# Series you've recently watched, are now watching or have given up on **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [July 9, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108 "2021-07-09T17:50:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 164
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3264 "2023-11-27T18:57:58Z")
Only two episodes have aired, but no reason to think you would have to have watched anything else to understand it. Each season is stand-alone. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3265 "2023-11-27T18:58:01Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > I haven’t seen the fourth (heard it wasn’t up to much); do you think it is required viewing before watching the fifth? Not at all, they are unrelated and at different times. I have seen them all and agree despite Chris Rock bringing everything he had to a dramatic role the gimmick for Season 4 didn’t work (see also Roanoke AHS). It’s a hazard of the ground breaking stuff these shows are attempting, and while I never need to see this season again I can’t wait to see Rock play any other serious role in the future. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3266 "2023-11-27T19:11:15Z")
I haven’t watched any _Fargo_ – other than the movie – not because I was avoiding it or anything. But we decided to try this season. The first episode really hooked me. Man, that was intense. It was reminiscent in some ways of both the original movie and _The Long Kiss Goodbye._ Since I have no history with the season, is there anything that needs to be known? I know they’re stand-alone seasons, but are there are through-lines? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3267 "2023-11-27T19:18:31Z")
[quote=“carrps, post:3266, topic:946108, full:true”] I know they’re stand-alone seasons, but are there are through-lines? [/quote] Not really, but the themes are familiar to anyone who has seen the film. The potential for brutality in the everyday common man, harsh climate, warm people, crime in Midwestern rural America, etc. I am from the area so wince at the accent as portrayed, but on the whole the film and every season did us proud. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3268 "2023-11-27T19:28:04Z")
It seemed to us that Dot was putting on her accent when she was at home, but because the actress is British, we didn’t know if it was significant to the story or she just was doing an over-the-top accent. I forgot to mention the first episode had hints of _Blood Simple_ as well. Especially, the nighttime countryside around that Kwik-E-Mart. I’ve seen most of the Coen brothers’ oeuvre so the violence is not a problem for me. My sister’s more sensitive that way. Oh, and one more question: the opening credits say it’s based on a true story, but the movie _Fargo_ also claimed to be a “true” story, and it wasn’t. So, I’m assuming this is the same kind of false disclaimer? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3269 "2023-11-27T20:18:24Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Since I have no history with the season, is there anything that needs to be known? I know they’re stand-alone seasons, but are there are through-lines? Season 1 is not really the first story of the series. While you can watch each season as a stand-alone, chronologically the story line actually goes 4, 2, 1, 3. There are references in each season that point to what came before, e.g. in season one there is a reference to something that actually happens in season 2, so if you watch season 2 first, you’ll understand what they’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3270 "2023-11-27T20:19:16Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Oh, and one more question: the opening credits say it’s based on a true story, but the movie _Fargo_ also claimed to be a “true” story, and it wasn’t. So, I’m assuming this is the same kind of false disclaimer? The same opening is used in every episode of every season. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3271 "2023-11-27T20:21:51Z")
BTW, if you want to be complete in your _Fargo_-adjacent media, don’t forget this movie. > **[Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumiko,_the_Treasure_Hunter)** > > Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter is a 2014 American drama film co-written and directed by David Zellner. The film stars Rinko Kikuchi, Nobuyuki Katsube, Shirley Venard, David Zellner, Nathan Zellner, and Kanako Higashi. Alexander Payne and Kikuchi serve as executive producers. > The story is based on the urban legend surrounding Takako Konishi, and her search of the fictional ransom money seen buried in the snow from the 1996 film Fargo. > Kumiko is a twenty-nine year old office lady who lives in utte... ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3272 "2023-11-27T21:11:48Z")
