What movie or show you didn't know was THAT good until you watched it?

The good place

oh dip
It's such a good show, the ending is absolutely perfect.
- It's not just that the ending is perfect (though it absolutely is). It's that at every point, in every season, when they could have chosen the easy, dumbed-down route for continuing the show, they... didn't. They didn't do that, and it's hard to express what a difference that makes.
  For example (without spoilers), the way season 1 ended set up, for a lesser show, an easy rehash for season 2, where the same characters get up to slightly different versions of the same season 1 hijinks.
  Instead, the show runners packed that painfully obvious concept into the first half of the first episode of season 2, then moved right past it. They could have milked the concept for a whole season, but they didn't want to. So instead they acknowledged it in the most hilarious possible way, then got on with the actual story.
  Goddamn, now I want to watch it again. It's just so good.
- Season 3 and Season 4 both had endings that leave me bawling every time.
  Also, I know the show didn't invent it, but Chidi's presentation of the wave idea just slips under everything for me and is really good.
The humor is great, writing and acting are top notch.
But it hit atheist me on a spiritual level and awakened a thing I didn't think existed.
That's pretty fuckin rad.
I'm here just to upvote the correct choice.
Agree.
Maximum Derek
Forking good show!

Mr Robot
Blue Eye Samurai
Alice in Borderland
The Expanse

The Expanse is fantastic, I recommend the book series it's based off of as well
- I read books after the show, very rare few cases I can sit through so many books even when I know the story.
Just finished Blue Eye Samurai recently, and was utterly blown away. It really is as good as the hype says.
- Does it end? I ended my subscription with Netflix due to the repeated cancellation of shows I would get into.
I didn't like Mr Robot at all, but Alice in Borderland was a nice surprise.
- I think Mr Robot is one the best shows ever created in regards to not only the writing, acting, filming, etc. but also with how well it handles the sensitive topics of mental health and the brutalities of our modern society. That being said, I understand why a lot of people don't like it. Aside from being depressing and fucked up as hell a lot of the time, it kinda has to be watched multiple times to be truly appreciated. Every episode is packed full tiny details and clues as to what is really going on that are not meant to noticed on the first watch but give you an entirely different story the second time around. If you ever want to try it again maybe go into it with mindset that what you see right then is not necessarily the entire story, and that's kinda the point. Your supposed to be confused, frustrated, and uncomfortable because that is what the characters are feeling.
  But yeah, Allice in Borderland was a lovely surprise.
This

Schitts creek.

It was pushed so hard by Netflix when it first came out that I ignored it. Just seemed like an overdone rich fish out of water idea and I just wasn't interested.

I finally got round to it when I think they did another promotional push. After watching it I basically forced every person I know to watch it and it is now a comfort show that I've watched a bazillion times.

But it is just so good.

As a Canadian, when it was first released I assumed it was being pushed so hard because it was Canadian content. Then when I got around to watching it I was so pleasantly surprised. My little maple syrup heart was so happy to see it recognized widely as the absolute gem it is.
Help me through this, because I watched the first couple seasons, maybe even the first three? To the point where the son opens up his own store.
I found it charming, quirky, and largely enjoyable. But then it just sort of felt repetitive? Like, I couldn't see where the plot was going and the characters while enjoyable, I felt I'd enjoyed enough.
Is there a drastic uptick that I just needed to hold out for? Or at that point is the show pretty much what you sees what you get?
- I think it's one of the few shows I've ever watched with genuine character growth. A ton of shows will have a character grow and then walk it back, or don't even bother. Schitt's Creek didn't turn them into Mary Sues - they're still flawed but they also learn how to look outside their bubble.
  If it's not clicking for you after season 3, it may not be the show for you. A lot of people didn't love the first season as it found its footing, but everyone I know that loved it was fully invested in season 2.
- If David didn't have an effect on you? Why the fuck are you ending statements with question marks?
  😂
- Yeah keep watching. David and the store is a big thing. The character arcs are worth it. Some very heartwarming stuff coming up with everyone.

Arcane, the animated League of Legends show on Netflix.

Oh MY GOD, every element is seriously SO mind-blowingly good. And imo its animation is at least as good as—if not better than—the Miles Morales Spiderman movies... though they did spend six years working on it tbf.

And to be clear, while I'm vaguely familiar with LoL, I've never played it so I had zero emotional connection to any of the characters before watching.

Be prepared to cry though. Like the loud, punched-in-the-gut, ugly sobbing kind of crying.

Best thing to happen to the "manic pixie dream girl" trope. When you meet Powder, she's a sweet, but traumatized, little girl. All you want to do is stand between her and the things that are hurting her so she can just grow up and be normal.
And then you see her become this hurting, angry, and above-all disturbed person who's been broken by everything she's been through, and it effing hurts. Suddenly rather than an adolescent fantasy, she's a real person you care about who's been driven to madness by circumstances she had very little control over.
Check out Blue Eye Samurai, it's got similar vibes to Arcane and is just as amazing.
- I'll move it to the top of my list!
Since I rate everything I watch for now a about 4 years, I can confirm. Arcane is one of 5 Series with 10 out of 10. (With 200+ rated items)
Would recommend 100%

I avoided Bojack Horseman for years because I thought it was going to be like so many other edgy adult cartoons. I thought I knew what it was going to be like. I was so wrong.

I came here to recommend BoJack. Especially after that moment in the middle of Season 1, it's a masterpiece.
The show is also unique for me in the sense that IMO the later seasons were the best, this making it a series that actually gets better and better over time.
Only show I'm afraid to re-watch because of how it made me feel.

