TV you've just watched

[BIL]

Caught up on Raised By Wolves, liking it so far. Takes a cartoonishly stark conflict - Atheists v Fundies! - and splinters it intriguingly under the lethal ambivalence of outer space. I hope it retains the sense of mystery it's cultivating as of episode 7, rather than trying and inevitably failing to give some half-assed "answers" (cf Scott's last two Alien films).

[GaijinPunch]

I'm reading mixed opinions on S4 of Fargo... hmm... do I give a shit? I'd like to go in somewhat fresh. I heard S3 was weird and weak from people that I learned later I shouldn't trust as it was fucking dope.

[BIL]

I ain't scurred Ditto on S3, thought it was fuckin rad from start to finish. Just enough signature Fargo (1996) elements - bumbling crooks, ever-intensifying shitstorms, terrifying/eccentric hitmen - while being its own thing with the information warfare theme, much like S2's gangland storyline. Planning to watch S4 blind as a bat as per usual.

[lilmanjs]

Got caught up on Star Trek Lower Decks. It actually has found its footing and isn't just an all out silly comedy like the trailer made it to be. Lots of nice serious moments balance out the comedy. Plus that Q cameo was well done!

[Hornet]

I'm currently re-watching Star Trek: Deep Space 9.

Season 1 was just as rough as I remembered, but I must admit that I'm enjoying season 2 MUCH more this time around. Maybe it's just me being familiar with the lore, story and characters, because I definitely don't remember enjoying it so much.

[chempop]

The Boys S2E7 I can't stop laughing at the way they ended this episode.

As for the season finale of Raised by Wolves, I can't decide with the direction this show went.
It'll probably take a 2nd viewing when I'm not over worked and struggling to stay awake so I can give it my full attention.

Still enjoying Boardwalk Empire towards the end of season 2.

[emphatic]

Started the 2020 remake of Utopia last night. I don't know how to feel.

[GaijinPunch]

I always thought that Ross Geller was the funniest character on Friends. The physical humor stylings of David Schwimmer.

Chandler & Joey carried that show.

[emphatic]

Fargo (current season) really took off (for me) when Timothy Olyphant appeared. And every other storyline too. Episode 3ish.

[lilmanjs]

I'm currently re-watching Star Trek: Deep Space 9.

Season 1 was just as rough as I remembered, but I must admit that I'm enjoying season 2 MUCH more this time around. Maybe it's just me being familiar with the lore, story and characters, because I definitely don't remember enjoying it so much.

Season 2 is a lot better since they have an entire new upper level set for the space station to work with. Once I learned that happened between seasons, I noticed how much better the rest of the show really was compared to season 1.

Batman Beyond
Yeah I know a lot of season 2 on blu ray is upscales thanks to wear and tear on the original cells, but season 1 is looking amazing, and the show is better than I remember it being. Wayne being older than dirt and mentoring a high school teen is pretty interesting.

[GaijinPunch]

Fargo (current season) really took off (for me) when Timothy Olyphant appeared. And every other storyline too. Episode 3ish.

I heard it's a slow start. Still waiting until I can give it the time it deserves which hasn't happened yet... hopefully before the election.

[rapoon]

Binged Truth Seekers (it's only about 2.5 hours). Frost + Pegg, it's entertaining. Recommended for fans of "Dirk Gently" or "John Dies at the End"

Also rewatched the first three seasons of Fargo, but chronologically. Picked up on far more connections between the seasons (specifically 1 & 2) that I missed the first time around.

[Sumez]

I seem to come across so many surprisingly good TV series nowadays it gets progressively harder to throw statements like this around, but The Haunting of Hill House (coming real late to the party, considering the Bly Manor "sequel" is already out) has to be one of the best TV series I've ever seen.

For every instance of cringeworthy acting, awkwardly uninterrupted monologue, or cheesy cartoon style ghost sighting, the show counterbalances it with incredibly emotional scenes, superbly planned out storytelling with well planted foreshadowing and a nice human meta-aspect to every element of the more superficial ghost story, that really lends some thematic weight to the story. Even if it does knock you over the head with it.

