The 'trampoline wars' FG Off Topic Thread

Necro · 22-07-2018 09:59AM

Mollyb60 wrote: »

I tried to read the Dark Tower but just couldn't get into it. Actually that's another book I've never finished, think I got 3 chapters in and couldn't go on. Should I give it another go?

Faves for me would be

The Tailsman
The Stand
11/22/63
The Green Mile
Under the Dome

I also really liked The Girl who loved Tom Gordon and Geralds Game really gave me the heebie jeebies.

He has a ridiculous amount of books. I really should read some more.

Yeah when I did my list I actually forgot Dome and it's a brilliant book, horribly bastardised by the show.

I'd stick with Dark Tower, give it a rattle. First two books are difficult as they're pretty far removed from his normal stuff (Westerns, basically).

From book 3 onwards, and Wizard and Glass (Book 4) in particular, are really really good.

Also his short collections are brill, Different Seasons containing Shawshank and Apt Pupil in particular.

But also... where he wrote under a pseudonym, Richard Bachman.

The Long Walk and The Running Man are brilliant.

Haven't read the Joe Hill stuff yet but plan on getting into it soon.

Triceratops Ballet · 22-07-2018 10:14AM

Mollyb60 wrote:

Agreed. At least with Buffy they had a nice rounded off endpoint. Angel was just ridiculous. Kinda like they didn't know the end was coming and had more planned but it got cancelled between seasons. (like in Quantum Leap - the greatest TV show ever)

AFAIK they didn't know it was ending, Joss got cocky with the network and they cut him off

I'd much rather have the Ripper spin off than a reboot. Anthony Head is a bit old to be the sexy Giles we all know and love tho

fixXxer · 22-07-2018 10:38AM

quickbeam wrote: »

That is an excellent list. I'm especially pleased to see Howard getting included. A few there I don't know though, so I see my to-read list growing shortly!

I've only read CA. I liked it, but didn't love it. What else would you particularly recommend?

For "classic" sci-fi/fantasy, I like Richard Matheson and John Wyndham. For more recent stuff, I like Robin Hobb, Philip Pullman, George RR Martin (never seen the TV series, and read books before it was made), Dean Koontz (a bit of a poor man's SK, but enjoyable).

I've a few chunky series yet to tackle - Wheel of Time, The Dark Tower and Malazan Book of the Fallen, but they're high on the list.

Slade House is a good short story, if you like that I'd read The Bone Clocks. Number 9 Dream is a personal favourite but Black Swan Green is also great.

I started the Wheel of Time, and while I liked parts of it, I just couldn't keep going. There's so much if it and so much filler.

For a short series the Hyperion Trilogy is fantastic. Sci Fi set in Earth's distant future.

The Angel comment was tongue in cheek, but I do like it. It was very self aware of what it was at the time but I wonder how well it has aged. As mentioned, it got cancelled mid season so has the least satisfying ending ever.

Amy Acker will always be Fred ;_;

TheValeyard · 22-07-2018 10:42AM

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

I'd much rather have the Ripper spin off than a reboot. Anthony Head is a bit old to be the sexy Giles we all know and love tho

I want John Noble to play Giles. An older, grumpier version, but highly intelligent with a dark twist. He was excellent in Fringe.

Mollyb60 · 22-07-2018 12:18PM

Necrominus wrote: »

Yeah when I did my list I actually forgot Dome and it's a brilliant book, horribly bastardised by the show.

I'd stick with Dark Tower, give it a rattle. First two books are difficult as they're pretty far removed from his normal stuff (Westerns, basically).

From book 3 onwards, and Wizard and Glass (Book 4) in particular, are really really good.

Also his short collections are brill, Different Seasons containing Shawshank and Apt Pupil in particular.

But also... where he wrote under a pseudonym, Richard Bachman.

The Long Walk and The Running Man are brilliant.

Haven't read the Joe Hill stuff yet but plan on getting into it soon.

I hate westerns so I think that might be why it put me off. That and the knowledge that there was a million books in the series. I've put it back on my kindle. I'll get to it at some point.

I have one of his short story collections 'Full Dark No Stars' and I hated it. Thought the stories were all crap. Couldn't put my finger on why tho.

Thanks btw everyone for reminding me there was a ton of books I wanted to get. I've spent the morning downloading them all and getting them onto my kindle.

quickbeam · 22-07-2018 04:41PM

fixxxer wrote: »

Amy Acker will always be Fred ;_;

Never saw Buffy/Angel, so she'll always be Root to me.

Person of Interest - another great series.

