# 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:** 467
**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:** [July 10, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9328 "2026-07-10T22:31:26Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > All that to say, I think **Testaments** was mostly good, and it can stay good if they are just wise enough to keep the focus on life inside Gilead. My general advice for them is…let’s just decide now that at the end of this television series, they do indeed destroy Gilead. May it run 5 seasons? I have no idea. But please wrap this up and have June re-meet her daughter again! ---
**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:** [July 10, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9329 "2026-07-10T22:56:43Z")
Oh man, somehow I missed “Clown Town” (book 9). Now I’ve got that to look forward to. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9330 "2026-07-10T23:41:20Z")
I’ve recently considered watching HBO’s Rome. I’ve been doing too much reading on Rome, so I thought I should like it. Only problem is, I’ve seen exactly two scenes on YouTube and was annoyed by both: the deaths of Cicero and Pompey. How they really died is dramatic enough without the writers trying to second guess history. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9331 "2026-07-10T23:43:28Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Season 6 comes out in September and it’s been renewed for a seventh. There are nine Slough House novels plus several novellas, so who knows? Maybe they’ll just keep going. One thing I find interesting about Slow Horses is that the current season ends with a teaser for the following season (including clips), because they’ve already started production on it. Usually on most shows, they don’t start filming the following season until after the current one ends. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9332 "2026-07-10T23:46:33Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I’ve recently considered watching HBO’s Rome. I’ve been doing too much reading on Rome, so I thought I should like it. Only problem is, I’ve seen exactly two scenes on YouTube and was annoyed by both: the deaths of Cicero and Pompey. How they really died is dramatic enough without the writers trying to second guess history. As for that, I really enjoyed the show, though they cut it short after two seasons so the second one kind of rushed things. It was clearly lavishly produced. BTW, the [Wikipedia article on the series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome_(TV_series)) has a quote from the historical consultant for the show. I think you’ll enjoy it even if it’s not 100% accurate. > We did everything we could to make these episodes historically authentic, which meant researching and incorporating every kind of detail we could about the way our characters behaved, the way they interacted, how they dressed and gestured, the kind of streets they walked down, the way they conducted their private and public lives. We were not, however, making a documentary. We were striving for authenticity because it enriches the experience of the drama for the viewer. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9333 "2026-07-11T00:17:30Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I’ve recently considered watching HBO’s Rome. I’ve been doing too much reading on Rome, so I thought I should like it. Only problem is, I’ve seen exactly two scenes on YouTube and was annoyed by both: the deaths of Cicero and Pompey. How they really died is dramatic enough without the writers trying to second guess history. The series is truly excellent, and in particular the first season. The only problem, such as it may be, with the second season is that it also had to stand in for the final season. The series actually had a five-season arc planned out, but when HBO let the show-runner know that they weren’t going to renew beyond the second season (due to how expensive the series was), the show-runner made the call to cram two or three seasons worth of story into the second season, to at least give us some closure on the main storylines up to that point. A real shame, but recommended nonetheless. Easily on par with **Game of Thrones** , with the caveat that even with its rushed/untimely ending, it gave us a much better final season and finally that **Game of Thrones** did. ETA: But if historical accuracy is what you’re going for, then this ain’t the show for you. On the other hand, details from that time are spotty at best, so who can really say when Augustus’ mother died or who buried who? ---
**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:** [July 11, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9334 "2026-07-11T00:30:32Z")
One bit I liked in Rome was the newsreader portrayed by Ian McNiece. He stood on a street corner and made announcements, sponsored by the millers’ guild, or something similar. The whole show was a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9335 "2026-07-11T00:31:17Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > And there was one sequence that was all kinds of awesome in ep2: Totally agree! ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9336 "2026-07-11T00:31:18Z")
True Roman bread for true Romans and the like. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9337 "2026-07-11T00:33:06Z")
Yes, it was a great bit. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9338 "2026-07-11T00:35:08Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’ve been binging **Slow Horses** , and like it even more than the first time through. Same here. I catch a lot of little things the second time around that help tie things together. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9339 "2026-07-11T03:09:33Z")
I read somewhere that they shoot two seasons at a time. Much easier to do when there are only six episodes per. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2026, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9340 "2026-07-11T06:32:52Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I’ve recently considered watching HBO’s Rome Someone I went to school with was in that. I’m not going to go into specifics but one of her scenes was an eyebrow raiser, that’s for sure. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2026, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9341 "2026-07-11T06:57:36Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I’ve recently considered watching HBO’s Rome. I think it’s well worth it. The set production is lavish and the main roles are mostly very well-acted. Beyond the two main protagonists, James Purefoy’s Mark Antony and Ciaran Hinds’ Julius Caesar particularly stand out. As those two really should. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2026, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9342 "2026-07-11T08:51:25Z")
I’ve watched the first episode of the **Little House On The Prairie** remake on Netflix. So far there’s nothing revolutionary or original, but it seems inoffensively pleasant. There was [an earlier thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-netflix-reboot-of-little-house-on-the-prairie-on-the-way/1013647) when it was announced, but it’s filled with some very angry cynicism, so I decided not to revive 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:** [July 11, 2026, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9343 "2026-07-11T12:08:36Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > The only problem, such as it may be, with the second season is that it also had to stand in for the final season. This was a problem with several of HBO’s series, including “Deadwood” and “Carnivale”. They just didn’t want to spend the money, regardless of viewer opinion. All three of those shows were truly excellent but got the axe. Game of Thrones had to be a really expensive production, but they managed to drag that along to the finish. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9344 "2026-07-12T04:49:50Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Game of Thrones had to be a really expensive production, but they managed to drag that along to the finish. Did they, though? ---
**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:** [July 12, 2026, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9345 "2026-07-12T11:30:09Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > Did they, though? Eight seasons is a pretty good run for HBO. Granted, the final season was not the best of the bunch. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9346 "2026-07-12T16:40:03Z")
It’s been awhile since I saw the Game of Thrones Season 8 pitch meeting. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jAhKOV3nImQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Game of Thrones Season 8 Pitch Meeting") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhKOV3nImQ) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9347 "2026-07-12T18:22:49Z")
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