The Swamp

Come on, fellas. Twin Peaks? Nada? That was peak David Lynch. Hunter Thompson famously said 'it never got weird enough for me." That mess was too weird for me.

And, yeah, I watched the Gong Show, and I liked it. Again. And Preacher, holy fuck. Saul and Fargo end, Preacher begins. Golden age.

howard wrote:Come on, fellas. Twin Peaks? Nada? That was peak David Lynch. Hunter Thompson famously said 'it never got weird enough for me." That mess was too weird for me.

And, yeah, I watched the Gong Show, and I liked it. Again. And Preacher, holy fuck. Saul and Fargo end, Preacher begins. Golden age.

I've been struggling with this. Not those particluar shows, but just how I now seem to feel this constant NEED to consume a new show because there are so many that people say need watching. I just finished two seasons of Flaked on netflix. It was solid. I like the characters a lot. But I don't want to just go directly into something, even though Preacher being back makes me want to finish season 1. Or Brockmire, which I really enjoyed a couple of episodes of.

But I Think I'm just gonna chill out and read. Go to the gym at lunch again. Maybe backfill with some movies instead of shows I know I'll feel like I HAVE TO FINISH RIGHT NOW.

Maybe this should be in the confessions thread.

No, man, I think that's an interesting aspect of this Golden Age thing. There are probably a half dozen shows I "need" to either start or pick back up on and it feels kind of overwhelming sometimes.

Nonlinear FC wrote:No, man, I think that's an interesting aspect of this Golden Age thing. There are probably a half dozen shows I "need" to either start or pick back up on and it feels kind of overwhelming sometimes.

100% agree. Sometimes I feel like a chore list trying to get to shows. On the plus side, I feel like I accomplished something when I watch a couple episodes of something on my list.

Finished the first 3 seasons of Silicon Valley. It's a great mix of a dramatic storyline with absurd and even silly comedic moments. The actors/characters play perfectly off of each other. They are good characters on their own, but the interactions between just about any 2 characters is great.

As I remember, the Swamp is filled with Alison Brie fans so I need to direct you to GLOW on Netflix. She appears in all her glory in the first episode. Marc Maron plays a cynical asshole director. A fun show you can quickly binge.

Yeah, I was shocked she got so naked in the first episode (which I otherwise would have enjoyed without the nudity).

A_B wrote: I've been struggling with this. Not those particluar shows, but just how I now seem to feel this constant NEED to consume a new show because there are so many that people say need watching.

I feel you. I respond to this feeling by setting my standards incredibly high. There are plenty of shows I'll watch one or two episodes and drop. Shows that had they aired 10 years ago I would've considered them must see. But now, eh. Unless every aspect of production is top notch, or unless there is something that personally appeals to me, like GLOW - I'll finish because I really like Allison Brie and Maron, although otherwise it doesn't clear the high bar I've set. I'm missing a lot of shows that I'm sure I would enjoy, but there's only so much time. And I haven't even gone back to watch all of The Wire yet.

But I Think I'm just gonna chill out and read. Go to the gym at lunch again.

now that is just crazy talk.

Oh, and this is in production, due in August. Pilot is available on amazon now. (I loved the animated version, thought the live action one with Patrick Warburton was cute but lame, only lasted eight episodes.) One of my neighbors works on the show, script supervisor, worked on a lot of shows, gives it high marks. SPOON!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfmRP5IQH8Y

Rams Fanny wrote:As I remember, the Swamp is filled with Alison Brie fans so I need to direct you to GLOW on Netflix. She appears in all her glory in the first episode. Marc Maron plays a cynical asshole director. A fun show you can quickly binge.

The premiere episode is a lot of fun, but realizing that the plot twist is going to propel the Debbie character into the ring full time seemed a bit unrealistic... until I remembered that this is a show about women wrestlers in a cheesier time.

Enjoyable all the way through, and Mark Maron is really funny.

Enjoyed the pilot episode of Glow.

govmentchedda wrote:Enjoyed the pilot episode of Glow.

It's good all the way through. Good clean fun.

Pruitt wrote:

govmentchedda wrote:Enjoyed the pilot episode of Glow.

It's good all the way through. Good clean fun.

And titties.

govmentchedda wrote:

Pruitt wrote:

govmentchedda wrote:Enjoyed the pilot episode of Glow.

It's good all the way through. Good clean fun.

And titties.

[+] spoiler

Sadly, the titty content ends after the first episode.

I thought it was really well done. Maron was great.

I loved it and more importantly (for the show's future) my wife loved it and she was prepared to hate it.

