What TV series are you currently watching?

[Fëanor]

Netflix' Ripley: a good show?  Yes, technically, dramatically, acting & directing, (to the extent that I'm a judge of such things).

I've watched two and 1/2 episodes; am I going to watch more?  NO. It's just too dark, ("noir"), for me.  By episode no.3 the nefarious intent of Tom Ripley is all too clear and, for me, it's rather sickening seeing the plot unfold.

Tom Ripley's evil is clear by then even for me who hasn't read Patricia Highsmith's novel, "The Talented Mr. Ripley". I did see the 1999 film version starring Matt Damon but I'd forgotten about it.  The '99 film had a less dark ambience -- and was in colour.

[drogulus]

     Malkovich did a fine Ripley. The Dennis Hopper Ripley wasn't really the Highsmith character, or so it's said. The Wenders film with Hopper and Bruno Ganz is probably the best film of the bunch.

[Karl Henning]

Something else I learnt from Ellison's commentary: the principal actor in "Gramma" is Barret Oliver, whom I've now at last seen in The Never-Ending Story.

I'm now back-tracking somewhat to listen to more commentary by Harlan Ellison. He describes himself as "arrogant and elitist." (Really. Just heard him use that literal phrase.) Listening right now to his commentary upon "Paladin of the Lost Hour." It's always been a favorite of mine. I love Danny Kaye and Glynn Turman. A fair percentage of this commentary is Ellison airing grievances. I don't say there's nothing to any of them, but whining is whining, all the same. 

[Karl Henning]

I'm now back-tracking somewhat to listen to more commentary by Harlan Ellison. He describes himself as "arrogant and elitist." (Really. Just heard him use that literal phrase.) Listening right now to his commentary upon "Paladin of the Lost Hour." It's always been a favorite of mine. I love Danny Kaye and Glynn Turman. A fair percentage of this commentary is Ellison airing grievances. I don't say there's nothing to any of them, but whining is whining, all the same.

And now, his commentary upon "One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty." Frequent series contributor Alan Brennert did the screenplay adaptation, and Ellison is very pleased with it. The source story is essentially autobiographical (Ellison grew up in an Ohio town at a time when--he says--antisemitism was common in the American Midwest.) Watching the show being shot brought Ellison to tears. 

[Irons]

Baby Reindeer - Incredible show!!

It is.

[Karl Henning]

And now, his commentary upon "One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty." Frequent series contributor Alan Brennert did the screenplay adaptation, and Ellison is very pleased with it. The source story is essentially autobiographical (Ellison grew up in an Ohio town at a time when--he says--antisemitism was common in the American Midwest.) Watching the show being shot brought Ellison to tears.

The first season's penultimate episode is a diptych. The 27-minute "Profile in Silver" has a descendant of Jack Kennedy returning from the future (we meet him teaching a class in Harvard) to witness the assassination in Dallas. But, the visit queers the timeliness. I'm a bit tickled to find that this significantly predates Stephen King's 11.22.63, as King is scornful of TZ. The episode concludes with the lurid codetta, "Button, Button," based on a Richard Matheson story. If you press the button two things happen: someone you don't know dies, and you get $200K. 20 minutes of a couple (who can use the money) unsure at first if they believe it, and then wondering if they dare.

[Ian]

Netflix' Ripley: a good show?  Yes, technically, dramatically, acting & directing, (to the extent that I'm a judge of such things).

I've watched two and 1/2 episodes; am I going to watch more?  NO. It's just too dark, ("noir"), for me.  By episode no.3 the nefarious intent of Tom Ripley is all too clear and, for me, it's rather sickening seeing the plot unfold.

I watched it all and enjoyed it more than the Matt Damon/Jude Law version. I just thought the meeting in Venice between Ripley and the inspector was a bit far-fetched. Anyone would have recognised him let alone the pretty shrewd inspector.

[Ian]

The Gentlemen on Netflix. I've not reached the end yet but the first few episodes are entertaining and enjoyable.

[Florestan]

Beyond Paradise (BBC First), sequel to Death in Paradise --- DI Humphrey Goodman transplanted from the Caribbean to somewhere in coastal UK. Meh. I much prefer DiP, if only for the gorgeous female DSs, whether Florence or Camille. 

[Cato]

The first season's penultimate episode is a diptych. The 27-minute "Profile in Silver" has a descendant of Jack Kennedy returning from the future (we meet him teaching a class in Harvard) to witness the assassination in Dallas. But, the visit queers the timeliness. I'm a bit tickled to find that this significantly predates Stephen King's 11.22.63, as King is scornful of TZ.

