Your Ten Favorite Shows Currently on Television

Don't get me started on Normal People
*makes face*

Can't wait for WWDITS s2 here

s2... is good

Normal People is just the most beautifully acted, scripted and filmed series I've seen in years. Genuinely cannot understand why anyone would not love it, but I guess it's standard practice on ILX to go against the grain of public opinion.

Maybe I should have watched it rather than read the book, I don't think I can bring myself to do so now.

I don't really know or care what public opinion of Normal People is! It looks very nice, I agree.

the Jackie Dayton episode of WWDITS with Mark Hamill was a definite high point
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPV5YOunWWc

god that was so good

NP is finely acted, I just don't care about the subject matter. Also, atrocious music supervision.

I can't imagine I'd have been wild about the book either.

the Jackie Daytona episode was an unexpected treat

Colin explaining his energy vampire trolling technique, with his array of laptops, was another recent delight

colin is a consistent highlight for me

With some reservations I really like Dave on FX, sort of like a more straightforward/sitcommy Atlanta

yep good show, dicky has a charming young sandler vibe imo ymmv

it probably helps that I had no idea who he was when I started watching

unfortunately i do know who he is and tapped out after the initial longform dick joke that opens the series

Yeah if you can't run with that, you should probably tap out. But it does go some places I did not expect (eventually)

Waco on Netflix is something else. Perfect length, you get it over with in a week.

i have been meaning to watch it

Here's my ten current on-air or recently-off-air top picks

Ramy (Hulu) - Still glaringly chauvinistic but, that weak point aside, S2 is one of the most challenging, unpredictable shows in the history of television.
What We Do in Shadows (FX) - Turning Guillermo into the main character was the right call.
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (Netflix) - Better in studio, still vital.
The Dress Up Gang (TBS) - I just wanted to say, I really cherish our friendship: A Thread for Dress Up Gang - TBS Television Show and Online Comedy Troupe
Desus and Mero (Showtime) - The only late night talk show that can handle lock-down; the brand is superman strong
Ryukahr plays Super Mario Maker 2 (YouTube) - endlessly mesmerizing
All Gas No Brakes (YouTube) - bombastic, insightful, devastating; can't wait for this to get a budget.
Brockmire (IFC) - The most outrageous final season twist on television by a country mile. I miss it already
Quiz (ITV, AMC)
Staged (BBC 1) - Shouldn't really work, but surprisingly clever and consistently sharp.

And some others:
The Film Review (BBC News)
Insecure (HBO) - weakest season yet imo but the last two episodes have had weight. Surprised by how emotionally involved i still am with Issa and Laurence. The Molly/Andrew B-plot is terrible; i really don't care about those characters at all.
At Home With Amy Sedaris (IFC) - mostly recycling itself these days but good campy fun nonetheless
Last Week Tonight (HBO)
Iron Pineapple (YouTube)
Cracking the Cryptic (YouTube)
Eating History (History) - This is dumb as a rock but strangely satisfying.
Three Busy Debras (Adult Swim) - This was good and I'm sad to see that, past the initial "three women doing weird comedy on Adult Swim?!?!" press push, there was no conversation. Hope it gets renewed.

On Deck / In Progress:
Şahsiyet aka Persona (puhutv) - This is a 12-part Turkish high-concept, expensive looking crime drama from 2018, think Hannibal-meets-Breaking Bad. The subs I've found for this aren't commercial so the viewer is obliged to do some creative in-head scripting but the acting and direction are outstanding. It's a show where "Why?" is the main driver of the story so maybe best not to discuss too much except to suggest that it's absolutely worth trying if you can find it.
The Great (Hulu)
Mrs America (Hulu)
Woodpecker Detective Office (Tokyo MX)
Portrait Artist of the Year (Sky Arts)
I May Destroy You (HBO)
Dead Still (Acorn)

I'm almost done s1 of Mr. Inbetween but I'm not that wild about it. Really just watching for the dude's compelling face. Herriman gets nothing of interest to do and the whole thing comes off like a less compelling Australian Barry to me.

Must start on Brockmire soon.

In-Between ends S1 on a high note and improves in s2 imo but it's maybe not for everyone.
Brockmire is so well scripted and acted. Season four is a total cynical mindfuck, especially in the current climate.

In-Between was renewed for s3 btw so i am very much looking forward to that.

maybe I'm just bored w/ hitmen/enforcer stories

i am too! Even so, I like what Scott Ryan does with the character. S2 underlines the fact that he's an irredeemable bastard and gives his personal code of ethics greater definition and weight.

My current faves

Stargirl (CW) great cast, really fun
What We Do In The Shadows (FX) awesome
Love Life (HBO) Good romcom fare! Anna Kendrick is a doll
Top Chef All Stars (Bravo)
RuPauls Drag Race All Stars (VH1)
Property Brothers Celebrity (HGTV) - except the Michael Bublé ep which i skipped bc I hate him but Brad Pitt & Melissa McCathy eps made me full-body cry and I never usually watch home makeover shows

Also rewatching The Alienist (TNT/HBO) since the second season is coming in July.
It’s so,SO good

similar to how quickly I bailed on the book, I couldn't get past the first episode of the Alienist despite it looking great. the dialogue and acting all seemed a bit...network tv to me.

aw :/

well it makes sense if the book didnt do it for you

mentioned ‘the great’ in the hulu/etc thread. it lives up to its title. best way I could describe is a mixture of the favourite and veep. both leads are delightful, and nic hoult is a brilliant bastard

i want to check that out, it sounds like my bag

I May Destroy You is remarkable so far, four eps in

Can anyone recommend any good, current detective/mystery shows? Doesn't matter which country they're from. Don't assume anything is too obvious that I already know about it.

Hannibal
Sahsiyet - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7920978/
True Detective s1
The Wire
Prime Suspect
Life on Mars (UK only)
Unbelievable

Endeavour - literally the best.

The Outsider
Mindhunter
The Alienist

Unforgotten
Line of Duty
Happy Valley

Seriously just watch Endeavour.

Thanks for the recommendations, ulysses and VG. The Outsider is the only one mentioned that I've seen (I liked it). The Alienist sounds particularly interesting, so I might start there.

report back on yr findings!

Line of Duty is excellent

Oh yeah, Justified too

Can echo VG's Endeavour rec. It's grown to really be something in a class of its own.

Going to rep for ‘A House Through Time‘, endlessly fascinating stories and a nice bit of serendipity that the current series is set in BrIstol as slavery features strongly in it.

Yeah, it's great. We spoke about it on the bbc thread a while back.

will try endeavour and house through time based on these recs

Oh and add the new HBO Perry Mason to my list of good detective shows. 1 episode in and I am deeply onboard

Endeavour is the Morse thing? It's available on Amazon Prime here, so maybe I'll check it out.

Currently watching the third season of Better Things on Hulu, which is amazing - easily the best season.

Summer Camp Island on HBO Max is frightfully good.

I May Destroy You is absolutely devastating, brilliant but one of those where you couldn't binge it all without it fucking you up for a while.

mentioned it on the female showrunners thread... I'm on ep 4, it's in the middle of a sort of showcase of consent scenarios at the moment, curious as to where it will go. It's really effective.

Thanks for "House Through Time," what a good find! Consistently interesting when it has no reason to be, but the depth of research and a compassionate, story-minded narrator turn it into a genuine potboiler. Real detective story shit.

I thought Chewing Gum was outrageously good so I'm all in for I May Destroy You; just need to find the right moment (timewise and emotionally) to crack it.