Do we live in a golden age of television?

[Yevrah]

I always thought I’d suppport the tv license. How times change.

Apparently it really is that easy to get away with not paying for one too. I sort of feel like a mug that I still do.

[Baz]

Do you know what I didn’t appreciate at the time but now think is absolutely brilliant, and should be regarded as one of the best “one man shows” ever? If you’ve got fifteen minutes spare, watch this episode of Bodger and Badger and I won’t believe you if you say you didn’t lol out loud at least once:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNV7beaAghQ

[Lofty]

They did student nights for a while, my mate was ejected from the student union for 'posing a threat to Badger' as he was trying to nick him.

[CJay]

Throughly enjoying Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy on iPlayer. He travels to each region in Italy and talks to people about the unique food and culture of the area. It’s basically food porn with a silky-voiced narrator and beautiful scenery.

[phonics]

They did student nights for a while, my mate was ejected from the student union for 'posing a threat to Badger' as he was trying to nick him.

Nobodsy else reacted but I've been thinking about the phrase 'posing a threat to Badger' all day.

[niko_cee]

Serious question, am I in for a nostalgic but perhaps eventually unfulfilling trip down memory lane at 10pm on BBC2, where the listing is Big Train, or am I set for some seethe inducing modern re-imagining of said locomotive?

[Shindig]

It's the thing you want. :drool:

I forgot Graham Linehan was involved in that.

[Don]

The Bear season 2 crept up on me. I rely on you useless wankers for this shit.

[Manc]

Never did get round to finishing S1. Loved the aesthetic, but couldn't tolerate the brother.

[Baz]

Loved the aesthetic, but couldn't tolerate the brother.Thats what everyone said about Mike’s birthday party last night.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Best thing is that Shoresy somehow turned out even better as a show. Keeso is a genius.

Finished Letterkenny the other day and banged out Shoresy today, it's fucking gold.

[Mike]

Started The Bear last night, it’s pretty great. We watched 5 episodes in one sitting.

[Don]

Season 2 is dogshit, I had to give up halfway through episode 2.

[Bernanke]

Lol you what

It's better then season 1. The episode 6 + 7 double whammy is better TV than even Succession managed this year.

[Don]

That's really not what I wanted to hear. 1.5 episodes were shite, make no doubt about it. May return to it at some point.

[Baz]

Speaking of which, I’m finally watching season 4 of Succession. :drool:

[Don]

That's really not what I wanted to hear. 1.5 episodes were shite, make no doubt about it. May return to it at some point.

I returned to it. The slow start continued for a bit more but then we finally got some food porn and the Copenhagen episode was great. And I've just finished the Xmas episode which is as good as TV gets. Deepest apologies.

[Don]

The episode 6 + 7 double whammy is better TV than even Succession managed this year.

He ain't wrong kids.

[Yevrah]

Watched all of the new Series of Black Mirror this weekend. My take was:

Joan is Awful - Started well and a decent enough idea, but it ran out of steam and the ending was nonsense.
Loch Henry - Probably my favourite episode of the lot. Nothing new here and as Spikey said it was pretty predictable but I still enjoyed it.
Beyond the Sea - Stylistically I really liked it, but the premise wasn't good enough to support the length of the episode and it just meandered along before abruptly ending.
Mazey Dazey - Just awful.
Demon 79 - Decent idea, but again not enough to sustain nearly an hour and a half and it just petered out.

Overall I'd say it was watchable but not much more.

[Bernanke]

He ain't wrong kids.

Do you agree that 7 is actually even better than 6? It's one of the best episodes of TV I've seen in years with how it's set up and paced.

[Don]

Both were exceptional but given episode 6 had a full hour and more to work with, episode 7 is probably the bigger achievement. I'll rewatch both seasons B2B once I'm done as the gap between seasons wasn't ideal for my Alzheimer's and these 2 episodes are making me want to do it ASAP.

[Baz]

The episode 6 + 7 double whammy is better TV than even Succession managed this year.I’m seriously doubting this claim, but it’s certainly got me intrigued.

[-james-]

Finally getting round to The Wire. My review: it's pretty good.

[Baz]

Finally getting round to The Wire. My review: it's pretty good.

Where are you up to?

[-james-]

About five episodes into season 2. I had been told it's the weakest season but it's not dropped off imo. Enjoying the shameless get the gang back together routine. Does need more Omar though.

[Adramelch]

Yeah I think people just want more Stringer Bell/Omar and go hard on the season for that reason. It's a great season and one that holds up more than the rest upon rewatch in my experience.

[Baz]

Already looking forward to lolling at your daft ‘best to worst’ rankings when you’re done.

[Shindig]

I need to rewatch it but I would be hard pressed to put any series down as 'worst'.

[Baz]

2

[Don]

I admire Black Mirror deeply in providing a commentary of the homogenisation of content and the unending appetite for it by mindless viewers by getting me to watch completely unoriginal drivel. Those last 2 seasons and that movie shite have now ruined the legacy of what should have remained an outstanding show.

[igor_balis]

Yeah I think people just want more Stringer Bell/Omar and go hard on the season for that reason. It's a great season and one that holds up more than the rest upon rewatch in my experience.

Stringer is probably the archetypal character that I care about less and less on each re-watch. It's probably unfair to judge based on a frankly excessive 7 (?) watch throughs, but on the last couple I was actually starting to think Idris Elba's performance wasn't actually that great. Bit over the top and hammy, somehow.

