What TV series are you watching right now?

[Maggie Ann]

Bosch

First season featured Jason Gedrick as the killer. He was honestly so creepy that I had to remind myself of the cute little boy pilot who rescues his father in Iron Eagle. Otherwise, I couldn't have kept watching. The other seasons were not as intense.  But I stopped watching after season 5. Just wanted to move on to something else. I'll go back to it, maybe in a couple of months.

[Lynn]

Born Again (Korean, Viki)

Love the reincarnation / crime / psychopath plot. Main lead really knows how to sell his role. :D Very fun show so far. About 2/3rd of the way through now.

[j tanner]

Peaky Blinders on Netflix.

Post WWI gangsters in England starring Cillian Murphy probably best known from 28 Days Later and Batman Begins (as Scarecrow).

Just completed Season 1.

The production value, cinematography, cast, and acting are exceptional. The story early on had me wondering but the last couple episodes of S1 have given me some confidence the writers know where they're going even if they're being coy with it.

[Eric Thomson]

Re-watching New Tricks. I lost track of the series after the first six or eight seasons (PBS and our own public TV channel, TVO aren't the most reliable when it comes to series) but with BritBox, I can binge on the entire thing. For some reason, New Tricks' upbeat style of crime solving always cheers me up.

[Anarchist]

Peaky Blinders on Netflix.

Post WWI gangsters in England starring Cillian Murphy probably best known from 28 Days Later and Batman Begins (as Scarecrow).

Just completed Season 1.

The production value, cinematography, cast, and acting are exceptional. The story early on had me wondering but the last couple episodes of S1 have given me some confidence the writers know where they're going even if they're being coy with it.

I'm waiting for the last season to drop before starting the series.

I'm excited to watch it. Any series with a majority of episodes written by the creator (in this case, Steven Knight) gets my attention.

[Maggie Ann]

Re-watching New Tricks. I lost track of the series after the first six or eight seasons (PBS and our own public TV channel, TVO aren't the most reliable when it comes to series) but with BritBox, I can binge on the entire thing. For some reason, New Tricks' upbeat style of crime solving always cheers me up.

I enjoy New Tricks as well. I'm on my third run through.

[Maggie Ann]

Peaky Blinders on Netflix.

Post WWI gangsters in England starring Cillian Murphy probably best known from 28 Days Later and Batman Begins (as Scarecrow).

Just completed Season 1.

The production value, cinematography, cast, and acting are exceptional. The story early on had me wondering but the last couple episodes of S1 have given me some confidence the writers know where they're going even if they're being coy with it.

The title made me think that it was a BritCom that I would like. Then I looked it up. NOT. I passed. But it's a great title.

[Anarchist]

Just finished this series...





Terrific. Great acting, intelligent writing, and solid directing. In my opinion, it rivals Battlestar Galactica in all three areas.

If you enjoy mil sci-fi, space exploration, first contact, etc., I recommend it.

The Expanse is currently on Amazon Prime. After 6 seasons, the series is now finished (though the showrunners have expressed interest in returning one day to tell the story written by the "James S.A. Corey" duo in books 7 through 9).

Rating: 9/10

[Maggie Ann]

Death in Paradise

I've only watched about four or five episodes and I don't like the way they've written Camille. She always jumps to conclusions and is pretty much always wrong. I do like the "light bulb" moments from DI Poole and I can see that the character of Fidel has the potential for growth.

[R. C.]

After Life on Netflix. 10/10.

R.C.

[Anarchist]

Stranger Things, Season 4





As a series, I've found Stranger Things to be... frustrating.

Season 1 was great. Not perfect by any stretch. But great. My reaction:






Season 2 was good. My reaction:







Season 3 was disappointing. My reaction:






Season 4 was annoying (to me). There were so many things that irked me that I couldn't pinpoint the individual flaws. Thinking back to the series' promising start, this was my reaction:

Yesterday, I stumbled on a review of season 4 that itemized much of what annoyed me. Here it is (*note: it contains spoilers). EDIT: replace the asterisk with an "i" in the URL (the forum software modifies naughty words).

I don't know what the Duffer Bros. were trying to achieve. But I've lost faith in their ability to tell proper stories.

To the Duffer Bros.:

[PJ Post]

I liked Stranger Things Season 4, especially the last two episodes. But my expectations have plummeted over the last few years, so I might not be the best judge.

___



 



 



 



 



 


Again, see previous thing about expectations, so grains and salt and all that.

[Anarchist]

I liked Stranger Things Season 4, especially the last two episodes. But my expectations have plummeted over the last few years, so I might not be the best judge.

My expectations rose with the production value. In hindsight, that was stupid of me. Maybe the 80s nostalgia porn got to me.

