Grant's TV Log (2018)

[GrantD2]

Decided to start a log for TV shows I'm watching as well. This one is much, much more low key than my movie log, though, as this one will be purely scores.

Fresh Rating: 70% - 100%
Rotten Rating: 0% - 69%

Fresh Seasons: 32
Rotten Seasons: 7
82% Fresh

Fresh Episodes: 352
Rotten Episodes: 58
86% Fresh

TV Show Season Rankings by Rating:
1. Sharp Objects, Season 1 - 91% Fresh
2. Halt and Catch Fire, Season 4 - 90% Fresh
3. Westworld, Season 2 - 90% Fresh
4. The Haunting of Hill House, Season 1 - 90% Fresh
5. Halt and Catch Fire, Season 3 - 87% Fresh
6. Halt and Catch Fire, Season 1 - 87% Fresh
7. One-Punch Man, Season 1 - 85% Fresh
8. Halt and Catch Fire, Season 2 - 85% Fresh
9. Maniac, Season 1 - 85% Fresh
10. The Handmaid's Tale, Season 1 - 85% Fresh
11. The Handmaid's Tale, Season 2 - 85% Fresh
12. The Expanse, Season 1 - 84% Fresh
13. The Expanse, Season 2 - 84% Fresh
14. Fargo, Season 3 - 84% Fresh
15. Homecoming, Season 1 - 84% Fresh
16. Succession, Season 1 - 82% Fresh
17. The Deuce, Season 2 - 82% Fresh
18. Cowboy Bebop, Season 1 - 81% Fresh
19. Ballers, Season 2 - 81% Fresh
20. Broadchurch, Season 1 - 81% Fresh
21. Preacher, Season 3 - 80% Fresh
22. Castlevania, Season 1 - 80% Fresh
23. Broadchurch, Season 3 - 80% Fresh
24. Broadchurch, Season 2 - 78% Fresh
25. Ozark, Season 2 - 78% Fresh
26. Ballers, Season 1 - 78% Fresh
27. Ballers, Season 4 - 78% Fresh
28. Yellowstone, Season 1 - 78% Fresh
29. Castlevania, Season 2 - 78% Fresh
30. The Staircase, Season 1 - 77% Fresh
31. Shot in the Dark, Season 1 - 74% Fresh
32. Orange is the New Black, Season 6 - 70% Fresh
33. Archer, Season 9 - 69% Rotten
34. The Flash, Season 4 - 67% Rotten
35. Arrow, Season 6 - 67% Rotten
36. Frontier, Season 1 - 66% Rotten
37. Frontier, Season 2 - 58% Rotten
38. House of Cards, Season 6 - 53% Rotten
39. Frontier, Season 3 - 40% Rotten

Average Season Rating: 80%

[GrantD2]

The first two shows I plan on reviewing are One Punch Man and The Expanse.

[GrantD2]

One-Punch Man: Season 1 (2015)
Platform: Netflix
http://www.konbini.com/us/files/2017/04/onepunchman.jpg

Episode 1: The Strongest Man - 90%
Episode 2: The Lone Cyborg - 88%
Episode 3: The Obsessive Scientist - 85%
Episode 4: The Modern Ninja - 89%
Episode 5: The Ultimate Mentor - 91%
Episode 6: The Terrifying City - 88%
Episode 7: The Ultimate Disciple - 75%
Episode 8: The Deep Sea King - 76%
Episode 9: Unyielding Justice - 85%
Episode 10: Unparalleled Peril - 71%
Episode 11: The Dominator of the Universe - 83%
Episode 12: The Strongest Hero - 93%

Overall Season 1 Rating - 85% Fresh

I'm not a huge anime person, but I do enjoy anime shows on occasion, and One-Punch Man is one of my favorites. It's an interesting twist on the superhero genre, as Saitama is a superhero just for fun. Of course, he also defeats damn near everything with one punch, so much of the story is him trying to find someone who is truly a challenge to defeat. His sense of humor is perfect, but he's also a badass when he needs to be. He's a true pleasure to watch. However, One-Punch Man is not without its flaws. The biggest of which I believe is how several of the episodes take the spotlight off of Saitama and place it on one or several of the secondary character, who I feel fail to carry the show on their own. Basically, whenever Saitama is on screen I'm having an absolute blast, but whenever he's not and a secondary character is the focus...I find myself not as interested. It's still a very good show, though, and I can't wait for season two.

[GrantD2]

Broadchurch: Season 1 (2013)
Creator: Chris Chibnall
Platform: Netflix
http://vodzilla.co/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/broadchurch.jpeg

Episode 1 - 75%
Episode 2 - 81%
Episode 3 - 80%
Episode 4 - 83%
Episode 5 - 79%
Episode 6 - 84%
Episode 7 - 85%
Episode 8 - 82%

Overall Season 1 Rating - 81% Fresh

While season 1 of Broadchurch does follow the standard storyline of a detective show, excellent performances by everyone involved and a foreign (to me) setting makes it slightly more interesting than most others in the same genre.


Broadchurch: Season 2 (2015)
Creator: Chris Chibnall
Platform: Netflix
https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article4918315.ece/ALTERNATES/s1227b/Broadchurch-series-2.jpg

Episode 1 - 83%
Episode 2 - 80%
Episode 3 - 77%
Episode 4 - 79%
Episode 5 - 75%
Episode 6 - 73%
Episode 7 - 78%
Episode 8 - 78%

Overall Season 2 Rating - 78% Fresh

Season 2 of Broadchurch struggled to capture my complete interest as most of the season is spent covering the trial in a slow and frankly boring way. There were some interesting moments with Hardy looking further into the old Sandbrook case and ultimately solving it, but it wasn't as interesting as the first season. I still quite like the duo of Hardy and Miller, which saved my individual episode ratings from slipping even further than they did, but if season 3 doesn't evolve in some way I can't see the show getting any better.


Broadchurch: Season 3 (2017)
Creator: Chris Chibnall
Platform: Netflix
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/17/12/980x490/landscape-1490018851-embargoed-until-14th-march-broadchurch-episode4-26.JPG

Episode 1 - 79%
Episode 2 - 80%
Episode 3 - 82%
Episode 4 - 83%
Episode 5 - 76%
Episode 6 - 82%
Episode 7 - 74%
Episode 8 - 80%

Overall Season 3 Rating - 80% Fresh

Season 3 of Broadchurch got back to what made the first season enjoyable: realistic detective work. This season's case isn't solved very easily, and Miller and Hardy have to slowly peel back layer after layer to get to the truth. I was satisfied with the conclusion. However, Danny's family is still woven into the story in what seems like a forced way, and I have some issues with how the show is paced at times (one enthralling episode will be followed by a boring episode). It's a solid detective show set in a location different from most in the same genre, but it's not a game changer by any means.

[GrantD2]

The Expanse: Season 1 (2015)
Creators: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Platform: Amazon
http://www.blastr.com/sites/blastr/files/Expanse-Crew_syfy.png

Episode 1: Dulcinea - 82%
Episode 2: The Big Empty - 80%
Episode 3: Remember the Cant - 83%
Episode 4: CQB - 84%
Episode 5: Back to the Butcher - 77%
Episode 6: Rock Bottom - 85%
Episode 7: Windmills - 80%
Episode 8: Salvage - 89%
Episode 9: Critical Mass - 91%
Episode 10: Leviathan Wakes - 85%

Season 1 Overall Rating - 84% Fresh

Wow. I was aware of The Expanse's existence long before the whole cancellation ordeal that ended with Amazon picking it up for a fourth season. But, I had never watched it, and I really didn't plan on watching it for quite a while longer. The hype around the revival peaked my interest, though, so I decided to start it. And, boy, I'm glad that I did. While it took me a few episodes to finally become hooked, The Expanse is the sci-fi show I've been longing for for quite some time. I've always felt that sci-fi often fell short of its potential on the small screen (I'm looking at you Altered Carbon), but this one hits every note I want it to. There's mystery, space battles, plenty of futuristic tech, action, and a world that seems very deep. I do think there is potential for it to be better, but given that I still have two seasons to get through, I think that it will reach its true potential by the time I'm caught up.


