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

[klunderbunker]

So I'm not usually one to get caught in deep into a TV series, but I started watching Orphan Black and I'm hooked already.

I know I'm way late to the party since season 4 just started, but I have a feeling I'm going to gorge on the first three seasons and get caught up as soon as I can.

I loved that show for a bit but I got too bogged down and stopped in early season 3.

 

[Ty Burna]

I loved that show for a bit but I got too bogged down and stopped in early season 3.

I'm horrendous about keeping on TV shows. I don't watch much TV aside from wrestling and sports to begin with, but I'm bad about starting a series through Netflix or Hulu, and completely forgetting about it a week later. Doesn't help my free time is limited either.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

While reading some reviews and future plans for Vikings, I was reminded how FUCKING AWESOME the finale of Season 2 was.


You guys should really check this show out, sine rumor has it that Travis Fimmel's captivating, charismatic performance as the lead character may be going away soon, as he transitions to movies.


Its also funny to read reviews from people who clearly have zero historical refrence to draw from. "I REALLY DONT AGREE WITH THE DIRECTION THE SHOW WENT IN, THATS STUPID".......Well, they sorta had no choice, man and "OMFG I CANT BELEIIIVEEEE HE DID THAT!!"....Well, I can believe it. One could say I almost expected it.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Wild Bill Hickok's death in Deadwood was a really strange creative decision.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Wild Bill Hickok's death in Deadwood was a really strange creative decision.

I know right, not to mention it being by some random fuck playing cards.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

It was like a more sweary fingernail sketch of the assassinaton of Jesse James.

Have you seen Deadwood before, Sam? Don't want to drop a spoiler about a certain casting and story-point.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

The time is once again neigh upon us were I implore you lot to check out Black Sails and Vikings.

New season of Black Sails begins on Jan 23, Vikings kicks off Feb 18.



To paraphrase my two prior appraisals -

Black Sails season one is a fucking mess, but has plenty of tits and charismatic perfomances. Season 2 is a true fucking nut-buster full of "holy shit!!" moments

Vikings season one is a bit slow but still has Travis Fimmel's captivating portrayal of Ragnar Lothbrok(or Lodbrok, if you are proper), season 2 and 3 are truly great television. What I would give for this show to be on HBO and have the full creative envelope.....Not to say it doesn't push the absolute furthest of limits on cable censorship.


A solid time to get yourselves caught up since its a dead spell on TV shows and they both kick off shortly (thank god)

 

[jmt225]

I watched season 1 pf Mr. Robot throughout the holidays and thought it was superb.

I remember really digging the commercials for it, but didn't give it a chance because, well, USA Network hasn't had a good original show since fucking La Femme Nikita in the 90's. But after it got such high praise and a good friend of mine highly recommend it, I gave it a shot and it blew me away.

It has many comparisons to certain movies out there that a lot of people love. I'd mention it so those who love these films (one film in particular) to seek it out, but I don't want to give the major plot device away. I just suggest anyone seeing this and looking for a new show to check out Mr. Robot without reading anything about it and just remaining completely oblivious to the plot. That's how I entered the show and couldn't have enjoyed the experience more.

For now though I'm not watching anything really. Fargo (can't recommend this enough... easily the best show of both 2014 and 2015), Homeland, The Leftovers, and South Park are done, while Supernatural is on break.

Norcs I'm putting it in your hands... pick one, Vikings or Black Sails. I will watch the pilot of either one today.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I might check out Fargo, seems like a show I could watch with my wife.....She digs the crime dramas, our joint shows we watch together have been both seasons of True Detective and The Blacklist.

She LOVED Mr. Robot... I found it rather annoying/tedious/pretentous, but bearable.



I will respond by punting back to you JMT.....I will say the choice is still yours, but ill recommend...


Probably Black Sails. If you are going pilot for pilot, its MUCH more slam-bang right off the bat, even if Vikings is the better show over the course of seasons.

Also, you have more time til the next season of Vikings starts. IF you get into Black Sails and go through the rollercoaster of season 2, you are gonna want to be all up in season 3 when it starts.

 

[jmt225]

She LOVED Mr. Robot... I found it rather annoying/tedious/pretentous, but bearable.

I find its political leanings pretentious and annoying as well, but man... each twist and turn threw me for a loop (although one of them, perhaps the biggest one, was pretty easy to see coming). I think it's a very exciting, unpredictable show. Loved the acting and thought the soundtrack was killer too.

I will respond by punting back to you JMT.....I will say the choice is still yours, but ill recommend...

Probably Black Sails. If you are going pilot for pilot, its MUCH more slam-bang right off the bat, even if Vikings is the better show over the course of seasons.

Also, you have more time til the next season of Vikings starts. IF you get into Black Sails and go through the rollercoaster of season 2, you are gonna want to be all up in season 3 when it starts.

