# 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:** 329
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6568 "2025-06-04T19:48:43Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So I shouldn’t be disappointed that I haven’t been able to watch Doctor Who since it moved to Disney+ (which I don’t subscribe to)? Ncuti Gatwa is a great Doctor, but the scripts just don’t deliver for him. And if you aren’t aware: He regenerated already, I guess quitting the show. I don’t blame him. It’s subpar. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6569 "2025-06-04T19:49:48Z")
I think they should let Dr Who lay fallow for another 10, 20 years, the show it’s tired, let it rest. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6570 "2025-06-04T20:02:35Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I think they should let Dr Who lay fallow for another 10, 20 years, the show it’s tired, let it rest Man, I agree. Maybe reboot at this point? If Russel T Davies and Ncuti Gatwa can’t make it work, it’s dire. Love Russel and think Gatwa was terrific, but the content. Just too bad. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6571 "2025-06-04T21:20:12Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > _Love Russel and think Gatwa was terrific, but the content. Just too bad._ I’ve yet to watch the final episode, which I understand has a surprise, but these episodes just haven’t worked. And then there was that odd Ruby Sunday episode in the middle. One might say that the problem wasn’t **Who** , it was **What** (or perhaps **Why**?) ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6572 "2025-06-05T00:32:48Z")
We’ve just watched the first episode of Department Q. Should I continue? The Mrs. liked it fine, but my problems: - there were no conversations in the entire hour; just people giving terse commands and insults to each other. Contrast with, say, Chelsea Detective or Midsummer Murders. - I don’t care for anyone I’ve met, and I don’t care if they succeed. Again, contrast with those other shows, where I like everyone. Bonus hate: random use of characters in slow motion. Am I likely to soften? I know first episodes have a goal of giving lots of exposition, and that can make them clunky. And I know I’m an outlier; it’s the #2 show of its type on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6573 "2025-06-05T00:47:54Z")
The two notable assholes (Carl and Merritt) in the first episode are that way for pretty understandable reasons. And they do evolve. Akram and Rose are very likable characters who are quite impressive detectives in their own right. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6574 "2025-06-05T03:08:46Z")
> [@Raza](#): > > And I know I’m an outlier; it’s the #2 show of its type on Netflix. I also didn’t like it, only based on half an episode. I trust my instincts on if it’s my kind of thing or not, and accept that I will miss out on very popular shows. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2025, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6575 "2025-06-05T04:47:18Z")
> [@Raza](#): > > Am I likely to soften? Maybe? I’m inclined to say yes, for the reasons Elmer\_J.Fudd notes - the team slowly expands over a few episodes with more likeable people becoming more significant players in the investigation. Carl doesn’t remain purely an unreasonably abrasive asshole, but slowly emerges as a bit of a curmudgeonly mentor and (slightly) more reasonable sort of difficult asshole as he grows to appreciate and trust said team. But then again everybody’s tolerances are different. Carl never stops being abrasive, sardonic and pushy. He does become more human and sympathetic, but its a little bit of a slow crawl of development the first few episodes if you’re not bingeing. The series’ character development is overall solid, but it isn’t quick. It makes you work for it a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6576 "2025-06-05T13:37:58Z")
Well, it’s got me hooked. I’m about halfway through it. Yeah Carl’s an ass, but who wouldn’t be in his situation? He’s recovering from a gunshot to the neck, his marriage is in shambles and he’s stuck living with his ex’s teenage son (and a boarder), his boss is misusing all the money appropriated for _his_ project while he’s stuck working in the basement… hell yeah I’d have a bad attitude too. ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6577 "2025-06-05T16:20:03Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Yeah Carl’s an ass, but who wouldn’t be in his situation? While I agree with all your points, I think it’s made clear in the script, from his interactions with colleagues on returning to work, that Carl has _always_ been an ass. But then, played straight, most fictional detectives would probably be asses. OB ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6578 "2025-06-05T16:24:40Z")
Dept Q is based on a well known set of mysteries: > **[Department Q](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_Q)** > > Department Q (Danish: Afdeling Q) is a series of ten Danish Nordic noir crime novels by author Jussi Adler-Olsen which have been adapted in an ongoing series of highly successful Danish films and an English language TV adaptation for Netflix which changes the setting from Denmark to Scotland. > Originally written in Danish, the novels have been translated into numerous languages, including English, Bulgarian, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hung... ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6579 "2025-06-06T12:45:16Z")
Through four episodes of Dept Q, and it’s not the abrasive characters so much as the slow mental torture of the victim that has me thinking about abandoning the show. Is that really necessary to portray? ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6580 "2025-06-06T13:12:14Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > _the slow mental torture of the victim_ Yeah. I’m mostly enjoying Dept Q, but as a claustrophobic, this really puts me on edge. I’m just not sure I can see this through to the end. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6581 "2025-06-06T14:03:10Z")
On top of my earlier comments, I avoid movies or shows that are set in prisons or similar situations, so having just watched episode 2, if that aspect gets turned up any higher, I’m out. That aspect is just a personal glitch, not a quality issue. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6582 "2025-06-06T14:50:24Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > I’m just not sure I can see this through to the end. and you will need to to sort it…redefining twists. 😱 ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6583 "2025-06-06T15:09:12Z")
Well, last night I watched Ep 1 of Q. I liked it, so I’m looking forward to the next one. Or maybe not, after I read the comments here. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6584 "2025-06-06T16:38:05Z")
I’ve been liking _Dept. Q_. Carl reminds me a lot of Dr. House - the same sarcasm. The torture scenes are off-putting and don’t really seem necessary. It would be stronger without them and it might be more interesting if there were still a question if Merrit were alive or not. I do like the rest of his team, though. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6585 "2025-06-06T17:41:55Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The torture scenes are off-putting Thanks for this; I think that seals the deal for me. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6586 "2025-06-06T18:29:55Z")
> [@Raza](#): > > On top of my earlier comments, I avoid movies or shows that are set in prisons or similar situations, so having just watched episode 2, if that aspect gets turned up any higher, I’m out. That reminds me of a show I watched a few months ago. Escape At Dannemora was really good, and I don’t think it’s been mentioned in this thread yet. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0b7CSQqf3Bc/maxresdefault.jpg "ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA Official Trailer (2018) Benicio Del Toro, TV Show HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b7CSQqf3Bc) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2025, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6587 "2025-06-06T18:42:28Z")
Coincidentally it’s been ten years since that jailbreak. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=328) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=330)