Do we live in a golden age of television?

[Magic]

No wonder phonics enjoyed it. :harold:

[Bernanke]

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/aug/20/babylon-berlin-nazis-noir-weimar-decadence-volker-kutscher-sky-atlantic

This sounds ace.

[Ian]

My dad's watching some shite on one of the history channels with swivel-eyed conspiracy theory loons, having assured me they're good for a lol.

I've never watched them before (it actually has that guy with the big hair from the memes) and they really are bonkers. This cunt's just gone into a room in an abandoned air hangar in New Mexico and basically gone: "I mean, if this room had had alien bodies in it then this is where they'd be" and the guy from the memes puffed out his cheeks as if this was a perception-altering revelation.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ancient Aliens, I have no idea how it's still going.

12 fucking seasons apparently.

[John]

Conspiracy theorists are great. I know someone who was convinced that the earth is flat by a series of YouTube videos.

[Baz]

I’ve started watching Man Down and its utter rubbish save for the character with the moustache, Brian. I feel like it tried to be The Mighty Boosh, only if it took itself serious. But Greg Davies casting himself as Vince Noir just doesn’t work. And his mate from Taskmaster is also in it, and god awful.

Gonna sack it off soon and watch Count Arthur Strong instead.

[Giggles]

Ancient Aliens, I have no idea how it's still going.

12 fucking seasons apparently.

That's only 3 years in fairness.

[Ian]

Conspiracy theorists are great. I know someone who was convinced that the earth is flat by a series of YouTube videos.

A guy at work had the amazing idea of doing a kickstarter to get a TV channel to put some flat earthers on a boat, tell them to show us the edge of the Earth and then film it. Although presumably you'd struggle to find an actual sailor to sail the boat for them who isn't himself a fruitcake who actually believes it.

EDIT: And now the entire Cold War was a US / Russia scam to distract people from UFOs. Why haven't I watched these shows before?

[Adamski]

Started watching Sneaky Pete last night.

I’m quite enjoying it, definitely one to stick with if you can suspend your disbelief at some of the plot.

[Giggles]

Started watching Sneaky Pete last night.

I’m quite enjoying it, definitely one to stick with if you can suspend your disbelief at some of the plot.

I really liked it and then got to episode 4 and was to squeamish to watch any further.

[Magic]

Did I no tell uz Superhans was sitting next to me on the plane?

[Spikey M]

Naw, Wae dennae ken

[Disco]

Did I no tell uz Superhans was sitting next to me on the plane?

Did he have to help you to the toilet?

[Giggles]

Who?

[Magic]

https://s1.postimg.org/3xrm31awfj/2017-10-25_19.06.38.jpg

[Giggles]

Is that you or superhans?

[Magic]

MRW when franny tries to be funny.

[Giggles]

MRW when franny tries to be funny.

I don't knwo what that means, but I really don't know who he is or what you look like. I think the only picture I ever seen here had your face smashed in.

[Magic]

https://s1.postimg.org/307a3k56n3/2017-10-25_19.02.40.jpg

[Giggles]

I wouldn't have known the last two photos were the same person only for the clothes. I'll bow out here as I've no idea what's going on.

[Magic]

https://s1.postimg.org/89hmb8m2in/2017-10-25_19.01.22.jpg

[Disco]

Bored? Rolling around that big empty house....

[Baz]

Your hair looks well conditioned. :)

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Your hair looks well conditioned. :)

Wife forgot to take the conditioner with her.

[phonics]

I actually had no idea what Magic looked like before this and now I cant think of what my mental image ever was.

[Mike]

He looks damn good fun!

[Magic]

Shitter version of Baz imo

[Baz]

Shitter version of Baz imoHopefully one day Waff will be in a position to confirm or deny this.

[John]

Boydy, you still worried about where The Good Place is heading? I've watched all but the episode from last night and it remains an absolute delight.

[Boydy]

Boydy, you still worried about where The Good Place is heading? I've watched all but the episode from last night and it remains an absolute delight.

Nah, I'm at the same place as you and it's great.

[John]

Stranger Things is back. :drool:

[Reg]

I'd never seen The Good Place before it was on Netflix but I'm up to date now and have really enjoyed it. The first season more to be fair, and I wonder if the concept of the second season can go on much further, but it's still been pretty funny.

[John]

How many episodes of the second season are on Netflix?

[Reg]

6 so far, including today's.

Just today's I haven't seen.

[John]

Odd. I think the direction it's heading in now is far more sustainable than either the original concept or the way this season started.

[Adamski]

I really liked it and then got to episode 4 and was to squeamish to watch any further.

Watched it last night.

Shitebag.

[Magic]

Was it an episode full of affection and emotional layering?

[Giggles]

Watched it last night.

Shitebag.

The episode was real good too. Cranston was playing a blinder.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And I'm done with Stranger Things Two, no slump whatsoever here.

The second half of the season (episode 5 onwards) is absolutely brilliant.

Seventh was a little weak in that half but it was massively important for the story and it was a great standalone episode which felt weaker due to what came pre and post it.

Really liked the addition of Max as well.

Dustin and Steve was an absolutely blinding partnership.

Properly ramped up the horror too which was nice.

[Boydy]

Bloody hell, Mahow.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's only a 9 episode season :\

[Boydy]

So you spent 9 hours today watching it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'd call it a productive day.

[Spoonsky]

Do you think you get more out of it from watching it one mega sitting?

[Spikey M]

Get a job you freak.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Get a job you freak.

I'm sick you twat.

I've had a bad cold for almost 3 weeks now :\

Maybe I'm on my way out.

