The Sound Board

There was an old long thread in the archive section, time for a new one.



I'm 4 episodes into Pluribus (Apple) and it's thrilling me immensely. It's feels a long time since something genuinely original and compelling has come along. I won't give any plot details except I guess you'd call the genre grounded sci-fi (before Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, creator Vince Gilligan worked on the X-Files). The first episode is a rollercoaster ride of "oh we're doing this, are we? Oh no, actually we're not..." until by the end it all comes into direct focus.

It's such a joy to watch - the writing, direction, cinematography, editing, production design, sound design and score (from Dave Porter, relatively conventional from him) are all stellar. Performances uniformly perfect, with the worship-worthy Rhea Seehorn (Kim Wexler from Better Call Saul) in the lead as the misanthrope Carol who is always relatable. And it's nice to be back in Albuquerque.

I don't really know where it is going but I have that familiar and comforting Vince Gilligan Productions feeling that I'm in the hands of exemplary storytellers - simply enjoy the ride. Tonally there's a lot of off-kilter comedy, which chimes with me. I guess it feels satirical overall, there's a lot of meaty stuff to chew on either directly or in metaphor (religion, politics, sexuality, technology and society).

It falls into the best tradition of sci-fi which is full of ideas that illuminate our world today. I wish there were more shows that were prepared to take risks and get us out of endless re-treads of the same old thing.

Great to make a new one Guy I am so looking forward to watch Pluribus and first decided to wait till it's completely available, but I think I might re-sub again to Apple to give it a go this week.

I’m pretty lost so far, but In Vince I Trust.

As soon as zombies enter the picture, I can not suspend disbelief enough to continue.

Ashermusic wrote: ↑Dec 03, 2025 2:45 pm As soon as zombies enter the picture, I can not suspend disbelief enough to continue.

I'm the same! (Unless it's a comedy and even then unless it is Shaun Of The Dead).

Fortunately there are no zombies in Pluribus.

EDIT - I did make it through series 1 of The Last Of Us, but all the good stuff had no zombies at all. Early in season two I checked out, I couldn't stand it no more. But I'll always have season one episode three, which is zombie-free and masterful.

Guy Rowland wrote: ↑Dec 03, 2025 4:20 pm

Ashermusic wrote: ↑Dec 03, 2025 2:45 pm As soon as zombies enter the picture, I can not suspend disbelief enough to continue.

I'm the same! (Unless it's a comedy and even then unless it is Shaun Of The Dead).

Fortunately there are no zombies in Pluribus.

EDIT - I did make it through series 1 of The Last Of Us, but all the good stuff had no zombies at all. Early in season two I checked out, I couldn't stand it no more. But I'll always have season one episode three, which is zombie-free and masterful.

An, well I forget what it was but about twenty minutes in, it went somewhere where I thought, ok , I am out.

My daughter says that’s my autism, that often I need to believe something realistically could happen.

Ashermusic wrote: ↑Dec 03, 2025 4:34 pmAn, well I forget what it was but about twenty minutes in, it went somewhere where I thought, ok , I am out.

Ah, now you see in my first post?

The first episode is a rollercoaster ride of "oh we're doing this, are we? Oh no, actually we're not..."

I generally agree with you about zombies, however, Zombieland was sort of awesome. Hard to go wrong with Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray..

Lawrence wrote: ↑Dec 03, 2025 6:18 pm I generally agree with you about zombies, however, Zombieland was sort of awesome. Hard to go wrong with Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray..

Actually, this one makes perfect sense, Larry, and I agree with you. Zombie comedies can work well. It’s when we’re supposed to take zombies seriously that I struggle. Anything Woody Harrelson is usually very good, though Emma Stone brings great flair to that one.

Luke wrote: ↑Dec 04, 2025 4:05 am

Lawrence wrote: ↑Dec 03, 2025 6:18 pm I generally agree with you about zombies, however, Zombieland was sort of awesome. Hard to go wrong with Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray..

Actually, this one makes perfect sense, Larry, and I agree with you. Zombie comedies can work well. It’s when we’re supposed to take zombies seriously that I struggle. Anything Woody Harrelson is usually very good, though Emma Stone brings great flair to that one.

Yes, Emma was great.

I just thought of another comedic one that’s great-“The Dead Don’t Die.” With Bill Murray again, Adam Driver, Chloe Sevigny, Tilda Stinson, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi and an AWESOME song (often repeated) by Sturgill Simpson, who turns out to be a rare treasure.

Directed by indie hero Jim Jarmusch, it really is a lot of fun.

Lawrence wrote: ↑Dec 04, 2025 5:46 am

Luke wrote: ↑Dec 04, 2025 4:05 am

Lawrence wrote: ↑Dec 03, 2025 6:18 pm I generally agree with you about zombies, however, Zombieland was sort of awesome. Hard to go wrong with Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray..

Actually, this one makes perfect sense, Larry, and I agree with you. Zombie comedies can work well. It’s when we’re supposed to take zombies seriously that I struggle. Anything Woody Harrelson is usually very good, though Emma Stone brings great flair to that one.

Yes, Emma was great.

I just thought of another comedic one that’s great-“The Dead Don’t Die.” With Bill Murray again, Adam Driver, Chloe Sevigny, Tilda Stinson, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi and an AWESOME song (often repeated) by Sturgill Simpson, who turns out to be a rare treasure.

Directed by indie hero Jim Jarmusch, it really is a lot of fun.

Yes! Jarmusch never disappoints. I remember this one, with its understated humor.

Oops, I didn’t like this Dead don’t die at all.
Me liked Zombiland very much.

Emma Stone is great wherever she lands. As is Emily Blunt.

I just started watching “The Abandons” on Netflix, kind of like “Yellowstone” with battling matriarchs.

