I haven't watched yet, but my husband has: will ask him what he thinks--and now I think I must take a look, Adam! --though the intrepid Eleanor gives me pause--see her note below mine! We'll discuss!
Do give it a few episodes. I really feel it gathering steam to something special. I do know what Eleanor is saying, btw, but I think the show is bigger than some of the lead's rougher spots. We'll see. I've bet the house here on greatest television show in the history of the world, so put the humble pie in the oven...
You and I are going to have to have a discussion about this. I stopped at 5 because she was annoying the shit out of me. I don't like her. What do I do with that? I know what you're going to say. Watch 6. But I don't like her.
I actually am not going to recommend watching six for a very simple reason. I feel your pain. Claire Danes is annoying the shit out of me in The Beast in Me, and there will be no recovering from the dark experience I'm going through with that character. So, I get it, but it sucks, too, because Pluribus is incredible television with the richest high-concept premise I can think of certainly in the streaming era.
Okay, I'm going to change my tune slightly... watch six simply to see top-notch television direction. The woman who directed episode six is seriously gifted. Gandja Monteiro.
okay yes, that’s the kind of persuasion I can live with; top nothing directing. Also I agree about the richness of the high concept premise. What I don’t like is how miserable and mean and petty she is, how she never once gives into the universality of her love for the woman she lost. I’m curious as to where the writers take it - now I’m going to have to watch it god damn it.
it may be - may - that Diabaté and Manousos are going to be so appealing that they may soften some of that frustration. It's very hard to get out a television show death spiral though once a character starts to irritate the shit out of you.
Omg!!! We just finished The Beast in Me and Claire Daines…wtf? The MOST DISTRACTING ACTING EVER. We soothed ourselves by watching parodies of Claire Dianes on IG. A lot of heavy breathing and chin quivers.
This helps hearing this, Kim, more than you know. I needed to get laughed down off the ledge. Some bad acting is sort of funny in its way, but some bad acting is really, really hard to watch to the point it makes me angry, which says more about me than the actor, I'm sure.
I'm putting this performance in that category. The villain is no great shakes either. Honestly, the whole show is terrible. It seemed to start out with promise, but it's getting more and more CSI with each episode.
Both Breaking Bad and Saul started with a slow burn that heated up and drew me in over time. This started hotter. Not sure it's generational TV, we will see. I was looking for a cameo by Charlton Heston in 6. Perhaps we did, in one of those bags. The questions now remain: Will Carol and Mr Paraguay star in "Adam & Eve: II" and breed to save the human race? Will Netflix post-acquisition grind old movies and shows down into new content and package it in bags of Doritos? So many questions, so few of us asking them.
You force me to face the painful truth that it will very likely be six seasons before we find out how this ends! On the other hand, now the next six years aren't looking quite so grim.
On Eleanor's point that Carol is annoying, I think that's part of the genius. (This is how an incurable addict reasons...) We have exactly one person left on Earth to identify with, and she's a pain in the neck. It takes a special someone to give the finger to 8 billion people, even if they are acting a little odd.
I would love for this to go for six seasons. My over-the-top prediction might have just cursed it, but... it did get picked up for season #2 and it seems to be at the top of the Apple top shows list, which has to be really good.
She is annoying. I agree, btw, but she's also sympathetic. I thought episode 6 really showed that. She's more than one note, by a long shot. My wife pointed out how different her tears/crying scene were for her wife than for when she cried for herself, and I think that shows she's connected to this part.
And, to your point, maybe being annoying is part of the genius. They're not even pretending she is likable. Fingers crossed, she'll find the right balance for this character and won't scare away the Eleanors who otherwise might love this show.
Don't watch it yet, but do be sold! Give it a try, and give it a few episodes. Every now and then it will spin your head around with something you didn't see coming from a point of view you didn't think the show was coming from. It's so smart. it's great. I feel 100% I'm on a ride where the driver has a destination.
Although... it's definitely not for everyone. My "great" is bizarrely subjective. When I was in film school, the only thing I actually learned was that no matter how "great "you thought another student's film was, other students genuinely didn't like it and vice versa with the films they liked. There was never consensus on films. Eventually, the pure subjectivity of appraisals became a reliable, almost humorous fact-of-art.
So... feel free to hate it in completely good fait (Eleanor A. has given up on the show) or better yet: love it. I think there are going to be a LOT of love-its and I think it's got lmulti-year legs. I have a sweet spot for intelligent, deeply felt high-concept.
I think I need to flag this and resist reading until I’ve watched it. We’ve been waiting for the full season because there’s nothing worse for my dopamine hungry receptors than wanting another hit and having to wait a week.
The waits have been long, but I think they're good for a show where it doesn't hurt to think about it a bit. There are probably only two more episodes for the season though, so you're going to bing it either way. It is going to be a dopamine desert though waiting for season two.
I was almost 100% certain you would like it, too, Ben. I think we share this gene. I completely trust that he is taking this somewhere deeply satisfying. Breaking Bad was absolutely the best television I've ever seen. I'm thrilled that he's working with this idea. (and his amazing team)
I haven't watched yet, but my husband has: will ask him what he thinks--and now I think I must take a look, Adam! --though the intrepid Eleanor gives me pause--see her note below mine! We'll discuss!
