Good TV Shows

[Banquo]

The Bear wins 4 Emmys for comedy?? Bizarre.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radi ... y-reindeer

also odd that Baby Reindeer went big, given the controversy (though I didn't see the end game of that)

Hard to predict how Baby Raindeer was going to go down with audiences - shocking stuff but it could have been too shocking/grimly confessional.

Mrs b thought it brilliant....but I was referring to the stalker being identified and then crying foul, loudly

[Son of Mathonwy]

also odd that Baby Reindeer went big, given the controversy (though I didn't see the end game of that)

Hard to predict how Baby Raindeer was going to go down with audiences - shocking stuff but it could have been too shocking/grimly confessional.

Mrs b thought it brilliant....but I was referring to the stalker being identified and then crying foul, loudly

Ah right, yeah, I wasn't really following that story.

[Which Tyler]

At the risk of rekindling the "is it right to boycott a cast/crew of hundreds because of the actions of one man?" debate...

[Son of Mathonwy]

At the risk of rekindling the "is it right to boycott a cast/crew of hundreds because of the actions of one man?" debate...
youtu.be/UVomO7U5emc?si=4sE5GrkygHuHIMhE

I'll be watching. They did a decent job of adapting one of the best 90s comics in season 1, so I'm still on board, ignoring Gaiman the man.

[Which Tyler]

https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/ki ... first-look

[Mikey Brown]

Colin from Accounts is really good, and actually funny unlike most things that would be labelled a rom-com. Like an Australian version of Catastrophe.

[Banquo]

Colin from Accounts is really good, and actually funny unlike most things that would be labelled a rom-com. Like an Australian version of Catastrophe.

First series was great, have you watched the second as well?

[Banquo]

Day of the Jackal is mostly good. The UK scenes are pretty shonky tho.

[Mikey Brown]

Colin from Accounts is really good, and actually funny unlike most things that would be labelled a rom-com. Like an Australian version of Catastrophe.

First series was great, have you watched the second as well?

Yeah, I think it's fair to say it's not as good as season 1, but that's largely a couple of duff episodes in the middle. Still one of the best half hour comedies I've seen for ages. If you enjoyed some of the cringing moments from series 1 there are a good few of those in store.

[Banquo]

Colin from Accounts is really good, and actually funny unlike most things that would be labelled a rom-com. Like an Australian version of Catastrophe.

First series was great, have you watched the second as well?

Yeah, I think it's fair to say it's not as good as season 1, but that's largely a couple of duff episodes in the middle. Still one of the best half hour comedies I've seen for ages. If you enjoyed some of the cringing moments from series 1 there are a good few of those in store.

Good stuff cheers!!

[Mikey Brown]

Just watched Severance and I’ll have to reevaluate The Bear as being the most obnoxious TV show I’ve ever seen. In addition to the terrible writing and self-aggrandising production style that it shares, this is also mind numbingly boring.

If you cut out all the forced dramatic pauses the series would be about 7 minutes long, and it would be far better for it. Much like the Substance actually, it said everything it had to say in the first 10% of the runtime.

The cast is incredible, and there are moments you feel these fantastic actors might be able to break free of the horrific script and direction, but the performances are so stilted and the lack of chemistry between key characters is painful. No amount of dramatic music can change that.

I haven’t got a clue how anyone felt the slightest bit of attachment to any of these characters or their motivations, which seemed to turn on a dime.

The Bear was at least fun, even though it was total shit, whereas this show is mostly just people whispering and wandering up and down the same empty corridors. There are some good ideas buried amongst all the shit, but that only makes it more frustrating to watch.

They did a reasonable job of at least tying up the season arc, then realised that meant the show would be over and simply have the main characters do a literal u-turn in order to allow for a season 3.

Absolutely fucking hated this. Awful, awful show.

[Donny osmond]

Just watched Severance and I’ll have to reevaluate The Bear as being the most obnoxious TV show I’ve ever seen. In addition to the terrible writing and self-aggrandising production style that it shares, this is also mind numbingly boring.

If you cut out all the forced dramatic pauses the series would be about 7 minutes long, and it would be far better for it. Much like the Substance actually, it said everything it had to say in the first 10% of the runtime.

The cast is incredible, and there are moments you feel these fantastic actors might be able to break free of the horrific script and direction, but the performances are so stilted and the lack of chemistry between key characters is painful. No amount of dramatic music can change that.

I haven’t got a clue how anyone felt the slightest bit of attachment to any of these characters or their motivations, which seemed to turn on a dime.

