[doh.ie]

My favourite HBO show of all time is Carnivále, shown on TG4 last year, and to be shown on BBC TWO later this year. (Satellite viewers can also check it out on FX from September.)

Seriously, anyone who hasn't seen this show has to check it out when it's next on TV, and for any downloaders, the second series should be on in the US from December/January '05.

[Blisterman]

I liked the tenacious d show, but it got cancelled after something like 4 episodes.

[jor el]

Just started watching the Band of Brothers DVD last night, seen two episodes now. Pretty good so far, but I think I'll have to stick with The Sopranos as best, even if the last season was a bit of a let down. Oz is pretty good too but I don't see it very often.

[cosgrove80]

Originally Posted by doh.ie

My favourite HBO show of all time is Carnivále, shown on TG4 last year, and to be shown on BBC TWO later this year. (Satellite viewers can also check it out on FX from September.)

Seriously, anyone who hasn't seen this show has to check it out when it's next on TV, and for any downloaders, the second series should be on in the US from December/January '05.

Yeah I agree. Fantastic show. Watched it by chance the first night and watched the whole series. Great atmosphere to the show. It was strange that in some episodes nothing happened (in my opinion anyway) and it was still compelling. Also loved the way they explain nothing.

Hope the second series can keep up the quality without turning "wacky".

[doh.ie]

Originally Posted by cosgrove80

Yeah I agree. Fantastic show. Watched it by chance the first night and watched the whole series. Great atmosphere to the show. It was strange that in some episodes nothing happened (in my opinion anyway) and it was still compelling. Also loved the way they explain nothing.

Hope the second series can keep up the quality without turning "wacky".

Erk, if it turned wacky, I'd really hate that. You're right - there were weeks where very little seemed to happen, but you'd get an odd tease here and there about Ben's past. But I am pleased they left enough of the mystery hanging for more of those interesting threads to spill over into season two.

In real important plot terms, only the double-episode at Babylon in the middle along with the opening and closing episodes contained most of the key storytelling.
Yet I can explain why even the non-key episodes (the storm in ep 5) were so interesting even if not much was going on.

(BTW, another show that does this almost exactly was my other favourite last year - Dead Like Me, from Showtime - hardly anything happens on that from episode to episode either!

[Raoul Duke]

Originally Posted by doh.ie

But I am pleased they left enough of the mystery hanging for more of those interesting threads to spill over into season two.

You wouldn't be saying that if there wasn't going to be another season. There are too many series that just end too abruptly.

[ixoy]

Originally Posted by Raoul Duke

You wouldn't be saying that if there wasn't going to be another season. There are too many series that just end too abruptly.

Yup. And if you read some interviews online you'll see that the makers of Carnivalé are doing another Babylon 5, in that they're telling a novel and the story will be spread over many years (I got the impression about five as well). So keep your fingers crossed because we're meant to be in this for the long term.

[Agent Orange]

I'm really enjoying TG4's repeats of Oz at the moment.
The show moves at a blistering pace. In a typical episode, two guys will have met for the first time, become enemies, raped each other in the showers, crucified each other, made up, become lovers and be killed in a random massacre. Now THAT'S entertainment!

How the hell does Adebisi keep that hat on his head though?

[ixoy]

Originally Posted by Agent Orange

How the hell does Adebisi keep that hat on his head though?

They're never going to answer that. The actor's been asked but he won't say. It's one of the greatest mysteries of our time....

[DapperGent]

I bet he uses the same stuff that chicks use to attach a particularily revealing strapless dress to their norks.

Adebisi is a slave to fashion.

I ****ing love Adebisi.

"They are not my people. I am an African."

[doh.ie]

Originally Posted by Agent Orange

I'm really enjoying TG4's repeats of Oz at the moment.
The show moves at a blistering pace. In a typical episode, two guys will have met for the first time, become enemies, raped each other in the showers, crucified each other, made up, become lovers and be killed in a random massacre. Now THAT'S entertainment!

How the hell does Adebisi keep that hat on his head though?

Funny. Must take a chance to get caught up on Oz. I'm stuck back where Spoiler: Luke Perry was buried alive behind a brick wall...!

[doh.ie]

Originally Posted by Raoul Duke

You wouldn't be saying that if there wasn't going to be another season. There are too many series that just end too abruptly.

By and large, those shows which do fail like this are network series (NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS, UPN and The WB) compared to the relative freedom from ratings that Showtime, USA and HBO have.

(Freedom in the sense that with the audience comprised of subscribers who already pay, there is only a need for a certain audience reach for the show to be considered a success. That's not to say a show doesn't need to be successful ratings-wise on a subscription channel, but not to the same extent that many of recent years' many, many one-season-wonders have been. Of course, there are exceptions like Odyssey 5, but cancellation after one season is not the norm.)

Intertesting to see it's got something of a five-year plan. Part of me thinks it could stretch to that, but it's more likely they will answer some of the questions posed sooner rather than later and continue to weave new plots into the tapestry over a longer period. (Audiences like to feel they're getting *something* back year-on-year, even if it's just new hints to the overall picture.)

[Agent Orange]

Originally Posted by doh.ie

Funny. Must take a chance to get caught up on Oz. I'm stuck back where Spoiler: Luke Perry was buried alive behind a brick wall...!

Uh, Oz finished up years ago. Perry hasn't even made an appearance in the repeats yet.

But hey, thanks for the COLOSSAL SPOILER.

[doh.ie]

I know it finished - I meant 'caught up' in that I have 'em on tape from way back when and want to find the time to finish watching it.

Apologies on the colossal spoiler - mustn't have been paying attention. Spoiler-ified it behind a brick wall now.