What shows are you currently watching?

[stylofone]

I'm pleased to see that a documentary series about belief in Australia begins with the most prominent feature of this phenomenon: its decline. I haven't watched this series yet. I expect it to be infuriating despite that hopeful sign. It's on iview now and free-to-air from Tuesday if you don't like to stream.

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/believing-in-australia

I prefer to download a video file rather than stream, and I'm again pleased to see that the linux yt-dlp command will yoink iview video without a login, same as it does for youtube.

[stylofone]

I'm pleased to see that a documentary series about belief in Australia begins with the most prominent feature of this phenomenon: its decline. I haven't watched this series yet. I expect it to be infuriating despite that hopeful sign. It's on iview now and free-to-air from Tuesday if you don't like to stream.

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/believing-in-australia

I prefer to download a video file rather than stream, and I'm again pleased to see that the linux yt-dlp command will yoink iview video without a login, same as it does for youtube.

aaaaaaaand... the first episode was about 95% shit. Contrary to the title about losing religion, it was more about Hare Krishnas and Hillsong, and also stupidly associating environmentalism and the school climate strike movement with religion. Stan Grant and Tim Minchin's soundbites are among the 5% non-shit bits.

[Irrev-Black]

aaaaaaaand... the first episode was about 95% shit. Contrary to the title about losing religion, it was more about Hare Krishnas and Hillsong, and also stupidly associating environmentalism and the school climate strike movement with religion. Stan Grant and Tim Minchin's soundbites are among the 5% non-shit bits.

Thanks for your sacrifice! Will avoid.

[stylofone]

Doctor Who - I found The Star Beast a bit Disney-esque, not better than the Jodie Whittaker episodes. They've also released a re-edited, colourised version of the first Dalek story from 1963, which was well done, but they replaced most of Tristram Carey's music. By coincidence I watched a doco about Carey and the EMS synth company today. They made the VCS3 most famously used by Pink Floyd on Dark Side of the Moon. Less famously, Hawkwind used a VCS3 for lots of their spacey sounds, and Dave Brock makes a stellar appearance.



I'm also really enjoying For All Mankind, it is surpassing expectations set by a bad review I read. It's not highbrow, it's good fun. The Russian TV ballet was a nice historical touch.

[Irrev-Black]

One down of the first two eps of Slow Horses, series 3, and straight into the next. 'Tis very good indeed.

And, yes, that Doctor Hooey was not a Good Thing.

[MissGreen]

I decided to get all the (many many) seasons of supernatural, i used to watch it as a kid back when i still had an old school tv conection. Have to say still love it, it's a bit formulaic and rellies a bit much on tell not show but i'm a sucker for hot cars and cute boys fighting random monsters. Unfortunatly the first season has the music replaced due to lack of streaming rights but the rest have the hits so far.

[Irrev-Black]

Anyone else found themselves watching a series simply because they cannot believe how bad it is?

It's the only explanation I can offer for us viewing a second episode of NCIS Sydney, and I am firmly convinced one of us will use the veto card if we start a third.

Okay, I have to confess episode 3 was almost up to main series NCIS back in the later days of Mark Harmon's tenure. Not brilliant, but better than the first two.

"Not top-notch, but not awful" is Herself's verdict.

By episode 5, the show's up to a good middle-ranker, to be treated as a sitcom with attached crime.

[pipbarber]

I watched the Artful Dodger last week. It was so fun. It somehow managed to capture the spirit of Dickens despite it not being a Dickens story, nor being set in England. Outstanding cast, very high level production, snappy comedic script and just great fun to watch. The only caveat would be the surgery based gore, although i didn't mind it at all (and it wasn't violent or horror) but apparently some reviewers have been a bit put off by that. 5/5 for me.

[Irrev-Black]

I watched the Artful Dodger last week. It was so fun. It somehow managed to capture the spirit of Dickens despite it not being a Dickens story, nor being set in England. Outstanding cast, very high level production, snappy comedic script and just great fun to watch. The only caveat would be the surgery based gore, although i didn't mind it at all (and it wasn't violent or horror) but apparently some reviewers have been a bit put off by that. 5/5 for me.

Herself is fond of it, too. I couldn't handle the plausibility gaps, so I wear my tractor muffs and read stuff on the other screen while it's on.

[stylofone]

I thought the second and third Doctor Who specials were as successful as the first one was a failure. <nerd mode>It was a shame because it was from a story by 2000AD legend Pat Mills. I could imagine the Meep alongside characters like Walter the Wobot... but it just didn't translate to the Whoniverse unfortunately.

► Show Spoiler

The regeneration episode is loaded with precedent-setting twists. Possibly it rushes by too fast with too many ideas, but it carried me along. Ncuti Gatwa is off to a great start, the early impression is of a of Doctor who gives you a hug and a kiss and says everything is going to be all right. Also all the weight of history has been taken off him because there have been so many references to the canon in the last three weeks we can surely afford to explore some new part of the cosmos, no need for Daleks or Cybermen and all that.