What Are You Watching

[A Lark Ascending]

London Spy continues to impress. Though if anything it has got slower in pace (not a complaint!). Not comfortable TV. A lot of needles being poked into veins (or maybe arteries). 

BBC's adaptation of John Lanchester's 'Capital' started last night. A couple of years since I read it so I've forgotten all but the outline. Very much enjoyed it. Plays to all my prejudices.  

10 hours ago, Shawn said:

One I'd like to see - will await the arrival in DVD rental land. I have the book which I've not yet read. Might read that first. 

Edited November 25, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[kinuta]

11 hours ago, Shawn said:

Finished up Jessica Jones, damn good series and man did it get intense in the last half of the season!  Hoping it gets renewed (and with the critical acclaim it's almost a guarantee).  

Now starting:  

The Man In The High Castle (Amazon)

Yes, indeed. Jessica Jones was an extremely intense rollercoaster for much of the latter half , I had to take some breaks from the binge to decompress.

One of the best shows of the year, along with Daredevil.

 

[jazzbo]

So now there are three shows I'll wait to see hoping they come to disc: Daredevil, Jessica Jones and The Man in the High Castle.

Enjoying the bleak paranoid ride that is Manhattan, Season One. And enjoying the violent goofy ride that is Fargo, Season 2.

 

Bev: I think you would really enjoy the Dick novel, though I don't think you need to know it to watch this series.

Edited November 25, 2015 by jazzbo

[kinuta]

Still enjoying Code Black. I like the constant focus on the ER and the never ending stream of emergencies.

Nine episodes in and no annoying back stories or romances to distract from the tense action.

Incomparably better than the soggy and weak Chicago Med.

I've stopped watching the other new programmes like Quantico, Minority Report etc. All rubbish.

[erwbol]

Nobody's watching Fargo season 2? More consistent and better all-round than season 1, I believe.

[medjuck]

13 minutes ago, erwbol said:

Nobody's watching Fargo season 2? More consistent and better all-round than season 1, I believe.

I am. I don't think it's better than last year's just different.    The last episode had the best mis-direction I think I've ever seen on tv.  Set's you up for something and then completely turns it around. 

[kinuta]

15 minutes ago, erwbol said:

Just now, medjuck said:

I am. I don't think it's better than last year's just different.    The last episode had the best mis-direction I think I've ever seen on tv.  Set's you up for something and then completely turns it around. 

Billy Bob & Martin Freeman made season one magnetic.

Although it's very good, I don't think season two is quite so compelling.

 

[jazzbo]

I'm enjoying Season 2. . . like it about as much as Season 1, maybe a bit more.

Finishing up "Indian Summer" from the DVR tonight and up to Episode 10 of Manhattan Season 1 on disc.

[jlhoots]

2 hours ago, medjuck said:

I am. I don't think it's better than last year's just different.    The last episode had the best mis-direction I think I've ever seen on tv.  Set's you up for something and then completely turns it around. 

I feel the same way.

[A Lark Ascending]

Brian Pern: A Life in Rock

Missed this when it first went out. Catching up with Series 1 on a TV rebroadcast and Series 2 on the iPlayer.

Clearly influenced by Spinal Tap, a spoof on an imaginary rock musician based on Peter Gabriel, his ludicrous vanities and tortured relationship with his former public school bandmates from Thotch. Lots of famous people in the cameos from Ann Nightingale and Rick Wakeman to Roger Moore. Apparently Gabriel himself appears at some point.

Not A List comedy but the 30 minute programmes fit nicely into those times when you are waiting for the tea to cook. 

Third series in January so it clearly resonates with a part of the British TV watching public (probably all bald). 

Edited November 28, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[erwbol]

Fargo season 1 borrowed too much from the film (story, setting, quirky accents). The same Coen humour was attempted, but not always carried out to perfection by the cast. Martin Freeman was a poor substitute for William H. Macy, Bob Odenkirk played Bob Odenkirk with a moustache and police uniform on, and Collin Hanks is a god-awfull actor (see Dexter). Only Bill Bob Thornton would have succesfully fit in the Coen film.

[JohnS]

I enjoyed season one.   Didn't mind Hanks too much but agree that Freeman was no substitute for William H Macy.   Missed the first two parts of series two but finding it very watchable.

[kinuta]

On 2015/11/28 17:43:59, A Lark Ascending said:

Brian Pern: A Life in Rock

Missed this when it first went out. Catching up with Series 1 on a TV rebroadcast and Series 2 on the iPlayer.

