Good TV (aka, the TV series spamthread), the second series

[Stormbringer]

I've been watching something on Disney+ called We Were the Lucky Ones about a family of Polish Jews trying to evade the Nazi and Soviet occupations of their country in 1939 and onwards. Very much enjoying it.

[Sly Boots]

I've only seen the first episode, but I already feel comfortable recommending The Eternaut on Netflix.

It's an Argentinian adaptation of a 1950s graphic novel about people surviving an alien invasion, which is kicked off with a deadly event that kills anyone caught outside when it hits. I've read that the graphic novel is what inspired Robert Kirkman to create The Walking Dead.

First episode was gripping, and the aliens haven't even shown up yet! I think Netflix may have knocked this one out of the park.

[Snowy]

Yes, the Trump allusions in Ep. 1 were so heavy-handed I was cringing.

There were so many worn out tropes, in fact, that a part of me feels a little bit queasy at the thought of continuing.

I haven't started this one yet and with these reviews it looks doubtful. I enjoyed the original series, at least until it all became about bloody ninjas and then merged with the execrable Defenders, at which point I quit in disgust. I had hoped they would pull the good bits out of the fire and re-boot, but it seems they haven't...

[Stormbringer]

Yeah, no good.

I don't even care if it gets better after episode 1. If that's how the series is being relaunched after all these years, forget it.

[Sly Boots]

I've been quite enjoying The Bondsman (Prime).

It's not blow-your-socks-off incredible or anything like that, but it's entertaining and with fairly breezy half-hour episodes it doesn't outstay its welcome. Kevin Bacon as a reluctant bounty-hunter turned demon-hunter, with a fair bit of gore and black humour. I won't spoil the plot but I will say that they could have done more with the actual demon-hunting part - it often feels like it takes a backseat to the drama around his past and that of the people around him, but the various threads are intriguing enough to keep me coming back for another one.

[Animalmother]

Watched Andor S2 episode 8 last night. Very impressive bit of telly there. The production, writing and acting are top notch and has elevated Star Wars to a level that's almost hard to imagine. It's even harder to believe this came from Disney whose current quality control leaves a lot to be desired.

[Raid]

Watched Andor S2 episode 8 last night. Very impressive bit of telly there. The production, writing and acting are top notch and has elevated Star Wars to a level that's almost hard to imagine. It's even harder to believe this came from Disney whose current quality control leaves a lot to be desired.

Spoiler

It's the best episode (so far) of an already very good series. Very tense, tonnes of ambivalence on the Imperial side (most Star Wars productions just assume that everyone working for the Empire is evil or, at the least, extremely callous, which just isn't realistic in a galaxy-spanning military), and really gritty. The KX droids were spectacular.

I'm kinda gutted they're only doing two seasons of this. Perhaps I'm overestimating the amount of story left to tell here, but it feels like 24 episodes isn't enough. I don't know how it's going to end, but there are a few characters I think that are worthy of their own spin-off.

[Animalmother]

Probably for the best in the 2 seasons. We already know how the story ends I suppose and I think more seasons would struggle to keep up that level of quality.

Spoiler

Syril had become one of the best characters this season with his getting to play spy and the gradual horror of what he unleashed dawning on him. The imperial sargent with his squad of cannon fodder knowing he's fucked was a great side character. The KX droids were genuinely unsettling

[Rusty]

If nothing else just the scale of things they've managed to convey. Every scene setting moment shows a wider picture of the world. Long shots, wide shots and the biggest meeting tables.

[Animalmother]

That scene near the end of episode 9 at the rebel base that I didn't understand the relevance of...

Spoiler

The table full of guns where she picks up one recognising it. It's the gun Cassian gives to the guy who escaped the prision with him who has now joined the rebellion. He's also in Rogue One.

The music is this series is also excellent.

[Raid]

Andor Season 2

I think if all Star Wars shows were as good as this, the franchise wouldn't have become something of a joke. Ok Kathleen Kennedy, you've had your one big success, you can fuck off now and let someone else take over.

Anyway, it's an excellent series that I think fulfils the promise of Rogue One; a gritty, realistic-feeling depiction of the Star Wars universe, and one that I'd love to see explored more. I think the series does wrap up in a satisfying way, but one that doesn't feel complete. It doesn't feel the need to complete every storyline; if any of these characters turn up in later productions, as tends to happen, it could feel natural. It's a quality that Star Wars sometimes lacks.

[Animalmother]

Definitely some of the best tv that's been made in years. They managed to make a realistic spy drama set in a series that's famous for space wizards that wave glow sticks at each other and terrible dialogue.

The writing and acting is excellent throughout. The Empire is depicted as a genuine threat but still full of people who aren't evil, just doing their job. It's a rare show where every episode is master class in writing and character creation. I wish there had been a few more episodes but the best tv shows usually are short. I hope they leave it at that, no spin offs on other characters. If flows straight into Rogue One and that's the end.

I'll still be rewatching this in years to come as I think many others will as well.

A mild complaint..

Spoiler

Using the Star Wars main theme in the end credits annoyed me. The music in the show was fantastic and stood on it's own merit. It didn't need that fan service.

[Animalmother]

Love, Death & Robots S4
Definitely enjoyed this more than season 3. The different animation styles for each story are all amazing (there's one life action story), especially the WW2 bomber one and the cat and poet. It starts with a very odd choice of a song recorded at a Red Hot Chili Peppers gig in puppet form. I was at that actual gig 22 years ago!

[Raid]

Pantheon (Netflix)

Pretty good proto-cyberpunk animated series about the invention of technology that allows the human brain to be destructively scanned and uploaded digitally, from the same animation studio that did Invincible. The story's quite compelling, but I absolutely loved the way it ends. Definitely worth a watch.

[Stormbringer]

I watched the first episode a few weeks ago and enjoyed it, but got distracted with other things.

I should get back to it!