RugbyRebels

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 5:10 pmKin. Kin good.

Yeah, I enjoyed that too, for anyone who hasn't seen Dopesick which was originally on Disney it's now on BBC iPlayer, it's very good.

Numbers wrote: ↑Fri May 17, 2024 11:40 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 5:10 pmKin. Kin good.

Yeah, I enjoyed that too, for anyone who hasn't seen Dopesick which was originally on Disney it's now on BBC iPlayer, it's very good.

Yes, I hadn't seen Dopesick before - really good TV.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2024 10:13 am New season of Doctor Who. It's really not good. Space Babies is about as good as the title suggests, and seemed to be aimed at 8 year olds. It really isn't worth analysing. The Devil's Chord was better but was just a story about magic - anything could happen - and in the end seemed to be about who could ham it up the most. And the Doctor and Ruby - I'm not blaming the actors here but, Jesus if they could stop bigging themselves and each other up for a moment we might get a story.

Third episode - Boom. There was some reason to think this might be good - it's the first story written by Steven Moffat since 2017. Unfortunately, there's no sign that he spent much of the last 7 years thinking of this one. It has to be his worst. There's an okay idea in there and some nice lines, but everything else, almost everything that actually happens in the story is simply stupid. And this narcissistic new Doctor is starting to irritate. Despite this it's probably the best episode so far, or should I say, the least bad.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2024 5:48 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2024 10:13 am New season of Doctor Who. It's really not good. Space Babies is about as good as the title suggests, and seemed to be aimed at 8 year olds. It really isn't worth analysing. The Devil's Chord was better but was just a story about magic - anything could happen - and in the end seemed to be about who could ham it up the most. And the Doctor and Ruby - I'm not blaming the actors here but, Jesus if they could stop bigging themselves and each other up for a moment we might get a story.

Third episode - Boom. There was some reason to think this might be good - it's the first story written by Steven Moffat since 2017. Unfortunately, there's no sign that he spent much of the last 7 years thinking of this one. It has to be his worst. There's an okay idea in there and some nice lines, but everything else, almost everything that actually happens in the story is simply stupid. And this narcissistic new Doctor is starting to irritate. Despite this it's probably the best episode so far, or should I say, the least bad.

73 yards was also extraordinarily average - I hate stories where literally everything is undone at the end and not a single person remembers. What was the point of me watching if none of it mattered or even happened and there has been no effect on anyone whatsoever? The annoying thing is that there was almost a good episode in there and that's been the same with all of the first four - there's good ideas without ever coming together into a good episode.

However the latest one, Dot and Bubble, is excellent. Could eaily have been a clunky allegory with the subtlety of a brick through a window, but I thought it was very much back to the quality that we were expecting of RTD. I did enjoy the reveal at the end, which I did not pick up on the clues for at all.
Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Jun 03, 2024 9:24 am

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2024 5:48 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2024 10:13 am New season of Doctor Who. It's really not good. Space Babies is about as good as the title suggests, and seemed to be aimed at 8 year olds. It really isn't worth analysing. The Devil's Chord was better but was just a story about magic - anything could happen - and in the end seemed to be about who could ham it up the most. And the Doctor and Ruby - I'm not blaming the actors here but, Jesus if they could stop bigging themselves and each other up for a moment we might get a story.

Third episode - Boom. There was some reason to think this might be good - it's the first story written by Steven Moffat since 2017. Unfortunately, there's no sign that he spent much of the last 7 years thinking of this one. It has to be his worst. There's an okay idea in there and some nice lines, but everything else, almost everything that actually happens in the story is simply stupid. And this narcissistic new Doctor is starting to irritate. Despite this it's probably the best episode so far, or should I say, the least bad.

73 yards was also extraordinarily average - I hate stories where literally everything is undone at the end and not a single person remembers. What was the point of me watching if none of it mattered or even happened and there has been no effect on anyone whatsoever? The annoying thing is that there was almost a good episode in there and that's been the same with all of the first four - there's good ideas without ever coming together into a good episode.

