Disqus - Latest Comments for bobtheskutter

Re: John Finnemore revives Cabin Pressure with Cabin Fever

bob — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 02:05:44 -0000

Thanks! Was amusing.

Re: What have you been watching? Including Indebted, Briarpatch, Katy Keene, Tommy and For Life

bob — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 01:21:33 -0000

I binged through Locke and Key this week and loved it. But it's wholly unremarkable without any key selling point. I can't point to cool use of music like the Umbrella Academy or 80s nostalgia like Stranger Things... it's just a old school scifi channel-esque series. Sometimes I just want a dumb genre show that doesn't try anything too different... And I really adored the head key idea and the ways in which they used it (and there is still scope to get more out of that one). And I liked how it dealt with trauma.

Re: What have you been watching? Including Party of Five and Arrowverse crossover – part 2

bob — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 11:00:05 -0000

I thought Crisis was awful and only interesting for the cameos. The previous years were pretty impressive. Not quite Avengers but demonstrating that a low budget tv effort can pay off effectively. But this? Suddenly characters were lost and people became bizarrely named plot devices. And what on earth was Osric doing there? He took the space of a character that could have been filled with one we already knew and there seemed to be no justification for this. On so many levels, this was just terrible.

At least they didn't lose the multi-verse in the end; that would have been a downer if trillions of people were dead including all the parallel versions of characters.

And one saving grace: Diggle's daughter Sarah is back. Writing out his daughter had been bugging me for years as it seemed cruel and pointless.

Re: That was the TMINE Netflix TV Christmas that was

bob — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 18:04:15 -0000

Just finished season 2 of You... was very bingable but at the same time a let-down compared to season 1. It brought back some of the same points as season 1, threw in some Dexter and somehow ended up with something even more pulpy. Still, I was hooked but in a much more soap opera-ish sort of way more reminiscent of Revenge than anything else.

Re: That was the TMINE UK TV Christmas that was

bob — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 13:16:44 -0000

"Some people are hailing it as a work of genius"

Why is this? I just don't get it... is there a conspiracy here? Bribery? I just don't get the DW-love right now. I am totally capable of watching and enjoying bad things just because they are genre. But this is beyond me.

Re: That was the TMINE UK TV Christmas that was

bob — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 13:11:29 -0000

You have just reminded me that I have an episode of Impulse left... I had forgotten to complete that season 2. I found RayK's episode a delight and the highpoint of the series to date; it's Henry I find a slog. She's so miserable all the time and infuriatingly unworthy of the friendships she is offered. Plus all that stuff with Lucas seemed so pointless and unconnected from the rest of the show (even if this changes in the final episode that I have not seen, it's not enough to recover bad plotting throughout the season).

Re: That was the TMINE UK TV Christmas that was

bob — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 13:08:23 -0000

I adored Worzel Gummidge so much. It made me laugh with its clever jokes and fall in love (again) with Crook's idealized English countryside. Definitely my highlight of the festive season's telly (though not terribly festive).

I am tired of Chibnall's writing and gave up on DW at about the same time as you did (coincidentally) but my parents were watching it so I saw the recent two-parter. Sort of. I couldn't keep up attention and was internet surfing instead... but I perked up a bit with the villain reveal and then grew confused at the lack of apparent continuity. At no point did the writing level up enough that I will continue watching the show though. I noted that the companions asked the Doctor who she was and where she was from. Which er... Rose did in episode 2? It's just an example of why I find the writing impossible. It isn't reflective of human nature.

Re: Orange Thursday: Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) and The Philadelphia Experiment (2012)

bob — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 02:23:40 -0000

Glad to hear the latest Jumanji is good - I too was pleasantly surprised by the quality of "welcome to the jungle".

Re: What have you been watching? Including Star Trek: Short Treks

bob — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 01:52:20 -0000

"Also, the review earlier on in the week reminded me that Impulse was now free to watch and frankly I will try anything with New Ray Vecchio in it (though I prefer it when he turns up unexpectedly halfway through something, as he often does — going in knowing he'll be coming in the door at some point isn't quite as good)"
I did not know about CKR and so it was a delightful surprise. Yes, unexpected new Ray is the best.

Re: What have you been watching? Including Engrenages (Spiral) and Pennyworth

bob — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 19:25:47 -0000

What is "doing a Bellisario"?

Re: Review: You 1×1-1×2 (US: Lifetime; UK: Netflix)

bob — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 19:22:48 -0000

Late to the game, but I finally got around to watching this on Netflix. The original review did make me want to watch it at the time but the Lifetime website didn't keep all the episodes up and I wanted to binge watch and not watch at the broadcast pace... Anyway, I just did and it really was hard to take breaks. The plotting was tight over ten episodes and I was simply glued. I adored the show - it was hard not to be taken in by Joe's internal logic and his narration and to champion him as the anti-hero. Plus his charm and humour (especially in the episode where he had a concussion). Many elements seemed to be straight up lifted from Dexter's better seasons. I hope that it doesn't falter in season two (which is coming out... soon?).

