Binge Watching Series Recommendations

[72gmc]

Just completed the episode that ends with Margaret and Elizabeth talking in private. Those few minutes made me very glad they are both in the show.

[slwrnu]

Olivia Coleman is lovely. She has been on the Graham Norton show a couple of times, including once with HBC where they seemed liked great mates. Graham Norton is such a good host and gently brings out the best in the guests. It is like having superstars around your kitchen table for a drink and they chat and leave their egos behind.

[Chik]

I really wanted more Olivia Coleman. Felt like the story went dashing off too frequently. The mining disaster episode was very good, as was the one with Prince Phillip sorting himself out during the time of the moon landing. Actually it was all very good, except I really think Helena Bonham Carter was miscast. And I wanted more Olivia Coleman.

Speaking of someone being miscast, whilst I agree that Colman (rather than Coleman) is a tremendous actor, I think she was miscast for the sole reason that, as one columnist wrote (and I forget who it was), she has a distinctly leftwing face.

[rec head]

just watched season finale of the Watchmen. serious comic book meets magical realism and theater of the absurd. totally lost for the first few episodes and even the second half has you wondering what the hell is going on. High production values. Nice integration of music. If you can suspend your need for reality (and the story line for Jeremy Iron's character is beyond bizarre), it's a good one.

I still need to watch the finale and love it so far. I agree with everything except the music. Sometimes it sounds exactly like the Leftovers.

Have you watched Legion?

[j44ke]

Speaking of someone being miscast, whilst I agree that Colman (rather than Coleman) is a tremendous actor, I think she was miscast for the sole reason that, as one columnist wrote (and I forget who it was), she has a distinctly leftwing face.

Hmm. That sounds like one of those British public school "compliments".

[j44ke]

Just completed the episode that ends with Margaret and Elizabeth talking in private. Those few minutes made me very glad they are both in the show.

Yes, agreed. That scene in the bedroom was terrific. My wife's brother-in-law has terminal cancer and so she's been talking with her sister almost every day, and that scene just shredded her to pieces.

[bironi]

I did enjoy this season of the Crown.
I also enjoyed Russian Doll.
It's a fun mix of different genres.

[giordana93]

I still need to watch the finale and love it so far. I agree with everything except the music. Sometimes it sounds exactly like the Leftovers.

Have you watched Legion?

Have not seen Legion. Will have to put it on my list.

I remembered after my post that in spite of the surreal/super fantasy aspect of Watchmen, it begins with the very real (and mostly unknown) Tulsa massacre of African Americans which is referenced in the finale as well.

npr had a post on it today: New Research Identifies Possible Mass Graves From 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre : NPR

[Scott G.]

I'm trying alternating, "Mr. Rodgers" and "Joy of Painting",
too bad there was never a cross over episode.

[glepore]

Season 2 of Kominsky Method was 3+ hours well spent.

[davids]

I just finished Our Boys.

Nuanced and excruciating, I highly recommend it:

[dgaddis]

The 'Country Music' documentary by Ken Burns is great. If you're into music (even if you're not really into country music) it's worth checking out. 8 episodes, about 2hrs each. So, yeah...it's taken us a while to get through it, but we're finally on the last episode. As someone who was born in the mid 80's, I've learned a lot, and it's got me going back and listening to some older stuff.

[bdaghisallo]

The 'Country Music' documentary by Ken Burns is great. If you're into music (even if you're not really into country music) it's worth checking out. 8 episodes, about 2hrs each. So, yeah...it's taken us a while to get through it, but we're finally on the last episode. As someone who was born in the mid 80's, I've learned a lot, and it's got me going back and listening to some older stuff.

Agreed. It was a really well done doc.

[Scott G.]

Turner Classic Movies, is doing their version of the binge.

Showing all the versions of Prisoner of Zenda, Show Boat and A Star is Born,
one after another.

[colker]

Cheer... a documentary series on cheerleaders is very very good. Documentaries are just ... better.

[colker]

I will say it again: Cheer is best film about America and it´s contradictions i have ever seen. The cheerleadiing team is made of s$%&/d up kids w/ sad bad family hostories. Most of them gay. Black. Latino. Native american. Some did not even have a home. Yet they are the ones who cheer.. aIt all happens in a small conservative republican town in Texas. The film finds the line where acceptance x conservatism x tragedy all blur into the american spirit. It´s a frwaking masterpiece.

[choke]

I must be the only person who didn't find the latest season of The Crown to be wonderful. I thought the others were great but this one lacked something...

On the hand I have enjoyed The Golden Horde (Russian) and Black Widows (Finnish), both on Amazon.

[72gmc]

3 episodes in, I can see why so many people like The Mandalorian.

[htwoopup]

Warning on a previously binge worthy show....Amazon’s Mrs Maisal season one and two were/are fabulously produced, written, directed, acted, designed, best production values ever.

That said, do NOT bother with season 3...from the first episode on it is awful. I have to say that I have never seen a show jump the shark so hard in my life. In fact, this jump is even worse than the original Happy Days episode that the cliche was started by. The production values are still good but it is unwatchable.

[Octave]

Two new ones on our watch-list these days, both Hulu originals

Castle Rock - Well crafted storytelling around the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine, where many of Stephen King's novels are set. We just finished the first season and it had just the right balance of creep, engaging plots, a bit of mystery, and pretty good acting. It's not oscar material, but it's very watchable. The second season appears to be focused on Misery, which is one of my all-time favorite films, so I'm excited to dig in.

Reprisal - A revenge story of sorts, highly stylized tale of a woman coming more-or-less back from the dark/depths to take on a gang of outlaw greasers. Great casting and nice mingling of a few ongoing storylines. We're about 5 episodes in (of 10, this is their first season) and totally hooked.