The best new and returning TV series thread

[ASMO]

Ragnarok series 3, just finished binging it, really really good

[Slick]

Just started watching The Thick of It from the start again, bloody brilliant

[yermum]

Finished justified city primeval

It’s ok. But misses the hillbilly charm of the original nice Boyd crowder cameo thought which highlights what the series was missing

[Uncle fester]

Ragnarok series 3, just finished binging it, really really good

Heard some mixed reviews of the ending?
We've just started it. Enjoyable enough.

[sockwithaticket]

First couple of Ahsoka episodes are good. Obviously it could still go pear shaped, but Rogue One, Andor and now this really show how badly they fucked up the new film trilogy.

Finished justified city primeval

It’s ok. But misses the hillbilly charm of the original nice Boyd crowder cameo thought which highlights what the series was missing

Pretty much. I think Boyd Holbrook did as much as he could with the main villain, but very few of the characters were memorable.

[Raggs]

First couple of Ahsoka episodes are good. Obviously it could still go pear shaped, but Rogue One, Andor and now this really show how badly they fucked up the new film trilogy.

Finished justified city primeval

It’s ok. But misses the hillbilly charm of the original nice Boyd crowder cameo thought which highlights what the series was missing

Pretty much. I think Boyd Holbrook did as much as he could with the main villain, but very few of the characters were memorable.

I've seen 90% of star wars rebels with my boy, so it's fun seeing the characters in "real life".

[Gumboot]

I'm three episodes into the latest Black Mirror series, and really enjoying it. There haven't been any classics like San Junipero or SS Callister (yet), but it's still top shelf telly.

[tabascoboy]

Amazon is set to introduce adverts to its Prime Video streaming service in 2024 as it seeks to put more cash into creating TV shows and films.

UK Prime customers, along with those in the US, Germany and Canada, will see ads early next year unless they subscribe for an "ad-free" option at an additional cost. In a statement, Amazon said Prime Video still offered "very compelling value".

It follows similar moves by rivals including Disney+ and Netflix.

Amazon said that the ads would be introduced across France, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Australia later in 2024. It will roll out the "ad-free" subscription tier for an extra $2.99 (£2.44) per month for Prime subscribers in the United States.

Pricing for other countries will be announced at a later date, Amazon said.

At the moment, a Prime subscription, which includes free one-day delivery on goods as well as access to its streaming service, costs £8.99 per month, or £95 a year, in the UK.

"To continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time, starting in 2024, Prime Video shows and movies will include limited advertisements in the UK," Amazon said.

But in the wake of similar announcements by other streaming companies, customers have expressed their disappointment.

[sockwithaticket]

These idiots seem intent on pushing people back to piracy/torrenting.

Netflix blew up because it had lots of top stuff in one place and you could watch whenever and wherever you wanted.

Then comes the framentation of content and poliferation of services.

Then comes the crackdown on account sharing.

Then come general subscription price increases.

Now comes the reintroduction of ads.

If I'm already paying a subscription and you make me have to pay more to avoid ads, then fuck you.

I ditched Amazon ages ago, I keep netflix around on the cheapeast possible sub because of the standup they crank out quite regularly, but I've been thinking about dropping it for a little while.

[Raggs]

I don't much care for ads, I care about access. Having to subscribe to a whole service, just for a single thing I wanted to watch (rugby being a big one) didn't make much sense to me. If I see something on Amazon that's through a partner that's ad supported, I really don't care that much most the time, as long as it's not every 5 minutes. I have access to a greater range of media, which is fine.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

So the new business models of the new streaming services return to the business models of that they displaced claiming it was moribund, colour my shocked.

Given at best the streamers are covering ongoing costs some greater change /consolidation must be in the offing, that or a lot more people need to start taking out subscriptions. Someone at some point is going to pick up a lot of content on the cheap and divorce that from the current debt ridden models

[tabascoboy]

I did pay the extra with Now TV to have ad-free ( the so-called "boost" at a rather unjustifiable extra cost) while I took at a short term sub to see all the shows I wanted to see, then cancelled it after about 4 months. With Amazon Prime the free delivery service is useful but I'm struggling to justify £8.99 per month while finding so few things I want to watch and the extra will make it more so. Yes I could just watch with ads but that's not the choice I made when I subscribed in the first place, it's essentially degrading the service and asking me to pay more. Plus of course a good deal of Amazon content is on a rent or buy basis - yet more money...

