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Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 10:46 pm
by Blackhawk
I don't care if a show gets dark. I just don't want every episode to be dark without a breather.

/edit - and Final Space doesn't seem to be on any service I'm subscribed to (Prime, Netflix, Hulu, DC.)

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 10:56 pm
by Sudy
Blackhawk wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 10:31 pm Something with a real story and characters, fun without being silly, serious without being unrelentingly dark (this is the hardest thing to find - why do people love such dismal shows these days?)
Dismal times, I suppose. Also, escalation. There's no going back to procedural, network monster-of-the-week after the trauma porn many of us have mainlined on the cutting edge of prestige television over the past fifteen years.

I can't recommend The Leftovers enough to anyone who hasn't seen it, but it's devoid of fun, a drawn out meditation on grief, and dark as hell until the final episode. But it's brilliantly intense and compelling, and doesn't go (arguably) off-the-rails pretentious until the final season. The whole thing's like a bizarre and terrifying dream you're still somehow disappointed to wake up from. The Max Richter score doesn't hurt. Well, it kind of does hurt... like most of his music it makes me want to cry.

But what you're describing... I can't remember the last time I watched something with good characters that was fun and not too dark. The best characterization seems to live in dark places these days, probably because it's relatively easy to develop a compelling character from pain. I've actually gone back to watch a few episodes of 90s Star Trek after clips popped up on my YouTube feed. There's nothing like it these days that I've enjoyed. Took them a lot longer to develop a character though.

Ah, Final Space occurred to me also. Too bad it's not streamable for you in the U.S. It's on Netflix in Canada. It definitely has dark points. It can also be a little too goofy for me. But it's great.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:07 pm
by Blackhawk
Given the nature of the world recently, I wouldn't be surprised to see 'fun' make a comeback. Dark and heavy during what's going on right now is just too much.

But for the record, Lost in Space scratched that itch. And yeah, 90s Trek, Buffy, Veronica Mars, even the X-Files, that sort of thing is what I think I'm in the mood for. The Orville managed to pull it off, but from the opposite direction. Dark episodes or arcs are fine, but they had likeable characters and humor mixed in, too. Writers have forgotten how to do that.

Maybe I'll just have to go retro, but I've seen so much of it already that it's hard to find something new.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:12 pm
by Anonymous Bosch
Blackhawk wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 10:31 pm I've decided that I need a new show. I've bounced off of everything I've tried lately (save for Lost in Space, which I loved.)

Something with a real story and characters, fun without being silly, serious without being unrelentingly dark (this is the hardest thing to find - why do people love such dismal shows these days?)
If you didn't catch it when it was on broadcast TV, all five seasons of Fringe are available for free on IMDB.tv (as well as The Rockford Files, which is thoroughly enjoyable if you're in the mood for a '70s classic).

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:25 pm
by ImLawBoy
I can't remember if you already watched Watchmen, but I thought it wasn't too dark (although there were certainly dark elements to it) and it had a lot of fun elements. It's also some of the best TV I've ever seen. I'm not sure if HBO Max is offering a free trial, but it might be worth checking out.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:43 pm
by Blackhawk
Really? I'm surprised, having read the comic and seen the film. I'll put it on the list (but I burned through the free HBO trial years ago - thanks, Thrones.)

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:44 pm
by Anonymous Bosch


I'd also recommend checking out Counterpart on Amazon Prime with J.K. Simmons if you're in the mood for a twisty, intricately-plotted sci-fi espionage story.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:23 am
by ImLawBoy
Blackhawk wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:43 pm Really? I'm surprised, having read the comic and seen the film. I'll put it on the list (but I burned through the free HBO trial years ago - thanks, Thrones.)
HBO Max just launched last week, and it's distinct from standard HBO (it's our Netflix/Disney+/Hulu competitor). I think they are doing a 7 day free trial, so you should be able to grab that even if you've done regular HBO or HBO Now previously.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 1:29 am
by Kraken
Blackhawk wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 10:31 pm why do people love such dismal shows these days?)
Maybe because civilization is dying. I had a couple of suggs until you said that.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:28 am
by Sudy
Darn it Blackhawk, please list every show you've ever watched in your life so we know we're not recommending something you've already seen.


