Did you know this streams on Amazon Instant Video?

[PaloAltoCougar]

Did you watch the version they did on FX last year with Tom Hardy? I missed it but thought it looked really interesting.

I didn't, but I will in the coming week...

So I did, and I was VERY impressed, both negatively and positively. It's on Hulu and doesn’t star Tom Hardy; rather it’s Guy Pearce in the lead role and, other than Andy Serkis as The Ghost of Christmas Past, has no other recognizable stars. It’s overly long (it was a three-part mini-series lasting nearly three hours), but has some very interesting and very different takes, more by far than fany other version I’ve seen. Though still set in the mid-19th Century, it has a lot of 21st Century issues and influences, including more focus on corporate greed, pedophilia, misogyny and Me Too!, the absence of religion (no “God bless us everyone!”), and a few F bombs. Most of the story is focused on why Scrooge became such a terrible person, some of it gut-wrenching. But it’s very well done with several outstanding performances.

The final payoff isn’t as joyous as pretty much any other version, so if you want a quick dose of holiday cheer, do not watch. But if you have the time and inclination for a more brooding look at what turns people bad, give it a try. The final third is the best.

[BigPiney]

So I did, and I was VERY impressed, both negatively and positively. It's on Hulu and doesn’t star Tom Hardy; rather it’s Guy Pearce in the lead role and, other than Andy Serkis as The Ghost of Christmas Past, has no other recognizable stars. It’s overly long (it was a three-part mini-series lasting nearly three hours), but has some very interesting and very different takes, more by far than fany other version I’ve seen. Though still set in the mid-19th Century, it has a lot of 21st Century issues and influences, including more focus on corporate greed, pedophilia, misogyny and Me Too!, the absence of religion (no “God bless us everyone!”), and a few F bombs. Most of the story is focused on why Scrooge became such a terrible person, some of it gut-wrenching. But it’s very well done with several outstanding performances.

The final payoff isn’t as joyous as pretty much any other version, so if you want a quick dose of holiday cheer, do not watch. But if you have the time and inclination for a more brooding look at what turns people bad, give it a try. The final third is the best.

Thank you for returning and reporting. Much appreciated.

[UVACoug]

If you're into Sci Fi at all, I highly recommend The Expanse on Amazon Prime. May not be as good as some of the best Sci Fi shows out there (like BSG), but it is really well done. Without spoiling anything, the show takes place in our solar system in the 23rd century. Earth is governed by a single government (the United Nations). Humans have built settlements on Mars, which is a separate government. And there are also settlements, built around mining resources like water, in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter (the residents are called "belters"). Earth and Mars are always on the brink of war and the belters are considered second class citizens.

Interestingly, the Mormon Church still exists in the 23rd century and plays a minor role in the Church (through the first three seasons at least). Not sure how that worked its way into the show, but its kind of interesting. The first 3 seasons aired on the SyFy channel, but then Amazon picked it up for the 4th and 5th seasons. Not sure if there will be more (I'm only half-way through season 3).

[Color Me Badd Fan]

If you're into Sci Fi at all, I highly recommend The Expanse on Amazon Prime. May not be as good as some of the best Sci Fi shows out there (like BSG), but it is really well done. Without spoiling anything, the show takes place in our solar system in the 23rd century. Earth is governed by a single government (the United Nations). Humans have built settlements on Mars, which is a separate government. And there are also settlements, built around mining resources like water, in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter (the residents are called "belters"). Earth and Mars are always on the brink of war and the belters are considered second class citizens.

Interestingly, the Mormon Church still exists in the 23rd century and plays a minor role in the Church (through the first three seasons at least). Not sure how that worked its way into the show, but its kind of interesting. The first 3 seasons aired on the SyFy channel, but then Amazon picked it up for the 4th and 5th seasons. Not sure if there will be more (I'm only half-way through season 3).

I've enjoyed this show from the start. Supposedly Jeff Bezos personally liked the show, so he picked it up after SyFy decided it was too expensive, particularly when they didn't have the streaming rights.

Anyone who has ever had any interest in astronomy will love the show. Other than the aspects involving the Protomolecule, there's somewhat of a plausibility to the show. In hundreds of years there could be bases on the moon and even Mars. There absolutely could be asteroid mining, though I don't necessarily think that will be through manned machinery/ships.

Season 3 was really good. Season 4 was a bit of a drop from that. The best episode of the series was released last week.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I've enjoyed this show from the start. Supposedly Jeff Bezos personally liked the show, so he picked it up after SyFy decided it was too expensive, particularly when they didn't have the streaming rights.

Anyone who has ever had any interest in astronomy will love the show. Other than the aspects involving the Protomolecule, there's somewhat of a plausibility to the show. In hundreds of years there could be bases on the moon and even Mars. There absolutely could be asteroid mining, though I don't necessarily think that will be through manned machinery/ships.

Season 3 was really good. Season 4 was a bit of a drop from that. The best episode of the series was released last week.

Hey stranger.

[UVACoug]

I've enjoyed this show from the start. Supposedly Jeff Bezos personally liked the show, so he picked it up after SyFy decided it was too expensive, particularly when they didn't have the streaming rights.

