Counterpart

[Insidious Von]

Two JK Simmons...let that sink in, two JK Simmons. With all due respect to Ewen McGregor and James France, they did commendable jobs as twins in their respective series but they are not JK. And the two Jk's are not twins.

Counterpart is the kind of series John Le Carre would write if he wrote science fiction. The premise is that the world has split into alternate dimensions thirty years ago, each has gone it's separate way. The story, so far, is centered in Berlin, a city that has always been a hothouse for espionage. JK plays Howard Silk, a meek middle manager in Berlin, a paramilitary cleaner in Berlin Prime. The support actors are Olivia Williams (Rushmore), Stephen Rae (The Crying Game) and Ulrich Thomsen who played the badass Amish gangster in Banshee. The story begins with a contract assassin crossing over from Berlin Prime. In Berlin she is a concert violinist. The role appears to be a breakout for Italian actress Sara Serraiocco. Spike Lee is an executive producer.

Starz needs this show to be a hit. They haven't had a bonafide hit since Spartacus.

 

[Insidious Von]

I watched the concert rehearsal scene closely, Vivaldi's 4 Seasons - Winter is the featured piece. It looks like Signiorina Serraiocco can actually play. Unfortunately there is no clip.

 

[Silkroad]

Finally gave up on the series last week (as did my partner). We both agreed it had become too difficult to figure out which dimension the show was in at any given time.

 

[Insidious Von]

I've only watched three episodes and I'm hooked. Primarily because of JK, he's at the top tier of his craft.

He was so thoroughly convincing as Vern Schillinger in Oz that I was repulsed by him for years. Even his understanding father role in Juno could not sway me. That role probably stunted his career trajectory.

 

[jackal2006]

This is a fantastic show. Great premise and well acted by the lead and most of the cast.

With so much garbage on tv perhaps to anesthesize the masses and their brains (if mobile phones haven't done that already )this is truly a breath of fresh air. After the Americans ended I was worried there wasn't much for me to see. This was a welcomed surprise. Highly recommend this and if you like espionge stuff also highly recommends the Americans.

Finally, what I like about this series is that it follows the European premise of telling a story without spoon feeding the audience like they tend to do in this side of the world.

 

[SKINHUNTER]

Agreed. Like real life you have to pay attention and even take the time to review what’s transpired for comprehension.
Provokes some deeper thoughts for me.

 

[blueray]

This is a fantastic show. Great premise and well acted by the lead and most of the cast

Agree. Love the show. I agree sometimes it’s hard to tell if we are in the “Prime” or “Alpha” world, but I find that interesting to try and figure it out on my own.

Always liked JK.

 

[Insidious Von]

Signorina Sarra is kick ass...look ma no arms.

I believe Counterpart is her first feature in English. I'm going to try to stream Brutti e Crattivi. Italian Black Betty?!

 

[Insidious Von]

Now that I'm caught up I'll give an assessment: Counterpart > Westworld.

The show has kept my attention in every episode. The Cold War/Science Fiction narrative works for me, whereas I dozed off repeatedly through Westworld. It also helps that JK is running the show, no actor of his caliber in Westworld.

 

[essguy_]

I've only watched three episodes and I'm hooked. Primarily because of JK, he's at the top tier of his craft.

He was so thoroughly convincing as Vern Schillinger in Oz that I was repulsed by him for years. Even his understanding father role in Juno could not sway me. That role probably stunted his career trajectory.

Simmons is one of those rare actors who can play the baddest of the bad guys as well as comic roles. Totally agree with you about Oz - he was so convincingly evil that it affected how I viewed his other roles for a while. He kind of reprised that evil intensity in Whiplash.

I really enjoy when he plays a bad guy in a comedy - like Burn After Reading where he played a CIA director dealing with a series of minor incidents that end up with people dead, disabled, or in detention (which works out nicely for him). Hilarious.

