Good TV (aka, the TV series spamthread), the second series

[Snowy]

Drive to Survive

This is getting increasingly difficult to recommend. It always had its problems - drivers and teams have gone as far as not taking part for a year or two because they don't like how it portrays both themselves and the sport, and it constantly seems to use the incredible access it has to the paddock to create fake stories instead of the real ones. It feels they've produced fewer fake stories this year, but the material they've used has been increasingly fake feeling - the stories they're telling are representative of what I remember of the 2024 season, but it illustrates them with utterly fake-feeling exposition scenes. They constantly use team principals talking to their spouses as framing mechanisms, and there's just no way that they aren't staged. I just don't believe any of the off-track material.

And then there's the stuff they leave out; there's an episode based around the 2024 Monaco GP, chronicling Monegasque Charles LeClerc's poor luck in his home race. He finally wins it in 2024, but that was quite possibly the worst (full) F1 race of all time with just 4 overtakes in the entire 78 lap run, and they completely ignore that and use choice quotes from commentators to suggest there was *any* excitement whatsoever. Then in the Belgian GP, where they evidently want to tell a success story about George Russell stepping out of the shadow of the departing Lewis Hamilton, and who goes on to "win" the race and is a nice story... except they ignore the fact that George was disqualified a few hours later and they don't even mention it - it wouldn't have damaged their narrative as the technical infringement likely made little real difference to George's race, but not even mentioning it feels disingenuous.

Drive to Survive isn't the documentary it thinks it is, or that I think it should be. They have unparalleled access to the F1 paddock and all of its personalities, and it's squandered because it's not "cinematic" enough, so they make stuff up instead. It doesn't represent the drama the sport can provide (and definitely did in 2024).

Agree wholeheartedly (as you know). It is a tabloid documentary series that gives you a view of Formula 1 that wouldn't look amiss in The Sun.

[Wrathbone]

I watched half of the first season of Drive to Survive and never bothered going back. Misrepresentative dross.

[Raid]

It has gradually gotten better over the years, but clearly not enough given we're 7 years into it. I think it's time they put it to bed, and launch an actual documentary show with the same level of access.

[Lenny Solidus]

On Call.

It's been twenty-three years since I first discovered a little cop drama show known as The Shield, to this day I hold my hands up after binging both The Shield and The Wire and contrary to popular opinion believe that Vick Mackey, Shane Vendrell, Lem and Ronnie come out on top. Both amazing shows, don't get me wrong, but the strike team has my vote and dedication.

After rewatching Cop Land last week (a top 10 favourite movie personally - AND YOU BLEEWWWW EEEEEEET!) I felt the distinct itch to find myself a new gritty Cop tv show that I could really sink my teeth into, that just happened to be On Call. If you enjoyed movies such as End of Watch and the Southland tv show On Call will be right up your alley. Well known actor Eriq La Salle both produces alongside Dick Wolf and directs set episodes, he of course plays a small bit part on top. Now the two main leads I really need to talk about quickly - Troian Bellisario and Brandon Larracuente as training officer Traci Harmon and low shelf rookie initiate Alex Diaz are both utterly superb in their respective roles, they have amazing on screen chemistry as two officers at very different ends of the police hierarchy as Harmon attempts to put Diaz through the paces and make a final decision based upon his ongoing endeavours. Both deal with their opposing and more neutral/ideals/training of how to do the job effectively alongside their own personalities that truly sell them as a duo/dynamic - although there were only eight episodes in total I was all in come the eventual finale.

The writing and production of the show are both top-notch and I hear it did very well for itself first season, securing that a second would go into production, which I'm extremely happy to hear. Even just writing this, I've now set up the show to binge-watch all the way through once again tonight. Episodes are only thirty minutes or so each in length and many including myself are hoping episodes next season are somewhat longer, they still manage great episodes given the limited run time.

It's been quite a while since a show made me feel this invested in the characters portrayed on screen and On Call (yes, though the name might not be the most memorable per se) it is most definitely a show I believe in and can't wait for it to continue.

NOTE: If you do decide to watch, please do refrain from watching beyond the included end of episode "Next on On Call" as it practically gives away the entire next episode in snippet form!

