Television

[Nonlinear FC]

Some notable stuff that has popped up in Fb feed:

Better Call Saul - April 18 (AMC, AMC+)
Kids in the Hall - May 13 (Prime)
Stranger Danger (Things) - May 27 (Netflix)

[The Sybian]

Some notable stuff that has popped up in Fb feed:

Better Call Saul - April 18 (AMC, AMC+)
Kids in the Hall - May 13 (Prime)
Stranger Danger (Things) - May 27 (Netflix)

I watched the first season of Stranger Things, and I liked it, but didn't quite get the hype. Is it worth going back and catching up, or if I didn't love Season 1, just let it go?

Similarly, I am trying to get into Our Flag Means Death, but struggling. I thought the first episode had some promise, but it's become a one-note grind. Watched 4 episodes so far, and getting bored with it. I fell asleep watching episode 5 and woke up at the end of episode 6 and my first thought was "great, I'm that much closer to finishing it." I know someone said it gets really funny, but if I'm happy to sleep through episodes to avoid watching it, it's time to give up and move on. Too much great stuff out there.

[Nonlinear FC]

Well, I really like both franchises, so I'm not really the person to bring you back into the fold.

I'm with you in general, though... If a show is at any point feeling like a chore, I'm out. Just way too much shit to enjoy to have a show that grinds on you.

Good example for me is Space Force. I've tried 3 separate times to get into it and I just can't.

[sancarlos]

Some notable stuff that has popped up in Fb feed:

Better Call Saul - April 18 (AMC, AMC+)
Kids in the Hall - May 13 (Prime)
Stranger Danger (Things) - May 27 (Netflix)

Looking forward to Under the Banner of Heaven - April 28 (Hulu)

[The Sybian]

Is anyone watching 'Station Eleven'? We're through 5 episodes, and really enjoying it. Episode 5 was amazing.

[+] spoiler

I did call it that after episode 4 that 'The Prophet' was going to be Arthur's son, and would have his own copy of the graphic novel

I was planning on reading the book first. Recently read The Glass Hotel by the same author and really enjoyed it.

Glass Hotel was very cool... There's some kind of trippy connections or parallels with Station 11... Hard to explain, but I want to put it in your head, because it's kind of subtle if you're not looking for it.

I forgot you told me to look out for connections, but rereading this thread as I watch the show... As I read Station Eleven, I had to stop several times and look up character names to see if they were the same characters from Glass Hotel. It seemed like Arthur and Miranda were from the same island as the main character from Glass Hotel, and it felt like a lot of overlap, but it wasn't. Then the weird connection of a character in each book randomly taking unusual career turns to work for the same shipping company.

I loved the book, and with one episode left, I'm loving the series, too. In some ways it followed fairly close, and in other ways the major plot points are completely different. I'm glad I read the book first, as I feel like it gave me a lot more depth and understanding of areas the series blew past. Like Miranda's relationship to Arthur, and Miranda's depth as a character altogether. In the show, she is a one-episode side tangent of sorts and in the book, she is as central a character as anyone. As I think about the differences, I feel like 75% of the plot from the series is different than the book. Again, not better or worse, just different. I will say, I'm extremely impressed with the production of the series. After reading the book, I didn't see how they could make it into a series, but they really did. They set the tone and feel as good as any movie or show I can think of.

[+] spoiler

The story line creating the Prophet was more interesting in the series, but became the central plot. In the book, the Prophet was a side story of sorts.

IIRC, in the book, Jeevan unloaded Kirsten immediately. The series spends half the plot on Jeevan and Kirsten living in Frank's apartment, then follows them.

The whole thing with the golf resort was weird and seemed unnecessary, but whatever.

Curious why they switched the setting from Toronto to Chicago. Doesn't really matter in the end.

The one thing I don't like is the arc Clark's character. I liked him in the book, and I don't like how he becomes a crazy paranoid tyrant in the show. It makes total sense, though.

[The Sybian]

Good example for me is Space Force. I've tried 3 separate times to get into it and I just can't.

Perfect example of a show I decided to grind out. Had such high hopes going in. The cast was just too damned good not to give it every chance! In the end, I liked it, but I wouldn't recommend it. I think I'll eventually give Season 2 a chance. Maybe. The acting was incredible, stories a bit stupid and jokes didn't always hit.

[A_B]

s2E1 was not very good at all.

[Nonlinear FC]

Nice post, Sex Machine! I agree with everything you wrote, especially how the plot of the series differs, but not in a way that is annoying or anything... Just different directions.