FWIW, The Critical Drinker liked season 4. I mention that because my tastes usually line up with his, as they often do with yours. But not this time.

Needless to say, I'll be going into season 5 with much lower expectations.

Thanks for including the other shows in your previous post. I'm adding them to my list (The Terminal List was already there).

[Maggie Ann]

Grantchester S6 on Britbox. It's set in the 50s and 60s so I enjoy the atmosphere.

So You Think You Can Dance on Hulu, S17. I've been watching this show since S2 and was excited to see it was coming back. Meh! It's not the same show but I watch anyway. The semi-finals last Wednesday and it almost had the brightness of previous seasons. I might even watch the finals without searching for comments beforehand so I know what to expect.

Shakespeare and Hathaway S4. Again I was looking forward to its return after the pandemic hiatus, but, nice surprise, it was up to standard. Love Jo Joyner.

[cecilia_writer]

We have something similar to Shakespeare and Hathaway, called McDonald and Dodds, which I like - nice background shots of Bath too - and recently a short series called 'Murder in Provence' also with good scenery.  A bit more scary, 'The Undeclared War' which is a near future computer hacking thriller. As a former programmer I admired the fact that they found a way to make searching through miles of code look exciting!

[Maggie Ann]

We have something similar to Shakespeare and Hathaway, called McDonald and Dodds, which I like - nice background shots of Bath too - and recently a short series called 'Murder in Provence' also with good scenery.  A bit more scary, 'The Undeclared War' which is a near future computer hacking thriller. As a former programmer I admired the fact that they found a way to make searching through miles of code look exciting!

I watched the first two episodes of Murder in Provence because of Roger Allam and ended up liking the whole cast. Allam plays DCI Inspector Fred Thursday in Endeavour. That's also a cast of characters I like very much. Which reminds me, I want to watch the third episode and I think I'll do it tonight.

I've noticed McDonald and Dodds in passing. Looks like it would be much more serious than S&H.

I finished Grantchester but I won't be watching it again. I very much liked the housekeeper and the Inspector and his wife, but I didn't like the two vicars. The first one was a drunkard who kept trying to steal his true love from her husband. The other one that followed in Season 4, kept jumping into bed with just about every woman that came his way. Kept getting in the way of the mysteries and hardly the behavior of a vicar of the CofE.

You could say that of Endeavour, but he wasn't a priest and Endeavour is a prequel series of Inspector Morse whose character was created long ago by Colin Dexter (author) and John Thaw (actor). Excellent series.

Speaking of detectives created by authors which later became a TV series, I highly recommend George Gently (pretty dark) and A Touch of Frost (quite the character).

[Luke Everhart]

Resident Alien starring Alan Tudyk on Peac*ck and it's hilarious!!! 🤣

[cecilia_writer]

McDonald and Dodds is only a little more serious than S and H - it's a police procedural in a way but the characters are very quirky and often amusing.
I like the whole setup in Murder in Provence - interesting to see how things work with the judge doing a lot of th questioning. I hadn't ever watched Endeavour but maybe should give it a try.

[Maggie Ann]

McDonald and Dodds is only a little more serious than S and H - it's a police procedural in a way but the characters are very quirky and often amusing.
I like the whole setup in Murder in Provence - interesting to see how things work with the judge doing a lot of th questioning. I hadn't ever watched Endeavour but maybe should give it a try.

I had to check about the judge doing the investigating. I'd never seen that before. Yes, it is done that way in France.

Endeavour is on PBS Masterpiece. Try to find the pilot first. It explains a lot.

[PJ Post]

  Netflix

 

[Anarchist]

Just finished this series a few moments ago...





Amazing. Rating: 9 out of 10.

Terrific writing and directing. And the grand arc... mind-blowing.



It's currently on Netflix. Three seasons (10 episodes, 8 episodes, and 8 episodes).

This isn't a series to watch in bed or while drinking bourbon. It demands attention and effort. I've never worked so hard to keep on top of things. I literally took notes.

This site was very handy: https://dark.netflix.io/en (if you watch Dark and use this site, don't jump to episodes you haven't watched).

The plot is labyrinthine. There will be times while watching that you think side plots have been abandoned. They haven't. Hang in there. Keep watching. These writers did not graduate from the J.J. Abrams School of Hack Mystery Box Writers.

There will be times while watching when you'll have this reaction...

Rest assured, nothing is left hanging. Your brain may melt at various points in the series. But everything is eventually addressed.

tl;dr - Dark is an amazing series.

[Post-Crisis D]

I guess I am among the dwindling handfuls of people watching this:

I started with the first episode and I went in expecting it was going to be bad, but it's better than I thought it would be.

And I wonder if the name of the main character, Dr. Ben Song, was intentionally or accidentally using the same initials as Dr. Sam Beckett.

