General Netflix Discussion-TV Shows

[Ben Staad]

My wife went out with some girlfriends so I watched a few more.

Episode 4 was interesting although I guessed the main idea of the show fairly quickly but found it interesting enough as other ideas were rolled out.

Episode 5 was really something and one of the most moving things I've seen in awhile. Paul Giamatti portrayed the lead very well.

I've come back around and started watching the newest season of Black Mirror. Episode 1) Is okay but was slightly heavy handed with the messaging 2) Is fun, dark, but lacked a rational explanation on how a computer can do what it supposedly was doing 3) Is blah and I didn't like it at all...and the rest are TBD.

My wife hates dark shows so we will see how many episodes I will get to.

[Ben Staad]

I've come back around and started watching the newest season of Black Mirror. Episode 1) Is okay but was slightly heavy handed with the messaging 2) Is fun, dark, but lacked a rational explanation on how a computer can do what it supposedly was doing 3) Is blah and I didn't like it at all...and the rest are TBD.

My wife hates dark shows so we will see how many episodes I will get to.

[Ben Staad]

Watched Black Doves on Netflix. It was an okay thriller. Assassins and politics.

I wouldn't go out of your way to watch this but it passed the time while I couldn't sleep. One aspect of the show I disliked was how the writer(s) tried to humanize the protagonists. It was very forced and false feeling. Female lead couldn't shake her weekend fling and male lead pined over his lover. I quickly became friendly with FF through these elements of the show. Neither protagonist came off as anything more than sociopaths.

[Sock Monkey]

I finished both the second and third seasons of THE BEAR. This was my second go-around with season two and the first time I struggled a little bit with its pacing as the show took a few episodes to spotlight individual characters and while the episodes were good--okay, the Richie-led "Forks" just might be one of the best of the series--I had originally felt that the show might have lost some of the anxiety-inducing intensity of the first season. This time I really appreciated this episode and what it sought to accomplish. The season still had a motor guiding it with the reopening arc and the spotlight episodes I felt dovetailed well into the sense that while the restaurant might be moving forward, the edges were fraying a bit, something that is suggested by Syd's arc through the season. So while I enjoyed it the first time I watched it, this time my appreciation for it grew.

However, that brings us to the third season. This wasn't necessarily a bad season--those retroactively deciding the show has always been bad are overreacting--but it did struggle with blending its elements better. There seemed to be a desire to rely on comic relief more, possibly due to the fact that the show is listed as a comedy, but is decidedly not. It's funny, but not in the way that the comedy label would lead you to think. However, this grew increasingly tiresome, especially due to the lack any clear focus for the season. The result of which is that the season felt half-baked. Now this could be due to the increased workload as season three and four were written and shot back-to-back, doubling the amount of episode in the same amount of time as previous years. If the first and second seasons were graded an "A" by me (which they are), then I'd say that season three was a B-. I hope that season four tightens the narrative reigns a bit more.

[sholloman81]

Finally went back and watched the first season of THE LAST OF US in its entirety. My wife had tapped out after the first episode a while back because she is just not a fan of Anna Torv who plays Tess in the show and I followed one episode later because I just wasn't into it at the time. We both powered through the show and by the end of the first season, we both enjoyed it quite a bit. It's hard not to compare it to THE WALKING DEAD as it focuses on survivors of a viral apocalypse making their way through the world while fighting against either bad or infected humans and after that franchise, with its 320+ episodes of various shows, I felt that this concept was pretty much run into the ground. Yet THE LAST OF US proves that a story doesn't necessarily need to be original to be engaging, but rather simply well told. And THE LAST OF US tells its story well.

Also started rewatching the first couple of seasons of THE BEAR before checking out season three. Finished season one last night and I still really enjoyed the show, even knowing where it would go. The episode with the to-go orders still sent me into such a high level of anxiety. Such a good show. Looking forward to digging into season two.

Haven't seen any of THE BEAR yet, but I did enjoy THE LAST OF US. It took me a while to get around to it, but I have yet to be let down by any of these HBO tentpole series

[Sock Monkey]

Finally went back and watched the first season of THE LAST OF US in its entirety. My wife had tapped out after the first episode a while back because she is just not a fan of Anna Torv who plays Tess in the show and I followed one episode later because I just wasn't into it at the time. We both powered through the show and by the end of the first season, we both enjoyed it quite a bit. It's hard not to compare it to THE WALKING DEAD as it focuses on survivors of a viral apocalypse making their way through the world while fighting against either bad or infected humans and after that franchise, with its 320+ episodes of various shows, I felt that this concept was pretty much run into the ground. Yet THE LAST OF US proves that a story doesn't necessarily need to be original to be engaging, but rather simply well told. And THE LAST OF US tells its story well.

Also started rewatching the first couple of seasons of THE BEAR before checking out season three. Finished season one last night and I still really enjoyed the show, even knowing where it would go. The episode with the to-go orders still sent me into such a high level of anxiety. Such a good show. Looking forward to digging into season two.

[Ben Staad]

Thanks. I did see that Paramount offered a free 7 day trial which included Dexter. I'm likely going to take advantage of that offer.

