What to Watch Instantly on Netflix? (and now all streaming services)

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Matthean

10 Reasons "Orange Is the New Black" Is One of 2013's Best Shows

We have now watched the first three episodes. The reason this show works right now for me is the acting. I absolutely believe in every character they have brought into the show so far. Every performance so far has been great.

[duff88]

Originally Posted by Izulde

The very last episode was the best so far IMO.

The ending was awesome.

[ISiddiqui]

I only have the last episode to go, but Orange is the New Black is undoubtedly the best thing Netflix has done! It is just such an utterly fantastic show with a different POV from just about everything that has come before it. Just fantastic storytelling and a great use of flashbacks to flesh out the characters and show a different side of prison.

Better get nominated for Emmy's next year!

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by chadritt

I think Arrested Development and HOC are the "signature shows". Orange is a nice surprise though, i think its really good.

The 9 Emmy nominations make House of Cards the "signature show". Though it is slightly hamstrung by the fact that it's only going 2 seasons.

I think Orange is the New Black is what Netflix is really looking for, an HBO/Showtime quality show that will go for a number of seasons. House of Cards was the forerunner to get people used to quality on Netflix, but they want shows that run for a few years, I think.

[ISiddiqui]

Triple dola, btw this is what Dogget (aka Pennsatucky) looks like in real life (well, real-er life)...



Unreal.

[chadritt]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

The 9 Emmy nominations make House of Cards the "signature show". Though it is slightly hamstrung by the fact that it's only going 2 seasons.

I think Orange is the New Black is what Netflix is really looking for, an HBO/Showtime quality show that will go for a number of seasons. House of Cards was the forerunner to get people used to quality on Netflix, but they want shows that run for a few years, I think.

Is it confirmed anywhere to only get 2 seasons? I know that was all they signed for originally but I assumed they could make more seasons if things went well.

[ISiddiqui]

Well, Netflix funded the first two seasons for $100 million. There is NO WAY they are going to continue making that type of investment per season on the show (that's Game of Thrones territory). Also I'm not sure if Kevin Spacey wants to necessarily commit to a long term TV show as opposed to staring in films.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by rowech

We have now watched the first three episodes. The reason this show works right now for me is the acting. I absolutely believe in every character they have brought into the show so far. Every performance so far has been great.

We're through three episodes as well and feel the same way.

[albionmoonlight]

I work in a federal public defender's office. I have not yet seen Orange is the New Black. But several of my colleagues have, and they are commenting on how it is a pretty accurate portrayal of the system and how it is clear that the writers consulted someone who understands the federal criminal/Bureau of Prisons process.

[DaddyTorgo]

Going to have to watch some Orange is the New Black on vacation methinks.

[chadritt]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I work in a federal public defender's office. I have not yet seen Orange is the New Black. But several of my colleagues have, and they are commenting on how it is a pretty accurate portrayal of the system and how it is clear that the writers consulted someone who understands the federal criminal/Bureau of Prisons process.

Well the woman who wrote the story WAS in prison, its based on her memoirs i believe.

[RainMaker]

I really like Orange and am now at episode 10. Two things though.

First, I hate the intro with a passion. No idea why anyone thought that was a good idea. And second, I hate the main character. Maybe things will change, but she's just so whiny and self-absorbed. We get it, prison sucks and you miss out on things. Why make everyone in your life feel like shit over it?

I feel like I'm rooting against her half the time.

[chinaski]

Im dying to find out what Red did to get in prison.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

I feel like I'm rooting against her half the time.

I don't think that's going about it wrongly . I think on some level we are supposed to identify Piper as narcissistic. One of the fun parts, IMO, is to realize that Piper may be a worse person than people who are doing time for greater crimes.

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by chadritt

Well the woman who wrote the story WAS in prison, its based on her memoirs i believe.

Yes, this. I didn't know this until after I finished watching season 1. I loved the season and even though I knew a crazy ending was coming thanks to Izulde's Facebook, it wasn't the crazy ending I expected.

