catacombs

LOST: 5/5

Recently finished my second watch of the entire series, and I still love it.

Yes, there are plot holes -- a **** ton of them -- but the acting for an ensemble class was ahead of its time, and the show aged well.

KraneXL

Fringe 4/10

This JJ Abrams created TV series had so much potential. So much so that I didn't want to turn away even after Episode 3 when she jumped off a building to catch a fleeing male suspect (who left 5 minutes before she got there, btw. How do they do that?) but continued to endure the PC at its most absurd level until Episode 9 -- even extending my imagination -- I couldn't take it anymore.

A highly skill FBI agent assigned to investigate paranormal scientific activities in the city of Boston and around the world. The problem was this character is she continually puts herself is dangerous situations going out all alone at night into the woods or into dark basements chasing mysterious message she got on her computer. No backup or notifying anyone in her department when or where she will be. What trained FBI agent (or any cop) would do that?

If they had just put an S on her chest or given her special power, it would have been explainable and tolerable. Instead she's just as an ordinary person who manages to get into fight and never get bruised, never sweats, never breaths heavy, get her clothes torn, or manages not to always look gorgeous (unlike her male co-stars who always show the results of their unfortunate circumstances -- ever through subsequent episodes.). Pity, I really wanted to like this show.

Who writes this stuff? That would be Julia Cho & Zack Whedon. Yes, Joss Whedon's little bro.

kellyon

Too Old To Die Young - Nicolas Winding Refn opus. Some feature length episodes, ten episodes total. I love his movies, and six episides in i am in awe of this show. It's incredible. Miles Teller was made for the lead role.

KraneXL

10/10 (Seasons 1-2)


One of the best TV shows I've seen since Daredevil. I actually have to force myself not to binge watch it (one of the defining methods I use to determine a shows highest quality) at least that was the case during Seasons 1-2. Its basically an apocalypses story where a pandemic wipes out 90% of the world's population leaving one scientist aboard a warship lead by Capt. Tom Chandler to find and develop the cure and save mankind.

The show contains great acting with well-written dialogue, continuity, heartfelt moments of sadness, and an "edge-of-your-seat" plot with lots of action. Unfortunately, that quality didn't hold and by Season 3 they started to make compromises with events of the main character and the quality of the show started to dwindle. Capt. Tom Chandler pretty much becomes a one-man show with all the solutions to every problem (even Kirk had to refer to Spoke routinely).

By Season 3 it becomes even more difficulty to believe many of the actions the main character takes. The Capt. would spend more time on shore fighting bad guys, and less time running his ship. In effect, a present day James T. Kirk where the captain of the ship leads all the away missions and gets into bar brawls.

Speaking of military protocol, how hard can it be to get things like basic uniforms and solutes right? It surprises me that in these times Hollywood still makes these simple mistakes. Especially since they make a point to maintain military structure despite their crisis. I doubt if there's a production set anywhere where you can't find at least one former military person who can advise on basic military structure -- even if the production doesn't go as far as to hire a military consultant.

Which leads me to how I recognize signs of a poor production -- questions? The moment I begin asking questions about the plausibility of events and activities, I know the structure has begun to unravel. Sure, recognizing its a TV production and has to make allowances to keep up the action, I can make an exception every now and then. But as these events begin to build up, you end up wondering what the writers were thinking and why they didn't do a bit more research to get these things right. By that time, you become an analyst rather than a spectator.

canklecat

Just finished The Expanse, season 3, and found myself hooked despite not being impressed with it at first. But I still think the problems between Earth, Mars and the Belters could be resolved if the Belters learned to speak clearly. How do they even understand each other with that goulash patois? For all they know an invitation to dinner might sound like a command to launch missiles.

And just started watching The Night Manager. It's much better than I'd expected. Although the story isn't original. I'm pretty sure Robert Ludlum wrote this plot a decade before John le Carre, substituting a drug cartel boss for an arms dealer. But le Carre was a better writer, while Ludlum's forte was creating good characters and plots -- but he was a terrible writer. Movie adaptations of Ludlum novels are usually better than the books.

Jadesfire 

I've got two series to recommend now.
One is Rita (Netflix): give it a try if you like shows with subtitles. It's four seasons of ~30 minute episodes about a tough public school teacher in Copenhagen with a troubled and often colorful personal life. I thought the characters were well-written and the acting and emotion portrayed was enough to make the subtitles almost unnecessary.

