Do we live in a golden age of television?

[Manc]

How many of your family/friends appeared on the show?

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Was Magic not on it?

[Baz]

Finally got round to finishing Pam & Tommy and whew, what a ride. So sad.

[Boydy]

Is Peaky Blinders on BBC1 playing up for anyone else or is my TV fucked?

[Ben]

Same here.

[Lofty]

The Simpler Life is baffling. Woman drags her kids to live off the land in the Amish style for 6 months then has a meltdown about limited food supplies/choice before the end of the first day :D

[-james-]

Episode 5 of season 2 ("Tern Haven") of Succession is phenomenal TV.

[Ben]

I'm up to S2:E3 and it's pretty riveting.

[Baz]

I’m jealous. Wish I could get amnesia and rewatch it.

[Manc]

That can be arranged.

[Baz]

I see Bridgerton is back. :moop:

[Giggles]

I see Bridgerton is back. :moop:

Without the filth apparently.

[Giggles]

Picard is making absolutely no sense now, though it’s still a hundred times better than Discovery.

[Lofty]

I wasn't bothered about Peacemaker at all but it is brilliant.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I wasn't bothered about Peacemaker at all but it is brilliant.

:nodd:

The season is fantastic.

[Boydy]

I was intrigued by that title. Looked it up. Superhero shite. :rolleyes:

[Reg]

Episode 5 of season 2 ("Tern Haven") of Succession is phenomenal TV.
That was a highlight, among many great episodes. Up there with the best TV in the last decade or so.

[Giggles]

That Lakers thing isn’t too bad.

[Panda Bear]

That Lakers thing isn’t too bad.

Best thing going right now along with Severance.

[Lofty]

I was intrigued by that title. Looked it up. Superhero shite. :rolleyes:

To be fair it is superhero shite but it's James Gunn subverting the genre with two 'heroes' who aren't really heroes or even have powers in an ultra violent black comedy.

[Spikey M]

I'm not sure 2 Superheroes trying to be funny is a selling point.

[Ben]

I’m sure someone here recommended Mr Inbetween. Well it’s interesting I’ll say that.

[Dark Soldier]

I’m sure someone here recommended Mr Inbetween. Well it’s interesting I’ll say that.

Top man.

[Bernanke]

Severance is tracking towards top 5 of all time shows with these last two episodes. I haven't been this engrossed by a shows core mystery since early Lost.

The casting is perfect. The Milchik actor is probably the best of the bunch, and Torturro and Walken has some extremely believable chemistry in an odd way.

[Panda Bear]

Severance is tracking towards top 5 of all time shows with these last two episodes. I haven't been this engrossed by a shows core mystery since early Lost.

The casting is perfect. The Milchik actor is probably the best of the bunch, and Torturro and Walken has some extremely believable chemistry in an odd way. I think Patricia Arquette does a masterful job with her character too.

The most recent episode ended on what might be the best execution of a cliffhanger I've ever witnessed.

Hell, the ending where you saw the photo of Mark's wife was thrilling too.

[Ian]

Blimey, Patricia Arquette. Forgot she was a thing.

I bet Stigmata is total shit but mid-teens me thought it was ace.

[Lofty]

I'm not sure 2 Superheroes trying to be funny is a selling point.

They aren't superheroes, they are psychopaths. But I take your point.

[Giggles]

Anyone chanced Slow Horses on Apple TV yet?

[Kikó]

Watching the WWE biographies programme. It's absolutely great for anyone into wrestling in the 90s. Stone Cold first up.

[Lofty]

Today's Pointless was amazing, smug lad wheeling out pointless answers in every round only to hoist his own petard in the final, facial expressions were priceless.

[Kikó]

Lost interest about halfway through Picard.

I really liked the first episode of season 2. I'm hoping I don't fall off like you.

[Giggles]

I really liked the first episode of season 2. I'm hoping I don't fall off like you.

It’s held up fairly well overall. Though the whole big cost cut in the story is annoying.

[Giggles]

Anyone chanced Slow Horses on Apple TV yet?

This is good.

[Boydy]

I was gonna sign up for Apple TV for a bit to watch that and Severance legitimately but I seemingly can't get it on my TV. Annoying. I can't be arsed fannying around pirating it.

[Lewis]

Today's Pointless was amazing, smug lad wheeling out pointless answers in every round only to hoist his own petard in the final, facial expressions were priceless.

Sounds like 'Daws' at work. :lol:

[Baz]

Watching the WWE biographies programme. It's absolutely great for anyone into wrestling in the 90s. Stone Cold first up.Cheers for the heads up.

[CJay]

I was gonna sign up for Apple TV for a bit to watch that and Severance legitimately but I seemingly can't get it on my TV. Annoying. I can't be arsed fannying around pirating it.

There’s a web app, if you want a last resort?

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/tvplus/apdc0cb7ad64/web

[Kikó]

Sounds like 'Daws' at work. :lol:

U not funny.

[Ian]

I've made a start on Kingdom and I'm quite liking it so far. The "the zombies all run away and go dormant during the day" thing mixes up the normal zombie formula as does the setting. It's a slow burn in the first episode or two but is picking up a bit of pace now.

[Lofty]

I'm rewatching Black Sails as I bought the blu ray steelbook set a while back during a sale and I forgot how much I love it. Tits, tits! Fruit, fruit!

[Bernanke]

Severance finale is the best episode of TV in the past 5 years. They stuck the landing.

[Panda Bear]

Severance finale is the best episode of TV in the past 5 years. They stuck the landing.Yes.

Holy shit. Every note nailed. Perfect.

[Giggles]

What’s it like for gore? The whole series.

