# 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:** 84
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1662 "2022-08-29T20:43:15Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Started **Lucifer** (S1), which I’d managed to avoid heretofore. It’s diverting but I’m unlikely to develop an emotional commitment to it. The banter is top quality, but the spouse finds Tom Ellis’s devil just a smidge too camp to really take seriously. Gads, I haaaaaaated this show. ShadowWife started watching it and I caught a couple of episodes. I felt like I needed to take a shower from all the smarm and overacting. She kept watching for the eye candy and to see it through, so I would catch bits here and there and it only got worse and worse and worse. Absolute dreck, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1663 "2022-08-29T21:26:42Z")
We watched all of **Lucifer** and enjoyed it. It’s certainly light entertainment, and you need to approach it as a comedy, or a dramedy at best since it’s supposed to be light and fun. Tom Ellis as Lucifer is what makes the show. He’s very engaging and fun to watch doing his thing. But if you don’t like him or the premise, you’ll hate the show. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1664 "2022-08-30T04:38:40Z")
New season of **My Life is Murder** cropped up last night unexpectedly with _Lucy Lawless_. Great show. And we only have one episode of latest season of **The Brokenwood Mysteries** left, as well. So that’s our homegrown murder kick for this year. Getting into **Dublin Murders** , and we enjoyed **Magpie Murders** , as well - so much so that we watched a couple of episodes back-to-back. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1665 "2022-08-30T06:46:06Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Started **Lucifer** (S1), which I’d managed to avoid heretofore. It’s diverting but I’m unlikely to develop an emotional commitment to it. The banter is top quality, but the spouse finds Tom Ellis’s devil **just a smidge too camp to really take seriously.** The late Mrs. CaptMurdock was a fan. I was…ennhhh. For much the same reason as above. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1666 "2022-08-30T16:55:10Z")
_Country Queen_ on Netflix is a sort of soap opera-ish tale of intrigue and corruption and big-city versus rural values in Kenya. The main character Akisa returns to her country village, which she left after her parents made her give up her out-of- wedlock baby, for which she’s never forgiven her dad. But he’s old and sick now, and dies soon after she arrives. After the burial, she starts the drive back to Nairobi, and nearly hits a kid with a torn shirt (a child laborer in a gold mining operation). Hmm, what are the odds it’s her lost child? There’s more to it, but that’s the sort of obvious plotting this leans on. Still, an interesting look at a dichotomy of scruples played out in an African setting, which we don’t get a lot of here. It’s only six episodes so I’ll stick with it. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1667 "2022-08-30T16:57:50Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Tom Ellis as Lucifer is what makes the show. He’s very engaging and fun to watch doing his thing. But if you don’t like him or the premise, you’ll hate the show. This is true. I mean, he playing The King Of Hell, of course he’s over the top. It’s also the only show I’ve been able to like Tom Ellis in. I will say I didn’t like the way the series ended. Finished _Outer Range_. I will not be watching season two if it happens. I stuck it out, but I found it quite tedious and the acting left a lot to be desired. Started _The Terminal List_ but I’m not sure I’ll stick with it. It seems to be another giant impossible government conspiracy/coverup story line, which I’m really tired of. If it takes a turn to something else I may change my mind. So far, Chis Pratt seems to be phoning in his monotone performance. These are on Amazon, so I’m going to throw in a little bitching about how they now list their shows. Under their free with Prime listings, they started putting shows that only have the first episode free and you have to pay for the rest. Total waste of time clicking thru on a few of those yesterday. I also ran across two older movies that looked good and the only free part was the trailer. Bad Amazon! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1668 "2022-08-30T18:48:38Z")
We are on episode 6 of **The Terminal List**. I’m enjoying it for what it is - a straight-up action thriller show. If you are looking for social commentary or politics, this isn’t the show for you. It’s basically good guy gets wronged, good guy pushes limits of being a good guy to settle scores. Chris Pratt is fine. The character he plays is a Navy SEAL on a mission, which is almost by definition going to be a reserved, somewhat one-note performance. I evaluate this kind of performance by how believable the actor is in the role. I can totally buy Pratt as a SEAL. He spent a long time in weapons training, tactics and fitness before the show was shot, and it shows. It’s not a complex show. It’s a shoot-em-up. If that’s not your thing, you won’t like it. We are on season 7 of **The Blacklist**. I’m shocked that they’ve managed to keep the mystery of Reddington going for seven seasons, and the show is still highly watchable - mainly because of James Spader. We will definitely be watching until the end. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1669 "2022-08-30T20:25:04Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > We are on episode 6 of **The Terminal List**. I’m enjoying it for what it is - a straight-up action thriller show. I think it’s the second best of 4 action thriller shows/movies I’ve streamed recently. In order of best to worst: (1) Jack Reacher (surprisingly intelligent and fun, good action, let down by bad ending) (2) Terminal List (fine action, nice pacing, tries to “say something” about veterans’ mental health and doesn’t really succeed, VERY predictable) (3) Jack Ryan (perfectly serviceable, but really nothing new there, probably going to give up after 3.5 or so episodes) (4) The Gray Man (definitely would have given up if it was a TV show, but stuck out the movie hoping it would get better) ---
