TV Serieseseses
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[quote name='red terror' timestamp='1340757203' post='295013']<br />
Watching the first episode, I didn't love it, but I didn't think it as terrible as those critics saw it. It seemed like a fairly unoriginal idea for a tv series based on "Broadcast News," which was a very good movie. What was sanctimonious and very annoying for me on a creative level was the repeated use of weepy, syrupy, plinky piano, very manipulative, and strings at the end, y'know, like those get-out-the-hankie hang-dog soundtracks used on NBC for profiles of Olympians who overcame adversity and personal tragedy, etc. Ugh. Hate that shit. It would have been better if they'd removed the music altogether and played it straight. And I'm kinda pissed they called it "The Newsroom," as that's the same title as a former CBC comedy series that is notably better. But the "ripped from the headlines" idea is kinda intriguing - first up was the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and it does seem obviously transparent, from the first episode at least, that Jeff Daniels is playing Keith Olbermann. It does seem pretty strange to have a fictional world - the broadcaster ACN, at least, is fictional - but they use non-fiction events and real names, i.e. BP, Halliburton, Tony Hayward, etc. I'm not sure if I'll watch another episode.<br />
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I really liked the first season of that Canadian show. I think it had additional seasons made several years later or something? Are they good too? -
I haven;'t seen the later season, to be honest. It was a few years afterward. They're probably on youtube, and I should look for them sometime.<br />
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I saw every episode of the first season and the season finale - the hour-long special when the plug was pulled on the public broadcaster (presumably the CBC) and the Newsroom crew runs a political campaign to get the idiot anchor elected as Premier of Ontario. That is one of the funniest things I've ever seen on Canadian TV (and that includes SCTV).<br />
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It's hard for me to tell if it works as a standalone. When I saw it, I'd already been invested in the characters, so some of the jokes were priceless to me. Ken Finkleman, who was the star/writer/creator of the series, was kinda channeling Larry Sanders at the time, and he managed to take some mighty swings at news media, public broadcasting and government, so I really liked it. I haven't seen it in about 15 years, so I'm curious how the humour stands up. -
[quote name='scruffy-lookin' timestamp='1340751764' post='294981']<br />
Disappointing if itâ€
s really that bad. Iâ€ve heard a couple of the promo interviews and thought it sounded interesting. That world is ripe for dramatization and Sorkinâ€s “ripped from the headlines†episodes and, as a reformed news junkie, I was interested to see how it played out.<br />
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[b]Iâ€m one of the three people who enjoyed [/b][i][b]Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip[/b], [/i]Sorkinâ€s short-lived take on the behind-the-scenes action at a sketch comedy show. I know it suffered from coming out at the same time as 30 Rock but, in a world where 30,000 crime procedurals are able to co-exist, I would have thought that there was room for two shows about sketch comedy.<br />
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Sorkinâ€s stuff can have a sameness to it with a lot of the dialogue sounding like (what I imagine are) the arguments in Sorkinâ€s head. When it works itâ€s snappy stuff but it can get preachy.<br />
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Did anyone see [i]The Hour[/i] with Dominic West? looked like a [i]Madmen[/i] era version of [i]Newsroom.[/i]<br />
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Wonder who the other one is? Pretty much agree with all of this. Also watched The Hour. Found it pretty boring TBH. Would have preferred more Suez and less newsroom politics or more sand less sex if you like. -
The wife has started watching the controversial new series "Girls". Have to say I don't mind it. Some of the scenes have to be seen to be believed. I guess its a sort of anti-Sex in the City which has to be a good thing.<br />
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Watched a few episodes of the League. Rather shit. In fact utter shit.<br />
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Modern Family keeps on keeping on though. Will be interesting to see if it can sustain one more season. -
[quote name='mimic' timestamp='1340950924' post='295270']<br />
I haven't read the whole thread.. [b]But I'm a huge fan of the tv series "Suits".[/b].<br /><br /><br />
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I also watch continuum.. It's good<br />
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Me too. Can't wait for the second series. -
Caught episode 1 of a new BBC drama, Blackout last week (3 eps only) and looks like it could be pretty good. <br />
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A disillusioned/bent councillor in an act of selfishness (although to everyone else, selfless) captures the attentions of the public and some think he is what the city needs as Mayor, however he has a darker secret of his own, if only he could remember...<br />
