In search of movie/TV recommendations given nebulous parameters!
September 14, 2020 6:46 AM Subscribe
Hi Mefites! I am seeking your recommendations for TV/movies to watch while the pandemic rages on. I am open to anything, really, but my taste is pretty idiosyncratic and since I don't watch a lot of stuff I'm not good at defining it. See more details of what I've liked and disliked inside.
Pretty much the sum total of TV/movies I have really liked in the past decade: I May Destroy You, The Wire, Russian Doll, The Baby-Sitters Club, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Half of It, Shrill, The Night Of, most of Studio Ghibli
Things I've loved in the past: Bored to Death, Annie Hall (sorry), Little Miss Sunshine, Utena
Things I have tried to watch and thought I'd probably like and could not get into: BoJack Horseman, The Good Place, Normal People (I did like the book), Booksmart, Lady Bird
Concepts I know I don't like: horror, gratuitous gore, mean-spirited humor
Pretty much the sum total of TV/movies I have really liked in the past decade: I May Destroy You, The Wire, Russian Doll, The Baby-Sitters Club, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Half of It, Shrill, The Night Of, most of Studio Ghibli
Things I've loved in the past: Bored to Death, Annie Hall (sorry), Little Miss Sunshine, Utena
Things I have tried to watch and thought I'd probably like and could not get into: BoJack Horseman, The Good Place, Normal People (I did like the book), Booksmart, Lady Bird
Concepts I know I don't like: horror, gratuitous gore, mean-spirited humor
We have similar tastes! This jumps immediately to mind, I’ll have to think of anything else.
Palm Springs (movie on Hulu, don’t read too much about it, though I would equate it most to Russian Doll of things you’ve liked)
posted by wsquared at 7:46 AM on September 14, 2020 [2 favorites]
Palm Springs (movie on Hulu, don’t read too much about it, though I would equate it most to Russian Doll of things you’ve liked)
posted by wsquared at 7:46 AM on September 14, 2020 [2 favorites]
Based on your list, Fleabag
posted by Mchelly at 7:49 AM on September 14, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 7:49 AM on September 14, 2020 [7 favorites]
Give Glow (Netflix) and Remy (Hulu) a try.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:59 AM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ChuraChura at 7:59 AM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
And if you like Fleabag as recommended by Mchelly, try Crashing.
posted by wwartorff at 8:09 AM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by wwartorff at 8:09 AM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Recent films:
The Farewell
The Favourite
Shoplifters
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
I haven't watched it yet but a few people have recommended The Great
TV shows that are somewhat violent with some gore, but if you are OK with The Wire they might be OK:
Killing Eve
The Sopranos
Legion
Fargo (TV series. The seasons are self contained, I think season 3 is the best).
posted by riddley at 8:10 AM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Farewell
The Favourite
Shoplifters
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
I haven't watched it yet but a few people have recommended The Great
TV shows that are somewhat violent with some gore, but if you are OK with The Wire they might be OK:
Killing Eve
The Sopranos
Legion
Fargo (TV series. The seasons are self contained, I think season 3 is the best).
posted by riddley at 8:10 AM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Great
The Americans
Search Party
Little Fires Everywhere
Guilt
Better Call Saul
posted by Obscure Reference at 8:46 AM on September 14, 2020
The Americans
Search Party
Little Fires Everywhere
Guilt
Better Call Saul
posted by Obscure Reference at 8:46 AM on September 14, 2020
The Woman Called Fujiko Mine
I enjoyed Utena and this anime similarly plays with and questions tropes about female characters. It's also a lot of fun. You don't need to know anything about the Lupin-verse to enjoy it.
posted by airmail at 9:02 AM on September 14, 2020
I enjoyed Utena and this anime similarly plays with and questions tropes about female characters. It's also a lot of fun. You don't need to know anything about the Lupin-verse to enjoy it.
posted by airmail at 9:02 AM on September 14, 2020
Princess Tutu has ghibli-level gentleness and, even though it doesn't really deal with gender like Utena does, somehow I associate the two shows in my mind; there are a lot of thematic similarities between them and neither one ends up where its setup points at first.
posted by trig at 9:51 AM on September 14, 2020
posted by trig at 9:51 AM on September 14, 2020
Scrolling through your likes, and many of what's already suggested, looks like my "continue/rewatch" category on Netflix. So maybe...
Hilda also has a Ghibli-level of gentleness. There's a full season.
Same goes for Rilakkuma and Kaoru, if you're comfortable with subtitles.
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories, also subtitled.
