I’m looking forward to checking this out. I’ve also been watching Sunny. Enjoyed the first two episodes but I found episode 3 very long and had to keep checking that I hadn’t actually went on to a new episode and not realised. The pacing for the show is all over the place, but I really want it to be good. I’ll keep going with it for now.
I'll add this to the list. You are the first critic I've read that had anything good to say about the series. There are a lot of Lake series, aren't there? I am thinking of: Top of the Lake...actually that's the only one I remember, and when I google search I see a Canadian series called The Lake. Maybe I'm thinking of river series. Maybe you can write a piece featuring Rivers and Lakes? Or maybe shows that featured Lake Bell and River Phoenix? I'm just full of terrible ideas.
Regarding TV shows I gave up on before I finished....I write down everything I watch and want to watch so looking at the list, what I didn't finish recently are:
Tiny Beautiful Things (HULU)
Cunk on Earth (NTFX)
Girls5Eva (NTFX)
I'm waiting to be hit by tomatoes. All were highly reviewed (well, maybe not TBT). And I know lots of people who loved Cunk on Earth. And Girls5Eva I thought was mildly amusing, sometimes downright clever, but as it was going for the energy and flow of shows like 30 Rock and The Other Two, it had far more misses than hits, comparatively. I'd read Cheryl Strayed's Tiny Beautiful Things and will watch anything with Kathryn Hahn, but the show felt like it was somehow both underwhelming and trying too hard.
To be fair, I didn't dislike any of these, I just found them all "meh" and my TV time is too limited for "meh." I will actually watch a decidedly crappy show to the end faster than a "meh" show.
I'm likely to add The Bear to this list, like you, for I think similar reasons.
Thanks for this and all very spot on. I gave up on “Tiny Beautiful Things” even though I enjoy Hahn’s work but no thanks. She was in another show with Steve Coogan for HbO that got cancelled a few years ago that was pretty good. (“Happyish”) It might even fall in the “mumblecore” category. “Cunk on Earth” I started because of the lead actress and I happen to find her funny but meh 🫤.
You made me think of a good show that was distributed by Showtime whose lead actress I always confuse with the “Cunk” actress called “Back to Life” - that was excellent starring Daisy Haggard as a woman that is released from prison after 20 years and moves back home
I was wondering about this series. Now I'm going to give it a watch. I’m dying for a new show to really catch my attention. I haven’t found something of binge status in a while.
I’m so with you! There’s also a funny show with an excellent cast that gives a sexy modern day comedy Monty Python starting on Netflix tomorrow “The Decameron” that might have binge appeal
Love Natalie Portman in all she’s done so I’m looking forward to checking this out. It’s nice that you and your hubby like the same shows. I’d love to know if you have a favorite Hitchcock and if it’s changed since rewatching as of late?
Thanks! There are a ton of shows we don’t watch together because of our interests but films, shows and music have always an area we enjoy together when possible. I’m definitely way more Pop oriented in my music choices.
My favorite Hitchcock is “North by Northwest” but I also enjoy earlier stuff like “Shadow of a Doubt” and “39 Steps” / “Rope” and “Rear Window” hold a special place in my heart because I love Jimmy Stewart
I watched the first few seasons of “Babylon Berlin” on Netflix and loved them. Then I thought the show was cancelled but turns out it’s not but not available through Netflix. Where do you stream?
I was thoroughly enthralled by Moses Ingraham in THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT, and Natalie Portman is just a powerhouse actress. LADY IN THE LAKE is on my Must Watch List, but I am waiting for the right time to binge it because it will not take me long to finish. So thrilled to see your preview here!
I keep forgetting she was in “The Queen’s Gambit”! Yeah she was good in that. I read that Lupita Nyong'o was cast originally as Cleo but couldn’t do it. Ingram is also a Baltimore native! Happy she’s in it. Hard to envision another in this role.
With the horrific rise in antisemitism since 10/7 (including from the Black community) I was a bit put off by the little Jewish girl who was murdered in the film being referred to as a "white" girl (if anyone thinks Jews are white, they should ask a white supremacist about it). The film seems to pit the interests of Black women against the interests of "white" (Jewish) women, and that is very dangerous in today's political climate, where antisemitic violence is on the rise.
