Bad Education; Dancing On Ice; The Traitors US; Mayor of Kingstown; The Last of Us

“The new Bad Education might be less grating but that doesn’t mean it’s actually good. It’s not as obviously empty-hearted as the old series, with the dance finale of an episode where Stephen tries to take his class to a ‘drag brunch’ ending up being an unexpected burst of joy. But it still lacks any coherent structure or purpose. As a result, it too often comes across as juvenile – but not in a fun way.”
Jack Seale, The Guardian

“As primetime entertainment, Dancing On Ice remains a study in mediocrity. This launch episode was so padded-out with smalltalk, recaps and commercial breaks that it featured just nine minutes of skating in a 90-minute show.”
Michaal Hogan, The Telegraph

“As usual, Vera hit all the Sunday night procedural beats you would expect: an unpleasant murder but nothing too gruesome, plenty of dodgy peripheral characters, the odd red herring and a web of secrets and lies, half of which turn out to be nothing to do with the crime at all. Yes, there were moments where you knew exactly where this was going but being right is all part of the fun.”
Rachel Sigee, The i

“The Traitors US feels too knowing, too cynical, too competitive. Almost immediately contestants begin to harbour grudges, and openly, spitefully plot who they’re going to banish. While the much-loved British cast seemed at least at first to pretend it was the taking part that counts, the US contestants are instantly ruthless and calculated. In this all-American world, people seem to be much more worried about the Scottish mud, but much less worried about stabbing their teammates in the back.”
Emily Bootle, The i

“The show is aiming for the dramatic heights of The Wire and The Shield but falls short. The performances are decent – particularly Taylor Handley as Mike’s police officer brother – and the plotting is assured. But it is undone by the violence for violence’s sake. Drug-dealing gangsters, prison guards, police – no matter who is on screen, they’re either shooting people in the head or beating them half to death. It is a show for viewers whose adrenaline pumps at the sight of a SWAT team.”
Anita Singh, The Telegraph

“The Last of Us really is top-tier television. It is also, at times, horrifying. There are zombies here and, for the first time in years, they are nightmare-inducing.”
James Jackson, The Times