We unearthed an American procedural on Netflix recently that I feel obliged to share. It's none other than Lucifer. What mainly separates it from the other 200 US procedurals of the past 30 years is comedy. Often racy with an incredibly charismatic male lead whose female partner, demon and shrink are terrific. The occasional poignancy even works. The one drawback is Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer whose pretty awful.
I had cancelled my Britbox. Then I saw Ludwig. It’s wonderful. David Mitchell is excellent and I have always enjoyed Anna Maxwell Martin. They are perfect point, counterpoint.
I supposedly got BritBox for just a few months for my birthday last year. Famous last words. here I am a few days before the next one and no sign of dropping it. Ditto for Acorn that I got for my birthday 5 years ago.
So this is funny: I told you about this show last week and then promptly did not get around to watching it. I saw your post and quickly watched an episode last night. So good!!! The show that comes to mind for me is actually American: Monk. I am all in for Ludwig.
I am living in the UK for all intents and purposes these days. I am watching Are You Being Served with my family. I have started the excellent soapy sexy “Rivals” on Hulu (starring David Tennant, Aidan Turner etc). I am catching up on Ghosts UK with my daughter. I recently just finished Season 1 of The Detectorists. AND… I am reading the novel “The Thursday Murder Club” which apparently is going to be a Netflix movie soon (starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnon, and Ben Kingsley). My favorite American light mystery show is Elsbeth. And another favorite is coming back this spring: Poker Face.
I guess I don’t see the need to knock the Yanks (there are a multitude of reasons to knock them right now but not for light mystery shows!) The fact is most shows everywhere are mid. The 80/20 rule holds. But when you hear about a British show it’s probably going to be the cream of the crop. And I just respectfully disagree that British shows are better in the cozy category. I love the genre and I have definitely seen some mediocre ones. If you talk to British people they think our stuff is better because again, they’re more likely to see the better shows. Maybe we all need to curate as if our own shows were foreign.
I'd been meaning to try Ludwig soon because the set-up is intriguing and some of the cast I've enjoyed watching in other projects (Izuka Hoyle, in the purple shirt above, is fantastic in the sitcom BIG BOYS, Anna Maxwell Martin is great in the dozens of shows in which she's appeared but especially THE BLETCHLEY CIRCLE).
I know what you mean about the lighter-toned mystery shows, and the Brits being better at them than Americans. I'll have to think about it more to figure out why. But yes, Britbox is one of my constants; I'll be dropping Max after this final season of RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES ends because it's the only thing I've watched on there in months. (THE WHITE LOTUS isn't my bag.)
I absolutely loved "Ludwig"—here I must confess that I heard about it via a UK podcast when it came out, could find no release date for the US, and managed to find a sneaky way to watch it. I've been trying to make up for it by recommending it to people now that it's legally available in the US.
But I'll never forget the "yeah we can't do that" thing (wasn't that BOTH Chronicle and THR) and then you saying, "Here, banged this out over lunch." Ha.
Thanks for this. I've been reading about this show for a while in British media and wondered if/when there was a "domestic" way to watch it. Might be a long wait based on when I see things mentioned there and when they're available here.
That said, I'd welcome an updated "What You Might Like On BritBox" from you and/or crowdsourced (I really enjoy the great recommendations everyone posts here.)
We did BB/Acorn on an Amazon super-discount last year and made good use of it. Perhaps there's some more stuff added/missed that would warrant re-upping. We really like what we see there and jump on it when it's on Prime, Netflix, etc.
I'm already planning to circle back to the "Deep Dive" feature and will do more BritBox and some of the others as well. I have a piece coming soonish....
Also good to hear! I ended up watching both episodes twice and noticed how some of the subtle jokes are easy to miss, which is great, because they're not dropping an anvil on your head. I watch everything with subtitles so sometimes my eye will catch a purposefully dropped off/cut off line (where the interruption is part of the joke) and this series is very adept at it.
Kinda sounds like a "Monk" type of series... I'm in. Plus you know I always love references to Mr. Snell. One day you'll have to do an audio with him for old times sake.... Or my sake.. LOL
There's definitely some of that "problem solver with issues" thing going on that's similar to Monk. I remember when that show was in the first wave of "blue sky" cable series...
Good to hear -- I was thinking about posting late Monday afternoon but was felled by lingering cold or whatever. I think BritBox is a high-value add for the vault alone. I mean, the BBC/ITV offerings are very deep. And I found that going beyond their dashboard and fishing around turned up a lot of offerings that I didn't notice at first. If you're looking to add, that's not a bad one. I'm going to write about another this week -- but it's always a good reminder to also get Canopy/Hoopla for free with a library card.
