British TV/General Discussion

Yes, Deedee, I think you either fall in to the retro TV camp and or you are not at all interested in looking back. I always have a number of older shows I am rewatching - I do it slowly, over the course of years with some. Lately though I am really leaning in to them, preferring to watch these over most of the new stuff.

Speaking of older shows... Solar, wait until you hear this.

"It brings me back to the ol' days at A&E , and how I miss them."

Well, you got me thinking about the good old days of A&E and the Mystery blocks they use to do where they would run four mystery series - all different kinds - together one after the other. Then there was the PBS stuff they brought in ("Miss Marple", "Poirot" etc.,) "Midsomer" and so many of the series that Acorn and Britbox stream now... and let's not forget the "Pride and Prejudice" extravaganza which was first shown there. It was a non stop party of great entertainment (hence the name). 

Nothing ever like it before (and since), although the Ovation channel does try. I watched a "Taggart" episode on Ovation a few days ago.  Years back on the 'Tube they ran the entire series and I watched it then... not interested in doing it again even though it is on Prime, but if I see a story that grabs me, I'll DVD it and watch later so I can FF through the ads.

Let me get to the point 😀...  after you mentioned it, I remembered that my sister gave me some video tapes that she recorded from A&E in the day. I went to hunt them down and found them. There are some early Poirot episodes, the 1982 "Witness to the Prosecution" (my favorite version) and a few other things. I think that the VCR I have may still work, I am going to see if I can hook it up and play the tapes. I may not be able to, but why not try. 

Can you imagine, it will be like taking a walk back in time 'cause along with the episodes will be the A&E lead ins to the shows and the advertisements (were there any on A&E? I can't remember now) for a full blown A&E experience. 

If I can get it to work I'll let you know, I need to talk to the Hubs and see if we can first get the VCR running.

@BritMystery wrote:

... "Die-heart Nighy fans will love it because it show cases him beautifully, he is perfect in the role and it is uplifting" I ...

I totally agree ! 

The  ol'  VCR  Brit  ....  quite the  technology when it first came out.  If my memory serves me correctly  I bought my  first  VCR  around 1980.   Remember the remote had a cord  attached to it. lol    19800000000 ,   Forty odd years  ago.    That  last  Annika  really flipped  me out.  That  Keroike  Bar  scene was just  way over the top.   What a way to tell  someone such a private thing.   Room full of  half  drunk  crooner wannabe's  who are strangers to ya  hearing that  you're  partner  who is sitting in front of ya is the father of your  teenage daughter .  Thought Michael handled it well by just  just getting up and walking out when she sat down .  A lot would have reacted  differently .  Annika will look differently to me from  now  on .   That  half  wit  writer , interviewed at the end gave a rather lame  explanation , that for Annika  ' it was the only  way to do it '  or some such crap. 

@solar wrote:
The  ol'  VCR  Brit  ....  quite the  technology when it first came out.  If my memory serves me correctly  I bought my  first  VCR  around 1980.   Remember the remote had a cord  attached to it. lol    19800000000 ,   Forty odd years  ago.    That  last  Annika  really flipped  me out.  That  Keroike  Bar  scene was just  way over the top.   What a way to tell  someone such a private thing.   Room full of  half  drunk  crooner wannabe's  who are strangers to ya  hearing that  you're  partner  who is sitting in front of ya is the father of your  teenage daughter .  Thought Michael handled it well by just  just getting up and walking out when she sat down .  A lot would have reacted  differently .  Annika will look differently to me from  now  on .   That  half  wit  writer , interviewed at the end gave a rather lame  explanation , that for Annika  ' it was the only  way to do it '  or some such crap. 

I found the entire storyline underwhelming to be honest Solar and then that bomb - in every sense of the word - of an ending. It was bad, just bad. It really ended on such a poor note, I don't know where you go from that. I don't understand what they want from this series, 'cause to me it is all over the place... part soap opera, part investigation. That ending pushed it over though - that whole thing was nothing less than cruel. 

Annika's discussion to the audience this episode, tying the story from old to what was happening in real life now, was a closer link to the original radio stories than I have seen thus far.

