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Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:45 pm
by Marc Meakin
watching Seinfeld yet again...love the first 7 series especially, it did fizzle out a bit when Larry David stopped writing them though.
Favourite episode is either The Contest or The Puffy Shirt
Madly hyped for season 9 of Curb...

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:54 am
by Jon O'Neill
Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:45 pm watching Seinfeld yet again...love the first 7 series especially, it did fizzle out a bit when Larry David stopped writing them though.
Favourite episode is either The Contest or The Puffy Shirt
Madly hyped for season 9 of Curb...
I've just started watching Seinfeld. Loving it so far and the first couple of seasons are supposed to be the worst?

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 10:05 am
by Gavin Chipper
Jon O'Neill wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:54 am
Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:45 pm watching Seinfeld yet again...love the first 7 series especially, it did fizzle out a bit when Larry David stopped writing them though.
Favourite episode is either The Contest or The Puffy Shirt
Madly hyped for season 9 of Curb...
I've just started watching Seinfeld. Loving it so far and the first couple of seasons are supposed to be the worst?
I started watching this quite recently - I watch a few episodes each time I go round a particular friend's house. I'm enjoying it a lot, but it's not a patch on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 11:54 am
by Marc Meakin
Jon O'Neill wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:54 am
Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:45 pm watching Seinfeld yet again...love the first 7 series especially, it did fizzle out a bit when Larry David stopped writing them though.
Favourite episode is either The Contest or The Puffy Shirt
Madly hyped for season 9 of Curb...
I've just started watching Seinfeld. Loving it so far and the first couple of seasons are supposed to be the worst?
Its a bit like how The Simpsons developed, the first few seasons were good but looking back it gets better season by season, peaking by season seven although I felt season 4 had some classic episodes in it.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 12:46 pm
by Marc Meakin
Gavin Chipper wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2017 10:05 am
Jon O'Neill wrote: Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:54 am
Marc Meakin wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2017 1:45 pm watching Seinfeld yet again...love the first 7 series especially, it did fizzle out a bit when Larry David stopped writing them though.
Favourite episode is either The Contest or The Puffy Shirt
Madly hyped for season 9 of Curb...
I've just started watching Seinfeld. Loving it so far and the first couple of seasons are supposed to be the worst?
I started watching this quite recently - I watch a few episodes each time I go round a particular friend's house. I'm enjoying it a lot, but it's not a patch on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
I think Curb has more belly laughs as it is made by HBO so there are no restrictions on subject matter and swearing.
I still laugh more at George, now, in Seinfeld as it is clear that Larry David is George

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 5:54 pm
by Zarte Siempre
Anyone watching The Trial?

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 7:54 pm
by Marc Meakin
Zarte Siempre wrote: Mon May 22, 2017 5:54 pm Anyone watching The Trial?
Is it a bit like a post watershed Crown Court ?

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 8:51 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
Bojack Horseman: Thought the show would suffer when Princess Carolyn binned off Vincent Adultman, but 'Get That Foetus, Kill That Foetus' is an absolute masterpiece. Great theme tune too. Excited for season 4.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Liked it at first but after a series and a half, it was really grating. Such a great idea for a show but undermined by some really poor characters/narrative choices (the shoehorned-in Native American twist is poorly done, the landlady is really irritating, Dong was boring... not the first time I've said that, lolz!!!).

RuPaul's Drag Race (season 9): Started out poorly, has gradually upgraded to awesome.

Meant to watch The West Wing, finish Breaking Bad and rewatch Boston Legal after my exam/CO:LON, but I've just ended up rewatching Archer series 1-3 AGAIN because it's just phenomenal. I kind of hope Netflix removes it (and Arrested Development. and the Electric Shock Showdown episode of Pokémon) from its roster, because I just end up rewatching them all the time instead of watching new things. They're televisual crack :(

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 9:09 pm
by Ben Wilson
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Mon May 22, 2017 8:51 pmBoston Legal
You are now officially one of my mum's favourite people. :)

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 9:35 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
Ben Wilson wrote: Mon May 22, 2017 9:09 pm
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Mon May 22, 2017 8:51 pmBoston Legal
You are now officially one of my mum's favourite people. :)
YES!! So much love for Big Jill-Wil (more than I already had) <333

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 7:57 am
by Mark James
Better Call Saul. Yes it's not as good as Breaking Bad but still amazing.

