Love Deadline
I am trying to get people interested in watching Ted Lasso with me or a number of other programs that have been mentioned above in this thread. But nobody has coincident TV watching times or interests available, and I have been putting on a show to help me through the tasks of dishwashing and cooking and such. So my chosen show for a while was called Love Deadline.
Approximately 10 singles divided by gender are attempting to mingle and pair up such that, on an unnaturally rapid basis, a woman will ask a man to marry her. This will occur because of the love deadline: randomly one of the men will be pulled aside and told he must leave the show within a few hours. At that point, If any woman decides she wants to marry him, she has to go ask him. By doing this she will also need to leave the show, even if the guy turns her down. Oh, and it's located in Japan, which the infamous "Love is blind" series on Netflix has already demonstrated is a very unusual place to set a love reality show. The people are not communicating about love in the way that others communicate about it in different global locations. Mostly that's because they're not communicating about it at all. Or they are... But with gestures so slight and subtle that those of us with more pedestrian, crude training have no idea what the f*** is going on.
I was not able to predict the strange dynamics that have developed on this show. The men are trying to win over the women, yet their techniques for winning are pretty much what you would call techniques for losing! How are these the techniques?! Why is any of this working, to the extent that it even is? What do any of these people see in each other and how did they discern it, when there is so little being said or explained? Why do they want to take a bath in the same bathtub all the time, even as they struggle to have a normal chitchat over lunch?! If I'm going to get in the bath with you, It's a guarantee that we've had some pretty good conversations up to that point. Pretty damn detailed conversations. We know a lot about each other before we are hopping in a bathtub. And I don't mean like a giant whirlpool of the sort they have at resorts - I mean like an indoor small bathtub. What are we doing in there together?! Is it just me or if we are taking a bath together are we ready for the full experience of sexuality? Or darn near? I would give it as a very plain advice: Don't get into the tub with a strange man unless you are ready for all that! And if you're not, you are going to need to explain all of the details and boundaries very clearly, because you're in the damn bathtub together. I want to be clear that this is not an argument about consent! Getting into a bathtub does not constitute consent. It's about the size and intimacy level of a bathtub: If you are naked in a bathtub of a small size you are touching parts together, inevitably! There's no place to go but together! I am not entangling my naked limbs with a stranger in a bathtub unless I have a damn good reason to do so! I'm prepared for a lot of unexpected twist and turns at that point. If I'm not happy chatting with you over breakfast then we won't be there!
Oh I don't know... The worst thing about this show is very spoilery so just stop reading if you think you might actually watch this thing or be around somebody else who's watching it.
At one point, a couple starts to form... You start rooting for them because they both seem like really nice, sincere and pleasant people. You start to wonder if this crazy experiment might work at least for this pair. It seems like they might not get together... But then yes! Yes! Against all odds, It turns out that she's going to ask him to marry her! Even though she may seem much better looking on the surface, he has very pretty eyes and he seems likely to be rich, so good for them.
Inexplicably... After doing his utmost to lure this woman, practically begging her on bended knee at various points to join him and date him and spend time with him and love him... Absolutely doing the utmost to convince her that he wants her... On a show where we all know that the only outcome of such an endeavor is for the woman to gamely step forth and ask him to marry her... This wretched MF turns her down cold. Turns her down! Right there on national television. Bait and switch. Boom! She handles it like a champion... Somehow pastes on a smile and takes a deep breath and keeps going. And then this idiot man falls down on the ground crying, his face is all red with misery and tears and snot, he's overtaken by guilt, and he could very easily run over there and say mistake mistake do over sorry... But he does not! I cursed him. Across the globe he probably suddenly tripped on the sidewalk or felt a strange pang in his side because I was so mad at him. And then I was mad at myself and ashamed for giving even one tiny f*** about this show. The real lesson here was this.
What Are You Watching?
Re: What Are You Watching?
Voices of Fire - reality Show on Netflix where Pharrell Williams' uncle and others put together a large gospel choir.
This is a reality singing show, but seems to be more real than the genre usually is - it's kind of like the early rounds of people auditioning for American Idol but with less staged and selected bits for the camera. The singers are amazing and over a few episodes they select people to form the choir. The selection process itself and how they narrow it down is unimportant from my perspective - it's just so much great singing, as well as the stories of individual members who have been through some terrible things in life but ended up here anyway. If you are religious imo this is MUST SEE television that will give you the goosebumps, and if you are not religious imo this is MUST SEE television that will give you the goosebumps, maybe for slightly different reasons but no less effectively! Here is a sample of the big song that comes out of this - you may be familiar with their Super Bowl song but this is the best one:
People (probably including me, since I remember thinking this before) are very weird about Pharrell being a satanist or something because of his "mason" references in other songs and whatnot, and because this Joy song above references Ajax the Greek hero and other things that don't strike some as adequately Biblical. I don't know, I cannot sort all that out but I see no issue with enjoying this as exactly the gospel music it appears to be on the surface, or just for the benefit of improved living. The show is worth it, really - and if you're not engrossed by the people you will have a lot of great singing moments if you leave it on in the background.
This is a reality singing show, but seems to be more real than the genre usually is - it's kind of like the early rounds of people auditioning for American Idol but with less staged and selected bits for the camera. The singers are amazing and over a few episodes they select people to form the choir. The selection process itself and how they narrow it down is unimportant from my perspective - it's just so much great singing, as well as the stories of individual members who have been through some terrible things in life but ended up here anyway. If you are religious imo this is MUST SEE television that will give you the goosebumps, and if you are not religious imo this is MUST SEE television that will give you the goosebumps, maybe for slightly different reasons but no less effectively! Here is a sample of the big song that comes out of this - you may be familiar with their Super Bowl song but this is the best one:
People (probably including me, since I remember thinking this before) are very weird about Pharrell being a satanist or something because of his "mason" references in other songs and whatnot, and because this Joy song above references Ajax the Greek hero and other things that don't strike some as adequately Biblical. I don't know, I cannot sort all that out but I see no issue with enjoying this as exactly the gospel music it appears to be on the surface, or just for the benefit of improved living. The show is worth it, really - and if you're not engrossed by the people you will have a lot of great singing moments if you leave it on in the background.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Saltburn (2023)
I would give this maybe 2 out of 5 stars at most but I recognize other people might find it more entertaining. Not sure how to summarize in a non-spoilery way... toxic relationships develop as a college kid from the wrong side of the tracks makes friends with a group of rich kids and their family members, including especially the glamourous golden boy of the group. I found the toxic relationships extremely uncomfortable to watch unfold at every level. They seemed toxic in all the ways from the start - not sure if this is how it was supposed to go or if the audience was supposed to be surprised. But it was creepy and not amusing and the ending was so weird and gross to me. Objectively I get that people find something funny about it but I just did not find it "darkly amusing" or whatever others are getting. I was like, ewww, why would I want to watch any of these people for any reason? Mainly it turned into a laundry event and tv/movies are supposed to be the solace and escape during such events, not the thing to be escaped from.
I would give this maybe 2 out of 5 stars at most but I recognize other people might find it more entertaining. Not sure how to summarize in a non-spoilery way... toxic relationships develop as a college kid from the wrong side of the tracks makes friends with a group of rich kids and their family members, including especially the glamourous golden boy of the group. I found the toxic relationships extremely uncomfortable to watch unfold at every level. They seemed toxic in all the ways from the start - not sure if this is how it was supposed to go or if the audience was supposed to be surprised. But it was creepy and not amusing and the ending was so weird and gross to me. Objectively I get that people find something funny about it but I just did not find it "darkly amusing" or whatever others are getting. I was like, ewww, why would I want to watch any of these people for any reason? Mainly it turned into a laundry event and tv/movies are supposed to be the solace and escape during such events, not the thing to be escaped from.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Hard pass for me after I heard about a grieving scene thats... (wait for it)... hard to watch.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Oh yes, haha, I had sort of blocked out that scene entirely - it was like they wanted to scandalize the audience in new ways so they tried to get creative, and it was like, ugh, who wants this? Not me. Sigh.