[Bernanke]

Bit of blood here and there but nothing extensive, can't remember anything more gory than that.

[Panda Bear]

What’s it like for gore? The whole series.For Severance? While there's no gore, there is a lot of blood during a particular scene in one episode. I wouldn't characterize the show as being bloody or violent.

[mo]

Started watching this Jimmy Saville programme on Nextflix last night. It's bit long really for what it is, they could up the narrative pace a bit really and probably achieve the same thing.

[Boydy]

Started watching this Jimmy Saville programme on Nextflix last night. It's bit long really for what it is, they could up the narrative pace a bit really and probably achieve the same thing.

Every Netflix documentary ever.

[Browning]

I thought the Savile documentary was very good but was probably more targeted at people who didn't really know who he was before the allegations. There was a lot of setting up how big a celebrity he was/how powerful his friends were when most people in the UK already know all that.

[Yevrah]

I just let Casualty start after finishing Pointless, it's the first time I've seen it in years and it appears there's an actually disabled actress in the cast now. No problem with that beyond the pretty obvious one that I can only understand one word in every four she says.

What on earth are we doing?

[Ian]

The bit in Pointless tonight where the woman failed at understanding the alphabet, her husband lolled at her and then did the exact same thing was quality. Got a proper laugh out of me when I realise he wasn't doing it for the bants.

[CJay]

I just let Casualty start after finishing Pointless, it's the first time I've seen it in years and it appears there's an actually disabled actress in the cast now. No problem with that beyond the pretty obvious one that I can only understand one word in every four she says.

What on earth are we doing?

Rosie Jones? She was on WILTY this series and I hadn’t the foggiest idea what she was saying. It was surreal.

[Don]

I saw one of these comedians live who had to be dragged up to the stage by 2 people to be put up on the chair like a sedated corpse. You could generally make out about 75% of what he was saying so a couple of the punchlines were just met with silence whilst everyone was obviously hyperventilating at any of the shit jokes they did pick up to make themselves feel good. One of the worst experiences around :D

[randomlegend]

I can fully understand Rosie Jones, she's just not remotely funny.

It's absolutely painful when she's on stuff like WILTY watching the rest of the cast as she stumbles through some shit joke and then forcing themselves to laugh.

[hfswjyr]

Her humour is often quite cruel and crass, which I'm assuming is played off against her disability. Unfortunately timing is critical with comedy, and her disability hinders the rhythm of panel shows.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I can fully understand Rosie Jones, she's just not remotely funny.

It's absolutely painful when she's on stuff like WILTY watching the rest of the cast as she stumbles through some shit joke and then forcing themselves to laugh.

This.

[Spikey M]

She could be the funiest person on earth. I'd have no idea. She may as well be speaking Afrikans.

[Luca]

Started Lost (hello 2005!). Should I bother? I’m 3 episodes in and it seems interesting enough, although the characters seem a little exaggerated.

In other news, I struggled through Manifest. Characters are awful, writing is awful, and the plotholes are larger than Chicxulub. And yet I kept clicking on to see what other ridiculousness they would invent. Is this what prime time television has become?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I loved the shit out of it at the time, but have never rewatched out of trepidation that it will have aged terribly. The characters aren't all that (apart from a handful), the mystery/plot is the more intriguing part of it I think.

[Panda Bear]

Started Lost (hello 2005!). Should I bother? I’m 3 episodes in and it seems interesting enough, although the characters seem a little exaggerated.

In other news, I struggled through Manifest. Characters are awful, writing is awful, and the plotholes are larger than Chicxulub. And yet I kept clicking on to see what other ridiculousness they would invent. Is this what prime time television has become?Isn't Lost the inspiration for Manifest?

My understanding is that the writing staff changed over constantly, so the show is riddled with subplots disappearing into thin air unresolved while massive inconsistencies continually emerge. I watched the first two seasons when it was originally airing and had to quit entering the third.

[Browning]

I stuck with Lost until the end when it aired, and I enjoyed the ride, but thanks to the horseshit ending I've never gone back.

[Manc]

Lost was unmissable at it's peak.

[Alex]

In retrospect Lost was mostly nonsense. It was entertaining nonsense though, I largely enjoyed the ride. It was definitely "event television". Although the ending was rubbish.

Thinking back, has there ever been a more boring and/or unlikable protagonist in a TV show than Jack in Lost? He was just shit. I think he maybe just wasn't a great actor. Very wooden. I don't think I've seen that guy in a single thing since.

[phonics]

I think he went full looney bin. Is a big God guy. Also seems to enjoy beating women up.

"In May 2012, his Lost co-star Dominic Monaghan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_Monaghan) tweeted about Fox, "He beats women. Not isolated incidents. Often.""

[Luca]

On the back of this, I'll stick with it for a little bit and see what happens.

Manifest looked like it was going to go down the path of a paranormal/time-travel show at the end of Season 1, and quickly ended up in weird, pesudo-Christian God stuff by mid-Season 2. They can't help themselves, can they?

[Raoul Duke]

Lost was immense at the time - I'm probably due a rewatch.

Manifest is a good concept that they have no idea how to write. I persevered with it and it does get a bit better, but they often abandon plot lines abruptly

[Lofty]

Matthew Fox was great in Bone Tomahawk, he also had a weird role in World War Z which was cut to a tiny role due to unfavourable test screenings meaning they completely reshot the endings. Coincidently he is a twat in both those films (not in the theatrical version of WWZ but the original version his character was a twat).

I hated how Lost ended but the final Seanie B catchup made me soften towards it slightly.

[Panda Bear]

Severance, though.

