STACK #155 Sep 2017

REVIEWS DVD&BD

Black magic moments. TABOO: SEASON 1

You picked a fine time to brain me Lucille! THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 7

Release Date: 06/09/17

Format:

Release Date: 27/09/17

Format:

Tom Hardy took his idea for Taboo to his father, writer Chips Hardy, who was initially reluctant to be involved, but finally acquiesced and agreed to flesh out the concept. Hardy also plays Thomas Delaney, an enigmatic character who unexpectedly returns to England in 1814 to bury his father and lay claim to a piece of land on the West Coast of America called Nootka Sound. Delaney, thought to have been lost at sea after spending time in Africa, soon becomes embroiled in a dispute between the American government and the nefarious East India Company over

It's not just the zombies this show's title refers to now: following a brutal culling by Negan in the season opener, and the threat of further violence by Lucille, Rick and the gang are all dead people walking. That is unless something can be done to break the Saviours' sadistic stranglehold and rally the surviving communities into a fighting force. King Ezekiel and his pet tiger would make great allies, as would the strange junkyard community with a gladiator zombie, which Rick must fight in order to prove his worth. The first half

his inherited stretch of land. Set over eight hour-long episodes, Taboo features exceptional performances from its cast, a compelling plot line with more twists and turns than a drunk on a rope ladder, and quality production values to rival Game of Thrones . PJ (See page 20)

of season seven features a LOT of soul searching and procrastination, before finally getting down to business in the last eight eps – and adding to the already considerable bodycount of series' regulars this year. Who will survive, and what will be left of them? SH (See page 14)

This is real. This is love. This is life. THIS IS US: SEASON 1

Family reunion and a bit of British bother. SUPERNATURAL: SEASON 12

Release Date: 20/09/17

Format:

Release Date: 06/09/17

Format:

Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia are an expectant couple, Sterling K. Brown a succesful lawyer, Justin Harley a sexy sitcom star, and Chrissy Metz is struggling with weight issues. All of them share the same birthday. They also have their share of challenges – Ventimiglia and Moore have unexpected trouble in the delivery room; Brown seeks to find some kind of peace with the father that abandoned him; Metz's body image impacts her enough to join a support group; and Harley, well, being a himbo stereotype can be soul destroying.

Sam and Dean Winchester might be up to their eyeballs in theological conflict once again, but the real big bad of Season 12 (yes, 12!) turns out to be the British chapter of the Men of Letters, who prove just as formidable as Lucifer, Crowley, et al. The brothers' dead mother Mary has also been resurrected (no character really 'dies' on this show) and rejoins the "family business" to hunt alongside her boys. Elsewhere, Rick Springfield turns up in a guest role as – you guessed it – an ageing rock star, and there's also the matter of preventing the

The rhythms of life may not be as thrilling as surviving a zombie apocalypse or a dance with dragons, but as an intimate study of a diverse character group, this surprise Stateside smash delivers issues that a majority of viewers can relate to. AC

birth of Lucifer's child. Things get pretty dark, but there's still room for some of that signature Supernatural satire outside the main story arc, including Hitler's soul stuck in a pocketwatch, an amnesiac Dean, and evil invading the White House! Carry on wayward sons. SH

033