What TV Shows are you watching? ζ: The seventh-season itch

[EgonSpengler]

The Old Man

Spoiler :

was renewed for a second season.

---

I was reviewing my tv series of 2022 in anticipation of reaching the 6-month mark, and realized that 5 of my current top-10 are airing right now. Busy month. Of course any of these shows could fail to stick the landing and tumble down my rankings. Two shows have done that already this year. Endings are hard. Probably anyone who's ever tried to write something can tell you that.

 

[EvaDK]

The Name Of The Rose

Very well-made limited series on Eco's renowned novel. The production design, sets, costumes and locations are very convincing. A lot of the supporting cast was very good and looked the part. 'The girl' has been given an expanded narrative, which is fine in such an otherwise male dominated tale. German actor Damien Hardung does a fine job as Adso, William's novice. For much of the runtime, he acts as the eyes and ears of the audience and we react to events through his character.

So, I also have some issues; John Turturro - to me - is doing an good job, but I feel his William of Baskerville lacks a bit of human warmth and humor. The writers were clearly imagining and writing him as a Medieval Sherlock Holmes, more so than I remember the character from Eco's novel. I would also adjust the character of antagonist Bernardo Gui, played by Rupert Everett; he's a bit too easy to loathe as the villain. They aren't quite as succesful in setting up the stark contradictions between William and Bernardo, as Jean Jacques Annaud's film version did it, with less screen time. This might also be caused by adding an additional subplot with another female character in the center of events; a subplot that doesn't really have much to do with the murder mystery of the plot, but exists more as a social commentary.

The Jean Jacques Annaud film starring Sean Connery, Christian Slater and F. Murray Abraham is still the superior adaption, but I'd recommend the series as well to anyone interested in the genre.

 

[lymond]

TTwo shows have done that already this year..

refresh us!

 

[Kyriakos]

The Name Of The Rose

Very well-made limited series on Eco's renowned novel. The production design, sets, costumes and locations are very convincing. A lot of the supporting cast was very good and looked the part. 'The girl' has been given an expanded narrative, which is fine in such an otherwise male dominated tale. German actor Damien Hardung does a fine job as Adso, William's novice. For much of the runtime, he acts as the eyes and ears of the audience and we react to events through his character.

So, I also have some issues; John Turturro - to me - is doing an good job, but I feel his William of Baskerville lacks a bit of human warmth and humor. The writers were clearly imagining and writing him as a Medieval Sherlock Holmes, more so than I remember the character from Eco's novel. I would also adjust the character of antagonist Bernardo Gui, played by Rupert Everett; he's a bit too easy to loathe as the villain. They aren't quite as succesful in setting up the stark contradictions between William and Bernardo, as Jean Jacques Annaud's film version did it, with less screen time. This might also be caused by adding an additional subplot with another female character in the center of events; a subplot that doesn't really have much to do with the murder mystery of the plot, but exists more as a social commentary.

The Jean Jacques Annaud film starring Sean Connery, Christian Slater and F. Murray Abraham is still the superior adaption, but I'd recommend the series as well to anyone interested in the genre.

Imo that was Connery's best film, so I will pass on Turturro as a matter of principle ^_^
Besides, he has way too many rs in his surname.

 

[EvaDK]

Imo that was Connery's best film

Agree, it was the finest performance of his career. And I say that as a Bond fangirl with a capital B.

Connery also turned in a very subdued performance in Cold War spy thriller The Russia House; another independent thinking character caught between love and loyalty. He is compelled to betray one in order to embrace the other.

 

[Kyriakos]

Man, that Mentalist show is so stupid that if I wasn't introverted I'd probably vomit.

I doubt I will get even to the end of s2, fast-forwarding set in early. How did this piece of crap get 7 (8?) seasons? :/

 

[Takhisis]

Maybe it's because it catered to tastes other than yours.

 

[Kyriakos]

Maybe it's because it catered to tastes other than yours.

Obviously. My own taste sort of has primacy for me.

 

[EgonSpengler]

refresh us!

Archive 81 and Shining Girls both tumbled a couple of places in their last episode. Like I say, endings are hard, but those two were the most egregious. I was madder about Shining Girls, 'cause I was really enjoying that show. I think it probably would have been in my top-10, if not for the last episode. I think it's been renewed for a 2nd season, so it could get me back on board, but there are some big plot threads that I can't see them tying up now; the toothpaste is out of the tube.

otoh, I'm less mad at Archive 81 because I wasn't as invested. I had been kind of hate-[loving] that series the whole time, so the whackadoo ending just made me throw up my hands. And then it got canceled, so they won't even have a chance to get me back. I'm not too torn up about it, though. I remember the finale of the first season of the American remake of The Killing (2011) caused rioting on fan forums. Fortunately, they got renewed for a second season and were able to finish their story. If they hadn't, it would have been one of the all-time worst, precisely because the series had been so good 'til then.