[Snowy]

On Call.

It's been twenty-three years since I first discovered a little cop drama show known as The Shield, to this day I hold my hands up after binging both The Shield and The Wire and contrary to popular opinion believe that Vick Mackey, Shane Vendrell, Lem and Ronnie come out on top. Both amazing shows, don't get me wrong, but the strike team has my vote and dedication.

While I respect your opinion in this matter, you are of course incorrect in the ordering here

[Lenny Solidus]

On Call.

It's been twenty-three years since I first discovered a little cop drama show known as The Shield, to this day I hold my hands up after binging both The Shield and The Wire and contrary to popular opinion believe that Vick Mackey, Shane Vendrell, Lem and Ronnie come out on top. Both amazing shows, don't get me wrong, but the strike team has my vote and dedication.

While I respect your opinion in this matter, you are of course incorrect in the ordering here

[Lenny Solidus]

[Animalmother]

Predators in feudal Japan and WW2 is a great idea, looks like it'll worth a look.

The Expanse S1
I watched this when it was originally broadcast but that was 10 years ago now so I remembered nothing. A little rough around the edges but very solid sci-fi otherwise. The sets, suits and ship designs are very pleasing and you can tell Starfield was heavily influenced by the style. My one gripe is some of the acting is a little iffy, the Martian marine lady in season 2 is wooden as fuck. Apart from that I'm looking forward to watching more.

[Raid]

I thought Bobby was a realistic-feeling depiction of a marine, personally. She's not dripping with charisma like Avasarala or Holden, but that doesn't feel incorrect for a very young soldier (the actress was 22 at the start of season 2, I'm not sure how old the character is) presumably not long from boot-camp. The marines seem very much the ooh-rah "the corp is my personality" types and I assumed it was intentional. I don't recall having an issue with any acting in the series, at least not from a significant character.

[Animalmother]

Nothing against the actress, I just found the initial marine dialogue to be a bit cringe I suppose. No complaints about the main cast, Amos in particular is always entertaining. Are the books worth a look or does the show pretty much cover it?

[Alan]

I believe the books have another 30% more story after the series finishes. I’m about half way through the last season at the moment. I can’t be arsed with the proto molecule stuff but I really like the rest. It’s possibly the best representation on “oh shit, space is a big scary bastard of a thing”. Chrissy is just the best thing in the show.

[Raid]

I haven't read the books yet, though I think I may start after I finish the current Culture one I'm reading. I've been meaning to since before the series ended.

I personally loved the proto-molecule stuff, although the political stuff was probably more gripping. It does get used as a macguffin occasionally, but it's also responsible for one of my favourite sci-fi events. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't really finish what that storyline eventually turns into.

[Sly Boots]

I read the first few of the books, but having started them immediately after finishing the show, I got a bit sated on the story and moved onto something else. I keep meaning to pick them up again, though. If you like the show they're well worth a read.

[Raid]

Adolescence

How to describe the experience of watching this... it's like watching a very well produced stage drama, and then every so often someone walks up, looks you straight in the eye, and then proceeds to repeatedly punch you in the kidneys. It's a difficult programme to recommend because the subject matter is so bewilderingly unhappy. If this is a realistic depiction of what being a teenage boy is like these days, and if the news stories that appeared when this first hit TV screens are any indication, it is, then I absolutely weep for the future of our society.

[Alan]

I believe the books have another 30% more story after the series finishes. I’m about half way through the last season at the moment. I can’t be arsed with the proto molecule stuff but I really like the rest. It’s possibly the best representation on “oh shit, space is a big scary bastard of a thing”. Chrissy is just the best thing in the show.

I was wrong, I had one ep left. I went from "how can they bring this together in a satisfying way in only 5 eps" thinking it was a 10 ep season to "oh they cant bring it together in 1 ep" Its not a bad finale but it was unsatisfying. Its definitely upper tier scifi. Its actually quote shocking when you think of how few great space scifi shows there are, maybe its folk constantly praising big piles of shit like Babylon 5 than keeps the standards low :p


Apparently there is still some things happening behind the scenes that don't completely rule out a 7th season.