| Author | Message | ||
     Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.176.6.105 |
Anyone see this last night? I really enjoyed it, and I think it'll get even better as the various stories pull together. Thursday evenings, eh - Mitchell & Webb back, and now this - wonderful! | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Yeah, looks promising. I loved the clown. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Got them both on tape from last night. Has anyone watched that Krod Maldoon and is it as bad as it looked from the trailers? I haven't bothered because Matt Lucas is in it and I just want to punch him every time I see him on telly. Something about his face that you'd never get tired of smashing it with a heavy blunt instrument... | ||
| Martin Roberts (Martin_roberts) Username: Martin_roberts Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.5.239.91 |
I was very tempted to watch the second episode, but decided to wait until next week as its rare I find two programmes on TV back to back that I look forward to. | ||
| Steveduffy (Steveduffy) Username: Steveduffy Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 86.159.105.54 |
Looks extremely promising, doesn't it, Mick? | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
Psychoville was great. Loved the trainee serial killer and his bontempi-loving mum. :-) | ||
| Steveduffy (Steveduffy) Username: Steveduffy Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 86.159.105.54 |
"Sorry, Mum - I did a bad murder..." | ||
| Alansjf (Alansjf) Username: Alansjf Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 94.194.134.45 |
Will have to check this out on iplayer - clown with a hook for a hand! - but it started right after Occupation finished on BBC1, and I didn't feel quite able to make the transition. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.176.6.105 |
"Mr Jelly. Keeps Kids Quiet"! | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.176 |
I loved the darkness of The League of Gentlemen so I recorded this. Might watch it over the weekend. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.208.48.117 |
Just seen it and thought it was great - exactly the same kind of exquisitely British creepy horror that worked so well in LoG. At the moment this could turn out to be the best thing on TV this year. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Need to watch this, definitely. I've watched bits of 'Krod Mandoon' and...er... it sucks donkey balls I'm afraid. Glad to see I'm not the only one who gets given the creeps every time Matt Lucas appears. Another reason I couldn't stand Little Britain. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.208.48.117 |
Krod Mandoon will probably turn out to be the most disappointing series of the year - the production design is great and it looks lovely, which makes it all the more depressing that these are wasted with a seriously shit script and lacklustre performances. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.78.58.217 |
'I loved the darkness of The League of Gentlemen' Love it too. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Just watched the first episode of Psychoville on iPlayer. Brilliant stuff. Eerie, funny, fascinating and with an undertone of pathos. Oddly, at the end of the episode, up comes a screen saying 'More Like This'... advertising 2 episodes of Last Of The Summer Wine. Has Roy Clarke made a bold new departure?! | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.176 |
"Oddly, at the end of the episode, up comes a screen saying 'More Like This'... advertising 2 episodes of Last Of The Summer Wine. Has Roy Clarke made a bold new departure?!" Simon, you made me do a little wee in my pants.  | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Oops. Sorry about that.  | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
It was rather good wasn't it. That and Mitchell and Webb on one night? we're being spoilt. If we could have that Steve Coogan thing about the ex-rock star (or even Lead Balloon) instead of Crud Muldoon, Thursday nights would be almost perfect. | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.166.30.24 |
Just watched episode 2 and this show just gets creepier and funnier ! David's over-egging of the pudding at the murder mystery dinner in episode 1 was the funniest thing i've seen all year. Episode 3 tonight and the plot is already thickening nicely. Like congealing blood. Can't wait! Anyone have any theories on the black gloved figure ? Or the 'institution' linking the main characters ? Or the identity of Mr Jolly ? Or the girl they are all alleged to have killed ? Or how Mr Jelly lost his hand ? And just why would Lomax give up his eyes for a beannie toy ? And so on and so forth. This show has 'CULT CLASSIC' written all over it. Just like League of Gentlemen. | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.72.14.113 |
And here was me thinking this thread was about the Christopher Fowler novel - another one in my "to be read" pile. A new sitcom to rival 'The League Of Gentlemen' - you can't be serious!! Is this a horror themed show? Hadn't heard a thing about it until now. | ||
