We’ve hit a special point in our wait for Game of Thrones season 7- we’re now officially less than 100 days away from the premiere! Still 99 days (and change) is a lot of time to fill before we’re once again diving into the world of Westeros and our favorite characters. What’s a fan to do between now and then? Find a new world to fall in love with, or two or three! Or five even, because that’s what we have here today: five television shows, hand-picked by the Watchers, for your enjoyment as GoT-fan-friendly choices for you to check out in the coming months. Find a new favorite show, but be sure to return before the GoT premiere on July 16th!
The Magicians
During the off-season, I’ve really found solace in The Magicians to comfort me through the hiatus. Based on Lev Grossman’s novels, the multifaceted characters, dark elements, and fantasy themes parallel Game of Thrones with a meta, self-aware twist. The series follows a group of graduate students who attend a magical university and accidentally summon a monstrous master magician known as The Beast. Through discipline, sacrifice, and cooperation, the students must band together to defeat The Beast and protect the magical world of Fillory. Sera Gamble (Supernatural, Aquarius) and John McNamara (Trumbo, Aquarius) blend horror and mythology to reimagine Grossman’s novels with liberty and ease. The latest season even features a royal new setting, war, dragons, and Children of the Forest-like fairies. You can watch the first season of The Magicians on Netflix and catch up on the musical, bank-heisting second season on Syfy! The penultimate episode airs 4/12 with the season finale on 4/19! – Nate
Magicians Bonus Reference:
Black Sails
For those of you who love to binge, you’re in for a treat. After four bold seasons, Black Sails, Starz‘ adult-themed Treasure Island prequel, has just finished its run with a bang. The show is much more than the origins of Long John Silver, Billy Bones, and Captain Flint, and the backstory of the treasure map. The action-packed series creates new characters and then weaves in a gallery of colorful souls from pirate history including Captain Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, Charles Vane, and a memorable Blackbeard played by Ray Stevenson. It’s these beautifully acted characters and the relationships they develop with one another that give Black Sails its strength; breathtaking sea battles, amazing LGBT representation, and complex story arcs build on that strong base to create an incredibly satisfying experience.
For Thrones fans, Black Sails borrows some of GoT’s most cinematic directors (Neil Marshall, Alik Sakharov), and you’ll spot Ser Arthur Dayne (Luke Roberts) as the pirate-hating governor Woodes Rogers in the final two seasons. And of course Billy Bones himself, Tom Hopper, will be joining Game of Thrones in season 7! Fill the time between now and the new season of GoT with an adventure on the high seas and check out Black Sails! (Available on iTunes, Amazon, and Starz) – Sue the Fury
Steven Universe
I will try to convince you to try something entirely different from the adult drama genre TV shows Game of Thrones fans are expected to enjoy. Steven Universe is a children’s cartoon. Not only that, but it looks quite infantile: it’s a pastel-colored show led by an over-excited kid. You will find no graphic sex, violence or swearing, but if what primarily attracts you to Game of Thrones is, instead, character development and twists and turns, all couched in a surprisingly well-thought out world, Steven Universe may surprise you.
The show is set on an alternate Earth that suffered an alien colonization thousands of years ago, repelled from within their ranks by a group of rebels, the so-called “Crystal Gems”. Here’s where the show begins: with Steven Universe, the mixed-species son of the dead alien rebel leader and a failed rockstar from Earth who currently owns a car wash. Steven doesn’t live with his washed-out father, though, but with the three surviving warriors from Rose’s rebellion: Garnet, Pearl and Amethyst. Those aren’t just names: they are literally minerals, given humanoid form by their weird alien technology. The depths of the worldbuilding may not be as novels-deep as in ASOIAF and GOT, but it’s close. There is much to learn from them as aliens, but even more as people: each of them has a unique background that defines them. Pearl is a former servant still in love with the late Rose (the LGBT themes in this show start as merely that —themes— but then develop into true representation), Amethyst is an Earth-born failed experiment from the colonization days, and Garnet… well, I won’t spoil that here, but there’s more her than meets the eye… or eyes, all three of them. Together with Steven, these three gems (and a few later additions) go in adventures, at first mostly unconnected but eventually leading to a clear arc in which they must face their Homeworld. There are also awesome songs! Make no mistake: this is a kids’ show. But that doesn’t mean it’s only for children. The plots, the relationships, the characters — they are all as well developed as in any adult drama, if you are able to look past the medium and the aesthetics — or better yet, if you learn to embrace them, because I can promise the show becomes truly delightful when you do. – Luka Nieto
Happy Valley
For fans who love Game of Thrones for its multifaceted characters and moral ambiguity (and don’t mind forgoing dragons and castles for druggies and highrises), I highly recommend checking out Happy Valley.
This British series about policewoman, Catherine Cawood, her endearing yet dysfunctional family and the seedy underbelly of their Yorkshire village revels in shades of grey. Much like GoT, every character, however villainous or heroic, is fundamentally human.
The dialogue is brilliant and blistering (though subtitles are recommended…those accents, man ) and the twists feel unexpected yet earned.
Most importantly, Happy Valley and Game of Thrones share that rare willingness to leave value judgments up to the viewers. Is Tommy Lee Royce inherently evil? Was Catherine a bad mother? At what point do you stop sympathizing with Lewis or Kevin? The show doesn’t tell you. You decide.
But, seriously. Turn on subtitles. –Petra
The Expanse
The Expanse is a science-fiction series based on the novels by James. S. A. Corey. In a colonised solar system, The Expanse follows U.N. executive Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo), detective Josephus Miller (Thomas Jane), and ship’s officer Jim Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew as they unravel a galactic conspiracy. Although it’s set two hundred years into our future, Thrones fans will find a lot to love here. Firstly, there are the political machinations between the uneasy factions of Earth, Mars and the outer planets, known as Belters, as well as the OPA, a terrorist organisation. Like Thrones, The Expanse has taken the time to craft a distinct feel and visual for each of the groups; the Belters even have their own language. There’s also a highly diverse cast of characters, none of whom are free from the threat of being offed at any time. Like Thrones, the strength of the show is both in its character interactions, but also the sense that something much bigger is governing everyone’s fates. Winter might be coming for Westeros, but the protomolecule is coming for The Expanse!
Fans of costume porn are advised to check out the show solely on the strength of the outfits worn by Shohreh Aghdashloo. It also has the most glorious opening sequence which Thrones fans are sure to appreciate. And if you’re really missing everyone’s favourite bastard, Steven Strait looks a bit like Kit Harington; you can always squint at him and pretend he’s Jon Snow in space. – Geoffery
These are the Watchers’ picks- now tell us your recommendations! What shows do you think your fellow fans would love, and why? Give us your best recs!
Hold the black sails!
Where is Vikings? A masterpiece, in my opinion, the only one that can actually face Thrones.
TheWhiteWolf,
This isn’t like a top 20 list. If you like Vikings, then recommend Vikings. 🙂
Black Sails and The Expanse are both fantastic. Haven’t seen the rest.
Can’t help but imagine how incredible The Expanse would be with a HBO budget.
Nick_Scryer,
Better not. As then there would be a lot of nudity and sex. Look what happened with GoT at one point. The Expanse looks amazing even with SyFy budget. There are few small mishaps, but VFX is actually really good.
Black sails is really good, I still didn’t watch the fourth season yet.
I’deals recommend the following shows
Breaking Bad
Fargo
Vikings
The sopranos
Deadwood
And Rome
If the Magicians is as badly written as the books stay away, but adaptations have been known to improve the source. Need to check out Steven’s Universe – my DH watches cartoon network, wonder if he’s seen it. The Expanse looks intriguing. What channel is it on?
I adored Season One of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Wish it were popular enough to generate a fandom gathering space like this! I want someone to rant with about how much we love Fiona Dourif’s crazyass ‘holistic assassin’ character, Bart.
Black sails was amazing. Just finished it last night actually.
I highly recommend Vikings for thrones fans.. amazing show
Also, I just watched Victoria – only one season out but I loved it, the actress playing Victoria is awesome
Is outlander any good?
And there’s a show called Taboo that’s on my list. Anyone seen it?
Thanks for this! I’m glad you guys ventured outside HBO, as I normally watch their other shows during the Thrones offseason.
Black Sails was great!
I personally have not watched Outlander, bit I hear good things about it from friends.
Outlander also has a very Vocal fan base XD
So why don’t you try it ?
My best friend loves Taboo, he’s trying to get me to watch it XD
Matthew The Dragon Knight,
Matthew The Dragon Knight,
Thank you!!! I may try outlander!!
And yes I look forward to taboo. It looks great
The Expanse is excellent. Political intrigue and strong characters entwined with impending DOOM(or is it salvation?)!
Black Sails was so good. Sad to see it end and keeping crossed fingers that someone takes on the 20 year gap between the end of Black Sails and the beginning of Treasure Island.
Also, Outcast and Sneaky Pete are terrific shows. Good change of pace stuff.
ash,
Syfy. Amazon Prime. Season 2. But soon it will be on Netflix. The first season is already there.
Dee Stark,
Taboo is amazing! I loved Tom Hardy before and now I love him even more.
I like Outlander. A little on the romance side, a little predictable, but it has lots of history (always a bonus for me) and 3 good and good looking leads – one of them is Tobias Menzies (poor Edmure Tully) as the villain. In several episodes one can recognize Clive Russell (the Black Fish). But be prepared, the torture scenes are more horrible than in GOT and more credible in real life, which made them even harder to watch.
Season 2 of Colony just ended, on Amazon. Strong recommend for GOT fans who particularly enjoy the skullduggery. It’s about an alien occupation of earth, but we rarely see the aliens. The real problem is how to survive between the repressive occupation and the desperate resistance movement, and our heroes are neck deep in both of them. Strong cast, with the dashing Josh Holloway, watchable as ever, and Peter Jacobson playing a duplicitous monster at the Little Finger level.
Shy Lady Dragon,
Thank you!!! I have heard mixed things about that show so I always wondered
I may check it out.
Tortured scenes don’t bother me, in a sense, they are TV shows
But thank you for the warning. 🙂
Colony is often close to being great… yet it never quite gets there for me. Perhaps, after the shakeup at the end of season two, things will improve.
Some people are turned off by the ‘bodice-ripper romance’ flavor that occasionally permeates Outlander. It’s most noticeable in the first couple of episodes, where there’s an excess of voiceover narration by the protagonist. But after that it hunkers down into the story, which is quite absorbing – and very well-researched in terms of its historical setting.
Outlander is a real treat for anyone who revels in ‘costume dramas’ that pull out all the stops on the art-direction budget. If you love GoT partly for its awesome settings and authentically detailed costumes and props, you will likely enjoy that aspect of it, at the very least.
The acting is also comparably (to GoT) fine, minus a couple of duds (the actress who plays Claire’s grown daughter in the second season is pretty terrible, I admit). Tobias Menzies is absolutely incredible, in a double role as Claire’s 20th-century husband and especially as his even-nastier-than-Ramsay-Bolton 18th-century ancestor. (Speaking of which, the story is often quite dark, with some violent scenes that are difficult to sit through, if your stomach hasn’t already been toughened up by watching GoT!)
Also, if you enjoy male gorgeousness onscreen, Sam Heughan, who plays Claire’s love interest, Jamie Fraser, is for my money the hottest guy on TV these days. Looks very sexy in a kilt.
Edit: I should add that there is also quite a bit of political maneuvering in Outlander, if you like that aspect of GoT. The heroes have to try to stop the Jacobite rebellion, even though they sympathize with it, because Claire has lived in the future and knows that the Scots are going to be slaughtered.
