House of Cards

[rpm]

Anyone else doing a marathon? I'm starting Ep 3 and it's kicking serious ass.

[Gman]

I'm on episode 6 myself, been up all night watching it, and watched the clock click by until Netflix put it up after the clock struck 12.

Episode 1 - I believe it's going to get rave reviews, I'm talking about Breaking Bad like praise, perhaps even higher.  Prediction:  Most critics will claim it to be one of the best hour long episodes of TV in recent history.  It's that good.

I was completely surprised by what happened and the direction they chose, and the actors and staff have kept a very good secret until today, which I salute, as this sort of thing almost always leaks out and ruins the surprise.  I'm beyond impressed, Netflix has proven that it can run with the big dogs, and is capable of producing powerhouse shows.  I think in the coming years we'll see a lot more from them, and quality like this.

Highly recommend to everyone.  If I didn't have an appointment at 9, I'd be close to finished, it's that good and addicting.  

[rpm]

Starting Ep7. No spoilers.

[Rich46yo]

Ill catch up on this after  I catch up on HBOs True Detective. Which is also pretty good, I caught the first two episodes last night.

[Gman]

Rich, TD is the best show on TV right now IMO, hands down, with HoC coming a very, very closely contested 2nd.  I could go either way right now.  I think the lions share of the awards this year will come down to these 2 programs.

True Detective is like a steamroller on roids, it just gets stronger, and stronger, every single episode. 

I could live with HBO and Netflix, and maybe AMC being the only two companies that made TV - everything else to me is expendable crap for the most part.

[Tupac]

HoC started to get weird in like the fifth episode. I kinda lost interest.

[Rich46yo]

Rich, TD is the best show on TV right now IMO, hands down, with HoC coming a very, very closely contested 2nd.  I could go either way right now.  I think the lions share of the awards this year will come down to these 2 programs.

True Detective is like a steamroller on roids, it just gets stronger, and stronger, every single episode. 

I could live with HBO and Netflix, and maybe AMC being the only two companies that made TV - everything else to me is expendable crap for the most part.

Yeah I usually despise cop shows, the only one I could stomach was The Wire. TD isnt so much a cop show as it is a psychological thriller but it does touch on some of the elements of the job. At least back in that era, as The Wire did. I tried watching Chicago P.D. but couldnt get past the first 5 mins. Gawd it was awful.

Im 1/2 thru the last episode shown of TD and its about to get hot. There hasnt been a bad minute in it so far. 4 stars for sure.

[Gman]

You're sounding like my father from thousands of miles away.  That's almost verbatim what he said regarding True Detective and other cop shows.  He liked the first year of NYPD blue, and has hated very cop show I've tried to get him into since, save True Detective.  I'll maybe give him my The Wire dvd's when TD is over, I've not watched The Wire either, I was overseas when it was on, and have been saving the series for a rainy week.

My pops was a cop for 35 years, and a detective for 15 or so of that.  They've broke the mold for police/detection shows with TD, and really focused on the psych aspects.

I'm growing close to the end for House of Cards, what a fantastic season 2, it's SO hard not to give away spoilers, and I can't wait for everyone to get into it so we can talk about everything.  So much win from Netflix.

[Rich46yo]

You're sounding like my father from thousands of miles away.  That's almost verbatim what he said regarding True Detective and other cop shows.  He liked the first year of NYPD blue, and has hated very cop show I've tried to get him into since, save True Detective.  I'll maybe give him my The Wire dvd's when TD is over, I've not watched The Wire either, I was overseas when it was on, and have been saving the series for a rainy week.

My pops was a cop for 35 years, and a detective for 15 or so of that.  They've broke the mold for police/detection shows with TD, and really focused on the psych aspects.

I'm growing close to the end for House of Cards, what a fantastic season 2, it's SO hard not to give away spoilers, and I can't wait for everyone to get into it so we can talk about everything.  So much win from Netflix.

The Wire was very realistic as a Big City Police show in the era of the '80s when the writer of it served in BPD. What he catches perfectly is the incompetence of the system, some of the wretched Bosses, the Big City Politics, and the drinking that was going on back then. I think he gives the gang bangers a little to much credit for brains, most of whom have the IQ of chickens. Most of all he caught the utter hopelessness Of the lives of these kids growing up in the projects.

No parents or only one. Nobody cares about them. Their only role models are druggys who use them like their lives mean nothing. They grow up angry with no hope and the only way out they can see is to sell drugs. Eventually they get pinched when they are old enough to catch an IR number and then they are screwed for life. Nobody is going to hire them, they have no skills or education. All they have, should they be lucky enough to survive, is a life of either jail or street/drug life. Eventually they just get old and tired, the few that live that long. The Wire portrayed all of this in the most realistic way Ive ever seen in a TV show.

I always felt sorry for these young kids and gave more then a few a break tho I doubt it helped most of them.

[Rich46yo]

Hahahahaahah, Yeah I just watched S-1 Ep-1. House of Cards is a winner. I love how Stacey talks to the TV audience. Great show.

[Gman]

I know, that last little clip could make one fist pump in the air - such fantastic writing, acting, and directing.  Spacey is worthy of an Emmy or Globe for that little 2 minute blurb alone IMO.

[Rich46yo]

Im a few episodes past his last meeting with Zoe. I'd say He has the right stuff to be a President.

And Claire? Theres a ruthless a woman as you'll ever meet as well. Great show, made the flu the last few days a little easier to live with.

[kilo2]

Finished the last episode of season 2.

One of the best shows out there. They get you to root for the most morally corrupt character.

[GScholz]

It is a very good show, but it isn't all to Netflix' credit though. It is entirely based on the 1990's BBC drama series of the same name. Including the frequent breaking of the 4th wall by the lead character.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4aiZnPHGfA

Kevin Spacey is an excellent choice for the role though. Has that same dead facial expressions with the underlying menace as Ian Richardson's version of the character.

[Lusche]

It is a very good show, but it isn't all to Netflix' credit though. It is entirely based on the 1990's BBC drama series of the same name.

And it was great, I made sure I didn't miss a single episode back then