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Thanks all.

Need an engrossing show to keep my mind off the current madness

  • 17-04-2020 3:20pm
    #1
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭


    Looks like Westworld is a non runner based off feedback in the other thread and my own research elsewhere

    I'm looking for a show that totally sucks you in and distracts you from the outside world. I'm going to be doing Udemy courses and other projects during the day, but a riveting TV show in bed at night would be useful so my mind doesn't start overthinking things

    Some of my all time favs (to give you an idea of taste) would include Breaking Bad, The West Wing and Lost (my top 3) and The Leftovers, The Shield, Line Of Duty (and similar UK Dramas like Happy Valley, Broadchurch etc) and Sopranos also impressed me

    Watchmen was suggested as it was made by a Lost/Leftovers writer, but is it Marvel/DC World typical stuff? They normally aren't my kinda thing. I find the whole Marvel/Avengers "universe" a bit tedious

    The Wire:

    This is a "hmmmm, maybe" to re-try. I watched one season years ago and didn't understand the hype at all. I much preferred The Shield

    Homeland:

    Tried the first season and - again - couldn't see what the fuss was all about

    Game Of Thrones:

    Watched all seasons bar the last one. I'll have to get around to completing it just because. But I believe it's a brutal last season :pac:

    Chernobyl:

    Tried an episode when exhausted on a flight so I think it affected my thoughts on it. Might try again. It has excellent reviews

    Peaky Blinders:

    Heard it starts strong but drops in quality


    That's just some off the top of my head. I'll say if I've seen any other show when they're mentioned

    I'm looking for that show where you're having a crap, stressful day (like many of us are currently) but then you think to yourself "at least there's Show X to look forward to later"

    Thanks


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Comments

  • #2
    Penn
    Registered Users Posts: 33,219 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    Years ago I bought the first season of The Wire on dvd, couldn't get into after maybe 4 episodes and stopped watching it. A while later, said I may as well finish Season 1, then I'd trade in the dvd. Within a week, I bought the full boxset (meaning I now had two Season 1s) and watched the whole thing over the next month. I've probably watched it about 5 times since. It's an absolutely brilliant show. It definitely does take a bit to get into it. Each season can start off quite slow, and especially in Season 1 because it drops you straight into the world, doesn't ease you into it at all. But it's definitely worth it, because once you start understanding how everything feeds into the show as a whole and how all the pieces matter, it's one of the best shows ever. Fantastic characters, very funny, some incredible scenes, terrific acting, great stories and a world that feels so real you'd swear you could visit the city and see half the characters there.

    Kinda outdated in terms of tech etc, which is understandable, but doesn't detract from everything as a whole. A lot of people didn't like the main story in the final season either, which I didn't at first either, but it's not like GoT final season or anything, it still works.


    Chernobyl is a great watch too but it's only 5 episodes so might not keep you going too long. One of the best mini-series I've ever seen though.


  • #3
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    Penn wrote: »
    Years ago I bought the first season of The Wire ....


    Cheers Penn. Is it true to really get into it you need to find it online with subtitles? I read before that it's lost on a few people because they can't understand what's being said

    Getting it online with subtitles from a cousin mightn't be easy ;)


  • #4
    Penn
    Registered Users Posts: 33,219 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    Cheers Penn. Is it true to really get into it you need to find it online with subtitles? I read before that it's lost on a few people because they can't understand what's being said

    Getting it online with subtitles from a cousin mightn't be easy ;)

    Nah, I never watched with subtitles. I don't think they'd help anyway, as it's more to do with the terms and slang some characters might use for things and understanding what they mean. You get used to how they talk within a few episodes, but it is something that can put people off when they first start. A lot of characters and hierarchies involved too so it can take a while to put names to faces etc. Like I said, you're kinda just dropped into the world of the characters.

    I'd say if you can get to the end of Season 1, you'll have it pretty much all sussed (though each new season introduces some new settings, characters etc). If you finish Season 1 and you don't like it, then it's probably not worth going on with.


  • #5
    Tom Mann Centuria
    Registered Users Posts: 10,902 ✭✭✭✭Tom Mann Centuria


    Justified. Great actors playing great characters. Plenty of episodes to keep you busy and they finish the series very well.

    Oh well, give me an easy life and a peaceful death.



  • #6
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 18,749 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Luther


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  • #7
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    My OH is on series 3 of Fargo. He also enjoyed Ozark. I think they’re all on Netflix.


  • #8
    gmisk
    Registered Users Posts: 31,825 ✭✭✭✭gmisk


    Damages, the americans, the good fight and trapped (Icelandic) on Amazon prime are all excellent imo.

    Bbc have a show called devs on iPlayer only seen first episode but seems very interesting I think Alex Garland is behind it who did ex-machina.


  • #9
    Rodney Bathgate
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,445 ✭✭✭Rodney Bathgate


    Bosch or Justified


  • #10
    gmisk
    Registered Users Posts: 31,825 ✭✭✭✭gmisk


    Tom Mann Centuria wrote: »
    Justified. Great actors playing great characters. Plenty of episodes to keep you busy and they finish the series very well.
    Deadwood is excellent as well.
    No idea why Timothy Olyphant isn't a much bigger star TBH


  • #11
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    Deleted User wrote: »
    My OH is on series 3 of Fargo. He also enjoyed Ozark. I think they’re all on Netflix.