Totally agree with you on the golf resort. It was a tiny blip in the book, if I recall.

[Nonlinear FC]

Two random thoughts, but very TV related:

* Why did we need to have a Tiger King - Carole Baskins series? The Netflix series was already bordering on the surreal. Just a really weird decision by Hulu.

* Kind of along those lines, and maybe because I've been tracking the story about Theranos since it first became a thing, but... How many fucking documentaries and now "true to life" series do we need on the Elizabeth Holmes story? FFS.

[The Sybian]

* Kind of along those lines, and maybe because I've been tracking the story about Theranos since it first became a thing, but... How many fucking documentaries and now "true to life" series do we need on the Elizabeth Holmes story? FFS.

Not sure, but apparently not as many as shows/documentaries/pod-series about We Work.

[Nonlinear FC]

* Kind of along those lines, and maybe because I've been tracking the story about Theranos since it first became a thing, but... How many fucking documentaries and now "true to life" series do we need on the Elizabeth Holmes story? FFS.

Not sure, but apparently not as many as shows/documentaries/pod-series about We Work.

Another great example.

[Nonlinear FC]

Some notable stuff that has popped up in Fb feed:

Better Call Saul - April 18 (AMC, AMC+)
Kids in the Hall - May 13 (Prime)
Stranger Danger (Things) - May 27 (Netflix)

Looking forward to Under the Banner of Heaven - April 28 (Hulu)

Just listening to Bill Hader on Fly on the Wall pod and reminded me that new season of Barry is out April 24.

[GoodKarma]

Both the Theranos & WeWork (The Dropout & WeCrashed respectively) series I think are excellent. Necessary, no, but well done and interesting. I finished The Dropout last week; WeCrashed is still going on. I feel that WeCrashed is the only role that Jared Leto hasn't overdone it.

[Nonlinear FC]

Yeah, no, not really a commentary on the content. I watched some of WeWork to get the flavor and it is very well done.

But having read multiple long form articles on both topics, and then at least one long-ish podcast series on both... And, especially with Theranos, I feel like there've already been documentaries that already cover these topics, just seems weird to then add on these fictionalized re-tellings.

That said, having watched both Fyre Island docs, I'd definitely tune into a film starring Zac Effron or something like that.

[A_B]

WE did a case study on Theranos and I never want to see or read about that company ever again.

[Giff]

I never wanted to in the first place.

[The Sybian]

I listened to the We Work podcast series from Wondry, and it was fantastic. Several interviews with a woman who left my company to work for We Work, and several unattributed quotes from former employees that I immediately knew had to be from Hood* (which he confirmed). Hood* was interviewed for the Hulu documentary. I put it on my list, but I still haven't watched it yet. My company has a relationship with We Work and I've been in a bunch of their spaces. It's still a good business concept, but I can't believe their corporate structure turned into essentially a cult. Such a weird story.

[Nonlinear FC]

Extremely compelling story, because part of the reason the founder was able to create the mystique around the company was the very cult like (in hindsight, at the time it just felt like super committed and passionate employees) nature of the workplace. The crazy thing is how he kept raking in VC money when the valuation was just completely insane. Pretending that a real estate company was some how in the upper echelons of the Dot Com world was/is just off the charts bullshit.

I listened to a lot of those Wondry series and the other one that jumps off is the American Apparel, which had a pretty good documentary, as well. That guy is fucking nuts (Dov).

[EnochRoot]

[+] spoiler

Or, you guys could just watch Severance if you want a crash course of a corporation that is, in fact, a cult.

[Giff]

How's about a fucking spoiler tag?

[EnochRoot]

How's about a fucking spoiler tag?

I'm sorry about that! If you've not started watching it yet, it will become evident soon enough.

[GoodKarma]

What intrigues me (and why I can't get enough) about the Theranos & WeWork type stories is the number of allegedly smart & successful people that get duped by these people/companies. It blows my mind the millions of dollars that get thrown into these things. It's infuriating because modern business has taken on the traits of a pyramid scheme.

[Giff]

How's about a fucking spoiler tag?

I'm sorry about that! If you've not started watching it yet, it will become evident soon enough.

Hoping to start it this weekend!

[pruitt2]

What intrigues me (and why I can't get enough) about the Theranos & WeWork type stories is the number of allegedly smart & successful people that get duped by these people/companies. It blows my mind the millions of dollars that get thrown into these things. It's infuriating because modern business has taken on the traits of a pyramid scheme.

