What telly progs are you bingeing on?

[kalifire]

Just got done with The Last of Us, watching episodes 1-3 in a binge.

I don’t know if it’s a good show yet. The way it progresses has a clunky, video game level-by-level vibe to it. Bit of action, some character development, bit more action, more of the same. Yawn. 

I’d been advised that episode 3 was stunning, and it was. Tears were shed. A stunning piece of television. Bravo. 

But the central character is still one dimensional, and there’s still an overall lack of gravitas that viewers seem to be required to fill in, and that grates. 

[kalifire]

Last of Us won me over in the end, but the finale was really disappointing. It reverted entirely to video game mode and while I’m sure fans of the game are happy, it didn’t make for great television. Intelligent, nuanced dialogue about Joel’s ridiculous decision were replaced with silly one liners and guns. What a shame after so many quality episodes. 

[fred quimby]

Wu-tang Clan, an American Saga. Nearing the end of season 2. No idea how close to the truth it all is but very enjoyable.  RZA is a producer on it.

Edited March 13, 2023 by fred quimby

[charlierc]

It's fascinating to see the TV review discourse mimicking that of the gut-punch ending to Last of Us when it first came out 10 years ago, and whether it was right to go all John Wick at the end.

Makes one wonder how the Internet is going to react when the various kind of acts committed in part 2 come along.

[Padjeq]

11 hours ago, charlierc said:

It's fascinating to see the TV review discourse mimicking that of the gut-punch ending to Last of Us when it first came out 10 years ago, and whether it was right to go all John Wick at the end.

Makes one wonder how the Internet is going to react when the various kind of acts committed in part 2 come along.

The only review I read was in the guardian by someone who had clocked the games. I've been wondering how tv land people are taking it.

 

It's hard to talk about without ruining it for the non gamers, but if they don't want to stretch it out to further series, I think we might get the story as close to the game timeline as possible.

[charlierc]

9 hours ago, Padjeq said:

It's hard to talk about without ruining it for the non gamers, but if they don't want to stretch it out to further series, I think we might get the story as close to the game timeline as possible.

A let's play of Last of Us 2 that I've referred to clocks in at 20 hours, so condensing that into a 9 hour flow aping series 1 of the TV show would be a lot. My experience was longer but obviously that's through repeatedly dying and having to repeat certain levels, which if nothing else is something that won't be true for the TV version.

In saying that, the showrunners have said they will be splitting the story of TLOU 2 into two separate TV series, which might be the best approach given how much Part II had and indeed if they want to explore the lore behind Seattle.

[Sandy one]

Married at First Sight Australia is always addictive to watch

[Ryan1984]

Taskmaster back on 30 March. Succession very soon (Monday?) and a few other things.

When are Severance and Inside No. 9 back on?

[philipsteak]

8 hours ago, Ryan1984 said:

Taskmaster back on 30 March. Succession very soon (Monday?) and a few other things.

When are Severance and Inside No. 9 back on?

Yellowjackets is back, and Lucky Hank (new Bob Odenkirk) starting in the States this weekend. Don't know if anyone has got that for the UK yet.

And of course, the return of Neighbours.

[Ryan1984]

3 hours ago, philipsteak said:

Yellowjackets is back, and Lucky Hank (new Bob Odenkirk) starting in the States this weekend. Don't know if anyone has got that for the UK yet.

And of course, the return of Neighbours.

Bit annoyed with Yellowjackets as it’s not on Now this time around. Think it’s Paramount Plus. Who even has that streaming service?

[Punksnotdead]

It's about time the King of TV made a series about British wildlife - Attenborough's Wild Isles will not be topped by any other TV show this year!

[philipsteak]

11 hours ago, Punksnotdead said:

It's about time the King of TV made a series about British wildlife - Attenborough's Wild Isles will not be topped by any other TV show this year!

Butterflies that fight birds and 30cm slugs! What?

[kalifire]

I thought I’d exhausted all the good cult docs but I’m half way through The Vow, about the NXIVM cult from a few years back. It’s good because one of the people who got out was a documentarian whose archive footage is used in the show. Recommended. 

