Do we live in a golden age of television?

[Boydy]

Frankie Boyle's New World Order end of year special is on BBC2 at 10pm. Watch that instead.

[igor_balis]

Charlie Brooker has been shit since screenwipe. The yearly wipes are fucking pointless, his strength is clearly long form analysis of stuff, specifically niche TV insider stuff that he had experience of, not presenting things we remember happening in chronological order, accompanied by jokes other people have written for him. Awful.

[Shindig]

Yeah, he's gone back to the level he was at when writing the back page in PC Zone.

"What if it was called Indiana Jones and the pissy poo piss?"

[Don]

He's done enough to warrant respect but poor guy wasn't even involved in whatever shit Netflix show Yev is on about.

[Manc]

The White Lotus is superb.

[Shindig]

He's done enough to warrant respect but poor guy wasn't even involved in whatever shit Netflix show Yev is on about.

Yeah, I can't pin this on Brooker. He's got a credit for creating the format but he's not a writer on it.

[Panda Bear]

The White Lotus is superb.The hotel manager gave one of the best performances I've seen in 2021, and the score is stunningly effective at setting the tone.

[Yevrah]

The Girl Before a BBC drama was alright for 3 episodes before shitting itself in the 4th and final one.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Watching today's episode of World's Strongest Man.

Terry Hollands :cool:

What a don.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b8qjr3

Oh shit, I had no idea Toast was making a comeback.

[Ian]

Finished Wheel of Time.
The changes don't bother me that much so long as Loial doesn't die (pretty sure he won't) though I do think some of them have been done for the sake of doing things differently. I think my main gripe is that even by that closing scene I don't feel like the importance of the Dragon Reborn has really been driven home that hard, and I think the book ending with Rand using the Power to biff the trolloc army being used here in some way would have highlighted that. I get why they wanted to give the rest of the gang more to do but I think making it clear how powerful the Dragon could be should have been more of a priority. We have no idea, from the TV series, who Ishmael is / the Forsaken are so Rand zapping one bloke doesn't feel like it really means anything.

I also thought the Mat stuff was really odd but I see he's had to be recast.

Overall I think it's good and a lot of effort has gone into it though it's probably playing the fantasy a bit straight to become anything like the hit Game of Thrones was.

I also watched the first episode of The Book of Boba Fett and it's... fine.

[mo]

I also watched the first episode of The Book of Boba Fett and it's... fine.

Utterly underwhelming. I'm sure it'll pick up though.

[Browning]

I thought Boba Fett was great. Obviously a lot of catching up flashbacks so the plot didn’t move much but I feel we needed them. Promising start but they do need to move the story forward more next week.

[Ian]

Hopefully it gets most of the flashbacks done within the first two or three if it's going to do that to the pacing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I thought the opening episode was alright and it was what it needed to be to set the show up.

I also watched Cobra Kai season 4 over the last couple of days and I enjoyed it a lot. Felt it dragged in places along the way and probably didn't need to be as long as it was but they absolutely nailed the finale. Terry Silver was great.

[Giggles]

Didn’t realise that was back. That’s tomorrow sorted.

[Raoul Duke]

Charlie Brooker has been shit since screenwipe. The yearly wipes are fucking pointless, his strength is clearly long form analysis of stuff, specifically niche TV insider stuff that he had experience of, not presenting things we remember happening in chronological order, accompanied by jokes other people have written for him. Awful.

Also, the guest people he gets on are terrible (the ginger woman who pretends to not understand things like a retarded Ali G especially). But then, the man married Konnie Huq so he wins at life really

[Giggles]

The minuscule headed Indian?

[igor_balis]

Also, the guest people he gets on are terrible (the ginger woman who pretends to not understand things like a retarded Ali G especially). But then, the man married Konnie Huq so he wins at life really

On the first point, I agree entirely. A lot of the comedy nerdz on cookandbombd were big Philomena Cunk fans, so I persevered in case I was missing something, but nah, shit.

On the latter point, I see/hear people, including IRL friends, saying stuff like that all the time, and I don't really get that either. Like, obviously she's about a million leagues above a big headed gremlin like me, and I suppose maybe if you think of it relative to CB's appearance (and the fact he stopped being funny in about 2009), but nah. Overrated.

[Lofty]

Aye she's no Kelly Brook.

[Alex]

Has anybody been watching Yellowjackets? It's quite interesting. It's sort of "Lord of the Flies" meets "Lost". Hopefully it doesn't end up ultimately being as crushingly disappointing as the latter though.

I went through all the available episodes quite quickly over the last few days and it's pretty good so far. It's got a great cast and it hits on a lot of nineties nostalgia.

The other thing I've been watching lately is Cardinal on iPlayer, which I also quite like. It's quite a standard "complicated, damaged police, man-of-few-words officer investigates grizzly crimes that made him that way" set-up but they do it well. It takes a lot of cue's from the various Scandinavian shows with similar tones, but it's Canadian. But you've still got the same arctic kind of setting and sweeping shots of the wilderness thing going on.

[Giggles]

7 episodes in to Cobra Kai was as far as I could get before I have to go to in-laws for dinner :moop:

[Boydy]

Stay Close on Netflix is pretty decent so far.

If you liked Safe or The Stranger, you'll like it. It's also based on a Harlen Coben book.

[Yevrah]

Stay Close on Netflix is pretty decent so far.

If you liked Safe or The Stranger, you'll like it. It's also based on a Harlen Coben book.

I watched a few episodes of that last night and it's pure nonsense. Fairly enjoyable nonsense, but fuck me, absolute nonsense.

[Boydy]

Oh yeah, they all are but they're good at getting you intrigued and keeping you guessing.

[Yevrah]

Oh yeah, they all are but they're good at getting you intrigued and keeping you guessing.

It's the first I've seen, but James Nesbitt offered a warm comfort blanket and by the time Eddie Izzard turned up I was truly at home.

[wullie]

The Girl Before a BBC drama was alright for 3 episodes before shitting itself in the 4th and final one.

