I’ve received some good recommendations from this group on TV shows (eternally grateful for the “Dickinson” rec!) and podcasts. So, what are y’all seeing and hearing these days? Here’s a great show I’ve been watching on Apple TV, and I highly recommend it to those who subscribe:
My own “bad sister” recommended the show not long ago, and it’s so great that I’m all caught up already. The season finale drops on the 14th, and the fact that I know the date is an indication of how impatient I am to see how it unfolds.
In the morning thread, I recommended Rachel Maddow’s new podcast, “Ultra,” the first two episodes of which I heard yesterday during a car trip. The subject is a fascist plot to overthrow the U.S. government in the 1940s. If you’re not a fan of Maddow’s TV style, no worries — this podcast (and her previous one, “Bagman,” which is about Spiro Agnew) is tightly produced and well done, IMO.
Please share your current faves — and don’t forget our own Rue’s “Fast Track to 40,” which she describes here.
Open thread.
randy khan
We just finished watching The Sandhamn Murders on MHz Choice (foreign language TV streaming service, for those who don’t know it). It’s more or less a procedural, but the real lead character is not a police officer, even though she ends up working with the police. (She actually slightly reminds me of Glenn Close’s character in The Big Chill, although by no means is she the same.) Outside of the murders, the scenery will make you want to live in the Swedish islands during the summer. 8 seasons altogether, but they’re short (none more than about 6 hours of programs). And it may not be done.
MHz is a great place to find foreign mysteries and police shows if you like that kind of thing. There’s a lot more variety in those shows abroad than in the U.S. We watched on French series that was deadly serious and another with an art historian who talks to dead artists, and both were worth our time.
Alison Rose 💙🌻💛
I think I dropped this in a thread on a Ukraine update recently, but I’ve been very much appreciating the new podcast called Power Lines from the Kyiv Independent. Only two episodes so far, but both have been incredibly engaging and informative.
I also recommend That’s Ancient History with Jean Menzies, a Scottish author and ancient Greek historian. She does a lot of deep dives into particular Greek myths, interviews with other authors and scholars, looking at the role antiquity plays in modern society, etc. The last season ended about 8 months ago, so I presume there might be a new one soon (she just finished her PhD, so I think it was on hold for a bit). But there are a few dozen older episodes you can listen to now!
Dangerman
We’re movin’ on in, to the beast side… (/Jefferson’s)
ETA: I assume the video from TFG has already been discussed..
Tinare
I also love Bad Sisters. I don’t want the season to end, but can’t wait to find out what actually happened either.
I love my period dramas so I’m enjoying The Empress on Netflix though I just started it.
Leslie
We recently finished Sherwood (Britbox, I think?) and enjoyed it. (As there may be multiple shows with that in the title, this one deals with murders in a Nottingham mining community.) Currently watching Hidden Assets, which might also be Britbox. Irish/Belgian crime investigation drama.
Jay
For those interested in Rachel Maddow’s Ultra Podcast, but don’t want to listen to the podcast, transcripts are available at https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-presents-ultra
Paul in KY
I’ve been watching Rings of Power and I’m a big Tolkien nut. Used to be active on AFT and RABT back in the day. The 1st episode was OK, but each succeeding one has had more WTF moments than the last one.
I’m now hatewatching it for the lulz. Going to start Wolf Hall. Have just finished the 1st book.
jonas
@Alison Rose 💙🌻💛: I don’t know if anyone here has mentioned it yet, but if you’re really interested in a deep dive into Ukrainian and East European history, Timothy Snyder’s weekly lectures from his current Yale course on the history of Ukraine are regularly posted on YouTube. They’re detailed and erudite (and he doesn’t use any visuals, so if you hate maps and PowerPoint, he’s your man) and require some sustained attention, but if you watch, a lot of pieces of a historical puzzle that we’re only now beginning to grasp as a result of the current war start to fall into place.
JPL
I enjoyed the second season of Van der Valk on Masterpiece Theatre. It was interesting to see the characters evolve from Season 1 to Season 2.
