Streaming recommendations (including Netflix)

Police Academy? That would be a brave watch. You might as well chuck in Airplane and Weird Science into that (tip: don’t watch either if you value your PC sensibilities).

I was discussing this with my much better half the other day about the new Time Bandits series. She reckoned the original film would be super dated and not worth watching as a comparison before the new series starts.

I’m of the opposite opinion. Some films are just funny, regardless of the current view (Life of Brian?), so worth re-watching to see if Time Bandits sits in that category.

Hmm, makes me want to watch some classics (in my head) again … Leon, Fifth Element, Life of Brian, Nikita, Pulp Fiction, Kiss kiss bang bang.

I know there a lot of Luc Besson films in there. What can I say? I like a lot of his stuff.

We just finished Fisk on Netflix, really recommend it as a quiet, easygoing Aussie comedy to watch at the end of the night – after, say, Mayor of Kingstown or Kin, to help you get to sleep.

Can anyone recommend something similarly low-key but still worth watching – what Simon Mayo’s taken to calling a ‘softener’, I think, along the lines of Colin from Accounts, Fisk, The Let Down, Clarkson’s Farm etc

S2 of Mayor of Kingstown is looking pretty good so far; and S2 of Kin is also (within 1 episode) more compelling than the first series. Bit weird watching Aiden Gillen in 2 shows at the same time, mind

I loved Fisk and can totally recommend ‘Kim’s Convenience’ as an easy going comedy series to binge on.  I thought it was great.

Softeners;

Schitts creek, working moms, Brooklyn 99, archer, parks and rec, atypical, never have I ever. There are probably others but this list came easily. (Note: might be more than just Netflix in this list)

Thanks for the suggestions. Schitts Creek we watched (it’s basically a requirement if you’re in Canada), the OH liked Working Moms, Archer is stone cold classic; good shout on parks and rec and brooklyn 99!

“Softener” sounds like it should have the word “stool” before it.

But, Still Game is one of the best for that purpose.

I’d also suggest 30 Rock on ITVX – arguably the funniest sitcom ever made. But you do have to pay attention as the jokes come so thick and fast in multiple layers.

We just finished Fisk on Netflix

Also available on itvx if you’re on a Netflix break!

Also noticed you can now watch Northern Exposure via Prime, BUT it’s scheduled like old-fashioned linear TV.

You just have to dip in to wherever they are in the series.

It’s not been available anywhere for years, and I’m pleased to say it holds up pretty well.

Especially Maggie.

Can anyone recommend something similarly low-key but still worth watching – what Simon Mayo’s taken to calling a ‘softener’, I think, along the lines of Colin from Accounts, Fisk, The Let Down, Clarkson’s Farm etc

Colin From Accounts season 2 has been transmitted in Australian, so is potentially available if you are happy to use murky methods. Other potentials include (not all probably qualify as low-key), The Great (latest season has been kicking around for ages but has just stated going out weekly on Channel 4), Brassic, Trying, What we Do in the Shadows, Big Boys, Ted, Poker Face, Bad Sisters, Glow, Wednesday, Am I Being Unreasonable?

School’s Out Forever is now up for free on Prime. I liked this, it’s got some interesting points to make about age and class. Bit more thoughtful than the trailer suggests.

Now I’m up to date with the boys and all my other faves. I’m not finding much to watch on any of the streaming services, Disney, Apple, Netflix, prime, channel 4 (a surprise treasure trove for films, just re-watched the Lincoln lawyer)

anyone got any horror or sci if recommendations? For reference one of the best horror I’ve seen on the last 12 months was I saw the devil.

or any good recommendations tbh. I’ve read most of the thread and would have watched dead man’s shoes, but that’s now not available on film 4.

As a link to The Boys, Antony Starr (homelander) is also superb in Banshee. Never heard of it till a pal mentioned it, but don’t know how it slipped under the radar as it’s excellent.

I don’t know if it has already been mentioned, but there’s a newish third series of Mandy (written by and starring Diane Morgan) on IPlayer.

Irreverent, stupid humor with a dash of surrealism. We think it’s hilarious.

Banshee looks good. Only place I can find it is to buy on prime. Unless it’s included on another service ?

As a link to The Boys, Antony Starr (homelander) is also superb in Banshee. Never heard of it till a pal mentioned it, but don’t know how it slipped under the radar as it’s excellent.

binge watched it a few years ago, very good indeed.

I’m just reminding myself how good Rick and Morty is.