However the latest one, Dot and Bubble, is excellent. Could eaily have been a clunky allegory with the subtlety of a brick through a window, but I thought it was very much back to the quality that we were expecting of RTD. I did enjoy the reveal at the end, which I did not pick up on the clues for at all.

► Show Spoiler

It was a very interesting choice to have the Doctor's first on-screen experience of racism come from the future, not the past, which I think is what almost everyone was expecting, and not having it be the focal point of the whole episode, but the ending which makes a lot of sense in context. It was also perfectly delivered - not hatred or anger, but just completely internalised disdain. I shudder to think of what Chris Chibnall would've done if given the same brief - probably had the Greek chorus of cardboard companions loudly narrating each microaggression and social allegory as it happened and making the Doctor have an earnest conversation with the wall/Graham afterwards.

Puja

73 Yards had a good atmosphere and some nice ideas (if not exactly original), but was ruined by the end which didn't even attempt to explain anything in the story. And it was not just ambiguous - it didn't make sense - there was no explanation which would have tied it all together. Although some have said that was deliberate I think it's more likely that RTD didn't have a great explanation either, so simply left it that way. I get that it was a *magic* story but you can't just say *magic* whenever something doesn't make sense.

Agreed, Dot and Bubble is the best so far, in fact is the only good episode so far. I wouldn't go as far as calling it excellent but it was good.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 3:14 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Jun 03, 2024 9:24 am

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sun May 19, 2024 5:48 pm
Third episode - Boom. There was some reason to think this might be good - it's the first story written by Steven Moffat since 2017. Unfortunately, there's no sign that he spent much of the last 7 years thinking of this one. It has to be his worst. There's an okay idea in there and some nice lines, but everything else, almost everything that actually happens in the story is simply stupid. And this narcissistic new Doctor is starting to irritate. Despite this it's probably the best episode so far, or should I say, the least bad.

73 yards was also extraordinarily average - I hate stories where literally everything is undone at the end and not a single person remembers. What was the point of me watching if none of it mattered or even happened and there has been no effect on anyone whatsoever? The annoying thing is that there was almost a good episode in there and that's been the same with all of the first four - there's good ideas without ever coming together into a good episode.

However the latest one, Dot and Bubble, is excellent. Could eaily have been a clunky allegory with the subtlety of a brick through a window, but I thought it was very much back to the quality that we were expecting of RTD. I did enjoy the reveal at the end, which I did not pick up on the clues for at all.

► Show Spoiler

It was a very interesting choice to have the Doctor's first on-screen experience of racism come from the future, not the past, which I think is what almost everyone was expecting, and not having it be the focal point of the whole episode, but the ending which makes a lot of sense in context. It was also perfectly delivered - not hatred or anger, but just completely internalised disdain. I shudder to think of what Chris Chibnall would've done if given the same brief - probably had the Greek chorus of cardboard companions loudly narrating each microaggression and social allegory as it happened and making the Doctor have an earnest conversation with the wall/Graham afterwards.

Puja

73 Yards had a good atmosphere and some nice ideas (if not exactly original), but was ruined by the end which didn't even attempt to explain anything in the story. And it was not just ambiguous - it didn't make sense - there was no explanation which would have tied it all together. Although some have said that was deliberate I think it's more likely that RTD didn't have a great explanation either, so simply left it that way. I get that it was a *magic* story but you can't just say *magic* whenever something doesn't make sense.

Agreed, Dot and Bubble is the best so far, in fact is the only good episode so far. I wouldn't go as far as calling it excellent but it was good.

► Show Spoiler

The basic idea was a good one, and broadly speaking held together, even if the whole thing was painful on the eye and having follow the cretinous Lindy around was not a joy. Although it made the episode a bit different, it didn't make sense that the Doctor and Ruby couldn't get into the city to help. Killing, very slowly, in alphabetical order didn't make sense, nor did engineering slug creatures to do it if the dots themselves could have killed their owners and had the whole thing wrapped up in 1 minute. The rascist twist at the end was an interesting surprise but for me it kind of made it easy to hate the finetimers when they might otherwise have been a more rounded bunch of characters. Also, if the Doctor was so desperate to save them he would have given up on Lindy (who was hardly their spokesperson anyway) and addressed the rest of them.

