Someone should make a show called Kingdom that mashes up all preceding shows called Kingdom
― imago, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 16:48 (four years ago) link
I am down so long as every episode ends with someone giving birth to Udo Kier.
― Sammo Hazuki's Tago Mago Cantina (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 16:51 (four years ago) link
couldn't possibly bring myself to vote for Game of Thrones, which imo was not only one of the most disappointing shows i've ever seen but in the final seasons one of the most inept, despite the considerable production values and impressive visuals. the first several seasons took place in a deeply lived-in world, it was cleverly and almost remorselessly plotted, it was very sharp and frightening, and it had a key characteristic it lost in later seasons: the characters were generally smart and behaved in logical ways, even if their choices were ultimately wrong or tragic. that was all thrown over once they went off book, in favor of the lead-up to what was basically an amateurishly done version of Avengers: Endgame, minus the earned pathos and tragedy and crafty structure and good jokes. i mean it was a show that was a huge success and nonetheless poor enough that it cost Benioff and Weiss future jobs because they clearly had no idea how to finish the story. i wasn't bored exactly but it was fantasy on the level of In the Name of the King, with better FX and better actors and grandfathered-in goodwill from previous (distantly previous) seasons.
― omar little, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 16:59 (four years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/GFIEwzg.jpg#44 - Silicon Valley (HBO) - 38 points, 5 votes
Mike Judge's "Silicon Valley" (HBO Show)
Silicon Valley on HBO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYHp-5h1y5o
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:09 (four years ago) link
I voted for Game of Thrones. The last season was so flawed and aggravating (in a bad way). However, there were some good parts. And honestly, the social media moment that was everyone watching that epic battle episode that was too dark and comparing their tv setups and trying to "fix it so they can see better" and/or complaining -- was actually this sociologically amazing thing! .. .
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:11 (four years ago) link
Here's another show that fell off without it being easy to see why. Latest season opener wasn't so bad I guess. Just don't really look forward to it as much. Sad how great shows often burn out
― imago, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:12 (four years ago) link
I maybe should have voted for The Good Place. I certainly made a point of watching it and as a whole it's one of the best series in years, certainly the best traditional network show. But I was rating purely on 2019 and the first half of S4 was the weakest material they've done. If I'd voted in 10 shows I would have included it, and 2019 Bojack too, but both were sufficiently off their peak to kick them out of the top four (and both at least partially returned to form in their 2020 concluding episodes!)
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:12 (four years ago) link
As I won the first two (as-yet-unwatched) seasons of GoT, how many more would I be advised to snap up before pretending that the show was tragically and prematurely cancelled?
― Sammo Hazuki's Tago Mago Cantina (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:15 (four years ago) link
won = own
― Sammo Hazuki's Tago Mago Cantina (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:16 (four years ago) link
you're safe through the end of season 4, it's exceptionally good up to that point.
― omar little, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:20 (four years ago) link
seasons 5-8 have their moments and standalone episodes which are thrilling but what's interesting i guess is that the best episodes from the latter half of the show's run are the ones which are largely single-location, without a lot of heavy plotting. the battle episodes, basically.
― omar little, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:22 (four years ago) link
last season of GOT was no worse than previous few seasons, in some ways it was actually better. I think the real problem was one of expectations, also there was a very very vocal contingent who were against their favourite character's heel turn, their views should be discounted entirely. I would suggest you swatch s1-s4 but you'll most likely want to watch the rest after that, and why not? it's an ok show.
― Wuhan!! Got You All in Check (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:24 (four years ago) link
The new Veronica Mars -- well, I'm super-glad it existed because these are characters I'm always motivated to spend time with. Halfway through the season I would have rated it highly. Felt it didn't wrap up the plot threads with the satisfying, startling neatness I have come to expect from VM. Would have been in my top 10 for sure.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:25 (four years ago) link
Like for years I resisted the entreaties to watch GoT because, post-L O S T, my tendency wrt these epic televisual endeavors is to wait until the bow has been tied to see if the gift box contains a steaming turd. Which, based on most of the post-finale responses I've heard, seems to have been a wise choice in this case. I'd probably have much fonder feelings about L O S T if I'd waited to have someone tell me 'just pretend that the final season doesn't exist and you'll have fun'.