If you want the book, Amazon Kindle link (other versions selectable from there): Amazon.com: Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison eBook: Piper Kerman: Kindle Store

/tk

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I don't think that's going about it wrongly . I think on some level we are supposed to identify Piper as narcissistic. One of the fun parts, IMO, is to realize that Piper may be a worse person than people who are doing time for greater crimes.

By the end I just realized she uses everyone. And when she is nice to someone, it's almost entirely done because it gets her something in return.

But I'm not sure if that is what the writers were going for. I wonder if what they were going for is that everyone wants Piper to be something that she's not. And that this will be her finding herself despite all these bad people in her life trying to mold her into what they want.

It's not a knock on the show or anything, I just wonder if the writers were trying to make her an unsympathetic character or it just turned out that way by chance.

Spoiler

One other note, I thought the reveal that Alex snitched on Piper would be a bigger moment. I thought the whole season was leading up to that and it seems like it just blew right over.

[rowech]

Just finished first season of OINB. Just a fantastic show with awesome characters.

[Matthean]

I'm four episodes in, and it is a little bit more graphic than needed, but I like it quite a bit.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Matthean

I'm four episodes in, and it is a little bit more graphic than needed, but I like it quite a bit.

The graphic part gets toned down the more you go in my opinion.

[Matthean]

Netflix's "Orange is the New Black" Beating "House of Cards" - Peter Kafka - Media - AllThingsD

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by rowech

We have now watched the first three episodes. The reason this show works right now for me is the acting. I absolutely believe in every character they have brought into the show so far. Every performance so far has been great.

This show is awesome. I binge-watched it during my vacation at night and it's just...great. I think since it's prison Jenji's "absurdity" seems a bit more believable than it did on Weeds (since most of us don't know about the reality of the inside of a prison), and the characters, even the minor ones, are so well fleshed-out by the actresses and the flashbacks that you really come to care for them.

Still have one or two episodes left in the season to watch tonight.

[PackerFanatic]

Absolutely loved OITNB. Very well done show.

[nol]

Originally Posted by rowech

The graphic part gets toned down the more you go in my opinion.

The only episode I've seen is (not at all a spoiler) the one where everyone's looking for the chicken, so you can imagine my confusion when I hear on here and on Twitter about how intense the show gets. Bad timing, I guess .

[Critch]

First half of Breaking Bad season 5 will apparently turn up on Netflix tomorrow. I knew being too cheap to pay $21 for the season pass would work out for me.

Netflix to Stream ‘Breaking Bad’ Season 5 Episodes in U.S. Starting Aug. 2 | Variety

[PilotMan]

Tons of new stuff up today if you are a fan of James Bond or Tom Cruise. Plus Titanic, The Breakfast Club, and Stargate.

http://instantwatcher.com/titles/new/1

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Tons of new stuff up today if you are a fan of James Bond or Tom Cruise. Plus Titanic, The Breakfast Club, and Stargate.

http://instantwatcher.com/titles/new/1

I saw those Bond's coming with Amazon's sale on the full Blu Ray set of the Bond films yesterday!

[Julio Riddols]

Forget about all that stuff and watch MIAMI CONNECTION.

[Subby]

Love the intro song to OITNB. I've been humming it all day.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Subby

Love the intro song to OITNB. I've been humming it all day.

Oddly enough it generally makes me cringe. I like the quieter part of it but that's it.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Oddly enough it generally makes me cringe. I like the quieter part of it but that's it.

Same here. I always skip it.

[Matthean]

I just finished it. I'm curious to where season two goes. Whoever did casting can't get paid enough.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Matthean

I just finished it. I'm curious to where season two goes. Whoever did casting can't get paid enough.

I'm amazed at how many of the people in the show have little to no TV/Movie experience.

[DaddyTorgo]

Just fired up Continuum for the first time on Netflix. Interesting show...only like 30 minutes in so far, but I like it.

[Radii]

Just finished Orange is the New Black, I'm really impressed. No letdown episodes, numerous rich, interesting characters.

Minor "general direction" spoiler:

Spoiler

I really like the way that it became more serious and dramatic as the season progressed. I don't think it could have continued to feel as lighthearted as it did early on and stayed good for long. Hooooly shit things got dark towards the end though.

