Snubbery isn't snobberry in my book Mentalbaldo is quirky and daft enough I'll probably find myself watching it again. It did make me laugh, whether it was supposed to isn't the point.

and if I'm ever in Sicily (no chance!) and have to share a lift with a dead body I wouldn't mention it to anyone either

More stabbing and shooting movements, perhaps?

Thanks for pointing this out - I'd never have spotted it.

This question never crossed my mind until now but are there many multi-lingual lip readers out there? Wow, what a skill that'd be to have

and they do look out for their family more

So, when they were doing their scenes together , Salvo was speaking Italian and Livia was speaking English? How could they do scenes together if they didn't know what the other was saying, or am I missing something?

As for Sicily , I once knew a barmaid from Sicily , and asked her where she lived ( not her exact address!) and she said she lived with her Godfather. I thought it a good idea not to mess with her.

Brilliant! I shall continue to use that as his "nom de guerre"!

K

Any ratings for Saturday's episode?

I've not seen any - may have to wait for the officials...

K

goes by the name of Donald?

(the Godfather, not the barmaid )

and in true Italian style, they named a biscuit after one of their famous historical figures

Hope so too! You can't even get it on DVD with English subs as far as I know (not that I can afford to)....

Apparently the Garibaldi biscuit wasn't named that by the Italians but by a British biscuit company who first made them in 1861

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garibaldi_biscuit

The same company also created Bourbon biscuits which aren't named after the former French royal family.

oh well it was worth a shout

It's not the snubbing of it I just wasn't too keen on the comments about a refined audience wouldn't want to slum it watching this and I didn't like the inference that only stupid people would bother with IM It's just seemed a bit of a snobby attitude to me. IM is totally different from the other Euro stuff we've had and just a bit of light relief. Doesn't mean I can't appreciate TK, Spiral etc. Scandi drama is my fave. I love the dark side But I quite enjoyed IM, I like quirky and daft. That's why I like you, D

Dunno which thread to pop this in....but Let The Right One In is on film 4 this week.....Wednesday 10.55

I didn’t say that, you have. Telling, no?

And just based on the comments here it’s clear the majority of Borgen/Killing/Wallander viewers find Montalbano lacking in quality terms so purely on that basis alone my assertion tallies with the anecdotal.

Ask yourself if you’d watch this rubbish if it was English language and didn’t have the veneer of the exotic that comes with subbed drama.

Yeah it's getting confusing with all these Euro threads now the more the merrier I say.

Thanks minski, I've got this set for recording. Swedish vampire flick, oh yeah baby!

I was waiting for you Straker

Not telling, no, Straker. That's why I used the word 'inference.' But you did say you couldn't see why a refined audience would slum it watching IM. I didn't make that bit up.

I don't mind if the majority find IM lacking in quality, it is compared to TK, Borgen etc. I am well aware it's not of the high standard we're used to with the Nordic and French dramas. I do prefer those. I just didn't find IM that bad, I enjoyed it for what it was. A programme showing a different culture, a bit of light relief, not too taxing and a bit quirky. It is possible to appreciate the higher quality of TK etc and watch something of a lower quality such as IM.

I don't know if I'd see it if it was in English language. As it isn't I won't know will I? I watched it with an open mind and I'll watch what I want to watch thanks.

We'll be back to the higher quality drama soon enough with The Bridge, Those Who Kill and Sebastian Bergmann. Patience

I take it you haven't got Sky Arts then? It's been shown on there twice. There's a second series but I'm not sure if and when it will be shown. I don't think BBC4 will have that one, I expect Sky Arts will at some point.

I never think to look to see what's on Sky Arts

It’s putting words in my mouth to say I accused Montalbano viewers of being “stupid people”. I didn’t say that nor did I imply it.

The Beeb are only making a rod for their own backs by giving it the Sat night slot. Whereas it might have passed muster as a bit of light mediterranean whimsy mid-week to effectively tout it as the next Killing/Borgen etc is setting it up for a fall. It’s not often BBC4 completely screws up their scheduling but they have with this and I predict it’ll get shifted from the prestige slot before the 10 weeks is out.

You could be right about them moving it from the Saturday slot. It definitely isn't the same standard as the other shows BBC4 have broadcast. But if it's as bad as everyone's saying, viewing figures will drop and BBC4 might get the message and never put it on again. Or at least just put it on in the graveyard slot on a weds pm/am or something.

Until we get The Bridge/Sebastian Bergmann/TK3 and Borgen 2 I really don't mind watching IM. Perhaps ten epsiodes is a bit much, five maybe. I'd prefer the unshown Wallanders, The Eagle, Unit One, Beck or Varg Veum but I'm just being greedy!

ahh you say the most wonderful compliments

If I've stumbled upon and become part of some refined audience, whatever you do don't let on or they'll boot me out.

I'm with Straker above (as in post above not God-like ) in thinking IM just wasn't high quality enough rather than it being beneath me in some way. It just didn't hit the spot but I wouldn't want anything I've said to put anyone off it either.

You're right to stick up for what you enjoyed about IM - I liked the quirkiness and it's light hearted nature too, just not the overall feel. But I'll dip into it again.

It was an old ep and plenty of our own home grown stuff has skeletons in the cupboard of their early years and pilots that were pish compared to latter eps. So I've not given up on it totally.

But if this does grow on me I hope it's because it's turned into a rather fetching beauty spot because at the moment it's more an unsightly hairy mole but in a funny place

But you don't say things in a pompous way Whoops...I'll be in trouble again

I know it's not high quality but I like to slum it occasionally There's only so much dark, brooding, rain soaked misery a girl can take You know I love all things Nordic, they've made some of my favourite dramas. As I've said before there's something in us that identifies with the Scandinavian countries more than the Southern European, we wallow in the dark, the depressing!

As Alexi Sayle said, have you noticed how many biscuits are named after European revolutions? You've got your Garibaldi biscuits, you've got your Bourbon biscuits, you've got you Peak Freans Trotsky Assortment...