Three I can advocate for are Legion, Big Little Lies and Westworld.
Myself, I’m waiting for American Gods and The Handmaid’s Tale. And probably Fargo season 3, with Obi-Wan… ekhm, Ewan McGregor, and Twin Peaks in May, but I don’t think I’ll be watching those. Similar, many people enjoy Mr Robot… personally, I don’t, but wanted to mention it, just in case.
e: ^^^On the ‘sexy’ front, Legion has Dan Stevens. Not his best haircut, though. (That was in The Guest, he absolutely oozed menace there.)
Dee Stark,
Have a look at pictures from Outlander, I bet they will make you interested.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3006802/
I was about to write “curious”, but you are a role model in suppressing your curiosity 😉
Firannion,
Oh amazing, thank you!! That sounds very interesting!!!
Shy Lady Dragon,
Haha I am;) thank you for that
Oh and I would recommend The Last Kingdom!!!
About to start in on Black Sails shortly. The Expanse is to hard SF what GoT is to fantasy. Easily the best hard SF show I’ve ever seen, SyFy budget or otherwise.
Outlander. Oh, dear, beautiful Outlander. This is a class all by itself, although there have only been two seasons produced so far, one for each of the first two books. Season three debuts in September. There were times last spring where the weekly offering of Outlander was *vastly* more satisfying that GoT. The violence and sexual violence in Season 1 put anything in GoT to shame. Tobias Menzes (Edmure Tulley) plays a dual role here, with his 18th century character, Black Jack Randall, by far the nastiest villain on TV. Joffers and Ramsay could take lessons from Black Jack and still come up short. You will not regret the time spent with Outlander, if you can stomach the violence in S1. Season 2 is a visual masterpiece and not at all violent, and at times, will leave you an emotional wreck.
Like GoT, each episode is between 50 and 60 minutes. If you leave off the last 10 minutes or so of the Season 2 finale, you could drop the series at that point and have a magnificent story on its own. There are (thus far) 8 books with a 9th on its way, and a good chance that whole series will be made for TV over time.
Thank you so much for the recommendations.I think I’ll start The Expanse soon.It sounds very intriguing.I would recommend everybody to watch The Americans on FX.It’s such a great show,very character driven with great acting and writing.
Dee Stark,
I think you will enjoy Outlander Dee.I also loved Victoria!Can’t wait for season two.Did you see the Crown on Netflix?
Orphan Black is one of my favorite SF shows.
Thanks for the suggestions, all the shows I watch are ending until next season and GOT is still so far away.
I highly recommend The Magicians, even if sometimes it is too emo for my taste. I loved season 1 when it aired and tried start watching season 2 when it started by I forgot many details, so I am waiting my Spring mini-vacation to rewatch season 1 and then delve into season 2.
When I watched the first episode of Expanse I really loved it, but I found it difficult to enter that complex world, pretty much what I felt when watching the first episode of GOT. So I would recommend to start it when you have some free time to really explore the series and get deep into it. Anyway, that’s what I am planning to do when my schedule allows…
I have heard many good things about Black Sails but I am really not into pirates. Is the pirate-related stuff just the background and the story lies somewhere else or is it really central to the plot?
Jenny,
No I haven’t seen the crown yet.. it is on my list. Lol!! Is the Crown better than Victoria? I think I just really like the Victoria actress ! Haha
Chymeria,
The Pirates stuff is central to the story.. but the show focuses on characters and their stories, feuds beteeen pirates and non pirates. There is a really deep character story though. But since most of the main characters (not all) are pirates they do piratey stuff.
What don’t you like about pirates
Dee Stark,
I haven’t watched Victoria, but The Crown is very well done and acted. Claire Foy is subtly nuanced as young Queen Elizabeth II, but my favourite is John Lithgow as Churchill – the man deserved his award for this role.
Dee Stark,
Well the production values are better for sure and very realistic.Claire Foy nails the part of Queen Elizabeth but I think Victoria is a bit more fun,the love story is more compelling but still I enjoyed it a lot.They are similar in many ways.And yeah I really like Jenna too.She is very beautiful.
Dee Stark,
Dee, I agree with you, what makes Victoria great are the two lead actors. They are both so young and so great, which is very promising for their careers.
The Crown has it all: great acting (John Lithgow as Winston Churchill is AMAZING), beautiful set pieces and huge production value…
Vikings.
There are times where I like it better and feel it actually is better than Game of Thrones. I would watch it if you haven’t.
Dee Stark,
I think it comes from the fact I never liked the type of stories about burried treasures and pirates. I do actually love maritime history and actual state-led piracy practices and how it affected world commerce and power balance back then.
Engrenages (aka Spiral in the UK) is an excellent french cop show.
Lots of ambiguous (as well as virtuous and outright vile) characters and a gritty but realistic tone. Thankfully it’s not as relentlessly ‘we’re so gritty and hard-core’ as The Wire, which I found a bit…up itself :/
There’s five seasons to binge on, before Season 6 is (finally!) released this year.
Firannion,
Very good Outlander synopsis, Firannion. I really dug into the show as one of my time-filler programs waiting for GoT S5. The theme music alone just about sold me when I fired up the premiere episode. The six month hiatus after eight episodes in season one was torture. Almost as bad as waiting for GoT. I have other Thrones friends that I also got into Outlander. We all had at least one similar observation regarding it; many parts of it are essentially softcore porn. That’s not to suggest it’s a bad thing, just that there were some rather lengthy scenes. I think one sex scene had to be about fifteen minutes! Anyway, I loved (most) of season one. I admit I’m not quite finished with S2. It’s kind of headed in a direction that I’m not as keen on so my viewing has slowed. I’d also spoiled myself a bit and read synopses of the book series and it appears the story in those doesn’t go how I’d prefer either. I won’t mention specifics and others may enjoy the way it’s headed.
Chymeria,
Exactly!!!
Jenny,
Yes!! Good comparison
I will def check out the crown
Chymeria,
It’s not a fantastical children type story about pirates. It is a personal political economical story about tht piece of history. Looking for treasures and stuff like that is a minimal part of the story
I think you would love it, actually.
TheWhiteWolf,
Yeah i had to stop watching that because of something that happened last season,and no it i wasn’t the reason that you think it is,i rather not spoil it for people who haven’t seen it .
I agree with the other comments about The Crown. I’d move it to the top of your list to start next. I burned through it in a few nights when I finally decided to give it a try. I figured it would be dry, stodgy and not something I would have any interest in. I was completely wrong. I found myself Googling names and events constantly while I watched to get more information so it ended up almost like an interactive program. 😛
Seen Taboo and loved it – Tom Hardy’s performance is a standout. It is pretty dark and gothic, and I cannot wait for the recently commissioned season two (though I think I’ll sadly be waiting quite a while for it). It also features a number of Thrones alums, including Oona Chaplin, Jonathan Pryce and Mark Gatiss.
Ser Davos OnionKnight,
No,sorry but i think season 2 of Outlander completely sucked,the second part was outrageously bad and didn’t make any sense,stay away from this show people,if you want just watch season 1 and pretend it got cancelled and it ended there .
Black Sails and The Expanse are simply the best dramas there have ever been to me.
Taboo, Man in the High Castle, and The Knick for me. That’s how I’ve been surviving.
It’s nothing like GoT, but for a clean family drama I have to suggest Heartland, wholeHeartedly. Those that have found it on Netflix or our Canadian participants here are probably aware of it since it’s Canadian televisions longest running drama. There are eight seasons (140 episodes) available on Netflix of the ten produced so far, so if you get into it you’ll have plenty to watch. I absolutely love it. How much? The eighth season of 18 episodes was added last Friday… I finished it Monday night!!
The most basic outline is that it’s about a modern day family living on a small horse ranch in Alberta, Canada. Some great scenery, fun characters, some inspiring stories… Amber Marshall is hard not to love as the main character, Amy Fleming. You start to believe there’s nothing she can’t do with a horse.
Well I’m Netflix trash, so I’ve been watching The Crown and Stranger Things. I might start that 13 Reasons show I keep hearing so much about.
Also, I watched Big Little Lies on HBO because I’m also HBO trash and it was the best miniseries they’ve made since True Detective Season 1.
I started Taboo, but it’s kinda crappy. I might tune in later for the lols.
Flayed Potatoes,
Yep, I watch way too much tv, so I’m all kinds of trash as well. 😛
I watched the first 4 1/2 episodes of Taboo and stopped. I heard from several that did the same and others that plodded through that didn’t have much to say about it. The first two episodes were really promising but then it just went into “meh-mode.”
I’ve watched around seven episodes of 13 Reasons Why. It doesn’t appear to be a big water cooler hit that blows up like Stranger Things did, but it’s rather intriguing. So far it’s not a real exciting show but it does make you curious to find out the next “reason.”
Hannibal! Great story, amazing acting, and the visuals are gorgeous. It’s by Bryan Fuller, who’s also doing American Gods. That’s due out later this month and looks incredible.
I’m also currently two episodes into Medici: Masters of Florence. Really enjoying it, though every time Richard Madden’s on screen I think darker Robb Stark!
Recommend:
The Expanse (SF, Syfy)
Legion (SF, FX)
Last Kingdom (historical, Netflix)
The Crown (historical, Netflix)
Second tier (for me): Taboo, Outlander, Victoria, Colony
If you like detective type mysteries, I would suggest The Missing on Starz. Oh, and always enjoy BBC’s Ripper Street which has half of GoTs cast.
Think I’m watching too much TV. Of course, nothing compares to GoT!
Dee Stark,
OT, but check this out, Dee. A Jon Snow version of the song “Gaston” ?
https://kitsn0w.tumblr.com/post/159336566070/a-jon-snow-version-of-gaston-requested-and
Isabelle,
Ha! Now some Youtube musical genius needs to pick that up and make a video!
I did like The Crown and Victoria a lot !
Looking forward to the coming seasons for both.
For those who like “prison stuff”, I absolutely love Wentworth.
I started watching The Expanse a couple days ago but fell asleep
after 15 minutes lol. I have had a few exhausting weeks though,
so it’s probably not because of the series. I am not done with it yet. 🙂
Feud: Bette and Joan is something completely different from GoT and is amazing. (FX) It’s about the Hollywood feud between Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon) and Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange). (Also, if you’ve never seen Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? go watch it now.) (Amazon Prime)
Bloodline with Ben Mendelsohn from Rogue One is incredible. Ben won an Emmy for his performance. It’s a drama about a family in the Florida Keys when the black sheep son (Ben) comes home. I had to take breaks and couldn’t binge because there was so much to think on. (Netflix, S1 & 2)
The Americans is in its last season and is fantastic. (FX, Amazon Prime) It’s about two Russian spies living in DC in the 80s.
The Fall with Gillian Anderson is great. (Netflix) Gillian is a police detective searching for a serial killer.
I’m really looking forward to the new season of Sense8. (Netflix)
Just finished Black Sails and found the finale quite satisfying. Jack Rackham is my favorite character, but all of the major characters are well written.
Watching Vikings now and enjoying the refresher on Norse mythology and parallels with the First Men and Iron Islanders!
Highly recommend Deadwood and Rome and The Crown.
Guilty pleasure — The Tudors!
Just realized that I watch only one show on network TV – Agents of Shield – and mainly do that so I have something to discuss with my daughter and her wife.
I’d recommend the Marvel shows on Netflix, even the horribly received Iron Fist starring Loras Tyrell. Haha. I watched all of Taboo but didn’t really enjoy it. More of a time killer at work than anything else. Please don’t tell my boss what I do with my phone and unlimited data during the work day.