I listened to a great podcast about Theranos, and I must have yelled "what's wrong with you people?" a dozen times. Old fuckers like George Schultz who presumably should know better.

[sancarlos]

Some notable stuff that has popped up in Fb feed:

Better Call Saul - April 18 (AMC, AMC+)

It's been a long time since the previous season was televised. So, some of you might be interested in this Season 5 recap, on YouTube.

[wlu_lax6]

Outlaws (Amazon Prime) is a solid B. Not sure I had to watch it, not upset that I did. 6 Episodes was a good length.

[wlu_lax6]

Outer Range (Amazon Prime) 2 episodes in.....T.B.D. Good cast but Amazon loves the weird sci fi stuff...and just not sure it will be worth the time. Worried the pitch for this was Yellowstone but crossed with Lost but crossed with Tales From the Loop and Electric Dreams

[P.D.X.]

Thought Outer Range has some promise. Curious to see if they can hold it together in a coherent storyline rather than just being weird for the sake of it. Slower burn and more artsy than Yellowstone for sure.

[EnochRoot]

Thought Outer Range has some promise. Curious to see if they can hold it together in a coherent storyline rather than just being weird for the sake of it. Slower burn and more artsy than Yellowstone for sure.

You just inadvertently described SyFy's show, Eureka (2006-2012) to a T.

[wlu_lax6]

I know this is not new to this thread (and I am have typed it before) but Winning Time is fantastic. Probably the best thing on right now. I get it is fictionalized, but that is part of the vibe. They just play up the personas bigger and it works. And the artsy style of film is unique and adds to the story. Episode 7 had some great scenes (Riley & Westhead, Kareem & Ervin Senior, Bird, Boston as a character).

[wlu_lax6]

Okay have lost touch with some of the newer 30 for 30s but the Norman one premiering tonight about his collapse in 96 has me intrigued.

[tennbengal]

Better Call Saul. Still fucking awesome.

[duff]

I know this is not new to this thread (and I am have typed it before) but Winning Time is fantastic. Probably the best thing on right now. I get it is fictionalized, but that is part of the vibe. They just play up the personas bigger and it works. And the artsy style of film is unique and adds to the story. Episode 7 had some great scenes (Riley & Westhead, Kareem & Ervin Senior, Bird, Boston as a character).

I keep thinking Michael Chiklis is Wayne Knight.

[degenerasian]

Chinese Drama called Reset. It's two people stuck in a time loop trying to prevent a bus explosion. It's Speed meets Groundhog Day! 15 episodes.



Free on Youtube

Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 3lhEQ6miNY

[wlu_lax6]

WE Own This City
So far enjoying it but don't think we are talking Wire, Homicide, or Treme good. I give this a partial break because
1.) I am a Josh Charles fan going back to Sports night
2.) Lots of references to places I know in Baltimore
3.) One character has already worn a Baltimore Blast T-shirt and Pipeline Soccer Club sweatshirt (Pipeline was founded by Santino Quaranta and Sean Rush)

[DaveInSeattle]

We are catching up on Top Chef:Houston and watched the Restaurant Wars episode last night.

[+] spoiler

We thought everyone knew that Jackson had previously had Covid and had lost his sense of smell and taste. We were surprised when he confessed to it in the 'Stew Room'.

Poor Luke is so in his head, he can't get anything right.

How smart is Buddha to go back and rewatch all the prior Restaurant Wars episodes to study up on what went right and what didn't work? Surprised no one else has done that.

[govmentchedda]

[+] spoiler

Buddha is gonna win. Jackson mentioned his inability to taste/smell so much but it was pretty clear he hadn't told any other cheftestants or judges. He did such a horrible job as FOH for RW, he shouldn't be upset about leaving even though Luke is clearly a lesser chef.

[brian]

Just finished season 3 of Ozark. Holy shit. They really set up a wild last season. Loved the RTJ4 ending too. Man, that show can be pretty bleak, but there's some incredible acting all around and some pretty damn interesting characters.

So I liked the end of Ozark. They did a great job ratcheting up the tension in the final 7 episodes.

[+] spoiler

(I didn't like what happened to the characters, mind you. Obviously I was rooting for a different ending for Ruth, but it stayed true to the character of the show and the morality of the characters up to that point.)

[Shirley]

Haven't watched the latest ones yet. But there is an Ozark thread (I find this thread too huge to have good show-specific discussions).

http://sportsfrog.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3958

[Brontoburglar]

watched the first two eps of the flight attendant last night. it's trippy ... and really good so far.