Tag: PBS Masterpiece

Take 3: Small Island Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I’ve brought it to my own attention how, in the eight years 18 Cinema Lane has existed, I have never reviewed any program from PBS Masterpiece. While I have brought up Miss Scarlet in the past, I didn’t review any episodes of the show. So, I chose to write about the mini-series, Small Island, with one reason being to make up for lost time. The other reason is because I wanted to write about one of the projects from Naomie Harris’ filmography, in honor of her birthday. Five years ago, when I created a post about The We Heart Pirates Week Tag, I mentioned how Calypso/Tia Dalma is my favorite character from a pirate movie. I explained Naomie’s portrayal of Calypso/Tia Dalma is one of the reasons why Calypso/Tia Dalma is a favorite character of mine. To show my gratitude as a fan, I checked out Small Island, especially since I have been meaning to see this mini-series for several years. As I just mentioned in this introduction, Small Island is a mini-series. Yet, on IMDB, the official run-time is an hour and thirty minutes, which is the typical run-time of a television movie. Therefore, I will refer to Small Island as a film/mini-series or a movie/mini-series for the sake of this review.

Small Island poster created by BBC Television, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Ruby Films, BBC One, Masterpiece Theatre, PBS Video, and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Things I liked about the film/mini-series:

The acting: Whether in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, the Jame Bond franchise, or in Small Island, Naomie Harris goes above and beyond when it comes to her performance. This is achieved due to how fluid her acting abilities are. That fluidity allowed her portrayal of Hortense Roberts, as well as the story surrounding Hortense, to be compelling. A great example is when Hortense receives a letter after class. As she’s reading the letter in question, Hortense is excited to hear word about a man she cares about named Michael. Her eyes light up with joy and her mouth is presented in a smile. But while she’s reading the letter, Hortense realizes it contains some troubling news. This causes Hortense to turn her mouth in a slight frown and her eyes to appear worried. But Hortense quickly goes back to looking happy, giving a brave face to the woman who gave Hortense the letter. The aforementioned fluidity of Naomie’s performance helped Hortense’s transition between emotions appear seamless!

While I’m still on the subject of Naomie’s performance, I want to talk about her on-screen chemistry with David Oyelowo! In Small Island, David portrays Hortense’s husband, Gilbert Joseph. The strength of Naomie’s and David’s acting abilities effectively showcased Hortense and Gilbert’s relationship blossoming over the course of the film/mini-series. One of their best scenes together takes place after Hortense encounters a setback. After being told her teaching qualifications from Jamaica aren’t eligible in the United Kingdom, Hortense tearfully explains her dilemma to Gilbert. She even confesses how she mistook a storage closet for an exit. With a smile on his face and jovial demeanor, Gilbert points out how disorganized the storage closet was as Hortense describes what she saw in it. As their conversation continues, Gilbert makes Hortense feel better when he suggests they face their problems like the British do: drink tea. This scene is a perfect example of how Hortense and Gilbert brought out the best in each other, with Naomie’s and David’s acting talents successfully presenting that idea in Small Island!

Another strong performance in Small Island came from Ruth Wilson! Her portrayal of Queenie Bligh was captivating due to her strong adaptability. In one great example, Queenie is distraught over the passing of her aunt, Dorothy. At Dorothy’s funeral reception, Queenie’s mother questions what her daughter’s future will look like. This questioning causes Queenie to adopt an overwhelming sense of anxiety in her eyes. But when Bernard (portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch) confidently proclaims he and Queenie will soon get married, Barnard’s confidence rubs off on Queenie. She then carries herself confidently as well, complete with her eyes displaying a look of determination. Similar to what I said about Naomie’s performance, Ruth’s performance in Small Island helped make Queenie’s part of the story engaging because of how seamless transitions between emotions were!