The Expanse: Season 2 (2017)
Creators: Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
Platform: Amazon
http://media.comicbook.com/2017/01/the-expanse-season-2-224764-1280x0.jpg

Episode 1: Safe - 86%
Episode 2: Doors & Corners - 85%
Episode 3: Static - 83%
Episode 4: Godspeed - 88%
Episode 5: Home - 85%
Episode 6: Paradigm Shift - 83%
Episode 7: The Seventh Man - 81%
Episode 8: Pyre - 79%
Episode 9: The Weeping Somnambulist - 81%
Episode 10: Cascade - 78%
Episode 11: Here There Be Dragons - 87%
Episode 12: The Monster and the Rocket - 88%
Episode 13: Caliban's War - 85%

Overall Season 2 Rating - 84% Fresh

The second season of The Expanse expands on the mystery created in the first season, and provides some answers while also introducing new questions. The universe of the show continues to grow larger with each story arch and I have become fully invested in the overarching story now. I've also come to care quite deeply for most of the main cast. I will say that once again at the end of the season I wasn't left entirely satisfied, but looking forward to what has been set up for the next season. Overall, though, this has quickly become one of my favorite non-Netflix/HBO created shows of all time.

[GrantD2]

Succession: Season 1 (2018)
Creator: Jesse Armstrong
Platform: HBO
https://www.hbo.com/content/dam/hbodata/series/succession/episodes/s1/succession-s1-ka-1920.jpg

Episode 1: Celebration - 82%
Episode 2: **** Show at the **** Factory - 85%
Episode 3: Lifeboats - 82%
Episode 4: Sad Sack Wasp Trap - 80%
Episode 5: I Went to Market - 84%
Episode 6: Which Side Are You On? - 87%
Episode 7: Austerlitz - 83%
Episode 8: Prague - 81%
Episode 9: Pre-Nuptial - 79%
Episode 10: Nobody is Ever Missing - 80%

Season 1 Rating - 82% Fresh

I read several early reviews of Succession and many of them called this show "unnecessary" because we don't need to focus on a family of rich folks doing bad things rich folks do. If you want to start applying the "unnecessary" line of logic to television shows, you'll find that many of them aren't worth our time. This has nothing to do with my review, but I just found it incredibly stupid.

Succession is a terrific family drama. Yes, they are a very rich family. Yes, there is some business involved. But the real entertainment here comes from how the family interacts with each other, and how the concept of family only goes so far in business. It may be a bit over the top at times but that just adds to the entertainment value. The comedy is quite good as well. If you're a fan of family dramas with business being a bit of a background driver of the story, Succession is for you.

[MovieMad16]

Awesome to see you doing TV stuff too. Looking forward to reading more.

[GrantD2]

Awesome to see you doing TV stuff too. Looking forward to reading more.

Thanks. I've thought about it for a while, but when I saw that you started to do it I figured I might as well dive in as well. You go much more in-depth than I do, but my goal is to do just scores for each individual episode and then kind of a wrap-up review for each season (I just added them for One-Punch Man and The Expanse). Thanks for popping in!

[Stirchley]

GrantD2, I should take another look at Broadchurch. Everyone seems to like it, but I was not engaged by the pilot.

I plan to take a look at Succession The next time I renew my HBO subscription. (IIRC, it is HBO.)

[GrantD2]

GrantD2, I should take another look at Broadchurch. Everyone seems to like it, but I was not engaged by the pilot.

I plan to take a look at Succession The next time I renew my HBO subscription. (IIRC, it is HBO.)

Broadchurch is a fairly typical detective show with a little bit of added side drama. I believe I found it somewhat more interesting than a standard detective show purely because of the setting. The second season started to slip in quality, though, and I'm afraid that the third season may do the same.

I think Succession is a pretty good family/business drama so far. Some seem to think it's a dumpster fire, though, so I guess it's not meant for everyone.

[GrantD2]

Archer: Season 9 (2018)
Creator: Adam Reed
Platform: FXX
http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/lg/public/2018/02/28/archer-danger-island.jpg

Episode 1: Strange Pilot - 77%
Episode 2: Disheartening Situation - 71%
Episode 3: Different Modes of Preparing The Fruit - 64%
Episode 4: A Warrior in Costume - 61%
Episode 5: Strange Doings in the Taboo Groves - 59%
Episode 6: Some Remarks on Cannibalism - 70%
Episode 7: Comparative Wickedness of Civilized and Unenlightened Peoples - 85%
Episode 8: A Discovery - 65%

Overall Season 9 Rating - 69% Rotten

In Archer's early days, I was a diehard fan. I absolutely loved the show. But when the show reached what was somewhat of a conclusion and then the dreamland stuff started, I began to slowly lose interest. Unfortunately, season nine is one of the worst seasons yet. It does have a couple of stand out episodes, most notably episode seven, which I think is one of the best episodes in a few years, but most of the episodes are uninteresting and not very funny. There may be a chuckle or two to be had throughout most of the episodes, but that's not good for a show that relies so much on comedy. It just feels like that we're being fed the same gags over and over again, with the only differences being the setting and some character roles. It's a bummer to see a show take such a dive in quality, but that's the trajectory some series take. I hope that the final season will be better.

[GrantD2]

Arrow: Season 6 (2017)
Creators: Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Platform: Netflix
http://cdn1us.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeekus/files/styles/main_wide/public/2017/11/arrow_season_6_episode_6_review_promises_kept.jpg?itok=Mj1SkG4y

Episode 1: 70%
Episode 2: 72%
Episode 3: 68%
Episode 4: 66%
Episode 5: 74%
Episode 6: 66%
Episode 7: 66%
Episode 8: 75%
Episode 9: 74%
Episode 10: 58%
Episode 11: 55%
Episode 12: 58%
Episode 13: 50%
Episode 14: 60%
Episode 15: 71%
Episode 16: 75%
Episode 17: 70%
Episode 18: 61%
Episode 19: 80%
Episode 20: 78%
Episode 21: 71%
Episode 22: 60%
Episode 23: 66%

Overall Season 6 Rating - 67% Rotten

Season 6 of Arrow marks a low point for the series as the over-dramatic split of Team Arrow coupled with a rather disappointing villain lead to what was once one of my favorite shows becoming something that I look at as a chore to watch. There is a good episode here and there, and I do have to give the team behind Arrow props for including as much action (even though a lot of the fight scenes are not choreographed very well), but this series just isn't what it once was. It focuses too much on inner-team drama, not enough on the bad guys, and way too much on why Oliver is hard to work with. Also, like The Flash, this show has fallen into a formulaic rut that it just can't seem to get out of. If it doesn't improve in Season 7, it may be time for the CW to hang up the hood and move onto another DC character.

[GrantD2]

The Flash: Season 4 (2017)
Creators: Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, Andrew Kreisberg
Platform: Netflix
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/18/16/980x490/landscape-1524057682-the-flash-season-4-when-harry-met-harry-image-6.jpg

Episode 1: 64%
Episode 2: 69%
Episode 3: 70%
Episode 4: 58%
Episode 5: 61%
Episode 6: 65%
Episode 7: 69%:
Episode 8: 76%
Episode 9: 69%
Episode 10: 60%
Episode 11: 70%
Episode 12: 70%
Episode 13: 60%
Episode 14: 68%
Episode 15: 76%
Episode 16: 71%
Episode 17: 65%
Episode 18: 70%
Episode 19: 54%
Episode 20: 72%
Episode 21: 68%
Episode 22: 72%
Episode 23: 65%

Overall Season 4 Rating - 67% Rotten

While The Flash is consistently more fun than the other CW show I watch (Arrow), it has become quite repetitive over the past two seasons. It's always the same: a villain is introduced, said villain gets more and more powerful, Team Flash is unable to beat said villain, and then they miraculously figure out how to beat said villain when the city is on the brink of destruction. Is that the general outline of most superhero shows/movies? Sure, but over a 23 episode season this premise gets pretty old. I think that this still has lots to like for teen audiences, but I'm kind of over it at this point. I only continue watching it because I feel like I need to see the series all the way through.