Yeah, 73 Yards really did feel like someone had a couple of really cool ideas and didn't get enough time workshopping to turn it into an actual cohesive story.
Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 4:11 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 3:14 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Jun 03, 2024 9:24 am

73 yards was also extraordinarily average - I hate stories where literally everything is undone at the end and not a single person remembers. What was the point of me watching if none of it mattered or even happened and there has been no effect on anyone whatsoever? The annoying thing is that there was almost a good episode in there and that's been the same with all of the first four - there's good ideas without ever coming together into a good episode.

However the latest one, Dot and Bubble, is excellent. Could eaily have been a clunky allegory with the subtlety of a brick through a window, but I thought it was very much back to the quality that we were expecting of RTD. I did enjoy the reveal at the end, which I did not pick up on the clues for at all.

► Show Spoiler

It was a very interesting choice to have the Doctor's first on-screen experience of racism come from the future, not the past, which I think is what almost everyone was expecting, and not having it be the focal point of the whole episode, but the ending which makes a lot of sense in context. It was also perfectly delivered - not hatred or anger, but just completely internalised disdain. I shudder to think of what Chris Chibnall would've done if given the same brief - probably had the Greek chorus of cardboard companions loudly narrating each microaggression and social allegory as it happened and making the Doctor have an earnest conversation with the wall/Graham afterwards.

Puja

73 Yards had a good atmosphere and some nice ideas (if not exactly original), but was ruined by the end which didn't even attempt to explain anything in the story. And it was not just ambiguous - it didn't make sense - there was no explanation which would have tied it all together. Although some have said that was deliberate I think it's more likely that RTD didn't have a great explanation either, so simply left it that way. I get that it was a *magic* story but you can't just say *magic* whenever something doesn't make sense.

Agreed, Dot and Bubble is the best so far, in fact is the only good episode so far. I wouldn't go as far as calling it excellent but it was good.

► Show Spoiler

The basic idea was a good one, and broadly speaking held together, even if the whole thing was painful on the eye and having follow the cretinous Lindy around was not a joy. Although it made the episode a bit different, it didn't make sense that the Doctor and Ruby couldn't get into the city to help. Killing, very slowly, in alphabetical order didn't make sense, nor did engineering slug creatures to do it if the dots themselves could have killed their owners and had the whole thing wrapped up in 1 minute. The rascist twist at the end was an interesting surprise but for me it kind of made it easy to hate the finetimers when they might otherwise have been a more rounded bunch of characters. Also, if the Doctor was so desperate to save them he would have given up on Lindy (who was hardly their spokesperson anyway) and addressed the rest of them.

Yeah, 73 Yards really did feel like someone had a couple of really cool ideas and didn't get enough time workshopping to turn it into an actual cohesive story.

► Show Spoiler

I'm willing to handwave the slug creatures on the basis that the dots were supposed to be sentient and sentient creatures aren't usually thrilled about the idea of using their physical bodies as blunt force projectile weapons - massively increases the chance of getting damaged. Far better to kill everyone slow and steady - none of their victims would even have known if it wasn't for The Doctor's intervention/Ricky September switching off regularly. The alphabetical order thing? We'll call that, "They're computers so it makes sense because reasons."

Lindy was a powerful influencer in their society though - that was why they communicated with her in the first place. She could be understood as representative, plus the guy who did nominate himself leader of the "Pioneers" escaping Finetime dismissed The Doctor's last bout of begging with, "Turn away ladies, before you're contaminated," so I don't blame 15 for not feeling that continuing would get him anywhere.

