7 votes

TV Tuesdays Free Talk

Have you watched any TV shows recently you want to discuss? Any shows you want to recommend or are hyped about? Feel free to discuss anything here.

Please just try to provide fair warning of spoilers if you can.

9 comments

  1. [4]
    joplin
    Link
    This week we started watching Space Force. We're only about 2 or 3 episodes in. I think it's hilarious. We've also been watching season 4 of Insecure. This season is a little hard to watch because...

    This week we started watching Space Force. We're only about 2 or 3 episodes in. I think it's hilarious.

    We've also been watching season 4 of Insecure. This season is a little hard to watch because all of the friendships from past seasons are starting to fall apart. I feel so bad for all the characters! But you can see some real growth through it all.

    6 votes
    1. patience_limited
      Link Parent
      I'm not 100% in love with Space Force, more like 70% at five episodes in. The episodes where General Naird and his entire team aren't total idiots, are great - full of subtle and overt digs at the...

      I'm not 100% in love with Space Force, more like 70% at five episodes in. The episodes where General Naird and his entire team aren't total idiots, are great - full of subtle and overt digs at the military-industrial complex and its politicization, with some true ROTFL moments. There are Easter Egg callbacks to everything from Star Trek to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and some genuinely useful history. Both Steve Carrell and John Malkovich are genius actors within their ranges, and do impossible things with the material they're given.

      The space chimp episode could have been any typical sitcom crap, and I was deeply unamused.

      7 votes
    2. patience_limited
      Link Parent
      We power-watched the rest of Space Force Season 1 this week, and overall, I'm pretty pleased with the outcome. Definitely time well-spent, and it's gained in relevance with recent events. Partial...

      We power-watched the rest of Space Force Season 1 this week, and overall, I'm pretty pleased with the outcome. Definitely time well-spent, and it's gained in relevance with recent events.

      Partial spoiler warning

      I'll leave details to viewers, but "mutually assured destruction" is an ending that (unfortunately) never goes out of style. It's applied with completely appropriate comic genius, and some very on-the-nose messaging.

      3 votes
    3. DanBC
      Link Parent
      I enjoyed Space Force. Steve Carrell is amazing. I hope there's more of it, and I hope they work out what it wants to be, because it's a bit under-focussed at the moment.

      I enjoyed Space Force. Steve Carrell is amazing. I hope there's more of it, and I hope they work out what it wants to be, because it's a bit under-focussed at the moment.

      3 votes
  2. mrbig
    (edited )
    Link
    Welcome to mrbig’s Deep Space Nine Diaries! — S02E01! I hate Kira. I LOVE Kira. No seriously I hate her. On second thought... I love how they’re putting Chief O'Brien in several situations where a...

    Welcome to mrbig’s Deep Space Nine Diaries! — S02E01!

    • I hate Kira. I LOVE Kira. No seriously I hate her. On second thought...
    • I love how they’re putting Chief O'Brien in several situations where a transport operator should never be! And also how they managed to keep the character consistent in the most bizarre situations. The actor is no Michael Dorn but he’s more than adequate for the role.
    • Commandant Sisko is not devoid of interest but up until now he’s too unidimensional. I know he loved his wife immensely, is a great father and have a weird devotion for the most boring sport ever conceived by humankind. None of that shouts “super interesting”.
    • Sisko’s son is the most boring character in the show. His subplots are futile and largely irrelevant. There’s real shit going down kid, I don’t care about your mischiefs with Nog! Right now his only purpose is to allow Sisko to show his human (boring) side.
    • Dax is almost a supporting character, they should use her more. Right now she’s kinda like Guinan before Time’s Arrow — a mentor without agency that serves to enlighten her friends and advance the plot. And the actress really showed her talent for comedy in the episode where aliens create a double of her based for Dr. Bashir.
    • Quark is, of course, absolutely delightful. Great writing, stellar performance. His friendship with Odo is believable and endearing. It’s rare for two actors to start off with such chemistry already. Theirs is some quality banter!
    • The plots are more inventive and usually better than TNG.
    • Is Q science fiction? This was probably discussed before, but to me he’s like an overpowered Mister Mxyzptlk with a sci-fi skin. Great episode regardless.
    • “Duet” may be one of the best TV episodes I ever watched. Perfect twist, somber ending. And so layered in history and philosophy! Loved it. Harris Yulin deserved an award for his performance as Marritza.
    • “Move Along Home” feels like Twilight Zone in space. Not super great but creative and enjoyable. The moment when Quark clearly don’t give a fuck about anything other the winning the game is precious.
    • “The Nagus” digs deep in Ferengi culture. It’s awesome how they represent the worst aspects of humankind, it’s hard not to associate them with our hypocritical wealth and powerful. They truly are a caricature of our viciousness (that their powerful). And they’re really funny.
    6 votes
  3. DanBC
    Link
    I watched Motherland: Fort Salem. It's nonsense. It was mostly enjoyable nonsense. I think it would have been a lot stronger if it had gone with "witches -- lots female empowerment", instead of...

    I watched Motherland: Fort Salem. It's nonsense. It was mostly enjoyable nonsense. I think it would have been a lot stronger if it had gone with "witches -- lots female empowerment", instead of "witches -- ooh sexy ladies".

    My child and I have been watching UK seasons of The Apprentice and almost everyone on it is insufferable.

    I watched Little Fires Everywhere. I wanted to love it. The two leads are clearly brilliant. It's too long. That causes any tension they build up to be destroyed when they switch out to look at different characters and their implausible arcs. I'm glad it was made, and I'm glad I watched it. It just wasn't as good as I wanted it to be.

    3 votes
  4. [3]
    Ellimist
    Link
    Been doing a rewatch of Avatar: The Last Airbender That show was ahead of it's time and still relevant. Iroh is love, Iroh is life. I do occasionally find myself annoyed with Aang but it's easy to...

    Been doing a rewatch of Avatar: The Last Airbender

    That show was ahead of it's time and still relevant. Iroh is love, Iroh is life. I do occasionally find myself annoyed with Aang but it's easy to forget that he's just a child. The dialogue was/is surprisingly mature in a lot of places.

    Just all around fantastic. Even as a 32 year old, incredibly enjoyable

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      mrbig
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I was an adult when Avatar... was released and it probably took a while to become available here. Since I don't have an emotional connection I see no reason to start watching now, just as I would...

      I was an adult when Avatar... was released and it probably took a while to become available here. Since I don't have an emotional connection I see no reason to start watching now, just as I would probably not be watching the new Ducktales if I wasn't a fan of the first version. The degree of adoration for this show makes me want to give it a try, but I get the feeling that it's probably cool, but only remarkable for a kids cartoon. Fans can be incredibly hyperbolic sometimes.

      1 vote
      1. Ellimist
        Link Parent
        I didn’t watch it until I was an adult. Just a couple years ago, in fact. If you have a free weekend, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. Episodes are short, standard 23 minutes, and you’ll...

        I didn’t watch it until I was an adult. Just a couple years ago, in fact.

        If you have a free weekend, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. Episodes are short, standard 23 minutes, and you’ll know pretty quick if it’s something you’ll enjoy

        The animation holds up pretty well, although I’d recommend watching it in 1080p if you can. Looks significantly better than 720p

        And the themes do cover some serious ground. Simple themes easily explained to a child and more adult themes like death and loss and the ravages of war

        2 votes