What TV/Netflix show are you currently watching? (Megathread)

[kamikazekeeg]

Finally got around to finishing Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean with the recent announcement of the new series hitting.  Just when I think this series can't get anymore out there and absurd, it hits a new level of weird lol I could not explain anything about the ending of this show at all, it really went over the top.  Some fun characters and moments, but I'm kinda leaning towards liking this less than the other newer era shows such as Diamond and Golden.  I like Jolyne a good bit, more than Giorno, not sure compared to Josuke, but I think it's just elements like Pucci only being an okay villain to me, and the ending gets kinda too weird in a way that didn't feel all that satisfying.

Nothing bad, but I am interested to see where Steel Ball Run takes things as people are kinda hyping it up a bunch.  Currently I think Stardust Crusaders is still my favorite as I prefer the older style more and I really dig the characters.

[Cartagia]

Sugar - Very good neo-noir on Apple TV+ starring Colin Farrell.  And, it's not just noir story wise, the beats feel like they are straight out of the 40s or 50s but in a modern setting, with great staging / cinematography / editing, along with a very solid mystery with very interesting twists and turns that are definitely not for everybody.   Doesn't 100% stick the landing, but the build-up worked enough for me.

Watched Hijack on Apple before my sub runs out in a couple of days.  It's like an entire season of dumb 24-style plot twists crammed into 7 episodes. Easily the worst thing I've watched on Apple, but still strangely compelling.

[kamikazekeeg]

Legend of Vox Machina: Season 3 - Continues to be a fantastic series, it's a quality fantasy setting with great voice acting, good action, and a good story.  I really have no negatives to say about it, this series is a big recommend and I can't wait for Season 4.

[Cartagia]

The Penguin - The kind of prestige show the MCU wishes it was pumping out on the reg.  Award caliber performances, set design, and especially make-up. Kinda runs out of steam by the last couple of episodes but absolutely sticks the landing.

[doafan]

Tons of Kdramas, not gonna lie I don´t remember the names of all of them, it all started when I told my wife that she need to watch Extraordinary Attorney Woo, now the main TV and Netflix belongs to her, technically have created a monster, not gonna lie, most of these shows are pretty addictive 

[Cartagia]

Skeleton Crew is a ton of fun, and Jude Law does a great job at anchoring the whole thing.  Extremely 80s kid adventure vibes, with The Goonies serving as a major reference point.  This is the show Willow should have been.

Final season of The Righteous Gemstones was the weakest overall, but it still managed to be one of the funniest and best shows on TV.

Third season of Dark Winds was really inconsistent, and the mysteries weren't nearly as compelling as the earlier seasons.  I'm still in for Zahn McClarnon, though.

The way Andor has recontextualized not just Rogue One, but the entire Original Trilogy is staggering.  It's the most well written and best acted material in the ewhole franchise, if not always the most purely entertaining.  It's basically the first time you can really see how the entire universe works, and it is so utterly compelling.

[dhaabi]

Nathan Fielder's season 2 of The Rehearsal demonstrates how Fielder is, time and time again, able to masterfully blend comedy, reality TV, and social dynamics to new heights. Fielder's unhinged and comedic focus toward solving the issue of air traffic safety is a topic so consequential which allows for a deeply engaging season premise to be crafted, and even more so considering that it's Fielder himself of all people who's investing their time and available resources into the matter. The lengths he takes to explore a vast multitude of scenarios which, by the season's end, force him to confront aspects that define who he is as a person on some fundamental level is staggering. But it is not only Fielder who grapples with these issues as he takes ample time to showcase how this confrontation extends to all pilots who struggle in the same way and not only as they work toward their careers but also while maintaining their titles in the many years to follow.

Also, this tier list I came across titled "Actors who do their own stunts" really got me.

[Cartagia]

Yeah, Rehersal two really felt like it was saying something in a much deeper way than the first season.  He managed to shine a light on what appears t obe a pretty serious issue while also managing to be touching, irreverent, and thought-provoking.  There is no one like Fielder out there putting in the work today.

[dhaabi]

Without really knowing anything about it beforehand besides that Nathan Fielder was its producer, I decided to watch How to with John Wilson. Despites its name, How to isn't really a show that aims to teach a lesson or give instruction. Instead, it's a collection of random, frivolous events curated to explore a central theme each episode, though that theme often shifts as life's unexpectedness dictates it. New York City is framed as some incomparable menagerie of human behavior as Wilson films life's passive moments that often go unnoticed while also conducting interviews with bizarre characters in all sorts of strange environments.

It comes highly recommended for those interested in Fielder's own work. This promotional overview of what the show is provides a simple outlook on it and is without spoilers, and it's Fielder at his best.

[Cartagia]

I've got a friend who has been trying to get me to watch How to because she knows how much I like Fielder.

Pee-Wee as Himself - I always knew that Pee-Wee as a concept originated from a comedy troupe bit, but I didn't realize just how steeped it all was in the counter-culture and punk scenes.  Also pretty shocked by how meticulous and controlled everything about the character is, despite how chaotic he apoears.

[dhaabi]

I've got a friend who has been trying to get me to watch How to because she knows how much I like Fielder.

I suppose this means there are now two people suggesting it to you. It's a short show of eighteen episodes, and you'll know almost immediately if it's for you if you ever do decide to give it a try.

[Cartagia]

The Mortician - Has the same problem that most docs have these days, dragging things out over multiple episodes instead of a 1.5-2 hour movie.  That said, a very solid telling of a pretty morally despicable crime spree.

I was pretty hesitant to start the second season of The Last of Us for a few reasons: I wasn't head over heels with the first and the second game is incredibly dour.  They've definitely toned down the more grim aspects, which makes it a more easy watch than I expected, but has also kind of messed with Ellie's character arc.  I did really appreciate all the extra depth and context they were able to add, which, like the first season, are the best parts of the show.  They've also copied the pacing and structure of the game, which I thought going in was a bad idea, and I'm still not convinced it worked.  Gonna have to wait til S3 to see... whenever that is.

The third season of Chucky is probably it's weakest, but that's because their eyes were bigger than their stomachs, creatively speaking.  It's certainly ambitious, but kind of at the expense of focus and characterisation.

Squid Game 3 starts really strong, but gets really muddled by the end.  It's not terrible, just gets weaker as it goes on.

Fifth season of Harley Quinn found some new ways to spice the show while still  keeping this moving at a good pace and generally pretty funny.  Found a good use for Clayface and Bane, but King Shark is sidelined too much, though.

[kamikazekeeg]

Watched through the Apothecary Diaries on Netflix and it's a decent anime.  It's got a little drama to it, but it's almost slice of life for this girl who is obsessed with poisons and medicines being forced into indentured servitude for the royal court and using her intellect to solve deaths and illnesses that crop up.  The main girl feels really standout from a lot of female MC's as she's almost entirely aromantic, despite advances from another character in the show who is considered basically the hottest thing ever, and she's also considered abit of a freak as she's basically made herself immune to a lot of poisons through experimentation and has used herself to figure out new medicines for burns and such.  She's a fun character as the only thing that gets her excited is when she gets some rare herb or thinks she might have the chance to ingest poison lol  I'll probably watch Season 2 once it releases.

[Cartagia]

Really loved the new season of The Bear.  Step up from the slight stumble of season 3.  Great performances, terrific writing, and actually has a load of good comedic moments. Includes what is easily the best performance of Jamie Lee Curtis's career.

Untamed on Netflix wants to be a big prestige murder drama like Mare of Easttown *so* bad, but the writing is just not there at all.  I don't regret watching it, because it was still entertaining, but it was nothing more than "fine."  Gorgeous locales and cinematography, though!

Not something I find myself saying about too many modern serialized shows, but Paradise should have had more episodes.  It's got a strong hook, an interesting overall concept, and there are at least two legitimately great episodes, but I don't think it gets to spend enough time on world-building or character development (outside of a couple of characters).

After watching tons of clips and YouTube shorts I finally got a subscription to Dropout and cruised right through the first season of Make Some Noise.  amazingly funny show, that would have probably been better if I hadn't already seen a good 30-40% via those shorts and clips.

Resident Alien is like the platonic ideal of a SyFy channel show.  Endearing, cheap, kinda funny, and struggles with deeper more earnest emotions, but remains entertaining throughout.  Anchored by a very strong performance from Alan Tudyk, I'm excited to see where the show goes after that first season finale.

The King of the Hill revival is one of the best of its kind that I've seen.  Not as good as the show in its prime, but about on par with the average Season 12 or 13 episodes.

[kamikazekeeg]

Alien Earth Episode 1 & 2 - Really good start to this series.  It feels like a movie in the best way possible, there really doesn't feel like there are any real concessions being made for it being a TV show.  They are introducing some new creepy creatures along with the classic Xenomorph which I like, adds some extra danger since at this point we all know what a Xenomorph can do, so now there's new threats of varying sorts, though mostly smaller scale at the moment.