The Bear was at least fun, even though it was total shit, whereas this show is mostly just people whispering and wandering up and down the same empty corridors. There are some good ideas buried amongst all the shit, but that only makes it more frustrating to watch.

They did a reasonable job of at least tying up the season arc, then realised that meant the show would be over and simply have the main characters do a literal u-turn in order to allow for a season 3.

Absolutely fucking hated this. Awful, awful show.

Nailed it.

[Donny osmond]

Been watching Yellowstone.

Strangely watchable despite being ludicrous/largely shit.

Zero sympathy or empathy for any character, and I would quite like to see them all fucked off their ranch, not that any of their enemies deserve a positive outcome either.

The storylines seem to be little more than "let's introduce a 'baddie', have them mince around for a couple of episodes, then murder them."

The characters are as shallow and one dimensional as it gets, and what plot does run between episodes is incoherent at best.

It's unclear if America's relationship with Native Americans is supposed to be a central theme or not; the show feels like it can't make it's mind up what to do or say about Native Americans so they just sort of bumble along as both main characters and NPCs.

On the flip side, the acting is good very much despite the quality of the writing, and it has to be said, Montana looks breathtakingly beautiful.

[Mikey Brown]

Fortunately White Lotus appears to be back to the glorious highs of the first season, even though I did love the second too. Half way in but it’s fantastic so far.

Maybe it’s just following the dirge of Severance but I think this is about as good as modern tv gets.

[paddy no 11]

Been watching Yellowstone.

Strangely watchable despite being ludicrous/largely shit.

Zero sympathy or empathy for any character, and I would quite like to see them all fucked off their ranch, not that any of their enemies deserve a positive outcome either.

The storylines seem to be little more than "let's introduce a 'baddie', have them mince around for a couple of episodes, then murder them."

The characters are as shallow and one dimensional as it gets, and what plot does run between episodes is incoherent at best.

It's unclear if America's relationship with Native Americans is supposed to be a central theme or not; the show feels like it can't make it's mind up what to do or say about Native Americans so they just sort of bumble along as both main characters and NPCs.

On the flip side, the acting is good very much despite the quality of the writing, and it has to be said, Montana looks breathtakingly beautiful.

Not sure how far into season 1 we got (6 episodes maybe) But the above is very accurate from what we saw

I'd say landman is a better series for the same type of thing

[Banquo]

Fortunately White Lotus appears to be back to the glorious highs of the first season, even though I did love the second too. Half way in but it’s fantastic so far.

Maybe it’s just following the dirge of Severance but I think this is about as good as modern tv gets.

Loved one and two, but struggled with this, mainly because of so many unlikeable characters and the sterotypical protrayal of Thais and Thailand. Got better in the last two episodes, so you have that to come!

[Sandydragon]

Fortunately White Lotus appears to be back to the glorious highs of the first season, even though I did love the second too. Half way in but it’s fantastic so far.

Maybe it’s just following the dirge of Severance but I think this is about as good as modern tv gets.

What is with the hype around Severance. It’s just tedious.

[Mikey Brown]

Fortunately White Lotus appears to be back to the glorious highs of the first season, even though I did love the second too. Half way in but it’s fantastic so far.

Maybe it’s just following the dirge of Severance but I think this is about as good as modern tv gets.

What is with the hype around Severance. It’s just tedious.

I guess it’s sort of latched on to this theme of unease in the workplace and hyper-capitalism at a fortunate moment or something, but it really has been flogging a dead horse since about episode 3.

The ultra-flashy production seems to grab people too I guess, but overall it’s baffling what a big hit this has been.

[Which Tyler]

Is it safe to mention Wheel of Time again here yet?

Yes, the first season was poor, dire once COVID hit, but the second was better, despite COVID issues. Season 3 though, is properly good TV

[Sandydragon]

Is it safe to mention Wheel of Time again here yet?

Yes, the first season was poor, dire once COVID hit, but the second was better, despite COVID issues. Season 3 though, is properly good TV

That’s on my list to watch. I gave up on Rings of Power which lost me mid way through the last season. I have higher hopes for wheel of time

[Mikey Brown]

Fortunately White Lotus appears to be back to the glorious highs of the first season, even though I did love the second too. Half way in but it’s fantastic so far.

Maybe it’s just following the dirge of Severance but I think this is about as good as modern tv gets.

Loved one and two, but struggled with this, mainly because of so many unlikeable characters and the sterotypical protrayal of Thais and Thailand. Got better in the last two episodes, so you have that to come!

Strange.