Puja

Yeah, 73 yards could have done with a script editor. Being written by the producer means quality control may be lacking. RTD has perhaps taken on too much, writing 6 of 8 episodes.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 4:31 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 4:11 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 3:14 pm
73 Yards had a good atmosphere and some nice ideas (if not exactly original), but was ruined by the end which didn't even attempt to explain anything in the story. And it was not just ambiguous - it didn't make sense - there was no explanation which would have tied it all together. Although some have said that was deliberate I think it's more likely that RTD didn't have a great explanation either, so simply left it that way. I get that it was a *magic* story but you can't just say *magic* whenever something doesn't make sense.

Agreed, Dot and Bubble is the best so far, in fact is the only good episode so far. I wouldn't go as far as calling it excellent but it was good.

► Show Spoiler

The basic idea was a good one, and broadly speaking held together, even if the whole thing was painful on the eye and having follow the cretinous Lindy around was not a joy. Although it made the episode a bit different, it didn't make sense that the Doctor and Ruby couldn't get into the city to help. Killing, very slowly, in alphabetical order didn't make sense, nor did engineering slug creatures to do it if the dots themselves could have killed their owners and had the whole thing wrapped up in 1 minute. The rascist twist at the end was an interesting surprise but for me it kind of made it easy to hate the finetimers when they might otherwise have been a more rounded bunch of characters. Also, if the Doctor was so desperate to save them he would have given up on Lindy (who was hardly their spokesperson anyway) and addressed the rest of them.

Yeah, 73 Yards really did feel like someone had a couple of really cool ideas and didn't get enough time workshopping to turn it into an actual cohesive story.

► Show Spoiler

I'm willing to handwave the slug creatures on the basis that the dots were supposed to be sentient and sentient creatures aren't usually thrilled about the idea of using their physical bodies as blunt force projectile weapons - massively increases the chance of getting damaged. Far better to kill everyone slow and steady - none of their victims would even have known if it wasn't for The Doctor's intervention/Ricky September switching off regularly. The alphabetical order thing? We'll call that, "They're computers so it makes sense because reasons."

Lindy was a powerful influencer in their society though - that was why they communicated with her in the first place. She could be understood as representative, plus the guy who did nominate himself leader of the "Pioneers" escaping Finetime dismissed The Doctor's last bout of begging with, "Turn away ladies, before you're contaminated," so I don't blame 15 for not feeling that continuing would get him anywhere.

Puja

Yeah, 73 yards could have done with a script editor. Being written by the producer means quality control may be lacking. RTD has perhaps taken on too much, writing 6 of 8 episodes.

► Show Spoiler

if the Doctor wanted an influencer, he should have gone to Ricky, surely? Lindy seemed to be Ms Average, not a big influencer to me.

Genetically engineering a new life form to do the killing been all they had to do was make a slightly more spiky dot seemed a strange way to go.

But . . . details, details, at least the overall story basically worked.

The latest episode, Rogue, was not great. It seemed to be one third 'ooh, it's like Bridgerton', one third fan fiction of what would happen if the Doctor pulled Jack Harkness, and one third dismal, unoriginal, shape-changing alien threat.

Production values were very good, acting good, but that's about it.

Jeezus. The Doctor's main goal for the first 20 minutes is how to get off with the charming man he finds, before beginning to think about taking some urgent action to save lives (too late for some). I get that each Doctor has his or her or their own personality but they are broadly the same person. This doesn't seem right.

The Brothers Sun on Netflix is great viewing.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 11:08 pm

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 4:31 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2024 4:11 pm

Yeah, 73 Yards really did feel like someone had a couple of really cool ideas and didn't get enough time workshopping to turn it into an actual cohesive story.

► Show Spoiler

I'm willing to handwave the slug creatures on the basis that the dots were supposed to be sentient and sentient creatures aren't usually thrilled about the idea of using their physical bodies as blunt force projectile weapons - massively increases the chance of getting damaged. Far better to kill everyone slow and steady - none of their victims would even have known if it wasn't for The Doctor's intervention/Ricky September switching off regularly. The alphabetical order thing? We'll call that, "They're computers so it makes sense because reasons."