The second season of The Missing was fantastic. I’m a few episodes in on the final season of Black Sails. I’m not sure if I can recommend things that resemble Thrones because it is such an anomaly, for me, but I really enjoy the network shows Lethal Weapon and Designated Survivor too. LW is not smart but the play between the two main actors is enjoyable and it’s something breezy to watch without the intense focus Thrones requires. Also has a lot of people running it that were involved with my dearly departed Chuck on NBC a few years ago. DS has a lot of melodrama and backstabbing and such. I didn’t really think I’d like it but got reeled in quickly. One of the few shows I watch I can discuss with my mom and sister. Haha.
Clob,
I did not think ANYONE outside of Canada heard of that show… I always see it on my guide… skip right past it haha!
Isabelle,
I was intrigued by that. (Medici) So it’s good?
Isabelle,
LOVE it!
FINALLY someone. The Man in the High Castle is one of the most unknown and underrated shows of all time. PLEASE people, give it a chance, it’s only 20 episodes.
The Wire
I’m sure most people here have seen. But for those who have not – 10000/10
That seems to be the trend for a lot of people. Well, at least for those that actually like truly GREAT programs. The awards are certainly backing up what shows are actually great. I watched a few broadcast network series that are decent but they don’t get nominated or win much of anything and I won’t argue for them too. Example – I really liked Castle. It was pretty much a carbon copy of a lot of the network crime dramas but I’ve been a Nathan Fillion fan since Firefly. It’s funny that one of the reasons I liked it was because of the chemistry between Fillion and Stana Katic, then I hear that they didn’t get a long at all. Who knew!?
I loved Chuck!!! It’s in my top 5 shows ever, easy! Yvonne Strahovski… O.O
Better Call Saul and Doctor Who both resume in the next week.
Homeland is wrapping up the current season. If you gave up on Homeland in season 3 or 4, it did get better in season 5+6.
The Last Kingdom and Vikings are great too!
I loved Chuck!!!It’s in my top 5 shows ever, easy!Yvonne Strahovski… O.O
Ditto. I still wear my Chuck Nerd Herd shirt to the gym. Haha. I keep hoping they’ll do a reunion of some sort. When I first read the character of Val in the SOIAF books I immediately hoped Yvonne would play her on the show…But guess they didn’t think that character mattered enough to squeeze her in the show. Missed opportunity!
I’m totally into The Expanse. Best SF since BSG. Probably better. It was just renewed for season 3. But just like BSG if viewership doesn’t improve it might not get a season 4
Just started The Vikings. I thought it was a little slow the first 3 episodes but I’m on episode 6 and it’s really ramped up the intensity and action! Hopefully it maintains this momentum.
I really wanted to watch it when I heard about it… then I saw it was on Amazon Prime, which I don’t pay for. 🙁
I was thinking of you when I wrote “Canadian participants.” 😛 It’s hard to fully recommend Heartland unless I know the types of programs people like, but I thought I’d throw it out there. I enjoy a wide range… and this one sort of feels like a North American, modern day series based off of The Man from Snowy River. There’s a gal that’s great/special with horses making a name for herself, family relationships, romantic relationships, feuds with competing ranchers, mountain scenery, great music. Shrug – I like much!
Games of Thrones is actually the father, almost literally, of The Expanse. The books that The Expanse is based on were written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (writing under the pseudonym James S. A. Corey).
Ty Franck spend many many many years as George R. R. Martin’s personal assistant. The Expanse world at times feels like the sci-fi successor to Westeros, and you can practically map out Ty Franck’s mind: “This is the Jaime Lannister, and this is the Sparrows, and this is The Hound”….BUT I mean this in the BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
The problem with “inspiration” is that it rarely transcends imitation to become its own living, breathing entity. And while The Expanse seems to be highly, highly inspired by ASOIF, it quickly transcends this and finds itself in all ways.
Please don’t read this is a criticism of The Expanse. But if you like ASOIF, you will almost certainly appreciate how rich the world and characters of The Expanse is.
Some of the similar elements are:
* several different storylines that seem to be unrelated that slowly start to knit them themselves together
* morally complex characters
* characters who start “good” or “bad” but who organically get complicated and even reverse places
* a fixation on politics and political maneuvering that is fascinating instead of deadly dull
* the ability to make you route for all sides at once (Earth, Mars, and the Belt are all unique, distinct creations, and you are on the side of whichever you’re watching at the time, kind of like how you can be for Dany and Jon and Margaery and want all their houses to win in the end, even though “only one” can)
* a “big bad” looming in the background that you totally forget to care about because so much else is going on (unless the characters you love happen to be caring about the “big bad” at the same time)
Now, I wouldn’t call The Expanse as good as ASOIAF, but it’s about as close to it as I’ve seen.
This is contrast to The Magicians, which I love the same way I love popsicles (they taste great but they’re really kind of horrible for you), or Outlander (which is very complex, morally ambivalent, and with great characters, like ASOIAF, but is just apples and oranges for a thousand different reasons).
Clob,
Glad I’m not the only one who was unimpressed by Taboo. It’s such a…. vanity project lol.
I’ve heard 13 Reasons has some nice buildup and the actors got great reviews. I hope that’s the case.
HotPinkLipstick,
Seconding your “The Feud” recommendation complete with Baby Jane!
David Thomas,
Many people have praised The Expense, but your comment has just convinced me to watch it. Thank you! It seems I’m on my way to enjoy something great.
Luka Nieto,
I’m interested to see what’s going on outside the walls. It could be a bit Road Warrior, which wouldn’t hurt the pace of the show. I’m more than ready to meet the aliens. Kind of like the White Walkers, there’s a lot about them we just don’t know yet.
Love love Vikings and it does hold its own against GoT. Extreme violence and sex – yes it has it.
Magicians – this took a bit to warm up too but I really enjoy it but I do feel a little old for it – I would say a 18 to 30 age group for that. Lots for the LBTI community too.
The Expanse – I tried but the characters were not as developed and disjointed. Very hard to follow. I lost intrest as I really could have cared less about them – but each to their own.
Not seen Black Sails 0 but will check it out.
I would like to throw Emerald City out there – the scenes are from GoT locations, with amazing European actors, and shot all over Spain and Europe and the costumes are stunning. The lead actress is incredibly hot and does a decent American accent. Some of the scenes you could photograph and put in a art gallery it is so visually stunning! The skinned man and the witches captured in the mud is amazing. http://www.casaolea.com/blog/follow-yellow-brick-road-andalucia
Matthew The Dragon Knight,
Outlander is another book series that should have my name written all over it: Middle ages in Scotland, time travel, history, adventure and just a bit of romance (not too much). But I really found it poorly written and it didn’t engage me I have heard from folk who loved the books and also enjoyed the show, so ymmv.
itreachesout,
oh excellent, thanks!
Dee Stark,
Fwiw, I really loved Victoria, and thought the Crown dull and tiresome after the third episode. Stopped watching after the forth
However, I totally agree with this comment:
Both are quite amazing as is the actor who plays George IV (is that the right number?)
Louise Romero,
Forgot to add DYING to see AMERICAN GODS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ash,
George VI 😛
Clob,
Well and it jumped the shark with that wedding/not wedding ending of the 5th season, and really horrible rollercoaster ride the following season. Gave up on it about midway through. When I heard Kate was leaving, and the show was being canceled, I certainly wasn’t surprised, but really disappointed – the writers took a show that had all the elements of an excellent series, and then decided make things weirder than they needed to be. Too bad, really
It is! I liked Marco Polo well enough, so Medici was next on my list of Netflix historical dramas. It hasn’t disappointed yet.
The music’s also quite lovely:
THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY
Flayed Potatoes,
I know – I always get the Georges mixed up between IV and VI and should have looked it up; my bad!
It better be damn good because beyond my streaming catalog I’m going to need another long-running weekly cable program once GoT wraps.
ash,
To be fair, the only memorable George is George III 😛
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Bloodline. What would you say are similar shows?
I liked the first season of The Expanse, but am blown away by the second season.
Episode 5 of Season 2 of The Expanse is the best TV visual drama science fiction sequence I have ever seen and that counts Star Trek and the later day Battlestar Galactica. In this case it is the story and not the excellent CGI.
It was amazing.
I find Mr. Robot very dense , a drama without much tap dancing .
It tasks one to do thoughtful viewing … it is not easy…
That why I love it!
One of the best TV shows on right now.
Agree with all these but haven’t seen Black Sails or Vikings. I’m shocked only one person mentioned Westworld, which I also haven’t seen but intend to.
Clob,
Clob,
Clob, I concur with your assessment of Outlander. I read ASoIaF and still love the (very different) show. I read the Outlander series too, which got so outlandish by book 4 or 5 that I gave it up. I was thrilled by the first season of the show, but then they pushed the melodrama and sadomasochism to a breaking point for me. We have Scots ancestors, so it was hard to bail out, but needs be. Tobias Menzies and Sam Heughan were terrific. The Crown won all sorts of awards and IMO deserved them (it’s tied for most expensive TV series ever, so like GoT, it’s glories are on the screen), but I found Victoria spotty, with affecting moments followed by pure tosh. Jenna Coleman was terrific, but the efx were cheesy. I’ve generally wandered away from wannabe GoTs. So we’ve done Man in the High Castle. Also, The Fall, Spiral, Happy Valley,Broadchurch, and Shetland (Northern Irish, French, Yorkshire, English, and Scots mysteries), and for grins and sheer pleasure…Mozart in the Jungle. Constant Easter Eggs for GoT fans is spotting minor GoT actors in almost any British series. And if after The Long Wait your get up and Go(T) has got up and went, indulge in The Great British Bake-Off. It should put you on a sugar-high that will last til 16 July.
Surprised Stranger Things not mentioned , it is also a challenging story.
Very good.
Lord I re watched ROME , I know George loved it, gezz it is one of HBO’s great shows.
HBO has the option on I Claudius , would love to see them do that.
O yeah Westworld and Man in a High Castle should be mentioned.
NorthernWind,
I would endorse your good opinion of “Engrenages” (Spiral) – I also liked some of the “nordic noir” shows BBC4 broadcast like “Arne Dahl” and “Wallander” though I don’t know if they can be watched online anywhere.
It’s only just started in the UK and it’s tucked away on More 4 but I thought American law show, “The Good Fight” looked promising. As an older woman myself I appreciated the subplot of the successful lady lawyer on the brink of retirement who has handed in her notice and then finds it difficult to get back into the game (having lost her money to a ponzi {sp?} scheme). That part was played excellently, in my opinion at least, by Christine Baranski who is one of those actresses whose face I know without (previously) being able to put a name to it. Rose Leslie is in it (being British I can’t say whether her American accent cuts the mustard or not) as a rookie lawyer and her father is played by the actor who played the head police honcho in “CSI” (the Vegas one).
My TV is down at present so I have to watch things (well things that are available in the UK where I live) on iplayer (or its equivalent for the commercial stations) and everybody knows that nice old ladies don’t tune into sites like c**chtuner…or tell lies.
I’ll stick with Westworld with hope, but I certainly wasn’t that impressed with it, even though the premise is right up my alley. I’m cautious about it moving forward. They’ll need to expand on it or it will grow stale fast.
Colony is a great show as well ! I totally recommend it !
Thanks, everyone, for the great recommendations! So many I haven’t seen yet.
