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Post by Kimby on Mar 1, 2022 5:32:35 GMT
Has anyone watched Yellowstone?
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Post by Kimby on Mar 1, 2022 14:32:05 GMT
….having watched three episodes of My Brilliant Friend so far, and by and large it was all worth it. I'm not a person who wants car chases or for things to race along, but still feel that often the action feels too slowed down in service of godknowswhat, but it does not ruin the show for me. I can't remember how far I got in the one book in the series that I attempted, but don't think I'm at that point in the show yet. In any case, the tv show seems to be better at letting the viewer in on what's going on than the book did. Perhaps that is the reason for the stately pace, so that the various characters and relationships will sink in. Overall the production allows you to empathize with some characters who in their actions are not at all likable, by simply showing their circumstances, i.e., impatient or even brutal parents who know life is an endless cycle of hard work and never having enough, a cycle that means they must push that same cycle onto their children. The casting and acting are excellent throughout. So far I have only been able to see the first season of MY BRILLIANT FRIEND, years ago. I hear that there are THREE seasons, with a possible fourth (there were four books in the series). Has anyone seen the second season? (Was it called My Brilliant Friend Season 2, or named after the book?) This article features an interview with the 2 young ladies who played Lila and Elena in (most of) season One and Season Two. www.nytimes.com/2022/02/25/arts/television/my-brilliant-friend-hbo.html?smid=url-share
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Post by casimira on Mar 1, 2022 15:03:54 GMT
I'm watching Killing Eve (Hulu). Riveting!
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 1, 2022 16:03:07 GMT
Kimby, that is exactly the same link I posted in reply #1470. That post also announces that the new season (3rd) began last night on HBO. As far as how many seasons are planned, Wikipedia's entry on the show says: My Brilliant Friend [,the] coming-of-age drama television series [n]amed after the first of four novels in the Neapolitan Novels series by Elena Ferrante, it is set to adapt the entire literary work over four eight-episode seasons.Kudos for actually finding an old post about My Brilliant Friend with proboard's semi-worthless search engine. I searched, too & found: this comment from htmb , written on May 30, 2020: Yes, as to My Brilliant Friend. Not only are the episodes intense, but it takes a lot out of me to concentrate on the translations AND the character behavior, scenery, etc. I’ve been parceling it out and watching one or two episodes per week. It’s a real interesting study in human behavior. I can sympathize a bit with most of them, but I wish there was at least one character I liked or admired.To which I replied: That's exactly how I watched it. And ditto on the flickering sympathy with characters. I found it interesting how often I inappropriately sympathized or failed to sympathize. For instance, at times I would feel a degree of empathy with some characters who were acting in completely unacceptable ways, like Stefano (Lila's husband) but I failed to feel enough specific sympathy for Elena in that harrowing scene with Nino's father. I of course felt intense sympathetic horror for anyone in that situation, but simultaneously felt my usual annoyance and distaste for Elena's creepy passivity, if that's the right word for her omnipresence and lack of action. That particular type of passivity is made more confusing in light of her admirable adherence to studying. Anyway, I realize I'm displaying how much the program both repels and engages the viewer, so will shut up now. I did come across this, which can be helpful while watching: www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/my-brilliant-friend/the-characters
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 1, 2022 16:38:01 GMT
I have enjoyed watching the French series Le crime lui va si bien (Crime is her game) starring Ivorian comedian Claudia Tagbo. Obviously a lot of the interest comes from seeing an African police detective solve crimes in rural France. (The detective was supposedly adopted as a child by a French couple.) It is not quite a fish-out-of-water situation but she still has to face the disbelief of some of the locals. She also sometimes has African reactions when any occult might be happening. Anyway, its main appeal is that it is different from the standard police series.
I saw that Claudia Tagbo is also one of the judges of the West African version of 'Africas Got Talent' which is shown in 25 countries.
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Post by Kimby on Mar 2, 2022 2:07:41 GMT
Kimby, that is exactly the same link I posted in reply #1470. That post also announces that the new season (3rd) began last night on HBO. Oops! Well, they say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery!
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 2, 2022 3:11:31 GMT
Well, I didn't answer your question about whether others here have seen Season Two. As far as I can remember, I think everyone who is a fan of the series did in fact watch the second season.