Ha, that sounds great! > [@Chefguy](#): > > While you can watch each season as a stand-alone, chronologically the story line actually goes 4, 2, 1, 3. Thanks! I might go back and watch the earlier seasons if folks think it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3273 "2023-11-27T21:25:13Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I might go back and watch the earlier seasons if folks think it’s worth it. IMHO Fargo is consistently pretty strong television. It is also very…hrrmm…idiosyncratic? Weird shit happens and characters can be fairly nuanced or very broad caricatures (or sometimes both!). Plots can meander in odd directions and can get pretty dark or cartoonish (or sometimes both!). I really like most of it, but more than a few people have disliked one or more seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3274 "2023-11-27T22:31:01Z")
Yeah, I could have done without S4, honestly. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3275 "2023-11-27T23:47:43Z")
pretty much like the game series eh ? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3276 "2023-11-28T01:56:06Z")
I just watched the first episode of Fargo, Season 5. Dot is that funny girl from Ted Lasso. I like her. I’m very keen to watch the rest of this. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3277 "2023-11-28T02:38:21Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Thanks! I might go back and watch the earlier seasons if folks think it’s worth it. Season 1 of Fargo has Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, and Martin Freeman and it the best. Fantastic. This season is looking crazy but good so far. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Yeah, I could have done without S4, honestly. The worst. S3 is very very good. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3278 "2023-11-28T09:44:13Z")
quote=“Darren\_Garrison, post:3264, topic:946108, full:true”] Only two episodes have aired, but no reason to think you would have to have watched anything else to understand it. Each season is stand-alone. [/quote] > [@Sitnam](#): > > > [@iamatractorboy](#): > > > > I haven’t seen the fourth (heard it wasn’t up to much); do you think it is required viewing before watching the fifth? > > Not at all, they are unrelated and at different times. I have seen them all and agree despite Chris Rock bringing everything he had to a dramatic role the gimmick for Season 4 didn’t work (see also Roanoke AHS). It’s a hazard of the ground breaking stuff these shows are attempting, and while I never need to see this season again I can’t wait to see Rock play any other serious role in the future. Thanks both, I will give it a go (if I can find it!) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3279 "2023-11-28T13:17:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Season 1 of Fargo has Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, and Martin Freeman and it the best. Fantastic. Season two for me. Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Jean Smart, Ted Danson, Zahn McClarnon, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3280 "2023-11-28T18:37:54Z")
We’ve been watching Special Section, Armenia > **[Special Section (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Section_(TV_series))** > > Special Section (Armenian: Հատուկ բաժին Hatouk Bazhin) is an Armenian detective drama television series created by Arriva films. The series premiered on Armenia 1 on December 14, 2015 and comprises 16 episodes. Main directors were Edgar Baghdasaryan and Armen Malakyan, second director was Gohar Igityan, director assistants were Gayane Madatyan, Arusik Ghazaryan and Lilith Gabrielyan. Screenwriter was Harutyun Ghukasyan. > Most of the series took place in Yerevan, Armenia. > > This Armenia-related a... on MHz Choice. Really well done. The characters are smart, the hacker member of the team doesn’t do impossible things, good intricate plots, well written. The bulky dangerous looking cop in the squad is a vegetarian. There is one season of 8 two-part episodes. In Armenian with subtitles. We watched the first one, thinking, “what the hell” are were drawn in. We’ve watched 7 of the 8 cases so far. Made in 2015. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3281 "2023-11-28T19:09:52Z")
My sister was watching a biopic on William Friedkin last night, and they talked about a movie called _Killer Joe_ that I’d never seen (or heard of, I think). But Juno Temple was in it, and her character was named Dottie. I wonder if this _Fargo_ is a call-back to that. Thanks to all for the recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3282 "2023-11-28T19:38:30Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > We’ve been watching Special Section, Armenia How? Doesn’t seem to stream anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/3283 "2023-11-28T20:27:15Z")
MHZ Choice. Mostly European foreign language programming, all with captions. We found it on a local PBS station, but it is now streaming only. We watched an episode last night, so it is there. (You may need to search for Armenia.) Other cool stuff: German Brunetti (Donna Leon’s detective, set in Venice.) An Italian Nero Wolfe. Murder In - each set in a region of France. Inspector Montalbano, set in Sicily. There was a German series set in Istanbul, but that is gone now. Also an interesting Italian documentary series set at night in various tourist attractions - Venice, Florence, Pompeii (excellent,) the Egyptian museum in Florence, and St. Peters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=163) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=165)