The Syndicate

All goofs and gifs aside, Negan and especially JDM's version of Negan is way too good of a character for TWD

nutella wrote:In case y'all weren't aware s3e1 of Rick and Morty came out and it's excellent

Oh shit, I watched that reenactment of that crazy judge and prisoner interaction in Georgia like 40 times waiting for a new ep to come out. I almost don't want to watch it because it will be over too soon.

I've been watching the Korean show the Genuis (2 seasons through now), after having been reliably informed it was the best reality competition show ever made. I have to say that I agree, it's been a really enjoyable experience. It doesn't even bother me that I have to read subtitles since everyone is speaking in Korean, because the show keeps me hooked.

If anyone decides to watch it, let me know. It might end up being worth it's own thread.

Final season of Orphan Black starts tonight.

Meanwhile, Master of None is pretty amazing (and bingeable in its entirety on Netflix, as always). Must be something in the water for these 2nd seasons...

S~V~S wrote: ↑Sat Jun 10, 2017 9:50 pm Final season of Orphan Black starts tonight.

Oh man I've sort of forgotten about that show!! I totally LOVED it for the first couple seasons but now I can't even remember when/which season I watched it last. Should try to catch up.

Ricochet wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11, 2017 3:08 am Meanwhile, Master of None is pretty amazing (and bingeable in its entirety on Netflix, as always). Must be something in the water for these 2nd seasons...

Yeee the boyfriend and I love Master of None. We just finished season 2 a few days ago and I have to say I don't think it was overall as good as season 1, but it had some strong points.


Aaaand I have to catch up on the new season of OITNB as well, thanks for reminding me (was so upset at the end of last season though ). Also House of Cards. I'd love to convince my bf to catch up on the previous seasons of HoC with me since he hasn't seen it (and I'd like to rewatch it anyway) but we have such a long list of things we want to watch and never get around to anyway.

I think Season 2's manner of dealing with particular topics (religion in family; online dating malaise; coming out in family) were hallmarks of smart, senseful writing. I sort of liked the Francesca romance way more than the Rachel one. Season 1 felt more quirky and swaggy. Season 2 felt like packing more real feels. My one wish would have been for more episodes set in Italy. I liked the idea of Dev taking an exodus abroad. I disliked that they timejumped that whole process and were forced to head back into NYC for their usual urban social skits and such. But seriously, this was overall great.

Yeah, I thought the first half of the season was great, as was the Denise episode. But I got really sick of the Francesca arc by those last two long-as-fuck episodes that just dragged on. And the whole Chef Jeff thing was fucking awful.

So I finished watching the first season of The Handmaid's Tale, a Hulu adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel. It was overall quite good, although, despite me being seemingly attracted to dystopian works in general and this show pumping serious, brutal doses of somber drama, I almost feel guilty for not feeling it was that gripping (I'm probably too desensitized).

If I were to recall Epignosis' complaints (stated once in Discord, I believe) about Atwood having the ideas, but struggling with pushing them till the end in her novels, I'd say the same issues of execution exist in the series. Being done in the American TV tradition of a 10-episode season bulk, that probably didn't even exhaust the book material and will now head into a second season, I'd say it had some stretchmarks, complete with backstories on each character midway through the season and such. Plus, if the first, say, three episodes or so are really tight, afterwards I felt with each episode a sort of tonal mellowing. The show exhibited both finesse (bleak, minimalistic art direction and visuals combined with the most striking, wild-ranging gamut of expressions and emotions via close-ups; very meaningful thematic juxtapositions of plot and backstory, adding weight to the individual episodes; dry, sharp humour to balance the gloom) and a few rough patches (with the exception of a handful of episodes, every other felt like they couldn't land an ending - tonally off and overdone; also, while the original score bits were excellently broody - think Enemy or Arrival - the insertion of songs / singles / schlagers were overkill and on-the-nose).

The performances were likely the strongest element of the show - you have Elisabeth Moss of Mad Men fame and Samira Wiley from Orange is the New Black, plus absolutely breakout stuff from Alexis Bledel (breaking out of her Gilmore Girly shell), Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) and Madeleine Brewer (also Orange is the New Black). Plus, I feel this show would be worth recommending just for Ann Dowd's most spinechilling display of magnificence to date (making her Patti in Leftovers Grumpy Cat by comparison).

