Yes, DEVS.
I’ve just binge-watched this eight-hour FX miniseries and WOW. Totally smitten with the mindfuck of a concept, the creepy atmosphere, the funereal pace, the talent, the beauty, the slowburn shocks, the landscape, the music, the strangeness, the everything you care to mention.
Reviews seem to be generally 4/5 but I’m sure this’ll be Marmite. Many will have hated it. I for one am a yes. But then I would say that because I’ve been pre-determined to say it. Tramlines, doncha know.
To like: Sonoya Mizuno. Alison Pill. Alex Garland. Soundtrack. San Francisco.
Not to like: [ ]
Anybody else?
PS – Still available on BBC iPlayer.
Yes, I enjoyed almost all of it and I suppose it would be churlish to complain that a show that dazzles partly by deliberately setting up so many obstacles to a satisfying resolution then fails to provide one.
But.. the “since you believe you’ve proved Everett’s Many Worlds theory you won’t mind letting go of the bridge rail when there’s probably only one world out of an infinite number which doesn’t result in your certain death” bit still bothers me months later…
To be honest, Katie was so scary I’d have done anything she told me to do.
Still, I see where you’re going with that. However, as long as there’s ONE world where you don’t fall off the dam wall, isn’t that enough of an insurance policy?
She was scary!
I suppose, like having a levitating office, what’s most important about the bridge fall is that
(1) It looks fantastic
and
(2) It’s a novel and intriguing concept
and whether it is, in fact, a good idea is further down the list of priorities..
Scary, but loyal and kind of selfless when it came to Forest. I think all the characters had admirable qualities, even the nasty ones. Kenton was a resilient and persistent bastard in the context of older killing machines.
I really, really liked it.
I started recommending it to friends, who all except one, said it was too slow.
Too slow…
Yes, indeed – that was one of the things I loved about it. That somehow gave it authenticity, like you were watching snippets from real life rather than some souped-up chop-cut drama.
Thought it was terrific. It’s comparative slowness contributed to the way it drew you into its world. I can see how it wouldn’t be for everyone though.
I watched the first episode and loved it, but then I forgot about it! I might watch the rest if it’s still available on demand.
Thanks for the heads-up. Found the series in a bin at the Eel Market, and thoroughly enjoyed the first episode.
I didn’t understand the “science” for the first few episodes, and I feared they might be obfusticating. But I went along with it anyway because the human story was compelling. My faith was rewarded – the DEVS mission was fully explained over the last three episodes and, as far as you can get your head around the potential manipulation of technology at a quantum level, it does all make sense.
My curiosity is piqued.
I was interested to see that Garland both wrote and directed it.
It can’t be every day that a writer gets to direct their own script.
I really liked this, slightly disappointing ending but the ride there was terrific. And it had Ron Swanson in it.
Not just Ron Swanson. Ron Swanson going full Ron Swanson. An absolute joy to behold..
I was disappointed to tune in and find that it wasn’t a Corrie spin-off featuring lovable ( if slightly stereotypical) Asian shopkeeper, Dev Kapoor
I was disappointed to tune in and find that it wasn’t a Corrie spin-off featuring lovable ( if slightly stereotypical) Asian shopkeeper, Dev Kapoor
I’ll check it out. We’ve just started Emily in Paris which is frothy and silly and just what I need at the moment.
Up there with the best of the year’s telly. Maybe the best. Off hand I can’t think of anything better.
Up to E04 and it’s stunning. You can throw the usual tedious “gotchas” at the script, but it’s about ideas, and performances, and mood. Totally gripped. It could end at the end of any episode and I’d be happy – not looking for a whodunnit wrap-up.
IIRC you’re not going to get one.
I got as satisfying a wrap as I expected. Of course the science fails (it’s science fiction, not fact) and of course there are frayed ends of plot waving about in the wind (“yebbut why did so-and-so do such-and-such if so-forth-and-so-on?”) but it was the best TV – and the best SF – I’ve seen for a while.
For the skinny on the tropes, go here:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/Devs
Loving this at the half way point. Can’t wait to see it all. Obviously any ending we might be shown is just one of an almost infinite number, but you can’t have everything.
Incidentally, I’m sure you all know that the son of the proponent of the Everitt many worlds theory is E out of the band Eels.
I liked Broken Toyshop.
He was only 51 when he died but a chain smoker, heavy drinker and obese. An atheist who believed in quantum immortality took his leap to another world suddenly of a heart attack. E was 19 at the time.
Merry Christmas!
Maybe. But it was in April, so more likely Happy Easter. Apart from one world in an infinite number.
One of the saddest things you’ll ever read is E describing hugging his dead father as the most physical contact he had with him.
Jeez. That’s almost worse than the Hemingway 6 word short story.