Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is the thread to chat about your Spring 2025 TV viewing.

Tell us what you are watching !

I watched the first episode of "The Mirror and the Light," tonight, a series based on Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall" trilogy, and I found it excellent, but chilling. Of course, the three Wolf Hall books are among my all-time favorites, so I was predisposed to like a well-acted series, and that was very good. I don't watch a lot of TV, but I'll watch this series.

I am not a big TV person. However, the NY Times did a review of a British show and compared the main character to the TV character Monk. I love that show and watch the reruns all the time. So I thought I would give Ludwig a shot. I enjoyed it. It's light and funny.

Anyway, if you have Brit Box, the show is Ludwig. So far there are two episodes. I believe the new episodes drop on Thursdays.

Puzzle setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor’s life of solitude is upended when his identical twin, DCI James Taylor, disappears. Drafted in by his sister-in-law Lucy, John reluctantly assumes his brother's identity as a detective in the Cambridge Police Authority in order to find clues to his brother’s whereabouts.

Ludwig | Trailer - BBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imTyE...

We saw one tv series based on Mantel’s book & liked it. We need to catch up!

Alias, i just saw an ad for that today. It appeals to me. Those two stars are a pleasure to watch, as well.

madrano wrote: "We saw one tv series based on Mantel’s book & liked it. We need to catch up!"

I saw S1E1 last night. It actually begins where the second book in the trilogy begins, which makes sense if you've read the books. Looking forward to more, though it's such a dark series.

Bella, are you streaming the shows or is it on network tv? We saw Wolf Hall on PBS, i believe.

madrano wrote: "Bella, are you streaming the shows or is it on network tv? We saw Wolf Hall on PBS, i believe."

I saw it on PBS. I didn't even know they'd made a series and came across it by accident, though I'm glad I did. This is a series that is on every Sunday here. In the first episode, Henry marries Jane Seymour, but she hasn't even announced her pregnancy yet. It began where Bring Up the Bodies begins. I checked and it was S1E1.

Thank you, Bella.

madrano wrote: "Thank you, Bella."

You're welcome, Madrano.

I've been watching the Marlow Murder Club here in the UK. It's based on the books by Robert Thorogood, but I don't know how closely it stays to the books because I haven't got around to them yet.
If you like cosy crime series it's worth watching out for.

Thanks for the heads-up, KeenReader.

I’m not familiar with that author or series. I will keep an eye open for it, though. Thanks.

Hulu is streaming A Complete Unknown the Dylan biopick and it is really a great movie.

Rachel wrote: "Hulu is streaming A Complete Unknown the Dylan biopick and it is really a great movie."

My sister wanted to see that. I'll let her know. Thanks, Rachel !

A Complete Unknown was one of the few Oscar nominees I enjoyed. Its a good story and the performances are great, esp the actress playing Joan Baez

Thanks, Rachel. I hope to catch that someday.

Presently, we are staying in a Sonesta motel that does not offer CBS! Who does that?

madrano wrote: "Thanks, Rachel. I hope to catch that someday.

Presently, we are staying in a Sonesta motel that does not offer CBS! Who does that?"

I read something about why many places aren't offering CBS, but I can't remember what it was now. I don't think the hotel is the only place. I think a lot of cable companies have dropped CBS, too. Sorry I can't remember more.

madrano wrote: "Thanks, Rachel. I hope to catch that someday.

Presently, we are staying in a Sonesta motel that does not offer CBS! Who does that?"

It's a cable company issue. Networks get dropped when they don't want to pay to get carried on the cable system

Denise wrote: "madrano wrote: "Thanks, Rachel. I hope to catch that someday.

Presently, we are staying in a Sonesta motel that does not offer CBS! Who does that?"

It's a cable company issue. Networks get droppe..."

Thanks for giving us the "why" Denise. I know it had happened, but I didn't remember why.

Thanks, Denise, for the answer. As we only watch one program that isn’t on CBS, this has put a crimp in our evenings. Fortunately, we are avid readers.

"Juvenile Justice" (2022) Netflix

This South Korean mini-series is about judges in courts for youthful offenders. The crimes range from relatively innocuous things like theft all the way to gang rape and manslaughter.

The episodes are much more varied though, as they segue into corrupt judges and judges with hidden agendas and judges that just want to do the right thing.

