What other TV shows do you watch?

[Van Buren Supernova]

Anyone watches Squid Game and Dexter New Blood?

[Artemis]

I've seen Squid Game, but not Dexter.  I really liked Squid Game, but I had to watch it in Korean with English subtitles.  I tried first with the English dub and it was so distractingly bad.  It took too much away from the emotion conveyed by the actors.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

34 minutes ago, Artemis said:

I tried first with the English dub and it was so distractingly bad.  It took too much away from the emotion conveyed by the actors.

I agree with you -- it's better to hear the original actor's voices.  I prefer subtitles regardless of whether they're in English for a foreign-language movie or vice versa.

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 3/7/2022 at 1:50 PM, Artemis said:

I really liked Squid Game, but I had to watch it in Korean with English subtitles.  I tried first with the English dub and it was so distractingly bad.  It took too much away from the emotion conveyed by the actors.

 

Oh yes, I watched the original language too with subtitles, and cringed very hard when I saw the clip of the English dub one of the first game. It's so different!

I wasn't aware with the series until the hype was almost gone, but seen so many memes around and decided to get to it instead of being spoiled.

The other Korean show that I watch (still like to rewatch) and love is The Genius. Why nobody sees it???!! I need to talk about it!

[Hikari]

On 3/6/2022 at 6:08 PM, Artemis said:

I watched that one when it aired, and quite enjoyed it.

I haven't been able to find a single thing worth my time lately.  Season 2 of "Resident Alien" started in January, and I am dreadfully disappointed.  It is not funny or even interesting anymore at all.  The writing is lazy, aimless and senseless.  The dialogue is weird.  The characters are unlikable.  The acting is annoying.  The humor is cringey.  It is stuffed with boring subplots that go nowhere and have absolutely no bearing on the main character or storyline, whatever that's supposed to be.  There is no story.  There's practically no alien.  He hardly gets any screen time anymore.  It's actually awful.  I really had fun watching the first season (in spite of some cringey humor there too), so I've been suffering through season 2, hoping for a change.  But after the horror show that was episode 3, I'm ready to throw in the towel.  I've never seen a show jump the shark so quickly and inexplicably.  It's sad, it had so much potential.

Guess I'm back to shuffling through my streaming services, hoping to land on a hidden gem.

 

Even though I have Hulu and Amazon Prime, I spend most of my time aimlessly scrolling though YouTube videos every night.  My concentration seems to be shot.  I will begin a show or a movie and I either doze off after 20 minutes or I get bored and revert to YT or Facebook.  Among an alleged wealth of choices . . .nothing appeals. I've taken to looking up old favorites available for free on YouTube like Foyle's War and Midsomer Murders.  I tell myself every month I need to cancel the streaming because I'm certainly not getting my money's worth.

Recently I re-watched a series I had purchased a couple of years ago--the Japanese HBO Asia "Miss Sherlock".  Made with care and innovation by a team that obviously knows their Holmes canon, this contemporary adaptation with an all-female detective duo translates remarkably well.  The edgy short format feels like "Elementary" but the partnership in that show never gelled for me.  The crafting of the stories in "Miss Sherlock" as well as the chemistry among the cast feels more like the BBC Sherlock.  It's the best of both recent adaptation predecessors, with a uniquely Japanese twist.  Tragically, Yuko Tameuchi (Sherlock) took her own life in 2020 so there will be no more Miss Sherlock forthcoming.  

 

[Hikari]

On 3/7/2022 at 12:02 AM, Van Buren Supernova said:

Anyone watches Squid Game and Dexter New Blood?

I watched the first episode of Dexter: New Blood since it was available for free.  I was not impressed.  I really loved the original show until it went off the rails in the final season.  It might sound weird, considering that I was rooting for Dexter all along, but if he had died in the finale saving his loved ones, I could have said that was the best possible ending for him.  I find that I just simply do not care now what happens because I had already killed him off in my mind.

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 3/25/2022 at 10:48 PM, Hikari said:

I watched the first episode of Dexter: New Blood since it was available for free.  I was not impressed.  I really loved the original show until it went off the rails in the final season.  It might sound weird, considering that I was rooting for Dexter all along, but if he had died in the finale saving his loved ones, I could have said that was the best possible ending for him.  I find that I just simply do not care now what happens because I had already killed him off in my mind.

