Sorry, but whatever you might think of the premise, the quality of writing is significantly above that of most TV drama these days, the dialogue is fine for a period drama and it is paced expertly.
(I speak as someone who is dutifully slogging his way through Pillars of Earth because it is his sister-in-law's favourite and she is bound to ask him about when he sees her next week. Strewth but it is hard going.)
I rather enjoyed the first two episodes. Need to catch up with three.
Smallville.
Brianiac 5. Interesting.
Quote: Timbo @ October 17 2010, 10:26 PM BSTSorry, but whatever you might think of the premise, the quality of writing is significantly above that of most TV drama these days, the dialogue is fine for a period drama and it is paced expertly.
Don't even know what the premise is, so I can't think anything of that...
The 10 minutes of dialogue I heard was ridiculously wooden. By any standards. People analysing what their motivations are within their own dialogue. Insufferably wooden, badly-constructed lines. Lines which are simply pastiches of period-speak - very hard not to laugh at.
If I could have tolerated the script for longer than 10 mins I might well have found a good plot and some interesting characters in there. But I couldn't, the dialogue was hurting my ears. God help us if this writing-by-numbers guff is considered top notch.
Easy way to detect a bad drama script. If a character says "I'm going upstairs" and then you see them go upstairs... and you realise that line had no other purpose other than to tell you that they were going upstairs... then it's a bad script.
The Andy Griffith Show - my kids are obsessed with it.
Quote: Gavin @ October 17 2010, 10:34 PM BSTSmallville. Brianiac 5. Interesting.
I wouldn't have pegged you as a Smallville viewer, Gav.
Quote: chipolata @ October 17 2010, 10:47 PM BSTI wouldn't have pegged you as a Smallville viewer, Gav.
I do. It's something to watch.
Quote: Gavin @ October 17 2010, 10:49 PM BSTI do. It's something to watch.
I like it. It starts to lose it after about season 6, but it's always watchable.
I used to watch it years ago. Can't remember where I go to. Maybe it was when Lex's Dad appeared?
Quote: Gavin @ October 17 2010, 10:49 PM BSTIt's something to watch.
Ah, something of a TV connoisseur, are we Gav?
Quote: chipolata @ October 17 2010, 10:54 PM BSTI like it. It starts to lose it after about season 6, but it's always watchable.
Was that the Doomsday one? That was awful. Can't believe they made him fight Doomsday.
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 17 2010, 10:56 PM BSTAh, something of a TV connoisseur, are we Gav?
It's one of the few things I'll put on. The girl who PLays Lois is very easy on eyes. So having it on in background is inoffensive.
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 17 2010, 10:36 PM BSTEasy way to detect a bad drama script. If a character says "I'm going upstairs" and then you see them go upstairs... and you realise that line had no other purpose other than to tell you that they were going upstairs... then it's a bad script.
It may not be the scene you are referring to, but I do recall one instance where the character said "I'm going upstairs" when what they meant was "I am pissed off with you, and I want you to be in no doubt about it, but I am not going to compromise my dignity by spelling it out". Or something to that effect. Quite economical writing really.
Quote: Timbo @ October 17 2010, 11:03 PM BSTQuite economical writing really.
Truly economical/good writing would be not to have a line at all.
Maybe they're just thinking of blind people, Tim! Huh! Didn't thank about that Mr-Smarty-Pants!
Quote: Tim Walker @ October 17 2010, 11:05 PM BSTTruly economical/good writing would be not to have a line at all.
No, a dirty look does not really do the job in a milieu of studied courtesy.