Behind the Times: Older, popular shows that you're just getting around to watching.

[Zella]

3 hours ago, Haleth said:

I started watching The Wire after seeing here for years how great it was.  I do understand why people loved it, but I don't think it's for me.  It's pretty rough.  However I do want to give young Michael B Jordan a hug.  (And older MBJ too for that matter, but that's a different issue.)

Just out of curiosity: how far are you? I watched it for the first time a couple of years ago and really loved it, but yeesh it really is hard on the emotions and the nerves. 

[DearEvette]

3 hours ago, Haleth said:

I started watching The Wire after seeing here for years how great it was.  I do understand why people loved it, but I don't think it's for me.  It's pretty rough.  However I do want to give young Michael B Jordan a hug.  (And older MBJ too for that matter, but that's a different issue.

Me of today would not watch The Wire.  I just am not in that mindset anymore.  And I admit I had a rough start with the show, I didn't think I'd make it past the fisrt few episodes. 

But in retrospect I think I fell in love with it sometime round the last part of the S1 and into S2 where I really got to know the characters and understood the story he was telling.  The writing it really quite brilliant.  And it is one of the most quotable shows ever.  But, NGL, when I've done a re-watch I could only re-watch S1 and S2 it gets too heartbreaking after that. 

That said... I discovered Burn Notice during the writier's stike.  This is 100% where my head is at.  I love spy vs. spy hijinxs.  And It reminds me of the Parker books by Richard Stark where the main character is a master criminal who breaks the fourth wall to give you all these tips and tricks that criminals and spies use.  The character of Parker on Leverage was an homage to that character in these books.  Anyway I enjoyed the heck out of it.

 

[Zella]

8 minutes ago, DearEvette said:

But, NGL, when I've done a re-watch I could only re-watch S1 and S2 it gets too heartbreaking after that. 

Yeah I watch a lot of depressing TV, but season 4 is pretty much the saddest thing I've ever watched. 

[andromeda331]

1 hour ago, DearEvette said:

That said... I discovered Burn Notice during the writier's stike.  This is 100% where my head is at.  I love spy vs. spy hijinxs.  And It reminds me of the Parker books by Richard Stark where the main character is a master criminal who breaks the fourth wall to give you all these tips and tricks that criminals and spies use.  The character of Parker on Leverage was an homage to that character in these books.  Anyway I enjoyed the heck out of it.

I love Burn Notice and the tips Michael gave out. How to tell if your being followed and his reason for not wearing black when get breaks into someone's house. I love Parker too. She's always teaching kids crime. Of course she does.

[Haleth]

3 hours ago, Zella said:

Just out of curiosity: how far are you? I watched it for the first time a couple of years ago and really loved it, but yeesh it really is hard on the emotions and the nerves. 

Mostly thru the 1st season. 

2 hours ago, Zella said:

Yeah I watch a lot of depressing TV, but season 4 is pretty much the saddest thing I've ever watched. 

That settles it then. Not gonna watch. 

[AstridM]

On 2/25/2024 at 1:25 AM, EtheltoTillie said:

I am watching Orange Is the New Black for the first time. I finished season one. There’s not very much commentary on it in the show thread. I was surprised, as I thought it had been very popular. It’s really just a big soap opera, and the characters speak with too high an education level. Yet it is somewhat compelling. How did they make this run for seven seasons when the real Piper served only one year, I think.  

I could’ve sworn that there was LOTS of discussion here about it. I wonder what happened to those forums?

On 2/25/2024 at 8:16 AM, Haleth said:

I started watching The Wire after seeing here for years how great it was.  I do understand why people loved it, but I don't think it's for me.  It's pretty rough.  However I do want to give young Michael B Jordan a hug.  (And older MBJ too for that matter, but that's a different issue.)

It took me about 4-5 episodes before The Wire totally won me over. Keep going! It’s truly one of the greatest series of all time. 

[EtheltoTillie]

2 hours ago, AstridM said:

I could’ve sworn that there was LOTS of discussion here about it. I wonder what happened to those forums?