It’s a little grittier than other Masterpiece mysteries.
Ohio Mom
Coincidentally, a friend texted me to recommend Maddow’s new podcast. She also emphasized, “She doesn’t repeat stuff so it moves along.”
I’m thinking this could be a tagline from an ad for the podcast: Maddow Speeds It Up!
JPL
Alex Jones verdict will be read at 3:30. He’ll be fined, but what matters is whether or not they can find his money.
Ripley
I’m excited for the 2nd season of “Avenue 5”, which just started.
https://www.hbo.com/avenue-5
NotMax
Need another streaming subscription* like need another hole in the head but am sorely tempted by Topic. No sports, no kid stuff, just a solid roster with a European flair.
*Plan to axe Hulu when the 99 cents per month for a year offer from 2021’s Black Friday sale expires next month. For my tastes the well there has run dry.
Lyrebird
I’m just wondering if Betty C or any other Florida commenters know something about Mi Vecino. I usually just delete fundraising texts, but they claim to be making big canvassing and ETA: voter registration progress in Central Fl and the Miami area. The text mentioned helping people whose mail-in ballot might not get there in time to get to early voting locations.
Alison Rose 💙🌻💛
@jonas: Yes, I’ve seen him mentioned a few times in Ukraine posts and have been meaning to check out the videos. Thanks for the reminder!
What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?
I find both What We Do in the Shadows and Resident Alien amusing. Although I kind of feel like WWDITS has lost a step in the latest season it’s still good for some laughs. As far as prestige streaming stuff goes I’m way behind, although the episodes of Girls5Eva and Rutherford Falls on Peacock that I’ve seen show real promise. Girls5Eva features more consistent hilarity but Rutherford Falls has really good intentions and the cast is likeable and talented and so it’s slightly more profound.
leeleeFL
@Leslie: Watching Sherwood as well! It is BritBox. I am watching the last few episodes of Shetland there as well. Really good mysteries! Van Der Valk pulls you in for sure, and it’s something new each week! Wish it was longer.
l
VFX Lurker
I’m currently watching Andor, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and Rings of Power.
I love all three of these great shows for different reasons. 🥰 Their top-tier production values don’t hurt. 😀
Steve in the ATL
What a cruel thread, when my flight just announced that the entertainment system isn’t working. #FML!
Not really, but I was hoping to watch the Braves game.
Old School
@Steve in the ATL: That’s a good excuse for a nap.
Kayla Rudbek
I listened to the audiobook of Only Bad Options, and I think that I may have to check out more of James Fouhey’s other audiobook work, as he did a really good job of playing the male protagonist. Yes, I’m a sucker for that British RP accent; probably too much Doctor Who and Captain Picard as a teenager.
HumboldtBlue
Kleo on Netflix is an odd, entertaining, if violent, story about an East German woman who is a Stasi assassin as re-unification nears. The lead character is excellent, and the series is filled with wonderfully odd and quirky characters.
The Empress was good initially, but by the end they had so badly butchered actual history I’ll never again say anything positive about it.
Also, it’s fat bear week.
Falling Diphthong
For Douglas Adams fans: Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency on Hulu. Delightfully insane.
Paul in KY
@VFX Lurker: If you know nothing of the books (and not having watched the movies would also help) Rings of Power is a fine series. Glad you like it.
Sure Lurkalot
For a brief (15-20 minute) break from the weight of the day, I recommend the podcast Everything is Alive. It is a series of interviews with various inanimate objects. While it sounds silly, the episodes are witty, poignant and insightful. You will laugh and think.
JPL
Rick Steves Fascism in Europe is supposed to be excellent. I have not watched it yet?
JPL
First victim in Jones’ verdict is 120 million.
JAFD
My ballot arrived in yesterday’s mail, filled it out and dropped it into box on Rutgers-Newark campus (it’s at the Univrsity Ave entrance of the Life Sciences building, if you’re looking) this noontide.
