TV/Movies Megathread

[Malthus]

Given that you're the one with less exposure to the show, would you mind sharing your impression a bit further? 

Be happy to. I have deliberately not looked up reviews etc.

My initial impression was that this was going to be a comedy in which each episode was more or less the same set-up: the protagonist attempts, through some elaborate lying, to convince everyone she deserves to be in the Good Place, and the comedy comes from how she goes about it.

As the season progresses, I am coming to be of the view that the Good Place is, basically, a sort of post-Mortem training exercise, deliberately set up to teach her to be a better person. The "mistake" is not a mistake, in other words, but a deliberate plan.

My concern with the show is that, if I am right, once this revelation drops, there is no-where for the show to go.

Well, if that's your impression and you're liking it so far, I think you're really going to enjoy the show. 

There's also plenty of philosophy on it, btw, it's not a gimmick.

I've been watching this show too after reading this exchange.  Binged it almost (though the episodes and seasons aren't that long) - I'm mid-way through season 2.

I think I might have read what the twist at the end of season 1 was, since I have heard of this show in the past.  I could see that coming from a mile away, even though the show was still enjoyable in how it got there.

The show has even given me an interest in philosophy, which is not a topic I've ever been interested in before (outside of political philosophy, that is).

Season 2 though kind of takes the concept and really cranks it up.  No idea where the show is going now.

I didn't foresee the ending when I was halfway through - [spoiler] I initially thought the Good Place was a training exercise, not simply a Bad Place. However, my guess may still have some validity ... [/Spoiler]

[The Larch]

Given that you're the one with less exposure to the show, would you mind sharing your impression a bit further? 

Be happy to. I have deliberately not looked up reviews etc.

My initial impression was that this was going to be a comedy in which each episode was more or less the same set-up: the protagonist attempts, through some elaborate lying, to convince everyone she deserves to be in the Good Place, and the comedy comes from how she goes about it.

As the season progresses, I am coming to be of the view that the Good Place is, basically, a sort of post-Mortem training exercise, deliberately set up to teach her to be a better person. The "mistake" is not a mistake, in other words, but a deliberate plan.

My concern with the show is that, if I am right, once this revelation drops, there is no-where for the show to go.

Well, if that's your impression and you're liking it so far, I think you're really going to enjoy the show. 

There's also plenty of philosophy on it, btw, it's not a gimmick.

I've been watching this show too after reading this exchange.  Binged it almost (though the episodes and seasons aren't that long) - I'm mid-way through season 2.

I think I might have read what the twist at the end of season 1 was, since I have heard of this show in the past.  I could see that coming from a mile away, even though the show was still enjoyable in how it got there.

The show has even given me an interest in philosophy, which is not a topic I've ever been interested in before (outside of political philosophy, that is).

Season 2 though kind of takes the concept and really cranks it up.  No idea where the show is going now.

I didn't foresee the ending when I was halfway through - [spoiler] I initially thought the Good Place was a training exercise, not simply a Bad Place. However, my guess may still have some validity ... [/Spoiler]

The only answer I can give you is that you should keep watching the show. 

You're in season 2 already?

[Sophie Scholl]

Westworld - it started well but once again they get undone by their obsession with twists and plot pyrotechnics. Stopped caring.

Only the first season exists

The Indian Chief episode from season 2 is one of my favorites. Other than that, agreed.

The whole Native American plotline was great in season 2 if memory serves. Everything else was horrible. Season 3 started out pretty solidly and then devolved into shit. To paraphrase Ian Malcom, "Your writers were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should".

[Razgovory]

Finally got around to watching that Witcher show on Netflix.  It's okay, but some of the dialogue annoys me like the Princess character who keeps saying "Gross!"  I also can't escape the feeling I'm watching someone's D&D campaign.

[Liep]

Middleditch and Schwartz on Netflix. It's improv but it's actually really fun.

[The Brain]

Middleditch and Schwartz on Netflix. It's improv but it's actually really fun.

And.

[MadImmortalMan]

Finally got around to watching that Witcher show on Netflix.  It's okay, but some of the dialogue annoys me like the Princess character who keeps saying "Gross!"  I also can't escape the feeling I'm watching someone's D&D campaign.

I got the same feeling watching a Chinese TV show about the Qin dynasty and some concubine who acts all modern demands someone do a "pinky swear". 325 BC

Also, I've noticed a significant uptick in nationalism in Chinese shows. I'm a bit of a hopeless sinophile, so I watch what I can get easily. There's a few historical dramas on Netflix now. Usually the PRC shows are all WW2 war shows about communist supermen fighting evil Japanese gargoyles. Makes you wonder why the war lasted so long, really. So I mostly watch the ones about ancient history.  Couldn't help but notice in the same Qin show, there was an almost ubiquitous obsession with "loyalty to your state" which seems anachronistic by a couple thousand years at least. And also out of place in the Warring States period, when many of the most high profile figures changed sides many times.

The word "state" may be repeatedly mistranslated by the subtitlers however. I can't discern that.

[celedhring]

Chinese films have been quite nationalistic for a while now. The Chinese government didn't care for tv/movies much until the 2010s, but they have been quite good at exploiting it since then. Besides WWII and period dramas, they are having a fever of 1980s-style jingoistic actioners.

As you say, "loyalty to the ruler" is a theme they introduce quite often in period films, misrepresenting the past to justify the present as "the Chinese way". I love how if there's some corrupt ruler somewhere it's because the benevolent Emperor doesn't know.

[The Larch]

I love how if there's some corrupt ruler somewhere it's because the benevolent Emperor doesn't know.

Seems like a twist on the ages old "Good king, bad adviser" trope.

[crazy canuck]

Westworld - it started well but once again they get undone by their obsession with twists and plot pyrotechnics. Stopped caring.

yup. It's too hard to follow, not worth the time.

My son and I have really enjoyed season three.  Great theme and story telling.  Then we got around to watching the last episode.  What just happened?  Everything we conjectured this season was about and that made it enjoyable isn't.

[Barrister]

I didn't foresee the ending when I was halfway through - [spoiler] I initially thought the Good Place was a training exercise, not simply a Bad Place. However, my guess may still have some validity ... [/Spoiler]

[Spoiler]Yeah, that might wind up being where the show ultimately goes - there's been an awful lot of learning for people stuck in "the Bad Place".  And the way the soul mates, who aren't really soul mates, but have managed to make meaningful connections with their soul mates, suggests there may be something there as well...[/spoiler]

[KRonn]

Westworld - it started well but once again they get undone by their obsession with twists and plot pyrotechnics. Stopped caring.

yup. It's too hard to follow, not worth the time.

My son and I have really enjoyed season three.  Great theme and story telling.  Then we got around to watching the last episode.  What just happened?  Everything we conjectured this season was about and that made it enjoyable isn't.

Yeah, that was a surprising episode. I want to see where the story goes in the next episode and what characters are part of it.

[Syt]

Frasier S11E03 - The Doctor is Out.

Still one of the best episodes, co-starring Patrick Stewart as gay opera director who has a crush on Frasier. 

[The Larch]

Just watched the 3rd What we do in the shadows episode for the 2nd season. The Superb Owl party. 

[Josephus]

Westworld - it started well but once again they get undone by their obsession with twists and plot pyrotechnics. Stopped caring.

yup. It's too hard to follow, not worth the time.

My son and I have really enjoyed season three.  Great theme and story telling.  Then we got around to watching the last episode.  What just happened?  Everything we conjectured this season was about and that made it enjoyable isn't.

Yeah, that was a surprising episode. I want to see where the story goes in the next episode and what characters are part of it.

Now you've intriguied me enough to make me want to get back to it.