AIBU to find old TV far more watchable than today?

[ShakyBake]

Am I unreasonable to find anything I've watched that was made in the last 20+ unwatchable?

Let me explain;

As soon as I start anything recently made I find it to not be believable, it seems clear the people are acting - I can't get drawn in. Aside from that I find any modern story bleak and not easy watching at all.

Contrast that to the something like the Catherine Cookson drams or the Granada productions of the 90's (+ dramas such as London's Burning), I can easily lose myself watching that. It's the same with movies with me too, after the 1990's I have very few favourite films whereas before I have loads.

Same with the Soaps - I can instantly be drawn into those 'classic coronation street / EastEnders ' repeats but recent episodes , no chance.

Is this an age or nostalgia thing do you think. I'm genuinely interested if anyone else thinks the same way as me.

Me, on season 7 of classic holby city

Yes yanbu

Yes!

I'm currently watching Man About The House. The only TV channels I watch are Drama, Yesterday, Talking Pictures and That's TV.

And that is just the adverts....yes I know people shit themselves. I've done it. I just don't want to be reminded

Yes!

I think it’s largely because in the past writers treated their audience like adults.

Nowadays a lot of stuff seems very dumbed down. In fact I believe Netflix have told writers to bear in mind people watch over their phones and go to recap major plot points constantly.

I binge watched Jewel in the Crown during an extended hospital stay. Bloody fabulous.

Now to see if Brideshead Revisited is available.

Whenever I watch something from the 70s I'm amazed at how well written it was and how good the acting is - the writing and acting today is usually laughable!

Yanbu I’m finding the family films of old good

TV programming is watered down now so not to offend the so-called "modern audiences". Read: snowflakes.

DH and I are currently bingeing ER! Enjoying it so much more than some recent shows I’ve watched, although I do also like the “dumbed-down” easy-watching Netflix dramas from time to time

Not really old, but Morse, Lewis, and Endeavor have such good stories, the acting is superb and speech is clear. In so many of the more modern programs the speech is mumbled and peppered with too much effing and blinding. Going back a bit further, A Touch Of Frost is simply brilliant. I don't know how many times I've watched it, but there's always something I've missed before.
Thinking of David Jason, does no one make comedy like Only Fools And Horses any more? Oh yeah, the wonderful Father Ted. Gentle, piss taking comedy, could watch it all day - I wonder what comedic masterpieces we've been denied since Graham Lineham got cancelled.

I agree! Radio 4 Extra is good for older dramas/comedies as well.

I am enjoying one modern series at the moment - The Brokenwood Mysteries. We have been binge watching them. Currently up to series 8. Series 12 is just airing, so we will be up to date soon - boo hoo!

Most modern acting seems to be standing with their mouth open. If there's nothing on I watch classic Casualty on YouTube. I do like 2 weeks in August, the Dog House and the Weakest Link.

Have to say that Endeavour was SUPERB and actually better than the original Morse

DD watched a bit of Confessions of a Window Cleaner earlier. A slightly entertaining curiosity which we “enjoyed” for ten minutes. It was no Jewel in the Crown

I adored it and I’ve never seen the original!

More and more theses days,I find myself watching (really) old stuff on TV. At the moment,I'm watching Dr. Who from 1971.

Completely agree. I've recently been watching episodes of One Foot in the Grave and The Good Life with my 8 year old. She loves the old programmes, as do I.

I find some things stand the test of time and others don't. I've looked forward to watching some older programmes and then found I didn't enjoy them as much as I thought I would, or that a couple of episodes were fine and I didn't bother to watch the rest. Nostalgia can be fun but I think we are in a golden age of television now.

Also try Radio4Extra.

Married at First Sight for example!

I’m from the US and watch all things Britbox and Acorn. I loved George Gently, Foyle’s War and so on. I watch all kinds of police dramas. Oh…and have watched ER many times too (as others have posted).

I recently started Life Begins with Caroline Quentin and it is so relaxing. Highly recommend re-watching it.

YABU

The last quarter century since HBO gave us The Sopranos, TV has really upped its game. The scope depth and quality that you get now didn't exist before that.

Sure, there's a lot of crap in the mix, but there always was.

But in terms of landmark quality, event level viewing TV, we've never had so much to choose from. And the good stuff is way better than what we had before.

Endeavour is a nice enough programme. Not too challenging, everyone knows what they're doing, it's pleasant to watch. But come on, it's light years behind eg Chernobyl, Mare of Easttown, little fires everywhere, I may destroy you, line of duty ...

By all means just pick a random programme. I was thinking more of The Bear, The Diplomat, Film Club, The White Lotus, The Anniversary, Keeping Faith, Rivals, The Newsreader, The Other Bennet Sister and Amandaland, among other things.

I adore Porridge, The Good Life and Father Ted etc but I've seen each one several times and I could practically recite them.

I am watching Poirot and the original law and order.
It's not only better acting and writing its camera work too.
Scenes in older tv shows dont constantly flit from one actor to the other. They actually let the camera stay still and music doesnt constantly take over either.

Watch a modern tv show the camera is constantly moving.

Also all the serious shows
are so much more gory or sexual now. Like that jackal one or the white lotus. Sometimes i just want a good story without the constant humping and blood..

Watching Law and order there was actually so much less blood but the acting and story lines
were so much better.