Getting ready to wrap up Season 2 of The Flight Attendant. Thought the first season (based on the novel, which I’ve not read) was good. The second season feels like they threw everything but the kitchen sink in there. Way too many characters and plotlines competing with one another for attention. I guess there’s a reason it didn’t go past two seasons. Disappointing, especially since Kaley Cuoco proved she’s got serious acting chops.
5 Likes
Read a few years ago Fassbender had the rights for the S.A.S. Malko books by Gerard de Villiers. Would have prefered that instead of this…
1 Like
I own all of the handful of Malko books that were printed in the US in the 70s by PInnacle Publishing (responsible for The Executioner and a host of similar titles). They’re great fun and pretty hard-edged.
2 Likes
I read all 139 of them, I think I still own the last 40 or so… 
2 Likes
The majority have never been translated into English, correct? Only those early ones in the 70s and then the last few within the last 10-15 years. Isn’t that right?
Sorry, I don´t know that. I had the german ones…
‘You’ seasons 1 - 4 (Netflix)
This show started as a play on the Ripley theme - updated to the internet age and with protagonist Joe Goldberg changed into an obsessive stalker, a sign of our times. Season two moved the story to LA (and teamed up Joe with a worthy counterpart); season three changed to some Californian circle of suburban marriage hell - and burned so many bridges the series had to move to Europe instead.
Now season four…
Initially I thought this was one more case of Netflix reusing its Barbour pørn props and its ‘The Crown’ stages to cut down on production costs and spin ‘You’ into Miss Marple territory. There’s a distinct feel of cozy crime about this fourth season, something even the - very restrained and rare - moments of violence and splatter will only disturb for a blink. I was beginning to suspect this show had lost its edge - but the following twist entirely upends the season, the whole show.
Like Ripley, Joe Goldberg is a protagonist we were rooting for against our better judgment through various twists of fate and an ever deeper descent into obsession and murder. That relationship, not unfamiliar between anti-hero and audience, has become increasingly uncomfortable and is surely about to come to a nasty end…
2 Likes
The Guardian seems to like the new ‘The Day of the Jackal’
1 Like
The Old Man (Season Two)
Just seeing Jeff Bridges (after his horrific health crisis) and John Lithgow again in this slow burning spy drama is reason enough for me to love it.
I have only watched the first episode yet, and I‘m sure its pacing will make many antsy or even turn it off, but for my taste it was wonderful and necessary in order to get back to these characters in a very dangerous situation.
It’s old school quality, not hyperhectic and forgettable adrenalin spiking.
5 Likes
‘The Day of the Jackal’ (episode 1)
Perhaps unfair to judge this on a single episode. Visually and cast wise it’s a sure winner and I like that Redmayne gets to brush his image against the grain. There’s probably much to like in this show.
My problem is that the initial setup is far too close to ‘Killing Eve’ right down to the supporting cast. And Lashana Lynch’s character is dreadfully cliché-ridden and so bloody incompetent we wonder if she fell by chance out of an episode of ‘Life on Mars’. Some of my civil service tax law students are more competent in running an agent than this character is depicted as…
But by all means, don’t let a grouchy old boomer keep you from checking out this show and enjoying it. It’s simply not for me, I’m afraid. 
6 Likes
absolutely, had to rewatch both movies to get the bad taste out of my mouth…
1 Like
In order to get the bad taste out of your mouth, you gotta watch the second one first. Because that one will initially worsen the taste. On the other hand, when you watch them in order, you know it can’t get worse after the second one. Terrible adaption, terribly miscast.
Got five episodes at hand, will start watching tomorrow night. Will let you know.
2 Likes
I know everyone hates the second movie, but I prefer Sydney Poitiers and Diane Venoras character over everything I saw in the first two episodes of the new show…
1 Like
I recently finished watching both Season 1 of Pennyworth and the Penguin limited series. Pennyworth is quite good but I think the Penguin is stellar. In spite of the fact that both shows are good and stem from Batman characters, I found the way they interacted with the Batman mythology to be quite different.
Colin Farrell’s portrayal of the Penguin is magnificent and is also somewhat original for the character. While there might be some loose ties to Devito’s portrayal, I thought it was closer to Tony Soprano – though the two characters are certainly far from the same. It’s been a while since I played an Arkham game, but I see influences there on the series and the character. Certainly an original presentation of the character but for me, Colin Farrell was definitely playing the Penguin. It’s the same character I have seen so many times before.
Jack Bannon’s portrayal of “Alfred” is quite good though certainly not in the same league as Farrell in the Penguin (at least IMHO). The key difference with Bannon’s character though is that it does not remind me of Alfred Pennyworth in any of the incarnations that I have read/seen. The only semblance I see is 1) a connection to Thomas and Martha Wayne (assuming they marry), 2) he has a military background, and 3) knows how to handle himself. But he just does not seem like any of the Alfreds I have seen in the live movies, animated movies, TV shows (including Gotham), and the comics (I am not as familiar with the comics as many but I have read a good number of the major graphic novels). It’s a good show but I never thought I was in the Batman universe. I am looking forward to seasons 2 and 3 and maybe those will change my mind. For now, I feel like I watched a show where a few of the characters just happen to have the same name as characters in Batman.
For me, the Penguin is the argument as to why side characters may be worthy of their own show/movie. It shows us how interesting a fuller story can be and gives us some insight into that world. Though I certainly acknowledge that most of the time these sorts of stories don’t come close to the quality we saw with the Penguin, and that’s too bad. That said, I am still game for a Felix Leiter limited series. Even if most of you are horrified by that suggestion, I would encourage you to watch the Penguin. It’s excellent.
5 Likes
The last month with the Penguin and Joker 2 brings up a continuous debate: Marvel might make better movies on average, while DC makes the better TV shows on average. Clearly, Matt Reeves was the right choice to guide Batman in more than one way. As much as I like Man of Steel, it is a sad “what if” if Matt Reeves had been able to direct it.
2 Likes
Nice
3 Likes
given a series order to a series adaptation of Cape Fear
Just when I thought that turning THE DAY OF THE JACKAL into a series wouldn’t be topped this year.
Then we will get MAX CADY: THE EARLY YEARS.
6 Likes
If two giants have to resort to reheating their catalogue you know how bad the situation is.
2 Likes
The absurd thing is, there is a vast field of top notch serial characters entirely - or almost - untouched: Dominic Flandry, Travis McGee, Harry Flashman, Miles Vorkosigan (that one would have been perfect for Peter Dinklage), Lord Darcy. You could easily develop any one of these into a modern multiple seasons show.
2 Likes