The TV Discussion Thread

[EyesWideOpen]

Derek isn't very good, is it? Makes sense Gervais tried something different after Life's too Short, but this is immensely cloying.

It's fantastic. One of my favorite current shows.

[EvilShoe]

Trailer for Tommy Wiseau's The Neighbors.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGpwxHMUndk

I'm sure this is intentionally bad, but wtf?

[number8]

That's from the pilot he shot 5 years ago that never went anywhere because nobody wanted it. I believe the one that is actually going to be released will be a different incarnation.

Here's the actual new teaser:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWvI4nL_N9o

[Henry Gale]

Tim & Eric had been trying to get Adult Swim to pick up that first pilot for "The Neighbors" for years to turn it into a series they (Abso-Lutely) would produce because they were in love with it. I'm sure now that there's already been an ABC show with the same name that the dream (at least with that title) is over.

It's kind of amazing to see just how much his own version of fame Wiseau has given him a suitably weird ego with that more newly-shot second teaser, considering it's just a scene of him partying with his own merchandise.

[EvilShoe]

That sucks. The look of the original teaser is so much more appealing.

[number8]

It's kind of amazing to see just how much his own version of fame Wiseau has given him a suitably weird ego with that more newly-shot second teaser, considering it's just a scene of him partying with his own merchandise.

He's definitely bought into his own hype and doesn't care anymore that his following started ironically. Which is why the teaser has The Room references like the underwear and the short distance football. If you ever meet him, he has no shame throwing out lines and references to The Room or even playing up the way he talks, just to get a reaction from people. You learn to take what you can get, I guess.

[Henry Gale]

He's definitely bought into his own hype and doesn't care anymore that his following started ironically. Which is why the teaser has The Room references like the underwear and the short distance football. If you ever meet him, he has no shame throwing out lines and references to The Room or even playing up the way he talks, just to get a reaction from people. You learn to take what you can get, I guess.

Haha I actually have met him, and this is way too accurate. He even initiated a football toss with me and my friends, which Sestero reluctantly obliged to.

But when it comes to Wiseau's view of his work, the Q&A they did later that night demonstrated how kinda oblivious he still is otherwise. He knows people gravitate to certain lines and elements of the movie, but definitely couldn't explain why to you. Of course he has to try to save face by now rewriting the history of it as always being intended as a "dark comedy", because how else would he be able to make sense of it or peace with it?

It's the same naivety and incomprehension that birthed the movie in the first place, only evolved.

[Spun Lepton]

Are Tim & Eric taking advantage of a mentally challenged individual? 'Cuz I'm under the impression that Wiseau isn't all there.

[EyesWideOpen]

Just got tickets for the Tim & Eric & Dr. Steve Brule Tour in San Diego in September. I am beyond excited.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqe4KQTYtVA

[Grouchy]

http://s01.s3c.es/imag/_v3/Ecoteuve/635x250/carnivale.jpg

Just finished watching the second and last season of CarnivÃ*le. Just a tremendous show with a personality that few others can claim to be imbued with. The casting of Michael J. Anderson seems prophetic as the series goes on to have a feel reminiscent of Twin Peaks, and can in turns be disturbing, dramatic or bizarrely funny. It's also obvious that a lot of research went into the reconstruction of the 1930s, even down to the way people talk.

Why didn't it work? I think if it had come out a few years later, with audiences getting more used to involvement with shows that don't necessarily provide all the answers, it might have. But I'm not that confident with my analysis nor am I a great TV watcher. I just think this is wonderful and am truly sorry I'll never get to know how it was supposed to end.

[number8]

I finally started watching Scooby Doo Mystery Inc in order on Netflix instead of catching random episodes and just finished the first season. Wow, that's a downer of a season finale. This is probably the only incarnation of Scooby Doo that successfully made Fred the best character on the team.

[Dead & Messed Up]

http://s01.s3c.es/imag/_v3/Ecoteuve/635x250/carnivale.jpg

Just finished watching the second and last season of CarnivÃ*le. Just a tremendous show with a personality that few others can claim to be imbued with. The casting of Michael J. Anderson seems prophetic as the series goes on to have a feel reminiscent of Twin Peaks, and can in turns be disturbing, dramatic or bizarrely funny. It's also obvious that a lot of research went into the reconstruction of the 1930s, even down to the way people talk.

Why didn't it work? I think if it had come out a few years later, with audiences getting more used to getting involved with shows that don't necessarily provide all the answers, it might have. But I'm not that confident with my analysis nor am I a great TV watcher. I just think this is wonderful and am truly sorry I'll never get to know how it was supposed to end.

Whoo!

It's basically my favorite show, in that it's the kind of show I would want to make in my wildest dreams. The unapologetically serious fusion of history and myth and religion and supernaturalism and darkness and sex (it's so strangely kinky - but so is Greek myth and the Bible). And there's a palpable unease that accompanies the supernaturalism. It feels intrusive and threatening, as opposed to the banal "fantasy" of most monster-of-the-week sci-fi/fantasy shows.

I think you're right that it was probably ahead of its time. Post Game of Thrones and post True Detective, there'd probably be a larger appetite for its measured, relaxed thriller storytelling.

[Grouchy]

Post Game of Thrones and post True Detective, there'd probably be a larger appetite for its measured, relaxed thriller storytelling.
Two things I have yet to watch.

But yes, you're right. It's a show that feels deeply perverse as opposed to just weird or sensationalistic like most Horror fiction. I also got the feeling that the writers had a pretty thorough show Bible since the characters and situations have an almost novel-like density. In fact, I wish they'd manage to end the story in any medium.

[Lucky]

I'm moving Carnivale next on my list after The Americans S2. Been wanting to watch it for years, just needed a push.

[[ETM]]

I just think this is wonderful and am truly sorry I'll never get to know how it was supposed to end.

There's a sort of a "show bible" written by Daniel Knauf floating around, and he's spoken about what he had planned and about the show's wider mythology in interviews. There's a huge amount of information out there if you're willing to look.

[MadMan]

I've seen all of it, I think. Watched the current season opener this week and I'm a bit fuzzy on what happened last year I can't for the life of me remember how Branch got shot, or why. Still dig the setting and the lead actor. Lou Diamond Philips is good too and I'd wish they would figure out a way to squeeze him into more stories. The chick from Battlestar is overexposed though. I could actually a touch less of her.Ok Branch got shot because him and Longmire started poking into not only Longmire's daughter's accident but also because they were getting too close to that one guy who wants the casino built. Its all connected somehow and I'm sure that Season 3 will dive into it more.

Phillips is awesome on the show. I actually like whats her name from BSG although her storyline isn't really all that interesting in Season 2.

[EyesWideOpen]

I watched through the first two seasons of Workaholics over the last couple weeks and it's a funny show. I never watched it because I figured it would be stoner humor but it's actually a quality comedy with great work by the three main stars and Jillian one of the supporting cast.

I also watched the first two episodes of Welcome to Sweden since I saw Amy Poehler executive produced it and I'm not going to watch anymore. I think it's awesome that a primetime show on a major network has about half the show's dialogue in Swedish with subtitles but besides that it's not a very good show. I assume it's supposed to be a comedy but it's not very funny. The characters/storylines are boring and even guest appearances by Poehler & Ferrell don't provide much to laugh about.

[number8]

The dialogue is in Swedish because it's a Swedish show. NBC just acquired it for US broadcast.

[number8]

I dunno if anyone's still watching Masters of Sex, but I wrote about the new season. It got better. http://www.artboiled.com/2014/becoming-better-at-sex/

[ledfloyd]

I'm still enjoying it. Haven't had a chance to watch last night's episode yet.

[EvilShoe]

Started rewatching Party Down.

What a show.

[Spun Lepton]

I've begun watching this obscure little show called The Games About Thrones. Maybe some of you have heard of it? I'm only about 4 episodes in when the Stark matriarch has the leprechaun arrested.

/seriously trolling
//but, I am watching it
///really good so far
////Tyrion is my favorite character.
/////Lena Headey is captivating.

[EyesWideOpen]

The dialogue is in Swedish because it's a Swedish show. NBC just acquired it for US broadcast.

I knew that. I mentioned the Swedish dialogue because I was surprised Nbc was airing a heavily subtitled show during primetime. That's got to be something that almost never happens.

[number8]

Charlie Kaufman is developing a comedy for FX (http://www.vulture.com/2013/03/charlie-kaufmans-developing-a-comedy-for-fx.html)

In not so surprising news, FX passed on the pilot.

[Henry Gale]

In not so surprising news, FX passed on the pilot.

Grumble grumble grumble...

It's apparently being shopped around, but not sure how high my hopes should be with its outside chances, even considering the caliber of the people involved.

I just don't know how much longer I can deal with the fact that Kaufman's only realized work since Synecdoche is his contributions to Kung Fu Panda 2's script.

[Milky Joe]

I just think this is wonderful and am truly sorry I'll never get to know how it was supposed to end.

You'll wanna read this:

http://www.avclub.com/article/daniel-knauf-opens-up-about-icarnivaleis-long-weir-92780
http://www.avclub.com/article/daniel-knauf-tells-us-his-plan-for-the-end-of-icar-92877 (2nd part)

[Dead & Messed Up]

Two things I have yet to watch.

But yes, you're right. It's a show that feels deeply perverse as opposed to just weird or sensationalistic like most Horror fiction. I also got the feeling that the writers had a pretty thorough show Bible since the characters and situations have an almost novel-like density. In fact, I wish they'd manage to end the story in any medium.

The show bible used to pitch is available online (http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.harvardwood.org/resource/resmgr/hwp-pdfs/carnivale_pitch_document.pdf), and it's a pleasure to read.

[Grouchy]

Well, thanks for those links, all of you! The interviews I already read and they're very good. The Show Bible is going to take me a bit longer.