| Barbara Roden (Nebuly) Username: Nebuly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 142.179.24.243 |
The 'institution' seems to have been some sort of mental institute, with various of the characters having been patients there at the same time. And Mr Jelly keeps saying that Mr Jolly is responsible for the loss of his hand (is Mr Jolly someone we've already met, I wonder?). Looking forward to part 3 tonight. | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.166.30.24 |
Yes Stephen ! This is a very,VERY dark comedy. At times I didn't know whether to grimace in disgust or laugh nervously at these new Shearsmith and Pemberton creations. The ex Leaguers seem to have pulled out all the stops for this show again playing several grotesque characters each. Except this time around Mark Gatiss is taking a sabbatical. I knew nothing about this until the night of the first episode. It came in under the radar. I didn't see a single trailer for it. All previous episodes are still available to watch on the official site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/psychoville/ They have even created an extended universe on the web. Some characters have youtube channels and some have actual 'real world' websites blurring the lines between fantasy and reality but also providing further clues and details about their histories and the world they inhabit which adds to the TV series. Great stuff ! | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
I can't believe this has pased me by!! You know Sean what a huge LoG fan I am and have been crying out for them to reteam these last few years. Looks like this is what I've been waiting for... | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.176.12.179 |
Nice ROPE parody in tonight's episode... | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Fantastic episode wasn't it.I'm going to have to watch it again to count the number of Hitch references. The use of Superman was inspired. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
Class act, that. Just watched it. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.176.12.179 |
I only saw one break in the filming clearly, although I suspect there may have been a second. Great fun, and not what I expected at all after the last few week's worth of vignettes. | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.166.29.192 |
Brilliant episode ! Superbly acted and good to see Mark Gatiss back in fine form. I suspect this will be his only appearance though. I only spotted one cut myself during the entire half hour. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.152.221.222 |
I've only seen the ROPE episode of PSYCHOVILLE and it was good! They did better than Hitchcock with regard to filming it all in one take with no hidden breaks. The results was that the performances weren't perfect and so felt more real. It was like an evening in the theatre. Promising! | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Heck, I've missed too much of this show now! :-( Wonder how long it'll be before the DVD is released? I found watching 'The League Of Gentlemen' in isolated episodes out of sequence diluted the whole effect of the show. When I got the complete DVD set and watched the whole thing in order it was a quite mind-blowing revelation and somthing I'd like to experience with this one as well! Papa Lazarou - does he rank as an evil clown??? | ||
| Barbara Roden (Nebuly) Username: Nebuly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 142.179.24.243 |
Watched episode 4 last night. Tim hasn't seen ROPE, so I explained about the long takes. Only spotted one cut, when the lid opened. I'd like to watch it again too. And I didn't know Gatiss was going to be in it; as soon as the door opened Tim grinned and said 'It's Mark Gatiss!' He loves the happy song; went back to that scene after and did his own version. Wish there'd been shows like this around when I was eleven. . . . | ||
| Steveduffy (Steveduffy) Username: Steveduffy Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 86.159.105.54 |
Hmmm... well, Papa is really more of a ringmaster, isn't he? Like you, Stephen (W), I'm hoping for a quick DVD release for PSYCHOVILLE. Mind you, I said the same thing about Mark Gatiss' excellent CROOKED HOUSE at Christmas... and no sign of that yet. Bum. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.152.216.15 |
PSYCHOVILLE is out in August I think, right after the broadcast is finished. Commentaries on all episodes. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.61.140 |
>>>I'm hoping for a quick DVD release for PSYCHOVILLE. Mind you, I said the same thing about Mark Gatiss' excellent CROOKED HOUSE at Christmas... I have Crooked on DVD. Got it from a place darn sarf called Curtis House. Excellent, they are. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.112.217 |
It's a lie! | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.152.216.15 |
I don't know if this is any good yet. The photo was obviously chosen by someone who has never read the story! http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dxg4h | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.112.217 |
 | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Splutter... what's that!! Mark Gatiss? Crooked House? Is this another series by my favourite horror comedians I've missed??? Beginning to think I've been living in a box this last year...!! | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.153.165.64 |
>>>Mark Gatiss? Crooked House? Is this another series by my favourite horror comedians I've missed??? Stephen,this was BBC Four's traditional 'A ghost story at Christmas' offering last Christmas. Instead of repeats of the classic M.R.James adaptations from the 70's we were treated to an all new portmanteau presentation of 3 linked jamesian ghost stories written by Mark Gatiss. All 3 revolving around the creepy Geap Manor. Believe me they were extremely scary, especially the last one 'The Knocker'. It has been repeated a few times on the Beebs digital channels since. keep your eye out for it. It was an exceptional piece of genre TV. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
The happy song was called "Superman" I believe. Which fitted in nicely with spoofing Rope which was of course all about two people who thought they were Nietzian supermen. | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Based on the Leopold & Loeb case, of course, which was filmed straight in 1959 by Richard Fleischer - another classic and interesting to compare the two movies. | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.4.20.22 |
Thanks Sean, loved the recent BBC version of 'A View From A Hill' but still haven't got seeing 'Number 13'. Must look out for 'Crooked House' now as well! Should have said that film is 'Compulsion'. Has a blistering performance by Orson Welles. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.176 |
When the Gatiss character remarked that Freud said all men wanted to kill their father and sleep with their mother, and the Pemberton character spluttered his tea, was sublime. What a fantastic piece of timing, given that it was filmed in such a long take. Easily the best episode out of the four so far. | ||
| Stu (Stu) Username: Stu Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 86.29.190.198 |
Really getting into this now. It just keeps getting more surreal. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.27.129.86 |
Great episode this week. That baby . . . | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.153.165.64 |
And that serial killer musical number! I almost choked to death on my rich tea biscuits I was laughing so hard. All together now.. It can be such a bore When faced with yet another whore To think of a new method to dispatch her So when I’m feeling grand I Change my modus operandi And in that way no one will ever catch ya When you’ve covered all the angles From poisoning to strangles And you haven’t yet been dragged into the dock Its always much more thrilling To be inventive with your killing But if they catch you you could get a nasty shock Instead of trying to restrict him Take a trophy from your victim A clipping of pubic the hairs is good And if you want to cause a ripple Make a belt from ladies nipples And wear it as you dance round in the woods And while your heart is dripping At the thought of yet more ripping And your hands they might be slipping From the neck that they are gripping And the acid it is dripping From the body you are dipping And your trusty spade is flipping All the bodies you are tipping And while you mass your clippings Of De Salvo, Haig and Crippin (Christie! Sorry) Take some advice from one killer to another There’s always someone worse than you In your case its your mother. | ||
| Barbara Roden (Nebuly) Username: Nebuly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 216.232.189.213 |
Tim now knows, and can sing, the Jack the Ripper song. And 'Superman', complete with actions. Should I be worried? | ||
| Stu (Stu) Username: Stu Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 86.29.183.79 |
Only if he says, "I done a bad murder." | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Was I the only one who was completely creeped out when the baby started talking? | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.118.49 |
Wipe my bum! | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.121.214.11 |
What did peeps think of the season finale? | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.72 |
Uh. I've missed the whole of this series. So it was all right, yeah? I'd heard about the two characters in a room episode. It was an additional episode especially written, you know, to up the budget for the whole series. They needed extra dosh for it, so the producer (or someone) told them to write a two-hander episode and they'd use the dosh spare from it throughout the rest of the series. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.118.49 |
That makes sense, Mark, as the series ran to seven episodes rather than a more usual six. As for the finale, I'm not sure - I really enjoyed the episode but felt as if there was going to be an eighth even though I knew there wasn't. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.90.161 |
