Need a TV show for the Mrs and I

[heychadwick 11,357]

Hi Guys,

We have just finished watching the latest of Vikings and WestWorld.  There doesn't seem to be many shows that are interesting enough to watch with the Mrs and I.  I know there were some new shows that came out last Fall, but I haven't really caught up on any of them. Wait...we do watch the new Lethal Weapon show and really like it. Here are the shows we like:

• Walking Dead
• Game of Thrones (kind of....prefer the books)
• Vikings
• Westworld
• Stranger Things
• Lethal Weapon (new tv show)
• Banshee (was filmed in our town)

I would say the Man in the High Castle, but I started that on my own and I need to have something to watch whenever on my own, so that's not a good one.

People have said House of Cards and we tried it one night, but my wife was tired.  I don't think she wants a super complicated show.

We might be behind in Banshee and I should look to see if there are some episodes for us to get.  

Shows we don't like:

• 24 - really wanted to like it, but it was so stupid
• Grey's Anatomy
• Reality TV
• sit coms

Any suggestions?  I've gotten good advice from the forums before for other books and tv shows.  

[VanorDM 11,599]

I only watched the first episode but The Magician's on Netflix may be worth trying.  From what I could see it's a bit like if Harry Potter went to college.  The first episode didn't really hook me but may shows get better a few episodes in.

Have you seen shows like Star Gate: SG1 or Babylon 5?  They're older but if you haven't I can't recommend them enough.

Edited February 2, 2017 by VanorDM

[heychadwick 11,357]

I'll take a look at the Magician.  Oh, there was also that OA show?  Might try that one.

 

I didn't care that much for SG1, but I did enjoy Babylon 5.  The latter is more a show to watch with my son.

[Biophysical 15,761]

Sense8.  It's weird, but my wife and I really like it a ton.  

[Sithborg 11,644]

1 hour ago, VanorDM said:

I only watched the first episode but The Magician's on Netflix may be worth trying.  From what I could see it's a bit like if Harry Potter went to college.  The first episode didn't really hook me but may shows get better a few episodes in.

Have you seen shows like Star Gate: SG1 or Babylon 5?  They're older but if you haven't I can't recommend them enough.

 

Also, if Harry Potter was an insufferable hipster. I love the show, but a word of warning, the main character, Quentin, doesn't exactly get real likable. Penny, Margo, and Elliot are great though. It diverges greatly from the books, but it has a neat little concept to justify it. 

The Expanse is also a great sci fi show to pick up. 

[heychadwick 11,357]

1 hour ago, Biophysical said:

Sense8.  It's weird, but my wife and I really like it a ton.  

Oh, I watched that on my own.  Yeah, I liked it.  I forgot that there is an Xmas special to watch while I continue to wait for Season 2.

48 minutes ago, Sithborg said:

The Expanse is also a great sci fi show to pick up. 

Thanks on the hipster warning.  

Oh, I did watch the Expanse after my ankle surgery and was stuck on the sofa for too long. 

[skotothalamos 3,652]

We've watched and liked about half of your list, so our taste may match up with yours. We also generally don't like sitcoms, but there are a few we do like (I will not recommend them, though, since that's not what you asked).

We really like Elementary. It's not new, and it's not free anywhere, but it's a solid Sherlock-in-the-modern-world without the pretentiousness of the BBC show.

We've been enjoying The Young Pope. Haven't seen all of them yet (not yet finished airing on HBO), and it moves verrry slowly (though frankly, that's sort of the appeal), but we've both been liking it a lot.

Jessica Jones and Luke Cage are both good. I liked JJ more, and haven't seen Daredevil at all (though the people who watch it seem to like it a lot).

good luck in your quest!

[heychadwick 11,357]

4 minutes ago, skotothalamos said:

We've watched and liked about half of your list, so our taste may match up with yours. We also generally don't like sitcoms, but there are a few we do like (I will not recommend them, though, since that's not what you asked).