**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:** [August 30, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1670 "2022-08-30T20:28:23Z")
i thought lucifer was good. the actress who plays trixie (scarlett estevez) is sooo good. the camp does tone down as the series goes on. i believe 4,5, and 6 to be the best. 3 was a bit of a slog. there was quite a bit of character growth all around. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1671 "2022-08-30T21:53:13Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Jack Ryan (perfectly serviceable, but really nothing new there, probably going to give up after 3.5 or so episodes) I really wanted to like this show, but I got halfway through the first episode and it seemed really hackneyed with boilerplate dialog. Does it tet better? I like Tom Clancy, and I like the actors well enough, but it just seemed weak. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1672 "2022-08-30T22:16:44Z")
Mrs. Wheelz and I enjoyed both seasons. Sure, nothing groundbreaking or anything, but I found the writing, acting, and action all to be very good. It may not be everybody’s cuppa, but I’d definitely give it more than half an episode to find out. (It’s been a while, but yeah, I think that first episode took a while to get going.) ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1673 "2022-08-30T22:27:24Z")
I think it tried to have its cake and eat it too with respect to the jihadist baddies… trying to make us sympathize with them and show why they were jihadists, but also they were clearly baddies so it was OK when the goodies killed them. But it went either too far or not far enough. If it doesn’t go there at all, then hey, yay, fun action movie, just have the bad guys be from obscureistan and seem vaguely foreign and leave politics out of it. OR, make a genuinely thoughtful thriller where there really aren’t goodies and baddies. But as it was, worst of both worlds. At least to me. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1674 "2022-09-02T08:22:17Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > It’s not a complex show. It’s a shoot-em-up. If that’s not your thing, you won’t like it. Well, I gave up on it. Shoot-em ups are fine, this one just bored me. Started watching _Night Sky_ with JK Simmons and Sissy Spacek. Liking it so far, looking forward to seeing where they go with it. I’ll have to finish it up so I can watch the LOTR show in real time so I can jump into the thread for some discussion. It occurred to me that this is only the second time I’ve seen Simmons in a starring role and both had a underground room that led to another place/timeline/dimension. Counterpart from 2017 is the other, also on Amazon. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1675 "2022-09-02T12:43:06Z")
Finished **The Offering**. It got a little sanguine near the end and the final episode was completely unnecessary, but I would still recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2022, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1676 "2022-09-02T18:57:25Z")
Just finished season 2 of _The Outlaws_, which had (not surprisingly) a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses as season 1: fun and interesting characters, entertaining to watch them interact with each other, and some VERY good acting (particularly from the young actress who plays Rani). But weird pacing and mixing of tones that doesn’t always come off well, and some very implausible story beats to get the whole thing going. Still definitely enjoyed it overall. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1677 "2022-09-02T19:48:58Z")
We’re in the final season of our re-watching binge of **Breaking Bad**. The final season gets a bit far fetched at times, especially with Walt’s evil mastermind thing going on. I’m wondering if Gilligan just told the writers “Hey, have fun guys.” After the meticulous storytelling of the first four seasons, this one seems off somehow. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1678 "2022-09-02T22:22:24Z")
Binged the two seasons of **Big Little Lies** , and like many, I found the first season superior to the 2nd. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1679 "2022-09-02T23:13:33Z")
I could easily have watched a couple more seasons of _Counterpart_ but alas. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2022, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1680 "2022-09-03T03:17:54Z")
The _Rings of Power_ is not… good. It looks expensive but it’s soooooo boring. ETA: It may be growing on me. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2022, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108/1681 "2022-09-03T04:19:14Z")
I watched the 2 episodes of **The Patient** (Hulu) that are out, starring Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleeson (son of Brendan Gleeson). So far it’s _very_ good. I should have waited for the whole series to be released so I could binge it, but I don’t have that kind of patience. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=83) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/series-youve-recently-watched-are-now-watching-or-have-given-up-on/946108.md?page=85)