British TV/General Discussion

In regard to my "going and doing" - the Hubs and I are going back to London for the Christmas season again this year! We are not going on a tour, I arranged this trip myself - just finished booking all the main items. We have some exciting things planned, including a Christmas tour and afternoon tea at Highclere Castle! That's a biggie - definite bucket list item for us. What better time to go to Highclere than when it is all decked out for Christmas.

We will stay four nights in London and then I booked a cottage in Burford in the Cotswolds for three nights. I plan to visit Bibury and Arlington Row while there, as well as, the Swan Inn (in Bibury). That is somewhere I have wanted to visit since my early days of planning my England trip so many years ago.

I have found that I have had to adjust the trip accordingly as the way we would have done it fifteen years ago is not the way we can do it now. There were more options available to us then. 

The tour last year gave me a taste of many places and I now have a better feel for where I want to spend more time. Seeing an area on-line is not the same as being there, of course. ln person, it is not always what you imagine. Some of the places I thought I would love, I didn't... and then there were places I thought I would have a lukewarm reaction to (they weren't on the top of my list) that I loved. Quite eye opening. 

Also, I am now better able to understand the logistics of traveling there without the benefit of a car - driving in the Cotswolds is not something we feel comfortable doing - tricky for us because of the hedges and tight roads all while driving on the opposite side. So, I had to make sure we could get around easily with public transport, local taxis (there are no Ubers in the Cotswolds) and a car service to the airport which I need to do when we get closer to the date. 

All very exciting. The most important thing, I have found a pet sitter I feel very comfortable with. Both my girls are getting older (Miss Buddy, our🐇 will be eight in December) and though in good health, I don't see us going abroad again for a while after this trip. 

WOW ...   sounds like it's gonna be a great trip  Brit.  Seven days  in  U.K.  Can't think of what's gonna be  the  high light .   A visit to Highclere Castle or that  cottage in the Cotswolds .  Should  watch a few eps. of  Downton ( if ya can )   before ya go to  brush up on the  Castle  and get in the mood of the show.  Wise  choice  not to drive while over there . I've often  thought about how hard and dangerous some of those  country roads are , some look little more than bicycle paths .  A good pet sitter will give ya ease of mind , last thing ya want is ta be distracted . 

@solar wrote:
WOW ...   sounds like it's gonna be a great trip  Brit.  Seven days  in  U.K.  Can't think of what's gonna be  the  high light .   A visit to Highclere Castle or that  cottage in the Cotswolds .  Should  watch a few eps. of  Downton ( if ya can )   before ya go to  brush up on the  Castle  and get in the mood of the show.  Wise  choice  not to drive while over there . I've often  thought about how hard and dangerous some of those  country roads are , some look little more than bicycle paths .  A good pet sitter will give ya ease of mind , last thing ya want is ta be distracted . 

Solar, good advice about watching a few episodes of the show. I will certainly do that. I follow Highclere Castle on Instagram, they do a great job of posting interesting and lovely content, Lady Carnarvon is a large part of that, I am a big fan. I hope we will have an opportunity to meet her while visiting for our tour and tea. 

And thank you for your positive response. I finished the last of the bookings just before the world went in to crisis. The Highclere tour I had to book back in July to make sure I got tickets. I planned our trip dates according to the dates that were available there.

Given what we are seeing unfold before us in the world, and the current situation in the US, it is with trepidation that I mention this trip to anyone. The one person I knew I could share this with and would appreciate it for what it is, is you. I consider this a safe space where we leave the outside world behind and focus on our enjoyment of British TV.  This holiday is just an extension of that as it is British TV that sparked my desire to visit. 

If we have time, I am hoping that we will also get a chance to go to Whitehaven Mansions (Florin Court). I have read from others who have made the pilgrimage in recent years, that the building looks a bit worn these days, but with that understanding, I am sure it will still be a highlight moment. 

Well on to Annika (I hope that daughter doesn't drive me crazy this season, she got on my every last nerve the first) and World on Fire. 

Sounds like you picked the perfect holiday spot Brit!  Hope the weather cooperates and you get to do AMAZING scenic tours of all the areas you have tagged and flagged!

Annika is set to record, and her promo reinforced how much I missed her on Unforgotten. Also the 2nd season of World on Fire is premiering here this weekend for me. I noticed that The Gilded Age (HBO) is returning end of October - NewYork, not UK - but I so loved it! I'm even kinda hoping they do a recap of the last season, the writers did a wonderful job!! 

