Utopia

[BlackLetterDay]

Has anyone seen the US version? What did you think? No idea why they remade it.

Yes I'm watching it now and really enjoying it.

DH and I started it together at the weekend and he soon realised it seemed familiar and remembered there was a British version but I haven't seen that.

My claim to fame is/was going to school with one of the actors from Utopia. Although obviously she has a time machine as she's years younger than me now despite being in the same year at school

I loved the UK version, even though it was so violent. Isn’t David Fincher involved in the US remake? I’d like to be proven wrong, but I imagine the quirkiness and twisted humour may well be lost in translation.

Tasteless was it Jessica or Becky?

I’m going to start watching in the next few days. It has a lot to live up to for me as I fucking loved the UK series. I’d go so far as to say is my most favourite series ever. The way it was shot, the soundtrack, the vivid colours, the storyline, all absolutely perfect!

@TastelessBracelets ooooh who is it? Jessica, Becky or young Milner? Surely not Alice as that would make you very very young!

I watched the original UK series and thought it was brill (one of my all time favourites along with series 1 and 2 of Misfits) so I was looking forward to the USA adaptation. Watched the first episode and so far, sadly, it's a no from me. The new series seems a bit too sanitised and the two "nasties" we've met so far don't have the same vibe as the UK ones had.
David Fincher is not now involved in the remake although he was the one who kickstarted it.

I meant to mention that the Dune remake is due in cinemas December this year. Surely that won't be worse than the original

I finished it yesterday. Not great. I hope they don't get another season or drag it out. The UK version is one of my all time favourites and this is so dull in comparison.

I can understand people not liking it if comparing it to another version. It's a bit like comparing a tv series to the book. As someone who had never seen the other tv series, it works as a stand-alone.

@LoveEatYoga are you not tempted to watch the original? It’s also available on Amazon Prime.

For those that love the original are you watching The Third Day on Sky Atlantic? Written by Dennis Kelly and has that same vivid surrealness as Utopia.

Jessica. Although I had to look that up on IMDB where she is ageless. She's also changed nationality somewhere along the line too.

I can understand people not liking it if comparing it to another version. It's a bit like comparing a tv series to the book. As someone who had never seen the other tv series, it works as a stand-alone.

I suppose it’s just disappointing that anyone felt a remake was necessary in the first place when the original was as so close to perfection. It’s a disservice to American audiences too to assume that everything has to be translated into “American” to be accessible and enjoyable. When I lived over there I found that people loved watching British shows and were perfectly able to cope with any small cultural differences they encountered.

I might give the US version a go, just out of curiosity and to see how they make the more uniquely British plot elements work, like the class stuff and how the story tied in with real events in the 70s and 80s.

I finished the US version tonight and started watching the British one, partly because there was only was series of the new one whereas there are two series of the British one.

I spent much of the first episode trying to work out who is who and comparing it but I plan to continue watching and think I'll enjoy it. There seem to be some differences.

Shit compared to the original, unfortunately as I wanted to like it, but there we are.

I thought it was pretty crap compared to the original too . Like a pp the original was maybe my favourite series ever. I really wish it had gotten a third series.

Loved the original with the wacky aesthetic, haven't watched the new one , sounds like they are making very dark and gritty so it won't be the same.
When I read Utopia I can only think of it in a Welsh accent.

@BlackLetterDay yeah me too, I was gutted when it got cancelled! Admittedly the second series wasn’t anywhere near as good as the first but it still made great TV. It’s such a shame that it’s been left unfinished.

It would have been better if the Americans had finished it rather than remake it.

@Rollergirl11 I've just finished watching the third episode of The Third Day. Are you going to watch the live special next week?

@motherofdxughters do you know when and where it’s being broadcast? All I can see is that is that it’s broadcast on HBO’s Facebook page on Saturday but I don’t know if it’s being shown anywhere else? I’d originally seen it was going to be on the Sky Arts channel but can’t find that now!

Unsure. All I know of is online sorry!

Watched the first episode of this last night. They’ve made Arby in to a fat Sheldon from Big Bang Theory!

@Rollergirl11 Yikes! What made Arby so disturbing in season 1 and tragic in season 2 (once we knew his backstory) was his shambling, monosyllabic detachment. (I love Neil Maskell, he’s a bloody brilliant actor).