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Post by Kimby on Mar 2, 2022 18:45:02 GMT
Has anyone watched Yellowstone? We watched the (2018) Season One Premiere last night. It surprised us by not being a historical series, i.e. set in the past, though “1883” is a prequel that IS set in the past. The series follows the Dutton family’s battles with a neighboring Indian Reservation and a ruthless real estate developer. Patriarch Kevin Costner is well-cast. It combines elements of Succession, Dances With Wolves, and Romeo and Juliet (1 son is married into a tribal family). The scenery is gorgeous (Utah stands in for Montana, though the Dutton family lodge actually is in Montana, about an hours drive away from us.) I could watch more of it, despite the many obvious factual errors in the storyline (e. g. you can’t just build a dam on your property in Montana - water rights law is well established going back over a century). Mr. Kimby isn’t in love, though, so I may not get to watch much more of it. However, we have nothing else to watch, so maybe we’ll get hooked. Does anyone know if it hits its stride? Updated: we finished Season One. There are at least 4 seasons, it appears, and after the third season the production abandoned Utah, and it WAS filmed in Montana. (I think it has been renewed for a 5th season.). So much happened in the first season it’s hard to imagine what was left for the subsequent seasons.
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 6, 2022 20:28:24 GMT
Grantchester has definitely taken an unexpected turn. While the previous seasons that I have watched just showed the amazing vicar helping the police to solve random crimes, we are now totally concentrated on his gay assistant who was caught doing acts against nature and is now in prison (this is the 1950s). Tom Brittney as the hot priest has more sex than one would expect back in those days, but also his 1000% support of the other guy is hard to believe even though it is admirable.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Mar 6, 2022 21:55:17 GMT
Watched The Great Pottery Throwdown final this evening. I love watching the potters at work..it looks so satisfying...what a glorious way to express yourself. Last night we watched the first episode of the latest (and last) series of Killing Eve which didn't disappoint On Prime there is a 2nd series of Picard and shortly there will be Good Omens II . I cancelled my subscripton recently (economy drive)...but might have to resubscribe when Good Omens starts...
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Mar 6, 2022 21:56:58 GMT
OH is watching ITVs The Ipcress File series...started this evening. Quite stylish but I'm unimpressed so far...
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Post by Kimby on Mar 7, 2022 2:26:06 GMT
A new series is premiering tonite on NBC called THE COURTSHIP. It is a cross between The Bachelorette and Downton Abbey. Bixa would both love and be repelled by it. Mostly repelled, but I know she loves costumes.
It is set in the Regency Period, complete with costumes and manners (the men are all addressed as Mr..) and is staged in a large palace. The 16 suitors are vying for the eligible young lady’s attention and hopefully her hand.
Or not. These dating shows seem to bring out the opportunists and celebrity seekers.
I won’t be watching, but needed to see enough to know what it was about.
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Post by patricklondon on Mar 7, 2022 6:01:13 GMT
OH is watching ITVs The Ipcress File series...started this evening. Quite stylish but I'm unimpressed so far... The glasses apart, it doesn't seem to be trying for the campy stylishness of the movie with Michael Caine. It's more downbeat, trying to be in the Le Carré style. Maybe it's more faithful to the book, but it feels like it's plodding a bit (apart from Tom Hollander).
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 7, 2022 16:40:13 GMT
I have started watching the Ukrainian series Servant of the People starring Volodymyr Zelensky since it is available on Arte replay. In episode 1, the mild mannered high school history teacher is suddenly and unexpectedly elected president of Ukraine due to scheming and corrupt politicians who know that they will have no trouble manipulating him. I know that Ronald Reagan costarred with a chimpanzee in Bedtime for Bonzo, but I wonder if there are very many current presidents who starred in a sitcom sitting on a toilet in their underwear.
Unfortunately, this series had to end when he was elected president in real life.
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Post by casimira on Mar 7, 2022 17:44:17 GMT
Watched The Great Pottery Throwdown final this evening. I love watching the potters at work..it looks so satisfying...what a glorious way to express yourself. Last night we watched the first episode of the latest (and last) series of Killing Eve which didn't disappoint On Prime there is a 2nd series of Picard and shortly there will be Good Omens II . I cancelled my subscripton recently (economy drive)...but might have to resubscribe when Good Omens starts... I am thrilled to read that you enjoyed Killing Eve, Cheery. I couldn't wait to come home from whatever I was doing and resumed my viewing pleasure. As you said, it "didn't disappoint".