Only contests in my baliwick are for County Executive and for US Congressperson. I used to be in Albro Sires’ district. Never met him, but his staff were quite pleasant and efficient, helping me with a Social Sec problem, a few years ago.
Rep Sires is retiring, and Sen. Menendez’ son is the nominee to succeed him. But the districts got shoved around a few blocks, and I’m now represented by Donald Payne, Jr, who followed his father into Congress (Did somebody say ‘Family Values’ ? ).
There were also Congressional candidates on the ‘Jobs and Justice’, Libertarian, GOP, and Mahali Party lines. If you find out what inspired the latter party’s name, let me know.
I am going to tell the Board of Elections that I won’t be working this election day. Been under lot of stress this fall with packing and moving, calendar up in air, going to take it easy where I can.
Got COVID shot #5, a few minutes ago. Now for a cup of tea, a sandwich and a nap.
Hope all yon jackals are happy and healthy, and my thoughts be with you if you’re not.
MattF
I’ll admit to watching and liking She-Hulk. Doesn’t take itself very seriously. Severance, on Apple TV, is excellent and very strange. I’m somewhat concerned that season 2 can’t possibly be as good as season 1 was, but we shall see. Here’s a review.
JMG
@Steve in the ATL: Unfortunately for us both (I’m a Phillies fan), it is raining in Atlanta and it looks like the game will be postponed until tomorrow afternoon.
JPL
BREAKING: Alex Jones ordered to pay nearly $1 billion in second Sandy Hook defamation trial
Omnes Omnibus
Alex Jones is having a bad day.
Elizabelle
@JPL: Yay!!!
Moar of this, please.
eddie blake
i’m enjoying she-hulk. there’s a william gibson adaptation about to come out on amazon prime, the peripheral, which i’m pretty excited about.
also, i know david o. russell’s got a lot of issues, but amsterdam is a REALLY good movie that is VERY timely and super anti-fascist. people should go see it.
i have a non-spoilery review on my blog.
HumboldtBlue
@JMG:
Won’t have to worry about this then, and the delay is a break for the Cobb County Crackers, the fucks.
@JPL:
Ain’t it grand? And as a cherry in top, Trump has been ordered to be deposed in the Carroll case next week.
Bupalos
Not a podcast but you can sit in on Timothy Snyder’s Yale course “The making of modern Ukraine.”
Also can recommend Vlad Vexler’s youtube content on Russia and Ukraine, it’s the most educational content you will ever get while being hypnotized by a too-obvious vampire.
Craig
@Paul in KY: agreed. They’re making a show with lots of names from Tolkien, but it doesn’t feel like Tolkien. It feels like LA screenwriters.
Yutsano
@Omnes Omnibus: I’ll break out my tots and pears.
Formerly disgruntled in Oregon
Enjoyed Sandman and Rings of Power. Looking forward to Andor and She-Hulk next!
My teens really love “Play it by Ear” on Dropout TV streaming – each episode is an improvised musical, and the performers are talented, funny, and having a blast. Big hit in our house! (I think there are clips on YouTube.)
JPL
I don’t know if the families will see a cent, but they will keep him off the air, and that might be enough.
Alison Rose 💙🌻💛
@JPL: YOU LOVE TO SEE IT
Steve in the ATL
Derry Girls, season 3. Totes awesome.
Jay
https://kyivindependent.com/national/in-the-shadow-of-war-kremlin-continues-terrorizing-crimean-tatars
Old School
@eddie blake: FYI – the link in your name doesn’t go to your blog.
piratedan
if you don’t mind subtitles….
on Netflix… Inspector Koo and Extraordinary Attorney Woo
hueyplong
@HumboldtBlue: If Trump is deposed in person as opposed to remotely, it seems like a nice opportunity for him to be served by the NY AG.
Craig
Andor is a good Star Wars story so far. No Skywalker nonsense, no yoda. Gritty heist story, with decent writing, and some great actors.
A Trip to Infinity on Netflix is cool. Mathematicians, physicists tell stories about Infinity, and numbers with wild, trippy animation. Fantasia with numbers instead of music.
