Whatcha Watchin? (Spoiler Free)

[insertnamehere]

HOT TAKE:

Channel Zero, despite having a semi-idiotic premise (horror anthology where each season is based off of an internet creepypasta), is the most underrated show on television. It's good, brainy, well-executed indie horror. Season 3 just started and it has the potential to be the best one yet. If you like spooky shit that's actually intelligent, check it out.

[timmer]

Just burned through season 1 of The Good Place... definitely worth watching to the end to get the whole picture of what the show is about, and this is a great role for Kristen Bell...

[DharmaHelper]

Not to be outdone I burned through S1 and S2 of the Good Place yesterday.

[Mongoose]

Finally watching Ingrid Goes West. Ice Cube's kid is in it and he in tannnn guapo.

[JaggedJimmyJay]

Finally watching Ingrid Goes West. Ice Cube's kid is in it and he in tannnn guapo.

I enjoyed that movie. Aubrey Plaza is awesome.

[ColinIsCool]

Going through the UK Office for the first time. I love the US version and I’m enjoying the original so far. David Brent is just ... such an asshole.

[Mongoose]

This morning I watched this decent found footage horror film called Leaving D.C.

I was really drawn to it because sometimes just escaping to the mountains/woods by yourself is really compelling -- until supernatural stuff gets real.

[DharmaHelper]

Luke Cage season 2 has been alright to good so far but Episode 10 was such a fuckin' bad idea lol.

[Sloonei]

I’m finally watching Twin Peaks. Episode 3 just ended. That dream sequence was... um.
I like this.

[insertnamehere]

I’m finally watching Twin Peaks. Episode 3 just ended. That dream sequence was... um.
I like this.

You're starting my favorite show of all time, albeit one that's a little hard to get into. Here's what I told Ricochet when he started the show:

Spoiler: show

This is my favorite show of all time, and I could listen to/watch/read discussion and analysis of it for hours on end. Note that when I say favorite, I do not mean best. The best TV show of all time is The Wire, no contest. Twin Peaks is a flawed masterpiece, but to be honest, I doubt I'd really be capable of loving a perfect work of art with all my heart the way I do Twin Peaks.

Now, Twin Peaks (SEASONS ONE AND TWO) is essentially a balancing act between three very different television shows.

1. 1. A police procedural about a murdered teenage girl, where each episode is a day in the investigation. Everyone's a suspect, and the death of this one person sends shockwaves throughout the entire community.
   
   2. A parody of 80's and 90's era soap operas featuring ridiculous exaggerated acting, labyrinthine relationships, (everyone's sleeping with each other), and enjoyably pulpy storytelling.
   
   3. A bizarre avant-garde exploration of the dark side of the American psyche and the inescapable violence not only found in human nature but also in the dirt and wood of the town itself.

And for roughly the first 16-18 episodes, it works.

Then things go a little wonky. You'll know it when it starts happening.

You can choose to either skip ahead, to when it gets good again, and it does get quite good again, or you can tough it out through some rough patches.

My suggested viewing experience is as follows: All of Season 1. Episodes 1-9 of Seasons 2. Episodes 21-22 of Season 2. Fire Walk With Me. Season 3.

You can find Rico and I's episode-by-episode discussions in the Twin Peaks thread, they were pretty fun to do. Also, watch the Log Lady intros for each episode. They're all pretty amazing.



Watching the show for the first time, do you have any suspects so far? What's your reading of the dream sequence? Are there possible clues to be gleaned from it, or is it nonsensical bullpuckey?

[Sloonei]

Spoilering my response to [mention]insertnamehere[/mention] just in case:

Spoiler: show

I can’t really begin to speculate about who killed her. Where it stands right now, I’m not even sure that’s the right question to be asking. If we are asking it, Leo is the far-too-obvious answer, and based on the ending to episode 5 it seems he has connections that run pretty deep. I feel like by the time we get deep into this show there will be several people who can easily be said to have been complicit in the murder, to the point where “who” or “what” specifically killed her might almost be irrelevant. It also feels like the murder itself is just a single spoke in a constantly-growing wheel of mysteries. Needless to say I like all of this. The character whose role in everything I’m most eager to find out about is Dr. Jacoby. He’s got things going on.

I’ll probably give the full show a watch because I’m a completionist and don’t want to miss out on what’s going to happen in those wonky episodes, but I will certainly keep your recommendation on mind as I watch them.

