What Are You Watching

[A Lark Ascending]

50 minutes ago, kinuta said:

Indeed, that's how to end a series in real style. 

Genuinely nail biting suspense like that is all too rare on tv. That it was generated almost entirely by questions and answers says a lot about the level of writing, acting and production. One of the best season ends I've seen in a long time, with the montage coda placing the final cherry on the cake .

Loads of great performances but I particularly liked Craig Parkinson's 'Dot' Cotton. Utter confidence and fawning obedience in public, falling apart when out of sight. 

[page]

On 28-4-2016 at 6:18 AM, kinuta said:

Finale of Scott & Bailey.

Adequately wrapped up but felt rushed and, for me, missing Gill.

Sad to hear this is the final outing for the girls.

Losing Rachel, Janet and Alicia in the same week is a real pity.

Hope it will get here too. I can imagine you missing the "Godzilla" of the series like they called her, I think I will too. I also like her part on "Happy Valley", that was quite an opposite. Who's the other pretty lady named Alicia?

On 28-4-2016 at 7:15 PM, A Lark Ascending said:

Just watched that this afternoon. Agree with you - lots of plot lines (apart from the main one) left unresolved. Strange really - TV programmes are usually guilty of stretching out to fill six episodes. This one was over-compressed. Enjoyed it though.

Very moving ending to 'The A Word' on Tuesday. 'Line of Duty' ending due in a couple of hours. Issues of police corruption a little to close to reality at present.  

Lovely ending of "The A-word" indeed. Following a new series called "The Syndicate".

Looking forward to a documentary on Amy Winehouse that is planned for this week. Also, on the BBC, a program on Gareth's Invictus choir. I've seen something on him before where he was organizing a reunion of choirs he had worked with before, school choirs. I really enjoyed that at the time. Not sure this is a re-run or a new program, but I will try to catch it when I can.

Edited April 30, 2016 by page

[kinuta]

That's Alicia Florrick, the central character in The Good Wife , which ends it's seven year run next week.

An excellent show that has maintained a high level of storytelling and has a roster of interesting characters, based mainly  around a Chicago  law firm.

Very much recommended, quality tv.

[jazzbo]

Lucy and I are watching "Rebellion" on Sundance Channel. Interesting.

[page]

On 30-4-2016 at 10:44 PM, kinuta said:

That's Alicia Florrick, the central character in The Good Wife , which ends it's seven year run next week.

An excellent show that has maintained a high level of storytelling and has a roster of interesting characters, based mainly  around a Chicago  law firm.

Very much recommended, quality tv.

I don't think I know that series, thanks.

On 28-4-2016 at 7:15 PM, A Lark Ascending said:

Very moving ending to 'The A Word' on Tuesday. 'Line of Duty' ending due in a couple of hours. Issues of police corruption a little to close to reality at present.  

Btw do you know who the performer is of the rendition of "Secret Heart" that was played during the end credits the last episode? Is that the original artist or a rendition?

[A Lark Ascending]

Sorry, no idea.

i'd recommend The Good Wife too. Just completed series 6 so have one more to go.

[jlhoots]

6 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

Sorry, no idea.

i'd recommend The Good Wife too. Just completed series 6 so have one more to go.

Series finale next Sunday.

[A Lark Ascending]

4 hours ago, jlhoots said:

Series finale next Sunday.

I'm awaiting the DVD to hire of series 7...a while yet, I imagine. It's been on here and on a replayer channel but the first episodes have gone past their sell-by date. I'm patient - not short of things to watch.  

[jazzbo]

Watching the theatrical cut

[page]

On 2-5-2016 at 7:56 AM, A Lark Ascending said:

Sorry, no idea.

i'd recommend The Good Wife too. Just completed series 6 so have one more to go.

Ok, thanks. I'll keep it in mind.

[jazzbo]

Getting caught up on "The Story of God" on National Geographic . . . excellent series.