[Luca]

Lost was immense at the time - I'm probably due a rewatch.

Manifest is a good concept that they have no idea how to write. I persevered with it and it does get a bit better, but they often abandon plot lines abruptly

I honestly found it got worse over time. The use of ridiculous deus ex machina just ratcheted up to 11 by the middle of S2, and the plot holes widened even further.

I agree though - brilliant concept.

[Yevrah]

The peak was end of Season 3 and then they rallied a bit for Season 5, but my major bugbear (beyond the proper lack of clarity over many things) was that they didn't use the main sad theme in the final scene.

[CJay]

On Lost:

The best part of the show were the various mysteries of the island, especially when they caught a glimpse of the massive feet of the statue from the boat (can't remember what season). Ultimately the story didn't match up to the promised intrigue, but it really did keep you coming back for more.

[randomlegend]

As if Patrice Evra is in this stupid Wim Hof programme :D

[CJay]

New Taskmaster tonight at 9. Ardal O’Hanlon and others who I’m not really familiar with.

[randomlegend]

Other than Ardal O'Hanlon, I vaguely recognise Chris Ramsey and Judi Love. The other two are new on me.

Scraping the barrel a bit these days aren't they.

[Boydy]

Tbf, can you think of many people who haven't been on it at this stage?

[Spikey M]

They shouldn't get that bird with Cerebral Palsy on it.

[CJay]

The line up for the previous season was pretty great.

And for all I know this lot will be hilarious. Certainly me knowing someone hasn’t been a good indicator so far of whether they’ll be funny or not. I knew Aisling Bea and I didn’t know Mike Wozniak or Gus Khan, for example.

[CJay]

Tbf, can you think of many people who haven't been on it at this stage?

David Mitchell is the answer.

[Baz]

Munya Chawawa.

[Giggles]

They should do the right thing and let it die.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That was a brilliant TM episode.

I think all of them brought something to the table too with Ardal being the best contestant by a country mile.

[Boydy]

Yeah, I really enjoyed it. Chris Ramsey was probably my fave.

Sophie Duker though. :drool:

[Baz]

Indeed. :chief:

Not watched it yet, like.

[wullie]

Enjoyed it a lot, having the proper studio setup again makes the world of difference.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Her in the painting task was very eye opening.

[CJay]

Sophie Duker though. :drool:

Definitely has the best task outfit ever.

[Ben]

Been watching Dopesick the last few nights. It's pretty well produced, which is adequate enough given it's the story that's the hook.

Probably start Barry next. EDIT: actually just seen Better Call Saul is back.

[Spikey M]

Been watching Dopesick the last few nights. It's pretty well produced, which is adequate enough given it's the story that's the hook.

Probably start Barry next. EDIT: actually just seen Better Call Saul is back.

Dopesick and The Hot Zone are the only things worth watching on there unless you have kids / are a weird nonce, so plough through that next, then you can end your subscription and save yourself some money.

[Ben]

It's free with the wife's O2 contract. For sure we're ending it after the six months.

[Giggles]

Slow horses has just turned out to be a real plodder. Dead horses.

[Alex]

I've started The Last Kingdom recently (I think after seeing a few people in here talk about it) and it's pretty good.

Uhtred himself might be my least favourite character in it though. He is always (especially in the first season) making very stupid decisions and then being outraged when his life goes tits up again as a result. Although I suppose maybe that is the point, he's young and impulsive and a bit of a hot headed idiot. I'm getting towards the end of season two now (it's better than season one) and he is improving a bit.

He quite often can't seem to decide where he wants to go with his accent either. He dials the "Dane" up and down quite a lot from episode to episode, sometimes even scene to scene. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Uthred son of Uthred is displeased at your post.

[Alex]

Uthred son of Uthred is displeased at your post.

It always raised a smile every time he says this. :D

His worst choice so far is probably:

Killing the Viking leader in single combat and basically single handedly saving Wessex and instead of going to tell Alfred and getting in the good books just going "nah, it'll be right, I'll just let that little gimp who hates me go deliver the news of what has happened, I'm sure he will give a fair account".

Or:

Being told to behave himself and then immediately nipping off to Cornwall to kill and raid and pillage (he even brings a new missus back with him) and then getting grassed in for doing this by one of the great many people who saw him do it and then being outraged when he gets taken to task for it. :D

[Raoul Duke]

Uthred is a fucking idiot, but I love him. He has some great Roy of the Rovers last minute winners and his sword is cool. Also, Finnan :cool:

[CJay]

Severance is the best first series of any show I’ve ever seen. Really nice Jordan Peele vibes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah Finnan is the real don.

[Boydy]

Currently on the third episode of Severance and I'm just finding it boring tbh.

[Panda Bear]

Currently on the third episode of Severance and I'm just finding it boring tbh.
pfffffft

[Alex]

Latest disastrous chapter in the ongoing calamitous life of Uhtred (son of Uhtred):

He slapped a disabled priest who was getting lippy and this has accidentally killed him. :D

The slap was more than warranted though to be fair. :cool:

[Panda Bear]

Currently on the third episode of Severance and I'm just finding it boring tbh.
Bernanke

[Giggles]

pfffffft


Bernanke

Annoyed you enough to come back to it 9 hours later. Were you involved in the production of it or something?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Latest disastrous chapter in the ongoing calamitous life of Uhtred (son of Uhtred):

He slapped a disabled priest who was getting lippy and this has accidentally killed him. :D

The slap was more than warranted though to be fair. :cool:

I loved that episode so much.

[Lofty]

Lewis has finally claimed a prize on the Sex House and cucked some idiot wearing matching zebra print.

