British TV/General Discussion

Hey All! 

Solar, I had the story in my head, edited it so that I gave you the highlights and got it down in writing. It was a very good episode and after watching all season I wanted you to know how it all played out. I will quickly summarize how the husband died, because it is a real twist and a tragedy. Thinking back, all the "Unforgotten" stories seem to end in tradegy. At least in this one some of the suspects actually went on to happier lives, and I really appreciated that. More about that later.

First, the situation that PBS finds itself in is going to impact all of us. I knew this was coming down the pike as soon as the federal funding was cut, and a few weeks ago I read about NJ PBS shutting down in June 2026. I've been mulling it over, 'cause I know the impact this will have on all of us, and honestly just held off saying anything because more bad news we don't need. 

Unless a philanthropic billionaire comes along to make up some of the funding that has been taken away, many of the local channels we rely on for our programming will no longer be available. I am not holding my breath, because those that have the most in this country seem to give the least. Certainly not all, there are generous people who do their best to help humanity, but we have seen much greed of late and I think there are many who relish the fall of PBS. 

Solar, I agree with you, the PBS stations that survive will have to concentrate their funds on more local content. They will not have the money to purchase the rights to air as many shows from across the pond (as we now have). More than likely our current British mystery renaissance is over. But, hope springs eternal, I am just not betting on it.

Deedee, your response (in bold) was mine as well. As I said I have had a few weeks to digest it, but by no means come to terms with it. Piece by piece everything we value and hold good in this world is being taken away. The worst part, Americans did this to themselves and we have to live with the knowledge that there are people out there in our country loving every moment of the ignorance, cruelty and injustice. You know what they say about karma though...

WLIW, your main channel, will probably be okay. It is one of the heaviest private doner funded stations in the country. At least you will have that. 

I am not interested in "Maigret", I just can't do it. After just watching Bruno (in the role) it is a sacrilege. I missed "Gold", but will follow-up on that. 

Solar, quick FYI, check out the Midsomer page on FB. They posted a music video dedicated to Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) by a new (younger?) band. The video is very well done highlighting many "Tom B." moments in the series.

John Nettles is quoted about it and he is rightly delighted with it. 

Caught that  Brit  ...... thanks for the notice .  Good  vid of  Tom and other  MM   action   highlights .  Glad that John Nettles  likes it .  

All true, Brit, all true. What I miss most of all is truth or at least at attempt at same, a broadening of the mind, and not a tightening and strangulation of education, and again, an attempt at live and let live.* I always blamed my big mouth on old age, but heck, I've been speaking my mind since grammar school. Joyfully, I got in trouble for it then. I guess I can't do that no more!

solar, I missed your wise words on the dearth we will see of imported programs. Hmmm, let's see, how many shows do I enjoy that are imported and not from the likes of Dick Wolf?

The Gold is getting hit with some bad reviews about its not sticking to the actual facts, but I don't care. I am happy seeing Peter Davison and Hugh Bonneville and imo, a well written series. I hope PBS gets Season 2, as that is the continuation of Season 1 and there was no Season 3.

*Oh yeah, and manners. Are manners taught anymore?

Deedee, I missed the first showing of E1 of "Gold", so I am waiting for it to be re-aired on the 15th. I do (now) have E2&3 on record, so once I get caught up next week I will be able to finish the series in a timely manner. I think I will like it, if it sticks to the facts, or plays loose, really is secondary to whether it is well written, interesting and action packed - as heist stories should be. Looking forward to seeing Peter Davison again, haven't seen him in anything in ages. The entire cast looks to be quite good, so no complaints there.

Solar's point about the impact the cuts will have on PBS international programing is real. A this point viewer funding - along with generous philanthropic sponsorship - is what keeps the Masterpiece franchise thriving. Federal/state funding is used to help keep the PBS stations on air, particularly the smaller local stations. The local news shows, NPR and other informative programing such as emergency alerts, all are part of what is funded. 

The issue is, if the stations themselves can't survive the cuts, there will be less of the entertainment content available for viewers like ourselves to enjoy. If you only get a local PBS channel in your area, and that is no more, your access to programing, of any kind, is gone. 

The one thing about PBS programming is it is a available to all, whether you are a contributor or not. How many people do not know what Sesame Street is or who Mr. Rodger's was? The majority of children in this country had access to this programing as they were growing-up. 

These cuts will touch people in all walks of life. PBS is one aspect of life in this country that all could benefit from if they chose to. With less stations available, that will not be the case. 