Starr is also in that Jake Gyllenhaal film ‘The Covenant’ (free on Prime). Took me a while to figure out where I’d seen him before because to me he IS the Homelander.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is *finally* out on Amazon Prime, months after it was released in the States. It’s enjoyable in a sort of Boys Own Adventure style thing – highly fictionalised and quite ridiculous but standard Guy Ritchie entertainment fodder.

Finished Exploding Kittens last night. Watched it with the whole family, with the boys occasionally crying laughing. It was very, very good.

anyone got any horror or sci if recommendations? For reference one of the best horror I’ve seen on the last 12 months was I saw the devil.

or any good recommendations tbh. I’ve read most of the thread and would have watched dead man’s shoes, but that’s now not available on film 4.

Not sure how many of these would fit the bill but things on my to-watch list, when the OH is away: Godzilla Minus One, Fall of the House of Usher, Nope (all Netflix). Am slowly working through The Boys; can really recommend the latest Fargo on Prime – not horror or sci fi but rollicking good fun!

Not sure if it’s been mentioned before, but Snowfall, which i think started on Sky, but now all 6 series are on Disney + is one of the best things i have seen in years, story of cocaine and crack flooding LA in the 80’s and the CIA links to using the trade to finance war in Nicaragua , so well filmed and done by John Singleton who did Boyz in the Hood.

snowfall is great and also on iplayer (not sure if all 6 series are on bbc though)

I noticed the film Wicked Little Letters is on Netflix now. Can’t really recommend it as I haven’t watched it yet, but it seemed to get good reviews when it was out in the cinema and was on my ‘to watch’ list.

Saw  Wicked Little Letters at the cinema.

I thought it was excellent ,with a great main cast.

Based on a true story

Currently 6/8 through season 1 of Dirk Gently on Netflix. It’s great, like some weird cross between Dr Who and the Umbrella Academy.

Some proper laugh out loud moments.

Why have I never read these books? Must get hold of them.

Season 2 less good than season 1, sadly.

I noticed the film Wicked Little Letters is on Netflix now. Can’t really recommend it as I haven’t watched it yet, but it seemed to get good reviews when it was out in the cinema and was on my ‘to watch’ list.

Kermode liked it, but got some letters in saying listeners hadn’t, so could go either way. But I’ve added it to my to watch list.

We started watching Dinosaur on BBC. 30 minute comedy, set in Glasgow; not too much story to it, but funny enough for us

Fall of the House of Usher,

I found to be total yawnsville.

Nope

By contrast was excellent.

We’re working through S2 of Mayor of Kingstown. Very good, in a quite stressful way; and I sadly have an idea of where the story will go for S3

Documentary on BBC2 t’other night called something like Kyle: America’s most divisive gunman.

Story surrounding a young lad who shot some protestors in self defence. What happens is absolutely tragic, but the aftermath is gobsmacking and in this instance, proves the US has barely moved on since the wild west.

High Country, an 8-parter. There’s an opening for a second series as well

Recommended for a look at a different Australia to the one that I imagine and on BBC i-Player https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0020rnw/high-country

Probably been mentioned, as it’s from 2022 – but we’ve started Outer Range on Prime. 4 episodes in, going well. Nice n weird, almost Fargo-ish except not funny 🙂

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is *finally* out on Amazon Prime, months after it was released in the States. It’s enjoyable in a sort of Boys Own Adventure style thing – highly fictionalised and quite ridiculous but standard Guy Ritchie entertainment fodder.

The various historian YouTube videos of the story upon which it’s based are better viewing IMO.

High Country, an 8-parter. There’s an opening for a second series as well

We started on that but found it pretty poor – let’s try and shove every possible cliché and current social theme into one series.

Saw  Wicked Little Letters at the cinema.

I thought it was excellent ,with a great main cast.

Yes, I liked it too, and I absolutely love Jessie Buckley 🙂

Has “Lady in the Lake” been mentioned yet? I was a bit unconvinced after the first episode but now really enjoying it.

let’s try and shove every possible cliché and current social theme into one series.

True, but still enjoying the scenery and the story 🙂

Season 4 of The Umbrella Academy out this week.

Watched the Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare last night.

Its hard to put into words how bad this film is…….is it the terrible acting, is it the fake public school accents, is it the total absence of any suspense, is it the relentless over the top Tarantino style killing that was soooo 90s, is it the half arsed attempt at some kind of break in the monotonous linear timeline, is it the awful CGI?

I thought Lock Stock and Snatch were pretty good with interesting plots and funny scripts – this was definitely in my top 10 worst films of all time!

At least Tommy finally got Ze Germans

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=ze+germans+snatch#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b5fdfa31,vid:iYdIXRTBXLo,st:0

in my top 10 worst films of all time

“Cheeell winston” … sorry, couldn’t help myself.