Sean Mallory shares his view of what makes for good TV viewing during the lockdown. 

Having read AM’s dilemma of frequently falling asleep during a TV programme after throwing a full glass of whiskey in to him ... fuck all to do with the programme ... I am in agreement that the choice of viewing during lockdown is quite stunted to put it bluntly.

As a person who is very particular of the programmes he watches - as like AM I hate losing time to something I would count as annoyingly wasteful - I prefer to decide to waste my own time on my own terms and have spent many days lounging in the garden, I also have a tendency to watch the more National Geographic or Attenborough themed programme rather than the mind numbing reality shows that are abundant on our screens today. If they really want to do a reality TV show then why don’t they set up camp in Wormwood Scrubs for six weeks? Now that’s reality!

Back in the day all we had were 5 TV stations, a supposed improvement upon the 3 UK stations we originally had plus of course the illegal RTE. And gone is the famous Test Card. I wonder if that wee girl is still alive?

Programmes like Lost or Twin Peaks were also off the menu for they tended to start off interesting and then it is as if the script writers very quickly are ‘lost’ for ideas and how to end the show. And now like Killing Eve (first series was brilliant) they tend to become a rehash of the same story line over and over again … mundane and time to switch off. Oh, I never watched a complete episode of Twin Peaks or Lost, never mind their series … just had an instinct that it was likely to lead complete confusion and infuriate at the same time…best avoided. Monkey Magic tended to be more entertaining with no thought required! Just like Danger Mouse, the 5 minute animation that was so loaded with adult humour that I’m convinced Pixar and the boys all took their cue from it.

But since the advent of Sky, Virgin Media, Netflix, Amazon Prime and now Disney+ our choice has been greatly enhanced and how we view completely changed. The old established channels are now referred to as ‘terrestrial channels’ which creates the impression that we have decamped earth and moved to the moon.

The compulsory TV license is no longer sufficient to cover your viewing costs. Now you must also subscribe to all those other options. It has become expensive to view with other life essentials now taking a back seat so as we can view essentials ... such as food.

No more squirming or fidgeting to avoid a toilet run before a break in a programme so as you didn’t miss anything, simply pause or catch up later ... viewing is so much easier today that we no longer miss out on anything. We simply have the choice as to when to watch and we can binge out on our favourite shows and the latest film releases. Conversations about having missed programmes are now centred around, I haven’t watched that yet but must watch it later.

Nevertheless, Sky and Virgin Media have weighed us down now with so much choice, but with such choice inevitably quality suffers.

Now we have hundreds of channels to choose from. With themes ranging from the paranormal which are usually about as paranormal as finding a set of scuba diving flippers in the grocery aisle at Lidl (which actually did happen to me … mad shop … once came across an ARC welder in a different aisle), buying bling jewellery, restoring cars that nobody wants, auctioning of granny’s auld junk and loads of channels on weapons of every type especially those that expound the virtues of having a weapon that gives you the upper hand on your neighbour should your relationship suddenly sour … literally on gently squeezing the trigger you are assured that the result will lead to your neighbour being shredded in to thousands of pieces …. job done and problem solved  … hurrah for Dixie!

As quality suffers so do we. After tedious times of surfing through the channels and finding nothing of interest we resort back to the days of 3 channels with the customary response of there’s nothing good to watch. Currently I would say that the number of channels I actually watch are limited to one or two fingers in numbers.

However, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ took viewing to a new level. Now we are freed completely from time restraints in viewing and can have total control as to when and what to watch … bingeing on box sets is the new norm ... we no longer need to wait 7 days to watch the next episode. But has the quality improved?

In my honest opinion, yes it has, as Netflix in particular have spent millions on their programmes in order to entice the viewer away from Sky or Virgin Media. Quality wins over quantity. But choosing a programme or film to watch is really down to personal taste so here are a few recommendations from Mallory:

Ozarks – We are into season 3 now but it is well worth watching. About laundering money for a Mexican cartel, living and dealing with red necks, corrupt politicians, marriage problems and the Mob. Great viewing by a group of talented actors … loved Laura Linney in the Big C.

Narcos – Mexico – one of best narcotic series ever written. They covered Escobar in Colombia too. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Subtitled and in English which gives it authentication. Characters are all real life figures.

