Trying the Alienist again - only made it through a couple episodes the first time. Loved the books
@winetarelli posted:Perry Mason- Best new TV show. Starts slow but very well made and after 2 episodes I was hooked. And episode 3 was the best yet.
Warrior Nun- One episode in. Silly. Escapism. Working.
Update on Warrior Nun. Not particularly good. But binge-able escapism if you've exhausted other options.
@jcocktosten posted:Trying the Alienist again - only made it through a couple episodes the first time. Loved the books
Same here. Just finished season one for the second time last night and enjoyed it more this time around. Will give season two a try now when it kicks off in a couple weeks.
@winetarelli posted:Perry Mason- Best new TV show. Starts slow but very well made and after 2 episodes I was hooked. And episode 3 was the best yet.
Agreed-- it's really good. We thought first episode was already good, given that it's just setting the foundation for lots of anticipated plot twists to come. Haven't watched one since.
Being home a lot-- certainly more than any of the last 15 years-- and watching more TV than usual, we find ourselves in a bit of a quandary. We've gotten used to binge-watching any series that we've liked for the last couple of months. We think we may have lost the patience to wait for weekly episodes to air. We're debating whether to hold off on Perry Mason until the end of the season, or try to suffer through the breaks in continuity. First World Inter-Epidemic Problem.
And I hope that's as bad as it gets for any of us.
@seaquam posted:Being home a lot-- certainly more than any of the last 15 years-- and watching more TV than usual, we find ourselves in a bit of a quandary. We've gotten used to binge-watching any series that we've liked for the last couple of months. We think we may have lost the patience to wait for weekly episodes to air. We're debating whether to hold off on Perry Mason until the end of the season, or try to suffer through the breaks in continuity. First World Inter-Epidemic Problem.
And I hope that's as bad as it gets for any of us.
When faced with this problem I've always just waited and watched the next episode when it's aired. It breaks up the bingeing a little, and if I've forgotten any of the last episode I'll just watch the last 5 minutes or so and get back up to speed.
PH
@purplehaze posted:When faced with this problem I've always just waited and watched the next episode when it's aired. It breaks up the bingeing a little, and if I've forgotten any of the last episode I'll just watch the last 5 minutes or so and get back up to speed.
PH
Yes. And they normally do a re-cap. It’s funny. I’ve also gotten used to bingeing, but I’m finding this refreshing. There is something nice about having to wait a week to look forward to the next installment. Especially right now, the concept of ‘looking forward to something happening next week’ is nice.
@winetarelli posted:@purplehaze posted:When faced with this problem I've always just waited and watched the next episode when it's aired. It breaks up the bingeing a little, and if I've forgotten any of the last episode I'll just watch the last 5 minutes or so and get back up to speed.
PH
Yes. And they normally do a re-cap. It’s funny. I’ve also gotten used to bingeing, but I’m finding this refreshing. There is something nice about having to wait a week to look forward to the next installment. Especially right now, the concept of ‘looking forward to something happening next week’ is nice.
I think that’s cuz you guys are old and have learned patience.
I’m much younger. I’m pretty sure I’m part of the immediate gratification generation. We don’t wanna wait, mate!
Enjoying season 5 of Better Call Saul.
Mr. Robot - definitely not for everybody and has its slow moments but Rami Malek is very talented. If anyone is a computer geek (which I am not) all the coding and hacking is apparently legit.
Mandolorian
Perry Mason is firing on all cylinders, imo.
"ZeroZeroZero" If all cocaine transactions were this hard there never be any around.
Another one of streaming's favorite motifs is the world of drug dealing. This one is incredibly shot around the world with intense action and with unexpected talented acting.
@winetarelli posted:Perry Mason is firing on all cylinders, imo.
Have heard numerous people say this. I may need to jump in...
@wine+art posted:Have heard numerous people say this. I may need to jump in...
And one person replied with the opposite.
@wine+art posted:Have heard numerous people say this. I may need to jump in...
