What TV series do you like?

[simonsez]

We started season two of White Lotus which is living up to season one so far. Also, gorgeous. Plus Aubrey Plaza has the best sneer on television.

I gave up on the first season. I just didn't like it.

Just finished the first season.  And I will probably watch the second season for the guilty pleasure/rich people behaving badly shenanigans.

But I am a little baffled by the hype surrounding the first season.  There were some very funny moments and it had something (unsurprising) to say about rich white people vacationing in other cultures. But the "mystery" was super lame and made for a disappointing ending, and Jennifer Coolidge's story line was oddly thin and predictable.

Agreed, just finished S1 last night.  I've heard from co-workers that S2 is more enjoyable and it is a show that my wife and I watch together so I'll def give it a chance.  But yeah, S1 was just so frustrating!

Spoiler: show

Belinda's storyline in the finale was garbage IMO.  I'm not sure how much was in the envelope Tanya gave her but she expressed no gratitude.  You work at a spa at a resort.  The thought of going into business for herself hadn't dawned on her until Tanya told her to?  And then when an obviously imbalanced person doesn't jump through all the hoops to get the business set up for you and instead hands you 50k? 100k? so that you can do it yourself it's still a 'woe is me'.  Add on to that, she played the role of psychiatrist/therapist for Tanya throughout her stay and Tanya clearly makes a big breakthrough in how she is going to live in a more sustainable and less stressful way moving forward and Belinda can only focus on Tanya not getting a business going for her.  C'mon Belinda, take the win!  Or if you want to tell Tanya what you think and what your feelings have been for the past week, reject the envelope and DO IT.

Rachel's storyline in the finale was pretty consistent with the rest of the season.  More frustration porn!  I despise Shane but how did Rachel not foresee any of this (what this life would be like) beforehand?  Or maybe their life was pretty good UNTIL the resort (even with the "5 month wedding") and it fell apart - which, if that's the case then maybe wait until you're away from the resort.  Besides, they were separated for a day but to what end?  All they do is reconcile anyway.  We don't know if Rachel will continue the listicle career or not - that working while on the honeymoon was just an odd distraction since nothing came of it.  She's aware of her current lack of agency but...chooses to not change that.  Okay.

Armand was great and the acting evolution over the season was enjoyable.  I've never done any hard drugs but I have to admit he, Hutch, and Dylan did make it look fun in the finale.  "Best dinner seating ever!!!" while in a frenzied coked out state made me chortle.

I was bummed by the Paula/Kai storyline.  Paula is quick to point out the privilege of the family taking her on vacation but she clearly doesn't go out of her way to follow up with Kai (or come clean to Mossbachers) to try to reduce whatever prison time he is looking at.  It was another instance that she could've explained the person-of-color perspective(s) that led her down a dark path to begin with but instead she can just use her privilege to wipe her hands clean and leave Hawaii with no legal record.

I enjoy the satire overall but feel the writing could be improved upon.  Too many gimmicky plot lines or unsatisfying conclusions (which maybe the lack of catharsis is part of the point and hence, a lack of communication and frustration everywhere)

[Tyson]

Jack Ryan

How can this show be this bad?  I really liked the Jack Ryan movies with Harrison Ford about this character, and I like several of the actors they have in the new series.  Plus Amazon spent a ton of money on it.  So I went in with high expectations.

I'm 6 episodes in and this show is.... not good.  The acting is poor, the scripting is obvious and blunt, but the worst thing about it is the lighting and cinematography are terrible.  It looks bad.

No, correction, it doesn't just look bad.  It looks cheap.  Like an average show on CBS, all of which have that cheap daytime soap-opera look and feel.  Bleh.

I'm hoping things get better as we go along but so far its a big steaming pile of crap.

[mspym]

Jack Ryan

How can this show be this bad?  I really liked the Jack Ryan movies with Harrison Ford about this character, and I like several of the actors they have in the new series.  Plus Amazon spent a ton of money on it.  So I went in with high expectations.

I'm 6 episodes in and this show is.... not good.  The acting is poor, the scripting is obvious and blunt, but the worst thing about it is the lighting and cinematography are terrible.  It looks bad.

No, correction, it doesn't just look bad.  It looks cheap.  Like an average show on CBS, all of which have that cheap daytime soap-opera look and feel.  Bleh.

I'm hoping things get better as we go along but so far its a big steaming pile of crap.

It won’t. The first season was so-so, the second was worse and somehow there is a third. I have no idea how my husband can make himself watch it but he’s a completionist, even while complaining about how terrible something is.

