I’ll watch it just to see if they get my home state right. Most shows get it laughably wrong, from the weather (it’s a big effin’ place, from rainforest to arctic) to the people. I’m going to make a wild guess that they filmed in either Canada or the PNW (or even in northern CA), where they get tax breaks, and use stock footage for scenery.
The first few Anchorage shots were on location; the airport looked right, they had her staying at the Hotel Captain Cook, which is where I stayed for a night this past summer. It was funny- they showed them coming in one door, and walking up to the desk from a totally different direction. And the room was very similar to my room in the hotel, and unless they did some really nifty digital compositing, it was the Cook Inlet out the window, with parts of the hotel in the way.
Beyond that, they had a few other short Anchorage shots with Hilary Swank that I could recognize from vacation. Otherwise, I’m not so sure it was actually filmed there.
I’ve been watching The Serpent Queen on Starz. It’s a biographical tale of Catherine de’ Medici, starring Samantha Morton as the adult Catherine.
The lead performers (teen and adult Catherine) are engaging, and the historical facts are at least roughly followed from what I can tell. Plus, if you have been watching House of the Dragon, this is a good companion piece, demonstrating that truth and fiction aren’t that far apart (and demonstrating that, indeed, a royal family can be that dysfunctional, even without dragons).
I’ve really enjoyed The Serpent Queen - it’s catty and intelligent and as brutal as it would have been in those days. Also on Starz is Becoming Elizabeth - I thought that was also well done and hope they renew it but definitely more of a straight period piece where there is a more modern feel with The Serpent Queen .
We’re still staying with The Patient. Steve Carrell is doing Emmy-worthy dramatic acting, so if you’re looking for an unusual storyline and some really good acting, give it a shot (Hulu).
So I finished Kleo - a weird mix of “wronged female assassin getting revenge” trope, dubious romcom, and geopolitical thriller set in Berlin before/after the Wall fell.
Lots of women in key murdery roles, but not overly implausibly. Jella Haase really makes the whole thing work, but for me the male protagonist/comedy foil was slightly offputting because he kept reminding me of a German Chris O’Dowd. There’s also a whole comedy subplot about a West German drug-addicted raver that goes off in a very unexpected direction but they sensibly don’t dwell on it.
I enjoyed it. I don’t think it needs a second season, but it was fun enough as it was.
(On a separate note, the subtitles at various points declared that the person was speaking “In English” when they clearly were speaking German. Get your act together, subtitle people!)
We’re watching this and enjoying it greatly with two episodes to go. It is exactly as you describe it. Jella Haase really carries this. She’s pretty in a somewhat unconventional way, but her range of expression. and how quickly she can change it, is fascinating. She can change from the sweetest, most convincing smile to looking almost feral, or like she just saw you step in dog shit, in a flash.
One thing that has nothing to do with the story and means nothing to anyone but a radio geek like me: In the flashback episode, a lot of it takes place outdoors near an array of massive towers. They resemble the kind of towers used for shortwave broadcasting. I’d love to know where that was shot. As international shortwave has dwindled over the years, many of those arrays have been disassembled or simply left to deteriorate.
You’re not wrong. And there’s something brilliant in the way she says “< long pause >…Gut.”
Vampires must be “in” again. Just starting, we have Interview With the Vampire, Reginald the Vampire, and Let the Right One In. Two dramas and a dramedy.
Speaking of vampires (at some point, I’m sure) the first episode of the Supernatural prequel The Winchesters has aired. In Supernatural, the first story arc had Sam and Dean Winchester following clues to find their lost father, who is a monster hunter. The new series takes place in 1972, when Sam and Dean’s parents met. Their father John is following clues to find his lost father, who is a monster hunter. Their mother Mary is following clues to find her lost father, who is a monster hunter. So very original so far
I tried Arrow this week, but after 11 eps + the season finale I bailed. Long story short my suspension of disbelief took another big hit. The interpersonal stuff is simply too soapy for me, and the superhero stuff too by-the-numbers and predictable (as is the soapy stuff too, characters all flat). There’s zero attempt at any humor to leaven the tone. Plus I spied enough spoilers on its TV Tropes page to glean that it actually gets worse, with plenty of rezzed characters coming back from Almost Certain Death on numerous occasions.
I was really pleasantly surprised at the first episode of Interview with a Vampire. Even with the story changes, I thought Louis was a departure that made total sense and Lestat was so much better than Tom Cruise’s version. Looking forward to the next episode.
I just finished “The Crown” on Netflix and I’m anxiously awaiting Season 5 in a few weeks! I also just watched the 6-part “Bodyguard” series (also British) and it was exceptional.
I gave up on all the Arrowverse shows early on for this very reason - the superhero stuff was predictable and everyone’s powers varied wildly by the requirements of the plot of the week, and the interpersonal stuff made 90210 look like Chekhov in comparison.
Agree. Plus they made early 19th c. New Orleans gorgeous.
With a Deschanel sister in it? They usually have Oscar worthy performances. 
Trying out Paramount+. First up was Guilty Party with Kate Beckinsale. I’ve only seen her in the first Underworld movie, which I thought was terrible. This series is a murder mystery comedy and was surprisingly good. Ten episodes of about 35 minutes each, so a quick watch. Some good characters and some pretty funny stuff. Ends on a cliffhanger so hopefully will be picked up for a second season.
Next was Joe Pickett. Based on the CJ Box novels about a game warden. I read some of those many years ago and the tv version doesn’t match up with my book recollections. Really slow moving with a lot of flashbacks about his abusive father. About five episodes in, not sure I will make it the full ten episodes.
Joe Pickett doesn’t really get a whole lot better, and there are some cringe-worthy things involving firearms, etc. A second season might be better, but who knows. Also, Paramount is so glitchy for me that I cancelled the subscription.
Maybe I’ll just drop it then. I have so much stuff on my watchlist, there’s no use wasting my time on something this mediocre. I should have taken a hint from the promo, which has him wearing a plaid bathrobe with cowboy hat, pistol belt, bare legs and cowboy boots.
Not this time, she was horrendous
Watching Fire Country. Complete and utter shit. Deleting this timer from the DVR. I don’t even want to talk about how bad it is. Somebody deserves a Heavy Sack Beating for this Old Bullshit.