What TV are you watching?

[cougie uk]

Started Game of Thrones - mid way through Season 2. It has a slow start up, that I suppose lets you work out who is who, before they all start having sex or chopping each other up !

Why would you start there ? There's a lot of stuff happening in Series 1.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

That there Rev Richard Coles' mudder mystery started promisingly last night. Good news is everyone wanted him dead. Or did they? Redolent with herrings, red.

 

[yello]

I watched the last episode of Dying For Sex last night. I've enjoyed the series greatly. It's superbly balanced; the pure comedy moments taking the edge of an otherwise bleak subject (terminal cancer). I wasn't sure whether I was going to watch it, purely from the show's description, but was swayed by the fact the Michelle Williams was in the lead role. She's an actor I rate highly and the fact she's selective in her work usually is enough of indicator for me. It's based on a true story (and podcast) and is a recommended watch.

 

[fossyant]

Why would you start there ? There's a lot of stuff happening in Series 1.

Meant to say we've started it and are NOW midway through Season 2.

 

[stephec]

Porterhouse Blue

I vaguely remember this first time it was on, at least I remember the gas filled johnnies floating around, to be fair I was eighteen years old.

Excellent casting all round, especially Charles Gray as the eccentric former student.

Well worth another watch but I'm still not sure if Skullion is supposed to be a good guy or bad guy, and I'd forgotten all about the rather uncomfortable ending.

8/10.

 

[Profpointy]

I'm rewatching Tales from The Loop. It's the vibe that I like, and a 'vastness'. It's got a wonderful Philip Glass soundtrack, and is tinged with melancholy. Not dripping sadness, just an awareness that whilst life can be wonderful, there are also things that we have to get through - that shape us and make us who we are.

Station Eleven has a similar vibe. And is another fave of mine, Night Sky too. Indeed those 3 are praps my fave TV of recent years - purely for the vibe.

Tales from the Loop was astonishing wasn't it.
I think I'd previously seen the book it was based on, more a sci fi art boot than a novel per se but had some sparse linking narrative.

 

[Pblakeney]

Porterhouse Blue

I vaguely remember this first time it was on, at least I remember the gas filled johnnies floating around, to be fair I was eighteen years old.

Excellent casting all round, especially Charles Gray as the eccentric former student.

Well worth another watch but I'm still not sure if Skullion is supposed to be a good guy or bad guy, and I'd forgotten all about the rather uncomfortable ending.

8/10.

Try the books.
I used to read them while commuting on the bus and would often catch myself laughing out loud.

 

[yello]

Tales from the Loop was astonishing wasn't it.
I think I'd previously seen the book it was based on, more a sci fi art boot than a novel per se but had some sparse linking narrative.

I read the book after seeing the TV series and I'd agree with your summary of it. The TV series picks up ons those sparse links on fleshes them out, builds the stories around them and maintains a narrative throughout the series. I appreciated the TV series even more after reading the book, because of the amount of work they'd done all whilst staying true to the feel of the book.

 

[Profpointy]

I read the book after seeing the TV series and I'd agree with your summary of it. The TV series picks up ons those sparse links on fleshes them out, builds the stories around them and maintains a narrative throughout the series. I appreciated the TV series even more after reading the book, because of the amount of work they'd done all whilst staying true to the feel of the book.

There's a sequel book called "Things from the Flood" also set near the particle accelerator. Maybe they'll make a follow up series, albeit I only saw the first one after accidentally signed up for an Amazon Prime trial.

Also prompted by this exchange, I see there's now a Netflix film based on another of his books "The Electric State". Might have to give that a go as well

 

[yello]

I've got the Electric State. I must read it before the film gets released just so I can build my own world around it. I'll see if I can find Things from the Flood.

The Tales from the Loop book surprised me. As you say, it's sparse. Pictures and paragraphs of text, hardly even short stories. Surprising to me that it was published given it's 'non-book' feel. It's more of a work book, or sketch book even. I know little of the author or the chronology of their work. I ought find out more as he certainly seems to be doing his own thing, and I like that as a general rule.

 

[stephec]

Try the books.
I used to read them while commuting on the bus and would often catch myself laughing out loud.

I had a look to see what else he'd written, and discovered that Porterhouse was written at least ten years before the period when the TV version was set, might have to read the book now to see what else is different.

 

[Pblakeney]

I had a look to see what else he'd written, and discovered that Porterhouse was written at least ten years before the period when the TV version was set, might have to read the book now to see what else is different.

It’s been around 40 years since I read the book so I might be a bit hazy but IIRC, the school is in its own time zone anyway. 😉

 

[yello]

I've got the Electric State. I must read it before the film gets released just so I can build my own world around it.

I read a synopsis last night... and realised I'd already read the book! It came back, I won't say flooding so trickling perhaps. Then I remembered who was in the Netflix film and equally remembered how reserved I felt about it. I wanted something more The Loop than Stranger Things (which, tbh, the 1st series I enjoyed)

 

[captain nemo1701]

Well, my evening guilty pleasure is watching repeats of The Fall Guy on Legend. I've not seen it since it was originally screened. Formula 80's action fluff, didn't realise how much comedy is in it, but fun diversion nonetheless. Last nights stunt shenanigans was allegedly set in Italy....but the countryside looked suspiciously like California . Afterwards, I can switch to another channel to watch Lee Majors 10 years younger as Steve Austin. A good antidote to all the true-crime obsessed telly of today.

 

[MadMalx]

First episode of Riot Women on iplayer looks promising, giving more employment to a whole raft of mature women actors. Some of the plot developments look well flagged (not watched any more yet to confirm). Mrs MM is already annoyed with my predictions/potential spoilers.