Netflix’s description for the next episode mentions a meeting with the Log Lady. I am looking forward to that.

[Sloonei]

Oh and I also have a new appreciation for George Costanza’s parents-in-law.

[Epignosis]

The Last Jedi is on Netflix.

Should I even bother?

[DharmaHelper]

The Last Jedi is on Netflix.

Should I even bother?

Uh, duh. Yes.

[Epignosis]

The Last Jedi is on Netflix.

Should I even bother?

Uh, duh. Yes.

I've just heard it was atrocious.

[ColinIsCool]

It's my personal favorite Star Wars, but your mileage may vary.

[Turnip Head]

I have no idea why The Last Jedi gets any hates from fans. I don't know what else you could have possibly wanted out of this installment of the saga. I thought it was damn near perfect

[ColinIsCool]

Spoilering my response to @insertnamehere just in case:

Spoiler: show

I can’t really begin to speculate about who killed her. Where it stands right now, I’m not even sure that’s the right question to be asking. If we are asking it, Leo is the far-too-obvious answer, and based on the ending to episode 5 it seems he has connections that run pretty deep. I feel like by the time we get deep into this show there will be several people who can easily be said to have been complicit in the murder, to the point where “who” or “what” specifically killed her might almost be irrelevant. It also feels like the murder itself is just a single spoke in a constantly-growing wheel of mysteries. Needless to say I like all of this. The character whose role in everything I’m most eager to find out about is Dr. Jacoby. He’s got things going on.

I’ll probably give the full show a watch because I’m a completionist and don’t want to miss out on what’s going to happen in those wonky episodes, but I will certainly keep your recommendation on mind as I watch them.

Netflix’s description for the next episode mentions a meeting with the Log Lady. I am looking forward to that.

I think season 2 is extremely underrated. It's not anywhere near as good as the rest of the show on balance, but I struggle to see how someone who was onboard with the zanier elements of the first season could turn their nose up too hard at the diversions later on. It's fun and Twin Peaks is such a nice place to be in for a while that I recommend it still.

[ColinIsCool]

I have no idea why The Last Jedi gets any hates from fans. I don't know what else you could have possibly wanted out of this installment of the saga. I thought it was damn near perfect

There are a few moments in particular that are, I think, easily the coolest moments in any of the films. Easily.

[DharmaHelper]

The Last Jedi is on Netflix.

Should I even bother?

Uh, duh. Yes.

I've just heard it was atrocious.

You heard worse than wrong, you heard nerdrage wrong.

[Epignosis]

It's my personal favorite Star Wars, but your mileage may vary.

Well, I thought The Force Awakens was superfluous and had some plot holes you could drive the Millennium Falcon through, so my hopes for The Last Jedi weren't high to begin with.

[Sloonei]

The Last Jedi is on Netflix.

Should I even bother?

Uh, duh. Yes.

I've just heard it was atrocious.

I also just watched it finally when it came on Netflix. I assume all of the criticism it receieved was due to its moving the needle a bit rather than just being a mindless reiteration of the previous installments with a few new shiny elements. It progressed the story of the Star Wars franchise in a meaningful way, and I don’t think that’s what some folks wanted.

It was easily the best Star Wars film produced in my lifetime. Which is, you know, saying a whole lot.

[Golden]

The Last Jedi is on Netflix.

Should I even bother?

Uh, duh. Yes.

I've just heard it was atrocious.

I also just watched it finally when it came on Netflix. I assume all of the criticism it receieved was due to its moving the needle a bit rather than just being a mindless reiteration of the previous installments with a few new shiny elements. It progressed the story of the Star Wars franchise in a meaningful way, and I don’t think that’s what some folks wanted.

It was easily the best Star Wars film produced in my lifetime. Which is, you know, saying a whole lot.

Absolutely. It's a very good movie, unless you want Star Wars to just be a parody of itself.

That's not to say there aren't legitimate criticisms, but they are far fewer in number than what the "consensus" apparently would have you believe.

[Golden]

My own view is that it's the best Star Wars movie full stop. But OMG we can't possibly have a movie in which

Spoiler: show

people make bad decisions and fail as a result.

Which I think is fundamentally at the heart of all the criticisms, and yet I think it's keeping it real.

[DharmaHelper]

This thread is now "Countdown to Epi's TLJ Hot Take"

[JaggedJimmyJay]

I think it’s the best of Disney’s SW efforts, at least, and certainly better than the prequels. I’d probably place it 4th overall in the full series.

[DharmaHelper]

Is Ozark a better Breaking Bad?

Kind of? Yes

[Enrique]

I’m finally watching Twin Peaks. Episode 3 just ended. That dream sequence was... um.
I like this.

You're starting my favorite show of all time, albeit one that's a little hard to get into. Here's what I told Ricochet when he started the show:

Spoiler: show

This is my favorite show of all time, and I could listen to/watch/read discussion and analysis of it for hours on end. Note that when I say favorite, I do not mean best. The best TV show of all time is The Wire, no contest. Twin Peaks is a flawed masterpiece, but to be honest, I doubt I'd really be capable of loving a perfect work of art with all my heart the way I do Twin Peaks.

Now, Twin Peaks (SEASONS ONE AND TWO) is essentially a balancing act between three very different television shows.

1. 1. A police procedural about a murdered teenage girl, where each episode is a day in the investigation. Everyone's a suspect, and the death of this one person sends shockwaves throughout the entire community.
   
   2. A parody of 80's and 90's era soap operas featuring ridiculous exaggerated acting, labyrinthine relationships, (everyone's sleeping with each other), and enjoyably pulpy storytelling.
   
   3. A bizarre avant-garde exploration of the dark side of the American psyche and the inescapable violence not only found in human nature but also in the dirt and wood of the town itself.

And for roughly the first 16-18 episodes, it works.

Then things go a little wonky. You'll know it when it starts happening.

You can choose to either skip ahead, to when it gets good again, and it does get quite good again, or you can tough it out through some rough patches.

My suggested viewing experience is as follows: All of Season 1. Episodes 1-9 of Seasons 2. Episodes 21-22 of Season 2. Fire Walk With Me. Season 3.

You can find Rico and I's episode-by-episode discussions in the Twin Peaks thread, they were pretty fun to do. Also, watch the Log Lady intros for each episode. They're all pretty amazing.



Watching the show for the first time, do you have any suspects so far? What's your reading of the dream sequence? Are there possible clues to be gleaned from it, or is it nonsensical bullpuckey?

Second half of season 2 is pretty bad but I thought it was watchable, at least for the first (one) time. IIRC I burned through all the badness in a day or two, because I was so into the show and wanted to catch up lol. Those episodes don't have a lot going for them but they have a lot of lore, the introduction of Annie, Denise, Civil War Ben (okay that one can go). If it gets unbearable I'd skip to Miss Twin Peaks, but I don't think it's that hard to get through.

[mention]insertnamehere[/mention] have you read the books? I just finished The Final Dossier. Mark Frost is a weird dude, lol.

[Enrique]

I'm not a huge Star Wars fan but TLJ was definitely better than any of the others that have come out in my lifetime, lol. Too long, though.

[DharmaHelper]

Kidding may be one of my favorite shows of all time. Certainly is one of my favorite if not my favorite new show. Gonna hold judgement for the season on a whole though. Super good so far.

[juliets]

Kidding may be one of my favorite shows of all time. Certainly is one of my favorite if not my favorite new show. Gonna hold judgement for the season on a whole though. Super good so far.

DH what channel is it on?

[DharmaHelper]

Kidding may be one of my favorite shows of all time. Certainly is one of my favorite if not my favorite new show. Gonna hold judgement for the season on a whole though. Super good so far.

DH what channel is it on?

Showtime. Though the first episode is free on Youtube.

[dunya]

watched the new mission impossible last night with friends. the friends loved it, i didn't hate it. i was surprised.

[juliets]

watched the new mission impossible last night with friends. the friends loved it, i didn't hate it. i was surprised.

dunya, this was the new movie, Fallout? I heard it was actually pretty good so I'm not surprised you didn't hate it lol.

we're about to start watching Sharp Objects which my mother says I won't make it past the second episode, hahaha. I don't like squeamish things.

[DharmaHelper]

watched the new mission impossible last night with friends. the friends loved it, i didn't hate it. i was surprised.

dunya, this was the new movie, Fallout? I heard it was actually pretty good so I'm not surprised you didn't hate it lol.

we're about to start watching Sharp Objects which my mother says I won't make it past the second episode, hahaha. I don't like squeamish things.

I'll do you one better and say you won't make it 30 minutes into the first episode. Good luck tho.

[DharmaHelper]

watched the new mission impossible last night with friends. the friends loved it, i didn't hate it. i was surprised.

dunya, this was the new movie, Fallout? I heard it was actually pretty good so I'm not surprised you didn't hate it lol.

we're about to start watching Sharp Objects which my mother says I won't make it past the second episode, hahaha. I don't like squeamish things.

Im gonna need an update on the Sharp Objects situation ASAP

[juliets]

watched the new mission impossible last night with friends. the friends loved it, i didn't hate it. i was surprised.

dunya, this was the new movie, Fallout? I heard it was actually pretty good so I'm not surprised you didn't hate it lol.

we're about to start watching Sharp Objects which my mother says I won't make it past the second episode, hahaha. I don't like squeamish things.

Im gonna need an update on the Sharp Objects situation ASAP

lol I STILL haven't watched the first one - I'm scared - maybe tomorrow night (football on tonight)

[DharmaHelper]

watched the new mission impossible last night with friends. the friends loved it, i didn't hate it. i was surprised.

dunya, this was the new movie, Fallout? I heard it was actually pretty good so I'm not surprised you didn't hate it lol.

we're about to start watching Sharp Objects which my mother says I won't make it past the second episode, hahaha. I don't like squeamish things.

Im gonna need an update on the Sharp Objects situation ASAP

lol I STILL haven't watched the first one - I'm scared - maybe tomorrow night (football on tonight)

The countdown begins.

[Enrique]

Another sensational season of BoJack Horseman, five years going now. This season was largely the writers responding to the dumbassery of glamorizing and justifying every sociopathic anti-hero on TV and rocked it as always... and was hard to watch, as always. Some of the fanbase is very split, which I mean, it sucks that it has to be like that, but it's a good debate.

Five years of saying this gets tiring, but once you get past the first handful of episodes this show is pure gold.

[Turnip Head]

Another sensational season of BoJack Horseman, five years going now. This season was largely the writers responding to the dumbassery of glamorizing and justifying every sociopathic anti-hero on TV and rocked it as always... and was hard to watch, as always. Some of the fanbase is very split, which I mean, it sucks that it has to be like that, but it's a good debate.

Five years of saying this gets tiring, but once you get past the first handful of episodes this show is pure gold.

BoJack Horseman is a seriously depressing show and it's also pretty goofy but occasionally it has these brief but beautiful moments of insight that make it worth the time.

[Enrique]

It is very seriously funny, the animal puns don't ever get old. The last episode of the season was all kinds of fucked up but I lost it at this shot.

[nutella]

Another sensational season of BoJack Horseman, five years going now. This season was largely the writers responding to the dumbassery of glamorizing and justifying every sociopathic anti-hero on TV and rocked it as always... and was hard to watch, as always. Some of the fanbase is very split, which I mean, it sucks that it has to be like that, but it's a good debate.

Five years of saying this gets tiring, but once you get past the first handful of episodes this show is pure gold.

I never finished season 4, I really need to catch up!!! Once I get around to it I know I'll love every minute, such a great show

[nutella]

and lol at that still, that's excellent. I saw this one going around on tumblr:

[Enrique]

lmao. the best part is that that's only in frame for a moment, so it's impossible to catch it on first sight. i had to rewind and pause it a bunch to read it

[ColinIsCool]

I feel like BoJack is much better when it’s a straight drama. It’s never made me laugh much, but when it goes deep ...

[nutella]

mmm disagree, I think it's such a clever balance of hilarious goofy humor and devastating emotions. the jokes are just all so clever and well-written but also some episodes just totally crush me


anyway right now I'm on the one with "tangled fog of pulsating yearning in the shape of a woman" and "mr chocolate hazelnut spread" lol this is a good time

[nutella]

5.11 is so well done holy shitttt

[timmer]

The Haunting of Hill House... somebody hold me As someone who has had more than a fair share of death related trauma, this Netflix show threw me for a loop... just possibly the most emotional ghost story ever??? What a great show!

[DharmaHelper]

I still gotta dig into Hill House.

Narcos: Mexico is pretty good tho.

[insertnamehere]

Sam Esmail's new Amazon show Homecoming fuckin' slaps.

My favorite part: the soundtrack is entirely made up of scores from other films, with a bunch of iconic Carpenter and 70's thriller stuff in there. Also, Julia Roberts can actually act. Who knew?