Foreign TV programmes

I certainly agree that British TV leaves a lot to be desired. It’s the dramas I go for, particularly the grittier ones, but never watch all the game shows, reality programmes, soaps or quizzes. That’s why I rely so heavily nowadays on the streamers - Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount +, AppleTV+ and Now.

Once my current deal runs out with Virgin, I intend to move to Virgin Stream, where I will be paying only for the streamers and not all those channels I never watch. I will be saving something like 50 quid a month on the good deal I have already and I will be able to use my watchlist for the terrestrial TV and the streamers I subscribe to.

Does it for me.

I'm currently enjoying an American series on Sky History (Re run) called "Forged in Fire" (7.00 pm). It's a bladesmithing competition. I know nothing about making swords and knives so it's really interesting. They are often given some unpromising metal to make the blades from.

You really feel for the contestant if their blade snaps during testing.

There's also the camaraderie between contestants and the judges. A refreshing change from other competitions. Definitely worth a look.

I like British based drama with predominantly British cast and storylines. Netflix has a reasonably good selection of this genre although some have originally shown on BBC or ITV so I try to avoid these, with several exceptions for classics, as they are clearly made to comply with broadcast regulations so can seem a little constrained sometimes.

So having said all that I was surprised to find out after being totally drawn in to the great story telling of a few limited series that meet my criteria that the creator is American. I have been watching series based on the novels written by Harlan Coben. So far I have binged The Stranger, Safe and Stay Close. All three are eight one hour episode series and have excellent well known casts. Really enjoyed them- no spoilers coming so go watch for yourself.

I have looked for more by Harlan Coben as he has a story telling style that keeps you interested and guessing right to the end. Netflix have more of his work but it is foreign language. I have just finished El Innocente which is Spanish with English overdub. The story has all the Coben trademarks and a surprising twist. Really good.

I have also spotted a French series and a Polish series but these have subtitles but I will be watching one of these next.

Thoroughly recommend these.

Quote from Stew 65

What do you think?

Agree.

I had a look at All4 during the summer and noticed the Walter Presents section and immediately thought, this was a continuation of Channel 4's bid to showcase foreign language shows, which it's always done, as well as BBC2 and BBC 4.

It seems to me that both Ch4 and Netflix have realised that there is a world out there of excellent non-English language drama, so that if people get bored with the usual reality tv shows, there is other stuff out there.

I will check out All4 again soon, is there anything you reckon should be at the top of my list to watch? There is a lot of stuff there.

My favourite drama over the last few years was a German show. Check out my thread on it here: Dark.

I have watched a few foreign movies namely Danish, Finnish or similar on Netflix.

They often have real good story lines, non of the glitzy feel of Hollywood but eminently watchable. My biggest gripe should be as a person who has severe hearing loss lip reading is important to me, that's where subtitles fall down for me.

If you've ever watched a movie where the sound and lip sync is way out and seriously noticed it, that's what subs and foreign movies do to me.

I watch with subtitles on even though I can hear ( notwithstanding the tinnitus). I find some dialogue in modern productions to be indistinct. Maybe it’s the mixing for surround sound which messes with it?

So the subtitles should ideally match the dialogue exactly unless it’s also a translation from another language.

Lip sync is always an issue with overdubbed dialogue so subtitles are important. With the Spanish Harlan Coben series El Innocente it was overdubbed to English but the subtitles had different wording to what was being said which was stupid because what I heard and what I read didn’t match. I found that distracting so I turned subtitles off.

If voices could be more forward in the sound mix it would be a great improvement.

I also have some hearing loss and wear a hearing aide when trying to watch modern American films as he actors don't speak clearly and talk to quickly and mumbled, most of the times I give up even though I can lip read they don't move their lips.

English Dramas very often mumbled and too much background noise, poor sound tracks I now have Netflix which I am not too impressed with so far, Amazon Prime same thing very Amateur Acting remakes of Old Films and again poor diction, that is why I like Subtitles .

Have you tried different sound settings on your TV or set top box Fred?

Quote from OLD BOY

Have you tried different sound settings on your TV or set top box Fred?

Tried with the TV not much if any difference, don't have a top box , my Kindle is clearer for some films , but I don't watch that much TV these days other than films or documentaries Salvage Hunters, Antique Roadshow,

I have found that certain TVs have poor sound quality, and if yours is one of them, a sound bar really does help.

Yes OB a sound bar can definitely help. Both my wife and I suffer from hearing loss but the sound bar makes the dialogue much clearer..

Quote from OLD BOY

I have found that certain TVs have poor sound quality, and if yours is one of them, a sound bar really does help.

I had a sound bar was not impressed with it, when I do watch the TV in the kitchen most of the time a relatively new LG great picture great documentaries News etc clear, I still think some actors do not project their voices well as they once used to

Quote from Fred

I still think some actors do not project their voices well as they once used to

I think this is related to the original soundtrack being mixed for surround sound systems but when it is processed back into virtual surround sound or stereo it loses something.

Quote from Armitage Shanks

I think this is related to the original soundtrack being mixed for surround sound systems but when it is processed back into virtual surround sound or stereo it loses something.

It loses me I switch over or switch it off

Quote from Stew 65

While I still watch the odd drama made for UK TV I tend to view more foreign made stuff these days.

The Walter presents stuff on All4 has some good viewing while BBC 4 show some excellent programmes to.

I just finished watching the first series of Dark Hearts on BBC 4 and if you like military dramas I recommend it.

If you prefer something a little quirky then Astrid: Murder in Paris on Walter presents will be a worthwhile watch.

British TV relies too heavily on naff reality shows, rubbish quizzes, doom and gloom soaps and lifestyle dross

and aims far too much of its content towards the younger generations (Love Island, TOWIE, MIC, Geordie Shore etc) and not the older licence paying viewers.

What do you think?

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Certainly agree the quality TV is the exception these days

The cult of celebrity is a curse which now extends as far a politics

I quite enjoy watching Foreign films. The sub titles don't bother me at all. Foreign films, particularly drama and crime, make a refreshing change from the usual crap that is put out by the British producers where quality programmes are conspicuous by their comparative absence.