Disenchantment - Has only one two-part season so far, but I enjoyed this a lot. (And though I recognize the cultural significance of The Simpsons and Futurama, I'm generally not a Matt Groening fan.) What draws me in is that most of the characters are flawed but endearing, and despite being a comedy it takes itself seriously with a tightly plotted story that unfolds slowly. And it's on Netflix!

The Good Place - I typically turn up my nose at network comedies, but I was pleasantly surprised at how different, genuine, and bingeable this is. This is another comedy with a deep dramatic layer.

Outlander - Historical fiction that does go some very dark places, but the overall tone is generally optimistic. Like many only mostly secure males, I was initially warded off by its romance-hybrid origins, but this is an extremely rewarding series. Like the two above shows, it features a complex female protagonist, something which shouldn't still feel refreshing in 2020, but does.

Justified - With how praised this one is around here, you've probably already come across it. But if not, it's a great modern crime drama/western with an atypical setting and hordes of amusing, larger than life characters. It's often bleak in the sense of the constant conspiring and violence, but there's tons of humour and I'd consider the overall tone to be balanced.

Longmire - Another modern western, but a much different take on one. It began as an A&E series, which probably tells you a lot. The pace is a lot slower and this is much closer to a classic episodic show, but it weaves many serialized plotlines into the tapestry of each individual episode. Typically, my main complaint is the procedural elements seem to delay character progression, at least early in the series. But it you don't mind a slow burn featuring interesting but more realistic feeling characters, I think this is a great one. Darker elements are definitely there... the early seasons and really the whole series focus on an antiquated, aging small-town sheriff mourning the loss of his wife (including a flashback/mystery component that probably drags on for too long), but I feel like the episode-to-episode tales are more nuanced, or at least portray the tribulations of more lifelike characters.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:38 am
by $iljanus
We should have a game called "What hasn't Blackhawk watched?"

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts season 2 will be starting next week on Netflix. And if you haven't seen season 1 there's your recommendation!

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 10:40 am
by Blackhawk
I've never understood why dark times would lead to dark entertainment. After a day of shoveling shit, you don't want to relax to a show about shoveling shit. I don't want to watch a show about how dismal life is after society falls while watching society fall! It seems like this would be the kind of time that people would want something lighter and optimistic. The cold war gave us Star Trek, for instance.

Sudy wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:28 am Darn it Blackhawk, please list every show you've ever watched in your life so we know we're not recommending something you've already seen.
That's the problem. I love to research, and I love a good hunt for answers. So whenever I need something or can't figure it out, I go and do the legwork myself. I find my own answers. So when I do go and ask for suggestions or for answers (here or elsewhere), it's the obscure stuff that I wasn't able to find on my own. I don't ask the easy questions, as I answer those myself.

And yes, I've seen Disenchantment (enjoyed) and Justified (which I liked from a storytelling perspective, but didn't really enjoy - it felt too much like where I live, and I despise where I live.)

But thanks for making the attempt, everyone.

Some shows I know I've watched that would have fit the bill, some great, some so-so:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel
Star Trek: TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT
Babylon 5 (dark, but with humor and likeable characters)
The X-Files (same as B5)
Agents of Shield (although it got a little too... something. Soap opera?)
Firefly
Grimm (early seasons)
Smallville (before it went off the rails)
Sleepy Hollow (yes, dark, but with humor and character)
Supernatural (first few seasons)
The Unit
Venture Bros
Lucifer
iZombie
Orville
Veronica Mars
Archer (sort of)

Adding these as good examples, with the exception that they all ended up feeling a little formulaic and 'safe' by the end:

Farscape
Stargate: SG1/Atlantis
Warehouse 13
Leverage
The Librarians
Eureka

Note: This isn't my whole watch history. I also watch plenty of dark, serious, heavily plotted shows, a few straight comedies, and a lot of documentaries. This is just an example of what I was talking about from off the top of my head.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:02 pm
by coopasonic
Pretty much grimdark drama or super light comedies, nothing in between.

I guess I just really enjoy them. 13 Reasons Why is a ridiculously miserable show with serious teenage drama and with a son headed to high school in the fall it kind of terrifies me, but I also love it.

