tv_talk | Speak Up Saturday

Grosse Pointe Garden Society was canceled and I am not surprised. I was entertained and liked the cast, but can knowledge that it wasn't a particularly good show. Still, I would have liked to see a second season.

Ironheart is fine, although I don't think I'm really the target audience (which is a feeling I also had with Ms. Marvel). It also feels like this show comes too late which is also not new for Marvel. It would have been a great show to have one or two months after Black Panther 2 or shortly after its debut on Disney+. Did Disney really gauge people's interest in a show based on Riri's (small) role in that movie? I kinda doubt it. I'm also not a fan of dropping a six-episode miniseries in two batches of three episodes. It worked with Andor, but that had more episodes. Either drop six episodes at once or stagger them over the course of six weeks. I guess more services are doing that now, start with three episodes to get people's attention and then release weekly episodes, but for a miniseries it's a weird approach. That's one of the reasons I haven't started Countdown yet, even though I'm interested. There are three episodes already, but it's not my top priority, so I'm immediately far behind :/

S4 of the acclaimed comedy series The Bear is also out which I will get to eventually. I'm not in the mood for a anxiety-inducing/stressful show right now...

It is an odd release decision. To me it just indicates a lack of faith in the series. I also agree that it seems to have taken a long time since the BP2 release, but wasn't that film affected by Covid delays? I'm guessing nothing new was getting planned for a while, and this may have been intended as a movie that got shifted to a series because she'll have a role in an upcoming film.

To me it just indicates a lack of faith in the series.
Totally! I would understand it, if they had a packed schedule of Marvel shows, but they don't. Daredevil ended in April and the next one will start in August (which is animated, the next live-action show starts in December).

Now that you mention it, it could have been Covid or even the strike. I completely forgot about both things.

Wait there's an animated Daredevil between the first and second season? Odd choice.

I'm wondering who Marvel/Disney is targeting audience-wise now? Also if they have a plan, at all?

I think it was more than just the pandemic or the strike, I think people got burned out on superhero films. I have a weakness for superhero films - and I got burned out on them. Also, it's hard to keep outdoing yourself? They'd been on a winning streak, and something had to give.

Add to that - there was a lot of upheaval creatively at MCU, changes in cast, and oversight. And they had this packed schedule, but it hinged on various things working in various films and series that turned out to be duds. Not to mention a cast member who ended up getting convicted for a ...well, a crime the audience won't forgive. They had a lot hinged on Kang being the villain, and suddenly had to regroup, cut out Kang, and find a new villain. Which resulted in a lot of projects being switched around, and various others cancelled.

I mean consider? It was supposed to be Avengers: Kang Dynasty soon after the Ant-Man and the Wasp film, but alas, that film was a dud at the box office, and Evangeline Lilly who played the Wasp is making noises about retiring from acting. Not only that, but Marvels also didn't do that well. And the guy playing Kang got himself into a lot of trouble. They had to get rid of him, and change course. They also had to get rid of the previous creative team. Resulting in pushing everything back.
Then, the lead of The Black Panther series died, and the actress playing his sister, was problematic during the filming of the next film in that series. Riri was introduced in Wakanda Forever - as a lead in for her series - which also got pushed back due to issues with other properties. They've just had a spat of bad luck, after a stream of successes. (shrugs) It happens. Happened to DC's films as well - did well with the Batman series helmed by Nolan, but not with the series that followed done by Snyder and then Whedon, where it crashed and burned. They had to regroup creatively as well.

I honestly think the audience has changed as has our society since they started these films, and they kind of have to figure out who that new audience is? The audience or that size of an audience may just not be there any longer. Which means going in another direction.

No, sorry. Bad wording. I meant that Daredevil was the most recent Marvel show before Ironheart. That is getting released right now, followed by two animated Marvel shows (one about Wakanda and Marvel Zombies). The next live action show will come in December.

I still somewhat enjoy Marvel's content, but I'm not as excited as I used to be. I know many people feel that way, but I also know that many people have completely checked out of the MCU or superhero movies in general.