Moon Knight's finale also didn't do it any favors, but I already had one foot out the door of that show by then. I hung in until the end, on the off chance it redeemed itself in its final moments, but I can't say the finale, specifically, cost it in the rankings. I struggle to think of any series or movies that really improved for me because of the ending. I think it's happened, but right now, I can't think of what they were.

 

[Grendeldef]

Rarely have I wanted version of tv serie made for older than toddlers than I wanted one of Person of Interested. After few episodes I started to became increasingly annoyed by the lack of what can't be said or shown. I made it through first season but stopped after few of the 2nd.

Cardinal was a surprise hit. At least the first season was good and the 2nd started well but I haven't finish it yet. Stylewise much more to my liking as well.

 

[Snerk]

Enjoying some post pandemic dystopia in Station Eleven.

 

[EgonSpengler]

Enjoying some post pandemic dystopia in Station Eleven.

My #1 or #2 show of last year. Criminally under-seen.

---

We Got This Covered, 29 June 2022 - "The South Asian community is loving the little touches in ‘Ms. Marvel’"

Ms. Marvel ep. 4 - Playing the part of Karachi in this episode: Bangkok, Thailand. The song playing during the chase scene is "Up Inna" (2020) by Cadenza, M.I.A. and GuiltyBeatz.

(YouTube song below, no spoilers)

Spoiler :

(Okay, now spoilers)

Spoiler :

When Waleed said the 'Djinn' was just the name the locals gave the aliens, that if Thor had landed in Pakistan instead of Norway, they would have called him a Djinn too, I was getting a little excited to find out they were Kree after all. Oh well.

On the plus side, that was the only nit I have to pick with the episode. The scenes between Kamala's mother and grandmother were sweet. The action scenes were all good-to-great, and the Red Daggers' HQ was awesome. At the close, I wasn't sure if Kamala was actually in the past or it was an especially elaborate vision. I think it might be the former, though. I assume this means we're going to meet Aisha, in the flesh? Maybe she'll give Kamala the second bangle.

EDIT:

Spoiler :

Oh, one more thing: I love that Kamala is getting horny for a new cute boy like every week. This show might be the best depiction of an adolescent superhero, just for that. That Peter Parker only ever had eyes for M.J. might have been less realistic than the fact that he could climb walls. If I had directed Endgame, I'd have had a 2-second scene where Peter gets punched by one of the aliens because he's staring at Natasha (actually, I don't know if Peter and Natasha ever had a scene together, but you get the idea). Kate Bishop flirting with Yelena was a little better.

 

[tjs282]

Long time no updates...

Ms. Marvel ep. 4 - Playing the part of Karachi in this episode: Bangkok, Thailand. The song playing during the chase scene is "Up Inna" (2020) by Cadenza, M.I.A. and GuiltyBeatz.

I have to say, I'm enjoying Ms. Marvel a lot more than I expected — and a lot more than most of Disney's recent efforts in both the MCU and the SW franchises, including Obi-Wan (which ranks right up there with Boba Fett on the scale of "Hmm, yeah, OK, ... I guess ... but why?").

In other news:

I finished Pacific Rim: The Black S2 a couple of days ago (only 7 eps, storyline seems to be concluded) and Clone Wars S6 (13 eps) last night — which continued the theme from S4+S5 of "Jedi, AKA Force-sensitive, allegedly empathetic individuals, nonetheless being prejudiced insensitive jerks whenever the plot requires it" At least I'll be done with it soon, and can move on to Rebels instead, which I am assured (by reliable sources!), is better than TCW...

Also on Disney+:

Wifey and I (and Son No.2, when he feels like it) are now halfway through Castle S7, which has been (dis)graced with some utter stinkers so far, e.g.

Spoiler Episode 4... :

...which hinged on the murderer's use of an experimental military invisibility-bodysuit, FFS!

I am also about halfway through Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S5 (in spaaaaaace!). And, wonder of wonders, the Netflix-Marvel series all finally appeared in the catalogue last night ('only' 3 months after the Anglosphere-Disney+ got them...), leaving me a little annoyed with myself to realise that I couldn't remember how far I'd got through Punisher S2 before Netflix lost it at the end of February earlier this year. So I re-started on Ep4 ("The one with the brutal fight in the Russian gym"), to catch myself back up.

