I just read a post from PBS regarding this, Sheerwater and came here to say... Why!? (And saw your post). Don't get me wrong I enjoyed "Monarch of the Glen" back in the day, but this trend of remake after remake is perplexing at best and just lazy when looked through a not so rose-colored lens.
Hello, Everyone!
How is it going with you all? Nice spring weather by me, first time I can remember a real spring in a long time. Loving it.
Deedee, how are you getting along with "After the Flood" ? I just finished E3 and I am having a hard time getting in to this second season. It is just not drawing me in like the first. I was wondering how you were feeling, because that just could be me - sometimes series don't hit the same the second go around.
Hi Brit. I have loathed to weigh in, given my propensity for .... what is the opposite of cheery sunshine? :O)
Not just you on After the Flood. I couldn't make it through an entire episode, I hated the character of the mother. I don't remember her in the first season.
Oddly, I then tried Acorn's Whitstable Pearl, and they had an identical character.
The other choices you shared sounded good, but either required a subscription (free trial) to MHz or Viaplay. I can't recall why I didn't continue with The Oldenheim Twelve. I should keep notes.
I hope everyone is doing well.
Solar, just checking in. Hope all is well and you're on the patio/deck with a stack of books. Well, maybe not yet, it is a little early yet for your summer book marathon. 👏
Yeah Brit .... doin' just fine . Out on the deck but with my phone ..... book season will start later on . lol On checking Masterpiece Schedule I see that Grantchester S11 starts in June . I think I'll give it a view as it runs all summer , well up until the beginning of August anyway . Hope I can get into it. We'll see . Right now I'm filling up on a little of DS Roy Grace . Currently on S4 E3 and it's not too bad.
Really, it's not bad?! I haven't watched that and it is available on Britbox. I think I'll check it out. Slim pickings at the moment (again). I had a great month when Prime was running it's 'Sample this Month' last month - I watched the first seasons of three series... which was absolutely fine with me 'cause I wasn't interested in following through with the second series of any of them and they all ended their stories without any cliffhangers. So much fun when you have choice.
Agatha Christie's Poirot is returning to the screen with new series in production | Euronews https://share.google/XO8ABT3tOnwB2025q
The BBC are apparently going to make a new version of Poirot, 13 years after David Suchet made his final appearance on ITV.
Sheerwater, I'm betwixt and between on this one. Part of me is thinking to hold judgement - I love Poirot, I love the books - I still listen to them all the time (audiobooks) and follow a few podcasts that discuss the books and storylines. So AC is a constant part of my life. On the other hand, I read they are going to be casting a younger person for Poriot... so much can go wrong with all this.
Will we even recognize the stories, how much liberties do they intend to take with them, they have done it before with the Miss Marple's. The most important question is who will play Poirot? I fear this new version is going to be geared for a younger audience, so they are going to take on a life of their own and resemble little of the original.
Solar, I watched S2, E1&2 of "Grace" last night. I dove in to the second series because I wanted to get a taste of the characters after there was already some development. I am looking to be entertained, to find something that holds my interest for awhile, I don't want to struggle along with anything. Definitely 'not bad'! I am going to continue, but pick and choose my storylines. Think I will skip E3, looks to be too heavy, and move on to S3. I can always go back and watch later if I think I can handle it. I take a loose approach to TV series these days.
Sheerwater .... I can't see anybody else doing Poirot .... David Suchet was the best and only Poirot as far as I'm concerned . But will keep an eye out .... out of curiosity more than anything else . Just want ta see who they think should take on this role .
Brit ..... not sure Grace is your cup of tea. Think I made a mistake in how I presented it to you . Better steer clear of S4 ..... Kind a weird ( talking about victim confinement ) .... me thinks . lol
Okay, Solar, I will try S3 and see how it goes, but will stay clear of S4. I did enjoy the two episodes I watched of S2.
Hello Everyone! Hope all is well by you all.
I have just noticed that one of my local PBS stations has been running "Puzzle Lady". I missed the early episodes, but E1 is re-airing again soon so I think I will be able to catch up. Anyone see it?
The new season of "Astrid" has also started, missed some of that as well, but again, they will most likely re-air the episodes I missed. I am somewhat confused about what PBS stations I have. Still trying to navigate that, but am very encouraged to see these shows. Things don't seem as bad as I thought they were going to be.
Solar, I watched S3 E 2&3 of "Grace". I really like the series, John Simm is very good as Grace. His whole team is solid - DS Potting (Norman) is definitely the highlight for me.
