tv_talk | Speak Up Saturday 🍀

This week I watched all of season 3 of Trigger Point. I started, but haven't finished, season 3 of The Diplomat. I also started The Hunting Party, after reading something about it somewhere. It was described as a mix of The Blacklist and Criminal Minds, but honestly, it's... kind of silly, but useful as a "playing in the background" sort of show. I will probably continue watching it, but likely saving it for those times when I am just too tired to watch anything that requires focus.

Otherwise, it was the usual weekly episodes of the various shows I've been mentioning the past few weeks, so I won't bother re-listing them, as well as baseball and tennis.

Looking forward to: Game 7 of the World Series tonight. Well, honestly, both looking forward and dreading in equal measure. Nah, who am I kidding -- definitely more dreading than looking forward to. But other than that, Pluribus starts on Apple this week, and it sounds very intriguing.

Good luck with the game! My partner is also rooting for the Jays.

Still watching the Jennings Jeopardy run. Also watched Dancing With the Stars' Halloween episode. Everyone did fairly well, no huge standouts, and the injured dancer surprisingly wasn't eliminated even though she didn't participate and get extra points from the dance-off. She must be doing well with votes. Andy Richter did a well choreographed routine passably, and I enjoyed watching it, but it's time for him to go now.

Finished Perry Mason which I wrote about last week. Also finished House of the Dragon which I quite enjoyed and was binging the final episodes. Apparently it will have a S3, which I wasn't sure of since I haven't watched Game of Thrones, but it ended with a big Tonight, Tonight sort of finale, so apparently we'll see that play out.

Still working on the latest season of Strange New Worlds, but also got through four episodes of the latest Only Murders in the Building. Am trying out some of the last things on my HBO watchlist as we'll likely be dropping it this month.

The killer reveal on Only Murders in the Building was a bit meh, but I enjoyed the season. It is the perfect cozy fall crime show, so I'm happy it was renewed, even if it is not as strong anymore as it started.

I liked the Halloween episodes of Abbott Elementary and Ghosts. The latter was really funny. I'm still not sure why this show needs to be so horny.

This week, I've mostly just watched A Hundred Memories (Kdrama), which I'm loving. Lots of complicated friendships and family relationships. (Also, multiple overlapping love triangles, but that's okay.) I have two episodes to go.

But I haven't checked in for a while, so here are some other things we've been watching lately:

Typhoon Family
Dark Winds s2
The Newsreader (finished s2)
Alien Earth
Low Life
Prehistoric Planet
Fringe s2 (rewatch; about two eps to go in the season)

Edited 2025-11-01 20:42 (UTC)

Finished The Rainmaker S1 - which is among the better legal procedurals out there. It's based on Grisham's book of the same name, but instead of insurance, it takes on a law firm representing a hospital regarding the allegedly negligent death of a woman's adult son. Takes place in Mississippi, I think. So a nice change of pace from NYC or Chicago. There's some interesting twists and turns, the characters are engaging, and the villains interesting and complicated. John Slattery - who played the head partner in Mad Men, plays the head of the firm - and the bad guy, but does it with unflappable charm and a laid back attitude, that it's easy to forget he is the bad guy. Lana P (evil queen Once Upon a Time) is his counterpart, the head of the small firm that our hero/protagonist ends up joining, and is a joy. I basically watched it for her, and Deck, her paralegal. It's quirky, has all of the Grisham trope characters and plot arcs. I found it entertaining and it fit my mood.

