Thursday 14 April 2016

Recent Telly Round Up

I haven't watched ordinary telly for years now; I can't stand the adverts and most of the stuff that's on the 'normal' channels (give or take the odd history documentary), but one of my greatest pleasures is leaving a series to see all at once, which seems to be the way forward for telly viewing these days.  I'm a Netflix etc addict!  It's hard not to watch a favourite programme as soon as a new series starts, but worth it when you have twelve episodes to escape into ~ few things are as enjoyable as a duvet-binge-watch day :) (nb, I only watch telly after 9pm, generally - am not a total sloth!)

Billions ~ my new favourite programme

Last week I caught up with The Walking Dead, which I thought was one of the best 'seasons' so far.  Rick, Rick, you should have known the die was cast when you started getting over confident about your ability to protect your community... so who do you think Negan killed?  I don't think it was one of the main characters at all, but perhaps Eugene or Rosita.  We'll see!

It's never not a good time for a picture of Norman Reedus

I've also just finished watching the first series of BILLIONS.  I LOVED it!  I adore Damian Lewis anyway, having lusted after him throughout the first three series of Homeland, but he's even better as Bobby Axelrod, brilliant yet corrupt billionaire.  Very clever of the writers to make him likeable, and a dedicated family man, rather than a philanderer, I think, and (to me, anyway), he's the baddie you want to win, even more so than JR Ewing, my all time favourite baddie-I-loved.  Paul Giamatti is terrific as his arch enemy, US Attorney Chuck Rhoades, but....  

Five Stars

Malin Akerman, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff and Paul Giamatti

...one thing that has occurred to me is how Maggie Siff (Wendy Rhoades) might be feeling about her TV husbands.  Like, "how come in my previous main role I got to fake having sex with Charlie Hunnam, but now...."

Charlie Hunnam vs Paul Giamatti ~ there's really no comparison

Last night I watched the first six episodes of Outsiders, a Kentucky based thriller about a community of hillbilly mountain men whose home is threatened by a ruthless development company who want to blow up the mountain to extract the coal within.  It's great, starring David Morse as a particularly objectionable redneck, and Opie (Ryan Hurst) from Sons of Anarchy.  Talking of JR Ewing, we've already cast David Morse's character Foster as JR, 'Opie' as Bobby, and Foster's mum as the all powerful Miss Ellie :)

Ryan Hurst might need to cut his hair if he doesn't want to be typecast...!

....and let us not forget the hunk of gorgeousness that is Joe Anderson, as Asa Farrell!  My husband said he expects to see him on my desktop any day now (a position currently held by Bobby Axelrod).  Those arms, those arms... 

Four stars

Joe Anderson ~ one for the ladies

I've also watched the first couple of episodes (okay, I can't always wait for the whole series!) of Marcella on ITV ~ serial killer thriller starring Anna Friel as a slightly barmy cop.  A role played better by Claire Danes in Homeland, I think, but I do like this series.  My only complain is this:  THE COAT.  Throughout, Anna Friel wears this furry hooded parka affair, which is seriously getting on my nerves now that I've noticed it.  My question is this: if it is cold enough for such a coat, why does she never do it up?  Okay, I know, I need to get out more...

Three and a half stars

Anna Friel as Marcella, in The Coat of Irritation

Oh yes, and if anyone hasn't seen Better Call Saul, because they think it has to be rubbish after Breaking Bad - it's not, it's great.  The second series in particular.  Bob Odenkirk and the guy who plays Mike whose name escapes me are brilliant, and it's every bit as funny and cleverly plotted as BB.

Four and a half stars



Now.... how do I get through the next nine months to a year before the next series of Billions???  Aha  ~ Vinyl will finish soon (I couldn't resist seeing the first episode!), and then there's series 4 of The Americans, and....





20 comments:

  1. I don't know any of these but I'm loving the sound of 'duvet-binge-watch day' Note to self, must lie down more ;-)

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    1. I only actually have one of those about twice a year, and telly watching is only after 9pm - but I'm a great believer in the restorative powers of lying in bed watching telly!

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  2. I'm still traumatised by the ending of The Walking Dead! I've even re-watched it and analysed where Negan was standing, angle of the bat, etc (clearly have too much time on my hands!!) I think it's Abraham :-( can't believe we have so long to wait until we find out!! I also feel slightly odd about LOVING Negan - what's that about? ;-)

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    1. I saw an interview with the writers and Daryl (swoon swoon) - there are actually forums where people discuss the angle, etc!!! Yep, gotta love a clever, charismatic and handsome baddie... but I still look forward to seeing Daryl, Rick and Michonne getting the better of him!

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  3. I'm also an 'after 9 only' telly watcher - and generally the real telly, so crap for an hour and then falling asleep with the news. Works for me, even if it does make me sound like an old codger.

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    1. Nothing wrong with being an old codger, Jo. Especially not such an adventurous old codger as your good self!

