TV Watching thread

[iank]

X Files: Within/Without. Robert Patrick arrives as Agent John Doggett leading the hunt for Mulder in the wake of his disappearance. This two parter is a great opener to season 8, IMO the last great season of The X Files.

[Spark Doll King]

Finally sat down to watch the first episode of A Touch of Frost.

Despite its age I was really impressed. It's a very different style to the modern cop shows I've watched, yet has a melancholic realism many shows struggle to capture.

David Jason is great as Frost. I know some find him to comedic make comparisons to Del Boy, but what made that character was not just Jason's comidic skill but those very human moments were our favourite Trotter was left very vulnerable. Here Jason is able to bring out more of that side to his acting and crafts a very real character. I'm also aware that the Novels Jack Frost is a darker character I honestly think Jason version is amazing in his own right, as he can be jaded and mean at times, yet can be very touching also.

The part were he talks of his failed marriage with his wife is truly heartbreak to here yet it's my favourite part of the episode.

I look forward to watching more

[Spark Doll King]

[Deleted]

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace: just f*cking hilarious, absolutely laugh-a-minute and with immense rewatch value (you'll get something new out of every scene each time you watch it). Still, there is a sort of unplaceable eeriness to it and I have to be in a certain mood to watch. Perhaps it's the fact that Holness & co. pretty much never returned to the character after this, meaning the show is left stranded as a strange island in a long-lost time. Nowadays it's quite obscure but there are a few people who remember it fondly and I glean that it's developed something of an underground following in more recent years, much like the Mighty Boosh. I guess it wouldn't really work in today's day and age, simply because the satire is rather outdated and relies on the premise of the popularity of pulp horror novels, a market which is pretty much dead now.

[Deleted]

Miami Vice - Rites of Passage

After her sister gets suckered into prostitution by sleaze John Turturro, New York cop Pam Grier joins her old pal Rico Tubbs in Miami to find her.

This is one of the highlights of Season 1. Such an emotional and sensitive episode with one of the best soundtracks and the awesome Pam Grier giving an excellent performance.

I was surprised how heavy the drug use is in this episode, though. There are numerous scenes of a woman doing lines and MTV style edits of her snorting it. Makes RoboCop look tame in comparison.



9/10

[Deleted]

Miami Vice - Smuggler's Blues

Based on the Glenn Frey song of the same name, the episode sees Tubbs and Crockett travel to Colombia with Frey himself to expose a plot involving drug dealers and a crooked law enforcement officer.

As mentioned before, this episode was inspired by the Glenn Frey song "Smuggler's Blues" to the point where they actually quote parts of the song in the dialogue. It's an excellent song to be fair.  I might be a bit stupid, but I thought there was too much going on in the episode and had to go on wikipedia in order to update myself on what was happening. It's definitely one of the busier episodes as they travel to Colombia midway through the episode. That section is probably my favourite of the episode because it always feels special when they spend time out of Miami. Overall it's a good episode despite a slightly convoluted plot but then it might just be me. I might have to watch it again to fully appreciate it. 7.5/10

[Deleted]

Miami Vice - The Home Invaders

No Tubbs, no party?

I didn't like this episode when I initially watched it and I don't like it now. Tubbs is not in this episode so we're robbed of the wonderful chemistry between him and Sonny. I think the plot had something to do with home burglars, but I was put off immediately by the cheaper look to the image which took me out of it. Season 1 is visually stunning, but the picture here looks so washed out and there's no interesting direction or camerawork. There's no real atmosphere or humour either. Fans of MV rave about this one, but it does nothing for me.

3/10

[Deleted]

Miami Vice - Evan

Crockett confronts a homophobic figure from his past who drove his gay partner to commit suicide.


WOW, what an episode! Really powerful take on homophobia and the dangers of intense guilt. The ending is beautifully executed with Peter Gabriel's "Biko" song used over a slow motion sequence of Evan taking a bullet for Crockett as he couldn't live with the pain of his homophobia behaviour resulting in the death of his partner. It's such a heart breaking moment done with sensitivity and care. The rest of the episode is a really emotional ride with Crockett and Tubbs ending their friendship briefly. People just think Vice is some cheesy cop show, but episodes like this confirm that this is far from the case. Very good stuff.

