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* It seems like everybody I know is raving about the Showtime series “Billions.” I have Showtime, but I’ve never watched that program. Have you? Also, do you have any other binge-watching recommendations for others?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:39 pm
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“Call the Midwife” is great. It guides the viewer thru various societal transformations, especially, not exclusively, for women.
Comment by Sarah Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:45 pm
I saw the first 5 or so episodes of Billions, it was OK but didn’t really grab me. I really liked “Altered Carbon” on Netflix, if you like Sci-Fi/Action/Noir, watched all of it in like 2 days.
Comment by Perrid Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:46 pm
The Netflix series Narcos and Easy are both great, and Easy has Chicago flair. Letterman’s new Netflix show is awesome too but there isn’t enough of it to binge watch yet
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:46 pm
Billions! Yes!
Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:47 pm
Other than “Dad’s Home State”?
“Lethal Weapon” - TV series… popcorn fun
“LA to Vegas” - TV series … short silly fun
“Assasination of Gianni Versace” - Short series… gets a bit artsy
“The Ranch” - Netflix… “That 70’s Show” meets Colorado ranchin’
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:49 pm
Ozark on Netflix. I’m anxiously awaiting season 2.
Comment by Because I said so.... Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:52 pm
AMC- McMafia (Russian Mob Operating in Europe)
Netflix- Ozarks (Breaking Bad meets Deliverance)
Comment by Memo From Turner Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:52 pm
HBO’s Westworld season 2 just started. Best show on tv.
Comment by Maxfaxington Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:53 pm
Better Call Saul
The Crown
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:53 pm
I’ll second Westworld as well
Comment by Perrid Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:55 pm
Yes. Absolutely.
“The Crown” - Netflix… the cost per episode shows on the screen
“Ozark” - Netflix… starts terribly slow, but it’s worth sticking it out
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:56 pm
If you’re not watching “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, you’re missing the chance to visually experience Manhattan, circa 1958.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 3:57 pm
Barry on HBO. Westworld, as others have rightfully mentioned. For the sci-fi fans, The Expanse on SyFy. Wild, Wild Country on Netflix.
Comment by SinkingShip Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:00 pm
Billions is a fantastic show. Great writing. And unlike most shows it’s actually gotten better. This 3rd season is best yet. It would be difficult, but not impossible, to get into now. But catching up from beginning highly recommended.
This scene from a couple of weeks ago with 2 of the main characters eating Ortolan (a small songbird) is kinda the show in a nutshell. And yes, eating Ortolan like this is a real thing. You can thank the French.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7fLsPWSZ7U
Comment by Chris P. Bacon Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:03 pm
never watched that one.
the ones i have binge watched and would recommend are breaking bad, the wire and game of thrones. not new by any means but if you haven’t seen any, i highly recommend all of them
Comment by SalukiCU Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:06 pm
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” - Netflix… best way to describe it? Campy
“True Detective” - HBO… stand alone seasons, some real choice writing and acting.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:08 pm
Netflix-Ozark (c’mon season 2)
Fox-The Resident and LA to Vegas (different take on medical drama and a good, silly, comedy)
FX-The Americans (very overlooked)
NBC-Chicago Med and Chicago Fire (it’s in Chicago)
ABC-Gray’s Anatomy (love my Shonda)
A&E-Live PD (guilty pleasure and occasionally hilarious)
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:08 pm
Prime - Goliath (Billy Bob Thornton) & Tin Star (Tim Roth)
Netflix - Ozark
Comment by Spliff Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:09 pm
Barry on HBO may be my favorite new show of the past several years, essentially a reverse Breaking Bad with a mix of laughs and some real pathos.
Agree with others on Westworld. Second season has been a nice improvement on what already was a really good first season.
Comment by Treefiddy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:11 pm
Oops, forgot to answer the question. Yes, I do watch “Billions.” It’s a great watch, but some of the fine points of the hedge fund business aren’t exactly spot-on.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:12 pm
==Better Call Saul==
I never got around to watching “Breaking Bad” yet BCS is still one of my favorite shows.
I’m not into the Marvel Universe either, but I recommend Legion for a trippy, cinematic ride.
Halt and Catch Fire concluded a great, brief run.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:12 pm
The Man in the High Castle (SyFy) What if Germany and Japan won WWII and split the United States Between them?