If you watch the whole season, I'd love to hear your take.

For me, I just binged season 1-8 not too long ago, maybe it helps because I was not as disappointed as others. To me, Season 1 and 2 is the best though.

[Hikari]

On 4/22/2022 at 11:55 PM, Van Buren Supernova said:

If you watch the whole season, I'd love to hear your take.

For me, I just binged season 1-8 not too long ago, maybe it helps because I was not as disappointed as others. To me, Season 1 and 2 is the best though.

I agree.  Season 2 with 'Lila' was particularly good.  

The reason we love Dexter is because, apart from his homicidal tendencies, he tries to be a good citizen.  When Lila was stealing lawn ornaments from people's yards, Dex was soo uncomfortable.  He can plan a meticulous knife murder, dismemberment and body disposal but he would never be all right with stealing stuff from people's yards.  Dexter is only a danger to murderers--to the innocent, particularly women & children, he is he ultimate bodyguard.

After the shocking finale of Season 4 (and its outstanding guest villain) the show started to go downhill.  Season 5 was moderately interesting, with Lumen (and Jonny Lee Miller as the villain) but after that I really struggled to like anything that was going on.  

"Dexter"'s strength was its ensemble cast and I don't think the new show can compete on that level, but it might be interesting to see 'Harrison' grown up.  

[Artemis]

Looking forward to season 5!
 

 

 

[J.P.]

Saw the trailer and honestly, I will miss Olivia Colman.

[Carol the Dabbler]

3 hours ago, J.P. said:

Saw the trailer and honestly, I will miss Olivia Colman.

I've never seen The Crown, but if the show has lost Olivia Colman, maybe I wouldn't enjoy it.  I've seen her in only a few things, but she was really good in them.

 

[Artemis]

On 10/29/2022 at 5:55 PM, J.P. said:

Saw the trailer and honestly, I will miss Olivia Colman.

Ditto.

On 10/29/2022 at 9:52 PM, Carol the Dabbler said:

I've never seen The Crown, but if the show has lost Olivia Colman, maybe I wouldn't enjoy it.  I've seen her in only a few things, but she was really good in them.

The series shows the Queen at different ages, progressively older.  Every two seasons there is a different actress playing her.  Claire Foy was cast as a younger Elizabeth for seasons 1-2.  Seasons 3-4 featured Olivia Colman.  Both actresses have been perfect for the role in my opinion, but seasons 3-4 were my favorites thus far.  Imelda Staunton will be taking over as an older Elizabeth in seasons 5-6.  I think season 6 is supposed to be the last one.  It's a very good show, if you have any interest I'd encourage you to watch it.  I have virtually no interest in the royal family and I still think it's one of the better shows I've seen in recent years.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

8 hours ago, Artemis said:

Imelda Staunton will be taking over as an older Elizabeth in seasons 5-6. 

I've seen her in only a couple of roles -- most notably Dolores Umbridge, who does *not* remind me of Queen Elizabeth!  Judging by the trailer you posted recently, though, I might enjoy seeing her in that role.

Oops -- it's on Netflix.  Oh well....

 

[Hikari]

On 10/29/2022 at 6:55 PM, J.P. said:

Saw the trailer and honestly, I will miss Olivia Colman.

When Olivia was announced as Claire Foy's replacement, legions of her fans expressed the same sentiment about Ms. Foy.  Initially I was not too sure about the casting myself.  Claire (prior to the Crown I'd only seen her in a couple of things . . in a little indie film she did in 2011 with Benedict Cumberbatch called Wreckers . . and a supporting turn as Anne Boleyn in Wolf Hall) was a revelation as the young Queen Elizabeth.  The voice and mannerisms and eyes were all uncanny.  She was brilliant.  At first blush, Colman did not seem to be in the mold of QEII.  Like the late Queen, Foy is petite, finely boned and has huge blue eyes.  Olivia is a more statuesque woman with brown eyes and facially, the resemblance wasn't really there.  But after the first episode, she became the Queen in front of our eyes, and inhabited the role with as much command as her predecessor had shown.  She was rather too dour much of the time, such as when she enacted Charles's investiture in 1969.  They painstakingly recreated the Queen's outfit on that day but Colman wore an expression like a smacked bum throughout, while archival footage of the day shows the Queen beaming over her firstborn.

Imelda Staunton is physically more in the late Queen's mold physically again--tiny with delicate patrician features and twinkly eyes.  (incidentally, she's married to Jim Carter, Mr. Carson from Downton Abbey).  She's got the most unenviable job of the three Queens, as she will preside over not only the most painful period of the Royals' family history at least since 1936, but also the most recent.  If Diana (Elizabeth Derbicki) is going to die in Season 5, what are they going to do in S6?  Jonathan Pryce is almost a ringer for the late Duke of Edinburgh (which could not be said of Tobias Menzies, despite his best efforts), and I'm really looking forward to seeing Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret.  Whatever the liberties taken with the historical events (many) the casting and production values for this series are first-rate.

[Hikari]

Hmm . . early buzz for the latest season of the Crown is not favorable.  I had very mixed feelings about even watching it due to having vivid memories of living through Diana's death and the aftermath.  The Crown was the only Netflix program I watched--on DVD as I am not a subscriber, and since I have some grave reservations about how that company conducts its business, I will never be one.  I look forward to other people's reviews.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Does anyone watch The Boyz?

I like the first season; the subsequent seasons are fine. I lost interest here and there, but still find the series quite refreshing.

Tried to watch the new Quantum Leap, as I love the classic. It's not the same and far inferior six episodes in.

 

Better Call Saul finale season is one of the best TV Series and comparable to Breaking Bad.

[Caya]

Husband and I watch The Boys. It's certainly ... different. Could do without the level of gore but it definitely keeps surprising me, which I love in any kind of story, so I keep watching.

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 11/30/2022 at 7:29 AM, Caya said:

Husband and I watch The Boys. It's certainly ... different. Could do without the level of gore but it definitely keeps surprising me, which I love in any kind of story, so I keep watching.

Do you have characters you enjoy?

Is it wrong if I enjoy Homelander? 😁

[Caya]

It's ... a choice. I'm fond of Mauve.

[Artemis]

I finished season 5 of "The Crown".  It is probably my least favorite season so far.  The acting is impeccable, as usual; however the story is lagging.  Every episode felt like filler, the final episode was weirdly anticlimactic, and they're taking waaaay too long leading up to Diana's death.  She's been the focal point of two seasons now.  Just get on with it already.  I know what a big deal she was to everyone, but quite frankly she's the least interesting part of the show to me.  I'd rather see more of the other family and political dynamics that made the previous seasons so fascinating.

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 12/14/2022 at 6:39 AM, Caya said:

It's ... a choice. I'm fond of Mauve.

Ah yes, I like her no BS attitude, although I wonder why it takes her that long. But she might be the best character. I like the guy who never talks, too. 

To be honest, I don't root for anyone, even the 'heroes', I guess that is the best way to enjoy a show, instead of being affected too much like Sherlock.

For Homelander, I like Anthony Carr's acting, and have to admit, sometimes I am frustrated with the world just like him. 😁

[Carol the Dabbler]

On 2/14/2021 at 12:31 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

We're now on the third and final series [from 2017] of Detectorists.  I'll be sad to see it end!

Then I'll be glad to know that five years later there's a brand-new 90-minute Movie Special!  It features most of the main cast from the series (with the main exception being the late Diana Rigg).  It apparently aired on BBC television just this past Boxing Day.  The DVD will be available from Amazon UK at the end of this month, but can be pre-ordered now [link].

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

The Last of Us, anyone?

I don't know and am not familiar with the game, actually didn't know the series is based on a game, which really intrigues me about gaming nowadays. Too bad I can't be part of that anymore since modern games are too nauseating to play with as they are mostly first-person views.

The first four episodes have been awesome so far. It has a complex main character and not the usual undead story. 
I have no complaints yet about the accuracy of the biology. This topic always fascinates me, but I maintained something I said somewhere else

rabies is still our 'best chance' to become a zombie for now