Similar problems with...
Love is Blind season 6 US
Horrible. Not worth your time even if you enjoy these types of shows. I can explain the appeal - they started us off with love is blind season 1 in the US, featuring a couple named Cameron and Lauren. This pair of people is one of the cutest couples ever to live - they were both just so mature and normal and pleasant to watch, and we were rooting for them, and then it worked out happily ever after and the world was right. The dramas faced by the others were mildly horrifying, which may be the motivational interest for some, but for many it's about seeing a couple figure out through this unlikely medium that they really like one another, and then it works out and they are in love and married... very cute. Usually nothing like that happens. Every so often we get another - one or two per season, so we stay hooked.
Then we were given cultural differences with Japan and Brazil versions, which were mind-blowing and fascinating. The recent Swedish version sent some kind of beautiful space alien to make me feel both a frisson of actual excitement and then like a dried up milkweed pod, which was unfortunate because I'm an old seed pod now but fortunate because, wow, a human of nearly perfect beauty wandering around on camera. The Love is blind US season 6 was ESPECIALLY terrible because they had only one successful couple, but they didn't delve into much of their depth or interaction - very superficial treatment of a couple that could have shown us something worth watching to see how they built up their relationship. The other couple worth watching was the super Christian couple who remained friends but did not feel the spark and therefore did not get married - they were, like, too ethical for the show, too nice, and so they were never featured on camera since all the oxygen was sucked up by the foolish persons with the dramas. I wanted to know ALL ABOUT the nice Christian couple and I got bupkis. Useless show.
Similar problems with...
Love is Blind season 6 US
Horrible. Not worth your time even if you enjoy these types of shows. I can explain the appeal - they started us off with love is blind season 1 in the US, featuring a couple named Cameron and Lauren. This pair of people is one of the cutest couples ever to live - they were both just so mature and normal and pleasant to watch, and we were rooting for them, and then it worked out happily ever after and the world was right. The dramas faced by the others were mildly horrifying, which may be the motivational interest for some, but for many it's about seeing a couple figure out through this unlikely medium that they really like one another, and then it works out and they are in love and married... very cute. Usually nothing like that happens. Every so often we get another - one or two per season, so we stay hooked.
Then we were given cultural differences with Japan and Brazil versions, which were mind-blowing and fascinating. The recent Swedish version sent some kind of beautiful space alien to make me feel both a frisson of actual excitement and then like a dried up milkweed pod, which was unfortunate because I'm an old seed pod now but fortunate because, wow, a human of nearly perfect beauty wandering around on camera. The Love is blind US season 6 was ESPECIALLY terrible because they had only one successful couple, but they didn't delve into much of their depth or interaction - very superficial treatment of a couple that could have shown us something worth watching to see how they built up their relationship. The other couple worth watching was the super Christian couple who remained friends but did not feel the spark and therefore did not get married - they were, like, too ethical for the show, too nice, and so they were never featured on camera since all the oxygen was sucked up by the foolish persons with the dramas. I wanted to know ALL ABOUT the nice Christian couple and I got bupkis. Useless show.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Anyone But You
I was feeling kind of depressed and cold - like physically cold. I am never cold. The novelty of it was so strange. I had to lay under blankets. I turned on Netflix and this was the first movie presented to me. I feel like I've spent some time with the Netflix and it really ought to know me better and I don't have a lot of hope for the AI because of what happened here.
I was given this romcom type movie starring Sydney Sweeney. It was so bad. After about 20 minutes, much to my horror I realized it was yet another remake/modernization of Much ado about Nothing. The middle forty minutes or so was terrible but felt essentially harmless, like perhaps they would trail off and leave it there. Wrong. By the last half hour I was clawing helplessly at my own head in disgust, and the remote control was really far away and I was too cold to move from my warm nest under the comforter.
The movie was so bad at this point, I decided to close my eyes and imagine a better version of the story and ending. I set mine on the southern coast of England, about 1924. The people were gathered to play chess, learn chess, something like that. Also like a salon, there was painting, they went on walks. My version was so good that I wept a little, or maybe I was just tired. I woke up and the movie was almost over - grotesque romcom deus ex machina in full swing, with a f($#+#@& montage set to the theme song from The Hills. I wanted to gouge out eyes but also ears and in this indecision my child entered and turned off the TV, thus sparing me from injuring myself. And I might have, that's how awful this shit movie is.
I was feeling kind of depressed and cold - like physically cold. I am never cold. The novelty of it was so strange. I had to lay under blankets. I turned on Netflix and this was the first movie presented to me. I feel like I've spent some time with the Netflix and it really ought to know me better and I don't have a lot of hope for the AI because of what happened here.
I was given this romcom type movie starring Sydney Sweeney. It was so bad. After about 20 minutes, much to my horror I realized it was yet another remake/modernization of Much ado about Nothing. The middle forty minutes or so was terrible but felt essentially harmless, like perhaps they would trail off and leave it there. Wrong. By the last half hour I was clawing helplessly at my own head in disgust, and the remote control was really far away and I was too cold to move from my warm nest under the comforter.
The movie was so bad at this point, I decided to close my eyes and imagine a better version of the story and ending. I set mine on the southern coast of England, about 1924. The people were gathered to play chess, learn chess, something like that. Also like a salon, there was painting, they went on walks. My version was so good that I wept a little, or maybe I was just tired. I woke up and the movie was almost over - grotesque romcom deus ex machina in full swing, with a f($#+#@& montage set to the theme song from The Hills. I wanted to gouge out eyes but also ears and in this indecision my child entered and turned off the TV, thus sparing me from injuring myself. And I might have, that's how awful this shit movie is.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Baby Reindeer- Has anyone else seen this? I'm halfway through this british "comedy" about a man being stalked by a mentally disturbed woman. This shit is getting dark fast. But I haven't finished it yet, although I suspect it's going to get even darker.
Re: What Are You Watching?
I now have some decent internet at the homestead, but not a lot of time for using it. I do have Prime and Netflix. I am mostly just using my Xbox for viewing it now except for when I am playing Fallout 4.
Speaking of Fallout..thats what I have watched and it is worth the wait while also being better than I expected.
We just finished Bull's last episode today. It started poorly but seasons 2-6 were great
The Rookie ...just wrapped up season 6 and more to come.
I'm currently watching Resident Alien starring Alan Tudyk on Netflix
Speaking of Fallout..thats what I have watched and it is worth the wait while also being better than I expected.
We just finished Bull's last episode today. It started poorly but seasons 2-6 were great
The Rookie ...just wrapped up season 6 and more to come.
I'm currently watching Resident Alien starring Alan Tudyk on Netflix
"Yay! I'm for the other team."
Re: What Are You Watching?
I started watching baby reindeer and I find it deeply disturbing for a lot of reasons I tried to type out but cannot accomplish. One reason is the personal experience... Luckily the person who was most stalkery to me was a fairly harmless guy who was willing to talk to any person who would talk to him, which meant that it wasn't specific to me and he would talk to a lot of different people... Back in the days of telephones that hung on the wall, he would just call around hoping to talk to someone to help him with the voices in his head. Various lesser stalkers have shown up over the years but they proved possible to shake. The other bad experience I have probably intimated somewhere here in the past... I honestly still can't talk about even though all the people involved are long since deceased, but it shook me so much that it was hard to watch this show even a little bit. I've only made it into episode 3 part way... Apparently it gets worse and I just don't know if I can go that far.
