Has anyone been watching AMC's "Low Winter Sun"?

[whathehell]

It's a dark cop drama based on a British Drama of the same name...I'm liking it (mostly) so far.

I'm interested in other's reactions.

[BainsBane]

1. I was going to watch that

but forgot about it.

[Ilsa]

2. Yes. I like it, generally.

The acting is great, but yes, it's dark.

I haven't seen this week's episode yet, but it's on my DVR.

[whathehell]

4. This past episode was good -- quite a few surprises

when you watch it, tell me what you think about Frank's relationship with

Katiya and Dani.

[Ohio Joe]

3. Not yet but I plan to watch it...

I have whatever has been aired so far on the DVR but have not gotten around to it yet. I'll put my thoughts on it in this thread when I do watch them.

[whathehell]

5. I think you will like it..

Better hurry and "catch up', though...Things are progressing at a pretty fast clip.

[Silver Gaia]

6. I'm watching.

I think it's well-acted, well-written, all of that stuff -- but yes, it is a very dark show. Dismal. Depressing. There is no lightness anywhere. I'm handling it OK so far, mostly because I can respect the show's production values and am interested to see what they do with it, but my hubby had to give up on it because it was too depressing for him. So, I'm liking it on one level, but I am having a hard time finding a character, any character, anyone, that I actually like -- someone I can care about and root for. I'm still waiting for them to hook me that way, but otherwise, I think it's a good show and will definitely finish watching the season.

I wonder how it's doing in the ratings? Anyone know? Has AMC renewed it yet? I should probably check that out...

[whathehell]

7. Hey Silver

I know EXACTLY what you mean re: the "dark depressing" stuff..I felt that way immediately after the first

episode and I thought "How the hell can I follow this show?...I REFUSE to sympathize with the main characters after

their repugnant action". On the second try, though, and, lo and behold, I started to see Frank as a basically good man

"done in" as it were, by the Lying Geddes and his pain over the perceived victimization of a woman he really loved,

unwisely it now seems. Beyond that, I'm sure the fact that I find Frank soulfully handsome didn't hurt either, lol.

As for sympathetic characters, do you not find the female cop, Dani, appealing?...I like her a lot. She seems very sweet

and the fact that she's Muslim adds another note of interest for me. She appears to be a true innocent in this, and I

keep hoping that Frank will return her feelings.

I don't know how it's doing in the ratings...The critics seem to like it, but yeah, I should check it out.

Good talking to you, Silver...I've gotten to really like this show and it's good to have other people to

discuss it with.

[whathehell]

15. Is it something I said?

or do you always ignore long, friendly responses?

[Silver Gaia]

16. No, not at all!

I'm sorry you thought I was ignoring you. My apologies. I'm not like that. I've just been too busy to think straight, let alone make any cogent posts. So, no, it's nothing you said or did. It's just me not having any free time. None at all. This past week has been a week from HELL. Let's see... you posted Thursday afternoon. I didn't see it because I was getting ready for work, and worked Thursday night. Friday, I did some much-needed shopping. Then, there was a fatal car accident near my house Friday night, and I was the one who called 911 on it. It was horrible. I got no sleep that night. None. But I had to be at a graduation ceremony at 8:00 the next morning (it's part of my job and I couldn't get out of it), and didn't get away from there (meetings after) until late afternoon, whereupon I seriously CRASHED. So, then, I was behind on all my work and ended up doing two overnight marathons (Sunday night and Monday night) to get all my grading done by Tuesday morning because the power company was going to have all the power shut down to replace a transformer, and that meant I couldn't use my computer (which I need to grade). Normally, I could have used that day to work on it, too. Then, I taught classes Wednesday night and Thursday night this week. Right NOW is the first time I've had time to even slow down enough to catch my breath. It has been one HELL of a grueling week. So, no, it's certainly not you. It's just me and real life getting in the way. Needless to say, I haven't had time to watch Sunday's episode. I'll try to post something when I've watched it. Please don't ever think a lack of response from me is anything other than me just not having time to say anything.

[whathehell]

17. OMG....What a week you've had!...I'm so sorry for my false assumptions.

Freaking A.


A fatal car crash...Terrible...I hope it wasn't anyone you knew, though even if it wasn't,

it must have been terrible to witness.


I hoped things have calmed down for you....It sounds like you are a teacher, would that be correct?

If so, what do you teach?

Thanks for getting back to me after such a terrible week -- Again, I'm sorry for my false assumptions!

[Silver Gaia]

18. Hi there

Yes, I teach college courses in world religion. And hey, it's OK. At least this week has been better so far!

