Streaming or currently airing TV shows (AKA Netflix thread) (2 Viewers)

[ghostguy123]

I think the biggest reason why the replicants don't go to space is because they are mechanical and can break down with nobody to fix them if they are in space. I think it's a reasonable asusmption this can happen. It doesnt need to be shown in the episode. Also, maybe the mission was to test prolonged human travel in space.

Yeah both good thoughts.
I like how they didn't explain why. Sometimes explanations actually take away from the show/movie.

 

[bigbottom]

I think the biggest reason why the replicants don't go to space is because they are mechanical and can break down with nobody to fix them if they are in space. I think it's a reasonable asusmption this can happen. It doesnt need to be shown in the episode. Also, maybe the mission was to test prolonged human travel in space.

Yeah both good thoughts.
I like how they didn't explain why. Sometimes explanations actually take away from the show/movie.

I agree that sometimes explaining something takes away from things. Like I don’t see a need to explain their mission or the destination that is mentioned. Neither of those things is key to what transpires. But having the humans on the ship and the replicants at home is completely counterintuitive to what would make sense. And that counterintuitive set up is instrumental to everything that happens in the plot. (Which is why I’m glad they did explain it - see below.)

As for the proffered reasons, I don’t think the maintenance explanation is satisfactory. If maintenance were a concern, why would Cliff move his replicant to the middle of nowhere away from everyone and everything (including maintenance facilities and technicians)? Also, it seems to me that is just as possible (maybe more so) that the human on the ship can break down - infection, cancer, heart attack, stroke or, as we saw, a mental break.

As for the second possibility - that the mission was to test prolonged travel in space - well, bingo, that’s actually the answer. I went back and rewatched and in the movie theater scene at the beginning David says to the two fans in the lobby: “The human experience, the survival of the human body, of life - that’s really central to the mission.”

So there you have it. My plot issue was directly addressed. So never mind.

Regarding the ending, they could have gone a number of different directions and did do a bit of a fake out. But I really liked the way they chose to resolve things, even though it was way dark. Even the final scene was perfect, as open ended as it was.

 

[bigbottom]

This is the best Black Mirror season yet. Absolutely no duds. One left to go for me.

The last episode of Black Mirror this season is by far the worst.

Demon79? I actually liked it. My ranking from best to worst (and really, I enjoyed them all) are as follows:

1) Beyond the Sea - A
2) Loch Henry - B+
3) Joan is Awful - B
4) Demon79 - B
5) Mazey Day - B-

 

[ghostguy123]

This is the best Black Mirror season yet. Absolutely no duds. One left to go for me.

The last episode of Black Mirror this season is by far the worst.

Demon79? I actually liked it. My ranking from best to worst (and really, I enjoyed them all) are as follows:

1) Beyond the Sea - A
2) Loch Henry - B+
3) Joan is Awful - B
4) Demon79 - B
5) Mazey Day - B-

Flip 4 and 5 for me.
Beyond the Sea was excellent.

 

[oukurt]

Nothing groundbreaking, but a story very well told. I was entertained and fascinated by the 3-part documentary, “Arnold” on Netflix.

We all know him, but has there ever an individual that didn’t just beat the odds to make their dreams a reality, but absolutely pulverized the odds?

 

[brun]

Nothing groundbreaking, but a story very well told. I was entertained and fascinated by the 3-part documentary, “Arnold” on Netflix.

We all know him, but has there ever an individual that didn’t just beat the odds to make their dreams a reality, but absolutely pulverized the odds?

I might be gullible but found him to be pretty honest and forthcoming.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Nothing groundbreaking, but a story very well told. I was entertained and fascinated by the 3-part documentary, “Arnold” on Netflix.

We all know him, but has there ever an individual that didn’t just beat the odds to make their dreams a reality, but absolutely pulverized the odds?

I might be gullible but found him to be pretty honest and forthcoming.

Yeah this was surprisingly good.

Obviously we all know that Arnold has a "team" that works on his image, but I don't think any of this is an act. He's been in the public eye for way too long, and I feel very confident that the authenticity he gives off is real. And besides, we know about his lower moments. It's refreshing when a person owns those. That's not to say that I approve of every life decision Arnold made over the years, but if my entire life were broadcast to the public, I'm sure I'd have a few things here and there that other people would judge me on.

 

[need2know]

Nothing groundbreaking, but a story very well told. I was entertained and fascinated by the 3-part documentary, “Arnold” on Netflix.

We all know him, but has there ever an individual that didn’t just beat the odds to make their dreams a reality, but absolutely pulverized the odds?

i really liked it. what a crazy life

 

[On The Rocks]

Finally finished Succession
I don't get the love for this show. Other than Brian Cox, there wasn't a performance on the show I thought was very good and there wasn't a single likable character on the show.
Logon Roy was a ******* but a great character. The rest.......total buffoons. Terrible script. Terrible acting. Terrible everything.
To argue that this series was in the same class with The Sopranos or The Wire is ridiculous.

