NPR

Because we got Prime for the AIs we watched Nine Perfect Strangers - Nicole Kidman is a Russian former CEO who runs a retreat to "cure" people of modern life stresses and particularly damaged people are her speciality.

It's light, funny in parts and filmed in a beautiful location (Byron Bay as California) but has enough weight to keep the interest going.

We enjoyed it.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:19 pm Because we got Prime for the AIs we watched Nine Perfect Strangers - Nicole Kidman is a Russian former CEO who runs a retreat to "cure" people of modern life stresses and particularly damaged people are her speciality.

It's light, funny in parts and filmed in a beautiful location (Byron Bay as California) but has enough weight to keep the interest going.

We enjoyed it.

My missus is watching that, looks a really strong cast.

Am currently midway through season 5 of the wire. McNulty has turned into (more of) an alcoholic douche bag, Bunk is a bit part and Lester’s role seems massively off what he started as. Nowhere near as strong as the other seasons.

Would it be terribly infra dig to recommend a little gem from the wireless...?

Those of you familiar with Radio 4’s 18:30, er, ‘comedy’ slot will know it is largely a miss and really miss affair. The News Quiz used to be a giggle under Toksvig and then Jupp, but in its current incarnation it is vying with The Now Show for the title of unfunniest pile of sub-VIth Form ‘satirical’ shite to molest our airwaves.

John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme has, for 8 seasons, been a welcome rare gem in this slot – a sketch show which doesn’t rely either on characters/memes flogged to death, or indeed on painfully woke and agonisingly unfunny point scoring.

The 9th season is something different altogether. Each of the 6 episodes features a series of vignettes from a character’s life. It isn’t particularly funny and, at first, doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. But if you give it a go and listen to each of the 6 episodes in order (and without too much delay between each: this defo rewards a binge) something quite wonderful emerges.

Not sure how to classify this, as it’s not really comedy. It is, however, utterly unique and in my view a rare work of genius. If Tarantino, Altman and PT Anderson had a (genetically unlikely) very British, self-deprecating love child, and he was forced to work in radio, he’d come up with something like this.

Easily the most creative radio programme I've ever heard - and I'm a huge Blue Jam fan, so my bar is pretty ferkin high...

Give it a go – if you’re not hooked by the 3rd episode I’ll eat my hat, and it’s one of those f@ck-off hairy Russian numbers, so this is no idle promise…

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 10:39 pm Opinions on Squid Game?

Not particularly deep and some of the stuff is pretty telegraphed but a decent watch all the same.

Almost finished with it. It's very different to the usual stuff on TV these days, so for that reason alone I am enjoying it.

Quite interesting as a social experiment.

ScarfaceClaw wrote: ↑Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:59 pm Am currently midway through season 5 of the wire. McNulty has turned into (more of) an alcoholic douche bag, Bunk is a bit part and Lester’s role seems massively off what he started as. Nowhere near as strong as the other seasons.

It's not as strong as previous seasons but stick with it till the end. The ending montage redeems a lot of it.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:58 am

ScarfaceClaw wrote: ↑Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:59 pm Am currently midway through season 5 of the wire. McNulty has turned into (more of) an alcoholic douche bag, Bunk is a bit part and Lester’s role seems massively off what he started as. Nowhere near as strong as the other seasons.

It's not as strong as previous seasons but stick with it till the end. The ending montage redeems a lot of it.

I quite liked the last series, it was suitably bleak and the the gangsters even more ruthless and cold-blooded - it was the way the arc was going anyway. The newsroom is apparently realistic.

It's not perfect, but I still thought it was good

Narcos Mexico has a new season. I think I liked it but was a long time ago. Might re watch a bit.

Dexter: New Blood

He’s back after a decade and the new series is ace!

I'm three episodes into Succession. Does it get any better? So far it's pretty annoying...

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Thu Nov 11, 2021 10:17 pm Dexter: New Blood

He’s back after a decade and the new series is ace!

Been a fan since the beginning, he hasn’t changed that much since the last season … 2013 beside the shirts and Harrison the Dexter feeling is the same.
I think they made it a bit too obvious who was going to be his first victim.

