Xixax Film Forum

Film Discussion => The Small Screen => Topic started by: Jeremy Blackman on May 06, 2017, 04:03:18 PM

Title: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on May 06, 2017, 04:03:18 PM
Here's a thread for TV posts that might not call for their own thread.

To begin:

Watched the first episode of The Handmaid's Tale. Everything about this is great. Except for one thing — the music is absolutely catastrophically overbearing. You are not allowed to feel a single feeling without its assistance, and it just DOES NOT STOP. I was really trying to let myself get captured by the show, but the score was actively distracting. It's too bad, because some the performances are incredible. I will probably try another episode and see if it gets better.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on May 06, 2017, 05:31:15 PM
I'm waiting for the whole season to be out so I can binge it.

I mentioned this one in the shoutbox a bit ago, but for posterity's sake I'm going to re-recommend the Amazon series "Patriot." Imagine a cross between the Coen Brothers and Martin McDonagh making an extremely odd, tone-jumping version of a LeCarre novel. It's also lowkey one of the deepest and strongest portrayals of clinical depression onscreen that I've ever seen.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on May 07, 2017, 01:12:35 AM
They must have blown their music budget on the premiere, because it's sparse and tasteful in episode 2. Complaint withdrawn.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Robyn on May 07, 2017, 03:19:02 AM
I've watched four seasons of prison break in the past couple of weeks. It sucks of course and i love it. 
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Garam on May 07, 2017, 12:54:10 PM
Feud. Pulpy kitschy trash. Loved it.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilder on May 07, 2017, 06:15:52 PM
Recently burned through season 2 of "Big Jay Oakerson's What's Your Fucking Deal?!". The first episode is up on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g_mlaAXJ8M) for free
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Drenk on May 07, 2017, 07:46:38 PM
I'm not a big fan of the voice over in Handmaid's Tale, it often feels lazy. But it's hard to imagine that show without voice over. I didn't notice the music but I saw the awful Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 recently and its soundtrack made me crazy, so everything else is subtle. I noticed, though, that it tried too hard to make a situation that is already dramatic feels heavier. The tone isn't right yet.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on May 08, 2017, 08:58:45 AM
Quote from: KJ on May 07, 2017, 03:19:02 AM
I've watched four seasons of prison break in the past couple of weeks. It sucks of course and i love it.

Recently binged the first season of Legends of Tomorrow which is relevant because it also stars Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell, as well as being pulpy kitschy trash and a lot of fun. S2 is up on Netflix now too but haven't started on it yet as there's quite a bit else on right now. I don't think I'd get into the other CW/DC shows as they seem quite a bit soapy. LOT crosses over with them occasionally, but it's its own fun thing.

Currently binging via  Netflix: The Royle Family. I only watched it rarely back when it was on TV, but it's an easy and amusing watch, and among the humor there are some Terrence Davies-esque moments where the family stop where they're doing and sing. Or music plays over the banal everyday.

Watching week-by-week: Doctor Who, Better Call Saul.

Looking forward to starting soon: Bloodline S3, Twin Peaks.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: RegularKarate on May 08, 2017, 10:51:44 AM
I'm currently the most caught up with current television I have been in probably six or seven years. Binge-watching kind of ruins the fun of television these days.

Watching:

Veep: This season kinda sucks. I know they switch show-runners, but last season didn't feel as bad as this season. It feels like they're trying to go extra mean to make up for the drop in joke-quality and lack of direction.

Silicon Valley: Still funny and fun, but I hope they can bring everyone together soon. It's pretty aimless and the show works best when everyone is on a team.

Handmaid's Tale: This is pretty damn good. I really hope the fighting back happens soon though because boy, it is rough watching such misery.

Better Call Saul, Fargo, and Leftovers: These all have threads.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on May 08, 2017, 11:10:52 AM
Uh oh. I watched iZombie and really liked it. (And I might have fallen for Rose McIver.)

Wish it weren't a police procedural, though. That's pretty lazy.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on June 26, 2017, 12:52:30 PM
Did anyone watch The Handmaiden's Tale? no? See it and thank me later.

I'm five episodes in and it's really good and brutal, Elizabeth Moss is as usual incredible.

Also cannot help to think some republicans would LOVE to live in that dystopian society.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: RegularKarate on June 27, 2017, 05:09:45 PM
Quote from: Fernando on June 26, 2017, 12:52:30 PM
Did anyone watch The Handmaiden's Tale? no? See it and thank me later.

I'm five episodes in and it's really good and brutal, Elizabeth Moss is as usual incredible.

Also cannot help to think some republicans would LOVE to live in that dystopian society.

You made the same mistake that my girlfriend and I make every single time we mention this show. The show is "The Handmaid's Tale" and then there's the movie "The Handmaiden". It's a real "Pretty Little Liars"/"Big Little Lies" situation.

I'm curious what you'll think after watching the entire thing. I loved most of it, but found my enthusiasm fizzled.

Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: diggler on June 28, 2017, 09:00:33 AM
I really enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale. Luke's flashback had a real Children of Men vibe, which the show works as a great companion piece to. Every show should end with Elizabeth Moss walking towards the camera in slow motion.

Currently bingeing GLOW, it's very funny. Marc Maron is perfect casting.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 06, 2017, 01:15:13 AM
Watching "Godless" on Netflix. (Just started episode 3.) It's a very solid western with some excellent performances by Jeff Bridges and Scoot McNairy. It's written and directed by Scott Frank, who wrote Logan, Minority Report, and Out of Sight.

A surprise highlight: Merritt Wever (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0923266/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t4), who was weird on The Walking Dead but has a perfect and fully realized role here.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMUiRYoc76A
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on February 08, 2018, 11:59:41 AM
Currently watching:

Happy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7OYkSgmM-w

Cast: Christopher Meloni, Ritchie Coster, Lili Mirojnick, Patton Oswalt.

Premise: Nick Sax is an alcoholic ex-cop turned hitman who lives his days with drugs and cynicism. After he is shot and left for dead, he is revived while in the care of paramedics and can now see a small, blue, goofy cartoonish winged horse named Happy.


I'm two episodes in and loving it so far, Meloni is pretty good and Patton is perfect as Happy.

It's really violent and over the top, second season has already been ordered.
Patton (understandably) was hyping up the series on his twitter and apparently episode 6 or 7 is insane, sorry but I don't want to look it up to not spoil anything for myself.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on February 19, 2018, 10:54:33 PM
The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale... on Netflix. Which I believe is one of their first weekly shows.

It's basically identical to The Soup, but slightly better. I bet it has most of the same writers, too. I'm on board.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on February 20, 2018, 12:11:01 AM
Also checked out Altered Carbon. It's actually a really solid sci-fi show with a very high-budget feel. Joel Cinnamon is quite good. First episode is directed by our buddy Miguel Sapochnik and is basically an hour of effortless worldbuilding.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on February 20, 2018, 12:48:37 AM
Altered Carbon is a fun show, but man, does Sapochnik establish a level of filmmaking in that first episode that the series has no intention of living up to.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on February 20, 2018, 08:48:43 AM
Been getting into Red Oaks on Amazon. 8 episodes into S1. There've been a couple of duds, but the last two have been really great feel-good eps that just leave you wanting more.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on February 20, 2018, 10:52:31 AM
Is John Hodgman in any of the Red Oaks episodes you've seen?

Quote from: polkablues on February 20, 2018, 12:48:37 AM
Altered Carbon is a fun show, but man, does Sapochnik establish a level of filmmaking in that first episode that the series has no intention of living up to.

Dang. I've only seen the first one.  :yabbse-sad:
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on February 20, 2018, 12:22:20 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on February 20, 2018, 10:52:31 AM
Is John Hodgman in any of the Red Oaks episodes you've seen?

No, looks like he shows up in S2
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Robyn on February 22, 2018, 03:02:43 PM
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

apparently there is a 8 episode in season 2 that are the same episode in different angles. looking forward to be bored.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on March 08, 2018, 01:24:04 PM
Quote from: Sleepless on February 20, 2018, 12:22:20 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on February 20, 2018, 10:52:31 AM
Is John Hodgman in any of the Red Oaks episodes you've seen?

No, looks like he shows up in S2

Finished S2. He's alright in it. Not quite as jarring as John Oliver in Community or Steve Coogan in Curb, but still hard not to see him as the guy from the Apple ads. So he took me out of the show, something that no-one else does. Guys, you should all be watching this show. It's exec produced by David Gordon Green and Steven Soderberg, eps in this past season include DGG, Amy Heckerling, and Gregg Araki as directors. It's by turns warm-fuzzy-feelgood and then heartachingly sad and true to life. S1 is set up like a summer job fun show, but then it goes off in a completely different direction in S2, building on what went before and making it so much more. I have no idea what's going to happen in S3 but I'm already disappointed I only have 10 eps left. Loving it.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on March 30, 2018, 12:07:13 AM
This is required viewing:

https://www.netflix.com/watch/80227437?trackId=200257858

Just watch the Japan segment starting at 17:10 (about 3 min).
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on May 18, 2018, 03:07:30 PM
House is on Amazon Prime now, apparently. Prime Video seems a bit lacking to me, but this is a good acquisition. Although the price is going up by $20/year...
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on May 18, 2018, 04:42:52 PM
Watch Patriot, damn it.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on May 21, 2018, 09:08:13 AM
I'm trying to watch more movies than TV, but it's easier sometimes to throw on an episode or two of a show in the evenings. Ditched Netflix several months ago because it's gone to shit, so we're just left with whatever's on Prime now. Downton Abbey was surprisingly good, a period soap opera, but enjoyable. Rewatched Father Ted, which I recommend anyone who hasn't seen checks out - the first season is a little spotty, but it's a great cultural insight for Americans that other people don't take themselves too seriously and are plenty capable of laughing at central aspects of their life. Rovers was a surprisingly emotional 6-ep comedy in the vein of The Royle Family. Red Oaks, I've already mentioned - first ep or two are a little on the raunchy side, but it quickly become more John Hughes-esque and turns into a very sweet coming-of-age type story, going far beyond the confines of the country club setup of S1. The Grant Tour is a fun Friday night with some beers show when is on, but there's 2 seasons there if you haven't watched already. We're almost done watching Orphan Black, which is a great show, and Tatiana Maslany is incredibly playing 5+ characters each episode. One of them in particular, I constantly need to remind myself it's actually her and not a different actress portraying. She's that good. I'd like to check out Fortitude with Dennis Quaid next, it looks interesting. I think they have all of Doctor Who on there too, which is good. Lots of their flagship shows, I'll admit, don't look great. There's a few I've sampled and had to just give up that they are not for me at all. Hopefully things are going to get better, according to the trades there's been some shifts at the top, so they're going to move from more niche stuff (presumably Transparent, etc.) and into more broader stuff (such as the possibly Peter Jackson's LORT TV series). Hopefully that'll be a good thing. Honestly, though, with everything else you get with Prime - music streaming, photo storage, free shipping - it's worth the investment.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on July 24, 2018, 03:32:25 PM
The Looming Tower.

Synopsis: A look at how the rivalry between the CIA and FBI inadvertently set the stage for the tragedy of 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan.