[phonics]

The more you rewatch the more you come to realise that Slim Charles is the main character.

[Ian]

So is season 3 of Succession considered to be the least good one? It's still good but it doesn't feel like much is actually happening. Two episodes to go so maybe something mind-blowing will happen but it feels like a lot of them all fucking each other over, as per, but to no real end at this point.

[Jimmy Floyd]

From memory, the last two eps are amazing. Especially the last one.

[Ben]

It definitely peaks at the right time.

[Ian]

Well that's good to know at least.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wasn't the tech conference episode in S3? I did love that. I can't remember much of the plot though so you might be right about it being the least strong series.

[Ian]

Yes it was, and the one I just watched was Kendall's birthday.

It obviously isn't a bad series by any means but (to this point) it doesn't feel like the overall situation has changed a great deal since the end of season 2, at least compared to some of the big events in the prior seasons.

Still very much enjoying it though and I wouldn't have thought I'll be too long getting through the remaining 12 episodes or whatever it is.

Also I only just noticed in the last episode or two that Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are in the opening credits.

[Ben]

They produced Eastbound & Down previously so Succession was obviously a sure hit from the off. :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh god, Kendall's birthday was perfection. But it's still more of a stand alone character thing rather than advancing the overall story a great deal. That comes in the last couple of eps.

[Raoul Duke]

I think I preferred S3 to S4 kinda. But I think the overall thing should just be considered a whole, rather than massively delineated. It's great

[Dave.]

Guys. Stranger Things. I've just started watching it, seen two episodes now and it's been... okay. Is it worth sticking with?

[Baz]

Guys. Stranger Things. I've just started watching it, seen two episodes now and it's been... okay. Is it worth sticking with?

Not at all. Season 1 is okay, the rest is straight bad.

[wullie]

I didn't mind it, but it's another Netflix thing where long episodes just keep getting longer, the last one was over two hours. Fuck that

[Yevrah]

I've enjoyed it on the whole over the years but I'm not sure I'd feel the same if I watched it all back to back as I assume you'll do if you go for it Baz.

Its principle problems are; repetition of story arcs, far too many characters and increasingly long episodes. That said, one of the bits in the last season was the best thing they've ever done so I'd probably say stick with it until you're not enjoying it then bin it.

[Adramelch]

It's an okay watch, but nothing more than that. As Yev says there's a lot of repetition and it relies way too heavily on 80s nostalgia, but I don't think you'll regret watching it.

[Spikey M]

Guys. Stranger Things. I've just started watching it, seen two episodes now and it's been... okay. Is it worth sticking with?

There's some great bits, there's some terrible bits. Worth sticking with, but don't expect the world.

[Alex]

Definitely a case of diminishing returns with it for me.

I would say the first season was very good and the best one by an absolute mile. It captured the eighties nostalgia really well and also mixed it with some really good sci-fi, mystery and actually (in my opinion anyway) quite legitimately good horror.

It's gone steadily downhill since and I gave up on it during the last season because I can't be bothered fucking about with multiple film-length episodes per season. It just got a bit tedious. I think when they released the second half of season four (or whatever) and one of the episodes was over two and a half hours long I just fucked it off immediately.

[Spikey M]

I think the last series was very good, long episodes aside. There were some irritations, a couple of characters that just need to fuck off and as Yev said, it's very formulaic, but it's definitely worthy watching.

[Yevrah]

I thought the bit before the break was pretty good, but not so much when it came back. I get there were reasons for that (getting the actors together etc.) but I didn't feel they dealt with it particularly well.

[Ian]

Succession
I had been thinking things were going by too well for Roman and he must be due being brought down a peg or two then he sends Logan the dick pic. :D

[Bernanke]

Succession
I had been thinking things were going by too well for Roman and he must be due being brought down a peg or two then he sends Logan the dick pic. :D

https://i.redd.it/r4029d9l9u381.png

[Yevrah]

The Sixth Commandment (on Iplayer) is watchable fare, with a pretty decent performance from the lead.

[Bernanke]

Almost done with a Rome re-watch. Hell of a show.

[Max Power]

“Forks” in season 2 of The Bear may be the pinnacle. Flawless television, had Taylor Swift in my head all day.

[Bernanke]

“Forks” in season 2 of The Bear may be the pinnacle. Flawless television, had Taylor Swift in my head all day.

I've rewatched it 3 times already, it's perfect.

[Raoul Duke]

Watched series 2 + 3 of The Witcher in the last few days. Really liked it and the overall story coming together has been great. There's been a load of neckbeard complaints on Reddit which put me off a bit but that seems like it's just it's just internet wankers and book nerds complaining about a woman being in charge.

[Ben]

One episode into The Bear and I think I'm going to like it.

[Mike]

The Bear really is spectacular.

[hfswjyr]

“Forks” in season 2 of The Bear may be the pinnacle. Flawless television, had Taylor Swift in my head all day.

Needed that episode badly after the previous one. Is watching TV supposed to be stressful as fuck?

[Max Power]

Needed that episode badly after the previous one. Is watching TV supposed to be stressful as fuck?

Yeah that was almost too much. Anxiety levels through the roof but again, perfectly executed.

[Ian]

Succession
Well I didn't expect Logan to just fucking die when he did. Excellent episode and the best of season 4 so far.