 

[Insidious Von]

The role that shocked me the most was as Mac MacGuff in Juno. I still got the clenched abs reaction when I saw him, he was tough but compassionate in that film. The last trait I expect from Vern Schillinger is compassion!

He was more of a perfectionist tyrant than downright evil in Whiplash.

 

[Insidious Von]

I wonder if Stephen Colbert got the clenched abs reaction?

 

[VERYBADBOY]

He was more of a perfectionist tyrant than downright evil in Whiplash

Not too sure about that.

During the end of Whiplash JK lied to Miles Teller about the playlist basically trying to end his career as a musician, he did put down the sticks for a period of time beforehand before picking them up for this opportunity getting his hopes high ... that falls into the evil character of the tyrant perfectionist... even though he was the snitch and revenge was the motive. The ending was perseverance and not letting others live your life, when JK comes over to him near the end asking what's he doing? he realized that Miles has done what he couldn't do in his lifetime and respect was possibly earned? Who knows?

Btw, watched Counterpart excellent.. the best episode was the origin of the split timelines and insights into human nature, the metaphor of the rats eating each other, hmmm.

VBB

 

[Insidious Von]

I'm not certain of that, I saw it as Fletcher testing Andrew Neiman to see if he had brass balls.

That was an exceptional episode, human nature always prevails over lofty ambitions. The deterioration of the relationship of Yanek and Yanek Prime is crucial to everything that follows, Yanek tastes the forbidden fruit. It's something straight out of a John Le Carre novel (Our Kind of Traitor). The ending of S1 was also excellent, Howard Silk and Baldwin finally meet. Of course she doesn't pay attention to his advice, she's the wildcard of the series.

I probably shouldn't be posting this, for those who haven't picked up on the show yet.

 

[essguy_]

I'm not certain of that, I saw it as Fletcher testing Andrew Neiman to see if he had brass balls.

But if you ignore whether the intent was malicious or to build character - the deception was almost a parallel to Oz when Simmons (as Schillinger) first deceives Beacher, pretending to be a friend and getting Beacher to move into his cell. Anyway, Simmons is great at playing that type of character. Haven't watched Counterpart but will put it on my "to watch" list.

 

[Insidious Von]

But if you ignore whether the intent was malicious or to build character - the deception was almost a parallel to Oz when Simmons (as Schillinger) first deceives Beacher, pretending to be a friend and getting Beacher to move into his cell. Anyway, Simmons is great at playing that type of character. Haven't watched Counterpart but will put it on my "to watch" list.

Whiplash isn't getting much love from actual jazz musicians. Schillinger was far more murderous than Fletcher, he treated Beecher as livestock and told him so when the former drunken accountant got branded with a swastika. When Winthorpe came into Schillinger's group has cast Beecher out to die, but Beacher proved to be more resourceful than anticipated.

I streamed Dirty Rotten People, I give it a 6/10. The premise was great, a group of handicapped bank robbers, but the writing was mediocre. The best part is Sara flaunting her gorgeous legs which we only got to see in the pilot episode. She's still very young, doesn't turn 28 until August.

 

[blueray]

Counterpart cancelled, no season 3. :Cry:

Next week's episode will be the series finale. I am sure they would have ended it differently if they new there was not going to be a season 3.
Small chance another network picks it up with its cult viewership.

https://tvline.com/2019/02/11/counterpart-cancelled-starz-no-season-3/

 

[blueray]

Oh, and Sara Serraiocco has a great set of puffies....

https://videocelebs.net/sara-serrai...-jelena-nik-nude-counterpart-s01e06-2018.html

 

[Insidious Von]

I'm sure a streaming service will pic it up, it's been too well constructed to cancel outright.

Sara was a ballerina before she became an actor, Billy "Lamas" Chrystal would say: "I can tell by the loook in your eyes that you have the legs of a dancer".

 

[malata]

counterpart peaked my interest. Too bad it's not on Netflix