What was the last show you binged, and was it worth the time?

In 2019, BBC and FX produced a 3-part miniseries of "A Christmas Carol" starring Guy Pearce, Stephen Graham (the guy who played Al Capone in "Boardwalk Empire"), and Andy Serkis.

It is a much darker interpretation of the Dickens' classic from anything I can ever recall, but if you like Halloween and Christmas, equally, and are looking for a sub-3 hour commitment, this is a good watch. It's available on Hulu and I think FX may be re-broadcasting it if you want to DVR it and skip the commercials.
 
Got through both Andor & The Peripheral over the weekend. Really enjoyed both. Peripheral was flawed, but opened your mind up to new ideas and left it spinning.

Andor was just outstanding, if a bit scattered and slow at times. 12 episodes, 0 lightsabers, 0 mentions of the Force (that I remember) and a really excellent discussion of the nature of liberty and tyranny. I don't necessarily agree with a key conclusion, but the overall messaging is strong.
 
In 2019, BBC and FX produced a 3-part miniseries of "A Christmas Carol" starring Guy Pearce, Stephen Graham (the guy who played Al Capone in "Boardwalk Empire"), and Andy Serkis.

It is a much darker interpretation of the Dickens' classic from anything I can ever recall, but if you like Halloween and Christmas, equally, and are looking for a sub-3 hour commitment, this is a good watch. It's available on Hulu and I think FX may be re-broadcasting it if you want to DVR it and skip the commercials.
That's a strong cast. I still have yet to see a better adaptation than the Muppets Christmas Carol, honestly. But that might be worth a peek.
 
Got through both Andor & The Peripheral over the weekend. Really enjoyed both. Peripheral was flawed, but opened your mind up to new ideas and left it spinning.

Andor was just outstanding, if a bit scattered and slow at times. 12 episodes, 0 lightsabers, 0 mentions of the Force (that I remember) and a really excellent discussion of the nature of liberty and tyranny. I don't necessarily agree with a key conclusion, but the overall messaging is strong.

I've got to get rolling on Andor again. Got bogged down early, which sometimes happens.

I'm a fan of William Gibson and had read the book The Peripheral is based on. I think it is a strong adaptation, but it's not something I would recommend to many because it is complex and hard-to-follow involving aspects of time-travel and the nature of reality itself in a world that becomes more digital and less "real" every day. The quality of the CGI in this one is very high and the human performances are strong, but folks shouldn't watch if they aren't prepared to pay close attention while still remaining a bit hazy on what is going on. We all want to solve the equation, but Gibson tells us that it's all a giant video game anyway, so just jump over the edge and do the best you can. Whatever, human, you're time is running out.

My latest binge was Stephen King's series "The Outsider" on HBO max. Unusual longish series that allows the story, what I'd describe as a police procedural with a supernatural twist, to take
it's time and set it's hooks deep. Excellent cast and quite realistically done. It just feels right. Quite a surprise to me as I had enjoyed the book and never heard that this made into a series. For those that formed their opinions of King's stuff way back in the day, and I include myself as one, some of his more recent stuff is very well done and represents sort of a career renaissance. I couldn't
stand the guy for years, but he's got me back.
 
Andor is definitely a slow burn but I found it intriguing and it was my favorite by far of all the series. If the Star Wars movies are a 10,000 foot view, Andor is like the 100 foot view. It just felt more like the Star Wars I loved as a kid, and fit the main story more than the others. I like Mandalorian and Boba Fett a lot as standalone series, but it just feels more like meaningless side stories. Kenobi was meh.

Another one I watched recently 1899 I thought was very entertaining for a SciFi fan, also a bit dark. Somewhat predictable at times, but enough little twists here and there to keep my attention. I know what to compare it to but that would be a spoiler.
 
I've got to get rolling on Andor again. Got bogged down early, which sometimes happens.

I'm a fan of William Gibson and had read the book The Peripheral is based on. I think it is a strong adaptation, but it's not something I would recommend to many because it is complex and hard-to-follow involving aspects of time-travel and the nature of reality itself in a world that becomes more digital and less "real" every day. The quality of the CGI in this one is very high and the human performances are strong, but folks shouldn't watch if they aren't prepared to pay close attention while still remaining a bit hazy on what is going on. We all want to solve the equation, but Gibson tells us that it's all a giant video game anyway, so just jump over the edge and do the best you can. Whatever, human, you're time is running out.

