Hotel Babylon Season 4 Review

Howdy people of the internet, time for another TV review and today I am return with my review of the 4th and final season of Hotel Babylon. Now as I stated before, I loved season 1, really liked season 2 and wasn’t so keen on season 3, and now I’m returning to the final season which I never saw the whole way through back 2009. So how does this season fare? Well read on and find out.

So what is the show about? Well, Hotel Babylon is a fabulous five-star hotel in the heart of London, it is a fairly expensive establishment, however, if you have the money to afford a visit you will find your stay very comfortable in a lavish, beautiful and well-organized hotel where you can have anything you want, for the right price. This show introduces you to the world of how a hotel works and shows you the stories from not only the perspective of the staff but of the guests as well.

The show’s premise primarily focuses on the lives of the hotel staff, however an equal amount of time is given to the guests of the hotel as well. The stories in this show are mainly episodic, however there are arching storylines over the course of the 8-episode season and some ties to past seasons. Each episode features one or more storylines to do with the staff and/or guests of the hotel and sometimes they crossover into each other too.

Story-wise season 4 starts off with a bang and it definitely has some interesting ideas, but overall the plot elements are just a bit over-the-top, silly and delves into the realm of fiction. This season deals with geek culture, family domestics, gambling, both a fake wedding and funeral, the fallout and reforming of relationships and a few other issues. It is at this point that Hotel Babylon starts to show signs of fatigue, it was noticeable in season 3 but here its much worse. There are also a lot of repeated themes like:

1. The will they or won’t they scenario, with Sam and Juliet (which was done before with Charlie and Rebecca, and Charlie and Anna in previous seasons)
2. People pretending to be someone who they’re not, that’s been done many times by now
3. The hotel being in trouble, whether the hotel’s having inspection issues, financial problems or being bought out, it’s all been done by now

While there are still moments of humour, drama and intrigue, none of it compares to what’s come before. It feels like the writers just gave up and created a soap-like drama with little to none of the style and panache this show was known for in the past. And at several points the stories felt repetitious or cliché as hell whether be the dialogue or scenarios that have been played out in previous seasons or other TV shows. And is it me or has the moment where the two main characters spilt, one goes after the other and later meet in an exterior part of London happened before? I swear that’s become a thing since Charlie did it with Rebecca at the end of season 2.

I also love episode 3 because (SPOILERS) it brings back Max Beesley as Charlie Edwards, a character who besides Rebecca Mitchell who was quintessential to this show until last season when he left. Even though the episode’s a little cheesy, silly and unrealistic, there’s something sweet about Anna and Charlie’s reunion, the birth of Anna’s child and her exit from the show. Unfortunately this also marks the last spark greatness for this show as it’s mainly downhill from there onwards. Oh and after seeing this show straight til the end, I can say that the ending was one of the most lazy and unsatisfactory conclusions I have ever seen. Sure the show got cancelled, but to not even conclude one of the major storylines and leave it open, that was handled terribly.

When it comes to the cast they are good, however some do better jobs than others. The returning cast do well while the new members are a bit hit and miss. So start with Nigel Harman as Sam Franklin and Anna Wilson-Jones as Juliet Miller. These two are the new hotel owner and general manager and honestly they’re no Charlie and Rebecca that’s for sure, but they’re alright. It took me a while to warm to them, but I grew to like them. Sam’s the more interesting character because of he’s ambitious, cocky and risk-taker even if he’s annoying and troublesome to the hotel functions. and even though Harman’s good it is hard to see him and not see Dennis from Eastenders (yeah I remember stuff like that). Juliet is interesting, but isn’t a team player and has certain character traits that make her a bit bland.