Banjo · 22-07-2018 04:50PM

Amy Acker was definitely Whiskey's best engagement....

sullivlo · 22-07-2018 06:18PM

For anyone that cycles... I got an email from Strava today to say that one of my QOMs has been stolen! I was immediately worried because I am in a long term battle with someone for one. So I was afraid it was gone, and if it went I would struggle to get it back*.

Anywho. With fear, I logged in and it turns out it’s a QOM on some Brazilian road** in the back arse of Clonakilty where I went on a hungover cycle the day after my friends wedding.

My sacred QOM is safe

(* for various reasons I am off my bike, and as a result I have gained weight. I will get back on the bike this week at some stage hopefully)

** a grass strip up the middle

sKeith · 23-07-2018 02:32AM

are you going to go back to the booreen to reclaim your status since it was first done in a diminished state and only recently beat?

sullivlo · 23-07-2018 05:35AM

sKeith wrote: »

are you going to go back to the booreen to reclaim your status since it was first done in a diminished state and only recently beat?

Absolutely not. I don’t think I’d find it again.

Mollyb60 · 23-07-2018 07:14AM

Whats a QOM?
Queen of Men?
Quantity of Mushrooms?
Quality of Minestrone?

sullivlo · 23-07-2018 07:57AM

Mollyb60 wrote: »

Whats a QOM?
Queen of Men?
Quantity of Mushrooms?
Quality of Minestrone?

Queen of the mountain

Necro · 23-07-2018 09:52AM

What shows are folks watching at the moment?

Recently started watching Ballers on a recommedation, it's pretty good.

Also just finished my annual GOT rewatch, but aside from that not really anything of note right now.

Oh, gave Sick Note a spin - meh. Might watch the second series to see where it goes, but not really pushed.

23-07-2018 10:02AM

Just watched the crown. I enjoyed that. I’ve started watching SAFE now, it’s a bit meh. They live in a gated community but there’s bits of it that don’t add up logistically.

Flushy, where’s the best area to stay in Malta?

Baggly · 23-07-2018 10:17AM

Finished Luke Cage there last week. Meh. Decent, not fantastic.

Recently got up to end of S3 of Arrested Development, having never watched it before. Brilliant stuff but the new Netflix seasons are shockingly bad (so far, only got 2 eps in before i rage quit).

Started watching 'Final Space' on Netflix last night. Its.....ok.....its a bit like a brash, less clever Rick & Morty.

fixXxer · 23-07-2018 10:20AM

Just finished Project Runway Season 8

Necro · 23-07-2018 10:21AM

fixxxer wrote: »

Just finished Project Runway Season 8

:pac: You're gonna tell me you're a Love Island fan next, aren't you

Banjo · 23-07-2018 10:25AM

Legion.
I can't recommend it highly enough, but with a massive caveat that one man's genius is another man's arse. It's a very pop-art show that's as comfortable with gore, sex and violence as it is with prolonged moments of serene calm, musical numbers and observations on the nature of consciousness. Basically, it's like Defenders of the Earth mixed with For a Few Dollars More mixed with West Side Story. Oh, and they don't like to talk about it but it's an X-Men show. And if you're a fan of Grant Morrison's Invisibles, this show has proved that it can be filmed and there is and audience, which surely are the only two barriers in it's way?

But as an example of how divisive it can be, I was watching an episode of series 2 and spend 20 minutes telling my wife how clever their use of cut-back to series 1 was in the context of what had happened in the previous episode, then realised I'd accidentally downloaded an episode from Series 1 that I'd seen before. And that made it even better for me, while also intensifying my wife's disinterest. It's like that time Radiohead were tuning up before Glastonbury and loads of fans tweeted about how great this new song was and how it was pushing the boundaries of what music can be. Your mileage may vary, wildly.

Baggly · 23-07-2018 10:27AM

Banjo wrote: »

Legion.
I can't recommend it highly enough, but with a massive caveat that one man's genius is another man's arse. It's a very pop-art show that's as comfortable with gore, sex and violence as it is with prolonged moments of serene calm, musical numbers and observations on the nature of consciousness. Basically, it's like Defenders of the Earth mixed with For a Few Dollars More mixed with West Side Story. Oh, and they don't like to talk about it but it's an X-Men show. And if you're a fan of Grant Morrison's Invisibles, this show has proved that it can be filmed and there is and audience, which surely are the only two barriers in it's way?

But as an example of how divisive it can be, I was watching an episode of series 2 and spend 20 minutes telling my wife how clever their use of cut-back to series 1 was in the context of what had happened in the previous episode, then realised I'd accidentally downloaded an episode from Series 1 that I'd seen before. And that made it even better for me, while also intensifying my wife's disinterest. It's like that time Radiohead were tuning up before Glastonbury and loads of fans tweeted about how great this new song was and how it was pushing the boundaries of what music can be. Your mileage may vary, wildly.