― Sammo Hazuki's Tago Mago Cantina (Old Lunch), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:29 (four years ago) link
i watched and guiltily enjoyed all seasons of bosch but couldn't bring myself to vote for it since i had no memory of what the most recent season was
most recent season did plenty of extra-textual fanservice!! idk, maybe I'm that much of a nerd, but I suspect Ms. Veg is also with me on this. Opie from Sons of Anarchy as a biker PI, J. Edgar doing surveillance on scumbags and then meeting them in a club -- which made me yell, "Dudes, you know that is Marlo, right? You don't fuck with that guy. You will end up skeletal in a boarded-up vacant!"
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:30 (four years ago) link
the heel turn was perfectly fine, it just betrayed everything that the character had shown and happened so abruptly that it was clear they had no real idea of how to arrive at that heel turn in a manner that made sense. also the problem w/that twist and many other big moments was that it was all vv predictable, i've never seen a show which was so accurately forecasted by so many people. vs that big thing from the end of season 3, which was both completely logical and yet unpredictable if you hadn't read the novels.
― omar little, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:31 (four years ago) link
every time Jay Edgar plays golf in Bosch feels like Wire fanservice to me tho
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:32 (four years ago) link
*the show's final season was accurately forecast, rather. the first few were not.
― omar little, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:33 (four years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/Rdd6A4H.jpg#43 - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FXX) - 40 points, 4 votes
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on Hulu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgr01hYOrF8
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:33 (four years ago) link
Honestly, I had a more accepting attitude towards the show itself -- like, I did not have super high expectations. I got angrier at popular astrology memes about GoT characters that showed poor comprehension of astrology and the GoT characters.
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:35 (four years ago) link
Arya is so so so so not an ARIES
today seems to be mostly shows i watch but did not vote for
― na (NA), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:39 (four years ago) link
Let's take it to 36 today.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:45 (four years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/iWW5A35.jpg#40 (Tie) - The Expanse (Amazon) - 40 points, 5 votes
Is anybody else watching The Expanse?
The Expanse on Amazon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFdzpVt5rbk
i don't even necessarily believe GOT was markedly worse than or even actually worse than a number of other shows, and it remained watchable, but i think its decline was precipitous enough that it retroactively downgrades the entire thing. i do think arguably S8 was "better" in some sense than earlier seasons, i'm thinking the one where half of it was taken up with uncomfortable silences between Tyrion and Grey Worm and Missandei, broken up by awkward jokes.
― omar little, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:48 (four years ago) link
The Expanse, fantastic.
better than Battlestar Galactica, and exactly the type of sci-fi show i'd been wanting to see for eons.
― omar little, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:49 (four years ago) link
Liked and voted for this IASIP series and consider it better than the last one
― imago, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:49 (four years ago) link
maybe it's because there weren't that many people voting in this poll, but today is like -- i voted for almost all of these shows.
Anyway, at some point I might post paragraphs about "what each of these tv shows means to me and why i like them" -- but in general, the stuff I voted for, besides being pleasurable as a show, also gave me insight into various personal, social, and philosophical issues I dealt with last year. That includes The Expanse, Jessica Jones, and Silicon Valley
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 17:51 (four years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/gXzcu2x.jpg#40 (Tie) - Gentleman Jack (BBC, HBO) - 40 points, 5 votes
Gentleman Jack on HBO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uBYRcP44M4
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:30 (four years ago) link
Suranne Jones is one of the best
That's my 3rd (I think) to show up. Stath Lets Flats is fantastic and I completely ignored it because British comedy until imago's incessant positivity got me interested so props to him
― or something, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:41 (four years ago) link
Props and thanks
― or something, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:42 (four years ago) link
Is Gentleman Jack any good then? Kind of dismissed it as a bog standard BBC period drama
― groovypanda, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:47 (four years ago) link
Gentlemen Jack is killer; one of my fave discoveries of last year.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:49 (four years ago) link
i haven't seen Gentleman Jack, but it's selling point (at least for me) is of the LGBTQ / feminist sort. If you don't care about that, and you don't like BBC period dramas, then it's probably not worth it to you.
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:51 (four years ago) link
I voted for the latest season of The Expanse but most of it was too grim for my liking (though this season followed the book pretty closely, I seem to remember finding the travails a lot more gripping when I was reading about them). When there are a few glimmers of hope though I enjoyed it.