I can second recommendations for:
Outlander (Sam Heughan is a GOD! And I love the books)
Black Sails (plenty of eye candy here too)
The 100 (ok, not spectacular; more a guilty pleasure)
Orphan Black
Mr. Robot (not everyone’s cup of tea)
Colony (some disturbing echoes of current US politics)
The Expanse
Designated Survivor (if you can get past the truly poor production values)
Ripper Street
Big Little Lies (as a Mom who’s kids went to a high-intensity private school, this REALLY resonated)
Westworld
The Magicians
Vikings
and Emerald City. I did NOT want to watch this show–the Wizard of Oz? How lame! Just like the cringe-worthy Once Upon a Time–but it is dark and intriguing…and yes, Lucas/Ronin is hot, OK? 🙂
Edit: How could I forget Stranger Things?!
“The Expanse” was immediately engaging, and gets better with each episode. Such grown-up storytelling, which assumes the intelligence of the viewer, is very rare. I gather the co-authors of the novel are deeply involved in the adaption process, which may account for this to some extent. It certainly seems to have been a factor in the diverse and topnotch casting. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes excellent story-telling and production values, regardless of genre; which, regretfully, I cannot say about GoT and “Mr. Robot” – both of which are A+, but not necessarily for everyone.
Dame of Mercia,
I haven’t caught the Good Fight yet, but the show that it was spun off from, The Good Wife, was very good as well (set in my hometown) if you can get that on one of the streaming locations.
Boojam,
Well, I can’t seem to get it up on Netflix. Will have to try to get it on demand with SciFi channel later; all these comments are making me anxious to see it!
And the comments about The Crown got me thinking of retrying it.So I watched episode 4, and oh my. Ok, Im hooked…..
For anyone who has not seen the first season of Fargo, Billy Bob will blow your mind!
That was one great TV season.
Next season was good, but I am afraid the first was TOO GOOD, so kind if took the wind out of the second.
Fargo is great go-find , if one has not seen it.
The Magicians had the best Nate Silver reference that I’ve seen since, um…. well, ever. And their Les Miserables sequence was brilliant. It is silly (to put it mildly), but because it does not take itself seriously, it is quite entertaining.
The Expanse is great sociopolitical drama. The first year and a half told a story about how Truth is a Bomb. The SciFi part is really quite minimal: like Babylon 5, it’s a “political opera” in which future humans are (unlike in Star Trek) just as bad as modern humans, but with potentially more horrific implications. It is very addictive, and all aspects of the production are top-notch.
I also recommend Chicago Cubs baseball. *ahem* “Go Cubs, Go…. Go Cubs, Gooooo….”
Dame of Mercia,
Yeah, I never use such sites either 😉
All the Nordic Noirs on BBC 2 & 4 have been excellent. They’re about all I watch on the BBC these days, along with anything arty featuring Andrew Graham Dixon.
I have just noticed ‘The Good Fight’ being quite heavily promoted over the last few days. It’s definitely on my watch list, as anything with Christine Baranski in it is a winner as far as I’m concerned. She’s gold that woman.
The All4 App is brilliant – love all the Walter Presents series:
Mafiosa
The Hunter – sadly only one series
Chewing Gum – so funny and rude, but it might be a bit much for some people
Locked Up – the Spanish prison drama
I also loved No Offence. I’m from the North West and know Manchester well, so it was great to see a show that’s not London-centric and is filmed along streets I know.
Have to say, I also love Elementary. It knocks Sherlock out of the park as far as I’m concerned, although I still watch that too.
Here’s to Season 6 of Spiral though, and, as others have mentioned above, roll on American Gods and the new Twin Peaks – so excited for them all. And the opportunity to learn more French swear words!
My wife referred to them as cheezy bodice-busters. The first season did nothing for me in the first half, but the second half picked up steam, and the 2nd season was quite good. Well, almost quite good: the wrong side won Culloden again! 🙂
I’m watching the first episode of The Expanse right now and I’m hooked!
Will this be a new made-up language for me to want to learn and never quite start, like Klingon, Dothraki and Valyrian?
I loved Black Sails from the start. I thought it lost some coherence in season 3 and start of season 4 though, but the last half of season 4 was absolutely terrific. I’ve got to watch Treasure Island again now.
The Expanse is probably the best adaptation I’ve seen. They’ve made some cuts and put things together in a way that is logical. The first episodes might be a bit slow, but from episode 4 in the first season it’s consistently great. Season 2 has been hitting it out of the park. On SyFy and Amazon Prime in the US, Space in Canada, Sky in New Zealand, and Netflix everywhere else (season 2 expected to hit after it has finished on SyFy).
Wimsey,
Aye, lad, that they did!
Belter seems to be a mix of several languages, plus a bunch of “spacesuit friendly” arm & hand gestures to substitute for head, neck and finger gestures that we use to accent our speech. So, just mix English, Chinese, Spanish, Russian and German somewhat haphazardly and make quirky arm motions, and you’ll be fine.
One thing that they could not do is have the Belters look distinct: in the books, they look as we think people growing up in very low gravity would look. Actors unions would get pretty pissed about the physical alterations needed to duplicate that!
Anyone else hate Emerald City as much as I do? It tries to be GOT and ends up looking like a 70s sword and sorcery movie with a better budget but the same bad writing, costuming and acting .
Wimsey,
Are the books good? Should I look for them?
I would like to add to the recommendations above for Medici: Masters of Florence. For those who love the family conflicts, power plays and politics in Thrones, this will be a winner. The setting is stunning, and Richard Madden is excellent as always as Cosimo – a role very unlike that of Robb Stark.
I have yet to see Man in the High Castle (though have been told by many that it is excellent) but I do recommend SS-GB, which I think is in a similar vein. With a cast that includes Thrones alum James Cosmo, it is more “what if” history – on this occasion, what if Britain lost the Battle of Britain. And another Thrones alum Aisling Franciosi has an intriguing thriller on the online channel BBC3 at present, Clique. It is an obscure, but so far well-crafted show with a mostly unknown cast and looks at friendship, loyalty, money and power.
Also, BBC have a good adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Decline and Fall airing at present, with a cast that includes Gemma Whelan.
And just so I am recommending something that doesn’t include any Thrones peeps, The Replacement is a recent BBC psychological thriller that had me hooked by the end of episode one. It is about a woman who becomes obsessed with her maternity leave replacement. Stunning performances all round, though Vicky McClure and Morven Christie are both standouts.
Bunkerbill,
Yeah,what’s up with people recommending it,it’s fucking terrible, nobody liked it,either the critics or the audience and it’s pretty much a done deal that it’s going to be cancelled,we are talking about NBC who cancelled Community and Hannibal after all,you think they won’t cancel some cheap knock off ? Even if it was good i just don’t bother with cancelled shows,unless they are HBO quality type like Rome or Deadwood and this is certainly not the case here . It’s like watching a movie but stopping midway before knowing the ending,what is the point ?
I recommend the serie Versailles.
Wimsey,
The Belter language is also filtered through a West Indian lilt, (which made it more compelling for me personally), a subtle way to indicate the low-caste status of the Belters, and which David Michael Scott seemed to struggle with in his turns on the series. Am tempted to read the books for this reason alone.
Apropos of trivia, this morning I watched the super-fun 1975 Hong Kong sci-fi monster suit epic “The Super Inframan” and noticed that the leading baddie is called Princess Dragon Mom, and yes she’s a blond.
http://www.chud.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/inframan10.jpg
As for the movie, I highly recommend it.
The books are good, and they finish them at the rate of one every 9 months…. one of the authors was mentored by GRRM … make of that what you will!
Boojam,
Thank you!
If you’ve not been watching BLACK SAILS or VIKINGS since they began, what have you been doing to fill time? There are plenty others you could check out too.
RICK & MORTY! (berp!)
Give DIRK GENTLY a try too. It’s silly & weird.
STRANGER THINGS! Superb like Goonies on acid.
For comedy – SANTA CLARITA DIET, SCHITT’S CREEK.
A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS is better than the movie.
None of those to your taste, plenty of books exist on Planet Earth. Stop by and discover one or more.
I don’t know if it would be everybody’s cuppa but the other day I found that there were some uploads on YouTube from a BBC series of Shakespeare’s “history” plays called “The Age of Kings” that was aired circa 1960. I think they are maybe extracts rather than the whole plays but I’m not certain. They may seem old-fashioned (i.e. as in the way they are produced – the scenes are mostly interiors I think and may seem a little slow by 2017 standards) but I was interested (I only browsed; didn’t watch the whole lot) but the actress playing Margaret of Valois was young Judy Dench. Sean Connery (before he was Bond) was in one of the plays and in one of the comments there was something about Patrick Stewart being in a blink and you’ll miss him part.
A mistake I tend to make regarding Billy Tremblelance’s work is ascribing the “sceptered isle” speech to Henry V but of course it is spoken by John of Gaunt. When I was at school we were taught to sing that song – one naughty person (not me and that is the truth) changed “against infection and the hand of war” to “against infection at the hands of ladies of the night” (well a word to that effect).
For people who are okay with just audio and no pictures Big Finish Productions (unfortunately they are a commercial company and you have to pay for their wares) sell CDs and downloads of audio plays and books, many of which are Dr Who-centric though the do other things; there was a horror series with the what-if scenario supposing that Dorian Gray was a real person “The Confessions of Dorian Gray”. Bafflegab Productions (on a temporary hiatus at present) are somewhat similar though the only production of theirs I’ve listened to was “The Scarifyers” when it was on BBC Radio 4 Extra – it was a comedy supernatural series – if one doesn’t mind a bit of silly with one’s supernatural it’s fine. I liked it but if one wants one’s supernatural gritty this might not suit.
I’m surprised to see that nobody has mentioned True Detective. Season 1 is a masterpiece of television.
Should be “though they do other things” – a “deliberate” mistake to see if readers here are on their toes, of course….
The Last Kingdom on Netflix….a good little holdover show.
No one mentioned The Young Pope (also on HBO) yet, but it’s probably the best show of the TV season so far for me. Visually the most stunning show since Hannibal, even more beautiful than the also excellent The Crown. Acting, writing etc. is also spot on and I love the weird sense of humor. It’s an entirely fictional story in a modern setting, where the election of the titular young pope throws the entire catholic church in turmoil – but absolutely not in the way you’d think.
Alba Stark,
Add my vote for Medici. I was rather distressed, however, to read a recent interview with its creator who said that season 2 will take place 20 years later (to concentrate on Cosimo’s grandson Lorenzo) which would mean very little screentime, if at all, for Richard Madden.
For lovers of political intrigue (and a blurring of fiction with present-day fact), season 5 of House of Cards will be on Netflix on May 30th.
And if you’re following Luka’s recommendation and watching Steven Universe on Cartoon Network, track down my favorite guilty pleasure, We Bare Bears, with the voices of Demetri Martin, Bobby Moynihan, Patton Oswalt and others. It’s a charming cartoon equally as appeallng to adults as kids.
Nightmare scenario: Season 7 Episode 1 opens in a dark dank dungeon wherein Littlefinger is questioning Howland Reed about Jon Snow. With a red hot poker…
As for shows, might I recommend the mid-1990’s British medieval mystery series “Cadfael,” about a Crusader turned monk who uses his botanical and other scientific knowledge to solve mysteries. My wife, a huge British mystery fan both written and on the screen, thinks it’s corny (and it’s based on a series of novels) but I bought the dvd set years ago and give it a spin whenever she’s out of town.
Honorary mention, and I think I’ve mentioned it here before once or twice: The Hollow Crown, Shakespeare’s “war of the roses cycle” brought to life like never before. I feel certain that the ghosts of Laurence Olivier (“Henry V”) and Orson Welles (“Chimes at Midnight”) would agree with me. And if they don’t they can damn well bugger off.
