Catch Up TV review: The Other Two, Judge Romesh Season 2, The Hunt for Jihadi John, Hatton Garden: The Inside Story
David Farnor | On 26, May 2019
What’s available on-demand on Freeview? Keep up-to-date with our weekly catch-up TV column, including reviews of shows on ITV Hub, new releases on All 4 and a guide to My5.
(For BBC TV reviews and round-ups, see our weekly Best of BBC iPlayer column. Or for reviews of the shows on All 4’s Walter Presents, click here.)
The Other Two (All 4)
Imagine if your brother suddenly became famous overnight. Now imagine he’s half your age and you’re still stuck in a rut, waiting for your moment in the limelight to come. That’s the situation Cary (Drew Tarver) and Brooke (Heléne Yorke) find themselves in, one a 30-year-old actor who waits tables because he can’t even land an advert, the other a dancer who never found her feet. Lapping them both is 13-year-old Chase (Case Walker), who becomes the next Justin Bieber when he releases a video for his new song – the toe-curlingly titled I Wanna Marry You At Recess. That kind of squirmingly accurate and hilariously plausible detail sets the tone for this comedy, which drills into the dark corners of sibling jealousy without descending into pure bitterness; the targets of this satire are precise, from the customers at Cary’s restaurant (who inform him and “the other gay waiter” they’ve now seen Brokeback Mountain) to the media bubble that inflates all too convincingly around Chase and his mother (Molly Shannon). Former SNL writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider line up the gags quick and fast – Cary having to manage his flatmate is a particular highlight, as is a forced showstopping dance number in the streets – but it’s the likeable performances by Tarver and Yorke that keep you watching, because you not only find them funny, but also enjoy spending time with them. The good news? The whole box set is now on All 4 to binge.
Available until: 19th June 2019
Judge Romesh Season 2 (UKTV Play)
Romesh Ranganathan continues his quest to be on every channel on TV at once with the return of his enjoyably silly Judge Judy update. It’s slight and simple TV, but the familiar format plays out with tongue firmly in cheek – or, to be exact, tongue firmly in three cheeks. Because Judge Romesh’s entertainment value lies in the way that Romesh is joined by two other people in his courtroom: bailiff Tom Davis and court clerk Jessica Knappett. Now firmly settled into their respective roles, the trio is huge fun to see in action, as Davis improvises and wisecracks from the sidelines, usually sending himself up before other people, while Knappett throws herself into her character with a faintly desperate and often inappropriate streak. Given cases including Harvey and Romeo from So Solid Crew (yes, really), court is back in session – and if Romesh does manage to achieve his goal of being on every channel on TV, we wouldn’t rule against it.
The Hunt for Jihadi John (All 4)
Channel 4 takes a deep dive into controversial territory in this new documentary, which charts the story of Mohammed Emwazi, better known to the public as “Jihadi John”, the Isis executioner who beheaded hostages (including journalist James Foley). How does a British schoolboy become radicalised to do such things? The documentary goes back to his school days to speak to teachers about him as a child, while exploring potential sources of feelings of alienation. Theories are the key thing on offer here, as the programme considers all possible angles on his journey, refusing to reduce the figure to one single, linear narrative. It’s a film that dares to consider a brutal killer as a person, but without asking for sympathy or trying to humanise him, navigating the complexities of modern society and politics, right through the intelligence services’ 15-month operation to apprehend and kill him in a drone strike. A bracing, insightful watch.
Available until: 19th June 2019
Hatton Garden: The Inside Story (ITV Hub)
Ross Kemp continues his often-impressive work as TV presenter with this new documentary, which takes us inside the police investigation into the Hatton Garden robbery. Dramatised over a week on ITV from the perspective of the burglars who carried out the jewellery heist, Kemp’s series gives us the other side of the coin, following the cops who pieced together the evidence to find the unlikely culprits. From visiting the actual scene of the crime to identifying the final member of the gang by CCTV footage of the way they walk, it’s an informative counterpart to the dramatised account, with Kemp’s respect for the Flying Squad (a Specialist, Organised & Economic Crime unit) shining through at every turn. A useful hour chaser or apertif for the four-hour box set.
Available until: 23rd June 2019
