Slow Horses

[George K]

I love Gary Oldman (his Beethoven was fabulous, if you recall), and I love spy stories.

This looks like it might be fun:

https://tv.apple.com/us/show/slow-horses/umc.cmc.2szz3fdt71tl1ulnbp8utgq5o?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=tv_box_link

From the trailer, "Getting you up to speed is like trying to explain Norway to a dog."

"I didn't mean to kill him!"
"Of course not. If you'd meant to kill him, he'd still be alive."

[George K]

Meh.

Some interesting ideas, but the series can't decide whether it wants to be a light-hearted dramady about MI5 misfits, or a serious conspirator story about the "deep state spy service."

Oldman does his best to play a crotchety, burnt-out, spymaster with a more than checkered past. The supporting cast is good, and Kirstin Scott Thomas is just evil enough to make you want to hate her.

It seems unnecessarily drawn out, with the main plot (a kidnapping) taking too many twists and turns which add nothing to the story.

Just a touch below 3 out of four stars.

Worth watching just for Gary Oldman.

[Aqua Letifer]

@George-K said in Slow Horses:

Meh.

Some interesting ideas, but the series can't decide whether it wants to be a light-hearted dramady about MI5 misfits, or a serious conspirator story about the "deep state spy service."

Oldman does his best to play a crotchety, burnt-out, spymaster with a more than checkered past. The supporting cast is good, and Kirstin Scott Thomas is just evil enough to make you want to hate her.

It seems unnecessarily drawn out, with the main plot (a kidnapping) taking too many twists and turns which add nothing to the story.

Just a touch below 3 out of four stars.

Worth watching just for Gary Oldman.

Did you see the whole season? I didn't think they flubbed the genre mixing.

[Catseye3]

@George-K said in Slow Horses:

Worth watching just for Gary Oldman.

Anything with Gary Oldman in it is worth watching.

[George K]

@Catseye3 said in Slow Horses:

@George-K said in Slow Horses:

Worth watching just for Gary Oldman.

Anything with Gary Oldman in it is worth watching.

Yeah I almost agree. His "Dracula" was so over the top that it was wonderful and it made me, almost forget Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker. As I said, his Beethoven in "Immortal Beloved" was wonderful.

But, in this role, it's also really over the top, and not in an endearing or interesting way.

I should read the book.

[Catseye3]

@George-K said in Slow Horses:

Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker

Ye Gods.

[George K]

@Catseye3 said in Slow Horses:

@George-K said in Slow Horses:

Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker

Ye Gods.

He wasn't horrible. He wasn't good, but he wasn't horrible.

I really like this movie because it's pretty faithful to the Stoker story.

[Catseye3]

@George-K said in Slow Horses:

He wasn't good, but he wasn't horrible.

It seems like unless you were very good in your craft, the Harker role would be fatally easy to overplay -- kind of out-Igoring Igor. "Yeth, Mahthter."

[Mik]

Since we just finished the first season of Lincoln Lawyer last night (thought it pretty good), we might have to check it out.

Keanu Reeves is a bit of a mystery. He can be very good or very bad.

[George K]

@Mik said in Slow Horses:

Lincoln Lawyer

It was OK. It's not Bosch, though, supposedly more true to the books than the movie was.

[Mik]

I recognized the plot twists and characters. I really enjoyed it. He creates characters you actually like and are invested in. Both shows used LA to great advantage visually. Since I know the city pretty well, I enjoyed that.

[Mik]

Just watched E1. Liked it. A bit different than the race to see who can make the darkest show. Oldman is of course great fun to watch and the guy who plays Siegfried Farnum on All Creatures is involved. I’ll watch another.

[Aqua Letifer]

@Mik said in Slow Horses:

Just watched E1. Liked it. A bit different than the race to see who can make the darkest show. Oldman is of course great fun to watch and the guy who plays Siegfried Farnum on All Creatures is involved. I’ll watch another.

I'd say stick it out for at least half the season. It takes that long to really get a feel for it, but it's still not for everybody.

[George K]

@Aqua-Letifer said in Slow Horses:

I'd say stick it out for at least half the season. It takes that long to really get a feel for it, but it's still not for everybody.

Yes. It's a slow burn, but I found much of the "hostage" story to be awkward, and just a bit too politically correct for me. I haven't gotten that far in the book, so I'll reserve judgment.

But, Oldman is good at erasing so many sins.

[Mik]

E2 and I’m invested in the characters and the story.

[Mik]

OK, finished it today My verdict is thumbs up. I liked the plot and the characters and the tone.

[Aqua Letifer]

@Mik said in Slow Horses:

OK, finished it today My verdict is thumbs up. I liked the plot and the characters and the tone.

Rad. I agree with George's criticisms, but on the whole I still like it despite the shortcomings.

What I like about it: every character kind of belongs to a different genre.
• River & his uncle: Jason Bourne type shit.
• Min & Louisa: romcom with some drama thrown in
• Standish: drama
• Lamb: tragi-comedy
• Roddy: mostly comedy

Kind of a cool way to mess around with tone.

[Mik]

S3 is great so far.

[George K]

I really don't remember much of S2, so I'm reviewing it. I do remember being not so impressed with S2.

Still feel that way.

[bachophile]

season 4 just dropped on apple tv