So yeah, well done and relevant all in all, but could have been a tad more subtle with its style, while at it.

I agree with you.

Finally Started Game of Thrones. Season 1 was good. I finally understand the hype. Watching it with a friend, and I think my favorite part of the show is not really the show itself, but how fun it is to talk about. The show also weirdly reminds me off the office I work in <_<

This summer I also finished Luke Cage, worth the watch for the sake of defenders coming out at the end of the summer. Not game of thrones but worth the watch.

Iron Fist is a different story. The characters motives are silly, and the conflict are silly and unwarrented, and feel like they could be resolved if people just talked to each other. I didn't finish it, and i think i might just wiki the show instead of watching the rest tbh <_<

Finished Izombie season3. If you digged Veronica Mars, this show is definitely for you. I feel like it's one of those shows that if I were to describe it would sound really stupid, but the characters are fun, and don't take themselves too seriously unless it earns it's warranted. Probably my favorite show i've watch all summer.

Finished Season 3 of House of Cards. I get why people might call it slow, but I enjoyed the political focus this season's had. Less stuff happens this season, but save a redemption plot line that goes wayyy long than it aught to, it's watchable.

Think that's about everything I've watched this summer so far. Productive/10

I started watching 11.22.63 the other day. I am intrigued, but not in love.

Spacedaisy wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2017 4:49 pm I started watching 11.22.63 the other day. I am intrigued, but not in love.

The book is better.

Gotham is

++++

Spacedaisy wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2017 4:49 pm I started watching 11.22.63 the other day. I am intrigued, but not in love.

I though the show was just alright, but I am in love with the actress who plays Sadie.

Watching Steven Universe.

I was skeptical about it, but the reviews were overwhelmingly good so I had to try.

So I heard the show only started getting good at ep. 25. Fine. I decided to brace through it. But the first 24 episodes were pretty good. They were focused on comedy, but it was comedy like the old 90s Cartoon Network shows, and the best ones. Silly and creative in surreal ways. So it was pretty fun to watch them.

Then I passed that mark, got through a pretty good midseason climax, and after that, the show came back to episodic plots. But while it didn't suddenly get epic or dramatic, the stories started getting more mature and the character development started getting really good. This could be described as "Heartwarming: The Show". You want to feel good, watch Steven Universe. Most episodes start with silly plots, then they turn into something serious that gets resolved in the cutest way possible. We have a setting that is pretty dark but there are those characters who manage to stick together and overcome their weaknesses despite the odds, and a protagonist who lacks amazing fighting powers but is lovable and creative and innocent enough to somehow make everything work.

Now I'm at episode 45, getting to the season finale, which I hear it's pretty epic again. I recommend this show.

Hoooly shit. We just watched all six episodes of Neo Yokio, an animated series that just came out on Netflix today by Jaden Smith and Ezra Koenig (and starring Jaden Smith as basically himself). I can't even describe it except that it's amazing. I'm in awe it's so good

Anybody been watching Vietnam? We've only watched the first episode which was the excellent back story going back to 1858 about how we got embroiled in the war. I'm looking forward to the other episodes we've got DVR'd.

For anybody still hanging with Gotham, holy shit has the writing taken a dump.


Again, holy shit.

Epignosis wrote: ↑Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:47 pm For anybody still hanging with Gotham, holy shit has the writing taken a dump.

Spoiler: show

I'm the Scarecrow, you know, the genius behind the fear toxin, right? Well would you believe that the foil to my fear toxin is...water? That's right! Rinse your face and you'll be good as new! I wish I would have known that!

I'm Lucius Fox, and would you believe that Wayne Enterprises was developing state-of-the-art bulletproof lightweight bodysuits for the military...and that the prototype just so happens to fit a fifteen-year-old boy perfectly?

I'm Ivy and I drink random potions from an old Asian man's safe...which isn't even, you know, locked!

I'm James Gordon and I will go into Arkham Asylum alone to face a horde...without checking to see if my guns have any bullets!

I'm Detective Bullock and I'll stand behind lazy ass officers who expect a paycheck but won't do their job...and let James go into Arkham all by himself, because I know that an army of insane people and the Scarecrow can't bring down James Gordon! No sir!