Re: Boxset Tuesday: Living with Yourself (season 1) (Netflix)

bob — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:20:02 -0000

I really enjoyed it. Each episode was short at ~24 mins but the pacing was great producing something that didn't feel short or rushed. I binged in two sittings and loved it. I really enjoy seeing the same events from a different POV and hopping around a little in time to fill in back story when needed was well played too. Aisling Bea's role appears thankless at the start but is wonderfully not, having her own POV episode. The resolution feels a little thin but earned enough by the back story we have been given (i.e. that she goes for the original Miles for their shared miscarriage experience and subsequent hardships... and then somewhat conveniently gets pregnant again).

Paul Rudd actually does look old as Miles 1.0... Amazing.

Re: Stranger Things, Motherland renewed; TVPlayer goes French; + more

bob — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 20:06:55 -0000

Huh. I thought that Stranger Things wrapped up nicely as a trilogy.

Re: What have you been watching? Including Crashing and Another Life

bob — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 02:52:00 -0000

"Just a note that although I’ve also just finishing watching the first episode of Amazon’s The Boys and I’ve not properly warmed to yet, I’ve just realised that the Superman-esque main superhero is played by Banshee‘s Antony Starr"

I just watched episode one today and saw Anthony Starr listed in the opening titles but did not recognise him at all despite being on the look out for him. Quite a transformation. (He's Outrageous Fortune's Anthony Starr to me of course).

Re: What TV’s on at the RTS in October? Including Russell T Davies in conversation and Zomboat!

bob — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 02:19:37 -0000

I watched it last week (I was house sitting and they had HBO...). It was awful in terms of the barrage of bad news. Turned me into a nervous wreck. It felt so realistic, it definitely bled into my day to day life. Incredibly effective. I can see why it would get a lot of critical acclaim especially from the news outlets that are trying to draw attention to these world issues such as climate and geopolitics.

Re: Boxset Monday: Stranger Things 3 (Netflix)

bob — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 01:31:55 -0000

Loved it- I thought this was brilliant. I was pretty lukewarm with season 1 and liked season 2 more due to better horror and also the brilliant pairing of Steve with Dustin. These aspects continued with more improvements - Eleven and Max plus Robin and Erica (with Steve and Dustin). I also liked the mall being the main location- it felt topical to deal with how the mall was killing the town now that online shopping is killing malls.

Re: Boxset Monday: Marvel’s Jessica Jones (season 3) (Netflix)

bob — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:57:28 -0000

Took me until yesterday to finish this due to Life getting in the way but once I found the time, I did get through the season rapidly. Maybe it was because it started with such a slow pace that it never seemed to flag. Even season 1 of JJ felt like it couldn't fill the 13 episodes. But somehow, this season managed it for me. I think it did need all 13 of those episodes for Trish's journey. The only issue was, as mentioned, that Salinger was an unremarkable (and not very smart) villain and he really didn't manage to fill the 13 episodes.

I very much enjoyed Trish's realisation that she was the bad guy.

I also appreciated the ending though I both liked and hated it. Hated it because it showed how Kilgrave still had a hold of Jessica. Liked it because it was realistic that she'd never get over him. Also hated it because he still had a hold over the show... really, what does it say that the show couldn't forget him?

Re: Happy 14th birthday to The Medium is Not Enough!

bob — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:44:10 -0000

Happy birthday and thank you for keeping up all the great recommendations.

Re: Lucifer, Le Bureau des Légendes, Letterkenny renewed; Lucifer, Swamp Thing cancelled; + more

bob — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 12:25:53 -0000

Or, more radical still, they could allow the female lead to break out into a smile.

Re: Lucifer, Le Bureau des Légendes, Letterkenny renewed; Lucifer, Swamp Thing cancelled; + more

bob — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 03:43:10 -0000

The Jessica Jones trailer looks great. I am pretty excited for it.

I am surprised Lucifer gets another season. It seemed to wrap up nicely as a series finale.

Re: Why you should be watching Doom Patrol, explained in one scene

bob — Fri, 17 May 2019 03:10:21 -0000

I saw the first two episodes at a friend's place (I don't have a DC subscription) and loved it. It felt a lot like the Umbrella Academy but somehow more to my liking. More self aware and less up itself maybe? Anyway, I plan to watch more if he ever invites me over again.

Re: Orange Wednesday: Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Godzilla (1954)

bob — Fri, 03 May 2019 01:54:54 -0000

Yes, that is what it was referencing. I just could not breathe when that scene started. My heart was racing with the anticipation of it. And then they drew it out a bit just seemingly to make me doubt it would happen and then... the words came. It was artfully done and I was played like a fiddle.

Re: Orange Wednesday: Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Godzilla (1954)

bob — Thu, 02 May 2019 02:46:47 -0000

Loved Endgame.

Three highlights for me.
1. Hail Hydra
2. Cap was worthy
3. I am Iron Man

Re: Don’t spoil Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame

bob — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 18:13:42 -0000

Their marketing was very well done- fear of missing out coupled with this manufactured fear of spoilers were always going to combine into this madness of an opening weekend. This is a record I imagine will be held for a very long time.

I just saw it by the way. To be fair, there were three moments that really worked for me because they had not been spoiled. But still, it is something Disney/Marvel are doing on purpose to scare people into going.

Re: What have you been watching? Including Star Trek: Discovery and The Twilight Zone

bob — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 12:28:38 -0000

I watched the OA.... not sure it was worth it. Jason Isaacs was compelling and his parts in season 1 were fantastic but season 2 just seemed incoherent and a waste of time.