British TV/General Discussion

@deedee713 wrote:
Brit, please remind me of the name of the series, it's been a dog's age since I had MHZ. Prime what? Elizabeth and Paul?

I hope I am wrong about Ridley, but I think the singer is playing him.

Oy, I am watching the 3rd episode of DI Ray on Passport and.......not a spoiler.......it appears Brit TV is as bad as U.S. TV when it comes to coppers approaching a perp. Blue Bloods is the worst - HOLD IT RIGHT THERE - yeah okay. Of course they don't. DI Ray advising a perp of the same, has to be at least 10 feet between them and GUESS WHAT no one in the rear.

As I told my hubs, when I rule the TV world, there won't be any women and children and animals in peril out of proportion to men, and stupid coppers will post a backup contingent behind a perp.

Ah well. I still prefer international TV to U.S.  

"I hope I am wrong about Ridley, but I think the singer is playing him."

Like a fiddle, Deedee. My same thought, she is playing him - hook, line and sinker. But...I have been wrong for the past two episodes - whatever I thought was going on, I was over in left field. They turned the tables both times, so I am going in to this third story with trepidation - if I think something is happening, I am probably wrong! 🙂

I am with you on ruling the world. 

Okay, Prime TV has samples of shows - usually the first season -   they offer from various streaming services to all Prime members each month. So each month I go through the offerings to see if there is anything I am interested in. Most times nada, other months I hit the jackpot. This is how I watched a few shows I was interested in on Acorn without being a subscriber, Acorn let Prime air the first season for free as a monthly special. Almost every month Acorn and MHz offer something in the sample line-up. 

How do you find the shows being offered... go to the Prime Video home page. At the top they have ads for new shows etc. being offered, under that vertically is your line-up of continuing programs - "Continue Watching"; below that, I have "Amazon Originals and Exclusives", then "My Subscriptions". Continue going down through these vertical listings until you come to "Prime TV and Movies to Sample this Month". This is where the treasure trove of free monthly programing exists. 

First one listed this month is the French "Murder In..."  that's the one I am talking about. S1 is included this month. The first episode stars Elisabeth and Paul as the investigators. They are not in all the stories, I read the synopsis of the first season episodes and will watch the ones that star them. MHz is not shown as the streaming service of ownership (as I had thought). They are offering the next show, "Captain Marleau" this month. That's an old one for them, I think. 

There are a few other things which may be of interest to you as it is a mixed bag of stuff. If you like retro American TV, "The Milton  Berle" show is listed; and "Follow the Money", "The Walking Dead Origins" as well as several Hallmark mysteries, among others. 

Thanks, Brit. "Murders In...." sounds interesting. Didn't know that about Amazon Prime!

Oh, and is it a thing to interview sperm donors in one's house? Oy.

"I hope I am wrong about Ridley, but I think the singer is playing him."

Like a fiddle, Deedee. My same thought, she is playing him - hook, line and sinker.

Thought she might be as well but can't figure out what she's after ..  Could be he's not a missing brother at all but someone else (  or  something )  she's trying to track down , will watch her close next week.   No song this Ep.  Busy , still working on the case .  Look  for a song next week when he raps things up.  Here's a thought , if she's on the up and up they might close out next week by singing a song together.  

@deedee713 wrote:
Thanks, Brit. "Murders In...." sounds interesting. Didn't know that about Amazon Prime!

Oh, and is it a thing to interview sperm donors in one's house? Oy.

I know, I was like "what the he** !" Don't they have actual places of work for this where you go to conduct business. Idk, I guess people conduct interviews at home for childcarers, so this is just another step over from that. Meeting the potential doner in your own space, being more at ease - I can see some of the positives, but that whole scene felt off to me. Very off. Personally, based on what we heard, I would have sent him packing.  

A word about "Murders In..." - I started with the third episode (Elisabeth and Paul were already acquainted at the start of this one). These days I pick and choose what I want to watch more carefully, I read the synopsis of the episodes and that one hit me as something I would like, so I dove in. It was a good.

Last night I went back and watched E1 (where they first meet). Let me say this episode is "very" French. Very. I don't think you would really enjoy it. If you want to give the series a go, skip over E1&2 and start with E3. 

That's what is so nice about the free sample stuff, you have a finite time to watch, so you catch a little here, try something else, go back to what you like. Unless I really love something, I take the viewing casually.

@solar wrote:
"I hope I am wrong about Ridley, but I think the singer is playing him."

Like a fiddle, Deedee. My same thought, she is playing him - hook, line and sinker.