 

[jobarules]

Finally finished Succession
I don't get the love for this show. Other than Brian Cox, there wasn't a performance on the show I thought was very good and there wasn't a single likable character on the show.
Logon Roy was a ******* but a great character. The rest.......total buffoons. Terrible script. Terrible acting. Terrible everything.
To argue that this series was in the same class with The Sopranos or The Wire is ridiculous.

Im in middle of season 3. I think the characters all being buffoons is part of the point, no? Almost like a dark comedy.

 

[Payne]

Finally finished Succession
I don't get the love for this show. Other than Brian Cox, there wasn't a performance on the show I thought was very good and there wasn't a single likable character on the show.
Logon Roy was a ******* but a great character. The rest.......total buffoons. Terrible script. Terrible acting. Terrible everything.
To argue that this series was in the same class with The Sopranos or The Wire is ridiculous.

This was my thoughts and I was slammed for it. I was told that the reason we thought the characters, script and acting was terrible is because it was so good.

I can understand that some of this was the point of the show, as jobarules just said above, but I can't get past the acting. I'm sorry.
Outside of Brian Cox, the rest were average at best.

I will admit, we are in the minority.

 

[On The Rocks]

Finally finished Succession
I don't get the love for this show. Other than Brian Cox, there wasn't a performance on the show I thought was very good and there wasn't a single likable character on the show.
Logon Roy was a ******* but a great character. The rest.......total buffoons. Terrible script. Terrible acting. Terrible everything.
To argue that this series was in the same class with The Sopranos or The Wire is ridiculous.

Im in middle of season 3. I think the characters all being buffoons is part of the point, no? Almost like a dark comedy.

I don't know why they would do that mid-season. All of the senior advisors running around falling over themselves was too over the top.
The over use of the throw away word "yeah?" was annoying. I don't know. Everyone has their own taste I thought it was terrible.

 

[falguy]

Finally finished Succession
I don't get the love for this show. Other than Brian Cox, there wasn't a performance on the show I thought was very good and there wasn't a single likable character on the show.
Logon Roy was a ******* but a great character. The rest.......total buffoons. Terrible script. Terrible acting. Terrible everything.
To argue that this series was in the same class with The Sopranos or The Wire is ridiculous.

That's some impressive dedication to follow a show you hate for 4 seasons. I'm not that patient. I watched about 5 episodes and left it for a bit then had no desire to watch anymore so just left it at that.

 

[On The Rocks]

Finally finished Succession
I don't get the love for this show. Other than Brian Cox, there wasn't a performance on the show I thought was very good and there wasn't a single likable character on the show.
Logon Roy was a ******* but a great character. The rest.......total buffoons. Terrible script. Terrible acting. Terrible everything.
To argue that this series was in the same class with The Sopranos or The Wire is ridiculous.

That's some impressive dedication to follow a show you hate for 4 seasons. I'm not that patient. I watched about 5 episodes and left it for a bit then had no desire to watch anymore so just left it at that.

I thought season 2 & 3 were pretty ok. Season 2 in particular was really good.
Season 4 was atrocious.

 

[Payne]

Finally finished Succession
I don't get the love for this show. Other than Brian Cox, there wasn't a performance on the show I thought was very good and there wasn't a single likable character on the show.
Logon Roy was a ******* but a great character. The rest.......total buffoons. Terrible script. Terrible acting. Terrible everything.
To argue that this series was in the same class with The Sopranos or The Wire is ridiculous.

That's some impressive dedication to follow a show you hate for 4 seasons. I'm not that patient. I watched about 5 episodes and left it for a bit then had no desire to watch anymore so just left it at that.

I did the same thing because everyone kept saying to stick with it. To be honest, I didn't mind watching Logan.
It was clear to me just how much better of an actor Brian cox is to the rest of the cast. Still don't get the Jeremy Strong or Culkin love. Especially Culkin.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Finally finished Succession
I don't get the love for this show. Other than Brian Cox, there wasn't a performance on the show I thought was very good and there wasn't a single likable character on the show.
Logon Roy was a ******* but a great character. The rest.......total buffoons. Terrible script. Terrible acting. Terrible everything.
To argue that this series was in the same class with The Sopranos or The Wire is ridiculous.

That's some impressive dedication to follow a show you hate for 4 seasons. I'm not that patient. I watched about 5 episodes and left it for a bit then had no desire to watch anymore so just left it at that.

I thought season 2 & 3 were pretty ok. Season 2 in particular was really good.
Season 4 was atrocious.

Please don't take this as picking on you or anything, but can you explain what you liked about S2 and why that didn't carry over to S4 for you? I binge-watched the entire show over the course of about three weeks, and I found it surprisingly consistent from season to season. I get that other people have different experiences and preferences of course.

