Netflix/Prime/Hulu Discoveries

[Spun Silver]

I love dark, depressing detective series - Happy Valley, River, The Killing, Wallander - yum yum. Also Justified, Occupied, and The Americans, though not technically detective series. Any more like that?

But I like the smiley ones too. Right now I am back to Murder, She Wrote. It makes me understand why an old friend of mine once told me he had a crush on Angela Lansbury when she was already old. She's so cheerful and energetic, and she makes friends wherever she goes. And everyone wanted to be in her show. It's almost enough to make me look past those awful poodle hairdos. (Of course Lansbury doesn't have one, but all the other women do.)

 

[gkelly]

I love dark, depressing detective series - Happy Valley, River, The Killing, Wallander - yum yum. Also Justified, Occupied, and The Americans, though not technically detective series. Any more like that?

From what I've watched in the past year, even if they're older, I'd say Top of the Lake and Scott & Bailey.

 

[el henry]

Funny, I guess there are gradations of dark in my viewing that don't translate; just like skating

The Americans, at least up until the episode we watched two nights ago(season 3, Elizabeth and the old lady with the heart problem, what was the point of dragging that one out?) is great. Not depressing dark, like Happy Valley.

Happy Valley dark, no. The Americans dark, yes.

But back to Foyle's War, which we are still loving. Except for the characters who are supposed to be American. Their accents are *awful* Foyle's is not alone in this. I realize not every British actor can be Hugh Laurie or Matthew Rhys with American accents, but many of them are just so terrible...

Off topic rant done.

 

[shan]

I prefer The Bletchley Circle to Miss Fisher. I like Miss Fisher, but don't love it. It's nice entertainment for when there's nothing else to watch. But it's not like I'm binge watching it.

I love The Bletchley Circle!

 

[Spun Silver]

Funny, I guess there are gradations of dark in my viewing that don't translate; just like skating

The Americans, at least up until the episode we watched two nights ago(season 3, Elizabeth and the old lady with the heart problem, what was the point of dragging that one out?) is great. Not depressing dark, like Happy Valley.

Happy Valley dark, no. The Americans dark, yes.

But back to Foyle's War, which we are still loving. Except for the characters who are supposed to be American. Their accents are *awful* Foyle's is not alone in this. I realize not every British actor can be Hugh Laurie or Matthew Rhys with American accents, but many of them are just so terrible...

Off topic rant done.

That's funny! I think the Americans bothers me the most of all those shows because of all the violence and because the main characters got more and more evil. I cant help liking them but they do truly hateful stuff. And ITA about the US accemts in FW. i thought the actors were American, but told to speak in weird twangs. Makes much more sense now.

@gkelly, thanks for the recs. I will check those out after I finish restoring the sunshine in my soul with the help of Jessica Fletcher.

 

[VGThuy]

Has anyone watched Sense8? A friend at work recommended it.

It's not perfect by any means, but I really loved watching it. I think there should be more shows that are that ambitious. My favorite scenes were the quieter scenes where the characters just spoke to each other.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I love dark, depressing detective series - Happy Valley, River, The Killing, Wallander - yum yum. Also Justified, Occupied, and The Americans, though not technically detective series. Any more like that?

If you like dark and twisted, I highly recommend Wire in the Blood. It's based on Val McDermid's Carol Jordan / Tony Hill series of books, and stars Herminoe Norris and Robson Green. He's a psychologist specializing in seriously deviant behaviour so gets called in to consult when there's a particularly gruesome serial killer on the loose. The books are better, as they almost always are, but the tv adaptation was pretty darned good. Well, at least until Norris decided to leave and they replaced her character.

But I have no idea what streaming services, if any, carries it. It's a little older, 2002 - 2008.

 

[Artemis@BC]

We are greatly enjoying Miss Fisher. Talk about cheerful! And I'm not a fashionista, but I luuurve her outfits.

I recommend another older series (1991 - 94) is The House of Eliott. Set in the 20s, about two sisters who open a fashion house. Aside from the drop-dead gorgeous clothes, it includes lots of interesting stuff about gender politics, class interaction, the politics of fashion, etc. And yes, romance too.