[Panda Bear]

Annoyed you enough to come back to it 9 hours later. Were you involved in the production of it or something?
no

I just opened up the thread again, saw the post another time, and decided to add the @

your post, though, I find very annoying and am rankled by it

[Kikó]

I'm actually loving season two of Picard. So much better than S1.

[randomlegend]

I'm actually loving season two of Picard. So much better than S1.

https://picard.ytmnd.com/

[Shindig]

Man, I miss that internet.

[Giggles]

I'm actually loving season two of Picard. So much better than S1.

It wouldn't be hard in fairness. There's too many threads to this one though still, and it's cheap as fuck.

[Alex]

I loved that episode so much.

It was a cracker. It really set up a great season too. I didn't see it all going that way, it's the best season from what I've watched so far.

RIP Young Ragnar :cry:

I've started season four now and I'm getting a bit confused with how old everyone should be. Because they don't physically age anybody. But best I can tell Uhtred must be about 40 or something now? I also feel like this means Father Beocca should now be about 80, at least. But he looks and acts absolutely no different to how he was in the very first episode. :D

[Spikey M]

Been giving Better Call Saul a go again after failing to get into it the first time around. No idea what I was on. Nearly finished Series 2 and I only started Friday. It's pretty good. Not Breaking Bad good, but still.

[Baz]

I think it’s better than Breaking Bad.

[Panda Bear]

Boydy but severance

[Spikey M]

I think it’s better than Breaking Bad.

No.

[Ben]

It does get better and better, though. Took me two tries but well worth it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It was a cracker. It really set up a great season too. I didn't see it all going that way, it's the best season from what I've watched so far.

RIP Young Ragnar :cry:

I've started season four now and I'm getting a bit confused with how old everyone should be. Because they don't physically age anybody. But best I can tell Uhtred must be about 40 or something now? I also feel like this means Father Beocca should now be about 80, at least. But he looks and acts absolutely no different to how he was in the very first episode. :D

Uthred is meant to be in his early 50s in S4.

[Raoul Duke]

The most confusing thing is the fact that the Queen and her daughter look the same age, and as you say, they haven't bothered to make them look older/younger in the slightest :D

[Alex]

The most confusing thing is the fact that the Queen and her daughter look the same age, and as you say, they haven't bothered to make them look older/younger in the slightest :D

I think I actually looked this one up and the actresses are the same age. In fact the daughter might be slightly older than the Mum. They just try and make the Mum look as frumpy as possible to make it clear she is the Mum. :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They actually gave Aelswith grey highlights and put a bit of mud on her face in the final season to make her look older.

[Alex]

They actually gave Aelswith grey highlights and put a bit of mud on her face in the final season to make her look older.

:D

The only one they seem to have made any real effort with is Alfred.

And even then I think that was only because they wanted to make it very clear he was sick and dying.

[Spikey M]

I think it’s better than Breaking Bad.


No.

Season 3 is giving me grounds to reconsider.

[Lewis]

It gets better every series. I'm not sure its highs are quite as good as Breaking Bad, but it has less filler so probably about evens out.

[igor_balis]

I think it’s better than Breaking Bad.

100%

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's not better than Breaking Bad, don't be an idiot.

[wullie]

The latest episode is fantastic.

[Don]

Navalny is on iplayer now, very good watch.

[Browning]

Finding Moon Knight to be really, really dull. Fantastic lead acting performance but the concept and story is just a bit shit. Might not be able to finish it. Shame after their other big shows were generally good (Falcon was shit, but was still more watchable than this).

[hfswjyr]

Caught up with Severence. Excellent.

As someone who watched every episode of The Leftovers without understanding a thing and hating it, I feel like Severence is the same theme of show but one that I understand.

[Ian]

Finding Moon Knight to be really, really dull. Fantastic lead acting performance but the concept and story is just a bit shit. Might not be able to finish it. Shame after their other big shows were generally good (Falcon was shit, but was still more watchable than this).

This has reminded me I'm two episodes behind so yeah, I'm probably not that gripped by it either despite each episode having at least a few decent moments.

I've got the Channel 4 boxsets included in Sky now so I can catch up on some shit and not have to deal with All4. Caught up on Derry Girls and am now up to date. It's still quality. Also made a start on Father Ted. Literally takes about two minutes for a "haha paedophiles eh what are they like?" joke and the next episode has a warning in the description about blackface so... yeah, very of its time and very Linehan but as such I've also had some good laughs at it already.

I'm also now onto series two of Kingdom which I'm enjoying very much. I'm a sucker for a zombie thing anyway but the setting is a bit different, they're getting better at the action scenes as they go along and, most importantly, it has lots of incredible hats in it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig9BcW7gXvE

David Simon is back and there are quite a few faces from The Wire too.

[Giggles]

I think that was one of the worst episodes of Star Trek I’ve ever seen.

[Kikó]

😀. I'm going to see if I can watch it. Episode 9 I assume of Picard?

[Alex]

I'm on to season five of The Last Kingdom now. Which I think is the last one?

I'm not a fan of this Brida heel turn to be honest, it's very over the top.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm on to season five of The Last Kingdom now. Which I think is the last one?

I'm not a fan of this Brida heel turn to be honest, it's very over the top.

It is with a movie to follow soon.

And yes.

[phonics]

This discussion has made me go back to Last Kingdom but I have no memory of if I watched Season 4 or not.

[Baz]

Same.

And same for Better Call Saul.

[niko_cee]

Just got fairly majorly triggered on Pointless Celebs when a question was asking for Arsenal and England fullback [AS] and it turned out to be Alex Scott.

