Octopus Overlords

Grifman wrote:

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:07 pm Barbarians

So I watched the first episode tonight and it wasn't bad. It was a bit slow for me because I'm more interested in the history than I am in "young barbarian love" angle portrayed early on, but now the main protagonist was revealed at the end so I expect things to pick up. But what impressed me was the more or less historical armor the Romans had. The cavalry has the correct elongated hexagonal shields, the German auxiliary cavalry was equipped with Roman helmets and mail shirts (not legionary armor), the Roman general had the "muscle" cuirass, the Roman legionary infantry had lorica segmentata (which was found at the Teutoberg Forest battlefield), and the cavalry mask was a nice touch though it probably wasn't worn under these circumstances (more for parade ground).

I'm watching this as well and we are enjoying it. Gives me that Vikings vibe.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:07 pm Barbarians

Ok, finished this. Great job with the story, pretty much kept to history, with plausible filling of the gaps. Best part was showing very well the internal conflict that Arminius had and giving a motivation for his actions.

That said, the last hour was a big disappointment for me. The real battle was nothing like that portrayed in the show. In real life, the Romans trudged on for two or three days/nights under constant attack and ambush through storms and rain, slowly getting whittled down until they came to a more open area leading through swampy marshland. The Germans had built a trench and walls there and a wall along a hill to the Roman left along the trail as the terrain opened up, and this final push was just to much for the tattered and weary legions. The remnants were surrounded and massacred. So for me, a movie that had done so well, disappointed me at the end.

We have a separate thread for that.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Mon Sep 28, 2020 11:27 pm The Queen's Gambit

Three episodes in, and this is good.

Edit: Finished and it was really good. But damn if the lead actress didn’t sound like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (SMG) every time she talked.

Queen’s Gambit was absolutely fabulous! I would (and plan on) watch again before the year is over. The wallpaper patterns alone is enough of a reason to give the series a look.

KKBlue wrote: ↑Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:16 pm The wallpaper patterns alone is enough of a reason to give the series a look.

This is a legit accurate take. The set design in Queen's Gambit is amazing.

AWS260 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:25 pm

KKBlue wrote: ↑Tue Nov 03, 2020 10:16 pm The wallpaper patterns alone is enough of a reason to give the series a look.

This is a legit accurate take. The set design in Queen's Gambit is amazing.

Concur.

The White Tiger

The Life Ahead

Selena

Bridgerton

We finished Away tonight. Despite its premature cancellation after only this first season, I'd recommend it.

Zaxxon wrote: ↑Tue Nov 10, 2020 12:23 am We finished Away tonight. Despite its premature cancellation after only this first season, I'd recommend it.

We are 3 episodes in and liking it.

Yeah, we thought it was great. Has a quite inspiring final episode, and we felt it definitely didn't deserve the harsh criticism. It's like all the criticism was from people expecting hard sci-fi and reacting badly to the drama. Is it so bad that there may be some people that actually want drama rather than the stark sci-fi? My Mom is quite picky about what she watches, and wouldn't have been interested a strict sci-fi about going to Mars, but the characters, their backstories and the storyline is what made things engaging for her. And man, Hillary Swank put in a great performance, as well as the others. They were all unique with something worthwhile to contribute. And while I wouldn't have expected them to be very scientifically accurate, my Dad who is usually very critical about these things ended up giving them a pass because everything else was just so well done and entertaining. But in a way, there's a lot of truth in what they've shown via the drama. Not too long after watching this, we watched Mark Kelly's A Year in Space, also on Netflix, and it was interesting to note the parallels they were showing via his Wife and their daughter, in how family can be affected via long missions, and I had to wonder if Away was partially patterned on his experiences.

I think it was in the 8th episode, where Hillary Swank's character mentions that she had gotten a telescope from Walmart as a kid, but couldn't see shit with it. At this point, I cheered, because whenever Amateur astronomers receive questions for scope suggestions, the golden rule is to steer clear away from department store telescopes, and one of the writers must have personally experienced this, and it was great to see it finally acknowledged in media.

