Do we live in a golden age of television?

[Boydy]

Currently watching The Ranganation. What the fuck has Katherine Ryan done to her face?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Watched Ted Lasso over the weekend. The trailer makes it look shit but I really liked it.

A lot of really likeable characters (including Ted) but Juno Temple as Keeley was great.

[Giggles]

Watched Ted Lasso over the weekend. The trailer makes it look shit but I really liked it.

A lot of really likeable characters (including Ted) but Juno Temple as Keeley was great.

As it goes on it turns into what I was afraid it would be, but for the most part I really liked it. The main character is great.

[Kikó]

Watched Ted Lasso over the weekend. The trailer makes it look shit but I really liked it.

A lot of really likeable characters (including Ted) but Juno Temple as Keeley was great.

It's really wholesome.

[Manc]

I might throw my support behind it after his wife let him for Harry Styles. Tough break.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I might throw my support behind it after his wife let him for Harry Styles. Tough break.

I hadn't seen that, poor bastard.

[Bernanke]

Gonna add to the "how is Ted Lasso as good as it is" group.

[Don]

There's 8 hours of new fucking Adam Curtis material on the iplayer and you useless fucks are too busy talking about Ranganation and dogshit identikit US series' to alert me to it? Fuck off, the lot of you.

[Boydy]

I've been watching that as well as The Ranganation, actually.

[Don]

Shut your fucking trap.

[Boydy]

No, The Trap's an old one of his. This new one is called "Can't Get You Out of My Head".

[Spikey M]

There's 8 hours of new fucking Adam Curtis material on the iplayer and you useless fucks are too busy talking about Ranganation and dogshit identikit US series' to alert me to it? Fuck off, the lot of you.

What? :drool:

[Lewis]

I used to really like Adam Curtis, but there came a point where I couldn't get my head far enough up my own arse to enjoy them. Bitter Lake was bad, HyperNormalisation was worse. I don't need a contrarian Twitter thread by an anime avatar/'race realist' spun out over six hours thanks.

[Spikey M]

If you can't enjoy learning about how everything you know is wrong and everything you do is pointless, interspersed with tangentially related shaky handheld camera footage, then I think you need to ask yourself who the real problem is here, mate.

[Shindig]

And how he skilfully crowbars 9/11 into every one of them.

"And then something came along that nobody predicted." <FREEDOM TOWERS>

[Jimmy Floyd]

Jimmy Floyd get on Lupin. Good french practice and it's great.

Yep. Great fun. I feel for the saddos watching this in dubbed, as Netflix wants you to. It's between 40 and 80 times better in the original with subs.

[phonics]

The dub is so bad I genuinely waiver onto the side of thinking it's racist.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Latest Lockdown offering was Toast of London which I absolutely loved and a lot funnier than I expected it would be.

[hfswjyr]

You went from Matt Berry (What we do in the Shadows) to Matt Berry (Toast of London) didn't you?

[John Arne]

So, no more Brooklyn Nine Nine. As much I enjoyed the recent season, it's probably a good time to call it day.

[Giggles]

Are they not doing a series 8?

[John Arne]

Yeah, 10 episodes. But it sounds like it's going to be a complete mess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

You went from Matt Berry (What we do in the Shadows) to Matt Berry (Toast of London) didn't you?

Indeed.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I re-watch a random Toast of London episode if I'm ever in a dogshit mood (quite a lot recently). As soon as the first piano chords kick in on the theme tune everything is OK again.

[CJay]

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/feb/23/the-simpsons-dr-hibbert-harry-shearer-replaced-by-black-actor-kevin-michael-richardson

Where does this stupidity end? Can black voice actors no longer voice white characters? Surely the point of a voice actor is that they can do any character - who cares what colour the actual person is?!

[Jimmy Floyd]

The current fad for only gay actors being able to play gay characters really pisses me off. How to reduce empathy and de-normalise the characteristic, like it's fucking Down's Syndrome or something.

[CJay]

Some film called Music had an autistic character and now there’s a backlash that it should have been played by someone with autism. Not sure what acting actually is anymore. Should Walter White have been played by someone who was actually suffering from lung cancer?

[Baz]

If you’ve seen the newer animated version of The Grinch there is a white character with the blackest voice you’ve ever heard. Seems there’s no black people [allowed] in Whoville though.

[mo]

Jodie Turner-Smith playing Anne Boleyn really irritated me. Works fine to recast tradtionally 'white' characters with black actors, if they're fictional, but 'colourblind' casting of historical figures just comes across as pandering.

[Don]

Well it would to massive racists like yourself. Check your privelege.

[Lewis]

It isn't pandering. They think they're being subversive, missing the fact that it being widely encouraged means that, by definition, they aren't. It's the modern equivalent of putting swearing or graphic sex/violence in a programme.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I find it strange. Surely you become an actor to play roles that are different from who you really are. Yet now you have to play your own sexuality, ethnicity (in voice roles), disability etc etc.

[Don]

I'm sure my people find it strange that they are discriminated against at every turn for the colour of their skin also, you disgrace.

[Lewis]

It's you and the AME community who are missing out since it's always black actors. Indian Anne Boleyn wouldn't cut it.

[Don]

Are you suggesting black people make more noise with their cymbal-banging about equality than us?

[Lewis]

They definitely make more noise.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I always want to point out that our Asians (who are more numerous than our black communities, iirc) always get left out in these things, which proves that it's all just an ego play attempting to reflect and bask in the cultural soft power of black America, but if you stay stuff like that you end up getting cancelled and forced to spend the weekend strumming with Laurence Fox.

[Lewis]

Americans concentrate on the East Asians spoiling their racial hierarchies, but globally Indians are the real threat to the NARRATIVE. Not only have they thrived in the West, but they ended up running half the colonies as well once we cleared out, suggesting that 'white supremacy' is actually just supremacy.