Historical accuracy: Even though I haven’t seen many programs from PBS Masterpiece, the ones I have seen have showcased historical accuracy as one of their major strengths. Small Island contributes to that strength, as the creative team behind the movie/mini-series prioritized how their production looked and felt. I’ve brought up before on 18 Cinema Lane the idea of “illusion of immersion”. One of the ways this idea is achieved, as demonstrated within Small Island, is the attention to detail. Dainty lace gloves and simple, yet elegant, pearl necklaces within Hortense’s wardrobe emphasize the conservative style women embraced in the 1940s. The shape of milk bottles reminds the audience how families in the ‘40s had milk delivered to their homes. Even the colors and fonts on items such as a box of cereal or a postcard help viewers feel transported to another time and place. Though the details I mentioned were small, the creative team’s efforts to make them and everything surrounding them appear historically accurate shows the care they placed into Small Island.

Use of piano music: Because this detail is smaller compared to other strengths in Small Island, I wanted to point it out so it didn’t become overlooked. In some scenes, the use of piano music not only emotionally elevated a given scene, it also made the scene itself feel more complete. When Hortense leaves home in order to attend college, the moment is intended to be sad, as Hortense departs from the place where she grew up. Playing over that scene is piano music with a touch of sadness woven through it, emphasizing the feelings Hortense is experiencing without utilizing dialogue. Later in Small Island, Queenie and Michael (the same Michael I referenced earlier in this review) share a discussion about hummingbirds. As Michael describes a hummingbird to Queenie, soft piano music can be heard. The gentleness of the music actually compliments the gentle nature of hummingbirds. It also highlights the tenderness shared between Queenie and Michael.

Since I’m reviewing Small Island on Naomie Harris’ birthday, I thought including a picture of her character, Hortense Roberts, in this review made sense. Image created by BBC Television, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Ruby Films, BBC One, Masterpiece Theatre, PBS Video, and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

What I didn’t like about the film/mini-series:

The underutilization of Benedict Cumberbatch: Like I mentioned earlier in this review, Benedict Cumberbatch portrays Bernard, a man who desires to marry Queenie. In fact, Benedict is one of the top billed actors in Small Island. This detail led me to believe his acting talents would be utilized to their fullest extent. But throughout the hour and thirty-minute presentation, Benedict only appeared in a handful of scenes. Contextually speaking, I understand why he was in the film/mini-series for a shorter amount of time. But as someone who has only seen Benedict’s performances in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, I was disappointed to see Benedict and his acting talents underutilized.

Scene transitions feeling contextually and emotionally abrupt: Small Island juggles the stories of five key characters. The script bounces between the past and present in order to explain how these characters’ paths cross. But sometimes, mostly in the first half of Small Island, the transition between scenes felt contextually and emotionally abrupt, partly due to the abundance of stories. In the scene I brought up earlier in this review, where Hortense receives a letter about Michael’s whereabouts, the scene ends with Hortense screaming and sobbing over the potential fate of Michael. The next scene shows Gilbert and Queenie sharing tea while waiting for Queenie’s father-in-law, Arthur, to show up. This scene between Queenie and Gilbert is more emotionally light than Hortense’s scene, with very little time for the audience to sit with the characters’ emotions. Even though Small Island utilizes on-screen text and a voice-over, these resources weren’t consistently used in the movie/mini-series. If they had, some moments wouldn’t feel emotionally jarring and a bit confusing.

Competing stories in the first half: When I just talked about scene transitions feeling contextually and emotionally abrupt in Small Island, I brought up how the script bounces between the past and present in order to explain how the characters’ paths cross. Two interconnecting stories are Queenie’s and Hortense’s. The dream Hortense works toward of becoming a teacher in England provided an engaging story for her. Meanwhile, Queenie’s decision to “seize the day” also gave her an interesting story. But Hortense and Queenie spend the majority of Small Island’s first half carrying on separate stories, not really crossing paths until the second half. This creative decision made Queenie’s and Hortense’s story feel like they competed against one another for screen time, especially since Small Island only had an hour and thirty-minutes (not to mention split into two parts) to tell their story. As I watched Small Island, I sometimes found myself wondering why the movie/mini-series wasn’t just about Hortense’s story. This is because I initially believed Hortense’s and Queenie’s story were strong enough to stand on their own. However, when Queenie’s and Hortense’s path intertwines, their stories become more complimentary of one another.