Haven't got the VCR working yet, will try to get it plugged in this weekend. Did find an old DVD player that was the Hubs that still works. If I could reset the region on that I would be thrilled. I have a few codes to try, so I'll give it a go.

With all that is going on in the world and after watching the devastation in real time, "World on Fire", is moving in to too much overload. I was thinking why are you doing this to yourself, this is not entertainment, your watching real people living though this horror with things getting worst by the day. It all hits too closely... collectively, as the human race, we never learn, do we. 

I am stuck in to it, so I am going to continue, at least for now. I hope that Mark Bonnar adds some ump to the cast as it needs it.

@solar wrote:
The  ol'  VCR  Brit  ....  quite the  technology when it first came out.  If my memory serves me correctly  I bought my  first  VCR  around 1980.   Remember the remote had a cord  attached to it. lol    19800000000 ,   Forty odd years  ago.    That  last  Annika  really flipped  me out.  That  Keroike  Bar  scene was just  way over the top.   What a way to tell  someone such a private thing.   Room full of  half  drunk  crooner wannabe's  who are strangers to ya  hearing that  you're  partner  who is sitting in front of ya is the father of your  teenage daughter .  Thought Michael handled it well by just  just getting up and walking out when she sat down .  A lot would have reacted  differently .  Annika will look differently to me from  now  on .   That  half  wit  writer , interviewed at the end gave a rather lame  explanation , that for Annika  ' it was the only  way to do it '  or some such crap. 

Totally agree, solar. The entire season was off for me, and she had lots of opportunities to tell him. No, it wasn't the only way to do it. Meanwhile, she still hasn't told the daughter. Oy.

I agree, Brit, where DO they go from here. 

Took me a while, but I found the theme music for Marriage. The BBC series with Nicola Walker and Sean Bean.

So glad to hear I wasn't the only one who found it akin to nails on a blackboard. And the meaning of it? Beats me.

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/08/16/marriage-bbc-music-theme-song-partita-for-8-singers/

nails on a blackboard.    good  call   dee .   Watched a few  eps. of this show , curious as to why Sean  Bean was in it.  Thought he went to bigger and better things  rather than back to  ' small ' TV.  My first reaction was  what the  HE%$   was  that .  WEIRD  AND  STRANGE .  It starts off with  talk ...  I thought it was Bean talking (  didn't catch the opening theme only the ending )   and said      "what the #@!#  is he saying". ....  from  there it just got more strange.  As for the show itself ...  I found it hard to watch ..  a lot of scenes just didn't make any sense and were uncomfortable to watch.  Wonder ,  did  Walker give up  Unforgotten   for  this  ??   Another  example of writers  trying to be smart and innovative . 

Hey Dee and Solar, I didn't even go near "Marriage", the reviews I read were so bad that I didn't bother. From most accounts it bombed. 

Haven't gone back to "Annika" yet, that last episode put me off, I can't imagine what's next. I stopped watching the series mid-way last season, I didn't care for the changes they made to it transferring it to the TV screen; and the daughter was nails on a chalkboard to me. 

This season, she had quieted down and it is Nicola that is the problem. You notice that she seems to largely play female characters that can't cope with their lives? Look at the last three series we have seen her in - her personal life is always a mess. Even when she played the big time lawyer in the series "The Split", she was always back in forth with "should I, shouldn't I" between the husband and boyfriend/friend. This is becoming her acting MO and quite frankly, I am losing interest.

The addition of Mark Bonnar to "World on Fire" has been good. Certainly a bit of the ump they needed. Still watching " Hotel Portofino", haven't bailed yet.

"The Gilded Age" is back! I am holding off for more episodes to air before I dive in. I think this is going to be the last of the series, so I want to savour it. 

Watched the S2 first episode of "Astrid" - excellent! That story was more interesting than any of the ones that we've seen recently in the shows on Masterpiece. The quality of this series stays consistently high...this is how it should be done, no laziness or cliques in the writing. Again, I am watching slowly - this is not a show to zip through, it calls you to take your time and take it all in.

Solar, were you aware that the "Charters and Caldicott" story is in print. Oh, if Robin Bailey had only read this in audiobook form. Now, that would have been something!

