Spoilers What's on TV?

[lrmd98]

I'll be watching this in about 2 minutes time;
Three Days Of Terror: The Charlie Hebdo Attacks 9pm, BBC2
Summary:
On 7 January 2015, 11 people were murdered in the Paris offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, by Islamist fanatics who believed that drawing cartoons was a capital offence. This film recalls the massacre and the related terrorist attacks that transfixed France, interviewing witnesses, survivors and the police officers who pursued the assailants.

 

[JamesMike]

Ah, I hope that you thoroughly enjoy it (and I am sure that you will). Season Six takes some time to warm up - and then takes off in earnest. By the last few episodes it is unmissable.

It started last Sunday, 3 Jan.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It started last Sunday, 3 Jan.

Enjoy it.

My siblings knew that I had a strict, and utterly non-negotiable 'no telephone' rule during Downton Abbey. That is, they knew better than to even think of phoning me, as I had long made it clear that, 1) the phone would not be answered under any circumstances, and, 2) that I would return the favour, by calling them at a most inconvenient time, such as during a football match, or the subsequent post match postmortem.

 

[JamesMike]

Enjoy it.

My siblings knew that I had a strict, and utterly non-negotiable 'no telephone' rule during Downton Abbey. That is, they knew better than to even think of phoning me, as I had long made it clear that, 1) the phone would not be answered under any circumstances, and, 2) that I would return the favour, by calling them at a most inconvenient time, such as during a football match, or the subsequent post match postmortem.

That is a good idea!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

That is a good idea!

As a deterrent threat, one might argue that worked a treat.

Mind you, it is possible that my explicitly stated request/order/command - 'don't dare phone during that time, or even shortly before it' was also met without too much trouble.

Anyway, the series is very watchable and thoroughly enjoyable, and I got the impression that the cast had a great time while filming it.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Always Sunny in Philly is back on!

 

[S.B.G]

Watching some episodes of Star Trek: TNG on TV, BBC America.

I'm still quite dismayed that the video quality of the show is like that of watching it on a VHS tape.

 

[bradl]

Watching some episodes of Star Trek: TNG on TV, BBC America.

I'm still quite dismayed that the video quality of the show is like that of watching it on a VHS tape.

That would be the fault of the BBC. They re-released the entire series in an enhanced blu-ray version and it looks stunning compared to the standard definition the BBC is showing.

BL.

 

[S.B.G]

That would be the fault of the BBC. They re-released the entire series in an enhanced blu-ray version and it looks stunning compared to the standard definition the BBC is showing.

BL.

That's good news!

The last time I looked at TNG on Netflix, it was in VHS mode there too. But that's been a couple of years now.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Watching season 5 of "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

 

[S.B.G]

Switched to the same episode of TNG that is playing on BBC to the one on Netflix. The quality is better, but not close to Blu-ray quality and its still in 4:3 format.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Watching some episodes of Star Trek: TNG on TV, BBC America.

I'm still quite dismayed that the video quality of the show is like that of watching it on a VHS tape.

Ah, but the real question is, what episodes are you watching?

 

[S.B.G]

Ah, but the real equation is, what episodes are you watching?

Two episodes from season 3.

24. Ménage à Troi
When Deanna's mother spurns advances made by a Ferengi Daimon, he takes it upon himself to kidnap the two of them, along with Commander Riker and steal them away aboard his ship.

25. Transfigurations
The Enterprise finds a deserted planet where a ship has crashed, and, with it, the lone survivor with no memory, but extraordinary healing powers.​

 

[mojolicious]

Re Star Trek transmissions, I've been watching DS9 on CBS Action here in the UK. Image quality is pretty grim, and every fifth episode is broadcast stretched, rather than 3:4. The last episode I saw had terrible sound problems, too. But none of this stops it from being my favourite flavour of Star Trek.

Any Troi-centric TNG story has me reaching for the remote.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Two episodes from season 3.

24. Ménage à Troi
When Deanna's mother spurns advances made by a Ferengi Daimon, he takes it upon himself to kidnap the two of them, along with Commander Riker and steal them away aboard his ship.

