The really great TV thread

[Leadfoot5]

The Following continues to be the most fun show on TV for me. The rest of the house votes for The Walking Dead, but I prefer the constant twisting and turning that this show provides rather the plodding pace of TWD.

[Aristo]

The Following continues to be the most fun show on TV for me. The rest of the house votes for The Walking Dead, but I prefer the constant twisting and turning that this show provides rather the plodding pace of TWD.

I'm watching The Following, but it is far from my favorite show. I'm mostly disappointed by how little they really do with the dark gothic themes of Poe beyond just mimicking some scenes from his books. My biggest problem is that it mostly feels like the writers are just cheating and developing sound story arcs.

If you want a great show about a charismatic serial killer that takes intelligent cues from literature, while working within a story has depth and symbolism, which is what The following should be, Hannibal knocks it out of the park. The first season was brilliant, and I cannot wait for the second season to start.

If you have not watched season one, try to avoid any season 2 trailers, as they will be revealing a pretty huge spoiler from the season one finale. Hannibal is supposed to be on Amazon Prime, but so far they only have episodes you can buy. The second season launches soon, so I would assume it will be up there soon. It was a pretty big deal when Amazon bought the exclusive rights to the series.

The Season One trailer:

[snaz16]

As I finally plow through Justified, which I am enjoying immensely, all I can think is how Walton Goggins never won a Best Supporting award. He's fantastic.

Not to mention he played the transvestite in this past season of Sons of Anarchy.

[Leadfoot5]

The Following continues to be the most fun show on TV for me. The rest of the house votes for The Walking Dead, but I prefer the constant twisting and turning that this show provides rather the plodding pace of TWD.

I'm watching The Following, but it is far from my favorite show. I'm mostly disappointed by how little they really do with the dark gothic themes of Poe beyond just mimicking some scenes from his books. My biggest problem is that it mostly feels like the writers are just cheating and developing sound story arcs.

I'm not into the show for the charismatic serial killer bit, but for the action and story twists. I thought the Poe stuff from Season 1 was kind of stupid (although I've never read Poe) and was happy when I read that they got rid of it for season 2. For me it's just good fun TV and I don't have any issues with the numerous story problems - I have no problem going along with it. Thanks for the info on Hannibal.

[Aristo]

The Following continues to be the most fun show on TV for me. The rest of the house votes for The Walking Dead, but I prefer the constant twisting and turning that this show provides rather the plodding pace of TWD.

I'm watching The Following, but it is far from my favorite show. I'm mostly disappointed by how little they really do with the dark gothic themes of Poe beyond just mimicking some scenes from his books. My biggest problem is that it mostly feels like the writers are just cheating and developing sound story arcs.

I'm not into the show for the charismatic serial killer bit, but for the action and story twists. I thought the Poe stuff from Season 1 was kind of stupid (although I've never read Poe) and was happy when I read that they got rid of it for season 2. For me it's just good fun TV and I don't have any issues with the numerous story problems - I have no problem going along with it. Thanks for the info on Hannibal.

And that's pretty much why I'm still watching it. It does deliver on that level, and sometimes that is plenty to deliver on.

I was taking an early American Lit class and had written a paper on contrasting Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorn and their use of dark gothic themes in their stories right before season one began. So I was pretty much primed for a show I had created in my head instead of what they did. And to be honest, I had hoped that they were going to head more in that direction for the second season, since the writers wanted to improve on what stye did for season one. But they de-emphasized Poe even more, instead. And that may be for the better.

I hope you like Hannibal. It was easily my favorite new show from last season. Mads Mikkelsen is a fantastic Hannibal Lector.

[MizzouRah]

True Detective was excellent last night.

I love that show.

Banshee too..

[FifaInspected]

yes. true detective was great this week. Based on how the previous episode ended I was a little dissappointed that this week's show didn't begin how I thought it would. I was expecting an encounter with the dude walking across the yard in his best "walter white" attire.

[Inuyasha]

holy f'n s***! True detective total 180 tonight. Love it. Never saw that coming. This show's so far an instant classic.

[Brando70]

I love True Detective, too. I am completely sucked in during each episode. The editing between past and present storylines has been especially brilliant.

[MizzouRah]

Definitely.. each episode really has me glued to the TV.

[Danimal]

I like True detective as well but I'm not sure what you never saw coming?

[pk500]

I love True Detective, too. I am completely sucked in during each episode. The editing between past and present storylines has been especially brilliant.

