2 minutes ago, Stretford Ender said:

You might like Philip K. Dick's book 'The Man in the High Castle' or Ward Moore's 'Bring The Jubilee'. The former was, I believe, the inspiration behind Len Deighton's 'SS-GB.'

Thank you. I'll look out for those. I read SS-GB many years ago and I should read it again. There was a TV adaptation a couple of years ago. Did you see it? I watched the first couple of episodes then gave up as found it difficult to follow.

Slightly off subject but I recommend The Last Man by Mary Shelley.  It was written eight years after she wrote Frankenstein and is set in England in the 21st century and the country is a republic ruled by an elite. The world is decimated by a plague. A brilliant book and very prophetic. 

The other day I watched the first two episodes of the mid-seventies series Survivors. Scary and uncannily similar to what is happening today. 

 

16 minutes ago, Boyne said:

Thank you. I'll look out for those. I read SS-GB many years ago and I should read it again. There was a TV adaptation a couple of years ago. Did you see it? I watched the first couple of episodes then gave up as found it difficult to follow.

Slightly off subject but I recommend The Last Man by Mary Shelley.  It was written eight years after she wrote Frankenstein and is set in England in the 21st century and the country is a republic ruled by an elite. The world is decimated by a plague. A brilliant book and very prophetic. 

The other day I watched the first two episodes of the mid-seventies series Survivors. Scary and uncannily similar to what is happening today. 

You, I think, are the only person I've met online who has read The Last Man. When I was a student, my (then) girlfriend lent me her copy. It is a superb work of literature and is indeed prophetic. Whether she actually discovered hitherto unknown sybilline prophecies is open for debate but the story is gripping.

I didn't watch the TV adaptation of SS-GB because often they disappoint. The novel was very good though like most of his works. The only TV adaptation of a book I've really enjoyed was Tinker Tailor (and then they swapped locations) and Smiley's People and that reminds me that I should get out my DVDs and watch them again. 

Edited June 3, 20206 yr by Stretford Ender

McMillions Sky Documentaries Channel.

If you like a story, a scam story, over six episodes.

I'm just waarching episode 3 now.

Anyone watched Space Force yet? Its the next thing I`m going to try I think.

On 03/06/2020 at 20:34, Stretford Ender said:

 

You, I think, are the only person I've met online who has read The Last Man. When I was a student, my (then) girlfriend lent me her copy. It is a superb work of literature and is indeed prophetic. Whether she actually discovered hitherto unknown sybilline prophecies is open for debate but the story is gripping.

I didn't watch the TV adaptation of SS-GB because often they disappoint. The novel was very good though like most of his works. The only TV adaptation of a book I've really enjoyed was Tinker Tailor (and then they swapped locations) and Smiley's People and that reminds me that I should get out my DVDs and watch them again. 

Thank you. Agree, it is a great work of literature. I love Shelley's Frankenstein but prefer The Last Man. It must be 20-25 years since I read ti so should read it again. A couple of thigs I remember about the book are: 

1) Shelley mentions hot air balloons as a way of moving around. I wonder it the book has been written 10-15 years later she would have replaced balloons with steam locomotives.

2) Mention is made of the conflict and tensions between Greece and Turkey. Something which is still apparent nowadays.

 

On 03/06/2020 at 23:14, coco said:

McMillions Sky Documentaries Channel.

If you like a story, a scam story, over six episodes.

I'm just waarching episode 3 now.

I'm watching this. Doug Matthews is a legend! Who knew an FBI agent would have such a great sense of humour? An incredible scam, Shamrock Productions indeed! 

2 hours ago, dkw said:

Anyone watched Space Force yet? Its the next thing I`m going to try I think.

It’s alright, has its moments but it’s not great. I watched it because I had nothing else to do. 

3 hours ago, Boyne said:

Mention is made of the conflict and tensions between Greece and Turkey. Something which is still apparent nowadays.

The Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Turks was taking place around the time she was writing, and she may have been influenced by Lord Byron who went to fight for the Greeks and died there in 1824. He and Shelley were great friends.

Well I've just finished The Sopranos good as I've said in previous posts best show of all time absolutely no way. In the last few episodes there's a guy from the New York family who looks like a boss eyed Denholm Elliot it's uncanny. But the highlight of the final episode AJ is considering the army and he says these immortal words '' I want to do helicopter training and when I leave I can become Trump's personal pilot'' just wow. I think The Apprentice was one of the biggest shows in the States at the time but to think what happens 10 years later it's just surreal.

So new series of "What we do in the shadows" tonight on BBC2, very very looking forward to that.

