TV Shows

On the subject of Dr Who, Prime TV is having a Dr Who marathon on Christmas Day here, and then playing this year's Christmas special on Boxing Day. Thank goodness, because it will be the only thing worth watching all week.

I've not long finished watching the third and final series of Forbrydelsen. Still trying to come to grips with the ending(!!), but the rest of it was up to the usual standard - great storylines, interesting characters (although I think the young newbie police officer's character was left a bit empty), twisty turny plots, fascinating political machinations, plus the added bonus of some spectacular shots of epic Norwegian fjords. Oh, and Sarah Lund's amazing jumpers, of course. That chevron-y one was particularly awesome.

I like Modern Family a lot. It is one of the few shows that makes me laugh out loud from time to time.

Does anyone know who is going to be the next Doctor? I started watching Dr.Who when it was Christopher Eccleston but never really liked David Tennant nor Matt Stone for that matter. So if the new guy is someone I like I'm thinking of returning to it.

Rewatching Friends and liking it even better this time. Is it me or the sit coms are not really that good anymore? I can't think of one that I eagerly look forward to (Modern Family is good and I don't switch the channel if I came across Two Broke Girls but that's about it for me). Friends, Will and Grace, Fraiser were my favorites (Seinfeld too of course but that is older).

I also can't find a show to watch. I stuck with Grey's out of loyalty and the hot guys. Alicia and her conflicts got tired for me. Scandal is so out there that even Olivia's fantastic office wear is not enough to drive me in.

Have you tried Elementary?  I think it's an interesting take on Sherlock Holmes/Watson.  Luther might also be of interest.  The first four seasons of Prime Suspect were very good.

Capaldi's been around for a long time, and has been in too many things to list. I think the first thing I saw him in was the original Prime Suspect in the 90s playing a transgender prostitute, but he's been in Dr Who before(one of the David Tennant ones, in an episode set in Pompeii), and in Dr Who spin-off Torchwood. He's a wonderful actor, but I have to say that the handful of seconds that he appeared in the most recent Dr Who Christmas special left me unimpressed. Actually, I was unimpressed with the entire episode, especially after the fantastic Day of the Doctor special, so that may have slanted my view on him. :/ I hope he proves me wrong, and turns out to be a great Dr.

I've been watching it (and most of my Bollywood movies) through an online dvd rental service here in New Zealand called Fatso. It has been an absolute Godsend to me as far as BW and foreign-language movies/tv, but I'm guessing that's not going to be a lot of help to you in the US. Sorry, shushpuppy. :/

Back to the cop/crime dramas, there was also a brilliant UK series that came out at around the same time as Prime Suspect, Cracker, starring Robbie Coltrane and written by the equally brilliant Jimmy McGovern. It went a bit wonky towards the end, but it's still a bit of a classic.

I simply cannot get into Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch. He is a very good actor but for some reason I can't seem to like him. But the real turn off as far as the new Sherlock goes (and I love the novels btw) is the cinematography and art direction. I haven't managed to get past it.

deewaniaurat, have you watched Death Comes to Pemberley  yourself? Please let me know if it is any good.  It sounds really intriguing.
I am so excited to hear that episode 2 "The Sign of Three" of Sherlock is redemptive for Sherlock and Watson. We are set to watch that tonight.   Did you know that  the actors that play Sherlock's parents in episode 1 are Benedict Cumberbatch's real parents??  So fun!   And Watson's finance, Mary is Martin Freeman's real girlfriend.   That must have been lots of fun for them.

elizabennet, I can completely understand your aversion to Sherlock. I didn't like it at first, but I just eventually gave in, and after watching both seasons, I like it.   I had the same problem with the American show Elementary, but I really like Jonnie Lee Miller, so I just kept watching and I really like it now.   I think the British show Sherlock is more clever.    I have just had to accept that these new Sherlock shows are more inspired by Sherlock Holmes for a modern audience, than accurate portrayals.  But both shows portray Sherlock as unlikeable.   I think it's unfortunate.  I have read all the Sherlock Holmes cases when I was in High School and I don't think that's accurate at all.   I recently reread "A Study in Scarlett", and I was amazed to realize how young Sherlock and Watson were.   I got so used to Jeremy Brett's portrayal of an older Sherlock.