What TV Have You Seen?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demoncrat

Noted. Anything Nessie related is fine with me

I have a film called Loch Ness Terror on dvd. It's set in Canada.

Stars tv movie legend Brian Krause and Stargate's Don S. Davis. Actually a bit of D-movie fun.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

As I knew that it would be leaving Prime Video for Paramount+ soon, I binge watched Star Trek: Lower Decks, an animated comedy series created by Mike McMahon (Solar Opposites).

As the name suggests, it's part of the expanded Star Trek universe but focusing on the people who make the starships work on USS Cerritos, one of Starfleet's least important ships.

The two main characters are Beckett Mariner, the daughter of a Starfleet captain whose insubordinate nature often puts her at odds with her best friend, Brad Boimler, an aspiring captain and stickler for the rules, who lacks the confidence to follow his instincts and bend/break the rules for optimum outcome.

This is basically an odd couple comedy with the two ill-matched ensigns having to work together for the benefit of the USS Cerritos, with Mariner willing to do what it takes as long as it keeps parentage a secret whereas Boimler wants to stick to the rulebook and follow his superiors' orders.

I enjoyed the first season a lot and watched it very quickly, moving straight onto the second and then third seasons. It's annoying for me that the fourth season is only on Paramount+ and I would only watch it by taking out a free trial.

If you like Star Trek and/or irreverent comedies, such as Solar Opposites and Rick and Morty, then you're likely to really enjoy this.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

When Lower Decks finished, I watched the first episode of Poker Face, a comedy-drama-crime series following Charlie Cale, a cocktail waitress with an uncanny ability to know when someone is lying. This skill means she is blacklisted from casinos, but is drawn into a scam which ultimately means she has to go on the run from a powerful casino boss.

Because Charlie is on the run and trying to stay one step out of Sterling Frost, Sr., she lives a transitory lifestyle. In true Murder She Wrote style, Charlie puts her skills to use by solving crimes, particularly occasions where someone has committed murder and – until she came to town – eluded suspicion or conviction.

Natasha Lyonne is brilliant in the main role and is often gifted with clever, witty scripts, talented ensemble casts (Adrien Brody, Chloë Sevigny, Ellen Barkin, Tim Blake Nelson, Nick Nolte, Cherry Jones, Luis Guzmán, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ron Perlman, Clay DuVall etc.) and assured direction, twice by creator Rian Johnson, once by Lucky McKee, and once by herself!

I watched all 10 episodes very quickly and plan to rewatch it at some point soon, but I've been pleased to see it was very well received by critics and a second season has been commissioned.

[Demoncrat]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I have a film called Loch Ness Terror on dvd. It's set in Canada.

Stars tv movie legend Brian Krause and Stargate's Don S. Davis. Actually a bit of D-movie fun.

I've got that. Hilarity cubed.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

After watching the last episode of Poker Face, I started watching [B]Billions[/] and am now several episodes into the fourth season – it's a great show and one that like other densely plotted and cleverly written shows such as The Wire, The Sopranos, and Succession, will stand up to repeated viewings

The show concentrates on New York-based billionaire hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis), as he and his firm, Axe Capital, accumulates massive amounts of wealth and, with it, power. Determined to bring him down because of his aggressive tactics, including insider trading, bribery, and other criminal methods is US attorney for the Southern District of New York, Chuck Rhoades, Jr. (Paul Giamatti) whose wife, Wendy (Maggie Siff, Tara from Sons of Anarchy) is a psychiatrist and performance coach.

If Axe's philanthropy didn't make Chuck Rhoades's task difficult enough, the fact Wendy is employed by Axe Capital makes this even tougher.

Chuck also has a complicated personal life, getting his kicks from being a 'slave' in BDSM role-play sessions Wendy and other women as dominatrixes in the BDSM role-play he enjoys, and tries to step out from under the shadow of his wealthy and well-connected father.

I often find the world of stock trading, 'shorting', and hedge funds difficult to understand, and this doesn't make it easy for viewers, treating the audience as intelligent adults. That said, the more I watch, the more I understand what exactly is going on with Axe Capital and how Bobby became fantastically wealthy.