[Spun Lepton]

A fpoon.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Captioning Pee-wee's Playhouse. Been working on just this show for the entire week. Barely watched it as a kid, but watching it as an adult, it's very clever, a hallucinogenic riff on Mr. Rogers that somehow stays heartwarming - although later seasons toss in a little too much innuendo for my taste. I remember enjoying it as a child, and I liked Big Adventure as an adult, but what I never really noticed before was how perfectly modulated Pee-wee is as a character. Abrasive, but sweet-hearted, and his most explosive outbursts carry the ring of childlike truth, like when he can't wait to answer the door or phone, or how he's a little confused by Miss Yvonne - he knows she's pretty, but he's not at a stage where he has any grasp of why he thinks so.

My favorite puppet is Pterri, because dinosaur (or dinosaur-related, at least). Randy is a close second, the snarky little prick.

[Spun Lepton]

All right, I've finished DS9. Overall, I'm glad I watched it. But, it wasn't without its fair share of frustrations. Thoughts on the final episode behind the spoiler.

First off, the Dominion War was a fun and interesting storyline. I liked the way that whole thing played out. Special praise for Jeffery Combs and his wide-eyed but extrordinarily evil Weyoun.

But, they spent episodes building up the Pah Wraiths storyline with the Kai and Gul Dukat, only to have it fizzle in the end. They spent so much time on building it up, but in the end it's treated like an afterthought. I almost expected Sisko to say, "Oh, wait! That's right! I'm supposed to go sacrifice myself now." I wonder how much more successful that storyline would have been if they'd found a way to integrate it into the war / main plotline itself at the end.

They also spend several sickly saccharine moments having character reflect on their adventures on the DS9. But, when Warf reflects, you see everyting BUT Jadzia, the freakin' defining storyline for Warf on DS9. So clumsy.


In case anybody's wondering, yes, I've moved on to Voyager. Wish me luck.

[Irish]

Voyager is the beginning of the end. Ugh. Seven years, one good episode & it nearly celebrates every single weakness that Star Trek ever had.

So, uh, good luck? :D

[Mara]

I really think everyone needs to catch up on Rectify before the next Cutties. The first season is on Netflix.

[number8]

I already did. Leave me alooone.

[Mara]

I already did. Leave me alooone.

No. Go watch Slings & Arrows.

[Spun Lepton]

Voyager is the beginning of the end. Ugh. Seven years, one good episode & it nearly celebrates every single weakness that Star Trek ever had.

So, uh, good luck? :D

That appears to be the consensus. I'm going to give it a chance. That said, my main TV show right now will be Game of Thrones.

[EyesWideOpen]

I really think everyone needs to catch up on Rectify before the next Cutties. The first season is on Netflix.

That was already next on my list now that I've finished Orphan Black.

[D_Davis]

Captioning Pee-wee's Playhouse. Been working on just this show for the entire week. Barely watched it as a kid, but watching it as an adult, it's very clever, a hallucinogenic riff on Mr. Rogers that somehow stays heartwarming - although later seasons toss in a little too much innuendo for my taste. I remember enjoying it as a child, and I liked Big Adventure as an adult, but what I never really noticed before was how perfectly modulated Pee-wee is as a character. Abrasive, but sweet-hearted, and his most explosive outbursts carry the ring of childlike truth, like when he can't wait to answer the door or phone, or how he's a little confused by Miss Yvonne - he knows she's pretty, but he's not at a stage where he has any grasp of why he thinks so.

My favorite puppet is Pterri, because dinosaur (or dinosaur-related, at least). Randy is a close second, the snarky little prick.

It's a tremendous show.

[D_Davis]

http://s01.s3c.es/imag/_v3/Ecoteuve/635x250/carnivale.jpg

Just finished watching the second and last season of CarnivÃ*le. Just a tremendous show with a personality that few others can claim to be imbued with. The casting of Michael J. Anderson seems prophetic as the series goes on to have a feel reminiscent of Twin Peaks, and can in turns be disturbing, dramatic or bizarrely funny. It's also obvious that a lot of research went into the reconstruction of the 1930s, even down to the way people talk.

Why didn't it work? I think if it had come out a few years later, with audiences getting more used to involvement with shows that don't necessarily provide all the answers, it might have. But I'm not that confident with my analysis nor am I a great TV watcher. I just think this is wonderful and am truly sorry I'll never get to know how it was supposed to end.


Whoo!

It's basically my favorite show, in that it's the kind of show I would want to make in my wildest dreams. The unapologetically serious fusion of history and myth and religion and supernaturalism and darkness and sex (it's so strangely kinky - but so is Greek myth and the Bible). And there's a palpable unease that accompanies the supernaturalism. It feels intrusive and threatening, as opposed to the banal "fantasy" of most monster-of-the-week sci-fi/fantasy shows.

I think you're right that it was probably ahead of its time. Post Game of Thrones and post True Detective, there'd probably be a larger appetite for its measured, relaxed thriller storytelling.

Have you guys read The Circles of Dr. Lao, by Charles G. Finney? Not only is it one of the most creative, best, and most wonderfully written novels ever - totally ahead of its time, still totally bizarre and weird over 70 years later - but it had to be in influence on this show. We just started watching it since the HBO stuff was added to Amazon Prime, and I keep thinking of a mix between Dr. Lao and Twin Peaks.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Have you guys read The Circles of Dr. Lao, by Charles G. Finney? Not only is it one of the most creative, best, and most wonderfully written novels ever - totally ahead of its time, still totally bizarre and weird over 70 years later - but it had to be in influence on this show. We just started watching it since the HBO stuff was added to Amazon Prime, and I keep thinking of a mix between Dr. Lao and Twin Peaks.

I'll add it to my list - I remember being whelmed by the film Seven Faces of Dr. Lao.

[Irish]

That appears to be the consensus. I'm going to give it a chance. That said, my main TV show right now will be Game of Thrones.

Keep an eye out for a two parter (?) called The Year In Hell. It's the best episode of the series, and maybe one of the best in the Trek universe.

[D_Davis]

I'll add it to my list - I remember being whelmed by the film Seven Faces of Dr. Lao.

A total travesty compared to the depth, pathos and brilliance of the book.

The book will shock you, it's so good. Like just, completely fucking bonkers and awesome. It totally blows my mind that it was written in the 1930s, because it's as weird, bizarre and boundary-pushing as anything by anyone like Ligotti, Cisco, etc.

It's so utterly complex, mystifying and creepy, that I could probably read it a hundred times and never get tired of it, used to it, or really understand what it is saying.

[Thirdmango]

All right, I've finished DS9. Overall, I'm glad I watched it. But, it wasn't without its fair share of frustrations. Thoughts on the final episode behind the spoiler.

In case anybody's wondering, yes, I've moved on to Voyager. Wish me luck.

I liked the last 10 episodes probably a bit more then you. In fact I love the last 10 episodes. It's as far as I remember my favorite part of the series. I've been slowly rewatching DS9, I'm in the third season, and it's not as good as I remember it which is too bad.

Since I have usually been the one replying you'll still get a lot of comments from me from Voyager. There is some really fun stuff in the series, but it's a jarring series in a lot of respects. I'm still excited to hear your thoughts. I also hope it doesn't burn you out of watching Enterprise which despite having a pretty terrible first season has a great 3rd and 4th season.

[Spun Lepton]

I liked the last 10 episodes probably a bit more then you. In fact I love the last 10 episodes. It's as far as I remember my favorite part of the series. I've been slowly rewatching DS9, I'm in the third season, and it's not as good as I remember it which is too bad.

Since I have usually been the one replying you'll still get a lot of comments from me from Voyager. There is some really fun stuff in the series, but it's a jarring series in a lot of respects. I'm still excited to hear your thoughts. I also hope it doesn't burn you out of watching Enterprise which despite having a pretty terrible first season has a great 3rd and 4th season.

I think my favorite episode of the entire run was the one where Jake lived out his entire life with Capt. Sisko appearing and disappearing out of reality. Tony Todd freakin' owned that part. That said, most everything having to do with the Dominion War was above-par for the series, so aside from some mistakes in the final episode (and final season), it was very enjoyable. It's funny to think I didn't like a majority of the characters when it began (especially Bashir), but by the end I was rooting for all of them, (even Bashir).

I've watched the pilot and 2nd episodes of Voyager. There's some painfully bad dialogue. But, it has a certain tone TNG had that DS9 did not. Hopefully that will be enough to propel me further into the series. Despite all the negative appraisal, I really do want to like the series. The setup is intriguing. I've found that I already like Neelix and the hologram doctor characters quite a bit, (probably because they're comic relief).

[MadMan]

Well I went back to watching Dexter. I'm deep into Season 3.

[Henry Gale]

Well I went back to watching Dexter. I'm deep into Season 3.

Nooo! Get out while you can!

But seriously, I wouldn't go further than the end of Season 4. Every person I know completely regrets staying with the latter half of the series and it seems to haunt them every time they talk about getting into any show.

[MadMan]

But I have to finish it. The last show I saw the end of that wasn't two or one seasons long was 24. And it didn't actually end!

[EyesWideOpen]

The last season specifically the ending is really the only part I considered bad in Dexter. I don't regret watching any of the other stuff and I really liked alot of the seasons after 4.

[Mara]

Finally getting to seeing The Hollow Crown. I'm totally excited.

[Mara]

So, Richard II was excellent. The direction didn't need to be much to get through it, but instead it choose to be downright stylish, with a distinct point of view and some lovely visuals. The play itself is a few great scenes bulked out with political intriguing that could easily get tedious, but excellent performances and good locations add visual interest to even the driest power arguments. A couple moments were on-the-nose enough to be silly (Richard's name being erased from the sand; a magic floating crown at one point) but the whole is sumptuous enough to make up for it.

