I don’t watch shows anymore I just watch serpadesign feed his frogs on YouTube x
Why does anyone watch new TV when there are perfectly good copies of every season of Gargoyles they could be pirating?
Never seen gargoyles. Only porn of it.
Is it any good?
This is the lasting legacy of my childhood TV experience…porn 😔
Gargoyles…porn
Tiny toons…porn
Sonic the Hedgehog…porn
It’s all porn now.
Just as god intended, I’ll tell you hwat.
It’s the internet. That’s what it’s for. 😄
Now that you say that, it’s really an odd, surreal experience. Were my fellow children unique, and just did not grow up, and made a blend of their childhood and what should be adult pursuits, or were people in the past just as fucked up, but all they had to make porn of was Charles Dickens and Dante and such?
It’s okay but it’s a bit distracting what with all the sexy gargoyles
Based
We talking bout Goliath, Hudson, Bronx, Brooklyn and the rest of the gang? Them gargoyles?
I’ve never identified with someone else’s comment so hard.
I am out of the loop with this one, are you referring to the cartoon series?
Yes?
And then for one, “yeah I like that show!”
“Oh do you remember when x did y?”
…No, I forgot everything that happened a week later.
I’m so glad it isn’t just me. I’ve been concerned I might have memory issues because this happens in my life so much.
For real, how do people remember such details from the shows they watch.
Might just be interest. I can’t remember yesterday, but I remember every bit of Halo lore that I’ve read.
One the upside, you can watch a show all over again like it’s the first time!
That’s why you wait until it finish airing and then marathon the whole thing.
I don’t even mean because it’s episodic, it just pops right back out of my brain. Just about to finish watching all of succession, an episode a day, and couldn’t tell you half of what happened unless you remind me.
You can’t make a Tomlette without breaking some Greggs.
That’s the worst for me. If I binge it just goes into the big Binge Pot of Media Memories in my head. If I watch it daily or weekly, then I’m thinking about it and talking about it, ie interacting with the material, as it’s coming out.
I’ve taken to calling this kind of media “Mandatory Adult Television.” I think the first of its species was Lost; there were predecessors with some similar traits like The X Files or The Sopranos, heavily serialized adult content television that was very popular water cooler talk, but Lost was the first one I remember as segmenting the population into those who follow he show, and those who don’t. Game of Thrones was THE big one. You either watched Game of Thrones or you weren’t allowed to socialize as an adult. “Hey, did you see Game of Thrones last night?” “No, I don’t watch that show.” “Oh. Bye.” For nearly a decade. No one wants to talk about that show anymore. Same with Lost.
People aren’t good with small talk and stuff like this is one of the few things you’d be likely to have in common.
I like to pretend like I know what they’re talking about and see how far I can get before they catch on.
See also sports as a method of excluding adults social interaction.
Did you see that ludicrous display last night?
Sick reference bro! I feel included for knowing it! Thank you!
I didn’t watch Game of Thrones, and I didn’t feel like I needed to. What between everyone talking about it, it was hard to miss what was happening.
I do like that it introduced so many people to fantasy!
What, in your mind, is “fantasy?” Because for a genre whose name implies imagination and creativeness, it seems pretty pigeonholed into the European medieval folklore/fairy tale aesthetic somewhere between King Arthur and JRR Tolkien.
I’d agree with that, and most people will probably never venture outside of the hole you’ve described. For my money it’s a book that has to do with fantastical elements that can’t easily be lumped into science-fiction.
Sounds like peer pressure.
Seen one of those (The Boys). Maybe two if you count the first season of Westworld (don’t plan on watching more because it’s supposed to be shite).
I only really bother with Mike Flanagan’s single season stuff on Netflix, because the man knows how to open and close a story. Others should take note. Don’t start a story unless you know how it’s going to end and how long it’s going to take to get there.
“This is popular, let’s make more” is an attitude that has ruined television.
They don’t care about the quality of television. Writing a story that goes on and on and offers the possibility of several spinoffs is the equivalent of micro-transactions in video games : they make more money that way.
Capitalism only maximizes money, it doesn’t maximize quality. It eats quality to make more money.
The model worked back when episodes were self contained. I don’t need to see seasons 1-20 (or whatever they’re up to now) of The Simpsons to understand the latest episode. Old Star Trek was the same. You didn’t need a huge back story. Kirk/Picard and chums were the good guys. The guy with the plastic on his face and angry eyes was the bad guy. It was easy.
But stretching a simple story over 10 seasons of gradually declining quality is nonsense. By their own logic we can only have a conclusion when the quality has declined to the point that nobody cares what happens. Might as well not even have an ending at that point.
The new Star Trek, Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks, both go back to the standalone episodic model. And they are the best since DS9.
They have a DS9-style balance where there is an overarching story, but it’s usually not the focus. The Lower Deckers are now Lieutenant junior grades.
The Simpsons is now on season 35.
Agreed about Flanagan. I feel like now’s the time to have more one season stories for easier digestion. Especially since so many of them turn to shit so quickly. Ted Lasso being a recent example. Holy shit that last season was horrendous.