Sketch of London image created by Archjoe at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-houses-of-parliament_1133950.htm’>Designed by Archjoe</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Archjoe – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

2026 has become one of the best years for movies on 18 Cinema Lane. This is because I’ve seen more movies I’ve enjoyed than not. Small Island is one of the titles that has contributed to 2026 being a good year, as it is a film/mini-series that got better the longer I watched it! Like other PBS Masterpiece programs I’ve seen, the historical accuracy in Small Island successfully achieved the illusion of immersion due to the care placed in attention to detail. The acting also helped Small Island become an entertaining presentation. Even creative decisions like the use of piano music showcased how the creative team put genuine effort into how their production looked, felt, and sounded. However, there were flaws that held Small Island back from being a stronger picture. Some scene transitions felt contextually and emotionally abrupt. I also didn’t like how Benedict Cumberbatch’s acting talents were underutilized. It didn’t help as well how, in the first half of Small Island, Hortense’s and Queenie’s story felt more competitive than complimentary. But despite these flaws, I would recommend Small Island, especially if you want to check out more projects from PBS Masterpiece and/or Naomie Harris’ filmography!

Overall score: 7.6 out of 10

Have you seen Small Island? Are there any titles from PBS Masterpiece you’d like to see? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

A Movie Blogger’s Ten “Hot Takes” on Television

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I published a list article last December about my ten “hot takes” on film. That was the first time I had ever written a list exclusively about movie “hot takes”. Since publishing that article, it has been well received by 18 Cinema Lane’s readers, obtaining over one thousand views. This success inspired me to write another “hot takes” list. But this time, I’ll be discussing my ten “hot takes” on television, as I have talked about TV shows and television related topics from time to time on my blog. Like my movie “hot takes” list, all my TV “hot takes” have never been brought up on 18 Cinema Lane before, in order to keep the list interesting and fresh. Also, like my movie “hot takes” list, I organized each television “hot take” based on how “hot” each take could be perceived. Before I begin this list, I’d like to state how my list is not intended to be mean-spirited or negative. It’s just simply a way to express my opinion.

Campfire with marshmellows and shooting stars image created by macrovector at freepik.com.

10. Harris Trinsky Should Have Appeared in the Freaks and Geeks episode, ‘Chokin’ and Tokin’’

Last year, I published an editorial explaining the similarities between Harris Trinsky (from Freaks and Geeks) and Eddie Munson (from Stranger Things). One of my main talking points was how Harris (as well as Eddie) showed his leadership through putting others before himself, using the example of Harris’ attempts to protect the younger “geeks” (Bill, Sam, and Neil) from Alan (the “freshman tormentor”/bully of the “geeks”) in the Freaks and Geeks’ Halloween episode, “Tricks and Treats”. But another episode I think Harris should have appeared in is “Chokin’ and Tokin’”. In this episode, Alan believes Bill is lying about having a peanut allergy. To prove Bill is telling the truth, Alan contaminates Bill’s sandwich with peanuts, causing Bill to have a severe allergic reaction. Had Harris appeared in “Chokin’ and Tokin’”, the audience could have seen how Bill’s emergency affected him, especially since a) Harris knows what Alan is capable of when it comes to his bullying behavior, b) Harris was bullied when he was a freshman (to the point his tailbone became broken), and c) Harris knows about Bill’s peanut allergy (Bill admitted this while Harris and the “geeks” went trick-or-treating in the episode, “Tricks and Treats”). The dynamic of the friendship between Harris and the “geeks” not only could have been further explored, the audience also could have learned more about Harris, better understanding why he is an older brother figure to the “geeks”. I think this aspect of the story would have been more compelling than the redemption arc Freaks and Geeks’ creative team tried giving Alan in “Chokin’ and Tokin’”, which I, personally, don’t believe was affective. This “hot take” is placed at the bottom of my list due to Freaks and Geeks lasting only one season.