Thought she might be as well but can't figure out what she's after ..  Could be he's not a missing brother at all but someone else (  or  something )  she's trying to track down , will watch her close next week.   No song this Ep.  Busy , still working on the case .  Look  for a song next week when he raps things up.  Here's a thought , if she's on the up and up they might close out next week by singing a song together.  

On point, Solar. I kept thinking the same throughout the episode - what is she after, what could she get out of this. On the surface it all seems fine, a sister looking for her long lost brother, but something is needling me about her - like she is playing Ridley. 

As I said though, I have no faith in my detective nose 🧐 regarding this series as they have had major twists in the second half of the first two stories. So if I am thinking she is not legit, I am most likely wrong. 

Here's a thought , if she's on the up and up they might close out next week by singing a song together.  

Yes!

Sorry, but Ridley and phony lady with the nice voice singing together - ick.

On D.I. Ray, couldn't wait, watched the entire series on Passport - a right kick in the head. Very good.

Interestingly, BBC News had a lengthy spot on the director of Bend It Like Beckham last night. Gurinder Chadha, never heard of her, never saw the movie, did anyone here? I have to make a point to see it, I thought it was just a sports movie. She overcame racism to make it, good for her, and one of the breakouts was....... Parminder Nagra, lead in D.I. Ray, and Dr. Rasgotra in ER. I very much liked her in ER, and she was even better in D.I. Ray. They're just starting on series 2.

And so it goes.

@deedee713 wrote:
Sorry, but Ridley and phony lady with the nice voice singing together - ick.

On D.I. Ray, couldn't wait, watched the entire series on Passport - a right kick in the head. Very good.

Interestingly, BBC News had a lengthy spot on the director of Bend It Like Beckham last night. Gurinder Chadha, never heard of her, never saw the movie, did anyone here? I have to make a point to see it, I thought it was just a sports movie. She overcame racism to make it, good for her, and one of the breakouts was....... Parminder Nagra, lead in D.I. Ray, and Dr. Rasgotra in ER. I very much liked her in ER, and she was even better in D.I. Ray. They're just starting on series 2.

And so it goes.

I haven't watched "Bend it Like Beckham" - it got a lot of good buzz. Let me know what you think after you've seen it, especially after watching Parminder Nagra in "DI Ray" all these years later. I'll get caught up with the latest episode either tonight or tomorrow. 

Finished  Survivor  Brit   ...   when  S3  Ep.10  ended  I wished there was another season .  That tells me I liked it .  lol  

@solar wrote:
Finished  Survivor  Brit   ...   when  S3  Ep.10  ended  I wished there was another season .  That tells me I liked it .  lol  

Good to hear Solar, I am going to feel the same way.

Anyone watching DI Ray? Worth sitting through Ridley and Grantchester for this show, and I can see where that's going too. Remember when shows weren't so obvious?

Bingo.  

Deedee, I know you have finished the series (on Passport) and you said it was very good - please, please tell me there is a big twist somewhere along the way after E2, because after watching said episode last night, all I can say is that this series to this point is one big cliche. 

Solar, don't read further if you haven't watched E2 of "DI Ray" as yet.

There has not been one moment I have not seen coming or predicted - not one. The racism shown, the snide looks and remarks by her "team" (if that is your back-up you are very much in trouble, other than the female detective, the others barely give her notice much less actively support her - with those guys behind her, it is a wonder she doesn't wind up in jail herself). Let me go on... a Chief Inspector that has more contempt for you than anything else. Have we seen this all before? Yep. It is moving along step by step by the play book.

I knew what they would find well before they opened up that container - I was silently praying I was wrong because I didn't want to see it again. Why do I say again, because I have already seen the scene before in an episode of the Swedish Wallander which was produced years ago. It was a horrible scene the first time I watched it (clearly it has stayed with me) and it was a horror to watch again.

Speaking of Wallander, have we seen Ray ever break a smile or have a moment of joy - not even when she got engaged. She is one note continually through out the story - a half smile is more than we have ever gotten from her. Btw, who throws their engagement ring (which they just got the night before) in the glove box like a pair of old gloves? My point, the writers of this series must be big Wallander fans because the are borrowing heavy.

Let us not even speak about the two attempts on her life, yet she is running out of the hospital to get right back to work. Really... I have a concussion, but it's nothing. Okay, if you say so. 

