Acorn TV

• Signore Volpe – A disillusioned British spy (Emilia Fox) starts over in a small town in Umbria and starts solving mysteries while also rehabbing an old villa, reconnecting with her sister and enjoying a little flirty back and forth dance with the local light on spy work. I enjoyed quite a bit—it’s mystery brain candy but transporting and mature as compared to some of the twee mystery series.
• Harry Wild – A retired literature professor played by Jane Seymour takes to solving mysteries as a private eye—this was just good fun! Jane Seymour’s character is irreverent, foul mouthed and pretty much does what she wants without a care for what others think. Very light and fun.

HBO

• The Batman – We were pretty indifferent to The Batman but picked it up last night because I was too lazy to have lined up something to watch. We had to push pause because after a few cocktails, I got too tired to finish the 3 hr movie—but it was much better than I expected. The cinematography was especially great—very noir. Sure there are some dumb car chases and OTT moments but I think it was very well done for the genre. I will say, I am not much of a Robert Pattinson fan and that hasn’t changed… but enjoying the movie as a whole thus far. UPDATED: i have now watched the second half and I DO NOT recommend at this time. There are elements with similarities to recent events.. plural.. and it will be disturbing.

Netflix

• Five Came Back – 3-part Documentary about the contributions of 5 Hollywood directors to WWII… narrated by Meryl Streep and presented by 5 current directors. I thought this was great—so well done and really opened my eyes and taught me a lot of things I didn’t know. It is graphic in parts (not surprisingly) but very much worth my time. Very appropriate for this Memorial Day Weekend.

Thanks Funky.

For those who enjoy the Great British Baking Show, The Great Pottery Throwdown (HBO Max - 5 seasons) follows the same format but with clay, glazes and kilns.

I’ve thrown a few pots in my time so fully appreciate the skill of the artists.

I’ve started The Staircase, so far I’m not enjoying it even though I love Colin Firth.

Not something I’d binge but I love ”Somebody Feed Phil” in those what to watch moments. Phil is quirky and he does make me laugh. Travel and food, great combination!

“Bosch Legacy” and the previous but still showing “Bosch”. We also really enjoyed The ”1883” series with Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Isabel May.

Under the Banner of Heaven on Hulu is just great; it concludes this coming week.

I'm working my way through 'Severance' on Apple TV+. It's really good.

It takes me such a long time to get through a series - I have a short attention span 😄

I've enjoyed every episode of Somebody Feed Phil. Haven't started watching the latest season yet.

Phantom Thread (Daniel Day-Lewis and Leslie Manville) was excellent! It's from 2017, but I only recently streamed it on Netlfix.

Judi, Phantom Thread has been on our list forever. I'll need to move it higher up on the list.

Also, meant to say that Five Came Back is also not a new release.. I think 2015 or 17? Still-- highly recommend!

I’ve been watching Wentworth, which is basically the Australian version of Orange is the New Black, I guess? It’s good. Disturbing but good.

Couples Therapy on Showtime and Amazon Prime is perhaps the most riveting reality series I have ever watched. It is raw, positive, and relevant to anyone who has a close relationship with another person, romantic or otherwise. The third season dropped recently. Everyone I know who has watched this show has unequivocally loved it. (100% on rotten tomatoes if that matters). Phenomenal.
I started watching last year because of a recommendation on Houzz, so thank you, whoever that was!

Funkyart, speaking of moving up on your list, I wish there was actually a way to do that. Don't know why it's not on option on Netflix.

We just started watching Night Sky on netflicks. Genre has been called slow sci- fi which is accurate and if you are patient and prioritize excellent acting and shot framing you’ll enjoy this. Sissy Spacek and JK Simmons are as good as you’d expect.

Judi, I know, right??!! We use a shared, private Youtube Channel to store our list. We save the trailers so one of us can add a movie or series and the other can view the trailer and nix, if desired. That's helpful for coordinating across 2 people and multiple streaming services ... but still no ranking or order.

It's *always* my "job" to choose what we watch so I just keep a mental priority list running in my head.. it isn't great but works well enough.

chinacatpeeking--I agree about Couples Therapy. I watched the full series a year ago or so and was really hooked. Have you seen In Treatment (HBO MAX) with Gabriel Byrne? Loved that as well, very intense and I enjoyed looking at Gabriel Byrne as well, lol. Not as authentic as Couples Therapy, as it's all just acting on Byrne's part. As a trained clinical social worker who has worked in the psychotherapy field, however, there were some ethical situations that made me uncomfortable and kind turned me off. But, it's just drama, isn't it.

I recently finished the second season of Dr. Foster: A Woman Scorned (Britbox). Loved, loved it. Suranne Jones is an amazing actor. I also enjoyed watching her in Unforgiven (Amazon Prime)and Gentleman Jack (HBO Max)

Teeda, I did watch in Treatment with Gabriel Byrne, and liked it a lot! Very much a different animal, though, as it was scripted.I really liked the format as well.
I haven’t watched the newer iteration of In Treatment yet, but will.
My son just completed training as a clinical psychologist (specializing in couples therapy) and tells me that all his coworkers are watching, and think it’s excellent. My own father was a psychoanalyst, and I think the psychoanalytic techniques Orna Guralnick uses on the show are powerful. Have you seen the excellent piece this month in The New Yorker about her and the show?

I will have to look for that chinacatpeekin. I love that your son is going to practice couples therapy! I had a great therapist when I was getting my MSW, who also used psychoanalytic techniques and watching Orna Guralnick reminded me so much of her. I am also very intrigued that you grew up with a Dad who was a psychoanalyst!

Watched Season 2 of The Flight Attendant on HBO max. It was OK, pretty uneven in episodes. But if you liked season 1, you probably will enjoy it.

For those who only read the newest posts, I wanted to point out that I modified my recommendation for The Batman after I watched the second half. It was very well done .. but includes a specific type of violence that was upsetting.

UPDATED: i have now watched the second half and I DO NOT recommend at this time. There are violent elements with similarities to recent events.. plural.. and it will be disturbing.

Some more...

Hubby has been really enjoying Ghosts - he's not usually much of a comedy fan, but tells me this one is super funny. It's on my list now.

I also recently finished The Shrink Next Door, also on Apple TV+, and it was terrific, IMO. I already knew the true story from the Wondery/Bloomberg podcast series, but it was great seeing it fleshed out and the acting was so good.

And I have to express I was very disappointed that Night Sky is not on Netflix, as lisaam stated, but on Amazon Prime, which we don't have right now 😕

I really enjoyed Signora Volpe. Funky's description is perfect and I would only add that the actors are excellent, the characters are interesting and the scenery is beautiful. I remember reading a review and the creators also wrote several episodes for Midsomer Murders.