I haven't finished watching this yet, but it hasn't held my interest in the way that LoG did. I think it suffers from "too many notes" syndrome. That is, the horror elements don't have time to breathe, and it ends up overegging the dark episodes. And if anyone can write a review with more cliches in it than this, I'll be a monkey's aunt. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.90.161 |
Moments of sheer quality, tho, throughout. Loved the mechanic trying to fix Mr Jelly's car. | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.153.165.64 |
I quite enjoyed the finale. Several twists there that i never saw coming. And it has been left open for a sequel which can only be a good thing. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Odd. Very odd. Enjoyed it but it doesn't feel finished. There needs to be a sequel. Still, the pleasure's in the journey rather than the arrival. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.169 |
I missed the bloody last one! Aagh!!!!! | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.90.161 |
It's on BBC IPlayer, Steve. All the eps are. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.169 |
I know. But I prefer not to watch on my laptop. I also wanted to record it onto my hard drive with the other episodes, to watch again in a few months. Thanks all the same though, Gary. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.118.49 |
Steve - what pvr are you using? I still have the show on my Topfield box and can dump an MPG onto a DVD for you if you wish. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.169 |
Mick, I've got a Sony DVD 995 with a 250Gb hard drive. I'm not very technical, I'm afraid, so I didn't understand any of your last post, other than about 50% of the words. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.118.49 |
Ok, I could put it on a DVD for you (last night's episode) if you like... | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.169 |
Mick, could you please email me at stephenbacon(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk and we'll sort something out. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.118.49 |
Email sent... | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.253.174.81 |
Finally, and with much delay, this tremendous series had had a viewing at Probert Towers. It's becoming increasingly obvious that Pemberton & Shearsmith are the crueller half of the League of Gentlemen, with an eye for the grotesque that's uncomfortably close to real life, and a sense of humour about such things that takes no prisoners. Marvellous to see this kind of thing making it to our screens and I hope there's another deliciously horrible series on the way. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Yes, this was great fun, wasn't it? My only criticism was with the ending - it alls eemed a bit rushed and cofusing. Hopefully a second series will tie up the loose ends, though. Have you seen THE COTTAGE, with Shearsmith and the wonderful Andy Serkis? Highly recommended: a sort of British take on US rural slasher films. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.253.174.81 |
I haven't seen THE COTTAGE as the reviews were uniformly dreadful. But if you think it's worth it my friend it's going on the list! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Just don't expect too much and I'm sure you'll get a giggle or two out of it, old chap. I thought it was hilarious in parts. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
It's one of those I liked but can't for the life of me say why... | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I really liked 'The Cottage' as well. It wasn't exactly laugh-out-loud funny rather than ghoulishly tongue-in-cheek but was spectacularly gruesome, well acted, not as predictable as this kind of thing often is and had a truly memorable monster (incredible make-up job I thought). | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Finally picked this up on DVD at a reasonable price and intend to start watching it tonight, one-a-week for the next 7 weeks. Was my biggest TV miss of recent years and can't bloody wait!! | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 129.11.76.229 |
The Rope episode is class. | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
Was just going to say what Gary did. It's a mini-masterpiece! | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I don't want to get into a whole string of gushing superbatives, as I wouldn't stop, but that first episode exceeded all my expectations. I say that as someone who considers 'The League Of Gentlemen' the greatest thing to come out of British television since 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. No holds barred horror/comedy/drama at its most perfectly realised - like a dream come true for me. I've got another six weeks of this and I hear there's to be a feature length Halloween Special this year and Series 2 is to air in 2011. Hallelujah!!!!  | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
The last episode is very disappointing - poor, actually. But there's good stuff enough along the way to make this series a joy to watch. | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
It was all I could do to restrain myself, Stevie, as I really envy you seeing it for the first time. Zed's right about the last episode (but hooray - it's not the end!), but the show in general is probably my favourite-ever TV offering. (gush, gush, gush) | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