It feels so refreshing to watch something that was thought through completely from the start, allowing pieces of the puzzle you don't get to see until the tail end of the series to add new perspectives to events you've witnessed right from the beginning. A great antithesis to open-ended series that always awkwardly try to keep an opening for future seasons.

[BIL]

The Sopranos S1E10 "A Hit Is A Hit" This is one of the few episodes regularly disowned by fans, and I guess I'd kinda absorbed this thinking. For a while I'd delete it off the S1 playlist, having little love for my recollections of its broad strokes. Adriana wants to be a music manager, courting the attentions of gangsta thug/rap mogul MASSIVE GENIUS, played by the wonderful Bokeem Woodbine in what was sadly his only appearance.

Let it run while up late, was pleasantly surprised. There's no quality drop here whatsoever. Like Season 4's similarly unpopular Christopher, it's an obvious lighthearted interlude, but unlike that one's outright farce, there's some genuine bite and warmth. Michael Imperioli's acting in one of his character's rare gentle turns is first-rate, with he and Drea De Matteo's scenes taking on a nostalgic poignancy given their direly hideous later seasons.

Juxtaposing Massive's pursuit of Hesh's unpaid royalties for irresistibly catchy R&B with Adriana's innocent proffer of faux-grunge slop is not only funny and cutting - Hesh guiltily surveying "his" gold records one minute, grimacing at the insufferable dogshit wafting from his speakers the next - it showcases both legitimately great music, and legitimately great bad music.

Stay out of our way, and don't be so gay!

The C-Story of ill-fated, cleft-palated would-be stickup man Jimmy Smash, and Tony's inadvertent becoming of him at the hands of Doc Cusamano's obliviously pawing golf buddies, sports a similarly easy balance of rueful introspection and innocent boneheaded fun. I'm surprised the fawning "D-did you know John Gotti?" ("Yeah, I knew John") "HOOO, HOOLY FUCK" douchebag isn't quoted more often, that actor earned his keep.

Perfectly good episode that segues straight into the full-on skulduggery of the closing three.

[GaijinPunch]

It's been so long since I watched any Sopranos. Best episode is the one where Pauly and Christopher stroll through the woods.

[BIL]

Hell of an ep, Buscemi beauty. See also s5 highlight Marco Polo, incidentally written by Michael Imperioli... those chaps did some great work together. Mother, when you see me, don't forget I'm your boy too ♫

Looking forward to their conversation in a fortnight or so on Talking Sopranos! I think Season 3's concluding quartet - To Save Us All From Satan's Power,

("You bottomed out."
"What...?"
*JIGOKU NO NUTSACK CRUSHER* )

Pine Barrens ("Stalkin' us with what? HIS COCK?!") Amour Fou ("We're with Ralphie! Pls!" *SUCCESSIVE NORMAL GUNSHOTS TO HEAD NECK AND FACE*) and Army Of One (wicked as fuck undercutting the feelgood schmaltz with Aphex Twin's bone-gnawing "Blur") is the series' most sustained height.

This scene between Gandolfini and Pantoliano is as good as television gets. These sneaky two-faced motherfuckers, lying to each other's faces at 9000RPM without breaking a sweat. Poor evil RARUFU puts up a valiant weasely fight, but gets pinned down and promptly crushed like a bug by Tony's vengeful BAWLS

Season 3 is The Brutal One, from my most recent rewatch (ala Castlevania: SOTN and Silent Hill 1 & 2, it's something I like to do every four years or so, around January with the nice long, early nights). Melfi's rape, Tracee's murder, the hellacious Mustang Sally hit and aftermath ("No Mr. Baccala please no more!"), that shrink's surgical obliteration of Carmela's entire persona, the whole Jackie Jr self-annihilation, Uncle Jun chemo, poor dumbass Adriana's fate sealed, other stuff... wicked run.

[GaijinPunch]

Employee of the Month... forgot about that one. Excellent.

[vol.2]

Watching the first season of Doom Patrol.

So far so good, but it's not knocking my socks off. I give it credit for properly dragging up memories from the comics (the G Morrison ones).

I am especially surprised at the performance Brandon Frasier puts in, and I think Timothy Dalton was a good choice, as were a few of the others. The guy who plays Cyborg is tiresome and not a great actor.

