| Author | Message | ||
     Lincoln Brown (Lincoln_brown) Username: Lincoln_brown Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 58.165.24.216 |
...the TV series - worth a look? Was shown here about two years ago, on one of our digital channels but I missed it. Some one has offered to loan me the complete run, recorded on DVD with all the ads edited. It's not a 'soapie' is it? Thanks for any opinions. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.72 |
A lot of people on here enjoyed it. I didn't stick with it. The female lead spent most of the show looking like a gnu who'd just heard the only thing on the menu for the evening was elephant sick. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.72 |
Sorry. Probably a bit harsh. | ||
| Skunsworth (Skunsworth) Username: Skunsworth Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 88.107.253.221 |
First series is pretty good, really, though more subtle than I expected. And I didn't like the female lead much (as I'm not sure she was any good at that acting thing). Worth a look, though. S | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.179.120 |
I agree, the first series was a lot better than the second. It was an uneven show, but it had its moments, and is worth a look, I think. I'd say the same about Sea of Souls. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Pay no attention to these philistines, Lincoln. It's a fine show - a real attempt to get some proper horror on telly, despite working within the 'essential' parameters of such fare: sceptical expert coupled with mystic, etc. The seance episode at the end of series 1 is extremely powerful, as is the finale sequence in series 2. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Now Sea of Souls was bollocks.  Seriously, every week they'd revert to their sceptical "we're scientist, we don't take this ghostly tommyrot seriously" attitudes, despite having witnessed incontrovertible evidence of the supernatural the week before. And that young bloke in it - wet as a pilchard's sink unit after a flood and a rainstorm just after he'd run out of money to fix the roof. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Or she. The pilchard doesn't have to be male. It's entirely the reader's choice. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.71 |
But Sea of Souls had Bill Paterson in it, so wins on points. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
A big fish in a small sea (of souls). | ||
| Stu (Stu) Username: Stu Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 86.29.98.49 |
Or even a big fish in a small sea of soles. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
I'm with GF: Afterlife was excellent. Lesley Sharp, who plays the reluctant medium, is superb (as always) in a very well-written role. The show contains pathos, genuine scares, and has real heart. The finale of the first series is terrifying; the finale of the second series almost had me in tears. Brilliant. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.176 |
I thought the show was fantastic. The second series, in particular, is probably the most emotional thing I've ever watched. By that stage you really care about the characters so the events are incredibly moving.. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.176 |
Didn't Stephen Volk write (or just create) it? | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Created and wrote a lot of it. Shipped out some eps to other writers. | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 67.70.22.136 |
I agree: I thought "Aferlife" superb. Especially Sharp's performance. I will admit though that I tired of the troubles she went through in series two. But... jimminy christ... the finale of series one... astounding! | ||
| Lincoln Brown (Lincoln_brown) Username: Lincoln_brown Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 58.165.24.216 |
OK, thanks for your comments. I'm interstate,for work, this week so I'll get started next weekend. | ||
| Lincoln Brown (Lincoln_brown) Username: Lincoln_brown Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 124.181.87.92 |
Finally got to watch season 1, and thought it was excellent. The only episode that didn't do it for me was 'Daniel One & Two'. My favourite ep. was 'Sleeping With The Dead', series highlights - the ghost of the little girl, dripping wet, appearing in the aisle of the supermarket (Lower Than Bones). The seance, in 'The 7:59 People', and the verbal 'spray' Robert gives the reporter in 'Sleeping With The Dead'! Going to get stuck into series 2 this week. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