It’s the same thing in video games and books, people chasing money or lack skill go after the most popular genres even if they themselves don’t really have any interest in it and produce mediocre products that have 0 passion in them.
I should really watch more stuff from Flanagan, I though midnight mass was alright even if it dragged it’s feet in the middle.
The Bear is very very good
I still haven’t recovered from a certain Season 2 episode
The fishes, right?
That somehow made me love Jamie Lee Curtis even more…
She deserves every award for that episode.
I had to stop watching at some point, it was just too close to home. The overall feeling was just like christmas at home and I don’t go anymore, because I value my sanity more these days. Holy shit what an episode.
As someone who very rarely watches series, this really hits home. I just rarely have the patience to do so, and because of that I also don’t have any streaming subscriptions. I’d rather play games, because the interaction makes them a lot more rewarding to me. To each their own though, other people don’t play games so they’ll have the same problem with me
I can agree, I also am interested in more niche things that mainstream shows, so any title in the meme is totally unknown to me
And there are so many games that just gaming isn’t enough. I know nothing about my coworker’s Rocket League gaming.
Also Mr. Robot and Foundation and Good Omens and Fleabag and the new Beavis and Butthead and Station Eleven and Doctor Who is about to get good again and Irma Vep was great but I don’t think that one’s coming back
Beavis and Butthead
wait there’s a new one? I’ve been living under a rock!
There are two new seasons and a movie!
I forgot about this, I need to go watch!
That reminds me, I went out on Halloween dressed as Butthead when I was but a wee lad hhhuhuh.
It’s okay, not great, although I loved this episode.
I want to like Mr Robot sooooo badly but I find it very cringy and tryhard. I gave up midway through season two.
Season 2 is definitely the slowest season I think. It’s a bit of a slog but it’s doing a lot of the legwork for seasons 3 and 4 to go wild so it does kind of pay off in the long run IMO.
… Still haven’t seen The Wire 🥲
I hate to be “that guy”, but it’s definitely worth it, and unlike many shows it’s fairly easy to watch.
Yeah it is pretty long, but rewarding.
It’s also not a “flashy” show, so you don’t get the fatigue of the writer constantly one-upping themselves to shock you. It’s just a fun drama with some great characters and actors. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll join the ranks of those who yell “OMG IT"S AVON BARKSDALE” everytime you see Harris on screen, or any number of the other actors.
I honestly believe half of these shows are fake and you can’t change my mind
Imo we should limit these to one every 5 years.
I’m just now watching the 20 year old tv show “the wire” and its better than the 5 of these I have watched (of those 5, I’d only recommend the “the bear”)
The wire is an all timer! Not sure any of the shows in the picture will ever be at that level.
Oh man, I’m just starting that one myself. West Wing. Sopranos. For some reason, if you can get past the old-person video quality, 20 years ago was peak TV. Gen-X is mostly a waste of oxygen and natural resources, but their art (TV, music) was a Renaissance era.
No! That’s not true! We’ve just kept the best shows from that era! For every “The Wire” there were a dozen other terrible shows airing at the same time. It’s true that there were fewer shows on TV so there were less to pick from but believe me, in another 10 years people are going to only point to “Breaking Bad” and other shows (Sherlock? Mr. ROBOT? Dexter? Game of thrones minus the last season? we can’t say for sure right now) as amazing and they’ll say “damn, 20 years ago was peak TV.”
I will say though, it’s impressive that HBO is really the only production company to consistently produce the best TV.
I’d argue about the waste of oxygen thing, but my gen x coworker says she mostly identifies with boomers.
Fellas, is it a crime to want to share something you enjoy? As long as you aren’t demonizing people who haven’t seen it, who cares?
It’s not about demonizing the person sharing. It’s about the feeling of being overwhelmed because there’s so much shit you haven’t seen and will never see. You will never have enough time to get through that list and that can feel bad.
Yeah that’s about it. I also think it’s about the dawning realisation that this medium or format of storytelling has become increasingly commercialised; and that in spite of the vast hours of content available, there is paradoxically less genuine narrative than ever.
I feel this way about video games.
Same, Baulder’s Gate 3 is out. It’s fantastic and I don’t have much motivation to spend money on it. TOTK takes up all the time I allow myself to play video games. I still haven’t even started Elden Ring.
Between shows and my steam backlog who has time for it all? Then there is all that other stuff like work, making dinner, getting outdoors, family…
I swear, too much to do, too little time.
Haven’t watched any of these and I don’t feel like curling in fetal position. What’s wrong with me, doctor?
Oh, he’s doing that because he feels like he’s missing out? I thought the joke was that he curled into fetal position because the guy is peppering him with questions and is feeling overwhelmed.
I had a boss that’d always try to talk about films, TV, and frequently referenced actors to me, and I’d always feel a bit bad that I never got it.
I imagine you have your own methods to handle these types of discussions, but this is my trick.
“Have you watched random niche show you’ve never heard of?”
“No, but I’ve heard it’s pretty decent. What’s it about?”
