Be Excellent To Each Other :: View topic - General Purpose UK TV thread

Has anyone been watching the new series of Black Mirror on Netflix? I've seen the first three episodes so far and as usual, it's been quite excellent.

The 3rd episode has so far been the most bleak of the lot although...

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Jerome Flynn really made me laugh in it.

Anyway, definitely worth a watch.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Jerome Flynn really made me laugh in it.

Anyway, definitely worth a watch.

What did the black guy do that he was scared of getting out into the open. I got the racist email woman, the prostitute man, the two child porno ones, but I don't know what the black guy did?

But yes, having Kenny turn out to have been watching child porno instead of regular porno was a brutal little twist that caught me off guard and then made the extremes he'd been prepared to go to make sense. As he was going in to rob the bank I was just thinking, 'Surely he'd run off at this point and let prostitute man swing in the breeze, and let the wanking video get out. Didn't know at that point what he'd been wanking to.

it's just the natural extension of eBay / uber where bothe the recipient and provider can rate each other ( easily solved if neither side can see the other's vote u til both votes are in.)

TheVision wrote:

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Jerome Flynn really made me laugh in it.

Anyway, definitely worth a watch.

Yes I'm three episodes into the third season so far, they've all been really good although the second episode wasn't a particularly great 'Black Mirror' episode so much as it was a great slice of telly. (Episode Two was kind of missing a point for me, which Black Mirror episodes normally have.)

Shut Up And Dance (EP03) definitely the strongest so far, didn't see the sting in the tail coming at all. One thing I didn't work out, even after watching the closing few minutes a second time is:

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

I don't think it really matters what the black guy did in the grand scheme of things. He only had a bit part but you can imagine that whatever it was, it was bad enough to bring shame upon his family

And I watched another couple of episodes last night. Episode 4 isn't as bleak as all the others and it's actually a pleasant story.

It depends I guess. You could argue that by the end they were both just dead, simulations of people who once lived. No more conscious than a rock.

OK the government's a cunt, we knew that already.

It's not a patch on old Dwarf at its best, but then neither were the last couple of seasons of the original run.

Eps 3&4 have been very funny.

Because it's only just come out?

YOU KNOW WHAT HE MEANT.

Deffo watch Seasons 1 and 2 as well Kovacs, they're all on Netflix. I'd argue Seasons 1 and 2 have the two strongest episodes out of the whole lot in them, BE RIGHT BACK and THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF YOU. Although SAN JUNIPERO out of Season 3 is up there as well.

I watched one and thought it was all a bit too smug and "aren't I really clever, look, satire" so ignored the rest.

MaliA wrote:

I watched one and thought it was all a bit too smug and "aren't I really clever, look, satire" so ignored the rest.

It's written by Charlie Brooker, so I'm not sure what you were expecting.

Lonewolves wrote:

MaliA wrote:

I watched one and thought it was all a bit too smug and "aren't I really clever, look, satire" so ignored the rest.

It's written by Charlie Brooker, so I'm not sure what you were expecting.

Brooker is fucking great, you buffoons.

Although SAN JUNIPERO out of Season 3 is up there as well.

It's a lovely story, it's very well written and acted (Mackenzie Davis is as great as ever [1]), but it's a bit bloody cheerful by Black Mirror standards! I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and then the other shoe was A SHOCK HAPPY ENDING. Although I fear that is perhaps the setup for gut blow sucker punches in the remaining two episodes.

I felt more emotionally invested in the fates of Kelly and Yorkie after ten minutes of that than I do in most films after two hours. When the credits rolled, I couldn't quite believe it had only been an hour long -- it felt like it covered much more ground, somehow, but without a wasted second. It also paced the gradual reveal of what was really going on perfectly, to my mind.

[1] Although she does have an advantage because acting is all in the eyes and her face is about 85% eye.

Oh, he's pretty entertaining ranting about stuff, but I felt Black Mirror was all a bit sixth form-y

Lonewolves wrote:

MaliA wrote:

I watched one and thought it was all a bit too smug and "aren't I really clever, look, satire" so ignored the rest.

It's written by Charlie Brooker, so I'm not sure what you were expecting.