We stuck with it for 2 episodes. Just didn’t do it for us. We both thought it was a shallow pastiche of other, better noir, with not much depth of character or emotional weight, and also needlessly nihilistic.
@sunnylea57 posted:We stuck with it for 2 episodes. Just didn’t do it for us. We both thought it was a shallow pastiche of other, better noir, with not much depth of character or emotional weight, and also needlessly nihilistic.
“Needlessly!”
How can you say “needlessly?”
@sunnylea57 posted:We stuck with it for 2 episodes. Just didn’t do it for us. We both thought it was a shallow pastiche of other, better noir, with not much depth of character or emotional weight, and also needlessly nihilistic.
It just tries so hard to create a world of noir that it becomes almost a parody of the genre.
@seaquam posted:“Needlessly!”
How can you say “needlessly?”
I have nothing against nihilism, but in this case the word "needlessly" is correct. It's part of the show's piling on for effect.
I have found every episode to be better than its predecessor. FWIW.
But, to each his own. I'm aware that Janet Maslin is in my camp, if that convinces whether or not to try it.
While very different in many ways, it does have a stylized feel similar to Boardwalk Empire. (And the primary director was also a major director of that show.) But I don't find it distracting at all.
@winetarelli posted:While very different in many ways, it does have a stylized feel similar to Boardwalk Empire. (And the primary director was also a major director of that show.) But I don't find it distracting at all.
I couldn't get through more than three episodes of Boardwalk Empire for the same reason as this show--just trying too hard to create atmosphere.
"I'm aware that Janet Maslin is in my camp, if that convinces whether or not to try it"
Does nothing for me. I agree with this summary in Variety, "Too much of this show, a punishing eight installments, feels like yet another iteration of what we’ve seen already, elsewhere and often superior."
@The Old Man posted:I have nothing against nihilism, but in this case the word "needlessly" is correct. It's part of the show's piling on for effect.
Ah, sorry. I just thought I’d question the least erudite term in a post that contained a lot of big fancy words. I sort of know the meaning of ‘needlessly’ and have even used it a couple of times in the past.
Anyway, it amused me to do so. Apparently, that’s where the amusement factor came to a complete halt.😀
@seaquam posted:Ah, sorry. I just thought I’d question the least erudite term in a post that contained a lot of big fancy words. I sort of know the meaning of ‘needlessly’ and have even used it a couple of times in the past.
Anyway, it amused me to do so. Apparently, that’s where the amusement factor came to a complete halt.😀
Needless to say.
@The Old Man posted:I couldn't get through more than three episodes of Boardwalk Empire for the same reason as this show--just trying too hard to create atmosphere.
I was going to say the same thing so I'll be skipping Perry Mason.
I've been enjoying Upload on Amazon Prime. Not life changing, but it is a light, funny look at the idea of cheating death by uploading your consciousness into a virtual reality resort world. Sort of the flip side to the grim West World.
watched season 1 of "Unforgotten"... British detective story. enjoyed it.
Starting the 1st season of Bosch. Really liking it so far.
@mneeley490 posted:Starting the 1st season of Bosch. Really liking it so far.
If this ever ends I'll be giving Bosch location tours. And for the hardcore will even go see SM ( no spoilers for those who haven't seen season 5.)
Community
"Misfits", has its flaws but it can be oh so clever. On Hulu.
@sunnylea57 posted:We stuck with it for 2 episodes. Just didn’t do it for us. We both thought it was a shallow pastiche of other, better noir, with not much depth of character or emotional weight, and also needlessly nihilistic.
My word. I couldn’t even get through the first episode.
Yikes, what a mess...
The uneven eight-and-done miniseries, "Devs" has its moments. If only for its one giant outdoor sculpture.
@sunnylea57 posted:I had high hopes for this, but it just didn’t grab us. We moved onto other things after 3 episodes.
We really enjoyed the first season of Occupied (Okkupert). The second season isn’t quite as good, but still better than most series. We may have trouble finding S3, as it isn’t on Netflix here.
Just finished season 3 of Occupied / Okkupert. Highly recommended.
