Netflix/Prime/Hulu Discoveries

[VGThuy]

Following Ricky Gervais on Twitter makes me not want to watch anything he does.

 

[Allskate]

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

I really like Kyle Chandler, so I wanted to like this show. But I didn't. I watched a few episodes and gave up. It isn't just dark. It's very slow. Maybe it picks up later in the series? It gets fairly good reviews.

 

[skategal]

I just watched the Spanish language film "Palm Trees in the Snow" on Netflix.

This was a huge movie around Christmas time in Spanish speaking markets and is primarily set in Equatorial Guinea (formerly a Spanish colony) on a cocoa plantation in the mid 50s - 1970. The secondary setting in Spain in the mountains present day and present day Equatorial Guinea. The story is told through flashbacks.

I though it was really good but I have some questions so if anyone else has seen it, let me know so we can chat.

 

[Nan]

Amazon has a new original series on Prime, Dr. Thorne. Has anyone watched this?

 

[Artemis@BC]

Amazon has a new original series on Prime, Dr. Thorne. Has anyone watched this?

I haven't seen it, but it has a great pedigree: written & produced by Julian Fellowes, and based on an Anthony Trollope novel.

 

[Nomad]

I haven't seen it, but it has a great pedigree: written & produced by Julian Fellowes, and based on an Anthony Trollope novel.

An odd-ball Trollope novel: IIRC, Anthony's brother Thomas (also a novelist) sketched out the plot and Anthony took it from there. Still, it was better than Framley Parsonage. Elizabeth Gaskell reviewed FP and said "I wish Framley Parsonage would go on forever." To which I could only say, "But it did, Mrs. Gaskell, it DID." That said, thanks for the heads-up. I will check it out.

 

[VGThuy]

I love Elizabeth Gaskell, well at least her television adaptations.

 

[Nomad]

North and South was a very good adaptation. Cranford, not so much. I'm holding off on Wives and Daughters until I've read it, but I would love to see an adaptation of Sylvia's Lovers. Ruth was a little too conventionally Victorian for me, although I must confess I found it a compelling read overall. Mary Barton would make for a great mini-series in the right hands, though.

 

[Nan]

North and South was a very good adaptation.

My favorite.

 

[Nomad]

My favorite.

Richard Armitage was perfectly cast as John Thornton.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I agree North and South was fabulous, but I also liked Cranford. Well, the first season anyway.

 

[Nan]

I agree North and South was fabulous, but I also liked Cranford. Well, the first season anyway.

I liked the first season of Cranford, too. When I retired, a good friend gave me a beautiful wooden box. I thought that was the gift until I opened it and inside was a volume of Cranford with a hammered brass cover. There is no publishing date inside, but there is an inscription on one of the front pages from 1924. Realizing how much thought went into this gift brought tears to my eyes.

I've not read Wives and Daughters, but did enjoy the production.

And in my humble opinion, Richard Armitage is perfect in most anything. North & South is available on Netflix.

 

[Buzz]

Just noticed Bridge Of Spies is now available on Netflix!

 

[Xela M]

Just noticed Bridge Of Spies is now available on Netflix!

Great film for anyone who hasn't seen it.

An "old-fashioned" film in its classical sense - no spcial effects, no car chases, no crazy violence, no unnecessary rubbish - just a good script, great acting and an interesting story. It was the best film last year imo.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I didn't think it was the best film of the year, but it was very well done indeed -- and also by far the best thing Spielberg has directed for at least 10 years.

 

[Really]

I know it's in its second season, but I didn't discover Grace and Frankie until I saw Lily Tomlin on one of the late night shows -- The Daily Show, I think. I've watched the first eight episodes from the first season on Netflix and I love it. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin together are just wonderful, and the rest of the cast members are no slouches either!

 

[BigB08822]

I watched the Lizzie Borden Chronicles the last couple of days. It was certainly not great television but it was still entertaining. I love Ricci and have always loved Clea Duvall who I feel has never had the great roles because she is not Hollywood pretty but she can act circles around most of her co-stars.

 

[Allskate]

I know it's in its second season, but I didn't discover Grace and Frankie until I saw Lily Tomlin on one of the late night shows -- The Daily Show, I think. I've watched the first eight episodes from the first season on Netflix and I love it. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin together are just wonderful, and the rest of the cast members are no slouches either!

I thought it was pretty bad. Great concept. Bad execution.

 

[rjblue]

I really like Kyle Chandler, so I wanted to like this show. But I didn't. I watched a few episodes and gave up. It isn't just dark. It's very slow. Maybe it picks up later in the series? It gets fairly good reviews.

It gets better and better with each episode, I thought. We binged it, after watching the first few episodes over time, if that is any indication of its quality. I'd rate Bloodline 8/10.