You are absolutely correct, as much as I like the series, S4 is not for me. I read the synopsis of the episodes and I don't need those storylines in my life. I am tempted to dive into S5 though. I may give it a go.
Brit .... Will keep an eye out for ' Puzzle Lady ' and also for ' Astrid ' . It seems all the PBS stations play different shows and I had thought originally they all played the same . ' Grace ' , one could say is not your average family who done it show . 'cause some of it is just so strange and weird . Currently watching S5 E1 ... not too bad , a lot of ongoing suspense in this one . Don't know about the rest of S5 , will have ta see. Set my PVR on something for Sunday night , ' All Creatures ... ' Seasons of the Dales ... about the Yorkshire countryside ... sounds like a fill in before the season starts but maybe worth a watch.
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/bbc-hercule-poirot-reboot-confirmed-edward-bluemel-newsupdate/
The BBC have confirmed that the role of Poirot has gone to Edward Bluemel, who will be activating his little grey cells for the new adaptation – which is simply called Hercule and will be made up of six episodes.
Well Sheerwater, he looks the part - I can see him as the younger Poirot. Happy to hear that a young Hastings and Japp are included in this prequel. But... once I read that the great grandson is involved, I immediately paused, his father did not do the franchise any favors after he took over from his mother... the recent darker versions of the stories fall back to both he and his father as they imagined a more contemporary take on the stories geared (to market) to a younger audience. At this point, I don't have high hopes.
Solar, finished S1, E5 of "Grace" last night. That was a tough one, definitely a lot of suspense! It was a nail bitter. The twist in the end was a real doozy. I started E2, and that seems (so far) to be a more subdued story, which is actually good... I need a break, something less intense.
I want to take a minute to remember Anthony Head who passed away recently at the age of 72. He was a familiar face to many (of us) British TV fans, but seems to be most famous for two American series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Ted Lasso". He was a dedicated animal advocate with his partner Sarah Fisher, who died in 2025. I watched a glowing tribute to him on FB from the "Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary" and the "Secret World Wildlife Rescue", both located in Somerset, where he was a long-time patron. He will be very missed.
Solar, finished E2.... another twist I never saw coming! And, they left us with a definite "raised eyebrow" in the end moving in to E3. What is that all about?! The son knows something we all don't.
Solar, E3 (of Grace)... whoa! Really good episode! Wonder where we are going after this in the season finale. Kind of hope there is another season coming - let's first see how this season ends, it may come to a natural (organic) conclusion after what happened in E3.
Watched the first part of the first episode of "Puzzle Lady". Not quite enthralled so far. It's okay. Could be a good filler show though, you know when you need/want something to watch that doesn't take too much of an investment. Phyllis Logan is on a career roll these days, she has this and a series on Britbox (A Taste for Murder). Haven't watched this, not motivated as yet. Looks to be more about the setting and food. Both which do interest me, I just am not in the mood for another lukewarm detective series - Puzzle Lady is enough at the moment.
Yeah Brit ..... Had enough of Grace for awhile ...... get tired of the gritty murder venue . Going into the lazy, crazy , hazey days of summer I look forward to my general format . Grantchester tomorrow night on Masterpiece ( Maine PBS ) and just might put Astrid in my PVR to check it out and see what it's like . Patience is another show I put in PVR and will give it a view. A summer of ' All Creatures .... ' would be perfect . lol
Solar, I haven't watched it, but I would recommend you view "Patience" first (as it is the English version of the French series "Astrid") since I know you are not a fan of subtitles. I have raved about "Astrid" time and time again, it is that good, but if you don't like dealing with English subtitles, then that is going to hamper your enjoyment. I have read good things about "Patience", people seem to like it, so it would certainly be worth a try.
Yes, I get you on the gritty, dark storylines of "Grace". I like so much about the series, but some of those storylines were much more than I could handle these days. I had to pick and choose what I watched. I haven't started "Grantchester", but will do so soon.
I am up in the air about "Puzzle Lady", it is sitting at middling at this point with me. I don't know when I will be able to see the entire first season as I found it on a local Philly PBS station and it now doesn't seem they are planning to air the entire series again in sequence. I have a few episodes DVR'd, some from the beginning of the season, some from the end, pretty random and nothing showing as airing again in the next few weeks. I am not complaining, beggars can not be choosers, I am thankful that I have the choice I do, but it is on hold for the time being.
