Sunday 1 March 2015

TV shows roundup - From Wolf Hall to NHK

I have been catching up watching my TV shows especially during time in bed while soldiering through the obligatory winter cold...

I've said it before but we live in the golden age of television.
It seems I don't watch movies unless I am on a long haul flight nowadays.

Just thought I would share with you some shows I think you might enjoy.

The buzz about Wolf Hall the TV adaptation of the book by Hilary Mantel has been strong in the English speaking world.

The pop culture comment made about the show - apart from the superb acting 
( I normally get annoyed when people say things like that until you see bad acting / or when the acting is superb ) is that the show is so dark. Not thematically but literally. 


Mark Rylance deserves every acting award out there.

To keep the ambiance authentic, the show was filmed either with natural light or candle light so there is a definite mood that will most likely be parodied.
People are already referencing dark areas by saying it is so "wolf hall".


Damien Lewis has proven his merit by leaving Brody well behind and bringing Henry back to life.
It's so good that even though you know what happened, one still feels suspense.
Do not miss it when it comes to where you are.



Wasn't Broadchurch one of those zeitgiest-y cultural shows that 
even got its own article in the New Yorker?
Season two just ended here to mixed reviews.
I watched because I was already emotionally invested as I saw the first season but it makes me want to just stay and live in London. 



What was superb in all its 5 seasons was Breaking Bad.

I actually finished it late last year after one huge binge watch.
Even though it deserves a thesis - I shall keep it short.
WATCH IT!
Top best 5 shows ever made.
I kept thinking about all the characters in the show and 
then its spin off show just started called 
Better Call Saul. 

Israel has been producing great dramas that America has been modifying and remaking for their own audiences.  Homeland was based on the Israeli series called Prisoners of War.


If you thought Homeland was good, then you are in for a treat.
This makes Homeland look like a Disney show made for teenage boys.
It seems many are thinking this might be too political and avoiding it yet oddly it isn't.
Strange to say but it really is about people and politics play third fiddle.


This show stays with me still and is one of the most powerful and moving shows I have ever seen.
But it has controlled tension and it isn't needlessly heavy because there is plenty of action to move things along without being burdened.  Great viewing for couples because there is lots to talk about.

Another Israeli drama that has been turned into an American drama is Hostages that is being shown on BBC4 presently.  
I have only seen 4 episodes so far but each show has so much action that it has the entertainment value of a blockbuster.


I am happy it is so good because I was just getting over the end of the French crime drama "Spiral".


France has its strengths but television shows are not one of them but this show makes up for what is lacking on their t.v. stations. It also has a beautiful redhead siren who I can't believe hasn't been picked up yet as a potential love interest for James Bond.

This isn't her best angle but this show has it all: 
murder mystery, comradery, social commentary, and love interests.

I have also been watching Girls.
I will keep it quick and simple.
I can't bear Hannah. 
She is one of the most annoying fictional characters ever and 
is making me a misogynist.  I have a draft post about her faults and it won't be posted but it was cathartic writing it.

Reinventing the Royals on the BBC just aired this week. 
This was the 2 part documentary that Prince Charles was trying to stop.
Prince Charles needs a better communications team.
I won't get into the royals perse in this post.
Only unusual thing about it was that an Australian head media person said that Prince William is very controlling and his persona was rather different from the public one. No surprise there but it's one of those things that most royal watchers think but don't say because we all still feel bad about Princess Di.  Was relieved to hear it out loud though and it took a non sycophantic Aussie to say it.  Americans tend to see the royals through a Disney prism and I have rarely heard a balanced journalist's view from the States. It was odd to see a show about the royals which wasn't the usual forelock-togging as it has been for the past decade.

  If you are one of those people who don't watch television and you are still reading then I must suggest a lovely series on NHK called Artisan and Designer.

Each episode features the collaboration of various people involved in creating a product such as this pure white enamel kettle.

It is for design / manufacture geeks and I always suggest this show to creative types because it is so inspiring and it is available on YouTube here.


I hope you are well where you may be and it is either warming up or cooling down. x

35 comments:

  1. I haven't seen any of these but hubs is watching Wolf Hall and Better Call Saul, the only thing we're watching as a couple just now is Vikings.
    I can't bear this time of year 'the transition' lighter at night but bare and empty outside, no leaves...ooh hurry up buds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Come on you gotta see wolf hall if but for common references! Might watch Vikings now bc not much to watch as I've seen everything it seems!

