Finished TV series—who watches?

[Pifanjr]

There was a second one!? I saw the first and liked it a lot.

Yeah, released in December 2023. Season 3 was released December 2024.

 

[Pifanjr]

I finished the first season of Dr. Stone. I read about it somewhere and the setting sounded intriguing. It's an anime about a 19 year old whiz kid who wakes up 3700 years after a strange light turned everyone on earth to stone. Pretty much every trace of human civilization has disappeared, but he immediately decides he will speedrun scientific progress until he can fulfill his dream to go to space while also finding a way to revive every other petrified human.

The main draw of the series are the (fairly) accurate scientific processes the main character uses to create new tools. It's fun to see how, with the right knowledge, you can use rudimentary tools and resources to create stuff that took humanity thousands of years to discover.

Sadly, that is pretty much the only interesting part of the series. It almost completely ignores the other struggles living in the stone age would bring, as well as any mental problems someone would face if they woke up 3700 years in the future with the world as they knew it just gone, with no idea if the people they loved can be revised.

There is only one real source of conflict in the series in the form of a rival tribe that wants to prevent scientific progress because they're worried that reviving all of humanity will also bring back all of the inequality. They would prefer using this opportunity to restart humanity with a clean slate. Which could have been an interesting conflict, but the show refuses to seriously debate the pros and cons of such an idea.

The show also refuses for anyone to be in any actual danger, so there is never any kind of real tension, which is a shame for a setting that could have been much more interesting.

 

[Zloth]

The BBC is releasing a whole bunch of old Doctor Who shows on YouTube, including some that never went to DVD. I've been having some fun watching those over dinner!

Doctor Who: Classic

Welcome to the Doctor Who: Classic channel! Travel in the TARDIS with full episodes dating back to the Doctor's first incarnation. See the Doctor meet the Daleks and Cybermen for the first time, watch all of their regenerations and relive friendships with companions like Sarah Jane Smith, Ace...

www.youtube.com

 

[January's Ghost]

So yesterday I discovered that there is a 4 part animated series based on the manga Uzumaki on Max. I recently read the Uzumaki manga at the start of the month (a gift from my son).

Watched all 4 parts straight through and in roughly two hours they pretty much managed to cram most of the story in. They were very crunched together and events moved rather quick, but I think it was a great show.

Some parts from the book were way better when animated , so it added to the horror factor. I would recommend it.

 

[isleepinabed]

Everyone knows Mr Bean, perhaps the most recognizable (almost) silent comedy character post Chaplin's "The Tramp", even if a lot more basic and "grosser."

When something gets so popular it becomes part of the cultural fabric it's sometimes easy to dismiss. Mr Bean's original TV series were so much better than any of the movies.

But what is even more surprising is that, having created this iconic silent character, Rowan Atkinson also excelled at one of the wittiest characters in british TV, that of Blackadder. It had been decades since I had last seen the show and I had forgotten some of the details but not the broad strokes. As its four seasons follow four distinct characters in four distinct time periods (each a descendant of the next), what is curious, and a detail I had forgotten, is that their standing within their own universe is different. In the first season, Blackadder is the cowardly second son of Richard IV, and he intends to become king. In season two, he's now a witty and sarcastic Lord councillor of Elizabeth I, and he intends to put down his archrival Lord Melchett as the Queen's favourite. Then in number 3, he's now a butler to the oaf Prince George, future King George IV, and he intends to become rich to escape this ghastly life. Finally, in the last season, he's a captain during WWI, and he intends to survive or escape war.
It's hard to say which is the best as they're so different. The fact that it revolves around historical reenactment and not a character that's set in stone allows for a lot of variety in terms of episodes, which pretty much are all classics (just 6 episodes each season - plus a few specials with characters in different eras).

Often we are doomed to think "oh, if they ever did another season..." but, like many classic shows, there'a certain quality in it being a complete finite piece, even if (almost) everyone's still alive. A product of its time, sure, but also the fact that it was what it was, warts and all, and the episodes that do exist become a lot more special for it.

 

[Johnway]

Whilst watching the rest of Fraser, i had been watching other things. This time its the second series of SAS: Rogue Heroes

its based on the book of the same name by Ben Macintyre. The second series continues where we left off, With the SAS now under the control of the volatile Paddy, who true to form begins season 2 getting into trouble and ending up inside a military prison.

Bill Stirling (david stirling's brother who was one of the original founders of the SAS) notifies paddy that the SAS are seen as violent savages and unsuitable for future campaigns. Bill stirling gives paddy an ultimatum: rebrand the SAS to the SRS and change up tactics suitable for campaigns in Europe itself or face being disbanded.

From there Season 2 follows the SAS campaign in Sicily and Italy before returning home to prepare for DDay. On a side story, with Bill stirling captured in season 1, he tries to find ways to escape from his Italian prison without much success.

i found the show entertaining enough. Although there were points in the show that made me think that perhaps it moved surprisingly quickly or side characters are killed off quickly or the plot armor was apparent. The show seems to make great pains to stress that the show should not be used as a historical learning piece, so its mostly an embelished WW2 action drama. I guess i'm fine with that. not quite as harrowing or epic as Band of brothers or the pacific (none of the main members die or anything) but still entertaining none the less.