[phonics]

This discussion has made me go back to Last Kingdom but I have no memory of if I watched Season 4 or not.

Update. I have seen Season 4.

[Lofty]

Just got fairly majorly triggered on Pointless Celebs when a question was asking for Arsenal and England fullback [AS] and it turned out to be Alex Scott.

That is extremely bad faith if they didn't specify which team. She never played for what would be the generally accepted incarnation of those teams.

[Giggles]

The BBC don’t even differentiate on their sport website at all either these days.

That IRLMNT and IRLWNT Americanised shit they go on with here is annoying, but at least when you see the W you can just keep scrolling.

[Spikey M]

They've gone big on women's sport all round. Which is definitely because they're being inclusive and nothing at all to do with it costing pennies to buy the rights for.

[phonics]

The age stuff in Last Kingdom is very confusing as Alex says. Utreds daughters appear to be a year or two younger than he is.

[niko_cee]

That is extremely bad faith if they didn't specify which team. She never played for what would be the generally accepted incarnation of those teams.

There was more detail [it was about the new presenter of Football Focus or something, hence me having no clue] but it is still underhanded.

[Manc]

Call My Agent is off to a flyer.

[Panda Bear]

sure, but have you all seen Jimbo's talent show performance on UK vs the World

[phonics]

The Last Kingdom is so funny because it's constantly people saying 'I can only give you a dozen men' as a plot point and the audience is supposed to believe it's not because the show can't afford more than 12 horses.

[phonics]

Has King Edward made a single good decision in this entire series?

[Giggles]

As if I haven't learned from the last two disasters, how would one watch Strange New Worlds? I presume a VPN won't do as Paramount+ would be a subscription job, or has anyone ever managed to sign up for the US version of it?

[Raoul Duke]

Ozark finale was great. Such a top show from basically start to finish, although the flashback cameos felt a little egregious. Ruth though :cool:

[Ben]

As if I haven't learned from the last two disasters, how would one watch Strange New Worlds? I presume a VPN won't do as Paramount+ would be a subscription job, or has anyone ever managed to sign up for the US version of it?

Apparently it's on free-to-air in New Zealand so if your VPN can land you there you can maybe watch it via their website: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/ which says it is premiering the same time as the US.

[Giggles]

I must have a look when I'm home but at first glance it looks like that's all will be needed indeed. Didn't realise anyone had it free to air.

[Kikó]

My mate has a BAFTA long listed film which you can watch here if you want: https://vimeo.com/704734657

12 minutes. I linked to him ages ago with the spanish omelette stuff.

[Don]

Very good.

On a vaguely related note, watched Punch Drunk Love again recently. It really is something, makes Liquorice Pizza look average.

[Bernanke]

makes Liquorice Pizza look average.

That's because it is.

[Alex]

The Last Kingdom is so funny because it's constantly people saying 'I can only give you a dozen men' as a plot point and the audience is supposed to believe it's not because the show can't afford more than 12 horses.

:D

This is true. Even when they have a "massive battle" type of situation it usually just looks like fifty blokes fighting fifty other blokes.

I like how the plot armour goes into overdrive when there's a battle on too.

Obviously certain characters always need to survive to drive the story forward, but you always physically see Uhtred and anyone close to him hacking and slashing their way through soldiers like they're nothing once a fight kicks off.

I'm talking like even his daughter here, who has no reason to be even a remotely accomplished fighter other than the fact Uhtred is her Dad. Uhtred and has gang must have killed about a thousand people on screen since the show started at this point.

Father Beocca was the worst. It reached a point where he went from being this mild mannered man of God to actively taking part in battles and effortlessly twatting people all the time, even though he's meant to be an old man.


Has King Edward made a single good decision in this entire series?

His season five beard suits him, if you can count that as a good decision? Other than that, not really, no.

[Raoul Duke]

There were only about 7000 people on Earth then, so I just imagine it's to scale.

Also, Father Berocca (patron saint of fizzy orange vitamins) is a legend and I won't hear a bad word spoken against him

[Boydy]

Ozark finale was great. Such a top show from basically start to finish, although the flashback cameos felt a little egregious. Ruth though :cool:
Watched all of it recently since I knew the final part of season 4 was out at the weekend. Binged all that over the weekend too.

I thought it was great. The ending was pretty perfect too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

4 episodes into the second half of Ozark season 4 (11 episodes total) and Wendy is pissing me off so fucking much.

Every single decision she makes is absolute horseshit and seems to benefit fucking no one.

[wullie]

I'm two episodes into the first half of season 4 and I'm still not sure if she's meant to be a sympathetic character at all, not often I root for the death of a main character as much as with her.

[Spikey M]

I couldn't get into Ozark. But then I thought that about Better Call Saul and the second attempt has proven me wrong.

Is it worth a second go?

[wullie]

I'd say so, but I was into it straight away. I remember at some point in the second series it felt a bit of a slog but then it really picked up since.

[Boydy]

Yeah, I was pretty hooked by the end of the first episode. It's definitely worth another go though, Spikey. I'd say it's up there with some of the best tv shows I've seen.

[Manc]

The ending of the first series was a nonsense.

[Ben]

I couldn't get into Ozark. But then I thought that about Better Call Saul and the second attempt has proven me wrong.

Is it worth a second go?

Yeah took me two tries with both.

[Giggles]

Can’t find Strange New Worlds on the TVNZ listings at all for the 5th or 6th. Do torrents work these days? I haven’t downloaded a TV show in years.

[Lofty]

Might need to watch Ozark finale again, was a bit surprised that was the end but I was distracted during the viewing.

The Last Kingdom battle size thing is also apparent in Sharpe, Waterloo with 40 blokes :D both written by Bernard Cornwell.