I'm not sure I like the pairing of Sunny and Jess, even with the 'reset'. I tried to give them a chance, but to me they just don't gel. NOW she's way over the top with her 'good job' and 'well done' s. And is she really going to let that man move back in...just for the sake of the children?  I do enjoy watching the rest of the team follow up on the slim leads and turn them into something actionable - that hasn't changed.  Also, I found this whole group of suspects to be uber-depressing, not one of them had any redeemable qualities that made me want to spend time with them.. except maybe Ebelle's partner/husband - he was a chef so I'd always be well fed!

aparra  ...   The old expression  fits  here  ...  ' You  never get a second chance to make a first  impression '  .......  How Jess comes across  now  is  tainted  by how shebehaved in the first ep.  Can't forget that .  I'll see if it  dissipates  in the next  season  for  me.  

Thanks for the well wishes, Appara! 

I am going to put this link here and hope it works. An article I found that has some good photos of the outdoor igloos that I have booked for our London visit. I saw these in a writeup about things to do in London in the winter a few years back and put them on the "list". We are going for a late lunch our last afternoon in London the day before we head out to Burford. It looks to be such fun (and they do have heaters!)

https://thefabulousfleececompany.co.uk/blog/cosy-up-in-coppa-clubs-pop-up-igloos

"The Gilded Age"  - one of my absolute favorites, just love it - my brother as well. He and I were just talking about it, so looking forward to it. A recap would be a great idea, I wish they would do one.

Agree that the whole last group of suspects in this past season were a depressing lot with few redeemable values. It was just a sad, sordid story - I have said this before I know, but I cannot find a better way to describe it. I started out so excited to see what would unfold this season and found myself looking to get it over with by the end. 

As Solar says, they started out on the wrong foot with Sinead Keenan's character, Jess. It left a bad taste that will need to be overcome by quite a number of viewers. There is no chemistry between the two characters - and there never will be. You can't make chemistry happen when it it is not there and starting her out as they did was no help. I do like the Unforgotten team - great cast, and of course, Sunny. That will be enough to carry me on to the next season.

The link worked perfectly Brit!  altho I was expecting to see 'our' style of igloo when I clicked, theirs give a way better view of the outside world!  LOL

For me this afternoon is a hot dog roast at a friends house. The days are surely getting chilly here, fall is in the air. Hubs and I went for a drive yesterday and saw that all the tamarack trees have turned yellow and sad to sayit won't be long till they drop their needles.

@appara wrote:
The link worked perfectly Brit!  altho I was expecting to see 'our' style of igloo when I clicked, theirs give a way better view of the outside world!  LOL

For me this afternoon is a hot dog roast at a friends house. The days are surely getting chilly here, fall is in the air. Hubs and I went for a drive yesterday and saw that all the tamarack trees have turned yellow and sad to sayit won't be long till they drop their needles.

A hot dog roast!  Right up my alley. Have fun!

I was going to dive right into this season of World on Fire, but my 'refresher' broadcast of the first season has moved to front and center. It's all the little details that I had forgotten that enticed me to watch the whole drama again right from the beginning!  LOL

@appara wrote:
I was going to dive right into this season of World on Fire, but my 'refresher' broadcast of the first season has moved to front and center. It's all the little details that I had forgotten that enticed me to watch the whole drama again right from the beginning!  LOL

 

Yes, it took me almost the whole episode before a lot of the details (of the story) came back to me. I wasn't plugging in at first - I was half way through before I started to get interested again. It would have been good, at least for me, if they had done a recap of the first season as a short special episode before they aired the second season.

I haven't watched Annika as yet, I think I will do that tonight. 

I did watch the opening of the second season of Hotel Portofino. I started the first season and lost interest somewhere in the middle and stopped. I thought I would give it another chance - the first episode was pretty good. We will see how long I last this season. 🙂

@appara 

I was going to dive right into this season of World on Fire, but my 'refresher' broadcast of the first season has moved to front and center. It's all the little details that I had forgotten that enticed me to watch the whole drama again right from the beginning!  LOL

 Good  plan  appara  ....   It  gives ya a head  start because ya  pick up   ' all the little details '   that ya really need that gives ya a running  start on  S 2 .  Looks like  Kasia is suffering from PTSD and who wouldn't  with what she's been thru . 

