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Time for Television?

14th Nov 2012
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Written by somebody who rarely has the time to do any couch potato-ing, this article asks whether there is anything worth seeing on TV these days?

If there is, it is also something of a plea for suggestions as to shows that will provide a suitably intellectual challenge as well as high entertainment on the cold winter nights that are probably just around the corner.

Working as an accountant and theatre critic at the same time means that watching live television, other than the odd sports event, has been a great rarity for many years.

If you are out anything between two and six nights a week then the odd moment spent at home is usually occupied by catching up on mundane chores that never seem to get done, such as writing this column or defrosting the freezer, which gave much innocent pleasure on Sunday.

However, after thoroughly enjoying The Hollow Crown and Parade’s End, the mind begins to ponder whether there might be other wonderful television series that could help to fill the odd evening or weekend afternoon, as the nights draw in.

The problem is that having no knowledge of what is good or bad, the only safe thing to do would seem to be harking back to old favourites such as Rumpole and Fawlty Towers, which are guaranteed to create a warm glow of familiarity.

That seems rather unambitious and seeing Dominic West starring in Jez (Jerusalem) Butterworth's strongly commended new play The River at the Royal Court is a reminder that he is best known for his performances in The Wire. Perhaps this is the TV show to try?

Then again, assorted friends have suggested Boardwalk Empire, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mad Men and Breaking Bad while a companion on the golf course at the weekend could hardly contain his enthusiasm for Homeland. The question here is whether his judgement is any better than his putting?

It is noticeable that none of these programmes is British, and seemingly the best that the UK can come up with at the moment is Downton Abbey, which does not appeal in the least.

Presumably Coronation Street and EastEnders still exist, though soaps and sitcoms are equally off-putting. The again, perhaps one of the many Dickens adaptations would be a good idea?

The problem with theatre devotees is that they demand something special from television shows. They must actually make sense without massive suspension of disbelief, which is seemingly not the norm, while the acting has to be good rather than wooden.

This presumably rules out almost everything that has been made in the last few decades although the HBO brand does seem to offer something out of the ordinary in the same way that the BBC did for so long and may still do today for all that this columnist knows.

Unless any readers are able to help, there is every chance that, with the possible exception of Season (or should that be Series?) Two of Sherlock, this TV-phobe will take the easy way out and spend the winter watching much loved Ealing comedies for the umpteenth time, along with various film versions of Shakespeare and untold numbers of unintelligible foreign movies with the added pleasure of subtitles.

Failing that, perhaps listening to music on the wonderful rCube and catching up on a whole stream of recently published novels (of which more soon), not to mention a few classics might be a much better bet?

The challenge has been laid down. Name a TV series that is more enjoyable than a nice early night curled up with Charles Dickens (in word form) or Hilary Mantel.

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By Mike Truman
14th Nov 2012 13:09

Homeland IS sort of British...

Or at least a couple of the main actors are... Season 1 was inevitably better than Season 2 is turning out to be.

If you like Homeland you may well like Hunted, which is genuinely British, and from the makers of Spooks, but there is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief required. On the other hand, since the last play I saw was The Comedy of Errors, I'm not quite sure why you have a problem with suspending disbelief...

Garrow's Law is "by Rumpole, out of Downton Abbey"; a bit saccharine, but I enjoyed the Old Bailey bits.

However, if you haven't watched much TV you have presumably missed the whole Scandacrime boom. For my money (though others disagree) the BBC version of Wallander, with Branagh in the eponymous role, are wonderful; gorgeous cinematography.

On the other hand, and my top pick, the only version of The Killing worth watching, despite the need for subtitles, is the original Danish one (Forbrydelsen), and again Season 1 is by far the best. There are 20 hour-long episodes, so it should keep you busy for quite a while, though I'm not sure when it will next be repeated. Put the box set on your Christmas list?

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By A mum and an accountant
14th Nov 2012 16:26

I recommend Homeland and Hunted too! I'm into those two along with Supernatural, although supernatural is completely American and I'm not always sure why I like it especially as I don't believe in supernatural and occult stuff but if its on I end up watching it. Dallas is quite good too especially if you watched it the first time round but I think my favourite at the moment is Homeland by far.

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By User deleted
15th Nov 2012 12:56

As an aside ...

... i notice ITV have started charging for some episodes on their Itv-player, not a lot, a few pence for a months rent. If you want to return to your youth there is Captain Scarlet, Thunderbirds and Stingray!

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By FazerJett
23rd Nov 2012 11:39

TV

University Challenge, Only Connect & Mastermind.

For current drama, I think that "The Hour" is excellent and "Secret State" on CH 4 was pretty good.

Not a single thing worth watching on Saturdays though.

 

ATB

Jonathan

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By Mike Truman
26th Nov 2012 14:54

Killing III...

... though I'm a week behind, seems to be back to the standard of the first. In fact, it seems to be a cross with the political series Borgen, from the same team, which was also very good.

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