Some slightly more detailed thoughts:

Spoiler

So.... is this how they keep Piper in jail forever to keep the series going? Damn.

They've seriously created some spectacular characters in a very short period of time. Miss Claudette in particular, though I assume we've seen the last of her now, had such a great story. Taystee (I had to imdb that... that's how they spell her name apparently) getting released and coming right back, the conversation w/ her friend in the library was brilliant and heartbreaking. So was the backstory to the yoga chick once that got revealed towards the end.

Lastly, this is my first experience with the Netflix model. I don't like this "dump a whole season out there at once" idea. A good enough show will earn my time, and if a show is good enough half the fun is finding other people who like it to discuss each episode with. Releasing it like this really limits a lot of that, and I think it limits the amount of buzz and acclaim a show can get.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Radii

Some slightly more detailed thoughts:

Spoiler

So.... is this how they keep Piper in jail forever to keep the series going?

Spoiler

The show is much different than the book so it will be interesting to see how long they go, but I think this will be three seasons tops.

[chadritt]

Spoiler

Ive read that theyre perfectly fine staying in the prison after Piper is released and that theyre hoping for 7 seasons. Im fine with that since the side characters are awesome.

[larrymcg421]

Casting spoiler...

Spoiler

Taryn Manning has been bumped up to a regular for next season, so Piper doesn't quite kill her. And I think they can stretch Piper's 15 months into more than 3 seasons considering how slow the passage of time on the show has been.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by chadritt

Spoiler

Ive read that theyre perfectly fine staying in the prison after Piper is released and that theyre hoping for 7 seasons. Im fine with that since the side characters are awesome.

Spoiler

I wonder how planned out that is. If it is something like Babylon 5, I will keep my hopes up. If it's just them hoping they go that far, then meh.

[Matthean]

Season 2 spoiler for OITNB

Spoiler

Laura Prepon Is Leaving "Orange Is The New Black" (For Now, At Least)

[Coffee Warlord]

I really wish they'd get some new seasons of Top Gear on already.

[chadritt]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Spoiler

I wonder how planned out that is. If it is something like Babylon 5, I will keep my hopes up. If it's just them hoping they go that far, then meh.

Spoiler

I get that argument but after hearing Vince Gilligan talk about just how unplanned Breaking Bad was at the beginning I'm starting to wonder if thats really the best idea. I dunno, i think the show is built pretty well to withstand a long run. Lots of great characters and easy ways to write people on and off

[Julio Riddols]

Miami Connection.

[rowech]

I'm almost finished with season 5 of West Wing having never seen it when it was on. Great show and if the bar wasn't set so high by seasons 1-4, season 5 wouldn't even be bad -- but compared to the first four seasons it's dog dung.

[Kevin]

How does Netflix get to call House of Cards a Netflix original when it is an American remake of a British classic also available on Netflix?

The remake is quite good, but as usual I prefer the original.

[chadritt]

The same way they're calling Ricky Gervais "new" show an original when it already aired in the UK. The words "Netflix Original" appear to just be their brand and I think its incredibly misleading. I do think you could make the argument with house of cards though since they at least produced it and it is different but the term is fairly meaningless in the netflix world now.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Watched 'How to Die in Oregon'. Pretty good show and very thought-provoking stuff. Kind of weird to watch the people in the show fully knowing that they will eventually kill themselves.

[RendeR]

Telle and I just finished season 1 of "The Newsroom" and I gotta say I love the show. I was cheering at the end of the season ender. Looking forward to catching up on season 2 now.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Kevin

How does Netflix get to call House of Cards a Netflix original when it is an American remake of a British classic also available on Netflix?

The remake is quite good, but as usual I prefer the original.

What? So The Office (US) can't be called an original show? Its not a re-airing of the previous show, it's based on it but very different. Do you think that CW shouldn't call "Arrow" an original series since its based off a comic book?

[Matthean]

New season of The League is up.

[korme]

Just watched Knuckleball!

Pretty cool, didn't realize Wakefield was a converted 1B or that Dickey was a traditional power pitcher but then doctor's found he didn't have a UCL and so he had to change his game.