I loved the first series of 'Afterlife', and watched it religiously, then went on to miss the entire second series, so must get both on DVD and catch up. Lesley Sharp has long been a favourite of mine and was great to see a British supernatural drama done properly, with respect for the material, for a change. I also had a sneaking fondness for 'Sea Of Souls' despite all its far-fetched, sub-X Files silliness. The high production values & Bill Paterson, at his most engaging, made the series more than worthwhile imo. I also quite liked his assistants, at least they weren't cute teens (know what I mean). The voodoo one was best. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Yes, I agree with Gary and Gary, and of course Steve on this. Excellent writing, and about time the brilliant Lesley Sharpe got a lead role in something worthwhile. This was definitely my cup of tea. I thought it typified the main difference between bollocks like Medium, and how 'we' generally perceive such material. That doesn't mean I think American shows are all the same, in fact I probably enjoy more American shows than British at the moment, Deadwood, Rome, Lost, Fringe (silly, but it knows it),but Afterlife was sensitive and cautiously applied within the boundaries of its genre. Lesley Sharpe plays one of my favourite female roles in Mike Leigh's seminal 'Naked'. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
I actually preferred Medium. Not as nice visually, and a bit soapy, but somehow more believable and cohesive. The family in it are one of the best there's ever been on tv. I won't forgive it for having Jack the ripper in it, though. Afterlife could be cringe-makingly sentimental and overracted at times, I thought, though I do have to admit it was very scary at times. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
I loved Sea of Souls! Crappish but oddly addictive and cosy. I missed the assistants from the first one then missed the second ones when they were dropped altogether. The last one, filmed in shakey cam, was stylistically throwing and I didn't like it. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
Afterlife; I'd say miss the second series. Same goes for Being Human, which was soooo messy. | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.55 |
Being Human's second series was fantastic. It had some of the scariest moments I've seen in a British TV programme - when the ghost tried to drag Annie through the door by force.... brilliant. It's one of the few programmes I'm willing to forgive for having a sympathetic vampire character because it throws in so many of the traditional bloodsuckers as well. I'd love to see that little boy from series one come back. See how the mother has coped with things. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
But so dour, Weber - it was like series two of Buffy bumped straight to series 6. Many good bits, big lumpy whole. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
I have to say, this is a long (after)life for such a titchy thread... | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.55 |
We'll have to agree to disagree. It was fucking brilliant. One of the best things British TV has done in a long long time. I can't wait for season 3 - which is filming NOW! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
I'm with Weber - the 2nd Being Human was astonishing. I was actually upset when it was over. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Hey, I didn't know there was a third series of 'Sea Of Souls'! How did that one pass me by?! I didn't like 'Medium' at all, far too slick and glossy compared to the drab realism of 'Afterlife'. If someone were ever to adapt Ramsey Campbell for TV then 'Afterlife' is exactly how it should look imho. Did someone mention Mike Leigh's 'Naked' - now there is a masterpiece! His finest film and one of my favourite movies of all time. I went around for years after identifying actors as "so-and-so who was in Naked" and have adored David Thewlis ever since first seeing it and having Johnny and his rants seared into my brain. The greatest performance and character of the 90s for me. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
I think I'm just all Doctor Who-omlettey, want my stories un-epic nowadays. If I sense things building to a 'Big Finish' (i.e. a 'war') I sort of go off it.  | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
I LOVED Naked. And even more so Bleak Moments. Now there are two Ramsey pieces. Naked actually felt like the best, most subtle Lovecraft film ever made. Sorry, Mike! (Happy Go Lucky even added to my theory - 'N Ra Ha!') The last SOS was a two parter. It was very poor, and yet more grim than the others. It just felt too different to them, like it was trying to be edgy. I don't mind the slickness of Medium. I mean, it's not my favourite style, but as a whole it plays true to itself, doesn't get too shrill or worthy. And it has been scary. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I'm with you, Tony. It's part of the modern disease - the compulsive urge to overkill in all areas of popular entertainment. Like I said on the DW thread, next year is when Moffat really needs to stamp his control on the series by drastically reining things in, otherwise, it will just fade away into disinterest, for all Matt Smith's efforts... | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.55 |
Season 2 didn't build up to a war - to a showdown with that creepy old guy yes, but not a war. The ending was the dictionary definition of downbeat. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
And at least Medium isn't building up to A WAR. ;) Yes, this bigging things is spoiling Who for me for instance. It's like they all want to be LOTR;TROTK. Even the fact we know what all those letter stand for bugs me. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
