Monday 6 November 2017

Netflix and British Series

Today was a day to just sit and do "nothing". I had a marathon session of getting work commitments done yesterday. I've been nursing a cold. To top it off, the weather was miserable. There was actually a tiny bout of lightning and thunder this afternoon. So, I got into something stretchy and decided to get into a new British series on Netflix.

I've thoroughly enjoyed other series: Midsomer Murders, Broadchurch, The Killing (this isn't a British one), Hinterland, Scott and Bailey, Shetland... I have loved all of these but probably The Killing and Broadchurch have been my favourites so far. One thing I love about series coming out of the U.K. is that the characters look like real people. Their faces show wrinkles and flaws, they have normal looking bodies, and their hair isn't perfect. None of their female leads are chasing the bad guy in four inch heels. I like how scenes are shot and how the actors act, but don't over-act.

I decided to start watching Wallander with Kenneth Branagh. I watched a few episodes and love it. I'll see it through to the end. Apart from putting through a load of laundry and hanging sweaters to dry, and making beef stir fry for supper, I did little else. It feels very decadent for me to not fill my time doing whatever needs doing, but I'm glad I did. I haven't had a day to just "do nothing" for a while now.

The clocks have all been set to the new time, as we "turned our clocks back" one hour this weekend. It is time to turn in, back to work tomorrow.

35 comments:

  1. Good for you relaxing and doing what YOU love. I would count laundry and making dinner quite good!

    I'd love to catch some of these series...maybe I'll start with the one you're watching. I have to limit TV because of my work, and also if I ever want to plow through a stack of books on my nightstand!

    I've visited a few times before and really enjoy your blog. Maybe you'd like to pop by one day at mine!

    BTW: Totally crappy weather here in Chicago! :(

    Jane x

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  2. Haven't seen Wallander but just wanted to say I love your new header photo.

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  3. I'm glad you enjoy our crime series! The original Swedish version of Wallander is probably around too - with English subtitles - helpfully. Have you tried Vera written by same author as Shetland?
    At one time we used to be overloaded with US crime series, not so many now although we've recently watched part of the first series of Rizzolli and Illes which appeared on one of the free channels we have here.

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    1. I haven't actually watched Rizzolli and Illes, so you'd have to make the recommendation. I'll look into Vera.

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  4. I too watch all the British series, no one does murder like the British! Have you been watching The Loch? It is very good, the star detective is from Downton, she played O'Brien the ladies maid. I laughed at The Queen's comment about not wanting to live in Midsomer anything! Vera is also another fantastic series, she is amazing!!! ... Mary-Lou =^..^=

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    1. Ashamed to admit it, but I have never watched Downton Abbey, but I will look into The Loch.

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  5. I love all the British crime series too. I highly recommend Happy Valley if you haven't watched it yet.

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    1. Happy Valley was on my short list. Maybe it will be next.

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  6. I so agree..the British shows are the best...a recent favorite is River...marvelous!

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    1. I'll look into River as well. I'm not sure if we get that on Canadian Netflix (it's not the same as what is offered in the States).

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  7. Watch Sherlock if you haven't already, AMAZING series

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    1. I actually remember the old original Sherlock Holmes series. We used to tape the episodes on video tapes and rewatch them on our VCR!!

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  8. I've always been a big fan of British TV.

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    1. I remember shows like Upstairs, Downstairs and On the Buses that used to come on when I was a kid. I didn't "get" them then.

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  9. Oh I thought The Killing was so good and heard they are making another season of it. Started on Alias Grace last night and I think it is going to be great. Yes, winter is coming on and sending fall packing soon.

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    1. I would definitely watch another season of The Killing!

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  10. I quite agree with you about actors in British productions. We always say they'd never get a part in an American film or series. Love their character actors.

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  11. Two Thumbs up on British programming. Real people (well except for Colin Firth who is a demi-god), real faces and complex character development. Loved all the shows you listed. Wallander, like The Killing, casted a bit of a dark shadow and i was glad upon completion but wouldn't have missed a moment. Have you tried River? Another good one with a great twist.

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  12. Jenn... thanks for the tip on Wallander. The Mister and I are always looking for something new we can watch. Hope that you're feeling better soon!

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  13. I love Wallander! I am halfway through - and also watching Shetland. I so agree with the delightful realism of a British series. By casting 'real' people, the stories are so much more believable and they draw me in completely.

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  14. Thanks for the recommendations. I have been looking for something new to watch on Netflix.

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  15. Two words: DOC MARTIN. He's a rascally personality, but he grows on you, and most certainly the remaining cast is as endearing as any cast ever!

    Also, Inspector George Gently, Inspector Morse, and Endeavour.

    And Poldark!

    We are going to subscribe to Acorn; we love almost all the British series. :)

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  16. I loved Broadchurch and am into Midsomeer. Haven't seen the Killing. I'm watching The Collection and the Durrells in Corfu now on PBS and Doc Martin. I like New Tricks, Scott and Bailey and oh, Rosemary and Thyme! And Call the Midwife, of course. Inspector More and Inspector Lewis. Wallander is excellent -- a little dark but very good and Kenneth Branagh is magnificent. Very brooding. I could watch Brit telly all day. Every day!

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  17. Also Foyle's War - an oldie but a real goodie. And Home Fires, too.
    Both WWII era.
    A day planted on the couch binging on British telly sounds like heaven.

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  18. So many comments! Yes yes yes to Rosemary and Thyme (appeals to my love of a good murder mystery AND gardening!), I've heard of Doc Martin. Call the Midwife doesn't really do it for me - I'm not big on anything medical. I just remembered, my husband and I (maybe more me) loved the All Creatures Great and Small series (James Herriot's books). It was in one of your blogs (somebody's??) that Poldark was mentioned.. again I'll have to check that out as well. And yes, Foyle's War was also on the short list.

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  19. I loved reading the comments... lots of new ideas. I think you might enjoy Vera and the Loch, I enjoyed them both very much! I think it is great to have a down day to just rest now and then.

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  20. Ah...the British shows...I like them too! I've watched Broadchurch on Netflix...all of them that were available at the time. Also Call the Midwife and various others that I can't remember off hand.

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  21. Nobody has mentioned "Outlander" so I will recommend it - a bit racy but Jamie Fraser is gorgeous!

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  22. I guess we take our British tv shows for granted. I like the idea of a cosy day doing nothing. I can't remember when I last did that !

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  23. I always say I want to spend a lot of time in the winter watching Netflix movies (and series, etc.), but haven't yet made the time to do it. Maybe this year? Yes, along with reading and knitting and lots of quilting!

    I don't know whether I love or hate how we women folk say, "I didn't do anything all day . . . well, except for the laundry and making a nice homemade dinner for the family." We need to give ourselves a lot more credit than we do!

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  24. I love days like that. They are fun. And yes, what's with the ladies chasing bad guys, whilst wearing high shoes. The ladies, not the bad guys. Ack. I'd rather have real people.

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  25. Good choices - also recommend "Line of Duty", "Happy Valley" and "Dr. Foster".

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  26. I'm thinking it might be Happy Valley next. When I looked at it listed on Netflix, I thought I recognized the lead as someone previously on Coronation Street. It has to be good for that reason alone!

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