Amber [RTE] [** Spoilers **]

martingriff

Calliope Chubby Larvae wrote: »

Yes, if I knew it was meant to be an exploration of how an unexplained disappearance impacts on a family or on people connected to the missing person. But from the start this was presented as a typical whodunnit and so as viewers we spent a lot of time looking for clues and weighing up this character and that character's motives, instead of concentrating solely on the effects of Amber's disappearance on those left behind.
Also, it was messy and disjointed and had several not very credible scenes and incidents. It just wasn't executed very well, regardless of the intentions of the writer.

As I said have not seen it so can not give a judgement of the acting also this show has been around for a few years and from what I heard has been shown in America and the UK. I think to set it up as only a program of the impactys would have not have been good for the show as I say not many people would not have watched it. To think people are pissed at the ending as they can't see a bad guy is understanding but it happens a lot in real life

c68zapdsm5i1ru

martingriff wrote: »

As I said have not seen it so can not give a judgement of the acting also this show has been around for a few years and from what I heard has been shown in America and the UK. I think to set it up as only a program of the impactys would have not have been good for the show as I say not many people would not have watched it. To think people are pissed at the ending as they can't see a bad guy is understanding but it happens a lot in real life

I don't agree. There have been lots of successful plays, programmes and films that explore the impact of a tragedy or disaster on the people concerned. To set something up as a whodunnit because you want to trick people into watching it is a bit shoddy, if that is actually what RTE did.

gerbilgranny

RockDesk wrote: »

I realise I should have given a link to the interview. I can't seem to link directly but if you go to http://www.rte.ie/2fm/ and look at the very latest section, it's headed there. He starts talking about it 4 and a half minutes in.

To be honest, I really enjoyed the programme, and the ending didn't bother me. I just decided myself what I thought happened to her. But there are certain things that are unanswered from the programme, or I found to be completely irrelevant to the story and that really bothered me. Writers/producers shouldn't expect viewers to invest so much time into these characters and then decide that NOTHING needs to be explained. For example, we are assuming the guy in prison looked at the phone and saw the pictures, then told Terrence. But I don't buy that, I don't know how Terrence knew and I feel that should have been answered properly. Maybe they could have dedicated the time we saw the father having the escort over to the police/prison guards finding out who knew.

Also, I really didn't like how condescending the producer sounded in the interview above. That bothered me more than the ending, but I liked Ryan's handling of it.

Thanks for this! Listening to the interview now, and you're spot on about Ryan's handling of the condescending producer. Yer man saying 'the programme is full of clues - if you want to know what happened to Amber, watch it' - maddening!

Shiraz 4.99

The biggest question raised here is how did such a rural place get a Luas stop, looked like Offaly ffs

gerbilgranny

Producer said that numerous parties in the U.S. are discussing re-making 'Amber' for the American market - hope they put a few more clues in for their viewers!

And I wasn't tweeting or anything else while I watched it - there just weren't enough 'clues' or 'answers' in the programme - silly producer!

kunst nugget

gerbilgranny wrote: »

Producer said that numerous parties in the U.S. are discussing re-making 'Amber' for the American market - hope they put a few more clues in for their viewers!

It's okay, the American father will find 2 Irish girls in the Ukraine and one of them will be Amber…

Laois_Man

Says it all that they want to remake it instead of just use what's there

But I dunno what the outcry in the ending is about. It was a bit thick that they kept showing the same scene's over and over again....and went down the path of showing boring time-fillers. But I was satisfied wnough with the ending. The girl is dead and nobody gets caught and her body never gets found. That's life!

I don't know why we analyze everything in so much more depth and pick more holes in it when it's Irish.

Happyman42

gerbilgranny wrote: »

Producer said that numerous parties in the U.S. are discussing re-making 'Amber' for the American market - hope they put a few more clues in for their viewers!

What drama series that RTE ever produced has that NOT been said about?The subliminal 'It's that good even the 'muricans want to re-make it' :rolleyes:

kunst nugget

Laois_Man wrote: »

I don't know why we analyze everything in so much more depth and pick more holes in it when it's Irish.

It's been one of the highest rated shows on RTE for a long while and it's structure and ambivalent ending mean it's going to be a big topic of conversation for people on its merits and its failings.

Should we not talk about it lest we be accused of begrudgery of some sort?

c68zapdsm5i1ru

gerbilgranny wrote: »

Producer said that numerous parties in the U.S. are discussing re-making 'Amber' for the American market - hope they put a few more clues in for their viewers!

And I wasn't tweeting or anything else while I watched it - there just weren't enough 'clues' or 'answers' in the programme - silly producer!