 

[wlwiles]

Season 2 of The Bear premieres tomorrow on Hulu

 

[On The Rocks]

Finally finished Succession
I don't get the love for this show. Other than Brian Cox, there wasn't a performance on the show I thought was very good and there wasn't a single likable character on the show.
Logon Roy was a ******* but a great character. The rest.......total buffoons. Terrible script. Terrible acting. Terrible everything.
To argue that this series was in the same class with The Sopranos or The Wire is ridiculous.

That's some impressive dedication to follow a show you hate for 4 seasons. I'm not that patient. I watched about 5 episodes and left it for a bit then had no desire to watch anymore so just left it at that.

I thought season 2 & 3 were pretty ok. Season 2 in particular was really good.
Season 4 was atrocious.

Please don't take this as picking on you or anything, but can you explain what you liked about S2 and why that didn't carry over to S4 for you? I binge-watched the entire show over the course of about three weeks, and I found it surprisingly consistent from season to season. I get that other people have different experiences and preferences of course.

I thought the story arch was better and I like Holly Hunter. I thought the acting by the siblings and the story line overall for the whole series was sub-par. I didn't care about any of their characters. I didn't care who got what. I didn't care if Shiv and the incompetent Tom made it or not. I didn't care if Roman had a break down. and I certainly didn't care if Kendall was the successor. Did anyone believe Connor or anyone like him would ever just spend hundreds of millions of his own money to run for President? I kept waiting for someone to take Cousin Greg and throw him off a bridge for a mercy killing. None of the characters were believable.

Without giving too much away for anyone that hasn't seen it, I stuck with the show for the Logan Roy character and his diminished role in S4 had an impact on how much I disliked it.
I did also like the James Cromwell no-nonsense character and his handling of Greg. The scene where he stands up unexpectedly to talk about his brother was a highlight of the last season.



ETA....also......stop picking on me!

 

[Keerock]

This is the best Black Mirror season yet. Absolutely no duds. One left to go for me.

The last episode of Black Mirror this season is by far the worst.

Demon79? I actually liked it. My ranking from best to worst (and really, I enjoyed them all) are as follows:

1) Beyond the Sea - A
2) Loch Henry - B+
3) Joan is Awful - B
4) Demon79 - B
5) Mazey Day - B-

For me...

1) Loch Henry - A
2) Joan is Awful - A-
3) Mazey Day - B+
4) Beyond the Sea - C+
5) Demon79 - C

 

[jdoggydogg]

Just finished season four (and finale) of Never Have I Ever,and now I'm depressed it's over. That was a nice feel good show. I didn't even realize that was it until the finale. I would recommend it.

I need a similar show to move on to now. I'm always a sucker for coming of age schtick.

Sex Education
Ginny and Georgia
Sex Lives of College Girls
Atypical

I enjoyed this show. Pretty good.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Finally got around to watching Tar on Amazon, and it definitely deserved the praise that it got. It wasn't the movie that I was expecting to see and I need to give it a second viewing to comment in any detail, but it's a strong thumbs up if you're looking for an artsy "idea" movie.

Mrs. Dogg gave up, but I'm going to finish this. I had college music professors that were very similar, so I guess nostalgia will power me through.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Regarding the space replicant Black Mirror episode: I think that was a good concept, but the blood was pretty lame. I think that idea works just fine as a melodrama, and the violence should have been nixed from the story.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Season 2 of The Bear premieres tomorrow on Hulu

Loved this show; but I have a bad feeling this is going to be another one that should have stopped after one season.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I definitely didn’t think Loch Henry felt like a Black Mirror episode, but I still enjoyed it. The actress who played the mom was absolutely fantastic. Actually, I thought all the performances were really good in that episode.

I have "Come Baby Come" by K9 on one of my running playlists (nostalgia -- our college years) and I think it may need to come off. I can't unsee that.

 

[oukurt]

Regarding the space replicant Black Mirror episode: I think that was a good concept, but the blood was pretty lame. I think that idea works just fine as a melodrama, and the violence should have been nixed from the story.

Facts. Great concept indeed. Beyond the Sea episode had so much potential to be a really amazing story, but it just seemed to lose steam and quickly fall flat after a start that quickly reeled me in.

Was good to see Jesse Pinkman again. Underrated actor.

I’m late to the party on Black Mirror. I feel pretty lucky to be able to binge watch six seasons of this.

 

[oukurt]

If you haven't seen "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father" yet, it's pretty phenomenal. Easily the most powerful documentary that I've ever seen and it's got a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, if you care about that sort of thing. It will stay with you for a long time; it's not a feel-good story. I recommend you don't do any research before you watch it because, like the Sixth Sense, if you know how it ends, you might as well not watch it. If anyone has seen it, I'm curious what you thought. I think it's on Amazon Prime right now, but it's been out for a long time, so it's probably easy to find.

I've never watched a documentary, before or since, that has hit me harder than this one. And it's been years ago that I saw it.

Agreed. A documentary equally brilliant as it is frustrating to watch.