Cast:  Jeff Daniels, Tahar Rahim, Wrenn Schmidt, Michael Stuhlbarg, Peter Sarsgaard.


Finished episode 8, without 'spoiling' if that even can be done about this show, it's very interest to see the dynamics between the US intelligent agencies and eventually they royally fucked up. It's inspired by the events, I don't know how accurate they are but anyone who watches will get mad by how the poor decisions of a few players had consequences that not only changed the US but the world.

And speaking about royally fucking up, the same kind of show or movie will be done eventually about the Russian hacking of the US election, and you'll get madder.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on July 26, 2018, 05:41:37 PM
Just finished watching season one of The Sinner, on the basis that Carrie Coon is playing a major part in season two, so it must be a worthwhile show. And... it is! Pretty familiar modern psychological crime thriller plotting, but the story holds together well, it stays compelling all the way through, and it's given me a newfound respect for the acting talents of both Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman (no small feat on the latter). It's a great example of a show in which character and plotting are inextricably woven into each other, which I consider a hallmark of good writing.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Alethia on July 27, 2018, 12:08:21 PM
Quote from: Fernando on July 24, 2018, 03:32:25 PM
The Looming Tower.

Synopsis: A look at how the rivalry between the CIA and FBI inadvertently set the stage for the tragedy of 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan.

Cast:  Jeff Daniels, Tahar Rahim, Wrenn Schmidt, Michael Stuhlbarg, Peter Sarsgaard.


Finished episode 8, without 'spoiling' if that even can be done about this show, it's very interest to see the dynamics between the US intelligent agencies and eventually they royally fucked up. It's inspired by the events, I don't know how accurate they are but anyone who watches will get mad by how the poor decisions of a few players had consequences that not only changed the US but the world.

And speaking about royally fucking up, the same kind of show or movie will be done eventually about the Russian hacking of the US election, and you'll get madder.

I couldn't get past the first episode.

MILD SPOILERS

I think once his mistress grabbed his cock and said, "Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" and he replied, "You know I don't wear my gun to the office" or something like that, I felt I couldn't justifiably devote any more time to it. I'm getting old.

Am I being picky? I love to be convinced.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on August 05, 2018, 06:11:46 PM
Quote from: eward on July 27, 2018, 12:08:21 PM
I couldn't get past the first episode.

MILD SPOILERS

I think once his mistress grabbed his cock and said, "Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" and he replied, "You know I don't where my gun to the office" or something like that, I felt I couldn't justifiably devote any more time to it. I'm getting old.

Am I being picky? I love to be convinced.

ha I really don't remember that bad line.

The show as it progresses gets more interesting but it has a few scenes here and there of the private life of Jeff Daniels' character, but I think is worth it, if you try again and by the 3rd episode you're not hooked then it's not for you.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on August 19, 2018, 04:15:50 PM
Quote from: polkablues on July 26, 2018, 05:41:37 PM
Just finished watching season one of The Sinner, on the basis that Carrie Coon is playing a major part in season two, so it must be a worthwhile show. And... it is! Pretty familiar modern psychological crime thriller plotting, but the story holds together well, it stays compelling all the way through, and it's given me a newfound respect for the acting talents of both Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman (no small feat on the latter). It's a great example of a show in which character and plotting are inextricably woven into each other, which I consider a hallmark of good writing.


Watching (and for the most part enjoying) this show due to this post.  Loved Carrie in "The Leftovers", so had to check it out.  Thanks for the recommendation!
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on October 10, 2018, 09:43:07 PM
Quote from: polkablues on May 06, 2017, 05:31:15 PM
I mentioned this one in the shoutbox a bit ago, but for posterity's sake I'm going to re-recommend the Amazon series "Patriot." Imagine a cross between the Coen Brothers and Martin McDonagh making an extremely odd, tone-jumping version of a LeCarre novel. It's also lowkey one of the deepest and strongest portrayals of clinical depression onscreen that I've ever seen.

You're all going to be so pissed when you finally watch this show and realize how great it is and how long you ignored it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08w9DxR7DHs
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on October 10, 2018, 10:37:42 PM
I won't be watching any Mel Gibson TV show thank you very much.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on November 21, 2018, 11:06:26 AM
Norsemen. Indiewire described it as "Vikings" meets "The Office" and that's fairly accurate. Wickedly dry Scandinavian wit.

Here's a taster:


Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on December 10, 2018, 03:38:47 AM
Quote from: polkablues on October 10, 2018, 09:43:07 PM
Quote from: polkablues on May 06, 2017, 05:31:15 PM
I mentioned this one in the shoutbox a bit ago, but for posterity's sake I'm going to re-recommend the Amazon series "Patriot." Imagine a cross between the Coen Brothers and Martin McDonagh making an extremely odd, tone-jumping version of a LeCarre novel. It's also lowkey one of the deepest and strongest portrayals of clinical depression onscreen that I've ever seen.

You're all going to be so pissed when you finally watch this show and realize how great it is and how long you ignored it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08w9DxR7DHs

Finished season two, and every word of this remains true, with the addition that I'm developing very potent grudges against each and every one of you for not watching this show.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: ©brad on December 10, 2018, 11:52:04 AM
FINE I'LL WATCH IT.

(but seriously thanks for the reco. I keep striking out on new shows but I'm excited about this one now)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on December 10, 2018, 11:09:52 PM
Escape at Dannemora

An amazing cast (including an almost unrecognizable Patricia Arquette), and very impressive directing by Ben Stiller (of all people).  One of the highlights of my TV week. 



https://youtu.be/RVbOjP1Ziec
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on December 24, 2018, 02:32:24 AM
TRAVELERS (on Netflix). So, so good. A very fun and highly addictive sci-fi show. There is a splash of cheese for sure, but production values are pretty high, and some performances are magnificent. Excellent blend of human drama and complex science fiction. Becomes wildly unpredictable in seasons 2 and 3, which do not disappoint.

If you can get into it (you'll know after the first episode), you might find that Travelers is surprisingly fresh.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99LZwZmSoNo
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on December 31, 2018, 01:07:35 AM
Quote from: wilberfan on December 10, 2018, 11:09:52 PM
Escape at Dannemora

An amazing cast (including an almost unrecognizable Patricia Arquette), and very impressive directing by Ben Stiller (of all people).  One of the highlights of my TV week. 

[/size]


Just finished the finale.   This might be my favorite production I've seen this year--on any sized screen.  Absolutely impeccable.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on December 31, 2018, 01:22:47 AM
I'm hyped for it, but I don't have a Showtime subscription, so I either have to wait for a blu-ray release, hope it eventually gets put onto one of the streaming services I already pay money for, or just break down and pirate the bastard.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on January 29, 2019, 03:32:12 PM
Quote from: polkablues on July 26, 2018, 05:41:37 PM
Just finished watching season one of The Sinner, on the basis that Carrie Coon is playing a major part in season two, so it must be a worthwhile show. And... it is! Pretty familiar modern psychological crime thriller plotting, but the story holds together well, it stays compelling all the way through, and it's given me a newfound respect for the acting talents of both Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman (no small feat on the latter). It's a great example of a show in which character and plotting are inextricably woven into each other, which I consider a hallmark of good writing.


So I fucked up and started watching season 2, I blame netflix since they sent me directly to S2 instead of 1, and when Carrie Coon appeared I remembered reading this post, so, is it mandatory to watch S1 first?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on January 29, 2019, 04:34:09 PM
I haven't seen season two yet, but as far as I know they're fully separate stories, with just Bill Pullman's character as the common thread between them.

edit: Your post got my hopes up, so I went and looked, but season two still isn't on US Netflix yet.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on February 18, 2019, 02:09:22 PM


I'm not familiar with the novel or previous adaptation(s) so went into this completely fresh and unknowing. It was good. A very modern period piece and plenty of questions left unanswered. Would recommend.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on February 19, 2019, 11:58:34 PM


Presented by world-renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough (Blue Planet II, Planet Earth II) and executive produced by Emmy®-winner Mike Gunton (Planet Earth II), Dynasties follows five of the world's most celebrated but endangered animals, as they do whatever it takes to survive and protect the next generation.

Dynasties will focus in never-seen-before detail on one particular family from each species per episode, as they play politics, fight battles, make alliances, launch take-overs, battle rivals, and win family feuds:

Emperor penguins in the frozen wastes of Antarctica
Chimpanzees on the edge of the Sahara in Senegal, West Africa
Lions on the savannahs of Kenya's Masai Mara
Painted wolves on the floodplains of the Zambezi river in Zimbabwe
Tigers in the jungles of Bandhavgarh, India
Dynasties will tell the unique and emotional stories of some of the greatest families in nature, as they face unforeseen challenges not only from their rivals, but from changes to their environment, and the impact humanity has had on our fragile ecosystem that will ricochet throughout generations.

After just one episode, I'm astonished by the camera work and editing--and Shakespearean storytelling.  And David Attenborough is practically a World Heritage Site all by himself, isn't he?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on March 07, 2019, 07:47:25 PM
DOCUMENTARY NOW!



Each episode is a beautifully and lovingly made parody of specific landmark documentaries (Grey Gardens, Nanook of the North, Wild Wild Country, etc) or genres.  The production values are amazing and the results are deliciously silly--but probably only if you're familiar with the film(s) in question.  A real gem, and one of the highlights of my TV week.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on March 22, 2019, 04:11:36 PM
Quote from: polkablues on January 29, 2019, 04:34:09 PM
I haven't seen season two yet, but as far as I know they're fully separate stories, with just Bill Pullman's character as the common thread between them.

edit: Your post got my hopes up, so I went and looked, but season two still isn't on US Netflix yet.

Finished the 1st season, Biel's best work for sure, not that I've seen everything she's done, ended up liking her season more than Carrie's but still both are good.


Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on December 24, 2018, 02:32:24 AM
TRAVELERS (on Netflix). So, so good. A very fun and highly addictive sci-fi show. There is a splash of cheese for sure, but production values are pretty high, and some performances are magnificent. Excellent blend of human drama and complex science fiction. Becomes wildly unpredictable in seasons 2 and 3, which do not disappoint.

If you can get into it (you'll know after the first episode), you might find that Travelers is surprisingly fresh.

I have seen 8 episodes of S1 and it's really good, I feel like shit is about to get real.

I'm hooked.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Drenk on March 22, 2019, 07:47:49 PM
The Good Fight is a glorious, glorious show.

You know how everyone wants "their" show to be the next The Wire? In the sense that it will be considered cult in a few years. Well, The Good Fight is my Wire.

(I'm not that big fan of The Wire; I prefer The Good Fight.)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on March 22, 2019, 09:39:02 PM
Quote from: Drenk on March 22, 2019, 07:47:49 PM
The Good Fight is a glorious, glorious show.

You know how everyone wants "their" show to be the next The Wire? In the sense that it will be considered cult in a few years. Well, The Good Fight is my Wire.

(I'm not that big fan of The Wire; I prefer The Good Fight.)

The Good Fight iz what happens when a parallel BEST UNIVERSE getz into a weekly brawl with our own PRIME UNIVERSE.
I love its rebellious tone and characters so much.
Thank you for the JoCo Mr & Mrs King
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on March 22, 2019, 11:41:43 PM
Quote from: Fernando on March 22, 2019, 04:11:36 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on December 24, 2018, 02:32:24 AM
TRAVELERS (on Netflix). So, so good. A very fun and highly addictive sci-fi show. There is a splash of cheese for sure, but production values are pretty high, and some performances are magnificent. Excellent blend of human drama and complex science fiction. Becomes wildly unpredictable in seasons 2 and 3, which do not disappoint.