The book can be found on Amazon.

On the DVD player/VCR front... both are in working order. I can't change the region on the DVD player through a code as it needs one that is burned to a CD and then run in the player to change it - I don't even have the electronics to do this at this point. That's okay though, because going through my inventory of DVD's I realize that I have quite a bit of Region 1's and outside of "For the Love of Ada", I don't watch the Region 2's, as many of the series are now streamed. 

What makes this whole thing even better for me is that the TV that it is hooked up to is a twenty-five year old Sony - yep, still playing well and we won't get rid of it while it does. That TV was state of the art when we first got it! 🙂 I put a DVD on to see if it worked and boy, was it a blast to see a retro show in it's original format. The picture was fine (to my surprise), you would think that having gotten use to high def that you would find it lacking. No, we watched these shows on that style TV for years and it works, actually better than the newer models. That is memory muscle at work - the minute the picture came on screen my brain recognized it. Hit the comfort zone completely. 

I may get the Bruno Creamer, "Maigret" DVD set as a Christmas present from the Hubs. Even though those have been transferred to widescreen - they were originally made at the same time as this TV. I bet they would still work beautifully in their original format. I watched this series so many times in the years MHZ was on-screen... it is an enduring favorite and I would enjoy seeing it again.

Yeah  Brit   ....   had  seen  copies of  C & C  on  Amazon  and  Bailey would have been great doin' an audio book.  Dig out my copy of  C & C  from time to time  and crank up the VCR .  I note how young Tessa  Peake Jones looks in this series ,  her recent work includes a full run on  Grantchester  as the house keeper .  Must say , I am rather enjoying  this run of  World on Fire  , I like the flow ,  find the different plots interesting and enjoy all the characters .  I know you said you find it an overload but it was a different time .  Yes , the addition of Mark  Bonner as Sir James  has been a plus . For awhile it looked like he might have been a spy and I felt bad about that possibility  but  Kasie caught on to him quick and checked him out.  I trust her judgement that he was not a spy but  a military intelligence agent looking for spies.  Will he help her get back to Poland ???  Good  question .  If I had to pick a character fav. it would be Lois.  I like her determination and  spirit .  Leslie  Manville  deserves a good kick in the back side most of the time  for her  uppity ways and attitude  but am I starting to see her soften up  a bit ???   I wonder .     U.K.  trip  gettin'  closer .  

Yes Solar, the various storylines and flow of "World on Fire" does keep your interest throughout. They don't linger on any one story, I like that we get crucial snippets and then move on. I do think that is one of the reasons I am stuck in, they know how to pace the episode to keep up our interest. The storytelling is done well. Miss Leslie is getting sweet on Mark B.'s character - which is one of the reasons we see a bit of a thaw in her. He is very good with her, he's very good with most people - he has that charismatic way about him (which is why he is in the position he is in with Military Intelligence). 

So you have a VCR still running! Glad I am talking to a like minded soul - there aren't many of us who like the older technologies. I have two Window 7 phones - both the same, one is a newer version of the original - that still work. I keep them charged and from time to time look at the photos. I have so many important moments captured on both. I will go down saying that this was the best phone, ever, imo. To me, you can't beat a Windows phone (I say to a man who just bought a new I Phone 😁). Windows people are just as dedicated as I Phone people when it comes to phones. I kept my Acatel (the last version of Windows) going as long as I could - the battery completely died and Windows closed down their phone operations, so I had no choice but to move on. I did it though, kicking and screaming. 

I don't know Solar or Appara if either of you have gotten a chance to watch "Shetland" (they haven't run it on my local PBS stations as yet, but you both have access to shows occasionally from other sources). Wait, I think you did, Appara, we spoke about it didn't we? I am not sure if I am thinking of "Vera".  In the States it is streaming on Britbox.

Deedee, I know you have already watched the last season with Jimmy P., well I finally started watching it last night and I am two episodes in. Sooo good! I can't even express my joy in watching - the storyline is complex, full of red herrings to keep you guessing and has a stellar cast. I waited to watch, kept it on the side until I felt it was time - 'cause I knew I was going to see the last of one of my favorite shows - and this season does not disappoint. 