Cool man. It's available on Amazon Prime so I'm gonna start it within the next hour. Will report back with my thoughts as soon as it's over. If it hits anywhere near as hard as Spartacus, then I know I'm in for quite a ride.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I find its political leanings pretentious and annoying as well, but man... each twist and turn threw me for a loop (although one of them, perhaps the biggest one, was pretty easy to see coming). I think it's a very exciting, unpredictable show. Loved the acting and thought the soundtrack was killer too.

The soundtrack was indeed beastly.


The main character's personality in general I found to be really grating. Just not my cup of tea.

Cool man. It's available on Amazon Prime so I'm gonna start it within the next hour. Will report back with my thoughts as soon as it's over. If it hits anywhere near as hard as Spartacus, then I know I'm in for quite a ride.

Its uh, available in...places, too. Ya know?


The second season has more Spartacus "HOLY SHIT!!" paralells, but the charisma of Captain Vane in a Gannicus sort of way (he is the Fonz of the show) is quite apparent in the first season.


Also you are gonna fucking LOVEEE the opening sequence of the show. (opening credits I mean. I know we are both marks for such things)

 

[jmt225]

Its uh, available in...places, too. Ya know?

Oh don't worry, I've had an Amazon Prime account for years now (it's awesome) so it's not costing me anything.

Got me some lunch and about to boot the show up now.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

 

[jmt225]

Okay, so...

Spoiler

I enjoyed it. Didn't blow me away. I thought some things were really cool (the battle scenes were done well, characters are all charismatic, Eleanor was written awesomely refreshing in the beginning, a couple of nice little twists, etc.), and I thought some things were silly (Eleanor lesing out with the prostitute, a chick so easily killing a jacked up black pirate, etc.)

I'm interested though. The good outweighs the bad for the time being. I'm going to give episode 2 a shot sometime tonight and see if it can keep me into it.

Also, right on Norcs about the title sequence. Great song that can get anyone fired up and just beautiful artwork to go with it.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Spoiler

Meh, tis a pilot. How many pilots blow you away? Eleanor is probably one of the more useful female characters I have seen in a show in a long time, and a true standout in such a male dominated environment....but its never in the overbearing eye-rolling way that Naevia was in Spartacus. As for the chick killing that Pirate....I don't remember because its been so long since I have seen the pilot, but was in the pirate chick who doesn't talk who did it? If so, that's Anne Bonney, who was a legitimate savage killer IRL. If you are starting to lose it in the next few episodes, I would suggest going EP 1 -3 and then 8-10, then going to the rock n roll of Season 2)

Fuck yea man, I put that theme music on my workout playlist on the Ipod. Love that shit.

 

[jmt225]

I wasn't able to get to episode 2 last night, but definitely gonna give it and ep. 3 a proper viewing today.

Spoiler

As for the chick killing that Pirate....I don't remember because its been so long since I have seen the pilot, but was in the pirate chick who doesn't talk who did it? If so, that's Anne Bonney, who was a legitimate savage killer IRL.

Spoiler

Yes, I believe that's her. I just peeped her Wikipedia page... very interesting.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Spoiler

Ok, then yea....it was pretty legit then

So im looking at jumping into Fargo, but reading the timeline setting of both seasons....Would it be a better viewing experience to do Season 2 then Season 1? ( the way I always take people through the Spartacus seasons)

 

[jmt225]

So im looking at jumping into Fargo, but reading the timeline setting of both seasons....Would it be a better viewing experience to do Season 2 then Season 1? ( the way I always take people through the Spartacus seasons)

Hmmm... I'm not sure. The finale of season 2 has some great little hints about characters from season 1, although they're not too easy to pick up. Season 1 also continues some stuff from the movie, though it must be said that seeing the movie is not a requirement in order to understand what's happening in the show; it's just cool that they acknowledged it.

But I don't think it matters either way. Both seasons are stellar. Season 1 is action packed from the very beginning, while season 2 doesn't really start to pick up steam until episode 3. I know you're a patient guy though so that doesn't much matter to you. Either way you go I think you'll be happy with your choice.

 

[Coco]

She LOVED Mr. Robot... I found it rather annoying/tedious/pretentous, but bearable.

Kiss me.

I assume the show benefited from the soft bigotry inherent in being on the USA network. And the fact that le reddit generation hasn't seen a tonne of good TV, or is too stupid to know what good TV looks like. Tolerable, but the worldview of the show isn't the going to give me an erection. Because I'm a grown up.

Agreed on the soundtrack though. Will probably watch next season.

I'd start with the first season of Fargo. You get to enjoy the show exceed the early expectations that it would be an unnecessary, pale imitation of the film as it triumphantly apes the Coens' style while finding a confidence which is all its own. And then you get to enjoy a follow-up season which doesn't give you blue balls in your heart.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

. Tolerable, but the worldview of the show isn't the going to give me an erection. Because I'm a grown up

Sums up my feelings on the show with surgical precision.