As for the returning cast Dexter Fletcher is still as charming as Tony Casemore and I liked the material Fletcher was given this season. Emma Pierson is the same as ever as Anna Thornton-Wilton, this season gives her some nice and funny moments. Martin Marquez and Ray Coulthard once again do well as Gino Primirola and James Schofield, both of them have really interesting and strong individual moments (Gino and his short-term lover and James with his old intern), and obviously together they’re the same bickering pair that they’ve been beforehand which is both humourous and tiring. Oh and Alexandra Moen as Emily James, wow. I don’t know why I’ve not noticed before, but she was absurdly gorgeous in this season, I loved just looking at her and Moen just oozed hotness at several points in the season. Also unlike last season when I found Emily annoying, she was actually quite engaging. Michael Obiora has some interesting moments as Ben Trueman, Danira Gović has some funny moments as Tanja Mihajlov, but I didn’t really care for her character becoming part of the main cast. Oh and finally Amy Nuttall as Melanie Hughes was an interesting late addition as the new receptionist, but I don’t feel like she fit into the show properly.

And the guest appearances are pretty good. Like I said before it was great to see Max Beesley as Charlie, but it was also cool to see Kelly Osbourne, Michael Winner, Honor Blackman, Tony Robinson, Frances Barber, Denise van Outen, the awesome Hugh Dennis and Ruby Turner.

The presentation for the show is still quite nice. The visual style, cinematography and shots of exterior shots of London at day and night continue to look lovely, and the soundtrack by Jim Williams and John Lunn is still smooth, sleek and wonderful on the ears, however, like last season some of the better themes and jazz-focused elements from previous seasons isn’t around and that still sucks.

In conclusion season 4 of Hotel Babylon is alright and has some nice moments, however when compared to what’s come before it is a massive step down. This was the point when my beautiful show well and truly died and became quite average and dull, the cast are still fun and there’s enough in this season to make it watchable, however, it just wasn’t enough. There is a reason only season’s 1 & 2 of Hotel Babylon existence in my mind, because the next two don’t measure up. Nuff said.

Rating: 5.5/10 (A tragic conclusion to this show)

So have you seen Hotel Babylon and if so what did you think of it? Thank you for checking out my reviews on this show and whatever your thoughts are drop them in the comments below and I’ll see ya whenever I do my next TV review, laters! 😀

 

Hotel Babylon Season 3 Review

Howdy people of the internet, time for another TV review and today after a long break I am returning to Hotel Babylon with my review of season 3! Now I loved season 1 and season 2 was just as good if not better, now I am returning to the third season for the first time in 7 years! And I’m curious to see if my thoughts have changed or remained the same. So how does this season fare? Well read on and find out.

So what is the show about? Well, Hotel Babylon is a fabulous five-star hotel in the heart of London, it is a fairly expensive establishment, however, if you have the money to afford a visit you will find your stay very comfortable in a lavish, beautiful and well-organized hotel where you can have anything you want, for the right price. This show introduces you to the world of how a hotel works and shows you the stories from not only the perspective of the staff but of the guests as well.

The show’s premise primarily focuses on the lives of the hotel staff, however an equal amount of time is given to the guests of the hotel as well. The stories are mainly episodic, however there are arching storylines over the course of the 8-episode season and there are also some ties to the previous two seasons. Each episode features one or more storylines to do with the staff and/or guests of the hotel and sometimes they crossover too.

Story-wise with season 3, you get a feeling of familiarity with the characters, setting and plot format, but also because of the passing of time and new situations presented with the guests and hotel staff. Some of the strong themes of season 3 are love and relationships, change, trust and loyalty. The show doesn’t hold any punches when it comes to issues relating to fashion and child labour, deceit within the hotel staff, a guest dying of cancer, prostitution, and a man struggling with weight loss. HB is still sleek, sexy and dramatic, and not only presents the characters and audience with ethical and moral dilemmas, but it’s also incredibly fun, humourous and engaging…

That being said, one of the issues I have with storylines in season 3 is that they don’t seem as well thought out as before and some of the new scenarios feel a little haphazard just for the sake of change rather than feeling like a natural progression of the series. It’s hard to describe without giving you an example, but you can tell that there’s a dip in quality as this season goes on and while it still has its moments the show doesn’t feel as compelling and fun as it was before. There is a moment where the show peeks at episode 5 and it is at that point where you see the talent of the writers at work as they are able to create some really tension-filled, dramatic and heart-breaking material for you to watch. It is awesome and yet so sad at the same time… Unfortunately it is that point the season takes a huge loss and it never seems to recover from it and those who have seen the show will know exactly what I mean. Another aspect not as strong as before was the season finale, while the last two were brilliant, this one felt a little over-the-top, crowded and not as satisfying as it could have been, and I think it was primarily due to the impact of episode 5 which was much stronger.

