The Glass Teat, or 'Television'

[Mirefox]

I’ve finished watching the Rings of Power with my kids. I think it is fairly safe to say that it is an absolute abomination re: Tolkien’s legacy and lore.

That said, I was able to appreciate the production and that it was a show that I felt comfortable watching with my kids given my often strict parental oversight.

Still, while the show didn’t give me Wheel of Time-levels of rage, it certainly frustrates me that low rent writers were given the chance to bastardize a body of work that no other writers should have ever had a chance to touch.

One thing that struck me with both RoP and WoT was that the writers for some reason felt the need to create a mystery where none needed to exist solely for the sake of driving interest in the story and in doing so completely went off track.

The hubris in the intern-level writing rooms is really having a massively negative impact on some of these recent adaptations and I fear for future projects that cede too much control to script writers and show runners.

[Natus]

The problem is that the creators and producers don’t care. They are looting the IPs. SW, HP, LotR, etc. Churn out any old crap and keep going. Let the internet smoke itself out in flamewars about casting. Make $ and repeat.

I mean, they let Peter Jackson destroy The Hobbit after RotK. A kid off the street can’t do any worse than that.

[doublebullout]

I used to think that adapting Eddings’ The Belgariad would be a great idea. Now I’m horrified that somebody might try.

[Mirefox]

Ditto Foundation

[OhBollox]

Spy x Family.

A consummate spy, an anxiety-ridden killer, and a telepathic child make up the most unlikely, wholesome family sent on a mission. Their struggles with each other can be seen coming a mile off, but I find it very entertaining regardless.

Avenue 5

Thank God.

The Peripheral.

Fairly pleased with this. It loses some of the teasing ambiguity of Gibson’s book, and there’s a little too much visual flash, which I suppose is necessary if not actually compulsory, but I’m mainly here for the solid cast, with Chloe Grace Moretz as the lead. The country accents seem a little uneven and possibly too broad, but then again considering rural American accents, perhaps not. The near-future in particular is recognisably ours.

[Private_Prinny]

Today the finale episode of season 3 of Star Trek - Lower Decks came out on Amazon Prime and daaaaaaaang…

I was never a big fan of “American style” animation series and only a mid-level Trekkie at best but holy s…cheibenkleister is this prime television entertainment… I watched the first and second seasons 3 times already…gotta go rewatch season 3 now as well.

[Mirefox]

I’m confused; I’ve seen this mentioned as being in Prime but the inky way I can seem to watch it is with a subscription to some other streaming service. Is this a regional thing or am O incompetent? Or both, I suppose?

[Mirefox]

My wife and I are 4/7 of the way through The Watcher on Netflix and it is such an amazingly stupid show. The writing is poor, the acting is bad, the characters are all morons…

I can’t say I’ve seen anything else by Ryan Murphy but I was under the impression that he was something special but if this is any indication of what he makes, no thanks.

[OhBollox]

Here in the UK it’s just on Prime, presumably because we lacked CBS or Paramount streaming services.

[Mirefox]

Lol, I’m glad you understood what I wrote because I just looked back and, wow…

[Snotty128]

I’m also enjoying peripheral for some of the same reasons as you. I could watch this kind of near future sci fi all day. I’ve not read the book so I’m enjoying the pace that the mysteries of the world are being revealed, even if they add as many questions than they answer. I’ve little fear that I’m going to be left hanging, lost style

[Mirefox]

It has been a long watch but I finally finished Rings of Power with my kids. My impressions really haven’t changed.

I searched in vain for a gif of a scene that pretty much sums up the series but couldn’t find it; in the final episode there is a rather cinematic fight and the climax involves a character staring into camera and saying something epic. Oh, what did he say, you ask? He said “I’m good.”

It’s like Tolkien returned from the grave to write this show…………

[OhBollox]

Cabinet of Curiosities.

Best episodes were 3 and 7. Watching F. Murray Abraham smash a role is wonderful, and the cast of 7, including Peter Weller, Eric Andre, Steve Agee, and Sofia Boutella, are fantastic. The series includes multiple superb directors. Some episodes aren’t very good. Most are decent at least.

[biffpow]

@OhBollox

Watching F. Murray Abraham smash a role is wonderful,

I will watch him in anything. He was the best thing about Homeland for me (which is saying something because that cast was elite).

[geigerm]

Have you seen Mythic Quest? Abraham’s just got a supporting role in that show, but he and the entire show are fantastic, IMO.

[biffpow]

I have not seen (or heard of) this! Thank you : )

Grrrr…Apple TV, I have avoided you but you keep putting out shows I want to see…

[kennfusion]

If you do a short term sub to Apple TV, I recommend Mythic Quest, The Morning Show (I really did not think I would like this, but I do) and Severance.

I also liked Foundation, but that has the potential to be a polarizing recommendation

[js619]

For All Mankind is fantastic as well

ETA can’t believe I forgot Ted Lasso and Physical. Mosquito Coast was ok too

[kennfusion]

Cool, good to know. I thought it looked a little boring, but will give it a try.

[js619]

It’s slow at some points but the best show on there imho