[GrantD2]

Yellowstone: Season 1 (2018)
Creator: Taylor Sheridan
Platform: Paramount Network
http://paramountnetwork.mtvnimages.com/uri/mgid:file:gsp:entertainment-assets:/paramountnetwork/shows/Yellowstone/Full-Episodes/101/full-ep-final.jpg?quality=0.85&width=664&height=374&crop=true

Episode 1: Daybreak - 82%
Episode 2: Kill the Messenger - 83%
Episode 3: No Good Horses - 80%
Episode 4: The Long Black Train - 79%
Episode 5: Coming Home - 77%
Episode 6: The Remembering - 78%
Episode 7: A Monster is Among Us - 73%
Episode 8: The Unravelling: Pt. 1 - 71%
Episode 9: The Unravelling: Pt. 2 - 78%

Overall Season 1 Rating - 78% Fresh

The best comparison for Yellowstone is that it is the Western version of Succession. The focus is on a rich, not very likable, family who does a lot of bad things and has a lot of drama. We see how different each member of the family is and why they are all fairly hostile towards each other despite being a family. This is a slow burn family drama that has some action mixed in, and at times it almost steps into soap opera territory. It can be boring at times, and it can very well be unbelievable at times. Taylor Sheridan's need to kill someone off in nearly every episode becomes a little predictable and honestly a little disappointing. Someone doesn't have to die every episode for the audience to stay interested. I was expecting a project under Taylor's full control to focus heavily on character development and the emotional side of things, but he barely dips below surface level with many of his characters. The story of the show also starts to lose steam after the first four episodes, which were pretty good, as it starts to stretch storylines to fit the runtime. However, the selection of Western shows on TV is not very deep right now, and this does fill that void for me. It has lots of issues, but is still an entertaining show, and I plan on watching season 2.

[GrantD2]

Westworld: Season 2 (2018)
Creators: Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
Platform: HBO
https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Westworld.jpg

Episode 1: Journey Into the Night - 92%
Episode 2: Reunion - 94%
Episode 3: Virtù e Fortuna - 82%
Episode 4: The Riddle of the Sphinx - 89%
Episode 5: Akane no Mai - 82%
Episode 6: Phase Space - 90%
Episode 7: Les Écorchés - 95%
Episode 8: Kiksuya - 85%
Episode 9: Vanishing Point - 92%
Episode 10: The Passenger - 97%

Overall Season Rating - 90% Fresh

Westworld combines two of my favorite genres: Western and Sci-Fi. But you don't necessarily have to be a huge fan of either of those genres to enjoy Westworld. The story is just that good. It may be a little up and down episode wise, which I feel like is inevitable with how many storylines it juggles, but it has some of the best writing I've seen in TV in quite a while. How they're able to have so many different storylines and timelines running at one time, and still wrap them all up and have some of them intertwine quite well at the end is a pretty big accomplishment, especially with how poorly a lot of shows handle just trying to have two separate storylines. The mystery of this show is also incredibly enthralling. Part of the fun of a show like this is throwing out theories with your friends after each episode, and then seeing who was right or wrong at the very end.

As for this season being "confusing". It's not. If you pay attention to each episode, it's not hard to figure out which timeline is which.

Now as for how the actual story played out this season, I was locked in for the entire season. I was completely sold on every story line and I couldn't wait to see how it'd all wrap up. The time jumps to the past and present, the exploration of Shogun World, a whole episode focusing on a Native American character, Dolores' quest for whatever the hell she wants, Bernard's struggles, it was all solid. A couple of the storylines (most notably the Man in Black's) didn't exactly pan out how I was hoping, but I was still satisfied with the way they went. The finale of season two sets up a radically different season three, as the setting is going to be completely different, which has got me quite excited for 2019...or whenever it comes out.

[Stirchley]

I watched maybe the entire 1st season & then got sick of it. Did not dig the Westerns arc at all.

[GrantD2]

I watched maybe the entire 1st season & then got sick of it. Did not dig the Westerns arc at all.

It's not for everyone. I'll definitely admit that.

[GrantD2]

Sharp Objects: Season 1 (2018)
Creator: Marti Noxon
Platform: HBO
https://nyoobserver.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/cq5dam-web-1200-675.jpeg?quality=80&w=970

Episode 1: Vanish - 91%
Episode 2: Dirt - 92%
Episode 3: Fix - 93%
Episode 4: Ripe - 94%
Episode 5: Closer - 86%
Episode 6: Cherry - 85%
Episode 7: Falling - 91%
Episode 8: Milk - 92%

Overall Season 1 Rating - 91% Fresh

Sharp Objects is based on Gillian Flynn's debut novel and follows Camille Preaker, who is a journalist that heads back to her hometown to cover a murder case. This is the definition of a slow burn TV show, and because of that this show is not for everyone. Some people will find it extremely boring, and some people will think a lot of the episodes are filler and not entirely focused on the actual "story", which is the murder case. However, I believe this is a masterful use of the slow burn style of story telling. The murder case is more of a backdrop. It is present in every episode and ultimately it is what keeps the story moving forward, but the main focus here is on Camille, the screwed up town that she grew up in, and the terrible people that live there. A lot of people may also find the random flash back cuts a bit jarring, as they are often without audio and only last a few seconds. I loved the editing style of this show, and found the flash back cuts to be a great story telling device. It gives us a little bit of background info every episode without having to have an entire flash back sequence. Now, the biggest question about a slow burn show is whether or not it paid off, and I think it did. The twist at the end, while not entirely unpredictable, is very satisfying and I think is the perfect end to the show. This is quite possibly one of HBO's best since the first season of True Detective, but Sharp Objects won't appeal to as many people. I'd recommend at least watching a couple of episodes to see if this one is for you.

[Stirchley]

Planning to watch this as soon as The Handmaid’s Tale ends & I substitute HBO for hulu.

[GrantD2]

Planning to watch this as soon as The Handmaid’s Tale ends & I substitute HBO for hulu.

First episode really hooked me. It's a slow burn show, though, so it'll be hard for some people to stay interested.

[Stirchley]

Love Amy Adams so will cut the show some slack if I am not immediately hooked by the pilot.

[GrantD2]

The Handmaid's Tale: Season 1 (2017)
Creator: Bruce Miller
Platform: Hulu
https://www.pogdesign.co.uk/cat/imgs/episodes/The-Handmaids-Tale/The-Handmaids-Tale-S01E02-96cf92c46915ccf53062039828fc1404-full.jpg

Episode 1: Offred - 86%
Episode 2: Birth Day - 84%
Episode 3: Late - 90%
Episode 4: Nolite Te Bastardes - 86%
Episode 5: Faithful - 83%
Episode 6: A Woman's Place - 85%
Episode 7: The Other Side - 78%
Episode 8: Jezebels - 79%
Episode 9: The Bridge - 86%
Episode 10: Night - 89%

Season 1 Overall Rating - 85% Fresh

The first season of The Handmaid's Tale sets up a world in which birthrates have dropped to dangerously low numbers, so all of the fertile women are gathered up and forced to serve powerful men in the new society. Their sole purpose is to get pregnant. It's a scary, but rather realistic, portrayal of what life would be like if an extremist group seized control of the United States. Every episode is jam packed with revelations and critical story points, and it never drags. I did find it interesting that it really is hard to care for any of the characters in this show. They are all frustrating at times, but that doesn't take away from the quality of the show at all. It's well worth the watch.


The Handmaid's Tale: Season 2 (2018)
Creator: Bruce Miller
Platform: Hulu
https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2018/07/10/recap/10-the-handmaids-tale-213.w710.h473.jpg

Episode 1: June - 88%
Episode 2: Unwomen - 85%
Episode 3: Baggage - 82%
Episode 4: Other Women - 87%
Episode 5: Seeds - 86%
Episode 6: First Blood - 88%
Episode 7: After - 85%
Episode 8: Women's Work - 86%
Episode 9: Smart Power - 84%
Episode 10: The Last Ceremony - 85%
Episode 11: Holly - 81%
Episode 12: Postpartum - 86%
Episode 13: The Word - 88%

Season 2 Overall Rating - 85% Fresh

June continues to be a frustrating character, but the story continues to be enthralling.

