I totally agree Pete but will respect those who still have to catch up…
It’s on Prime Video for £13.50 for season 1. Should I be tempted!
Phil
First class.
As good as it gets this year.
If you’re talking about White Lotus season 1 it’s definitely worth it, excellent show.
I just finished Season 2 and quite enjoyed. Not quite the novelty of Season 1, but I thought the plot and sub plots, and character was very good - not quite as exceptional as Season 1. The cinematic quality is superb in bot seasons.
Shogun
Very binge worthy, but not on a streaming service.
I bought the DVDs years ago, but had to get US NTSC discs as there were no PAL sets.
Richard Chamberlain is excellent as Anjin San.
Love that there are no English subtitles for the Japanese; so you experience the story from Chamberlain’s POV.
Clavell produced the series. When the intended Japanese actress to play Mariko had to pull out he had to fight for another Japanese actress, NBC wanted a bigger name US actress.
Although the novel is simplified this is a good adaptation.
I remember this from years gone by; it was an excellent adaptation as you say.
Watching Cracker (from 1993) with the late Robbie Coltrane as ‘Fitz’, the self-destructive (smokes like a chimney, with a very bad gambling habit) psychologist. Available via ‘on-demand’ (I think). The environments are dated (especially the trains), as are the attitudes on display and, I suspect, it’s drama that wouldn’t be made today, shame to say.
Am watching some repeats of Boston Legal presently - thought it was superb when first released - and its still superb- very cleverly written
Really enjoying Somebody Feed Phil on NF at the moment, kinda light but fascinating at the same time.
I agree – I think it’s got overtones of MASH, with James Spader playing a Hawkeye-type character, and like MASH it ranges from the absurd to being deeply serious and poignant.
I’ve just finished watching The Addams Family spin-off Wednesday. Great for a bit of light entertainment and some cracking tunes thrown in for good measure.
Columbo
Watched bits of episodes in my teens, don’t remember ever watching a full episode.
Just watched the first two episodes on freevee.
The first episode was directed by one Steven Spielberg.
M
I watched that a couple of weeks ago. I never appreciated The Addams Family and wouldn’t have watched this but for a friend’s strong recommendation. Put on the first episode thinking opOK, I’ll give it a try - and ended up watching tge whole series between that and the next two days. Rather different, a whodunnit with twist, quite enjoyable and entertaining.
Just finished the second series of Slow Horses. Just excellent viewing (like the first). Looking forward to series three now, but have got the books to read in the meantime
I will binge out soon on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Alec Guinness at some point, recording it from BBC R4
A few years ago, one glorious summer evening (funny how you remember these things) I played the complete Simon Russell Beale Smiley’s People thru the Blu Ray and out to the audio system , it was one of the best audiophile experiences I could remember .
In the mean time binging out on the Big Bash at the rate of one per night
Just finished the second series of Upright on Sky featuring Tim Minchin & Milly Alcock. Not quite as strong as the first series but a good and enjoyable watch nonetheless. ‘I had something in my eye’ moment again at the end.
Not sure I’ve seen it mentioned, but I really enjoyed A Spy Among Friends - good cast, good intensity, good twisty bits… about the defection of Kim Philby.
Watched Kaleidoscope on Netflix. A heist series with some very good casting alongside others that seem stereotyped but it turns out, aren’t.
I write ‘aren’t’ as the episodes have a twist I haven’t come across before - that is the viewers all see the episodes in a different order. It is a very clever technique that works well. I have to say the cinematography is great too and reminds me when Netflix had such a unique reputation for maximising the impact of 4K filming - some stunning photography alongside a great story with lots of hidden clues.