TV – things change

The Young Montalbano

Saturday, Jun 27, 2020Saturday, Jun 27, 2020 MikeBLeave a comment

BBC4 are repeating The Young Montalbano and what a glorious treat it is.

A great story (Mortally Wounded) was pure joy. There’s so much to be gained from being familiar with the main characters, their quirks, their repetitive behaviour. It’s quality drama with complex and rich, crime stories. It’s funny, it’s farce, and it’s charming and brilliant. The acting is wonderful, the characters are warm and the actors are beautiful.

An acquired taste, for sure, but when you get it, you’re in for a treat.

Inspector Montalbano/TV

Inspector Montalbano

Sunday, Feb 2, 2020Friday, Feb 7, 2020 MikeBLeave a comment

Yay, a new series of Inspector Montalbano (or is it a repeat?) to enjoy on Saturday nights! It’s an acquired taste – one really needs to be a regular in order to enjoy it – but so much to enjoy if you’re in on it.

The inspector is a serious man who takes his time to weigh-up and consider events and people. He does a wonderful ‘hmm’ whilst he’s considering.

Fazio is the inspector’s right-hand man who is methodical and precise when explaining something to the inspector. He jumps to conclusions – hence the need for Montalbano to be more cautious.

Mimi is the inspector’s deputy and in the early series was always carrying on with different women.

Catarella is an office-based policeman. He’s the fool who provides the element of over-the-top farce in the episodes. He gets over-excited, he trips over a lot, and makes considerable noise when he storms into the inspector’s office. Amazingly, he appears to be the computer whiz!