The murder mystery night was hilarious!! My mum & dad went on one recently for their 50th wedding anniversary and the thought of them seeing something like that woman with the sausages hanging out of her and the message written in faeces had me in fits. "Mum, I did a bad murder" - priceless.  | ||
| Nathaniel Tapley (Natt) Username: Natt Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 78.146.249.100 |
My wife and I still use "Ask Graham!" as a stock response to any question we don't want to answer... | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
Watched the first three episodes of 'Psychoville' now and it continues to grow in stature with virtually every scene and new character. The "Clown Court" dream sequence, overseen by Judge Pennywise, in that last one was truly frightening and reminded me of one of the more nightmarish episodes of the old 'Outer Limits' or 'Twilight Zone'. All the continuing stories are exceptionally well done pastiches of some of the greatest themes in horror. I know I'm watching a modern classic unfold every week with this one and don't want it to end... | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
Watched the first four eps now and I can't get over how great this series is... I'm bereft of words. Fuck me, that tribute to 'Rope' episode was incredible, really incredible TV. Awesome stuff!!  | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
Caaaaaaaaaaaaaalm down. It was only a TV show. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
The last episode is shit, though, Steveie-weevie. It almost lets the entire thing down. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
No, I have to agree with Kate, I'm not exaggerating (believe me) when I say this is one of the best things I've ever seen on television. I haven't been this ecstatic over a British comedy show since, well since... 'The League Of Gentlemen' come to think of it! | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
What do you do for a living, Steve? | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Well, in my job staying sane is a full-time, um, job... I'm a civil servant, but quite possibly not for much longer. Ah, but in my dreams I write the blurb for video nasties and deliver menacing, gravelly (if only) voice-overs to grainy trailers of 70s horror potboilers. Maybe in another life, eh.  | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
A civil servant! Ah-ha! Hence the ecstasy over TV! Only joshing. You worried about 22nd June . . . ? I am. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Fucking terrified mate... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
Aren't we all... | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Can't wait to see the next episode tonight! | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
Wonderful again, the culmination (almost) of the "baby" storyline was just sublime - in fact, one of the best distillations of pure EC horror I've ever seen done on screen. They copied all the tropes of those old Amicus anthos to a tee and, if anything, surpassed them imho. A pure Joy!! | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Only one episode left now and that last one built up an impressive head of steam - maybe too much to be lived up to? I loved the way they carried the baby storyline through to a logical, and truly horrific conclusion and liked the twist in the psychokinetic dwarf tale. Seen it done before but still wasn't expecting it, another inspired riffing on an old horror cliché. After that I watched the "behind the scenes" doc on the extras and was mildly surprised to learn that they really did make the series up as they were going along! They started with a bunch of stock horror characters and had no idea where the series would take them, writing each episode as they came to it - which perhaps explains Zed's comments about the final ep being unsatisfactory? I'll let you know after I've watched it. One other fact I was amazed to learn in the extras: when they came to plan the budget for a planned six episode series they realised there was a little left over that could be spun into a seventh if they did it "on the cheap" and the result was the largely improvised 'Rope' episode - one of the greatest things ever seen on British television! Some people are just too talented!! | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
Some people are just too talented!! Disgusting, innit? Did you watch the alternate angle of the "Rope" episode? It's a lot of fun too. A masterpiece of choreography and timing and one that really rewards multiple viewings. I was in tears over that Trilogy of Terror scene with Joy and there's still some twisted fun to be had in the final episode, though as Zed said, it's ultimately disappointing. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.182.163.130 |
