Etc: Enter the Chat.
Been a minute. Let's chat. Monday Aug. 26, Noon, Best Coast Time.
Just a little advanced planning for a Chat today at noon, PT. Free to all subscribers.
Topics? Well, there’s literally no reason why it can’t be an AMA/Thread type of thing, particularly since we’re dusting off the cobwebs for an official one of these (I’ve fired it up for quick convos).
But certainly things to consider thinking about are:
Have you found anything on the various “It’s the End Of the World As We Know It” lists of joy that you’re now watching or soon starting? Lots of suggestions in those, and more coming, but if you’ve picked one and started watching, that’s a good talking point.
I’m also particularly interested if you’ve taken the initial advice and started a re-watch on an older series. In a similar vein, some readers have said they took the spirit of these various lists and have decided to watch Name Your Show Here because they’d always wanted to and now, when the world seems insane, is a good time to turn away to help their mentals, and as NBC once said, if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s new to you.
I see you, “Fringe” watcher.
A couple of other talking points to consider are:
International shows that have hooked you.
What you’re watching now (I just finished “Furies” and per the “Still Watching…Or Not” column I recently posted, am working my way through “Time Bandits,” “The Sympathizer” and “The Tyrant.”
What you’ve STOPPED watching. Like, I gave up on “The Decameron” and now that I dragged my partner up to Portland for a short visit, I’ve concluded that, no, she’s not finishing it on her own in secret, so looks like we’re both out. If you’ve bailed on something, make a note.
Those are just suggestions. Let’s see what flows. I’ll launch it at Noon and keep it active for as long as it seems vibrant, though I’ll likely have to leave around 4 p.m. or so to bring a certain someone to the airport, while I stay up here to shine up the Substack and other Writing Things.
Hi Tim, I've already previewed the entirety of the upcoming season of Slow Horses on Apple and it's the best that show has been. It's a show that has just got better with each season growing in confidence and this new one blew me away. As a family we just finished Presumed Innocent, which, not prestige, was particularly good at the cliffhanger at the end of each episode. I find David E Kelley's stuff very hit and miss but its clear its at home with the courtroom scenes and the famiily dyanmics here really worked for me. It probably helps that I have seen the movie the series is based on so I wasn't constantly comparing it to the original but it kept the three of us interested and intrigued. I've stopped watching Sunny. As good as Rashida Jones is, I found the storytelling really frustrating and I found myself caring less and less. It's rare that I stop a show I've already invested time in but it hasn't got the momentum it needs. I'll happily wait for Severance to return for a proper mystery box show. On the international front, the second season of Colin From Accounts (Australian romcom that sidesteps all the tropes of that genre) is an utter masterpiece. I've had a rough of couple of months and it really made me laugh. It's incredibly warm without being saccharine and it goes to really dark places too. I highly recommend it. I don't know exactly when the second series will land in the US but the first is on Paramount+ at the moment.
I will be on my way to pick up two adorable kittens (wish I could post a photo here) at the chat time! I have lots to say about Fringe, I’ll try to chime in at some point.