Ben Winshaw and Rory Kinnear have the heavyweight parts, and they conduct themselves very well, especially Winshaw, who plays Richard as a great mix of pitiful and irritating. He is preening and arrogant and we want to smack him down; but when events go against him his sorrows are genuinely affecting. Even the smallest parts are a who's who of great English actors, though, and I'm surprised who they grabbed for even a few lines.

[Peng]

Dexter season 6 and 8 are godawful. I've at least liked all the others.

[Mara]

RE: The Hollow Crown

Henry IV part 1 is pretty solid, although I'm confused by some of the choices. Falstaff is one of Shakespeare's great creations, and I think his genius is in how he balances between the tragic and the comic; a pitiful buffoon. He should be mostly bluster, and then catch us off guard with his human moments. Instead, Beale plays Falstaff as terribly serious business. He is wailing with rage and on the verge of tears half the time, and all his supposedly comic moments come across uneasily. It's not a bad performance, but I don't think it is the most effective way to portray the character.

Tom Hiddleston and Jeremy Irons kill it as 2/3rds of the Henrys, and the final Henry (Joe Armstrong, who I don't know at all) is also very strong, especially in the scenes with his wife, played by Michelle Dockery. The female parts are almost always awful in the history plays, but Kate Percy has some intriguing depths in her short part, so I was glad to see that explored.

[Spun Lepton]

Have yet been unable to watch an entire episode of Voyager without turning it off and going back to it later.

[Spun Lepton]

Sooo, that similar feeling Voyager had to TNG has quickly washed away. Episodes have become increasingly difficult to finish. I find myself annoyed at how badly they're dropping the ball with this. There's so much wasted potential, they're doing nothing unique or exciting with such a great premise. It all feels like Next Generation B-Sides.

Mix this with my very positive response to GoT and I'm about ready to abandon Voyager. Anybody care to talk me out of it?

[Irish]

It all feels like Next Generation B-Sides.

That's it exactly.

But: Year in Hell, dude. Year in Hell.

I watched every episode of Voyager when it was broadcast, and was disappointed by almost every one. They didn't know how to write (or weren't interested in writing) for half the cast. The only stories that were any good featured the doctor. The show gets significantly worse when Seven of Nine shows up (you can almost smell the showrunner's desperation wafting off the screen).

My biggest disappointment was they set up this great premise and then did nothing new with it. But I've also heard scuttlebutt that the writers wanted to do certain things & the powers that be (Berman, etc) wouldn't let them.

Edit: Ok, I looked it up. It's Year of Hell, a two parter in the fourth season. I dunno if I can say that it's worth watching 3+ seasons to get to it. At least not with a clear conscience.

[Spun Lepton]

Well, maybe I'll give the Trek universe a rest for a bit and focus on GoT.

[EyesWideOpen]

I finished up all 4 seasons of Workaholics over the last month and now I'm working my way through the Up series. I'm on 28 right now. Fascinating stuff. They basically show almost the whole 30 minute first 7 Up special in all of the subsequent specials but I never get tired of hearing those little snobby boys talking about reading newspapers, and what schools they're going to go to when their older, or girls not wanting to play "rough and tumble" with them.

I also started rewatching Justice League after being reminded from Duke talking about it that I never got around to watching Unlimited.

[Mara]

RE: The Hollow Crown

Henry IV Part 2 was sad, sad, gloriously sad. Hiddleston really owns the part when he stops being the "wild prince" and begins to slowly transition to his greater destiny, and Falstaff's demeanor (which I thought overly serious) actually works much better in this part of the story, where he waxes elegiac over his own diminished life, leading up to his heart-wrenching betrayal.

And Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston trying to out-sonorous each other in their emotionally charged scenes? Brilliant.

[Mara]

So, Outlander.

I was really dismissive of the show when it was first announced because despite being insanely popular with a certain group of women, I found the original novel silly and unreadable. (A book hovering somewhere between a romance novel and erotica, with literary pretensions that it doesn't merit.)

But I didn't know that Ronald D. Moore was heading it? And now it's getting great reviews?

[[ETM]]

Dina loves the books and was worried about the show, but it's actually really well done so far.

EDIT: She says you're right about the first book, but the series evolves tremendously from book 2.

[Mara]

Mayyyybe if the series is good I'll revisit the books. I tried to read the first one at least a decade ago.

[Lazlo]

Anyone watching You're the Worst on FX? Really funny and smart with a solid cast that already has great chemistry.

Also, not sure how they get away with some of the sex stuff they show on basic cable.

[number8]

Mayyyybe if the series is good I'll revisit the books. I tried to read the first one at least a decade ago.

Have you seen the first episode? it's been up on YouTube for a few days.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlTvwLb2v9Q

[Mara]

I ended up watching it over my lunch break. Most surprising was how gorgeous it was: how did Starz afford this? They must be pouring money into it.

Other than that, it's an intriguing premise but I'm not sure how it will play out long-term. The cast seems strong.

[Thirdmango]

Anybody care to talk me out of it?

It's one of those shows that I don't think you can do with the same frequency you did the other two. Maybe throw in an episode here or there when you feel like it but it's going to be a while before you can get into. A nod to Irish because "Year of Hell" is really good. Probably the best episode of the first season is.... So I started writing that sentence, the best episode of the first season and then I decided to look the episode up, and it's the fifth episode of the third season. Wow, my memory of that show is terrible. But anyways the fifth episode of the third season follows two ferenghi that were in an episode of TNG that went through a worm hole and it closed up. That's a fun episode. Overall Ensign Kim pretty much takes over the show being the best actor in an undervalued role. And the show does get better when 7 of 9 joins and they start really hitting on more borg stuff. So yeah not really talking you out of abandoning it for now. GoT is great stuff.

[Thirdmango]

Anyone watching You're the Worst on FX? Really funny and smart with a solid cast that already has great chemistry.

Also, not sure how they get away with some of the sex stuff they show on basic cable.

After the first episode I really got a feel for it and now i look forward to each episode. I'm liking it quite a bit. I'm not too sure about it's longevity but we'll see. Married is also pretty fun.

[Thirdmango]

Got a hold of all the episodes of Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law and now I'm going to finish the series! Hurray. Also got a hold of all of Space Ghost Coast 2 Coast so I'll be finishing all the episodes I've missed as well. Huzzah!

[number8]

I just noticed that Hulu added a bunch of BBC stuff lately, and new episodes too. I wonder if they're gonna have new eps of Doctor Who up the next day.

[Mara]

And yet nobody has Peaky Blinders.

[Spun Lepton]

Got a hold of all the episodes of Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law and now I'm going to finish the series!

Short-lived, but absolutely brilliant show. Every episode was a riot.

"Ya get that thing I sent ya?"

[MadMan]

Love Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law. I wish I owned the last couple of seasons. I only have 1 and 2 on DVD.

[EyesWideOpen]

Finished season 1 of Rectify. Heartbreaking show. I know season 2 is airing now does anyone know how many episodes the second season is going to be?

[Mara]

Finished season 1 of Rectify. Heartbreaking show. I know season 2 is airing now does anyone know how many episodes the second season is going to be?

Ten, with two left to air. I was a late-comer to the show, finishing season 1 right before season 2 started, and I'm kind of obsessed with it right now. I think season 2 has been solidly on par with season 1 in terms of quality.

[Henry Gale]

This new Cartoon Network show Steven Universe is really beautifully animated.


BTW everyone should watch Steven Universe and Comedy Bang! Bang!. Two of the most inventive and hilarious things on TV.


I enjoy [Gravity Falls]. People that like this show should check out Steven Universe also.

Okay Winston, I fiiinally got around to the first bunch of episode of this, and even though I figured it'd be the case while it sat there unwatched for months, I absolutely waited way too long to get into this, and I concur that everyone else should watch it too.

Super funny and beautiful stuff all around, and I'm only 40-ish minutes into it as a series. I can already tell it's going to make for a lovely summer binge.

http://media.giphy.com/media/8LHTpSnFz4Y1y/giphy.gif

http://media.giphy.com/media/Ssyrp1XMy7Dhu/giphy.gif

[EyesWideOpen]

Started watching The Fall. Two episodes in and I'm hooked and it's incredible but also extremely difficult to watch. Also watched the first episode of Hotwives of Orlando since I like the cast and it has a similar feel to Burning Love but it was awful. Schaal was the only bright spot but not enough where I would to keep watching.

[EvilShoe]

So Sharlto Copley's Christian Walker in that Powers adaptation for Playstation.

Michelle Forbes as Retro Girl.

http://deadline.com/2014/08/sharlto-copley-lead-christian-walker-powers-michelle-forbes-retro-girl-820846/

Jason Patric wept.

[number8]

I started watching that reality show The Quest and ended up watching all three episodes so far. It is insane.

The best Paladin on the show is the MMA fighter, who is clearly a huge nerd that became a fighter because he's been expecting this his whole life and trained appropriately for the day to come. Dude is just bugging out at everything. When the giant ogre jumped out and killed their guide, everyone else got scared and he's just "WE SHOULDA HELPED THAT DUDE." He's the best.

[Philip J. Fry]

501410544197566466

[Gittes]

I loved the "Make the Sweater Better" segment on the Comedy Bang! Bang! TV show. Based on what I've seen, it seems pretty emblematic of the show's strengths. Scott Aukerman's humour can be very well observed. He's sensitive to a wide variety of risible pop cultural tendencies, and he's able to convey these ideas with the right blend of humour and accuracy. I may not have necessarily given much thought to all of the ideas that he makes fun of, but as soon as he sends them up, they're usually immediately recognizable as bonafide clichés. It's especially great when the sketches begin escalating via really preposterous and dramatic developments (i.e., the "Chews to Lose" segment).

