What are you binge watching?

[ZooCougar]

Earnhardt on Prime. This is a four part docuseries probably made to couple with NASCAR coverage on Prime, which I haven't watched but I hear is actually pretty good. If you don't know who Dale Earnhardt is, then don't worry you don't need to like NASCAR to appreciate this.

If you're expecting 4 hours of people extolling his greatness then you'll be surprised. The man wasn't perfect and they cover that in great detail mostly by accounts from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kelly and Kerry Earnhardt. Dale Jr's company actually produced the show with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. The honesty was refreshing.

The first two episodes are as good as anything you will ever see. My only criticism is that it's too good of a show to be disrupted by ads and they couldn't help themselves. It's Ken Burns level stuff. Dale pretty much put everything on the line to make it and his personal life paid for it. In the process he emerges as this kind of anti-hero upsetting the status quo of some older drivers.

The footage of the races is extraordinary. There is so much footage and interviews that you likely have never seen.

By the end of the second episode he has 7 championships and he is the richest guy in the sport. Episode 3 is mostly about him and his kids and the business side probably diluted his driving. He also clearly didn't have cars that could keep up with Jeff Gordon every week (although his team should have) and he pushes himself even harder which impacts his physical well being. Episode 4 is about his death. Which is really kind of depressing.

Interesting that despite the fact that I watched the 2001 Daytona 500 and until I saw this I never knew that his hood suffered damage which cause him to spin out. I always thought he made contact with Marlin and then hit the wall. I will say that when I saw that wreck, I knew he was gone. It was one of the craziest endings to a race before that and it got worse. I really think that was the beginning of the end of NASCAR's prominence. They just never filled the void that he left.

 

[Deepster]

Black Mirror (Netflix, 7 seasons). This is the closest thing to the Twilight Zone that I have seen. There are sci-fi, horror, human drama and irony (or karma) elements in most of them, with a tiny splash or humor. They vary in duration from 45 minutes to movie length. Well known actors turn up in them. The seasons are short, seven seasons is only 20 or so episodes.

While it is largely an anthology series, the same technological devices are used in several and, at least, one episode is a sequel.
The quality is high end. The writing, story telling, production, editing and sound are very good. It's pretty easy to sample and figure out of you like it. I did. I watched all of them.

If you haven't, you need to go watch the previous seasons. Brilliant show. Some of the episodes had me thinking about them for a week after watching them.

 

[Deepster]

• Started season 2 of "The Last of Us" and made it 3 episodes in before I cut bait. Way to really destroy a great season 1. Heard they lost 50% of their viewing audience in season 2.
• Finished "Bad Thoughts". I gotta say. I am as crude as they come and I love dark humor and a couple of the stories had me wincing. To the point where I would see Tom Segura clips on stage or in a podcast and think "Jesus. This guy really is twisted". Wow.
• Started the first 3 episodes of "Tulsa King". I'm obsessed with the original Rocky and generally all things Stallone. I never had Paramount and just got it. It's "entertaining" so far. I've accepted he can beat up anyone he wants and smash into cars in the middle of broad daylight with no ramifications and I'm starting to get past his hairline and facial surgery.....

 

[ZooCougar]

• Started season 2 of "The Last of Us" and made it 3 episodes in before I cut bait. Way to really destroy a great season 1. Heard they lost 50% of their viewing audience in season 2.
• Finished "Bad Thoughts". I gotta say. I am as crude as they come and I love dark humor and a couple of the stories had me wincing. To the point where I would see Tom Segura clips on stage or in a podcast and think "Jesus. This guy really is twisted". Wow.
• Started the first 3 episodes of "Tulsa King". I'm obsessed with the original Rocky and generally all things Stallone. I never had Paramount and just got it. It's "entertaining" so far. I've accepted he can beat up anyone he wants and smash into cars in the middle of broad daylight with no ramifications and I'm starting to get past his hairline and facial surgery.....

Last of Us went off a cliff. What were they thinking?

 

[UCan3]

Last of Us: I feel bad for the special effects crew who has created this incredible apocalyptic landscape - well done and bravo - and I feel bad that the storyline has gone way, way off course. That main character isn’t all that interesting or compelling. Maybe she’s gone now - we can only hope so.