I'm sorry, but I'm gonna stop watching this show. I've got so many other shows coming back, and new ones that I like better are just beginning, too. My time to watch is limited, so some things have to go, and this is one of the casualties. I'm sorry.

I hope it isn't canceled (although the prospects of that look slim... its ratings are as bleak and dismal as the sets) and that you find someone to talk about it with you!

[whathehell]

19. Hello..Glad you're week has been better.

As for your decision to stop watching the show, that's fine, although I did find it
strange that you never even bothered to answer the question I asked in my first response.

As for the ratings, I don't know what your sources are, but mine find the reviews
to be "mixed", rather than "bleak and dismal", as it were.

As for the show continuing, more than one series (Breaking Bad is one) received negligible
ratings in it's first season then went on to be successful.

Fear not for my lack of a discussion partner, SG, it's only a TV show, and AMC does run a blog
for the show's regular viewers.

[Silver Gaia]

20. Hi again

I'm not sure what question you are referring to, unless it's this one: "As for sympathetic characters, do you not find the female cop, Dani, appealing?" My answer to that would be that she doesn't do a whole lot for me, either. To be honest, I had not answered this question in part because I did not want to go into this: You mentioned finding her interesting as a Muslim character, but I have a hard time seeing her as a Muslim woman. My feeling on that is that she was probably raised in a Muslim family, but she is not a devout practitioner of Islam. She did say something about her father being disappointed in her, and my guess would be that the reason for his disappointment is that she has gone astray from the faith (and perhaps even refused to marry whomever her father had picked for her). I would find her far more interesting as a Muslim character if they presented her wearing a hijab (a scarf that covers the hair, which can be quite the fashion accessory to the women who wear them), and dealt with how she functions as a cop while following her faith inwardly and outwardly. She seems to me to just be a thoroughly modern woman who happens to be of Middle Eastern/Egyptian descent. She does not cover her hair. She wears jewelry and low-cut blouses. I don't see anything interesting there in terms of presenting her as a Muslim woman who is practicing her faith. Alternatively, if she IS supposed to be a practicing Muslim, they could explore that in terms of her choices to refuse the hijab, to eschew traditional roles for women in Muslim culture, etc. There's a LOT more they could do with that, if they really wanted to portray her as a practicing Muslim--but they haven't done that. JMHO.

In regard to ratings, I am speaking of actual ratings: numbers, not reviews. Reviews can be mixed, but ratings cannot be mixed. They just are what they are. Critics' reviews mean little when it comes to renewal or cancellation. AMC is going to look at the actual numbers. Their numbers are lower than what The Killing had gotten this season (and I really liked that show this season!), and AMC canceled that show, so that does not set a hopeful precedent as I see it. For instance, here are a couple of links to the latest numbers available in terms of ratings:

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/10/sunday-cable-ratings-breaking-bad-wins-night-dexter-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-boardwalk-empire-sister-wives-more/201770/

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/24/sunday-cable-ratings-breaking-bad-wins-night-dexter-series-finale-devious-maids-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-more/204517/

TV by the Numbers is a good source if you want to check the ratings of any show. I use it a lot.

Enjoy the show! I truly hope it succeeds. Just count me out on any future posts about it. I really don't like to argue, and especially not about choices in television viewing.

[whathehell]

22. Judging by your statements about the character, Dani, it sounds like

Last edited Mon Sep 30, 2013, 05:43 PM - Edit history (1)

one, you didn't watch/listen to the first episode very well and two, you have a misguided idea

of what constitutes a "devout practitioner of Islam". I know Muslim women personally and

many of the "devout" do NOT wear the hijab or cover their head and/or necks. I'm really surprised that a teacher

of world religions wouldn't know that to be a cultural practice rather than a religious imperative.

As it happens, the Dani character DOES practice and made that clear in the first episode when she mentioned her

regular prayers with Joe Geddes. Her father's disappointment stems not from her lack of religious observance

or because she chooses to wear regular clothing (I don't find her blouses particularly 'low cut')

but because he wanted her to be something more "professional" than a cop, i.e. a lawyer or a doctor.

As for your last statement, why would I send you any posts on a show you didn't watch?

I don't know where your coming from about "arguing about choices in television viewing", either,

as I see nothing in my posts which would convey an interest in that on my part.

[Silver Gaia]

26. You totally misread everything I said.

I don't want to argue. About ANYTHING. Bye!

[whathehell]

29. Not at all, lol...If I did, you'd be glad to point it out

without "arguing"...Bye!

[SoCalDem]

8. Taped 3 episodes, but erased them

I could not manage to watch the 1st one after 4 tries..boring..and I could not force myself to like any of the characters.

AMC's version of "John of Cincinnati"..

[whathehell]

9. To each his own, I guess.

Have no idea who or what "John of Cincinnati" is.

