[amphibian]

Briar King, on 13 March 2017 - 11:30 PM, said:

Woot woot! I get a 3 hr Bachelor fix starting in 30 mins today

Told you about that winner.

[Abyss]

Briar King, on 13 March 2017 - 11:30 PM, said:

Woot woot! I get a 3 hr Bachelor fix starting in 30 mins today

You know that there is no hope for you, right?

[Aptorian]

I'm binge watching Lucifer. I decided to check out the first episode and was sucked right in.

This is a fascinating concept. I understand that the show is based loosely on Gaiman's Lucifer character, I never read the comic, but I can't quite imagine Gaiman wrote something this cookie cutter-TV Show format.

It's almost insultingly formulaic. The devil cast as a quirky rogue protagonist that becomes the centre of a crime of the week, partnered up with a smart and no-nonsense female detective. The Devil is shown to be an anti-hero a morally ambigious sort who's heart is in the right place... sort of.

And yet the show is fun. 3 episodes in, I can see some pretty dark avenues they could take this show down. This show is more comedy than drama and yet there's that supernatural horror potential lurking beneath the surface.

So far I think the show is funny and entertaining, the characters are great, but the show sort of lacks an edge. The Devil isn't nearly complicated or supernatural enough. I get that the writing is designed to appeal to the mainstream, but if I know Neil Gaiman, surely there's so much more depth to be explored there.

Similarly, I hate how "average" the supernatural aspect is in the show. I don't know what the acual devil would be like, if such a being existed, but I imagine he/it would be way, way beyond the petty aspects of mortal life. But what are you going to do. At least this devil is fun.

I sort of hope they make him more sinister with time.

This post has been edited by Apt: 17 March 2017 - 11:23 AM

[Andorion]

Apt, on 17 March 2017 - 11:22 AM, said:

I'm binge watching Lucifer. I decided to check out the first episode and was sucked right in.

This is a fascinating concept. I understand that the show is based loosely on Gaiman's Lucifer character, I never read the comic, but I can't quite imagine Gaiman wrote something this cookie cutter-TV Show format.

It's almost insultingly formulaic. The devil cast as a quirky rogue protagonist that becomes the centre of a crime of the week, partnered up with a smart and no-nonsense female detective. The Devil is shown to be an anti-hero a morally ambigious sort who's heart is in the right place... sort of.

And yet the show is fun. 3 episodes in, I can see some pretty dark avenues they could take this show down. This show is more comedy than drama and yet there's that supernatural horror potential lurking beneath the surface.

So far I think the show is funny and entertaining, the characters are great, but the show sort of lacks an edge. The Devil isn't nearly complicated or supernatural enough. I get that the writing is designed to appeal to the mainstream, but if I know Neil Gaiman, surely there's so much more depth to be explored there.

Similarly, I hate how "average" the supernatural aspect is in the show. I don't know what the acual devil would be like, if such a being existed, but I imagine he/it would be way, way beyond the petty aspects of mortal life. But what are you going to do. At least this devil is fun.

I sort of hope they make him more sinister with time.

Mike Carey's Lucifer comic series is a fitting continuation where Gaiman left off. Its strange, scary, experimental, innovative and exciting. And its definitely not Cookie Cutter

[Traveller]

It's definitely funny. And worth watching, but yes, I wouldn't mind a darker edge to it occasionally. Punishing people by tying their shoelaces together doesn't really fit the whole devil/demon image.

[Andorion]

About 12 episodes into Agents of Shield Season 2.

I really love it when Asgardians show up. They take everything so literally!

I really like this show. Exactly the kind of light stuff I need to relax after a bad day.

Is there anything else like this?

[Aptorian]

Actually I am 10 episodes into the first season now and it's wasted every chance at becoming something more interesting than just another quirky couple solving crimes-show.

The writing that seemed interesting in the first few episodes never pays off. The growth of the Devil and the exploration of his humanity merely becomes a episodic trinket. The show doesn't use any of the supernatural elements at all. The moral, religious, philosophuical aspect is not used beyond what ever interest that randomly pops into the Devils head that week and is then dropped the next week. Why the hell would you make a show about the devil and then strip his powers away?

The most annoying part is that even as an atheist, I find the portrayal of the devil infantile and sort of insulting. This is a really important religious and cultural cornerstone of Western society and he's reduced to a childish, vapid, man-whore. It's just cheap.