Brit  ...  Annika fit right in for me as I just got the iPhone 14 . (  week before the  15  came out , which I didn't know about   %$#@  )   you'll see what I mean when ya watch  first  Ep.   lol 

Congrats on the new phone, Solar! I was quite taken back when we first saw the video on the phone - not an easy watch, certainly set the stage for the investigation. Which never really took off in a big way from there though, we didn't get the interesting human twist that is the calling card of this series going back to its' origins.

Daughter has calmed down greatly, she is no longer in brat mode, but the story was evenly divided between Annika 's personal issue with her and investigating the murder. That is too much on the personal side.

She had just come out of a terrorizing situation which she pushed to the side while she continually discussed her parenting dilemma. The personal stuff is going to be an on-going issue, but it can't continue to take up this much of the story without impacting the quality of the crime aspect. 

World on Fire... I wanted to add that Helen Hunt's character and storyline was sorely missed by me. She added gravitas to the story. Moving forward it will be interesting to see if someone else fills her shoes. 

On a side note, I've been rewatching a few of the Inspector Wexford episodes on the 'Tube. I've been watching on my TV, the film quality is pretty decent. George Baker is made for the role, fits him like a glove. On the other end, I find Burden his side kick, barely watchable. In the later episodes he became less creepy and odious. I always thought I was the only one who felt that way about him, come to find out after reading reviews, I am not.

I do have to add that the character as written by Rendall -- I have listened to a majority of the Wexford audio books as, at one time, almost all were available on the 'Tube, some with the wonderful Robin Bailey as narrator (those I have listened to multiple times) -- was obnoxious and creepy to the core. So, I can't totally fault Ravenscroft for his portrayal, that is what he had to work with. Although, maybe another actor could have toned it down for the screen (as they did with Troy in Midsomer Murders).

I am enjoying the complexity of the investigations. There is little action in this series, if you want that, these are not your stories. I find watching Wexford going through the process, challenging himself to put the pieces of the crime together to find the culprit, the draw. It is good break from the slick mystery productions of today.

Haven't seen a Wexford in ages  Brit   ....   George Baker was  perfect for the roll.   Last time I seen him he was playing twin brothers in a Midsomer . 

@solar wrote:
Haven't seen a Wexford in ages  Brit   ....   George Baker was  perfect for the roll.   Last time I seen him he was playing twin brothers in a Midsomer . 

That was such a good Midsomer episode!  I was able to use the 'Tube app on my TV to stream the episodes. I also re-listened to one of the stories on audiobook (a Robin Bailey one) after I watched. I do that often with the Poirot episodes as well.

Speaking of Poirot, I am currently re-listening to one of my favorite audiobooks "The  Big Four". Hugh Fraser narrates it (my ultimate favorite narrator, he's superb) and he makes it such an enjoyable experience. The story on its own can read somewhat convoluted, it was not Christie's best as she put this together quickly with pieces of stories she had and elaborated on that. But, in Hugh Fraser's hands, it is a delightful fantastical story rich in intrigue. He makes it work so beautifully.

When I think of what they did with Suchet's version - what a mess that was - it makes me angry because they could have done so much better. First, they should have used Fraser as the narrator, letting him tell us about this adventure in the way only he can. We would have watched it unfold on screen along with his descriptive rich voice leading us through as he, Poirot and Japp (and Miss Lemon) acted it out. 

They didn't need to add characters outside of those already in the story or make it the parody of itself that they did - it would have worked beautifully if the writer had taken his own ego out of the equation and listened to how the expert did it. If I can see this, how could they/he not?

Yeah  Brit  .....   the audio book  experience  depends entirely on who is narrating it.  Hugh Fraser is the best .  Nothing better , to sit back , feet up , eyes closed  and just listen to his deIivery.  Sometimes I bring up the  theme of Poirot on the ' Tube '  for a listen .  It brings me back to the ol' days at  A&E , and how I miss them .    

Helllloooo everyone! Glad to see we are still here, an oasis in an uncertain world.

solar, appara, Brit, hope you are all well. All pretty well with me.

Brit, your trip sounds wonderful, good on you for planning it yourself. I'm glad you found someone for Miss Buddy, if not for Buddy's vet tech, I would come home to find his picture on the post office wall.

