Apple TV+ recommendations?

[T & P]

Wolfs is okay. Not great, but not shit either as the scathing Telegraph review suggested. A crime action dark comedy film starring Clooney and Pitt as solitary crime fixers a la Mr Wolf from Pulp Fiction (hence the title, geddit?) who get accidentally involved in the same job, which rapidly becomes far more complex than expected.

Whereas it sometimes feels the film doesn’t know what chord it wants to strike, and it is certainly an inferior product to various films it seems to take inspiration from, it is still a fairly watchable flick, with funny dialogue and dark dry humour. 6.5/ 10.

 

[T & P]

Ep 5 of Slow Horses today is another cracker.

Pleased to see
Hugo Weaving in this as well

 

[Nanker Phelge]

The lastest season of Slow Horses hasn't really grabbed me. It feels less character driven, and more like it is just going from plot point to plot point. Only one episode left, and I've not felt the story has really gone anywhere. I did piss myself laughing when river fell through the roof and landed headfirst into a tyre.

 

[metalguru]

The lastest season of Slow Horses hasn't really grabbed me. It feels less character driven, and more like it is just going from plot point to plot point. Only one episode left, and I've not felt the story has really gone anywhere. I did piss myself laughing when river fell through the roof and landed headfirst into a tyre.

I agree. Slow Horses is still very skilful at mixing very good action sequences and comedy in the same episode, and the photography of London is fantastic, but this season feels to me like a collection of familiar set pieces very loosely held together by a flimsy plot.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

I agree. Slow Horses is still very skilful at mixing very good action sequences and comedy in the same episode, and the photography of London is fantastic, but this season feels to me like a collection of familiar set pieces very loosely held together by a flimsy plot.

And London isn't as well shot as previous seasons. I always liked that they had avoided splicing London Streets together and characters would turn turn down a street and end up where I expected them to end up (where they would actually turn up on a London A-Z). This season has not been as attentive to the geography of London. The chase scene at St Pancras was various different internal station locations spliced together (which is common in other shows, but not in Slow Horses).

 

[Chz]

And London isn't as well shot as previous seasons. I always liked that they had avoided splicing London Streets together and characters would turn turn down a street and end up where I expected them to end up (where they would actually turn up on a London A-Z). This season has not been as attentive to the geography of London. The chase scene at St Pancras was various different internal station locations spliced together (which is common in other shows, but not in Slow Horses).

That and he managed to catch the Central Line from King's Cross. Good use of the tunnel to the old Thameslink platforms though.
(I know... nerrrrrrrrrd)

 

[Nanker Phelge]

Slow Horses season finale was the best episode. This season has not been the strongest, but the ending was great fun. You never know who is going to survive in this show, and I really like that no one is safe (maybe two of the main characters always will be, but that's about it!).

Bad Monkey. I realised it reminded me of Carl Hiaasen because it's based on one of his book. That'll teach me to pay attention in future. As an adaptation of his work it pretty much represented his writing better than any film/tv has before. His novels are stacked with characters criss-crossing each other's lives, getting in to ridiculous situations, and dying in bizarre and painful ways, usually after suffering a lot first! All present and correct here alongside his usual environmental messaging, spotlight on corrupt institutions and cynical sense of humor. I enjoyed it. Great cast, great location work and a plot that just about holds together through to the end. I'm still waiting for his recurring character Skink to appear on screen one day!

 

[Nanker Phelge]

If you want to save yourself an angonsizing 12 hrs steer clear of Shantaram; in which Charlie Hunnam does yet another piss poor accent while taking his top off alot and spouting the kind of paper thin philosophical shit that might end up on a living room wall as 'inspirational' text stenciled in a gentle and italicised font.

 

[Silas Loom]

If you want to save yourself an angonsizing 12 hrs steer clear of Shantaram; in which Charlie Hunnam does yet another piss poor accent while taking his top off alot and spouting the kind of paper thin philosophical shit that might end up on a living room wall as 'inspirational' text stenciled in a gentle and italicised font.

I’ve never hated a book as much as that one so would have steered clear anyway, but it’s always good to have biases confirmed.

 

[technical]

Slow Horses season finale was the best episode. This season has not been the strongest, but the ending was great fun. You never know who is going to survive in this show, and I really like that no one is safe (maybe two of the main characters always will be, but that's about it!).

Bad Monkey. I realised it reminded me of Carl Hiaasen because it's based on one of his book. That'll teach me to pay attention in future. As an adaptation of his work it pretty much represented his writing better than any film/tv has before. His novels are stacked with characters criss-crossing each other's lives, getting in to ridiculous situations, and dying in bizarre and painful ways, usually after suffering a lot first! All present and correct here alongside his usual environmental messaging, spotlight on corrupt institutions and cynical sense of humor. I enjoyed it. Great cast, great location work and a plot that just about holds together through to the end. I'm still waiting for his recurring character Skink to appear on screen one day!

I enjoyed Bad Monkey as well. Despite the formulaic set up (wisecracking detective who doesn’t play by the rules etc) it had a great script and look. I’m assuming there’ll be another one given the way it finished.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

I enjoyed Bad Monkey as well. Despite the formulaic set up (wisecracking detective who doesn’t play by the rules etc) it had a great script and look. I’m assuming there’ll be another one given the way it finished.

There is a sequal to the novel. Fingers crossed.

 

[RubyToogood]

I was a bit confused about the ending of this season of Slow Horses.

What happened to the threat to expose all of the senior people in 24 hours?