I think this show would have made a lot more sense if Lucifer has been presented as the Son of the Devil instead. It would have made the various weaknesses and failures of the character more bearable.

I'll probably still end up watching season 2 but I don't think this show deserved to be renewed. 3 episodes left, lets see if they can make the finale interesting.

This post has been edited by Apt: 17 March 2017 - 05:25 PM

[Binder of Demons]

Apt, on 17 March 2017 - 05:23 PM, said:

Actually I am 10 episodes into the first season now and it's wasted every chance at becoming something more interesting than just another quirky couple solving crimes-show.

The writing that seemed interesting in the first few episodes never pays off. The growth of the Devil and the exploration of his humanity merely becomes a episodic trinket.

I'll probably still end up watching season 2 but I don't think this show deserved to be renewed. 3 episodes left, lets see if they can make the finale interesting.

While I really enjoy the show, I can't really argue with these points too much. Except the renewal part, because despite it's flaws it is still more interesting than the vast majority of television shows out there.

My favourite parts so far have been when he gets truly angry (if only for a few seconds) and you're reminded that he is indeed supposed to be a being of incredible power. However, it is a tricky balance to strike in how to have a superpowered character (or characters) and have them in any jeopardy from week to week without just laying waste to everything around them.

But yeah, i would like there to be more of an edge with the main character, and i can only hope the writers don't keep going for safe options.

[Morgoth]

Holy shit, the OA, with the final episode, was amazing. I was misty eyed to say the least.

[QuickTidal]

Morgoth, on 23 March 2017 - 06:06 PM, said:

Holy shit, the OA, with the final episode, was amazing. I was misty eyed to say the least.

So glad others are discovering the awesomeness of this show!

[Aptorian]

Just saw this clip on reddit from a Canadian TV-show called 19-2.

This has to be one of the most intense things I've ever seen. Really well made and gut wrenching.



Any of you Canadians know if this is a show that is worth picking up?

EDIT; Here's the full episode:



Seems like a really well made show. No bullshit, real consequences, actual human emotions. Pretty refreshing.

This post has been edited by Apt: 25 March 2017 - 01:27 PM

[worry]

It's cancelled anyway.

[Tiste Simeon]

The latest episode of The Last Kingdom was utterly superb TV. Currently discussing who is better out of Ragnar and Uthred with TheRetiredBridgeburner. It's a close call.

[QuickTidal]

Nearly finished with Season 1 of THE MAGICIANS, and it really has been consistently excellent! I'm all over getting onto Season 2 after this. Great characters, story, acting and production design.

Anyone who tried it and didn't persevere through the initial episodes (Abyss!) you really should as this show is very rewarding.

[Malankazooie]

Uh, guys? Are you aware there is a spin-off of Sons of Anarchy in development? (called Mayans MC). And the actor who played Tuco Salamanca on Breaking Bad has joined the cast?

[QuickTidal]

I’m up to THE MAGICIANS Season 2, episode 4…and I have some questions…

Spoiler

Am I supposed to in ANY way side with Julia? Or even like her? As far as I am concerned she is a #1, grade A fuckwit who is the cause of MOST of the villainous issues on this show, including the majority of her own. Aside from Q, Alice and Crew accidentally opening the doorway for the Beast (Martin) to come through from Fillory…a thing they spend all season trying to reverse/undo…only to be stymied at the last minute by fucking Julia…all the other problems on the show stem almost entirely from Julia being a complete and total shithead idiot.