House of Cards: What we thought was fictional corruption doesn’t begin to compare to the real thing.
Comment by Aldyth Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:12 pm
Correction. The Man in the High Castle is an Amazon production, not SyFy.
Comment by Aldyth Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:14 pm
The new Karate Kid sequel Cobra Kai on YouTube(Red). In terms of character development and story, it might actually be better than the 80’s classic.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:15 pm
Schitt’s Creek (hope the filter lets this through)
Downton Abbey (finally getting to it–it’s great)
Bloodline (first 2 seasons are fantastic)
Arrested Development
Veep
Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:16 pm
All seasons of The Americans is on Amazon Prime. Best show on TV right now.
Agree w/Willy on True Detective. Season 1 was amazing. Season 2 was hot garbage.
Comment by Truth Squad Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:17 pm
The docuseries “Wild Wild Country” on Netflix. Crazy stuff.
“Jessica Jones” on Netflix. Dark stuff.
“Brooklyn 99″ on Hulu. Funny stuff.
“Buckets” on Hulu? Netflix? Louis Anderson is a national treasure.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:18 pm
Billions is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. I am always entertained. It’s like watching Moby Dick where both protagonists are both Moby Dick and Captain Ahab
Other great binges: The Wire, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul
Comment by ILPundit Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:20 pm
Atlanta on FX
Comment by Holden Caulfield Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:21 pm
I second Atlanta.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:21 pm
Absolutely agree on The Americans. Probably in contention for pantheon status as an all time great
Comment by ILPundit Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:22 pm
For sci fi buffs…
The Expanse - gritty sci find. Season 1and 2 on Amazon Prime.
The Lost in Space reboot on Netflix is pretty good also.
Westworld of course
Comment by setec astronomy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:31 pm
Billions is guilty pleasure
As for binges:
-Peaky Blinders (Netflix)
-The Wire (HBO)
-Deadwood (HBO)
-Mindhunter (Netflix)
Comment by Northside City Dweller Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:32 pm
Agree on Westworld, the Man in the High Castle, and The Americans. Game of Thrones, duh.
For the commenter who noted Brooklyn Nine Nine, it just got cancelled this afternoon.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:39 pm
Borgia on Netflix!
Very enlightening!!
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:39 pm
Billions is well worth binging.
Comment by Nieva Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:42 pm
The Americans
Ozark
The Leftovers (ended last year)
Comment by Decatur 5 Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:46 pm
GLOW with Marc Maron is great. Also LOVE, by Judd Apatow, if you like a modern, edgy rom com.
Comment by HCMcB Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:51 pm
Sneaky Pete & Man in the High Castle on Amazon are both very good.
Comment by Interim Retiree Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 4:53 pm
Billions this season is high drama. good.
The Chi. wonderful acting
Men in Blazers (if you can find episodes. hilarious. soccer & more)
blackish it’s just spectacular and meaningful
Brooklyn 99 cause more laughter and Andre Braugher
Comment by Amalia Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:01 pm
Billions, yes! Amazing writing, twists, and acting.
The Circus, a docuseries with Heileman, McKinnon, and Wagner (replaced Halperin), paints the crazy national political scene.
Homeland — way too close to reality, and great writing and acting.
Comment by Diogenes in DuPage Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:15 pm
Santa Clarita Diet — starring Drew Barrymore & Timothy Olyphant. Best way to describe it as a cross between Bewitched and Dexter. Laugh out loud funny.
Comment by Front Porch in Edwardsville Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:18 pm
Assasination of Gianni Versace- actor who plays Andrew Cunnan should clean up during award season. **Illinois** angle… episode 2 about Lee Miglin, has a scene at a Jim Edgar fundraiser.
Wild, Wild Country- federal, state, local all overreach. Cultists into extremists, everyone is in the wrong which makes it a good docuseries.
Comment by Anon Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:28 pm
Westworld is definitely good.
If you haven’t watched BBCs Sherlock Holmes you must.
Comment by Ron Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:29 pm
Another plug for The Americans. Fantastic.
One I did not see mentioned — Black Mirror on Netflix. Don’t let S1E1 (potentially) turn you off to it. All standalone episodes. It’s trite at this point, but a modern day Twilight Zone of sorts. Though less an alternate reality, and more a frightening glimpse into a not-too-distant future reality. It has some truly mesmerizing episodes.