I also find it difficult to consider the victim/main character himself, especially once I realized he was reenacting his own personal real life story. About four bazillion red flags popped right out there. I feel different mixtures of feelings about him... Both sympathy and fear because my red flagging device flags him as a weird dude. But also sympathy born of the fact that I know what it's like to let fear drive you to do dumb things, and I've done them myself, and it's really important to fix those things in yourself. So to the extent I'm seeing things I wish he would fix in himself, I needed to fix those things in myself as well. There's a judgment but also a certain amount of sympathy despite the judgment. It's hard to explain. The show freaks me out and the people who have talked to me about it have definitely seen and experienced it in a different way than I do - but they've also seen the whole thing and I have only seen the first few episodes plus the interview with the real life woman supposedly on Piers Morgan. Essentially it seems like she is a criminally insane stalker, but then the guy reminds me very much of a lot of messed up dudes I've had to tango with in the past. He's got issues that bother me, but I also realize I've shared some of those issues myself simply by living through these experiences and becoming paranoid about them repeating. Like if I think somebody is weird or a stalker I am certainly going to investigate, and that itself is weird! The difference for me is the location of the boundaries, maybe - I think you just don't physically go near other people or touch them or anything like that without explicit invitation. But I know the names of all my neighbors who fly the don't tread on me flag. So you know... People might consider me the problem for knowing that.
I also find it difficult to consider the victim/main character himself, especially once I realized he was reenacting his own personal real life story. About four bazillion red flags popped right out there. I feel different mixtures of feelings about him... Both sympathy and fear because my red flagging device flags him as a weird dude. But also sympathy born of the fact that I know what it's like to let fear drive you to do dumb things, and I've done them myself, and it's really important to fix those things in yourself. So to the extent I'm seeing things I wish he would fix in himself, I needed to fix those things in myself as well. There's a judgment but also a certain amount of sympathy despite the judgment. It's hard to explain. The show freaks me out and the people who have talked to me about it have definitely seen and experienced it in a different way than I do - but they've also seen the whole thing and I have only seen the first few episodes plus the interview with the real life woman supposedly on Piers Morgan. Essentially it seems like she is a criminally insane stalker, but then the guy reminds me very much of a lot of messed up dudes I've had to tango with in the past. He's got issues that bother me, but I also realize I've shared some of those issues myself simply by living through these experiences and becoming paranoid about them repeating. Like if I think somebody is weird or a stalker I am certainly going to investigate, and that itself is weird! The difference for me is the location of the boundaries, maybe - I think you just don't physically go near other people or touch them or anything like that without explicit invitation. But I know the names of all my neighbors who fly the don't tread on me flag. So you know... People might consider me the problem for knowing that.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Baby Reindeer
Ok, I watched a little more and all I have to say is HOLEEEE S#$@!!!! I don't have the energy to consider what I wrote before but just keep in mind I had not watched very much of the show yet... I had no idea what was to come! I can't finish it yet. Maybe on the weekend.
Ok, I watched a little more and all I have to say is HOLEEEE S#$@!!!! I don't have the energy to consider what I wrote before but just keep in mind I had not watched very much of the show yet... I had no idea what was to come! I can't finish it yet. Maybe on the weekend.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Baby Reindeer was a tough watch, but I did enjoy it. I started a lot of interesting conversation with my family watching it.
We also watched Expedition from Hell on HBO Max. It's about a guy who wants to "raise money for kids with cancer" by hiking an expedition 5,000 miles across the widest part of South America. The guy is completely insane and I think just wanted to be famous. The expedition was incredibly poorly planned, but did I mention the main guy is super crazy? Every episode gets crazier and scarier than the one before it. Great watch.
We also watched Expedition from Hell on HBO Max. It's about a guy who wants to "raise money for kids with cancer" by hiking an expedition 5,000 miles across the widest part of South America. The guy is completely insane and I think just wanted to be famous. The expedition was incredibly poorly planned, but did I mention the main guy is super crazy? Every episode gets crazier and scarier than the one before it. Great watch.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Bridgerton - season 3
So far as frothy and delightful as expected. Narrative floundering around a little bit oh well, at this point I'm watching for every Queen Charlotte wig and every green dress Penelope wears, so I don't need the show to accomplish a whole lot more.
Baby Reindeer
I quit watching it right around the peak of discomfort and luckily the discomfort continues for a while but then starts to taper off towards the end. As he starts to understand and reassert control over his situation, and the pace of distressing events slows, it is easier to watch. I also found it helpful that he displays much more understanding and compassion toward Martha at the end then we saw at the beginning. The ending really sewed it all up for me in an extremely positive way. Like we really understand all the wrongs and violations that have occurred along the way, but at the same time he understands exactly what it was people were to blame for and what their motivations might have been. He gives us a clear view of his own role in the situation, even as he's dealing with trauma, which must have been very hard to do. So I guess I appreciated the show the most after watching the last episode and the whole thing kind of came into view kaleidoscope style.
It was a difficult watch but definitely strongly recommend. People who have experienced anything like these situations are doubtless going to be drawn into some memories of them which can be disturbing, but ultimately I felt like the understanding conveyed was quite affirming and meaningful.
So far as frothy and delightful as expected. Narrative floundering around a little bit oh well, at this point I'm watching for every Queen Charlotte wig and every green dress Penelope wears, so I don't need the show to accomplish a whole lot more.
Baby Reindeer
I quit watching it right around the peak of discomfort and luckily the discomfort continues for a while but then starts to taper off towards the end. As he starts to understand and reassert control over his situation, and the pace of distressing events slows, it is easier to watch. I also found it helpful that he displays much more understanding and compassion toward Martha at the end then we saw at the beginning. The ending really sewed it all up for me in an extremely positive way. Like we really understand all the wrongs and violations that have occurred along the way, but at the same time he understands exactly what it was people were to blame for and what their motivations might have been. He gives us a clear view of his own role in the situation, even as he's dealing with trauma, which must have been very hard to do. So I guess I appreciated the show the most after watching the last episode and the whole thing kind of came into view kaleidoscope style.
It was a difficult watch but definitely strongly recommend. People who have experienced anything like these situations are doubtless going to be drawn into some memories of them which can be disturbing, but ultimately I felt like the understanding conveyed was quite affirming and meaningful.
Re: What Are You Watching?
All of Dropout. Dropout is the only streaming service I never consider dumping. The hundreds upon hundreds of hours of roleplaying goodness from Dimension 20 is more than worth the price of admission. But also Game Changer! Game Changer is almost certain to be Emmy nominated, and if it doesn't win (against The Price is Right, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and Celebrity Family Fued), it's only because the Emmy voters are old and fear change. It's the best show going.
Plus Breaking News, and Smartypants, and Dirty Laundry, and Um Actually, Thousandaires, and a bunch of others and a ton of archived stuff. 90% of the content is game show and reality show type content that is very smart and very funny, but also comes always from a place of love and acceptance. These people all love each other, and it shows. Everything about Dropout just makes me happy.
Plus Breaking News, and Smartypants, and Dirty Laundry, and Um Actually, Thousandaires, and a bunch of others and a ton of archived stuff. 90% of the content is game show and reality show type content that is very smart and very funny, but also comes always from a place of love and acceptance. These people all love each other, and it shows. Everything about Dropout just makes me happy.
Any time the solution is "banjo rifle", I'm in 100%.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Umm... uh...
...sigh...
Love Island USA. HOW DARE YOU JUDGE ME!
...sigh...
Love Island USA. HOW DARE YOU JUDGE ME!
Re: What Are You Watching?
Also a reality show rooted in love. It's right there in the title. No judgment.
