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Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Just finished watching Occupied, a Norwegian television series that portrays the events associated with a peaceful occupation of Norway by Russia with the complicity of the EU after a "green" Prime Minister is elected and declares Norwegian oil production to be finished in favor of pursuing a newly developed clean form of energy production.
I'd say the acting is okay, but the dramatic tension is well done. And whoever wrote the script has been studying Russian tactics in Georgia and Ukraine, and their "soft pressure" intimidation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. A bit heavy-handed in spots, but pretty perceptively rendered otherwise.
Also a couple weeks ago, my wife and I watched The Crown. We had just finished watching PBS Masterpiece's Victoria which was sort of Downton Abbey: The Queen's Version. Meh. But The Crown is actually pretty interesting historically. The personalities feel pretty realistically portrayed, John Lithgow plays a pretty great Churchill as an old man grasping at power, and the actress who plays Princess Margaret is one of the more beautiful women I've seen in a while. Plus she can act, as can the actress playing Queen Elizabeth II and the one playing the Queen "Mum".
Both of these are on Netflix.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
If you have Hulu, I recommend The Path, about a new-age spiritualist group in modern New York. The acting is superb and the show is paced very well. Currently halfway through the second season but this is the show I crave week after week.
On Netflix, The Grinder is very funny and extremely silly, starring Rob Lowe as an actor who retires from a legal procedural drama but moves in with his brother, a lawyer at their father's firm. Hilarious. Fred Savage is the brother and he plays a convincing straight man and foil to his somewhat manic brother. 20-ish episodes, though it got cancelled at the conclusion of the first season.
Also on Netflix, Better Call Saul is very good if you've seen Breaking Bad. And I'm currently halfway through Santa Clarita Diet, which is simultaneously funny and gruesome, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant. It's from the creator of Better Off Ted which I also liked very much.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
My wife and I have enjoyed the Crown and I especially enjoyed history/fact checking with the iPad while the show was on. If you ever followed Inspector Morse (1987-2000) Inspector Morse (TV series) - Wikipedia, the prequel Endeavor Endeavour (TV series) - Wikipedia, is absolutely fabulous.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Black Mirror on Netflix. 21st Century Twilight Zone.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Trapped.
It's on Netflix and only 1 season but really good. It's Icelandic, so unless you speak the language you actually have to watch to read the sub-titles.
Occupied was very good.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Another one I enjoyed was Shetland. Two seasons, takes place in the Shetland Islands.
Supposedly in English, sub-titles would have helped.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TMB
Another one I enjoyed was Shetland. Two seasons, takes place in the Shetland Islands.
Supposedly in English, sub-titles would have helped.
Trapped is good. Shetland was good. You will also like Hinterland. It takes place in Wales so both English and Welsh languages in the film.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TMB
Another one I enjoyed was Shetland. Two seasons, takes place in the Shetland Islands.
Supposedly in English, sub-titles would have helped.
Most things are captioned in English, even if they are supposedly already in English. You just have to figure out how to switch them on. Sometimes varies from provider to provider.
Anyone watching The OA?
My favorite series was The Americans but they jumped the shark in season 2 and I had to turn it off (I blame Oliver North who came on as a consultant.) Season 3 was supposed to be better and this season seems to be getting high marks. Anyone watching now?
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Netflix:
Peaky Blinders
The Break (French but English subtitles)
Borderline (short season comedy like The Office)
Black Mirror
Amazon:
Patriot
Goliath
Hannibal
The Americans
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Speaking of French series, Spiral is super intense. In France, it was called Engrenages. Netflix has the first 4 seasons.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Timely.
I watch almost zero current TV shows as they happen besides the Yankees (though my wife and I got into Designated Survivor about a month ago and we’re glad it’s coming back soon.)
The Night Manager
Patriot (like a cross between John LeCarre and Wes Anderson)
And I just started watching Homeland while on the rower. Only about 6 episodes into Season 1, and it’s enthralling but seems like it could jump the shark pretty quickly/soon.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rwsaunders
Robert,
I thought I was the only one that watched TV with an Ipad in my lap. Agree about the Crown.
Goliath was good.
Series based on Harry Bosch character was also good.
Mike
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
j44ke
Anyone watching The OA?
Yeah, thought it was alright. Not a bad way to kill an hour on the rollers. Stranger Things is probably up your alley if you're into sci-fi thrillers (or 80's nostalgia).
When it comes to Netflix, I have yet to see anything that tops Broadchurch.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
vertical_doug
Trapped is good. Shetland was good. You will also like Hinterland. It takes place in Wales so both English and Welsh languages in the film.
Just watched the first episode of it on he weekend.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
If you like the UK theme:
Grantchester - the local vicar and his detective friend solve crimes near Cambridge just after WW2
Bletchley Circle - again just after the war, several of the women code breakers after the war solving mysteries
Endeavour - prequel to Inspector Morse, a favourite
Others of note:
Better Call Saul, even better then Breaking Bad in my view
Fargo seasons 1 and 2 (season 3 should be out soon)
Vinyl, ok the plot was terrible, but the music was great
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
A Very Secret Service (Netflix)
It's French. It's funny. It's secret.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Peep show, another brilliant Brit show
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zeroking
A Very Secret Service (Netflix)
It's French. It's funny. It's secret.
