The Book Vipers discussion

There was something on recently, which I happened across as I changed channels one night - Mountain Goats. O. M. G. Unbelievably awful, actually impossible to watch. 30 seconds was enough, and it was relief to move on.

Not seen the Wire.

X Factor. It is just dreadful.

I have probably missed a lot of bad series because I can't keep up even with the series I'd like to watch, there are simply too many of them. I remember as a child there was maybe only one "watchable" series per day, now there are many at the same time.

I think recently the worst I have seen glimpses has been Reign. I mean it is supposed to be about Mary, Queen of Scots, but they looked and sounded like they were in an American high school. It was ridiculous.

Another series that I couldn't watch because it looked too modern was the newest Robin Hood. I mean it had Richard Armitage! I am all for strong female characters but they should be somehow believable and interesting, too. It's also bad when I couldn't care less about the titular character. I wish they would stop casting young (wo)men because of their looks and give parts to adult (wo)men. For some reason casts that are closer to 40 than 20 years are much more interesting to watch, usually. (Skins was an exception.) Especially in those times they would get away with it because people probably aged sooner. (Funny though, in the 1980's series Robin of Sherwood the actors were about the same age but somehow they felt like adults.)

I think True Detective was pretty good, also I watched The Wire long time ago, not my favourite but probably a series that should be watched as a marathon. I really don't like series where characters are likable. And nowadays it has to be a very good series that keeps me watching, like maybe past the second season. I don't think I have anything I wait for. Shame really.

ETA: According to the IMDB, in Reign the future Queen Elizabeth I (view spoiler)[ gets married (hide spoiler)]! That's taking the "just fiction" part a bit too far, IMO...

I tried the Wire but could not get past episode 1. Plenty of people say that though, and that you need to stick with it.

There is so much dross on TV I wouldn't know where to start with worst. I am massively unkeen on Jeremy Kyle though.

Anything my family watch is pretty dire. Most annoying is that don't tell the bride. Makes me want to rip out my eyes and shove them in my ears.

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” ― Groucho Marx

Exactly what I do.

I often joke with my partner that I am the man in the relationship. I am the one that can read maps and navigate. Simon has got lost on the M25 (seriously). If there is any nagging to be done it is he that does it. I am the one that catches the daddy long legs. Also I am in charge of the remote control so what we watch is mostly what I want to watch. Luckily Simon mostly likes what I want to watch. So we dont watch X factor, the voice, soaps or Strictly. So there is nothing I have seen recently that was terrible. Although Simon does like Dragon's Den and that program makes me squirm while he is laughing away at it. He also likes to watch Antiques Road Trip which I find deadly dull.

The worst one that appears at home at the moment is 'The Next Step'; just a dreadful CBBC series about a dance school. It is truly awful.

We have solved that problem of viewing incompatibility by default as Paul (my husband, not the Pauls on here!) does his own thing on week nights in his office/man cave (working or writing music or whatever), so I watch whatever I want, and then we watch mutually liked stuff at weekends.

My kids watch some right crap though. Power Rangers, for example. Cheesefest. I have caught a bit of The Next Step, and it was indeed awful.

Sounds ideal Lisa. Sarah is normally doing prep during the week. So I get to watch more or less what I want. The girls are getting into the apprentice; which is also awful; braying 'business people' who would struggle to run a bath