What TV shows are people watching?

FETCHER. · 04-19-2022, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadis

Anyone know of any half-decent British (or Nordic or whatever) procedurals on Netflix? If I enjoyed Line of Duty and hated every single Harlan Coben adaptation, then I should like...

Have you seen The Fall?

FETCHER. · 04-19-2022, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adidasss

Just finished the first (of 3) segments of Jeen-yuhs on Netflix. It was interesting to see that he struggled a lot for the initial break and had to really fight for it. It's watchable because it's before he became a humongous asshole. He's just an awkward kid with braces, hopeful that he will make it but not all that sure about his rapping abilities. It's kind of endearing to see him get approval from established rappers of the era. I guess the next chapters will be much more uncomfortable as we see him evolve from this talented, motivated but awkward and insecure kid into the giant mess we all know him as today. :/

The narration is really annoying though, the intonation is like a kid rehearsing lines for a school play.

I also finished this the other day. I definitely have a new found respect for Kanye and his music, it’s a shame he is an absolute car crash of a man though.

**Marie Monday** · 04-19-2022, 08:59 AM

Oh btw jadis, I watched state of play. It was good and Kelly Macdonald and her accent are top tier. I think the last plot twist lacked a proper build-up so it seemed a bit unrealistic, but apart from that it's a well-constructed story. I always like watching journalism in action and especially the emotional entanglements between the characters were well done

jadis · 04-19-2022, 06:46 PM

Cracker is one of my favorites. Gritty, bleak and so so well executed. The pilot was directed by Michael Winterbottom, one of the great directors of the generation who (like Danny Boyle in Morse) got his start in crime dramas. The actors are some of the best in the business (stunning guest performances from Robert Carlyle and Adrian Dunbar in addition to the regulars), the writing is sharp, the protagonist/antagonist highly intelligent and demon-ridden. It’s perf.

I guess my problem with Coben is the Netflixy feel of the shows. As though it was produced by AI… he’s a Jersey guy and the shows are set in Britain and France, sans any local flavor. Whereas Morse could only be set in Oxford, Cracker is a deeply Mancunian affair etc. And the dialogue is not exactly worthy of Le Carré (my gold standard is TTSS with Alec Guinness)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie Monday

Oh btw jadis, I watched state of play. It was good and Kelly Macdonald and her accent are top tier. I think the last plot twist lacked a proper build-up so it seemed a bit unrealistic, but apart from that it's a well-constructed story. I always like watching journalism in action and especially the emotional entanglements between the characters were well done

You’re spot on about the centrality of reporting, I think in that it’s the Blair era update of All The President’s Men. The twist we’ll agree to disagree on, I bought it hook line and sinker! Knew you would love KM! For me the milf wife is the eye candy. What a performance from Bill Nighy as the editor!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FETCHER.

Have you seen The Fall?

Wasn’t crazy about the first season, I thought even Scully looked a bit bored…

jadis · 04-19-2022, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

For the ECW, I believe a very old show called By the Sword Divided is worth watching. I literally watched it when I was at school (so, say 45 years ago or more) and I think it's one of those BBC period dramas. If you haven't seen it, though it's a movie rather than a series, Richard Harris in Cromwell is tremendous viewing. Again, it's old, maybe 1960s/70s.

Never heard of By the Sword Divided, will check out.

Harris is a powerful Cromwell but Alec Guinness as Charles is something truly special

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadis

Cromwell (1970), a boring and dated historical drama. Alec Guinness is absolutely amazing as Charles I though.

One of the things I was bored with in this film is how traditional the narrative is. King vs Parliament, Charles vs Cromwell, royalists and roundheads, Arminians vs the godly puritans etc. There was a lot more going on there, between the radical wing in Cromwell's army (who had to be violently put down and were seen by some as a threat even bigger than Catholics) and various radical sects preaching anarchy, who were emboldened by the chaos of war and the decline in the power and authority of the Church of England, and were seen as a threat to the already ravaged social fabric. And because the film touches on none of that, it ends up presenting Cromwell as far more radical and champion of the people than we know him to be (see the Putney Debates for example).

A film I find more compelling is Winstanley, about the Digger leader. Amazing monochrome cinematography as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeLzc7s08ZU

**Marie Monday** · 04-20-2022, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadis

You’re spot on about the centrality of reporting, I think in that it’s the Blair era update of All The President’s Men. The twist we’ll agree to disagree on, I bought it hook line and sinker! Knew you would love KM! For me the milf wife is the eye candy. What a performance from Bill Nighy as the editor!

Yeah I love Bill Nighy. He's always fantastic

The Batlord · 04-20-2022, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie Monday

Yeah I love Bill Nighy. He's always fantastic

The Science Guy?

Plankton · 04-20-2022, 08:01 AM

Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill!

I've met Bill actually. My daughter and me walked up on him setting up for a presentation at the Museum of S&I in Chicago in the 90's. He's a riot.

jadis · 04-20-2022, 09:48 AM

Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5iZZvyxtC8

Anyway gonna rewatch Cracker after I'm done with La Promesse. During the lockdowns we did TV time together so I had to watch lots of reality shows and anime but I can't do it any longer. Need to get back on my proper bs like watching Robbie Coltrane scream at a suspect about the death drive.

**Marie Monday** · 04-20-2022, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

The Science Guy?

Ew no

04-20-2022, 08:01 AM	#6988 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! I've met Bill actually. My daughter and me walked up on him setting up for a presentation at the Museum of S&I in Chicago in the 90's. He's a riot. __________________ See location...

04-20-2022, 09:48 AM	#6989 (permalink)
jadis Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: dont ask Posts: 1,353	Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5iZZvyxtC8 Anyway gonna rewatch Cracker after I'm done with La Promesse. During the lockdowns we did TV time together so I had to watch lots of reality shows and anime but I can't do it any longer. Need to get back on my proper bs like watching Robbie Coltrane scream at a suspect about the death drive.