Latest season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It's definitely declined in quality but still one of the best comedies out there.

And just discovered Yes Minister is now on Netflix. Just incredible writing and as relevant as ever.

Was also watching classic They Think It's All Over on youtube. So much better than that stupid Corden vehicle on Sky. Especially before Lee Hurst left. The school sports day special is a personal highlight. Gary Lineker breaks the world record for egg catching but then gets banned for four years from obstacle races for blatant cheating. And of course the three legged race which last time was won by Linford Christie, on his own. Plus Rory McGrath passes the random drug test. He picked samples A and C. Quality.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 9:23 am
by Marc Meakin
Just watched the first two episodes of American Gods.
Utter Suite

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:46 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
Project Runway: Season 7 had some great clothes and eased me into the show, but Season 8 is so much better so far - better editing, more interesting designers, more drama. Don't particularly care for any of the judges although the criticisms can be glorious, but Tim Gunn is wonderful and I'd love him to follow me around and mentor my life <3 It's really exciting to watch beautiful, well-made pieces being created from scratch in such a short space of time.

Orange Is The New Black season 5: Started out exciting, dragged in the middle, got exciting again (in parts) at the end. But you have to totally suspend your disbelief, most of the comedy fell flat, and the series was stretched too thin by focusing on too many characters (ughhh, I don't care about Piper and Alex and the meth-heads). Interesting concept though.

Fargo season 3: Didn't care for the first few episodes, not been bothered to watch the whole series yet. Anyone else watched it? Does it pick up and become as good as previous series?

The Handmaid's Tale: After watching 6 episodes, I feel like a 10-episode series is unwieldy, but the first half of the series is really good/emosh. The end of the third episode was... memorable :shock:

Breaking Bad: Halfway through season 4, I'm amazed that so many people were able to binge-watch this... I find it so heavy and stressful that I can only watch it in a certain mood (not watched any for about a month now). It is good and I really enjoy it/am gripped sometimes, but the constant suspense can be a bit draining, and Walt's constant cuntiness can be boring.

Hyped for the new seasons of Bojack Horseman (8th Sept) and Stranger Things (Oct 27th).

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:51 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:46 pm Project Runway: Season 7 had some great clothes and eased me into the show, but Season 8 is so much better so far - better editing, more interesting designers, more drama. Don't particularly care for any of the judges although the criticisms can be glorious, but Tim Gunn is wonderful and I'd love him to follow me around and mentor my life <3 It's really exciting to watch beautiful, well-made pieces being created from scratch in such a short space of time.
I've no idea what this programme is, but it sounds awful.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:58 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:51 pm
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:46 pm Project Runway: Season 7 had some great clothes and eased me into the show, but Season 8 is so much better so far - better editing, more interesting designers, more drama. Don't particularly care for any of the judges although the criticisms can be glorious, but Tim Gunn is wonderful and I'd love him to follow me around and mentor my life <3 It's really exciting to watch beautiful, well-made pieces being created from scratch in such a short space of time.
I've no idea what this programme is, but it sounds awful.
Your opinion on what makes good TV means such a lot to me, Mr Formula 1 Fan.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 8:31 pm
by Matt Morrison
Catastrophe is excellent.
Cuckoo turned out to be surprisingly good, classic British sitcom sort of thing.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 1:01 am
by Mark James
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:46 pm

Breaking Bad: Halfway through season 4, I'm amazed that so many people were able to binge-watch this... I find it so heavy and stressful that I can only watch it in a certain mood (not watched any for about a month now). It is good and I really enjoy it/am gripped sometimes, but the constant suspense can be a bit draining, and Walt's constant cuntiness can be boring.
I recently watched the whole thing again in a couple of days. Even knowing what happens it still grips me and I can't not watch it.

