Tag: hbo

Mini-series based on J.K. Rowling’s C.B. Strike detective novels to air on Cinemax

Did you know that Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling wrote a series of crime novels under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith?

Proving once more that her literary prowess extends beyond children’s fantasy, Rowling penned the Cormoran Strike series which depict the eponymous war veteran turned private investigator whose unique insight and background as a military police investigator proved crucial in solving three unsolvable cases.

British television station BBC adapted the novels as a seven-part miniseries titled C.B. Strike, starring Tom Burke (“Only God Forgives,” “The Three Musketeers”) as the title character. The mini-series, will premiere in the Philippines on May 12 (Saturday), 10pm on Cinemax (ch 198 HD | 36 SD on SKYcable), and will stream on HBO Go, HBO’s online streaming service exclusive to SKY subscribers. The series also stars Holliday Grainger (“The Borgias,” “Bonnie and Clyde”) as Robin Ellacott, Strike’s assistant.

Episodes cover the first three novels in the series and include:

#01 “The Cuckoo’s Calling: Part 1”

Premiere: Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 10pm

After supermodel Lula Landry is found dead outside her London flat, war-veteran-turned-private-investigator Cormoran Strike is visited by Lula’s adoptive brother John Bristow, who disputes the police’s assertion that her death was a suicide. Strike tasks his temp secretary Robin Ellacott with background research on the case, but instead she uncovers details about Strike’s own illustrious yet troubled past. Meanwhile, Strike attempts to track down DI Eric Wardle, the chief investigator on the case, as well as those who may have seen Lula in her final days, including her wealthy neighbour Tansy Bestigui, famous rapper Deeby Mac, designer Guy Somé, and Lula’s best friend Rochelle. Written by Ben Richards; directed by Michael Keillor.

 

#02 “The Cuckoo’s Calling: Part 2”

Premiere: Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 10pm

Strike connects with a model, Ciara, who offers insights into Lula’s complex friendship with Rochelle and introduces him to Lula’s volatile boyfriend Evan. Robin learns more about Strike’s past from his sister Lucy, and contemplates taking a more stable position in a corporate office. Strike questions Tansy about her changing accounts of the night Lula died, and tries to get to the bottom of Deeby Mac’s whereabouts – and why the building’s security guard didn’t see anything that night. Written by Ben Richards; directed by Michael Keillor.

#03 “The Cuckoo’s Calling: Part 3”

Premiere: Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 10pm

Robin gets a taste of private investigating at a high-end shop Lula visited the day of her murder. Later, she and Strike try to track down a hooded figure in the CCTV footage that Strike obtained from police, as Lula’s long-buried family secrets come to light.

Written by Ben Richards; directed by Michael Keillor.

#04 “The Silkworm: Part 1”

Debut date: Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 10pm

Strike investigates the disappearance of a provocative author, Owen Quine, whose wife Leonora has come to Strike for help. Questioning those in Owen’s inner circle – agent Liz Tassel, author Andrew Fancourt, publisher Daniel Chard and editor Jerry Waldegrave – Strike is eventually led to a gruesome crime scene plucked from the manuscript of Quine’s next book, “Bombyx Mori.” Finding herself caught between Strike and her fiancé Matthew, Robin sets up an introduction between the two. Written by Tom Edge; directed by Kieron Hawkes.

#05 “The Silkworm: Part 2”

Debut date: Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 10pm

Strike tries to convince DI Anstis, the lead investigator on the Quine case, that their prime suspect is not the murderer. Later, Strike lunches with Quine’s agent, Liz Tassel, while Robin tails Quine’s rival Andrew Fancourt, finding a possible clue at Fancourt’s wife’s gravesite. Delving deeper into the hidden meanings and concealed secrets in Quine’s “Bombyx Mori,” Strike and Robin scour all corners of London’s literary world to unmask the killer. Written by Tom Edge; directed by Kieron Hawkes.

