The TV shows you've seen recently thread.

[fistfulofmetal]

did anyone watch any of Bill Nye Saves the World? it's up on Netflix now

I watched the first episode and came away a little cold to it. Early on Bill Nye says this is a show for the adult crowd, then proceeds to do extremely simple *experiments* for babies. Also the tone of the show feels very preachy. I'm not sure who the intended audience is tbh. It doesn't feel informative, instead it feels like it's talking down to people and preaching to the choir.

When I watched it I thought it myself "this is the exact reason the right dislikes 'cliche' elitists" because it feels snooty. I mean at the end of the episode they bring Zach Braff on for no reason. Do they really think talking to celebrities is going to change minds? I dunno, maybe because the first episode is literally about Climate Change. I'll watch a few more episodes.

[CatsCatsCats]

Stupid adults -- he wants to reach the dumb ones

[etiolate]

It looks god awful

http://observer.com/2017/04/why-4chan-isnt-buying-what-bill-nye-and-political-entertainers-are-selling/

[Madrun Badrun]

don't like Bill Nye

[fistfulofmetal]

It's a real bummer, but at least I'm not alone. A show where Bill Nye teaches cool science stuff can be rad, but the show just hits the wrong mark consistently.

If they get a second season I hope they figure out what isn't working and change it.

[etiolate]

Agents of Shield continues to be such a mixed bag. At times, it can pull off being a decent action show with some character interaction. Other times, its heavy handed and almost cringe, with a handful of weak characters. All the time, it's repeating the same story, repeatedly in a holding pattern because it's really just an advertising vehicle for the next Marvel movie.

[Bebpo]

Started watching Fargo TV S1 last night.  First ep was great!  Really well directed and the cast is amazing.  Watched ep2 as well and it was good, though not as good as ep1.  Billy Bob Thorton's character is great in every scene he's in.

The only thing that I dislike a little about the show is that Martin Freeman's character is kinda annoying.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Better Call Saul season 3 so far is an improvement over the second season, which dragged on unnecessarily in many episodes to where it felt like mostly filler.  Now this season is where things are starting to fall into line with respect to Breaking Bad.

I have no idea how many seasons this show is intended to last but my guess is five at the rate they are going.

[Momo]

[Bebpo]

American Gods was really oddly directed.  Gorgeous cinematography and very faithful to the book but just felt all over the place.  Hoping it kinda smooths out in ep2 on.  The early reviews say that it takes until ep3/4 to get in its groove, so that might be it.

Kinda glad they're going all out with the fantasy CG even if it's super low budget at time.  Better than not having the money to do CG and having that hold back the show.

[PlayDat]

After watching a bunch of the clips on YouTube, I decided to buy the first season of Adam Ruins Everything on Amazon.  It took me nearly two months, but I finally finished it late March/early April.  I liked it a lot. 

If you’re unfamiliar, the host Adam Conover explains the truth behind a bunch of common misconceptions.  It’s all scripted in a generally humorous tone.  There’s even a loose narrative and recurring characters connecting the episodes.  It reminds me of Penn and Teller’s Bullshit but more family friendly.  They’ve already covered a few of the same topics.  Some of the conclusions they draw are things I already knew.  I’d imagine plenty of people here won’t be shocked by it all either but I still found those parts enjoyable.  Confirmation bias is part of why I found it so appealing and I'm okay admitting that.   

Every episode has suggestions for how to unruin the topic and a webpage listing its sources.  They're worth looking through for some good book recommendations.  Most episodes also have an expert on to help back up the show's claims.

Here’s a clip from their security episode.


They have a podcast too.

Some people in the funeral industry got wind of their death episode.

Although this episode aired in 2015, I found the video comical as well as damning to the funeral industry. We are all aware of companies, individuals, religions, and so forth targeting our industry in hopes to (1) successfully grandstand a career, (2) to insult peoples livelihoods on purpose unless it’s their own, and (3) to promulgate public opinions, however, we need to be aware of what is being said, where it is coming from, and how to defend ourselves even though we should not have to. To that point, Adam Ruins Everything is a TruTV show that does just that – try to ruin everything

Season 2 is already out, but I think I’m going to take a break before watching the rest.  Next time I'll go with iTunes over Amazon since the latter doesn't let you download the episodes.  I hope iTunes is more than just a stream.

I've gone deep.  It's been years since I've been this excited about a TV show.  My interest in dramas has been diminishing with time.

