What TV Shows Are You Watching?

[sozamora]

Scott requested to not post spoilers, but Breaking Bad...damn!

[A. Kingstone]

Could you believe when Jesse........

Just kidding.

[stonemonkts]

Scott requested to not post spoilers, but Breaking Bad...damn!

I decided to make this last as long as possible so I recorded the first 8 episodes they aired leading into the new 8, and plan to savor them all slowly over time. First two from last year were tremendous. In some ways this is my favorite show. Gilligan is a lunatic, and I love it.

[A. Kingstone]

At the risk of being banned beyond eternity there is an interesting coincidence between 'Last 8 episode one' that in case you were unaware SCOTT HAS NOT SEEN, REPEAT, SCOTT HAS NOT SEEN and something right here on Scott's jazztalk.net.

Walter perhaps?

[erwbol]

Scott's remarkable resemblance to HEISENBERG?

[A. Kingstone]

Scott's remarkable resemblance to HEISENBERG?

Once Scott/Walter has watched episode one of the last 8, all will be revealed.

[walto]

Finished the last season of Arrested Development, and watched the first two episodes of Orange is the New Black. I still haven't decided about the latter, probably give it one or two more shots. But I rarely watch TV dramas, so it'd be pretty weird if I stuck with it.

[Chazro]

Really enjoying 'The Bridge'. A very well done whodunit. It must be seen from the beginning though, not the type of show to start watching mid-season. Another superior whodunit from across the pond started just last week, the BBC's 'Broadchurch'. Anybody happen to catch the HBO documentary; 'Casting By'? An eye-opening and entertaining doc about behind-the-scenes Hollywood.

[sozamora]

Really enjoying 'The Bridge'. A very well done whodunit. It must be seen from the beginning though, not the type of show to start watching mid-season.

I've been meaning to catch with that. I saw the preview and liked the fact that the Mexicans sounded like Mexicans and not second generation chicanos or Cubans. That rarely happens and when movies or shows fail to do that it throws me out of the story a little.

[stonemonkts]

Really enjoying 'The Bridge'. A very well done whodunit. It must be seen from the beginning though, not the type of show to start watching mid-season. Another superior whodunit from across the pond started just last week, the BBC's 'Broadchurch'. Anybody happen to catch the HBO documentary; 'Casting By'? An eye-opening and entertaining doc about behind-the-scenes Hollywood.

I'm enjoying those shows too. Thanks for posting the tip about "Casting By". Set to record it this Saturday.

[mjb]

Just started House of Cards. It is based on a wonderful UK book and series.

It has surely hit the ground running. Kevin Spacey is terrific in the Ian Richardson role. Robin Wright too ... fuck it, the entire cast is perfect.

[walto]

I also just started House of Cards. I don't care for Spacey's S.C. accent or the talking to the camera biz, but agree that it's otherwise excellent.

[stonemonkts]

I liked Orange is the New Black a lot. After a few shows I was a bit indifferent but it really grew on me. It was fun.

I was surprised to find that much of the high-level story on which the series is based is true. Not the details so much but Piper's story.

As I said before....it starts off slow, but if you make it past the first couple episodes and Kate Mulgrew's accent....

Oddly enough, I didn't even recognize her, and had no problem with HER accent at all. The actress who plays the Bronx? character is using a terrible accent, the one who drives the white van.

Also, wtf is up with the Wire actor playing Pornstachio....Jesus. Such a caricature.

In fact most of the show is a collection of overwrought caricatures, which is fine, hey I'm still watching despite my issues with the show. The zaftig Hispanic chick is great, and so is the African bunk mate of the lead. As for the lead, I can't stand her, but maybe that's the point? I don't know. Oz, it ain't.

But I'm still watching six episodes in! so wtf do I know.

[walto]

Oddly enough, I didn't even recognize her, and had no problem with HER accent at all. The actress who plays the Bronx? character is using a terrible accent, the one who drives the white van.

Also, wtf is up with the Wire actor playing Pornstachio....Jesus. Such a caricature.

In fact most of the show is a collection of overwrought caricatures, which is fine, hey I'm still watching despite my issues with the show. The zaftig Hispanic chick is great, and so is the African bunk mate of the lead. As for the lead, I can't stand her, but maybe that's the point? I don't know. Oz, it ain't.

