What Are You Watching

[A Lark Ascending]

20 hours ago, kinuta said:

...tale of a super rich investor, whose wealth seems to come from dubious business methods, and the driven public prosecutor out for his scalp.

Are you sure you weren't watching the news? 

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Finished this set last night. A wonderful...if very disturbing...series. As I remember the first two series had linked double episodes; in this one the storyline stretched over all six episodes. Beautiful landscape...the weather was remarkably kind compared with the earlier series. 

Don't get the DVD box. ITV as seen on BBC? I watched it via BBC. Creeping Whittingdalisation, I expect.  

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This afternoon:

Ireland's Treasures Uncovered

With my new favourite TV historian (though I think she's a scientist), Dr. Alice Roberts. So calm! Not just a chance to look at precious historical artefacts but also coverage of they way they have been used over the centuries to construct Celtic, Irish and Catholic/Protestant identities)...not to mention British cultural plundering.  

Edited April 7, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[A Lark Ascending]

Really enjoyed this (encouraged to watch it after reading some praise on this board). I thought they handled the tale with great sensitivity and without over-sensationalising Wilson's troubles. The music, of course, was glorious. Very odd watching Pierre from 'War and Peace' in a 20thC recording studio.   

[kinuta]

Thicker Than Water

The latest Scandisoap from Sweden is entertaining and more-ish but very clearly patterned on The Legacy.

Sibling rivalry runs amok in the wake of the will reading.

Cunning old mum has decided to test the mettle of the unruly, self absorbed offspring.

On 2016/4/10 at 3:10 PM, A Lark Ascending said:

Really enjoyed this (encouraged to watch it after reading some praise on this board). I thought they handled the tale with great sensitivity and without over-sensationalising Wilson's troubles. The music, of course, was glorious. Very odd watching Pierre from 'War and Peace' in a 20thC recording studio.   

Spiffingly good, especially Paul Dano.

Edited April 12, 2016 by kinuta

[jazzbo]

Another excellent episode of Better Call Saul. 

Edited April 12, 2016 by jazzbo

[jlhoots]

I hope there's not too long a time gap between season 2 & season 3 of Better Call Saul.

Edited April 12, 2016 by jlhoots

[jazzbo]

Me too. I wish it would be on round the calendar for about seven years.

[l p]

louis c.k.'s independently produced show is available to watch through his website.

https://louisck.net/show/horace-and-pete

 

[jlhoots]

The Fall - season 2

[A Lark Ascending]

Continuing to enjoy several currently running series - 'The A Word', 'Marcella', 'Line of Duty'. Started 'Scott & Bailey' last night which I really enjoyed - Suranne Jones makes the poacher turns gamekeeper mistake of many entering middle management. 'Blue Eyes' I nearly gave up on after two episodes but it grabbed me in episode 3 and I'm with it to episode 5 now (5 to go) - crime drama set in the murky world of right-wing extremism in Sweden. 

Also a couple of historical documentaries on Captain Cook and Anglo Saxon Art. There's also a light hearted series on BBC4 covering the pop music of Britain over the last 70 years or so using the memorabilia of enthusiasts...amazing what people collect. First one covered 1955-65 with Twiggy giving a down to earth wander through. 

[jazzbo]

Game of Thrones Season 5 on Blu-ray.

[kinuta]

Martin Chuzzlewit  BBC (1994)

 

Rewatching this marvellous adaptation.  One of the Beebs finest Dickens.

[Jazzjet]

16 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

Continuing to enjoy several currently running series - 'The A Word', 'Marcella', 'Line of Duty'. Started 'Scott & Bailey' last night which I really enjoyed - Suranne Jones makes the poacher turns gamekeeper mistake of many entering middle management. 'Blue Eyes' I nearly gave up on after two episodes but it grabbed me in episode 3 and I'm with it to episode 5 now (5 to go) - crime drama set in the murky world of right-wing extremism in Sweden. 

Also a couple of historical documentaries on Captain Cook and Anglo Saxon Art. There's also a light hearted series on BBC4 covering the pop music of Britain over the last 70 years or so using the memorabilia of enthusiasts...amazing what people collect. First one covered 1955-65 with Twiggy giving a down to earth wander through. 

'Blue Eyes' is developing nicely, as is 'Follow The Money (on BBC 4). Both from Swedish TV I believe. There's also a promising looking French series on the Walter Presents strand called 'Mafiosa", set in Corsica. I think it's on demand via the All4 hub rather than on More4 as other Walter Presents offerings have been.

[A Lark Ascending]

9 hours ago, Jazzjet said:

'Blue Eyes' is developing nicely, as is 'Follow The Money (on BBC 4). Both from Swedish TV I believe. There's also a promising looking French series on the Walter Presents strand called 'Mafiosa", set in Corsica. I think it's on demand via the All4 hub rather than on More4 as other Walter Presents offerings have been.

I have 'Follow the Money' recording - too much else to see at present. Stored up for thinner times. Still haven't got round to the Icelandic one from a few weeks back. 

[A Lark Ascending]

'Peaky Blinders' is back for series 3 in May. Brush up those Brummie accents.  

[jazzbo]

Just finished the season 2 finale of Better Call Saul. Wow. Such an amazing show. Such a great wrap up to the season. It's going to be a long wait til Season 3 is here. 

