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2024/01/23 12:00:06
Subject: Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
A Gerry Anderson puppet show from when I was a tiny wee snivellin’ lirrul Grot.
It’s still good fun, but through adult eyes it quickly becomes apparent Dr “Tiger” Ninestein is an utter utter utter utter utter utter utter utter utter Male Chicken.
Racist. Disparaging to Hiro and the Zeroids. Also throws a strop when Sgt Mjr Zero beats him at his favourite computer game, greatly exceeding Tiger’s long standing high score.
Still want a Zeroid of my own though.
Terrahawks! Stay on this channel! This is an emergency!
Made for an overseas TV company because he was strapped for cash. Still made a splash when it arrived, even when some of the special effects are worse than the 60's glory days, and the craft fair poorly when compared to the Thunderbirds. Still, I enjoyed it myself, mostly. I bought the theme tune on a "7 single! And when I hear 'Zelda' it's Terrahawks I think of, without fail, rather than some computer game (which I have never played). Windsor Davies was a shoo-in to play Sergeant Major Zero, but the best bit was watching the end credits to see if the evil 'Cubes' beat the zeroids at noughts-and-crosses.
2024/01/25 22:06:50
Subject: Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
The first season of the first series, £5 on Prime.
I’ll be honest, I was expecting this to be retrospectively tropey. Because it’s a highly influential classic.
First two episodes though have been absolute delights of sci-fi and fantasy and that. It’s massively helped by the cast all taking it seriously.
Also? Massive props and nuff respek to whomever remastered this. The picture is super crisp, to the point if I had a visitor swing by and see it on the screen, they’d easily think this is a modern TV series doing a gimmick black and white episode.
In fact whilst I’m at it, massive props and nuff respek to all those involved in the preservation and remastering of old TV shows. You ain’t gonna get rich doing it*, but you’re doing an important job all the same.
*though I’m sure it carries a proper decent wage!
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I’m greatly enjoying the original run of The Twilight Zone.
As mentioned earlier the transfer and restoration is top notch with crystal clear sound and audio.
But what strikes me most is how well the stories have stayed fresh and pretty relevant. Given its cultural impact and often imitated, let alone spoofed nature, I was expecting it to be clunky and retrospectively tropey.
What really helps is the actors are all giving it their best. Whilst clearly done on a budget, nothing feels cheap nor tawdry.
At a piffling £5 for 36 half hour episodes, this is top notch for quality and value. Go on, fellow Dakkanaut, treat yourself, at least to the first season.
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We tried showing my son some twilight zone a few years ago, but he was too young. We’ll have to try again soon, even it’s only the episodes everyone knows.
Not sure if YouTube series count for this, but Behind the Bastards has a timely series of episodes on Vince McMahon. The first one just sets the scene with a history of professional wrestling, and it sounds even crazier than I expected.
On Disney+ in the UK, not the BBC series called Dodger.
This is rather enjoyable overall. Set in Australia, where Dodger has become a Surgeon, only for Fagin to come knocking, threatening to expose his past. Pretty decent comedy period drama.
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Crime of the week, but never murder. An afternoon schedule filler of yesteryear which I great enjoy.
Patricia Routledge stars, as does Dominic “Merry’ Monaghan in his first tv role.
It’s a pleasingly gentle crime thriller. Exactly the sort of stuff I’d watch with my grandparents in younger years, though some may find it overly twee.
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A different tone and set up from the Brangalina movie. Only two episodes in, but drawn into the relationship and how it's going to unfold as they learn what sort of organization they work for.
2024/02/06 11:48:48
Subject: Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
So I watched this when it first came out, and if I’m honest I found the episodic nature somewhat off-putting.
I’ve returned to give it a binge during a quiet work week. And it’s working better.
At 10 episodes I think it’s still going to prove overly long, but the main story is fun, and the cast are solid. Just a question of whether the filler is too much.
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If you liked Steven Universe, but wondered.... what if it was evil? Then you will enjoy this aggressive little animated musical.
A tale of one person's attempt to reform and save souls that are already in hell, and the bizarre group she gathers to support her.
Klawz-Ramming is a subset of citrus fruit?
Gwar- "And everyone wants a bigger Spleen!"
Mercurial wrote:
I admire your aplomb and instate you as Baron of the Seas and Lord Marshall of Privateers.
Orkeosaurus wrote:Star Trek also said we'd have X-Wings by now. We all see how that prediction turned out.
Orkeosaurus, on homophobia, the nature of homosexuality, and the greatness of George Takei.
English doesn't borrow from other languages. It follows them down dark alleyways and mugs them for loose grammar.
2024/02/06 16:43:50
Subject: Re:Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
On Disney+ in the UK, not the BBC series called Dodger.
This is rather enjoyable overall. Set in Australia, where Dodger has become a Surgeon, only for Fagin to come knocking, threatening to expose his past. Pretty decent comedy period drama.
The BBC series is excellent family viewing. My youngest loves it, and very much wants to watch the Disney+ series too. What's your take - suitable for an 11.5 year old?
2024/02/06 17:53:30
Subject: Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
I’d say so. There is some bloody bits, including a throat slashing, but for me they’re not terribly graphic, and serve as plot devices to show us more surgery and the dynamics of the hospital and settlement.
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If you liked Steven Universe, but wondered.... what if it was evil? Then you will enjoy this aggressive little animated musical.
A tale of one person's attempt to reform and save souls that are already in hell, and the bizarre group she gathers to support her.