Brooker is fucking great, you buffoons.

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

It's not a patch on old Dwarf at its best, but then neither were the last couple of seasons of the original run.

Eps 3&4 have been very funny.

And 5 and 6. I think this new series has been good, far better than the first episode suggested it would be.

The Cat in particular had some great lines.

"It still counts!"

2 Broke Girls is a terrible, terrible TV show that I can't stop watching.

God, the set-up for a "hair in the salad" was so goddamn awful I almost turned it off. And I wish I had because it didn't get any better after that.

Hearthly wrote:

Although SAN JUNIPERO out of Season 3 is up there as well.

Speaking of this:

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

So in conclusion, it's just a perfectly crafted little slice of television.

BBC Four, 21:00 tonight: Myp TV.

Will let you know if it's worth it.

BBC Four: Rich Hall's Presidential Grudge Match
Enjoyable romp through the seedier side of US history, looking back at dirty campaigns from Jefferson and Adam onwards.

'Haunted art gallery owner Theresa May'

Yes I liked the way he had about 50 different amusing names for her

(See also, Trump.)

Trump is so fucking depressing, seeing some of his worst transgressions lumped together in a short space of time was awful, and to think he's going to president of the United States. Fuck me. He actually makes make my skin crawl, which I thought was something you just see written down for dramatic effect, but it turns out it's really a thing. Me and Mrs Hearthly were watching the programme together and were united in disgust. (Jnr was asleep upstairs on a rare early night.)

The only aspect of the episode I found a bit weak were the telly review segments (which I appreciate get their lineage from Screenwipe), I mean, Eastenders, really? Does anyone still watch that? (Not that I ever watched it anyway.)

But yes, good telly, anything by Charlie Brooker I really look forward to, basically.

I thought it was rubbish.

Remember when Sherlock solved mysteries and wasn't a bit-player in some shitty soap opera?

We watched the first episode and found Dirk Gently to be too annoying to continue with it.

Oh and I've recently watched two episodes of Class which are pretty good. It's decidedly grim though isn't it? And quite disturbing at times. Despite her gorgeousness Quill tends to be a bit distracting by being a bit too cbbc-ish.

Overall though I rather like it.

Author:	Kern [ Wed Oct 26, 2016 10:40 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
I started watching Adam Curtis's 'Hypernormalisation' over the Iplayer last night but gave up after an hour. Then watched C4's charity remake of the 'Crystal Maze' for the nostalgia factor but felt that Steven Merchant wasn't the right choice for the host. He was trying to be too clever-clever about the event, and really shouldn't have tried to emulate Richard O'Brian at all. Still, it had Johnny Peacock in it, so wasn't a waste of an hour.

Author:	devilman [ Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:56 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
TheVision wrote: Has anyone been watching the new series of Black Mirror on Netflix? I've seen the first three episodes so far and as usual, it's been quite excellent. The 3rd episode has so far been the most bleak of the lot although... ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! Jerome Flynn really made me laugh in it. Anyway, definitely worth a watch. I'm still working through season two at the moment. I appreciate the writing and premise of each story, but at the end of an episode, I wouldn't actually say I've enjoyed watching it, so I've not been binge-watching like I would with other stuff.

Author:	Hearthly [ Wed Oct 26, 2016 22:18 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
TheVision wrote: Has anyone been watching the new series of Black Mirror on Netflix? I've seen the first three episodes so far and as usual, it's been quite excellent. The 3rd episode has so far been the most bleak of the lot although... ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! Jerome Flynn really made me laugh in it. Anyway, definitely worth a watch. Yes I'm three episodes into the third season so far, they've all been really good although the second episode wasn't a particularly great 'Black Mirror' episode so much as it was a great slice of telly. (Episode Two was kind of missing a point for me, which Black Mirror episodes normally have.) Shut Up And Dance (EP03) definitely the strongest so far, didn't see the sting in the tail coming at all. One thing I didn't work out, even after watching the closing few minutes a second time is: ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! What did the black guy do that he was scared of getting out into the open. I got the racist email woman, the prostitute man, the two child porno ones, but I don't know what the black guy did? But yes, having Kenny turn out to have been watching child porno instead of regular porno was a brutal little twist that caught me off guard and then made the extremes he'd been prepared to go to make sense. As he was going in to rob the bank I was just thinking, 'Surely he'd run off at this point and let prostitute man swing in the breeze, and let the wanking video get out. Didn't know at that point what he'd been wanking to.