I saw a lot of reactions about the apparent big twist in the last episode but it seemed to be fairly signposted early on, the fella was portrayed as the obsessive ex straight away and the architect was too much of an obvious oddball for it to be him

[Lewis]

I guessed it was the white character[s] early doors.

[Dquincy]

Emily in Paris.

[Don]

This The Tourist on iPlayer looks impressive. I expect it'll shit itself in the latter episodes but worth a watch.

[Yevrah]

On that now Don. Ok start.

[Don]

Will watch the last episode after football but it's going to have to go some to ruin it now. Great stuff.

[Yevrah]

Nailed it all last night. It's pretty good and Jamie Dornan's best performance by a country mile.

[Don]

That was very good, god bless the BBC.

[phonics]

We’re either of those Peter Crouch/Savage takes over as DOF of somewheee shows been any good. They won’t stop giving me ads.

[Panda Bear]

We’re either of those Peter Crouch/Savage takes over as DOF of somewheee shows been any good. They won’t stop giving me ads. what on earth did you even write

[phonics]

what on earth did you even write

Blame iPhone and… come on Jordan it’s not that hard. Were and somewhere.

[Lofty]

Better than The Fall?

Edit: @ Yev

[Yevrah]

Better than The Fall?

Edit: @ Yev

His performance? Yeah, I thought so.

[Giggles]

I always mix up him and Fassbender.

[Boydy]

Fassbender's the good one.

[Don]

I didn't know of him before but, ignoring the fact he was too jacked, he was very good.

He seems to only do TV shows so Giggles, stop watching fiddy shades, lad.

[Boydy]

He's in Belfast (the new Kenneth Branagh film that's coming out this month in the UK, I think) which has been touted for Oscars and that so maybe he'll get better roles after that.

[Giggles]

He's in Belfast (the new Kenneth Branagh film that's coming out this month in the UK, I think) which has been touted for Oscars and that so maybe he'll get better roles after that.

Is that the one that's in black and white. Belfast, especially in the 70's, is grim enough without having to resort to that.

[Lofty]

Fassbender's the good one.

His official title now is 'David the creepy robot'.

[Ian]

Also Fassbender is one of those where he's a good actor but either has absolutely no idea what a good script actually looks like or doesn't give a fuck and will just take the money if there's nothing better on the go.

[Shindig]

I think it’s the latter. He concentrates on his Motorsport more.

[Lewis]

More like those rather quite credible domestic violence stories resurfaced and sunk his serious acting career.

[phonics]

His series trying to become a Le Mans driver iss supposed to be quite good.

[Yevrah]

Another day, another quality BBC drama, Four Lives. If even half of it is a fair representation then no one involved from Barking station should have ever worked in the force again.

[Spikey M]

Just on the second episode. Sheridan Smith scrubs down Well. Good grief.

[Ian]

Anti-phwoar?

[Manc]

Raowhp.

[Lofty]

Her personal life is spiralling out of control by all accounts which is why I have put her on my Dead List this year. She hit a tree with her car while pissed a few weeks back and missed some promo appearances for some Stars In Their Eyes knock off.

[Spikey M]

Anti-phwoar?

Phwerrrr.

[Spikey M]

Her personal life is spiralling out of control by all accounts which is why I have put her on my Dead List this year. She hit a tree with her car while pissed a few weeks back and missed some promo appearances for some Stars In Their Eyes knock off.

Oh. I just thought she was taking the role particularly seriously. :D

[Don]

I caught episode 1 of that on the back of finding the story compelling. Her face has been pumped with so much filler you just knew her real life was in tatters.

[Kikó]

Wow - haven't seen her face in a while. WTF is she doing.

[SvN]

Age 30
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/06/28/article-0-0CC4DE9E00000578-311_468x595.jpg

Age 40.
https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article25586018.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Horrifying-photos-of-Sheridan-Smiths-wrecked-car-in-trees-left-passerby-fearing-shed-died.jpg

Jesus.

[Lewis]

I've been watching that Hillsborough drama, which is quite good. I knew New Labour had re-opened it in 1997 and then did nothing about it, but I never knew the judge rocked up and made an irl Hillsborough gag (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_Stuart-Smith#Hillsborough_Report) to their faces. Steady on lad Jesus.

[Raoul Duke]

That's not age, that's plastic to the max

[Browning]

Enjoyed Boba Fett again this week but I wonder how much of it is just the fact I love Tatooine and Jabba from the originals. Maybe there's a lot of nostalgia at work.

Second half wasn't as good as the first, I hope the flashbacks are done soon.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Very late but finished Succession season 1 at long last (I was on hold for ages because I physically couldn't cringe through Greg scenes) and now started season 2, my word it's got very good very quickly. The two wedding episodes at the end of S1 were unbelievably good.

Even with all the monstrously good performances - pretty much all of them, really - the music still makes it.

[hfswjyr]

I'm really enjoying The Great. Nearly finished Season 1 and will be interesting to watch how they take the story into Season 2 (already out) and beyond.

TV shows like this (big sets, big costumes every scene) must cost a bucketload these days.

[Lofty]

I liked The Tourist but felt episode 5 was pretty weak. Now watching The Salisbury Poisoning which is good.

[Panda Bear]

Very late but finished Succession season 1 at long last (I was on hold for ages because I physically couldn't cringe through Greg scenes) and now started season 2, my word it's got very good very quickly. The two wedding episodes at the end of S1 were unbelievably good.

Even with all the monstrously good performances - pretty much all of them, really - the music still makes it.

My wife and I just finished S01E04, and we agreed that it's fantastic.

I don't think I've ever seen a character quite like Roman Roy before.

[Spikey M]

I've burned through The Girl Before, The Tourist and The Terror recently and I've come to a bit of a realisation.

Yes, we do live in the golden age of television. Or atleast, the golden age of setting the scene. But fuck me, we live in the Syphilitic age of endings. Why does everything have to end so poorly?