Can't think of much else I've been watching. I enjoyed the star six football tournament. Other than football and the odd quiz show regular tv doesn't get a look in. Youtube is still where it's at for me.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 9:55 am
by Marc Meakin
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:46 pm Project Runway: Season 7 had some great clothes and eased me into the show, but Season 8 is so much better so far - better editing, more interesting designers, more drama. Don't particularly care for any of the judges although the criticisms can be glorious, but Tim Gunn is wonderful and I'd love him to follow me around and mentor my life <3 It's really exciting to watch beautiful, well-made pieces being created from scratch in such a short space of time.

Orange Is The New Black season 5: Started out exciting, dragged in the middle, got exciting again (in parts) at the end. But you have to totally suspend your disbelief, most of the comedy fell flat, and the series was stretched too thin by focusing on too many characters (ughhh, I don't care about Piper and Alex and the meth-heads). Interesting concept though.

Fargo season 3: Didn't care for the first few episodes, not been bothered to watch the whole series yet. Anyone else watched it? Does it pick up and become as good as previous series?

The Handmaid's Tale: After watching 6 episodes, I feel like a 10-episode series is unwieldy, but the first half of the series is really good/emosh. The end of the third episode was... memorable :shock:

Breaking Bad: Halfway through season 4, I'm amazed that so many people were able to binge-watch this... I find it so heavy and stressful that I can only watch it in a certain mood (not watched any for about a month now). It is good and I really enjoy it/am gripped sometimes, but the constant suspense can be a bit draining, and Walt's constant cuntiness can be boring.

Hyped for the new seasons of Bojack Horseman (8th Sept) and Stranger Things (Oct 27th).
Stick with Fargo, not quite as good as the last season but a very good denouement none the less and great performances from Carrie Coon and David Thewlis....and of course the return of Wrench

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 7:53 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
Still haven't finished Fargo, Handmaid's Tale or Breaking Bad yet. Just cba really.

Bojack Horseman season 4: Objectively 'good'... deals with dementia, mental illness and miscarriages in a heartbreakingly, bitterly real way. Some really cool ways of setting up the episodes (the penultimate episode, the Princess Carolyn episode). Subjectively, though, I didn't find it very enjoyable. Not enough of the clever black humour that balances it out and stops it being too mawkish, too much dumb humour. Found it kind of weird how the Mr Peanut-Butter For Governor storyline just fizzled out 2/3rds of the way through the season to be followed up by a pointless and irritating storyline with him and Todd being idiots. But I'm kind of done with shows shoehorning Trump references/storylines into their plots. He's omnipresent in news and culture as it is, I want some escapism please :') I seem to be the only person who didn't love the series to bits though, so, meh.

Pretty Little Liars, seasons 1-3: Pure trash, a ridiculous amount of drama, completely divorced from the slightest semblance of reality and virtually all the characters are idiots who make their own lives hell, and one of the main 4 characters is MADDENING (although not as bad as the UTTERLY HEINOUS character whose death is the main plot point of the series), but I NEED the answers. Reddit episode discussions from when the show was being broadcast make a great accompaniment to my viewing experience (it's good to know that I'm not the only one who finds the teacher/student relationship completely gross and moronic). Spencer's style choices in these series give me life.

Great British Bake Off: All my faves are dropping like flies now, and it's not been as engrossing as some of the other series - plus there's no Nadiya-esque contestant to 100% root for - but it's been reassuringly better than I thought it would be.

The Apprentice: Honestly, it could be so bad it's actually bad and I'd probably still get a TV wide-on for it.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:57 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Just finished watching the first (only?) series of Back - the new Mitchell and Webb series. I quite enjoyed it. It's on All 4 (Channel 4 catch-up) if you want to watch it.

Also I've been watching Philip K Dick's Electric Dreams. Hit and miss. Some better than others.

