What are you watching right now? (tv series + see OP!)

[Gus Hanson]

I REALLY hate my sister for recommending this show to my dad which is House of Cards. We keep watching bit by bit all the while my dad is more obsessed with it than I am so much that it's interfering with my Netflix privileges.

[Chuckman]

Has anyone seen The Man in the High Castle?

[Ray]

Marco Polo (Netflix Series)

I was interested in this series after seeing the HUGE division between the audience and the critics. Rotten tomatoes denounced it at a 24%. Calling it everything from "racist and orientalist trash' to 'a binge proof snooze-fest' to 'beautiful to look at but dramatically undernourished".

But the Audience score for the series was 94%. giving it 5's and 4 1/2's. While I don't think audiences are always right (see me bemoaning the idiocy the audience of most blockbuster movies) I was curious to find out if it was an underrated gem, or a so bad it's good camp-fest. I mean, a movie costs money, but a series is free with a subscription.

I've only seen the first three episodes, and. . . it does have it's problems (like the orientalist/racism complaint which I will get to). But I'm loathe to call it as bad as the critics say it was. It's got some beautiful cinematography, some decent and likeable characters, and while it does take license with it historical setting it is a relatively accurate portrayal of the era it is set.

The biggest problem I can say this show has is that is suffers from "boring self-insert main character' syndrome. Marco himself isn't that compelling as a character, his only defining trait in the series so far is his desire to escape from the Khan and return to Italy. We know little if anything about his struggles, his desires, his hobbies, his wants and needs, and that's the biggest disservice here. Not just to the historical Marco Polo, but to character development as a whole.

But that's made up for because the other characters surrounding Marco are much more interesting. The political aspects of the Mongols are what keep this show from sinking. These are people trying to keep alive in a harsh world/

Okay lets talk about the elephant in the room, the racism complaints. . . I don't really think they apply here. For the most part. I mean, the issue with most portrayals of Asian characters in TV shows is that they are defined by their ethnicity and culture and don't get chances to shine as characters themselves. But here, they are allowed to showcase emotion and aren't just monoliths. The Khan is a character that may seem like a racist stereotype at first, but he is allowed to showcase emotion. He showcases regret and joy, and anger, and is allowed to be nuanced. Which is more than I can say for other Asian characters in movies and TV these days. The same can be said for a lot of the other characters, including the concubine of the Emperor.

One of the more Valid complaints is the fetishization of Asian women. Which. . . while I don't have an Issue with it. The scene with Marco in the Harem being molested by mostly naked women didn't exactly do anything for me. It didn't really do anything to advance the characters, or the setting, and seemed like a pointless bit of fanservice for the sake of it.

I plan to finish watching it, but. . . I'm not sure who this was intended to be for. It's not for the history buff, it's not for the casual fan. . .If you are curious check it out but as of now I'm not sure how to feel about it.

[Alaska Slim]

Star Trek: The Next Generation - 4x08 "Future Imperfect"

Riker: "Shut up!"

(holo) Picard: "I-I beg your pardon? Captain, we need to start negotiations immead--"

Riker: "I said shut up! I've seen through it, so why don't we end this charade already?!"

Romulan: "... Oh alright, but damn it all, just how did you see through us? Everything in this simulation was perfect!"

Riker: "Your first mistake? MAKING MY WAIFU REAL!"

Romulan: "Im-impossible! Our scans of your brain showed that you valued her as if she was a real woman!"

Riker: "..."


-- I expected this from Barclay, not bones-even-the-androgynous-aliens Riker. BP

[xPearse]

Watching Lexx right now. Pretty awesome. Just finished the first season last night. Sucks they switch out the German chick for another a few episodes in the 2nd. I'm really not gonna like when I get to that point.

Has anyone seen The Man in the High Castle?

I liked it. But could have been better in certain aspects.

[robersora]

Has anyone seen The Man in the High Castle?

I watched it a little bit. (~5 Episodes) It was alright.

[The Eva Monkey]

My wife and I are currently watching The Wire. We're a couple episodes into season 4.

Consequently, I am rewatching Breaking Bad, currently midway through season 3.

The Wire definitely has its merits, I just don't see how people think it's a better show than Breaking Bad.

[movieartman]

Watching...
--- The X-Files season 10
--- Billions season 1
Superb leads, Highly recommend!
--- The West Wing season 1
Really enjoying the dialogue and humor so far.

[xtr00kvltcorex]

I've been tearing through the US version of Shameless, including a re-watch of Weeds and Parks and Rec.

The Office is always on when I'm in a shit mood.

[robersora]

^
Man, I loved Weeds back in the day. Which season are you on?

[xtr00kvltcorex]

I've seen the whole series but this is my fiance's first viewing.

I believe we hit season 4 yesterday.

[StarShaper7]

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the best representation of life in modern Philly, continues to shine in its 11th season. Really liked that life in the suburbs episode.

[Kazuki_Fuse]

"You ever been in a storm, Wally?"

[Cory Nick]

Watching Tennis match on Star Sports.

[gatotsu911]

This nicely sums up my thoughts on the X-Files "finale"

[Blue Monday]

I've downloaded the second season of Les Revenants, so rewatching the first in preparation. I love this show. The characters, the acting, the locale and the music (the soundtrack is all arranged by Mogwai and it's bliss). The first episode is so well crafted too. When that song hits as the credits role I got goosebumps just like I did the first time seeing it. Friggin' perfect.

[Trajan]

Battlestar Galactica.

I saw the pilot and one or two episodes of the first season way back in like 2006 or 2007. But I wasn't really mature enough to enjoy all the nuances of the writing. Of course, from what I've seen the first 2.5 seasons are great before things start going off the rails in the second half of season 3 and 4 but we'll see when we get there. The miniseries is fantastic and does a great job setting up the stage though.

[Blue Monday]

I started watching BSG early last year. Promptly made my way through S01 without having watched the starting mini-series, which really threw me; dropping me right into things mid-stride. Getting into it, I had no idea S01E01 wasn't the true start of the show. So, after clearing the first season, I went out and bought the Blu-ray box set, which contained the mini-series. Watched it, then I kind of just stopped, opting to take a break before I started S02. Don't know why. I should really get back into it though because I'm still really keen to watch it all. Like you, Traj, it's definitely a lot better than what I thought it was when it first aired on television. The writing, acting, productions values; all very top notch.

[Alaska Slim]

Marco Polo (Netflix Series)

Got into the series after watching the "Hundred Eyes" promo.

To the "Orientalist" depictions... idk, doesn't that involve painting the West in a sympathetic or more "enlightened" manner? Not just painting the Far East in a poor light?

While Marco gets that "benevolent" air about him, this is implied to be a result of his innocence, not his origin. We can see this by contrasting him with the other two members of his party who both left him behind, and then when they came back, willfully put him in additional danger by trying to smuggle goods they weren't allowed to trade in.

They're depicted as being just as self-serving, and bad-faith actors as any of the non-western people surrounding them. They may think themselves better, but we as the viewer can clearly see that they're not.

[robersora]

Watched the first Episode of Fuller House. That was a nostalgia bomb detonating right in my ♥.