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What TV SHOWS are you watching?
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jason10mm wrote: I've never really thought about it that way but that is a good way to describe The Expanse. Was is originally a RPG game? I know it has 2 authors but I've not really dived into the writing of the books much.
Yes, this is literally true, its origins are in an RPG campaign the authors were involved in.
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Gary Sax wrote:
jason10mm wrote: I've never really thought about it that way but that is a good way to describe The Expanse. Was is originally a RPG game? I know it has 2 authors but I've not really dived into the writing of the books much.
Yes, this is literally true, its origins are in an RPG campaign the authors were involved in.
Eh. That's fine. So was the Wild Cards book series and it's brilliant. RPGs are supposed to tell stories.
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Jackwraith wrote: Eh. That's fine. So was the Wild Cards book series and it's brilliant. RPGs are supposed to tell stories.
I am SHOCKED that Wild Cards has not been turned into a streaming show yet. After GoT especially, after the MCU even more so. I thought HBO or Amazon for sure would have snapped it up given the adult concepts, the superhero thing, and the GRRM tie-in.
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Watched to the end of Staged as the whole thing is already up on iPlayer. Starting to forget that broadcast TV is even a thing anymore, let alone of any relevance. The first series was brilliant and the first couple of episodes of the second were even better, but it all takes something of a stylistic turn in its somewhat shouty middle. Without wanting to spoil anything there are an increasing number of guests who all get to do a little skit with the boys and the humour changes along with them. Subtle wit is muscled to the side by broad slapstick. Most of the guests are American comedians/comedy actors performing to stereotypes and for the viewer it feels like you are constantly being mugged by the shifts between British and American humour (to be clear, I find enjoyment and laughter in both, I just don't want a Bourbon milkshake poured into my Gin & Tonic). I think the problem is that some of the guests just aren't subtle enough in their approach which breaks the careful boundary the show treads between reality and fiction. One or two in particular are almost screaming "Oh look, I'm a caricature of myself!"
Speaking of tonal shifts, we also caught up with the Christmas episode of Macenzie Crook's latest love-letter to idyllic English countryside life, the reboot to the much nostalgia-cised Worzel Gummidge. Originally a pre-war series of books about two children who make friends with a magical scarecrow, it was subject to a frankly terrifying 70/80's kid's TV show where Worzel, amongst other horrifying things, would often remove his own head. Crook's reboot however is far more gentle, spending plenty of screen time luxuriating over rolling hills and open fields, and features appropriately folksy music from The Unthanks whose dulcet tones fans of The Detectorists in particular will instantly recognise. This year's episode was a perfectly contained yarn where the protagonists went on a nice adventure and had a wonderful day out, neatly tying everything up with one character being in a happier place (literally) than where they started without a shred of narcissism or greed involved - in a very welcome change to the usual fare nobody sought revenge, got the girl, or became rich, it was just a lovely time for all. Very highly recommend for family watching.
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Going to run through all 65 episodes that HBO has.
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So I went back to grinding my way through Buffy season six and Angel season three. I previously stated that Buffy season five was the worst season, but season six is almost as bad. I had to completely skip the musical episode, because I hate musicals. It always seem so outrageously fake when somebody is talking and suddenly breaks into song. Otherwise, this is a season about the writings beating down the characters. Every couple breaks up at some point this season. Willow struggles with addiction. Dawn gets caught shoplifting. Buffy nearly goes broke and then gets a minimum wage job at a fast food joint. The big bad of the season is a trio of misogynistic nerds. But I know that the Dark Willow storyline will be decent, and the end of the season is so good that it makes Xander tolerable again.
Back when Angel was on the air, season three is when I started losing interest again (I also missed a chunk of the first season because I didn't like Cordelia or the Irish demon guy). It's not bad, it's not great, and there are occasional moments of quality and humor. As the season winds down, Wesley finally moves from comedy relief to cool badass, and things get pretty dark.
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jpat wrote: Bridgerton . . . I might need a fan and a fainting couch.
My wife and I binged that series. It was enjoyable, although I was more a fan of the costuming than the overall plot. I have velvet blazers, but I need more velvet waistcoats in my life...and perhaps some of those short pants.
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the_jake_1973 wrote: ]
My wife and I binged that series. It was enjoyable, although I was more a fan of the costuming than the overall plot. I have velvet blazers, but I need more velvet waistcoats in my life...and perhaps some of those short pants.
Hah, i feel that way about His Dark Materials on HBO. The show itself is tedious and dull but DAMN, the costuming is on point! Amazing leather jackets and waistcoated suits for the men. Aside from a terrible fedora on Lin Miranda that looks like it came straight from the factory while the rest of his outfit crawled trough a gravel pit anyway.
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It’s not immediately fun like The Mandalorian, so it’ll be hard to recommend until the full thing is out and the story is told in full. Elizabeth Olsen’s performance is pretty great, if that’s enough for you.
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