But again, I have no idea if it's available streaming anywhere.

(I personally found Miss Fisher tedious after not too long, but will still watch occasionally for the clothes. And Jack.)

 

[Nomad]

I'll second the recommendation for House of Eliott.

 

[Spun Silver]

If you like dark and twisted, I highly recommend Wire in the Blood. It's based on Val McDermid's Carol Jordan / Tony Hill series of books, and stars Herminoe Norris and Robson Green. He's a psychologist specializing in seriously deviant behaviour so gets called in to consult when there's a particularly gruesome serial killer on the loose. The books are better, as they almost always are, but the tv adaptation was pretty darned good. Well, at least until Norris decided to leave and they replaced her character.

But I have no idea what streaming services, if any, carries it. It's a little older, 2002 - 2008.

Yikes. I am not sure that is the kind of dark and depressing I like. Let me be a little more specific: I like brooding, lonely, brilliant detectives; wild scenery and grim urban settings; stormy weather; intelligent dialogue; and complicated plots. I guess I am a sucker for English TV as well after years of pretending I am an Anglophobe. The violence is something I tolerate for the sake of the rest. Do you still think I would like Wire in the Blood?? Genuine question.

 

[Artemis@BC]

Hmm, hard call. It's been a while since I saw the series, but from what I can recall they don't show much of the actual acts of violence taking place, just the bloody aftermath. And Tony Hill (and to a lesser extent Carol Jordan) definitely fits the definition of "brooding, lonely, brilliant detective." It's set in Yorkshire, but urban Yorkshire, so you get a bit of wild scenery mixed with grim urban.

But for a more straightforward detective series with minimal violence, how about Rebus. Set in Edinburgh, based on the phenomenally best-selling books by Ian Rankin, and played perfectly by Ken Stott. He is the dictionary definition of brooding, lonely detective.

Or slightly less broody but with more wild scenery: Inspector Banks. Another one based on a book series, this one by Peter Robinson. Also set in Yorkshire.

Or Vera, based on the books by Ann Cleeves, and set in nearby Northumberland. (And starring the wonderful Brenda Blethyn.)

 

[Tesla]

If you like dark and twisted, I highly recommend Wire in the Blood. It's based on Val McDermid's Carol Jordan / Tony Hill series of books, and stars Herminoe Norris and Robson Green. He's a psychologist specializing in seriously deviant behaviour so gets called in to consult when there's a particularly gruesome serial killer on the loose. The books are better, as they almost always are, but the tv adaptation was pretty darned good. Well, at least until Norris decided to leave and they replaced her character.

But I have no idea what streaming services, if any, carries it. It's a little older, 2002 - 2008.

It's on Hulu Plus. It is dark but not too bloody.

 

[jeffisjeff]

Robson Green is in Wire in the Blood.

 

[Spun Silver]

Hmm, hard call. It's been a while since I saw the series, but from what I can recall they don't show much of the actual acts of violence taking place, just the bloody aftermath. And Tony Hill (and to a lesser extent Carol Jordan) definitely fits the definition of "brooding, lonely, brilliant detective." It's set in Yorkshire, but urban Yorkshire, so you get a bit of wild scenery mixed with grim urban.

But for a more straightforward detective series with minimal violence, how about Rebus. Set in Edinburgh, based on the phenomenally best-selling books by Ian Rankin, and played perfectly by Ken Stott. He is the dictionary definition of brooding, lonely detective.

Or slightly less broody but with more wild scenery: Inspector Banks. Another one based on a book series, this one by Peter Robinson. Also set in Yorkshire.

Or Vera, based on the books by Ann Cleeves, and set in nearby Northumberland. (And starring the wonderful Brenda Blethyn.)

Oh this is great. My anxiety about the (temporary or permanent) ending of The Killing, George Gently, Occupied, et al. has melted away and I feel set up for life. Thank you!

PS: I LOVE Brenda Blethyn!!

