smiles134's recent activity
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
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Comment on Very Important People: Boris Tarshkokan in ~tv
smiles134 Link ParentThe Game Changer episode that Play it By Ear spun off from is fantastic, but I haven't seen any of Play It proper yet. I'm always a little hesitant to recommend it cause you have to both like...The Game Changer episode that Play it By Ear spun off from is fantastic, but I haven't seen any of Play It proper yet. I'm always a little hesitant to recommend it cause you have to both like improv and musicals, which is like niche on top of niche lol
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Comment on Very Important People: Boris Tarshkokan in ~tv
smiles134 Link Parentas I was typing out that initial comment, I was watching the Escape from the Green Room episode for the first time which immediately became a top episode for me. My stomach hurt from laughing so...as I was typing out that initial comment, I was watching the Escape from the Green Room episode for the first time which immediately became a top episode for me. My stomach hurt from laughing so much lol
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Comment on Very Important People: Boris Tarshkokan in ~tv
smiles134 Link ParentI subbed to Dropout after exhausting all their Dimension 20 content that's free on YouTube (I think like 4 full campaigns and 2 shorter campaigns). I don't play D&D (though I love CRPGs) so I...I subbed to Dropout after exhausting all their Dimension 20 content that's free on YouTube (I think like 4 full campaigns and 2 shorter campaigns). I don't play D&D (though I love CRPGs) so I didn't think this stuff was for me until I saw some random clips on social media.
Since subscribing I started watching Game Changer and Make Some Noise as well which are both great. I haven't even dipped my toes into VIP yet.
Game Changer is an improv game show where each episode is a different game that the players learn on the fly. (Usually) they have no idea what the rules are until they're rewarded or penalized based on what they do during their turn.
Make Some Noise is a spin off of a Game Changer episode that's more or less Whose Line is it Anyway where the players act out a scene based on a prompt. Lots of impressions and funny improv.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
smiles134 Link ParentHell yeah, thanks. I've seen some of these (can't believe I forgot to include What We Do in the Shadows in my pantheon!) but not a lot of them. Some of them are unfortunately on HBO I think but...Hell yeah, thanks. I've seen some of these (can't believe I forgot to include What We Do in the Shadows in my pantheon!) but not a lot of them. Some of them are unfortunately on HBO I think but were on my radar, but a lot are viable options I think
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
smiles134 (edited )LinkI would love some TV show recommendations, preferably a series that's not ongoing, as I watch most of my TV during my lunch breaks and would rather have something that I can watch every day and...I would love some TV show recommendations, preferably a series that's not ongoing, as I watch most of my TV during my lunch breaks and would rather have something that I can watch every day and not wait for a new season to drop a year from now. I have several streaming platforms (US) but not HBO or Showtime which does limit some of my prestige show watching.