I will give Four Lives a pass on that front as, well, they kind of had the ending chosen for them. On the subject of Four Lives, I didn't know Stephen Merchant had it in him. I thought he was great as it was, but then I watched the iPlayers recommended follow-up "How Police Missed The Grindr Killer" - which was a documentary on the real Stephen Port - and Merchant really does knock it out of the park.

[Lewis]

There seems to be a reluctance to just wrap things up lest it be seen as a bit conventional and boring. If you can't have a TWIST ending (half of which are obvious, i.e. The Girl Before; the other half underwhelming/baffling, i.e. Line of Duty) then go for a wanky ambiguous ending where nothing gets resolved. I think it betrays a lack of confidence in the actual story/production, as if people wouldn't just enjoy it without that final talking point.

[Pepe]

I don't really watch TV shows anymore. Nothing is done as a whole. Most shows are made with 'let's leave things open in case we want more seasons' in mind. Disappointment after disappointment. Bring back The Wire.

[Smjffy]

I don't tend to watch series all that much as I find having to wait for next episodes too frustrating but two that I've watched recently that I simply couldn't get enough of.

Snowpiercer and I think the next season starts later this month but The Witcher.....that's exactly why I hate series. Now I have to wait until when for the third season? I wouldn't have thought it was my sort of thing but I've binged through it in less than a week. Just brilliant.

[Yevrah]

While I broadly agree with you Spikey, I thought the ending of The Tourist was fantastic.

[Adramelch]

I don't tend to watch series all that much as I find having to wait for next episodes too frustrating but two that I've watched recently that I simply couldn't get enough of.

Snowpiercer and I think the next season starts later this month but The Witcher.....that's exactly why I hate series. Now I have to wait until when for the third season? I wouldn't have thought it was my sort of thing but I've binged through it in less than a week. Just brilliant.

Unless it's something I really want to watch (as for example, The Witcher), I make a point of waiting until a series is over before watching it. It's because I can stand the wait as well, but nowadays with so many series getting (inexplicably in some cases, looking at you Mindhunter) cancelled/put on indefinite hold, it means I get to avoid that disappointment altogether.

[Ian]

Boba Fett episode 2 was better, I thought. I'd still be happy if they just had the present day stuff be the bulk of it but at least this time the flashback stuff had a bit more about it.

[Yevrah]

The Man Who Bought Cricket a documentary on Sky about Allen Stanford is half decent. Lol at the ECB.

[Ian]

I've got that recorded but haven't started it yet. You watched all if it?

[Yevrah]

I did, it's only three episodes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I haven't watched it yet but my memory of Giles Clarke sucking the Texan cock with that massive box of money being helicoptered into Lord's keeps me up most nights anyway.

[phonics]

Bobby Fett was alright.

[Yevrah]

I'm persevering with Stay Close as I've started so I'll finish, but fuck me is it shit. Single biggest problem is that this Woman, who supposedly disappeared and put her old life behind her, literally lives a five minute drive from all of these people who've been 'missing her' for 17 years.

[Baz]

I'm persevering with Stay Close as I've started so I'll finish, but fuck me is it shit. Single biggest problem is that this Woman, who supposedly disappeared and put her old life behind her, literally lives a five minute drive from all of these people who've been 'missing her' for 17 years.What do you think of the big giant head statue that’s in it? :cool:

[Yevrah]

What do you think of the big giant head statue that’s in it? :cool:

The best thing in it by miles. Any idea where it is?

[Baz]

The best thing in it by miles. Any idea where it is?

Near my house.

https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?2920-What-s-your-best-local-landmark(s)&p=491115&viewfull=1#post491115

[Waffdon]

:D

I knew I recognised that bastard thing

[Manc]

Four episodes into Succession and I'm not entirely sure what the hype is about.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Keep going. The first half of season 1 is just introducing the characters really, second half is dynamite.

[Baz]

I’ve watched one episode. Not sure but will keep going.

One character looking like a cross between Macauley Culkin and The Reid is really, really jarring.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's Macauley Culkin's brother.

[Yevrah]

I watched the first two episodes last night and they all seem like a hateful bunch of shitbags that are hard to 'enjoy' watching. Very curious to see how that turns into gripping TV so I too will keep going.

[Alex]

What Jim said. It picks up noticeably about half way through season one. I did like those first few episodes too, but there was a definite feeling that it wasn't too sure what it wanted to actually be initially.

I remember thinking during those first episodes that they were playing it as a straight-up comedy almost. Like a very slightly more serious take on Arrested Development or something. Whereas it morphed into something that, albeit still genuinely hilarious a lot of the time, is more akin to something like The Sopranos where it is quite often one of the funniest things on television, but in quite a dark/subversive way, and still very much a drama in the main.

By the time you finish season one it has hit its stride and is top, top level television, and has remained that way very consistently since. In my opinion, anyway.

[Panda Bear]

If you don't enjoy Succession, then your taste is bad.

[Baz]

If you don't enjoy Succession, then your taste is bad.

You enjoy Nathan For You so you’re hardly a decent yardstick.

[Yevrah]

Episode 3 was better, it does seem to be picking up pace.

[Baz]

Alex’s comparison to Arrested Development certainly seems on the money, especially as Cousin Greg definitely just watched a load of Michael Cera footage and did his best to copy every single frame.

I am enjoying it though, after 4 episodes, and apparently it only gets better so I’m looking forward to it.

[Yevrah]

Watched up to and including episode 6 last night and it's definitely got better.

[Shindig]

I decided to give Robocop: Prime Directives 10 minutes of my time. After 8 minutes, Robocop is disabled by tear gas. :moop:

[Dark Soldier]

Mr Inbetween is absolutely fucking amazing, up there with the top tier shows for me. Binged the fucker in three days just before New Year. Get on it.

[Baz]

Mr Inbetween is absolutely fucking amazing, up there with the top tier shows for me. Binged the fucker in three days just before New Year. Get on it.

What’s it about/like?

