mangiare posted:Money Heist - great as always
May start season 4 tonight.
Ursula... 🤤
mangiare posted:Money Heist - great as always
May start season 4 tonight.
Ursula... 🤤
A little late on starting a couple of shows, now watching The Crown and Jack Ryan both of which are good. We are in to the second season of Jack Ryan.
Tiger king
As mentioned before wow!!!
Also watched
unorthodox
shocking for someone who is not familiar with those values
redknife posted:Also watched
unorthodox
shocking for someone who is not familiar with those values
Watching this next week. Shira Hass was so great in Shtisel which is also highly recommended.
redknife posted:https://forums.winespectator.c...315#9907260670406315
Indeed narcos mexico is very good and very close to real facts
Been watching this..pretty entertaining. Little known forum fact....my wife is distantly related to the Arellano-Felix family....good to see the in-laws getting some screen time.
Tiger King was crazy, never knew that world existed.
Curb was a great season, though I thought the finale was a little weak. The episode with Jon Hamm was outstanding.
winetarelli posted:mangiare posted:Money Heist - great as always
May start season 4 tonight.
Ursula... 🤤
On episode 4 (of part 4, obviously). Great season, so far.
Holy crap. Beast season yet for “Money Heist” but the idea of a cliffhanger when they cannot even film the next season on account of COVID19 is brutal.
Also. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, Úrsula is amazing.
Just finished the first season of Ozark. Not bad although they got carried away with the last episode. Will probably continue watching at least for the first few episodes of season 2.
Starting to get into Tales From the Loop, an Amazon series based on images by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag. Odd doesn't even begin to cover it; think unexplained, retro sci-fi machinery, spires, giant robots, and abandoned metal spheres littering the landscape. Ostensibly centered someplace in Ohio, it is mostly filmed in a perpetual twilight and oozes Scandinavian winter dreariness. But each episode centers on one person in the town, and though slow moving, it draws you in by being utterly fascinating.
Bosch returns on April 17 on Amazon. Yay! Just in time.
Was just saying I wished they released it early
Modern Love - pretty good episodic
purplehaze posted:spo posted:Looking forward to season 3 of Fauda on Netflix.
I loved the first two seasons of this series. Very happy to know that season 3 is coming soon. As someone who is a friend of several Israelis and Palestinians, I can recommend the first 2 seasons without hesitation. Reasonably balanced, and very well done. Hope season 3 is equally balanced and entertaining.
PH
Did you watch this? I watched the whole season in 2 sittings. Best season yet!
spo posted:purplehaze posted:spo posted:Looking forward to season 3 of Fauda on Netflix.
I loved the first two seasons of this series. Very happy to know that season 3 is coming soon. As someone who is a friend of several Israelis and Palestinians, I can recommend the first 2 seasons without hesitation. Reasonably balanced, and very well done. Hope season 3 is equally balanced and entertaining.
PH
Did you watch this? I watched the whole season in 2 sittings. Best season yet!
Only the first episode. I'm psyched at your review of S3. I hope to get a few episodes in tonight.
Folks, if you haven't tried this show, please do. It's really, really good. I'll echo a recommendation I read here early on in Season 1 to watch this show in the original Hebrew and Arabic and use subtitles. The English overdubs are not so good. Plus I've learned some new words in both languages!
PH
Bosch Season 6
Watching Fauda. Pretty exciting, actually. I'll try the language thing recommended by PH next time.
Dubbing should never be used in place of subtitles. Acting is more than people moving around on a screen; it's also, unless you're watching a silent movie, their voices.
However the Disney dubbing of Miyazaki movies is acceptable.
irwin posted:Watching Fauda. Pretty exciting, actually. I'll try the language thing recommended by PH next time.
Yup, definitely much better
I'm looking forward to the next offline with PH, when he and I can speak Hebrew with each other so as to confuse the other guys. How do you say, "Nice tannins" in Hebrew anyway?
irwin posted:I'm looking forward to the next offline with PH, when he and I can speak Hebrew with each other so as to confuse the other guys. How do you say, "Nice tannins" in Hebrew anyway?
