All the critics seem to be wetting thenselves over a show which never really made up its mind about what it was.
A ghost story ?
An unrequited love story ?
A murder mystery ?
An old cop going nuts ?
Another dodgy incestuous family disaster ?
I wasn't taken by the leads, neither of whom I found remotely attractive. Only River's new partner and the shrink impressed me.
Plz. No season 2
They were not ghosts. "manifests". TV is supposed to be more intelligent and realistic these days. No need to cast a fitty in the lead role.
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I suspect that you are American. In what way are these characters not attractive? Personally, I find many American shows have characters who are far too attractive and therefore completely unrealistic. Over in England, Nicola Walker is tremendously popular, having starred in three series. She is also doing well on Broadway,, I understand.
shareI am not American, I live in Kent and Nicola Walker looks like a mousy frump.
Always has done. I never could understand what Sir Harry Pearce saw in her.
Stellan Skarsgard, as a overage romantic is embarrassing
I am not American, I live in Kent and Nicola Walker looks like a mousy frump.
Always has done. I never could understand what Sir Harry Pearce saw in her.
Stellan Skarsgard, as a overage romantic is embarrassing
Nicola Walker and Stellan Skarsgard are able to do more with just their faces and body languages than most actors working on American TV. And though I realize they are highly trained, they do it effortlessly. That is what acting is about.
That being said the 6 episodes are one engrossing story with characters and a plot.
The difference between this series and so many other American series is that not only is a story being told, but there is plenty of time for development of the characters.
After watching all the episodes it is totally possible to write a two page essay on each of the main characters, their childhoods, their lives, their dark sides and their basic struggle of living. After all, this is what makes a play, a film, a story interesting.
We can all identify with parts of John River, Stevie etc.
Lastly, as much as I'd like a second series as I love the characters so much, I really don't want a second series as the story has been told. It's finished.
To answer your question, Yes, it was that good!
Oh, last last comment, your writing that Walker as a "mousy frump" or Skarsgard as an overage romantic" shows a definite shallowness and immaturity in your thinking and I sincerely hope you outgrow it. I know it sounds trite but Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.
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To answer your question, Yes, it was that good!
Oh, last last comment, your writing that Walker as a "mousy frump" or Skarsgard as an overage romantic" shows a definite shallowness and immaturity in your thinking and I sincerely hope you outgrow it. I know it sounds trite but Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.
Do people actually rate/watch TV programs/movies based on the physical attractiveness of the actors? That's amazing. Didn't realize actual people did that. Amazing as in sad, by the way. I thought this was a trait only filled by the absolute lowest common denominators of society. I guess maybe TV programs compensating quality with 'hot ppl' is one reason I haven't watched cable tv in years. This thread reads like some celebrity tabloid. I'm actually disgusted. I'm just glad I don't know where 'Kent' is and even gladder that I have no idea who Sir Harry Pearce is supposed to be. What would make all this even more sad is if you're one of those disgusting overweight 'gossiper girls' (or whatever you want to call them, the stupid ones) who can't stop talking about hotness even though they're on par physically with a cow.
15 minutes into this show and I can already say with certainty that this isn't a 'ghost story'. That description is something I'd expect to hear from a child, but only a rather dim child.
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What MsJillette said.
I'm an American and although I enjoy some TV shows and movies that are American, one thing that has always bugged me has been the absolute plastic sheen covering all shows here, which seems to almost be required as of the past 10-15 years or so. I found the characters in River, and especially the leads, to be absolutely refreshing in this respect. I'm not saying they're unattractive, I'm saying they're as real as you or me, without the bleached-teeth and plastic sheen/Photoshopping/image-boosting that is so overdone here. More American TV shows should do this. I recall some of the shows from 70s-80s here were a lot like that. Hardly any more are, these days.
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"I wanna be just like you. I figure all I need is a lobotomy and some tights." -John Bender
I have no idea who Sir Harry Pearce is supposed to beThen you have missed one of the best TV shows ever.
Who the heck is Sir Harry Pearce?
shareI'm US American and I loved River. Nicola Walker has quickly become my favorite UK actress. Every single role I've seen her in she shines and outpaces all the younger and "prettier" actresses by miles. The OP wants all his leads to be attractive and young because he can't imagine anyone else having romantic feelings or overpowering impulses. His loss.
shareI also enjoy a show that doesn't feel obliged to have a super model in every role.
I find normal looking actors to add to the realism of a show grounded in reality.
Just my opinion though
It's better than good!
shareFor the one response, I agree, American television has plastic people in plastic situations. Utterly predictable and inane.
THIS however, WOW! I am epically impressed! There are NO words to express just how great this show is...
American television such as The Wire, The Sopranos, and Game of Thrones, the 3 greatest television shows in modern history?
I think it's safe to assume that you're just one of the many people who is biased against America and can't contain yourself when an opportunity to mock Americans arises.
Let's be honest, GoT is pretty much British, written by an American, completely inspired by british history and played by mostly british actors.
shareNot sure what has happened to us that we are judging the quality of shows based on the character's appearances. God forbid that the actors look like average people..unheard of! Give me an actor that takes my breath away with their acting chops and I won't blink an eye at the fact that they might not be thought of as commonly "pretty/attractive". Anyway I found the show really interesting and though it is slow paced I thought it does a excellent job of grabbing you and keeping you interested mainly because of the characters. I too love Nicola Walker..she was quite good in Last Tango in Halifax as well and I'll probably check what else she's in. She's so likable but has a lot of range as well.
shareIt gets an automatic 7 points from reviewers for meeting various progressive propaganda requirements:
- 90+% of relationships are inter-racial
- only white people can be dysfunctional; non-whites are perfect paragons of virtue
- only men can be dysfunctional; women are perfect paragons of virtue
- mocking Americans
- only white people can be dysfunctional; non-whites are perfect paragons of virtue
- only men can be dysfunctional; women are perfect paragons of virtue
It's not very nice of you to equate mental illness with immorality
sharei was referring to the term 'dysfunctional'. a person suffering from mental illness is, by definition, dysfunctional, and there are black people and women who are clearly shown to have mental illness - in direct contradiction to your assertion that only white males are shown to be dysfunctional. i made no reference whatsoever to immorality. if you, on the other hand, are equating dysfunction with immorality, that's on you, not me.
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It was really that good.
It's called acting - and writing. Two things you can't get in a plastic surgeon's office. Nor will you find there the really very minimal depth required to appreciate either.
I mean, why not just "Snuffcarcass"?