# We need a new series to binge **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 19, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810 "2020-03-19T16:04:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/61 "2020-03-27T19:20:12Z")
Here’s a trailer for [Midnight Diner,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCGDVHjPX0c) a Japanese series available on Netflix. Wife and I have been watching it, and it’s pretty good. Each episode is about 22 minutes and focuses on interactions between various people who visit a small diner in Tokyo. There are also a couple of feature-length movies that were spun out of this series, and they’re pretty good too. ---
**Author:** ![Casparlatete](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/casparlatete/32/3377_2.png) [@Casparlatete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casparlatete)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/62 "2020-03-27T22:31:56Z")
I can’t but agree with ivylass - \*\*Madmen \*\* is superb, should make a perfect binge. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/63 "2020-03-30T03:52:22Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Here’s a trailer for [Midnight Diner,](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCGDVHjPX0c) a Japanese series available on Netflix. Wife and I have been watching it, and it’s pretty good. Each episode is about 22 minutes and focuses on interactions between various people who visit a small diner in Tokyo. There are also a couple of feature-length movies that were spun out of this series, and they’re pretty good too. If you like this, I would recommend Samurai Gourmet, another Japanese import on Netflix with a food theme. I actually like it more than Midnight Diner. The main character Takeshi, who narrates his internal dialogue, is a recently retired workaholic salaryman who finds himself at loose ends with all his free time and starts wandering around his neighborhood looking for lunch. It’s a very charming show. Another Japanese show that’s pretty short is Stay Tuned!, a comedy about a cloudcuckoolander who starts a job in the news department of a local TV station. Her antics and on-air pitfalls make for increased ratings even as they irritate her more staid co-workers. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/64 "2020-03-30T04:05:42Z")
[Baskets](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3468798/) on FX/Hulu. My wife and I are just finishing up the fourth and final season and it’s surprisingly charming. Zach Galifinakis plays twins, Chip and Dale Baskets. Chip is an aspiring clown in Bakersfield, CA, Dale is the owner of a for-profit career college. Louie Anderson absolutely fucking nails it as their mom, Christine Baskets. I have never like Louie Anderson, but this is the role he was born to play. I believe he even won an Emmy. And, honest to goodness, the most believable character on the show is Christine Baskets. He plays her brilliantly. It starts off as absurd and attempting to be somewhat wacky, but really, really grows into itself. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes cringe-y, sometimes it’s sorta heartfelt. It’s only four seasons, with ten 22-minute episodes in each season, so you can burn through it pretty fast. ---
**Author:** ![wombattver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@wombattver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wombattver)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/65 "2020-04-07T08:41:31Z")
I’m a week late, but wanted to chime in anyway. We live overseas, so many of these may be shows others watched a long time ago, but we didn’t commit to them until years later. Supernatural - give it another chance Stranger things - obviously, though season 3 isn’t great Godless - fantastic miniseries about women running a mining town after most of the men were killed in a mine accident Umbrella Academy - we loved it along with our 2 teens The Americans - amazing, compelling, suspenseful, well-written, give it a few episodes to really get into it Breaking Bad - perhaps the best series ever created IMO Weeds - strange and fun and scary and weird Ozark - Jason Bateman and more great actors, riveting Broadchurch - starring David Tennent with his real accent as a detective investigating the murder of a teen boy. Heartbreaking, gripping and full of twists Downton Abbey - highly recommended! Never was interested when it was first on TV. Once I got into, I loved it and couldn’t stop watching it. Kept me up too late for “just one more episode!” ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/66 "2020-04-08T20:40:52Z")
We’re watching\*\* The Last Kingdom\*\* now, which I’m finding is better than the book. Ivylad has the first five, but I’m not going to read after the first one. In our queue… **Frontier** (Jason Momoa…mmmm) and **Marco Polo**. I need to watch **Breaking Bad** …I didn’t see it in the original run. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/67 "2020-04-08T22:07:52Z")
