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What TV SHOWS are you watching?
charlest wrote: Westworld is only similar to the original in very broad strokes. I dig the show though, despite its flaws.
I enjoyed the first several episodes of Westworld season one, and it briefly reached perfection when the player piano started in on "Fake Plastic Trees." Since then, I have seen mounting flaws, all the way through the first half of the second season. I am reminded of how Spartacus lost its way after the gladiator rebellion, but the real problem is J.J. Abrams and his goddamned Mystery Box theory of writing. Abrams firmly believes that mystery is more important than knowledge. In actual practice, it means that he doesn't want his writers to plan out an overall storyline so much as he wants them to make it up as they go along. The result is some thrilling scenes and shocking plot twists that often fail to add up to a coherent story. His writers tend to be very good at character beats while dismissing logic and continuity as bothersome trivia. His endings tend to disappoint.
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- hotseatgames
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hotseatgames wrote: Finished season 3 of Stranger Things. There was a stretch in the middle that I was enjoying pretty well, but I have to say I find this series falls squarely in the "average" camp.
I'd agree with that. If you liked Stranger Things 1 & 2, you'll probably like 3. If you didn't, nothing in 3 is going to make you change your mind.
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For me, I could tell what kind of 80s thing the first series was going for, I could tell what kind of thing this one was going for, even if it was a bit different, a bit goofier. I can't even remember the 2nd one now, really, I don't know what "80s" thing it was doing.
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My only complaint was that I wanted more of the Upside Down. I love alternate universes, and I think the design of the Upside Down is just wonderfully weird and creepy. Did we have even a single scene in the Upside Down this season?? I can't think of one.
I'm not sure that the world was clamoring for more Erica, but they gave it to us anyway. I thought her character was jarring and annoying, like the "sassy little sister" in a bad family 80's sitcom (maybe that's what they were aiming for). Robin was a delight though.
As for the Russian's motive in opening the gate, I assumed it was to capture Demogorgons. They showed the cage and the electric poker designed to capture the monsters. They even showed one in captivity in the post-credit scene. Seemed clear enough that's what they were after.
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Also TALES FROM THE CITY. Never read the books. Melodramatic. Needs more lasers and/or werewolves.
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- Sagrilarus
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- Pull the Goalie
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- hotseatgames
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The setup is that superheroes exist, they work for a corporation, and they are all assholes. They do not have good intentions, but there are some people out there who actively work against them. It's a cool show.
Note: This is some adult-level content.
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hotseatgames wrote: Two episodes into The Boys on Amazon Prime, and I am loving it. It is refreshing and different. Plus, Karl Fucking Urban.
The setup is that superheroes exist, they work for a corporation, and they are all assholes. They do not have good intentions, but there are some people out there who actively work against them. It's a cool show.
Note: This is some adult-level content.
I've only watched the pilot episode so far, but I enjoyed it. The idea of "superheroes in the real world, but they're assholes" is hardly new. But I think this show puts a new spin on the theme by focusing on corporate control and the cult of celebrity. People desperately want these people to be heroes, and their corporate overlords are willing to hide all their crimes and flaws in order to maintain that illusion. I especially liked the scene where the mayor of Baltimore hired a superhero to provide police protection for his city. The idea of privatizing law enforcement out to corporate-owned superheroes is an interesting premise.
I also finally started watching Good Omens, based on a Neil Gaiman novel. I love Gaiman's work, but for some reason, I never read this book. David Tennant is great in this.
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- Sagrilarus
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Sagrilarus wrote: Why is it always Baltimore?
I know, right???
I had a fun time imagining what Bunk and McNulty would say when Mayor Carcetti introduced his new private superhero to the city of Baltimore.
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- Jackwraith
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I've since watched two more episodes and it's improving, although I still wouldn't call it "compelling" or particularly exciting just yet. More later.
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I think the ideas are good, but the execution is lacking. The dialog and characterization in particular are awful. The writers think they are being clever and deep and edgy, but it's really very thin and surface. When the actors try to sell it, it magnifies the problem.
They also don't seem to care about any internal consistency or logic regarding the supes' powers, but I suppose that's to be expected.
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