Better Call Saul – the prequel to Breaking Bad. Breaking Bad was a series that I very nearly switched off after watching two episodes and then in the third the story line like a brick to the head it hit me … loved it immensely, the programme not the brick! But like it - this is brilliant and unusually so as prequels tend to be rubbish just as most spin offs from the main theme tend to be. The aspect of Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad that goes under the radar is just how violent they really are. The violence is subtly handled so as not to be a feature that sells the show, the story and characters do that.

Now you might think that Mallory loves his drug shows and you would be right but only particular ones: those that are well made and not totally reliant on violence to sell it. Oh, ‘She who must be Obeyed’ loved Mindhunter thought it was superb. I never watched it.

On a completely different theme to watch  … Stranger Things/ Watch this with the kids all the time … love it … there are so many old TV and film themes running through this that we play a game where we try to spot these. Brilliant show though.

Disney’s Marvel films are a must. I was never into that genre of film until lockdown and now with my youngest I have watched quite a few….thoroughly entertaining stuff with Ironman (always admired Downey Junior’s acting skills. Downey, mmm … I wonder if he ever played for Derry?) And Guardians of the Galaxy, like Danger Mouse quite witty and extremely entertaining. But our super heroes are quite destructive in saving the planet: the end justifies the means or the carnage along the way, I suppose!

And to finish: we since lockdown, as a family have what we call ‘Movie Night’ once a week …usually Thursday night. Everyone can have what they want, popcorn, crisps, Doritos, a drink (glass of whiskey included) … whatever, and each gets their turn at picking the film. Amazon have a lot of films that were supposed to be released in the cinema but instead are released on their platform … pay per view but a hell of a lot cheaper than going to the cinema! Plus, sometimes you can forget that you are part of a family.

Sean Mallory is a Tyrone republican and TPQ columnist.

TV And Lockdown

Sean Mallory shares his view of what makes for good TV viewing during the lockdown. 

Having read AM’s dilemma of frequently falling asleep during a TV programme after throwing a full glass of whiskey in to him ... fuck all to do with the programme ... I am in agreement that the choice of viewing during lockdown is quite stunted to put it bluntly.

As a person who is very particular of the programmes he watches - as like AM I hate losing time to something I would count as annoyingly wasteful - I prefer to decide to waste my own time on my own terms and have spent many days lounging in the garden, I also have a tendency to watch the more National Geographic or Attenborough themed programme rather than the mind numbing reality shows that are abundant on our screens today. If they really want to do a reality TV show then why don’t they set up camp in Wormwood Scrubs for six weeks? Now that’s reality!

Back in the day all we had were 5 TV stations, a supposed improvement upon the 3 UK stations we originally had plus of course the illegal RTE. And gone is the famous Test Card. I wonder if that wee girl is still alive?

Programmes like Lost or Twin Peaks were also off the menu for they tended to start off interesting and then it is as if the script writers very quickly are ‘lost’ for ideas and how to end the show. And now like Killing Eve (first series was brilliant) they tend to become a rehash of the same story line over and over again … mundane and time to switch off. Oh, I never watched a complete episode of Twin Peaks or Lost, never mind their series … just had an instinct that it was likely to lead complete confusion and infuriate at the same time…best avoided. Monkey Magic tended to be more entertaining with no thought required! Just like Danger Mouse, the 5 minute animation that was so loaded with adult humour that I’m convinced Pixar and the boys all took their cue from it.

But since the advent of Sky, Virgin Media, Netflix, Amazon Prime and now Disney+ our choice has been greatly enhanced and how we view completely changed. The old established channels are now referred to as ‘terrestrial channels’ which creates the impression that we have decamped earth and moved to the moon.

The compulsory TV license is no longer sufficient to cover your viewing costs. Now you must also subscribe to all those other options. It has become expensive to view with other life essentials now taking a back seat so as we can view essentials ... such as food.

No more squirming or fidgeting to avoid a toilet run before a break in a programme so as you didn’t miss anything, simply pause or catch up later ... viewing is so much easier today that we no longer miss out on anything. We simply have the choice as to when to watch and we can binge out on our favourite shows and the latest film releases. Conversations about having missed programmes are now centred around, I haven’t watched that yet but must watch it later.

Nevertheless, Sky and Virgin Media have weighed us down now with so much choice, but with such choice inevitably quality suffers.

