Excellent, once I've finished off Picard season 2 with my grandfather, we're firing this sucker up.
Discuss and Rate the Last Thing You Watched (non-movies)
- Thread starter Hawki
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I'd say budget was a factor (this is now CW taking over with DC stepping back as it was planned as a DC streaming service product and made as such in season 1).
Also I'd say a big factor was this was filmed during the pandemic. Hence the fact it was summer school with a far reduced number of people in most scenes with no full classrooms or busy hallways.
I agree with you about how they kind of left a lot up in the air / didn't fully resolve a lot of the stuff that well but again I'm putting a good deal of it down to the pandemic like I've got a feeling Jennie was meant to be a far bigger part of the story but she got ill or something happened pandemic related that meant she had to vanish for part of the season, same with other characters who seemingly just vanished for parts of it.
I agree with the fact Eclipso was far more freaky as the little boy than in his monster form and I kind of wish they'd done something with it so Eclipso in the final battle just looked like some normal dude with the whole red eye and greyish skin thing others got when using his power on part of his face. Just like a regular normal dude who when he gets hit or something the more monstrous side of his is just visible for a short while until he reverts his form back to looking almost fully human again.
I'd say budget was a factor (this is now CW taking over with DC stepping back as it was planned as a DC streaming service product and made as such in season 1).
Also I'd say a big factor was this was filmed during the pandemic. Hence the fact it was summer school with a far reduced number of people in most scenes with no full classrooms or busy hallways.
I agree with you about how they kind of left a lot up in the air / didn't fully resolve a lot of the stuff that well but again I'm putting a good deal of it down to the pandemic like I've got a feeling Jennie was meant to be a far bigger part of the story but she got ill or something happened pandemic related that meant she had to vanish for part of the season, same with other characters who seemingly just vanished for parts of it.
I agree with the fact Eclipso was far more freaky as the little boy than in his monster form and I kind of wish they'd done something with it so Eclipso in the final battle just looked like some normal dude with the whole red eye and greyish skin thing others got when using his power on part of his face. Just like a regular normal dude who when he gets hit or something the more monstrous side of his is just visible for a short while until he reverts his form back to looking almost fully human again.
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story
Pedo creep who got away with abusing hundreds ("ages 5 to 75") while staying a beloved media figure all his life. You'd think it would be obvious just from looking at the sicko, and the fact it was treated as an open secret by the media, but no, brushed it off like lint.
This could've been a single 90 minute documentary instead of 3 hours in two parts, it tends to go on tangents and repeat itself. Feels like they're biding their time for a big finish but you already kinda get the whole story in the first half.
Pedo creep who got away with abusing hundreds ("ages 5 to 75") while staying a beloved media figure all his life. You'd think it would be obvious just from looking at the sicko, and the fact it was treated as an open secret by the media, but no, brushed it off like lint.
This could've been a single 90 minute documentary instead of 3 hours in two parts, it tends to go on tangents and repeat itself. Feels like they're biding their time for a big finish but you already kinda get the whole story in the first half.
The Pentaverate: S1: Ep1-2: Bad / Great
Michael Meyers is Michael Meyers several times over in a comedy miniseries about an elite group of five men who form a secret society that effectively runs the world.
Really, really, really dumb. Almost cresting the hill of "so bad, it's good." It's worth watching if only to see how bad it is. The writing is terrible and relies heavily on dick jokes, some they work really hard at (pun intended.) I'm probably going to finish it; I mean, I've already pulled over and gotten out of the car, might as well stay to see how the train wreck pans out.
That said, Meyers just needs to do another Austin Powers flick and get it out of his system. If he's going to play a dozen different characters, he should at least lean on the nostalgia of past successes, because this Pentaverate shit just feels almost intentionally pathetic.
Michael Meyers is Michael Meyers several times over in a comedy miniseries about an elite group of five men who form a secret society that effectively runs the world.
Really, really, really dumb. Almost cresting the hill of "so bad, it's good." It's worth watching if only to see how bad it is. The writing is terrible and relies heavily on dick jokes, some they work really hard at (pun intended.) I'm probably going to finish it; I mean, I've already pulled over and gotten out of the car, might as well stay to see how the train wreck pans out.
That said, Meyers just needs to do another Austin Powers flick and get it out of his system. If he's going to play a dozen different characters, he should at least lean on the nostalgia of past successes, because this Pentaverate shit just feels almost intentionally pathetic.