There was a moment where I wondered if it was going to turn out to be some horrible game he was playing with the kids because they don't show that it's him on the floor being CPRd for what feels like ages.

[-james-]

Yeah I had some doubt over whether or not it was for real for most of the episode. Was brilliantly executed.

[mo]

Just watched new series of Black Mirror - the first two were fun, Mazey Day was dogshit but I liked the angle on Demon 79, even if the concept is a bit naff.

[Ian]

The Sixth Commandment (on Iplayer) is watchable fare, with a pretty decent performance from the lead.

I watched the first episode of this last night. It's not, an episode in, the most gripping thing of this type I've ever watched but Timothy Spall is great as always. I'll stick with it.

[Alex]

I've recently finished up the the perennially overlooked Snowfall and it was a great ending. If anybody is looking for something new I would highly recommend it, one of the most underrated shows on television in recent years. I think anyway!

Possibly a bit of a shaky start (I can't remember, it's a while since I originally watched season one) but it all quickly settles in and comes together really well. Great characters and a cracking cast. It's sort of like Boyz N the Hood meets The Wire meets Narcos. They recently added the final season to iPlayer so it's all on there.

[Ben]

I'm up to the series 1 finale of The Bear. It's really good but as someone who has experienced a working kitchen before, it's giving me PTSD.

[mo]

Working our way through the second series of Your Honour, which I don't think I've seen mentioned before. It's brilliantly gripping - well paced, certainly well acted. Well worth a watch but annoyingly only on Paramount+.

[Browning]

Had no idea they’d made a season 2. It felt like it didn’t need one with how the first ended. Should be worth binging through 10 episodes on a 7 day trial though.

[mo]

See your point about not needing a second series, but it's definitely worthwhile - all the plot points feel organic, not forced. It's like the next layer surrounding the story from series 1.

[Yevrah]

Ted Lasso Season 3 is appalling. A bukkake of sentimentality, none of it touching any of the right notes. It's exactly as bad as I thought the show was going to be in season 1 when I heard about the premise.

[Giggles]

Strange New Worlds is the tits. Two class, and hugely different episodes in a row. And I say that before the musical bollocks to come.

[Bernanke]

Ted Lasso Season 3 is appalling. A bukkake of sentimentality, none of it touching any of the right notes. It's exactly as bad as I thought the show was going to be in season 1 when I heard about the premise.

They came to all the wrong conclusions after Season 1 about what it was about the show that resonated with people. It was already clear during large parts of S2, but just got worse and worse.

[Ian]

All done with Succession.

I'm not sure how I feel about the finale. And I'm not really sure why I wasn't sure. I'd already decided none of the three of Kendall, Shiv or Roman was going to 'win' and would probably end up unhappy so it's not that I was hoping for something I didn't get (they're all complete bastards, after all.) I can only think I might get a bit more of the aftermath of the vote or maybe that it'd be somehow cathartic if all of them (including Greg and Tom) got fuck all out of it. Dunno, there's something I found a little unsatisfying but I did still enjoy it and the full circle of them just wanting it to be themselves on principle, then reconciling to go with Kendall then Shiv reverting to Roy type was fitting and probably where had to finish up, with them sabotaging themselves and nobody ending up really happy. Other than maybe Roman, after his "we're all bullshit" bit and the little scene in the bar was maybe just happy to be shot of the whole thing once it happened.

Great show though.

Dunno what'll be next. I'll finish The Sixth Commandment then find something more substantial to make a start on. Might give Justified a go.

[Boydy]

I started Succession last night. Watched two episodes. It's funnier than I expected it to be. Roman is my favourite so far.

[Ian]

Most episodes have at least one properly belting joke.

[Jimmy Floyd]

All done with Succession.

I'm not sure how I feel about the finale. And I'm not really sure why I wasn't sure. I'd already decided none of the three of Kendall, Shiv or Roman was going to 'win' and would probably end up unhappy so it's not that I was hoping for something I didn't get (they're all complete bastards, after all.) I can only think I might get a bit more of the aftermath of the vote or maybe that it'd be somehow cathartic if all of them (including Greg and Tom) got fuck all out of it. Dunno, there's something I found a little unsatisfying but I did still enjoy it and the full circle of them just wanting it to be themselves on principle, then reconciling to go with Kendall then Shiv reverting to Roy type was fitting and probably where had to finish up, with them sabotaging themselves and nobody ending up really happy. Other than maybe Roman, after his "we're all bullshit" bit and the little scene in the bar was maybe just happy to be shot of the whole thing once it happened.

Great show though.

Dunno what'll be next. I'll finish The Sixth Commandment then find something more substantial to make a start on. Might give Justified a go.

I thought the ending was good because it summed up the eternal reality of life in the capitalist world they've been inhabiting for the last four series: the money wins, your irrational hopes and dreams lose. Tom understood this and sculpted his entire personality around it, the Roys never did.

[Ian]

Yeah I like that Tom was the one who, despite being a cunt, had shown more humanity than most through a lot of the series but then was the one who ultimately had the stomach for it.

[Raoul Duke]

Yeah I like that Tom was the one who, despite being a cunt, had shown more humanity than most through a lot of the series but then was the one who ultimately had the stomach for it.

I wanted Greg to end up doing ok, but even he turned into a bit of a cunt by the final season. Greg and Tom were my favourites though.

[Manc]

Get fucked.

[Lofty]

The Sixth Commandment was indeed excellent.