Any time the solution is "banjo rifle", I'm in 100%.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Dune part 2 - I didn't think it was nearly as good as Dune part 1, but I enjoy this particular fantasy world being brought to life and so I'm happy to roll with it. I really like the sand worms. I like the way they've used the Voice - not too much so it's thrilling whenever it pops out! It's also nice to be reminded that fear is the mind killer.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Tar - The movie starring Cate Blanchett.
She is every bit as amazing in this movie as you would expect. That's why I watched it. It turns out that the lead role is an orchestra conductor, balancing her current fame at the tippy top of her field with various lingering problems from the past and new issues in the present, created perhaps by her character flaws or created by her inability to manage her current situation. Amazing to see an actor at the top of her own game portraying this artist struggling with being at the top of the game... It was really really well done. That said, It's a talky movie and kind of subtle, and it probably helps if you like classical music. Might not be for everyone - there are some stunning scenes but there's not a lot of action. If you like a cerebral movie and a difficult psychological portrait and a great actor... Perfect.
She is every bit as amazing in this movie as you would expect. That's why I watched it. It turns out that the lead role is an orchestra conductor, balancing her current fame at the tippy top of her field with various lingering problems from the past and new issues in the present, created perhaps by her character flaws or created by her inability to manage her current situation. Amazing to see an actor at the top of her own game portraying this artist struggling with being at the top of the game... It was really really well done. That said, It's a talky movie and kind of subtle, and it probably helps if you like classical music. Might not be for everyone - there are some stunning scenes but there's not a lot of action. If you like a cerebral movie and a difficult psychological portrait and a great actor... Perfect.
Re: What Are You Watching?
The Sympathizer on Max is one of the best series I've watched in a long time. It's about a double (maybe triple) agent in the Vietnam war who struggles between his loyalty to Vietnam and the Western lifestyle. It's funny and super smart. Best of all, it's written (and mostly) directed by Park Chan Wook-- of Oldboy and The Handmaiden fame. The acting by Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. is award-winning. I don't understand why I haven't heard much about this series or how great it is. You should definitely watch it.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Iron Restoration
Somewhere in Texas they are rebuilding muscle cars. The first season or two is great because there's this guy named Shorty who is actually interesting and talented. After that it sort of drifts off and shorty goes off to live his life and supposedly has his own show as well. But I don't know how to find his show! If you like old cars this is a pretty nice chill and relaxing watch. The only thing I don't like about it is they always set those cars way down one inch from the Earth and I just hate that. Particularly cars of the era that they're restoring... Those cars are often meant to be hoisted up in the air, sometimes with a little extra hike on the butt. That's why they look good. There's a place for the lowrider but not every car needs to be one yo.
Somewhere in Texas they are rebuilding muscle cars. The first season or two is great because there's this guy named Shorty who is actually interesting and talented. After that it sort of drifts off and shorty goes off to live his life and supposedly has his own show as well. But I don't know how to find his show! If you like old cars this is a pretty nice chill and relaxing watch. The only thing I don't like about it is they always set those cars way down one inch from the Earth and I just hate that. Particularly cars of the era that they're restoring... Those cars are often meant to be hoisted up in the air, sometimes with a little extra hike on the butt. That's why they look good. There's a place for the lowrider but not every car needs to be one yo.
Re: What Are You Watching?
HA that looks pretty amusing! Also if it isn't good... Will watch that blond guy for free. No payment needed. Volunteer effort.
Re: What Are You Watching?
The new movie everybody is excited about on Netflix called His three daughters is good, but I don't know why people are raving mad about it. It's good, It's an interesting exploration of life and value and psychological conditions and experiences... It's about three sisters coming together when their dad is in hospice at the end of life. So there's a lot of good stuff and a lot of good acting. I did not find it particularly earth-shattering but I appreciated the acting.
Re: What Are You Watching?
The Bill Gates show is interesting... I caught snippets of it and I'm not really sure what channel it's on. Prime or Netflix?
I've also been watching Industry, which originally comes via HBO but nowadays is on other channels? Unfortunately I find myself watching it out of the enjoyment of hating the writing and the characters and the storylines, because I feel like I had a reasonable expectation they would be better and the talent was there ... and then this is what they chose to give us! (I felt much the same way when watching Girls and then it turned out Lena Dunham directed some of this, so I was not shocked.) The idea is to follow the lives of some young people - particularly two main women characters and perhaps one man who seems to appear in most episodes - as they navigate the turmoil of high pressure investment banking financial world jobs in exciting London. Apparently some details of the investment banking jobs are fairly realistic, but more on that below.
My first impression of the show was quite negative, partly because I watched it at my parents house when visiting overnight and clicked on it without having any prior content warning. I neither expected nor wanted a pornography while in my parents house! My guess is this is not completely pornography but it's certainly as close as I ever get. And it's no different from any of the rest: What on earth is supposed to be sexually appealing about this?! The people are plain ugly to me, as the poet Sheryl Crow says, and their grim, desperate interactions are fully joyless. I don't even like whatever it is they're supposed to be doing! I don't do it that way... Like y'all are doing it wrong, to the extent I can insist on my own preference as "right" given that I'm the viewer here!
One of the two main characters, Yasmin, seems to be having a more joyful and enthusiastic form of sexual encounter, which is nice, but the narrative of empowerment is quickly undermined by the fact that she is cheated on and treated poorly, and seems desperate to use her sexuality as a weapon against her father. I think the show is written that way on purpose! But that doesn't make me want to watch it. The rest of the sex is truly cringeworthy but it seems to be a big draw for audience so perhaps others would like this.
The other thing I don't like about Yasmin is I'm pretty sure she's being represented as Persian or Arabic or something, but she and all her family members are obviously played by Jewish actors. (Update: her mom is played by somebody who fits the ethnicity of the script, so it's just her and her father played by Jewish actors portraying some kind of Arabic or Persian ethnicity), but they are the two main characters we see from her family). That feels distasteful - yes, we can all pretend to be a person that we're not, but then don't make a big deal about the character's ethnic identity or have it come up as a factor in any scenes. They wouldn't have done this when it comes to the other main character because some storylines are about the racism she encounters. So why is this case different? Maybe this is quibbling but I don't enjoy it.
Back to the investment banking: I enjoy this as a kind of morality play about why the lives of these venal and dishonest people are not particularly pleasant to live. And there's no way they could ever afford the amount of drugs they do regularly even on the high salaries they are supposedly earning! But we suspend judgment and presumably some of the other details of what it's like at an investment bank are accurate. The problem is, with my limited knowledge of this subject area or rather, friends who have worked there... None of the plot lines really make a lot of sense. In particular, one of the main characters is supposed to be this investing and sales genius, who is able to paper over many personal flaws and secrets by earning more paper for the firm than the others. Yet not once is she shown having a decent idea! Most of the time her operations would be getting her fired in the real world. I'm willing to relax the rules a little bit for the sake of drama but this is getting ridiculous. She's just a lying idiot who would be out on her ass and there's no way she's making more money than the rest of them, because she doesn't have anything smart to say and she doesn't seem to know anything. She lucks into various things that save her bacon, and maybe this too is part of the morality play aspect of the show. But I don't really enjoy watching an anti-heroine who lacks cleverness or other redeeming qualities. She just seems like a void of dumb to me, as do most of the other people on the show. Is this too a commentary, about a class of people who prize themselves tremendously on cleverness and yet aren't particularly clever? Perhaps. But my pleasure in the show comes from bitching about it because I wouldn't really be choosing to watch it myself. Maybe season 3 will be better - Hope springs eternal in that regard.