Well, maybe not a war, more a BIG THING. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Oh wait, was that the special one-off story centring on Bill Paterson's character and some demonic monstrosity breaking through from the other side? I did see that and really liked it - I took it as an entertaining Lovecraft homage. So there's been nothing since then? Shame that... | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
But a war in the next series is definitely hinted at... | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.55 |
And I think the final episode of Who really wasn't excessive and flashy - there was only one monster in it - a stone dalek (which was pretty cool, you have to admit) - it was a character piece and arguably the most restrained episode of the series - Matt Smith's performance in the rewind was one of my highlights of the entire series. "Oh I've escaped, I like it when I do that." Such a brilliant line and delivery, then his dawning realisation of what's really happening. And I always loved his line to Amy about, "If I didn't lie i wouldn't have to tell you to trust me" | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
I think it was the style, Stevie. I can get easy distracted by things like that. Also it should have been a single ep. Felt padded. And I did miss the presence of assistants! | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
Weber; 'But a war in the next series is definitely hinted at...' ;) No - I know what you mean. I just wasn't as affected by it as i hoped I'd be. Smith saying to Corden 'What's stopping you?' and 'You're important' in the Lodger made me cry, but nothing in this one did, sadly. It was ok after those high points. And the omlette, which summed up everything the Doctor does, his whole philosophy and approach to life. | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.55 |
"But a war in the next series is definitely hinted at..." Well the bad vamp from season 1 is back but the creepy old guy killed most of the vampires when he blew up their HQ about 3 episodes from the end so any "war" is going to be on a small scale. They've set up some plotlines for the next series and they look unpleasant - but if the plotlines hinted at for the next season were that they were going to hold jolly tea parties and play hockey and eat jam doughnuts, it wouldn't encourage many people to watch. It is a horror show after all (even if it does come with a big dose of jet black humour. "Werewolf guilt? jewish guilt? pretty much the same thing...") | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.133.86 |
I suppose. It's just I've been listening to these Alan Bennet Heads things and been so stirred up by them, chewed up and spat out, and they are just cups of tea and stuff. Funny, isn't it? I will watch BH, though, because it still did have qualities I like. I just detected it being shaped by its success and trying to hang onto it a bit. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
I just detected it being shaped by its success and trying to hang onto it a bit. Another symptom of the modern disease - the fear of challenging the audience, sadly... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Being Human is great because it does exactly that - challenges the audience. I coulnd't believe how strong some of the horror elements were in that second series. It's certainly not mainstream fare. The second season actually abandoned a lot of the elements that made the first so succesful: it broadened its scope, got more ambitious. And there were plenty of cups of tea being made. | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.170.28.252 |
'Afterlife' was most certainly one of the scariest recent shows on TV. The episode 'Lullaby' struck a chord. Another great British TV genre show of the past few years was 'Apparitions' starring Martin Shaw as a reluctant Exorcist. This show could have gone on to much greater heights but sadly it was cancelled after series 1 gradually lost it's promising initial audience to the 'cultural' behemoth that is 'I'm a Celebrity'. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Sean, you're wrong. Allegedly Joe Ahearne was talked into doing APPARITIONS as a sweetener so that he could bring us the show he really wants to...so I've been told, anyway. But yes, it was a good show. | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.170.28.252 |
It was a great show. You mean there's more of 'Apparitions' on the cards? Or something else entirely? | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Something else entirely...so I've been told. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Btw, I'm not being a tease. I was told this when I was drunk by someone "in the know", so can't recall the details. | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.170.28.252 |
"In the know". You fell for that old pickup line Z? I think you've gotten more than you bargained for that night! Which would explain the (deliberate?) memory lapse.  | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
What, you mean I took it up the bum for nothing? Never mind, it was fun. |