The problem is not so much when you subscribe to one service and decide voluntarily to pay a premium, but with content being dished out exclusively between numerous providers ( and also the TV licence in the first place) then if you have 3 or 4 subs AND want ad-free then the extra cost can be the point at which you decide enough is enough and start cancelling one or more to save the money. That would just seem to add to the issues for all the services losing yet more customers, income dropping and then them having to raise prices for those who remain to balance the books and create or buy new content - or else reduce new/existing content because of licensing and rights costs.

The ideal solution of course - which is unrealistic and will never happen - is to have one broadcasting service hosting the main streaming providers and pay for what you watch with the income being distributed as appropriate. Streaming providers would never assent to that though as they depend so much on a steady fee paying customer base which makes income simple to predict and budget for.

increasingly the future of television isn't what it used to be...

[C69]

Just finished the first season of Foundation.
It's truly excellent

[Rhubarb & Custard]

increasingly the future of television isn't what it used to be...

And with everyone being in a rush to introduce the same additional charges they really should be open to the accusation it's not as such a competitive market. Cabals are supposed to be a bad thing, illegal even, and yet practically it's what it's coming across as

[sockwithaticket]

Having sunk stupid amounts of money into it, apparently only 37% of US viewers finished Rings of Power. Non- US viewers were a bit more likely to see the series to its end, with 45% doing so.

I don't know how that compares to other big IP, big budget series, but it doesn't sound great.

[C69]

Just finished the first season of Foundation.
It's truly excellent

Same. Meant to say that

Peas in a pod mate. err ummm my friend just got season 2 on err some device

[Biffer]

Return of the best thing on television

Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing

Bliss

[Biffer]

And a new series of Taskmaster, can't forget that.

[Jethro]

Having sunk stupid amounts of money into it, apparently only 37% of US viewers finished Rings of Power. Non- US viewers were a bit more likely to see the series to its end, with 45% doing so.

I don't know how that compares to other big IP, big budget series, but it doesn't sound great.

Absolute disaster for Prime, mind Netflix have had a couple of shocking results recently. Lots of shows currently being cancelled, falling revenue across streaming services not just the reason.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Having sunk stupid amounts of money into it, apparently only 37% of US viewers finished Rings of Power. Non- US viewers were a bit more likely to see the series to its end, with 45% doing so.

I don't know how that compares to other big IP, big budget series, but it doesn't sound great.

I watched it all and enjoyed it. Maybe I’m not enough of a Tolkien purist to get upset or enough of a racist to get angry at the casting to have to wilfully not enjoy it.

[sockwithaticket]

Having sunk stupid amounts of money into it, apparently only 37% of US viewers finished Rings of Power. Non- US viewers were a bit more likely to see the series to its end, with 45% doing so.

I don't know how that compares to other big IP, big budget series, but it doesn't sound great.

Absolute disaster for Prime, mind Netflix have had a couple of shocking results recently. Lots of shows currently being cancelled, falling revenue across streaming services not just the reason.

The cancellations problem has been brewing for them over a couple of years now, the more stuff they cancel the more reluctant people are to start new shows they put out and so there are poor viewing figures, which encourages cancellation and so on.

[tabascoboy]

Having sunk stupid amounts of money into it, apparently only 37% of US viewers finished Rings of Power. Non- US viewers were a bit more likely to see the series to its end, with 45% doing so.

I don't know how that compares to other big IP, big budget series, but it doesn't sound great.

I watched it all and enjoyed it. Maybe I’m not enough of a Tolkien purist to get upset or enough of a racist to get angry at the casting to have to wilfully not enjoy it.

I think that's slightly unfair on the acting and racist front. The world had already been defined so adding this sprinkling of newness jars. As noted by great minds like mine they should have had a race of elves or dwarves that were black. Your eyes and brain would go ahhh yeah OK I can make sense of that. The other line I heard which was fair enough was the actors being black wasn't the problem it was the actors being shite. Lenny Henry isn't the relation of a good actor.

I watched it all the way through and didn't get all the criticism thrown at it. Sure it wasn't great - some parts of the story were dull and some of the acting certainly was adequate at best, but by no means felt like a lot of hours wasted and there are much worse things on streaming.

''Good Omens 2', I seem to recall rather enjoying the first series but this season was real pish - and ended up watching it only as a way to make use of the subscription being unable to find anything else to watch.