If you can get into it (you'll know after the first episode), you might find that Travelers is surprisingly fresh.

I have seen 8 episodes of S1 and it's really good, I feel like shit is about to get real.

I'm hooked.

Excellent! I can confirm that Season 2 is better, and Season 3 is better still. Definitely stick with it. Too bad it's been canceled by Netflix, but Season 3 does have a worthy finish.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: csage97 on March 23, 2019, 09:37:10 PM
Hmm, I will have to give The Good Fight a shot, then.

Love, Death, & Robots was excellent. On the level of looking at pure animation ... I've never seen anything like it.

I'll be watching season two of The OA. I found episodes in season one interesting and unique enough to want to know what was going to happen next, and so I want to know what will happen in season two.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on March 27, 2019, 03:01:56 PM
Quote from: wilberfan on December 31, 2018, 01:07:35 AM
Quote from: wilberfan on December 10, 2018, 11:09:52 PM
Escape at Dannemora

An amazing cast (including an almost unrecognizable Patricia Arquette), and very impressive directing by Ben Stiller (of all people).  One of the highlights of my TV week. 

[/size]


Just finished the finale.   This might be my favorite production I've seen this year--on any sized screen.  Absolutely impeccable.

Three episodes in and I'm in total agreement. Ridiculously good. Every actor is perfect. I've always liked Ben Stiller as a filmmaker, but there's been absolutely nothing in his directorial career that suggested he was capable of something like this.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on April 01, 2019, 01:33:50 PM
Polkablues is right, guys. Patriot is an overlooked piece of genius. Half-way through S1, and every episode just leaves me amazed with the intricate attention to details of plotting and character in this sprawling story (told on a relatively small scale) where everything is connected. On one hand I'm pissed it took me this long, on the other hand I'm chuffed there's a second season already waiting for me when I'm done with this one. I just can't understand how critics aren't universally raving about this one, does Amazon not send out screeners or what?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on April 01, 2019, 01:41:09 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/hOp2WRc.gif)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on April 01, 2019, 02:47:44 PM
We both like Reese's peanut butter cups.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on April 03, 2019, 04:12:50 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on March 22, 2019, 11:41:43 PM
Excellent! I can confirm that Season 2 is better, and Season 3 is better still. Definitely stick with it. Too bad it's been canceled by Netflix, but Season 3 does have a worthy finish.

If this wasn't on Netflix it would be good show to talk about on a weekly basis, it's interesting and fun.

Thanks JB for the recomendation, I don't think I would ever tried it on my own, it's a bummer it was cancelled.



After this, I might give a second chance to Patriot.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on April 24, 2019, 03:47:56 PM
I've watched the first few episodes of Patriot. No surprise, it's very good. Some scenes and moments are so idiosyncratic and intensely delightful. For example, I love love love every scene involving Stephen and/or his accompanying therapist.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on May 03, 2019, 09:07:55 PM



Ramy Hassan is a first generation Egyptian-American who is on a spiritual journey in his politically-divided New Jersey neighborhood. RAMY will bring a new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it's like being caught between a Muslim community that thinks life is a moral test and a millennial generation that thinks life has no consequences.

A much better show than I would have predicted.  Episode 7 was especially well done, with a wonderful performance from Hiam Abbass.   And quite a debut from young Madison Hine in episode 8 that really made an impression.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Drenk on May 11, 2019, 01:50:48 AM
Insane.

https://t.co/17dGoxLyPX

(Watch The Good Fight!)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on May 11, 2019, 01:07:48 PM
If I tried to watch The Good Wife and couldn't get into it, would it still be worth attempting to get into this one?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Drenk on May 11, 2019, 03:11:00 PM
Yes, definitely. I loved/liked The Good Wife, but The Good Fight is way better. It becomes its true self in season 2 but season 1 is very solid.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on May 12, 2019, 12:09:01 AM
Seriously. Well earned character moments, parallel political conundrums. So well shot and paced, and you'll get a hearty dose of character actor cameoz. Such a dope show.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on May 20, 2019, 07:25:02 PM
A couple Netflix originals that just came out that are worth everybody's time:

BLACK SUMMER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQA1omPJN24

There are a lot of reasons to be skeptical of this one. It's yet another zombie thing. It's a ostensible prequel to Z Nation, the show that was seemingly based on the pitch, "The Walking Dead, but intentionally bad." It's produced by The Asylum, the company behind such masterpieces as the Sharknado hexalogy and the Pacific Rim ripoff titled... *deep sigh*... "Atlantic Rim." There's no reason to expect this to be good.

EXCEPT IT IS. It eschews the bloat and soap opera melodrama of The Walking Dead in favor of a sparse, starkly minimalist, intensely focused narrative. There's a single story being told here: people are trying to get to a place and there are obstacles making it hard for them to do so. Characters drop in and out of the story organically, characters die abruptly and typically with little fanfare, and notably -- unlike The Walking Dead, where the human characters almost always seem to outmatch the zombies and are only in danger when they really fuck up somehow -- the stakes feel truly life and death at almost any given moment. Dialogue is scarce, and there are long sections where we're just following a character or characters, the tension building the whole time, and when that tension breaks it goes off like a pipe bomb. There are only a few points across eight episodes where it feels like it goes too over the top and you're reminded of the show's provenance, but it does so much right that it was easy for me to forgive those moments.

THE SOCIETY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJzU-b5EU9c

It suffers from some shaky writing, especially at the beginning, but the ideas it's grappling with, and the weight with which it treats them, is really the selling point. I'm about two-thirds of the way through the season, and while I'm questioning whether it will be able to pull off the more fantastical elements of the premise, the grounded elements are dead on. How is power allocated outside an established order? What's the human cost of exerting that power, and the psychological cost on those who have been thrust into position to make impossible choices for the greater good?

Also, Kathryn Newton, who was so good in the last season of Halt and Catch Fire, so good in the movie Blockers, and so good in Big Little Lies, is SO GOOD in this. When she's winning Oscars in the next few years, know that I called it here first. 
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on May 21, 2019, 12:50:58 AM


On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, Soviet Union suffered a massive explosion that released radioactive material across Belarus, Russia and Ukraine and as far as Scandinavia and western Europe. Chernobyl dramatizes the story of the 1986 accident, one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history, and the sacrifices made to save Europe from the unimaginable disaster.

Really well done, with an excellent cast.  There's a fascinating "official" podcast episode for each episode in which host Peter Sagal talks with the creator/writer.  A disturbingly high percentage of what we see in each episode is historically accurate. 
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on May 22, 2019, 11:34:38 AM
I also endorse Chernobyl. The storytelling is just really engaging and well-done. Skillfully gives you the right information and the right amount of time for things to sink in. While somehow not being sensationalist at all. Great job, HBO.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on May 23, 2019, 03:44:45 PM
Oh my. Episode 3 goes places. This is now a must-watch in my opinion.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on May 23, 2019, 06:53:59 PM
Are you combining it with the official podcast?  Highly recommended...
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on May 26, 2019, 11:15:45 PM


Based on Joseph Heller's seminal novel of the same name, Catch-22 is the story of the incomparable, artful dodger, Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a US Air Force bombardier in World War II who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy, but rather his own army which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to avoid his military assignments, he'll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule which specifies that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers which are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind; a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity and therefore makes him ineligible to be relieved from duty.

Never read the book and thought the Nichols feature film rather bad (back in the day and especially during a recent attempt at a rewatch)--but found this version quite engaging and compelling.  At least a couple of episodes directed by George Clooney (who Exec Produced and has a small role).  Not sure I've seen the lead anywhere before, but really liked his performance.  Didn't expect to like this much, so was very pleasantly surprised.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on May 27, 2019, 01:45:40 AM
As someone who loves the Nichols film with every ounce of his being, I'm skeptical but open to this new version.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on May 27, 2019, 07:59:41 AM
It's great. This production gets the novel'z tone perfectly. Also, wilberfan, Christopher Abbott nailz it in Martha Marcy May Marlene (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERREgOobLOs) (a cult cult film) as well as HBO's Girls  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp8pxLWo5Yc)(he's only in about three seasons), if you're looking to catch more of his naturalist fuego.

Excuse the cat. I just adore this scene/song:
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: csage97 on May 27, 2019, 01:02:01 PM
Quote from: wilberfan on May 26, 2019, 11:15:45 PM
Based on Joseph Heller's seminal novel of the same name, Catch-22 is the story of the incomparable, artful dodger, Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a US Air Force bombardier in World War II who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy, but rather his own army which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to avoid his military assignments, he'll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule which specifies that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers which are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind; a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity and therefore makes him ineligible to be relieved from duty.

Never read the book and thought the Nichols feature film rather bad (back in the day and especially during a recent attempt at a rewatch)--but found this version quite engaging and compelling.  At least a couple of episodes directed by George Clooney (who Exec Produced and has a small role).  Not sure I've seen the lead anywhere before, but really liked his performance.  Didn't expect to like this much, so was very pleasantly surprised.

The book is excellent! Really one of my favourites. The humour in the novel is fantastically ridiculous but really indicative of how ridiculous parts of war can be. I'd like to think that Jerry Seinfeld ripped off Catch-22 ....
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on June 04, 2019, 12:03:34 AM
I want to circle back and sing the final praises of Chernobyl.   The final episode is 73 of the finest minutes of filmed drama I've seen in a very long time.  The entire cast is brilliant--but let's give Jared Harris special notice for his work in this.   The epilogue at the end is absolutely devastating.   This is the best thing I've seen since last year's "Escape at Dannemora". 
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: jonas on June 04, 2019, 12:52:33 PM
Yea, the finale of Chernobyl was really great. The show was great at explaining the scientific aspects of the situation with simple clarity, that courtroom explanation of the explosion in ep. 5 is the best example.

The fact that they were able to create so much tension when recreating the explosion (something that we know happens) was fantastic, it made you hope their was some kind of different ending. I never knew about the potential of a large explosion after the initial one, to know eastern Europe was THAT close to disaster is almost unreal. The fact that they don't know how many were truly affected shows the horror of the whole situation.

I thought everything from the acting, cinematography and music were top notch.

Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on June 04, 2019, 01:03:25 PM
The incredible thing is to look at Craig Mazin's prior filmography, and then see what he accomplished with this series. You never in a million years would have guessed he was capable of this.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Robyn on June 04, 2019, 01:12:57 PM
Quote from: polkablues on June 04, 2019, 01:03:25 PM
The incredible thing is to look at Craig Mazin's prior filmography, and then see what he accomplished with this series. You never in a million years would have guessed he was capable of this.

Omg, you're not kidding!

It's the fucking creator of Superhero Movie??
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on June 04, 2019, 01:16:58 PM
I wasn't familiar with Craig's work at all, so this is a very pleasant surprise.   It was mentioned at the end of the Chernobyl Podcast (which I still highly recommend) that Craig has his own podcast: Scriptnotes (http://scriptnotes.net/).
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on June 23, 2019, 04:21:49 PM
Quote from: polkablues on June 04, 2019, 01:03:25 PM
The incredible thing is to look at Craig Mazin's prior filmography, and then see what he accomplished with this series. You never in a million years would have guessed he was capable of this.