The one good point is that that container would not have been found if she didn't go back to work because her superior could give a damn about finding out the truth of the situation, she is so caught up in her own racist spin. I'll give Ray that, she doggly pursues the truth. It is her strongest characteristic and this is what will propel this show in to its' second series.

please, please tell me there is a big twist somewhere along the way after E2,

Yes, but ............... SPOILER...............I guess the point of the show is racism and only racism and sexism. I hope it isn't truly like this in the UK? Infuriating? You bet. The denouement? I can only say I hope series 2 makes me happier. The kick in the head? I didn't see it coming. Big twist? Nothing that made me satisfied if this racism and sexism in the workplace is the SOS in the UK TV as it is in the U.S. TV.

Wake me when Law and Order and Blue Bloods et cetera and so many of the UK and international shows don't have women and children (and in the Nordic shows, the animals in real life) in danger and often dead.

But as predictable as this show is, outside the excellent performance from Parminder, it beats the current PBS offerings of the (to me) very boring Ridley and Grantchester.

Meanwhile, I caught the ending of the Miriam and Alan Lost in Scotland and Beyond show on one of the PBS channels last night - catch it, is all I can say.

@BritMystery   wrote :

There has not been one moment I have not seen coming or predicted - not one. The racism shown, the snide looks and remarks by her "team" (if that is your back-up you are very much in trouble, other than the female detective, the others barely give her notice much less actively support her - with those guys behind her, it is a wonder she doesn't wind up in jail herself). 

This is a different kind of show , for sure.   DI Ray is fighting a battle on  different  fronts .   All the subtleties of  racism  she deals with as she  focuses on her job .  She's a good  D.I. When I saw her looking for that container  , then finding it  ..  and  THEN  all  the  ' uniforms '  and her superior showing  up ...    Nothing good ever comes from opening a container  in a freight  yard .    You're right  Brit  ....  none of this would have come about  if  Ray  hadn't come back  ta work on the case. Will she be given credit for this   ???  ... I doubt it. 

Deedee and Solar, basically my issue is that the premise and storyline for Di Ray is not something new, it has been done before to the extent that I know the storyline as it is happening - as I noted, it's the Swedish "Wallander" and "Prime Suspect" all rolled in to one. For me, it is not on the same level as "Unforgotten", which when first introduced, had a uniqueness of its' own. 

Although the Wallander team did not fight racism within their own ranks, the stories often were very much about racism and the way immigrants are treated in their society. As I said, that container scene was taken almost verbatim.  

"Prime Suspect's" Mirren fought the battle to be taken seriously as a women, Di Ray has to fight both this and those who question her position in the police "brotherhood" solely because of her ethnicity. And it is a brotherhood, my recent rewatch of Giri/Haji (again incredibly unique) brings that much to mind. The fact that Ray's immediate superior is a woman is all the more galling. Getting ahead in this environment means that you watch out solely for yourself and have little regard for who you have to step on in the process (as we are seeing).

I have to be fair in my evaluation because what I am saying about "Di Ray" can be also said about "Ridley". A lot of borrowing there as well in concept. The stories though in Ridley have surprised me, they have had enough of a twist so that things turned out far from what I thought they would and that always draws me in (and back). 

Dunbar is no Mr. Personality, I will admit that, but I am equally far from overwhelmed with Parminder's performance. I am not quite as enamoured with her as you both are. Maybe that will change as I continue on.

I do get Ray is fighting the good fight... that is the best thing about her character and what will propel me to carry on to the end of the season. Solar, the look on her Chief's face when she saw the inside of the container - total shock. She is so caught up in her own spin, she is on another planet. I shudder every time anyone opens a container on any detective show. 

Deedee, I will look out for "Lost in Scotland and Beyond". I read the synopsis, I think you may have found a little gem there!

Hey guys!  I am looking forward to our PBS viewing tonight! See you on the other side with (hopefully) lots to talk about.

That should have been tomorrow night...🙄  The Hubs took Friday off so we could have a three day weekend (which is great, love a long weekend), but you can guess the rest... yep, I got my days confused. I sat down to watch the PBS Mystery line-up and nothing is on. 🤔 Finally realized it is only Saturday night. Doesn't take much to throw me off! 

I was really looking forward to this week's episodes - I wanted to see where E3 (Part Two) of "Ridley" would leave us and what rehash "DI Ray" was going to churn out.   Much to my utter surprise I made a full 360 degree turn, people! 

First, Deedee, we need you to start ruling the world soon because we are overrun with stories of the abuse of our world 's most vulnerable. I didn't see that coming. These are always so hard to watch. 

