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Watched anything good lately?

Danza91 said:
I'm a bit behind but I've just finished watching It's A Sin. Absolutely brilliant drama. Powerful.
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I've just finished It's a Sin too - even more behind, but I'd done a series record on my HDR and forgotten it was there! Wonderful drama, but utterly heartbreaking, I had to stop watching it in my lunch breaks because I'd have red eyes in afternoon meetings! It's a story that needed to be told, pretty disgraceful that the BBC thought it too controversial to pick up and C4 eventually cut it down from 8 to 5 episodes. Definitely recommend it to anyone who's not seen it yet, I think it's on All 4 still. There's a good Easter Egg for Doctor Who fans as well! It's not an easy watch mind, I've a couple of friends who couldn't get to the end, but it's the story of a lost generation and I for one am glad I stuck with it.
 
Recently been watching the BBC sitcom Ghosts. Written and starring the people behind Horrible Histories.

The main story is a couple inherit a Stately home and after an accident one of them (Alisson) can now see and speak with the ghosts that inhabit the house and grounds spanning from a caveman to a MP that died in the house in the 90s.

It's really good and very funny, especially as you get to know the characters.

Season 3 has recently gone onto the iplayer so there's plenty of episodes to enjoy, including a Christmas special.
 
When 'Blackpool' a BBC musical/drama from 2004 came onto BritBox (great value for the amount of content), I thought it was worth a rewatch, having not seen it since it first aired. I say musical, because at various points throughout, the cast break into song, one or two big musical numbers per episode.

It tells the tale of an amusement arcade owner called Ripley Holden (David Morrisey) who has grand plans for his establishment, wishing to turn it into a mega casino, as was the plan for the resort around that time.

A young guy is found dead in the arcade which causes a bit of a to-do, then there's an affair, some controversy, some violence and the sale of soft drugs. Quite Blackpool, you might suggest.

In terms of locations, the arcade is Lucky Star (now the Velvet Coaster), the exterior is used but the interior is a set. The old Tower aquarium is seen - an absolute travesty that was lost in favour of retainingSealife. In terms of BPB, there is a scene in the Beach Cafe (now Ticket Sales) and a stroll across the Tom Sawyer, but the rides aren't really seen, bar the Big One in exterior shots of the arcade.

If you wanted to be unkind, you could say it's camp musical madness with Toyah Battersby and Dr. Who, but I actually enjoyed it for what it was, it's also as a window back into Blackpool around the turn of the millennium, I have some great memories of those days. The last of the pre-smartphone, WGT, slightly crass era where Blackpool didn't really know what it wanted to be.

If you do watch it, in the wedding scene, it is suggested that the venue is North Pier theatre, it's not. It could be a set, or perhaps a pre-refurb Winter Gardens room. Would like to know, if anyone knows !
 
Not sure if it has been mentioned in this thread previously, but I've just finished watching Manifest (available via Sky Box Sets/Catch Up). So far there are 3 seasons, with a 4th and final season currently filming after being taken on by Netflix. Highly recommended!
 
Dopesick on Disney+ is an interesting/scary watch. Only on episode four, but the money behind American healthcare is just crazy.
 
Really enjoying the new Boba Fett series on Disney+

I am liking all these extra stories we are getting now. Jon Favreau is doing a fantastic job with them, and when you watch some of the behind scenes stuff, it sounds like he is taking what stories he created as a child playing with his Star Wars toys, and turning them in to adventures on camera. I am really enjoying the Star Wars content he has created so far.

This last episode was lots of fun to watch. As much as I dislike waiting for the weekly episodes, it does make it much more enjoyable than binge watching them all at once.
 
Watched 'Only Murders In The Building' the last week. A brilliant murder mystery comedy series starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. (and plenty of other famous faces)

The three are all true crime podcast addicts, and when a murder happens in their building they decide to spring into action themselves to solve the murder, whilst also doing a podcast.
 
Anyone watched Peaky Blinders? Is it any good? Not really one for contemporary drama but I quite like historical thrillers so was thinking of giving it a go.
 
Don't suppose anyone watched Euphoria? It's just finished and I would love to talk about it but I have a feeling most people on here don't massively fall into the demographic haha
 
I’ve recently been watching various series; me and my parents have gotten into a bit of a routine of watching a comedy series with our dinner in the evenings, and it’s seen me watching quite a few different series.

Friday Night Dinner
I’ve watched this before, but we recently re-watched the entire series, and I’d forgotten quite how much I like it! There are some absolutely cracking episodes (The Fox is a particular favourite of mine!), the whole dynamic just works very nicely, and I don’t think the character of Martin Goodman and some of his antics will ever not be hilarious to me! I think Jim is a great character as well!