 

[jmt225]

Is that really Coco? MY Coco? OMG

So happy to see you back, man. Hope you've been well!

 

[Coco]

Keep it in your pants.

Really. I'm overwhelmed enough without being subjected to your throbbing emojis.

Why do I have to spread rep before repping literally everyone I'd want to rep? I've been gone nearly two years. Come on!

 

[jmt225]

Alright Coco, so this thread is as good as any for you to answer these questions if you don't mind...

Do you still watch wrestling?

Favorite films from the past couple of years?

And your thoughts on the following, please....

SOA Final season
Mad Men Final Season
True Detective Season 2

 

[Coco]

Alright Coco, so this thread is as good as any for you to answer these questions if you don't mind...

Do you still watch wrestling?

Only because you asked, yes. Just know that you killed a gimmick I wanted to run over the next couple days.

Favorite films from the past couple of years?

This year: Fury Road and Inside Out

Last year: Nightcrawler and Boyhood followed by Whiplash and Wild is off in the distance

I haven't had time to catch most of this year's awards bait. That normally comes the next year for me anyway.

Help me out: I like The Martian. Liked it. That's all. Why does everyone keep dimly insisting it's a contender? Weak year?

And your thoughts on the following, please....

SOA Final season

Haven't seen it. No motivation. I'm sure I'll get to it eventually. I checked out ages ago. I'm also pretty sure a clip package at the Emmys spoiled something huge.

Mad Men Final Season

Loved it. I want to open my fridge and give Don a hug.

Spoiler

The classic Mad Men caper failing and the gang getting absorbed into "advertising heaven" was one of my favourite episodes of the entire series.

True Detective Season 2

It was bad. But worse than that, Pizzolatto was clearly over-correcting for criticism he got after season one and none of it worked. Dude lost his nerve. Some people need to stay the fuck off the internet and go with their gut. Wrestling fans will hate seeing me talk shit like that, but I'm of the opinion that great artists need to drown out the white noise and go for it. If it works it works. If it doesn't, they're a shit artist. Pizzolatto listened to the static this year.

You think there'll be a third?

 

[jmt225]

Only because you asked, yes. Just know that you killed a gimmick I wanted to run over the next couple days.

Sorry about that.

I think like only 5 people check this thread though so you still may be safe.

This year: Fury Road and Inside Out

Haven't seen Inside Out but I dug Fury Road, although not as much as most people. Good, really fun action flick, but not much else than that.

Last year: Nightcrawler and Boyhood followed by Whiplash and Wild is off in the distance

Loved all those, great choices. Surprised no mention of Birdman though.

I haven't had time to catch most of this year's awards bait. That normally comes the next year for me anyway.

Me neither. I saw Creed recently (loved it), gonna see Hateful Eight and The Revenant very soon. Think I'll wait for everything else on DVD/In Demand.

Help me out: I like The Martian. Liked it. That's all. Why does everyone keep dimly insisting it's a contender? Weak year?

Shame to say I still haven't seen it.

But I would say it's been a weak year. I adored this little movie called Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, really dug Creed as I said, and had a blast with Fury Road. Outside of that though, nothing stands out. And two of those films are rehashed shit from well over 30 years ago.

Loved it. I want to open my fridge and give Don a hug.

Spoiler

The classic Mad Men caper failing and the gang getting absorbed into "advertising heaven" was one of my favourite episodes of the entire series.

Same here. Thought the ending was beautiful.

It was bad. But worse than that, Pizzolatto was clearly over-correcting for criticism he got after season one and none of it worked. Dude lost his nerve. Some people need to stay the fuck off the internet and go with their gut. Wrestling fans will hate seeing me talk shit like that, but I'm of the opinion that great artists need to drown out the white noise and go for it. If it works it works. If it doesn't, they're a shit artist. Pizzolatto listened to the static this year.

I read an article from Rolling Stone and this one paragraph summed up what the problem was....

Also MIA: Cary Fukunaga, the first season's sole director and MVP. The rumored bad blood between he and writer/creator Nic Pizzolatto probably led to the insertion of a thinly veiled Fukunaga stand-in, directing the crappy movie that we eventually learn Caspere's real killers were working on together. But in the absence of the guy who clearly gave the Yellow King season its shine, from crafting its mesmerizing visuals to coaxing out killer performances, the joke was on Pizzolatto. Without a strong collaborating voice to temper his weaknesses and showcase his strengths, his macho faux profundities were left to wither in the harsh Los Angeles light of day.

Basically, in wrestling fan terms, Nic Pizzolatto is Vince Russo.

You think there'll be a third?

If I'm HBO I go for it.

The first season was so good, the second so bad, that will people have to tune in for season 3 just to see if it'll redeem itself or be as horrible as season 2 was.