Watched in 2023: TV Shows

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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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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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.

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.