    Loved Fargo season 1 and 2 so might give the third a bash, thanks

    I really tried hard with Ozark. I even went back months later and rewatched the few episodes again. I don't get the praise this show gets at all


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  • #12
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    Meant to say; I've never seen Life On Mars and the reviews of it look very promising

    All of it recently landed on Netflix


  • #13
    4Ad
    Registered Users Posts: 2,670 ✭✭✭4Ad


    Succession on sky..theres 2 series..very good..


  • #14
    riffmongous
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,624 Mod ✭✭✭✭riffmongous


    Dark, watch in German with subtitles if you can. It's like a massive puzzle that slowly reveals itself


  • #15
    is_that_so
    Registered Users Posts: 32,136 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    Unforgotten - 3 seasons of it now on Netflix. Also Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.


  • #16
    CastorTroy
    Registered Users Posts: 28,791 ✭✭✭✭CastorTroy


    Banshee
    A guy just gets out of prison and through circumstances becomes sheriff of the town of Banshee.
    Some of the best fights I've seen with the women just as tough as the men.
    When recommending it, I usually say you'll know by episode 3 whether it's for you or not

    Spartacus
    The first episode didn't appeal to me the first time I watched. But I heard the first season was good so tried again and thought it was excellent overall.

    And in shows with less nudity, sex and violence
    Person of Interest
    While the first season is mostly case of the week, it goes on to a great overall ongoing story. Some great characters as well.


  • #17
    gmisk
    Registered Users Posts: 31,825 ✭✭✭✭gmisk


    is_that_so wrote: »
    Unforgotten - 3 seasons of it now on Netflix. Also Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.
    Unforgotten....is brilliant.
    How could I forget that!
    Each of those seasons was a gem.
    Seriously underrated but so well done.
    Season 4 fingers crossed this year!


  • #18
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 25,611 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Fargo is great.

    Most of the Star Treks are on Netflix. They're really good to fill an hour or 2 at a time. Pretty easy to watch.


  • #19
    km79
    Registered Users Posts: 48,132 ✭✭✭✭km79


    gmisk wrote: »
    Unforgotten....is brilliant.
    How could I forget that!
    Each of those seasons was a gem.
    Seriously underrated but so well done.
    Season 4 fingers crossed this year!

    This or Luther ?


  • #20
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    Meant to say; I've never seen Life On Mars and the reviews of it look very promising

    All of it recently landed on Netflix

    Loved Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.


  • #21
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    First bit of research on Succession and I see Jesse Armstrong is the creator

    It already has my attention!


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  • #22
    Nody
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,259 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    Longmire
    Lucifer
    Red Dwarf
    The Blacklist
    Burn notice


  • #23
    pjdarcy
    Registered Users Posts: 292 ✭✭pjdarcy


    ShineOn7 wrote: »
    First bit of research on Succession and I see Jesse Armstrong is the creator

    It already has my attention!

    It's really excellent


  • #24
    el Fenomeno
    Registered Users Posts: 3,104 ✭✭✭el Fenomeno


    An under the radar show I loved that was fairly luke-warmly received was Jericho (with Skeet Ulrich and Lenny James).

    It got cancelled after season 1, but it had such a cult following that fans bombarded the network with mail, calls, and peanuts (yes, peanuts - it's a reference to a famous line in the show) so they relented and gave them a second series to wrap it up.

    It's not going to win any Emmys (it didn't), and can be a bit cheesy at times with the small-town charm it forces down your throat. But it was a damn entertaining show and always left me with the urge to watch just one more episode.

    Ive recommended it to 2 people who've genuinely gone on to watch it. One said it was great and thanked me for the recommendation. The other said it was the biggest pile of **** he'd seen since Under The Dome. Can't please them all :o


  • #25
    banie01
    Registered Users Posts: 16,462 ✭✭✭✭banie01


    Banshee,
    Battlestar Galactica,
    Narcos,
    Billions,
    Ozark,
    Ray Donovan,
    Watchmen, from episode 3 on it is brilliant!
    CastleRock
    Man in the High Castle

    Just a few, but if you are any way into Stephen King, castleRock is an easter egg tour de force.


  • #26
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 25,611 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Oh and watch The Wire. It's fantastic. Completely different show from The Shield.


  • #27
    NATLOR
    Registered Users Posts: 2,287 ✭✭✭NATLOR


    Another Fargo fan here

    Recently watched The Outsider,The Stranger,Dr.Foster.The Fall and Killing Eve would recommend them all (not all Netflix shows)
    Currently on Ozark, looks promising


  • #28
    Sleeper12
    Registered Users Posts: 16,875 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    Deleted User wrote:
    My OH is on series 3 of Fargo. He also enjoyed Ozark. I think they’re all on Netflix.

    Two very good shows imo


  • #29
    thefasteriwalk
    Registered Users Posts: 565 ✭✭✭thefasteriwalk


    Succession. All day long.


  • #30
    is_that_so
    Registered Users Posts: 32,136 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    Marcella, Collateral, Wallander are a few others I'd add.


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  • #31
    ShineOn7
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,550 ✭✭✭ShineOn7


    From looking at the summery and who's involved with Succession it looks even more promising. A show with Brian Cox as the lead? Yes please

    Jesse Armstrong was involved in two of my favourite Comedies - The Thick Of It and Veep (Which reminds me, I still need to finish Veep's last season or two so that'll be added to the list)

    Is Succession like Veep and The Thick Of It or has it more drama in it?


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