[Stirchley]

Envy you just starting The Handmaid’s Tale now. Two seasons in now & can’t wait for season 3. Amazing show.

[GrantD2]

Envy you just starting The Handmaid’s Tale now. Two seasons in now & can’t wait for season 3. Amazing show.

My old roommate finally got me to start it. :p

I liked the first episode a lot and have heard it just gets better as it goes, so I'm definitely looking forward to watching more.

[Stirchley]

It gets better & better. Enjoy!

[GrantD2]

The Staircase: Season 1 (2018)
Platform: Netflix
https://www.thewrap.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/TheStaircase.jpg

Episode 1: Crime or Accident? - 75%
Episode 2: Secrets and Lies - 71%
Episode 3: A Striking Coincidence - 74%
Episode 4: A Prosecution Trickery - 78%
Episode 5: A Weak Case - 81%
Episode 6: The Prosecution's Revenge - 76%
Episode 7: The Blow Poke Returns - 74%
Episode 8: The Verdict - 78%
Episode 9: Reopening the Case - 72%
Episode 10: The Last Chance - 82%
Episode 11: Looking for Closure - 78%
Episode 12: Between Anger and Despair - 79%
Episode 13: Flawed Justice - 83%

Overall Season 1 Rating - 77% Fresh

The Staircase is a perfectly fine documentary series about a murder case that suffered from the prosecution's determination to get Michael convicted, regardless of what the evidence actually showed. There's nothing here many of us haven't seen before, but it's well done and shines a light on a key weakness in our justice system, as many other modern documentary series have done .

[Stirchley]

I think I saw The Staircase. The guy was in the military?

[GrantD2]

I think I saw The Staircase. The guy was in the military?

Yeah, he was. You've probably seen at least the first part of it. It was a series back in 2004, and then they released a couple of updates and Netflix obtained the rights to the old episodes and also added on three new episodes.

[GrantD2]

Shameless: Season 8 (2018)
Creators: John Wells, Paul Abbott
Platform: Netflix
http://cdn2us.denofgeek.com/sites/denofgeekus/files/styles/main_wide/public/2017/11/shameless_season_8_episode_3_review_rotting_soul.jpg?itok=kgzsIYT5

Episode 1: We Become What We... Frank! - 80%
Episode 2: Where's My Meth? - 78%
Episode 3: God Bless Her Rotting Soul - 75%
Episode 4: Paying It Forward - 81%
Episode 5: The (Mis)Education of Liam Fergus Beircheart Gallagher - 82%
Episode 6: Icarus Fell and Rusty Ate Him - 80%
Episode 7: Occupy Fiona - 75%
Episode 8: Frank's Northern Shuttle Express - 73%
Episode 9: The Fugees - 84%
Episode 10: The Church of Gay Jesus - 85%
Episode 11: A Gallagher Pedicure - 82%
Episode 12: Sleepwalking - 86%

Overall Season 8 Rating - 80% Fresh

Shameless doesn't really get any better in season 8, but it doesn't get any worse either. The normal family drama is present, and the funny predicaments they get themselves into are there as well, and there's actually a little bit of character development this season. Overall, it's exactly what you expect from Shameless, and even though some viewers may find themselves getting a tad annoyed with the repetitiveness of the storylines, I still find the show very enjoyable.

[GrantD2]

Frontier: Season 1 (2016)
Creators: Rob Blackie, Peter Blackie
Platform: Netflix
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MYE5WU_SGzdW0dPHto5iTWnb9qU=/0x0:5019x3346/1200x800/filters:focal(2375x854:3177x1656)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52850719/frontier1_unit_D07_1124_DDY_00058.0.jpg

Episode 1: A Kingdom Unto Itself - 74%
Episode 2: Little Brother War - 73%
Episode 3: Mushkegowuk Esquewu - 70%
Episode 4: Wolves - 68%
Episode 5: The Disciple - 58%
Episode 6: The Gallows - 53%

Overall Season 1 Rating - 66% Rotten

Frontier is a show that had a ton of potential, and after the first episode I thought it may live up to it, but the six episode season hurts it immensely. The story is forced to progress at a rapid pace that really makes it hard to get very invested. After the second episode, the story continues to lose momentum with every episode until it comes to a rather unsatisfying conclusion. This is more of a show that you put on when you're trying to kill time, or want to do some light work while watching something. It's not worth the time commitment otherwise.

Frontier: Season 2 (2017)
Creators: Rob Blackie, Peter Blackie
Platform: Netflix
https://imgix.bustle.com/2017/1/20/6626e4a0-c1d0-49bd-8ef1-00ba3efa7bc8.jpg?w=970&h=582&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70

Episode 1: Dead Reckoning - 58%
Episode 2: Wanted - 59%
Episode 3: The Wolf And The Bear - 54%
Episode 4: Mutiny - 62%
Episode 5: Cannonball - 63%
Episode 6: Keetom Takooteeoo Maheekum - 52%

Overall Season 2 Rating - 58% Rotten

Frontier continues to fall flat in almost every way in season 2. The story is uninteresting, rushed, and unevenly paced, and the characters generally hold no value to me. Anyone can die in this show at any moment and I wouldn't necessarily care. And to make matters worse, the conclusion of this season was just as unsatisfying as the first season.

Frontier: Season 3 (2018)
Creators: Rob Blackie, Peter Blackie
Platform: Netflix
https://www.bellmedia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Landon.png

Episode 1: The Low Road - 60%
Episode 2: La fin du monde - 44%
Episode 3: Satanazes - 38%
Episode 4: All For All and None For One - 35%
Episode 5: House of the Lord - 33%
Episode 6: The Sins of the Father - 30%

Overall Season 3 Rating - 40% Rotten

While the production quality of season three increased significantly, the story continues to limp along. The pacing is still all over the place, and the big "payoff" at the end of the season ultimately felt predictable and a little cheesy. If the showrunners can't find a new and exciting direction to take Declan Harp's character, it might be time to end it.

[GrantD2]

Fargo: Season 3 (2017)
Creator: Noah Hawley
Platform: Hulu
https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/mt/2017/04/FARGO_Y3_004/lead_720_405.jpg?mod=1533691544

Episode 1: The Law of Vacant Places - 88%
Episode 2: The Principle of Restricted Choice - 86%
Episode 3: The Law of Non-Contradiction - 89%
Episode 4: The Narrow Escape Problem - 84%
Episode 5: The House of Special Purpose - 82%
Episode 6: The Lord of No Mercy - 81%
Episode 7: The Law of Inevitability - 82%
Episode 8: Who Rules the Land of Denial? - 79%
Episode 9: Aporia - 76%
Episode 10: Somebody to Love - 90%

Overall Season 3 Rating - 84% Fresh

Fargo continues to provide us with enthralling, quirky storytelling in season 3 and the cast is absolutely spectacular in this one. Ewan McGregor and Carrie Coon do a great job as always. The production level is top notch as well, almost on par with some big budget movies. And while I don't believe the story of this season is of the same level of quality as season 1, season 3 is still fantastic television.

[Stirchley]

I love Fargo. David Thewlis was so gross in season 3. :)

[GrantD2]

Preacher: Season 3 (2018)
Creators: Sam Catlin, Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen
Platform: AMC
https://imgix.bustle.com/uploads/image/2018/6/22/b8ce2530-4f1d-481b-b721-598be1870b4f-pre3_group-rt_crop.jpg?w=960&h=540&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=70

Episode 1: Angelville - 85%
Episode 2: Sonsabitches - 83%
Episode 3: Gonna Hurt - 80%
Episode 4: The Tombs - 78%
Episode 5: The Coffin - 76%
Episode 6: Les Enfants du Sang - 74%
Episode 7: Hilter - 80%
Episode 8: The Tom/Brady - 79%
Episode 9: Schwanzkopf - 80%
Episode 10: The Light Above - 82%

Overall Season 3 Rating - 80% Fresh

The third season of Preacher recovers from the stumble that was season two and gets back to what makes Preacher so fun to watch: out-of-the-box storytelling, plenty of humor, and lots and lots of blood. It does hit a bit of a snag about half way through the season that slows it down for a couple of episodes, but then it picks it up again and heads towards a conclusion that has got me excited for season four.

