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In keeping with the more regular music threads.
Narcos. I'm into season 3, which is dealing with the Cali Cartel. Still a pretty good show, even if I know it's not the most accurate series out there.
Devilman Crybaby. Netflix original anime series, loosely based on a manga from the early 1970s. Absolutely batshit insane, but in a way that's fun rather than being incoherent, edgy, and/or obnoxious. Really great animation (reminds me a lot of Samurai Champloo). Like a psychotic, violent FLCL with more nudity.
Halt and Catch Fire. I really didn't think I'd like this, but I've been really enjoying it (and I got my wife hooked too). I really enjoy anything set in the early days of computing, and this show was smart enough to focus on the people rather than the tech.
Just finished The Next Generation for the first time and I must say I am a fan of Star Trek now. Roddenberry really had a vision and I think he was really successful in exploring it and communicating it to the public. I also understand why Trekkers don't really get invested in the Trek/Wars rivalry as much as star wars fans. Star wars is entertaining and fun. Star Trek has a message. At its best it tries to get people onboard with the idea of something grand and beautiful. A tomorrow worth believing in that can be brought about by individual action, responsibility, and a trust in those a person relies upon. Needless to say I am hooked. We just started Deep Space Nine, then we are going to watch Voyager before tackling the original series.
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johnnyFive · 103 days ago · link ·
Yes. And you can hopefully see now why people have been so annoyed with the JJ Abrams movies. DS9 is fantastic, and is probably my favorite. Voyager is unfortunately mediocre.
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johnnyFive · 103 days ago · link ·
Agreed. And DS9, like TNG, gets better as time goes on.
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johnnyFive · 103 days ago · link ·
Yep. A lot of what I like about DS9 is that it took a well-established universe and showed what wildly different character types would do in that context.
The eSports community I'm in raved about Devilman Crybaby to no end. Yes, the soundtrack was refreshing, the delivery was explicit, and did a stellar job creating nuance in otherwise simplistic characters. But the ending threw me for a spin that didn't flow as well as I expected the plot to given the setup. Maybe it was a function of such a short series, maybe the magic was lost in the adaptation, or maybe I have to let the story settle in my mind before re-watching. Speaking of re-watching, Netflix released all 5 parts of FMA:B alongside a live-action. Boy, that was a series worth taking for another spin. I finally realized [SPOILERS] Scar actively received his brother's tattoos for creation during his time with Marco leading up to the fight with Wrath. [/SPOILERS] Watching again helped me understand what the hell the gate of truth was and it's relationships to alchemists/humans. Also, the voice dub is phenomenal. On and off watching Planet Earth II thanks to Pabs' thread. There are some goddamn amazing shots taken (at least for a pleb like me), it's complimented well with TierZoo.
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johnnyFive · 102 days ago · link ·
The first season of True Detective is one of the best single seasons of TV I've ever seen. Dark is next on my list after Narcos.
I've just watched Anomalisa and it was quite a mindfuck. Loved it. I was dying from the cringe and awkwardness the whole movie. Also the survivalist was great. I was on edge the whole time. Why do I enjoy movies that make me suffer so much? Both of those movies are on Netflix if you want to watch.
Didn't really care for devilman crybaby... Joel McHale's show is still silly, but it doesn't really matter because I'm watching to see Joel being happy and make money close to his family. Nailed It! Is a silly baking show featuring very bad bakers. Sort of like a reverse Great British Bake Off. Funny but one can only watch in small doses. Waiting for Handmaid's Tale to come back. Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card is beautiful and beings a lot of nostalgia. If you like anime you owe it to yourself to watch Guru Guru Magic Circle. It's a glorious celebration of anime and RPG tropes: irreverent humour with a heart of gold.
FirebrandRoaring · 103 days ago · link ·
Seen Altered Carbon. Halt and Catch Fire sounds neat.
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blackbootz · 101 days ago · link ·
Thoughts on the former? I haven’t seen it and have heard interesting things.
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FirebrandRoaring · 100 days ago · link ·
It's an interesting cybernoir story. The issues of body/person dissonance were explored and presented from multiple points of view, including the unsettling reality of it. Action is solid. I feel like Joel Kinnaman finds himself quite well in the main character's place: brutish, straightforward warrior-turned-detective with occasional glimpses of deep-seated charisma. Support cast is mostly well-rounded, as well, though I wish I'd seen more of their facets. The plot starts off with a big mystery, which made it very interesting to me, but I feel like it didn't pay off by the several reveals in a row. The answer is clear from the very beginning, but why this is the answer doesn't become apparent until the culmination of the last couple of episodes. There are multiple interlocking plots, most a direct effect of "sleeving" (the local term for switching one's mind into a new body). The setting is one of those worlds that are unusual for the sake of them, and that's okay. It's not weird, but you don't feel like you know what it's all about. It's your planet, it's your species, but then things turn out unlike you expect. Sleeving is one such thing: the person you once knew is no longer in the body you knew them by, and someone else is now occupying it. Vice versa. Artificial-intelligence hotels might feel a bit off, but then you get to things the super-rich do, and you're shaking from unsettlement. I'd recommend watching it if you're a sci-fi, cyberpunk or noir fan. It plays out well, and the ending does not subtract much from the flow of the series. It's still an interesting story set in a cool-looking world.