As for Kang...this would have been the perfect character to recast. Gender-swap and done.

I think right now they are trying to find an audience two ways, either with young heroes (like Riri) or nostalgia for a time that hasn't even been over for that long. They bring people you thought were out. I'm not sure either strategy is working right now.

DC seems even worse to me. Let people breathe between reboots, new universes, and new actors.

Yes, why not just recast Kang? It's not like they haven't done some high level recasts for one reason or another. My suspicion is that Kang was not resonating with people and combined with poor performance of different projects they decided to go in another direction.

Mind you, I don't know that Thanos was revving any engines pre-Infinity War either. He did appear briefly in other films but he was mostly just something to fight against. Whereas they did spend a good deal of time building up Kang in Loki (which did fairly well) as well as the whole aspect of the multiverse.

But I was definitely into MCU and while I try out each series or movie they release, I haven't been excited about any of it. (I actually quite liked The Marvels, but it was more a matter of being pleasantly surprised than really loving it).

The big issue to me is that the writing isn't there. I mean Disney had been bombing with non-Mandalorian shows but then there was Andor which got a lot of people excited inside and outside the fandom. So it just needs to be something really good.

And I do appreciate them taking many different approaches, but in a way this also weakens them because people who like one sort of story aren't necessarily into another.

Yes, why not just recast Kang? It's not like they haven't done some high level recasts for one reason or another. My suspicion is that Kang was not resonating with people and combined with poor performance of different projects they decided to go in another direction

From what I've read - it had more to do with the character not popping or resonating enough. He's a relatively obscure comic villain that most of the audience didn't recognize. (I certainly didn't and I read comics.) And his introduction was in two properties that didn't quite hit as well as projected. The actor screwing up - just gave them the excuse they needed to go in another direction, which they were flirting with after Quantumania bombed (from Disney's perspective).

Also Doctor Doom - had a high interest level. And it lead into bringing in the Fantastic Four and X-men, the two hot properties that Marvel had been wanting to premiere in the MCU (again).

Mind you, I don't know that Thanos was revving any engines pre-Infinity War either. He did appear briefly in other films but he was mostly just something to fight against. Whereas they did spend a good deal of time building up Kang in Loki (which did fairly well) as well as the whole aspect of the multiverse.

Not quite the same? Thanos is well-known by most comics fans. And only folks with Disney + saw Loki. Kang's success hinged on Quantumania - which bombed. Also not enough people got hooked into Loki to launch Kang. Doctor Doom on the other hand is a well-known villain, basically Marvel's version of Lex Luther. Also, he's a white guy, Eastern European, and a guy with a King complex - fits very well with the current political environment, and as a statement against fascism. And they could get Downy Jr to play him. And he's complicated but not convoluted like Kang. They wanted a white male Lex Luther style villain for a diverse cast of heroes to fight.

Kang worked better prior to ahem, the current political situation. Disney is tuned into that more than you might think. And they need a villain that speaks to people - who people want to destroy, but find entertaining. Kang...was let's face it? Didn't grab folks, he wasn't interesting. Plus the who multiple time lines/multi-verse is confusing to people and not exciting for most.

The big issue to me is that the writing isn't there.

Agree. I think it's why they pulled the Russo's back in as showrunners for Doomsday and Secret Wars. Because the writing to date has been lackluster.

Although I've seen good reviews for Iron Heart, and Thunderbolts did VERY well, breaking some records, and surprising people. I've not seen either - but Thunderbolts landed well. It did better than Captain America - Brave New World.

I didn't even realize Thunderbolts was out yet, but that's good for them that it's doing well.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/5-reasons-why-thunderbolts-box-office-is-a-step-in-the-right-direction-for-marvel/ar-AA1EDgtJ?ocid=feedsansarticle

It's admittedly controversial - some think it didn't do well, others think it did? It's made about 381 Million to date. But the truth is - not as many folks go to the movies now, as they used to. I know I've not seen a movie in a movie theater since Oppenheimer. I find movie theaters uncomfortable and a pain to go to now - for various reasons. Also expensive - it costs $20 in the city.