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Also seen a few others that sound great, will find my list at some point, but one is a Danish one I think, The Bridge, anyone seen this? -
[quote name='Quo vadis' timestamp='1342537774' post='298448']<br />
Breaking bad Season 5........yep! Still awesome.<br />
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HAve ep 1, am torn as to whether I will watch as I get it, or wait until I have all episodes and do the marathon.... -
[quote name='taniwharugby' timestamp='1342591169' post='298566']<br />
HAve ep 1, am torn as to whether I will watch as I get it, or wait until I have all episodes and do the marathon....[/quote]<br />
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I have a mate at work who follows the same shows, so Monday night is viewing night and Tuesday lunch time is discussion time!<br />
This year it was Walking Dead, then GOT, now it's Breaking Bad.<br />
I like Tuesday lunch time. -
[quote name='Crucial' timestamp='1342772222' post='298858']<br />
Have started watching a SyFy channel show called Alphas. So far not bad if you are after a pulp filler.<br />
Up to date with Continuum. It's risking turning into a weekly bad cop show unless they ramp up the future elements.<br />
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That show Alphas isn in the same 'world' as a previous series called Sancturay.. and another one that I cant remember. Makes some interesting crossovers apparently. Not that I have seen much of any of them. -
[quote name='rustycruiser' timestamp='1340245997' post='293584']<br />
I have been rewatching The Wire for the first time in a decade during the summer doldrums here. Through the first two, and just started season three. It is as good as I remember. I am really looking forward to the kids arc in season four. I thought it was the best of the series.<br />
[/quote]Update on this. Am now halfway through season five of The Wire. Season four with the children was as fantastic as I remembered. Season 5 is more disappointing than I remembered, certainly not up to the standard of the first four. And I really enjoyed season 3. I don't remember it being as good as it was when it first aired. Overall, the show holds up a decade after it aired. And season 5 is still weak. -
New series of The Mentalist...I reckon Jane is more annoying (to other people on the program, amusing to me) than ever<br />
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Also started watching the Wallander series with Kenneth BRannagh, I find it very odd that it is set in Sweden? yet everyone speaks English with an English accent...seems pretty decent so far (3 series of 3 episodes) -
Only a couple of weeks to go for Hell On Wheels Season 2. Looking forward to it. It was a bit clunky to start off with but gets going really nicely by the latter half of Season One. I'd recommend sticking with it as I'm expecting S02 to have picked out the aspects that worked well and removed those that didn't. The cinematography alone is worth the watch. Beautiful landscapes.
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I see SoHo is showing John Adams at the moment. If you get the chance to watch it this is a very well produced and acted series about the birth of the US of A from the Boston Tea Party on. <br />
Some excellent stuff that inspires you to learn a wee bit more about US history as its really quite fascinating. -
Breaking Bad - up to date with this, and is still a cracking series, will be interesting to see where they take it as you can see some possibilities developing.<br />
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[spoiler]Walt in particular seems to be poised to take the next step into being a total crime boss. He craves and loves the power and you can see he and Mike will come to a head. I also reckon at some point, possibly the end of the series, Walt may have a decision to make in regard to Hank; ie kill him or not...In regard to how they are cooking at the moments, this is setting themselves up to get caught! Also wonder if Skyler is going to take on a bigger role in the crime world. [/spoiler] -
Just watched the last ep of Continuum for Series 1. This show seemed to really find it's feet in the last few eps and after a middle patch where it threatened to become a cop show with a twist, it picked up the Time Continuum story fully and ran with it.<br />
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I suspect they started with a story that really only had about 5-6 good stories in the main plotline and padded it out a wee bit to get to 10 episodes. Whatever the reason, it finished strongly and set itself up well for a yet to be confirmed second series.<br />
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The main character is pretty easy on the eye too, especially when she gets into her special suit.<br />
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Hell on Wheels Series 2 starts about right now.<br />
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Agree with Tim that Alphas gets better as it goes on as well.<br />
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I've noticed that quite a few of these shows take a while to get their mojo going and are often worth sticking with. I guess we get spoiled from time to time with shows that hit the ground running and expect that all others will do the same. It must be a hard road to get some of these past their first season.