Picard (Season 2, eps 1-3)
Oh god. This starts well perhaps examining Picard's character - in particular his failure to have a meaningful relationship, dashes off to classic ST territory with an exciting anomaly... and then collapses into a mush of meh. I didn't ever want to see Q again, he was never a good installment in ST:TNG. He's a sort of wanky deus ex machina to make up alternative dimension/reality bullshit (see also the holodeck) and this, along with time travel, is nearly always a recipe for the laziest, unimaginative SF. Never mind the sneaking suspicion that this is more hauling back some old faves from TNG as a courtesy rather than constructing a decent plot. It goes further wrong quickly, as the alternative reality starts off in some plot-hole-y mess with lots of frantic running around that borders on a farce rather than a drama that leaves me deeply pessimistic about the rest of the series.
Le sigh.
Oh god. This starts well perhaps examining Picard's character - in particular his failure to have a meaningful relationship, dashes off to classic ST territory with an exciting anomaly... and then collapses into a mush of meh. I didn't ever want to see Q again, he was never a good installment in ST:TNG. He's a sort of wanky deus ex machina to make up alternative dimension/reality bullshit (see also the holodeck) and this, along with time travel, is nearly always a recipe for the laziest, unimaginative SF. Never mind the sneaking suspicion that this is more hauling back some old faves from TNG as a courtesy rather than constructing a decent plot. It goes further wrong quickly, as the alternative reality starts off in some plot-hole-y mess with lots of frantic running around that borders on a farce rather than a drama that leaves me deeply pessimistic about the rest of the series.
Le sigh.
I’m enjoying Picard very much myself so let me give you some advice. Stop now and don’t bother continuing because it’s not going to improve in your eyes. Stop now, and maybe fire up Strange New Worlds instead.
Picard season 2 - 8/10
Again, this is a show I personally like because I like Picard. I’ll miss Rios - he was a fantastic character - and even if it’s not as well developed as it should be, kudos to Jeri Ryan and Michelle Hurd for giving Raffi and Seven some genuine on screen chemistry. I’m still not sold on Allison Pill as a ‘Star Trek’ character but she acquitted herself better in this season. Stand out stuff as always was everything between Q and Picard. I cried at the end a little. It remains however a show set in Star Trek’s universe instead of a Star Trek show. With that said…..
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (eps 1-3) - 10/10
Ladies and gentlemen if very traditional Trek with all the benefits of modern VFX is your bag, look no further. The old Constitution class Enterprise has never looked better; and while there is obviously a longer plot at play, the show masterfully returns Trek to its weekly format. And one of my new favourite crew member is Lt. Ortegas, a choice I feel confident I won’t be alone in.
Again, this is a show I personally like because I like Picard. I’ll miss Rios - he was a fantastic character - and even if it’s not as well developed as it should be, kudos to Jeri Ryan and Michelle Hurd for giving Raffi and Seven some genuine on screen chemistry. I’m still not sold on Allison Pill as a ‘Star Trek’ character but she acquitted herself better in this season. Stand out stuff as always was everything between Q and Picard. I cried at the end a little. It remains however a show set in Star Trek’s universe instead of a Star Trek show. With that said…..
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (eps 1-3) - 10/10
Ladies and gentlemen if very traditional Trek with all the benefits of modern VFX is your bag, look no further. The old Constitution class Enterprise has never looked better; and while there is obviously a longer plot at play, the show masterfully returns Trek to its weekly format. And one of my new favourite crew member is Lt. Ortegas, a choice I feel confident I won’t be alone in.
Not watched but listened to.
The Cipher
www.listennotes.com
A BBC Radio podcast that I can best describe as starting at being a [current year] Da-vinci code but as audio drama but then quickly goes off the rails.
The series falls down pretty fast when you step back and look at just how many plotholes there are and while trying to present itself as grown up sci-fi it ends up commenting on social issues and trends with all the tact and grace of Chris Chibnall's run on Doctor Who but then sort of abandons all that examination and stuff in favour of action scenes and gunfights. Oh also forgot to mention it's a series that name checks "Gone Girl" as positive representation of strong women. Talk about referencing something the writer clearly didn't bother reading / watching.
The Cipher
The Cipher
When 16-year-old Sabrina cracks the cryptic Parallax, she’s recruited to track down a serial killer... who might not be from this world. Starring Anya Chalotra…
www.listennotes.com
A BBC Radio podcast that I can best describe as starting at being a [current year] Da-vinci code but as audio drama but then quickly goes off the rails.