Weirdly, S4 of the Bear isn't the anxiety inducing/stressful show of the previous seasons. I completed it this weekend and found it oddly comforting. Not what I expected at all.

With you on Ironheart. My difficulty with the MCU right now - is I've gotten burned out on it. And I'm annoyed because they are finally switching it up more - and it's less white boys. I want to see Ironheart, but I'd rather watch or do this thing over here instead?

That is actually good to know! I was kinda dreading to watch the season when the weather is already dragging my mood down lol

S4 is a lot better than S3. It's more consistent, and less uneven, like S3 was. S3 had some excellent episodes, but overall was hit or miss. S4 is consistently good and uplifting throughout in various unexpected ways.

I watched:
- The new Murderbot episode. I find the throuple storyline a lot more annoying than the short episode length. Whatever Gurathin and Murderbot have going on remains my favorite aspect of the show.

- Slow Horses S1. I like none of the characters (except for Catherine), so I don't think this show is for me.

- Two episodes of The Buccaneers S1. Very pretty, but I can't see myself rooting for any of the main characters.

- Two episodes of Mythic Quest S1. Not really feeling it, particularly Pootie Shoe and Jo. I'm giving it one more episode.

- One episode of The Studio. Didn't feel it.

Edited 2025-06-28 17:38 (UTC)

Just couldn't get into the Studio either. Agree that Buccaneers makes for a pretty view but I'm not very taken with it as a romantic series. We haven't yet finished S1 but perhaps we'll feel differently.

Slow Horses does indeed start rather unlikable. I'm not sure they really change but they do broaden.

Slow Horses does indeed start rather unlikable. I'm not sure they really change but they do broaden.

It has quality writing, but I just don't care about anyone. Plus, I've already been spoiled about the fates of some of the characters, and that doesn't entice me to "wait and see".

S1 spoiler

Sid's disappearance really put the nail in the coffin. :/

- One episode of The Studio. Didn't feel it.

Yeah, we only lasted about 20 minutes. But then recently I heard about the Tetris movie, which sounds not completely unlike "Scorsese does Kool Aid" in concept, and that made me wonder if I should give it another try. ;-p

I actually liked the Scorsese episode! It's simply that episodes 3 and 4 didn't feel as strong as the first two. :/

The most recent Murderbot episode felt like it was just the first part an episode and then it ended. I agree about the throuple. It could be interesting, but at the moment it just takes up time that could be spend on more important aspects.

I finished watching The Kollective (which might be on Netflix, I honestly don't know) and really enjoyed it. It's about a group of freelance investigative journalists who "expose government corruption and lies through a dangerous investigation; uncovering rogue governments' illicit activities worldwide." Don't know if there will be a second series/season, but if there is, I will watch.

I also watched the first two seasons of Whitechapel, which is an older (2009) British police procedural in which detectives in London's Whitechapel district deal with murders which replicate historical crimes. The first series dealt with, of course, a Jack the Ripper copycat. The second series dealt with a Kray Brothers copycat. The first two series are very short, only 3 eps each, which is why I was able to get through them so quickly. A bit surprised I've only just heard/learned about this series, but it's a bit of fun. Kind of violent, bloody fun, but fun.

Watched this week's eps of Murderbot, Criminal Minds, and Welcome to Wrexham (which I'm guessing was probably also the season finale).

I am mostly looking forward to Wimbledon! I've booked the next two weeks off from work so I can just stay home and watch tennis all day. Don't tell me I don't know how to have fun!! I also want to check out the new Apple series, Smoke, of which the Guardian said "no TV show has been worth sticking with more" and gave 4 stars. Apparently the first couple of episodes have a few inconsistencies and bad characterization, but the reviewer guarantees those disappear and the rest is brilliant.

Kollective sounds very interesting. Watched Whitechapel some years ago and liked it, but mostly because of the working relationship between lead and sergeant. Agree that it must have been the season finale of Wrexham.