[chronovore]

It's good! I also bought the first season of that on iTunes, and enjoyed what I've seen of it so far. I haven't finished it.

For the record, iTunes allows for download of TV shows, not just streaming. As an expat living abroad in Japan, iTunes with a USA account is the only way that I am able to legally watch digitally delivered media. iTunes allows me to stream or download no matter where I am. Amazon will not let me watch or listen to items I have out right purchased if my IP address doesn't represent me as physically within the United States. Pretty sure Google Play is similarly limited.

[Bebpo]

Having not read the book or seen any Bryan Fuller shows, my brother described the directing in American Gods ep1 as "Sucker Punch-lite" in a very bad way.  I definitely think David Slade kinda blew the first ep a bit.  Also, I'm not seeing a whole lot of mainstream talk.  Didn't see one mention last night on Facebook by anyone in my feed as opposed to stuff like HBO shows GoT or Westworld.  Despite the heavy marketing, I get the feeling AG isn't going to do gangbuster HBO numbers.

I just hope it gets at least a full 3 seasons to do the entire book plot.  If 12 Monkeys TV can get 5 seasons, this should be able to get 3, but man, going by ep1 American Gods has got to be incredibly expensive TV to produce so I'm a little worried about renewals. 

[toku]

i promise you its going to get a second season

[chronovore]

Dat Suckerpunch-lite tho'

 

[Nola]

It might be because I was like a giddy schoolgirl about Ian McShane back on TV in what seems like a Swearengen like role, but I thought the pilot was intriguing and liked it a lot.

Maybe it was because I read all the tepid, nitpicky, semi negative reviews about the first episode so my bar was lowered a good bit, IDK.

Then again since The Wire, I have made it a rule to not really get too critical about a long-form show I am gonna invest in til at least the 5th-6th episode.

[Bebpo]

It might be because I was like a giddy schoolgirl about Ian McShane back on TV in what seems like a Swearengen like role, but I thought the pilot was intriguing and liked it a lot.

Maybe it was because I read all the tepid, nitpicky, semi negative reviews about the first episode so my bar was lowered a good bit, IDK.

Then again since The Wire, I have made it a rule to not really get too critical about a long-form show I am gonna invest in til at least the 5th-6th episode.

Yeah, I mean it was a solid ep as a book reader.  Cool to hear you were intrigued, I read some comments on gaf and just local friends that made it seems like non-book readers were just WTF and not really feeling it, whereas most book readers enjoyed it.

Ian McShane's good.  When I read the book I pictured Resovoir Dogs era Harvey Keitel and McShane's fairly close to that.  A bit shaggier and more grifty but that fits his character.

[Nola]

Speaking of GAF and Al Swearengen, I wanted to see what people we're saying and saw the Deadwood movie thread bumped:

 

I still refuse to let myself believe HBO won't fuck fans over again, but damn it is making it hard for me not to get hyped.

[etiolate]

So far the first episode of American Gods lacks the vibe of the book and feels off in some way. For one, the color palette doesn't feel like the right choice.

[Bebpo]

Been blowing through Fargo S1, 3eps left now.  Started off loving it and kinda tepid on it atm.  It's one of the best directed TV shows I've ever seen.  The direction, acting, music is all movie quality.  But I'm just not sold on the script.  It's really dark, like grossly so and the lead Martin Short character is so evil and gross + billy bob's thorton's character is horrible and mean and the stuff with the two of them at this point is just so dark idk.  I love the happier scenes with the two main cops and at times it's really funny, but I think it may be a bit too dark for me at this point in my life.  I want stuff a little happier and less fucked up right now -_-

[Bebpo]

Fargo Season 1

It was so dark.  I mean, it's up there with True Detective S1 as one of the best made tv shows ever (directing, acting, editing, cinematography, music, dialogue).  It feels like a movie from start to finish and is almost impossible to put down.  But it was just so dark and violent.

It felt like I was watching Seven or Zodiac or even torture porn at times. I'm trying to think of any TV show or movie I've seen that's been darker, and I'm really not sure. So many brutal deaths.  The thing is that it humanizes the characters so much that watching good people die violently for no reason while the bad guys constantly get away with it was rough.

I read that the director said he wanted to make a show that shows the best and worst of mankind and I think he succeeded!  There are happy good parts that are funny and make you laugh, really likeable good characters
and then there is pure evil and some of the most despicable characters ever.  But I was almost sick to my stomach in the last few eps and usually violence or dark stuff doesn't bother me. 