― Charlotte Brontesaurus (Leee), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:54 (four years ago) link
the next book is even more grim iirc
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:55 (four years ago) link
still need to catch up on the latest season of always sunny. left off at the thundergun episode.
the show has been getting flowers lately, but i still think it's underrated. it's on an unprecedented run of consistent hilarity for a live-action sitcom. they've been doing this shit for fifteen years. i was singing 'day man' when i was in high school.
― ooga booga-ing for the bourgeoisie (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:56 (four years ago) link
just a few comments on things I’ve seen so far...
I enjoyed the Witcher, it’s not brilliant or anything but it didn’t take itself too seriously, felt like the fantasy shit I liked as a kid, in a good way. Would have voted for it.
His Dark Materials was okay, I’ll probably watch season 2 but I’m not totally sold. It felt kinda heartless. I can’t decide if it’s too hard to adapt or if the books are just worse than I remember them. Might’ve voted for it.
I just finished the tail end of season 4 of the good place. The ending was satisfying I think, but not as great as season 1 of course. Tough for a show with the premise it had to do well after the first season wraps so the fact it was still a great show to watch til the end was really impressive I thought. Would've voted for it.
I think everyone covered GOT well, I wouldn't have voted for this season.
Lots a stuff I'm interested to watch now though, great work poll runners.
― Will (kruezer2), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:59 (four years ago) link
I have always assumed that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was some kind of How I Met Your Mother-type deal, possibly because they both have long names and I'm not very smart.
I've just read the start of the wiki page, and unless it's a hilarious defacement, Holy Shit.
― Andrew Farrell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 19:03 (four years ago) link
You're right, but the antagonists are at least more charismatic.
― Charlotte Brontesaurus (Leee), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 19:07 (four years ago) link
I have always assumed that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was some kind of How I Met Your Mother-type deal
Absolutely perfect footing on which to start watching the show imo - happy trails!
― nashwan, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 19:10 (four years ago) link
We've been waiting like 15 years to find out why it's always sunny!
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 19:18 (four years ago) link
the gang tries desperately to meet your mother
― ooga booga-ing for the bourgeoisie (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 19:26 (four years ago) link
The focus group episode of the latest season (of ASIP) deserves its place in the pantheon of all-time great episodes. So jealous of anyone just discovering it
― tangenttangent, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 20:08 (four years ago) link
the Silicon Valley focus group scenes were always great -- one of the good things about this last season was it gave Monica more to do as a character. Relatedly, getting to see the main characters interact with others outside of each other, where, after 5 seasons, things were starting to be a bit rote. The Monica/Gilfoyle dynamic was really heartwarming and funny. ... Granted, I still had immense nostalgia for "Hot Dog/Not Hot Dog" and the amazing finale from season 1.
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 20:22 (four years ago) link
Also ... Menlo Bark. .... sometimes when I feel sad and am taking life too seriously, I think about "Menlo Bark" and "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 20:24 (four years ago) link
Need to watch the rest of the latest season of Silicon Valley. I’m glad Monica is finally made into more of something. For me the pinnacle was ‘billions of breadings’. Peter Gregory still missed.
― tangenttangent, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 20:29 (four years ago) link
top Silicon Valley bits for me (I watched all the seasons recently) - unranked:
1. Hot Dog/Not Hot Dog 1a. Hot Dog ---> Dick Pics2. Hand Job calcs3. Gilfoyle vs. the smart fridge4. Menlo Bark5. Black ops mission at Hoolicon6. Monica vs. the bros7. Gilfoyle and delegating8. SWOT analysis9. Jared10. Russfest
― sarahell, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 20:42 (four years ago) link
it's good: the most auteurist work by Sally Wainwright (creator of At Home With The Braithwaites, Last Tango In Halifax, Happy Valley) and her only period piece. She wrote every episode, and directed half. It's applying slightly-higher-than-bog-standard BBC period drama values to a series whose themes are 100% about womens rights and lesbian "rights" in 19th century capitalism, with whatever resonance to the subsequent 190 years that the viewer chooses to apply. There are strongly continuing plot and romance elements, but it's also written like proper telly in that normal viewers can miss a week and pick up the stakes next time.
― Fantastic. Great move. Well done (sic), Wednesday, 12 February 2020 21:14 (four years ago) link
I had no idea that’s what Gentleman Jack would be. Thanks for that explanation, will definitely watch. AHWtB and LTiH both incredible.
― tangenttangent, Wednesday, 12 February 2020 21:16 (four years ago) link