Marylandolorian wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 12:58 pm

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Thu Nov 11, 2021 10:17 pm Dexter: New Blood

He’s back after a decade and the new series is ace!

Been a fan since the beginning, he hasn’t changed that much since the last season … 2013 beside the shirts and Harrison the Dexter feeling is the same.
I think they made it a bit too obvious who was going to be his first victim.

It’s always been obvious. Dexter is a slow burn without twists. You always know what you’re getting. Mostly.

Grandpa wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:37 am I'm three episodes into Succession. Does it get any better? So far it's pretty annoying...

Think that's about when I dumped it... No idea what all the hype was for tbh.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 9:45 pm

Grandpa wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:37 am I'm three episodes into Succession. Does it get any better? So far it's pretty annoying...

Think that's about when I dumped it... No idea what all the hype was for tbh.

I loved it. The whole hideousness of the family and nepotism. The extremely entitled kids. The corporate politics. The fear Logan generates is brilliant. It all seems nearly credible.

The whole cousin Greg and Tom thing is also excellent.

John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme has, for 8 seasons, been a welcome rare gem in this slot – a sketch show which doesn’t rely either on characters/memes flogged to death, or indeed on painfully woke and agonisingly unfunny point scoring.

Thanks for pointing me towards this. I've always liked him on The Unbelievable Truth. It's good fun alright.

Ymx wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:02 pm

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 9:45 pm

Grandpa wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:37 am I'm three episodes into Succession. Does it get any better? So far it's pretty annoying...

Think that's about when I dumped it... No idea what all the hype was for tbh.

I loved it. The whole hideousness of the family and nepotism. The extremely entitled kids. The corporate politics. The fear Logan generates is brilliant. It all seems nearly credible.

The whole cousin Greg and Tom thing is also excellent.

Too many annoying characters.. I think only the father (Brian Cox) and his daughter stopped me from binning it earlier...

I tried to watch Yellowstone Season 1 Episode 1 last night but got so enraged by Kevin Costner in the first 10 minutes that I had to quit.

Jock42 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 10:58 pm Really enjoyed it. Didn't think my partner would enjoy but she was hooked after the first episode.

That’s one to watch without CMOS as she can’t cope with anything violent. Had PTSD after series 1 of breaking bad

Btw really enjoyed Showtrial.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:58 am

ScarfaceClaw wrote: ↑Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:59 pm Am currently midway through season 5 of the wire. McNulty has turned into (more of) an alcoholic douche bag, Bunk is a bit part and Lester’s role seems massively off what he started as. Nowhere near as strong as the other seasons.

It's not as strong as previous seasons but stick with it till the end. The ending montage redeems a lot of it.

Finished it last night. What depressing montage it was. Nothing changes, the cycle of the characters repeating, the kids coming through as the next round of street dealers. The young kid who never really stood a chance becoming the next Bubbles.

It was a very good ending to a very good series. McNulty was still a dick though.

ScarfaceClaw wrote: ↑Sat Nov 13, 2021 11:53 am

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:58 am

ScarfaceClaw wrote: ↑Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:59 pm Am currently midway through season 5 of the wire. McNulty has turned into (more of) an alcoholic douche bag, Bunk is a bit part and Lester’s role seems massively off what he started as. Nowhere near as strong as the other seasons.

It's not as strong as previous seasons but stick with it till the end. The ending montage redeems a lot of it.

Finished it last night. What depressing montage it was. Nothing changes, the cycle of the characters repeating, the kids coming through as the next round of street dealers. The young kid who never really stood a chance becoming the next Bubbles.

It was a very good ending to a very good series. McNulty was still a dick though.

The kids storyline is heartbreaking. What galls is that the kid who started from the best position, lucked out and ended up even better off.

And yes, that was the point of the montage and series as a whole.

A review of Wheel of Time.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r ... -1.4732266

Was waiting for this. But sounds like it’s a flop.

All my faves are coming back.
F is for Family (though last season was a bit meh))
Archer.
Lost in Space.

Never seen It is always sunny In Philidelphia before. When Mcleheney took over Wrexham, thought I would see what that and he was all about. He seems like a terrific guy. Watched YouTube vids of him interviewed.
I absolutely loved It is always Sunny.
I am now up to Season 8.
Season 7 was just fucking glorious.
Delightful.
Like the greatest thing I have ever seen.

