10 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.

16 comments

  1. [9]
    cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    I tried watching Psych after seeing so many people gush about it here on Tildes... and I have to say, it's okay, but I am honestly pretty disappointed with it so far. I absolutely love the...

    I tried watching Psych after seeing so many people gush about it here on Tildes... and I have to say, it's okay, but I am honestly pretty disappointed with it so far. I absolutely love the premise, and the main actors are decent enough, but after watching 3 episodes I am really starting to struggle to find a reason to continue watching more. It's just way too goofy/cheesy for me thus far, and the idiotic, over-the-top acting of the main character, unbelievable, absurdly gullible side characters, and cliche storylines are kind of annoying me at this point. I don't want to ditch the show yet given how much praise it has received though, so for those that have watched it all the way through (e.g. @Adys) I have a question for y'all; Does it eventually start taking itself at least a tiny bit more seriously, and stop relying on gullible idiots for comedic effect and to make the premise work, or should I just expect more of the same cartoonish, over-the-top behavior throughout all 8 seasons?

    6 votes
    1. joplin
      Link Parent
      FWIW, I had the same reaction. I watched about half the first season and gave up. It just wasn't compelling enough on its own. I loved the premise, but the execution just wasn't up to snuff for me.

      FWIW, I had the same reaction. I watched about half the first season and gave up. It just wasn't compelling enough on its own. I loved the premise, but the execution just wasn't up to snuff for me.

      3 votes
    2. [3]
      tomf
      Link Parent
      I'm totally with you re: Psych. I ended up compiling 'must watch' episode lists --- and I've been happy to watch an episode or two whenever I just want to watch something. It's also cool to see...

      I'm totally with you re: Psych. I ended up compiling 'must watch' episode lists --- and I've been happy to watch an episode or two whenever I just want to watch something.

      It's also cool to see Whiterock (BC) from a time when I was spending a lot of time down there.

      Here's my list.

      So far as I've seen, the tone doesn't really change and everybody is stupid... and our hero always cracks the case.

      Have you watched Chuck? They're very similar, but I enjoyed Chuck a bit more.

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Ah, that's a shame. I was hoping it was just a bit of a shaky first season where they were trying to find their footing. :( Thanks for the "must watch" episode list though, I will give watching...

        Ah, that's a shame. I was hoping it was just a bit of a shaky first season where they were trying to find their footing. :( Thanks for the "must watch" episode list though, I will give watching those a try before giving up on the show entirely.

        Also, I had no idea it was shot in White Rock! I was born in Vancouver, and during my formative years actually lived in White Rock, a few blocks up one of the crazy steep hills directly across from the namesake rock. :) Although I haven't been back there in about 25 years now, so that probably explains why I didn't recognize the place anymore.

        And I have not seen Chuck, but if Psych turns out not to be for me, I will give it a try instead. Thanks for the recommendation.

        2 votes
        1. tomf
          Link Parent
          its so cool to see stuff around White Rock. A few times they're in the Just Friends cafe (my favorite) and places that have long since closed down. Definitely check out Chuck. Chuck has the same...

          its so cool to see stuff around White Rock. A few times they're in the Just Friends cafe (my favorite) and places that have long since closed down.

          Definitely check out Chuck. Chuck has the same corny factor, but after one of the seasons they were going to be cancelled unless they could get a major sponsor. Subway stepped in and the fanbase went bananas for Subway. The show leaned into it, too, which was sort of refreshing at the time.

          Everything they wanted to do with Psych they perfected with Chuck. Its goofy, plays up tropes, etc.

          1 vote
    3. mrbig
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      There are some good episodes but I wouldn't say Psych gets much better. I also watched it due to the imense praise, a few seasons even. It is definitely nice to have something comfortable to...

      There are some good episodes but I wouldn't say Psych gets much better. I also watched it due to the imense praise, a few seasons even. It is definitely nice to have something comfortable to watch, take a break from the huge complicated arcs that dominate current television. But I fail to understand why it gets such overwelmingly positive reviews. Psych is okay, and sometimes that is all you want. It doesn't go beyond that.

      2 votes
    4. [3]
      Adys
      Link Parent
      If you didn't like the first few episodes, maybe it's just not for you. Shawn is certainly goofy, but I wouldn't say he's "over the top". His chemistry with Gus is absolutely fantastic, the...

      If you didn't like the first few episodes, maybe it's just not for you. Shawn is certainly goofy, but I wouldn't say he's "over the top". His chemistry with Gus is absolutely fantastic, the relationships with his family (and gus' family) evolve over time. The relationship between him and Lassiter massively evolves over the seasons as well.