Most likely טנינים טובים
jcocktosten posted:irwin posted:I'm looking forward to the next offline with PH, when he and I can speak Hebrew with each other so as to confuse the other guys. How do you say, "Nice tannins" in Hebrew anyway?
Most likely טנינים טובים
Yes, we lawyers have not much to do these days.
irwin posted:jcocktosten posted:irwin posted:I'm looking forward to the next offline with PH, when he and I can speak Hebrew with each other so as to confuse the other guys. How do you say, "Nice tannins" in Hebrew anyway?
Most likely טנינים טובים
Yes, we lawyers have not much to do these days.
Speak for yourself - I am swamped (although doing it all from home which is not all that unusual for me) -
jcocktosten posted:irwin posted:I'm looking forward to the next offline with PH, when he and I can speak Hebrew with each other so as to confuse the other guys. How do you say, "Nice tannins" in Hebrew anyway?
Most likely טנינים טובים
Actually a word I learned that easy to say, and might be useful is (and I'm transliterating here) is:
Sababa.
Apparently Arabic in origin, but used in both languages. I am amazed at the similarities between Arab and Israeli culture, norms, diet and language and the continuous disconnect. Similar to the Protestants and Catholics in Ireland. Just find some common ground and work on that, people.
PH
purplehaze posted:jcocktosten posted:irwin posted:I'm looking forward to the next offline with PH, when he and I can speak Hebrew with each other so as to confuse the other guys. How do you say, "Nice tannins" in Hebrew anyway?
Most likely טנינים טובים
Actually a word I learned that easy to say, and might be useful is (and I'm transliterating here) is:
Sababa.
PH
Used in both Hebrew and Arabic I believe - very useful term - can be used as cool, great or no problem
purplehaze posted:jcocktosten posted:irwin posted:I'm looking forward to the next offline with PH, when he and I can speak Hebrew with each other so as to confuse the other guys. How do you say, "Nice tannins" in Hebrew anyway?
Most likely טנינים טובים
Actually a word I learned that easy to say, and might be useful is (and I'm transliterating here) is:
Sababa.
PH
Last time I was in Israel, Stef and I turned to my sister and asked her what some signs were saying as we did not know the words and my sister turns to us laughing and says just sound it at - they were just English words written in Hebrew letters so looked strange to us but simply said what they were in English. Like television and espresso (I know not english but sane result) looked weird in Hebrew
"I am amazed at the similarities between Arab and Israeli culture, norms, diet and language and the continuous disconnect."
The press reported that last week some Palestinians in Gaza were trying to "zoom" with some Israelis to discuss peace. But, Hamas learned about it and arrested the Palestinians, and, I suppose, confiscated their computers and probably beat them up. Disconnect indeed.
"Last time I was in Israel, Stef and I turned to my sister and asked her what some signs were saying as we did not know the words and my sister turns to us laughing and says just sound it at - they were just English words written in Hebrew letters so looked strange to us but simply said what they were in English."
I was in Israel for a visit years ago when Ted Kennedy drove off a bridge at a place I'd never heard of in Massachusetts called "Chappaquiddick"... Try reading that in Hebrew, since there is no "CH" or "Q". Hard enough to get through Massachusetts.
The Wire- rewatching it for the first time in 10+ years. Better than I remember!
Just finished season 6 of Bosch. It was OK but maybe it's time to call it a day?
@spo posted:The Wire- rewatching it for the first time in 10+ years. Better than I remember!
All hail the greatest television drama ever.
@steve8 posted:Just finished season 6 of Bosch. It was OK but maybe it's time to call it a day?
I'm such a big fan, but I wait to watch so I have a gift to open after child-like anticipation. This is disheartening news. We'll see.
Just started Season 2 of After Life. I really liked Season 1.
PH
@The Old Man posted:I'm such a big fan, but I wait to watch so I have a gift to open after child-like anticipation. This is disheartening news. We'll see.