[John]

A cold. :D

I watched two episodes of Stranger Things and disagree that there's no slump. There's a massive slump in the early going. It's still basically entertaining because it still has all the great synth music and the one area it hasn't taken a nosedive in is the humour, but if it doesn't pick up in a big way as it goes on it'll have amongst the biggest dips in quality between seasons I can remember.

[Magic]

I'm sick you twat.

I've had a bad cold for almost 3 weeks now :\

Maybe I'm on my way out.

Wishful thinking brother.

[Baz]

A cold. :D

I watched two episodes of Stranger Things and disagree that there's no slump. There's a massive slump in the early going. It's still basically entertaining because it still has all the great synth music and the one area it hasn't taken a nosedive in is the humour, but if it doesn't pick up in a big way as it goes on it'll have amongst the biggest dips in quality between seasons I can remember.Wait til you watch Twin Peaks season 3. That dip will NEVER be surpassed.

[John]

The dip in that happened during season two, and it's a bit of a special case anyway in that twenty five years passed between episodes.

[Baz]

Just you wait.

[John]

I've watched a few episodes. It isn't great, but it's better than just about anything the second half of season two had to offer.

Those Magic pictures on the previous page had been showing as blank posts for me before. For fuck sake. That's a face you could never hit.

[Magic]

:wub:

[Boydy]

I assumed he actually meant to type 'never stop hitting'.

[John]

I meant never hit, but the reason is that if you started you'd never stop so you're half right.

[Giggles]

Ah now, can't you see he's having a breakdown.

[Disco]

Those will be the pictures they use on the news.

[Magic]

Imagine. :D

[Yevrah]

One episode of Series 2 of Happy Valley to go and it's not been a patch on the first.

Which is hardly surprising, but a shame nonetheless.

[Ian]

Yeah, I gave up after two or three episodes. First series was brilliant.

[Adamski]

Despite going a bit Oceans 11 towards the end, I still very much enjoyed Sneaky Pete. Interested to see where the second season goes.

Next on my list are Electric Dreams and Halt & Catch Fire.

[John]

Stranger Things 2 does get quite a lot better as it goes, but it never fully recovers from a lack of focus in the early going and it picks a lot of the wrong things from last year to bin and reuse.

Still better than most things.

[Giggles]

What's the whole show about? I recall hearing the name during the first series but it's massively hyped now. When you Google it shows the cast, is it a kids show?

[John]

It stars kids but if it was a film it would be a 15. The thumbnail description would be a horror inflected Goonies, but it's a bit more than that.

It's set in the eighties, in a small town with a shady lab on the outskirts. A young boy goes missing, his friends decide to help look for him, and weird shit starts happening.

[Alex]

Despite going a bit Oceans 11 towards the end, I still very much enjoyed Sneaky Pete. Interested to see where the second season goes.

Next on my list are Electric Dreams and Halt & Catch Fire.

Halt and Catch Fire is really good, I watched the first season when it first aired, sort of forgot about it and then smashed through the other three seasons in a bit of a marathon a few weeks ago.

[randomlegend]

Taskmaster series is over, my life has no meaning :(

[Pleb]

Champion series coming in December apparently.

[Browning]

Taskmaster series is over, my life has no meaning :(

I forgot about it after it wasn't online at the usual time so I'm just watching it now. Mark and Nish's song was fucking brilliant.

[randomlegend]

Have you seen the other song yet?

"Rosalind's a fucking nightmare" :D

[Browning]

Yea I've finished it now.

Thought 3-2 was a bit harsh, Mark and Nish were far better. Then again every team task seems to be 3-2.

Right winner overall though and the best result for the champions series.

[Baz]

Having looked up the Champions I realised I’ve never seen season 4, and have subsequently spoiled the winner. Still worth a watch though, I bet. :)

[Giggles]

Is this all not reality TV?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've been binge watching Taskmaster. I had to give up on Series 3 because Al Murray is such a smug cunt, but I'm midways through Series 4 and it's genuinely brilliant at times.

[wullie]

I think the series with all the comedians and noted TV personality Richard Osman is my favourite overall, but anything with Bob Mortimer is great purely because he's there.

[randomlegend]

I think the last season my be my favourite. Nish is absolutely brilliant because he finds everyone else so funny.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I liked the first one a lot as they were clearly pre-existing mates (or a lot of them were) so the chemistry was there. Anyway I see Horne is making a US version now so goodnight, sweet prince.

[John]

The Good Place is now off until February so NBC can show a load of helmetball. :moop:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm binging the 5th right now and I would agree with Randrew that it's the best.

I like everyone, especially Bob and Nish.

You've also had the best prize entry ever too.

[randomlegend]

The task they only gave to Mark Watson was fucking brutal :D

[John]

The Josh Widdicombe version of that was worse.

[Disco]

The number of people (who aren't idiots) telling me to watch Taskmaster has reached the point where I shall give it a try, does it take a series or two to get going or should I watch from the start?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's more or less the same thing throughout, so either you'll like it from the start or you won't like it ever. Also, comedians I normally dislike all seem to be magically likeable on it.

[SvN]

Is this clip representative of the show and its humour?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xn-kTtdQJ8

[John]

The tasks can vary so much that it'd be difficult to say any one clip is representative of the show. The one constant is the relationship between the two hosts, with Horne playing a sort of pathetic lackey figure and Greg Davies a bit of a dick, so that part is representative of the humour.

[randomlegend]

I'd say if you don't like series 1 episode 2 ("The Pie Whisperer") then it's not for you.

[John]

I can't remember what the other tasks on that episode were, but the titular one was complete shit.

[randomlegend]

No it wasn't!

