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Cosmonauts: How Russia Won The Space Race Another excellent BBC4 production. This was a superb look at the Space Race from the Soviet side. Having recently watched the excellent series on the American space program, this was an excellent accompaniment. Thoroughly recommended.

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Hot on the heels of Vigil the latest BBC offering on a Sunday night is Ridley Road. First episode started well. The story is based on true events and the rise of anti-semitism in the UK in the early 60’s (although I don't think this was in any way shape or form ever widespread outside a few neanderthals). So far so okay, with an excellent cast including the always watchable Greg Kinnear. I am looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

warspite1

Mmmmmm.... this is proving a bit of a disappointment. Some of the script lines are a bit naff and the story itself isn't really holding up. Oh well, the BBC has produced some real winners recently - I guess they can't all be good.

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Started watching Mare of Easttown (Sky Atlantic). Early days but this could be a very nice little series based on the opening episode. Lots going on which should lead to a number of storylines, well acted and suitably small town America bleak.

warspite1

The series ended last night. I thoroughly enjoyed it - with some nice twists along the way. Sadly it looks like there won't be a second series - which is a shame.

I binge watched it. The performances are great and the plot intriguing. The problem I had is that it is the classic “Young woman is killed in a small community and

[Channels Gary Oldman in The Professional]
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVERYONE!
[/Channels Gary Oldman in The Professional]

…Has an unbelievably dirty secret or such. Yes, even dogs and sparrows. “The Killing” (the original Danish show, not the American remake, for the love of God) already did it - and much better - in 2007.

Just struggled through the second series of Fort Salem partly on the grounds that the trailers etc looked interesting. Best I can say for it is watch the trailers, that covers everything that actually happened (one of those 'why am I watching this, I assume it improves later' moments)

Have started watching the Korean Zombies of the Middle Ages series (Kingdom).

Now that is excellent 'B-movie' stuff, no real pretence of depth, plot or character as we jolly along from one scene to the next. But a nice level of menace even if the Zombie King - in this case a king who is a zombie - is little bit far fetched

ORIGINAL: loki100

Just struggled through the second series of Fort Salem partly on the grounds that the trailers etc looked interesting. Best I can say for it is watch the trailers, that covers everything that actually happened (one of those 'why am I watching this, I assume it improves later' moments)

Have started watching the Korean Zombies of the Middle Ages series (Kingdom).

Now that is excellent 'B-movie' stuff, no real pretence of depth, plot or character as we jolly along from one scene to the next. But a nice level of menace even if the Zombie King - in this case a king who is a zombie - is little bit far fetched

One of the best parts in Max Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide" was the last chapter, about "Recorded zombie attacks throughout history". I always found fascinating the idea of zombie outbreaks in ancient times, or the middle ages - as opposed to the umpteenth zombie outbreak in modern times". Pity that the idea hadn't been explored more.

thats part of why the series is such ridiculous fun. Some of it is the standard building blocks but the time period/place and what passes for a story make it a bit different to the usual 'zombies take over a chain store somewhere in America' stuff.

Oh and the hats, the hats are magnificent. My wife sometimes works with textiles and has some experience of milinery and she loves it - don't think she's that fussed over the zombies but the hats more than compensate

Heres a picture of some random hats (& bad acting):

ORIGINAL: loki100

Just struggled through the second series of Fort Salem partly on the grounds that the trailers etc looked interesting. Best I can say for it is watch the trailers, that covers everything that actually happened (one of those 'why am I watching this, I assume it improves later' moments)

warspite1

A few weeks ago I started to watch this. Five minutes in and I ralised I couldn't remember who the characters were and what even happened in Series 1.... and I wasn't that fussed about finding out. I may go back to this but doubt it given that 'recommendation'.

Watched "No Time to Die" at theaters.

Watched latest Dave Chappelle.

I made the mistake of watching the fourth episode of "Foundation" - and I paid the price for it. It is so bad, it is indefensible. I think it is clear, by now, that they never intended to adapt Asimov's books (Salvor Hardin with mental powers???) but they also didn't want to lose the appeal of the franchise.

I would have had more respect had they decided to do their own thing (which, make no mistake, would still have been a "terrible their own thing"). Today, however, it seems that we have to deal with a "new, contemporary, relevant" batch of creatives that have no faith in their ability to create an original universe the way people from Lovecraft, to Asimov, to Lucas did in different ways and in different media. And, at least in this lack of faith in their own abilities, they are totally right.

Just watched two series:

The Boleyn's: A scandalous Family (BBC2)

An excellent three part series that focuses not just on Anne and Henry VIII, but tells the story of the family's rise to power - and downfall - concentrating mainly on Anne's father and uncle and to a lesser extent her sister Mary. Thoroughly recommended.

