tv_talk | Speak Up Saturday

Does watching Musk and Trump rip into each other on social media count?

This past week I finished Netflix's Dept. Q, the first ep of which I'd watched prior to posting last week. I absolutely adored the series, can't recommend it enough. I have all fingers and toes crossed that they adapt more books in the series so that we get more seasons of the show. The cast is just the best.

Aside from that, I got all caught up with the current series of the BBC's Race Across the World, which is a much more enjoyable reality show than the US's Amazing Race. Only the finale left to go, which airs this week.

Also watched the most recent eps of Murderbot, Leverage, and Criminal Minds. And baseball and tennis. If there was anything else, it didn't leave much of an impression because I can't think of anything.

As for excited about... It's not landing soon -- not until early August, but I am more excited than I was previously about the Outlander prequel series, Blood of My Blood. I was previously somewhat interested in it, and was definitely going to check it out, but not really "excited". I watched a 30-min video on the Starz YouTube channel called "Outlander & Blood of My Blood: The Gathering", which "unites cast members from both series for the first time to celebrate the Outlander journey, welcome in the new generation of Frasers, MacKenzies and Beauchamps, and explore the ties that bind their stories." And yep, definitely far more interested/excited about that one than I had been.

Oh damn, there's going to be an Outlander prequel???? I'm going to have to check that out.

I'm kinda interested in Blood of My Blood, but its the lack of time travel that is putting me off a bit. I'm not sure how they are going to link the two time periods without that.

I don't think the plan is to link the two time periods, but to provide the separate background stories of Claire and Jamie's respective families, but, I guess, flipping back and forth between the two. While the books have a fair bit of info about Jamie's family/background, there is very little about Claire's. Of course, at least one of Claire's parents must have been able to go through the stones -- it does seem to be an inherited trait, so maybe there will be something on that front at some point, but for sure time travel is not the focus of the story.

Leverage - Season 3 is over. It was hit or miss for me, but the last two eps were amazing

The Librarians - Really liking it so far.

Murderbot - Also very hit or miss for me. Just trying to enjoy the parts I like and the visuals

I feel the same about Murderbot :(

Dept. Q: I enjoyed this a lot. Three of my UK TV crushes were in it: Matthew Goode, Mark Bonnar, and Kelly Macdonald. I liked the overall offbeat tone of the show, and the mysteries were solved satisfactorily. Great character writing and a lovely cast.

Nine Perfect Strangers: I enjoy this show so much more when not everybody is drugged up.

Our Unwritten Seoul: I adore this show, and hope it won't disappoint me. Finally, a K-drama couple that I actively ship!

Taskmaster UK: There were some beautiful, unhinged moments in this episode.

Movies:
- House Shark: An absolutely stupid trash movie. I finished it only because I found some of the ridiculousness charming.
- I Saw The TV Glow: I wanted to love this one, but even after 74 minutes (out of 100), I was only mildly interested in the characters, so I gave up.

My brother, myself, and my mother are separately watching and loving Dept Q, and I'm behind them, they both finished it. It has my mother and my crush - Mathew Goode, although we keep thinking he's American (because he does a lot of American roles).

I finished The Residence and it was so much fun! Really, I laughed more during this than most comedies. I mentioned it last week, Uzo Aduba is amazing in it. Her delivery and everything she did with her character made it an instant classic imo. Detective Cupp is a great character. She is a genius and knows it, but she admits that she can and occasionally does make mistakes. She isn't an asshole about it like other detectives. She also doesn't behave like an asshole towards other people, unless they really give her a reason to (like normal characters) and she has a deep respect for Chief Dokes when other detectives often dismiss their police liaisons/superiors (you know the type). She is also not quirky/weird to the point of ridiculousness. Yes, she is very intense about her talents as a detective and she loves birding, but in other aspects she is just like everyone else and I loved that.
Randall Park has awesome comedic timing. He was also perfect in his role. Some of the scenes of him and Uzo Aduba were comedy gold. It is really how subtle of most of the comedic moments are that works for me.
In part because of the tile but also because of how the majority of the season played out, I really thought that the entire season would take place during the state dinner. I wasn't expecting there to be more than two timelines (state dinner and senate hearing). It was unexpected, but obviously made sense and we saw the characters interact beyond just one evening.
I don't think this show needs more seasons, but I would gladly watch more of Detective Cupp, hopefully with Chief Dokes and Agent Park. Washington DC probably has other establishments that could make this premise work.

After that, I started watching S2 of Poker Face, but I'm not completely caught up. I really like this season so far (5 eps in). Obviously it has the same vibe as The Residence and also some good comedy. The running gag of the announcer in the baseball episode was really funny. The guest stars on this show are always great.

I also started (first two episodes) Murderbot and I also like that. The tone is something different, but I think it's interesting. A bit of a different take on sci-fi maybe.

I look forward to seeing The Residence when I next get Netflix. Probably won't be until year's end but it sounds fun.

That is exactly where I'm at with Dept. Q. I heard good things about it, but I won't get to it right this second.

I hope you'll enjoy it! :)

I also enjoyed The Residence, and found it hilarious in places.

I'm behind on Poker Face - still have most of S1. (Oh by the way? The show-runners of the Buffy reboot are also the show-runners of Poker Face).

And enjoying Murderbot.

I loved the first season of Poker Face so much. One of my absolute favorites when it came out. S2 doesn't feel as great yet, but I'm still enjoying it.

I'm one of two people that has never seen an episode of Buffy in their life...

Oh, there's plenty more. It's a cult series for a reason. Most people haven't seen it.

I started The Residence yesterday. So far it hasn't gripped me (but shows rarely do on their first episode), but I like the humor already.

I thought the show got funnier over time!

While I was away almost all I watched was Star Wars. Specifically the last season of Mandalorian, which one friend had not yet seen. Then, as it went more into Bo Katan and set up Ahsoka, I suggested Rebels. We got through all the first two seasons and my friends were hooked.

Since I came back we've signed up to Apple+ again. So I've started on the latest season of Slow Horses, Pachinko, and Mythic Quest. I plan to do a lot of marathon viewing in coming weeks.

I also watched a few more episodes of Welcome to Wrexham (loved the Disney episode!) and Jeopardy Masters as well as one of Brokenwood. Also caught up on all the Daily Shows and Colbert from while I was away.

I also watched a few more episodes of Welcome to Wrexham (loved the Disney episode!)

I am enjoying this season more than I remember enjoying the 3rd. Not sure why -- maybe my disappointment with the fact that the 3rd was so much shorter than the first two is colouring things, but I seem to remember feeling the episodes felt... sort of half-assed or something. Anyway, so far, the 4th seems to be a return to the charm of the first 2 and I hope that continues.

Edited 2025-06-07 21:12 (UTC)

Hopefully that'll be the case. Maybe last season was affected by Ryan and Rob's lack of availability? They definitely add a lot of humor, as well as some interesting insights into the financial aspects of things.

Make sure you check out Murderbot when you get the chance - it's also on Apple +. Although it may not be your thing? I haven't tried Pachinko or Mythic Quest.

I loved the books but I'm not sure the TV show is going to give me what I'd want from it. I might try it out depending on how much of the rest of my list I get through.

I love Mythic Quest, and I've never gamed in my life. I haven't seen the latest season though.

So far the latest season isn't grabbing me as earlier ones did, but yeah, I really enjoy the setting.

From as far as I can tell - it's following the original source material pretty closely. Apple tends to for the most part? Or so I've noticed.

Britbox has a new cozy mystery. It's set in Wales and sometimes the accents are hard to understand but I'm liking it.

Really enjoying this series of Taskmaster.

1. Department Q on Netflix. Saw the first episode, it's really good and reminds me of Slow Horses, and quite dark. Darker than Slow Horses, film wise and content wise.

2. Really dumb movie on Netflix - A Family Affair with Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron, who both look a bit too photo-shopped and plastic for their own good. I felt sorry for Kidman's daughter and his assistant all the way through, the lead couple are kind of insufferable. It's supposed to be comedic but is more Hallmark lite romantic melodrama?

3. Buffy - I'm almost done with S2. There are a handful of episodes that don't quite date well, but honestly they didn't work well then either? Go Fish is still gadawful, with a few lines that I can't quite decide if the writer knows they are inappropriate, or if they are oblivious to it? Buffy is weird that way - sometimes I can't tell if they are being subversively sarcastic or serious? And I skipped over Bad Eggs, because why would you not? There's four episodes in S2 that...ugh. Inca Mummy Girl (ugh), Bad Eggs (ugh), the frat party episode (ugh), and Go Fish (ugh) - and all feature Xander in a main role. Found out that Charisma Carpenter had been doing Malibu Shores at the same time she was cast as Cordy, and was basically playing the same role on two shows. It's why she was so good as Cordy - she'd already nailed it for the Aaron Spelling series.

S2 is actually at its best when Spike and Dru are on, the best episodes have them featured. Also, there's a few stand out episodes: School Hard, Lie To Me, Innocence, Passion, I Will Always Have Eyes for You...and of course the Becoming Two Parter, and the What's My Line two parter.

4. Andor S2

And I'm sure there's something else...oh Good Night and Good Luck - Live tonight on either CNN or HBO MAX. Also the Tony Awards on Sunday- on CBS and Paramount +.

ETA: Forgot - Murderbot. I'm watching as they drop, apparently.

Edited 2025-06-07 21:58 (UTC)

y - sometimes I can't tell if they are being subversively sarcastic or serious? A

I don't remember the particulars of those episodes, but in general, I had the same conflicted feelings. I think it can be a bit of both - perhaps tackling things in a way that would have been subversive then, less so now.

I also think they missed a huge opportunity to make the Inca character a Slayer, but I'm not sure how much Slayer lore had been established at that point. But it could have set up the idea that the Watchers really did use the Slayers essentially as a sacrifice. I don't know. I think the biggest issue with that plotline was the cultural sensitivity factor, and... yeah. Not gonna happen at that point. :/

Edited 2025-06-08 02:50 (UTC)

I don't remember the particulars of those episodes, but in general, I had the same conflicted feelings. I think it can be a bit of both - perhaps tackling things in a way that would have been subversive then, less so now.

I should provide an example?

Xander: Yes, yes, before you say it, I ran away like a girl.

Cordelia: You may want to work on running "not" like a girl.

[I think Caulfield who played Anya, and Marsters who played Spike, were better at snarky delivery than Charisma was...because it may be the delivery of the line that makes it hard to tell. It's written by David Fury and his wife/writing partner, and he's known for snarky one-liners.)

This statement is an annoying one, which didn't start going away until about ten years ago. I was a runner in school, and could out run a lot of boys (I was taller than they were and had longer legs).

That said? I can't decide what the writer's intent was there? It can be interpreted more than one way.

S4 of clarkson's farm. I really enjoy this show - learning about farming etc (even though its made for tv farming) but I haven't enjoyed this season as much because they focused on him opening a pub a lot and I just wasn't interested in that. I did like newcomer Harriet though, and I hope she is back in S5. Nice to see a female farmer.

watched the Dr Who finale and the last scene really pissed me off. I think its a trick, like the doctor who version of rage bait, and I believe something else is actually happening in that moment. But it still pissed me off lol I'll leave it at that though, because spoilers.

Dept Q which was not at all what I was expecting, but was actually quite good. I'm not sure why but I had somehow got it into my head that this was a james bond thing about a younger Q. But no it was a police thing. Really good show, great characters.

first couple of eps of The Librarians The Next Chapter and enjoyed them. Not much to say otherwise, it was pretty standard The Librarians, but I liked the new characters.

The Better Sister which was fine, one of those murder mystery drama things that is fairly predictable but worth a watch anyway.

Otherwise its just weekly stuff, and not much to note I think. Leverage, Murderbot (which is better than I expected), Criminal Minds (which sadly I am losing interest in), Walking Dead Dead City (also losing interest), Poker Face (which isn't as good this season somehow), a new show called Duster which is a 1970s cop-like show.

next week looking forward to: The Buccaneers S2, new SyFy show Revival.

Edited (forgot to close a bold tag) 2025-06-08 00:23 (UTC)

We tried out the first episode of Buccaneers this week and will be watching more. Don't know if we'll get up to S2 before cancelling again but we're interested.

I should mention we also finished Miss Austen this weekend. Liked it well enough, a different approach in terms of Austen and biography.

I'm not sure why but I had somehow got it into my head that this was a james bond thing about a younger Q.
I totally thought so, too! I heard nothing about it until the actual premiere, so when everyone talked about a detective show, I was confused lol
It's totally on my list now though.

I would absolutely love a series about younger Q. Perhaps now that Amazon has the rights they'll do more to flesh out the Bondverse.

I haven't seen that many Bond movies, but I feel that universe is something worth exploring. I'm sure Amazon is already trying to find a way to get something going on Prime.

Side note: I totally knew Amazon has the rights and still didn't think any of it that this show is on Netflix lol

I honestly don't remember if there was much at all? I was basically spending my time being fannish about HPI, and didn't want to watch anything else. :)

I watched the fourth and last ep of HPI, and now have to wait again for the final four in September. They left us with a cliffhanger that I'm not sure what to think about yet. I think they could have moved faster in this last ep, nothing at all moved forward in it, it just heightened the tension. The show is usually better at pacing than this.

I watched eps 4 and 5 of Murderbot, and didn't enjoy them as much as the previous three. I didn't hate them, either, but they were definitely farther away from the book, and not in a way that made me go "oh yes, this makes sense". I did enjoy the Sanctuary Moon self-insert, and hated the added sexual harassment (of Murderbot). It's still very good and I'll keep watching.

Still watch-alonging Parallel World, almost done now with two eps to go, and it's getting more and more absurd, trying to squish its remaining plot into the last few episodes, with important plot points happening off-screen and mentioned off-hand, oh, and a two-year time skip.

I started The Residence yesterday. It didn't grip me yet, but I liked the humor so far.

It's so frustrating when a show hits pacing problems. I realize sometimes it has to do with scheduling or locations etc. But it made more sense when one had long seasons. If you know you've got 8 episodes it seems you could do more with them.

I've sat through dozens of cdramas whose pacing is almost always atrocious, so I'm used to a lot. :D

I was a bit miffed by HPI, because I'm used to better from them. I can even see why they wanted that exact cliffhanger at the mid-season break, but they could have split the development a little differently through the four episodes to get there. As it is, it really feels like suboptimal use of their time. (I still love this season, all the cases were great, and apart from the main relationship development, all four episodes worked fine on their own.)

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