 

[SleepingDog]

Everyone knows Mr Bean, perhaps the most recognizable (almost) silent comedy character post Chaplin's "The Tramp", even if a lot more basic and "grosser."

When something gets so popular it becomes part of the cultural fabric it's sometimes easy to dismiss. Mr Bean's original TV series were so much better than any of the movies.

But what is even more surprising is that, having created this iconic silent character, Rowan Atkinson also excelled at one of the wittiest characters in british TV, that of Blackadder. It had been decades since I had last seen the show and I had forgotten some of the details but not the broad strokes. As its four seasons follow four distinct characters in four distinct time periods (each a descendant of the next), what is curious, and a detail I had forgotten, is that their standing within their own universe is different. In the first season, Blackadder is the cowardly second son of Richard IV, and he intends to become king. In season two, he's now a witty and sarcastic Lord councillor of Elizabeth I, and he intends to put down his archrival Lord Melchett as the Queen's favourite. Then in number 3, he's now a butler to the oaf Prince George, future King George IV, and he intends to become rich to escape this ghastly life. Finally, in the last season, he's a captain during WWI, and he intends to survive or escape war.
It's hard to say which is the best as they're so different. The fact that it revolves around historical reenactment and not a character that's set in stone allows for a lot of variety in terms of episodes, which pretty much are all classics (just 6 episodes each season - plus a few specials with characters in different eras).

Often we are doomed to think "oh, if they ever did another season..." but, like many classic shows, there'a certain quality in it being a complete finite piece, even if (almost) everyone's still alive. A product of its time, sure, but also the fact that it was what it was, warts and all, and the episodes that do exist become a lot more special for it.

I must admit that I liked series 2 to 4 where the Blackadder character was blessed with intelligence and a cutting wit but not luck. Series 1 - just does not work for me. It is interesting to note that one of the co-writers for the first series stopped writing to be replaced by Ben Elton from series 2 onwards. Perhaps it's a reflection of what I find funny.

 

[isleepinabed]

I must admit that I liked series 2 to 4 where the Blackadder character was blessed with intelligence and a cutting wit but not luck. Series 1 - just does not work for me. It is interesting to note that one of the co-writers for the first series stopped writing to be replaced by Ben Elton from series 2 onwards. Perhaps it's a reflection of what I find funny.

Yes, indeed.. it was surprising to rediscover that. I had vivid memories of Brian Blessed but didn't remember Blackadder being so squeamish in the first series.

In a way, it made sense opposite such a charismatic King like Blessed's, but I also thought there were hints of Bean in that cowardly manner and self-satisfaction of Blackadder I.

In a way, while there's more continuity than with the original, even the characters of 2, 3 and 4 are still somewhat different. Particularly their standing in life and their goals, which ends up shaping up the episodes.

I'd also say the final scene of the last episode of the last series... Great scene to end with. Loved it.

 

[Johnway]

Yes, indeed.. it was surprising to rediscover that. I had vivid memories of Brian Blessed but didn't remember Blackadder being so squeamish in the first series.

In a way, it made sense opposite such a charismatic King like Blessed's, but I also thought there were hints of Bean in that cowardly manner and self-satisfaction of Blackadder I.

In a way, while there's more continuity than with the original, even the characters of 2, 3 and 4 are still somewhat different. Particularly their standing in life and their goals, which ends up shaping up the episodes.

I'd also say the final scene of the last episode of the last series... Great scene to end with. Loved it.

Ah blackadder a personal fav of British comedy. Witty and hilarious, i agree that blackadder only became good in the second series onwards. i do like Stephen fry's wellington in blackadder 3.

 

[Frindis]

View: https://youtu.be/ycjhqN4LTq4?t=38


I'm also a sucker for Fawlty Towers and Black Books:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izAqFoLtzKM

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5a5vBzwLkM

 

[isleepinabed]

View: https://youtu.be/ycjhqN4LTq4?t=38


I'm also a sucker for Fawlty Towers and Black Books:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izAqFoLtzKM

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5a5vBzwLkM

Another brilliant show where every episode is a classic in just two half-season series.
I hope the talked about new series does not happen as it would only mar what it is by the sound of it.

 

[Johnway]

So in between watching reality tv, documentaries i decided to watch some drama. in my case Welcome to Chippendales (2022) The rather seedy story of the rise of the male strippers Chippendales. In more ways then one.

8 episodes long, story involves around Somen Banerjee trying to make it big in America and his eventual downfall when his shady business dealings finally catch up with him. At first the story is a feel good rags to riches story but over time as banerjee's business begins to struggle he switches up to underhanded tactics ranging from arson to straight up murder to remove the competition and anyone who gets in his way.

The show tries to portray Banerjee as a complex character, someone who wants the american dream but his life experiences and upbringing defines his personality and business dealings. Mainly in the form of narcissism, social awkwardness, controlling and (unintentional) racial discrimination.

The show was ok, i had expected a bit more and sure, the actor performances are all good. its just that perhaps it goes at a break neck pace and it only really picks up in the second half of the series when everything falls apart and banerjee goes off the rails and down the road of ruin.

Would i recommend it? meh, its ok. I didn't hate it but i can't help but feel that such a crazy/wild story of somen bannerjee could have been much more.