I mean they even killed

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Key & Peele

[close]

So here's the thing.  I would really be interested in watching another show as well made and directed as Fargo S1, but I don't think I can stomach something so dark; I just don't enjoy it that much.  Is Season 2 just as dark with innocent bystanders constantly getting murdered horribly and bad guys getting away?  Are there characters as sick and disgusting as Billy Bob Thorton's character in S1?  If it's not as dark I'll jump straight into S2, but if it's more of the same makes your stomach sick kinda stuff, idk I may bail on the show.

[benjipwns]

oh Luci 

"crime solving devil
it makes sense
don't over think it"

[toku]

Fargo Season 1

It was so dark.  I mean, it's up there with True Detective S1 as one of the best made tv shows ever (directing, acting, editing, cinematography, music, dialogue).  It feels like a movie from start to finish and is almost impossible to put down.  But it was just so dark and violent.

It felt like I was watching Seven or Zodiac or even torture porn at times. I'm trying to think of any TV show or movie I've seen that's been darker, and I'm really not sure. So many brutal deaths.  The thing is that it humanizes the characters so much that watching good people die violently for no reason while the bad guys constantly get away with it was rough.

I read that the director said he wanted to make a show that shows the best and worst of mankind and I think he succeeded!  There are happy good parts that are funny and make you laugh, really likeable good characters
and then there is pure evil and some of the most despicable characters ever.  But I was almost sick to my stomach in the last few eps and usually violence or dark stuff doesn't bother me. 

I mean they even killed

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Key & Peele

[close]

So here's the thing.  I would really be interested in watching another show as well made and directed as Fargo S1, but I don't think I can stomach something so dark; I just don't enjoy it that much.  Is Season 2 just as dark with innocent bystanders constantly getting murdered horribly and bad guys getting away?  Are there characters as sick and disgusting as Billy Bob Thorton's character in S1?  If it's not as dark I'll jump straight into S2, but if it's more of the same makes your stomach sick kinda stuff, idk I may bail on the show.

I don't think s2 is as dark but i also feel like there are much fewer characters that are outright "good/innocent" people in the second.  They also leaned more into the wacky comedic stuff too imo.

[toku]

fight choreography in this two minute trailer is already better than anything in iron fist 

[toku]

Come as you are this summer when Marvel Netflix gives you more hallway fight scenes, this time with FOUR HEROES AT ONCE!

only with it if it's a ring huh?

[chronovore]

Come as you are this summer when Marvel Netflix gives you more hallway fight scenes, this time with FOUR HEROES AT ONCE!

only with it if it's a ring huh?

 

The Netflix shows love hall way fights. The trailer showed a hallway fight, but with all 4 heroes.

That's the point: Marvel also loves sticking their heroes in a circle, fending off from all sides to show their unity. :shrug

[toku]

Pretty funny show. Partly because Hank Azaria never breaks the announcer voice no matter what he's saying or what's going on in the scene. Good shit. Not a great trailer but im glad they didn't put in all the best bits from the pilot/first few eps.

This is basically the first 2 mins of the first ep:




Also Amanda Peet

 

[CajoleJuice]

I've gotta get on watching that show. He was on a Mets radio broadcast recently to promote the show (also because he's a huge Mets fan) and he called some of the game in his broadcaster voice.

[benjipwns]

fight choreography in this two minute trailer is already better than anything in iron fist 

i don't understand this remake at all, are there even any court scenes? is it still set in Las Vegas? i mean sure the jim belushi version had a fight or two, but this seems like a bit much

[CatsCatsCats]

Just binged the first 4 episodes of Handmaid's Tale -- super compelling television

[etiolate]

Ep 2 and I think they totally missed what made American Gods compelling as a novel. However, they may have made it into a cringey/corny b-movie by accident, which could have repeat comedy viewing power. That dick pick lol.