At this point, you can check out of the conversation while they talk about a show you’ll never see. Personally, I like to half listen because I like to hear about stuff people have a passion for
That’s a neat tip. Now, if only I had a social life to put it into practice
I do try to engage in conversations about it when prompted to, but I always feel rather bad when they ask and can somehow instantly tell that I have absolutely no clue.
I like to think he’s overwhelmed by an instant realisation of his own brief mortality in the face of what must be hundreds of cumulative hours of shows that he will most likely never watch
That’s profound!
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Wow if I have to resort to speed up something then I’m watching it because I have to, not because I want to. May I ask, which ones? Of those, the only one that I have on my Maybe Someday List is The Last of Us.
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Why is that out of interest? Plenty of shows here have been universally acclaimed and I don’t think there are many people who wouldn’t love at least one of the shows here.
What are some of your favourite shows you have seen? I’d be curious what you enjoy if there’s nothing in this list that appeals.
Honestly I haven’t heard about the majority in the list, and those I did just didn’t grab my attention. I’m not saying they are bad shows. I can’t speak of what I haven’t watched.
It’s difficult to get me to follow up on a series. I prefer movies. When I do series, it’s likely to be animation. Bojack Horseman comes to mind as something I’ve watched recently, that isn’t ages old, and that I’ve enjoyed a lot. HAPPY! is another, mostly live action, but I still need to finish S2. All other examples of live action tv shows I’ve watched a substantial amount of eps are from before streaming became standard, and even then I haven’t finished a lot of those.
I think it’s because of something in the way shows are marketed + my personal experiences of trying shows and not liking them/getting bored. It irks me when the plot quality of a show goes down as the series progresses. I see a movie trailer and I get a pretty good idea if it’s worth my time or not, but that’s not the case with long format shows.
If you had to sell me some of the shows in the comic, which ones would be and why?
Sounds totally fair enough mate. I’m not really the person to ask because most of these shows are shows I want to watch but haven’t yet. Last of Us is fantastic though and the boys is as enjoyable as any superhero property imo, mainly because it feels like it’s pretty much what would actually happen in our world if superheros existed and doesn’t pull any punches (literally), where every other show would just give you a sound effect while it cuts to someone’s reaction, the boys will give you slow motion and high focus so you can see the details of someone’s head being pulled off their body or something equally (often more) horrific.
Ted Lasso sounds more likely to grab you from that list if only because it’s 30min episodes and relies on humour more than plot. But this is still based on others opinions, it’s just a show I still want to watch at the moment so I could hate it yet. I tend to find that most things which are universally acclaimed are well worth watching though.
I appreciate the answer! I’ll keep these in mind. Cheers
No worries. Another show that sprang to mind which isn’t in this list is the legend of vox machina.
It’s an amazon prime series based on critical role and follows the first campaign relatively faithfully (so far). It came to mind because it’s an animation and the setting and plots are well thought out. Characters have been played by the voice actors for literally hundreds of hours before the show was even conceived so whilst there are clichés aplenty, the characters are fully formed and fleshed out from the start. I’m biased because I was addicted to CR since the early days but the show really stands up on its own in my opinion.
It sounds corny as fuck but it’s one that was 100% made with love and if you like adult cartoons I really recommend it.
The Last of Us and The Boys.
Haven’t seen anything (or even heard of a lot) of the others. Not that they are bad shows. I just like to waste my time in other activities.
Like video games. Not shows, but still wasting time.
Is it really wasting time if you’re having a good time?
Do I really have a good time while watching these?
Well if you aren’t having a good time then you shouldn’t watch it, you should only do stuff you enjoy
What is time well spent?
Video games feel different. Like I feel like I’ve accomplished something good for myself after playing a game. Shows just make me restless for the most part.
I’ve thought about that. Games, especially ones with development like RPGs, provide that sense of accomplishment that life rarely gives or doesn’t give clearly. Promotions at work might be years apart, buying a house, etc but I can feel like I got something done on a daily basis in games, plus I get a little chime sound and a popup when I do!
Life would be so much better if I could pick up random crap on the ground and sell it to any merchant.
I think the (mostly) simplified morality is appealing too. Like in an RPG I know exactly what the right thing to do is, it’s the one that’s clearly marked at the “good” dialogue choice.
Whereas in real life it’s like… am I doing the right thing? Should I be an engineer and donate to good causes, or should I be actively contributing to good causes and choose to earn less money? Should I become an eco-terrorist?? Lol stuff like that
People are so different, I feel exactly the opposite. There’s a bunch of games I’d want to play, but most of the time when I’m about to start playing, I’m just overcome with the feeling of “What’s the point? It’s just a waste of time”. When I’m watching a show I’m processing a shit-ton of stuff, emotions, life, depression. Games are just “for fun”. I just don’t seem to get the same out of games no matter how “deep” or whatever they are. I accomplish something in a game, 99% of the time I just feel “Well, I could’ve used all that time and energy doing something real and now I just wasted all that time for some virtual character in a virtual world.”.
Wow yeah we really are total opposites!
Objectively I know I’m not accomplishing anything real when I play a game, but they still capture my “whole brain” like what you describe when watching a show.
I wonder where the difference comes from. Maybe I’m just more fidgety, so having something tactile to work on while watching the screen does it for me. :P