Interesting how they take the basic plot of the books and completely rework the rest. Not just in this season.
I read that season 7 will be the last.
@sunnylea57 posted:Interesting how they take the basic plot of the books and completely rework the rest. Not just in this season.
I read that season 7 will be the last.
That has been one of its great strengths. Somehow they managed, of course with the help of Connolly himself, to mash up the books and change whole plots and still keep it very "Boschian." I'd say it's rare to have an author not only allow such major changes, but participate in it. Sounds like I'm going to be disappointed in season six, but I hope the essential LA-ness is still there.
We are 8 episodes into Season 6 and I have been enjoying it
@jcocktosten posted:We are 8 episodes into Season 6 and I have been enjoying it
Great. I guess I better jump in already.
My wife and I started binge-watching Killing Eve on AMC, originally on BBC America, I think. Interesting, funny, and you never know quite where it's going to take you.
My wife and I started Bosch a few weeks ago, and just finished Season 4 last night. Really high quality, hopefully 5 and 6 hold up for us.
Very satisfying finale of Homeland.
@doubled posted:Very satisfying finale of Homeland.
+1
Been blitzing through What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu, and old episodes of The Wine Show on Ovation.
@Vino Bevo posted:Been blitzing through What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu, and old episodes of The Wine Show on Ovation.
Looks hilarious
@Vino Bevo posted:Been blitzing through What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu...
I love this show, but I don't know how many seasons they can sustain. But they're always manage to hit some high points in every episode. For Matt Berry fans there is also "Toast of London" and his frequent appearances on "The IT Crowd."
"Letterkenny" continues to be the funniest , and stupidest, show on television. Also on Hulu, so pitter-patter...
@Vino Bevo posted:Been blitzing through What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu.
Love the raucous humor. Not quite as funny as the original movie, but still pretty good.
I've been enjoying Manhunt: Unabomber. Great cast.
Just started watching Jack Ryan on Prime.
Just started (first two episodes) The Plot Against America. Not bad so far.
@mneeley490 posted:Anyone else watching Dispatches From Elsewhere on AMC? It is freaky and confusing, but kind of wonderful in a way.
This just finished up it's 10 episode run. Amazing doesn't begin to describe it. The final episode takes you someplace you would never have expected to go, and my respect for Jason Segel as a writer/producer has skyrocketed. He's not that guy from Freaks and Geeks or Forgetting Sarah Marshall anymore.
@steve8 posted:Just started (first two episodes) The Plot Against America. Not bad so far.
After the horrors of The Man in the High Castle I couldn't watch another WWII era alternate reality story. I'm also planning on reading the book. Interesting tidbit, the spy author Len Deighton published in 1979 SS-GB which was a police procedural in Nazi occupied England. It was a good book which was made into a BBC series in 2017. I've not seen and it's supposed to have an open ending leading to a second season which isn't going to happen.
Just started Season 6 of Bosch, going to try and watch it a little slower since it is the last one on Prime right now.
@Rothko posted:Just started watching Jack Ryan on Prime.
We started last week. We've gone through 5 of 8 episodes. Enjoying it so far.
Last night we finished The Plot Against America. So-so at best. It was pretty good until it got to the part when their (Roth's?) alternate reality did not include Pearl Harbour. Such a minor detail in the history of WWII.
Well, I finished Jack Ryan, Season 2, last night. Not quite as good as Season 1, in my opinion, but still entertaining. I am thinking of starting Ozark now.
@Rothko posted:Well, I finished Jack Ryan, Season 2, last night. Not quite as good as Season 1, in my opinion, but still entertaining. I am thinking of starting Ozark now.
Agreed, Ryan goes off on his own too much in Season 2. Not sure about going to Season 3 if and when it comes out. We also are looking at starting Ozark soon
I think we're roughly halfway through Season 2 of Ryan.
Finished watching Caliphate on Netflix. A Swedish production (8 episodes) about homegrown jihadists. Pretty good.