L-Jam3 wrote:

Jerloma wrote:Has anyone watched Handmaid's Tale yet? If not, could you do so please?

I feel for you, J-Lo. I was the same way about Riverdale.

THIS is where I got that tip.

Thank you L-J! My wife and I just binge watched this over the long weekend.

I was initially hung up on the whole Archie thing, because while I knew the basic outline of the characters, I wasn't some big comic book fan growing up.

You don't need to know the characters at all, come to find out. This is a very fun show!

Woo hoo!

Carrie Coon wasn't even nominated for an Emmy for The Leftovers. What in the actual fuck?

She was for Fargo though.

I'd be absolutely shocked if anyone but Moss won best actress. That's the best acting performance I've ever seen in a TV show.

Episodes 1 and 2 of Rick and Morty season 3, this Sunday evening!

I watched season 1 of American Gods. It s Nice, visually stuning at times and I have high hopes for next season, but i wouldn't put it on a best of 2017 list.

I think I'm going to hit that up next. I like that Neil Gaiman.

Just finished 11/22/63. Sort of a ridiculous premise but really well done anyway and I really liked the statement it makes about causal events in relation to time. Also, that actress is one of the prettiest women I've ever seen. She's even attractive as an 80 year old.

Yeah, I know the rules.

Jerloma wrote:I think I'm going to hit that up next. I like that Neil Gaiman.

Just finished 11/22/63. Sort of a ridiculous premise but really well done anyway and I really liked the statement it makes about causal events in relation to time. Also, that actress is one of the prettiest women I've ever seen. She's even attractive as an 80 year old.

Yeah, I know the rules.

Shit, totally forgot 11/22/63 came out. I really enjoyed the book, and JJ Abrams gives me optimism it's done right. I'll add that to the ever growing list.

Almost done with Season 4 of The Wire, and I am just more blown away than ever. Season 4 is the school system and mayoral race. So cool seeing how a couple characters evolved, how others stayed the same, and seeing the young hoppers move up the ranks. The episode where Colvin (retired police Commander) takes a group of highly problematic kids to a fancy restaurant as a prize hit me. Seeing these kids so far out of their element, and Colvin so unaware at how uncomfortable they were was powerful. One kid had never been to a restaurant with a waiter. Just that moment when Colvin went to so proud of himself for giving this meal to the kids, and seeing how they instantly went back to who they are, and Colvin realizing he couldn't change these kids. Damn. The best transformation, IMO, is Carver (the small, black detective), when he learned to work with the community and treat people with respect rather than cracking heads of teenagers to get info. An officer was about to hit a kid to get names, Carver pulls up, asking, "why? I know all these guys. Brody, where's Kevin at?"

sancarlos wrote:Episodes 1 and 2 of Rick and Morty season 3, this Sunday evening!

That's where I started. Just got to "Rick Potion #9" and I swear that the "Flu Hating Rapper" sounds just like GPJ.

Anyone else watching "Snowfall" on FX? Looking for an outside opinion on it.

DSafetyGuy wrote:Anyone else watching "Snowfall" on FX? Looking for an outside opinion on it.

I'm enjoying it, but it's a solid B/B- from me. It's building pretty slowly, which could be good or bad, but I'm willing to give it at least a season. I think they're at least trying to be semi-realistic as far as not having the smart kid in the hood be instantly able to pop a cap in someone's ass, etc.

I've only watched the first two, but I like it well enough. Not sure I can handle the CIA guy for too long though.

Preacher's second season has been awesome.

I've seen three episodes and it isn't doing it for me.

The Expanse might be the best Sci-Fi adaptation I've ever watched. It is superb.

Jerloma wrote:Has anyone watched Handmaid's Tale yet? If not, could you do so please?

I knew I'd love this show, and even with all the hype, it is pretty much perfect. I'm 4 or 5 episodes in... We haven't really wanted to watch more than 1 episode at a time, unlike some other shows we watch. Just too intense... Maybe a little too close to home, but definitely not a "fun" thing to watch.

What I dig about it so far is that outside of Ann Dowd, they aren't really making any one person the villain. That role is played by society. They don't have some big bad evil "president" to funnel your hatred towards, so you're left with this constant unease and tension over what comes next.

DSafetyGuy wrote:Anyone else watching "Snowfall" on FX? Looking for an outside opinion on it.

You never said where you land on it. Interested to know.

Nonlinear FC wrote:Just too intense... Maybe a little too close to home, but definitely not a "fun" thing to watch.

