2023 TV

[Ssnake]

3 hours ago, Soren Ras said:

Season one was great. Season two was a mess.

Actually, it wasn't ... given that the third book's narration was somewhat complex. I fully understand why the second novel was never turned into a TV production (throw away all your stages and make something entirely different, in zero G).

All in all I think they did the best that was possible given the source material. But then again, I learned to fully appreciate The Pacific only after I read that Chesty Puller biograpphy, and watched it again. Just like the David Lynch Dune movie wasn't so bad if you knew the novel in and out, but if you didn't, wellll... knowing how computer game sausage is made, I find it increasingly difficult to be critical of more costly and more complex entertainment productions, which may also play a role here.

[bojan]

4 hours ago, Soren Ras said:

Some of those are not produced by Amazon and therefore may not be available on Prime in every country...

If it is not "available in your country"... it is Argh matey!" time.

[Ivanhoe]

4 hours ago, Ssnake said:

Preacher (three seasons (?)) which cultivates a rather robust humor, not to everybody's taste

and while we're at it,

Future Man (four seasons) about a time-travelling biolab janitor saving the future, or possibly destroying the universe - I just love that they kicked the soap box down the hill with neither guarding rails nor brakes "to keep the story on track", and just explored what would happen if you met yourself, your parents, and fucked around with history all the time. Humor is also "not for everybody" but I appreciate that they take the concept of time-travelling serious and cut all the BS that "you mustn't/can't change the past (too much)".

I enjoyed some of Preacher, though I eventually tuned out because it seemed like they were spending more time trying to offend than anything else.

The premise of Future Man was brilliant.

[TrustMe]

2 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

I enjoyed some of Preacher, though I eventually tuned out because it seemed like they were spending more time trying to offend than anything else.

The premise of Future Man was brilliant.

It's based on a comic strip from the 1990's.

I recently re-read the comic after not doing so for 2 decades and I realised it was a product of it's time. I wouldn't recommend it anymore for just the reason what you said.

[Ssnake]

Forgot to mention, Treadstone. Two seasons, I think, and an acceptable expansion of the "Jason Bourne lore" with the to be expected elevated percentage of fisticuff diversion. But - North Korea; I liked that change of setting.

[Ssnake]

...and Fargo, four seasons. All of them very watchable, if you like laconic humor married to dark crime, clashing with the Minnesota Nice environment.

 

The vast majority on Amazon is unwatchable drivel. But Netflix is no different, and even Apple TV couldn't keep me for more than three months. Three months that I didn't regret, and I'll be coming back for more stints. But I can't say that I feel Amazon Prime is a bad deal. I binged for about a year and a half, and now only occasionally watch new things there. The new user interface is more like Netflix (IOW, much worse than before), but it's all tolerable.

[Stuart Galbraith]

So couple more on Netflix I should point out. Ive been watching Deadwind (or Kaarpi which I think is the Finnish name), which is a fairly by the numbers Nordic noir. What enlivens it is Phila Vitala, whom was in several Western films including the comedy horror 'The Whale watchers massacre'. She really is very good, and turns what could be a respectable if by the numbers scandi noir into something a bit special.

I ought to say, its beautifully shot, but then that is kind of what you watch Nordic Noir for. The Bridge was no different.

They also have 'Entrapped' (Everyone else including the BBC seems to called it trapped, but whatever), which is a murder mystery set in a town in Iceland in the middle of a major snowstorm and all the roads out blocked. Because Reykyavik cant send the murder team, the local cop has to solve it all himself. Ive seen the first series, but seemingly there is 2 more, so it sounds like I have a treat coming.

 

So, ive got an excuse to put off prime for a few weeks anyway....

[Soren Ras]

1 hour ago, Ssnake said:

...and Fargo, four seasons. All of them very watchable, if you like laconic humor married to dark crime, clashing with the Minnesota Nice environment.

There are five seasons now. Have not seen the latest season, but I can definitely recommend the series as a whole.  Each season has its own cast (though as each season takes place at different periods, some characters from other seasons may appear as either younger or older versions of themselves) and the only constant is the setting and the tone (criminals, cops and ordinary people getting involved in dramatic events).

