What was the last TV show you watched?

[Touchofevil]

A really nice episode of Ripper Street.
Nice music, cinematography, acting, and story.

 

[Touchofevil]

I work for myself from home - all sorts of plusses and minuses to it, but one plus, it's slow today - so I just watched the last two Patriot drives, as when it was on, it was late, I was exhausted and emotion was carrying me along more than focus. And, just for context, I'm not a Pats fan or hater.

Tom Brady plays better when the pressure is amped up beyond anything normal human beings usually face. His passes were crisper in those last two drives - tighter spirals, placing the ball exactly where the receiver needed it to be on almost every pass - than they were earlier in the game. Yes, the receivers (and linemen, who gave him time to throw) deserve tremendous credit as well, but, IMHO, Brady inspires them to elevate their game and gives them confidence that they can do the impossible. He is the pivot on which it all works. And there's an eerie calm to how he does it - it doesn't feel rushed, it doesn't feel hyper, it doesn't feel "two-minute drill" like, it feels like he's just confidently and intensely focused, but not crazy keyed up or pumped full of adrenaline.

And either of those drives alone would have been amazing - the two, back to back, are insane. I've watched football for over forty years and have seen films of older games and read the books - for my money, Brady is the greatest ever not because of raw skill or statistics or even the number of Super Bowl rings, he's the greatest because he is the first choice I'd want of any quarterback ever and the super-first choice if the game is on the line. Arrogance, confidence, skill, leadership, inspiration, focus, drive, determination, will - it's some combination of all of that, that makes Brady, and the teams he quarterbacks, win.

Very well put. I am a huge Peyton Manning fan and wholeheartedly agree.

Ignore the Joe Montana fans who will wholeheartedly disagree with you.

 

[Wire9Vintage]

I'm loving "Timeless."

 

[Stearmen]

THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII. Three down, three to go! He was a complicated man, to say the least.

 

[Stormy]

I'm watching the first season of "Peaky Blinders." The acting and costumes are fabulous!

 

[Fading Fast]

"Victoria" - most recent episode.

The way parliament controls many very personal aspects of the Queen's life - input and veto on whom she marries, her personal budget, etc. - makes being Queen more like being a mid-level manager: the people in the organization chart below you think you have more power than you do and the people above you want to assert their power by further diminishing yours. It's all very exhausting. "I say it's spinach and I say to hell with it."

In this most recent episode, does anyone remember the quote of Lord Melbourne's that went something to the effect (when Victoria was angry that parliament couldn't / wouldn't give Albert the title of King) that "if the people got into their heads that they had the power to make kings, well, they could also...?" It was a beautiful line with heat-seeking missile impact that was delivered with - as Sewell always does - the absolute perfect pitch.

"New Girl" we had stopped watching this show years ago as the characters and stories were disjointed, inconsistent and brutally stupid. For some reason, our DVR decided to recored an episode - wow, the show has gotten worse. The characters are parodies of their two-dimensional selves - they are not even remotely like real people - and the stories (I guess you call them plots, but that assumes some logical progression of thought and action) are imbecilic. How has this show survived?

 

[MisterCairo]

I'm watching the first season of "Peaky Blinders." The acting and costumes are fabulous!

We're pumped for the blu-ray release of season three, can't wait!

 

[MisterCairo]

Another episode of Once Upon a Time with the girls. Total fluff, but somehow it gets you hooked...

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

Man Seeking Woman. Didn't know this existed beyond the movie and book. Almost four seasons in the bag? Not sure which episode, but one of the most recent two. Genuinely funny. Not something I would put in a regular rotation, but I'll come back to it here and there.

Imposters. new Bravo scripted series. A surprisingly recognized cast and Uma Thurman making her TV series debut. Doesn't feel particularly original, but if they can be clever with the situations, the actors could do some nice work.

Looking forward to the final season of Girls this Sunday and checking out the Legion pilot (Matthew Crawley, for those Downton Abbey enthusiasts).

