Chan Eil Whiskers
Fumbling about.
I'm interested in finding great things to watch on Netflix. Particularly series shows but maybe good movies also.
My wife and I are watching The Crown together, an episode or two most nights. I've already binge watched the entire series and she's watched parts of it, but it's so good I want to watch it again.
What's great about The Crown? Just about everything. The production values are extremely high. Nothing is below top drawer from the standpoint of this viewer. I'm a fan of historical fiction (some of it) and have an undergraduate degree in history, but I don't actually know how historically accurate The Crown is. Regardless, it's entertaining, interesting, and seems very worthy of my time.
The main character, from a certain point of view, is, of course, Queen Elizabeth. The show revolves around her character development particularly as it relates to the burden of the monarchy. From another viewpoint the main character is the monarchy itself, and the prisoners trapped within its exquisite confines.
Relationships within the royal family, between the family and government, and especially within the royal marriage are a huge part of the show, but the context shifts as current events unfold.
A major figure is the former king who has abdicated in favor of his wife, Wallis Simpson. Much of his character is fleshed out as he writes letters to her describing events, thoughts, impressions, and feelings he has when he is not with her. According to my wife, these letters are quoted with absolute historical accuracy.
Another show I watched a year or so ago and thought highly of is Rectify. Over several seasons the story deals with the release from prison of a man who was locked up for almost twenty years for horrible crimes. Much of the series is about his return to his family and the fictional small town where he grew up, but there's a major plot curiosity revolving around unanswered questions. Did he actually commit the crimes to begin with? Even the man himself is not quite sure about that, but it all becomes clear as the series progresses, at least clear enough for me. Rectify is the epitome of Southern Gothic. You might find it a bit slow at times, but it's slow like a deep river. There's a whole lot going on.
The relationship between the characters pictured above lingers in my mind.
Another of my favorites is Blue Bloods. To me, it's a fine police procedural show, but it also addresses many current issues in our society from a number of vantage points. Tying the show together is a weeky Sunday dinner where four generations never fail to gather. I enjoy the interactions between Frank and his family, particular at dinner where all voices are heard. I can't wait for the next season. This is an action show but it's not the usual shoot 'em up where violence is king. There are usually at least three plots going at once, but it is also a show about values, and tradition, and character.
In fact, all three of the shows I've mentioned are about values, tradition, and character.
Switching gears here. Riverdale's main characters are Betty, Archie, Jughead, and Veronica from the comic books. I wouldn't say this is a serious television show but the themes are not the typical teenage coming of age issues, at least enough of them aren't. Murder is.
Riverdale may be a cartoon, but it's an adult cartoon largely in a high school setting. My college aged daughter thinks it's stupid. My wife won't admit to watching it, but I know she did. I liked it a lot for a lot of reasons, but I'll also admit it's partly a bit of a Ginger or Mary Ann question for me. Betty wins, hands down, but Veronica has her own appeal.
I enjoy all sorts of movies and series, but find a great many far too stupid and so poorly done they should have been trashed by the studio. Instead many made it to Netflix. I doubt anyone would necessarily like exactly what I like, but if we share what we like and why we like it maybe we can help each other figure out what's worth watching on Netflix?
Happy shaves,
Jim
My wife and I are watching The Crown together, an episode or two most nights. I've already binge watched the entire series and she's watched parts of it, but it's so good I want to watch it again.
What's great about The Crown? Just about everything. The production values are extremely high. Nothing is below top drawer from the standpoint of this viewer. I'm a fan of historical fiction (some of it) and have an undergraduate degree in history, but I don't actually know how historically accurate The Crown is. Regardless, it's entertaining, interesting, and seems very worthy of my time.
The main character, from a certain point of view, is, of course, Queen Elizabeth. The show revolves around her character development particularly as it relates to the burden of the monarchy. From another viewpoint the main character is the monarchy itself, and the prisoners trapped within its exquisite confines.
Relationships within the royal family, between the family and government, and especially within the royal marriage are a huge part of the show, but the context shifts as current events unfold.
A major figure is the former king who has abdicated in favor of his wife, Wallis Simpson. Much of his character is fleshed out as he writes letters to her describing events, thoughts, impressions, and feelings he has when he is not with her. According to my wife, these letters are quoted with absolute historical accuracy.
Another show I watched a year or so ago and thought highly of is Rectify. Over several seasons the story deals with the release from prison of a man who was locked up for almost twenty years for horrible crimes. Much of the series is about his return to his family and the fictional small town where he grew up, but there's a major plot curiosity revolving around unanswered questions. Did he actually commit the crimes to begin with? Even the man himself is not quite sure about that, but it all becomes clear as the series progresses, at least clear enough for me. Rectify is the epitome of Southern Gothic. You might find it a bit slow at times, but it's slow like a deep river. There's a whole lot going on.
The relationship between the characters pictured above lingers in my mind.
Another of my favorites is Blue Bloods. To me, it's a fine police procedural show, but it also addresses many current issues in our society from a number of vantage points. Tying the show together is a weeky Sunday dinner where four generations never fail to gather. I enjoy the interactions between Frank and his family, particular at dinner where all voices are heard. I can't wait for the next season. This is an action show but it's not the usual shoot 'em up where violence is king. There are usually at least three plots going at once, but it is also a show about values, and tradition, and character.
In fact, all three of the shows I've mentioned are about values, tradition, and character.
Switching gears here. Riverdale's main characters are Betty, Archie, Jughead, and Veronica from the comic books. I wouldn't say this is a serious television show but the themes are not the typical teenage coming of age issues, at least enough of them aren't. Murder is.
Riverdale may be a cartoon, but it's an adult cartoon largely in a high school setting. My college aged daughter thinks it's stupid. My wife won't admit to watching it, but I know she did. I liked it a lot for a lot of reasons, but I'll also admit it's partly a bit of a Ginger or Mary Ann question for me. Betty wins, hands down, but Veronica has her own appeal.
I enjoy all sorts of movies and series, but find a great many far too stupid and so poorly done they should have been trashed by the studio. Instead many made it to Netflix. I doubt anyone would necessarily like exactly what I like, but if we share what we like and why we like it maybe we can help each other figure out what's worth watching on Netflix?
Happy shaves,
Jim
