The best new and returning TV series thread

[mat the expat]

So far, I'm bored and can't see any difference to Walking Dead or a dozen other zombie movies.

That's more down to instant-gratification/ADHD issues though. Exposition in a double-episode/first episode is standard for most TV shows

I don't have instant-gratification issues; I'll watch a bloke building a gearbox for hours!

So far TLOS (I'm sure that's what the fanboois are calling it already) looks like a cross between Walking Dead & A Quiet Place, with the young girl in it certain to be as annoying as Little Orphan Annie.
5/10

You say that....

[tabascoboy]

Finished season 1 of 'The Peripheral', the post credits scene is sneaky as it's such a long credits it's easy to miss it. Hoping for a season 2...

[Ymx]

Jack Ryan S3 is fairly topical stuff.

Russia/Europe/…

[Sandstorm]

Jack Ryan S3 is fairly topical stuff.

Russia/Europe/…

Starts dull, but by episode 4 it really starts to motor!

[tabascoboy]

TLOU episode 2 gets a thumbs up from me, they did say they'd change some things to keep it fresh for us who played the game ( moved the hotel to early on instead of

Spoiler

Show

Pittsburgh,

but it's keeping pretty true to the essential narrative. Portrayal of the infected very good so far, thought it might look silly in live action but doing good so far

[Blake]

I never watch anything on Netflix or Amazon until it has at least 3 series. They are too fond of killing things off after 1 or 2.

Which locks in the content death spiral - people are unwilling to start watching new stuff due to fear of investing in somthing that'll just be cancelled which means viewing figures are low and put the new shows on the chopping block, this in turn serves to reinforce the attitude of viewers towards new shows and on and on we go.

Netflix need to up their game. Other streamers are getting really good catalogues and it's a very competitive field.

Netflix needs to abandon the binge model and stop dropping entire seasons in one go. Yes, it's how they built their brand and some fans adore it, but as HBO and Disney have proven, there is still room for serialised, weekly content. You need hype to build over the course of 10-12 weeks. For word of mouth to spread and to stoke interest in the new show. Steaming then allows late comers to catch up, and then share in the anticipation for the next episode.

It's also very useful to lock in subscribers. With HBO and Disney they just have to produce 52 weekly episodes to lock non-pirates in for a year. At 10 or so episodes per season of a hit show, that's 5 prime-time shows per year.
In contrast, Netflix drops a whole season of a show like Stranger Things at once, so non-pirates will just subscribe for the minimum period to binge it and can then cancel the subscription; meanuing they have to churn out at least 12 Hit series every month. It's not sustainable. I'm already considering cancelling my Netflix subscription and just getting a the 1 or 2 shows and 1 or 2 movies a year that are good "from a friend".

[sockwithaticket]

Which locks in the content death spiral - people are unwilling to start watching new stuff due to fear of investing in somthing that'll just be cancelled which means viewing figures are low and put the new shows on the chopping block, this in turn serves to reinforce the attitude of viewers towards new shows and on and on we go.

Netflix need to up their game. Other streamers are getting really good catalogues and it's a very competitive field.

Netflix needs to abandon the binge model and stop dropping entire seasons in one go. Yes, it's how they built their brand and some fans adore it, but as HBO and Disney have proven, there is still room for serialised, weekly content. You need hype to build over the course of 10-12 weeks. For word of mouth to spread and to stoke interest in the new show. Steaming then allows late comers to catch up, and then share in the anticipation for the next episode.

It's also very useful to lock in subscribers. With HBO and Disney they just have to produce 52 weekly episodes to lock non-pirates in for a year. At 10 or so episodes per season of a hit show, that's 5 prime-time shows per year.
In contrast, Netflix drops a whole season of a show like Stranger Things at once, so non-pirates will just subscribe for the minimum period to binge it and can then cancel the subscription; meanuing they have to churn out at least 12 Hit series every month. It's not sustainable. I'm already considering cancelling my Netflix subscription and just getting a the 1 or 2 shows and 1 or 2 movies a year that are good "from a friend".

The issue is more so their catalogue quality than the rate of episode delivery imo.They have very little that forces its way into the cultural conversation and drives subscriptions. Stand up specials remain one of their best offerings, but that's much less content than even a mini series. Once they sort out their content, they can worry about whether it's being delivered in the right way.

[Blake]

The issue is more so their catalogue quality than the rate of episode delivery imo.They have very little that forces its way into the cultural conversation and drives subscriptions. Stand up specials remain one of their best offerings, but that's much less content than even a mini series. Once they sort out their content, they can worry about whether it's being delivered in the right way.

Content is definitely also an issue I agree. But that isn't going to improve if they persist with their "quantity over quality" approach in order to generate a massive catalogue of half-completed and abandoned shows.
They'd be better off, drip feeding high quality content like their competitors are doing IMO and slowly building up a good catalogue.