Now 'Wheel of Time" is filling that role - and naught to do with this production but not being familiar with the books this feels like it's just ticking off the usual post LoTR fantasy tropes (evil stalks the land, search for hero, travelling party on a quest...). Hope it gets better and subverts expectations soon - only seen 3 episodes to be fair.

[sockwithaticket]

I watched it all and enjoyed it. Maybe I’m not enough of a Tolkien purist to get upset or enough of a racist to get angry at the casting to have to wilfully not enjoy it.

I think that's slightly unfair on the acting and racist front. The world had already been defined so adding this sprinkling of newness jars. As noted by great minds like mine they should have had a race of elves or dwarves that were black. Your eyes and brain would go ahhh yeah OK I can make sense of that. The other line I heard which was fair enough was the actors being black wasn't the problem it was the actors being shite. Lenny Henry isn't the relation of a good actor.

I watched it all the way through and didn't get all the criticism thrown at it. Sure it wasn't great - some parts of the story were dull and some of the acting certainly was adequate at best, but by no means felt like a lot of hours wasted and there are much worse things on streaming.

''Good Omens 2', I seem to recall rather enjoying the first series but this season was real pish - and ended up watching it only as a way to make use of the subscription being unable to find anything else to watch.

Now 'Wheel of Time" is filling that role - and naught to do with this production but not being familiar with the books this feels like it's just ticking off the usual post LoTR fantasy tropes (evil stalks the land, search for hero, travelling party on a quest...). Hope it gets better and subverts expectations soon - only seen 3 episodes to be fair.

That would presumably be because they exhausted the novel with the first series and have had to come up with new stuff from scratch. While the script has the input of Neil Gaiman, crucially, PTerry isn't involved (obviously) and having read much of both his and Gaiman's independent work, I always felt he was the ingredient that made their collaboration so good.

[tabascoboy]

I watched it all the way through and didn't get all the criticism thrown at it. Sure it wasn't great - some parts of the story were dull and some of the acting certainly was adequate at best, but by no means felt like a lot of hours wasted and there are much worse things on streaming.

''Good Omens 2', I seem to recall rather enjoying the first series but this season was real pish - and ended up watching it only as a way to make use of the subscription being unable to find anything else to watch.

Now 'Wheel of Time" is filling that role - and naught to do with this production but not being familiar with the books this feels like it's just ticking off the usual post LoTR fantasy tropes (evil stalks the land, search for hero, travelling party on a quest...). Hope it gets better and subverts expectations soon - only seen 3 episodes to be fair.

That would presumably be because they exhausted the novel with the first series and have had to come up with new stuff from scratch. While the script has the input of Neil Gaiman, crucially, PTerry isn't involved (obviously) and having read much of both his and Gaiman's independent work, I always felt he was the ingredient that made their collaboration so good.

it could be just me, response to it seems favourable enough generally but while I enjoy a good poke at religious conservatism it wasn't enough to hold my attention. Maybe you have the right of it and 100% Gaiman just doesn't work for me...

[Jethro]

Having sunk stupid amounts of money into it, apparently only 37% of US viewers finished Rings of Power. Non- US viewers were a bit more likely to see the series to its end, with 45% doing so.

I don't know how that compares to other big IP, big budget series, but it doesn't sound great.

I watched it all and enjoyed it. Maybe I’m not enough of a Tolkien purist to get upset or enough of a racist to get angry at the casting to have to wilfully not enjoy it.

So you didn't think the leads were completely obnoxious and not Sauron was obviously Sauron? I was actually cheering on the Orcs, till I gave up on watching it.

Don't get me started on the volcanic eruption, hey Mount Doom got a back story, not plausible is about the best I can say about that shite.

[Insane_Homer]

Always Sunny season 16 dropped on Netflix about a week ago

[yermum]

Having sunk stupid amounts of money into it, apparently only 37% of US viewers finished Rings of Power. Non- US viewers were a bit more likely to see the series to its end, with 45% doing so.

I don't know how that compares to other big IP, big budget series, but it doesn't sound great.

I watched it all and enjoyed it. Maybe I’m not enough of a Tolkien purist to get upset or enough of a racist to get angry at the casting to have to wilfully not enjoy it.

Don't get me started on the volcanic eruption, hey Mount Doom got a back story, not plausible is about the best I can say about that shite.

Yeah I demand geological verisimilitude in my high fantasy tale of magic rings and elves. Don’t get me started on black hobbits with Irish accents, completely unrealistic.