      There are a few more serious episodes; they're few and far between, most of them are … I won't say goofy, but they're certainly light-hearted and often self-deprecating. I would say it's a very well developed series. The Pilot is kind of its own thing, Spellingg Bee is a bit of a weak episode, but E03, E04, E05, E06 are all pretty strong and I rewatch them with great delight.

      The first four seasons are my favourites. Psych suffers from a severe case of flanderization unfortunately, and the last few seasons, the characters get exaggerated, it jumps a bit too much into its own memes / fan-service (similar to what happened to Supernatural, I'd say). Still a good series but … yeah.

      If you don't want to ditch the show yet, watch until E05-E06 and then decide. If you're not enjoying your time by then? I think it's just not for you.

      And I want to really stress that Psych has an extremely special place in my heart, so I wouldn't just tell people to drop it if I thought it had a strong shot.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Pretty much every time he gets a "vision" in the first few episodes, he either falls on the floor and starts writhing around like he's in a spoof of Poltergeist, or dramatically clutches himself...

        Pretty much every time he gets a "vision" in the first few episodes, he either falls on the floor and starts writhing around like he's in a spoof of Poltergeist, or dramatically clutches himself (or others, or objects) and completely hams it up. If that's not "over the top" then I don't know what is. :P

        But after watching a few more episodes, I think it ultimately comes down to the show simply not being for me. I can see the appeal; It's lighthearted fun. But it's just a bit too silly, and all the side characters are a bit too idiotic for my personal tastes. Oh well. To each their own.

        1 vote
        1. Adys
          Link Parent
          He does do things that are over the top but I see this as part of his character. I wouldn't call the character itself over the top (point of comparison: Cosmo Kramer is over the top as a...

          He does do things that are over the top but I see this as part of his character. I wouldn't call the character itself over the top (point of comparison: Cosmo Kramer is over the top as a character). You see what I mean?

          He does tone that down quite a bit. In fact I remember a couple of gags lampshading this later on in the series.

          1 vote
  2. cloud_loud
    Link
    I watched Mare of Easttown and I May Destroy You. They're both limited series on HBO and are both likely to get nominated at the Emmys. They also both have gotten a lot of love from critics and...

    I watched Mare of Easttown and I May Destroy You.

    They're both limited series on HBO and are both likely to get nominated at the Emmys. They also both have gotten a lot of love from critics and Mare of Easttown has gotten a lot of love from audiences.

    That being said, I didn't love either of them. I liked them, but not to the extent everyone else seems to have liked them.

    Out of the two, I liked Mare of Easttown the most. It's very pulpy; I'm a little surprised it's gotten so much prestige since I think the writing of it isn't very reminiscent of other prestige shows. Kate Winslet is great, which is probably a big reason why this show is elevated to prestige. But it is a very engrossing mystery, where I couldn't wait to find out who did it, and it's very satisfying.

    I May Destroy You has gotten comparisons to Fleabag. There's not really a lot of similarities besides they are both written and created by millennial British women who also star in the show. It's a good show. I feel a bit distant from all the acclaim though. I don't think it's the masterpiece most critics seem to think it is. And because I've seen comparisons to Fleabag, I can't help but compare it to Fleabag myself, and it's not as good as Fleabag. I think the writing in Fleabag is better. That's not to say that Michaela Coel is a bad writer, but it doesn't feel quite as polished.

    3 votes
  3. [3]
    joplin
    Link
    Finally sitting down to watch the last season of Pose. As with past seasons, it starts off on a dark note. But I suspect that as with past seasons, it will also end on a bright note. It's 5 (I...

    Finally sitting down to watch the last season of Pose. As with past seasons, it starts off on a dark note. But I suspect that as with past seasons, it will also end on a bright note. It's 5 (I think?) years later (1994). Most of Blanca's children have moved out. Poppy is still a talent agent for Angel and others, though Angel hasn't worked in several months. Ricky is living with Praytell, who's falling down an alcoholic hole. Initially Damon is the last one still living with Blanca, but after 2 episodes he's "moved back to North Carolina". (It feels very much like the actor got a better offer and left the show since they didn't have any lead up to it. Maybe he comes back later? I guess I'll see.) Blanca is now working as a nurse-in-training in the HIV ward at the local hospital. I was pleased to see they've addressed some loose ends from past seasons. Blanca is still dating her doctor boyfriend. They finally deal with Elektra's trunk. They're also doing some flashbacks to when everyone first got involved with the balls ~1983 or so.

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      AnthonyB
      Link Parent
      My girlfriend watches this show and I've been around a few times while it's on in the background. I'm not sure how dramatic it was in the early seasons, but goddamn I suggest that you buckle up...

