I find that I've gone from being allergic to prestige television (there is no better way to ensure I will never watch a show than to use that whole language to describe it) to just not really watching television. Other than Top Chef and GBBO. But I keep meaning to give Abbott Elementary a shot and now I'll put Starstruck and Reservation Dogs on my maybe-someday-possibly-when-I-have-the-energy list. And see, that's what the rise of prestige television has done: watching TV feels like *work* and I don't have the energy for it.
Completely agree with the feeling that watching prestige TV feels like work. Like I have to pay attention to every moment in order to fully analyze and understand everything that's going on and anticipate what's coming next, plus it implies a very severe tone that I don't have the bandwidth for in these severe times.
To me, "prestige television" seems to be a term primarily used to describe what I think of as male-focused "antihero" shows -- "The Sopranos," "Breaking Bad," etc. Personally, I'm just glad there's such a large streaming universe nowadays that there are plenty of very entertaining programs with strong female characters, like "Bridgerton," "Girls5Eva," "The Gilded Age," "For All Mankind," "The Afterparty" and (the late, lamented) "Glow."
That's such an interesting way to define "prestige television." I haven't watched any of the standard prestige shows, beyond one episode of "The Sopranos" that was so violent toward a female character I had no interest in ever watching another episode. No thanks. As you note, today's large streaming universe gives us plenty of shows with strong female characters, and that's what my TV-watching brain wants. Shows where female characters get to shine, kick ass, stand out, do cool stuff, be themselves. Yes, please.
Omg, same. I watched some of The Sopranos and then the brutality was just so distasteful. I'm not interested in the storyarcs of people who treat women like that.
I grew up right next to the Upper Sioux Community in SW Minnesota and knew a lot of kids who lived on the reservation. Reservation Dogs is such a delight. Important note that I am NOT Native and never lived on the reservation (and obviously every Native culture is different), but there are so many little nods to life on a reservation (and rural culture in general) that I was nearly in tears (laugh/crying) the first time I watched it. The show is really for everyone (as Phil explains well in the piece), but I'm so glad these creators found a venue to present this unique slice of American (ish) life which has had little to no representation in popular media as far as I know.
For your consideration: Episode two of The Premise, on Hulu. Jon Bernthal. It's the opposite of predictable — watching it made me anxious and I didn't want to stop. I also liked the strange movie Miss Meadows, on Amazon Prime, with Katie Holm. A darker version of a fairy tale.
I have Hulu, which I got primarily to be able to watch cartoons (American Dad, Bob's Burgers, Archer, and everything on Adult Swim). At some point, I started watching some of the FX shows, and really enjoy them - Reservation Dogs, Atlanta, Better Things (RIP), and Mr. InBetween are all favorites. I like TV around the edges, showcasing the people and ideas that TV shows aren't usually about. Anyway, thanks for sharing your conversation. I followed Phil on Twitter.
I appreciate the joy today! Also, idk, I'm not a fan of despair. Especially for those of us who are not immediately impacted by the violence of the US government. Just work harder and more materially for change, this is not first setback and will not be the last, onward and upward!
I love what Phil has to say. I watch almost no TV lol, because I have a 3 and 5 year old, but Abbot Elementary is on my list. The weekly things I watch are Desus and Mero and Ziwe. Prestige TV is such an interesting concept to me. I grew up with no TV or American films because my mother is morally opposed to both. When I occasionally watched something growing up it was like the Seventh Seal or Water or Woman in the Dunes. And I grew up to mostly watch things that are funny or warm and comforting and simple. Which my mom finds tedious, but I find suffering tedious.
I still like the old shows that were repetitive and comforting for me (Bones, the Mindy Project, Psych), but the older I get the more I am drawn to risks and the kinds of things I think Phil is calling unselfconscious here. Atlanta is about as difficult as I can handle, and I very much love Reservation Dogs, the Afterparty, and Our Flag Means Death. Also Rutherford Falls I think is really good, but doesn't get as much love because it's kind of basic, but also within it there are a lot of really sharp moments, I think. Michael Greyeyes is amazing.