[steviewevie]

17 hours ago, Punksnotdead said:

It's about time the King of TV made a series about British wildlife - Attenborough's Wild Isles will not be topped by any other TV show this year!

ooh, need to watch that.

[Ryan1984]

8 hours ago, kalifire said:

I thought I’d exhausted all the good cult docs but I’m half way through The Vow, about the NXIVM cult from a few years back. It’s good because one of the people who got out was a documentarian whose archive footage is used in the show. Recommended. 

Oh, that was good and I think the second series is out now.

[fred quimby]

Enjoying Mandalorian.

Watched the new Luther last night. Bit shit

[philipsteak]

18 hours ago, fred quimby said:

Enjoying Mandalorian.

Watched the new Luther last night. Bit shit

Yeah, Mandalorian is still a lot of fun.

Haven't bothered with Luther. Thought the last series was rubbish maybe even the one before, can't remember. Nothing I've seen or heard about the film makes me think it's got any better.

New Yellowjackets. It's fine. Not grabbed me like the first season did, but think everything will be OK. Not for the characters, obviously. For the viewers. Always the danger they try to string it out to long, not answering questions but introducing new ones. Hopefully not.

[moogster]

Thanks for lowering my expectations for Yellowjackets 🙂

Watched the new Succession. Love having the bros and sis together.

[philipsteak]

20 hours ago, moogster said:

Thanks for lowering my expectations for Yellowjackets 🙂

Watched the new Succession. Love having the bros and sis together.

It was fine. Couldn't even just tell you what was "wrong" with it. Just compared to the first season which started so well. My friend has finally started watching it after me recommending it since it started, knowing she'd love it. She does, unsurprisingly, and I keep getting excited messages from her as she comes to another big moment.

Yep, Succession started off as brilliantly as ever. Tom's going to turn out to be very interesting this season. Bit more depth to him (that was already starting last season, even before the last episode) not just the comic relief with Greg. Although that's as good as ever. Don't want to jinx it but think this is one of the few big shows that will absolutely nail the ending.

Edited March 28, 2023 by philipsteak

[moogster]

18 minutes ago, philipsteak said:

It was fine. Couldn't even just tell you what was "wrong" with it. Just compared to the first season which started so well. My friend has finally started watching it after me recommending it since it started, knowing she'd love it. She does, unsurprisingly, and I keep getting excited messages from her as she comes to another big moment.

 

That first epi was a transition to season 2 I guess. I so knew what was going to happen to that ear. And don't f*ck with Juliette Lewis YEAH! GO GIRL!

It's otherwise quiet on the TV front here. I'm looking forward to Somebody Somewhere starting again... And started a french spy show called Totems that seems decent.

[kalifire]

I was a bit lost with Yellowjackets. My memory is failing me so I’ll use the excuse to rewatch S1 then binge watch S2. 

Absolutely loved Succession. This is a show firing on all cylinders, wonderfully written and acted and very sure of itself. If they nail the ending, it’ll be one of TV’s stone cold classics, without a doubt. 

[kalifire]

Finished off The Vow last night. Really impressed. The first season can get a little soapy (he did this, then she did that, then this happened, etc.) but the second gave it room to breathe and explore people in longer form.

The later episodes focussing on Nancy, and watching her fall apart in real time as she tries to reconcile the good she was earnestly trying to achieve with the brutal reality of what she was involved with, was powerful stuff. You don’t get that in a standard cult documentary. Impressive television yet again from HBO. 

Edited March 28, 2023 by kalifire

[lost]

Succession was worth the wait, I've been so looking forward to the last season and the first episode didn't disappoint.

I was thinking of cancelling Sky Atlantic after it finishes but now I've read Damion Lewis is re-joining Billions I'm not so sure 🤔

[DomDom1984]

Lewis was only away from acting for a bereavement. Once I seen he was back on TV, I knew the next season would have him.

Tbh, even with that news, I think Billions killed my interest last season and his return won't change many of the shitty parts.

Mayor of Kingstown season 2 was fantastic. Didn't really land the last episode but the time spent was worth it regardless.

[moogster]

19 hours ago, kalifire said:

I was a bit lost with Yellowjackets.

The season 1 of the recap at the beginning of the new episode was dense. Almost needed to pause it to take it in.