Violent TV programmes

I m enjoying Les Mis so much but I don’t think it’s violence for the sake of violence it’s what used to happen it’s history and we need to remember or else we get complacent its horrible watching the cruelty to those little kids but it’s what happened and I think we need to be reminded that smacking/ beating and mental cruelty is not a benign quick punishment

But I don’t like violence just to draw an audience in

You may laugh at me, but I think it is worse and seems so much more real on the larger screens we have nowadays. It almost sucks people in and makes you feel a part of the action.

It's 20 years since I owned a tv ). If I'm at my Mum's house I'm shocked by the level of violence on ordinary soaps! Emmerdale certainly isn't what I remember.

I am enjoying Les Mis on TV. It is a good production and the acting excellent, especially the nasty Javert (David Oyelowo)

I saw a Danish anti-war film last night at our local cinema club called Land of Mine. It was hard to watch but based on fact. About how young German prisoners of war were made to clear the mines on the Danish coast at the end of the war. Shocking scenes about both inhumanity and humanity in war. It was a very well made film.

I like boxed sets especially costume dramas.
They mainly seem to be old BBC series, of Jane Austen, Dickens, Lark Rise to Candleford, Cranford and Anthony
Trollope etc.
They all have such great actors, costumes and sets,
I suppose they are an escape from reality for me.
Having said that, I really enjoyed both The Bodyguard and
Killing Eve last year. Thrilling viewing?

I like Midsommer Murders....lots of violence ...but....with beautiful scenery! Surely nobody lets children watch this sort of stuff until you’re sure the kids know it’s just rubbish . About 12/13 should do it for most kids.

‘Les Miserables’ is proving a difficult watch at times. Victor Hugo wrote it in 1845!

I won't watch things that are very violent - I was going to watch Luther but then read about the first episode and the gruesome murders so ditched it!! I've been known to walk out on programmes that get gratuitously gruesome!

I know there are some horrible people out there who do nasty and violent things, I don't have to invite them into my living room!!!

GrannyIris5
How could I forget Grantchester? Oooh, Robson Green!
I forgot about Endeavour too, and Morse/Lewis!

Some programmes manage to infer the violence and gore without having to show you in-depth detail. I much prefer that.

I think violence on TV does influence especially children. When the A Team first came out in the 80’s I think, I was a governor at a primary school and we had to ban the children from playing it for the simple reason that in copying the type of action from the TV we had a number of injuries.

When questioned the children all said that it’s ok because you get up afterwards and you’re not hurt because it’s like the tv!

I think the rise in on street violence can be directly related to the rise ( and detail) of on screen violence!

DH says he gave up watching (most) "nature" programmes because of the sex and violence....

Father Brown and Grantchester. Easy watching, although I liked Whitechapel

The nine oclock watershed seems to have disappeared completely now too. How often do switch on at 7pm to be told 'this episode contains scenes of violence which some viewers may find distressing'. I find myself yelling 'So why show it then?'

I agree grandtantJE65

After teaching teenagers most of my professional life, I have come to believe that violence in films and even sometimes in documentaries is dangerous.

When I started teaching in my twenties, I assumed that all teenagers could distinguish between fact and fiction, but many years ago now, I realised that this is not so.

I doubt that many adults find violence acceptable, but I have found that teenagers are more inclined to, as they have seen their heroes on TV and in films committing violence with impunity. The less thoughtful youngsters believe you can punch or kick a person repeatedly in the head with killing him because they have seen it done by film stars.

I now feel quite strongly that television and film companies as well as publishing firms should be reminded that they are cultural institutions that influence public opinion and behaviour.

I turned Luther off too. I used to like the programme but far too violent for me now. Why do they insist on making these horrible programmes.
Give me Vera any day!

If you like blood and gore 'American Horror Story' not recommended whilst eating.

I got really fed up with TV a while ago, we have Sky Q, including movies and sport, Netflix and Amazon Prime, but some nights, there was just nothing we felt like seeing!
Yes, I know, it's a first world problem!
However, we're never short of something to watch as we have a huge DVD collection, including the full series of Poirot, Miss Marple (Joan Hickson of course), Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett), Midsomer Murders, Bergerac, Dangerfield, Father Brown, Campion, Rosemary &Thyme, and others which I can't bring to mind right now.
Also comedies, Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers, The Thin Blue Line, Drop The Dead Donkey, Jeeves and Wooster, Bread, Watching, As Time Goes By, Frasier, 'Allo 'Allo, Citizen Smith, My Family, A Fine Romance, Friends, and a few others.
Loads of films too, in particular my B/W collection, Bringing Up Baby, It Happened One Night, I Married a Witch, 39 Steps (Robert Donat), Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone), Arsenic and Old Lace, My Favourite Wife etc.
I don't mind a bit of blood and gore, and really enjoy Silent Witness, but Luther is a bit too much for me, even with the heart stoppingly gorgeous Idris Elba!
DH and DS have violent film nights at ours, while DDiL and I watch Rom-coms round at their house!

eazybee I agree about Luther. Idris Elba can really carry a programme so it didn't need to be all blood and torture. It also seemed to be a 5th series just because they could but a lot of it seemed just a repetition of earlier programmes.

There used to be a drama series called 'Dangerfield' many years ago that you could watch without having to hide behind a cushion.

I agree . programs were funnier in the 70's.simple humour that made u laugh and wasn't at someone's expense.violence and cruelty on TV leaves me thinking about it afterwards.not necessary for a good crime story.old films still have the best story lines.

I stopped watching soaps 10 or 11 years ago as they were getting so violent. It seems that programme makes ate trying to push the boundaries.

Who are 'they?'

I quite enjoy being scared in the (I hope!) safety of my own home, and remember being terrified by old horror films shown on TV late at night back in the 60s/70s, often involving Peter Cushing and Vincent Price and gruesome acts of revenge and madness in waxworks and asylums. The special effects would be laughable now, but seemed realistic enough then!

You make a good point Bridgeit. Something to be said for Saint Paul - 'whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things'. - I love a mystery but have to look away from the gore. And Luther - too dark, cannot hear the speech, just not enjoyable.