rosemaryandthyme

The newest episode is, frankly, a slog. Whatever magic the earlier seasons had has evaporated, along with any sense of good pacing, tension, or originality. The writing has gone from cute and engaging to dull, predictable, and borderline lazy. It feels like the writers' room either ran out of ideas or simply stopped caring, because the spark that once made this show addictive is long gone.

I've ended up retreating to the earlier seasons just to remember what the show used to be: characters with depth, and storylines that didn't feel like recycled leftovers. Now? It's background noise at best.

And let's be honest: John is just too old for the role now. The energy's not there, the charisma's faded, and the whole thing feels like it's being held together with nostalgia alone. Bring Troy in, bring in better writers, hell, bring in anyone with a pulse and a fresh idea because this current setup isn't working. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is call it: give it up.

Enid Blyton's The Famous Five books are those timeless tales of adventure, picnics, and mystery-solving with George, Julian, Dick, Anne, and Timmy the dog. This new adaptation takes a fresh take, but after watching, I'm left wondering: why bother?

This episode feels like it's trading the heart of the original for a forced modernisation. (Huge sigh). The decision to modernise is evident from the start. George, traditionally a tomboyish white girl, is now portrayed by as a person of color, which isn't the issue, diversity can enrich storytelling. However, pairing this with her Aunt Fanny (played by another actor of color) feels less like a natural evolution and more like a deliberate checkbox, lacking the cultural or narrative depth to support it. The change doesn't align with the 1940s Dorset setting of the books, where such casting might raise questions about historical context that the series doesn't address. It's as if the showrunners wanted to signal inclusivity without rethinking the story to match.

The kids are also older, teens rather than the pre-teen adventurers of the books. This shift alters the dynamic; the innocence and camaraderie of the original gang are replaced with a more self-aware, angsty vibe that feels out of place. It loses its whimsical charm when handled by older characters who seem too mature for the plot's simplicity ie George is now working.

The acting is a major letdown. The dialogue often sounds stilted, as if the cast is reading from a script during a first rehearsal rather than delivering lines with conviction. Actors playing the kids struggle to find chemistry, and their performances lack natural energy. The delivery is so wooden at times that it pulls you out of the story, making it hard to watch.

This brings me to the core question: why bother reimagining The Famous Five again if the result feels so disconnected from what made the books beloved? If the goal was to update the stories for a new generation, then it's a failure. It could have kept the original spirit. The earlier versions of these adaptations captured the innocent and vintage essence of Blyton's world; this one doesn't even try.

It's a concept that fails to justify its existence. The modernisation with diverse casting, older kids, and a darker tone is poorly and sloppily executed, with acting that sounds like a first read-through. Unless you're curious about this train wreck or have no attachment to the originals, I'd skip this one. It may be OK for nostalgia buffs. For new viewers, look elsewhere for adventure stories that don't feel like a rehearsal gone wrong.

After the disaster that was Iris, I didn't expect much from this series but I was pleasantly surprised and absolutely devoured each episode. It was so engrossing that I ended up binge-watching the whole six episodes. The first episode was a bit slow and confusing, but stick with it. It kept me guessing, constantly shifting, making me wonder where it was going and pulling me deeper into the story. The timeline does jump, which can feel confusing, but it was handled brilliantly to weave the tapestry to the end. The back-and-forth between past and present, and the different characters stories added real depth, slowly revealing the tragic and surprising finale.

By the time I reached the finale, everything had clicked into place, and the journey getting there was gripping, clever, and incredibly satisfying. This is one of those rare series where you tell yourself "just one more episode"... and suddenly it's 3am. Well done to the production team and of course the writers for a unique and engrossing story that pulled me in to the end.