I also hope they don't sit on the fence while they're making it, and just decide from the start whether it's going to be a 'whodunnit' or an exploration of the emotional, psychological and practical fallout from her disappearance. There was nothing particularly 'brave' about Amber, it was actually the opposite - trying to be all things to all people.

gerbilgranny

Shiraz 4.99 wrote: »

The biggest question raised here is how did such a rural place get a Luas stop, looked like Offaly ffs

Someone on Twitter said the Luas doesn't stop there now (I guess they decided it was a bad idea after Amber's disappearance!) but the excellent documentary 'Luas...a tale of two lines' explained that stations were constructed anticipating increasing population and infrastructure that has yet to happen due to the recession.

c68zapdsm5i1ru

I actually thought it was a made up station when I saw it first. I don't think I've ever seen such a quiet and deserted Luas station. There wasn't a soul around and no one else got off the train.

sassyj

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

for those of you that are annoyed at Amber....do not repeat do not watch this critically acclaimed movie!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387898/

Plenty of good films and dramas end without everything been tied up neatly.
Someone said the same thing yesterday re "Inception" - don't watch if you are upset by Amber. I've watched both, Inception was great, Amber was ****.
I didn't missing the ever so sophisticated message at the end of the programme, it's just the entire series was crap, and I only watched to the end to see who did do it. Parts of it made Fair City look good. A bad series can't carry off an ending like that.

Laois_Man

kunst nugget wrote: »

It's been one of the highest rated shows on RTE for a long while and it's structure and ambivalent ending mean it's going to be a big topic of conversation for people on its merits and its failings.

Should we not talk about it lest we be accused of begrudgery of some sort?

Love/Hate had bigger ratings and only ended a few weeks ago.

I have commented and criticized too - but I didn't find the ending ambivalent :rolleyes:

kunst nugget

Laois_Man wrote: »

Love/Hate had bigger ratings and only ended a few weeks ago.

And Love/Hate's ending generated a lot of debate as well

Laois_Man wrote: »

I have commented and criticized too - but I didn't find the ending ambivalent :rolleyes:

Bully for you. What's with the roll-eyes?

c68zapdsm5i1ru

I couldn't understand those roll eyes either. It was an ambivalent ending. One that allowed viewers to decide for themselves, if they wished, what happened to Amber but not one that definitely stated what happened.

As I said before, some very patronising posts on this thread.

WayneScott

gerbilgranny wrote: »

Thanks for this! Listening to the interview now, and you're spot on about Ryan's handling of the condescending producer. Yer man saying 'the programme is full of clues - if you want to know what happened to Amber, watch it' - maddening!

none of the listen links play for me
OK works other pc

Big Game

Only caught it last night. The end reminded me of the end of Season 1 of US version of The Killing, nothing solved and open for a second season. If, as the writer appears to say there was never any plan for a second season then it's a pretty lame ending. There's plenty of holes you can pick in it, the phone getting chucked down the drain was beyond ridiculous, the final scene with the decoy van was very hackneyed, why have the journalist / Godmother say she hadn't seen the child since she was born given how close she seemed to be to the mother etc etc. Not sure about what the parents were written to be so dislikable, if it was to give a hint that Amber may have committed suicide because of them breaking up and being geranl arseholes then the whole thing with her going into town to get her replacement bulb, looking annoyed at losing her phone, missing her stop etc made no sense. Plus she gernally appeared to be a reasonably happy girl, doubt she would have just though 'sure I'll hop off the bridge now coz Mum's gonna have a canary after me losing my phone'.

That said, it was generally watchable, clearly influenced by the current trend for Scandanavian drama but obviously falling short of those standards. Watched the first 3 episodes bak to back and think that was probably better than watching it on consecutive nights, it felt more coherent watching over the space of 2 and a quarter hours.

But the over reaction on here is absolutely comical, a gang of toddlers stamping their feet in a creche because the haven't been given what they want spings to mind.....

c68zapdsm5i1ru

Big Game wrote: »

Only caught it last night. The end reminded me of the end of Season 1 of US version of The Killing, nothing solved and open for a second season. If, as the writer appears to say there was never any plan for a second season then it's a pretty lame ending. There's plenty of holes you can pick in it, the phone getting chucked down the drain was beyond ridiculous, the final scene with the decoy van was very hackneyed, why have the journalist / Godmother say she hadn't seen the child since she was born given how close she seemed to be to the mother etc etc. Not sure about what the parents were written to be so dislikable, if it was to give a hint that Amber may have committed suicide because of them breaking up and being geranl arseholes then the whole thing with her going into town to get her replacement bulb, looking annoyed at losing her phone, missing her stop etc made no sense. Plus she gernally appeared to be a reasonably happy girl, doubt she would have just though 'sure I'll hop off the bridge now coz Mum's gonna have a canary after me losing my phone'.

That said, it was generally watchable, clearly influenced by the current trend for Scandanavian drama but obviously falling short of those standards. Watched the first 3 episodes bak to back and think that was probably better than watching it on consecutive nights, it felt more coherent watching over the space of 2 and a quarter hours.

But the over reaction on here is absolutely comical, a gang of toddlers stamping their feet in a creche because the haven't been given what they want spings to mind.....