[Baz]

Can’t find Strange New Worlds on the TVNZ listings at all for the 5th or 6th. Do torrents work these days? I haven’t downloaded a TV show in years.

Have you got a Firestick? If so just get the Cinema (https://www.firesticktricks.com/cinema-apk-firestick.html)app.

Despite the name, it has films and TV.

[Giggles]

Have you got a Firestick? If so just get the Cinema (https://www.firesticktricks.com/cinema-apk-firestick.html)app.

Despite the name, it has films and TV.

I’ve a Shield so might be able to load it onto that.

[Giggles]

Bit rushed in places and a bit too slow in others, but that was some real proper Star Trek.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Finished Ozark, hated how it ended.

Even though I hated to see it, Ruth had to unfortunately die but for Wendy not to die is a fucking travesty. Every fucking decision she made especially in the final season was absolute horseshit. I've never hated a main character more.

And getting Jonah (I assume) to go balls deep into the "family business", ugh.

[niko_cee]

Are Channel 4 trying to give succour to the Nadine Dorries view that they should be drummed out of existence with this terrifying descent into the entirely mundane and humourless mind of Richard 'The Hamster' Hammond?

There's just so much wrong with this I kind of wish one of the teams had just ordered a smart plug and told him to ask Alexa to put the kettle on when he wanted it boiled.

[Lofty]

Not even a real hamster.

[Alex]

I've finished The Last Kingdom. The final season was probably my least favourite, but it was still pretty good. The ending was decent enough. My favourite development in last the season was:

Alfred's widow kind of becoming the best character. She took a bit of a comedy turn and it really worked. She just invites herself to move in with Uhtred at the end too. :D

The introduction of the big lad Scottish King who acted like a character from Trainspotting or something was pretty good too.

I also liked how the show ended with Uhtred mugging off Edward and doing his own thing. As he always has done. What a lad. Destiny is all! :cool:

I'll be interested see where this film they're doing goes.

[Panda Bear]

Have you got a Firestick? If so just get the Cinema (https://www.firesticktricks.com/cinema-apk-firestick.html)app.

Despite the name, it has films and TV.Did you post the link correctly? I don't see a referral tag to an account of yours.

[Baz]

Good one

[Giggles]

I didn’t ever go there.

I meant to say Baz it worked like a sweet :thbup:

[Kikó]

Emergency combat hologram? O rly.

[Giggles]

Emergency combat hologram? O rly.

Emergency "Well, we're paying the actor anyway so....." hologram.

[Kikó]

Going into the last one. Here we go.

[Giggles]

Neat little bows all round.

[Kikó]

Wesley Crusher turning up was great. I think they did it pretty well and the second season worked a lot better for me than the first. It's a shame Jean Luc is ancient because I think there's a decent few series left in this storyline.

[Lofty]

Are you genuinely enjoying Picard? I was enjoying watching RLM hate it but they have announced they aren't even bothering with it next season.

[Giggles]

There's only the one series left and it's already filmed with a load of the original TNG cast appearing. Not sure if it'll continue this 'Borg fwiend' story.

[Giggles]

Are you genuinely enjoying Picard? I was enjoying watching RLM hate it but they have announced they aren't even bothering with it next season.

The first 15 minutes of their last video was mental even for them. They really fucking hate it though, the reviews are hilarious.

[Kikó]

Good spoiler tag usage Giggs.

[Giggles]

Whoops. At least that whole thing wasn't telegraphed since spisode 2 or 3 anyway.

[Kikó]

Are you genuinely enjoying Picard? I was enjoying watching RLM hate it but they have announced they aren't even bothering with it next season.

I am and don't really know who those folks are (but will give them a watch). I'm sure it's partly nostalgia but I think it's been enjoyable.

[Giggles]

Red Letter Media.

[Giggles]

Skip on a bit or take a panadol first.



https://youtu.be/U3RBuVpwsFQ

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Watched the four episodes of Better Call Saul season 6 that have so far been released last night.

Nacho :cool:/:(

Top lad.

[wullie]

Watched the four episodes of Better Call Saul season 6 that have so far been released last night.

Nacho :cool:/:(

Top lad.

I'm just glad he got to go out in a blaze of glory, nice that what he did to Hector also ends up a big part of how Gus gets killed eventually too

[Baz]

Watched episode 2 of jeen-yuhs and goddamn, I wish every famous person had this kind of documentary footage.

[Raoul Duke]

Started on Boba Fett. It's alright, but if I was going to send some ninja space assassins to kill a bounty hunter I'd want them to do a bit more than just try and box him in with their stupid shields

[Lofty]

What if he was a 60 year old man who couldn't do stunts?

[Raoul Duke]

What if he was a 60 year old man who couldn't do stunts?

I'd just take his bus pass away and make him watch Emmerdale repeats

[Disco]

What if he was a 60 year old man who couldn't do stunts?

He's going to struggle with the rest of the series then.

[wullie]

Having seen a load of 'viewers vote it the worst finale in TV history' headlines I thought the last episode of Ozark was alright.

Starting the series with the big car crash that just ended up making them need to get a taxi home instead can fuck off though

[Boydy]

I thought the ending of Ozark was great.

[wullie]

Yeah I was expecting some complete nonsense so was surprised when it was actually quite a good finish. Having a look at the articles now it seems it's just dorks downvoting it on IMDB based on the fate of their favourite character rather than actual criticism of the show.

[Ben]

Do non-dorks actually bother to vote on IMDb? I've always found ratings on those types of websites to be puzzling.

[-james-]

Similarly, I thought the ending of Killing Eve was alright but I went online and everyone's seething about it.

