Topic: The TV Show Thread

Any Twin Peaks-esque games out there besides Deadly Premonition? I heard that was similar to the show but didn't get very far with it, just got bored and sold it. Planning to get another copy one day though.

Been watching The Witcher and I'm currently on episode 6. Never played the games before but I like Cavill as Geralt as well some of the fight scenes especially the one in episode 1. I do find some parts to be a bit boring though and the way the series is structured can be quite confusing at times.

Finally getting a little time to invest in The Mandalorian and my feelings are hopeful after the first couple episodes.

I won’t go into detail, but there was such a positive vibe that I was probably expecting too much, so for those who haven’t seen it yet and are highly anticipating it, hold your expectations in check. It’s better than it deserves to be, but after two episodes I feel like it’s a mixed bag. Some special effects are great, some are off-putting. Some of the acting is good, and some has the Star Wars campiness with a hint of cringe. The character development could use a little fine tuning, but overall I’m warming up to the characters. For a post-Disney Star Wars adventure, I think it’s quite good. Yet, when viewed strictly as a TV show, it’s not as compelling as some of the best things out there. Now this is only early impressions after two episodes, mind.

But can I say, the art direction and costume design are fantastic. I absolutely love the protagonist’s costuming. I’m amazed also that he is able to carry a show by mainly acting through bodily gestures since you can’t see any facial features. When your main character can’t convey emotion with a furrowing of the brow, a wink, a pursed lip, or a crinkle of the nose because he wears a helmet, ...well you’re already at a disadvantage. Yet we’re able to see confusion, frustration, curiosity, remorse, and concern — all through the way Pedro Pascal tilts his head or holds his arms. He’s definitely an understated and stoic character anyways, but I’m becoming accustomed to the way you’re supposed to connect to him. But yeah, that suit, armor, cape, ... the color structure of the outfit, the sheen of the helmet ... Ah, man it’s gloriously crafted and so, so cool. His rifle is positively awesome. I think its design rivals any weapon in recent memory. I want one. Maybe more than a lightsaber.

Just finished watching The Witcher. For me, the timeline was really confusing and they didn't do a good job of explaining it. It doesn't help that the series likes to cut back and forth between the past and the present. The pacing was quite poor as well with a lot of expositions thrown into it that didn't explain much. Production values was good but not great, the lighting, sets and etc feels off at times, like the world doesn't feel believable enough. Speaking of lighting, I don't think they ever explained where those weird light sources in the Brokilon Forest were coming from either.

@Th3solution Thanks for posting your impressions! Can you do Arnold Schwarzenegger next? I try to avoid any reviews or anything like that when I know I'm not gonna watch something after everyone else, just to keep my expectations and hype levels in check. So many games and films/tv shows have not met my expectation level that I got in my head. Flip that on its head and some of the more enjoyable experiences have been when my expectations have been quite low and I've actually really enjoyed the game or film/tv show.

@JohnnyShoulder Lol, I don’t do a very good Schwarzenegger but I do a pretty spot on Jeff Goldblum. 😂

But yes, I did realize that the majority of users here are not going to have access to the show for another few months, so I avoided anything specific. Here in the States there is a lot of buzz about The Mandalorian, and so I had a huge hype building up. That’s why I say, don’t get caught up in the furor surrounding it and you’ll enjoy it more. I also don’t watch much TV and usually watch more movies in my free time (if I’m not gaming), so I am just used to the high production value of movies as opposed to TV, so that also has affected my thoughts on this or any TV show. When I eventually watch The Witcher, I’m sure I’ll likewise need to keep expectations in check.

Well having caught up on TV stuff I thought I'd drop in with some minimal thoughts.

Titans finished OK. It remains to seem a little at war with itself but also remains very much in its lane.

The Witcher was fun to watch. Nice pace and timeline set up, and while I'm only aware of the books and games in passing, it feels very good. They don't waste any time bogging down the viewer but lay out a good yarn. Cavill seems in his element and the production, while small - is very nicely put together. The fight choreography is superb too, it puts GoT and new Star Wars to shame. Everyone looks like they're actually in a fight!