[SoCalDem]

10. It was the "fantastic" show that replaced Deadwood

which was a really great show..J of C was boring , with unlikable characters and slogged along for a few episodes before they cancelled it too..

This show reminds me of "The Killing"...and "Vikings"...shot in such low light, that it's hard to follow along (for me, at least)..

[whathehell]

11. Again, I guess it's all just a matter of taste & opinion -- I didn't like Deadwood

and I LOVE The Killing.


I don't think Low Winter Sun is even near as good as The Killing, and I

agree with you about the lighting. I'd go even further and admit to being

disappointed in the writing a couple of times. That being said, I think the acting is top notch

and there are two characters I do actually like, even though one is decidedly flawed

[Chan790]

13. Sadly, the last episode of the recently-completed season of The Killing will be the series finale.

It’s déjà vu all over again. A year after AMC cancelled The Killing after two seasons, the network has done it again following the mystery drama’s third season. There had been some encouraging signs — The Killing‘s third season opened with an OK 1.8 million viewers and drew largely positive reaction from critics and fans. But it ended with 1.5 million for the season finale, up only slightly from the 1.4 million viewers of the second-season ender, and Season 3 overall was essentially flat with Season 2, whose ratings had triggered the series’ first cancellation. “We have made the difficult decision not to move forward with a fourth season of The Killing,” AMC said in a statement to Deadline. “We want to thank our great partners at Fox Television Studios, creator Veena Sud, an extraordinary cast and the dedicated fans who watched.”

http://www.deadline.com/2013/09/the-killing-cancelled-by-amc-after-season-3/

[whathehell]

14. That is extremely disappointing..

On the other hand, I'm keeping a tiny ray of hope alive because of this..

"FTVS again is expected to explore other options for the series, but another miracle resurrection appears unlikely"

Such a good show..

[hlthe2b]

12. I'm with you--watched the pilot and about half of episode 2--boring....

I REALLY like a lot of AMC shows--Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Hell on Wheels, Walking Dead, the Killing...

But, this one does nothing for me.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

21. I couldn't get into it ...

... and then having AMC push it on me while trying to see the next week's scenes for Breaking Bad just really annoyed me. Probably a great show, but I hate how AMC tried to force it down my throat. The first couple of episodes (the only two I watched) were just too boring for me.

[whathehell]

23. Whatever floats your boat..

I don't find it boring.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

24. It's okay ... it's just my opinion.

Not sure why you took offense to it. You did ask a question and I answered it. No offense was intended.

[whathehell]

25. What makes you think

I took offense to it?

[Skeeter Barnes]

27. I've been enjoying this show and can't wait for the 2hr finale on Sunday. (possible spoiler)

Geddes is one sick bastard! Dude is crazy!

I hope they bring it back for another season. BTW, I didn't think I'd like Hell On Wheels but started watching and it's good. It's coming up on the last episode or two for the season as well.

[whathehell]

28. Yup, I feel the same!

Nice to find someone else who feels the same way as I do about the show.

I feel the same way about the upcoming 2 hour finale.

You're right on Geddes -- No spoilers to say I could not BELIEVE what he did last Sunday...A sick bastard
if there ever was one! I think Frank will now be especially motivated to make him pay, in what way,
I don't know, but it will be interesting!

[Skeeter Barnes]

30. That was quite an episode. (spoilers)

I thought the internal affairs guy was going to go after Frank and/or Joe.

Looks like they're going to get away with it for now.

I couldn't believe it when Frank opened the door to that interrogation room and saw who was inside confessing to all those murders.

Didn't see anything about next season. Is that still up in the air?

[whathehell]

31. Yes, indeed..

and I didn't really like it...I thought it was waaay confusing!...I mean, they didn't seem to know what to do with Frank -- First, he's leaving the country...Then he goes to the house of his ex-wife to whom he's been sending packages of unknown content, then, oh maybe he's going to KILL himself?!

Worst of all, IMO, he KNOWS Geddes killed Katiya, and....WHAT?...Where was the anger, the outrage?....I get what you're saying about his ex-partner taking the rap, but Geeez!!...The rest of it honestly didn't make much sense to me.

He practically killed himself trying to SAVE Katiya and Joe Geddes comes to his house, practically THROWS the confession in

his face, and he does NOTHING?....Does that make sense to you??

I haven't heard or seen anything about the show doing a second season. I do hope it comes back, but they need to check out new writers, IMO.

[Skeeter Barnes]

32. It could be better.

But I prefer it over the non stop housewives, fix up my hotrod, fix up my house, rich doctor/lawyer shows.

[whathehell]

33. Yep, I get your point

although I do like "The Good Wife".