► Show Spoiler

Just finished it And had the complete opposite experience. I thought it was fantastic up until the final 2 episodes. The dramatic familial revelations, resurrections and shootouts felt completely unnecessary to me.

I still thought it was great overall but the ending was quite a let down I felt. The cast were pretty much entirely fantastic.

I’m curious what you disliked about the representation of Thai people/culture?

[Banquo]

Fortunately White Lotus appears to be back to the glorious highs of the first season, even though I did love the second too. Half way in but it’s fantastic so far.

Maybe it’s just following the dirge of Severance but I think this is about as good as modern tv gets.

Loved one and two, but struggled with this, mainly because of so many unlikeable characters and the sterotypical protrayal of Thais and Thailand. Got better in the last two episodes, so you have that to come!

Strange.

► Show Spoiler

Just finished it And had the complete opposite experience. I thought it was fantastic up until the final 2 episodes. The dramatic familial revelations, resurrections and shootouts felt completely unnecessary to me.

I still thought it was great overall but the ending was quite a let down I felt. The cast were pretty much entirely fantastic.

I’m curious what you disliked about the representation of Thai people/culture?

Not strange, just have different tastes. I thought the whole thing underwhelming, but enjoyed it a bit more when the pace picked up. I do tend to agree with your view on the wrap up tho.

The acting was superb, I agree, I just didn't like many of the characters. Not sure how to do the spoiler thing tbh

[Banquo]

► Show Spoiler

worked it out . I thought the Mook character was the classic stereotype of thai woman being defined by the success of her 'man' ie only interested in Gaitok if he was going to progress in life; the portrayal of Bangkok could have been from a comic book, as could the comedy russians/ The three women party from the states were awful imo and their ending utterly mad. So the pacing for me was too slow at the start, and the ending rubbish. But I enjoyed the last two more than the rest, but its relative

[Mikey Brown]

► Show Spoiler

worked it out . I thought the Mook character was the classic stereotype of thai woman being defined by the success of her 'man' ie only interested in Gaitok if he was going to progress in life; the portrayal of Bangkok could have been from a comic book, as could the comedy russians/ The three women party from the states were awful imo and their ending utterly mad. So the pacing for me was too slow at the start, and the ending rubbish. But I enjoyed the last two more than the rest, but its relative

Fair enough.

► Show Spoiler

I thought Mook made sense as a contrast to most of the other women we met, and the general Buddhist/pacifist element, but was really there to challenge Gaitok yet we didn’t get to see any of the repercussions of his choices in the end. That was why it fell down for me. It all felt rushed.

Bangkok was obviously absurd, but we only really saw it through the lens of Sam Rockwell’s character, who was obviously a caricature himself but not based on nothing. It would be interesting to see more of the ‘real’ world, but I suppose this show is about entitled westerners more than anything.

Funny too - I absolutely loved the girls and thought the dynamic of their friendship was played beautifully, but again had little payoff and they (along with Zion) seemed to have no reaction at all to seeing a murder/body right in front of them. There were so many moments like that in the last couple of episodes.

Anyway. I won’t list all the weird potholes that threw me off. It was fun overall. I hadn’t been too fond of 2 either until talking to someone else that had viewed it all completely differently.

[Banquo]

► Show Spoiler

worked it out . I thought the Mook character was the classic stereotype of thai woman being defined by the success of her 'man' ie only interested in Gaitok if he was going to progress in life; the portrayal of Bangkok could have been from a comic book, as could the comedy russians/ The three women party from the states were awful imo and their ending utterly mad. So the pacing for me was too slow at the start, and the ending rubbish. But I enjoyed the last two more than the rest, but its relative

Fair enough.

► Show Spoiler

I thought Mook made sense as a contrast to most of the other women we met, and the general Buddhist/pacifist element, but was really there to challenge Gaitok yet we didn’t get to see any of the repercussions of his choices in the end. That was why it fell down for me. It all felt rushed.

Bangkok was obviously absurd, but we only really saw it through the lens of Sam Rockwell’s character, who was obviously a caricature himself but not based on nothing. It would be interesting to see more of the ‘real’ world, but I suppose this show is about entitled westerners more than anything.

Funny too - I absolutely loved the girls and thought the dynamic of their friendship was played beautifully, but again had little payoff and they (along with Zion) seemed to have no reaction at all to seeing a murder/body right in front of them. There were so many moments like that in the last couple of episodes.

Anyway. I won’t list all the weird potholes that threw me off. It was fun overall. I hadn’t been too fond of 2 either until talking to someone else that had viewed it all completely differently.

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