The TV Discussion Thread

[dreamdead]

Been having a hard time having the time to do a full film, even in sections, but we are powering through the one-season Crazyhead on Netflix. For a British version of early Buffy seasons, it's fun enough, with a couple quips that land wonderfully, and the sort of adding another layer to the kitchen sink that still seems interesting. Knowing that it won't ever really expand its world is a bit depressing, but the cast is game.

[Grouchy]

So did they censor Apu out of The Simpsons or didn't they? It seems they are at least considering it.

[Morris Schæffer]

Game of Thrones prequel adds Naomi Watts.

[Ezee E]

Game of Thrones prequel adds Naomi Watts.

Is she a Targaryean I assume?

[Morris Schæffer]

Is she a Targaryean I assume?

She plays a socialite of sorts. So probably nothing as predictable as a Targaryean.

[Philip J. Fry]

So did they censor Apu out of The Simpsons or didn't they? It seems they are at least considering it.

He's a goner, I believe.

[Philip J. Fry]

Yassss!!!

[Milky Joe]

[Ezee E]

Is Deadwood going to semi-follow history here or just go completely in their own direction?

I guess that's dumb to ask considering the Gem Saloon was actually a theater in the first place...

[Milky Joe]

Well it will be set after the fire which burned down the town. It will apparently be set as South Dakota is about to be admitted to the United States. It will use history as a backdrop for exploring these characters (who were mostly all historical figures in their own right).

[Morris Schæffer]

For those that care, I highly recommend 'A Very English Scandal' with Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw. Its darkly humorous tone really gave it an edge, good direction by Stephen Frears.

[Irish]

For those that care, I highly recommend 'A Very English Scandal' with Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw. Its darkly humorous tone really gave it an edge, good direction by Stephen Frears.

Seconded! Three episodes and it's f'ing brilliant.

[Peng]

I just finished Ryan Murphy's Pose on Thai Netflix. It's not as immaculately crafted as his true-story series like ACS or Feud, and sometimes rough around the edges (contrived melodramatic plot turns, a few instances of performances, etc.) but it may be his most full-hearted series yet, which counts for a lot. The LGBTQ (especially trans) representation in front of and behind the camera is really felt, as it invests a lot of standard story beats with authenticity and insight, making them feel new in the moments again. What can run the risk of going into misery if told through outsider eyes becomes more about living in a harsh world with joy and love instead. I get really fond of these people by the end.

Good thing I happened to watch the doc Paris is Burning (also on Netflix; I'm guessing to pair with the reality show Drag Race) last month too, as it feels like a primer for this series.

[Peng]

So I finished all of 2018 TV I want to catchup; here's how my top 20 shakes out:

1. The Expanse (Season 3)
2. GLOW (Season 2)
3. My Brillaint Friend (Season 1)
4. The Americans (Season 6)
5. The Good Fight (Season 2)
6. The Terror (Miniseries)
7. Pose (Season 1)
8. The Little Drummer Girl (Miniseries)
9. Atlanta (Season 2)
10. Santa Clarita Diet (Season 2)

11. Bojack Horseman (Season 5)
12. The Deuce (Season 2)
13. Big Mouth (Season 2)
14. Dear White People (Season 2)
15. American Vandal (Season 2)
16. Howards End (Miniseries)
17. Westworld (Season 2)
18. Escape at Dannemora (Miniseries)
19. In Family We Trust (Thai miniseries)
20. Wild Wild Country (Miniseries)

7 are original Netflix series, so that's not too bad for them.

[Peng]

I am working through Star Trek the Original Series on Netflix and liking it quite a bit, with a few great classic episodes already. But man, Mad Men really doesn't exaggerrate the pervasive 60's viewpoint of women in workplace, does it? Sometimes I can adjust for modern eyes, but sometimes the images and/or performance directing are just so constant to be almost hilarious if it isn't getting depressing a bit. Still a good show though.

[Pop Trash]

Mad Men really doesn't exaggerrate the pervasive 60's viewpoint of women in workplace, does it? Sometimes I can adjust for modern eyes, but sometimes the images and/or performance directing are just so constant to be almost hilarious if it isn't getting depressing a bit. Still a good show though.

Might have replaced "Twin Peaks" as my favorite show of all time (hour long drama division).

[Spinal]

Anthony Carrigan is straight-up killing it on Barry. The man needs an Emmy.

[dreamdead]

Amidst the internet's collective hand-wringing over every detail on GoT, I'd like to submit Barry's season 2, episode 5 ("ronny/lily") is one of the best things I've watched this past month or so. Escalating absurdity but grounded in the body's capacity to endure violence, this is one of those episodes that will be even more noteworthy if the series finds a logical endpoint and wraps up well. So many good bits in it.

[Grouchy]

I've only seen the commercials for Barry while I watch Game of Thrones but it certainly seems like that's where the good HBO content went.

[Peng]

I only mildly liked the first season compared to most people (but it has a few absolutely excellent episodes), but am loving its second season.

[Dukefrukem]

I checked out in the middle of Season 2- but this teaser sucked me right back in. SHOCKED they even had a teaser to present at this point.

[Ezee E]

I checked out in the middle of Season 2- but this teaser sucked me right back in. SHOCKED they even had a teaser to present at this point.

I'll def be watching. Prob the only show I'll truly be invested in now that Thrones is over.

[dreamdead]

Knocked out Tuca and Bertie, which is occasionally a bit ambiguous in tracking Bertie's many inhibitions (will the subplot of her failing to swim due to a predatory lifeguard come back? Will she ever tell Speckle? Who knows...), it has a nice sense of dynamic character arc and a willingness to employ its animation to main second or third level jokes and callbacks. I assume it'll be back for more--hopefully there's a season limit to let the show have a clear concept of endgame and scale. Everyone does strong character work, and while Haddish is Haddish, it basically works here.

Also finished out season four of Halt and Catch Fire. In many ways, it's a show that's stronger for the tinkering and shuffling after an average first season--characters legitimately feel dynamic here, and the Donna/Cameron scenes were truly resonant when they finally reunited. Bishe and Mackenzie Davis are very intelligent performers and the material--while occasionally novelistic and thus schematic--can become rote, it also enables the series to be far more thorough about plot moments than it might otherwise be. It's not Breaking Bad/The Wire in terms of sustained quality, but it is a series that cared about its characters and fashioned arcs for each that were believable and empathetic toward them all. I'll miss it more than BB.

[Peng]

There's not enough superlatives for Fleabag's season 2. I liked the first well enough but this is on another level altogether. Peerlessly executed.

[Pop Trash]

There's not enough superlatives for Fleabag's season 2. I liked the first well enough but this is on another level altogether. Peerlessly executed.

Yes, I liked it a lot as well. In other Amazon Prime news, is anyone watching NW Refn's "Too Old to Die Young?" Amazon seems to be really going out of their way to bury it. It's not even on the front page of the app. I had to search for it. I've only seen the first episode, but he's really doubling down on everything people love / hate about the guy. The episodes are 90 mins long w/ 10 episodes, so it plays like a draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaged out version of his previous movies. In yet, it's hypnotic and stylish. The acting is about as Bressonian as an American production is ever going to get. Total androids.