He's quite good at playing the bland, vapid and overly blithe reality television show host.

[Gittes]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovqM72em1dA&feature=yo utu.be

[Spun Lepton]

I'm late to the party, but holy crap Cosmos is fan-blasted-tastic.

[number8]

I really want to make a Masters of Sex season 2 thread because it's really great this season but I'm afraid it's going to be the Smash thread again.

[EvilShoe]

So I finished the first season of Treme. I've come to accept this show works best for me when I watch like one episode every two weeks, and mostly leave it on in the background.

The music is keeping me watching, although I do like the performances.

[Mara]

I really want to make a Masters of Sex season 2 thread because it's really great this season but I'm afraid it's going to be the Smash thread again.

You mean, a work of art?

[number8]

You mean, a work of art?

http://i.imgur.com/nDx7dQv.gif

[dreamdead]

Apparently ABC has uploaded the premiere of Selfie to Hulu. I'm contractually obligated to watch it because of Karen Gillan, and John Cho should be good, but nothing about the premise belies why this should be more than one season. Still. That cast.

[EyesWideOpen]

Apparently ABC has uploaded the premiere of Selfie to Hulu. I'm contractually obligated to watch it because of Karen Gillan, and John Cho should be good, but nothing about the premise belies why this should be more than one season. Still. That cast.

I watched it yesterday. It took me halfway through the episode before I realized it was My Fair Lady that makes me the worlds biggest idiot. I mean the characters names are Eliza Dooley and Henry Higenbottam for christ's sake. But yeah it had some cheesiness and some rough dialogue but I enjoyed it. Gillan and Cho are infinitely likable and make the show at least in this first episode.

[Mara]

That cast.

Yeah, good casts trick me into watching bad television regularly.

I'll check it out.

[quido8_5]

I really want to make a Masters of Sex season 2 thread because it's really great this season but I'm afraid it's going to be the Smash thread again.

Are you streaming this? If so, I'd love to check it out but can't find access. Also, anyone find it odd that they're advertising for The Knick on HBO?

[Lucky]

Are you streaming this? If so, I'd love to check it out but can't find access. Also, anyone find it odd that they're advertising for The Knick on HBO?

Yes. I was wondering how much Showtime had to pay for that.

[Kurosawa Fan]

The Knick is on Cinemax, which is owned by HBO. Not really very odd at all.

[number8]

Are you streaming this?

Yeah, on the http://www.showtimeanytime.com/ app on a Roku.

[Mara]

Fall TV is a thing that is happening soon. Anyone have any shows just beginning that actually look exciting?

Only three shows I watch are coming back with dates set:

Doctor Who, August 23
Brooklyn 99, Sept 28
SHIELD, Sept 23

Surprised there is no date for Parks & Recreation yet.

Shows I watch that should be back next year:

The Americans
Cougar Town [?]
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Hannibal
Mad Men
Orphan Black
Rectify

[Irish]

NCIS: New Orleans premieres September 23, 2014.

Come watch Scott Bakula wrassle a Nu Ohlans accent!

[Mara]

I will watch Galavant when it debuts.

I might hate it. Or I might love it. Either way, I will be watching.

[Irish]

NCIS premieres September 23, 2014. 8pm.

Season 12! DiNozzo finds new love!

[Mara]

So, for the record, Outlander is pretty good so far. The cast and production values are excellent. They could not be making Scotland look any more gorgeous.

And as for the story, I have been pleasantly surprised so far. They are paying the appropriate amount of attention to the love story-- not burying it by any means, but seeing it as a portion of Claire's complicated problems and spending plenty of time on other things. Claire is a very winning protagonist, and they are slowly building up a supporting group of characters that are fun to watch. I'm also glad we're getting plenty of flashbacks to WWII-era Claire's life, as it helps establish her backstory so we understand why she needs so badly to return home, despite all the gorgeous men with kilts in the 18th century.

[number8]

Watched the Selfie pilot. It's really bizarre. Half of it is weirdly inspired and half of it is some of the shittiest dialogue I've heard on TV lately. Mostly, though, I can't get over how bad Karen Gillan's American accent is. It's distractingly atrocious.

[Thirdmango]

As far as new shows goes going alphabetically of stuff I'll probably give a couple episodes:

A to Z: A comedy starring the girl who played the mother on How I Met Your Mother. I usually give leeway to comedies and I'll give this one a shot. (Oct. 2nd NBC)

Bad Judge: Hopefully not like Bad Teacher, but I've been enjoying Kate Walsh's comedic tone, so I'll give this an episode but I'm not looking forward to it as much. (Oct 2nd NBC)

Constantine: A comic book-ish type show. With Jeremy Davies on the cast I'm more likely to stick with it. (oct. 24 NBC)

(The) Flash: I've already watched the pilot and I'm going to love the hell out of this show. (Oct. 7th CW)

Gotham: Of course I'll check it out. I'm not the biggest fan of Batman himself but I like the universe and I think they can do fun things. (Sep. 22 FOX)

Gracepoint: So guess what? They're doing an American version of Broadchurch. Not just that David Tennant is playing the same role. That's right, David Tennant is coming to America to play the exact same role he played in Broadchurch. Who's going to be the female lead? Anna Gunn. Now you're thinking "OH NO, they'll turn this into a 24 episode terrible thing!" It's being labeled as a mini-series and only running 10 episodes. And who's writing it? The guy who wrote Broadchurch. (Oct. 2nd FOX)

Marry Me: The writer of Happy Endings is back with a comedy starring Casey Wilson and Ken Marino. The idea of the show is a little strange in that it's all about a couple who like to do marriage proposals on each other that are over the top. But I loved Happy Endings so we'll see. (Oct 14 NBC)

Mulaney: John Mulaney has a comedy show that also stars Martin Short and Elliot Gould. I love John's standup so let's see how he helms a show. (Oct 5th FOX)

Scorpion: So CBS is playing this game where they know that Big Bang Theory is their money maker, so why not do another Big Bang Theory and turn it into a super spy drama? It's about a bunch of geeks and a pretty woman who is a local waitress solving crimes. I'm so perplexed by this that I might actually watch the first episode. (Sep 22 CBS)

And then there's Selfie but that's already been talked about. Well those are the ones I'll check out.

[Thirdmango]

I really want to make a Masters of Sex season 2 thread because it's really great this season but I'm afraid it's going to be the Smash thread again.

I'm still slowly making my way through the first season. I haven't given up yet.

[number8]

I'm still slowly making my way through the first season. I haven't given up yet.

I would say the show got great when Alison Janney showed up.

[Mara]

Hulu had the first episode of Forever up, which I was considering watching anyway because Ioan Gruffudd is attractive. It's very mediocre; nothing horrible but not really worth checking out.

What really struck me is how embarrassingly unoriginal it was. Taking a cue from Sherlock the hero is a mop-topped, pale, be-cheekboned, poetical-looking British gentleman, except this show seems to think that staring intently at women while noticing weirdly personal things about their appearance is attractive instead of creepy.

The plot is that a handsome man in the prime of life has been cursed-- YES CURSED-- to live forever, which is just the worst. He has used all this time on earth to become brilliant and earth-savey. He becomes entangled with a woman who is mortal and a police officer who can't understand him but finds him weirdly attractive. This is literally the same premise as (off the top of my head) Angel for the first two seasons, Torchwood, and Moonlight (except the girl is a reporter.)

But more specifically, it is the plot of New Amsterdam, which ran for a handful of episodes in 2008, and the premise is so similar that I'm kind of freaked out by it. I only watched one or two episodes of that show when it aired, so this is based on what I can remember plus some quick internet searching.

Both shows take place in the present day in New York City. Both leads are crazy handsome, vaguely European men (hello, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau! I'm glad you found a better show to be on.) Both men are in law enforcement (IG is a medical examiner working with the police, NCW is a homicide detective.) Both men are suggested to have had drinking problems in the past, but they are now sober. Both men work in or live adjacent to antique shops. Both of them became immortal due to some weird hoodoo done by wise-looking non-white people in response for this handsome white dude saving their lives (for NCW this is explicitly a Native American girl, for IG it is implied to be an African slave.) Both of them are obsessed with a woman they once loved who died because, you know, mortality. Both of them live alone with their secrets except for their best friend and only family, an older man who is actually our hero's son (or son-figure in Forever, as he was rescued as a baby.) The older man is diverse by Hollywood standards (bi-racial in NA, Jewish in F.)

So, our hero has been comfortably miserable with his cursed immortality for awhile but everything gets shaken up when he meets a young, ambitious Latina police officer. She is unimpressed with our hero at first and doesn't want to work with him, suspecting with her detective powers that there is something not right about this man. But deep down, she finds him secretly attractive. They end up partnered up and SOLVE CRIMES!

It's the same damn show, is what I'm saying.

[Spun Lepton]

Why bother setting up Voyager's adventure in the Delta quadrant if you're just going to keep doing callbacks to the Alpha quadrant? How many aliens in the Delta quadrant had an effect on the course of human history? So far ... many!! It's getting ridiculous, and I'm not even half-way through S2.

Next Generation B-Sides.

[Thirdmango]

A-Z is on Hulu so I checked it out. It's okay, I'll probably stick with it. Alison Janey is the narrator for some reason. It's very romantic comedy centric.

[number8]

That's Katey Sagal's voice.

[Thirdmango]

That's Katey Sagal's voice.

Ah! So it is! It seems I get their voices confused.

[Mara]

http://www.avclub.com/article/chad-michael-murray-and-dollhouses-enver-gjokaj-jo-208709

RED ALERT, SEND UP THE NUMBER8 SIGNAL, IMPORTANT STUFF

Enver Gjokaj will be in Agent Carter.

[number8]

Haha, that picture caption.

[Mara]

Haha, that picture caption.