Finished season 4 of Bosch. Eerily prescient.
@mneeley490 posted:Finished season 4 of Bosch. Eerily prescient.
Yep.
Chef's Table BBQ. Episode 4 may have been the best 45 minutes of food TV that I have ever seen. It made me hungry and a little misty at the same time. Highly recommended.
PH
If anybody is interested in Cobra Kai it just showed up on Netflix. Both seasons. Previously exclusively on Youtube Subscription.
Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix
@wineismylife posted:If anybody is interested in Cobra Kai it just showed up on Netflix. Both seasons. Previously exclusively on Youtube Subscription.
Yep. Watched it. I was surprised by how good William Zabka is. Totally believable in that character, makes me wonder how mych of it (if any) is him playing himself.
Just started The Boys season 2 on Amazon Prime. So far, possibly even more violent than I remember. I’m interested to see where this season goes.
@winetarelli posted:Yep. Watched it. I was surprised by how good William Zabka is. Totally believable in that character, makes me wonder how mych of it (if any) is him playing himself.
Love Zabka. Between Karate Kid and Back to school, career needs nothing else. We were at a concert once and a kid near us who was clearly not Zabka but looked like a combo of him and Spiccoli heard us making a Zabka reference about him and without missing a beat says Sweep the Leg and hilarious laughter followed
Enjoying the British series Bodyguard on Netflix.
Hundreds of studies have been devoted to the effects of mass communication, but scientists around the world are still arguing about both the possibilities and the mechanisms of the influence of television on a person. Most agree on one thing: the influence of television is not unlimited, but significant. Better to read something informative. For example, I often look at articles like https://www.light-it.net/blog/...of-iot-for-business/
@purplehaze posted:Chef's Table BBQ. Episode 4 may have been the best 45 minutes of food TV that I have ever seen. It made me hungry and a little misty at the same time. Highly recommended.
PH
The Mayan one?
On Amazon, oddly only until the end of the month, are some very early episodes of The Jack Benny Program. The first one is from the second season and is almost surrealistic in what occurs with the first guest Bob Crosby. Though they look like kinescopes to me I think you'll find some of Benny's great comedic talent still shines through. And of course his interplay with Rochester was ahead of its time.
@brucehayes posted:Enjoying the British series Bodyguard on Netflix.
Just finished and, whoa. The last hour of the last episode I was on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend.
Finally watching Schitts Creek
And Chefs Table
Bad Blood
Finally got around to watching the first few episodes of Schitt's Creek. I guess I thought it would get better, but barely a chuckle after 90 minutes. I don't get the praise here.
@mneeley490 posted:Finally got around to watching the first few episodes of Schitt's Creek. I guess I thought it would get better, but barely a chuckle after 90 minutes. I don't get the praise here.
To me it's a gentle, clever, Canadian single-camera no laughtrack sitcom it's almost always enjoyable. Perhaps best to have discovered originally before so much hype. I think the performances are wonderful. For an old-timer like me , who used to waiting for Saturday Night Live to be over waiting for Second City TV to come on, I'm just a big fan of Eugene Levy, and particularly Catherine O'Hara. I think it's charming the David Levy gets to create more and more stories pushing, if you want to call it his "agenda." And Annie Murphy as his sister is always interesting to watch. Not a great show, but just a nice change from so much slam-bang humor.
@The Old Man posted:To me it's a gentle, clever, Canadian single-camera no laughtrack sitcom it's almost always enjoyable. Perhaps best to have discovered originally before so much hype. I think the performances are wonderful. For an old-timer like me , who used to waiting for Saturday Night Live to be over waiting for Second City TV to come on, I'm just a big fan of Eugene Levy, and particularly Catherine O'Hara. I think it's charming the David Levy gets to create more and more stories pushing, if you want to call it his "agenda." And Annie Murphy as his sister is always interesting to watch. Not a great show, but just a nice change from so much slam-bang humor.
I realize that, and I was always a huge SCTV fan, also. But I think it could use at least a little humor to leaven the impact of not having a single character with any redeeming qualities. When I saw how badly Chris Elliott has aged, I nearly tossed my toast.