That last ep was indeed not so impressive - it felt more like a mid-series episode than the end of a series. Strange... | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Kate, I only became aware last night that there was an alternate viewing option for 'Rope' which I'll watch after the last one I think. On the whole the six I've seen so far already warrant the word "masterpiece" for this series... the last one would have to stink to high heaven (which I can't see) to have that major an impact. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Good God, man, get some perspective - it's nothing near a masterpiece. It's very good (apart from the really, really rubbish final episode which is so bad I didn't even understand what was going on). The final episode of Six Feet Under is a masterpiece; that episode of Lost with the first ever flash-forward is a masterpiece; Sense of Freedom is a masterpiece; Alan Clarke's The Firm, Made in Britain and Elephant are masterpieces. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
My head almost exploded typing that.  | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
Never The Twain is a masterpiece. Smallbridge! That episode in which Smallbridge tells a guy that the Donald Sinden character - who has been taking karate lessons - is a bit deaf and that in order to attract his attention, the guy has to tap him on the shoulder. Ah but, and here's the twist, the Donald Sinden character has already told Smallbridge that the next person who taps him on the shoulder will get a karate chop. But, and here's where this comic sequence moves from merely brillllliant to unutterable genius, the guy who's going to tap the Donald Sinden dude's shoulder is also a karate champion. Cue, a hilarious scene involving karate chops and middle-aged men and laughter and tears. Oh man, I chuckled for seconds. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.17.252.126 |
With all respect, I believe you're seriously underrating 'Psychoville', Zed, and I stand by what I said... it's a bloody masterpiece! 'Lost' was shite imo. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
But isn't the point that if you tag everything which is, well, seriously good as a "masterpiece", then the word "masterpiece" loses its power to describe stuff which really is great? I mean, if Psychoville is a masterpiece, how would you describe, say, Hamlet or King Lear? If they're masterpieces, too, then, according to this categorisation, Psychoville is as great a work of art as the best of Shakespeare . . . which is utterly ridiculous. No disrespect to the LoG boys, but it is. | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
True, Gary. I try to avoid it (despite having used it above in the phrase "a masterpiece of choreography") because it's become almost meaningless. (Along with the phrase "tour de force" to describe every halfway decent actor's performance in a film.) I really cringe when I see things like "Beethoven's greatest masterpieces". (As opposed to those other, inferior masterpieces?) I don't think Psychoville is a masterpiece but it's quite possibly my favourite of anything I've ever seen on TV. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
"Beethoven's greatest masterpieces" in commodified terms is market-speak for "those you might have heard in TV commercials". | ||
| Stu (Stu) Username: Stu Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 86.16.1.130 |
Isn't that how all classical music should be listened to? | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.166.117.210 |
This thread is a fucking masterpiece. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.209.217 |
A work of genius. Especially now I've posted on it. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Perhaps 'masterpiece' can be applied to both Psychoville and Shakespeare and Lost, etc, as they are entirely different beasts. You wouldn't compare Graham Greene with David Lodge, or Bowie with Radiohead, or Ligotti with Matheson, now, would you? Each in its own context may very well serve the opinions of many as masterpieces. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
A masterpiece of its type, you mean. Yeah, I can buy that. But then, in that case, I think the qualifying phrase "of its type" is necessary. >>>You wouldn't compare Graham Greene with David Lodge, or Bowie with Radiohead, or Ligotti with Matheson, now, would you? Actually, I probably would. Why not? | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Okay, of its type. But it does sound a little elitist. I mean I refuse to merit what makes Lodge a better writer than Greene or vice-versa. I know which of the two I prefer, but I can't seriously compare them as I believe them to be completely different kinds of writers. Then again I suppose all writers would like to be thought of as different kinds of writers, so that may end up being an impossible task anyway. BUT, you can't compare a great TV show with the work of Shakespeare. It's illogical. Possible. Yes, if you want to expend energy into a fruitless exercise with no visible (well for me) points of connection or comparison. Comparing Radiohead and Bowie, regardless of tracking styles and development and sales, seems to be counter-productive. As Woody Allen said when asked in 1976 about Rocky winning best picture at the Oscars: "They are two completely kinds of movies, how can you ask me if I thought my movie was better." (Obviously I'm paraphrasing) | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
