What Are You Watching

[paul secor]

I watched Inspector Morse: Absolute Conviction last night. Looking at the credits, I saw that Nick Heckstall-Smith was the 2nd assistant director. I did a search and, from what I could find, he's the nephew of the late saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith.

[page]

I watched Inspector Morse: Absolute Conviction last night. Looking at the credits, I saw that Nick Heckstall-Smith was the 2nd assistant director. I did a search and, from what I could find, he's the nephew of the late saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith.

To reply at your other comment. I feel that way too. Morse is one of my all time favourites and eventhough I really like "Lewis" and quite enjoy "Endeavour", they don't equal Morse for me.
I didn't know that about the 2nd assistant director. While Morse listened to some lovely classical music in the series which I've quite enjoyed. There are a few series where the main character likes jazz and it plays a role in the story. There is DCI Banks and also George Gently, although that one doesn't have that much of it I think.

[A Lark Ascending]

 

"Out here on the outer fringes of the galaxy it's easy lose track of new additions the Scandi thriller pantheon. Any pointers would be appreciated."

Apologies - can't work out how to get rid of the quotes I don't want!

You are probably familiar with the big ones:

• The Krister Henriksson version of Wallendar (though there was an earlier Swedish version I liked too)
• The Killing I and II
• The Bridge I and II
• Borgen (not a thriller but full of intrigue - who'd have though proportional representation could be so involving!). 

Not noticed much since - the last BBC 4 Swedish thing about murders on an island was dire - I only managed one episode. Maybe they are saving them up for the winter.  

 

Thank you, Bev. I've seen all those.

I was also taken by ' The Legacy', not a thriller but a great depiction of a family at each others throats over an inheritence. Makes good binge watching.

•  

I thought you probably would have. 

But I've not seen 'The Legacy' so might add that to the rental list. 

[A Lark Ascending]

 

There are a few series where the main character likes jazz and it plays a role in the story. There is DCI Banks and also George Gently, although that one doesn't have that much of it I think.

About 25 years ago they started to make a series based around John Harvey's Nottingham based detective series - but they didn't go beyond a few programmes. I liked them. He was a keen jazz fan.

The main character in 'Case Histories' series mentioned above is a modern country/Americana fan - some good music on those. Ian Rankin's Rebus is a big rock fan. 

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A can recommend this series that slipped by a few years back:

Again, the landscape is the star. Nice characters with quirky problems. But be warned...there's very little sun! 

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Expect a decreasing amount of quality drama from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33360707

All tied in with the approaching government sell-off of the network to the people who funded their election victory, I suspect.  

 

Edited July 2, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[mjazzg]

Just finished series 5 of 'Sons of Anarchy' Compulsive viewing but questionable on many levels. I'm sure my early teen Metal years are resurfacing with all the biker chic on display

Two more series to go...... born to be wild

[jlhoots]

Mr. Robot - 2nd episode

[jazzbo]

Lord help me, my fiancee has me watching Big Brother . . . gave up watching that years ago. The show does have some fascinating moments, surrounded by sheer boring stretches.

[erwbol]

Lord help me, my fiancee has me watching Big Brother . . . gave up watching that years ago. The show does have some fascinating moments, surrounded by sheer boring stretches.

Have her put your new headphones on. 

[paul secor]

Inspector Morse - Driven to Distraction

An episode which shows the dark side of Morse's personality.

[catesta]

True Detective (Season 2). Not even close in comparison of quality and substance to the first season.  I'll fight my way through the rest of the season but so far it's been a disappointment.

Ballers - I'm finding this show to be entertaining.  

The Brink - Unless the next episode delivers more than just chuckle, I think I'll be calling it quits.

[Shawn]

Finished up season 6 of The Good Wife on Amazon Prime, I had stopped watching it at midseason on broadcast because it was annoying me.  After finishing the entire season I still feel basically the same way.  There are still some moments here and there but overall the show has forgotten what it initially was; a stellar hybrid of the serialized dramatic series and a case-of-the-week courtroom drama.  That was what it was good at, that is what it needs to return to.  

[jazzbo]

Watched the first season of Party Down. Was entertaining.

[page]

Inspector Morse - Driven to Distraction

An episode which shows the dark side of Morse's personality.