The second is Derry Girls (also on Netflix). Humorous but still poignant enough to not be 100% fluff. Set in Northern Ireland during the early 1990s about a group of friends making their way through high school (the overseas equivalent anyway) with the back drop of the IRA and the peace talks with the British government...and at times quite thick accents. I am probably biased since I went to an all-girls high school, so I could relate to the humor and the situations, but I thoroughly enjoyed the series and am looking forward to more (hopefully).

bikecrate

Started watching Das Boot on Hulu. Great production values. I'm more interested in the sub parts than the shore based resistance story. Also season 7 of Venture Brothers.

zinfamous

The American

bikecrate

Finished watching Das Boot season 1. I thought it was pretty good. I started watching Catch-22 on Hulu. I've read the book and seen the original movie. I some ways I like this mini series better. They have time to fill out the characters. Visuals are great too.

kellyon

Ballers, Peaky Blinders and Power all come back on the same day I think! Nice.

bikecrate

Finished Catch-22. I was pretty impressed by it. Started watching Penny Dreadful on Netflix. It has about every classic horror type in it (vampires, Frankenstein etc.). Maybe a little goofy, but good creepy fun and not too hard on the brain.

KraneXL

As did Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I tried it due to the recommendation of a coworker and it turned out to be a not too bad show. Its when I first got to know Whedon and his fine mix of horror, drama, mystery, along with subtle comic relief black humor. Thanks for providing some level critique info.

colorider

We saw the first two episodes of Chernobyl last night. It's well done and pretty riveting.

vipvoy

The Sarah Conner Chronicles very good 8 out of 10
The X files at least the old one 9 out of 10

colorider

We binged the entire series (5 episodes). Really well done.

mysterie

'vice principals' was a fun and silly ride

KraneXL

After a group of scientist working on a new form of energy discover the military intends to use it as a weapon act to prevent it by using their discovery to remove all electricity from the planet. This sends the planet and all of humanity back into the dark ages.

Unfortunately the Revolution ends up with a childishly simple and always predicable plot, portrayed by an unremarkable cast. This series barely measure up to B production.

This series has only one redeeming and somewhat profound quality: it dramatized how quickly seemingly normal, moral people from all economic levels can revert into savages (including killers) clawing at one another when they find themselves without food or water.

If not for that one very important albeit often times obscure quality, Revolution would be all but intolerable. If watching paint dry is 1.0, "Revolution" would be a 1.1.

Summary: Great theme, poor plot execution.

colorider

We just started watching Penny Dreadful as well. Two episodes in and it seems pretty interesting. Good cast also.

elison876452

I am watching the last tv-series is game of thrones.

KraneXL

One of television's best ever. Why? Because its not just gratuitous sex and violence but it addresses morality and values too. The show portrays the nature of man and humankind at its best and worse.


Unlike the mass of TV shows nowadays, this one doesn't ignore or forget to remind us that there are consequence to our actions. Beyond that, it takes the time to actively talk about virtue, forgiveness and redemption. A very rare topic in today's mindless TV shows and media.

Lastly, the absolutely remarkable acting from the cast and in particular Vincent D'Onofrio, who plays Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin.

10/10

KraneXL

An interesting mix of well written parts intertwined with moments of juvenile dialogue reminiscent of a junior high school tit for tat argument. The characters are believable with some of the best acting I've seen in a long time.

Still, there are moments when the acting goes over the top and begin to push the boundaries of reality. Fortunately they're short and don't ruin the believably of the story. Speaking of belieability, I sometimes forget these are series derived from comics.


Luke Cage is a superhero but still remains one of the homeboys of his Harlem home which he loves and defends. He considers himself the recipient of a gift (he has super strength and bulletproof skin) and uses them to fight crime and do good in his community.


He goes after the bad guys and isn't afraid to rough them up. In getting the job done, he breaks a lot of bones, and the criminal violence is sometimes gratuitous (decapitations, etc.) but the good news is that Cage lives by a code, and despite his ability to toss grown men across the room, he doesn't kill anyone. Luke Cage is a series that chronicles the live of blacks living in American society. Its message is told through music and culture but can be a bit forced at times.


Take the dialogue for example. It is all adult content and highly exaggerated. The judicious use of the "N" word is present in virtually every scenes and spoken by nearly every character of color.

In any event, the portrayal of the second of his nemesis Black Mariah, played by Alfre Woodard is remarkable. She comes across as one of the most vicious and reprehensible villains I've ever seen on any series.

8/10

colorider

Saw the first episode of Breaking Bad last night. Yeah I'm going to have to watch more of it. Really good.

I-Like-To-Bike

Be prepared to be roped in for all 5 seasons.

Breaking Bad, along with The Wire and Justified are addictive.

colorider

Yeah those and the Sopranos as well sound interesting

Manovvar

Boys - 10/10
waiting the second season