I need a new TV series to get into (old or new) v2

[Locke]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Heh. Just wait and see how long it takes to finish it. Lol
I've been chipping away at it for close to 15 years now.
Somewhere near the end season 3 I think.
I have great respect for any who grind their way all the way to the end.

"God as my Witness I will one day finish The Wire..."

Famous. Last. Words.

[#-3]

I just came across The Pillars of Earth, on Prime. An old Movie Central original mini series about the grandchildren of William the Conqueror, any other historic drama aficionado seen it yet?

Looks like a strong cast. Just from the poster, Donald Sutherland, Hayley Atwell, can't think of their names but, Stephan Hawking actor, and the bad guy from A Knights Tale.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I really liked it. Ian Mcshane, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Redmayne.

I just watched it about a year ago and have recommended it to several people.

It’s about a guy who tries to build a new cathedral and how the church and crooked politicians keeps ####ing him over. In a nutshell.

One of those generational shows that covers an entire lifespan.

[fatso]

Re: Pillars of the Earth. Do yourself a favour and read the book. It's long but a great read. The prequel was recently published too.

I tried to watch the tv series but couldn't get into it. Cannot recommend the novel enough. I've heard from a few others who love the book that they felt the same about the show.

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by fatso

Re: Pillars of the Earth. Do yourself a favour and read the book. It's long but a great read. The prequel was recently published too.

I tried to watch the tv series but couldn't get into it. Cannot recommend the novel enough. I've heard from a few others who love the book that they felt the same about the show.

I am definitely one of those. Didn’t know about the prequel until now. Thanks!

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I’ve never read a book that wasn’t head and shoulders better than the adaptation. Except the prestige. That book sucked and the movie was awesome.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by fatso

Re: Pillars of the Earth. Do yourself a favour and read the book. It's long but a great read. The prequel was recently published too.

I tried to watch the tv series but couldn't get into it. Cannot recommend the novel enough. I've heard from a few others who love the book that they felt the same about the show.

Thanks, but books aren't my thing. My brain does not work properly on novels.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Just finished binging Vikings early this morning. Was looking for this thread!

HIGHLY recommend, it was a great tv series.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I’ve never read a book that wasn’t head and shoulders better than the adaptation. Except the prestige. That book sucked and the movie was awesome.

No Country for Old Men.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Yamer

No Country for Old Men.

I’ve been repeatedly told his writing is so boring/bland, by so many people, I’ve actively avoided anything he’s ever done.

They seem well suited for big screen adaptations though.


Edit: Referring to Cormac McCarthy.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I’ve never read a book that wasn’t head and shoulders better than the adaptation. Except the prestige. That book sucked and the movie was awesome.

Heart of Darkness / Apocalypse Now.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep / Bladerunner.

[Flames89]

Recently got into Kingdom on Netflix. Not the zombie one (which is good as well) but the mma one. It’s got it’s hooks into me.
It’s like a darker, boozier Friday Night lights but with mma as the sport, in that there are dramatic story lines and a solid soundtrack.
The actor who plays Jay does an incredible job.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Heart of Darkness / Apocalypse Now.

Said no one ever.

Heart of Darkness is one of the best pieces of fiction of the 20th century and is far better than apocalypse now, which is only a loose adaptation anyways.

Apocalypse Now being such a great film and Heart of Darkness still being miles better is a telling sign of what a classic novella it is.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Said no one ever.

Heart of Darkness is one of the best pieces of fiction of the 20th century and is far better than apocalypse now, which is only a loose adaptation anyways.

Apocalypse Now being such a great film and Heart of Darkness still being miles better is a telling sign of what a classic novella it is.

It’s a classic, but a literary slog to read. You could say “Oil!” is also a classic, but “There Will Be Blood” as a movie was superior. I think this is more about which is a more enjoyable read vs which was more enjoyable onscreen.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I’ve been repeatedly told his writing is so boring/bland, by so many people, I’ve actively avoided anything he’s ever done.

They seem well suited for big screen adaptations though.


Edit: Referring to Cormac McCarthy.

I cant stand his writing. His style, his pace...hes an awful author. He has the right idea with characters and story, but he should let someone else write. McCarthy has to be one of the worst authors ever in terms of readability.

But there is precedent. You know else is a terrible author? Hemingway.

Seriously, read some of his books. They're garbage. Its like they were written by a 6-year old.

Same thing. He has these wonderful, grand visions of settings and story and character and then you just envision your Grandpa sitting behind a typewriter trying to put it all on paper with one finger.

Its awful. I remember reading 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' and it was practically torture.

I will never live down the time my wife brought 'The Road' on our vacation to Mexico and I said 'Good Luck.'

Not only is it a horrible depressing novel but it feels like it was compiled by a dyslexic child. It took me eons to read that book. Because I never wanted to pick it up. Viggo showed me all I needed to know.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Yamer

No Country for Old Men.

Not a fan of Cormac McCarthy

Or of his editor for that matter who accepts writing “would of” where he should write “would have” or “would’ve”

[bigtmac19]

I haven’t watched anything as great as Ted Lasso in a long time! Absolutely love it.

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by Locke

"God as my Witness I will one day finish The Wire..."

Famous. Last. Words.

Why? Just curious, as I am three episodes in to season one...

[Locke]

Originally Posted by 8 Ball

Why? Just curious, as I am three episodes in to season one...

Because it has a huge following. Everyone loves it.

Three episodes into season one? Oh you sweet Summer Child.

I am 15 minutes into Episode 1. A half-dozen times.

But its not 'The Wire's' fault. I'm in the same boat with 'The Expanse.'

I cant even remember how many times I've watched half of the first episode of that show. Yet I cant remember any of it.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I distinctly remember that I didn't think much of the wire until episode four or so. It's a slow burn, and it shows like a novel, meaning that they take a lot of time building the world and the characters so that you give a #### when the events happen.

It's a little hard because there are so many key characters to build that you almost need a flow chart to keep track of everyone and their relationships to one another and the plot. However, it's one of the few shows that has a really fully developed and immersive world. Not only that, it tackles matters that are important, and does so in an unflinchingly honest way. Nobody is that wonderful and everyone is sympathetic, even the thugs. That's hard to pull off, which is why nobody really tries to do it.

It's not everyone's cup of tea because it's not out to entertain you, but I still think it's worth going through in it's entirety at least once. In their exploration of the decay of a modern American city, each season has it's theme and sector that contributes to that decay, so you aren't rehashing the same stuff each season.

Anyway, I know that I'm either preaching to the choir or this is falling on deaf ears, but I just felt the need to write it anyway.