I’ve watched 1 ep of Northern Lights…will continue, but I’m trying to finish a couple of Irish shows starring Siobhan Cullen - Bodkin and Obituary. Bodkin also had Will Forte, whom I find incredibly irritating, probably because of his performance in The Last Man on Earth.
I started After the Flood on Britbox with Sophie Rundle (Peaky Blinders) as a pregnant cop in a flood-hit Yorkshire town. I think I can see where it’s going and, if it does, won’t be continuing.
If you like gritty full on crime drama, check out Phoenix on ABC iView.
I just found out they have put this on streaming. For anyone who was too young to see it first time around (in the early '90s) it is very well worth it. Most crime shows before or since don’t come anywhere near close to the realism that they captured so well in this show. They showed the cops with typical workplace issues and Australian humour - often, black humour. There are great performances by actors like Paul Sonkkila and Simon Westaway who should have got to make much more afterwards.
The main problem for modern audiences is that the ABC did not remaster it, so it is not in HD and is not in “letterbox” format for modern TVs.
Also it’s worth watching to see what Melbourne was like when Essendon was a very good, very respected and even a feared team. (Young ones here may not know that feeling).
OLIVIA COOKE!!
Is this because it had no showtunes?
not sure if TV series or new Police album…
I did see this back in the day. As you said an excellent series, quite ground-breaking at the time. From memory loosely based on the Russel St bombing.
The spin-off Janus was also very good. This one was more courtroom based but of a very similar style. Based on the Walsh St police murders.
Blue Murder is another good one from that era, based on the career of corrupt NSW policeman Roger Rogerson.
S17 Taskmaster wrapped up. Probably bottom 5 series for me (which does speak to the insane quality and consistency of the show). Just found it a little flat and lacked a bit of spice between contestants. Also very difficult to follow the GOAT (s16).
John’s competitiveness was at Ed Gamble level. Nick’s uselessness was endearing.
Didn’t mind Bodkin, though I preferred Deadloch in a similar vein.
Siobhan Cullen is also in The Dry (Irish comedy-drama series) on SBS, found that very enjoyable.
I hated Deadloch. Just tried to cover every minority in the book and for mine, tried far too hard.
I watched the first half of Series 1 of The Dry, and it came far too close to personal experience for me to enjoy it. Not that I ever had a drinking problem, but I had a mate who thought that turning down an opportunity to drink with him was a grave, personal insult.
FC supporter though. And a good one, i.e. pushing up daisies.
All sensational series.
There’s another one I think is fantastic called The Silence (2006) with a much younger Richard Roxburgh. Lacks a little polish I guess, but an extremely strong story and excellent performances. And a twist at the end that’ll bring tears to your eyes.
Anyone watched Tires on Netflix?
IMO not greatly written or acted but there is some comedy in there.
Shane Gillis could be this generations Adam Sandler or Mike Myers but needs to a bit more quality control.
Gilly and Keeves on YouTube is hilarious.
Yeah it was an ok series at best. John was ok, nick was probably my favourite because he was so useless but also so happy
Nick eating the biscuit in that challenge instead of focusing on the task was brilliant
There just wasn’t any standout contestant that was really funny. Some of the tasks weren’t the best either
That last live task is definitely one I’m going to play with my nephews. Simple and easy to set up and play
Taskmaster AU S2 has been a bit meh so far.
Lloyd Langford is good value, though.
The 8 Show
Really enjoyed The 8 Show on Netflix, South Korea doing some really creative things, which also made me think about North Korea for some weird reason days later and how the same people can be so different.
Definitely watch if you liked Alice in Borderlands and Squid games
Don’t watch if you can’t read
Eric
So whilst watching The 8 Show, I also kept getting the current number one show splashed at me, which was Eric.
It did sort of make me look twice so watched the preview and thought yeah worth a try.
Well was not disappointed, was really well acted, kept surprising me all the way through, watched the whole series in a night, watch and try and stop.
Recommend
Finished After the Flood.
Started an Agatha Christie adaptation Pale Horse with Rufus Sewell and Kaya Scodelario (The Gentlemen)
Also started Five Daughters, a true life story of 5 girls murdered in Ipswich in the winter of 2006-07. Stars Vicki McClure and Martin Compston pre-LoD…not the major roles.
But surprisingly for some, quite enjoying Colin From Accounts on Foxtel. Married IRL, Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammell make a good on-screen pairing.
Stumbled across Eric today and binged the entire series. At first l thought it was going to have a hard time to wind up the various plot lines in time, but it managed to do so quite well, while avoiding cliches. I am not convinced there was as much CCTV available in the 1980s as used in this show, but Cumberbatch carries the show very well in a warts and all performance.
Patrick Brammall can never surpass his role as Sean Moody.
Andy Zaltzman self-announced for next UK season; gimme a pun run challenge.
Yeah, it should have just stayed a YouTube series, rather than a Netflix show. It was ok, bingeable in an evening.
But damn, Gillis is as funny as anybody around right now. Some of those Gilly and Keeves sketches are off the charts funny. ‘Onlyfans Dad’ is outrageous.
Id recommend to anyone to watch the documentary Finke - There and Back on Netflix at the moment.
A documentary on the finke desert race. even if your not into that kinda stuff i think you’ll enjoy it, as it follows the journey of a couple of guys, including a paraplegic and gives a great insight into the running of the event, a great behind the scenes look