What TV Shows are you watching? ι', a perfect I.

[Birdjaguar]

Clickbait

Clickbait is a show?

 

[Broken_Erika]

Clickbait is a show?

Yes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clickbait_(miniseries)

 

[Snerk]

Rewatching The Wire. Still undefeated.

 

[warpus]

I put on El Refugio Atómico dubbed in English, a TV show produced in Spain.

I absolutely urge you to NOT watch this show.

(I assume) the premise is basically that some 15 year old kids smoked a blunt and watched Silo, then somehow managed to get funding to make a show vaguely inspired by the core concept. They got an AI bot to write the script, hired some attractive actors, told the director to get the actors to overact everything, and called it a day.

- The majority of the acting is the show is overdone. Every scene is over the top intense, like you're watching one of those Italian soap operas. But the vast majority of interactions with characters don't even feel genuine, even when they aren't being overly dramatic. It's like the guy directing this had never worked with humans before.
- There are so many cliches it's almost as if the people making the show have not ever seen any pop culture movie or TV show ever, aside from maybe Silo.
- Characters end up in settings just for the sake of them being there for some sort of on-scene interaction, even if the setup is clunky at best and usually illogical and nonsensical.
- I can't relate to any of the characters. They all act in such odd ways, everything is over the top, they don't ever stop and think logically, and it's pretty much impossible to imagine yourself in their shoes. It feels like these people are caricatures of real people, wildly exagerated in weird ways.
- Did I mention how every scene is over the top dramatic? But when a character ends up in the trash compactor the size of what we've seen on Star Wars: A New Hope, she is magically able to find a small bracelet in under 5 seconds, without much fanfare or drama. And if she didn't find it and kept looking, she'd have died. And nobody on screen found the situation ridiculous or worth a comment.
- There are unusual levels of sexually charged scenes here. You never know who is going to be screwing who next or thrusting their head towards their genitals after first giving them a bloody nose. The worst part is that the main characters are all from one of two families.
- The twists.. did i mention the twists? Elaborate schemes. And people discussing them. So much exposition.

But somehow they got enough money to finance this production in a way that actually looks good, for the most part. Effects are done well, camerawork is done well, lighting is good. It's just that everything else sucks.

But see, the concept and the drama and the nonsense fuels a sort of deep carnal set of desires in me. Something primal. It makes me want to run outside and howl towards the moon, or maybe towards a convenience store. It feels like it's my amphibian brain reaching out from beyond the veil. Or maybe something evil, an unnatural demon, looking to possess my soul.

Maybe that's why I ended up watching the whole first season. It's like you get kicked in the groin and that's the moment you learn that pain turns you on. But it actually doesn't. You're actually on horse tranquilizers and sitting in a bath. And it's tea time.

Don't watcht his show.

 

[Clubber Lang]

One point per life.

The curtain rises on an epic battle royale between brave warriors who lived through an uncertain era.

In the late 19th century during the Meiji period, 292 warriors, including Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada), gather at Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto at nightfall, lured by the promise of a huge cash prize. Each given a wooden tag, they join a vicious game in which they must steal the tags of their fellow participants and reach Tokyo to win the prize money.

Under the veil of night, the temple grounds are filled with unease and the presence of bloodthirsy warriors. When the signal is given to begin the game, the combatants launch into their relentless battle for survival.

"You fools who live without meaning: kill each other, until just one remains."

The Netflix Series "Last Samurai Standing" started streaming on Thursday, November 13, 2025, only on Netflix.

Netflix’s “Last Samurai Standing” is One of the Best Action Shows of the Year​

Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man” may be the survival-based class commentary action thriller released this week in theaters, but on the small screen, look for Netflix’s “Last Samurai Standing,” which features similar elements woven through a story inspired by the end of the samurai era. The series, based on Shogo Imamura’s manga series Ikusagami, continues the streamer’s trend of live-action manga adaptations such as “One Piece,” “Yu Yu Hakusho,” and “Parasyte: The Grey.” “Last Samurai Standing” is a new peak in the subgenre, standing out as one of the best action TV dramas of this year.

