Which television shows are you watching? Part III

[tjs282]

Wrapped up Neon Genesis Evangelion the other day: still not sure the series works as a coherent narrative, but seems like the author wasn't too fussed about that, so long as he got to say what he wanted to say. Have replaced it with Avatar:TLA and Black Lagoon (while also waiting/hoping for Cowboy Bebop to show up on Netflix again).

Also now about halfway through Daredevil S2 (Luke Cage S1 is on hold until DD S2 is done), and finished iZombie S1 yesterday; I'll be starting on S2 shortly.

Tested out Brooklyn Nine-Nine: watched 3-4 eps so far, but not sure if I'll stick with it unless I can look forward to seeing Peralta getting punched at some point...

 

[Lexicus]

Anyone watch the new Rick & Morty episode?

 

[EgonSpengler]

Finished season 2 of Jack Ryan. It was okay. Didn't really like the ending. Seasons 1 and 2 have kind of settled into a broad pattern already, and the departures from the source material don't seem to be going anywhere.

Full season 2 spoilers

Spoiler :

Gloria Bonalde had, at least superficially, a more central role than Hanin Ali had in the first season, but I found her story less compelling than Hanin's. I kept waiting for the tension around her to ratchet up, and it never did. I suppose an attack on her or her family might have been kind of cliche, but everything seemed to set it up.The firebombing of the building in the guys' old neighborhood seemed completely random. Was that Bonalde's campaign office, or something? It wasn't her home.

I have to go back and rewatch the first episode or two: I didn't understand why Senator Moreno was assassinated. Did they spell it out and I just missed it?

The detour to London felt disjointed and kind of came to nothing. I wondered if an important scene had been cut.

I guess I was wrong about Matice being John Clark. I did laugh at the 'Mr. Spicoli' bit. "Please, call me Jeff."

Abbie Cornish vanished, as though Jack and Cathy had broken up months ago. I don't think she was even mentioned in passing. There wasn't really any reason for Jack and Harry to sleep together, so that could've been a good moment for Jack to say something like, "I've got someone waiting for me in D.C." and then take a cold shower.

The jailbreak and gunfight in Miraflores was really poorly choreographed. And I know Jack was a Marine, but come on, he's not supposed to be Frank Castle (although, one necessary change from the books would have to be that Jack is probably a combat veteran, unless the helicopter accident happened before he ever got deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan - I don't think the Alec Baldwin-Harrison Ford-era Jack Ryan had been in a shooting war).

And just straight-up assassinating a foreign leader?

 

[bernie14]

Began The King of nexflix. Only saw like first 15 -20 minutes. Think it's Henry the V? Based on Shakespeare's plays? Great cast, will watch more

 

[Arakhor]

It's Henry V, yes. Presumably based on the plays, as you said.

 

[EgonSpengler]

The Rookie, recent episode (ep 207, I think): I liked Harper's line to Chen, about Chen needing to learn things that 6' 2" guys like Bradford won't even think to teach. I looked up the actresses on IMDb, and I think the bag of laundry I did this weekend was bigger than Melissa O'Neil. (I had to do my towels.)

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

Started The Mandalorian last night, it was solid. Not spectacular, not terrible, just solid.

His Dark Materials 2 episodes in now is very good. I'm pleasantly surprised. I went in with no expectations and the thought of "well, they can never take the books from me" but it's been very well done.

 

[civvver]

Yeah Mandalorian was really good aesthetics, thought the acting was good, but the story kind of mediocre. It has potential to be sweet, we'll see.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

The animations and voice acting in Disenchantment are not great. Well, it's more nuanced than that. The facial animations are more expressive than most cartoons and they're really trying to make the characters come alive and have nuanced expressions. Unfortunately, they fall short and wind up in the uncanney valley. The voice acting is overall OK but the lady who plays the leading character of Bean just isn't good. Her tone is often way off and it can be confusing.

Another bone to pick is they are too try hard with their jokes. They shoehorn a lot of jokes into the show but they mostly fall flat. There are only occasional flashes of low-key, understated brilliance in the writing that we got from Futurama.

