Favourite TV Series

We've tried to get into it a few times and never got past the first episode.

How long did it take to actually start getting engaging?

 

took me 4 episodes. but I had to do them back to back. after that I couldn't stop

 

I've just finished series 3 of the wire. I started watching it before getting my job so my progress has slowed significantly. Enjoying it so far!

 

The Wire and The Sopranos were two of the best series ever made. In my opinion it was Breaking Bad that had a sluggish first series but got infinitely better after that.

 

About a four episode "binge" - you should get dragged in.

And using pretty much the same cast (and locations) is "The Corner" - you should be dragged into it within the first 20 mins. It's very absorbing plus it has the added bonus of "Look there's whatsisname from the wire..." throughout.

 

The Corner and Homicide are two books written by David Simon which The Wire is based on. Both are great, as is The Wire

 

I've probably watched The Wire 4 times in total. Currently working through for a 5th time when waking up to feed the baby in the night. Nothing beats it for me. Like others, it probably took me 3 episodes to really start getting into it, but once there, I was hooked. Even now, I notice little details that add something I've never noticed before. Brilliant. Even found myself strolling the streets of west Baltimore on Google Earth.

Loved Sopranos as well. More recently, I thought Homeland was outstanding, especially the first couple of seasons.

 

I gave up after the first season of Breaking bad. Too much time spent on family struggles and not enough cooking meth for me.

 

As I said the first series was quite sluggish, but due to a writers' guild strike at the time the first series is quite short (less than 10 episodes I think), from the second series it is excellent.

 

The Quantum of Solace effect. I get you.

 

You see I enjoyed The Wire, but didn't think it was mind blowingly brilliant - it was very good but I didn't fanboy over it.

Same with The Sopranos, it was very good but as above.

Breaking Bad was very good, but again I didn't feel it the best series ever.

The first 4 seasons of Dexter were monumentally brilliant...then the writers struggled to find storylines and season 5 onwards were a disappointment.

Same with Battlestar Galactica, first 3 seasons excellent...season 4 became a feck knuckle of a mess (I still have no idea what Starbuck was).

TWD and GoT are very good but you have seasons in those which you can quite happily skip - when revisiting.

Anyone who hasn't seen it, I highly recommend Between The Lines (first 2 series only) - amazing.

 

I think with a lot of American series is that sometimes they go one series too many usually because advertisers demand it, also if a key character decides to quit before the last series. UK series tend to get it right but I think the reason behind that is because usually UK series are written by one person and sometimes two, whereas US series tend to have a team of writers.

 

[video]http://dai.ly/x18kvo[/video]
i'm sure i've posted this before. but still good

 

Seinfeld - aah, the self obsessed narcissist I wish I'd been in the 90s

 

I'm making it work in 2016. it's not too late for you Moog

 

Nah, I'm Dennis Reynolds now

 

Just a note on Westworld: the first episode was written by one of the producers, Ed Brubaker. Brubaker got his start in comic books where he wrote very engaging storylines for often dull characters like Captain America, for example. The Rosas on there could be a Capt America movie and the follow up Winter Soldier thing in the first place was the work Brubaker did putting together coherent and compelling stories for him. Anyway, just thought I'd share that connection.

 

To be fair I'm not that endeared. Watched 5 episodes and at least half the program is style over substance. There is a good story in there somewhere but it leaves that feeling it could be 8, 12 or 20 episodes long. Or 4 seasons

 

I think you're right it is dragging a little now. I'm starting to do other things and have it on in the background now. I wonder if it would be spiced up by using the original film concept of other themed worlds.

 

There's still time...

 

That site is a joke no?
One of their other articles is

 

It's on the internet so it must be true...

 

Planet Earth 2.

David Attenborough is the greatest living Briton.

 

His programmes are marvelous, but how much of it is him? I mean, isn't he just a voice over artist making it big off the sweat of a bunch of scientists and innovative camera people?

 

Agreed.

The photography and whole team involved in that programme are outstanding.

Perhaps we could borrow their midfield?!

 

Planet Earth 2 had one of the most amazing, creepy, exciting 5 minute segments (of it's kind) I think I have ever seen on a wildlife program.

On BBC Iplayer, starts at 21.00, ends at 26.00 ish.

Involves new born iguanas and (I may be going soft in my old age) it was like a horror movie.

 

This week's Z Nation (S03E08, "Election Day") absolutely nails the US presidential election. So I'm assuming everyone involved in it will be taken to one of President Trump's re-education camps ASAP (along with everyone involved with the latest South Park - who've actually had episodes pulled).

 

I do and I read the comics (TV's catching up with them - comics are two big storylines ahead)

Let me put it like this: "The Walking Dead" is "Z Nation's" older, po-faced, mirth-free brother. I feel that I have to watch TWD (to see how they do the stuff in the comics on screen) but I love to watch ZN. ZN's much gorier and darker (hidden in the humour) and with:

Spoiler

1. Zombies killed in very inventive ways such a a giant wheel of cheese.
2. Zombie-ganja hybrids.
3. A zombie George RR Martin - a genuine WTF moment when I saw it.
4. This week's election episode with the "President" of the USA saying, amongst other things, that he's going to build a wall with his giant hands was inspired.

What's not to like?

Subtle it ain't, but it's very watchable.

 

I've just seen this week's South Park and I think they'll be first in the queue for the re-education camps.

 

Aren't they Canadian at south park?

 

Naw they're from Colorado, where South Park takes place.