Very interesting show, but Netflix canceled after one season.
Some of the acting is way over the top, but it's worth a watch if you're interested.

Interesting idea, serving to educate viewers about other nations & their systems. Thanks for the note, Barbara.

Barbara wrote: ""Juvenile Justice" (2022) Netflix

This South Korean mini-series is about judges in courts for youthful offenders. The crimes range from relatively innocuous things like theft all the way to gang r..."

That sound good. Unfortunately, I don't have Netflix. :(

Just finished watching ADOLESCENCE (4 parts, on Netflix). OMG, it is so sad and gut-wrenching. Acting was superb and it was done in what is called "one shot" filming. I am not going to write a review or synopsis because there are so many online. Having two young teen grandchildren, this really hit hard.

I have never seen Rotten Tomatoes give a show 100 until this.

Well worth watching

I will keep that in mind, JoAnn, when we get Netflix. Thanks.

madrano wrote: "I will keep that in mind, JoAnn, when we get Netflix. Thanks."

Denise, have you watched this show? I thought of you when watching the episode in the school. If you watch it, you will see why. The behavior!!! OMG

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "madrano wrote: "I will keep that in mind, JoAnn, when we get Netflix. Thanks."

Denise, have you watched this show? I thought of you when watching the episode in the school. If you watch it, you wi..."

I have 2 classes left to teach today (yes I'm counting down) then I will be on spring break. My two plans are to read Ducks, Newburyport and watch this show.

I actually logged into Netflix last night to start watching but decided to read War and Peace and go to sleep instead.

I will let you all know what I think after I watch

Looking forward to seeing what you think of "Adolescence", Denise. Talked about it with high school friends at a mini reunion today and we all agreed that we went to school and grew up in the best of times. We went to the most amazing public high school in the city and we all loved our years there. Still a very close-knit group, 60 years later, It was VERY diverse and there was no hate, no divisiveness. Pretty much as perfect as it could be, plus a great education. I have the most wonderful memories.

Last night I finished binging THE PITT. What an amazing show. Stellar performances and the realism was incredible. Just excellent.

The premise is that each episode is one hour in the life of an emergency room.

I watched 15 episodes in 3 nights....once until 3:30 AM!

Warning...it is VERY bloody....many procedures were shown in their entirety. There was a live birth shown. Yep, they showed it all.

Noah Wylie was wonderful. He is credited as a writer and something else. The estate of Michael Crichton, who created the show ER years ago, is suing Wylie and the show. Read about it here:

https://abcnews.go.com/culture/story/...

I’m glad it’s as good as it sounds, JoAnn.

The lawsuit is silly, imo. It seems to me this sort of program leads to similar ones. Worse, they tried to unite under Crichton’s name. Someone (or his estate!) just wanted more. *sigh*

Crichton's wife has had problems with his estate......so this lawsuit is not surprising to me. But a judge has let it proceed saying that his wife had enough evidence...

Here is the sequence of events about his estate:

Estate Plan and After-Born Child:

Michael Crichton died in 2008, leaving behind a daughter from a previous marriage, his wife Sherri, and an unborn child.

Crichton's estate plan favored his daughter, Taylor, and did not explicitly address his unborn child.

Sherri Crichton sued the estate on behalf of her son, arguing that he was a rightful heir and should receive a portion of the inheritance.

The case was litigated in California, where state law protects pretermitted (omitted) heirs, including after-born children.

The court ultimately ruled in favor of Sherri's son, stating that he was entitled to inherit a share of the estate

Okay, thanks, JoAnn. It’s a pity things came to that. Did Crichton die unexpectedly, so he couldn’t alter his will? He’ll be a wealthy, fatherless child.

madrano wrote: "Okay, thanks, JoAnn. It’s a pity things came to that. Did Crichton die unexpectedly, so he couldn’t alter his will? He’ll be a wealthy, fatherless child."

Yes, he will. Crichton not only had a lot of money from his books and movies, but had an unbelievably valuable art collection.

Crichton was only 66 when he died of cancer. He should have updated his will but did not, which created a lot of problems. The wife had signed a pre-nup.

He was married FIVE times but only had a daughter and this son, born after he died.

He graduated from Harvard Medical School but never practiced medicine.