That's hilarious. I read the article and wrote my post both on my phone, where the caption didn't show. I had to go back and check.

[D_Davis]

For about the fifth time in my life, I recently tried to get into Doctor Who.

I watched the first episode that is available on Netflix - the one about the plastic, mannequin aliens - and I hated it. Everything about it is just so bad.

I'll try again in a few years.

[Henry Gale]

For about the fifth time in my life, I recently tried to get into Doctor Who.

I watched the first episode that is available on Netflix - the one about the plastic, mannequin aliens - and I hated it. Everything about it is just so bad.

I'll try again in a few years.

Or just start with Season 6 when, as Arya alluded to in the main thread he'll likely more thoughtfully get into with a future article, Moffat became the showrunner, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan became the leads but most importantly, the look and feel of the show seemed suddenly much more enticing and cinematic. (They were shooting on SD video(!) and only mixed to Stereo before Tennant's farewell specials.)

It's also when it became much easier for me to get into the show, after just popping in and out of every season before when my family would watch it week to week. It's in a considerably spiffier place both stylistic and (arguable to many) storytelling places now than it was relaunched.

But you can also just watch "Blink" and "The Girl In The Fireplace" (and probably others you guys can feel free to chime in with) whenever you want because they are pretty magnificent without needing to know anything else going on in those seasons and will likely be the catalysts to watch more.

[[ETM]]

I dunno, for me it was magical from that first episode.

[number8]

I would say that you'd have to have an appreciation for camp to get into the Eccleston and Tennant years. Smith's era is much more conventionally enjoyable, like going from a drag show to Broadway production.

[quido8_5]

So, just started "Masters of Sex" and, have to say, I'm pretty blown away. It's rare that shows are able to be this nuanced, sophisticated and cerebral about a topic as convoluted as sex and gender. Only half way through the second episode right now, though I have to say that it's probably the most mature and fair representation of the topic I've seen. Given how deliberate and thoughtful Mad Men has been about the topic, it was refreshing to see a show tackle the psychology (and biology) of sexuality so bluntly and actually pull it off. Cannot wait to proceed.

[ledfloyd]

I'm about 2/3 of the way through the first season of Veronica Mars. Why does everyone seem to think it's perfectly normal for a Sheriff's deputy to date a high school student?

[Mara]

I took a bit of a break from The Hollow Crown because my schedule was so hectic, but I finally finished up with Henry V and it is just wonderful. Hiddleston is fully in command of this part, sneaking in bits of wild Prince Hal while still showing how much he has matured and hardened between the two plays.

They continue to have a swatch of excellent English actors in supporting roles, but nobody is competing for the spotlight in this play: it is Henry's game, and he is playing it well.

Though most of the play is battle upon battle, Henry's scene with wooing Katherine of France is notably well-executed. Swoon-worthy, even. Hiddleston needs to start being cast as romantic leads, because he kills it.

[dreamdead]

Great to hear about Hollow Crown, Mara. Sarah ordered the set because a student who's a little too fixated on the Hiddleston raved about it. and while we won't be able to get to it in the coming days, we're excited to know that it's good. That cast just reads so good on paper.

[Mara]

...who's a little too fixated on the Hiddleston...

See, I'm trying not to be too fixated on the Hiddleston, but he is so damn charming that it's an uphill battle. And then he goes around singing. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9gohHX140g) And dancing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GaO0oMniMQ), are you kidding me?

[Mara]

And, well, the fact is that of course a man who is much talked about is always very attractive. One feels there must be something in him, after all. I daresay it was foolish of me, but I fell in love with him.

So, on the 14th of February last, worn out by his entire ignorance of my existence, I determined to end the matter one way or the other, and after a long struggle with myself I accepted him under this dear old tree here. The next day I bought this little ring in his name, and this is the little bangle with the true lover’s knot I promised him always to wear.

[Mara]

Hey, look.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/maragirl/ArticleLead-wide6106817910cymg141017344322 0jpg-620x349.jpg

[Spun Lepton]

I can't do it. I just ... can't.

Voyager. Your premise is great. Your cast is capable. Your look is slicker than TNG and DS9. But your stories and your characters are so, so, so, so disappointing, I just don't think I can continue. The other night I slogged through the ending of S2. The first episode in S3 irrirated me, so I said to hell with it and skipped to S4 so I could see 7 of 9's intro. Lo, 7 of 9 is just as irritating as the rest of the characters. I'm about ready to skip it and try Enterprise.

[MadMan]

I got hooked on Doctor Who viewing old school episodes on PBS. The Forth Doctor was the first one I ever viewed in action.

Tonight I started Magnum P.I. on Netflix. I have seen episodes from the show before (plus the series finale) yet I am now finally going to be watching it all the way through. The pilot is pretty cool. This was inspired by Psych, where they mentioned "Have You Seen The Sunrise?" in Season 4.

[quido8_5]

I got hooked on Doctor Who viewing old school episodes on PBS. The Forth Doctor was the first one I ever viewed in action.

Tonight I started Magnum P.I. on Netflix. I have seen episodes from the show before (plus the series finale) yet I am now finally going to be watching it all the way through. The pilot is pretty cool. This was inspired by Psych, where they mentioned "Have You Seen The Sunrise?" in Season 4.

Well, now you'll forever be able to make Magnum P.I. jokes. Akin to making Golden Girls, Perry Mason and Murder She Wrote jokes.

[quido8_5]

I would say the show got great when Alison Janney showed up.

Hang in there, dude. We're almost done with the first season. If every episode wasn't so fucking good, it'd be easier to binge. Absolutely right about Alison Janney. Her performance is possibly the best thing on TV right now and that's not a light statement.

[MadMan]

Well, now you'll forever be able to make Magnum P.I. jokes. Akin to making Golden Girls, Perry Mason and Murder She Wrote jokes.
I like Golden Girls. Never cared to watch the other two.

[Thirdmango]

I can't do it. I just ... can't.

Voyager. Your premise is great. Your cast is capable. Your look is slicker than TNG and DS9. But your stories and your characters are so, so, so, so disappointing, I just don't think I can continue. The other night I slogged through the ending of S2. The first episode in S3 irrirated me, so I said to hell with it and skipped to S4 so I could see 7 of 9's intro. Lo, 7 of 9 is just as irritating as the rest of the characters. I'm about ready to skip it and try Enterprise.

I do understand. Just know that as you start Enterprise it'll feel like Voyager episodes. But I think it was once people stopped watching that it became really good. You're in the slog either way. At least with Enterprise you do have the promise that things get better. With Voyager you have the promise that there are a couple of cool episodes here or there.

[number8]

Seeing an episode of The Neighbors with Tommy Wiseau in person next week. This should be interesting.

[Mara]

By the way, I'm still watching Outlander and it is quality stuff. Divorced from the very silly prose style of the books, the story is intriguing and the heroine is winning. It is not in a rush to tell the story-- in fact, sometimes the plot moves a little too slowly-- but it builds to great moments. I'm enjoying it.

[[ETM]]

Dina and I are in fact watching every episode twice - the second time accompanied by Moore's BSG-style podcast. Fascinating stuff.

[MadMan]

Hey, look.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/maragirl/ArticleLead-wide6106817910cymg141017344322 0jpg-620x349.jpgI love this picture. I really do. It also reminds me that I am really struggling to finish Buffy Season 7. The potentials aside from Kennedy are utterly terrible. Andrew does his best with his comedy bits but it isn't enough.

[quido8_5]

I remember that this show happened, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0227956/. Pretty great things happened on Strip Mall, if my thirteen-year-old self can be trusted. Just reading the first two sentences of the Storyline made me laugh.

[quido8_5]

Also, just watched the first two episodes of The Mindy Project and they're, ummm, legitimately hilarious I think.

[EyesWideOpen]

Also, just watched the first two episodes of The Mindy Project and they're, ummm, legitimately hilarious I think.

One of my favorite comedies on right now. Just watched the first episode of the new season and laughed more than any movie I've seen in recent memory.

[Mara]

I The potentials aside from Kennedy are utterly terrible.

Eh, Kennedy bugs. Most of the potentials suck. I like Vi (because Felicia Day is charming) and Amanda has some charms. But mostly, they're kind of awful.

And yet I will defend to the death that season 7 is better than its reputation.

[MadMan]

I never really liked Day and I've already forgot who Amanda even is. I'm stalled on the episode where Andrew is taping everything.

[Kurosawa Fan]

MADMAN (OR ANY POSTERS WHO HAVEN'T FINISHED THE SERIES), DON'T CLICK THE SPOILER!

I will never forgive season 7 for the way

it so casually dispatched Anya. I'm still so bitter about it. It literally makes me angry every time I think about it. I can't understand why they chose to handle her sacrifice with such little attention or care. That is the biggest mistake the series ever made, and that's saying something considering some of the massive mistakes along the way (Riley and The Initiative, "Beer Bad" and "Where the Wild Things Are," the potentials, etc.)

[Mara]

I never really liked Day and I've already forgot who Amanda even is. I'm stalled on the episode where Andrew is taping everything.

Ah man, I actually love that episode. Stories about why we tell stories = my kryptonite.

Amanda is the long-faced plain, nerdy girl played by Sarah Hagan. She has a distinctive voice.

[Mara]

MADMAN (OR ANY POSTERS WHO HAVEN'T FINISHED THE SERIES), DON'T CLICK THE SPOILER!

I will never forgive season 7 for the way

it so casually dispatched Anya. I'm still so bitter about it. It literally makes me angry every time I think about it. I can't understand why they chose to handle her sacrifice with such little attention or care. That is the biggest mistake the series ever made, and that's saying something considering some of the massive mistakes along the way (Riley and The Initiative, "Beer Bad" and "Where the Wild Things Are," the potentials, etc.)

