24 Comments

A Girlfriend’a Guide… sounds intriguing. Thx for the reviews and wrap up.

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Oops. I meant A Good Girl’s Guide…

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Thanks for the warning about the dog death, I try to avoid that sort of thing and think poorly of shows/movies that include it. It’s just not something I enjoy watching.

I watched the first season of The Old Man and loved the first few episodes. To me the plot somewhat dragged toward the end and became a bit scattered. I’m still on the fence about season 2 but you writing that the show is improving has made me reconsider going back.

As for shows I am watching I’d say the one I am most invested in at the moment is Black Sails. I’m in the last season now and really enjoying it.

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Thanks!

Just a heads up that I have it confirmed that the dog’s death in GGGTM is handled more in depth later on in a follow up book. I asked the expert - my daughter. She’s does some mad research. Lots of respect for that.

The Old Man is not a show I run to watch but it’s Bridges and Lithgow so they have me half way there most of the time. Season 2 - the first half is a bit painful with the focus on Angela/Parwana and her backstory but the episodes that focus on Bridges and Lithgow save it.

Black Sails - remind me what it’s about?

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Black Sails is about pirates more or less. It is very similar to Game of Thrones in that you have several characters vying for power in a cutthroat environment where the wrong move could mean a character’s death. It came out about a decade ago on FX but the contrast between the quality of this show and newer releases such as House of the Dragon and Rings of Power is significant in that the story has momentum and the characters have defined traits and goals. At least that is my take, I think it also has the benefit of already being released so that people watching it today can go at their own pace and reach the conclusion unlike a lot of shows still in production which take years between seasons which can make the story feel much slower in the moment.

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I will also say not only the dog dies but I felt like his death was never really resolved either. It made it worse for me like he was unjustified collateral damage. So definitely might not be for you.

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A little bit spoiler - the cause of Barney’s death is something that is revealed in a later book so I imagine the series would follow suit if it gets picked up for another season…

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Ohhh ok that makes a strong case for reading the books :).

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Totally. I begged my daughter to tell me what happens because I just couldn’t stand it!

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Oct 18Liked by Beth Lisogorsky

I haven't watched a Good Girl's Guide to Murder yet. Crime isn't my usual genre of choice, but I've been hearing so much about this show, I might give it a go this weekend.

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There’s more elements to this than the crime. I think that with any good mystery there is - it’s more about how little we know sometimes about what’s really going on with someone (social, familial, economics) Mysteries and crimes build empathy in this way. We have all sorts of prejudices and judgements about people and context. I guess as much as I like to be right I often crave more the being proven wrong or more the point the “yes, and..” context clues

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I loved Good Girl’s and need a season 2 stat!

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Me too. I've been going through some serious withdrawal. Every evening I say to my daughter, "I want to watch GGGTM" and she reminds me, "Mom, it's done." and then "Let's watch Gossip Girl" and then me, "Nooooooo..."

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lol very different shows! Did you ever watch Home Before Dark? I’m trying to think of teen detectives although that one is younger. It’s cute though!

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I loved “home before dark” - wanted a sequel to that too but it was a pretty self contained story

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Oct 18Liked by Beth Lisogorsky

Liked Good Girls Guide a lot -- even the clothes. I like Ridley. I'm probably not going to do Disclaimer. I like both seasons of Magpie. Didn't finish most recent season of Horses because the villain gave me the ick. I wanted to get into The Old Man but I felt like iIwas predicting every scene. Only Murders somehow just isn't my show. I'm midway through Nobody Wants This — I like it. Is Whitstable Pearl coming back? I also like Lincoln Lawyer. Thanks for this great roundup.

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Thx for sharing. I love the fashion in GGGTM too. I don’t think I could pull it off but wouldn’t mind trying. Actually on that subject Selena Gomez’s clothing in Only Murders in the Building - I could build a wardrobe from. That’s my favorite. Thx for the reco on Whitstable Pearl. I didn’t know about this one! The Old Man can be very formulaic. And yes to the ick of the baddy in Slow Horses this season. The fact that he raised his sons to be robo-assassins and inflicted so much psychological pain on them - that’s next level bad. And The Diplomat is coming back!!

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Oct 19Liked by Beth Lisogorsky

the Diplomat!

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I have watched Good Girls Guide and loved it! I’ve got the novel series on hold at the library, I wonder if the books are as good as the show.

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I want to read the books too! The show was so good. I hope it comes back for future seasons based on the sequels.

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Oct 18Liked by Beth Lisogorsky

Lord Huron, yes! Listen to the entire album of "Strange Trails". Perfect for a dark house and long car rides in the country.

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I just finished Industry also (watched all three seasons for the first time!) I definitely liked this last season best, but man, these are some unlikable people!

I'm three episodes into the second season of Pachinko and love it!

Two more episodes to go with the latest season of Slow Horses. Great, but I have a hard to time figuring out what is going.

Punch-Drunk Love is in my Top 40 favorite films of all time!

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Thanks for the heads up on A Good Girl's Guide...it escaped my notice, but I'm going to put it in rotation. Your conversation about it made me want to rewatch Veronica Mars, and I think I might! I'm having a hard time loving Only Murderers, to be honest. There is a lot that is smart and touching (I cannot believe they killed off Jane Lynch !! I want her in just about everything!). But mostly I'm annoyed with the celebrities (though this latest episode proved they were useful in a very clever way) and feel like I want the focus to go back on the trio. I'm in it for as long as they make seasons, but I am ready for this season to wrap. :)

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I'm super curious about the book not for A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. There are a few small things that didn't quite work for me with the show and I wonder if the book would hot different.

For Only Murders in the Building I totally agree. It's so good through and through. There is no slow down in quality during the season and I feel each season also keeps getting better.

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