Hidden Gems of Netflix's Watch Instantly

Chaz wrote:

Edit: I just checked, there's definitely an option to use the original Spanish audio with subtitles.

Which I didn't even think to look for. Woot!

My nephew convinced me to give the show "You" a shot. It's a a bit jacked up, but interesting. Just a couple episodes in but I have a feeling this is going to end up being one of those shows that doesn't have any characters that you really like because they all suck in their own way..... we shall see.

Malor wrote:

I hope they get longer seasons, though. The short Netflix orders really suck. That's been true of almost all these SF shows, that they're mostly getting really short seasons, and I find it very annoying. I wish they'd go back to the 20- to 22-episode format of network television.

A few years back I decided to re-watch ST:TNG. Actually, I decided to watch ST:TNG. It came out when I was in college and I missed a ton of episodes and never quite caught them in syndication.

As I watched I realized there was a lot of filler to those 22, 23 episode seasons. Stuff that was, at best, immediately forgettable.

Then I began looking at the IMDB ratings for those episodes and I realized ST:TNG was rated higher as show than the average ratings for the individual episodes should merit. What was happening was that people were mentally filtering out all the mediocre and bad episodes they slogged through. Instead, they only really remembered the two or three truly outstanding episodes from each season as well as the half a dozen or so really good episodes.

I actually think that TV has gotten much better with the shorter 10 or 13 episode seasons. It's easier for showrunners to maintain a consistent vision and writers to have a unified voice.

The only downside is, of course, that as media consumers we only get a short burst the stories and characters we love and then we have to wait a year for more to be made.

But thanks to cable and streaming services I'm literally swimming in outstanding shows that I want to watch. And by the time I get through them there'll be another season of that show I love waiting.

I suspect the shorter seasons for some of these shows is why you're able to get some bigger named talent, too. They don't have the near year around commitment to be on TV, so they can work it around their movies or even other shows. For this instance, Will and Grace

OG_slinger wrote:

The only downside is, of course, that as media consumers we only get a short burst the stories and characters we love and then we have to wait a year for more to be made.

I agree that the quality of shows has gone way up, and I'm happier with a tight 10 episode season, but I don't understand why another season takes an additional year or more.

In the past, producers gave us 24 episodes over a span of 9 months. They should certainly be able to produce just 20 episodes in less than 12 months.

The standards for writing and production quality have gone waaaaaay up since the days of TNG, a show which I love, but which definitely had episodes in almost every season (especially the first couple and last couple) which seemed totally slapped-together and haphazard on almost every level. How did producers get 24 episodes out the door in nine months? By rushing through production at a breakneck pace and more often than not coming out with a product that showed it.

It's no surprise at all to me that 10-12 mostly A+ episodes take longer to produce than 20-24 mostly C- episodes. And TNG was a show that, flaws aside, was one of the best shows on television at the time. Most of the television back then was just plain garbage, even compared to stuff that's considered middle-of-the-road or even actively bad by today's standards.

PaladinTom wrote:

I agree that the quality of shows has gone way up, and I'm happier with a tight 10 episode season, but I don't understand why another season takes an additional year or more.

In the past, producers gave us 24 episodes over a span of 9 months. They should certainly be able to produce just 20 episodes in less than 12 months.

Producers gave us 20-odd episodes in the past because they were just suits. Their job was to just make sure there was content the network could broadcast. They weren't the creative driver of the shows. They farmed out the writing, directing, editing, etc. That's how you got crappy filler episodes and plot and character inconsistencies.

Now the good shows have showrunners who are much more creatively involved. If they didn't outright create the show, they're central to bringing it to life. That also means they're neck deep into everything, including writing and directing. They simply don't have the creative bandwidth to be writing episode #17 or thinking about the next season when they're focused on shooting episode #6.

For example, I don't think shows like Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul would be nearly as good if Vince Gilligan was more focused on banging out 20 episodes a season for AMC rather than telling complex stories with rich characters. The attention to detail that makes shows like his so good requires focus and a lot of time and effort. And that attention to detail requires some time off to recharge the creative battery.

If you enjoy wine I'm thinking you'll find these documentaries pretty interesting. Description alone they sound like perhaps they might be geared towards pretentious wine assholes. But I've (not a pretentious wine asshole) found them fascinating.

SOMM (Follows four sommeliers (some might be pretentious wine assholes, but it makes for some interesting people) preparing to pass the Master Sommelier exam. It can only be taken once per year and has one of the lowest pass rates in the world.)

Full doc here

SOMM 2: Into the Bottle (A deeper dive into the wine itself. The sommeliers (many returning from the first film) discuss how weather, war, and politics have affected wines over history abroad and in the U.S.)

Full doc here

SOMM 3 is brand new so not available on Netflix, but can be rented through Amazon. I've watched the first 2 but not the 3rd one yet. We watched the first 2 this weekend so we'll probably watch it next weekend. From what I've read this one sounds like it's most of the sommeliers from the first two docs getting together and drinking some super rare bottles of wine. Again, sounds boring as hell, but based on the other 2 films I think they will find a way to make it really interesting.

