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David Lees (David_lees)
Username: David_lees

Registered: 12-2011
Posted From: 94.0.168.119
Posted on Friday, February 07, 2014 - 07:49 pm:   

The new anthology show from Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton started this week and the first episode was absolutely brilliant, with a real gut punch of an ending. If you missed it I recommend getting it on iPlayer sharpish.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03tvq6m
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 81.156.7.224
Posted on Friday, February 07, 2014 - 08:08 pm:   

Especially if you've ever played SARDINES!
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Friday, February 07, 2014 - 08:38 pm:   

Yes, this is on my "must watch soon" list as I completely forgot it was on the other day.

I remember playing sardines as a kid. I guess this will hold special relevance for me, then?
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 212.183.128.153
Posted on Friday, February 07, 2014 - 09:05 pm:   

Yeehaa!! At last a follow up to 'Psychoville'... this is the best bloody news I've heard in ages!!

Thanks, David. I'm off to watch it now.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 212.183.128.153
Posted on Friday, February 07, 2014 - 09:50 pm:   

Just watched it and I have to agree it was an absolutely superb horror/comedy drama. Writing and acting were first class and the twist ending is one of the cleverest and most shocking I've seen in a very long time. This anthology series already has the makings of something special!!
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Friday, February 07, 2014 - 10:05 pm:   

Yes, I've just watched it too - great stuff. A touch of "Tales of the Unexpected" I thought.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 212.183.128.153
Posted on Saturday, February 08, 2014 - 02:03 am:   

I agree, Caroline. It was a pitch perfect spoof of those old half hour 'Tales Of The Unexpected' or 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' type macabre playlets. The ensemble acting of the quite marvellous cast was a joy to behold. I can't wait for the next one now. What night and channel is it on?
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Gary Fry (Gary_fry)
Username: Gary_fry

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 86.31.66.109
Posted on Saturday, February 08, 2014 - 09:00 am:   

I loved it.
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Saturday, February 08, 2014 - 09:14 pm:   

I know it's BBC2, Stevie - but I don't know what night/time. Sorry!
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.235.175
Posted on Saturday, February 08, 2014 - 09:27 pm:   

BBC2 at 10.00 on Wed night.

The more I think about that story the cleverer and more disturbing it gets. It's possibly the most mature thing Shearsmith & Pemberton have done to date. Here's hoping a guest appearance by their old mucker is on the cards.
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - 11:20 am:   

Tonight's the night, folks - don't forget!
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David Lees (David_lees)
Username: David_lees

Registered: 12-2011
Posted From: 94.0.168.119
Posted on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - 05:40 pm:   

Apparently tonight's episode is almost entirely silent, which I'm very curious about.
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - 05:48 pm:   

Silent? Hmmm. Which reminds me, I'm off to see Metropolis this weekend ...
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Stu (Stu)
Username: Stu

Registered: 04-2008
Posted From: 90.244.46.253
Posted on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - 05:58 pm:   

Just caught the first episode. Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.233.222
Posted on Thursday, February 13, 2014 - 12:48 am:   

Well I thoroughly enjoyed that. Jacques Tati meets Tom Sharpe!!
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Stu (Stu)
Username: Stu

Registered: 04-2008
Posted From: 90.244.40.154
Posted on Thursday, February 13, 2014 - 12:47 pm:   

Enjoyed the hell out of episode 2.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 86.24.62.55
Posted on Thursday, February 13, 2014 - 06:50 pm:   

I just watched it again on iPlayer and, if anything, it was even more enjoyable the second time around. This show is hands down the TV highlight of the week now.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.129.38.214
Posted on Thursday, February 13, 2014 - 07:14 pm:   

Jacques Tati nails it. Great series.
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David Lees (David_lees)
Username: David_lees

Registered: 12-2011
Posted From: 176.253.221.53
Posted on Sunday, February 16, 2014 - 04:23 pm:   

I felt the second episode was a bit weaker. It started very strong, the gags with the security light and the dog were brilliant, but the rest of the episode never quite lived up to it. Not bad though.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.235.237
Posted on Monday, February 17, 2014 - 04:48 am:   

Both episodes were flawlessly made and performed but the first was more a success of writing and ensemble acting while the second was a brilliantly shot and choreographed gem of visual comedy that I found highly cinematic and entertaining on many different levels.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.234.16
Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 - 09:18 pm:   

Really excited about tonight's episode. I deliberately haven't looked up anything about it as I want the story to be as fresh and unexpected as the previous two. It's great to be looking forward all week to a top quality genre TV show again. Been way too long!
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.234.16
Posted on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 - 11:51 pm:   

Wow!! That was sensational!! The best thing Shearsmith & Pemberton have ever done, imo. If this was a comedy the humour went completely over my head. Instead what we had was one of the best written and performed half hour psychological horror TV playlets ever produced!! This was more than on a par with any of the very finest episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' or 'Tales Of The Unexpected'. Wonderfully chilling and with one of the best twist endings I have ever seen. An instant TV classic!!!!