[brandon1827]

@Tyson and @mspym

Out of curiosity...what would you consider a good show? I just need a frame of reference, lol

[Tyson]

@Tyson and @mspym

Out of curiosity...what would you consider a good show? I just need a frame of reference, lol

For a spy show, I really liked Homeland. 

Outside the spy genre, I recently watched (and really liked) Severance on Apple TV. 

Edit to add:  In the spy genre, I also really liked the snarky/funny/clever show Patriot on Amazon Prime.  Very Coen-esk.

[EscapeVelocity2020]

Jack Reacher > Jack Bauer > Jack Ryan ...  Jason Bourne is somewhere between Reacher and Bauer :)

[chevy1956]

Just finished slow horses. It's really good. A modern spy story.

[Metalcat]

@Tyson and @mspym

Out of curiosity...what would you consider a good show? I just need a frame of reference, lol

For a spy show, I really liked Homeland. 

Outside the spy genre, I recently watched (and really liked) Severance on Apple TV. 

Edit to add:  In the spy genre, I also really liked the snarky/funny/clever show Patriot on Amazon Prime.  Very Coen-esk.

Patriot is one of the most underrated shows of all time.

I was recently offered a job largely thanks to my opinions on that show, lol.

[FIRE Artist]

@Tyson and @mspym

Out of curiosity...what would you consider a good show? I just need a frame of reference, lol

For a spy show, I really liked Homeland. 

Outside the spy genre, I recently watched (and really liked) Severance on Apple TV. 

Edit to add:  In the spy genre, I also really liked the snarky/funny/clever show Patriot on Amazon Prime.  Very Coen-esk.

Patriot is one of the most underrated shows of all time.

I was recently offered a job largely thanks to my opinions on that show, lol.

I agree on this assessment of Patriot. I find myself chuckling just thinking about it.

[sui generis]

Watching "Escape at Dannemora" a miniseries about a real jailbreak.  We're about halfway through and I think it's pretty well done.  After I watch it I'll be interested to look up the real people a bit.  Patricia Arquette's characterization of Tilly Mitchell, especially.

[Fresh Bread]

Just finished Succession series 3. The finale was fabulous. Can't wait for the next one.

In the meantime, what other series can I watch with dysfunctional billionaire families?

[Metalcat]

Just finished Succession series 3. The finale was fabulous. Can't wait for the next one.

In the meantime, what other series can I watch with dysfunctional billionaire families?

The Crown?

[Fresh Bread]

Just finished Succession series 3. The finale was fabulous. Can't wait for the next one.

In the meantime, what other series can I watch with dysfunctional billionaire families?

The Crown?

Ha ha, of course. I can't bring myself to watch the latest season yet though. It feels a bit icky and all too recent to be dramatised. I know it's a lifetime ago but I feel like 1990 was ten years ago.

[Metalcat]

Just finished Succession series 3. The finale was fabulous. Can't wait for the next one.

In the meantime, what other series can I watch with dysfunctional billionaire families?

The Crown?

Ha ha, of course. I can't bring myself to watch the latest season yet though. It feels a bit icky and all too recent to be dramatised. I know it's a lifetime ago but I feel like 1990 was ten years ago.

It's also just not very good.

[RWTL]

Just finished binging The Bear on Hulu.   Good acting.  I was initially put off by all the yelling, but settled in to it as I got to know the characters.

[Metalcat]

Just finished binging The Bear on Hulu.   Good acting.  I was initially put off by all the yelling, but settled in to it as I got to know the characters.

I haven't seen it yet, but as a former chef, endless yelling sounds accurate.

[mspym]

Just finished Succession series 3. The finale was fabulous. Can't wait for the next one.

In the meantime, what other series can I watch with dysfunctional billionaire families?

The Crown?

Billions?

[sui generis]

Just finished Succession series 3. The finale was fabulous. Can't wait for the next one.

In the meantime, what other series can I watch with dysfunctional billionaire families?

The Crown?

Billions?

Yellowstone?

Just read an interesting article in The Atlantic on Yellowstone and it said the two shows are alike in many many ways, but one gets way more viewers and the other gets way more critical attention.  Haven't watched either of them, but thought that was intriguing.

[jade]

Just finished the best thing I've seen in ages "our flag means death" by taika waititi. I'm in the UK and it's on iPlayer but lots of American actors in it too and taika is a kiwi so I'm guessing it'll be on other platforms. Funny, empathetic, deep and just great!

