[IanMSpencer]

I’m quickly ploughing through this new Star Trek series in the 7 day free trial of Paramount+.

The original series of Star Trek  (TOS to Trekkies) was national viewing in my childhood and aside from the later series of Next Generation the producers have struggled to match the viewability of the early series.

Then a lot of modern TV series insist on a commitment from the viewer with long and complex story arcs overlaying episodes – and when those story arcs are designed to cover multiple series and then the series gets cancelled, I’m reluctant to commit to viewing a series. Picard was overly complex and tried to be too clever, Discovery had to have a couple of goes to find its feet (which reminds me, have I got time to check out the new series of that with my freebie).

So it’s been a really pleasure watching the new series. They’ve successfully rewound to a lot of what was good about TOS – these are not super-humans, they are a bit argumentative and silly, but the main goodie is we have a series, with individual stand-alone episodes, there are a couple of longer term threadlets but they are minscule, unlike Discovery. Pike is quite in the role of Kirk, bonding with aliens in the bedroom (not just a snog now) and showing off his torso.

It’s the best of the recent efforts.

Topic

[hawkinspeter]

brooksby wrote:

You must read them. As SteveK correctly says: they’re brilliant.

I think I should, but I know I’ll have Gary Oldman’s voice in my head whilst reading them.

[Steve K]

hawkinspeter wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Steve K wrote:

Oh, I think he could. (As an aside, I know TS’s brother a little, but never met Tim himself)

Maybe, but I’m a Gary Oldman fan and his Jackson Lamb is just rivetting and amusing. Haven’t read the books though so I don’t know if he’s accurate to the character.

I wasn’t disagreeing about Oldman, he is brilliant in the role. And yes, definitely read the books.

[brooksby]

hawkinspeter wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Steve K wrote:

Oh, I think he could. (As an aside, I know TS’s brother a little, but never met Tim himself)

Maybe, but I’m a Gary Oldman fan and his Jackson Lamb is just rivetting and amusing. Haven’t read the books though so I don’t know if he’s accurate to the character.

You must read them. As SteveK correctly says: they’re brilliant.

[hawkinspeter]

Steve K wrote:

Steve K wrote:

Oh, I think he could. (As an aside, I know TS’s brother a little, but never met Tim himself)

Maybe, but I’m a Gary Oldman fan and his Jackson Lamb is just rivetting and amusing. Haven’t read the books though so I don’t know if he’s accurate to the character.

[Steve K]

Oh, I think he could. (As an
Oh, I think he could. (As an aside, I know TS’s brother a little, but never met Tim himself)

[hawkinspeter]

brooksby wrote:

The character Gary Oldman plays was – in the novels – described as looking like Timothy Spall (back in the day, before TS lost a lot of weight).

I don’t think Timothy Spall would swear as convincingly (and amusingly) as Gary Oldman.

[Steve K]

The novels are brilliant. 

The novels are brilliant.  Also, I ride past ‘Slough House’ on my way to and from the office, so I was hoping I’d make an appearance in the background!

[brooksby]

The character Gary Oldman

The character Gary Oldman plays was – in the novels – described as looking like Timothy Spall (back in the day, before TS lost a lot of weight).

[hawkinspeter]

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

My next reccomendation(s) for those with access to Apple TV (or Pirate Bay)

Severance. Approach this with very little pre-knowledge if possible. It will explain the basic concept early on in the show, then introduce lots of exploring of it with just a hint of weirdness for no obvious reasons. The last episode had us on the edge of our seats for the entire 45 minutes. 

And if you do take Apple TV trial to watch this, also watch Ted Lasso. You don’t need to know anything about football be able to watch it (it was made for American audiences remember) but very funny AND surprisingly emotional as well. You can go from tears in your eyes from laughter to continued tears for sadness in a minute or two.  

Severance is just brilliant. I’d also give a strong recommendation of Slow Horses – it’s got Gary Oldman doing an inverse Columbo at MI5 (he’s similarly scruffy with a filthy raincoat and a super sharp mind, but rather than being polite and charming, he’s rude and horrible). It does kind of disturb me that the main actor just keeps reminding me of Simon Pegg.

[peted76]

Another vote for Ted Lasso

Another vote for Ted Lasso over here.. I’m no football fan but this is ‘TV Gold’ and has had me in piles of laughter and tears of sadness over the two seasons.

[AlsoSomniloquism]

My next reccomendation(s) for

My next reccomendation(s) for those with access to Apple TV (or Pirate Bay)

Severance. Approach this with very little pre-knowledge if possible. It will explain the basic concept early on in the show, then introduce lots of exploring of it with just a hint of weirdness for no obvious reasons. The last episode had us on the edge of our seats for the entire 45 minutes. 

And if you do take Apple TV trial to watch this, also watch Ted Lasso. You don’t need to know anything about football be able to watch it (it was made for American audiences remember) but very funny AND surprisingly emotional as well. You can go from tears in your eyes from laughter to continued tears for sadness in a minute or two.  

[IanMSpencer]

Mrs S and I binge watched the

Mrs S and I binge watched the whole of The Orville and concluded that it had all the imaginative spirit of TOS and TNG combined, and added in a lot of good thoughtful commentary on life. It helped that they dropped the humans have evolved into being perfect, but they had worked out answers for both tech (I thought the travel forward in time solution was neat and sounded just about plausible given the context) and for the various races raison d’etre – they really don’t like religion though, me thinks.

Other Disney+ recent watches: Big Sky, big no (I read another C J Box series and the underlying stories are very American, guns good, backwoodsmen are brilliant at being invisiable and generally having superpowers, one man against the corrupt police and politicians annoying people for being brilliant at solving crimes, this has the same flaws). Old Man, ponderous and confusing.

[hawkinspeter]

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Just resurected this as it was almost a general TV thread.

Andor. Brilliant TV and not just as Star Wars. Great attention to detail, some terrific acting and lots of grey rather then just black and white for both sides of the conflict. 

That’s possibly my favourite current series although I’m really enjoying “All of Us Are Dead” which is a Korean zombie series. The fight choreography is superb along with some excellent zombie acting.

[hawkinspeter]

brooksby wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

I’m a big fan of Rick’n’Morty too. All the leaves on the ground are due to a ‘false autumn’ from the unusual heat.

I liked the episode where Morty could hear the squirrels plotting…

I like the way that Rick instantly knows that there’s no point in trying to fight them and immediately ditches that entire universe.

I’m also enjoying Andor – the plot really picks up after the first few episodes.

[brooksby]

hawkinspeter wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

I’m a big fan of Rick’n’Morty too. All the leaves on the ground are due to a ‘false autumn’ from the unusual heat.

I liked the episode where Morty could hear the squirrels plotting…

[Author]

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