 

[krista4]

If you haven't seen "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father" yet, it's pretty phenomenal. Easily the most powerful documentary that I've ever seen and it's got a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, if you care about that sort of thing. It will stay with you for a long time; it's not a feel-good story. I recommend you don't do any research before you watch it because, like the Sixth Sense, if you know how it ends, you might as well not watch it. If anyone has seen it, I'm curious what you thought. I think it's on Amazon Prime right now, but it's been out for a long time, so it's probably easy to find.

I've never watched a documentary, before or since, that has hit me harder than this one. And it's been years ago that I saw it.

Agreed. A documentary equally brilliant as it is frustrating to watch.

I remember our talking about this one many, many years ago, and I think @General Malaise might still not be over it. Brutal (but well done) doc.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Regarding the space replicant Black Mirror episode: I think that was a good concept, but the blood was pretty lame. I think that idea works just fine as a melodrama, and the violence should have been nixed from the story.

Facts. Great concept indeed. Beyond the Sea episode had so much potential to be a really amazing story, but it just seemed to lose steam and quickly fall flat after a start that quickly reeled me in.

Was good to see Jesse Pinkman again. Underrated actor.

I’m late to the party on Black Mirror. I feel pretty lucky to be able to binge watch six seasons of this.

Nice!

 

[jdoggydogg]

If you haven't seen "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father" yet, it's pretty phenomenal. Easily the most powerful documentary that I've ever seen and it's got a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, if you care about that sort of thing. It will stay with you for a long time; it's not a feel-good story. I recommend you don't do any research before you watch it because, like the Sixth Sense, if you know how it ends, you might as well not watch it. If anyone has seen it, I'm curious what you thought. I think it's on Amazon Prime right now, but it's been out for a long time, so it's probably easy to find.

I wish I'd never seen this. Ruined me. So awful.

 

[ghostguy123]

I definitely didn’t think Loch Henry felt like a Black Mirror episode, but I still enjoyed it. The actress who played the mom was absolutely fantastic. Actually, I thought all the performances were really good in that episode.

I have "Come Baby Come" by K9 on one of my running playlists (nostalgia -- our college years) and I think it may need to come off. I can't unsee that.

That 5-10 seconds should win an award

 

[facook]

Just wanted to thank those of you that recommended Chimp Empire. Only one episode in, but wow the clarity and intimacy of those camera shots. Unreal.

 

[Zow]

I’ve watched the first three episodes of Black Mirror and have enjoyed all three. That said, I don’t think they’ve been as thought-provoking for me as episodes in prior seasons, though the third episode got close.

Had a question re episode 3 for those who have watched:

Spoiler

Did they explain why, if they had that technology, they wouldn’t just have the replicants on the ship? Maybe I just missed it. At first, I thought maybe it was because the replicants didn’t have the same degree of dexterity (the cutting wood scene at the beginning) but what takes more dexterity than painting?

Which episode are to talking about?

Beyond the Sea. And I’d like to amend my prior statement - it’s actually stuck with me. Other than the plot issue mentioned in my spoiler, I really liked the episode a lot and think it raises a number of interesting psychological issues.

Perhaps the amount of energy to power them? Nobody can maintenance them in space? Its easier to have an uninterupted space for a week straight on the ship?

Those are all possible ideas, but none of them were touched on or supported by anything in the show.

Spoiler

Regarding power, I don’t recall seeing anything with respect to them powering up anywhere. They slept in a bed like normal. They never had to plug into a power source that we saw. The only time they hooked into anything was through the mind portal when there was an emergency on the ship, and once a week on Friday when they handled weekly tasks on the ship. Perhaps that was also a power source but it was a simple chair in a bedroom. No explanation why that couldn’t work on the ship.

As for maintenance, we never saw anything indicating the replicants needed maintenance. Indeed, Cliff moved his family out to the middle of nowhere away from everyone and anything. It wouldn’t make sense for him to do that if the replicant needed to be maintained by a highly specialized technician.

As for the uninterrupted week in space, I think this actually argues for having the replicants on the ship. How are Cliff and David eating and staying hydrated on the ship during the long multi-day stretches when they are unconscious and back at home?

The biggest issue for me is that they apparently can’t create a new replicant for the astronauts, but anyone can port into a replicant. So if a replicant gets destroyed on Earth, the astronaut is screwed (as we saw with David). But if the astronauts were on Earth and one of the astronauts died or was hurt, another person could simply port into the replicant on the ship to maintain the mission.

I’m not one to get hung up on plot holes, but having the humans on the ship instead of on Earth is so fundamental to pretty much every aspect of the plot that I wish they had spent 60 seconds setting up why it had to be that way. Maybe they did and I missed it.

Just watched the episode (hadn't read your spoiler beforehand) but now that I watched it I thought the exact same thing. Just give me some explanation.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I’ve watched the first three episodes of Black Mirror and have enjoyed all three. That said, I don’t think they’ve been as thought-provoking for me as episodes in prior seasons, though the third episode got close.

Had a question re episode 3 for those who have watched:

Spoiler

Did they explain why, if they had that technology, they wouldn’t just have the replicants on the ship? Maybe I just missed it. At first, I thought maybe it was because the replicants didn’t have the same degree of dexterity (the cutting wood scene at the beginning) but what takes more dexterity than painting?