[Shindig]

Some film called Music had an autistic character and now there’s a backlash that it should have been played by someone with autism. Not sure what acting actually is anymore. Should Walter White have been played by someone who was actually suffering from lung cancer?

The autism thing is especially tricky because committing to a film shoot sounds like an ordeal for a young kid. The lass in Hollyoaks manages it but she has her own quiet room on set increase shit gets intense. Still, they should've hired one for easy critical acclaim. Who's going to moan at some dodgy line deliveries when the lead's got a disability that can play right into it?

[Giggles]

They should just fix the Dr Hibbert thing by not making any more of the shite.

[Dquincy]

I'd exhausted pretty much every option on Netflix so I decided to give The Staircase a go earlier this week. I had not bothered with it as it always gets chucked in with Making A Murderer which I didn't get on with, owing to the geezer clearly being a fucking scumbag.

Well I finished it last night and fuck me, I was wrong to leave it this long. I haven't been that invested in a show for a long time. Genuine butterflies in my stomach waiting for the verdict(s) to come in. I know it's an incredibly poorly kept secret but the US Justice Department is fucked. Watching him turn from a normal guy to an old man, missing all those family milestones, and still having to fight on was tough.

I'm going to give Making A Murderer another go now.

It's amazing isn't it. I nearly gave up after episode 1, but glad I didn't. It's genuinely a thrilling documentary.

[Giggles]

Is it on Netflix now?

[Dquincy]

Is it on Netflix now?

I've just checked for you my friend and it is. Certainly worth a watch. Get past the first episode or two and it gets really good.

[Kikó]

'i care a lot' on prime is shit. Avoid.

This isn't the film thread.oops.

[Giggles]

Was checking there too and just seen Drive to Survive is back on the 19th :drool:

[Spikey M]

Defo watch worthy. Great TV.

Edit: The Staircase that is.

[Pepe]

I always want to point out that our Asians (who are more numerous than our black communities, iirc) always get left out in these things, which proves that it's all just an ego play attempting to reflect and bask in the cultural soft power of black America, but if you stay stuff like that you end up getting cancelled and forced to spend the weekend strumming with Laurence Fox.

Asians are considered whites over here now. That's what they get for being good at school.

[Pepe]

I watched Maniac (I think that's what it is called) and Unorthodox. They're both good.

[Lofty]

Gambled on CEX second hand and picked up Band of Brothers, The Pacific and Firefly blu ray complete sets for £15 all in :drool:

[Kikó]

Mrs Maisel is wonderful. Really top quality television.

[randomlegend]

Uncle is really surprisingly good.

[Lewis]

I don't know about this Frasier revival with only Frasier in it. Especially if it goes down the Frasier in 2021 fish-out-of-water routine like a load of shit middle aged comedy. Frasier says 'niggardly' on the radio. Frasier accidentally dates a tranny.

[Ian]

Reviving a show that had already stumbled through at least a couple of ropey series before it finished the first time? Can't see what could go wrong.

[Spikey M]

I can't envisage a world where it's going to be anything but a massive disappointment.

[Disco]

On the subject of inevitable massive disappointments, I see someone is making a Wheel of Time series. The odds of that doing it justice are as slim as the novels were not.

[Ian]

It shouldn't be much harder to do right than Game of Thrones was, and it turns out those guys were just some fucking idiots with decent source material.

Plus Wheel of Time is actually finished.

They might need to tweak the writing of the women a bit though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I really need to finish those books.

[Lofty]

The wife put Saturday Night Takeaway on whilst I was out of the room, I was about to turn it off on my return but instead witnessed some absolute car crash TV where Gordon Ramsay had to guess foods people were saying by lip reading. In two minutes he said 'pissed', coated off some woman for having gap teeth and told the asian bloke to speak English :D

[Shindig]

That's Can't Get You Out of My Head finished. I almost wish I hadn't been tipped off about a mate's appearance in that. :D Also, they cut the Kursk town hall footage before the wifey got sedated. Poor form, BBC. Still, I can handle one of these every couple of years.

[Lofty]

Wandavision finalé was a bit meh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah I'd go with that. I was expecting a lot more from it tbh.

No Dr. Strange appearance in particular is a bit odd seeing as the story is meant to continue in his next film. Although I suppose the Darkhold will play a key role.

I was also expecting more from Monica and White Vision too.

[randomlegend]

I've only given it an episode and a half to be fair but I've struggled to get into Wandavision so far.

[phonics]

I thought I’d give it a shot but I was told that I’d have to watch four 3 hour long Marvel movies to understand what’s going on. Fuck that.

[Lofty]

I think as a whole it was a good series with an interesting premise and I appreciated the ideas behind it. There was a lot shoehorned in a bit clunkily too though:

Monica Rambo, not sure what the point of her entire arc was except for the final stinger? Would it have changed much if she wasn't in it? Also multiverse Quicksilver fake out was poor, and not very well explained.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I think as a whole it was a good series with an interesting premise and I appreciated the ideas behind it. There was a lot shoehorned in a bit clunkily too though:

Monica Rambo, not sure what the point of her entire arc was except for the final stinger? Would it have changed much if she wasn't in it? Also multiverse Quicksilver fake out was poor, and not very well explained.

The fake Quicksilver was Agnes' husband who she referred to a couple of times (before revealing herself to be the powerful witch Agatha). Why he looked like Pietro I have no idea. Why he had his powers? I'm assuming Agatha through the necklace.

It was a bit crap and the main theory about him was that he was taken from an alternative dimension (which would have led nicely into Strange's next movie which is about the multiverse).

[Baz]

I watched that Biggie documentary on Netflix. I liked that it was like 95% about his actual life, and not yet another conspiracy theory documentary about how Puffy got Tupac shot and Suge got Biggie shot. Nothing new, really, but I'll always grin like an idiot at that clip where he buries Supreme in a rap battle in the street.

[Ian]

WandaVision:
I thought the finale was fine but I expected it would lead more directly into Doctor Strange 2, maybe including him appearing. It's a decent episode and the stakes feel high enough but.other than Wanda and Monica gaining powers it doesn't feel like it's deviated far from the pre-series status quo.