Ted Lasso is a great stepping stone to get into soccer and also throughout its 3 seasons a great, empathetic critique of toxic masculinity and how racism, homophobia and narcissism affect individuals and groups. The writing, the characters, both the villains and the team members are well written and incredibly funny. One of my favourite shows I didn’t expect really like.

Cougartown is also very funny, I loved Community and had seen Abed reference the show several times before finally watched Cougartown. Lots of clever gags and jokes, well thought out, flawed characters with interesting dynamics and (mis)adventures.

I have zero interest in football but Ted Lasso is a must watch for anyone.
- Yeah, it really doesn’t have all that much to do with football at all lol, more of a plot device than an actual theme.
For anyone reading, don't let the name Cougar Town deter you. It's not a good name and not really representative of the show (past the first few episodes maybe). They even make fun of it.
Bill Lawrence is just really, really good at writing authentic relationships.
I hold the controversial opinion that Cougartown is actually better than Scrubs.
I love Ted Lasso season 1, and season 2 to an extent is also very good, but it kinda lost its footing in season 3, IMO.
The longer episodes are not as tight, writing-wise, and the story suffers a quite a bit because of it. Still a good show, but it went from "This might be one of the best shows I've ever seen," to "Yeah it's not bad, but..."
- I loved the show and definitely agree with you about season 3. I joked with my wife that "they screwed up and made the sports show about sports." Too much focus on the game, not enough on the character development/themes they explored more in seasons 1 and 2
TL 1 was a lot of fun.

The Wire. Everyone always ranted and raved about it. And I was like "no way it's that good".

It's better.

Just about to start a rewatch of The Wire for the first time in 14 years. Gonna be great!
- Hell yeah dude. Enjoy!
Yessss, I am rewatching it right now and it's been long enough that I can't believe how good it is... again.

Halt and Catch Fire.

Computers aren't the thing. They're the thing that gets us to the thing.
Seconded. This show was far better than I ever expected.
This is the only show in this thread that I agree was epic. The others were just meh to me.
Yep, good stuff.
Yes! God this show is underrated. They got bit by the "oh look it's another Mad Men" stamp in season 1, but then the show pivots in season 2/3 and becomes something unique and special. And then I spent season 4 with a tissue box nearby. One of my favourite shows of all time.

The Expanse, people keeps recommending it and I kept ignoring it thinking it was the Extant. I hope it gets picked up again.

Just finished the last season of For All Mankind yesterday and it can be seen as a sort of prequel to The Expanse.
- Yeah, by Season 4 of FAM I was definitely thinking the same thing.
  But also, very, very good show in its own right.
The actor who played Alex Kamal was fired for being a creep I think, so I doubt it'll come back. But there are more books to enjoy on wich the series ist bases.
- They killed off the character and carried on without him.
- They made a season without him. For the last three books they could just recast everyone, they're set 30 years after what was covered by the show.
This for sure.
I kept putting it off, then watched it all in one go when I finally managed to get through the 1 and 2nd episodes i think.

Moon. Extremely underrated Sci-fi movie

Vera. Excellent British detective show

I love Moon! Such a fantastic sci-fi movie. I always suggest that one to folks looking to watch one.

Might be a bit controversial, but I really enjoyed sense8.

Sense8 is a total shitshow, and I love it!
- That might be the best possible way to describe it
I'm still salty about that cancellation.

If you enjoy the humor in this show check out Norsemen. Totally different premise, but very similar dry humor with a lot of jokes and situations that are funny on multiple levels.
I love What We Do In The Shadows, it is hilarious. I could watch Colin Robinson drain people all day!
The series is great as well. I was reluctant because the film is so perfect and I didn't want it to get draged out and repetitive. They did exactly that but still they managed to keep it super funny with great new vampires.

Better call Saul. I avoided it at first but then dared myself to watch it when Netflix was getting real skimp on its shows. Loved it.

It's better than the original because Breaking Bad wandered around a lot [remember the shoplifting arc that never developed]
This one was laser focused from the start.
- I finally finished the last season in Jan. It was very satisfying and gave my heart a few scenes to freak out about. Knowing who we haven't seen in BB and that this was the last season, I was concerned about some of the characters. I think that's why I ended up taking a break between the 2nd to the last and last season.
I'm with ya. I loved BB. Thought, nah, Saul was annoying as fuck. Then it happened. Watched and got pulled in. It's good stuff.

It is genuinely unreasonable how good Arcane is.

I went in thinking OK, this is an animated show based on League of Legends, it's gonna suck but at least the fight scenes will be fun, right?

Reader, I cried. You could teach classes on how good the writing in this show is. The last half hour of season one is, without question, one of the most perfect scenes in television history. A flawless masterclass in character development and believable conflict, paired with note perfect editing and some of the best animation you'll find outside of a Miyazaki or Satoshi Kon movie.

This show is based on a god damn MOBA. It had absolutely no right going this damn hard and I fucking love them for it.