I completely agree with the content death spiral statement you made. Dropping a whole season and barley giving it a month to breathe before pulling it because not enough people were watching to your liking is a stupid model. By all accounts 1899 was a decent show' I had plans to watch it, but just had other things on and couldn't commit to a new series right now. But then they cancelled it, and now I have no incentive to even bother.

But I'm still watching The Last of Us every week. Somehow, committing to an episode a week is a much more palatable proposition than having to binge watch a season just so that the overlords don't cancel the show that you may or may not like.

It's a pity, because I like Netflix and I want to support them. Disney and the rest really fucked them and all us consumers when they pulled their content and fragmented the streaming landscape into the shitshow we have now, but Netflix also isn't helping their own case either. They need to reduce the output and up the quality...and fast. Because they are quickly developing a reputation of killing series too quickly before they had a chance to develop a fanbase, shitting over good IP and alienating established fanbases (The Witcher), and also churning out "straight to VHS" quality movies. It's not a space you want to be in.

Meanwhile HBO is killing it on the quality front. Hit after hit after hit. Fuck, they even managed to breathe live back into the Game of Thrones universe after the shitshow of the last 2-3 seasons.
That is quite a feat.

[sockwithaticket]

Yeah, agree with all that.

I'd also add buying loads of random foreign language shite to pad out the raw number of things on offer to their catalogue woes. Even if it was all top quality (it's not), most of it is going to sit there because even people like me who do watch quite a bit of subtitled stuff aren't always in the mood to read our visual entertainment.

Away from the actual product, shooting themselves in the foot by tying video quality to subscription price, trying to shut down password sharing (which they once advertised as a feature) and threatening to bring in ads for the lower tier subscriptions seems more like a company deliberately trying

I've gone back to the high seas for a lot of content because I can't be arsed jumping around the ever growing number of subscription services, trying to maximise a month or two of paying for them.

[tabascoboy]

Apparently The Last of Us is already renewed for a second season

[Ymx]

It’s hard to believe that quality of breaking bad and narcos was Netflix. There is virtually nothing of that calibre any more, now that better call Saul limped over the finish line.

I mean squid game was supposed to be good, but was actually over hyped and downright dreadful.

[Ymx]

Apparently The Last of Us is already renewed for a second season

[robmatic]

Yeah, agree with all that.

I'd also add buying loads of random foreign language shite to pad out the raw number of things on offer to their catalogue woes. Even if it was all top quality (it's not), most of it is going to sit there because even people like me who do watch quite a bit of subtitled stuff aren't always in the mood to read our visual entertainment.

Away from the actual product, shooting themselves in the foot by tying video quality to subscription price, trying to shut down password sharing (which they once advertised as a feature) and threatening to bring in ads for the lower tier subscriptions seems more like a company deliberately trying

I've gone back to the high seas for a lot of content because I can't be arsed jumping around the ever growing number of subscription services, trying to maximise a month or two of paying for them.

That's primarily in their catalogue for the customers in those markets who similarly don't always want to watch US/British stuff with subtitles. I watch a fair bit of Turkish language stuff on Netflix and some of it really is excellent. There is one limited series called Ethos (Bir Baskadir) which was massively critically acclaimed in Turkey - people say it is probably the best TV show ever made in the country.

[Gumboot]

Apparently The Last of Us is already renewed for a second season

I mostly enjoyed the first two episodes, but not sure if I'll keep watching tbh. There were a couple of times during the second episode when I thought it just got a bit silly and illogical. Nothing like a major plot hole, but enough to distract me from all the serious imminent danger stuff going on.

[Uncle fester]

It’s hard to believe that quality of breaking bad and narcos was Netflix. There is virtually nothing of that calibre any more, now that better call Saul limped over the finish line.

I mean squid game was supposed to be good, but was actually over hyped and downright dreadful.

Umbrella academy is decent.

[Uncle fester]

Yeah, agree with all that.

I'd also add buying loads of random foreign language shite to pad out the raw number of things on offer to their catalogue woes. Even if it was all top quality (it's not), most of it is going to sit there because even people like me who do watch quite a bit of subtitled stuff aren't always in the mood to read our visual entertainment.

Away from the actual product, shooting themselves in the foot by tying video quality to subscription price, trying to shut down password sharing (which they once advertised as a feature) and threatening to bring in ads for the lower tier subscriptions seems more like a company deliberately trying

I've gone back to the high seas for a lot of content because I can't be arsed jumping around the ever growing number of subscription services, trying to maximise a month or two of paying for them.

That's primarily in their catalogue for the customers in those markets who similarly don't always want to watch US/British stuff with subtitles. I watch a fair bit of Turkish language stuff on Netflix and some of it really is excellent. There is one limited series called Ethos (Bir Baskadir) which was massively critically acclaimed in Turkey - people say it is probably the best TV show ever made in the country.

