Watched in 2023: TV Shows

Season 3

Season 3

Season 1

Season 1

Limited Series

Limited Series

Season 1

Much like the tennis show we watched earlier this year, Break Point, this show profiles a select group of athletes as they compete to win competitions, sponsors, and international rankings. It's a feel-good show that certainly succeeds in the viewer rooting for the athletes, for their skills and for native Hawai'ians.
The main difference between this and "Break Point" is the athletes all know each other and mostly friends with each other, creating refreshing circle of support and community.

Season 3

Season 49

Anthology Series (Series 1: Bette v. Joan)

Season 2

Season 4 (Final Season)

Season 3

A strange detour from Atlanta on a show called Atlanta, with the main characters being in Amsterdam and other locations in Europe. Also a detour from style and tone and a lot of detours from the main characters... but overall a lot of really poignant and profound storytelling. Different doesn't necessarily mean bad.

Season 3 (From original Twin Peaks)

Season 4 (Final Season)

Season 1

My wife loves this show and wants to give it a second run-through. The leads are good and likable and the overall story is fine. It's a little tough to watch since this is a 2009 semi-procedural, one that hosts a trove of network TV procedural tropes.

Docuseries

Hemsworth, contractual shirt off, testing the limits, reality tv tropes, decent enough entertainment to watch with the family.

Season 1

Vignettes about love. A lot of it doesn't seem so modern, they just take place in present day. Some are sweet, some are annoying, some seem pointless, most are well-acted and decently written. Overall I wasn't that into it, as much as I love love.

Season 2

Steve Martin Short are still fantastic, with Marty even having some truly strong acting scenes. Selena Gomez was fine in the first season but it was quite noticeable her acting is not quite adequate this season. Maybe they gave her more than she can do, or she phoned it in.
I like how they reference creating their own second season as we watch their second season and the story/mystery was solid enough even if some of the writing and story is clearly pedestrian.
Jane Lynch's appearance is a standout and her scene with Amy Ryan may have been the best of the season.

Season 5 (Final Season)

The show changed up its format with flashbacks and flash forwards through the season. I respect the risky and clever attempt but it's probably the weakest and most unnecessary aspect of the final season.
The writing is still snappy, witty, and relevant. The overall production design never wanes. The final was almost perfect, until they had an unnecessary and momentum killing epilogue. It should haven't ended with the climax.
Still, I am very happy they didn't fuck up the final season to this really entertaining show that I will miss watching with my wife.

Season 4

Four seasons in and the show continues to blend philosophy, puberty, social issues, and crude humor brilliantly.

I would have liked to have seen the whole season set at the summer camp, but the ideas presented during their school year were worthy and makes sense for the story to move along.

The way they replaced the voice actor for Missy was clever and good for the show, as much as I like Jenny Slate. She will at least continue voicing other characters in the upcoming season.



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Season 1

Time to cry for our planet. Ice melting, mass migrations, walruses falling to their death because of space scarcity, deforestation, devastation... all shown with incredible images and narrated by the greatest of narrators, David Attenborough.

Every living creature depends on our planet being healthy and one of the millions of its species is fucking it all up.

Season 1

Filmed with dark lighting, managing a dark subject matter, dark characters with dark pasts and futures. It would be a depressing show if it wasn't so good and didn't excel at keeping us interested. It's a neat trick it pulls off every episode. Never cheap, never pandering, just good storytelling and filmmaking.
By the end of the season it's clear... this show is brilliant.

Season 4

While it's not the strongest season there are still some brilliant comedic takes on documentaries. "Soldier of Illusion" was the highlight of the season, perfectly parodying "My Best Friend" and commenting on the ridiculousness of American network television.
My one complaint - too few episodes after such a long wait since Season 3.

Limited Series

Much like "The Dropout", this is an excellent retelling of a story after I've seen a documentary about the subject. In this case, "Crime of the Century", a documentary I highly recommend and one that needs to be seen by everyone. This show covers a lot of the issues and crimes surrounding oxycodone and the characters are beautifully portrayed with careful intention and on-point fidelity.

Season 10

More in-depth topics made to go down easier with comedy. Thanks for continuing to remind us how fucked up the system is and making us laugh while palms are in our faces.

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Limited Series

This is a solid story about abuse and how someone can persevere from such a situation, with a young daughter on her own and no money. The story does a good job of making her human, by making plenty of mistakes, but still finding a way to be there for her daughter and find her a better life.


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Main Locations: Port Townsend, WA, USA

Season 3

Back to fighting the Russians! This is a very timely season that is great a season itself, with the story being compelling and unfolding in a very interesting way, but it actually didn't add much to the character of Jack Ryan. There doesn't seem to be so much a focus on his arc. If that's on purpose, fine, but when the guy's name is in the title expectations come with it.
Krazinski and cast are still top-notch and the production value is still all there, continuing to make this one of Prime's best shows.


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Main Locations: Moscow, Russia; Prague, Czechia; Rome, Italy

Limited Series

This was my wife's pick and I wasn't so sure about it, especially after an uninteresting first episode. I am so glad we stuck it out as this ended up being a very strong, emotionally beautiful smart series. I saw it is only a limited series, which is too bad, because it definitely seems like there is a lot of potential.