Right? It's like if every episode of GoT was the one where they burned Shireen at the stake.

brian wrote:

DSafetyGuy wrote:Anyone else watching "Snowfall" on FX? Looking for an outside opinion on it.

You never said where you land on it. Interested to know.

One foot in and one foot out. The preview for next week's episode has me staying in after being about to jump out part way through the most recent episode, but I'm starting to feel like I'm getting suckered in by the previews week after week. I'm hardly watching any series right now ("Animal Kingdom" - which is entertaining, but calling it good is a stretch - and "Jim Jefferies Show"), but I am close to cutting "Snowfall" loose even though I am getting little from it.

Shortly after I posted about the show, I checked the AV Club and saw they were reviewing it. I read the five episode reviews (problems with story lines, the issues with a lack of emotional involvement with characters, particularly Teddy) and found myself falling in line with a lot of thoughts.

DSafetyGuy wrote:

brian wrote:

DSafetyGuy wrote:Anyone else watching "Snowfall" on FX? Looking for an outside opinion on it.

You never said where you land on it. Interested to know.

One foot in and one foot out. The preview for next week's episode has me staying in after being about to jump out part way through the most recent episode, but I'm starting to feel like I'm getting suckered in by the previews week after week. I'm hardly watching any series right now ("Animal Kingdom" - which is entertaining, but calling it good is a stretch - and "Jim Jefferies Show"), but I am close to cutting "Snowfall" loose even though I am getting little from it.

Shortly after I posted about the show, I checked the AV Club and saw they were reviewing it. I read the five episode reviews (problems with story lines, the issues with a lack of emotional involvement with characters, particularly Teddy) and found myself falling in line with a lot of thoughts.

For whatever it's worth, a couple of writers I respect (Sepinwall, Seitz) said the second half of the season gets much better.

RE: Snowfall, did I miss why the CIA guy was in the desert? It was a good episode other than that.

One thing I learned watching last week's Preacher...Johnnie doesn't watch it.

Giff wrote:RE: Snowfall, did I miss why the CIA guy was in the desert? It was a good episode other than that.

One thing I learned watching last week's Preacher...Johnnie doesn't watch it.

They landed the plane in the desert on the way back to the States (CIA dude's decision). They did not do a really good job of establishing that, instead jumping in with both feet without a good explanation.

Jerloma wrote:

Nonlinear FC wrote:Just too intense... Maybe a little too close to home, but definitely not a "fun" thing to watch.

Right? It's like if every episode of GoT was the one where they burned Shireen at the stake.

Just watched ep. 5.

[+] spoiler

So.. That took a weird, but I guess kind of inevitable sexual turn. It was really nice/satisfying that she got to get one in without someone creepily looking on. Well, that we know of, I guess. I don't trust that house or Nick's shack out back not to be totally bugged. It's one of the things that freaks me out every time she heads over to the commander's office for the 9pm rendezvous.

Do you ever get frustrated with the flashbacks? I don't know how to articulate it... I know a lot of that stuff is vital in establishing character and setting, but the "now" is so fraught that I'm like "OK, I get it, she liked the dude and he cheated on his wife, get me back to The Commander!"

Yeah, I don't particularly care about Luke but the flashbacks are useful (and a little terrifying) in explaining how that society got there. I should warn you that there's an episode coming that is all about what happened to Luke since they got split up. I don't think there's even one scene in Gilead.

And I think I'll be ok with that. It's not so much that I don't like or value the flashbacks, it's much more that they are interrupting the flow.

It's not a real criticism, I'm just impatient at times.

brian wrote:I can't get into Bosch because it still seems like a pale comparison to the novels for me.

Mea culpa. I went back and started from episode 1 and blew through all three seasons in a week. Something about the first few eps didn't do it for me back when but I got into it now. I love how you can view every character 2-dimensionally. Bosch is either evenging angel or hard-ass douchebag. J Edgar is either Robin to Bosch's Batman or the real brains of the operation.

brian wrote:

brian wrote:I can't get into Bosch because it still seems like a pale comparison to the novels for me.

Mea culpa. I went back and started from episode 1 and blew through all three seasons in a week. Something about the first few eps didn't do it for me back when but I got into it now. I love how you can view every character 2-dimensionally. Bosch is either evenging angel or hard-ass douchebag. J Edgar is either Robin to Bosch's Batman or the real brains of the operation.

My wife has been binge-watching this lately - I've been watching when I have time. I've read the first 8 books or so, great distraction to take my mind off work stress. I've found the TV show pretty enjoyable. I don't think the books are all that deep, so the TV show to me seems on about the same level.