Jewish people have literally sacrificed their lives for Black civil rights, so a series that implies Jewish women are taking something from Black women is nasty and unfair.
I thought the acting and production values were good, but I just couldn't get past the dehumanizing race baiting. It kind of ruined it for me.
I hear you on this. I, too, noticed the classification of “white girl”
In the “gone missing”!description as well and that it was rattled off as an inconvenience. I had to think about it for a few minutes too. Like it was somehow less deserving of attention but hogging the police’s focus… But I also looked at it like maybe it’s an accurate reflection of how the Cleo character might view and be resentful of the media spotlight given the color of the child. The inference being that it wouldn’t have been the same for a black girl gone missing. I want to see how the story unfolds though. I haven’t read the Lippman book which it’s based on. But I hear you that we shouldn’t need to put one group down to raise another. I’m hopeful!
I have heard of this, and now, as usual, you make me want to watch it!
I'm also finding it a TV desert and watching old movies as well as rock documentaries. I enjoyed the doc about Faye Dunaway on Max because she's not who I thought she was and it reviews her films, many of which were classics. Otherwise I haven't been wowed by anything lately.
It’s only fitting that you find a new show to watch when you come here because every time I come to your Substack I discover a new song or an old one I now desperately want to revisit!
I haven’t seen the Dunaway doc but it made me curious enough to add it to my watchlist. I’m most of my way through the “Indigo Girls” documentary and loving that.
I just assumed the TV show was related to the classic whodunit by Raymond Chandler but it seems not.
It’s based on a novel by Laura Lippman
I’m looking forward to checking this out. I’ve also been watching Sunny. Enjoyed the first two episodes but I found episode 3 very long and had to keep checking that I hadn’t actually went on to a new episode and not realised. The pacing for the show is all over the place, but I really want it to be good. I’ll keep going with it for now.
Thx for sharing James. Keep us all posted on your progress with “Sunny”!
Thx for the recommends. I'm now curious about June Zero and Lady of the Lake.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on LINL and JZ (but I need to see it first!)
I'll add this to the list. You are the first critic I've read that had anything good to say about the series. There are a lot of Lake series, aren't there? I am thinking of: Top of the Lake...actually that's the only one I remember, and when I google search I see a Canadian series called The Lake. Maybe I'm thinking of river series. Maybe you can write a piece featuring Rivers and Lakes? Or maybe shows that featured Lake Bell and River Phoenix? I'm just full of terrible ideas.
Regarding TV shows I gave up on before I finished....I write down everything I watch and want to watch so looking at the list, what I didn't finish recently are:
Tiny Beautiful Things (HULU)
Cunk on Earth (NTFX)
Girls5Eva (NTFX)
I'm waiting to be hit by tomatoes. All were highly reviewed (well, maybe not TBT). And I know lots of people who loved Cunk on Earth. And Girls5Eva I thought was mildly amusing, sometimes downright clever, but as it was going for the energy and flow of shows like 30 Rock and The Other Two, it had far more misses than hits, comparatively. I'd read Cheryl Strayed's Tiny Beautiful Things and will watch anything with Kathryn Hahn, but the show felt like it was somehow both underwhelming and trying too hard.
To be fair, I didn't dislike any of these, I just found them all "meh" and my TV time is too limited for "meh." I will actually watch a decidedly crappy show to the end faster than a "meh" show.
I'm likely to add The Bear to this list, like you, for I think similar reasons.
Thanks for this and all very spot on. I gave up on “Tiny Beautiful Things” even though I enjoy Hahn’s work but no thanks. She was in another show with Steve Coogan for HbO that got cancelled a few years ago that was pretty good. (“Happyish”) It might even fall in the “mumblecore” category. “Cunk on Earth” I started because of the lead actress and I happen to find her funny but meh 🫤.
You made me think of a good show that was distributed by Showtime whose lead actress I always confuse with the “Cunk” actress called “Back to Life” - that was excellent starring Daisy Haggard as a woman that is released from prison after 20 years and moves back home
Back to Lifehttps://g.co/kgs/i2XLsQu
I was wondering about this series. Now I'm going to give it a watch. I’m dying for a new show to really catch my attention. I haven’t found something of binge status in a while.