@mneeley490 posted:I realize that, and I was always a huge SCTV fan, also. But I think it could use at least a little humor to leaven the impact of not having a single character with any redeeming qualities. When I saw how badly Chris Elliott has aged, I nearly tossed my toast.
I must tell you that except for Groundhog Day I'm really not a Chris Elliott fan and I really find him and his character annoying in the series. I tend to just look over those scenes. I ike the way the the characters' lives develop over the years. But I can certainly see people not going crazy over it, especially after all the hype.
Amazon Prime now has multiple seasons of Great British Menu. For anyone that enjoys cooking shows and cooking competition shows it's the best there is. No nonsense, little "made-up only for the viewers" drama and the chefs competing are usually Michelin starred. Regional heats then national finals across four course menus. So far from American TV it's funny. American cooking competition you have no skill prima donnas, here you have 2 star michelin chefs being shown washing down their work stations at the end of the day.
@robsutherland posted:Amazon Prime now has multiple seasons of Great British Menu. For anyone that enjoys cooking shows and cooking competition shows it's the best there is. No nonsense, little "made-up only for the viewers" drama and the chefs competing are usually Michelin starred. Regional heats then national finals across four course menus. So far from American TV it's funny. American cooking competition you have no skill prima donnas, here you have 2 star michelin chefs being shown washing down their work stations at the end of the day.
I'll check it out, Rob. I love some of the Brit competition shows, my favourite being Portrait Artist of the Year.
@mneeley490 posted:Finally got around to watching the first few episodes of Schitt's Creek. I guess I thought it would get better, but barely a chuckle after 90 minutes. I don't get the praise here.
You're not alone and as a Canadian I really wanted to like it. AFAIC Levy and O'Hara have been playing the same characters for decades and the style grates. Makes me cringe.
I'll take Emily Hampshire though.
I’m in the same camp re: Schitt’s Creek. When it first premiered, we couldn’t get past the first few episodes.
Currently watching Don’t Forget the Driver created and written by, and starring, Toby Jones. Recommended if you enjoy understated, droll British series. Not exactly a comedy. More of a quirky slice of life.
In the same vein, and even better, was Detectorists with Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook (who also wrote and directed it). Highly recommended.
The Comey Rule on Showtime is excellent. A little Toronto flavour in Episode 4 too. When Trump is supposed to be in Jersey I think there is a shot from the 18th green of my golf club back to the clubhouse. Pretty cool to me and it's a very well done series.
@csm posted:The Comey Rule on Showtime is excellent. A little Toronto flavour in Episode 4 too. When Trump is supposed to be in Jersey I think there is a shot from the 18th green of my golf club back to the clubhouse. Pretty cool to me and it's a very well done series.
+1. Well done.
The Outsider
Ozark season 3
Both outstanding.
@sunnylea57 posted:I’m in the same camp re: Schitt’s Creek. When it first premiered, we couldn’t get past the first few episodes.
Currently watching Don’t Forget the Driver created and written by, and starring, Toby Jones. Recommended if you enjoy understated, droll British series. Not exactly a comedy. More of a quirky slice of life.
In the same vein, and even better, was Detectorists with Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook (who also wrote and directed it). Highly recommended.
Took me a few episodes to get into SCreek, but after that it took off and just kept getting better and better. Turned into our favorite comedy. The cast is great but especially love David Levy and Annie Murphy
I hope all supporters of this legal "sport" give it a watch. Horse lives matter.
To The Lake, a Russian production on Netflix. A deadly virus ravages Moscow as civil order collapses. Have only watched the first episode, but I will be coming back for more.
I'm watching this new season of "The Boys" on Amazon. I liked the first season, but maybe it is just COVID, but this new season is just so oppressively dark that it can be difficult at times. It hasn't stopped me from watching, but next up I'm thinking I'll want something light and joyful.
Netflilx has the Evil series that's acutally pretty interesting.
X-files with a little more religious spin.
