Rain Dogs anyone watching?

[crochetmonkey74]

What do you guys think?

See the class stuff I found totally unrealistic, I grew up not even working class, more like part of an underclass (unstable social housing, benefits etc etc) and I didn't recognise the seediness etc. When I grew up, there was almost a prudishness about this sort of stuff like it shouldn't be talked about. Maybe that's my age though and it Is different now (grew up in the 80s)

i saw a couple but havent dragged to watch any more,
perhaps later

I've watched two but am a bit disappointed to hear there isn't a clear resolution.

Did anyone see Am I Being Unreasonable with DMC in it? That had a bit of a crappy ending I thought

It reminds me of Shameless circa 2004. Same sort of humour, bizarre shit happening, sexual deviancy, casual sexual assault jokes and children being put in traumatising situations for the sake of lols. I keep expecting Frank Gallagher to stumble into the flat. And I found Shameless crass even back in its day, so this London-based copy of it works even less in 2023. The mother has no redeeming qualities and the child is unrealistic with the jokes she comes out with. It's a no from me.

Watched this en famille and we all wanted to see the next episode. Tone was hard to get at first, but I was wanted to keep watching to see what happened, which is always a good start. I enjoyed the colour saturation.

Yes! This is exactly what it was like. Massive issues counterpointed with humour that made it seedy and also devalued it.
I May Destroy You did this so much better, so did Fleabag and I Hate Suzy

I found it hard to watch to start with as found it so bleak, some of the jokes made me feel a bit uncomfortable and some of the sexual content I found a bit disturbing. However I was compelled to keep going and watch another episode to find out what would happen plus there were some laugh out loud funny moments like that vagina sunset painting and some absolutely cracking lines. I really started to fully enjoy it from the midway point. I thought it was actually very good. It's thought provoking, shocking, funny and very well acted.

I've since read interviews with the writer and although not autobiographical as such she is writing a lot from her lived experience which I think is what makes it compelling and why I found the class stuff so interesting, no neat endings.

On the fence, I had been looking forward to it as I thought it was the dramatisation of Skint Estate which I loved but is only very loosely based on it. I do like the characters apart from Costello, which I think is because Cash in RL seems so different and my image of her when reading the book was so different also. I have 4 episodes left so will see it out.

Watched it all over the past couple of days.

Cinematography was … heavenly. Every single shot was beautiful. All those pretty colours, perfect visual compositions. Gorgeous cast. Nicely put together sound world.

But. My god - is this really how rich TV producers believe poor people live? FFS - in all the various situations across a lifetime where I’ve been in a tight spot - I think someone has offered some sort of ‘rescue’ twice, and that was when I was very young. If I found myself trapped in an urgently risky situation there is no Miraculous Lifelong Loyal Friend who I might expect to throw themselves in a car and race to save me. (Have they any idea how impossible it is to maintain strong friendships if one is always stressed and in need?)

And, since I would far rather have died than accept some of the jobs she undertook, any child of mine in such a situation would have been taken into care long ago.

Perhaps that studied avoidance of realism was the reason I felt there was ultimately no heart to the story. I didn’t feel anything for any character because they would all be ok in the end, every time. Was all bollocks really.

(I do know it’s fiction!)

This.

But I don’t think it’s the fault of “rich TV producers”. It’s the fault of the writer in coming up with a load of stereotypes.

Down-at-heel single mum -tick.
Perky pre-teen daughter too old for her years-tick.
Black best friend -tick.
Old roue painter friend -tick.
Posh rich boy gone wrong -tick.
Posh boy’s emotionally distant mother -tick. Etc.

You could use all these people in a realistic way to create an engaging story, but this just didn’t. They stayed as stereotypes throughout. And from Soho to posh house in the country - all unrealistic.

No … It’s producers who ultimately determine what we see.

I haven’t read the autobiography that prompted the creation of the TV series - so I don’t know if that was full of ridiculous fantasy-poverty, too. Possibly not (though publishers’ demands would have played their part). Who knows what the initial script looked like, and how it was amended to suit producer requirements …

Yes, but someone wrote this, and it wasn’t the producers. Fantasy-poverty is just right. As well as fantasy-wealth, to be honest. It’s so over the top in all directions, perhaps we’re not meant to take any of it seriously, in which case I’m missing the point.

I've watched 3 episodes, I'm struggling to work out the relationship between Costello and Florian. I thought maybe he was Iris' dad, in an arrangement where Costello had agreed to carry a child for her gay friend and in return he promised to always look after both of them, but then he offered to adopt Iris so maybe not.

Hmm … Well, Wiki says

the creator, writer and executive producer of Rain Dogs, Carraway serves as showrunner on the HBO original starring

So we’re both right, @Tellmethespoiler … She is responsible as writer and as producer. Kerchinggg!

Ah, right…

I‘m enjoying it so I don’t know what that says about me! I love DMC though so maybe that’s part of it. I think Jack Farthing (Selby) is great too. I can’t comment on how accurate it is but isn’t it based on Cash Carraway’s book? And she’s a writer & producer for this. Agree about the daughter character though- she seems too worldly & sensible. Saying that I’ve heard that sometimes children that grow up in chaotic environments learn to be like that to cope.

I've watched it all and I liked it. It was seriously grim in parts but I thought it ended on a hopeful note. The rescue was quite unrealistic but it was a drama and needed a dramatic end. I liked the complex, toxic relationship they had but I thought Selby had worked on it to some extent.

I’m on the first episode where the guy who has just come out of jail is in the public toilets. Who was blowing who? I thought he was blowing the other guy for money, but then they both came out of the wrong toilet. Did I totally misunderstand that bit?

What's the story suppose to be? I'm a couple episodes in but nothing interesting is happening so far. Or is that the point?

There was a hole in the wall.

I've only watched the first episode, and like 'Am i being unreasonable' i loved it.. Gritty dark humour that made me chuckle, fast moving and unpredictable.
I love DMC anyway though..

Yes, but the man on his knees in the right toilet comes out and leaves. Then DMC says ‘sucking off old men are we? And the middle door opens and it’s Selby ie the man who was standing up.

I assumed he had been kneeling or bending over and had just stood up. He didn't really need the money but it fits with his general self loathing.

I suppose it could have been the other way round.