I agree that, overall, DEXTER is a solid show. I even think that the first 4-5 seasons are very good, even verging on great. There's just a slow decline after Season 4 (which, I believe, coincided with the original showrunner leaving) that hurts more because what came before was so good. I will admit that I was one of those viewers that was pretty upset with series conclusion. My problem with the last season or so is that the characters begin to act incredibly out of character

Spoiler!

including Deb's crisis over supposedly falling in love with Dexter, which just didn't make any sense whatsoever; Dexter's burgeoning humanity that goes against the whole idea of his sociopathic tendencies and lack of empathy; and then Dexter dumping Deb's body out at sea like one of his victims, which I guess makes some sense symbolically because he feels responsible for her death, but it felt more like a betrayal of their relationship that he would dispose of her this way

. The series finale also seems to miss the mark in regards to Dexter's resolution. We, the audience, might have rooted for Dexter, but he was also never a "good guy" and that needed to be addressed in a more concrete fashion. However, DEXTER: NEW BLOOD does a pretty good job at providing a much better conclusion to the series and should really just be considered DEXTER Season 9. It's not perfect, but considering the place that the show left the character at the end of Season 8, I think it did a pretty great job. Looking at Amazon, it looks like you can watch it with a free trial of Paramount+ (which you could cancel once you're done watching the show). Anyways, glad you enjoyed show!

[Sock Monkey]

Wrapped up Dexter. It was a little awkward but I enjoyed the last season. If I had watched at time of release I think I would've been a little pissed off about the finale but overall a solid show.

I agree that, overall, DEXTER is a solid show. I even think that the first 4-5 seasons are very good, even verging on great. There's just a slow decline after Season 4 (which, I believe, coincided with the original showrunner leaving) that hurts more because what came before was so good. I will admit that I was one of those viewers that was pretty upset with series conclusion. My problem with the last season or so is that the characters begin to act incredibly out of character

Spoiler!

including Deb's crisis over supposedly falling in love with Dexter, which just didn't make any sense whatsoever; Dexter's burgeoning humanity that goes against the whole idea of his sociopathic tendencies and lack of empathy; and then Dexter dumping Deb's body out at sea like one of his victims, which I guess makes some sense symbolically because he feels responsible for her death, but it felt more like a betrayal of their relationship that he would dispose of her this way

. The series finale also seems to miss the mark in regards to Dexter's resolution. We, the audience, might have rooted for Dexter, but he was also never a "good guy" and that needed to be addressed in a more concrete fashion. However, DEXTER: NEW BLOOD does a pretty good job at providing a much better conclusion to the series and should really just be considered DEXTER Season 9. It's not perfect, but considering the place that the show left the character at the end of Season 8, I think it did a pretty great job. Looking at Amazon, it looks like you can watch it with a free trial of Paramount+ (which you could cancel once you're done watching the show). Anyways, glad you enjoyed show!

[Ben Staad]

LOL. I can imagine many felt that way.

My old co-worker LIVED for this show, and I heard ALL about her discontent with the series finale, lol.

[dannyboy121070]

Wrapped up Dexter. It was a little awkward but I enjoyed the last season. If I had watched at time of release I think I would've been a little pissed off about the finale but overall a solid show.

My old co-worker LIVED for this show, and I heard ALL about her discontent with the series finale, lol.

[Ben Staad]

Wrapped up Dexter. It was a little awkward but I enjoyed the last season. If I had watched at time of release I think I would've been a little pissed off about the finale but overall a solid show.

I really liked DEXTER--even named my dog after the main character--but I, man, that last season is pretty rough around the edges. The reboot season was very good, though, and I'd recommend watching it after the main series if you haven't seen already.

[Ben Staad]

Watching the final season now. It is a little rough and feels like many last season of shows. I still like it but it's different.

I will check out the reboot when it's available on something I subscribe to.

I really liked DEXTER--even named my dog after the main character--but I, man, that last season is pretty rough around the edges. The reboot season was very good, though, and I'd recommend watching it after the main series if you haven't seen already.

 

[dannyboy121070]

That's funny that you've had a Fox X-Men film sitting around, unwatched, collecting dust. I have one of my very own--X-MEN APOCALYPSE--that keeps staring out from my "To Watch" shelf, where it has sat for 7+ years now.

I completely forgot about this cut of DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. I remember there being some big hoopla when it was released, but I never got around to tracking it down. While I do have some nostalgia for the Fox X-Men films, I have to agree that most of them are rather subpar. The one thing that I think they did excel on is the casting. No doubt, Jackman's Wolverine will remain the definitive version, along with Patrick StewarT and Ian McKellan as Professor X and Magneto, But I also think that James Marsden was a good Cyclops, but just wasn't given anything to do. As far as Anna Paquin as Rogue, though...

Totally agree with the casting, for the most part. Not a big fan of Famke as Jean Grey, though.

[Sock Monkey]

I finally got around to watching X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST- THE ROGUE CUT, which I bought ten years ago, lol. For the most part, Fox's X-Men pictures stink. I loved the second film, and the reboot, and the theatrical cut of this one was pretty good. The extended cut basically adds a longish side-quest that serves no purpose other than to add a missing character back into the mix. I consider this a waste of two-and-a-half hours that could have been better spent.

That's funny that you've had a Fox X-Men film sitting around, unwatched, collecting dust. I have one of my very own--X-MEN APOCALYPSE--that keeps staring out from my "To Watch" shelf, where it has sat for 7+ years now.

I completely forgot about this cut of DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. I remember there being some big hoopla when it was released, but I never got around to tracking it down. While I do have some nostalgia for the Fox X-Men films, I have to agree that most of them are rather subpar. The one thing that I think they did excel on is the casting. No doubt, Jackman's Wolverine will remain the definitive version, along with Patrick StewarT and Ian McKellan as Professor X and Magneto, But I also think that James Marsden was a good Cyclops, but just wasn't given anything to do. As far as Anna Paquin as Rogue, though...

[Sock Monkey]

Fairly general popcorn stuff but I've enjoyed watching Dexter over the last few months. With such a dark story line I feel they have done a good job of keeping it fairly light in a twisted way.

I really liked DEXTER--even named my dog after the main character--but I, man, that last season is pretty rough around the edges. The reboot season was very good, though, and I'd recommend watching it after the main series if you haven't seen already.