Ok the plot quickly goes from Da-vinci code where the main character is recruited to help stop a killer whose leaving coded messages at sites where they've killed world renowned scientists to quickly become about secret government and underground societies, an alien civil war and also another war between Aliens and robots.
The series falls down pretty fast when you step back and look at just how many plotholes there are and while trying to present itself as grown up sci-fi it ends up commenting on social issues and trends with all the tact and grace of Chris Chibnall's run on Doctor Who but then sort of abandons all that examination and stuff in favour of action scenes and gunfights. Oh also forgot to mention it's a series that name checks "Gone Girl" as positive representation of strong women. Talk about referencing something the writer clearly didn't bother reading / watching.
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I tried to watch Picard. I got two episodes in and it was just sad and dumb. It feels like a fanfic written by people who have never watched Star Trek. RLM pointed out Picards character is sort of rewritten almost to the point that resembles Professor X more than Picard who was the embodiment of an elder statement. Aside from that idk the plot with the androids just felt like messy twilight trashy ya stuff. I also just hate the writing style where so much of it is empty rambling platitudes. I've watch cuts from season 2 and I don't think theres a world where I could be convinced that this isn't all fluff and empty fan service written by staff interns.
mm I'm more like a 7-8/10, but I agree for the most part it does feel like a success modernization of Star Trek. I adore the andorian/Aenarian Chief Engineer Hemmer. I can see him being confusing for folks that didnt watch Enterprise where the Andorians are known as kind of the "fun" version of Klingons, ie giant grumpy assbags with a heart of gold. The Andorian Shran ended up being a fan favorite and I can see Hemmer becoming equally popular given enough screen time. I just noticed the actor who plays Hemmer is actually blind. I can see that being an advantage, adding some realism to his acting.
Pros:
It feels more focused on storytelling, than drama. I think aside from writing what largely has pulls fans away from Picard and Discovery is that JJ Abrams brat pack macguffin writing where they just throw character plotlines at the wall like spaghetti with no clear plan to resolve any of them because they just write one episode at a time. So far with the first 3 episodes the actual story of the episode begins and ends with a clear resolution, so you feel like youre watching something with purpose regardless of whatever character drama is happening in the background.
I continue to not "hate" anybody. I like Hemmer, Pike, Ortega, and the geneticist though her name escapes me.
Cons:
Drama drama drama - within the first three episodes weve already got 4 or 5 macguffins. Pike has PTSD, Number 1 is an Ilyrian, Whatever her name is a augment, The doctor is keeping secrets blah blah. SETTTLE THE FUCK DOWN. Its worth noting this happens with all star treks, BUT over time. This is the problem with anything written by Abrams buddies. They seed this kind of shit too much. Like dude save some of this for season 2 or 3 or 5. If you oversaturate the audience with SEEECREETSS it dilutes the consistency of the main story.
I can not, for the life of me, consistency understand what the doctor is saying. His voice is like t'challa filtered through a sawmill.
I watched the first episode of Our Flag Means Death, and it was really fucking good. It's pretty much What We Do in the Shadows with pirates, but wholesome as fuck.
The Pentaverate (Netflix)
I have no idea where Mike Myers has been for the last 5-10 years (Shrek voiceovers aside), but he's returned here for a short comedy series about a secret society, the Pentaverate, who are basically the Illuminati... but nice. Mike Myers stars as most of the main characters in his traditional make-up, and clearly has some fun. He has some very able support from the likes of Keegan-Micael Key and Jennifer Saunders, and Jeremy Irons does a bang up job being Jeremy Irons as the announcer. It concerns a local Canadian journalist, Ken Scarborough, who sets out to save his job by exposing a global conspiracy.
This is a pretty dumb comedy, as you might expect from Mike Myers - lots of very cheap sex jokes, in-jokes and general imbecility. Plenty of this is just good-naturedly dumb without really hitting the mark, but it's also funny at many points, and overall, I think it was pretty good. I do love the bit which goes through a section with a lot of sexual innuendo and swearing, and then replays it without the swearing managing to come across as even more obscene. So stupid, and yet it works.
I also found the last scene - a real-world clip from early in Mike Myers' career - a very sweet and touching end that explains some of the inspiration.
I have no idea where Mike Myers has been for the last 5-10 years (Shrek voiceovers aside), but he's returned here for a short comedy series about a secret society, the Pentaverate, who are basically the Illuminati... but nice. Mike Myers stars as most of the main characters in his traditional make-up, and clearly has some fun. He has some very able support from the likes of Keegan-Micael Key and Jennifer Saunders, and Jeremy Irons does a bang up job being Jeremy Irons as the announcer. It concerns a local Canadian journalist, Ken Scarborough, who sets out to save his job by exposing a global conspiracy.