And the soundtrack! Definitely among the best of the best. That's actually how I got into it - I was listening to a lot of Bones UK ever since Pretty Waste was featured in Pistol Whip and I absolutely loved Dirty Little Animals. From there I started listening to the whole OST and after a week or two I decided it's time to give the series itself a chance. I was blown away.
Speaking of, it's also pretty unreasonable how much awesome music is there around LoL. I was already a fan of KDA thanks to Beat Saber (what is it with VR games getting me into LoL music?), and turns out there's a ton of amazing music just because.
- And that track from Sting. Fucking Sting! Absolutely kills me every time I hear it.
Yeah I went into it completely blind. Never played LoL but the animation style looked cool, so I'll just check an episode for the animation.
And damn it was a well written. The only flaws were scenes where suddenly a dude has a hammer weapon, and it was like "where did that come from... oh yeah this is based on a video game so that's probably his signature weapon in the game." So they had to put it in there. But there were only a couple of things like that and it's a really minor nitpick. And we can't expect them to make LoL show without throwing a few bones to LoL fans, right?
Yeah it really doesn't make sense how good that show is.
- Yeah, they had to get in the obligatory scene of Jayce using the hammer just to keep up the pretence that this was in any way connected to LoL. Ditto Vi popping the bubble shield, IIRC.
  On the other hand, the way they incorporated Jinx's ult? Oh my God. Chef's kiss. Flawless.
Arcane was such a an amazing show. Both because it was amazing on its own and because it made me go so crazy over show from a video game I care nothing for.
I've played 2 games of LOL in my life and I still loved Arcane to death. Season 2 can't come fast enough.

Battlestar Galactica. I sort of knew about it in a vague sense and once I finally watched it was pretty impressed

I recently saw a few scenes again and realised I had forgotten how good it was. All because of the deeply disappointing ending.
- I mean, the series ending is not incredible, few are. But it's not Lost-levels of disappointing!

The Expanse

Also Fringe

Fringe is one I revisit every few years, and if I ever get a tattoo it'll be a white tulip.
- I rewatch the whole thing once a year or so. Thats my favorite episode by far. Walter has one of my favorite arcs of any character in TV. Olivia isn't far behind.
Olivia is a dead fish for a main but fortunately all the other actors and cow carry it
- Yeah it took me a season and a half to warm up to her, but she really grows on you. And Fauxlivia is absolutely fantastic, really great to see Anna Torv's range!

Dark on Netflix. I had started it once and gave up after 2 episodes, but came back years later and finished it. It’s now one of my all time favorite time travel stories. Lots of big, cascading mysteries kind of like Lost, but the ending was so satisfying!

Oh man. I loved it. The complexity made me feel smart and I absolutely loved how everything tied together in the end. At one point I was certain they had over convoluted the story and there was no way they were going to make it coherent again, but I was wrong.
- You both might want to check out 1899.
  Same production company and one of the main character actors is from Dark.
  Should feel familiar even if you dont like it as much.
I can't recommend dark enough.
DUDE! You, me and literally EVERY SINGLE PERSON I know that watched it, bailed after an episode or two, but every one of us came back to it and all were blown away. So weird.
One of my favorite show from the last 10 years, if not last 40 years

Breaking Bad. I heard I'm not the only one who started watching it and gave up after the first 2 or 3 episodes that were just setting the scene at a fairly slow (boring) pace. Someone had to convince me to push through them because it gets so much better. It does.

Better Call Saul is also spectacular. In fact, I might go so far as to claim it's better than BB...
- I might go so far as to claim it's better than BB...
  You would not be alone in that assessment. Lots of us agree. It is absolutely the better show.
In my opinion it is the best written show in history. It has a succinct arc and every character is there on that arc for a reason. It ended when it should and kept true to the story the entire time.
I think it took me 3 attempts before it took hold.
I had a chance to read the pilot pitch script for Breaking Bad and it was one of the best I have ever read. Was the reason I started watching the show in the first place.

After a LONG stretch of mediocre Star Wars content, I was burnt out on the franchise and had pretty much tuned out from new releases cuz they all sucked.

...saw people rave on and on about Andor, finally dove in expecting it to be more of the same half-assed shit we'd been getting for years leading up to it.

IT IS SO FUCKING GOOD!

Like holy shit, it felt so good to actually enjoy SW content again!

ONE WAY OUT! ONE WAY OUT!!

Community. I kept casually hearing about it. My first episode was the paintball episode. Needless to say, I was hooked from the start.

You are streets ahead with this recommendation.
it's downhill from there brother.
- Hard disagree. Granted, it's not what it used to be after some people leave the show but it's still entertaining until the very end. Even season 6.
- Definitely not
  He didn't even say WHICH paintball episode, because there are multiple excellent ones.

Resident Alien

I feel like that show is more of a reminder of how good Alan Tudyk is. That show might be pretty mediocre without him running point.
Seconding this one. I went into it knowing absolutely nothing about the show, except the name of one of the actors, and boy did it pay off.
I'm really anal about spoilers, to the point where I consider even trailers to be spoilers. This has resulted in watching a lot of shitty stuff (dishonorable mention: Valhalla Rising), but now and then it results in pure unadulterated surprise and enjoyment.
Other shows and movies I liked after going into them completely blind:
The Prestige
Chernobyl (although basic history knowledge had already spiled the plot for me)
The 4400 (highly underrated)
Breaking Bad (recommended by a coworker who was scarce on details)
EDIT: Moon
- Have you seen Cabin in the Woods? It's also one that is best seen with no idea what it is. And it is amazing.
- If you like Alan Tudyk and are okay with mild horror, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is one that I loved going into without any spoilers
- You convinced me to stop reading your comment after "and boy did it pay off" and add it to my queue.
  I'll come back and finish reading your comment after I've finished the show (so far).
Third season has started rolling out, if you're not already aware
Came here to say Resident Alien

The original Cowboy Bebop series. Brilliant episodes with a great story arc, good characters and awesome Jazz soundtrack. The first few episodes do the overall experience no justice.

My only issue with Cowboy Bebop is that my brain autocorrects it to Cowbop Beboy.

Dungeons and dragons.