But I'm still watching six episodes in! so wtf do I know.

I agree with almost every word of this. If somebody were to ask me about it, I'd say "meh" for the reasons Pat sets forth, but I'm still tempted to go on (maybe for a sex scene I'll enjoy or something?) The only thing I disagree with is that I like the cuckoo Bronx accent. I agree that it's ridiculous, but I like hearing it. Like Rosie Perez or Judy Holliday.

[mjb]

I also just started House of Cards. I don't care for Spacey's S.C. accent or the talking to the camera biz, but agree that it's otherwise excellent.

It is an odd accent he affects ... seems to come and go in intensity. I'm starting to enjoy it.

Talking to the camera is taken from the original series. So far, I think it is done perfectly (and funny as hell) even though I realise it might well be taken as just an unnecessary pointer to the characters true intentions.

I also appreciate the continuation of "You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment." Lovely line.

And they made Francis Urquhart be Francis Underwood so continuing the (perhaps not that) subtle FU message.

[walto]

FWIW, I've always said that British actors are much better at accents than their American cousins. Johnny Depp is an exception, maybe. But Americans doing British generally suck, while a lot of Brits do perfect American. According to my Arkansan wife, Spacey's accent is kind of a caricature of who knows what/where.

[mjb]

It crossed my mind that the accent was deliberate. Part of his chameleon/monster façade.

[walto]

Could be. Bluetrain sent me a PM according to which Spacey has long been known far and wide for his bad accents, though. I take it that if you google his name and "bad accent" there are lots of hits. He made a mess of an Irish brogue in one film apparently.

[LennyH]

FWIW, I've always said that British actors are much better at accents than their American cousins. Johnny Depp is an exception, maybe. But Americans doing British generally suck, while a lot of Brits do perfect American. According to my Arkansan wife, Spacey's accent is kind of a caricature of who knows what/where.

It makes sense that Brits, Australians and people from other English-speaking countries are going to be better equipped to nail American accents because of the ubiquity of American TV and movies. They've seen a lot more American stuff, and from a younger age, than most Americans have seen of theirs.

I've always had a thing for accents. I do them for fun sometimes and feel like I pick up on flaws a lot in movies but Spacey's accent in House of Cards doesn't bother me for whatever reason. It's not great but I think there are people in this country that sound similar to that. Don't ask me where .

[LennyH]

The actress who plays the Bronx? character is using a terrible accent, the one who drives the white van.

As for the lead, I can't stand her, but maybe that's the point? I don't know.

The actress with the Bronx accent is really Australian, believe it or not. The accent she uses keeps reminding me of the movie Grease, for some reason. I think it might have been the hair dresser in Grease that I'm thinking of but not sure.

Funny because I like the lead a lot. Maybe partly because she looks so great in the shower.

[walto]

I'm with stone. She mugs too much.

[LennyH]

I'm with stone. She mugs too much.

I don't know, walto. I still say she looked pretty good in the shower...so my story is: Some people mug in real life. Until proven otherwise or until she looks less good in the shower, I'm saying that the script says she supposed to mug.

[tippy]

Watching House of Cards also. [SPOILER ALERT] Can and can't believe what he did. Humans are disposable though. Quick better than slow. But what an asshole. This role is for Spacey as Damage (or was it that twin gyno movie) was for me with Jeremy Irons. Finished. Super creepy characters. I don't think humans are like that. Mostly. But that is the definition of a sociopath and once you've run into that element, bona fide, you are changed and extra cautious.

[walto]

[HOUSE OF CARDS---SPOILERS]

We just watched the fourth episode. I didn't think the knock-out of the Majority Leader was believable. The Speaker would know his deputies better than that and it would have been clear to him immediately who had planned the coup.

In an earlier episode, handing $10K to a hooker who had no idea she had valuable information and telling her "This is for your silence." seemed like one of the dumbest things I'd ever seen anybody do. How to turn a nobody into a future extortionist at a cost to you of a mere 10K.

But, mostly, I'm finding the show very compelling.

[stonemonkts]

I enjoyed House of Cards but think Spacey's character shouldn't have been from the south. It would've been better if he played it straight up, with his natural accent, which is nil. Are you guys just now seeing the first season?