My latest binge was Stephen King's series "The Outsider" on HBO max. Unusual longish series that allows the story, what I'd describe as a police procedural with a supernatural twist, to take
it's time and set it's hooks deep. Excellent cast and quite realistically done. It just feels right. Quite a surprise to me as I had enjoyed the book and never heard that this made into a series. For those that formed their opinions of King's stuff way back in the day, and I include myself as one, some of his more recent stuff is very well done and represents sort of a career renaissance. I couldn't
stand the guy for years, but he's got me back.

I will definitely check out The Peripheral now, thanks for not suggesting it. :) Right up my alley.

And I rarely watch much TV but I very much enjoyed The Outsider.
 
Andor is definitely a slow burn but I found it intriguing and it was my favorite by far of all the series. If the Star Wars movies are a 10,000 foot view, Andor is like the 100 foot view. It just felt more like the Star Wars I loved as a kid, and fit the main story more than the others. I like Mandalorian and Boba Fett a lot as standalone series, but it just feels more like meaningless side stories. Kenobi was meh.

Another one I watched recently 1899 I thought was very entertaining for a SciFi fan, also a bit dark. Somewhat predictable at times, but enough little twists here and there to keep my attention. I know what to compare it to but that would be a spoiler.
 
We are down to our last 2 episodes of The Last Kingdom, after Vikings I didn't think anything could beat it but this one is right up there with it. After doing a little search I found out that they are making a movie based on the series called 7 Kings must Die and will have a lot of the same characters as TLK. New season of Vikings Valhalla coming up in January so all is not lost.
 
Ancient Apocalypse. I'm far from convinced about Hancock's explanatory theory, the narrative. But he is pretty convincing that what we've all been taught is wrong.
 
I'm binging Peacemaker for the third time. Once by myself, once with my wife after I convinced her to watch (she loved it) and now a third time with my son who is back on Christmas break. So yeah. It's definitely worth the time.
 
I'm binging Peacemaker for the third time. Once by myself, once with my wife after I convinced her to watch (she loved it) and now a third time with my son who is back on Christmas break. So yeah. It's definitely worth the time.
Absolutely. I'm watching The Recruit. I have loved it from the first episode.
 
Was watching Season 2 of Newsradio last night, and in episode 18, Led Zeppelin, there's a whole section where Phil is going over all the crazy things his girlfriend would do. Made me really sad. It struck me as likely improv-y stuff rather than lines written like that for his character. The story of Phil Hartman and his wife was really weird and sad, and it made me realize that everyone has that friend with the S.O. no one is entirely sure isn't certifiable and dangerous...
 
Ancient Apocalypse. I'm far from convinced about Hancock's explanatory theory, the narrative. But he is pretty convincing that what we've all been taught is wrong.

Hancock got me to see how much The Ancients all over The Earth looked & revered The Sun in exactly the same way by way of erecting elaborate structures | temples to worship it w/o communicating w/ each other

also how The Archaeology Establishment won't allow their Narrative be disturbed by differing viewpoints

Absolutely. I'm watching The Recruit. I have loved it from the first episode.

started The Recruit last night --- fabulous plot line w/ equally fabulous black humor embedded ❤️
 
I (once again) recently watched 'China Beach' (which I own on DVD)--if you've never watched it, it is truly magnificent. Setting is primarily Vietnam, with the story of the conflict mostly told by and seen through the eyes of the nurses at the Five&Dime (510th evac hospital near Da Nang). So many outstanding actors--and the writing is outstanding as well. I watched it when it was on TV in the 80's, but it really resonates and hits me much harder all these years later. May be able to find it through your local library, as it is not streaming or available on any network, as far as I know. This is probably my favorite TV show of all time, with 'The Americans' running second.

Am in the middle of re-watching 'Dark Shadows' (own this set also), which was a favorite of most kids in the late 60's. At 1200 or so episodes, it takes some dedication, but I am really enjoying it. Using a 'live on tape' method, many things did go wrong, and actors flubbed lines with regularity, but the show feels more like a play than a network show. Dan Curtis also directed the actors to bring over-the-top performances to the action. Love that many of the stories are influenced by the Brontes, Shakespeare, and other classics with that gothic romance vibe.
 
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