Do give it a few episodes. I really feel it gathering steam to something special. I do know what Eleanor is saying, btw, but I think the show is bigger than some of the lead's rougher spots. We'll see. I've bet the house here on greatest television show in the history of the world, so put the humble pie in the oven...
I will definitely take a look. Thank you for the reply: TV critic: here you come!
You and I are going to have to have a discussion about this. I stopped at 5 because she was annoying the shit out of me. I don't like her. What do I do with that? I know what you're going to say. Watch 6. But I don't like her.
I actually am not going to recommend watching six for a very simple reason. I feel your pain. Claire Danes is annoying the shit out of me in The Beast in Me, and there will be no recovering from the dark experience I'm going through with that character. So, I get it, but it sucks, too, because Pluribus is incredible television with the richest high-concept premise I can think of certainly in the streaming era.
Okay, I'm going to change my tune slightly... watch six simply to see top-notch television direction. The woman who directed episode six is seriously gifted. Gandja Monteiro.
okay yes, that’s the kind of persuasion I can live with; top nothing directing. Also I agree about the richness of the high concept premise. What I don’t like is how miserable and mean and petty she is, how she never once gives into the universality of her love for the woman she lost. I’m curious as to where the writers take it - now I’m going to have to watch it god damn it.
it may be - may - that Diabaté and Manousos are going to be so appealing that they may soften some of that frustration. It's very hard to get out a television show death spiral though once a character starts to irritate the shit out of you.
true fact
Omg!!! We just finished The Beast in Me and Claire Daines…wtf? The MOST DISTRACTING ACTING EVER. We soothed ourselves by watching parodies of Claire Dianes on IG. A lot of heavy breathing and chin quivers.
This helps hearing this, Kim, more than you know. I needed to get laughed down off the ledge. Some bad acting is sort of funny in its way, but some bad acting is really, really hard to watch to the point it makes me angry, which says more about me than the actor, I'm sure.
I'm putting this performance in that category. The villain is no great shakes either. Honestly, the whole show is terrible. It seemed to start out with promise, but it's getting more and more CSI with each episode.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRVu0uCj2Ez/?igsh=MXE2MndzOGdldHVndg==
Both Breaking Bad and Saul started with a slow burn that heated up and drew me in over time. This started hotter. Not sure it's generational TV, we will see. I was looking for a cameo by Charlton Heston in 6. Perhaps we did, in one of those bags. The questions now remain: Will Carol and Mr Paraguay star in "Adam & Eve: II" and breed to save the human race? Will Netflix post-acquisition grind old movies and shows down into new content and package it in bags of Doritos? So many questions, so few of us asking them.
Lol. 😝 I thought about old Charlton, too. It owes a debt to Omega Man.
soylent green is people!!!!
You force me to face the painful truth that it will very likely be six seasons before we find out how this ends! On the other hand, now the next six years aren't looking quite so grim.
On Eleanor's point that Carol is annoying, I think that's part of the genius. (This is how an incurable addict reasons...) We have exactly one person left on Earth to identify with, and she's a pain in the neck. It takes a special someone to give the finger to 8 billion people, even if they are acting a little odd.
I would love for this to go for six seasons. My over-the-top prediction might have just cursed it, but... it did get picked up for season #2 and it seems to be at the top of the Apple top shows list, which has to be really good.
She is annoying. I agree, btw, but she's also sympathetic. I thought episode 6 really showed that. She's more than one note, by a long shot. My wife pointed out how different her tears/crying scene were for her wife than for when she cried for herself, and I think that shows she's connected to this part.
And, to your point, maybe being annoying is part of the genius. They're not even pretending she is likable. Fingers crossed, she'll find the right balance for this character and won't scare away the Eleanors who otherwise might love this show.
The best time to read about a series is after you’ve seen it or at least made your way in. I will reread this then. I am sold.
Don't watch it yet, but do be sold! Give it a try, and give it a few episodes. Every now and then it will spin your head around with something you didn't see coming from a point of view you didn't think the show was coming from. It's so smart. it's great. I feel 100% I'm on a ride where the driver has a destination.
Although... it's definitely not for everyone. My "great" is bizarrely subjective. When I was in film school, the only thing I actually learned was that no matter how "great "you thought another student's film was, other students genuinely didn't like it and vice versa with the films they liked. There was never consensus on films. Eventually, the pure subjectivity of appraisals became a reliable, almost humorous fact-of-art.
So... feel free to hate it in completely good fait (Eleanor A. has given up on the show) or better yet: love it. I think there are going to be a LOT of love-its and I think it's got lmulti-year legs. I have a sweet spot for intelligent, deeply felt high-concept.
Why should I not watch it yet? Not enough episodes dropped? We watch an episode a day.
Typo. Don’t “read” it yet.
I think I need to flag this and resist reading until I’ve watched it. We’ve been waiting for the full season because there’s nothing worse for my dopamine hungry receptors than wanting another hit and having to wait a week.
The waits have been long, but I think they're good for a show where it doesn't hurt to think about it a bit. There are probably only two more episodes for the season though, so you're going to bing it either way. It is going to be a dopamine desert though waiting for season two.
I’m 100% in on the show. Vince Gilligan is brilliant.
I was almost 100% certain you would like it, too, Ben. I think we share this gene. I completely trust that he is taking this somewhere deeply satisfying. Breaking Bad was absolutely the best television I've ever seen. I'm thrilled that he's working with this idea. (and his amazing team)