So on to the current shows, where do I start. Still no emojis here, probably a good thing. Jess can do a restart until the restart button is broken. If the PTB are smart, they will replace her. The supporting cast and of course Sunny, are wonderful. Van der Valk, same. Sorry, if he's trying for angst, he ain't selling it, no one did it like Thaw. Again, the supporting cast, bless their hearts for working with him, are excellent.

Now, amazingly to me, I was gobsmacked to find myself watching Professor T in its entirety on Passport. I don't know if all the episodes have been shown, but odds bodkins, it was interesting.

On Annika, as glad as I am to see a Nicola Walker that isn't dead (Unforgotten, River), something is off for me on the show. It actually isn't the daughter, she isn't written quite so annoying this season, but 'something'. The cast is excellent, no obvious flaws - except just TELL HIM Annika - but I can't put my finger on it. I'm still glad it's back.

That's about i, haven't found anything else to draw me in. But I did see on a PBS Reel 13, a trilogy of movies on Saturday nights, a most perfect movie - Still Life, with Eddie Marsan and Joanne Froggatt, she of D/A. 

I look forward to chatting more, I'm missed you all.

Been awhile  dee ....    

Now, amazingly to me, I was gobsmacked to find myself watching Professor T in its entirety on Passport. 

Funny thing about  Professor  T .....   watched  S2  a  little while back ,   can't say I like him , can't say I dislike him .    But I like watching him ,  like how he talks ta people and how his mind works .  Call him Professor  Oddball , if you like , as his social graces are nonexistent and he is aware of that ..   and tries to correct it  but  never successfully .     Will watch  S3 when I get a chance . 

Hey Deedee! So happy to hear from you! 😊 I've got emojis (I use my phone to write my posts) and glad to have them 'cause they help me be a little more descriptive in my comments. 

Thanks for the support on the trip, I hope it all works out the way I have it planned. When you are using public transport and taxis/car service it can be iffy as you are hoping everything flows timewise. Can you believe I got tickets to Highclere?! I still can't, and I made the arrangements! Bucket list that.

Guess what I found last night... "Inspector Alleyn" has been added to Prime. I have never seen the series in its' entirety. I've seen a few episodes on the 'Tube through the years and listened to all the available audiobooks, so I do know some of the stories (well at this point).

I am in the midst of the pilot episode - which was made several years before the series - and come to find a different actor playing Alleyn - Simon Williams. Apparently, he was not available when they decided to greenlight the series and Patrick Malahide got the gig. Great stuff, thoroughly enjoying it. I hope that feeling continues.

'Cause, I am having mixed emotions about my latest Rumpole rewatch. I have watched the entire series twice before, but never did it hit me, as it has now, how somewhat sad the first season stories are. This is where we see how the trajectory of Rumpole's life kind of goes downhill - I never really took that in before, but his disappointment in not getting the Head of Chamber position (he was rightly in line for it) and losing it to Featherstone (because he made Silk and everyone rallied around that) was acutely there. 

Had he got it, his life would have moved on in a more rewarding way for him. Beyond that, in the first season, he loses a case that means a lot to him; has to accept the simple truth of his life with Hilda; and finds his new daughter-in-law dislikes him to the extent that his one true joy, his son Nick, leaves him and Hilda to live in the US. You can see the toll it takes on the character - at least I can now. The melancholy is there.

The good thing is that I know Rumpole accepts his fate with grace and rallys on in subsequent seasons and lives as glorious a "Rumpole" life as he can. In many ways though, I wish we had an opportunity to see a "Head of Chambers" Rumpole and all that that would have entailed. What a time that would have been.

One of the first episode scenes is of Rumpole and Featherstone (Peter Bowles) walking together to the Bailey in quiet, neither saying a word. For me, that was a moment as I remembered both actors in their prime and saw the underlying friendship between the characters that endured throughout the series. As I said, it was a moment.

I guess what is the most interesting thing to me is how we can see things through a different prism as our own lives progress. 

I agree, solar. To me, De Bouw was the definitive Professor T, but I assume therapy was Miller's 'reboot', which didn't work (for me) with Jess. But it works for Miller that they didn't put him in prison.

Quite true, Brit. I didn't realize any of that about Rumpole. I'm not sure why, but I don't have the patience(?) to rewatch the old shows.