10/10

[Deleted]

Miami Vice - Calderone's Return (Part 1)

When Crockett finds himself an assassin's hit list, Vice rush to find the assassin before he strikes.

One of the best episodes of any TV show. Taut, gritty drama set against the summery backdrop of Miami. From the sweat covered "I'm so Excited" dance scene featuring the Pointer Sisters to the adrenaline fuelled "In The Night" montage of Tubbs speeding down the dark streets of Miami in a sexy, black Daytona, this episode is the epitome of 80s style. The assassin, sporting those infamous yellow shades you associate with people up to no good, is excellent as is Belinda Montgomery  (who I quite fancy) as Crockett's wife. The rest of the acting is a bit iffy I must confess with Philip shouting his lines and Ron Taylor hamming it up big time as a drug dealer, but it's Miami Vice and not Shakespeare so I don't really care.  The whole thing feels like a movie and completely blows most of what came after away. This surely ranks up there with the best of 80s television. So much shit gets a 9 or more on IMDB these days, but this masterpiece only gets an 8.5? Complete joke of a site. Anyway, brilliant episode.




11/10 

[Deleted]

Miami Vice - Calderone's Return (Part 2)

Crockett and Tubbs head the Bahamas to take down drug lord Calderone once and for all, but things get complicated when Tubbs ends up falling for his daughter whilst there.

This was another great episode. Probably my favourite of the Calderone episodes though they're all pretty good. My only issue is the fact that Calderone is killed off at the end. He is to Tubbs and Crockett what the Joker is to Batman so killing him off FIVE episodes in is a bit silly. It would be like if the Daleks were defeated in Dalek Invasion of Earth and never returned to the series. Apart from that though the episode is a real thrill with some beautiful scenery and vibrant clothing. I enjoy the fact that it takes place in the Bahamas instead of Miami. It makes it feel more special and expensive. The "Voices" montage at the beginning is incredible too and a real musical highlight of the 1980s.

Overall a real classic.

10/10

[burrunjor]

As I am babysitting my adorable, silly little niece a lot nowadays, I am forced to watch this show all the time. Fortunately however the leading lady Gemma Hunt is absolutely gorgeous and so lovable and bubbly and cute. 

I actually know someone whose child went in for this show and they said she is even more lovely in real life than on the show, if that were possible. PS I left her a message on instagram saying that my wee niece loved her and she liked it. 

She looks like she would be so much fun to know. To be fair this theme is quite good. 

[Deleted]

Legends of the Lost World with Megan Fox

I never watch documentaries usually, but when I found a series presented and narrated by Megan Fox I really couldn't say no. The first episode is about Stonehenge. Getting a boner watching someone attempt to uncover the mysteries of an historical landmark is very strange 

[Deleted]

Red Dwarf - Waiting for God/Confidence and Paranoia

Two great episodes from the highly underrated first series. I love Series three and six in particular, but I have a real soft spot for the first two series. The bunkroom conversations/arguements between Rimmer and Lister are always a major highlight for me. Waiting for God is a pretty laid back episode with several hilarious moments - "It's a smegging garbage pod!" I do enjoy it though it is my least favourite from this particular series (which says a lot about how excellent Series one is)

As for Confidence, it's probably one of the best premises in the series. It's true as well. You have periods where you think, "I can do this. I can REALLY do it" only for another voice to say, "Na, don't even bother mate."

[burrunjor]

I Zombie. 

Decent series, kind of like Lucifer in its early, good years, though not anywhere near as strong. Still a reasonably interesting premise and a brilliant lead actress. 

I reckon Maxil would like this. He'd definitely like the leading lady because, well she's a woman LOL. That's enough, but I don't know I can see Maxil liking her. 

[iank]

Kolchak: Firefall. Spontaneous combustions set Kolchak on the trail of a ghostly doppelganger that's trying to take over the body of a famous conductor. Spooky episode - the bits with the conductor hiding in the church and the doppelganger leering at him from every window is creepy af - with a very original plot I've never seen elsewhere. Every time I watch an ep I'm always staggered by the quality of the Blu ray too. The DVDs looked like absolute shit, these are gorgeous.