A few times, I told you about the shows I watched. And it was fun, so I am going to do it again! This was another pretty good batch, but I have also been more willing to quit stuff I don’t like. Also, I spend a significant portion of my time rewatching The 100, so. And here is a NEW fun fact for you: I should have, really should have, posted reviews, but honestly this seemed more fun so it won out. There you have it.

So, a list of the shows I’ve been watching since whenever the hell the last post posted was! Also wow wee, I have watched enough stuff to make an eleventh one of these? Moderately impressed with myself! 

A few old faves had new seasons, too! And reader, they were good!

La Brea

Yellowjackets

The Challenge 

2021 ♦ HBO Max

Miniseries

I read this book before I watched the show. Actually, initially I read the book because I assumed I’d never watch the show. HBO is expensive, friends, and I wasn’t about that life. But then I got a discount around the holidays and went for it, so here we are. Fun fact, I personally think this show is far superior to the book. Which is rare! But here we are. Look, the book wasn’t bad by any means. But it felt… detached, I think? I just felt like I was reading about characters, not like I was in the story with them. Anyway, the show makes the characters so much… more. They’re more relatable and sympathetic and fleshed out, and I loved it.

Whoops.

The world building is incredibly realistic, and portrayed in such a believable way. And there is just so much humanity and relationship building in the show. So if you read the book and loved it, you will likely love this more. If you haven’t read the book, you absolutely have to watch the show because it is amazing.

No, I am, I just did! 

Verdict: 👍👍


2022- ♦ Amazon Prime

Renewed for Season 2

This one, much like 1899 below it, starts off a little slower. In fact, I was thinking of quitting! But I didn’t, and I won’t lie, it was mostly because this show contains one of my favorite elements in any show, Chuku Modu. Then when I saw Eli Goree… look I will watch anything that Chuku is in, and then you tell me I get to see Gabriel coexist with Wells Jaha? Yeah. I’m gonna at least give it another episode or twelve.

I mean not really.

But again, it picked up, and it got goooood. I loved traipsing through the world and through time with this group of misfit toys. They’re all absolute messes, frankly, but it is part of the charm. And then trying to fgure out how all of the people and places and times are connected… ::chef’s kiss::

Come for Chuku and Eli, stay for the batshit and fabulous story.

Verdict: 👍👍


2022- ♦ AMC

Season 2 Coming July 30

Here is another show that Greg made me watch, and as usual, I am glad I listened. (Which means I really should start The Rig, eh?) Anyway, this one features a small Navajo town, specifically two police officers trying to solve some messy crimes. It is really well done, very compelling, and beyond atmospheric. There’s a ton of amazing commentary about the treatment of Native peoples as well.

We love a GIF montage summing up the series while not giving anything away! ♥♥

There is a lot of mystery happening, and it was certainly intruging to see it all tie together (and no worries, it does!), and who can be trusted and who cannot. It’s a very short season, only six episodes (the second is planned to be six as well) but man does it pack a punch into such a limited amount of minutes! I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to connect to the characters and story in such a short time but yep, I was wrong. Ended up fully loving it and I cannot wait for season 2!

Yep bye guys. 

Verdict: 👍👍


2022 ♦ Netflix

Canceled because Netflix is the actual devil 

Dear Netflix,

I loathe you entirely. You are the reason we cannot have nice things. You order a mind-fucky, twisty, amazing show, and then cancel it, on only the biggest cliffhanger of all time. You may kindly burn in hell.

Hate You,

Shannon

I feel your pain, sir. 

I seriously have no idea why they greenlit this show only to cancel it. Makes no sense. Someone please, make it make sense! So- in all honesty, it does start off rather slowly. And hey, maybe that is why? Maybe not enough people finished it? Who the hell knows. It’s still very highly rated and was #1 for eons so. Whatever Netflix, I hope you get herpes or something. I digress. So it starts off slow, but the payoff is worth it a million times over. It’s such a creepy boat, and the atmosphere is incredible, and you will find yourself wanting to know all the things about the boat and its occupants.

Old timey boat stories rarely end well. 

Truly, not much more I can say, because for this one, the fun is in the secrets. But I also don’t know if I can fully recommend it since you’ll never get closure? And I mean, I will torment you with tears (see below), but I never want to torment my dear friends with the gnawing lack of closure that may eat at you for the rest of your days.

