What Are You Watching Lately? (Rants/Raves/Reviews)

[kyphysics]

I cut my Netflix and Disney+ subscriptions a few months back and have been watching "free" stuff more (YouTube). Lately, I've really enjoyed murder mystery shows like these:


A&E has lots of shows like this (I watch them free on YT)


CBS' 48 Hours is good too. . .

I have no idea why it is, but it helps to de-stress me (I am going through a TON of stress). Perhaps, ironically, seeing other people's lives being so tragic makes me feel like what I'm going through is a lot easier? Or, it's just intriguing stuff and relaxes me by taking my mind off things.

 

[kyphysics]

Some observations I have of the murders featured on these shows:

1.) the murderer almost always knows the victim and/or is in a close circle with them.

This obviously makes sense, as there's not much to gain from just randomly killing someone. But, it still is interesting, given the way crime can be portrayed and/or fear-mongered over in the news. Sometimes my brain's first instinct is to think of the local news and seeing someone randomly shot & killed from a stray bullet related to gang violence.

2.) it feels like 60-70% of the killers were jilted lovers (or the case had something to do with a romantic relationship of some kind)

3.) 95% of the cases involve Caucasian communities and murderers, who are not gang or organized crime affiliated. These are just "regular" every day people, who are doctors, teachers, train conductors, insurance agents, priests, etc.

4.) DNA evidence is often what ultimately convicts or exonerates a person.

5.) the killer often has a past criminal record or history (as told by acquaintances/family members) of out-of-line behavior. Like maybe the killer abused animals as a kid, had a juvenile record, and/or was known to be verbally abusive/aggressive or domestically violent. There's rarely a case where the murderer was super well-liked by everyone, had fantastic manners/etiquette, and was squeaky clean to all those who knew them.

6.) The killers SURPRISINGLY often make threats before they even commit the crime. I wouldn't say this is 50% of the time, but more like 20% of the cases on these shows.

Of all the cases I've marathon/binge watched, this one both shocked and saddened me the absolute most:

The killer is very surprising and what happens in the resolution is heart-breaking in a lot of ways.

 

[pinball1970]

It was Jaws on wheels.

He directed one of the first Columbo episodes, "Murder by the book."
It is one of my favourite episodes and you get those Spielbergisms all over. Brilliant, 1971. Duel was also around the same time.
EDIT. Apologies, already posted this six months ago.

 

[kyphysics]

I opened Amazon Prime Video for first time in a while and saw it has two indistinguishable Liam Neeson movies:

Memory and Blacklight

Is Neeson broke? Is Hollywood so pathetically out of ideas that they cast Neeson in the same types of movies over and over and over and over....same sort of plot........he basically has played the same character or 10 movies straight since Taken.

 

[pinball1970]

Two series that I found engaging were "Shooter" on Netflix and "Reacher" on Prime Video.

Shooter followed an ex-marine sniper trying to find out why he was set up for carrying out an assassination he did not do. 3 seasons.

Reacher, a character based on a Lee Child novel series, is a retired army officer wandering through the south who gets blamed for a murder in a town he is passing through. 2nd season is soon resuming his travels.

Season 2 out next month

 

[BillTre]

I like Reacher. It had some subtle yet corny humor.

 

[pinball1970]

I like Reacher. It had some subtle yet corny humor.

I thought he was great (series) although posters have said he was a bit wooden. I liked that cold, disconnected feel to him.

I like the Cruise films though, he is a very good actor if not quite the stature of the book character.

 

[kyphysics]

I'm starting Prime Video's "The Night Manager" series. . .hopefully, it's not too complicated that it forces me to give up (like I did with "The Peripheral"...good series...just too hard to follow).

I did enjoy rewatching "Moneyball." It's always an inspirational watch and makes me feel good.

 

[strangerep]

I'm starting Prime Video's "The Night Manager" series. . .

If you've only "just started" it, I suspect you'll soon like it a lot more...

 

[kyphysics]

If you've only "just started" it, I suspect you'll soon like it a lot more...

Just finished Ep. 1 today. It was nothing memorable (definitely not bad - but not stand-out great either). Maybe it gets better later.

I am going to watch "The Little Things" for a change of pace the rest of tonight. I am a Denzel Washington fan, so I don't think it'll be too bad. It is soooo cold at nights in Virginia that I'm too lazy to even go out (car takes a long time to warm up). Movie/TV Show marathon all holiday week for me!

 

[DennisN]

I started watching the first season of the British tv series "Slow Horses" today.
I got hooked to it after seeing just one episode.

I think it is brilliant, darkly entertaining and very unusual, and with great acting.
It's a very odd take on the agent/spy concept which I've never seen before.
Imagine e.g. James Bond and turn it around 180 degrees, and you get Slow Horses, sort of.

Zero glamour, dirty, decadent, featuring a small group of agents who are considered to be the least capable ones. Does this sound boring?

Well, it's not!

It's exciting, oddly entertaining, well written and with quite a lot of dark humor in the dialogues.

And Gary Oldman plays the very quirky boss of the agents, and he is simply formidable here.
(yes, I am a fan of Oldman, but I have to say he is just extra excellent in this role )

I warmly recommend this tv series!
(and I actually don't watch very much tv series, unless it's one I really, really like)

Trailer:

 

[DaveC426913]

 

[bob012345]

Over the last few months I have been watching the tv series Mannix on Prime. Mannix is a Private Investigator. I enjoy it very much.

 

[DennisN]

I started watching the first season of the British tv series "Slow Horses" today.
I got hooked to it after seeing just one episode.

Haha, I've seen all three seasons now, I ate them up like three boxes of chocolate.
I liked it very, very much. Very addictive.

