What TV series are you currently watching?

[VonStupp]

Because, browsing their catalogs of titles available on "DVD" (including Blu-Ray) vs. streaming, there were MANY titles I was interested in that were not available for streaming. The reverse was true as well, of course. For a time I had both DVD and streaming plans... until early last year, when they upped the price of one plan or the other - I think it was the streaming plan. I had to make a choice, so I ditched streaming and stuck with the "crazy" send-the-discs-back plan.

I do this as well.

Netflix's large disk supply of back catalog older film titles still gives me plenty to watch without the ever-shifting of what is available month-to-month streaming. It might not satisfy what I want in the immediate moment, but I am able to find much more of what I want to actually see.

VS

[Brahmsian]

Just finished the entire Peaky Blinders series.

Seasons 1-4 - A+
Seasons 5-6 - a generous C-

[DavidW]

I have a one DVD at a time account with Netflix so I have to wait for them to send me the next disc.

Oh that is funny because I had been recently using the dvd service as well.  I wanted to watch a bunch of movies that never made it to streaming.  I also wanted to do it one last time, since I had been reading that 2023 might be the final year before Netflix discontinues their dvd plan for good.

[DavidW]

Just finished the entire Peaky Blinders series.

Seasons 1-4 - A+
Seasons 5-6 - a generous C-

Sounds like it went Game of Thrones.

[George]

I'll put in a strong vote for anyone trying Better Call Saul. I feel it is a less gory, more sophisticated show from the creators of Breaking Bad. For the most part, I enjoyed Breaking Bad, but Better Call Saul is one of my favorite shows.

While I am at it, I want to put a huge plug for Mr. Inbetween. It's even better than the two above shows, IMO, and should appeal to fans of both/either.   

[Karl Henning]

Tangentially:

[krummholz]

Oh that is funny because I had been recently using the dvd service as well.  I wanted to watch a bunch of movies that never made it to streaming.  I also wanted to do it one last time, since I had been reading that 2023 might be the final year before Netflix discontinues their dvd plan for good.

Where did you read that? I wouldn't be surprised, but I would be very disappointed. I was just not much impressed with their selection of titles available for streaming. If their selection improves (and maybe it has already), I might be less unhappy, but at the time (only a year ago or so) when I had to discontinue one service or the other, it was a no-brainer which to choose.

[krummholz]

Tangentially:

Nice - if somewhat dated - description of the physics behind television (save only for the slightly inaccurate statement "into the atmosphere"). Very good to see Nimoy in an "educator" role - he did a good job.

[71 dB]

So Jimmy McGill was just an ordinary chap before he became Saul Goodman?

In fact yes! A chap with genes/talent to become a great layer, but an ordinary chap nevertheless. I'd tell more, but I'd be spoiling the series for you and other potential viewers.

Now you have my interest piqued.

Nice.

And I've read that Gustavo Fring appears in Better Call Saul - of all the villains in Breaking Bad, I always found him the most interesting, especially given the events of "Hermanos".

Yes, he is quite a lot in it, but not in the first two seasons. Many characters of Breaking Bad "join" the show at some point (Gustavo Fring appears in the third season and is in 38 episodes in all -that's 12 more than in Breaking Bad). Better Call Saul acts as a "prequel story" for Breaking Bad and explains for example why Hector Salamanca is in the wheelchair unable to speak. Mike Ehrmantraut has MASSIVE role in the series appearing in 61 episodes out of 63! The first two seasons don't connect with Breaking Bad much, but then the connections get stronger and stroger when the timeline gets closer to the beginning of Breaking Bad.

As I said, I'll give the series a try once I'm done with either Breaking Bad or The Handmaid's Tale, whichever comes first (I think the 5th season of Handmaid's Tale will probably not be out on DVD/BD by the time I'm finished with the 4th, so maybe then).

Yes, concentrate on Breaking Bad for now and enjoy! Chances are you WANT something Breaking Bad-like after you have finished the series and Better Call Saul with 63 episodes is waiting for you. There is also the Breaking Bad movie "El Camino" which continues right where Breaking Bad ends.

[DavidW]

Where did you read that? I wouldn't be surprised, but I would be very disappointed. I was just not much impressed with their selection of titles available for streaming. If their selection improves (and maybe it has already), I might be less unhappy, but at the time (only a year ago or so) when I had to discontinue one service or the other, it was a no-brainer which to choose.

Oh sorry I don't remember it was a month ago now.  Netflix's streaming service has become progressively worse, and I don't see them turning things around.  They have a bad habit of cancelling good shows, greenlighting absolute trash and not spending enough money on third party content.

