Got a credit card? use our Credit Card & Finance Calculators
Thanks to Anonymous,bruncher,niord,gvonge,Shelford, for Donating to support the site
Any decent TV series?
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2160
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 12:12 pm
- Has thanked: 1099 times
- Been thanked: 1100 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
Agree with you on 'Lark Rise to Candleford' - it's my one weakness!
I'm not usually keen on this sort of series, but there are just so many good characters. Surely it can't be beyond some writer to come up with new material for these characters.
I'm not usually keen on this sort of series, but there are just so many good characters. Surely it can't be beyond some writer to come up with new material for these characters.
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6385
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:35 am
- Has thanked: 1882 times
- Been thanked: 2026 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
SalvorHardin wrote:...
Anyway, the others that worked well that I've rewatched and can highly recommend are: The Sopranos, Babylon 5, China Beach, Northern Exposure, plus Our Friends in the North and Lovejoy (the two British shows on my list), finishing with the more modern Deadwood where I've just finished the first series.
...
I really liked the first Lovejoy series but thought it had lost something when it came back after a multi- year gap.
Amazingly I was watching the first series when I was away at poly - that long ago (1986)
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2156
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:21 am
- Has thanked: 288 times
- Been thanked: 282 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
AleisterCrowley wrote:SalvorHardin wrote:...
Anyway, the others that worked well that I've rewatched and can highly recommend are: The Sopranos, Babylon 5, China Beach, Northern Exposure, plus Our Friends in the North and Lovejoy (the two British shows on my list), finishing with the more modern Deadwood where I've just finished the first series.
...
I really liked the first Lovejoy series but thought it had lost something when it came back after a multi- year gap.
Amazingly I was watching the first series when I was away at poly - that long ago (1986)
On Saturdays we'd always come back from the Sauna by 9pm when Lovejoy would be on.
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6385
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:35 am
- Has thanked: 1882 times
- Been thanked: 2026 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
Another one I miss, from even longer ago, is Shoestring.
Very rarely repeated, and then severely cut apparently (music licencing?)
I did manage to get Series 1 on DVD a few years back and happy to say it was as good as I remembered -from way back in 1979!
Didn't look like Series 2 (1980) would ever appear, but having just checked the Beeb have now released a series 1+2 box set (for £45 ouch)
Means I have to effectively buy Series 1 again, but I probably will
Very rarely repeated, and then severely cut apparently (music licencing?)
I did manage to get Series 1 on DVD a few years back and happy to say it was as good as I remembered -from way back in 1979!
Didn't look like Series 2 (1980) would ever appear, but having just checked the Beeb have now released a series 1+2 box set (for £45 ouch)
Means I have to effectively buy Series 1 again, but I probably will
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2156
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:21 am
- Has thanked: 288 times
- Been thanked: 282 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
AleisterCrowley wrote:Another one I miss, from even longer ago, is Shoestring.
Very rarely repeated, and then severely cut apparently (music licencing?)
I did manage to get Series 1 on DVD a few years back and happy to say it was as good as I remembered -from way back in 1979!
Didn't look like Series 2 (1980) would ever appear, but having just checked the Beeb have now released a series 1+2 box set (for £45 ouch)
Means I have to effectively buy Series 1 again, but I probably will
I remember it, Radioetsivä ie "Radio Detective" was the translation.
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6385
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:35 am
- Has thanked: 1882 times
- Been thanked: 2026 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
"Bristol Noir" perhaps ?
Looks dated of course, but that's part of the appeal. All the 1979 cars, music, and prices...
And Bristol as it was, although the interior stuff, and some of the exteriors were shot in Ealing (where i lived in the mid 90s)
The 'Radio West' building was BT Bristol I think- now, inevitably, student flats.
Looks dated of course, but that's part of the appeal. All the 1979 cars, music, and prices...
And Bristol as it was, although the interior stuff, and some of the exteriors were shot in Ealing (where i lived in the mid 90s)
The 'Radio West' building was BT Bristol I think- now, inevitably, student flats.