Anyone who has ever had any interest in astronomy will love the show. Other than the aspects involving the Protomolecule, there's somewhat of a plausibility to the show. In hundreds of years there could be bases on the moon and even Mars. There absolutely could be asteroid mining, though I don't necessarily think that will be through manned machinery/ships.

Season 3 was really good. Season 4 was a bit of a drop from that. The best episode of the series was released last week.

I binged it all (up to the most recent episode) over the last few weeks. Season 3 was my favorite.

Spoiler for Season 3:

The thing I found most interesting about Season 3 was that while Ashford was the obvious human antagonist of the second half of the season (the protomolecule was the real antagonist), he was never really a villain. I thought I'd hate him when he first came on the scene, but within a few episodes he quickly became one of my favorite characters of the entire series. He clearly had his flaws, but his motives were probably more honorable than anyone else on the show's. He didn't hesitate for a minute to put a plan into action that would sacrifice himself for the sake of humanity as a whole. We knew that the plan was flawed and unnecessary because of Miller's voice in Holden's head, but if we didn't have that, it would be pretty hard to argue that Ashford was not doing the right thing. I found that fascinating and pretty unique. I can't remember another show where the protagonist and antagonist were fighting so hard against each other, but neither was a villain and both were doing what they honestly believed was best for humanity.

The relationship between Ashford and Drummer was interesting as well. They really grew to respect, and I would say love, each other. Yet there were on opposite sides at the end. It was great to see them grow even closer working together after it was all over. The best part of Season 4, in my opinion, were the scenes between Ashford and Drummer. And I think it was pretty brave of the show, and showed the humility of his character, to see him bounce back after what happened in Season 3 and rejoin forces with Drummer to do what was best for the belt. Ashford's death was the only thing that has brought me close to tears in the series so far.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Anyone ever watched The Line of Duty? It is a BBC cop series about an anti-corruption unit (like internal affairs). Super high ratings on IMDB (8.7). Wife and I started watching it and it is great. Kind of a "The Wire" meets "The Departed" vibe.

EDIT: IMDB link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2303687/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

[BigPiney]

Anyone ever watched The Line of Duty? It is a BBC cop series about an anti-corruption unit (like internal affairs). Super high ratings on IMDB (8.7). Wife and I started watching it and it is great. Kind of a "The Wire" meets "The Departed" vibe.

That looks good.

[BigFatMeanie]

Anyone ever watched The Line of Duty? It is a BBC cop series about an anti-corruption unit (like internal affairs). Super high ratings on IMDB (8.7). Wife and I started watching it and it is great. Kind of a "The Wire" meets "The Departed" vibe.

I've watched the first three seasons. The first season is really good but by the end of the third season the storyline gets pretty unbelievable. But I don't regret watching it. I think there are now 6 or 7 seasons.

Also, the Brit cop shows crack me up in how they depict police use of force. If someone even says the word 'gun' everyone clutches pearls and has a case of the vapors.

[Non Sequitur]

Anyone ever watched The Line of Duty? It is a BBC cop series about an anti-corruption unit (like internal affairs). Super high ratings on IMDB (8.7). Wife and I started watching it and it is great. Kind of a "The Wire" meets "The Departed" vibe.

EDIT: IMDB link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2303687/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

I love The Wire and I love The Departed, so based on your recommendation, I just started a 7 day free trial of Acorn so I can watch it. The race is on to watch 6 seasons in 7 days.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I love The Wire and I love The Departed, so based on your recommendation, I just started a 7 day free trial of Acorn so I can watch it. The race is on to watch 6 seasons in 7 days.

First 4 seasons are available for free on Amazon Prime video. Pretty sure it was on Netflix last year, but gone now.

[Non Sequitur]

First 4 seasons are available for free on Amazon Prime video. Pretty sure it was on Netflix last year, but gone now.

Too late now. Now I have to watch the first four free seasons just to get to seasons 5 and 6 that I apparently signed up for.

[creekster]

If you would like an interesting take on a sci fi movie with a 50s setting and with excellent but never heavy handed social commentary you should check out "The Vast of Night" on Prime. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

apologies if someone has already posted about this.

[PaloAltoCougar]

A very strong recommendation for One Night in Miami that tells the story of the night Cassius Clay won the Heavyweight title. Most of the movie centers on the post-fight meeting of Clay, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X, four of the most famous black men in America at that time who got together at a black motel at Malcolm's request, thinking there was going to be a major celebration party, but discovered the purpose was for something else.. The dialogue is imagined but very good as Malcolm X tells the others why they need to take a stronger stand for black empowerment. Cassius Clay became Ali shortly after that and the viewer gets a clearer idea why--a lot of interesting history in the movie, despite a fair amount of poetic license taken in the storytelling. We've had some interesting discussions since.

[Pelado]

Humor Me - main character is a talented playwright who's had a mental block on finishing his latest play. He loses his funding for the play, his wife leaves him for a French billionaire (taking their young son with her), and he resorts to moving into the guest room at his father's house in an elderly community. I enjoyed it.

Tell Me Your Secrets - I made it through the first episode and don't think I'll watch any more.

The Great Escapists - Very contrived deserted island show featuring Richard Hammond (from Top Gear, Grand Tour, etc.) and Tori Belleci (Mythbusters). My kids actually enjoyed it quite a bit and it was somewhat educational.