Which episode are to talking about?

Beyond the Sea. And I’d like to amend my prior statement - it’s actually stuck with me. Other than the plot issue mentioned in my spoiler, I really liked the episode a lot and think it raises a number of interesting psychological issues.

Perhaps the amount of energy to power them? Nobody can maintenance them in space? Its easier to have an uninterupted space for a week straight on the ship?

Those are all possible ideas, but none of them were touched on or supported by anything in the show.

Spoiler

Regarding power, I don’t recall seeing anything with respect to them powering up anywhere. They slept in a bed like normal. They never had to plug into a power source that we saw. The only time they hooked into anything was through the mind portal when there was an emergency on the ship, and once a week on Friday when they handled weekly tasks on the ship. Perhaps that was also a power source but it was a simple chair in a bedroom. No explanation why that couldn’t work on the ship.

As for maintenance, we never saw anything indicating the replicants needed maintenance. Indeed, Cliff moved his family out to the middle of nowhere away from everyone and anything. It wouldn’t make sense for him to do that if the replicant needed to be maintained by a highly specialized technician.

As for the uninterrupted week in space, I think this actually argues for having the replicants on the ship. How are Cliff and David eating and staying hydrated on the ship during the long multi-day stretches when they are unconscious and back at home?

The biggest issue for me is that they apparently can’t create a new replicant for the astronauts, but anyone can port into a replicant. So if a replicant gets destroyed on Earth, the astronaut is screwed (as we saw with David). But if the astronauts were on Earth and one of the astronauts died or was hurt, another person could simply port into the replicant on the ship to maintain the mission.

I’m not one to get hung up on plot holes, but having the humans on the ship instead of on Earth is so fundamental to pretty much every aspect of the plot that I wish they had spent 60 seconds setting up why it had to be that way. Maybe they did and I missed it.

Just watched the episode (hadn't read your spoiler beforehand) but now that I watched it I thought the exact same thing. Just give me some explanation.

If you're wondering how they eat or breathe, or other science facts
Repeat to yourself "It's just a show -- I should really just relax."

 

[Osaurus]

I’ve watched the first three episodes of Black Mirror and have enjoyed all three. That said, I don’t think they’ve been as thought-provoking for me as episodes in prior seasons, though the third episode got close.

Had a question re episode 3 for those who have watched:

Spoiler

Did they explain why, if they had that technology, they wouldn’t just have the replicants on the ship? Maybe I just missed it. At first, I thought maybe it was because the replicants didn’t have the same degree of dexterity (the cutting wood scene at the beginning) but what takes more dexterity than painting?

Which episode are to talking about?

Beyond the Sea. And I’d like to amend my prior statement - it’s actually stuck with me. Other than the plot issue mentioned in my spoiler, I really liked the episode a lot and think it raises a number of interesting psychological issues.

Perhaps the amount of energy to power them? Nobody can maintenance them in space? Its easier to have an uninterupted space for a week straight on the ship?

Those are all possible ideas, but none of them were touched on or supported by anything in the show.

Spoiler

Regarding power, I don’t recall seeing anything with respect to them powering up anywhere. They slept in a bed like normal. They never had to plug into a power source that we saw. The only time they hooked into anything was through the mind portal when there was an emergency on the ship, and once a week on Friday when they handled weekly tasks on the ship. Perhaps that was also a power source but it was a simple chair in a bedroom. No explanation why that couldn’t work on the ship.

As for maintenance, we never saw anything indicating the replicants needed maintenance. Indeed, Cliff moved his family out to the middle of nowhere away from everyone and anything. It wouldn’t make sense for him to do that if the replicant needed to be maintained by a highly specialized technician.

As for the uninterrupted week in space, I think this actually argues for having the replicants on the ship. How are Cliff and David eating and staying hydrated on the ship during the long multi-day stretches when they are unconscious and back at home?

The biggest issue for me is that they apparently can’t create a new replicant for the astronauts, but anyone can port into a replicant. So if a replicant gets destroyed on Earth, the astronaut is screwed (as we saw with David). But if the astronauts were on Earth and one of the astronauts died or was hurt, another person could simply port into the replicant on the ship to maintain the mission.

I’m not one to get hung up on plot holes, but having the humans on the ship instead of on Earth is so fundamental to pretty much every aspect of the plot that I wish they had spent 60 seconds setting up why it had to be that way. Maybe they did and I missed it.

Just watched the episode (hadn't read your spoiler beforehand) but now that I watched it I thought the exact same thing. Just give me some explanation.

If you're wondering how they eat or breathe, or other science facts
Repeat to yourself "It's just a show -- I should really just relax."

La la la

 

[bigbottom]

I’ve watched the first three episodes of Black Mirror and have enjoyed all three. That said, I don’t think they’ve been as thought-provoking for me as episodes in prior seasons, though the third episode got close.