[GrantD2]

I love Fargo. David Thewlis was so gross in season 3. :)

It's one of my favorite limited series as well. I will say that (so far, still got a few episodes of season 3) the first season is still by far the best. It's hard to top Billy Bob Thornton.

[GrantD2]

Ozark: Season 2 (2018)
Creators: Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams
Platform: Netflix
https://assets1.ignimgs.com/2018/08/09/ozarkse02-blogroll-1533856307830_1280w.jpg

Episode 1: Reparations - 82%
Episode 2: The Precious Blood of Jesus - 81%
Episode 3: Once a Langmore ... - 81%
Episode 4: Stag - 79%
Episode 5: Game Day - 83%
Episode 6: Outer Darkness - 78%
Episode 7: One Way Out - 74%
Episode 8: The Big Sleep - 77%
Episode 9: The Badger - 79%
Episode 10: The Gold Coast - 70%

Overall Season 2 Rating - 78% Fresh

The second season of Ozark starts out strong. It continues on with the intriguing storylines it set up last season for the first six episodes, but as the show chugs along into the second half of the season it becomes clear that the writers weren't exactly sure how to drag this season's storylines out to 10 episodes, and the pacing and entertainment level of the show suffer as a result. Frankly, it gets a bit boring in the final few episodes of the season. However, the characters are all still engaging, and the finale did set up a third season that will get me to come back for more...but I am a little worried about how much longer this show will remain a "must-watch".

[Stirchley]

Binge-watching. 3 more episodes to go. Terrific season 2.

[GrantD2]

The Deuce: Season 2 (2018)
Creators: George Pelecanos, David Simon
Platform: HBO
https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/mt/2018/09/07495b1455ceb4385248e644d5c6fc3de539fa8cfda6466a3ab9fa01bc0c4591/lead_720_405.jpg?mod=1536246500

Episode 1: Our Raison d'Etre - 80%
Episode 2: There's An Art to This - 82%
Episode 3: Seven-Fifty - 81%
Episode 4: What Big Ideas - 82%
Episode 5: All You'll Be Eating is Cannibals - 87%
Episode 6: We're All Beasts - 80%
Episode 7: The Feminism Part - 78%
Episode 8: Nobody Has to Get Hurt - 88%
Episode 9: Inside the Pretend - 84%

Season 2 Overall Rating - 82% Fresh

Season two of The Deuce continues the interesting storylines of season one while also incorporating a time jump, and thus it focuses a lot on how the characters have evolved since season one and what obstacles they now have to overcome as the porn and prostitution industries evolve. It's still a great drama, albeit not as great as it could be. It never feels like there are any major moments, but instead several small moments that happen throughout the season that indicate a storyline shift or change. I'm very interested to see how the series will come to an end in its third and final season.

[GrantD2]

Cowboy Bebop: Season 1 (1998)
Creator: Shinichirō Watanabe
Platform: Hulu
https://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Cowboy-Bebop.jpg

Episode 1: Asteroid Blues - 90%
Episode 2: Stray Dog Strut - 82%
Episode 3: Honky Tonk Women - 92%
Episode 4: Gateway Shuffle - 83%
Episode 5: Ballad of Fallen Angels - 89%
Episode 6: Sympathy for the Devil - 90%
Episode 7: Heavy Metal Queen - 81%
Episode 8: Waltz for Venus - 78%
Episode 9: Jamming With Edward - 82%
Episode 10: Ganymede Elegy - 84%
Episode 11: Toys in the Attic - 70%
Episode 12: Jupiter Jazz, Part I - 85%
Episode 13: Jupiter Jazz, Part II - 88%
Episode 14: Bohemian Rhapsody - 79%
Episode 15: My Funny Valentine - 80%
Episode 16: Black Dog Serenade - 80%
Episode 17: Mushroom Samba - 73%
Episode 18: Speak Like A Child - 77%
Episode 19: Wild Horses - 72%
Episode 20: Pierrot Le Fou - 87%
Episode 21: Boogie-Woogie Feng Shui - 61%
Episode 22: Cowboy Funk - 78%
Episode 23: Brain Scratch - 80%
Episode 24: Hard Luck Woman - 80%
Episode 25: The Real Folk Blues, Part I - 84%
Episode 26: The Real Folk Blues, Part II - 91%

Overall Season 1 Rating - 81% Fresh

I love the world and concept of Cowboy Bebop. If that was all that mattered, this would be a 10/10 anime. The problem here is that the episodes are wildly inconsistent in quality. Several times while watching this series, I'd absolutely love an episode, but then it was followed up by a mediocre or uninteresting episode. Some of the bounties that they hunt are just better than others, and that's what leads to the inconsistency in quality. But, overall this was still a blast to watch, and the music used throughout the series is worth the watch on its own.

[Stirchley]

The Deuce: Season 2 (2018)

Debating whether I should take another look at this show. Bailed out fairly quickly in season 1 since I did not believe in any of the characters. But the trailer looks good for season 2 (which means nothing, I know).

[GrantD2]

Debating whether I should take another look at this show. Bailed out fairly quickly in season 1 since I did not believe in any of the characters. But the trailer looks good for season 2 (which means nothing, I know).

Eh, honestly if you didn't like season one, I wouldn't really worry about trying it again. The second season does take a time jump and all of the characters are a bit more mature and settled into their roles, but it's very much the same show. Season one is about them all getting settled into their businesses (whether it be bars, hooking, or directing porn), and the second season seems to be aimed at showing them as they continue to grow their businesses and try to make them better.

[GrantD2]

Ballers: Season 1 (2015)
Creator: Stephen Levinson
Platform: HBO
https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/hbo-ballers-720x720.jpg?ver=1.jpg

Episode 1: Pilot - 77%
Episode 2: Raise Up - 80%
Episode 3: Move the Chains - 75%
Episode 4: Heads Will Roll - 84%
Episode 5: Machete Charge - 78%
Episode 6: Everything is Everything - 72%
Episode 7: Ends - 75%
Episode 8: Gaslighting - 73%
Episode 9: Head-On - 81%
Episode 10: Flamingos - 80%

Season 1 Overall Rating - 78% Fresh

Ballers is a very entertaining show about a couple of financial managers with athletes as clients. It's not super funny, it's not super serious, and honestly there isn't a whole lot of drama, so I'm not sure what to really classify it as...but it's good. It's a show that you can watch no matter what mood you're in (and you don't have to be a fan of sports to like it), and it's a very easy watch given that the episodes are only 30 minutes each. Dwayne Johnson is charismatic as always and really the entire cast is likable. Don't go in expecting to be blown away, and you'll probably find yourself to be pleasantly surprised.


Ballers: Season 2 (2016)
Creator: Stephen Levinson
Platform: HBO
https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/ballers-season-2-hbo-5.jpg?w=1000

Episode 1: Face of the Franchise - 83%
Episode 2: Enter the Temple - 82%
Episode 3: Elidee - 85%
Episode 4: World of Hurt - 75%
Episode 5: Most Guys - 82%
Episode 6: Saturdaze - 75%
Episode 7: Everybody Knows - 83%
Episode 8: Laying in the Weeds - 85%
Episode 9: Million Bucks in a Bag - 81%
Episode 10: Game Day - 74%

Season 2 Overall Rating - 81% Fresh

Season two of Ballers continues to build on the character relationships, business deals, and drama that was introduced in the first season, while also providing the viewer with some great humor. It is arguably better than its predecessor, which is rare in television.