Now we have hundreds of channels to choose from. With themes ranging from the paranormal which are usually about as paranormal as finding a set of scuba diving flippers in the grocery aisle at Lidl (which actually did happen to me … mad shop … once came across an ARC welder in a different aisle), buying bling jewellery, restoring cars that nobody wants, auctioning of granny’s auld junk and loads of channels on weapons of every type especially those that expound the virtues of having a weapon that gives you the upper hand on your neighbour should your relationship suddenly sour … literally on gently squeezing the trigger you are assured that the result will lead to your neighbour being shredded in to thousands of pieces …. job done and problem solved  … hurrah for Dixie!

As quality suffers so do we. After tedious times of surfing through the channels and finding nothing of interest we resort back to the days of 3 channels with the customary response of there’s nothing good to watch. Currently I would say that the number of channels I actually watch are limited to one or two fingers in numbers.

However, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ took viewing to a new level. Now we are freed completely from time restraints in viewing and can have total control as to when and what to watch … bingeing on box sets is the new norm ... we no longer need to wait 7 days to watch the next episode. But has the quality improved?

In my honest opinion, yes it has, as Netflix in particular have spent millions on their programmes in order to entice the viewer away from Sky or Virgin Media. Quality wins over quantity. But choosing a programme or film to watch is really down to personal taste so here are a few recommendations from Mallory:

Ozarks – We are into season 3 now but it is well worth watching. About laundering money for a Mexican cartel, living and dealing with red necks, corrupt politicians, marriage problems and the Mob. Great viewing by a group of talented actors … loved Laura Linney in the Big C.

Narcos – Mexico – one of best narcotic series ever written. They covered Escobar in Colombia too. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Subtitled and in English which gives it authentication. Characters are all real life figures.

Better Call Saul – the prequel to Breaking Bad. Breaking Bad was a series that I very nearly switched off after watching two episodes and then in the third the story line like a brick to the head it hit me … loved it immensely, the programme not the brick! But like it - this is brilliant and unusually so as prequels tend to be rubbish just as most spin offs from the main theme tend to be. The aspect of Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad that goes under the radar is just how violent they really are. The violence is subtly handled so as not to be a feature that sells the show, the story and characters do that.

Now you might think that Mallory loves his drug shows and you would be right but only particular ones: those that are well made and not totally reliant on violence to sell it. Oh, ‘She who must be Obeyed’ loved Mindhunter thought it was superb. I never watched it.

On a completely different theme to watch  … Stranger Things/ Watch this with the kids all the time … love it … there are so many old TV and film themes running through this that we play a game where we try to spot these. Brilliant show though.

Disney’s Marvel films are a must. I was never into that genre of film until lockdown and now with my youngest I have watched quite a few….thoroughly entertaining stuff with Ironman (always admired Downey Junior’s acting skills. Downey, mmm … I wonder if he ever played for Derry?) And Guardians of the Galaxy, like Danger Mouse quite witty and extremely entertaining. But our super heroes are quite destructive in saving the planet: the end justifies the means or the carnage along the way, I suppose!

And to finish: we since lockdown, as a family have what we call ‘Movie Night’ once a week …usually Thursday night. Everyone can have what they want, popcorn, crisps, Doritos, a drink (glass of whiskey included) … whatever, and each gets their turn at picking the film. Amazon have a lot of films that were supposed to be released in the cinema but instead are released on their platform … pay per view but a hell of a lot cheaper than going to the cinema! Plus, sometimes you can forget that you are part of a family.

Sean Mallory is a Tyrone republican and TPQ columnist.

14 comments:

  1. Here's one for the fist full of dynamite lad.

    Fauda

    If one can get by one's anti-Israeli/pro-Palestinian bias this Israeli made political/military thriller is worth a go ... action packed and a pretty compelling watch so far.*

    *(This recommendation is based on only having watched the first four episodes of season one).

    ReplyDelete
  2. FAUDA,getting past my pro-Israeli/anti-Palestinian bias,is impressive. Knowing the background of the lead actor helped with the credibility of the settings and events, but I still wonder if the Palestinian security would be as lax as it appears several times.

    Anyway, the value of it for me was the insight on the culture and the variations amongst both Israelis and Palestinians. Several reviews from people who should know suggest the authenticity of that.

