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Post by patricklondon on Jun 20, 2019 11:52:23 GMT
Did you ever finish Years and Years, Patrick? Yes, the final episode aired here on Tuesday night. A very brisk wind-up of the plotlines (fast enough to skate over what would be implausibilities if this were a thoroughgoing political thriller rather than dystopian fantasy) before the "message" coda. I can see it might puzzle some people who expect the i's dotted and the t's crossed, with it being just a bit like the "With one bound he was free" science-gabble dénouments of Davies's Dr Who scripts, but it struck me as pretty powerful. Especially since it slipped in a new clown/monster in the background, and, serendipitously, was aired immediately after the Tory leadership debate. Also at an end (though I haven't yet caught up with the last episode) is Mum - one of those comedy/dramas where nothing happens but everything happens, all the important reality being revealed obliquely through a family doing ordinary things. The basic set-up is that "Mum" is recently widowed, but an old family friend has been carrying a torch for her for years, and she is torn between him, her conflicted feelings about the dear departed, and a jealous son. It's all in the acting, glances across a crowded room sort of thing, and beautifully done. My blog | My photos | My video clips | My Librivox recordings"too literate to be spam"
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Post by Kimby on Jun 20, 2019 14:48:58 GMT
I watched the first episode of season two of Big Little Lies. I'm sort of ennnhhh about it, although Reese Witherspoon is awfully impressive and it's a huge treat to see Meryl Streep on tv. I enjoyed Season 1 very much. Looking forward to #2. Though unless I watch it on an airplane somewhere, it will be at least a year before I can get it at the library. Fortunately there are LOTS of other shows to watch in the meantime.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 20, 2019 16:49:44 GMT
I am always interested in how crime series can be done with something new, since every conceivable variation has been done over the last 50 years. There was a series in France recently called "Double Je" about a young woman police detective. She is followed around everywhere by a well dressed older man who constantly harasses her. It turns out that this is her imaginary friend from childhood -- he doesn't exist. In her real life she is saddled with a control freak partner who is investigating her over past mistakes. They hate each other. Yet they sleep together in the very first episode because, hey, this is France. Anyway, the imaginary friend is always telling her the clues she missed, so she manages to solve every case. It really wasn't very good, but I will give it a few points for trying something new.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 20, 2019 20:35:15 GMT
I enjoyed Years and Years Patrick summed up the last episode pretty succinctly. Mum was excellent too I thought...my beloved hated it so I missed a lot of episodes.
Watching Catch 22 on channel 4 atm. I didn't enjoy the book much but OH likes the series so far (he won't have read the book...no ghosts, vampires, chainsaw murderers or aliens in it....hush my mouth!)
I'm not liking the new series of Handmaid's Tale much...Jeff is sticking with it but I don't know if I will...
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 20, 2019 21:36:41 GMT
Yes, good summation, Patrick. Even after the talk about parallels with real politicians, it was almost a shock to hear the Trump rhetoric word for word from Rook. I did like how the finale showed the evolution of Bethany and Stephen continues to intrigue me as a character. I love Muriel and how she is a whole Greek chorus all by herself.
I didn't know Catch 22 was on tv. I read that ages and ages ago, I think when I was still in college.
I need to give Mum another watch.
Ooooo ~ I'm totally into Handmaid's Tale, although it continues to be upsetting. The actors in it are stellar and the premise is, tragically, necessary to have waved under our collective noses.
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Post by lugg on Jun 27, 2019 21:11:01 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 27, 2019 23:20:13 GMT
You are starting from the beginning with Handmaid's Tale, right Lugg?
Today I watched the last episode of season three of Mum and am crushed that it is over for now. I have no gentle little sitcom to replace it.
Ghosts definitely has an interesting premise!
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Post by lugg on Jun 28, 2019 8:13:42 GMT
Yep Bixa well hopefully as long as I can access it
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 29, 2019 16:40:43 GMT
I stumbled across the last two episodes of Patrick Melrose (it is a 5 episode mini series). Benedict Cumberbatch is always fascinating to watch (except when he is playing Doctor Strange, whom I would like to delete from the Marvel universe), but I am always allergic to these aristocratic existential dramas and this was no exception. What a waste of time!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 29, 2019 17:28:11 GMT
If you like very silly, rude, childish, offensive full of foul language comedies then I recommend Year of the Rabbit hubby loves it. I watch with one eye open.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 29, 2019 18:31:30 GMT
Working backward ~
Rabbit looks promising, Cheery.
You cannot dismiss Patrick Melrose as a waste of time based on the two final episodes and the fact that you don't care for the premise. I sort of hate the core premise (not the one you mentioned), the show has Jennifer Jason Leigh in it -- an automatic black mark, and yes, who cares about poor little rich kids. That said, it was a remarkable production that showcased almost everything Cumberbatch can do. You obviously missed the episode where he plays a whole bunch of people at one time -- wow!
Lugg, thanks for the Ghosts recommendation. It's a fun show! re: Handmaid's Tale ~Do you want me to show you how to do p*r*t* tv?
Leapfrogging back to an earlier comment ~ Cheery, what don't you like about the new season of Handmaid's Tale?
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 29, 2019 18:45:19 GMT
Bixa...it's just too depressing. I'm on a sinking ship already....
