Chase_Witherspoon

Quick and colourful African western concerning English settlers getting to grips with the perils of native Kenya. Essentially a glorified faunalogue in which reluctant hunters on horseback stalk the savanna in search of game, whilst mild romantic undertones simmer in the background.

Urquhart is the more amiable of the contracted hunters, trying his best to manage his alcoholic brother (Dobson) and the attentions of a nubile female passenger (Stephen, whose rather revealing moment bathing in a river late in the movie appears to have been missed in the editing room). Local beauty Maureen Connell also appears in her film debut before becoming an occasional female lead in Britain in the late 50s.

Tussles with leopards, lions and snakes offset by lighthearted moments admiring giraffe and tree monkeys, but there's tension on the horizon as the intrepid adventurers attempt to cross a treacherous river and must survive local tribes unhappy with colonialist encroachment.

Economical British safari is generally well acted standard fare, akin to any number of traditional second-bill westerns of the 50s, although there's an unexpected twist at the climax before justice is served. No frills, just the usual threats punctuated by inert-looking wildlife and tepid romance.

Steve has the best dialogue, and his retort to Andrea enquiring whether boys undress her in their mind promotes a pearler of a response from Steve (part of which seems improvised judging from the reactions of Priestley and Green) and is an absolute cracker. In fact, the cheeky twinkle in his eye is regularly on display throughout this episode as he offers to support David with a visual memory he can't seem to shake.

SATs mean tertiary entrance time on 90210 but there's more on the minds of some, with a somewhat awkward tightrope analogy emphasising the fear of the unknown as they each contemplate the vast options that might be available to them. Complicating matters are their individual grades and financial situations which influence decision-making and threaten to separate the usually tight-knit group.

Pretty decent early season three episode also features the new recurring characters Mr. Myers (call me 'Gil') and Brandon's latest love interest Nikki (Barron) in a minor role, along with another appearance by future 'The Nanny' co-star Nicholle Tom as the ill-fated Scott Scanlon's wayward sister.

Brenda gets the jitters following a scary armed robbery leading concerned friends to suspect she may have developed PTSD as a result of the ordeal. The pressure amplifies amid the backdrop of the mid-term exams, which prompts the need for intervention.

Generally well-developed plot includes some existentially violent flashbacks/ hallucinations, and a tense climax in which Brenda is encouraged to confront her anxiety.

Doherty delivers a decent performance that's not too over the top with the emotions, although the 'business as usual' approach of everyone else seemed unrealistic given the circumstances. The only curious aspect was the closing scene in which Brandon appears to be wearing scrubs, until I realised it was just nineties wardrobe I hadn't encountered.