Is anyone enjoying Ludwig? I’ve just finished the second series and as far as gentle crime mysteries go, it is hitting the spot. Brilliant performances and well scripted. Even with Steve Merchant in as a billiard player, the drama withheld nicely.
I must add that there is something refreshingly Conan Doyle about the whole thing. Tried Hairdresser Mysteries, okay, but the crimes were a little twee and the mysteries not really gripping enough.
Immediately after stroke I found the media in general very hard to deal with.
A minute or two of a television program instantly drove me away. I couldn’t involve myself in music. Watching the news was an impossible task. Trying to read required concentration I just didn’t possess.
Yet I did manage to read and write a little on this forum.
In fact describing life as it happened to me has helped me to find direction.
Over time my ability to appreciate music, drama, the arts and the world in general has returned.
The initial experience and challenge of stroke leaves one tired, in need of both rest and the space to recover. Gradually one is able to take the world on again.
It’s no good pretending life is a fun party though it does have its moments.
Some time has to be spent on the serious business of dealing with the hurdles and barriers that stand in the way of progress.
In the mean time enjoying programs such as Ludwig can provide entertainment and a much needed diversion.
In recent years writers have attempted to provide a new twist to the mystery and detective genre. Some have been successful some not quite hitting the mark. To a degree one’s enjoyment of them depends upon personal taste.
Hilary and I enjoyed the ‘Cormoran Strike’ series, at the moment available on BBC iPlayer.
The original stories were penned in book form by British author J. K. Rowling under the pen name Robert Galbraith.
On a very different level we are also enjoying the quirky adventures of a dog, on wheels, somewhere in Australia. If you are tempted to find out more – BBC iPlayer “Colin from Accounts”.
I’m sure the readers here each have their own favourites.
I think it’s well worth sharing our experiences thereby enriching our lives.
keep on keepin on
Our ancient television system is no longer serving the Freeserve content that it once provided.
We avoided buying a new TV set by purchasing an Amazon Firestick HD for £39.99
It should keep things going for a bit.
We haven’t ventured into Ludwig yet but on the list for when we get back from hols.
We have watched Strike which we enjoyed.
We too have a fire stick @Bobbi i refuse to pay for all these other services that are out there as we watch very little tv. The firestick & my iPad where I have iPlayer etc downloaded are enough for us for now.
Afraid I am more of a hardcore , gritty, noir , and generally gruesome series fan, eg Gangs of London, This City is Ours type of stuff so sometimes find the more twee stuff a bit annoying, however I did briefly get into Midsomer Murders a while ago now. Seen the trailers for Ludwig, will give it a go now on these recommendations, always an open mind ( cept maybe for Jane Austen stuff….please don’t scream at me…I think I am the only person in the country easily bored at period dramas and rom coms LOL)….Happy watchin all!!
(Am currently watching Ice Cold Murders: Rocco Shiavone ….Italian series, sub titled on All 4….character driven detective yarn…likes to smoke dope and operate outside the box etc)
Yes @Rups ludwig is remarkable I binge watched the lot and was sad when I’d run out of series.
I have not seen Ludwig as yet may try to catch this sooner or later, @Susie1 impeccable choice of viewing love some of the Walter Presents stuff Deutschland 83, 86 and 89 are amazing - once worked with an East Berliner, Berlin Wall too another look at how crazy life there was were facts are stranger than fiction.
Indeed, and you’ll be pleased to know that the Beeb have commissioned a second series of Small Prophets due to air next year.
It’s a well-trodden trope, especially the formulaic citizen who gets roped into solving crimes for the at times incompetent constabulary; Father Brown, Sister Boniface Mysteries, Hairdresser Mysteries, Ludwig, Pie in the Sky, Jonathan Creek, Cracker &c. Ludwig seems to be the only one with a wider story arc intertwined with individual murders as subplots.
Oh, I hope you are having a lovely time.
I don’t tend to watch those genres when it comes to television. 
However, if well done, I will when it comes to films. 
I’m a bit of wuss when it comes to crime drama, so veer more towards the theatrical and absurd.