[Manc]

Me and the Mrs have begun to watch Sharp Objects. Yet to really get going, but the director & cast combo is superb.

[Adramelch]

One of the best mini-series I've watched. It's a slow burn as you said but the whole ensemble is so good.

[SvN]

Yeah, it's brill. Really good from start to finish.

[wullie]

Has to be one of the sweatiest tv shows ever made also, if such a category exists.

[Waffdon]

Hijack was alright but think people are going a bit overboard on the praise because Idris is a don.

So many stupid things throughout

[Yevrah]

I've not seen the last episode yet, but up to now it's been no better than "watchable shit".

[John Arne]

Missus made me watch Special Ops: Lioness with her.

Unrealistic feminist nonsense.

[Yevrah]

Watched the last episode of Hijack. It was mostly crap overall, but Max Beesley was the best thing in it by miles. I can only assume he hasn't had a more high profile career due to being a bit short as he's always good value in everything I've seen him in.

[Yevrah]

I also watched nearly all of Detectorists. Seen bits before, but been through all of 1 and 2 and most of 3 now and have to say that it's delightful.

[Waffdon]

Watched the last episode of Hijack. It was mostly crap overall, but Max Beesley was the best thing in it by miles. I can only assume he hasn't had a more high profile career due to being a bit short as he's always good value in everything I've seen him in.

Yeah he’s great.

idk why but I was convinced he was gonna end up being in on it and being a bad guy so that was a nice surprise if nothing else

[Mike]

Watched Silo this weekend. Knew nothing about it but loved it. Excited for a second season.

[Ian]

Ended up watching the remaining three episodes of The Sixth Commandment last night, they hooked me far more than the first episode did. Really liked it.

Also spotted that the first series of Manhunt is now available on demand on Sky so I'll be getting on that next, really enjoyed the second one.

[Yevrah]

It’s good and very unsettling isn’t it. Thought the lead was great.

[Dave.]

I ended up sticking with Stranger Things and have watched the first three series. I really enjoyed, it's very different from what I usually watch but it's had me gripped throughout and some of the acting has been genuinely excellent. David Harbour is so much better here than in Quantum Of Solace.

The problem now is that the end of series 3 seemed like the perfect time to end everything and yet there's another series to go. I got a feeling this is going to be a problem as series 4 progresses.

[Adramelch]

I'd say if you were ok with the 3rd season, you will probably be ok with the 4th one, long episodes aside.

[Ian]

Also spotted that the first series of Manhunt is now available on demand on Sky so I'll be getting on that next, really enjoyed the second one.

Ended up watching all three episodes of this in the one sitting last night.

Your maverick cops with a terrible personal life and enormous character flaws are all well and good but I do also have a lot of time for shows where it's just honest, decent coppers working hard to nail a bastard (in the first series it's Levi Bellfield) and Martin Clunes is always very watchable.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Not sure if anyone is watching Reservation Dogs but the latest episode is incredibly powerful.

[Yevrah]

Loved the Manhunt stuff too. Martin Clunes is great.

[Baz]

I’m looking forward to watching this tonight:

https://occ-0-179-299.1.nflxso.net/dnm/api/v6/WNk1mr9x_Cd_2itp6pUM7-lXMJg/AAAABajqyNGAIjA6ElZUgC40CAqGQk3yYX-dZrh7xpRqDZA3_kGi1lvvgCMmQrV7ILWp_gaPXHNrorMmGPFuS fWkBPhWikRiJqt2Wkov4si0YnLThRMJWLRtvg7W_0HTHlvYfUa XWQ.jpg

[Spikey M]

I'm not.

[Giggles]

Just watched the Manziel one. He had some time of it.

[Ian]

Loved the Manhunt stuff too. Martin Clunes is great.

I've no idea what else would be on such a list but it'd fit on a "best things no cunt talked about" ranking somewhere.

Similar to Sixth Commandment, it manages to achieve tension when you already know how it pans out. And yeah, Clunes is just top viewing all the time.

[Yevrah]

Watched two (well, one in its entirety and one episode of the other) "behind the scenes" football shows over the last couple of days.

The first, which I saw all of last night on Sky was charting Burnley's appointment of Kompany and promotion to the Premier League and it was pretty good, offering a decent insight into what actually happens.

The second, which I've just finished the first episode of now, about the Newcastle takeover on Amazon is deeply sinister, with the only takeaways being that in no way shape or form have Newcastle, or will Newcastle ever breach FFP and the other that Charlotte Trippier didn't really like Spain.

[Shindig]

I want to say our owner (as in Staveley's fella) has given one interview since taking over and they just sprinkle that throughout. Does he show off his back-and-white lined suit jacket?

[Yevrah]

He does. :D

There's a scene where they go to a board meeting that begins with him showing off his silly jacket.

[Kikó]

It's pure unadulterated sports washing that Newcastle one.

[Kikó]

We're loving season 5(?) of Taskmaster. Bob Mortimer is brilliant as always.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That is indeed season 5 (which is my favourite) and Bob is perfect.

The next season is the worst though, by a big margin. Fuck Russell Howard and Tim Vine.

[Kikó]

The blend is great as well. Sally Phillips and Aisling are brilliantly crazy, Nish is desperately shit and Mark Watson similarly tragic at times (phobia of balloons ffs). Great TV.

[randomlegend]

Nish is great because he finds everyone else so funny.