    The portrayal of the combatants on both sides was a welcome surprise. The use of State power to extract confessions/information; the humanity of the terrorist rather than a demonisation, for example.

    I've watched the whole of the 3 series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're comments are encouraging Ian, thanks.
      Watched 2 more episodes tonight and wasn't disappointed.

      Delete
  3. Sean have you watched all of The Soprano's yet? Breaking Bad is up there with it in my humble opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sean Mallory says

    Henry Joy –
    Fauda – can’t say I have come across it but I will give it a go. Back in the late 1990’s I was once on a week-long training programme in Tel Aviv, being run by Mossad agents too. It was a very interesting time and talking to them out of school gave me a lot to think about. What was scary was the number people, of all ages, walking about nonchalantly carrying automatic weapons – not loaded of course but the magazine was always within reach. Once saw an old lady standing at a bus stop with her shopping and what appeared to be an M16 rifle slung over her shoulder. Everyone seemed to carry guns. They were always on a war footing - seemed a bizarre way to live but if you know nothing different then why would it be so

    Steve R –
    The Sopranos was my all-time favourite series. Do you think the way it ended with big Tony and the family in the diner having dinner and the guy getting up from the bar, going in to the toilets and then coming out, but it ends there. Do you think he was a hit on Big Tony Soprano?as Tony does eye ball him when he initially gets up to go to the toilet and it was just after the feud ended

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SM,

      its a 'Larry Hughes' right fucking up them style of conflict that's portrayed! Not for the faint-hearted ... even had to look away from the screen during some scenes ... probably top of Freddie Scappaticci's viewing list too!

      I have only completed season 1 so far, there are three seasons in all and I'll definitely be following through.

      I'd imagine anyone who's had the experience of visiting the region would find it totally engrossing.

      Delete
    2. Sean,

      Definitely a hit on Tony. I've watched it countless times and read a very convincing article that points out that for large sections of the scene we are watching everyone who comes in through the door through Tony's eyes. The hitter was also wearing a 'Member's only' jacket which is a nod to a previous hit but which one escapes me now.

      My theory is that Butch, despite the sitdown with Tony and Paulie, decided to let the hit instigated by Phil Leotardo run it's course. Why wouldn't he? He stood everything to gain and would only have Paulie to deal with once Soprano was whacked and who's to say Soprano wouldn't decide to do the same in reverse.

      Great show! Can't wait to the prequel movie The Many Saints of Newark!

      Delete
  5. My daughter has been watching Filthy Rich - the series on Epstein and his paedophilic friends. I've caught 15-20 minute snatches when I was free from study, and it is excellent. Interviews with the victims and others who saw him in operation. And the police departments who either covered up or prosecuted.

    Another recommendation that I have watched through its 2 hours 20 minutes is American Gospel. An exposure of the Health & Wealth/Prosperity preachers, by what one might call traditional Evangelicals. They present both a secular and theological critique.

    Very well done, as it would have to be go get on Netflix. The only caution I give is the need yo listen carefully, for they pass between clips of the perverts and of those exposing them without explaining that change beforehand. It is evident after, but can puzzle one at the time.

    Benny Hinn's nephew, who was heavily involved in his uncle's movement, gives devastating testimony.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll make a point of watching that American Gospel Wolfsbane. I watched The Family and it addressed Prosperity Theology. It was quite good. Filthy Rich sounds another good one.

      Delete
  6. Mallory - I'll go with your recommendations on these.

    I watched a couple of Israeli productions which were very good. Prisoners of War & False Flag.

    I got my 14 year old to cut my hair this morning. You can imagine how that turned out!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. The best thing I have watched over the lockdown has been Le Bureau des Legendes. It is a spy thriller about France's version of MI6. If you like car chases and James Bond style shootouts you will be disappointed cause this shit is subtle. Great characters and nuanced plots. I had to watch several episodes in a row I was so hooked.

    Also a shoutout for Unbelievable. Its about the hunt for a serial rapist. Merrit Wever (my new most fave actress) is brilliant as the cop. It is told from a female perspective on rape and is absolutely brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter - where is Le Bureau des Legendes. My wife said it is supposed to be brilliant.

      Delete
  8. AM
    It's on Amazon Prime, and the Mrs is right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. we'll watch it. She loves that type of stuff

      Delete