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 really 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. I think I actually found all of these on my own, not a Greg-recommended show in sight. He should probably get his shit together, or I may just rewatch The 100 until the end of time.
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 a thirteenth one of these? Moderately impressed with myself!
Season 2 Filming
So what is this, the 37th spinoff of The Walking Dead franchise? At least, right? So, I was pleasantly surprised by Dead City, and this was one I was more looking forward to. And it was okay. But had it been any more than six episodes, I may not have stuck with it? Look, I love Daryl/Norman, and I am obviously here for post-apoc France.
Guess Daryl expected a croissant or the Mona Lisa or something.
But beyond that… ehhhh. The whole story was basically this little kid who is maybe immune to zombs and maybe the second coming of Jesus? Idk, there is a heavy religious focus on this story (I expected a bit of one obviously, since it’s partly set in a literal convent), but I didn’t quite expect it to be such a literal take. Look, the son of God this kid has plot armor. Daryl, as the titular character, has hella plot armor. The blonde nun lady obviously has plot armor as Daryl’s maybe-love-interest (and frankly, she isn’t Carol, so she can sit the hell down). My point is, the stakes seemed kind of low. You know a second season is happening, they’re not killing off the main cast, so.
I mean. Same.
Speaking of, you will see Carol in some way. That was publicly announced eons ago, so it isn’t a spoiler. I think they knew that the people weren’t going to be as enamored with Plot Armor Sightseeing Adventure™ without Carol. So. It’s fine, I’ll probably watch the next season because I hate myself, but it isn’t going to blow your mind.
Mostly here for her, tbh.
Verdict: 
Limited Series
Did I watch this mostly because Justina Ireland was a writer on it? Yes. Did it help that it was during Spooky Season™? Also yes. And I’ll be damned, it was quite entertaining! Totally bananas, but entertaining! It is based, of course, on the entirety of Edgar Allan Poe’s works- not in a strict sense, but in the way that much of the series has nods to various components. It is clever, that.
Or not, honestly, they’re pretty terrible.
No one is likable in this whole show, frankly. But, I think that is part of why you can stomach it. If you knew a bunch of really nice folks were doomed, you’d probably not be tickled to watch the thing, yeah? But it is with morbid curiosity that we watch the horror unfold on this family who… kind of seems to sort of deserve it? Of course, as such, you lack that empathetic connection, too. So, double edged sword, I suppose.
Everyone knows it.
But it is messed up, and it definitely kept me watching, and of course rooting for the (very few) characters that might be redeemable. We know from the first opening scene that most of the group is likely not making it out alive- which is an interesting contrast to the life of luxury they’d come to know, feeling untouchable as Ushers. That, perhaps, is the most satisfying part- the concept of, for lack of a better term, the devil getting its due. And for all the darkness and awfulness, it has some moments of wonderful, dry and dark humor that make the whole thing palatable.
Verdict:
Limited Series
I do love me a limited series! Especially on Netflix, because you absolutely know they were just gonna cancel the thing anyway. This miniseries has such a cool premise: one body, seemingly the same dude’s body, showing up across various time periods, but in the same location, in the same situation. Um, count me in!
Love it.
The time periods are 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053, all in London. I loved seeing this same location through the eyes of the various detectives throughout history! And I loved seeing the detectives’ stories unfurl. Just as we are finding out clues about the whole “random dead naked guy lost in time” thing, we are also finding out a lot about each individual detective- and trying to piece together what- if any- their connection is.
This is the only valid response, tbh.
Honestly, the less I say about this one the better, as you’re absolutely going to want to uncover this all for yourself. But it is very satisfying, very immersive, and wow, Netflix was actually able to finish a whole story, do we give them a cookie or something?
See, everyone is shocked!
Verdict:
Renewed for Season 2
So, I finally caved and got MGM+ just so I could watch this and From. It was a Black Friday deal, so that is fun. I was stoked for this, because I enjoy sci-fi and it is based on a Hugh Howey short story, so that is cute. But look- when something is based on a short story, maybe it doesn’t need to be its own series? Like maybe there is just not enough there for it to stand on, yeah?
This is the whole series, I think? In one clip? 🤷
Look, there are two characters in the whole shebang. I mean- two main characters, anyway. And neither of them particularly thrilled me. We did get some backstory on the Beacon, and that was probably the most interesting. The male character, Halen, was decent, especially his backstory. But two people who are strangers (and have no chemistry together- Idk if they are supposed to, but they do not) and not very invested in anything the other does, just walking around on an isolated beacon fighting off the occasional baddie and waxing poetic about space rocks… well, this doesn’t exactly make for riveting television.
Even Space Rock™ is bored.