Yeahhhhh.

There's a line between being a fearless teller of tales and being an asshole, and Whedon has crossed it a few times.

One reason I love that Brendon & Caulfield picture is that I can pretend a few things in season 7 didn't happen. Look how happy they are. They grew middle-aged together and in love.

[Spun Lepton]

Yeahhhhh.

There's a line between being a fearless teller of tales and being an asshole, and Whedon has crossed it a few times.

One reason I love that Brendon & Caulfield picture is that I can pretend a few things in season 7 didn't happen. Look how happy they are. They grew middle-aged together and in love.

Wait, are they a couple IRL?

[Mara]

Wait, are they a couple IRL?

No, but I can pretend that they are their characters. They just look so happy and comfortable in the shot.

[Mara]

Like how we can freeze-frame certain shots from Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing and pretend that Fred and Wesley are happy together.

[Mara]

See? Here are Wesley and Fred in 2004.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/maragirl/Fred-Wesley-Season-5-fred-burkle-and-wesley-wyndham-pryce-34461859-500-281.jpg

Nothing horrific happens after this picture, because look how in love and happy they are here in 2012!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/maragirl/o-MUCH-ADO-ABOUT-NOTHING-facebook.jpg

Science.

[number8]

Whedon did give his reason for it. It's just not a very satisfying one.

Whedon: I wanted to kill somebody, and I wanted to do it brutally and suddenly and never really pay it off. I wanted a death that was a real middle-of-the-battle death — the opposite of the Spike death, [which was] perfect, noble.

For what it's worth, in the current tenth season (comics), she's back as a ghost that only Xander can see, ambiguous if she's an actual spirit or if Xander's losing his mind. For such a contrived fan service decision, it's actually being handled really well. The new creative team this season is ace.

[Mara]

Whedon did give his reason for it. It's just not a very satisfying one.

Whedon: I wanted to kill somebody, and I wanted to do it brutally and suddenly and never really pay it off. I wanted a death that was a real middle-of-the-battle death — the opposite of the Spike death, [which was] perfect, noble.


I can see how that could be theoretically an interesting dramatic choice. In actual play, though, it's just mean.

[MadMan]

Okay having seen Firefly and Serenity I think I know what you guys might be talking about, even though I don't know who the players are. I'll find out for myself soon enough, as after I finish Buffy I'm thinking of watching Angel.

[Spun Lepton]

I may catch hell for this, but ...

Angel finale > Buffy finale

[Neclord]

I don't think that's a very controversial opinion.

[Spun Lepton]

Damn it.

[Mara]

The final two minutes of the Angel finale are as good as television gets. Brilliant ending.

The last episode as a whole... eh.

[Mara]

Jamie offers to help Claire disrobe and proceeds to remove one layer of clothing for every week we have been made to wait for this sacred event.

Anyone who watches Outlander without reading Roxane Gay's reviews afterwards is doing the internet wrong.

http://www.vulture.com/2014/09/outlander-recap-season-1-wedding-claire-jamie-do-it.html

[Henry Gale]

The subtly stunning fact that last night marked the 10th anniversaries of the premieres of LOST and Veronica Mars...

Pretty much the two shows that meant more to me than anything in TV at that time, and considering that was smack dab in the middle of my adolescence, they'll probably remain pretty profoundly effective for me forever.

[ledfloyd]

I'm midway through the third season of Veronica Mars. It took me about half a season to warm up to it, but since then I've been loving it.

[Kurosawa Fan]

On my second go-through with the third season, I loved it as well. Completely warmed to Piz.

[Mara]

Oh, this would be a fun topic. What generally despised characters do you personally like? Kate from Lost? Wesley Crusher? Kim Bauer? Connor from Angel? Riley from BtVS? Liar. Nobody liked him.

Personally, I like Logan Huntzberger from Gilmore Girls. He was flawed but likeable and had a dynamic character arc that kept him interesting. And I think both Jess and Dean were asshats.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Does Clara from Dr. Who count? Because I like her quite a bit but always hear people complaining about her and saying they can't wait for her to leave.

[number8]

Kinda hard, actually, because people seem to conflate their hatred for annoyingly written characters with their hatred for appropriately written annoying characters. Joffrey, for the obvious example.

But I guess my answer is both Skyler and Marie. Skyler I sympathize with deeply. Marie I think is hilarious.

[Mara]

I will never understand the vitriolic hatred Skyler got.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Yeah, Skyler is a great choice.

[number8]

I saw a list of Top __ Worst Characters on Television on some website once and two of the entries were the mom and son from Parenthood. Max for being bratty and shrill and selfish, and Kristina even higher on the list for indulging and protecting her annoying son when he's acting out.

Max has asperger's. The show portrays it realistically and mines a lot of drama from the fact that it's extremely difficult to raise a special needs child, and one of the reasons is that most people in society have no compassion or patience for it. That is like, the show's main parenting plot line that's been going on since the pilot, and still going on five seasons later because obviously asperger's doesn't just go away. I was flabbergasted by their inclusion on the list.

Needless to say, a lot of people in the comments were very offended and tore the writer a new one.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I will never understand the vitriolic hatred Skyler got.

For some, she epitomizes the nagging, shrewish wife, in particular with how she looks and sounds. At least, that's the case with the guys I've talked to who dislike her so much that the mere mention of her name puts them in a haze of undirected anger.

I think the first episode's depiction of her as a bored housewife who gives Walt the world's saddest handjob, takes him off bacon, and comes off as an oppressive force in his life biases a lot of men against her from the start, even more among more "alpha" types.

How people continue to feels this way after five seasons of Walt becoming an unmitigated sociopath... that's anyone's guess.

[EyesWideOpen]

This is the first I've heard that Kate from Lost is hated

[number8]

This is the first I've heard that Kate from Lost is hated

You must not be deep in the fandom back in the first couple of seasons, then. She and Ana Lucia were neck to neck.

[Kurosawa Fan]

This is the first I've heard that Kate from Lost is hated

A female character is not allowed to vacillate between loving two different male characters. This is an automatic cause for inclusion on a list like this. See also: Amy Pond.

[Mara]

I didn't hate Kate, but I didn't like her. I felt she was inconsistently written, shoe-horned into plots where she didn't have much of a function, and I don't care for Lilly's acting style.

I love Amy Pond, though.

[number8]

IIRC (shit, it's been a decade!) the complaints and jokes were less about the love triangle and more about the fact that she kept insisting to tag along on missions with the boys.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I didn't hate Kate, but I didn't like her. I felt she was inconsistently written, shoe-horned into plots where she didn't have much of a function, and I don't care for Lilly's acting style.

I love Amy Pond, though.

I was being glib of course, but I do find that male characters are often given more license in their love lives than female characters, who are required to be loving and loyal to their male companions.

The criticisms of both Kate and Amy often seem to stem from their affection for two different male characters.

[Grouchy]

There are a lot of things (positive and negative) that can be said about Skyler, but I can't think of a single positive one for Marie. She was constantly selfish, heartless and neurotic. She was very well written to be precisely that, though. Both Anna Gunn and Betsy Brandt were great in the show.

As far as villains go, Joffrey Lannister takes the cake.

[number8]

Marie's part of the reason why I realized how complex the characterization on the show was, because after getting me to root for Hank pretty hard during the cousins business, they flipped it effortlessly with his recovery, and I remember having a pretty visceral reaction to the way he treated Marie and being impressed by her immediate understanding of why he was behaving that way and her handling of it.

Also, I gotta give mad respect to anyone who Zhang Yimous their entire home.

[Grouchy]

Marie's part of the reason why I realized how complex the characterization on the show was, because after getting me to root for Hank pretty hard during the cousins business, they flipped it effortlessly with his recovery, and I remember having a pretty visceral reaction to the way he treated Marie and being impressed by her immediate understanding of why he was behaving that way and her handling of it.
You're talking about the handjob, right? That was a good moment for her, granted.


Also, I gotta give mad respect to anyone who Zhang Yimous their entire home.
That's actually one of the reasons I hated her! In real life, I can't stand people who are compulsive about cleanliness or decoration.

But like you say, the characterization in the show is perfectly layered. You react to the characters as you would to real human beings with all their contradictions.

[number8]

You're talking about the handjob, right? That was a good moment for her, granted.

More so after the hospital, when he was just needlessly torturing her with his dumb rocks and demands for cheetos. She went to three different stores to find the moisturizer Hank likes to use to jerk off!

[Grouchy]

More so after the hospital, when he was just needlessly torturing her with his dumb rocks and demands for cheetos. She went to three different stores to find the moisturizer Hank likes to use to jerk off!But they're minerals!

[Mara]

It's a tricky distinction, but I wouldn't say I hated characters that are attempting to be hated (and succeeding.) Joffrey was horrible, but I was excited when we had a scene with him and I wanted to see what horrible thing he was going to do next.

Truly hateable characters are the ones who show up and we all groan. Why are you on this show? We hate you!

[dreamdead]

Does anyone here watch SyFy's Face/Off? It's a reality show competition, but the show concentrates on horror-based sculptures and face make-up, and the designs that the contestants create demonstrate (typically, at least) actual ingenuity. Sarah found the show about two years ago and we find it to be consistently entertaining. It's not much more than "design a novel clown/alien/Burtonesque/Geigeresque/whathaveyou," but it's fascinating to explore the technical sides of creature make-up and design.

Narratively it doesn't go for anything special, but it's kinda like Chopped for us. Solid, even if it's formulaic at this point.

[Winston*]

I watched a few seasons of it. It's such a blatant ripoff of Project Runway, but more fun for me because of the subject matter. The judge who looks like John Travolta in Battlefield Earth is hilarious.

The last seasonI watched got too sponsor tie-in-y for me, though. (the final challenge was designing a costume for Cirque du Soleil).