The episode concludes with the lurid codetta, "Button, Button," based on a Richard Matheson story. If you press the button two things happen: someone you don't know dies, and you get $200K. 20 minutes of a couple (who can use the money) unsure at first if they believe it, and then wondering if they dare.

King is scornful of TZ.

No surprise, and for obvious reasons! 

Stephen King shows the deleterious effects of the invention of the word processor!

Yeah, yeah, you can't argue with a billion dollars of success...

...or can you? 

"Button, Button," based on a Richard Matheson story. If you press the button two things happen: someone you don't know dies, and you get $200K. 20 minutes of a couple (who can use the money) unsure at first if they believe it, and then wondering if they dare.

I wonder if he was aware of German author Günter Eich's Träume (Dreams), a series of radio plays from 1951, which have a nightmarish atmosphere very similar to the later Twilight Zone series.

The book originally had 5 Dreams.  In The Sixth Dream (sometimes used as a replacement for The Second Dream, which caused great controversy at the time), a married couple encounters a group of very happy people who would be delighted, too delighted, if the couple would kindly pull a lever, which produces an odd sound and causes a celebration among their new acquaintances, making the couple very popular!

Let's just say that things quickly turn horrific!

[Karl Henning]

"Angry cupcake" (!!!)

[Fëanor]

Malkovich did a fine Ripley. The Dennis Hopper Ripley wasn't really the Highsmith character, or so it's said. The Wenders film with Hopper and Bruno Ganz is probably the best film of the bunch.

Thanks, I wasn't even aware of those other, Ripley-themed movies.  At the moment I'm not tempted them to watch them;  I'm not a bit fan of triumph-of-evil films in general.

[Brian]

Beyond Paradise (BBC) - Season 2 concludes last night. I found Death in Paradise lost its way and its charm in the last 2 seasons. This spin-off more than makes up for it. Easing viewing, yes, but a well-made one and some lovable characters to boot. Kris Marshall is a hoot (as he was all those years ago in My Family) 

The original Death in Paradise is definitely losing its charm - I think for three reasons, the relative lack of charisma of Ralf Little compared to the first three leads, the painful cringey embarrassing attempts to have his character flirt with his coworkers, and the now-constant recycling of old supporting characters back to the show. It feels like they ran out of character ideas so they are hoping that bringing back old ones will reignite the fire.

We didn't really like Beyond Paradise series 1 but we will probably try series 2 anyway.

[DavidW]

The original Death in Paradise is definitely losing its charm - I think for three reasons, the relative lack of charisma of Ralf Little compared to the first three leads, the painful cringey embarrassing attempts to have his character flirt with his coworkers, and the now-constant recycling of old supporting characters back to the show. It feels like they ran out of character ideas so they are hoping that bringing back old ones will reignite the fire.

The constant will they won't they between Little's character and the other detective was just so cringe I couldn't take it!  He's acting like he is 12 years old instead of an adult.  And the mysteries became so repetitive and stupid that I could just predict every twist and turn.  I think the writers became burned out.

[Papy Oli]

The original Death in Paradise is definitely losing its charm - I think for three reasons, the relative lack of charisma of Ralf Little compared to the first three leads, the painful cringey embarrassing attempts to have his character flirt with his coworkers, and the now-constant recycling of old supporting characters back to the show. It feels like they ran out of character ideas so they are hoping that bringing back old ones will reignite the fire.

We didn't really like Beyond Paradise series 1 but we will probably try series 2 anyway.

The constant will they won't they between Little's character and the other detective was just so cringe I couldn't take it!  He's acting like he is 12 years old instead of an adult.  And the mysteries became so repetitive and stupid that I could just predict every twist and turn.  I think the writers became burned out.

All fairly valid points I think.

They've announced Ralf Little's replacement as Don Gilet, an actor that has appeared as a villain in the BBC soap Eastenders and others series like Sherwood and the Stranger. A familiar face, not a bad actor at all, but not necessarily as much of an established name as his predecessors. Maybe a sign that "bigger" names didn't see the potential in DIP any longer ?

As for Beyond Paradise, I thought it felt more settled in S2 and they pushed less obviously on the quirks of the characters and more on their development and warmth. I like their original form the crime process and revelation takes place once Kris Marshall has his "epiphany".

[DavidW]

Maybe a sign that "bigger" names didn't see the potential in DIP any longer ?

Probably also harder to get actors to sign on when they know that they will spend half the year away from family and friends!