What Are You Watching

[A Lark Ascending]

17 hours ago, page said:

I've just found out a couple of days ago, my provider offers me:



Borgen season 1 (not sure how many seasons there are already).
I quite like it. Political drama.
 

I really liked that. I think there were three seasons in all - they decided to quit while ahead. 

Also watching a Danish series:

Not brilliant, but watchable. Reminds me of the sort of thing they used to make in the 70s. The lead character is really annoying - constantly going where she shouldn't, walking into crime scenes, having instant rumpy-pumpy with a doctor who is treating a graze, entering houses with open doors (there seem to be a lot of those in Jutland) etc. If the sign says 'Keep Off The Grass', don't walk on it! (I'm so jazz!)    

Edited December 8, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[kinuta]

2 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

I really liked that. I think there were three seasons in all - they decided to quit while ahead. 

Also watching a Danish series:

Not brilliant, but watchable. Reminds me of the sort of thing they used to make in the 70s. The lead character is really annoying - constantly going where she shouldn't, walking into crime scenes, having instant rumpy-pumpy with a doctor who is treating a graze, entering houses with open doors (there seem to be a lot of those in Jutland) etc. If the sign says 'Keep Off The Grass', don't walk on it! (I'm so jazz!)    

" Rumpy-pumpy ", that's a new one, almost onomatopoeic.

[A Lark Ascending]

1 hour ago, kinuta said:

" Rumpy-pumpy ", that's a new one, almost onomatopoeic.

It's a Danish hot drink, like Ovaltine. 

[mjazzg]

BBC's adaptation of Zadie Smith's NW

I find Smith has a keen eye for contemporary London and have enjoyed all her novels so approached this adaptation with some trepidation. I thought it was excellent - well scripted, well cast and on the whole well acted . There were characters and incidents uncannily resonant of my neighbourhood in NE London

[A Lark Ascending]

First of a two part doc on Walt Disney. Fascinating. Going to the cinema to see a Disney animated feature film in the 60s was the ultimate experience - nothing quite matched the colour of those films (and, except for new films, they appeared rarely. Recall seeing "Pinocchio" at about 8 and being scared out of my wits...have kept clear of amusement parts ever since). Lost touch after "The Jungle Book" and just have a mental image of Disney as a rapacious, union-bashing capitalist. So it was interesting to learn just how innovative he was in the 20s and 30s. Expect the nasty stuff will appear in part 2.   

Edited December 13, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[kinuta]

 Rillington Place

Final act.

Horrifying.

Tim Roth was truly frightening in one of the most chilling things I've ever seen on tv.

[sidewinder]

4 hours ago, kinuta said:

 Rillington Place

Final act.

Horrifying.

Tim Roth was truly frightening in one of the most chilling things I've ever seen on tv.

Chilling for sure. Strange to think that I must have driven past the site of where it happened many, many times. M40 flyover Westway in West London is right next to it. Roth's performance was in this episode was totally believable.

The original 1971 film had the original street location as a set though - chilling in itself.

[JohnS]

Not seen for years and well worth watching again.  I can always watch Nancy Gates 

[page]

On 8-12-2016 at 6:53 AM, A Lark Ascending said:

I really liked that. I think there were three seasons in all - they decided to quit while ahead. 

Also watching a Danish series:

Not brilliant, but watchable. Reminds me of the sort of thing they used to make in the 70s. The lead character is really annoying - constantly going where she shouldn't, walking into crime scenes, having instant rumpy-pumpy with a doctor who is treating a graze, entering houses with open doors (there seem to be a lot of those in Jutland) etc. If the sign says 'Keep Off The Grass', don't walk on it! (I'm so jazz!)    

Yeah, me too. I'm watching series 2 of Borgen at the moment. Getting hooked, although sometimes I wonder why I want to watch more political drama than the ones from real life.

Dicte needs a bit getting into, I think. I did take some time with me, but I did learn to appreciate the story. Maybe I like that bit of rebellion, since the feeling is recognsable. Give it some time.

Edited December 14, 2016 by page

[A Lark Ascending]

11 hours ago, page said:

Dicte needs a bit getting into, I think. I did take some time with me, but I did learn to appreciate the story. Maybe I like that bit of rebellion, since the feeling is recognsable. Give it some time.

I watched all five and enjoyed them. I thought the 'police' storylines of each episode a bit predictable; but I really warmed to the characters as they developed. Really liked the "daughter much older than her mum" character.

 

I think I saw this last in 1964. Most of my memories come from parodies, Miles Davis versions of the big tune and Tom Waits' disturbed take on the dwarves song.  Still an impressive piece of animation.

 

On 12/14/2016 at 2:01 AM, kinuta said:

 Rillington Place

Final act.

Horrifying.

Tim Roth was truly frightening in one of the most chilling things I've ever seen on tv.

I have that recorded but after reading your comments am not sure I can manage it. I get scared by the queen in Snow White. 

[kinuta]

Rejoice, Nashville fans, it's back !! 

 

[jazzbo]

Good news, my wife is happy.

[A Lark Ascending]

'Modus' ended last night with blood everywhere. Not the best Scandi-noir but perfectly watchable. 

Second part of the Walt Disney documentary - as expected, everything went pear shaped. Did not seem a happy man. 

Special award to Friday night's 'Have I Got News For You' that replaced an indisposed Nicky Morgan (currently reeling in the Trousergate scandal) with a large, expensive handbag.  

Edited December 18, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[A Lark Ascending]

Just had a quick flip through the year on this thread (see, these threads do have a purpose!) to try and work out my favourites of the year. Not easy to do as you never know how much you really enjoyed something in January compared with something in November; and how far your sense of enjoyment is affected by subsequent wider discussion.

Confining to TV from 2016, what I did notice was most of what stuck in my memory was from the first half of the year.