Oh, I forgot to mention Stranger Things (of course).
Add The Good Wife, I looove Julliana Margulies, her role is so different from the one that revealed her (ER), she has a little something classy that I really like.
Squeeeee! Best news I’ve heard all day! I, Claudius is one of my all-time favorite TV series (I love the books too). Game of Thrones always reminded me of it, right from the get-go, what with all the conniving and backstabbing and poisoning amongst the royal family. Tyrion reminds me in many ways of Claudius, and of course the similarities between Joffrey and Caligula are really striking.
But when I go back for a rewatch, it becomes painfully obvious that it was made on an extremely low budget. The sets and costumes are pretty tacky; and they didn’t have remote mics in the mic-’70s, so the dialogue gets muddy whenever the characters stray too far from wherever they had the mics hidden.
What an amazing cast, though. It’s ripe for a remake, I think, with cameos as elder senators or dowagers for the surviving members of the original cast (too bad about John Hurt).
Yeah, they are pretty well-written. The TV show is a sensible adaptation: for example, Chrisjen Avasarala is not in the first book at all, but they pulled her up into the first story in a role that makes sense that her character would have taken. The basic story is very much the same, and most of the differences make both the books and TV shows are good ones in that the books would not have been as good if they had done what the show did and the show would not have been as good if it had done what the book did.
One thing that changes in the books going forward is that the number of protagonists increases. It goes from two in the first book to (I think) 4 in the second to (I think) 6 in the 3rd, and 6 again in the 4th. However, Jim Holden is the only constant protagonist. The show made one of the “new” Book 2 protagonists a lead from the start (Avasarala), so I suspect that they will modify things to keep Avasarala as a protagonist throughout the series. Draper might be a one-season protagonist. Mei is one in the books, but he’s only a supporting character (it seems) on the show.
For those who, like myself, miss Jaimie Lannister when he was swashbuckling his way across Westeros terrorizing children and adults alike, instead of sitting around brooding or making goo goo eyes at an extremely tall knight or dunkadunking his sister up against the open coffin of their own son (okay okay Catspaw, we get the frickin’ point, I can hear you shouting), the offbeat, goofy, CGI-blotted and entertainingly kitschy “Gods of Egypt” might do the trick. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau appears to be having loads of fun. Did I mention sword fights? Lots of sword fights to be found in this puppy. Best movie of its kind since “The Mummy” imho, which made a star out of the wondrous Rachel Weiss.
What, there are other actors in “The Mummy” besides the delightfully charming, lovely, and super-talented Rachel Weiss? By Osiris’ beard, you speak blasphemy!
Catspaw Assassin,
Cadfael was a great show!
Also, Joan Hickson’s Miss Marple is always worth watching. And then re-watching. It’s the most perfect TV show/adaptation ever made.
And, just one more thing…Columbo!
Catspaw Assassin,
Oh its fabulous! I actually read the books before, and I highly recommend them, but you don’t need to in order to enjoy the series. It stars Derrick Jacobi (of I Claudius fame) and a famous very handsome actor whose name escapes me playing the sheriff who I fell in love with. A few years later I was in Shrewsbury where they have a Caedfael medival garden that I really enjoyed.
An HBO remake of I, Claudius would be great! The original was one of the first “adult” shows I watched, and I became a Patrick Stewart fan because of it.
Loved that series (and am envious of those viewers outside of the US who got to see the uncensored version – tho I suppose the scenes they did show, at least for the age I was at the time, was honestly probably enough!) Jacobi is just amazing in anything he does. Happened upon a version of cyrano de bergerac with him in the lead, on the Bravo network. Absolutely incredible performance; always wanted to find the video or CD of it but seems to not have been made.
Edited to add – oh, I just happened to google it, its on youtube!!!! Ok, I be back in a few hours…
For anyone interested in Shakespeare plays, I’d recommend Hollow Crown, which covers the Wars of the Roses, and features a number of Thrones actors, and you will get to see Viserys as the son-in-law of Craster. An example of how widespread Thrones actors/actresses are!
Gutted if that is true. Richard Madden’s performance as Cosimo was the best part of an excellent show, and would be gutted if he wasn’t a prominent part of any sequel. So much of Medici was the exploration of Cosimo as a separate entity from his father.
And for fans of extremely slow-moving dramas, I recommend the YouTube livestream “Giraffe Cam” which has had hundreds of thousands of viewers over the past few days hoping to see the birth of April the Giraffe’s calf.
NorthernWind,
Joan Hickson’s Miss Marple is the best, at least for tv. My favorite Miss M will always be Margaret Rutherford in the sixties. They may not be some mystery fans cup of tea, but they’re hugely entertaining and Miss Rutherford was such a grand character herself. And the movies had that great theme tune! 😉
Firannion,
I Claudius was stage bound, it would be great to see it opened up.
The cast, well that was like having the gods on Olympus on call!
Anyone mention Da Vinci’s Demons?
This STARZ production was insane!
James Faulkner was in it as Pope Sixtus IV.
(Alexander Siddig is in this one.)
Any story that includes Leonardo Da Vinci , Niccol Machiavelli , all the de’ Medici , Amerigo Vespucci and (wait for it) Vlad Țepeș (gad!) … can’t be all wrong!
This show had some very funny moments in it.
Boardwalk Empire.
In my view, there are three great characters in the history of televsion: Archie Bunker, Al Swearengen, and Richard Harrow.
Apart from everything else that is amazing about Boardwalk, at the very least, watch it for Richard Harrow.
Hmmm.
You are adorable.
ash,
Indeed that was the ubiquitous Sean Pertwee as Sheriff Hugh Beringar! And “I, Claudius” is my all time favorite tv show of all time ever of all time. 😉
ash,
Several years ago, the local PBS station here in NYC showed the original version and I remember saying to the missus, “Why isn’t Helen Mirren in this show?” She still ribs me about that, though I was quite sincere.
Rygar,
I would also throw in Omar and Tony Soprano
NorthernWind,
More perfect than Suchet’s Poirot? That eez high praise indeed, Hastings. 😉
Rectify, Fargo, Black Mirror
Wife and I started watching Vikings, almost through season one. We have not been disappointed.
Aside from that, go watch the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel pilot on Amazon and tell them to make it into a full series. It’s only a pilot, but possibly the best thing I’ve seen in a while. Could become Mad Men with a female lead, except a lot funnier.
Chuck,
In my top ten for sure.
Really tried to get into The Expanse but ultimately failed. Characters are pretty damn bland and predictable, especially the designated hero boy. Watched first 4 epis of the magicians and seemed pretty similar to the books – that is to say pretty bad.
I will try out Happy Valley on your recommendation. Curious if Stephen Universe is kid friendly? Guess I can check out an epi.
I’ve been enjoying Legion so far – only on the 3rd episode and trying to rope the husband into watching the rest. Big Little Lies was really good though incredibly painful to watch (I have a hard time watching domestic violence and kids being socially ostracized).
Gonna be a long summer until July 17!
Another Brit cop show with strong female characters like “Happy Valley” is “Scott & Bailey,” which is aired by most PBS affiliates, and I believe it’s still being filmed.
I don’t usually like cop shows that get into the personal stories of the investigators, and some, if not all, of what I call “the boyfriend plots” are silly. I’m all about the crime solving, mate. But this is one show that has characters strong and interesting enough to make me put that caveat aside.
Alas, Amelia Bullmore, a terrific actor playing a terrific character, the police chief, will be sorely missed. I suspect the show won’t get over her leaving, she was that strong.
But anyway, the dramatic suspect interrogation scenes are the highlights of the series and along with the engaging lead characters and actors who play them are the main reasons I recommend this surprisingly often funny police procedural.
I just finished watching Thirteen Reasons Why and OH MY GOD did the ending crush it. Amazing. It was sooooo gooood that I actually started getting nervous that the ending couldn’t possibly live up to my expectations. I was wrong. It’s BRUTAL but absolutely incredibly written and performed. I highly recommend.
I do agree that Black Sails is an excellent series. For me, pretty much like GoT and compulsive watching.
On UK Sky TV, its still on S3, so I will have the pleasure of watching S4 which I believe is the final series. No idea when that will be aired. With SKY satellite channels such as The History Channel, Discovery History Channel, National Geographic, etc they seem to be year behind the US before they get aired in the UK.
Memo to HBO from Shady Films LLC
Re: A A Clockwork Orange series
1) Malcolm McDowell as Alex’s pervy grandfather? If not available, Patrick Stewart?
2) The book is too hard for the studio’s reader to read, so base it on the movie, only with more boobs.
3) Is the Cat Lady and her house available? Cool house. WTF was that scene about anyway? And besides she was flat as a pancake.
4) Gladiators? Hey why not?
5) Those codpieces in the movie. We have to have those codpieces. I have to have those codpieces! Get on it people!
Isabelle,
I can’t really give you a show parallel. You’re watching a family dealing with adversity and instead of a feel good, banding together, they begin destroying each other in a cascade of bad decisions. But each decision feels rational as you’re watching it be made. There are some time jumps and so you know in a big way where the characters are going, but the why of it is …real? I guess gripping family drama is the best way to explain it, but don’t expect to walk away from any episode filled with a strong sense of family bonding.
Dee Stark,
Outlander is very good.
And Taboo, well, I watched it twice, back to back. Tom Hardy is amazing and the show is FULL of Game of Thrones actors. Johnathan Pryce has a starring role, and man, he is good.
ash,
Sounds like a lot of fun!
KCdeb,
Jonathan Pryce is on that show? Jumpin’ Jaysus, why the hell am I hanging out with you lot then? I’ve got binging to do!!!
😉 😉 🙂
I hadn’t heard of that show, but just I sussed it out on imdb and saw that Derek Luke is on it, and I’m a fan of his, so I’ll definitely check it out. My nephew, who graduated from Emerson College last year and is breaking into the show business (his dream is to be a showrunner ala Benioff and Weiss), met Mr. Luke a few months ago and he tells me he’s a really cool down to earth guy. 😉
That was Sean Pertwee, who’s father Jon Pertwee was very well known for playing the 3rd Incarnation of Doctor Who. Sean looks enough like his father that it was rumored that he’d play the role for the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who, but that didn’t come to pass.
Rygar,
Walter White begs to differ. 😀
Taboo was good.
But my other obsession next to GoT is Homeland. It’s on its 6th season but it’s still so great. The writing and acting are top notch. Only binge if you have the time because you won’t be able to put it down.
Catspaw Assassin,
Item 6. Perfect promo opportunity for Rosetta Stone Nadsat version.
Dee Stark,
I did see Outlander s01 exciting plot & a bit of same old love triangle storyline watch first 2-3 episodes you will get enough idea
Oh, one more. Harlots, of course.
…there are some samples from the 1977 “Vivat Rex” Shakespeare history cycle (audio only as it was a radio production) on YouTube.
Judy Dench of course played Catherine of Valois.
