I need a new show...

[Dakkster]

Interesting, that long? So it was more a matter of the government being sympathetic to US/UK pressure but not being able to do much about it because at sometime in the past folks had the good sense to put reasonable laws in place that protected the individual? The perception outside of Sweden is that it is a bastion of a free and open internet.

The worst part about all this is that raids like this accomplish nothing, the powers that be in these cases are living in the past where their business model doesn't work anymore. They're dinosaurs who are already dead but don't know it yet. The sad part is they watched it happen to the music industry and saw how futile the efforts to fight it were and they're still going down the same path with the movie/tv industries. ITunes revolutionized the model and then Spotify (written by a Swede actually) fine tuned it into something sustainable and practical that makes even more sense.

Yeah, that long. Hasn't mattered if we've had socialist/progressive governments or libertarian/conservative (those two are the two biggest players of our 8 current national parties). The EU bills that mimic SOPA have also gotten some support, but I would put that down to lobbyism (which, again, is not transparent and that pisses me off to no end) more than political idealism. Anyone who isn't an idiot recognizes the huge positives that a free internet brings.

We have a free, cheap and open internet in Sweden thanks to our government. The state and local government lays down the fiber and then the private companies get to compete there, with no chance that a monopoly/oligopoly situation can happen, like in the US with Comcast etc. Currently I pay about 35 bucks per month for 70 Mbit/s (no DSL crap) up and down with no data caps whatsoever. It's pretty interesting, because now that I think about it, The Pirate Bay is almost the only case of the government stepping in and it's been revealed that it's been because of pressure from the US DOJ (leaked emails through wikileaks etc), threatening trade embargo and other fun stuff like that. The cases where Swedes have been prosecuted for filesharing it has been to 90% the RIAA and MPAA doing it through intermediaries. And the NSA deal, of course, spying on Russia and all that jazz. But yeah, apart from those nuisances, we're good :P

Totally agree about the dinosaur thing. They need to come up with better delivery systems. The piracy is just a symptom of the market not having good enough delivery systems.

[blayze]

Just finished season 2 of the Fall. Love this show... wish they cranked out more than 6 episodes a year.

Not sure where they're gonna take the storyline after that finale though... seems like most of the storylines are wrapped up.

[blayze]

It's the holidays and I'm off for 2 weeks boys. I need something to fill the time between all the family meals.

I finished both seasons of The Fall (a whopping total of 11 episodes) and I've managed to rewatch all 4 seasons of Game of Thrones over the past couple of months.

What else is good?

I'm starting to look at some of the earlier options in this thread - boardwalk empire and homeland in particular. I prefer heavier, more substantial shows... no longer a fan of "light" shows/sitcoms (ie: new girl, glee, news room, etc).

I like boardwalk cause it reminds of Sopranos which is one of my favourites of all time. Homeland sounds like a 24-like show, which I also enjoyed. Anyone watched both? Which was better?

[audiopile]

What else is good?

Utopia.

I haven't seen True Detective yet but have heard good things about it.

[Fast Tony DeNiro]

I recently finished Community. The first 3 seasons were genius.....incredible. Some of the best written comedy I've seen. But I can completely see why the show got canceled....fourth season was not up to par, and the fifth season fell off a cliff. It got lazy, the characters all fell into their tropes and never came out of them. You knew what joke was coming before it happened. Too bad really, but man those first 3 seasons are awesome.

Watching House of Cards right now, finally. Just got through the first season, it's really entertaining. I love political thrillers and things based around elaborate schemes, seeing how they come together. So ya, that's a good recommendation.

[metaldude26]

I like boardwalk cause it reminds of Sopranos which is one of my favourites of all time. Homeland sounds like a 24-like show, which I also enjoyed. Anyone watched both? Which was better?

Homeland is good with the caveat that you are only allowed to watch the first season. Repeat, do not watch past the first season. Only watch this show if you can abide by that rule.

[Axeman33]

Homeland is good with the caveat that you are only allowed to watch the first season. Repeat, do not watch past the first season. Only watch this show if you can abide by that rule.

I just started watching Homeland this week.

I am afraid to ask, but why only watch the first season? No spoilers if at all possible please.

[metaldude26]

I just started watching Homeland this week.

I am afraid to ask, but why only watch the first season? No spoilers if at all possible please.

Because the writing after the first season is horrible. They focus on the completely wrong aspects of the show, eschewing everything that was great about the first season for everything that sucked.

[Axeman33]

Because the writing after the first season is horrible. They focus on the completely wrong aspects of the show, eschewing everything that was great about the first season for everything that sucked.

Gotcha, thanks for the heads up.

[blayze]

Homeland is good with the caveat that you are only allowed to watch the first season. Repeat, do not watch past the first season. Only watch this show if you can abide by that rule.

I don't think that is humanly possible for me... (you're talking to someone who endured 10 seasons of Smallville here). Guess that rules out Homeland.

[VintageVibe]

I've watched both Homeland and Boardwalk Empires.

