TV: Fortitude

I saw this review on io9, and decided to give it a try. So far I'm only on the third episode, and it isn't yet ringing any sci-fi bells, but it seems pretty engaging just as a murder-mystery serial. I love Chris Eccleston, so it was a blow when he got murdered, but the rest of the cast is good too.

I'm streaming it on Amazon Prime - I don't know if you can get to it another way.

After reading the review, I decided to give it a look. I found it on usenet (alt.binaries.teevee).
I had to stop in the middle of episode three for take care of some things, so don't post any spoilers. It certainly is a different plot than most tv.

Thanks for the suggestion, Richard. Just finished episode five. Really an intriguing series.

Watched episode 7 last night. Just when I thought it might be cooling off, things took an unexpected turn. Gave me the shivers.

_Howard wrote:

I found it on usenet (alt.binaries.teevee).

What do you use for a usenet client?

Back before the WWW I has a huge usenet user, and knew the ins and outs of getting around. But I abandoned all that, sheesh, fifteen years ago and haven't looked back.

I just checked the Apple App Store for usenet clients and didn't find any. I started reading an article about "how to use usenet" and it mentions about a dozen clients, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

So what's your recommendation? Are they secure?

There are two types of usenet clients today. One is the news leecher, which is for downloading binary files; no posting. The other is the type that allows you to post. Thunderbird will allow you to read and post to text news groups, if your isp provides news groups; most don't these days.

I have no familiarity with any of the usenet clients for Apple. You might try Forte Free Agent, if you can find a version that works on your OS. They haven't released any new versions in years, but back when I used it, they did have a Mac version. Forte also has retail versions that should be okay.

Many of the usenet providers supply a client that works with just their services.

Usenet clients are not browsers, so I'm not sure what you mean by "secure".

_Howard wrote:

Usenet clients are not browsers, so I'm not sure what you mean by "secure".

Are the binaries scanned for malware?

I am not aware of any usenet service which promotes that their files are scanned for malware, but there is no danger if you are careful.

You should never download an executable file. Sometimes a file will be named incorrectly as a video file when it is actually a nasty executable. Just delete the executable; no harm done. Sometimes you will get a set of rar files that will require a password to be joined. The asshole who put the files up will provide a url to get the password. Don't use it; delete the files. No harm done.

I have had only one occasion in which I downloaded a piece of malware from usenet. I purposely did so to check an anti-virus program (it failed and the hard drive was fucked).

Never download files from a usenet site which contains the string "warez" in its name. I have used these sites in the past and there is lots of danger lurking there if you are not familiar with the sites. That's where I went to get the malware for the test I mentioned.

richard09 wrote:

Watched episode 7 last night. Just when I thought it might be cooling off, things took an unexpected turn. Gave me the shivers.

No kidding!

OK, finished season 1. Wow.

Same here. I can't figure out what they are going to do with the second season.
Very bizarre program.

I've watched the first three episodes of season two. A quote from one of the characters seems to sum things up pretty well.

"They're fucked. We're fucked. Everything's fucked."
...
"Oh fuck."

I've watched the first episode of season two so far. They are seriously fucked.

Through season 2 episode 6. Another one bites the dust completely unexpectedly.

I have not been watching Fortitude lately. So be careful you don't post a spoiler, okay? Someone biting the dust in that series is not really unexpected, so that doesn't qualify as a spoiler.

I have to find time to watch two or three episodes in a sitting to maximize enjoyment for that series.

_Howard wrote:

Someone biting the dust in that series is not really unexpected, so that doesn't qualify as a spoiler.

Never a truer word was spoken.

I think it's fair to say, without spoiling anything: while season 1 didn't mollycoddle its viewers, season 2 is even more harsh. You get to the end of each episode thinking: "Crap! Now what are they gonna do?".

Finished season 2. I think my reaction to each episode from 6 on is more or less the same, only varying in intensity.

omg. OMG. omg. OMFG. omg.

Just finished episode six and have my first complaint. The song at the end, "Piece of My Heart" should only be sung by Janis and BB. The original by Emma Franklin would have been acceptable but the version they used was painful to listen to.

richard09 wrote:

Finished season 2. I think my reaction to each episode from 6 on is more or less the same, only varying in intensity.

omg. OMG. omg. OMFG. omg.

I just finished season two, and I agree with your reactions. Except for episode nine, which should be "Holy Fucking Shit!"

The network whivh gave us the program - Pivot - has gone out of business. The show is being shopped around to American networks. I hope someone buys it.