I mean, you’re telling me that no one has made series out of some of my favorite sci-fi books ever, and this poor man’s Expanse is just… not it. There are so many incredibly creative worlds out there. Where’s my J.S. Dewes series? R. W.W. Greene? The Donovan series? Hell, I am still impatiently waiting for Neal Shusterman’s work to be on my screen! This is not terrible, it just isn’t great, and it’s a really bizarre choice IMO.
Verdict: 😑
2 Seasons, Renewed for Season 3
I am obsessed with this show. It is messed up and awful and I cannot stop watching. Let me first get this out of the way: there are some moments, especially early on, where the writing is… iffy, okay? But don’t let that deter you because this show is bananas. I don’t have any idea what is happening, some of the characters are next level ridiculous, and it doesn’t matter. Can’t stop, won’t stop.
Nothing good, ma’am. Nothing good.
Basically, the very brief premise so not to spoil anything, is this: some folks find themselves in what looks like an abandoned town from the 1970s. They try to get out but inexplicably, no matter what direction they try to turn, they end up in town. The townspeople try to explain that once you’re in, you’re in. And the only way you’re getting out? Spirits or monsters or something that will, quite literally, tear you limb from limb in the night.
We sure did.
Obviously, no one believes this, until they see the “things” in action. It is intense, and apparently some people have been stuck in this hell for years. There had been a few months of relative peace, but now it looks like the Creepers are getting smarter, trying harder. And there are just so many questions, and backstories, and secrets, and and and…
Goats. The last “and” was goats.
Verdict:
What are some of your current favorite shows? Anything I must watch? Have you seen any of these? I am always here for recommendations/peer pressure (obviously, heh)! I also currently have nearly every streaming service known to man, thanks to Black Friday deals, so recommend away!
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I loved Bodies too. I’m really enjoying My Life With the Walter Boys on Netflix and will start the new season of Virgin River, another good series, soon.
Oooh I have been curious about Walter Boys! I may have to give that one a go!
I always find new shows in your recs! I’m not here for creepy stuff, but Bodies sounds interesting, I may give it a try! Also, your gif subtitles are always cracking me up. I’m currently watching Sisi, a German-language TV show about an Austrian empress. I don’t think it’s available in English, but there is one season of The Empress, which is about the same person’s life on Netflix, which I also liked (I actually wrote a whole essay about these two shows for my next post haha). I’m also watching the last season of The Rookie, and I started to rewatch Fresh Off the Boat with my husband.
Bodies is definitely interesting… but also definitely creepy! Oooh Sisi sounds interesting! Even if it has subtitles I am down! (Actually- I far prefer subtitles to dubbing, they always sound so fake with dubbing!) I am looking forward to this essay!
From sounds like a show I’d watch. I’ve currently been binge watching How To Get Away with Murder on Netflix. Highly recommend.
Oooh thanks! I will have to check that one out! And I am seriously OBSESSED with From. I am going to be heartbroken when I am out of episodes!
I have literally heard of none of these shows, lol. I wish my husband was a TV watcher, and then I’d spend more time watching stuff. Not that I can’t on my own, but it’s not as much fun.😁
Bwhahah that is how I am with movies though- I never watch them, even though I kind of want to.
Loved Bodies! I’m currently watching Slow Horses on Apple and A Murder at the End of the World – both awesome.
I am DEFINITELY going to be trying Murder when I am done with From. And Slow Horses is also on my watchlist, so I shall try that one too! Thank you!
Beacon 23 was on my to-watch list. Emphasis on was 😂 Bodies is also on my list, still haven’t gotten around to it. I’m currently in my Doctor Who comeback era so I’m probably only going to watch sci-fi for a couple of months 😅 if anyone has any good cozy adventure sci-fi to recommend, please help a girl out 😄
Bwhahah sorry! I think there are still two episodes I haven’t watched, so I *will*, just because I like to finish stuff, and I will let you know if my verdict changes but… I doubt it tbh. Bodies was really good thoough at least! Ooooh I do not blame you there- I usually end up down The 100 rabbit holes for months at a time! I will try to think about some cozy sci-fi. I usually like mine dark and awful but I am sure there are some lighter ones out there!
Your Daryl review cracked me up lol
The House of Usher was absolutely off the wall but fun. We didn’t really like Bodies and gave up.
We’re waiting or a few shows to build up episodes before we start. Like, Monarch, For All Mankind.
We’ve been binging lots of shows lately but I’ve had a complete brain fart and can’t remember any lolol
Aw thank you! Sad that you did not like Bodies, I was a fan. Usher was fun too, I agree! OHH FAM I am caught up with. Some pretty intense shit is going down, as always. I hope you love it!