9. Moses Valentine, from Miss Scarlet, Should Have Received His Own Spin-off Show

While I have talked about Miss Scarlet before on my blog, I’ve never talked about my favorite character from the show, Moses Valentine. For three seasons, he possessed a captivatingly commanding presence, using his charm and street smarts to help Eliza Scarlet (the show’s titular character) solve mysteries. In the third episode of Miss Scarlet’s sixth season, ‘The Delivery’, the story primarily revolves around Moses as he searches for a missing diamond. Not only was this the best episode from the sixth season (in my opinion), it made me wish Moses had received his own spin-off show. From seasons four to six, Moses has been living in Paris. This backdrop could have given the spin-off show a colorful landscape and an eccentric group of characters, allowing the show to be distinct from Miss Scarlet’s London environment. It was revealed in ‘The Delivery’ and the fifth episode of Miss Scarlet’s sixth season, ‘The Night Shift’, that Moses is not only married, he also has a son. His family would have offered a unique dynamic from Miss Scarlet, as Eliza is not married and isn’t a mother. There could have even been a crossover episode between Moses’ spin-off show and Miss Scarlet, where Eliza visits Moses in Paris and helps him solve a mystery. But, sadly, a Moses centered spin-off show will likely not happen because the seventh season of Miss Scarlet will be the show’s last.

8. I Don’t Think Lauren Should Have Won the Reach for the Stars Competition in the Matlock episode, ‘The Starlet’

Toward the beginning of the Matlock episode, ‘The Starlet’, a talent contest called the Reach for the Stars Competition takes place. Whoever wins the competition will receive a two-year studio contract, a brand-new car, and $25,000. The final four contestants, Morgan, Dana, Abby, and Lauren, have their talent performances featured in ‘The Starlet’. While Morgan captivated by singing an energetic pop song, Abby sang a country song that sounded like it came straight from the heart. Dana’s performance of a song on saxophone was solid, adding her strong contribution to the soundtrack of the 1980s. But Lauren’s performance, which helped her win the Reach for the Stars Competition, was, in my opinion, unimpressive compared to the aforementioned three performances. Lauren performed a dance routine that was, to put it simply, basic. Its contents were a few arm movements, stepping in place several times, and some simple turns. I know Lauren’s victory was intended to create a domino effect for the events that took place in ‘The Starlet’. I also recognize what the creative team behind this Matlock episode was trying to say about connections being prioritized over talent when it comes to success, as Lauren’s mother, Janet, won the very first Reach for the Stars Competition. But I still don’t think Lauren should have won the contest based on talent performance alone.

7. I wish Tommy Vaughn Hadn’t Been the Murder Victim in the Murder, She Wrote episode, ‘Murder in Tempo’

In the Murder, She Wrote episode, ‘Murder in Tempo’, Dr. Seth Hazlitt organizes a benefit concert in an effort to save a local forest called Cabot Woods, with a band named In Tempo being the stars of the concert. One of In Tempo’s band members, Tommy Vaughn, has a dinner plate full of personal issues; from alcohol dependency that led him to rehab to dealing with a stalker prior to coming to Cabot Cove and even almost getting shot during the band’s concert rehearsal. But during his interactions with a Cabot Cove resident named Rachel, there are glimmers of hope that Tommy could, potentially, turn his life around. In a conversation he shared with Rachel, Tommy confesses his father passed away in an alcoholic ward, admitting his father’s issues made him look at the world pessimistically. He also acknowledges how he’s developed a poor reputation and how he needs to seek medical attention when he experiences problems with his vocal cords. Tommy even agreed to perform at the benefit concert because he truly believed in the cause of saving Cabot Woods, refusing to quit the concert despite pressure from the band’s manager, Wylie Trey. I’m aware Murder, She Wrote possesses a limited number of recurring characters and ‘Murder in Tempo’ premiered within the show’s last season. But I’d like to think if Tommy’s life had been spared, he would have received a second chance to obtain a happier next chapter to his story. Tommy could have even appeared in one of Murder, She Wrote’s made-for-TV movies or one of the books from the Murder, She Wrote book series. While advocating for the preservation of Cabot Woods, Jessica Fletcher says, “But even small battles are important”. Sadly, Tommy never got the chance to win at least one of his “small battles”.

