Hidden Gems of Amazon Prime instant videos

Jayhawker wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

Daaaaamn, Transparent is really good. I'm only two episodes in. Anyone else watching it/watched it?

I am really curious about this. My daughter is heavily involved in LGBTQIA issues, running a GSA chapter at her school and volunteering in a TASH workshop with Planned Parenthood, and trans issues are pretty much at her forefront right now. I saw this, but I was worried that as a 30 minute comedy, we might not find the humor appropriate, and didn't want to suggest it until I knew more. It does look really interesting.

It's not a comedy... Definitely a drama with a bit of bittersweet comedy sprinkled in here and there. I think they are being very sensitive and honest about transgender issues. I'm not one who can make that call, though. I'll definitely be looking into how the trans community views the show at some point.

Edit: Also, it's not just about transgendered persons, it's really about how all people are very complicated, and complicated is normal. Unfortunately, some people's complexities are more difficult in terms of our current culture. I think it's starting to change, though!

I know this is for Prime movies and TV, but we generally talk about other Prime stuff here too right?

Just got an email today saying that Prime Members now get 30 minutes early on Lightning Deals.

If that works for the ones they do over Thanksgiving week as well, that would be amazing. I mean I've already got lucky on several of those the last few years, but the most of the good ones don't even last 5 minutes, much less 30. Kind of a guaranteed way for Prime Members to save more money.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

I think they are being very sensitive and honest about transgender issues. I'm not one who can make that call, though. I'll definitely be looking into how the trans community views the show at some point.

I've heard positive things through the grapevine from trans writers and advocates.

Personally speaking, I've so far declined to watch it for a variety of reasons, but I also wasn't so crazy about Sophia in Orange is the New Black, either, so I might not be the best person to judge these things by.

Broad City. 3 episodes in. Kinda raunchy at times, but pretty hilarious.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

I think they are being very sensitive and honest about transgender issues. I'm not one who can make that call, though. I'll definitely be looking into how the trans community views the show at some point.

I've heard positive things through the grapevine from trans writers and advocates.

Personally speaking, I've so far declined to watch it for a variety of reasons, but I also wasn't so crazy about Sophia in Orange is the New Black, either, so I might not be the best person to judge these things by.

I've watched 4 episodes or so now. I've enjoyed them but they do get a bit too sexually explicit for my taste in a variety of ways. There are sexual acts of all kinds being portrayed. None of that involves the main transgender character or any of the transgender characters as of episode 4.

I am afraid that the show is going to fall into the trap where the characters are mostly all "horrible" people who don't improve on their character in any ways. If most of the characters haven't bettered themselves in some way by the end, I'm gonna quit after season 1.

6 Feet Under is the best example of this character development problem that I can think of. I watched 3 seasons of that or so, and it made me want to bash my head into a wall by that third season. I hated all of the characters so much. I'm starting to get a similar vibe from this unfortunately. Hopefully, a lot of the characters are at low points right now, and I'll definitely give it the whole season.

Jonman wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

6 Feet Under is the best example of this character development problem that I can think of. I watched 3 seasons of that or so, and it made me want to bash my head into a wall by that third season. I hated all of the characters so much. I'm starting to get a similar vibe from this unfortunately. Hopefully, a lot of the characters are at low points right now, and I'll definitely give it the whole season.

Tangential note, but the wife and I are re-watching 6 Feet Under. Honestly, the "flawed-up-to-the-hilt" nature of all the characters is thing that made that show stand out to us on the first viewing.

On the one hand, you're right that all the characters are douchecanoes. On the other hand, isn't it awesome that all the characters are douchcanoes?

I just needed somebody to like and root for. I wanted all the characters to be six feet under by the third season.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

6 Feet Under is the best example of this character development problem that I can think of. I watched 3 seasons of that or so, and it made me want to bash my head into a wall by that third season. I hated all of the characters so much. I'm starting to get a similar vibe from this unfortunately. Hopefully, a lot of the characters are at low points right now, and I'll definitely give it the whole season.