[Kikó]

Aussie hitman/goon who basically fucks people and things up. The wife hated it.

[CJay]

Watched ep 1 of The Tourist the other night. Enjoyable stuff so far, although my wife apparently can't stand Jamie Dornan's accent. Any of you non-NI folk have strong feelings on it?

[Ian]

I've only seen him in The Fall but don't remember his accent being notable.

[Spikey M]

Can't say it really had an impact on me. What was the problem with it? He's actually from there, isn't he?

[Ian]

Sounds like she just hates Top Ireland.

[Boydy]

Watched ep 1 of The Tourist the other night. Enjoyable stuff so far, although my wife apparently can't stand Jamie Dornan's accent. Any of you non-NI folk have strong feelings on it?
You're from Donegal, right? Do you sound much different?

[CJay]

Sounds like she just hates Top Ireland.

She is a citizen of Top Ireland herself, though she may still hate it of course.

And yeah, Spikey, he is from there. I don't see the problem either. I think it works well with the Aussie accents of the rest of the characters, actually.

[CJay]

You're from Donegal, right? Do you sound much different?


Yeah. I've been told I speak posh (you know, pronouncing words correctly, that kind of thing), but people have remarked on my Irish accent before. I don't think I sound anything like Jamie Dornan, however.

[Boydy]

Yeah. I've been told I speak posh (you know, pronouncing words correctly, that kind of thing), but people have remarked on my Irish accent before. I don't think I sound anything like Jamie Dornan, however.

https://www.irishnews.com/picturesarchive/irishnews/irishnews/2020/03/03/155213388-96498649-2957-4e1d-a799-cae9d0ef6b57.jpg

[Manc]

Enemies closer and all that.

[Giggles]

Donegal tends to be much more lilting and softer than the harsh British version, especially the latter east of the Bann. Though there’s probably parts of Londonderry or Tyrone near the border have the Donegal one too.

[Giggles]

This weeks Boba was dogshit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have a customer from Donegal (who sounds as you describe) and he always asks, upon placing an order: "Are yous going to ship it to the north or to the south?" I always say to the south, seeing as that's where he is. He then says "Good man, good man" and hangs up. Very strange.

[Giggles]

It’s a really odd thing to ask if he doesn’t have a premises in NI also.

[randomlegend]

Mr Inbetween is absolutely fucking amazing, up there with the top tier shows for me. Binged the fucker in three days just before New Year. Get on it.

This is banger, great recommendation.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It’s a really odd thing to ask if he doesn’t have a premises in NI also.

My only guess is that smuggling goods across the border might be a thing.

[Giggles]

My only guess is that smuggling goods across the border might be a thing.

It always used to be anyway, many's a scam over the years. Not sure how it works now with Brexit though.

[Adramelch]

Just got around to watching Nightmare of the Wolf, which was quite a bit better than the actual series I thought.

[Ian]

Vesemir is meant to be far too sexy in that and their Witcher trial in it is enormously cretinous. Otherwise it's reasonable fun.

[Baz]

Just started season 2 of Succession and really enjoying it.

[Manc]

I've just finished the boardroom episode and I'm exhausted.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just finished season 2 and I have nothing left to give.

[Waffdon]

This is banger, great recommendation.

This is indeed quality

[Panda Bear]

Succession is such a great show.

Season 3 dips just a little teensy bit, and even then it's still gripping.

[Alex]

Just finished season 2 and I have nothing left to give.

I was in a bit of a state of frenzy when I first saw that, just on the basis that it was so good and that I knew it would be off the air for a while.

After Kendall hangs him out to dry in the press conference and you get the close up on Logan's reaction, that's just one of my favourite things I've ever seen on television. Obviously it's very intense and he's clearly not happy. But there is that ever-so-slight hint of a smile that belies the fact that, in a fucked up way, he's probably more proud of him in that moment than he's ever been. It's just very subtle and very brilliant acting from Brian Cox.

Season three isn't quite as frenetic as season two, I would say it's a bit more of a slow burn. But it's almost equally fantastic.

[Jimmy Floyd]

After Kendall hangs him out to dry in the press conference and you get the close up on Logan's reaction, that's just one of my favourite things I've ever seen on television. Obviously it's very intense and he's clearly not happy. But there is that ever-so-slight hint of a smile that belies the fact that, in a fucked up way, he's probably more proud of him in that moment than he's ever been. It's just very subtle and very brilliant acting from Brian Cox.

The whole thing was just brilliant - I was in full agreement with you on Logan's expression, the mixture of fucking seething with the slightest hint of pride. The whole setup was just amazing - he clearly put Kendall up for the chop because he was the only one who he thought would not 'flip' as they say or take the whole ship down with him, partly because he has skeletons on him and partly because Kendall is just a weed. I had no idea he was going to do it until the press officer says 'Prepared statement' into the mic and I suddenly thought oh, wow, he's going to fuck them.

TBH I don't think a slower burn will be a bad thing, season 2 is a series of absolutely insane set pieces which I doubt can be rivalled on its own terms.

[Alex]

The whole thing was just brilliant - I was in full agreement with you on Logan's expression, the mixture of fucking seething with the slightest hint of pride. The whole setup was just amazing - he clearly put Kendall up for the chop because he was the only one who he thought would not 'flip' as they say or take the whole ship down with him, partly because he has skeletons on him and partly because Kendall is just a weed. I had no idea he was going to do it until the press officer says 'Prepared statement' into the mic and I suddenly thought oh, wow, he's going to fuck them.

TBH I don't think a slower burn will be a bad thing, season 2 is a series of absolutely insane set pieces which I doubt can be rivalled on its own terms.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there, and I actually got the feeling a few times whilst watching the third season that they themselves had realised this and consciously gone for a slightly different approach.

They did a recent profile of Jeremy Strong in the New Yorker that is well worth reading when you get chance. Probably not until you are right up to date though, as I think it might contain a few spoilers.