Imagine a version of Fukasaku’s “Battle Royale” that is set during the Meiji Restoration, a period in the late 19th century when the feudal caste system was dismantled and rendered obsolete. Much like Fukasaku’s masterpiece, it captivates by striking a distinctive balance between social commentary and grisly, entertaining violence.

The six-episode first season unfolds largely from the viewpoint of Shujiro Saga (a compellingly solemn Junichi Okada), a former highly sought-after assassin for government officials, who earned him the nickname “The Manslayer.” “Kodoku,” the series premiere, begins with the exodus during the Boshin War at the Battle of Toba-Fushimi. Imperial forces and their guns and cannons defeat Shujiro and his fellow samurai there, making them obsolete.

Nearly a decade later, in 1878, a surviving Shujiro struggles with PTSD. His village and his family weather the cholera pandemic. His young daughter passes away from the disease, and his wife (Riho Yoshioka) and son soon become ill, contracting it themselves. As all hope seems lost, Shujiro receives a mysterious invitation to a Tenryū-ji temple in Kyoto for a tournament with a grand prize of 100 billion yen.

There, he finds himself one of 292 warriors, ranging from samurai to archers, many of whom were either surviving war veterans, poverty-stricken, or failed to adapt to the new Meiji world. Host and overseer Enju (Kazunari Ninomiya) reveals that they’re now in a game called “Kodoku.” In the game, contestants must take the Tōkaidō route (from Kyoto to Tokyo) and obtain their fellow players’ tags by killing them. At each pit stop, they must collect up to a specific amount. Only nine players can reach the final destination, and by then, must have 30 tags each.

The game commences. In a matter of seconds, swords fly, blood spills, and body parts are graphically dismembered. Activating a very Pedro Pascal-esque protective father mode, Shujiro defends the young Futaba Katsuki (a soulful Yumia Fujisaki), who is there to save her mother, and she joins him as his comrade. Along the way, the two encounter and ally themselves with Shujiro’s fierce swordsman sister-in-law (Iroha Kinugasa) and Kyojin Tsuge (Mashahiro Higashide), a witty self-proclaimed “strategist.” Together, they attempt to survive, as dangerous warriors such as the barbaric “Savage Slasher” Bukotsu (a terrifying and engrossingly charismatic Hideaki Ito) loom.

“Last Samurai Standing” is an exceptional action spectacle unlike anything I’ve seen in the medium of television and film this year. Series directors Michihito Fujii and Kento Yamaguchi (both co-writers), as well as Toru Yamamoto, brilliantly expand the scope of the Tōkaidō journey to create an epic backdrop that serves as a battleground for exquisitely crafted swordplay or mixed-weapon sequences.

Every episode captivates with its raw, extremely violent sword fights, which are masterfully filmed, choreographed, and edited. Every action scene builds in size and scope, highlighting the vibrant yet dystopian post-feudal world. Each actor, who all perform their own stunts remarkably—with lead Okada serving as the primary action choreographer and producer—delivers a kinetic commitment to the craft through their spirited performances.

Fujii and Yamaguchi effectively deconstruct the era’s sociopolitical elements through a colorful, charming set of samurai warriors and their journey. The emotional heart lies in Shujiro and Futaba’s relationship, specifically in the latter’s empathetic regard for human life. She serves as a beacon of hope in this harsh, grisly world, and her empathy is a source of illumination.

Considering this tournament has 200 fighters, the show’s only flaw is that the writers attempt to feature far too many characters for a short number of episodes. Characters will be introduced in cool flashbacks, only to be dispatched moments later. But many of the “surviving ones” are well-developed. The main characters are all very likable and have great chemistry with each other, which makes you want to root for them to stay alive.

The show admittedly wanders into cartoonish territory, as some aspects of the action become absurd and the personalities, designs, and skill sets of the aggressive fighters are reminiscent of those in “Mortal Kombat” (ironically, the season finale is titled “Mortal Combat”). The writers and energetic cast, however, maintain a well-balanced tone by knowing when to allow the vibrant elements to be spotlighted and when to rein it in to spotlight the human element.