[[ETM]]

Dina and I watch it regularly, from the beginning. It's formulaic just like all of reality TV but there's almost no fake drama, the contestants are genuinly talented and cinsistently produce good work, and the judges are extremely talented and qualified. It's probably as good as these shows can be.

[Spun Lepton]

Well, I watched the Year in Hell double-episode of Voyager. Irish, you were right, it's the best thing I've seen in the series, which may not be saying a whole lot. It was a solid episode and that's about as far as I'd go with it. The next two episodes undid any goodwill Year in Hell might've created, though.

So, I (temporarily?) moved over to Dr. Who. I watched the 1st series when it first debuted and then ignored the show soon after. Last night I popped in the first David Tennent episode and found it pretty enjoyable. I'll probably stick with this for a while.

[number8]

Just watched the pilots for Black-ish and How to Get Away with Murder.

Black-ish has a lot of potential, even if the pilot is a bit predictable. I like that it feels like the next step of all the 90s middle-class black family sitcoms that Jeffersons and Cosby pioneered in that it moves past the integration and prejudiced aspects of movin' on up and directly confronting the coded languages and casual racism of enlightened "Obama age" (as the Dear White People trailer put it) white people, but examined through Anthony Anderson's own insecurity. Love the sight gag with the fancy walk-in closet full of Nikes and the "diverse" ad agency having only white people in upper management.

HTGAWM is a lot of fun. It will undoubtedly draw a lot of comparisons to Damages because of its narrative format and main character, but with a little bit of the more standard classroom procedural dynamic of House, and also the sexy network TV cast. I can see it being a really big hit.

[number8]

Feels really good that Parenthood is back, too. It really is comfort food at this point. I can always rely on the characters to be ok and the plots to resolve in a satisfying manner, but there's simply no other show on TV that has dialogue and character interactions like it since Friday Night Lights ended. I wish there are more TV shows that shoot in that loose improvised style like them.

[dreamdead]

Two episodes into Rev. now, and just delighted by how fun and spirited this show is. It embraces the difficulties in a marriage intelligently, documents the various struggles between faith and commerce with comedic care, and just generally has a great batch of actors, especially Olivia Coleman, who gets to be sensual and energetic. Really can see becoming a fan of this, especially after we marathoned Brooklyn Nine Nine.

Also watched the premiere of Selfie. It tries too hard to make Eliza vapid and the show's attempt to make Henry fallible aren't as successful since it's essentially Eliza=slutty and Henry=withdrawn, but with what I hope to be the most overbearing bits over with in the premiere, I'm hopeful that it can start exploring more interesting terrain. I really like Gillan and Cho, and I'm optimistic this can rise above a weak introduction.

[Mara]

I decided to finally watch Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood after about a dozen recommendations.

The Netflix subtitles are hilarious.

[Train] Choo choo

[Door Opens] OOOoo Eeeeee

[Door Closes] Ker-Shut

[Laughs villainously]

[Wholesome giggling continues]

[Thirdmango]

This past week I watched from the fifth episode of the first season and now I'm on the second episode of the second season of Masters of Sex. There are some amazing things but the first episode of the second season made me super sad.

[number8]

The Scully thing, I'm guessing. It's a great, messy season. Caplan was incredible in the finale. I'm so glad it got renewed for a third. I know the ratings haven't been acceptable.

[Mara]

For those who are not too snotty to try it, all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls are now on Netflix. I used to be too snotty to try it, but then I did and honestly it's a very endearing, smart, and unfashionably sincere show. I have a total soft spot for it now.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I gave it a try a long time ago (I think maybe a season or two into its run) but couldn't get past the Mamet-lite style of dialogue. Also didn't much care for Lauren Graham's character, though in fairness I didn't watch more than a couple episodes. Maybe I'll give it another shot. I've been looking for a new work show.

[Thirdmango]

The Scully thing, I'm guessing.

Exactly. It was really well done despite being insanely uncomfortable and sad.

-----

Watch the first two episodes of Scorpion. It's incredibly convoluted and completely implausible but the first episode especially was really action packed and fun if you can get over how insane it is.

[D_Davis]

The Spoils of Babylon might be the single worst television show I've ever seen. Yes, even worse than Small Wonder.

[Spun Lepton]

The Spoils of Babylon might be the single worst television show I've ever seen. Yes, even worse than Small Wonder.

How's it compare to Punky Brewster, though?

[D_Davis]

How's it compare to Punky Brewster, though?

Punky Brewster > Small Wonder > The Spoils of Babylon

[Spun Lepton]

So, Saturday morning cartoons are no longer a thing? MAN, kids are MISSING OUT. When I was 9, there was nothing like waking up before sunrise, pouring a nice bowl of -- ah, who am I kidding ... I slept through most Saturday mornings as a kid.

[number8]

Kids have DVR and On Demand and several cable networks dedicated to cartoons.

[Spun Lepton]

Kids have DVR and On Demand and several cable networks dedicated to cartoons.

DON'T. DON'T HAVE COW MAN.

[MadMan]

I would wake up to Saturday morning cartoons when I was a kid, and then one day they stopped airing most of my favorite shows so I said fuck it and I began to sleep in.

Not sure if there is a thread for it anyways but I've been burning through Season 1 of The Blacklist. I just finished "Ivan" and I really love this show, even if it is mostly James Spader being sinister awesome. That was never more evident than in Anslo Garrick Parts 1 and 2, particularly when he arms himself to the teeth and starts lobbing grenades all over the place and blasting people with a shotgun.

[Mara]

Someone is gunning for that opening credits Cuttie for next year.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/10/03/fiona_apple_the_affair_theme_s ong_container_is_a_h aunting_credits_intro.html

Outlander has nice credits too; more for the song than the imagery.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrusSXEEv1M

[[ETM]]

Bear McCreary seems to have the opening song category nailed these days.

[ledfloyd]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6muh9kTlr88

It's like, my anticipation for this show couldn't be higher, and then they get Fiona Apple to write the opening song.

[Mara]

HEY GUYS Peaky Blinders season 1 is streaming on Netflix, and it is criminally underseen. GO WATCH NOW PLEASE

[number8]

Finished season 1 of Transparent. Easily the best show I've seen all year.

[quido8_5]

I would wake up to Saturday morning cartoons when I was a kid, and then one day they stopped airing most of my favorite shows so I said fuck it and I began to sleep in.

Not sure if there is a thread for it anyways but I've been burning through Season 1 of The Blacklist. I just finished "Ivan" and I really love this show, even if it is mostly James Spader being sinister awesome. That was never more evident than in Anslo Garrick Parts 1 and 2, particularly when he arms himself to the teeth and starts lobbing grenades all over the place and blasting people with a shotgun.

Same with the Saturday morning cartoons. I miss Recess.

Glad to hear The Blacklist is good, they have an amazing ad campaign here in NYC and I've always loved Spader.

Also, re watching Twin Peaks and, man, does it finish strong. First time watching with the Log Lady intros and I'm now obsessed with them. Debating buying the new Blu Ray. Plus, Lunch and Frost both tweeted that, "that gum you like is going to come back into style." I'm so pumped. That ending still chills me to the bone.

[Spun Lepton]

Doctor Who episode "The Idiot's Lantern," was damn, damn good. Sticking with this show for sure.

[quido8_5]

Watching Mom and it's generally funny, occasionally poignant. Allison Janney is really in another league, at this point. Broad comedy roles are possibly the hardest to land and she fucking nails it in every, single episode .

[dreamdead]

Dina killed it on Face/Off this week. Masterful application and treatment of creature effects and female power. Sasha has been weak for awhile now. Can't believe that she was initially saved, since she never delivered great work in my eyes. Cig or George will be Dina's competition in the finale, I'm thinking.

[number8]

What a fucking moron.

Author of the book Slimed! about Nickelodeon's '90s golden age went on an interview with Flavorwire to promote the book and ended up whining about diversity, saying all the Nick shows we loved were all white people and they were great anyway:

http://flavorwire.com/480990/pete-pete-was-all-white-people-slimed-author-mathew-klickstein-on-why-ren-and-stimpy-was-better-than-clarissa-and-nickelodeons-diversity-problem

He's supposed to be hosting a huge event at NY Super Week (offsite ticketed programs for NY Comic Con) here tomorrow night celebrating Nick Nostalgia. They just announced that the event is now cancelled an hour ago, presumably because the stars of Pete & Pete don't want to be associated with the guy.

The Pete & Pete band Polaris was scheduled to play and are now trying to find another venue to honor fans who bought tickets and came here for the event.

What a fucking moron.

[Mara]

That was all over my twitter this week. An incredibly tone-deaf, racist, and factually incorrect interview. Guy is dumb as toast.

[number8]

I was interested in the book, too. Echhh. And then the creator of Doug said that canceling the event is "akin to the 21st century version of book burning." What the hell, man.

[D_Davis]

That was a really weird interview all around. Loaded questions, bad answers, and combative almost from the start - reads like they both had an axe to grind.

I'd have to read more from the guy, and hear more about him before I formed any kind of opinion. That is, if I cared enough to.

[Winston*]

Why does someone making a show about an Indian person need to be Indian?


Why not have it be Indian creators doing it, and have it more about the Indian culture and Indian-American culture? It gets confusing.

Consistency!

[quido8_5]

Yeah, so Transparent is so ahead of the game on almost every level. It's refreshing that TV this good is happening on a streaming basis, but more importantly, it's refreshing that TV this honest, brutal and humane is happening at all.

[Winston*]

I'd have to read more from the guy, and hear more about him before I formed any kind of opinion. That is, if I cared enough to.

Check out this novel he wrote

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18366319-rag-doll

[EyesWideOpen]

Best quote:

"You’re saying, “If it doesn’t matter, then why not let them be Indian?” I’m saying, “If it doesn’t matter, why make them Indian?” There’s no reason for it."