25. Transfigurations
The Enterprise finds a deserted planet where a ship has crashed, and, with it, the lone survivor with no memory, but extraordinary healing powers.​

Ah, excellent. Hope you enjoy them.

Re Star Trek transmissions, I've been watching DS9 on CBS Action here in the UK. Image quality is pretty grim, and every fifth episode is broadcast stretched, rather than 3:4. The last episode I saw had terrible sound problems, too. But none of this stops it from being my favourite flavour of Star Trek.

Any Troi-centric TNG story has me reaching for the remote.

Well, rather than having her fully empathetic, it made for possible errors of judgement and occasionally flawed judgement - she wasn't always right in reading character and motivation - to have her half-Betazoid and half-human. That allowed for some dramatic tension and tweaks with her character. However, her character was a lot better written as the series progressed, with the actress having an increasing say in how she was portrayed.

[doublepost=1452344367][/doublepost]And she even got her commander's full ring and promotion to full commander, too, before the series ended.

I think part of the problem is writing characters for a series that is reflecting (current) societal attitudes, and values, - even unknowingly, ofrsubconsciously - even in a supposedly enlightened 24th century time. This meant that while the female characters had serious professions - they weren't just eye-candy on the bridge - writing female characters - even in the late 80s and early 90s seemed to be constrained by the need to give them jobs in the 'caring professions'.

Having said that, by the last two-three seasons both Gates McFadden (who played Dr Crusher) and Marina Sirtis (who played Counsellor Troi) had asked for more action scenes for their respective characters from the writers, - as had Patrick Stewart earlier in the series - and these requests were honoured to some extent.

It was only when STNG came up with the wonderfully conflicted and badass character of Ensign Ro (whom, of course, I loved) that you realised what an edgy, combative, female character could do for the series.

But yes, of course, I would have loved to have seen more female characters in slightly more edgy settings, though the powerful and heavily political Admiral Nechayev was always well worth viewing.

 

[Huntn]

Watching some episodes of Star Trek: TNG on TV, BBC America.

I'm still quite dismayed that the video quality of the show is like that of watching it on a VHS tape.

On of my issues too with STNG, as we have discussed previously. It's interesting that we can watch I Love Lucy reruns from the frick'n 50s that look great. Anyone know anything about the technology and reason for this? It's evident in the STNG DVDs too as if they were copied fron VHS source material. Best price for bluray I've found is Amazon $188 Complete Set (import from UK). I have to assume this has been remastered.

 

[S.B.G]

It's interesting that we can watch I Love Lucy reruns from the frick'n 50s that look great.

Much agreed. I was just watching some episodes of The Twlight Zone last week and they looked fantastic in quality and then thought of TNG being terrible.

 

[Huntn]

Much agreed. I was just watching some episodes of The Twlight Zone last week and they looked fantastic in quality and then thought of TNG being terrible.

If I was to bet, it has something to do with those old shows being recorded on film. For STNG, I wonder if those were recorded with a digital format, and distributed with that, such as VHS, although I have to hope the original source material is of high quality and resolution. Does anyone have STNG on Bluray? A report is requested.

Ah, excellent. Hope you enjoy them.



Well, rather than having her fully empathetic, it made for possible errors of judgement to have her half-Betazoid. However, her character was better written as the series progressed.

[doublepost=1452344367][/doublepost]And she even got her commander's full ring and promotion to full commander, too, before the series ended.

I think part of the problem is writing characters for a series that is reflecting (current) societal attitudes, and values, - even unknowingly, of subconsciously - even in a supposedly enlightened 24th century time. This meant that while the female characters had serious professions - they weren't just eye-candy on the bridge - writing female characters - even in the late 80s and early 90s seemed to be constrained by the need to give them jobs in the 'caring professions'.

Having said that, by the last two-three seasons both Gates McFadden (who played Dr Crusher) and Marina Sirtis (who played Counsellor Troi) had asked for more action scenes for their respective characters from the writers, - as had Patrick Stewart earlier in the series - and these requests were honoured to some extent.

It was only when STNG came up with the wonderfully conflicted and badass character of Ensign Ro (whom, of course, I loved) that you realised what an edgy, combative, female character could do for the series.

But yes, of course, I would have loved to have seen more female characters in slightly more edgy settings, though the powerful and heavily political Admiral Nechayev was always well worth viewing.

Ensign Ro was another on screen character that I had a crush on, besides Dr. Crusher. Of all the ST based series, STNG reigns supreme IMO. It did so many things right with supurb, innovative, and intriquing writing.

The Internet is a wonderful thing. I asked google and found this unofficial explanation for the reason why STNG looks like crapola :

Quote:
The simple explanation - TNG, DS9 and Voyager were shot on film but transferred to video for editing. To create a HD master, every episode would have to be re-edited from the original negatives. Enterprise, on the other hand, could easily be released on Blu-Ray as it was created with HD in mind from day one.

Bear in mind that movies, let alone TV shows, from the 80's don't have the best reputation storing their original negatives properly. So, I wouldn't hold your breath for a Blu-Ray release.

...except since 2010, a Bluray version has been released.

 

[Spencerdl]

Anyone remember this TV show?

 

[Huntn]

Anyone remember this TV show?

Remember? This was a must watch, although in retrospect a very big Ehh. What's with the purple??

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If I was to bet, it has something to do with those old shows being recorded on film. For STNG, I wonder if those were recorded with a digital format, and distributed with that, such as VHS, although I have to hope the original source material is of high quality and resolution. Does anyone have STNG on Bluray? A report is requested.



Ensign Ro was another on screen character that I had a crush on, besides Dr. Crusher. Of all the ST based series, STNG reigns supreme IMO. It did so many things right with supurb, innovative, and intriquing writing.

The Internet is a wonderful thing. I asked google and found this unofficial explanation for the reason why STNG looks like crapola :

Quote:
The simple explanation - TNG, DS9 and Voyager were shot on film but transferred to video for editing. To create a HD master, every episode would have to be re-edited from the original negatives. Enterprise, on the other hand, could easily be released on Blu-Ray as it was created with HD in mind from day one.

Bear in mind that movies, let alone TV shows, from the 80's don't have the best reputation storing their original negatives properly. So, I wouldn't hold your breath for a Blu-Ray release.

...except since 2010, a Bluray version has been released.

Agreed.

And yes, Ensign Ro rocked. Terrific character - pity they weren't able to use the character more. She brought a wonderful spikiness to the series.

Agree re the series as a whole; terrific series, though I never got to see the last few years of DS9, and so cannot compare it with that series at a time when friends tell me that DS9 improved hugely.

Anyone remember this TV show?

Remember? This was a must watch, although in retrospect a very big Ehh. What's with the purple??

Hm. I vaguely remember seeing this at some stage but was never hooked.

 

[Huntn]

Agreed.

And yes, Ensign Ro rocked. Terrific character - pity they weren't able to use the character more. She brought a wonderful spikiness to the series.

Agree re the series as a whole; terrific series, though I never got to see the last few years of DS9, and so cannot compare it with that series at a time when friends tell me that DS9 improved hugely.

Hm. I vaguely remember seeing this at some stage but was never hooked.

Since STNG, one SciFi show, Battlestar Galactica (2005-2009) has grabbed my attention in the same way, although it was a difference to kind of narrative, much more reliant on its serial nature, vs more stand alone and more scifi intellectual episodes for STNG.

 

[Spencerdl]

Since STNG, one SciFi show, Battlestar Galactica (2005-2009) has grabbed my attention in the same way, although it was a difference to kind of narrative, much more reliant on its serial nature, vs more stand alone and more scifi intellectual episodes for STNG.

I saw every episode. I really liked Battlestar Galactica.

 

[S.B.G]

Can't go wrong with Number 6 in BSG either.

 

[Spencerdl]

Can't go wrong with Number 6 in BSG either.

I agree