She doesn’t get into Brakebills, so she goes off on her own to hedge witches…doesn’t like how the hedge witches roll so she tries to do her own thing and gets booted from the Hedges…so she goes off to try to start her OWN hehe witch chapters AND tries steal knowledge from Marina of the first group of hedge witches…which gets the woman who was helping her (Kady’s mom) killed. Strike one. Ignoring that she tried to sleep her way to more magic through the one guy, she ends up in rehab….where she meets a person (Richard) who is JUST as broken as she is (probably even more so considering what he did) and decides it’s a good idea to follow him into what he’s attempting…which is “Summoning a god”….well done...that’s a fucking smart idea. She finds this out….and doesn’t think it’s a bad idea (because yeah, summoning a god is going to work and everything will be hunky dory), trickster god shows up and kills everyone, and rapes Julia and escapes in Richard’s body. Considering that If Julia had walked away from Richard’s STU-PID idea….the rest of them could not have made the summoning work, I’m pinning this on her as well. Then instead of helping her old friend defeat the being (The Beast) they’ve literally set up into a kill box where they would be able to defeat him, she BETRAYS them in the last second for her own revenge (Against the summoned god) and wants to use the Beast to that end. This acts leaves nearly everyone close to death, and Penny with no hands…and only fast and incredibly strong magic is able to save everyone from certain death, and Penny ends up on the wrong end of a set of cursed hands (partially his fault) because of the River Watcher. ALL of that is on Julia’s plot for revenge on the demon SHE bloody well summoned. And her excuse is “I would have killed them both if you’d just let me!”…and I’m sitting here like no….you don’t get to CAUSE all this and cry foul. The team was within moments of killing the Beast before you mucked everything up. Then, to double down on this she tries to use the Beast to freeze Raynard so she can stab him with the dagger…and is pulled away when the team tries a second attempt to kill the Beast and she GETS IN THE WAY again (grabbing Penny and not letting go….all he wanted was the Beast) causing Alice’s shot of the big magic to go slightly astray merely wounding the Beast. And this allows Raynard to kill Marina as well. Then she screws over Penny AGAIN by pulling off his bracelets. And when the team finally is able to corner the Beast again to kill him, Alice has to go Niphin to do it, effectively killing her and affecting not only Quentin, but Penny and well.

Pretty much all of that is on Julia. Every single asinine decision she has made since the show began has been horrifically, blindingly stupid, and vengeful, and ridiculous. If she isn’t on her way to being a full-fledged villain, then I don’t get the story progression here. I know Quentin keeps giving her a pass…but goddamn she’s not likeable to me.

Also, the show has turned a rape survivor into a quasi-villain (and if we include the Beast in that, then they've done that twice) who left her friends to die...she is HARD to side with...I'm not sure how much I'm on board with that notion from a writing standpoint.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 04 April 2017 - 01:46 PM

[Abyss]

Malankazooie, on 03 April 2017 - 08:52 PM, said:

Uh, guys? Are you aware there is a spin-off of Sons of Anarchy in development? (called Mayans MC). And the actor who played Tuco Salamanca on Breaking Bad has joined the cast?

Briar King, on 03 April 2017 - 09:12 PM, said:

There's been rumors for a bit.

That and a prequel series about the original Sons as Vietnam vets who formed the first chapter. I think the Mayans version has seen more progress tho', esp with casting news being publicised... Salamanca's an awesome actor.
Would watch either. Not surprised Sutter and co want to return to this as Bastard Executioner was such a fail.

[QuickTidal]

BK, the next 8 eps of TERRACE HOUSE ALOHA STATE are up on Netflix!

[Malankazooie]

Finished watching the final season of Black Sails (or what I refer to it as - Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag "the show").

What a great season and ending to this series. Man oh man, there was so much awesomeness in this final season. And the final episode completes the pirate dramatis personae for the most part, with a quick appearance by Capt. Morgan (rum anyone? ) and the introduction of Mark (aka Mary) Read at the end. Also, an additional reason to fist pump the air, Silver is finally referred to as Long John Silver! And an even better reason to fist pump the air was the reveal at the very end of the last episode of a certain, uh hem, "symbol" that flies high about certain ships.


Well, the series is complete, so you guys should be able to binge through all the seasons (only 4). Man that would be fun! My favorite season is the 1st, followed by this last (4th) season, and then season 3, which saw the introduction of Blackbeard, which was kind of disappointing because we didn't get enough of Blackbeard, imo. Oh and regarding Blackbeard

Spoiler

His murder by the command of Capt. Rogers has to be one of the most brutal ever portrayed on television, holy shit that was hard to watch.

Season 2 is the weakest of the series as it seemed to get mired down and didn't move the story forward much at all.

Anyway, be prepared to have all your various feels invigorated with this show: you'll cry, you'll scream, you'll get pumped up, gooseflesh will rise on your skin... the whole gambit. Fun television for sure and recommended.

I give it 4 skull and crossbones flags out of 5.

Now I just have to find my copy of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, because I've a hanker'n to play in now.

[Abyss]

champ, on 03 February 2017 - 04:08 PM, said:

Anyone watch Powerless?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5083928/

Tanking in ratings, pulled twice for repeats. All but dead.
If the next ep doesn't screen tomorrow night my 'six weeks and a burnoff' prediction is fulfilled.