[Warlord1986]

Just finished the best thing I've seen in ages "our flag means death" by taika waititi. I'm in the UK and it's on iPlayer but lots of American actors in it too and taika is a kiwi so I'm guessing it'll be on other platforms. Funny, empathetic, deep and just great!

OFMD is a ton of fun. Who would have thought that gay middle aged pirates made for such great tv? I think I read somewhere it's been renewed for a second season. Can't wait! I want more Lucius.

[jade]

Just finished the best thing I've seen in ages "our flag means death" by taika waititi. I'm in the UK and it's on iPlayer but lots of American actors in it too and taika is a kiwi so I'm guessing it'll be on other platforms. Funny, empathetic, deep and just great!

OFMD is a ton of fun. Who would have thought that gay middle aged pirates made for such great tv? I think I read somewhere it's been renewed for a second season. Can't wait! I want more Lucius.

I know...! ☠️ Absolutely brilliant. I read that too about the second season so hopefully!
"They broke my favourite nose jar"!!! Yees.. love Lucius!

[EscapeVelocity2020]

I'd completely forgotten about OFMD!  Giant grin on my face just thinking about Rhys Darby!  I go back to Flight of the Conchords from time to time.  I'd love to have a second season, but I'm not sure if they could pull it off...

[Warlord1986]

Lucius was a gift.

I just googled it and they finished wrapping on season 2 not too long ago. :)

[jade]

Good to meet other OFMD fans Warlord1986 & EscapeVelocity2020.. I knew there had to be more of us out there!

Roll on series 2! I know.. series 1 is a lot to top. Rhys Darby is the man. 👊

[brandon1827]

I'm also a huge OFMD fan! I love Rhys Darby going back to his 'Murray' on Flight of the Conchords. Wife and I binged OFMD and absolutely loved it. Can't wait for season 2!

[jade]

I'm also a huge OFMD fan! I love Rhys Darby going back to his 'Murray' on Flight of the Conchords. Wife and I binged OFMD and absolutely loved it. Can't wait for season 2!

It's the best, isn't it brandon1827?!

[Sandi_k]

I'm also a huge OFMD fan! I love Rhys Darby going back to his 'Murray' on Flight of the Conchords. Wife and I binged OFMD and absolutely loved it. Can't wait for season 2!

We're huge fans of Taika Watiti - but as far as I can tell, this is only available via HBO.

Any other possible sources we're missing?

[EscapeVelocity2020]

I've dropped everything to watch 'Our Flag Means Death'.  It's a bit of Black Adder, Flight of the Conchords, and Monty Python...  fingers crossed.

I remember this day well, even though I'd completely forgotten all about it :)

[jade]

I'm also a huge OFMD fan! I love Rhys Darby going back to his 'Murray' on Flight of the Conchords. Wife and I binged OFMD and absolutely loved it. Can't wait for season 2!

We're huge fans of Taika Watiti - but as far as I can tell, this is only available via HBO.

Any other possible sources we're missing?

Us too.. he's brilliant isn't he?!

I'm not sure.

[jade]

I've dropped everything to watch 'Our Flag Means Death'.  It's a bit of Black Adder, Flight of the Conchords, and Monty Python...  fingers crossed.

I remember this day well, even though I'd completely forgotten all about it :)

Ha! :) It's so good when you realise your watching TV gold.

[evme]

Mrs. America (Hulu -- originally aired on FX). This is a terrific limited series starring Cate Blanchett about the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. It has some of the writers who worked on Mad Men and it shows.

[chevy1956]

Nearly finished Dark Winds. I reckon it's really good.

[iris lily]

Just finished slow horses. It's really good. A modern spy story.

i wondered if tgat was any good.
I’m watching Tara on Apple TV. I have finished Ted Lasso, as well as severance. I think Karen is pretty gripping, but I don’t know if I can go through three seasons of it. Anyway, I’m rambling, but I would like to get rid of my Apple TV subscription.

[Metalcat]

I watched Fleishman is in Trouble and I'm still a little agitated about it.

It's good, it's actually quite well written, well produced, and very, very well acted. It's Jesse Eisenberg and Clare Danes and all about their mess of a divorce.

However, it left a really, really sour taste in my mouth by the end, which is funny, because I think it's meant to end on a really sweet tone.

I won't spoiler the details, but consider this a spoiler of the overall point of the show.