Author:	Malc [ Thu Oct 27, 2016 0:11 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Only seen episode 1 so far: nosedive. Mild spoilers follow I guess ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! it's just the natural extension of eBay / uber where bothe the recipient and provider can rate each other ( easily solved if neither side can see the other's vote u til both votes are in.)

Author:	TheVision [ Fri Oct 28, 2016 14:43 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Hearthly wrote: TheVision wrote: Has anyone been watching the new series of Black Mirror on Netflix? I've seen the first three episodes so far and as usual, it's been quite excellent. The 3rd episode has so far been the most bleak of the lot although... ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! Jerome Flynn really made me laugh in it. Anyway, definitely worth a watch. Yes I'm three episodes into the third season so far, they've all been really good although the second episode wasn't a particularly great 'Black Mirror' episode so much as it was a great slice of telly. (Episode Two was kind of missing a point for me, which Black Mirror episodes normally have.) Shut Up And Dance (EP03) definitely the strongest so far, didn't see the sting in the tail coming at all. One thing I didn't work out, even after watching the closing few minutes a second time is: ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! What did the black guy do that he was scared of getting out into the open. I got the racist email woman, the prostitute man, the two child porno ones, but I don't know what the black guy did? But yes, having Kenny turn out to have been watching child porno instead of regular porno was a brutal little twist that caught me off guard and then made the extremes he'd been prepared to go to make sense. As he was going in to rob the bank I was just thinking, 'Surely he'd run off at this point and let prostitute man swing in the breeze, and let the wanking video get out. Didn't know at that point what he'd been wanking to. In answer to Hearthlys spoiler.... ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! I don't think it really matters what the black guy did in the grand scheme of things. He only had a bit part but you can imagine that whatever it was, it was bad enough to bring shame upon his family And I watched another couple of episodes last night. Episode 4 isn't as bleak as all the others and it's actually a pleasant story. Don't get too used to it though as episode 5 brings it right back to bleak town. Also, it scores 1 star on the Craster scale. I didn't expect this.

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Author:	Hearthly [ Fri Oct 28, 2016 22:42 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
TheVision wrote: And I watched another couple of episodes last night. Episode 4 isn't as bleak as all the others and it's actually a pleasant story. Episode 4 (San Junipero) is fantastic. I had not the faintest idea what was going on for quite a while (which is absolutely the intention of course), but once it all started to slot together and work towards its conclusion I realised I was watching something very special. True enough it isn't bleak in the way a lot of Black Mirror is, but there's an awful lot of stuff to chew on in there, and some truly poignant, emotional scenes as well.

Author:	markg [ Sat Oct 29, 2016 13:40 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! It depends I guess. You could argue that by the end they were both just dead, simulations of people who once lived. No more conscious than a rock.

Author:	Hearthly [ Mon Oct 31, 2016 10:50 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Watched episodes 5 and 6 of Season 3 of Black Mirror over the weekend. Episode 5 was perhaps the weakest of the lot I think, which still makes it 'very good' but just not in the same company as some of the best from this season or previous seasons, which I would genuinely say are up there with some of the finest telly ever. The issue I had with this episode is the 'message' was 100% in your face and wasn't really anything anyone would disagree with anyway IMO. Episode 6 was great, but nonetheless still fell short of greatness IMO. Nice to see Kelly McDonald in a substantial part and also hear her say rude words in her sexy Scottish voice. Bit muddled in some regards though. Hopefully there'll be a Season 4! ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! OK the government's a cunt, we knew that already.

Author:	Grim... [ Wed Nov 02, 2016 1:28 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Dr Zoidberg wrote: It's not a patch on old Dwarf at its best, but then neither were the last couple of seasons of the original run. Eps 3&4 have been very funny. And 5 and 6. I think this new series has been good, far better than the first episode suggested it would be. The Cat in particular had some great lines. "It still counts!"