Second or third **The Expanse**. The story, different worlds, pretty much everything about it make for great get-lost-in-it bingeing. The biker shows - **Sons of Anarchy** and **Mayans** were excellent. Related is **The Shield** (Kurt Sutter - writer). I got sucked into **Downton Abbey** much to my wife’s delight. **Shameless** was great too. **Killing Eve** is about to start up a new season. My daughter recommends **Orange is the new Black** A couple of Euro-sci-fi/supernatural series were good: **The Rain** **The Innocents** I’m enjoying **The War of the Worlds** with Gabriel Byrne ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/68 "2020-04-08T22:51:53Z")
**Unorthodox** I’ve watched 3 of the 4 episodes available on Netflix. I knew very little about Orthodox Judaism, not sure how accurate it is, great show, no violence (so far) very suspenseful, great casting and acting. Based on a true story. 8.3 out of 10 at IMDb. [Unorthodox at IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9815454/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/69 "2020-04-08T23:48:33Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > **Unorthodox** I’ve watched 3 of the 4 episodes available on Netflix. I knew very little about Orthodox Judaism, not sure how accurate it is, great show, no violence (so far) very suspenseful, great casting and acting. Based on a true story. 8.3 out of 10 at IMDb. > > [Unorthodox at IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9815454/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) Forgot to add that there are subtitles. If the characters would be speaking in Yiddish they do, if they would be speaking German they do, if the characters would be speaking English they do. Sometimes a mixture as would be expected in real life. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/70 "2020-04-09T01:30:28Z")
[Not to push Unorthodox too much but here’s the trailer.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVhRId0BTw) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/71 "2020-04-09T03:16:03Z")
I’m in the middle of _Home Before Dark_. The pre-tween kid detective is completely unrealistically bright and observant and composed, but the show has a real _Veronica Mars_ quality/feel to it. (And speaking of, howcum nobody has mentioned _VM_ for a recommendation yet?) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2020, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/72 "2020-04-09T12:09:27Z")
I just started watching _Tales From The Loop_ on Amazon Prime. The first few episodes were…different. I guess I’m hooked. [The Wikipedia page](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_from_the_Loop) Anyone else seen it? ---
**Author:** ![Casparlatete](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/casparlatete/32/3377_2.png) [@Casparlatete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casparlatete)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/73 "2020-04-18T14:37:15Z")
**Giri Haji** Netfix, is one of the best series I’ve seen for a long time (8 episodes). It takes a little effort to get into it - moving about in time, & between Tokyo & London’ underworlds, but hang in & you will be well rewarded. It is so wide-reaching in its characters - all superbly portrayed, from the 2 main character/brothers, to Rodney, a homo-sexual London prostitute, whom at first I thought I was going to hate & in the end had me in tears, & even an insouciant Japanese granny dumping a shitty diaper into a bullies motor-bike helmet. 5 stars! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/74 "2020-04-18T14:57:49Z")
> [@Casparlatete](#): > > **Giri Haji** Netfix, is one of the best series I’ve seen for a long time (8 episodes). It takes a little effort to get into it - moving about in time, & between Tokyo & London’ underworlds, but hang in & you will be well rewarded. It is so wide-reaching in its characters - all superbly portrayed, from the 2 main character/brothers, to Rodney, a homo-sexual London prostitute, whom at first I thought I was going to hate & in the end had me in tears, & even an insouciant Japanese granny dumping a shitty diaper into a bullies motor-bike helmet. 5 stars! This is an excellent series with a few truly memorable sequences. One caution - a good chunk of it requires you to read subtitles. If you’re one of those that can’t manage it, bad luck. They are used cleverly in one scene with Kenzo and his daughter. Also worth noting, Will Sharpe who is tremendous as Rodney, was also in the Olivia Colman black comedy _Flowers_ which he also wrote and directed. Both seasons of it are well worth a look. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/75 "2020-04-18T15:24:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I just started watching _Tales From The Loop_ on Amazon Prime. The first few episodes were…different. I guess I’m hooked. [The Wikipedia page](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_from_the_Loop) > > Anyone else seen it? I haven’t, but I played a session of [Tales from the Loop Roleplaying Game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_from_the_Loop_(role-playing_game)) last April and had a blast. (It’s a bit like a Stranger Things-style game: you play kids ages about 9-15 or so, confronting weirdness and danger and government secrecy). I’m looking forward to the show at some point. ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/76 "2020-04-18T17:20:19Z")