[SvN]

I thought the ending of Ozark was pretty good. Not up there with the likes of Breaking Bad or The Sopranos, but a fitting finale.

[Browning]

I thought it was shit, but not enough to seethe about it. Whole series outside of a few moments was pretty disappointing.

Edit- for Killing Eve I mean.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I wasn't a fan of the finale of Ozark.

[igor_balis]

This season of Taskmaster is a real return to form, thought the last few have been proper shit. Sophie :wub:

[Raoul Duke]

Started watching Moon Knight. Oscar Isaac's English accent is absolutely terrible but the show is pretty good and a bit weird. Will be interesting to see where the story goes. Reminds me a little of American Gods in the way some of it is shot

[Kikó]

I finished Ozark finally.

Despite the bastards winning (they were all varying degree of bastards but still), you know they will have to live with what happened. I think it wrapped up well even if the final scene was a little random.

[wullie]

This season of Taskmaster is a real return to form, thought the last few have been proper shit. Sophie :wub:

I think having the live audience and not having to keep everyone apart from the group tasks makes a big difference, plus Chris Ramsay isn't the Russell Howard/Ian Sterling dickhead I was fearing he'd be.

[Ian]

Started watching Moon Knight. Oscar Isaac's English accent is absolutely terrible but the show is pretty good and a bit weird. Will be interesting to see where the story goes. Reminds me a little of American Gods in the way some of it is shot

I think he claimed that was intentional and it does make sense as things go on.

I thought the show was so-so. Isaac is always watchable though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I liked it but it's not as good as Loki, Wandavision or Hawkeye.

[Baz]

I think having the live audience and not having to keep everyone apart from the group tasks makes a big difference, plus Chris Ramsay isn't the Russell Howard/Ian Sterling dickhead I was fearing he'd be.

Everytime he's on screen, my wife (who barely even watches it) makes a comment on how much of a knob he is. Apparently he got famous off a podcast with his wife, but rumour has it (my brother-in-law's girlfriend sez) he regularly cheats on her, so he's a bad egg in our house.

Judy is amazing though, such a fun contestant despite being a) terrible and b) almost completing lacking in effort.

[wullie]

I didn't really know Bridget Christie other than in name but she's good as the customary weird one too. Feels like they got the mix of contestants bang on this series

[Ian]

Since Sky gave me boxsets and I don't have to do it through All4 I've been working my way through Taskmaster. It's incredibly easy brain-off viewing and that's a good thing. I've just finished series 4.

[randomlegend]

I finished Ozark finally.
.

Bit spoilery.

[Kikó]

They're all bastards but I'll spoiler.

[Ian]

Oh, great, now I know the show contains bastards. Thanks Kiko.

[SvN]

I was fuming that someone posted... (Ozark spoilers below)


"Finished Ozark. Ruth :cool:" in here because I assumed it meant she drove off into the sunset with millions. So her dying came completely out of the blue for me.

[Kikó]

We all know Ruth was a bastard. Spoiler.

[wullie]

I'm just glad that I didn't accidentally read about the ha, made you look before watching the whole second half of the season.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Since Sky gave me boxsets and I don't have to do it through All4 I've been working my way through Taskmaster. It's incredibly easy brain-off viewing and that's a good thing. I've just finished series 4.

Series 5 is probably my favourite so enjoy.

Aisling Bea is a bit meh (although phwoar) but the rest bring so much, especially Bob.

[Kikó]

I've seen her live and she was pretty funny. Also has incredibly long legs (phwoar).

[igor_balis]

I think having the live audience and not having to keep everyone apart from the group tasks makes a big difference, plus Chris Ramsay isn't the Russell Howard/Ian Sterling dickhead I was fearing he'd be.

Yep I agree with all of that, especially on Ramsey. I have absolutely no interest in those matey lad bbc3 stand ups, but he's perfectly likeable and makes a good foil for the other 4.


Series 5 is probably my favourite so enjoy.

Aisling Bea is a bit meh (although phwoar) but the rest bring so much, especially Bob.

A good season, but 7 is my favourite. Acaster is just the perfect taskmaster contestant for me, and even Phil Wang who I find a bit of a crap comedian and centrist irritant was great value.



I didn't really know Bridget Christie other than in name but she's good as the customary weird one too. Feels like they got the mix of contestants bang on this series

She's Stewart Lee's wife, lol. I saw her live at Warwick Uni a few years ago, more interesting than funny but still a very good set. My only problem with her is that I think she's slightly overdoing the pretending to be shit for the lolz stuff, but she's still good. And Dougal has been fucking great.

Someone on cookdandbombd said that the quality of the seasons is more about the chemistry of the 5 than how good they are individually and I'd probably agree with that - this season they gel really well.

[igor_balis]

Also I think Christie has singlehandedly made Alex Horne break character and get genuinely annoyed twice this season, which I think is the first (and second) time anyone has managed it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dougal is actually beginning to rival Bob Mortimer as my favourite contestant. The little jabs at the others in particular is incredible.

[igor_balis]

Dougal is actually beginning to rival Bob Mortimer as my favourite contestant. The little jabs at the others in particular is incredible.

Aye, and yet it was really fucking annoying when Stirling did it. I guess cus Dougal isn't coming across like he actually cares about winning - just pure WUMMERY and it's brilliant.

[Baz]

Have any of you taskmaster bros not watched season two of the NZ one? Best series by miles.

[Boydy]

Mawaan Rizwan has been one of my favourite contestants on it and I'd never heard of him before. Not heard anything about him since either.