My summary:

Season 1: Great, fun and pretty exciting.
Season 2: Great, fun and very exciting, actually thrilling. I think it was the best one of the three seasons.
Season 3: Great, fun and exciting, also thrilling.

And I am so happy to learn that there will at least be two more seasons:

Showrunner Will Smith has stated that the fourth season should be released by the end of December 2024. In January 2024, it was renewed for a fifth series, which will be based on the fifth book in the series, London Rules.

And yeah, I've already said I liked Gary Oldman in the role, but I have to say his character is outstanding.
He is a very odd fellow who comes with a lot of surprises throughout the three series.
And the others are great too. And they are surprising too, you can't really predict what to expect from them (at least I couldn't).

So the series gets an extra plus from me for its unpredictability.

Trailers for season 2 and 3:

Slow Horses — Season 2 Official Trailer


Slow Horses — Season 3 Official Trailer

 

[pinball1970]

Haha, I've seen all three seasons now, I ate them up like three boxes of chocolate.
I liked it very, very much. Very addictive.

My summary:

Season 1: Great, fun and pretty exciting.
Season 2: Great, fun and very exciting, actually thrilling. I think it was the best one of the three seasons.
Season 3: Great, fun and exciting, also thrilling.

And I am so happy to learn that there will at least be two more seasons:
And yeah, I've already said I liked Gary Oldman in the role, but I have to say his character is outstanding.
He is a very odd fellow who comes with a lot of surprises throughout the three series.
And the others are great too. And they are surprising too, you can't really predict what to expect from them (at least I couldn't).

So the series gets an extra plus from me for its unpredictability.

Trailers for season 2 and 3:

Slow Horses — Season 2 Official Trailer


Slow Horses — Season 3 Official Trailer

Anything with Gary Oldman is worth a go.

 

[Bandersnatch]

Looks like George Smiley has let himself go a bit.

 

[pinball1970]

My new lazy Sunday favourites are "Blue bloods," followed by "NCIS."

 

[pinball1970]

Haha, I've seen all three seasons now, I ate them up like three boxes of chocolate.
I liked it very, very much. Very addictive.

My summary:

Season 1: Great, fun and pretty exciting.
Season 2: Great, fun and very exciting, actually thrilling. I think it was the best one of the three seasons.
Season 3: Great, fun and exciting, also thrilling.

And I am so happy to learn that there will at least be two more seasons:



And yeah, I've already said I liked Gary Oldman in the role, but I have to say his character is outstanding.
He is a very odd fellow who comes with a lot of surprises throughout the three series.
And the others are great too. And they are surprising too, you can't really predict what to expect from them (at least I couldn't).

So the series gets an extra plus from me for its unpredictability.

Trailers for season 2 and 3:

Slow Horses — Season 2 Official Trailer


Slow Horses — Season 3 Official Trailer

Just finished the first season, really good.

 

[Hornbein]

I'm watching Senri Kawaguchi play the trap drums -- possibly best on Earth -- herself dressed as Wednesday Addams.

 

[kyphysics]

Watched Trap.

Always have given M. Night Shyamalan some love after The Sixth Sense and am willing to check out his films blind.

This was a fun movie, despite having to suspend my disbelief quite hard when it came to the main character. His psychological makeup seemed too improbable. The niceness and smartness of Josh Hartnett’s character as both a doting, loving dad and clever diabolical serial killer were too much for me - especially as to how Hartnett acted both sides out.

I wish we got more background into the motivations of the serial killer side of the main character…..which may be possible given he doesn’t die in this movie and there is an opening for a sequel/prequel.

Nonetheless, the cat and mouse games played by the authorities and killer dad ….and another character were fantastic and devilishly fun to watch.

 

[pinball1970]

Watched Trap.

Always have given M. Night Shyamalan some love after The Sixth Sense and am willing to check out his films blind.

Sixth sense was superb, scared the hell out of me but broke my heart too. Difficult to do in a horror movie. I did not read the rest of your post as I want to check out "Trap." Spoilers etc

Side note, did you know Shyamalan plays the Dr who treats Cole after he is locked in the attic? He implies he may be the subject of abuse?

I also recommend you watch with commentary, lots of things I missed till I watched that.

 

[kyphysics]

Side note, did you know Shyamalan plays the Dr who treats Cole after he is locked in the attic? He implies he may be the subject of abuse?

Oh yeah, he shows up a lot as a bit character in his own movies. Lol. Quentin Tarantino did that too.

Let us know what you think of Trap.

 

[pinball1970]

Let us know what you think of Trap.

Will do.

 

[collinsmark]

Oh yeah, he shows up a lot as a bit character in his own movies. Lol. Quentin Tarantino did that too.

As did/does Stephen King (for the movies based on the books he wrote).

 

[Klystron]

I'm starting Prime Video's "The Night Manager" series. . .hopefully, it's not too complicated that it forces me to give up (like I did with "The Peripheral"...good series...just too hard to follow). ...

I can offer some insight into understanding both series.

As time permits, read William Gibson's novel "The Peripheral" for deeper understanding of the characters in the series. His Peripheral sequels are not required IMO, but reading the original novel really helps set the stage for the series, particularly Gibson's vison of rural America, combat veterans and the effects of war on their family members. Still complicated but that is half the fun.

Likewise, reading John Le Carre's "Night Manager" provides insights into Jonathan Pine's character and motivations brought to life by Tom Hiddleston's superb performance in the series.

 

[DennisN]

I'm currently watching episode 3 in season 4 of Slow Horses.
Gosh, I love everything about this season too so far, the dialog is marvellous and very fun .