I'm up to date on The Mandalorian too. I'm tempted to say that it's perfect. Perfect expanded universe Star Wars. It looks fantastic, sounds fantastic (seriously, the score is mesmerising. Stallone Judge Dredd via Ennio Morricone) and is put together with such an obsessive care that you really have to go looking for anything that a Star Wars fan could call an 'error'.
It has the joy and reverence of execution of the animated Star Wars shows.

There's enough familiarity and 'fan service' without feeling forced while telling a convincingly Star Wars story that could've come from the expanded universe heyday.

It's minimalist without being sparse. Considered and tight without feeling like a production by committee.

Honestly. If the sequel films had been handled with such care and in the hands of people who love Star Wars as much as Favreau and Filoni obviously do... Well, my mind reels at the possibilities.

Anyway, if you are able to watch The Mandalorian - do. It is absolutely worth the hype.

@KALofKRYPTON Well, there’s the counterpoint you my “keep your expectations in check” for The Mandalorian. 😂
It must really hit the high water mark in the latter episodes. Although I agree with a lot of your assessment, the descriptor “perfect” hadn’t quite crossed my mind as of yet. You must like spaghetti westerns.

@Th3solution I say perfect just because there really isn't anything lacking about it. The new films and a lot of other adaptations, sequels, reboots etc these days are either obvious cynical cash-ins with little merit or just leave me wishing they hadn't bothered. Even some of fan service dialogue and locations in later episodes are handled well enough that it feels like someone behind the camera just enjoys all of this stuff as much as I do, rather than it being some arse with an agenda to sidestep royalty fees or 'subvert my expectations'.

The Mandalorian just works in a way that I wasn't expecting it to. As I say, it feels like it could have come from Timothy Zahn or some of the Dark Horse comics. The new elements are welcome additions and feel like they're in place to fleece me or delude the audience, and the continuity elements sit well in the story and visual language of Star Wars.

I do like a western, and the western in space presentation is a very smart move I think. It lends a nice roaming cadence to the episodes that feel more singular as well just being cool AF! 😂 (and I really miss Firefly)

Also, the art cards at the end of the episodes along with the theme are worth the ride on their own 😁

ALSO(!) 😂 there's a bit in episode 7 that takes a well know but of Star Wars hardware and does something physical with it that I just didn't see coming. It's a tiny, kind of insignificant part of a central shot that just made me smile.

@KALofKRYPTON Yes, the art at the end is fantastic! And as I said in my earlier post, the art design in general is my favorite aspect so far.

I haven’t read much of the extended universe stuff, and I think I was expecting more spectacle, but I can see the value of keeping things simple. It’s a fine line to walk between making the show a big budget extravaganza and keeping it bite sized for consumption by the masses, including the casual and the hardcore. I think I went in expecting the complex character interactions and political intrigue of Game of Thrones or the creative twists and mystery of Stranger Things, when in fact it’s not trying to be either of those. That’s why I say that expectations need to be appropriately tempered. The Mandalorian should not be anticipated by the average TV series consumer to be akin to the high profile TV series that have been pumped out by HBO and Netflix. After watching the first episode I was a little perplexed as to why character interactions weren’t explored more and there was a lot of time spent on the action but you really didn’t have a feel for the “whys” and the “whos” of the narrative. Part of this is the shorter 30-40 minute run times, which necessitate being quick with the transition of events. Part of it also is just the simpler, “spaghetti western” Clint Eastwood flavor of the whole thing. And really, after I accepted that, it was more enjoyable watching the second episode. It is more like the original trilogy (Epi 4-6) and Rogue One in that regard, which is going to be why it is resonating with so many people now. We know that Lucas was highly inspired by Kurosawa and the old Westerns he grew up with so this is a return to form.

I realize that I’m speaking in ignorance since I’m only 1/4 of the way through it. 😅 Perhaps the narrative will become a sophisticated and deep tapestry of branching character arcs and political intrigue by the end. Which at this point, although I was expecting such a thing at first, it might disappoint me if it does become another Netflix-like winding path of perpetual carrot dangling character parade until the inevitable “jumping of the shark” when it has exhausted all novelty. I purposefully have waited to watch it until I could binge on 2-4 episodes at a time, but now with the Christmas hullabaloo, I am having trouble finding a quiet 2 hours to savor it. I don’t want to run the risk of being distracted so I can give it a true fair shake.

