What I've Been Watching 4/21/17

It's that time of year once again, that glorious period of time when 3 of
the best dramas on television are all airing simultaneously. 2017 is the
year of the 3 it seems as Better Call Saul, Fargo, and The Leftovers all
begin their 3rd (and in the case of The Leftovers, FINAL) seasons.

It's that time of year once again, that glorious period of time when 3 of the best dramas on television are all airing simultaneously. 2017 is the year of the 3 it seems as Better Call Saul, Fargo, and The Leftovers all begin their 3rd (and in the case of The Leftovers, FINAL) seasons.

I spent the weeks leading up to the respective premieres bingeing Season 2 of Better Call Saul which I'd lost track of shortly into its original airing. I loved Season 1 and though I'd been mildly unsure of how a spin-off of one of my favorite shows of all time, Breaking Bad, would fair; I came away impressed and enthralled in equal measures. BCS is a show with relatively low stakes when compared with the heart-pumping life or death moments of Breaking Bad, but it still manages, for me, to be just as engaging. It's incredible attention to detail, character, and visuals all perfectly match the quality of production and storytelling we've come to expect from Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. After making my way through Season 2 at a break-neck pace I realized this might be my preferred way to consume this particular show. While I love the slow-burn quality of the narrative, it is immensely satisfying to see the those slowly threaded dramatic bombs paid off in hours not weeks. With that in mind I've yet to get to the Season 3 Premiere, partly because of being extremely busy with the launching of this site, and partly because given the current slate of shows, I simply need something I can catch up on a little later. That being said, I can't wait to get back to Jimmy, Mike, and hopefully the impending appearance of everyone's favorite bad guy, Gus Fring!

Fargo Season 2 just missed me during its original airing. I caught the first 4 episodes and then work and other commitments forced it to the background (that and the commitment to watch every epsiode of The Leftovers Season 2 at least 3 times before the next one aired). After finally getting back to it and restarting from Episode 1, I must say that Fargo is neck and neck for my top slot of best show on television. For now it's second only to The Leftovers. I'll be diving into Season 3 very soon, with reactions to follow, I've avoided most of the trailers but the cast alone has me infinitely curious what Noah Hawley and company have cooked up this season.

And then there's The Leftovers; the show that, since the Finale of Mad Men I have seen fit to crown as the best show on Television. I've adored this show since Episode 1 and its only gotten better. Season 2 might legitimately be the single best stand alone season of television I've ever seen. Here's hoping Lindelof and Perrotta are able to stick the landing with these final 8 episodes. Based on S3E01 "The Book of Kevin" I don't think fans have much to worry about. The show made a triumphant return with one of the strongest hours of television in recent memory.

I'll be updating What I've Been Watching semi-regularly and you can look forward to a retrospective podcast on all 3 seasons of The Leftovers entitled Letting Go of The Leftovers set to air shortly after the series wraps. I'll be joined by fellow die-hard fan and occasional contributor Barham Williams, as we chart the journey of each of our main characters across all 3 seasons.

Other Stuff: My current, background / go to sleep /can't think of what to watch shows: Rewatching: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Louie, Arrested Development, and Pee Wee's Playhouse (all streaming right now on Netflix)