I wanted to have a break between the first and second season of The Killing because of how intense it is to watch. But eventually, having the DVD sitting next to me was too much to bear and I weakened.

At the beginning of series two, I missed centain characters a lot, namely Troels Hartmen and Pernille Larsen. The Killing writers like to run a political thread through each series and the character of Thomas Buch was not nearly as commanding as Troels. In fact, it took until the last few epsidoes for me to be properly hooked into to the political thread.

Not so, the crime investigation. Lund is as brilliant as ever and I can’t get enough of her character. I can’t think of another instance in television where a female is protrayed as so uncompromising and focussed and good at what they do (The Closer is along those lines but not nearly as powerful as this). There is not a moment when you are not in Lund’s corner, helping her unravel the dirty threads, going head to head with the bureacracy, fighting mediocrity, and struggling to keep her emotional life in tact. Yet, at no time does she lose her female essence. I totally applaud the writers and the actor, Sofie Grabol, for creating a heroine with such strength, courage and intelligence.

The plotting in series 2 is probably tighter than series one, and never at any stage was I actually sure who the killer was – that is, until the last epsisode. As a crime writer of sorts, I’m fascinated by how well they constantly confuse the reader with false leads, dead ends and by witholding information. It’s a mesmeric dance, driven by a strong protagonist.

As I said, the character Thomas Buch did not work his way under my skin like Troels Hartmen did, but the political thread was certainly a bleak look at the inner workings of politics.

The thread concerning the accused soldier Jens Peter Raben and his wife, was nicely handled and again it’s impossible not to be on the side of this badly wronged soldier. Until, of coure the final revelations which leaves the viewer a little numb and conflicted. (I can’t talk any more about it, for fear of ruining the story for you).

It was pleasing to see Lund’s boss, Lennart Brix, better developed in series two. He is the man charged with managing Lund’s obsessive brilliance and is constantly torn between trusting her, and reeling her in when she oversteps the line. All this is further coloured by the affair he’s having with one of his female superiors – the woman charged with liaising between him and the government.

I can’t wait for series 3 to become available. Sophie Grabol as Sarah Lund is firmly my number one girl, sliding Holly Hunter as Grace Hannadarko into runner up.

Get the Danish version of the series and enjoy TV storytelling at it’s best.

I have a long history with James Bond. As a little girl my dad would take me to the cinema every time a new Bond movie was released. It was something I looked forward to from one year to the next. I also spent my early reading days thumbing Dad’s Ian Fleming paperbacks, wishing I was old enough to read them.

Like everyone else, I’ve watched the franchise evolve and attempt to remain relevant. I really loved Casino Royale and accepted Daniel Craig as the new Bond without a qualm. Quantam of Solace was fun but not brilliant and now Skyfall.

Things I enjoyed about it:

Javier Bardem pretty much acted everyone else off the stage – no mean feat when you’re opposite Dame Judi Dench. His ex-spy-gone-rogue-with-a-mummy-complex was the best baddie acting to ever grace a Bond movie. Bravo!

Loved the title sequence and Adele’s song is really superb – usurping the Live and Let Die theme as my favourite.

The opening motorbike sequence was pretty damn fine. My husband (a long time off-road rider) had sweaty palms.

Ralph Fiennes delivered his part with aplomb.

Things I didn’t like:

Craig lacked any chemistry with his onscreen ladies and there was no spark to give Bond his dangerously attractive edge.

The fact that both Craig and Dench looked exhausted for the entire movie (Bond was supposed to be exhausted for the first part of the movie – but it never really went away).

Severine was way too much of a victim and had too little face-time for her story to mean anything (which was a shame, ‘cos I think she had potential).

Things I’m unsure about:

Building a personal story arc between Bond and “M” is quite a tough task, considering that both of them are supposed to be emotionally zipped up. It kind of seemed like they cancelled each other out with stiff upper lip. However, that may also be why Javier was such a powerful foil for them.

The Ending was pretty dissatisfying. Can’t say too much because of spoilers!

All in all, I’m glad I went to see it and I’d like to rewatch it on DVD to let it soak in a little more. But I came away with mixed feelings that threaten to stay that way.

Reviewed by Bec Stafford

Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones – by Bryan Cogman (with Preface by George R. R. Martin.)

Published by  Gollancz on 27 September, 2012.

192 Pages. ISBN 13: 9780575093140 ISBN 10: 0575093145

A feast for the eyes, this lushly bound guide to cable’s highest-rated series has been released *just* in time for Christmas. If I didn’t already have a copy in my hot little hands, it’d most definitely be on my wish list. At 192 pages, this padded, debossed hardback is a substantial, comprehensive guide to the smash small screen adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s popular A Song of Fire and Ice series. Martin, in fact, provides the insightful preface, describing the initial reservations (and subsequent delight) he felt about the ambitious TV production.

Written by scriptwriter, Bryan Cogman, Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones offers a riveting behind-the-scenes view of the blood, sweat, and tears that go into the making of this lavish series. And it seems fitting that such an epic production would be accompanied by an equally extravagant companion publication.

Organised into five major sections, based on geography (namely: The Wall; Winterfell; King’s Landing; Westeros, and Essos), the book features gorgeous photos, set and costume design, concept art, and facts about key characters. Fans of the series will delight in the first-hand information provided by cast, crew, and executive producers, including D. B. Weiss and David Benioff.  Among the book’s most satisfying elements are the candid and revealing character interview snippets from the producers and cast members (including, pleasingly, some of the intriguing minor players). There are some truly beautiful costume sketches (I would’ve personally liked to see even more of these) and details about location choice and set design. If your mind isn’t blown by all the detail and insider info, the incredible action shots, stills, and behind-the-scenes snaps will seal the deal.

There’s even a fun section at the back of the book, entitled ‘A Game of Pranks’ that details some inside jokes the producers pulled on a couple of central cast members. Aside from the enormous effort and vision that it took to achieve this stunningly successful series, the book gives you a real sense of the cast, crew, and creators’ sense of playfulness and creativity. For anyone in need of clarification of the various houses, there are also handy, illustrated guides to each, including lineage, home kingdom, motto, and a brief history. Finally, all the info and imagery has been presented in extraordinarily lovely typography, design, and binding. If you have a Game of Thrones fan in the household, I can heartily recommend Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones as a stellar gift idea that will provide hours of blissful escapism. Book Depository’s current price tag of only $30-odd is a steal, to boot.