In search of movie/TV recommendations given nebulous parameters!
September 14, 2020 6:46 AM
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
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
Give Glow (Netflix) and Remy (Hulu) a try.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:59 AM on September 14, 2020
posted by ChuraChura at 7:59 AM on September 14, 2020
And if you like Fleabag as recommended by Mchelly, try Crashing.
posted by wwartorff at 8:09 AM on September 14, 2020
posted by wwartorff at 8:09 AM on September 14, 2020
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
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
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
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
posted by ChuraChura at 12:07 PM on September 14, 2020
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
posted by taltalim at 12:21 PM on September 14, 2020
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
posted by zeusianfog at 4:16 PM on September 14, 2020
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
posted by lois1950 at 11:39 PM on September 14, 2020
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