[Ian]

Nish is great.

Bit harsh on series 6, I think it's got its moments. Though it is the first series which has a very obvious winner from the first couple of episodes and they can't quite be arsed with the whole thing. The first lockdown series is if not worse at least weirder.

[wullie]

I love Tim Vine despite him being rubbish but Russell Howard is one of those who are unpleasantly competitive, Iain Stirling and Ed Gamble the two other standouts

[Ian]

The Iain Stirling series he's quite obnoxious right up until he sees that particular team task and is horrified by himself and for the studio bits afterwards he's a lot better because he's self-conscious about what a cock he was being.

It's a fine art, being the Taskmaster studio-stuff agitator while still being funny.

[Kikó]

On Nish I meant desperately shit at the tasks rather than anything else. It's great how he clearly is loving every minute.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Finished the third season of The Witcher last night.

Massive step down from the previous outings for me, although that might be due to me not feeling it as much due to Cavill stepping down.

The penultimate episode in particular was a real snooze-fest.

Fight scenes were class though as always.

[John Arne]

Nicole Kidman is in this series I'm watching. So has had some crazy plastic surgery. Her face basically doesn't move, just a little tiny mouth chirping away.

[mo]

Been watching Detectorists, half way through series 3 currently. Interesting how wife and I take different sides in Andy/Becky’s relationship :D

[Yevrah]

Watched all of Painkiller on Netflix yesterday. Bar a few dramatic license choices that were a bit silly it was pretty good.

[Spikey M]

Watched all of Painkiller on Netflix yesterday. Bar a few dramatic license choices that were a bit silly it was pretty good.

I haven't seen this yet, but Dopesick on Disney+ is brilliant, if you haven't seen that.

[Ben]

Second that. Keaton is great.

[Yevrah]

Cheers gents, I'll have a look.

[Spikey M]

I've watched the first 2 episodes of Painkiller tonight and it's The Untouchables to Dopesick's Goodfellas. It's alright, but it's a straight-to-dvd version of what's already been done far better.

[Alex]

I will third the motion that Dopesick is indeed very good.

I'm re-watching Deadwood at the moment. It must be over a decade since I watched it originally and I never watched the movie, so a full run through seemed to be in order. I know it's been said to death but the dialogue really is unparalleled.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Finished watching the first three episodes of The Wheel of Time season 2.

It seems to be moving further away from the books (and I'm not sure why they've chosen to do some things as they have) but I'm enjoying it. The third episode in particular was very good.

[Manc]

Top Boy S3 looking tasty.

[Bernanke]

Finished watching the first three episodes of The Wheel of Time season 2.

It seems to be moving further away from the books (and I'm not sure why they've chosen to do some things as they have) but I'm enjoying it. The third episode in particular was very good.

Never read the books, but the jump up in quality from S1 is immense.

[phonics]

New Justified blows.

[Spikey M]

Top Boy 3 (5) feels rushed. It's decent enough but underwhelming. A poor way to end it, really.

[Ian]

New Justified blows.

How much of Justified is good? I'm just making a start on Line of Duty but I nearly went for Justified.

[Alex]

How much of Justified is good? I'm just making a start on Line of Duty but I nearly went for Justified.

In terms of the original run - all of it is fantastic. It might take a little bit of time to find it's feet in season one (it's a long time since I watched it) but it basically gets very good very quickly and stays that way throughout.


New Justified blows.

I do, to some extent, agree with this though. I thought Raylan in a "fish out of water" setting would be something I would really enjoy but I don't know, it misses a lot of the background context of the original and the interplay with all those other characters.

I think Olyphant is generally still doing a really good job with the material he is given. And I actually don't mind the bad guy, in his "crazy, over the top villain" sort of way. But something about the whole thing just feels off.

The fucking daughter too. My god. She's terrible! It is his (Olyphant's) real life daughter too. Very much a case of neopitism gone wrong. Why does she fucking talk like that? In that weird baby voice.

[phonics]

It's just shot completely differently, the lighting is so ott, the colour grading is like a knockoff Michael Bay and then the cameras moving about like a shit Jason Bourne. The setting has absolutely no character and everyone outside Olyphant and the bad guy are the most nothing boring characters ever conceived. That baby voice is very creepy.

[Manc]

Top Boy 3 (5) feels rushed. It's decent enough but underwhelming. A poor way to end it, really.

Agreed on the rush front. Felt like the Irish stuff was wrapped up in no time at all. S3 & 4 being marathons probably didn't help either. Solid season nonetheless, though Kano did carry it at times.

[Baz]

It seems the Wrexham thing is back. Or at least, there’s the first episode of season 2 on Disney. Unfortunately while checking, Netflix flashed up the new series of Virgin River so she wants to watch that. World of Warcraft it is; at least I’ll be able to binge a few episodes when I get chance to watch it.

[Mike]

New Married at first sight tomorrow. Proper tv gold!

[Boydy]

Finished Justified: City Primeval. I thought it was alright. Not up to the standards of the original but decent enough viewing.

I hope that ending is setting us up for another series with Boyd Crowder back in it.

[niko_cee]

There's a programme on Channel 4 currently, which I've never come across before and looks like it was made in about 1970 called Popmaster or something. Anyway, there's an old woman on it currently who appears to know literally everything about popular music spanning pretty much the whole of pop music history. It's amazing. The two guys up against her are lambs to the slaughter.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wheel of Time season 2 really has been top quality, a huge improvement from the first season.