I think a lot of lighter shows just feel more empty by comparison and I don't want to spend my time on empty. The sitcoms I watch are generally appeasement for my wife as she needs a break between the heavy dramas.

The past week has probably been the most emotionally draining on me in my recollection (9/11 when we were talking about having a child would be the closest comparison -- or Desert Storm when my reserve unit was put on standby and I had to give all my teachers a heads up that I might be going to war at any given moment) but it hasn't damaged my enthusiasm for the kinds of shows I enjoy. I would kill for a Buffy/Angel/Veronica Mars kind of show, but it just doesn't seem to be coming.

So I recommend Blackhawk not watch 13 Reasons Why (or anything I really like).

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:09 pm
by Kraken
"Stranger Things" echoes Buffy, a little, but without Whedon's playful touch. Only the first two seasons are on DVD so far, so we won't be able to catch up until we switch our netflix account over to streaming.

"Dispatches from Elsewhere" is light and enjoyable (thanks Smoove). I've only seen the first two episodes so far. I think that one's from AMC.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:23 pm
by Malificent
Sudy wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:28 am
The Good Place - I typically turn up my nose at network comedies, but I was pleasantly surprised at how different, genuine, and bingeable this is. This is another comedy with a deep dramatic layer.
I can't argue for this one enough. It made me happy and it was thoughtful and intelligent while being funny.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 1:52 pm
by Rumpy
Sudy wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:28 am

The Good Place - I typically turn up my nose at network comedies, but I was pleasantly surprised at how different, genuine, and bingeable this is. This is another comedy with a deep dramatic layer.
We found the first season was good and were really looking forward to watching the second season, which took a good long while to appear on Netflix. The problem is, given how long it took to wait for it, we found that by the time we were able to watch Season 2, we were no longer interested in seeing it. The momentum that we had gained over the first season was deflated by the fact that season 2 starts them off in entirely different situations, something we weren't too keen on.
Outlander - Historical fiction that does go some very dark places, but the overall tone is generally optimistic. Like many only mostly secure males, I was initially warded off by its romance-hybrid origins, but this is an extremely rewarding series. Like the two above shows, it features a complex female protagonist, something which shouldn't still feel refreshing in 2020, but does.
Outlander is a great series with some great writers and a good sense for historical detail. I've been amazed at the depth they've given to some of the smallest details, such as Claire's smallpox vaccine scar being wound into her story. There was also another bit that really impressed us and I think that was the reference to Mozart and the reactions surrounding Claire knowing about him at a period when he's just establishing himself. There were two episodes during the first season that very nearly made us bounce off the series hard, and I think you'll know what I'm referring to, one of them where graphic torture was shown for a good sized chunk of the episode, which we had to fast-forward through. Alluding to it would have been enough, and the fact that they had spent so much time on it was felt to be questionable judgment for a series proud to attract a certain demographic. It felt like they were shooting themselves in the foot with that, and so we were glad when the next seasons were a lot less gruesome.

Loved Longmire and was genuinely sad when it eventually ended.

Oh and Blackhawk, allow me to suggest some Canadian shows.

- I don't know if you've watched Murdoch Mysteries, but it's set in the 1900's Toronto and it's generally light-hearted with some fun characters, and even delves into some sci-fi at some points. It never takes itself too seriously aside from aside from a Christmas episode featuring a monster. Episodes are self-contained with seasonal arcs.
- Corner Gas: Canadian comedies seem to be all the rage these days given the success of Schitt's Creek along with Kim's Convenience. Corner Gas is one of our treasures. It's a one-camera show set in a small Saskatchewan town full of fun characters and the humor tends to be full of sarcasm.
- Carter. No, not Agent Carter. This one often gets compared to Castle, which I've never seen. It's a light-hearted crime procedural with no violence starring Jerry O'Connell about a Hollywood actor who plays a detective on a TV show that returns to his hometown and ends up working with the police to solve crimes.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 2:34 pm
by dbt1949
I found I only have the last couple of Mission Impossible movies so I ordered the rest.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:18 am
by Skinypupy
Im midway through season 4 of Community. It’s a wonderfully binge-able show that I’ve really been enjoying.