My awards (purely based on what I saw from my tiny corner of the world through my particular prejudices and predilections) go to:

• War and Peace
• Happy Valley II
• The A Word
• The Night Manager
• Line of Duty III
• Marcella
• Peaky Blinders III
• Trapped (marvellous Greenland Scandi-noir)
• Fleabag

Overall top award goes to 'Fleabag' for its utter originality and combination of razor-edge comedy with emotional depth.   

Though 'Question Time' deserves an award as the TV programme I shouted at most, especially in June. 

What was really scary, leafing through, was how many programmes I watched which I have quite forgotten. Need to eat more oily fish. 

 

[kinuta]

TV shows I liked from 2016

Westworld

OJ Made In America

The Night Of

The Crown

Happy Valley 2

Planet Earth 2

War & Peace

Daredevil 2

Line Of Duty 3

Bosch 2

Peaky Blinders 3

Hypernormalisation

[Jazzjet]

7 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

Just had a quick flip through the year on this thread (see, these threads do have a purpose!) to try and work out my favourites of the year. Not easy to do as you never know how much you really enjoyed something in January compared with something in November; and how far your sense of enjoyment is affected by subsequent wider discussion.

Confining to TV from 2016, what I did notice was most of what stuck in my memory was from the first half of the year.

My awards (purely based on what I saw from my tiny corner of the world through my particular prejudices and predilections) go to:

• War and Peace
• Happy Valley II
• The A Word
• The Night Manager
• Line of Duty III
• Marcella
• Peaky Blinders III
• Trapped (marvellous Greenland Scandi-noir)
• Fleabag

Overall top award goes to 'Fleabag' for its utter originality and combination of razor-edge comedy with emotional depth.   

Though 'Question Time' deserves an award as the TV programme I shouted at most, especially in June. 

What was really scary, leafing through, was how many programmes I watched which I have quite forgotten. Need to eat more oily fish. 

 

Pretty much matches my favourite TV, although I haven't watched Happy Valley I yet and don't 'get' Peaky Blinders. I would only add River and the ITV crime series Unforgotten. I've spent quite a lot of time working through series on Netflix such as Homeland, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. 

PS Isn't 'Trapped' set in Iceland rather than Greenland?

[A Lark Ascending]

20 hours ago, Jazzjet said:

Pretty much matches my favourite TV, although I haven't watched Happy Valley I yet and don't 'get' Peaky Blinders. I would only add River and the ITV crime series Unforgotten. I've spent quite a lot of time working through series on Netflix such as Homeland, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. 

PS Isn't 'Trapped' set in Iceland rather than Greenland?

Yes, I enjoyed those two as well - was that this year or last? Can't remember.

I really enjoyed the latest series of House of Cards and The Good Wife (No 6 so not the latest) this year but they might be 2015 that I only got round to recently.

You are right about Iceland. I do this all the time when mentioning it. Don't know why. Explains why I'm forever returning from the high street having failed to locate frozen goods.   

Edited December 20, 2016 by A Lark Ascending

[Jazzjet]

6 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

 

You are right about Iceland. I do this all the time when mentioning it. Don't know why. Explains why I'm forever returning from the high street having failed to locate frozen goods.   

Isn't Greenland a store where they sell stuff from Iceland that's gone off?

[paul secor]

Watched the St. Olaf Choir on PBS last night - a Christmas time tradition for me.

[A Lark Ascending]

21 hours ago, Jazzjet said:

Isn't Greenland a store where they sell stuff from Iceland that's gone off?

I'm way too posh to shop at Iceland (though not hipster enough to shop at Lidl).

Two part Xmas edition of 'Last Tango in Halifax'. Disappointing - thin, silly 'ghost' storyline, way too many potential themes thrown in and undeveloped. Some of the acting even looked a bit unrehearsed (not just the amateur dramatics parts). Wainwright has a great eye for niggling family tension and it was on display here - but I'd not be surprised if she was rushed into this 'Christmas Special'.

[duaneiac]

An entertaining program.  it was fun to see Bill Murray working again with Paul Shaffer at the piano almost 40 years after they first did so on SNL.

[kinuta]

Travelers

 

A time travel show that has almost no mention of time travelling.

The cast are all in the present with no return to their present in our future.

This crept up on me and is one to look forward to each week.

The cast are easy to relate to and their shenanigans all involve actual hard technology and a constant struggle to remain under cover.

Avoids histrionics but is tense, well written and involving in a way that Twelve Monkeys never was.

I like it. 

 

 

[A Lark Ascending]

Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream (BBC 4)

Interesting if irritating three parter - suffered in the last 30 minutes from recycling the same old cliches about Freud, Klimt, Alma Mahler and Hitler - "Vienna, a city in political decline but the birthplace of modern thought...blah! blah! blah!". Presented by yet another effin' public school boy (Simon Sebag Montefiore) posturing in a hat. Didn't help that the camera kept getting in really close to his face when he was making grandiose statements. 

[kinuta]

British posters, help satisfy my curiosity by telling me what the ' bake off ', ' great bake off ' thing is all about?

I'm puzzled that so many tv viewers are interested in baking.

I would have thought it a dull, minority interest topic.

Edited December 26, 2016 by kinuta

[sidewinder]

3 hours ago, kinuta said:

British posters, help satisfy my curiosity by telling me what the ' bake off ', ' great bake off ' thing is all about?

I'm puzzled that so many tv viewers are interested in baking.

I would have thought it a dull, minority interest topic.

Beats me - I never watch it. Enormously popular though, appealing to the same demographic that gets equally worked up and manic over Strictly Come Dancing..

While some of us are spinning our Tina Brooks disks the rest of the country is praying at the altar of Mary Berry and Darcey Bussell.

Edited December 26, 2016 by sidewinder