TV shows from the USA

[Hobosapien]

I Really enjoy the episodes that are focused on Mikey and his run ins with Hector Salamanca. Great that Gus Fring, played by the excellent Giancarlo Esposito, is back in the show too.

Does the show stand up in its own right or only work if you've watched Breaking Bad and remember all the story lines? I intend re-watching BB first to refresh my memory of all the characters when they first appeared.

I tend to not bother with prequels. If the story was that good they'd have started the original show/movie that early. At least this is a spin-off not a true prequel so hopefully more scope for surprises, though we know who will survive into the BB story lines.

[VectraMan]

Does the show stand up in its own right or only work if you've watched Breaking Bad and remember all the story lines? I intend re-watching BB first to refresh my memory of all the characters when they first appeared.

Yep. It's not that connected with BB. With the third series they've introduced some more of the BB characters, like Pokey said, but I've enjoyed those parts less and find the lawyering more interesting.

I don't know how long they're going to spin it out as at some point he's going to have to become the Saul Goodman we remember from BB. Of course he already looks older than he was in BB.

[PurpleGorilla]

Anyone watch Ray Donovan?

[d000hg]

Yep. It's not that connected with BB. With the third series they've introduced some more of the BB characters, like Pokey said, but I've enjoyed those parts less and find the lawyering more interesting.

I don't know how long they're going to spin it out as at some point he's going to have to become the Saul Goodman we remember from BB. Of course he already looks older than he was in BB.

I don't know how well it would stand up if you were ignorant of BB as it's a massive Homage to the show and clearly aimed at the same viewers. If you didn't like BB, probably this isn't for you. If you never watched BB, it would be really interesting to watch this first and then view BB as the spin off for afterwards!

[Big Blue Plymouth]

Anyone watch Ray Donovan?

Yep. Love it; best thing on by a country mile.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

I think if you haven't got into it by now, you won't. If Don's character doesn't grab you and the period setting and heavy drinking is uninteresting... themes develop but that's the foundation of the show.


It's quite weird. It's trying to be some serious show but it's almost slapstick (in the first series, it gets very violent and grim later). I think like Mad Men, if the setting and key characters don't grab you then it's just not your thing. The story arcs only get more far-fetched.

I get the period thing - that's why I liked Boardwalk Empire so much but there was so much more going on in that show, much better characters too. With Mad Men, you think there's finally a germ of a plot and then it just fizzles out. Maybe it al comes together in season 2 but Im afraid Im finding watching it a chore so that's it for me.

[d000hg]

If anything I'd say the first season is the best as it has all the fresh novelty. The later seasons get a bit tired to me so I'd say don't bother, there's a lot of episodes.

[d000hg]

However this book is really good: The Real Mad Men: The Remarkable True Story of Madison Avenue's Golden Age

[Pip in a Poke]

I don't know if any of you have been watching it but I'm thoroughly enjoying Riverdale on Netflix.

It's the well trodden standard high school teen formula with the usual type of characters; the cheerleaders, the alpha female sorority gal, the alpha male fooball team jock, the nerd and all with plenty of action taking place in the school locker room.

A lot like Scream, in other words but without the slasher and a lot more subtle. It has more of a gothic feel to it.

Highly recommended.

[SimonMac]

In the vein of shows that have been cancelled too soon:

Started watching RAKE with Greg Kinnear, US remake of an Australian show, was hoping for a bit of sucess similar to Wilfred (another US remake of an Oz show) but Rake was cancelled after one season