TV you've just watched

[GaijinPunch]

Not familiar with that one -- probably just some hipster that made a Tshirt out of it?

[Obiwanshinobi]

Been watching MTV 80s for hours while on sick leave. Needed a hard reset like that. Felt good. I'd recommend it to anyone with fuck all else to do, sometimes. You won't be disappointed, no sir. Found myself actually sheding a tear at Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) video running (heard David Byrne's cover of it last year's autumn on the radio and it was dope; so good in fact I had to be reminded it was originally sung by her). I guess she always appealed to dad-aged men most.
Also, entertained myself with Benny Hill wild west-themed show (ends with a gorilla playing saxophone).
But MTV 80s - REALLY. It just works for me as it is.

[GaijinPunch]

Fallout

Was late to this a bit, as I've been busy. Quite enjoyed it, but I have been man-crushing on Walton Goggins for quite some time now.

[Lander]

Do you ever wake up, and find your head filled with odd old TV game shows that you've not thought about in decades?
I wonder if any fellow Crumpeteers will recall...

X-Fire [Cross Fire] (2001)



Series Trailer - YouTube
Season 1 - YouTube

A gem from Channel 4's edgy cool-kid WipEout phase, in which squads of valorous brit-lads pile into a Ford Transit, infiltrate an abandoned RAF base while armed with paintball guns (sorry - Emulsifiers), and clash with the show's Gladiators-esque in-house Spec Ops team in a bid to accomplish the mish and save the world from the hidden threats that Downing Street would rather keep under wraps!

It lands somewhere in the region of The Crystal Maze and Fort Boyard for self-serious silliness, but adds a distinct video game flavour to proceedings by way of multi-mission objective campaigns, goofy *splat* AUGH! dub-overs, and a loadout economy that rewards successful play - kills, tactics, bravery - with credits to spend on goodies from CIC, like team revives, ammo crates, paint grenades, tac-shields, heavy weapons, and the dreaded Finalizer paint-hose BFG.

Campy tacticool fun, though sadly axed 95% of the way through its initial run. It's edging into Lost Media territory these days, with little information available online beyond a couple of enthusiastic fan-blogs. Thankfully, most of it is - for now - available on YouTube via the link above. Chopped up in signature Early 2000s style and in wildly varying quality, but otherwise intact.

[Air Master Burst]

Hysteria was interesting. Bruce Campbell was great, as was most of the rest of the cast. The main issue was the late 1989 setting. Not only was the satanic panic stuff mostly played out by then, but they really didn't do much to actually make it feel like the 80s. My partner and I got a good laugh whenever they visited places like the bar or the hair salon and there wasn't a cigarette in sight. A lot of the hair and clothing were more 90s, too; and despite all the characters being poor in a small town in Michigan it had that same problem all retro shows get where the only era-appropriate cars they can find to use for filming are from collections and in hilariously perfect shape. It was aight.

Burning Love is both amazing, and arguably the tragically underrated Ken Marino's magnum opus. Each of the three seasons is a perfect send-up of a different sub-subgenre of reality dating show. It also features the delectable Ryan Hansen at the height of his power. It's packed with amazing little details that you'll really appreciate if you've seen even a fraction as many trashy reality dating shows as I have. Highly recommended, especially if you also adore seminal garbage like Too Hot to Handle or Ex on the Beach like I do!

Chaos Theory season 2 is fucking dope. Camp Cretaceous has always been dope as fuck. Best thing the Jurassic Park franchise has done in years. Actually explores how dinosaurs would interact with existing wildlife populations in detail. Only complaint is not enough Bumpy, but I get it.

Grotesquerie isn't good, but it's certainly fucking wild. Easily the most Ryan Murphy thing that Ryan Murphy has ever Ryan Murphied. Niecy Nash's acting is top-tier, though. The best drunk acting since John Dunsworth.

From is Froming along nicely. Like everyone else, I'm hoping Lost 2.0 sticks the landing this time, but I damn sure ain't holding my breath. The threat of an evil ventriloquist dummy trope isn't a promising sign.

[XoPachi]

Watched Pluto and that was amazing.

[Lander]

Has anyone watched Halt and Catch Fire, the AMC show? Stumbled onto it today apropos of a dive into the works of Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace, and it sounds like it might be worth a go.

[emphatic]

Has anyone watched Halt and Catch Fire, the AMC show? Stumbled onto it today apropos of a dive into the works of Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace, and it sounds like it might be worth a go.

It is a great show, the topic at hand is very interesting, and the actors are great.

[Lander]

It is a great show, the topic at hand is very interesting, and the actors are great.

That's what I like to hear! Cheers will give it a watch. Illiad's old User Friendly webcomic was always a highlight from the formative era of modern tech, nice to find that it's been explored in other avenues.

[XoPachi]

Finished Arcane. Amazing show. Easily my favorite game adaptation.

[vol.2]

Finished Arcane. Amazing show. Easily my favorite game adaptation.