Tried Murder in a Small Town which was mentioned last week by jo, I think? It's okay. The leads unfortunately aren't that captivating - I wish they had a slightly more charismatic actor in the lead? (although mileage may vary on this?) The detective - Chief of Police - solves crimes in a similar manner to Sherlock Holmes, Will Trent, and various others - which is definitely a trend right now? I've seen a lot of detective shows with quirky Sherlock Holmes detectives. Like Will Trent - the series is based on a series of books, which unlike Will Trent, were published several decades ago, as in thirty. The show is based on books published in the 1980s and updated. It takes place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest or Sunshine Coast. Gibbons. But doesn't mention if it is in Canada or the US in the first episode. So, unless you are familiar with the area - you probably won't notice or care? I wouldn't known it was in Canada if I hadn't been told it was in Canada. There's one clue - a character takes off for Montreal. Except you can do that from the US. If I hadn't known better, I'd have assumed Washington State. Although it's not called the Sunshine Coast. It is filmed on location in Gibbons, Alberta, Canada. They don't mention country names in the first episode, just towns or cities. Mostly US cities. Such as Philadelphia (where the rookie cop comes from), Portland, and Chicago. The only Canadian ones are: Gibbons and Montreal. (A lot of American/Canadian television shows that take place in Canada are treated as if they take place in both the US and Canada...as if there's no difference between the two? There is - a lot of cultural, legal and political differences, but you wouldn't know it by watching American television shows.) It is NOT a fish out of water trope, like Northern Exposure or a dark mystery cop procedural like Will Trent or Big Sky. It's more like Virgin River or Sullivan's Crossing (also takes place in Canada, but acts like it is in the US) - actually, except with murder mysteries each week.

Almost finished with Great British Bake Off S13 - I thought it had more seasons for some reason? I've seen all of them now. Some more than once. It's a great comfort show. Perfect for background noise. I like this seasons bakers better than last season and the challenges better - they've simplified it - and made it shorter. It used to be about 13 episodes each season, now it's ten. And it's more focused on British Baking, then trying to do other cultural baking which the judges have no experience with.

Still re-watching Angel and Buffy, both are holding up rather well considering most of the series that aired around the same time period don't? Angel S1 is fairly weak in comparison to Buffy - the writers are struggling to find their stride, but Tim Minear is a huge standout. The best episodes that season are written by Minear. (Minear went on to do Ryan Murphy series - like 9 1 1, and Feud.) Angel s1 Expecting - does a good job of developing the relationships and the bond between Angel, Cordelia and Wesley - which becomes the core group of the show. It also foreshadows the S4 storyline that didn't work for the majority of viewers. Apparently the writers loved the evil baby trope from Rosemary's Baby, Alive and felt the need to tell that story in various ways? The other trope they seem to love is the evil men's club/frat trope - where the secret male society is either demon worshipers sacrificing women to a demon in some way, or a secret military operation creating super-soliders. (The writers spent their youth watching cheesy sci-fi horror films.) The second trope, evil male secret society or frat - is repeated numerous times in Buffy. They even do it before she graduates from high school.

Still watching Poker Face on Peacock. It gets better as I go.

Looking forward to watching, depending on my mood:

* Slow Horses - latest season
* the new series with Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson by the same writer as Slow Horses (I know it's dark? But I watched True Detective: Night Country, and part of Alien:Earth, not to mention Dept Q.)
* Nobody Wants This S2
* Foundation S4

Flirting with - trying AMC streaming. Although, if I wait long enough, most of its shows will eventually end up on Netflix or somewhere else. It has Newsreader, all the Anne Rice series, and Dark Winds. But the Anne Rice and Dark Winds have popped up on Netflix. Newsreader is only available in the States on AMC. (I saw the first season on Prime before it was removed.)

Edited 2025-11-02 15:02 (UTC)

I'm a fan of The Great British Bake Off - just finished watching the semi-final of the latest season, which is Season 16 so it does sound like you are missing a few seasons. It was only 6 and 8 episodes in Season 1/2 respectively but has been 10 episodes ever since.

Wiki - The Great British Bake Off

The link might help you find which seasons you have missed.

I love the show because everyone is so NICE to each other, helping each other. I love how each season's contestants stay in touch afterwards. I cannot bake to save my life and I'm always impressed with the amateur bakers on the show.

Yes, the run is confusing given the various entities here who showed parts of the series. I first saw it on Netflix and thus missed the first 4 or 5 seasons, I think.

Agreed that the one of the show has a lot to do with its success, and the fact that people are selected based on personality as well as baking skill.

Thank you! I was right I have seen more than 13 seasons. NETFLIX's numbering is off.