Tangential note, but the wife and I are in the process of re-watching 6 Feet Under. Honestly, the "flawed-up-to-the-hilt" nature of all the characters is the thing that made that show stand out to us on the first viewing.

On the one hand, you're right that all the characters are douchecanoes. On the other hand, isn't it awesome that all the characters are douchcanoes?

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

I just needed somebody to like and root for. I wanted all the characters to be six feet under by the third season.

At the risk of spoilers....

Spoiler:

keep watching.

How many seasons are there? I may be able to go back to it since it's been awhile.

I watched the trailer for Transparent and, while liked Jeffrey Tambor's last line, I found everything else terrrrrrribly annoying. It's like the whole thing was designed to repulse people like me. Depth-of-field mumblecore, folksy acousitic soundtrack with slightly militaristic snares - all wool waistcoats, floppy fringes and private education - sappy straplines about families and troubles, characters that look like they're wealthy but are still trying to 'find themselves'. Gosh, it's all just so uplifting.

.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

How many seasons are there? I may be able to go back to it since it's been awhile.

Five seasons of Six Feet Under.

And yeah, I'll agree that there definitely is character growth and change over the series, but sometimes it's very gradual.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
Jonman wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

6 Feet Under is the best example of this character development problem that I can think of. I watched 3 seasons of that or so, and it made me want to bash my head into a wall by that third season. I hated all of the characters so much. I'm starting to get a similar vibe from this unfortunately. Hopefully, a lot of the characters are at low points right now, and I'll definitely give it the whole season.

Tangential note, but the wife and I are re-watching 6 Feet Under. Honestly, the "flawed-up-to-the-hilt" nature of all the characters is thing that made that show stand out to us on the first viewing.

On the one hand, you're right that all the characters are douchecanoes. On the other hand, isn't it awesome that all the characters are douchcanoes?

I just needed somebody to like and root for. I wanted all the characters to be six feet under by the third season.

That's Sons of Anarchy for me. I kinda hate everyone in it as of season 4. There's nobody I like to see on screen because they all kinda deserve the hell they're each meticulously crafting for themselves.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
Jonman wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:

6 Feet Under is the best example of this character development problem that I can think of. I watched 3 seasons of that or so, and it made me want to bash my head into a wall by that third season. I hated all of the characters so much. I'm starting to get a similar vibe from this unfortunately. Hopefully, a lot of the characters are at low points right now, and I'll definitely give it the whole season.

Tangential note, but the wife and I are re-watching 6 Feet Under. Honestly, the "flawed-up-to-the-hilt" nature of all the characters is thing that made that show stand out to us on the first viewing.

On the one hand, you're right that all the characters are douchecanoes. On the other hand, isn't it awesome that all the characters are douchcanoes?

I just needed somebody to like and root for. I wanted all the characters to be six feet under by the third season.

Aw, I LOVE Six Feet Under. I do think season 3 is pretty rough. The Nate and Lisa storyline got pretty annoying to me. In trying to think back to the characters I love and root for the only one that is consistent throughout really is Nate Sr. I think at some point I love all of them, but each one has their moment throughout the series...which I kind of like. Such a well-written show.

Sort of related: Amazon just introduced the FireTV Stick, a Google Chromecast competitor. The kicker is that it's on sale for $19 to Amazon Prime members for the next 2 days or so.

While I've looked at a Chromecast and decided it wasn't something I needed, I jumped at $19 for this, thinking I can use it to stream video to hotel room TVs. I may reconsider – it seems it has to be plugged into a power outlet?? Also there is no HBOGo app, and no indication that there will be (or that there won't be...).

firesloth wrote:

Sort of related: Amazon just introduced the FireTV Stick, a Google Chromecast competitor. The kicker is that it's on sale for $19 to Amazon Prime members for the next 2 days or so.

