TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Discussion of performing arts, including theatre, film, television, and music.
Post Reply
User avatar
Frelga
Meanwhile...
Posts: 22479
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Home, where else

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Frelga »

I'm debating whether to start watching Chicago Fire and associated shows, or to avoid them like a, well, fire.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
User avatar
Sunsilver
Posts: 8857
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:41 am
Location: In my rose garden
Contact:

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Sunsilver »

I was a big fan of Emergency! (Squad 51) back in the day, so naturally, I wanted to watch Chicago Fire. So far, I have avoided becoming a fan of the other shows, though I did watch Chicago P.D. briefly. It was too violent for my tastes, but I do occasionally still watch it, as Voight has turned into a very interesting character, after first appearing on Chicago Fire as a corrupt cop out to get Severide and Casey for charging his son with drunk driving.

They occasionally do crossovers with Chicago Fire and Chicago Med, but I'd really prefer they didn't, as I don't want to watch ALL the shows! Same thing with NCIS - I let NCIS L.A. drop from my viewing schedule, as it just didn't appeal to me as much as the other two shows.
When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed, that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes The Rose.
User avatar
Inanna
Meetu's little sister
Posts: 17708
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:03 pm

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Inanna »

Frelga wrote:I'm debating whether to start watching Chicago Fire and associated shows, or to avoid them like a, well, fire.
Ummmm. Read a Chicago guide book instead.
'You just said "your getting shorter": you've obviously been drinking too much ent-draught and not enough Prim's.' - Jude
User avatar
Sunsilver
Posts: 8857
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 2:41 am
Location: In my rose garden
Contact:

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Sunsilver »

I don't think I'd find a guide book very exciting, Innana! :) Are you saying the series and its spinoffs are boring? Unrealistic?

One other thing I like about the series is the way they treat women. The cast has always had several strong women in it, and some episodes have focused on the prejudice women face in a male-dominated job. One of the women was gay, but had a very strong and complicated platonic friendship with a male firefighter, who mourned her greatly when she died on the job. I thought that was a very interesting and original touch.
When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed, that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes The Rose.
User avatar
Inanna
Meetu's little sister
Posts: 17708
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 5:03 pm

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Inanna »

I meant it as a joke to Frelga, Sunny. Since her son is in Chicago it would be good to know about the city without things that would worry her. Hence, the guide book. ;)
'You just said "your getting shorter": you've obviously been drinking too much ent-draught and not enough Prim's.' - Jude
User avatar
Maria
Hobbit
Posts: 8256
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:45 pm
Location: Missouri

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Maria »

Does American Gods get better? We are two episodes in and my husband is about pegged on his weirdness tolerance meter.

:wooper: :abducted: :help:
User avatar
Frelga
Meanwhile...
Posts: 22479
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Home, where else

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Frelga »

It doesn't get less weird.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.

Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
User avatar
Nin
Ni Dieu, ni maître
Posts: 1832
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2005 7:19 pm
Location: Somewhere only we go

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Nin »

I have recently watched two TV series which I have loved, but both were in spanish and I am not sure they are available in English in the USA.

First was the spanish version of “El capitán Alatriste”. I have not seen the cinema version with Vigo Mortensen, but the serie is a lovely classical sword and cape style pleasure to watch. Like the Errol Flynn of old...

The other one is so good that I hope they will make versions of other countries. It is called “El Ministerio del Tiempo” and is the story of a ministry of Time Travelling in which people of different times travel in the past to preserve history. Costumes are great and I learn a lot about Spanish history, culture and literature watching it! Fantastic series.
"nolite te bastardes carborundorum".
User avatar
yovargas
I miss Prim ...
Posts: 15011
Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:13 am
Location: Florida

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by yovargas »

Do you speak Spanish too or are you watching with subtitles?
I wanna love somebody but I don't know how
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists


Image
User avatar
Maria
Hobbit
Posts: 8256
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:45 pm
Location: Missouri

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Maria »

Frelga wrote:It doesn't get less weird.