Author:	KovacsC [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 0:09 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Just watched season 3 of black mirror. Why have I not watched it before.

Author:	Grim... [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 8:36 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Because it's only just come out?

Author:	Hearthly [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 8:46 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
YOU KNOW WHAT HE MEANT. Deffo watch Seasons 1 and 2 as well Kovacs, they're all on Netflix. I'd argue Seasons 1 and 2 have the two strongest episodes out of the whole lot in them, BE RIGHT BACK and THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF YOU. Although SAN JUNIPERO out of Season 3 is up there as well.

Author:	KovacsC [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 9:31 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Grim... wrote: Because it's only just come out? I have never watched season 1 or 2 either.

Author:	Kern [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 9:34 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
BBC Four: 'Television's Opening Night' . Enjoyable attempt to re-enact the first night of high-definition* television in Britain. I've always been fascinated by the early days of TV so to see a recreation of a mechanical flying spot scanner in operation (heavy, cumbersome, and fundamentally flawed) was the highlight. * 240 lines

Author:	MaliA [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 9:57 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Hearthly wrote: YOU KNOW WHAT HE MEANT. Deffo watch Seasons 1 and 2 as well Kovacs, they're all on Netflix. I'd argue Seasons 1 and 2 have the two strongest episodes out of the whole lot in them, BE RIGHT BACK and THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF YOU. Although SAN JUNIPERO out of Season 3 is up there as well. I watched one and thought it was all a bit too smug and "aren't I really clever, look, satire" so ignored the rest.

Author:	myp [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:14 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
MaliA wrote: I watched one and thought it was all a bit too smug and "aren't I really clever, look, satire" so ignored the rest. It's written by Charlie Brooker, so I'm not sure what you were expecting.

Author:	Doctor Glyndwr [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:26 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Lonewolves wrote: MaliA wrote: I watched one and thought it was all a bit too smug and "aren't I really clever, look, satire" so ignored the rest. It's written by Charlie Brooker, so I'm not sure what you were expecting. Brooker is fucking great, you buffoons.

Author:	MaliA [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:28 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Doctor Glyndwr wrote: Lonewolves wrote: MaliA wrote: I watched one and thought it was all a bit too smug and "aren't I really clever, look, satire" so ignored the rest. It's written by Charlie Brooker, so I'm not sure what you were expecting. Brooker is fucking great, you buffoons. Oh, he's pretty entertaining ranting about stuff, but I felt Black Mirror was all a bit sixth form-y

Author:	Hearthly [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:36 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
MaliA wrote: Oh, he's pretty entertaining ranting about stuff, but I felt Black Mirror was all a bit sixth form-y Yes but you keep saying that The Walking Dead is consistently brilliant, whereas I think it's often been childish, silly, lazily written, borderline incoherent nonsense for quite a while now, so, yknow. I'd take a Brooker programme over TWD like, always.

Author:	Grim... [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:38 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Doctor Glyndwr wrote: Lonewolves wrote: MaliA wrote: I watched one and thought it was all a bit too smug and "aren't I really clever, look, satire" so ignored the rest. It's written by Charlie Brooker, so I'm not sure what you were expecting. Brooker is fucking great, you buffoons. Indeed. But his stuff is also smug as balls. Does S03 of Black Mirror have boobs in? Like naked boobs?

Author:	Satsuma [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:50 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Grim... wrote: Dr Zoidberg wrote: It's not a patch on old Dwarf at its best, but then neither were the last couple of seasons of the original run. Eps 3&4 have been very funny. And 5 and 6. I think this new series has been good, far better than the first episode suggested it would be. The Cat in particular had some great lines. "It still counts!" I agree it's got better and there are some nice lines but they are delivered terribly. The timing is off and the canned laughter is too loud and obscures some of the dialogue. Speaking of annoying laughter, the latest episode of 2 Broke Girls takes this too far as well. It's line-laughter-wait to end-line-laughter-wait to end. It was terribly distracting in a series that has past its prime. God, the set-up for a "hair in the salad" was so goddamn awful I almost turned it off. And I wish I had because it didn't get any better after that.

