One Small Step

Fate singled out Neil Armstrong. A bright, modest, American Farm Boy became the first man on the moon and 'Neil Armstrong - First Man on the Moon' (BBC2) captured much of the life and times of this 'Hero for Human Kind' (yes, 'thetvreviewguy' would put it that high; Armstrong never claimed to be a 'USA Jock' - for him, it was about the mission). Interviewing family and friends, we saw that Armstrong was distinctly uncomfortable with his fame; the ice-cool fighter pilot who accidentally became the World's most famous man was incredibly ill at ease with nearly all of the hoopla associated with being the planet's most famous 'Star Man'. Space travel has stalled since the early 1970s; no manned mission to Mars, no permanent base on the Moon, no (though planned) mass space tourism. This programme was a timely reminder of the massive NASA team effort to land two men on the nearest celestial body and return them to Earth. Post landing, Armstrong was variously a lecturer, farmer, car sales ambassador but most of all, he tried to return to being that private citizen he once was before the Apollo programme. In this day of instant celebrity, it was gratifying to see the modesty and grace with which Armstrong accepted his fame and also moving...he wasn't able to lose his fame. A brilliant clip showed Neil Armstrong at a 'Star Trek' Convention. Life and 'Art' paying tribute to each other in perfect harmony. He had a wonderful life

On the Beaten Tracks

Another account for the train lovers out there among you (you know who you are) is running on BBC2; 'Locomotion: Dan Snow's History of Railways' covers ground that has been chartered many a time. If you think you've seen Michael Portillo or Jeremy Clarkson present similar programmes in recent years and for the BBC, then you'd be right. Snow brings the same enthusiasm to this series as his colleagues did to theirs. A stock set of images has developed in thes genre; a look at the large-scale engineering, iconic shots of a steam trains rolling through the countryside and photos of the railway builders and the like. Snow re-created the labour of a Navvy and it wasn't easy; they'd usually live in appalling conditions and of the many that died, some were buried in unmarked graves. The presenter touched on the evolution of transport and this would have made for a far more interesting and original exposition; Snow mentioned how 'the need for speed' became more of a driving element in the human condition as travel by horse was replaced by transport by steam-powered locomotive. So while the material lacks the shock of the new, 'Locomotion' nevertheless appeals to the Train Spotter side of 'thetvreviewguy'. Made like a comfortable sleeper service, reliable and reassuring.

Tanks for the Memories

Mark Urban is a somewhat unusual Defence Hack; cerebral, not showy, and always ready to explain things to the viewer, frequently via Jeremy Paxman on 'News Night'. Urban was at his most urbane (see?) when presenting 'Tankies - Tank Heroes of World War II' (BBC2), which followed the path of Six men of the Fifth Royal Tank Regiment from the Desert Campaign through D Day and the invasion of Germany. In a mix of interviews, re-enactment and some historical footage, Urban brought their stories to life. Much of the war-lore will be familiar ground; the camaraderie, the loss of young life, the terror and the exhilaration. Being a 'Tankie' took a particular type of grit; principally, the ability to survive close confinement for many hours at an end without being overcome by the claustrophobic surroundings. The men typically saw this as their duty, accepted death as a regrettable but necessary part of war and took on the Wehrmacht and their formidable anti-tank weapons that were used at various times to devastating effect. Urban's style is to tell a story and follow it up with keen analysis; he made the fog of war clear. As he observed himself, most of the veterans are dying at a faster and faster rate; this programme will serve as an historical document to their undoubted courage in taking on all that Rommel, the SS and the Luftwaffe could throw at them.

Met the Rains Down In Africa

David Attenborough has educated more people about nature and wildlife than probably anyone left on this planet, a planet Attenborough has documented for sixty years now. His latest series, 'Africa' (BBC1) doesn't fail to please or reach the extraordinary standards of previous ventures. Attenborough is, rather as Lonesome George was, the Master of all he surveys. He is extremely generous to his camera team, crediting their amazing work and he has long dominated Sunday nights with his brand of exceptional television. Sir David, as he is known in Britain, spoke to us as an Elephant mother stayed with her dying Calf. The pathos in the scene was astonishing, the camera work exceptional and the whole segment was very moving. We saw the beauty of the Rift Valley and how Africa, like the rest of the planet, is climate dependant - how the heat fired up the savannah during drought, and how the rain brought new life to the fore when the torrents come down. We witnessed the splendour of the flamingo, one of the oddest but extraordinary birds alive, and how they perched in acidic waters that would scald this reviewer fairly sharpish. We observed how nature seems cruel and harsh but also beautiful. 'Africa', and programmes like it, have done more for the Green Movement over the last forty years than anything else; we should cherish Attenborough for making it so.