This is a pretty dumb comedy, as you might expect from Mike Myers - lots of very cheap sex jokes, in-jokes and general imbecility. Plenty of this is just good-naturedly dumb without really hitting the mark, but it's also funny at many points, and overall, I think it was pretty good. I do love the bit which goes through a section with a lot of sexual innuendo and swearing, and then replays it without the swearing managing to come across as even more obscene. So stupid, and yet it works.
I also found the last scene - a real-world clip from early in Mike Myers' career - a very sweet and touching end that explains some of the inspiration.
I liked Stargirl S 1. I haven't gotten around to 2 yet. But you rank Legends of Tomorrow S4 that high? I think I can see it on Netflix and check it out.
I started binging FROM (2022)
Mike over at RLM brought it up on a video yesterday. It wouldn't surprise me if its sort of flying under the radar as its on EPIX which I'd never even heard of until yesterday. Anyway it's a horror TV show that's sort of a combination of The Langoliers and Salem's Lot. A bunch of people have been trapped in this small town in the woods. Once they enter they can't get out. The more pressing issue is that after dark these vampire/zombie like creatures massacre anyone not locked in at night. It varies, some folks have been trapped there a really long time some are just showing up. I'm enjoying it, if I had a complaint theres Stephen King stereotype autistic guy whos been trapped there since he was little kid whos running around figuring out whats actually going on, but everyone seems to be ignoring him and just saying "he's weird", while hes the macguffin leading the audience to sleuth out whats going on. Overall I'm pretty hooked. It's a lot of things we've seen before, but jumbled together differently so as to make it new and interesting. The acting is also pretty solid. I'm not like screaming at the screen "YOU IDIOTS" 4 episodes in and I'm pretty critical about the running in high heels effect. Fair warning its very graphic. Peeps get slaughtered left and right. It is not a slow burn.
Mike over at RLM brought it up on a video yesterday. It wouldn't surprise me if its sort of flying under the radar as its on EPIX which I'd never even heard of until yesterday. Anyway it's a horror TV show that's sort of a combination of The Langoliers and Salem's Lot. A bunch of people have been trapped in this small town in the woods. Once they enter they can't get out. The more pressing issue is that after dark these vampire/zombie like creatures massacre anyone not locked in at night. It varies, some folks have been trapped there a really long time some are just showing up. I'm enjoying it, if I had a complaint theres Stephen King stereotype autistic guy whos been trapped there since he was little kid whos running around figuring out whats actually going on, but everyone seems to be ignoring him and just saying "he's weird", while hes the macguffin leading the audience to sleuth out whats going on. Overall I'm pretty hooked. It's a lot of things we've seen before, but jumbled together differently so as to make it new and interesting. The acting is also pretty solid. I'm not like screaming at the screen "YOU IDIOTS" 4 episodes in and I'm pretty critical about the running in high heels effect. Fair warning its very graphic. Peeps get slaughtered left and right. It is not a slow burn.
I just finished Made For Love Season 2 on HBO-Max.
I'd post a trailer for 2 but don't want to spoil this for anyone that hasn't seen 1 so, trailer for 1
The show is a creative hoot. Quirky characters in a fun sci-fi situation. Amusing and mind expanding. Best with gin. 8.5/10.
I'd post a trailer for 2 but don't want to spoil this for anyone that hasn't seen 1 so, trailer for 1
The show is a creative hoot. Quirky characters in a fun sci-fi situation. Amusing and mind expanding. Best with gin. 8.5/10.
Thanks for letting us know about season 2 of Made For Love, u/gorfias! I liked season 1. There has been a lot of satire of tech billionaire weirdos but I think this show has the best one.
Re: the new Trek... man, I love me some Trek, but I am definitely feeling burnt out. This new Pike one, everyone keeps saying is like TNG. And I liked TNG... 30 years ago or whatever. It's 2022, I don't think I need that in my life right now?
Anyway, wife and I finished watching season 1 of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. This HBO Max is based on a book about how the Lakers became a schmancy powerhouse in the '80's, so it starts with Jerry Buss buying the team right after they draft Magic Johnson.
It's done with a lot of meta-stuff, 4th wall breaking, snark, even random bits of animation. In order to emphasize the glam and gltiz, there is a lot of nudity and exploitation of women's bodies but, you know, HBO. There is an uncomfortable vibe I get that's like "oh, THIS is why Magic got AIDS" and this excusing of "great men" being pigs with women. But I forgive that stuff with a show this over-the-top silly and fun.