It took me about 4-5 episodes before The Wire totally won me over. Keep going! It’s truly one of the greatest series of all time. 

1)  Some of the OITNB discussion appears to go all the way back to the beginning.  Who knows?  Did you watch it?  Did you like it?

2) The Wire:  Each season I felt I had to give a whole episode to get in the swing of the new story line.  Then I was mesmerized.  Keep going!  I've never done a rewatch, but then I typically do not re-watch a long drama series. 

BTW, The Wire was the first US show for which I needed closed captions, as it's hard to understand some of the accents.  I had already been using them for UK shows for the same purpose.  Now I use them for everything. 

Edited February 26, 2024 by EtheltoTillie

[bluegirl147]

1 hour ago, AstridM said:

It took me about 4-5 episodes before The Wire totally won me over. Keep going! It’s truly one of the greatest series of all time. 

I agree,  I kept hearing how awesome it was and after watching a couple episodes I thought this is the greatest show ever???? But I kept watching and by the end of the last episode of the first season I was hooked.  

On 2/25/2024 at 11:31 AM, Zella said:

but yeesh it really is hard on the emotions and the nerves. 

It's definitely not for the faint of heart.  There are some things that years later and after multiple rewatches still break my heart when I watch those episodes. 

23 hours ago, Zella said:

Yeah I watch a lot of depressing TV, but season 4 is pretty much the saddest thing I've ever watched. 

Oh yeah the school season.  After the first season season 4 is my favorite. But it did introduce some great characters.

[EtheltoTillie]

Yes, The Wire is not for the faint of heart.   I have never forgotten the scene near end of the very last episode when they are showing what happens to many of the characters

Spoiler

where one of the kids who everyone thought would make good is shooting up.  I don't remember the name of the character. 

Devastating. 

[Zella]

1 hour ago, bluegirl147 said:

Oh yeah the school season.  After the first season season 4 is my favorite. But it did introduce some great characters.

Yeah it is superb. One of the best seasons of TV I've ever seen. But I had to decompress a while after watching it, and rewatches don't make it any easier. 

[Anela]

I've started and stopped The Wire, several times. Same with Deadwood. I can't settle into much of anything now. I miss when I would just put something on, and several hours later, I'd just be curled up, and really into it. That happened with "Big Love" when I had the DVDs out of the library, years ago, and put them on when I was sorting out my room. 

I started "Monk" recently, after it showed up on Netflix. Easy to watch, amusing. I'm also in the mood for The Closer. 

The other night, I found a show from 2008, called Survivors, on one of those dodgy sites. I remember watching the first three episodes somewhere, when it was new, but can't remember if it was on BBC America, or something else. 

[xfuse]

20 hours ago, Anela said:

The other night, I found a show from 2008, called Survivors, on one of those dodgy sites. I remember watching the first three episodes somewhere, when it was new, but can't remember if it was on BBC America, or something else. 

It's a British show. I watched both seasons years ago and was disappointed it didn't come back for a third.

[chediavolo]

Is “Then Came Bronson” streaming anywhere? 

[Cobb Salad]

1 hour ago, chediavolo said:

Is “Then Came Bronson” streaming anywhere? 

According to IMDb, no. 
There are clips on YouTube though.  

[Trini]

I'm not afraid to revive a dormant topic; anyone want to discuss Red Dwarf?

https://forums.primetimer.com/forum/6494-red-dwarf/

I recently discovered the entire series on Tubi, and I've gotten through Season/series 6. I remember watching some of this as a kid/teen on PBS in the 90s. The series had its ups and downs, but it took big swings, and had some great gags and characters.

Edited March 8, 2024 by Trini

[meep.meep]

I love Red Dwarf and hate Dr. Who!

 

[Cloud9Shopper]

I started Brothers and Sisters a few weeks ago, largely to see Sally Field as a TV lead. I wouldn’t say it’s my top favorite (right now my new obsession since losing some interest in ER is 9-1-1), but I really do enjoy the family dynamics and hearing about the father’s skeletons and misdeeds. 