No one is more surprised by 'Chernobyl's' success than creator Craig Mazin (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-chernobyl-craig-mazin-conversation-20190619-story.html)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on June 24, 2019, 09:39:33 PM


A 10-episode series, which follows James (Jimmi Simpson), a young grifter, as he attempts to prey upon Pastor Byron Brown (Sir Ben Kingsley), who turns out to be far more dangerous than he suspects. The pastor and his wife Lillian (Jacki Weaver)—known to their parishioners as Pa and Ma—have used religion to bilk hundreds of innocent people out of their life savings.

Sort of a Coen Brothers meet David Lynch thing going on here, with an amazing cast.  (Ben Kingsley, Luis Guzman...)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on June 26, 2019, 03:36:49 PM
Quote from: polkablues on May 20, 2019, 07:25:02 PM
A couple Netflix originals that just came out that are worth everybody's time:

BLACK SUMMER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQA1omPJN24

There are a lot of reasons to be skeptical of this one. It's yet another zombie thing. It's a ostensible prequel to Z Nation, the show that was seemingly based on the pitch, "The Walking Dead, but intentionally bad." It's produced by The Asylum, the company behind such masterpieces as the Sharknado hexalogy and the Pacific Rim ripoff titled... *deep sigh*... "Atlantic Rim." There's no reason to expect this to be good.

EXCEPT IT IS. It eschews the bloat and soap opera melodrama of The Walking Dead in favor of a sparse, starkly minimalist, intensely focused narrative. There's a single story being told here: people are trying to get to a place and there are obstacles making it hard for them to do so. Characters drop in and out of the story organically, characters die abruptly and typically with little fanfare, and notably -- unlike The Walking Dead, where the human characters almost always seem to outmatch the zombies and are only in danger when they really fuck up somehow -- the stakes feel truly life and death at almost any given moment. Dialogue is scarce, and there are long sections where we're just following a character or characters, the tension building the whole time, and when that tension breaks it goes off like a pipe bomb. There are only a few points across eight episodes where it feels like it goes too over the top and you're reminded of the show's provenance, but it does so much right that it was easy for me to forgive those moments.


Wow, so, Black Summer is actually VERY GOOD. One of the best zombie things I've seen. And probably one of the most underrated Netflix originals.

Polka's review is spot-on. People don't really know how to survive yet, and these are fast zombies, so there's just no time for soap opera or thematic bloat. It's all business. The stakes are real — any character could die at any time. (And you do really care about some of them.) My favorite scenes involve zombies wreaking havoc among survivors, and it's hard to differentiate them, because everyone is running. Terrifying and surprisingly realistic.

There are a couple sketchy performances and line deliveries, but those moments are brief and forgivable.

The best sequences play out like Gus Van Sant directing a zombie chase. Some of the set pieces are truly breathtaking, seriously. Did not expect that level of craftsmanship from this thing! Definitely feels like someone's passion project.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on June 26, 2019, 11:31:55 PM
Low-key relieved I wasn't just deluding myself.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on July 12, 2019, 10:05:41 PM
Just started watching episode 1.  Fun that the very first talking head is Studio City's Favorite Son. 


Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: jenkins on August 18, 2019, 11:47:46 PM
tonight i'm starting The Righteous Gemstones with my roommate. we're hanging out again because of tv again. it premiered today, i hear it's an hour, Danny McBride writer/director, next week David Gordon Green takes over director
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on August 21, 2019, 04:20:13 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMUD0_TTg0

This is really good, for what it's worth. Created by the guy who made Assassination Nation, and in many ways it feels like an evolution of that movie (a handful of scenes feel almost like direct remakes of scenes from the film). If you liked Assassination Nation, you should love this show, and if you didn't like Assassination Nation, you're wrong, but also you should give the show a shot anyway.

Zendaya, it should be stated, is amazing in this. She's by far the best actor to ever come out of the Disney Channel factory.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on August 21, 2019, 04:22:11 PM
^Beautiful show. The De Palma nodz are plentiful, including an episode that ends its Blow-Out inspired celebration-cum-mayhem with Pino Donaggio's score from Roeg's DONT LOOK NOW. Also, the way it handles transworld contradictions iz more than necessary, a humanist genre-approach that you can only do when stylized as this show iz
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: jenkins on August 21, 2019, 04:40:22 PM
i barely watch tv and i know it's the second best series this year, after Fleabag. it's created by the writer/director of Assassination Nation yeah, Sam Levinson, who is the son of Barry. he's just got the good fight in him from what i can tell

im going to keep watching  The Righteous Gemstones in order to hang out with my roommate, but it's not a best series this year. it's just so familiar you know. oh Southern shit sucks but no wait look at this. you know
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: jenkins on August 22, 2019, 08:15:56 PM
i didn't know what he'd do at 3min. if you guessed it you have impressive foresight. this feels very videogame to me and im positively fascinated. its believability comes from its verisimilitude. feeling real. not a lot of feelings, except about what's real. and there's a lot that's real in life if you look around. i like it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6KFcZp-Kso
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: jenkins on August 26, 2019, 01:41:22 AM
The Righteous Gemstones is up to antics. this first episode by Halloween director DGG had a knockdown hotel fight following a dreadful interpretation of events precipitated by throwing a woman down a hill for dead. there was a nailbiting surprise twist at the end of the episode
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on August 28, 2019, 04:12:19 PM
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on August 28, 2019, 05:10:01 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/IOGtotO.gif)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Drenk on August 28, 2019, 05:59:07 PM
(https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/how_do_you_do_fellow_kids.jpg)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Drenk on September 03, 2019, 06:23:20 PM
Succession!  :bravo:
Pristine writing, tragic and hilarious. And one of the best casts I've ever seen.

Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Alethia on September 03, 2019, 07:02:21 PM
I would expect no less from one of the creators of Peep Show.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Drenk on September 03, 2019, 07:17:51 PM
These two are gold.

Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on September 06, 2019, 10:58:14 AM
Yes, Succession is amazing, it seemed a little odd or at least I didn't know exactly what the show wanted to be, then it took off and I'm glad I stuck with it because season 2 has started real strong, even better than one imo.

Jeremy Strong is so good, you can see that Kendall is so uncomfortable in his own skin and Matthew Macfadyen's character is like the complete opposite of Mr. Darcy, he wants to have it all but underneath is a cowardly bully.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on September 19, 2019, 08:00:19 PM
Show of hands:  Who's up-to-date with the first 8 (!) of the 16 (!!) hours of COUNTRY MUSIC, A FILM BY KEN BURNS?

:waving:

Never followed country music to any extent, but I usually learn (more than I need to?) from these epics.  Glad for the break till Sunday to clear the ol' synapses. 
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on November 07, 2019, 07:42:02 PM
As far as I know there's no thread for The Affair, the series just ended (lasted five seasons) but I'm still catching up on the last one.

Anyway, the whole series is really good and if you like good drama this is it, so in the last season Anna Paquin got a part and she is just incredible, all around there's good acting from all the cast but somehow I forgot how good Anna is and I just wanted to gush about her with you guys.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on February 04, 2020, 05:10:23 PM
THE NAKED DIRECTOR (Netflix)

I've watched two episodes of this so far, and I'm enjoying it.  It kind of feels like a Japanese version of THE DEUCE crossed with MRS MAISEL.   The performances are a little broad sometimes, but it's flashy and slick and based on a true story, so I'm gonna see where it ends up.


https://youtu.be/KfGAFaAhH2U
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on February 10, 2020, 11:54:08 AM
Is anyone watching The Outsider?

Six episodes in and so far loving it, looks like the best is yet to come.

This teaser is a bit spoilery but not so much, do not watch the trailers that followed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I03MAkQ_OyM
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on March 05, 2020, 09:56:49 AM
Okay so hear me out... Wife and I are 6/10 eps deep in Mindy Kaling's take on Four Weddings & a Funeral and I've got to say it's one of the most enjoyable things I've seen in a while. It's fun and addicting, and while I would almost stoop to calling it a guilty pleasure, it's actually better than that. Where that line is for you may vary, of course. But it is good. Most critically, it has what so many big screen rom-coms lacked: comedy. Take a gander, you might be pleasantly surprised. I was.

Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on March 05, 2020, 11:57:17 AM
Wanna second that this limited series iz delightful^
I've rewatched it nearly three times...

Great ensemble cast, and HUGE fanservice for Richard Curtis fanz.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on March 07, 2020, 12:53:14 PM
Quote from: Fernando on February 10, 2020, 11:54:08 AM
Is anyone watching The Outsider?

Six episodes in and so far loving it, looks like the best is yet to come.

This teaser is a bit spoilery but not so much, do not watch the trailers that followed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I03MAkQ_OyM

I just got caught up in time for the finale tomorrow. Great ensemble, and a rare example of a Stephen King adaptation that's true to the material but doesn't feel like ~{A Stephen King Adaptation}~. It's got the vibe of a prestige cable crime drama, which makes the fantastical elements that much more effective. A big theme of the story is our inability to process information that doesn't conform to our understanding of reality, and the sober, realistic tone of the show really brings that home. Ben Mendelsohn is fantastic, as always. Paddy Considine's southern American accent verges on cartoonish at times, but he's great, so I can look past it.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on March 07, 2020, 06:05:31 PM
https://youtu.be/aoNloYTsH0Y


I generally don't do "slow & weird", but I'm hooked on this one after two episodes. Fingers-crossed that it stays on course. 
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on March 09, 2020, 04:12:58 PM
Quote from: wilberfan on March 07, 2020, 06:05:31 PM
https://youtu.be/aoNloYTsH0Y


I generally don't do "slow & weird", but I'm hooked on this one after two episodes. Fingers-crossed that it stays on course.

Yep. Hold all my calls, I'm gonna be completely fucking obsessed with this show for the next little while.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on March 09, 2020, 06:30:42 PM
Friendz, the show iz great sci-fi intrigue.
I made an Alex Garland thread  (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=14332.0)so we can discuss his motifs and thematic lattices along with each episode ~
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on March 25, 2020, 10:15:43 PM
I've not actually watched any episodes (Episode 01 is queued up as we speak), but certain corners of the Interwebs seem to be quite agog over this one.



[edit]  Two episodes in.  Holy crap.  And I have a feeling this is only going to get weirder and weirder
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on March 26, 2020, 08:10:14 AM
Quote from: wilberfan on March 25, 2020, 10:15:43 PM
I've not actually watched any episodes (Episode 01 is queued up as we speak), but certain corners of the Interwebs seem to be quite agog over this one.



[edit]  Two episodes in.  Holy crap.  And I have a feeling this is only going to get weirder and weirder.

^ Thematically related, you might also want to check out the new podcast Cat People (https://longreads.com/catpeople/), from some of the people who brought you Bundyville.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on April 02, 2020, 10:01:58 PM
Only two episodes in so far, but an absolutely stunning lead performance from Shira Haas. 

Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on April 03, 2020, 12:47:54 AM
I watched the first two episodes of Tiger King, and my brain is already broken. Go in knowing as little as possible.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on April 04, 2020, 01:36:39 AM
Finished Tiger King. The best thing about this doc is the way it dishes out its reveals — they are done in a way that's very chaotic but strangely organic to the story. It's almost too brilliant for me to accurately describe.

If there's a weakness, it's that the series is a bit front-loaded. After four episodes of total madness, I was not as surprised by the final three, even though the twists do continue.

Spoiler: ShowHide
I am 90% convinced that Carol killed her husband and 100% convinced that Joe burned down the studio. I'm honestly not sure what to think of the murder-for-hire plot.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: jenkins on April 04, 2020, 01:40:09 AM
it's definitely the first true crime show i feel like i'm missing out on from an entertaining perspective
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: putneyswipe on April 04, 2020, 08:09:17 AM
Is there any reason for all these netflix docs to be stretched out to 5+ hours? what happened to the 90-minute doc?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on April 09, 2020, 03:28:11 AM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on April 04, 2020, 01:36:39 AM
Spoiler: ShowHide
I am 90% convinced that Carol killed her husband and 100% convinced that Joe burned down the studio. I'm honestly not sure what to think of the murder-for-hire plot.


I think the biggest weakness of the show was the way it treated every story with the same level of credulity, regardless of actual plausibility. I know that's basically the set formula for this type of documentary, but it felt especially artless in this one. The
Spoiler: ShowHide
Carol killed her husband
theory is mind-numbingly absurd, and the filmmakers obviously know it, but they still treat the whole thing with a wink and a nudge and a "we're just asking the question" attitude. The show was entertaining, but I'm terrified of the idea that people are taking it as any sort of journalistic enterprise and forming opinions based on that notion.

That said, I'm amazed at how the other dude running the R. Kelly-style sex slave cult out of his tiger zoo has practically gone unmentioned in every article and discussion about the show.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on May 22, 2020, 10:15:47 PM
My favorite find of May, 2020 is this sweet, goofy little show ("The Dress Up Gang"):

https://youtu.be/GY9RbrTyCwA

Kind of a modern, thirtysomething "Leave It to Beaver", it takes the silliest, slightest premise and then plays it (UNDER-plays it!) to such a degree that it becomes sweet and hysterical.  A real treat.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilder on May 23, 2020, 01:58:14 AM
I want to see it. Found out it's free streaming on the TBS website (https://www.tbs.com/thedressupgang). Cool.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on May 26, 2020, 02:33:54 AM
I had never heard of them, but I'm going down a Youtube rabbit-hole. This is my favorite so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yXaBunkh4o
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on May 28, 2020, 12:02:40 AM
Quote from: putneyswipe on April 04, 2020, 08:09:17 AM
Is there any reason for all these netflix docs to be stretched out to 5+ hours? what happened to the 90-minute doc?

As I continue to wade thru all of the multi-episode docs coming online during these Pandemic Days (and enjoying them for the most part), this comment has really stayed with me.  "God dammit, he's right!", I find myself repeating over and over.   I didn't notice it before, but now that's it's been pointed out, I can't unsee it.  (I'm two episodes in to the Jeffrey Epstein doc at the moment.)

How does a multi-part program work to Netflix's benefit vs a 2 hour one-er?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on May 28, 2020, 10:52:00 AM
Just from the habits I've noticed of people I live with --- it seemz more likely someone will agree to 40 minutes, and get hooked for the next two or three 40-minute/50-minute eps after, than they'd tune in to a film that reads approx.120minutes runtime.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on May 28, 2020, 11:00:28 AM
I must say that echoes my experience with Epstein last night (so to speak):  I stayed up very late to finish all four episodes in one go.  Horrifying, but compelling stuff--but I think it would have been the same at half the length.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on June 06, 2020, 09:16:44 PM
Quote from: wilberfan on May 03, 2019, 09:07:55 PM



Ramy Hassan is a first generation Egyptian-American who is on a spiritual journey in his politically-divided New Jersey neighborhood. RAMY will bring a new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it's like being caught between a Muslim community that thinks life is a moral test and a millennial generation that thinks life has no consequences.

A much better show than I would have predicted.  Episode 7 was especially well done, with a wonderful performance from Hiam Abbass.   And quite a debut from young Madison Hine in episode 8 that really made an impression.


Another shout-out for this series, now in it's second season.  Many think (I happen to agree) that this season is even better than the first.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on June 24, 2020, 10:47:09 PM
https://youtu.be/vC_N5GS-DI4

I've only seen 2 episodes, but this show is so fucking well done.  Impeccable performances across the board.  Not a false note anywhere.   Kind of Moonlight meets The Wire?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on July 03, 2020, 01:13:24 PM
NORMAL PEOPLE, romance mini-series from earlier this year, a Hulu / BBC co-production, has caught my fancy. I've got a long weekend and sank 4 episodes in a row this morning. Expect it to be finished tomorrow morning.
Some poetry by Sally Rooney:

It Is Monday
QuoteIt is Monday and we are skimming along
over rooftops and through Grand Canal Dock, who knew
the sunshine could be so delicious
they should put a warning on it
I'm having so much fun with glass I could go blind
and at Lansdowne the train is more silent
than a train even should be and at the
next stop we'll pass
the family home where you are sitting
with your unbeknowing parents
and while we soar on past I look into
positively every window in order
to give your mother a signal that I exist:
maybe she sees me, who knows
on a June so blue and loving
we pull away into Booterstown
and time is a long cool tide and two towers
one for each of us and the single sip of a heron
laid flat on the back of June's hand
I will not stop smiling about you
you are the something summer was always meant for
and I wonder how we will love each other
so deliciously in autumn
I am making you a quilt of sky
and seawater in case we need to remember
the places we saw our happiness enlarged
Have I Been Severe? (https://stingingfly.org/2015/02/01/have-i-been-severe/)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on August 14, 2020, 11:05:27 PM
New 6-part doc on Epix about Manson & Co.  Interesting seeing actual footage of the time and places that QT worked so hard to capture in OUATIH.  (I remember all of it, of course, as I was just about to start my sophomore year at Hollywood High that summer.)  Some of you youngsters might enjoy seeing Quentin's inspiration, if you haven't consumed mass quantities of Manson-lore already.   This new series allegedly debunks some of the myths connected to the events and participants.

https://youtu.be/CUpY0vdfmdg
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Drenk on August 15, 2020, 08:11:08 AM
I'm rewatching Succession. The ideal show.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on August 16, 2020, 12:36:41 PM
Wilder put this up for a hot second--then took it down, but I took note and took a chance.   On paper this is a show I would ordinarily avoid like a world-wide respiratory virus, but based on his capsule review ("This show is so good"), I decided to take a chance.

Holy crap, I loved this thing!  Not your typical "unscripted" series--no competition, no ugly confrontations--it's very sweet and uplifting in a very gentle, supportive way.

And, as a bonus, I got to crush on Olivia for a few minutes.

I list it here again for benefit of the lurkers who hadn't heard of the show...

https://youtu.be/kX-QbcXyZug
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on August 21, 2020, 09:38:58 PM
I've never been a gamer, but I'm enjoying this history thereof.

https://youtu.be/B4jopG1wX88
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fernando on August 22, 2020, 08:45:37 PM
^ I'll definitely see that.

I saw Hulu's The Great a few months ago, if you don't get hooked in the first episode its probably not for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWaJ6pzrV5U

------------------

I don't know if someone has already mentioned Amazon's The Boys, second season premiers in two weeks, first season was pretty good.

This trailer is from season 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06rueu_fh30
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on August 22, 2020, 09:25:19 PM
I actually enjoyed The Great--particularly Elle Fanning's performance.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on August 24, 2020, 11:18:31 PM
Laugh and call me names if you must, but I really like this show.

https://youtu.be/3u7EIiohs6U
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: SaunchSmilax on August 26, 2020, 07:47:57 PM
Quote from: wilberfan on August 24, 2020, 11:18:31 PM
Laugh and call me names if you must, but I really like this show.

https://youtu.be/3u7EIiohs6U

NO LAUGHING HERE. Ted Lasso is so much fun for football lovers! Have you seen the NBC promos it's based on?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeG_i8CWE8
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on August 26, 2020, 07:54:39 PM
LOL.  Is the series based on that promo?  Or was the promo put together after the series was greenlit?  Both are really clever, I think.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: SaunchSmilax on August 26, 2020, 07:58:50 PM
Promo is from way back in 2013 when NBC first got the right to broadcast the Premier League. So...yup...a series based on a sport commercial...
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on August 27, 2020, 09:43:00 PM


When family outcast Lucky Flynn learns that his mother is dying, he decides to drive to the other side of Australia to see her, packing nothingbut an upright piano for the journey. But his plans are soon turned upside down when he meets the runaway teenager Meg, who's dealing with some family demons of her own. Together they forge an unlikely friendship, as they embark on a road-trip adventure across the Nullarbor Plains in a race against time. Over eight hot days, Lucky and Meg drive, hitch and scam their way across the scorching desert continent –with the upright piano never leaving their side -on a journey that will ultimately make them both feel more at peace with everything in life that they've been kicking against.

Spendid performances all around--especially from young Milly Alcock.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on September 25, 2020, 05:26:16 PM
Search Party - If you haven't caught this comedy, it's a murder mystery that takes itself into thriller territory without sacrificing the comedy that you would expect from producer Michael Showalter  (created by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, and Michael Showalter), starring Alia Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early, Meredith Hagner. V binge-able.

The Vow - Mind-spinning doc on the well documented NXIVM cult. An MLM style organization that created insidious behavior patterns and harmful psychology. Bizarre eccentricity, and scary how widespread its centers were for nearly two decades. I dig the more abstract visuals created with liquids and macrophotography throughout. Stresses me out, and gets weirder with each step (https://i.imgur.com/ZKQKZj0.png). 
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on September 25, 2020, 05:40:02 PM
Loving The Vow!  :shock:
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: jenkins on September 27, 2020, 10:13:23 PM
Quote from: wilberfan on August 16, 2020, 12:36:41 PM
Wilder put this up for a hot second--then took it down, but I took note and took a chance.   On paper this is a show I would ordinarily avoid like a world-wide respiratory virus, but based on his capsule review ("This show is so good"), I decided to take a chance.

Holy crap, I loved this thing!  Not your typical "unscripted" series--no competition, no ugly confrontations--it's very sweet and uplifting in a very gentle, supportive way.

And, as a bonus, I got to crush on Olivia for a few minutes.

