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General Purpose US TV thread
https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2098		 Page 74 of 174
Author:  Hearthly [ Tue Apr 07, 2015 15:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
I'm enjoying the first season of Dexter, it's utterly nonsensical and very silly, but in a fun sort of way. I also really like the main dude who plays Dexter, his sister is well good too. In fact the cast as a whole are great and the writing is zesty.

Not sure if I'm supposed to find the murders and brutality and stuff distressing or upsetting or what-not but it isn't bothering me. (Maybe it'll amp it up as the season goes on or in subsequent seasons, I shall find out.)

One episode an evening is about right, I certainly don't feel inclined to binge on it like I did Breaking Bad and to a lesser extent The Walking Dead.

Also, how come it's got so much swearing in it? I thought that was a no-no on American telly.
Author:  DavPaz [ Tue Apr 07, 2015 15:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
HBO
Author:  Cras [ Tue Apr 07, 2015 16:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Showtime, isn't it?
Author:  DavPaz [ Tue Apr 07, 2015 16:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Cras wrote:
Showtime, isn't it?

Same dif.
Author:  Trooper [ Tue Apr 07, 2015 16:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Cras wrote:
Showtime, isn't it?


[/Welsh Joe Gideon]
Author:  LewieP [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 7:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Spoilers regarding Dexter:
ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
They never should have killed off Doakes



In other news, I really think they have fucked it up by casting Terrible Actor Vince Vaughn in True Detective season 2.



Yes True Detective played a significant role in the McConaissance, but I can't for a second believe we're going to get a similar Rejuvaughnation.
Author:  Bamba [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 9:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
LewieP wrote:
Spoilers regarding Dexter:
ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
They never should have killed off Doakes



ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
I don't agree, the tension between the two was a great driver early on but they couldn't have kept it going without either the whole thing becoming toothless over time or jumping through loads of ludicrous narrative hoops to keep ratcheting it up. They had a good idea, they used it well and they let it die when it was time; very laudable I think. Also it was used to good effect later on when it came back to bite him in the ass with LaGuerta becoming suspicious about the whole thing. In the life of a serial-killing policeman there should always be enough drama to go around so if you genuinely need to stick with one of your original ideas the entire way through you're probably doing it wrong.


In general I don't really understand all the Dexter hate here. Yes the quality of it was very patchy but when it was good it was very, very good and was generally tense, well acted stuff with lots of good ideas. I think it's easy to consider it bad in hindsight because the last season or two is uppermost in people's mind and that has a tendency to push out memories of the good stuff that came before. The season with John Lithgow notwithstanding as obviously everyone is remembering that particular high point.
Author:  Bamba [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 9:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Netflix's new Daredevil series is being pretty well received it seems, I'll probably grab it tonight (and then never bloody watch it if experience is anything to do by).
Author:  LewieP [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 10:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Bamba wrote:
LewieP wrote:
Spoilers regarding Dexter:
ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
They never should have killed off Doakes



ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
I don't agree, the tension between the two was a great driver early on but they couldn't have kept it going without either the whole thing becoming toothless over time or jumping through loads of ludicrous narrative hoops to keep ratcheting it up. They had a good idea, they used it well and they let it die when it was time; very laudable I think. Also it was used to good effect later on when it came back to bite him in the ass with LaGuerta becoming suspicious about the whole thing. In the life of a serial-killing policeman there should always be enough drama to go around so if you genuinely need to stick with one of your original ideas the entire way through you're probably doing it wrong.


ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
Aye, perhaps. I just know I loved their interaction, and it felt like something was missing once it was gone.



Bamba wrote:
In general I don't really understand all the Dexter hate here. Yes the quality of it was very patchy but when it was good it was very, very good and was generally tense, well acted stuff with lots of good ideas. I think it's easy to consider it bad in hindsight because the last season or two is uppermost in people's mind and that has a tendency to push out memories of the good stuff that came before. The season with John Lithgow notwithstanding as obviously everyone is remembering that particular high point.


Yeah I broadly agree with this. There is certainly more good than bad.
Author:  Curiosity [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 10:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
I also agree.

The spoilered thing happens very differently in the books, but then everything does (bar the premise and parts of the first season).
Author:  Cras [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 11:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
I think the Dexter hate is mostly down to it starting off brilliant and going so badly downhill after the first 3/4 seasons.
Author:  Satsuma [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 11:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Except it didn't start off brilliant. Natch.
Author:  Cras [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 11:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Wut.
Author:  Satsuma [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
I SAID IT DIDN'T START OFF BRI... etc.

The characters were the main problem: Weak caricatures of comic book characters.