Solar, to finish the end of the finale of "Unforgotten" I will be quick since at this point you already know none of the suspects actually killed the victim. The tradegy - he was't murdered, it was an accident and that accident was compounded in to a crime.

The wife confessed to killing him. As I said, the confession did not ring true. In actuality, it did happen, but the wife didn't do it, her daughter did. Yep, the daughter killed her father and did not realize it - she was totally unaware that she had anything to do with it because her mother went to extraordinary lengths to cover it up. 

The husband was an abuser, he and his wife had a volatile relationship and he physically abused her during the marriage. They had a fight, he had her on the ground in the kitchen and was viciously kicking her. The daughter heard what was happening and came downstairs and saw this. To get him to stop she grabbed a small pair of scissors that was on the counter and stabbed him in the leg. The shock of this did make him stop long enough for the wife to run upstairs and lock herself in the bathroom. After stabbing her father, the daughter went upstairs and (presumably) locked herself in her room.

For the next half hour or so he screamed up to his wife what further abuse he would do to her once he got ahold of her, so she stayed locked in the bathroom until he quieted down and she thought he was more calm. When she got down to the kitchen she found him dead. He bled out from the wound... don't ask me how, but the daughter must have hit a vital artery with the scissors.  Everything that happened from this moment on the wife did to shield the daughter from knowing that she killed her father and to keep herself out of jail which would have left her alone and most likely in foster care.

So she dragged his body in to another room, kept it there until she could dismember and dispose of it without her daughter's knowledge. Her daughter never knew what she had done.

All of this had to come out in the end. Jess and Sunny had a delemia. What to do now that they realized the circumstances as they were well aware what would happen to the daughter once she understood she was the one that killed her father. 

In the end, neither the wife nor the daughter went to jail for what happened, but they both would have to live with the trauma of it for the rest of their lives. It was evident from the last look we see of the daughter that there was no way she would ever have a chance of an untortured life knowing that she killed her Dad and what her mother did in the aftermath.  

Very good  summing  up   Brit   ...   Not  murdered  but an accidental death at the hands of the daughter .  Well   I'm  glad I know.  That was really  bugging  me  that I was  ' chopped  off '   so  suddenly  by my  PVR  and  just  left   hanging .   Thank   You   Very   Much   for  this.  I can see the dilemma  Sunny and  Jess  were  in  as what to do .  This sounds like  a really   great  Episode .

As for the cuts at PBS ....  I didn't realize that PBS was so heavily involved in   Children's   programming .  Sesame  Street  ,   Mr.  Rodgers  and the like .  So many children over the years were brought up on there shows  that they will remain at the top of the list of priorities   and that our shows will be cast aside as  access.   Ohhhhh    ...  does not bode well for us at all  ......

You are welcome, Solar! Putting myself in your shoes, after watching this puzzle all season and then not knowing what happens to everyone in the end.... noooo, I was not going to let that happen to you!

Some interesting news, all.  Since Britbox has it, it won't make it to Masterpiece Mystery I am afraid. I wonder what will be shown on Mystery moving forward. This info came directly from FB.

 An "Unforgotten" star is heading up a brand new series!

Sanjeev Bhaskar is taking on a new role as Inspector Singh in BritBox’s upcoming crime drama Inspector Singh Investigates.

Based on Shamini Flint’s hit book series, the three-part show follows Singapore’s top detective as he heads to Kuala Lumpur to solve a case that’s anything but simple.

Known for his love of curry and sharp instincts, Singh has to race against time to prove a model’s innocence before it’s too late.

The show is written by Vera writer Paul Logue and directed by Suri Krishnamma.

Bhaskar says the role is “unlike any cop I’ve seen.”

Happy Thanksgiving, Solar!

...  and  Happy Columbus  Day to you   Brit ,  have been catching a lot of  Hugh  Bonneville lately.   First in Downton  Abbey  and  second in   The  Gold  .    

I have finished the second episode of "The Gold" - finally was able to get caught up on the first episode that I missed when it was aired. Hugh Bonneville is quite good in it and it is so great to see Peter Davison, although it was brief. 

I like the characters, the writing is solid, it is keeping my interest and I am rooting for the robbers! The police are staying right on it, this is going to be neck and neck to the end. 