Homeland is one of those shows that is plot driven, every episode leaves you wanting more. I'm actually only halfway through season 4 as I just started watching it two weeks ago, myself. The 2nd season went a off course but it gets back into things by the end of season 3 and totally changes directions (for the better) in season 4.

Boardwalk kills it in aspects that Homeland lacked, such as: directing, writing, cinematography, etc... but it is weak where Homeland is strong - in that it is very slow moving... at least to me.

A few lesser-known shows I highly recommend:

Peaky Blinders (BBC) - My favourite show next to Vikings and Game of Thrones. Boardwalk Empires meets Lock, Stock and Two-Smoking Barrels (i.e. fast paced, action packed). Incredible cast, acting, directing, plot, soundtrack... everything - this show has it all.

Vikings (History Channel) - Game of Thrones minus all the dragons and monsters. Based on a historical viking figure, Ragnar Lothbrok, who rises from young warrior to king of all the Vikings. Absolutely incredible acting, writing and strong plot every season.

Black Sails (HBO) - the classic novel, Treasure Island, comes to life. Incredible cast, grandeur spectacle of a show although the first season was a little on the slow side; the second season promises to be much, much more.

[Axeman33]

Has anyone watched the series "The 100"? I see it on Netflix but curious if anyone has taken the time to watch.

[Pengwin7]

re: Homeland.
Wife & I have seen the first 3 seasons.

My ratings:
Season 1: 10/10
Season 2: 8/10
Season 3: 3/10
Season 4: not yet watched, but I have a buddy on my hockey team that says "It's really good... you woulda thought it would suck after season 3... but it's good..."
(and I trust him, so we'll probably watch it when it comes out)


For us, we'll be jumping onto some Netflix discs newly coming out of just finished seasons:
Shameless (US Version): Season 4
Girls: Season 3

[metaldude26]

Has anyone watched the series "The 100"? I see it on Netflix but curious if anyone has taken the time to watch.

It's a tremendous idea but poorly executed. First and foremost it's a TEEN DRAMA packed into the shell of a sci-fi drama so if you are looking for something seriously impacting then this probably isn't for you. Not that there aren't stakes on the show. It's just too often caught up in the pettiness that preoccupies teen dramas than on more substantial things.

Because of it's general nature and probably because of some poor writing/acting as well, you can really see the seams on this show. What I mean is that there's very little of that TV magic that makes me forget that I'm watching a scripted show. There's an on-going storyline but it's all too obvious that each episode has been broken down into "this week's problem" making it feel all too procedural.

That being said, I've stuck with it as a guilty pleasure show. I know it's terrible TV but I watch it anyway, when I need something to binge on for a couple of hours. I can also say that the show has improved in it's second season. They've done a better job of raising the stakes and I can't quite see the seams as much. There have also probably been some organic improvements in terms of acting/writing and as the cast has expanded it has allowed for intrigue beyond the teen drama scope.

One of the things that I can applaud the show for is that it has always kept things interesting by having the main cast split up into different groups. It took them years to do this on The Walking Dead but when they finally did it this season it helped the show to it's best season yet. This is something that the 100 has been doing since the start and has continued to do to greater effect in the second season.

I wouldn't recommend it myself but I do watch it. It's a nice reminder of how hard good TV is to create, especially good sci-fi.

[Axeman33]

It's a tremendous idea but poorly executed. First and foremost it's a TEEN DRAMA packed into the shell of a sci-fi drama so if you are looking for something seriously impacting then this probably isn't for you. Not that there aren't stakes on the show. It's just too often caught up in the pettiness that preoccupies teen dramas than on more substantial things.

Because of it's general nature and probably because of some poor writing/acting as well, you can really see the seams on this show. What I mean is that there's very little of that TV magic that makes me forget that I'm watching a scripted show. There's an on-going storyline but it's all too obvious that each episode has been broken down into "this week's problem" making it feel all too procedural.

That being said, I've stuck with it as a guilty pleasure show. I know it's terrible TV but I watch it anyway, when I need something to binge on for a couple of hours. I can also say that the show has improved in it's second season. They've done a better job of raising the stakes and I can't quite see the seams as much. There have also probably been some organic improvements in terms of acting/writing and as the cast has expanded it has allowed for intrigue beyond the teen drama scope.

One of the things that I can applaud the show for is that it has always kept things interesting by having the main cast split up into different groups. It took them years to do this on The Walking Dead but when they finally did it this season it helped the show to it's best season yet. This is something that the 100 has been doing since the start and has continued to do to greater effect in the second season.

I wouldn't recommend it myself but I do watch it. It's a nice reminder of how hard good TV is to create, especially good sci-fi.

Awesome, thanks. I might check it out just because its a show I can actually watch while my kids are in the room. Most of the good series I want to watch have to be watched during times the kids arent around and that's tough. Too much nudity and swearing that I don't want them to see/hear. I dont care but not really something the wife wants me watching with the kids coming in and out.