I thought I’d give it a shot but I was told that I’d have to watch four 3 hour long Marvel movies to understand what’s going on. Fuck that.

I have seen all the films and I'd disagree. But I'm also not sure whether WandaVision is indicative of the MCU. It's only 30-odd minute episodes. I'd say try two or three and you'll know if you care or not.

[Queenslander]

I walked into Wandavision with zero movies behind me and found it easy to follow.

I watch one of those channels that do the breakdowns if I need a catch up.

[-james-]

The Circle is back tonight. :drool:

[Manc]

Has anyone else bothered with The Terror? About as AMC as a TV show could get. Cracking cast, but it's a proper slog. I'm hoping for a big pay off come series end.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

It's excellent.

Haven't seen the second season though.

[SvN]

Second season wasn't really in the same league, but I did still enjoy it. First season is top TV though.

[Manc]

Jared Harris is one hell of an actor.

[Boydy]

This Taskmaster lineup is shite.

[Manc]

Flavourless.

[Raoul Duke]

Does Wandavision get better after the first couple of episodes? The first two have been total bollocks

[Lofty]

It does.

[Ian]

Does Wandavision get better after the first couple of episodes? The first two have been total bollocks

If you don't like episodes 3/4 you can give up. First two are really quite different but three is where it starts to change a bit.

[Don]

That Football's Darkest Secrets is something.

[Lofty]

The Circle is back tonight. :drool:

Not sure what I think of this series so far, feels like they are throwing more spanners in the works early doors. Also think contestants are more savvy this time round with the sob story angles.

[-james-]

Not sure what I think of this series so far, feels like they are throwing more spanners in the works early doors. Also think contestants are more savvy this time round with the sob story angles.

Yeah it's been pretty poor so far. Most of the contestants are basically the same young Youtuber type person and all of the catfishers are dire.

[Manc]

I've revisited This Country and S3, E6 is absolute magic.

[Dquincy]

Anyone watch Line of Duty on Monday? Same old shit, but worth a watch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have started Succession recently (about 4 and a half eps in, I need two bites at some of them). Really is very good, without having a single likeable character in it. A mark of Jesse Armstrong's stuff I think, The Thick of It and Peep Show were the same.

[Lofty]

Yeah it's been pretty poor so far. Most of the contestants are basically the same young Youtuber type person and all of the catfishers are dire.

'Kate' was the best catfish of course, though Freddie was comedy even though his catfishing was lazy, just the contrast between his persona and his actual personality was amusing.

Series 2 had a good one in James, he played it well and really went for the jugular with a profile no-one thought would have been faked. Paddy winning it was a farce I think, especially irritating as he did the now standard 'I'm disabled but I will hide it... for 12 hours' tactic.

Very unlikeable bunch this year and everyone has a tale of woe.

[Lofty]

Anyone watch Line of Duty on Monday? Same old shit, but worth a watch.

It was a solid opener though not as explosive as previous openers which threw me a little, kept waiting for the other shoe to drop (thought there was a bomb in the flat after the delayed arrival, the way that part was filmed was odd).

[Baz]

Please explain the concept of The Circle.

[Kikó]

Have started Succession recently (about 4 and a half eps in, I need two bites at some of them). Really is very good, without having a single likeable character in it. A mark of Jesse Armstrong's stuff I think, The Thick of It and Peep Show were the same.

Characters become more relatable/likeable the further you dive into it.

[Lofty]

Please explain the concept of The Circle.

8 players are housed in a block of flats isolated from the world with only a basic social media platform called 'The Circle' to communicate with via text chat. When players enter the game they create a profile, they don't have to be themselves. They regularly rate each other anonymously, the top 2 players in the ratings become influencers and decide who to block from the game. The winner scoops £100,000.

It has definite 'werewolf'/'mafia' elements with regards to catfish gameplay. Series One was the best in my opinion, available on All 4.

[Yevrah]

I've recently rediscovered my love for binging and have hammered the following:

Murder at the Mormons - After a slow start this turned into a fascinating documentary, would recommend.
White House Farm - Very good true crime drama with an outstanding performance from Mark Addy.
Wild Wild Country - Just a brilliant documentary, I have no idea how I wasn't previously aware that any of this had happened. Utterly batshit.
Unbelievable - A little bit annoying (from a male privilege perspective perhaps) but otherwise a solid drama.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Characters become more relatable/likeable the further you dive into it.

Thus far I'm probably closest to liking Kendall, purely because he is probably in the most sympathetic plight of them all, but christ they all make it difficult. McFadyen's character is a fucking cunt. Shiv is awful too.

I get so many vibes of my real life boss from Logan Roy.

[-james-]

'Kate' was the best catfish of course, though Freddie was comedy even though his catfishing was lazy, just the contrast between his persona and his actual personality was amusing.

Series 2 had a good one in James, he played it well and really went for the jugular with a profile no-one thought would have been faked. Paddy winning it was a farce I think, especially irritating as he did the now standard 'I'm disabled but I will hide it... for 12 hours' tactic.

Very unlikeable bunch this year and everyone has a tale of woe.


I quite enjoyed the random chaos of Paddy winning last year, he went from absolutely no hope to basically winning by accident because of the factions that were formed in the last couple of episodes.

I think everyone has just watched last year, where the success stories were friendly oddball old person, sympathetic woman, and sob stories, and gone for one of them, but are playing them abysmally. Shout out to Penny for being the worst ever contestant on a reality TV show.

I'm hoping they have a few more players to chuck in this season, because Gemma, Dot and Syed are already dead in the water, and the rest are mostly terrible TV.

[Alex]

Kiko is right in that you do get more invested in the characters as it goes along. Kendall is absolutely the "good guy" of the piece, if you could call him that. I'm not sure if he has or not but Jeremy Strong should be winning all of the awards he is eligible for for his portrayal of him.

