Netflix/Prime/Hulu Discoveries

[Seerek]

Judith Light's Shelley Pfefferman singing Alanis Morrissette's Hand in My Pocket was quite a way to end season 3 of Transparent (though particularly appropriate given what transpired for the whole family individually).

 

[rfisher]

I haven't read 15 pages, but Goliath on Amazon Prime is brilliant. Billy Bob Thornton is outstanding.

 

[el henry]

I haven't read 15 pages, but Goliath on Amazon Prime is brilliant. Billy Bob Thornton is outstanding.

Can I ask, does the show pick up after the first two episodes? The legal parts, with Billy Bob and his "associates" and his ex-wife and her nasty firm were great. That was about 25% of what we saw.

The mafia type skullduggery was a nuisance, but OK we put up with it. Another 25%.

Billy Bob as a drunk loser just trying to make his way, picking up the pieces of his shattered life, with very loud music and beach scenes, had me twitching for the remote. I got it the first ten minutes. I didn't need another hour. Maybe just me, and everyone else loves it, and that's fine and dandy (really), but I can't deal. So....

do they get back to the story, or is that the whole show?

 

[VGThuy]

I'm watching The Crown right now on Netflix, about Queen Elizabeth II written by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Daldry. The acting is pretty superb. John Lithgow as Winston Churchill is a very odd choice but after a while it actually works. Who I'm most impressed with by far is Jared Harris as King George VI aka the King's Speech. He really shines in screen in his role and I hope he at least receives an Emmy nomination. The only actor I found only ok is Matt Smith as Prince Philip. To me he's a notch below the others but maybe I'll like him more after a few more episodes.

 

[Buzz]

There is a little Show on tv called The Pinkertons. I have not seen it in a while but the first season is now available on Netflix. It's all about a female Pinkerton detective solving crime in post civil war USA. If Jane Austin's books were based in the "Wild West", this show is what her works would look like.

 

[Tesla]

There is a little Show on tv called The Pinkertons. I have not seen it in a while but the first season is now available on Netflix. It's all about a female Pinkerton detective solving crime in post civil war USA. If Jane Austin's books were based in the "Wild West", this show is what her works would look like.

I added it to my list. Based on your post, I may start watching it soon.

 

[rfisher]

Can I ask, does the show pick up after the first two episodes? The legal parts, with Billy Bob and his "associates" and his ex-wife and her nasty firm were great. That was about 25% of what we saw.

The mafia type skullduggery was a nuisance, but OK we put up with it. Another 25%.

Billy Bob as a drunk loser just trying to make his way, picking up the pieces of his shattered life, with very loud music and beach scenes, had me twitching for the remote. I got it the first ten minutes. I didn't need another hour. Maybe just me, and everyone else loves it, and that's fine and dandy (really), but I can't deal. So....

do they get back to the story, or is that the whole show?

I've only watched the first two episodes. Maybe I'll agree with you after I watch a few more.

 

[clairecloutier]

We started watching The Wire on Amazon Prime after hearing so many raves about it, here and elsewhere.

Yeah, it's pretty good. Okay, pretty amazing! I love the acting, the characters, the writing, and most of all the realism of the show. Years ago, I was a fan of the NBC series Homicide--it was one of my favorite shows--I never realized The Wire was created/written by the same team. Both amazing shows. We're toward the end of the second season now (the longshoremen season).

Was very affected by the death of D'Angelo in season 2. He drew me in more than any other character--a tragic figure.

My one criticism of the show? I feel it's very male-centric. The first season especially. The women have perhaps a slightly bigger role in season 2, but are still side characters for the most part. It was the same way in Homicide.

 

[victoriajh]

I'm watching The Crown right now on Netflix, about Queen Elizabeth II written by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Daldry. The acting is pretty superb. John Lithgow as Winston Churchill is a very odd choice but after a while it actually works. Who I'm most impressed with by far is Jared Harris as King George VI aka the King's Speech. He really shines in screen in his role and I hope he at least receives an Emmy nomination. The only actor I found only ok is Matt Smith as Prince Philip. To me he's a notch below the others but maybe I'll like him more after a few more episodes.