Like the other shows I mentioned earlier, it is one that rewards close attention and the quality of the writing, acting, and direction shines through so, even though it's almost impossible to like any of the characters, the show is compelling viewing because of the rivalries, cat-and-mouse interplay between Chuck and Bobby. Also, from the second season, the show benefits from introducing a fascinating and fully-rounded non-binary character, Taylor Mason, who is first employed by Axe Capital as a financial analyst but who grows in power and stature within the organisation and the world of high finance.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Now i've got used to the shitty NTSC interlaced image i'm quite enjoying Hancock's Half Hour.

I don't think i've laughed out loud in the four episodes i've seen so far but i have chuckled inwardly to myself. Sid James has been the co-star in three of the four episodes and he certainly makes a good foil for the more dead pan Tony Hancock.

Favourite episode so far was There's an Airfield at the Bottom of My Garden which saw James as a dodgy estate agent selling a house right next door to a hidden by trees airfield as well as a cliff top property crumbling into the sea.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

I started rewatching the first series of Penny Dreadful last night in anticipation of watching series two which has been sat on my to-watch pile for almost two years.

I'd forgotten how good the early episodes were, in particular the third one titled Seance in which Eva Green gives an astonishing performance.

I'd put money that nothing in the forthcoming Exorcist rehash does possession as hard hitting as Green managed.

The shock Frankenstein twist at the end of the second episode totally caught me cold again.

[nicholasrope]

Cobra Kai: Season V

Terry Silver has expanded Cobra Kai Dojos and wants them to compete in a international tournament however Eagle Fang/Myaggi Do try to stop them after personal relationships are sorted out.

Often cited as the weaker Season in the Series and whilst I do agree with that notion and whilst silly, I was still entertained with Chozen and Mike Barnes being rather funny.

Season 6 will be the last Season and I agree with that, I just hope that the rumors are true and will be weekly episodes instead of all at once.

[SymbioticFunction]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Now i've got used to the shitty NTSC interlaced image i'm quite enjoying Hancock's Half Hour.

I don't think i've laughed out loud in the four episodes i've seen so far but i have chuckled inwardly to myself. Sid James has been the co-star in three of the four episodes and he certainly makes a good foil for the more dead pan Tony Hancock.

Favourite episode so far was There's an Airfield at the Bottom of My Garden which saw James as a dodgy estate agent selling a house right next door to a hidden by trees airfield as well as a cliff top property crumbling into the sea.

The Missing Page and The Reunion are my two favourite episodes of Hancock's Half Hour, including the radio series. Those two television episodes are Hancock at it's best (imho). Classic (and very well observed for The Reunion).

Anyway I'm personally halfway through a UK blu-ray set of Guillermo del Toro's The Strain.

My wife bailed after the third episode but I'm still enjoying it. Whilst being just a television series, it manages to remind to me of del Toro's Blade II and I'm a pretty big fan of the Blade franchise. Thus far, The Strain is quite silly but also is still fun.

Full disclosure: I also enjoy my dvd set of the first, and only, season of the cancelled Blade television show so be warned.

btw The 70+ minute pilot of The Strain was actually directed by del Toro himself. If I enjoy all of the first season, I will heavily consider importing seasons 2 and 3 (no UK blu-rays). The fourth and last season was dvd only but I'll see how far I get before I worry about that (it wouldn't be a deal breaker).

[SymbioticFunction]

I kinda doubt anyone is interested in this but I'll post anyway.

Was 10 episodes (out of 13) into a UK blu-ray set of season one of Guillermo del Toro's The Strain and decided that I wanted to see more. Bought a French seasons 1-3 bd set off a UK ebay seller for 33 pounds (same price as importing the second and third seasons). btw Seller has another copy.

To my surprise, season one looked a damn sight better, so much so that I am also reworking my way back through season one. Detail, contrast and colours are a massive improvement, maybe the biggest improvement I've ever seen comparing blu-rays. Am wondering why the UK season one bd looks so inferior (20th Century Fox for both).

An added bonus, English del Toro commentary track for his 72 minute pilot on the French set (not on UK blu-ray). Seeing it like this, is very easy to appreciate that Guillermo was director on that pilot. btw Despite being French, the sometimes English subtitles appear on screen no problem.