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 29, 2019 18:48:33 GMT
I have never watched it because I despise the hypothesis. I am too much of a softy.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 29, 2019 22:22:32 GMT
Cheery, it is not a jolly show, no indeed. I watch it because it is mirroring the way my home country is going right now and I just hope to hell it gets through to enough people on that level. Really, it showcases how women have been judged and blamed and thwarted and repressed throughout history.
That's kind of soft-serve doo-doo, Kerouac. Since we all know what movies you watch, many of which have really dreadful hypotheses and horribly show everything, I can't imagine that is the reason you haven't watched the show.
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Post by lugg on Jun 30, 2019 17:18:10 GMT
Well I am now 3 episodes down in Series 1 of Handmaids Tale (Thank you Bixa but managed to access it - I might come back to you though for other series)It has me hooked already but its certainly not easy viewing, in fact its traumatic watching it at times but strangely in a way I find it almost optimistic ;I guess that does not continue. I mean optimistic in so far as June / Offred is so far hanging on to her inner self. Its so long ago that I read the book that I am avoiding comparisons which is great because usually I prefer the book. Anyway thanks Cheery re Rabbit ... sounds the perfect antidote. Glad you are enjoying Ghosts Bixa.
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Post by lugg on Jun 30, 2019 17:42:07 GMT
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jun 30, 2019 17:45:07 GMT
I remember the film (1990) Handmaid's Tale which made a huge impression on me so I bought the book (published 1985) the series made me go back to it. It is a book every young person should read imo. The first series was compelling, I can't say that I enjoyed it exactly...but whereas the film and books weren't seriously prophetic (I don't think so anyway)....nowadays it's too close for comfort, especially with nutjobs in power. Jeff's still watching...but I'm not expecting any happy endings.
We loved Ghosts altho during the first episode I was thinking 'uh oh this is a bit rubbish'...but subsequent episodes were fab so I'm glad we stuck with it.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jun 30, 2019 18:03:28 GMT
We thought just the same about Ghosts but it was really good.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 1, 2019 2:12:38 GMT
I don't think anyone has posted about Gentleman Jack I watched one or two episodes and it looked really good. I don't know what distracted me away from it, but thanks for the reminder. Suranne Jones can do no wrong.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 6, 2019 2:24:28 GMT
Finished season one of Gentleman Jack yesterday. What wonderful casting throughout! I also like that mostly they don't keep banging away at any one plotline to the point you don't care. They veered toward that with the romance, but then swung away in time. I love the coal parts and am looking forward to seeing how all of it plays out next season.
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Post by lugg on Jul 6, 2019 9:21:33 GMT
Sounds good Bixa - I will watch at some point I'm sure. I am close to end of Series 1 of The Handmaids Tale and it continues to grip me. I have also started watching Bodies - which is years old but I missed it when it came out. Its available as a box set on BBC I player. I usually avoid anything to do with health services but as I am a big fan of Jed Mercurio's Line of Duty I decided to give it a go. I guess I'm enjoying it as I am now on episode 5. Anyway here's a link for anyone who wants to know more www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/apr/17/bodies-jed-mercurio-masterpiece-medical-drama-bbc-iplayer
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Post by Kimby on Jul 6, 2019 13:43:54 GMT
The Kimbys just finished bingeing on Killing Eve. Though we had to suspend disbelief a bit now and then, we enjoyed it very much. We noted some elements in common with other series we’ve liked: Kenny’s tech savvy reminded us of “24”, the international locations were reminiscent of Homeland, and the disguises and killings reminded us of The Americans.
Not sure what they can do to continue in Season Two, though.
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Post by mich64 on Jul 6, 2019 15:16:20 GMT
We watched the first two episodes of season three of Designated Survivor. The only difference I noticed immediately was the use of swear words, not gratuitous though, a reasonable and realistic amount. We are enjoying so far, looking forward to a few more episodes this evening.
I think we are going to try The Handmaids Tale next and I am also going to investigate Killing Eve Kimby.
First time that we have used Netflix.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 9, 2019 12:05:36 GMT
We've just finished watching Stranger Things series 3. I'm not one for gore but it was pretty good.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 9, 2019 13:32:42 GMT
We are looking forward to Stranger Things 3, too. Thanks for the review.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 9, 2019 17:15:22 GMT
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Post by lugg on Jul 9, 2019 19:16:55 GMT
I really enjoyed Mrs Wilson. Will check out Stranger Things - not on my radar before.
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Post by patricklondon on Jul 10, 2019 6:02:57 GMT
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 10, 2019 6:30:35 GMT
I only watched one episode of Gentleman Jack. It didn't appeal altho I may watch in the future. We're watching the first series of Brooklyn-Nine-Nine altho I've only seen a couple of episodes...it's very silly bit I quite liked it. Jeff likes to have the TV on from about 4pm every day, but I'm usually either online, preparing dinner or in the back room sewing and listening to the radio. The only thing I watch every day is the news atm. I like factual programmes, especially science based ones but Jeff finds them boring. I was allowed to watch 24 hours in A&E last night...Jeff has a new laptop so he relinquished the TV remote
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 18, 2019 19:08:27 GMT
BBC nature documentary series on atm Serengeti ...spectacular...could imagine watching it on a cinema screen!
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