Of course you're referring to the masterpiece adaptation starring Jeremy Irons and Marlon Wayans, right?
- You mean Profion and Snails?
- Better be. Not the recent, abysmal random garbage that was just pushed in the theatre more recently

Fight club was intentionally misadvertised seeming like it would be some dude bro 'FIGHTING IS HARDCORE AND AWESOME LET'S CHUG A BEER' bullshit.

Completely ignored it for that reason until there is nothing better on TV so I said fuck it I'll give it a shot and holy crap did that destroy my mind.

Watched it at a cinema when it first came out - thought it was ok, bit funny, nothing special. Watched it again a couple of months ago on DVD. Completely changed my view of it, for the better. Great film.

Reservation Dogs. I heard it was good but didn't realize it's probably the best TV show ever made. So good. Funny, happy, made me cry like a baby and is super awesome. Go watch it you shit ass.

Aho! I'm watching it right now and it's fantastic, I just started season 3 yesterday. Almost certainly going to be my show of 2024 because it's easily better than anything I watched in 2023.
Cheese is absolutely my favourite character I've seen on television, probably of all time.
If you enjoy the cultural aspects of reservation dogs, someone mentioned resident alien above. It's not an indigenous specific show but also hilarious and similarly showcases indigenous cultures brilliantly without being in your face about it, with quite a bit of actor crossover.
- Cheese is the best.
It cannot beat Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul... Nothing can. :)
But I will give it a go...
Reservoir Dogs? A TV show?
- Reservation Dogs. On Hulu I think.
- It is so unbelievably good...on Hulu. Well worth checking out!

ARCANE!!!

I'm over here thinking: Oh, League of Legends fans are all overreacting over getting something that's probably decent at best...

My friend, let me tell you, they were not overreacting.

Arcane is the best show. The character development, the story, the art.. Unbelievable. Go watch the making of, lots of great info.

The Wire

Haven't seen anyone mention Severance, which is one of my more recent obsessions. Everyone I watched the first episode with bounced off pretty hard, saying it was too weird. Man the payoff is amazing though, everything slowly ramping up to a crescendo in the final couple of episodes. Highly recommended if you like early Black Mirror.

Severance is an amazing show on every level. Writing, casting, acting, design... every single facet is brilliantly executed. The season finale was insane. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
I haven't felt this excited for a second season premiere since the second season of Lost.
Not to mention Ricken. He may be one of my favorite fictional characters ever. He's an endless well of brilliantly mindless quotes:
A society with festering workers can not flourish just as a man with rotting toes cannot skip.
If you're as obsessed as I am, you should check out the Severed podcast by Allen Stare. Dude does a DEEP dive into each episode and it's a great companion to the show.
- Right on, I'll check it out. I've also watched a lot of Nautilus Files on YouTube. He does some great character and theory breakdowns.
  And agreed on Ricken being an amazing character (caricature?). The fact that >!the severed employees find his book and it becomes their new Bible!< was so perfect.

Severance

Can't fucking wait for season 2. IT'S BEEN SO LONG DAMN IT!
Yeah, I watched it a month or so ago, not really with high too high of expectations, but then after the 1st episode I was like fuck yeah! And it just gets better.
I looked on a torrent site to see if there was a season 2 and noticed that s01 was from 2 years ago and was like shit, did they get canceled, but ends up they're just delayed from the writers strikes, so they're working on s02 🥳

Edge of Tomorrow. Blew my mind once I finally got around to watching it.

Still hoping for that sequel. It's not dead yet!
- For those who saw the movie it would be more of a re-quel.
I watched this thinking it was gonna give my inner teenager a kick but it was so good. It still gave my inner teenager a kick.

Fleabag for sure

Such a lovely show!

The Haunting of Hill House

Fall of the House of Usher

Can't forget midnight mass
- Really anything from Mike Flanagan is worth a watch.
Fall of the House of Usher I enjoyed the other stuff by this director, so we were for-sure watching this series. but DAMN it was even better than I'd expected it could be. it's fucking Great.
I know it's less scary than the others, but I also really fucking love Bly Manor.
Also, I recently rewatched Lake Mungo and saw a lot of similarities with Nell's story from Hill House. Turns out Mike Flanagan has said that Lake Mungo was an inspiration!

Blade Runner - the final cut

Originally, I planned to skip it before Blade Runner 2049 as I seen people shit on the original blade runner. But then I realized they were referring to the Theatrical cut as it was apparently filled with a lot of boring or even off-putting narration. It was definitely worth it to watch it before 2049 (and also the 3 short films that were included on the DVD* of 2049).

Secondly, They Live (1988).

Really describes the world we live in well.

*Yes, I buy DVDs. I like them. And there's no way I am paying for a movie unless I get a physical copy. Otherwise, himovies.sx.

The final cut is the only version. The theatrical version was pressured by the execs because they didn't think people would understand what was goin on. They were wrong and it ruins the theatrical version.

Based on the trailers back when Kung Pow: Enter the Fist released, I wouldn't have thought anything about it. It didn't seem like a good movie. But then I saw it because my mom made me drive my two younger siblings who wanted to see it to the theatre and nothing else was playing that I hadn't seen so I just went with them.

It's one of my top 10 favorite comedies.

I’ll take a pound of nuts
- That's a lotta nuts!

