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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 4, 2021 14:24:34 GMT
I am now watching Hightown which is perhaps the grittiest and most extreme American series that I have ever seen. It is about a federal fisheries agent who also happens to be a drug addict and alcoholic, not to mention a very enterprising lesbian with the appropriate vocabulary ("suck my dick"). Naturally right from episode one she gets in serious trouble due to her bad habits and then she tries to make amends while never passing up a chance of hot lesbian sex of which nothing is left to the imagination. The non lesbian cast also have voracious sex requirements which are demonstrated the moment the sun goes down over Provincetown, Massachusetts. The protagonist, Jackie Quiñones, due to her lifestyle, often passes out on beds in various locations and as often as not ends up with a penis in her face when she wakes up in the morning because people in Massachusetts apparently sleep on beds in a sort of thatchwork pattern, almost always in the nude. And we all know that men sometimes having morning wood.
Anyway, things just keep getting worse and worse. Jackie had a nice friend, Junior, who is just a drug dealer in detox, but he got into a problem with a drug kingpin who threatens to kill him unless he does everything he is told to do. In the last episode I saw, the drug kingpin took him to a motel to administer a mortal drug to a woman trying to escape. Junior does really not want to do this and the girl is suspicious about the surprise offer of free drugs. The kingpin gets impatient and storms into the room, grabs a steam iron and beats the woman's head into icky fragments.
Since Jackie was trying to save this person, things do not look good for the future...
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Post by Kimby on Apr 4, 2021 15:50:58 GMT
We recently acquired the second (and final) season of THE KNICK, which is short for the Knickerbocker Hospital. Set in turn of the 20th century NYC, a Black surgeon struggles with hospital administration, his chief of surgery (Clive Owen) has just been freed from a shady drug rehab where he was being “treated” for his cocaine addiction, the hospital board is trying to build a new hospital “uptown” and courting wealthy donors and corrupt politicians, with Tammany Hall and hospital project overseers both lining their own pockets. The old Knick is a truly lovely building, and the surgical scenes are almost too realistic. (And now I know why they call the operating room the “surgical theater.”). And the society ladies’ clothing and millinery would make bixa swoon. Just finished The Knick and find that director Stephen Soderbergh is in discussions with HBO about producing a 3rd season of this Emmy Award-winning CineMax series that we thought had wrapped up in 2015. The actor who played the Black physician is also onboard, and we are reminded that a “death” in the series finale was not actually documented, so this major character could have a role too. Hmmm.
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Post by lugg on Apr 6, 2021 19:19:41 GMT
Thank you all- lots of possibilities for me to view I am now 3 episodes down into to the latest series of Line of Duty - it does not disappoint me at all. Really Jed Mercurio can do no, or at least very little, wrong in my eyes. Although I usually avoid anything to do with my work my daughter persuaded me to watch The Act ... 3 episodes in I will continue but I am finding it is invading my dreams. other than that the usual suspects - Great British Menu trumps Masterchef but both cheer up my night K2 - read your thoughts re Queer As Folk ... have you viewed It's A Sin ?
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 6, 2021 19:28:11 GMT
No, but I might watch it -- it's one of the series available to me. But I have to confess that I am a bit tired of 1) the agenda of Russell T. Davies and 2) stories about the beginning of the AIDS years. I feel as though I have seen enough about that subject and that all new material is a rehash. But I have not yet selected new things to watch, so I might give it a try.
Meanwhile, I managed to finish Hightown. Whoa! A couple of the main characters survived so there is a second series but (luckily?) it is not yet available to me because I would have been obliged to find out what happens next even though I know that it is nothing good;
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 6, 2021 21:12:31 GMT
Has anyone else watched The Flight Attendant? I gave it a try because of being out of things to watch & nothing available was speaking to me. It's based on a novel by Chris Bohjalian (which I've never read) and stars Kaley Cuoco. Cuoco is also one of the executive producers, perhaps because she could see that this was an excellent vehicle to showcase her acting talent, which is impressive. It is a who/why dunnit & has international settings & a fair amount of suspense. I think it took maybe two episodes for me to be really hooked, but now I'm into it. There are eight episodes of this first season & we'll have to wait until Spring of '22 for the next season. It's billed as a comedy drama, but I don't see it as comedic.
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Post by lugg on Apr 7, 2021 17:58:41 GMT
No not seen the Flight attendant Bixa will have a look to see if it is available here. No, but I might watch it -- it's one of the series available to me. But I have to confess that I am a bit tired of 1) the agenda of Russell T. Davies and 2) stories about the beginning of the AIDS years. I feel as though I have seen enough about that subject and that all new material is a rehash. But I have not yet selected new things to watch, so I might give it a try. Yes I get that - would be good to hear your thoughts. Personally this series is one of the best things I've watched this year.
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 7, 2021 18:45:01 GMT
I watched episode 1 today and it was everything that I feared. I love to see young people achieving personal liberation, but jeez in the first episode there were already two deaths. I will watch a bit more, but I can't imagine it getting any better.
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Post by lugg on Apr 8, 2021 18:53:32 GMT
It did for me ...