What a moron.

[quido8_5]

So, this Mom show is pretty good. Super broad, but I can't help loving it.

[EyesWideOpen]

So, this Mom show is pretty good. Super broad, but I can't help loving it.

You're the shows one fan under the age of 50. So congrats?

[Mara]

If any of you didn't watch the preview of The Affair, it officially airs tonight. And the pilot positioned it as must-watch television. Deft writing, an excellent cast, compelling visuals, and an ambitious storytelling format that stretches what we're used to expecting from television.

[ledfloyd]

It's my most anticipated show of the year. Can't wait.

[quido8_5]

You're the shows one fan under the age of 50. So congrats?

If it gets a 8.3 million viewership (http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/05/23/top-50-most-watched-shows-2013-14/) and I'm the only person under 50, then I 100% take that as a compliment. In the meantime, I'll wait for the rest of the country to grow up.

[EyesWideOpen]

If it gets a 8.3 million viewership (http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/05/23/top-50-most-watched-shows-2013-14/) and I'm the only person under 50, then I 100% take that as a compliment. In the meantime, I'll wait for the rest of the country to grow up.

I was just ribbing you. Before the emmy nomination for Janney I had never even heard of the show and I've heard of most shows. Even after the win I've yet to see any discussion on the show anywhere on the Internet where television is discussed other than your post.

[EyesWideOpen]

And looking at that list of the 50 most watched shows is mind blowing. Americans sure have bad taste in TV.

[quido8_5]

"Never underestimate the stupidity of the American public," is something my dad taught me. At the same time, as stupid as it is, sitcoms sometimes tap into something worth while. With Mom, there's Janney's next-level performance and the occasional decent piece of writing. Can't say I'd recommend it (thus, wholly accept deserved ribbing), but it's easy to watch and remotely pay attention to. There's a ton of great TV happening right now, but it's refreshing to watch something that is aiming for dignity in an admittedly ignoble format.

[Thirdmango]

I watched the first three episodes of Mom. I'm someone who tends to give a lot of leeway to sitcoms and I was excited for the show because I love three of the leads. All three episodes left me feeling tired and unwilling to go on. Maybe marathoned it's better. But those first three episodes were so unfunny and tiring that I couldn't continue.

[EyesWideOpen]

Pretty baffled that there is not a Bates Motel Season 2 thread. I just binged through both seasons over the last couple weeks and it's one of the best shows on the air. I feel just as upset that there was no Highmore Emmy nomination as I was with Tatiana Masalany getting snubbed he acts the shit out of this show.

[quido8_5]

Pretty baffled that there is not a Bates Motel Season 2 thread. I just binged through both seasons over the last couple weeks and it's one of the best shows on the air. I feel just as upset that there was no Highmore Emmy nomination as I was with Tatiana Masalany getting snubbed he acts the shit out of this show.

So, I've wanted to binge on this for a minute. How does it manage the Psycho legacy (i.e. does it acknowledge the sequels)?

[EyesWideOpen]

So, I've wanted to binge on this for a minute. How does it manage the Psycho legacy (i.e. does it acknowledge the sequels)?

I've never watched the sequels but from everything I've read online it does not acknowledge the sequels. Bates Motel is kind of its own thing based on the Psycho framework. The Norman/Norma relationship is the focal point although they add a lot of weird stuff going on in the town to fill out characters and have it work as a show.

[EyesWideOpen]

I watched through the first three episodes of Short Poppies the new Rhys Darby show that's on netflix and I'm done. I like Darby in Conchords and his @midnight appearances but this series is not very good. The only time I laughed is the 1-2 minutes that Stephen Merchant was in the first episode.

[Winston*]

Haven't seen any of American Horror story since the first couple episode o the first season but decided to give Freak Show a go because I miss Carnivale.

A lot of the first episode was pretty stupid (Bowie?) but, even though scary clowns is a complete cliche, that clown is legitimately scary.

[Lucky]

HBO streaming service and Breaking Bad season 6? Could the rumors be true?

[Mara]

Guyyyyyyys.

So I don't think this (http://www.avclub.com/article/nbc-dumps-krysten-ritter-sitcom-it-even-airs-210530) show sounds very good, so other than liking Krysten Ritter, I wouldn't care, except...

Look at that picture. LOOK AT IT.

That is actual Jonathan Slavin and Malcolm Barrett. Together. In a show. THIS WAS GOING TO REUNITE LEM AND PHIL, YOU GUYS.

I don't know if I can take this, emotionally. I don't understand why I am never allowed to have nice things.

[Mara]

That's Lem and Phil from Better Off Ted, in case you guys don't watch good television.

[number8]

Wow, and Michael Rosenbaum too?

[Acapelli]

speaking of better off ted alum, the cast of benched looks real good

[Mara]

I hadn't heard about Benched... that is a killer cast.

[Mara]

TOP OF THE LAKE SEASON 2 HOLY HELL

http://www.avclub.com/article/jane-campions-top-lake-gets-second-season-210577

[dreamdead]

Guys, we're watching Marry Me here, right? New Caspe dialogue makes me happy. At least three different exchanges in the pilot that are absolutely beautiful (challenge yielding the most inappropriate laughter).

Selfie isn't really strong yet, but it's starting to flesh out its supporting cast in more than the barest ways. Gillan and Cho continue to wrangle smiles with just exceptional delivery. No idea how this makes it past a first season, but I continue to be optimistic and support it.

[Acapelli]

I hadn't heard about Benched... that is a killer cast.
Watched the pilot. It's good

Between this and playing house (hope it gets renewed) usa is developing a pretty good comedy lineup

[Spun Lepton]

Finished Tennant's first season on Doctor Who. Very sad to see Rose go.

Donna (first ep from Tennant's 2nd season) the "Runaway Bride" was hilarious. I was a little sad that she didn't stick around as his companion, because their chemistry was fantastic.

[Spun Lepton]

Finished Tennant's first season on Doctor Who. Very sad to see Rose go.

Donna (first ep from Tennant's 2nd season) the "Runaway Bride" was hilarious. I was a little sad that she didn't stick around as his companion, because their chemistry was fantastic.

And here I've JUST realized where I'd seen her before. Catherine Tate's sketch show was very funny. No wonder she was hilarious.

[[ETM]]

You're lucky - when she was announced as a companion, everyone was like "HER?!!!".

[EyesWideOpen]

I've pretty much switched from movies to television right now. I've only seen maybe 5 movies in the last 4-5 months. I'm a couple episodes into to Peaky Blinders right now and here's what on my list to watch next (not counting shows I watch as they air):

Broadchurch
Call the Midwife
The Honorable Woman
The Returned
Southcliffe
Transparent
The Wrong Mans
A Young Doctor's Notebook

Not to mention other shows I need to eventually get around to:
The Americans
Breaking Bad
Mad Men
Masters of Sex
Penny Dreadful
etc.....

[Spun Lepton]

Not to mention other shows I need to eventually get around to:
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
etc.....

Fixed.

[Winston*]

The first episode of season 2 of The Birthday Boys was really funny. Easily the best one so far. Seems like they've learned from the first season, which had good bits but always seemed to have at least one sketch that went on too long.

Good pairing with Comedy! Bang Bang!, which is maybe my favourite show on TV.

[quido8_5]

Watched and swiftly abandoned Gracepoint. May watch Broadchurch down the line. Even Tennant Couldn't save this melodramatic, derivative and increasingly unbelievable.

Found out that all seasons of Top Chef are available on Hulu. Tangentially, I also found out what I'm doing for the next week.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Watched the first three episodes of Mulaney. I will not be watching anymore episodes of Mulaney. What a shame.

[Sven]

First four episodes of Key and Peele's season four are the best four episodes of the show. Peele's performance in the Family Matters one nearly killed me.

[EvilShoe]

First four episodes of Key and Peele's season four are the best four episodes of the show. Peele's performance in the Family Matters one nearly killed me.
The Family Matters sketch is one of the few I've seen of this season so far, but damn me if it isn't one of their best.

[Lazlo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-C9q-Na6_w

This one had me rolling.

[Mara]

Still watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and it is great. Complex, morally ambiguous, and heart-wrenching. Probably the best anime I've ever seen.

Also, very occasionally, hilarious.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csJscBVPhdo

[number8]

Oooooh. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who writes the EXCELLENT Afterlife with Archie and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comics, is writing a show for FOX called Riverdale that is going to be a darker modern day take on Archie. I'd roll my eyes at this if it wasn't for the writer.


Set in the present, the series offers a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica and their friends, exploring the surreality of small-town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.

[Spinal]

Funny that I know Aguirre-Sacasa primarily as a playwright and have the same exact reaction as you. He's got a touch of Neil Gaiman to him in the way that he can blend mythology and modern living, humor and darkness.

How Archie Comics have survived into the second decade of the 21st century is a mystery I'm not sure anyone will ever be able to explain.

[ledfloyd]

First four episodes of Key and Peele's season four are the best four episodes of the show. Peele's performance in the Family Matters one nearly killed me.

I don't know if there was a bad sketch in episode 3.

[Acapelli]

Funny that I know Aguirre-Sacasa primarily as a playwright and have the same exact reaction as you. He's got a touch of Neil Gaiman to him in the way that he can blend mythology and modern living, humor and darkness.

How Archie Comics have survived into the second decade of the 21st century is a mystery I'm not sure anyone will ever be able to explain.
as 8 said, afterlife with archie is excellent

[number8]

as 8 said, afterlife with archie is excellent

Did you get his Sabrina? Scarier than Snyder's Wytches.

[Spinal]

I believe that someone can create interesting results with the material. The question for me is why? Why would someone spend time and energy exploring the inner workings of Jughead and Moose?