# 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:** 491
**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:** [October 16, 2026, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9808 "2026-10-16T11:26:32Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > Charlies idiot savancy (s that a word?) I had two small issues with Charlie in the Christmas card episode. First, after it’s been very well established that he’s illiterate, he could suddenly read just fine. Second, he managed to act as a judge in a mock trial between Dennis and Mac. A trial that ran pretty similarly to how a regular (American) trial would work, at least as much as you’d expect from a couple of roommates. But, if we look at Charlie’s history with the American legal system, it’s not something he has a firm grasp of, at least outside of Bird Law. And, someone that would generally turn to Uncle Jack for legal help probably isn’t going to make a great judge\*, even in a fake trial taking place in an apartment. \*To be clear, I’m not talking about Jack’s abusive relationship with Charlie, I just mean because Jack’s a terrible lawyer. When it comes to his savancy (really seems like it should be a word), Charlie Work was the prime example. I mean, even the things he was ‘good’ at still made him an idiot, but up until then, the gang had no idea how much he was doing behind the scenes to keep the bar running, running poorly, and very unsafely, but running none the less. Also, on an unrelated note, to this day, if someone at work forgets to turn on the open sign, we still joke that they “left the Coors sign on”. > [@Smid](#): > > but I always love the MacPoyles at any time I feel bad for Jimmi Simpson, maybe it’s because It’s Always Sunny is the first thing I saw him in, but any time he pops up in a show, I think “Liam McPoyle” instead of whatever character he’s actually playing. It makes it harder for me to take him seriously. I was surprised they didn’t mention the McPoyles in the episode where they were all talking about stabbing people like it was a normal thing. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9809 "2026-10-16T11:44:03Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > First, after it’s been very well established that he’s illiterate, he could suddenly read just fine. Second, he managed to act as a judge in a mock trial between Dennis and Mac. I think he knew about trials long before he could read, and he kind of learned to read in the Abbott Elementary crossover episode. Ok, so its funnier if he can’t but I think he did eventually learn, so there’s that (fella). ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9810 "2026-10-16T14:03:43Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > **The Diplomat.** Season 3. The circumstances around which the plot revolved were interesting enough, but much too much soap opera slowing it all down. And it could have been a tight six episodes instead of eight had the characters spent a whole lot less time humping in the midst of a world crisis. I see some popularity for _Diplomat_ in the thread … though apparently not enough to celebrate the recent arrival of Season 4. I _ **loved** _ Season 1 but it had a pace and level of suspense that was hard to keep up. (And the man Hal “killed” in the Season 2 finale was my favorite character.) To keep up the pace the series must zig and zag from one unlikelihood or contradiction to another. It was never clear whether Kate thought President Penn was an admirable genius or a treasonous criminal. “Soap operas” can add spice but the banter between Eidra and Stuart in Season 4 is the same as in Season 1. In Season 4’s first episode the Wylers visit a historic church to renew their “till death do us part”. What’s the betting line on which episode Kate takes a new lover? In a great series (e.g. _The Wire_, _Breaking Bad_ or _Lucifer_!) the story, however far-fetched **advances** but the frenetic twists and swerves in _The Diplomat_ become all of a sameness after a while. I’ll keep watching, but it’s not a candidate for Top Recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9811 "2026-10-16T14:10:43Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > Of course Season 15 was the worst, but by any normal sitcom measure, its probably still an ok Season. Ireland bit ruined it for sure Agreed. But I would be hard-pressed to think of any show where I didn’t think it was a misfire to have the whole main cast pack up and go somewhere like that. Maybe it’s just me, I dunno. As for _Sunny_ in general, I wouldn’t say there’s an episode that’s actually bad, although quality has indeed fluctuated between “sheer brilliance in every conceivable way” and “meh, at least by the standards I apply to _Sunny_.” > [@Joey\_P](#): > > When it comes to his savancy (really seems like it should be a word), Charlie Work was the prime example. I mean, even the things he was ‘good’ at still made him an idiot, but up until then, the gang had no idea how much he was doing behind the scenes to keep the bar running, running poorly, and very unsafely, but running none the less. An excellent example of “sheer brilliance in every conceivable way.” There are so many places where the writers had to go as far as they could to have Charlie to do something surprisingly clever while keeping it believable (within the established in-world rules). And they pull it off exquisitely. Not to mention the energy. It’s an exhausting episode to watch, but in a good way. I never fail to get swept up in it. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9812 "2026-10-16T14:59:37Z")
I also want to add in that I’m impressed with Cricket’s ‘development’ over the series. They set him out on this slow but steady downfall and each time he shows up he’s so much worse off. I’m amazed that the writers keep finding new lows for him. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9813 "2026-10-16T16:20:45Z")
I still love him sucking lemons, going “aaaahhhhh that’s tart” ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9814 "2026-10-16T17:16:16Z")