Had a question re episode 3 for those who have watched:

Spoiler

Did they explain why, if they had that technology, they wouldn’t just have the replicants on the ship? Maybe I just missed it. At first, I thought maybe it was because the replicants didn’t have the same degree of dexterity (the cutting wood scene at the beginning) but what takes more dexterity than painting?

Which episode are to talking about?

Beyond the Sea. And I’d like to amend my prior statement - it’s actually stuck with me. Other than the plot issue mentioned in my spoiler, I really liked the episode a lot and think it raises a number of interesting psychological issues.

Perhaps the amount of energy to power them? Nobody can maintenance them in space? Its easier to have an uninterupted space for a week straight on the ship?

Those are all possible ideas, but none of them were touched on or supported by anything in the show.

Spoiler

Regarding power, I don’t recall seeing anything with respect to them powering up anywhere. They slept in a bed like normal. They never had to plug into a power source that we saw. The only time they hooked into anything was through the mind portal when there was an emergency on the ship, and once a week on Friday when they handled weekly tasks on the ship. Perhaps that was also a power source but it was a simple chair in a bedroom. No explanation why that couldn’t work on the ship.

As for maintenance, we never saw anything indicating the replicants needed maintenance. Indeed, Cliff moved his family out to the middle of nowhere away from everyone and anything. It wouldn’t make sense for him to do that if the replicant needed to be maintained by a highly specialized technician.

As for the uninterrupted week in space, I think this actually argues for having the replicants on the ship. How are Cliff and David eating and staying hydrated on the ship during the long multi-day stretches when they are unconscious and back at home?

The biggest issue for me is that they apparently can’t create a new replicant for the astronauts, but anyone can port into a replicant. So if a replicant gets destroyed on Earth, the astronaut is screwed (as we saw with David). But if the astronauts were on Earth and one of the astronauts died or was hurt, another person could simply port into the replicant on the ship to maintain the mission.

I’m not one to get hung up on plot holes, but having the humans on the ship instead of on Earth is so fundamental to pretty much every aspect of the plot that I wish they had spent 60 seconds setting up why it had to be that way. Maybe they did and I missed it.

Just watched the episode (hadn't read your spoiler beforehand) but now that I watched it I thought the exact same thing. Just give me some explanation.

They did.

 

[Zow]

I’ve watched the first three episodes of Black Mirror and have enjoyed all three. That said, I don’t think they’ve been as thought-provoking for me as episodes in prior seasons, though the third episode got close.

Had a question re episode 3 for those who have watched:

Spoiler

Did they explain why, if they had that technology, they wouldn’t just have the replicants on the ship? Maybe I just missed it. At first, I thought maybe it was because the replicants didn’t have the same degree of dexterity (the cutting wood scene at the beginning) but what takes more dexterity than painting?

Which episode are to talking about?

Beyond the Sea. And I’d like to amend my prior statement - it’s actually stuck with me. Other than the plot issue mentioned in my spoiler, I really liked the episode a lot and think it raises a number of interesting psychological issues.

Perhaps the amount of energy to power them? Nobody can maintenance them in space? Its easier to have an uninterupted space for a week straight on the ship?

Those are all possible ideas, but none of them were touched on or supported by anything in the show.

Spoiler

Regarding power, I don’t recall seeing anything with respect to them powering up anywhere. They slept in a bed like normal. They never had to plug into a power source that we saw. The only time they hooked into anything was through the mind portal when there was an emergency on the ship, and once a week on Friday when they handled weekly tasks on the ship. Perhaps that was also a power source but it was a simple chair in a bedroom. No explanation why that couldn’t work on the ship.

As for maintenance, we never saw anything indicating the replicants needed maintenance. Indeed, Cliff moved his family out to the middle of nowhere away from everyone and anything. It wouldn’t make sense for him to do that if the replicant needed to be maintained by a highly specialized technician.

As for the uninterrupted week in space, I think this actually argues for having the replicants on the ship. How are Cliff and David eating and staying hydrated on the ship during the long multi-day stretches when they are unconscious and back at home?

The biggest issue for me is that they apparently can’t create a new replicant for the astronauts, but anyone can port into a replicant. So if a replicant gets destroyed on Earth, the astronaut is screwed (as we saw with David). But if the astronauts were on Earth and one of the astronauts died or was hurt, another person could simply port into the replicant on the ship to maintain the mission.

I’m not one to get hung up on plot holes, but having the humans on the ship instead of on Earth is so fundamental to pretty much every aspect of the plot that I wish they had spent 60 seconds setting up why it had to be that way. Maybe they did and I missed it.

Just watched the episode (hadn't read your spoiler beforehand) but now that I watched it I thought the exact same thing. Just give me some explanation.

They did.

Uh I may need to re-watch the ending.

 

[bigbottom]

I’ve watched the first three episodes of Black Mirror and have enjoyed all three. That said, I don’t think they’ve been as thought-provoking for me as episodes in prior seasons, though the third episode got close.