I swear I rolled my eyes when my buddy said "they dont make shows like Columbo anymore" until I watched it.
Damn. They really dont.
I also cant imagine a columbo successor without Peter falk around, sad.
- Yeah the inversion of a whodunit sounds like it would be boring because you know at the start who the murderer is.
  But in a regular whodunit they can't really focus on the murderer since they'll give away the game. And you can usually just figure it out anyway because there's usually a character that has no reason to be there... unless they're the murder. Then the reveal at the end it's like, yup that character is the murderer.
  The Columbo inversion of this allows for the focus to be on the murderer which is far more interesting. And usually the murderer is a smug rich asshole so watching him pester the shit out of him until he makes a mistake is very satisfying.
  It also avoided the trap of getting into the personal life of Columbo. It's just about catching the criminal, not soap opera bullshit. Sure he mentions he has a wife (and a cousin, and an uncle, etc) but you can't really be sure if that's all just made up by Columbo to hustle the murderer into giving something up.
  Fun bit of trivia: What was Columbo's first name? They never said. With HD TV you can make out a name on his ID, but they never said his first name throughout the show's run. It was all about catching the murderer.
- The closest you'll get is Poker Face. It is a GIANT love letter to Columbo.
Stargate Universe got a raw deal. It was a really great extension of the overall Stargate mythos. Between SG1 and Atlantis, they'd basically gone as far as they could. The teams had defeated gods, both figurative and literal. They had limitless technology at their disposal and each new season became a slog to another deus ex machina.
SGU essentially reset the entire premise back to zero while keeping the overall accumulated canon in place AND it presented a much better conflict/goal than the typical "we must defeat these new powerful aliens before they destroy humanity".
But it didn't fit with the tone of the previous shows so a lot of the fans were turned off. Too much "drama", not enough zat guns. Plus that was the time when SciFi rebranded to "SyFy" and started showing shit like WWE.
I would LOVE to see them do another season picking up right where they left off. It would absolutely fit within the established timeline.
- That show was just bad. It haf amazing production and could have been so much better.
  They needed to leave earth/sol alone. The constant connection to home base ruined the show.
  Having the goa ould just show up and take over was so bad.
  The show had a great set up they ruined by trying to include too much familiar elements.
  And i say this as a huge fan of the stargate universe.
  Granted i had very high hopes. Felt like the people who made Battlestar Galactica got moved to a stargate project and i was so dissapointed with the direction the show took
Stargate Universe.
Literally my favorite spinoff and I legit sloppy cried when they canceled it.
Yes, Columbo! I got hooked on it as a teen and recently rewatched the series and they are still great.

Legion.

Orphan Black.

Black Sails.

Orphan Black is amazing for the acting alone. I'm surprised Tatiana Maslany isn't in more things.
- Behind the scenes detail I love. They had a 'clone double' who who would read the lines when two of the sisters were talking to each other. The double had to play as many characters as the lead, and often gave her ideas on how to do a scene. The double was seen in a few of the later episodes.
As much as I love Orphan Black, I'm glad it ended when it did because the writing was beginning to go downhill in the last couple seasons. In fairness there's only so many times you can start a season by revealing yet another secret faction within the shadowy human cloning organization before you lose all credibility.
- https://orphanblack.fandom.com/wiki/Orphan_Black:_Helsinki
  Don't click the link if you haven't watched the entire show, because it has spoilers.
  Another series is Orphan Black Deviations; a version of the show where Beth the Cop doesn't kill herself and talks to Sarah instead.
Legion was amazing
- I can't figure out why it's not more talked about.
  I mean, Aubrey Plaza's scenes alone should ahve made it an internet favorite.
- An excellent show, but difficult to watch if you're on the continuum.

True Détective Seasone one !

Each season is a completely different story, so they're not related. But season one of this show absolutely killed it, starring both Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. TD is a must watch show for anyone into the crime genre as this, dare I say it, is the king of all crime.

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt2356777/

The first and ~~third~~ fourth seasons are good . Avoid the second one. It really took a dip on that one.
- I loved the book 'Starship Troopers' and hated the movie because it changed all the good stuff in the book. After a couple of rewatches I began to like the movie for what it was.
  Same thing with Season Two. If you compare it to the first, it sucks. If you watch it cold it's a pretty good show.
- Personally thought that they have been quite good, but eaxh to their own. Gonna start the latest season soon, so excited!
- Glad you said so. I started watching season 2 and i was like.... what is this? Is it even the same TV show? I didnt make it through episode one...
  So ok, guess i give season 3 a try then. :)
- Although I totally agree, the 2nd season was much weaker than the first, it had its moments and is still very watchable (after a slow start). Season one is really outstanding, the acting, camera and story are so good!
I was going to comment the same! When I heard it was "deep", I thought it meant "pretentious". But no, there is a character that has deep quotes mostly inspired by a real life author, and other characters that are diverse. I could criticize details here or there, but it is an incredible show (ed.: that season).

Babylon 5

Still not sure how I feel about this show. I liked it, but it definitely did not live up to the hype that the person who recommended it to me instilled. It does stand apart as a show where it seems every single character becomes a worse version of themselves as time goes on, which is interesting… I guess it just stays in so much of a grey area throughout the series you’re left feeling unfulfilled (also the production values are so awful compared to its contemporaries its a major detractor for me). It’s been a really long time since I watched it though so might be worth revisiting.
- The first 3-5 episodes looked like a high school drama class performing their first play, the acting was so stilted. :) I really like the overall story arc and how the show really manipulated who was the good guy and who was the bad guy through it all.
There’s a hole in your mind.
😄👋

