The really great TV thread

[webdanzer]

I don't know if any of you guys watched Broadchurch on BBC America, (8 ep series finished last night) but I thought it did an excellent job of depicting the fallout over a killing in a small town, both before and after the murderer is revealed. Some nice acting performances, even if the procedural part was somewhat cliche at parts, with all the typical red herrings, a guessable culprit if you follow standard conventions for such things, etc.

It delivered quite a few punches to the gut, though. Worth the watch.

[pk500]

I don't know if any of you guys watched Broadchurch on BBC America, (8 ep series finished last night) but I thought it did an excellent job of depicting the fallout over a killing in a small town, both before and after the murderer is revealed. Some nice acting performances, even if the procedural part was somewhat cliche at parts, with all the typical red herrings, a guessable culprit if you follow standard conventions for such things, etc.

It delivered quite a few punches to the gut, though. Worth the watch.

Definitely on my "To Watch" list. Thanks for the positive feedback.

[sportdan30]

A fitting end to one of the best shows ever. It wasn't one of my favorite episodes (there were so many), but it just felt right how it ended.

[wco81]

Walt wins. He tells Skye that he did it for himself but he achieves the big goal he set out to accomplish when he set out on his criminal enterprise, to leave a lot of money for his family after he's gone.

He outwits every one of his enemies, mind fucks Gretchen and Elliott, and has to have the most satisfying phone conversation ever with Lydia.

He tells everyone he's out of money and says he did it for himself but that probably will make it easier for Skye and junior to accept the money. -- they will have their suspicions but Walt planted the notion that the Schwartzes' generosity is real.

But he really was alive when he escaped one impossible trap or confrontation after another, including getting Gus, which is the greatest feat still. The final one, eliminating every enemy who could threaten his family, as well as getting them the money is the capper.

Above all, he doesn't face the music.

[vader29]

Todd's ringtone:

[RobVarak]

Stuck the landing.

[dbdynsty25]

Stuck the landing.

After hearing about how Lost and Dexter jacked up their dismounts (I did not watch either) I was quite nervous almost all day. Thankfully you're correct...absolutely nailed it.

[pk500]

As I said on social this morning, Gilligan could have taught Jerry Seinfeld and David Chase how to end a long-running series. Add David Simon to that list, too, as the final season of "The Wire" wasn't as good as the last season of "Breaking Bad."

[pk500]

One blind side to the "Breaking Bad" finale: I never thought the ricin was for Lydia. Very tasty plot twist by Gilligan.

[sportdan30]

Again, great great last episode, but I did find it a little strange the guards didn't bother to check Walt's trunk.

Walt's final scene with Holly and seeing Jr. for the last time tore me up!

[dbdynsty25]

Again, great great last episode, but I did find it a little strange the guards didn't bother to check Walt's trunk.

Walt's final scene with Holly and seeing Jr. for the last time tore me up!

Cuz you know...white supremacists are security experts. LOL...not sure why they would even think to check the trunk? What would be the point? Remote control high caliber gattling guns aren't exactly common place in the back of Buicks (or whatever that was).

[pk500]

A Caddy Sedan de Ville, my man. There is no replacement for displacement, as Uncle Jack's lieutenant told Walt upon arrival at the compound.

[Naples39]

Good final episode. Not as high in pure entertainment value as the end of season 4, which could've ended the series IMO, but much more conclusive. Every theme and character gets fitting closure.

I do not agree that Walt "won" though. He burned a lot of bridges this season, and although he found peace within himself, and with Skyler and Jesse, he's had no marriage since he started cooking, his son will hate him forever, pretty much all of the money he made as a kingpin is lost forever, and he knows he'll be infamous and reviled due to his selfishness and ego.

He simply made the best of a shitstorm of his own creation. Stopping after season 4 would've been winning, but there was no winning after his choices this season.

[wco81]

Well his family will be financially secure.

That was his objective, when told he had a few months to live.

He may have boasted about the empire business but the stakes increased beyond his control, starting with the first guy that he had to kill (kill or be killed).

He didn't take down Fring for the money. It was self-preservation and removing the threats against his family. But once he overcame that huge obstacle, he wanted money again.

He didn't take down Jack's crew to get the rest of his $80 million so much as remove the threat to his family. He took out Lydia, who was another threat, confirmed by her telling Todd to kill Walt.

His family life was a joke if you look at the pilot. The marriage was unequal and Skyler took him for granted. Things looked to improve when they had the car wash going and then Hank discovered the secret and Jesse decided to have a meltdown.

Yeah it would have been better if he survived the cancer and they were able to continue to launder the $80 million. Though they'd at best have to maintain a middle or upper middle class lifestyle, so that $80 million was overkill. So for that matter is $9.8 million or whatever it was he's going to leave to Jr., though now that the money appears legal, Jr. could live large.

