What are the TV series you're enjoying, current or past?

Very nice post, thanks. I think FARGO suffered from the "too-good-a-first-season" curse which also hit TRUE DETECTIVE but I still enjoyed Fargo's subsequent season. Oh, and your objection about the reality-based thing, FARGO is satire and whatever they say about a true story is not true. They loosely base parts of the plots in real events but very loosely; all the rest is satirical fiction.

I had never heard of THE SHIELD, will try to check it out, thanks for this suggestion and the other ones too, all unknown to me.

 

I used to like Forged in Fire, too, but it lost some of its luster for me after I saw the Zande Spear episode in which Will (the host) tells the two finalists that the shafts of their spears have to be AT LEAST such-n-such diameter. When they return w/ their spears, 1 of the guys gets disqualified because his shaft is too thick (insert bragg/joke here) to fit into their mechanized thrower. I guess Will meant to say, "NO MORE than such-n-such diameter." They totally ripped that guy off, after he'd done all that work & deserved his shot at their fat prize money. I think he might have had the superior looking weapon, as well.

A similar show that combines competition & observing the practice of a useful skill, w/ a mild testosterone musk, is THE BUTCHER. I thought it was pretty cool, very watchable, but they didn't seem to have many episodes.

Did you ever see APPALACHIAN OUTLAWS? I LOVED that show! I really related to the guys, & felt a part of their struggles (outsider-types, independent-minded, who gathered ginseng out in the hills of Appalachia, sometimes in places they weren't supposed to be; not that much unlike the year I cashed in on getting signatures for ballot-issue petitions in San Diego), almost like they were friends of mine. And their adventures seemed headed for more hazardous times in the 3rd season, but for some reason it never came back (to the History Channel). I wonder if someone on the show, or in the camera crew, ended up getting shot.

 

The Man in the High Castle is great but it's not the only good show on Prime; you should explore more.

 

I've like all those shows too. Swamp People is fun too. A couple episodes they hunt snakes in the offseason. Anacondas, Constrictors etc. Mountain Men is another one. They can all get pretty corny, but sometimes I learn a little something and I like the regionality of the shows. Sometimes it's entertaining when they come up with some kind of emergency.

 

I haven't given Swamp People or Mountain Men a try. When you said, "come up with some kind of emergency," you just meant that the emergency, "comes up," right? Or that it's a made-up, "emergency?"

Oh, & I forgot to mention LIVE FREE OR DIE. Besides learning things from it, it's kind of inspiring. Seeing a guy construct his own smoker, w/ just a small axe, and smoke-preserve the meat from the pig that he'd just killed & carried 10 miles on his back, can be a reminder to get my own lazy ass in gear.

 

I enjoyed the first season of The Boys but after seeing the first 3 chapters of the current season, I don't feel like watching chapter 4, and I think I'll just dump it. First season, 8 out of 10, kudos for the somewhat original take, but it's overstaying its welcome, already. Second season, 4 out of 10.

 

often times the emergency deems dire and life threatening and you wonder why the camera man isn't helping.
One of my favorite episodes of Swamp People is when my favorite cajun....Troy Landry is looking for a legendary 12 footer in bayou country. In this area is a house boat with a family of kids are diving off the boat and having a good time splashing around. Try explains in his Cajun accent....." We really gotta find this gatorit pose a real threat to these people. It could eat one of these little kids or something EVEN WORSE!!!!! My wife and I look at eachother and say "what could be worse than that?" Then we start laughing. Troy does get the gator.

 

That's a shame. I enjoyed the first season and was looking forward to watching the second.

 

What happened to the reviews? I was curious to see how my recommendations fared-- & get an idea of what direction to go in, with new recommendations.

Or have you developed recliner-sores, at this point?

 

What reviews, mine? I've been busy and distracted. Recliner-sores - again, not lately, I haven't watched a lot of series lately. I did start watching some documentaries with my wife, in ultra high def, from the Smithsonian Channel, on Ireland, New Zealand, China, and Seattle. All very entertaining. As far as beautiful documentaries go, 10 out of 10, I just lament that they show a very favorable view of China without a peep about human rights abuse, pollution, oppression in Tibet, etc.

 

If you've not seen Good Omens with David Tennant and Martin Sheen I highly recommend it. From the book by Neil Gaiman.
Like a cross between Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.

 

Schitt’s Creek. Slow start but funny.

 

Unfortunately you were right.
I only watched two episodes before I gave up on it.

 

Actually I kept going and watched the full season. It significantly improves. The last two episodes of the season are pretty good. So I take back what I said.

 

Groan, how many episodes should I skip?

 

I don't remember the contents of each episode that well, I guess they will be all important for the understanding of the plot. I don't remember where exactly things pick up, but I do know that the last two episodes were quite good. There are 8 of them.

 

I'm mad at the writers for Game of Thrones. They took an amazing series and then blew it. Truly pathetic last two seasons.

I like such a wide variety of television; anything from sci-fi, family drama, comedy, etc.. I've got a lot to watch, still. We tried to get into Breaking Bad, but the first episode was so utterly boring that we never got to episode 2.

Notables

Black Mirror
The Crown

Queen's Gambit was a limited series - maybe six episodes, about a female chess player. Well written and acted.

Something unusual was a three season show called Glitch. It's about dead people who come back to life. There's times where you have to suspend disbelief and go along with it. It came to a logical conclusion; unlike so many mystery dramas that leave too many questions unanswered. (I'm looking at you, GoT & Lost.)

The Good Place

Cobra Kai - we've watched four episodes. It's okay, but I am hearing it gets much better. It's the "sequel," to Karate Kid, and what happened to Daniel & Johnny when they grew up.

Amazon & I are in a toxic relationship. The unusual days are when a package doesn't show up.

 

I did enjoy the Boyz in the end.
I just hope they don't milk it for too long, never reaching a conclusion.
I'm actually watching Battlestar Galactica now.
I never saw it first time around.
I never thought I would get through all 78 episodes. The acting and the scripts let it down but the storyline keeps me going. I'm halfway through the final season bracing myself for the inevitable poor ending.
I'm also watching the new series of The Expanse at the moment and it exposes the flaws in BSG.

 

BSG, the new and updated series, is quite good. I had already enjoyed the first one, but the new one is gorgeous. Still, like you said, The Expanse is superior. Wow, that is an incredibly good series. Which reminds me, there is a new episode for me to see (season 5 is having one new episode every Wednesday; I'll watch it today). The issue is, it is based on one of the best sci-fi series of books ever written and the show is very faithful to the books, so it is truly excellent.

I'm glad that you enjoyed the Boyz in the end. Yes, quite good. Yes, I hope they don't overstay their welcome.

 

Since yesterday, I've been binge watching/enjoying Bordertown.

I've got some episodes I haven't seen yet.
Only 1 season of 13 episodes though.

 

More time on my hands - so more watching. I won't go into detail of a synopsis, but thought I'd throw these out as recommendations.

Kingdom - only three seasons, but enjoyable
Animal Kingdom - it got better with each season and another one on its way
The Last Kingdom - thoroughly enjoyed it and sad that it was ended
Vikings - still watching and enjoying it thoroughly
Black Sails - going back to watch it a second time
Knightfall - a new season just came out, but had to watch the first one again because it had been so long.

 

We loved BSG, except for the last three episodes. We started watching this. It looks interesting. Episode 3 tonight!

Great recommendation.

 

I've got 9 episodes left to watch.
This last season is pretty weak already so to hear it gets even worse is really disappointing.
Not in the same league as The Expanse.

 

Holler back when you finish.

 

I think I know how it is going to end. I'll let you know if I was right.