For my money seasons 1 and 2 are among the best TV I have seen in many years. Especially the Martin Freeman - Billy Bob Thornton dynamic in season one is just fantastic.

Season 3 was good but at first viewing I found it a bit of a letdown from the first two.  Although I had occasion to rewatch it a few years later and found I enjoyed it quite a bit more the second time.

Season four, which I have only seen once, was in some ways a departure from the earlier three in that it takes place in the 1950s, and basically only takes place in Kansas City. There is basically only one Minnesota nice character in the whole season (and she is a serial murderer), so it sort of stretches the concept from the original movie quite a bit. It does have some very funny moments very much in the movie's spirit.   

Season five is high on my to-watch list.  

 

--

Soren

[Harold Jones]

2 hours ago, Ssnake said:

...and Fargo, four seasons. All of them very watchable, if you like laconic humor married to dark crime, clashing with the Minnesota Nice environment.

 

The vast majority on Amazon is unwatchable drivel. But Netflix is no different, and even Apple TV couldn't keep me for more than three months. Three months that I didn't regret, and I'll be coming back for more stints. But I can't say that I feel Amazon Prime is a bad deal. I binged for about a year and a half, and now only occasionally watch new things there. The new user interface is more like Netflix (IOW, much worse than before), but it's all tolerable.

I don't think I'd keep prime if it was just a streaming service, but considering I got it and keep it because of the shipping it's a nice bonus.  So is prime gaming,you can get free games and free content for a surprisingly large number of games. I wasn't too impressed with the version of amazon music that is included with prime. There are much better free streaming services.

 

Edited June 7, 2024 by Harold Jones

[DB]

On 5/29/2024 at 7:40 PM, Stefan Fredriksson said:

Seeing multiple clips of "That Mitchell and Webb look" on YT. How have I missed this before?? On the other hand, always good to find new fun stuff. 🙂

I'm surprised you've not picked up on it from the several times people have referred to "Are we the Baddies?"

Of course, David Mitchell is going to hell for having stolen Victoria Coren from every thinking man's wish list.

[Ivanhoe]

So I've plowed through Season 1 of Fallout. Pretty good stuff. I have some gripes, but I'll definitely watch season 2 whenever it comes out.

As for Prime Video, another series I am really enjoying is Upload. Lots of fun.

 

[sunday]

Prime Video with ads is not worth it.

[Stefan Fredriksson]

Ok, never thought I would recommend a similar show, but Married at first sight Australia 2023 is very entertaining.

In the Swedish version, the production actually pretends to care about the participants somewhat, there are fewer couples, less interesting situation. Honestly quite boring, so I had low hopes for MAFS Australia. But here the production goes for 100% entertainment, having some outstanding characters, with twists that actually keeps you involved, not just entertained. Dont let the 36 episodes scare you. Some stuff in there is simply awesome. I am still convinced some of the participants are actors, it is that good.

I may have seasons mixed up, but this one contains Jesse, Cameron, Lyndall and Claire.

[Ivanhoe]

So, The Acolyte is an ex-parrot after Season 1. Got ratioed at Rotten Tomatoes; 78/18.

Compare and contrast with:

The Old Man       97/77

Firefly                  77/96

Farscape             90/86

BSG                     95/94

Buffy                   85/92

Motherland: Fort Salem    --/93

Orphan Black   93/92

Of course, not a fair comparison at all, considering the patriarchal chauvinism of the sci-fi/fantasy audience and lack of strong female lead characters in the above successful series.

 

Aside from that good news, the claim is that there will be a 2nd season of The Old Man. I really enjoyed Season 1.

 

[Yama]

On 5/8/2024 at 11:38 AM, bojan said:

IMO both old and new one are pretty good. I have watched old one 5-6 years ago again, it stood a test of time in some ways, but was pretty dated in others. While there are some differences from the book with new one (as far as I remember, I have read a book something like 30 years ago...), a lot of those are due the different media of book and screen, like condensation of  secondary characters, which were mostly "writer's aide*" in the book.

*Lesson of book writing - always leave at least one "loose end character" in every significant chapter. That way, if you get painted in the corner you can go back and start again from a different angle.