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 8, 2021 19:00:27 GMT
Okay, I admit that I wacthed the next two episodes today, so it is impossible not to watch the last two.
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Post by lugg on Apr 9, 2021 19:20:12 GMT
I hope you enjoyed them - yes it is heart rending but is it not ultimately up-lifting ?
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 9, 2021 19:26:21 GMT
Today I finished It's a Sin, and I have very mixed feelings about it, for a number of reasons. But in any case it was quite well done and probably very important for young people to see since they missed this episode of world history. But is it the sort of thing that interests them or just gay boomers who survived?
I found it super depressing and therefore probably honest but the microcosm of people who had sex every night with as many people as possible (gay or straight) is a rather unbearable idea for me, even if it is based in reality. I probably have just led a very sheltered life, because I am very much aware of the sex clubs in Paris (and have even seen one), so there are probably people who go to such places all the time. I just don't like it being presented as something obvious and/or natural.
Moving on, though, I was particularly disturbed by identifying with the character of Jill, the faithful friend who puts up with everything, no matter how outrageous and who is still there to hold the hand of the dying person in hospital. That is me. I have done it. I didn't need to see a mini-series about it.
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Post by lugg on Apr 11, 2021 19:10:39 GMT
Good to read your thoughts K2 , I quite understand the reasons for your mixed feelings . My take was yes it brought many tears but I am the opposite in that I found it ultimately uplifting. Why ? ..many reasons but maybe some of your last sentences put it in a nutshell.
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Post by Kimby on Apr 11, 2021 20:47:09 GMT
We now have watched about 5 episodes of THE YOUNG POPE, and are enjoying it for its House-Of-Cards-like intrigues and for the lead actors, Jude Law and (a very old-looking) Diane Keaton as Sister Mary. A supporting cast of Cardinals is also very good. So far I recommend it. www.imdb.com/title/tt3655448/BTW, it is only one season which aired in 2017, but a new series with much the same cast called The New Pope came out two years later. Meanwhile, a new episode of DEBRIS airs every week and though we find interesting the many strange ways the extraterrestrial pieces of space junk interact with humans, the interpersonal dialog between the male CIA lead agent and the female lead M16 agent is getting a little much, for Mr. Kimby especially. I’m more tolerant of flawed programs than he is. We’ll see how we feel after another few episodes.
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 12, 2021 14:05:21 GMT
I've been watching season 10 of Death in Paradise and have reconciled myself with Ralf Little. I really do appreciate television series that don't try to stress you out completely, considering all of the other stuff that I watch. Death in Paradise has already been renewed for seasons 11 and 12. I really do hope they come up with something brilliant twists one of these days, because at least 80% of the episodes concern British expats with long standing grudges.
Of course on the French side of the production, everybody is delighted with the return of Sara Martins (even though she is really Cape Verdian) as well as Joséphine Jobert still being there. I wonder sometimes if female police officers (with great legs) in the Caribbean really do walk around wearing shorts all the time when they're on duty. If so, I'm all for it. (Sara Martins was in an episode of the French series Mongeville over the weekend, and I can attest that her upper torso is also worth a look.)
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 13, 2021 3:45:30 GMT
We’ll see how we feel after another few episodes. I just clicked off episode two before it ended. Debris is not just flawed -- it plain sucks.
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Post by Kimby on Apr 13, 2021 3:58:59 GMT
Tell us how you REALLY feel, bixa! 😉
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Post by Kimby on Apr 13, 2021 4:19:07 GMT
But seriously. The first episode showed promise. But it’s been heading downhill since. I’m betting it won’t be renewed.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 13, 2021 4:25:50 GMT
Every single person in the show over-acts exactly like all those people who only have a tiny part in a major show, i.e., they act their pants off because this is their big chance to get noticed. While they were busy practicing whatever was their particular version of "I thought I heard a cannon roar", though, they failed to realize that the show is doomed not to be given a second season.
What is that noise the lead guy keeps making? Does he need to blow his nose or is he loudly sucking his teeth or what? The lead woman compensates for the lead guy's incessant mugging by only having one expression, which is frowning concern. I absolutely love that they fly into a town where an OTT, never-before-seen, impossible to characterize phenomenon is taking place and she says, "I have to call my sister. We don't stay in touch enough."
Stop watching this crap & go find The Flight Attendant. It's at least entertaining & has a certain amount of real suspense.
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Post by lugg on Apr 21, 2021 9:54:19 GMT
Just watched the first of a new ( to me ) cookery series . This is a lot of fun - or if it continues in the same vein. Snackmasters - professional chefs are challenged to recreate iconic snacks/ fast food. In the episode I watched - KFC was the challenge. It also held some surprises about KFC itself. The icing on the cake - Fred Siriex presents ; I could listen to his French accent and watch him for hours. The only irritating part was the comedian who in the main was not comedic - maybe she will improve. tellymix.co.uk/tv/578623-snackmasters-2021-episodes-chefs-and-challenges-as-channel-4-show-returns.html
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Post by kerouac2 on Apr 21, 2021 13:51:55 GMT
We have many cooking show competitions in France (probably adapted from the British versions), and I refuse to watch them. But I do enjoy cooking shows that just show how to cook something and not beat competitors.