I also want to see Roseanne from start to finish now that it’s on Peacock but I watch it on TVLand sometimes. My favorite episode is the one where she goes to Bingo because I too have played Bingo in Catholic churches and that episode is one of the most realistic things I’ve seen on comedy TV. 😂

[anna0852]

Some clips from The Rookie ended up in my YouTube feed and did their job because I just binged six seasons to make sure I got it finished before the seventh one started

[Annber03]

Perfect timing for this thread to pop up - thanks to a friend of mine on another site, I am just now dipping my toes into the world of Star Trek for the first time ever. Up to now I'd just been familiar with that franchise through pop culture osmosis, I'd never watched any of the series.

But then my friend recently showed me the episode "The Wire" from Deep Space Nine and I really liked it a lot, so good and tense and poignant. And then, coincidentally, the Heroes & Icons channel started back around to the beginning with their reruns of that series last week. So I've started properly watching that show as a result, and I'm quite enjoying it thus far and love all the characters already. I've heard a lot of good things about how the series progresses, too, so that has me even more excited to see what's to come. 

(That friend also showed me the "Tapestry" episode of TNG, which was also good, so I'll likely check out that series sometime down the line as well.)

[Anduin]

3 hours ago, Annber03 said:

Perfect timing for this thread to pop up - thanks to a friend of mine on another site, I am just now dipping my toes into the world of Star Trek for the first time ever. Up to now I'd just been familiar with that franchise through pop culture osmosis, I'd never watched any of the series.

But then my friend recently showed me the episode "The Wire" from Deep Space Nine and I really liked it a lot, so good and tense and poignant. And then, coincidentally, the Heroes & Icons channel started back around to the beginning with their reruns of that series last week. So I've started properly watching that show as a result, and I'm quite enjoying it thus far and love all the characters already. I've heard a lot of good things about how the series progresses, too, so that has me even more excited to see what's to come. 

(That friend also showed me the "Tapestry" episode of TNG, which was also good, so I'll likely check out that series sometime down the line as well.)

You're in for a treat! Though keep in mind, while Trek tries to be progressive with its social values, it's still of its time and still screws up now and then.

[Annber03]

45 minutes ago, Anduin said:

You're in for a treat! Though keep in mind, while Trek tries to be progressive with its social values, it's still of its time and still screws up now and then.

Ha, ah, yeah, I figured as much :p. I've got a lot of older shows I like that are like that, though, so I can deal. But indeed, the show does give off a slight "Twlight Zone" vibe to me in some ways, in terms of how they touch on various themes and issues, which is probably one reason I'm liking it so much thus far. I really like the political intrigue and the whole "rebuilding in the wake of a war" setup and the issues around where one's loyalties lie and whatnot (one reason of many that "Wire" episode was so good, given the way it touched on some of that stuff*). I just really like how this ensemble is learning to gel and the various dynamics among the crew and so forth. 

*(On a significantly more shallow note, also helps that I've developed a big time crush on Dr. Bashir. It's remarkable how quickly I went from, "Oh, he's kind of cute" to "I want to marry him" within the span of watching "The Wire", LOL XD. His whole thing with Garak is great as well - I know that's a big ship in that fandom and I am fully on board with it now as well D.)

[Raja]

5 hours ago, Annber03 said:

Perfect timing for this thread to pop up - thanks to a friend of mine on another site, I am just now dipping my toes into the world of Star Trek for the first time ever. Up to now I'd just been familiar with that franchise through pop culture osmosis, I'd never watched any of the series.

But then my friend recently showed me the episode "The Wire" from Deep Space Nine and I really liked it a lot, so good and tense and poignant. And then, coincidentally, the Heroes & Icons channel started back around to the beginning with their reruns of that series last week. So I've started properly watching that show as a result, and I'm quite enjoying it thus far and love all the characters already. I've heard a lot of good things about how the series progresses, too, so that has me even more excited to see what's to come. 