Animated - Song of the Sea, (also The Secret of Kells) - very Ghibli-like both of them.
Also Mary & The Witch's Flower - creator used to work with Ghibli.
posted by librarianamy at 10:11 AM on September 14, 2020
Hilda also has a Ghibli-level of gentleness. There's a full season.
Same goes for Rilakkuma and Kaoru, if you're comfortable with subtitles.
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories, also subtitled.
Animated - Song of the Sea, (also The Secret of Kells) - very Ghibli-like both of them.
Also Mary & The Witch's Flower - creator used to work with Ghibli.
posted by librarianamy at 10:11 AM on September 14, 2020
Because you liked Russian Doll:
Maniac
Forever
After seeing them recommended many times, I watched Fleabag and The Great, despite knowing very little about them, and ended up loving them, so I'd say give them a try.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:14 AM on September 14, 2020
Maniac
Forever
After seeing them recommended many times, I watched Fleabag and The Great, despite knowing very little about them, and ended up loving them, so I'd say give them a try.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:14 AM on September 14, 2020
Gilmore Girls? Sweet and quirky.
posted by jabes at 11:20 AM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by jabes at 11:20 AM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
2nd vote for Legion (Season 1 is a masterpiece)
2nd vote for Maniac ( I watched it twice in a row back to back that just doesn't happen)
1000 votes for Hilda (which I am recommending all the time to everyone forever)
posted by Horkus at 11:33 AM on September 14, 2020
2nd vote for Maniac ( I watched it twice in a row back to back that just doesn't happen)
1000 votes for Hilda (which I am recommending all the time to everyone forever)
posted by Horkus at 11:33 AM on September 14, 2020
Nthing The Great and Fleabag.
Maybe try Unbelievable (Netflix)--it's true crime and the women's performances are incredible. If you're of the right age, Cobra Kai (Netflix) might hit a lovely nostalgia spot. I'm finally catching up with Underground (Hulu) and liking it a lot.
posted by TwoStride at 11:39 AM on September 14, 2020
Maybe try Unbelievable (Netflix)--it's true crime and the women's performances are incredible. If you're of the right age, Cobra Kai (Netflix) might hit a lovely nostalgia spot. I'm finally catching up with Underground (Hulu) and liking it a lot.
posted by TwoStride at 11:39 AM on September 14, 2020
Oh! You may also like Tuca and Bertie?
posted by ChuraChura at 12:07 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ChuraChura at 12:07 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you liked Bored to Death, I'd recommend Blunt Talk and Lodge 49. And maybe Terriers (thought that's pretty different from the others).
posted by taltalim at 12:21 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by taltalim at 12:21 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Freaks and Geeks
posted by vitout at 12:22 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by vitout at 12:22 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Wire
Bodyguard (the one with Richard Madden)
Russian Doll
Dispatches from Elsewhere
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Vita & Virginia
most of Studio Ghibli
Anything by Makoto Shinkai, also some Satoshi Kon such as Paprika, Millennium Actress
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 1:20 PM on September 14, 2020
Bodyguard (the one with Richard Madden)
Russian Doll
Dispatches from Elsewhere
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Vita & Virginia
most of Studio Ghibli
Anything by Makoto Shinkai, also some Satoshi Kon such as Paprika, Millennium Actress
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 1:20 PM on September 14, 2020
Based off the dramedy feel of your list, I think you might like the tv show Love (Netflix).
posted by Champagne Supernova at 2:44 PM on September 14, 2020
posted by Champagne Supernova at 2:44 PM on September 14, 2020
It may be a little low-brow for you since it was on network TV, but I loved The Good Wife and from your list I am getting a blend of "strong female characters/feminist ethos" and "realistic crime/legal procedurals" and Good Wife is right there in that sweet spot.
posted by zeusianfog at 4:16 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by zeusianfog at 4:16 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Oh Oh OH! Two completely underappreciated Australian series: Rake, and there are five (5!) seasons to love. Also, Wanted and you're going to love Lola and Chelsea. Both on Netflix I think.
posted by lois1950 at 11:39 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by lois1950 at 11:39 PM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you all; I will check these out!
posted by ferret branca at 6:33 AM on September 15, 2020
posted by ferret branca at 6:33 AM on September 15, 2020
Second Better Call Saul, love Rectify, Dead to Me, Babylon Berlin (in German)
posted by Singout at 3:29 PM on October 12, 2020
posted by Singout at 3:29 PM on October 12, 2020
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posted by lunasol at 6:51 AM on September 14, 2020 [1 favorite]