 Verdict: 👍👍


2023- ♦ HBO Max

Renewed for Season 2

Disclaimer: I have never played the game. And I think that means a lot here. I feel like the show had the potential to be quite boring, perhaps, if you played the game and knew all the twists and such? However, having never encountered the story before, I was incredibly invested in the story, the world, and the characters. And in some complaints I have read, folks think perhaps it may be too character driven? But honestly for me that was the best part. I care way more about people than zombies, so.

See? They’re fun. 

I mean yes, it is very much a survival show, but I think the crux of it is really having the audience care whether the characters survived. And I did, I really did. They’re beyond morally gray, perhaps even roaming into antihero territory at times, but you get it. Sure, the decisions they have to make are often garbage, and maybe not even the ones we’d make, but I loved that they “went there” in a lot of cases, and that they always made the viewer understand why the character was making a particular decision, whether it was good, bad, or indifferent.

Heh.

There is really something for everyone in this show: Messed up zombie-types, survival, romance, family, found family, crazy cults, random fun old people, happy moments, profoundly sad moments, happy moments immediately followed by profoundly sad moments throwing your emotions into a vortex from which they may never recover… you get the idea! So. You should probably watch it, especially if you aren’t familiar with the source material. Come sob with me!

(No really, do it, I am evil like that!) 😈

Verdict: 👍👍


2023- ♦ Sci-Fi/Peacock

Renewed for Season 2

Okay look, this isn’t… the most well written or original sci-fi show in the history of television. It isn’t even particularly subtle about ripping off every space show that happened in the past decade or so. But look, I’ll be damned if it isn’t entertaining. And I really ended up enjoying the characters and the adventure. Admittedly, the first episode is rough. It’s like I tell people about The 100- please don’t judge it by the pilot because yikes.

As was I, friend.

But once it got going, I simply could not stop watching. In fact, I found myself “one more episode”-ing myself way past my bedtime. So if you’re looking for the next Emmy-winning sensation, look elsewhere, but if you are looking for a fun, quirky, and yeah, sometimes tropey sci-fi romp with action and interesting characters, this is absolutely going to satisfy your cravings.

Except more than a little. 

Verdict: 👍👍

What are some of your current favorite shows? Anything I must watch? Have you seen any of these? I am currently in the midst of another The 100 rewatch, because it is me, and there are a ton of shows on my watchlist, but I am always here for recommendations/peer pressure (obviously, heh)! 

Posted May 24, 2023 by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight in Funsies, Not Books, Shows , / 5 Comments

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5 responses to “Sometimes I Watch Shows (Part 11)

  1. I’ve gotten about halfway through the first episode of Last of Us, because I need to watch that ONLY in daytime, and because I feel a whole lotta dread about what’s gonna happen. I stopped right when we hit the point of creepy fungus takeover and am trying to find the cajones to pick it back up.

    I actually recently got hooked on a Netflix show (one season only, I think, by design) based on the book The Cook of Castamar. Lots of scheming and romance and gorgeous costumes, set in Spain in the 1700s (it’s a dubbed show).

    I’m bummed to hear 1899 wasn’t renewed, because I was interested in watching that one. And then there was catching up on The Mandalorian. But honestly, yesterday I added a Google calendar task of “watch TV” because I keep de-prioritizing it and then getting mad at myself for paying for things I don’t use.

  2. I need to get back to The Last of Us. It’s just so dark and it was dragging me down. I’ve been watching Queen Charlotte and then had to rewatch both seasons of Bridgerton. And for some reason I started watching Veronica Mars last night, and I’m surprised how it still holds up!

  3. I haven’t watched any of them, but I have been on a bit of a scifi kick. I totally agree with you on The 100. I finished watching it a week or so ago and I am sure I will be returning to it. I love apocalyptic/dystopian novels and shows more and more all the time.
    sherry @ fundinmental

  4. I started Station Eleven, and liked the first episode or two, but then got bored in the third I think. Peripheral is on my list to give a try. I tried The Ark, but got bored or something with the first episode and gave up. But it sounds like you’re saying I should go back and give it another try. And I loved The Last of Us! Thanks for sharing!

  5. Jessica

    I love La Brea. A show like it is called Outer Range on Amazon Prime is really good. It is supposed to be a second season of it soon. I have seen The Peripherical. I love it too. Dark Winds sound good. I’ll look into it. I have been watching Mrs. Davis (a crazy show), The Servant (I’m on season 2 ), The Blacklist (the last season), Kung Fu (only the current episodes), A Million Little Things (the last season). I’m going to be watching American Born Chinese, Twisted Metal, and You (the latest episodes). Upcoming show that I have seen trailer that looks really good is Beacon 9 (it’s based on a book too).

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