tljgator

*Spoiler tagged since we don't have a book thread.

Yes and no...it's a bit more of a haves & have nots thing going on, especially the grand tradition of those with material less thinking it must be all sunshine and rainbows in the world of the haves, then getting to London and finding out it's dirty and sad and underhanded, just in different ways than that may be so in the country. Similarly, Estella is emotionally abused by the coercive, damaged Mrs. Havisham in the book, but in ways not nearly so dark as this adaptation (MMV). My main issue isn't taking liberties with book to film adaptations, btw, just that what was done here felt like a modern checklist of things that are dark and sinister but still vaguely sexy and luring in the minds of a certain type of TPTB and had to be added. (I was a little less surprised after reading that the same creatives are also behind Peaky Blinders, which I loved, but isn't the aesthetic I necessarily wanted here.) There are many similar linkages in the book (think of them as things that should make for good TV cliff-hanger type things because this "book" was originally released as a series of individual chapters to lure readers to buy the weekly -- it's at least in part why it's kinda sad that they can't make this a better mini-series)...some that match this telling, and some quite different. Most are intentional, rather than coincidental -- Magwich uses his lawyer to fund Pip (he's the benefactor in the book) in thanks for his help on the marsh, etc. *Since we don't have a separate thread to compare the series and book, I presume this is okay here.*

Tis a scratch.

Clearly, the sister doing a little BDSM on the side and everyone being on the pipe wasn't nearly enough. What we really needed to do was add in some cutting and an Eyes Wide Shut party for good measure. I mean, sure. Why not at this point? (Am I hate-watching to the bitter end? Yes, yes, I am. Thanks for asking. *g*)

Anyone else think this looked like an homage to Pillow Talk? Me too, lol...I literally said, HA! out loud to no one. Only thing that would have made it better would have been "Make Your Own Kind of Music" playing on musak in the background of the mall. ...so many little literary allusions in this one. Whether he goes out on his own or they chase him, he does say explicitly (don't remember if it was the this episode or the one before -- sorry, watched them together) that he doesn't do well in the snow/ice. Love this -- seems very on-point. We saw a lot of clinging to small points of protecting/caring for others from several of the adult YJs in this one and the last, not just Nat, but even Shauna, bringing the old stuffed animal to Callie after getting the van back. Someone mentioned, I think in the discussion of the prior episode, how run down and dirty the cabin and the girls suddenly look compared to prior episodes (in a horror movie kind of way), but I think it also made how clean and well-fed Javi looked jump out even more.

I loved that Sara told her that it was like her food (from Kentucky), since it also reminded me of the fanciest Hoppin' John ever, lol (which, of course, we make in the South for good luck every new year, just as Victoire explained she does as well). This entire episode made me smile (until the post-judging chat which got snippy, even being outside the stew room).

seriously -- it all looks amazing (I wish we could get smell-o-vision, lol)

I watched the first episode, but like pasdetrois, it didn't really grab me. I was surprised because I was drawn in by the initial preview clips and GE is a favorite book. I'm hoping the next few give me reason to finish it out, but I'm not sure. *shrugs* All the reviews saying it was dark and gritty and dirty were certainly on point, though, lol.

I haven't rewatched, so I could be misremembering, too (we're a sorry lot aren't we, lol), but I think the figure was wearing a fedora-type hat, so I presumed male, but I suppose that could be misdirection as well.

They purposefully obscured the figure in darkness so we couldn't see who it was.

Was anybody else amused by Dr. Pershing telling the doctor running the mind flayer who reminded me of Admiral Ackbar (since he looked to be Mon Calamari...yes, I had to look that up, lol) that "It was a TRAP!" Just me?

I feel fairly certain it HAS to matter. It's not only an uncommon word, but an uncommon turn of phrase in normal conversation. While I might expect her sister to say something like, "you ruin everything," I would not expect her to say she's "ruinous," much less for someone else to use the same word again. I noticed it on first viewing, and was glad to see others did as well when I came here to catch up. This is the kind of show that routinely revisits small things that turn out to matter...I'm putting a pin in this one for next season.

Anybody else have the sinking realization that you've been singing the wrong words to A LOT of that song for a few decades now?

Watched the clip show thing on PBS last night that mostly counted down "9 things" in various categories to lead into Season 9. It was... a clip show. It showed clips. Eh. *shrugs* Was nice to see the gang again, though (even if clips of the horrible, no good, terrible mustache were startling when they just appeared out of nowhere, lol).

Just caught up to this tonight, now that it's streaming on Netflix. Yes, there is a brief scene mid-credits for others who may be watching now. (It didn't seem to portend a follow-up to me.) The acting was outstanding all around and it's a travesty that none of these women got Oscar noms for their work. Really solid film. [Side note: much respect for the writers, costume, and prop people on Black Panther who clearly drew historical inspiration from the women in this story for the women warriors in their story. It was so clear to see watching this and I appreciated it.]

He talks more about it in this Rolling Stone article (that a friend sent to me beforehand, not knowing it hadn't aired yet, so I was spoiled for the episode *hrmph*). I would have liked more on the Armenian Genocide -- I always like to learn about things that haven't been covered repeatedly on the show -- but I thought it was a solid episode.

Per Urban Dictionary, not those kind of balls...

She specifically asks Joel (after he replies that he has killed them before) if it bothered him that they used to be people, so until something more direct is shown, I tend to think she's testing out her ideas about whether it's troubling, etc., especially since she didn't grow up in the before times. (Also trying not to imprint ideas from other zombie-focused franchises -- less so here than the earlier episode with the wandering kid -- even if all my brain wants to call to mind is "look at the flowers.") Side note: I could also get with the idea that the fungus is in her to some degree and is either impacting her in some way, or she's testing her relationship to it...for instance here, is the cut to see if she feels linked to it (like they saw from the group in Boston), etc.? *shrugs* Just spitballing.

Sad news... https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/annie-wersching-dead-bosch-24-runaways-1235312384/

I think the hyped-up on coffee segment and the walking to the corner store in PJs were supposed to be the "lighter" moments. I agree with the critics, I thought this was a really solid start (and the Columbo comparisons were apt). I only watched one for now -- you're right, shapeshifter, 4 is a strange choice these days -- do they expect me to binge a new case-of-the-week show? Are they thinking I'm down for one a day from today through the weekend? *shrugs* Glad to have something new that doesn't stress me out with freaky zombies. *g*

*hums Allison's theme song* 🎶Paint it, Paint it, Paint it...Paint it black🎶

This year was Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas on PBS and I quite enjoyed it. I didn't know the chefs, but it was rather refreshing to see a group of chefs beyond the usual dozen or so from Food Network that show up on virtually every American cooking special. It's a fairly typical Christmas dinner episode, but I miss Mary and I like her straightforward teaching/instructional style -- recommended if it's still available on your PBS.

I presumed it was the dragon appearing through the floor, no?

I was more surprised to actually smile at something they did (I'm not usually much for their "humor")...I was genuinely amused at whichever of them busted out singing "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" as Sandro carried his stow stopper back to his bench. Wonder if it was spontaneous, and, thus, funnier?

It's actually free, marinite. 🙂