The cop, Doakes, was the worst offender (Hah. Cause he was a cop, GEDDIT?) with his often ridiculous anger towards and pursuit of Dexter. Debra too as the goofy sister who, obviously, falls for the worlds 2nd best serial killer. It was like a terrible James Patterson novel (basically all of them starting with Pop Goes the Weasel). Then there's the latin police chief, LaGuerta, who is about as convincing as a chief captain as Doakes is as convincing as the badass street cop. Rita is this weedy prey for Dexter but soon forgets about her past rapes when she wants some nookie with non-nookie nookie-rookie Dexter. Her voice is also annoying. I quite liked Angel but he's a poor bystander character.

There's a lack of drama, a lack of horror of the things that a serial killer does (which aren't, it turns out, very horrible) and even though Dexter is introduced as the ultimate killer who hides in day light he is quickly unraveled in the first two seasons so we never really see how excellent he is as a psychopath cause he soon starts fucking up and making a load of mistakes. Tut.
Author:  Hearthly [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Well I'm loving Season One for what it is, entertaining telly that doesn't necessarily stand up to much scrutiny (three episodes left I think). I have to say though, my takeaway from it overall is that to bag the chicks you should be a serial killer.

Also, it has boobs in it.

The tech stuff is a bit embarrassing, but then again it always, always is in telly and films.
Author:  Cras [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Well your face didn't start off brilliant.
Author:  Cras [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Hearthly wrote:
to bag the chicks you should be a serial killer.


Heh. Quite literally, sometimes.
Author:  Mimi [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 15:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Cras wrote:
I think the Dexter hate is mostly down to it starting off brilliant and going so badly downhill after the first 3/4 seasons.


Except it was only good for about two seasons, then was a bit rubbish, then was brilliant, Mr Backwards.
Author:  Cras [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 16:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
S4 was John Lithgow!
Author:  RuySan [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 16:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
S4 for Lithgow and S2 for naked english lady.
Author:  Bamba [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 17:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
RuySan wrote:
S2 for naked english lady.


Heh. "Oops, pardon my tits."
Author:  Mimi [ Fri Apr 10, 2015 17:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Cras wrote:
S4 was John Lithgow!

Exactly.

So, was:

S1: good
S2: good
S3: not good
S4: good
S5: good (this is Julia Stiles' series)
S6: good (this is the series with the four horsemen episode and Mos Def in half the series.
after that it falls apart.
Author:  asfish [ Sat Apr 11, 2015 7:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Bamba wrote:
Netflix's new Daredevil series is being pretty well received it seems, I'll probably grab it tonight (and then never bloody watch it if experience is anything to do by).


:this:

except add Helix, Salam, Justified etc to the list!
Author:  Goddess Jasmine [ Sat Apr 11, 2015 9:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Curiosity wrote:
I also agree.

The spoilered thing happens very differently in the books, but then everything does (bar the premise and parts of the first season).

I'm just finishing the first book and am surprised how much I am enjoying it considering I have seen the series first.
Author:  Curiosity [ Sat Apr 11, 2015 9:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Goddess Jasmine wrote:
Curiosity wrote:
I also agree.

The spoilered thing happens very differently in the books, but then everything does (bar the premise and parts of the first season).

I'm just finishing the first book and am surprised how much I am enjoying it considering I have seen the series first.


I think the third book is where it all goes properly mental. Or maybe the second. I enjoyed them, but VERY different.
Author:  Goddess Jasmine [ Sat Apr 11, 2015 10:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Yes, I'm now interested in picking up the others. I only read this as it was a gift, or I wouldn't have bothered.
Author:  LewieP [ Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Daredevil is fantastic.

Makes Gotham look really amateurish.
Author:  Hearthly [ Sat Apr 11, 2015 23:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Well that's Season One of Dexter finished and it actually had me watch three on the trot this evening so it must be doing something right.

I appreciate there's a lot (all?) of it that's totally ridiculous but that doesn't necessarily mean it can't be watchable telly. And I also doff my cap to the guy who plays Doakes as I've never seen anyone do CONSTANTLY ANNOYED for so long and with such incredible consistency.

I like it, looking forward to getting started on Season Two tomorrow.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
And I totally didn't see the amping up of Season One to be THE ICE TRUCK KILLER IS YOUR BROTHER either, although it retrospectively makes a lot of the entire season even dafter than it already was, but what the fuck, it was good fun.