When it comes to the cast they are all pretty good, the returning cast do a good job while the new additions add to the show in an interesting way. So start with Max Beesley who was solid as Charlie Edwards. I wasn’t keen on the way Charlie was handled, he’s more Rebecca (the former manager) than himself and while that comes with the job title, I feel like he lost a little charm and humanity. This season focuses a lot at first on Charlie taking on the role as general manager and changing up his attitude towards his coworkers/friends as he starts making choices that aren’t ethical or moral for the sake of business over the more humane decisions he used to make. That being said when push comes to shove Charlie comes through. Dexter Fletcher is still good as Tony Casemore. As head concierge and most senior form of staff he knows his coworkers and the hotel pretty well, but also has to get with times and change things up, he had plenty of moments to standout whether it was because of personal issues or aspects that related to his coworkers/friends. Emma Pierson once again does well as Anna Thornton-Wilton, while her character traits are familiar, she has a lot more dramatic moments and time is dedicated to her relationship material as well.

Natalie Mendoza comes back and does well as Jackie Clunes. Here she’s just as sassy, fun and gorgeous as ever, but she doesn’t have as big of a presence as before. Martin Marquez is good as Gino Primirola and this season we get more dramatic moments for him which was welcome. Ray Coulthard again does well as James Schofield and has some time to shine with scenarios relating to his restaurant and wine collection, and while there’s no proper development for his character he is still fun to watch. Michael Obiora is good as Ben Trueman, but he’s not nearly as noticeable as his coworkers. New members to the main staff include Emily James played by Alexandra Moen and Jack Harrison played by Lee Williams. When it comes to Emily at first she’s quite annoying and mischievous, and doesn’t really fit into the main staff’s dynamic, however she eventually started to show loyalty and humour that made her more relatable and likeable, and Moen does well in her role. And when it comes to Jack he comes in as a bit of a know-it-all, has no sense of flexibility and totally lacks the human touch at first, but eventually he becomes a tolerable character. And finally there are some great appearances from Jon Culshaw, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Paula Abdul and John Barrowman (who was looking very much like Tom Cruise for some reason).

When it comes to the presentation it is still very nice. Visually the show still has good cinematography and camera work used throughout the hotel and across London too. The soundtrack by Jim Williams and John Lunn is once again one of the best aspects of the show, however the music wasn’t as strong as before and had less of a jazz focus which was a real shame for me.

In conclusion by the time season 3 of Hotel Babylon is over you feel like there’s certainly been bumps in the road, but overall it is still pretty good. There is still a lot of heart and fun to this show, it is just unfortunate that it lost some key characters and had lacklustre stories. I’d like to say that things get better in season 4, but alas that’s not true.

Rating: 7/10 (Good, but a substantial step down from previous seasons)

So have you seen Hotel Babylon and if so what did you think of it? Whatever your thoughts are drop them in the comments below and I’ll see ya next time for the review of season 4. 😀

 

Hotel Babylon Season 2 Review

Howdy people of the internet, time for another TV review and today I am returning to Hotel Babylon with my review of season 2. Now I really loved season 1, it was just an addictive bit of telly and introduces you to this sexy and lavish hotel lifestyle, and just like last time I watched season 1, I moved on to season 2 almost immediately (especially because of the gripping season finale). So how does this season compare to the last? Well read on and find out.

So what is the show about? Well, Hotel Babylon is a fabulous five-star hotel in the heart of London, it is a fairly expensive establishment, however, if you have the money to afford a visit you will find your stay very comfortable in a lavish, beautiful and well-organized hotel where you can have anything you want, for the right price. This show introduces you to the world of how a hotel works and shows you the stories from not only the perspective of the staff but of the guests as well.

The show’s premise primarily focuses on the lives of the hotel staff, however an equal amount of time is given to the guests of the hotel as well. The stories in this show are mainly episodic, however there are arching storylines over the course of the 8-episode season and some connections to season 1. Each episode features one or more storylines to do with the staff and/or guests of the hotel and sometimes they crossover into each other too.