Finished various series this week thanks to having the TV to myself and a jigsaw puzzle going on in the background.

Watched all of the documentary Deaf President Now! Am surprised that I recall nothing about this protest but it was fascinating to hear about and had a wonderful finish, which feels hopeful even in today's climate.

Caught up on The 1% and finished Welcome to Wrexham. Wonderful final episode -- the goal at 17 minutes in was wild, and it had all the feels in the conclusion.

Also finished Silo season 2 and I have to say that I found it remarkable that I watched all of Severance S2 but couldn't do it with Silo. I ended up watching the first two and last two episodes and then just the "previously on" for the other episodes. I wanted to see where things were going but it always seems to take so long and spend time on things I don't really care about.

That said, the ending was interesting and not what I was expecting, so I'm curious where S3 will pick up.

Severance S2 seemed much better paced than S1. Perhaps it's because S1 had so much set up of both characters (inner and outer) as well as plot and mystery. I managed to stick with each episode. However I was also disappointed with where it headed. I felt like S1 had a Scientology aspect to it but it was also just "ominous capitalist corporation" taken to an extreme along with potentially interesting questions about integration of self. Instead S2 leaned into religious zealotry which is, to me, both boring and a lot less challenging a storyline because then it can be weird just for the sake of weirdness.

I also tried out the first 3 episodes of Ironheart and found it ok. I watched all of Prime Target which was also ok. It tried to be a mix of things, and I thought the ending made sense but it was one of those shows where you're way ahead of the main characters in terms of conspiracies and who can be trusted, which makes it less interesting.

Am up to S12 of Last Week Tonight which picks up after Trump's re-election so I can imagine a lot of them will be bigger downers than usual.

Instead S2 leaned into religious zealotry which is, to me, both boring and a lot less challenging a storyline because then it can be weird just for the sake of weirdness.

Oh, that's a great point. Yeah.

Instead S2 leaned into religious zealotry which is, to me, both boring and a lot less challenging a storyline because then it can be weird just for the sake of weirdness.

Huh, sounds like I don't need to rush to finish that season. ://

Yeah I was hoping it would do more to challenge the idea of capitalism, frankly.

Ironheart - watched the first couple of eps and quite enjoyed it. It didn't feel very "marvel" even though there were some references.

Countdown - watched the first few eps. Its not grabbing me, but I'll give it another ep or two.

Criminal Minds - I had to laugh when Emily spoke for most of us when she said, "you know what I am tired of the most? I'm tired of him" and indicated Voit. haha! you and me both Emily. I also have a theory that Budget Ryan Reynolds is a bad guy. I'm not really sure why, I just get that vibe from him every time I see him and nothing so far is shaking that.

Art Detectives - a mystery detective show - based around a detective in the Heritage Crime Unit which focuses on crimes involving art and culture etc. Its quite good, a little cozy, but the art focus makes it interesting.

Smoke - watched first two eps and well, it was kinda obvious wasn't it?

and speaking of obvious...

Squid Game S3 ended how I think we all expected it to. Although I did say WTF out loud at who was playing the recruiter at the very end. lol I guess going by the location, we can look forward to a US based spin off?

Binged S4 of The Bear and while I thought it was better than S3 by a mile, still not a great deal happened in it. And by the end, it didn't seem like anyone was happy. Not that people need to be happy for it to be a good ending. I just wish someone was though. It didn't really feel like an end of a show though so I hope there is a season 5?

there's a few other weekly things, but nothing of note this week.

Squid Game is already on S3! I guess it's been a while since I had Netflix. Art Detectives sounds enjoyable.

yeah they filmed it back to back with S2. S3 is the final season though, no more after that.

My favorite shows keep getting cancelled. For now, I'm giving up on television and only watching shows that are old and done, or just done. Also watching people play Dungeons and Dragons on Dimension 20 with my son. I don't actually know much about D&D but he does and it's fun to spend time with him. And I'm reading more books, I suppose.