Since one of my television “hot takes” relates to Murder, She Wrote, I thought featuring the book cover for Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire in this list article made sense. Murder, She Wrote: Dying to Retire book cover found on Goodreads

6. One of the HGTV Dream Homes Should Have Been Built in Hawaii

For almost thirty years, HGTV (Home and Garden Television) has hosted their annual Dream Home sweepstakes, with a completely furnished house as the grand prize. Eighteen of the fifty United States have hosted a prize home in varying styles and diverse landscapes. But, in my opinion, one of those states should have been Hawaii. The “gimmick” of HGTV’s Dream Home sweepstakes is for someone to win a “dream” home in a “dream” location. For years, Hawaii has been known as a “dream” travel destination for many people, yet owning a home in Hawaii is a “dream” few people can achieve for a variety of reasons. Realistically, I’m not sure what the logistics would be in order to make an HGTV Dream Home in Hawaii a reality. On paper, however, a Hawaiian Dream Home would fit the intent of HGTV’s contest.

5. I wish Sophia’s Son, Phil, Had Made, At Least, One On-Screen Appearance on The Golden Girls

Looking back on all the times I’ve watched The Golden Girls, one consistent story element always comes to mind; how Sophia singles out her son, Phil, whenever she brought up her children. Because it seemed like he was mentioned often on the show, I always wondered if what was said about him by the other characters was true. This curiosity made me want to see, at least, one on-screen appearance of him, in order to learn more about Phil from his perspective. Unfortunately, this never happened as Phil died off screen, with his death acknowledged in the season six episode, ‘Ebbtide’s Revenge’. It would have been fascinating to see Phil’s interactions not only with Sophia, but with the other “golden girls” as well. Plus, this role would have given an up-and-coming or underrated actor a chance to start or progress his career, especially considering The Golden Girls is one of the most successful and beloved television shows of all time. It also would have been interesting to see how The Golden Girls’ audience responded to Phil’s appearance on the show, if perhaps he had become a fan favorite. Though to quote the iconic Tootsie Pop commercial, “the world may never know”.

4. I Don’t Find the Gilligan’s Island episode, ‘The Hunter’, Funny or Entertaining

Gilligan’s Island is a show that is known for being light-hearted and hilarious, typically presenting the characters in low-stakes situations despite being stranded on the titular island. But the episode, ‘The Hunter’ is quite different from what the show is known for. Jonathan Kincaid is introduced in this episode as a big-game hunter. When he is unable to find any animals on the island to hunt, Jonathan then decides to hunt the other characters. The story of ‘The Hunter’ is tonally inappropriate for the type of program Gilligan’s Island is. With the show’s laugh track still featured in this episode, it makes the characters’ fear seem like it is played for laughs instead of being taken seriously. I was so horrified by ‘The Hunter’, I couldn’t find anything entertaining or funny about it. I, honestly, questioned what the creative team behind Gilligan’s Island was thinking creating and airing the episode. Because ‘The Hunter’ has been received better than other episodes of Gilligan’s Island, obtaining a 7.3 out of 10 on IMDB, this “hot take” is ranked higher on my list.

3. I Don’t Understand the Hype Surrounding ‘Shark Week’

According to Wikipedia, Shark Week debuted almost forty years ago on Discovery Channel with educational intentions, emphasizing conservation and debunking misconceptions. But as time went on, the annual event grew a life of its own. The term “shark week” has been added to the pop cultural lexicon, with people knowing what that is even if they’ve never watched any program associated with the event. Merchandise has been created to capitalize Shark Week, from shirts to scouting patches and even stuffed animal sharks from Build-A-Bear Workshop. But despite the promotion and fanfare it’s received, I don’t understand the hype surrounding Shark Week. With the amount of information available about sharks now than there was thirty-eight years ago, it almost seems unnecessary to reserve only one week to shark related education. In fact, shark related education can be accessed any time of year. Because sharks are such a specific subject, the event could run the risk of running out of content or programming. Plus, there are other animals who would also benefit from receiving education about them and conversation efforts for them. Yet they don’t receive their own special week.