I’m so with you! There’s also a funny show with an excellent cast that gives a sexy modern day comedy Monty Python starting on Netflix tomorrow “The Decameron” that might have binge appeal
The Decameronhttps://g.co/kgs/NKEqK8Z
Love Natalie Portman in all she’s done so I’m looking forward to checking this out. It’s nice that you and your hubby like the same shows. I’d love to know if you have a favorite Hitchcock and if it’s changed since rewatching as of late?
Thanks! There are a ton of shows we don’t watch together because of our interests but films, shows and music have always an area we enjoy together when possible. I’m definitely way more Pop oriented in my music choices.
My favorite Hitchcock is “North by Northwest” but I also enjoy earlier stuff like “Shadow of a Doubt” and “39 Steps” / “Rope” and “Rear Window” hold a special place in my heart because I love Jimmy Stewart
Really like L in L so far. Wry humor. Like most everyone, I've really enjoyed 'Babylon Berlin' also.
I watched the first few seasons of “Babylon Berlin” on Netflix and loved them. Then I thought the show was cancelled but turns out it’s not but not available through Netflix. Where do you stream?
Mhz. Available for all 4 seasons. Currently late in #4 on a weekly basis.
I like Rashida Jones, great talent, but Sunny is what insomnia feels like... In a bad way....
I was thoroughly enthralled by Moses Ingraham in THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT, and Natalie Portman is just a powerhouse actress. LADY IN THE LAKE is on my Must Watch List, but I am waiting for the right time to binge it because it will not take me long to finish. So thrilled to see your preview here!
I keep forgetting she was in “The Queen’s Gambit”! Yeah she was good in that. I read that Lupita Nyong'o was cast originally as Cleo but couldn’t do it. Ingram is also a Baltimore native! Happy she’s in it. Hard to envision another in this role.
With the horrific rise in antisemitism since 10/7 (including from the Black community) I was a bit put off by the little Jewish girl who was murdered in the film being referred to as a "white" girl (if anyone thinks Jews are white, they should ask a white supremacist about it). The film seems to pit the interests of Black women against the interests of "white" (Jewish) women, and that is very dangerous in today's political climate, where antisemitic violence is on the rise.
Jewish people have literally sacrificed their lives for Black civil rights, so a series that implies Jewish women are taking something from Black women is nasty and unfair.
I thought the acting and production values were good, but I just couldn't get past the dehumanizing race baiting. It kind of ruined it for me.
I hear you on this. I, too, noticed the classification of “white girl”
In the “gone missing”!description as well and that it was rattled off as an inconvenience. I had to think about it for a few minutes too. Like it was somehow less deserving of attention but hogging the police’s focus… But I also looked at it like maybe it’s an accurate reflection of how the Cleo character might view and be resentful of the media spotlight given the color of the child. The inference being that it wouldn’t have been the same for a black girl gone missing. I want to see how the story unfolds though. I haven’t read the Lippman book which it’s based on. But I hear you that we shouldn’t need to put one group down to raise another. I’m hopeful!
OMG you quoted me! AND I am dying to watch Lady in the Lake!
The only way to do your post justice was to quote you!! It’s so good
Poll not loading, but I don't hear of many new shows, except from you!
Accents are funny to me lately. I have watched a few shows where an actor's accent can change several times in one piece of dialogue, haha.
Accents are tough! But I imagine a hard and fast rule is that they shouldn’t distract from the show
I have heard of this, and now, as usual, you make me want to watch it!
I'm also finding it a TV desert and watching old movies as well as rock documentaries. I enjoyed the doc about Faye Dunaway on Max because she's not who I thought she was and it reviews her films, many of which were classics. Otherwise I haven't been wowed by anything lately.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing!
It’s only fitting that you find a new show to watch when you come here because every time I come to your Substack I discover a new song or an old one I now desperately want to revisit!
I haven’t seen the Dunaway doc but it made me curious enough to add it to my watchlist. I’m most of my way through the “Indigo Girls” documentary and loving that.
I'll put that on my list. And glad we can swap things that entertain and inspire!