They're all fucking awful on some level though. I suppose that is sort of the point. They're all fucked up and twisted by wealth and/or power. I guess it's a bit like The Sopranos in that they're all bad people but it doesn't stop you forming attachments to them. Well, apart from Cousin Greg. He's not a bad person.

[Alex]

I've started watching House recently, I've never seen any of it before. I quite like it. It's incredibly formulaic (loads of medical science-babble, they get the diagnosis wrong a few times until House solves it in the last five minutes) but I just wanted an "easy" watch and it is sort of infinitely watchable. I'm only closing in on the end of season one though, I can't guarantee I will still feel that way a hundred episodes down the line!

[Kikó]

It's clearly lupus.

I'd like to go back to it at some point.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kiko is right in that you do get more invested in the characters as it goes along. Kendall is absolutely the "good guy" of the piece, if you could call him that. I'm not sure if he has or not but Jeremy Strong should be winning all of the awards he is eligible for for his portrayal of him.

They're all fucking awful on some level though. I suppose that is sort of the point. They're all fucked up and twisted by wealth and/or power. I guess it's a bit like The Sopranos in that they're all bad people but it doesn't stop you forming attachments to them. Well, apart from Cousin Greg. He's not a bad person.

Cousin Greg may not be 'bad' but he acts in literally the opposite way to how I would act in every conceivable situation, so for that reason I find him massively irritating. So far. It's early-ish days.

[Alex]

It's clearly lupus.

I'd like to go back to it at some point.

:D

My only real complaint so far as they shoe-horn things in out of the blue to try and make it more than just "House solves cases" week after week. For example, the stereotypical story arc with an evil new boss who doesn't understand House's methods just got thrown in out of nowhere for a few episodes.

And now one of his co-workers/underlings seems to have developed a totally out of character crush on him that they're intent on pushing to the forefront.

[Alex]

Cousin Greg may not be 'bad' but he acts in literally the opposite way to how I would act in every conceivable situation, so for that reason I find him massively irritating. So far. It's early-ish days.

Yeah, it's weird with Greg isn't it. Because it's almost like they were going for a "what if you put an every-man type into this family situation, how would he fare?" thing, but it's really more "what if you put an absolute idiot into this situation" that we end up with. They go a bit too far with him in the opposite direction at times.

I will say this, it becomes much less of a comedy as it goes on. I seem to remember there being quite a noticeable shift mid-way through the first season. At first I almost thought of it as a flat-out comedy-drama but it moves away from that. It definitely retains elements of it, but grows a lot a darker and more serious.

[Dquincy]

It was a solid opener though not as explosive as previous openers which threw me a little, kept waiting for the other shoe to drop (thought there was a bomb in the flat after the delayed arrival, the way that part was filmed was odd).

Yes, the flat scene did suggest something like that was going to happen.

I find that I'm just trying to guess who's the dodgy cop in each episode rather than following the storyline. I also think they've built up this 'H' thing so much that it could be a bit of a let down once finally revealed. Hope not.

The potential for some lesbo is always good, however.

[Dquincy]

I've started watching House recently, I've never seen any of it before. I quite like it. It's incredibly formulaic (loads of medical science-babble, they get the diagnosis wrong a few times until House solves it in the last five minutes) but I just wanted an "easy" watch and it is sort of infinitely watchable. I'm only closing in on the end of season one though, I can't guarantee I will still feel that way a hundred episodes down the line!
Is it the equivalent of Suits but in a hospital? i.e. Things going wrong and challenges cropping up, but ultimately, the main man solves the day?

[Baz]

Meghan Markle’s not in it.

(And it’s dreadful compared to suits.)

[Alex]

Is it the equivalent of Suits but in a hospital? i.e. Things going wrong and challenges cropping up, but ultimately, the main man solves the day?

That's probably a decent comparison, yes. With House in the Harvey Specter role and his little team sort of being the equivalent of Mike.

[Dquincy]

Loved watching Suits. And she is/was an absolute delight.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/nintchdbpict000278827683.jpg?strip=all&w=640

[Lofty]

Never bothered with Suits though if she gets her kit off in it I might.

[Raoul Duke]

House is great - the tried-and-tested misdiagnosis/misdiagnosis (Lupus)/House with a hail mary thing goes on for a bit but then in later seasons it opens up and there's some great characters and longer-term story arcs. Thirteen :wub:

The ending of the whole show:

is absolute bollocks and they clearly shit the bed when their run was up, but whatever

[Dquincy]

Never bothered with Suits though if she gets her kit off in it I might.

She doesn't, sorry. Still worth a watch though.

[Baz]

I never watched it all but Suits suffered from the first episode being the best. And from what I did watch, Louis was far and away the best thing in it.

[Dquincy]

I never watched it all but Suits suffered from the first episode being the best. And from what I did watch, Louis was far and away the best thing in it.

The first episode is good, but the best? You're a mentalist.

[Raoul Duke]

It took until Episode 4 of Wandavision for it to become not shit. Enjoying it now it's starting to pick up, but those first couple of episodes drag.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Completely disagree.

I loved the first two (there was a lot of intrigue surrounding them, I was coming up with a lot of theories surrounding the whole thing and I thought Olsen and Bettany were brilliant) and the third episode it went from good to brilliant.

[Queenslander]

Loved watching Suits. And she is/was an absolute delight.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/nintchdbpict000278827683.jpg?strip=all&w=640

Most banging Royal ever.

Harry has an open offer to be the Prince of Queensland.

[Lofty]

I would counter with Lady Frederick Windsor aka Big Suze from Peep Show, who generously did a load of topless photos before marrying into the firm.

[Queenslander]

Ooff

https://i.ibb.co/zr5Nrp5/shutterstock-editorial-10240206cw.jpg (https://ibb.co/zr5Nrp5)

[Ian]

I just Googled them and Frederick Windsor has the eyes of a serial killer.

[Queenslander]

What species is her husband?