This series deserves to run and run... pity these two hadn't been around in an earlier TV era or it just might have done.
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Gary Fry (Gary_fry)
Username: Gary_fry

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 2.102.69.119
Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 07:13 am:   

I think it's already been commissioned for a second series, Stevie.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.233.42
Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 01:14 pm:   

Great news, Gary. That means we've at least twelve of these gems to look forward to.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.233.42
Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 08:25 pm:   

Anyone else here struck by the similarity of this episode to Brian Lumley's great horror story "The Whisperer" (1976)? They are different in the details of what happens and the ending completely reverses the focus of the horror but they feature the same kind of insidiously frightening antagonist. 'Tom And Gerri' is one of the best horror stories ever presented on television, imho.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.233.42
Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 09:47 pm:   

Where the hell is everybody? Has no one else seen this programme and been blown away by that final shot and all it implies? Where's your enthusiasm people? Where's your love of the horror genre? Am I a lone voice wittering in the wilderness? It was a masterpiece! Declare it so...
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 09:57 pm:   

Just watched it, Stevie - it's a masterpiece, for sure!

I actually watched the second episode only yesterday (don't ask - busy week). Wasn't too impressed. It was well put together - but it definitely wasn't a patch on the first episode. Still, it's good to see them experimenting with styles and formats.

But "Tom and Gerri" - wow! One of the best pieces of television I've seen in a long time. Brilliant stuff!
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.129.38.214
Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 11:11 pm:   

Yes, the third one was great. It was even greater after it finished - and I mean that positively.
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Gary Fry (Gary_fry)
Username: Gary_fry

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 86.25.22.55
Posted on Friday, February 21, 2014 - 07:46 am:   

I thought episode 3 was excellent. I also liked episode 2. But for its sheer Ayckbournian ingenuity and arch characterisation, I found episode 1 the finest achievement so far.
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David Lees (David_lees)
Username: David_lees

Registered: 12-2011
Posted From: 176.253.221.53
Posted on Saturday, February 22, 2014 - 05:23 pm:   

I just watched episode 3 on iPlayer, I thought it was excellent too. No humour, but this one didn't need any, it probably would have spoiled the mood completely.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.157.188.166
Posted on Thursday, February 27, 2014 - 11:09 am:   

Last night's balloon episode - again different - again a masterstroke ending. Delightfully absurdist.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.232.198
Posted on Thursday, February 27, 2014 - 08:17 pm:   

Missed it last night but be watching it tonight. Can't wait!
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.232.198
Posted on Friday, February 28, 2014 - 03:49 am:   

Bloody brilliant and very, very funny!!!!
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Friday, February 28, 2014 - 10:58 am:   

I found this to be the weakest of the four so far. It was still good though - I love the way they're experimenting with different styles and formats. It's still the 'Tales of the Unexpected'-style ones I prefer though - which isn't surprising since I've always been a fan of that style of TV anthology.

For me, the order of preference so far would be:
First - #3
Second - #1
Third - #2
Fourth -#4
(and now I think I'm turning into Stevie and producing lists)

By the way, AT THE RISK OF SPOILERS ......




.. they were spot on with their portrayal of some rotten parts of the celebrity fan community. Having been a part of the autograph collecting community for some years, I can tell you that the minute a celeb dies the ghouls come out to sell their autographs at hugely inflated prices on ebay.
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.157.188.166
Posted on Friday, February 28, 2014 - 09:39 pm:   

Does that mean you are no longer part of the autograph collecting community, Caroline?
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Friday, February 28, 2014 - 10:17 pm:   

"Does that mean you are no longer part of the autograph collecting community, Caroline?"

Well, yes and no, Des. I still collect signed books, of course - but that's really a different side to autograph collecting.

The kind of collecting I used to do as well was getting signed photos (mostly of favourite actors and comedians), either by writing a fan letter to them or in person at conventions or at the stage door. It's that side of things - excluding the signed books - that I've more or less given up on. Got fed up of all the fakes and stuff on ebay, along with all the in-fighting amongst collectors.

And I had to stop going to live events because of my worsening health situation. Having said that, I am due to go to my first Doctor Who convention in about 2 years next week. Woo-hoo!

But my signed book/magazine collection is my pride and joy.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.233.31
Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2014 - 07:02 pm:   

Lucky you! I haven't been to any kind of fan convention in my life, Caroline. Just another one of the tribulations of living in a cultural backwater like Northern Ireland.
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The Jackalmaster (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.235.81
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2014 - 11:29 am:   

Anyone else seen the Macbeth episode yet? I thought it was exceptionally well done.