While I've looked at a Chromecast and decided it wasn't something I needed, I jumped at $19 for this, thinking I can use it to stream video to hotel room TVs. I may reconsider – it seems it has to be plugged into a power outlet?? Also there is no HBOGo app, and no indication that there will be (or that there won't be...).

Wow. Thanks for the heads up!

There's very little I impulse buy. My Chromecast was one of them and I love it. This looks even better as it has a physical remote.

I pre-ordered one, too, just to try it.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I pre-ordered one, too, just to try it.

Yeah, I sort of came to that same logic since the price was $19.

I'm considering ordering a second for my mother-in-law as a Christmas present.

Edit: Considered for all of a minute. Ordered a second one.

firesloth wrote:

I may reconsider – it seems it has to be plugged into a power outlet??

It comes with the power cord. It might be that the more powerful internals are not able to run off of what's supplied by most TV's diagnostic USB ports. Or maybe you can use the USB cable that way, and they just don't want a flood of complaints from the majority that can't.

IMAGE(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/dp/2014/M/feature-inthebox._V322926875_.jpg)

Kurrelgyre wrote:
firesloth wrote:

I may reconsider – it seems it has to be plugged into a power outlet??

It comes with the power cord. It might be that the more powerful internals are not able to run off of what's supplied by most TV's diagnostic USB ports. Or maybe you can use the USB cable that way, and they just don't want a flood of complaints from the majority that can't.

IMAGE(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/dp/2014/M/feature-inthebox._V322926875_.jpg)

With my Chromecast I plug the usb cable into the service port on my televsion. Works fine.

firesloth wrote:

Sort of related: Amazon just introduced the FireTV Stick, a Google Chromecast competitor. The kicker is that it's on sale for $19 to Amazon Prime members for the next 2 days or so.

Welp, that answers my "easy way to get Plex to my other TV" question. Ordered.

I know this was brought up a page or two ago, but Orphan Black is fantastic. I'm about four episodes in and I'm really digging it. Tatiana Maslany's performance is one of the best I've ever seen on any TV show.

I'm not usually into shows that are so plot focused.

firesloth wrote:

Sort of related: Amazon just introduced the FireTV Stick, a Google Chromecast competitor. The kicker is that it's on sale for $19 to Amazon Prime members for the next 2 days or so.

Looks like that offer is over.

And now Amazon Echo. It's basically a Siri stick?

I just got notification that my Fire TV Stick will be delivered next Monday instead of the 1st of December.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I just got notification that my Fire TV Stick will be delivered next Monday instead of the 1st of December.

Mine shipped last night. Delivery scheduled for tomorrow. Pretty excited to play around with it (and likely learn that I need a better wireless router.)

Mine got pushed to December as well.

*December 3rd, to be exact.

I'm finally getting back to watching Transparent. Geez... It's one of those shows where you want to hug and then punch humanity. So amazing. Also, that Hump Day survey about best opening credits? I should have mentioned Transparent.

Edit: Aaaaand then Jason Mantzoukas showed up and ruined any seriousness possible. Hrmmmm.

Finally had time to get my FireTV Stick set up last night. Couldn't have been easier. It needed to download an update, but the whole setup process took 10 minutes, including watching the intro video.

Since it comes registered to your Amazon account, your Watchlist and everything are all there and ready to go. You can even download apps via the website and it will send them to the FireTV Stick. I quickly added Netflix, Youtube, Twitch and a few others. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

It's really handy to have a remote, the picture looks great, the UI is intuitive. For 20 bucks, I couldn't be happier.

That's all.

Yeah, mine actually came early on the 23rd and I've had a few days to fiddle. It's a great more portable version of the Fire TV.

The only disadvantages vs the regular FireTV so far are just the lack of an alternate audio output and it's not quite as snappy moving around the interface.

I use the optical output on the regular FireTV in one of my setups so I'm glad I have that one, but for the other use I have planned for the FireTV stick it's perfect. It really couldn't be any simpler.

If you have a setup where video and audio are both always handled by HDMI the FireTV Stick is kind of an awesome little device.