Story-wise season 2 gives you everything you loved about season 1, but ups the stakes and shakes a few things up to keep the stories fresh and unexpected. This season the staff deal with a lot not only in their own lives, but also with each other and the hotel guests as well and it’s interesting to see how they handle some of these new challenges as some of them are physically and mentally demanding. This season deals with all things new and focuses heavily on change and transitions with a lot of themes relating to love, friendship, addiction, uncertainty and trust. The show has always dedicated a lot of screen time for Charlie and Rebecca, however, each of the other characters have their moments to shine, Tony for instance definitely has a bigger part to play, while other members of the main cast get their episodic moments like Jackie, Anna, James, Gino and especially Ben. Something I have to mention is how much I love the relationships in this show. Whether they are like siblings or friends or lovers, this main group are a family and I love seeing their character dynamics and them coming together to help each other out or fight against a common enemy. Because of the events of the previous season and these new stories, you feel genuinely attached to these people and it hurts when bad things happen to them. One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is how emotional this show gets me, now I know that’s weird to hear coming from a guy in his 20’s, but this show really does tap into the kind of dramatic storylines that I like that deal with relationships about love and friendship and when it gets tested, strained, fall apart or rebuild.

When it comes to the cast they are once again amazing and because we’ve had a whole season to get to know them already, their wonderful performances as these characters only feel stronger. Because of the stories, we also get to peel away the layers of the characters and get to learn more about them on a deeper level.

Let’s start with Max Beesley who returns as one of the show’s show main characters, Charlie Edwards and he’s still awesome. This season Charlie has to deal with a lot, being the deputy manager means that even though he is friends with his co-workers at the same he has to be firm and act with authority which does put him in some awkward moral dilemmas. Add on top of that some of the new scenarios he has to deal with when it comes to certain guests and staff and it makes for great character development for him. The other major performance comes from Tamzin Outhwaite as Rebecca Mitchell is who is simply incredible in this season. Because of her position as general manager, Rebecca has always been a bit cold, unfair and hard to relate to from an outsider’s perspective, however, as a viewer you can see it is just part of the job. And behind closed doors you can tell she would like to bend the rules if it were possible and would like to be more friendly with her staff. This season Rebecca has one of, if not the most biggest story arc of all the characters, she has to deal with her love life, staff insubordination and choices about her career and it’s really dramatic and difficult for her this time round.

Dexter Fletcher is still great as Tony Casemore. As head concierge the man is still responsible for sorting out what guests want and in this season he still does a good job of that, however there are times when his choices aren’t always the right ones and get him in trouble. What I’ve always liked about Tony is he is older than the other staff, so he’s got more experience and wisdom to give out, and since he’s so easy-going he has a great rapport with other staff members, especially with Charlie. Emma Pierson is once again great as Anna Thornton-Wilton, this woman is still obsessed with all things rich and expensive and looks down on those who aren’t worthy in her eyes. That being said she can be really bubbly, funny and behind the bravado she is a woman with a heart who just wants to be loved and is looking for the right person.

Natalie Mendoza returns as Jackie Clunes is still a great actress and a beautiful woman. This season Jackie isn’t as present as she was before, however, she still has a her moments to shine when it comes to dealing with certain guests, co-workers and her housekeeping staff. We learn in this season that Jackie can be sweet and adventurous, but also vulnerable and naive. Martin Marquez once again fun as Gino Primirola, we get to see more of his personality and emotional side in this season, but he is still one of the best sources of humour from the cast. Ray Coulthard definitely steps up as James Schofield. Last season he just came across as a bit of a snob with not many likeable traits, and while he hasn’t changed much, this season really gives you a better insight into who he is and why you should care about him. James sees some low times and it is those moments that make him relatable. And Michael Obiora has his moment to shine as Ben Trueman. While Ben is mainly just hanging around with Anna having fun banter, he does have some very critical moments in this season that develops him as a character and gives you insight into his world before working at the hotel.