Ballers: Season 3 (2017)
Creator: Stephen Levinson
Platform: HBO
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/sgp-catalog-images/region_US/hbo_svod-Ballers_3-Full-Image_GalleryBackground-en-US-1499457827952._RI_SX940_.jpg

Episode 1: Seeds of Expansion - 86%
Episode 2: Bull Rush - 72%
Episode 3: In the Teeth - 71%
Episode 4: Ride and Die - 80%
Episode 5: Make Believe - 83%
Episode 6: I Hate New York - 80%
Episode 7: Ricky-Leaks - 70%
Episode 8: Alley-Oops - 73%
Episode 9: Crackback - 76%
Episode 10: Yay Area - 70%

Season 3 Overall Rating - 76% Fresh

While season two of Ballers was a step up, season three is a slight step down. The majority of the season is focused on Spencer's desire to get the Raiders to move to Las Vegas, and honestly the storyline is pretty boring, and the rest of the storylines aren't as entertaining as the previous two seasons, either. The financials of this season are also a mystery for the most part and a lot of what ASM is involved with doesn't seem to make financial sense. There is still entertainment to be had, but it's not nearly as attention-grabbing as before.


Ballers: Season 4 (2018)
Creator: Stephen Levinson
Platform: HBO
https://www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/fbc9a0259755aa8db94c010d96c4c8b9b526d4f8066aef34efe336c5eae9b2b0310f8bc55d125f9089b09bb246465434-1-1014x570.jpg

Episode 1: Rough Ride - 72%
Episode 2: Don't You Wanna Become Obama? - 77%
Episode 3: This Is Not Our World - 76%
Episode 4: Forgiving Is Living - 80%
Episode 5: Doink - 79%
Episode 6: No Small Talk - 84%
Episode 7: The Kids Are Alright - 76%
Episode 8: The Devil You Know - 82%
Episode 9: There's No Place Like Home, Baby - 74%

Season 4 Overall Rating - 78% Fresh

Ballers leans more into the drama side (rather than the upbeat, comedic side) of the show in season four and it works sometimes and doesn't work at all at other times. Spencer slowly becomes a character that is frustrating to watch over the course of the season, but he's been on this trajectory since the first season so it's not super surprising. This is definitely the most inconsistent season yet. When it's good, it's pretty good, but when it's not it's just not very entertaining. Personally, I hope that they lean more towards the comedic side of the show for season five.

[Camo]

Season one is about them all getting settled into their businesses (whether it be bars, hooking, or directing porn), and the second season seems to be aimed at showing them as they continue to grow their businesses and try to make them better.

I think it's following The Wire format (it's a David Simon show) of each Season following a different industry/institution/whatever. Season 1 was largely about prostitution, the pimps, the streets in general. Season 2 is about the Porn Industry. There could be later Seasons focusing on the internal workings of the Italian Mob, The Police, The Media, Politics whether local or national in relation to porn, etc.

It's really good. Hasn't quite hit favourite yet but it's got the potential and has had some incredible moments.

[GrantD2]

I think it's following The Wire format (it's a David Simon show) of each Season following a different industry/institution/whatever. Season 1 was largely about prostitution, the pimps, the streets in general. Season 2 is about the Porn Industry. There could be later Seasons focusing on the internal workings of the Italian Mob, The Police, The Media, Politics whether local or national in relation to porn, etc.

It's really good. Hasn't quite hit favourite yet but it's got the potential and has had some incredible moments.

There's only going to be one more season, which will be set in the 80s (apparently). Not sure what the focus will be but it could continue to follow porn or transition into something else.

I like it, although I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites. I will say that I like it (so far) more than The Wire which I didn't like that much (and yes I know that's an unusual opinion).

[Camo]

There's only going to be one more season, which will be set in the 80s (apparently). Not sure what the focus will be but it could continue to follow porn or transition into something else.

I like it, although I wouldn't say it's one of my favorites. I will say that I like it (so far) more than The Wire which I didn't like that much (and yes I know that's an unusual opinion).

Didn't know about the one more season. When i said it focuses on a different thing every season, i more meant with the backdrop of porn like The Wire does with drugs. Every Season of The Wire has a focus on drugs it shows how different sectors of society operate in relation to it and are affected by it. Think this is going for the same thing with porn. The golden age of porn ended in the mid 80's so i'm guessing that's what Season 3 will be about.

What didn't you like about The Wire? It's a top five show for me, as you could probably guess by the avatar.

[Stirchley]

Ballers, as I’ve posted elsewhere here, is a show that surprised me. Never in a million years did I think I would like a show like this, but I watched the entire thing. HBO subscription ran out, but when I renew it, I will catch up on current episodes. Could do without Russell Brand, but there it is.

[GrantD2]

Ballers, as I’ve posted elsewhere here, is a show that surprised me. Never in a million years did I think I would like a show like this, but I watched the entire thing. HBO subscription ran out, but when I renew it, I will catch up on current episodes. Could do without Russell Brand, but there it is.

I like it a lot more than I expected to... I really only started it because I was looking for something to watch when I come home for lunch in-between classes (I have about 40 minutes), but I'm actually enjoying it quite a bit for what it is.

[GrantD2]

Didn't know about the one more season. When i said it focuses on a different thing every season, i more meant with the backdrop of porn like The Wire does with drugs. Every Season of The Wire has a focus on drugs it shows how different sectors of society operate in relation to it and are affected by it. Think this is going for the same thing with porn. The golden age of porn ended in the mid 80's so i'm guessing that's what Season 3 will be about.

What didn't you like about The Wire? It's a top five show for me, as you could probably guess by the avatar.

Honestly, there wasn't much that I did like about The Wire. I understand why people like it so much (focusing on something different each season while keeping previous storylines intact, solid acting/production value, etc.), but nothing stood out about it to me. I watched it maybe a year and a half ago now I, and my opinion has remained the same even after I re-watched a few episodes with a friend. It's just another cop show to me, but with a wider scope and more realism. And that does kind of surprise me because typically I'm a sucker for cop shows, and I'm a Criminal Justice student so you'd think it'd appeal even more to me, but it doesn't.

[GrantD2]

Halt and Catch Fire: Season 1 (2014)
Creators: Christopher Cantwell, Christopher C. Rogers
Platform: Netflix
https://images.amcnetworks.com/amc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/halt-and-catch-fire-season-1-cameron-davis-gallery-1600x720-1.jpg

Episode 1: I/O - 90%
Episode 2: FUD - 88%
Episode 3: High Plains Hardware - 91%
Episode 4: Close to the Metal - 85%
Episode 5: Adventure - 84%
Episode 6: Landfall - 86%
Episode 7: Giant - 86%
Episode 8: The 214s - 81%
Episode 9: Up Helly Aa - 94%
Episode 10: 1984 - 86%

Season 1 Overall Rating - 87% Fresh

The first season of Halt and Catch Fire is easily the best technology focused show I've ever seen. I was enthralled by their quest to copy the IBM BIOS and then create their own computer to compete with them, despite the fact that Cardiff Electric (which is loosely based on the real life company Compaq) wasn't even focused on the PC market before Joe walked through the door. The drama between the characters is entertaining while not overbearing, the dialogue is smartly written, the acting is great, and the show actually tackles the technical aspects of building a computer in a realistic way (they don't completely dumb it down). The story may not move at a blistering pace but it drew me in and kept my attention all the way until the season finale. If you liked Mad Men and you like technology, you'll probably like this show.


Halt and Catch Fire: Season 2 (2015)
Creators: Christopher Cantwell, Christopher C. Rogers
Platform: Netflix
https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/halt-and-catch-fire-season-2-tv-review-amc.jpg?w=1000

Episode 1: SETI - 88%
Episode 2: New Coke - 84%
Episode 3: The Way In - 85%
Episode 4: Play With Friends - 83%
Episode 5: Extract and Defend - 81%
Episode 6: 10Broad36 - 88%
Episode 7: Working for the Clampdown - 89%
Episode 8: Limbo - 83%
Episode 9: Kali - 82%
Episode 10: Heaven Is a Place - 84%

Season 2 Overall Rating - 85% Fresh

Season two of Halt and Catch Fire focuses less on technology and more on the characters, with conflicts arising between the entire cast. In some ways this does take away from what sets this show apart from others, as the realistic portrayal of computer companies in the 80s is what attracted me in the first place, but the drama between the characters this season feels real and justified. Each character is developed many times over what they were in the first season, and the ending of season two sets up a whole new story arc for season three. To me, this is still the technology version of Mad Men, but possibly better.