We really like Elementary. It's not new, and it's not free anywhere, but it's a solid Sherlock-in-the-modern-world without the pretentiousness of the BBC show.

We've been enjoying The Young Pope. Haven't seen all of them yet (not yet finished airing on HBO), and it moves verrry slowly (though frankly, that's sort of the appeal), but we've both been liking it a lot.

Jessica Jones and Luke Cage are both good. I liked JJ more, and haven't seen Daredevil at all (though the people who watch it seem to like it a lot).

good luck in your quest!

OH, yes, I have watched all the Marvel tv shows on Netflix, but the Mrs hasn't.  They are all AWESOME.  

Funny about Elementary.  I watched all the BBC Sherlocks and loved them.  Didn't find them pretentious at all.  I did find the one episode of Elementary to be....lacking.  Maybe I'm pretentious?  Quite possible....  

I'll take a look at the Young Pope.

I do admit that maybe I should turn the Man in the High Castle into "our" show, but she needs to catch up on 5-6 episodes.  I can start House of Cards or something.  

[skotothalamos 3,652]

Just now, heychadwick said:

Funny about Elementary.  I watched all the BBC Sherlocks and loved them.  Didn't find them pretentious at all.  I did find the one episode of Elementary to be....lacking.  Maybe I'm pretentious?  Quite possible....  

It's the difference between a guy who's addicted to nicotine patches for a laugh and guy who's a heroin addict and sometimes relapses. One is presented as an ideal loner who puts up with the supporting cast, the other is presented as a guy actually in need of the people around him. YMMV.

That said, Elementary definitely has lesser single episodes in exchange for more-satisfying longer story arcs (IMHO).

[TasteTheRainbow 8,726]

The Expanse season 2 premiered last night. I liked the first season a lot, but this was a step up on all categories. Better acting, better writing, higher production value. 

 

And ANSWERS!

[TasteTheRainbow 8,726]

The OA was surprisingly good as well.

[Sithborg 11,644]

I am hyped for Legion next week. 

[Qualitypunk 156]

My recommendations:

• Medicis on Netflix (in Canada, not sure elsewhere)
• Frontier a Netflix/Discovery Canada show with Jason Momoa
• Blackstone was on APTN and CBC no idea who in US carries it (Hulu?Netflix?)
• Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy old BBC version with Alec Guinness is on YouTube as is sequel series Smiley's People
• I'm told The Crown was good but haven't started it
• The NEtflix version of Borgias was addictive but not sure it is still available

Hope those are helpful options. Season 1 of Blackstone is shot with jerky handheld but still full of good stories and acting.

[Iceeagle85 495]

There is a Lethal Weapon show? Why? Nothing against the show i haven't seen it but why do they make so much movies into shows these days, wasn't there also a From Dusk Till down show or did they want to make one?

[LagJanson 7,318]

23 minutes ago, Iceeagle85 said:

There is a Lethal Weapon show? Why? Nothing against the show i haven't seen it but why do they make so much movies into shows these days, wasn't there also a From Dusk Till down show or did they want to make one?

I was thinking the same thing when I heard the previews on the radio advertising it... The guys with the money are nervous about spending it, so they like to stick with what has worked in the past. I've no interest in watching a re-telling in a different medium.

Sorry heychadwick, I got very little for you. Don't have cable, satellite, Netflix, etc... We haven't kept up to date on tv at all. That said, heard good things about many of the Netflix Marvel shows.

[Force Majeure 4,108]

Are you open to older shows or are you trying to stick to more current ones?

Mmm... I haven't watched the American House of Cards, but the original and its sequels were pretty good. I've run across them on Netflix.

House was good way back when. Lost as well. Maybe your wife won't be into this show, but Robotech might be something you & your son could watch together.

While we're addressing animated shows, have you tried The Clone Wars?

How about The Young Indiana Jones Adventures?

 

[Biophysical 15,761]

The Crown is pretty solid, and while John Lithgow was great as Churchill, it's odd to see a giant Churchill.