All a Bit Rich

Thomas Kochs is a precise man. Everything has an exact place and standards are always maintained. This is par for the course if you're General Manager of Claridge’s Hotel. Thomas was just one of the many real-life characters featured in the 'upstairs/mostly-downstairs' BBC2 Documentary 'Inside Claridge’s', a fly-on-the-wall feature on the Mayfair Hotel. While 'thetvreviewguy' found some of the guests to be as obnoxious as you'd expect (a Cuban Exile Sugar Magnate or the young arriviste American financier indulging in his plutocrat fantasies), he did enjoy looking at the sheer mouth-dropping luxury of the place. Last night's episode, set during the Olympics, featured the arrival of some delegations that frankly don't have the GDP to be living it up on their country's expense. But the staff treats old and new money alike, with obsequious deference and kindness where required too. The temporary installation of the utterly pretentious Noma Restaurant during the summer (200 Pounds per 'cover' where you can eat salad leaves and ants) made for enjoyable viewing; people with money will buy any old shit if everyone else is doing it. Perhaps Thomas put his finger on it when he said that what (rich) people are looking for now, is a series of special moments and events in their lives; while the levelling instincts of 'thetvreviewguy' were to the fore when viewing this, he would need all his strength to turn down a cup of tea in Claridge’s Hotel; he definitely doesn’t have the money to stay there.

The Pain in Spain

Paul Mason's 'The Great Spanish Crash' (BBC2) was an authoritative and depressing account of economic, banking and housing collapse in Spain over the last four years. The story is all too familiar yet this was an engaging and at times moving presentation of how one of the World's growing economies has slumped into the depths of depression. Spain had very poor banking regulation, a property boom fuelled by entry into the Euro and cheap interest rates and an economy overly dependent on construction for revenue income. Loans that municipalities could easily service in the good times became almost impossible to repay in the recession/depression. The psychic effect of the collapse has been devastating; between 40-50% of youth unemployment, forced graduate emigration, mass demonstrations where the familiar question being asked is 'why should austerity apply to those not responsible for the collapse of the financial system'? 'The Great Spanish Crash' was a professional and comprehensive documentary with access to policy makers and Prime Ministers; but it was Paul Mason's engagement with ordinary people that was the most effective as the viewer saw the scale of human suffering unleashed by the 'great unravelling'. While 'thetvreviewguy' admires Mason's skill and humanity in this compelling programme, he is depressed about where it's all going to end. A'' Triple A'' of a programme.

All Coola-Boola with Love/Hate

Were you late to the ‘Love/Hate’ (RTE1) party? Were you addicted to the Gangland mayhem, scheming and betrayal? The series has had the Irish public gripped for much of the last two months and Sunday’s finale pulled in over a million viewers. The featured world is, fortunately, an alien one to most viewers. However the geography will be all too familiar to most Dublin viewers and there are many ‘no-go’ areas where ‘thetvreviewguy’ would, er, not go. ‘Love/Hate’ has been praised for its gritty realism…we see the after-effects of a killing, the rat-like cunning of the main protagonists and how crime does pay for some ‘Crims’ but causes misery in their local communities and beyond. There’s big hope that the series will be adapted for the US market and while it has been remarked on that there aren't enough episodes – six, compared to 24 in a flagship American production – there is potential for a franchise across the Pond. Aiden Gillen and Robert Sheehan and Ruth Negga have been outstanding and Stuart Carolan’s writing has been from the top drawer throughout. The brutality of the criminal underworld should come as a surprise to nobody and Carolan shines a light onto all the dark and scummy areas of the subculture. Would make a nice box set as long as you’re not offended by the word ‘geebag’.