The Official TV Thread

[McGarnagle]

Am I the only one that thinks Mr. Robot has become an abject disaster in season 2? It's like they've decided plot twists and abstract misdirection is a wholesale replacement for good storytelling.

Watched the first two eps of Westworld. Definite potential there.

 

[Beowulf]

I just finished watching the HBO miniseries John Adams last night. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to anyone. Giamatti, Linney are great as the leads with a very strong supporting cast; especially Dillane and Wilkinson.

Not to give anything away but I was particularly blown away by the circumstances surrounding the ending, especially since that part is 100% historically accurate and I was totally unaware of it. It's just mind blowing to me that it occurred that way. 

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm still struggling to get through the second season of Daredevil.

Yeah, the Marvel shows aren't bad but they drag a ton in the middle. They should be 10 episodes and cut some of the dead weight.

I find this is a common issue with Netflix produced shows.  The lack of traditional TV constraints isn't always a good thing.

Speaking of Netflix, Black Mirror season 3.  I'm only through 1 episode of s3 so far but so far so good (in a hug-your-pillow-in-the-dark kind of way).

 

[Kin]

Speaking of Netflix, Black Mirror season 3.  I'm only through 1 episode of s3 so far but so far so good (in a hug-your-pillow-in-the-dark kind of way).

It's an interesting season. Some real departures from the formula but also some episodes that seem a little stunted by the need for a twist ending. Still very much worthwhile.

Anyone else liking Westworld? I heard someone recently frame the entire show as a analogy for making TV for HBO which puts it in a fun context for me.

 

[herman]

Anyone else liking Westworld? I heard someone recently frame the entire show as a analogy for making TV for HBO which puts it in a fun context for me.

Very much yes. The acting is superb and subtle. The call-outs to video game nature is both hilarious and interesting to reflect on (see Logan). I don't care that much about the plot yet (no apparent stakes) but I think I'll enjoy rewatching the beginning after this season plays out because I know I'm missing layers.

There are visual and thematic metaphors all over the place, at the same time, holding up a pretty bleak mirror to today's society. Feels like a Margaret Atwood novel at times.

 

[Kin]

Very much yes. The acting is superb and subtle. The call-outs to video game nature is both hilarious and interesting to reflect on (see Logan). I don't care that much about the plot yet (no apparent stakes) but I think I'll enjoy rewatching the beginning after this season plays out because I know I'm missing layers.

There are visual and thematic metaphors all over the place, at the same time, holding up a pretty bleak mirror to today's society. Feels like a Margaret Atwood novel at times.

Yeah, a lot of the chatter about the show seems to be of the "Is Character X secretly a Robot?" variety which really doesn't interest me vs. just the philosophical questions the show brings up. The fact that outside of whatever is happening to Dolores and Ed Harris' questing there hasn't been much of a cohesive narrative doesn't bother me much either when, like you say, the performances are so good.

And I agree some of the smaller touches are pretty great. The music in the saloon especially has been particularly fun.

 

[herman]

Yeah, a lot of the chatter about the show seems to be of the "Is Character X secretly a Robot?" variety which really doesn't interest me vs. just the philosophical questions the show brings up. The fact that outside of whatever is happening to Dolores and Ed Harris' questing there hasn't been much of a cohesive narrative doesn't bother me much either when, like you say, the performances are so good.

And I agree some of the smaller touches are pretty great. The music in the saloon especially has been particularly fun.

The player piano as a motif and metaphor for Westworld (and the hosts) is brilliant.

I definitely agree that the 'who's a bot' mystery is largely irrelevant. It was the most boring part of Blade Runner and Battlestar Galactica and just a cheap twist for act 3.

Aren't real humans mostly bots on a loop anyway, with their internal motivations and desires programmed by previous experience? Where does the line get drawn?

 

[bustaheims]

The player piano as a motif and metaphor for Westworld (and the hosts) is brilliant.

I definitely agree that the 'who's a bot' mystery is largely irrelevant. It was the most boring part of Blade Runner and Battlestar Galactica and just a cheap twist for act 3.

Aren't real humans mostly bots on a loop anyway, with their internal motivations and desires programmed by previous experience? Where does the line get drawn?

Yeah, the "who's a bot" part of it is probably the least interesting of the various threads of the show. Honestly, at this point, the only character I'd be surprised to find out was a bot would be Ford. With everyone else, it wouldn't really change anything.

Ed Harris' storyline is what intrigue's me the most right now - though, Ford's "new narrative" certainly has potential.

 

[herman]

In case you aren't watching Westworld, Hannibal Lecter strongly suggests that you do.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kSGkGKwp9U[/youtube]

Evan Rachel Wood calls the show the Olympics of Acting. I agree.

 

[Deebo]

Planet Earth II continues today. Part 1 was last week and it was great.

Raccoons in Toronto will be featured in the final episode.

 

[hockeyfan1]

The trailer for the original 1973 cinema release of "Westworld" featuring Yul Brynner:

[youtube]coVCSMfJiVk[/youtube]

 

[herman]

Anyone else getting a Princess Bride vibe from Westworld?

Delores even looks like Buttercup.

 

[herman]

\W/: that escalated quickly.

MVP: Armistice

 

[Kin]

I'll be honest, I didn't see a way for them to stick that landing but they did it pretty solidly. It definitely sets up a very different season 2.

 

[herman]

I'll be honest, I didn't see a way for them to stick that landing but they did it pretty solidly. It definitely sets up a very different season 2.

Evan Rachel Wood said that season 1 was more of a prequel to the real show.

 

[bustaheims]

Evan Rachel Wood said that season 1 was more of a prequel to the real show.

Makes sense. There was definitely a lot of world building going on this season, and they opened a lot of doors in the finale.

 

[herman]

Not being an expert in the field (or even a proper aficionado) I totally did not notice this but I will look for it in a re-watch as I wait for season 2 in 2018: the Westworld creators talk a little bit about their use of cinematic tools to elucidate the meaning of one particular moment in that last episode that some people might have been confused by. Spoilers, obviously.

 

[rdowdall]

Not being an expert in the field (or even a proper aficionado) I totally did not notice this but I will look for it in a re-watch as I wait for season 2 in 2018: the Westworld creators talk a little bit about their use of cinematic tools to elucidate the meaning of one particular moment in that last episode that some people might have been confused by. Spoilers, obviously.

I really liked how they played with time.  It wasn't readily apparent.

 

[herman]

I really liked how they played with time.  It wasn't readily apparent.

I liked how they anchored it visually for those that were so inclined.

 

[McGarnagle]

I really liked how they played with time.  It wasn't readily apparent.

Agreed. It certainly appeared that there were parallel stories going on at the same timeline, so I was fooled, but this much better quantifies the amount of time/ lifetimes it required for sentience/self realization to actually develop in the hosts.

It's going to be a long wait until the next season - 2018?