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  4. I've just binged on the entire first season of Happy Valley as I missed it when it was on. Still got season two to watch... can't wait!

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    1. I just did that with season two, as well! It's a great series, isn't it?!

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  5. Thanks for the telly tips! Avoid Walking Dead, hate zombies, though wish I'd watched Marcella. My hubby loves Vinyl but I'm more of a Nashville kind of girl I'm afraid so currently binging on that. I haven't heard of Billions but because we have Sky we subscribe to the box sets rather than Netflix so we sometimes binge on those. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a nerd for DC stuff at the moment (Arrow, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow) and Marvel (Agent Carter is one of the best female characters on at the moment I think!), though if you prefer darker then Gotham is brilliant and not as mainstream or for kids! So although you’re right most on mainstream telly is crap at the moment (save The Night Manager) there are some good things on if you’ve got the Sky channels (including Sky Atlantic for HBO, of course).

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  6. Yes, I do watch some Sky Atlantic stuff, but I find that many of the best series are those that are only on Netflix - such sites seem to be the way of the future for telly, I think. I adore Vinyl, husband won't watch Nashville so I'll have to have my own day of the new series some time! Marcella is still on, there have only been 2 parts so far. :)

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  7. I really want to watch Vinyl, think it'll be my throw-back series after finally watching Mad Men (have you seen? LOVED it, sad it took me so long to start watching it though!)

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    1. I adored Mad Men! There's a post about it here: http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/my-top-ten-favourite-characters-in-mad.html
      and I talked about the finale here:
      http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Mad%20Men

      I took ages to get to it too! Vinyl is great for me because I was a teenager in the 1970s, I think it would be most appreciated by people who are quite into the music of the time, as there are loads of 'guest' appearances by great lookalikes!! Anyway - sufice to say I was up until 2.30 last night watching 6 episodes.. :) Should be a good enough rec!!

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  8. I really really like that idea of a duvet-binge-day, but I'll have to manage it without the TV as I haven't got one. I suppose I could always get a series on DVD and watch it on my laptop. Anyhow, I think I'd go for the Marcella series since I like detective books and I used to enjoy them on TV years ago. Great round up TT!

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    1. I love how you read and comment on my posts that mean nothing to you, Val! I suppose living as you do provides a different sort of entertainment in which you don't need such 21st century things... it's all a matter of what you're used to, isn't it? You can always have a duvet reading binge day instead!! xx

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  9. The Night Manager is a must! I was hooked from start to finish. Doesn't hurt that Tom Hiddleston's in it too.

    Walking Dead - I agree...not one of the main characters. That final scene actually made me feel quite ill...the same feeling I got in Sons of Anarchy when Opie met his demise.

    Vinyl I sadly lost interest in round about the fifth episode which is a shame as I felt it started off really well.

    At the moment, I'm re-watching the last season of Game of Thrones, ready for the new season and also eagerly awaiting the new series of The Affair and How to Get Away with Murder!

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  10. LOved The Night Manager! Julia is a keen Hiddlestoner...

    Ah, I loved Vinyl, really looking forward to next series. It's been panned by the critics but I think that's because Mick Jagger is co producer - how DARE he think he can produce good TV as well as being a rock star icon??!! You know how people are...!

    GoT - good idea, I shall deffo watch the last ep! I read the books so long ago I can't remember what happened. Quite like HTGAWM, and The Affair... hmmm, thanks, I shall investigate! :)

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  11. I binge-watched the entire first series of Outlander. 16 episodes in two days. I was off work, feeling very poorly, and in bed. I was completely hooked. Even feeling rubbish I couldn't stop watching. I've watched it again over two days, one weekend, when I was feeling much better and wanted to see if it was as good as I thought, when I didn't have a temperature! It was. Now I'm reduced to watching each episode of series two as it appears each Sunday on Amazon Prime. The wait is tortuous.

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    1. Ha ha! You obviously love the binge watch thing as much as I do - nothing beats a whole series of Game of Thrones in the afternoon with the curtains drawn!

      I watched the first ep of Outlander but didn't like it, I thought the dialogue was cliched, unrealistic and I wanted to kill the female character within about the first half hour - I liked the historical aspect, though. And I know many would disagree with me ;)

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  12. I also just finished s.6 of Walking Dead and nobody better lay a hand on Daryl! ;0 I also hope it's not Eugene but it wouldn't surprise me because they kill everyone I like! I've heard that in the comics Negan doesn't kill women so that narrows the field a bit(perhaps!). I love The Americans, it is so underrated! Outsiders appeals to me, we were big Sons fans in this house, and Billions sounds like fab guilty pleasure telly! Thanks for the rec's!

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    1. LOVE The Americans..... underrated as you say. Not long til I can watch all of series 4. Your mission now, Steff, is to watch Billions!!!!!

      Sadly, I think it might be Eugene.... :(

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