Star Trek TNG. I'm slowly watching DS9 but it's not as fun

DS9 gets way better in the last few seasons, IMO. Worth sticking with it.
- DS9 actually turned out to be my favorite. Didn’t expect that at all going into it.
- Couldn't agree with this more. First few seasons they find their footing, but when they do they have some of the most incredible story lines and pay offs. It has become my favorite.
  If you're really struggling you can probably watch the episodes rated 7.0+ on IMDb in seasons 1 and 2 and still get a lot of what's happening in season 3 and later, but you'll definitely miss some backstory. Deep space nine being stationary generally did a good job with continuing characters and stories over time imo.
- I'm on season 3 now

The Owl House

Yeesssssssssssss

Couple of older movies

Dark City and Equilibrium

Dark City was great. There was such a cool atmosphere and style in that movie.
- Jennifer Connelly at her absolute most smoking hot, an amazing story to go blind into and kept me thinking about the meaning of consciousness, identity, and memory for years. 10/10 wish I could Men in Black my memory and watch it again fresh.
I love Dark City but found Equilibrium to be an absolute bore.
- So it killed almost all of your emotions?
I agree. And The Thirteenth Floor.
- Thanks for reminding me about this one
I worked as a projectionist when Dark City was coming out and I put that trailer on every single movie that it was applicable to be on. Just so I could watch it 10-20 times a day.
- Hahahhaa thats awesome

almost all of them

except the really bad ones, of course

Man, the bad one sucked.
- Yeah, remember that one bad one that was really bad?

Westworld. Turns out it's so much more than I imagined!

First two seasons? Maybe. After that it gets real dumb real fast.
- HBO loves doing this with their shows. See also True Detective
- I did not like s03 when I watched it, going back and rewatching all of it, I kind of like it a bit more, but s04 was meh

Into the Spiderverse is a perfect movie.

Pluto

Blue Eye Samurai

Oh and Guardians of the Galaxy I thought would be so stupid but really liked it.

Fargo the show

First and second seasons were brilliant. Three and four meh. I haven't seen the latest yet. One of the things I loved about the show were the little references to Cohen brothers films.
- 5 is badass. Watch it.

The boondocks.

Everything else I was going to mention has already been posted. On the other hand, I just added 14tb to my server and will have to save this post.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)

The first 10 episodes are an above-average kids' show, but after that, it becomes something closer to AtlA, with deep and rich characters and fascinating interpersonal conflict

Genuinely was surprised at how good that show was. One of the few that I'll just rewatch entirely on a whim.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine—I was always a fan of TNG, and the original star trek movies growing up and watched Voyager’s later seasons as they aired but for some reason never gave DS9 any attention—didn’t watch it until after college and my god was I missing out. It is absolutely the best star trek property out there.

A couple others that come to mind:

DC Legends of Tomorrow. The first season is admittedly pretty bad because it basically repeats a crossover event of The Flash and Arrow (and of course its just a CW Arrow-verse show so not by any means a masterpiece) but from the second season on it stops taking itself seriously and becomes a genuine delight of nonsense. Still mad it got cancelled when they could’ve just finished it off in a final season.

One Piece as well, it’s definitely a slog, but is really a very charming show. I never gave it much mind but after seeing the first episode of the Netflix live action version, I had to check out the original.

1. FROM (got hooked during the second season. third season is being filmed now. feels reminiscent of LOST but with darker undertones. so far, a frustratingly few answers have been provided, but i’m really rooting for this mystery series. rich characters, great performances and a plot that leaves you trying to figure it all out for days after.)

2. The Killing (surprisingly intelligent cop drama with excellent character dev and great tension)

3. The Terror (first season - based off the 1845 arctic voyage in search of a viable northern passage shipping route and the ship’s subsequent abandonment after getting by stuck in the ice. the end jumps the shark a bit but the acting is excellent. the concept, environment and mood throughout is captivating.)

4. Nathan For You (loved The Rehearsal and The Curse too, but i don’t think he will ever top NFY. plus, he graduated with really good grades)

5. Mrs. Davis (a lucid acid trip down modernized mythology)

6. On Becoming a God in Central Florida (brilliant satire)

7. 12 Monkeys (2015 series. vibrant, gritty sci-fi)

8. The Bridge (original Danish version)

9. River (cerebral detective drama starring Stellan Skarsgard)

10. Waco / The Aftermath (absolutely love Michael Shannon in this respectful retelling of a highly controversial series of events that had a profound impact on american society)

11. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (hard to watch but such an important story. feels like a love letter from past to future generations)

forgot to include:

The Chosen One (2023. subpar reviews but unique, cinematic and worth the watch imo)
Midnight Mass
Midnight Gospel
The Jinx (an unexpected season 2 is now in production)

I really like FROM. I'm always worried about it getting canceled before they answer my questions!
FROM is the new LOST. it's wonderful.

My GF recently introduced my to a show called Please Like Me. It's out of Australia from a comedian named Josh Thomas.

Don't look at the IMDB score or anything like that -- this show is pure art. It's got a lot of heart and the cinematography is better than it has any right to be.

Please Like Me is honestly better than Fleabag in that it is a dramedy that covers real issues, but it resolves more satisfyingly and feels more grounded in reality. It is so good and nobody has heard of it.

Where’s it streaming?
- I don't know, unfortunately. GF watched it on Netflix while she was in Portugal. Then we watched it together in the States, by means of the high seas. Matey.

Black sails.

Starts a bit slow but damn. I enjoyed the intrigue, political manoeuvering, and characters. You start of disliking some of the characters but they grow on you as they mature throughout the series.

true detective. 1 is up there with goat, 2-3 is meh, 4 is tops again.

I think you're like the one other person who didn't hate season 4. I enjoyed it, but I'd put it below season 3.

Pushing Daisies is simply delightful and whimsical.

