Recommended Television Programmes

[Nick Armstrong]

Another Netflix series we've been enjoying recently: Alta Mar (originally in Spanish but dubbed into English) - sort of murder mystery / suspense series set on an ocean liner just after the 2nd world war. There are 3 series (unfortunately, Netflix cancelled series 4)

Ooh that sounds a good shout. Shall investigate

[oddoneout]

Last night C4 had a Dispatches on 'Is your online habit killing the planet?' I only saw the last 10 mins or so, but there was certainly food for thought, not least the power demands of data centres. This cropped up in another thread some time ago when the general response to my suggestion that online activities were not as guilt-free energy-wise as might be assumed was fairly negative. This programme put some figures on that, not least that Ireland is facing some tough choices about priorities for its grid and how to fund the increased power generation that the proliferation of data centres being built there will require.

[Serial_Apologist]

Last night C4 had a Dispatches on 'Is your online habit killing the planet?' I only saw the last 10 mins or so, but there was certainly food for thought, not least the power demands of data centres. This cropped up in another thread some time ago when the general response to my suggestion that online activities were not as guilt-free energy-wise as might be assumed was fairly negative. This programme put some figures on that, not least that Ireland is facing some tough choices about priorities for its grid and how to fund the increased power generation that the proliferation of data centres being built there will require.

So not only are some social media [sic] raising human expectations unrealistically in so many ways, they are now proving inimical to environmental sustainability.

We shouldn't be surprised.

[jayne lee wilson]

I'm finding it hard to get addicted any to series right now, beyond my adored Mandalorian....part of the fun is spotting all the in-jokes & filmic references....
Arachnaphobes should keep well away from S2/Ep2 (you think Shelob or Pennywise were bad? Look away now!). But - that's right, I still felt sorry for the spiders...(there are rather a lot of them...... remember Starship Troopers? )....under the ice on a frozen planet....

Spiders are cool! Hug a Spider today! (Well OK then, cup it lovingly in your soft warm palms...)

And now The Child (aka Baby Yoda) has, unthinkably, lost its iconic floating mini-globe-home (inducing an even dizzier sense of geworfenheit than I routinely experience) and the Razor Crest ends each episode still more beaten up and battered, limping on to the next interplanetary encounter.... ...darker and more serious this time....but still no Cara Dune or Assassin Droids. Bring them back now!

The Prodigal Son (Sky 1) is a real oddity, something of a hybrid of Lecter and Dexter...child damaged by witnessing early nastiness, becomes forensic expert, with - new twist on the old tale! Well sort-of a variant....... - his Father (Michael Sheen, evidently loving every hammy minute) in high security for life, used by the son/homicide as a reference for solving..... serial murders..... and relishing every moment...

So something wicked, dark and deep in the family psychology, if not always terribly subtle. I still think there will be a big reveal about The Mother...

[Serial_Apologist]

Anyone trying Industry - BBC2's 8-part weekly drama on Tuesday nights about a group of probationary hopefuls for permanent jobs at a top London commercial bank? The first thing to say about this is that without a smidgen of acquaintance with porn a lot of the references, let alone sex scenes, will be beyond many viewers. Secondly, are young hopefuls on the cusp of employment at a shrine to capitalist stereotypathy really like this? Even some of them?? I might now have an idea what goes on when I am requested to stay on hold while the person dealing with my queries goes up line to a superior. Of secondary importance to the oft-complained of difficulty in hearing what the actors are saying, especially when words tail off, is not particularly caring about any of the characters, though I'm hanging on in the hope that the black American girl turns out to have something of the hero about her, as was suggested by her standing up for a colleague being publicly tormented by the evidently psychopathic northern Irish guy who works a few computer screens away from her. The problem is that everyone appears to have the benefits of psychopathology to help them keeping the money coming in...

[vinteuil]

.

... very much enjoying the black comedy of The End of the F***ing World on netflix - marvellous little 20 minute programmes following the Thelma & Louise style road trip of two disaffected teenagers in an England that is beautifully photographed as if it were a 1950s Edward Hopper Americana. Great performances from the the two leads -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_the_F***ing_World

,

[muzzer]

Yes I am, but not really impressed thus far. It reminds me a bit of the "hit" '90s show about London lawyers entitled This Life. Industry seems to have every cliché about investment banking people in it, with the volume turned up to 11.