Author:	Grim... [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 10:58 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
2 Broke Girls is a terrible, terrible TV show that I can't stop watching. Oblig:

Author:	Kern [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 17:44 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
BBC Four, 21:00 tonight: Myp TV. Will let you know if it's worth it.

Author:	devilman [ Thu Nov 03, 2016 17:53 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Grim... wrote: 2 Broke Girls is a terrible, terrible TV show that I can't stop watching. Kat Dennings is the only reason I've watched an episode all the way through. More than once.

Author:	Grim... [ Fri Nov 04, 2016 5:11 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Saturnalian wrote: God, the set-up for a "hair in the salad" was so goddamn awful I almost turned it off. And I wish I had because it didn't get any better after that. I thought the Burt Reynolds joke was good. But it is 4am.

Author:	Hearthly [ Sat Nov 05, 2016 1:20 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Doctor Glyndwr wrote: Hearthly wrote: Although SAN JUNIPERO out of Season 3 is up there as well. Speaking of this: ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! It's a lovely story, it's very well written and acted (Mackenzie Davis is as great as ever [1]), but it's a bit bloody cheerful by Black Mirror standards! I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and then the other shoe was A SHOCK HAPPY ENDING. Although I fear that is perhaps the setup for gut blow sucker punches in the remaining two episodes. I felt more emotionally invested in the fates of Kelly and Yorkie after ten minutes of that than I do in most films after two hours. When the credits rolled, I couldn't quite believe it had only been an hour long -- it felt like it covered much more ground, somehow, but without a wasted second. It also paced the gradual reveal of what was really going on perfectly, to my mind. [1] Although she does have an advantage because acting is all in the eyes and her face is about 85% eye. So in conclusion, it's just a perfectly crafted little slice of television. Yes I'd agree with everything you've said there. I've mentioned Black Mirror to my brother a few times over the last two or three years, and he's finally got round to piling through all three seasons with his wife - reaction to San Junipero was:

Author:	Kern [ Sun Nov 06, 2016 19:16 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Kern wrote: BBC Four, 21:00 tonight: Myp TV. Will let you know if it's worth it. This was jolly good fun, and I liked how it was presented as a kind of 1960s BBC 'meet the tribe' documentary about those young people. All the talk of the need for authenticity reminded me far too much of re-enactors, however.

Author:	Kern [ Sun Nov 06, 2016 22:00 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
BBC1 - Planet Earth II Breath taking stuff. Highlights are the komodo dragons fighting and all the penguins. The sequences with the baby marine iguanas and the snakes was the stuff of nightmares.

Author:	Warhead [ Mon Nov 07, 2016 1:00 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Just watched tonight's episode of Humans. There was a link in the closing credits that goes to http://www.personasynthetics.com/productrecall/index.html where you can have a live chat with a 'support Synth' about problems you may be having with your synth. Very clever, but got a little scary in places.

Author:	Kern [ Mon Nov 07, 2016 23:34 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
BBC Four: Rich Hall's Presidential Grudge Match Enjoyable romp through the seedier side of US history, looking back at dirty campaigns from Jefferson and Adam onwards.

Author:	Mr Russell [ Tue Nov 08, 2016 9:22 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Kern wrote: BBC Four: Rich Hall's Presidential Grudge Match Enjoyable romp through the seedier side of US history, looking back at dirty campaigns from Jefferson and Adam onwards. We nearly put this on but at an hour and a half we decided to go to bed instead

Author:	Grim... [ Tue Nov 15, 2016 10:35 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
I am watching Humans. It's really good so far!

Author:	Hearthly [ Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:36 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Anyone catch 2016 Wipe last night? (Not that you can't you just watch it on catch-up, of course.) Very funny as usual, Charlie Brooker is now quite skinny, and a lot of depressing stuff happened during the year. I liked January when it was just about a puddle. Then there was Philomena Cunk on Christmas afterwards, 'So how do you make chickens into turkeys?'

Author:	Kern [ Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:43 ]
Post subject:	Re: General Purpose UK TV thread
Yep, very much mandatory seasonal viewing. Plenty of good bits, but the key standout line was: ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view! 'Haunted art gallery owner Theresa May'