Sam, Coco, Barbosa, NorCal, and J-Glass discuss esoteric shows

[Dowdsy McDowds]

I don't know if it's a deliberate plot point for the character but in the 4th season of The Wire I quite like that Stan Valchek is suddenly feeding Tommy Carcetti information about police protected witnesses who have been getting killed, possibly as a way to make some kind of amends to Frank Sobotka.

Its maybe a bit of a stretch and there's definitely the chance that he's actually doing it because he's a racist old Pole and wants to oust the black Mayor and Police Commissioner but it would be cool if he did it for Frank.

 

[Uncle Sam]

The fourth series of The Wire is possibly the best television there's ever been, probably only rivalled by prime Simpsons. I really should get round the a rewatch some day.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

It definitely has its moments and I wouldn't oppose anyone naming it the best series ever but the 2nd and 3rd series are pretty awesome in their own right what with the dissolution of the Sobotkas and Barksdale organisation respectively.

I didn't realise for ages that Snoop was a girl too.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I think you're alone in your appreciation of the second series, pal.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

Its by no means perfect but is still dam good. How come it doesn't rate for you?

 

[jmt225]

I don't know if it's a deliberate plot point for the character but in the 4th season of The Wire I quite like that Stan Valchek is suddenly feeding Tommy Carcetti information about police protected witnesses who have been getting killed, possibly as a way to make some kind of amends to Frank Sobotka.

Its maybe a bit of a stretch and there's definitely the chance that he's actually doing it because he's a racist old Pole and wants to oust the black Mayor and Police Commissioner but it would be cool if he did it for Frank.

I don't think there's any way Stan was doing that for Frank Sobotka. He was only helping a potential Mayor out because he knew it could possibly help promote him in the future if Carcetti won the election.

One of the main aspects of The Wire is to show that a major problem with the police and political force is that most of these guys are only looking to improve their careers, not actually improve the city.

Once you finish the series I can go into more detail about it, but for now I don't want to spoil anything for you. Keep enjoying the show, man.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

It's cool, I'm rewatching it for the 5th or 6th time now I think!

Yeh my Valchek theory is more in hope than expectation and his cosying up to Carcetti is more in-keeping with the general political maneuvering rather than doing something that can actually benefit the citizens narrative of the show.

It just occurred to me because the last we see of Valchek is at the very end of season 2 when he opens the envelope to a picture of his surveillance van and he laughs to himself and says something Polish to Frank, who I think he knew was going to become an informant for the police. He then only pops up again to leak the informant murders to Tommy.

Edit - Just saw this posted on Facebook

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

Shit, that scene with Namond and his mum where she slaps him and calls him a bitch is so harsh. Would have liked to have seen more of Namond in the 5th season but I guess that he has a pretty full arc by the end of the 4th.

 

[Барбоса]

The Wire was another show that I just could not get into. Could not bring myself to care what was happening.

Beginning to think that I am more than a bit anti-popular...

 

[Uncle Sam]

How much of The Wire, precisely, did you watch?

 

[Барбоса]

I have probably seen about half of it.

To be fair, after the first season I dipped in and out throughout the rest of the seasons. Won't have helped me lack of connection with it.

 

[JGlass]

The Wire was another show that I just could not get into. Could not bring myself to care what was happening.

Beginning to think that I am more than a bit anti-popular...

Actually, I couldn't either. I have nothing bad to say about the show: the acting was great, it was well written, the stories were interesting... there was just something missing from The Wire that kept me from really getting hungry for the next episode the way shows like Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad do.

I think I just don't find police drama that interesting. I remember being thoroughly disappointed with End of Watch, a movie that came highly recommended by Sam.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

What about The Shield? I'd say that's more accessible than The Wire although it doesn't quite have the same realistic vibe. It does touch on problems that also come up in The Wire but is more focussed on a smaller group of leads.

 

[jmt225]

I just mentioned watching Fargo in Norcal's thread... I cannot recommend that show enough, especially if you're a True Detective fan.

This is coming from someone who felt like the movie Fargo was extremely overrated, which is why I actually put off watching the show as long as I did, despite the rave reviews.

But man, it's excellent. So well written, acted, and directed. It's much more fast paced than you'd ever expect (the pilot is fucking insane), and there's a new shocking development each episode. It's funny and violent as all hell, too. Like I said, I cannot recommend it enough.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Season 2 of Vikings has a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, Sam. Season Three has been PB&J as well.


Im just saying.

 

[jmt225]

I want to give Vikings a shot but when you say the first season is the weakest and pretty slow.... it's really hard to get motivated to watch it.

Even a movie, if you hear it takes an hour for it to get good, you're like "UGGGGGHHHHH, do I really want to watch this?" But a whole first season of television before it gets really rolling? Man, that's a tough sell.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Fimmel's brilliant portrayal of Ragnar will help you get through it. I would say roll with episode 1 and 2, and if you aren't pulled in, go to episode 5 and go through (thatll just be four episodes)


Then plunge into the fucking glory of season 2 and 3. 3 has one of the coolest scenes ive seen on tv.


[YOUTUBE]?v=ZdWXeNaPO-o[/YOUTUBE]




The best part? They weren't even directly involved. Hired as mercenaries

 

[jmt225]

I plan on running through the first season of Daredevil in the next week. I had zero intentions of doing so but it's gotten so much hype now that I can't resist anymore.

After I'm finished with that though I'll give Vikings a shot... you have my word.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

DID YOU WATCH THAT FUCKING SCENE HOLY SHIT


I go back and forth on DD. Heard so much about it, love Deknight's work, but I cant be fucking arsed to care about DD. That, and I purposely allowed my Netflix subscription to expire, because between HBOGO and KAT its been months since I used it. I always have something downloaded, watched a few times and reviewed before they even begin to advertise getting it.

 

[JGlass]

I have several of my friends watching Spartacus now. It's not a hard sell with so many boobies appearing every few seconds.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

You draw them in with the boobies, keep them with the feels

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Sooooooo getting the feeling that True Detective wont be back next year. Or will have only one more year to prove itself.



Things have not gone well.

 

[Барбоса]

Been watching Fortitude.

It's well shot with a good cast. A little too much going on, although it fits in with the island being a place for people with something to hide run to.

Got a bit of a Twin Peaks vibe at times too.

 

[jmt225]

Sooooooo getting the feeling that True Detective wont be back next year. Or will have only one more year to prove itself.



Things have not gone well.

Yeah I just finished the last episode and was going to bump the TD thread to see if everyone agreed that this season absolutely sucks. What a disappointment.

Have you tried Ballers, Norcs? It's nothing mind-blowing, but still a lot of fun and a good look into NFL culture.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I want to a lot, and will soon.



Episode 4 and 5 of TD were actually quite good, but overall the season is a Disaster.