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Garth Marenghi's Dark[chat]

BogartBogart Streetwise HerculesRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
Greetings traveller. Who am I? Perhap you have met me twixt sleep and wake, in the penumbra of uncertainty you call “unconsciousness”. Or perhaps you’ve met me at a book signing. I’m Garth Marenghi, horror author. My business is chill, impure and simple.
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18 years ago this long hidden masterpiece landed on our screens, decades after its creation by the imagineers and pioneers into the darker reaches of TV. It should have changed the world, but cowards feared its release would open our minds to the possibilities that would upend society.

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Effortlessly combining action, realistic medical drama and the supernatural, along with music and state of the art special effects, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace holds up today. Look at this still from what many people have called the greatest chase scene since Bullitt. Impressive? You bet.

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Channel 4 unearthed this gem, this piece of artistic genius, this six part TV show in 2004 and it can still be seen on their deeply mediocre streaming service to this day with commentary and interviews with the cast and the visionary dreamweaver who created it. The cast except Madeleine Wool, of course, who disappeared many years ago.

And also:

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Is this the best comedy of the last two decades?

Perhap.

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Posts

  • amateurhouramateurhour One day I'll be professionalhour The woods somewhere in TennesseeRegistered User regular
    I love it when a long running show accidentally creates two lifelong friends

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM8J1dVr6qs

    are YOU on the beer list?
  • BogartBogart Streetwise Hercules Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited May 2022
    Anyway I'm re-watching Darkplace, as I often do, and once more the incredible attention to detail astounds. A quote from King Lear that's attributed to a page number is maybe my favourite gag in the show.

    And of course this amazing track.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO-ZGP68-3w

    Bogart on
  • Dark Raven XDark Raven X Laugh hard, run fast, be kindRegistered User regular
    Bogart this is a very ambitious thread for the budget we've got. Considering we've got no budget, it's very ambitious.

    Oh brilliant
  • amateurhouramateurhour One day I'll be professionalhour The woods somewhere in TennesseeRegistered User regular
    God Dammit Bogart I haven't watched Darkplace since I met my wife in college, and now we're going to have to watch it again.

    also thanks.

    are YOU on the beer list?
  • Rhesus PositiveRhesus Positive GNU Terry Pratchett Registered User regular
    I use the "Author, dreamweaver, visionary, plus actor" line when people ask me what a Dungeon Master's role is

    [Muffled sounds of gorilla violence]
  • nexuscrawlernexuscrawler Registered User regular
    I have never heard of this show

  • TavTav Irish Minister for DefenceRegistered User regular
    “last two decades” is perilously close to not being accurate anymore

  • nexuscrawlernexuscrawler Registered User regular
    We're old Tav. The last 2 decades can mean anywhere from 10-40 years ago

  • amateurhouramateurhour One day I'll be professionalhour The woods somewhere in TennesseeRegistered User regular
    I've been waiting on procurement to send a PO for this software we need for two months.

    I've been patient.

    Today I see that the PO was sent, so reach out to procurement to see where the licenses are.

    "oh we fucked up. We've been updating the wrong ticket for the last month, your software hasn't been approved"

    @Chanus you want a new job?

    are YOU on the beer list?
  • ChanusChanus Harbinger of the Spicy Rooster Apocalypse The Flames of a Thousand Collapsed StarsRegistered User, Moderator mod
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    Allegedly a voice of reason.
  • ChanusChanus Harbinger of the Spicy Rooster Apocalypse The Flames of a Thousand Collapsed StarsRegistered User, Moderator mod
    I've been waiting on procurement to send a PO for this software we need for two months.

    I've been patient.

    Today I see that the PO was sent, so reach out to procurement to see where the licenses are.