Watching Wild Card: The Downfall of a Radio Loudmouth. It's about Craig Carton, who I never heard of. The weird thing is that he thought he was the king of blackjack. There is no such thing. You either count cards, which at his level they would have spotted very quickly, or you play, as you should, basic strategy. There are no decisions to be made in blackjack. You either play by the mathematically optimized move or you're giving more money back to the casino if you don't.
How he ever the idea that he was a player who always beats the house I just don't get.
@winetarelli posted:I'm watching this new season of "The Boys" on Amazon. I liked the first season, but maybe it is just COVID, but this new season is just so oppressively dark that it can be difficult at times. It hasn't stopped me from watching, but next up I'm thinking I'll want something light and joyful.
What, ramming a speedboat through a sperm whale isn't light and joyful? Just finished season 2 (I think it was shortened due to COVID), and yeah, it was a little hard to watch in places.
If you've turn to Utopia, forget it. It's getting darker as it goes.
@brucehayes posted:To The Lake, a Russian production on Netflix. A deadly virus ravages Moscow as civil order collapses. Have only watched the first episode, but I will be coming back for more.
Based on your post we watched this. The first two episodes were very good, but then the whole thing got a little too melodramatic for me.
@steve8 posted:Based on your post we watched this. The first two episodes were very good, but then the whole thing got a little too melodramatic for me.
Strange you should say that. I am about five or six episodes in and I found the last couple to be rather disappointing and dragging. Have given some thought to dropping it.
Just started watching the British police drama Collateral on Netflix. Intriguing.
Married at First Sight. GF likes it, therefore, the whole house was watching it.
On Bill Maher tonight I think Al Franken was drunk and I was shocked to discover that Bill didn't know what OAN "news" is.
The Queen's Gambit on Netflix is a surprisingly engaging single season series, the later episodes dragged a littlle but I'm glad it seems the director recognized this and brought it back to a fulfilling conclusion.
So much that it inspired to teach my kids some checkers before moving onto chess
New season of Somebody Feed Phil. Unfortunately only a few episodes
How To with John Wilson
Highly recommended. Quirky and idiosyncratic, and also weirdly compelling. Difficult to describe, but the trailer captures the style and tone.
@The Old Man posted:On Bill Maher tonight I think Al Franken was drunk and I was shocked to discover that Bill didn't know what OAN "news" is.
Franken seemed perfectly lucid to me.
@winetarelli posted:Franken seemed perfectly lucid to me.
‘Was Al Franken Drunk on Bill Maher?’ Twitter Users React to Live Interview
I thought this as I was watching and apparently a number of other people did too. I also have friends who wondered the same thing. For others here, watch the example in the link and tell me if he's lucid. "When you’re a parent, you often have to prepare food for kids. But, if you’re not- if you’re lazy about it, you can put it in the microwave, and the 7-year-old knows how to do that, and I’m saying it’s scientific fact, which it really isn’t, but we all know it is, and then the scientific fact, I went even further with the joke, and you know this, that it’s scientifically proven that a … 7-year-old can teach a 4-year-old."
This is a mild example. If it was supposed to be a joke that he's totally lost any comic ability (though I've never liked him either as a comedian, politician or pundit.) One friend speculated he had dementia, but I attribute it to alcohol because he didn't strike me as high. I almost thought it was possibly a mini-stroke, but we haven't heard anything so probably not.
Yeah, I think it was just a joke that fell flat and he decided to double down to try to get laughs. The structure of the joke is exactly the way he has always structured jokes. The “slurring” is only in the context of demonstrated “etc”. Absolutely nothing seems off to me about it. I mean, anything is possible, but this is nothing like other times I’ve seen obviously drunk people on talk shows.
@winetarelli posted:I mean, anything is possible, but this is nothing like other times I’ve seen obviously drunk people on talk shows.
It wasn't just the one "joke"; he was off in the entire interview. I guess I'll let this go, even though as I showed I'm not the only person who thought it. In addition, I'm speechless that you think the standard for how drunk he was is how drunk other people act on other shows.