The Magicians is an epic story with highly entertaining characters and a full storyline with an actual ending.

Loudermilk is a witty and heartfelt look at people trying to get by while also dealing with their alcoholism.

Sandman is masterfully done, a visual treat, regardless of whether you're a fan of the comic.

Ooo, also Our Flag Means Death, only 2 seasons but such a great show.
What We Do In The Shadows, delightful and so wrong on so many levels...lol
Someone else already said it, but I agree so strongly, I gotta restate...Reservation Dogs...heart-warming and with great character arcs.

You've probably already watched it, but Avatar The Last Airbender. Also Years and Years.

Frieren
Each episode feels so heavy that I can't stop thinking about it until I watch the next one.

I used to watch a lot of different anime during late teens for some years. All of Naruto, Death Note, Monster, Bleach, Code Geass, Sword Art Online, Cowboy Bebop, Madoka, One Punch, Steins;Gate, Samurai X, Attack on Titan, Full metal alchemist, , etc, are just the ones that come to mind.
Recently I thought back on this, and how many shows came out season after season, that I really enjoyed. I wondered how many shows must have come out in the last ten years since I stopped paying attention because of, life.
The first one I thought of giving a go was Frieren. I don't know if it's me that changed, or that it just isn't for me. Either of which are fine. But I just couldn't get into it. It seemed so utterly boring.
Not sure what my point is... Maybe to ask if it makes sense regarding Frieren, and whether it gets good after some episodes, or of it just isn't for me any more.
Maybe also to ask for other recommendations from anyone who might feel the same.
- Frieren is a slow burn for sure. I understand it is not for everyone, and that's okay.
  To me, it's the best anime I've watched in a while. The slower pace lets scenes breath and the melancholic undertones resonate with me right now. Isekai has really flooded the market right now and to me this is such a breath of fresh air.
  I think with the anime you listed there is definitely an anime in the current or recent seasons that will speak to you. I recommend Mashle. To me it's One Punch at Hogwarts.
- Everything you listed is mostly carried by action scenes (except steins gate), while Frieren is drama. I also mostly watch action anime, and I need the right mood to watch drama or slower show.
  Since you enjoy action anime, here are some recommendations similar to your list: Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Black Clover, Chainsaw Man, Hell’s Paradise.
  Also check out dubbed versions as they improved a lot last ten years.
- I feel rhe exact same way about Frieren. It's just too boring to me but so many people praise it. You should watch "The Eminence in Shadow"
I know it's a good series but all the memes make me not want to watch it.

Fargo TV show was mind blowingly good.

Personally I wasn't a huge fan of Season 4. It wasn't bad it just didn't feel like Fargo at all.
- Yeah, the even numbered seasons didn't draw me in quite the same as the odd ones. Still a fantastic show altogether

The expanse is amazing, if you get over the pacing of the first 2 episodes. (If not, give the books a shot! Actually, even if, definitively give the books a shot, they're incredible)
- This. I have to tell everyone that I recommend this show to to power through the first few episodes as it is not a noir space crime drama that is appears to be when following around some random detective on a space station.
Brothers in Arms the Expanse
sound like a really cool show.

Hamilton.

Thought it was probably fine, but massively overrated. Avoided pretty much everything about it until I saw it live.

It was better than the hype.

Downton Abbey

Kipo and the World of Wonderbeasts. Never heard anything about it, no one seems to know it, but the entire series is absolutely fantastic. It's got amazing music too.

that music was awesome. And really good series. Even for adults.

White Lotus is what first came to mind for me. Left me on the edge of my seat. And during every episode I always felt like I KNEW what had / will happen, only to be debunked and on a completely new theory by the end of the next episode. Loved it and an looking forward to season 3.

That show is absolutely ridiculous and I am here for it. I didn't realize they renewed it again seeing as it was originally meant to be a limited series with just the one season.

I resisted Ted Lasso and Mrs. Maisel for a long time. They're both very good.

Maisel is awesome. So smart. Dialogue is so rapid fire. Such a delight.

Sarah Connor Chronicles. Perfect run time, great pacing, nice gift wrapped complete series ending which still left an opening for further shows in the same timeline.

Too bad it was ejected from the cannon. I want to see more Shirley Manson terminator.
And more Summer Glau! That is never a bad thing

Sopranos. I expected it to be an awesome Mafia drama but it was so much more…

Currently binging this fit the first time. We’re close to the end of season 2. Richie got his beef with Christopher.
- Oh what would I give to watch it again for the first time.

Star vs The Forces of Evil. Such a good show.

If you like Star, you should go check out Hazbin Hotel. The main character is basically what would happen if Star were written by a more adult-oriented writer (think Archer or Rick & Morty.) The pilot is on YouTube, and the main series is on Amazon Prime.

Band of Brothers and Pacific

Well if you liked them remember there's a new one by the same people; "Masters of the Air".
It's currently streaming somewhere (I myself fly the Jolly Roger, so idk where). There's like one or two more episodes coming, we're up to 8 or 9 by now.
- Yes. Just started watching it and I think it's just as good as the other two.

I've come to this thread late and everyone is mentioning pretty obviously good shows which won awards etc. But there are 2 criminally underrated shows which were just phenomenal when I watched them:

The Americans - in my opinion it should be up there with the other big shows like The Sopranos and The Wire etc.

The Patriot - tv series .. not the stupid Mel Gibson movie. Amazing premise and probably not as popular because of a stupid name and Amazon.