[Spikey M]

Every last one of them is guilty of a sexual crime of one form or another. I'm convinced of it.

[Queenslander]

Without a doubt.

[Adamski]

Every last one of them is guilty of a sexual crime of one form or another. I'm convinced of it.

On each other.

[Alex]

I've started watching Fringe (I think I might alternate it with seasons of House so I don't get burned out) and I like it so far. I'm nearly at the end of season one and it's getting stronger and stronger as it goes along. The overall mythology (which they move on nice and regularly) is already really interesting to me. Plus, Walter Bishop is just a totally fantastic character.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've started watching Fringe (I think I might alternate it with seasons of House so I don't get burned out) and I like it so far. I'm nearly at the end of season one and it's getting stronger and stronger as it goes along. The overall mythology (which they move on nice and regularly) is already really interesting to me. Plus, Walter Bishop is just a totally fantastic character.

Series 4 & 5 really shat the bed sadly.

[Alex]

Fucks sake. Does Walter at least retrain his comedy value throughout?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's been a while but from what I can remember, yes.

[Baz]

Do yourself a favour and don't watch the final season.

[Alex]

:(

How bad an ending are we talking here? Like Dexter levels?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

IIRC the ending was alright but the rest of that final season was a hot mess.

Although the ending might have come across better because expectations were low.

[Ian]

I've now watched season 2 of Umbrella Academy. Not as good as the first but it came together at the end, I felt. I do think these shows that lurch from one season finale plot twist to another tend to run out of steam so we'll see how it goes but I'm quite looking forward to season 3.

[Baz]

:(

How bad an ending are we talking here? Like Dexter levels?
I’ve never watched Dexter but I can’t imagine it’s worse than Fringe. Sorry.


I know Mike has watched both: Which is worse, the ending of Dexter or the ending of Fringe?

[phonics]

The bit where Peter finds out his existence caused 9/11 was very funny.

[Lofty]

Lol at the latest Circle blocking reaction.

[Shindig]

Caught that Jack Charlton documentary on the iPlayer just now. What a solid human being he was.

[Lewis]

The stuff about him and Bobby Charlton was a bit weird. They built it up as if there was an actual falling out/feud, when really weren't they just [very] different people with different lives? I've read before about their wives not getting on, but they don't ever seem to have been particularly close themselves.

[Shindig]

Aye, I took it as just people being very different, rather than actually drifting apart. Although Jack's son had them both down as stubborn so maybe there was a little bit of beef to it.

[Spikey M]

About 13 years ago I used to be mates with someone who worked for Man Utd. He said Bobby Charlton was a massive cunt and well on his way into dementia.

[-james-]

Seems a tad harsh to judge someone with crumbling mental health in those terms.

[Spikey M]

It might be a bit late to feed that back to him now.

[Lewis]

I think Floyd knew somebody who knew somebody (or something) involved with United who said likewise about Bobby Charlton.

[Kikó]

Bobby is supposed to be a cunt yep. But then again, considering the shit he's had to deal with, I guess it's understandable.

[Lewis]

How exactly does Sir Bobby Charlton being a cunt manifest itself? Going around belittling everyone's personal difficulties.

'I'll tell you who doesn't get any social media abuse. Duncan Edwards.'

[Mike]

I’ve never watched Dexter but I can’t imagine it’s worse than Fringe. Sorry.


I know Mike has watched both: Which is worse, the ending of Dexter or the ending of Fringe?

I managed to at least watch all of Fringe. I stopped watching Dexter two episodes into the last season.

[Adamski]

I've now watched season 2 of Umbrella Academy. Not as good as the first but it came together at the end, I felt. I do think these shows that lurch from one season finale plot twist to another tend to run out of steam so we'll see how it goes but I'm quite looking forward to season 3.

I thought season 2 was loads better, absolutely loved it. Disappointed it’s going to be so long to wait for three.

[Ian]

Season 2 did more stuff but I just thought the pacing was a bit off and it sagged in the middle.

[Lewis]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-55950360

Has anything ever said 'race row waiting to happen' as much as that?

[Manc]

Was Jimmy Carr ever funny? I watched him live yonks back and he spent the entire set harassing teenage boys with mum jokes.

[Lewis]

He was, but his act was very of its and his time. Now he's pushing fifty and everyone is a retard does it still work?

[Jimmy Floyd]

The very first time I saw him, I remember thinking he was funny (so was probably the face/delivery). After that, no.

[Lofty]

His fake laugh being exposed didn't help.

[Spikey M]

I don't find many comedians funny anymore. Acaster being the worst. Being a cunt and having a speech impediment isn't comedy.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I find the whole concept of stand-up pretty difficult. Person goes on stage and audience expects them to be funny. Set pieces ensue. I prefer my humour to be unexpected in some way. When about 70% of the ones you see on British TV are some breed of Oxbridge and/or north London liberal all with the same perspective on everything, it gets pretty tiresome.

The few I like are at either extreme; either the Stewart Lee end of the spectrum where the comedy is woven subtly into a spiel that ostensibly isn't funny/playing for laughs at all, or the Tim Vine end of the spectrum where he strips out all the bullshit and just fires off loads of jokes.

[Kikó]

I actually think stand-up comedy is pretty healthy. The problem is the Mock the Week crowd is vetted to fit a demographic and mixes comedians with below bar comedians who are there because they're a minority group.

On a different note, smashing through Line Of Duty. Outstanding television.

[SvN]

I saw Jimmy Carr live about a decade ago. It was a solid 7/10 experience, and I'd probably see him again.

He also set up a table in the lobby afterwards for the audience to come and meet him, which I thought was a nice touch.

[Ian]

I don't watch a lot of stand up but if I'm going to my tastes are considerably more basic than a lot of people on here I'd say.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How basic are we talking? Jim Davidson?

[Ian]

Mainstream (i.e. I'm quite happy to switch my brain off and stick on a panel show or some Netflix 'special') not swivel-eyed racist.