[CatsCatsCats]

Yeah, so far American Gods the tv show is not satisfactory on its own or as an adaptation imo -- if you don't wanna read and want this story, I recommend the full cast audio book

[Momo]

Ep 2 and I think they totally missed what made American Gods compelling as a novel. However, they may have made it into a cringey/corny b-movie by accident, which could have repeat comedy viewing power. That dick pick lol.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

The dick in space 

[close]

[Vizzys]

I been watching Billions.
finished season 1 already, show is like crack
anyway if yall havent seen it, I highly recommend.
it reminds me of house of cards a bit only less murdery

[Momo]

The last two episodes of Billions were some fantastic TV

[toku]

Top of the Lake is one of the best tv shows I've ever seen has a new series coming:

[chronovore]

More mutant-based TV shows. Because it's mutants, I'm guessing it's got no relation to any other MCU TV shows.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/x-men-new-mutants-movie-casts-anya-taylor-joy-maisie-williams-1002743

[Momo]

Fox’s long-awaited X-Men spinoff

 

[Phoenix Dark]

Top of the Lake is one of the best tv shows I've ever seen has a new series coming:

Couldn't get past the first episode. Don't believe him.

[toku]

[Beezy]

Dear White People the show is so much better than Dear White People the movie. Probably not a fair comparison, but it's true. Looking forward to season 2.

[CatsCatsCats]

Episode 3 of American Gods -- things are starting to git gud

[Momo]

Fox’s long-awaited X-Men spinoff

 

 

[Momo]

Now this is going to be great

[Raist]

Caught up with American Gods. It's alright. I mean it's pretty much a 1:1 transcription of the book.
Cast is pretty spot on, I must say.

[etiolate]

Zach Woods rocked the last Silicon Valley.

[etiolate]

Episode 3 of American Gods -- things are starting to git gud

Yeah, it seems the three sisters/slavic  story line gets the show to focus on what works. The actress for the midnight star really nailed the lines.

I was a bit surprised they included the Ifrit mini story, but not only did they include it, they added to it. The CGI at the end was baaaad.

[CatsCatsCats]

lol I think I remember Bebpo or someone saying something about them not having much to work with for gratuitous sex scenes constantly, I think that's been dispelled by now

[Valkyrie]

Anyone else here watching the new Prison Break season?

spoiler (click to show/hide)

It's not bad, I'm enjoying it, but I think the whole terrorist/ISIS concept is kinda exhausting after 2 episodes. Constant chasing and cheating death is far from as exciting as the original seasons were. But I keep watching. There were some "whoa" moments which probably is what keeps me watching I guess. Wish it was less predictable, and more mindblowing though. But it's exciting knowing about Sara's husband for instance.

[close]

[Momo]

Fuck that star trek trailer, I'm not even going to post it here.

[seagrams hotsauce]

Fargo season 3 has been kind of a letdown :/

[toku]

yeah i havent been able to even finish the first ep

[Stoney Mason]

Watched this yesterday. What a crazy thing.

[etiolate]

The new Doctor Who season isn't that hot either. I feel like they are wasting Capaldi's talents and having him be a Smith/Tennant type. The new companion and him don't have any real chemistry either.

[Madrun Badrun]

Kimmy Schmidt isn't great but I'm still enjoying it.  Also like seeing like everyone from 30 rock this season. 

[Mupepe]

Watched this yesterday. What a crazy thing.

I remember reading articles on this. Now I need to see this.

[etiolate]

I'm enjoying Into the Badlands more than I thought I would be. Doesn't get a lot of talk as a show, but great fight cinematography and interesting characters.

[seagrams hotsauce]

Kimmy Schmidt; still hilarious

[Rahxephon91]

Master of None S2 was goodish. I mean don't get me wrong. I watched all 10 episodes back to back and then rewatched some all in one sitting.

It still captures life so well. It still has amazingly artstic scenes. It's still funny.

It's just honestly Francesca is a boring nothing character. She kind of just exists to be attractive and flirty. I don't even know why Dev would actually like her other then yeah she's hot and fun. Rachel was an actual character who seemed to actually compliment Dev and well there relationship was actually realistic. Nerdy hipster white girl worried about being vapid and losing her ambition and wasting away in New York? Yeah I can actually understand that instead of model-esque flirty Italian girl who I guess cooks? She's just not every engaging and their "romance" suffers because it feels very hamy and "look it's so cute". Not two people worried about their life's direction actually making a connection.

So while I can understand Dev's stuff and can relate, it's just his actual love interests in this season is very boring. So every scene feels very samey and tired. Kind of dragging the show down.

Still I quite liked season 2.

[Mupepe]

I gave up on American gods halfway through episode 3. I can't out my finger on it, but it's just not interesting as a show. When I read it, I found it disappointing but very interesting. Oh well.