 

[Stearmen]

Victoria. I never thought of myself as a bigot, but it turns out I am! All these years, I thought Albert was not to bright and not very cultured, and that Victoria was his polar opposite. Perhaps this comes from WWII? I should know better, after all, the German empire has given us some of the greatest art the world has ever known, not to mention music and science! Strange how these notions get in your head without you even noticing.

 

[Fading Fast]

"The Man in the High Castle" Episode 9, Season 2 (one more episode to go this season )

Okay, how much does each episode cost to make? The sets are insane. Even with CGI, which I assume isn't free, the richness of the period sets, the attention to detail is crazy. Hitler's office is Speer-on-steriods super impressive. But so is everything. From the "dormitory" apartment Juliana has to the NY Nazi Headquarters (am I the only one who thinks it intentionally echoes the UN?), every single design element, every small decorative item - down to the way the paint has worn - is thoughtfully done.

And there's CGI and then there's CGI. "Victoria" must use bargain-basement CGI as it is obvious, underwhelming and even a bit jarring. But the majority of the time it's used in "TMITHC" it is effective, enhancing and all-but seamless. Somebody, some company (Amazon?) is throwing a ton of money at this production. IMHO, they have such a home run on their hands, it's worth it, but I have no idea if the show is successful or not or if it will make back its money or not or, if in the crazy world of streaming TV, that even matters.

Juliana is the fulcrum of the entire show - the Nazi's pivot off her via Obergruppenfuhrer John Smith (and his family), the resistance in America pivots off her here, there and everywhere (while they don't trust her, they do need her) and the Japanese Trade minister is all but consumed by her. Fortunately, Alexa Davalos is up to the role - a role which might prove to be the best one in her career, not because she isn't killing it, but because there simply are so few roles that are this incredible.

 

[Fading Fast]

...In this most recent episode, does anyone remember the quote of Lord Melbourne's that went something to the effect (when Victoria was angry that parliament couldn't / wouldn't give Albert the title of King) that "if the people got into their heads that they had the power to make kings, well, they could also...?" It was a beautiful line with heat-seeking missile impact that was delivered with - as Sewell always does - the absolute perfect pitch....

I found it:

Queen Victoria: Can't you persuade parliament to make him a King consort?

Lord Melbourne: I'm afraid ma'am, that if the people get into the way of making kings, they might get into the way of unmaking them.

No further words are exchanged on the subject as Victoria's quietly stunned expression reflects that the risks and limitations of a constitutional monarchy just dawned on the young queen.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

Legion. new FX series. another FX technical masterpiece. Like Taboo, better than most movies. Better than most movies of similar subject because (likely) there are some financial restraints on the makers, so they are maybe held to better judgment. A chaotic, mindbending, rich episode. With as much as happening, I found it relaxing. Another A Clockwork Orange inspired set design program? I suspect this show is going to be a hit. Comic book material really isn't my bag. I'm not sure how long I'll hang with it. I enjoyed it.

 

[MisterCairo]

The final episode of Marcella (WOW. I'll even write that backwards - WOW).

And another episode of the wonderfully understated Wallander.

 

[Touchofevil]

The final episode of Marcella (WOW. I'll even write that backwards - WOW).

And another episode of the wonderfully understated Wallander.

I have it in my queue on either Amazon or Netflix. At some point I need to get around to watching it.

 

[Touchofevil]

Another episode of Ripper Street.

 

[MisterCairo]

I have it in my queue on either Amazon or Netflix. At some point I need to get around to watching it.

I may need to re-watch certain episodes shortly, pretty sure I missed some connecting details.

We are talking about Marcella, right?!

 

[Touchofevil]

I may need to re-watch certain episodes shortly, pretty sure I missed some connecting details.

We are talking about Marcella, right?!

Doh!
Wallander.

 

[Stearmen]

Restoration Garage. Unfortunately, as is all to often on these shows, the coolest vehicle, a mini vintage tracked bulldozer, was only shown for a few minutes!

 

[Stormy]

I'm about to watch "World's End," my favorite episode of Cold Case.