[jlhoots]

The Night Manager - episode 1, excellent IMHO.

[A Lark Ascending]

14 hours ago, jlhoots said:

The Night Manager - episode 1, excellent IMHO.

It got very good reviews over here (and I loved it). Also fed into a wider debate about how public school* types are coming to dominate film, theatre, popular music and sport, given that three of the main players went to the same posh school. Provoked a wonderful comment from the comedian Alexi Sayle - "even the fourth generic Middle Eastern terrorist sounded like he'd been to Balliol."

* Public school in Britain means a school that is anything but public - fee-paying. 

Edited April 20, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[l p]

On 4/18/2016 at 1:31 PM, A Lark Ascending said:

On 4/18/2016 at 4:31 AM, Jazzjet said:

'Blue Eyes' is developing nicely, as is 'Follow The Money (on BBC 4). Both from Swedish TV I believe. There's also a promising looking French series on the Walter Presents strand called 'Mafiosa", set in Corsica. I think it's on demand via the All4 hub rather than on More4 as other Walter Presents offerings have been.

 

you guys get these shows in britain with subtitles?

[A Lark Ascending]

Yes. All subtitled. I don't think there's ever been much of a tradition of dubbing here. 

Edited April 20, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[l p]

in the u.s., it's impossible to find european tv shows with subtitles, unless they've had a u.s. dvd release - which almost never happens.

[A Lark Ascending]

13 hours ago, l p said:

in the u.s., it's impossible to find european tv shows with subtitles, unless they've had a u.s. dvd release - which almost never happens.

These things don't tend to be on the main channels (despite the huge increase in choice from satellite, online etc, BBC1 and ITV1 still have a strong presence as the main TV channels). There have always been foreign language programmes and films on UK TV but generally tucked away late at night. BBC4 (a channel that carries 'arts', history etc programmes) started showing Scandinavian and Italian thriller series at prime time about five years back and it really caught on with part of the audience - Saturday night has virtually become subtitle night on that channel. 'Walter Presents' has recently emerged as a platform for such dramas. 

Watching subtitled drama gets mocked a bit as a middle class affectation (a bit like listening to jazz, classical or folk!). But I wonder if the success of things like 'The Killing', 'The Bridge' and 'Borgen' have made the BBC and ITV up their game in the drama department. There seems to have been a remarkable improvement in quality in the last few years and the BBC in particular are making a big thing about their commitment to drama (though that is also tied in with their fight with the Tory government who want to kneecap the BBC on behalf of their paymasters in the right wing media).   

Edited April 21, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[Jazzjet]

10 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

These things don't tend to be on the main channels (despite the huge increase in choice from satellite, online etc, BBC1 and ITV1 still have a strong presence as the main TV channels). There have always been foreign language programmes and films on UK TV but generally tucked away late at night. BBC4 (a channel that carries 'arts', history etc programmes) started showing Scandinavian and Italian thriller series at prime time about five years back and it really caught on with part of the audience - Saturday night has virtually become subtitle night on that channel. 'Walter Presents' has recently emerged as a platform for such dramas. 

Watching subtitled drama gets mocked a bit as a middle class affectation (a bit like listening to jazz, classical or folk!). But I wonder if the success of things like 'The Killing', 'The Bridge' and 'Borgen' have made the BBC and ITV up their game in the drama department. There seems to have been a remarkable improvement in quality in the last few years and the BBC in particular are making a big thing about their commitment to drama (though that is also tied in with their fight with the Tory government who want to kneecap the BBC on behalf of their paymasters in the right wing media).   

Not to mention that the writer of current ITV hit 'Marcella' is Hans Rosenfeldt, who also wrote Scandi hit series 'The Bridge'. A real indication of how top class Scandinavian drama has started to influence mainstream TV.

[jlhoots]

The Americans - season 4

[A Lark Ascending]

36 minutes ago, Jazzjet said:

Not to mention that the writer of current ITV hit 'Marcella' is Hans Rosenfeldt, who also wrote Scandi hit series 'The Bridge'. A real indication of how top class Scandinavian drama has started to influence mainstream TV.

Didn't know that. Will have to look out for jumpers. 

[l p]

13 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

These things don't tend to be on the main channels (despite the huge increase in choice from satellite, online etc, BBC1 and ITV1 still have a strong presence as the main TV channels). There have always been foreign language programmes and films on UK TV but generally tucked away late at night. BBC4 (a channel that carries 'arts', history etc programmes) started showing Scandinavian and Italian thriller series at prime time about five years back and it really caught on with part of the audience - Saturday night has virtually become subtitle night on that channel. 'Walter Presents' has recently emerged as a platform for such dramas. 

Watching subtitled drama gets mocked a bit as a middle class affectation (a bit like listening to jazz, classical or folk!). But I wonder if the success of things like 'The Killing', 'The Bridge' and 'Borgen' have made the BBC and ITV up their game in the drama department. There seems to have been a remarkable improvement in quality in the last few years and the BBC in particular are making a big thing about their commitment to drama (though that is also tied in with their fight with the Tory government who want to kneecap the BBC on behalf of their paymasters in the right wing media).   

 

i did a web search yesterday to see if maybe i can watch european subtitled tv shows on british tv websites (bbc, etc), but i came up with nothing.