Don Grose

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Trying to be other things and failing. Too complex, no central clear theme or model, too many puzzles and unconnected things going on. The QR code to play along at home leads to too much content, too much effort to try to work out what to do with any of it whilst watching and it doesn't seem to be timed to the action itself, which it could never be anyway given the show is streamed, so it's really just some separate content to engage with. Rob Brydon is dressed and behaves very out of character. The double breasted blazers and cravats don't pass as retro cool and just seem oddly chosen. He doesn't come across naturally like he presents on Would I Lie to You and is tonally misplaced, like he's trying to act the part of a presenter rather than naturally and authentically talking to the audience and contestants. Probably will sink without trace after this series.

18 likes

One of the all time greatest action films, with one of the greatest opening twists of any sequel. It's important to see Terminator 1 first to understand the twist, but don't be put off T2 by the slightly amateurish tone of the first film. Despite the action levels on steroids there's nothing overblown, with more of an art house feel than mainstream blockbuster. I've rewatched several times over the decades, but unfortunately you can't recreate the sheer power of seeing it all unfold for the first time.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Like so many Netflix shows it's high production values, great cast, good acting but a dumbed down storyline and dialogue. Within an episode it feels like a spoof spy thriller rather than what could have been something a lot more powerful. Too many deaths, too many people chasing around after each other trying to kill each other, too many people magically capable of professional level martial arts, too many pantomime characters. Plays out like a French farce with a few slightly more dramatic moments but there's never a sense that anything like this happens in real life.

Black Doves

2 likes

I'm on series one and the story line is getting a little unrealistic. Potential high drama is weakened by moments of unrealistic farce. Gary Oldman's every line is facetious or sarcastic, no-one is capable of keeping that up continuously in real life, and he sounds like Daphne's brother from Frasier, a misplaced spaced-out cockney that again doesn't really exist in the real world. It's still keeping my interest though so assume the dubious bits will smooth out, based on it having reached 4 series.

Slow Horses

3 likes

About as dumbed down as it's possibly to make a show. Anthony Hopkins is wasted as even his formidable presence can't repair the day time TV tone. Apparently in ancient Rome they use phrases such as p off and f off. Why bother having Africans speaking their mother tongue with English subtitles when the Romans themselves are all fluent English speakers. Have only seen the first episode but seems unlikely to pick up

Those About to Die

9 likes

A Family Affair

Fingerprints Don't Lie

Overall a very good watch. I can't help feel though that behind the scenes there's a lot of intervention and choreography by the producers. How do the contestants suddenly manage to get paid temp jobs for an afternoon? I don't think people on tourist visas are allowed to work and who would employ someone for such a short period. Would the BBC really let the contestants take long car rides with strangers from remote petrol stations without some form of vetting? Contestants are lent cars by kindly strangers seemingly with no insurance arrangements. How do the contestants largely manage to take similar routes and end up at the rendezvous point so close to each other. I feel this is far more managed than meets the eye and it's not just cameras following the contestants around.

Race Across the World

18 likes

Plays like a credible adult drama but the central theme of video game zombies is enough to put off much potential audience, my partner just doesn't want to see a zombie show. Given they're trying to appeal to a discerning audience rather than teenage boys it might have been better to drop the zombie scenes altogether and leave the nature of the pandemic in the audience's imagination. I think they should have concentrated on the human impact of a severe pandemic alone, which is where episode 3 reaches and where I'm up to. Will be interesting to see the zombie/drama ratio moving forward.

The Last of Us

Straddles the middle ground between trashy soap opera and quality drama, sometimes being both but mostly the former. Scenes can be very unrealistic, eg at a cocktail charity event they run a show tunes karaoke and it turns out everyone on the staff can sing to a professional standard or team up to deliver a duet perfectly with no rehearsal. The tone improves in series 2. A far better recent series with a similar setting is The Newsreader. Not Reece Witherspoon's best TV production, although her acting is great. Jennifer Aniston is superb, Steve Carrel also very good. Cast overall excellent.

The Morning Show

5 likes