While they were dislikeable they were quite believable as a sophisticated but shallow couple who rate themselves according to the car they drive, the labels they wear etc. and have probably passed those values on to their daughter.

I don't see any over reaction. Just people seriously irritated that a four hour drama spread over four nights sold the viewer short at the end and expressing their opinions on a discussion board.

gerbilgranny

Big Game wrote: »

Not sure about what the parents were written to be so dislikable, if it was to give a hint that Amber may have committed suicide because of them breaking up and being geranl arseholes

But the helpful producer when interviewed told us it was obvious she had been murdered by someone not featured in the programme, and her body was in the water - it was all so obvious, apparently!

Big Game

Calliope Chubby Larvae wrote: »

While they were dislikeable they were quite believable as a sophisticated but shallow couple who rate themselves according to the car they drive, the labels they wear etc. and have probably passed those values on to their daughter.

I don't see any over reaction. Just people seriously irritated that a four hour drama spread over four nights sold the viewer short at the end and expressing their opinions on a discussion board.

Numerous posts with the usual 'That's 4 hours of my life I won't get back, fcuk you RTE!', 'Can I have my tv licence money back?!' etc etc etc. As if people would have been doing something constructive on a cold wet January night! At best they'd still have been sat in front of the fire watching another channel.

No issues with people pointing out why they think a show fell short but that sort of foot stamping adds nothing.

gerbilgranny

Now I've listened to Ryan Tubridy's brief chat with the actress who played Amber, recorded yesterday. SHE didn't know what happened to Amber - Ryan had to inform her!

mrsbyrne

Hippo wrote: »

I abandoned it after the phone was thrown down the drain. An entire episode that went nowhere, and indicative of lazy writing.

My husband had been defending the whole series to me, up to that point. Then even he threw in the towel.

martingriff

Calliope Chubby Larvae wrote: »

I don't agree. There have been lots of successful plays, programmes and films that explore the impact of a tragedy or disaster on the people concerned. To set something up as a whodunnit because you want to trick people into watching it is a bit shoddy, if that is actually what RTE did.

Really they tricked you. I have seen lots of tv programs, films and read books where you are lead to believe something only to be lead the opposite way by the end should I be annoyed I was tricked. To me that is what makes something great. Again I can not talk about the acting yes people can be annoyed with an ending but it been taken as far as it is is crazy and the producer to come out with what he said to try an appease people was idiotic. Make sure you read spoilers about shows sometimes if you do not want to be tricked

mikom

Miguel_Sanchez wrote: »

New four part drama coming out on RTE in January I think. Although from what I read on Twitter today it's available on US Netflix already.

https://twitter.com/elgray/statuses/269663999057092608

It stars David Murray and Eva Birthistle as recently separated parents whose teenage daughter goes missing.

Has anyone seen it yet?

mikom wrote: »

Looks like a barrel of laughs.

So this went well. I take it......

lukin

I read in the Examiner today that Tubridy got quite irritated with the co-producer in an interview on 2FM:
http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/tubridy-on-controversial-amber-ending-i-told-the-tv-to-fk-off-29946620.html
Fair play to Tubs though; he actually got him to admit

that Amber is dead

Vel

Some of the worst acting I have seen in a long time, with special mention for the dad, Charlie and the journalist friend

DeepBlue

lukin wrote: »

I read in the Examiner today that Tubridy got quite irritated with the co-producer in an interview on 2FM:
http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/tubridy-on-controversial-amber-ending-i-told-the-tv-to-fk-off-29946620.html

According to the Examiner "RTE presenter Ryan Tubridy has expressed his anger at the final scenes of hit series Amber, admitting that he shouted at "the TV to F-off." and ‘‘I nearly put my fist through the screen, I was so annoyed.’’

So now he knows how the rest of us feel if we ever have to watch the Late Late. :pac:

mikom

DeepBlue wrote: »

According to the Examiner "RTE presenter Ryan Tubridy has expressed his anger at the final scenes of hit series Amber, admitting that he shouted at "the TV to F-off." and ‘‘I nearly put my fist through the screen, I was so annoyed.’’

I'd say the screen was worried about being on the receiving end of his matchstick.

teddyhead

Vel wrote: »

Some of the worst acting I have seen in a long time, with special mention for the dad, Charlie and the journalist friend

I would agree about the latter two but after rewatching it and seeing that the dad is the perpetrator(its obvious after 15 minutes of episode 1) , his weird behavior is appropriate. He is acting badly or weird because that is what a murderer might be likely to do.The actor has been directed to act badly I think. We see from the first minute that he has a bit of a temper and may be a control freak,yes its just bickering , but in a totally inappropriate place(lazerquest). Later of course , he seeks to control the investigation as much as possible and frequently shows his temper. I believe he killed Amber ,having followed her,perhaps angered by her sneaking off and lying to him.