Shows that I would consider in my pantheon:
The Americans
Andor
Bojack Horseman
The Good Place
Seinfeld
Friend
Mr. RobotShows that are always on repeat, more or less:
Parks and Rec
Psych
Scrubs
Brooklyn 99
Bob's Burgers
New Girl
Criminal MindsShows that I've watched somewhat recently and enjoyed:
Reservation Dogs
The Bear (esp. seasons 1&2)
Ted Lasso (esp. season 1)
Brockmire
Dark Winds
Battlestar Galactica
Stargate SG1 and Atlantis
The Mandalorian (esp. season 1)
Breaking Bad
Better Call Saul
Long Story Short
FargoI'm also a big fan of limited series, and have enjoyed these:
Watchmen
The Patient
Ripley
The Dropout
Under the Banner of Heaven
Band of BrothersShows I'm currently watching:
King of the Hill
The Shield
Abbott ElementaryShows I've watched recently that I was kind of indifferent on, or felt like they dragged on too long (or just straight up didn't like):
Homeland
The Good Wife (I really liked the first couple of seasons of this show but the less they were focused on actual court cases, the less I cared)
Inside Man (just watched this this week and actively disliked it)
Broadchurch (season 1 was good but season 2&3 were not great -- season 3 was a little better than 2)
Severance
The Handmaid's Tale
Big Mouth -
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
smiles134 LinkI wrapped up Mad Max this week, and ultimately found it disappointing. For an open-world game devoted to driving a car and blowing up other cars, none of the car driving, car combat, or world you...I wrapped up Mad Max this week, and ultimately found it disappointing. For an open-world game devoted to driving a car and blowing up other cars, none of the car driving, car combat, or world you explore were remotely interesting. The first hour or so is identical to the next 18 hours. Lot of potential, poor execution.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
smiles134 LinkI watched Saturday Night last night which I know got a pretty tepid response when it was released but I actually really enjoyed it. I don't have a ton of nostalgia for SNL, particularly for that...I watched Saturday Night last night which I know got a pretty tepid response when it was released but I actually really enjoyed it. I don't have a ton of nostalgia for SNL, particularly for that era since it was about 20 years before my time, but I do think this movie was the best version it could've been with this conceit. Sure, it dramatized things but they really really nailed the casting.
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Comment on Donald Trump posted on Truth Social this morning that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" as his threatened attacks on Iranian infrastructure loom ahead of deadline in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentTo be very clear, I wasn't suggesting this was an actual course of action. I thought that was obvious.To be very clear, I wasn't suggesting this was an actual course of action. I thought that was obvious.
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Comment on Donald Trump posted on Truth Social this morning that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" as his threatened attacks on Iranian infrastructure loom ahead of deadline in ~society
smiles134 Link ParentShort of an actual armed civil uprising, there's nothing we can do. We have no mechanism to stop any of this other than plead with our elected officials to do something. And a majority of our...Short of an actual armed civil uprising, there's nothing we can do. We have no mechanism to stop any of this other than plead with our elected officials to do something. And a majority of our elected officials endorse Donald Trump.
I live in DC. There are protests here all the time, and most of them don't make the news. Like others have said, a huge majority of the country doesn't live anywhere remotely near DC.
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Comment on Breaking down Jo Adell's three home run robberies in ~sports.baseball
smiles134 LinkThis is maybe the most improbable accomplishment in a single game. I honestly cannot believe it happened, let alone to preserve a 1-0 win.This is maybe the most improbable accomplishment in a single game. I honestly cannot believe it happened, let alone to preserve a 1-0 win.
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Comment on Pam Bondi ousted as US attorney general in ~society
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Comment on Jeopardy! YouTube Edition | Teaser in ~tv
smiles134 LinkSurprised they only did one round. I was listening while working on other things and when they went to Final Jeopardy I thought I'd blacked out an entire round of the game somehow.Surprised they only did one round. I was listening while working on other things and when they went to Final Jeopardy I thought I'd blacked out an entire round of the game somehow.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
smiles134 (edited )LinkI watched two movies this past weekend: Roofman and Twelve Monkeys. I'd been wanting to see Roofman ever since I learned they were making a movie out of this story (which I'd first read about a...I watched two movies this past weekend: Roofman and Twelve Monkeys.
I'd been wanting to see Roofman ever since I learned they were making a movie out of this story (which I'd first read about a couple years ago and became fascinated by). I also love Channing Tatum. I'd say this is a solid 7.5. Tatum and Kirsten Dunst are great. They made some changes to the story for dramatic/narrative purposes but one change toward the end flipped the order of some events and it made Tatum come off as a little impulsive (if I'm remembering how things played out), which didn't really vibe with his intelligence that had been established consistently throughout the movie. I very much enjoyed this overall.
Twelve Monkeys is one I've been wanting to see for a while but could never find it available on streaming services I subscribe to, so when it popped up on Prime the other day, I put it on almost immediately. Wow, Brad Pitt was incredible in this. I got a little lost in the plot for a minute and went to verify something and accidentally spoiled the ending for myself, so the reveal about the zoo didn't hit quite as well as it should've, but overall I thought this did time travel really well. I started to believe halfway through that Bruce Willis really was inventing things in his brain, and so it was nice to have the psychiatrist start to try to convince him of the truth he'd been certain of in the first half of the movie. (A lot of the hitchhock references went past me, but they're clearly important with how piled on top of one another they are at the end.)
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Comment on TV series suggestions in ~tv
smiles134 Link ParentBrockmire is great. The last season takes a pretty big leap and it doesn't always pay off, but I appreciated that they went for it.Brockmire is great. The last season takes a pretty big leap and it doesn't always pay off, but I appreciated that they went for it.
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Comment on TV series suggestions in ~tv
smiles134 Link ParentReservation Dogs is incredible. Definitely check it out.Reservation Dogs is incredible. Definitely check it out.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
smiles134 Link ParentManchester by the Sea is one of the most gutting movies I've ever seen. My wife and I went to see it in theatres and she came out and said she'd never watch it ever again lol I don't think I've...Manchester by the Sea is one of the most gutting movies I've ever seen. My wife and I went to see it in theatres and she came out and said she'd never watch it ever again lol I don't think I've gone back to it before either, but I have rewatched a couple scenes, like the one in the police department after the fire.
Incredible performances by Casey Affleck and Lucas Hedges
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
smiles134 Link ParentThe Creator sucked so hard. I was extremely disappointed by it. The plot made next to no sense in the end.The Creator sucked so hard. I was extremely disappointed by it. The plot made next to no sense in the end.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
smiles134 LinkStill working my way through some palette cleansers before diving into my next long game (which is looking like Divinity: Original Sin). Right now, I'm about halfway through Islets, a kid of cozy...Still working my way through some palette cleansers before diving into my next long game (which is looking like Divinity: Original Sin).
Right now, I'm about halfway through Islets, a kid of cozy metroidvania. Gameplay reminds me a little of Ori and the Blind Forest. I think the upgrade approach is interesting -- there are specific abilities you unlock in a certain order, but you can improve things like health/damage/ammo by collecting upgrades, upon which you have a choice of 3 options to upgrade. That said, the upgrades feel a little marginal and I don't notice a huge difference. I had my first difficulty with a boss last night and kept dying mostly due to my bad timing with attacks and dodges.
I've finished LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. I haven't played one of these in a long time, and I didn't like this one as much as I liked the original but that might be me getting older. I did think the narratives were incredibly rushed, though, and sometimes the gameplay skipped over parts I actually wanted to play through.
I beat Lost in Random the other week. I liked this one a lot. Very cool gameplay loop, though the deck building aspect could've used some work. I never found a use for some cards, so I prioritized cards that did lots of damage or increased my rolls/drew more cards and that seemed like a fine approach. It seems like the sequel abandoned everything interesting about the game and went with a Hades knockoff for some reason, so I won't bother with it.
Also beat Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania a couple weeks ago. I liked this though I got extremely frustrated with one particular world. It took me like 3-4 hours to beat those ten levels, and like half as long to beat the entire last 20 levels that came after it.
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Comment on I think Tildes moderators and admins may need to make a decision regarding how to handle Harry Potter related posts in ~tildes
smiles134 Link ParentYeah, but this doesn't work when the artist is still alive and profiting from their art, and using those profits to further a mission of hate.I believe in the separation of the author from their art
Yeah, but this doesn't work when the artist is still alive and profiting from their art, and using those profits to further a mission of hate.
I gave up on Sifu after 4 hours. I thought the aging mechanic was really cool but I was really awful at blocking specifically and found myself getting insanely frustrated by the places where I died. Interesting game, not for me.
I started up Divinity: Original Sin for the first time and am barely exploring outside the first city and I've already sunk about 10 hours into the game. I'm enjoying learning the mechanics and especially using the environments for creative approaches to combat.