However, I’m at the part where two of the group got together.
Spoiler:
Britta and Troy
. It’s one of the strangest, most awkward sitcom relationships I’ve ever seen. The actors have absolutely zero chemistry together, and the show seems to completely ignore their relationship. Outside of the occasional clip of them hanging out in bed, there’s barely even an acknowledgement of it at all. You wouldn’t even know they’re together by how they act, and the show even feels like it has to throw in the occasional, forced “oh yeah, we’re sleeping together” reminder.

It all feels very strange for a show whose primary strength is the relationship of the main cast.

Other than that, the show has been a blast. I would watch a show that was nothing but Alison Brie reading a telephone book.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 6:24 pm
by Holman
Skinypupy wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:18 am I would watch a show that was nothing but Alison Brie reading a telephone book.
I'll be in my bunk.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 7:21 pm
by Smoove_B
I finished S1 of Penny Dreadful (which was waaaay better than I thought it was going to be) but needed something a bit faster and funnier to keep things from getting too dismal.

To that end, I'm blasting through You're The Worst on Hulu and would highly recommend the ~2 seasons I've watched so far:



I knew about the show but didn't realize it was on Hulu now and after seeing the actress (Aya Cash) in the most recent trailer for The Boys, I figured I'd give it a whirl. They have the whole series (I think 5 seasons) now; it ended in 2019.

To be clear, these are not good people. But it is entertaining.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:41 pm
by Sudy
Finished season (series) one of Broadchurch on Netflix Canada. I've never watched Dr. Who, but I thought David Tennant was amazing in Jessica Jones. This is obviously a more muted, classic British detective story. I was entranced pretty much up to the big reveal. It's hard to be surprised anymore. Not that I saw it coming, but the show seemed to work so hard to be unobvious that I didn't notice any foreshadowing at all. Though I watched most of it while sleep deprived, so maybe I'm just obtuse. I'm not really curious enough to re-watch it to see.

Of course, these shows are more about the characters if they're anything interesting. It's why Cracker and House (at least the early seasons) were so amazing, but CSI etc. is pap IMO. After the end of season one, I find Broadchurch's characters only moderately captivating. But the setting is certainly gorgeous.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:44 pm
by Isgrimnur
I’m working my way through the first Book of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I do find myself having to check my reactions to character actions and reactions by reminding myself that these are teenagers.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 10:01 pm
by YellowKing
Watched two bizarre Netflix comedies today.

First up was EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as aspiring Icelandic pop stars. If you hate Will Ferrell, this movie is not going to change your mind. It has all the trappings of his typical comedies. I happen to love Will Ferrell AND Icelandic music, however, so this was right up my alley. It's not hysterically funny, but I did enjoy its parodying of Icelandic culture and Eurovision. And ultimately it's a movie with a good heart, and is just goofy enough to make it endearing.

Next up was AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN. This one attracted me because of the stellar comedic cast: Aubrey Plaza, Emile Hirsch, Jermaine Clements, Matt Berry, and Craig Robinson. It was also directed by Jim Hosking, who is notorious for his bizarre horror-comedy THE GREASLY STRANGLER.
It certainly lives up to Hosking's weird style, which consists of ludicrously eccentric characters, awkward dialogue, and uncomfortable situations. I saw this described as "Napoleon Dynamite meets Twin Peaks" and I can't argue with that description. On the plus side some of the characters are hysterical, and on the down side the plot doesn't hold a lot of excitement as the film claustrophobically gets bogged down in a static setting. However, I have the feeling it's one of those films that improves with repeat viewings. And Aubrey Plaza is REALLY good in it. I'd absolutely love to watch this one with some friends and a few strong drinks.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 12:13 pm
by ImLawBoy
Wife and I have watched the first couple of episodes of "Perry Mason" on HBO (well, we've been watching on HBOMax). Matthew Rhys is the titular iconic lawyer, except that this is set prior to him becoming a lawyer. He's more like a sleazy private investigator for John Lithgow's lawyer character. The central mystery is around the kidnapping and eventual murder of a young child. Just two episodes in and there are already lots of twists and turns. The cast is really strong and the production values are solid (probably helps that they can keep the fx to a minimum, unless it takes a really weird turn and they go off into outer space like Life of Brian or something). My wife isn't completely sold on the show yet because she's having a hard time seeing Perry Mason like this, but I've never seen the original show (or read any of the books), so none of those issues on my end.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 12:15 pm
by $iljanus
I like the new Perry Mason but it was a little too grim for my wife unfortunately so it goes on the lengthy list of shows that only I will watch.