[Jimmy Floyd]

I laughed my bollocks off at Frank Skinner looking at pies.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Finished season 5 (:(), I do think it's my favourite thus far.

Bob's graph about piss and subsequent reasoning was amazing. Easily my favourite moment across the show, I was in tears.

Mark might have been the best ever at the prize round.

[Disco]

I laughed my bollocks off at Frank Skinner looking at pies.

I was sold the moment he smashed the melon.

[Magic]

Taskmaster is shit.

[Spikey M]

Finished season 5 (:(), I do think it's my favourite thus far.

Bob's graph about piss and subsequent reasoning was amazing. Easily my favourite moment across the show, I was in tears.

Mark might have been the best ever at the prize round.


Do you still have a cold?

[Magic]

Do you still have a job?

[Spikey M]

How’s your wife?

[Magic]

Lovely shot, sir. Set up perfectly.

Though I've been taken down defending Mahow's honour. For shame.

[Spikey M]

We only hurt each other because we care <3

[Baz]

I've been binge watching Taskmaster. I had to give up on Series 3 because Al Murray is such a smug cunt, but I'm midways through Series 4 and it's genuinely brilliant at times.You couldn’t be doing with Al Murray yet you’re fine with Hugh Dennis? :cab:

The only worse contestant I could think of is Nigel Pearson.

Just watched the one where they have to throw something into something. They were all turd but Greg and Alex’s office role play where they discussed them was incredible.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't think you should really be surprised that I like Hugh Dennis more than you do.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Do you still have a cold?

I'm good now :)

[Adamski]

The Americans :drool:

[randomlegend]

My plan to turn this into the taskmaster thread seems complete.

[Giggles]

When is the new series of Storage Wars starting?

[Disco]

I've been binge watching Taskmaster. I had to give up on Series 3 because Al Murray is such a smug cunt, but I'm midways through Series 4 and it's genuinely brilliant at times.

I'm not sure I could deny myself the joy of watching Paul Chowdury's brain (apparently) working.

[Dark Soldier]

Park Chan Wook directing Le Carre :drool:

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20171105000133

[Magic]

Masterchef Pro tomorrow. :drool:

[Ian]

The two episodes of The Flash I've seen of this series are an improvement, but Arrow really needs less mopey bullshit and more straight-up action goodness for a bit.

[Dark Soldier]

Masterchef Pro tomorrow. :drool:


Fucking big tings :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The two episodes of The Flash I've seen of this series are an improvement, but Arrow really needs less mopey bullshit and more straight-up action goodness for a bit.

Arrow has been getting worse as the season gets on tbh with Flash getting better as it goes.

Legends of Tomorrow is still an utter mess ofc.

[Ian]

I've given up on Legends of Tomorrow altogether. Arrow, when it's good, is still miles better than Flash and Stephen Amell is still really good but they don't seem to know where they're going with it.

[John]

Ghosted, the new thing with Adam Scott and Craig Robinson, has a father unfortunate sequence in its first episode. They're talking about the multiverse, and how it would mean there's more than one of everything and everyone, to which Craig Robinson's character replies 'I think we got the best Kevin Spacey'.

Terrific timing.

[wullie]

Really enjoying Stranger Things S2 so far, apart from the episode I've just finished where they follow the edgy Scooby Doo gang which I hated. It's like when the Walking Dead leaves the action for a few weeks to focus on how Rosita chose her nail colour but somehow more jarring as it feels as if the episode was made by somebody else entirely like they've shoehorned in a spinoff.

[Giggles]

That series finale of Discovery was excellent.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yep.

Especially as the previous episode was a little weaker (it's been done on TOS).

There's a popular fan theory that started weeks ago which is becoming more plausible I reckon.

[Disco]

Is it still just centred on the same one character?

[Giggles]

Yep.

Especially as the previous episode was a little weaker (it's been done on TOS).

There's a popular fan theory that started weeks ago which is becoming more plausible I reckon.

Ash is Voq?

After that episode I'd say it's a given in one form or another. I'd agree on the last episode too, weakest by far for me but at least it built up to this one.

Disco, not so much as the series has went on. Still fairly prominent but definitely not centered around her, they've focused on a good few of the others.

Lorca is on a good path to best captain of the lot even though the one we've been seeing up to now is most likely the alternate reality version.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah that's the fan theory.

[The Merse]

Looks pretty spot on to me. Kinda pissed I've seen it now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Completely forgot that The Punisher was out today.

Starting on it now :drool:

[Giggles]

I started The Orville with zero expectations this morning. Seven in, and it's not bad at all.

[phonics]

After catching an episode I decided to binge Peaky Blinders seasons 2 and 3 to catch up. Fantastic show but season 3 was quite a nonsense.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've been struggling to get through 3 for a while now, it's garbage.

[Alex]

Season three was definitely the worst, it was still alright though. I think the new season has started off really well.

[Alex]

Completely forgot that The Punisher was out today.

Starting on it now :drool:

I watched the first couple last night, I really liked them. They're not messing about when it comes to the violence either. Daredevil and friends take note, this is how you effectively fight crime. Frank Castle would have sorted The Hand fucking ages ago. He would have just turned up at one of those not-so-secret meetings their leaders are always have in New York office buildings with an M16 or something.

Did you not think it was almost comical how that little gang of hoodlums on the building site kept trying to start shit with him in the first episode? The man is a good foot taller than any of you, built like a brick shit out, quite clearly a bit unhinged and spends twelve hours a day swinging a sledgehammer at a wall, and this is who you want to start trouble with? Leave him alone! :D

The payoff was still great though, when he killed the lot of them threw them in that cement pit. His very quick takedown of the mafia lot at the end was ace as well, especially when he appeared out of nowhere behind the last guy. :cool:

[phonics]

Season three was definitely the worst, it was still alright though. I think the new season has started off really well.

