What are you watching now ? Movies and TV

[Aye Capn]

A darn fine rant on Voyager. Very nicely done! But, you left out Seven's boobs...

Seven was too annoying for me to care what she looked like.

... the radioactive glow would have announced them long before they got there...

Once you decide FTL is possible it actually fixes this problem.

FTL without FTL detection enables a kind of stealth. Be where your emissions aren't and you start an all new future light cone. David Weber actually deals with this in the Honor Harrington books, with "FTL communications" at first being carried by courier ships for the "FTL" part -- and "FTL detection" in the militarily significant sense being all but impossible -- to breakthroughs in communication technology with major military implications.

Trek doesn't get to use this as an excuse to not post a watch because in several episodes dating back to TOS they ostentatiously announce their FTL detection capabilities when they're being chased. "They're still gaining on us!" Well that's really good to know, isn't it?

It's refreshing to hear that there's a show that doesn't have a dysfunctional family as the centerpiece.

Yeah, or the "band of misfits" which worked for Firefly but is by now a worn-out trope. Lost in Space made me care enough about the surprisingly normal Robinson family I'll give Season 2 a shot.

I always wonder how people can think that when confronted with a malevolent race's godlike technology that we would somehow either overcome it or master it...

Well I can think of one way, which makes The Expanse even more retarded:
"Guys! Calm down! They left me an instruction manual. Just let me finish real q ..."
"Manual shmanuel. FIRE THE GIANT LASER CANNON!"

The one that stuck out to me was when the mirrors above Ganymede were destroyed. The wreckage immediately started falling straight down onto the farms below--which is obvious nonsense, because those mirrors are in orbit, so their wreckage will be as well.

Sharknado Science

[BugMeister]

- the exceptionally stylish Mr Nero Wolfe..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UvZDRXVBUo

- most excellent work by Timothy Hutton and Maury Chaykin
- a tour de force..

- bravo..!!

[Bishop149]

What have I watched recently.

Luke Cage S2 - More of the same really, still has serious pacing issues the season is about twice as long as it needed to be. I enjoyed many of the characters even if the plot dragged.

Iron Fist S2 - Learned some lessons from S1 but is still an objectively "bad" show . . . . . but an IMO an enjoyable one. Its all just all so very silly that you tend to forgive its flaws. One exception, the fight choreography around the titular character is awful, which was also a BIG criticism of S1. Given the characters supposed back story it's pretty glaring, especially when compared to that in say Daredevil or indeed that involving his female costar. It stinks to me of the actor is question just not being prepared to put the work / training in to appear even vaguely competent as a martial artist.

Ascension - Apparently a SyFy miniseries from 3-4 years ago, I didn't know this when I started it. Short (6 episodes) based upon some very interesting premises which I won't spoil because the reveal of one of them at the end of episode two was excellent. Characters a bit thin but that's to be expected from such a short format run heavier on plot. I'd love to have seen what it might have developed into had it been given a longer run or a second season but I think its safe to say that will never happen 4 years down the line.

Travellers - Time travellers attempt to prevent a thus far undefined catastrophe, lots of them, operating in cells. The means of time travel is the most interesting bit, they essentially hijack a persons body in the seconds before that person was supposed to die (but importantly it is BEFORE their death, not at the point of or immediately afterwards as was my initial impression). It's an interesting concept with a whole slew of moral implications, but if anything a few too many. I'm 4 episodes in I'm really getting the impression the show doesn't really know what to do with it all. There has been hints towards lots of them but none yet explored in any real depth.

[Morkonan]

- the exceptionally stylish Mr Nero Wolfe..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UvZDRXVBUo

- most excellent work by Timothy Hutton and Maury Chaykin...

So, I watched the clip and the first thing that struck me square in the face was that it was filled with well-known and extremely capable actors... WTF? How did I miss this series with all those great character actors in it? I'll have to check this out!

What have I watched recently....

Where are all these series? SyFy?

"Travelers" sounds... just as you suppose - Unfocused. It sounds like it's got too much going on right from the start. A kind of mix between "Quantum Leap" and "Sliders." I enjoyed the premise of both shows, but QL was the better show because of its narrower focus, I think. Sliders was good, but nothing really tied everything together and the larger cast made things a bit cumbersome when it came down to focusing on a clear story/plot.

[Bishop149]

Where are all these series? SyFy?

90% of my TV watching these days is (UK) Netflix, all of these shows are on there.
All the Marvel Universe TV stuff is Netflix exclusive I think (Except "Agents of SHIELD"?, which is its own weird I.P. bubble for some reason).
I'd recommend Jessica Jones Season 1 as by FAR the best of these Netflix offerings.
Travellers is a Netflix own brand production.
Most of SyFy's stuff ends up on Netflix after a few years have past.

I will add that I'm looking forward to a S3 of Iron Fist. Its problem so far is that its been a fundamentally silly show trying to present as high drama*, but the end of S2 opened up a whole array of utter comicbook silliness so I'm hoping S3 will become more akin to "The Flash" in embracing the silly and not trying to take itself too bloody seriously.