You know, I had a “what if” thought the other day about performers who might suit a 1960s version of GoT – of course it wouldn’t have happened as the ASOIAF books weren’t a twinkle in young GRRM’s eye at the time and I had thought of Yvonne Furneaux (who played arguably a similar character to the one Rachel Weisz played in the 1999 version) in the 1959 Hammer version – I’ve never seen it all the way through but have seen excerpts and it seems quite enjoyable in a campy way. Ms Furneaux played Isobel Banning/Princess Ananka which was not the name of the character played by Ms Weisz (Peter Cushing was her husband and Christopher Lee was the eponymous Mummy). I saw Ms Furneaux on one of the BBC’s costume productions in the 1960s (as Torfrida in “Hereward the Wake”) but I had thought she might have fitted as either 1960s Lyanna or Ashara Dayne (though they haven’t bothered with AD in the HBO show). She’s been retired since the 1980s so the name may not mean much to younger visitors to this site. I checked her name on Wikipedia; apparently she was born in France to a French mother and English father (Wikipedia says her ‘real’ name is Elisabeth Yvonne Scatcherd and that she was known as ‘Tessa’ at University – which was St Hilda’s College, Oxford [so brains as well as beauty]).
Now I don’t know which British TV shows make it to PBS in the USA but for people who don’t mind their crime shows with a bit of sugar I would recommend “Death in Paradise” (for the information of any young men who are still crying into their cocoa because Eva Green wasn’t cast as Melisandre, Eva Green’s cousin is in it. Doesn’t look like Eva Green but she’s an attractive lady nonetheless
– they must have good genes in that family). Another British cop show I quite liked was WPC56 – set in Birmingham in the 1950s on the theme of the staff of a police station getting used to working with the first female constable at that station. It ran for 3 series though the original WPC went off to be in “Vikings”. For a day-time show it treated on some serious subjects (one of the senior policeman was living a double life as he was gay at a time when being gay – or at least being caught being gay was against the law) though there was humour too.
Yes, I love Margaret Rutherford too, but Joan Hickson was spot-on for me. Of course you can see them both in one adaptation – in Margaret Rutherford’s 4.50 to Paddington. Joan plays the stroppy kitchen maid.
It’s Marple heaven!
Wimsey,
Thank you for your detailed presentation! When I find a TV show/ film I enjoy, I like to read the book it was adapted from. If the book happens to be bad, I’m very disappointed, I feel as is a possibility of entertainment were stolen from me.
This Sunday it will be Expanse binge-watching for me. I have watched two episodes and my favourite characters are Miller and Naomi. I think I could watch anything with Thomas Jane in it.
Firannion,
As already mentioned, the BBC’s The Hollow Crown series was Shakespeare pitched at a Game of Thrones audience, and was excellent. Shekhar Kapur’s films Elizabeth and Elizabeth – the Golden Age were great, with much to relish, especially Geoffrey Rush’s ruthless spymaster Walsingham. The BBC’s Dickensian was wonderful, and GoT cast-wise it has Anton Lesser, Mark Stanley, Brenock O’Connor and (coming in series 7) Joseph Quinn (if they ever do remake I, Claudius, one of the best series ever made, and of which GRR Martin is a fan, Quinn for Caligula, please!)
Oh, and The Station Agent is lovely! I started watching GoT partly because Peter Dinklage was so good in that.
I would recommend watching:
-Outlander with Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan
-Big Little Lies
-The Magicians (very reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
-The Exorcist (TV show on Fox)
-Victoria (on PBS.org Jenna Coleman is/was Richard Madden’s GF)
-Orphan Black (Tatiana Maslany is PHENOMENAL)
This many posts and no one mentions Penny Dreadful?
Vikings! Way back in season 3 when Game of Thrones was at its best, I discovered Vikings and it helped with the wait for each GoT episode. Now Vikings has surpassed GOT and I use GoT to help get through the wait time for the next Vikings episode. Ragnar Lothbrok makes virtually every Thrones character seem predictable and boring. If you haven’t watched Vikings, you’re missing out.
Elizabeth was Cate Blanchett’s breakout movie. Some wishful thinking added to the historical story, but it’s mostly a true telling, that has got a very entertaining feel to it.
Alas the second Elizabeth film, while good, is a bit comic booked up which put me off a bit. A least that first film got the great Blanchett into the A list and rest is history.
Laura,
Finally someone said it!!! Orphan Black is my jam, my bread and my butter.
My recommendation is:
Sons of Anarchy
13 Reasons Why
Boojam,
Penny Dreadful DVD on the shelf awaiting… (I love Alan Moore’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics and it sounds similar). Also, as mentioned, Taboo is great fun, and The Last Kingdom – I did Anglo-Saxon and it’s a period that doesn’t get much attention, so very glad it got a second series.
I have only watched one of the recommended shows – Black sails, which I thought was good, though I wouldn’t count it among the best. I hadn’t really heard of the others except for “the expanse”. I’ll give that a try now I guess.
The shows I have enjoyed watching this past year are the Crown, Stranger Things, Westworld, the Americans and mini series like “the night of ” and “people vs OJ”.
Vikings seems to be a very popular show. I have found my interest reducing with the later seasons however. I was quite disappointed with the first part of the 4th season, so I have put off watching the second part.
I only just watched season 2 which was utterly brilliant – and season 3 starts very soon ( though not over here sadly, we’ll have to wait until autumn/winter most like)
From that list I love Expanse. Will recommend Into the Badlands.
TV series I’ve enjoyed: The Americans, Mr. Robot, Westworld, Black Mirror, The Fall.
Animated TV shows: Rick and Morty, Archer, BoJack Horseman.
For those who want to experience a blast from the past: Six Feet Under and OZ.
After reading some comments here, I’m really looking forward watching The Expanse, American Gods and Medici: Masters of Florence.
ash,
Thank you!!
Isabelle,
Thank you:)
Speaking of kids shows. Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom seems to have a third of its humor directed at adults and it’s a preschooler show. It’s very cheeky.
I absolutely adore Eva Green, she is do good but has been in a string of the oddest movies of late, she is unjustly sidelined from the big awards.
Catspaw Assassin,
I
Oh yes! Oh he was handsome, and I loved the chemistry he had with jacobi. I may need to rewatch that series – tho thinking about it Im not sure I have them on DVDs; probably on Netflix
Pretty Crow,
my sister has been praising it to the stars since it came out, but spy shows aren’t my thing. But lately with Russia in the news more and more, think its time I started.
Right now i’m watching
The final season of Black sails
The final season of Breaking bad
Fargo
And The Wire
As for anime
Code Geass XD
Ive been looking for Expanse on Netflix with no luck. Tried on demand on syfy – all I got for season 1 was a bunch of short takes ‘behind the scenes’ Any suggestions how to get into it?
The Americans is another one of those shows where you love rooting for the darker characters
boy! where to begin. there are so many shows I find really good.
If you’re looking for character complexity in similitude with game of thrones, I highly recommend “The 100”. The show has subjected it’s characters to some really difficult choices from the very first season – choices that make “good guys” appear rather “bad”.
Mr Robot is also really good. like somebody mentioned above, it has a rather complex narrative and that to me is what makes it enjoyable.
others i’ll recommend are:
marvel’s daredevil
marvel’s Luke cage
gang related
power (on starz)
the blacklist ( James spader will blow your mind)
billions
Vikings
dark matter (for scifi lovers)
and if you like corporate law stories, “suits” promises to be so damn good!!!!!!!!
King Ragnar,
I agree with you. For me Vikings passes Game of Thrones season 5 and 6. It is better in my opinion and if you haven’t seen it, you should.
King Ragnar,
Please,i like the show but it’s pretty much a cliche fest,especially in later seasons,also your reason for watching the show,yeah well i hope you managed to cope with it .
orange,
You’re a well known hater of those seasons,why should i take your opinion seriously ? I fucking despise the Walking Dead but i don’t go around saying look how much better this show is because i know that i am biased .
I tried that BJ but had to jump ship at a (to me at least) truly terrible seance sequence. Ms Green’s rather manky “English” accent didn’t help and Irish people have said Billie Piper’s “Oirish” accent was more stage Irish than accurate Irish. Having said that, NCW’s Danish accent and Peter Dinklage’s American one sometimes (they’re not ghastly or anything, not to me anyway) slip through on GoT and I don’t mind. But there was just something about “Vanessa”‘s fake accent that irritated me. I know it’s not “Vanessa”‘s fault – the showrunners could have helped by making her character a nationality other than English – I don’t think the character HAD to be English for the story to work, though as I say I did stop watching very early on.
ash,
Another fan of Cadfael here! And there’s a film called ‘Black Death’ that turns up on the Horror channel from time to time which is pleasingly grisly – looks like the makers are fans of The Seventh Seal, Aguirre Wrath of God and Witchfinder General, and it has Sean Bean and a witchy Carice van Houten, amongst others.
Btw, I think Dickensian has just started showing on US TV and Canadian Netflix.
ash,
Amazon Prime has it as a Prime video series, season 1 only so far. If you don’t have Amazon Prime I think you pay 2.99 for ep rental or one, two dollars more to buy it.
I’m reading the books to pass the time until July 16th. Never read modern fantasy before and I’m enjoying the series. Read the first one in February, the second in March and I’m half-way through the third. I will read the fourth book in May and the fifth book in June and part of July just in time for the premier, I’m hoping.
And here’s where you can order a DVD of it: http://www.broadwayworld.com/video/Cyrano-de-Bergerac-1985
I was living in NYC when that RSC production came to Lincoln Center, but the reviews for Cyrano were so ecstatic that you couldn’t get tickets for love nor money (Jacobi won the Best Actor Olivier Award for the UK run). Fortunately, they were performing Cyrano in repertory with Much Ado, on alternating nights, and I was able to see Jacobi in that! Not the first actor who would come to mind to play Benedick, as he’s not particularly the matinée-idol type; but he was splendid nonetheless, and clearly had lots of fun with the snarky wordplay.
Then, just a few years ago, I got the chance to see Kevin Kline (another favorite of mine) play Cyrano on Broadway. And so the world’s balance was restored…
TormundsWoman,
Thanks! Ive been avoiding Amazon Prime but may just have to get it for that show
Firannion,
Thanks for the link. It shows the 1985 version, I’ll see if they have the 1991 version as well. Id not seen it acted before, so seeing Jacobi in it was quite a treat. I’d bet Kline was amazing.
I should look to see if there is a video of Alan Rickman in Dangerous Liasons as well.
It’s on their dvd only list so far. A friend has been watching it that way.
Thanks for showing The Magicians the love! I wasn’t a book reader going into Season 1 (I remain unsullied), but I was fully on board once I heard the combo of magic and school. I wasn’t disappointed. Yes, some aspects are emo, and the writing isn’t comparable to WestWorld, but that doesn’t take away from the fun of the show. The characters are true – Elliott and Penny are favorites. They basically are normal people just like us who realize that in fact they are Magicians – and not the David Copperfield kind. They then do what all of us would do – use magic to get what we want. That may be a device which never empties of the perfect adult beverage, or using a locator spell to find that one person who really pissed you off. I find it highly entertaining, and am sad the second season is almost over.
I saw that someone else mentioned Elementary. I just love Jonny Lee Miller’s take on Holmes. In fact, just last week I said to someone that Elementary is my favorite show on network television. Needless to say the look I got in response was one that said I watch way too much tv (as the person clearly didn’t know what represented ‘network tv’). If you haven’t checked it out, try not to hold the fact that it airs on CBS against it. It’s much better than their usual fare.
Just started this yesterday and it’s amazing. I wish Hulu would dump all the episodes like Netflix does.
For those who don’t know, Harlots is about two warring brothels in late 1700s London. One is very refined and uppity run by an older madame and the other is very working class run by one of her former girls. The show is almost entirely female-run behind the scenes and in front of the camera. They follow that trend of throwing in some modern day music from time to time. Only 2 episodes are available so far (new ones every Wednesday on hulu) but I haven’t been this excited by a new show since Westworld last year.