Yeah but I can imagine Pol being both an awfully crap character and having way too much time spent on her again. All the other women are far more interesting than her but we'll get a 6 episode long addiction to opiates storyline out of it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I watched the first couple last night, I really liked them. They're not messing about when it comes to the violence either. Daredevil and friends take note, this is how you effectively fight crime. Frank Castle would have sorted The Hand fucking ages ago. He would have just turned up at one of those not-so-secret meetings their leaders are always have in New York office buildings with an M16 or something.

Did you not think it was almost comical how that little gang of hoodlums on the building site kept trying to start shit with him in the first episode? The man is a good foot taller than any of you, built like a brick shit out, quite clearly a bit unhinged and spends twelve hours a day swinging a sledgehammer at a wall, and this is who you want to start trouble with? Leave him alone! :D

The payoff was still great though, when he killed the lot of them threw them in that cement pit. His very quick takedown of the mafia lot at the end was ace as well, especially when he appeared out of nowhere behind the last guy. :cool:

Yeah that was baffling and not just because we know exactly who Castle is. At best he's some raving lunatic with incredible strength and stamina to continually wield that fucking sledgehammer as if it was nothing.

I also hated that guy who fucked it up for the dickheads constantly wanting to be mates with them. There must be others on the fucking site that aren't massive pricks, mate.

I'm almost finished with the whole thing now and I think it's great. Not as good as Daredevil and JJ but it's not far behind unlike Iron Fist and The Defenders. Really glad that they gave him a series as it's a brilliant character which is done right by Bernthal.

[Limoutsonik]

I am 9 episodes in watching the Punisher and i can unequivocally say that Bernthal is top-5 superhero casting choices ever.Putting that side,the action is top notch,a bit too heavy-handed on the talking for my liking and the performance of the actor playing Billy Russo aka Jigsaw is equially bone chilling and infuriating at the same time.. It doesn't quite top DD season 1 or JJ but it's definitely in the top 3.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The penultimate episode :|

Wont be able to watch the final one until Monday though.

In regards to the series as a whole:

I absolutely love the partnership of Punisher and Micro, they've absolutely nailed it.

[Limoutsonik]

Episodes 12 + 13 of the Punisher
https://media.giphy.com/media/oYtVHSxngR3lC/giphy.gif
https://media.giphy.com/media/aWPGuTlDqq2yc/giphy.gif
https://media.giphy.com/media/xT77XWum9yH7zNkFW0/giphy.gif
https://media.giphy.com/media/7rj2ZgttvgomY/giphy.gif
https://media.giphy.com/media/l0IyeVQX0wZ828cMg/giphy.gif

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just finished with The Punisher, I think the final 2 episodes put it a lot closer to Daredevil and Jessica Jones than I thought it would be. A little slow moving at times throughout the series but I enjoyed that and felt that it needed that at times.

Really liked how he dealt with Lewis, especially Frank talking about how Lewis is a coward as he wont look in a man's eyes as he takes the life away from him. It made the death of Rawlins (and the new death of Russo) a lot more intense.

Bernthal is easily the best cast character across the whole collective Netflix series (is that the plural of series? Nothing else looks like it would be right), it's almost scary how perfect he is for it.

[John]

Search Party season two has been getting some very good reviews so I downloaded the first and had a look. It absolutely nails the sweet spot between sinister and funny, and somehow stays pleasant to watch despite every character being fucking awful.

TBS seem to be on a bit of a roll with shows that cross comedy with some other genre and absolutely nail the tone.

[Yevrah]

2 and a half episodes into the first season of Stranger Things and it's starting to annoy me, as I suspected it would.

They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but for the most part, you can.

[CJay]

2 and a half episodes into the first season of Stranger Things and it's starting to annoy me, as I suspected it would.

They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but for the most part, you can.

What's annoying you?

[Yevrah]

It reeks of formulaic mince and is nothing I haven't seen anywhere before. The head of the sinister (no doubt government sponsored) organisation is that guy and we seem to have already reached padding things out territory, a problem that plagues tv shows on networks desperate for the next hit these days.

I like the cop though, I'll give you that.

[Yevrah]

Ok, the end of episode 3 was fantastic. I'm back in the room.

[Boydy]

Not like you to jerk your knee.

[Yevrah]

Just the end of an episode Boyd.

Overall it's good, but it has too much of a 'young adult' (Twilight, Maze Runner) etc. feel to it for me. And I know I say that as someone who's obviously not part of that target demographic.

[John]

It smells a bit formulaic because it wears its influences as an ostentatious hat but it largely skews them just enough, or combines them in just the right way that it never become a wholesale rip off. There's some originality in there too, obviously but it's about 70% reconstituted parts.

There's a moment in the fourth episode that'll probably make Yev cancel his Netflix account if he's on the fence. I was loving it and I did a full Undertaker eye roll.

[Baz]

The real :henn0rz: (pronounced derpalisation) is when the lead character, with the same name in the goonies as the main character in stranger things, turns up.

[John]

In terms of overt and silly references that barely counts. It's not even the daftest thing about that character's name.

[Baz]

Because he has the same name as the default Dad in The Sims? :D

[John]

He's the one new character who isn't filling a role in the story taken by another character in the first season and they've called him fucking Newby. Very subtle.

That he played Mikey in The Goonies and there's a character named Mike in this is barely a reference, never mind a lol one.

[Bernanke]

He was the best part of season 2.

I love Kenny Rogers!

