OT - The Good TV Thread

[Esohny]

After having it on my list for years, I'm finally watching The Wire, about halfway through the final season. I've been pleasantly surprised that the show has met all the hype that I've heard forever. Awesome.

I'm always behind all TV since I don't have cable, but I also just picked up Boardwalk Empire S1. Only watched the first 2 episodes, but I'm already enjoying that too.

[horaceworthy]

I just got Netflix (the streaming version) for the first time. What an incredible tool in the procrastinator's utility belt.

So far I haven't dug too deep into what's available, really just used it to fill in the gaps for some of those USA shows like Psych, Burn Notice and White Collar (I hadn't really seen any of those until last year, they're nothing special, but they're fairly entertaining, and I don't feel too bad if I miss anything do to multitasking).

Anybody have any suggestions for shows (or movies, even though this is the TV thread) to check out on there? So far queue consists of the aforementioned shows, Reaper, Breaking Bad, Terriers (already seen most of those episodes before it got axed and enjoyed them), The Wonder Years, Sons of Anarchy, Louie, and Firely.

[Saltine]

Beyond the great Breaking Bad, I suggest Justified as well, great show. If you want something easy to digest the 8 episodes of 'Boss' are very good, reminds me a bit of the Wire (which is awesome) for some reason...
And of course Deadwood, if you haven't watched them all you are seriously missing out

[shrink]

Unfortunately, many of the best series are on cable, and several premium cable series require you rent the discs. I've canceled the disc half of my netflix account, but most HBO and Showtime series, like Dexter, Big Love, Deadwood, the Wire, and Boardwalk Empire are all gone to me now.

For series, some of the more acclaimed ones I've enjoyed are Spartacus, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Damages, The Walking Dead, Mad Men, the Office, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, and Sons of Anarchy.

I agree with Saltine on Breaking Bad and Justified too.

[B Calrissian]

Justified started it's third season last night, and I thought it was a pretty good episode.

FX usually airs their new stuff twice, if you want to jump aboard.

Jeremy Davies is great. Somehow he can use the exact same mannerisms as a genius scientist (Lost) and a hill billy and be completely believable.
Walton Goggins (the Shield) is also a joy to watch. I like how he is back in a southern role like he was in The Apostle.

For series, some of the more acclaimed ones I've enjoyed are Spartacus, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Damages, The Walking Dead, Mad Men, the Office, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, and Sons of Anarchy.

I really liked the most recent season with Goodman. I am guessing it is no longer on FX with the f bombs and nudity that season had. The formula is getting a bit tired though. It's like Ellen never learns.

I just got Netflix (the streaming version) for the first time. What an incredible tool in the procrastinator's utility belt.

So far I haven't dug too deep into what's available, really just used it to fill in the gaps for some of those USA shows like Psych, Burn Notice and White Collar (I hadn't really seen any of those until last year, they're nothing special, but they're fairly entertaining, and I don't feel too bad if I miss anything do to multitasking).

Anybody have any suggestions for shows (or movies, even though this is the TV thread) to check out on there? So far queue consists of the aforementioned shows, Reaper, Breaking Bad, Terriers (already seen most of those episodes before it got axed and enjoyed them), The Wonder Years, Sons of Anarchy, Louie, and Firely.

Lost, Battlestar Galactica, Twin Peaks, X Files, 3rd Rock from the Sun, The Office (UK), Malcolm in the Middle, Arrested Development, and King of the Hill are great shows that they have all the episodes of. They also have some mini series like The Stand and Golden Years.

A variety of movies I'd recommend:
True Confessions
The Men Who Stare at Goats
Cop Land
Belly of an Architect
Misery
A Clockwork Orange
Trees Lounge
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done
True Grit
The Man Who Wasn't There
Big Lebowski
The Langoliers
Jackie Brown
Reservoir Dogs
Shutter Island
Party Monster
What Dreams May Come
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Grumpy Old Men
Edward Scissorhands
Apocalypse Now
Trollhunter (subtitles)
Sukiyaki Western Django (subtitles)
The Chaser (subtitles)
Legend of the Tsunami Warrior (subtitles)

[younggunsmn]

Firefly and Twin Peaks are great. Serentiy (movie epilogue to firefly) is good too.

If you like Twin Peak you should watch the movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me as it is like the show X10. Just hard to explain. Full on dark and creepy.

If you like Lynch, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive are good (once you figure out what is going on).
Lost Highway is an interesting concept in that the movie is like a mobius strip with a different version of the same theme playing on each side. If you don't know what a mobius strip is, picture a piece of film joined at the ends, excpet you twist one end and then tape them together. So they run in an eternal loop.

If you watch the movie picturing that, it makes more sense. Great soundtrack too.

[B Calrissian]

Yeah I wish Netflix had more David Lynch to watch instantly. I think they currently only have Twin Peaks and My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done. Blue Velvet is my favorite of the ones you mentioned and Netflix previously had it via Starz play. I have yet to watch Inland Empire. I'm holding out on seeing it so I have at least one movie left that I know I want to watch.

I didn't like Fire Walk With Me all that much. Although I was probably still sour from the 2nd season of TP (hated the James runaway story line) and it carried over to the movie when I watched if right after. I'll have to watch it again sometime.

Speaking of soundtracks - My favorites from my list of recommendations would be Belly of an Architect (Win Mertens) and The X Files episode "Improbable" Season 9 Episode 13 (Karl Zero). Burt Reynolds is in that X Files episode and is hilarious. Or at least his dancing is.

[cpfsf]

Just finished watching Iron-Man 2. If I had to sum it up in a few words, I would say it's dull, predictable, and Michael Bay.

[Krapinsky]

I'm watching the Larry Sanders show on Netflix instant right now. Loving it.

If you haven't watched Peep Show yet, give that a chance if you like British humor. That show nearly made me pee my pants a couple of times.

[big3_8_19_21]

I just finished Season 1 of the new Doctor Who. Obviously I'm not going to go back and watch all the old ones. To have that much time I'd need some sort of...time and...I don't know...relative dimension in space. (zing!...sorry, I'm the worst). I don't want to ruin anything for anyone, so I'll put my spoiler/complaint in quotes and in white. Highlight if you want to read:

I loved the first season, but I have a big problem with how they ended the finale. Rose staring into the Tardis and gaining the power to control life and death through the full power of the time vortex was not only a seemingly cheap deus ex machina (in this case literally), but it now ruins any dramatic tension going forward. Why should I care if they can just channel this power over life and death through themselves at any point? And they broke the panel open with a TRUCK? A TRUCK? They couldn't come up with a more elegant solution than that? I'll overlook the truck as long as they address this whole deus ex machina thing in season 2.

Krap - YES!!! Peep Show is 1a and 1b with Arrested Development for me as far as best sit coms. However I have not seen The Larry Sanders Show, which I have heard is awesome.

[B Calrissian]

I'm watching the Larry Sanders show on Netflix instant right now. Loving it.

If you haven't watched Peep Show yet, give that a chance if you like British humor. That show nearly made me pee my pants a couple of times.

Are there two people that sound more similar than Garry Shandling and Billy Crystal? Lovitz being in the 3rd episode made me think of Crystal even more.