I've also been watching Industry, which originally comes via HBO but nowadays is on other channels? Unfortunately I find myself watching it out of the enjoyment of hating the writing and the characters and the storylines, because I feel like I had a reasonable expectation they would be better and the talent was there ... and then this is what they chose to give us! (I felt much the same way when watching Girls and then it turned out Lena Dunham directed some of this, so I was not shocked.) The idea is to follow the lives of some young people - particularly two main women characters and perhaps one man who seems to appear in most episodes - as they navigate the turmoil of high pressure investment banking financial world jobs in exciting London. Apparently some details of the investment banking jobs are fairly realistic, but more on that below.
My first impression of the show was quite negative, partly because I watched it at my parents house when visiting overnight and clicked on it without having any prior content warning. I neither expected nor wanted a pornography while in my parents house! My guess is this is not completely pornography but it's certainly as close as I ever get. And it's no different from any of the rest: What on earth is supposed to be sexually appealing about this?! The people are plain ugly to me, as the poet Sheryl Crow says, and their grim, desperate interactions are fully joyless. I don't even like whatever it is they're supposed to be doing! I don't do it that way... Like y'all are doing it wrong, to the extent I can insist on my own preference as "right" given that I'm the viewer here!
One of the two main characters, Yasmin, seems to be having a more joyful and enthusiastic form of sexual encounter, which is nice, but the narrative of empowerment is quickly undermined by the fact that she is cheated on and treated poorly, and seems desperate to use her sexuality as a weapon against her father. I think the show is written that way on purpose! But that doesn't make me want to watch it. The rest of the sex is truly cringeworthy but it seems to be a big draw for audience so perhaps others would like this.
The other thing I don't like about Yasmin is I'm pretty sure she's being represented as Persian or Arabic or something, but she and all her family members are obviously played by Jewish actors. (Update: her mom is played by somebody who fits the ethnicity of the script, so it's just her and her father played by Jewish actors portraying some kind of Arabic or Persian ethnicity), but they are the two main characters we see from her family). That feels distasteful - yes, we can all pretend to be a person that we're not, but then don't make a big deal about the character's ethnic identity or have it come up as a factor in any scenes. They wouldn't have done this when it comes to the other main character because some storylines are about the racism she encounters. So why is this case different? Maybe this is quibbling but I don't enjoy it.
Back to the investment banking: I enjoy this as a kind of morality play about why the lives of these venal and dishonest people are not particularly pleasant to live. And there's no way they could ever afford the amount of drugs they do regularly even on the high salaries they are supposedly earning! But we suspend judgment and presumably some of the other details of what it's like at an investment bank are accurate. The problem is, with my limited knowledge of this subject area or rather, friends who have worked there... None of the plot lines really make a lot of sense. In particular, one of the main characters is supposed to be this investing and sales genius, who is able to paper over many personal flaws and secrets by earning more paper for the firm than the others. Yet not once is she shown having a decent idea! Most of the time her operations would be getting her fired in the real world. I'm willing to relax the rules a little bit for the sake of drama but this is getting ridiculous. She's just a lying idiot who would be out on her ass and there's no way she's making more money than the rest of them, because she doesn't have anything smart to say and she doesn't seem to know anything. She lucks into various things that save her bacon, and maybe this too is part of the morality play aspect of the show. But I don't really enjoy watching an anti-heroine who lacks cleverness or other redeeming qualities. She just seems like a void of dumb to me, as do most of the other people on the show. Is this too a commentary, about a class of people who prize themselves tremendously on cleverness and yet aren't particularly clever? Perhaps. But my pleasure in the show comes from bitching about it because I wouldn't really be choosing to watch it myself. Maybe season 3 will be better - Hope springs eternal in that regard.
Last edited by Phoebe on Sat Oct 12, 2024 2:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Okay... Here's what I have to say:
Sit through the first two seasons of industry and fast forward through the pornography if you must, or delight in it as you will, but do all this so that you can watch season 3 and have it make sense. Season 3 is going to redeem everything and make it worthwhile. Season 3 is so freaking good I can't even believe it. It's like they took two seasons to set up these characters and tell their different stories, and now they put the characters into motion so that you could watch and learn. It's fascinating and gripping and the ending episode nearly wrecked me. As my spouse said to me, "You are still thinking about this a week later?" Yes, Yes I am because it's on the level of literature. Also, Jon Snow appears as a semi-important character in this season, for the game of thrones fans. We also get to see his butt so if that does it for you.. I am not a fan but I give the info the people might want.
Sit through the first two seasons of industry and fast forward through the pornography if you must, or delight in it as you will, but do all this so that you can watch season 3 and have it make sense. Season 3 is going to redeem everything and make it worthwhile. Season 3 is so freaking good I can't even believe it. It's like they took two seasons to set up these characters and tell their different stories, and now they put the characters into motion so that you could watch and learn. It's fascinating and gripping and the ending episode nearly wrecked me. As my spouse said to me, "You are still thinking about this a week later?" Yes, Yes I am because it's on the level of literature. Also, Jon Snow appears as a semi-important character in this season, for the game of thrones fans. We also get to see his butt so if that does it for you.. I am not a fan but I give the info the people might want.
Re: What Are You Watching?
New Lord of rings show, prequel with story of ring creation. Jury is still out.
Re: What Are You Watching?
I watched the first season and it was so-so. Still need to start watching the second season. It's an interesting take on Tolkien lore, but it's just missing a little something, it feels like.
Re: What Are You Watching?
I agree with you and I was prepared to offer criticisms but perhaps the show simply arrived at a good moment. I wanted to enjoy it and I decided to suspend analysis and simply enjoy it. Many rewards were provided in return. I was very pleased about Tom Bombadil and his interactions with another character, and I was entirely pleased with the storyline of that other character. I love that he was struggling with power, and I love the friendship theme and all that. Really a highlight of the whole show. I love the whole idea of singing to the mountain! I would totally be in there singing to the mountain if I could sing. Love everything having to do with the dwarves. Also absolutely love Elrond and they cast the perfect actor for this, leading to Agent Smith in the role later. Elrond is such a good character, any portion with him is good.
I would imagine that the average heterosexual male viewer is basically in love with galadriel, and I get it aesthetically even though I do not feel it in the same way. But others are very enthusiastic about galadriel so I take their word for it! My daughter is very unhappy about the attractive stranger who shows up among the elves, because she claims they purposely sought out a person who is supposed to be very good looking - after all, he's supposed to be a very fancy elf in his prime - yet she claims the elf in question is a disappointment. I felt neutral on the subject - the acting was reasonably good and I appreciate that he didn't ham up his role. Lookswise I don't really care because Ciaran Hines is playing the dark wizard, and even though they have made him up to be somewhat bug-eyed and frightening, I still would. I wouldn't really because he has an adorable wife that he's been with forever but let's assume that we're in the nursing home and single... Yeah, baby! Bring those bug eyes over here! I also find the orc daddy strangely attractive... Not the big one they bring out for fights, obviously, but the one who claims to be the parent of the orcs. Galadriel doesn't seem to find him tempting but I think she's supposed to? Come on girl, it's a temptation. He looks a bit grayish-green but that's okay, could be the hard water in his shower and nothing a little pink shampoo couldn't fix. I was genuinely sad for him later - he simply wanted to be a dad to some really f****** ugly children.
See below for description of another show that has been playing in my home... I was drawn into that other show and then horrified, so this one was set up as a delightful alternative! Maybe that's why I liked it so much and didn't bother with critique.
Unfortunately I missed a few things in early episodes and I'm going to have to go back and rewatch. I'm told that I watched the first season but by watched I think we mean "knitted, slept, and didn't pay much attention to what was going on there".
