What was the last TV show you watched?

First two episodes of Game of Thrones. I had to see what all the fuss was about. But I don't think I'm going to continue it.

AmateisGal said:

First two episodes of Game of Thrones. I had to see what all the fuss was about. But I don't think I'm going to continue it.

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That is how we felt each time we tried to watch it. It wasn’t until, I think it was season five, that we decided to give it another go. This last time clicked. It took some time, but for us, it became a very entertaining show.

I'd encourage you to give Game the entire first season. I realize that is a huge investment. I wouldn't recommend so many eggs in one basket if I wasn't so convinced it'll pay off.

Melissa, I was also going to recommend watching the entire first season of GoT, Ernest and Touch beat me to it.

The series gets better as it goes along, and it's worth the investment of watching ten episodes. Chances are, you'll be hooked by the time you reach the penultimate one. GoT is outrageously entertaining, spectacularly produced, state-of-the-art television. It's far from perfect - there are serious pacing issues, in particular the second act goes on FOREVER before the endgame starts (though this is probably a lot less annoying in a binge than waiting YEARS watching in real-time was). And the series only gradually reveals its fantasy aspects, being foremost a political and character drama... with a huge LOTR-like mega-detailed backstory that gives its world a believable, lived-in feel.

(Mind you, folks who've read the books have a host of other complaints about the adaptation: dropped characters, telescoped timeframes, and vast amounts of missing or glossed-over details. My kids, who read the books after the show began, eventually stopped watching the series for a while because it diverged so much it infuriated them. But coming at it as I do - as just a TV show without knowing the books - it's riveting and continuously surprising drama.)

Anyway, it works for a lot of the same reasons that the Marvel Cinematic Universe does - great characters/actors, tremendous production values, exciting action, fantastical stories that nonetheless touch on our real world - and I know you're a big fan of that. It's worth investing the time to try GoT, because as Stan Lee used to say, "Rare wonderment awaits!"

Doctor Strange said:

The series gets better as it goes along...

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This says so much. For various reasons, the value mounts.

I had to start Deadwood several times, and then once it hit, it became one of my favorite all-time series. If you're anything like me, things have to come at just the right time.

Doctor Strange said:

It's worth investing the time to try GoT, because as Stan Lee used to say, "Rare wonderment awaits!"

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RIGHT ON

AmateisGal said:

First two episodes of Game of Thrones. I had to see what all the fuss was about. But I don't think I'm going to continue it.

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Trust us, it picks up steam! It is not for the faint of heart at most times, but you will come to love certain characters, hate others, and then change your mind about some of both!

And, two words: TYRION LANNISTER.

We did this with Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire, Peaky Blinders, and Black Sails. The problems were jumping in and not giving the shows time to develop. As we watched, we became hooked and immenselyenjoyed each of these shows. I am not saying you will, but maybe.

Touchofevil said:

We did this with Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire, Peaky Blinders, and Black Sails. The problems were jumping in and not giving the shows time to develop. As we watched, we became hooked and immenselyenjoyed each of these shows. I am not saying you will, but maybe.

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When time permits, Deadwood is on my list to watch. I was not able to catch its initial run, but keep hearing so much about it. Plus, I am a huge Ian McShane fan (Lovejoy, anyone?).

I did try Black Sails, but it simply did not "speak to me". I cannot say it was bad, just not for me.

Now, BE and PB, those are brilliant, and I have often said, PB is the best show (IMHO and therefore beyond debate) I have ever watched.

Deadwood is really outstanding. I didn't see it when it initially aired - I didn't have HBO at that point - but binge-watched later. The writing is tremendous: it's downright Shakespearean in the breadth of its characters and story. Ian McShane is simply amazing, his performance is continually jaw-dropping (and many of the other performances are also great). Definitely one of the best series of this century. There's a bit of a falloff in the last season, and it was canceled unexpectedly without a proper ending... and we're still hoping for a frequently promised sequel feature film to finish the story.

Boardwalk Empire is very good, this series I watched as it originally aired. But I think it peaked in the second season and had some real ups and downs thereafter. And the final, shortened, time-jump-to-several-years-later season didn't work for me: some great characters were gone prematurely, it didn't seem to follow a logical, believable story progression from the previous seasons, and the "surprise" ending was hokey and unbelievable. (*) But it was darn good up until that season - though never as good as Deadwood.

(* I thought only one story thread of the final season was well-handled: "Nucky's original sin".)

I haven't watched Peaky Blinders yet but will get to it sometime. I have zero interest in Black Sails. There are way too many series out there now to even remotely pretend I can watch everything "worthwhile"!

I agree with Doctor Strange about Boardwalk Empire. The first couple seasons were really good TV, and then it felt like they ran out of their original story, energy or process; and then were in a new situation for some reason. Sort of like when a band puts twenty years worth of ideas into their great first album, and their lives entirely change and put out a spotty second album derived from a few months of their new situation. It's the same band, but it really isn't.

For my money, Black Sails is at about the same level of quality as Boardwalk Empire. 7-8/10 TV, with a good deal of it in that 7 range. I'd recommend Black Sails, but that recommendation would come with conditions. The stars of Black Sails are the relationships.