I'm not constantly liking Lee Hurst's tweets or anything.

[Kikó]

This guy's quite good.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9E5NYKOBdk

[Lewis]

I don't find many comedians funny anymore. Acaster being the worst. Being a cunt and having a speech impediment isn't comedy.

Following the cuckolded by Mr Bean talk from a few weeks ago, I ended up reading that he's prone to throwing tantrums on stage if he thinks the crowd isn't responding how they ought to. Is that what you meant about him being a tosser 'Daws', or are you itk on the extended Mr Bean universe?

[Kikó]

ITK from someone who has been in his agent team.

[Spikey M]

You can see from his little rat face that he's a horrible little shit.

[randomlegend]

I still like Bo Burnham.

[Baz]

First time you witness James Acaster he’s hilarious but the schtick soon wears thin.

Best comedian out right now is Munya Chawawa.

[Lofty]

Yeah Acaster is definitely a one trick pony I think. Taskmaster is quite good for that, separates the comedic wheat from the chaff. You end up with series where people like Bob Mortimer is just consistently funny regardless of the effort applied, or someone like Acaster exposing the limit of his abilities.

[Lofty]

Forgot to say Falcon and Winter Soldier, mixed start, third episode was a bit tedious but episode 4 is top tier television, set up a cracking final 2 episodes now.

[Raoul Duke]

Forgot to say Falcon and Winter Soldier, mixed start, third episode was a bit tedious but episode 4 is top tier television, set up a cracking final 2 episodes now.

Yeah, was a good one. Cool ending, but not sure how it's going to fold up into the min MCU. The ginger kid is a dickhead though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Forgot to say Falcon and Winter Soldier, mixed start, third episode was a bit tedious but episode 4 is top tier television, set up a cracking final 2 episodes now.

I haven't watched the fourth but that's good to hear. The first 3 have been entertaining but nothing special, especially the third which dragged a lot.

I also really don't like the villainous group.

[Browning]

Yea, I thought the first 3 episodes were pretty shite, especially the 3rd one, but today's episode was incredible.

[Lofty]

Pleased with The Circle final.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Falcon and The Winter Soldier was indeed big this week.

[randomlegend]

Line of Duty was a banger.

[Lofty]

It was, I have a suspicion Steve or Kate will be killed off this season.

[Manc]

Kate for my money.

[Shindig]

They'll all get killed in a Bristol protest and the series ends on a 20 minute black screen that only has the number for Crimestoppers.

[Kikó]

End of latest LoD was tasty.

[Lofty]

It was though the ending was a little overcooked. Also found it interesting how times have changed that Chloe basically had minutes of nearly uninterrupted dialogue recounting the Stephen Lawrence stand in case with Hastings just acknowledging meekly how bad it was, compared to the first series when Steve suggested there was a racial issue for digging into Tony Gates' figures and Hastings shouted 'there's no-one blacker than me son!'

[Kikó]

The writers had a few soapbox moments over the series though. I thought it was quite tastefully done (if not super obvious).

[Waffdon]

It was though the ending was a little overcooked. Also found it interesting how times have changed that Chloe basically had minutes of nearly uninterrupted dialogue recounting the Stephen Lawrence stand in case with Hastings just acknowledging meekly how bad it was, compared to the first series when Steve suggested there was a racial issue for digging into Tony Gates' figures and Hastings shouted 'there's no-one blacker than me son!'

She’s Tony Gates’ daughter I think. And a bent bastard. Or wants retribution. Seems to know everything though

[Lofty]

Yeah it's fair enough just struck me as funny when remembering. I think Carmicheal was played far too over the top in the latest episode, compared to her last appearance. Walking in like Cyril Sneer and not giving a shit about preservation of life to a fellow officer, either a massive red herring or telegraphed badly, but either way needs toning down.

[Manc]

Carmichael exists for one reason and one reason only, to ensure maximum seeth.

[Raoul Duke]

Finished the US Office - was great overall and the quality didn't really drop over the long-term.

Also picked up the 3rd series of American Gods which has been awesome so far.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Also picked up the 3rd series of American Gods which has been awesome so far.

It was so much better than the poor second series.

[Raoul Duke]

Yeah, agreed on that. I liked the bits with Sweeny/Claire in the last one but the rest of it was fairly forgettable. This one has been really good

[Lofty]

Really? I never bothered after 2 with all the off screen drama, might check it out then.

[Bernanke]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auxeLrtk7tk&ab_channel=AppleTV

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mike is starting to rival Bob Mortimer as my favourite Taskmaster contestant.

[CJay]

Mike is starting to rival Bob Mortimer as my favourite Taskmaster contestant.

I agree - he’s fantastic. Great physical humour. This whole group is quite good actually, despite me writing them off based on the fact I only knew Lee Mack.

Are series 6-10 any good? The lineups seemed to dip in quality after series 5 so my wife and I have ignored those so far.

[Boydy]

I agree - he’s fantastic. Great physical humour. This whole group is quite good actually, despite me writing them off based on the fact I only knew Lee Mack.

Are series 6-10 any good? The lineups seemed to dip in quality after series 5 so my wife and I have ignored those so far.
Last season was brilliant. One of my favourites.

I've not seen this week's yet but I've been pretty disappointed in this season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

6 - is the absolute worst in my opinion. Vine, Howard and Chaudry are annoying, Alice is dull (which pains me to say as I love her) and Liza whilst good isn't enough to make up for the others.

7 - One of my favourites, I'm a big fan of everyone in the series and I think they work well together. Rhod was a bit shit in the prize tasks but other than that I think it's great.

8 - It was better than I thought it would be. Sinha is a bit weak but I think everyone else brings something to the table.

9 - I wasn't a fan of Katy Wix but everyone else was brilliant. Brand and Baddiel are my favourite team taskers and Gamble's reactions to Baddiel are great.

10 - Was alright. Vegas was obviously the standout and I think the others were decent to good. I think the case were probably the weakest at interacting in the studio, especially in the early episodes.