[Shawn]

[A Lark Ascending]

Peaky Blinders - Series 3

A bit slow to start to episode 1 but then exploded into life. The music is a huge factor in the feel of this series - even when a 20s jazz band is playing the music is rough, strained alternative rock, adding to the sense of menace.

Brilliant bit of audience manipulation tonight. The Shelby's are a bunch of murderous crooks; yet put them up against a bunch of stereotypical aristocrats and you can't help but root for them. 

[kinuta]

15 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

Peaky Blinders - Series 3

A bit slow to start to episode 1 but then exploded into life. The music is a huge factor in the feel of this series - even when a 20s jazz band is playing the music is rough, strained alternative rock, adding to the sense of menace.

Brilliant bit of audience manipulation tonight. The Shelby's are a bunch of murderous crooks; yet put them up against a bunch of stereotypical aristocrats and you can't help but root for them. 

Watched and enjoyed it too. Dig the hipster haircuts

[A Lark Ascending]

Excellent (lengthy) article here about acting in Britain (and more besides):

Why working-class actors are a disappearing breed

And utterly depressing forewarnings:

BBC may have to share licence fee with rivals

Interesting sentence here:

"Although Whittingdale has led the white paper process, the prime minister, David Cameron, and the chancellor,George Osborne, are understood to have played a key part in the decision-making process."

They seem to omitted the names of an antipodean media zillionaire and editor of the Daily Mail. 

Enjoy the BBC while you can - in a few years it'll have been asset-stripped with nothing left but Celebrity Dominatrix. 

Edited May 8, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[kinuta]

Rewatching Damages season one.

Superb.

 

[Matthew]

The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Season 1. Season one has some outstanding episodes, but overall, a bit dated.

[A Lark Ascending]

Started watching 'Follow the Money' (mentioned above by others) last night (stored on my digibox). Very enjoyable episode 1. 

It's such an institution that it's easy to overlook but this programme in its umpteenth series remains as hilarious as ever. Won a BAFTA last night.

BAFTA results were interesting:

"The BBC won a total of 14 awards, half of them for shows on BBC1. Channel 4 won six with another for E4, and two for ITV. Sky and Amazon took home one award each."

http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/may/08/wolf-hall-director-says-bbc-is-under-threat

 

 

Edited May 9, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[Jazzjet]

23 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

 

BBC may have to share licence fee with rivals

Interesting sentence here:

"Although Whittingdale has led the white paper process, the prime minister, David Cameron, and the chancellor,George Osborne, are understood to have played a key part in the decision-making process."

They seem to omitted the names of an antipodean media zillionaire and editor of the Daily Mail. 

Enjoy the BBC while you can - in a few years it'll have been asset-stripped with nothing left but Celebrity Dominatrix. 

I've often wondered whether Tony Hall and the BBC chiefs would dare turning up at meetings with Whittingdale dangling a pair of handcuffs and a knowing wink.

I wonder whether Cameron and co are seriously misjudging the public mood on the BBC (as with other matters). I imagine a large amount of the audience for things like The Archers, Strictly, Attenborough, Bake Off etc are old and conservative.

[A Lark Ascending]

Indeed. 

I feel similar about the Beeb as over Europe. Constantly irritated by their conservative (small c) leanings, overall convinced they are forces for good.

I think they have misjudged the mood. They think they can slip this through while everyone is distracted by Europe. 

[kinuta]

The Good Wife

Sad to see it finish. No spoilers for those who haven't seen it.

They should give Lucca a spin off, like ' Better Call Saul'.

[jazzbo]

I agree, great actress! Another one of Britain's best.

[kinuta]

1 hour ago, jazzbo said:

I agree, great actress! Another one of Britain's best.

Magnetic screen presence, she owns every scene she's in.

[Shawn]

Any suggestions for British courtroom/lawyer dramas?  Now that The Good Wife has concluded I need to find something else to dig into, thought a change of country might make it interesting.  

I've seen the original House Of Cards trilogy.  

 

 

[alankin]

The Americans - Season 4

A bit more than halfway through this season.  An excellent series.  Matthew Rhys is impressive.