I would imagine that the average heterosexual male viewer is basically in love with galadriel, and I get it aesthetically even though I do not feel it in the same way. But others are very enthusiastic about galadriel so I take their word for it! My daughter is very unhappy about the attractive stranger who shows up among the elves, because she claims they purposely sought out a person who is supposed to be very good looking - after all, he's supposed to be a very fancy elf in his prime - yet she claims the elf in question is a disappointment. I felt neutral on the subject - the acting was reasonably good and I appreciate that he didn't ham up his role. Lookswise I don't really care because Ciaran Hines is playing the dark wizard, and even though they have made him up to be somewhat bug-eyed and frightening, I still would. I wouldn't really because he has an adorable wife that he's been with forever but let's assume that we're in the nursing home and single... Yeah, baby! Bring those bug eyes over here! I also find the orc daddy strangely attractive... Not the big one they bring out for fights, obviously, but the one who claims to be the parent of the orcs. Galadriel doesn't seem to find him tempting but I think she's supposed to? Come on girl, it's a temptation. He looks a bit grayish-green but that's okay, could be the hard water in his shower and nothing a little pink shampoo couldn't fix. I was genuinely sad for him later - he simply wanted to be a dad to some really f****** ugly children.
See below for description of another show that has been playing in my home... I was drawn into that other show and then horrified, so this one was set up as a delightful alternative! Maybe that's why I liked it so much and didn't bother with critique.
Unfortunately I missed a few things in early episodes and I'm going to have to go back and rewatch. I'm told that I watched the first season but by watched I think we mean "knitted, slept, and didn't pay much attention to what was going on there".
Re: What Are You Watching?
The Terror
Aptly titled! This show has disturbed the absolute crap out of me. I could sense that it wasn't my cup of tea but it duped me by casting the aforementioned Ciaran Hines as the ship captain. And it's based on the true story of ships that set off to seek the Northwest passage and failed, obviously. See: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... ge-attempt
Swayed by these two factors I began paying attention to it and quickly discovered it's the stuff of nightmare. Very effective! And just about the time you think you know what the show is about, you're going to get some twists and turns and different kinds of things happening. It stays actively interesting, let's put it that way.
I don't know how to explain without giving spoilers so... some of the horror involved with the terror seems unrealistic and perhaps is some kind of metaphor or fantasy. The text appears to be giving us these things deliberately and therefore requires analysis. Yet I am sleepy and horrified while watching and don't feel like doing any analysis.
I think it would reward other watchers, like most of you readers here, who are more comfortable with this type of thing. Prepare yourself for something very grim. Some good actors are in the show because I found various scenes gripping for no particular content reason... just because the actors were making it so convincing.
Aptly titled! This show has disturbed the absolute crap out of me. I could sense that it wasn't my cup of tea but it duped me by casting the aforementioned Ciaran Hines as the ship captain. And it's based on the true story of ships that set off to seek the Northwest passage and failed, obviously. See: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... ge-attempt
Swayed by these two factors I began paying attention to it and quickly discovered it's the stuff of nightmare. Very effective! And just about the time you think you know what the show is about, you're going to get some twists and turns and different kinds of things happening. It stays actively interesting, let's put it that way.
I don't know how to explain without giving spoilers so... some of the horror involved with the terror seems unrealistic and perhaps is some kind of metaphor or fantasy. The text appears to be giving us these things deliberately and therefore requires analysis. Yet I am sleepy and horrified while watching and don't feel like doing any analysis.
I think it would reward other watchers, like most of you readers here, who are more comfortable with this type of thing. Prepare yourself for something very grim. Some good actors are in the show because I found various scenes gripping for no particular content reason... just because the actors were making it so convincing.
Re: What Are You Watching?
The first season of the Terror was fantastic! I heard the second season was good too (but totally different), but never got around to watching it.
Re: What Are You Watching?
I am shocked to discover that the wider world of fans apparently complained a great deal about Galadriel in season 1! They didn't like the character as written and they didn't like the actress! I suppose if people really can't use their imaginations, they could have found somebody who looked visibly taller relative to the other cast members. I just wasn't worried about this and meanwhile thought the actress was quite good.
Here's a good article about her: https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/ ... riel-hate/
Apparently there are complaints that she is annoying and says and does annoying things, but isn't that true to character? She's supposed to be somebody with a capacity to get impatient and get mad at others, and be tempted by the power of the ring but overcome it. A fundamentally good person with some interesting flaws.
And if we're going to be real fussy about lore isn't she married anyway? I don't remember details but it seems like there's a thousand ways this rings of power show deviates from the original source material. I'm just not worried about it. They're being creative with the story without being false to the important elements, imo. Apparently some of the critics are also mad about racial diversity in the cast so they can go suck an egg anyway. To me it would be much weirder if there wasn't racial diversity amongst representatives of all these creatures. Maybe people fantasize some kind of all white-person world used to exist and Tolkien inhabited it as well as imagining one... Sorry, no, it was never like that. Anyway, I was surprised to discover that the people did not react the way I would have assumed, and the critics are critiquing.
Here's a good article about her: https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/ ... riel-hate/
Apparently there are complaints that she is annoying and says and does annoying things, but isn't that true to character? She's supposed to be somebody with a capacity to get impatient and get mad at others, and be tempted by the power of the ring but overcome it. A fundamentally good person with some interesting flaws.
And if we're going to be real fussy about lore isn't she married anyway? I don't remember details but it seems like there's a thousand ways this rings of power show deviates from the original source material. I'm just not worried about it. They're being creative with the story without being false to the important elements, imo. Apparently some of the critics are also mad about racial diversity in the cast so they can go suck an egg anyway. To me it would be much weirder if there wasn't racial diversity amongst representatives of all these creatures. Maybe people fantasize some kind of all white-person world used to exist and Tolkien inhabited it as well as imagining one... Sorry, no, it was never like that. Anyway, I was surprised to discover that the people did not react the way I would have assumed, and the critics are critiquing.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Galadriel is Elrond's mother-in-law. Unfortunately the writers have already killed off her hubby, Celeborn so there is no real connection between these stories and Tolkien's so enjoy them for what they are ...IMO it's Tolkien fanfic with a big budget....Phoebe wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:53 pm I am shocked to discover that the wider world of fans apparently complained a great deal about Galadriel in season 1! They didn't like the character as written and they didn't like the actress! I suppose if people really can't use their imaginations, they could have found somebody who looked visibly taller relative to the other cast members. I just wasn't worried about this and meanwhile thought the actress was quite good.
Here's a good article about her: https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/ ... riel-hate/
Apparently there are complaints that she is annoying and says and does annoying things, but isn't that true to character? She's supposed to be somebody with a capacity to get impatient and get mad at others, and be tempted by the power of the ring but overcome it. A fundamentally good person with some interesting flaws.
And if we're going to be real fussy about lore isn't she married anyway? I don't remember details but it seems like there's a thousand ways this rings of power show deviates from the original source material. I'm just not worried about it. They're being creative with the story without being false to the important elements, imo. Apparently some of the critics are also mad about racial diversity in the cast so they can go suck an egg anyway. To me it would be much weirder if there wasn't racial diversity amongst representatives of all these creatures. Maybe people fantasize some kind of all white-person world used to exist and Tolkien inhabited it as well as imagining one... Sorry, no, it was never like that. Anyway, I was surprised to discover that the people did not react the way I would have assumed, and the critics are critiquing.
Yeah, I hate-watched it all the way through.
We started watching "Brilliant Minds" on Peacock.....has Zachary Quinto in it. I like most doctor shows...He is like House, but with a better story and personality VERY WATCHABLE.
I have started 2 anime shows:
Frieren on Crunchyroll
and
Delicious in Dungeon on Netflix.