One new member to this crew is Paul Telfer as Luke Marwood, he’s the junior concierge working under Tony and while he may be handsome, smiles a lot and talks the talk, the guy can be incredibly shady, cocky and likes to get ahead for his own gain. He’s a tricky one. Sometimes I like the guy because of his cheeky nature, but I like him more when he’s working as part of the team, otherwise he’s a dodgy guy who should be avoided and Telfer did a great job with this role. There are also some great appearances from Danny Dyer, David Walliams, Mark Heap, Jennifer Ellison and Kelly Brook.

Once again the presentation of this show is fabulous. Visually the show looks great with good cinematography that illustrates the beauty of London, there are also more locations used in this season beyond the interior of hotel like hotel balconies, other hotels and the streets of London too which makes the show feel a lot bigger and part of the busy city. Also the show moves at a good pace thanks to the swift editing and scene transitions too. And then there’s the music, that gorgeous music. The soundtrack composed by Jim Williams and John Lunn continues to be one of the shows’ highlights as it has such a good sound. The reworked into theme song sounds great with a more dance-like sound introduced and overall this season, even though it still has a jazzy feel, definitely employs some more beats and things that sound like it belongs in the dance genre.

In conclusion season two of Hotel Babylon is still great. This season gives you more of what you loved in the first, however it presents enough new scenarios to make it feel fresh and exciting. The writing is very strong resulting is some great dialogue from character narrations to people in the show specifically and whether the stories involve rude footballers, politicians, angry bell boys, cults or hotel take-overs, there’s always something new to see and it’s smartly handled with good amount of realism. While some of the stories aren’t as strong as last season, this season still has so much heart and drama that it’s hard to not get addicted.

Rating: 9/10 (Still on fire)

So have you seen Hotel Babylon and if so what did you think of it? Whatever your thoughts are drop them in the comments below and I’ll see ya next time for the review of season 3. 😀

 

Hotel Babylon Season 1 Review

Howdy people of the internet, hope you have a good New Year’s adventure. Today is my first post of 2015 and so I thought why not give you a TV review and today’s show is one I’ve been meaning to review for AGES. I am of course talking about Hotel Babylon. It’s not even a joke how long I have been meaning to do this review, we’re talking like back in January/February 2013 and then I was meant to have the review done by this time last year. However, now the time has come, after re-watching this first season for the third time, I think it’s about time I got around to giving you my thoughts on one of my favourite TV shows from the late 2000’s. So let’s start by talking about season 1.

So what is the show about? Well, Hotel Babylon is a fabulous five-star hotel in the heart of London, it is a fairly expensive establishment, however, if you have the money to afford a visit you will find your stay very comfortable in a lavish, beautiful and well-organized hotel where you can have anything you want, for the right price. This show introduces you to the world of how a hotel works and shows you the stories from not only the perspective of the staff but of the guests as well.

Story-wise the show primarily focuses on the lives of the hotel staff, however an equal amount of time is given to the guests of the hotel. The stories in this show are mainly episodic, however there are arching storylines over the course of the 8-episode season. Each episode features one or more storylines to do with the staff and/or guests of the hotel and sometimes they crossover into each other which is also interesting.

I think the stories in the show are very fun, dramatic and relatable. I think what separates this show from other British dramas is the setting and the stories that get told. I mean we’ve all been to a hotel once in our lives right? However there are not many TV shows that have depicted what goes on behind the scenes and given you such a stylish, complex and interesting look at how things operate. The show is handled with a great deal of care as the directing is well-done and the writing is great with a lot of good stories and dialogue. What also makes this show work is the individual stories, whether it is the guests who are rock stars, adulterers, millionaires, hotel inspectors or have weird habits or feel suicidal tendencies, there is a variety of people who come in and it’s just fascinating to see their stories unfold and see how they will get wrapped up in a 1-hour episode. It also helps that the stories involving the staff is great too, since they are the people trying to give the guests a pleasant stay its interesting to see them interact with not only the guests but their other colleagues whether they are bonding, competing, at each other’s throats or having an individual episode dedicated to themselves it is great to watch them grow and develop. If I have any complaints I would say that some of the stories in the episodes can be a bit dull and some of the scenarios can get a bit over-the-top and ruin the realism side of things, but otherwise it is fine.