Partway through Money Heist, a Spanish TV show that Netflix acquired. sort of exciting, but taking a long time to get to the denouement.
Zoe's Exceptional Playlist -
Finished the season six of Bosch and am rewatching the series from the beginning. I thought this was a good season even though I couldn't stand the build-up with the wacko group. Watching actors give it their all while spouting nonsense got very tedious after a number of episodes. It was good to see Richard Brooks, from the original Law and Order, after all these years.
What makes Bosch so interesting is that it exists in a parallel universe. The relationships on the TV show often do not reflect what occurs in the books. And yet both universes are excellent. Seeing him and J. Edgar, have a better relationship on the show than the books, makes for a more engaging show. It's been a joy to watch Madison Lintz grow up (into almost a fashion model) and a good actress whose scenes with Welliver are always interesting. Of course Titus Welliver is Bosch and all the other characters; Crate and Barrel, LT, the always fantastic Lance Reddick as Chief Irving, Mank and Honey/Money Chandler who work and react together in such a natural way.
I also want to mention Ernest Dickerson who started out as a cinematographer on the mostly forgotten, and very good, movie Brother From Another Planet and went on to be an excellent TV show director with credits such as this program and The Wire.
However, it is a little depressing watching a show that was so recently filmed in a world that may not exist again for some time. Bosch is one of those LA TV shows, and also like the books, that revels in its "LAness." Bosch is a guy who hangs in spots like Musso & Franks Grill, Du-Pars and Dan Tanas. The show used the Bradbury Building, Angels Flight, the Capitol Records tower and many other LA landmarks and locations to get the feel of LA. And now I can't even make one of my runs up there to go to Canter for a corned beef sandwich roam the Art District.
Here's a odd note: Just having finished six and starting season one there's an interesting fashion statement that appears to run through the entire show--the men's neckties all have a large, loose knot. Not sure what it means, but it's something I recently noted.
@jcocktosten posted:Zoe's Exceptional Playlist -
I have not seen this, but based on what I've read and seen in commercials, it appears to be nearly identical in concept to Eli Stone, which was a series I loved, so of course it was axed prematurely.
Watched 2 episodes last night - good cast, good performance - one must like musicals and not have a problem with characters breaking into song -
I have no issue with that (some people cannot tolerateit) so liked it and will continue watching - I liked Jane Levy from Suburgatory, and cast includes - Peter Gallagher, Mary Steenburgen, Skylar Austin, Lauren Graham and others
I never saw Eli Stone
Just finished Season 1 of Billions, excellent so far. Glad we have a number of seasons ahead of us to enjoy.
Yancy Derringer
McMillions
The HBO documentary mini-series about the McDonalds Monopoly scam that took place in the 1990s. For my money, far more interesting and entertaining than Tiger King. The story and the cast of characters are equally bizarre.
We’re half way through the 6 episodes. I keep wondering why all these people - from the FBI agents to the mobster’s wife and brother- would agree to be interviewed on camera and reveal so much.
I think they could have easily cut McMillions in half. Also that supercilious, self-congratulating FBI agent really got tiresome.
Just finished White Rhino on Amazon. If you've ever caught a wave at one time or another, you'll be amazed.
PH
We've been working through a few series of various themes (and quality) these last few weeks:
We could not get into Fleabag at all - tried to watch multiple times
@jcocktosten posted:We could not get into Fleabag at all - tried to watch multiple times
Tried once, couldn't get past the first episode.
@The Old Man posted:Tried once, couldn't get past the first episode.
Funny. Our Washington Post TV critic Hank Stuever, with whom I often agree absolutely loved this series. I tried E1 twice and killed it midway both times. Different strokes.
PH
@purplehaze posted:Funny. Our Washington Post TV critic Hank Stuever, with whom I often agree absolutely loved this series. I tried E1 twice and killed it midway both times. Different strokes.
PH
Hmm, now I want to try it.
@wine+art posted:Hmm, now I want to try it.
I can understand giving up during or after S01E01. She’s shallow and annoying, and the ”breaking the 4th wall” thing is hardly original.