Meanwhile, on Netflix.de:

On a whim, I watched 3 of the Love Death + Robots shorts a couple of weeks back, and 3 more a couple of days ago — though when I actually looked at the episode-list, I found that Netflix had for some reason decided to start me on Volume III ("Three Robots: Exit Strategies" to "Swarm"). There's only 3 eps left in this volume, so I might as well watch them before going back to the Volume I episodes — which I kinda wish I'd seen first, not least because the first of those ("Sonnie's Edge") is based on a short story that I'm already familiar with, by Peter F. Hamilton (from the collection A Second Chance at Eden).

Still on the to-watch list: Workin' Moms S6, The Umbrella Academy S3, Russian Doll S2

Still on the long-promised-and-will-watch-if/when-they-ever-bloody-appear list: Warrior Nun S2, The Dragon Prince S4

And on the would-watch-if-Netflix-ever-gets-hold-of-them list: New Amsterdam S2–S5

 

[EgonSpengler]

Enjoying some post pandemic dystopia in Station Eleven.

My #1 or #2 show of last year. Criminally under-seen.

If you're subscribed to HBO Max, my other top show of last year was also from them: Mare of Easttown, with Kate Winslet. I think I settled on Mare as my #1 and Station as my #2, but that's only because I don't like ties. They were #1a & #1b last year, and nothing else was even close. Also, if you like Mackenzie Davis, I strongly recommend Halt & Catch Fire (2014). It aired on AMC originally.

Long time no updates...I have to say, I'm enjoying Ms. Marvel a lot more than I expected — and a lot more than most of Disney's recent efforts in both the MCU and the SW franchises, including Obi-Wan (which ranks right up there with Boba Fett on the scale of "Hmm, yeah, OK, ... I guess ... but why?").

Yeah, Ms. Marvel has surprised the f outta me, too. It's the best Disney+ show of the year, so far, by a country mile. To make a full reranking of MCU series, I'd have to go back and rewatch WandaVision and Loki, but right now, I would put Ms. Marvel ahead of Falcon, Hawkeye and Moon Knight. And it's not out of the running for the top spot, depending on how it wraps up.

Wifey and I (and Son No.2, when he feels like it) are now halfway through Castle S7, which has been (dis)graced with some utter stinkers so far

It only gets worse. (Not so much plot spoilers, but stuff that might spoil the experience, if you're still hoping that it might pick itself up and dust itself off.)

Spoiler :

The show had some behind-the-scenes drama that really crimped its style, and it had one of the worst series finales in history. I think they've kept their mouths shut publicly, but I get the feeling Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion wouldn't be in a room together, for any amount of money. It wasn't just the two of them, though. Literally just the other day, all these years later, I saw an interview with Fillion in which he said that the production schedule on the last few seasons of Castle was so stressful, he put on ~40lbs. iirc, the showrunners tried to fire Katic, then just pulled the plug on the whole circus, and whoever was still in the writers' room had to try to wrap everything up in two episodes.

I am also about halfway through Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S5 (in spaaaaaace!).

That's the one with the Lighthouse? I think that was the first time we saw the Kree in the MCU. If you've seen The Expanse, the actress who plays Sinara was Julie Mao. And if you haven't seen The Expanse, you should.

 

[EvaDK]

Enjoying some post pandemic dystopia in Station Eleven.

*takes notes

 

[lymond]

Cardinal was a surprise hit. At least the first season was good and the 2nd started well but I haven't finish it yet. Stylewise much more to my liking as well.

I've recommended it a few times here. Comes to a reasonable conclusion as well, though I wish it was still going.

I enjoyed Person of Interest for a while. Real shame about Caviezal.

 

[Grendeldef]

I must've seen the recommendation(s) then but forgot right away why I started it as I went in feeling blind.
There's a fair chance that after finishing the 2nd season I'll upgrade my review to very good. Thx for the suggestion anyway. I assume this is the kind of a gem that most often go unnoticed for not being flashy enough.

Well, maybe Caviezel will find some work as Hollywood inside reporter for Newsmax or OAN. The path seems easy.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Station 11 was so good!

 

[Kyriakos]

My #1 or #2 show of last year. Criminally under-seen.

Ok, I might try Station11 too.
Don't fail me again, Admiral- it will be the last time.

 

[lymond]

Well, maybe Caviezel will find some work as Hollywood inside reporter for Newsmax or OAN. The path seems easy.

edit: wow...Still need to finish Station 11....I watched a couple of episodes months ago and been side-tracked by other stuff sense. It's on the docket for this week.