[emphatic]

Currently watching the second episode of The Flight Attendant. Very hyper, but also quite fun.

[rapoon]

Too Old To Die Young - Nicholas Refn

In one tragic night, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Martin Jones's life is blown apart, and he is forced into a deadly underground of Cartel soldiers, Yakuza assassins,
and mysterious vigilantes. Soon he finds himself lost on a surreal odyssey of murder, mysticism and vengeance, as his past sins close in on him.

After an explicable act of vengeance, a collision course between two men is set in motion collecting all tangential waste in it's path. Refn holds a mirror up to society, bringing attention
to the dregs and depraved: assassins, fascists, pornographers, rapists, pedophiles.

Refn insists the series should be viewed as a movie (as such, you'll see it on sites like letterboxd), but episodes can be viewed in any order (? that doesn't even make sense). Like his other work,
cinematography, ambiance, and lighting are often used for communication in lieu of dialogue, which is sparse and when it does occur there's often 10-15 second pauses between exchanges.

Some of the episodes drag and could have been condensed to 20 minutes. Others (notably episode 5, The Joker) are phenomenal. I love a good slow burn, and this show is exceptionally slow.

[GaijinPunch]

Some of the episodes drag and could have been condensed to 20 minutes. Others (notably episode 5, The Joker) are phenomenal. I love a good slow burn, and this show is exceptionally slow.

Your word has value after the Zero Zero Zero rec. I'll check this out.

[BIL]

Aww sheeit. Steve Buscemi on Talking Sopranos tonight, for "Pine Barrens." Should be great.

[GaijinPunch]

Wow -- nice find!

[BIL]

Spoilers for Talking Sopranos episode: I'd hoped Schirippa's late but memorable appearance would yield some good stories, wasn't disappointed.

What an ep, show and podcast alike. Valery was the real gangster. One bad interior decorating, Czechoslovakian massacring, family disgracing Russian Green Beret motherfucker.

"Cock sucker... you want fuck HERE? In my FUCKING HOUSE?!"
"Shaddap! I'll put one in your head!"
"FUUUCK YOUR FUCKING MOTHER!"

Loved Imperioli's theory that Paulie was just envious of all his rad AV shit.

[vol.2]

Watching this channel recently. It's a Scottish guy who does mostly motorcycle repair, but also random tools and a car once in a while. His work is excellent. The most recent project is a 1978 Honda ATC restoration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP2ziFl ... estoration

[GaijinPunch]

Did all of Fargo Season 4. Enjoyed it but will agree that it was not as good as the other seasons. Interesting, but probably would have done better under a name other than Fargo? Dunno... out of all the villains (and there were many) I didn't quite find myself as invested, sans nurse Mayflower.

[BIL]

Oh nice, it's done? That's next week's binge sorted out. Always an adventure with this show...

Great Talking Sopranos this week, with Annabella Sciorra (Gloria Trillo, a character somewhere between Old Man Baccala and Ralphie for screentime/explosion ratio). Smart actor, clearly. By its nature, featuring working actors, the podcast is always a bit lovey-dovey, but you can always tell these people were artists to the last. Really intense stuff re: filming that brutal fight scene w/Gandolfini. Not as viscerally horrific as his True Romance one opposite Patricia Arquette, but Sciorra is so friggin tiny. Unsurprised to hear she was out on her feet in some of those shots. EDIT: the fuck am I saying. those aren't fights, they're beatings.

"Gloria didn't want to be alive." Oof, muh feels.

Next week is 90 minutes with David Chase. Sure to expertly frustrate! I wonder how fucked up the movie's production/promotion is at this point. Maybe it's smoked him out. >_>

[vol.2]

Watching Legion. Best show I've seen for a long time. Production style is unreal. I'm only in the middle of season 2 right now, so I'm not looking for spoilers, but damn it's good.

[GaijinPunch]

Watching Legion. Best show I've seen for a long time. Production style is unreal. I'm only in the middle of season 2 right now, so I'm not looking for spoilers, but damn it's good.

I should give this a shot. Fargo is outstanding.

[Stevens]

Almost through season one of Deadwood.