When it comes to the cast they are amazing and it is their wonderful performances that hold everything together. What I like about these characters is that most of them don’t get an introductory episode, from the first episode we are shown these characters and just get on with things. However as time goes on we get to learn about them, see them develop and start to get attached and that is thanks not only to great writing, but also the performances and since everyone has such good chemistry, you buy the fact that these people care for each other and have a family dynamic.

Let’s start with Max Beesley as Charlie Edwards. Now this is primarily Charlie’s show. He narrates each episode and good few of the episodes have a focus on him. He is the deputy manager and former head receptionist, the man is attentive, handsome, determined and knows how to get things done. That being said he can be secretive, a bit ambitious and naive and because of his past it puts him in an awkward position when the law gets involved. Beesley does very well in this role, he’s likeable, cool and every time he’s on-screen I feel a sense of ease and happiness each time. Tamzin Outhwaite is the next big character as Rebecca Mitchell, the general manager. Rebecca is a smart, strict, efficient and beautiful woman who likes to run a tight ship, loves success and hates excuses. However even though she is a good manager, she has a messed up personal life which she keeps secret from her staff and it is her shortcomings that make her human and Outhwaite is great in this role. Emma Pierson as Anna Thornton-Wilton, that woman is great. Anna is a gorgeous, yet snobby, self-centered and high maintenance kind of woman, she enjoys gorgeous men, money and expensive items. She’s good at her job as head receptionist, however she is a bit lazy and doesn’t always do what she’s told.

Oh and Natalie Mendoza is fabulous as Jackie Clunes. Jackie is the head of housekeeping, she’s kind, perceptive and cares a lot for her housekeeping staff, oh and she is one sexy seductress. Ms. Mendoza acts very well and she is also one of the most gorgeous women ever and it is hard to keep your eyes away from her (sorry but it has to be mentioned). Dexter Fletcher is awesome as Tony Casemore. Tony is the head concierge, he is the man who can get anyone anything because he super smart and aware of people’s needs. Fletcher has a great screen presence and adds a lot of fun, charm and humour to his scenes. Martin Marquez is fun as Gino Primirola, this guy is the head barman, he’s of Italian/Spanish descent, knows how to make good drinks and is the source of most of the comic relief with humourous lines and funny situations. Ray Coulthard is nice as James Schofield who is the food and beverage manager. James is the posh one of the group, he’s a perfectionist, but he is also a bit of a snob and his bickering with Gino while sometimes humourous, can also be annoying. And Michael Obiora is good as Ben Trueman, he’s a receptionist, he’s gay and quite camp but that’s part of his charm and its fun to see him paired up with Anna because that’s when he shines. Oh and shout out to Anthony Stewart Head who played Mr Machin, I did not even notice him the first few times but after watching so much Buffy recently I noticed him instantly and got so happy! 😀

As for the presentation it is great. Visually the show is shot very well, it makes the city of London look very beautiful during the day and at night. The cinematography is nice and the scene transitions are swift and keep the pace going. And then there’s the music, my god I love the music. The soundtrack composed by Jim Williams and John Lunn is so lovely, it can be chilled out and slow or upbeat and good to dance to. The music is primarily jazz-inspired and while there are other genres sprinkled in, it does seem like jazz is the main genre and together is the vocals of the woman/women some of the individual tracks is just awesome and adds to the cool and sexy vibe of the show. I still think this show has one of the best intros to any TV show ever and that is definitely due to the music which is just ear-melting.

In conclusion the first season of Hotel Babylon paints an interesting picture. With a great deal of varied stories, along with a great cast of characters and beautiful presentation especially in the audio department, Hotel Babylon is truly one of the most intriguing and engaging shows I’ve encountered from the BBC in a long time.

Rating: 9/10 (Some of the slickest, sexiest and coolest TV I’ve ever seen)

So have you ever seen Hotel Babylon and if so what did you think of it? Whatever your thoughts are drop them in the comments below and I’ll see ya next time for the review of season 2! 😀