What TV Shows Are you Watching?

[HappyGilmore]

NCIS: Tony & Ziva.

A spin-off of the original NCIS tv show, featuring past agents Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David. It's pretty good so far. Haven't finished it, but I'm hoping it leads them to get a second season, or they bridge the gap so they can come back to the main series in some capacity.

[Rev. Powell]

"Uzumaki," anime version. It's a 4-episode series, so really more like a 2-hour movie split into four episodes. The story involves a town invaded by spirals (yes, you read that correctly). It's very irrational. Based on a famous manga by cult author Junjo Ito that was also made into a movie. My research indicated that the first episode was great, and they decline in quality with every new installment--apparently, they ran out of money as they went along due to poor planning. I watched the first two episodes yesterday night, will finish tomorrow. Honestly I didn't think episode 2 was noticeably inferior to episode 1, but I hear 4 is a disaster.

[lester1/2jr]

The Invisible Man TV series from the 50's on tubi. Haven't really seen enough to give an opinion, but I like the IM.

[Rev. Powell]

"Uzumaki" wasn't that bad. Ep. 3 was actually pretty good, containing the scariest mini-arc. 4 was a bit lame but not nearly as bad as I'd been led to believe. I benefited from low expectations.

[lester1/2jr]

The Young Ones

[lester1/2jr]

I'm watching the Bloody Duchess. It's about an Elizabeth Bathory type horrible serial killing woman but this one is in Russia and part of the aristocracy there. About 6 episodes in. It's of similar quality as the other Russian series I've seen, but definitely feels like it's been punched up a bit. Every episode seems to have one overtly over the top sort of thing done in the name of maintaining interest.

[lester1/2jr]

I finally finished all 16 episodes of the Bloody Duchess so now I get to write about it in this ghetto of the main board. Well, ladies and gentlemen I'll get right to the point: this thing was nuts. Normally I enjoy trashy insanity, but in this case I actually wanted to learn about this historical period and the lead actress seemed like a perfect fit. Instead, it's stuff like... she pummels her servants head into the wall for not cleaning up a massive bloodstain that only she (the duchess) can see and then seeks out the help of a forest witch to put a love spell on some random guy who visits her compound. You can watch as the series progresses her face goes from serious actress to wtf am I doing in this "Orphan" esque Russian winter weirdness.

I would be remiss if I didn't point out there is a ton of Marxism in this thing. The entire series is basically a revolutionary tract about how religion is corrupt and aristocrats are all sadistic and perverted and in cahoots with bribed peasants to get their point across. I don't doubt all of this is true,  so I guess I don't really know what I would have done differently. It badly needed some levity or occasional tonal shift. The story is very much in the vein of Elizabeth Bathory, really exactly like it. The costumes and sets and so forth are excellent.

All in all, VERY metal with bogs full of bodies and lots of sordid behavior. sort of like a Russian version of a Spanish soap opera 4/5

[bob]

The Stand (1994 miniseries)

[M.10rda]

I thought THE 90s STAND was exceptional.

[lester1/2jr]

Get a Life and Thundarr the Barbarian on tubi

[bob]

[lester1/2jr]

Last night, I watched a couple episodes of Space Angel (1962) (they're short). It's just typical space ship adventures, but I was transfixed by the primitive/ ugly animation style.

[M.10rda]

I'm glad I finally ventured out beyond the Movie boards and re-discovered this thread. Most of my potential movie-watching time goes to couple-time watching TV. Currently:

"The Traitors" S4, weekly: Compelling, rather methodical and even logical this season, not the must-see $#!tshow that it was in S3.

"Industry" S4, weekly: I finally started watching this on Sunday nights w/ Madame (previously I'd just pop in and out as she would binge the seasons). My impression of this as a "Succession"-alike has really evaporated this season. The first few episodes seemed like they'd gone off the deep end in a blind march of sex, drugs, shock twists, psychological trauma, etc. By the penultimate episode it has revealed some method to its madness, but the showrunners aren't hedging their bets by taking the high road. The quality of dialogue is often extremely high, and some of the performances are exceptional. (Most of the acting is at least good.)

"Love Is Blind" Ohio (the new one): Uhh, pure schadenfreude... also helps keep my relationship in healthy perspective, I think... otherwise these shows are indefensible!

"Mad Men": Madame is bingeing the entire series, again, probably for the third time. I'd never watched more than sixty seconds and never had any interest. Lately I am sitting down for half an episode at a time now and then. I don't find it riveting but it is intelligently written and I'm surprised to find I have some sympathy for this Don Draper guy, a not wholly un-self-aware minor fiend. The huge cast is also pretty stacked with good actors who went on to become major TV players (Elizabeth Moss, Alison Brie, toddler Kiernan Shipka) as well as okay ones who failed to have staying power (January Jones). Elderly Robert Morse is a lot better as the big boss than he was in dumb comedies in the 60s.