Veronika (2023) - finished season 3, another great season. Hope they make a 4th
Thunder in My Heart (2021) - almost done with season 1, it's really great
Convinced my 15 year old son to watch The Expanse so currently 3 episodes in to Season 2. Uh Lanterns was kinda fun. Grand Designs. Cyberpunk Edgerunners.
Just binged the first season of Widow's Bay and it definitely hits on all cylinders for me. Feels like a hybrid of Lost and X-Files with very well written characters.
For a show with such a dark premise they did a good job contrasting it with light touches of subtle humor.
My only knock against it is that the next season is probably at least 2 years out!
Its really good but its a full ripoff of multiple john carpenter movies. I mean if you are gonna steal, steal from the best but I feel like a lot of sequences exceed homage and fall under retread.
I am particularly glad it landed well and they are getting a second season, because
::: spoiler spoiler
otherwise that ending would have been both super anti-climactic and deeply depressing. I am not even sure who the guy was who got accidentally offered up to the island.
:::
I did like that from time to time, the humor moved beyond subtle. It was a pretty funny show.
Just finished Lanterns. Solid show that doesn't require watching other superhero media.
Just started Cyberpunk Edgerunners S2. I'm only 2 episodes in, but I'm digging it so far. There's a short monologue by the character Roman that definitely feels like it's a criticism of AI-generated content, which I quite enjoyed.
Mostly old 30 rock episodes lately but I haven't been watching as much TV lately because I'm doing a 31 horror movies for October thing. Today is the original mummy with Boris Karloff.
Moving through it a lot slower now that my wife and kid have gotten into it. Its become a watch an episode together each night show instead of my stay up late watching a season per week show.
In progress: The Diplomat, Avatar Seven Havens, VisionQuest, ST:TOS (I'm about halfway throufh s3), Helluva Boss, new Ranma 1/2, Silo (most recent season... I am sure it will gather steam, but I just keeping picking other things to watch), Somebody Somewhere (just started).
Finished: Widow's Bay, Ted Lasso, Ninth Jedi, Slow Horses.
Abandoned: Ghosts (Australia), Eternally Yours. I guess my fondness for Ghosts (US) really is just a guilty pleasure. I had no interest in continuing either of the related shows.
Watching: Wingfeather Saga, Cyberpunk Edgerunners II, Regular Show: The Lost Tapes, Get Jiro, Avatar: Seven Havens, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
My kid has been really into Mobile Fighter G Gundam lately. His mom got him into it. No accounting for taste...
I've been wanting to start on Avatar: Seven Havens, but I need (want) to get through Korra first and it's less popular with my wife. Too grim, they complain. You just watched Robot Jox: The Anime! I complain here, but I keep it to myself at dinner.
We've just started the 2016 Berserk series. No idea if I like it, yet.
New Avatar has been pretty awesome thus far. There's already some surprises, good world building, and a number of intriguing storylines. I feel lucky Korra was my entry point to watching Avatar, then I went back and watch the original, so I didn't have any preconceptions or expectations going into Korra.
I've been watching Demon Slayer, as one of my new friends kept telling me I had to see it. I don't watch much shonen anymore, and friend is decently younger than me, but it's been pretty alright. I described it as more adult than My Hero Academia, but less adult than Chainsaw Man.
Also been watching Steel Ball Run, and while JoJo seasons have been hit or miss for me, this one is my favorite so far, I think. The setting is working very well for me, and pacing has been good.
Checked out I'm Looking for Zombie just for something to waste time, but I actually enjoyed it (cute girls doing cute stuff, but during a zombie apocalypse) and surprisingly the wife enjoys this one as well.
Finished Chainsmoker Cat, which was also a total surprise hit with me, so gross but hilarious to me. I felt that was superbly done for what it was.
I love a Doing Cute Stuff show, I'll probably look for that one. I saw a handful of Chainsmoker Cat eps, and it really gets hard not to see it as social commentary about marginalized groups' dependence on flawed coping mechanisms clothed in shock comedy and meme references. I'm actually liking it a lot on that basis.