They've absolutely nailed the bastard Seanchan.

Still not entirely convinced by some of the changes they've made from the books but hopefully they can do them justice.

[Mike]

New Married at first sight tomorrow. Proper tv gold!

Four episodes in and it's great already. The half french guy last night is going to be great, he seemed a total bell end.

[Lofty]

I think Channel 4 are going to regret giving him a repeat booking as he was apparently previously on some shit dating show doing the same 'I love big tits here is a list of the words I use for boobs' schtick, their core viewing demographic of housewives are not impressed.

[Bernanke]

Wheel of Time season 2 really has been top quality, a huge improvement from the first season.

They've absolutely nailed the bastard Seanchan.

Still not entirely convinced by some of the changes they've made from the books but hopefully they can do them justice.

As a non book reader I'm enjoying S2 a massive amount. This latest episode was fantastic.

[Raoul Duke]

+1 for Wheel Of Time. I've not read the books but the story is shaping up nicely. Really annoying that it's still episodic and not all out at once.

[Baz]

They’ve done that with Welcome To Wrexham season two as well. Annoying.

[phonics]

I'm rewatching Lost :cool:

[Yevrah]

I'm rewatching Lost :cool:

How's it holding up?

[phonics]

I’m only 3 episodes in so can’t tell really. Did laugh that literally the second line in the whole show was Michael shouting ‘Walt!’

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've never rewatched it because I assume it will be horrible. Just thinking about meeting characters like Charlie and that Australian again makes me cringe.

Ben Linus was a boss though.

[Raoul Duke]

Bet Locke is still mega

[Yevrah]

I have tried to watch it again a couple of times and I always tap out somewhere around the start to middle of Season 2, that and season 1 just meander so much the cumulative weight of all the meandering when you know what's going to happen was just too much to take.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The ending being so shit is what has stopped me doing a re-watch.

[Baz]

So far Wrexham season two is nowhere near as engaging. Episode 2 is skippable, and 3 is just okay.

Hopefully Ben Foster turns up soon.

[niko_cee]

Think I only ever made it midway through season 2 of Lost in the first place, and always wanted to go back and watch the whole thing, but it feels like that moment has long since gone. I also don't watch anywhere near enough tv to justify or sustain that commitment.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It was a rare example of a show that actually benefited from the weekly episodic release to build up the tension.

[Ian]

I've been watching Line of Duty and finished series 2 yesterday. It's very moreish, if a bit uneven, and I'm not sure I've cared much for either series finale and the John Hughes endings.

[mo]

Sex Education has always been a bit out there, but series 3 does feel like it's trying a bit hard. Not enough sex yet either.

Only Murders in the Building is definitely running it's course, still enjoying it but this needs to be the end.

[Baz]

I presume it’s a kids show but Little Lunch on Netflix is amusing.

[Dark Soldier]

Realised I'd only seen the first season of Top Boy so watched it again, and the second season this weekend. Its class, if quite contrived. Some solid acting though and the whole road man shtick is awesome and cringe. Some proper fucked scenes in it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just watched the final episode of Wheel of Time season 2.

It was cracking. I actually liked the first season but this season has been a massive step up in class.

Really excited for the next one.

[Adramelch]

I finally got around to watching season 3 of The Witcher, and oh boy is it trash. It's not like the first two were amazing, but they were still a decent watch. This one is amateur levels of writing at certain points.

[-james-]

Actual JordInc. on Big Brother.

[Spikey M]

Wait, what?

[-james-]

Not really, but pretty much.

[Raoul Duke]

Just watched the final episode of Wheel of Time season 2.

It was cracking. I actually liked the first season but this season has been a massive step up in class.

Really excited for the next one.

Yeah, that was good. Outdoing GOT in some sense, I'd say

[Baz]

Actual JordInc. on Big Brother.

Which?

[Baz]

Oh never mind he’s just turned up. :D

[Lewis]

Steve Coogan is great as the older Jimmy Savile, but his old face and voice is too distracting as the younger model. Also the wider programme is a bit crap.

[Dark Soldier]

Top Boy rinsed.

I'd watched the first season on Channel 4, then dropped off for some reason.

It definitely goes a bit more 'Hollywood' with the three Netflix seasons and loses a little bit of that realness, but its a fantastic story from start to finish. Phenomenal performances (although I found Dave as Modie a bit too cartoonish). Proper cliffhangers. Real investment.

Enters my top 10 series of all time, easily. Doesn't touch that top 5 but its so so good. Major downside to me is Series 5 felt rushed a bit.

[Manc]

S1 is quintessential C4.

[Dark Soldier]

Yeah one and two stand out a little more as they feel like 'home' kinda stories. Netflix 3 through 5 ratchet it up to UK Wire levels. It still hits but it goes madly OTT at points.

[Lofty]

Steve Coogan is great as the older Jimmy Savile, but his old face and voice is too distracting as the younger model. Also the wider programme is a bit crap.

It is borderline partridge at points.

[Ben]

Yeah one and two stand out a little more as they feel like 'home' kinda stories. Netflix 3 through 5 ratchet it up to UK Wire levels. It still hits but it goes madly OTT at points.

I hate the Netflix style generally but Top Boy held up quite well despite it. Still doesn't reach the heights of the Channel 4 series, though.