It attracted a lot of attention when it came out in terms of people marking him out as a bit of a figure for ridicule on the back of it. As this sort of really up his own arse, pretentious method actor who is seemingly difficult to work with.

I took the opposite view though and felt like he's just somebody who really commits to his work, albeit a bit too earnestly and in slightly embarrassing fashion at times. But a very intense character, by the sound of it. It's a fascinating insight into how he arrives at the Kendall you get on screen, anyway.

[Spikey M]

Anne is quite good, if not a bit try hard at times. The police not staffing the gate, lying about opening it and paying the papers to lie about it is national scandal stuff. Heads should have rolled for it, BUT I still can't get past the dickheads turning up without tickets being partially to blame. They don't help their cause by trying to deny that.

[Ian]

This weeks Boba was dogshit.

Yeah, wasn't great was it?

His new gang of cyborg mooks might have come across better if a) they didn't look like they were cast to be a 'cool' teen Tatooine street gang b) looked like they were actually poor and downtrodden and c) didn't have fucking Tellytubbie-themed space-Vespas.

And that car chase was just too slow to be any good.

Still, Fett riding a Rancor should be a laugh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I wouldn't call it dogshit, I still thought it was alright but it was the weakest so far.

[Ian]

It doesn't help that it's prompted me to do a rewatch of the Mandalorian. Which is just a much, much better show. I know they're not meant to be exactly the same sort of thing but Mandolorian is still just better.

[phonics]

https://i.imgur.com/b47AegI.png

Yeee

[Giggles]

It was definitely the slowest 'chase' I've ever seen in anything.

[Lofty]

It wasn't just slow, I thought at the time the damage they were doing to the landspeeder was the sci fi equivalent of keying it.

[Alex]

https://i.imgur.com/b47AegI.png

Yeee

Fucking YES. Is all I have to say to that.

[Browning]

I enjoyed Boba Fett again this week but as mentioned the car chase was a bit shit. Still they'd have to do 8 more of those before they'd have served up as much shite as the Mandalorian did in the Prison Break episode.

[Ian]

I never understood the hate for the Prison Break episode. I enjoyed it the second and as a whole it's better than any full Boba Fett episode has been so far.

[randomlegend]

Bitch on Live at the Apollo currently setting female stand-ups back about 40 years.

[Lofty]

It's not Kate Smurthwaite is it?

[Yevrah]

After Life season 3 is ok, maybe even good, but the worst series yet.

[Alex]

I didn't realise the third season had come out. I'll definitely give it a watch, as it's not time intensive and I generally (mostly) enjoyed the first two.

It definitely does feel like it has a shelf life though, doesn't it? One which was probably rapidly approaching expiry towards the end of the last season if I'm honest. He just lays it on a bit thick with it. It's steps over the line into just being maudlin and pandering to the grief-porn crowd quite a lot of the time. But then he has always had that in him as a writer I suppose.

[randomlegend]

It's not Kate Smurthwaite is it?

Helen Bauer. Honestly the worst stand-up I've ever seen.

[Baz]

Helen Bauer. Honestly the worst stand-up I've ever seen.

Worse than that fat Scottish lad from on here?

[randomlegend]

Worse than Yev's sitcom mate.

[Yevrah]

8 episodes into Succession and overall it's good, but nothing more so far.

Chief problem is it's a character piece and there are only two (Roman and Shiv), maybe three (Tom has promise), interesting characters in it. The rest range from the incredibly boring (Kendall) to the pretty bland (Logan and Connor), to the downright irritating (Greg - every single one of his scenes so far has been an abomination).

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was with you on Greg but I've since learned to love him.

The next two eps are dynamite - if you don't like it after those, you might struggle.

[Yevrah]

I like it, hence why I've watched as many episodes as I have, but eight hours in it has more than a whiff of the Emperor's New Clothes about it.

Its depiction of business seems laughable as well.

[igor_balis]

After life is appalling and even the lukewarm praise in thread makes me think you all have brain damage. I genuinely think your sitcom would be much better yev.

[Adramelch]

After Life season 3 is ok, maybe even good, but the worst series yet.

It's gotten some pretty serious hate which I don't understand. It was underwhelming compared to the first two and he's definitely indulging himself a bit too much but it's a fairly enjoyable watch.

[igor_balis]

It's gotten some pretty serious hate which I don't understand. It was underwhelming compared to the first two and he's definitely indulging himself a bit too much but it's a fairly enjoyable watch.

Yes it really fell off a cliff after top quality writing like this


https://youtu.be/d067BKBAxTA

[Dark Soldier]

Yes igor my man.

First comment: "Incredibly real conversation, at least it is to me. This seems un-writable. Brilliant. Bravo, Ricky."

fucking fuck me

[Shindig]

It was nice of Yevrah to leave that one.

[phonics]

My mums desperate for me to watch it because and I quote ‘it’ll give you some real perspective on things’.

Is my mum dying?

[Manc]

She probably just thinks you're a miserable cunt.

[phonics]

Your entire existence on this place is to hate everyone else. I'm grand.

[Adramelch]

I wouldn't say it's a "must watch" by any means. Just an enjoyable watch (not for everyone it would seem) really.

[SvN]

If anyone was going to say Succession is overrated on here, I'd have put my son's life on it being Yev.

[Yevrah]

If anyone was going to say Succession is overrated on here, I'd have put my son's life on it being Yev.

Why?

If I had to put any money on my (fictional) son's life that you can't explain that statement, I would.

[Yevrah]

Finished Season 1 of Succession, the last half an hour is cracking. Then watched series 1 of Line of Duty, which was very good indeed.

[-james-]

Season 6 of The Expanse is alright, just got the finale to go.


I can't wait to never have to see Filip Inaros' face or hear Naomi Nagata's "belter accent" ever again. The best bits remain just any scene involving Avasarala or Bobbie Draper.

[Giggles]

Succession sounds like something I might watch from the Wiki description, and it's only 3 series deep which is about my limit for starting one. What's it shown on outside the US?

