I humored my wife by watching the first three episodes of Reacher season 4. After getting worse with every season (I quit half-way through season 3) this one actually might be the best so far. I suspect Alan Ritchson may have taken a few acting lessons before this season.
I enjoyed season 1. I thought it accomplished what it set out to do. When I saw clips of Reacher in the past acting like no one in the Army could ever act it turned me completely off.
Season three was pure crap. I think I finished it, but had to hold my nose. I almost didn’t engage with S4, but was bored and thought “How much worse could it be than S3?”
I’ve only gave it a chance because of the word of mouth here. Season 1 was decently entertaining if a bit stupidly over-the-top. Season 2 was wretchedly over-the-top and I barely finished it. I skipped season 3 entirely because everyone said it was worse than 2, which I already disliked.
Season 4 has been okay so far, right around season 1. Not great, but holding my attention without annoying the crap out of me.
I’ve really never watched his show, other then when friends had it on in college. However, I do like his youtube clips with Sona.
So mrs. dirtball saw one of those screen saver promos for The Audacity on Netflix and got curious. As far as I can tell, it was just a bunch of characters saying stuff to no good purpose. She (the missus) got up to go to the bathroom about halfway through the first episode, and I paused it. When she came back, we decided to go on to something else.
So I guess my reaction is, “I don’t fucking care.”
I’m still greatly enjoying the orginal (1957-1966) Perry Mason series, which produced 271 episodes over 9 years. I’ve often been up half the night watching it. Currently about 1/3 of the way through the second season.
I’m noticing that some episodes are titled “Erle Stanley Gardner’s” followed by the episode name, and others are titled “Based upon characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner”. Sure, Gardner was a prolific writer, but though he produced something like 86 Perry Mason novels, the series had 271 episodes over 9 years, so the majority were original screenplays based on the original characters and ideas.
I still say that despite the artificial constraints and somewhat formulaic plot lines, most of the scripts were imaginative and well written. The true villain is usually not obvious, except of course for the necessary innocence of Mason’s client.
I started watching this and I’m now halfway through. Not really sure why I keep going because it’s so bad. The writing is awful even for a Ryan Murphy show. Niecy Nash is absolutely terrible and completely unbelievable as a cop. Her character is just obnoxious yet she’s presented like some super special hero.
She’s also Conan’s sidekick or cohost, or whatever you want to call her, on his podcast, and she’s a great comic foil. They, along with producer Matt Gourley, have really good camaraderie together.
Billy and Dom Eat the World
Streams on Youtube. Billy Boyd(Pippin) and Dom Monaghan(Merry) remain good friends 25 years after filming Lord of the Rings.
They travel to various countries and try food, a very Hobbit type of thing to do. It works because the two of them get along well and are up for trying anything.
Fun show.
I am up to episode 7 of Widow’s Bay on Apple TV. I really resisted watching this show because I hate scary shows - they can give me nightmares for weeks after. A friend finally pestered me into watching it.
And while it is scary and creepy (and I regularly have to turn the sound off so I’m not so creeped out), it’s actually hilarious. Like laugh out loud multiple times per episode. Matthew Rhys’ comedic timing is phenomenal, and the humor is just fantastic.
It’s really interesting to see how they can simultaneously make his character look decent and well-meaning while also selfish and a complete fuck-up. Well done, writers, directors, and actors.
After Life
Highly recommended.
This is Ricky Gervais’ fourth sitcom and this is the most serious one yet. He plays Tony, a guy who lost his wife to cancer and now he hates the world and wants to die or at least ruin everything for everyone else.
It’s a great show. I know Gervais can be annoying and his stand-up comedy is not great, but I have found pleasure in all the TV series he has done. I’m going to go back and watch Derek, his previous show. I don’t think I ever finished it.
After Life was terrific, though. It streams on Netflix in the USA. Check it out.
Enjoyed the first 4 episodes of the new Reacher season (Season 4), but today’s installment was crap.
I’m reminded of the John Krasinski Jack Ryan series, which started off with an academic researcher adjusting to the world of espionage and quickly had John/Jack casually shooting people every show — without legal or diplomatic consequences. Reacher is now leaving bodies left and right, and I suspect that he’ll still be able to amble out of town at the end.
The new episode was called “Bridge”, and the title sequence (on the bridge) was the crappiest part of the crappy show.
Agreed. Very funny and also poignant. I also loved “Extras” with Gervais and Ashley Jensen.
We loved that show especially Diane Morgan and of course, the dog.
Re-starting Derek, another Ricky Gervais show. I just read that Ricky Gervais claims Derek is neither mentally or intellectually disabled.
Uh, what? I think Ricky did a great job portraying a man who obviously is a bit low IQ or, well, slow in some ways. I’m a bit surprised he claims this is not the case…or perhaps he is claming being 85IQ or something is not disabled.
Tropic Thunders said, “Never go full r-word.” Ricky doesn’t and it works really well.
I’m completely surprised how much I enjoy Gervais’ shows considering he comes off as a big, rude, idiot in his terrible stand-up specials.
I’ve watched several TV series recently; none too good but not too bad either. The few episodes of Downton Abbey I watched years ago seemed relatively boring, but The Gilded Age (high-rated) has much more interesting (if almost “shark-jumping”) characters and plots.
And I just started The Shards. Low-rated but … Wow! What’s your favorite genre? Is it on this list?
- thriller
- mystery
- horror
- period drama
- teenage romance
- coming of age
- dark comedy
- pornography
- psychological drama
- sitcom
- telenovela
- coming of age story
Watch The Shards. It combines all twelve genres! 
Absolutely loved this show. I was guaranteed to both laugh and cry during every damn episode. I also find his stand-up routines hit-or-miss (unless he’s hosting the Golden Globes, that was amazing) but any show of his is just top tier.
We’re watching Make Some Noise on Dropout at the rate of like one episode per week.
It’s a funny improv show full of wonderful young people.
We’ll probably be watching it for a while.
That show was something special.