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TV Tuesdays Free Talk
Have you watched any TV shows recently you want to discuss? Any shows you want to recommend or are hyped about? Feel free to discuss anything here.
Please just try to provide fair warning of spoilers if you can.
I watched Worzel Gummidge, The Scarecrow of Scatterbridge Farm. It's a BBC TV show for families. Because it's BBC it's i) excellent but ii) ridiculously short -- this is just two episodes of one hour per episode. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000cskw/worzel-gummidge
Worzel Gummidge is a character in a children's book from the 1940s. It was made into a tv show in the 1980s, with Jon Pertwee as Gummidge. That version wasn't particularly faithful to the books, but was very popular and there's a lot of nostalgia for it. The new version ignores that tv show, and is more faithful to the books, which has caused some predictable (and depressing) social media comments ("black children? In the country side?" and other racist tropes).
The children in this version are great, and that's always a worry in kids tv. I strongly recommend this show to people who want something kind and gentle to watch. And this show proves that MacKenzie Crook is a special talent. MacKenzie Crook stars as Gummidge, with support from Zoe Wanamaker, Michael Palin, Steve Pemberton, Rosie Cavaliero and Vicki Pepperdine (some of these names won't mean much if you're outside the UK but trust me, this is a great cast (I am a huge fan of Pepperdine's, especially her radio work)). Here are some reviews:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/dec/26/worzel-gummidge-review-mackenzie-crook-hes-back-hes-hilarious-and-hes-wearing-a-cravat
https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/worzel-gummidge-bbc1-remake-mackenzie-crook-review-triumph-1350012
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/zoe-wanamaker-television-violent-nasty-worzel-gummidge-a9217996.html
I've started watching The Witcher and I don't get it. I had to watch it twice because it's incomprehensible but also because I've seen people raving about how this is currently the best thing on tv and, well, they're wrong it isn't. It's ok. It's not terrible. But it's just a normal high-budget pulpy fiction fantasy show with exploitative nudity and disappointing depictions of race, sexuality, etc etc. People are talking about "the amazing world building", but I don't see it yet. There are gaping holes in the magic system that haven't been explained yet. (Looking around online there are people who agree with me. https://www.reddit.com/r/netflixwitcher/comments/edrgx2/the_cost_of_magic/ ). I've got to episode 5 and I'm going to slog it out for the rest of the season because it isn't terrible.
I also watched Season 2 of Lost in Space. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I would have preferred a bit more human vs planet stuff, rather than human vs human for dumb reasons stuff. But I'm pleased about the better character writing for Smith, and Parker Posie is fantastic as Smith. I'm going to watch it with my child and see what they think.