I list it here again for benefit of the lurkers who hadn't heard of the show...

when i'm in a relationship what invariably happens is i'm forced to reckon with both my maleness and my overall um preference for the unusual. so now i'm being coaxed into watching things like the bill maher show and architectural youtube videos, the interests of my significant other, but also we're searching for common ground

as wbf described, this wouldn't normally be the kind of thing we're into, but we got into this. and frankly i learned about myself while watching it, similar to when Mark brought up marriage on his own second date, but when he was in dating class and someone brought up marriage he dropped his jaw and noticed the problem asap. it's like that with me too: it's easier to spot my own problems when i see them in other people. so their exposure of themselves exposed me to myself and we watched all five episodes and i heard somebody complain there isn't a second season yet
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: jenkins on September 30, 2020, 01:01:03 AM
Quote from: WorldForgot on September 25, 2020, 05:26:16 PM
Search Party - If you haven't caught this comedy, it's a murder mystery that takes itself into thriller territory without sacrificing the comedy that you would expect from producer Michael Showalter  (created by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, and Michael Showalter), starring Alia Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early, Meredith Hagner. V binge-able.

you know i was asked if i knew any shows and i lol'd before saying let me see what my internet movie friends mention so then when we watched the first episode of this show that has humor, i was looking for humor, and i guessed the perspective while explaining it based on my familiarity with showalter who has a recent reputation which is helpful because the state and stella were born esoteric but now they're historic too so you can be double-fucked when you mention them depending on the listener but anyway the first episode went over well enough that this show is now under consideration for further watching is what i hear
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: SaunchSmilax on October 02, 2020, 02:18:30 PM
Well the Ted Lasso finale was both delightful and infuriating.

Simply cannot wait for season 2 to explore The Championship.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on October 02, 2020, 02:22:18 PM
I would definitely have watched Ted Lasso by now if Apple wasn't so committed to making their content impossible to watch on a television without their specific streaming hardware.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Rooty Poots on October 02, 2020, 08:57:33 PM
Quote from: polkablues on October 02, 2020, 02:22:18 PM
I would definitely have watched Ted Lasso by now if Apple wasn't so committed to making their content impossible to watch on a television without their specific streaming hardware.

Huh? You don't need an Apple TV to stream Apple TV+. It runs on more hardware than HBO Max.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on October 02, 2020, 09:11:44 PM
Polka is probably referring to the limited number of smart TVs that Apple supports. I personally know someone who bought a new Mac and was excited to use their 1 year of free Apple TV Plus but never really used it because their primary TV was not supported.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Rooty Poots on October 02, 2020, 09:52:11 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on October 02, 2020, 09:11:44 PM
Polka is probably referring to the limited number of smart TVs that Apple supports. I personally know someone who bought a new Mac and was excited to use their 1 year of free Apple TV Plus but never really used it because their primary TV was not supported.

Rokus and Firesticks are pretty cheap! (Supported Smart TV list is growing, too!)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on October 03, 2020, 01:28:38 AM
I don't know. My streaming options are PS4 and Chromecast, and I haven't found a way to play Apple TV on either of those yet.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: PinkTeeth on November 02, 2020, 08:46:50 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WfZuNceFDM

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/arts/television/sassy-justice-south-park-deepfake.html

:bravo:
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on November 02, 2020, 08:55:19 PM
^also posted by JB in the YouTube findings thread, so now yall got something to talk about  ~
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on November 05, 2020, 10:01:53 PM
I'm enjoying this new series.  A nice lil' respite from our current shitstorm.

https://youtu.be/w7aSybHRa6s
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on November 05, 2020, 11:48:44 PM
^ yeah, typical to Fielder's history with projects, John Wilson bringz goofy poetry out of the mundane.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on November 08, 2020, 10:21:10 PM
I watched 3 episodes. The show is good, but I don't find John Wilson to be remotely funny. Just grating.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on November 21, 2020, 09:46:50 PM
Not a series, but I'm fascinated by creatives discussing their work.  I really enjoyed this.

https://youtu.be/BiWIuXh3m74
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Robyn on November 25, 2020, 02:14:03 PM
On my third viewing of Queen's Gambit.... it's too good.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on November 25, 2020, 02:14:48 PM
Just watched the 2nd episode last night.  Slow, but compelling.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on November 27, 2020, 06:22:57 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCNsx_NyNOU
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Drenk on November 27, 2020, 06:47:28 PM
Thank God for Nathan Fielder.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Robyn on November 28, 2020, 07:04:41 AM
"John started to send me more shots of bread"
"This is it! This is the show!"
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on November 30, 2020, 04:57:21 PM
The first two movies in Steve McQueen's Small Axe series are now on Prime. Lover's Rock in particular is phenomenal. Not perfect, but one of the most mesmerizingly joyful films I've seen in a while. Watch it.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Sleepless on December 03, 2020, 08:27:09 AM
LOVED this show. It's pitched almost as a comedic British X-Files but with ghosts instead of aliens, but it actually has a generous dose of Doctor Who DNA but with lots of swears. It's really fun and a great example of episodic storytelling. I just finished S1 this morning and I'm still on bit of a high from it. Treat yourself and give it a watch.

Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Alexandro on December 24, 2020, 10:14:24 AM
Quote from: Sleepless on November 30, 2020, 04:57:21 PM
The first two movies in Steve McQueen's Small Axe series are now on Prime. Lover's Rock in particular is phenomenal. Not perfect, but one of the most mesmerizingly joyful films I've seen in a while. Watch it.

Yep, I came here to ask about Small Axe because the first three episodes are so good that they feel like stand alone features, and strong enough to be up for all sorts of awards. I hear Mangrove is even being pushed for Academy consideration. I agree, Lovers Rock IS phenomenal. It turns a party into a levitating experience.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on December 27, 2020, 11:30:23 PM
I cannot believe there's a superhero-anything that I would have the slightest interest in watching.  But I'm actually enjoying The Boys, Season 01.  Why did I check it out?  Because of an enthusiastic recommendation from the likes of Quinn Cummings--the now grownup little girl from The Goodbye Girl (1977)--whose Twitter feed can be very clever.

https://youtu.be/06rueu_fh30

The Boys is an irreverent take on what happens when superheroes, who are as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians and as revered as Gods, abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good. It's the powerless against the super powerful as The Boys embark on a heroic quest to expose the truth about "The Seven", and their formidable Vought backing.

And, Jesus, this thing can get daaaaark... :shock:
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on December 28, 2020, 12:28:31 PM
 :shock:

You must have noticed the incessant advertising for that show all over the city the last two years in some capacity?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on December 28, 2020, 04:05:05 PM
Nope.  Had a Superhero Block Filter installed in the noggin' quite awhile ago.   But, seriously, it was a surprise to hear you say they've been up for 2 years.   I literally took no notice! 
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on December 28, 2020, 05:56:11 PM
Gosh, I'll need to install that at some point -- maybe once James Gunn and Raimi retire.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on February 01, 2021, 10:42:54 PM
https://youtu.be/FOZWutV0jwU

The Lady And The Dale explores the story of mysterious entrepreneur Elizabeth Carmichael, a trans woman who rose to prominence when she released a fuel-efficient three-wheeled vehicle during the 1970s gas crisis. The four part docuseries dives deep into the rise and fall of Liz's extraordinary life through fraud, family, identity and the pitfalls of the American Dream.

As a bonus, much of this docu-series takes place in 1974--during a certain gas crisis we've been spending some time thinking about recently.  ;-)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on February 05, 2021, 11:29:31 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEo0Slg5R-Y

This show is like hypnotherapy to me. I could listen to John Lurie speak on any topic for any length of time.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on March 19, 2021, 05:28:54 PM
SEARCH PARTY on HBO.

One of the most addictive television shows I've ever seen. I blew through the first season in the blink of an eye.

For all of the show's odd comedy, Alia Shawkat's performance is subtle and packs a huge punch.

I've been hearing buzz that this show "really goes places" so I'm excited to catch up through Season 4.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on March 19, 2021, 05:59:33 PM
Favorite gag iz still that Can Not Stop Eating Judge.
I adore the cast but didn't like the latest season much.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: jenkins on March 19, 2021, 06:01:12 PM
wf keyed me (and the board) in on it and i binged it with another person post-stabbing. it's not an existential type of really goes places it's just fun. i think the introductory part is what's stayed with me the longest
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Fuzzy Dunlop on March 19, 2021, 06:08:33 PM
Co-signing on all this, it's such a fun show. I hadn't binged a series in a while and I ended up watching all 4 seasons of this in a week (including a Sunday where I did all of S3 and S4).
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on March 24, 2021, 02:17:38 AM
Finished it. Seasons 1 and 2 are great, but Season 3 is an absolute masterpiece. Wow. Alia Shawkat is an acting god in Season 3. And I could watch John Early do anything for an indefinite number of hours. I love Search Party so much.

Season 4 is a mixed bag though. I see what they were going for, but I'm not sure it entirely worked for me...

Spoiler: ShowHide
They took a big swing with Dory's character. But I honestly don't think I'm convinced that she would have behaved that way. Was there anything at end of Season 3 indicating she would have climbed back in that trunk? Really? That she would have essentially self-hypnotized? Certainly Dory was haunted, but it's a long journey from there to being so tortured with guilt that you want to erase your consciousness. I didn't see that journey in this season.

So against all odds, I pretty much always wanted to exit Alia Shawkat's scenes. And Chip wore thin pretty fast for me. The rest of the cast (mostly John Early) had to carry the season, and they kind of did. Thankfully the non-Dory content in Season 4 was super strong.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on March 24, 2021, 06:49:30 PM
I almost forgot to call out the minutes-long Magnolia homage in Season 4. That was quite surreal.

Not a spoiler. You'll know it when you see it, though.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on March 24, 2021, 08:22:43 PM
 :yabbse-grin: lol
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on April 06, 2021, 10:05:08 PM
https://youtu.be/y5lX9o1skkY

A dark comedy following a thirtysomething woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to a controlling tech billionaire. Soon she discovers that her husband has implanted a monitoring device -- the Made for Love chip -- in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her and know her "emotional data" as she tries to regain her independence after taking refuge in her desert hometown with her aging widower father and his synthetic partner.

I'm only 2 eps in, but I'm enjoying the premise, the cast (especially Romano) and execution.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on April 11, 2021, 11:58:39 AM
Halfway through the final szn of Seinfeld U_U
It's been a constant companion for about two years now, I'm gonna miss it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMfUWnc_wMc

Will write up more thoughts after I finish; eward was right, the show hits an all new stride in its final seasonz.
Seinfeld's 9th szn episode THE BETRAYAL: a must watch.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on May 04, 2021, 12:09:31 AM
https://youtu.be/VQeMBorjeoQ
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on May 06, 2021, 10:51:45 PM
On paper this should NOT work for me--but the pilot made me laugh several times.  Tina Fey's fingerprints are on it, which is always a big plus for me.

https://youtu.be/WlUYv_EtEAg
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on May 14, 2021, 02:09:00 PM
You should go into this series, CAKE , knowing as little as possible so that the juxtapositionz in style and tone can catch you off guard. Anthology comedy series -- more than that, its talent has got the GOODZ.

Each ep feelz like you're at an indie film-fest for 30minutes. Even the interstitialz are inspiring. Do it up if you need a new comedy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ajVLlBNI3Y
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on June 13, 2021, 07:58:09 PM
Just finished 4 seasons of The Mike Tyson Mysteries.  (Was it jenkins that shouted about this show?  Fucking LOVED it.  Really gonna miss that one...)

About 3 episodes into this.  Another one of those shows that shouldn't interest me at all, but it works.

https://youtu.be/G89ndiYkmSs

Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on June 30, 2021, 12:12:47 AM
I've been watching Hanna. Highly recommend checking out at least the first 2 episodes, which are excellent and have a surprising emotional punch. At this point you'll definitely know whether the show is for you. It's basically an expanded version of the movie, with plenty of time to dwell on Hanna's inner life. Rather than feeling like it's milking material, it comes off as a more realistic and exploratory iteration of the story.