I'm watching too ( just finished itvs victoria ( how fitting!)
I'm on the fence about Claire foy, her elizabeth is less confident and more visibly sensitive than I think que2 to be .... the clothes Nd the sets are fabulous - did they actually film in buck house ?

 

[VGThuy]

I'm watching too ( just finished itvs victoria ( how fitting!)
I'm on the fence about Claire foy, her elizabeth is less confident and more visibly sensitive than I think que2 to be .... the clothes Nd the sets are fabulous - did they actually film in buck house ?

Yeah I agree with that. She always has a look of nervousness and insecurity that I think is becoming one-note. I know they want to portray Elizabeth as being thrust onto the throne and as a young, scared woman who didn't expect to be Queen so soon, but they need to give her more. Even when she "lays down the law", she still has the nervous lack of confidence. I guess the problem I have with Foy and Smith is that I don't really believe them to be the subjects they are playing. I find Smith too quirky and contemporary in his manner to be believable as Prince Philip. But I'm on the 4th episode, so maybe it'll change by episode 10.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I can tell you that I am really disappointed by the new & last, three episode, series of Scott & Bailey. I don't know why they decided to bring this splendid series back in this manner.

I didn't think it was that bad. Definitely not at the same level as the previous seasons, and the limited run didn't give them time to really develop the crime story, but I liked Rachel's struggles with her new role and thought they did a good job of portraying that.

 

[VGThuy]

So I started watching Yuri on Ice a Japanese anime about a young male Japanese figure skater. The first episode actually explained the skating season pretty accurately, so I'm already impressed. The show itself falls into anime archetypes and some cliches, but the animation is beautiful. More importantly, the skating itself is gorgeous and is what is grabbing me. I read that Kenji Miyamoto actually works on the choreography on the show and I think it shows.

Here's the opening credits sequence to give you a sample of the animation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u3RGhznctE

You can watch HD (make sure you watch it in HD to really get all the animation has to offer) subtitled episodes here:

http://chiaanime.co/Anime/10746/yuri-on-ice-2016/

Only five have aired so far. The first episode is titled "The Grand Prix Final of Tears". Clearly, the characters have similarities to real life skaters.

Whoops, I see there's already a thread discussing the show here:

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/index.php?threads/yuri-on-ice.99488/#post-4903284

 

[BigB08822]

We are really enjoying The Crown on Netflix. It is done so well.

 

[TheGirlCanSkate]

Sing Street is on Netflix. We saw it in the theater and it is really charming. It is about a boy and his band in Ireland in the 80s. The friendship between 2 of the boys is very believable as well as the main boy and his relationship with his older brother.

 

[Allskate]

I've been sick. I curl up and binge watch when that happens. So, I now have seen the entire season of Good Girls Revolt on Amazon. It's about a Newsweek-like magazine in the 1960s. I enjoyed it a lot.

 

[Rogueskater]

There is a new series called Paranoid. Detective series on Netflix from the BBC I believe. I'm on the 3rd episode, pretty good so far.

 

[Buzz]

Just started watching Paranoid and love it so far.

 

[Tesla]

There is a new series called Paranoid. Detective series on Netflix from the BBC I believe. I'm on the 3rd episode, pretty good so far.

Just started watching Paranoid and love it so far.

So I just watched the first episode and started the second. I hope it gets better because I did not like the first episode. I really don't like Nina, the British female cop. I'll continue to watch, even if it doesn't improve, because it's good background and I want to know what happens.

 

[Rogueskater]

So I just watched the first episode and started the second. I hope it gets better because I did not like the first episode. I really don't like Nina, the British female cop. I'll continue to watch, even if it doesn't improve, because it's good background and I want to know what happens.

I'm on episode 6 and Nina is not any better however the story gets very interesting.

 

[Tesla]

I'm on episode 6 and Nina is not any better however the story gets very interesting.

I've watched three episodes, and Nina really drags things down. The story is interesting, though.

 

[Nomad]

I finished watching Paranoid last night. I found it reasonably entertaining - Nina was annoying, but I didn't think she was so awful. I thought that most of the cast did pretty well with what they were given.

