Which TV Series Are You Binging On?

[TheIntruder]

Pullman is excellent in the Sinner, and I hope it comes back, but the ratings in the third season took a dive, and it's not one of the shows that has a lot of buzz. We'll see.

But if it was a CW show, it would be a shoe-in. ?
(It's the network that never cancels anything)

 

[pachyderm]

Netflix - Curb Your Enthusiasm season 1... love it.

 

[michael9891]

Watched Ozark season 3 last week, really good and sets up season 4 nicely.

The last few days I watched The Outsider. Not the best, didn't go where I thought it would.

Finishing off Get Shorty season 3 today, which I really like.

Started watching Upright last night, pretty good so far.

And all mixed in with Friends & Only Fools & Horses!

 

[honestone33]

Pullman is excellent in the Sinner, and I hope it comes back, but the ratings in the third season took a dive, and it's not one of the shows that has a lot of buzz. We'll see.

But if it was a CW show, it would be a shoe-in. ?
(It's the network that never cancels anything)

I am going to try and watch it. But need to finish "Kim's Convenience" first. Also, Season 3 of "Killing Eve" premieres this Sunday on AMC.

Regarding lower ratings, I remember when a couple of the seasons for the excellent series "The Americans" had lower ratings, but FX stuck with it, and sure glad they did! I actually would rank that series close to Narcos, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul.

 

[TheIntruder]

I am going to try and watch it. But need to finish "Kim's Convenience" first. Also, Season 3 of "Killing Eve" premieres this Sunday on AMC.

Regarding lower ratings, I remember when a couple of the seasons for the excellent series "The Americans" had lower ratings, but FX stuck with it, and sure glad they did! I actually would rank that series close to Narcos, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul.

Many prestigious, critically-acclaimed original shows don't actually garner big ratings, but make up for it in other ways.

FX helped kick off the trend of serious original dramas on basic cable, so it's more tolerant of smaller audiences, up to a point (as anybody who recalls Terriers is probably well aware).

While many point to The Sopranos on HBO as the beginning of the current Golden Age of TV, it was on pay cable.

FX (with The Shield) and AMC (with Mad Men) shouldn't be ignored, and they've carried on with that theme, with Breaking Bad, Saul, Damages, Rescue Me, The Americans, Justified, and so on. I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but the ones cited are highlights.

I consider USA differently because it hasn't been in that game nearly as long as it has been the "Blue Sky" network. Mr. Robot changed that, and bringing in darker shows like The Sinner was part of the pivot, but I'm not sure how committed it is to that direction. Matt Bomer played a very different character on White Collar than he does on The Sinner for USA.

One could argue that FX is the HBO of basic cable. AMC could be in the same conversation, but lacks the consistency. USA is a relative newb and hasn't displayed the same history or commitment, which is why I question The Sinner's future.

 

[honestone33]

Many prestigious, critically-acclaimed original shows don't actually garner big ratings, but make up for it in other ways.

FX helped kick off the trend of serious original dramas on basic cable, so it's more tolerant of smaller audiences, up to a point (as anybody who recalls Terriers is probably well aware).

While many point to The Sopranos on HBO as the beginning of the current Golden Age of TV, it was on pay cable.

FX (with The Shield) and AMC (with Mad Men) shouldn't be ignored, and they've carried on with that theme, with Breaking Bad, Saul, Damages, Rescue Me, The Americans, Justified, and so on. I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but the ones cited are highlights.

I consider USA differently because it hasn't been in that game nearly as long as it has been the "Blue Sky" network. Mr. Robot changed that, and bringing in darker shows like The Sinner was part of the pivot, but I'm not sure how committed it is to that direction. Matt Bomer played a very different character on White Collar than he does on The Sinner for USA.

One could argue that FX is the HBO of basic cable. AMC could be in the same conversation, but lacks the consistency. USA is a relative newb and hasn't displayed the same history or commitment, which is why I question The Sinner's future.

Many good points, but I think AMC does deserve to be in the same conversation as FX is. Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Walking Dead, The Killing, Mad Men, The Night Manager and others are all outstanding series (I'm sure there are more). But FX is excellent also: Fargo, Justified, The Americans, The Bridge, Snowfall, The People v. O. J. Simpson, and others. I've always said that the best TV series I have seen is Season 1 of Fargo. Some very close seconds are Breaking Bad and The Americans. But shoot, I would not argue with anyone's list.

 

[pachyderm]

Curb Your Enthusiasm wow... <3

And I thought George Costanza was a wreck... lol.