What are some of the old and done shows you're watching?

The Rockford Files. I've nursed a crush on James Garner since childhood. I like the early seasons best. I've watched a few episodes of Dead Like Me. It's okay. A little too creepy at times. I watched 2 episodes of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Very well done but chilling. I watched 2 episodes of The Bridge. Too creepy. One episode of Fleabag. Supposedly a comedy but it wasn't funny, plus I didn't like the main character. I watched seasons 1-4 of Person of Interest. I loved it but I quit watching after the first episode of season 5. It just got darker and darker. I watched the first 3 episodes of Spooks, and it got too dark for me.

My partner is currently watching Rockford Files. He always liked Maverick. We also watched Strange & Norrell, and while we didn't see The Bridge we did watch The Tunnel. Not a cheery show, for sure.

Haven't tried Spooks I don't think, but watched all of PoI. The show did change a good bit as it went along. I never tried Fleabag, it didn't sound like I'd enjoy it. I might have tried out Dead Like Me, I'm not sure. It's been a long time since it was airing.

I started S4 of the Bear, which recently dropped on Hulu, on Friday - and ended up finishing it this morning. I was going to stretch it out - but it is so good that I could not help myself and devoured it eagerly. It's become a comfort show - it's hyper-realism, and much like The Pitt is to the ER, the Bear is to restaurants, and well family life in Chicago in general.

Four can be a series closer or a continuation - opening it up for new things. Not clear. While I can see Hulu and F/X renewing it - it's not clear if the writer/show-runner plans to continue, and the leads (Carmen, Ritchie and Sydney) are all heavily booked in future projects (their careers took off because of The Bear). I want it to continue - because it kind ends with some things unanswered?
But at the same time - I like open-endings because they are more realistic. It does have more closure than the previous seasons, and I can see this going on hiatus for a bit and coming back with a time jump.

Still rewatching Buffy, on S3, now. It's better than I remembered. In previous rewatches, I'd skip most of the episodes of S3, except for Lover's Walk, and as a result, I don't remember much of it. (My previous rewatches of this series - were usually Seasons 2,4,5,6 and 7, skipping over various episodes. And I often skipped 1 and 3. I like the characters better in the later seasons? Also the setting and issues better? I should probably state that I was 27/28 when the series started in the 1990s, and fell in love with it as a 30 something, not a teen? So much like the cast and writers - was relieved when it got past high school? The high school bit doesn't bother me - I don't remember high school, and I find most of it resonates on a more universal level? I think because those writing and working on it - were much older, and kind of just used it the horrors of high school for a metaphor for the horrors of live. Buffy isn't really a teen show, even though it was marketed in that direction. It was created by adults in their late 20s, early 30s, for a broad audience, and directed at teens, which is odd, I know, but there it is.)

Actually, I think S3 might be the best season that I've rewatched so far. They do a good job of keeping the real villain in the background - no one in the main cast realizes that he is remotely a threat until things kind of go kablooy. I think they learned from their mistakes in S1 - that less was more with a good villain.

Also unlike S2, the stand-a-lones are all watchable and well done. S1's problem was the Master being the main plot arc, and the stand-a-lones or episodic episodes were actually better than the main arc.
S2's problem was the opposite. With the possible exception of the Ethan Rain/Giles and John Ritter episodes - the stand a lones in S2 don't quite work and are skippable, they bog down the story. The main arc however, along with the main villains in S2, are wonderful.

S3 has figured out how to do both, and has finally gotten a good writing team that gets the process and the goals of the series.

Still to watch or complete:

Murderbot

Andor S2

Gilded Age

Sirens

Also complete Hacks and Ted Lasso.

And Iron Heart on Disney...

I'm also planning to watch the latest Hacks and Gilded Age but we cancel Apple on Saturday so I'm trying to get through stuff on there first.

At some point - I need to figure out how to do the revolving subscription bit. I'm being eaten alive by subscriptions to things, the publications I'll probably cancel - I got more than I can ever possibly read in one life time.