[lemonhead]

I think that's slightly unfair on the acting and racist front. The world had already been defined so adding this sprinkling of newness jars. As noted by great minds like mine they should have had a race of elves or dwarves that were black. Your eyes and brain would go ahhh yeah OK I can make sense of that. The other line I heard which was fair enough was the actors being black wasn't the problem it was the actors being shite. Lenny Henry isn't the relation of a good actor.

I watched it all the way through and didn't get all the criticism thrown at it. Sure it wasn't great - some parts of the story were dull and some of the acting certainly was adequate at best, but by no means felt like a lot of hours wasted and there are much worse things on streaming.

''Good Omens 2', I seem to recall rather enjoying the first series but this season was real pish - and ended up watching it only as a way to make use of the subscription being unable to find anything else to watch.

Now 'Wheel of Time" is filling that role - and naught to do with this production but not being familiar with the books this feels like it's just ticking off the usual post LoTR fantasy tropes (evil stalks the land, search for hero, travelling party on a quest...). Hope it gets better and subverts expectations soon - only seen 3 episodes to be fair.

That would presumably be because they exhausted the novel with the first series and have had to come up with new stuff from scratch. While the script has the input of Neil Gaiman, crucially, PTerry isn't involved (obviously) and having read much of both his and Gaiman's independent work, I always felt he was the ingredient that made their collaboration so good.

Mostly a reminiscing series I heard? Didn't touch it. Pratchett's past Discworld TV productions mostly felt half arsed, there was no showrunner.

Don't think Small Gods will ever see the light of day but surely they could have approached his daughter about that book and Pyramids for some material. Both are a bit more real world and easier to adapt for GE2.

[Line6 HXFX]

Welcome to Wrexham is back, and is just terrific.


Rob and Ryan are in serious risk of becoming over exposed in the UK and people just getting sick of them though.

[CM11]

I think that's slightly unfair on the acting and racist front. The world had already been defined so adding this sprinkling of newness jars. As noted by great minds like mine they should have had a race of elves or dwarves that were black. Your eyes and brain would go ahhh yeah OK I can make sense of that. The other line I heard which was fair enough was the actors being black wasn't the problem it was the actors being shite. Lenny Henry isn't the relation of a good actor.

I watched it all the way through and didn't get all the criticism thrown at it. Sure it wasn't great - some parts of the story were dull and some of the acting certainly was adequate at best, but by no means felt like a lot of hours wasted and there are much worse things on streaming.

''Good Omens 2', I seem to recall rather enjoying the first series but this season was real pish - and ended up watching it only as a way to make use of the subscription being unable to find anything else to watch.

Now 'Wheel of Time" is filling that role - and naught to do with this production but not being familiar with the books this feels like it's just ticking off the usual post LoTR fantasy tropes (evil stalks the land, search for hero, travelling party on a quest...). Hope it gets better and subverts expectations soon - only seen 3 episodes to be fair.

That would presumably be because they exhausted the novel with the first series and have had to come up with new stuff from scratch. While the script has the input of Neil Gaiman, crucially, PTerry isn't involved (obviously) and having read much of both his and Gaiman's independent work, I always felt he was the ingredient that made their collaboration so good.

Apparently the storyline was fleshed out when Pratchett was still around so it wasn't completely new material.

I enjoyed it but it wasn't anything like the first and was ultimately a romantic drama when you pared it back.

[sockwithaticket]

Mostly a reminiscing series I heard? Didn't touch it. Pratchett's past Discworld TV productions mostly felt half arsed, there was no showrunner.

Don't think Small Gods will ever see the light of day but surely they could have approached his daughter about that book and Pyramids for some material. Both are a bit more real world and easier to adapt for GE2.

His daughter Rhianna is currently steward of the Discworld rights and after the situation with the recent Watch 'adaptation', she has vowed to get some more accurate stuff out there. We shall see.

The Sky adaps had a certain charm about them, but are clearly limited by budget and technology of the time. I would think there's the potential to do any of the stories properly now. Stand alones like Smal Gods might be a good place to start afresh, perhaps The Truth if looking for one that's Ankh Morpork set.

[sockwithaticket]

I watched it all the way through and didn't get all the criticism thrown at it. Sure it wasn't great - some parts of the story were dull and some of the acting certainly was adequate at best, but by no means felt like a lot of hours wasted and there are much worse things on streaming.

''Good Omens 2', I seem to recall rather enjoying the first series but this season was real pish - and ended up watching it only as a way to make use of the subscription being unable to find anything else to watch.

