Favourite TV Series

FBI.
Yes, yet another US cop show, but we are working our way through the series from the 2018 start and each episode (watched about 20 so far) have been really excellent one-off stories with a few little sub-plots running through the series. The 2 lead characters are very likeable.
No idea about the quality of the various spin-offs but if a series is good enough to have spin-offs that's usually a good sign eg the original CSI.....

 

I'm mesmerised by how good Scavengers Reign has been. Last three episodes drop tomorrow night.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scavengers_Reign

 

I'm not bothered by succession. Don't get the hype. I know I'm a party of 1 but it feels weird.

 

Never seen it.

 

You really should give it a try.

 

It reminded me of the old joke about being like the Iran/Iraq war: you want them both to lose.

Succession was basically a string of unlikeable characters stabbing each other in the back left, right and centre. You didn't need to root for anyone, you could just sit back and enjoy watching them all get repeatedly screwed over by each other.

 

I have a slightly different take, which was that they were deeply unlikeable, but you also had no doubt as to why. That meant you could sympathise with their pain and like them when they (very occasionally) behaved decently.

 

Yes, they were spoilt, and flawed, but you understood why, and how they were wholly inadequate for what their father expected of them...

 

Bumping this after completing the series. What a total hoot. Daft at times but never lets up.

Trailer.

 

Review of the 3rd series in the Graniad (https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-...ts-wild-how-good-gary-oldmans-spy-thriller-is). FWIW in the books 'Jackson Lamb' plays a bigger part in the story as the series goes on... It's almost, as if, the author (Mick Herron) knew the series would be televised and also knew he would be getting 'Gary Oldman' to play the part - he's soooooooo good that when I read the books I just 'see' Gary Olman playing his role - it would be simpler to rename the books "The Adventures of Gary Oldman playing 'Jackson Lamb' Pt. 1-12".

Spoiler

'Real Tigers' is, probably IMHO, the weakest book in the series.

 

Boat Story BBC iPlayer, proving to be a lot of fun. A great cast and some laugh out loud moments. Same team as The Tourist and if you enjoyed that, you’ll probably like this. French actor, Tcheky Karyo, steals the show, but it’s Daisy Haggerd’s warm-hearted Janet you cheer for.

 

I saw from the clips that Johnson isn't Johnson and that ruins it for me.

'Mark this is ********!'

 

Shouldn’t write it off based on just a peep at the show.

 

Fargo, Prime TV, right back on form in its fifth season.

 

Might be a bit late to the party but don't think i've seen it mentioned on this thread, but only murder's in the building on disneyplus is great. Good cast (Steve Martin, Dustin Hofman, Selena Gomez & loads of cameos), clever idea - it's basically a silly murder mystery and best of all episodes are only 30 mins.

 

There's a new drama series coming soon on ITV that they're already flogging to death, it's called Castaways. It has Sheridan Smith in it. Can I just make a prediction right now that it will be an absolute pile of sh*te?
I won't be watching it but I'd appreciate any type of confirmation.

 

Just seen this. They are more like 45 minutes, surely?

We are on season 3, which is reported to be the best. We don't actually like it as much as the first two.

I've not spotted Dustin Hoffman unless you are confusing him with Martin Short - who is the star turn, really.

 

Yeah I realised the other day I kept mixing those two up! Have you got Steve Martin's song in your head all the time now though?

 

Drama featuring Sheridan Smith is usually a pretty safe indicator of something being bilge, though she was in a very good drama, years back, about breast cancer. It’s not that she’s untalented, it’s just you can’t stop being reminded that it’s featuring National Treasure Sheridan Smith and won’t someone just give her a BAFTA for it.

It seems uncharitable to say so this week after Mr Bates, but most ITV drama is feckin awful. Dismal detective/whodunnit after dismal detective/whodunnit (early, pre-shark jumping Unforgottens aside). There is no attempt to challenge the brain or describe the modern World in their search to get a 6.3 rating on IMDB.

 

Found this decidedly meh. At first I thought, this looks great, charming caper with some fine comedy actors, couldn’t wait, but it kept on jarringly mistepping between increasingly unfunny and serious, with a quite cynical core to it. Also absurdly extended. Four episodes would have done it to death. Didn’t bother with the second series.

 

I do agree in the main, but the Long Shadow was also really good so they can chuck up the odd decent one (including Mr Bates)

As an aside, one thing I’ll say about Mr Bates is that it was very good, but I do think the actual story, because it’s as shocking and infuriating as it is, did a lot of the heavy lifting. It’s currently got a 9/10 rating on IMDB with loads of glowing 10/10 reviews which rates it above succession, BB etc, I don’t think it’s anywhere near that level but the story elevates it.

 

Agree. It’s a very important topic, but not top notch storytelling.

 

Well, you're wrong.

 

Not sure I agree, two recent examples of excellent (fact based) drama being Nolly and A Spy Among Friends. Also enjoyed Stonehouse and Quiz.

In fact, I would say ITV drama has greatly improved from a few years ago. Albeit no Brideshead Revisited/Jewel in the Crown.

 

Thanks, that confirms what I thought.

 

Pleased to be of service. Have already instigated a similar approach to your suggestions.

 

Surely as Bates was a former sub-postmaster they should have called it Master Bates vs the Post Office?

 

Stop it.

 

Not favourite TV series but I'm using poetic licence to discuss a TV show.

The Lazareth Project.

I'm slogging my way through this. It's a challenge.

Don't get me wrong, the premise is really good and the storylines are getting quite good.

The acting however is questionable and there is so much slow fluff in each episode. 10 episodes a series but I reckon they could easily cut out some of the guff and a 7-8 episoder of more of the main story would be better.

 

Gladiators. Absolutely delighted this is back. Best thing on terrestrial TV.

 

Better than Bargain Hunt?