Must-See TV

[DanaC]

I know right?

[DanaC]

Ep 2 tonight!!!!


I am psyched.

[Sundae]

Me too.
Already have it in Sky+ because I might not made it all the way to the end tonight (first full day back today and alking in the snow to see the lovely Seb).

Might watch the first ep to catch up again.
Watching through my hands and saying "It's only corn syrup" again.

[Trilby]

k. I watched Ripper Street. I'm not some provincial school girl (like I was when I saw Trainspotting) but I understood about 1/2 the dialogue. thick acctents, muddled words, and wtf did he just say?

otherwise, was good. Not great, but good.

[Sundae]

Darling I've been to Scotland. You do not have to be thick or provincial not to understand some accents in Trainspotting. I'll try to listen to Ripper Street again with a different ear, but then much of what you don't get is probably London - my family background.

There was a similar joke in Hot Fuzz, where they automatically subtitled the Gloucestershire accent, even in the UK.

But that raises a question. Do you not have subtitles over there?
We use them for everything here. I mean "we" in the broad sense in that anyone I know who has trouble getting the dialogue will immediately switch them on. And "we" as a family. Mum's hearing is sensitive, Dad has two hearing aids and I have trouble distinguishing the spoken word if there is background music when the sound level is at Mum's chosen volume. I also miss plot points and sound effects (leaving me puzzled as to why everyone in the cast looks round in shock).

In Leicester I used them because my flat was on a main road. I could not be arsed to keep flicking the volume up for the speech and down for the music - and adverts. Stick on subtitles, don't miss a thing.

Saving grace I say.

But then I've been watching foreign films since I was 17, so reading and watching isn't an issue. Growing up in Europe is cinematically different than growing up in America, unless you are multilingual. And like most Brits, I am SO not. Altohugh I have a smattering of Merkin now :P

[Big Sarge]

Whay about "Copper"? I saw one season on BBC America and it has disappeared.

[DanaC]

I had to look that up, I'd never heard of it.

Turns out it was the first BBC America original scripted programme. Hasn't been shown over here. According to Wiki there's a second season due to air this year.

[DanaC]

Re: Ep2 pf Utopia


Fucking hell. I am loving this show!

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Trilby

k. I watched Ripper Street. I'm not some provincial school girl (like I was when I saw Trainspotting) but I understood about 1/2 the dialogue. thick acctents, muddled words, and wtf did he just say?

otherwise, was good. Not great, but good.

As far as Trainspotting goes: I had difficulty understanding some of that. Fortunately watched at home so was able to rewind when necessary to relisten. I hate using subtitles. I'd rather relisten four or five times til I get it :p

Which brings me to Ripper Street. I have to relisten to bits of dialogue several times throughout each episode. Not sure why. Don't usually have a problem with southern accents. And it is something that happens with all different characters including the American doctor. It might be something to do with the sound levels on the show.I think some lines are just a little indistinct at times.

The first episode was good. Not great, but good. I think it gets much stronger as it progresses. I've now watched three episodes and am thoroughly into it. There are a couple of interesting character backgrounds being explored and the stories are getting more intriguing. The first was a fairly standard serial killer mutilating women type story. Not so different from modern detective stories (except for the early days of pornography which was a pretty fascinating angle) but the second is more like something from Dickens.

[Trilby]

I will re-watch Ripper with subtitles on---I think you're right about the sound levels, too...and even in 'merica we have tv shows where the actors sound like they have a bunch of mush in their mouths (maybe the dialogue is THAT bad or maybe they muffed the line, whatever) one particular show was the West Wing-people said the sound editing was horrid and they couldn't hear half of what was going on.

Utopia----I'll have to see if that's on BBCAmerica.

[DanaC]

Utopia is a Channel4 show, so I don't know which channel might pick it up over there.

It's probably available on some streaming sites though...

[Sundae]

Wasn't sure of the second ep to start with. Thought all the draw was in the opener.
But it revved up pretty damned fast.

And OMG. The betrayal.
Worthy of Misfits.
And you know in how high esteem I hold that.

Loving Grant.
I've always had a thing for bad boys. They are probably the only creature apart from kittens that evoke a maternal response in me.

Tril - I'm not sure Utopia is your thing.
But if you can get to see it I'd be glad for you to prove me wrong.
If there is any humour in it (and it has made me laugh) it's black as a tumour.
And there are a lot of squinchy moments. But it has to be like that to carry a fantastical narrative.

I would eat it up with a spoon.
'Cepting I know what it's done.

[DanaC]

Eww

[Sundae]

It's the X Files writ large. Like Romani Ite Domum.
Trust no-one. No. Absolutely fucking no-one.

I need to look up how long this series is.
It is my Wednesday treat at present.

[DanaC]

I havent seen 3rd ep yet...I'm gearing up to watch on catch up.