Started watching season 2 of Lost in Space. I thought the first season was excelent and I have very little recollection of the original show. You certainly can't accuse this if being boring or too slow. Not 15 minutes seem to go by without some sort of peril or drama happening.

@Th3solution
I think the lack of convoluted politicking and intrigue beyond the core character and his story helps it ascend above a lot of current and past shows. The overall story arc elements are there to cement the episodes that are slightly off track - but politicking and 'depth' aren't really things that seems to work when applied to Star Wars live action so far.
I don't need twists or subversion, just a nicely laid out story with a compelling scene to scene production is fine.

@JohnnyShoulder I'd forgotten about that! Quite enjoyed the first season!

@KALofKRYPTON
“So this is how Liberty dies ... with thunderous applause.” 😜

I finished up season 2 of Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories the other day on Netflix.

Set in a little hole in the wall eatery in a back street alley in Tokyo, it's an episodic series that follows the various people who stop in to dine (usually the chef's dishes ignite something in them, such as nostalgia, and it has a big impact on whatever is going on in their life), with each episode following a different person.

It's a unique series, and I had given up hope of a second season materializing as I think it had been 3 years or so, but it just popped up one day a couple months ago.

Anyhow, now I've started on The Witcher.

Not sure it has been mentioned on these pages before, but I know some of you showed interest in the Batman: The Animated Series collection that was released previously. Well the follow up , Batman Beyond: The Complete Series is released in the UK on 30 December 2019.

@RogerRoger Yeah shame about Return of the Joker only being on DVD. Still yet to get round to The Animated Series, I've got far too much to watch on all the streaming services. If I were too get it would probably be sitting there gathering dust, and things like that really bug me. I loved that show as a kid, but don't recall Batman Beyond. It may have come at a time I had stopped watching to that stuff. All I know is the things in Arkham Knight, the bits The New 52 Batman rub alludes to and the back of the box!

@RogerRoger Hmmmm, maybe not too long in the distant future when I'm next in the mood for some animated Batman and I've finished some streaming stuff, I'll treat myself to it! There is also a series of Spider-Man which I remember fondly too.

@RogerRoger Oh I tend not to binge watch much anyway, even half hour episodes it will only be 3 or 4 a week. But thanks for the heads up!

Sky are asking for 3 quid a week to upgrade to HD on NOW TV. No not 4K uhd, 1080p HD. What a ripp off. They seriously need to up their game with Disney+ around the corner.

I've only watched one episode of The netflix Witcher series so far.

The only thing I can give it is a great big EH personally.

The wig look better but still a bit off and Cavill's eyes don't look right either. The writing is a bit naff too.

Honestly the production as a whole feels rather wonky to me, especially when compared to the Dark Crystal series earlier in the year that was MUCH more polished (Seriously why no second season confirmation for Dark Crystal?!)

Don't love the casting choices either if I'm honest (I've only played the third Witcher and think it's a solid but not an earth shattering title so I don't hold it in the highest light) but... Yeah I'm not liking any of the cast really. Even Cavill (... I don't really rate him as an actor anyway if I'm honest)

I might watch some more but... Ehhhh I'm not not expecting my opinion to change. I'm not gonna bother with the second season at all if I make it any further in the first!

-EDIT- Second episode down and I don't feel any different about it really. Pass for me.

I... did however come across The Mandalorian...

For someone who had considered herself officially done with Star Wars and doesn't like Westerns either really... I weirdly really liked this.

Well I found the first three episodes great. 4th was a plotline I'd seen a million times before and rather dull. 5th was a bit better in my opinion but not as good as the first three episodes. Gonna watch the other three some point soon.

Pedro Pascal was pretty darn good in the lead. Though I'm really not up on my Star Wars knowledge so the whole "he's a Mandalorian" that everyone brings up felt a bit like character shilling (Or whatever the equivalent is) to me.

I think you'll quite like it @RogerRoger