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Thread: Top of the Lake

  1. #1
    Producer Lucky's Avatar
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    Top of the Lake

    Know there has been some talk about this elsewhere, but maybe the thread will encourage others to check it out. Sundance's first foray into the rapidly crowding quality television market is a standout entry. Like House of Cards, this is a firmly planted first step in establishing a name for the network. The pilot alone has secured my interest in the upcoming "Rectify" to see if Sundance is on to something here. Will post more as I continue.

    From what I understand, this is also on Netflix instant Watch. Only 7 episodes, the time commitment isn't much.

  2. #2
    i am the great went ledfloyd's Avatar
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    Mad Men and Breaking Bad have some serious competition for best TV show of the year.

  3. #3
    Producer Lucky's Avatar
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    So I wasn't expecting this show to be my Saturday, but I'm on Ep 5 with no intention of stopping. It's bare, no bells and whistles, and completely engrossing. I imagine that this is the show the producers of The Killing had in mind, but they fell woefully short. If Sundance can maintain this feel with all of its programming, it will successfully mine a niche of television that will separate it from the styles of AMC/FX/HBO/Showtime. I'm sure I'll finish this either tonight or tomorrow morning.

  4. #4
    Second star to the right [ETM]'s Avatar
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    Oh, shut up already, people! I'm trying to catch up on my Arrow/Veronica Mars/Mad Men, and you're making it so difficult!

  5. #5
    Producer Lucky's Avatar
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    Episode 6. That was harrowing.

  6. #6
    I'm in the milk... Mara's Avatar
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    I mainlined this over the last two days. Yikes.

    Although I found it very absorbing, atmospheric, and beautiful, I have a couple of quibbles:

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    Still, those are minor issues with some stellar television. The young actress they got for Tui was a standout, but the whole cast was great. Moss embodied the character perfectly, although even I could tell her accent faded in and out. (Agnes' accent was even wackier.)

    I'm going to be processing this for awhile.
    ...and the milk's in me.

  7. #7
    Winston* Classic Winston*'s Avatar
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    Watching this as it airs, so I've still got 2 more hours to go.

  8. #8
    i am the great went ledfloyd's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Winston* (view post)
    Watching this as it airs, so I've still got 2 more hours to go.
    It started airing earlier here than there then? That's strange.

  9. #9
    Winston* Classic Winston*'s Avatar
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    Quote Quoting ledfloyd (view post)
    It started airing earlier here than there then? That's strange.
    It's also airing on UK TV. It's an American-British coproduction. I don't think there's any New Zealand money in this thing (because there is no New Zealand money).

  10. #10
    Producer Lucky's Avatar
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    I found parts of the ending clumsy and obvious as well, Mara. I ended up enjoying the atmosphere and inhabitants more than the actual narrative. I was disappointed to find out CJ never wove into the narrative in a substantial way. Looking back, the character is pretty silly but fits in with the religious undertones of the series. Tui was a standout since the pilot--the girl exhibits a world-weary look that is unsettling to see from a child actor.

  11. #11
    I'm in the milk... Mara's Avatar
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    Another small quibble. I know that I'm sounding negative, but I figure plenty of praise will be heaped on this.

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    ...and the milk's in me.

  12. #12
    Supporting Actor slqrick's Avatar
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    You guys have convinced me. Checking it out for the Moss, although her accent is funny. I've been wanting to check out a detective/mystery show, and this seems like just the one. 10 minutes in and already more compelling than The Killing.

  13. #13
    i am the great went ledfloyd's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Mara (view post)
    Another small quibble. I know that I'm sounding negative, but I figure plenty of praise will be heaped on this.

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    Maybe they just weren't close at all.

  14. #14
    I'm in the milk... Mara's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting ledfloyd (view post)
    Maybe they just weren't close at all.
    They seem really affectionate, though.

    I don't know-- I guess I just didn't see the point of it. He could have just been an old friend and it would have been less weird.

    The more I think about it, the more unusual and fascinating of a character Matt is. He has such a strange relationship to women, and his mother, and his children. His little mental vacation with Agnes was kind of fascinating (and the end of it, at the fence, was brutal and upsetting.)
    ...and the milk's in me.

  15. #15
    Producer Lucky's Avatar
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    From what I understood, I thought those were her brother's two friends. I didn't think we actually saw her brother onscreen.

  16. #16
    Supporting Actor slqrick's Avatar
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    Well I've spent the majority of the day riveted by this. Already starting episode 4, Moss is really terrific in this. A lot of nuanced work.

  17. #17
    i am the great went ledfloyd's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting slqrick (view post)
    Well I've spent the majority of the day riveted by this. Already starting episode 4, Moss is really terrific in this. A lot of nuanced work.
    Moss's work in episode 4 is what completely sold me on the show. Riveting stuff.

  18. #18
    Supporting Actor slqrick's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Lucky (view post)
    Episode 6. That was harrowing.
    Holy shit, this episode.

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    I thought the finale shoehorned some crap in a bit too handily, and some of the narrative stuff was obvious.

    [
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  19. #19
    Supporting Actor slqrick's Avatar
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    Good article about Top of the Lake and the Sundance Channel in general, which never anywhere near my radar for quality shows before this past week.

  20. #20
    Ain't that just the way EyesWideOpen's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Lucky (view post)
    From what I understood, I thought those were her brother's two friends. I didn't think we actually saw her brother onscreen.
    I just watched it and yes that is the case.

    Goddamn what a fantastic show.
    TV Recently Finished:
    Catastrophe: Season 1 (2015) A
    Rectify: Season 3 (2015) A-
    Bojack Horseman: Season 2 (2015) A
    True Detective: Season 2 (2015) A-
    Wayward Pines: Season 1 (2015) B

    Currently Playing: Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (replay) (XB1) / Contradiction (PC)
    Recently Finished: Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (PS4) A+ / Life is Strange: Ep 4 (PS4) A / Bastion (replay) (PS4) B+

  21. #21
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    We watched the first two episodes tonight. Really good stuff.

    Is there a single positive male character in this entire show?
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

    "Rick...it's a flamethrower."

  22. #22
    Ain't that just the way EyesWideOpen's Avatar
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    Yes
    TV Recently Finished:
    Catastrophe: Season 1 (2015) A
    Rectify: Season 3 (2015) A-
    Bojack Horseman: Season 2 (2015) A
    True Detective: Season 2 (2015) A-
    Wayward Pines: Season 1 (2015) B

    Currently Playing: Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (replay) (XB1) / Contradiction (PC)
    Recently Finished: Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (PS4) A+ / Life is Strange: Ep 4 (PS4) A / Bastion (replay) (PS4) B+

  23. #23
    I'm in the milk... Mara's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting EyesWideOpen (view post)
    Yes
    But they are admittedly thin on the ground.

  24. #24
    The Pan Qrazy's Avatar
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    I couldn't take this show seriously, thought it was pretty lame overall.
    The Princess and the Pilot - B-
    Playtime (rewatch) - A
    The Hobbit - C-
    The Comedy - D+
    Kings of the Road - C+
    The Odd Couple - B
    Red Rock West - C-
    The Hunger Games - D-
    Prometheus - C
    Tangled - C+

  25. #25
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    I am liking, though, that it isn't just a blanket "all women are victims of men's assholery" message. That would just feel like a silly, extremist feminist manifesto.

    Similar to "The Wire", the show shows how these issues are deeply rooted culturally and inherent in the system. Many of the men are assholes, yes, and many of the women are victims of them...but the show actually wants to ask why that is.
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

    "Rick...it's a flamethrower."

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