Had a question re episode 3 for those who have watched:

Spoiler

Did they explain why, if they had that technology, they wouldn’t just have the replicants on the ship? Maybe I just missed it. At first, I thought maybe it was because the replicants didn’t have the same degree of dexterity (the cutting wood scene at the beginning) but what takes more dexterity than painting?

Which episode are to talking about?

Beyond the Sea. And I’d like to amend my prior statement - it’s actually stuck with me. Other than the plot issue mentioned in my spoiler, I really liked the episode a lot and think it raises a number of interesting psychological issues.

Perhaps the amount of energy to power them? Nobody can maintenance them in space? Its easier to have an uninterupted space for a week straight on the ship?

Those are all possible ideas, but none of them were touched on or supported by anything in the show.

Spoiler

Regarding power, I don’t recall seeing anything with respect to them powering up anywhere. They slept in a bed like normal. They never had to plug into a power source that we saw. The only time they hooked into anything was through the mind portal when there was an emergency on the ship, and once a week on Friday when they handled weekly tasks on the ship. Perhaps that was also a power source but it was a simple chair in a bedroom. No explanation why that couldn’t work on the ship.

As for maintenance, we never saw anything indicating the replicants needed maintenance. Indeed, Cliff moved his family out to the middle of nowhere away from everyone and anything. It wouldn’t make sense for him to do that if the replicant needed to be maintained by a highly specialized technician.

As for the uninterrupted week in space, I think this actually argues for having the replicants on the ship. How are Cliff and David eating and staying hydrated on the ship during the long multi-day stretches when they are unconscious and back at home?

The biggest issue for me is that they apparently can’t create a new replicant for the astronauts, but anyone can port into a replicant. So if a replicant gets destroyed on Earth, the astronaut is screwed (as we saw with David). But if the astronauts were on Earth and one of the astronauts died or was hurt, another person could simply port into the replicant on the ship to maintain the mission.

I’m not one to get hung up on plot holes, but having the humans on the ship instead of on Earth is so fundamental to pretty much every aspect of the plot that I wish they had spent 60 seconds setting up why it had to be that way. Maybe they did and I missed it.

Just watched the episode (hadn't read your spoiler beforehand) but now that I watched it I thought the exact same thing. Just give me some explanation.

They did.

Uh I may need to re-watch the ending.

It was near the beginning during the movie theater scene. I quoted the line upthread.

 

[eoMMan]

Anyone watching The Idol on HBO?

 

[Zow]

Regarding the space replicant Black Mirror episode: I think that was a good concept, but the blood was pretty lame. I think that idea works just fine as a melodrama, and the violence should have been nixed from the story.

Facts. Great concept indeed. Beyond the Sea episode had so much potential to be a really amazing story, but it just seemed to lose steam and quickly fall flat after a start that quickly reeled me in.

Was good to see Jesse Pinkman again. Underrated actor.

I’m late to the party on Black Mirror. I feel pretty lucky to be able to binge watch six seasons of this.

Aaron Paul aside, hasn't Hartnett but out of acting for a long time?? My wife and I were surprised to see him.

 

[Zow]

Through the first three Black Mirror episodes. I should note that I tend to weigh each Black Mirror episodes against the others. I have generally enjoyed all episodes so my ratings are, in anything, deflated because I am comparing them to my favorite episodes (San Junipero, Shut Up and Dance, USS Callister, Be Right Back, and The National Anthem) as well as expecting some philosophical or satirical point to be made about technology.

Joan is Awful - 6/10. Fun concept (as well as the "bite the hand that feeds you" shot at Netflix) and I enjoyed the actors, but almost got too silly and I foresaw the ending and was ready for the episode to be over.
Loch Henry - 8/10. Loved the setting, loved the acting, and loved the "twist." My only gripe is that the pacing seemed a bit off. I felt like the build up was too slow and it became obvious, given the low number of characters and no other real plot direction, that one of the characters involved would be part of the subject matter. In other words, the "twist" became foreseeable and I though the middle third of the episode dragged on because I kept anticipating the "twist." Once the "twist" came I loved the acting of the antagonist and how the twist was discovered. But, from there, the episode moves super fast and while the plot points were sensible and I didn't really have a problem with the ending, I actually wanted more. Perhaps that speaks to the quality of the story-telling, but I wanted to learn some more about the motivations and scheming of the antagonists even though it probably isn't necessary. The feeling reminded me of being a kid and getting my way through a standard dinner to get the dessert but the dessert, while great, is only like two bites and you feel somewhat unsatisfied.
Beyond the Sea - 7/10. Was really fun to see the actors in this particular episode (including the cameo by the Caulkin brother who was great and appears to be a nod to Charles Manson as the Tate murders happened around that same time) and the general concept was smart and very Black Mirrory-y, but I struggled with some of the plot points (some of which have been discussed in this thread) and wasn't really able to to get past them. I'm also uncertain if the ending was entirely necessary nor what point was trying to be made (I base this statement on the tangential education I've received on mental health breaks in my profession and this seemed incongruent with the same).