(That friend also showed me the "Tapestry" episode of TNG, which was also good, so I'll likely check out that series sometime down the line as well.)

Welcome to the Trekkie family 

[Annber03]

2 minutes ago, Raja said:

Welcome to the Trekkie family 

It's fun getting into this world - I think the franchise just seemed so vast and had been going so long that I felt a bit overwhelmed about jumping in for so long (this is also my feeling regarding anything Star Wars, or superhero stuff, or "Doctor Who" :p). 

But yeah, it's nice to finally get into one of these kinds of bigger franchises and see what they're all about. 

[Trini]

2 hours ago, Anduin said:

You're in for a treat! Though keep in mind, while Trek tries to be progressive with its social values, it's still of its time and still screws up now and then.

Oy, there are definitely some clunkers in TNG.

But yes, welcome to Star Trek!

[Raja]

1 minute ago, Trini said:

Oy, there are definitely some clunkers in TNG.

But yes, welcome to Star Trek!

Well all 5 of Treks have their own clunkers.

[Babalu06]

I’m so grateful for streaming platforms! I’m watching for the first time:

•  The Americans - almost done with Season 2
• The Good Wife - almost done with Season 1
• The West Wing - only 5 episodes in; it disappeared from MAX after I’d seen 4 episodes but thankfully reappeared a week or so later

[Kerri]

Ah the Good Wife. I liked it until it sucked tremendously. Kalinda/Archie ftw. 

Everything I watch is behind. I'm in season 2 of Derry Girls- love it. And I just started Line of Duty, the Brit show. Good so far.

Edited January 19 by cleo

[Cloud9Shopper]

I’m also a first time West Wing watcher!  I kinda zoned out during episodes 4 and 5 because I was a bit tired, but other than that, I’m really enjoying it. Great cast and really authentic feel. 

[Haleth]

If you enjoy The Good Wife continue with The Good Fight. I love Christine Baranski. 

[proserpina65]

On 3/7/2024 at 7:09 PM, meep.meep said:

I love Red Dwarf and hate Dr. Who!

 

I love Red Dwarf up until they brought Kochanski in.  She ruined everything.  And I love classic Doctor Who and rebooted Who through the end of Peter Capaldi's run.  Haven't watched since.

On 1/19/2025 at 2:16 AM, Annber03 said:

*(On a significantly more shallow note, also helps that I've developed a big time crush on Dr. Bashir. It's remarkable how quickly I went from, "Oh, he's kind of cute" to "I want to marry him" within the span of watching "The Wire", LOL XD.

I get you.  Although I hate the Garak shipping.  I think they make just the coolest best friends ever.

[BlueSkies]

Just finished The Sopranos.

 

3 of 4 stars for me.  Solid series overall but didn't like the ending.  A little on the overrated side though.  

[Trini]

6 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

I love Red Dwarf up until they brought Kochanski in.  She ruined everything. 

I don't think she ruined 'everything', but bringing her in didn't really add much at all, and messed with some of the dynamics in a bad way. My other thoughts are in the Red Dwarf topic.

[Annber03]

20 hours ago, proserpina65 said:

I get you.  Although I hate the Garak shipping.  I think they make just the coolest best friends ever.

Ha, eh, yeah I can see where the ship might not be everyone's bag. This is the first time I can  recall ever shipping an interspecies pairing, so that's an entertaining development in my shipping history XD.

Their friendship is nice, too, though, for sure. And yeah, I look at Bashir and then I look at some of the other fictional TV characters I crush on/have crushed on and it is very clear I have a type, LOL. Smart/nerdy/overconfident/overeager, super awkward and prone to putting their foot in their mouth, but they also mean well and are generally decent at their core? I'm in :D. 

Edited January 23 by Annber03

[BlueSkies]

Two and a Half Men I recently started digging into.

 

Pretty funny/solid.  I never was interested in it when it was still on TV.