And the new series of The Crystal Maze. I like The Crystal Maze and always have done, but why has no-one ever noticed that the Crystal Dome bit is just about the shittest, most anti-climactic ending of any gameshow ever? I know people don't like their favourite TV shows being messed with, but replacing something that is little more than us just being told whether they've won or not with something we can actually watch and follow would probably be an exception to this rule.

The way it is now, they might as well just end the show with the final crystal-getting game, and then when it's time for the credits, it just flashes up on the screen "The team collected 93 gold tokens and 32 silver tokens, making a total of 61, meaning that they won the middling prize of a visit to their local HSBC bank branch." You know, in the same way that you often get a bit of text at the end of a programme saying what happened to the people afterwards.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 8:38 am
by Marc Meakin
I think it looked dated in the nineties, only Richard O'Briens charisma made it watchable.
It just looks like a gameshow made by six formers.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:59 am
by Ben Wilson
Just finished season 4 of the Blacklist and got the spin-off (Blacklist: Redemeption, or 'TomList' as it's become known in my house) on my shelf ready for when we finish our Elementary season 5 box set. Also watching the new series of Red Dwarf, and actually enjoying Star Trek Discovery on Netflix.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 12:13 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Oh yes, watching Red Dwarf as well.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 12:56 pm
by Marc Meakin
Watching the Orville, a cross between Star Trek and Galaxy Quest, not too bad so far. More of a homage than a piss take

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 4:42 pm
by Mark James
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Wed Oct 11, 2017 7:53 pm
Bojack Horseman season 4: Objectively 'good'... deals with dementia, mental illness and miscarriages in a heartbreakingly, bitterly real way. Some really cool ways of setting up the episodes (the penultimate episode, the Princess Carolyn episode). Subjectively, though, I didn't find it very enjoyable. Not enough of the clever black humour that balances it out and stops it being too mawkish, too much dumb humour. Found it kind of weird how the Mr Peanut-Butter For Governor storyline just fizzled out 2/3rds of the way through the season to be followed up by a pointless and irritating storyline with him and Todd being idiots. But I'm kind of done with shows shoehorning Trump references/storylines into their plots. He's omnipresent in news and culture as it is, I want some escapism please :') I seem to be the only person who didn't love the series to bits though, so, meh.
Finally got round to watching this. I pretty much agree, probably liked it a bit more than you but it's certainly not as funny. The serious stuff is really well handled though. I would certainly recommend it.

Only watched one episode of blue planet 2 so far but it hasn't gripped me in the same way planet earth 2 did.

Toast of London is on Netflix. Really underrated comedy. Although it could possibly lose the musical numbers.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 4:38 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
Pretty Little Liars seasons 4-6: THE WRITERS ARE ACTUALLY ON CRACK BUT I NEED MORE ANSWERS

My Crazy Ex Girlfriend: Only watched a few episodes so far but enjoying it so much. So many good songs.

Stranger Things season 2: YES THIS WAS SO GOOD (apart from episode 7). Fancy Steve so much.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 5:50 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Wed Oct 11, 2017 7:53 pmBojack Horseman season 4: Objectively 'good'... deals with dementia, mental illness and miscarriages in a heartbreakingly, bitterly real way.
I saw one episode of this ages ago, and it seemed like the last programme that would ever go in that direction. It's a guy with a fucking horse's head.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 5:58 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Just finished watching the latest series of Red Dwarf. I don't think it was too bad, but I'm still not sure what to make of these new series of it. Also Zapped (on Dave), which is an OK comedy, but nothing spectacular.

I watched the first series of Stranger Things when I was on holiday, and thought it was quite good.

I watched The End of the Fucking World on All 4, which wasn't bad.

I'm also catching up with the new series of Robot Wars. I'm glad they've tweaked the format slightly. I think it's slightly better now. But in both this series and the last one the two grand finalists from the previous series have ended up in the same heat. If it's just a random thing then OK, but I think some sort of seeding would probably be better. If it's on purpose then it's fucking retarded. In this series, as well as the two grand finalists from last series, they also had another robot that won its heat and made the final show. It seems a bit odd.