[gabe69velasquez 2,143]

• Black Mirror
• Jessica Jones 2015 Season 1
• Limitless.S01
• Timeless.S01*
• Utopia Season 1*
• Outlander S01*
• Emerald.City.S01

 

*only just started watching

Edited February 3, 2017 by gabe69velasquez

[markcsoul 2,135]

If you have Netflix:

Lost

Chuck

Breaking Bad

The Wonder Years (This one I'm unsure on if you don't like sitcoms)

 

If you can borrow it from somewhere:

Battlestar Galactica 

[Bojanglez 2,158]

Preacher.

[Dagonet 7,246]

First, some of the classics:

The West Wing, still one of the best shows ever made and with 140+ episodes should keep you going for a bit.

Sopranos, might seem a bit weird but those mafia guys really grow on you

The Wire, sometimes brutal but still

Deadwood, dialogue and acting here are so amazing. Even my mother in law, who detests shows where the F-word is used often has watched this

The Twilight Zone, or the modern version Black Mirror, anthologies and some of the greatest sci fi stories ever created for television, Netflix US still has the Rod Serling episodes, don't they?

I've started watching I, Claudius again. Old and even for the time low budget on setdressing, but what that lacks it gains in the acting. 

 

I know you said you don't like sitcoms, but I'm going to recommend two here: How I met your Mother and Parks and Recreation. My wife doesn't like sitcoms either (I'm not a big fan either) but completely bingewatched these after  a little prodding by me to give them a chance. I (and my wife) like these two shows primarily because of the chemistry between the cast and because there isn't a reset button between episodes; the characters have meaningful progression as characters. 

 

Battlestar Galactica is well worth the time to watch. I wouldn't particularly call The Wonder Years a sitcom, it's more of a light drama series. The Crown is very good, especially when you can look stuff up because it is 99% real.

 

I wouldn't particularly recommend Lost, it became too unhinged for us after a few seasons and is the only show we finished while actively disliking it (after that we've been less reluctant to just quit shows).

The Good Wife, you wouldn't think it from the title, but it is actually a rather good court room drama, better than Suits by a mile.

For safe, uncomplicated, feel good, sunday afternoon, old fashioned, wholesome family drama: Parenthood. 

Broadchurch (the original british version), good story, good acting, fantastic music.

The 100, Young Pope, The Expanse, The Bridge, Happy Valley, Marcella, Hinterland and a lot of other british and scandinavian crime series, going by what my wife has been watching lately.

 

 

 

 

[thespaceinvader 17,568]

11 hours ago, Force Majeure said:

Are you open to older shows or are you trying to stick to more current ones?

Mmm... I haven't watched the American House of Cards, but the original and its sequels were pretty good. I've run across them on Netflix.

House was good way back when. Lost as well. Maybe your wife won't be into this show, but Robotech might be something you & your son could watch together.

While we're addressing animated shows, have you tried The Clone Wars?

How about The Young Indiana Jones Adventures?

 

I'd recommend US House of Cards.  It's not comfortable viewing, but it is very good.  My wife and I are now gradually going through Once Upon A Time which is decent.

[Robin Graves 6,054]

Ash vs evil dead.

[Biophysical 15,761]

7 hours ago, Dagonet said:

 

Broadchurch (the original british version), good story, good acting, fantastic music.

The 100, Young Pope, The Expanse, The Bridge, Happy Valley, Marcella, Hinterland and a lot of other british and scandinavian crime series, going by what my wife has been watching lately.

 

My wife also loves all those British and Scandinavian crime series.  Your list is like a list of her Netflix viewing of the past year.  She's also a huge fan of River and Wallander.  If your wife hasn't seen those, they come highly recommended.  Prime Suspect (British version) is of course the ur-British police prodecural.

[WWHSD 9,273]

22 hours ago, Biophysical said:

Sense8.  It's weird, but my wife and I really like it a ton.  

Came in here to plug this show.