I am a sucker for Westerns, have been since I was a child. But it amuses me how all the characters, including the women, are dropping F bombs. Somehow I doubt that was actually the way they talked in the late 1800’s

I really like the premise of Pluribus and I'm certainly committed to the first season. And Rhea Seehorn was unimpeachable in Better Call Saul so this isn't an indictment of her acting chops by any means, but I find her character in Pluribus to be entirely unrelatable and insufferable. It's like those bad horror movies where the lead does so many dumb things that you begin rooting for the monster to kill them.

Ashermusic wrote: ↑Dec 04, 2025 9:27 am I am a sucker for Westerns, have been since I was a child. But it amuses me how all the characters, including the women, are dropping F bombs. Somehow I doubt that was actually the way they talked in the late 1800’s

Immediately thought of Deadwood and Calamity Jane. Fantastic show, and in fact some of the characters use curses like poetry. Especially the apt-named Al Swearengen.

Never heard the word c…sucker issued so often, ANYWHERE, as Deadwood. Every 4th word, and it was definitely part of the package.

My wife called it “Shakespeare in the Old West.”

tack wrote: ↑Dec 05, 2025 3:52 pm I really like the premise of Pluribus and I'm certainly committed to the first season. And Rhea Seehorn was unimpeachable in Better Call Saul so this isn't an indictment of her acting chops by any means, but I find her character in Pluribus to be entirely unrelatable and insufferable. It's like those bad horror movies where the lead does so many dumb things that you begin rooting for the monster to kill them.

Yikes!

No surprise I have a very different take, especially on her making dumb decisions. She's already thought of a dozen smart things I wouldn't have. I know the phenomenon you're talking about - I hate feeling exactly this of a film or show - but as I read it this is quite the opposite of a bad horror movie.

A loveable misanthrope for me. And - as all the best misanthropes are - clearly in enormous pain. I have zero issues relating.

I watched the first episode of Pluribus and those people scare me seriously more then all zombies combined in the Last of Us.

Jaap wrote: ↑Dec 09, 2025 3:01 am I watched the first episode of Pluribus and those people scare me seriously more then all zombies combined in the Last of Us.

There is a line in a future episode that I think absolutely brilliantly says why. (When you hear Carol say "Freedom Falls", it's coming up).

I am watching “Jay Kelley” on Netflix with George Clooney and an amazing cast. Really good character studies. The reviews have been mixed and it is not for people who crave fast pace or action, but I found it very powerful and I was very moved by it.

It made me reflect on something. I don’t often admit it to myself how badly I wanted to be a “star” and how disappointed I was that I didn’t become one when all my life everyone told me it was a foregone conclusion that I would be.

But I am so, so very glad that I didn’t let my ambition become so consuming that I always prioritized my career over being Emily’s dad and Rosemary’s husband.

Sometimes in life, that best thing that can happen to you is that you don’t get what you think you want.

Guy Rowland wrote: ↑Dec 09, 2025 3:41 am

Jaap wrote: ↑Dec 09, 2025 3:01 am I watched the first episode of Pluribus and those people scare me seriously more then all zombies combined in the Last of Us.

There is a line in a future episode that I think absolutely brilliantly says why. (When you hear Carol say "Freedom Falls", it's coming up).

I smell advanced screening!

Spartacus: House of Ashur or,
holy fucking fuck, tits and dicks, fuck fucking fuckers

This show strives into new levels of public acceptance of violence and profanity, clearly a match for the temporary Trump era and his cheering audience.

5/5 thumbs down!

SPOILER-FREE - I've just seen ep7 of Pluribus.

I went to IMDB to see how it went down, and it was a stream of 1 star reviews saying it was filler (and yet no overall rating). Then I went to X and typed in "Pluribus" and found every single top rated comment was that this was masterful and one of the greatest episodes of all time.

I can't think of any political reason for these extreme dichotomy. I think we just live in a world now where every attempt to try and gauge reaction from the public about anything is impossible. Everything is algorithm, gamed and abused.

I'm just so grateful to have a show that is so beautifully made, thought provoking and original. It works for me, anyway.

I’m not watching many current shows these days. I’m part way through Étoile, but I’m not liking it as much as Amy Sherman-Palladino’s and Daniel Palladino’s previous show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Étoile features stereotypical, angry, temperamental artist characters that wear out their welcomes with me; so I take a break and then come back days or weeks later, because the show is well written in other ways, being focused on the business of ballet, the creative process, and quirky characters (a Palladino specialty).

I’ve also watched Star Trek: Strange New Worlds off and on. The episodes range from comedic to dramatic to horrific—one episode was even a musical—so it’s hit and miss. I usually avoid the horror ones and the romantic comedy ones centered around Spock (really?); but some of the episodes rank up there with the best of the Trek franchise, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve not liked much of the 21st century’s Star Trek shows, but this one gives me some hope.

Last but not least, I’ve finally gotten around to Grace and Frankie, which is a tough watch sometimes because it deals with emotionally charged subjects like aging and infidelity; but it softens the blow with the comedic, love-hate, interaction of the odd couple leads, adeptly played by Jane Fonda and Lilly Tomlin. I’m in Season 3 now and looking forward to more.

Best,

Geoff

Can quality shows have so much graphic violence for you to the point where you feel kind of sorry after you watch?

“Peaky Blinders” ran for six seasons and a film is coming out and it has been widely praised as one of the best shows in years. I hadn’t seen it until yesterday, when I watched the first two episodes, and this morning when I started to watch another.

It’s as good as advertised, especially Cillian Murphy, but jeez, I felt kind of sickened by it and I don’t think I want to watch more.

Any of you react that way to that kind of show, quality though it may be?