But the series does a slow build over the course of the two seasons. There’s a deliberate arc to the story and character development. It’s not high art, but it’s very well done. Especially Season 2.
On the other hand, I suffered through the first season of her other series, Killing Eve. Didn’t like it at all.
@The Old Man posted:I think they could have easily cut McMillions in half. Also that supercilious, self-congratulating FBI agent really got tiresome.
I respectfully disagree. The first few episodes were fast paced and shallow. It had a “staring at a traffic accident” feel to it. “Look at all these stupid, freakish people!” But I appreciated that it took a more sober turn in the second half. They took the time to let us get to know some of the participants and how their lives were impacted by their actions.
As for that FBI agent, his more annoying traits got a lot of screen time in the first episode, but he was less of a focus as the story progressed, and when he was on camera, he was often more reserved. He sure did have a toothy grin, though. Reminded me of Ed Grimley (Martin Short’s character).
And the real estate guy was a dead ringer for John Goodman - both his looks and his voice.
Great british menu.
The full 2019-2020 season is on YouTube as well as 2014. You can find 2018 online too (and of course watch all 15 seasons if you can get bbc iPlayer).
If you enjoy cooking competition shows this one pits mostly 1 and 2 star Michelin chefs against each other to cook one of four courses at a banquet. In no way "American" reality TV, they help each other, clean up, know what the hell they are doing and its the best cooking show on TV.
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
Started watching Hotel Beau Sejour which is a Belgian Netflix production. Pretty good so far.
Finished season 3 of Killing Eve, I'm not sure why.
@The Old Man posted:Finished season 3 of Killing Eve, I'm not sure why.
Season 3 did start getting goofy, but I've enjoyed other show that have had a bad season.
@mneeley490 posted:Season 3 did start getting goofy, but I've enjoyed other show that have had a bad season.
Well Games of Thrones is a case in point.
Mrs. America
Fantastic performances by all the leads, and every episode is fast paced and engaging. My biggest criticism: it tries to pack too much into the 9 episodes and consequently the nuance is often lost and most of the characters aren’t as fully realized as they could be, simply because they aren’t given enough screen time.
The new Perry Mason starring Matthew Rhys better be awesome.
Just finished Billions Season 3, really enjoying this show so far.
Started watching The Spy, an Israeli espionage drama based on a true story. Created by Gideon Raff who previously did Prisoners of War, the Israeli series that the first seasons of Homeland were based on. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Noah Emmerich.
Gave up after 3 episodes. It should have come in yellow packaging and been called "No Name Spy Series". It had every silly spy trope imaginable.
Sneaking out of a party to scale the outside wall of the building, and breaking into the host's 3rd floor office to take microfilm photos of documents, and nearly getting caught when someone gets suspicious and checks the office.
Nervously sweating it out at the Syrian border because the border guards are examining your suitcases and you don't want them to find the "spy gear" you've stashed inside the housing of an electric mixmaster*, so you come up with the idea of telling the guy in charge that you have porn magazines in your suitcase and it would be SO embarrassing if anyone saw them, and of course you both laugh at that and he stops the search and lets you go.
Ugh.
Noah Emmerich's bad Israeli accent also didn't help.
* Of course it's never explained why a supposedly successful Syrian businessman has an electric mixer in his suitcase.
@sunnylea57 posted:Started watching The Spy, an Israeli espionage drama based on a true story. Created by Gideon Raff who previously did Prisoners of War, the Israeli series that the first seasons of Homeland were based on. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Noah Emmerich.
Gave up after 3 episodes. It should have come in yellow packaging and been called "No Name Spy Series". It had every silly spy trope imaginable.
Sneaking out of a party to scale the outside wall of the building, and breaking into the host's 3rd floor office to take microfilm photos of documents, and nearly getting caught when someone gets suspicious and checks the office.