(on Amazon Prime)

Worth seeing just for the reunion of Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos. You will get heaps of Kinnaman, in fact.

Minor spoilers. The second season takes an unexpected approach. Nothing crazy, but it's a well-conceived soft reboot of sorts. I'm only a couple episodes in.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: ᾦɐļᵲʊʂ on July 06, 2021, 03:35:09 AM
Didn't see if it had its own thread, but I couldn't help myself and had to stay up to watch I Think You Should Leave season 2 premiering on Netflix tonight (well, this morning).

So glad that I did stay up because this is a fantastic follow up and well worth the wait.

Anyone else a fan of season 1 of catch season 2 yet?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on July 06, 2021, 06:14:33 PM
Thanks for the reminder! I loved season 1, so I'll watch this very soon...
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on July 25, 2021, 10:40:16 PM
https://youtu.be/znCNT-9k_Ws

The six-part series intimately captures the decade-long odyssey of surfing pioneer Garrett McNamara, who, after visiting Nazaré, Portugal in hopes of conquering a 100 foot wave, pushed the sport to ever-greater heights and alongside locals helped transform the small fishing village into the world's pre-eminent big-wave surfing destination.

Just watched episode 1.

Yikes.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Robyn on August 07, 2021, 07:13:45 AM
The Filmcast talked about this on several occasions, so I had to give it a shot. So it's about this guy trying to make a show, and each episode is about the making of the previously episode. It go to really weird kaufmanesque places. For example, in one episode there's a scene where him and his wife has a fight - not a documented fight in real time, but a reenacting of a real fight - so the next episode is then about how they made the reenacting of that fight, which leads to another fight because the wife feels it is unnecessary to include every single tidbit of their relationship, real lines from the real fight and stuff that's way too personal, etc. Sometimes the real actors are playing themselves, sometimes he have to cast different actors because people drops of when things turn complicated and weird. In short, it's a show about a man's descent into madness, and the great lengths he goes to make this show happening despite it basically destroying his personal life.

Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on August 07, 2021, 11:36:33 AM
Oh nice, I didn't know you were a Filmcast listener. That's where I heard about this too. I made a thread.

https://xixax.com/index.php?topic=14482.0
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Robyn on August 07, 2021, 01:00:55 PM
I only recently started listening to podcasts (used to be one of those anti-smartphone guys lol) and Filmcast is the one I'm obsessing over. Great humor and chemistry between them, and more often then not they have very interesting takes on things. Was listening to their Stowaway review today - a film I enjoyed to some degree, but they described it as some sort of masterpiece and brought up some really interesting things that completely went over my head on my first viewing. Made me wanna rewatch it instantly . 

Cool! I missed that thread. It's crazy how underrated it is when he is so committed to this whole thing. Highly recommend it to everyone here!
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on August 09, 2021, 06:49:54 PM
Quote from: Robyn on August 07, 2021, 01:00:55 PMI only recently started listening to podcasts (used to be one of those anti-smartphone guys lol) and Filmcast is the one I'm obsessing over. Great humor and chemistry between them, and more often then not they have very interesting takes on things. Was listening to their Stowaway review today - a film I enjoyed to some degree, but they described it as some sort of masterpiece and brought up some really interesting things that completely went over my head on my first viewing. Made me wanna rewatch it instantly.

I discovered that podcast after seeking out reviews of "Get Out." Their take on that film (with guest Aisha Harris) was just stunningly insightful, so I was instantly hooked. Became completely obsessed with the podcast and listened to their entire back catalogue from the very beginning, downloading mp3 files one-by-one on slashfilm.com.

Co-host Jeff Cannata has gone on to create The Dungeon Run (https://xixax.com/index.php?topic=14265.0), which is one of my favorite things ever. He's obviously a great podcaster but TDR unlocks his entire array of talents.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on September 06, 2021, 04:53:57 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POkrsNVkGNk

Loving this show so far. It's reminding me a lot of Atlanta, at least Atlanta's less surreal, more grounded episodes. Few shows are so good at capturing that specificity of culture and setting.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on September 06, 2021, 06:40:14 PM
I'm enjoying 'Dogs' as well.  Not very plot-heavy, we just spend a little time in their world each episode--getting to know everyone.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on September 20, 2021, 12:08:14 AM
https://youtu.be/Ud-VR7vqZyY
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on October 03, 2021, 11:06:10 PM
https://youtu.be/J4TT9Bh90nM

I enjoyed this--in that 70's & 80's decadent, Behind-the-Music rise and fall, kind of way.  (You may mock me at your convenience.)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on October 04, 2021, 07:39:54 PM
I watched Midnight Mass. It was boring enough that I probably fast-forwarded through 1/4 of the show, but I have to say that was a great way to watch it. The premise is a lot of fun, and it pays off gloriously. Definitely worth watching just for a few key scenes/moments.

If you plan on watching it, try to go in knowing NOTHING.

HUGE SPOILER


Spoiler: ShowHide
(https://i.imgur.com/lIVGxym.jpg)
This was so good. So, so good.


Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on October 15, 2021, 02:34:55 AM
After years of off-and-on viewing, I finally finished The Good Place. And I hated the finale.

Spoiler: ShowHide
Apparently the show was never actually interested in imagining "the good place." It was always going to be a lame metaphor. The end-your-existence door is just a stand-in for the uncertainty of death IRL. This would be fine (albeit still disappointing), except it doesn't make sense as a metaphor either. The message is what—embrace the mystery and off yourself when you're ready to go? What a mess.

The characters choose annihilation only because the writers couldn't conceive of a good place that works. I can think of a number of different good place concepts off the top of my head that wouldn't lead to a mass-suicide.

The problem is that a good place that works would probably be far enough beyond human understanding that it would require too much abstraction to describe on screen. In the end, this show has limited aesthetic parameters. It feels like the writers were never prepared to do anything imaginative with the real good place. We could've had something truly bonkers and original, but instead what we get is some kind of self-sabotaging jokey thing.

The "souls" as they move into the good place should presumably transcend their human form in some way. But no, everyone who gets to the good place is still locked in a human body with a biological human brain and all of its limitations. They're limited humans in a supernatural space that should be unlimited. How is this a "good place" at all? The good place is boring to an extent that strains credulity—how do none of the characters have the imagination to create anything beyond facsimiles of earth? And why are they still obsessed with tiny dumb earth things when they have access to higher-dimensional knowledge and power? They should be out there painting the sky with their dreams (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXOGgu0MuCs) or something.

Arriving at the actual good place should come with some baseline level of transcendence or consciousness expansion, but there's really none of that. In this show's worldbuilding, the version of you that's on earth, in the bad place, in limbo, and in the good place are all pretty much the same. That strange choice—deciding that a soul has the limitations of human consciousness—prevents them from depicting a good place that makes any sense.

In fact, I was hoping for a reveal that this was actually another bad place. That's the only way I can make sense of the characters drinking the Flavor Aid and obliterating their souls.

This reddit comment sums it up well:

QuoteThe Soul Squad arrives and fixes the Bad Place by turning it into a rehabilitation center to get people ready for the Good Place where they will learn how to become incredibly bored. To solve that problem they fix the Good Place by adding a door that ends people's existence.

They turned the afterlife into a suicide machine.

And you can't convince me that the soul obliteration door represents enlightenment. All they've done in the good place is run simulations and narrow-mindedly fixate on their relationship with their parents or whatever. Because they're still somehow just dumb humans with flawed motivations and bad priorities.

All in all, cowardly creative choices were made, and it landed with a thud. I could not be more disappointed.


I think I might even regret investing in this show past season 1. The flashes of brilliance kept me going, but a tiring formula emerged — zoom in on character having epiphany, start a new quest, which sort of works but then falls into crisis. Zoom in on character as they realize how to solve the crisis. Repeat... endlessly and aimlessly.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Robyn on October 15, 2021, 03:31:26 AM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on October 04, 2021, 07:39:54 PM
I watched Midnight Mass. It was boring enough that I probably fast-forwarded through 1/4 of the show, but I have to say that was a great way to watch it. The premise is a lot of fun, and it pays off gloriously. Definitely worth watching just for a few key scenes/moments.

If you plan on watching it, try to go in knowing NOTHING.

HUGE SPOILER


Spoiler: ShowHide
(https://i.imgur.com/lIVGxym.jpg)
This was so good. So, so good.


Goddamn Flanagan to make me invested enough that I kept watching even when it got scary.

I liked it more than you and didn't find it boring at all. Some scenes absolutely destroyed me.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on October 25, 2021, 11:28:33 PM
These are currently the two shows I most look forward to each week for new episodes.

https://youtu.be/EzrLrUG2QVk

https://youtu.be/rtipQ3EsGWo
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on October 25, 2021, 11:43:12 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on October 04, 2021, 07:39:54 PM
I watched Midnight Mass. It was boring enough that I probably fast-forwarded through 1/4 of the show, but I have to say that was a great way to watch it. The premise is a lot of fun, and it pays off gloriously. Definitely worth watching just for a few key scenes/moments.

It was mostly really good, in the exact same way that all of Flanagan's stuff is mostly really good, but this tweet absolutely nails it:
https://twitter.com/MisterSniffen/status/1452324651653345296
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on December 13, 2021, 09:21:37 PM
https://youtu.be/WYSpdaYTW1Y

I really enjoyed this 4-episoder.  Coleman and Thewlis are amazing.  There are some odd stylistic choices that will either work for you or not.  (They worked for me.)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 09, 2022, 11:32:49 PM
Twitch streamers have been watching Gordon Ramsay shows for years, so I knew they were eventually going to discover the sublime glossy insanity of MasterChef. That glorious moment arrived in December, with a ton of top streamers binging and obsessing over the show. Currently sort of background watching Hasan's reactions to Season 3, a season I remember quite well even though it was 10 years ago.

I love the analysis of the production meta-game. It's also interesting to see how much casual sexism and racism was on television back then, although it was clearly some kind of tipping point where it's controversial enough to cause a stir but acceptable enough to include in the show. It's also nice to see my crush on Felix Fang validated; Hasan and xQc, and their viewers, all went absolutely out of their minds for her.

Fox Television eventually DMCA'd them, but it's all still on YouTube. Hasan's videos, at least. (I can't stand xQc and honestly don't see the appeal.)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Robyn on January 10, 2022, 12:20:00 AM
Ah! I watched all MasterChef seasons 4-5 years ago. The Australian version is fun too, although it's a lot more down to earth lol.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 11, 2022, 05:31:58 PM
https://twitter.com/MirandoFrank/status/224552286523883520

One added benefit of the MasterChef react streams is learning the lore of each eliminated contestant. This one was quite unfortunate though. Frank (left) was one of the nicest and most honorable guys in the entirety of Season 3; I can still barely believe what I'm seeing here. Guy on the right (his name is Bubba, but you already knew that) had visible confederate tattoos in his audition but they put him through anyway. That's 2012 for you.