Halt and Catch Fire: Season 3 (2016)
Creators: Christopher Cantwell, Christopher C. Rogers
Platform: Netflix
https://images.amcnetworks.com/amc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/AMC_HCF_S3_309_INSIDE.jpg

Episode 1: Valley of the Heart's Delight - 86%
Episode 2: One Way or Another - 87%
Episode 3: Flipping the Switch - 85%
Episode 4: Rules of Honorable Play - 84%
Episode 5: Yerba Buena - 82%
Episode 6: And She Was - 90%
Episode 7: The Threshold - 92%
Episode 8: You Are Not Safe - 94%
Episode 9: NIM - 91%
Episode 10: NeXT - 82%

Season 3 Overall Rating - 87% Fresh

Season three of Halt and Catch Fire takes the technology focus of season one, the character/drama focus of season two, and combines them for what is a very good season. Each character continues to progress on their path and the story remains as interesting as ever. This remains the perfect show for fans of the history of computers as well as just fans of drama shows in general.


Halt and Catch Fire: Season 4 (2017)
Creators: Christopher Cantwell, Christopher C. Rogers
Platform: Netflix
https://images.amcnetworks.com/amc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/HCF_S4_403_SP.jpg

Episode 1: So it Goes - 90%
Episode 2: Signal to Noise - 91%
Episode 3: Miscellaneous - 92%
Episode 4: Tonya and Nancy - 86%
Episode 5: Nowhere Man - 91%
Episode 6: A Connection is Made - 89%
Episode 7: Who Needs a Guy - 95%
Episode 8: Goodwill - 93%
Episode 9: Search - 83%
Episode 10: Ten of Swords - 90%

Season 4 Overall Rating - 90% Fresh

Season four of Halt and Catch Fire takes everything that had built up in the show to that point and provides viewers with one of the best final seasons of a show I've ever seen. All of the characters are reaching the end of their storylines in what feels like a very natural way, and the show feels as grounded in reality as ever. This is truly a hidden gem of a show.

[Stirchley]

I like it a lot more than I expected to... I really only started it because I was looking for something to watch when I come home for lunch in-between classes (I have about 40 minutes), but I'm actually enjoying it quite a bit for what it is.

Dwayne Johnson (who I thought would be dumb & thuggish like Jason Statham) makes the show. He is so likeable & a good actor. He never goes out of character. Rob Corddry, his sidekick, is also excellent. BTW, did you know that the handsome guy who plays Jason the sports agent is Jane Fonda’s son?

Honestly, there wasn't much that I did like about The Wire. I understand why people like it so much (focusing on something different each season while keeping previous storylines intact, solid acting/production value, etc.), but nothing stood out about it to me. I watched it maybe a year and a half ago now I, and my opinion has remained the same even after I re-watched a few episodes with a friend. It's just another cop show to me, but with a wider scope and more realism. And that does kind of surprise me because typically I'm a sucker for cop shows, and I'm a Criminal Justice student so you'd think it'd appeal even more to me, but it doesn't.

I absolutely love The Wire. So far have seen it 3 times. Fave season is the one at the Baltimore docks. So many times in the show I forgot they were actors, it was so real.

Halt and Catch Fire

Briefly, what’s it about?

[GrantD2]

Dwayne Johnson (who I thought would be dumb & thuggish like Jason Statham) makes the show. He is so likeable & a good actor. He never goes out of character. Rob Corddry, his sidekick, is also excellent. BTW, did you know that the handsome guy who plays Jason the sports agent is Jane Fonda’s son?


I absolutely love The Wire. So far have seen it 3 times. Fave season is the one at the Baltimore docks. So many times in the show I forgot they were actors, it was so real.


Briefly, what’s it about?

Dwayne Johnson is the best part of Ballers, by far.

And I totally get that. A lot of folks like it. Maybe some day I'll do a full re-watch and see if my opinion changes.

Halt & Catch Fire follows a group of people who work at Cardiff Electric (which is loosely based on the real-life company Compaq) as they attempt to clone, and improve upon, IBM's PC. It takes place in the 80s (and I believe goes until the mid-90s). Very, very good show so far.

[Stirchley]

Halt & Catch Fire follows a group of people who work at Cardiff Electric (which is loosely based on the real-life company Compaq) as they attempt to clone, and improve upon, IBM's PC. It takes place in the 80s (and I believe goes until the mid-90s). Very, very good show so far.

Might check it out though there is an overload of TV to watch these days. And the shows keep coming & coming.

[GrantD2]

The Walking Dead: Season 9 (2018)
Creators: Frank Darabont, Angela Kang
Platform: AMC
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/flx-editorial-wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/03180413/the-walking-dead-season-9-gabriel-jadis-anne-700x380.jpg

Episode 1: A New Beginning - 56%
Episode 2: The Bridge - 59%
Episode 3: Warning Signs - 50%
Episode 4: The Obliged - 41%
Episode 5: What Comes After - 60%
Episode 6: Who Are You Now? - 47%
Episode 7: Stradivarius - 32%
Episode 8: Evolution - 70%

[Stirchley]

Why did I think this show had ended?

[GrantD2]

Maniac: Season 1 (2018)
Creators: Cary Joji Fukunaga, Patrick Somerville
Platform: Netflix
http://cdn01.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/headlines/2017/08/stone-character.jpg

Episode 1: The Chosen One! - 86%
Episode 2: Windmills - 88%
Episode 3: Having a Day - 90%
Episode 4: Furs by Sebastian - 80%
Episode 5: Exactly Like You - 90%
Episode 6: Larger Structural Issues - 85%
Episode 7: Ceci N'est Pas Une Drill - 71%
Episode 8: The Lake of the Clouds - 85%
Episode 9: Utangatta - 82%
Episode 10: Option C - 89%

Season 1 Overall Rating - 85% Fresh

Cary Joji Fukunaga's Maniac is a limited series that everyone should experience. Each episode is a different adventure and the chemistry between Jonah Hill and Emma Stone is almost palpable. It gets a little weird at times and there is a low point or two (most notably episode seven), but overall it's a blast, and the 30-40 minute runtime of each episode makes this an easy watch.

[GrantD2]

The Haunting of Hill House: Season 1 (2018)
Creator: Mike Flanagan
Platform: Netflix
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/18/35/980x490/landscape-1535441914-hohh-110-unit-01764r.jpg

Episode 1: Steven Sees a Ghost - 84%
Episode 2: Open Casket - 88%
Episode 3: Touch - 87%
Episode 4: The Twin Thing - 90%
Episode 5: The Bent-Neck Lady - 94%
Episode 6: Two Storms - 90%
Episode 7: Eulogy - 89%
Episode 8: Witness Marks - 90%
Episode 9: Screaming Meemies - 93%
Episode 10: Silence Lay Steadily - 93%

Season 1 Overall Rating - 90% Fresh

The Haunting of Hill House is a much more emotional horror show than I expected. There are scares, and it does feel creepy most of the time, but it builds up to an emotional payoff rather than a horror payoff. It's well crafted and it honestly is way better than I ever expected it to be.

[Stirchley]

The Haunting of Hill House: Season 1 (2018)
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/18/35/980x490/landscape-1535441914-hohh-110-unit-01764r.jpg

Episode 1: Steven Sees a Ghost - 84%

That Dutch fellow on the left (who is in a lot of shows) is an excellent actor.

Hey Grant, do you think you could post where we can watch these shows so we don’t have to look it up? For example, Maniac?

[GrantD2]

That Dutch fellow on the left (who is in a lot of shows) is an excellent actor.

Hey Grant, do you think you could post where we can watch these shows so we don’t have to look it up? For example, Maniac?

Yepper. I went back through and added the platform I watched each show on.