I've been watching Josh on the iPlayer as well. It's a bit weak probably but not too bad.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:10 pm
by Ben Wilson
Just finished the Blacklist redemption, which was good, but not quite up to the standards of the parent show. Currently watching Babylon 5 (for about the fifth time) all the way through on Pick every weekday evening at 8pm. If you've never seen the show I really can't recommend it enough, it was so ahead of its time in its carefully-plotted storytelling and evolving characters that if it were made today people would be hailing it as the best thing since sliced dragon zombie vampire carcasses. As it is, it was made in 1994, so is about as 'niche' as it gets. :(

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:52 am
by Thomas Cappleman
Gavin Chipper wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 5:58 pm I'm also catching up with the new series of Robot Wars. I'm glad they've tweaked the format slightly. I think it's slightly better now. But in both this series and the last one the two grand finalists from the previous series have ended up in the same heat. If it's just a random thing then OK, but I think some sort of seeding would probably be better. If it's on purpose then it's fucking retarded. In this series, as well as the two grand finalists from last series, they also had another robot that won its heat and made the final show. It seems a bit odd.
Apparently it's at least partly based on which robots are ready when. Which is why some episodes end up more heavily loaded with top robots, as they actually know what they're doing.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:05 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Thomas Cappleman wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:52 am
Gavin Chipper wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 5:58 pm I'm also catching up with the new series of Robot Wars. I'm glad they've tweaked the format slightly. I think it's slightly better now. But in both this series and the last one the two grand finalists from the previous series have ended up in the same heat. If it's just a random thing then OK, but I think some sort of seeding would probably be better. If it's on purpose then it's fucking retarded. In this series, as well as the two grand finalists from last series, they also had another robot that won its heat and made the final show. It seems a bit odd.
Apparently it's at least partly based on which robots are ready when. Which is why some episodes end up more heavily loaded with top robots, as they actually know what they're doing.
Wouldn't that only make sense if the loaded heat was the first of the series? Also, I got the feeling that they were all filmed very close together, not spaced out a week apart each. And in the general scheme of things, what difference would a week make when they've been preparing these robots for a year or so?

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:14 pm
by Johnny Canuck
The US version of The Chase (starring only Labbett) has been put on Canadian Netflix. I'm tempted to bite and try it.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:36 am
by Thomas Cappleman
Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:05 pm
Thomas Cappleman wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:52 am
Gavin Chipper wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 5:58 pm I'm also catching up with the new series of Robot Wars. I'm glad they've tweaked the format slightly. I think it's slightly better now. But in both this series and the last one the two grand finalists from the previous series have ended up in the same heat. If it's just a random thing then OK, but I think some sort of seeding would probably be better. If it's on purpose then it's fucking retarded. In this series, as well as the two grand finalists from last series, they also had another robot that won its heat and made the final show. It seems a bit odd.
Apparently it's at least partly based on which robots are ready when. Which is why some episodes end up more heavily loaded with top robots, as they actually know what they're doing.
Wouldn't that only make sense if the loaded heat was the first of the series? Also, I got the feeling that they were all filmed very close together, not spaced out a week apart each. And in the general scheme of things, what difference would a week make when they've been preparing these robots for a year or so?
It's because they're all filmed at once - a several day block, with each heat spread over multiple days. I think they all turn up at once and they set up the heats based on when teams are ready. There's probably enough teams ready immediately that you can space out the good ones a bit, but the last 2 heats I'd say were weaker than the first 2.

Admittedly this is second hand information, so I don't know what the original source is. This gives a bit of insight into the filming, including the coming back on later days part: http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/robot-wa ... n-the-show

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 11:42 pm
by JimBentley
Thomas Cappleman wrote: Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:36 am
Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:05 pm
Thomas Cappleman wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:52 am

Apparently it's at least partly based on which robots are ready when. Which is why some episodes end up more heavily loaded with top robots, as they actually know what they're doing.
Wouldn't that only make sense if the loaded heat was the first of the series? Also, I got the feeling that they were all filmed very close together, not spaced out a week apart each. And in the general scheme of things, what difference would a week make when they've been preparing these robots for a year or so?
It's because they're all filmed at once - a several day block, with each heat spread over multiple days. I think they all turn up at once and they set up the heats based on when teams are ready. There's probably enough teams ready immediately that you can space out the good ones a bit, but the last 2 heats I'd say were weaker than the first 2.

