^ Yeah, Walker is a mensch.

The casting was hit-or-miss even before Marco. I found myself letting it slide, for example, whenever Avasarala - another sprawling character - delivered 1-take-and-done material. I've seen her in other things, and I know she's a solid actor, so it has to be a budget/director decision. Same with Marco, but more blatant... the guy couldn't charm a banana out of its peel, let alone lead an armada of honour-fetishizing cutthroats. A decent director surely sees this & trims dialogue, edits scenes, etc, to mask this defect.

Now, if it turns out he's truly dead, and there's more show otw - then hosanna in excelsis, bc it's pretty darn easy to let other things slide. (For the record, Avasarala is pretty cool, and I basically like the character.)

True Detective (season 1, 2014). Yep, as good as I remember. Not like watching it fresh bc I see through a few affectations I would probably have been too buzzed to see the first time - but they're in the last couple episodes (also, the final lines of the final scene are a quiet knockout, and so is the musical fade-out). The plot doesn't matter - it's a vehicle for an ethereal performance by McConaughey... very special, this one. Supporting cast is perfect, especially Woody, though I'm sure he's billed as co-star - but he ain't. He's the perfect foil & co-tagonist/stand-in for us.

Season 2 was unwatchable, I decided within 10 minutes. Colin Farrell's re-hirability is a travesty. (But also the tone is stupid.) Season 3 was ok, too meandering, and vastly less interesting than the original, though not for committing to something unusual.

The Gilded Age (2022)... pass. Seems well-enough conceived & directed, most of the dialogue is boring, but... holy shit is Carrie Coon bad in this. Now I'm curious about her other roles.

arugula2 wrote:The Gilded Age (2022)... pass. Seems well-enough conceived & directed, most of the dialogue is boring, but... holy shit is Carrie Coon bad in this. Now I'm curious about her other roles.

i thought she was good in the Leftovers and in Fargo season 3.

the gulided age is terrible, Carrie Coon is the least of its troubles. cgi sets, flat lighting, tepid sets. token casting. gay baiting. obvious Downten Abbey rehash with no wit, no charm, and no story.

All those other things about Gilded Age I could sorta sense... don't think I made it past 20mins.

Saw season 3 of Fargo when it was first on... had to refresh my memory with clips. ...Eh. She's no Allison Tolman.

Peacemaker (2022). Binged... fun cast. Haven't skipped the intro once. Season 1 finale in a couple days.

Mandalorian... unpaused around ep 4. Poop. Cosplay that doesn't know it's cosplay.

Ozark had lots of strengths. Then Marty decides in ep2 to not call his wife after deciding not to kill himself. Why? A script decision this stupid means there have to be more... what a waste.

Peacemaker s1 finale, a clunky, lazy, unwitty contrast to the rest of the show.

Superman & Lois. Season 2 is supposedly out, but it sounds like they emphasized all the weak points. Season 1 story was mostly irrelevant - idr it, after a few months. But Tyler Hoechlin is interesting as "family guy" Clark Kent. Most of the soap opera is bearable because of that.

Demon Slayer. Above average(?) storytelling. The characters are mostly not too spastic, even the spastic ones. Some manga conventions don't translate well on screen, and this has those, but I think it works better than usual here because the main character's central conceit is both unusual (for the genre) and universal.

I'm currently watching Narcos: Mexico

The Normans - 1. Men from the North (BBC4)

In the first episode of a three-part series, Professor Robert Bartlett explores how the Normans developed from a band of marauding Vikings into the formidable warriors who conquered England in 1066. He tells how the Normans established their new province of Normandy -'land of the northmen' - in northern France. . .

Fredericus wrote:The Normans - 1. Men from the North (BBC4)

... Professor Robert Bartlett explores how the Normans developed from a band of marauding Vikings into the formidable warriors who conquered England in 1066.

Ugh, that's not a great blurb - I'll bet the show is much better though.

Yesterday I started watching Netflix's The Squid Game

Marcus Hadrianus wrote:Yesterday I started watching Netflix's The Squid Game

What's that? We haven't been watching tv for 20 years now.

Probably not the best series to re-introduce yourself to current streaming media.

Try Queen's Gambit.



or

which is loosely based on actual events and historical figures.

The nice thing about the rise of series it allows much longer tales to be told and far more in depth than any film can be

This was the series that really set the bar tho the author has yet to finish the books it is based on and unfortunately the final few episodes reflect that incomplete aspect.

Bestiola wrote:

Marcus Hadrianus wrote:Yesterday I started watching Netflix's The Squid Game

What's that? We haven't been watching tv for 20 years now.

Basically a brutal and gore Korean approach to kid's games
I mean I've seen some South Korean TV series lately on Netlfix and I really have to admit those guys know how to make quality TV Drama Series. Chapeau Bas!

Marcus Hadrianus wrote:

Bestiola wrote:

Marcus Hadrianus wrote:Yesterday I started watching Netflix's The Squid Game

What's that? We haven't been watching tv for 20 years now.

Basically a brutal and gore Korean approach to kid's games
I mean I've seen some South Korean TV series lately on Netlfix and I really have to admit those guys know how to make quality TV Drama Series. Chapeau Bas!

As long as you have fun that's what matters

I just log in on some forums and have all the drama I need and more

Bestiola wrote:
I just log in on some forums and have all the drama I need and more

More like comedy

Anywho, I'm planning to watch The Wire Season 2 starting tomorrow (I already seen first episode yesterday evening)