 

[Silas Loom]

I was a bit confused about the ending of this season of Slow Horses.

What happened to the threat to expose all of the senior people in 24 hours?

It remains, but it has been alleviated for now because ex-CIA chap has been let free and presumably his Middle Eastern employer has been warned off killing him, all as requested when he was in custody.

 

[T & P]

It remains, but it has been alleviated for now because ex-CIA chap has been let free and presumably his Middle Eastern employer has been warned off killing him, all as requested when he was in custody.

I wasn’t even sure if he was in fact going to be let go, from the conversation Lamb had with Taverner. The preview of the next season didn’t show Hugo Weaving’s character at all, and every season so far has featured a different set of antagonists, so I had assumed he wasn’t going to be released after all. If he is, I certainly hope he gets what’s coming to him in the next season.

 

[Brainaddict]

I'm going deliberately slow with Slow Horses because when it's gone it's gone and there's very little else that's that good. So I've just finished Season 2, and wow. Better than Season 1, if anything. Just so many good ingredients to make it work, and so little to fault.

 

[shifting gears]

I’ve never hated a book as much as that one so would have steered clear anyway, but it’s always good to have biases confirmed.

I remember quite enjoying Shantaram at the time while understanding it was for the most part pure fantasy. I then made the mistake years later of reading the sequel The Mountain Shadow, which was pure unadulterated drivel of the highest order. Really, really bad.

 

[shifting gears]

I'm going deliberately slow with Slow Horses because when it's gone it's gone and there's very little else that's that good. So I've just finished Season 2, and wow. Better than Season 1, if anything. Just so many good ingredients to make it work, and so little to fault.

Plenty of good stuff on Apple TV - Silo, For All Mankind, Pachinko etc

 

[editor]

I've just found out that Barclays Bank* for some reason or another dishes out free Apple TV subscriptions to anyone who signs up to their Rewards scheme - which has just given me £35 for some reason or another. So I can now take an interest in this thread!

*Yes I know they're appalling but the prospect of moving banks is something I can't face right now.

 

[og ogilby]

I've just found out that Barclays Bank* for some reason or another dishes out free Apple TV subscriptions to anyone who signs up to their Rewards scheme - which has just given me £35 for some reason or another. So I can now take an interest in this thread!

*Yes I know they're appalling but the prospect of moving banks is something I can't face right now.

I bought an air fryer from Currys last weekend and they emailed a free Apple TV sub. I doubt I'll use it though, unlike the air fryer, which I have found very useful.

 

[Chz]

I realise it's a bit niche for Urban, but for anyone who likes a cheesy musical number Central Park and Schmigadoon are both worth watching. Central Park is more a comedy series with a surplus of musical numbers, but Schmigadoon is cheese you can cut with a knife and it revels in it. Barry Sonnenfield directing, and good to see Kristin Chenoweth back on the TV set.

I know T & P has already recommended it, but consider it a second push. It is very silly, and sometimes you need it.

 

[Sweet FA]

If you want to save yourself an angonsizing 12 hrs steer clear of Shantaram...the kind of paper thin philosophical shit that might end up on a living room wall as 'inspirational' text stenciled in a gentle and italicised font.

that's basically the book too. fucking awful.

 

[editor]

I bought an air fryer from Currys last weekend and they emailed a free Apple TV sub. I doubt I'll use it though, unlike the air fryer, which I have found very useful.

No other network seems to be dishing out freebies so easily, so maybe Apple TV is struggling a bit in the UK?

 

[Chz]

No other network seems to be dishing out freebies so easily, so maybe Apple TV is struggling a bit in the UK?

Struggling full stop. They've made a few (very) high quality shows, but they lack any depth in the library so are suspect #1 when people decide to cut one service that they've already seen most of.
Disney can get away with putting on as many new shows as Apple does (not many) because they always have the film library to fall back on.

One thing I will give them credit for - one price for 4k/HDR/no ads. Disney, even at £1.99/mo, is pissing me off more with the poor timing of ads then they are convincing me to stay on.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

I really enjoyed Severence. Such a great show, with so many layers and ideas. I wonder if that is what working at Apple is like!!! Can't wait for season 2 to drop.

Currently watching Silo. Also a clever, and entertaining sci-fi series.

 

[og ogilby]

No other network seems to be dishing out freebies so easily, so maybe Apple TV is struggling a bit in the UK?

Like I said. They sent me a free sub and I can't even be bothered to claim it. I read this thread and I don't feel I'm missing much.

 

[Chz]

Like I said. They sent me a free sub and I can't even be bothered to claim it. I read this thread and I don't feel I'm missing much.

Oh there's totally a month's worth of good stuff. I'm spreading it out over the 3 months' free I got, but if you're a binger you can cover all the good content in a month. Severance, Dark Matter, For All Mankind on the sci-fi side. Morning Show, Pachinko, Slow Horses for drama. Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Time Bandits for comedy.

There's more I'd watch if I didn't already have Netflix and Prime. But we need Netflix for Mrs. C's K-drama obsession, and Prime is just a side effect of prompt and free deliveries.

 

[Brainaddict]

Time Bandits is crap, unfortunately. We have a pretty high tolerance for shonky fantasy series but it was really dire and we had to stop watching.

 

[MBV]

I'm going to give Disclaimer a go at the weekend. Has anyone started it yet?

 

[nagapie]

Slow Horses and Bad Sisters are the only things I've really enjoyed on Apple. Ted Lasso was a good laugh because I watched it with my kid.

 

[Saffy]

Second series of Bad Sisters is out in November.