TV Series - Reviews and Recommendations......

Pross

johngti said:

Reacher on prime is good fun. Very close to the feel of the books - absolute escapism (and violent)

Going to give that a go, noticed earlier that it is available.

TheBigBean

ddraver said:

(think that was a different season, doesnt ring a bell)

It was the 'faith in god' thing that stood out for me. As someone who doesn't have faith and never has, it's interesting to see how much it can get people through very hard stuff. Perhaps it's not actually "god" but just his word for the strength that he has but...golly gosh jimminy smokes etc.

(the winner is/was a 50 yr old preacher, almost a Ned Flanders)

Yes, it was him. He posts on various forums (most of the winners do), so I think I discovered the extra details there. They don't reveal that sort of thing on the show as they try to maximise the drama. The purists despise this, but the realists know it is necessary for the show to exist.

https://janeammeson.com/2018/05/05/dave-mcintyre-survivalist-and-winner-of-alone-shares-his-story/

“The first month was when all the hard stuff happened,” says McIntyre who realized he’d won when he saw his daughter come ashore. “I was actually gaining weight when they pulled me off the island.”

TheBigBean

By the way, seasons 6 and 7 were the best, so if you are struggling jump to them (season 4 involved pairs which was sacrilege for some, but still interesting for me, and 5 wasn't the best for a few reasons).

johngti

seanoconn said:

johngti said:

Reacher on prime is good fun. Very close to the feel of the books - absolute escapism (and violent)

Reacher, murder she wrote on steroids. Alan Ritchson in the lead roll is certainly more convincingly than tiny Tom but it’s all a bit meh. The violence is a highlight.

I enjoy the books so this series hits the spot. Pure mindless nonsense

darkhairedlord

johngti said:

seanoconn said:

johngti said:

Reacher on prime is good fun. Very close to the feel of the books - absolute escapism (and violent)

Reacher, murder she wrote on steroids. Alan Ritchson in the lead roll is certainly more convincingly than tiny Tom but it’s all a bit meh. The violence is a highlight.

I enjoy the books so this series hits the spot. Pure mindless nonsense

Read all the books (except latest one a one of the novellas) during lockdown on the local libraries ebook service. Series is pretty faithful to the story and atmosphere of the books as a whole. Thumbs up from me.

pblakeney

johngti said:

seanoconn said:

johngti said:

Reacher on prime is good fun. Very close to the feel of the books - absolute escapism (and violent)

Reacher, murder she wrote on steroids. Alan Ritchson in the lead roll is certainly more convincingly than tiny Tom but it’s all a bit meh. The violence is a highlight.

I enjoy the books so this series hits the spot. Pure mindless nonsense

Episode 4 for me so far. Mindless nonsense true enough, but enjoyable for those switch off times. I'd say a mix between Justified and Robocop for those thinking about it.

vincesummerskRoxcBTr

We are enjoying the Reacher series too, a bit of humour has appeared in it after the first episode which fits well.

kingstongraham

Just watched episode 1 of Reacher, and it is good silly stuff, with a healthy sense of its own ridiculousness. And really violent.

I guess that mix is a bit like The Boys.

Pross

Is the series based around one of the books or written for TV just using the Reacher character?

seanoconn

Pross said:

Is the series based around one of the books or written for TV just using the Reacher character?

Book, The killing floor. For the whole season.

Pross

seanoconn said:

Pross said:

Is the series based around one of the books or written for TV just using the Reacher character?

Book, The killing floor. For the whole season.

Yeah just started watching. Starting with book 1 then, I thought they might start with one of the books before he left the army.

daniel_b

seanoconn said:

Pross said:

Is the series based around one of the books or written for TV just using the Reacher character?

Book, The killing floor. For the whole season.

wow, I like the sound of spreading the book across an entire series.

I don't have prime though however, so going to be a struggle to watch!
Is it 8 episodes?

I have refused to watch any of the Tom Cruise attempts - I too have read all of the books, probably with the exception of the latest one (I tend to save them for holidays of some kind) and there is no way I could ever see wee tom as Reacher.

I do think some of the later books have not been up to the standard of the earlier ones, and I would go so far as to say at least one of them felt like the film company had asked him to write a book that would work well as a film.
I forget the title, but it was the one when a potential daughter appeared, and he spent most of the book working with a woman, where as for me he is always best working alone.

Pross

Watched the first two episodes and it is sticking quite close to Killing Floor. Ritchson is far more convincing in the role, my only issue with him is his slightly vacant constant grin. He needs to be a bit more grumpy.

I haven't read the latest book. I think that and the previous one (which was a bit rubbish) were written by his brother who is listed as a co-author. I suspect Child has just run out of weird small town America settings to use but enjoys the annual pay day a new novel brings. Would probably be better going back to more of his army days cases.

Pross

Wife started watching Snowpiercer earlier on Netflix. I was only half watching, very weird but seemed a fairly good setup.

Pross

Pross said:

Watched the first two episodes and it is sticking quite close to Killing Floor (albeit in a contemporary setting not late 1990s as that was). Ritchson is far more convincing in the role, my only issue with him is his slightly vacant constant grin. He needs to be a bit more grumpy.

I haven't read the latest book. I think that and the previous one (which was a bit rubbish) were written by his brother who is listed as a co-author. I suspect Child has just run out of weird small town America settings to use but enjoys the annual pay day a new novel brings. Would probably be better going back to more of his army days cases.

Edit - yes it is 8 episodes. Should give plenty of chance to avoid cutting the book.

ballysmate

kingstongraham said:

Just watched episode 1 of Reacher, and it is good silly stuff, with a healthy sense of its own ridiculousness. And really violent.

I guess that mix is a bit like The Boys.