*Like the other Natflix Marvel shows, but they get away with it because they're much more gritty grim-dark.

[burger1]

Where are all these series? SyFy?

90% of my TV watching these days is (UK) Netflix, all of these shows are on there.
All the Marvel Universe TV stuff is Netflix exclusive I think (Except "Agents of SHIELD"?, which is its own weird I.P. bubble for some reason).
I'd recommend Jessica Jones Season 1 as by FAR the best of these Netflix offerings.
Travellers is a Netflix own brand production.
Most of SyFy's stuff ends up on Netflix after a few years have past.

I will add that I'm looking forward to a S3 of Iron Fist. Its problem so far is that its been a fundamentally silly show trying to present as high drama*, but the end of S2 opened up a whole array of utter comicbook silliness so I'm hoping S3 will become more akin to "The Flash" in embracing the silly and not trying to take itself too bloody seriously.

*Like the other Netflix Marvel shows, but they get away with it because they're much more gritty grim-dark.

Netflix UK is getting Titans at some point (next year?). It's missing the CW network dc shows like DC Legends, Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl. Iron Fist was cancelled.

[pjknibbs]

I will add that I'm looking forward to a S3 of Iron Fist.

Um, I may have disappointing news for you:

https://tvline.com/2018/10/12/iron-fist ... -season-3/

[Aye Capn]

Someone talked me into watching My Hero Academia recently.

I think I've mostly outgrown the genre, but I loved the scene where the engineer, Hatsume Mei, hijacks a tournament duel to perform an impromptu TechCrunch Disrupt demo.

It reminded me of Silicon Valley, which is always a good thing, as Valley is so funny is has ruined me for other nerd-oriented comedy. But this show definitely struck gold when she turns to the department heads and cheers, "Where can you get these fantastic inventions? hatsumei mei ... Hatsumei Mei ... HATSUMEI MEI!" right in the middle of a fight.

[Bishop149]

Um, I may have disappointing news for you:

https://tvline.com/2018/10/12/iron-fist ... -season-3/

Awww, shame. As I said it was just starting to work out how to be a good show.
Oh well I guess two seasons to do that was a little excessive from a networks POV.

[Kapakio]

...
Most of SyFy's stuff ends up on Netflix after a few years have past.
...

Yes, and I have another example: The 100

It's an intersting concept: The last survivors of the human race spent the last 70 years on a space station orbiting earth to escape a nuclear apocalipse. Then they decide to send 100 young people that were in prision back to earth to check if it is habitable again.

It is not a great series, the acting is awful (with some exceptions) and the science is really wrong, but I have to say that the writers have a lot of imagination and it has kept me coming back after 5 seasons

[Aye Capn]

Any Better Call Saul fans here?

It's not science fiction, but it does feature a kind of anti-hero with the superpower of persuasion -- and the legal stuff is dead-on accurate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG29zeyWn58

[Morkonan]

Any Better Call Saul fans here?

It's not science fiction, but it does feature a kind of anti-hero with the superpower of persuasion -- and the legal stuff is dead-on accurate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG29zeyWn58

I watched a few of the first episodes and enjoyed it. But, yes, I'm one of the few mammals that did not see the "Breaking Bad" series. (Please, don't throw anything at me.. ) So, there are some bits of storyline content and references that I don't understand.

[Antilogic]

(Please, don't throw anything at me.. )

I'll run deflection.

I don't like Breaking Bad.

There we go. All power to forward shields!

[burger1]

It looks like Luke Cage has been cancelled also.

https://deadline.com/2018/10/luke-cage- ... 202486487/


Currently watching The Good Place and I'l probably watch the current and last season of The Big Bang Theory. In Canada free to watch on global tv and ctv. In US free to watch on Yahoo View, CBS and NBC.

[Freddy72nz]

(Please, don't throw anything at me.. )

I'll run deflection.

I don't like Breaking Bad.

There we go. All power to forward shields!

I like Breaking Bad, just finished watching the series for the second time.
I don't know anyone else that does like it, none of my friends or family have any interest in it. But then I have no interest in all the superhero bollocks that they like.
Oh well, can't please everyone.

I am currently re watching Better Call Saul Seasons 1-3, to refresh my memory before I watch the latest series.

Does anyone remember Rake? An Australian series with another anti-hero lawyer, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_(Aus ... TV_series). That was a fun one too.

[Morkonan]

(Please, don't throw anything at me.. )

I'll run deflection.

I don't like Breaking Bad.

There we go. All power to forward shields!

WAY TO GO ANTILOGIC!

Star Trek did something similar, IIRC, but I couldn't remember enough of it to find the scene.

[Aye Capn]

Any Better Call Saul fans here?

I watched a few of the first episodes and enjoyed it. But, yes, I'm one of the few mammals that did not see the "Breaking Bad" series.