Thoroughly enjoyed Foundations.

Dopestick pretty decent, great cast, hard subject.

Final season of The Expanse coming 10 December.

Unfortunately the best thing about Cowboy Beebop was the trailer.

Startrek Discovery pulled 2 days before release has pissed off a lot of fans. total dick move from CBS.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:51 pm A review of Wheel of Time.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r ... -1.4732266

The books are utterly generic but that didn't stop them from selling by the metric ton. I will probably watch this when I want something unchallenging.

robmatic wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 7:43 am

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:51 pm A review of Wheel of Time.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r ... -1.4732266

The books are utterly generic but that didn't stop them from selling by the metric ton. I will probably watch this when I want something unchallenging.

First few were genuinely excellent but he lost his way very quickly.

Wheel of time comes across very very low budget in terms of acting and special effects.

Ok, so no season 4 is being made for Narcos Mexico. ????

Ymx wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 1:57 pm Ok, so no season 4 is being made for Narcos Mexico. ????

It has run it's course.

Was hoping for a rise of Chapo one (the other series on him wasn’t great).

Ymx wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 6:25 pm Was hoping for a rise of Chapo one (the other series on him wasn’t great).

Well Narcos have a fairly airbrushed version of him and all the other kingpins so I doubt a continuation of the series would tell you much.

They really did gloss over the havoc the drug war has done to Mexico. The missing girls storyline was about the closest that they got to showing that.

It’s crazy to think how recent all of this stuff was.

Just clocked this in the news.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-59026214

Colombian drug lord captured

Ymx wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 8:05 pm It’s crazy to think how recent all of this stuff was.

Just clocked this in the news.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-59026214

Colombian drug lord captured

And still going strong in Mexico. This last season was interesting but lacked the excitement of the predecessors I thought.

The war on drugs is a real paradox. Now that synthetic opioids and meth are so entrenched it just makes it more complicated. What if they go ahead with decriminalization/legalization of Fentanyl and Meth possession. I get legalization of weed but can't see how it will end well if they let the opioids go.

My family know exactly when I'm binge watching the latest Narcos because I start muttering Mexican Spanish curse words. Chingar! Puta madre! And then tell them to tranquilo if they say anything.

I had no idea El Chapo tweeted Trump with a death threat.

Ymx wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 7:39 pm I had no idea El Chapo tweeted Trump with a death threat.

What did Trump do to avoid it?

Anybody watched Cowboy Bebop? I don't really know the source material to say whether it's a faithful adaptation, but the first episode was pretty fun.

About to watch the 6th and last episode of the latest Korean craziness from Netflix called Hellbound.

A demonic face appears before someone and tells them when they're going to die and that they're bound for hell.

At the appointed time, which could be anything from seconds to years away, three huge supernatural creatures appear and pummel the living shit out of the "sinner" before air-frying them in an apparent demo of the eternal pain they're gonna suffer in hell.

This keeps happening to various "sinners", but also seemingly random blameless people, which understandably leads to a certain amount of public disquiet.

Then things start getting a bit dark and twisted...

Gumboot wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 8:22 am
A demonic face appears before someone and tells them when they're going to die and that they're bound for hell.

At the appointed time, which could be anything from seconds to years away, three huge supernatural creatures appear and pummel the living shit out of the "sinner" before air-frying them in an apparent demo of the eternal pain they're gonna suffer in hell.

That used to be what opposition teams felt about the All Blacks loose trio... ah the good old days...

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:51 pm A review of Wheel of Time.
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r ... -1.4732266

I watched the first 3 episodes to land back to back. I was underwhelmed, though they improved a bit as they progressed.

It is really hard to see where the budget went and everything is broad strokes with jarring notes.

But apart from a pathetic battle scene, episode 4 was a bit better so I'll carry on a bit.

It feels a bit like a collection of greatest hits but all done by a cover band who don't quite get it.

I was a bit harsh with Cowboy Beebop, got much better after the first eposide.

Hellbound was good, much better than Squid Game.