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 969
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 6:17 pm
- Has thanked: 112 times
- Been thanked: 271 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
Another excellent early series was Life on Mars:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_M ... _TV_series)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_M ... _TV_series)
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2111
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 10:32 am
- Has thanked: 5522 times
- Been thanked: 2534 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
AleisterCrowley wrote:I really liked the first Lovejoy series but thought it had lost something when it came back after a multi- year gap.
Amazingly I was watching the first series when I was away at poly - that long ago (1986)
The big difference is that series one closely followed the books, which have much nastier plots (and more murders) than the later series (for which they had fewer books to follow).
The books have a very different tone to the TV series. In order to make it acceptable to the BBC they had to make considerable changes to some characters, notably Lovejoy (if they filmed the books the BBC would never have broacast it on a Sunday evening). Lovejoy is not the loveable rogue of the TV series; he's quite vicious, prone to violence (including against women) and will rip off anyone if he thinks that he can get away with it. Tinker is an alcoholic tramp who stinks the place out. There's no Eric nor Lady Jane (Jane Felsham in the books is a minor character who is a rival antiques dealer).
Lovejoy pops up quite often on the satellite TV channels. Potential viewers should be aware that the episodes are usually cut a bit to make them fit the timeslot with adverts (the entire uncut series has been out on DVD for several years; I just looked and Amazon do it for £38).
Fans of the TV series might like this short trailer for the BBC's Antiques Roadshow from 1991
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW3g2S6nr-g
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 6385
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:35 am
- Has thanked: 1882 times
- Been thanked: 2026 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
I've read a few of the books (by 'Jonathan Gash'*)
As you say the Lovejoy of the novels is a different character, not always likeable!
The first series seemed to take plot elements from the early books, but they were loose interpretations. The Judas Pair was probably the closest adaptation. "The Firefly Cage" is approximately "Firefly Gadroon"(book), and "Friends, Romans and Enemies" has elements of "Gold from Gemini" (book).
Oddly enough the first Lovejoy episode, "The Firefly Cage", has a lot in common with a Shoestring episode "An Uncertain Circle" - possibly because Robert Banks Stewart was involved with both series
Horrifying fact about Shoestring - the BBC wanted to set it in Slough, as it was cheaper to film there
*Dr John Grant, former director of bacteriology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
As you say the Lovejoy of the novels is a different character, not always likeable!
The first series seemed to take plot elements from the early books, but they were loose interpretations. The Judas Pair was probably the closest adaptation. "The Firefly Cage" is approximately "Firefly Gadroon"(book), and "Friends, Romans and Enemies" has elements of "Gold from Gemini" (book).
Oddly enough the first Lovejoy episode, "The Firefly Cage", has a lot in common with a Shoestring episode "An Uncertain Circle" - possibly because Robert Banks Stewart was involved with both series
Horrifying fact about Shoestring - the BBC wanted to set it in Slough, as it was cheaper to film there
*Dr John Grant, former director of bacteriology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2156
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:21 am
- Has thanked: 288 times
- Been thanked: 282 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
Mike88 wrote:Another excellent early series was Life on Mars:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_M ... _TV_series)
Sure. If you're about 12 years old.
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2939
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:18 am
- Has thanked: 1365 times
- Been thanked: 794 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
Well, I loved Life On Mars and was waaay away from 12 when I watched it.
Mel
Mel
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 969
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 6:17 pm
- Has thanked: 112 times
- Been thanked: 271 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
JMN2 wrote:Mike88 wrote:Another excellent early series was Life on Mars:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_M ... _TV_series)
Sure. If you're about 12 years old.
I think you must be thinking of a different programme as I recall the series having excellent reviews at the time and they were not from 12 year olds.
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2156
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:21 am
- Has thanked: 288 times
- Been thanked: 282 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
Mike88 wrote:JMN2 wrote:Mike88 wrote:Another excellent early series was Life on Mars:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_M ... _TV_series)
Sure. If you're about 12 years old.
I think you must be thinking of a different programme as I recall the series having excellent reviews at the time and they were not from 12 year olds.