Hulu also has The Handmaid’s Tale coming in 2 weeks which will hopefully be another great one.
ghost of winterfell,
The second part is so good! I wasn’t impressed with the first part but I guarantee you will love the second. It’s action packed and moves the story forward big time
NorthernWind,
You don’t say! I’ll have to watch both versions again. I remember the tv version being truer to the book, in that Miss Marple’s friend gets a job at the mansion to uncover clues and not herself as in the Rutherford movie. 😉
Laura,
Harlots look interesting – sounds a bit like Ch4’s City of Vice (Ian McDiarmid, Iain Glen, and I remember it as being pretty good).
Alba Stark,
Where can I catch the hollow crown?
Clob,
Dee Stark,
They’ve posted the full set of lyrics 😀
http://goodqueenalys.tumblr.com/post/159359652038
HotPinkLipstick,
Thanks so much! Sounds like it’s worth a try!
PBS or BBC.
I watched it when it aired on BBC in the UK, and have since done so again on DVD. I don’t have Netflix or Amazon Prime, so I’m not sure if it is available on either of those services. I hope you manage to find a way to watch it – and play Spot the Thrones Actor!
Thanks never knew of that version of Cyrano.
I am taken by the French version by Jean-Paul Rappeneau with Gérard Depardieu and Anne Brochet . It uses the original Rostand French and is more musical and poetic even if you don’t understand French.
Boojam,
In the UK (I can’t speak for other anglophone countries) we don’t get that many French language programmes, though it’s possible that the version of Cyrano you mention has been shown here unbeknownst to me. (With regard to the Rostand French being “more poetic and musical” I think “Romance” languages generally sound pleasant, though of such languages I only have a working knowledge of French and a slight knowledge of Spanish). I’m aware of “Engrenages” which was mentioned upthread and back in the 1970s a version of “Les Rois Maudits” was shown (I understand a more modern version has been made since). There was “The Tunnel” of course (a remake of the Scandinavian show “The Bridge as many people will already know) with Stephen (Stannis) Dillance and Clemence Poesy (sorry for not putting the accents in her name). There was a film I saw on TV some years ago “The Lady and the Duke” (“L’anglaise et le Duc”) about an Edinburgh born high class courtesan in France at the time of the French Revolution. It was well acted. Somebody mentioned the series “Versailles” – I haven’t watched that properly yet. It’s a bit odd in that it’s French made but they used a lot of British actors and shot it in English (even the French members of the cast) and then dubbed it back into French. I’ve been wondering whether to try “Un Village Francais” (sorry no c cedilla) – all sorts of things appear on YouTube though whether they have been uploaded legally or not I have no idea. A couple of the cast members from “Engrenages” are in it (Audrey Fleurot and the chap who plays Gilou, I forget his name). Maybe the Cyrano in question will be available on YouTube. I can get by in French but the swear words in “Engrenages” escape me if I don’t read the subtitles.
Further up the thread I harked back to some programmes from the ’60s. In the late 1960s (before your time I’m sure) there was a French puppet show The Magic Roundabout – that’s the English title of course. The English voiceover was done by Eric Thompson (father of the actress Emma Thompson). The dog in the show (Dougal in the English version, Pollux in the French) apparently had an English accent in the original French programme. Some French people I stayed with for a short while said “Elle parle comme Pollux” so I must have sounded franglais rather than francais.
+ 10 here, Love this show doing S1 & 2 re watch now.
I actually liked season two, someone said they didn’t like the actress playing Claire’s daughter but she’s only in a few episode so she needs a bit of time.
GOT, Outlander and Homeland are my top 3.
Along with the Tudors I add Rome to my rewatch listings.
Probably because season two really,really sucked, did HBO say there will be a season three?
This year seems so real with alternative facts and all.
No. I am not a “hater” of those seasons. I stated I preferred the other show to those two seasons, but never said I hated them. Besides, It’s my opinion. You don’t have to listen to it or agree with it. When did I say you had to? When did I demand of you to take my opinion seriously? I don’t understand what your problem is or why you are so bothered by what I wrote. I like it better than seasons 5 and 6. So what. Why do you care? Why does this bother you? It doesn’t mean anything. You have a different opinion. Great. I and others are allowed to have different preferences to you. And vice versa. So relax.
ended too quick for me. 🙁
just started watching Last Tango in Halifax – similar to As Time Goes By which I absolutely adored . This looks like its much more of a drama. Interesting to start.
To clear up a few bits of info on The Expanse:
– It is produced by Alcon and distributed by SyFy.
– SyFy has been less than aggressive with marketing
– The authors are Executive Producers and also are writers on the show.
– It takes about 4 episodes of the first season to really get going.
– It does not spoonfeed you anything; no (s)exposition. You have to pay attention, but you will be rewarded.
– SyFy does not stream the entire season; usually, only the last 4 episodes are on SyFy.
– US folks – Amazon has Season 1 and 2. Season 1 is free for Prime. Episodes hit amazon about 2-4 hours after broadcast (Wednesday nights)
– UK folks – Netflix carries the show outside the US.
– Season 1 (10 episodes) covers about 3/4 of the first book, Leviathan Wakes
– Season 2 (13 episodes) looks as though it will get about half way into book 2. Caliban’s War.
– Season 3 has been ordered.
– There are a few points of divergence ebtween the books and the show, but as stated above, they’re mostly improvements or necessary for the medium.
– There are six novels and 5 novelas so far. JSAC (the authors) have acontract for 9 novels (so, 3 more) and have indicated we will see maybe a couple more novelas as well.
– The books use POVs similar to how ASOIAF does. As mentioned above, the number of POVs grows during the course of the series. There are 4 main protagonists in the first book, but the secondary characters are complex and interesting as well.
– The TV series does not use a specific POV, rather it uses the omniscient narrator method.
– There is no nudity and very little sex in The Expanse.
– Wimsey’s statement about Mei – probably meant Prax, as Mei is a 4 year old girl (who is Prax’s daughter).
I invite you all to our reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/TheExpanse/new/. It is unusually friendly for Reddit, and welcoming to both book readers and show-only folks. Also, we frequently get visits from both of the authors, the VFX Supervisor, and several SyFY staffers. Come check it out!
Ser Gerold,
Oh, and our Canadian friends can catch it on something called “Space”, eh?
The OA
Netflix
Watch it. Best thing I’ve ever seen.
Ser Gerold,
Many thanks for the fan forum link!
Moving right away from dramas, I’ve been enjoying British comedy People Just Do Nothing (available on Netflix in the US) – from the same stable as the (British) The Office, but set around pirate radio & underground music – and have also heard good things about another British comedy, Chewing Gum, starring Michaela Coel, and again available on Netflix.
Laura,
To be honest, “entirely female-produced” is not really a draw for me. It almost makes the show… quaint, and pressing the point leads people to include words such as “soap opera” in the reviews (same goes for Big Little Lies). Which is pretty funny. GoT is a soap opera as well! Two of its major subplots are “the Stark daughters take revenge for the deaths of their parents” and “Jaime is in a love triangle with Cersei and Brienne”.
I read a review that compared Harlots to a mob movie – that was my impression as well; the writers said they were influenced by Sopranos and The Wire. The “her name was Mary Cooper” scene straight-out reminds me of Fight Club. The no-nonsense pragmatism and realism of it, especially when it comes to sex, violence and money – the depictions of the “working class” – is what’s drawing me in.
So, everyone… “Sopranos” in a brothel would be *my* selling line.
Dee Stark,
• You’ve seen The Adventures of Arya & Victoria, right? I mean Maisie Williams and Jenna Coleman in Dr. Who last year….
• For some real entertainment: Hannah Waddingham (Septa Unella) did a clever parody commercial for SodaStream. The commercial starts out with Unella, in full costume + bell, following around some poor guy in a supermarket and “shaming” him for buying water in plastic bottles. It’s 3:07 minutes long. Without giving away anything, let’s just say that the last 10-15 seconds…. Nah. I won’t say any more.
It’s on YouTube. If you do a search for “Shame or Glory”, it should come right up.
Is Mei 4 in the books? Because on the show she is something like 8,9 or 10.
One notes the first season of The Expanse is on DVD.
I have a friend who watches all TV series but only on DVD* , which means he has to wait , sometimes one can pick up previously owned DVDs for a fraction of HBO or almost any streaming deal.
*That is everything that is put on DVD.
As a new fan of The Expanse (the newest on this site, perhaps – it started yesterday) I would very much like the great mods to take The Expanse under their wings and create a new sister site, like Westworld Watchers. I can’t imagine the amount of work required, so please don’t read this as a selfish request, but as a suggestion. I noticed that there are GOT fans who appreciate The Expanse a lot.
Ripper Street,Ray Donovan,Rectify,Peaky Blinders,Capadocia,The Leftovers,Braquo,The Bridge,Luther,Copper,Les Revenants,Epitafios,Love/Hate,Un Village Francias,The Killing,Profugos,The Accused,The Red Road,Spiral,The Protectors,The Americans,Real Humans,Deutschland83,Jordskott,Longmire,Banshee,The Strain,Quarry,The Fall,Salem,Bosch,The Man in The High Castle,Better Caul Saul,The Outsiders,The Knick…..do I watch too much tv????? Oh and how can I forget,Gomorra!
Is ‘American Horror Story’ worth a watch? I know it’s not a current show. I’m not really a fan of horror per se (maybe that’s why I never warmed to Penny Dreadful (other than the quirkiness in the accents of the two leading ladies)) but I’ve heard it’s supposed to have well-rounded and strong female characters. Mind you I like to have well-rounded characters both male and female in a story/film/play – lots of bossy women telling off ineffectual men (unless it’s maybe for comedy relief) is as bad as a story wholly revolving round male characters lording it over wishy-washy female characters.
The Last Kingdom & Taboo. Both great programs!
itreachsout,
Amazing how the prudery of reactionary middle America aghast at any depiction of sex or of the nude human body, pressured HBO to tone down GoT — but have no problem with extreme violence
into the badlands
underground
outsiders
americans
leftovers
mr. robot
forged in fire
agents of shield
homeland
billions
the mick
Whether you enjoy Outlander or not, it has perhaps the greatest theme song of any show out there. Just an amazingly beautiful song.
By the way, my wife enjoys Outlander, so I started watching it, and I like it too. It can be a bit too romance-novelish for my tastes at times, but it’s an engaging show. Brilliant acting by the leads and fantastic sets/decorations. I agree that when they went to France in season 2 it got a bit old by mid-season, but that made the move back to Scotland that much better! The two lead characters ARE the show. They make me care about watching it.
Penny Dreadful was fun, but it definitely got a bit silly at times. Eva Green made that show for me. She is a mesmerizing actress and commands the screen whenever she’s on it.
And call me lame if you want, but I watch PBS a bunch. I don’t watch it for Masterpiece Theater or Call of the Midwife or anything like that though.
I watch it for the historical and scientific shows like American Experience, NOVA, Secrets of the Dead, and Rick Steves’ European travel show. It’s really the only place I can find any realistic historical and science shows on tv.
It’s the only place on tv I can find any accurate historical shows. All the other channels sensationalize everything to the point where the history is no longer accurate.
Watched Black Sails, man in the highcastle, Vikings, Taboo, the expanse. Watched the Iron fist, but only if nothing else was on. not good in my opinion. My latest obsession is Peaky Blinders, binge watched all three seasons.