And Pascal’s character, too brooding, downtrodden, glad he’s gone too.

And, now who to root for? This new lady that tortured someone earlier this season?

Please writers give us a story that we can root for someone. And we know it's a video game but we need a story somewhere in there.

And the same goes for Reacher... That show I like but where in the books do we have Reacher indiscrimately murdering his adversaries by shooting them while they are defenseless and not a threat to him?

These writers have forgotten the rule - you've got to care about the main characters or at the very least empathize with their position to some degree. Like Sopranos or BBad...

I blame the writing mostly.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I like it too, but honestly, there are times when I laugh out loud at how terrible the dialogue is and how crummy the storyline is as well. It may be so bad that it’s good? But it certainly is not a serious drama. But there’s a place for that in my streaming lineup too…

I get that some people may not like Mobland, but this review is a bit over the top.

 

[ZooCougar]

Last of Us: I feel bad for the special effects crew who has created this incredible apocalyptic landscape - well done and bravo - and I feel bad that the storyline has gone way, way off course. That main character isn’t all that interesting or compelling. Maybe she’s gone now - we can only hope so.

And Pascal’s character, too brooding, downtrodden, glad he’s gone too.

And, now who to root for? This new lady that tortured someone earlier this season?

Please writers give us a story that we can root for someone. And we know it's a video game but we need a story somewhere in there.

And the same goes for Reacher... That show I like but where in the books do we have Reacher indiscrimately murdering his adversaries by shooting them while they are defenseless and not a threat to him?

These writers have forgotten the rule - you've got to care about the main characters or at the very least empathize with their position to some degree. Like Sopranos or BBad...

I blame the writing mostly.

Once the killed off Pascal they lost the 30+ year old female audience.

Also losing that character unmoored the story. Joel was in no way an even an anti hero. He wanted to protect his daughter and then Ellie.

Nobody cares if he shot a doctor in the face. The doctor was ghoul.

The third season is about Abby? Why bother?

 

[Deepster]

Once the killed off Pascal they lost the 30+ year old female audience.

Also losing that character unmoored the story. Joel was in no way an even an anti hero. He wanted to protect his daughter and then Ellie.

Nobody cares if he shot a doctor in the face. The doctor was ghoul.

The third season is about Abby? Why bother?

LOL. Well, I cut bait after S2E3. I guess I don't need to watch the rest knowing Pascal is dead.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

@ZooCougar Ever heard of Spoiler Alert?

 

[ZooCougar]

@ZooCougar Ever heard of Spoiler Alert?

Don’t care. The show sucks. I deliberately performed a public service.

 

[ZooCougar]

LOL. Well, I cut bait after S2E3. I guess I don't need to watch the rest knowing Pascal is dead.

You don’t have to thank me.

 

[UCan3]

Once the killed off Pascal they lost the 30+ year old female audience.

Also losing that character unmoored the story. Joel was in no way an even an anti hero. He wanted to protect his daughter and then Ellie.

Nobody cares if he shot a doctor in the face. The doctor was ghoul.

The third season is about Abby? Why bother?

So true, brother - you nailed it!

 

[UCan3]

I get that some people may not like Mobland, but this review is a bit over the top.

Over the top?

Comon, seriously…. I am not saying I don’t like it BTW but it borders on ridiculous and i do laugh out loud.

Okay you want some examples…. Okay the older couple there…. One line after the mom sets up her half daughter to be knocked off with her son…

The dad proclaims “Bring back my babies”:

Okay dude if that isn’t LOL funny and cringeworthy I don’t know what it is.

That older couple has some of the worst back and forth dialogue I’ve ever heard.

And the whole premise that they knock off their adversaries teenage son for NO REASON — cold blood of a kid that wasn’t even in the “game” - and now were supposed to root for this family. That was dumb writing. The adversaries are technically in the right IMO - and the protagonist have no moral code whatsoever.

Even Tony Soprano has some basic rules LOL.

Now, I do like some of other characters and again, I like the show but yes there are times it’s so bad, it’s good IMO.