I do think I will give AJ a go in the new season coming out - I wasn't sure I would, but I so enjoy the whole environment of Shetland and I am willing to watch because of it. I am going to think of it as a new series rather than a continuation of the old, because without Jimmy P., it isn't going to be the same, no matter what they name it. 

The thing is, we have so little left to watch with the mood and stories like "Vera" and "Shetland" that I hesitate to give it up without at least giving it a try. These two series have been unique - they are both distinctly themselves, but have a common thread in the feel of their locations...the way they tell their stories...and without a doubt, their excellent casts.

Yes Solar, watched a video of London decked out for the Christmas season (photos were from last year) yesterday. They start the Christmas decorations early, usually by midway or so through November, and was that a whoosh to see! Wow, got us all excited for the upcoming trip.

Brit  ...   have seen some Shetland  but  can't think if it  was  PBS or one of my  cable  channels .   Would like to see some more .  Same with  Vera  . 

Good morning all!  

As to Shetland, I have watched on Vision TV, but the episodes are hit and miss, so not sure exactly which (older) episodes I've seen!  LOL 

Vera, the last was her and the team in covid-formation, pretty sure it was series 11? I don't think I've seen anything about her on PBS this past year, so perhaps early 2024.  Along with Moonflower Murders with any luck!!  LOL  

On a side note, did I read somewhere that Aiden has left or is leaving the show? That puts a different sidekick in the landrover!

I've been holding off on watching Gilded Age, but have been in awe of the amazing outfits I spotted in some of promo shots! I have also seen a few familiar faces, and am looking forward to watching the Battle of the Bands!  I believe we will have 8 episodes on total?

You're  morning is our afternoon  appara   lol  ....   I had thought I saw some Shetland  on  ONE  TV   and as you say it was   hit and  miss  ...    Will keep a close eye on   ONE   and  VISION   for both   Shetland  and  Vera .  Would really like to see  Gilded  Age  but have not come across it  yet.  You  changed you're  Profile Pic. 

Hi Everyone!

Appara, the last series of "Vera" that was aired on my local PBS station was S10. I DVR'd them and had a rewatch. That had to be a least a year, a year and a half ago. They haven't aired a Vera episode since then. 

And yes, Aiden has left, but Joe is coming back I am thrilled to say. I think BB asked him to return for what may be our last season with her.  -You never know, she may decide to come back after that, but with each season we are getting closer to the end as she has been letting us know that doing the series is demanding for her both physically and time wise, as she is away from her family for long periods of time. 

For me, it is only fitting that we end where we start, with her "heart" guy, Joe. I really liked Aiden a lot, I thought he was great as her side kick, but I couldn't see anyone coming in and making it work this late in the series with the door about to close, so Joe coming back is perfect in my view. BB's as well, as I have read she is elated about it.

Solar, you would love "The Gilded Age"! Right up your alley. In the States it airs on HBO Max.

There was one season of "Shetland" that I elected not to watch - I decided this based on reading a lot of reviews, the storyline was more than I wanted to deal with. I made the mistake of trudging on with "George Gently" when I knew it was too much for me and I still carry those stories around with me. I wised up and stopped watching that eventually and as much as I loved Martin Shaw's George, did not miss it. Lesson learned there...listen to yourself, know your limits and back away when you reach them. 

Skipping over that (Shetland season) had little effect on moving on to the next, I didn't lose any ground. But... these last two seasons carried on one storyline that propelled much of the plot, so those two need to be watched to have any closure with the series before it goes in a new direction.

I finished up Jimmy's finale season last night, boy did that storyline go back and forth, I was correct on the who, but not on the why - that took more twists and turns than a game of twister. 

The thing that stood out to me was that I got a very strong feeling that Jimmy P. was done, to me it came out loud and clear - he was done with being the town sheriff and wanted to move on with his life. It was so convincing that I think we were definitely seeing (and feeling) Douglas Henshall's desire to move on - in this they were one and after feeling this so strongly, I don't see how he would have been able to come back for another season. When you are done, your done.

I had a hard time understanding the dialogue this season, I had to rewind a lot and listen closely. Seemed like more than in the past.