I agree that it does have a strong cast going for it.


Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:38 pm
by Daehawk
I see where Comedy Central is teaming with Mike Judge to bring Beavis & Butthead back with 2 new seasons. I loved B&B in the 90s but I just dont see it making it these days. I think its a product of the 90s and my 20s.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:21 am
by Sudy
I read it's going to be a "re-imagining" designed to appeal to both the original and newer generations. We'll see how far it strays from the original formula. I think it's trapped in that it's both dated, yet would be rejected if it diverged too much.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 7:41 am
by pr0ner
Daehawk wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2020 7:38 pm I see where Comedy Central is teaming with Mike Judge to bring Beavis & Butthead back with 2 new seasons. I loved B&B in the 90s but I just dont see it making it these days. I think its a product of the 90s and my 20s.
The most recent season in 2011 where Beavis and Butt-Head savaged MTV's reality TV shows in addition to commenting on music videos was pretty damn good.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 7:47 am
by Sudy
I'm more impressed with Broadchurch after finishing series two. Overall I still think it's rather bland, but the characters are very believable. It's impressive how well planned the second season is, calling back to series one events and details that seemed unimportant or to be loose ends. I was also relieved they didn't go the route of having a second, unrelated murder implausibly occur in the town. (AKA Longmire Syndrome, which turned a desolate corner of Montana into the murder capital of the U.S.) I did kind of wonder about the legality of Hardy and Miller investigating the other case while they had both taken non-investigative positions or were on leave. If they had trouble prosecuting the first one, this one will be even more of a nightmare.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 9:52 pm
by Isgrimnur
Isgrimnur wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:44 pm I’m working my way through the first Book of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

I do find myself having to check my reactions to character actions and reactions by reminding myself that these are teenagers.
S1 done.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:06 am
by Sudy
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - This is a great little film, but its main characters and their relationship are so intriguing that its 109 minutes almost feel superficial. I'd love to have seen a 140-minute version of this film, but perhaps there wasn't anything substantive to add and it would have ruined it. For more about the real Mr. Rogers I suppose there's the recent documentary. It doesn't need to be said that Tom Hanks is amazing. Vogel's mending of things with his wife and father was the point of the film, but it was far less interesting than the road there.

This was also a sometimes confusing watch as I've recently been watching the new Perry Mason, and I wasn't familiar with Matthew Rhys previously. With his busted up nose and dour demeanour it was sometimes humorously difficult not to confuse the two characters.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 2:22 pm
by Jeff V
Sudy wrote: Sat Jul 04, 2020 11:06 am but perhaps there wasn't anything substantive to add and it would have ruined it..
Added sex scenes in the unrated directors cut ALWAYS add something substantive.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2020 4:29 pm
by Sudy
Well, there was a topless scene. Matthew Rhys has objectively tiny nipples. Like, freakishly small.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 2:18 pm
by Daehawk
Maybe this will entice you to watc ha show called Supernatural. the video showcases Death.


Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 7:12 pm
by hepcat
So I’m hooked on Barkskins on Hulu.



It’s a National Geographic show in the same way Vikings is a History Channel show. In other words, it’s not a documentary, it’s a piece of historical fiction with quite a few liberties taken along the way.

Set in New France in the late 1600s, it covers the stories of French settlers, Hudson Bay operatives, and an always great David Thewlis as a Cathar Christian with some truly eccentric beliefs surrounding...well...just about everything.

The reviews aren’t stellar, but for some reason I’m hooked. It plays almost like a horror film at times, which works for me in this context. I’m just about two thirds of the way through and still interested in seeing what happens.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 8:32 pm
by Jeff V
Sudy wrote: Sat Jul 04, 2020 4:29 pm Well, there was a topless scene. Matthew Rhys has objectively tiny nipples. Like, freakishly small.
It's Mr. Rogers for fuck's sake. I'm talking puppet-on-puppet action here.