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 7, 2022 20:11:45 GMT
Bixa would both love and be repelled by it. Mostly repelled, but I know she loves costumes. Ha ~ you've got my number, Kimby! However, I think I'll have to give this show a miss. (Might look once.) Except for Married at First Sight, for which I have a shameful fascination, I'm pretty well icked out by those matching/mating shows. Also, if there is one era of clothing I sincerely loathe, it has to be Regency. Not only is it fussy, strange, & unflattering, it also incorporates goofy bonnets. Just so you know how much I've suffered in my life, my home town hosted a yearly event called The Pilgrimage, which prominently featured local ladies promenading around in Regency dress, since that was the era in which Audubon lived in St.F. Don't plan to rush down there to take in this event, though, as it has been permanently cancelled, due to a rather glaring ignoring of shameful historical fact: www.wafb.com/2020/06/10/west-feliciana-historical-society-permanently-cancels-audubon-pilgrimage-after-petition-claims-festival-glosses-over-slavery/I imagine as an actor, Zelensky wanted to be famous. He got his wish! Need to go back and finish watching Killing Eve. I'm three episodes into Inventing Anna and will keep watching despite a major irritant in it. That would be Anna Chlumsky, who has top billing in the series. I always assumed her twitchy, hunched shoulder acting was specific to her character in Veep, but no. Her hyper-animated facial expressions on her --sorry -- very unattractive face are driving me up the wall. Directly after watching the first episode I saw a story on the real Anna Sorokin & realized what a great piece of casting looks-wise Julia Garner was for the role. She is such a superb actress and makes you totally believe in her character. Naturally, this makes Chlumsky's endless mugging all the more fakey and irritating.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 21, 2022 2:17:42 GMT
I just realized tonight that I forgot to keep watching Inventing Anna, which kind of tells you something. Mainly I stuck with it because I wanted to know what happened. There are still two episodes I haven't seen, so I'll finish up tonight & tomorrow. One of the things that distracted me was the return of The Last Kingdom -- oh joy, oh happiness! Well, my joy is somewhat tempered by the knowledge that this is the last season. But wait! There will be a two hour movie to follow, called Seven Kings Must Die. Also back on is Outlander, so I can finally find out if the American colonists rose up against the crown.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 23, 2022 3:37:37 GMT
Why did I punish myself? I will never watch another ShitShondaland production again. What garbage! What foolishness! What a waste of real material that could have been turned into something worthwhile! Inventing Anna is so much crap it would take from now to doomsday to list it all. Bleeeeeurk!
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Post by questa on Mar 25, 2022 3:54:51 GMT
I tried, I really tried to watch Inventing Anna but I just couldn't sit still and none of the characters appealed to me. I also dislike the series format, things get repeated and I am not a patient woman. "Gotta story? then get on with it, don't pussyfoot around."
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Post by Kimby on Mar 25, 2022 4:52:55 GMT
We are watching HIDDEN, season 2, a Welsh crime drama. Reminds me a bit of Mare of Easttown, with a non-glamorous all too human lead investigator. It has potential.
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Post by whatagain on Mar 25, 2022 7:05:47 GMT
We tried to watch a series about a woman who organises poker parties in a posh 5 stars hotel. Typically american, with the main character talking, talking and talking about what she did, what the other guy said and what the baseball star would have done. Plus the scene at the tribunal, a must. Afeter 25 minutes waiting that it truly began we dropped it. Too far away from our world.
We then watched, or tried to, a french series about a teacher, ex con, who tries to 'save' a student who is lazy, homophobic, insulting etc. Yawn.
Give me a good book !
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 25, 2022 15:30:42 GMT
Mot current series appear to be seeking the lowest common denominator. Period costumes for costume lovers, social issues for bleeding heart liberals (one of my categories), organised crime stories for mafia lovers, tortured love for the romantics, minor and rare special effects for fans or horror and sci-fi, etc.