The ending was satisfying but BB had the benefit of seeing how people reacted to other series finales. You get the sense that they just ticked off all the boxes that the viewers would want tied up.

A lot of the fans saw Walter and his family sympathetically so they all did well. Walt's fate could have been a lot worse. He could have been captured and prosecuted while his family was killed, he could have been killed before he accomplished these last goals.

[Jimmydeicide]

LOL , i was thinking what if this car wont start and he froze to death, boom end of show, 10 mins, didnt see that coming...

[Aristo]

Season 3 of American Horror Story kicked off well. Jessica Lange is awesome, as usual. Kathy Bates has not been this scary and vile since Misery. And New Orleans is a perfect setting for mixing the tropes of classic witches with voodoo.

[Pete1210]

I started Mad Men in June via Netflix and recently got up to date. Season 6 was not on Netflix, but couldn't wait so I bought it on Amazon VOD. Now I have to wait another 6 months like everyone else to see what happens to Don.

While watching at will is convenient, there is something to having that weekly wait to think and analyze the last episode and anticipate the next one. And now I can follow the current discussions here and elsewhere, instead of working to aviod spoilers.

Been also avoiding this thread due to Breaking Bad, which is next on my list of great TV shows I missed. I've watched the first 3 episodes so far.

Two shows I am current on and still enjoying are Sons Of Anarchy and Justified.

[snaz16]

I started Mad Men in June via Netflix and recently got up to date. Season 6 was not on Netflix, but couldn't wait so I bought it on Amazon VOD. Now I have to wait another 6 months like everyone else to see what happens to Don.

While watching at will is convenient, there is something to having that weekly wait to think and analyze the last episode and anticipate the next one. And now I can follow the current discussions here and elsewhere, instead of working to aviod spoilers.

Been also avoiding this thread due to Breaking Bad, which is next on my list of great TV shows I missed. I've watched the first 3 episodes so far.

Two shows I am current on and still enjoying are Sons Of Anarchy and Justified.

Funny you mention SOA and Justified. Boyd Crowder also playing the transvestite in SOA.

[vinny-b]

thank you, to whoever recommended 'DEREK'. The latest Ricky Gervais masterpiece. Sportdan?

as someone who formerly worked as a nursing assistant in a nursing home for 10 years, am able to value the situational comedy and drama. The show is utterly original, and in a way, more believable/authentic then The Office. In addition, the characters in the series are all likeable (aside from Kevin). Imagine that. And the dignity of all lives are maintained. All of this means, the majority of keyboard krusaders on the IMDB message board hate the series. Americans, i take it

thankful to know, there will be a second season. Hopefully, it will have a longer run then the Office UK

[pk500]

Anyone else enjoying the hell out of "Masters of Sex" on Showtime, about sexual analysis pioneers Masters and Johnson? Very smart, very well written and acted, excellent characterization.

Michael Sheen is excellent as Masters, and Lizzy Caplan is superb -- and hot as HELL -- as Johnson.

Best new show I've seen this fall, by some margin.

[sportdan30]

Really enjoying the ABC comedy show "The Goldbergs". If you grew up in the 80s, this nostalgic show brings you back. Kinda reminds me of the Wonder Years/old 80s movies. Caught one on DVR, and watched the rest via the ABC app. It just got picked up for the rest of the season which bodes well.

[vader29]

Really enjoying the ABC comedy show "The Goldbergs". If you grew up in the 80s, this nostalgic show brings you back. Kinda reminds me of the Wonder Years/old 80s movies. Caught one on DVR, and watched the rest via the ABC app. It just got picked up for the rest of the season which bodes well.

Love this show, glad to see it will continue.

[dbdynsty25]

Pretty sure this is the greatest Christmas present ever (we celebrated with part of the fam this week since we're heading to Phoenix for Christmas). This is one badass box set. Can't wait for the wife to finally watch the show. And then I'm sure I'll be passing the seasons off to other family members to watch as well since they all were way too late to the party.

[Zeppo]

Anyone else enjoying the hell out of "Masters of Sex" on Showtime, about sexual analysis pioneers Masters and Johnson? Very smart, very well written and acted, excellent characterization.

Michael Sheen is excellent as Masters, and Lizzy Caplan is superb -- and hot as HELL -- as Johnson.

Best new show I've seen this fall, by some margin.

I agree PK. It's a really good, well written, well acted show. Top notch.

[TheTruth]

Pretty sure this is the greatest Christmas present ever (we celebrated with part of the fam this week since we're heading to Phoenix for Christmas). This is one badass box set. Can't wait for the wife to finally watch the show. And then I'm sure I'll be passing the seasons off to other family members to watch as well since they all were way too late to the party.

That's pretty sweet. The wife started watching it on Netflix about a month ago, just got to season 5 so she is going thru withdrawals. Luckily they are airing every episode starting on Friday I believe.