[wullie]

There was a point in 8 where Ian Stirling seemed to realise how he was coming across and reined it in for the rest of the season, Russell Howard keeps his crown as the worst person to do it yet.

[Queenslander]

Finding out that Trailer Park Boys is 20 years old today is depressing.

[Raoul Duke]

Been watching a show called The Blacklist which seems to be mostly a vehicle for Robert California (James Spader) to out-act a load of non-entities. It's seriously Charles Dance/Emilia Clark levels. The plot is gibbiersh but it's enjoyable enough. Mrs Maisel just showed up for some reason (there are already multiple brunette women who are almost the same character).

The plot is that he's some super-criminal fixer/savant who offers up his contact list to the FBI for...reasons. There's an agent there who is clearly his estranged daughter but is too dumb to put it together, and a multi-level conspiracy involving people with cool nicknames/crooked Government people. There are seven seasons of this so no idea if it'll stick to the same formula. There was a double episode which was pretty good and changed things up.

[Lofty]

Never saw it but it reminded me of The Following from what I saw of trailers when it was on, it seemed to be in vogue at the time to bring a top actor in for a tv series and hope they would paper over the cracks of an utterly mental plot.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Been watching a show called The Blacklist which seems to be mostly a vehicle for Robert California (James Spader) to out-act a load of non-entities. It's seriously Charles Dance/Emilia Clark levels. The plot is gibbiersh but it's enjoyable enough. Mrs Maisel just showed up for some reason (there are already multiple brunette women who are almost the same character).

The plot is that he's some super-criminal fixer/savant who offers up his contact list to the FBI for...reasons. There's an agent there who is clearly his estranged daughter but is too dumb to put it together, and a multi-level conspiracy involving people with cool nicknames/crooked Government people. There are seven seasons of this so no idea if it'll stick to the same formula. There was a double episode which was pretty good and changed things up.

Eight series now.

I gave up sometime in number 5, not too sure why because it was getting good again after the fourth was pretty crap.

[-james-]

Line of Duty



Well that was shit.

Oh, I presume James Nesbitt isn't dead and is Davidson's "dad".

[Dquincy]

Line of Duty



Well that was shit.

Oh, I presume James Nesbitt isn't dead and is Davidson's "dad".

I didn't think it was shit, but that new main woman is suspicious af.

[Manc]

It's by far the most predictable season to date. If H turns out to be Osborne I'll be fuming.

[Kikó]

It was an episode with an actual interview scene which was good.

Nesbitt was el coppo in the main shot in the villa

[Dquincy]

I think Osborne is a fair prediction.

I've got to watch the finale at my in-laws next week which is at bit annoying. Remember the time you all said I was going to kill my in laws with covid when i had a cold. :harold:

[wullie]

Finding out that Trailer Park Boys is 20 years old today is depressing.

During lockdown I've tried to watch it through again from the start but I whip through it but like before, once it gets to around the point they're stealing Patrick Swayze's model train I lose enthusiasm very quickly. Don't know if it returns to form later but it starts looking too clean and professional which put me off

[mo]

It was an episode with an actual interview scene which was good.

Nesbitt was el coppo in the main shot in the villa

There's an actor credited as 'capitan' for the episode on IMDB, so would be surprised if that's true.

[Lofty]

Mare of Easttown is pretty decent after a slow first episode.

[Queenslander]

:cool:

https://youtu.be/yGE-AljVx-s

[Lofty]

Good first series from Invincible.

[Mazuuurk]

Been watching The Serpent a bit, 4 episodes in now.

It's ok. Gonna see it through, but it's a tad slow, somehow. The main actor is great at being weirdly creepy, but it also kind of goes old after a while.

[Raoul Duke]

Just started watching The Simpsons from the start. Obviously seen loads before but though it'd be cool to run through from the beginning

[Ian]

I did that recently and found that I got to the shit stuff way sooner than I expected. I thought season 8 / 9 would be the point when I started to lose the will to continue but it end of 7 / start of 8 it was already at the point where it had the odd great episode or classic moment but the quality is noticeably deteriorating.

[phonics]

Finally watched Line of Duty season 1. It's very good. Has it jumped the shark yet or does it stay high quality?

[Kikó]

It's good throughout I'd say.

[-james-]

If you enjoyed season 1 you'll probably enjoy the rest of it.

[Waffdon]

Finally watched Line of Duty season 1. It's very good. Has it jumped the shark yet or does it stay high quality?

You lucky bastard

[Lofty]

Been watching The Serpent a bit, 4 episodes in now.

It's ok. Gonna see it through, but it's a tad slow, somehow. The main actor is great at being weirdly creepy, but it also kind of goes old after a while.

I really enjoyed it.

With Line of Duty I think it has been excellent for five series but the latest has been a slight drop in quality, pending the finale. Not saying anything about any of it obviously, just enjoy and see what you think.

[Baz]

My wife has considered starting Line Of Duty but being six seasons in put her off. Unfortunately that means she’s watching The Good Doctor again, which is just garbage and I passively watch it. Never thought she’d find something worse than Virgin River.

I see Handmaids Tale is back though, so gonna watch that tonight. I actually sit and watch that though, rather than dick about while it’s on.

[Manc]

This Time off to a cracker.

[phonics]

On to season 2 and the running theme seems to be that if everyone was just honest about who they were shagging the whole issue could have been avoided.

[SincereTheRebel]

Mortal Kombat wasn't good along with all other computer game movies.

[CJay]

This Time off to a cracker.

Yep - excellent once again. Loved the exchange with Ruth. :lol:

[phonics]

Finally watched Line of Duty season 1. It's very good. Has it jumped the shark yet or does it stay high quality?

Just started season 4. This one doesn’t seem nearly as interesting.

[Alex]

Season four is Thandie Newton, right? I do seem to remember that one getting a bit.....daft, in places. They all blur into one though.