Finally, and I’m re-binging this now on Netflix — Arrested Development. I think it’s the funniest show I’ve seen in the last 20 years, and it is just as good the second run through, probably for all the new things you notice. Crying laughing funny.
Comment by Griffin Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:48 pm
“Doc Martin”, set in Port Isaac, England, is the best….but is coming to a close. Seasons are available on DVD.
Comment by Stumpy's bunker Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 5:49 pm
Have been watching first season of “Into the Badlands” on netflix.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 6:02 pm
Others have already mentioned some of my favorites–The Expanse, Westworld, and Man in the High Castle. I would add to this, if it is available to stream, Penny Dreadful.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 6:09 pm
‘Rake’ an Australia series about a disreputable lawyer on Netflix is incredibly funny, with interesting characters and skewers politics and politicians with equal delight. ‘Babylon Berlin’, also on Netflix is just great television.
Comment by Yves Montand Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 6:36 pm
Anybody that said Westworld was spot on..
Comment by Mouthy Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 8:11 pm
Orange is the New Black on Netflix got me through this long, cold winter. Looking forward to the next season. The end of the last season was quite the cliffhanger. Better Call Saul is tight as well.
Comment by Blago's Hare Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 9:24 pm
Perhaps the biggest sleeper of a series that few talk about, gets relatively high ratings for a show that didn’f get too much hype during its run, but nonetheless grew on my wife and I was “Longmire” (Netflix) - it’s a great crime mystery series set in rural Wyoming with an overarching Cowboys vs Indians theme, but it goes way deeper than that. Longmire explores the very psyche of a deeply-struggling man internally who yet must outwardly play the male archetype role of “strong, silent, and suffering” with uncompromising fidelity.
Some of the lines and plots do admittedly border on “cheesy”, but that is undone easily by Lou Diamond Phillips playing a main character who does not use a single contraction in any line he delivers, from the first to the final episode.
Comment by It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way Thursday, May 10, 18 @ 11:31 pm
Babylon Berlin on Netflix is excellent.
Comment by Res Melius Friday, May 11, 18 @ 6:06 am
Cant help gave up after they pulled House of Cards,…I’m lost in the 1990s looking/watching Bulls game replays, I know the outcome (usually) and it reminds me of happier times. MJ and crew would dominate any team assembled in the last 15 years. Ted Nugents hunting series is curiuosly entertaining though ?
Comment by theCardinal Friday, May 11, 18 @ 8:32 am
Agree with many mentioned above, but didn’t see Hap and Leonard on IFC mentioned. Might be streaming on Hulu or Netflix by now- season three just ended this month . Captures East Texas circa 1980 with all the warts well 👍
Comment by Roadypig Friday, May 11, 18 @ 8:38 am
The Tick on Amazon Prime is an outstanding satire of the superhero genre.
Westworld is also outstanding in a completely different manner as is Game of Thrones.
Comment by SAP Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:07 am
Surprised not to see mention of Bosch on Amazon Prime—based on Michael Connelly detective series starring same character. One of the best in this genre.
Comment by Ken Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:14 am
I agree with other Anon.
If you’re into governments doing ridiculous things and people doing ridiculous things and just over all over the top things that actually happened there is an excellent documentary series on Netflix called “Wild Wild Country”
As a person who was in his youth at the time all of that occurred, and completely unaware of it, it was just amazing.
Comment by Anon Friday, May 11, 18 @ 9:30 am
A previous commenter is spot on that Billions has only gotten better. Giamatti and Damien Lewis are excellent, but so are the supporting cast members. I second Homeland and The Circus, too. Right now, we are enjoying Trust on FX - it’s about Getty and his grandson’s kidnapping. Not sure if you can get it streaming, but Fargo on FX was very good . Arrested Development is sheer brilliance. Looking forward to season 5.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:02 am
Late to the game, but I can’t believe no one said Stranger Things on Netflix. Totally addictive. It’s like X-Files meets Freaks and Geeks.
Comment by Just Lurking Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:14 am
Any Ken Burns series:
Jazz
The War
The Roosevelts
etc.
etc.
You can get the DVDs at the library.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:54 am
And in case you missed it, PBS is rebroadcasting “The Great War” on June 19:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/great-war/
It is outstanding.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Friday, May 11, 18 @ 10:58 am