Ran into some clips of both Shogun versions on YT and now I am tempted to check out the new version after all, though when the trailers came out I was thoroughly unimpressed. What the old version has going for it is huge amount of charismatic actors. Richard Chamberlain is kind of a stiff, but he really dominates the screen. Yoko Shimada as Mariko is just unforgettable. Disney's cast seems bit of a drag by comparison.

The blue tint in new version seems just absurd. Has Hollywood gone colour blind for good?

On 5/8/2024 at 10:56 AM, sunday said:

I've read that the book, and the original series, introduced Japan to the Western world big time, e.g. the ninja-mania was due to the series. This series could be a product aimed to a world more familiarized, in no little part thanks to anime and manga, with Japanese culture of the period.

In Finland book and the series were released pretty much same time, and were huge hits. Samurai and Ninja appearances in popular media increased tenfold. I loved the book (and still do), Clavell's complicated characters are marvelous.

Though, apparently in Japan, neither book or the show were well received  I suppose I will feel the same once Hollywood makes a mega-epic about Winter War...

 

[Ivanhoe]

1 hour ago, Yama said:

Ran into some clips of both Shogun versions on YT and now I am tempted to check out the new version after all, though when the trailers came out I was thoroughly unimpressed. What the old version has going for it is huge amount of charismatic actors. Richard Chamberlain is kind of a stiff, but he really dominates the screen. Yoko Shimada as Mariko is just unforgettable. Disney's cast seems bit of a drag by comparison.

The blue tint in new version seems just absurd. Has Hollywood gone colour blind for good?

In Finland book and the series were released pretty much same time, and were huge hits. Samurai and Ninja appearances in popular media increased tenfold. I loved the book (and still do), Clavell's complicated characters are marvelous.

Though, apparently in Japan, neither book or the show were well received  I suppose I will feel the same once Hollywood makes a mega-epic about Winter War...

 

Samuel L. Jackson as Simo Häyhä, how could you not love that?

 

[Stefan Fredriksson]

5 hours ago, Yama said:

...

Though, apparently in Japan, neither book or the show were well received  I suppose I will feel the same once Hollywood makes a mega-epic about Winter War...

 

I suggest Amazon, with McKay and Payne doing the adaptation for modern audiences. Epic would not begin to describe it. 👍

[Yama]

8 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

Samuel L. Jackson as Simo Häyhä, how could you not love that?

After Manga version, anything goes...

 

[bojan]

OTOH, in the context of movie it kind of has an excuse, flimsy one but it is there.

[Ssnake]

Learn from the best:

[Stuart Galbraith]

Should I be worried he is orange?

[Stefan Fredriksson]

So, Sherwood season 1 was good. But season 2 is very much gooder. Tight well-written story and excellent acting. One thing though - how usual is it that DCSs go regularly out in the field? I seem to remember that is something Dalgliesh-series got mild critisism for? Compared to "The Bay" where you have a DI running the whole department.

[Stuart Galbraith]

I tried to watch this, but I couldnt get into it. Anything with Alun Armstrong in is usually worth watching of course.

I cant speak for how regularly DCS's got into the field, but it seems to be a trope in fiction. Morses boss seemed to do it all the time.

I noticed on ITV recently there was a dramatization of the murders of Becky Godden Edwards and Sian o Callaghan called 'A confession'. Basically the police had managed to link a taxicab driver with the murder of Sian, and whilst he was in the car the DS asked 'is there any others?'. And the suspect led them to a murder he committed 10 years before and nobody knew she was even missing.

So what did they do to the Detective superintendent that managed to solve 2 murders in one night (something only Poirot or Morse did regularly)? They found him guilty of gross misconduct.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sian_O'Callaghan

[Soren Ras]

Let just highly recommend Slow Horses on Apple+  about a bunch of MI5 agents consigned to the career dead-end posting following a screwup on their part.

Four seasons so far, all good.

Gary Oldman is even more amazing than usual, which is saying something.

 

-

Soren

[Stuart Galbraith]

Ive read a couple of the books, and they are pretty good. Good humour (most of them really arent very good agents), tightly plotted. Not very accurate, but I dont think anyone really reads spy fiction for accuracy these days.