Guilt - Series 2 (BBC iplayer)

Following on from the surprise hit of 2019, this follow up maintains a similar theme - lots of characters whose stories become intertwinned as the series goes on. Excellent cast and fine story telling, only marginally not as good as series 1.

Valhalla Murders on netflix. Has anyone seen these new Icelandic crime series coming out? They're pretty interesting. There's a few of them out on netflix. Worth a watch!

ORIGINAL: loki100

thats part of why the series is such ridiculous fun. Some of it is the standard building blocks but the time period/place and what passes for a story make it a bit different to the usual 'zombies take over a chain store somewhere in America' stuff.

Oh and the hats, the hats are magnificent. My wife sometimes works with textiles and has some experience of milinery and she loves it - don't think she's that fussed over the zombies but the hats more than compensate

Heres a picture of some random hats (& bad acting):

Hats were definetely cool. Also timeline of the story was very suitable for a sickness (zombie) film in a peasant society. They were running through the ice in the first season my favourite part. Also do have some political messages in background such as power struggle between warlords is the more important than the sickness. But I didn't like the 2nd season as much as the first one.

I have just binge-watched Paris Police 1900 (BBC iplayer). This is an 8-part series centred around real life events (the Dreyfuss affair) and personalities. The story intertwines the actions of a bunch of malignant anti-semites in 1899 (made to look suitably preposterous) and a murder investigation.

This was a very watchable series - a little bit racy in parts (ohhh matron) and dealing with 'adult themes'. The production gave off a wonderful sense of what one can imagine a European city would look and feel like at the turn of the century. I hope there is a series 2 but there were no loose ends to tie up at the end of series 1. Only criticism is that they could have made the lead male more likeable. Recommended.

Seinfeld made it to Netflex. Believe it or not I never watched an episode (just the cuts you can find on Utube) so I'm binge watching it.

I binge-watched "Squid Game" - like everybody else on the planet it would seem. It is easy to see why: the plot draws you in and the various characters are wonderfully characterised and acted (kudos to all the actors BTW: they literally disappear in the portrayal of a bunch of normal people from all walks of life).

It is not perfect: some plot strands are not really successfully resolved (leftovers for a sequel?) while some events are actually very predictable in a show where unpredictability is the main rule. It is, however, incredibly addicting. I stayed up until 2PM to finish the last two episodes.

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

I binge-watched "Squid Game" - like everybody else on the planet it would seem. It is easy to see why: the plot draws you in and the various characters are wonderfully characterised and acted (kudos to all the actors BTW: they literally disappear in the portrayal of a bunch of normal people from all walks of life).

It is not perfect: some plot strands are not really successfully resolved (leftovers for a sequel?) while some events are actually very predictable in a show where unpredictability is the main rule. It is, however, incredibly addicting. I stayed up until 2PM to finish the last two episodes.

It reminds me recent successfull caricature about this 'game'. Maybe somehow universal. Translation is "you end this game with your votes."

ORIGINAL: gamer78

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

I binge-watched "Squid Game" - like everybody else on the planet it would seem. It is easy to see why: the plot draws you in and the various characters are wonderfully characterised and acted (kudos to all the actors BTW: they literally disappear in the portrayal of a bunch of normal people from all walks of life).

It is not perfect: some plot strands are not really successfully resolved (leftovers for a sequel?) while some events are actually very predictable in a show where unpredictability is the main rule. It is, however, incredibly addicting. I stayed up until 2PM to finish the last two episodes.

It reminds me recent successfull caricature about this 'game'. Maybe somehow universal. Translation is "you end this game with your votes."

That's one of the rules of the game: if the majority of the players votes to stop it, the game stops. It is actually one of the things that pull you into the plot, because apparently there is a safety clause...

Anyway, or the cartoon actually refers to something else or that's simply a quote from the show.

Watching season three of How The West Was Won - The Macahans.

ORIGINAL: RFalvo69

That's one of the rules of the game: if the majority of the players votes to stop it, the game stops. It is actually one of the things that pull you into the plot, because apparently there is a safety clause...

Anyway, or the cartoon actually refers to something else or that's simply a quote from the show.

Yes something else. [:)] Economy is so bad election is needed to end this "game" with your votes referring ironically Squid Game most famous sentence.

I've watched it and find it good overall even with some stereotype characters.

Been watching How the Nazis Lost the War (Sky). A four part series. Its okay, but not great and the mistakes grate. When one of the 'experts' says HMS Howe sank Scharnhorst, it doesn't inspire confidence. Still, given the dearth of WWII related documentaries at present, its a least something to watch on the subject.