 

[Tesla]

@Spun Silver The first three seasons of Vera are on Hulu Plus. I believe AcornTV has the rest. DCI Banks was recently added to Hulu Plus, and Rebus is on Hulu Plus, too, starting with John Hannah.

 

[Spun Silver]

@Spun Silver The first three seasons of Vera are on Hulu Plus. I believe AcornTV has the rest. DCI Banks was recently added to Hulu Plus, and Rebus is on Hulu Plus, too, starting with John Hannah.

Thank you. I guess I am going to have to figure out what Hulu (Plus) is and how to get/use it. It sounds like something I am going to have to pay for.

 

[Tesla]

Thank you. I guess I am going to have to figure out what Hulu (Plus) is and how to get/use it. It sounds like something I am going to have to pay for.

You're welcome. Hulu Plus is a pay service, similar to Netflix. The version with commercials costs a little bit less than Netflix. I don't mind the commercials, as they are way shorter than network commercials. You can get a non-commercial subscription that costs a bit more. Another show you might like, if you haven't seen it yet, is Jack Taylor on Netflix. It's broody in Ireland.

 

[Spun Silver]

Thanks, Tesla! You clearly have my number as far as TV shows go. Broody Ireland sounds wonderful.

 

[Tesla]

Thanks, Tesla! You clearly have my number as far as TV shows go. Broody Ireland sounds wonderful.

You're welcome. We have similar tastes in shows.

 

[Tesla]

@Spun Silver Another show you might like is Hinterland. It is also on Netflix.

 

[Spun Silver]

Ha, i just peeked at the description of that last night and wondered why it wasnt on your list, Tesla! The wilds of Wales, right? I've always wanted to see Wales.

 

[Artemis@BC]

... and Rebus is on Hulu Plus, too, starting with John Hannah.

Oh dear: only the John Hannah versions of Rebus? They're not nearly as good as the Ken Stott ones. I like John Hannah a lot as an actor, but he's just completely wrong as Rebus. Ken Stott, oth, is absolutely perfect.

Of course it might not matter as much if you haven't read the books, but I remember the Ken Stott ones being better for other reasons too.

 

[Tesla]

Ha, i just peeked at the description of that last night and wondered why it wasnt on your list, Tesla! The wilds of Wales, right? I've always wanted to see Wales.

I remembered it late last night. Yup, broody in Wales.

Oh dear: only the John Hannah versions of Rebus? They're not nearly as good as the Ken Stott ones. I like John Hannah a lot as an actor, but he's just completely wrong as Rebus. Ken Stott, oth, is absolutely perfect.

Of course it might not matter as much if you haven't read the books, but I remember the Ken Stott ones being better for other reasons too.

Hulu has both. It just starts with the John Hannah versions.

 

[Spun Silver]

Broody in Ireland. Broody in Wales... just make up a detective named Broody and you've got a great formula for a book series. Broody in Marblehead, Broody in Cairo, Broody in Amsterdam, Broody in the Adirondacks.... Get out your typewriter, @Tesla!

 

[Nomad]

I gave Sense8 a try but found it rather uneven; I liked some of the storylines, but others just seemed too "designed by committee" (coughNomicough) for me to care about. And although I am by no means a prude and the cast is generally attractive, the sex scenes got to be a bit much. After a while I just wanted them to stop rutting and get on with the plot.

 

[Buzz]

Saw the first couple episodes of The Ranch on Netflux and liked if enough to keep watching.

 

[Artistic Skaters]

I saw a commercial for the new season of Bloodlines on Netflix if anyone watches that series.

 

[clairecloutier]

I saw a commercial for the new season of Bloodlines on Netflix if anyone watches that series.

I've been meaning to check it out--is it good?

 

[Artistic Skaters]

It's about a family with a lot of secrets who lives in the Florida keys. It is dark & moody & slower paced like The Killing, & the weather plays an additional character. I plan on watching it sometime this season because of the cliffhanger.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I was looking forward to Special Correspondents, the made-for-Netflix movie with Ricky Gervais and Eric Bana. However the ratings are pretty dismal.

Has anyone seen it?