[slab_happy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000x2tf/horizon-2021-1-horizon-special-the-vaccine

Outstanding documentary following five of the different research teams (Pfizer, Moderna, the Chinese CDC team, Oxford/AZ, and Queensland).

[Falling Down]

I can’t recommend this highly enough https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000wfcj

[slab_happy]

Oh yeah, that was very good. I mostly know of Afrofuturism from the written SF/F field, so it was fascinating to get the perspective from music and the visual arts.

[slab_happy]

I can’t recommend this highly enough https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000wfcj

P.S. You may already be aware of this, but Rivers Solomon wrote a novel with clipping, The Deep, which draws on the Drexciya mythology:

https://www.npr.org/2019/11/07/776948306/the-deep-sings-with-many-voices

[Falling Down]

Brilliant, I wasn’t aware of that. Will definitely have a read.  This is a good academic article https://shimajournal.org/issues/v10n2/h.-Gaskins-Shima-v10n2.pdf and there’s some good stuff online that shows how Emory Douglas, the artist for the Black Panthers influenced the Drexcyia iconography.

[Oldmanmatt]

Akashinga.

The Brave Ones.

[TobyD]

I watched the first episode of Time but, whilst I’m ok with cartoonish violence, I couldn’t enjoy it because I felt uncomfortable with where it was going.

I watched the first episode of this last night, it is grim but powerful. I'm not sure if I enjoyed it, but it was undeniably excellent.

[tommytwotone]

I had the same thing - I watched the first one but it really got in my head and I didn't fancy carrying on. Mrs TTT watched it and gave me a synopsis of how it panned out!

[Bradders]

I thought Time was very, very good. Worth sticking with. It's an uncomfortable watch but, in a way, how could it not be?

[TobyD]

I thought Time was very, very good. Worth sticking with. It's an uncomfortable watch but, in a way, how could it not be?

Is the rest of it even grimmer than the first one? I found the first one tolerable (because it was superb) but I wouldn't want to persist if it gets loads worse.

[moose]

You know Sean Bean's character in Game of Thrones got executed at the start of the series... well, he had it comparatively easy!

Seriously though, there are some uplifting moments to leven the bleakness but it is a tough watch.  I don't regret staying with it though.

[seankenny]

I thought Time was very, very good. Worth sticking with. It's an uncomfortable watch but, in a way, how could it not be?

Is the rest of it even grimmer than the first one? I found the first one tolerable (because it was superb) but I wouldn't want to persist if it gets loads worse.

Two out of three episodes of Time watched so far in our household, I can assure you that it is well worth watching - an absolutely masterclass of writing and acting. Very much looking forward to the final installment, even though I know it will not be an easy watch.

[Bradders]

I thought Time was very, very good. Worth sticking with. It's an uncomfortable watch but, in a way, how could it not be?

Is the rest of it even grimmer than the first one? I found the first one tolerable (because it was superb) but I wouldn't want to persist if it gets loads worse.

No I wouldn't say so, pretty sure the most difficult moments were in the first episode (I think!). And yeah, few uplifting bits as well.

Most importantly the quality is sustained all the way.

[TobyD]

Thanks all. The first one reminded me of Nick Bullock's autobiography and his writing about being a prison officer.  Suffice to say,  it seems that Time isn't an exaggeration.  Its a worthwhile read, if anyone hasn't read it. 

[Paul B]

The first one reminded me of Nick Bullock's autobiography...

...a worthwhile read, if anyone hasn't read it.

I was wondering that the other day. I'll have a read (thanks).

If people stomached the first episode I think they'll manage the next two. It's really worthwhile.

[TobyD]

The first one reminded me of Nick Bullock's autobiography...

...a worthwhile read, if anyone hasn't read it.

I was wondering that the other day. I'll have a read (thanks).

If people stomached the first episode I think they'll manage the next two. It's really worthwhile.

It's a decent read. The prison service bits are really powerful,  as is the escape that climbing offers him from it.

[slab_happy]

Back up on iPlayer -- this is really good for anyone wanting to get a better understanding of the situation in Syria, and also an interesting look at human evil (and the banality of it). I find Asma particularly fascinating and terrifying:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bnfn0d/a-dangerous-dynasty-house-of-assad-series-1-episode-1

[slab_happy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03ny8wk/apples-pears-and-paint-how-to-make-a-still-life-painting

History of still life painting (and how it fits into the bigger picture of art history). Intelligent commentary and a fuck-tonne of gorgeous close-ups of beautiful detailing from many many many still-lifes, for an hour and a half.

This is a very good way to chill out and not think about Covid.

[TobyD]

Baptiste.

Series one on Netflix,  well structured,  tense drama.  Well worth watching.  I started watching this as a second series is on iplayer at the moment.  Looking forward to it, halfway through the first. 

[SA Chris]

Have you watched Season 1 & 2 of The Missing? It's where he first appears as a character.

[TobyD]

Have you watched Season 1 & 2 of The Missing? It's where he first appears as a character.

Nope. I've heard of it but not seen, is it good?

[SA Chris]

First season was good, second less so, but both are still worth a watch. Baptiste plays a central, but not main, role in both, but is probably more engaging than the leads, which is probably how the spin-off came about.

[Eddies]

This is the nuts:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000vw6l/killing-escobar

[TobyD]

If anyone hasn't seen Laura Kenny and Kate Archibald win the Madison yet, its about 15 minutes long on iplayer,  and its probably equal to any display of absolute sporting mastery and dominance that I've ever seen, akin to Federer in his prime,  or an on form All Blacks side. They just absolutely smash it from start to finish. 

Olympics, Track Cycling - Women's Madison: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p09py86l via @bbciplayer

[IanP]

If anyone hasn't seen Laura Kenny and Kate Archibald win the Madison yet, its about 15 minutes long on iplayer,  and its probably equal to any display of absolute sporting mastery and dominance that I've ever seen, akin to Federer in his prime,  or an on form All Blacks side. They just absolutely smash it from start to finish. 

Olympics, Track Cycling - Women's Madison: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p09py86l via @bbciplayer

Absolutely, despite the lack of competition it was mesmerising to watch.  Hopefully the full interview afterwards is also included, I was slightly upset by the version on the BBC 7:30pm highlights show which cut most of Katie Archibald out.