 

[Palatine]

And the whole premise that they knock off their adversaries teenage son for NO REASON — cold blood of a kid that wasn’t even in the “game” - and now were supposed to root for this family. That was dumb writing. The adversaries are technically in the right IMO - and the protagonist have no moral code whatsoever.

I'm enjoying Mobland. Tom Hardy is right in his kitchen and he makes the whole thing work. Brosnan is good as the old man clinging to his position. In fact, most of the cast is spot on especially Geoff Bell as the bad guy in hall of bad guys.

Not incidentally, the teenage son was following the the orders of the matriarch Maeve, who is a functional psychopath. She plays all sides of the fence and is the cause of virtually all the trouble.

Besides that, it is all first rate, the writing, the production, editing, sound, the special effects are so good you don't even notice them (except the car bomb). Like I said, I'm enjoying it.

 

[UCan3]

I'm enjoying Mobland. Tom Hardy is right in his kitchen and he makes the whole thing work. Brosnan is good as the old man clinging to his position. In fact, most of the cast is spot on especially Geoff Bell as the bad guy in hall of bad guys.

Not incidentally, the teenage son was following the the orders of the matriarch Maeve, who is a functional psychopath. She plays all sides of the fence and is the cause of virtually all the trouble.

Besides that, it is all first rate, the writing, the production, editing, sound, the special effects are so good you don't even notice them (except the car bomb). Like I said, I'm enjoying it.

Palatine, we agree - I am enjoying it to.

Even my comments on the writing - those are just an opinion - just glad to have something fun to watch in the summer!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Over the top?

Comon, seriously…. I am not saying I don’t like it BTW but it borders on ridiculous and i do laugh out loud.

Okay you want some examples…. Okay the older couple there…. One line after the mom sets up her half daughter to be knocked off with her son…

The dad proclaims “Bring back my babies”:

Okay dude if that isn’t LOL funny and cringeworthy I don’t know what it is.

That older couple has some of the worst back and forth dialogue I’ve ever heard.

And the whole premise that they knock off their adversaries teenage son for NO REASON — cold blood of a kid that wasn’t even in the “game” - and now were supposed to root for this family. That was dumb writing. The adversaries are technically in the right IMO - and the protagonist have no moral code whatsoever.

Even Tony Soprano has some basic rules LOL.

Now, I do like some of other characters and again, I like the show but yes there are times it’s so bad, it’s good IMO.

I flagged the plot hole about the teenage son early, and wondered why they didn’t just kill him. Maeve having ordered it, apparently with Conrad’s blessing, was explained about halfway through the season. It wasn’t much of a reveal so I don’t know why it was held back, but it was explained.

Read about many of the mob bosses throughout history, and they are more Conrad Harrigan, lunatic who rules through terror and force of personality more than brains, than Tony Soprano, 130 IQ corporate executive who moves seemlessly between golf clubs and complicated white collar scams when he isn’t executing his friends.

I actually liked that the Conrad character was not that smart because it made the plot more interesting. I really liked the last few episodes of the Sopranos, but was there any question that Tony would win? He was so much smarter than Phil that it would have been silly if he didn’t win. Conrad on the other hand, kept screwing up. Brosnan did a great job with the character, because playing a not-that-bright but still credible as a leader character is not easy.

Black Mass is Johnny Depp’s last good movie, and it is a very accurate portrayal of Whitey Bulger. I knew a family member of one of Bulger’s victims whose murder was covered up by Boston FBI agents. Bulger was a lot more Conrad Harrigan than Tony Soprano.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Earnhardt on Prime. This is a four part docuseries probably made to couple with NASCAR coverage on Prime, which I haven't watched but I hear is actually pretty good. If you don't know who Dale Earnhardt is, then don't worry you don't need to like NASCAR to appreciate this.

If you're expecting 4 hours of people extolling his greatness then you'll be surprised. The man wasn't perfect and they cover that in great detail mostly by accounts from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kelly and Kerry Earnhardt. Dale Jr's company actually produced the show with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. The honesty was refreshing.

The first two episodes are as good as anything you will ever see. My only criticism is that it's too good of a show to be disrupted by ads and they couldn't help themselves. It's Ken Burns level stuff. Dale pretty much put everything on the line to make it and his personal life paid for it. In the process he emerges as this kind of anti-hero upsetting the status quo of some older drivers.

