Fortitude

[Layer Cake]

Hope this is as good as the trailer looks...

 

[This Charming Mike]

Yep, looks excellent. Strong cast and an intriguing story. Big expectations for this.

 

[Layer Cake]

As you say very intriguing, I'm even hooked on the trailer so better not be a let down. £25m Sky have ploughed into this.

 

[SUTSS]

I saw a tweet by a journo who had seen the first couple of episodes in a preview and she said that it was very good. Hopefully she's right.

 

[Spirederman]

Yeah, the trailer is really promising.

Can't wait for this to start. Looks great.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Yes really looking forward to this! Hopefully it does not dissapoint!

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

Love how the cowbell from a Roland 808 has become a signifier of ersatz Scando-noir portent.

*BLIMMM*

 

[Spirederman]

Love how the cowbell from a Roland 808 has become a signifier of ersatz Scando-noir portent.

*BLIMMM*

Can we expect a cycling thread up anytime soon Carel?? Used to love reading your opinions in there on TFF.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Yep - been talking about this for a few weeks now, be interesting to see if it lives up to expectation.

 

[SALTIRE]

Going to watch this, Tucci and Gambon are always worth a watch anyway, but the story looks ok too.

 

[This Charming Mike]

Reminder that this starts tonight, chaps.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Yep, noticed this yesterday. Looking forward to it!

 

[DarkSithLord]

Cant wait for this!

 

[SALTIRE]

Think I'm taping Charlie Brooker about the same time so got this taping tomorrow - it should be pretty good for all the advertisements they are giving it.

 

[Saddlerrad]

The last time I saw a Sky Atlantic programme get so much advertising it was Ray Donovan, previous to that True Detective. Let's hope that previous form bodes well!

 

[Master D]

Can't decide if I was bored or intrigued.

 

[BlueBee]

Yeh....It was a bit meh.

Got the potential to be a great series.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Didn't catch it, got it on record though. Hope it's worthwhile for all the hype!

 

[Spirederman]

Wouldn't say it was a brilliant opener, but certainly very intriguing and something that looks like it could be great.

A massive plus for me is the fact it has Veronica Echegui in it. She is absolutely stunning.

 

[This Charming Mike]

Didn't expect it to be quite so long but enjoyed it on the whole. Whodathunk Richard Dormer had such a good Scandinavian accent in him?

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

All pants and no Faroe Islands sweater. /shoots self and all British broadsheet writers in face.

So pleadingly cinematic but so ploddingly, paltrily televisual. Conceived as an iceberg, with untold heft just below the surface, but in fact a Smatian narrow boat, with a keel like a lolly stick. Dialogue scenes in 2 modes: the nakedly expository ("have you talked about having any more kids?") and the pathetically cod-portentous ("Things? What sort of things?" "Monsters" "Monsters?"). GRIT as signified by a sexy lady introduced whilst covered in blood from an animal carcass.

Imagine spending all that money and getting that cast and then putting it all in service of such paucity of imagination and ambition. The Paul Smith wearing turd who, tasked to come up with a PRESTIGE drama, thought: "the broadsheets go mad for those Scando things. Lets do one of them. Anyone know the number of the agent for that Sophie Lund woman?". Like an Aberdonian city planner deciding to build an "Italian-style piazza". As Ikea is to Alvar Aalto. Or like me writing a short story that is recognisably ripped off from JG Ballard but has no life of its own.

If this is Sky's plan to keep themselves going after they lose half their sports rights to BT then they are fucked.

I feel sorry for everyone involved.

 

[T.A]

So you're saying I shouldn't bother?

 

[Spirederman]

So you're saying I shouldn't bother?

I enjoyed it.

Carel didn't.

Differing views and all that. Give it a try mate.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Anyone watching tonight's offering?

 

[BlueBee]

I'm watching it now...I'm bored.

 

[Craig]

Yeah, I'm not feeling it. It's all gone downhill since the gruesome polar bear opening scene.

 

[RavenBish]

Remember when Carel pretended to hate True Detective? Good times.

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

True Detective was chuffing The Passion of Joan of Arc compared to this, promise.

Most of the cast looked embarrassed to be there in tonight's instalment, with the exception of Gambon, who appears to be getting paid per metric tonne of scenery chewed.

Bottled it on the T&A front also. They aint gonna get the Grantland word of mouth crowd on board like that are they.

I love it.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Doesn't sound very promising to be honest, I had high hopes after the trailers.

 

[HertsWolf]

Personally I'm loving it. But then I know the town where it was filmed.

I do wonder who they will keep it going for 12 episodes, though. I'm assuming that all the good guys are actually very bad, and all the bad guys are very good.

By that score, Michael Gambon is the Dr Evil with the mum of the kid with....I dunno...the plague, polio or whatever is coming next....also in the frame for a few murders.