He was very tall....6'9" ! When we lived in Newtown, Connecticut, a house up the street from us was sold. After the closing, the new owners went to the house and Crichton was in their front yard. He explained that his family had vacationed in or visited this house when he was young. He was on the interstate, saw the sign for Newtown, and went to visit the house! They said he was the tallest man they had ever seen.

Anybody here watch Severance?

You must be a fan, JoAnn. I only knew he wrote.

Sonny wrote: "Anybody here watch Severance?"

I watched the first season but haven’t seen more. What an unusual program.

Do you watch & enjoy it, Sonny?

Sonny wrote: "Anybody here watch Severance?"

Like madrano, I watched the first season, which was good, but I haven't watched season 2.

madrano wrote: "You must be a fan, JoAnn. I only knew he wrote."

I looked Crichton up years ago. In spring 2010 was in NYC with a friend and was going to Christie's to meet a friend who worked there --- they were preparing for the auction of Crichton's incredible art collection the next week. (The sale netted over $200 million). I was fascinated by his life and remembered that incident in Newtown too.

A guard took us into a side room at Christie's to wait for my friend. A tiny room, maybe 8 by 8 feet. In it were 4 paintings which had arrived for auction...a Picasso, a Dine, and one from the Spencer estate in England (Diana's family) --- and he just left us there with them! (I forget the 4th painting).

Two weeks later I had cancer and life as I knew it was over. I have not been back to NYC since.

Another ER show, PULSE, was released last week on Netflix. It is set in Miami and I read some good things about it. 10 episodes.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "madrano wrote: "You must be a fan, JoAnn. I only knew he wrote."

I looked Crichton up years ago. In spring 2010 was in NYC with a friend and was going to Christie's to meet a friend who worked the..."

I remember that story, JoAnn, as well as my envy of the experience. I didn’t realize how soon after it you learned about your cancer. What a turnaround.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Another ER show, PULSE, was released last week on Netflix. It is set in Miami and I read some good things about it. 10 episodes."

Generally i’m not big on medical shows. “Dr. Welby, M.D.” is more my speed. Until ER, that is.

"The Art of Crime" - A male policeman teams up with a
female art expert to investigate crimes. On Netflix

In this series (in French with subtitles) the crimes solved always relate to art and artists. It's a pretty good show but there's an ongoing theme of 'will they or won't they embark on a romance' that REALLY gets silly as it goes on season after season.

A fun part is that the art expert always has conversations with (let's call it ghost of) the artist featured in the episode.

One can learn a lot about art (usually paintings) while watching.

We liked this series, too, Barbara. Unfortunately only one season was available free when we watched. Interesting idea for a series. Thanks for sharing here about it.

madrano wrote: "Thanks, Rachel. I hope to catch that someday.

Presently, we are staying in a Sonesta motel that does not offer CBS! Who does that?"

Yesterday my household's TV wasn't getting ABC. This wasn't a reception issue. ABC wasn't there at all. My landlady thinks she needs to re-scan the channels.

She probably does, Shomeret. We’ve had that happen on the road but it’s returned the next time we turn on the set. Oddities of Technology!

madrano wrote: "She probably does, Shomeret. We’ve had that happen on the road but it’s returned the next time we turn on the set. Oddities of Technology!"

We still don't have ABC. My landlady called her tech guru who won't be coming for a few days.

For me, that wouldn’t be as big a loss as CBS and NBC. Indeed, we don’t watch any of the network’s programming. Still, you’ve been without it quite awhile. I hope you are reconnected soon.

Tech is so important today. While in Silver City, NM, for two nights we couldn’t connect with the net for more than a moment. The first day the hotel claimed it was a fluke, that a business next door lost theirs as well. Day two they said it’s always bad. Huh! I was a grouch and realized how important it is in my daily life. Yikes.

Shomeret wrote: "madrano wrote: "She probably does, Shomeret. We’ve had that happen on the road but it’s returned the next time we turn on the set. Oddities of Technology!"

We still don't have ABC. My landlady cal..."

I hate tech sometimes. All of a sudden, my iphone is not automatically putting capital letters after a period. So darn annoying!

The last week we have had major tech issues with our Surface, iPhone, iPad, televisions (audio only, each time, 4 TVs!), and even our car’s computer system. Nothing major on the car, but still!

Living’ on the road!