 

[Buzz]

Pelé: Birth of a Legend - If you are a footie fan like me, you will definitely enjoy this movie.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XBrfxHOXsDE

 

[Artemis@BC]

I watched the first episode of Crashing last night. About a group of 20- and 30-somethings in London who are "property guardians" -- sort of sanctioned squatters -- in a disused hospital building. (Is this an actual thing?) A few good laughs but I'm reserving judgment, it's the sort of lifestyle that I might find tiresome before long.

 

[topaz]

We started watching The Wire on Amazon Prime after hearing so many raves about it, here and elsewhere.

Yeah, it's pretty good. Okay, pretty amazing! I love the acting, the characters, the writing, and most of all the realism of the show. Years ago, I was a fan of the NBC series Homicide--it was one of my favorite shows--I never realized The Wire was created/written by the same team. Both amazing shows. We're toward the end of the second season now (the longshoremen season).

Was very affected by the death of D'Angelo in season 2. He drew me in more than any other character--a tragic figure.

My one criticism of the show? I feel it's very male-centric. The first season especially. The women have perhaps a slightly bigger role in season 2, but are still side characters for the most part. It was the same way in Homicide.

One of the best shows in TV history. Also, it think the show is aging well. The show is almost 15 years old I think.

I finished watching the Crown this past weekend. Very good.

I've been watching Oliver Stone's the untold history of the US. It's disturbing and sad but produced very well. - Netflix

The Empire of the Tsars by Lucy Worsley. Excellent. - Netflix

Good Girls Revolt Amazon series. I thought it was decent.

 

[VGThuy]

Thanks for your reviews. I'd call The Crown "very good" as well. Not nearly as good as I was hoping, but I'd recommend it. Also thanks for the heads up for Good Girls Revolt. I saw it on my Amazon Prime and wanted to check it out but I also didn't want to bother either. It being "decent" is what I expected, so I may pass on it until I have nothing better to watch/read.

 

[Buzz]

There is something called 3% on Netflix and I have downloaded it to watch later offline. I spend a lot off time travelling on the bus and this new feature will be so helpful!

 

[Spun Silver]

I've been watching The Blacklist from the beginning -- only ever caught a couple episodes on prime time. I think James Spader is my alter ego. When I was young he was a new star, the most beautiful golden boy in the world, all dressed in white in some forgettable movie. Fast forward a couple decades and he was getting paunchy in Boston Legal, still chasing beautiful women but beginning to be laughed at for it, and really enjoying his after-hours balcony chats over Scotch with Denny Crain (William Shatner) more. Now he is fat and bald and approaching old age, looking like Alfred Hitchcock in silhouette. Money, brains, knowledge and ruthlessness are his tickets to power and presumably women, but the latter barely make an appearance (as romantic partners) for obvious reasons. I am afraid to look in the mirror.

 

[Yehudi]

Netflix allows offline viewing now, and I've been watching 3% as part of my subway commute. It's a Brazilian series about a dystopian future where 20 year olds in an impoverished society compete to move to a wealthier society. It's kind of like Hunger Games meets Lost meets the Tech company interview from hell.

 

[TheGirlCanSkate]

No one else has watched Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell???? The book is taking me so long....but I feel like I am in the room with the characters.

 

[vesperholly]

I've been watching The Blacklist from the beginning -- only ever caught a couple episodes on prime time. I think James Spader is my alter ego. When I was young he was a new star, the most beautiful golden boy in the world, all dressed in white in some forgettable movie. Fast forward a couple decades and he was getting paunchy in Boston Legal, still chasing beautiful women but beginning to be laughed at for it, and really enjoying his after-hours balcony chats over Scotch with Denny Crain (William Shatner) more. Now he is fat and bald and approaching old age, looking like Alfred Hitchcock in silhouette. Money, brains, knowledge and ruthlessness are his tickets to power and presumably women, but the latter barely make an appearance (as romantic partners) for obvious reasons. I am afraid to look in the mirror.

Pretty in Pink ... forgettable?!

Mid-90s is my favorite Spader. Stargate, Crash I even enjoyed White Palace because of him Blacklist is pretty good, though it went off the rails in the most recent season. Should've stuck to the procedural aspect.