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Beyond the Sea - 7/10. Was really fun to see the actors in this particular episode (including the cameo by the Caulkin brother who was great and appears to be a nod to Charles Manson as the Tate murders happened around that same time) and the general concept was smart and very Black Mirrory-y, but I struggled with some of the plot points (some of which have been discussed in this thread) and wasn't really able to to get past them. I'm also uncertain if the ending was entirely necessary nor what point was trying to be made (I base this statement on the tangential education I've received on mental health breaks in my profession and this seemed incongruent with the same).

This was a highly contrived episode even by Black Mirror standards -- there were a ton of technical details that were presented to the audience as "Look, we need this for the plot conceit to work; just roll with us, please." And then there's the stuff like how facial hair only grows when you're not asleep for some reason. But I liked the idea behind this episode and the bleak ending so much that I'm willing to overlook all the just-so stuff. I especially like the game theory considerations that the two astronauts were facing throughout the episode. It was a really interesting set-up.

Like you, I've only seen the first three, but I Loch Henry is my favorite so far. That one was really well-done all around. I anticipated part of the twist (who didn't?) but the real twist is how that videotape ends and oh man I did not see that coming at all.

 

[Zow]

Beyond the Sea - 7/10. Was really fun to see the actors in this particular episode (including the cameo by the Caulkin brother who was great and appears to be a nod to Charles Manson as the Tate murders happened around that same time) and the general concept was smart and very Black Mirrory-y, but I struggled with some of the plot points (some of which have been discussed in this thread) and wasn't really able to to get past them. I'm also uncertain if the ending was entirely necessary nor what point was trying to be made (I base this statement on the tangential education I've received on mental health breaks in my profession and this seemed incongruent with the same).

This was a highly contrived episode even by Black Mirror standards -- there were a ton of technical details that were presented to the audience as "Look, we need this for the plot conceit to work; just roll with us, please." And then there's the stuff like how facial hair only grows when you're not asleep for some reason. But I liked the idea behind this episode and the bleak ending so much that I'm willing to overlook all the just-so stuff. I especially like the game theory considerations that the two astronauts were facing throughout the episode. It was a really interesting set-up.

Like you, I've only seen the first three, but I Loch Henry is my favorite so far. That one was really well-done all around. I anticipated part of the twist (who didn't?) but the real twist is how that videotape ends and oh man I did not see that coming at all.

Sooooo well done. Everything down to how it would have been amateurly shot to the song playing. I saw "it" (the "real twist" as you put it) coming just a little bit before it happened because of the immediately preceding scenes, but man even so it packed the perfect punch. Which, again, is probably why I wanted more.

 

[Scoresman]

Does anyone else have the same problem come up with streaming stuff on Amazon prime?

So I’ve been rewatching Star Trek DS9 recently. Yesterday I started season 5. Today I login to see that season 5 is no longer available to stream outside of paramount plus, which I have but has a ton more commercial ads. They have seasons 1-4 and 6-7, but season 5 conveniently and suddenly disappears the day after I start it and now my only option to continue is to watch on paramount with way more ads. This seems like bait and switch to me and is ridiculous.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Finished up the rest of Black Mirror. Mazey Dazy was okay, and my ambivalence about it is probably driven more by "this feels like Tales from the Crypt, not Black Mirror," but it would have been a really good Tales from the Crypt. Demon 79 was terrible and I'm glad that one was last and not first. Overall, this season was much, much better than I expected and a massive improvement over the previous season. I would personally place Loch Henry and Beyond the Sea comfortably among the 12-15 episodes that I would rewatch pretty much whenever.

 

[bigbottom]

The thing I liked about Demon79 was how it ended.

 

[Osaurus]

Mazey Day is the weakest of the Black Mirror season 6 episodes imo.

ETA: Demon 79 is a close runner up. Any episode with Boney M music is turrible.

 

[snogger]

Manifest ending was better than I thought they might go.
Hated the Angelina character from start to finish..
Then again, didn't like her character in The Americans either so it just might be her acting that I dislike.

Otherwise thought the 4 seasons were worth the watch.

 

[Moe.]

Anyone watching The Idol on HBO?

@Eephus has made a few posts on it. Sounds like mostly a hate-watch though. The reviews are abysmal

 

[bigbottom]

Watched FUBAR on Netflix over the weekend. Enjoyed most of it (Hated the very end). Fun cast, a lot of laughs.

Binged this series and am on the second to last episode. I agree 100% with your post. The supporting cast is really good, particularly Roo and Aldon. Laughed a lot throughout. It’s nothing remotely groundbreaking but I enjoyed it far more than I was expecting.

 

[Yo Mama]

Holy crap! The Christmas flashback episode of the latest season of The Bear was incredible, intense, insane.

I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises, but there were some awesome performances across the board. This should win a number of Emmy’s.

It’s up there with some of the best TV episodes I’ve seen. (I won the TV draft, so I know what I’m talking about)