 

[honestone33]

Well, I have 3 1/2hours to wait until the Season 3 premiere of Killing Eve is on AMC (it will be on AMC on the east coast in a 1/2 hour). Here is the trailer for Season 3:

'Killing Eve' Season Three Is Dropping Early, Watch the Trailer Now

'Killing Eve' season three premieres Sunday, April 12 at 9 p.m. EST on BBC AMERICA and AMC.

www.rollingstone.com

Still waiting for when Season 3 of Cobra Kai will debut.

 

[honestone33]

OK, watched the Season 3 premiere of Killing Eve, and without giving away anything, to me it was OK. The series is definitely not as enjoyable as Ozark or Better Call Saul, which are both easier to follow. Speaking of Better Call Saul, only 2 more episodes left for this season.

 

[RootBeerMan]

Not binging per se, but we've watched all the episodes of "Devs" on Hulu, up to the current one. Only one left is the finale and we are waiting on that one. It's been an interesting ride and it's a good story that keeps you wanting to know WTF is going on!

 

[daimos]

So good.

Cosmos: Possible Worlds - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TheIntruder]

I'm gonna miss Saul when it's over. So good on so many levels, and it's a crime that Rhea Seehorn isn't recognized for her work.

And somebody needs to unplug Rehoboam/Devs before this world gets any worse.

 

[D.T.]

I'm gonna miss Saul when it's over. So good on so many levels, and it's a crime that Rhea Seehorn isn't recognized for her work.

And somebody needs to unplug Rehoboam/Devs before this world gets any worse.

Yeah, we started a re-watch from S1E1, we're behind a season anyway, so figured just watch straight through. Wow, it's even better than I remember. Now it feels like BB was just background story to setup BCS

 

[honestone33]

I'm gonna miss Saul when it's over. So good on so many levels, and it's a crime that Rhea Seehorn isn't recognized for her work.

Yeah, me too. And Season 6, the final one, will have 13 episodes, instead of the usual 10. That will make me miss it more.

 

[TheIntruder]

Yeah, we started a re-watch from S1E1, we're behind a season anyway, so figured just watch straight through. Wow, it's even better than I remember. Now it feels like BB was just background story to setup BCS

I rewatched S05 before El Camino was released, and more than six years removed from the moment, Ozymandias and To'hajiilee are no less powerful, often proclaimed "best episodes of TV ever produced."

The world is too large and the topic too subjective for me to pick one, or narrow it to a single show, but they do certainly belong in the conversation.

Yeah, me too. And Season 6, the final one, will have 13 episodes, instead of the usual 10. That will make me miss it more.

My fervent hope is that they don't split the airing into two "seasons" like they did with BB, or going back a while, The Shield. Given the current turmoil, on top of the normal processes, it's probably going to be a long wait before we see S06, and any additional time between a possible 6A and 6B harder to endure.

 

[D.T.]

I rewatched S05 before El Camino was released, and more than six years removed from the moment, Ozymandias and To'hajiilee are no less powerful, often proclaimed "best episodes of TV ever produced."

The world is too large and the topic too subjective for me to pick one, or narrow it to a single show, but they do certainly belong in the conversation.

Same. We intended to start from S01, but figured just a final season lead-in (for El Camino) would suffice. Just brilliant, and we still intend to do a full rewatch in the very near future.

(If it wasn't clear I was just being silly ... I certainly wouldn't relegate BB to any kind of secondary status, like you, I'd consider it a peer in it's excellent with BCS, and impossible to "rank" )

 

[honestone33]

My fervent hope is that they don't split the airing into two "seasons" like they did with BB, or going back a while, The Shield. Given the current turmoil, on top of the normal processes, it's probably going to be a long wait before we see S06, and any additional time between a possible 6A and 6B harder to endure.

The last season of Breaking Bad had 16 episodes, so it "kind of" made sense to split it into two "final" seasons of 8 episodes each.

 

[TheIntruder]

Same. We intended to start from S01, but figured just a final season lead-in (for El Camino) would suffice. Just brilliant, and we still intend to do a full rewatch in the very near future.

(If it wasn't clear I was just being silly ... I certainly wouldn't relegate BB to any kind of secondary status, like you, I'd consider it a peer in it's excellent with BCS, and impossible to "rank" )

I actually think that BCS is better than BB in some respects, with the producers being able to hit the ground running coming off the experience of BB, instead of having to build the world and find/solidify the tone as occurs with any new show.

That's offset by the difficulty in making a good prequel, working within the constraints of knowing where most of these characters will eventually end up, and still having it being congruous, meeting expectations, and satisfying for the audience. Ask George Lucas.

