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Post by Slinger on Dec 27, 2018 17:11:50 GMT
Saw the first episode of the Xmas Poirot - unrelentingly dark as I expected. A bit too much for me. I can understand them wanting to move it on from the David Suchet depiction but I don't think they've got it quite right yet. Interesting casting of John Malkovich as the ageing Poirot, not sure what I think about that yet ... I was quite surprised that Malkovich never actually said " I will say this only once," during the course of episode one as his accent wandered from "passable" to "comedy-Frenchman" and back again several times over the course of the hour. I think I get what they're trying to do with Poirot, and they're partially successful (which is only my personal opinion, obviously) but don't quite pull it off. They seem to be aiming for pathos but are too often hitting bathos instead. Perhaps the Suchet reading of the character is too deeply ingrained within me, and perhaps I should revisit the books themselves. However, that's not going to happen before tonight's episode so I'll just have to make do. It really could do with one of Hastings' "Good Lord"'s to lighten the mood a little, or some kind words from Miss Lemon, though.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 27, 2018 19:37:38 GMT
I saw Ascension when it was first on. Won't comment so as to not spoil it.
The nuclear bombs against a large heatshield as a method of propelling a ship idea I think I first read in a Larry Niven novel?
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 27, 2018 20:12:36 GMT
I've seen enough with Episode 1. The killer was the end
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Post by MartinT on Dec 27, 2018 23:53:26 GMT
I've just finished Travelers S3 and that's probably it for the show, although there is a way for it to continue if the writers are very clever. I won't say anything else for fear of spoilers. What I will say is that it has been consistently excellent, a real pleasure to watch and necessarily well acted since the emphasis has always been on characterisation and not special effects. This is time travel done with class.
If you haven't seen Travelers, give S1 E1 a go. You probably won't be disappointed. If you are, you'll probably be overwritten.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 28, 2018 10:39:58 GMT
One day I will look to find Travellers available on Freeview or Amazon which we already have......
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Post by MartinT on Dec 28, 2018 10:44:56 GMT
It's currently on Netflix, Mike. Don't know where it might end up.
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Post by Slinger on Dec 30, 2018 18:11:26 GMT
Finished watching Poirot The ABC Murders earlier. Too much angst, not enough "leetle grey cells."
More Agatha tonight - 21:00 on 5USA is "Crooked House" with Gillian Anderson and Glenn Close. I shall record it I think.
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Post by Slinger on Jan 2, 2019 13:14:35 GMT
The first episode of Luther (Series 5) was bloody brilliant. I started to watch it last night but got distracted, and as it was already recording I decided to call a halt and watch with fresh eyes today. That was a Hell of a good decision. Extremely dark. Psycho-sexual nutter on the loose. Hermione Norris. Old adversaries. New adversaries. Cracking "you-now-have-to-watch-episode-2" ending to episode 1. It had everything you would expect and could want, from a new Luther. Miss it, and you've really started the new year the wrong way. Just my opinion, obviously, but I'm right.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 14:38:03 GMT
The first episode of Luther (Series 5) was bloody brilliant. I started to watch it last night but got distracted, and as it was already recording I decided to call a halt and watch with fresh eyes today. That was a Hell of a good decision. Extremely dark. Psycho-sexual nutter on the loose. Hermione Norris. Old adversaries. New adversaries. Cracking "you-now-have-to-watch-episode-2" ending to episode 1. It had everything you would expect and could want, from a new Luther. Miss it, and you've really started the new year the wrong way. Just my opinion, obviously, but I'm right. Couldn't agree with you more, Paul. Absolutely excellent opening episode.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 7, 2019 21:58:33 GMT
I've started watching Pine Gap, about a listening station near Alice Springs in Australia and the people who work there. Interestingly different, and features spectacular scenery as well as good character development.
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Post by Slinger on Jan 8, 2019 15:43:15 GMT
I've just watched episode one of "Manhunt," starring Martin Clunes. It's based on the true story of how serial killer Levi Bellfield was apprehended. Among his victims, you may remember, was 13-year-old Milly Dowler It's an excellent bit of British telly so far. (I'm watching episode 2/3 as I'm writing this, episode 3 is tonight, Tuesday 08-01-19) I have to say I was dubious, mostly because I'm not a huge "Martin-Clunes-as-a-dramatic-actor" fan, but he strikes just the right note for me, this time. Definitely recommended.
It reminds me a little of "Code of a Killer," which was also based on a true story. It told the tale of Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its introductory use by Detective David Baker in catching the double murderer Colin Pitchfork. If you missed it then try to catch it - David Threlfall and John Simm starred.
Both stories start with us knowing the final outcomes so they need to be good to hold our attention. Code of a Killer was good, Manhunt is good.
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 8, 2019 17:15:35 GMT
I'm on the second series of Black Lake on BBC Four.
The first series, silly as it was, I found rather entertaining and certainly had some creepy moments and lots of stunning landscapes.
They are trying something totally different with series 2 - no more 'jump scares' and instead are trying to be a bit more subtle. The problem is that it's very slow, and what little 'tension' there is doesn't really sustain ... It also doesn't help that most of the characters are totally unlikeable!
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Post by MikeMusic on Jan 11, 2019 20:05:28 GMT
Trolling through the offerings on Amazon while listening to music. To keep the boss happy and things I can bear to watch.
Angel ! Had a look. Don't remember any of it ! Saw the date
1999
oooh, no wonder
20 years
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 11, 2019 20:08:59 GMT
Marie is hooked on Travellers. 2nd series here we come ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by Slinger on Jan 11, 2019 20:54:36 GMT
I've started watching Pine Gap, about a listening station near Alice Springs in Australia and the people who work there. Interestingly different, and features spectacular scenery as well as good character development. Stephen King's a fan, too.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 13, 2019 21:48:56 GMT
Ruth and I thought we'd try the new Netflix drama You. It's complete shite with not a single convincing character in it. Written to entertain the social media youth. We turned it off after 15 mins.
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 13, 2019 22:47:47 GMT
We started the new series of Vikings.
Had the feeling it had a spun its course, but still find it worth watching.
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Post by Slinger on Jan 13, 2019 23:57:26 GMT
Just reiterating and confirming a couple of earlier posts - Luther, Series 5, and "Manhunt," starring Martin Clunes - I thought that 2019 had peaked already with these two but I've just read that there's going to be a fourth series of 'Unforgotten' later this year too. British TV is alive, well, and can still be brilliant.
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Post by native on Jan 15, 2019 17:40:46 GMT
I have started watching Escape At Dannemora on Sky Atlantic. Three episodes in, and although it feels a bit like a remake of The Shawshank Redemption, it is very good. I tend to like anything with Benicio del Toro, and Patricia Arquette plays an astonishing character. Directed by a certain Ben Stiller.
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 21, 2019 0:08:12 GMT
Just started a Norwegian series called Elven (The River) on Channel 4 catch up. Pretty tense and dark opener, the only thing I didn't like is the murky SD picture - so much detail missing ...
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