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What was the last TV show you watched?

Stearmen

I'll Lock Up
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7,202
Secrets of the Dead: The Alcatraz Escape. Finally, a group that tried the escape during real San Francisco bay weather, not lake glass smooth! Was interesting to see all the other gadgets the escapees made other then the raft and life vests. Wrenches, drills, even a periscope to see if there were any guards on the roof!
 
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17,221
Location
New York City
The season premiere of "Mr Selfridge." This show has always been a marginal one for me - the period details and sets can be very good or sloppy, as with the clothes and dialogue. Also, the story lines ping all over the place, the characters are consistent until they aren't and Jeremy Pivon over acts to the point that I think he's trying to reach the person sitting in the last row of a long theater.

That said, there has always been just enough good in the sets, clothes, stories to keep me watching. However, the season premiere had more of everything that doesn't work well and it turned up the volume on those flaws. Some sets were beautiful and very period, but others felt modern with some period details thrown in. The storylines were zipping here and there without thought; the acting was inconsistent and Pivon was over gesticulating to his max. I'll give it one or two more episodes, but I'm close to dropping out.
 

AmateisGal

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Messages
6,126
Location
Nebraska
Supernatural and the third episode of Band of Brothers. While watching it, my daughter will often ask me to pause it so she can ask me a question. She asked several last night! She's growing really interested in World War II history. I can't say I'm disappointed. :D
 
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17,221
Location
New York City
And handled so well. The director was able to make me accept what was coming by laying the groundwork many episodes prior. It would be nice to see more of Arnold Rothstein; in my opinion, he steals every scene he is in.
:D

Could not agree more. Not at all close to real-life Rothstein, but "Boardwalk Empire" is fiction inspired by history and, taken that way, Rothstein is one of the best characters on the show. He has that weird criminal-with-integrity profile that is incredibly complex and appealing. He lives by a code that isn't moral but isn't entirely immoral - it's a morality that he defines, but lives by. Better than many "moral" people who stay on the on the right side of the law, but are horribly immoral. And, you are spot on, IMHO, steals every scene he's in.
 
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MisterCairo

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,005
Location
Gads Hill, Ontario
My wife and I are finally getting around to Luther. We've seen the first three episodes of series one and are absolutely hooked! I'm not thrilled that Paul McGann is playing a bit of a milquetoast character, but it's great that Steven MacIntosh is in it, I've always liked his work (check out Our Mutual Friend, also starring Paul McGann).
 

Doctor Strange

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,253
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
Could not agree more. Not at all close to real-life Rothstein, but "Boardwalk Empire" is fiction inspired by history and, taken that way, Rothstein is one of the best characters on the show. He has that weird criminal-with-integrity profile that is incredibly complex and appealing. He lives by a code that isn't moral but isn't entirely immoral - it's a morality that he defines, but lives by. Better than many "moral" people who stay on the on the right side of the law, but are horribly immoral. And, you are spot on, IMHO, steals every scene he's in.

Arnold Rothstein was one of the great pleasures of the series, and (spoiler alert!) his not appearing in the shortened final season was a huge disappointment. Michael Stuhlbarg is tremendous in the role. (Actually, he's always excellent: A Serious Man is probably my favorite Coen Bros film.)

The end of season two - that awful but inevitable ending - is one of the highlights of the series. There are plenty more adventures ahead, but nothing else that reaches the depth of Nucky and Jimmy's difficult relationship, IMHO.
 

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