Frasier TV Series (1993–2004)

Frasier:  I did a rewatch of Frazier.  I'd watch some or all of an episode before going to sleep.  I enjoy doing that with comfort watches like this.  Frasier ran 11 seasons and for good reason.  I like to say I've watched the series before including plenty of reruns but there was much of this show that I didn't remember.  Nothing wrong with that.  I enjoyed it all.  It really is a good series.  It feels like awkward moment after awkward moment which makes it fun.  I enjoyed the Niles and Dafney storyline the most as Niles falls for her even though being married.  This eventually leads to them falling for each other.  Lots of fun here.  I'm glad I went back and watched it in its entirety.  I feel like there was much I hadn't seen.  Again, lots of fun.  Not a top 10 all-time for me but this is a series I really like.  I've already started a rewatch of Cheers.  An all-time favorite I'm really enjoying it and will post something once I complete it.

Frontier (2016-2018)

 The Jason Momoa Netflix series Frontier was one I'd wanted to watch for some time.  Momoa plays a half Irish, half native who is at odds with the Hudson Bay Company's fur trade in the late 18th century.  The supporting cast plays a very large part of the series, so Momoa doesn't consume the screen time.  While it falls under action adventure it really pulls at the different storylines and fleshes out the characters.  I enjoyed it but it wasn't quite what I expected.  It definitely feels like there are some plot holes or odd actions and/or decisions by the characters.  I don't want to take away from the series. Nothing is perfect and I was entertained by Frontier.

Rust (2024)

 

Rust: Pop and I watched this recently and we really enjoyed it.  It follows Alec Baldwin as Rust who gets his grandson, after his grandson is convicted of killing a local rancher.  Plenty of good characters and the story is good as well.  Lots to enjoy here for anyone who likes westerns.  Due to the tragedy that happened during the filming of this movie, I think maybe it's release didn't get much fanfare.

Joe Pickett

 

Joe Pickett is a television series that ran two seasons on Paramount+.  My pop read the 25 books by CJ Box and really enjoyed them, so we wanted to try this series.  The characters and storylines in the TV series are similar but don't follow the books.  The plot follows a game warden in Wyoming.  Bad things happen and he has to figure them out which plays out throughout the season.  We liked season one.  Season two wasn't as good.  I think they had some good things going overall in the series but there are some characters and plot lines that are over the top which take away from the series.  I'd say take a look at this one if you're looking for something in this genre that's an easy watch, but you can put it low on your priority list.  

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

I did watch The Falcon and the Winter Soldier some time ago, but it looks like I didn't post anything here.  It was good.  The series is set six months after Sam Wilson became Captain America at the end of Avengers: Endgame.  Pretty good character development, plot and we get to see some familiar characters from the Marvel universe.  Sam and Bucky team up.  Fight a global threat.  All the while we see the government's involvement in overseeing heroes and Captain America, specifically.  I'm a huge Falcon fan and while I liked this series, I don't think it wowed folks and I get that.  Baron Zemo, played by Daniel Bruhl, really stood out to me.  I like that character.  I think it's a good watch.  There are six episodes.  I do think the pacing may not be what some would hope for, but it is a good story with good characters.      

The Witcher

The Witcher:  I enjoyed this one.  It has completed three seasons.  It was a slow start but once it got going, I got into it.  I won't go into a lot of detail, but I like the main characters played by Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, and Anya Chalotra.  I know Cavill isn't coming back for season four.  While I like the series I'm not sure if I'll rush back to watch season four which will have Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia.  I liked the series, but I'm probably not as invested as the great fanbase.  Nothing against him, but we'll see.  

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld:  This series was released May 4th in its entirety.  There are six total episodes, with three each dedicated to an Asajj Ventress arc and a Cad Bane arc.  I really enjoyed the Ventress arc.  We quickly see how she's still in the Star Wars universe after dying in the Star Wars: Dark Disciple book (good read).  Her tale here is fun and will be easy to follow with additional stories as she takes a different path in her life.  I won't spoil too much but a jedi does play a big part in this arc.  

Cad Bane's story is much different as we see his origin play out.  It is a good story.  I don't think it's groundbreaking but there are some parts that could still play out at a later time.   I highly recommend this series.  It only runs 1 hour 30 minutes in total time, and it'll feel shorter as it's a fun watch.

Andor Season 2

 Andor: Just wow.  While season 1 was a bit of a slow burn this season they went all in.  I can't recommend Andor enough.  It is one of the best series or movies in the Star Wars universe.  The characters, the story, the pace, scenes, moments.  At first, I was against them releasing three episodes a week, but it really worked.  While watching episode 9 I texted a buddy and said the boss will have find a replacement for me.  I just sent my resume into the Rebellion.  The series will take you right up to Rogue One which is on my re-watchlist for the weekend.  I could drone on and on about who and what I like about this series.  Needless to say, I highly recommend Andor.

American Primeval Netflix Mini-Series

 

American Primeval is a Netflix series that debuted this year.  It's really good.  The series is set in 1857 around the events of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.  There are multiple storylines that are born from that event which centers around the Mormons and their clashes with outside cultures.  While the different stories move forward, the series centers a mother and her son trying to get to her husband.  But as with all the different arcs, nothing is that simple.  American Primeval is violent but well done.  Pop and I enjoyed the show and I highly recommend it.  

Seinfeld Television Series (1989–1998) Rewatch

 Seinfeld: I recently rewatched the Seinfeld series and just wanted to share a few thoughts.  I did this over time and would usually watch an episode prior to going to sleep.  With 172 episodes it took some time, but I found myself looking forward to watching them each night.  I enjoyed Seinfeld when it came out, and I still do today, and that is even after watching reruns for years once it went into syndication.  

Some of my favorite episodes include The Contest, The Comeback, The Hamptons, and The Opposite.  I'm sure I'm forgetting many more.  In my memory, I didn't like the heavily criticized finale when it originally aired (and I don't think I'd seen it since).  I'll say this time around I was fine with it.  Not sure what changed but something did.  There were so many ongoing plot lines and characters that were fun too.  Watching it through and giving each episode my full attention, it was much more enjoyable than just having it on in the background.  It's also easier to catch the nods back to past episodes.  I'm glad I did this.  I really like Seinfeld, and it was really fun to do a rewatch of the entire run.  And I'm on to my next rewatch...

Star Wars: The Acolyte Season 1 NO SPOILERS

The Acolyte:  This one was a heck of a ride.  This series started out a big slow, but it was fun and gave us some great characters.  It also had some big surprises though not necessarily at the end.  I like The Acolyte.  I didn't agree with all the story threads and still have some questions about some characters, but I can say that about any of the Star War serires of movies.  The series is set in the High Republic era which has been expanded upon in books and comics.  I'm curious where it goes from here.  It's setup for a second season but one hasn't been confirmed yet.  I loved the duels we saw.  They got that right and I also think they did with the "bad guy".  I don't want to say too much though.  I want to see other's thoughts.  There was a lot to this series and I know there are options all over the place. 

Jedi Jecki Lon, Jedi Yord Fandar, Jedi Master Sol, and Osha

Longmire TV Series (2012-2017)

Longmire:  Pop and I finished the Longmire TV series which followed a Wyoming county sheriff, his office and world around him.  We enjoyed the heck out this show.  It's a throwback.  It blends series we were used to in the 80s and what you'd expect from a modern series.   We loved the characters, the story, and, at times, craziness.  Overall, this feels a bit like a throwback series.  Straightforward with great characters.  Most folks will immediately recognize Katee Sackhoff of Mandalorian fame as Bo-Katan Kryze.  She's a deputy sherriff and key player in the show.  Not much else I can say about this one.  It's not the standard TV series we see today.  It's good.  And it's fun.  And not overly complicated.  Highly recommended. 

Walt Longmire is played by Australian actor Robert Taylor.

A Martinex is the owner of a local casino and nemesis of Walt.  I really liked his character.

Lou Diamond Phillips plays Walt's best friend.  He's prominent throughout the series.  Zahn McClarnon plays reservation police chief Mathias.  Both are really good in the series.
   

Hell on Wheels

 Hell on Wheels: Pop and I enjoy westerns and this one we really enjoyed.  Originally aired on AMC, pop was gifted the series as a birthday present.  It follows the building of the transcontinental railroad.  Cullen Bohannon is the main character, a former Confederate soldier with Thomas Durant, head railroad man, the "antagonist".  Bohannon's story takes many twists and turns throughout the five seasons and 57 episodes.  Bohannon and Durant draw you in quickly and there is a great supporting cast of characters who help build out the world surrounding Hell on Wheels.  Life along the way is brutal and complicated.  If you like westerns, give this one a try.  Hell on Wheels isn't perfect but it is good and the characters will keep you coming back.

Colm Meaney and Anson Mount play the main characters, Thomas "Doc" Durant and Cullen Bohannon.

Ahsoka Season 1

Ahsoka:  I saw this one when it came out and finally getting around to sharing my thoughts.  Wow.  It is so good. Great characters, fun fan boy moments, and just really cool.  While it's billed as an Ahsoka series, and it does center around her, it is so much more.  The Characters from Star Wars: Rebels are very prominent in the series as are new characters like Baylen Skoll and Shin Hati who are very cool.  We also get our first look at Thrawn in the live Star Wars universe. Of course Anakin Skywalker's appearance was big and fun.  I find it so hard to unwrap all of it and give the series a proper take. So I'll cheat and and just leave it at I really enjoyed the series.  It's not all perfect but it's hard to say much bad about it too.  It's also setup for a fun second season which I can't wait for.

Ahsoka and Sabine Wren, the stars of the series.

Shin Hati and Balen Skoll.  Apprentice and master.  New force users who are just bad and really cool characters.

Thrawn.  He's setup to be the new big baddie moving forward in the series.

Andor Television Series (2022)

Andor: This one's been out a while but I did watch it earlier this year.  I wasn't sure about this one so I wasn't in a hurry.  I really enjoyed it.  Not the typical Star Wars story.  This is the backstory for Cassian, a main character in Star Wars Rogue One.  I will say it isn't a fast-paced show but the story draws you in.  Plenty of good characters and story threads to keep you wanting more.  I won't' try to over analyze the series but it has a nice Star Wars feel to it even if it doesn't play out in the worlds were more familiar with.  If you haven't watched this one, give it a try.

Tales of the Jedi (Disney+)

Tales of the Jedi:  Happy Thanksgiving!  I'm a fan of the Star Wars animated offerings and this is another really good add.  You can watch the trailer here.  There are six short episodes (~15-20 min) that are focused on Ahsoka or Count Dooku as a Jedi.  All are good and provide insight into both characters which is great.  Star Wars has so many great stories to be told.  Not just of these two but all the Jedi.  We've seen so many in the prequels, books and other outlets and they have great stories ready to be told as well.  Highly recommend Tales of the Jedi.  I will say it isn't made for small children but for the rest of us they are a fun a watch.  Hope we see more like this in the soon.

Marvel Legends Series 6-inch Rhino Retro Action Figure

 Marvel Legends Rhino:  I've upped my action figure posting of late and I couldn't wait to show off this guy who showed up last week.  Rhino is a beast for sure.  Pun intended.  I've always been a fan of his.  He doesn't get much love and I understand why.  He isn't flashy and he hasn't gotten the fanfare other Spidey villains get.  That ill-fated moment in the Spider-Man doesn't count and should be erased from memory.  He's just one of those guys who I've loved since I was a kid.  When I saw he was getting the Marvel Legends treatment I was giddy.

This is only my second Rhino figure outside of the Hasbro Marvel Univers 3.75" figure which really is a nice-looking figure as well.  This guy is huge standing in at 8" tall to the top of his horn.

For his bulk he has decent articulation but he isn't going to be striking any Spider-Man poses anytime soon.  Not sure how many folks really remember this guy.  Again he is a favorite from my childhood.  He was in the Spidey cartoon and it seems like I remember him in the comic books as well.

This Rhino has a classic look and feel to him.  Lots of bulk, heavy and feels like he could run through walls...which is what he is good at.  I picked up two more of these, one each for the grandsons.  They deserve to enjoy some of this greatness and hopefully they'll gain some appreciation for him. 

I'm really happy with this figure.  Glad I picked him up before the secondary market was my only option.  I'll display him proudly.  

Packaging on this figure was first rate as well.  Love that he is carded like this and not in a square box.  The art is great.  As you see he also comes with an extra head and pair of hands as options for play.  I give my grandsons 30 seconds before they are trying those on him.  Hope you like this guy and my stroll down memory lane.

Wandavision

Wandavision:  This has been out since last year but I'll still warn folks there'll be spoilers in this post.  Wanda Maximoff, AKA, The Scarlett Witch, has taken over a small town as she deals with her own demons.  In taking over the town she and her husband, Vision, and family live in what is now like a 50s 60s sittcom where everything is simple and campy.  Kind of funny but things of course go haywire.  In the end you find out someone helped push Wanda over the edge into creating her own world and taking over the town.  So the show isn't bad.  It's actually well done.  That said...we have to suspend belief in any of the solo Marvel film right?  A superhero takes on the bad guy or gal on their own and none of the other Avengers or heroes show up to help.  But this one screamed bringing in the big guys to help out.  She's extremely powerful and just took over a town!  They vaguely try to explain it away but that is huge.  But hey if we want to keep this as a standalone venture sobeit.  There are plenty of good characters and the campiness sets a tone we're not used to.  It's a dark series no matter what the background looks like.  No matter how much it looks like Leave it to Beaver.  It's worth the watch and shows Marvel isn't scared about thinking outside the box.   This one also sets up the new Dr. Strange movie which I'll talk about tomorrow.  Curious as to what everyone else thought.

Obi-Wan Kenobi TV Series (No Spoilers)

Kenobi:  This one's been out a few months now and I finished it over the weekend.  As a big Star Wars fan I'm always worried I'll be let down by these shows.  This one did not disappoint.  Really, they could have done this as a movie which could have led into a series.  Too much to do just two hours but Obi-Wan would have been fun on the big screen.  I love Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Set after the prequels the Empire hasn't given up on chasing down jedi and of course Kenobi is big on the list.  If you haven't watched other series or the animated shows you'll be introduced to Inquisitors who aren't Sith but are force sensitve and hunt the Jedi.  Pretty cool characters.  Most characters you'd expect to be associated with Kenobi do make an appearance here to include a few surprises.  Some were only referenced but give us fans hope for future appearances.  I got where they were going with the show and enjoyed it.  Always small things you can knit pick but nothing that keeps me up at night.

Loki

 Loki is a really good TV series.  While I love his character from the movies I was really leery of a different take on him hence how long it's taken me to see it.  But this worked really well.  Tom Hiddleston did a great job as the series which takes the Loki we know completely out of his element.  From there we see many different sides to him while still getting the wise cracking Loki we all love.  Owen Wilson is just as important to the success of the series.  I was like Owen Wilson but again it all works in a way that makes you like all the characters introduced here.  The writers did a good job.  Can't wait to see what season two brings.