Friday 3 June 2016

Recently I've been watching....

.... more stuff on Netflix/Amazon Instant Video, etc, upon which I would like to comment and/or give recommendation.  I did a similar post in April, HERE.
For more details about each programme, click on the name.

Firstly, a terrific family crime thriller, Bloodline, set in Florida.  The Rayburns are Monroe County's premier family, and also happen to be the last word in dysfunctional.  I watched Season 1 last year, and Season 2 is equally as good; you need to watch Season 1 first.  The Florida scenery is gorgeous, too - this is a fab series, gripping and highly recommended!

*****Five stars*****



I've just watched Season 1 of The Path, which is about a religious cult that doesn't think it's a cult... starring Aaron Paul (Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad), some of the 'movement' are less convinced than others, and suspect shady dealings at the top.  I really enjoyed this, and am very much looking forward to more - I think it will run and run!

****Four stars****
 



Is there anyone who hasn't seen The Secret, a four part series about a true life drama in Ireland, starring James Nesbitt as an off-his-rocker, devout Baptist, dentist, adulterer, scammer and murderer?  So gripping I'm now reading the book about the story, by Deric Henderson.  
The Secret ~ watch it! 
 
****Four and a half stars****



I'd class Banshee as one of those 'I know it's a load of rubbish but I like it' romps ~ I've just watched Season 4 of this thriller set in a small town in Pennsylvania, complete with murders, conspiracy, corrupt police, FBI connections, you name it.  Good stuff - it works, even though it's completely ludicrous!

***Three and a half stars***




Next, Secrets and LiesA new series starring Juliette Lewis as a hard nosed cop, investigating a child murder.  Ryan Phillipe stars.  The show is going to carry on with Juliette Lewis, though this particular story ends this time round; I imagine it's going to be a crime story per season.  This one had a really good end, btw.

***Three and a half stars (teetering on four!)***



Now... Containment
I was so looking forward to this - there's nothing I love more than a good pandemic, and this one has a serious outbreak in a hospital in Atlanta, which spreads quickly, causing a section of the city to be cordoned off.   Great idea for a story, great action - alas, the characters are as flat as flat can be.  I couldn't give a monkey's about any of them; by about ep 4 I was thinking, um, this isn't very good....  I shall watch it until the end, but I notice that it's been cancelled after this series.  Lovers of all things pandemic might like it, though!

***Three stars***

 

I'm currently watching the remake of Roots (remember that??!!), and am SOOOO looking forward to binge-watching the new series of The Americans and Vikings - all time favourites, nearly ready to go!

18 comments:

  1. Ooh, I love a pandemic, me! I also recommend 'Second Chance', a great US series about an old policeman who's given a chance to live his life again as a better version of himself. (Because I also love time travel, etc etc.)

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    1. I don't really DO supernatural... but you would love Bloodline, and probably Banshee, too, as I know you love rubbish romps!!

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  2. I loved The Secret!!! You've reminded me there is a book. Off to get it. Thanks TerrY

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    1. Aha, yes! I have just finished my latest RBRT book, so have gone back to it :) x

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  3. Thanks, Terry! I need some new shows to watch this summer. Secrets and Lies looks like my kind of thing, and I love Juliette Lewis.

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    1. Me too! She's one of my fave actresses (are we allowed to say actress anymore??!!)

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  4. I think you have another career here, TT. As a film reviewer! You certainly make me feel what I miss, having not TV or DVD player. Great write-ups of all these series! I shall now go back to my book :)

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    1. It's partly a way of keeping track of what I've been watching V, as I have an appalling memory, and I need to remember to look for the next season!!!

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  5. What's Netflix? ..and there you have, in 2 words, all you need to know about anything that follows this opening remark!

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    1. Ha ha!!! Netflix, Amazon IV, Hulu etc are all channels that you pay a small amount to per month (say, a tenner). They show whole series of recent dramas (so you can watch it all in one go), and recent films. Much cheaper than buying DVDs and boxed sets!

      Also, as their popularity increases, they have increasingly good series that are made only for Netflix, etc. The other thing is that you don't need a TV license to watch them, as it's not live TV (which we never watch). And you can watch stuff without all the bloody adverts!!!

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  6. Bloodlines is definitely on my list, and I had no idea Aaron Paul had a new show, I will definitely check it out thanks! I highly recommend Hap & Leonard on Amazon Prime if you haven't seen it (Sundance "swamp noir" buddy drama black comedy goodness with James Purefoy ;-) xx

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    1. I've seen Hap & Leonard! I adore Michael K Williams (and like JP and Christina Hendricks too), but got a tiny bit bored with this - I felt the storyline itself was a bit lacking, though all the actors were everything they should be. Still worth watching, though, I agree!

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    2. I agree it had slow bits but I loved the casting so much too - I was new to Michael K. Williams and want to watch all of his other stuff now!:-)What else did I like recently...Lucifer was good silly fun, if you like Supernatural things that don't take themselves too seriously. And Casual is a really great, smart U.S. comedy/drama that is like a slightly less car crashy Catastrophe if you have seen that?:-)

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    3. I loved it too! You're new to MKW??? Oh boy, do you have a treat or two in store! He's a major player in two of the best series of all time, Boardwalk Empire and The Wire. Enjoy!!

      I'm actually not that keen on comedy drama - prefer adventure/thriller :)

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    4. Ah, will keep in mind!hm...Turn Washington's Spies is husband's current fave on Prime, we also love The Americans. I'm also into Black Sails for pirate adventures :-) I had seen a few episodes of Boardwalk but that's about it, where has he been all my life! ;-)

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    5. Thank you, I will check out Washington's Spies. LOVE the Americans - it's nearly finished, time to see it! Love Boardwalk, too - one of my all time faves :)

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  7. Some of these look fab - I like the sound of Bloodline and The Path. I haven't got Netflix although judging by the looks of these shows I need to get it. I've been watching Colony with your fella Josh Holloway (it's the last episode this week). It's a bit silly (it reminds me a bit of the V people) but worth a watch for good old Josh. I've really enjoyed it :D

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    1. Oh yeah - what a disappointment Colony was!!! And even Josh had gone off a bit since Lost... I stopped watching it after a few episodes. Sarah Wayne Callies has been super botoxed since The Walking Dead, too - only one facial expression throughout!! You SO should get Netflix. Total enjoyable escapism this way :)

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