The TV Series Thread

[downer]

While I'd love to binge on cutting edge documentaries raising my social consciousness and my artistic sensibilities, if I were a better person, the truth is that I love soap-y series and undemanding detective series. I can watch or half-watch them while doing something else.

My most recent find is The Brokenwood Mysteries. A New Zealand series on Prime. It's very satisfying, and if I happen to nod off for a bit, there's no problem picking up the plot later on.

[hmaria1609]

My most recent find is The Brokenwood Mysteries. A New Zealand series on Prime. It's very satisfying, and if I happen to nod off for a bit, there's no problem picking up the plot later on.

This show was on our local PBS station on Thursday evenings a few years ago.

[Faith786]

During this pandemic I finished things on Netflix, not really tv series:
-Merlin (British)
-Once upon a time
-The 100
-Away
-Nightflyers
-still waiting for Van Helsing final season
-still waiting on Lost in Space final season

[ab_grp]

I'm currently in the fourth season of Eureka, and I find it quite charming and entertaining. It fills the niche that Psych did for me, as others have pointed out. I'm also working my way through Brooklyn Nine-Nine, mostly because I thought The Good Place was amazing. I didn't think I'd like B99 at all, but six seasons in there are still laugh-out-loud moments.

I think this was the only reference to Brooklyn Nine-Nine in the thread, and I feel the same way about it (though only on season 2).   My previous impression was that Andy Samberg can be a bit much (and sometimes he is a little in the series), but there are some completely hilarious moments and episodes, and I've really grown to enjoy the ensemble cast.  I have probably mentioned liking comedies that are also touching at times, and so far this one fits that bill well.  There are already a couple lines my husband and I keep repeating.  I'm glad to hear it stays this way at least until season 6!

And, related to Eureka (which we also loved), we are nearing the end of season 3 of Warehouse 13, which was recommended in this thread.  I'm not sure I like the characters quite as much as in Eureka (well, there is one I have come to like a lot, but I think that person might have just departed), but the episodes are pretty entertaining and clever with the various artifacts causing trouble.  Definitely enjoying it and looking forward to seeing where the story goes.   Interesting to see guest stars from other shows and movies, too!

[onthefringe]

Early in the semester, as part of a "check in" and "humanize the instructor" survey, I let my students suggest television series for me to try, and over the course of the semester I periodically checked back in with ones I had tried. This resulted in me:

Watching all of Queen's Gambit — absolutely stunning to watch, and very engaging while watching. Looking back though, I think there's a bit less 'there' than it appears.

Watching all of Bridgerton — what you would get if a Georgette Heyer novel and a soft core porn cinemax movie had a baby. But I totally enjoyed it anyway.

Watching most of Bunheads — Gilmore girls meets Center Stage. Cute and fluffy.

Watching series one of The Sinner Dark anthology series with each season focused on a (troubled, damaged, etc) cop figuring out why someone committed a crime. Pretty over the top.

Watching seasons 1 and 2 of Crazy Ex Girlfriend — Great depiction of a person struggling with psychiatric issues (the main character moves from New York to California because she runs into a boy she had a crush on at summer camp and insinuates herself into his life). With very funny song and dance routines papering over raw psychological issues. Still watching this one, but slowly, since fringehusband can't stand it.

[Larimar]

Mr. Larimar and I have recently discovered Phineas and Ferb. It's a cartoon kids' show, featuring a pair of stepbrothers who each day build an over-the-top scale structure, machine, or feature, and their teenage older sister keeps trying to get them in trouble for it. She always fails because they have Ferris Bueller's kind of luck! Oh, and there's the boys' pet platypus who's actually a 007-style undercover secret agent. Yes, it's nutty. Though it's aimed at kids, there are plenty of gags for the adults too. Not all of the jokes work, and there have been a few clunker episodes, but in general the show is so silly and nutty it's hilarious and cute. It's just right for evenings when you just want to veg out on the couch and watch something light and absurdly funny. My favorite episode so far is their Star Wars parody, which uses the Back to the Future 2 technique of taking one story and interweaving another into it. They have the original Star Wars story happening, and interweave the Phineas and Ferb characters into a tangential plot. I laughed really hard.

[evil_physics_witchcraft]

Re watching the X-files.

[Charlotte]

Watching The Kominsky Method. It's hilarious. Reminds me a bit of Grace and Frankie.

[FishProf]

Mr. Larimar and I have recently discovered Phineas and Ferb. It's a cartoon kids' show, featuring a pair of stepbrothers who each day build an over-the-top scale structure, machine, or feature, and their teenage older sister keeps trying to get them in trouble for it. She always fails because they have Ferris Bueller's kind of luck! Oh, and there's the boys' pet platypus who's actually a 007-style undercover secret agent. Yes, it's nutty. Though it's aimed at kids, there are plenty of gags for the adults too.

Mom, Phineas and Ferb are making a title sequence!

[Sun_Worshiper]

Re watching the X-files.

I rewatched these a few years ago - the first several seasons are great! I still occasionally rewatch a monster of the week episode.

[Sun_Worshiper]

I watched all three seasons of True Detective recently. Seasons one and three are very good; season two is just too convoluted and hard to follow. Good performances throughout.

[Larimar]

Mr. Larimar and I have recently discovered Phineas and Ferb. It's a cartoon kids' show, featuring a pair of stepbrothers who each day build an over-the-top scale structure, machine, or feature, and their teenage older sister keeps trying to get them in trouble for it. She always fails because they have Ferris Bueller's kind of luck! Oh, and there's the boys' pet platypus who's actually a 007-style undercover secret agent. Yes, it's nutty. Though it's aimed at kids, there are plenty of gags for the adults too.

Mom, Phineas and Ferb are making a title sequence!

Yes, yes they are!

Hey, where's Perry?

[clean]

We just subscribed to an extended Direct TV package that includes Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.  I know (because my parents have had it for some time) that there will be 'seasons' and many of the shows that are currently 'new' to us will soon be watched. 

We have been watching Murder She Baked, and somthing like Gourmet Detective (or gourmet murders).  There is now a Crossword Murder show.

Before bed we tune in to Murder She Wrote... so I suppose that I have entered the final stages of existence, or at least the initial stages of retirement!!

Last night I had to record the Season ONE, Episode ONE Murder She Wrote.  I then set the recorder to record the entire first season (which should take until Friday night to record.)  Im  not sure how long it will take to watch them, though! 

[Parasaurolophus]

We just finished Netflix's The Serpent. It's okay, but

• jenna Coleman's "Québec" accent is unbearable and incomprehensible. It's purely phonetic French with hints of someone from England being tutored by someone from France. A totally bizarre directorial decision, and one to which they keep drawing attention. Ugh. I needed the subtitles, because I couldn't make it out.
  
  
• The lead actor is in yellowface (is there a better word for this?). This terrible directorial decision is compounded by the script, which has everyone talking about how Asian he is.

Seriously, wtf?

[ciao_yall]

Two new shows in my queue, which meant upgrades to AMC+ and HBO Max...

Kevin Can F*** Himself with Annie Murphy from Schitt's Creek.

Hacks with Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder

Enjoying these strong women-oriented shows.