Give us your top 10 then, I'm intrigued.

[Spikey M]

It's one of the rare Netflix series that hasn't been ruined by crowbaring in a dump-truck full of identity politics. I mean, it was there, but it actually felt like it fit the storyline.

aside from Jaq casually beating up a 6'+ geezer like she was peak Floyd Mayweather. That was up there with the fight scene in The Irishman in terms of ridiculousness.

[Dark Soldier]

I hate the Netflix style generally but Top Boy held up quite well despite it. Still doesn't reach the heights of the Channel 4 series, though.

Give us your top 10 then, I'm intrigued.

I have a set top 5 of

Better Call Saul
Breaking Bad
Succession
The Shield
The Sopranos

Then Black Mirror (some of it), The Wire,, Inside Number 9, Top Boy, Mr Inbetween.

Still got season 2 of The Bear to watch.

[Ben]

Your top 3 is the same as mine. Mr. Inbetween is great as well although I don't think it can touch the top.

[Spikey M]

MindHunter and Chernobyl are disgraceful omissions from that list.

[Dark Soldier]

MindHunter and Chernobyl are disgraceful omissions from that list.

Love them both but I use rewatchability as a measure of success . And I ain't ever rewatching those two despite being superb bits of television. True Detective Season 1 also.

Quarry had the potential to be an all timer before it got cancelled after one season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Big big fan of the Wes Anderson Roald Dahl efforts that have been dumped on Netflix. Would argue they are more TV than film due to short runtime.

[Kikó]

I'd bring in Ozark and Mad Men into my top ten.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck Wendy.

She brings Ozark down.

[Adramelch]

Yeah Ozark is a good shout. I also really loved the Americans and I reckon it's very rewatchable.

[Dark Soldier]

I'd bring in Ozark and Mad Men into my top ten.

Binged Mad Men with the ex as its her favourite show. Excellent writing, acting, but just not my vibe. Never watched Ozark beyond the first episode.

[phonics]

The sheer amount of Nu Metal always catches me off guard during a Shield rewatch.

[-james-]

Let's have your top 10 then DS

[Dark Soldier]

Let's have your top 10 then DS

Its a bit up the page mate.

[Adramelch]

What about your top 10 though?

[Lewis]

It is borderline partridge at points.

In the flashback scenes where he has a fringe/long hair he looks like Rachel Reeves.

[Baz]

Anyone else watching Big Brother? So far it’s been surprisingly excellent.

[Ben]

Seen two episodes (including the opener). Shite I think.

[-james-]

Yeah it's great. Farida will surely be the first gone.

[-james-]

Also lol at the mega producer meddling to keep Olivia in with that "task". I wouldn't last five minutes in a room with her.

[Baz]

Yeah it's great. Farida will surely be the first gone.
She’s a favourite at work cos her name sounds like The Reader, which is a lads local pub where women aren’t wanted. Unfortunately she’s absolutely dreadful.

Shame Hallie will be in for a while because of #transrights or whatever but she’s the only other deplorable one, really, for reasons unrelated to her pronouns.

[Lofty]

'Women aren't wanted' :D is that explicit or just implied? There was a working man's club in Barrow still banning women not too long ago but I think they may have finally given up that stance in the face of the law.

[Baz]

There was a ‘no women allowed’ sign up outside until at least 2017, if not later. Whether it was strictly adhered too, I couldn’t say.

[Waffdon]

She’s a favourite at work cos her name sounds like The Reader, which is a lads local pub where women aren’t wanted. Unfortunately she’s absolutely dreadful.

Shame Hallie will be in for a while because of #transrights or whatever but she’s the only other deplorable one, really, for reasons unrelated to her pronouns.

Hallie and Kerry are fucking tragic. Get them in the bin.

[Spikey M]

Bronze age of television.

[Baz]

Hallie and Kerry are fucking tragic. Get them in the bin.

Yeah Kerry elevated herself to insufferable levels yesterday, after previously being tolerable.

[Waffdon]

Yeah Kerry elevated herself to insufferable levels yesterday, after previously being tolerable.

Not a fan of the eviction announcements and stuff not being on the main show either.

[Spikey M]

Can you lot make a thread for this shite.

Actually, just use the wordle thread.

[Baz]

Not a fan of the eviction announcements and stuff not being on the main show either.Same. Made my wife turn whatever shit morning TV the kids had accidentally put on when it was showing spoilers of the eviction announcements. Then I watched last nights episode recording and it wasn't even on there. I'm not committing to the dreaded Aftersun equivalent, no chance.

[Yevrah]

Watched all of the Savile thing. Coogan gives a chilling performance and there was more of a point to it than I thought there'd be thanks to it being interspersed with interviews with four of his victims, but there's nothing new there and ultimately it does little more than serve as a reminder that this really shouldn't have happened.

[Manc]

The Detectives on the Beeb is fucking wild. Get it watched.

[Disco]

https://i.imgur.com/EdEX4Km.png

[Shindig]

I was thinking down that route as well.

[randomlegend]

The Detectives on the Beeb is fucking wild. Get it watched.

Yeah I watched the first episode last night, it's great.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just seen that they've announced that the upcoming season of Letterkenny will be its last :(

[Bernanke]

Shoresy S2 doesn't hold a candle to the first one either, shame.

[Ian]

Really enjoyed the second series of Wheel of Time, I think it was an improvement on the first in most ways and I'm not even grumpy about any of the changes really.