Agreed. Some cracking foreign language shows. Dark, The killing and The Bridge are excellent. Later two gone from Netflix now but if you restrict yourself to English language only, you're really missing out.

[sockwithaticket]

Yeah, agree with all that.

I'd also add buying loads of random foreign language shite to pad out the raw number of things on offer to their catalogue woes. Even if it was all top quality (it's not), most of it is going to sit there because even people like me who do watch quite a bit of subtitled stuff aren't always in the mood to read our visual entertainment.

Away from the actual product, shooting themselves in the foot by tying video quality to subscription price, trying to shut down password sharing (which they once advertised as a feature) and threatening to bring in ads for the lower tier subscriptions seems more like a company deliberately trying

I've gone back to the high seas for a lot of content because I can't be arsed jumping around the ever growing number of subscription services, trying to maximise a month or two of paying for them.

That's primarily in their catalogue for the customers in those markets who similarly don't always want to watch US/British stuff with subtitles. I watch a fair bit of Turkish language stuff on Netflix and some of it really is excellent. There is one limited series called Ethos (Bir Baskadir) which was massively critically acclaimed in Turkey - people say it is probably the best TV show ever made in the country.

There's regional variation in the catalogues. I don't mind getting some top notch foreign language stuff, but, much like the English language, there's a lot of nothing filler in there.

[tabascoboy]

Apparently The Last of Us is already renewed for a second season

I mostly enjoyed the first two episodes, but not sure if I'll keep watching tbh. There were a couple of times during the second episode when I thought it just got a bit silly and illogical. Nothing like a major plot hole, but enough to distract me from all the serious imminent danger stuff going on.

I wouldn't say that the logic is always watertight (particularly when it comes to how some supply and usability of certain resources have lasted 20 years), but the story begins to have a tighter focus on relationships from now on so I'd recommend giving it one more episode before deciding. Did find the prologue section on the last episode not that great but they clearly like to start each one with a background story, and next episode - game/tv spoiler

Spoiler

Show

it looks like we get an insight into the Bill and Frank backstory

that was strongly hinted at, don't know how that'll go, whether it'll be interesting or not, but I'm sure going to miss W. Earl Brown...

[sockwithaticket]

Apparently The Last of Us is already renewed for a second season

I mostly enjoyed the first two episodes, but not sure if I'll keep watching tbh. There were a couple of times during the second episode when I thought it just got a bit silly and illogical. Nothing like a major plot hole, but enough to distract me from all the serious imminent danger stuff going on.

I've found the girl to be highly irritating so far. After struggling through White Lotus I'm done with characters that aggravate me for a while.

[Ymx]

I mostly enjoyed the first two episodes, but not sure if I'll keep watching tbh. There were a couple of times during the second episode when I thought it just got a bit silly and illogical. Nothing like a major plot hole, but enough to distract me from all the serious imminent danger stuff going on.

I've found the girl to be highly irritating so far. After struggling through White Lotus I'm done with characters that aggravate me for a while.

Stiflers mum in the white lotus??

[tabascoboy]

I mostly enjoyed the first two episodes, but not sure if I'll keep watching tbh. There were a couple of times during the second episode when I thought it just got a bit silly and illogical. Nothing like a major plot hole, but enough to distract me from all the serious imminent danger stuff going on.

I've found the girl to be highly irritating so far. After struggling through White Lotus I'm done with characters that aggravate me for a while.

Well, as per the game how the viewer/player feels is same as how Joel feels, that's part of the story...

[Ymx]

This is the stuff of nightmares

[sockwithaticket]

I mostly enjoyed the first two episodes, but not sure if I'll keep watching tbh. There were a couple of times during the second episode when I thought it just got a bit silly and illogical. Nothing like a major plot hole, but enough to distract me from all the serious imminent danger stuff going on.

I've found the girl to be highly irritating so far. After struggling through White Lotus I'm done with characters that aggravate me for a while.

Stiflers mum in the white lotus??

She was the worst and the whole awards buzz around her is baffling, but there were very few characters I was particularly happy to see on screen.

[tabascoboy]

45 I wonder if illness meant she couldn't be considered as Tess for the TV show

[Sandstorm]

The Last of Us is a basically a fancy looking Walking Dead. It looks swit swoo but it's emperors new clothes as it stands. The main issue also for me, and I haven't played the game so it may be faithful, is the young one is a pain in the hole.

It's not politically correct to wish a child that is "Mankind's likely saviour" gets eaten by Clickers in episode 3, however......

[tabascoboy]

Well episode 3 wasn't very 'The Walking Dead'

[Sandstorm]

Well episode 3 wasn't very 'The Walking Dead'

Best 90 minutes of TV I’ve seen in ages.