This is the most recent season (or Season 16) - but Netflix has the season's numbered 1-13 - so on Netflix it is S13. But they are skipping the first three seasons which were on PBS and now on Roco channel - because Netflix doesn't have the rights. It reminds me what Disney did with Doctor Who - numbered them from Disney's perspective.

That does sound like something they would do! Originally GBBO started out on the BBC (seasons 1-3) but then was 'sold' to Channel 4. It's frightening to recall all of this as it makes me feel so OLD!

Didn't it have more than three seasons on BBC? I remember watching at least five on PBS, prior to it switching to NETFLIX. And I remember Sue/Mel and Mary Berry being on more than three seasons?

You're right! It had 7 on BBC.

I was wondering...thanks for clearing it up. NETFLIX was confusing me. I do know that the first three episodes - Netflix doesn't have the rights to - and are only available on Roku channel where I live. (I've seen them - I rather like them, they were wandering around Britain and gave a lot more information on the food, and the process, and a lot less on the bakers.)

It is filmed on location in Gibbons, Alberta, Canada.

British Columbia, not Alberta.

(A lot of American/Canadian television shows that take place in Canada are treated as if they take place in both the US and Canada...as if there's no difference between the two? There is - a lot of cultural, legal and political differences, but you wouldn't know it by watching American television shows.)

Not sure what shows you're referring to, specifically. There are loads of US shows that are filmed in Canada, in which various Canadian locales (mostly Toronto) double for US locales. It's always pretty clear in those shows that they are taking place/set in the US. I don't know of any American shows that actually take place/are set in Canada.

I don't watch many Canadian shows, so it's quite possible that some might be non-specific re: where they are supposed to be set (maybe to help it sell internationally). The few I do watch, or have watched, are usually pretty clear that they are set/taking place in Canada, e.g. Law and Order Toronto, Transplant, 19-2, Coroner, SkyMed, Cardinal, Flashpoint, Being Erica...

Ooh, I didn't even realize Law & Order had a Toronto version.

I've mentioned it in my "What are you watching" posts for each season (2 thus far, 3rd coming in 2026). I really enjoy it. The first season premiered on CW in the US this September, season 2 is going to air there next year some time.

They have a British version as well. They guy who played Apollo, Jamie Bamber, I think is in that one.

So that's what he's been up to. I watched the series he was in here until it got cancelled (though it was a minor part) and he was on Beyond Paradise for a season. I think I've seen him pop up a few times in other places.

No, sorry, I got him confused with somebody else apparently. My memory is kind of disorganized?
He was on Body of Proof. Most of the things he's in - I've not heard of. Makes me aware of how many frigging television series and movies there are.

Cardinal was SO GOOD! 2nd season was pretty good but I absolutely loved the first season.

There were 4 seasons -- the 4th aired in 2020. If you've not read the novels, I highly recommend them.

I just checked my downloads and I have and therefore watched all four seasons :) Still think the first was the best :)

I didn't realize they came from a novel. I'll have to check it out :)

The author is Giles Blunt. I remember that the first season of Cardinal followed the plot of the first novel fairly closely, but can't remember about the rest. I really loved the novels.

https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/john-cardinal/

Thank you!

Forty Words for Sorrow by Giles Blunt seems to be the book to get :)

Not to be argumentative? But I did look it up first - because I thought it was in B.C. but wanted to make sure I didn't remember it wrong? And...according to this site? Gibbons is in Alberta. Unless there are two Gibbons?

https://www.gibbons.ca/

Not sure what shows you're referring to, specifically. There are loads of US shows that are filmed in Canada, in which various Canadian locales (mostly Toronto) double for US locales. It's always pretty clear in those shows that they are taking place/set in the US. I don't know of any American shows that actually take place/are set in Canada.

I was referring to mainly American shows? Not really Canadian - since I've only seen about four Canadian shows - I don't have streaming services that carry many of them.

Sullivan's Crossing takes place in Nova Scotia - outside of Halifax. To my knowledge the series is an American Series, and honestly, most of the time, I can't tell - one way or the other.