I never really gave Demon Slayer a chance for some reason, probably because it came on right around the time I started to sour on Netflix. I should give it a look!
While Looking for Zombie is cute and fun, it also has some dark moments. I checked MAL and it's listed as Adventure/Supernatural/Survival, with no comedy tag, but I view it as dark comedy. There are lots of silly things, but each episode has also had death in it in some comic ways and some serious. That's probably obvious in a zombie show, but I feel I should mention that.
I passed on Demon Slayer, as I'd read all My Hero and watched most of the anime, but eventually dropped watching it, as I'm not really into fight driven stories because people just have too much plot armor for them to be interesting for long, and am more into things that are just straight up jokes/gags and character driven stories now, and I figured Demon Slayer would be pretty similar but with demons instead of supervillians. Demon Slayer is still very plot armor driven, but significant characters do get killed off in impactful ways, the demon designs have been pretty awesome with some original seeming ideas, and the demons are former humans, so during and after fights, you get their backstories, which makes them much more interesting than just some random monster to progress the story, they are a big part of the story. I just finished an arc that was a bit of a look into how MC's life could have gone horribly wrong if things had played out differently and he had chosen the other path set up by episode 1, and there was a good look at the parallels of MC and the main villian of that arc that wasn't so apparent in the beginning of the arc. But other than the one sidekick character that I mostly can't stand, the show has been a pleasant surprise for a shounen.
Your comment about Chainsmoker Cat was along the lines of a post I read about it and that was what had me give it a chance. The characters don't really feel like they're being punished for being the butt of the jokes. All the characters are pretty likeable and relatable in their own ways. The jokes are all on them, but I don't feel it belittles them. Like you said, they just have really bad coping mechanisms. Despite all the gross and mean things most characters do, they still all get their good sides shown off too. Much of the gags reminded me of the same gross humor that Gintama or Golden Kamuy could do, but Chainsmoker Cat was just more about those gags than a deeper ongoing storyline. It was just total ridiculousness with, what in my opinion, where some of the best flawed yet likeable characters in one place.
That's a good way of putting it, it's almost like an IASIP-type of anime. It just struck me how in the slowly-unfolding setting of Chainsmoker Cat, there's just this race of catgirls who are essentially a subjugated minority and the MC's sister acts like a total pick-me. Once that fell into place, I started seeing it through that lens a lot more. I think there's a smart side to that show, but it's rather a lot more subtle than most 'smart' animes.
Yeah, I like how nothing is shoved in your face, and you can like it as a gross comedy or a touching class/social commentary. Plus it really feels like it was made with a lot of love. The OP sequence is one of the best I've ever seen in any media, and I couldn't put my finger on it, but it is a parody compilation of a ton of famous movie scenes. If you haven't seen the breakdown, check it out!
Rewatching Yellowjackets in preparation for the final season next month. End of season 2 suffers from the writers strike (lost episode 10, had to cram an ending into a hastily rewritten end of E09).. but overall it’s a great show
then I’ll pick up The Diplomat, but similarly I want to rewatch the series to remember what happens. Love Keri Russell
My wife and I watch The Diplomat a lot, and though I think sometimes the writers forget that it's not Felicity and they don't have to have powerful characters leave public policy hinging on high school crushes. Generally, it's really good, though, and I appreciate that the crises generally come down to smart people being toxic, but not overtly evil.
3
What are you watching, and what do you recommend? | Spyke
27 replies
Had been watching From (2022) but finished so stuck waiting for the final season to come out, next year.
Might rewatch Living Single (1993).
Veronika (2023) - finished season 3, another great season. Hope they make a 4th
Thunder in My Heart (2021) - almost done with season 1, it's really great
The Great British Baking Show lol
Watching Picard. Currently recommend Picard.