[Baz]

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sims/images/4/4a/Bob_Newbie_in_his_home.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100318213639

[John]

The Good Place renewed for a third season. :drool:

[Yevrah]

Finished Season 1 of Stranger Things. Thought it was pretty good overall, but not brilliant.

It excelled on the emotional/heartstrings stuff, with the episode I mentioned above and the finale being brilliant examples of that. Where I wasn't so won over was with the general young adult tone of it all and not a huge amount of jeopardy as a result and the fact that much of it was so derivative.

Still, pretty good effort overall and a lot better than most of the stuff on tv.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Saw what I think was the series finale of Curb last night on Sky. I've only seen a couple of episodes from the series, one of which wasn't that good, but I laughed like a drain through this one.

[SvN]

Next week is the finale.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh right, I thought it said ep 9 of 9 on the planner.

[wullie]

There really was something about Cowboy Jeff, wasn't there?

[Raoul Duke]

Stuff I'm watching at the moment:

- The Punisher - was freaking awesome. Probably the best of the Marvel ones?
- Timeless - not amazing, but just about pulls through to good with some decent and smart lines. Pretty good historical settings/stories, it's got Johnson out of Peep Show in it and it's about time travel. What more do you want?
- Glitch - Australian show about some random people in a town who come back to life. Low budget but really well done and some solid acting. Interested to see where it's going

[Boydy]

I've been watching The 100 recently. On season 2 now and I'm really enjoying it.

[Adamski]

I've been watching The 100 recently. On season 2 now and I'm really enjoying it.

I like it. It’s never pulling up any trees but it’s a half decent watch.

[Boydy]

I like it. It’s never pulling up any trees but it’s a half decent watch.
Yeah, it's not gonna compete with any of the tv greats but I love post-apocalyptic stuff and it's decent.

[John]

Finished the first season of Search Party and it was good stuff. A few belly laughs, a few unexpected turns, and a tone that felt unlike anything else on television.

The characters all make those on Girls look like the most giving, empathetic people you've ever seen, but it turned that to its advantage and got good mileage out of all of them.

[Henry]

I'm getting more into TV shows, it seems.

I assume that a lot of you people have watched Suits. I find it passable. I like that you can kind of dip in and out. I'm now on Series 3.

I'm also watching Peaky Blinders and Star Trek Discovery as new episodes come out. Also both reasonably good.

[Kikó]

You've only started watching it because of the royals. I knew you loved the monarchy.

[AyDee]

Thought The Defenders was alright, not amazing. Would've been 100x better if they just binned off the Iron Fist.

Almost finished Derek and American Gods. The former is pretty underrated considering it's Rickey Gervais, even if I do prefer The Office and Extras. American Gods is weird as fuck though. Bit of a slow burner too, so expecting some fireworks in the final episodes.

Recently started 30 Rock and The Punisher, enjoying both. Don't think I've heard a bad thing from anyone who's watched The Punisher so going in with big expectations.

[Henry]

You've only started watching it because of the royals. I knew you loved the monarchy.

You caught me. She is very hot.

[Yevrah]

4 episodes into Stranger Things season 2 and it's dropped in quality somewhat from season 1.

[Foe]

I thought it held up pretty well for the most part but it seems to get weaker as the season goes on. fair warning.

[Yevrah]

Finished.

As with the first season the 'stranger things' stuff I can take or leave, but the coming of age/nostalgia element to it is brilliantly done.

[Browning]

The good news is Taskmaster's champions series is on next Wednesday.

The bad news is it's only 2 parts.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

2 parts? ffs.

[Dark Soldier]

Well then


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o40U8Mn9fUA

:happycry:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Binged on 'Inside No 9' this weekend. Surely the best TV made in Britain in the last five years.

I guess the slightly dark edge means they will never get the credit they deserve.

[phonics]

Tom Hardy is so good in Peaky Blinders.

The scene with him and Tommy 'The Gypsy' Carchetti does put the massive gulf in quality between the two in stark contrast.

(spoilers for last weeks episode)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs8i4duSJSM

[Henry]

Has anyone else watched Suits then? I'm now on season 6 and getting a bit tired of it.

The writing just isn't that good. These people monumentally betray each other twice a year but then go back to calling each other "family" in the next episode. There have been several giant reset buttons already. And there's no way that they get away with what they're doing for so long, particularly by series 6 at which point shit really has hit the fan.

I think the "cool lawyers with a lot of money thing is okay", but probably 1-2 series was enough.

[phonics]

It goes severely downhill around season 3. I stuck around for 4 and a bit of 5 but had to jump ship when I realized that every plot could be setlled in 4 minutes by getting all the antagonists in the same room and telling them the basic facts of the matter.

[Boydy]

Onto season 4 of The 100 now.

I didn't like season 3 as much. That AI bullshit was pretty annoying. Season 4's premise seems good though.

[Bernanke]

I stopped watching Suits when a certain person went to jail. I had already hate-watched it for about a season by then.

[Henry]

I stopped watching Suits when a certain person went to jail. I had already hate-watched it for about a season by then.

I'm wondering how they're going to get him out of there and back working at the firm as if nothing happened - which you know they will.

All of the rest of them should have followed him directly to jail if there was even a touch of realism. They can't just cut a deal with the government not to bother going after anyone else who knew about it. That was absurd.

[Adamski]

The Good Place is a lot of nonsense really eh?

Couldn’t stop watching it to be fair, got through everything so far in about a week.

Who loved it? John? Surprised at that.

[Boydy]

I did too. How do you mean it's a lot of nonsense?

[Adamski]

Quite enjoyed the first season. This one seems all over the place.

I realise it’s a niche concept and probably meant to be a bit bizarre it just seems like it’s not really going anywhere.