7 hours ago, dkw said:

So new series of "What we do in the shadows" tonight on BBC2, very very looking forward to that.

I can’t wait for this!

I’ve been watching The Office (US) while there’s nothing else on. 

15 hours ago, Munkworth said:

I can’t wait for this!

I’ve been watching The Office (US) while there’s nothing else on. 

Watched the first 2 last night and they were good, though maybe not as good as the first series. Still plenty of laugh out loud moments for me, and pretty much anything Matt Berry says makes me laugh anyway.

5 hours ago, dkw said:

Watched the first 2 last night and they were good, though maybe not as good as the first series. Still plenty of laugh out loud moments for me, and pretty much anything Matt Berry says makes me laugh anyway.

Don't know if you've seen this I showed it to my relations in Ireland age range 10-80 and they were in hysterics.

 

Yeah seen that, it's absolutely quality. I watched all those short things did for the BBC a while back, they are amazing. 

I was watching this week an informative programme about entertainment through the ages on BBC2 'Back in Time for the Weekend', showing a home through the 50s to the 90s  on consecutive dayS(this is good tv). On Thursday they showed the 80s and included a programme shown on BBC in 1984 called 'THREADS' about the prelude, blast and after after effects of a nuclear war. I admit to having forgotten about this drama even though it was hard hitting at the time (maybe  as I was only 26 at the time and not fully appreciative of life )  but I today looked the programme up again. Wow this drama is a must see, why under no circumstances we should ever allow nuclear war to proliferate. Thirty Six years on this is extremely hard hitting and for those who were alive and kicking in the 80s it was a very real threat. Dated a little now but well worth a watch, I found it online but did watch a remastered version on a torrent. 

THREADS https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/threads

https://archive.org/details/threads_201712

A landmark piece of TV by Barry Hines who also wrote the excellent 'Kestrel of a Knave' 

I’ve been watching Gangs of London recently. For some reason I was expecting a serious drama about organised crime, but this is more something out of a comic book with loads of ultra-violent fight scenes and extended shoot-outs. I didn’t know this beforehand but it’s directed by the same guy who directed the Raid films, so the OTT action style makes sense. Anyway, I’ve been enjoying it a lot so far.

The Art of Persia. A three part series - the first part was on BBC 4 last Monday - about the history of Persia (current day Iran). A fascinating programme about the history of that country and tells of the many empires and cultures which shaped it. Persia/Iran is, I understand, the only Arab country where the language is Farsi rather than Arabic.

I was recommended the programme by one of the guys I go to the games with. He hails from Iran and left that country at the time of the Revolution. He isn't very complimentary about the current regime.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k48j

Always good to see some great history programmes on television.

Doom Patrol is starting again this week. The first series is pretty difficult to to watch in the UK but I can't recommend it enough 

@Boyne @erskblue if you guys didn’t see there’s three Battle of Britain specials over three days on Channel 5 Tuesday 21:00. 

1 hour ago, Munkworth said:

@Boyne @erskblue if you guys didn’t see there’s three Battle of Britain specials over three days on Channel 5 Tuesday 21:00. 

Thank you. Looking forward to that. The airfields not far from me should get a mention. Includes the world famous Biggin Hill.

I watched that Will Ferrell Eurovision movie on Netflix over the weekend. It got really terrible reviews but I think these people missed the point of what Eurovision actually is. 
 

It was very cheesy (which is vintage Eurovision), wasn’t a normal Will Ferrell movie comedy wise but still had its moments. Worth a watch if you’re bored out of your mind!

Days Of Our Lives.  An American soap that is  completely ridiculous and with a lot of very dodgy acting, but a perfect bit of escapism to help you unwind.

On 23/06/2020 at 21:57, abigsmurf said:

Doom Patrol is starting again this week. The first series is pretty difficult to to watch in the UK but I can't recommend it enough 

I'm almost finished with the first series, I didn't know what to make of it as first but it has grown on me as you get to understand the characters better. It also doesn't take itself too seriously and is genuinely funny at times.

Last night I watched the last of Alexander Armstrong's 3-part documentary about his travels across the Arctic from Norway to Alaska. Excellent series. Would love to do a trip like that.

Money Heist.

Im sure you’ve heard of it already, especially if you have Netflix. Hands down it is one of the greatest series I’ve ever watched, it’s bloody fantastic. I’ve watched great shows like breaking bad, peaky blinders, dexter, prison break etc and money heist is right up there with the best.

Please watch it if you have Netflix, you won’t regret it!

Edited July 18, 20206 yr by dansubrosa