What Succession got right was having all those appalling, morally bankrupt people being vile to other appalling, morally bankrupt people. There are no protagonists in Succession.
And almost every part having some agency (even some of the minor ones) and not just there to fill the background, as well as being played by an excellent actor. It will be hard for Jesse Bain to follow that.
@micra I'm terrified now that I have misused the phrase. It seemed to me that almost all of the supporting players (often good young or old actors) even the relatively minor ones that float around the edges of the action (assistants, bodyguards, employees) had a semblance of a developed character and had a role to play (however minor) as things unfolded rather than it just being two or three star name high-powered thespians bellowing their actorly turns while silent extras stand about just reacting and nodding. (Which sometimes happens in some TV series in my opinion.) A true ensemble piece.
Thanks for that pellucid explanation @Wendoverman. I thought that was what it meant. It’s not something I’ve ever been particularly aware of. Must try to develop a greater awareness of the authenticity of characters and their interactions.
This thread seems a bit top heavy on the music and TV; here's a YouTube vid from RobWords who does a lot of interesting shit on the etymological front, this one regarding the origins of our alphabet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYqqFqoLnnk
I’ve a feeling someone mentioned Blossoms on here some time ago. They’ve featured twice on TV during the last ten days. On Later with Jools and on the Graham Norton show.
Went to see Texan noise rock band Cherubs tonight. Incredible. Just magnificent. Gig of the year. And yet it ultimately played second fiddle to our result. What a wonderful night.
Kae Tempest for me tonight. One of the highlights of the past few years but as @MindlessDrugHoover said somehow it was overshadowed by events in Stockport.
Similarly, I vaguely remembered the name from the Peel show back in the 90s but went to see them as a friend put them on. Seriously, the records barely touch the live experience but crank them up enough and you might start to get an impression.
Standing in front of the speakers was what it must have felt like to be a Stockport defender facing a rampant Wycombe that same night.
I've been meaning to reply to this all week. 'Songs of a Lost World' is simply an incredible album. 'Endsong' is an absolute masterpiece, arguably the greatest song they've ever written. 'Drone:no drone' is another standout song from the album.
It's been compared to both 'Pornography' and 'Disintegration' but I think it's a more cohesive and coherent album that both of those. It has a consistent atmosphere and narrative throughout.
Jason Cooper's drumming and Simon Gallup's bass drive the songs and sound so good. Reeves Gabrels guitar work is just sensational, adding another dimension to the sound and Robert Smith's voice is unbelievable. He's 65 and sounds 25. One of the greatest albums of not just this year, but any year. I can't recommend it enough.
I’ve not encountered that level of enthusiasm for any genre bar a mate’s effusive praise for Tuba Skinny, a group of young musicians who recreate the sounds of the early jazz pioneers in N’awlins.
I’ll have a listen to a track or two from the new Cure album but don’t hold yer breath - it’s dangerous.
Hard to say with it being so new but I’d have it as my third favourite Cure album behind the two that @glasshalfempty mentioned. A really impressive comeback especially considering it seemed so unlikely to happen at all even up until a few months ago.
Got the impression Jason Cooper is a poor man’s Dave Grohl. Shades of the amazing Teen Spirit there. But I wound up restoring my blood pressure to a manageable level with this:
I had a listen back to the Tin Machine album earlier this year for the first time since it was released, reckoning it couldn't be as bad as I remembered. It was.
Comments
if you were to rank the 3 in order @Wendoverman? (i've seen succession but am deciding which of the other 2 to watch next)
Severance if you want to go ‘what…oh!’ a few times every episode.
Slow Horses if you want to see Gary Oldman having the time of his life and referring to a gambling addict and a drug addict as scratch and sniff.
I have been recommended Severance from my go to TV guy at work he’s a little like Mark Kermode but bald and have just started.
Succession tops for me simply because of the quality across the whole cast and production.
Slow Horses for Oldman's bravura performance that you can almost smell.
Severance very good start but I need to see where it goes.
Other opinions are available.
I've never watched Billions...any views?
What Succession got right was having all those appalling, morally bankrupt people being vile to other appalling, morally bankrupt people. There are no protagonists in Succession.
And almost every part having some agency (even some of the minor ones) and not just there to fill the background, as well as being played by an excellent actor. It will be hard for Jesse Bain to follow that.
Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain is the other one from Peep Show.
Forgive ignorance @Wendoverman but what does having some agency mean?
@drcongo my very, very bad.
@micra I'm terrified now that I have misused the phrase. It seemed to me that almost all of the supporting players (often good young or old actors) even the relatively minor ones that float around the edges of the action (assistants, bodyguards, employees) had a semblance of a developed character and had a role to play (however minor) as things unfolded rather than it just being two or three star name high-powered thespians bellowing their actorly turns while silent extras stand about just reacting and nodding. (Which sometimes happens in some TV series in my opinion.) A true ensemble piece.
It's very true. As the great Kurt Vonnegut said, every character should want something, even if it's just a glass of water.
Though I did enjoy the latest Slow Horses...my only complaint...it needed more Lamb.
Thanks for that pellucid explanation @Wendoverman. I thought that was what it meant. It’s not something I’ve ever been particularly aware of. Must try to develop a greater awareness of the authenticity of characters and their interactions.
Beautifully simple. Simply beautiful.
.https://youtu.be/xtFtHqFGf20?si=TEkDBmH43WgxNNLj
This thread seems a bit top heavy on the music and TV; here's a YouTube vid from RobWords who does a lot of interesting shit on the etymological front, this one regarding the origins of our alphabet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYqqFqoLnnk
I’ve a feeling someone mentioned Blossoms on here some time ago. They’ve featured twice on TV during the last ten days. On Later with Jools and on the Graham Norton show.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=BMrRsA3CxIc&si=3VSUKvTq8JQcB4Js
Went to see Texan noise rock band Cherubs tonight. Incredible. Just magnificent. Gig of the year. And yet it ultimately played second fiddle to our result. What a wonderful night.
Kae Tempest for me tonight. One of the highlights of the past few years but as @MindlessDrugHoover said somehow it was overshadowed by events in Stockport.
(Still in shock at £7.95 a pint though…)
At what point does this team qualify for a mention in the Culture Corner?
I am looking forward to the return of Wolf Hall. Mark Rylance masterclass.
I’ll give them a listen. I vaguely remember them but never owned any of their stuff.
I was never much of a fan of The Cure but their new album is really good
Similarly, I vaguely remembered the name from the Peel show back in the 90s but went to see them as a friend put them on. Seriously, the records barely touch the live experience but crank them up enough and you might start to get an impression.
Standing in front of the speakers was what it must have felt like to be a Stockport defender facing a rampant Wycombe that same night.
I've been meaning to reply to this all week. 'Songs of a Lost World' is simply an incredible album. 'Endsong' is an absolute masterpiece, arguably the greatest song they've ever written. 'Drone:no drone' is another standout song from the album.
It's been compared to both 'Pornography' and 'Disintegration' but I think it's a more cohesive and coherent album that both of those. It has a consistent atmosphere and narrative throughout.
Jason Cooper's drumming and Simon Gallup's bass drive the songs and sound so good. Reeves Gabrels guitar work is just sensational, adding another dimension to the sound and Robert Smith's voice is unbelievable. He's 65 and sounds 25. One of the greatest albums of not just this year, but any year. I can't recommend it enough.
I’ve not encountered that level of enthusiasm for any genre bar a mate’s effusive praise for Tuba Skinny, a group of young musicians who recreate the sounds of the early jazz pioneers in N’awlins.
I’ll have a listen to a track or two from the new Cure album but don’t hold yer breath - it’s dangerous.
Hard to say with it being so new but I’d have it as my third favourite Cure album behind the two that @glasshalfempty mentioned. A really impressive comeback especially considering it seemed so unlikely to happen at all even up until a few months ago.
Got the impression Jason Cooper is a poor man’s Dave Grohl. Shades of the amazing Teen Spirit there. But I wound up restoring my blood pressure to a manageable level with this:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=SVSjcS-N224&si=eRd8Df4yUq6YLCbQ
Having started with this:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=jFU6xiWbHT0&si=3247oh8VboUmuBC6
And to think Reeves Gabrels was in Tin Machine.......
I had a listen back to the Tin Machine album earlier this year for the first time since it was released, reckoning it couldn't be as bad as I remembered. It was.
I think Tin Machine were alright. I appreciate many won’t agree.