Can’t say I’m not enjoying it, just feel like Eleanor in particular is just a walking meme. We get it, you’re a cow.

[Boydy]

How far into season 2 are you? I had reservations about it at the start but it got better.

Also, what did you think of season 3 of The 100? Check my spoiler.

[Adamski]

Netflix only has up to episode 7, which I just finished this morning.

Agreed totally on The 100, haven’t watched season 4 yet so keen to hear if it’s any good!

[Bernanke]

The Crown S2 suddenly dropped on Netflix. Has it really been that long since S1?

[John]

The new ITV drama has just started with a scene set twenty six years ago. It opens on a man in white jeans fixing a MK1 Golf convertible to the strains of Adamski and Seal. Scene set.

[Bob Sacamano]

Season 3 of Gomorra is fantastic.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The new ITV drama has just started with a scene set twenty six years ago. It opens on a man in white jeans fixing a MK1 Golf convertible to the strains of Adamski and Seal. Scene set.

Inspiral Carpets is the absolute ultimate for that.

Now got to '12 Days of Christine' on Inside No 9, whereupon the series has taken a turn from brilliantly subtle comedy (with the odd exception when they let themselves get too LoG-ish) to incredibly touching drama. Stunning stuff.

[Disco]

The good news is Taskmaster's champions series is on next Wednesday.

The bad news is it's only 2 parts.

I'm so very ready for this. More Bob Mortimer. :drool:

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Manhunt: Unabomber on Netflix looks interesting, anyone seen it or watched any of The Punisher?

I'm 6 episodes in to the latter and it's decent but I was expecting a lot more from what I'd heard. As of the end of episode 6- I had previously said to myself it'd be a bit cheap if it turns out his mate Bill ended up double crossing him...:yawn:

[Baz]

The first episode of Taskmaster Champion Of Champions was pretty great. I forgot how much I love Rob Beckett. :lol:

Also got me thinking about who’d be good on it. My ultimate would probably be James Acaster. He’s genuinely one of the funniest people I’ve ever seen on TV and I think his style of humour would really fit Taskmaster. Shame there will [probably] be no more Taskmaster after the Champions finale. :(

[phonics]

Another cracking Tom Hardy performance this week.

Constantly adding on money for the hit because Alfie and Tommy are 'of maligned peoples' only to add on an extra hundred quid because 'You're a fucking wop mate'

[Alex]

I agree that he does steal the show every time he's on screen, he's excellent. It might actually be my favourite role I've ever seen him in.

No way is he giving Tommy up though, right? It'll be a double-cross or something. The Italians started out as this really serious, dangerous new threat but, to be honest, they look a right set of amateurs now.

In retrospect, I'm not really sure why they ever thought ten of them could just turn up in Birmingham and declare war on the Peaky Blinders. The way they got John, and almost Michael, by surprise, then fine. But everything after that has been a disaster. It's like nobody factored in to the plan the fact that Tommy runs the entire city, is surrounded and protected by an entire criminal organisation and appears to have the local police force in his pocket to boot. Also, is it just me, or is Adrian Brody hamming it up a bit at this point? When he first turned up I thought he was bringing just the right level of menace to the role. He seems to have gone wildly over the top now though, with the Brando-esque, Don Corleone accent. That bloody toothpick is the main offender though. He was casually chewing away on it during a fucking gunfight in that last episode.

It's still be a fantastic season though, don't get me wrong. It's so beautifully shot, and they really nail the tone of the era. It reminds me a little bit of Boardwalk Empire in it's prime, in that respect.

[randomlegend]

I didn't realise the Champion of Champions thing on Taskmaster was only 2 episodes :(

[Baz]

Bob Mortimer’s mask really set me off. :roflol:

[randomlegend]

Me too :D I think that might have been the best task ever.

[SvN]

I finished the German TV show "Dark" today - well, the first season anyway, as I hear a second season has already been given the go ahead. Really enjoyed it, but one of those that you can't take your eye off for a moment or you'll miss something.

Not sure if it was the German character names, subtitles, or something else, but I also had trouble keeping track of who was who.

[Jimmy Floyd]

New 'Inside no 9' on BBC earlier was good to the point of being ridiculous. They'll never keep that level up for a whole series.

[randomlegend]

I started watching one of them the other day on your recommendation (they were all in a cupboard?).

Switched it off after about 5 minutes. Do I need to stick with it or is it just not for me?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're all different (it's an anthology series), so some are a lot better than others. Watch the second one of the first series ('A Quiet Night In'), if you don't like that then you won't like any of it.

Also they all have twists/twist endings, so you sometimes need to let it play out a bit even if nothing seems to be happening. That isn't to say there aren't weaker ones, though.

[The Merse]

I'm wondering how they're going to get him out of there and back working at the firm as if nothing happened - which you know they will.

All of the rest of them should have followed him directly to jail if there was even a touch of realism. They can't just cut a deal with the government not to bother going after anyone else who knew about it. That was absurd.

It was always the trashiest of the shows I watched, but good god it moved into obnoxiously poor territory with the imprisonment and everything that came after that. Sack it off if you're able to resist the sadistic urge.

[Henry]

I partially watched the rest. It was predictably stupid.

[CJay]

Anyone watching / watched Designated Survivor? It’s one of the most clichéd shows I’ve ever seen. There’s the warmongering general, the rogue governor, the smart investigator who knows something’s not quite right, and so on. It’s pretty much exactly what a teenager would write in English class.

It’s awful, but it’s the exact sort of thing my wife loves, unfortunately. :moop:

[mo]

Have recently watched Sneaky Pete and Goliath on Amazon, both of which I'd highly recommend. Big fan of both lead actors (Giovanni Ribisi and Billy Bob Thornton respectively) and Goliath has the added bonus of a couple of Lost connections.