@solar wrote:
nails on a blackboard.    good  call   dee .   Watched a few  eps. of this show , curious as to why Sean  Bean was in it.  Thought he went to bigger and better things  rather than back to  ' small ' TV.  My first reaction was  what the  HE%$   was  that .  WEIRD  AND  STRANGE .  It starts off with  talk ...  I thought it was Bean talking (  didn't catch the opening theme only the ending )   and said      "what the #@!#  is he saying". ....  from  there it just got more strange.  As for the show itself ...  I found it hard to watch ..  a lot of scenes just didn't make any sense and were uncomfortable to watch.  Wonder ,  did  Walker give up  Unforgotten   for  this  ??   Another  example of writers  trying to be smart and innovative . 

Thanks solar.  I steeled myself to the very end, and Marriage was a very good encapsulation of some modern and old marriages that aren't peachy keen or all that glitters is not gold, and the acting kept me rapt. It turns out it was spot on. It seems the theme song was 8 Voices something or other and I admit I have no patience whatsoever, but it was interesting. I still would not rewatch it but darned if Brit actors don't just pick jobs that appeal to all. Meanwhile life intervened from Annika episode 2 and Ingrid, and I am finally catching up. 

@BritMystery wrote:
 

Hey Dee and Solar, I didn't even go near "Marriage", the reviews I read were so bad that I didn't bother. From most accounts it bombed. 

Haven't gone back to "Annika" yet, that last episode put me off, I can't imagine what's next. I stopped watching the series mid-way last season, I didn't care for the changes they made to it transferring it to the TV screen; and the daughter was nails on a chalkboard to me. 

This season, she had quieted down and it is Nicola that is the problem. You notice that she seems to largely play female characters that can't cope with their lives? Look at the last three series we have seen her in - her personal life is always a mess. Even when she played the big time lawyer in the series "The Split", she was always back in forth with "should I, shouldn't I" between the husband and boyfriend/friend. This is becoming her acting MO and quite frankly, I am losing interest.

The addition of Mark Bonnar to "World on Fire" has been good. Certainly a bit of the ump they needed. Still watching " Hotel Portofino", haven't bailed yet.

"The Gilded Age" is back! I am holding off for more episodes to air before I dive in. I think this is going to be the last of the series, so I want to savour it. 

Watched the S2 first episode of "Astrid" - excellent! That story was more interesting than any of the ones that we've seen recently in the shows on Masterpiece. The quality of this series stays consistently high...this is how it should be done, no laziness or cliques in the writing. Again, I am watching slowly - this is not a show to zip through, it calls you to take your time and take it all in.

Brit, as I shared to solar, I forced myself to the end of Marriage, and it was an excoriation of marriage old and new. Bless the Brits, they don't just film pretty stuff. 

Medical (hubby operation) and family (don't you love brothers that aren't?) and a precious dog with medical issues and (here's a laugh!) deciding on an air fryer intervened, so I missed the episode after her stand up stuff, and am now catching up. Sheesh, still not to my liking, but I am drawn to Annika. 

Yes, her character is a mess, but so am I, so I am drawn to her. And I am still curious about her, and SO many other shows, U.S. and other, WHY ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T USE BIRTH CONTROL SURPRISED WHEN THERE IS A RESULTANT CHILD? 

World on Fire, too violent! Who is the lead? AH! Lesley Manville! So WHEN is Magpie Murders, love it, love it, love it, coming back?

Hotel P? Blech.

Ah, so that was a new episode of Astrid after Annika. Love, love, love that show. Thank heavens for PBS Passport.

Still have to catch up here, don't give up on me! Thank you, my friends.

@deedee713 wrote:
Brit, as I shared to solar, I forced myself to the end of Marriage, and it was an excoriation of marriage old and new. Bless the Brits, they don't just film pretty stuff. 

Medical (hubby operation) and family (don't you love brothers that aren't?) and a precious dog with medical issues and (here's a laugh!) deciding on an air fryer intervened, so I missed the episode after her stand up stuff, and am now catching up. Sheesh, still not to my liking, but I am drawn to Annika. 