I'm Barbara Kean, and I died...except I didn't! Surprise! I have a new weapons warehouse for criminals, a stylish suit, a terrible hairdo, and for some reason I need Tabitha and Miss Kyle by my side, because I just can't accomplish anything on my own!

I'm Tabitha, and I could have anything from Barbara I want, so I ask...to cut her hand off, but I just couldn't do it. So I left. I didn't even ask for a gift card or one of those fancy guns.

I'm The Penguin, and I think that waltzing...well, I can't really waltz...into the GCPD among a number of armed cops and rubbing their failures into their faces is the most effective way to run my organization!

I'm Bruce Wayne. I'm...Batman. Kind of. I still need to work on not being a complete dumbass who needs to "feel free."

I'm Alfred, the butler. I'm the only one in this bloody show with any fucking sense, and unfortunately, I'm just the help.

Again, holy shit.

Yeah the writing took a dump a while ago, brother. I don't regret ejecting from that particular plane.

Picked up Black Mirror to watch something during the next week or two, with a little incentive from a Nerdwriter vlog essay on its traditional or not use of tragic and cathartic motifs. I happen to like my coffee bleak and existentially burdening, so it should be an interesting watch.

Ricochet wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2017 5:33 am Picked up Black Mirror to watch something during the next week or two, with a little incentive from a Nerdwriter vlog essay on its traditional or not use of tragic and cathartic motifs. I happen to like my coffee bleak and existentially burdening, so it should be an interesting watch.

I'm interested to see your take. Everyone I've talked to seems to respond differently, favoring different episodes over others. No two people seem to have the same Black Mirror opinions, except those that hate the whole thing.

Well, before any of that, I couldn't help myself to come here and note that the first half of Nosedive felt like a total nightmare.

Five more episodes to go.

insertnamehere wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2017 11:35 am

Ricochet wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2017 5:33 am Picked up Black Mirror to watch something during the next week or two, with a little incentive from a Nerdwriter vlog essay on its traditional or not use of tragic and cathartic motifs. I happen to like my coffee bleak and existentially burdening, so it should be an interesting watch.

I'm interested to see your take. Everyone I've talked to seems to respond differently, favoring different episodes over others. No two people seem to have the same Black Mirror opinions, except those that hate the whole thing.

Well those were some intriguing 13 days, though not mindblowing all the time or having constantly subjected me to the existential dread I was led to anticipate. I like the potential of this single-episode anthology and the Twilight Zoney vibe (minus any heavy dose of paranormal) of several such single story approaches - even with its shared-universe suggestions becoming less minimal and subtle as the series progressed [including that "Fifteen Million Merits" song becoming too much of a leitmotif... absolutely no idea, for instance, what the heck it was reused for (re-sung?) in "Men Against Fire" the way it was. It's especially refreshing as it transitioned towards the American public, most of whose TV products are still fixated on 8-, 10-episode minimum content arches (while not that surprising, instead, coming from the Brits, who can still approach a series' subject in a tighter format). Of course, though, that means each episode will live or die by its unique idea, content, presentation and actor choices. In most cases, the results were from positive upwards, though I'd say so far I have only a handful of favorite / memorable / got-me-deep-mang episodes. I noticed that the critics didn't always buy into everything presented here (at least until the season 3 boom, though not excluding it), which I think is actually a healthy reaction, not only in this "Golden Age of TV" climate, but also towards this show's methods, which can honestly tread between crafty / intuitive and gimmicky.

As for entertaining the favorites' game, here is my shot at it for anyone interested (aka just INH), with spoilery comments - though mind you, it's after only one viewing each (except San Junipero where I cheated and replayed it) and at minimum capacity to have captured all the essence in this one sit. I also think this show in particular needs to be judged by several factors: its basic TV drama qualities, its craftsmanship in the satire (tech, social or otherwise) it builds and its effect / affect power. So I'll be pretentiously toying with those as well.

#13
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Here are my personal rankings that I composed after season 3 came out last year.


1. The National Anthem
2. White Bear
3. The Entire History of You
4. San Junipero
5. Playtest
6. Shut Up and Dance
7. Be Right Back
8. White Christmas
9. Hated in the Nation
10. Fifteen Million Merits
11. Nosedive
12. Men Against Fire
13. The Waldo Moment

For whatever reason, Playtest clicked with me as a straight genre exercise that was well-executed, while Nosedive just seemed a little on-the-nose and didn't have the effect on me that it had on Rico. It lacked the bite and nastiness it truly needed to work. Also, RE: National Anthem...

Ricochet wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2017 3:23 pm #10
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
Unfortunately, with six years in the past and improvements over three whole seasons, I can't imagine this sticking high on any list.

Ha! For me, National Anthem serves as both the thesis and the key for the entire series in terms of subject matter, capturing the public's toxic apathy towards politics better than Waldo, it's casual capacity for cruelty better than Shut Up and Dance/Hated in the Nation, and the technology-induced disposition towards denial better than 15MM/Men Against Fire. It's also quite cheeky. I'll admit that it does work better on a rewatch.

To be honest, my top three are all fairly interchangeable in terms of my opinions on them, but National Anthem resonated the most in my mind.

Everybody ready for nostalgia dressed pastiche salad season 2?

never even managed to finish stronger thongs season one

I was on a plane, so that helped.

It falls into that category of Netflix Original that feels like it was birthed wholly from the website's algorithm, combining this actor, and this storytelling trope, and playing it in the most crowd-pleasing way, so it can fit into the media diet of quadrants which enjoyed similar movies and television shows. They all feel focus-grouped to hell and back. Stranger Things, Gypsy, Ozark, 13 Reasons Why, Narcos, The Crown, Bloodline, literally all of the goddamn Marvel shows, and most recently Mindhunter all fall under this category for me.

Bojack Horseman, Black Mirror Season 3, Arrested Development Season 4, Master of None, and weird shit like The OA, Neo Yokio, Sense8, and the Get Down are the only shows to break through that barrier of homogeneity.

Meanwhile, the two O.G. Netflix shows, House of Cards and Orange is the New Black seem to both have fallen into holes of tarnished mediocrity.

tfw you have one hour to spare, check the channels, Twin Peaks The Reruns, yet it lands on the shittiest episode...

Ricochet wrote: ↑Tue Oct 31, 2017 4:53 pm tfw you have one hour to spare, check the channels, Twin Peaks The Reruns, yet it lands on the shittiest episode...

Part 12, 13, or 18?

I've also somehow managed to talk myself into liking Part 18, by the way. Lynch fanboyism is a hell of a drug.

insertnamehere wrote: ↑Tue Oct 31, 2017 7:21 pm
Part 12, 13, or 18?

12

Part 18 is perfect, don't be a hayta.

If anything, I'll have to heavily talk myself into liking the """""""confrontation""""""" from Part 17. I hated it at first watch - it felt like a rushed "fuck you" to an already clear disinterest shown in building the whole Coop vs. Dark Coop arch to any solid denouement.

If you like weird, I recommend Glitch on netflix, and Fortitude on Amazon. Does anyone watch The Blacklist? I haven’t seen it mentioned here, but I’d like to hear people’s ideas about whose bones are in the suitcase, and theories about who Red may or may not be-

Matahari wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2017 2:32 am If you like weird, I recommend Glitch on netflix, and Fortitude on Amazon. Does anyone watch The Blacklist? I haven’t seen it mentioned here, but I’d like to hear people’s ideas about whose bones are in the suitcase, and theories about who Red may or may not be-

Glitch looks like yet another remake of the French show The Returned, and while I remember loving the batshit bonkers turns that Fortitude went through, I haven't yet watched Season 2.

insertnamehere wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:41 pm

Matahari wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2017 2:32 am If you like weird, I recommend Glitch on netflix, and Fortitude on Amazon. Does anyone watch The Blacklist? I haven’t seen it mentioned here, but I’d like to hear people’s ideas about whose bones are in the suitcase, and theories about who Red may or may not be-

Glitch looks like yet another remake of the French show The Returned, and while I remember loving the batshit bonkers turns that Fortitude went through, I haven't yet watched Season 2.

I thought Glitch would be like the Returned too, but it wasn’t at all the same. Glitch is a bit different than the other shows I’ve seen involving people coming back from the dead. No zombies, nothing spiritual/magical.... the second season will be on Netflix tomorrow I think. You begin to get an inkling of what’s really going on in by the fourth episode, but it’s intriguing enough to keep watching to see how far it goes. I haven’t seen the second season of Fortitude yet either, will probably watch it in December.

OMG Mata! How wonderful to see you! Join us more often!

juliets wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2017 12:09 pm OMG Mata! How wonderful to see you! Join us more often!

Thank you Juliet’s! I pop in occasionally, but I’m always looking for some good tv talk.

So Mata are you watching Survivor?

juliets wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:38 am So Mata are you watching Survivor?

I’ve never watched! One of my kids loves the show, but I usually stick to scripted tv shows. Is it one of your favorites? What else do you watch?

Matahari wrote: ↑Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:03 am

juliets wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2017 9:38 am So Mata are you watching Survivor?

I’ve never watched! One of my kids loves the show, but I usually stick to scripted tv shows. Is it one of your favorites? What else do you watch?

Well, I just started watching it last year and somehow I'm addicted. I don't know how it happened! Other reality shows I watch are Project Runway (my favorite), So You Think You Can Dance, and America's Got Talent. I've never been able to get into the Voice even though its the most popular I think. I also watch Lucifer (another guilty pleasure). I know I watch more than that but this time of year gets taken up with football (it's on Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, and sometimes other days as well). What else are you watching?

I just watched Dark on Netflix and loved it. It’s a German show and I watched with English dubbing. That was a bit distracting at first but I got used to it by ep3. I also loved The OA on Netflix although opinions on that show are really funny, people either love it or hate it. The only show I watch on network tv is The Blacklist, but right now it’s on break. Non network- I like Peaky Blinders, Homeland, and GoT.

Oh yeah I just read about Dark but I don't have Netflix. I can't figure out if you can somehow get Netflix on your tv or whether your stuck watching shows on a computer. I also watch Homeland - I forgot about it since its not on right now.

If you have a Netflix acct, you can get the app on your tv through your cable company, or if you have a Roku box, the app is on it. I used to plug my laptop up to the tv and watch it that way, but I finally broke down and got cable again (after bitching about them and cutting the cord). They kept calling me with specials, and I found an offer too good to refuse. Probably a good thing because my laptop died. It feels like Homeland should be back on again soon, but I haven’t seen a date for it yet.

All I can find is people expect a January 2018 date. Also found that it was renewed for two years at which point it will end. Thanks for the tip about Netflix.

SMILF and Ms. Maisel are two pretty good shows

insertnamehere wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2017 4:02 pm <snip>

Thoughts on Season 4, m'man?

Finally getting into Black Mirror. Watched Season 4 first, now I'm going through Seasons 1-3 binge style. Really crazy and great stuff, even if exhausting and depressing.

Ricochet wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:41 pm

insertnamehere wrote: ↑Wed Oct 18, 2017 4:02 pm <snip>

Thoughts on Season 4, m'man?

I thought it had too many retreads of old ideas.
My favorite two seem to both be somewhat maligned among the fanbase for whatever reason: Metalhead and Crocodile. Metalhead was the only episode that felt completely and utterly different from anything they've done before, and I'm a sucker for high-contrast black-and-white cinematography. Crocodile was a nice little Coen-y riff about how invasive security technology can lead to more violence and less safety, with all the bleakness and gorgeous direction I expected from the guy who made The Road.

The one episode where Liam McPoyle/William from Westworld slapped his smooth, featureless, Ken-doll-esque crotch was pretty fun, but not super groundbreaking or anything.

The two leads in Hang the DJ were both great and had actual chemisty, which was the only thing that made the episode more than a Arkangel was super-meh, and Black Museum was like White Christmas with none of the originality or acting prowess.

Overall a step back for the show, but not a waste of time. Hopefully they'll rebound.

I'm probably gonna watch Electric Dreams at some point, which is Amazon's "star-studded" attempt at a sci-fi anthology series, and report back with a comparison.

Just finished Black Mirror! Most episodes ranged from alright to pretty freaking awesome, though there were a handful episodes I didn't care for much at all. Overall though definitely recommended.

Here are my episode rankings: