You do realize how many TV shows are on television, right? :) There are maybe 2 or 3 on at any given time that are fit to watch - again, all in my opinion. That's not a good success rate....

My point was not at all about how many characters were connecting to whoever - it could be a dozen and not make any difference. At the end of the day, the parts of season one I enjoyed the least were about the Evil Genius Dude, who was mysteriously appearing out of nowhere to inflict damage or pull mastermind-esque puppet strings, and then just as mysteriously disappearing without ever being seen. It was implausible and frustrating, and didn't fit with the rest of the show.

I take solace in the fact that my frustrations about this were apparently shared by many critics, viewers (who kept dwindling as the Evil Dude plot ramped up in later episodes), and even the show creators themselves, who agreed that it didn't work. One of them went back to Homeland, and the other has committed to exploring more of the stuff that does work - i.e. the cross-border intricacies and cross-culture aspects.

2 or 3 seems overly critical, but you are of course correct about the hit rate.

That said there is barely anything on at the moment, let alone anything good. Doctor Who is back next month though I think.

Read the leaked scripts yet? I read the first one. It's very good (on paper).

Understand. While that "hit" rate is accurate, at least the ones I watch are good (for me).

Again, (and not to argue, just my opinion) I hold just the opposite view (as others I know; in fact, I'll see some of them today at a house party my wife and I are going to). The Evil Genius Dude's role was well integrated into the show. His "direct" showings was in only four episodes, and again there were connections with quite a few of the characters:



Also, I don't give too much weight to all the reviews that are posted. Two perfect examples (and there are MANY more) are 1) the initial terrible reviews the excellent movie "The Sting" got when it first came out, and 2) the negative reviews for the Season 1 ending of the excellent TV series "The Killing". That second one is the most baffling, as the American version was just following the same "ideas" as the original Danish version.

In any event, I was surprised last night with On Demand via Comcast. I wanted to re-watch the Season 2 premiere, but I also saw listed Episode 2, which does not air until next Wednesday. So, I watched both of them, and thus when it comes on again Wednesday, I'll already know quite a bit about it. (I like to re-watch episodes of most series, as I tend to miss things which seem trivial on initial viewing).

It also looks like there is another "Evil Dude", this time the woman:



Her part is played by Franka Potente, a little know German actress. When I saw her in E1, I said to myself, she looks familiar. When I later googled her name, it revealed where: she played Marie in the first two Bourne movies (starring Matt Damon). She is doing evil things in The Bridge so far, and again with connections to other characters.

No, I only saw they'd leaked earlier but I prefer to avoid spoilers.

avoiding them like plague.

Haha, I also didn't like The Killing. Season 1 started well and immediately went downhill very quickly. I didn't bother with S2 - checked the ratings a while back and consensus seemed to be "slightly better but about the same". Meh.

I did like Seasons 1 & 2, and the ending for the Season 1 finale was fine with me. I tried to watch Season 3, but I could not get into it. My youngest son, on the other hand, did watch it (he is the one that originally told me about the series), and raved about it. And, of course, it just made it better that the series takes place in Seattle, about 20 miles up the road from me!

As for ratings/reviews, etc., I do not put much weight on them. If I did, I probably would have no watched a number of good movies/shows. I gave two examples above, and I'm sure there are plenty more.

Anyway, based on my Comcast subscription, I just re-watched E2 of "The Bridge", this time with no commercials. Very revealing, to say the least!

I caught up with the last couple of episodes of Orphan Black series 2 this weekend. Great stuff. The ending left some things open, and opened up a whole new thing.


Clone Dance Party! Making of ORPHAN BLACK's 4 Clone Dance Party - BBC AMERICA - YouTube

The original or the US version?

Watched E1 of The Strain last night, and initially it was somewhat slow going. But, it did get better. However, I like Tyrant better, and it is definitely not as good as Fargo was, nor how good The Bridge, Justified, and The Americans are.

Was bored this weekend and paging through amazon prime, saw they had Deadwood. Watched 2 episodes and even though I've seen them before, they were just as engaging and riveting this time around. What excellent tv, what stupidity it was cancelled.

Deadwood was really great. Pour some out.

Anyone watching The Leftovers on HBO? I'm quite intrigued by it. I think it has a lot of potential.

The second series of Ray Donovan has just started.

Watched E4 of Tyrant last night, and it is actually getting better. One other thing about that series (and Mad Men also) is that there is nothing far fetched about it.

Series 2 of Utopia, here on Channel 4, will be messing with my head for the next few weeks.

Great series!!

That opening credits music creeps me out everytime I hear it.

I am not sure why this is going on, but E3 of The Bridge (E2 aired live last night) is now available for viewing! That's the second week in a row I have seen the next episode available (6 days earlier than scheduled to be broadcast) via On Demand on Comcast (funny that such a service is fantastic, even though, in another forum, there are some Comcast horror stories). I started watching it already, but only got half way through, as we are getting ready to go to the beach for a picnic (man, retirement sure is nice!). If I can get a WiFi connection while we're at the beach (been to the place a number of times before, and have sometimes got WiFi access to some other networks), I'll watch it over the internet, on FX's site. I suspect that FX allows Dish Network and DirectTV (and other cable/satellite services) this ability also to view it (over the internet).

I was actually somewhat concerned that with our upcoming trip to Iceland (we leave next Thursday the 24th at about 5 PM out of Seattle), that I'd possibly have to wait until we got back (will be on Friday, August 1st) before I could watch E4. But, it looks like I can catch it at home next Thursday before we head to the airport (only 10 minutes from where we live).

Episode is interesting so far. I'll give a "Spoiler" version soon, when I'm done watching it (plan on viewing it twice, to make sure I don't miss something subtle, but potentially important). Great, great series, that's for sure!

And now for something completely different, Jim Parsons has walked out on TBBT
Jim Parsons Quits ‘The Big Bang Theory’ After On-Set Fight | Empire News

Edit: no he hasn't http://thebazingacast.co/2014/07/21/...g-bang-theory/

I am really liking Tyrant more and more. It is definitely one of the better series on TV. Last night's episode had a good, positive ending (regarding the story line). The Bridge, of course, continues to excel, and E3 (on tonight, but I saw it already via Comcast's On Demand service) will just enhance that. Fortunately, I can watch E4 tomorrow prior to leaving for Iceland (maybe I can catch it before next Wednesday over the internet while we are there, but maybe not).

As for The Strain, it is good, but not as good as Tyrant. I will, though, keep watching it. But, while we fly back and forth to Iceland, I plan on watching as many prior episodes of Justified as I can (depending on the battery like in my MacBook Air). Still in Season 1, and will pick up at Episode 7.

Well, I was able to watch E4 of The Bridge earlier today, even though it will not air until next Wednesday. Once again, some more intrigue!

Also, it looks like there is going to be a Season 2 of Fargo:

FX Plans 2nd Season Of ‘Fargo’ TV Show « CBS Minnesota

Not sure what the storyline will be. Also, looks like it won't air until a little over a year from now, in the Fall of 2015.

Has anyone seen the two seasons of the Brit show "Green Wing"? We loved this show for it's quick and zany banter, uncomfortable comedic situations it seems the Brits do best, and the way it goes from reality to a character giving birth to a lion cub. How it only lasted two seasons is a wonder.

Green Wing was brilliant :D .

Fargo S2. As it says in the link, it will be Sioux Falls in 1979 that was referenced a few times in S1. Lou Solverson back from Vietnam, the first time he was on the porch with his shotgun... "Wasn’t a question of who. More like what"

I think everyone involved in Green Wing was in a lot of demand at the time. I think they all just agreed to quit while they were ahead and go chase the other opportunities while they were still on offer.

It was on Netflix for awhile - A shame they pulled it down.

I just finished both series of Black Mirror. Really great; I'm a big Twilight Zone fan and this was a really entertaining TZ-ish theme but with modern situations and concepts. Very enjoyable.

That's great! Should be quite a show.

Green Wing and Black Mirror sound interesting.

How far into Fringe do you have to go before it gets really good? I am partway into Season 2 and keep falling asleep. There's elements I like, but not enough of them I guess.

If memory serves, its towards the end of season 2 or maybe season 3 it hits its stride.

It's been mentioned on here before, but the 3rd series of Luther is on UK Netflix now. I've seen them on BBC and they are all very much recommended.

Well, could not watch the missed episodes of The Strain and Tyrant while we were in Iceland (site said had to be viewing from the US), so I played "catch up" on Friday evening and yesterday. The Strain is getting better, but Tyrant keeps excelling and excelling! Last Tuesday's episode had a somewhat surprising, but potentially impacting, ending. Can't wait until Tuesday night!

Will soon watch Episode 5 on The Bridge (which actually will air this coming Wednesday. Also, finished Season 1 of Justified, and have watched the first 2 episodes of Season 2. It's definitely getting better!

Mediahint is a nifty Firefox plugin that fools video streaming sites that restrict by geolocation. Should let you watch BBC iPlayer from the US for example.
I use it for Hulu and the various comedy clips I see posted on Facebook that don't work outside the US.

Unfortunately, Media Hint is no longer free. But, thanks.

Quick!

Media Hint is now charging a Monthly Fee. What are some free alternatives to watch American Netflix? : chrome

Hola Unblocker for Chrome works for me when I'm out of the country. I watched The Cabin in the Woods on Netflix while I was in Azerbaijan.

New series of The Killing is good. Only got one ep left.

Really liked the first two seasons of that great show. Will try and catch the new season.

Meanwhile, Tyrant continues to get better, and there is only 1 episode left. Season 2 of The Bridge also continues to get better. Unfortunately, both of those series are not doing that "great" as far as ratings are concerned. It would be a pity if both of them do not get renewed. One possible precedent, though: The ratings for Season 2 of The Americans were not that great either, but it did get renewed for Season 3, starting sometime in January or February.

Surprisingly (at least to me), ratings for the FX series "The Strain" have been real good, and it has been renewed for a second season. I am having a difficult time getting into that one, although some parts of some previous episodes were good. But, it is not capturing me like Tyrant, The Bridge, Justified, The Following, and The Americans do.

If you're not watching Rectify and The Honourable Woman, you're wasting your time. That is all.

There will be a Christmas special of Black Mirror :D One-off Black Mirror Christmas special on its way | Den of Geek

Sounds interesting :)

I can't wait! Black Mirror was absolutely fantastic. Every now and again something happens and I think about one of the episodes...sign of a great piece of work.

I'm going to re-up again and say that I cannot believe that no one else seems to have watched or been watching Rectify or The Honourable Woman. Rectify is a slow-moving character drama that somehow makes its paint-drying pace incredibly interesting.

And The Honourable Woman is an absolutely fantastic british show with Maggie Gyllenhaal...it's set in Britain and the Middle East and is stunningly good. I mean...I like The Bridge best out of what's currently on TV, but it's not even in the same league as The Honourable Woman - mediocre stuff like The Killing or The Tyrant or The Strain are not even on the same planet. :p

Watch the first episode of The Honourable Woman...you have my personal guarantee that your jaw will be on the floor by the end. ;)