When I say elitist, I mean separating all other forms of writing from Shakespeare, and adding type of, seems unfair. There are different kinds of writing. You wouldn't compare a scientific journal with a biography. Or would you? If you would, then you are clearly on drugs  | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Sheesh... 'Psychoville' is A MASTERPIECE of Television Comedy AND Horror in my humble opinion. For the word "masterpiece" I could equally well use; "masterwork", "supreme example of its genre", "as close to perfection as makes no difference", "work of sheer brilliance", "astonishingly good", etc, etc... I never use the word "masterpiece" lightly, check back over any time I've used it, and sincerely believe that in this case it is warranted IN MY OPINION. When I am impressed by something that much I will always say, as I am entitled to do, and I can't think of another work of Television Comedy Horror that even comes close to 'Psychoville' - apart from TLOG, of course. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
Fair points, yes, but I still hold that if we regard solid and entertaining TV as a "masterpiece" without qualification, then the word loses its power to describe far greater achievements in fiction. If that's elitist, then I'm an elitist. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
>>>'Psychoville' is A MASTERPIECE of Television Comedy AND Horror Ah, now that makes more sense to me - that qualifying phrase. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
I'm also an elitist. I will always prize literature in all its forms over everything else. But I can't compare so easily, and WOULD use masterpiece to describe a piece of TV if I thought it had alleviated itself to the level of art. It's a masterpiece in context, so yes, Gary, I guess I DO agree with you, though hesitantly, as it does feel like entering into the accidental territory of snobbery in art. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Phew... | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
Go on, be honest: you're a snob. We all are. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.154.208 |
We're frequenting Ramsey Campbell's message board and not Shaun Hutson's or even James Herbert's. We're snobs, see. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I'm an insufferable snob when it comes to Art but I do believe all artforms are worthy of individual critical analysis on their own merits. Literature, music, art, architecture, theatre, cinema, television, comicbooks, animation, whatever... | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.121.214.11 |
I think I must be the only person who enjoyed the last episode of psychoville as much as rest of the series. It had some great comic moments, the poor villain of the piece trying to be villainous in his explanatory speeches and one of the others just popping in some innocuous and completely deflating comment to ruin his big moment every time. My favourite moment of the series though was when the doll started talking. Creepy and funny at the same time. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
I'm hoping you won't be alone after I've seen it, Weber... should be this weekend. | ||
| Seanmcd (Seanmcd) Username: Seanmcd Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 86.153.167.211 |
You're not alone Weber! I enjoyed the final episode too. It had to tie up several plot points and move others into new territory in preparation for a second series. So it may have felt more rushed or unfinished than the rest of the eps. Still brilliant though imo. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Finally getting a chance to write up what I thought of the final episode of 'Psychoville'. Yes, it is the least satisfactory and most problematic of the series but only because the final third goes way off at an unexpected tangent to set up a (then hoped for, now happening!) second series, as Sean correctly points out. This part of the episode cannot be properly judged as we don't know (and I suspect neither did they) where these new story threads are headed. As such the finale couldn't help but appear baffling to us now but was still done with the same high production values and great performances as the rest of the series - in a nutshell, the jury is still out on the "ending". Self-indulgent and a touch too clever for their own good, maybe, but I have no doubt of these guy's ability to make it all work out in the end. But as for the first two thirds, tying up the remaining story strands of Series 1, it was as excellent and damn funny and thoroughly satisfying as anything else in the show imo - I'm with you, Weber. So if we take 'Psychoville' as very much still a work in progress - with a Halloween Special due this year and Series 2 out next year - then I disagree that Episode 7 lets down the rest of the series but was, for most of its length, of the same never-before-seen-on-TV awesomely high quality. I can honestly say I have never looked forward to any TV production as keenly as I do the continuation of this brilliantly bizarre show... long may they reign! |