MovieChat Forums > Brief Encounters (2016) Discussion > Diabolical. Can tv get any worse?

Diabolical. Can tv get any worse?


Good grief. What a load of utter crap. Cringeworthy acting, writing and directing. Won't be watching again. What's happened to quality drama? It's certainly not on ITV, that's a fact.

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What didn't you like about the first episode exactly?

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Don't know where to start really. The predictable storyline, very poor acting from the lead female and her friend who used to be in Casualty I think, the sex scenes were cringeworthy, the final meeting at the house with 'bunny' was like something from an am-dram performance, the 80's nostalgic music was used as is very popular nowadays to add warmth and appeal which felt contrived. Generally just very poor I felt. It gave me no incentive to watch again and have cancelled the series repeat record on my box.

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Also the obese girl was written in a very stereotypical manner making her a bit of a joke. Awful acting from her too.

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Oh right fair enough so you won't be tuning in to the second episode then, I take it the only thing you liked in the first episode was the 80's music which was class

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Ha-ha, no, I'd rather be tied to a chair and forced to listen to Olly Murs while having my tonsils removed with a rusty spoon!

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Haha at the Olly Murs comment! I've quite enjoyed Brief Encounters so far, and I like the music. I wasn't born till 1990 so it's nice to see what it was like in the 80s. I agree with you about Dawns character being a bit of a joke, especially with the pot pourri, but her storyline has got a little more intense as the series has gone on. Like someone else has said, she was very good in My Mad Fat Diary.

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Ps, I found the 80's music thing a rehash really. It's used too often now in programmes to promote nostalgic responses. The 80's was without doubt the best decade in music but getting boring now.

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Ha-ha, no, I'd rather be tied to a chair and forced to listen to Olly Murs while having my tonsils removed with a rusty spoon!

HAHA that made me laugh.....Yea a rehash maybe but there will be many other songs on coming episodes- If they do a second series they might go abroad to France, Germany, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, And have bands + artists from them countries that had loads of songs that were hits in them countries by likes of Den Harrow, Sandra, Niagara, Ratata, Alphaville, Falco, Michael Cretu, Moti Special, Mylène Farmer, Cock Robin, Jeanne Mas, Vanessa Paradis,

A few of them had hits in the UK as well and as well as other bands + artists from the UK having hits across the pond as you know, I went to many countries on holiday as a kid and some of them would speak English in there songs and some didn't but still catchy none the less.......

Yea I agree the 80's was the best decade in music, Name me your top 30 bands + artists of the 80's you like doesn't just have to be from the UK but in general- And I will do the same :-]

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She was really good in the series My Mad Fat Diary.

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(But then I know nothing about the "Grim North").

Come on - it was funny!

"Asparagus rolls"!

And the 80s was The. Worst. Decade. For. Music. Ever. Period.

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And the 80s was The. Worst. Decade. For. Music. Ever. Period.

Are you insane, The 80's were a really good decade for music I could name you a very good top 30 and some of them are still around today!

You had so many different genre's of music from POP, Rock, RNB, Hip Hop, Heavy Metal, Indie, Soul, Reggae etc etc

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You clearly have no taste in music. Are you a Kanye West fan?

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I was shocked watching this, I forgot how much men were in charge of life in the 80's!

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I love her hair!

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Angela Yea her hair is quite good, When you said:I was shocked watching this, I forgot how much men were in charge of life in the 80's!

Some men were and some men weren't, My mum wears the trousers in my mum and dads relationship and so does my mums cousin and her husband......Also I remember one of my cousins BF she was with for 5 years in the 80's and she was the one in charge lol

Also Angela's character Nita Dempsey don't taker no *beep* have you been watching the last 3 episodes, and the other women seem strong and don't get pushed around by the men

What are some of your fav artists and bands from the 80's?

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Blimey, what a miserable bunch you are, I love this, it's exactly how I remember the 80's! Love Linda and the recurring mentions of dead husband 'Sam' and eating pot pourri ? You know what, everyone has enough to worry about and be serious about, I'm happy to watch some nostalgic fluff on a Monday evening!

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Not everyone on this post has been miserable archers :-]

And yes 80's were the nuts

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I agree. People are taking it far too seriously and remind me of Bunny the prude. Not everyone wants to watch an intense and complex drama on a weeknight.

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True, the acting leaves a lot to be desired in most cases but it's no worse than in many of today's popular soaps.
I like the use of the 80s fashions and styles, music and clothes. Also the interiors of the houses look authentic late 70s going on 80s which has been well thought out and would be accurate for 1982.
The downside for me has been how much the Dawn character has been in the spotlight especially during episodes 4 and 5.
In the two characters of Steph and Hellie there are two gorgeous actresses who are lovely to look at and the storyline seems to focus too much around Dawn who surely isn't meant to be the leading character?
My only other gripe is how unbelievable it seems that the police officer can casually flirt with Steph in full view of the public and his superiors, for example drinking coffee with her during the middle of the day within sight of the police station?!!

"I'm here all week.."

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Okay, so it's not GREAT television, it is something I very much enjoyed. And it's better than any crap that we get on our side of the pond like Desperate Housewives. 

Samantha
Nail polish addict who buys acetone in the gallon jug.

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