2. If Eddie Munson Had Been Introduced on Stranger Things Sooner, The Show’s Creative Team Would Have Prioritized His Popularity, Similar to Steve Urkel (from Family Matters)

Once upon a time, on December 15th, 1989, Steve Urkel made his debut on the sitcom, Family Matters. What started as Steve asking one of the show’s key family members, Laura Winslow, to a dance turned into Steve becoming one of the most popular characters in television history. As Steve’s popularity grew, he received more screen-time and significance in the story. He not only became very marketable, having products based off Steve like Urkel-O’s Cereal and a talking doll, Family Matters also became defined by Steve’s iconic catchphrase, “Did I do that?”. But Steve’s popularity came at the expense of the titular Winslow family and their matters, which defied the original intent of the sitcom. If Eddie Munson had been introduced on Stranger Things sooner, I believe the show’s creative team would have allowed a similar scenario to happen. Like Steve Urkel, Eddie Munson became very popular after appearing in one season of his respective show. Also, like Steve, Eddie became very marketable, with products ranging from a replica of his Hellfire Club shirt to books about Eddie’s side of the story. But Eddie made his debut in Stranger Things’ fourth out of five seasons, with Eddie also passing away at the end of the fourth season. Though if Eddie had debuted in either season one or two, Eddie’s popularity would have given the show’s creative team an excuse to not only keep him on the show, but to also upgrade his status from ‘recurring’ to ‘main’ character. But, similar to Steve on Family Matters, the emphasis on Eddie’s popularity could have run the risk of other characters and stories getting overshadowed, potentially leaving mysteries and story-threads unresolved. There’s also a chance Stranger Things‘ creative team could have turned Eddie into “too much of a good thing”, giving Eddie elements to his story that may not make sense, such as receiving a catchphrase that seems unnecessary.

1. Writing Jack Thornton Off When Calls the Heart is the Show’s Biggest Mistake

    When the creative team behind When Calls the Heart decided to write Jack Thornton (one of the show’s main characters) off the show by having him die off screen, that was one of the most controversial creative decisions in Hallmark Channel history, as characters are typically not written off the network’s programs in this fashion. But looking back on this creative choice eight years later, writing Jack off When Calls the Heart has proven, in my opinion, to be pointless. If Jack had stayed on the show, other creative decisions I’m, personally, not a fan of wouldn’t have been made. Some of these decisions are the love triangle between Elizabeth, Lucas, and Nathan (that lasted three seasons), as well as backtracking Elizabeth’s decision to fall in love with and become engaged to Lucas. When it comes to the argument for why Elizabeth should be in a romantic relationship with Nathan, the McGarries (fans of Elizabeth and Nathan) have claimed that because Elizabeth falls in love with a Mountie in the book series the show is based on, she has to fall in love with a Mountie on the television show. With that logic in mind, if it was so important for Elizabeth to be in a romantic relationship with a Mountie, why write Jack off the show at all? I’m aware of Daniel Lissing’s (the actor who portrayed Jack) desire to leave the show to pursue other projects. However, I think recasting Jack would have attracted less backlash than writing him off the show. When Jack was still on When Calls the Heart, it seemed like his relationship with Elizabeth organically complimented the show’s overarching story. It also helped that Daniel and Erin Krakow (the actress who portrays Elizabeth) had stronger on-screen chemistry together. But now that Elizabeth and Nathan’s relationship has been prioritized since season eleven, its promotion, in my opinion, not only feels forcefully manufactured, it has come at the expense of other characters and stories, such as Rosemary, once again, not receiving her theater and new characters like Fernando becoming underutilized.

    Since another television “hot take” in this list article relates to Eddie Munson and Stranger Things, I believed including this iconic picture of Eddie in this post was appropriate. Original image created by 21 Laps Entertainment, Monkey Massacre, Netflix, and Upside Down Pictures

    What are your thoughts on my TV “hot takes”? Do you have a TV related “hot take” you’d like to share? Please tell me in the comment section below!

    Have fun on television!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Why Stefan “Princ” Zdravković Should Appear on the Television Show, ‘Miss Scarlet and The Duke’

    On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

    This year, I was introduced to the television show, Miss Scarlet and The Duke, a mystery program airing as part of the PBS Masterpiece collection. While I have enjoyed watching the show, I believe it’s missing one person; Stefan “Princ” Zdravković. For those who don’t know, Stefan “Princ” Zdravković is a musical artist who tried to represent Serbia’s delegation of Eurovision by competing in the delegation’s national contest, Pesma za Evroviziju (also known as PZE). The more I watched Miss Scarlet and The Duke, the more I saw how Stefan “Princ” Zdravković could appear on the show. Therefore, I am presenting four key reasons why he should appear on Miss Scarlet and The Duke! Before I share my reasons, I want to give a reminder how any decisions about whether Stefan “Princ” Zdravković appears on the show are up to Miss Scarlet and The Duke’s creative team and Stefan “Princ” Zdravković himself, who I will be referring to as “Princ” throughout this editorial. Though I am aware the show is changing its name to Miss Scarlet from season five and onward, I will continue to call the program Miss Scarlet and The Duke in this article.