Am up to episode 3.
Would not be totally shocked if our hero got the bad guy in the end.

pblakeney

ballysmate said:

kingstongraham said:

Just watched episode 1 of Reacher, and it is good silly stuff, with a healthy sense of its own ridiculousness. And really violent.

I guess that mix is a bit like The Boys.

Am up to episode 3.
Would not be totally shocked if our hero got the bad guy in the end.

You have to figure out who is the bad guy first though.

johngti

Pross said:

Pross said:

Watched the first two episodes and it is sticking quite close to Killing Floor (albeit in a contemporary setting not late 1990s as that was). Ritchson is far more convincing in the role, my only issue with him is his slightly vacant constant grin. He needs to be a bit more grumpy.

I haven't read the latest book. I think that and the previous one (which was a bit rubbish) were written by his brother who is listed as a co-author. I suspect Child has just run out of weird small town America settings to use but enjoys the annual pay day a new novel brings. Would probably be better going back to more of his army days cases.

Edit - yes it is 8 episodes. Should give plenty of chance to avoid cutting the book.

Just finished it. Brilliant adaptation of the book. Let’s just say that the culmination is everything you’d hope for, if you’ve read it. Bring on the next series!

blazing_saddles

johngti said:

Pross said:

Pross said:

Watched the first two episodes and it is sticking quite close to Killing Floor (albeit in a contemporary setting not late 1990s as that was). Ritchson is far more convincing in the role, my only issue with him is his slightly vacant constant grin. He needs to be a bit more grumpy.

I haven't read the latest book. I think that and the previous one (which was a bit rubbish) were written by his brother who is listed as a co-author. I suspect Child has just run out of weird small town America settings to use but enjoys the annual pay day a new novel brings. Would probably be better going back to more of his army days cases.

Edit - yes it is 8 episodes. Should give plenty of chance to avoid cutting the book.

Just finished it. Brilliant adaptation of the book. Let’s just say that the culmination is everything you’d hope for, if you’ve read it. Bring on the next series!

His early books were leagues ahead of his later books.
I am hanging on until I finish the short series I am watching, before plunging in.

Sounds as if Prime has opted for the same approach as the now cancelled Bosch, with the one book per series approach.
Maybe they view Reacher as it's long term replacement.

daniel_b

pblakeney said:

ballysmate said:

kingstongraham said:

Just watched episode 1 of Reacher, and it is good silly stuff, with a healthy sense of its own ridiculousness. And really violent.

I guess that mix is a bit like The Boys.

Am up to episode 3.
Would not be totally shocked if our hero got the bad guy in the end.

You have to figure out who is the bad guy first though.

It's so long ago that I read it now I honestly can't remember.
The one thing that I recall from the book, if I have the right one, is him being on surveillance in a jungle/wood maybe, and pooing into clingfilm so as not to leave any trace
It didn't mention if he latterly hung it in a tree, as that seems to be what a lot of dog owners do, so probably not.
I'd be impressed if they included details of clingfilm wrapped excrement in the series.

I may have a look to see if there are any other methods of finding the series to watch, it sounds right up my street.

rick_chasey

Pam & Tom is quite fun, an episode in.

ddraver

This is going to hurt on BBC is very good.

A pretty scary view of the NHS

ballysmate

rick_chasey said:

Pam & Tom is quite fun, an episode in.

Is it as good as the original?

seanoconn

ballysmate said:

rick_chasey said:

Pam & Tom is quite fun, an episode in.

Is it as good as the original?

The camera work of the original was poor tbh.

blazing_saddles

More 4 are showing series 2 of Rocco Schiavone, starting this evening at 9pm.
Hopefully it will continue the character development that was coming along nicely in the second half of series 1.

Meanwhile BBC 4 have The Promise begging tomorrow in the usual slot.
No idea whether it’s worth a look. However, I do know it’s by someone who worked on Spiral and stars some very familiar faces from French drama.

daniel_b

blazing_saddles said:

More 4 are showing series 2 of Rocco Schiavone, starting this evening at 9pm.
Hopefully it will continue the character development that was coming along nicely in the second half of series 1.

Meanwhile BBC 4 have The Promise begging tomorrow in the usual slot.
No idea whether it’s worth a look. However, I do know it’s by someone who worked on Spiral and stars some very familiar faces from French drama.

Saw that Rocco was starting again. Slow start to 1st series but it picked up nicely.

The promise sounds good, anything spiral related is worth a look in my book.

Thanks for mentioning hidden assets. 1.5 episodes in, and eminently watchable so far.

daniel_b

4 episodes through hidden assets now, it's bl00dy awesome, a real little gem.

It reminds me a little bit of spiral, and the characters I find really likeable, and some great acting.

I'd heartily +1 blazing's recommendation on this one, top drawer.

I hope there will be a 2nd series.

blazing_saddles

Unfortunately, the current series I am watching do not close to being as good.
Der Passe series 2 has plenty of brooding atmosphere, but the plot moves of so slowly.
Still, it's better than C4's offering, 'Outlier', as that has no logical plot whatsoever.

Mad_Malx

daniel_b said:

4 episodes through hidden assets now, it's bl00dy awesome, a real little gem.

It reminds me a little bit of spiral, and the characters I find really likeable, and some great acting.

I'd heartily +1 blazing's recommendation on this one, top drawer.

Should’ve believed me when I recommended it a week earlier!

daniel_b

Mad_Malx said:

daniel_b said:

4 episodes through hidden assets now, it's bl00dy awesome, a real little gem.

It reminds me a little bit of spiral, and the characters I find really likeable, and some great acting.

I'd heartily +1 blazing's recommendation on this one, top drawer.

Should’ve believed me when I recommended it a week earlier!

Apologies, must have missed that
I just finished the 6th episode at lunchtime - top notch completion, and primed for a 2nd series.