I've probably said this a dozen times now. Deadwood fans: look up David Milch. Then go watch his other TV series. Deadwood is not an isolated event. He's always written like that. His characters and dialogue have always been rich, learning, and evolving. Like life (hopefully). That's not to say you'll like everything he's done. I don't. But when he hits a home run, it isn't surprising at all. Deadwood is a continuance of where Milch left off with NYPD Blue and continues with Luck.

I have but one complaint about Boardwalk (no spoilers for the three of you who have not seen it) - how they treated the character of Margaret. Truly a wasted opportunity, that they tried to pull back from too late in my view. But one quibble over the series ain't bad!

Gotta get to Deadwood now...

The first several episodes of season 1 of "Kim's Convenience," a Netflix sitcom about a convenience-store-owning Korean family in Canada - a father and mother (putatively from Korea), a college-age daughter and an early-twenties son (both born in Canada).

The '70s had several sitcoms about families with liberal and conservative political members battling - "All in the Family," "The Jeffersons," "Chico and the Man" and "Sanford and Son" were some examples. These shows - of varying quality, with some being quite smart - were not shy in their politics nor were all the characters politically correct. I doubt those shows could get made today as so many ideas and views are simply not allowed, today, to be advocated or, even, seriously discussed.

Instead, today, we get shows like "Kim's Convenience" where the political views hew, overall, to Hollywood's view, with the "non-conforming" character only slightly pushing the envelope, usually in a bumbling way, and, mostly, seeing the "error of his ways" by the end of the episode. A little fun gets poked at the prevailing political views, but not in any real threatening way; whereas, the prevailing view is promoted in a, mainly, favorable light.

If you accept all that, then this becomes an enjoyable, light, formulaic comedy that works because there are some truly funny lines in every episode (not something to be scoffed at today as most TV comedy shows simply aren't funny) and the characters, overall, are enjoyable and modestly engaging. Here, the slightly curmudgeonly father and slightly stubborn daughter bring the best dynamic as they obviously love and respect each other, but have personalities that can't help throwing sharp elbows at the other. Throw in a quirky couple of friends (the daughter's guy friend - not boyfriend - who is truly scared of her father brings some good comic value) plus the unrequited love of the son's female boss and the show moves along pretty quickly.

It's good comedy with the biggest disappointment being the lost opportunity to make this show great if it only had the political guts of those '70s TV shows that were willing to let both sides of the political divide take the gloves off and punch away at each other with full force.

MisterCairo said:

Trust us, it picks up steam! It is not for the faint of heart at most times, but you will come to love certain characters, hate others, and then change your mind about some of both!

And, two words: TYRION LANNISTER.

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Agreed... You will definitely be treated to some of the most hateful, disgusting, infuriating and fascinating villains ever put to film of any stripe. There's something strangely satisfying about watching someone you've despised for years finally meet the business end of a sword, dagger... bottle of poison. Unfortunately you also have the flip side where folks you've loved for years meet their ends savagely and badly usually through treachery an stupidity.

Worf

Last night, an episode of Yellowstone. Not near a perfect show, but getting more interesting with each episode.

Some Live PD and a couple of episodes of Live PD: PD Cam. More background noise while reading, but occasionally it had my full attention. Crazy world for law enforcement.

Worf said:

There's something strangely satisfying about watching someone you've despised for years finally meet the business end of a sword, dagger... bottle of poison. Unfortunately you also have the flip side where folks you've loved for years meet their ends savagely and badly usually through treachery an stupidity.

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Or coming to grudgingly admire certain people you started out HATING (no spoilers, but think what "main", a French word, means in english).

Fading Fast said:

The first several episodes of season 1 of "Kim's Convenience," a Netflix sitcom

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This is produced by the CBC in Canada. Mildly amusing, and it adds to "CANCON" requirements (CANadian CONtent) as per our regulatory regimes.

I.E. it is taxpayer funded...

I am glad you are enjoying it! HM The Queen appreciates good reviews...

MisterCairo said:

This is produced by the CBC in Canada. Mildly amusing, and it add to "CANCON" requirements (CANadian CONtent) as per our regulatory regimes.

I.E. it is taxpayer funded...

I am glad you are enjoying it! HM The Queen appreciates good reviews...

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We watched a few more episodes over the past few days - recognizing the limits of the formula, it's a good show with the father-daughter relationship very well done. I send a thank you to HM The Queen.

It also fills a void as there are very few decent 22 minute comedy shows anymore. There's plenty of well-written hour-long dramas that are intense and engaging, but it's hard to find an old-style "Friends" or "Cheers" type of show when you just want to veg-out in front of the TV and get a few laughs in without thinking too much about it.

Is anyone watching Dietland? Any women here? If so, would you care to comment? I'm confused about what it is trying to achieve. At times, I'm not even sure what it is trying to communicate. I tried watching the aftershow a couple times, but it doesn't help. I understand the anger and taking back power and creating confidence. Maybe I'll never get a show like this because I'm male. I'm trying though. I didn't start watching it for any other reason than I try to give AMC series a chance. I suspect there is a failing of some kind with it, and I say that because shows like Pose strike me as clear and successful in their message and commentary. That could also be because they have the luxury of working with a history. I don't know what I'm saying. Maybe that Dietland feels empty, while other series with strong social x, y, and z don't?