I like it, i like most of the characters and i like the art style
and i know the whole point of it is it's a musical (featuring voices from broadway no less) but so much singing (some of the songs are well done, some are broadway style lets sing the next bit of the plot so not so much)
but well worth a look
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2024/02/06 23:28:30
2024/02/07 10:07:38
Subject: Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
The BBC version, starring Joan Hickson as the titular Miss Marple.
For me, the definitive take on these tales, just as David Suchet will always be Hercule Poirot.
Absolutely love it. Not just a heaping spoonful of murder mystery nostalgia, but genuinely well made and engaging.
Joan Hickson is just superb. Utterly indomitable, and the perfect mix of “don’t mind me dear, I’m just a frail old Spinster”, and “I will ruin you, for I have a mind like a steel trap”.
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The BBC version, starring Joan Hickson as the titular Miss Marple.
For me, the definitive take on these tales, just as David Suchet will always be Hercule Poirot.
Absolutely love it. Not just a heaping spoonful of murder mystery nostalgia, but genuinely well made and engaging.
Joan Hickson is just superb. Utterly indomitable, and the perfect mix of “don’t mind me dear, I’m just a frail old Spinster”, and “I will ruin you, for I have a mind like a steel trap”.
You seem to be on a bit of a nostalgia binge. I'm looking forward to your take on Pie in the Sky, Dempsey and Makepeace andJaime and the Magic Torch.
I am also of an age where anyone other than Joan Hickson in the role just seems wrong. Julia McKenzie belongs in sitcoms.
2024/02/07 10:49:52
Subject: Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
AMC has ordered Season 3 of the supernatural anthology series “The Terror.”
The third installment of the series will be based on the novel “The Devil in Silver” by Victor LaValle. AMC has ordered six episodes, with the series slated to debut on AMC and AMC+ in 2025.
The series is officially titled “The Terror: Devil in Silver.” Per the official description the show “tells the story of Pepper – a working class moving man, who through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital – an institution filled with the people society would rather forget. There, he must contend with patients who work against him, doctors who harbor grim secrets, and perhaps even the very Devil himself. As Pepper navigates a hellscape where nothing is as it seems, he finds that the only path to freedom is to face down the entity which thrives on the suffering within New Hyde’s walls – but doing so may prove that the worst demons of all live inside him.”
'It is a source of constant consternation that my opponents cannot correlate their innate inferiority with their inevitable defeat. It would seem that stupidity is as eternal as war.'
- Nemesor Zahndrekh of the Sautekh Dynasty Overlord of the Crownworld of Gidrim
2024/02/08 12:01:50
Subject: Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
Honestly thought this was a one season wonder, but no.
Went up today on Paramount+. Same gorgeous production values, and from my limited experience of the game, the soldiers definitely look the part.
But it’s that lack of experience of the games and the background which makes me a poor source. As a slice of teevee sci-fi, I’d argue it’s probably superior to most. But whether it’s a good adaptation? Not a clue!
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Metal Hurlant. Found it randomly on Amazon and the description was bizarre enough for me to have a go, and Rutger Hauer is in the credits. Don't do what I did. Its bad. Like really bad. Like Xena Warrior Princess but with all the charm, and indeed budget, of a dog turd trifle. Mr Hauer may just be doing the terrible expositional narration.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2024/02/09 00:27:40
Please excuse any spelling errors. I use a tablet frequently and software keyboards are a pain!
First couple episodes dropped last night. Excellent show in my opinion.
Not well versed in the criminal underground of Japan, but :
Spoiler:
This show, “based on a true book”, seems to be about Japanese society starting to wake up to Yakuza in the early 00’s. First season was all about keeping balance and maintaining peace, to the point of wilful blindness to murders and extortion. Meanwhile the 2nd season has what looks to be the start of a government task force set up to go directly at the Yakuza, head on. But things are looking to get worse before they get better.
4 main characters all linked in some way make each episode fresh and paced differently.
"Sometimes the only victory possible is to keep your opponent from winning." - The Emperor, from The Outcast Dead.
"Tell your gods we are coming for them, and that their realms will burn as ours did." -Thostos Bladestorm
2024/02/11 00:13:52
Subject: Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
A perfectly serviceable Harry Potter rip-off. The house thing is eye-rolling, but the actual quest holds up. There are some clever nods to Greek myth, even if it is set in America.
Finally, I love the art deco art design of the closing credits. Really cool.
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2024/02/15 00:59:35
Subject: Tiny TV Reviews - Short Reviews For The Small Screen
Easy E wrote: I started watching Percy Jackson on D+.
A perfectly serviceable Harry Potter rip-off
Thems fighting words.
Jackson's far better than a mere rip off, and imo has aged far better than Harry Potter to boot! Sure, the Magnus Chase spinoff was a bit awkward in several departments (why did they pick a narrator who makes the hero sound like he's mentally handicapped?) but the main run of books is fun and more intelligent than a generic kid's fantasy series.
The D+ series made some changes to the material but not significantly so. Really the biggest issue is that even by the end of S1 all the leads still feel stiff. Child actors are always a gamble, and while the ones the show has are doing well enough I feel like well enough is rather faint praise. Because the acting is a bit stiff across the board the whimsical fun of the books never quite manages to shine through.
I think I’m aged out the D+ show’s target audience. Which given I’m 43 is hardly a surprise.
But overall I enjoyed it. It’s well put together, decently paced and not cringey in the way teen dramas can be. Certainly I think it’s target age group will find it suitably thrilling.
I’d definitely watch it again, and will tune in to any future seasons.
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Cadre Coronal Afterglow w1;d0;l0 
