I had HBO for a year and never caught up on series like I meant to, pretty sure the Leftovers is really all I got through, so, just caught a deal for 3 more months...so I'm gonna make sure to at least get a couple, first up, Oz.

I loved Oz so fucking much. Beecher/Keller is a top 10 pairing for me.

I'm still working through Supernatural. I'm on quite possibly my favourite season, Season 5. So many great episodes and character introductions with Crowley, Death and Lucifer and Castiel as a regular character.  I'm biased as it also contains one of my favourite episodes, that being Changing Channels.  Supernatural became, and I believe is, one of the most self-aware shows and has broken the 4th wall so many times, mostly in subtle ways but sometimes taking a sledgehammer to said wall.  Anyway enough eulogising about Supernatural.



I'm alternating Supernatural with Supergirl.  I was so far behind with the DC shows I forgot where I was at so started with Season 4 and it's so damn good.  Jesse Rath is wonderful as Brainiac and loving Nicole Maines Dreamer too.  At times it's kind of uncomfortable watching with the paralells of what's happening now, but I'm loving it.  Second best DC show behind Legends of Tomorrow.  

Better Call Saul
I just finished Season 5, and for some reason I thought it was the final season, but it clearly isn't. I'm going to take this opportunity to share my thoughts on the show as a whole.

Better Call Saul is excellent, but it's not as good as Breaking Bad, which I am rewatching now. Incidentally, I'm about to watch the Season 2 episode "Better Call Saul", in which that very character is introduced. To get back on topic, I don't find Better Call Saul to be as consistent.

I did not care for the majority of the Jimmy/Chuck/Hamlin-Hamlin-McGill storyline that dominated the first three seasons. It had its moments, and it certainly wasn't bad television, but it didn't grip me in the same way as everything else did. What drove me to watch the show were. The backstory of the drug cartel that underpins both Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad fascinates me. Mike Ehrmantraut was really fleshed out and became one of the best characters in this entire universe. Right up there with Walter White and Gus Fring.

It sounds cruel, but the show picked up a lot in Season 4, following Chuck's death. Gone was the storyline that, in my opinion, was holding the show back, and it started to flourish. In comes Lalo Salamnca, who at first I didn't think much of, but quickly establishes himself as a really dangerous human being, even before that memorable scene in the Season 5 finale. Seasons 4 and especially 5 were phenomenal, with that stakes-raising, high-tension television that Breaking Bad displayed every single episode. Furthermore, they've set the groundwork for a mindblowing Season 6.

Fantastic.

See, I prefered the first three seasons of BCS. The slower character focused episodes lent so much weight to what was happening and made Saul Goodman a far more intriguing character than he first appeared in BB. If things ever got too slow, Mike was right there to pick up the slack. I thought the way Chuck/Jimmy built was fantastic and the court room scene was the highlight of the series, with the copy room sequence not being far behind.

The show has been fine, but it does feel like it had to take a step back after Season 3 to help build towards a finale. I think it will pay off in season six now that everyone is finally placed in interesting positions and they've built up a nice heel in Lazlo.

Looking for something light I started One Day at a Time the other day. Funny and touching stuff. Very old fashioned sitcom style took me awhile to be used to but it is so good.

Jun 7, 2020 3:45:45 GMT mikec said:

Looking for something light I started One Day at a Time the other day. Funny and touching stuff. Very old fashioned sitcom style took me awhile to be used to but it is so good.

Which one, the 70s original, or the Netflix reboot?

May 30, 2020 14:38:20 GMT @ness said:

I loved Oz so fucking much. Beecher/Keller is a top 10 pairing for me.

The first 3-4 season of Oz are awesome.  The show starts going downhill after

SPOILER: Click to show

Adebisi's

death though.

Jun 7, 2020 3:48:11 GMT CM Punk'd said:

Jun 7, 2020 3:45:45 GMT mikec said:

Looking for something light I started One Day at a Time the other day. Funny and touching stuff. Very old fashioned sitcom style took me awhile to be used to but it is so good.

Which one, the 70s original, or the Netflix reboot?

Reboot.

