Television tonight: what's worth watching?

[pcolbeck]

"The Great" on Channel 4

A tongue in cheek serialised history of the rise of Catherine the Great of Russia. Funny and horrific in equal measures.
Excellent closing music for each episode too.

All episodes up to now on All 4.

[citoyen]

"The Great" on Channel 4

A tongue in cheek serialised history of the rise of Catherine the Great of Russia. Funny and horrific in equal measures.
Excellent closing music for each episode too.

Caught a bit of that on telly the other night and thought it looked interesting - the bit that caught my eye was a scene where she was feeding macaroons to wounded soldiers, which was, as you say, both funny and horrific. Looks like it has lots of gratuitous shagging too. Might go back and watch it from the start.

[Kim]

Has anyone mentioned It's a Sin?

Yes, it's Russell T Davies writing Russell T Davies characters.  Yes, it's got the tired old biphobic tropes and about 1.3 female characters in it^[1].  But you should watch it anyway.  Bring tissues [No, not for that - Ed.] and righteous anger.

* May contain traces of daleks and Thatcher.


_{[1] Does it even pass the Bechdel test?}

[andrewc]

I've been reading stuff about it in various places, but haven't watched any of it yet.  I think the only openly gay person I knew during that timeframe was John, who had the desk opposite me for a couple of years. I used to field calls from various boyfriends.  Nice chap,  he left in the first phase of mass redundancies to start an aromatherapy business.  A couple of years later I asked friends if they'd heard from him & was told he was dead.  Some form of cancer on his neck , so possibly KS.   

[Kim]

I'm too young to have experienced anything but the late-90s aftermath where older men were conspicuously thin on the ground, and sexual health awareness was a staple of (and often lucrative source of funding for) LGBT groups.

I had an unusual perspective of growing up in a household where infectious diseases where normal dinnertime conversation, and knew all about HIV and AIDS before I really understood the mechanics of sexual intercourse.

I think what's striking is to see the human side of it from a BRITISH perspective.  USAnain stories have been told many times.

[andrewc]

I remember being with friends, drinking in the "Third Room" at the Everyman Bistro in Liverpool,  and commenting that this part of the bar was mostly popular with gay people.  One of my "friends" got up & left, said that he wasn't staying here as you might catch something.  This was someone I'd always felt was fairly decent, well educated & broad minded 


This was a good interview, with Derek Jarman, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rnDr-xW5uo , though he was someone with a public profile & lots of supportive friends.  I remember watching it on C4 when it was first broadcast.


Can't recall when I first heard the words AIDS or HIV, probably when I started reading the Guardian (we were a Daily Heil household).

[citoyen]

Has anyone mentioned It's a Sin?

Yes, it's Russell T Davies writing Russell T Davies characters.  Yes, it's got the tired old biphobic tropes and about 1.3 female characters in it^[1].  But you should watch it anyway.  Bring tissues [No, not for that - Ed.] and righteous anger.

It's on the list. A gay friend who watched it was absolutely seething as a result but recommended it none the less.

One thing I don't recommend is the new series of Marcella. Terrible. Just a collection of unoriginal ideas thrown together badly.

[fuzzy]

Has anyone mentioned It's a Sin?

Yes, it's Russell T Davies writing Russell T Davies characters.  Yes, it's got the tired old biphobic tropes and about 1.3 female characters in it^[1].  But you should watch it anyway.  Bring tissues [No, not for that - Ed.] and righteous anger.

It's on the list. A gay friend who watched it was absolutely seething as a result but recommended it none the less.

One thing I don't recommend is the new series of Marcella. Terrible. Just a collection of unoriginal ideas thrown together badly.

With complete disregard for operational considerations....

[citoyen]

With complete disregard for operational considerations....

She’s a maverick but she gets results, goddammit.

And if she can singlehandedly bring down the entire O’Mafia family, it will be a victory for enemies of tired clichés everywhere.

[Hot Flatus]

^ I have taped the lot.

Watched the first episode of "The Serpent" which I did not enjoy (they did that thing where they tried to catch your interest by telling the story in such a way as you don't know what's going on ... because you won't care for any of the characters or be interested in the denouement otherwise),

I've watched two episodes on two seperate occasions, both in late evening. On both occasions I've woken in the night with a nightmare. Weird. Really unsettling.

[andrewc]

The last episode of the current season of "The Expanse".  Ooff.   I can cancel my Amazon Prime again. 

[andyoxon]

The last episode of the current season of "The Expanse".  Ooff.   I can cancel my Amazon Prime again.

Now you can get a free trial of Amazon Audible, & with the two free credits,  get the next couple of  Expanse audio books...       That's what I listened to on the bike rollers during Lockdown1.

[fuzzy]

With complete disregard for operational considerations....

She’s a maverick but she gets results, goddammit.

And if she can singlehandedly bring down the entire O’Mafia family, it will be a victory for enemies of tired clichés everywhere.

Yeahbut she's wrecking the rep of The Feds. I mean, an unhinged UC who actually sleeps with the enemy?
Oh, hang on a minute.....

