose stylish spy thriller resonates with today's uneasy coexistence of security and uncertainty.

And here's a short trailer:



I'm not sure if I'll be watching this one live -- the draw of Once Upon a Time and Pan Am on Sunday nights is pretty strong. But I will definitely be checking it out at some point. If you watch Sunday night, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Case Histories starts tomorrow

Tomorrow night Masterpiece Mystery kicks off a brand-new series -- Case Histories, starring Jason Isaacs (YUM!), based on the novels by author Kate Atkinson. Here's a bit about the series:

Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, The Patriot) stars as private investigator Jackson Brodie, the tough former soldier and policeman with a heart of gold, in this series based on the acclaimed novels by Kate Atkinson. Brodie, haunted by a past family tragedy, struggles to balance his personal and professional life while coming to the rescue of the bereaved, the lost and the dysfunctional in the Scottish city of Edinburgh.

Here's the thing: I love Jason Isaacs. L-O-V-E him. But at the risk of shocking everyone reading this who is well acquainted with my Masterpiece fanaticism, I'm not planning weekly reviews of this series as it airs. (*gasp!* I know, right?)

Next Sunday sees the premiere of the ABC series Once Upon a Time, followed by the currently airing Pan Am, and I'm just more interested in watching those shows on Sunday night right now than a Jason Isaacs mystery show based on books I never heard of until I read the Masterpiece schedule. (Jason, I'll make it up to you someday, PROMISE!) :) Be sure to check back in and let me know how you like Case Histories if you watch it!

Masterpiece Mystery schedule update

Starting tomorrow, Masterpiece Mystery begins a month of encore episodes of Inspector Lewis - check your local schedules carefully, though, because it is likely that many PBS stations will be in the middle of membership drives. Tomorrow's encore episode is from Inspector Lewis Series II, entitled Point of Vanishing. Here's a brief teaser about the episode:

Watch an encore presentation of Inspector Lewis on MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! In The Point of Vanishing, the murder of a small-time criminal leads Lewis and Hathaway to a prominent Oxford celebrity atheist who years earlier had been the intended target of a botched murder attempt. Could these isolated incidents be connected?


Check your local listings carefully as your local station is likely in its membership drive (your support helps keep shows like MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! on the air). This encore episode may not be airing in your area or may be scheduled at alternate times.

You can read my review of Point of Vanishing here. If your local PBS station isn't reairing the episode, you'll be able to watch it online for a limited time.

The Masterpiece Mystery schedule through October has been posted - here's what we have to look forward to:

INSPECTOR LEWIS*

Kevin Whately returns as Inspector Lewis in the popular detective series. Featuring four new episodes, Lewis and his young partner DS Hathaway (Laurence Fox) continue solving cases in the seemingly perfect academic haven of Oxford. (All episodes 90 minutes. National broadcast dates in bold; online viewing dates in parentheses.)

Aug 7 (Aug 8 – Aug 21) The Point of Vanishing (Encore)*

Aug 14 (Aug 15 – Sept 13) Counter Culture Blues (Encore)*

Aug 21 (Aug 22 – Sept 20) The Dead of Winter (Encore)*

Aug 28 (Aug 29 – Sept 27) Dark Matter (Encore)*

Sept 4 (Sept 5 – Oct 4) Old, Unhappy, Far Off Things

Sept 11 (Sept 12 – Oct 11) Your Sudden Death Question (Encore)*

Sept 18 (Sept 19 – Oct 18) Wild Justice

Sept 25 (Sept 26 – Oct 25) The Mind Has Mountains

Oct 2 (Oct 3 – Nov 1) Falling Darkness (Encore)*

Oct 9 (Oct 10 – Nov 8) The Gift of Promise

CASE HISTORIES
 
Jason Issacs (Harry Potter, The Patriot) stars as private investigator Jackson Brodie, the tough former soldier and policeman with a heart of gold, in these mysteries based on the acclaimed novels “Case Histories”, “One Good Turn”, and “When Will There Be Good News?” by Kate Atkinson. Brodie, haunted by a past family tragedy, struggles to balance his personal and professional life while coming to the rescue of the bereaved, the lost and the dysfunctional in the Scottish city of Edinburgh. (All episodes 120 minutes. One viewing dates to be announced.)

Oct 16 (Oct 17 – Nov 15) Case Histories – Episode 1

Oct 23 (Oct 24 – Nov 22) Case Histories – Episode 2

Oct 30 (Oct 31 – Nov 29) Case Histories – Episode 3

*Limited local airings; please check local listings.

Episodes can be viewed online for a limited time at pbs.org/masterpiece