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Main Locations: Minnesota, USA; Oregon, USA

Limited Series

This is an adaptation of an excellent book and is adapted well. It's different enough from the book but doesn't stray away from its main themes and elements that make it so good.

The acting is great all around, with Lizzy Caplan being the most impressive. The NYC setting serves for the story so well without being showy, and the characters are all equally frustrating and beautiful. My wife and I can relate to this stories so well, but thankfully have a strong enough grasp on reality and love that it doesn't damage anything watching it.
A good, quick watch for anyone who wants and one-and-done season.


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Main Locations: Manhattan, NYC, NY, USA

Docuseries

This documentary, expertly narrated by Natalie Portman, is a lovely and informative documentary about the state of the elephant and many habits most people are not familiar with.
It's fun, heartbreaking, and beautifully shot.
Plus, a nice show to watch with our young one.


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Season 2

Mike White took this series up a notch with season 2, adding more mystery, comedy, and and drama, sex, and death. The characters were kind of brilliant and the intrigue kept every scene tense and interesting.

The Final episode had a good payoff and I really like where every character landed.


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One Favorite Character from Favorite TV Shows: Mia

Main Locations: Sicily, Italy

Season 1

This a very good dramatic series, demonstrating very effectively what a zombie apocalypse could look like, and doing it better than most.

All aspects are top-notch, especially the acting. This seems like a world-building season that could be the first of at least four, yet I hear there will only be two.

I realize the ending is what is in the video game, but wow that was a terrible ending, not creatively, but emotionally


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Main Locations: Boston, MA; Kansas City, KS; Wyoming and Colorado, USA

Season 1: Part I

I love playing and watching tennis and this is an entertaining look into what it's like to be a tennis pro in 2022. It digs deep into their psyche and their play. It catches anyone up on current tennis and a bit of its history. I like the in-depth look at particular players that don't get a ton of publicity, for both women and men's tennis.
There are more episodes slated for the summer, and I will be watching.

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Season 1

This Spanish prison drama is paced really well and full of interesting characters. It's like a tougher and better version of "Orange is the New Black" but with zero humor.


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Main Locations: Cruz del Sur Prison (Fictional) outside of Madrid, Spain

Season 2: Assassination of Gianni Versace

The assassination happens right away and the rest of the show is focused on the murderer and his killing spree prior to Versace's death. It's a long-winded retelling and the title of the show is deceiving, especially because the killer and Versace seemed to have very little connection, making it all rather unsatisfying.
A disappointment after the first season impressed me so much.


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Main Locations: South Beach, Miami, FL, USA

Season 2

Their second season is still good, but I've really only stayed interested in the two leads, where I don't really like any of the characters surrounding them. I am still thankful for this show, highlighting an important culture that says a lot about our society and love, and one that doesn't get enough attention. I may watch the third and final season, but it's low on my interest list at this point.


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One Favorite Character from Favorite TV Shows: Lyn

Main Locations: Boyle Heights (LA), CA, USA

Season 2

This season was an improvement, but he still has a tough time ending his skits. He definitely tried some weirder comedy which was hit and miss. My favorite skit was the one with the hat, as pictured.

Limited Series

Unfortunately this show is a result of producers relying too much on the gimmick of 'randomized' episodes. No matter what order you watch these in I'm sure it won't be good. The dialogue is terrible the characters and storylines are insultingly cliche and the post-heist episode is horrible, with it being a slap in the face to anyone who made it that far.
I wouldn't have actually watched all of it, but it was our son's choice, and a show he likes, so I had to stick it out, with love.

Main Locations: Manhattan, NYC, NY, USA

Season 11 (Maybe Final Season?)

This season had some of the best interviews but it also had several guests I wasn't interested in watching, most of the second half was disappointing.

Season 3

These are always fun, as a general fan and cinephile. Us cinephiles mostly watch videos on the craft of the high-art movies and this is a nice change to watch as an alternative to that.
I was a little confused on the grouping of the chosen movies. You have five movies that fit appropriately in the horror genre, but then randomly "Coming to America". I really like that movie, but I don't get it. Then there is a Halloween/Christmas movie, which makes enough sense, then a Christmas movie, but one that was released in the aughts, ten years later than any other movie ever featured in this series.

Featured Movies:
Halloween
Friday the 13th
Nightmare on Elm Street
Robocop
Aliens
Coming to America
Nightmare Before Christmas
Elf

Season 2

After an impressive first season I am met with a better second season. It's snappier but knows when to hold on to the important moments. It's funnier and deeper than the first season and it seems like it's done with such ease. Gervais has a gift, that cocky son of a bitch.

One Favorite Character from Favorite TV Shows: Pat


Main Locations: Suburban England, U.K.

Season 1

This is a delightful creation from Kyle Mooney. His ability to hit just the rights of awkwardness, nostalgia, comedy, and social complexities is kind of brilliant. Too bad it's too niche to ever appeal to a large audience, still I am surprised I don't hear more about it.

Main Locations: Fictional

Season 1

It has some interesting things to say about social media/gotcha culture with Gen Z and the state of high education. There are some funny moments and some sweet moments. Overall, I wasn't that into it.

Main Locations: Fictional College Campus

Season 1

A very serious tone slowly takes you through an unoriginal investigation. It's a fine production, but nothing too interesting here and one season seems enough for me, even with a solid season finale. It's too bad because I really like Anna Friel.

Main Locations: London, England, U.K.