No kidding! :shock: We watched three more episodes last night. It is starting to have a coherent story. Sort of.. :help:
User avatar
Nin
Ni Dieu, ni maître
Posts: 1832
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2005 7:19 pm
Location: Somewhere only we go

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Nin »

yovargas wrote:Do you speak Spanish too or are you watching with subtitles?
I am watching with Spanish subtitles. They speak too quickly, but by reading I get it all (or almost).

Y aprende mucho escuchando! Mi objetivo por Estë año es de hacer un examen de nivel B2 en español y me falta más práctica. Me gusta también mucho leer en español. Acabo de terminar dos novelas, una española, una mexicana. Estoy leyendo una biografía ahorita.
"nolite te bastardes carborundorum".
User avatar
Maria
Hobbit
Posts: 8256
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:45 pm
Location: Missouri

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Maria »

We've been watching Westworld, season 1.
The opening music is stuck in my head today. :help:
User avatar
Cerin
Posts: 6384
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 3:10 am

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Cerin »

Has anyone watched 'Godless,' the Netflix 7-part Western? I loved everything about it. While full of homage, I thought the three main characters were subtly drawn and original.

I found it well-written and beautifully filmed -- and what a gunfight!!
Avatar photo by Richard Lykes, used with permission.
User avatar
Alatar
of Vinyamar
Posts: 10596
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:39 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Alatar »

This is gonna be the next Father Ted. You heard it here first!

Image
The Vinyamars on Stage! This time at Bag End
User avatar
yovargas
I miss Prim ...
Posts: 15011
Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:13 am
Location: Florida

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by yovargas »

No idea what Father Ted is but I liked that trailer. :)
I wanna love somebody but I don't know how
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists


Image
User avatar
Alatar
of Vinyamar
Posts: 10596
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:39 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Alatar »

yovargas wrote:No idea what Father Ted is...
:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
Image
The Vinyamars on Stage! This time at Bag End
User avatar
yovargas
I miss Prim ...
Posts: 15011
Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:13 am
Location: Florida

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by yovargas »

:kiss:
I wanna love somebody but I don't know how
I wanna throw my body in the river and drown
-The Decemberists


Image
User avatar
Alatar
of Vinyamar
Posts: 10596
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:39 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Alatar »

Father Ted is something of a phenomenon over here. Its a Channel 4 Series that only ran for 3 seasons of 6 episodes each, plus a couple of specials. The acting is not great, because they're mostly irish comedians who were drafted in, rather than actors. But it has cult status on this side of the world. People travel from all over to attend Tedfest, and dress as their favourite characters. The basic premise if three catholic priests and their housekeeper living on a remote Irish Island. The old priest is an alcoholic and the youngest is an idiot, not that Father Ted himself is the brightest.

Because there's so few episodes, there's really no fillers and they're all gems, much like Fawlty Towers or The I.T. Crowd.
Image
The Vinyamars on Stage! This time at Bag End
User avatar
Jude
Lán de Grás
Posts: 8243
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:54 pm

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Jude »

Here's a sample:

Image
User avatar
Maria
Hobbit
Posts: 8256
Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:45 pm
Location: Missouri

Re: TV obsessions—come on, admit it!

Post by Maria »

We watched the whole first season of "Altered Carbon" on Netflix this past week. It was really good- quite absorbing.

It's also TV-MA, so if graphic violence and nudity bothers you, don't go there.

We actually listened to the audiobook of this 5 years ago, but couldn't remember many details. TV is a much better format for this story. I remember getting confused by the flashbacks in the audiobook version, while in the TV version, there was no question as to whether the story was in flashback or present day because the main character had a different face and body in the flashbacks.

They really did a superb job of letting you see the continuity of character between different bodies. I'd have thought that would be hard (and maybe it was, storytelling-wise) but they pulled it off with style.

There are three books in the series. I wonder if they'll do the next two books as well?
Post Reply