[Stirchley]

Cheers Grant. Big help to lazies like me. Might have to watch Maniac though I’ve read some not-so-good reviews.

[Stirchley]

Not feeling Maniac. Finished the pilot & got halfway through eppy 2. Love Jonah Hill & Emma Stone, but think this is too weird for me. Doesn’t mean it isn’t good, but perhaps not for me.

[GrantD2]

Not feeling Maniac. Finished the pilot & got halfway through eppy 2. Love Jonah Hill & Emma Stone, but think this is too weird for me. Doesn’t mean it isn’t good, but perhaps not for me.

It's definitely not for everyone but I do think everyone should at least give it a shot, so I'm glad you gave it a fair shake.

[GrantD2]

Castlevania: Season 1 (2017)
Platform: Netflix
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EP6oB6MU0_4/WZmW_iykJjI/AAAAAAAAaaQ/39L-svYksls6Vq8uU-PctY30Q_5U4HstwCLcBGAs/s1600/castlevania_wrath%2Bof%2Bvlad.jpg

Episode 1: Witchbottle - 83%
Episode 2: Necropolis - 76%
Episode 3: Labyrinth - 80%
Episode 4: Monument - 82%

Season 1 Overall Rating - 80% Fresh

Despite its short length, the first season of Castelvania sets up an interesting story for season two while also providing some fantastic action sequences.


Castlevania: Season 2 (2018)
Platform: Netflix
http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/castlevania-season-2-images-2.png

Episode 1: War Council - 82%
Episode 2: Old Homes - 80%
Episode 3: Shadow Battles - 76%
Episode 4: Broken Mast - 71%
Episode 5: Last Spell - 76%
Episode 6: The River - 80%
Episode 7: For Love - 84%
Episode 8: End Times - 72%

Season 2 Overall Rating - 78% Fresh

Whereas season one of Castlevania felt too short with only four episodes, season two struggles to take full advantage of the eight episodes it had at its disposal. There are a lot of pointless, extremely surface level conversations, and it's quite obvious that some scenes were inserted purely to help fill the required episode length. However, the overall story is still interesting and the action sequences are downright fantastic. Season three has potential, but I'm keeping my expectations reserved.

[GrantD2]

House of Cards: Season 6 (2018)
Platform: Netflix
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Episode 1: Chapter 66 - 65%
Episode 2: Chapter 67 - 60%
Episode 3: Chapter 68 - 54%
Episode 4: Chapter 69 - 70%
Episode 5: Chapter 70 - 50%
Episode 6: Chapter 71 - 58%
Episode 7: Chapter 72 - 46%
Episode 8: Chapter 73 - 22%

Season 6 Overall Rating - 53% Rotten

The final season of House of Cards seems pointless and uninspired. The writing team does swing pretty big with Claire as the lead and goes for some storylines that they think will invoke the same level of interest in viewers as Frank did, but ultimately they fail spectacularly and at times the main storyline seems laughably bad. Not to mention that this has one of the worst finales of a show I've ever seen.

[Stirchley]

My DVD is pre-ordered. Can’t wait to receive it. Gonna miss Kevin Spacey, not gonna lie.

[GrantD2]

Shot in the Dark: Season 1 (2017)
Platform: Netflix
https://occ-0-987-990.1.nflxso.net/art/0f22e/926f8f9ecf2923a74595b12a2c7315bfc8e0f22e.jpg

Episode 1: The Hustle - 80%
Episode 2: Crash and Burn - 74%
Episode 3: Near Hits - 78%
Episode 4: Nice Package - 73%
Episode 5: String or Die - 70%
Episode 6: Dead of Night - 70%
Episode 7: Chasing Hell - 70%
Episode 8: S...storm - 74%

Season 1 Overall Rating - 74% Fresh

The concept of Shot in the Dark (following stringers around L.A.) is very cool as I didn't know a whole lot about them before this docuseries apart from the drama film Nightcrawler. The problem with this series is that a lot of what we're shown is very repetitive. There is a drama storyline between competing stringers that develops as the season goes on, but mainly what we see is them responding to crime scenes and filming, and really after a few episodes it seems like we're just seeing the exact same thing over and over again. But, this series is very well made from a production standpoint, and I am interested enough to see what they do with a second season if Netflix green lights it.

[GrantD2]

My DVD is pre-ordered. Can’t wait to receive it. Gonna miss Kevin Spacey, not gonna lie.

I hope that you enjoy it more than I did.

[GrantD2]

Homecoming: Season 1 (2018)
Platform: Amazon Prime
https://hotcorn-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/11/07144840/homecoming-prime-HC_101_00571.2.FNL_rgb-758x505.jpg

Episode 1: Mandatory - 84%
Episode 2: Pineapple - 86%
Episode 3: Optics - 81%
Episode 4: Redwood - 83%
Episode 5: Helping - 78%
Episode 6: Toys - 79%
Episode 7: Test - 88%
Episode 8: Protocol - 90%
Episode 9: Work - 83%
Episode 10: Stop - 92%

Overall Season 1 Rating - 84% Fresh

Distinctly a Sam Esmail show. If you like Mr. Robot, odds are you'll like Homecoming. It's a very interesting and somewhat mysterious story with a satisfying conclusion. Also it's shot in a very unique way, which kept me enthralled the entire time.

[Stirchley]

Good reviews, but disinclined to join Amazon Prime for a single show.

[GrantD2]

Orange is the New Black: Season 6 (2018)
Platform: Netflix
Creator: Jenji Kohan
https://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/2777099/size/gn-gift_guide_variable_c.jpg

Episode 1: Who Knows Better Than I - 55%
Episode 2: S...storm Coming - 60%
Episode 3: Look Out for Number One - 68%
Episode 4: I'm Talking the Ass - 65%
Episode 5: Mischief Mischief - 70%
Episode 6: State of the Uterus - 71%
Episode 7: Changing Winds - 68%
Episode 8: Gordons - 72%
Episode 9: Break the String - 74%
Episode 10: Chocolate Chip Nookie - 76%
Episode 11: Well This Took a Dark Turn - 75%
Episode 12: Double Trouble - 74%
Episode 13: Be Free - 82%

Overall Season 6 Rating - 70% Fresh

There are times during season six of Orange is the New Black where it is the best the show has been in the past few seasons, and there are times during season six where it's easily the worst it has ever been. It's a mixed bag, basically, but the second half of the season largely makes up for the first half, and it sets up what should be a very interesting final season.

[Stirchley]

Never liked this show. Intensely disliked the pilot & didn’t believe in any of the characters. Especially the one who was supposed to be from the Bronx (or Brooklyn, can’t remember). Her accent was atrocious & she turned out to be Australian.

[GrantD2]

Never liked this show. Intensely disliked the pilot & didn’t believe in any of the characters. Especially the one who was supposed to be from the Bronx (or Brooklyn, can’t remember). Her accent was atrocious & she turned out to be Australian.

I liked maybe the first season or two, but ever since it had felt like a chore to watch. The new season is at least attempting to shake some stuff up, but half of the storylines are interesting and half of them seem like throwaways.

[Stirchley]

Some shows don’t recognize when it’s time to quit.

[GrantD2]

Star Wars: Resistance: Season 1 (2018)
Platform: Disney XD
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ktU3zigZ--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/ahub8hlsfttl19jpun3v.jpg

Episode 1: The Recruit, Pt. 1 - 60%
Episode 2: The Recruit, Pt. 2 - 50%
Episode 3: The Triple Dark - 40%
Episode 4: Fuel for the Fire - 35%
Episode 5: The High Tower - 30%
Episode 6: The Children from Tehar - 38%
Episode 7: Signal from Sector Six - 31%
Episode 8: Synara's Score - 28%
Episode 9: The Platform Classic - 25%
Episode 10: Secrets and Holograms - 27%
Episode 11: Station Theta Black - 50%

[GrantD2]

There are two shows that I started in this thread that I have not finished (Star Wars: Resistance, and the new season of The Walking Dead), and those will continue to be updated in this thread. Any future series, though, will be covered in my 2019 thread.