Off Topic The Review Thread

“… I was researching and reciting my knowledge on British Monarchs …”
I was thinking the same thing, huh! … that little nugget was tucked away in the middle of a TV programme review/recommendation

 

For those, like me, who like history but are not going to read academic works, I strongly recommend Simon Winder’s books Germania, Danubia and Lotharingia. These are all areas of Europe related to the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg family ie most of Europe east of France. Massive subjects but he only writes about what interests him, doesn’t bother too much with genealogy, and is very funny. The books were written in the order above, but I have started with Danubia and am already hooked, partly because I love the atmosphere of this part of the world.

 

I used to like the Clarkson Top Gear decades ago, in the early 2000’s, before it got repetitive, ridiculous, needlessly provocative and silly. Haven’t bothered with the Amazon car show, and I actively avoid his column in the Sunday Times, where he has opinions for money.

But I am really enjoying his Amazon series about his farm. He is his usual self, minus the schoolboy attempts to offend with impunity thankfully, but the programme is made worthwhile by his sidekick Caleb, who is apparently completely oblivious to celebrity. I have no idea how serious this farming lark is to Clarkson, probably it’s just a passing fad for which he gets paid for making telly programmes, but a series of this is good fun.

 

Just watched the Terry Venables life story doc on Sky Documentries and it’s well worth a couple of hours of your time.
Tells the story of his upbringing and football career, interspersed with the story of England’s journey to defeat in 1996. not as much about his times at QPR, but brought back some fantastic memories of Euro 96 and how it felt to be there in the stadium at the time.
If you want something to get you going even more for tomorrow night…..it’s well worth a watch.

 

I don't know if anyone has seen it or I'm late to the party...
Mindhunter on Netflix was a great series (2 seasons). Based on true events, it's about a team of FBI agents working in the behaviour area (serial killers) and interviewing them but also get caught up in real life cases. Fab watch

 

The Kinks: Echoes of a World, on Sky Arts right now.

Wonderful Englishness.

 

And a Clapton /guitar evening on BBC4. Neat.

 

Anyone else on here watched Mr. Robot on Netflix, with Christian Slater and Remi Malek?

My son watched it and said it was the best thing he'd ever watched, so we're acting on his recommendation. We're half way through series 2 and, whilst I'm enjoying it, it's very dark and quite challenging. I'm not always sure what's real and what's not.

Give it a go and let me know..

 

Watched it all when it came out - it's a bit of a headfuck at times, but really enjoyed it

 

Really enjoyed watching ‘Uprising’, the 3 parter on BBC from Steve McQueen that starts off with the devastating New Cross fire in 1981, in which 13 young black kids were killed, onto the Black Peoples day of Action and ending with the Riots of that year and their repercussions.
While I disagree with the film in certain aspects, like who actually started the fire (nobody still knows for sure), what cannot be denied is that back in those days there really was institutionalised racism from society in general, and specifically the police…something that, in my opinion, is now definitely in the past in this country (not to say that racism doesn’t exist here).
Plus the fact they have interviews from some of my favourite bands and performers like Steel Pulse, Bob Marley and Linton Kwesi Johnson…well worth a watch.

 

My lad is off to see Pete Doherty, now apparently the size of a bus, play in Coventry Cathedral Saturday evening. Hope he sings a few QPR chants for the boy to join in with, I’ll be making my way back from HQs. I’m guessing you don’t know what you’ll get with Pete.

 

He’s actually a very talented individual who could have been legendary if it wasn’t for the skag. Shame really as some of his stuff was really good

 

By the way G, have you thought of going to the 2-tone exhibition in Coventry ?

 

I've seen him many times, Babyshambles, Libertines, solo, Putre Madres - he's a fantastic showman. Only once did he turn up so wasted he could hardly string two words together (T in the Park). Another time we were queueing up to get into the Barrowlands to see him and found out the gig was cancelled as he was sent down that afternoon for a spell at Her Majesties pleasure!

Hope your boy enjoys the gig - very jealous. No sign of gigs returning up here at the moment, and have just had confirmation that first festival for two years has now been postponed to 2022 - gutted.

 

Rumoured that the Specials, or some of them, might turn up on Saturday, and I’m booked to see them at the Ricoh in September, if it happens. But I haven’t been to the exhibition, is that permanent or part of the city of culture stuff?

 

I really don’t know mate. Just saw it advertised and it looks really good. Could be worth a visit

 

Just looked it up, on til September, looks interesting.

 

You had to give in, didn't you? Thought you were going to give it a miss, or was that the Madness gig?