#06 “Career of Evil: Part 1”

Debut date: Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 10pm

Arriving at the office, Robin is horrified by the delivery of a gruesome package: the severed leg of a teenage girl, Kelsey Platt. Convinced the girl’s killer is sending him a message, Strike looks into suspects from his past who each have vendettas against him. As Robin’s relationship with Matthew hits an impasse, the investigation takes her away on an overnight trip with Strike. Written by Tom Edge; directed by Charles Sturridge.

#07 “Career of Evil: Part 2”

Debut date: Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 10pm

As Strike and Robin search for clues on their three suspects, Robin’s mother arrives in London to encourage her to make a decision about the wedding. After visiting with Kelsey’s sister, Strike is scolded by an angry DI Wardle for meddling with police business, while Robin questions a suspect’s girlfriend. With the killer continuing to taunt them, Robin inadvertently puts herself in danger as she and Strike arrive closer to the truth. Written by Tom Edge; directed by Charles Sturridge.

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Series and episode details provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

6 Takeaways from Journey Into Night, Westworld Season 2’s Explosive Premiere Episode

We’re back in Westworld, thanks to an exclusive advance screening held by HBO and SKY.

Held at the Narra Rooms in the posh Shangri-la at the Fort Hotel last April 19 (four days before its TV premiere on April 23, Monday), the event was attended by selected SKY subscribers as well as members of the press and social media influencers.

By the time this post is published, the episode should have aired on HBO. For those who haven’t watched it yet, be aware that there will be spoilers below!

So far, my thoughts on the episode titled “Journey Into Night” are:

  1. The inmates have taken over the asylum. When we left Westworld during last season’s finale, it was on the brink of chaos. Now we see the aftermath: bodies of both hosts and their human guests are littered everywhere, clear evidence of violent delights that have violent ends.
  2. They are out for blood. Former Sweetwater sweetheart Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) has fully embraced her inner Wyatt. Together with her posse which includes earnest cowboy Teddy Flood (James Marsden) and femme fatale Angela (Tallulah Riley, now promoted to series regular) are hunting down the human guests who were present during Robert Ford’s (Anthony Hopkins) presentation of his new narrative (which has the same title as this episode – Journey Into Night), and subsequent death at Dolores’ hands (yes, he’s really dead as evidenced the maggotty rotting corpse in the beach scene which takes place a few weeks after the shooting). Having broken free of the restriction from killing humans, the hosts are rounding up all the other human survivors and shooting them down or lynching them.
  3. A mother’s love knows no bounds. Former brothel madam Maeve Millay (Thandie Newton) is continuing her search for her daughter in her past narrative, despite knowing that “it is not real,” enlisting the willing assistance of notorious bullet-ridden outlaw Hector Escaton (Rodrigo Santoro) and the reluctant one from narrative designer Lee Sizemore (Simon Quarterman).
  4. Worlds are colliding. Last season, we discovered that Shogun World exists. Now, thanks to a robotic carcass of a giant robot Bengal tiger which the SWAT peeps say wandered too far from home, we can surmise that there’s probably a Jungle World as well.
  5. The Man in Black (Ed Harris) still has something to keep him busy. Last season, he was told by Ford that the maze (the object of his obsession which turned out to be the hosts’ journey to consciousness) was not for him. In this episode, he was told by Ford’s young robot clone that he is now in the game.
  6. Bernard Lowe (Jeffrey Wright) is acting all shady again. We know that this good-hearted head of behavior can be used as a weapon. Seeing him in a series of timejumps, from waking up to security personnel rounding up hosts for the slaughter to his run for survival with Delos director Charlotte Hale (Tessa Thompson), we know he will prove be central to more violent ends from violent delights.

Westworld Season 2 premiered on HBO (SKYcable ch 168 HD | 54 SD) on April 23, Monday at 9am with a primetime encore telecast at 10am. A new episode airs every Monday at 9am.

New Westworld episodes will also be available for streaming within the same day on HBO Go, HBO’s online streaming service exclusively available to SKY subscribers.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers.  I consider this privilege one of the biggest perks of my job: being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people.