The favorite thing I have seen recently is called The Detectorists. > **[Detectorists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detectorists)** > > Detectorists is a British comedy television series first broadcast on BBC Four in October 2014. It is written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, who also stars alongside Toby Jones. > The series is set in the fictional small town of Danebury in north Essex. The plot revolves around the lives, loves and metal-detecting ambitions of Andy and Lance, members of the Danebury Metal Detecting Club. The main filming location for the series and Christmas specials is Framlingham, a small market town in Suf... > **[British Sitcom ‘Detectorists’ Is TV’s Buried Treasure](https://www.theringer.com/tv/2018/1/15/16890616/detectorists-mackenzie-crook)** > > The comedic cult classic’s final season, which arrives in the U.S. this week, retains its atypical charm I like slow, well crafted, complex, sensible shows… and this one is all of that. It’s a comedy from the UK, but it’s not bonkers, knock you over the head comedy. If you’re depending upon the show to keep you up all night with explosions and gore and screaming, this is not that. It’s on Amazon Prime & I believe it’s also on BritBox. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/77 "2020-04-18T17:44:04Z")
> [@wombattver](#): > > Downton Abbey - highly recommended! Never was interested when it was first on TV. Once I got into, I loved it and couldn’t stop watching it. Kept me up too late for “just one more episode!” Oh, didn’t think of this earlier, because it’s old, but people who may not have seen it when it was first run back in the 70s might enjoy one of the giants of British miniseries, _Upstairs, Downstairs_. Another series in a similar vein that is awfully good is _The Duchess of Duke Street_; this series is based on the life of a real person. Anyone who liked Downton Abbey should like these. Another just occurred to me. Has anyone else recommended _Absolutely Fabulous_. Freaking hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/78 "2020-04-20T15:11:36Z")
> [@LVBoPeep](#): > > Ditto- I really liked Shetland, especially after about 3 episodes in. Also, that reminds me on Starz is Dublin Murders which is also very good. I just finished that series of books and they are the best I’ve ever read in that kind of genre. Mrs. Quercus and I are done with _Dublin Murders_ as of last night. We’ve also finished _Shetland_, _Broadchurch_, and about as much as we could stand of _Hinterland_. Any other recs for us of dramas featuring Celtic detectives with a troubled past? (Oh, and if you’re at all a Trekkie, CBS all access has a free one-month trial, which is enough to sweep through _Picard_ and _Discovery_. ---
**Author:** ![Casparlatete](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/casparlatete/32/3377_2.png) [@Casparlatete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casparlatete)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/79 "2020-04-20T16:02:29Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > This is an excellent series with a few truly memorable sequences. One caution - a good chunk of it requires you to read subtitles. If you’re one of those that can’t manage it, bad luck. They are used cleverly in one scene with Kenzo and his daughter. > > Also worth noting, Will Sharpe who is tremendous as Rodney, was also in the Olivia Colman black comedy _Flowers_ which he also wrote and directed. Both seasons of it are well worth a look. \*\*don’t ask \*\* I’m indebted to you for that information about Will Sharpe, he appeared to me to have been put on this Earth to play that part & do nothing other! I now find he is multi-talented as a writer, director & god knows what else, unfortunately it appears \*Flowers \* isn’t available on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810/80 "2020-04-20T17:46:23Z")
I can definitely second “The Detectorists”. Very good show. I can add a few more shows: “Succession” (HBO) - About a conservative media conglomerate (think Fox News) and the family behind it. Very good writing, with characters who are despicable but I enjoy watching them! 2 seasons, and still going. “Billions” (Showtime) - Follows a District Attorney (Paul Giamatti) trying to bring down the head of a crooked Hedge Fund company (Damian Lewis). 4 seasons and still going. “The Wire” (HBO) - Just started a re-watch of this show. I can’t say enough about this show. It deserves all of the praise it gets. 5 seasons. “Deadwood” (HBO) - Period western about the town of Deadwood. Magnificent dialogue (almost Shakespearean!). 3 seasons and a HBO movie. “Lost” (ABC) - My only “network” recommendation. The first few seasons of this show where frigg’n BRILLIANT! The tapestry they wove was amazing, however the ending was a true let down. Even with this, I still cautiously recommend it. 6 seasons. MtM [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-new-series-to-binge/849810.md?page=5)