Clearly influenced by Spinal Tap, a spoof on an imaginary rock musician based on Peter Gabriel, his ludicrous vanities and tortured relationship with his former public school bandmates from Thotch. Lots of famous people in the cameos from Ann Nightingale and Rick Wakeman to Roger Moore. Apparently Gabriel himself appears at some point.

Not A List comedy but the 30 minute programmes fit nicely into those times when you are waiting for the tea to cook. 

Third series in January so it clearly resonates with a part of the British TV watching public (probably all bald). 

" Tea to cook " might be lost in translation, Bev, like get kettle on or packing up.

[A Lark Ascending]

20 hours ago, kinuta said:

" Tea to cook " might be lost in translation, Bev, like get kettle on or packing up.

Didn't even think of that! Of course, what I meant was that each episode can be watched alongside a glass of port whilst waiting for cook to prepare dinner. 

Episodes 1-3. Good, lord, this is grim TV. The section at the end of episode 3 where everyone watches the World Cup in the pub whilst the young girl is raped by Lol's father back at home has to be one of the most uncomfortable 15 minutes of TV I've ever seen. 

Brilliant acting, especially from Vicky McClure.

Edited November 30, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[A Lark Ascending]

On 11/30/2015, 7:53:27, A Lark Ascending said:

Episodes 1-3. Good, lord, this is grim TV. The section at the end of episode 3 where everyone watches the World Cup in the pub whilst the young girl is raped by Lol's father back at home has to be one of the most uncomfortable 15 minutes of TV I've ever seen. 

Brilliant acting, especially from Vicky McClure.

Episode 4....equally as compelling. 

Going to have to sidetrack to the last 7 episodes of the glossier world of Mad Men next where the injuries are largely self-inflicted.

Also episode 4 of London Spy.  

[catesta]

I finally gave in and started to watch Game of Thrones. I'm up to episode 7 of season 1. 

[Shawn]

Freaks and Geeks. 

 

[A Lark Ascending]

What a Performance! Pioneers of Popular Entertainment (BBC4)

Always had an aversion to 'Music Hall' (before my time!) - memories of 'The Good Old Days' on the TV in the 60s/70s. But the first of this series about the 19thC origins was very enjoyable.  

[jazzbo]

Episodes of "Jay Leno's Garage" . . . a good show.

Final half of the final season of Breaking Bad on Blu-ray. Though I think they tied things a little too prettily in a bow at the very end, GRIPPING TV. I hadn't watched any of the last eight episodes since it was broadcast.

[kinuta]

Finished watching The Man In The High Castle.

 

I thought it was quite disappointing; sluggish, overpadded, too long and unable to hold my interest over ten episodes.

Five would have been ample.

[A Lark Ascending]

Only time I watched this before was very late at night about 30 years ago and it didn't click...think I dozed through much of it. Was alerted to it again a couple of years back when a student teacher I was supervising made brilliant use of the clip in the beer garden when teaching about Nazi Germany. 

Absolutely loved it last night. Wonderful film. 

[Shawn]

[kinuta]

Homeland 

Gripping !!

[A Lark Ascending]

London Spy - last episode

I loved this series but found the ending rather unsatisfying. All got a bit melodramatic with the burning maze and Rampling's sudden change of heart. 

Hardest thing of all to pull off - a really convincing ending (a bit like symphonies!). 

I'd never come across Ben Whishaw before but he seems to be everywhere all of a sudden - Suffragette, Richard II, the new Moby Dick related film. I thought he was superb in London Spy. 

Edited December 8, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[mjazzg]

3 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

London Spy - last episode

I loved this series but found the ending rather unsatisfying. All got a bit melodramatic with the burning maze and Rampling's sudden change of heart. 

Hardest thing of all to pull off - a really convincing ending (a bit like symphonies!). 

I'd never come across Ben Whishaw before but he seems to be everywhere all of a sudden - Suffragette, Richard II, the new Moby Dick related film. I thought he was superb in London Spy. 

 

trying to avoid spoilers....

I thought it became progressively less convincing after the rather good first episode. The finale was disappointing and I thought tried to hide its mundanity behind unnecessary layers of "atmospheric" dialogue. The best bit was Alex being tested by his own invention but even that was hardly surprising. I'm sure 'the establishment' would have found much more clinical ways of torturing him than they did.

I have to disagree about Wishaw who seemed to have two settings - "disappointed puppy dog" and "outraged teenager" and why did he go "all cockney" every now and again. Broadbent held it all together (do we know why he came to the end he did?) I thought which may have been  why I was disappointed in the final episode