Admittedly this is second hand information, so I don't know what the original source is. This gives a bit of insight into the filming, including the coming back on later days part: http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/robot-wa ... n-the-show
The filming in a block thing is always the way it's been done (most previous years I'm sure they packed the whole thing into a long weekend or less) for logistical reasons (both for the production team and the contestants).

As for the format, I think it's gradually improving since the reboot. It's essentially double-elimination now, which works pretty well for this, and at least they've dropped that godawful league format used in the last series, with all the duplicate and redundant battles that it was inevitably going to produce.

The machines themselves are really improving, too; a lot of this is down to the ongoing improvements in the motor/battery technology available, but it's a lot more down to teams (honourable exceptions from the past, obviously) finally - finally! - realising that most robots got knocked out because they simply weren't resilient enough. So most teams seem to be building a lot stronger these days, with no vital internal bits that can come loose just by driving into a wall. OK, there are still some that frustratingly stop after one hit, but that's much more the exception than the rule.

One interesting aspect that I think might come into play in the forthcoming shows is how the various spinners will perform. As has been seen in the USA for a few years now, it's possible to build a bar spinner so powerful that it's anyone's guess what's going to happen when it hits something else. If the something else isn't strong enough, then it'll most likely be destroyed in one hit. But if it is strong enough (the hypothetical immovable object) then the spinner will likely tear itself apart, no matter how well it's made. The powerful vertical drum spinners are far less prone to this (the shearing forces just aren't in the same ballpark) so I reckon that's the optimum design for the moment.

But anyway, I've been enjoying it so far and it should be interesting to see how the remainder of the series pans out.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:46 am
by Gavin Chipper
Thomas Cappleman wrote: Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:36 amIt's because they're all filmed at once - a several day block, with each heat spread over multiple days. I think they all turn up at once and they set up the heats based on when teams are ready. There's probably enough teams ready immediately that you can space out the good ones a bit, but the last 2 heats I'd say were weaker than the first 2.

Admittedly this is second hand information, so I don't know what the original source is. This gives a bit of insight into the filming, including the coming back on later days part: http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/robot-wa ... n-the-show
This still doesn't really make sense though. Why wouldn't all the teams be ready at the start? They've spent months building their robots, but when it comes to the first battle they still need an extra half hour? Also, during each heat, they're given a strict timescale to get ready between fights, and they have to forfeit if they're not ready on time. But for the start of the heat before anything would even have the chance to get broken, they're allowed a few extra hours if they need them? Nah, this doesn't ring true. If they were given a time for their first recording, they'd be ready. Also by effectively giving them a choice of heats to compete in, it would be far too gameable.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 9:59 am
by Gavin Chipper
On Robot Wars, they've just had the grand final. I won't put any major spoilers, but I quite enjoyed the 10-way fight at the start. But I think it would have been much better without the pit or house robots. In fact the whole show would. And the Fog of War is just pathetic.

Also, Detectorists and Man Down. Both very good programmes.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 10:49 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
Pretty Little Liars season 7: I AM SO ANGRY AND UNFULFILLED. WHERE ARE THE ANSWERS. WHY DID I WASTE SO MUCH TIME WATCHING THIS DUMB-ASS SHOW.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend season 1: Such tunes, so very bang

The Crown season 1: First two episodes were so dull, gets better after that. Still pretty anaemic, but easy watching.

The Apprentice: Lord Sugar has made some very bad decisions this series and I don't care who wins the final now :(

Masterchef Professionals: Not especially engaged with it, but have enjoyed the ever-more ridiculous levels of cheffiness (dung-smoked food, plankton risotto, moss, some Peruvian tuber thing).