    "oh we fucked up. We've been updating the wrong ticket for the last month, your software hasn't been approved"

    Chanus you want a new job?

    i do not

    Allegedly a voice of reason.
  • nexuscrawlernexuscrawler Registered User regular
    Is that babby Matt Barry and Richard Ayoade?

    o my

  • TuminTumin Registered User regular
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    Youtube

  • ChanusChanus Harbinger of the Spicy Rooster Apocalypse The Flames of a Thousand Collapsed StarsRegistered User, Moderator mod
    Tumin wrote: »
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    Youtube

    that sounds doable

    Allegedly a voice of reason.
  • BogartBogart Streetwise Hercules Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    Is that babby Matt Barry and Richard Ayoade?

    o my

    In a later episode you get Noel Fielding as a man ape on a Grifter bike.

  • BogartBogart Streetwise Hercules Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    But, then again she was like a candle in the wind.

    Unreliable.

  • DrezDrez Registered User regular
    You should make this an on-topic chat and ban and incinerate anyone that refuses to comply.

    Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
  • ChanusChanus Harbinger of the Spicy Rooster Apocalypse The Flames of a Thousand Collapsed StarsRegistered User, Moderator mod
    though i haven't actually seen Darkplace, Matt Berry's delivery of the "You and he were buddies, weren't you?" line is something i think about regularly

    Allegedly a voice of reason.
  • cB557cB557 voOOP Registered User regular
    There's a youtube video I watched recently on some terrible RPG from the 2000s. It had some clips from dev interviews in it that seriously felt like something from Darkplace.
    https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx09Orr9UTyIhZLRNHRvsunVSOwD4ZAX46

  • Evil MultifariousEvil Multifarious Registered User regular
    I should really watch GMDP. The subtext quote is so powerful it echoes through the hoary halls of decades past, and it's still funny even if the show's fans are frosted grey and bent crooked with age

  • TavTav Irish Minister for DefenceRegistered User regular
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    an american friend of mine looked last year and the consensus was that there isn't a way outside of piracy

  • ChanusChanus Harbinger of the Spicy Rooster Apocalypse The Flames of a Thousand Collapsed StarsRegistered User, Moderator mod
    Tav wrote: »
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    an american friend of mine looked last year and the consensus was that there isn't a way outside of piracy

    well boo

    Allegedly a voice of reason.
  • GilgaronGilgaron Registered User regular
    Chanus wrote: »
    Tumin wrote: »
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    Youtube

    that sounds doable

    I looked it up and it is free on Prime Video, too

  • TuminTumin Registered User regular
  • ChanusChanus Harbinger of the Spicy Rooster Apocalypse The Flames of a Thousand Collapsed StarsRegistered User, Moderator mod
    Tav wrote: »
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    an american friend of mine looked last year and the consensus was that there isn't a way outside of piracy

    well boo
    Gilgaron wrote: »
    Chanus wrote: »
    Tumin wrote: »
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    Youtube

    that sounds doable

    I looked it up and it is free on Prime Video, too

    oh shit

    what a rollercoaster of emotions

    Allegedly a voice of reason.
  • ChanusChanus Harbinger of the Spicy Rooster Apocalypse The Flames of a Thousand Collapsed StarsRegistered User, Moderator mod
    ok drafts whatever

    Allegedly a voice of reason.
  • cB557cB557 voOOP Registered User regular
    Tav wrote: »
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    an american friend of mine looked last year and the consensus was that there isn't a way outside of piracy
    It seems like the rights holders don't give a shit, since you can just type it into youtube and find full series uploads with tens of thousands of views that've been on there for like a decade.

  • AthenorAthenor Battle Hardened Optimist The Skies of HiigaraRegistered User regular
    Apparently my whole town is being shut down thanks to American Idol. One of the finalists is from here.