I did like Cracker for that reason. I am a fan of the hard-boiled detective genre, not so common on television these days because of corporate policies and public health standards. I miss a good anti-hero. In fact, in my desk drawer, I have a finished draft of a novel I finished just before stroke about a reprobate, hard-boiled priest who solves extraterrestrial mysteries. Think X-Files crossed with Cracker 
I have to admit, I did binge watch a lot of it and had that sinking feeling when it finished … now what am I going to watch? Like a child who has eaten all their Halloween sweets in one sitting. I have always been very disciplined with television, I’ll watch one episode of something with supper and leave it at that until the next day. However, recently, I have found myself wanting to absorb myself in the whole thing because it helps me escape from my symptoms. In essence, I find myself self-medicating with television.
Apparently, the set designers have hidden geometric puzzles all throughout the show which I have missed entirely. I like the cryptic puzzle solving aspect of the programme with the murders being based on such puzzles, but I think the wider mystery keeps the show ticking along. I also like David Mitchell and think he brings a lot to the show, the supporting cast are all very good too which helps.
Yay!! I have been with Walter’s world drama from the start I think and have watched most of em!! When I first had my stroke I found the subtitles very tiring (I don’t like dub as I feel you often get “ phoney”” inflections and can lose context) and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to watch anymore….but as with other things stroke, I found I was able to build up my sight/watching stamina over time and can keep going longer now without having sore eyes the next day….i am the opposite of Rups I think, as I like to have all my episodes ready to binge. I also like to watch cooking/sewing/pottery/antique shows and hate having to wait a week for next lot of progs…..weel guess I am just an addict ha ha. Good auld Cracker I’d forgotten aboot him, have to see if I can dig him up from somewhere….Ludwig on the menu this pm …
I don’t have time to watch TV any more and I haven’t seen anything worth watching for many a year, though I do remember watching Ludwig series 1 a few years ago - I am a fan of David Mitchell and I guess that is why I may have watched it.
These days I watch snippets on YouTube, read, listen to music and spend time on this forum.
I don’t miss TV and this is not the first time I have done this. Many years ago, I stopped watching TV and also stopped using the car to see if it was possible to live without TV and cars (even the phone - pre mobiles or smartphones). I didn’t miss the TV and I didn’t miss the car. I was very happy as I am now.
Wrt Conan Doyle, I found the Sherlock Holmes films on YouTube (Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce) and have watched them a few times. I like those early films of Sherlock Holmes.
If I ever do decide to watch TV again, I will be sure to watch Ludwig series 2, though I read somewhere the BBC has cancelled the series and there won’t be a series 3? With so much mis-information on social media these days, this may be a red herring.
The Beeb has commissioned a third series for 2027, thankfully, as they’ve really left it on a cliffhanger.
I love the small screen and the big screen, my undergraduate major was in cinema studies, so I tend to watch things from that perspective. I enjoy analysing and talking at length about programmes, not sure the recipient always does. Aye, I was one of those people who would attend the cinemateque every week and sit through three hour long Portuguese and Russian films, walk out into the night afterwards and feel inspired. My documentary lecturer proposed that television shows are just documentaries about people being actors.
One of the better decisions the Beeb has made then!!
So that’s Ep 1 series 1 just watched….How cute is Ludwig! I love his pens in his breast pocket, a man after my own heart, recall of the 80 s too, wall phones and covering your books with wallpaper, how many of you did that…ha ha ha….i went to university 4 times and had my career in criminal justice but admit I am not brilliant at puzzles/cryptic codesI shall have my wits aboot me as I proceed…thank you Rups…its a good un
I really enjoyed Ludwig, I’ve just finished The Jinx on HBO and I’m enjoying Madam Secretary on 5
Any chance your moniker is from one of my all time favourite films?
Yes it is! for a while I identified with the character, so I used it for this forum.
I don’t know how it’s possible, but I can remember this film being shown on the BBC in the late 80s or early 90s or thereabouts. It was part of a season of films in which cult director Alex Cox introduced the films.
The season was Moviedrome and it showed cult films. Later on Mark Cousins took over presenting. I remember watching some of these, but used to fall asleep on occasions as I was too tired after work and these used to end the evening in the days when TV used to shutdown for the night! Not sure if I may have fallen asleep as I didn’t recogise Rusty James (sorry @RustyJames )
Quite an impressive cast!
Thanks for the memories!
RustyJames - I have just been reminded of this and it was wonderful to hear it just now whilst watching Monet’s paintings!
Oooo Micky Rourke so young, so enigmatic…what happened!!! And doesn’t Alex Cox look like a wee baby….ahh the good auld days….i was there, i think?
I watched The Jinx ages ago, you couldn’t make Robert Durst up could you!
Totally agree with you, incredible drama 