I worked part-time at an (American) investment bank in London as recently as 2016-2019, and can assure you that the overt misogyny and verbal/psychological bullying at Pierpoint & Co. would not have been openly tolerated there, but more likely have resulted in disciplinary action or dismissal! I gather the two writers were in the City of London around the time of the financial crash of 2008-09, and attitudes were (somewhat) different then. Office culture has come quite a way since then, politically correct-wise.


I'm having to watch with subtitles enabled, so unclear is the diction - not to mention short-hand financial jargon!

I tried watching this but it’s truly awful. And I say that, having worked in city law firms and being familiar with the IB world. If I wanted to watch a lot of dysfunctional youngsters taking drugs and having sex I’m sure there’s a corner of the Internet that will cater to me a bit more effectively. And not at the licence payer’s expense.

[Historian]

I tried watching this but it’s truly awful. And I say that, having worked in city law firms. If I want to watch a lot of dysfunctional youngsters taking drugs and having sex

Tantalisingly left unfinished there... (Maybe wisely?)

[Leinster Lass]

I tried watching this but it’s truly awful. And I say that, having worked in city law firms and being familiar with the IB world. If I wanted to watch a lot of dysfunctional youngsters taking drugs and having sex I’m sure there’s a corner of the Internet that will cater to me a bit more effectively. And not at the licence payer’s expense.

Are they taking drugs and having sex simultaneously?

[johncorrigan]

I know it was not to everyone's taste, but I enjoyed series 1 of 'His Dark Materials'. However, series 2, which has just passed the halfway point is really pretty dull, despite some fine sets and some good acting. Mind you, when I read the books, I loved 'Northern Lights' but became less enthralled as I worked through the other two.

[Nick Armstrong]

I know it was not to everyone's taste, but I enjoyed series 1 of 'His Dark Materials'. However, series 2, which has just passed the halfway point is really pretty dull, despite some fine sets and some good acting. Mind you, when I read the books, I loved 'Northern Lights' but became less enthralled as I worked through the other two.

Never read the books, but I agree about the TV version second series. Not enough polar bear action!

[jayne lee wilson]

I know it was not to everyone's taste, but I enjoyed series 1 of 'His Dark Materials'. However, series 2, which has just passed the halfway point is really pretty dull, despite some fine sets and some good acting. Mind you, when I read the books, I loved 'Northern Lights' but became less enthralled as I worked through the other two.

Don't know the books, but the TV Drama-Adapt problem is the monotonous tone - visual, verbal, narratively - of gloomy ominousness. Too much of the dark mysterious quest, too much oh-my-goddery....brief explosions of violence.... more of same... and sad to say, the two young leads dominating recent eps just don't have the screen magnetism I need to stay gripped. Intermittently spectacular but...all so terribly in earnest.

Even the talking animals don't lighten it much, drawn to talking animals (and steampunk airships) though I usually am....
I keep trying to watch it between episodes of the brilliant Mandalorian(**spoiler alert!), but usually give up halfway....

We need more panserbjørne! Bring back the Bears! Bears are good.

(**.... its not Baby Yoda.....! Its Grogu! Nearly fainted....)

[jayne lee wilson]

And if you thought F1 was safe .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToxQAn5iM7Q

Worst any of us have seen in many years.......I had cold-running-blood and tears welling up all at once, watching live.....cameras kept respectfully away live until they knew Romain was safe.... miraculously, only minor burns, recovering in hospital now....

Such heroism from Romain and the medical staff! The best of humanity is here...

[Serial_Apologist]

And if you thought F1 was safe .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToxQAn5iM7Q

Worst any of us have seen in many years.......I had cold-running-blood and tears welling up all at once, watching live.....cameras kept respectfully away live until they knew Romain was safe.... miraculously, only minor burns, recovering in hospital now....

Such heroism from Romain and the medical staff! The best of humanity is here...

Relieved as one obviously is that he escaped, what will happen to F1 and other motor sports when petrol and diesel are no longer available? In short, what is the future of motor racing? As in the case of HGVs this isn't getting any discussion on air. Can we envisage battery operated F!'s?

[Bryn]

Relieved as one obviously is that he escaped, what will happen to F1 and other motor sports when petrol and diesel are no longer available? In short, what is the future of motor racing? As in the case of HGVs this isn't getting any discussion on air. Can we envisage battery operated F!'s?

Yes, though wheel changes might have to be accompanied by battery changes. The same might make sense in the case of cars and HGVs. Standardised battery exchanges as an albeit more expensive alternative to charging points at increasingly redundant petroleum refilling stations.