      My girlfriend watches this show and I've been around a few times while it's on in the background. I'm not sure how dramatic it was in the early seasons, but goddamn I suggest that you buckle up for this one.

      1 vote
      1. joplin
        Link Parent
        Yeah, it's always quite dramatic. My spouse was just complaining yesterday that she wishes it were a little less intense. We definitely can't binge this one because of that.

        Yeah, it's always quite dramatic. My spouse was just complaining yesterday that she wishes it were a little less intense. We definitely can't binge this one because of that.

        2 votes
  4. kfwyre
    Link
    My husband and I just finished the first two seasons of The Mole. The show is an old (2001) reality elimination show hosted by Anderson Cooper. Netflix is rumored to be rebooting it, and the fact...

    My husband and I just finished the first two seasons of The Mole. The show is an old (2001) reality elimination show hosted by Anderson Cooper. Netflix is rumored to be rebooting it, and the fact that it just added two seasons of it to their lineup is a soft confirmation.

    The show is sort of like The Amazing Race, only the teams are fluid and change from task to task. The teams work together to complete tasks which contributes prize money to the pot, which only one person -- the winner -- will eventually take home. However, there is one person, the titular "Mole", who is working for the show to covertly sabotage the teams without being detected. The end of each episode features a quiz about who The Mole is, and the player scoring lowest on the quiz gets eliminated. The winner is the final player to score highest on the quiz in the final episode, when only three people (two contestants and The Mole) are left.

    The show is very much Among Us well before it was a thing, and it's still fun to watch even today because it has the feel of a good "whodunnit". For both seasons, I was CERTAIN of my Mole pick early on and had it confirmed episode over episode, until, shortly before the finales in both seasons, my picks lost the quiz and went home, leaving me scrambling to try to figure out where I'd gone wrong and who the REAL Mole actually was.

    The series is definitely dated and a little clumsy, and some of the challenges are full on duds, but overall it really was fun trying to sleuth out who was who. There's a nice built-in balance in the game, in that, in order to win the prize money, it's a good strategy for people who aren't The Mole to cast suspicions on themselves or others they're certain AREN'T The Mole, as that makes others suspect the wrong person, answer poorly on the quiz, and go home as a result. As such, there's constant second-guessing and distrust of nearly everyone. I was reminded of Battlestar Galactica in places -- not knowing who the cylons were or weren't.

    I'll also say that some of the datedness of the show isn't fun to return to. There is one person in the first season that's outright abusive, and the show just sort of lets it happen without comment. Furthermore, there's a lot of r/pointlesslygendered stuff that's uncomfortable by modern standards, as well as some full-on sexism. The production also toys with the contestants a bit too heavily in places for my liking, with some of the challenges being unnecessarily cruel (IMO). Nevertheless, these don't detract from the show too much, and I'm overall very positive on it. It was lots of fun to watch through and try to figure out who was who.

    1 vote
  5. tomf
    Link
    The Hustler (game show) is in its second season and... its just fun. Craig Ferguson shines as a host. Its neat to see the different approaches each episode's hustler takes. The basic premise: six...

    The Hustler (game show) is in its second season and... its just fun. Craig Ferguson shines as a host. Its neat to see the different approaches each episode's hustler takes.

    The basic premise:

    • six people, one is the hustler
    • as a group they answer trivia that is loosely based around the hustler. Before each question, one fact about the hustler is shared -- $10k per correct answer
    • there are two spots where the hustler gets to remove a player
    • for the last question, if they get it right, they double the money -- if they get it wrong, the money halves

    The final round has three people. If the hustler isn't chosen to be eliminated, the hustler wins everything, otherwise the remaining two split the pot.

    All in all, its a fun show.

    1 vote
  6. mrbig
    (edited )
    Link
    I watched the Netlix docuseries The Sons of Sam with the impression that it was a traditional true crime story, containing an investigation that leads to an interesting conclusion. In reality, the...

    I watched the Netlix docuseries The Sons of Sam with the impression that it was a traditional true crime story, containing an investigation that leads to an interesting conclusion. In reality, the show documents the events of the crime through the lenses of a journalist with an outlandish conspiracy theory regarding the true authors of the murders. I wouldn't say that was a bad decision per se, but it makes for something I consider much less engaging. It soon becomes clear that the line of investigation is flimsy and cannot lead to anything solid -- I didn't like that. What interests me about true crime is, well, crime. I was really not interested in the personal journey of a well-meaning journalist/crackpot.

    It's not a bad documentary, but I wouldn't recommend it either.

    1 vote