[Mrs Pingu]

Not tonight, but from Thurs 11th Feb, fans of Adam Curtis' films on the state of our world will be able to find his new series available on BBC iplayer.
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/feb/06/you-could-be-a-cult-leader-diane-morgan-and-adam-curtis-on-brexit-trump-and-his-new-series

[Legs]

^ I have taped the lot.

Watched the first episode of "The Serpent" which I did not enjoy (they did that thing where they tried to catch your interest by telling the story in such a way as you don't know what's going on ... because you won't care for any of the characters or be interested in the denouement otherwise),

I've watched two episodes on two seperate occasions, both in late evening. On both occasions I've woken in the night with a nightmare. Weird. Really unsettling.

Mrs Legs and I are enjoying The Serpent.  Very sinister.

[Hot Flatus]

It's great telly, but I can't watch it anymore. I think the thing that really gets to me is the moments when they have drugged guests, the guests are ill and unwittingly dying, and the two killers are sitting, watching, overseeing their deaths whilst pretending to care for them.  All very Harold Shipman.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Has anyone mentioned It's a Sin?

Yes, it's Russell T Davies writing Russell T Davies characters.  Yes, it's got the tired old biphobic tropes and about 1.3 female characters in it^[1].  But you should watch it anyway.  Bring tissues [No, not for that - Ed.] and righteous anger.

* May contain traces of daleks and Thatcher.


_{[1] Does it even pass the Bechdel test?}

The soundtrack is great.

MrsC and I compared notes about this period (early 80s).

Seems that Aids awareness advertising was much better in Australia that it was in the UK.  Oz still had terrible occurrences of prejudice; I remember reading stories of children with Aids not being allowed into schools, parents (of other children) withdrawing their kids.

[L CC]

One thing I don't recommend is the new series of Marcella. Terrible. Just a collection of unoriginal ideas thrown together badly.

During a Zoom supplier meeting this was recommended to me.
I think I value your opinion higher than the man who sells cardboard boxes.

[mattc]

"The Great" on Channel 4

A tongue in cheek serialised history of the rise of Catherine the Great of Russia. Funny and horrific in equal measures.
Excellent closing music for each episode too.

Caught a bit of that on telly the other night and thought it looked interesting - the bit that caught my eye was a scene where she was feeding macaroons to wounded soldiers, which was, as you say, both funny and horrific. Looks like it has lots of gratuitous shagging too. Might go back and watch it from the start.

it is genuinely great!

I do not understand how they so beautifully balance the tone. Just love it.

[citoyen]

One thing I don't recommend is the new series of Marcella. Terrible. Just a collection of unoriginal ideas thrown together badly.

During a Zoom supplier meeting this was recommended to me.
I think I value your opinion higher than the man who sells cardboard boxes.

I wouldn't trust my opinion on TV matters - I watch The Masked Singer.

Marcella is terrible though.

[andrewc]

Has anyone mentioned It's a Sin?

Yes, it's Russell T Davies writing Russell T Davies characters.  Yes, it's got the tired old biphobic tropes and about 1.3 female characters in it^[1].  But you should watch it anyway.  Bring tissues [No, not for that - Ed.] and righteous anger.

* May contain traces of daleks and Thatcher.


_{[1] Does it even pass the Bechdel test?}

Up to episode 3.  Not easy viewing, moments of buttock clenching embarrassment "you're not very clean down there", anger (parents & doctors) and unremitting horror.      The only bright notes are the soundtrack & spotting the locations in Liverpool that were used for filming.


I think this is the first thing by Russell T Davies I've actually seen.  Not enjoying the style very much.  Most people too pretty, no one smokes , drinks or swears enough. 

[Andy64]

On Amazon Prime - Sneaky Pete. 3 seasons, 10 episodes each
According to the search, last mentioned in a single post topic by Hot Flatus, back in 2017
If you liked Breaking Bad, you'll like this

[robgul]

Your Garden Made Perfect (I know . . . ) - interesting, especially as we are in the process of a garden make-over . . . 

Does anyone know where it's filmed (that's the "HQ" not the individual gardens) ? - interested as there are a couple of things I'd like to look at the detail.

Googling as failed me so far.

[tiermat]

Your Garden Made Perfect (I know . . . ) - interesting, especially as we are in the process of a garden make-over . . . 

Does anyone know where it's filmed (that's the "HQ" not the individual gardens) ? - interested as there are a couple of things I'd like to look at the detail.

Googling as failed me so far.

I suspect they use the same studio, or at least the same equipment as the home makeover show hosted by Sarah Beeney.  Zero idea where, though

[robgul]

Your Garden Made Perfect (I know . . . ) - interesting, especially as we are in the process of a garden make-over . . . 

Does anyone know where it's filmed (that's the "HQ" not the individual gardens) ? - interested as there are a couple of things I'd like to look at the detail.

Googling as failed me so far.

I suspect they use the same studio, or at least the same equipment as the home makeover show hosted by Sarah Beeney.  Zero idea where, though

. . . I meant the large garden with the big timber-frame building that is in the start and some of the linking sequences.