I just started watching the CBS series Cupertino. Early discussions I read about it were mostly sneering because it didn’t look very much like the City of Cupertino. I’m very familiar with Cupertino and the massive employer therein, so I approached with apprehension. I’ve watched the first episode, and the snappy, intelligent writing and likable main characters (and detestable baddies) made it so that those complaints don’t matter. I’m very much looking forward to the next episode. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9815 "2026-10-16T22:44:04Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I feel bad for Jimmi Simpson, maybe it’s because It’s Always Sunny is the first thing I saw him in, but any time he pops up in a show, I think “Liam McPoyle” instead of whatever character he’s actually playing. It makes it harder for me to take him seriously. I think of him as Lyle The Intern on _David Letterman_, and then also Mary on _Psych_. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9816 "2026-10-16T22:51:45Z")
Mary was who I first saw him as after I knew him as Liam. IIRC, he was in the Mr Yang episodes which, for a comedy show, were pretty dark, hence being kinda thrown when a McPoyle shows up. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9817 "2026-10-16T22:57:38Z")
Cupertino is from the people responsible for The Good Wife and The Good Fight, which were both well written, so I am not surprised that Cupertino is as well. I have not seen it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9818 "2026-10-17T09:51:40Z")
> [@Gordon\_G](#): > > In a great series (e.g. _The Wire_, _Breaking Bad_ or _Lucifer_!) the story, however far-fetched **advances** but the frenetic twists and swerves in _The Diplomat_ become all of a sameness after a while. Let me recant my recent deprecations of _The Diplomat_. Its excellence may be intermittent, but a moment ago I watched Season 4 Episode 4. For all its “frenetic twists and swerves” it is one of the best episodes in the history of television. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9819 "2026-10-17T22:01:41Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > I just started watching the CBS series Cupertino. Early discussions I read about it were mostly sneering because it didn’t look very much like the City of Cupertino. I’m very familiar with Cupertino and the massive employer therein, so I approached with apprehension. I binged the first two episodes of Cupertino today and enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9820 "2026-10-17T22:46:56Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I binged the first two episodes of Cupertino today and enjoyed it. That’s where I’m at. I like the little series opener graphic, showing an aerial view of giant tech buildings being built out in a suburban area. It’s a blatant reference to Apple’s spaceship campus, but it’s quite inaccurate. The spaceship was built on property which was previously inhabited by Hewlett Packard. No suburban neighborhood was plowed under. And most of Apple’s other offices in the valley are distributed among nondescript tech buildings which are widely scattered and which were already there for years before Apple came along. I’m not sure about the ending of that second episode, though. I hope they don’t go science fiction-y. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9821 "2026-10-17T22:48:55Z")
I think you should just stop trying to look for inaccuracies in things like the opening graphic; the show is fiction and none of the story lines have involved real companies. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9822 "2026-10-17T22:49:58Z")
Heh. Noted. My husband walked out after only ten minutes into the first one, saying that no one in Silicon Valley wears suits into the office, not even lawyers. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9823 "2026-10-17T22:52:36Z")
Remind yourself that medical dramas show a lifetime’s worth of weird cases in one season, and no police officer is involved in so many shoot-outs with bank robbers as the ones on television. If shows were more realistic, we’d stop watching out of boredom. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9824 "2026-10-18T00:11:51Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If shows were more realistic, we’d stop watching out of boredom. Agreed. Whenever I hear people complain that such and such a show/sitcom isn’t realistic because that much stuff just doesn’t happen in real life, my reply is to tell them to pretend it’s a week’s worth of drama stuffed into a half hour. And, like you said, it has to be like that. No one would watch, for example, The Office if it was just a half hour of people staring at their computers and making phone calls with the only funny thing being when someone spills their coffee or can’t get the copier to work. ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9825 "2026-10-18T14:47:15Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > a half hour of people staring at their computers and making phone calls with the only funny thing being when someone spills their coffee or can’t get the copier to work. You have just perfectly described every episode of The Office I’ve had the patience to watch. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9826 "2026-10-18T16:30:46Z")
After seeing it mentioned a few times, I watched the first episode of Below. My question is, is adding an ‘s’ to the end of words a Canadian thing? A lot of the dialog sounded like it came right out of Letterkenny, specifically, the way Squirrelly Dan talks. For example, saying something like “Does anyone knows what time it is?” or “If we plays our cards right, we can haggle them up to 150.” ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/9827 "2026-10-18T16:55:41Z")
The makers of the show tried to get the cast to get the accent right. Opinion on whether they succeeded is mixed: > **[Newfoundland Locals Have Thoughts About Josh Hartnett's Below Accent](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/josh-hartnett-below-accent-locals-reaction_uk_6ad0a221e4b08a0fe855f575)** > > Josh Hartnett and his Netflix co-stars tried their best to recreate the region’s distinct accent in their hit miniseries. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=490) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=492)