No, no, not the Amazon, I mean that 'yuuuuuuuuuuuge' supermarket in the sky, or the ether, or space, or wherever! My reason for doing so is quite simple, it's because 'SoD' kindly sent me a handsome voucher from that august, er, virtual shop. This was particularly good timing because as the 'Memsahib' and I drift inexorably into middle-age - well, we are both 81 now! - we both watch rather more TV than we should. Slowly the truth has dawned that the more we watch the worse it gets! The irritating problem is that over the years the TV companies have produced some excellent programmes but, on the whole, they were rarities. For example, the absolutely excellent Downton Abbey. Or, by way of extreme comparison in setting but not in acting/directorial skill, the superb Homicide: Life on the Street. Of course, at this point I run, or shuffle, headlong into my memory problem! I sort of remember some of the characters and situations but can I remember the name of the series? Nah! And nor can the 'Memsahib'.
So, my excellent 'e-pals', if you have any remembrances of above average TV series, Brit or American, which might be available in 'box set' form, please let me know. On the whole, I prefer police procedurals in which the body count is suitably high but, of course, the 'Memsahib' has rather more refined tastes! Anyway, all suggestions welcome!
Where to start:
"The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries"--3 of them--are good stories and easy on the nerves. Stars Diana Rigg and Neil Dudgeon.
Posted by: Whitewall | Tuesday, 19 May 2020 at 17:40
Might I suggest “The Wire” (herself and I did require subtitles for a while until we got used to the accent), “Treme” which is set in Noo Orleans just after the floods and has some fantastic music, and, finally, “Dexter”. Enjoy, and belated birthday greetings.
Posted by: Wigner’s Friend | Tuesday, 19 May 2020 at 18:23
If you are interested in Prohibition and bent politics, “Boardwalk Empire” is worth a look. At the risk of teaching granny, you may wish to check out the recommendations on “IMDB” which will give a summary of the program and who is in it.
Posted by: Wigner’s Friend | Tuesday, 19 May 2020 at 19:13
All the "Law and Order" variations. Bosch. Elementary with Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu. Luther. Wallander. Breaking Bad.
Posted by: Bob | Tuesday, 19 May 2020 at 19:24
David, have a go at I Claudius and spot the old actors.
Posted by: Glesga | Tuesday, 19 May 2020 at 20:49
Ah Jimmy, speaking of old actors, my wife and I like to watch the "Lord Peter Wimsey" mysteries- both portrayals- every few years. The victims are done in very tidy like. Good stories and no jangled nerves.
Posted by: Whitewall | Tuesday, 19 May 2020 at 21:18
Gentlemen, thank you, thank you, my goodness, you brought back some memories with those titles!
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 19 May 2020 at 22:15
You could try "The ANZACs" with Paul Hogan, John Blake and Andrew Clarke. The series goes for six hours.
Worth watching.
Posted by: AussieD | Wednesday, 20 May 2020 at 01:08
My wife and I are enjoying "Water Rats" and "Blue Heelers".They are Australian Police series and currently on Youtube.
Posted by: johnd2008 | Wednesday, 20 May 2020 at 04:22
'The Wire' is one of the best cop shows ever. Hard work to get into, but worth the effort.
For trash daytime 'so bad it's good' try 'Shakespeare and Hathaway' still showing on 'Drama' and 'Alibi' and assorted weird channels. Buttock clenchingly awful with stock characters, thin plots and trite endings. Utterly terrible and great viewing.
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, 20 May 2020 at 07:14
Thanks, everybody, just reading the titles brought back memories - albeit, somewhat hazy memories!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 20 May 2020 at 08:30
Breaking Bad, brilliant plot, excellent acting, intriguing plot twists throughout.
Posted by: Stephen Bayliss | Wednesday, 20 May 2020 at 09:03
When the lurgy has gone get the TV man in the village to set you up with Netflix, FFS.
It's no more difficult to operate Netflix with the do-flicker-thingy than to place an order for a box set with Amazon.
Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders, of course.
Ozark - (JK territory!) with great dark humour amongst a brill plotline and superb acting.
Westworld - Based on the same story as the film with Yul Brynner from donkeys years ago, terrific "slow reveal" plot line, interesting philosophical entanglements.
Fleabag - Oh my word, a detonation under the London middle class Metro world and the modern male and female condition, sooo bloody funny in that uncomfortable toe curly sort of way. And tragicomedy at its modern best - the ending you're never supposed to do. A Rom-Com wrapped in razor wire and claymores. This is a complete one-off for format too, real genius in there. "Fucks me up the arse" being the one liner which will stick with you in your consciousness until you're in the Twilight Home for the Terminally Bewildered and the brain fairies come and steal it (they might even balk at it, "No, we'll leave him with that one to torment the carers).
Better Call Saul - superb follow-on to Breaking Bad, utterly classy characterisations, acting, plot, moral commentary, humour, music blend-ins with plot peak moments. The ultimate post-Breaking Bad fix!
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Wednesday, 20 May 2020 at 10:58
OK, 'SoD', I will try to learn how to use 'Netflix' but if the bloody-bloody 'do-flicker-thingie' refuses to do what I say then out the window it goes!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 20 May 2020 at 12:02
Treme was by the same team that gave us The Wire. I loved Breaking Bad despite my best intentions. For some light amusement/action might I suggest “Burn Notice”, the story of a spy who has been burnt (disowned) by his own side and lives on his wits (kind of an American up to date “Man in a Suitcase”).
Posted by: Wigner’s Friend | Wednesday, 20 May 2020 at 13:34
A note of caution though : Game of Thrones is worth watching up to series 5. Series 6 & 7 are OK, although not as good and season 8.....don't watch it and just see the theories on YouTube which are far better than the actual series.
I have Amazon Prime, so I have now binge watched "Flesh and Bone" which was stunning for the dancing but the plot lines were unfortunately totally predictable. I mean, it kept me mesmerised but I sense it might not appeal. "Homecoming" was a visual treat, intriguing and with a use of music which was very different from most TV series.
Box sets - "Waking the dead" - again the early series was better. The later series seemed a bit hit and miss. An off the wall suggestion - "Misfits". Season 1 and 2 only, although I enjoyed season 3. Seasons 4,5 and 6 are for the hard core fans.
The excellent "Columbo" - always good for an indulgent binge although oddly, we manage to work out who did it in the first five minutes.
And finally "Medium". OK, you probably won't enjoy that, I think there were some interesting episodes and it's like a soap opera with more murders than "Eastenders".
There are very few TV dramas where I'd say, "Wow, that was amazing." I find more YouTube stuff that is interesting. If you want some real life crime, "That Chapter" is very good - his description of the case of Christopher Garnier was mind blowing. I'd recommend "Cold case detective" and "Top 5s" as well.
Posted by: LadyBlack | Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 16:47