Had to look that one up. Surprised/not surprised that they would make a cartoon from LOL.

[XoPachi]

Currently 10 episodes into Monster. This show is great. 74 episodes is pretty up there though, but I'll stick through it. Was interesting from minute one and hasn't really stumbled for me yet. Anime usually loses me by it's 4th episode.

EDIT: MMMMAAAAANNNN this just keeps swinging!

[neorichieb1971]

My friend introduced me to some byte sized mini ententainment -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detai ... cf_strg_wb


The show is called Secret Level and consists of 6-25 minute episodes of major game franchises in a movie format. Budgets seems really high. I can only fault it for being extremely short and not knowing some of the games that are covered in the series.

In the last episode (Ep15) there are appearances by Sony characters such as a Collossi, Kratos, Sack boy and probably some I missed.

If your in need of a quick 15 min fix you might find some entertainment here.

[RGC]

Currently 10 episodes into Monster. This show is great. 74 episodes is pretty up there though, but I'll stick through it. Was interesting from minute one and hasn't really stumbled for me yet. Anime usually loses me by it's 4th episode.

EDIT: MMMMAAAAANNNN this just keeps swinging!

I need to restart this. Me and the other half got about 40 episodes in way back in 2007, but then moving house and looking for a job disrupted the flow and we never resumed it. Don't remember a thing about it now, except the doctor's name and the fact it had lots of twists!

[XoPachi]

Currently 10 episodes into Monster. This show is great. 74 episodes is pretty up there though, but I'll stick through it. Was interesting from minute one and hasn't really stumbled for me yet. Anime usually loses me by it's 4th episode.

EDIT: MMMMAAAAANNNN this just keeps swinging!

I need to restart this. Me and the other half got about 40 episodes in way back in 2007, but then moving house and looking for a job disrupted the flow and we never resumed it. Don't remember a thing about it now, except the doctor's name and the fact it had lots of twists!

I finished it over the weekend. It was fantastic. It gets a bit heavy handed on flashbacks and repeating information we already know. But those were the only issues I had. I know some people probably won't like the suspension of disbelief that's necessary for you to buy certain plot points. Tenma being an exceedingly uncommon minority in Germany while performing medical miracles on his journey and evading capture for a decade on suspicions of high profile slayings is a little bit ridiculous. But it I thought it was pretty great and I can't demand flawless writing.

[RGC]

Binge-tastic! I'll report back before new year '26, assuming we're done with it by then.

[Lemnear]

On the main channel (Rai) they are going to broadcast Grendizer U in prime time for the anniversary of Grendizer (called Goldrake here). Grendizer was the first anime ever imported outside Japan here in Italy in 1977.
There's a huge cult around some titles here.

4 episodes but without interruptions, as if they were a single OVA, wow.

[NYN]

I finished all of Californication. Well, I am not exactly sure how to feel about it. I mean it can be fun, and it's obvious that what gets excised on other entertainment just to have a cleaner product to promote, gets consciously included here. Such as T&A situations and demeanor, and of course language. It's all in humour spirit, and even a little subversive. Avoiding the stereotype of an alcoholic writer on the way out. Some seasons feel so loose, that I cannot tell if it's just style. Maybe music is the key here, that the episodes are meant as songs, seasons as albums. Other productions are eager to convey the themes and produce hard, and Cali seems not really to care how viewers find anything of overall meaning. Characters have heart, true enough, showing through their ridiculous escapades. It took me until the middle of S2 to accept these loons for what they are. And I'm not certain as to the relevance of the final season. Feels much like a freebie. I guess I could have taken the end of S6 a little more serious. See, that's what I mean: hard to take this kind of stuff at a certain value.

Seen and finished Better Call Saul Season 4. Impressive as ever, though I lost the gal as a co-viewer to the inherent violence after 3 eps, not to return. She suggested instead to watch ALF together, which she wasn't much allowed to watch as a kid and I haven't seen since the cancellation of my childhood. Interesting, to say the least, to have a whole different perspective on a sitcom like this. I even remember some episodes, never sure if I ever saw all of it. Until now it's surprisingly solid, still in S1, and we have to see at which point it wears out.

[XoPachi]

Finished season 2 of Nocturne.
It's narratively a bit of a whimper, but it's got better pacing than prior Castlevania seasons. And the action was fantastic. Absolute brawl in the last two episodes especially and extremely well animated all throughout. It's spotty as the Netflix adaptation has been from the start, but this was probably my favorite season so far. They cut a lot of fluff they were criticized for and just kept a good focus. Great VA as usual while not being nearly as wordy this time and I feel like even the already pleasant visuals were updated even further.

I'm sure people will think it's still an abominable travesty, but I found it enjoyable.