 

[Takhisis]

Catching up on the latest season of The Goldbergs, still rocking solid.

 

[AmazonQueen]

Purchased the trilogy at Costco yesterday after having watched the second episode. It seems like one of those book to television series that while interesting and enjoyable on it's own, definitely benefits from having at least a basic knowledge from the books as not everything is explained very well.
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Watched the first four episodes of See on Apple TV+ over the weekend. I have to say the world-building, acting, set-design, et al. are top notch. Of course, I really love me some Jason Momoa!

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Also, got up extra early to watch the first episode of The Mandalorian this morning. Overall, it was an excellent start. I'm more intrigued with the Mandalorian character after 40 minutes than I am with any Sequel Trilogy character after two feature-length movies. The passion that Favreau & Filoni have for the SW universe definitely showed. The design of everything from costumes to aliens to environments was both satisfyingly familiar, yet different enough to not feel like a rehash. The ending especially had me squeeing like a little girl - need that character as a doll for my office ASAP!

Well they certainly picked up the pace in the 2nd episode. I think I'm sold that they are doing a good job now.
They've given Boreal a much bigger role than he had in Northern Lights. Although he appeared in it he only became a major character in The Subtle Knife. Hasn't done any harm though, the actor playing him is good.

edit: Now looking forward to War of the Worlds on Sunday too.

 

[civvver]

The animations and voice acting in Disenchantment are not great. Well, it's more nuanced than that. The facial animations are more expressive than most cartoons and they're really trying to make the characters come alive and have nuanced expressions. Unfortunately, they fall short and wind up in the uncanney valley. The voice acting is overall OK but the lady who plays the leading character of Bean just isn't good. Her tone is often way off and it can be confusing.

Another bone to pick is they are too try hard with their jokes. They shoehorn a lot of jokes into the show but they mostly fall flat. There are only occasional flashes of low-key, understated brilliance in the writing that we got from Futurama.

Totally agree 100%. It's really close but just not a good show in the end. It has a lot of style similarities despite being a completely different setting. To me it's like if furturama is a brick oven pizza from your favorite place, disenchantment is like a little ceasars pizza. It's still pizza, and you'll consume it and it's similar to the superior product, but ultimately not something I go out of my way for.

 

[AmazonQueen]

I've now watched all the recent television I want to watch (and since my Mum is away for 2 weeks and I have total control of the TV and will actually be watching it) so I'll be returning to a happier, more idyllic time that never really existed and rewatching The West Wing.

 

[Takhisis]

my Mum is away for 2 weeks and I have total control of the TV

Oh yes you're inviting us over, please.

 

[AmazonQueen]

Oh yes you're inviting us over, please.

So long as you bring your own wine

 

[Josu]

Started The Mandalorian last night, it was solid. Not spectacular, not terrible, just solid.

His Dark Materials 2 episodes in now is very good. I'm pleasantly surprised. I went in with no expectations and the thought of "well, they can never take the books from me" but it's been very well done.

First episode of His Dark Materials watched yesterday, I am pretty sure I will watch more, got my attention from the very firs minute.

I have retaken Britannia, I am not very sure about my feellings with this show

 

[Kyriakos]

I have retaken Britannia, I am not very sure about my feellings with this show

Imo that show is trash :/

Though it does have the classic "Remember Cairo?" line.

 

[Laurana Kanan]

I forgot that the final season of The Man In The High Castle premieres today. Guess I'll have to squeeze in a little extra TV time this weekend among the new episodes of SEE, The Mandalorian, & His Dark Materials.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I knew about the Man in the High Castle finale not because I watch the show but because now all of a sudden, Amazon Prime airs commercials before and between the videos your watch. I am not a fan.

 

[yung.carl.jung]

I watched all of the new Twilight Zone (by Jordan Peel & co) in a matter of two days. I think it's brilliant. They tried incredibly hard to do the show justice and pulled it off well. Not all episodes were equally great, but some were real homeruns. I especially loved the new spin on the airplane episode and "a traveler".