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Single Series Dramas

Started by studpuppet, January 25, 2021, 10:12:24 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Dusty Substance


When They See Us - True life story about a bunch of black teens who are wrongly accused of a violent rape. A  jaw-dropping, heart-wrenching mini-series on Netflix.

If we're doing classic BBC mini-series, then The Singing Detective deserves a mention.

Once you get over the wobbly sets and beardless Brian Blessed, I, Clavdivs is a terrific series.

The two American Crime Story series are separate stories, the first on O.J Simpson and the second on Gianni Versace, both excellent and just the right level of camp.

Finally, I thought 11.22.63, the time travel mini-series based on the Stephen King book, was fantastic. Limited series adaptations of King books generally aren't that great (It, The Stand, Langoliers) but 11.22.63 is an exceptional exception.


KennyMonster


Holding On by Tony Marchant is one of my favourites.

This first time I saw David Morrisey on screen.

1997
Synopsis from imdb[Edited for spoilers]

"A complex, moving story of life in the big bad city, in this case London.
a large and diverse group of people seemingly unconnected . As the ripples of change expand this group of people come under increasing pressure to face the harsh realities of their existence and turn away from the cosy fantasies they thought they knew. "


David Morrissey, Phil Daniels, Lesley Manville, Sam Kelly

Waking Life

We're watching limited series now too, as long form ones often felt like they dragged on (and even the best have filler). Will go back in the spring maybe.

Recently, we've burned through:

Guilt - iPlayer. Excellent Scottish black comedy noir by Bob Servant.
The Night Of - Now TV. I enjoyed this to a degree, but how does it compare to the UK Criminal Justice version? Leaps in logic at times and occasionally poor characterisation, but it landed the finish nicely I thought.
When They See Us - Netflix. Largely good.
The Serpent - iPlayer. There's a thread, but this was the best of the recent ones. Not without flaws but definitely a binger.
Watchmen - Now TV. This was a particularly effective watch during the height of BLM and went in a very different direction to what was expected.
Queen's Gambit - Netflix. Again, there's a thread, but I thought it was great to go through on a cold Sunday, curtains drawn.
The Night Manager - iPlayer. Couple of dodgy Le Carre writing decisions, but Laurie nails it. I found it compulsive.
Our Friends in the North - not sure if streaming. Would agree this is the best, although I thought the Soho porn plot was slightly odd.
Chernobyl - Now TV. Exactly what you'd expect from the writer of The Hangovers 2 and 3 (as well as ex-roommate to Ted Cruz) - bleak and dystopian, without being a dystopia. Much like Ted Cruz. Ended up going down the War Game, When the Wind Blows, Threads wormhole afterwards.

That's all I can think of for now. Is Wold Hall good? I enjoy the Tudors generally.

SteveDave

I remember liking "The Outsider" when I watched it but now can't recall anything about it

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8550800/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_5

Written by Stephen King so it might've descended into magic with a k and all that. Ben Mendelsohn was good in though as was Jason Bateman. 

Absorb the anus burn

Spyship. 1983 BBC conspiracy drama about a journalist (played by Tom Wilkinson) investigating the sinking of a fishing vessel and its involvement in a covert British intelligence exercise....
Spoiler alert
Bleak ending alert.
[close]

Gulftastic

There was 'Civvies' in the 90s. The story of some of are brave boys struggling with life outside the army. If I wasn't on my phone I'd post the Harry Enfield spoof which nobody
who didn't watch the one and only (to my knowledge) airing would understand at all.

Thomas

Quote from: paruses on January 25, 2021, 10:53:30 PM
Please do - I might be along enough to comment then - feels like it's just on the edge of tipping into the end game. I couldn't watch tonight because the internet was shit.

Here we go:

https://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic,84812.0.html

KennyMonster

Quote from: Waking Life on January 26, 2021, 09:55:15 AM
The Serpent - iPlayer. There's a thread, but this was the best of the recent ones. Not without flares but definitely a minger.

notjosh

If you fancy a period drama, the 1995 Pride and Prejudice is on Netflix and as fresh and funny as it always was.

The BBC's North and South (2004) is also a pretty good take on the Elizabeth/Mr Darcy dynamic, but set in a 19th century Northern industrial town with a bit more class politics thrown in.

I hear Middlemarch is good too but haven't got round to it yet.

EDIT: I forgot I was also going to mention Quatermass and the Pit which is available on Amazon Prime in a really excellent HD remaster. Still really creepy and effective. If you like that you could also check out ITV's Quatermass with John Mills. Both are standalone stories.

El Unicornio, mang

Quote from: Dusty Substance on January 26, 2021, 01:58:17 AM
When They See Us - True life story about a bunch of black teens who are wrongly accused of a violent rape. A  jaw-dropping, heart-wrenching mini-series on Netflix.