I liked Werewolf By Night. Campy fun. Laura Donnelly is perfect here. Great cast overall.
Atlanta on Hulu is still brilliant. A totally bonkers satire.
eddie blake
@Formerly disgruntled in Oregon: i thought sandman was great.
@Craig: i’m really enjoying andor, it’s top notch. i just can’t get over the precipitating incident. it’s like something straight out of three’s company and is so anomalous.
geg6
The first episode of the new season of Mo Rocca’s Mobituaries podcast dropped in the last week or so. He basically hasn’t done any episodes since the pandemic began and I was excited when I got a notification that there were new episodes up. His stuff is pretty enjoyable. Some serious, some most definitely not.
I am a podcast junkie. I listen to a lot of them. They are great for doing laundry and housework or just goofing off. I have a lot of true crime ones: Crooked City: Youngstown, OH, Buried Bones, Tenfold More Wicked, My Favorite Murder, and True Crime Obsessed. I also enjoy movie podcasts, even though I’m not a big movie fan: I Saw What You Did, The Rewatchables and Unspooled. Criminal and Spectacle both cover crime sometimes, but not always. Music pods that I like are Disgraceland and A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs. The only political podcast I listen to is the The Josh Marshall Podcast. I may have to add the Maddow pod to my growing list. I generally don’t like her show much, but if she sticks to the script, it may be worthwhile.
patrick II
@MattF:
I am surprised at how much I enjoy She Hulk. I knew Tatiana Maslany from Orphan Black and so I thought I would give a shot. She is wonderful in this too. This past week’s visit from Daredevil (Charlie Cox from Netflix series) was a hoot. He kicked her ass in court, she kicked his in a fight, and I think it came out a tie later at night in her apartment.
As an old guy who has watched years of macho guy action heroes, it is rewarding to see women heroes written and directed by other women. It presents a different point of view, generally better acting, and is at least a little bit new after years of watching Arnold and Sylvester, etc.
Ann Marie
I received my quilt block today from Quilting Fool and it is beautiful! I’m very happy I bought it. Thank you again to Quilting Fool for the lovely quilting and donating the proceeds to help Ukraine, and thanks also to WaterGirl for facilitating all this.
randy khan
@JPL:
Yeah, like gravel versus silk. But in a good way.
UncleEbeneezer
I’ve been really enjoying Dahmer, to be honest. It’s nowhere near as gruesome or torture-p*rny as I would have expected (more often than not, going out of it’s way to tell about or imply rather than show the gratuitous violence) and contrary to the online outrage, I actually think it does a very good job of showing his victims as three-dimensional human beings and telling more of their backstories rather than just treating them as bodies to be violated like so many true crime/horror series’ often do. Apparently episode 6 (I’m only 4 eps in) is almost entirely devoted to honoring the victims and is a real tear-jerker and one of the best episodes of tv in recent years. It doesn’t glorify Dahmer as some evil genius and instead presents him as a dull, fucked up dude who got away with horrific shit because our justice system cares so little about Black and Brown victims, especially when they are gay. The series is really one of Ryan Murphy’s best.
FelonyGovt
@Steve in the ATL: Agree 100% about Derry Girls. The last season incorporates the resolution of the Troubles into this delightful series about teenage girls (and one boy) and their parents in the 1990’s.
Use subtitles, though.
VFX Lurker
@Paul in KY:
I’ve read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and the HBO-ready The Children of Hurin. I’ve also seen the Peter Jackson films. I am waiting to read The Silmarillion after the first season ends, though.
I adore Rings of Power. That said, folks who do not enjoy it should not watch it. There’s too much good TV out there to waste time on shows that one does not like.
trollhattan
Third and final season of “Derry Girls” is now available on Netflix. A better comedy in the last twenty years I cannot name, one also slyly insightful portraying those tumultuous teen years, regardless of locale. If ye has not made yer acquaintance, perhaps skip this loving tribute with it’s sprinkling of spoilers. Enable subtitles. Trust meh.
https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/netflix/derry-girls-season-3-finale/
If wondering whether Season 2 was the end, run to your remotes.