Convinced my 15 year old son to watch The Expanse so currently 3 episodes in to Season 2. Uh Lanterns was kinda fun. Grand Designs. Cyberpunk Edgerunners.
Just binged the first season of Widow's Bay and it definitely hits on all cylinders for me. Feels like a hybrid of Lost and X-Files with very well written characters.
For a show with such a dark premise they did a good job contrasting it with light touches of subtle humor.
My only knock against it is that the next season is probably at least 2 years out!
Its really good but its a full ripoff of multiple john carpenter movies. I mean if you are gonna steal, steal from the best but I feel like a lot of sequences exceed homage and fall under retread.
I am particularly glad it landed well and they are getting a second season, because
::: spoiler spoiler otherwise that ending would have been both super anti-climactic and deeply depressing. I am not even sure who the guy was who got accidentally offered up to the island. :::
I did like that from time to time, the humor moved beyond subtle. It was a pretty funny show.
I just finished watching this weeks episode of dark matter 🫡
Just finished Lanterns. Solid show that doesn't require watching other superhero media.
Just started Cyberpunk Edgerunners S2. I'm only 2 episodes in, but I'm digging it so far. There's a short monologue by the character Roman that definitely feels like it's a criticism of AI-generated content, which I quite enjoyed.
Mostly old 30 rock episodes lately but I haven't been watching as much TV lately because I'm doing a 31 horror movies for October thing. Today is the original mummy with Boris Karloff.
Recommended: 30 rock, police squad, initial d
Watching Visionquest, Avatar: Seven Havens, Star Trek: TNG.
Recommend Ted Lasso and Bluey.
Added Cyberpunk to the watchlist.
Where are you at in TNG?
Finished season 4, episode 9 the other night.
Moving through it a lot slower now that my wife and kid have gotten into it. Its become a watch an episode together each night show instead of my stay up late watching a season per week show.
I do really enjoy it though.
I can’t recommend the latest season of The Grand Tour enough. The new crew are their own people but the chemistry works just like the original trio.
In progress: The Diplomat, Avatar Seven Havens, VisionQuest, ST:TOS (I'm about halfway throufh s3), Helluva Boss, new Ranma 1/2, Silo (most recent season... I am sure it will gather steam, but I just keeping picking other things to watch), Somebody Somewhere (just started).
Finished: Widow's Bay, Ted Lasso, Ninth Jedi, Slow Horses.
Abandoned: Ghosts (Australia), Eternally Yours. I guess my fondness for Ghosts (US) really is just a guilty pleasure. I had no interest in continuing either of the related shows.
regular show
empire
Watching: Wingfeather Saga, Cyberpunk Edgerunners II, Regular Show: The Lost Tapes, Get Jiro, Avatar: Seven Havens, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run
My kid has been really into Mobile Fighter G Gundam lately. His mom got him into it. No accounting for taste...
I've been wanting to start on Avatar: Seven Havens, but I need (want) to get through Korra first and it's less popular with my wife. Too grim, they complain. You just watched Robot Jox: The Anime! I complain here, but I keep it to myself at dinner.
We've just started the 2016 Berserk series. No idea if I like it, yet.
New Avatar has been pretty awesome thus far. There's already some surprises, good world building, and a number of intriguing storylines. I feel lucky Korra was my entry point to watching Avatar, then I went back and watch the original, so I didn't have any preconceptions or expectations going into Korra.
I've been watching Demon Slayer, as one of my new friends kept telling me I had to see it. I don't watch much shonen anymore, and friend is decently younger than me, but it's been pretty alright. I described it as more adult than My Hero Academia, but less adult than Chainsaw Man.
Also been watching Steel Ball Run, and while JoJo seasons have been hit or miss for me, this one is my favorite so far, I think. The setting is working very well for me, and pacing has been good.
Checked out I'm Looking for Zombie just for something to waste time, but I actually enjoyed it (cute girls doing cute stuff, but during a zombie apocalypse) and surprisingly the wife enjoys this one as well.