I briefly had an Algerian cooking channel (since the cable service tries to hook you new things from time to time with a free week or two) and even without understanding the language, I was enthralled with the show. As you can imagine, it was not as professional as European or North American programmes, and that made it even better. The ladies (yes, only ladies) did their best to prepare all sorts of exotic normal North African dishes and they always looked wonderful to me. Considering the amount of oil used, it is probably just as well that I don't remember how to prepare these dishes.
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Post by Biddy on Apr 24, 2021 0:56:13 GMT
Watching the Cliff. It's an Icelandic police mystery. Beautiful scenery, suspicious natives and a narly old witch reminds me of rural Ireland.
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Post by whatagain on Apr 25, 2021 1:16:12 GMT
We discovered 3 new series, or at least series new to is on the cable. Cops series. The best is HIP, with some hilarious moments and nice scenarios. The pitch is a police team has to cope with a young lady of very high IQ whonis hired as consultant. The next series is a german one, very correct but lacking humor.actors are ugly - i meam germa like, i mean normal looking, which gives reality but takes away er, well, nicepeople to look at. I will tey to remember te name. The last one is again a police frenchseries, ifirgot all about it...
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 25, 2021 2:34:52 GMT
Last night I watched the second episode of The Nevers. I was very enthusiastic about the first episode, but became impatient with the second one because it seemed it was just sort of churning some of the elements around without really going anywhere.
I'll give it another chance because there is some good acting in it, not least James Norton absolutely wallowing -- wallowing delightfully -- in his role as a late-Victorian dissolute sybarite. He is worth the price of admission all by himself
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 25, 2021 20:16:59 GMT
Call the Midwife is back for another series and I thought it would have totally run out of steam by now but not a bit of it. It’s now set in the early ‘60’s and covering illegal abortions, immigration amongst the usual subjects. Very good indeed.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 28, 2021 3:17:45 GMT
Clear your calandars! The Handmaid's Tale (Season 4) Hulu, April 28 Escaped handmaid June has been planting the seeds for a full-blown revolution against the tyrannical Gilead, and Season 4 looks like it'll blow the floodgates off its hinges to make that crusade more realized.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 8, 2021 15:27:41 GMT
I was very happy to start watching the new season of the French series L'art du crime yesterday. I'm sure I must have mentioned it before, but everybody will have forgotten by now. It is into its 4th season, but its initial premise was a police investigator with some psychological problems who is sent by his hierarchy to do "art therapy," chosen sort of at random out of various possibilities. He thinks it is total bullshit at first, but obviously his therapist (a nice young woman of course) manages to convince him of the importance of taking artworks into consideration when trying to solve certain cases. Yes, this is probably a stretch at first, but he quickly becomes an expert in art crimes. He still is pretty clueless most of the time, but his therapist becomes his assistant.
It is really an excellent twist in the world of police shows and has been voted the best crime series in France.
Last night was even better than most, because the crime concerned Van Gogh. He wrote his last letter to his brother two days before his death, but there seems to have been a final letter on the day of his death, which would obviously be worth a fortune. Naturally, the person who was about to reveal this is murdered.
A lot of the episode was filmed in Auvers-sur-Oise (more than one report about that here), so I was thrilled to see all of the places that I know, the church, the inn, the death room, the wonderful fields... and the graveyard at the end. I had already been planning a new trip there in the near future, and this has definitely pushed it into a priority on my list of things to do. (Actually I have something else to do in the area, but it would require a 5 kilometre walk in each direction to get there, because there is no public transportation, so I might have to put that off until I rent a car again.)
Next week's intrigue will concern Toulouse Lautrec.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 8, 2021 15:50:56 GMT
That looks really good. I see that Amazon Prime members can buy a season of it for $9, or $2 an episode. Or "$0.00 with a MHz Choice trial on Prime Video Channels" -- whatever that is. I'm watching Mare of Eastown, which became really compelling after a somewhat blah first episode. Kate Winslet can do no wrong! What a treat to find that I'd missed an entire season of Rosehaven, meaning that now I can watch an episode a day. It still features the same silly but funny premises set in a Tasmanian town. Back in January of 2019 The Guardian touted it as a perfect antidote to Brexit and Trump. It remains a good antidote for all kinds of other things.
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Post by lugg on May 9, 2021 19:18:32 GMT
Thanks K2 will see if I can view L'art du crime . My niece told me about Mare of Eastown last night - said exactly the same as you Bixa , i.e. episode 1 go with it, its just scene setting but then it kicks in...so thanks Bixa for the additional recommendation. One of the best things I have watched for ages is "Too Close" on ITV . I am 2 down out of the 3 episodes. Denise Gough is just fantastic. A review without spoilers ... www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/apr/12/too-close-review-brilliantly-scripted-compelling-whydunnit
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Post by bixaorellana on May 9, 2021 22:05:18 GMT
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Post by lugg on May 10, 2021 18:40:10 GMT
Ooh that looks great thanks Bixa
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