[Yevrah]

Sky have it Giggles, so assuming Now TV does too.

[Giggles]

I'll have a check later on, cheers. The only thing I pay for on Now is Sky Sports so not sure if I have access to Entertainment or the on-demand stuff.

[Dark Soldier]

I'll have a check later on, cheers. The only thing I pay for on Now is Sky Sports so not sure if I have access to Entertainment or the on-demand stuff.

if needs be: https://hurawatch.it/watch-tv/watch-succession-online-36744.5159380

[Disco]

Season 6 of The Expanse is alright, just got the finale to go.


I can't wait to never have to see Filip Inaros' face or hear Naomi Nagata's "belter accent" ever again. The best bits remain just any scene involving Avasarala or Bobbie Draper.

I'm adding Drummer and Amos to your list but agreed on the rest. Is this a short series because I can only see 6 episodes so far.

[-james-]

I'm adding Drummer and Amos to your list but agreed on the rest. Is this a short series because I can only see 6 episodes so far.

Six episodes and no plans for a seventh season. Pretty hard to see how they wrap it all up tbh.

[Disco]

Well that's a bit shit.

[Adramelch]

Season 6 of The Expanse is alright, just got the finale to go.


I can't wait to never have to see Filip Inaros' face or hear Naomi Nagata's "belter accent" ever again. The best bits remain just any scene involving Avasarala or Bobbie Draper.

I think the acting in this series was completely over the top. Even Avasarala's character was made to shout "fuck" every other scene after the second season or so.

[-james-]

The acting, dialogue and general aesthetics have mostly been pretty dire throughout the whole thing. The storyline and concepts have always done the heavy lifting.

[Raoul Duke]

The acting, dialogue and general aesthetics have mostly been pretty dire throughout the whole thing. The storyline and concepts have always done the heavy lifting.

Absolute nonsense. The set design/costume/CGI have been some of the best I've seen. The level of thought and detail that's gone into the general "tech" stuff across the show is far beyond almost any other sci-fi series or movie.

[-james-]

Absolute nonsense. The set design/costume/CGI have been some of the best I've seen. The level of thought and detail that's gone into the general "tech" stuff across the show is far beyond almost any other sci-fi series or movie.

The space stuff has always looked pretty good. The battle scenes, ship sets etc are nice, yeah but that's not going to keep me watching a show on its own. The giga-cringe involved in anything to do with Belters has taken a lot of looking past though.

[Raoul Duke]

Jar-Jar Binks has to evolve from somewhere...

[Lofty]

1483030466726879233

[Waffdon]

It must be bad if the Metro is condemning it. It sounds utterly horrific

[randomlegend]

1483030466726879233

:lol:

[Spikey M]

I have no idea how this is happening. It's mental and I can't fucking wait.

[SvN]

Holy shit, this is brilliant. I'm dying :lol:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2021/12/27/TELEMMGLPICT000280416167_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqhapkVlc y4J6MLIykjOByPqRG59k-tizdcoEWRmJ8o-E.jpeg?imwidth=680
https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article21968050.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/0_pcs-saville-coogan-40q.jpg
https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NINTCHDBPICT000699513419.jpg
https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/NINTCHDBPICT000692060427.jpg

This has to be some of the worst makeup ever, right?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I still have no idea how or why this is happening and why Steve Coogan wants to star in it.

[Disco]

You can't make someone look more ridiculous than Saville already did so you can't really go wrong.

[randomlegend]

You can't make someone look more ridiculous than Saville already did so you can't really go wrong.

The above evidence begs to differ.

[Yevrah]

I still have no idea how or why this is happening and why Steve Coogan wants to star in it.

Was about to post exactly this when I saw SvN's photos. There's no justice, no redemption, he fiddled kids and corpses all of his life and not only got away with it, he was knighted in the process. None of these things make for a worthwhile tv drama.

[Yevrah]

In another eye-opening move, writer Neil McKay has confirmed some of the people targeted by Savile will be visiting the set of The Reckoning while Coogan is in full costume.

‘It’s clearly going to be strange. But they wanted to do it, they’re fully prepared, so it will be interesting,’ he said to Radio Times.

What in the actual fuck?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is that not like a PTSD super-spreader?

[Spikey M]

The whole thing is just baffling. It'll end a career somewhere along the way. Just hope it isn't Coogans.

[Spikey M]

1483481333129093123?t=wIq2yiaJPOZDQampSbooog&s=19

Why do people do this?

[Disco]

Attention.

[Don]

1483094225281499143

[randomlegend]

"I'm the strongest person I know"

:D

[Spikey M]

1483094225281499143

Mate :|

[Baz]

I watched the first two episodes last night and they all seem like a hateful bunch of shitbags that are hard to 'enjoy' watching.
I’ve just finished season 2 and this sentiment still hasn’t gone away.

[Boydy]

I started Ted Lasso today and it's just great, isn't it? I've got one episode of the first season left.

[mo]

Worst thing about Ted Lasso is the opening credits song. Awful.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why do people do this?

Doesn't Dick Gervais retweet/like everyone who sends these crap tweets about Afterlife (a fucking unwatchably terrible show) at him? I'm sure I've seen some of my own circle do it, I thought about paying Giggles to fly over and give them a slap.

[Giggles]

I started Ted Lasso today and it's just great, isn't it? I've got one episode of the first season left.

Enjoy it. The second series is shite.

[CJay]

Enjoy it. The second series is shite.

Disagree. I thought it was good and did well to flesh out some of the characters stories. It turns into more of a dramedy at points, but still very good.

I think Boydy will enjoy season 2.

[Reg]

I thought both seasons were great. Quite different to each other.

[Giggles]

Any heart that was in the first one just turned into slapstick shmalz in series 2 for me. Thought it was very by the numbers, though I gave up fairly early on.

[Giggles]

While looking for something else on Now I seen they kept making Billions after I thought it was done. I see they’re making another series again now but I think that’s me done with it now with Lewis gone.