 

[Artistic Skaters]

I really like the setting for Bloodline & the storyline with the grey areas regarding whether the so called black sheep of the family is really a scapegoat for them. One of my problems with the show (just like Damages by the same team) is that it is hard to find characters you can really root for (perhaps the detective Marco or the nurse Chelsea) because they all have so many unlikable traits. Even so, it's still interesting.

 

[Nomad]

I find Elementary fairly entertaining, but it's not a show I can binge-watch. Which is a good thing.

 

[mackiecat]

For something light, Unbreakable Kimmie Smidt. It is produced by Tina Fey. Lots of comedians are on as guests. Solid main cast. My son introduced it to me and I'm hooked.

 

[gkelly]

I find Elementary fairly entertaining, but it's not a show I can binge-watch. Which is a good thing.

I find no point in binge-watching procedural shows. And I also tend not to get hooked on them -- I may watch regularly when they first start out, but eventually I stop feeling the need to keep coming back each week. I did last a couple of seasons with Elementary (and Castle), but usually I'm done within a couple of weeks, no matter how charming they may be.

For serialized shows, there's more drive to find out what happens next so I am much more motivated to watch the next episode as soon as possible.

 

[Seerek]

I know it's in its second season, but I didn't discover Grace and Frankie until I saw Lily Tomlin on one of the late night shows -- The Daily Show, I think. I've watched the first eight episodes from the first season on Netflix and I love it. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin together are just wonderful, and the rest of the cast members are no slouches either!

As I mentioned in a previous TV thread, Jane/Lily feeding off one another is the best part of the show.
Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen are endearing, but seem too self-conscious/self-aware when doing comedy.
If only they had better actors playing the kids...

I really like the setting for Bloodline & the storyline with the grey areas regarding whether the so called black sheep of the family is really a scapegoat for them. One of my problems with the show (just like Damages by the same team) is that it is hard to find characters you can really root for (perhaps the detective Marco or the nurse Chelsea) because they all have so many unlikable traits. Even so, it's still interesting.

Yes, the overarching tone of both Damages and Bloodline is quite similar (and really doesn't let up in the least - the often integration of periods of silence only emphasizes this mood).

As someone posted earlier, yes, the pacing is quite slow as it emphasizes tension-based character dialogue/interaction over a more fluid progression of the story-line. The Kessler brothers must be really confident that this show will be on for several seasons the way they've unfolded the plot in season 1 (as noted earlier, Season 2 is available tomorrow).

 

[Artemis@BC]

As I mentioned in a previous TV thread, Jane/Lily feeding off one another is the best part of the show.
Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen are endearing, but seem too self-conscious/self-aware when doing comedy.
If only they had better actors playing the kids...

ITA on all counts. Plus Waterston and Sheen are just entirely unconvincing as a couple -- I don't know if it's mis-casting, or the actors being self-conscious, or what, but it just doesn't work for me, despite the fact that I really like both actors a lot.

But the show is about Tomlin & Fonda, and that's more than enough of a reason to tune in.

I haven't re-subscribed to Netflix yet but have some serious binging planned for next month.

 

[VGThuy]

I agree with you that Sam Waterson and Martin Sheen aren't that convincing of a couple who is finally free to be in love. Maybe it's the writing, but I still have a hard time believing how Sheen and Waterson's characters fell in love and how they expressed it. There needs to be more chemistry there, but they are endearing. I actually think Jane Fonda is one of the weaker actors on the show and she plays everything like a caricature, but then I always thought she was way overrated.

 

[smurfy]

Not new, but now on Netflix - Longmire. I saw the first 3 seasons on A&E. I just watched Season 4 on Netflix - they obtained the show after A&E dropped it.
I had enjoyed the show originally, but one mystery was taking too long.
The 4th season on Netflix - they tied everything up quickly and moved on and by the end of the season it was at its best. They got things set up now for future seasons. I really like Robert Taylor, nice looking man. Lou Diamond Phillips is good as well as the rest of the cast. I hope it continues for many more seasons. But have to wait until the fall for Season 5.

 

[genevieve]

I'm home sick today and got a HULU free trial just so I can watch the series UnREAL, which I'd heard is great. It's pretty dark, but definitely addictive. Shiri Appleby is great, and I always love Constance Zimmer.

 

[clairecloutier]

We just finished watching the first season of Jessica Jones on Netflix. I was surprised how much I liked it! Excellent cast, pretty good writing and plotting, intriguing mood/setting. I've been feeling bored with superhero movies/TV shows, but this one puts a pretty different spin on things.

 

[oleada]

I'm home sick today and got a HULU free trial just so I can watch the series UnREAL, which I'd heard is great. It's pretty dark, but definitely addictive. Shiri Appleby is great, and I always love Constance Zimmer.

My favorite summer show last year. I love Rachel and Quinn'a dynamics. Love me some female anti heroes! season 2 is starting soon and it looks