Yes, her character is a mess, but so am I, so I am drawn to her. And I am still curious about her, and SO many other shows, U.S. and other, WHY ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T USE BIRTH CONTROL SURPRISED WHEN THERE IS A RESULTANT CHILD? 

World on Fire, too violent! Who is the lead? AH! Lesley Manville! So WHEN is Magpie Murders, love it, love it, love it, coming back?

Hotel P? Blech.

Ah, so that was a new episode of Astrid after Annika. Love, love, love that show. Thank heavens for PBS Passport.

Still have to catch up here, don't give up on me! Thank you, my friends.

Deedee, hoping all is well with the Hubs and Buddy. Totally understand how consuming love ones illnesses can be -  I have been in the same situation as you of late with sibling and pet children medical concerns. 

Let me tell you, I know family can certainly raise the blood pressure. 🙄 Went through it during the time I took care of my Mom and through my sister's recent journey. Things have quieted down since she is on the mend, but why does everyone have to act up while we are in the midst of the worst? Hands up to you and a cyber hug as I know how frustrating it can get.

The air fryer, now that is an important purchase - can't go picking one willy nilly! 🙂

"World on Fire" is not your cup of tea - I didn't think you would be interested in it. (I think I know you long enough to be able to say that!) 

I swear, Lesley Manville seems to be in everything lately. Great for her career, but it is actually getting to be a bit too much. As much as I like her, she's a terrific actress - I don't want to see her every time I turn on the television.

Annika is an interesting character, I can see the attraction for her. You keep rooting for her even when she pulls a stunt like she did in the nightclub. I just have never fully engaged with the series - I'm surprised myself by that, but as you have said many times - we are drawn to what speaks to us.

I watch the second episode of S2 of "Astrid" the other night. Again, it was excellent. So good... in fact, at the top of the heap of all the latest PBS offerings.

I swear, Lesley Manville seems to be in everything lately. Great for her career, but it is actually getting to be a bit too much. As much as I like her, she's a terrific actress - I don't want to see her every time I turn on the television.

I say this, but I thought she was pitch perfect for the role in "Magpie Murders" and I am also looking so forward to the second series "Moonflower Murders" after Anthony Horowitz's second book in the series. 

@BritMystery wrote:
Deedee, hoping all is well with the Hubs and Buddy. Totally understand how consuming love ones illnesses can be -  I have been in the same situation as you of late with sibling and pet children medical concerns. 

Let me tell you, I know family can certainly raise the blood pressure. 🙄 Went through it during the time I took care of my Mom and through my sister's recent journey. Things have quieted down since she is on the mend, but why does everyone have to act up while we are in the midst of the worst? Hands up to you and a cyber hug as I know how frustrating it can get.

The air fryer, now that is an important purchase - can't go picking one willy nilly! 🙂

"World on Fire" is not your cup of tea - I didn't think you would be interested in it. (I think I know you long enough to be able to say that!) 

I swear, Lesley Manville seems to be in everything lately. Great for her career, but it is actually getting to be a bit too much. As much as I like her, she's a terrific actress - I don't want to see her every time I turn on the television.

Annika is an interesting character, I can see the attraction for her. You keep rooting for her even when she pulls a stunt like she did in the nightclub. I just have never fully engaged with the series - I'm surprised myself by that, but as you have said many times - we are drawn to what speaks to us.

I watch the second episode of S2 of "Astrid" the other night. Again, it was excellent. So good... in fact, at the top of the heap of all the latest PBS offerings.

Wishing you strength with your sibling assistance. Mine is adversarial, which makes it worse. But our Little Miss or her feline sibling??? I am very much hoping it isn't serious?

Yes, you do Brit! 

Interesting, I am not drawn to Manville enough to keep me in a show. Like I am with Walker or Colman. That said, I can't wait for the return of Magpie Murders.

I agree. Annika had to know that would blow up in her face. And now, why the wait to tell Morgan. Have a joint sit down, end of issue. Or is it me? I'm big on facing stuff.

Speaking of which, did PBS push Astrid? I didn't even know they made a second season. SO my kind of show.

My best to the precious not-so-wildlife!