@RCH2288 said:

I usually don't like anything Jason Bateman is in but he's perfect in this role.

Interesting - I usually like Jason Bateman in whatever he's in. I will tune in to this show and see how it goes.

@DRDMovieMusings said:

Interesting - I usually like Jason Bateman in whatever he's in. I will tune in to this show and see how it goes.

Same! I'll definitely be checking it out.

I just finish binging it. I feel like this is better than Game of Thrones.

@want2bsn said:

I just finish binging it. I feel like this is better than Game of Thrones.

Questions...!

A) Is the story complete by end of season 1, or is there going to have to be a season 2?

B) Think this show could string itself out for several seasons?

c) Any indication (besides the fact that Jason Bateman is the star) that Marty Byrde is going to get out of all of this alive?

A) Is the story complete by end of season 1, or is there going to have to be a season 2?

There will be a season 2.

B) Think this show could string itself out for several seasons?

Hmm maybe for a couple of seasons probably not more than 5 seasons I think.

c) Any indication (besides the fact that Jason Bateman is the star) that Marty Byrde is going to get out of all of this alive?

That I am not sure how deep is the hole he is in but seeing his ingenuity here i think he might just come out of it alive.

i dont see a season 2 in this. I think it ended perfectly as it did.

@the_blueeyes said:

i dont see a season 2 in this. I think it ended perfectly as it did.

Me too. If they did another season it would just be more of the same. Marty getting into these crazy situations, spinning his wheels to get free. only now it would be on a grander scale because he's now in bed with the Snells and whoever Del's boss is. a couple of loose threads though make me think there will be another season. Rachel taking off with the money, Ruth's father becoming a bigger part, and of course psycho G-Man Roy ramping up his vendetta because Del is now gone.

I pray this gets a second season, it's one of the best original shows I've seen in recent years and reminds me there are still fantastic writers producing fine work. I really hope it gets the recognition it deserves.

It has set itself up perfectly for the next season - Ruth, Ruth's dad, Rachel running, the next Cartel boss, the casino boat, the FBI pursuit, Burt, Jonah and his guns, Charlotte and the other Langmore - there's way more than a couple of loose threads. It was a perfect season finale, but not a whole series finale. Fingers crossed.

@silverhawkins said:

I pray this gets a second season, it's one of the best original shows I've seen in recent years and reminds me there are still fantastic writers producing fine work.

I agree it's fairly well written, acted, and the screenplay is gorgeous. But your statement "reminds me that there are still fantastic writers producing fine work" is curious to me.

TV has taken a big jump forward in production budget, screenplay, writing, and a slew of shows over the last 18 years have been phenomenons - The Sopranos (1999) kicked off something different, and although it took a while, TV was soon swimming in next-level quality:

• Arrested Development (2003)
• Mad Men (2007)
• Breaking Bad (2008)
• The Walking Dead (2010)
• House of Lies (2012)
• House of Cards (2013)
• Orange Is the New Black (2013)
• Ozark (2017)

These are just a few of the titles I can list that I paid any attention to (well, except for Breaking Bad, never watched it, but I acknowledge its popularity nonetheless).

As is the case, there are all kinds of stinkers out there, but the ratio of successful to unsuccessful content has always been such that there will be plenty of low-grade content out there - even so, the number of gems out there appear, to me anyway, to be rising or, at the very least, not hard to find.

One more quick note - Netflix originals have pretty consistently put out quality for over 10 years now so, again, it's not hard to find fine work out there.

What am I missing?

This is a very fair point - I should have been clearer. I meant producing original fine work, and also, in ratio to trashy shows.

Most of the shows you mention are indeed high calibre, but most of them, after their early seasons, diminished in quality, and most of them are actually really old now (as the dates you provided demonstrate).

Even with regards Netflix own good series, take for example Bloodline/ Narcos/ House of Cards -- all three aired years ago now, and all three grew tiresome before they ended. Not to mention their standard was high, but not on a par with this (in my view). It's the same with Amazon - Halt and Catch Fire/ Mozart in the Jungle.

There is a temptation among TV, as with film, to milk a successful formula until everything that made it fresh and unique is deteriorated. The average standard of works being produced is indeed higher, and Netflix and Amazon are more intrepid than most, but the really standout, masterpieces are still few and far between I think.

In the last year or so, I can only really think of Nobel, Westworld and Ozark that struck me as TV masterpieces, and Westworld is technically not original. Sneaky Pete is a pretty good recent series, but it's by no means this level of art. Compare this to the number of 'average' or 'good' shows, and the ratio is stark.

I definitely take your point and perhaps I was painting with too broad a brush, I just mean, as with film, it's rare to find those really 'wow factor' shows.

@silverhawkins said:

This is a very fair point - I should have been clearer. I meant producing original fine work, and also, in ratio to trashy shows.

Most of the shows you mention are indeed high calibre, but most of them, after their early seasons, diminished in quality, and most of them are actually really old now (as the dates you provided demonstrate).

Even with regards Netflix own good series, take for example Bloodline/ Narcos/ House of Cards -- all three aired years ago now, and all three grew tiresome before they ended. Not to mention their standard was high, but not on a par with this (in my view). It's the same with Amazon - Halt and Catch Fire/ Mozart in the Jungle.

There is a temptation among TV, as with film, to milk a successful formula until everything that made it fresh and unique is deteriorated. The average standard of works being produced is indeed higher, and Netflix and Amazon are more intrepid than most, but the really standout, masterpieces are still few and far between I think.

In the last year or so, I can only really think of Nobel, Westworld and Ozark that struck me as TV masterpieces, and Westworld is technically not original. Sneaky Pete is a pretty good recent series, but it's by no means this level of art. Compare this to the number of 'average' or 'good' shows, and the ratio is stark.

I definitely take your point and perhaps I was painting with too broad a brush, I just mean, as with film, it's rare to find those really 'wow factor' shows.

I'm glad I asked - I hear you! It's an argument, but I see where you're coming from.

House of Cards isn't done yet, and it's still quite compelling (to me, anyway). I do hear growing disdain for The Walking Dead, but I'm betting this next season is going to be wild and expect that, if it is the last season, it will go out with a bang.

Maybe the following tidbit will be encouraging for you. Amongst actors, the image of doing TV work has changed. Quotes from Jason Bateman himself show that TV is becoming increasingly respectable; that is to say, it was never as highly regarded among actors as it has become now. So, with the new distribution platform (internet, mobile, on demand) and growing audience (viewing stats are steadily rising worldwide), money is flowing into TV, which should reflect in higher production budgets, writing and acting talent, better viewing experiences.

That is weird I always thought TV was much better than movies. If I was an actor I would choose to star in TV series rather than movies but I've been known to make wrong decisions in my life.

@want2bsn said:

That is weird I always thought TV was much better than movies. If I was an actor I would choose to star in TV series rather than movies but I've been known to make wrong decisions in my life.

Yep, it's not intuitive to us outsiders. Here's the quote:

"There are less films being made today... since there's no longer a bias against television, it's no longer a detriment to your film career to, you know, 'get your hands dirty with television'. It's extremely prestigious to do TV nowadays; it's no longer a second-rate medium." - Jason Bateman. http://m.imdb.com/name/nm0000867/quotes

@RCH2288 said:

I usually don't like anything Jason Bateman is in but he's perfect in this role.

I love jason bateman!!! This show is fantastic. I have the finale left to watch. Hope there's season 2!

Ugh IMDB, get that no forum site away from here.