Yeah Brit  .....   Got to compare  Hugh Bonneville  in two roles side by side when I was watching  Downton  Abbey  along side The Gold . Ya know how some actors play the same character in every show their in .  I did not get that feeling  with Bonneville  in running  these two shows  .   He's a different character in  Gold  from what I see.  Not like  the   Robert  Crawley  character at all.  Read a comment somewhere from  someone who said the show  ( The Gold )  does not fit the events properly  ....   puzzled  by that so I  went  investigating .  You may know this  but The Gold is based on a true story .   The  Brinks - Mat  gold robbery of 1983.   The biggest gold  robbery in  U.K. history . Stopped  snooping  at this point  so I didn't spoil it for myself  as to how it turns out.     (  just popped  in  a  DVD  of  Last Tango in Halifax  and am viewing it as I write  this . )     lol

Solar, I was thinking the same thing while I was watching, he definitely took on his Gold role with a completely different headset, not an inkling of "Robert" to be found.

The story is based on real life, but I am figuring there is going to be changes made that won't line-up with what actually happened - at least I hope so, so that the story stays fresh for us, the viewers. I really don't care (as some) that they are not following things exactly, this is not a documentary, it is a story made to entertain and pull us in - that to me is what is important.

I changed my phone ring tone to the theme song from "A Touch of Frost", one of my favorites of all time. I never tire of hearing it. I now stop and let the phone ring longer until I can hear the entire first opening part, as we did on the show, before I answer. 😄 Can't help myself. Best ring tone ever.

Deedee, "Karen Pirie" S2, has completely dropped on Britbox so you can watch all the episodes. It is a very good watch, got a bit wonky for a bit with the boyfriend issues, but thankfully that didn't last long and it got itself back on course. This series has really won me over.

Watched the second episode of "Lynley", I know you are shelving this one and I completely respect that - I totally get it. It is improving as it goes and I am interested to see how this season ends with the next episode. 

I was thinking as I was watching that I really miss Sharon Small, and funny thing, I was reading people's comments on the new series and someone else said the same. As much as I love Nathaniel Parker (love) I never quite realized till now how strongly Sharon Small impacted that show. Her character (and her acting skills) made that series what it was. The new "Barbara" is trying, but the impact and same skill set isn't there. 

Small lit up the screen with every entrance - she gave the character nuance. I very much have been reminded of what an exceptional actor she is. 

Ahhh   Brit  ...   the  sound of that mournful sax  in   ' A Touch of Frost '  ,  great ring - tone .   Went to You Tube  and brought it up.  Brought me back to those  A & E  days.  One thing  about  ' The Gold '  ...  it has  an ongoing flow of suspense and intrigue  that I find  ..   draws you  in .  Keep wishing it was longer  each time an  Episode  ends. 

Solar, the ring tone is the actual series theme song opening as opposed to a snippet of the entire song - which is what I really wanted. Wasn't sure if that specifically was available for download, but was thrilled to find that it was. 

Watched the 3rd episode of "Gold" last night. That was intense...what a good episode! I am really getting worried as the cops are closing in, not looking good for some of them. 

Think  they're  starting ta find out  Brit  ...   It's a lot easier ta steal  cash and jewelry than it is ta steal  bars of gold . 

Brit and solar, I had to binge the entire series of The Gold, I have no patience! 

I think I've shared that I downloaded the Wallander theme for my ringtone, so smart of whomever put them out there. I never confuse my ringing phone with anyone else's!

Brit, I've gone back and forth to Karen Pirie, think I'll give it another try based on your recommendation.

There's always Seaside Hotel for downtimes, hope PBS doesn't ever take it out of rotation.

Just want to acknowledge and say "Au Reservoir", in true Miss Mapp fashion (Mapp & Lucia TV series, 1985) to Prunella Scales who will be greatly missed. You all know I was quite involved in the "Mapp & Lucia" world establishing and admining a group of fans that grew from fifty people to almost 1500 while I was active. Ms. Scales was very prominent in that era of my life. 

Solar, if I remember correctly, you are a "Fawlty Towers" fan, so I know her passing hits home for you as well. 

We are losing all of our "people", those that gave us so much entertainment throughout the years. As Deedee said, it is sad (for us) when one of the old guard passes. 

Yes Brit   ....   Fawlty  Towers  was an all - time  Fav. of mine .  Liked all the characters  and how they fit together   ..  especially  John  Cleese  and  Prunella.  RIP  Prunella .   Speaking about how all the characters fit together , have the same feeling about  the  All  Creatures   set  as well .   Indeed  ...   truly sad  ,  one of the old  guard.  

Yeah  dee  ..   I can understand the binge  feeling about  ' The  Gold  '  ...  but I like ta drag out the suspense .  lol