As the story progressed my sense of the (almost) girlfriend's involvement became apparent to me. I don't hold her completely at fault, she did not actively come there to hurt anyone, it was the result of a very bad situation. Ridley didn't have an once of empathy for her. I expected more out of him. Yes, she should have told him, but you get hit with all that horror and tell me how sanely you would react in that moment. 

I didn't think this second part was as good as the previous two. I was having some difficulty following the story - they were talking about various characters and I was saying "who"? It got a little jumbled there for a bit.  Unfortunately, the series did not end on a high note for me. 

Got to say Solar, I like the ending with the song though, I thought that was done well. He sounded so much better along side her, it actually worked. 

Now for "DI Ray"... OMG, that was a kick in the head. I asked for a twist and boy did they deliver. I think we all knew that the driver of the truck was going to get run over in that moment (before they had an opportunity to speak to them), but other than that - total surprises. Okay guys, I am a convert. I am in, Ms. Parminder has my full attention.

Ready and waiting, Brit!

I need to rewatch Ridley, because I spent the time talking to the TV - Ridley: wait for it, wait for it, wait for it --- Anvil hits Ridley! I too was getting confused and being annoyed at Ridley (I thought cops had an extra sense?) so I didn't generate any empathy for her. I think other PBS channels play that show.

On DI Ray, I watched the entire series so I'm not sure which episode this was.

I fell asleep on Grantchester, but not before seeing that Daniel is working with Leonard, yay! So I have to watch the two episodes again!

@BritMystery 

Got to say Solar, I like the ending with the song though, I thought that was done well. He sounded so much better along side her, it actually worked. 

LOL   ...   Didn't think it would happen when I said they might sing a song together.  What I pitchered was both on stage , behind a mike .  That didn't happen ,  glad it didn't.  What did happen was a sort of duet between the two , but not havin' them together  and you're right Brit  .. it  did  work.  I like Ridley sitting at a piano , drink on top ,  singing in an ' empty ' bar.  Like he did this Sunday night  with another  verse from   Mountains  0' Mourne .  Case solved ,  pedo exposed and an investigation of high ranking cops who covered it all up .  Misread  his lady friend ,  felt sorry for her in the end , wish everything had worked out better for her.   Is this the end of Ridley , will their be another season I wonder ??    Because one  hanging point for me is that character in prison .  He called out to Ridley and Ridley went to see him. WHY ?????   He's done this before. Again , why does he go visit him ?   He called on  Ridley to help him get out of prison to go visit his sick and dying mum .  Ridley said  sorry  can't help  ya  said something about him being a Class A  prisoner with no visiting  rights or something like that .  Thought this was the guy who set the fire that killed his wife and daughter.  Don't get the connection  here .  Hopefully , if their is another season this will be explained .      DI  Ray  tonight. 

@solar wrote:
@BritMystery 

Got to say Solar, I like the ending with the song though, I thought that was done well. He sounded so much better along side her, it actually worked. 

LOL   ...   Didn't think it would happen when I said they might sing a song together.  What I pitchered was both on stage , behind a mike .  That didn't happen ,  glad it didn't.  What did happen was a sort of duet between the two , but not havin' them together  and you're right Brit  .. it  did  work.  I like Ridley sitting at a piano , drink on top ,  singing in an ' empty ' bar.  Like he did this Sunday night  with another  verse from   Mountains  0' Mourne .  Case solved ,  pedo exposed and an investigation of high ranking cops who covered it all up .  Misread  his lady friend ,  felt sorry for her in the end , wish everything had worked out better for her.   Is this the end of Ridley , will their be another season I wonder ??    Because one  hanging point for me is that character in prison .  He called out to Ridley and Ridley went to see him. WHY ?????   He's done this before. Again , why does he go visit him ?   He called on  Ridley to help him get out of prison to go visit his sick and dying mum .  Ridley said  sorry  can't help  ya  said something about him being a Class A  prisoner with no visiting  rights or something like that .  Thought this was the guy who set the fire that killed his wife and daughter.  Don't get the connection  here .  Hopefully , if their is another season this will be explained .      DI  Ray  tonight. 

 

solar, there is another two part episode and it is explained. If there is another season, I hope it's better than this one.

Thanks  dee  ......   on the Ridley  ' Riddle '    lol  .  Don't  know about  DI  Ray .   The little racism digs ,  referring to  that one  who  addressed her as  DS  instead of  DI  and  when  Ray  corrected  her  she got all huffy and  reported her ,  thought her Super was gonna suspend  her  for it.   Apart from that , thought it dragged  along  until that guy and her were shot in the doorway which looked like under the direction of her white boyfriend.  Will keep watching but seems to go up and down .