[randomlegend]

Bob Mortimer is my favourite contestant ever by far. Paul Choudary probably second, although Josh Widdicombe gets enormous points for actually getting a tattoo.

This season is good though, yeah. Baz I tried season 1 of NZ Taskmaster and couldn't get into it but I'll try again.

[hfswjyr]

I'm usually very judgmental and nay-saying of anything NZ media does, but season two of NZ Taskmaster really is up there with the best. One contestant in particular.

Also - season three is apparently ready to air shortly.

[randomlegend]

The presenter of NZ Taskmaster has the charisma of an envelope.

[hfswjyr]

That is usually the biggest complaint, and I can see why people think that when seeing him for the first time.

He's actually been in NZ media for an extremely long time, and was once the satire and parody man 'taking on mainstream media'. In a bizarre twist, he has now become mainstream media, hosting the morning show on our biggest TV channel. He still does some parody cricket commentary in his spare time, but you could argue he has either grown up or sold out.

Back in his younger days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wv5oA-VQqk

[Baz]

He’s a shit Chris Morris.

But yeah he’s obviously not Greg Davies.

The NZ Alex Horne is very good though.

[Kikó]

Just finished Peacemaker. It's brilliant.

[Bernanke]

Prehistoric Planet was incredible.

[Kikó]

Slow horses is very good. Gary Oldman's character must stink of piss.

[Giggles]

It gets very turgid very quick after a promising start.

[Kikó]

It struck the right pace for me. Funny enough without being too clichéd.

[hfswjyr]

Suffers from being predictably unpredictable (if that makes sense). Felt a bit like a series of 24 by the end.

[Baz]

I noticed Netflix has Peep Show. Here we go again.

[Kikó]

Funnily enough, I never watched it first time round and currently working my way through it.

Current series on the to watch list: Inventing Anna, Lincoln Lawyer, We own this city and Shining Girls.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Peep Show hit harder watching the second time in my early 30s than it did in my early 20s. Like all Armstrong fare it is remarkable what they do with a full cast of unlikeable characters.

[Ian]

If I was rewatching Peep Show there's definitely a point at least a series or so before the end. I'm sure when it's been discussed before on here some said the houseboat episode was peak stuff, for me it's when it all starts to go a bit wrong and much more inconsistent. Ludicrously quotable though.

I dunno if I said but I got caught up on Kingdom (well, season 2, not the film) and it's really good. I thought Derry Girls ended really well and I also finished off Father Ted which is basically exactly how you'd expect watching a Linehan show from the 90s for the first time.to.go, for better and worse.

Will make a start on Kenobi tonight and might give Squid Game a go over the weekend too.

[igor_balis]

If I was rewatching Peep Show there's definitely a point at least a series or so before the end. I'm sure when it's been discussed before on here some said the houseboat episode was peak stuff, for me it's when it all starts to go a bit wrong and much more inconsistent. Ludicrously quotable though.

The gritty, almost lo-fi realism of season 1-2ish of Peep Show is absolutely the peak of the show for me. The last 7 seasons range from alright to excellent, with plenty of memorable moments, but it's a totally different show. It becomes more of a live action cartoon as it goes on, which is fine I suppose, and I know plenty of people prefer that version of the show, but not for me Clive. The dog-eating scene was definitely the nadir of the middle period of the show for me, but I think it's more a symptom of what the show had become than any kind of mad outlier. Other lowlights are Paterson Joseph forgetting how to do Johnson's voice, and Dobby (already quite annoying) basically been rewritten into a totally different character.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If they'd kept the season 1 theme tune rather than resorting to Harvey Danger I think it's a totally different (and probably less commercially successful) show.

[Kikó]

I just watched an episode where they set fire to someone's barn with Sophie's dad. It's definitely changed from season 1.

[Ian]

It's also just got Jerkass Homer syndrome for Mark and Jez too. Early doors they fuck each other over but often more in a semi thoughtless way or in moments if impulsive selfishness whereas later on it's just them doing intentionally out of spite more and more which isn't funny, makes them harder to route for or believe the whole premise of the show even works.

Them being a pair of wankers but the best friend either is going to get is stupid when they're barely even friends any more other than for plot convenience.

[hfswjyr]

Funnily enough, I never watched it first time round and currently working my way through it.

Current series on the to watch list: Inventing Anna, Lincoln Lawyer, We own this city and Shining Girls.

Didn't enjoy Inventing Anna myself. Watched it for the actress, and the story was fine, but the writing and show was bland.

My watch list:
Gaslit
Mr Inbetween
Our Flag Means Death
Pachinko
Super Pumped The Battle for Uber
The Newsreader
Tokyo Vice
Under the Banner of Heaven
WeCrashed

They are piling up faster than I can watch them now.

[Kikó]

I made it half way through episode 1 of inventing Anna before i aborted. Like suits without any of the charm, feels incredibly wooden.

[Baz]

I was gonna give that a go cos I’m a big Ders Holm fanboy, but when I looked it up it didn’t actually look any good.

[Clunge]

The tonal shift even just from series 1 to series 2 of Peep Show was pretty severe, and it did become increasingly stupid – albeit broadly still funny. The episode with Daryl the racist remains peak Peep Show, and the party one from a later series was also great. And the gastric flu one.

[Lofty]

Supposedly the baddie in Obi Wan is getting tons of racist abuse but her acting isn't great. I suspect they are playing up that angle to deflect from it, because her performance is jarring compared to everyone else. I did think it was possibly her character being badly written but it's odd that it's just her.

[Ian]

I refuse to believe that the same fanbase who did a racism so hard Disney were scared to give an Asian woman a prominent role in Episode 9 would abuse somebody for being black.