The footage of the races is extraordinary. There is so much footage and interviews that you likely have never seen.

By the end of the second episode he has 7 championships and he is the richest guy in the sport. Episode 3 is mostly about him and his kids and the business side probably diluted his driving. He also clearly didn't have cars that could keep up with Jeff Gordon every week (although his team should have) and he pushes himself even harder which impacts his physical well being. Episode 4 is about his death. Which is really kind of depressing.

Interesting that despite the fact that I watched the 2001 Daytona 500 and until I saw this I never knew that his hood suffered damage which cause him to spin out. I always thought he made contact with Marlin and then hit the wall. I will say that when I saw that wreck, I knew he was gone. It was one of the craziest endings to a race before that and it got worse. I really think that was the beginning of the end of NASCAR's prominence. They just never filled the void that he left.

I've been watching as well and was about to post but you covered everything.

I was originally a Cale Yarborough guy then when the "new guard" arrived didn't really have a favorite. I liked Elliott and some others because I usually rooted for the Fords. Didn't know about Dale's relationship with Neil Bonnet and I think they did a fantastic job with that, his family and everything. Really a lot of footage of the family and personal time, plus at the track. He's definitely hard to like early on and a hypocrite as he spins out Bodine over and over then gets pissed when his own teammate does it to him.

Once that happens, Neil dies and his youngest daughter is born he really matures and becomes a much more likable figure.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Landman. Finished the season. Some great acting in this from everyone really and what a huge cast. Billy Bob's Tommy Norris is just absolute Nails. Incredible character. Ali Larter is gorgeous and so funny. Michelle Randolph is good as the distracting daughter and is making a living off of Taylor Sheridan shows. I think Paulina Chavez is fantastic and is super attractive as Ariana, does a good job with a tough role. I'd be smitten too if I were Cooper Norris with those terrible teeth. How did his wealth parents not get him braces?

It is a very interesting picture of West Texas. Some judge filed a bizarre "For What It's Worth Advisory" not long ago and it was straight out of Landman. The cartels are evidently plugged in to a LOT of what goes on out there.

 

[ZooCougar]

I've been watching as well and was about to post but you covered everything.

I was originally a Cale Yarborough guy then when the "new guard" arrived didn't really have a favorite. I liked Elliott and some others because I usually rooted for the Fords. Didn't know about Dale's relationship with Neil Bonnet and I think they did a fantastic job with that, his family and everything. Really a lot of footage of the family and personal time, plus at the track. He's definitely hard to like early on and a hypocrite as he spins out Bodine over and over then gets pissed when his own teammate does it to him.

Once that happens, Neil dies and his youngest daughter is born he really matures and becomes a much more likable figure.

Having Hank Parker on there so much was the Chef’s Kiss.

 

[ZooCougar]

Landman. Finished the season. Some great acting in this from everyone really and what a huge cast. Billy Bob's Tommy Norris is just absolute Nails. Incredible character. Ali Larter is gorgeous and so funny. Michelle Randolph is good as the distracting daughter and is making a living off of Taylor Sheridan shows. I think Paulina Chavez is fantastic and is super attractive as Ariana, does a good job with a tough role. I'd be smitten too if I were Cooper Norris with those terrible teeth. How did his wealth parents not get him braces?

It is a very interesting picture of West Texas. Some judge filed a bizarre "For What It's Worth Advisory" not long ago and it was straight out of Landman. The cartels are evidently plugged in to a LOT of what goes on out there.
View attachment 109891

I thought it started off good and then ran out of gas.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Having Hank Parker on there so much was the Chef’s Kiss.

I really appreciate how much Waltrip contributes, considering he was the primary early rival for Dale.

 

[ZooCougar]

I've been watching as well and was about to post but you covered everything.

I was originally a Cale Yarborough guy then when the "new guard" arrived didn't really have a favorite. I liked Elliott and some others because I usually rooted for the Fords. Didn't know about Dale's relationship with Neil Bonnet and I think they did a fantastic job with that, his family and everything. Really a lot of footage of the family and personal time, plus at the track. He's definitely hard to like early on and a hypocrite as he spins out Bodine over and over then gets pissed when his own teammate does it to him.