I find that I've gone from being allergic to prestige television (there is no better way to ensure I will never watch a show than to use that whole language to describe it) to just not really watching television. Other than Top Chef and GBBO. But I keep meaning to give Abbott Elementary a shot and now I'll put Starstruck and Reservation Dogs on my maybe-someday-possibly-when-I-have-the-energy list. And see, that's what the rise of prestige television has done: watching TV feels like *work* and I don't have the energy for it.
Completely agree with the feeling that watching prestige TV feels like work. Like I have to pay attention to every moment in order to fully analyze and understand everything that's going on and anticipate what's coming next, plus it implies a very severe tone that I don't have the bandwidth for in these severe times.
To me, "prestige television" seems to be a term primarily used to describe what I think of as male-focused "antihero" shows -- "The Sopranos," "Breaking Bad," etc. Personally, I'm just glad there's such a large streaming universe nowadays that there are plenty of very entertaining programs with strong female characters, like "Bridgerton," "Girls5Eva," "The Gilded Age," "For All Mankind," "The Afterparty" and (the late, lamented) "Glow."
That's such an interesting way to define "prestige television." I haven't watched any of the standard prestige shows, beyond one episode of "The Sopranos" that was so violent toward a female character I had no interest in ever watching another episode. No thanks. As you note, today's large streaming universe gives us plenty of shows with strong female characters, and that's what my TV-watching brain wants. Shows where female characters get to shine, kick ass, stand out, do cool stuff, be themselves. Yes, please.
Omg, same. I watched some of The Sopranos and then the brutality was just so distasteful. I'm not interested in the storyarcs of people who treat women like that.
100%!
I grew up right next to the Upper Sioux Community in SW Minnesota and knew a lot of kids who lived on the reservation. Reservation Dogs is such a delight. Important note that I am NOT Native and never lived on the reservation (and obviously every Native culture is different), but there are so many little nods to life on a reservation (and rural culture in general) that I was nearly in tears (laugh/crying) the first time I watched it. The show is really for everyone (as Phil explains well in the piece), but I'm so glad these creators found a venue to present this unique slice of American (ish) life which has had little to no representation in popular media as far as I know.
For your consideration: Episode two of The Premise, on Hulu. Jon Bernthal. It's the opposite of predictable — watching it made me anxious and I didn't want to stop. I also liked the strange movie Miss Meadows, on Amazon Prime, with Katie Holm. A darker version of a fairy tale.
I have Hulu, which I got primarily to be able to watch cartoons (American Dad, Bob's Burgers, Archer, and everything on Adult Swim). At some point, I started watching some of the FX shows, and really enjoy them - Reservation Dogs, Atlanta, Better Things (RIP), and Mr. InBetween are all favorites. I like TV around the edges, showcasing the people and ideas that TV shows aren't usually about. Anyway, thanks for sharing your conversation. I followed Phil on Twitter.
I appreciate the joy today! Also, idk, I'm not a fan of despair. Especially for those of us who are not immediately impacted by the violence of the US government. Just work harder and more materially for change, this is not first setback and will not be the last, onward and upward!
I love what Phil has to say. I watch almost no TV lol, because I have a 3 and 5 year old, but Abbot Elementary is on my list. The weekly things I watch are Desus and Mero and Ziwe. Prestige TV is such an interesting concept to me. I grew up with no TV or American films because my mother is morally opposed to both. When I occasionally watched something growing up it was like the Seventh Seal or Water or Woman in the Dunes. And I grew up to mostly watch things that are funny or warm and comforting and simple. Which my mom finds tedious, but I find suffering tedious.
I still like the old shows that were repetitive and comforting for me (Bones, the Mindy Project, Psych), but the older I get the more I am drawn to risks and the kinds of things I think Phil is calling unselfconscious here. Atlanta is about as difficult as I can handle, and I very much love Reservation Dogs, the Afterparty, and Our Flag Means Death. Also Rutherford Falls I think is really good, but doesn't get as much love because it's kind of basic, but also within it there are a lot of really sharp moments, I think. Michael Greyeyes is amazing.
:chanting: Our Flag Means Death, Our Flag Means Death!
Yes, yes, yes to Our Flag Means Death. May we get a second season! Also looking forward to more Reservation Dogs.