# 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:** 330
**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 7, 2025, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6588 "2025-06-07T09:10:41Z")
This looks good - anything Ridley Scott involved with works for me. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_HdOGSOu1kQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Prime Target — Official Trailer | Apple TV+") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HdOGSOu1kQ) ---
**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 7, 2025, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6589 "2025-06-07T09:45:55Z")
incredible pacing …very intriguing. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6590 "2025-06-07T11:01:07Z")
After years of avoiding it, I’ve finally started **Mad Men**. It seems to be well made and well acted but it’s a little bit of a struggle for me to enjoy. We’ve made 60 years of progress against that kind of misogynistic ignorance and it’s hard to return to those days, even if only via tv. ---
**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 7, 2025, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6591 "2025-06-07T12:06:21Z")
I had the same time line and reaction…the world has moved on tho I admired how well they re-created the era. ---
**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 7, 2025, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6592 "2025-06-07T12:26:38Z")
I stopped watching it because of the anachronism used as a major plot point in the first episode. Their history was sloppy there and whenever I saw a clip I spotted something wrong. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6593 "2025-06-07T12:46:23Z")
I enjoyed it - definitely kept the action going in an engaging way. It kept my attention even though action series tend to bore me. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6594 "2025-06-07T12:47:50Z")
I’ve been rewatching this - the misogyny is appalling but I forgot how great this show was. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6595 "2025-06-07T13:38:04Z")
Refresh me re: the anachronism, please. Was it related to the medical/government attacks on smoking? Characters in this series appear to be smoking 2-3 packs per day. I don’t remember heavy smoking being that prevalent but, just like Peggy’s gynecologist, I’m old enough to remember the family doctor keeping a lit cig going during examinations. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6596 "2025-06-07T14:37:10Z")
I watched the whole thing yesterday. I did have to look away at times. The later episodes get rather violent. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6597 "2025-06-07T16:36:36Z")
Thanks to everyone who’s recommended _Poker Face._ I’m almost done with season 1, then, on to season 2. It’s helping to fill the gap until _Slow Horses_ returns. I just loved the episode (“The Stall”) with the nazi, fucking asshole little dog. ---
**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 7, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6598 "2025-06-07T18:03:19Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > Refresh me re: the anachronism, please. Was it related to the medical/government attacks on smoking? > > Characters in this series appear to be smoking 2-3 packs per day. I don’t remember heavy smoking being that prevalent but, just like Peggy’s gynecologist, I’m old enough to remember the family doctor keeping a lit cig going during examinations. No. The big conflict was that Draper was to come up with a slogan for Lucky Strike cigarettes. In the end, he uses “It’s toasted.” Thing was, that had been on the Lucky Strike pack from around 1919. The show was in 1962. The writers were trying to make a point, but this was like having George Custer calling for air support at Little Big Horn. I’m usually forgiving of anachronisms, but not when they are a major plot element, and so many years out of place. It’s just poor writing to use something anachronistic to solve a problem. ---
**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 7, 2025, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6599 "2025-06-07T19:28:53Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’m usually forgiving of anachronisms, but not when they are a major plot element, and so many years out of place. I quickly stopped thinking of Mad Men World as being the same as ours. There are just too many exaggerations of 1960s social mores to think of it in realistic terms. It’s still in my list of top five favorite TV shows of all time. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6600 "2025-06-08T16:16:37Z")
> [@WalterBishop](#): > > I’ve given up on Doctor Who, finally. Only took 36 years. It’s been limping along for a while, and this season’s finale was the last straw. The show doesn’t even try to make sense anymore. > [@Scoobysnax](#): > > You are stronger than me. I was only able to get 1.5 episodes into the Jodie Whittaker series and watched the first 2 specials of Ncuti Gatwa’s run. The writing and plots have not been good for quite some time. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > 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. I understand that. I didn’t like the finale at all. That finale managed to make Space Babies good. I do agree that it lost it’s connection to … itself? It tried to do science in the original series. Ish. As much as I love it, I’m going to blame the sonic screwdriver when it became a magic wand. I have liked all of the actors who have played the doctor. I do agree that not all of them have gotten as strong writing as Tennant and Eccleson when it first came back. I also think they were a bit more true to itself, it’s former self, in those shows. A story that crossed the season and some stand alone shows. As good as Moffatt writes it, I think he needs someone to reign him in and edit, and he didn’t get that when he was running it. In fact, he was running Sherlock and this at the same time and I blame that for the mess Sherlock turned into. I have heard that Ncuti was not liked due being a black man and getting a lot of flak for it. I can’t find anything to confirm that. I’m still going to keep watching it and I’m hopeful. > [@Frodo](#): > > I think they should let Dr Who lay fallow for another 10, 20 years, the show it’s tired, let it rest. I sympathize but like having it back. I think they should have the MCU take a rest. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > That’s definitely and interesting take on the two shows. Most people consider, I think, Breaking Bad to be the better of the two shows and BCS is the one that’s a ‘bit of a slog at first’. Though I think you’re the first person I’ve heard of that watched it the other way around. No matter how many people tell me this is a great show, I couldn’t get into it. Episode one was good but two was a slog. I think I fell asleep. I had no interest in another. More than that, though, the idea of watching a good person turn bad isn’t appealing to me. > [@Frodo](#): > > But in this house we are complete fans of BCS. Is it a lawyer show? Is it a mob lawyer show? How would you explain BCS to someone who hasn’t seen a single episode of it and barely two episodes of BB? > [@Hoops](#): > > in the upcoming AppleTV series _Wycaro 339_, which is helmed by Vince Gilligan (the showrunner of Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul). Surprisingly, it seems to have a sci-fi element to it. IMDB has this as 2008! This must be production hell! > [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > I think **Murderbot** is a fun series, too. > [@Horatius](#): > > The first book was pretty short, and like a lot of first works, it had to do a lot of heavy lifting to introduce the setting, the character, and why the character is so different. Later books expanded on that to tell better stories. The TV show seems to have the same problems. I suspect it will get better as time goes on. We LOVE it! We had read the books, and I’m now rereading them, and enjoy the series immensely! Yes, the first several books are more novellas then full novels. I think only the last one was a full novel? I like that format, I have to admit. It keeps things focused but still gives me enough information that I want more. Prime Target does look good! > [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > After years of avoiding it, I’ve finally started **Mad Men**. It seems to be well made and well acted but it’s a little bit of a struggle for me to enjoy. We’ve made 60 years of progress against that kind of misogynistic ignorance and it’s hard to return to those days, even if only via tv. That’s why I have avoided it and Handmaids Tale after season 1, which was a longer version of the movie. My wife keeps rewatching Outlander, which is worse with that and I can’t do it. Thanks for the discussion! ---
**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 8, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6601 "2025-06-08T16:41:31Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > Is it a lawyer show? Is it a mob lawyer show? How would you explain BCS to someone who hasn’t seen a single episode of it and barely two episodes of BB? It’s a lawyer show about a former con artist trying to follow in his brother’s footsteps and become a (good/honest) lawyer but as he runs into more and more roadblocks along the way, he eventually falls back on his con artist roots and becomes _criminal_ lawyer/ambulance chaser. Better Call Saul is one of those shows where it’s helpful to know the source material, but it absolutely stands on it’s own. It’s a prequel, but written like a spin-off. In fact, not having seen Breaking Bad first would make for a good experience as well. Those of us that watched BB already knew kinda where the show had to go WRT some aspects in order for them to mesh with Breaking Bad. For example, characters that we knew from Breaking Bad, aren’t going to get killed off in Better Call Saul. Or, maybe as a better example, we knew Saul from Breaking Bad, so when we first meet Jimmy, we have a pretty good idea as to where his character will be when the BCS timeline starts overlapping with Breaking Bad. PS Not a spoiler, but just for your clarification, Jimmy and Saul are the same person. PPS, the _criminal_ lawyer comment comes from this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JNMQqh1ovlM/maxresdefault.jpg "Breaking Bad : "Criminal Lawyer"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNMQqh1ovlM) ---
**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:** [June 8, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6602 "2025-06-08T16:52:03Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > No matter how many people tell me this is a great show, I couldn’t get into it. Episode one was good but two was a slog. I think I fell asleep. I had no interest in another. More than that, though, the idea of watching a good person turn bad isn’t appealing to me. I’ve seen a few people on here and other places online say this and all I can say in reply is that you won’t know what you’re missing. It gets SO good, the first few episodes will pale in comparison. My partner felt very much the same during the first several episodes but slowly got hooked (it took some persuading from me as I’d already seen it). I think the problem is probably the slow (but never boring) pacing through much of it. The edge of your seat, sweaty palms moments are very much earned. _Better Call Saul_ also has this, especially in later episodes. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6603 "2025-06-08T17:19:26Z")
Inna and I are making our way through the cheery lightheartedness that is _Black Mirror_, when that’s done, maybe a BB rewatch (for me) is in the cards. I do think BCS is the better series, though BB probably had higher highs. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2025, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6604 "2025-06-08T17:20:59Z")
We finished **Your Friends and Neighbors** last night. I’m not sure what the point of it was, other that some armchair moralizing, but it was decently acted and directed. ---
**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 8, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6605 "2025-06-08T23:16:00Z")
We finished **Andor** , re-watching the first season and continuing on through. Watching Rogue One now, actually. The second season? Good, but I think the first 4-5 episodes really could have been compressed. We loved the final 6-7 episodes, though. Despite Disney blowing it in a lot of ways with Star Wars, this and the first couple of seasons of Mandalorian have been good. A few other things as well. I think I’d rather have had Disney buy Star Wars and keep it going than for George to keep it and stop. ---
**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 8, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6606 "2025-06-08T23:36:03Z")
I was not particularly impressed by _The Mandelorian_. It quickly devolved into an excuse for another battle scene. I am bored by battle scenes. The story wasn’t bad, but with a battle every ten minutes, it was a slog. I made it through season two, but nothing of interest happened. I watched the first season of _Andor_ and found it completely forgettable. So did my wife; she hadn’t even remembered we watched it. I hear season two is quite good, but I’m wary. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/6607 "2025-06-09T00:15:56Z")
I finished Dept. Q and loved it. Sure, it could have been an episode shorter, but that’s how all the limited series are nowadays. I’m not sure I understand how all the plot lines were tied up, but I tend to get drowsy near the end of the night and probably missed or forgot stuff. Even so, I really enjoyed it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=329) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=331)