Most of these have no appeal for me, but one series that I really liked (only 2 seasons) was Guyane, because it gave me the same thing I look for in movies: a new experience in an unusual place which actually allows me to learn things. Guyane was about a university student in Paris who has committed an unspecified faux-pas and who is given a last chance to save his studies by doing an internship in French Guiana. He is immediately sucked into an incredible world of clandestine gold prospecting and underground Brazilian immigration, two things about which I knew nothing. The fact that I posted about it around 5 years ago and that it remains the most remarkable series that I have seen says something about the other stuff out there.
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Post by Kimby on Mar 26, 2022 16:38:45 GMT
We are watching HIDDEN, season 2, a Welsh crime drama. Reminds me a bit of Mare of Easttown, with a non-glamorous all too human lead investigator. It has potential. Still enjoying it, so will watch Season One next (they aren’t necessary to watch in chronological order, but the major characters carry over). www.imdb.com/title/tt7217374/
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 26, 2022 17:23:31 GMT
Bridgerton returned last night. I haven't seen it yet, but am ready for some costumed froth.
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Post by Kimby on Mar 31, 2022 14:39:16 GMT
We started watching BARRY at the cottage and were getting into it (but left the disk in the DVD player when we departed for town…) Bill Hader is a hit man who follows his mark into an acting class and decides to switch careers and become an actor, though his handler won’t let him quit killing people. Combines elements of Breaking Bad with Curb Your Enthusiasm minus Larry David. www.imdb.com/title/tt5348176/
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Post by Kimby on Mar 31, 2022 14:47:11 GMT
So after abruptly stopping watching Barry (see previous reply), we have switched gears to watch THE LOUDEST VOICE, the story of how Roger Ailes invented FOX news in 1995, and ruined America in my opinion. He knew EXACTLY what he was doing. m.imdb.com/title/tt6821044/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 31, 2022 15:08:07 GMT
Tonight I'm planning to discover This Is Going to Hurt and will have to continue Balthazar on replay at a later date. I first noticed Ben Whishaw in Perfume and backtracked later as far as My Brother Tom (absolutely amazing), so I am an unconditional fan. I don't begrudge him wasting his time in the James Bond movies because I'm sure it is financially rewarding. And the fact that both he and Volodymyr Zelensky voiced Paddington in the movies is a plus.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 31, 2022 15:08:58 GMT
I sort of wandered away from Barry, but it's a pretty good show. Could I deal with watching The Loudest Voice without going into meltdown? Probably not. I'm already in complete despair after reading today's Letters from an American: heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/march-30-2022?s=r Of course I'm watching Bridgerton, although going into it so soon after being terminally annoyed by the Shondaland crap that was Inventing Anna is making me notice that brand's tropes all the more. To wit: Shondaland likes actresses who "act" by over-doing facial &/or bodily grimaces, tics, postures etc. in lieu of creating a character. Even the very talented Julia Garner played the Inventing Anna title character exactly the same throughout that show, and the excruciating Anna Chlumsky exaggeratedly mugged throughout. In Bridgerton, Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury enunciates to the point that her neck tendons stand out. This, along with excessive eye widening and braying every line may be put down to her background as a stage actress, but it's pretty distracting. And Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton holds up her ingenue end of the Shondaland acting-as-thrashing schtick by lurching, hunching, and speaking in that strange archly hesitant way so typical of today's under-30s. Refreshingly, the men actors in Bridgerton have not been called upon to engage in this type of "acting", although it was fully in evidence by the male contingent in Inventing Anna. In other tv, I'm pacing myself with episodes of The Last Kingdom, trying to make it last as long as possible. What a truly great show!
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Post by patricklondon on Mar 31, 2022 16:03:14 GMT
Tonight I'm planning to discover This Is Going to Hurt and will have to continue Balthazar on replay at a later date. I first noticed Ben Whishaw in Perfume and backtracked later as far as My Brother Tom (absolutely amazing), so I am an unconditional fan. Call The Midwife it ain't. Quite gruelling. Whishaw's character isn't that sympathetic a character (and Harriet Walter's signature style as his ice-cold mother shows why).
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 31, 2022 16:06:24 GMT
Well, I've been hoping that it is not a feel-good goody-goody show like so many of the others. The explicit title appeals to me already.
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