TV programs you're watching?

[Mr. Nobody]

Originally Posted by A Whimsical Stranger

The Vampire Diaries

I'm obsessed and don't even care. It's helping me survive lockdown.

welcome back missus!

[A Whimsical Stranger]

Aww thanks guys

[Pink*Lady]

Drych
Fflam

[A Whimsical Stranger]

I'm only on the beginning of season three (watching for the first time) and it's so difficult because I want to discuss but also don't want spoilers, I'm so glad I've got five seasons and then spinoffs to watch.

[girlinterrupted]

Originally Posted by A Whimsical Stranger

The Vampire Diaries

I'm obsessed and don't even care. It's helping me survive lockdown.

Great choice

Currently Shadowhunters on Netflix. Absolute tripe but it's nicely escapist, turn-off-the-brain tripe.

[twosocks]

Flo & joan: alive on stage. On prime.

Oh my god i needed this. I hope they tour when all this is over

[Mike.Kzov]

stop watching that softcore porn vampire nonsense, and watch something good. Like A Very English Scandal on Iplayer.

[girlinterrupted]

Originally Posted by Mike.Kzov

stop watching that softcore porn vampire nonsense, and watch something good. Like A Very English Scandal on Iplayer.

No

[Seagull]

Just restarted Gomorrah from series one. Brilliant and brutal film noir from our Italian cousins and some serious eye candy for all persuasions. Delicious.

[Tonkin]

Started watching Narcos but it's pretty boring so gave up about 4 episodes in.

[Seagull]

^. Wash your mouth out T/kin! Narcos is fantastic and Wagner Moura puts in a fantastic shift as Escobar.

[Tonkin]

Sorry! I just found it a bit un exciting.

Like I didn't really care what happened next, so eventually gave up.

[Pink*Lady]

It's a sin. This was brilliant.

[girlinterrupted]

The Umbrella Academy. Loved the first episode, mix of superhero, pop culture with a dark comic feel. Next couple of episodes have been ok, will see where it goes

[anewyear]

Dating No Filter

[Jen.]

Originally Posted by anewyear

Dating No Filter

I watched the first two seasons of the American original of this, it was great! Didn't realise there was a UK version.

[anewyear]

Started a couple of nights ago. It was like... wow.. Hilarious though.

[Pink*Lady]

Unforgotten

[Jen.]

Has anyone seen "Joe Pera Talks with You"?

It is so, so good! Here's an extract from a review that describes it much better than I could:

"Pera – a 30-year-old comedian with the voice and mannerisms of someone three times his age – plays a fictional version of himself; a middle-school choir teacher living on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A single man who lives alone, he finds enormous pleasure in tiny things: iron, sheet music, the sound of liquid being poured from a large container into a smaller container. He’s well liked by his local community, but he doesn’t quite fit in. As such, he’s found comfort in his own routines. He reads the announcements at church. He goes on an annual drive each autumn. He collects minerals.

Another show would have painted Pera as a figure of fun, using his quirks as a weapon against him, but Joe Pera Talks With You has too much heart for that. The show is always on his side. When teenagers place a For Sale sign outside his home, and it looks for a moment like he’ll honour the wishes of the strangers who make him an offer, you go through all the dips and turns of his dilemma with him. When he marvels at a spinning dessert display, seduced by the sweet delights but knowing that as an adult he has to make healthy choices – it’s like you’re seeing it for the first time.

Each episode of Joe Pera Talks With You is 10 minutes long, which is just enough. We’re introduced into his world, and we watch him impart some folky, home-spun wisdom on a certain topic, then we leave him as we found him. There’s only a veneer of an emotional arc – a lightly-drawn relationship with a colleague starts to burble up in later episodes – but even that feels unnecessary. Joe Pera as a character is an island, and the fun of watching it is feeling his own worldview slowly align to yours. He’s a soft and soothing presence, a little like Bob Ross, and the series can often veer into something approaching ASMR in its meditative delivery."

It's hilarious and surreal, and at one point during the second series it becomes devastatingly sad. It's beautifully shot too and the soundtrack is perfect. I've watched it twice over the last couple of weeks. It's nice to have a comedy that's as wholesome and gentle as this, where someone who is socially anxious and overthinks everything is celebrated rather than made into a figure of fun. It feels like a lot of love has gone into making it.

There are two seasons and a Christmas special (which I think was a pilot for the main show, but it makes sense to watch it afterwards) available on All 4: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/...talks-with-you

[Dougella]

Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer, gone fishing. So good and funny and I've never fished in my life

[Tembo]

^ so many people have said they have enjoyed it. I may have to give it a watch. I just presumed a programme with two blokes fishing might be a bit too, well, "blokey".

Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig. She has a guest each week and takes them to 3 different lovely accommodations in different parts of the UK. A relaxing programme to watch, I really like Toksvig, and it really shows how stunningly beautiful the UK can be. The guests have all been good too. However, my gripe about this programme is that it's another one that shows people what they probably would never be able to afford. I mean, a place they stayed in Scotland had medieval tapestries and a personal chef. I can find Travelodge a bit pricey sometimes....
It also contrasts to when I once saw Toksvig in a tracksuit outside Wilkinson's.

[Jen.]

I loved Gone Fishing too. The fishing part is pretty much secondary to the conversations and scenery. I think food probably has more attention than the fishing too Give it a go though, it's great!

[Tembo]

^ will do!

[biscuits]

I’m late to the game as per usual on these, but I’ve got a few on the go at the moment:

Narcos
Devs
Superstore
The Expanse

[Jen.]

^ Devs is sooooooo good! I read a while ago the creator is working on a completely different show featuring all the same actors from Devs but I don't think there's any other news about it.

[Pink*Lady]

Originally Posted by Kooky Monster

^ Really like that show. I'm waiting for a few more episodes for this series to be aired so I can binge it.

The first episode was superb Kooky Monster.

[hellotiger]

Wandavision- I didn’t fancy it from the trailer but it was actually good. Filled the gap that would have been filled by about 5 Marvel films the past year.

[girlinterrupted]

^I love that, and it's been so much more watchable without Melanie Sykes or Sara Cox.

Sad indictment but the highlight of my last few days was seeing Bake-Off is back with the celeb charity version. I guess I really value some gentle, peaceful escapism atm.

For what feels like the millionth time I'm trying to get into The Originals, given that I love The Vampire Diaries and it was a spin off from that. I'm only on episode 7 or 8 though, it's taken months and even now I couldn't tell you more than the general summary- it's like my brain rejects it. There's no way I'll make it through all the seasons. Doesn't bode well for the spin-off from the spin-off (Legacies?) either. It's like I'm having some weird sort of relationship- it really shouldn't be this hard to make myself like you! The depths boredom will drive you to

[Jen.]

I've never liked any of the Pottery hosts I think Cox was probably the least annoying of the three though. I don't even know why a host is needed since the judges walk around to talk to everyone and seem more than capable of running things themselves. It doesn't feel like it adds anything to have someone messing about between the challenges.

[girlinterrupted]

^Agreed! It must be quite a skill to cast the correct host so that they add value to the show rather than detract aka make you want to throw something at the screen, because god knows it seems a rare accomplishment