Finished Chainsmoker Cat, which was also a total surprise hit with me, so gross but hilarious to me. I felt that was superbly done for what it was.
I love a Doing Cute Stuff show, I'll probably look for that one. I saw a handful of Chainsmoker Cat eps, and it really gets hard not to see it as social commentary about marginalized groups' dependence on flawed coping mechanisms clothed in shock comedy and meme references. I'm actually liking it a lot on that basis.
I never really gave Demon Slayer a chance for some reason, probably because it came on right around the time I started to sour on Netflix. I should give it a look!
While Looking for Zombie is cute and fun, it also has some dark moments. I checked MAL and it's listed as Adventure/Supernatural/Survival, with no comedy tag, but I view it as dark comedy. There are lots of silly things, but each episode has also had death in it in some comic ways and some serious. That's probably obvious in a zombie show, but I feel I should mention that.
I passed on Demon Slayer, as I'd read all My Hero and watched most of the anime, but eventually dropped watching it, as I'm not really into fight driven stories because people just have too much plot armor for them to be interesting for long, and am more into things that are just straight up jokes/gags and character driven stories now, and I figured Demon Slayer would be pretty similar but with demons instead of supervillians. Demon Slayer is still very plot armor driven, but significant characters do get killed off in impactful ways, the demon designs have been pretty awesome with some original seeming ideas, and the demons are former humans, so during and after fights, you get their backstories, which makes them much more interesting than just some random monster to progress the story, they are a big part of the story. I just finished an arc that was a bit of a look into how MC's life could have gone horribly wrong if things had played out differently and he had chosen the other path set up by episode 1, and there was a good look at the parallels of MC and the main villian of that arc that wasn't so apparent in the beginning of the arc. But other than the one sidekick character that I mostly can't stand, the show has been a pleasant surprise for a shounen.
Your comment about Chainsmoker Cat was along the lines of a post I read about it and that was what had me give it a chance. The characters don't really feel like they're being punished for being the butt of the jokes. All the characters are pretty likeable and relatable in their own ways. The jokes are all on them, but I don't feel it belittles them. Like you said, they just have really bad coping mechanisms. Despite all the gross and mean things most characters do, they still all get their good sides shown off too. Much of the gags reminded me of the same gross humor that Gintama or Golden Kamuy could do, but Chainsmoker Cat was just more about those gags than a deeper ongoing storyline. It was just total ridiculousness with, what in my opinion, where some of the best flawed yet likeable characters in one place.
That's a good way of putting it, it's almost like an IASIP-type of anime. It just struck me how in the slowly-unfolding setting of Chainsmoker Cat, there's just this race of catgirls who are essentially a subjugated minority and the MC's sister acts like a total pick-me. Once that fell into place, I started seeing it through that lens a lot more. I think there's a smart side to that show, but it's rather a lot more subtle than most 'smart' animes.
Yeah, I like how nothing is shoved in your face, and you can like it as a gross comedy or a touching class/social commentary. Plus it really feels like it was made with a lot of love. The OP sequence is one of the best I've ever seen in any media, and I couldn't put my finger on it, but it is a parody compilation of a ton of famous movie scenes. If you haven't seen the breakdown, check it out!
Rewatching Yellowjackets in preparation for the final season next month. End of season 2 suffers from the writers strike (lost episode 10, had to cram an ending into a hastily rewritten end of E09).. but overall it’s a great show
then I’ll pick up The Diplomat, but similarly I want to rewatch the series to remember what happens. Love Keri Russell
Then Nobody Wants This
I started watching the diplomat last week, I didn't think I'd like it as much as I do, just constant tension.
I'm also rewatching the expanse on the side
My wife and I watch The Diplomat a lot, and though I think sometimes the writers forget that it's not Felicity and they don't have to have powerful characters leave public policy hinging on high school crushes. Generally, it's really good, though, and I appreciate that the crises generally come down to smart people being toxic, but not overtly evil.