Also I recommend COLD IN JULY as a film to watch, (I think I already have done in the movie thread), that's got Michael C Hall in the title role but I hadn't seen any of Dexter before I watched that. I may well go back and rewatch Cold In July now as it'll make his performance doubly interesting. (He was very good in Cold In July, but that was before I'd watched him be Dexter.)
Author:  asfish [ Sun Apr 12, 2015 17:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Game of Thrones (S5) starts tonight

Already some avi of the first 4 episodes on some tracker sites and NG

I'll be waiting as I like 1080p only for this show
Author:  Dr Zoidberg [ Sun Apr 12, 2015 17:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
I'm waiting as well. Don't want to wait a month for the rest, having had the poor quality binge.
Author:  Cras [ Sun Apr 12, 2015 17:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Liking Daredevil, it's well put together.
Author:  DavPaz [ Sun Apr 12, 2015 18:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Aye, first 4 GOT just popped onto ("Netflix" - Ed)
Author:  Grim... [ Sun Apr 12, 2015 22:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
asfish wrote:
Game of Thrones (S5) starts tonight

Already some avi of the first 4 episodes on some tracker sites and NG

I'll be waiting as I like 1080p only for this show

Presumably you'll be waiting until the Bluray comes out.
Author:  asfish [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Quote:
Presumably you'll be waiting until the Bluray comes out.


Depends really for some shows you get 1080p long before the Bluray, the latest Mad Men was well over 2.5GB and was saying it was 1080p?

Certainty when the BluRay is out you get episodes of 4GB and above in size, so I suppose I will get the biggest I can at the time I watch it and maybe go back and get better quality when they show up.

I wouldn't be interested in the first 4 leaked episodes as they are from some leaked review DVD and are 300MB is size. The show is well worth the wait!
Author:  Bamba [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Grim... wrote:
asfish wrote:
Game of Thrones (S5) starts tonight

Already some avi of the first 4 episodes on some tracker sites and NG

I'll be waiting as I like 1080p only for this show

Presumably you'll be waiting until the Bluray comes out.


The HBO GO app streams at 1080p so it should be available at that res even without a Bluray release.
Author:  LewieP [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Definitely worth remembering that heavily compressed 1080p like what you get from torrent sites and such is usually visibly lower quality than uncompressed video you get off a blu ray.

For most stuff 720p compressed is fine by me. For stuff that's not particularly visually intensive (like a comedy show or something) sub-720p is fine too.
Author:  DavPaz [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
IMO, 480p is more than fine for character and drama stuff. Everything except visual spectacles, if I'm honest.

As long as it's 60fps.
Author:  LewieP [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Obviously the display you are watching it on, how close to the display you are and the eyes you are watching it with are also factors.
Author:  DavPaz [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Oh, I can see the compression. It just doesn't bother me.
Author:  Satsuma [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
I like to watch it at the best quality available and then buy the Bluray 12 months later and watch it again at its most visually spectacular. Honestly, the Blurays are just fabulous.
Author:  DavPaz [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Can't be arsed with physical media any more
Author:  LewieP [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
DavPaz wrote:
Oh, I can see the compression. It just doesn't bother me.

Aye, I mostly meant that no ones preferences or indifference are "wrong".
Author:  MrChris [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
I know it's been out for a while, but The 100 just popped up on Amazon Prime and it's surprisingly not terrible.
Author:  Trooper [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Mr Kissyfur wrote:
I know it's been out for a while, but The 100 just popped up on Amazon Prime and it's surprisingly not terrible.


Aye, and even more surprisingly, it gets progressively less not terrible as time goes on.
Author:  Grim... [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Trooper wrote:
Mr Kissyfur wrote:
I know it's been out for a while, but The 100 just popped up on Amazon Prime and it's surprisingly not terrible.


Aye, and even more surprisingly, it gets progressively less not terrible as time goes on.

If found that it got better, but then season 2 was properly dull.
Author:  Dr Zoidberg [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Grim... wrote:
Trooper wrote:
Mr Kissyfur wrote:
I know it's been out for a while, but The 100 just popped up on Amazon Prime and it's surprisingly not terrible.


Aye, and even more surprisingly, it gets progressively less not terrible as time goes on.

If found that it got better, but then season 2 was properly dull.


The middle of it dragged quite badly but it started and ended well.
All the more reason to restrict shows to 13 episodes per season.
Author:  RuySan [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 15:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
I highly recommend "the last man on earth". It's very very funny.
Author:  Grim... [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 15:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
A new series of Silicon Valley has started.
Author:  RuySan [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 15:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
That's great. I loved the first one, but I was afraid it got cancelled.
Author:  Cras [ Mon Apr 13, 2015 21:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: General Purpose US TV thread
Hmm. Appear to have watched all of Daredevil. Oops.
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