The problem with the series is that it doesn't quite know what it wants to be.  In the original series, the leap was the focus of the episode.  Why is Sam there?  What is he supposed to do?  In the new series, the leap sometimes feels like the B-story.  They spend about half the episode in the present day and half whenever the leap takes place and it just feels like a scattered focus.

As a fan of the original, I find myself more interested in what Al's daughter is up to than anything else.  I don't know if that's a good thing because, without that, I don't know if I'd still be watching.  And now they've thrown in a new leaper.  It's like there was a progression of events from episode to episode with Al's daughter but now they've switched to a mystery leaper and it doesn't feel organic.  Maybe these two threads will tie together somehow but, for now, it just feels like they are throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.

[Vijaya]

Dr. Finlay. Based on Adventures in Two World by A.J. Cronin. One of my favorite memoirs. Very episodic. The series is fiction. Has a few anachronisms but I enjoy it.

[PJ Post]

The Supernatural prequel...

[LBL]

Andor. It's fantastic. They've had an all-star team of writers working on it, and it shows. An absolute masterclass in storytelling.

[Maggie Ann]

Andor. It's fantastic. They've had an all-star team of writers working on it, and it shows. An absolute masterclass in storytelling.

I would like to see it because Rogue One was my favorite of the new SW releases. But I'm not going to subscribe to D+ just for one series.

[Post-Crisis D]

I would like to see it because Rogue One was my favorite of the new SW releases. But I'm not going to subscribe to D+ just for one series.

I'm hoping Doctor Who episodes will still be on iTunes because I'm not subscribing to Disney Plus for anything.

[PJ Post]

 



 

[alhawke]

Andor. It's fantastic. They've had an all-star team of writers working on it, and it shows. An absolute masterclass in storytelling.

I would like to see it because Rogue One was my favorite of the new SW releases. But I'm not going to subscribe to D+ just for one series.

Add the OB-Wan series to your future list. Unfortunately, you have to have Disney + to watch it too. But this gem brought back many memories of the original trilogy.

[Maggie Ann]

Andor. It's fantastic. They've had an all-star team of writers working on it, and it shows. An absolute masterclass in storytelling.

I would like to see it because Rogue One was my favorite of the new SW releases. But I'm not going to subscribe to D+ just for one series.

Add the OB-Wan series to your future list. Unfortunately, you have to have Disney + to watch it too. But this gem brought back many memories of the original trilogy.

I'm weakening.

[PJ Post]

       

[PJ Post]

 

So good!

[Maggie Ann]

I watched Sister Boniface which is a spinoff from Father Brown. Only one season and I hope they do more.

Now I'm watching Father Brown. My daughter got me the complete Father Brown mysteries by GK Chesterton in paperback along with a Father Brown umbrella.

Both are mystery series on BritBox.

[Bill Hiatt]

I watched Sister Boniface which is a spinoff from Father Brown. Only one season and I hope they do more.

Now I'm watching Father Brown. My daughter got me the complete Father Brown mysteries by GK Chesterton in paperback along with a Father Brown umbrella.

Both are mystery series on BritBox.

I watched quite a few seasons of Father Brown on DVD. I don't know whether or not they do justice to the original Chesterton, but I found them to be very well done.

[Maggie Ann]

I watched Sister Boniface which is a spinoff from Father Brown. Only one season and I hope they do more.

Now I'm watching Father Brown. My daughter got me the complete Father Brown mysteries by GK Chesterton in paperback along with a Father Brown umbrella.

Both are mystery series on BritBox.

I watched quite a few seasons of Father Brown on DVD. I don't know whether or not they do justice to the original Chesterton, but I found them to be very well done.

One of the first ebooks I bought back in 2009 was the complete Father Brown mysteries. I soon gave up on it. It was converted via the Gutenberg Project and had no paragraphs and no space or other distinguishing marks between books. I gave up on it. But I see that it was somewhat improved. I see I also bought another version in 2013 and another in 2019 which I haven't read as well. So many books, so little time. <sigh>

Which Father Brown did you watch? Mark Williams or Kenneth More?

[Post-Crisis D]

One of the first ebooks I bought back in 2009 was the complete Father Brown mysteries. I soon gave up on it. It was converted via the Gutenberg Project and had no paragraphs and no space or other distinguishing marks between books.

So, was this something someone converted from PG and then sold on Amazon?  Because Project Gutenberg books are usually fairly well-done because they seem pretty particular about matching the original book.

Way back when, PG only did text files but now they do HTML, ePub and Kindle files.

Here are their options for The Innocence of Father Brown:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/204

[Maggie Ann]

One of the first ebooks I bought back in 2009 was the complete Father Brown mysteries. I soon gave up on it. It was converted via the Gutenberg Project and had no paragraphs and no space or other distinguishing marks between books.

