STACK NZ Oct #67

REVIEWS

DVD & BD

A Norseman in Paris VIKINGS: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON

One of us, one of us! AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW

Release Date: 21/10/15

Release Date: 07/10/15

Format:

Format:

Vikings just keeps getting better every year. Who really cares that historical accuracy has been ditched in the name of entertainment; this rousing series continues to enthrall with its power struggles, well drawn characters, and epic battles. This season, a deal with King Ecbert to farm land outside of Wessex leads to betrayal and bloodshed, threatening the alliance between the Norsemen and Saxons; Ragnar Lothbrok broods like never before; Christian and Pagan beliefs clash during a bloody fertility ritual; a mysterious stranger (who may be Odin)

If you suffer from coulrophobia (a fear of clowns) you'd best avoid the fourth season of AHS . Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's creepy and campy anthology series is back to its nasty best after the disappointing Coven , relocating to a carnival freakshow in Florida, circa 1952. The regular cast are all freaked out, with Kathy Bates sporting a beard, Evan Peters lobster claws, and Sarah Paulson two heads (possibly the most disturbing use of CGI to date). But it's Jessica Lange who steals this freaky show as a Marlene Dietrich-like dame who performs

visits Kattegat; Floki commits an act that Ragnar can never forgive; and a climactic attack on Paris results in a spectacular siege of Game of Thrones proportions. Most of the characters suffer physical and/or emotional scars and not everybody makes it out alive. You have been warned.

anachronistic Bowie covers. This uncut version presents American Horror Story: Freakshow in all its gory glory and its release is timed perfectly to coincide with the fifth season, Hotel , featuring er, Lady Gaga, which is due to premiere on Sky this month.

GOTHAM: SEASON one

INDIAN SUMMER

OUTLANDER: SEASON 1, VOL 2

Bosch: SEASON ONE

Release Date: 07/10/15 Format:

Release Date: 07/10/15 Format:

Release Date: 21/10/15 Format:

Release Date: 07/10/15 Format:

Christopher Nolan gave us Batman's origin story and now The Mentalist showrunner Bruno Heller reveals James Gordon’s transition from rookie detective to Police Commissioner of Gotham City. Having voiced the caped crusader himself in Batman: Year One , Ben McKenzie now embodies the man responsible for tracking the killer of young Bruce Wayne’s parents. What follows is the story of Gordon’s rise to power in a corrupt city, and the beginnings of a sound relationship with the heir to the Wayne fortune. There's also a number of villains-in-waiting, including Oswald Cobblepot (The Penguin), Harvey Dent (Two-Face) and Selina Kyle (Catwoman).

While not in the same class as the TV classic Jewel In The Crown , this classy British Raj drama has a lot going for it. The year is 1932 and the setting is a small town at the foothills of the Himalayas which the ruling classes escape to each year to avoid the sub- continental summers. The main story arcs revolve around Ralph Whelan (Henry Lloyd-Hughes), an arrogant rising star of the British administration, and Aafrin Dalal (Nikesh Patel), who becomes his trusted assistant after saving his life. Julie Walters also enjoys herself in a rare villainous role as the ruthless owner of the town’s snooty country club. A must for Downton Abbey fans.

A splendidly camp blend of steamy bodice ripping, time-travelling romance and boys-own action heroics, Outlander has been one of this year’s most enjoyable guilty pleasures. The concluding half of the first season finds our heroine, former World War 2 nurse Claire (Caitriona Balfe), seemingly resigning herself to life in Jacobite Scotland with devoted husband Jamie (Sam Heughan). However, Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) – the cruel descendant of her 20th Century husband – hasn’t finished with the couple yet and Claire also makes a surprise discovery about Geillis (Lotte Verbeek), her pagan-dabbling pal from the village.

Although Michael Connelly’s crime novels have inspired a few films – most notably The Lincoln Lawyer – his best known creation is Detective Hieronymus 'Harry' Bosch, who here makes his long overdue transition to the screen. This stylish TV police procedural weaves together the stories from the novels City Of Bones and Echo Park (plus a bit from Concrete Blonde ), and sees Bosch (Titus Welliver) investigating the murder of a young boy while being taunted by a serial killer (Jason Gedrick). Welliver ( Sons Of Anarchy , Deadwood ) excels in a rare lead role and there is good support from former Wire alumni Jamie Hector and Lance Reddick.

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