[Ian]

Boba Fett episode 4 was better than last week. Still nothing special but it had its moments.

Thing that I liked most was the musical cue teasing a bit of Mando. :drool:

[CJay]

Finished The Tourist last night. I thought it was excellent. There were some nice Breaking Bad vibes in terms of the environment, the crazy guy, and some of the music.

Last two episodes had some great lols too. Ethan especially. :D

[Shindig]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-60057551

Fuck off. :D


Campaign Against Living Miserably

[Baz]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-60057551

Fuck off. :D

Ahead of the curve, mates. (https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/19783820.st-helens-happy-chat-benches---25-locations-good-talk/)

[Don]

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jan/20/zen-motoring-bbc-three-ogmios-beat-poet-attenborough-comedy

Episode 1 was well-worth the 12 min duration :D

[randomlegend]

Halfway through second series of Mr Inbetween, it's sooo good. Best thing I've watched in absolutely ages. Unless the quality drops off a cliff, I'm going to be very sad it got cancelled.

[Ben]

Is it only on Disney+? That's a shame, and I haven't torrented since like 2012, so I'm completely out of the loop there.

[Disco]

It does feel a bit last decade but the amount of stuff being uploaded these days is immense. Can pm links if needed.

[Baz]

Is it only on Disney+? That's a shame, and I haven't torrented since like 2012, so I'm completely out of the loop there.Yep. Have you got a Firestick? Get Cinema (https://www.firesticktricks.com/cinema-apk-firestick.html).

[Ben]

Yep. Have you got a Firestick? Get Cinema (https://www.firesticktricks.com/cinema-apk-firestick.html).

No but can easily be procured I guess.

Have also asked Disco by PM. Playing the field.

[Lofty]

Trigger Point is a bit meh so far.

[Lofty]

The Responder on BBC 1 at 9 tonight looks promising. Scouse Martin Freeman though :D

[Disco]

The end of The Expanse was a bit odd, the last series ended rather abruptly after just six or seven episodes.

[Waffdon]

Halfway through second series of Mr Inbetween, it's sooo good. Best thing I've watched in absolutely ages. Unless the quality drops off a cliff, I'm going to be very sad it got cancelled.

Series 3 was still great. 3rd last episode of it was boring but aside from that every episode on all the series was top tier

[Jimmy Floyd]

Up to date with Succession now. Quality just as high throughout S3 even if the set pieces less spectacular (aside from the finale which was a proper barnstormer). Probably the best thing I've watched for about a decade.

[Yevrah]

The final season of Line of Duty was probably the worst and the ending was a massive anti-climax. Seasons 1 and 3 were the best by a mile.

[Alex]

Up to date with Succession now. Quality just as high throughout S3 even if the set pieces less spectacular (aside from the finale which was a proper barnstormer). Probably the best thing I've watched for about a decade.

Tom. :cool:

I'm taking that "You're not good enough for me, that's why you love me, even though I don't love you" shit earlier in the season from Shiv as the straw that broke the camels back for him.

It also adds even more weight to his "because I've seen you get fucked a lot and I've never seen Logan get fucked once" line when he rebuffed Kendall's advances a few episodes earlier.

Don't you think it was depressingly realistic (and very on-brand for him) how quickly Kendall went from having the momentum to just completely fucking it? The birthday party episode was such a well written portrayal of a middle-aged man completely in free fall I thought. He's a very frustrating, but equally tragic, figure.

[Giggles]

I did the first episode of it and it just didn’t grab me at all. Maybe needed to go longer but there’s probably too many sites out there to bother.

[SvN]

Tom. :cool:

I'm taking that "You're not good enough for me, that's why you love me, even though I don't love you" shit earlier in the season from Shiv as the straw that broke the camels back for him.

It also adds even more weight to his "because I've seen you get fucked a lot and I've never seen Logan get fucked once" line when he rebuffed Kendall's advances a few episodes earlier.

Don't you think it was depressingly realistic (and very on-brand for him) how quickly Kendall went from having the momentum to just completely fucking it? The birthday party episode was such a well written portrayal of a middle-aged man completely in free fall I thought. He's a very frustrating, but equally tragic, figure.

The party episode was so good, and equally hilarious/depressing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tom. :cool:

I'm taking that "You're not good enough for me, that's why you love me, even though I don't love you" shit earlier in the season from Shiv as the straw that broke the camels back for him.

It also adds even more weight to his "because I've seen you get fucked a lot and I've never seen Logan get fucked once" line when he rebuffed Kendall's advances a few episodes earlier.

Don't you think it was depressingly realistic (and very on-brand for him) how quickly Kendall went from having the momentum to just completely fucking it? The birthday party episode was such a well written portrayal of a middle-aged man completely in free fall I thought. He's a very frustrating, but equally tragic, figure.


Yes to all of the above. I know real life Kendalls, and they aren't multi-millionaires, but it's the same tale of basically having to come to terms with your own failure at a certain point in life. The downward spiral was evident from early on: if it had been Logan in his position early in the season you know he would have ruthlessly turned the screw, but Kendall was sitting around doing drugs and thinking about Instagram and having his party, which in itself was a microcosm of his fall from grace (again).

As far as one roots for any of these people, I generally root for Tom, mainly because Shiv treats him like a crock of shit (the one thing I don't quite buy in the show is how those two ended up together in the first place). So it was pretty awesome to see him destroy her, after frankly playing his cards well all season. As well as the quote you mentioned, she called him 'manipulative' after that, which I thought was pretty rich coming from her.

Roman getting absolutely played by Alexander Skarsgard over multiple episodes was fun too.

[Ben]

The Responder on BBC 1 at 9 tonight looks promising. Scouse Martin Freeman though :D

I know the trailer isn't much to go on, but his accent seems (surprisingly) really good. Scouse from non-natives usually ends up as some wild attempt at Jamie Carragher.

[Baz]

Has anyone watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix? Apparently my mates wife did and it triggered her to get rid of all her social media. I can see me using it as an excuse to bin mine off too, if I watch it, and maybe just keep the Reddit app.

