Maggie, men, money and moving on

It’s tempting to suggest Tamati Coffey should integrate the US airmen with the Irish.

I have this vivid memory of Basil Fawlty angrily attacking his car with a tree branch.

John Cleese repeated it more recently in a TV commercial. I’d do it for six figures. So when Ezra Bloom savaged his steering wheel in frustration, I knew where his inspiration came from. Ezra was so right to threaten the airbags. He’d just been scammed by Maddie, his beautiful wife.

Maddie is a serial con artist and, in Imposters (TV2, Wednesdays), she makes a habit of seducing men and women, marrying them, taking their money and disappearing. The definition of a Kiwi is a creature who eats roots and leaves. Well, Maggie’s one of those.

Imposters is a dark comedy that takes itself seriously enough to tell an enjoyable story. Ezra was smitten with Eva, a bubbly Belgian, and marries her. For the first few weeks she doesn’t threaten his bank account but, one morning, he discovers his available balance of $30,000 is zero. Other funding has gone also. So has Eva.

That’s enough to find ‘‘fawlt’’ with your steering wheel and then sink into deep despair.

Meanwhile Maddie, with a new name, mannerism and change of lipstick, has set her sights on Gary, a banking executive. She’s also met Patrick and something tugs at her emotions where her heartstrings used to be.

Meanwhile Ezra, who’s ditched his job and almost his sanity, receives a visitor. It’s Richard, who’s searching for his wife. Surprise, surprise. They share someone in common. She’s Ezra’s dearly departed wife also. So, like a Kairanga egg, they hatch a plan ‘‘to go after her and crucify her’’.

It’s a great first episode. The guys might be typical American jobbing actors but Israeli actress Inbar Lavi as Maddie glows in her role. Her challenge is to be as convincing with a new name, appearance, accent and blonde rinse.

I’m guessing each episode will be a variation of the first, but Richard and Ezra look menacing enough to stay on her shapely tail as she seduces, beds and fleeces another poor schmuck.

And I’d like Gary, the banker, to not just look like Harvey Weinstein, but be the real thing.

I have a real problem with Moving Out With Tamati (TV One, Saturday). I’m suspicious about it. If such a cosy series can be justified, it would feature families leaving Auckland and relocating far enough away to Timaru or Dunedin to start a new life.

A new job, new friends, snow on the Kilmog and not a chance to slip back to Ponsonby for a flat white at the weekend, now that’s a story. But so far the two families chosen have moved a few hours south to where rellies or forebears are. I’d like to see a real relocation.

My Mother and Other Strangers (Vibe, Mondays) does the word ‘‘plural’’ a disservice. It’s a story about how 4000 American airmen, based in Ireland during World War II, relate to the suspicious locals. But so far, we’ve only seen four Yanks and one bomber.

Where’s the squadron and the other 3996 personnel? I’m sure if the series could find half a mother they’d go for her.

It might be low budget, but it tells an intriguing story of a growing relationship between American liaison officer, Ronald Dreyfus and Rose Coyne, mother of three, and wife of the publican.

Trouble erupts when some Neanderthals attack Lieutenant Barnhill for being sweet on 16-year-old Emma Coyne and Dreyfus has to intervene. Barnhill is subsequently killed flying over Europe. But you don’t see the action. The series has exhausted itself finding four strangers.

It’s tempting to suggest Tamati Coffey should be engaged to integrate the US airmen with the Irish, but the series does very well without him. Meanwhile, Ronny is integrating himself with Rose and it’s worth watching.

Mark Billingham is a great read and his books can easily be adapted for TV viewing which is why In The Dark (UKTV, Mondays) is so disappointing. A pregnant DI Weeks takes some days off to prove that Steven Bates, the husband of an old friend, didn’t kill and burn a teenage girl but Weeks is so insipid that a wet flannel could play the part better.

If a viewing audience can’t relate to anyone they’ll watch

Judge Judy or worse.

Inside The London Fire Brigade (TV One, Tuesdays) is a gripping series. The first episode focused on the horrific fire that destroyed Grenfell Towers, resulting in huge loss of life. It highlighted the negligence of the building’s owners.

Told through the eyes of Borough Commander Richard Welsh and his team, it emphasised that companionship and ‘‘doing the best by each other’’ is important in today’s world.

I looked for those words when the new coalition was announced on Thursday.