So, was this something someone converted from PG and then sold on Amazon?  Because Project Gutenberg books are usually fairly well-done because they seem pretty particular about matching the original book.

Way back when, PG only did text files but now they do HTML, ePub and Kindle files.

Here are their options for The Innocence of Father Brown:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/204

This was in the beginning when all volunteers set up the ebooks. Kindle was all new then. I have another two editions.

[Hopscotch]

Il Commissario Montalbano, after which there is no other mystery series.  Which is why I keep rewatching it, like rereading a good book.

[Bill Hiatt]

Which Father Brown did you watch? Mark Williams or Kenneth More?

I believe it was Mark Williams. Yup, just looked it up, and it was him.

[Bill Hiatt]

I've been watching Arrested Development on Netflix. I usually like comedy that grows out of realistic situations, and the situations in this are incredibly unrealistic. Yet I keep watching it. It's like a car wreck--it's horrible, but I can't take my eyes off of it.

[Hopscotch]

Which Father Brown did you watch? Mark Williams or Kenneth More?

I believe it was Mark Williams. Yup, just looked it up, and it was him.

The Kenneth More Father Brown adheres to the books; the Mark Williams makes it farce.  Seems that many Brit viewers are furious w/the Williams version for going astray.  But I say the book Father Brown is dull and unpleasant and More's no improvement.  Williams is a hoot.

[Maggie Ann]

Which Father Brown did you watch? Mark Williams or Kenneth More?

I believe it was Mark Williams. Yup, just looked it up, and it was him.

The Kenneth More Father Brown adheres to the books; the Mark Williams makes it farce.  Seems that many Brit viewers are furious w/the Williams version for going astray.  But I say the book Father Brown is dull and unpleasant and More's no improvement.  Williams is a hoot.

Even though I've only read a few of the books, and that was long ago, when I saw Mark Williams was going to play Father Brown, I thought he'd be perfect. He is. I'm on Season 2 and I miss Sid. He was getting to be a sidekick and I thought he was great.

[Bill Hiatt]

Which Father Brown did you watch? Mark Williams or Kenneth More?

I believe it was Mark Williams. Yup, just looked it up, and it was him.

The Kenneth More Father Brown adheres to the books; the Mark Williams makes it farce.  Seems that many Brit viewers are furious w/the Williams version for going astray.  But I say the book Father Brown is dull and unpleasant and More's no improvement.  Williams is a hoot.

Again, not having read the books, it's hard for me to judge. I wouldn't have called the Williams interpretation a farce, though. There is some light humor, but the way real-world problems are handled is much more serious than a farce would be.

The only thing that struck me as a little odd in the series, and that may or may not be a reflection of the books, is that almost everyone seems to be Catholic. Obviously, characters like Father Brown and Mrs. McCarthy would be, but everyone who gets murdered seems to be a parishioner, as does pretty much everyone Father Brown encounters. Are there small towns in England that are almost entirely Catholic? I know the Church of England has a much bigger chunk of the population in general.

[Vijaya]

I've read the Father Brown stories and indeed, you're right, most of the characters are Catholic but perhaps it's a reflection of Chesterton's own conversion. One year on a long road trip we listened to the stories and the narrator was wonderful. I've not watched the TV series but will have to find them.

[Bill Hiatt]

Lockwood and Co on Netflix.

Clever premise--for some reason, ghosts are now real and have the ability not only to haunt, but to kill. Getting rid of ghosts is big business.

It's definitely worth a look for fans of fantasy and light horror. Let's hope Netflix doesn't kill it for some dubiously explained reason.

[PJ Post]

 

[Bill Hiatt]

Better Than Us on Netflix. It's originally a Russian series to which Netflix got the international distribution rights.

It's dystopian science fiction in which "bots" (androids, but maybe the term isn't used in Russian), are already replacing humans in some jobs. But like Humans, the UK series, this isn't a robot takeover kind of premise. The bots are often portrayed affectionately, and they generally seem to be programmed with Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, which, prevent bots from harming humans, require bots to obey humans, and require bots to preserve their own existence. The laws are prioritized, with the first one overriding the other two, and the second one overriding the third.

But then along comes a prototype with different programming. (Cue sinister music.) What happens is not what you might expect.

[Maggie Ann]

Supernanny

Why do I enjoy watching kids running amok, biting, kicking and beating on their parents? Maybe because I appreciate my kids more and maybe because compared to these clueless parents, I wasn't so bad myself.

[cecilia_writer]

We have a new series of 'Vera' here. I'm really enjoying it.

[PJ Post]

Some here may have been around long enough to remember Hugh Howey from the other forum. He made it early on with some great books, including Wool...



And now, after ten years, he finally made it to film.



And it's good!