Nervously sweating it out at the Syrian border because the border guards are examining your suitcases and you don't want them to find the "spy gear" you've stashed inside the housing of an electric mixmaster*, so you come up with the idea of telling the guy in charge that you have porn magazines in your suitcase and it would be SO embarrassing if anyone saw them, and of course you both laugh at that and he stops the search and lets you go.
Ugh.
Noah Emmerich's bad Israeli accent also didn't help.
* Of course it's never explained why a supposedly successful Syrian businessman has an electric mixer in his suitcase.
@sunnylea57 posted:Started watching The Spy, an Israeli espionage drama based on a true story. Created by Gideon Raff who previously did Prisoners of War, the Israeli series that the first seasons of Homeland were based on. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Noah Emmerich.
Gave up after 3 episodes. It should have come in yellow packaging and been called "No Name Spy Series". It had every silly spy trope imaginable.
Sneaking out of a party to scale the outside wall of the building, and breaking into the host's 3rd floor office to take microfilm photos of documents, and nearly getting caught when someone gets suspicious and checks the office.
Nervously sweating it out at the Syrian border because the border guards are examining your suitcases and you don't want them to find the "spy gear" you've stashed inside the housing of an electric mixmaster*, so you come up with the idea of telling the guy in charge that you have porn magazines in your suitcase and it would be SO embarrassing if anyone saw them, and of course you both laugh at that and he stops the search and lets you go.
Ugh.
Noah Emmerich's bad Israeli accent also didn't help.
* Of course it's never explained why a supposedly successful Syrian businessman has an electric mixer in his suitcase.
Interesting. I too tried and couldn’t connect. This genre is right up my alley but didn’t work for some reason.
@sunnylea57 posted:Started watching The Spy...Gave up after 3 episodes. It should have come in yellow packaging and been called "No Name Spy Series". It had every silly spy trope imaginable.
I too gave up in the middle of the second or third episode.
New Dave Chappelle on Netflix. Also available on You Tube. Searing and timely. Worth a watch.
PH
@purplehaze posted:New Dave Chappelle on Netflix. Also available on You Tube. Searing and timely. Worth a watch.
PH
Yep. Watched it last night. Not really funny. But... wow.
@winetarelli posted:The new Perry Mason starring Matthew Rhys better be awesome.
I'm sure it'll be at least as good as the new Magnum, P.I.
@mneeley490 posted:I'm sure it'll be at least as good as the new Magnum, P.I.
Well... given the previews, cast, producers, etc, it doesn’t seem to be a contest, there.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rNATvJMPZaA
"Quiz" -- 30pts. 3 part mini-series on the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" scandal in England in the 90s. It's simply horribly manipulative.
The show opens with a scene in a courtroom between the two sets of defendants they're at tells you the slant the show is going to take, then it settles down into the creation of the actual quiz show itself. I found a lot of this interesting and I always seem to like things that Michael Sheen is in. The show then spends about an hour setting up strawmen which it's going to knock down in the final third episode. Besides having to believe, because of situations we see, the view point of the major and his wife. They are practically the definition of unreliable narrators. In addition, you have a number of ridiculous characters on the "bad guys" side including an absolutely impossible to believe, clueless lawyer for Celador. It just stacks the deck so hard.
Hey, if it's fiction, makeup any tale you want, but don't give me a fantasy version of actual occurrences.
@The Old Man posted:"Quiz" -- 30pts. 3 part mini-series on the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" scandal in England in the 90s. It's simply horribly manipulative.
I didn't think it was as bad as you did, but it was certainly disappointing coming from Stephen Frears.
Bill Maher just went for 6 minutes 35 seconds without saying anything while his two guests talked. I believe that is a record.
"Perry Mason" -- ten minutes, click. Overproduced. Trying too hard.
Two episodes into Giri / Haji on Netflix. I like it so far.
PH
@purplehaze posted:Two episodes into Giri / Haji on Netflix. I like it so far.
PH
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.
@sunnylea57 posted:I had high hopes for this, but it just didn’t grab us.
Now through E:4 and am losing interest. I'll give it a couple more episodes before I bail.
PH
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.
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'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.
@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.