I haven’t seen any of these! Though I do want to watch House of Usher one day. I just finished Lessons in Chemistry and recently did a deep dive into Fargo. Just finished season four (my least fav) and hope to start the latest season soon.
Oh I keep hearing about Lessons in Chemistry! Did you like it? Sorry that Fargo S4 was not your favorite- I always get stuck at 3A of The 100, so I get that. Hope the next one is better!
I’ve just started in on Bodies and I’m loving it too – can’t wait to see what happens. I’ve also just started on the new live action YuYu Hakusho on Netflix and I’m pleasantly surprised by how well they’ve handled it. 😊
Oh YAY I hope you ended up enjoying it all! I loved wondering what would come next! I will have to check YuYu Hakusho out, too! Glad it is good for you!
Post apoc france does sound… intriguing. I mean, we alreadyt have post apoc America in real life, right? Might as well let the French in on the fun. I’m really surprised by that premise, though. And carol pointing a gun at someone is always nice.
Usher, honestly, this makes me want to watch it. The whole Poe thing kinda gave me pause, but… I’d like it maybe?
The Donovan books, by the way… which I haven’t even read… I know enough to know they could be AWESOME. Beacon… lol
Maybe I need to start Goats… I mean, From?
Bwhahah that is SO true. Seriously, it is a weird premise. I don’t know how I feel about it leaning so into “the savior” plot, especially with zombies? But alas. They still have not hired us, so.
It is not too Poe-heavy, it is more… Poe-inspired? And it has a lot of little nods without it being in-your-face. Like sometimes it is just the name, or a theme, etc. Not a retelling.
YES so I have already cast Donovan in my head. I could be a writer and ALSO an actor. I have a vision, a vision that no one cares about. I still have not managed to finish Beacon. I probably will when I wrap up From, just so I can cancel MGM until From comes back around. Whoops?
YES. WATCH FROM, damn it. It is GOOD.
That’s good to know. About Poe. As a kid I watched those Vincent Price versions and they were creepy, but I’m not super into Poe.
So what channel is it on? I’ll have to check. I need something.
And I need to start Gear’s books SOON.
🙂
Nah I don’t really care about him either. Kinda wordy heh.
It is on MGM! I think you can access it via Amazon too.
Yeah you should especially since my glowing words of recommendation are on the back of all of them!
They ARE? You’re blurbed on them? Wow!!!!
The only one I’m familiar with is Walking Dead. I have been following them too and am eager for next year. Daryl is my favorite and I want to see him and Carol get back together. Also, what the hell happened to Rick and Michonne. I gotta know!
sherry @ fundinmental
See- I am SO apathetic for the Richonne one! I wish I cared more, and I will still probably watch it, but I am not super eager, Idk! I liked them both as characters, but I didn’t really feel the chemistry of them together, I think.
I started out liking the Daryl Dixon show, but gave up about the 4th episode? Didn’t realize it was only 6, so maybe I’ll go back and give it another try to finish. I was enjoying the Fall of the House of Usher, until I just realized when I cancelled NetFlix because I couldn’t watch a show on my lowest level of subscription, so now I won’t be finishing that. lol From is new, but sounds good! And I guess whenever I resubscribe to Netflix, probably in May for the next Bridgerton series, I will try watching Bodies! I’m still enjoying my Outlander reruns and waiting for new episodes. Mostly I think I’ve been watching regular tv or movies on Amazon Prime I think. Thanks for finding more shows for me to watch!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2023/12/24/weekly-wrap-up-149-december-24th-2023/
Yeah I mean, worth it for two more episodes, right? And I mean, the last ones were the best ones, if that helps? Not that it’s saying a *ton*, but still heh. Aw that is sad about Usher! Maybe finish when you re-up? If you’re bored? Bodies was good too though! I have no regular TV so it is all streaming for me, hence why I am always trying to find stuff heh.
Oh wow I can’t believe I’ve never heard of Bodies before, it sounds super intriguing!!!
It was very good! And satisfactorily wrapped up, which we can rarely say for Netflix!
So, my besties have got me started on TWD, a show I previously thought I just couldn’t watch. In three nights, we covered the first 2 seasons (I normally watch maybe an episode a week of things, so I’m impressed by that). So far, I’m liking it, and apparently my constant commentary is entertaining. 😀
The Fall of the House of Usher is on my list, too. As is Bodies. I just have too many shows to watch!
I don’t have MGM+, so I’ll skip those (even though From sounds like of up my alley these days). I’m currently watching Schmigadoon! on AppleTV (I’m on season 2). As a musicals fan and former actor, the show just cracks me up.
So, since none of these are Greg recs, how do you pick what to try watching? I get overwhelmed by my own list and could use some tips and tricks in getting through my to-watch list in a way that doesn’t feel like homework. 😉