by Kathleen Costa
AcornTV is a favorite entertainment option for many Anglophiles, like me. I daily spend some time watching episodes of my favorite iconic shows like Murdoch Mysteries (season fifteen airing February 28) and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries or trying something new like Under the Vine or Jericho. Whatever genre or year of production I choose, however, the programs continue to have high quality video and audio, easy access day and night, and availability on any device from my iPhone, iPad, or computer. This makes my membership fee ($5.99 monthly or special annual fee $59.99) well worth renewing again and again. I am excited that many favorite cozies, like AcornTV Original Queens of Mystery, are finally emerging from a long Covid break, but during the interim, I became a fan of culinary, travel, and historical documentaries.
Queens of Mystery’s first
season aired in 2019, but the pandemic put season two on hold. But, to
everyone’s delight, it has emerged from Covid constraints with the long-awaited
second season and three new entertaining cases. Season Two continues to follow
the more seasoned career of DS Matilda Stone along with her navigating the
interference by her three quirky aunts: Cat (Julie Graham), Jane (Siobhan
Redmond), and Beth (Sarah Woodward). But, as we learned in season one, when
Matilda was “three years, three days, three hours, and three minutes old,” her
mother Eleanor mysteriously disappeared causing her to live with those three
loving aunts who offered her varied perspectives, a love of mystery, and a tuna
pasta bake. The aunts, though, know more than they say about their sister’s
disappearance and the connection to a mysterious man, and actively conceal any
information or memorabilia, for what they believe, is in Matilda’s best
interest. Nonetheless, Matilda is a detective sergeant and a mystery, even if
it’s her own, begs to be solved. Then, interruptions…“Stone, we have a murder!”Image Source Acorn
Sparring with Death Wildemarsh Wellness Retreat is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and Dr. Isherwood, the retreat director, has decided to retire, but the announcement of her replacement is quite a surprise and disappointment to the her brother and the woman who’s been her right hand. So, is it no wonder that the director is later found murdered by sauna? Then, another murder reveals false identities, problematic funding sources, and missing drugs. In Matty’s own mystery, she inadvertently meets the wife of the officer who investigated her mother’s disappearance, but getting answers, of course, are stalled. Earns 5/5 Beehives.
 |
| Image Source Acorn |
The Raven Heritage House is both “quaint and creepy” due in part to its world famous collection dedicated to American author Edgar Allen Poe, which includes the original manuscript of The Tell-Tale Heart. To inject much needed funds into the museum, the manuscript is set to be auctioned. The Poe professor is excited, the librarian is furious, and the manuscript is missing, a black feather in its place. The Raven, a cat burglar that stalked Wildemarsh decades ago, is implicated, but it also may reveal curious connections to Matty’s mother’s disappearance, if only the pertinent police files could be found. But, it’s the dead body that grabs everyone’s attentions. Earns 5/5 Black Feathers.
Queens of Mystery is a favorite with its
delightful pop-up book-style opening and soundtrack, clever narration by Juliet
Stevenson, a raven, a windmill, and just enough quirky repartee to be
enchanting fun. Each pair of episodes follows a new investigation set first at
a spa, then an art gallery, and finally, a museum with victims that seem karmic
in nature. The clues are revealed in clever, if not accidental, ways exposing
several suspects and always leading to a surprise arrest. But more times than
not, the aunts get in the way, cause angst for DCI Thorne (Martin Trenaman), who
can’t find the way to profess his true feelings for Jane, and someone always
ends up in a perilous situation. Matilda’s love-life is again an issue with
more than one interested party: Dr. Daniel Lynch, PC Foster, and EMT George.
She has her preference…maybe. The secrets, the mystery man, evasive answers,
and the aunts’ motives to shield Matty from some truth continues to weave
through the story, but with no conclusion…yet! Two bonuses are available for
additional background: Series 1 Recap and Behind the Scenes. There was a change
to the cast that I didn’t see it harm the program at all. With the same slight
build, platinum bob, blue eyes, and quiet performance, Florence Hall took the
lead from Olivia Vinall as Matilda Stone and made it her own. Season
Two earns 5/5 Ravens…brilliant fun!Image Source Acorn
Queens of Mystery Season One, also reviewed
for KRL, is available in its entirety along with a Bonus: Behind the Scenes and
Queens of Mystery Easter Eggs. Each case, set at a crime writers’ festival, a
recording studio, and a theater, spread out over two-episodes each, have the
signature karmic murder, clever intrigue, quirky dialogue, and surprise
conclusion. Along with the introductions of the main characters and all their
connections, internal secrets, and romance angst the impetus of the mystery
behind Matilda’s mother’s disappearance is provided. Earns
5/5 Windmills.
Ok, let’s talk documentaries! During the pandemic, with many programs on hold, I expanded my entertainment into the world of non-fiction with shows not only meant to entertain, but also to educate, enlighten, and maybe even inspire. AcornTV has many shows exploring the art of cooking, eating, and drinking along with visiting exciting “bucket list” destinations and a peek into history with the experts. Never a dull moment.
Culinary Treats
The Big Bread Experiment (2011) is
a three-episode 18-month social experiment in Yorkshire’s Bedale led by Curate
Cath Vickers joined by five diverse friends and two artisan bakers as a
“bread-baking club,” dubbed Wit’s End (for obvious reasons). Their mission is
to revitalize an ancient watermill to ground flour (a huge project with a huge
cost), use the flour to set up a community-run bakery, and hopefully, to get
their community baking and eating real bread. Through giggles and wine-fueled
oops-es, challenges passing tests and staying enthusiastic, and conflicts and
surprise changes, the experience was an extraordinary journey. Earns
5/5 Artisan Loaves of Love.Image Source Acorn
Bucket-List Destinations in Style
Vintage Roads Great & Small (2018), hosted by Christopher Timothy and Peter Davison of the original All Creatures Great and Small fame, provides a historical view of many of Britain’s backroads, tarred or not, motoring in classic 1930s Morgan 4/4. Their friendship and humor fills the seven episodes through the Scottish highlands to the Isle of Skye, with a stop near Loch Ness, London to Land’s End, Cardiff to Snowdonia, Yorkshire Dales (James Herriot country), and much more. Earns 5/5 Vintage Morgans.
History 101
Britain’s Outlaws: Highwaymen, Pirates & Rogues (2015), is a fascinating look at the seventeenth and eighteenth century when crime was endemic. Criminals robbed, cheated, and murdered on the road, the high seas, and in urban and rural settings with impunity since there really was no established police force to arrest and exact punishment. Each one hour episode offers intriguing insights from historian Dr. Sam Willis and other experts, artifacts, and entertaining re-enactments of the Knights of the Road, Pirates, and Rogues’ Gallery. Many famous figures were explored, but also those who may have only played a part in creating the legends. Earns 5/5 Swords, Pistols, and Hangmen.
AcornTV In Production
 |
| Image Source Acorn |
Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.
Comments
Post a Comment