    He/Him | "We who believe in freedom cannot rest." - Dr. Johnetta Cole, 7/22/2024
  • ChanusChanus Harbinger of the Spicy Rooster Apocalypse The Flames of a Thousand Collapsed StarsRegistered User, Moderator mod
    sweet it is on Amazon

    Allegedly a voice of reason.
  • TuminTumin Registered User regular
    Curse this sudden but inevitable betrayal

  • TavTav Irish Minister for DefenceRegistered User regular
    cB557 wrote: »
    Tav wrote: »
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    an american friend of mine looked last year and the consensus was that there isn't a way outside of piracy
    It seems like the rights holders don't give a shit, since you can just type it into youtube and find full series uploads with tens of thousands of views that've been on there for like a decade.

    i was counting that as piracy

    i mean i personally don't give a shit and regularly extol the virtues of running your own nas but technically

  • BogartBogart Streetwise Hercules Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    I should really watch GMDP. The subtext quote is so powerful it echoes through the hoary halls of decades past, and it's still funny even if the show's fans are frosted grey and bent crooked with age

    You should. And anyone watching it should under no circumstances put it on "in the background", which is a thing kids and the morally lax apparently do sometimes with TV shows. Every gesture and line and edit is deliberate and beautiful.

  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited May 2022
    I love monstrous optimization in gaming so these videos are great

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faMFM3QervQ
    In rollercoaster tycoon, you might want guests to get the heck out. Killing them is problematic because it hurts the park's rating, but what if there was a way to murder them without then penalty?

    And that way is dropping them to their doom by having ride exits go to a huge drop that gets ride of them

    Couscous on
  • cB557cB557 voOOP Registered User regular
    Tav wrote: »
    cB557 wrote: »
    Tav wrote: »
    Chanus wrote: »
    is there a way to watch it in the US other than piracy, which i am less morally opposed to so much as i just can't be arsed to do

    an american friend of mine looked last year and the consensus was that there isn't a way outside of piracy
    It seems like the rights holders don't give a shit, since you can just type it into youtube and find full series uploads with tens of thousands of views that've been on there for like a decade.

    i was counting that as piracy

    i mean i personally don't give a shit and regularly extol the virtues of running your own nas but technically
    Oh yeah, I just mean like, if you've gotta pirate it at least it's easy.

  • ChanusChanus Harbinger of the Spicy Rooster Apocalypse The Flames of a Thousand Collapsed StarsRegistered User, Moderator mod
    hosted on youtube not by the rights holder is piracy i suppose but it's not a few extra steps i don't feel like bothering with so i guess there is a distinction there

    Allegedly a voice of reason.
  • TavTav Irish Minister for DefenceRegistered User regular
    Bogart wrote: »
    I should really watch GMDP. The subtext quote is so powerful it echoes through the hoary halls of decades past, and it's still funny even if the show's fans are frosted grey and bent crooked with age

    You should. And anyone watching it should under no circumstances put it on "in the background", which is a thing kids and the morally lax apparently do sometimes with TV shows. Every gesture and line and edit is deliberate and beautiful.

    i get it for like, american tv shows where there's 20+ hour long episodes in a season but you've no excuse to not pay full attention to the likes of Darkplace, Derry Girls, Father Ted, Black Books et al

    I've spent longer trying to pick something on Netflix than half a season of British comedy

  • amateurhouramateurhour One day I'll be professionalhour The woods somewhere in TennesseeRegistered User regular
    Tav wrote: »
    Bogart wrote: »
    I should really watch GMDP. The subtext quote is so powerful it echoes through the hoary halls of decades past, and it's still funny even if the show's fans are frosted grey and bent crooked with age

    You should. And anyone watching it should under no circumstances put it on "in the background", which is a thing kids and the morally lax apparently do sometimes with TV shows. Every gesture and line and edit is deliberate and beautiful.

    i get it for like, american tv shows where there's 20+ hour long episodes in a season but you've no excuse to not pay full attention to the likes of Darkplace, Derry Girls, Father Ted, Black Books et al

    I've spent longer trying to pick something on Netflix than half a season of British comedy

    I keep meaning to give Black Books a try.

    are YOU on the beer list?
  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    "I know writers who use subtext and they're all cowards. OK? What I was asking in that scene is: what if politicians continue to pay doctors peanuts, could they literally turn into monkeys? And no-one's asked that before."

  • BogartBogart Streetwise Hercules Registered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    The fact that there's only six episodes is both criminal and perfect.

  • WeaverWeaver Breakfast Witch Hashus BrowniusRegistered User regular
    Never heard of this show but now we have to watch it.

This discussion has been closed.