Now 'Wheel of Time" is filling that role - and naught to do with this production but not being familiar with the books this feels like it's just ticking off the usual post LoTR fantasy tropes (evil stalks the land, search for hero, travelling party on a quest...). Hope it gets better and subverts expectations soon - only seen 3 episodes to be fair.

That would presumably be because they exhausted the novel with the first series and have had to come up with new stuff from scratch. While the script has the input of Neil Gaiman, crucially, PTerry isn't involved (obviously) and having read much of both his and Gaiman's independent work, I always felt he was the ingredient that made their collaboration so good.

Apparently the storyline was fleshed out when Pratchett was still around so it wasn't completely new material.

I enjoyed it but it wasn't anything like the first and was ultimately a romantic drama when you pared it back.

Oh fair enough, wasn't aware of that. The trailer still didn't look very enticing and if it's basically a romance I don't think I'll make time for it.

[Jethro]

I watched it all and enjoyed it. Maybe I’m not enough of a Tolkien purist to get upset or enough of a racist to get angry at the casting to have to wilfully not enjoy it.

Don't get me started on the volcanic eruption, hey Mount Doom got a back story, not plausible is about the best I can say about that shite.

Yeah I demand geological verisimilitude in my high fantasy tale of magic rings and elves. Don’t get me started on black hobbits with Irish accents, completely unrealistic.

Sure any old shite is fine, would explain the atrocious viewing numbers, streaming is dead in the water (dropping subscriber numbers all platforms) and the reality is that the content is just not good enough to keep or attract new subscribers. Though admittedly have recently done a Stan subscription, for the world cup, and surprisingly quite a few decent shows on the platform.

[KingBlairhorn]

Mostly a reminiscing series I heard? Didn't touch it. Pratchett's past Discworld TV productions mostly felt half arsed, there was no showrunner.

Don't think Small Gods will ever see the light of day but surely they could have approached his daughter about that book and Pyramids for some material. Both are a bit more real world and easier to adapt for GE2.

His daughter Rhianna is currently steward of the Discworld rights and after the situation with the recent Watch 'adaptation', she has vowed to get some more accurate stuff out there. We shall see.

The Sky adaps had a certain charm about them, but are clearly limited by budget and technology of the time. I would think there's the potential to do any of the stories properly now. Stand alones like Smal Gods might be a good place to start afresh, perhaps The Truth if looking for one that's Ankh Morpork set.

If someone gets it right it is an absolute goldmine. Huge volumes of material set across multiple timelines, multiple locations, hundreds of brilliantly fleshed out characters and interweaving storylines. 41 books and numerous spinoffs. It is 'universe' size with a hugely passionate fanbase. A series set around the Watch would be an excellent place to start - limited magic and a good chance to introduce Ankh Morpork and it's diversity. A brilliant story arc for Sam set across multiple seasons showing his rise from plucky street rat to the very top.

What it needs to take heed of though is that although it continues to be popular with young adults, it is a series largely for adults and the vast majority of its original readership will be in their late 30s upwards now. It needs to be made for adults and feature some of the underlying grit that I think is key to the series.

[Tichtheid]

I saw that it was mentioned earlier, The Bear on Disney is brilliant. We finished the second series last night. There has been more character development this series and I found myself really rooting for them.

The Christmas episode is one the best single programmes I've seen in ages - up there with the Atlanta one in the spooky house. Jamie Lee Curtis eats the scenery in the best possible way, which is just as well as you probably wouldn't want to eat her cooking with her smoking all over it all the time.

[ASMO]

Quicksand on Netflix, Swedish mini series about a school shooting, really really good and definitely bingeworthy

[Uncle fester]

Finished Ragnarok and liked it.
Ending was a bit divisive but calling it a GOT-level disappointment is well wide of the mark for a show that was always character driven.

[ASMO]

Finished Ragnarok and liked it.
Ending was a bit divisive but calling it a GOT-level disappointment is well wide of the mark for a show that was always character driven.

I agree, i am sure everyone was expecting a final epic battle between good and evil, but i quite liked how this one ended.

[Simian]

Finished Ragnarok and liked it.
Ending was a bit divisive but calling it a GOT-level disappointment is well wide of the mark for a show that was always character driven.

I agree, i am sure everyone was expecting a final epic battle between good and evil, but i quite liked how this one ended.

Same here!

[Grandpa]

Return of the best thing on television

Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing

Bliss

I agree. Love them.