Lindy was a powerful influencer in their society though - that was why they communicated with her in the first place. She could be understood as representative, plus the guy who did nominate himself leader of the "Pioneers" escaping Finetime dismissed The Doctor's last bout of begging with, "Turn away ladies, before you're contaminated," so I don't blame 15 for not feeling that continuing would get him anywhere.

Puja

Yeah, 73 yards could have done with a script editor. Being written by the producer means quality control may be lacking. RTD has perhaps taken on too much, writing 6 of 8 episodes.

► Show Spoiler

if the Doctor wanted an influencer, he should have gone to Ricky, surely? Lindy seemed to be Ms Average, not a big influencer to me.

Genetically engineering a new life form to do the killing been all they had to do was make a slightly more spiky dot seemed a strange way to go.

But . . . details, details, at least the overall story basically worked.

The latest episode, Rogue, was not great. It seemed to be one third 'ooh, it's like Bridgerton', one third fan fiction of what would happen if the Doctor pulled Jack Harkness, and one third dismal, unoriginal, shape-changing alien threat.

Production values were very good, acting good, but that's about it.

Jeezus. The Doctor's main goal for the first 20 minutes is how to get off with the charming man he finds, before beginning to think about taking some urgent action to save lives (too late for some). I get that each Doctor has his or her or their own personality but they are broadly the same person. This doesn't seem right.

The final two-parter was really poor. You can't judge these things without seeing both parts. The first part gave us a massive build-up to the reveal of a long, long, long-dead enemy from a classic story and completely upgraded him from an alien into a god of death. And the second part just doesn't make sense in so many ways - a real fail for the story as a whole. I guess if you're emotionally invested in these characters there might be something enjoyable but it might as well just be the story of someone trying to find the identity of their birth mother . . . why bother with all the sci-fi/fantasy if it doesn't make the slightest bit of sense?

paddy no 11 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 10:08 am Watching baby reindeer on Netflix

Episode 4 is very grim

The whole series is pretty grim!! Enjoyable (??) but dark. No easy answers.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 7:15 am I watched an episode of Fallout too. I’m completely baffled. I guess marketing really is effective.

Almost a comedy but not quite, it's pretty good fun. Silo did the serious version, Fallout took the nuclear bunker society thing the other way. Both work on their own terms.

Silo looks interesting actually. Thanks.

I wish I could think of a single positive thing to say about Fallout. It was a full-on 0/10 for me.

Re watching the whole of narcos, whatever formula they used to make it has me completely hooked

It's a brilliant series

I watched Douglas is Cancelled last night, pretty good.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 24, 2022 11:28 pm House of the Dragon ends season one well. This is a cash-in but what the hell, it's better than most things on TV right now. I feel I'm watching it as a neutral, not really rooting for anyone but still enjoying the progression of the story, as various characters try to advance their conflicting interests . . . with unhappy consequences.

Ah, HOTD s02e04. This is what we've come to see, this is the business.

Really enjoyed the bear for 1.8 seasons and then it went to absolute pants. 3 episodes into season 3 do I even bother finishing it?

paddy no 11 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 14, 2024 1:39 pm Really enjoyed the bear for 1.8 seasons and then it went to absolute pants. 3 episodes into season 3 do I even bother finishing it?

same

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 9:52 pm

paddy no 11 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 14, 2024 1:39 pm Really enjoyed the bear for 1.8 seasons and then it went to absolute pants. 3 episodes into season 3 do I even bother finishing it?

same

Yeah it's kinda disappeared up it's own arse

Yeah I don’t understand the praise it gets at all. I remember thinking the first series was sort of okay? Second was utterly dreadful from start to finish. Somehow completely predictable and completely inscrutable all at once.

The girlfriend in the second series has to be the worst example of the ‘manic pixie dream girl’ trope that has ever appeared on screen. And the fucking soundtrack?! Jesus. I’d forgotten how much this show wound me up.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 2:14 pm Yeah I don’t understand the praise it gets at all. I remember thinking the first series was sort of okay? Second was utterly dreadful from start to finish. Somehow completely predictable and completely inscrutable all at once.

