"Feeling Epic" is from the dreaded advert; using Money Supermarket makes you feel that way, apparently. I'll take their word for it. My ex and I is kind of normal (well, round our house at least) so not too much of a problem. No, really!
Advertising is a different topic and worthy of its own thread, or least of being the O.P. to Ranty McRant's FRO Thread of Apoplexy. Interesting headline on BBC News today: please log in to view this image It turns out it means specifically offensive advertisements. I took it to mean all advertising, which is offensive in at least the deliberate waste of time it imposes. This is why I watch all my telly shows after the event, once some kind-hearted soul has already removed the commercial breaks and the worst advertising I get is that in-show logo graphic that tells you what's coming up next.
That's interesting Genji. I wonder if the BBC are conducting market research for a future paradigm shift of their own? P.S. I think your viewing strategy is clever.
Back to TV drama: we dived into The Newsroom over the weekend. Quite interesting, if a tad soap opera-esque (it spends a bit too much time on the romantic intertwinings of the characters, but I'm optimistic that's just there to hook the viewers and it'll become less important as the main point takes hold). It's a back office drama set in a NY-based cable TV news studio. The interesting aspects are: 1) the main point of the staff deciding they want to deliver impartial, fact-based information to their viewers instead of the infotainment modern TV news has become; 2) each episode revolves around a real news story from the recent past, such as the Egyptian uprising, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the killing of Osama bin Laden, etc.; 3) the fictional news programme ('News Night') is a one-take performance with the studio and location cameras linked to the control room as per a real news show, which adds to its energy; 4) Olivia Munn. I wouldn't give it the ringing endorsement I would Curb Your Enthusiasm or Breaking Bad just yet (I don't really care whether Jim gets off with Maggie's roommate, etc.) but it might be worth a look to see if it's your cup of tea. What it does it does just as well in the first episode as it continues to, unlike, say, Episodes which takes a few episodes to bed in.
I'm still trying to find something to replace House, and also waiting for the Walking dead to return...
Is Walking Dead an AMC show? I think their special effects dept. did the Breaking Bad Season 4 finale effects, which were pretty astonishing. I try to avoid Fox shows when I can - as much for cancelling The Sarah Connor Chronicles as for being a News Corp organ and blurring the line between advertising and entertainment more than any other organisation.
Yeah its AMC but I think its a collaboration with Fox, I'm not really sure what the deal is. Falling Skies is also a good show although I've fallen a little behind as I've only seen the first series so far (Thats a TNT-Dreamworks collaboration so its all good )
Falling Skies looks interesting. I might give that a go. I'm biologically predisposed to disdain anything to do with zombies or vampires. Part of me wants to watch Walking Dead and True Blood because they're both critically acclaimed but most of me thinks vampires and zombies are just plain daft. There's a gilt-edged metaphor in zombies and vampires for different social demographics that is repeatedly ignored in favour of fake blood and cheap jumps, which just frustrates me. I've never really got on with horror films generally, though. I don't think anyone's mentioned Band of Brothers yet. I haven't seen it but obviously it's very highly regarded. Anyone have an opinion?
Band of Brothers is amazing, Genji. I am really surprised you haven't watched it yet considering how long it's been out for now. You can get it pretty cheap as well these days. It's quite something to see what they all went through. It's full of feel good moments, tragedy, loss and triumph. They all got each other through the war. Been watching Breaking Bad whilst I've been of work. Really good T.V. I find myself laughing one minute and then looking in total disbelief at what they are doing to get out of a situation, just to get themselves in even more trouble. I'm up to the end of season 2 so far. Going to get season 3 soon.
Band of Brothers was great, what I particularly liked was the interviews at the end with the survivors. I really enjoyed The Walking Dead, it's really a tale of a group of people struggling to survive rather than the typical zombie flick, with deaths of major characters every so often. Breaking Bad is another good TV show, and I've heard lots of really good reviews of Game of Thrones so I keep meaning to DL S1&2. Other good shows that have impressed me were The Wire which was awesome and deserving of the high IMDB rating it has and it's awards & Rome (James Purevoys Mark Anthony is my hero). Another show I really enjoyed was Jericho, it's just a shame they never got to finish it properly.
We may make a start on Band of Brothers this weekend, following your glowing review, Iceman. We have two episodes each of Boss and Hunderby to catch up on but BoB might be a good non-GP Sunday afternoon indulgence. I wish I was only up to the end of Season 2 of BrBa. That's the teddy bear explanation, right? How much of a bastard was Walt to stand over Jane watching her? And he only gets worse. The great thing is, each season is even better than the previous one. Watched another reality sitcom recently - Louie by Louis C.K. He's pretty funny and there are some decent dramatic moments, too. Also looking forward to seeing what policy predictions The Thick of It comes up with this week. please log in to view this image
Band of Brothers - Amazing, would highly recommend as many others already have The Pacific - also produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, not quite as good as Band of Brothers, but still very good Futurama - hilarious, bit of higher-brow humor Family Guy - cause its ridiculous South Park - I personally think, at least in recent seasons, that its been genius in the way it perfectly captures the stupidity that happens in my country. Top Gear - the British actually good series not the crap American one How I Met Your Mother - also really funny, didn't think I'd like it but it grew on me pretty quickly once I started watching it Firefly - hands down one of the best shows I've ever watched. Its got everything, just give it a chance Archer - hilarious, really witty and clever at times and than just ridiculous other times I also like a fair bit of anime, and would recommend some of that as well, but thats probably for another thread.
