Netflix

[Leothebear]

Having subscribed for 6 months I am now fast coming to the conclusion that Netflix is 95% sh1te. Which I could tolerate if I could easily find the other 5%. Are there any reliable guides to help me?

[vrdiver]

One man's sh1te etc.

Can you name any stuff you like, or actors who you would watch without knowing what the programme was about, simply because they were in it?

If rummaging around on Netflix for something to watch, I'll often look up an actor to see what else they have done, or a director that I like (or have just enjoyed something else by them).

VRD

[SalvorHardin]

Find online reviews of things that you have seen and liked. Then look at other reviews by the same reviewer for ideas. There's a good chance that you'll find something.

A few ideas, based on my experience and that of friends (for reference, my favourite shows are Justified, Hill Street Blues, Babylon 5, Peaky Blinders, 19-2, China Beach and Midsomer Murders). Chances are if you like some of these you'll like some of the shows listed below:

The Queen's Gambit - chess based drama in 1960s

The Witcher - swords and sorcery

The English Game - drama about the early years of professional football

Star Trek : Discovery (but only series 1). Star Trek where almost everyone has a dark secret, where early on one of the characters is sent to a Federation penal colony for life for mutiny. It's as if the Babylon 5 writers wrote the scripts.

Cricket Fever: Mumbai Indians. Indian Premier League cricket fly on the wall documentary. A must watch if you like T20

Cursed - new twist on Arthurian legend

Sacred Games (only series 1). Indian crime drama

Timeless - time travel drama. Not as good as Spain's "El Ministerio del Tiempo" (which it "borrowed") but Netflix no longer have this

Wanted - Australian drama. Two women with very different backgrounds witness a murder whilst waiting at the bus stop for the trip to work. They have to go on the run from the police, crooked police and gangsters

Bad Blood. French-Canadian gangsters (again, only series 1)

[servodude]

95% shite is probably about right - still puts it far ahead of any broadcast channel I know though

I try and make use of the "MyList" in Netflix
- if they advertise something that I think I'll like or I read about something elsewhere and it's on Netflix I'll add it there so as not to have to look for it later (there's generally a + button on any thumbnail or description to make this easy)

I use https://www.justwatch.com/ to find out where something I want to see is streaming
- I'm not adverse to using a VPN to access content from other domains; Netflix seem happy for this to happen, Amazon no so

If it's a case of just browsing for something - the New & Popular section can be a worthwhile start
- but I really try to avoid the situation where I'm in front of the TV and having to decide what to watch


- sd

[Itsallaguess]

Are there any reliable guides to help me?

Give Squid Game a go.

Series 1 has just started -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqxAJKy0ii4

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[servodude]

Are there any reliable guides to help me?

Give Squid Game a go.

Series 1 has just started -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqxAJKy0ii4

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

We're very much enjoying it (5 episodes in in 3 days)
- but I can see how it might not be for everyone

- sd

[Leothebear]

Appreciate the tips! Thanks all for taking the time to advise.

[terminal7]

Well worth watching are the first three series of Fargo - based broadly on Fargo the Coen Bros film. Series 1 is particularly good - the other 2 well worth catching. Some great acting in series 1 from Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton.

Warning - the humour is very dark and not for the sensitive.

T7

FYI - series 4 is on Channel 4.

[BobbyD]

Are there any reliable guides to help me?

Give Squid Game a go.

Series 1 has just started -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqxAJKy0ii4

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

If squid games is a go then Alice in Borderland is likely to appeal.
Fauda, Dark, Money Heist.

Russian Doll, Altered Carbon, Snowpiercer (TV series), The OA

Dead to me, Good Girls, Rita

The Sinner, Marecella

[AF62]

If you can accept subtitles or (the work of the devil) dubbing, there are quite a few enjoyable foreign language shows. Off the top of my head -
Call my Agent
Lupin
Suburb: Blood in Rome
Money Heist
Drug Squad, Costa del Sol
Occupied
Lilyhammer
A Very Secret Service

[Gerry557]

I found I spent more time looking what to watch than watching.

I also use the + button to add things I fancy. Avforums usually has a what's new for "x month" which is much quicker than clicking around inside Netflix. I think they also cover other providers.

Have you tried the BBC or ITV. There is only 1% but it must be better cos it costs more.

There is strictly come dancing tonight. I put it in the 99% pile but the boss really likes it.

[nimnarb]

Are there any reliable guides to help me?

Give Squid Game a go.

Series 1 has just started -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqxAJKy0ii4

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

We're very much enjoying it (5 episodes in in 3 days)
- but I can see how it might not be for everyone

- sd

Hmmm. I know its just a film but this is just sick and not very nice at all. You are right, its not for everyone. Sad world we live in. Not a criticism of comments made by others, just a personal view point but then I am getting old. Does remind me somehow of "The Prisoner" with Patric McGoohan but don't know why. I'll get my coat.

[servodude]

Give Squid Game a go.

Series 1 has just started -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqxAJKy0ii4

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

We're very much enjoying it (5 episodes in in 3 days)
- but I can see how it might not be for everyone

- sd

Hmmm. I know its just a film but this is just sick and not very nice at all. You are right, its not for everyone. Sad world we live in. Not a criticism of comments made by others, just a personal view point but then I am getting old. Does remind me somehow of "The Prisoner" with Patric McGoohan but don't know why. I'll get my coat.

I was apprehensive going in to it because I've seen it done before and not always well

having finished it now, I'd probably say I appreciated it more than enjoyed it
- I do think this did manage to strike a balance between nasty/gratuitous and thought provoking (but there were times I wasn't sure it was going to)
- It's provoked a bit of discussion in the house.... and it's cost me a frying pan

The Prisoner was among the references I picked up also

-sd

[GoSeigen]

We're very much enjoying it (5 episodes in in 3 days)
- but I can see how it might not be for everyone

- sd

Hmmm. I know its just a film but this is just sick and not very nice at all. You are right, its not for everyone. Sad world we live in. Not a criticism of comments made by others, just a personal view point but then I am getting old. Does remind me somehow of "The Prisoner" with Patric McGoohan but don't know why. I'll get my coat.

I was apprehensive going in to it because I've seen it done before and not always well

having finished it now, I'd probably say I appreciated it more than enjoyed it
- I do think this did manage to strike a balance between nasty/gratuitous and thought provoking (but there were times I wasn't sure it was going to)
- It's provoked a bit of discussion in the house.... and it's cost me a frying pan

The Prisoner was among the references I picked up also

-sd

Only seen one episode so far. First impressions: it's reminiscent of the Kinji Fukasaku cult film Battle Royale (2000) [バットル　ロワイアル], with the second half evoking all sorts of references: the Holocaust, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Tarkovsky's Solaris and The Matrix.

I'm not sure where it's going but enjoyed it and will continue watching.

GS

[redsturgeon]

I am watching it and there are moments in it the are very moving and poignant. The marble game in particular set up at least three very different thought provoking scenarios between the players. I was actually moved to tears.

Yes the violence is extreme at times and difficult to watch and I can completely understand how some might find it "sick" but underneath I believe it has some important messages.

John