The girlfriend in the second series has to be the worst example of the ‘manic pixie dream girl’ trope that has ever appeared on screen. And the fucking soundtrack?! Jesus. I’d forgotten how much this show wound me up.

Wouldn't argue with any of that bar loving the soundtrack for 1st 2 seasons. Putting 9 inch nails on a loop didn't work. And basically it's a soundtrack I'd come up with not a professional

Stuff I've watched this year:

Three-Body
The Chinese adaptation of The Three-Body Problem. Pretty faithful and well done (and fixes a plot hole in the book). Far too long/slow - 30 episodes when 15 would have done the book justice. Took a bit of stamina but I enjoyed it.

3 Body Problem
The Netflix version. Naturally (sigh) most of the action has been moved out if China (although the UK not USA, surprisingly). In order to get some of the second book's events into this season the characters are heavily amended/merged/split from the original source, but in a sensible way. Some plot fixes appear but (as with Three-Body) there's no filling all of the plot holes. A strange moment to end the season but broadly the story works. Good to see Sci-Fi with big ideas getting to the screen.

House of the Dragon - season 2
While it doesn't have as many moving parts as Game of Thrones this is still high quality drama. With a lot more dragons. On balance probably the best show of the year so far.

Jujutsu Kaisen - season 2
The classic it was always going to be, adapting the best arc of the manga.

Mrs Davies
Eccentric, hard-to-categorise show. Worth watching if you find TV too predictable.

Marianne
Quirky French horror. Pretty good.

The Acolyte
Nothing like as bad as the anti-woke crowd would have you believe, I broadly enjoyed this, even if I had to switch my brain off at times. Yes, it is stupid in many ways and the characters' motivations change whenever the plot needs them to. But it's old star wars with plenty of light sabre fights so I will not condemn it too much - after all most Star Wars is pretty stupid. (Except Andor, of course).

The Curse
Depressing, slow, barely a comedy, but there is something compelling about it. And then there's the mad last episode.

Beacon 23
From the writer of Silo. A story about a space lighthouse. It never really comes together. And there is zero chemistry between the leads when there desperately needs to be.

Parasyte - The Grey
Action body-horror. I enjoyed the anime, so this was interesting. Not sure why the action moved to Korea but it's fun enough.

paddy no 11 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 3:17 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 2:14 pm Yeah I don’t understand the praise it gets at all. I remember thinking the first series was sort of okay? Second was utterly dreadful from start to finish. Somehow completely predictable and completely inscrutable all at once.

The girlfriend in the second series has to be the worst example of the ‘manic pixie dream girl’ trope that has ever appeared on screen. And the fucking soundtrack?! Jesus. I’d forgotten how much this show wound me up.

Wouldn't argue with any of that bar loving the soundtrack for 1st 2 seasons. Putting 9 inch nails on a loop didn't work. And basically it's a soundtrack I'd come up with not a professional

I'm in no great rush to watch this after season 2 went so badly off the rails at the end.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 5:04 pm

paddy no 11 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 3:17 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 2:14 pm Yeah I don’t understand the praise it gets at all. I remember thinking the first series was sort of okay? Second was utterly dreadful from start to finish. Somehow completely predictable and completely inscrutable all at once.

The girlfriend in the second series has to be the worst example of the ‘manic pixie dream girl’ trope that has ever appeared on screen. And the fucking soundtrack?! Jesus. I’d forgotten how much this show wound me up.

Wouldn't argue with any of that bar loving the soundtrack for 1st 2 seasons. Putting 9 inch nails on a loop didn't work. And basically it's a soundtrack I'd come up with not a professional

I'm in no great rush to watch this after season 2 went so badly off the rails at the end.

Honestly don't bother.

Oh and Olivia Coleman, must have a hell of an agent. Probably got a small fortune there for 5 minutes that anyone could have phoned in