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 3:20 pm
by Marc Meakin
The A word is an excellent Dramedy.....and the Detectors is a very pleasant comedy with a plot

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:55 pm
by Graeme Cole
Marc Meakin wrote: Sun Dec 17, 2017 3:20 pm Detectors
Detectorists!

(Edit: clip I wanted to include with this post but couldn't find at the time.)

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 2:45 pm
by Marc Meakin
I must hire a proof reader

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 11:34 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
The Crown season 2: Better than the first. The Edward VIII/Nazis episode is outstanding.

Black Mirror season 4: Only watched the first episode so far and thought it looked like it'd be shit but NOPE, it's excellent. looking forward to the rest of the series now even though I've seen mixed reviews.

Also, Matty made me watch an episode of The Twilight Zone (pretty good) and Fawlty Towers (I'd never planned to watch it because I didn't think I'd find it funny, and aside from a few moments this was indeed the case).

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 1:30 pm
by Marc Meakin
Also watching the Crown season two.
Favourite episodes are Beryl (when Maggie met Tony ) a tour de force by Vanessa Kirby, and Episode 9 the Gordunston one

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:47 am
by Mark James
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2018 11:34 pm Black Mirror season 4: Only watched the first episode so far and thought it looked like it'd be shit but NOPE, it's excellent. looking forward to the rest of the series now even though I've seen mixed reviews.
I loved every second of the entire thing. Don't get what the mixed reviews are about. I'll agree none of the shows hit the heights of San Junipero but not many shows in the history of television do. I didn't think there was a dud episode throughout the series.

Crocodile is a bit unrelentingly bleak but I love the concept even if the start is just a riff on "I know what you did last summer". Similarly Metalhead is basically just a cross between cujo and terminator but it's brilliantly shot and acted. Maybe the slight lack of originality though is where the criticism is coming from. However, for me, the whole series is still easily the best thing I watched last/this year.

On a final aside I've groan to loath Ricky Gervais over the years. Especially the way he treats Karl Pilkington. Well after the Black Museum episode he owes Karl a massive apology for laughing at some of his ideas.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:57 pm
by Ian Volante
I watched the Christmas special of Upstart Crow - first time I've seen it. Reasonably predictable fare, but enjoyable enough I suppose. I wonder if knowing the characters better will help.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:24 pm
by Tom S
Derry Girls.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:30 pm
by Paul Worsley
I can recommend Mindhunter on NetFlix. It's about how the FBI set uo their serial killer profiling programme in the 1970s. There's only one series (10 episodes), but there's bound to be more to come.

Narcos... The first two series are about the rise and fall of Colombian drug lord and head of the Medellin cartel, Pablo Escobar. The third series moves on to the Cali cartel. I appreciate that due to the excessive violence that this won't suit everyone, but it is a fascinating piece of drama.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:41 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Ian Volante wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:57 pm I watched the Christmas special of Upstart Crow - first time I've seen it. Reasonably predictable fare, but enjoyable enough I suppose. I wonder if knowing the characters better will help.
I've watched both series of this. I find it reasonably amusing, but not all-time-classic material.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:14 pm
by Ian Volante
Gavin Chipper wrote: Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:41 pm
Ian Volante wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2018 12:57 pm I watched the Christmas special of Upstart Crow - first time I've seen it. Reasonably predictable fare, but enjoyable enough I suppose. I wonder if knowing the characters better will help.
I've watched both series of this. I find it reasonably amusing, but not all-time-classic material.
Aye, sounds about right. I was mainly wondering how they'd do Blackadder II without doing Blackadder II, which sort of makes it difficult really.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:38 am
by Marc Meakin
Anyone else watching Inside No 9.
It just gets better and better