See it’s mentioned above. Watch it twice, then.
Another brilliant show revolving around a teen cast is “Reservation Dogs,” which has finished Season 2–an even stronger effort than the first.
“Aftershock” is a three-episode documentary on Netflix about the 2015 quake that destroyed much of Katmandu and decimated Everest Base Camp. Quite the ride.
Layer8Problem
@FelonyGovt: A
thirdfourth here for Derry Girls. I’m still smirking after learning Sister Michael’s full nun name.trollhattan
@patrick II: Man, “Orphan Black” was a complicated show, but she was hella good in it–had to be one of the most challenging roles I’ve ever seen.
PJ
@Alison Rose 💙🌻💛: Timothy Snyder has a course he is currently teaching at Yale on “The Making of Modern Ukraine”, and videos of the lectures are posted on Ukraine. I’ve only listened to the first one so far, but it’s pretty good. The first one is here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJczLlwp-d8
PJ
@PJ:
There is also a good recent lecture he delivered about the connection between Zelensky and Vaclav Havel, and the long “normalization” that we’ve all been experiencing since the 1970’s: https://snyder.substack.com/p/thinking-truth-and-freedom-with-zelenskyi#details
PJ
@Paul in KY: I’ve read all of the main books (some several times) but have not slogged through The History of Middle Earth, and I think The Rings of Power is fine. I don’t mind the tweaks they make to characters or events in the interests of telling a story. It could be better written, for sure, but that’s true of most programs.
PJ
@PJ:
I tried to post this earlier but it went into some kind of commenting purgatory. Anyway, Snyder also recently delivered a very good lecture on the connection between Zelensky and Vaclav Havel and the long “normalization” we’ve been experiencing since the 1970’s: https://snyder.substack.com/p/thinking-truth-and-freedom-with-zelenskyi#details
PJ
Ok this is the third time trying to post this comment, I’m not sure what is setting off the alarm bells, but anyways:
Tim Snyder also recently gave a very good lecture about the connection between Zelenskyi and Vaclav Havel and the long “normalization” we’ve been experiencing since the 1970’s: https://snyder.substack.com/p/thinking-truth-and-freedom-with-zelenskyi#details
Steeplejack
@randy khan:
Second the recommendation on MHz. They have their own website, but it’s also available as a channel on Amazon Prime.
eddie blake
@Old School: well that’s embarrassing
watergirl, can ypu delete me (or just my bad URL) @ #34 and 48 plz?.
thanks
dww44
@JPL: I love that series. Great ending last week.
Tony Jay
@Paul in KY:
My problem with Rings of Power isn’t the changes they’ve made to allow them to tell a story, that’s to be expected when they’ve got 3000 years of history to play with.
What I do have a major problem with are the completely pointless changes they’ve made that turn it from an epic story set in Middle-Earth’s Second Age into a Beastmaster/Hawk the Slayer level Fantasy romp with names and concepts culled from Tolkien.
It looks great, and some bits really work, but then they’ll completely reinvent a foundational ‘fact’ of Tolkien’s world for no visible reason and eyes start rolling.
dww44
@JPL:
I recommend it. Lots of opportunities to educate Americans on the fraughtness of our current political scene. If I had the money I’d buy a big one page ad in the paper (better to rent a billboard) and list all the people (all Repubs of course) who either participated in the fake electors scheme or voted against the certification of the election, or still promote the Big Lie. Virtually all of the GOP Congressional delegation falls into one or more of those categories, not to mention that the Lieutenant Governor candidate who was a fake elector who’s likely to roll into office on Kemp’s back. The GOP has NO Values. None whatsoever.
Leslie
@leeleeFL: I love Shetland! Will have to check out Van der Valk.
Miss Bianca
Well, since I’m still kicking it old school in a non-streaming household, I’ve reached deep into our library system’s DVD collection for a curious little show from the 90’s called Due South, which I wanted to check out primarily because I loved Paul Gross so much in Slings and Arrows, which is an annual re-watch for me.