      Delete
  2. Hello Naomi,

    Well, as you may imagine as we have not had a television for thirty or more years, we have seen none of these programmes. Indeed, living in Hungary we are not able to access most of the old programmes either.....it would seem that the cost cutting government does not pay for such things! Our housekeeper, Tímea, tells us excitedly of her viewings of Downton Abbey and Poirot.......all many series behind their English counterparts.

    We are sorry that you are still unwell and, as we find when the dreaded illnesses strike, there is something comforting as well as slightly decadent about watching films in bed. Take care of yourself......we have been watching an ancient version of Restoration Home......hilarious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I once lived without a tv for a year and s hslf. When I was home which was rare I had radio. Radio is great and even though I know tv tends to win out. My fault bc I said I haven't gotten sick all year then boom the next day!! Hope you are well!

      Delete
  3. I couldn't manage breaking bad. Far too depressing.
    I would be interested to know why you don't like "girls".
    I am quite liking OITNB, but I've not had time to watch many eps

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Girls is ok but it's hannah who's unlikeable! But judging from the Internet I am not alone...she's so narcissistic and actually the character in its general form in the show rings false for too many reasons, I haven't lived in Brooklyn but her character isn't New York.

      Delete
  4. I would love to watch the new series with Damien Lewis. With his red hair he looks like the perfect Henry VIII and I am happy to hear that he is back to English Drama. I have loved him since I first saw him in the Forsyte Saga series as the heinous Soames..... superlative. Of course, I loved him as Brody also, but I think he is sooooo profoundly English and couldn't be more apt to play an English character.
    have a great day!
    laura

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are in for such a treat bc I think he does a great portrayal. I didn't know he was british when I saw homelsnd and didn't know him before. I might check out this saga you mention thanks for that!

      Delete
  5. Watched the first few episodes of Wolf Hall, loved it, but missed a couple and didn't get back into it. Have been watching Housewives of Cheshire though! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I player! It's worth the watch bc everywhere you go people like me will annoy you to watch it!! I saw the Cheshire ladies but they are such snobs! X

      Delete
  6. Never watch TV, but do like British television, although I didn't watch one second when i was there last fall. I hear that Wolf Hall is good, and they filmed some of it at my old school. I love the Country Files show especially this time of year. And always, BBC news, if only for the theme tune.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'd enjoy it bc it's a great true tale. I like country files and makes me realise living out there isn't so peaceful!

      Delete
  7. I read this post with only one eye in case there were Wolf Hall spoilers...not that we don't all know how it ends, d'uh! We can't watch it here in Canada until April. I'm so looking forward to it. Did you see the show "The Tunnel" with English and French actors...body found halfway through the English tunnel etc etc? We loved it and are hoping there might be another season that comes our way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So funny bc I felt like that watching the latest episode! I couldn't understand why I was nervous when I knew what happened!! It's that good though. That show is based on the danish Swedish show called the bridge! I will watch the french version but the original is stupendous that I wrnt to Copenhagen last year to see myself!

      Delete
  8. Well, I'm one of those that don't watch TV either. However, that does not stop me viewing things via my computer whenever I am able to access interesting shows, so will take your recommendations under advisement.

    During my recent flu bout, I watched a terrific series (on YouTube) all about the best British carvers including an episode on Thomas Chippendale and one on Grinling Gibbons. Fascinating stuff. I hope you too feel better soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You would enjoy the nhk series bc it really is educational and all my artist friends appreciated it. Isn't YouTube just great? I will look for this series you watched too so thanks for that.

      Delete
    2. Naomi,

      Here's a link to that wonderful program on carving:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bhu7HjIGAk

      Oh, and yes, I shall make a point of watching the NHK series, thank you.

      Delete
  9. Aaaaah I still haven't watched Breaking Bad since you last wrote so enthusiastically about it - oh dear. My mum watched the latest series of Broadchurch and still mourns after the hours lost watching it - I've never watched it. Dramas just require so much commitment and when I miss one it's a ballache trying to catch up again. I do love telly, I find it quite therapeutic but my time is reserved for the Walking Dead, Revenge, Suits, Mr Selfridge, interior design programmes and weekend chat shows eeek! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But I just had to see how they were going to steer Broadchurch! I hear you bc it's hard as I have shows I haven't watched but if it's good you need to set time aside and I can't get anything done without a tv show getting in the way! Xx