I'd now rank them; 5, 3, 1, 4 & 2. Only one left and feck knows what to expect.
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2014 - 11:50 am:   

Stevie? You've changed!

I completely forgot to watch it this week. Must catch it on iPlayer - probably early next week as I'm way too busy this weekend.
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David Lees (David_lees)
Username: David_lees

Registered: 12-2011
Posted From: 176.253.221.53
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2014 - 04:49 pm:   

I just found this poster gallery for the show on the BBC website, some very impressive stuff there:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/galleries/p01qtt18

There also seems to be an online-only bonus episode available: http://www.insideno9extra.co.uk/
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2014 - 05:15 pm:   

Oooo, interesting! Will have to find time to look at that too. Thanks, David!
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.157.188.166
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2014 - 05:53 pm:   

I didn't rate the Macbeth episode as much as the others. It seemed too contrived.
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The Jackalmaster (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.235.81
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2014 - 06:02 pm:   

I wouldn't say it was contrived rather than artfully irreverential.
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David Lees (David_lees)
Username: David_lees

Registered: 12-2011
Posted From: 176.253.221.53
Posted on Sunday, March 09, 2014 - 08:22 pm:   

I watched the online episode last night. It's not really an episode, more of a ten-minute animated slideshow. The story was quite good but the execution was very clumsy, I felt. Don't go in with high expectations.
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Monday, March 10, 2014 - 10:31 pm:   

I quite enjoyed that online animated episode. It reminded me a little of the Terry Gilliam animations for Monty Python. It was .. er .. something completely different. And did anyone notice the Sylvester McCoy Doctor Who photos in the background?

The Hamlet story was back to the old Tales of the Unexpected kind of story again. Quite good - but definitely not the best.

And I've realised, looking at that poster gallery, that this week's episode is the last (though there is another series to come, thankfully). From the poster, it looks like 'The Harrowing' is going to be a homage to the old horror films we all love. I hope they've left the very best till last ...
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 86.24.62.55
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 11:53 pm:   

Fuck me! That was terrifying!! I pity any children that were watching that. It will haunt them for a lifetime. Again, sheer bloody genius!!!! The best thing I have seen of this kind since 'The League Of Gentlemen'. Sensational television. We have just watched a timeless masterpiece unfold, etc...

Here's how I'd rank all six episodes - and every one a 10/10 classic of TV horror/suspense/black comedy:

1. Episode 6, "The Harrowing" - one of the most frightening things I have ever seen on television and, miraculously, one of the most hilarious.

2. Episode 5, "The Understudy" - an ingenious homage to and deconstruction of Shakespeare's Scottish play that chills to the bone.

3. Episode 3, "Tom And Gerri" - one of the most brilliant psychological horror plays ever made for television with a fantastic twist ending.

4. Episode 1, "Sardines" - brilliantly acted and written ensemble comedy of dark family secrets revealed with another devastating twist ending.

5. Episode 3, "Last Gasp" - again wonderfully written and performed dark satirical piss-take of modern celebrity culture that one could see actually bloody well happening for real.

6. Episode 2, "A Quiet Night In" - flawlessly choreographed and performed homage to the "silent" comedy genius of Jacques Tati by way of Sharpe farcical savagery.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 86.24.62.55
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 11:58 pm:   

Episode 4, "Last Gasp" that should read.

Still shaking here after that.
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 86.24.62.55
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 03:08 am:   

Just watched "The Inventors" and it was another extremely clever piece of writing with a great twist that could easily have been expanded into a proper full length episode of the show. It seems these guys can turn out such stories in their sleep so let's have lots more, please!!
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.157.188.166
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 08:36 am:   

1. Episode 6, "The Harrowing" - one of the most frightening things I have ever seen on television and, miraculously, one of the most hilarious.
=======================

I completely agree.
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Mbfg (Mbfg)
Username: Mbfg

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 212.219.63.206
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 11:26 am:   

The Harrowing - how did they make it funny? Genius!
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 11:50 am:   

Still got to find time to watch The Harrowing. Hope it's as good as it sounds ...
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Des (Des)
Username: Des

Registered: 09-2010
Posted From: 86.157.188.166
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 11:52 am:   

Caroline, I found it seriously disturbing. So beware.
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 01:00 pm:   

Hmm. Might be best not to watch it last thing before retiring for the night then. Nightmares don't help an insomniac. You're temping me to watch it now .. but I've got work to finish first. Think I'll have to finish a couple of bits of work next, and then treat myself ...
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Carolinec (Carolinec)
Username: Carolinec

Registered: 06-2009
Posted From: 92.237.187.186
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 02:32 pm:   

Oh my, that was brilliant! Proof positive that the line between horror and comedy is a very, very fine one. I was chuckling all the way through, and then ... wham! Mischief indeed ...

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