Reacher S2, Amazon Prime. Hmmm. I've read about 5 or 6 of the books and there's no doubt that Amazon have got the casting right compared to the films, but there's something a bit off about S2 compared to S1. I enjoyed it enough, but it felt a little too generic, and Alan Ritchson just looked a little bemused through a lot of the scenes. I also think it's a shame they've skipped about 9 or 10 books to film this story. Maybe they'll go back a few books for the already confirmed S3. And hopefully focus more on Reacher rather than the larger ensemble cast that S2 has.

Masters of the Air. It's a safe bet that Masters of the Air aims to replicate the success of Band of Brothers and The Pacific, since they all have 'Spielberg' and 'Hanks' in the credits. On the evidence of the first episode however it barely gets off the ground. I didn't feel any connection to the characters because the script wasn't very good and the cast didn't really impress while they spoke it. Predictably in anything involving WW2 airborne combat these days, the bulk (if not all) of it is going to have to be cgi. And it would have to be pretty near perfect to pull it off; it isn't even close. All the combat has a video game cut-scene feel to it, announcing its shiny cgi with the inclusion of shots which could only be cgi, and authenticity suffers. It often happens with me that the single most enduring image I retain of something is a bad cgi shot, and with this it's the shot of a plane launching a flare mid-flight; the trajectory of the flare is so howlingly inaccurate it's a wonder it was included. A minor point maybe, but there was nothing else in the episode to dull its glare. Most of it is set in England but you wouldn't know it - the field could be anywhere. Nah... I might watch another episode, but I can guess exactly what the rest if it will be like. As a former builder of dozens of Airfix models I have a soft spot for WW2 military aircraft, even the baddies' - but not unrealistic, weightless cgi ones.

Succession (2018) - I take it that everyone has seen Succession by now ? My expectations were very high, and it hasn't disappointed. We've just finished S3, so 10 more hours to go ...

It's not at all what I expected, as it's actually a very dark comedy with lots of family drama (and plenty genuine if squirmy LOLs). Any wheelings and dealings are secondary, and only serve to bring the characters together in different situations and combinations. Even the extreme wealth only serves as a pretty backdrop filled with family tension.

It's very well made and expertly shot, with the highest level of theatrical acting from pretty much everyone. The dialogue perhaps is similar to the acerbic exchanges between a couple in a failing marriage ... but everyone speaks this way to each other, and it's absolutely brutal!

Logan is of course superbly played by Cox, but it took me a few eps to warm to the Kendal actor, till he's given more to work with and really excels later on.
I liked the Shiv actor from the start (she displays the most incredible range of facial emotions) whilst Rome is a top-level crude and inventive snark, providing most of the belly laughs.
Tom takes a while to understand, as does Greg (who gives an excellent, relatable, fish-out-of-water performance).

Negatives - pretty much all the characters are terrible people, and it took my wife till S3 to really start to enjoy the nasty vibe. There are a few short lulls (to give some breathing space), it's rather linear story-telling (especially at first), and watching it all at once over a month or so, you see the characters are a tad too one-note personality-wise.

So far it's a definite 8.5/10, so not quite up there with Tony Soprano and Walter White. But looking forward to the final season to bump it up to a top-tier 9.

^ well, my rating sticks at 8.5 - despite the final series having the single best ep overall, and going out with a bang over the extended 2 eps finale, there were a few baggy filler eps. The first 2 eps in particular were actually a bit boring, and almost seemed like a parody ... the calm before the storm, made more obvious when watching continuously from S3 into S4. 

I enjoyed the podcast analysis too, although the British guy is a better interviewer than the American woman that comes later.

https://pca.st/ayj7a8v7

Finally got round to watching this, and WOW! 🤯 I can see why it's now HBO's most watched show ever, after Game Of Thrones.

If you can get past the teen-angst misery-porn (and some literal soft-porn!) there is so much to enjoy... very cinematic, creatively directed, snappy script, realistic characters superbly portrayed, and interestingly the *casting* is excellent throughout too (incl flashbacks, and later theatrics).

It's Derry Girls meets Sex And The City, it's Trainspotting meets Breaking Bad, all given an expensive makeover. The story lines are expertly woven, with seamless flashbacks effortlessly fleshing out the characters. Some episodes rank amongst the very best TV I have seen (experienced) including painful gut-punches, joyous LOLs, and even some clever twists/misdirection.

To criticise is to be mean, but ... sometimes it's a bit too slick and over-stylised (S2 start), too much is happening to everyone throughout, and occasionally the feelz don't quite land. I can see why some people would hate the angsty shouting from self-obsessed woe-is-me teens dialled to the max, and there is a lot of drink n drugs ... a lot!

Prepare to have your heart broken, no matter how old and world-weary you are! 9/10 💔

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jun/14/euphoria-review-hbo-zendaya-drake

Posted by: @wowbagger

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Masters of the Air

We've just got episode 9 to go now, and I must say we've enjoyed it. Episode 8 brings in the Tuskegee airmen and there's one part where they're being briefed on a very dodgy mission, and they're told that in case they have to ditch they'll have fake papers so they can try to blend in - they all laugh. I wonder how many younger viewers would understand why. This is the irony pushing the  multicultural agenda; you take away the bravery of what the men like the Tuskegee group did, men who were essentially second class citizens in their own country who still fought to defend it.

Sadly, despite the eco-theme, high budget, and excellent cast, Extrapolations was overall very disappointing.

A massive missed opportunity for both sci-fi and the planet.

Sienna Miller, Edward Norton, Marion Cotillard, Gemma Chan, Meryl Streep, Kit Harington ...

^ by contrast, this French mini-series is excellent > The Collapse (L'effondrement) 2019

Lowish budget, but superbly made - just 8 eps of ~20 mins, with each ep being a single tracking shot of 20 mins real-time. Superb stuff, gripping, tense, puts you right in the action. A solid 9/10.

To be very critical: (1) the shooting style actually distracted me a few times, as I marvelled at how it was made, (2) inevitably, some eps are better than others, (3) you'll be left wanting more!

Can't find it to stream/watch? Check Reddit.

Pro tip: watch ep8 first, followed by 1 thru 7 (with 7 being perhaps the best ep).

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11248266/

Just finished S1 of Oz comedy Colin From Accounts

Some genuine LOLs, with a real heart. Bloody great, mate!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0f255x9/colin-from-accounts?seriesId=m0021z5d

Posted by: @driver8

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this French mini-series is excellent > The Collapse (L'effondrement) 2019

Lowish budget, but superbly made - just 8 eps of ~20 mins, with each ep being a single tracking shot of 20 mins real-time. Superb stuff, gripping, tense, puts you right in the action. A solid 9/10.

To be very critical: (1) the shooting style actually distracted me a few times, as I marvelled at how it was made, (2) inevitably, some eps are better than others, (3) you'll be left wanting more!

Can't find it to stream/watch? Check Reddit.

Pro tip: watch ep8 first, followed by 1 thru 7 (with 7 being perhaps the best ep).

Thanks for the recommend, I enjoyed this immensely. Subs aren't perfect (I used that Reddit link to get the episodes) but that's a minor gripe. Short enough to binge the lot in an evening - I had to spread out my viewing but will almost certainly rewatch in one go. I ignored the 'pro tip', as a diehard viewer of things who was raised to watch in order; I also don't see the point as it robs the final episode of some dramatic impact

Well worth a download 👍 .