Current Watching

[Hot Pepsi]

Tokyo Vice is getting more interesting.

[Uncle Ethan]

On other shows that I have enjoyed/am enjoying:

Shogun, because of my obsession with Japan. See also Tokyo Vice.

Masters of the Air, though predictably it has got stuck in representing the sections of the book around captured airmen, the change of tactics later in the war and shoehorning in the myriad issues raised by the Tuskagee airmen.

Sunderland 'til I die seems a very odd, belated, add on with three episodes arriving in February 2024 that cover the 21/22 season. I still like its emphasis on the fans, emotional as it becomes.

The Dynasty: Interesting look at the Patriots.

[Hot Pepsi]

I think some shows are just made to fuel reddit discussions.

[Uncle Ethan]

Absolutely consistent with the True Detective tradition though - utterly baffling after some gripping moments.

[Hot Pepsi]

It eventually became clear that Navarro had staged her disappearance/suicide, presumably to avoid repercussions from...well, I can't quite recall exactly what as the finale was a bit of a mess.

She might be a ghost, according to the internet.

I feel like it all was a waste of time. The first three episodes were great.

[Ray de Galles]

It eventually became clear that Navarro had staged her disappearance/suicide, presumably to avoid repercussions from...well, I can't quite recall exactly what as the finale was a bit of a mess.

[Hot Pepsi]

Sorry, but it absolutely is. The writer confirms it in an interview with Variety.

Ah yes, I watched it again more carefully.

That makes even less sense than it did before and I hate the whole fucking thing even more.
Is she a ghost? What was the point of showing her walking off onto the ice?
Being "ambiguous" isn't clever. It's just bad storytelling.

[RaggedTrousered]

Finished Black Bird on Apple TV+. The finale lost it for me slightly but I really enjoyed the series overall (not withstanding the subject). I thought Paul Walter Hauser's performance was fantastic.

[Uncle Ethan]

No it isn’t. Navarro walked off into the sunset.

Sorry, but it absolutely is. The writer confirms it in an interview with Variety.

[San Bernardhinault]

Finally watched Marcel The Shell a couple of days ago. What an utterly delightful, charming, whimsical, inventive film. Lovely.

[Hot Pepsi]

No it isn’t. Navarro walked off into the sunset.

[Uncle Ethan]

HP: "That's not a good way to end her story, especially shortly before switching to a nice scene of Jodie Foster's character in her somehow-idyllic LL Bean Catalog beach-front house with the doors open and her relationship with her daughter magically repaired."

That's not her daughter in the beach/lake house, it's Navarro.

[Hot Pepsi]

The Gentlemen on Netflix, Guy Ritchie's serialized version of the Guy Ritchie film (I think. I can't remember much about the film).

Very stylish. Very good looking leads. Great clothes. Pretty good series overall.

[Tony C]

Finally got round to watching series 1 of ‘Slow Horses’ which we quite enjoyed. As the washed up, verbally abusive, drunken old has-been with a razor sharp mind and an underlying heart of gold the part of Jackson Lamb could have been somewhat cliched if a lesser actor than Gary Oldman had taken the part. But Oldman is completely watchable.

[MsD]

As I’m having Montalbano withdrawal, I watched Lolita Lobosca on Channel 4.
(For Toby Gymshorts and any other fans.)
Luisa Ranieri plays the lead and she’s Luca Zingaretti’s ex-wife. It’s set in Bari, on the heel of Italy, so has a similar vibe.
I found the first episode a bit cringey, tbh, with the beautiful Lolita pouting and sticking out her chest even more than Montalbano does, but I warmed to it and ended up wanting more by the 4th episode. There isn’t any more available as far as I can see, although they made other series. Light but satisfying viewing.

[slackster]

Watched The Party (Amazon, on their freevee stream), a 2017 shortish stage-y film by Sally Potter, that I’d never heard of before.

Sort of Pinteresque as the middle aged chattering class ensemble’s lives come crashing down. A couple of very hammy performances (step forward Cillian Murphy for a golden raspberry), but also some crackers, laughs and plenty of social awkwardness. Kristin Scott Thomas - who I’ve always had a bit of a thing for - Patricia Clarkson and Emily Mortimer are especially good. Worth a watch.

[Tratorello]

Enjoyed the first three episodes of "Shogun" this evening, agree with whoever it was who said the lead English guy sounds like he's doing a Richard Burton impression (not that that's necessarily a bad thing).

Have to say the violence didn't really bother me although I did think that 17th century Japan seems to have had a sword problem in the same way that the modern US has a gun problem. Everyone seems to be running round with at least two swords tucked into their belts and they're willing to use them if someone so much as looks at them the wrong way.

[RobW]

Now i've got Netflix again, hopefully I can catch up those Oscar nominated films that they have produced. Starting with Rustin tonight. I want to start Babylon Berlin soon too

[RaggedTrousered]

Bad Sisters (Apple TV+) - three episodes into season one. A bit preposterous but enjoyable enough (I like the humour). The wonderfully-named Claes Bang is great as the prick and Brian Gleeson is a very convincing dickhead. It's meant to be set in Dublin but there are no police in Ireland (why can't they just say Garda/Gardai!).

Black Bird (Apple TV+) - two episodes in and so far so good but the tension I often experience in prison drama might be too much for me to stay the course.

I decided to give these a go without hearing about them beforehand so there's a little bit of excitement in not knowing if the quality/story is going to maintain, improve or bomb. Hope I get to find out before the Apple TV trial runs out.

[Plodder]

American Conspiracy on Netflix. Fucking hell. It's like the Dead Kennedys wrote a US history book.

You'd already know all the big stories from the news (Iran-Contra scandal, Reagan's "October Surprise" hostage release story), but the story begins with a murdered writer who was piecing this all together, having started with a mere software theft story. It's amazing stuff.

[ad hoc]

We finished One Day. The first two episodes were like someone had asked ChatGPT to write Normal People, then it hit its stride and then it got shit in the last 3 episodes.

[Tony C]

Is that new?

I'm always struck by how Romeo & Juliet is supposed to be about teenagers, but it's pretty much impossible to find anyone under 30 with the acting chops to play those roles. Especially if it's played by well-known actors, the characters appear to be a lot more mature and put together than they really ought to be. Hamlet has the same problem.

The Baz Luhrman version was the closest, with a young Leo and Clare Danes.

The screen notes at the end stated it was filmed in an empty theatre during COVID, so I’m guessing late ‘20 or early ‘21.

[Hot Pepsi]

Is that new?

I'm always struck by how Romeo & Juliet is supposed to be about teenagers, but it's pretty much impossible to find anyone under 30 with the acting chops to play those roles. Especially if it's played by well-known actors, the characters appear to be a lot more mature and put together than they really ought to be. Hamlet has the same problem.

The Baz Luhrman version was the closest, with a young Leo and Clare Danes.

[Tony C]

I saw a superb adaptation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ on Sky Arts earlier. A great ensemble effort but Jesse Buckley - who has been brilliant in everything I’ve seen her in - was outstanding as Juliet. Well worth seeking out.

[Hot Pepsi]

Still impressed by Masters of the Air though a little worried they are going to get a little wide in their story with the last few episodes.

I like that part of it has turned into The Great Escape. It appears they're going to tack on Red Tails as well with the Tuskegee pilots.

I'm also glad to see the inclusion of the P-51 mustangs. I'm anti war and am wary of being impressed with weapons, but the Mustang is one of the coolest looking machines ever invented. It's like a flying Studebaker.

Not sure how safe they are. The owner of a local car dealership here had one of those and he died in a plane crash. I'm not sure, but I think that's the plane that crashed.