[phonics]

Anyone watching / watched Designated Survivor? It’s one of the most clichéd shows I’ve ever seen. There’s the warmongering general, the rogue governor, the smart investigator who knows something’s not quite right, and so on. It’s pretty much exactly what a teenager would write in English class.

It’s awful, but it’s the exact sort of thing my wife loves, unfortunately. :moop:

My mum loves it which is an issue when she spends the entirety of Christmas telling people to watch it.

[Raoul Duke]

Travelers series 2 was pretty good. Also, Glitch series 2 is continuing to be mental. Not sure if it's awesome or bobbins.

[Kikó]

After starting five years ago, I finally finished the Sopranos. Brilliant ending.

[phonics]

I watched loads of it in a short period and stopped when I noticed I'd told my friend I was just 'busting his balls'

[John]

The latest episode of The Good Place was just lovely. They seem to be heading in yet another direction I'm not sure about, but at this point they've got infinite benefit of the doubt.

There has never been a more perfect character detail than Jason's personal hell being a Skrillex concert where the bass never drops.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

I finished the German TV show "Dark" today - well, the first season anyway, as I hear a second season has already been given the go ahead. Really enjoyed it, but one of those that you can't take your eye off for a moment or you'll miss something.

Not sure if it was the German character names, subtitles, or something else, but I also had trouble keeping track of who was who.

This is probably the best thing I've seen recently. You're right though, need to watch it like a hawk.

[Kikó]

I found Wallander in the charity shop so started watching it last night. After watching lots of Scandi noir, it's a bit jarring to have Brits playing Swedish detectives. It's got nothing on the killing.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

They're all different (it's an anthology series), so some are a lot better than others. Watch the second one of the first series ('A Quiet Night In'), if you don't like that then you won't like any of it.

Also they all have twists/twist endings, so you sometimes need to let it play out a bit even if nothing seems to be happening. That isn't to say there aren't weaker ones, though.

I must be the exception as I did just that and wasn't overly keen. Happy to report I've since watched 3 more and it's good.

[John]

The new BBC thing from the guy who wrote Luther, Hard Sun, is fucking bizarre. It's ostensibly set in a world about to end because the sun is going to explode, then it asks you to give a toss about a piddling murder investigation and a crooked policeman. There are some seriously odd little details too, like at one point someone gets their hands on the intelligence files about the exploding sun and it flashes across the screen, with the single most prominently displayed page headed 'Bodybag Demand' with a line graph going out the top of its axis.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

I must be the exception as I did just that and wasn't overly keen. Happy to report I've since watched 3 more and it's good.

Fully up to date now, thought I'd have taken longer to spin it out. This latest series has been outstanding so far.

[Alex]

I've been watching Hannibal recently. I'm almost at the end of season two. It's really good, I'm not sure why it's taken me this long. It's very stylishly put together. Something about the colour palette and the way they film it, it always looks fantastic. It's impressively gruesome too, a lot of the murder set pieces are ridiculously good.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Fully up to date now, thought I'd have taken longer to spin it out. This latest series has been outstanding so far.

Yep. All three have been ridiculous.

[SvN]

This is probably the best thing I've seen recently. You're right though, need to watch it like a hawk.
Nice to hear someone else watched and enjoyed it. I thought it would have received more fanfare, but I suppose foreign language shows aren't for everyone.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Yep. All three have been ridiculous.

It's one of the rare shows that, while not a laugh a minute, manages to get me in hysterics at times.

In Zanzibar- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qViD9JlTrpE

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Star Trek: Discovery has been brilliant since it came back from it's break. Especially the last 2 episodes.

[Giggles]

Star Trek: Discovery has been brilliant since it came back from it's break. Especially the last 2 episodes.

Yeah really enjoying it. They're not fucking about dragging storylines out or anything.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Black Lightning :drool:

The lead, Cress Williams, is so damn good.

[Magic]

I've just started watching The Thick of It. Beside the odd Youtube video of Malcolm Tucker losing his shit I've never seen any of it before. What a true delight. It's devilishly fantastic.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Watch In The Loop while you're at it.

[Magic]

Is that to watch after all the series?

[John]

It doesn't really matter. It's the same writers and actors, but they mostly play different roles and the story is unconnected to what's going on in The Thick of It. As I remember it fed pretty directly into Veep though, with half the Yank staffers in the film winding up in similar roles for that.

[phonics]

I thought In The Loop was a big drop off from the series.

[mo]

On the fourth episode of Inside No.9, on Jimmy Floyd's recommendation. Hooked.

[SincereTheRebel]

I Dont watch much movies or tv shows anymore but im into McMafia heavy. Alex the main character, get him as the next james bond

[Baz]

I Dont watch much movies or tv shows anymore but im into McMafia heavy. Alex the main character, get him as the next james bondHe’s current favourite @2/1

[Giggles]

Discovery :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought In The Loop was a big drop off from the series.

It was basically a Malcolm Tucker greatest hits tour, whilst murdering all the equally good supporting characters from the series. Still, if you need to sell to Americans, simplicity is needed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Discovery :drool:

Since they've returned they have been absolutely killing it.

It's brilliant.

[Giggles]

Since they've returned they have been absolutely killing it.

It's brilliant.

Once you get over or ignore how absolutely fucking ridiculous the whole mirror universe thing is, then it's the most enjoyable thing I've seen on TV in a while. Even though today's felt like a finale there's still a good few things to be tied up with the war and Ashvoq.