Jun 7, 2020 4:56:54 GMT thereallt said:

May 30, 2020 14:38:20 GMT @ness said:

I loved Oz so fucking much. Beecher/Keller is a top 10 pairing for me.

The first 3-4 season of Oz are awesome.  The show starts going downhill after

SPOILER: Click to show

Adebisi's

death though.

Agree completely.  Great series that ended poorly in the final seasons.


Caught up on Snowpiercer.  Such a great show.  Really love they slowed it down a lot.  The movie was great but went super fast.  Show captures the movie well, but slows shit down so much to really dig into the culture of the train.

13 Reasons Why

Four years ago, this was one of those Netflix series everyone was raving about. It was high school mystery with an 80s revival aesthetic and each episode would reveal more about the school. It was an enjoyable enough ride, but once you had all the pieces and reflected on it you could see all the cracks. Apparently it was based on a short story and they tried to make a 13 hour mini series on it, when it would have worked better as a movie. Regardless, it made an impact so a second season was inevitable.

The second season came out and within hours it was completely and utterly torn apart by critics. I was curious to see where they could take the series, but after the negative feedback, I just read a brief synopsis and chose to stay clear. I thought that would be the end of it, but then out came a season three.

I have no idea who even asked for a third season, but here it was anyway. From what I gathered, the third season went back to the mystery theme of the first season, but it was so clumsily handled that even fans hated it.

So I come to find out a season four is out, I haven't watched the show since Season 1 and barely know anything that's happened since Season 4, but since I need a healthy dose of crap television, I decided to deep dive.

So our protaganist in the show was this milquetoast nice guy who could have easily been the wallflower in that one coming of age movie. He was awkward but relatable and he had pretty good chemistry with the Christina Ricci look-alike. I'm not even one episode and the character has completely lost his mind, not only does he have conversations with the dead people but he flips out at everything and shakes his head uncontrollably. He's also the narrator for the show and everything he says reads like a dorky Batman monologue.

"They say love is a battlefield, huh tell me about it. Everyday love rips out the hearts of every young person in the world. Heterosexual, homosexual, it doesn't fucking matter. And yet, we are so blind to it that we give in. Are we nothing but martyrs? Do we take pleasure in our own eternal suffering? And yet the struggle goes on, it never stops, we just learn to endure."

- Clay Jenson, Probably Episode 3

So in Season 3, Alex (closeted suicidal character) and Jess (woke feminist survivor) killed Bryce Walker (smug rapist character, clearly somebody the writers loved writing for) and framed Monty (closeted jock) who was killed in prison. Monty's secret boyfriend, Winston, who was with Monty the night Bryce died transfers to the high school to figure out what's going on. Not much of a plot and the writers seem to think so as well since they barely stick with it.

Instead it's a season about all the characters going off the rails but there's hardly any cause and effect. Characters just do crazy and wild shit and right as it appears it's going somewhere, it'll jump months ahead and everyone will have moved on. At one point it appears Clay and Zack (Half Asian Jock/Hedonist) died in a terrible car accident, only to appear in the next episode, Zach has a limp for all of two seconds and the show moves on. At another they arrive at a gun deal gone bad, the dealer shoots at somebody off-screen and we fade to black, only for the next episode to start back up and the situation is completely de-escalated and nothing happened.

The show gets so bored of it's premise they have segments based on a fantasy post apocalyptis war-site and even do a Friday the 13th tribute where Clay loses his mind on a camping trip or something.

Also half the cast is now gay? Is that the only group that enjoyed the show?

So Clay keeps losing his mind. At one point he threatens to shoot a cop, the next he's at prom reminiscing about the good times. One second he goes to a police station threatening to shoot people, the next he's having a laugh. The guy clearly needs some serious help, but all he gets to do is talk to Gary Sinese who clearly wants those Netflix bucks.

It really is just a tease where they'll promise to do something really edgy only to whimp out at the last second. Was it always this bad? I seem to recall some charming banter with the Christina Ricci lookalike character.

Anyways, the one character who actually got a redemption arc dies of AIDs. It basically all happens over the span of 30 minutes, no build, just a time skip and he's gone. There's about five monologues and the show is over. Clay meets the female version of himself and falls in love and somehow he's off to college despite clearly requiring some deep psychiatric help. Maybe this was a secret spin off for Mindhunter?