Both are excellent and DnD-adjacent, but Frieren is my favorite
"Yay! I'm for the other team."
Re: What Are You Watching?
Before falling asleep at night I watch 1 or 2 episodes of Brooklyn 99 (I'm rewatching the whole series). Prior to 99, I finished rewatching The Good Place a few weeks ago. After this, I'll go to Parks & Recreation. Michael Schurr shows are my comfort food.
Saw Kaos on Netflix a couple weeks ago. A variation on the tale of Orpheus and Euridyce in a modern world where the Greek gods are definitively real. Jeff Goldblum as Zeus is pure gold. Well worth the watch even though Netflix has already announced there will be no more seasons.
Finished season 4 of Only Murders in the Building last night. Still enjoyable.
Been watching the American version of Shameless off and on for months. It's our default show when there's nothing else pressing to watch. We're about halfway through the 11 seasons of it.
Thinking we'll get to the final season of Umbrella Academy next.
Saw Kaos on Netflix a couple weeks ago. A variation on the tale of Orpheus and Euridyce in a modern world where the Greek gods are definitively real. Jeff Goldblum as Zeus is pure gold. Well worth the watch even though Netflix has already announced there will be no more seasons.
Finished season 4 of Only Murders in the Building last night. Still enjoyable.
Been watching the American version of Shameless off and on for months. It's our default show when there's nothing else pressing to watch. We're about halfway through the 11 seasons of it.
Thinking we'll get to the final season of Umbrella Academy next.
Any time the solution is "banjo rifle", I'm in 100%.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Three shows, one good and two terrible:
Love is Blind US Season 7. Terrible. The Ukrainian guy was my favorite. His best features were teeth and thighs, and they were an 11/10. Probably could be my child in age gap so that's great; he has fought in war so I imagine he's safe from me. Then I liked Tim and Tim turned out to be a complete ass. The show is so stupid I think it gives me brain damage to have it on even if I'm doing dishes or whatever.
Second was MARTHA, the new Netflix biopic. It was wonderful. I don't love Martha in the sense of having affection for her, which I doubt she would want anyway, but I have tremendous admiration for her and am awed by her powers, which is the reaction I assume she would prefer us to have. She's a genius and I have learned much from her, and I also claim her on behalf of Poland. I have no right to do this but doing it anyway. She is a genius in a long tradition of Polish women. There you have it. The show reminds us that a certain irritating as hell prosecutor was responsible for much of what happened to her at one point.
Third, "After", a show that Netflix began playing for me because I allowed it to continue on with the preview past the point of no return. Well, I would have had to find the remote to return. So it went on and there was a lot of young people romance type drama. It was one of those terrible shows where the boy breaks things and the girl is supposed to tolerate this as if it's not a sign of his being a psychotic who endangers her. Part of the overall cultural training that screws people up.
Then we were treated to a dose of "maybe he's faking it and suddenly turns cold for no reason"... this old turnip has no blood left for such a plot line. In the abstract the show's creators were doing a decent job for an audience of 16-year-old girls, but I'm no longer able to appreciate it. For example, at one point they go swimming in a lake and then end up at a local diner to have burgers and fries. Girl sends back her plate because she asked for the fries without ketchup and apparently fries normally come swimming in a sea of ketchup. Utter b*******. All of this is done to introduce a completely trivial conversational aside. Then she gets the plate back with ketchup free fries, and some people they don't like show up so she immediately abandons her plate and goes and stands across the restaurant. B**** take the plate with you! They didn't make you that plate for nothing and now you're wasting a whole dinner when people are starving and there's a lot of food waste. She didn't listen to me at all. Her priorities were completely f*****. The show went on like this... At one point the boy shows up with the car and it's a 66 Chevelle super sport. The car was so much more attractive than the boy or anything else going on in the show that I basically kept watching for glimpses of the car and was occasionally rewarded. It could have been a 67 I don't know. Looks like a 66? Anyway, that was the highlight of the show.
Love is Blind US Season 7. Terrible. The Ukrainian guy was my favorite. His best features were teeth and thighs, and they were an 11/10. Probably could be my child in age gap so that's great; he has fought in war so I imagine he's safe from me. Then I liked Tim and Tim turned out to be a complete ass. The show is so stupid I think it gives me brain damage to have it on even if I'm doing dishes or whatever.
Second was MARTHA, the new Netflix biopic. It was wonderful. I don't love Martha in the sense of having affection for her, which I doubt she would want anyway, but I have tremendous admiration for her and am awed by her powers, which is the reaction I assume she would prefer us to have. She's a genius and I have learned much from her, and I also claim her on behalf of Poland. I have no right to do this but doing it anyway. She is a genius in a long tradition of Polish women. There you have it. The show reminds us that a certain irritating as hell prosecutor was responsible for much of what happened to her at one point.
Third, "After", a show that Netflix began playing for me because I allowed it to continue on with the preview past the point of no return. Well, I would have had to find the remote to return. So it went on and there was a lot of young people romance type drama. It was one of those terrible shows where the boy breaks things and the girl is supposed to tolerate this as if it's not a sign of his being a psychotic who endangers her. Part of the overall cultural training that screws people up.
Then we were treated to a dose of "maybe he's faking it and suddenly turns cold for no reason"... this old turnip has no blood left for such a plot line. In the abstract the show's creators were doing a decent job for an audience of 16-year-old girls, but I'm no longer able to appreciate it. For example, at one point they go swimming in a lake and then end up at a local diner to have burgers and fries. Girl sends back her plate because she asked for the fries without ketchup and apparently fries normally come swimming in a sea of ketchup. Utter b*******. All of this is done to introduce a completely trivial conversational aside. Then she gets the plate back with ketchup free fries, and some people they don't like show up so she immediately abandons her plate and goes and stands across the restaurant. B**** take the plate with you! They didn't make you that plate for nothing and now you're wasting a whole dinner when people are starving and there's a lot of food waste. She didn't listen to me at all. Her priorities were completely f*****. The show went on like this... At one point the boy shows up with the car and it's a 66 Chevelle super sport. The car was so much more attractive than the boy or anything else going on in the show that I basically kept watching for glimpses of the car and was occasionally rewarded. It could have been a 67 I don't know. Looks like a 66? Anyway, that was the highlight of the show.
Re: What Are You Watching?
In my house the Witcher is watched. This is basically a live action reenactment of playing D&D with people who also like the characters to have sexual relations. It's sort of interesting that they will make and drink Potions and then show effects of said potions before doing deeds, or they will cast spells you can see happen visually as if on a roleplaying turn/round. Witches are not particularly intriguing or intelligent in this show, alas. Elves seem bad! Very hard blow after watching the Lord of rings show recently. I still don't really quite get what a Witcher is - have a vague idea. I am slowly dying from being present while this is on the television rectangle near me, making sounds. Also lots of disturbing insect monsters, lots of things with Too Many Teeth.
Re: What Are You Watching?
The Empress season 1
I watched this a while back and then was suddenly promised season 2. But I had forgotten/slept through much of season 1, as it turns out, so I watched it again. Satisfies the need for a period piece drama romance adequately enough to watch but not adequately enough to love. It is tolerable.
Show is based on a scintillating real life history of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Hungary that doubtless was far more strange and dramatic than anything on this show. We are getting a very angelic, sanitized version of the empress so far - apparently she had some odd and unfortunate habits and ways in real life, though nothing near so strange as others in the fam. I wonder if those things show up more in season two - guessing yes. But they have to make her a grand heroine for TV purposes because nobody else in this show is OK.
Disappointed that this Empress is tiny whilst the real one was known for being Tall.
Even more disappointing: all this work done and season 2 isn't until Nov. 22. Boo.