I hate it, especially Facebook.

[Yevrah]

I have, it's shit and has a really annoying dramatised fictional family in it.

[Baz]

I have, it's shit and has a really annoying dramatised fictional family in it.:D

Did it make you regret how much of your life you’ve wasted scrolling your phone screen though?

[Giggles]

Is there a better alternative to it?

[randomlegend]

I have a facebook account which I don't use and an instagram account which literally only follows kitchen knife makers. I have no other social media.

[mo]

Watching Stay Close, the plot of which is just doing enough to keep me interested. Better be a fucking good finale.

[Giggles]

Watching Stay Close, the plot of which is just doing enough to keep me interested. Better be a fucking good finale.

I really enjoyed the first episode of that and how it was setting up at the end of it, and then the second episode had the dreaded ‘injury detail’ warning up top. Watched that Munich Agreement film instead then.

[igor_balis]

Has anyone watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix? Apparently my mates wife did and it triggered her to get rid of all her social media. I can see me using it as an excuse to bin mine off too, if I watch it, and maybe just keep the Reddit app.

I hate it, especially Facebook.

I deleted FB off my phone cus I was just scrolling through the newsfeed out of habit. Twitter seems more destructive to me though. People say it's good if you curate the people you follow, but that ends up very echo chambery.

The two of my mates who got most into it just ended up far too online. Half of the time they just wanted to talk about some random lefty twitter drama, and they started using internet speak in real life and shit. Plus so fuckin many people I tangentially know from school and that just seem to be constantly posting their crap witticisms, getting zero likes or retweets. I can understand getting hooked on the dopamine hit of getting a few dozen likes or whatever but surely you'd give up after years of zero engagement with your crap bantz?

[Pepe]

Don't know mate. You're still here.

[Disco]

I have no other social media.


...but surely you'd give up after years of zero engagement with your crap bantz?

TTH taking a pasting tonight.

[Shindig]

Hopefully randrew never stabs up a children's ward.

[Baz]

Also caught up on Succession. Flown through it.

Well… :exhausted:

[igor_balis]

Don't know mate. You're still here.

Nah but I'm well good though. Also that reply is genuinely more engagement than they're getting most days. One girl posts like 5 or 6 lolrandom posts to her 200 or so followers and gets maybe one like at best. I've started to find it a bit grimly fascinating.

[Kikó]

Has anyone watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix? Apparently my mates wife did and it triggered her to get rid of all her social media. I can see me using it as an excuse to bin mine off too, if I watch it, and maybe just keep the Reddit app.

I hate it, especially Facebook.

I think it's good especially to highlight the mechanisms that are keeping people hooked and scrolling. Ignore grandpa yev.

[Giggles]

If social media is an issue then someone it too weak minded to know how to use it for themselves.

[Lofty]

All episodes of The Responder on iPlayer and it's grim as fuck :drool:

[Yevrah]

I think it's good especially to highlight the mechanisms that are keeping people hooked and scrolling. Ignore grandpa yev.

The thing that annoyed me about it (beyond the family) was that there shouldn't have been anything in it that people weren't aware of, particularly if you're a parent and your kids are living on it.

[CJay]

Really enjoying The Shrink Next Door on Apple TV+. The plot is sickening, but it's riveting stuff. Not going to spoil myself on the real story until afterwards.

[SvN]

I watched it a month or so back. Really enjoyed it, thought it was much better than the critics gave it credit for. Paul Rudd is superb.

[Yevrah]

Apple tv has appeared as a plug in on Sky now and I must say there are a few things drawing me in, including that one.

[Giggles]

Apple TV fucked up my watching of that because I had to seek to pick up where I left off in an episode every time.

[CJay]

Apple TV fucked up my watching of that because I had to seek to pick up where I left off in an episode every time.

That’s crap, but the episodes are like 40 minutes long. You hardly need to invest a lot of time into watching an individual episode.

[Giggles]

I have to watch any of these shows any spare chance I get so any of them might only be 15-20 minutes at a time. It's ridiculous that it can't remember my position in an episode anyway so I cancelled my subscription to it (Apple One).

[Browning]

It also has no search facility which is ridiculous. It was alright when it launched with about 6 shows but now... fucking sort it out.

[Pepe]

Amateur hour.

[Spikey M]

Scouse Martin Freeman is surprisingly good.

[Browning]

Boba Fett :cool:

[Ian]

They haven't managed an actual really good episode have they??

[niko_cee]

If social media is an issue then someone it too weak minded to know how to use it for themselves.

I was thinking this when I saw some story about how people were eschewing modern smartphones for classic 3310 brick jobbies the other day. Seemed a load of attention seeking bollocks to me, just use your phone less. It's still quite handy to have access to it from time to time. Now, I was a late adopter the other way, and if someone could get me a functioning one of those motorola spinny phones [google tells me V70, guess I couldn't look that up on one of those though] I'd maybe consider becoming 'one of those people' but I dunno. £70+ on ebay. :harold:

[Browning]

They haven't managed an actual really good episode have they??

They have. Albeit it felt like I was watching a different show to the first 4 episodes.

[Baz]

I feel a bit lost without any Succession left, considering I crammed in all 28 episodes in exactly 14 days. Definitely looking forward to season four.

Was idly considering which character is most relatable and why because really I'd probably want to be most like Roman (dgaf, best watch), although people probably see me as more of a Greg (awkward knob), but I'm pretty much exactly Ken (dead-inside aimless alcoholic) really. :happycry:

Tom's the actual best though. I said it to my mum after watching a couple of episodes (she'd already seen them all bar the last two) and she called him insipid but I'd say the complete opposite. He's just pure entertainment.

[-james-]

I'm seven episodes into season one. Greg is what's keeping me watching.

[Manc]

I threw the towel in after the wedding episode. Completely unnecessary.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tom is great. A massive twat but also one of the few with a grip on reality, at least latterly. So well acted.