After barely mentioning it in the second half of the season, Winston just decides to drop the whole framing Monty thing after Alex confesses just because.

The police also decide to stop investigating as well, because the town needs to move on despite the heavy surveillance they put on the kids and the flimsy evidence.

One of my favourite aspects, this new character they introduced in Season 3 who was the narrator and this perfect character got shipped away for half the season because everyone supposedly hated her. She appears at the end but doesn't really doing anything.

Pretty terrible stuff even in a so bad it's good way. But hey, it was a trip going back to this world I barely remembered and trying to remember who all these people were. It's like going to a class reunion for a school you were only at for a year.

Finished up Oz, pretty much agree with replies...Beecher/Keller was the best part, and it was never quite the same after that death, not quite ending on high of a note as other shows, and the final season or so weren't as good as what came prior. Some great character work all around, but did start to feel a bit repetitive by the end. Not sure I'd watch it again, rates more towards the middle or so for as far as HBO goes, even further for all around ranking. Ending wasn't particularly strong. Gonna do the Last of Us, be out of town for a week, then Last of Us II...after that, the Deuce is next on the docket.

The Cancel Culture has now claimed one of the most influential television shows of all time.

After 32 years between two networks, and widely considered one of the pioneers of Reality TV, COPS has been cancelled as a result of what's going on in the world today.

Jun 10, 2020 0:05:38 GMT CM Punk'd said:

The Cancel Culture has now claimed one of the most influential television shows of all time.

After 32 years between two networks, and widely considered one of the forefathers of Reality TV, COPS has been cancelled as a result of what's going on in the world today.

Tbh had no clue it was still running. I just assumed if it was just endless reruns and that they only ever recorded 1 season and no one was the wiser.

Jun 10, 2020 0:07:01 GMT @ness said:

Jun 10, 2020 0:05:38 GMT CM Punk'd said:

The Cancel Culture has now claimed one of the most influential television shows of all time.

After 32 years between two networks, and widely considered one of the forefathers of Reality TV, COPS has been cancelled as a result of what's going on in the world today.

Tbh had no clue it was still running. I just assumed if it was just endless reruns and that they only ever recorded 1 season and no one was the wiser.

It was on the Paramount Network for the last few years.

30 for 30 : Be Water. I'll give it a solid 8/10. Showed a lot of fascinating details of Bruce Lee's life and the racism he faced growing up and in Hollywood. The documentary also dosen't hide the fact he faced racism in the Asian community as well for being half-white. Or for marrying a white woman.

My main complaint though is that this is supposed to be a sports documentary and the director barely focused on Lee's martial arts achievements. There was very little about the Tau of Jeet Kun Do and it's influence on modern MMA. Bruce Lee's Jeet Kun Do philosophy was an absolute landmark in martial arts and may very well be Bruce Lee's biggest legacy yet there was barely a blip about it.

Watched season 4 of 13 Reasons Why and absolutely hated it. There was so many problems with it, and I ended up recording a rant video for my YouTube channel as my video for season 3 got heaps of views. I ended up ranting for 40 minutes. Oops.

Then watched season 4 of F is for Family. I enjoyed the season but it was nowhere near as good as the previous seasons. The first episode of the season had me laughing the hardest with the first minute.

And now I’ve finally started watching Stranger Things. Finished season 1, I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. It’s an OK show, but I’m not understanding the huge following it created so far.

I finally started watching Sex Education and I love it. I'm only three episodes in, but it hasn't lost my attention yet, so it must be doing something right!

Fresh Off The Boat is getting mixed in there too, plus some Batman: TAS (partly inspired by playing the latest Lego DC game).

You ever get overwhelmed watching a Chopped?

Baker-man

WWF Survivor Series 1996

is on FS1

Emperor and Big Pete bringing up great points re: Better Call Saul.

I was agreeing with a lot of what Emp said about the first three seasons, but as I thought about it, I can’t think of a single wasted second during that time. I was about to say that those seasons could easily be condensed to 2, but what do you cut?

