What was the last TV show you watched?

[Touchofevil]

Crime Story. A Michael Mann product from the late '80s set in 1963 starring Dennis Farina as a Chicago cop chasing the mob. I watched it when it originally aired and enjoyed it despite its flaws. Not much has changed. Enjoy it for what it is and suspend your tendency to notice details that don't smell quite right.

I too enjoyed it during its original run. I remember that Dennis Farina was pretty good. He would become one of my favorite actors. It is a shame that he is already gone.

 

[Touchofevil]

A few episodes of Deadwood over last few days to get back in the groove for the Deadwood movie.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

Deadwood: The Movie. HBO. I wasn't much impressed with the story, but I was more than happy to hear the words...THE WORDS...and be with those characters again. I think "B+" is entirely fair. I wish the audio was a touch better, though. I had to go back a few times to hear things, and that's not cool when you have this kind of writing. Knocks me right out of the moment. I'm sure I'll watch it a couple more times (at least).

I'm re-watching season 8 of Game of Thrones, and I'm finding it rewarding and more enjoyable the second time. Maybe I was too harsh or coming with expectations that didn't serve me, or the show, well. I like to watch things over and over again, so it is nice to find I can do it with this final season. I was a little concerned it would completely fall apart in subsequent viewings.

 

[Touchofevil]

Deadwood: The Movie. I really enjoyed it. It was THE WORDS and THAT WONDERFUL CAST that made it such a treat; one which I never thought that I would have the pleasure to see. Sadly, this is all we will get and it isn’t enough. Of course, anytime something this good comes to an end, there is never enough.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Deadwood: The Movie. HBO. I wasn't much impressed with the story, but I was more than happy to hear the words...THE WORDS...and be with those characters again. I think "B+" is entirely fair. I wish the audio was a touch better, though. I had to go back a few times to hear things, and that's not cool when you have this kind of writing. Knocks me right out of the moment. I'm sure I'll watch it a couple more times (at least).

Sounds like I will give Deadwood: The Movie a miss. What I'm hearing everywhere is it's about a 7 out of 10. I'd rather remember it when it was great and I really don't give a toss about the loose ends of Series 3. Life is full of unresolved stories.

 

[The Jackal]

I'm really thinking hard about watching Game of Thrones. I'd watched the first episode or 2 a few years back but never bothered to watch any further.

I upgraded my internet package and got HBO as a bonus, so I have access to all of it again.

For those that watch/have watched it, will all the disappointment I've heard regarding the end of the series, was it still worth watching, or does the end kinda ruin it?

 

[Doctor Strange]

It's a great series, well worth the time. Outstanding TV.

The overwrought "disappointment" with the ending will fade. You know, if we didn't live in a world where every disgruntled fan just HAS to vent their "anger" on social media immediately, there'd be far less "disappointment". If the show had ended a decade ago, there'd have been some disappointment in some quarters, but no outraged outcry. Everything is turned up to eleven now.

I found a second viewing of the finale was much more satisfying than the first: it felt like classic Thrones, not any kind of sudden "betrayal". (Hey, the entire series is loaded with unexpected turns and surprises. Why complain that the end is different?) Sure, there are some real storytelling problems with the last two shortened seasons (seven and six episodes vs. the ten of the earlier ones), but plenty of great series have had bumpy last seasons (Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire). The overall high quality and entertainment pleasure of the bulk of the series renders any "issues" with the ending pretty minor in the long run.

I say watch it, it's a great ride.

 

[Edward]

This last week I've mostly been watching more Mrs Maisel. I love the show; the whole look and feel of it is charming. I'm curious now to read more about the US late 50s comedy scene, with newer stand-ups challenging the old way of donig things - very reminiscent,. in many ways, of the rise of British 'alternative comedy' in the early eighties. I'm also enjoying the way they have worked in Lenny Bruce as a 'real' person among the fictional narrative.

 

[Fading Fast]

This last week I've mostly been watching more Mrs Maisel. I love the show; the whole look and feel of it is charming. I'm curious now to read more about the US late 50s comedy scene, with newer stand-ups challenging the old way of donig things - very reminiscent,. in many ways, of the rise of British 'alternative comedy' in the early eighties. I'm also enjoying the way they have worked in Lenny Bruce as a 'real' person among the fictional narrative.

We enjoy the show as well. I like its over-stylized and "prettified" '50s/early-'60s look and it's machine-gun-fire dialogue - neither of which are very real, but are wonderfully fun to see and hear. Also, in season 2, they did a better job of personalizing and building out the characters. I get it's not for everyone, but we're fans.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

Without question, watch Game of Thrones. One of the greatest TV series of all time. Doctor Strange and I have posted about the ending, and second viewings of the ending, in this thread; offering a contrary opinion to much being said elsewhere.

Without question, watch the Deadwood movie. It's worth it.

 

[scottyrocks]

Over the last couple of weekends, ending with last Sunday night, we watched the 10 episodes of the 1st, and so far only, season of Dead To Me, produced by, and available on, Netflix.

The lead is Kristina Applegate, of Married . . . With Children fame, with relatively unknown (to me) supporting actors, who all did pretty much perfect jobs in their roles. The acting was perfect, the story, plot, and pacing were perfect. There was heart-wrenching drama, there was light comedy, and just the right amount of twists and turns to make you 'wtf' at just the right irregular intervals. Nothing was overdone.

A nice surprise was a minor character played by none other than Ed Asner (of Mary Tyler Moore fame). As a huge fan of that show, it was a pleasure to see him in his short appearances in DtM.

 

[Fading Fast]

Over the last couple of weekends, ending with last Sunday night, we watched the 10 episodes of the 1st, and so far only, season of Dead To Me, produced by, and available on, Netflix.

The lead is Kristina Applegate, of Married . . . With Children fame, with relatively unknown (to me) supporting actors, who all did pretty much perfect jobs in their roles. The acting was perfect, the story, plot, and pacing were perfect. There was heart-wrenching drama, there was light comedy, and just the right amount of twists and turns to make you 'wtf' at just the right irregular intervals. Nothing was overdone.

A nice surprise was a minor character played by none other than Ed Asner (of Mary Tyler Moore fame). As a huge fan of that show, it was a pleasure to see him in his short appearances in DtM.

"Dead to Me" is excellent - a nice little gem - driven, in part, by Applegate's outstanding performance. I mentioned it at one point, but the show feels very much like a modern version of those late '50s/'60s Hitchcock TV shows.

 

[Julian Shellhammer]

Found Crime Story available on Amazon Prime - saw a couple episodes when it came out in the 80s and liked the show. The Missus likes it a lot. And the cars! Most are the size and weight of a Sherman tank, with chrome everything, fins, the jet-fighter tail lights, oh man oh man oh man-

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

The Netflix miniseries Alias Grace, about a proto-psychologist investing a housemaid imprisoned for murder in mid-1800s Canada. Based on a true story and the Margaret Atwood novel derived from it. Very well done, quite fascinating and disturbing. With an excellent lead performance by Sarah Gadon, who has a real knack for period pieces (Belle, A Royal Night Out, Indignation).

I think this is my next binge. It, The Romanoffs, or Sharp Objects.

 

[Doctor Strange]

It was one of the best minis I watched last year.

I liked Sharp Objects a whole lot too, it's definitely worthwhile. Amy Adams will undoubtedly get an Emmy nom (though it'll be a tough field this year with great work by Patricia Arquette, Michelle Williams, etc.)

Despite my deep love of Mad Men, I'm having a hard time psyching myself for watching The Romanoffs after its mixed-to-bad reviews. I have zero interest in stuff like It...

Recommended: Season two (and one first, if you haven't seen it) of Fleabag on Amazon. A wickedly fascinating little show.

 

[Fading Fast]

...Recommended: Season two (and one first, if you haven't seen it) of Fleabag on Amazon. A wickedly fascinating little show.

Half way through season two of "Fleabag -" agreed, really enjoy it even if it is, all but, insane. So far, season two feels "tighter" and more confident of itself than season one.

Tried a couple of "The Romanoffs" vignettes, but couldn't get into them. Not sayings their bad, they just didn't do it for us.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

Gentleman Jack. HBO. I gave the pilot a go in two sittings. Time didn't permit a single sitting. I'm not sure I'm all that keen on breaking the 4th wall, particularly as a comedic means. It's hokey. They did it here in both scene and in narration. It's too much. I'm a sucker for this period stuff, though.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I've been enjoying Gentleman Jack (though I haven't watched yesterday's finale yet)... But I also initially ended up getting most of the way through the first episode and giving up... then getting sucked back in when I stumbled across a subsequent showing. I'm also down for nearly any 1800s British-set story, and this one is interestingly different from the familiar Austen-ish stuff. I'm looking forward to reading up on the real Anne Lister after I watch the last ep.

But the real standout miniseries I've been watching on HBO is Chernobyl. Magnificently well done and utterly terrifying throughout. I definitely expect to see Emmy noms for the outstanding lead performances by Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgard (who I didn't even recognize). Yeah, it's seriously horrifying and depressing material that's not for everybody, but in its Titanic-like failure due to blind belief in our "unsinkable" technology, it's a classic story of human hubris leading to catastrophe that should not be forgotten.

 

[Julian Shellhammer]

Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill, a BBC series from 1974. Courtesy the Acorn streaming service. Very well-done show about rich people with inherited wealth and power working through relationships and social issues. We like it very much.
...and finished the last episode of When Calls the Heart, one of those buy-the-whole-season-so-don't-it-doesn't-have-commericals deal. One of the Missus' faves.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

But the real standout miniseries I've been watching on HBO is Chernobyl. Magnificently well done and utterly terrifying throughout. I definitely expect to see Emmy noms for the outstanding lead performances by Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgard (who I didn't even recognize). Yeah, it's seriously horrifying and depressing material that's not for everybody, but in its Titanic-like failure due to blind belief in our "unsinkable" technology, it's a classic story of human hubris leading to catastrophe that should not be forgotten.

Dang it. I don't want to watch it, but... If I listed everything I knew about Chernobyl, you'd think I'd want to watch it. Anyone who has seen the 60 Minutes piece on The Sarcophagus should instantly be interested. And Jared Harris. I know if I hit play, I'll get into it, but I'm finding no enthusiasm for it.

Billions. Showtime. One of their better seasons. The season finale was mostly ridiculous, though.

Big Little Lies. HBO. season 2 opener. To an already astounding cast, they add Meryl Streep. If you don't like bouncy, constantly moving camera work, this isn't the show for you. You could very easily get motion sickness with this thing. It's successful at creating atmosphere and making you feel like you're sometimes right there in the conversation, but it can also feel overly busy. They used to accuse NYPD Blue of this, which I believe was one of the first shows to rely on this method.