If we're doing classic BBC mini-series, then The Singing Detective deserves a mention.

Once you get over the wobbly sets and beardless Brian Blessed, I, Clavdivs is a terrific series.

The two American Crime Story series are separate stories, the first on O.J Simpson and the second on Gianni Versace, both excellent and just the right level of camp.

Finally, I thought 11.22.63, the time travel mini-series based on the Stephen King book, was fantastic. Limited series adaptations of King books generally aren't that great (It, The Stand, Langoliers) but 11.22.63 is an exceptional exception.

The Stand wasn't great (and it's my favourite all-time novel) but it's worth it for this, which I still think is the best intro to any TV series or movie ever (and particularly apt for these times).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQXqZ8JJktw&ab_channel=RossEngland

Dusty Substance

Quote from: El Unicornio, mang on January 26, 2021, 04:31:10 PM
The Stand wasn't great (and it's my favourite all-time novel) but it's worth it for this, which I still think is the best intro to any TV series or movie ever (and particularly apt for these times).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQXqZ8JJktw&ab_channel=RossEngland

Not gonna lie, that is indeed a superb way to start a series about a pandemic. Shame it went downhill from there. Hoping for better things from the new version.

rjd2

Quote from: Waking Life on January 26, 2021, 09:55:15 AM

That's all I can think of for now. Is Wold Hall good? I enjoy the Tudors generally.

Yep its really good. Rylance obviously the highlight but Lewis and the rest all good in their respective roles.

Only 6 episodes so cant go wrong really.


Sebastian Cobb

The Eddie was a good drama about a parisian jazz club, I doubt Netflix will recommission what with covid making production difficult and that.

Blue Jam

The Good Lord Bird

Really needed more people watching it.

sevendaughters

giving GBH a go. Michael Palin is lovely isn't he? Probably the best person designated as a national treasure.

Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth


monkfromhavana

Come on, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth

This thread can't be considered complete without a mention of Netflix's Harlen Coben's The Stranger.


I am joking, of course. It's tripe. Isn't it pleasant, though, to think back to a year ago, when it seemed to be the worst thing anyone had experienced?

Gulftastic

Quote from: Gulftastic on January 26, 2021, 10:53:21 AM
There was 'Civvies' in the 90s. The story of some of are brave boys struggling with life outside the army. If I wasn't on my phone I'd post the Harry Enfield spoof which nobody
who didn't watch the one and only (to my knowledge) airing would understand at all.

Here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsVkBfnxQ_g

Viero_Berlotti

Godless one off neo-western series with high production values on Netflix. Manages to successfully tick all the traditional boxes whilst seamlessly incorporating contemporary sensibilities.

Blue Jam

Quote from: Viero_Berlotti on February 03, 2021, 07:53:17 PM
Godless one off neo-western series with high production values on Netflix.

Set in 1884. That just makes it a western, surely?

;) Sounds good, will check it out, cheers.

Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth

I thought it was a bit crap (but still watched all of it).

Viero_Berlotti

Well whatever you think of it, you can't deny Jeff Daniels didn't have a ball of a time playing Frank Griffin:

https://youtu.be/UcGH4FESkzI


the science eel

That Shane Meadows thing from 2019 with that Scouse actor who's in everything

paruses

Quote from: the science eel on February 04, 2021, 11:35:31 PM
That Shane Meadows thing from 2019 with that Scouse actor who's in everything

The something.

Stephen Graham was in everything. Now Keeley Hawes is in everything. Everything.

Mobius

That was The Virtues. Great show but very grim and depressing.

mothman

Quote from: KennyMonster on January 26, 2021, 06:03:56 AM
Holding On by Tony Marchant is one of my favourites.

This first time I saw David Morrisey on screen.

1997
Synopsis from imdb[Edited for spoilers]

"A complex, moving story of life in the big bad city, in this case London.
a large and diverse group of people seemingly unconnected . As the ripples of change expand this group of people come under increasing pressure to face the harsh realities of their existence and turn away from the cosy fantasies they thought they knew. "


David Morrissey, Phil Daniels, Lesley Manville, Sam Kelly


This was really good. It was compared - unjustly, they're very different beasts - to Our Friends In The North, being the Beeb's subsequent tentpole ensemble drama series. Our Friends In The Smoke, I think one review called it. But it's had nowhere near the lasting cachet that OFitN has had.

I liked Maniac (Netflix) a lot. Nobody else did that I recall. But it was my kind of bonkers.

studpuppet

Just checking in to say that I saw The Terror being trailed as coming to BBC2 'soon'.

timebug

Bird of Prey with Richard Griffith was pretty good. Okay,they did do a second series a year later,but it was arse! And I always rated 'Threshold' a U.S. series about an alien invasion/takeover that was more cerebral than giant spacecraft and weird looking aliens. The whole of Threshold was on YouTube and is worth checking out, if you are into scifi!