I think they are filming Virgin River in Canada, although I could be wrong about that. I'm pretty sure that takes place in Northern California. (I honestly don't care? So I forget?)

I know they do film a lot of American series in Vancouver - because it is a lot cheaper.

Uhm, I think mileage varies on whether it is clear which local something is filmed in? I can't always tell. But that may just be me? Unless it's highly obvious? I usually can't tell the difference?

Anyhow, the point I was trying to make? Is it didn't bother me that they weren't following Canadian rules. That wasn't an issue for me at all, but mileage may vary on this.

Edited 2025-11-02 22:20 (UTC)

It's filmed in Gibsons, BC, not Gibbons. I hadn't even noticed that you'd typo'd the name of the town originally. Gibsons, BC, home of Molly's Reach, and made famous in The Beachcombers.

https://www.sunshinecoastcanada.com/explore/south-coast/gibsons/

https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/murder-in-a-small-town-bc-sunshine-coast-economy

Sullivan's Crossing is a Canadian production from CTV network. The 2nd season was co-produced with the CW.

Every single Canadian series that I've watched that was clearly meant to be taking place in Toronto never misses to have a least one glory shot of the CN Tower appear at some point in the show, or some other notable landmark (Roy Thompson Hall, Dundas Square, etc.). However, when Toronto is pretending to be not Toronto (e.g. NYC, DC, Chicago, Boston, or some other generic US place), they do their best to hide anything that obviously screams Toronto. Even then, they're not that successful in disguising the place, and Canadians, especially those living in Toronto, will easily pick up on that. Murderbot is filmed in Toronto -- I recognized parts of York University in one episode, which made me Google where it was filmed to confirm my suspicions, for example.

Thank you for the clarification. It wasn't a typo - I honestly thought it was Gibbons. (I'm dyslexic and often mishear and misremember the spellings of names.)

And for the information on Canadian television - it's interesting and I didn't know any of that previously. We don't get a lot of Canadian television in NYC. I've gotten Being Erica, Sullivans Crossing, and that's about it that I'm aware of?

I do know that they shoot a lot of US television shows in Toronto - because it is cheaper. Although a lot gets shot in NYC too - because NYC gives huge tax breaks to filmmakers. I walk through television shoots all the time. But have poor recognition skills - so can't recognize locations well. I can draw from memory, but I cannot recognize someone I saw on television on the street or a location on television or film from what I see in actuality - the out of context bit throws me off somehow.

Edited 2025-11-03 21:47 (UTC)

Oof, I'm a bit late.

I'm still watching The Long Ballad, and it's so good, I love the romance and most of the rest isn't too inane either. I keep skipping over the Emperor scenes, but everything else is good. It's more of a growing-up tale for both leads than a torrid romance, although the romance undercurrents are extremely strong and I like it all a lot. I only have 14 eps left, and they have both confessed their love for each other, just not *to* each other. I suspect this drama will not have any kisses, but at this point I am invested enough in their love that I don't mind too much.

I have not watched much A Moment But Forever this week, just a single ep, I think. Whenever I had a free moment, I watched The Long Ballad.

Side distraction: Starlit Bloom, a short noona romance cdrama - 24 eps of about 12 minutes pure running time (without intro/trailer). It's cheaply made compared to the things I usually watch but not as cheap as some old Z1L stuff (*cough*). The acting is so-so, the dubbing is meh, and the story is one long trope. But it's short, so... who cares. It's about a young second-generation rich guy who falls in love with a female entrepreneur. I like the noona aspects, and I hate all the tropes, the usual. It's nothing special, I'm already on ep 18 and think I'll finish it soon. It's on viki.

A friend recced The Mandate to me, a Thai BL set in the world of politics. I loved the first episode, it was well done. I really liked that it was basically impossible to tell that there's going to be a romance - the setup was thorough and fanservice-free. I was a bit disappointed by episode 2, because I couldn't quite follow the lead's change of heart. Apart from that, it was pretty good, too, and I think I'll continue it. There are only 8 episodes total.

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