[Don]

Just finished a rewatch of Sopranos and barring some questionable production in the early seasons, it remains an incredible piece of work.

[phonics]

Watched the entirety of Wheel of Time in a weekend. Fantastic fantasy slop.

[SvN]

Just finished a rewatch of Sopranos and barring some questionable production in the early seasons, it remains an incredible piece of work.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QASo6eyc0IY/maxresdefault.jpg

[Bernanke]

Watched the entirety of Wheel of Time in a weekend. Fantastic fantasy slop.

What's your take on quality between S1 and S2 since you watched them in quick succession?

[Ian]

I think it might only be Mahow other than me who's read any of the Wheel of Time books, to those who've seen it and hadn't read any did you feel it managed to avoid not either doing tedious loredumps or failing to explain the right things? My feeling was that it balances that stuff quite well but that's me trying to judge it when I know more of the background shit so I'm curious about that.

[Raoul Duke]

Seemed pretty straightforwards to me (for fantasy gubbins) and I've not read the books. If you've seen LOTR/GoT then it's treading worn tracks in that regard

[Spikey M]

The Detectives on the Beeb is fucking wild. Get it watched.

Watching it now. It's pretty mad.

laughed my arse off when they casually found a ledger of all their drug transactions sitting in the shipping container with the drugs. School boy error. Encrypt your shit lads ffs.

[phonics]

What's your take on quality between S1 and S2 since you watched them in quick succession?

I thought they were both good. I'm not sure what the narrative is on quality of the seasons is so not sure how to react to the question.

On the subject of lore dumps I mean it's pretty easy to understand. There's goodies and baddies and goodies pretending to be baddies and some of them feel bad about being baddies so help the goodies.

[Manc]

Watching it now. It's pretty mad.

laughed my arse off when they casually found a ledger of all their drug transactions sitting in the shipping container with the drugs. School boy error. Encrypt your shit lads ffs.

Possibly the most slept on TV show of the year.

[phonics]

Blue Eye Samurai was fantastic.

[Baz]

Is Dopesick good?

[Spikey M]

Is Dopesick good?

Very.

[Ben]

Highly recommend.

[Manc]

Well worth watching The Pharmacist on a similar note.

[Baz]

Ehh sacked off plans to watch that and I’ve restarted Peep Show.

[Raoul Duke]

New Invincible has been good. Shame there's a big gap, I'm assuming due to the strikes?

Reacher series 2 coming in a few days and it's already been commissioned for a 3rd :cool:

[Alex]

Reacher was great, I didn't know season two was on the horizon. I'm well in for more of that. That lad was perfectly cast as him.

I finished the first (and so far only) season of Interview with the Vampire last night and thought it was mostly really good. I like how they have updated and adapted the story a little bit without losing what made the source material work.

[Spikey M]

World War II From The Frontlines is new on Netflix today and it's nothing groundbreaking, but the digitalisation of the old war footage is really good. It looks like it was filmed in the 90's.

[phonics]

It's nuts how good the old stuff can be upscaled. I used to get high and just watch the old Pathe News stuff of old Cup finals.

[Ian]

World War II From The Frontlines is new on Netflix today and it's nothing groundbreaking, but the digitalisation of the old war footage is really good. It looks like it was filmed in the 90's.

That's a new conspiracy theory sorted.

[Baz]

Convince me to watch You, plz

[Bernanke]

It can give you a lot of useful tools to use when interacting with your colleague.

[Lofty]

It's good the first few series but really pushes the suspension of disbelief of an already fanciful concept too far by the end.

[Waffdon]

Convince me to watch You, plz
She’s definitely told you it’s her favourite show.

[Lofty]

Squid Game Reality TV show was gokd and they are casting a new series.

[Baz]

One episode of You down and it does not seem good. Can’t be arsed with this man’s opinionated arsehole American personality. And it seems very far fetched, like Lofty said.

[Lofty]

He's a dick but the show knows it, once it gets going it does have a nice Prison Break style 'how is he going to get out of this one' rhythm going for a while.

[Manc]

A true master of disguise in his baseball cap.

[Spikey M]

I've not seen it, but until now the only people I've heard talking about it have been women aged 25 - 40.

[Lofty]

That is how I was exposed to it.

[Ben]

Aka Baz’s side bit.

[Baz]

I shall not be watching it. Back to Peep Show. I think it was especially jarring that I watched two episodes of Peep Show (with Gog and Darrel) before it, which has a similar internal-monologue style, but one is laugh out loud British commentary and one is an American wanker.

Also I do not have a side bit. :dc:

[Waffdon]

But you want one.

[Baz]

Nah

[phonics]

I know its pathetic to be annoyed by it but this sort of stuff in American TV always pisses me off.

https://i.imgur.com/4adSYnP.png

[Pepe]

What am I looking for here?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Charlton and West Ham fan...

[Raoul Duke]

Reacher is back :cool:

[Manc]

Truly incredible that they handed the film role to Cruise.

[Baz]

I’ve started The Detectorists

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Enjoy, it's brilliant.

[Baz]

Enjoy, it's brilliant.It does seem it.

I was worried it would have “Back” vibes which I enjoyed purely for the fact it’s Mitchell and Webb, but this actually seems laugh out loud funny quite regularly.

Something is very off, but I won’t comment until I’m a few more episodes in.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Toby Jones is great in it.