I watched this a while back and then was suddenly promised season 2. But I had forgotten/slept through much of season 1, as it turns out, so I watched it again. Satisfies the need for a period piece drama romance adequately enough to watch but not adequately enough to love. It is tolerable.
Show is based on a scintillating real life history of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Hungary that doubtless was far more strange and dramatic than anything on this show. We are getting a very angelic, sanitized version of the empress so far - apparently she had some odd and unfortunate habits and ways in real life, though nothing near so strange as others in the fam. I wonder if those things show up more in season two - guessing yes. But they have to make her a grand heroine for TV purposes because nobody else in this show is OK.
Disappointed that this Empress is tiny whilst the real one was known for being Tall.
Even more disappointing: all this work done and season 2 isn't until Nov. 22. Boo.
Re: What Are You Watching?
BOXING
Anyone else here for the ladies match and not Tyson Paul? Well, my daughter is having us watch the whole thing. Katie a badass. But great respect for both.
Anyone else here for the ladies match and not Tyson Paul? Well, my daughter is having us watch the whole thing. Katie a badass. But great respect for both.
Re: What Are You Watching?
The ladies match was good. The welterweight match between Ballios and Ramos was pretty exciting, but ultimately boxing is pretty brutal and gross.
The Paul/Tyson match was just sad. They're both bad dudes. Like most people, I was rooting for Monster Classic, but as soon as I saw him live, I knew it would be a struggle.
And I shouldn't say "live". I almost didn't get to see it. As the fanfare started, my Netflix would give me 10 seconds and then freeze up. Couldn't get past it. Finally, after resetting a dozen times, I managed to catch it in that 10 seconds and rewind five minutes. So at least I got to watch the whole thing without it glitching, but I was on a five minute delay.
Not worth all the work either way.
The Paul/Tyson match was just sad. They're both bad dudes. Like most people, I was rooting for Monster Classic, but as soon as I saw him live, I knew it would be a struggle.
And I shouldn't say "live". I almost didn't get to see it. As the fanfare started, my Netflix would give me 10 seconds and then freeze up. Couldn't get past it. Finally, after resetting a dozen times, I managed to catch it in that 10 seconds and rewind five minutes. So at least I got to watch the whole thing without it glitching, but I was on a five minute delay.
Not worth all the work either way.
Any time the solution is "banjo rifle", I'm in 100%.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Ya Netflix is the real loser here because a lot of people tuned in to watch their Livestream fail. I didn't even know there was a first fight before the ladies, that's how poorly it worked! Had to watch the last half on a delay.
Re: What Are You Watching?
There were actually 4 fights total. The first was Goyat (India) vs Nunez (Brazil). 6 rounds of boring. Both fighters showed well, but Goyat just outclassed him. It was a whole lotta nothing, but Goyat got in more nothing and won all six rounds.
Like a fool, I tuned in at 7 to see Jake Paul get murdered only to discover that I was gonna hafta wait 3+ hours for the main event. My fault for not knowing anything about boxing and not doing any research.
Like a fool, I tuned in at 7 to see Jake Paul get murdered only to discover that I was gonna hafta wait 3+ hours for the main event. My fault for not knowing anything about boxing and not doing any research.
Any time the solution is "banjo rifle", I'm in 100%.
Re: What Are You Watching?
Office season 4
St. Denis (imagine The Office is a hospital)
St. Denis (imagine The Office is a hospital)
"Yay! I'm for the other team."
Re: What Are You Watching?
Then She Found Me (2007)
Found this on prime, offered up to me as a free movie with Helen Hunt and Colin Firth. Bette midler also appears here. It was lightly amusing and sort of sad and then it had the uplifting moments. I just couldn't get all the way into it; I couldn't get invested. I have to deal with these overwrought people at work lately and it's just exhausting, and whatever emotional energy it would have taken to engage with this movie was all eaten up already by dealing with the workplace. But it's a harmless and conplentative yet cute movie. 3/5
Found this on prime, offered up to me as a free movie with Helen Hunt and Colin Firth. Bette midler also appears here. It was lightly amusing and sort of sad and then it had the uplifting moments. I just couldn't get all the way into it; I couldn't get invested. I have to deal with these overwrought people at work lately and it's just exhausting, and whatever emotional energy it would have taken to engage with this movie was all eaten up already by dealing with the workplace. But it's a harmless and conplentative yet cute movie. 3/5
Re: What Are You Watching?
A Man on the Inside
This show I believe is on Netflix and stars Ted Danson. He has infiltrated an assisted living facility to accomplish some very light spy work, but really the moral of the story is that he probably should be living in the assisted living facility so that he can find joy and a social life again.
I was expecting a little humor in the style of the good place and I guess it's a bit like that... but no edge. There's some jokes about smoking pot or whatever but it's really very tame. It's truly a family show about old people. It's a bit treacly. I can only take so much of it. But it was also harmless and you can have it on around the kids, and there are some genuinely amusing moments.
This show I believe is on Netflix and stars Ted Danson. He has infiltrated an assisted living facility to accomplish some very light spy work, but really the moral of the story is that he probably should be living in the assisted living facility so that he can find joy and a social life again.
I was expecting a little humor in the style of the good place and I guess it's a bit like that... but no edge. There's some jokes about smoking pot or whatever but it's really very tame. It's truly a family show about old people. It's a bit treacly. I can only take so much of it. But it was also harmless and you can have it on around the kids, and there are some genuinely amusing moments.
Re: What Are You Watching?
AP Bio
I think these people wanted to make a version of Community? This is like if Community focused only on the one main actor and wasn't all that funny. I want there to be another show like community so much that I'm willing to tolerate this but it's not easy.
I think these people wanted to make a version of Community? This is like if Community focused only on the one main actor and wasn't all that funny. I want there to be another show like community so much that I'm willing to tolerate this but it's not easy.
Re: What Are You Watching?
A Snowstorm of Love
I feel like I've earned the right to review this show even though I haven't seen it all the way through to the end. I've watched so much of it. I play it when I'm cooking or doing dishes. They are Chinese but they are living in Scandinavia so there's a snowstorm. And of course it's a love story so... There's a snow storm of it? I don't know. It's a cold place with snow.
The truly interesting part is that both She and He portray genius competitive pool players! They're each champion pool players! I feel like I already reviewed this show. I just want to tell you... I have no idea why this appeals to me. Maybe it's the innocence and preciousness of the relationships in shows like these? It's all just so mild mannered, the players are all so innocent, and every little slight gesture they make bears so much weight and meaning. The happy couple dances around each other and then finally starts dating, and it's all quite adorable, and I assume something happens to disrupt their happiness but I haven't gotten that far into it despite watching for hours and hours and hours. So far it's no match for that show which I believe was Taiwanese Chinese and featured a frog. If you know you know. That one just about destroyed me. I should go watch it again
I feel like I've earned the right to review this show even though I haven't seen it all the way through to the end. I've watched so much of it. I play it when I'm cooking or doing dishes. They are Chinese but they are living in Scandinavia so there's a snowstorm. And of course it's a love story so... There's a snow storm of it? I don't know. It's a cold place with snow.
The truly interesting part is that both She and He portray genius competitive pool players! They're each champion pool players! I feel like I already reviewed this show. I just want to tell you... I have no idea why this appeals to me. Maybe it's the innocence and preciousness of the relationships in shows like these? It's all just so mild mannered, the players are all so innocent, and every little slight gesture they make bears so much weight and meaning. The happy couple dances around each other and then finally starts dating, and it's all quite adorable, and I assume something happens to disrupt their happiness but I haven't gotten that far into it despite watching for hours and hours and hours. So far it's no match for that show which I believe was Taiwanese Chinese and featured a frog. If you know you know. That one just about destroyed me. I should go watch it again