Once that happens, Neil dies and his youngest daughter is born he really matures and becomes a much more likable figure.

Also, Geoff Bodine was a massive crybaby. If Dale hadn’t spun him out nobody today would even remember him.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Also, Geoff Bodine was a massive crybaby. If Dale hadn’t spun him out nobody today would even remember him.

I always remember him because his name is so close to Jethro Bodine.

 

[GemParty]

I’d suggest Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer, Goliath, and The Penguin. All well done.

Another vote for Earnhardt doc.

It Aint over- Yogi doc

 

[UCan3]

I’d suggest Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer, Goliath, and The Penguin. All well done.

Another vote for Earnhardt doc.

It Aint over- Yogi doc

Pengiun is soooo underrated. They had the best single episode I’ve ever seen - top 5 in that night club scene - wow, It just got darker than dark and even surpassed some other show in that area like BBad Sopranos… That last scene which I won’t divulge was shocking and disturbing. Don’t know how they could ever come out w/ season 2.

I don’t know why more people don’t mention L Lawyer - pure entertainment and fun. Like candy - love it.

Goliath had one good season and one that went a bit off course IMO.

Bosch loved reboot even more than first set of shows.

 

[HCCForever]

I’d suggest Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer, Goliath, and The Penguin. All well done.

Another vote for Earnhardt doc.

It Aint over- Yogi doc

I finished watching Earnhardt and enjoyed watching it very much. Much more than a documentary about racing.

 

[CL82]

Earnhardt on Prime. This is a four part docuseries probably made to couple with NASCAR coverage on Prime, which I haven't watched but I hear is actually pretty good. If you don't know who Dale Earnhardt is, then don't worry you don't need to like NASCAR to appreciate this.

If you're expecting 4 hours of people extolling his greatness then you'll be surprised. The man wasn't perfect and they cover that in great detail mostly by accounts from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Kelly and Kerry Earnhardt. Dale Jr's company actually produced the show with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. The honesty was refreshing.

The first two episodes are as good as anything you will ever see. My only criticism is that it's too good of a show to be disrupted by ads and they couldn't help themselves. It's Ken Burns level stuff. Dale pretty much put everything on the line to make it and his personal life paid for it. In the process he emerges as this kind of anti-hero upsetting the status quo of some older drivers.

The footage of the races is extraordinary. There is so much footage and interviews that you likely have never seen.

By the end of the second episode he has 7 championships and he is the richest guy in the sport. Episode 3 is mostly about him and his kids and the business side probably diluted his driving. He also clearly didn't have cars that could keep up with Jeff Gordon every week (although his team should have) and he pushes himself even harder which impacts his physical well being. Episode 4 is about his death. Which is really kind of depressing.

Interesting that despite the fact that I watched the 2001 Daytona 500 and until I saw this I never knew that his hood suffered damage which cause him to spin out. I always thought he made contact with Marlin and then hit the wall. I will say that when I saw that wreck, I knew he was gone. It was one of the craziest endings to a race before that and it got worse. I really think that was the beginning of the end of NASCAR's prominence. They just never filled the void that he left.

Wouldn't have watched this, but now will give it a try. Thanks.

 

[ZooCougar]

I finished watching Earnhardt and enjoyed watching it very much. Much more than a documentary about racing.

The eons old tale of business versus the family.

 

[HCCForever]

The eons old tale of business versus the family.

Cool side story with the Waltrips as well. I ended up watching "Blink of an Eye" too which was book by Michael and film on Prime. Not much new here but a few tidbits from Michael's point of view.

 

[storrsroars]

I might've finally found a winner for my tastes. On episode 4 of Department Q (Netflix) and it's holding my attention. Slow paced at first and I wasn't quite sure what the point was of the two storylines, but it's all come together as an interesting and different kind of thriller. It's got a bit of Slow Horses to it in that there's a separate division where some motley characters combine to form an investigation team. The lead is disheveled and perpetually cranky, their office is a cluttered basement, and the lead's partner isn't even a actual cop in the UK (although his experience having been a cop in Syria offers an interesting dynamic and some humor).