Oh and bonus show: The Bear. But it's getting the accolades it deserves.. so knew it would be good going in

Patriot is easily one of the best shows there is.
- Hey. Let me walk you through the Donnelly nut spacing and crack system rim-riding rip configuration. Using a field of half-C sprats, and brass-fitted nickel slits, our bracketed caps, and splay-flexed brace columns vent dampers to dampening hatch depths of one half meter from the damper crown to the spurve plinths. How? Well, we bolster twelve husk nuts to each girldle-jerry, while flex tandems press a task apparatus of ten vertically composited patch-hamplers. Then, pin-flam-fastened pan traps at both maiden-apexes of the jim-joist.
Good ones. Loved The Americans and The Patriot. I kept trying to find out which characters were real... beside the obvious.
The Americans - 18 Emmy Nominations, 4 Wins
But you're right about Patriot not getting any credit!

Definitely Steven Universe. Random, ignorant people love to shit on that show just like random, ignorant people love to shit on the entirety of the furry fandom; and it does start more childish and unserialized. But hot damn does it get good later, and it was one of the most-helpful, intelligent, and positive experiences of my life.

Among many things I COULD talk about, I would just like to add that I've never seen a more thorough and accurate portrayal of autism than Peridot; and they don't ever outright say what they're doing with her, but even the green alien symbolism is there. Also how people respond to her, both positively and negatively, as well as her ability to learn to improve— so smart and good.

I like Steven universe but I think it needed a bit of editing or something with original series. I recall having really good highs and then some meh times in between. I think the future version flowed better. I agree overall it rewards the viewers.

Since I watched Series 4 in 2021, I don't think a week has gone by that I haven't watched an episode, or at least a clip, of some iteration of Taskmaster.

I just discovered this show, and got sick and blasted through season/series 15, and loved it. I'll probably go back and watch it all now.
- I'd also really recommend the New Zealand and Australian versions! (NZ Series 1 takes a bit to find it's groove but Series 2 is probably my favourite series of any Taskmaster)
  Sorry for the over enthusiastic reply, this morning my friend got us both tickets to the Australian Series 3 studio record and I'm very excited about it...

My somewhat spolier-lite to spoiler-free reccomendations:

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. I'd also recommend the original movie, but it's kind of a different beast.

Really well done series that switches between long expository plot sequences, and really well done action sequences, in a pretty good display of budgetary efficiency. The plot exposition, dialogue, and investigative stuff kind of surrounds the action scenes with an actual sense of consequence and meaning, relative to most anime that I've seen, and the series as a whole is kind of much more grounded than most other anime, which is also incredibly refreshing. The medium is used in this case more to emphasize subtle differences between this potential near-future reality and our own, rather than kind of just, being an engine for bombastic and outlandish animation and repetitive trope-work. The series bounces between episodically structured plots, or, stand alone episodes, and episodes that deal with an ongoing seasonal plot, or character plot, and there's a couple little progressions in there that kind of span the series if you're paying attention. There's not really any arcs, it's just a good, focused show, front to back.

The Venture Bros.

Slow start, but it's also probably one of the better pilot episodes, in my mind, of all time. Plenty of little comic book nerd references in there that are pretty enjoyable, and the comedy is pretty good at times while also tending not to venture into the offensive, except for maybe two or three instances that stand out in my mind, which is maybe somewhat impressive for an early adult swim show. I think, more than that, though, the series' ability to juggle serial plots and episodic plots is kind of mind blowing and insane. One-off episodes and single characters get spun off into entire fully formed characters with arcs and backstories. Stupid jokes get expanded into much larger things than you would expect. It's very well done.

Nichijou

Yeah, this one is pretty good, you should watch it.

Dora the Explora.

Fucking hell that’s some DEEP shit.

Bro, the scene where Dora said, "Say rapido!" While chasing Swiper? Fkn chills down my spine. Best action series ever. Did you know the producers wanted to use this series to teach people Spanish?
- Whoah dude. That’s incredible.

Heat

One of the best movies of all times! I watch it at least once a year for many years now.
There is also the One Heat Minute Podcast, highly recommended!
Best shootout scene in a movie. It gets reviewed by a lot of people for just how well it was done.

The American version of shameless. I didn't like the English version but the American one was really entertaining.

Lars and the Real Girl. It sounds like a risible premise that is actually super human and skillfully executed.

Dr Who

Before I watched the "New Who" episodes on the stern recommendation of an obsessed girl friend, I was extremely reluctant.

I just saw more and more friends and aquatences go into watching the series, normal as one can be.

Them, they watched the series on Netflix.

It changed them, giving them an almost unhealthy level obsessed obsession with the show.

I too had the same change, but on a much less level than some.

Deadwood

Arcane

I've only seen the first few episodes of Deadwood and need to see the rest, because I really love Justified.
And it's basically the same character, no offense to Tim Olyphant.

Drive and District 9.

If you’re a fan of gritty police dramas, I continuously beat the drum for The Shield. It’s one of most tightly written series I’ve ever seen, with events from the very first episode affecting everything that comes after. Plots wind through multiple episodes and sometimes seasons.

All 7 seasons are currently on Hulu.

Miami Vice (2006) - intense, gritty and stylish.

Into The Badlands

Do books count? I spend most of my life hearing Blood Meridian being the American Novel and avoided it for the better part of a decade because of how overjerked I felt like it was.... until I read it and said "yeah, maybe it is that good."

This is Us

Scavengers Reign, they didn't promote it at all.

I thought at first that Kickass was going to be another only-adults-would-understand-this movie, but it turned out to be very family-ish and wholesome.

Young Sheldon. I was expecting a crappy spin off family sitcom, but it's pretty good.

And no laugh track!

Europe Tribes