 

I'm always a person though that's been a little behind with what's popular 

[Annber03]

15 minutes ago, BlueSkies said:

I'm always a person though that's been a little behind with what's popular 

Man, if this isn't me...:p. I'm more amazed when I do happen to watch a popular show at the same time as everyone else. For whatever reason I'm often late to the party with this sort of thing. 

But hey, better late than never, and all that, so...

[Cloud9Shopper]

Just started watching the show Mom last night. I was looking for a new sitcom after finishing at least my third or fourth watch of The Golden Girls, and this one hits the spot. I laughed most of the pilot. 

I’ve also been enjoying Allison Janney in The West Wing so it’s nice to see what she can do in a sitcom. She was brilliant as usual. 

[Anela]

I've started and stopped several, and it has nothing to do with the shows. I keep starting Buffy, and then I don't get past the first few episodes. Same with The Wire, Deadwood, etc. I think I got eleven episodes into The Sopranos, which my mum watched when it aired. 

On 3/16/2025 at 4:34 PM, Annber03 said:

Man, if this isn't me...:p. I'm more amazed when I do happen to watch a popular show at the same time as everyone else. For whatever reason I'm often late to the party with this sort of thing. 

But hey, better late than never, and all that, so...

That's another one: Ghosts. Both the English and American versions. I started both, and didn't get very far, even though I liked them. 

[Dimity]

Two British shows that people I know watch and love - Call the Midwife and All Creatures Great and Small (the new version) - are ones I just never got around to watching and now that I want to I don't want to start in the middle so I've got to scout around and find a way to watch them from the beginning.  Not unsolvable, definitely a first world problem, but I miss the days when you could easily purchase every season of a long running series at a reasonable price and be done with it!

[badhaggis]

56 minutes ago, Cloud9Shopper said:

Just started watching the show Mom last night. I was looking for a new sitcom after finishing at least my third or fourth watch of The Golden Girls, and this one hits the spot. I laughed most of the pilot. 

I’ve also been enjoying Allison Janney in The West Wing so it’s nice to see what she can do in a sitcom. She was brilliant as usual. 

Allison Janney is amazing. I really don't think there is any role she cannot absolutely nail.

[Annber03]

2 hours ago, Anela said:

That's another one: Ghosts. Both the English and American versions. I started both, and didn't get very far, even though I liked them. 

I'm glad you have liked what you did see :)! I hope you continue to enjoy both shows if and when you do get back to watching them again. 

[Bastet]

On 5/5/2025 at 12:47 PM, Cloud9Shopper said:

Just started watching the show Mom last night. I was looking for a new sitcom after finishing at least my third or fourth watch of The Golden Girls, and this one hits the spot. I laughed most of the pilot. 

I’ve also been enjoying Allison Janney in The West Wing so it’s nice to see what she can do in a sitcom. She was brilliant as usual. 

I'd seen her do comedy in movies (she is particularly hilarious in Drop Dead Gorgeous) and loved the short-lived Mr. Sunshine, so when Mom materialized I was really excited to see her do a live audience sitcom, given her extensive theatre background.  I wound up loving the show, because it mines a wide variety of material, some of it really dark, for comedy.  I recently got an urge to do a full series re-watch, but it's not on anything I have and the DVDs have issues where some episodes have skips or won't play at all (as so many Warner Bros. DVDs do, so I don't know what the hell their problem is).

Edited May 7 by Bastet

[chitowngirl]

3 hours ago, Dimity said:

Two British shows that people I know watch and love - Call the Midwife and All Creatures Great and Small (the new version) - are ones I just never got around to watching and now that I want to I don't want to start in the middle so I've got to scout around and find a way to watch them from the beginning.  Not unsolvable, definitely a first world problem, but I miss the days when you could easily purchase every season of a long running series at a reasonable price and be done with it!

Maybe your library has the DVDs?

3 hours ago, Dimity said:

Two British shows that people I know watch and love - Call the Midwife and All Creatures Great and Small (the new version) - are ones I just never got around to watching and now that I want to I don't want to start in the middle so I've got to scout around and find a way to watch them from the beginning.  Not unsolvable, definitely a first world problem, but I miss the days when you could easily purchase every season of a long running series at a reasonable price and be done with it!