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:41 am
by Gavin Chipper
Marc Meakin wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:38 am Anyone else watching Inside No 9.
It just gets better and better
Yes, but I'd disagree that it just gets better and better.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:23 pm
by Marc Meakin
Gavin Chipper wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:41 am
Marc Meakin wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:38 am Anyone else watching Inside No 9.
It just gets better and better
Yes, but I'd disagree that it just gets better and better.
Well to qualify my statement, I think Season 4 is getting better and better.
I know the 12 days of Christine from Season 2 is the best ever episode.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:08 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Marc Meakin wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2018 4:23 pm
Gavin Chipper wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:41 am
Marc Meakin wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:38 am Anyone else watching Inside No 9.
It just gets better and better
Yes, but I'd disagree that it just gets better and better.
Well to qualify my statement, I think Season 4 is getting better and better.
I know the 12 days of Christine from Season 2 is the best ever episode.
There have been three episodes this series. I'd rank them in the order 1, 3, 2.

I'm not sure I have a favourite overall episode.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:05 pm
by Marc Meakin
Started watching Black Mirror, albeit out of sequence.
Favourite so far is San Junipero inspite of the unusual ending for a Black Mirror episode

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:45 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
Crazy Ex Girlfriend season 2: SO MANY TUNES and some great plot developments.

Crazy Ex Girlfriend season 3: more intense/less fun, still tunes tho, intrigued to see where the plot is going though

The End of the F***ing World: Enjoyed this. Pretty sure it's wrong for me to be kind of attracted to Alex Lawther seeing as I've only seen him as a (kind of) psychopath/murderer and a paedophile but... y'know.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:55 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:45 pm The End of the F***ing World: Enjoyed this. Pretty sure it's wrong for me to be kind of attracted to Alex Lawther seeing as I've only seen him as a (kind of) psychopath/murderer and a paedophile but... y'know.
Just out of interest, do you fancy Jeremy Clarkson?

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:13 pm
by Gavin Chipper
Image

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Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 7:09 pm
by Jennifer Steadman
Gavin Chipper wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:55 pm
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Thu Jan 18, 2018 10:45 pm The End of the F***ing World: Enjoyed this. Pretty sure it's wrong for me to be kind of attracted to Alex Lawther seeing as I've only seen him as a (kind of) psychopath/murderer and a paedophile but... y'know.
Just out of interest, do you fancy Jeremy Clarkson?
No.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 10:21 am
by Marc Meakin
Still Watching Black Mirror from start to finish.
Current Favourite is Playtest although I'm still only half way through season 3.....worst one is easily that Waldo Moment.....you could tell it was a rejected idea from Nathan Barley but it was still worth watching though

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 11:46 am
by Marc Meakin
Season 4 of Black Mirror is awesome so far ( on Episode 4 ) Hang the DJ being the best, almost a companion piece to San Juipiero.
Arkangel being the weakest but still miles better than most things I've watched in recent months.

Re: What TV programmes have you been watching lately?

Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2018 11:42 pm
by Marc Meakin
Mark James wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2018 5:47 am
Jennifer Steadman wrote: Mon Jan 01, 2018 11:34 pm Black Mirror season 4: Only watched the first episode so far and thought it looked like it'd be shit but NOPE, it's excellent. looking forward to the rest of the series now even though I've seen mixed reviews.
I loved every second of the entire thing. Don't get what the mixed reviews are about. I'll agree none of the shows hit the heights of San Junipero but not many shows in the history of television do. I didn't think there was a dud episode throughout the series.

Crocodile is a bit unrelentingly bleak but I love the concept even if the start is just a riff on "I know what you did last summer". Similarly Metalhead is basically just a cross between cujo and terminator but it's brilliantly shot and acted. Maybe the slight lack of originality though is where the criticism is coming from. However, for me, the whole series is still easily the best thing I watched last/this yea
On a final aside I've groan to loath Ricky Gervais over the years. Especially the way he treats Karl Pilkington. Well after the Black Museum episode he owes Karl a massive apology for laughing at some of his ideas.
I think Black Museum overdid the Easter eggs a little too much ( on second viewing every previous episode had some reference, some more subtle than others ) but it was still enjoyable. I would say Hang the DJ was by far the best episode of season 4.
My one criticism , generally, is too many Brit actors adopting dodgy American ones. Either set them in Britain or get American actors.