INSTINCT

I genuinely enjoy dark shows with serial killers who think of their murders as art and stuff. No, I’m not a psychopath. I just adore these types of TV shows a lot.

Current author, professor and former CIA agent, Dylan Reinhart (played by Alan Cumming) is brought back into the life of crimes when he’s informed about a serial killer whose killings seem eerily similar to that in Reinhart’s published book. Disgusted and fascinated upon hearing that, Elizabeth Needham (played by Bojana Novakovik) contacts the male lead, pairing up with him to solve the series of brutal murders.

As they begin tracking down the murderer, the two decide that they make a better team than most, completing each other. The show is based on James Patterson’s Murder Games, a personal favorite.

The two protagonists have great chemistry, add to that the crime and mystery the show contains, along with the recurring humour their witty arguments add and you’ve got yourself a masterpiece. The methods through which these killings are described exercise the mind more than those Riddle Me This on SnapChat which are actually more harder than they seem (I know, I’ve barely been able to solve any.)

What I appreciated the most about the show was the fact that Lizzie (Elizabeth) only stayed as a comrade to Reinhart meanwhile in any other show, she would’ve been happily married to him with 5 dogs by now. Adding to the list of goods regarding the show, CBS aired their very first gay lead through this series.

Dylan is not only gay, he has a husband! Andy (played by Daniel Ings), even though he’s a loyal husband, still has some qualms concerning Dylan’s and Lizzie’s friendship that has been so far limited to companionship.

The show kept me going through and through, trying to solve mysteries Sherlock Holmes could in a second. Alan Cumming proved himself to be outstanding yet again, alongside Bojana Novakovik who I hope to see more of.

Rating: 4Stars

INSATIABLE

The show zeroes in on Patty (played by Debby Ryan), an overweight teenager who gets bullied through her years in high school. Fast forward a few months, she returns back slim and smart, ready for vengeance.

To sum it up, it’s the story of Patty and her few friends seeking revenge for all the wrong ever done to them.

Honestly, it’s sickening how society thinks that you can only be pretty if you have a flat-stomach, high cheekbones, and fair and flawless skin as shown in the show. It’s this idea of beauty that has turned majority of the people in the world toxic and unable to love themselves. I expected more from Debby Ryan who has been known for her outstanding role in The Suite Life On Deck.

The series attempted to make such crude remarks for “fun”. Some type of a joke it was. Rather than enlightening people that they’re perfect as they are Insatiable drones on about Patty’s unhappy life as a fat girl. It does, at some point, attempt to right its track but it’s too late and the damage has already been done.

The title of the second episode Skinny Is Magic infuriates me further. It has come to my knowledge that the creator, Lauren Gussis, tried to defend the series by claiming that it’s a reflection of the past that she went through. While I’m okay with that, I’m not okay with what the first few episodes have released to show.

Now that I have dedicated around 200 words to the fat-shaming the show portrayed, I’ll move onto the, quite frankly, dumb and weak plot. They strive to make unfunny jokes regarding bodies and sexualities to cover up the poor and unconvincing plot. Giving it one star seems to be more of a formality to me now.

Rating: 1Stars

STATION 19

After watching with interest as the fire truck wheeled out of the driveway of a house down the street, shaken up and intrigued, I searched up for shows related to the beloved heroes who lay down their lives to save us. A few hours back, a house down the road had almost caught fire due to gas leakage. Thankfully, firefighters were called and successfully saved the day.

Station 19 targets Andy Herrera (Jaina Lee), a valiant firefighter and daughter of Captain Pruitt Herrera (played by Miguel Sandoval) who is forced to step up and take over her father’s position after an unfortunate incident that leaves him injured.

Internally distraught on how to manage the station, she struggles to meet eye to eye with Jack Gibson (played by Grey Damon), the lieutenant. Andy, still recovering from her previous breakup, falls in love with Jack putting aside their hostility. Jack’s no better; fondly reminiscing over the latter’s bright smiles and dry humour. Salt is added to the wound, Andy thought had disappeared, when she runs into her ex, Ryan Tanner (played by Alberto Frezza) at Seattle PD, the police station she’ll be often visiting now that she’s captain.

Through the show, viewers come to learn about the complications of the rescues made and the feelings and hesitancy that lie behind them. The series needs to make its rescues more… gripping. It has no original plot, following the same storyline through and through. With a little more effort, it has the potential to get better and come out bigger.

Putting aside that, it genuinely is a great and entertaining show, being the perfect combination of romance, action and drama.

Rating: 3Stars