[John]

I watched the first episode of the Netflix redo of One Day At A Time last night. It's loud and broad and not very good, but it's alerted me to the fact that Rita Moreno might be immortal. She's pushing ninety and it genuinely looks a little off that she's the mother of a character I reckon is supposed to be about forty.

[-james-]

Been getting around to watching Parks and Recreation. Largely pretty good, but I've just hit season five and it's fallen off a cliff. Ben and April are awful, and Chris is only getting worse.

[The Merse]

Discovery :drool:

Whilst I've always enjoyed Star Trek series as a perfect easy to watch after school/work/uni etc offering, this series is the first to have me feeling hooked.

The Lorca reveal was perfect, and needed given that the Ash reveal was somewhat compromised

[John]

I'll take back the 'not very good' portion of my last post. It's actually good, I just switched off the first episode about three minutes before it moved into slightly more dramatic territory. The comedic sensibility is a bit Big Bang Theory, it's all setup punchline, but I watched two more last night after finishing the first and it moves fairly gracefully between the comedy and the drama. It has the potential to be very good.

[wullie]

On the home stretch of Dark now, watched the first episode and had to force ourselves to continue but it's really picked up. From what I gather, in Germany it rains every day and your best friend is probably also your grandson who will marry your daughter 40 years ago.

[Henry]

I've been watching Discovery too. It's definitely compulsive viewing, even if you can see some of the twists coming a mile off. It remains to be seen if it can keep that going. Not sure it will have the same rewatch value as the older series do but that's probably what you get when you don't do standalone episodes.

[Boydy]

Do you need to have seen the other Star Treks to watch this new one?

If so, where's the best place to start?

[Giggles]

Do you need to have seen the other Star Treks to watch this new one?

If so, where's the best place to start?

Nope not a bit. Though being familiar with the whole mirror universe story from the other series would help as a lot of Discovery is based on it and there's a few small crossover references.

Best not think about the mirror universe thing too much anyway as it's ridiculous, and just go with it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

No.

It made me start watching the entire back catalog but the only thing you'll really miss is small references.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Getting into Inside No. 9 recently has got me onto Psychoville.

Was a bit disappointed with the second season. Still good but all the mental characters made the first season so killing a lot of them off fairly early on did take a lot of the humour away.

[Baz]

Rewatching season ten of The X-Files before starting on the new ones. God, I love it. :cool:

[mo]

I watched the first episode of Star Trek (TNG) but found it incredibly boring. Read the synopsis for episode two and sacked it off. Shame, as it's the sort of thing I really should be into.

[Raoul Duke]

Later TNG > Voyager > all others

Not watched Discovery but will do so soon.

[John]

I watched the updated Battlestar before watching any Star Trek beyond what I saw when I was a kid and my dad had it on, and it all just seems a bit childish by comparison.

The first two episodes of Discovery were good enough that I'll definitely watch more of it at some point but it didn't hook me the way the really good stuff does.

Counterpart looks like it could be a cracking new sci fi show. JK Simmons in dual roles. :drool:

[Alex]

While we're on the topic of Sci-Fi, I watched the first episode of that new Netflix show, Altered Carbon, last night. The reviews have been pretty mixed but it seemed alright. They've maybe gone a little bit heavy on the Blade Runner overtones when it comes to the look of it all though.

[Ian]

New Endeavour tonight. :drool: Does anybody else on here watch it?

[Raoul Duke]

While we're on the topic of Sci-Fi, I watched the first episode of that new Netflix show, Altered Carbon, last night. The reviews have been pretty mixed but it seemed alright. They've maybe gone a little bit heavy on the Blade Runner overtones when it comes to the look of it all though.

I'm balls deep into this. It's awesome.

[Panda Bear]

Quick summary of things I've seen within the past couple months.

Shows that were garbage halfway into the first episode:
* Altered Carbon

Shows that became garbage halfway into the first season:
* Mr Robot

Shows that were good enough:
* EASY
* Glitch
* Stranger Things

Shows that proved golden halfway into their first episode:
* DARK
* Marvelous Mrs Maisel
* Mindhunter

[Panda Bear]

Altered Carbon is like Snowpiercer to me. Its writing is heavy-handed as shown by its distinct lack of subtlety and nuance in exploring its themes, the cinematography is stunted, and it crams as much cyberpunk as it can down your throat to obscure its lack of atmosphere.

It's dumb science fiction. I don't care if it "gets better if you stick with it" because it won't.

[John]

Marvelous Mrs Maisel was lovely.

You've biffed yourself there though by complaining about heavy handed writing in Altered Carbon then praising the first episode of Mindhunter, which had the most leaden dialogue this side of a Matrix sequel. It picked up in short order once episode two started and was shit hot from the moment Kemper appeared, but that first episode was a slog.

[Panda Bear]

Marvelous Mrs Maisel was lovely.

You've biffed yourself there though by complaining about heavy handed writing in Altered Carbon then praising the first episode of Mindhunter, which had the most leaden dialogue this side of a Matrix sequel. It picked up in short order once episode two started and was shit hot from the moment Kemper appeared, but that first episode was a slog.I completely forgot about the slog until this moment, and remembered the show starting on episode two. Mindhunter's Kemper is one of the most compelling characters I've ever seen.

[John]

He almost isn't a character at all. Pretty much everything he said was taken verbatim from actual interviews, and the one bit which departed significantly was actually a less mental version of the real interview.

[Panda Bear]

I wasn't sure if 'character' was right for that reason as Mindhunter combines depictions of serial killers with original characters.

[Panda Bear]

Also, This Is Us is really good.

[Giggles]

Also, This Is Us is really good.

I really liked any of that I seen, but they always put it on at a stupid time here so I lost track of it.