Girl is still fucking annoying….

[Sandstorm]

Yeah it was very good. Thought it was a bit ghey once or twice but it very good

Some straight people also pair rabbit with a Beaujolais

[Gumboot]

Yeah it was very good. Thought it was a bit ghey once or twice but it very good

Some straight people also pair rabbit with a Beaujolais

Hmmm maybe but the lumberjack shirts were too on the nose

Episode 3 was good, although Bill & Frank felt like a completely different storyline that was actually worth expanding, rather than being just the plot device for delivering the car key to Joel it turned out to be. And for those complaining about the girl being annoying - isn't that the point? Anyway, I'm out.

[tabascoboy]

Not sure as haven't played the game but the precocious teenager is pretty boring and I suspect extra annoying for me currently as my kids are stuck into Jessie on Disney.
I liked the episode and way it was a little vignette of one groups life afterwards. It wasn't startling or anything like that and the 'best individual programme in ever' claims are stupid. GoT for example would sometimes leave you 'HOLY FUCK' for days.

I thought the episode was overlong, didn't need to be that drawn out to get the point across. Good, but "award winning"? Far too early to claim that even for 2023, never mind "ever", but excellent acting and direction? Yes.

[tabascoboy]

Spoiler

Show

A prepper humanised by Hollywood by making him a hairy big gay bear. There won't be enough awards around to be handed to it

It's provoking an epidemic of review bombing though! Doubt that staunch NRA types from West Virginia etc would be impressed...

In the game, although I love that part of it, there is about 90% of time fighting or sneaking past packs of infected, ehich would add nothing so far as TV adaptation is concerned that we haven't seen before

[Jock42]

I started to get a bit bored with ep3 at one point (more because i wasnt really seeing the point of it) but thought it was excellent by the end.

[tabascoboy]

Some of the reviews are good craic and I agree on it being a bit overlong alright but presume it's a device as in pausing before it all kicks off

It's the central message that has been there from episode 1 in the Fireflies slogan: "When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light".

For Bill we saw

Spoiler

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He was all prepped and ready for the post apocalypse, "Yeah, I'm great here - got everything I need, as for everyone else out there - fuck 'em!" After 4 years alone it didn't seem so idyllic. It was a good subtle way to suggest "everybody needs somebody" and a bit of a turning point for Joel as well that gives him pause to think about what he's doing.

In the game (you can read this if you have no intention of playing it)

Spoiler

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it's mainly "Joel needs a car". We never see Frank except as a body (hanged himself after being bitten) after running away from Bill with whom he'd apparently had a falling out. Bill chokes back a bit of remorse but we can see there was more to the relationship than just fellowship. Ellie found a homosexual porno mag amongst Bill's stuff so the show didn't make this up. They fight their way through until they get to the Chevvy as we saw in the show, Bill is still with them and his last words to Joel are "Get the fuck outta my town!" So Bill remains as survivalist loner.

I do commend them for re-imagining this part of the game even if I do miss certain things from it.

[weegie01]

I started to get a bit bored with ep3 at one point (more because i wasnt really seeing the point of it) but thought it was excellent by the end.

It just seemed like a tangent to me. They could have covered the rationale for there being this comparative oasis with all the supplies much more briefly and still moved the story on by the same amount.

[Gumboot]

Spoiler

Show

A prepper humanised by Hollywood by making him a hairy big gay bear. There won't be enough awards around to be handed to it

This.

[mat the expat]

The Last of Us is a basically a fancy looking Walking Dead. It looks swit swoo but it's emperors new clothes as it stands. The main issue also for me, and I haven't played the game so it may be faithful, is the young one is a pain in the hole.

It's miles better than TWD - no "CORAL" moments

[Jock42]

Watched the first 2 episodes of "The Gold" about the 1983 inadvertent gold robbery. Had no idea of it but really enjoying it.

[tabascoboy]

Watched the first 2 episodes of "The Gold" about the 1983 inadvertent gold robbery. Had no idea of it but really enjoying it.

Apparently it's no good because it has car models in it that weren't made until 2 years later

[Jock42]

Watched the first 2 episodes of "The Gold" about the 1983 inadvertent gold robbery. Had no idea of it but really enjoying it.

Apparently it's no good because it has car models in it that weren't made until 2 years later

Ffs, it's not a Bridge Too Far

[Blackmac]

Watched the first 2 episodes of "The Gold" about the 1983 inadvertent gold robbery. Had no idea of it but really enjoying it.

Apparently it's no good because it has car models in it that weren't made until 2 years later

It's no good because it is making out that the Brinks Mat robbers and their associates were a bunch of loveable cockney barrow boys when in fact they were a bunch of violent, thieving murderous cunts.