OG_slinger wrote:

Now the good shows have showrunners who are much more creatively involved. If they didn't outright create the show, they're central to bringing it to life. That also means they're neck deep into everything, including writing and directing. They simply don't have the creative bandwidth to be writing episode #17 or thinking about the next season when they're focused on shooting episode #6.

This. They are essentially making quality 8-10 hour movies, and I vastly prefer this style to the banal drivel that used to pass for TV. In fact, it's often better than modern theater movies, which are often cut to the bone to meet the time constraints.

Just finished binging season one of American Vandal. Pitch perfect crime show spoof. Go watch it right now if you’ve not seen it.

Vega have you watched the wine series with James May called Big Wine Adventure? Me not being a wine person it was still interesting to watch with the two hosts.

LeapingGnome wrote:

Vega have you watched the wine series with James May called Big Wine Adventure? Me not being a wine person it was still interesting to watch with the two hosts.

Nope, but adding it to the list. Thanks! Doesn't appear Netflix has it, but Amazon does for rent.

-edit-
Actually, just checked again and it seems it's on YouTube for free.

In a world where so many 20 episode seasons of shows seemed to only actually have ~10 hours worth of quality material, I welcome shorter seasons. Even then there are 13 episode shows that feel like they only have 8 episodes worth of good material.

I don't need 12 hours/episodes of mediocre or sometimes just completely terrible filler episodes. I am on the whole much happier without them.

And it gives me more time to catch up on other things!

My wife and I binge watched "The Kominsky Method" which wasn't that difficult given that it's ten twenty-five minute episodes. Chuck Lorre's foray into Netflix content wherein he explores the humor in Michael Douglas & Alan Arkin playing a pair of grumpy old men sitting around talking about getting old. Not the greatest show out there, but better than any of the traditional network sitcoms out there at the moment.

There are a few shows like Kominsky Method and Barry that are good/great shows but I get an extra layer of humor on top from being an actor.
Plus Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin, enough said.
edit: and Henry Winkler in the case of Barry (I really like Bill Hader too)

Aaaaaand I'm back! from Xmas break!

so yeah, Travelers is pretty great if you like SF or time travel (I really like me some SF and I unapologetically adooooore time travel), so it might not be for every one. Agreed on the kuddos to Travelers for knowing what it wanted to be from the first minute.

On longer seasons; my initial reaction is an enthusiastic YES! but then I remember how most shows have filler or feel like filler and yeah, I think 10-13 episodes is now a good fit for me. Sitcoms, I think I can handle for 24 episodes.

I wanted to see the Bird Box and with your reviews, now I HAVE TO SEE IT!!

Since I'm riding the Netflix high; the wife and I saw the Comedy Special Elder Millenial by Iliza Shlesinger. We had no idea who she is, but we found her hilarious. There's a few feminist observations I think are worth discussing, but not in this thread (obviously).

Someone recommended me to subscribe to Joe Rogan's podcast, so I decided to give his comedy special a try as well. It's ... different. There are things I found funny, things I agreed with and quite a lot that made me cringe while laughing. Very interesting guy.

Finally, I watched Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. I really hope this does not catch on. I liked what they did, but I think it only really works under the specific conditions and ingredients they used to tell that story.

The version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail currently on Netflix is the 2012 BD remaster version. Legend has it that this version has not been available on a streaming platform until now.

In case you needed an excuse to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail again.

Watched the first 2 episodes of 7 Days Out, a documentary series that tracks the last 7 days of preparation for various enormous events. Pretty good production so far. The stories are tense, and they do a good job of latching onto a few key players in each episode to make a it a really human struggle. First episode is about the Westminster Dog Show (which isn't something I typically care about) and the second is about the renovation and opening day of one of the best restaurants in the world (something more in my wheelhouse).

My wife and I watched all of that. Pretty good. She was shocked by the League of Legends tourney. She had no idea there was that much interest in professional gaming.

That's on my list. I love the organization and prep for stuff like that.

Well heck now I want to watch Carmen Sandiego

No Rockapella, no sale.

I feel like that trailer wants to sell me insurance.

Carmen Sandiego as a non-villain is vaguely disappointing. I'll still check it out though.

bnpederson wrote:

I feel like that trailer wants to sell me insurance.

I am having a way more difficult time than expected finding a picture of Erin Esurance that's not pornographic fan art.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
bnpederson wrote:

I feel like that trailer wants to sell me insurance.

I am having a way more difficult time than expected finding a picture of Erin Esurance that's not pornographic fan art.

IMAGE(https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/erin_esurance.jpg)

It's like you had that bookmarked.

Nah, google just knows my porn tastes lie...elsewhere.

Dr.Ghastly wrote:

Nah, google just knows my porn tastes lie...elsewhere.

IMAGE(http://i1.wp.com/bitcast-a-sm.bitgravity.com/slashfilm/wp/wp-content/images/Singular.gif)

Hogwarts for thieves?