Does anyone else watch Showtimes original series? I have to say that they surely are making better shows now than HBO. Dexter Shameless Homeland I don't know about anyone else but Im currently up to date on all 3 and they all kick butt. Dexter for sure.
Love Dexter and Homeland, great shows. But the newer seasons of dexter can't match the older ones IMO, I don't like how he's transitioning into more of a "normal person". I miss the more sociopathic dexter lol.
Definitely a solid lineup. Californication is pretty good too. I'm only up to date on Dexter but I'm not far behind on Shameless. I haven't seen much on HBO lately except Game of Thrones which does an outstanding job adapting the books to television.
I agree Showtime probably has the best programing right now but it's not without its flaws. I do like Shameless a lot and for the most part Homeland (minus the Carrie/Brody love story). I still watch Dexter but don't nearly enjoy it as much as it's just the same stuff over and over, ditto for Californication. I feel like Californication is in the "Dexter Zone" where each episode/season is pretty much the same now. It seems like the writers just struggle with trying to have the Hank character grow naturally and learn from his mistakes yet also realize if he does then the whole show completely changes. And it kind of has the Entourage feel of no matter what happens at the end everyone is back together and happy, which is another show that could have been so much better if they took risks and stopped making it a modern day Brady Bunch-like show. Californication is definitely a show that should have ended after 3 or 4 seasons, much like Dexter.
Booo booo. Some Californication is better than no Californication. House of Lies ain't too shabby BTW.
House of Lies, Shameless, Californication, and Homeland are all great. I don't think Showtime is better than HBO though.
Yeah I disagree with that. It's just the same stuff over and over again. Nothing is different but the new characters that pop in and out of each season.
Isn't that what real life is like, much of the same stuff over & over with a few subtle changes here and there? It is what it is but it's still a funny show and well written IMO. Besides, Hank having to deal with his daughter's coming of age wasn't the same ole, neither was venturing into rehab, nor was getting in on the screen writing stuff IMO. I thought last season was entertaining with Becca's first boyfriend (Tyler was a strong character). Hank might be in "same ole" mode this season but I don't think Charlie, Marcy, and Stu are.
Just started watching Shameless. I like the characters and the cultural setting. I haven't gotten into Homeland. It rakes in the awards (often over Breaking Bad, which I find hard to imagine, personally, but ...). Will eventually try to watch it.
The original British Shameless is on it's last season now. The first few seasons were great, but it's been declining for a while and most people think that it should have been axed a couple of seasons ago. However, I think the main reason for the decline may be that all of the original cast, apart from Frank, have left the show over the years. The newer cast members have been ok, but haven't lived up to the originals. Frank is up there amongst some of the great TV characters. I love Dexter, and will be sorry to see it end (if it does as planned next season). There have been a couple of dips in season quality, but it always seems to recover. Again, imo, Dexter is one of the great TV character creations of recent times. Homeland I'm a bit "meh" over, it's ok, but I don't think it's as good as all its awards indicate. The last season in particular became like a second rate '24', and I could see it heading more down that road in the next season.
I can't comment on the newest season because I've only seen the first 2 episodes however to the rest of your post, yes in real life people do the same things over and over again but this is a TV show, it's about time the Hank character starts to grow up. Again this show is much like Entourage where nothing bad ever happens to the main characters for a long time and there is never any real consequences for actions. I would have much prefered Hank to have actually went to jail for what happened with Mia, instead of the judge letting him walk away. Again just like Entourage where Vince loses all his money on a film and then three episodes later hey he got it all back yay. And the Karen/Hank on and off again relationship is the same thing each season. The only thing that changes each season is different characters being introduced etc. Same storylines over and over again, it gets old. The rehab thing is different a good idea but it's something, in my opinion, that should have happned in season 3 or 4. I guess I actually don't really like the show anymore but watch it just for the hell of it. It kept my interest the first couple of seasons but I just think the same things happen and it's just too predictable because nothing ever changes.
I really like Shameless but I'm not a fan of the Jimmy/Steve storyline that started in season 2 and continued on in season 3. Just so out of place for the show and really didn't add anything to it. And most of it was boring and unwatchable too.