    Pictures of Stefan “Princ” Zdravković found in the videos, ‘Princ “Cvet sa Istoka” Interview | Pesma za Evroviziju 2023’ and ‘PRINC – Cvet sa Istoka (INTERVIEW) // Pesma za Evroviziju 2023 // Serbia Eurovision 2023’ by the Youtube channels, wiwibloggs and eurovoxx. Images of Miss Scarlet and the Duke found on IMDB and created by Element 8 Entertainment, A+E Studios, 87 Films, Alibi Channel, and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

    Recruiting Local Talent

    Since season two, Miss Scarlet and The Duke has filmed in Serbia. This decision has caused the show’s creative team to build their story’s world from scratch. According to the Executive Producer, Patty Lenahan Ishimoto, “Basically what ended up happening was we just built London. Anything that we couldn’t find, we built”. The decision to film in Serbia has also provided opportunities for Serbians to get involved with the program, either in front of the camera or behind it. Princ is from Serbia, specifically from Vranje. If he were to appear on Miss Scarlet and The Duke, he would receive an opportunity to, essentially, work within his own backyard. If any episodes were filmed on location, such as (for example) a part of the story taking place around Vranje’s White Bridge, Princ may also work in an environment he’s familiar with.

    Serbian Flag image created by ibrandify at FreepikImage by ibrandify on Freepik

    Built-In Enthusiasm

    Miss Scarlet and The Duke will soon embark on its fifth season. During the show’s four-year lifespan, a fanbase from both the U.K. and the U.S. has been garnered, with the show providing reasons for the audience to return. But Miss Scarlet and The Duke’s creative team are not the only ones with built-in enthusiasm. When Princ competed in PZE last March, he not only qualified for PZE’s Final, he ended up receiving second place. Princ even received more televote points than Luke Black, the artist who was chosen to represent Serbia at Eurovision. To put Princ’s score into perspective, he acquired a higher score at last year’s PZE Final than Konstrakta did at this year’s PZE Final. For those who don’t know, Konstrakta represented Serbia at Eurovision in 2022. She qualified for Eurovision’s Grand Final, where she received fifth place. Going into 2024’s edition of PZE, Konstrakta had more name-recognition and built-in enthusiasm than Princ did in 2023. In his interview with the Youtube channel, Wiwibloggs, Princ said “I’m probably more famous in Bulgaria, actually, right now”. But, as I previously mentioned, Princ’s score in the PZE Final was higher than Konstrakta’s. He also obtained more televote points than Konstrakta, not only in PZE’s Final, but in the contest’s Semi-Finals as well. These numbers present an example of how there are people, including myself, who would be enthusiastic if Princ appeared on Miss Scarlet and The Duke.

    In this chart of the PZE Final scores from 2023 and 2024, I highlight each competitor’s televote points, which were received from the audience. Also highlighted are Princ’s and Konstrakta’s overall scores in the PZE Final. PZE scores found on the website, Eurovision World.
    This chart highlights the televote scores from Princ’s and Konstrakta’s semi-finals in PZE. Semi-Final scores found on the website, Eurovision World.