The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again

Watched The Trial of the Chicago 7 today and it was good. Having lived through that crap I was a bit reluctant, but I'm glad I did. Sacha Baron Cohen was perfect as Abbie Hoffman, who knew he could act. I had forgotten what a dipshit Judge Hoffman was, also well played by Frank Langella. I was less impressed by Tom Hayden.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 12:55 am Watched The Trial of the Chicago 7 today and it was good. Having lived through that crap I was a bit reluctant, but I'm glad I did. Sacha Baron Cohen was perfect as Abbie Hoffman, who knew he could act. I had forgotten what a dipshit Judge Hoffman was, also well played by Frank Langella. I was less impressed by Tom Hayden.

I saw this a few weeks ago and also thought it was really good. I similarly thought Sacha Baron Cohen was very good, I remarked in another thread, I think he should drop his Borat schtick and try more mainstream roles. If I knew he wasn't going to go off the rails I would definitely watch him in other projects. I also agree Frank Langella did a great job but can't recall anything where he didn't, watching him portray an off the wall judge was some scary stuff. Don't know how many folks here have had their lives placed in the hands of a Judge but it's not a pleasant experience and this accurately portrayed my deep rooted fear and disgust that we give these individuals such incredible power and latitude in this country and it is very nearly unchecked. Think you may have meant Eddie Redmayne who portrayed Tom Hayden, and I again agree. His mannerism's never seem to change from one role to the next.

Alice in Borderland

The Mess You Leave Behind

We Are The Champions

I'm three episodes in on The Queen's Gambit. So far, this is excellent in all categories that I like in a TV show. Really good and I don't like chess! Definitely the best show I've seen this year.

Finished Letter for the King, which was a great fantasy series. Shame it's so short at 6 episodes, as I can only hope there's more coming.

Torfish wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 12:46 pm I'm three episodes in on The Queen's Gambit. So far, this is excellent in all categories that I like in a TV show. Really good and I don't like chess! Definitely the best show I've seen this year.

Agreed, I just finished it last night. On paper it's something I would have avoided but I'm so glad I gave it a chance, mainly because I like Anna Taylor Joy. It felt like watching an extended Oscar-caliber movie.

I just binged Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House Of Fun.

I would try to describe it, but I'll just give you this clip (slightly NSFW):



It goes on in that vein for six episodes, the whole run doable in two hours.

You owe this to yourself.

That's for sharing that - hadn't seen it.

...No.

....yes?

You do you, boo.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 7:44 pm You do you, boo.

It reminds me of those creepy-ass puppets. You know what I'm talking about.

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:13 pm It reminds me of those creepy-ass puppets. You know what I'm talking about.

Whew, for a minute I thought you were talking about creepy ass-puppets.

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:13 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 7:44 pm You do you, boo.

It reminds me of those creepy-ass puppets. You know what I'm talking about.

Oh, it's much more fun and less dark than that (if I know what you mean...).

Holman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:29 pm I just binged Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House Of Fun.

I would try to describe it, but I'll just give you this clip (slightly NSFW):



It goes on in that vein for six episodes, the whole run doable in two hours.

You owe this to yourself.

I watched the first two episodes last night, and it made me laugh far harder than it probably should have. Completely absurd and random, feels like a much raunchier Australian version of Monty Python. Or "The Wiggles" for adults. Not every sketch lands, but when it does, it's hilarious.

Some fantastic cameos as well.

I watched the first episode earlier, and I was the same way. There was a stretch where I wasn't sure where they were going, but two minutes later I was trying not to spray food on my monitor.

I agree it hits and misses, but when it hits, it’s hilarious. The dishwashing machine (aka Kristen Schaal) scene alone was worth the price of admission.

P.S. anyone else catch the homelander actor cameo?

hepcat wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 8:47 pm P.S. anyone else catch the homelander actor cameo?

That one definitely caused a double-take

Finished Season 1, that’s the funniest damn thing I’ve seen in ages. Laughed so hard at the sketch about sneaking food from the fridge that I woke up the twins.

Best completely random line: “Kevin Costner’s full of shit!”

Personally, I want to try to work the line “Don’t hit me, I’m Italian!” into any physical confrontations I may experience.

I'm also going to find it difficult to refer to coffee as anything other than "Morning Brown."

I am going to have to check out that show.

Also, I believe that for the next 48 hours this is the Crown thread.