[phonics]

Black copper who gets in a fight with forensics bloke.

[Lofty]

Season 4 is excellent. Tonight's episode was a bit of a wet fart.

[-james-]

Fucking hell that was terrible.

[Waffdon]

Lol, wtf was that

[Manc]

A series too far.

Thought the fourth man could have had a more sinister turn than they did.

[Alex]

That was, indeed, terrible. :D

[7om]

Buckells! That stupid, incompetent Brummie wanker is the mastermind behind this? Can’t be. It’s either a sick joke or they’ve built to season 7 to nail the chief constable.

[Lofty]

They kept going on about H/the fourth man/etc being who Jo had to give up for witness protection, a man she was led to believe was her own father. Then they nick Buckells, who seems to be the same age.

[Kikó]

You've kind of missed the point here. There was no real drive to nail the real corruption and the will was to bury the team and bury any investigation. He was just the last person left carrying the bag to get caught but it didn't mean he was the one running the show or the fourth man. The point was a political one rather than solving the entire conspiracy.

[-james-]

I understand the ending and the point that was being made. It was just rubbish, boring TV.

[Lofty]

I understand the ending and the point that was being made. It was just rubbish, boring TV.

This, you can't wank the record ratings cock then blue ball it.

[7om]

You've kind of missed the point here. There was no real drive to nail the real corruption and the will was to bury the team and bury any investigation. He was just the last person left carrying the bag to get caught but it didn't mean he was the one running the show or the fourth man. The point was a political one rather than solving the entire conspiracy.

I don’t watch TV dramas for lessons in mundane politics. I wanted a satisfying ending fitting for a great show. This wasn’t it.

[Kikó]

That's also true. I thought it was a bit of a plodding series.

[7om]

They kept going on about H/the fourth man/etc being who Jo had to give up for witness protection, a man she was led to believe was her own father. Then they nick Buckells, who seems to be the same age.

Yeah that’s surely a plot hole or clue we’re in for a seventh series? Fuck knows anymore.

[Spikey M]

I haven't been this smug about not watching a series since Lost. :cool:

[Baz]

Yeah it’s all but put the nail in the “maybe I should start” coffin.

There was never any question of me watching Game Of Thrones, but it was a similar feeling.

[Lofty]

I think it was supposed to be the senile paedo who was her dad. But stuff like them capturing a load of OCG members alive apparently came to nothing. Mercurio already teasing a new series apparently, but despite the 'most realistic ending, interesting commentary etc' stuff it needs to transcend that because loads of what went on before was unrealistic. I think that is what has irritated a lot of viewers.

[Kikó]

It's actually Terry behind the scenes who is some sort of Kayser Soze character.

[Kikó]

1389186251564142598?s=20

This is a good summary.

[phonics]

Half way through the final season now.

I have a thing for women with Scottish and Irish accents so was really looking forward to a scene where DI Davidson and Kate scissored.

[Kikó]

Kate is neither Scottish or Irish fwiw.

[Spikey M]

When I was a kid I thought Terry Wogan was Welsh.

You're welcome.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I used to have that blind spot, as a kid. Didn't know Richie Benaud wasn't English until a rude awakening at the age of about ten.

[wullie]

I always assumed Nick Knowles was Australian, I still don't know where he gets that accent from.

[Waffdon]

Kate is neither Scottish or Irish fwiw.

Davidson’s horrendous accent isn’t attractive in the least either. Don’t think I’ve ever heard a Scottish person sound like that

[Kikó]

What do you think it is? The cadence she speaks at?

[Spikey M]

Just finished watching "Them" on Prime off the back of it being all over Social Media.

What a load of shit. Avoid.

It's similar to Saw in that you can tell the writers just sat around thinking up the most offensive/shocking shit they could and built a flimsy story line around it. Saying that, it's worse here because the subject matter is somewhat historic.

[Lewis]

I have watched all the Line of Duty episodes over the past week and a bit, and the series order goes:

1. Series three
2. Series two
3. Series one
4. Series six
5. Series five (crap except for Stephen Graham)
6. Series four (crap and stupid except for Neil from The Office)

I think the ending was quite good, but really they should have just finished after the first three series which were all excellent. It all started to get a bit daft afterwards, like the 'OCG' was some sort of omnipotent force, which the conclusion of the last episode sort of undermined a bit because it would presumably have fallen apart well before if it was depending on tits and known violent criminals to sustain itself.

[Kikó]

I agree with that - I think they would have done better dropping the whole OCG storyline after Dot rather than keep plugging it. Police corruption would have been interesting enough without some kind of mass conspiracy.

[Manc]

Series 4 was comfortably the worst. I'd rank 5 a lot higher.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Been watching Invincible the last few days. When it ramps up at times throughout the series it is absolutely mega.

[Raoul Duke]

Been watching Invincible the last few days. When it ramps up at times throughout the series it is absolutely mega.

Think I might start that next.

I recently finished watching the latest series of The Expanse which was up to its usual high standard. However:

Alex leaving was a bit of a shock (especially the way it was done). Turns out he's a massive pervert and got binned for harassing people. Idiot, he was a great actor/character

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Next up for me was Jupiter's Legacy on Netflix which is pretty shit.

There are some interesting plots and characters but there seem to be more of those that are crap which they end up focusing on far too much (Chloe is a horrific character with far too much screen time). Plus most of the intriguing storylines aren't explored in this run.

The pacing is also a serious problem, it's 8 episodes and yet not much has really happened (I saw a review describe the run as a prologue which is bang on). The visual effects for some characters/powers are also pretty crap.

They also focus far too heavily on ethics/morality and the main superhero comes across as a shit and boring Superman clone.

The fight scenes are pretty good though (especially the one in the first episode) but they're pretty rare in the show.

[Raoul Duke]

Watched Invincible over the weekend. Enjoyed that a lot, and a great cast.

[Baz]

Missing Taskmaster so gonna start on the New Zealand one, I reckon. They’re all on YouTube.