    Work With What You’ve Got

    In Miss Scarlet and The Duke’s second episode from season two, ‘The Black Moth’, William ‘The Duke’ Wellington, one of the show’s protagonists, tells Eliza Scarlet, the show’s other protagonist, to “use what you have to your advantage” in order to stand out as London’s only female detective. William’s advice could also be given to Princ if he appeared on Miss Scarlet and The Duke, as he possesses skills, talents, and attributes that would work in his favor. Like I have mentioned in this editorial, Princ is a musical artist. He not only has versatile singing vocals, he is also a talented guitarist. Perhaps he could perform a song in an episode or create a song for the show. Princ is also a marital artist with a black belt in karate. Marital arts have, so far, not been incorporated onto Miss Scarlet and The Duke, as fist-fighting and boxing have been the only fighting styles included in the show’s action scenes. Featuring martial arts in Miss Scarlet and The Duke’s story would bring something new to the show’s table as well as provide Princ with material to work with, as he would master the fight choreography. Miss Scarlet and The Duke establishes a world where characters with tattoos exist. When examining a specific tattoo in the first season’s second episode, ‘The Woman in Red’, Eliza says about the tattoo “It gave insight to a person’s past. Perhaps a badge of belonging like to the Navy or a quiet rebellion hidden on one’s body for one’s eyes only”. Princ has several tattoos on his arms, including one on his left forearm that appears to be a series of pine/Christmas trees. The inclusion of, at least, one of Princ’s tattoos in the show’s story could be used to serve a character’s backstory or symbolize a MacGuffin/clue. However, this specific idea is dependent on if Princ is comfortable with his real-life tattoos being incorporated onto the show.

    In this photo, I point out the tattoo I referenced in this editorial. Photo found in the video, ‘Princ “Cvet sa Istoka” Interview | Pesma za Evroviziju 2023’ by Youtube channel, wiwibloggs

    Steps Toward Eurovision

    In some of his interviews, Princ has expressed a desire to compete in Eurovision. He said in his interview with Youtuber, Alesia Michelle, “I actually visualized myself winning Eurovision as a kid”. While you’re reading my editorial, you’re probably wondering, “If Princ wants to go to Eurovision, why would he spend his time working on Miss Scarlet and The Duke? What does one have to do with the other?” Miss Scarlet and The Duke broadcasts on Alibi, a U.K. channel owned by BBC Studios. BBC is the official broadcaster of the U.K. delegation of Eurovision. Princ is affiliated with the Serbian delegation of Eurovision through his participation in PZE. If he still desires to compete in Eurovision, Princ could use these connections, as well as his experience appearing on Miss Scarlet and The Duke, as a networking opportunity to get one step closer to Eurovision. This could be achieved by either finding people who could lead him in the right direction toward the song contest or by meeting people who could become vital members of his technical/artistic team. For example, Princ could collaborate with someone from Miss Scarlet and The Duke’s cinematography department to create a music video or figure out the most optimal camera angles for a live performance. Another example is Princ could receive advice from the show’s wardrobe department to achieve the most photogenic appearance for not only a live performance, but for other Eurovision related events, such as the Turquoise Carpet.

    String of musical notes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/pentagram-vector_710290.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com. 

    I’ve made it a habit on 18 Cinema Lane to try to give more underrated people, characters, films, and topics their “standing ovation” because, according to Auggie from Wonder, “Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world”. But, as I said in April, in order for a “standing ovation” to take place, the person in question has to want it. Based on what I’ve observed, Princ is working toward that “standing ovation”. He’s even willing to deal with rejection and disappointment to make that “standing ovation” a reality. Princ could receive his “standing ovation” by appearing on Miss Scarlet and The Duke. It’s a situation where those involved with the program, including the fans, would benefit as well. In his interview with Alesia Michelle, when asked if he knew any of the fellow competitors of 2023’s PZE, Princ replied “So I think that, uh, supporting each other is very important”. Through this editorial, I’m hoping someone, either from Miss Scarlet and The Duke’s creative team or even a Eurovision delegation, recognizes Princ’s talent as well as his potential for success and provides him with the support to not only make his dreams come true, but to also finally give Princ his “standing ovation”!

    Have fun on Miss Scarlet and the Duke!

    Sally Silverscreen

    Featured references:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Scarlet_and_The_Duke

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alibi_(TV_channel)

    https://eurovisionworld.com/national/serbia/pesma-za-evroviziju-23

    https://eurovisionworld.com/national/serbia/pesma-za-evroviziju-24

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_2022

    ‘Team Serbia’ (Miss Scarlet and The Duke season two DVD featurette)

    Video: Who is Pesma za Evroviziju’s Stefan “Princ” Zdravković? Check out the interview! by Alesia Michelle

    Video: Princ “Cvet sa Istoka” Interview | Pesma za Evroviziju 2023 by wiwibloggs

    Video: Stefan Zdravković “Dream on” from SvettRim