Series and Shows

Well, I was debating on whether I should start watching Game of Thones or not (I’m not sure if I’m up to the task, or whether it’s even worth it, despite the ravings), but decided for now to give McMafia a try (also came with high ratings).
This show reminded me of Dexter, in that it draws the viewer to sympathize with essentially a fucked up character. Does rot run in the family? Apparently it does.
Not for a single second did I believe that Alex started as an innocent angel who got mired in filth by circumstances beyond his control. And this is an important detail, which can be brought up in the second season (or any time, for that matter). Remember, Alex is supposedly a good person who’s drawn into the crime world through noble and “justified” revenge; he’s really just a pretty poster child for all the ugliness that stands behind him. But what happens when he accomplishes his task, what excuse will he have for whitewashing himself while he continues down his family path? Because, after all, he started as an innocent angel? On what grounds should the viewer continue to sympathize with him?
Anyway, this is what I predict may happen in this series if they continue with Alex down this line: by season 3 or 4 Alex will probably graduate to arms dealing, or have large politicians involved (and will eventually become a glorified Scarface character of the series); he will expand his international criminal network; gain/lose new allies/enemies; Kleiman, if they let him live, may outplay them all, or become the main competitor in the long run; and the gift-giving Mexican will eventually turn on him.
Another recurrent troublesome theme - family. What purpose or value does it have in the crime world? Leverage? Liability? Excuse?
For now, I am going to rate it 5/10.

(Next up on my list - Altered Carbon)

I’m not a big TV person. But I can tell you that the show “shameless” is pretty entertaining. When you start to watch it, you think, “this is unrealistic nonsense”. Then as it goes on you think, “wait, this is actually more true to life than most people want to believe”.

Mr. Robot
Mindhunter

Both are good, Mr. Robot is a masterpiece in my opinion.

Speaking of McMafia: insightcrime.org/news/brief … ismantled/

Legendary scene. Major spoiler.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IjrX5BdllQ[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ks8gh00DQo[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de63CaxYnno[/youtube]

Seems like a decent show. Ill give that a try.
As far as non American shows go, Italian ones are the best. This one is not bad.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq_0qJoUzvU[/youtube]

I very much dislike British shows, like Sherlock and Utopia and what not. Self consciously wannabe clever, utterly pointless, gutless, spineless pedantry.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJOO9I9kvwo[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno[/youtube]
The Leftovers, an HBO series

Incorporated
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbbFJ6YNcL8[/youtube]

Fixed, you should watch Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown.

Critic’s rating?

not in any order

Breaking bad, though I lost some interest after a certain ‘bad’ guy died.
Game of Thrones
Walking Dead
Sopranos
The Wire
Top of the Lake
True Detective
Narcos - not as good as the others, but his character is so extreme and interesting, I put it in
The Handmaid’s Tale -only seen one season
Taboo - one season

I liked it. I’d give it 8/10. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled after 1st season.

Reverie. 7/10
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EEyzUyQjvE[/youtube]
What I like the most about this show is the idea itself, which is not only potentially realistic, but quite scary as well; specifically the part in which an implanted AI, acting as a surrogate subconscious of sorts, learns the individual’s reactions and adjusts accordingly, thereby, essentially, facilitating a psychosis (or derealization, as they call it in the series), so not only does one go into his dream world, but the dream world comes out into the real word, thus blurring the distinctions between the two.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDi3fki9IRM[/youtube]
The Good Place (I love this show! Joker even loves this show! OMG! All about philosophy too. :mrgreen: )

Currently keen on…

Gotham
Swat
Hollyoaks
Come Dine With Me
The Undateables
Buying and Selling
Lip Sync Battle
Jools Holland
The Jonathan Ross Show
Sunday Brunch
New Made in Chelsea: Croatia
Ninja Warrior UK

Most of these are weekly (sadly), and most of the remainder… half an hour. I don’t spend all day watching TV. :laughing:

Homeland is definitely my fav

I also like the wire

The Terror.
youtube.com/watch?v=l328p5sSEmc
I thought it was well-done. I liked the main actors in this series. It got me thinking: how do we go about imagining what it must have been like, in real life? (btw, Erebus was finally found in 2014, and Terror in 2016)