Oh and they also had Paula Deen on season 3, after her multitude of scandals (though probably filmed before). I remember thinking that was insane at the time.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 12, 2022, 03:45:24 PM
Season 5 of Search Party, the final season, is really something. I was a little bored in the middle, perhaps due to not enough John Early. My God does it stick the landing, though. Bold choices.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on January 12, 2022, 04:24:26 PM
Submitted for eye-rolls, my favorite thing I've seen on any screen probably since LP in early November.   I LOVE this show.

https://youtu.be/ZkbH1zjsM7g
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 12, 2022, 04:27:26 PM
No eye-rolls here. Yellowstone is supposed to be one of the best shows on TV. So this is a spinoff?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on January 12, 2022, 04:59:46 PM
Yellowstone is one of those shows that's supposedly massively popular, but I don't know a single person who's ever mentioned watching it. Is this a sign of my coastal elitism?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on January 12, 2022, 05:40:30 PM
Seasons 2 & 3 of Yellowstone are all right. They start to deal with more of the aspects apart from feuds, such as the PTSD that constant violence can bring to a family dynamic and how it can color attitudes of capital cynicism. But the latest, season 4, was trite and started to loop back in on itself, rehashing themes it had done better in the previous three. It's a family dynasty ranch soap opera where Taylor Sheridan casts himself as a rodeo superstar.

What's interesting about the show is that it's completely integrated within rodeo culture, its actors are the "real deal"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzVyuehz5CU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHXPJWwiI2M

Something else Season 4 did was make each teaser / cold open tie in to either 1883's premiere or the upcoming 6666 series. Premiere-cable cowboy franchising and doesn't take any risks (aside from rodeo stunts performed by peeps that live that ish) so as to keep growing its base.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on January 12, 2022, 05:51:05 PM
1883 is a "prequel" to Yellowstone, telling the story of the Dutton Family and how they came to be in Montana.  Yellowstone has gotten hokier and more telenovela over the four tv seasons, but it's still a fun watch for me. 

1883 is lightyears better--which really caught me by surprise.  I expected more Yellowstoniness, but that hasn't happened so far.   One critic called it the best western on TV since "Lonesome Dove"--and I'm not prepared to disagree at this point.   If nothing else, I'm ready to start my own church and start worshiping the God that is Sam Elliott.  (Or even just his mustache in the event of legal proceedings).   

I've probably oversold it by now, but it's honestly exciting to wake up on Sundays knowing there's a fresh episode coming that evening... I had to look up how many episodes there were in this first season, and try and figure out how to watch them more slowly--just so it would all last as long as possible....
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 12, 2022, 05:56:40 PM
Why has Sam Elliott been the same age for 30 years?
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on January 12, 2022, 06:07:56 PM
I guess he and Paul Rudd share diet tips or something.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 14, 2022, 01:09:17 AM
There's so much insane lore in MasterChef Season 4. But this one takes the cake.

Celeb Chef Lidia Bastianich Accused Of Enslaving An Italian Chef (https://gothamist.com/food/celeb-chef-lidia-bastianich-accused-of-enslaving-an-italian-chef)
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on January 18, 2022, 10:13:12 PM
Ricky Gervais has been mostly hit, but occasionally miss for me ("Extras" is one of my fav shows ever.)

Third season of After Life just started, and I'm quite fond of it.

https://youtu.be/eIGGKSHMQOM
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on January 18, 2022, 11:15:40 PM
Is my find-fu weak?  How has EUPHORIA not been mentioned yet?

I bailed on it the first time I sampled after reading several mentions of a heavy PTA style in a few episodes, but gave it another try last week after it's resurfaced in my feeds again (a new season I guess?).

I'm hooked.   S01E04 has a heavy MAGNOLIA vibe--that I'm lovin'. 

https://youtu.be/SfrZXpG63cw
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: WorldForgot on January 19, 2022, 10:59:37 AM
It was nominated for Best One Hour TV Show in the Xixax 2020 awards, and lost to Succession unfortunately.

Latest ep needle-dropped the best song of 2021; and though they're spreading their scripts thin, finally Lexi has a 3-dimensional character. These days my favorite episode is Rue's "special" at the diner with her sponsor.

Quote from: polkablues on August 21, 2019, 04:20:13 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMUD0_TTg0

This is really good, for what it's worth. Created by the guy who made Assassination Nation, and in many ways it feels like an evolution of that movie (a handful of scenes feel almost like direct remakes of scenes from the film). If you liked Assassination Nation, you should love this show, and if you didn't like Assassination Nation, you're wrong, but also you should give the show a shot anyway.

Zendaya, it should be stated, is amazing in this. She's by far the best actor to ever come out of the Disney Channel factory.

Quote from: WorldForgot on August 21, 2019, 04:22:11 PM
^Beautiful show. The De Palma nodz are plentiful, including an episode that ends its Blow-Out inspired celebration-cum-mayhem with Pino Donaggio's score from Roeg's DONT LOOK NOW. Also, the way it handles transworld contradictions iz more than necessary, a humanist genre-approach that you can only do when stylized as this show iz

Quote from: jenkins on August 21, 2019, 04:40:22 PM
i barely watch tv and i know it's the second best series this year, after Fleabag. it's created by the writer/director of Assassination Nation yeah, Sam Levinson, who is the son of Barry. he's just got the good fight in him from what i can tell

im going to keep watching  The Righteous Gemstones in order to hang out with my roommate, but it's not a best series this year. it's just so familiar you know. oh Southern shit sucks but no wait look at this. you know
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: wilberfan on January 21, 2022, 02:57:20 PM
(Carrie) Coon Alert:

https://youtu.be/wKj1cMz3yfI
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on February 04, 2022, 02:35:25 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibxKEqxARkE

Four episodes in, and I'm hooked. It's a slow burn, at least to start out, but the mysteries are unerringly compelling, and it's permeated with the most deeply unsettling mood of any series I've watched since maybe the "No End House" season of Channel Zero. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (the guys who made The Endless) directed a few episodes, and the show feels very much of a piece with their work, both in tone and content. I can't wait to see where the season goes.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: HACKANUT on February 04, 2022, 11:24:17 AM
They filmed some stuff for this here in Pittsburgh. My buddies record store (attic records) supplied all the vinyl! We skipped around a few episodes the other night looking for their branded slip mats (prop dept said they used them as much as possible if a scene had a turntable) but couldn't find any.

Glad to hear it's a good show! It seemed to be shot really well.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: csage97 on June 17, 2022, 10:42:28 PM
I've been feeling kind of cynical about shows lately. Certainly there is good stuff out there, but a lot of the stuff I like just ends up getting cancelled. Dirk Gently, Truth Seekers ....

I gave Search Party a try and really loved about 90% of the first season. The ending got a little bit odd in an almost uncanny way (like the Connecticut scenes in that Noah Baumbach movie Mistress America), and the beginning of the second season felt like that, so haven't watched that again. I watched a season and a half of The Leftovers, and it's pretty good but just didn't hold my interest (not a fan of that trope where a character hallucinates the existence of another character and we're shown that imagined character on screen). Watched season one of Peaky Blinders, and it's pretty good, but not outstanding.

Maybe I'll try some of the other recommendations here.

Edit: Oh yeah, Barry is really awesome. Haven't gotten around to watching the second season of that show, but that's one that's really great.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: ono on June 21, 2022, 01:49:40 AM
Barry just gets more and more bonkers.  The S3 finale was nothing short of amazing.  There are some missteps in the writing IMO, but if you can suspend your disbelief, it's fine.  And Barry goes down smooth, so it makes for a fun rewatch.  I'm on my third time through now.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on August 08, 2022, 03:24:53 AM
It's overwhelming to have Better Call Saul, Westworld, and The Rehearsal all on at the same time. And they will all be wrapping up soon. Then I guess I'll just stare into the void.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: polkablues on August 08, 2022, 03:31:56 AM
Players, the new series by the guys who did American Vandal, is very solid and worth checking out. Recommended for fans of any combination of: American Vandal, Silicon Valley, and Netflix sports documentary series.
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on January 14, 2023, 03:34:10 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0oqHq0T1bI&list=PLR3QQaw7JuhspjY-rzLy-ZDkPgL_oFAm5&index=1

The Joe Schmo Show is one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen. People usually compare it to The Truman Show or something from the Nathan Fielder universe, and that's accurate. But for me this is a better description: it's like Burning Love (https://xixax.com/index.php?topic=12615.0) except one of the cast members is a real person. The subject believes he's on an actual reality TV show, but everything is meticulously scripted around him with improv actors (one of whom is a pre-SNL Kristen Wiig) actively guiding the plot while delivering pre-written lines and speeches.

In the end, it's a super effective skewering of reality TV, while also being reality TV, in a manner way ahead of its time. A secondary objective, and perhaps the more fascinating one, is putting their "Joe Schmo" through a series of moral challenges, giving him room to make himself the hero if he chooses the right path. (I've watched seasons 1 and 2; neither are exploitative or mean-spirited).

Clearly The Joe Schmo Show (especially Season 2) was a heavy inspiration for Burning Love. It actually verges on plagiarism at times. They even carry over an actor (Natasha Leggero in S2) playing the exact same character!
Title: Re: What shows are you watching?
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on March 13, 2023, 08:15:14 PM
Coming from a show-only perspective, the finale of The Last of Us was very disappointing. I didn't believe a single plot point in the episode. This is a great example of when "contrived" writing is actually a meaningfully bad thing. Most of what happens in this episode is just scaffolding for something else and doesn't hold up on its own. And it's all bad enough the one thing they were supposed to pull off doesn't really land.

Spoiler: ShowHide
Every action taken by the Fireflies and Marlene just doesn't make sense. There's no way the Firefly doctor would immediately execute Ellie. Can we not run some experiments? Isn't she the first specimen of her kind? You're not going to test any of your hypotheses or explore other possibilities? For example, maybe Ellie could pass immunity on to offspring. But no, there's no curiosity, it's just "give brain."

And what was Marlene's plan? Set Joel loose while Ellie is being prepped for surgery? Then just hope for the best? Give me a break. It's like she's subconsciously sabotaging the whole thing. She specifically acknowledged how powerful Joel was – that he's more deadly and capable than her whole army — and then in the very next breath sends him off with two of these randos. What did she have going on that was more important? Clearly you have to shackle him until the deed is done, or just execute him because you know you'll never be safe from his wrath. Marlene is now a joke of a character to me.

It's all to set up the trolley problem that the whole story hinges on. But it didn't seem like much of a conundrum to me. The answer to this supposed moral quandary is simple – the operation shouldn't be done without Ellie's consent, and Joel was right to rescue her from these idiot butchers. With Ellie still alive, it can always be done later, likely with a more competent doctor. In fact this one probably would have failed, judging by his total lack of scientific rigor.

The more interesting question is whether Joel should have lied to Ellie. But even that fell flat for me, because his lie was so weak and she clearly doesn't believe him, and if she does even a little it's not going to last.

A bunch of random small stuff in the episode was also nonsensical. So... Marlene left this baby + pocket knife combo on Fedra's doorstep, and they did what with that exactly? Did they file the pocket knife in their vault with a note saying "this pocket knife of great sentimental value goes with X baby, return to baby when old enough"?

Also when Marlene gives baby Ellie to her henchman and says "cover her ears," this guy just... doesn't do it. Is that canonical or not? They didn't care about the details.