I got a library card for the first time in decades just to add Hoopla and it's been ridiculously hard to get access. Still on my list of things to solve
That was my thought. As Tim says in the article, one really good show can be worth it.
We've gone through so much stuff that now I'm open to buying if that's what it'll take for stuff that's unavailable (e.g. The Bureau, The Hollow Crown).
yeah, I just dropped Max because it's a duplicate for me and KB but I sometimes need to be *assured* of access and not geo-blocked when I'm in Portland, so we have some overlap. I'm going to write about some other apps real soon.
The good news is the lesser streamers have not figured out password crackdowns yet. It must be technically difficult or something. Because only Netflix has really done it. Disney said they would in October 2024. They still haven’t. That or it’s a PR headache and that’s the reason for the delay.
Think about the Warner catalog though — it’s massive. Is all of that sitting some place where the user interface doesn’t lead us (likely) and what would happen if we typed in some random old movie they own? I guess I will try this (spoiler: I recently spent many hours looking at titles on the “Max” app/site — I wonder what I found!?”)
My husband and I just also watched the first episode, because we'll watch anything David Mitchell is in. Similarly, I'm not terribly fond of "lite" British mysteries, but this managed to be just interesting enough.
I love this show!
We unearthed an American procedural on Netflix recently that I feel obliged to share. It's none other than Lucifer. What mainly separates it from the other 200 US procedurals of the past 30 years is comedy. Often racy with an incredibly charismatic male lead whose female partner, demon and shrink are terrific. The occasional poignancy even works. The one drawback is Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer whose pretty awful.
I had cancelled my Britbox. Then I saw Ludwig. It’s wonderful. David Mitchell is excellent and I have always enjoyed Anna Maxwell Martin. They are perfect point, counterpoint.
They make a great pair!
I supposedly got BritBox for just a few months for my birthday last year. Famous last words. here I am a few days before the next one and no sign of dropping it. Ditto for Acorn that I got for my birthday 5 years ago.
So this is funny: I told you about this show last week and then promptly did not get around to watching it. I saw your post and quickly watched an episode last night. So good!!! The show that comes to mind for me is actually American: Monk. I am all in for Ludwig.
I am living in the UK for all intents and purposes these days. I am watching Are You Being Served with my family. I have started the excellent soapy sexy “Rivals” on Hulu (starring David Tennant, Aidan Turner etc). I am catching up on Ghosts UK with my daughter. I recently just finished Season 1 of The Detectorists. AND… I am reading the novel “The Thursday Murder Club” which apparently is going to be a Netflix movie soon (starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnon, and Ben Kingsley). My favorite American light mystery show is Elsbeth. And another favorite is coming back this spring: Poker Face.
I guess I don’t see the need to knock the Yanks (there are a multitude of reasons to knock them right now but not for light mystery shows!) The fact is most shows everywhere are mid. The 80/20 rule holds. But when you hear about a British show it’s probably going to be the cream of the crop. And I just respectfully disagree that British shows are better in the cozy category. I love the genre and I have definitely seen some mediocre ones. If you talk to British people they think our stuff is better because again, they’re more likely to see the better shows. Maybe we all need to curate as if our own shows were foreign.
I'd been meaning to try Ludwig soon because the set-up is intriguing and some of the cast I've enjoyed watching in other projects (Izuka Hoyle, in the purple shirt above, is fantastic in the sitcom BIG BOYS, Anna Maxwell Martin is great in the dozens of shows in which she's appeared but especially THE BLETCHLEY CIRCLE).
I know what you mean about the lighter-toned mystery shows, and the Brits being better at them than Americans. I'll have to think about it more to figure out why. But yes, Britbox is one of my constants; I'll be dropping Max after this final season of RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES ends because it's the only thing I've watched on there in months. (THE WHITE LOTUS isn't my bag.)
I absolutely loved "Ludwig"—here I must confess that I heard about it via a UK podcast when it came out, could find no release date for the US, and managed to find a sneaky way to watch it. I've been trying to make up for it by recommending it to people now that it's legally available in the US.
Laughing. But also I think you are completely absolved by your good deeds. Well done!
Ludwig is great. It's Ludwig, Severance, and The Pitt right now as the three best shows I've seen this year.