Blackadder (Series 2-4)
I’ve got to say, this was quite funny, although possibly showing its age a tad when watched in 2022. I’d say my favourite series was Blackadder Goes Forth, although all 3 certainly had their funny moments. I’ve got to say that I thought Baldrick as a character was consistently very funny, and I thought that the whole dynamic between him and Blackadder was written very well!

Fawlty Towers
Of the two older BBC sitcoms, I’d probably say I preferred this to Blackadder, although as with Blackadder, some episodes and elements of it are definitely showing their age when watched in 2022. Being completely honest, I’m unsure whether some episodes and elements of it are exactly politically correct by modern standards (for instance, the way the characters often treat Manuel and the entire episode of The Germans are things that I’m not sure would fly in the present day). In spite of that, however, I think there are still many very funny bits; the whole show has that slapstick/gentle comedy vibe I enjoy, and some scenes such as where Basil gives the car “a damn good thrashing” are still absolutely hilarious!

Derry Girls
Before watching, I was unsure whether I’d necessarily like this, but my dad thought I’d like it, describing it as being “funny family dynamics” in a similar vein to Friday Night Dinner. And I must say, he was right, because this show was definitely a pleasant surprise! I very much liked the whole dynamic of it, and there were many really funny moments; a particular favourite episode of mine was the one where the family goes to a wedding and the group dabbles with drug-laden scones (I don’t know the actual episode name…). I also thought it was very clever in how it managed to be surprisingly poignant at times as well as funny; not too many shows are able to do that. I certainly look forward to watching the rest of Series 3 as it airs on Channel 4!

The Inbetweeners
I didn’t watch this one with my parents, instead watching it alone. And I only watched a few episodes of it (I think I watched the first 3 or 4 episodes of Season 1?). I decided to give The Inbetweeners a try on the basis that it’s often compared to Friday Night Dinner, and a lot of people seem to really like it, so I was kind of expecting something akin to FND, but based around sixth form students instead of a Jewish family. However, I’m sorry to say that this one wasn’t for me at all. As someone who doesn’t care for sexual/vulgar humour, I found it rather uncomfortable viewing on the whole, as it seems like everything the group does relates to sex/getting with girls in some way and builds upon that as its main punchline, and a lot of the humour is quite vulgar. I think I laughed once across the 4 episodes I watched, and that was when the door flew off of Simon’s car as the gang pulled into Thorpe Park, which definitely errs more on the side of slapstick. If you like that kind of thing, I understand why it might appeal to you, but perhaps controversially, that sort of thing isn’t really my bag. Also, I’m not sure whether this is the late teens “woke warrior” in me talking, but I feel like elements of it haven’t aged especially well for a show that’s not overly old. Does it make me overly sensitive if I say that bits of Inbetweeners could possibly be construed as offensive in this day and age?

I notice that I’m referring to things “showing their age” a fair amount. For clarity, that’s an observation rather than a criticism; I get that these shows were made in a different time.
 
It's a Sin has arrived on Netflix and wow what an incredibly powerful show.

Funny and tragic in appropriate measure, charting the highs and lows of a group of friends during the height of the HIV pandemic.

Everything Russell T Davies touches turns to gold
 
D4n said:
It's a Sin has arrived on Netflix and wow what an incredibly powerful show.

Funny and tragic in appropriate measure, charting the highs and lows of a group of friends during the height of the HIV pandemic.

Everything Russell T Davies touches turns to gold
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It was so, so good. Brilliantly cast, and so powerful. I'd be shocked if it doesn't win a few BAFTAs in a couple of weeks' time.
 
BarryZola said:
"Bus Wa***rs" though. That show really was one of the best. I'm guessing that you wouldn't be a fan of Peep Show either Matt?
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Absolutely love that show, however I can see that the crude humour and cringeworthy scenarios aren't for everyone.

I'm not sure I'd agree that it hasn't aged well though, at least not in the same way that Fawlty Towers hasn't. It's intentionally offensive (in the same way that Frankie Boyle's stand-up is offensive) and I think you either find that funny or you don't. True, the main characters often insult women, the disabled, the elderly etc. but that's kind of a commentary on the mindsets and attitudes of a lot of teenage boys which I personally thought was spot on, at the time it was made at least.

The casting is brilliant as well, especially Greg Davies as the sadistic head of sixth form. Even funnier when you know he used to be a teacher for real.
 
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