[GaijinPunch]

Seen and finished Better Call Saul Season 4. Impressive as ever, though I lost the gal as a co-viewer to the inherent violence after 3 eps, not to return. She suggested instead to watch ALF together, which she wasn't much allowed to watch as a kid and I haven't seen since the cancellation of my childhood. Interesting, to say the least, to have a whole different perspective on a sitcom like this. I even remember some episodes, never sure if I ever saw all of it. Until now it's surprisingly solid, still in S1, and we have to see at which point it wears out.

Lol - maybe it's time for an open relationship - at least for watching TV Shows together. Better Call Saul is fucking fantastic. Sticks the landing. Perfection. I may go through it again soon.

[GaijinPunch]

Bought an Apple TV+ subscription to watch Severance Season 2. Watched the premiere tonight - not super exciting but I suppose they have to lay the groundwork. Let's see if literally ever reviewer that saw it early is correct.

[NYN]

Lol - maybe it's time for an open relationship - at least for watching TV Shows together.

True that it's gotten harder to find the stuff that can be interesting to us both. Where it can't be helped we just don't compromise. I sure don't watch something I can't be bothered with. And honestly, there are none contenders that I would accept as co-viewers (given the marvelous age we all are in). Rather flying solo and moderately gush here about it.

Better Call Saul is fucking fantastic. Sticks the landing. Perfection. I may go through it again soon.

I get the sentiment, given our True Detective S1 musings, though on a philosophical stand I find 'perfection' superfluous at best. And yes, I have little things about Saul and White that I find not fresh enough, yet I can explain to myself, and being confirmed by the creators. Things that others find marginal or even authentic in the depiction of the man's world of crime and maintaining power. It all goes to waste, and the point is well made.

[hazys]

I've been watching some Boston Legal which I caught when it was airing in the 2000s. Insane show. Legal absurdist sex comedy starring William Shatner and James Spader. Some of the weirdest directing work of the decade. Check it out if you're bored.

[GaijinPunch]

I get the sentiment, given our True Detective S1 musings, though on a philosophical stand I find 'perfection' superfluous at best. And yes, I have little things about Saul and White that I find not fresh enough, yet I can explain to myself, and being confirmed by the creators. Things that others find marginal or even authentic in the depiction of the man's world of crime and maintaining power. It all goes to waste, and the point is well made.

While maybe the word perfection is a bit exaggerated, it is difficult to find a better show. Other contenders, sure, but I don't think I can name a show that brought in three actors that were basically unknowns, but only to have them deliver powerhouse performances. I was on the edge of my seat to the end.

[NYN]

What I find most exceptional, next to the high quality overall, is how they treat (in more than one sense) their audiences: the way certain scenes are not explained with words before, only by paying attention and patience there comes the point of "Aha!", which is a sort of exploring on our side. I cannot think of another Tv example of this. And, obviously, they don't recap events. Watching, one has to be on top of it, and never miss an episode.

Re-watching Fargo Y1, even there are at least 2 "Erstwhile...", which, as strong as it still is, leaves an aftertaste. I don't intend to sound pedantic, it's just that with all the quality it comes down to some nit-picking such as this. The idea of perfection, alas...

[GaijinPunch]

Re-watching Fargo Y1, even there are at least 2 "Erstwhile...", which, as strong as it still is, leaves an aftertaste. I don't intend to sound pedantic, it's just that with all the quality it comes down to some nit-picking such as this. The idea of perfection, alas...

I've got all of Fargo scheduled for a rewatch... for when I get back to it. I thought S5 was fantastic. And funny you should mention it, I've been meaning to incorporate "erstwhile" into my vocab, but it's proved challenging.

[neorichieb1971]

Silo - S2 - Apple plus

As with most TV shows the story gets stretched to the point that the producers are filling out episodes with fluff. This doesn't stray from that format.

Was a 10/10 for me, but S2 dropped to about a 7/10 due to the filler.

[RGC]

Anyone else keeping up with S03 White Lotus? It's the only show me and Mrs RGC are watching. Consistently brilliant in its tension ratcheting.

Fucked off that Fargo S03 subs don't work on Prime. I need to find another way to see that. Loved S01&2.

[GaijinPunch]

Me and my lady are watching White Lotus. I'm all about it this season.

For whatever reason Fargo Season 3 is divisive, and I have no idea why - I thought it was one of the best seasons. Then again, it has Mary Elizabeth Winstead and national treasure Ray Wise doing some wacky shit.

[RGC]

Me and my lady are watching White Lotus. I'm all about it this season.

I think I can guess why that might be. He's one of the most interesting characters this season. Parker Posey also makes me chuckle as affluent opioid abuser (shades of Tanya McQuoid). Apparently she was in Dazed and Confused, which I've seen multiple times, but which I can't quite place her in.

For whatever reason Fargo Season 3 is divisive, and I have no idea why - I thought it was one of the best seasons. Then again, it has Mary Elizabeth Winstead and national treasure Ray Wise doing some wacky shit.

Gah, maybe I'll just buy it on disc, or sail the seven seas. Wish amazon would fix the damn subtitle glitch.