BTW, I watched it today. My wife didn't get it, but she dozed off halfway though. I thought it was well done. Afterward I YouTubed a genuine Mr. Rogers episode to show how well Hanks played the part...and my son watched it all the way through. Then again, he likes watching old programs.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 10:22 pm
by Sudy
Being in the show's target demographic in the late 80s, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was one "those" old-style children's programs that I'd only ever watch as a last resort. It's only as an adult that I can appreciate what he accomplished. I was marginally more tolerant of Mr. Dressup, the Canadian equivalent. I think I found Ernie Coombs's personality much more welcoming as a child. Mr. Rogers's, on the other hand, felt like an affectation. Though it's possible I didn't develop that opinion before I'd already outgrown the show.

As an adult with mild mysophobic and obsessive-compulsive tendencies, what I have a bigger problem with is Mr. Rogers's handling of the bottoms of his shoes. :shock:

(But seriously, did you notice Matthew Rhys's nipples?!)

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 11:01 pm
by Rumpy
Sudy wrote: Sun Jul 05, 2020 10:22 pm Being in the show's target demographic in the late 80s, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was one "those" old-style children's programs that I'd only ever watch as a last resort. It's only as an adult that I can appreciate what he accomplished. I was marginally more tolerant of Mr. Dressup, the Canadian equivalent. I think I found Ernie Coombs's personality much more welcoming as a child. Mr. Rogers's, on the other hand, felt like an affectation.
I can agree there. I suspect a lot if it being down to their two different styles, and I found Ernie Combs as Mr Dressup to be personally more jovial and natural. Although it's ironic that they both worked together at the CBC and that it's thanks to Ernie Combs who got him his start, with his own show even, before moving on to PBS. While I endorse what Mr Rogers did throughout, I've always felt like he was somewhat distant, if that makes any sense.

Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 11:18 pm
by Sudy
Watched The Wrestler again. What a great movie. It's rarely surprising, but the way it's shot is just so raw and believable. It has the authenticity of a documentary without feeling like one. It's hard to call Randy "The Ram" a "likeable" character when he's at his worst, but he's so easy to empathize with. Only happy when he's performing, it's sweet to see the way he interacts with children and fans, and when he finds his groove working behind the grocery store meat counter. But every relationship and success he has is bound to eventually crumble. We've all known guys like Randy (not Robin), though most of them never even made it as far as he did.

I love seeing the wrestlers backstage (many of them played by lesser known real-world wrestlers)--the machismo is ever-present, but their everyday interactions are often tender, supportive, and respectful. It works as both a drama and a wrestling movie, and is necessary viewing for anyone who's ever had the least interest in professional wrestling. Re-reading some of the reviews from the wrestling world, many dismissed it as a good tale but not representative of what's experienced by most in the industry. I can believe that. But it's also not hard to imagine as the fate of a self-obsessed one-time star with poor business sense who wasn't quite popular or professional enough to maintain a career into his twilight years. In some ways it doesn't actually go deep enough into the reality of broken bodies and minds churned out by the industry, but this is obviously a smaller story and that's all it needs to be.

My favourite scene is the imagined roar of the cheering crowd that fades in as out as he makes his way to the deli counter from the back of the grocery store. (Second clip below.) I also find the scene of him having to ask the fan how to spell his name "Evan" on the autograph heartbreaking. Maybe it says The Ram was just never that bright, having coasted through life on his brawn and charisma. Or perhaps he's just so worn out, roided out, and his brain so mushed up that he can't remember simple things. I suspect a lot of thought went into that scene and picking the right name. Extremely short and simple, but plausible that a normal person might have a mental lapse and forget how to spell it, and ask to make sure they got it right.







Re: Whatcha Watchin'?

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 11:40 pm
by Blackhawk
hepcat wrote: Sun Jul 05, 2020 7:12 pm So I’m hooked on Barkskins on Hulu.
That looks good. It's a period I've always found fascinating (pre-American Revolution New World), but that I've never really studied.