Maybe your library has the DVDs?

[possibilities]

For a while I was watching shows from the 1960s and 1970s-- some can actually be found on YouTube. I find I actually liked some of them more than some of the current stuff. There seemed to be a more honest take on social issues back then, and also I don't think any of the shows I found had love triangles, which seem to be a staple of current TV. I hate love triangles!

It's not true across the board, of course. But I was surprised at how much of it actually seems to have aged fairly well.

[Vermicious Knid]

Quote

Two British shows that people I know watch and love - Call the Midwife and All Creatures Great and Small (the new version) - are ones I just never got around to watching and now that I want to I don't want to start in the middle so I've got to scout around and find a way to watch them from the beginning.  

If you become a member of your local PBS station you will have access to their streaming service PBS Passport, which has the full series of both those shows. Along with many, many more. Each station has their own membership requirements but it's usually as little as $5 a month. And it will be supporting a good cause, what with the government trying to shut down public media.

[Anela]

5 hours ago, Annber03 said:

I'm glad you have liked what you did see :)! I hope you continue to enjoy both shows if and when you do get back to watching them again. 

Thank you.  :) I need to watch things that might help get me into a better head space.  Last year, on my birthday, I started Resident Alien, finally, and loved it.  I need to get back to Schitt’s Creek, too.  

Edited May 6 by Anela

[Annber03]

"Ghosts" is definitely a good pick-me-up, for sure :D. That term "comfort show" - I would say that series definitely qualifies as that for me. 

I've heard good things about "Resident Alien" and "Schitt's Creek", I should check those out someday. 

[AheadofStraight]

17 hours ago, Dimity said:

Two British shows that people I know watch and love - Call the Midwife and All Creatures Great and Small (the new version) - are ones I just never got around to watching and now that I want to I don't want to start in the middle so I've got to scout around and find a way to watch them from the beginning.  Not unsolvable, definitely a first world problem, but I miss the days when you could easily purchase every season of a long running series at a reasonable price and be done with it!

If you have Netflix, there are 13 seasons there of Call the Midwife so it is only missing the currently running season. 

[Bastet]

16 hours ago, Annber03 said:

"Schitt's Creek", I should check those out someday. 

If you don't like it after the first couple of episodes, keep going and only quit if you still don't like it after a couple more.  I saw numerous posters here say that and when I finally watched it, indeed, it took me quite a few episodes to get into it.  I wound up falling head over heels in love with the show - it's wacky and funny, but it has a ton of heart to it which was an unexpected, lovely surprise - and was thankful I'd taken that advice.

[EtheltoTillie]

On 5/5/2025 at 4:07 PM, Dimity said:

Two British shows that people I know watch and love - Call the Midwife and All Creatures Great and Small (the new version) - are ones I just never got around to watching and now that I want to I don't want to start in the middle so I've got to scout around and find a way to watch them from the beginning.  Not unsolvable, definitely a first world problem, but I miss the days when you could easily purchase every season of a long running series at a reasonable price and be done with it!

You can watch those on PBS passport as someone else noted.  Oh, well. 

2 hours ago, Bastet said:

If you don't like it after the first couple of episodes, keep going and only quit if you still don't like it after a couple more.  I saw numerous posters here say that and when I finally watched it, indeed, it took me quite a few episodes to get into it.  I wound up falling head over heels in love with the show - it's wacky and funny, but it has a ton of heart to it which was an unexpected, lovely surprise - and was thankful I'd taken that advice.

Everybody says that!  I have not gotten past the two episodes yet. 

Edited May 6 by EtheltoTillie

[Shannon L.]

It took me four episodes to start really enjoying Schitt's Creek, too.  This was several weeks after barely making it through episode one.  But, my kids kept on watching it and, when they were done with the series, came back and told me that I should try again and give it through episode 4. They were right.  I just loved it.