The latest series of Line of Duty hit our screens just days after my mum died. As you can imagine, I wasn't up to watching TV at this time so week after week I taped each episode until the week of the finale came round and we binge watched the previous five episodes to catch up before all was revealed. Hmmm, I know everyone loves Line of Duty but at the risk of being controversial I have to say I expected so much more. I'll go even further and say that much of what I watched was boring. This series has just acted as a stepping stone to further series, we haven't learnt much more than we knew at the end of Series 4 except the whole of Series 5 was a "Who is H?" and now we know there's no such person. I'm not even sure I'll bother watching Series 6!
I read something a while ago about a programme being made based on the diaries of Anne Lister and have been watching out for it ever since. The first episode of Gentleman Jack, starring Suranne Jones, has now been shown and I thought it was really good. Anne Lister was a landowner and industrialist from Yorkshire who was born in 1791. She kept diaries detailing her life, financial concerns, work improving Shibden Hall in Halifax and her lesbian activities. Part of the diaries were written in code and it wasn't until the 1930's that they were deciphered by the last inhabitant of Shibden Hall, John Lister and his friend, Arthur Burrell. Burrell advised John Lister to burn them but he didn't listen and continued to hide the diaries behind a panel at Shibden Hall. Anne Lister is often called "the first modern lesbian" for her clear self-knowledge and openly lesbian lifestyle. I wrote a post about Shibden Hall And Park when we visited back in 2012. I'm looking forward to watching more of this series.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile are the words spoken by the judge in Ted Bundy's death sentencing and the title given to the new biographical crime thriller told from the viewpoint of Bundy's girlfriend, Elizabeth Kendall. It was released in the cinemas at the beginning of the month but broadcaster Sky has the distribution rights in the UK so, as a subscriber, I was able to watch from the comfort of my living room. I rarely go to the cinema these days. Zac Efron takes the part of Ted Bundy and he's done a great job, I think he was well cast as, chillingly, he does have a look of the evil mass murderer and I think he managed to portray the charming side of this animal as the movie required. Thirty years on from Bundy's execution, there have been countless documentaries and films made about him but telling his girlfriend's story gave the account a new angle. I'm glad I didn't take a trip to the cinema to watch this film but it held my interest for a couple of hours.
I haven't watched anything on Netflix this month but I have binge watched Gayna's Tales From Cuckoo Land podcast on YouTube. This started out over two years ago as a knitting podcast but, over time, it's evolved into a family life podcast. She does still show her knitting projects but she now records more of the general goings on of daily life with her husband and three lovely boys. I'm now up to date and have enjoyed what I've watched.
Have you been watching any of these? What else have you been watching this month?
The only thing I've watched of those is Line of Duty, and I agree no very interesting and I found it confusing too. We both loved the ones before, I think perhaps the writers were trying to be a little too cleaver.
ReplyDeleteI was really disappointed with Line of Duty, I think they're just trying to string out the storyline, it was just too drawn out. I'm not sure I'll bother watching the next series.
DeleteWe must be in the minority of those who haven't followed Line of Duty and it would take a long time for us to catch up. The Durrells and Victoria have been series that we've enjoyed lately, including the documentary about what happened to the Durrell family. Even these series we've missed out on episodes in the earlier series. Thank goodness for box sets. We tend to watch programmes that reflect our interests such cooking, gardening, history and travel.
ReplyDeleteThe earlier series of Line of Duty were really good but this one just didn't match up. I watched the first series of The Durrells but I wasn't keen so I didn't bother with it after that. I did watch Victoria, I enjoyed that.
DeleteYet again, I have not been watching anything. Not even on Prime, which we still have. So I guess, my getting rid of NetFlix, was a good move, for us.
ReplyDeleteWe have been reading, him on his tablet so he can make the print as large as he needs it. And me, books from the library, on various topics. And read first Miss Marple book.
Got what I thought, was the 2nd Miss Marple, and it turned out to be another "The Murder At The Vicarage." lol.... Silly me! But the _correct_ book is coming soon, with inter library loan.
And we have the baseball games on the tv, not necessarily with sound on. I like that! Can peek up from book, and check score, but not have to listen to the announcers.
I'm glad you are enjoying your NetFlix!!!!!!
I think I watch TV more now than I ever have done in the past, I suppose it's a sign of having more time on my hands. What a shame you got the same book again, I'm glad you've got the correct one on order now, I hope you enjoy it. I don't watch any sport but Mick loves it so it's often on in our house.
DeleteI've been enjoying the programmes from Chelsea Gardens, so much colour! Nothing much else though!
ReplyDeleteI've hardly seen anything of Chelsea this year on TV, I used to tape all the programmes to watch later but I then tend to get bogged down with them so I don't bother so much now.
DeleteWe thought Linen of Duty was not so good this series too. Gentleman Jack so good, looking forward to seeing more of that. Enjoyed The Durrells and Victoria. We've been enjoying Jamestown too (Sky 1 pm Fridays)
ReplyDeleteI didn't know what to expect from Gentleman Jack but I was very pleasantly surprised, I'm looking forward to seeing more of it too. I've seen Jamestown advertised but I haven't watched it, I may give it a go now you've mentioned it.
DeleteI agree about Line of Duty in fact, Martyn fell asleep fir much of II.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I'm not surprised. So many twists and turns that didn't amount to anything, I was really disappointed with it.
DeleteSuch a nice selection of shows. Tomorrow I plan on settling in (for a change) to watch Porterhouse Blue, based on Tom Sharpe's book.
ReplyDeleteI do like to mix things up a bit. I don't know Porterhouse Blue but I've just looked it up and it's David Jason taking the lead, he's such a good actor.
DeleteYou know, everyone has different tastes so it's not surprising that the odd show that is said to be "amazing" just doesn't capture our interest. That happened to us when we tried to watch "The Office". We watched a few episodes and really didn't like it & were left scratching our heads as to why it was so popular. Mind you, it was the U.S. series - the U.K. one is still on our "to watch" list.
ReplyDeleteThat's very true. I could never get into The Office but Mick really enjoyed it, we have very different tastes with some things but then both really enjoy others.
DeleteSorry Jo, I've not watched any of these.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to having Inspector Montalbano back on BBC 4 next Saturday :)
All the best Jan
I've never heard of Inspector Montalbano but I've just looked it up and it sounds interesting. I hope you enjoy it.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these. I'm glad to hear your views on Line of Duty as everyone has been raving on it. I don't think I'll start watching it now.xxx
ReplyDeleteThe earlier series of Line of Duty were brilliant, it's just this latest one which was a bit of a let down.
DeleteI've watched the first episode of Gentleman Jack, and enjoyed it. I'm waiting for harvest to start and then I'll have all my evenings free to watch what I please (a 'perk' of being a farmers wife). I can get into it without having to stop to watch the news.
ReplyDeletexx
I'm still enjoying Gentleman Jack, I've really enjoyed every episode and I'll be sad to see it end. I'm sure it'll be back for another series though, I think it's been a success.
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