Everything was building up to what made Jimmy tick and finally cross that line to becoming Saul Goodman, the ruthless criminal lawyer that we see in Breaking Bad. I feel like if they didn’t show his history and relationship with Chuck and Hamlin, and the lengths he was willing to go to to get what he wanted, the last couple seasons would feel out of place.

That being said, I don’t know how much rewatch value it has. I could sit down and watch Breaking Bad any time, but I’m kind of on the fence about if I’ll go back and watch every episode of BCS before the final season. I mean, I probably will, but if I didn’t I don’t think I’d care very much.

Jun 17, 2020 2:22:35 GMT 🤯 said:

Baker-man

WWF Survivor Series 1996

is on FS1

What a great fucking show this is. Had a blast watching this with the fiancé tonight. She’s stealing Wife gimmick and attempting to be interested in wrestling. Roman Reigns is her favorite so far and she loves anything involving Austin/McMahon. She also loves Royal Rumble matches for some reason. I think she just likes asking about all the various wrestlers. This is mostly what we watch when I fire up the Network.

Back to the show, is it safe to say this is easily Sid’s best match ever? I know people love the I Quit match with Goldberg of all guys but it’s been forever since I’ve watched it.

RT

I completely agree that there was little to no wasted airtime in the first three seasons, and that it was essential to establish Jimmy's character. I'm not saying the show would have been better without it. I'm just saying I didn't enjoy it that much compared to the rest of the show. I'd happily rewatch everything concerning Mike, Nacho, Gus, the Salamancas and the cartel. That whole saga is amazing.

I'm rewatching Breaking Bad right now and Saul Goodman was introduced a few episodes ago. I also saw Gus for the first time. So awesome.

Caught Solar Opposites, it was funny enough, but just Rick and Morty lite, doesn’t do more than just being a knock off...but still some solid laughs.

Search didn't turn up anything - but has anyone watched Ramy? Thoroughly recommended for those who liked Master of None or Atlanta.

Never heard of it @admin. What’s it about?

Jun 14, 2020 15:28:27 GMT sandylea said:

Watched season 4 of 13 Reasons Why and absolutely hated it. There was so many problems with it, and I ended up recording a rant video for my YouTube channel as my video for season 3 got heaps of views. I ended up ranting for 40 minutes. Oops.

Then watched season 4 of F is for Family. I enjoyed the season but it was nowhere near as good as the previous seasons. The first episode of the season had me laughing the hardest with the first minute.

And now I’ve finally started watching Stranger Things. Finished season 1, I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. It’s an OK show, but I’m not understanding the huge following it created so far.

I couldn’t even make it past Season 1. Personally I thought it did the opposite of what it was trying to do.

Finished Lucifer, Sweet Magnolias (chick show), Virgin River (another chick show) and 365 Days (yet another steamy chick show).

Working my way through What If?, Space Force and Season 2 of Dead to Me.

I would like to thank you guys for your recommendations here.
Been having a lot of late nights working on my laptop and have binged three seasons of the Wire and have really enjoyed it.
Never had HBO when this came out and completely missed it.

Jun 25, 2020 2:00:48 GMT iron maiden said:

Never heard of it @admin . What’s it about?

Basically it's a coming of age comedy about a millennial Muslim struggling with the challenges that your family and religion present growing up in the West. What really makes it for me is how the whole cast are written (unlike MoN which for as enjoyable as it is, could be accused of being pretty self-indulgent by Aziz) all add a lot to the show, each member of his family get their own dedicated episodes. His mum in particular is an amazing character and for me by far the funniest.

Jun 25, 2020 22:15:10 GMT @admin said:

Jun 25, 2020 2:00:48 GMT iron maiden said:

Never heard of it @admin . What’s it about?

Basically it's a coming of age comedy about a millennial Muslim struggling with the challenges that your family and religion present growing up in the West. What really makes it for me is how the whole cast are written (unlike MoN which for as enjoyable as it is, could be accused of being pretty self-indulgent by Aziz) all add a lot to the show, each member of his family get their own dedicated episodes. His mum in particular is an amazing character and for me by far the funniest.

That sounds like a show mom and I would enjoy. Thanks for the suggestion.

Dark Season 3 just came out on Netflix, so now I have that to look forward to.