Decent Recent TV

[Ascender]

I love pretty much everything about The Mandalorian. Each episode is a perfect length, tightly scripted and I love how they're expanding on Star Wars in a fun way with some great nods to the originals without being really ham fisted about it or trying to please everyone like they did with the recent movies. The Western-influence is really well done and even the "filler" episodes are just so much fun that I really don't care if the main plots about finding the Jedi and other Mandalorians aren't moving on at-pace.

+1 on all of that - soundtrack is really well done too.

Some of the episodes are better than others but the scriptwriters seem to be a revolving pool so that would make sense.

You're probably right that they are best kept short - though that means I've tended to binge watch 3 or 4 in a session and I'm all caught up now...

I'll add another word. Charming. The Mandalorian is utterly charming and the way they handle Baby Yoda melts the heart of a cynical 45 year old Scotsman. Genuinely ashamed at myself for how I get suckered in.

This week's episode was another good one - lots of little hints about where things are going to move it on, but also some more great action and use of Star Wars imagery and characters.

[Beany]

Yeah, fans of Dark Forces will be pleased.

[Ascender]

Yeah, fans of Dark Forces will be pleased.

That was my first thought too, but I see there's been some different iterations of them in the books as well so nobody knows which way they'll go with it. Its the first show in a while where I'm annoyed at having to wait A WHOLE WEEK for the next episode.

[Rich B]

Cara's enjoyed lockdown hasn't she - she's twice the woman she used to be!

[Beany]

Yeah, fans of Dark Forces will be pleased.

That was my first thought too, but I see there's been some different iterations of them in the books as well so nobody knows which way they'll go with it. Its the first show in a while where I'm annoyed at having to wait A WHOLE WEEK for the next episode.

I'd expect they'd reach from the most recent canon-eque source to keep it consistent with the rest of the Disney universe, but still, it's interesting.

And yeah, it feels like it was written to be episodic, so I don't mind so much. Whereas the Boys S2 feels like it was meant to be binged in one go, so that was more annoying.

[tim]

The Queen's Gambit (Netflix) has been really enjoyable to watch. Doesn't hurt that Anya Taylor-Joy is a minx, mind.

[Simon]

Aye. Just about to watch Ep. 6. This series has been masterful.

[Beany]

Mandalorian update

Some good lore stuff thrown in this week. No spoilers, but some major bits opened up.

Also, just to be clear, if you stop watching as soon as the credits start, you're missing out on some utterly lovely concept art that they put over the first minute or so of the credits.

I keep hearing good things about Queens Gambit - I think I'll binge it once it's all up.

[JonMad]

I keep hearing good things about Queens Gambit - I think I'll binge it once it's all up.

It is! (7 episodes)

[Simon]

Finished it last night. Quite brilliant IMO. Sure the end was fairly predictable, but it could've gone another way too. And I like how they got to the finish.

Great series, worthy of a rewatch in a couple of months.

[Ascender]

Mandalorian update

Some good lore stuff thrown in this week. No spoilers, but some major bits opened up.

Also, just to be clear, if you stop watching as soon as the credits start, you're missing out on some utterly lovely concept art that they put over the first minute or so of the credits.

I keep hearing good things about Queens Gambit - I think I'll binge it once it's all up.

The Mandalorian is just so well made and great fun. Loved how you jumped straight in to the action this week and the cinematography with a melding of Western and samurai was stunning. Really enjoyed it.

I've added Queens Gambit to the watchlist too although I've heard mixed things about the latter episodes.

Still got The Witcher to watch but am currently addicted to Tehran on Apple TV which is a very good spy show set in Iran.

[Beany]

The Witcher is quite enjoyable, I'd imagine you get more out of it if you're familiar with the lore, but having never so much as seen a Witcher game being played, I liked it.

[Simon]

I've added Queens Gambit to the watchlist too although I've heard mixed things about the latter episodes.

One of the things I really like about Gambit was the pace of the whole series. In just 7 episodes they covered so much and at no point were you looking at the clock waiting for this scene to end or the episode to finish. There's no dead wood in the cinematography at all.

[Rich B]

I've added Queens Gambit to the watchlist too although I've heard mixed things about the latter episodes.

One of the things I really like about Gambit was the pace of the whole series. In just 7 episodes they covered so much and at no point were you looking at the clock waiting for this scene to end or the episode to finish. There's no dead wood in the cinematography at all.

I thought the complete opposite to the pace. The first episode was great but it's ground to a halt by episode 5. I'm bored of watching drawn out chess games with very predictable outcomes.

[ZedLeg]

The Third Day

Sky Atlantic min series about weirdos on a small British island. Heavy Wicker Man vibes as you would expect and a great cast.

Well worth watching.

I watched the first series of His Dark Materials, the other day.

I really liked it but I’m not sure how much you’d get out of it if you’re not a fan of the books.

[RobYob]

I watched the first series of His Dark Materials, the other day.

I really liked it but I’m not sure how much you’d get out of it if you’re not a fan of the books.

I thoroughly enjoyed His Dark Materials season 1 knowing nothing about it really. Then went and listened to the Audiobook (also very good). Season 2 is excellent so far.

A bit over two weeks until Season 5 of The Expanse starts and the trailers are looking fantastic. Sad but hopeful that the news of it being renewed but ending for Season 6 will give the whole saga a fitting conclusion. I can then start on the books which I've been avoiding as I've enjoyed the TV adaptation so much

[Matty]

A bit over two weeks until Season 5 of The Expanse starts and the trailers are looking fantastic. Sad but hopeful that the news of it being renewed but ending for Season 6 will give the whole saga a fitting conclusion. I can then start on the books which I've been avoiding as I've enjoyed the TV adaptation so much

Seems that Cas Anvar (Alex) won't be back for S6 - a few accusations have seen to that. I wonder how they'll write him out?

[Swervin_Mervin]

I watched the first series of His Dark Materials, the other day.

I really liked it but I’m not sure how much you’d get out of it if you’re not a fan of the books.

I thoroughly enjoyed His Dark Materials season 1 knowing nothing about it really. Then went and listened to the Audiobook (also very good). Season 2 is excellent so far.

I particularly like that Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the voice of Andrew Scott's daemon

[Shlergen]

Dark material books are brilliant.

[Beany]

I've added Queens Gambit to the watchlist too although I've heard mixed things about the latter episodes.

One of the things I really like about Gambit was the pace of the whole series. In just 7 episodes they covered so much and at no point were you looking at the clock waiting for this scene to end or the episode to finish. There's no dead wood in the cinematography at all.

I dunno what Rich is on about. I barely noticed the chess while I was drooling over Anya Taylor-Joy. She's a bona-fide minx.

Otherwise I agree, good series.