TV Show Mini-Reviews

[Thompy]

Er, bump?

Breaking Bad

One of the best drama series I've seen, it stars Bryan Cranston (Hal from Malcom in the Middle) as a chemistry school teacher who is diagosed with terminal lung cancer and so chooses to use his skills as a chemist to produce crystal meth to leave his family financially well off.

It first aired in the US Jan 08 and has won several awards, it's a wonder then that it hasn't made it over here and that no one seems to know about it. The 1st season is 7 episodes and seasons 2 and 3 are 13 long, with a 4th being made. Now even though I say it's one of the best things I've seen, up there with Band of Brothers for me, and I want to recommend it, I have to admit the first series is the best. Season 2 goes downhill till the end (slightly) but then picks up a bit for season 3 before going downhill again (slightly). Season 1 had me genuinely grinning with glee. The premise may seem familiar, but I'd imagine you'll never have seen anything like it, it's quirky, riveting, sad, and blackly funny. The story arcs are generally genius, with something new being revealed every episode, although season 3's stories get a little weak with plots micro focused on a couple of people rather than the initial (almost) ensemble cast. I think one of the reasons it runs out of steam is due to it being based around a guy who is doing something illegal and completely alien to himself, and with only a short time left, but once the story gets passed that and he's a full time criminal the writers don't seem to know where to take it. Each episode also starts with a set up scene which generally depicts a later point in the episode, which leaves you eager to see what is going to happen to cause it. Oh yeah, and it can be quite violent at times to boot.

IMdb gives it a 9 and I think it deserves it, but for it's slight flaws in story as the seasons go on I'll give it:

:starfull::starfull::starfull::starfull::starfull::starfull::starfull::starempty::starempty:

(Just wanted to do the stars thing...)

[ProfHawking]

Breaking Bad

Agreed - tis a great and Addictive (geddit?) show. Go sweep!

[spoodie]

You should see the first season at the very least.

[ProfHawking]

The Life & Times of Tim

Short animated episode thing. Follows a guy called Tim, who is like young and more modern, New-York version of Unlucky Alf.
I guess it's not laugh out loud kinda funny but it is good fun. I think its the kind of stuff 5punkers would like, the first episode is called "Angry Unpaid Hooker".
Two episodes are bundled together for each release. Tricky to sweep of teh newzes, apparently HBO had a takedown spree but it is possible.

[Roman Totale]

Pete versus Life

From the makers of Peep Show, I can't be arsed describing it myself, so instead I'll just cut and paste from the website:

"Pete is a struggling young sports writer. He's an average bloke - apart from the lying, selfishness and laziness. He tends to overperform in these areas. But what really sets Pete apart is the two top-flight commentators who observe, analyse and comment on every move he makes..."

So, there are a lot of comedies where the main character isn't particularly likeable (Alan Partridge etc), but they somehow still manage to work. Problem with this show is that I find the main character utterly detestable with no redeeming features whatsoever. At least on some level I can identify with the likes of Partridge and Mark and Jez from Peep Show, but the bloke in this is just your average moronic football fan who talks about birds and sport all the time.

At least there are some fit women in it - phwoar!*


*irony

Edit: I think this quote I saw accurately describes it:

Council Estate humour ,for people that think Ian Wright is good on the telly.

[Lateralus]

I done made a thing at the start of this thread. It's ugly, but it works for now.

[Dog Pants]

That must have taken a while. Nice one Lat.

[HereComesPete]

Crikey, just had a look at that. Nicely done.

[Roman Totale]

Top stuff sir.

Incidentally the new series episodes of Castle and Chuck were both top notch. New series of How I Met Your Mother also started, but I've not watched the series before that yet.

Have we reviewed that one? If not we* should. And you should watch it for it is awesome.


*not me

[Dr. kitteny berk]

Incidentally the new series episodes of Castle and Chuck were both top notch.

Also Bones was pretty good.

Boardwalk Empire showed promise.

House was House, as usual.

Nikita started a few weeks ago, not bad, not great.

[FatherJack]

Also Bones was pretty good.

Boardwalk Empire showed promise.

House was House, as usual.

Nikita started a few weeks ago, not bad, not great.

Hello again.

I've been wary of watching Nikita, because it's not the absolutely fucking awesome French film, but I may be confusing this latest series with La Femme Nikita.

[Dr. kitteny berk]

Lo.

Yeah, it's not as good as the absolutely fucking awesome luc besson masterwork.

Nor is it as bad as The Assassin, and it's much less Canadian than a La Femme Nikita.

Doesn't do the original movie justice, but it's watchable in its own right.

[deject]

It's got Maggie Q and the hot chick from Kick-Ass, which is good enough of a reason for me to watch. The fights and whatnot are above average for a broadcast network show I think.

[Dr. kitteny berk]

The Mentalist was a wholly average episode, I am disappoint.

[Dr. kitteny berk]

It's got Maggie Q and the whole of her forehead

Fix'd, bloody distracting.

[Roman Totale]

Ooh, we've not updated this for a while.

Well, several years after it finished I've finally got around to watching Arrested Development. I think because it got such rave reviews I always avoided, convinced it would never be that good. I was wrong. It's one of the funniest things in a long, long time. There are a lot of shows that I find amusing at the moment (HIMYM, Chuck etc), but this has had me belly laughing consistently - it manages a perfect blend of wordplay, sight gags and self referential humour that is very rare in most shows these days.

Only disappointment is that after two full seasons (about 20 episodes each), the 3rd season is only 13 episodes long. But hey, quality over quantity and it meant it didn't overstay its welcome by carrying on for a hundred seasons (How I Met Your Mother has entered that particular territory).

Summary: highly recommended, and the box set can be picked up for cheap.

[Roman Totale]

Late to the party again, I've just started watching The Killing. It's a Danish crime drama about the investigation into the murder of a young woman. It also incorporates a political thriller element that reminds me a great deal of State of Play mixed with Twin Peaks (the drama side of Twin Peaks though, not the backwards talking dancing midget side of Twin Peaks). I'm only about half way through but it's gripping so far.

[deject]

Season 1 of The Killing meanders into frustrating ineptitude, but the season 2 premiere has really gone a long way to restoring interest. I was about ready to drop the show entirely, but enough happens to keep me going.

Also, it's incredible how similar to Twin Peaks the show is. Pacific Northwest, popular girl is murdered, powerful people in town are involved, girl is not innocent, etc. Even the music is reminiscent of Twin Peaks. The only thing it's missing is the Lynchian weirdness and paranormal stuff so far. No dancing midgets or KILLER BOBs yet.

[Roman Totale]

Ah, there is a US remake of The Killing isn't there? I assume it is just as good then from what you're saying. I have been arty and middle class and watched the one with subtitles (if I start referring to it by its original name, feel free to shoot me).

[deject]

Ah yeah I didn't look to closely at your link and assumed you meant the US remake. I haven't seen the Danish version. I'd like to see some of it though.