Essentially the message by the end is to just accept that marriage is kind of crap. You will never get back the excitement and romance of your youth, and your early years together when everything was possible, nor in the future will you ever get back the relative youth and excitement of the present, so you might as well just hunker down in your perfectly mediocre life, which doesn't make you happy, and be grateful.

That's not really the message, it's all about appreciating what you have, but that's not *exactly* how I took it.

I watched the last few episodes with DH and we just kept looking at each other and saying "that is so not our experience of marriage."

Maybe because we have a ton of excitement? Way more than our 20s actually, and substantially more romance and fun than when we first dated 20 years ago, but the whole premise just sat like sour milk for us.

It was still an enjoyable show though, and Clare Danes is magnificent in it. It was really only the messaging that came through in the last episode that left me feeling kind of agitated.

[mspym]

Thanks to this thread, we've started watching Patriot and it's *so good*

[Metalcat]

Thanks to this thread, we've started watching Patriot and it's *so good*

Oh, and it *will* get better.

[Metalcat]

5 Days at Memorial

I have issues with the book it's based on. The medical and legal analysis of the author is embarrassing on both fronts, but I think the show does a fairly good job of mitigating some of it in the adaptation.

That stuff aside, the show is extremely well done. It really illustrates the feel of the desperation and chaos that happened after Katrina. It also honours just how heroic the medical staff were. There were scenes where my jaw was literally dropped at what they did for their patients under just apocalyptic conditions.

Vera Farmiga is always such a fucking powerhouse. I remain, as always, shocked that she isn't more famous.

I highly, highly recommend it. But I also highly recommend reading the critique of the legal and medical analysis of the source material. It is important in the later episodes and what is implied about the integrity of the legal case.

[Luke Warm]

5 Days at Memorial

I have issues with the book it's based on. The medical and legal analysis of the author is embarrassing on both fronts, but I think the show does a fairly good job of mitigating some of it in the adaptation.

That stuff aside, the show is extremely well done. It really illustrates the feel of the desperation and chaos that happened after Katrina. It also honours just how heroic the medical staff were. There were scenes where my jaw was literally dropped at what they did for their patients under just apocalyptic conditions.

Vera Farmiga is always such a fucking powerhouse. I remain, as always, shocked that she isn't more famous.

I highly, highly recommend it. But I also highly recommend reading the critique of the legal and medical analysis of the source material. It is important in the later episodes and what is implied about the integrity of the legal case.

I agree that it was worth a watch but I thought the ending was lame. Did I miss something? The confrontation at the end seemed unnecessary. Overall the show was powerful.

[Metalcat]

5 Days at Memorial

I have issues with the book it's based on. The medical and legal analysis of the author is embarrassing on both fronts, but I think the show does a fairly good job of mitigating some of it in the adaptation.

That stuff aside, the show is extremely well done. It really illustrates the feel of the desperation and chaos that happened after Katrina. It also honours just how heroic the medical staff were. There were scenes where my jaw was literally dropped at what they did for their patients under just apocalyptic conditions.

Vera Farmiga is always such a fucking powerhouse. I remain, as always, shocked that she isn't more famous.

I highly, highly recommend it. But I also highly recommend reading the critique of the legal and medical analysis of the source material. It is important in the later episodes and what is implied about the integrity of the legal case.

I agree that it was worth a watch but I thought the ending was lame. Did I miss something? The confrontation at the end seemed unnecessary. Overall the show was powerful.

Yeah, I'm just watching the last episodes now, but I know how sideways the book goes at this point in the story, so I expect the series to be similar from what I've read about it.

I actually think most people could just stop watching the show at the point Dr. Pou's arrest. The "facts" of the case as presented in the book are largely made up. This is where it goes from being a true story to a fiction inspired by true events.

It's like watching two totally different shows, one powerful, trenchant, educational, and moving, and then a cheezy legal drama that is quite obviously exaggerated, wonky bullshit.

It's actually quite interesting to see how the show goes from hyperrealism to schmaltzy legal drama as the source material goes from factual to fantasy. The legal drama part doesn't feel real because it isn't. The conversations between the investigators just aren't ringing true at all.

[SaucyAussie]

Just FYI, when you want to talk about how a show ends, that's a good use of the spoiler tags.

[Metalcat]

Just FYI, when you want to talk about how a show ends, that's a good use of the spoiler tags.

Fair enough. Although the plot was so inte sely covered in the news, I didn't exactly think it was a spoiler.

[Tyson]

Just FYI, when you want to talk about how a show ends, that's a good use of the spoiler tags.

Fair enough. Although the plot was so inte sely covered in the news, I didn't exactly think it was a spoiler.