Watched this on the weekend. Really good.
Another one is Marseilles. Again, French, but quite good. Easier to understand than Shetland(!).
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Two series I enjoyed via MHZChoice are:
Un Village Francais - a show depicting life in a small french village during WW2 German occupation. Acting, writing and production values all first rate.
Weisensee Saga - which follows the family of a senior Stasi official in 1980s East Germany. Again, very well done all around.
Believe all seasons of a French Village are available on DVD. Not sure where you might find captioned Weissensee Saga episodes short of signing up with MHZ.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - deleriously funny.
Catastrophe - the best written, best acted comedy about modern romance
Archer - perverse, childish, hilarious
The West Wing - I started watching this, again, when the podcast started. But only one episode a week? Nah.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
So many good ones,
Jack Taylor - Irish
The Straits -Australian
4 Seasons in Havana
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Another recommendation for The Night Manager. Four coast to coast flights over the past two weeks, I got through it in a little over one leg. Only six episodes, so you wont lose a whole day watching it.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
I know I'm 20 odd years too late, but currently railing my way through X-Files. Really good watching.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zeroking
A Very Secret Service (Netflix)
It's French. It's funny. It's secret.
same people as did the 117 movies. It's not just secret, it's very secret. I wish I understood French.
I am into lowbrow. I just finished watching the Shannara Chronicles. Also in the middle of "Magicians." I liked "man in the high castle," but I was surprised with it ended. Need Amazon for that. Unfortunately, I watch on my trainer so things like "Stranger things" are too involved for most of my rides. Nothing like doing an interval when something interesting happens.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
defspace
Yeah, thought it was alright. Not a bad way to kill an hour on the rollers. Stranger Things is probably up your alley if you're into sci-fi thrillers (or 80's nostalgia).
When it comes to Netflix, I have yet to see anything that tops Broadchurch.
Broadchurch was devastatingly good. The first season was almost perfect. And then the second which wasn't quite as good, was still great. The woman playing the detective was terrific.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
An older series that is really good is Foyle's War. Great subtle acting and doesn't take audience for morons.
Agree with Archer and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt(Titus is simply amazing!)
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
j44ke
Broadchurch was devastatingly good. The first season was almost perfect. And then the second which wasn't quite as good, was still great. The woman playing the detective was terrific.
Devastatingly is a good word to use.
Olivia Colman (the detective) is also in Nash's recommendation for Peep Show. Also a great show, but very, very different.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Stranger Things sucked me in quickly and then it was 2 long nights of couch time. I finally talked my wife into watching, she hates sci-fi, but again, glued to the couch for 2 nights. (Yes, I binge watched it twice.)
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Netflix:
Sense8: Drama · A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the ...
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
[QUOTE=davids;836613]
Catastrophe - the best written, best acted comedy about modern romance
+1 for Catastrophe - uncomfortable funny
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Season 4 of The Americans has been very good. Definitely a strong rebound from a weak season 2 and average season 3. We wait until they are free on Amazon to watch, so probably won't get to season 5 for a while.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
I loved Stranger Things and heard that while unrelated OA is in the same universe so I'm slowly watching it.
The only thing that I'm really into right now is Legion on FX and Hulu but it is a weekly show.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Bloodline.
Two seasons released.
Originally written around an 8 season release but cut down to three. This 'rushed plot' is sort of appearent torward the end of season 2.
Third season coming in May.
Netflix.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
If you liked Broadchurch, try Hinterland. Excellent Welsh police drama.
Another vote for Patriot.
Also: FLEABAG. Only 6 half-hour episodes so it's a quick binge; superb writing & acting, funny, poignant, smart. Very highly recommend. On Amazon.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
The Night Manager made me go look for another John Le Carre novel turned into television - A Perfect Spy. I'd really like to see that. It came out in England, but it hasn't been made available in the US. Very tricky book, with all sorts of tilts and shifts of time almost akin to Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5, but more disjointed (which didn't necessarily mean worse.) Also I would really like PBS to reissue Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Alec Guinness. Plus I think they also did Smiley's People? And I wish someone would do The Honorable Schoolboy, which is the missing part of the Karla Trilogy from Le Carre. That was the best of the three books I think.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
^ if you really like John LeCarre, you will definitely enjoy the 7 part BBC version of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy with Sir Alex Guinness. It's on YouTube if you hunt.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (TV Mini-Series 1979) - IMDb
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rwsaunders
Right - that's what I meant. The BBC version that appeared on PBS quite a few years ago.
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rwsaunders
You kids know all the tricks. Thanks!
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Re: Binge Watching Series Recommendations
Netflix
The League -. Low brow comedy ,. Group of friends in a fantasy football league,. I literally hate American football but the characters and silly situations are worth it