I dca't remember that episode just now. It has been some time since it has been broadcasted here, but I'll take note on what you've said.

[A Lark Ascending]

Currently going out on BBC 4 on a Friday. Nothing you didn't already know but an enjoyable telling of the tale. Good as musical and social history. 

Three episodes - last due next Friday. Up on iPlayer for about a month. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0615vnf

 

[erwbol]

True Detective (Season 2). Not even close in comparison of quality and substance to the first season.  I'll fight my way through the rest of the season but so far it's been a disappointment.

I tell myself I keep watching True Detective to bear witness, but the real answer is that it's obviously my programming, and I lack the constitution for suicide.

[Shawn]

Hulu has a nice collection of 70s TV shows and I've been enjoying the nostalgia this week.  Been watching season 1 of WKRP which was one of my favorites when I was a kid, still holds up nicely and is still quite funny.  The infamous "turkey drop" episode had me in stitches, I still remembered it vividly and I haven't seen it since I was 8 years old.  

 

[A Lark Ascending]

How to Be Bohemian with Victoria Coren Mitchell 

Been enjoying this series of three programmes over the last few nights. Mitchell is not an 'arty-farty luvvie' (though she interviews a few!) so has just the right amount of scepticism (not to mention prudishness) to not be taken in by the more extreme sillinesses. Fascinating bit about Eric Gill in episode 2 which really pushes your acceptance of taboo breaking to the limits. 

 

Edited July 15, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[page]

Case histories series 01

Edited July 18, 2015 by page

[A Lark Ascending]

Last Days in Vietnam (BBC4)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b062mbng

Excellent documentary about the events of April 1975 in Saigon from the US/South Vietnamese perspective.

Done in the old fashioned way I prefer - original footage, testimony from eyewitnesses. No celebrity or has-been politician leaping about in front as part of their career portfolio.   

Never realised the famous picture of the queue on the stairs climbing onto a helicopter was from the suburbs and not the embassy. 

Edited July 18, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[JSngry]

Fun film in a lot of ways, not least of which in how it somewhat viciously skewers it's talking head sociologists and yet reaffirms their more basic premises.

[kinuta]

True Detective

Good performances, noirish photography and stylish production are all just about negated by a bewilderingly dense and complex script.

Some of the conversations are bizarre to say the least.

If the writers intention is to make the viewer feel stupid for not keeping up, they are more than successful in my case.

 

Ray Donovan

Love it, great show.

Last Days in Vietnam (BBC4)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b062mbng

Excellent documentary about the events of April 1975 in Saigon from the US/South Vietnamese perspective.

Done in the old fashioned way I prefer - original footage, testimony from eyewitnesses. No celebrity or has-been politician leaping about in front as part of their career portfolio.   

Never realised the famous picture of the queue on the stairs climbing onto a helicopter was from the suburbs and not the embassy. 

I saw that too and found it enjoyable and educational.

[jazzbo]

This week's Hannibal. The DVR cut the last five minutes or so as the Indians game seems to have run late. ARGH. I've adjusted the end time.

On to Humans.

[JSngry]

Catching up on Keye & Peele in the wake of their announcing the end of their Comedy Central series.

Lots of  reflexive LOL stuff from these guys, as well as some high-concept comedy as well, often within the same bit. Impressive.

Also now have the Comedy Central Roku station, so discovering some things, like Broad City, which is looking to be one of those dry things that is funny in the cumulative...I love it when that happens.

Also Why? with Hannibal Burris...still finding its pace, but then its good its damn good, and flying Lotus is on hand as DJ.

[erwbol]

True Detective

Good performances, noirish photography and stylish production are all just about negated by a bewilderingly dense and complex script.

Some of the conversations are bizarre to say the least.

If the writers intention is to make the viewer feel stupid for not keeping up, they are more than successful in my case.

It made me feel the writers are stupid.

[Bill Nelson]

At 2:45 EST - TCM will show Ingmar Bergman's 'The Magician' (1958) with Max Von Sydow and Ingrid Thulin as touring magician and his assistant.

It's set in 19th century small-town rural Sweden where the local officials are suspicious of the 'powers' of the magician.  For a Bergman film of this era, it's refreshingly not focused on death and dying but -- dare I say -- comedic.  

And it starts in 30 minutes !!