Yes. The Pitt really grew on me. At first I found it competent but at some point I couldn’t wait to watch each new episode.
That's funny. The Pitt and Severance are our other non-British shows. I guess if you're here you MUST have good tastes!
If only we had a way to do the Power Rankings!
(Kidding).
But I'll never forget the "yeah we can't do that" thing (wasn't that BOTH Chronicle and THR) and then you saying, "Here, banged this out over lunch." Ha.
Computers! How do they work?
Thanks for this. I've been reading about this show for a while in British media and wondered if/when there was a "domestic" way to watch it. Might be a long wait based on when I see things mentioned there and when they're available here.
That said, I'd welcome an updated "What You Might Like On BritBox" from you and/or crowdsourced (I really enjoy the great recommendations everyone posts here.)
We did BB/Acorn on an Amazon super-discount last year and made good use of it. Perhaps there's some more stuff added/missed that would warrant re-upping. We really like what we see there and jump on it when it's on Prime, Netflix, etc.
I'm already planning to circle back to the "Deep Dive" feature and will do more BritBox and some of the others as well. I have a piece coming soonish....
And there was much rejoicing.
Love it so far. Waiting for the next episode to drop.
Also good to hear! I ended up watching both episodes twice and noticed how some of the subtle jokes are easy to miss, which is great, because they're not dropping an anvil on your head. I watch everything with subtitles so sometimes my eye will catch a purposefully dropped off/cut off line (where the interruption is part of the joke) and this series is very adept at it.
LOL, I watch everything with subtitles too. Especially necessary when watching Scottish series.
Len Penny is a Scot's poet. She posts Scots word of the day in Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DG1Us8rICes/?igsh=bHB6ajY5dmxvb2R3
Although, watching Miss Punniepenny's Scot's language lessons on Instagram have helped.
I have no idea what that is but you can bet that I’M GONNA FIND OUT!
Kinda sounds like a "Monk" type of series... I'm in. Plus you know I always love references to Mr. Snell. One day you'll have to do an audio with him for old times sake.... Or my sake.. LOL
There's definitely some of that "problem solver with issues" thing going on that's similar to Monk. I remember when that show was in the first wave of "blue sky" cable series...
It's always nice to see a new Bastard Machine to start the day. Guess I need to add another streamer
Good to hear -- I was thinking about posting late Monday afternoon but was felled by lingering cold or whatever. I think BritBox is a high-value add for the vault alone. I mean, the BBC/ITV offerings are very deep. And I found that going beyond their dashboard and fishing around turned up a lot of offerings that I didn't notice at first. If you're looking to add, that's not a bad one. I'm going to write about another this week -- but it's always a good reminder to also get Canopy/Hoopla for free with a library card.
I got a library card for the first time in decades just to add Hoopla and it's been ridiculously hard to get access. Still on my list of things to solve
Try Kanopy. I have found it much easier.
Done. And done. Thanks!
None of that odd put it in your wishlist or whatever nonsense. And Kanopy is free as well.
That was my thought. As Tim says in the article, one really good show can be worth it.
We've gone through so much stuff that now I'm open to buying if that's what it'll take for stuff that's unavailable (e.g. The Bureau, The Hollow Crown).
yeah, I just dropped Max because it's a duplicate for me and KB but I sometimes need to be *assured* of access and not geo-blocked when I'm in Portland, so we have some overlap. I'm going to write about some other apps real soon.
The good news is the lesser streamers have not figured out password crackdowns yet. It must be technically difficult or something. Because only Netflix has really done it. Disney said they would in October 2024. They still haven’t. That or it’s a PR headache and that’s the reason for the delay.
I get Max for free with my phone or it would be gone. HBO, why has thou forsaken me?
Poor HBO is the victim of its corporate overlords. The HBO content other than White Lotus is so buried.
That and there doesn't seem to be much there, there.
Think about the Warner catalog though — it’s massive. Is all of that sitting some place where the user interface doesn’t lead us (likely) and what would happen if we typed in some random old movie they own? I guess I will try this (spoiler: I recently spent many hours looking at titles on the “Max” app/site — I wonder what I found!?”)
I got a deal for $3/month for 6 months and reupped to catch up on House of the Dragon and for the new season of the Last of Us.
My husband and I just also watched the first episode, because we'll watch anything David Mitchell is in. Similarly, I'm not terribly fond of "lite" British mysteries, but this managed to be just interesting enough.
Yeah, I think the writing is a lot sharper than most and definitely funny.