Some of us don't watch or read the news.

[Metalcat]

Just FYI, when you want to talk about how a show ends, that's a good use of the spoiler tags.

Fair enough. Although the plot was so inte sely covered in the news, I didn't exactly think it was a spoiler.

Some of us don't watch or read the news.

Good point, but for this particular show, I wouldn't recommend going in blind. I personally think knowledge of the reality of the case is important context for watching the show.

[Metalcat]

Unbelievable on Netflix

I would like to start a petition that all competent detectives portrayed on tv and in movies from here on out must always, with no exception, be played by Toni Collette and Merritt Wever.

Wever, in particular, gave a damn master class on portraying a stoic cop. The nuance, the body language, all of it, I 100% believed every single second that I was watching an on-duty detective.

This is the BEST detective show I have ever seen and I don't even love detective shows. It's an extraordinary plot with an astounding cast. Even every minor role is cast with an actor of repute and substance. AND!!! It's a true story.

I've seen before that it's incredibly well reviewed but never got around to watching it because I don't love detective shows and find almost every portrayal of rape on tv to be exploitative trauma-porn, but this isn't. It's handled with such authenticity and respect for the experience of the victims.

It's just a really, really great detective show. It's a shame that it hasn't gotten to the fame and recognition that it should. People should have been raving about this show for years. It makes True Detective look minor league in comparison.

[lost_in_the_endless_aisle]

^yes, I have mentioned it before, but it deserves to be mentioned more often. Unbelievable is one of the best series on Netflix

[Metalcat]

^yes, I have mentioned it before, but it deserves to be mentioned more often. Unbelievable is one of the best series on Netflix

I knew it had been mentioned here before!

I'm so glad I hadn't watched it until now though. I'm stuck in bed watching A LOT of tv, and I needed a really, really great show after watching a lot of mediocre crap.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

I'm enjoying kaleidoscope on Netflix. I'm only two episodes in, but I've always wanted a show where the order of watching the episodes is flexible. I've never seen it done properly. Anyways, in hoping I keep enjoying it.

[RWTL]

5 Days at Memorial

I have issues with the book it's based on. The medical and legal analysis of the author is embarrassing on both fronts, but I think the show does a fairly good job of mitigating some of it in the adaptation.

That stuff aside, the show is extremely well done. It really illustrates the feel of the desperation and chaos that happened after Katrina. It also honours just how heroic the medical staff were. There were scenes where my jaw was literally dropped at what they did for their patients under just apocalyptic conditions.

Vera Farmiga is always such a fucking powerhouse. I remain, as always, shocked that she isn't more famous.

I highly, highly recommend it. But I also highly recommend reading the critique of the legal and medical analysis of the source material. It is important in the later episodes and what is implied about the integrity of the legal case.

Just binged this show over the weekend.  I thought the acting was quite good from many of the actors/actresses.   I've been in incident command events before (nothing like Katrina though) and we've always been in constant contact with state government officials.  It's hard to understand how they were on an island....but I also know what a $hit show things can be when you are dealing with some hospitals and governments.

I thought Cherry Jones did a good job as well.

[Metalcat]

5 Days at Memorial

I have issues with the book it's based on. The medical and legal analysis of the author is embarrassing on both fronts, but I think the show does a fairly good job of mitigating some of it in the adaptation.

That stuff aside, the show is extremely well done. It really illustrates the feel of the desperation and chaos that happened after Katrina. It also honours just how heroic the medical staff were. There were scenes where my jaw was literally dropped at what they did for their patients under just apocalyptic conditions.

Vera Farmiga is always such a fucking powerhouse. I remain, as always, shocked that she isn't more famous.

I highly, highly recommend it. But I also highly recommend reading the critique of the legal and medical analysis of the source material. It is important in the later episodes and what is implied about the integrity of the legal case.

Just binged this show over the weekend.  I thought the acting was quite good from many of the actors/actresses.   I've been in incident command events before (nothing like Katrina though) and we've always been in constant contact with state government officials.  It's hard to understand how they were on an island....but I also know what a $hit show things can be when you are dealing with some hospitals and governments.

I thought Cherry Jones did a good job as well.

That's what's so horrifying. It's not like we don't *know* how to manage these disasters. So it's absolutely unforgivable that the ball was dropped so badly. It just should not have happened that way.

[evme]

The Last of Us (HBO). I am a big fan of the video game it is based on and so far they have done a terrific job adapting it for television. Plus, I love Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay.