Television (no longer temporary)

[EnochRoot]

Why was that Book of Boba Fett episode 5? It was great, but why??

I’m guessing it was to set the stage for season 3 of The Mandalorian.

[+] spoiler

I’m guessing The Mandalorian will be used as a plot device in The Book of Boba Fett, not only as ‘muscle’ for Fett’s enclave, but also to further setup S3 (I’m guessing we’ll get an update on Grogu too).

[wlu_lax6]

Why was that Book of Boba Fett episode 5? It was great, but why??

because this is the way.......

Also Bryce Dallas Howard directed that....so which alien was Clint Howard?

[P.D.X.]

lol they uploaded the wrong show

[rass]

Let me try this again, was trying to be vague because spoilers

[+] spoiler

There had to have been a way to get Mando to tatooine to help out that didn’t require dedicating and entire episode to him, especially when the events of that episode could have better served as season 3, episode one of his own show.

Maybe I’ll be shown to be wrong as the season ends but it doesn’t seem like there was any need to tell that story now. Whose show is it anyway?

[EnochRoot]

Let me try this again, was trying to be vague because spoilers

[+] spoiler

There had to have been a way to get Mando to tatooine to help out that didn’t require dedicating and entire episode to him, especially when the events of that episode could have better served as season 3, episode one of his own show.

Maybe I’ll be shown to be wrong as the season ends but it doesn’t seem like there was any need to tell that story now. Whose show is it anyway?

[+] spoiler

The flashbacks were building up why Fett has an antagonist in the Pykes. I’m guessing they needed to use TBoBF to establish a few things (including what he does for him) before S3 can begin (including the fact The Armourer may wind up being a nemesis in S3, but I digress)

[rass]

Like, you and I just don't see eye to eye on SW, maaan.

[+] spoiler

Wasn't there a conversation with the other group of Mandalorians, the one that Katee Sackoff was a part of, where they said that The Armourer and her crew were fanatics, using the never take off your helmet thing as an example? So you might be on to something. Though that still could have been episode 3.1 and they could have told a BF story in BF's show. Unless BF is going to be a regular in season 3?

[EnochRoot]

Like, you and I just don't see eye to eye on SW, maaan.

[+] spoiler

Wasn't there a conversation with the other group of Mandalorians, the one that Katee Sackoff was a part of, where they said that The Armourer and her crew were fanatics, using the never take off your helmet thing as an example? So you might be on to something. Though that still could have been episode 3.1 and they could have told a BF story in BF's show. Unless BF is going to be a regular in season 3?

[+] spoiler

Absolutely. They wound up pitying Mando for his allegiance to them. I think there’s a broader narrative going on here. As for Fett appearing in S3? I think it’s at least likely, but I’d also view BoBF as The Mandalorian S2.5…

[wlu_lax6]

Anyone else sucked into Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers? For a IMDB channel show, it is pretty good. Also reminds you how these hoops stars are basically pros from a very young age...but still kids.

[The Sybian]

Anyone else sucked into Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers? For a IMDB channel show, it is pretty good. Also reminds you how these hoops stars are basically pros from a very young age...but still kids.

There is an IMDB channel? Is this a cable network, platform, or website?

[A_B]

Anyone else sucked into Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers? For a IMDB channel show, it is pretty good. Also reminds you how these hoops stars are basically pros from a very young age...but still kids.

There is an IMDB channel? Is this a cable network, platform, or website?

I think it’s on my Samsung tv free channels.

[Nonlinear FC]

Yeah, it's an "app" platform. Also shows up on Roku, if I recall correctly.

I'm at the point (well documented on this thread) that I'm not really looking for new platforms to dig into at the moment. Barely keeping up with the stuff I actually pay for.

[Steve of phpBB]

We watched the first episode of the new show "The Gilded Age" from the creators of "Downton Abbey".

I had a 'hate-watch' relationship with Downton...my GF really enjoyed it, and it was worth it for Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess and Carson the Butler's voice, but nothing ever really seemed to happen, and damn was Lady Mary a raging bitch.

Anyways...the new show: Woof....not good. Willing to give it a bit of a break since pilot episodes always have to do a ton of work with introducing characters and getting them into place, but it was just bad. And while the sets look incredible, they are lit really strangely.

Also...no matter what you think of Christine Baranski, she ain't no Maggie Smith.

We watched this the other day. I think it's fine. Obviously it's just getting started.

Probably the strangest thing for me was seeing a show with those settings and those costumes, and then the characters speaking with American accents instead of snooty British ones.

[sancarlos]

So, late to the party as usual, but the wife and I have been binging The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The first season was great. The second, not so much (imho).

[rass]

Ran out of How To With John Wilson just in time to read a heartfelt recommendation of Joe Pera Talks To You (sorry I didn’t listen to the earlier ones here) and realized it’s also on HBO Max and watched the first couple of episodes and it’s just so nice but I completely lost my shit at the “perfect egg bite” attempt in episode 2.

[P.D.X.]

I want to be in a breakfast crew.

[govmentchedda]

I want to be in a breakfast crew.

Don't come over here, Joe!

[govmentchedda]

Ran out of How To With John Wilson just in time to read a heartfelt recommendation of Joe Pera Talks To You (sorry I didn’t listen to the earlier ones here) and realized it’s also on HBO Max and watched the first couple of episodes and it’s just so nice but I completely lost my shit at the “perfect egg bite” attempt in episode 2.

I need a win!

[rass]

If I hadn’t been on the bike I think I would have started a dedicated thread and live blogged my way through the 4 episodes I watched this morning. Joe (and Gus(!) and the pizza guy) wilding out to that rock song was beautiful.

More shows should stick to 11 minute episodes.

I’m in love.

[pruitt2]

My daughter raved about Insecure a couple of years ago.

My wife and I finally got around to watching it and the first 2 episodes were outstanding.

Funny as hell.

[Giff]

Re-started Station Eleven with my wife and loved the first episode again. But we felt like the second episode took a major step back. We'll watch a couple more, but it was very disappointing.

[DaveInSeattle]

Re-started Station Eleven with my wife and loved the first episode again. But we felt like the second episode took a major step back. We'll watch a couple more, but it was very disappointing.

We've really liked Station Eleven, despite the general bleakness to it. Just very well made.

We haven't watched the last episode yet though.

[DaveInSeattle]

After seeing that the new season of Ozark was released, and realizing that I never watched season 3, I dove back in.

[+] spoiler

Jesus....the stuff with Wendy's brother is brutal. Just watched the episode where Wendy leaves him at the diner, and the hitman shows up.

[Nonlinear FC]

Station 11 is one of the best things I've seen on TV in the last 5 years or so. The world they create, the characters, the adept means of popping back and forth from "before" and "after" the flu hit. The way they fold the various circles together.

And the final episode.. As I said before, I read the book and I actually think the show takes the story to a higher, better level.

I can understand why it might not be for everyone, but I absolutely loved it.

[The Sybian]

Station 11 is one of the best things I've seen on TV in the last 5 years or so. The world they create, the characters, the adept means of popping back and forth from "before" and "after" the flu hit. The way they fold the various circles together.

And the final episode.. As I said before, I read the book and I actually think the show takes the story to a higher, better level.

I can understand why it might not be for everyone, but I absolutely loved it.

I was waiting to read the book first, but if the show is better, maybe I'll skip the book. On a waitlist at the library.

[DaveInSeattle]

Station 11 is one of the best things I've seen on TV in the last 5 years or so. The world they create, the characters, the adept means of popping back and forth from "before" and "after" the flu hit. The way they fold the various circles together.

And the final episode.. As I said before, I read the book and I actually think the show takes the story to a higher, better level.

I can understand why it might not be for everyone, but I absolutely loved it.

We finished it last night, and you're right...the ending was really good. Definitely one of the best things I've watched in a while.

If I haven't read the book, is it worth it now that I know how it all goes?

[+] spoiler

But I think I've watched too much 'bleak' TV...meaning Ozark, Sopranos, Breaking Bad, etc...because I was sure something horrific and terrible was going to happen at the end, especially during the performance of Hamlet.

The Jeevan - Kirstan reunion scene was so well played.

[Nonlinear FC]

[+] spoiler

I had read a few previews that talked about the show being uplifting, even though it was grim as all get out. So that took the (very reasonable) fear that something awful was going to happen threat out of the equation... Slightly. Looks like we watch the same types of shows, and, yeah... It sure felt like the kids with landmines (beacons) were gonna fuck shit it up at some point after Tyler set off the flare.

As far as reading the book, as I said... I just don't have it in me to read a book after I've seen the movie/series. I thought the writing was amazing, though, and I've read another book by the author and it was just incredible, so... If you aren't hung up on knowing the main plot points, it's a cool novel. The show also added in a few "chapters" or "acts" that worked well, so there's definitely enough deviation that it might be worth your while.

[Rex]

Can’t believe it took this long for American TV to find out about the Eurovision Song Contest

[wlu_lax6]

Can’t believe it took this long for American TV to find out about the Eurovision Song Contest

Did it take that long? I feel like it was pretty mainstream 5 to 10 years ago. I mean there is a Will Ferrell movie from 2 years ago based on it.

[Rex]

This is the first time I can remember it being adapted to an actual American song contest.

Planet Music doesn’t count.

[Nonlinear FC]

Yeah, we saw it advertised and my wife got a good chuckle... I watch the Will Farrell movie so much while I'm cooking or cleaning that my family hates it. Used to be Pitch Perfect.

[A_B]

What did rass watch the last month or two, either on the stationary bike or in the evening when no one else in his family wanted to hang out with him*?


Peacemaker just started last week (three episode premiere) and hasn't completed season 1 yet, but if anyone is more game to do anything on camera than Will Forte, it's John Cena. I think that's saying a lot. So far I feel like a lot of the individual scenes and moments are great, but the whole maybe doesn't add up as expected? Maybe I'm expecting the plot to make sense in a way that I didn't with MacGruber, and I'm not sure if that's fair or not. Or maybe three episodes in is too early to judge. The series is from James Gunn, who did the MCU Guardians of the Galaxy movies and had a history of lower budget horror/comedies prior to that, and the feel in terms of music and comedy is what you'd expect from him just on rated R steroids. Might have one of the best credit sequences in recent memory:

Peacemaker is gold, Jerry. Episode 4 was when the fun really kicked in. It may have been the hybrid, but there's a scene that I laughed at harder than anything in a long time. (Haven't seen today's yet)

[mister d]

White Lotus stuff:

[+] spoiler

* - I didn't really have a ton of sympathy for Armand. As much as the husband was an absolute piece of shit, Armand fucked up the reservation, and instead of doing what most 5* resorts would've done (which is admit the mistake and upgrade them/comp the shit out of at least part the stay/etc.), he doubles down and basically calls the guest a liar. Again, I get that he was doing it because the husband was being a prick, but, c'mon... Easily half the people with that kind of money come through with shitty demeanor.

He then proceeds to steal what probably amounted to a couple of thousand dollars worth of drugs. All he had to do was siphon off a percentage and just give it back and all that drama would've been squelched. I know that's not great storytelling, but if we're picking things apart... That just annoyed me. He's in Hawaii, it's not hard to get your hands on drugs.

* - You could see where the Belinda storyline was going almost the second it started taking shape. Just going to agree with the character and whoever said it upthread: There's no good long-term outcome that doesn't end in misery if Belinda gets tangled up with that (self-admitted) nutjob. I actually thought that her self-awareness made her one of the more sympathetic characters by the end.

* - Overall, what really made the show was the incredible casting. Whether you liked or loathed a given character, they really fit the part across the board.

[+] spoiler

Agree with you about Armand. The morning after he fell off the wagon the first time he told Belinda that he couldn't control himself around pills and booze. He had a chance to get rid of the drugs but didn't. And an addict's personality would have made this very hard, but he turned into a monster.

And the acting was great throughout. Especially Murray Bartlett (Armand) and Jennifer Coolidge

So like all things, we watched White Lotus late.

[+] spoiler

Re: Armond ... weren't there several "tests" for the viewers to see who they identified/empathized with? Shane not letting it go, several of the meal discussions from the main family, I'm sure a few I missed all culminating with the obvious which-side-are-you-on with the robbery? Little things compounding into much larger things.

And the ending just seemed too abrupt, like they got to 15 minutes remaining and just had to wrap up. Once he brought out the knife and talked about break-ins, I was fully expecting it to be Armond vs Rachel where he spooks her in the room and either she stabs him or he fights back and kills her and one of them dealing with the whole mess of Shane.

[tennbengal]

AB wrote:

DOn't care about the timeline...thats Gandalf's hand at the end of the LOTR Amazon show promo.

Why would timeline be an issue? Wasn't Gandalf, like the other wizards, thousands of years old during the events of LotR?

[tennbengal]

Here's a fun read and breakdown of the trailer:

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/20 ... ler-amazon

[Steve of phpBB]

White Lotus stuff:

[+] spoiler

* - I didn't really have a ton of sympathy for Armand. As much as the husband was an absolute piece of shit, Armand fucked up the reservation, and instead of doing what most 5* resorts would've done (which is admit the mistake and upgrade them/comp the shit out of at least part the stay/etc.), he doubles down and basically calls the guest a liar. Again, I get that he was doing it because the husband was being a prick, but, c'mon... Easily half the people with that kind of money come through with shitty demeanor.

He then proceeds to steal what probably amounted to a couple of thousand dollars worth of drugs. All he had to do was siphon off a percentage and just give it back and all that drama would've been squelched. I know that's not great storytelling, but if we're picking things apart... That just annoyed me. He's in Hawaii, it's not hard to get your hands on drugs.

* - You could see where the Belinda storyline was going almost the second it started taking shape. Just going to agree with the character and whoever said it upthread: There's no good long-term outcome that doesn't end in misery if Belinda gets tangled up with that (self-admitted) nutjob. I actually thought that her self-awareness made her one of the more sympathetic characters by the end.

* - Overall, what really made the show was the incredible casting. Whether you liked or loathed a given character, they really fit the part across the board.

[+] spoiler

Agree with you about Armand. The morning after he fell off the wagon the first time he told Belinda that he couldn't control himself around pills and booze. He had a chance to get rid of the drugs but didn't. And an addict's personality would have made this very hard, but he turned into a monster.

And the acting was great throughout. Especially Murray Bartlett (Armand) and Jennifer Coolidge

So like all things, we watched White Lotus late.

[+] spoiler

Re: Armond ... weren't there several "tests" for the viewers to see who they identified/empathized with? Shane not letting it go, several of the meal discussions from the main family, I'm sure a few I missed all culminating with the obvious which-side-are-you-on with the robbery? Little things compounding into much larger things.

And the ending just seemed too abrupt, like they got to 15 minutes remaining and just had to wrap up. Once he brought out the knife and talked about break-ins, I was fully expecting it to be Armond vs Rachel where he spooks her in the room and either she stabs him or he fights back and kills her and one of them dealing with the whole mess of Shane.

Does this show end up being depressing? I'm looking for one to add to the list, but I don't want more grim.

[P.D.X.]

DOn't care about the timeline...thats Gandalf's hand at the end of the LOTR Amazon show promo.

AHHH THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN TELEVISION THREAD!

Is this gonna be based on stuff that Tolkien actually wrote (Silmillarion, etc)?

[A_B]

DOn't care about the timeline...thats Gandalf's hand at the end of the LOTR Amazon show promo.

AHHH THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN TELEVISION THREAD!

Is this gonna be based on stuff that Tolkien actually wrote (Silmillarion, etc)?

I think so, with some additions. Gandalf and hobbits aren't in this Age as written, but they appear (the hobbits are apparently forerunners to "modern" hobbits) to be in it. Of course, the hand of Gandalf could be a feint.

[govmentchedda]

White Lotus stuff:

[+] spoiler

* - I didn't really have a ton of sympathy for Armand. As much as the husband was an absolute piece of shit, Armand fucked up the reservation, and instead of doing what most 5* resorts would've done (which is admit the mistake and upgrade them/comp the shit out of at least part the stay/etc.), he doubles down and basically calls the guest a liar. Again, I get that he was doing it because the husband was being a prick, but, c'mon... Easily half the people with that kind of money come through with shitty demeanor.

He then proceeds to steal what probably amounted to a couple of thousand dollars worth of drugs. All he had to do was siphon off a percentage and just give it back and all that drama would've been squelched. I know that's not great storytelling, but if we're picking things apart... That just annoyed me. He's in Hawaii, it's not hard to get your hands on drugs.

* - You could see where the Belinda storyline was going almost the second it started taking shape. Just going to agree with the character and whoever said it upthread: There's no good long-term outcome that doesn't end in misery if Belinda gets tangled up with that (self-admitted) nutjob. I actually thought that her self-awareness made her one of the more sympathetic characters by the end.

* - Overall, what really made the show was the incredible casting. Whether you liked or loathed a given character, they really fit the part across the board.

[+] spoiler

Agree with you about Armand. The morning after he fell off the wagon the first time he told Belinda that he couldn't control himself around pills and booze. He had a chance to get rid of the drugs but didn't. And an addict's personality would have made this very hard, but he turned into a monster.

And the acting was great throughout. Especially Murray Bartlett (Armand) and Jennifer Coolidge

So like all things, we watched White Lotus late.

[+] spoiler

Re: Armond ... weren't there several "tests" for the viewers to see who they identified/empathized with? Shane not letting it go, several of the meal discussions from the main family, I'm sure a few I missed all culminating with the obvious which-side-are-you-on with the robbery? Little things compounding into much larger things.

And the ending just seemed too abrupt, like they got to 15 minutes remaining and just had to wrap up. Once he brought out the knife and talked about break-ins, I was fully expecting it to be Armond vs Rachel where he spooks her in the room and either she stabs him or he fights back and kills her and one of them dealing with the whole mess of Shane.

Does this show end up being depressing? I'm looking for one to add to the list, but I don't want more grim.

It's not uplifting, but I wouldn't call it depressing either. Dark comedy?

[P.D.X.]

DOn't care about the timeline...thats Gandalf's hand at the end of the LOTR Amazon show promo.

AHHH THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN TELEVISION THREAD!

Is this gonna be based on stuff that Tolkien actually wrote (Silmillarion, etc)?

I think so, with some additions. Gandalf and hobbits aren't in this Age as written, but they appear (the hobbits are apparently forerunners to "modern" hobbits) to be in it. Of course, the hand of Gandalf could be a feint.

Here for proto-hobbits.

[tennbengal]

DOn't care about the timeline...thats Gandalf's hand at the end of the LOTR Amazon show promo.

AHHH THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN TELEVISION THREAD!

Is this gonna be based on stuff that Tolkien actually wrote (Silmillarion, etc)?

I think so, with some additions. Gandalf and hobbits aren't in this Age as written, but they appear (the hobbits are apparently forerunners to "modern" hobbits) to be in it. Of course, the hand of Gandalf could be a feint.

Yeah, just refreshed my terrible memory of Gandalf's origins (thanks tolkien.net) and that he only came to Middle Earth in the 3rd age. If so, why do yo think that is Gandalf's hand?