Here he plays a Mountie, almost impossibly clean-cut and straight edge, who winds up for Plot Reasons in Chicago, where he teams up with a police detective to solve crimes. Sounds hokey as heck, but man, is it great. Just finished the first season, apparently there are three more.
Freemark
Hotel del Luna on Netflix. Korean with subtitles. Best KDrama I’ve watched so far and I’ve been loving the Korean shows on Netflix. They are supposedly making an America version but I doubt it will be as good.
Steve in the ATL
@Miss Bianca:
Has there ever been a media portrayal of a Mountie that wasn’t this?
Steve in the ATL
Diableros on Netflix
Los Espookys on HBO Max
The Resort on either Peacock or Hulu
jackmac
Very late to this thread, but I’ll add that I’m enjoying The Rings of Power and various call outs to later events in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I’m increasingly viewing both efforts as part of a single epic story. It works for me and I’m looking forward to the rest of this season’s episodes and future seasons, too.
Miss Bianca
@Steve in the ATL: they play with the image some, believe me!
NotMax
@Miss Bianca
Many libraries include either Kanopy or Hoopla (or both) as a perq which comes along with having a library card. Good way to dip a toe into the world of streaming.
Wide selection, however not unlimited as there will be a cap on how many titles (or for TV series how many episodes) a cardholder can stream each month. That number may vary as it is set by the terms of each library’s contract with the streaming service. If you choose programming which exceeds that limit the service will remember your choices and automatically bump any chosen once the limit is reached into the next month. Your local librarian can walk you through how to set up and access the services.
Kristine
@Falling Diphthong: I absolutely loved that series, and was disappointed that it didn’t get another season. Utterly demented, occasionally gory, but with a core of sweetness, for want of a better word.
I’m currently enjoying She Hulk. Is Andor grim? If yes, I may hold off for a bit. Craving humor. I also enjoyed Werewolf By Night. A 30s/40s Lon Chaney Jr vibe thanks to the b&w. That was a good call.
CarolMarie
@jonas: Thanks so much for posting this suggestion about Timothy Snyder! I had no idea his lectures were available online and am very excited to dig in.
Craig
@NotMax: agreed. Kanopy is great and free with a library card. Tons of sometimes surprising titles and genres.
David_C
If they had a butter lamb podcast… Not a series, but the Sidney Poitier documentary on Apple TV+ is good. They have some of his movies available. Watched A Raisin in the Sun.
Paul in KY
@VFX Lurker: So the drastic plot differences do not bother you? Elves need mithril or they will fade away & that sort of nonsense.
Maybe once you read The Silmarillion, you will see more what I’m grousing about.
Paul in KY
@PJ: ‘Tweaks’ in same way WW II was ‘a big war’ :-)
Paul in KY
@Tony Jay: True dat. I’m crazy and think the story that Tolkien tells in 2nd age would be fine:
Sauron comes around as Annatar and befriends Celebrimbor and other elves.
Shows them how to create the Rings (9 for men & 7 for dwarves)
Celebrimbor creates the 3 Elven rings with no help from Sauron (but using his template)
Sauron creates the One Ring in Mordor & Elves realize he’s back!
Sauron them attacks Hollin/Khazad Dum & manages to get the 9 and 7 and kill Celebrimbor.
He increases his power until he pisses off the Numenoreans who come over and cow all his minions. He slyly gets taken ‘prisoner’ and is off to Numenor to wreak havoc there, etc. etc.
Teen Galadriel could be a part of all this.
Kosh III
What We Do In The Shadows, Night Sky-a quirky sci-fi with Cissy Spacek, the hilarious The New Legends of Monkey, Never Have I Ever and Rings of Power
and
Tyler Perry’s The Oval, a violent, absurd and ROFLOL soap opera filled with beautiful women and super hot guys.
Mike
@HumboldtBlue: yeah, loved Kleo. Currently watching Little Women (Korean). It’s fast paced and well done. Great soundtrack, too