More comic gold: "My answer to that is [if Trump won't leave office], that’s great. Because if he won’t leave, that means he lost. And he will be escorted out [by whom?], and I’ll pick him up and take him wherever he wants to go.”
The Undoing on HBO is excellent.
I must say Maya Rudolph does a mean Harris voice.
Queens Gambit
Nice piece on "Sunday Morning" about the Van Winkle family.
A still from the TV show "The Strain." Some Set Designers can't help themselves; they like throwing Frank Lloyd Wright references in. In this case kind of quasi-Storer house blocks.
Attachments
@jcocktosten posted:Queens Gambit
Just watched the first two episodes. Very enjoyable. Of course, it helps if you play chess (I do).
@Rothko posted:Just watched the first two episodes. Very enjoyable. Of course, it helps if you play chess (I do).
Child actor playing in early episodes was really good - very enjoyable
Street Food Latin America on Netflix
@g-man posted:The Queen's Gambit on Netflix is a surprisingly engaging single season series, the later episodes dragged a littlle but I'm glad it seems the director recognized this and brought it back to a fulfilling conclusion.
So much that it inspired to teach my kids some checkers before moving onto chess
Watching this with our 12 year old who has taken some chess classes, we are down to the last episode which we will probably watch tonight. Very enjoyable.
Community - forgot how funny it is
Most of the stuff listed here seems pretty highbrow, and nothing wrong with that, but we just finished watching "Why Women Kill" and liked it. Very light ensemble piece but well written, original, Alexandra Daddario, interesting premise, Alexandra Daddario, several unexpected twists and turns, and it's nice for a change to watch a single season show that wraps up everything with a bow at the end. And did I mention that one of the stars is Alexandra Daddario?
@patespo1 posted:Watching this with our 12 year old who has taken some chess classes, we are down to the last episode which we will probably watch tonight. Very enjoyable.
hopefully not with pills, and boozing !
@The Old Man posted:
A still from the TV show "The Strain." Some Set Designers can't help themselves; they like throwing Frank Lloyd Wright references in. In this case kind of quasi-Storer house blocks.
I have to say that the concept was good but the writing seriously suffered as it started going on. Some weird twists and turns.
Midnight Diner: Tokyo series. Second time around and i still love the concept and how it ties around some of the dishes.
@jcocktosten posted:Community - forgot how funny it is
Right now I'm watching Seinfeld, Community may be next.
@g-man posted:I have to say that the concept was good but the writing seriously suffered as it started going on. Some weird twists and turns.
What are you talking about? The show was awesome from beginning to end.
Finished "The Queen's Gambit".
Very good and thoroughly enjoyable watch. Maybe not the most compelling thing I've ever seen on TV, but both excellent quality and definitely something I think everyone would find entertaining.
In a very short period of time, it seems, Anya Taylor-Joy is really solidifying herself as a major acting presence, and I fully approve.
@winetarelli posted:In a very short period of time, it seems, Anya Taylor-Joy is really solidifying herself as a major acting presence, and I fully approve.
I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear this.
@The Old Man posted:I'm sure she'll be thrilled to hear this.
I hope so!
Another thumbs up for The Queen's Gambit.
I liked Queen's Gambit, but it's not without its faults. However, it is made in a way that says--just try and not like this. The lead actress is of course wonderful, but I also would call out the quality work of Bill Camp (who also did such a great job in The Outsider) who is solid again as the Zen master.
The story--eh, it's a pretty standard fairy tale that is pretty much improbable. What elevates this show is all of its production values. There is some really modern filmmaking going on here. The last episode is loaded with new shooting ideas that are so much better than the hyper-shallow focus that's been going on a lot recently. (For example again see The Outsider.)
So in the end you get a great big hot fudge sundae (or whatever you're favorite dessert is); the locations, the clothes the look, the bodies and the oh-so standard redemption story, and you can't help but gulp it down.
Queens' Gambit is the perfect antidote vaccine for these times.
We just started Season 1 of the Crown, very entertaining so far.