Is it time for a recommendations post? (205/365)

[white_hart]

I don't think I've done one of these for a while. What have you been watching/reading/listening to lately?

I haven't actually watched much lately. We are working our way through Midsomer Murders from the beginning on Saturdays; I'm still watching classic Doctor Who on and off (more off than on) and we're also rewatching This Life (all on Britbox; I've also watched several episodes of Captain Pugwash which is charming), but nothing new. And I watched Dirty Dancing for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago, and liked it much more than I thought I would.

Comments

[jinty]

We’ve just done a family movie night watch of Miyazaki‘s film of Howl’s Moving Castle. Different from the book in many ways including underlying themes, but lovely both as a sort of AU version and as a Miyazaki film in itself.

[white_hart]

I have only ever watched one Miyazaki film (My Neighbour Totoro). I should probably watch more of them!

[jinty]

Yes! They're all good but it does depend on what your buttons are re likes/dislikes of course. Howl in the Miyazaki version is much more about war and inhumanity of the powerful; Totoro is peaceful but the mother's illness is ever-present; Kiki's Delivery Service is really lovely and sweet but also includes stuff about asking too much of yourself and burnout (she does recover tho).

[used_songs]

I watched ALL of the episodes of Endeavour over the last couple of weeks and really enjoyed it. Right now I'm reading two non-fiction books, David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBTQ Music and A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance.

[white_hart]

Endeavour is great! (I work in his new police station, which is not in fact a police station in real life.)

[perennialanna]

I finally managed to finish Feel Good, which, in the end, did feel very good. It's where the clip I posted on FB tonight is from.

[white_hart]

Ah! I should give it a go.

[danieldwilliam]

Call My Agent on Netflix. French comedy drama about an agency for actors.

[nineveh_uk]

Seconded!

[white_hart]

I must get round to this, so many people have recommended it!

[danieldwilliam]

We're just about to watch the last episode (so far). It's been very good, starts a little frothy, gets a bit more serious as the peril for the characters shifts from being mild to more serious but it's consistently funny and there is a great joy in watching the heavy-hitters of French cinema play themselves in cameos in each episode.

[aurumcalendula]

I've been rewatching Word of Honor (山河令) and Leverage lately.

[white_hart]

I've heard very good things about Word of Honour from the people who loved The Untamed.

[nineveh_uk]

I keep meaning to do a DW post, there is a lot for Untamed fans to enjoy in WOH.

I'm currently watching Winter Begonia, which is an entirely different kind of Cdrama adaptation of an m/m webnovel. For a start it is set in 1937 Beijing, so glorious clothing, Chinese opera, political chaos, and also Japan is invading.

[alithea]

Shrill on iplayer - it's basically Social Justice Warriors the queer, fat-friendly, diverse, romance drama of women getting their shit together and I am utterly bemused as to why I've seen zero hype about it. It's definitely up there as one of the best contemporary TV series I've watched in a long time.

[white_hart]

Oh, I hadn't even heard of that but it sounds like my kind of thing!

[alithea]

The main character is straight and there is quite a lot of sex in it, but the queer characters get to share centre stage from the 2nd season onwards so bear with it (they are only short seasons and it is very bingeable)

[mrs_redboots]

We are enjoying the "Secrets of the Tube" on a Monday evening with Tim Dunn on Yesterday.

[white_hart]

That does sound interesting!

[girlyswot]

Only Connect is back! It is the only TV I’m watching at the moment. Maybe some Olympics.

[white_hart]

It is very good to have it back.

[callmemadam]

I third the recommendation of Call My Agent: all four series. I also loved A Very Secret Service (Au Service de la France), which is very funny. I've been watching a lot of cricket, which probably wouldn't interest you :-)

[white_hart]

I really must get round to trying Call My Agent!

[lilysea]

Seconding

Feel Good

Leverage

and Shrill!

[white_hart]

Thanks!

[alithea]

Ahah, someone else who has watched Shrill!

[tree_and_leaf]

Mostly we have been watching the Clone Wars cartoon series. It's... a lot more complex than I thought it would be, although the voice acting is a bit patchy (Palpatine, in particular, does not sound anything like Ian McDiarmaid). And we're rewatching "Trials of Life" on Amazon, and it really is extremely good.

I also enjoyed the first episode of "Secrets of the Tube," but that really does depend on you being interested in geeky details of the London Underground.

[white_hart]

I suspect I would be quite interested in geeky details of the Underground, so I should check that out.

[lilysea]

We Are Lady Parts

Four British Muslim women of colour form a punk band

definitely my favourite show of 2021 so far

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPqzoAjxvl4

[white_hart]

I loved that! Such a good series.

[cmcmck]

The African American composer, William Grant Still.

Well worth a listen

[white_hart]

Thanks!

[sfred]

We're rewatching The West Wing and Pertwee Doctor Who. Recently enjoyed We Are Ladyparts on All4.

[white_hart]

Yes, I loved We Are Ladyparts!