[71 dB]

I'll put in a strong vote for anyone trying Better Call Saul. I feel it is a less gory, more sophisticated show from the creators of Breaking Bad. For the most part, I enjoyed Breaking Bad, but Better Call Saul is one of my favorite shows.

My thoughts exactly. It is a shame if people don't give the series a chance thinking it is just a lesser spin off of Breaking Bad. I think Vince Gilligan perfected his craft during the six seasons of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul benefits from that a lot, being as you said "more sophisticated". If Breaking Bad is "COOL AF", Better Call Saul is "STYLISH AF".

[krummholz]

Oh sorry I don't remember it was a month ago now.  Netflix's streaming service has become progressively worse, and I don't see them turning things around.  They have a bad habit of cancelling good shows, greenlighting absolute trash and not spending enough money on third party content.

Ouch. That's a bad sign. Netflix is the most successful media company because of what they have historically offered and the price they've offered it for - they almost single-handedly put Blockbuster Video out of business, for example. But if they jettison their original service (DVD) and do nothing to improve their other offerings, well there are plenty of competitors who will eat them for lunch unless they resort to unfair practices. I haven't been following the business very closely, so maybe that is already happening?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Nice - if somewhat dated - description of the physics behind television (save only for the slightly inaccurate statement "into the atmosphere"). Very good to see Nimoy in an "educator" role - he did a good job.

I remember when (I was young) being a bit surprised (Don't ask me why; the "stupidness" of youth?) when I found out that he had also written poetry (ran across a book of his in a bookstore...I believe that it was called "I am not Spock"?).

PD

[Karl Henning]

I remember when (I was young) being a bit surprised (Don't ask me why; the "stupidness" of youth?) when I found out that he had also written poetry (ran across a book of his in a bookstore...I believe that it was called "I am not Spock"?).

PD

It's funny: He wrote I Am Not Spock (and one can readily, I think, appreciate why) and Star Trek fandom was at least partly enraged.
Later wrote I Am Spock. A beautiful man, I think.

[SimonNZ]

It's funny: He wrote I Am Not Spock (and one can readily, I think, appreciate why) and Star Trek fandom was at least partly enraged.
Later wrote I Am Spock. A beautiful man, I think.

[SimonNZ]

After being so impressed my Adam Curtis series TraumaZone on the fall of the Soviet Union I've started catching up with the rest of his work.

Finished the four-part The Mayfair Set on the rise of the asset strippers and corporate raiders, and have started the seven-part An Ocean Apart on Anglo-American relations from WW1 to the 80s.

All highly recommended.

[Daverz]

It's funny: He wrote I Am Not Spock (and one can readily, I think, appreciate why) and Star Trek fandom was at least partly enraged.
Later wrote I Am Spock. A beautiful man, I think.

I would like to forget the woo he promoted on In Search Of.

There are some nice interviews on YT where he discusses the Boston neighborhood he grew up in and learning Yiddish later in life.

[Irons]

Sorry to hear this Lol (no bad-taste pun intended  )
All strength to you and Mrs Lol.
 

Thanks, Jeffrey. I think PD is having a tougher time by the sound of things.

[DavidW]

Ouch. That's a bad sign. Netflix is the most successful media company because of what they have historically offered and the price they've offered it for - they almost single-handedly put Blockbuster Video out of business, for example. But if they jettison their original service (DVD) and do nothing to improve their other offerings, well there are plenty of competitors who will eat them for lunch unless they resort to unfair practices. I haven't been following the business very closely, so maybe that is already happening?

Yes Netflix is no longer top dog.  They might look that way, but they had huge losses last year and are now looking to make password sharing a thing of the past and they now have an ads plan.  And if you look at Disney and realize that they also own ESPN+, 75% of Hulu and of course Disney Plus, combined Disney is now the top streamer by subscriber counts.  HBO Max has consistently the best original content.  And Amazon Prime has the broadest and deepest catalog of third party content.  Netflix is just not competitive anymore based upon any metric.

[VonStupp]

Willow (2022)
Warwick Davis

I wouldn't be surprised if many walk away at the first episode - it is amateur hour.

Luckily, the fantasy action picks up immediately afterwards, redeeming what I initially was dreading following that first episode. A nice mix of fantasy (and silliness too).

Amar Chadha-Patel was a standout character, almost taking the show's attention handily himself.

VS

I haven't laughed so much in a long, long while as I did during the 30-minute mockmentary on the making of Willow (2022). They even made a trailer of it to get a feel about the show (included below).

Warwick Davis is a natural, lovely comedian, ably poking fun at himself throughout.

High Point: A potential movie sequel named Willow: Willow's Colon