I actually prefer Better Call Saul. There is a richness to the characters, a better cross-section of different people going about their lives, from squeaky-clean and surprisingly loyal BigLaw guy ("Hamlindigo Blue" is a registered trademark!) to tough guy ex-cop to the "glue" in between, "Slippin'" Jimmy McGill -- on his long downward slide toward becoming Saul Goodman.

Chuck is a good character, too. He's right, objectively speaking, but we all hate him anyway. (Does anyone actually like Chuck?)

[Morkonan]

I actually prefer Better Call Saul. There is a richness to the characters, a better cross-section of different people going about their lives, from squeaky-clean and surprisingly loyal BigLaw guy ("Hamlindigo Blue" is a registered trademark!) to tough guy ex-cop to the "glue" in between, "Slippin'" Jimmy McGill -- on his long downward slide toward becoming Saul Goodman.

Chuck is a good character, too. He's right, objectively speaking, but we all hate him anyway. (Does anyone actually like Chuck?)

I enjoyed what I saw of it. But, it was one of those situations where I wasn't sure what I was supposed to already know or if they were keeping something from me on purpose. Now, I'd have to go back and binge it to catch up, I guess. And, I don't have any streaming media services except what my cable company has set up. (I could probably just check what they have on it and might get be able to binge it all. Licensing stuffs, though, might prevent that - Off-current-season episodes might not be available.

[Aye Capn]

Think of the Breaking Bad viewer's experience as seeing Easter Eggs and the occasional in-joke, although most of the in-jokes are cultural or even metacultural (like a strange homage to the Fallout series with the Ink Spots opener, and maybe even a direct homage to Fallout 1 since Saul is "exiled from the Vault" so-to-speak working at the Cinnabon.)

Don't worry about missing out. Better Call Saul is a different story than Breaking Bad with only a few of the same characters, and since it's a prequel you aren't missing anything seeing it new.

You kinda know "Slippin' Jimmy" wins the war over Jimmy McGill's soul and he transforms into the "criminal" attorney Saul Goodman even without Breaking Bad. There's foreshadowing everywhere.

[Bishop149]

So I watched "The Haunting of Hill House" (on Netflix, a 10 Episode original series) with the wife.

And I enjoyed about 80% of it. For the most part it's a very solid horror series that managed to be properly creepy and outright terrifying in places without an over-reliance on jump scares or gore the latter there is VERY little of, almost none in fact. It is VERY tropey, you often have the feeling of "Ooooo whats the thing they're the stealing that idea from!" without often being able to pin it down because what they're riffing on are broad tropes rather anything hyper specific. This aspect is well done and as a horror fan I enjoyed it. The end of episode 5 in particular was horrifyingly brilliant, despite the fact I saw this twist coming about 15 minutes out . . . . the way it was done, Christ that will stick with me a while.

What I didn't like was the last two episodes, the ending essentially. I'll outline why in spoilers below, MAJOR spoilers BTW, seriously don't read if you want to watch the show.

Spoiler

Show

Ok things I liked about the ending first:
- They killed a child onscreen, and whats more lingered over the fact of her death. So few shows have the courage to do this and it was refreshing to see it.
- The open sequence showed an older Steve recollecting the events about to be shown which perhaps implied him as the sole survivor . . . . this was then revealed to be the house screwing with him. I liked this little subversion of trope / expectation.

Ok things I didn't like:
- It was essentially a happy ending and an overly saccharine one at that, I didn't necessarily want everyone to end up dead and it could still have ended "happily" without having lost the darkness which made the rest of it so good.
- Nell and her husband. Their relationship was depicted as an exceptionally good / happy one, his death was established as a major trauma for her likely the one which set her on the course to revisiting the house and resulted in her death. The house also uses her husband as the fulcrum upon which it tricks her into death, implying that if she stays/dies she can be with him. This being a LIE was critical to the horror of that moment. She then becomes the "bent-neck lady" a deeply traumatised ghost like so many of the others depicted as haunting the house.
But we get to end and Nell's ghost is suddenly sweetness and light, saving her siblings, telling them that all is forgiven and they all love each other.
Then we get the scene implying that the dead Nell and her dead Mum and Dad are going to get a kind of happy ever after.
No mention at all of her husband, the love of her life, his loss and her despair and trauma. It makes NO sense, he's essentially being erased from the plot which is problematic both from a story telling perspective and from that of his being the only black character. Uggggg.
- The ease with which the Dudley's accept their daughters death. The couple are depicted as having a love/hate relationship with the house and THE primary focus of their life has being keeping their daughter safe from both it and the world at large, to the point of raising her in virtual isolation. The house via Oliva then kills her, and then they go from the hysterical reaction you might have expected to "Oh, it's ok shes a ghost now, we just want to happy with our ghost daughter" within the space of about 90 seconds. It's ridiculous.
There may have been backstory which explained this, its hinted at and I can head canon some such reasons but it was never shown. The Dudley's story in general was very under explored, so much of their behaviour needed more to have it make any sense. I wonder if this is were a prequel might go.