Ultimately, “Last Samurai Standing” is a fully realized, epic action series that seamlessly integrates some of the most intricate action filmmaking to be seen on television in years, with a beating human heart that makes us care.

Whole season screened for review. Now on Netflix.

Based on the Manga -

Last Samurai Standing - Netflix Teaser - Exciting New Action Manga Series! - Penguin Random House Comics Retail

Last Samurai Standing promises to be an action-packed samurai battle royale manga that should have fans buzzing this year. In addition to the manga series from Kodansha, Netflix is releasing a live action series, airing November 13th. Netflix saves a lot of their most important releases for...

prhcomics.com

The year 1878–the 11th year of the Meiji era in Japan, and more than a decade since the samurai were stripped of their privileges and swords outlawed on public streets. A mysterious flyer appears in all corners of the land, luring those skilled in martial arts to Kyoto with the promise of riches beyond common imagination. As warriors deprived of purpose flock to the appointed place at the appointed time, what awaits them is no ordinary task, but an all-out war–against each other!

 

[lymond]

goodness..this thread has not had much attention of late. My TV viewing has been extremely sporadic and minimal lately, but I finally got back to Alien: Earth the other day, catching Episode 5, which I knew would be a flashback to the fate of the ship and its crew. Really good episode that had that "Alien" feel to it. While we get the xeno, the real star of the epi was the other alien creatures being brought back to Earth. But especially the little eye-o-pus, as I call him. The creature has had some action since episode one, but we learn a couple of interesting things about him or her, actually I think it is a she, in this episode. It seems to be highly intelligent (it appeared to try to communicate twice in this episode), and it may actually be "good". The eye-o-pus even puts up a fight against the Xeno, not only in the body of a crew member, but also as its little self..and it was pretty awesome. That little gal is becoming one of the best things about the show, and I hope we get more of her - it is now on Boy Wonder's island.

The episode features a glimpse of the Cyborg's backstory - at least some flashbacks - that humanize him a bit, as well as some things he learned during the final hours of that ship. Those things shed some light on his persistent drive to get the cargo and boy wonder.


Lastly, we got the closing credit song. This time we have Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock" from Siamese Dream. I've owned every song/album so far.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The three seasons of Absentia on Netflix have been excellent. Murder, thriller, FBI mostly in Boston. Good stuff.

 

[tjs282]

@Birdjaguar have you watched Dark Winds? Crime / mystery series set in the late 70s in your neck of the woods (Navajo Reservation in NM). Having sat down to try it out, we ended up watching 3 eps in one go, which is always a good sign. If you liked Untamed and Absentia, this may also be worth some of your time.

 

[Birdjaguar]

@Birdjaguar have you watched Dark Winds? Crime / mystery series set in the late 70s in your neck of the woods (Navajo Reservation in NM). Having sat down to try it out, we ended up watching 3 eps in one go, which is always a good sign. If you liked Untamed and Absentia, this may also be worth some of your time.

Is it on Netflix or Hulu? Those are my current subscriptions.

 

[tjs282]

Is it on Netflix or Hulu? Those are my current subscriptions.

We're watching it on Netflix(.de), but it's an "AMC original" if that means anything to you?

 

[zxcvbob]

I just found our Mr. Bean is on Hulu. I'm watching episode 1 now.

 

[warpus]

I started watching Ripple on Netflix. It's an interesting low key show all about the human connection, sort of. I'm digging it so far, even though it's not really the sort of show I usually watch. It's about all these everyday people in New York who's lives intersect in some way, and each one of them is going through something unique in life. It almost feels like one of those made for TV movies, but the actors do a good job of making things feel genuine. The "connections" formed between people are sometimes a bit forced, but not toooo much. Overall I'm glad that a show like this exists on top of all the action, blood, gore, raunchy comedy, etc. that's out there. I've watched a bunch of shows lately where so many people die, so this feels a lot more down to earth.

I've also been watching Pluribus, which has been most excellent. What's beautiful is that I have no idea where it's going. I mean, sometimes you can guess little things, but the overall story keeps me guessing. So instead of trying to guess I've just been enjoying. Feels like such a breath of fresh air