Best episode is where they visit my current residential town of Boston and just hate it, lol.
It's good fun and I recommend it, even if you don't care about basketball so much (it was my favorite sport to watch as a kid though so I remember the Showtime Lakers).
Then we started watching an Apple TV+ show called For All Mankind. This is about, what if Russia landed on the moon first?! But still from Americans' perspective. I watched the first two episodes on a plan trip myself, incorrectly assuming my wife wouldn't be into it but when I told her about it she seemed interested, especially with the angle that after the second episode, women take up a larger role.
Man, Apple TV shows are really produced, directed and shot well. All of their shows I watched- maybe they're not the best writing or particularly like great overall, but they really are made well, like real movies. This show feels like a Spielberg movie or something, very old school in a warm comforting way.
Re: the new Trek... man, I love me some Trek, but I am definitely feeling burnt out. This new Pike one, everyone keeps saying is like TNG. And I liked TNG... 30 years ago or whatever. It's 2022, I don't think I need that in my life right now?
Anyway, wife and I finished watching season 1 of Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. This HBO Max is based on a book about how the Lakers became a schmancy powerhouse in the '80's, so it starts with Jerry Buss buying the team right after they draft Magic Johnson.
It's done with a lot of meta-stuff, 4th wall breaking, snark, even random bits of animation. In order to emphasize the glam and gltiz, there is a lot of nudity and exploitation of women's bodies but, you know, HBO. There is an uncomfortable vibe I get that's like "oh, THIS is why Magic got AIDS" and this excusing of "great men" being pigs with women. But I forgive that stuff with a show this over-the-top silly and fun.
Best episode is where they visit my current residential town of Boston and just hate it, lol.
It's good fun and I recommend it, even if you don't care about basketball so much (it was my favorite sport to watch as a kid though so I remember the Showtime Lakers).
Then we started watching an Apple TV+ show called For All Mankind. This is about, what if Russia landed on the moon first?! But still from Americans' perspective. I watched the first two episodes on a plan trip myself, incorrectly assuming my wife wouldn't be into it but when I told her about it she seemed interested, especially with the angle that after the second episode, women take up a larger role.
Man, Apple TV shows are really produced, directed and shot well. All of their shows I watched- maybe they're not the best writing or particularly like great overall, but they really are made well, like real movies. This show feels like a Spielberg movie or something, very old school in a warm comforting way.
I liked, my only complaint is that it almost felt kinda rushed in the end.
I'm still unclear if they're saying the frozen bodies are clones? or originals? Did her dad actually die or was it a clone?
Bear in mind that I'm an oddity for season 4 of LoT and Arrow for that matter. But for me, the show's at its best when it goes full silly, and season 4 has that in spades.
Very late to this, I'm aware, but just finished Squid Game. Holy shit, what a show. Great acting almost all the way through, very well-done characters, and a lot of real tension. What more could you ask for from a battle royale?
Finished up 2 seasons the other day.
Killing Eve - Season 4
The season was such a slog to get through and they really try to go in-depth on the big baddie organization and I really couldn't care less about that. They introduce new characters that aren't needed and only space out greatly the character interactions that do work. I do like how they ended it at the very end though, it just meandered so much to get there.
Moon Knight - Season 1
I really liked the first episode but really didn't care much about anything afterward honestly. The second to last episode was pretty interesting because it didn't involve the main plot at all. I really didn't care about anything going on because they didn't really go into why the "good" god was good and why the "bad" god was bad. It just seemed like the "bad" god was simply more efficient at what the "good" god was trying to do.
Killing Eve - Season 4
The season was such a slog to get through and they really try to go in-depth on the big baddie organization and I really couldn't care less about that. They introduce new characters that aren't needed and only space out greatly the character interactions that do work. I do like how they ended it at the very end though, it just meandered so much to get there.
Moon Knight - Season 1
I really liked the first episode but really didn't care much about anything afterward honestly. The second to last episode was pretty interesting because it didn't involve the main plot at all. I really didn't care about anything going on because they didn't really go into why the "good" god was good and why the "bad" god was bad. It just seemed like the "bad" god was simply more efficient at what the "good" god was trying to do.
Oh damn, there's a season 2 already.
I loved the 1st and 2nd seasons IIRC, the third was alright I think, but that last season was a slog to get through with only few good moments. I liked how they ended the show but getting there was very roundabout.