The crew on BCS is like a well-oiled machine, with some having graduated from BB School (such as Gordon Smith, who started as an assistant; then a writer and now a director). Others like the editors and DPs who now have post-nominal letters attached to their names as a result of their work on these shows.

I personally don't subscribe to rankings or "countdown of X best" lists either, nor was I being critical, so no need to clarify.

The last season of Breaking Bad had 16 episodes, so it "kind of" made sense to split it into two "final" seasons of 8 episodes each.

I can understand the reasons why they might, whether creative of financial, but as long as it doesn't hurt the creative, then that's all that can be asked for.

 

[honestone33]

I actually think that BCS is better than BB in some respects, with the producers being able to hit the ground running coming off the experience of BB, instead of having to build the world and find/solidify the tone as occurs with any new show.

That's offset by the difficulty in making a good prequel, working within the constraints of knowing where most of these characters will eventually end up, and still having it being congruous, meeting expectations, and satisfying for the audience. Ask George Lucas.

The crew on BCS is like a well-oiled machine, with some having graduated from BB School (such as Gordon Smith, who started as an assistant; then a writer and now a director). Others like the editors and DPs who now have post-nominal letters attached to their names as a result of their work on these shows.

I personally don't subscribe to rankings or "countdown of X best" lists either, nor was I being critical, so no need to clarify.

Very good points.

I can understand the reasons why they might, whether creative of financial, but as long as it doesn't hurt the creative, then that's all that can be asked for.

Around that time, the number of episodes for a season was typically 10 or 13. So, 8 was definitely a switch from the norm. It's been a while since I last watched Breaking Bad, so I'll have to see what that 8th episode was like to see if it was a good "breaking point".

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Am currently binge-watching Danger UXB, an excellent British TV series from the late 70s about a bomb disposal unit during WW2.

There ae no (or hardly any) special effects, no CGI, no gratuitous silly sex or nudity or violent scenes, yet the series comes with superb scripts, outstanding (and historically accurate) stories, first rate acting (and actors), plus excellent scene setting, nail-biting tension, terrific characters, dodgy relationships, - a superb series that takes the time to tell these stories (all based on real events, with individuals who had served in the bomb disposal units in the Royal Engineers acting as advisers) just a superb series.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Am currently binge-watching Danger UXB, an excellent British TV series from the late 70s about a bomb disposal unit during WW2.

There ae no (or hardly any) special effects, no CGI, no gratuitous silly sex or nudity or violent scenes, yet the series comes with superb scripts, outstanding (and historically accurate) stories, first rate acting (and actors), plus excellent scene setting, nail-biting tension, terrific characters, dodgy relationships, - a superb series that takes the time to tell these stories (all based on real events, with individuals who had served in the bomb disposal units in the Royal Engineers acting as advisers) just a superb series.

I remember watching that when first broadcast. Probably fuelled my fascination for World War 2. What channel is that being broadcast?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I remember watching that when first broadcast. Probably fuelled my fascination for World War 2. What channel is that being broadcast?

I'm watching it online.

Superb series - and the history is very clearly exceptionally accurate (the straightforward history book Danger UXB by James Owen contains interviews with some of those who advised on the series, and explores and explains much of the material that was addressed in the TV series).

But, I am struck by how tense and well made it is, yet no gratuitous violence (though plenty of death, including of leading characters), no gratuitous nudity or sex scenes (yet plenty of people having relationships with people they shouldn't be having relationships with) and next to nothing by way of special effects (they used real German bombs, apparently), and - obviously - no CGI, yet absolutely nail-bitingly brilliant.

The episode defusing German bombs in the gasworks, and the later episode defusing British mines in Brighton Pier (laid in anticipation of the German invasion that didn't take place in 1940) in late 1943 were particularly good, actually, they were superlative.

 

[D.T.]

Pumped the brakes on BCS after the S3 finale, waiting for Wife to catch up Generally we watch everything together, but got a little desynchronized

Switched over to Mr. Robot (@TheIntruder's avatar ), we watched S3 slightly less focused, started S4, bailed, I wanted to get good momentum into S4, so started at S1E1. This show gets my top spot for best episode names __ever__


[edit]

She binged all day and caught up! So looks like I'm __back__ over to BCS, S4E1 !

 

[RootBeerMan]

Watched the final episode of "Devs" last night on Hulu. It was actually quite good and one of the few hard SF series I have ever seen on TV that was done well.

 

[pachyderm]

VEEP. <3