I concur with this assessment

Necro · 23-07-2018 10:27AM

As for the Love Island/reality style shows etc, I don't watch any of them anymore.

Used to watch Big Brother for a few seasons, but the one with Bear had me switching off forever.

Watched Geordie Shore till about season 10 or so, it's so samey though.

Never watched Love Island - ever, not planning on changing now :pac:

As for regular basis - Judge Judy is on my planner, as is Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away.

Oh - Legion looks up my alley actually, might give that a whirl later this week.

fixXxer · 23-07-2018 10:45AM

Necrominus wrote: »

:pac: You're gonna tell me you're a Love Island fan next, aren't you

No! Normally I hate watching reality TV but Project Runway is kinda fun. We only really watch Netflix in our house, so we swap between silly and serious shows. I'd recommend both series of Dirk Gently, but you have to watch a whole series for anything to make sense, you cant really just watch three to get a feel for it.

I watched the first episode of Mind Hunters last night so will be swapping between that and Brooklyn 99 for a bit.

Triceratops Ballet · 23-07-2018 11:17AM

fixxxer wrote:

I watched the first episode of Mind Hunters last night so will be swapping between that and Brooklyn 99 for a bit.

I re watched Brooklyn99 recently i love it, disappointed it's going into it's last season. Andy Samberg is my weird crush!

If you can get into it Handmaid's tale is the best show I've ever seen, though it is a rough watch, story, music, visual composition it's all fantastic.

The Good Place is good for a light half hour show, and if you have Netflix Glow is great, and Orange is the new black is back this week.

Kolido · 23-07-2018 11:22AM

I've been recommended The Terror by a mate, we have very similar tastes so I'l be giving that a go soon.

Necro · 23-07-2018 11:26AM

Some really great recommendations coming here, loving it.

Putting Legion, Handmaid's Tale and The Terror onto my watch list.

For Stephen King fans this is due out this week (25th). Heard all sorts of good things about it for once.

Baggly · 23-07-2018 11:27AM

Preacher S3 is back as well. Love that show!

Banjo · 23-07-2018 12:01PM

I hear they're doing Angelville this season.
Loooooved that arc in the comics, definitely the highpoint and absurdly cinematic in it's execution. As such, I fully expect they'll screw it up

Still, since I'm still on Season 1 I won't have to worry about it for another few years.

Baggly · 23-07-2018 12:03PM

Banjo wrote:

I hear they're doing Angelville this season. Loooooved that arc in the comics, definitely the highpoint and absurdly cinematic in it's execution. As such, I fully expect they'll screw it up Still, since I'm still on Season 1 I won't have to worry about it for another few years.

They are and so far so good imo! It's not gonna get as good as the comic imo but still eminently watchable!

Mollyb60 · 23-07-2018 12:21PM

Legion is reeeeeeeally weird. Watched the first season, don't think I'll watch the second.
Currently on the top of the watch list for me is Atlanta, absolutely bonkers in some episodes but it's a really good show. The Michael Jackson episode in season 2 was horrifying.
And The Expanse. Hated the first 2 episodes but Mr Molly insisted we keep watching it and it's really grown on me. Onto the second season at the moment.

I also watch Arrow but that's gotten ****e in the last few seasons. I just watch it out of habit at this stage. And also because Stephen Amell isn't a beast to look at. Used to watch Greys Anatomy and Once Upon a Time too but I haven't seen the last few seasons at this point.

I loved Castle so I'm looking forward to The Rookie starting. I

Nathan Fillion.

fixXxer · 23-07-2018 12:46PM

Triceratops Ballet wrote: »

I re watched Brooklyn99 recently i love it, disappointed it's going into it's last season. Andy Samberg is my weird crush!

If you can get into it Handmaid's tale is the best show I've ever seen, though it is a rough watch, story, music, visual composition it's all fantastic.

The Good Place is good for a light half hour show, and if you have Netflix Glow is great, and Orange is the new black is back this week.

The Good Place caused arguments in our house as herself watched it without me! The few episodes I've seen were very good. I don't think THT is on Netflix so I'll have to find... alternative ways of seeing that.

That Castle Rock series has potential...

Triceratops Ballet · 23-07-2018 12:52PM

fixxxer wrote:

The Good Place caused arguments in our house as herself watched it without me! The few episodes I've seen were very good. I don't think THT is on Netflix so I'll have to find... alternative ways of seeing that.

It's on the rte player AFAIK, Rte 2 were showing it

The 'trampoline wars' FG Off Topic Thread

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