Despite my previous posts I don’t hate Ms Green. I’ve found her over the top sometimes (oh, that GHASTLY seance scene in PD – although she didn’t write the scene). She’s a nice-looking lady and I have heard that she had good on-screen chemistry with Daniel Craig in the Bond film (which I didn’t see – I think Sean Connery was in the last Bond film I actually saw at the cinema though my have caught subsequent Bonds on TV). Quite honestly, I haven’t really seen enough of her as an actress to give a definitive judgment of her ability in her profession. I tried to watch “Camelot” and “Penny Dreadful” but they weren’t really my kind of thing (and whilst her French accent was not of the “cut it with a bread knife” type it was discernible). Am I judging harshly? Still it’s better for me not to be a hypocrite. It probably wouldn’t do her career any harm to get away from playing bitchy witchy types of women, mind.
Dame of Mercia,
Hey, everyone’s entitled to their opinion 🙂
I agree that she tends to be typecast as a witchy/bitchy type and I’d enjoy seeing her branch out a bit more, but I always find her to be captivating in any role she’s in. Seeing her as a Bond girl was a bit strange since she’s not really the type, but I actually liked her quite a bit in Casino Royale. She wasn’t your typical damsel in distress. She added her own flavor to the role. She could still hold my attention even if she wasn’t saying a word. She doesn’t get anywhere near the credit that she deserves for her acting ability.
Mr Derp,
I agree with you – I love Nova and the science and history specials they do (waiting for another Ken Burns doc – Civil War was out of this world). Also watch for news – Washington week (miss Gwen Ifil, RIP) and the nightly shows go into so much more depth than other news. Over the years there have been many series, comedy and drama, that were very entertaining . And now they might be cut completely.
ash,
Yea, I heard that the Trumpster is trying to cut off PBS funding, but that doesn’t exactly surprise me given what a douchebag he is. Hopefully, it won’t become too much of a problem.
I am a Ken Burns nut! I love all his documentaries…The Brooklyn Bridge, Civil War, The Roosevelts, the War, Jazz, Baseball, The National Parks, Prohibition….oh man, just such great historical entertainment that is almost IMPOSSIBLE to find these days.
Has anyone seen the Night Manager??
ALSO
I need to start my GOT rewatch hahaha
He won’t become one for PBS: he is one! Be careful for what you wish and all of that….
To follow on your first point, one reason why many people want PBS cut is because of those sorts of documentaries. There are many people who want different versions of history to be true and/or who want some facts about history repressed. Burns in particular has focussed on issues related to race-relations in the US: and there are still a lot of people who want to deny much of what that involves.
Wimsey,
Yup, and those people can go f*ck themselves. I think society in general spends way too much time halting the progress of humanity in order for us all to wait for the racists and scumbags of the world to catch up with the rest of us. I say we move on without them. Leave it up to them to either sink or swim. Unfortunately, I think there’s just too many of them still remaining in the world for us to move on at this point.
Wimsey,
I kind of think that PBS doesn’t get a lot of support simply because most people don’t give those type of shows a chance in the first place. It’s just not sexy enough or hip enough for most people.
Great recommendations. On the silly front, I’ll recommend Galavant, which is a hilarious musical takeoff on all manner of Games of Thronish stuff.
And Monty Python. Just because.
Had to like the costumes and sets, they did a great job.
2 thumbs up !!
She and Claire Folorni (?) made camelot, wrong Arthur, wrong Guinevere ( a Blond no way ) .
Just finished up Black Sails last night. Highly recommended.
Completely agree. Just gorgeous. I love the show, too- actually more than the books but we will see how the later books play out as the seasons (hopefully) progress.
Dee Stark – I have seen The Night Manager. Very, very good. Since it is just a miniseries, there isn’t much commitment there, so definitely worth a watch, imo.
I highly recommend The Man in the High Castle for those of you who have Amazon. It is similar to GoT in that you have a mostly realistic series that has an element of the supernatural present. The series has a very intriguing premise and an excellent cast. It is especially good for those who like historical or war-related dramas.
THE LEFTOVERS. I am in awe of this show and have never seen anything like it. If you don’t enjoy experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions while watching a TV show, then I suppose you should probably pass on it. I just rewatched the 1st season (and the 2nd season this wk) in preparation for the 3rd and final season premiering next Sunday. It’s an intricate puzzle and it looks like they’re going to show us how to solve it- I have my own ideas… can’t wait to see if they’re right!
Honorable mentions:
Fargo
Orphan Black
I would also say WestWorld, but no new episodes will be airing during the time we are waiting for GOT to return.
A good cartoon is Star vs the Forces of Evil
Grail King,
Well, Morgan le Fay having a French accent I found jarring but for non-UK people it might have not been so noticeable. I thought Jamie Campbell-Bowers was a bit wimpy for Arthur – or at least the way he portrayed him was. My favourite on-screen Morgan ever was Helen Mirren in John Boorman’s 1981 film “Excalibur” (probably before your time). They had a dark-haired Guinevere in that (Cherie Lunghi). It’s so long since I read Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “Morte d’Arthur” that I can’t remember what (if it was mentioned) Guinevere’s hair colour was supposed to have been. Guinevere does mean ‘white’ or ‘fair’ though that could refer to skin tone. https://www.behindthename.com/name/guinevere I think in the book about King Arthur I read as a child (by Roger Lancelyn Green and illustrated by Lotte Reineger {sp?}) Guinevere may have been a blonde though I don’t have the book anymore (lent it and never got it back) to check. Still the story was based on legend and was added to over the years so I suppose there isn’t really a “definitive” version, though another thing that rankled with me about ‘Camelot’ was that in Monmouth’s work Morgan was the daughter of Gorlois though had the same mother as Arthur and in the show they made Uther the father of them both. Julia Raeside’s commentary blog (at the time of the series in “The Guardian” was hilarious as are some of the comments. I’ll post the link to the review of episode 10 but here is a small extract from it (about wimp kid Arthur) in case you don’t want to click and trawl through the whole thing. “One down, several to go. Like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone, he spends the rest of the night booby-trapping his fortress. When the rest of the interlopers arrive, he unleashes his A-Team-style trickery on them, sending paintpots and feathers and such like raining down on their heads.”
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/aug/05/camelot-episode-10
Dame of Mercia,
I am currently reading “The Once and Future King” by TH White, and “Jenny” is described as having black hair. Also in that book Arthur shares a mother with these crazy sisters. lol
Dame of Mercia,
Helen Mirren was great, have the dvd , meh with the Sean Connory (?) Richard Gere version and I liked the Clive Owen / Keira Knightly version (less fantasy)
Dame of Mercia,
Helen Mirren was great, have the dvd , meh with the Sean Connory (?) Richard Gere version and I liked the Clive Owen / Keira Knightly version (less fantasy)
Dee Stark,
Loved The Night Manager. Olivia Coleman is outstanding; Hugh Laurie is at his menacing best…and then there’s this rather attractive fellow named Tom Hiddleston.
I loved Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. It was so wacky, yet everything wove together in a brilliant way.
Also, if you have Amazon Prime, there are pilots on Amazon Prime. There is currently one called Oasis starring Rob Stark as a priest who takes a chaplain job on a new colony being established off-world. I realllllly hope they green-light it and I get a whole season to binge.
keltia,
I love tom ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you
Just watching one of the early episodes which featured a company called “Casterly Rock Security” 😉
Through personal experience I learned that it’s counterproductive to view people that way. While there always are those who are truly “irredeemable” racists, misogynists, and various other “-ists”, I believe that majority of these people are decent folk who have been shaped into who they are by a multitude of psychological and social factors. For example, my grandmother HATED Germans. She despised and loathed them because Nazis and their local collaborators murdered her entire family (and 180 other people in her village). I was brought up in an entirely different time period, but I understood her feelings even though I didn’t share them. It’s not something one can simply write off as ignorance and backwardness. People all across the world have to deal with all kinds of shit that screw with their reasoning. Understanding, tolerance, patience, and education are needed to address these things, not a unilateral fuck’em-for-their-backward-ways attitude.
I could just keep watching Thrones over and over its that good!
But my choices are Peaky Blinders, Taboo, The Missing, Sopranos, Hannibal was way to good to be cancelled after 3 seasons, The Knick and something funny i have gotten into Rick and Morty
Firannion,
Me too! Loved S1, it managed to take the spirit of Adams’ books, subject them to an American transplant, yet not ruin them, impressive work.
I have a pet dislike of impossibly strong women warriors (cough Brienne) but loved Bart the holistic assassin, her final scene shot was awesome. My money is on her vs the tank.
Dame of Mercia,
Second the Big Finish recommendation, love the 8th and War Doctor especially.
Btw last I checked everyone watching tv in the U.K. has to pay for the BBC. Or have you figured some way to avoid paying that?
Oh no! After reading this post, I started watching “The Magicians” and now … I can’t stop. I really can’t recommend it, it’s like with Julia in the series: once you know about it, how could you live your life without it?
I was already an fan of Black Sails and will try The Expanse next.
Lawrence Gough,
Oh I’ve been a good girl and paid my licence fee.
I know one or two people have mentioned it but I would definitely recommend The Last Kingdom. It’s an excellent (and pretty brutal) historical action/drama focusing on a period that doesn’t get a lot of love. Based on a set of novels by Bernard Cornwell (who wrote Sharpe, for Sean Bean afficionados). Highly enjoyable – my only criticism is that it goes at a breakneck pace – they are already starting into book 4 after about 9 episodes.
It’s British and about halfway through the second season so there aren’t many episodes yet but it’s definitely worth a shot, especially if you liked Vikings.
At this point, I think that we have to just accept that they not only will never willingly catch up, but that they want to drag the rest of us back into their muck. “I want the old steel mill job my grandfather had, not this new fangled job: because that was real work, not what you liberals do” is just one aspect of this.
heh, well, there is that, too!
I’m sure that she would rest much easier knowing that so many people consider that to be “fake history”….
Of course, the fact that Nazi-denialism started in the 1950’s (when many felt that we should have sided with the Nazis against the Soviets) would have made it that much harder for people to forgive the Germans. Even before the hard numbers on the Holocaust came out to the general public (which was not until the late 1950’s or early 1960’s: it took about 15 years for people to work out just how much had been done, given the more primitive means of gathering data and the fact that the Eastern Bloc was nearly closed to the West during much of that time), people were denying that the Nazis had been much more than a wartime enemy. Indeed, some of them accused Nazi-haters of falling for the WWII propaganda! (That is almost comical to read, as Nazis were cartoon villains: almost nothing of their real crimes was in there.)
I love the Man in the High Castle too.
Vikings, Black Sails, outlander, Orphan Black, The Crown, Downton Abbey, TheMan In the high Castle all very good. Also watched the White Queen the battle for Control of England is just as wild as GOT. It is one season but a sequel The White Princess is starting this Sunday.
Thanks so much to Petra for Happy Valley. Finished it in record time! I do hope Sarah Lancashire comes back for another season. Absolutely riveting!
I did get a few recommendations from friends like: Line of Duty and Broadchurch which I enjoyed as well. Another good one is Bron or (The Bridge) a Swedish/Danish series.
Firefly, always Firefly…
If the tank was meant to die, or deserves to die, and crosses Bart’s path, it will certainly die. It is known.
Mr Fixit,
I could definitely cut her some slack tho would’t be down on present generations. Most people with those kinds of attitudes aren’t dealing with 6 million of their religion being slaughtered because of their religion. They are just bigots who believe whatever they think is the truth.
Mr Fixit,
You’re talking about a fairly extreme example though and does not represent the majority of those who are still racist/prejudiced in society today. My post was referring to the majority of bigots out there who are simply racist because they feel like it.
Mr Fixit,
Trying telling those who are oppressed and have been oppressed for generations that they need to be more patient about bigots out there in the world and see what kind of reaction you get.