      Delete
  10. Thanks for the tip offs on the tv shows - I just looked up Wolf Hall and we're apparently going to be getting it in April.. so I have a bit of a wait. Will also have to look up the royals one as it sounds interesting. And laughing about your view on the Disney prism - too true. Did you read about all the hoopla on Prince Phillip being knighted in the Australia Day honours list? Would be interested to hear what the media were saying in Blighty…

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks Naomi! Ditto from me about PP and his knighthood - would love to know what they were saying in media and streets over there (if it got coverage at all apart from a high level of incredulity).
      Would also like to see the royals one.
      Most of these we'll probably miss, including the latest "GOT". Drat! But will be travelling so probably shouldn't complain. Have been watching Melbourne Housewives, guilty pleasure, dreadful but addictive. Saw "The Odessa File" last night on the box. Missed seeing when it came out years ago - if you haven't, you'd probably also like - involves Mossad and a spiderweb of Nazis who'd changed identities but still pursued their objectives covertly. Quite horrifying for its period.
      Rather like red haired Damien Lewis - but even more so, Rupert Friend. Have quite a crush. Seem to have missed the latest series of "Homeland". Pammie

      Delete
    2. Heidi - Yes we did hear about it but it surprisingly wasn't that surprising here. They were like - yeah he's a knight and he has loads of knighthoods so it's just another one! I actually found out about it through the aussie news on the web and it only got a mention mid way through the news here. You will love Wolf Hall!

      Pammie - The documentary just reignited some unpleasant words that Marc Bolan said about the royals that has now been erased from google especially as Marc Bolan is still in communications and has erased lots of his past! Google ain't what it used to be... I will check out the odessa file. I just finished the first seaon of the Melbourne gals. Lydia's accent makes me laugh so much!! Can't wait to see it myself!

      Delete
    3. Lydia thought the Louvre was in London. Says it all really. Except in the first series when the fortune teller and rock star husband were dining out - when choosing her tipple for the evening she asked for the most expensive champagne. Didn't seem to be interested in knowing what it was actually. It just had to be the most expensive!
      Discovered the royals doco just in time, Part 1 was on this evening. If accurate, it seems MB certainly did publish some salty remarks rubbishing the royals, including his former boss, in his Blackadder column.
      There were also cryptic remarks about William being "controlling". Guess we need to see Part 2. But who could blame William for any antipathy to the press and any attempts to limit exposure to his own terms? Rather imagine PP is amused by all these knighthoods. Probably thinks they're a hoot. Pammie

      Delete
    4. MB did in fact say those things bc it made huge press all over the news but guess what - google has erased all trace of it in the UK. it might be availalbe to google in Oz and elsewhere though. MB is a communications guru and he was one of those who requested to change his google history...The whole Wills thing is a very complicated issue - totally understand his distaste of course except we all know his parents were both complicit in helping the journalists to further their own cause and message. Odd thing is that without publicity their whole raison d'etre goes out the window. It's a very odd combination bc it is what keeps the monarchy going - privacy is not fuel to their survival and I think they need to just accept that.

      Delete
  11. I'm really looking forward to the television Wolf Hall, it won't be shown here for a few months. We both read both books, and then timed last fall's visit to London to let us see both of the Wolf Hall plays before they closed-- fabulous! Now I'm teasing my brain with "What will Hilary Mantel write about in the 3rd volume since almost everyone's dead already?!?"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you know that Thomas Cromwell was Oliver Cromwell's uncle? It seems even in rebellions - these things are hereditary in the UK! I wonder if Mantel will explore this aspect? It's a true talent when you know what's going to happen but you are still intrigued!

      Delete
  12. Ooooh I am interested in NHK. I'm going to watch that, thanks! I've also been enjoying the new season of House of Cards. It was a little slow to start but it's gearing up now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a bit of a geek show but done in that calm zen way that the Japanese do so well!

      Delete
  13. Hope you're feeling better!
    Artisan x Designer = : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I finally am over it - just in time for my body to handle jetlag! PS you will lobe artisan designer!! x

      Delete
  14. I'm going to show this to my husband. You both have seem to have the same taste in TV show. He's currently rewatching Breaking Bad. We're on episode 3 of the Slap. So far so good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Slap was a book based in Melbourne where I lived so I have a soft spot for it!

      Delete
  15. All I watch is Mr Selfridge and Nashville. My taste are pretty pedestrian these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't even heard of Nashville! Must google now!!

      Delete

Thank you for dropping by!