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

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

Bosch or Justified

Both of these didn't do it for me, granted only watched 5 or 6 episodes but there's too much good stuff out there to be persisting with it.

The likes or Ozark, Mindhunter or Chernobyl are different gravy.

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Loved seasons 1 and 2 of Fargo but switched off season 3 after a few mins, I need to try it again

Just had a look at Fleabag's Wiki page there and it looks impressive reviews and awards wise. A BBC 3 show winning two major Golden Globes is no small feat, I'm surprised I've never heard of it

Seasons 1 and 2 of Fargo are better than 3 in my opinion.

Yes Fleabag won loads of awards and deservedly so. It's writer and star, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is extremely talented.
Only 2 short seasons so you'll fly through it.

blackwrx wrote: »

Thought I was the only one who watched Carnivale. Excellent show. Really wished it could have gone on for a few more seasons.

It was a great series and there were plans for 6 seasons consisting of 3 2-season arcs.
So at least they got a full arc.

If you're a Breaking Bad fan Ozark is surprisingly similar in a lot of ways and it moves at a very fast pace across all 3 available seasons. Far fetched, but great performances, good characters, plenty of violence and no end of twists and scheming.

If you like balls to the wall action, Banshee is probably the 'best in class' as far as I'm concerned. It's outrageously far fetched but the insane action scenes, brutal violence and amazing characters just make it so good. Possibly my favourite TV show of all time and had a solid end season.

If you're more into drama/thriller territory, Homeland is excellent and just wrapped up it's 8th and final season very well also - it's a show that reacts to what's happening in the world around it, and the later seasons are quite unique with their own sense of identity. Same characters, but almost like a different show at times, in a positive way.

The Last Kingdom, to me, is like a better version of Vikings - not that Vikings is bad, I enjoy it, but The Last Kingdom really trims the fat and has excellent pacing. First season is good, but from the 2nd season onward it's really excellent, full of brutal battle scenes. Probably closer to a hybrid of Game of Thrones and Vikings.

If you're into historical drama, it's almost impossible to beat Boardwalk Empire. An astoundingly violent look at gangs in 1920's America with incredible production values. It's centered on one man - slightly reminiscent of Soprano's in that sense, though it's far more wide ranging than that show and a hell of a lot bloodier.

Catch 22 was a pretty decent mini-series I watched lately - it's not spectacular, but I really enjoyed it because it offered something very different. It's a production that focuses on US bomber crews operating in Italy in 1943 - visually it's an excellent watch and the acting is pretty good too. It's not a huge investment, as it's only six episodes or so.

Staying with WW2, Man in the High Castle is a great piece of alternative history that explores a reality where the Germans and Japanese defeated the United States. Very slick production, wrap-up season wasn't as strong as it could have been but the overall journey is pretty interesting and that 'what if' question is endlessly intriguing.

The Deuce is another HBO home-run, a really graphic but fascinating look at the rise of prostitution and pornography in New York in the 1970's with an absolutely amazing cast. One of my favourite HBO productions of the last few years.

Another one of my favourites in recent years was Quarry - it was cancelled after one season but thankfully it works perfectly well as a stand-alone mini-series so is easy to recommend. It's a violent, gritty crime-drama centered on a Vietnam veteran who drifts into a life of crime when he returns home in the mid 1970's, when public opinion has turned overwhelmingly against the war.

Other honorable mentions - Westworld, Gangs of London, Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders, Stranger Things, Chernobyl, Black Mirror, Big Little Lies, The Terror, The Leftovers, Godless, Fargo, True Detective, Penny Dreadful.

These are all based on shows I watch, or have watched that I'd genuinely consider binge-friendly.

Ah yeah Ozark is excellent, first few episodes I was a bit iffy but it continually gets better as it goes along. Season 3 being the best so far.

ShineOn7 wrote: »

I now tend to think for myself with film and TV shows, as opposed to watching something because others are,

So you started a thread to ask others to recommend something...

Treme is v good

Don't know if it was previously mentioned but The Good Wife sounds like its right up your street.

Homelander wrote: »

If you're a Breaking Bad fan Ozark is surprisingly similar in a lot of ways and it moves at a very fast pace across all 3 available seasons. Far fetched, but great performances, good characters, plenty of violence and no end of twists and scheming.

If you like balls to the wall action, Banshee is probably the 'best in class' as far as I'm concerned. It's outrageously far fetched but the insane action scenes, brutal violence and amazing characters just make it so good. Possibly my favourite TV show of all time and had a solid end season.

If you're more into drama/thriller territory, Homeland is excellent and just wrapped up it's 8th and final season very well also - it's a show that reacts to what's happening in the world around it, and the later seasons are quite unique with their own sense of identity. Same characters, but almost like a different show at times, in a positive way.

The Last Kingdom, to me, is like a better version of Vikings - not that Vikings is bad, I enjoy it, but The Last Kingdom really trims the fat and has excellent pacing. First season is good, but from the 2nd season onward it's really excellent, full of brutal battle scenes. Probably closer to a hybrid of Game of Thrones and Vikings.

If you're into historical drama, it's almost impossible to beat Boardwalk Empire. An astoundingly violent look at gangs in 1920's America with incredible production values. It's centered on one man - slightly reminiscent of Soprano's in that sense, though it's far more wide ranging than that show and a hell of a lot bloodier.

Catch 22 was a pretty decent mini-series I watched lately - it's not spectacular, but I really enjoyed it because it offered something very different. It's a production that focuses on US bomber crews operating in Italy in 1943 - visually it's an excellent watch and the acting is pretty good too. It's not a huge investment, as it's only six episodes or so.

Staying with WW2, Man in the High Castle is a great piece of alternative history that explores a reality where the Germans and Japanese defeated the United States. Very slick production, wrap-up season wasn't as strong as it could have been but the overall journey is pretty interesting and that 'what if' question is endlessly intriguing.

The Deuce is another HBO home-run, a really graphic but fascinating look at the rise of prostitution and pornography in New York in the 1970's with an absolutely amazing cast. One of my favourite HBO productions of the last few years.

Another one of my favourites in recent years was Quarry - it was cancelled after one season but thankfully it works perfectly well as a stand-alone mini-series so is easy to recommend. It's a violent, gritty crime-drama centered on a Vietnam veteran who drifts into a life of crime when he returns home in the mid 1970's, when public opinion has turned overwhelmingly against the war.

Other honorable mentions - Westworld, Gangs of London, Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders, Stranger Things, Chernobyl, Black Mirror, Big Little Lies, The Terror, The Leftovers, Godless, Fargo, True Detective, Penny Dreadful.

These are all based on shows I watch, or have watched that I'd genuinely consider binge-friendly.

Not all of these are on Netflix.... Where can I watch them??