Topic: The TV Show Thread

@KALofKRYPTON I'll need to watch it again but I thought it didn't look right. The direction where he was aiming his guns (which looked straight) but yet the trajectory of the bullets were going inwards. Also, I'm not familiar with Red Dwarf.

@WanderingBullet I think it was intended as an element of 'control' rather than aim.

Red Dwarf is one of the last truly great BBC sitcoms.

Still technically going, but pretty much everything after series 7 ranges from unfunny to down right saddening to watch.

The scene reminded me of this from series 6: https://youtu.be/hRMORP8ykLA

Okay, I’m convinced college students made the new Str Trek show, (Discovery was it?). It’s the only way to explain the tone and general production, dialogue, humor (or attempts at), and acting.

@Jaz007 Really... Discovery is really well put together I thought.

Do you mean The Orville? The Seth Macfarlane show? Because that totally fits with your description!

So, I’ve been watching Blakes 7.

For those who have no idea what Blakes 7 is – it’s a sci-fi show broadcast by the BBC in the UK between 1977 and 1981 (I think), written (mostly) and created by Terry Nation, the man who invented the Daleks for Doctor Who!
The series centres on Roj Blake; a political dissident in a federalised future Earth where the population is sedated through food and drink and penned in from the outside world. The Federation controls several worlds throughout the galaxy and Blake makes it his mission to break their stranglehold.
Nation has stated that he was heavily influenced by Doctor Who, Star Trek and Star Wars while creating the show.

Coming to it rather late as it was never a thing in our house growing up - we were a Doctor Who family you see - I’m quite enjoying it so far. It doesn’t quite have the overall production values (or budget, probably) of a lot of Doctor Who episodes from the time, or the special effects talent behind the scenes – but I can see why it was so popular.

The premise and set up is good, though some of the writing and consistency falls a little short.

I’m in to series 2 now and there is an obvious budget bump, as well as clear ‘can we make this sexier?’ direction. But yeah, it’s keeping me entertained.

@KALofKRYPTON Yes, that's it. Holy crap, I've never seen such a blatant and terrible clone. Since it was on the work TV I coudn't see what it was and it looked like Star Trek. I'm almost surprised it's allowed to exist. This makes straight Mario Kart clones look creative.

@Jaz007 It is at least made with a sense of homage and love for Star Trek. MacFarlane is a huge Trek fan; and in many ways, The Orville is more traditionally Star Trek than Discovery is.

I find it pretty hit & miss. The comedy is pretty weak and falls flat most of the time, but some of the episodes are very, very Star Trek in the best of ways.

Most Trek fans I know IRL really like it and it has some great involvement from Star Trek alumni.

Really looking forward to this:

https://io9.gizmodo.com/avatar-the-last-airbender-is-being-re...

Hopefully, it'll be lot better than M. Night Shyamalan's Avatar movie which I thought was terrible.

@RogerRoger I always preferred the earlier seasons of the Simpson mainly season 1 to 5 after that I don't know I just couldn't get into them. I do know that was around the time Conan O'Brien left as writer and because a late night talk show host. So maybe that had something to do with it because some of his episodes are among my favorite

@RogerRoger My favorite Burns episode is the one with the Teddy Bear followed by the one where Burns selects Bart as his heir.

While season six through 10 isn't bad I just don't find to many I enjoy as much as the first 5 seasons, granted I will take 6 through 10 before anything afterwards. But yeah maybe it has to do with when I grew up but I just always found the eailer seasons better.

@Tasuki @RogerRoger Not watched The Simpsons properly for ages. My fave episodes are the Cape Fear parody with sideshow Bob, and when Selma (or the other sister) dates Principal Skinner.

Speaking of animated TV shows, have any of you given Bojack Horseman a shot? I started it recently and I've been really enjoying it. About halfway through season 4 right now. Very well written show with a fantastic voice cast.

Any discussion of best Simpsons episode that does not include this is null and void.

(my username/avatar probably gives away that I'm quite a fan of the show)

@RogerRoger I was quite lucky as my Dad manage to wrangle us Sky (or BSkyB was it back then) when it got first introduced, or thereabouts in the UK.

Definitely didn't see it when it was part of the Tracey Ullman show as I don't recall watching the earlier more 'primitive' designs.

Really struggling to think of the first ones I saw. There was a stunt skate board one when Homer falls down the cliff. Ahh, really good memories!

'Homer Badman' is possibly my favourite episode of The Simpsons. Seasons 3-8 are my favourite pieces of television ever made.

@RogerRoger Yeah, if anything it's more relevant now than it was then. Which is a sorry state of affairs, but there you go.

I've definitely gained extra appreciation for certain episodes as I've grown older. The one where Marge joins the country club (can't remember the name...) didn't really resonate with me when I was a teenager, but having seen my wife in similar situations, I've realised they were spot on.

I've had some PTA experience too, and I can say that the episode 'The PTA Disbands!' could be a documentary.

@RogerRoger I've had the Simpsons vs Family Guy debate countless times. Don't get me wrong, it has its moments and there's room in the world for them both. But when someone says "Family Guy is better than The Simpsons", I die a little inside.

@RogerRoger I'd say jump in from the start - but if it's really not to your taste then it probably won't take you long to switch off.

This list is pretty on the money. https://www.gamesradar.com/best-south-park-episodes/

Out of all of the 'adult' animation shows, I'd say South Park is the only one that remained consistent in the quality of it's writing. Even Archer dropped off, and that's a difficult one to start on anyway.

Anyone seen Final Space? I thought that was great.

@RogerRoger Also, if you didn't see it, one of the earlier seasons has a PSP episode that really is brilliant. Most of their gaming send ups are gold actually.

Final Space is a Netflix animated show. I ended up binging it by accident. Excellent I thought.

@RogerRoger No worries