Yes, but the TV-series was quite recent wasn't it, from 2007 or so.
-
- 2 Lemon pips
- Posts: 172
- Joined: November 18th, 2017, 10:35 am
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 41 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
Just had something on down here called Mum.
Forget the name of the lead actress ( it might come back),she always played upper class snobs when she was younger.
The Geordie girl from George Gently plays the ditzy girlfriend.They are the only two I know.
I think everything about it is great.Theme song seems to be ,find what you can in the kitchen and it is a percussion instrument.Great song.
Kind of a modern expanded Royle Family without the perfectly timed pauses .
Forget the name of the lead actress ( it might come back),she always played upper class snobs when she was younger.
The Geordie girl from George Gently plays the ditzy girlfriend.They are the only two I know.
I think everything about it is great.Theme song seems to be ,find what you can in the kitchen and it is a percussion instrument.Great song.
Kind of a modern expanded Royle Family without the perfectly timed pauses .
-
- 2 Lemon pips
- Posts: 172
- Joined: November 18th, 2017, 10:35 am
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 41 times
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 9011
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 9:06 am
- Has thanked: 1344 times
- Been thanked: 3726 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
Pastcaring wrote:Just had something on down here called Mum.
Forget the name of the lead actress ( it might come back),she always played upper class snobs when she was younger.
The Geordie girl from George Gently plays the ditzy girlfriend.They are the only two I know.
I think everything about it is great.Theme song seems to be ,find what you can in the kitchen and it is a percussion instrument.Great song.
Kind of a modern expanded Royle Family without the perfectly timed pauses .
Just finished watching the first series in two days! Great!
Series 2 has just started.
John
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2939
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:18 am
- Has thanked: 1365 times
- Been thanked: 794 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
I saw that when it was on, a couple of years ago?
Loved it, so gentle and well observed.
Will add the new series to my catch up list.
Mel
Loved it, so gentle and well observed.
Will add the new series to my catch up list.
Mel
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 3668
- Joined: November 5th, 2016, 10:30 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 1229 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
melonfool wrote:Loved it, so gentle and well observed
Now that confused me as I thought i'd seen it and there were no Geordies and it was a chaotic middle class single mum's group of parent friends and her disfunctional relationship with her partner, mother and inlaws - but I have double checked and I was thinking of Motherland http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05j1jkp by comic Holly Walsh and Graham LIneham (of Ted and IT crowd) starring the very droll Diane Morgan.
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 9011
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 9:06 am
- Has thanked: 1344 times
- Been thanked: 3726 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
kempiejon wrote:melonfool wrote:Loved it, so gentle and well observed
Now that confused me as I thought i'd seen it and there were no Geordies and it was a chaotic middle class single mum's group of parent friends and her disfunctional relationship with her partner, mother and inlaws - but I have double checked and I was thinking of Motherland http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05j1jkp by comic Holly Walsh and Graham LIneham (of Ted and IT crowd) starring the very droll Diane Morgan.
I think she was actually married but we hardly ever see her husband.
John
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2941
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 3:46 pm
- Has thanked: 640 times
- Been thanked: 496 times
Re: Any decent TV series?
Has anybody mentioned the Strike detective stories?
I've just watched episode 1 of series 1, as Mrs S is certain that we've seen them and is recording series 3 that is on at the moment.
I hadn't seen it, but I'm glad that I now have.
Series 1 and 2 are only available on the BBC iPlayer until about 14th March, while series 3 is on BBC1 at the moment.
Starts Tom Hardy (Porthos from The Musketeers) whitten under pseudonym by JK Rowling.
Slarti
I've just watched episode 1 of series 1, as Mrs S is certain that we've seen them and is recording series 3 that is on at the moment.
I hadn't seen it, but I'm glad that I now have.
Series 1 and 2 are only available on the BBC iPlayer until about 14th March, while series 3 is on BBC1 at the moment.
Starts Tom Hardy (Porthos from The Musketeers) whitten under pseudonym by JK Rowling.
Slarti
Return to “Music, Theatre, TV and Film”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests