TV Tuesdays Free Talk

I just watched I'm A Virgo on Amazon Prime Video, and it's one of the best shows I've ever seen.

I tend to ignore Prime Video largely because the app is irritating and it's kind of hard to tell how good any of the stuff is on there because nobody ever seems to talk about them. I was randomly looking through it one day and I saw there was a series done by Boots Riley and that was enough to get me interested. So I watched it all at once and it exceeded my every expectation. Take a minute to watch the trailer. I can promise you it's gets crazier from there.

I guess the thing that I like the most about it is that it's more than brazenly anti-capitalist, it features spoken out loud admittance that a main character is a communist. It has scenes where they outright explain in simple terms alongside visuals what the problems are with capitalism and those scenes are so strong my eyes were getting misty during them. Which is weird because those scenes also kind of feel like they're lifted straight out of an episode of Adam Ruins Everything.

The thing that makes this series so great, though, is the visual storytelling. One of the characters is a mega-rich superhero who, instead of an elevator, has the entire building move up and down around him. One of the major themes is how people are shaped by the media, so there are ads constantly in the background, people watching TV, checking social media, etc.; the main character is a comic book fan and there are comic books in frame in every episode. And that media focus is important since the characters see their lives being reflected back at them through those lenses.

The show has a lot of depth to it, but the great thing about it is that it's still a comedy. You don't go into it thinking, "I'm going to watch a lecture on capitalism and media studies." You watch it because it's entertaining. And it is. There's no need to stress about missing an important detail, because you'll still get something out of it.

Started watching Twisted Metal on peacock and I kinda dig it. I’d describe it as post apocalyptic dark “comedy” with excessive gore / violence. I realize it’s not for everyone and It’s gotten mixed reviews, but I’m not sure the reviewers really “get” it. I think it’s supposed to fell kinda low budget, be campy and self aware. Much like the Sweet Tooth character, you really don’t know where the show might do from one moment to the next. The only thing I don’t like is the short episodes. They’ve been able to do a lot with the time constraints, but full hour episodes would have been welcome. I have about 4 episodes left to watch and am hoping we get another season. I’d buy a beer to whoever green lit this (kinda shocked they did tbh).

I was recently introduced to Hamish Macbeth and I really enjoyed it. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111993/reviews

Also the Last Thing He Told Me. It's intriguing. I think I like it.