The best bits of "Taboo" (BBC/FX)

BBC's new historical drama is full of fun, if you can get past the mumbling and murky plotting. Steven ("Peaky Blinders") Knight turns his attention to Regency England.

• Tom Hardy cutting through the streets of London in stovepipe hat and billowing greatcoat.
• Jonathan Pryce tapping his cane ominously in the East India Company board room.
• The Machiavellian Solomon Coop (Jason Watkins) has a great catchphrase: "Always assume I know".
• Gout ridden Prince Regent (heavily padded Mark Gatiss) surrounded by stuffed zebra and legless giraffe.
• Atticus's (Stephen Graham - remember Al Capone in "Boardwalk Empire"?) compass rose skull tattoo
• The always-good-value David Hayman (in any scene).
• Michael Kelly (Doug Stamper from "House Of Cards").
• The intriguing relationship between Delaney and his school chum/EIC spy
• Chemistry lessons with manure-munching Mr Cholmondeley (Tom Hollander; he played the slimy Lance in "The Night Manager").
• Delaney's constant companion, his mini-scythe - it slices, dices, slashed - the perfect kitchen tool.
• Amazing night photography.
• Street scenes - looks like a movie budget
• Lush musical score.

Mercure Canberra - Best value accommodation in town?

Built in the late 1920's to coincide with the building of the (provisional) Parliament House, this historic hotel has lots going for it.

• Great location - 10 mins walk to the Canberra Centre (downtown shopping mall), bars, restaurants, Canberra Theatre, 5 mins walk to the Australian War Memorial and the start of trail to Mount Ainslie.
• Cheap on-site parking ($10 a night)
• Great food (choice of two restaurants - up market or bistro).
• Public bar and bottle shop.
• Clubby decor - open fires, wing chairs, couches in public areas, with quirky touches like a 30's radio unit, old telephone switchboard, huge fish tanks in the corridors.

Central courtyard

Cheap pub food in the beer garden - Lamb shanks, Chicken Kiev

This was our last stop on a road trip which included upscale Accor properties (Sofitel, Pullman, M Gallery), so this 3 star hotel is punching well under its weight.

"Kylie on Stage" Arts Centre Melbourne. Free exhibition

From Showgirls - John Galliano

Centrepiece with giant concert clips

Boy George designed piece on the left

Kyborg

The Arts Centre (the one under the metal spire) is 5 minutes walk across the Yarra River from Flinders Street Station/Federation Square. You can always rely on  Arts Centre Melbourne to come up with an impeccibly compiled (FREE) exhibition throughout the year. This one closes January 22, 2017.

Kylie Minogue has donated stage outfits, sketches and memorabilia covering over two decades of international touring. Designers include John Galliano, Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana. Patsy and Eddie would approve.

Amazing cinematography in "Mr Robot" Season 2, Episode 9

 Sam Esmail's series has always been visually stunning with inventive framing and compositions. This week was no exception. The shot with Elliot and dad outside the prison, camera mounted at their feet.

Photograph USA Network

Photograph USA Network

The scenes with Phillip Price facing off White Rose were equally stunning. One shot has the two umbrella men taking up only 5% of the screen. In another, they are strolling through a formal garden. Classically composed. Reminded me of the shot in Resnais's "Last Day in Marienbad" combined with a surrealist painting.

Five things I learned from "Mr Robot" Season 2, Episode 8

• The show is still great without Malek and Slater (but I am missing B D Wong as White Rose and that cute Scandi couple, the wacky Wellicks).
• Darlene must stop wearing short shorts, she is going to freeze in New York.
• "Danse Macabre" is still a great symphonic poem.
• Angela does great karaoke with Tears for Fears' "Everybody wants to rule the world".
• Dom's obsession with "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion"

"Mr Robot" Season 2, Episode 7 highlights

• Joanna's colour motif is definitely stark white and scarlet.
• Sam Esmail playing with the audience (Elliot's prison switcheroo)
• "Maybe next year..." (Phillip's response to Angela's birthday rebuff)
• "Can you let go of me please?" (Elliot being hugged by the Christian counsellor)
• Don't mess with Leon.

"Mr Robot" Season 2, Episode 6, review

Despite "The Guardian" TV critic's theory about the demise of second seasons of critically acclaimed shows*, this episode proves that Sam Esmail is still full of surprises and "Mr Robot" is still one of the smartest things on television.
The "family road trip" 80's sitcom was inspired, complete with video-format, cheesy credits, laugh track, commercial breaks, back projection and a cameo by Alf.
Things get darker as the sitcom-from-Hell continues.
The middle part of the episode - Angela junior hacker - is more like a caper movie.
Getting a bit sick of Ray. Do we need this subplot?
The final scene with young Elliot and his dad in family car (a nice bookend for this episode) is satisfying as well as quite poignant.



*Anyway, I liked Season 2 of "True Detective". Season 1 was brilliant but got a bit wanky toward the end. Season 2 of "Fargo" maintained the quality of the first season, so the above theory doesn't hold up.

5 Things I liked about "Mr Robot" Season 2, Episode 5

• Elliot's recount of his hacking of the public library at 11 years old.
• B.D. Wong (TV's go-to actor for Asian supervillains, see Hugo Strange in "Gotham") has a terrific scene with Dom showing her his treasured wardrobe collection (and clocks).
• Love Dipierro's Kojak-inspired Chupa Chups (she is now my favourite character, certainly the most sympathetic).
• Mrs Wellick (Stephanie Corneliussen) gets even weirder in this episode (the bit about drugging the underling so he knows the reason for his death, while cradling her baby).
• Creator Sam Esmail demonstrates his directorial prowess with the final shootout scene.