SAY HELLO TO Ms. X

 

2026 has bought us a plethora of interesting and entertaining programmes on streaming apps. Many have female protagonists or strong female co-stars, these new and newish shows offer more variety than mainstream cinema currently does and maybe that is to do with the long form of the TV series 

Pluribus, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, Margot’s Got Money Troubles, Ms X, Lucky, Star City, Furious, Silo, American Primeval, The Beauty, Department Q, Shinning Girls, Mobland, 3 Body Problem, The Beauty, Spider Noir, Cape Fear, The Boys, The Last Frontier and more.

These shows qualify for a number of genres and provide opportunities for new ideas, writers and performers, they also allow established actors to explore longer character development opportunities.

For me, the standout is Ms X, a New Zealand drama starring Melissa George, who previously spent a long time in Hollywood, even appearing in David Lynch' masterpiece Mulholland Drive and the massively underrated Triangle,  that concerns a housewife dropped into an unusual, to say the least, situation. It has shades of the greatest of all antipodean TV shows, Mr Inbetween, and that is not just about the location. We delve into the NZ Underworld, Police Department, Latin Cartels, the problems of having teenage children and living in a "Keep Up With The Joneses" neighbourhood. This is done deftly and the humour within is natural not forced. It has cliff hanger endings, rich characters and  a genuine "what is going to happen next" sense of jeopardy.

The supporting cast are uniformly excellent and weave in and out of each other's and Ms X's orbit, some with good intentions and others shrouded in mystery harbouring danger

If you have seen Mr Inbetween, this is a must and if you haven't this could be a good gateway show to Mr Inbetween. Or simply enjoy it, in it's own right, for what it is: an excellent, quirky, series, high on heart with a mix of intrigue and excitement. Once you meet Ms X you will want to stay in her world for a while 

INDEPENDENT CINEMA FOREVER

 

In London there is no excuse to not go to the cinema, no excuse at all, unless you want to make one. I don’t go to the mainstream cinema chains due to the prevelance of audience members talking to each other, looking at their phones, talking on their phones causing a commotion with endless rustling and slurping and generally being uncouth. There is also the issue of limited choice and exorbitant pricing This in itself may seem at odds with my opening statement but kindly bear with me gentle reader.

Alternatives do exist in the shape of smaller independent cinemas, case in point, the wonderful Prince Charles off Leicester Square, a haven for those that love the movies and want a bit of variety. Entrance is cheap as chips, and a lifetime membership is only £60.00. This entitles you to discount, free films and films for £1.00. and is, as stated, for life. The range of films they show is breathtaking and every taste is catered for with an ever-changing programme of rare and under seen gems, some in 70mm, 35mm or 4k restoration. It is an institution that was recently saved from closure by a vast number of loyal patrons who supplied a petition that simply could not be ignored.

Another great little cinema is The Covent Garden Cinema, adjacent to Covent Garden but nearer to Holborn tube station. A beautiful art deco cinema with a range of obscure films and rarities with an option for members to choose films to be shown. Tickets can be as little as £8.50, and you are guaranteed none of those pesky multiplex antics. And They serve Timothy Taylors Ale. They have quiz nights and discussion meetings it's hidden gem on the bustling west end

The Arthouse Crouch End is a bijou and wonderful cinema that feels like a café with a cinema attached. Again, variety and very reasonable pricing are the order of the day and if there’s nothing you fancy then the Crouch End Picturehouse is a few doors down.

Picturehouses are a chain that doesn’t feel like a chain and places independent cinema alongside current box office fare. They offer good value memberships, and the Crouch End branch has two nice bar areas, and they have Silver Screen viewings for those over 60, subtitled screenings and free tea and biscuits. I recommend also the Finsbury Park Branch which offers the same choices and is easier to get to as it’s stone’s throw from Finsbury Park Station

There was no way I was not going to mention the Everyman, there are a number of branches and the standout feature of this group of cinemas is the seating and the food both top notch. Reasonable pricing, great choice of films and great service distinguish these cinemas. I probably go more often to an Everyman than any other cinema and I would recommend them to anyone.

I spent many happy hours in the original Scala cinema on Tottenham Street near Goodge Street Station so I have had a natural affinity with independent cinema and it has never let me down

So, there you go, if you live in London there are a plethora of cinemas to visit (and I’ve not even mentioned the Curzon, The ICA, The Phoenix the Rio, the BFI and many others that are popping up across the capital). I would urge you to pay a visit to your local independent cinema as this will help more independent films to be made. At this moment when Hollywood is churning out either bland or bombastic product independent cinema is needed more than ever. The many excellent foreign language movies that put Hollywood to shame need the independent scene so that they can be seen and enjoyed. Do yourself a favour and support your local independent

AT YOUR SERVICE

 The British Service station has one thing you can rely on, and that one thing is a smelly toilet. Actually "smelly toilet" does not do the stench ridden stalls justice as the aroma emanating from within is both pervasive and oppressive. It's hard to say why this is the case but it could have something to do with the age of a great number of these motorway stop offs. The decrepitude can be seen in the detail; the non locking locks, the broken toilet seats, the insipid hand dryer strength and the invariable "Caution Wet' signs.

To compliment the Eastern Bloc architecture there is the Soviet era over reliance on bread based food offers. Bread, Bread and more Bread, there is something about travelling in the UK and Bread. It's the same at the airport where sandwiches are the de facto choice. Bread sits in the travellers tummy making for  bloated hours of sitting still, waist band busting road trips and indigestion inducing treks across the country.

Another Service Station standard is the fill to the brim rubbish bins and uncollected debris from tables where families have scoffed and quenched and walked away from, leaving the used boxes and paper wrappers strewn across them.

Not enough staff, is the answer to why these places are dirty and unsightly, or rather, enough staff but with zero motivation or investment in a career in the service industries. Let's face it, working in a Service Station is hardly a child's dream career. Even so, being good at your job regardless is a good habit to get into.

Long gone are the days when Service Stations were seen as part of the glamour and luxury of travel that was an aspiration for many. The pride in service, the civility of it all has long gone replaced by a laissez faire attitude and a "Get It Yourself" ethos

A trip to today's typical Service Station is a generic experience and one which one takes part in reluctantly on the basis purely of hunger and need to use the facilities. It's certainly not a destination