What I do once I subscribe is set a calendar alert two days before the subscription renews. This might be one month or two, or more depending on how long you think it will take to watch what you want. When you cancel they continue your access until the renewal date arrives.

I didn't hate S3 of The Bear, but it wasn't easy to get through. This makes me hopeful that I'll also enjoy S4!

Last year I would have said that there's no way the show won't get renewed, but it is not dominating awards anymore and the buzz online also seems to be down. So, it could go either way at this point. Of course, there's also the fact that the actors' careers have really taken off.

but it is not dominating awards anymore and the buzz online also seems to be down. So, it could go either way at this point.

Oh, no - it was dominating the awards last year for S3 - three people won. And it got best comedy.
Also they haven't done the Emmy nominations yet. Plus S4 got a perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and high critical praise. So, not sure what you mean that it's not dominating awards or that the online buzz is down? It just dropped on June. 25, and people love it. You have to give folks time to see it to give it awards.

S4 is better than S3 in some respects - it's calmer, and each character resolves its main issues. There's less yelling. And the characters for the most part are in a much better place and accomplish their goals or have epiphanies that allow them to get there?

Edited 2025-06-29 23:16 (UTC)

ETA: I watched an episode of Poker Face S1 (which is a comfortable murder mystery series that's kind of Columbo meets the Fugitive by way of Murder she Wrote? And rather clever and subversive in spots.)
It's on Peacock. And the Second Season has popped up. I'm still in S1. You don't have to watch in order or binge - it's old school episodic television, with only really one continuous character (along with cameos by the guy pursuing her from the Mob - kind of like the Fugitive, except it's the Mob). So You need to see the first episode that sets it up, after that, you can meander. I'm watching in order, but I honestly don't think it matters.

It's parlor room mystery set up - the detective confronts the murderer, explains how they figured it out, then escapes before the murderer can off them, and finds a way to get justice, without taking any credit or getting in trouble themselves.

No serial killers, no graphic violence or torture (that I've seen), or any rape. So it's a nice comforting murder series - featuring a funky and scruffy female detective in her early 40s.

Also saw an episode of the Gilded Age - which was better than expected - S2, Episode 2, I think. It's hit or miss, can be slow at times.

And sigh, Andor, which is incredibly slow, and very little happens in it. It drags. It's also far too political for its own good and kind of hard to watch right now - because it is about resisting and kind of flailing at resisting Fascism. I mean Star Wars' universe doesn't really turn around until Star Wars : A New Hope. There's less torture and violence this season than last, but we do have an attempted rape sequence that I could have done without. I don't understand the love of S2. It's been putting me to sleep, and I had to keep rewinding to figure out what was going on - since my attention kept wandering. I'm on Episode 4. It's slow folks. And it keeps having time jumps.

Man I forgot to post on the weekend...

I finally watched the latest Murderbot ep today, and it's finally moving the plot forward again a bit. I was mostly confused by the last two eps not doing what I expected them to do. All the romance aspects are still getting on my nerves, all the "Murderbot watches shows" aspects are very good, and all the Murderbot emotional things are good too, except for when they intersect with the romance aspects. I'm enjoying it, it's just not as riveting as I think it could have been?

I watched the first three eps of The First Night With The Duke, which is a transmigration kdrama with Ok Taecyeon - he's the only reason I'm watching it. It's not terrible, but also not really my thing, and of course the historic kdrama costumes don't do anyone any favors, not even Taecyeon. I'll probably watch a bit more of it, just because I've missed him.

My watchalongs: we finished Parallel World, and the last ep was even more weirdly paced than the previous ones, and almost none of it made any sense. We're glad we're done with it. We'll start watching When A Snail Falls In Love next week, which is a rewatch for me, and I'm interested in how well it holds up compared to when I first watched it seven years ago. My other watchalong has finished HPI (s4 - I'm still in the process of translating the subs for s5), and started North of North. Instant hit, as I expected. <3

Speak Up Saturday

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