McConaughey is brilliant. His days as a chick-flick beefcake are long gone. No TV character has compelled me this much since Don Draper in the first season of "Mad Men."

[pk500]

I like True detective as well but I'm not sure what you never saw coming?

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Perhaps the implication that McConaughey's character was in on the murders? Didn't shock me, as Rust seems so mentally unstable that anything is possible with him.

[Danimal]

f*** spoilers.

Like you I wasn't shocked, seems like a pretty cliche plot twist if you ask me. However I didn't see it that way, I saw it as them trying to make us think that was the case. When I watched that last scene I wasn't thinking anything other than the guy is obsessed with this case.

In fact if it indeed turns out this is the major twist then I would be kind of meh on the story.

[Macca00]

Vinny mentioned it earlier so I started watching Archer.....lol, that show is bananas! Lot of fun and some brilliant one-liners. And also, Lana was a character created by 14 year old self*


* and still very much enjoyed by my 35 year old self

[vinny-b]

Vinny mentioned it earlier so I started watching Archer.....lol, that show is bananas! Lot of fun and some brilliant one-liners. And also, Lana was a character created by 14 year old self*


* and still very much enjoyed by my 35 year old self

Lavan:

whatever you do, make certain you eventually view episodes from Season 1-4 (all excellent seasons, IMO). Unfortunately, the current season have been a departure. Not only in its storyline-theme, but quality as well. Personally, am fine with the drug dealing theme (instead of their spy agency). However at 4 episodes in, the quality in script, took a big hit, this current season. The pacing is not as fast. And not as intelligent/witty. Keep it in mind, am stating this in the context of comparison. What i mean is, if you are digging Season 5, you will love Season 1-4.


edit: yes. Lana is lovely. Additionally, Woodhouse (the butler) is hilarious in past seasons. And 'bionic Barry' is a phenomenal villain.

[wco81]

I love True Detective, too. I am completely sucked in during each episode. The editing between past and present storylines has been especially brilliant.

McConaughey is brilliant. His days as a chick-flick beefcake are long gone. No TV character has compelled me this much since Don Draper in the first season of "Mad Men."

The script which feeds him great lines has a lot to do with how his character and the show is being received.

[Macca00]

Vinny,

I don't get FX so I've been watching from Season 1 on Netflix. Just finished the first season which was gold!

[pk500]

I love True Detective, too. I am completely sucked in during each episode. The editing between past and present storylines has been especially brilliant.

McConaughey is brilliant. His days as a chick-flick beefcake are long gone. No TV character has compelled me this much since Don Draper in the first season of "Mad Men."

The script which feeds him great lines has a lot to do with how his character and the show is being received.

Isn't that the case with almost any great performance? He's still taking the role to places I doubt many other actors could go.

[JackB1]

I am also totally into True Detective. It's right up there with the best HBO stuff ever....Six Feet Under, Sopranos, etc.
Riveting stuff every week. Woody H. and Mathew M. are the greatest pair of detectives and work so well together.
Am already getting sad that this part of the series is almost over. Love it!

[wco81]

I think MM was sent the script with the plan to have him play the WH character but he decided he liked the Cohle character?

I give him credit for recognizing the material. However, I wonder if Pizzolatto had these actors in mind or HBO wanted them and thought they could get them to do TV with this material.

A lesser known actor might have done just as well, but of course, show would have a harder time being noticed.

It seems a lot of the positive reaction to the show is based on how surprised people are by MM playing a character nothing like any of his previous roles.

[vinny-b]

Vinny,

I don't get FX so I've been watching Archer Season 1 on Netflix. Just finished the first season which was gold!

ok. perfect. Enjoy getting to know Woodhouse in Season 2. lol


yes, Lavan. Golden

[pk500]

It seems a lot of the positive reaction to the show is based on how surprised people are by MM playing a character nothing like any of his previous roles.

Say what?

McConaughey's recent roles as a drifter in "Mud" and the detached hit man in "Killer Joe" were closer to this role in "True Detective" than you think. The dude purposely has avoided lucrative beefcake roles over the last few years and taken art-house and indie parts that have burnished his chops and respect as an actor.

[JackB1]

True Detective continues to shine and has become my favorite show on TV lately.

It's a shame they will start over with a new cast next season, like American Horror Story.

[Spooky]

True Detective continues to shine and has become my favorite show on TV lately.

It's a shame they will start over with a new cast next season, like American Horror Story.

Say what!?!? Really? I didn't know that. I think that is both super cool and a total bummer.