OT: Pop Culture Misses

Submitted by JeepinBen on

somewhat slow day on the board, so here's a thread to say what we've missed out on (For now). These typically double as good "Never have I ever" drinking game options but, anyway - what major pop culture stuff have you missed out on? now? Recently? "Back in the day"? Looking for things that were hugely popular that for, whatever reason, you never saw/heard/got into. (Feedback might also give you direction for your next Netflix binge, or your next set of concert tickets)

Mine are mostly large or small screen. I have never seen:

  • The Sopranos
  • Breaking Bad
  • The Wire
  • The Walking Dead
  • Titanic
  • Avatar

And besides Breaking Bad and The Wire, most people don't seem to think I've missed out on much. What are the things that you've (purposely or not) avoided in recent pop culture?

UM Fan from Sydney

April 21st, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^

I binged The Sopranos two summers ago and it is quite good.

I binged Breaking Bad last summer and it is one of the most overrated shows I have seen. Don't get me wrong - it is good and mostly entertained me, but after hearing from so many people that it was the second coming of Christ, I have it a go...only to determine that it is not anything special.

The Walking Dead is good, too, but I am ready for it to end. It is getting a little boring for me.

Never heard of The Wire.

Titanic and Avatar are both phenomenal films.



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UM Fan from Sydney

April 21st, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^

Exactly how I felt. I just believed everyone who said BB is the best thing ever. After it was done, I was just like, "eh, whatever. It's just OK." The difference with me is I can rewatch past episodes of Game of Thrones or The Sorpanos. The same cannot be said for Breaking Bad. I don't feel the need to ever watch a single episode again.

1201SouthMain

April 22nd, 2016 at 11:07 AM ^

I rewatched Sopranos on accident this winter.  Caught an early series 1 episode on regular HBO and noticed something I had missed.  Hooked after that episode.  Went back and started at the beginning and enjoyed it all over again.  I've watched GOT 3 times.

I know I wouldn't be able to get through one season of BB again.  It's worth watching ...... once.

 

CorkyCole

April 21st, 2016 at 1:24 PM ^

I agree... But Breaking Bad doesn't seem to me like a show that would disappoint while given high expectations. Everyone has their thing, but it's literally a near consensus opinion that it's one of the best all time shows ever put on television - with that much evidence, it truly must be a great show. I'm not sure how you could expect more than that to the point where it disappointed you. I watched it because it was talked up by friends as the best thing ever, and I still loved it.

But then again, everyone has their thing.

ijohnb

April 21st, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^

that it might not be the "guy-thing" to say but Titanic gets better every time I see it and really does not become any less devastating.  I always wondered why the movie affects me like it does because I never get invested in the two leads, really.  Then I realized that it is not the "love story" part of the movie that hurts, it is the scope of the disaster itself and the existential helplessness of people v. nature.  Titanic has really stood the test of time.

Could not disagree more about Breaking Bad.  I think you may have had an argument before the last season (really two seasons).  However, "Confessions," "Ozymandius," "Granite State," and a few other episodes in the final stretch are so good it is crazy. 

UM Fan from Sydney

April 21st, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^

The later episodes of the final season are really good, don't get me wrong. It's just the entire series overall didn't do much for me.

 

Also, regarding Titanic. That is one of those movies that, when flipping back and forth, just browsing, or need some background noise, I will watch anytime.

ijohnb

April 21st, 2016 at 12:09 PM ^

with Breaking Bad is that there are several times when the show undergoes a complete "tonal shift" as it attempts to adapt itself from what it was to something serious and coherent after it became clear that it was going to stick around.  The beginning episodes were much more "comedic" and nearly slapstick at times.  Jesse was not at all sympathetic and was actually kind of detestable, and characters like Tuco played like cariacatures. (However, even early episodes such as "And the Bag is in the Water" where they killed Crazy 8 showed glimpses of what the show it wanted to become).  Also, collateral characters like Skyler and Hank would have shifting motivations where it became unclear why they would respond to things the way they did in certain situations.

It started hitting the right note around the time of Gus Fring and went into full gear when Mike Ermentrout showed up.  I can't say that beginning to end it is the best show I have ever seen as I think GOT edges it out, but I do think by the final season the quality of the show was unmatched by any show I have seen.  Interestingly, Better Call Saul has found its note much faster than Breaking Bad did and is a much more confident show than Breaking Bad was after two seasons.

Reasonable minds differ though, and Breaking Bad has seen some "overrated backlash" since it went off the air.

UofMCraZ

April 21st, 2016 at 4:35 PM ^

Since it ended, I have binge watched the entire series atleast 3 times. It never gets old and remains one of HBOs best series of all time.  Everyime I see a post from Stringer Bell, I want to binge watch it again.

ijohnb

April 21st, 2016 at 11:25 AM ^

are so weird.  My son is into them so I have to be into them but the entire series is really bizarre.  The old ones in particular are peculiar and, at times, very creepy.  It runs contrary to what Star Wars fanatics will tell you but the newer the Star Wars movie the better, and even those are just OK at best.

The Baughz

April 21st, 2016 at 11:21 AM ^

I have never watched The Walking Dead, Lost, Mad Men or any Star Wars movies.. Deleted Facebook 5 years ago and dont miss it a bit. I think GOT is ok, it's not really my type of genre. The Sopranos is a must watch. 

gmoney41

April 21st, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^

Watched the first season of the sopranos back when it came out.  It was ok but nothing mind blowing.  Typical mafia story, with the HBO staple of every other word being f this or f that.  I'd rather watch goodfellas for my mafia fix.  A lot like the Walking dead, which I find decent, but pales in comparison to a 28 days later, which the zombies were frightening as well as the humans.

Everyone Murders

April 21st, 2016 at 11:20 AM ^

I've never seen:

  • ET
  • Caddyshack
  • Any Star Trek Movie
  • Any Star Wars Movie (apart from the first)
  • Game of Thrones
  • Walking Dead
  • Survivor
  • The Bachelor / The Bachelorette
  • Downton Abbey

The list goes on, but you get the gist.  I've not avoided ET or Caddyshack, but just haven't gotten around to it.  The other stuff (reality TV, fantasy, zombie, etc.) just doesn't drop much for me.

Oh, and I've never Twittered and never Vined.  And too happily married to ever Tinder or the like.

 

Kapitan Howard

April 21st, 2016 at 11:28 AM ^

ET is a real tear-jerker. I've loved it since I was a child.

Lots of married people are on Tinder, but it's super easy to get caught (if you don't have an open relationship of course). If you're going to cheat on your spouse, do it the old fashioned way.

Rabbit21

April 21st, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^

Tinder and the other dating apps that have come make me even more grateful for being married than I already was, dating was hard enough, I have no idea how regular schmoe single people manage it now.

Also from what I have been told Tinder is evolving into a hooker finding app, so Craig James must(allegedly) love it.

UM Fan from Sydney

April 21st, 2016 at 12:01 PM ^

I have not seen E.T. in its entirety, either. It just does not interest me at this point in my life. I have also not seen Caddyshack, which is odd because I love golf. Shame on you for not seeing Star Wars and Game of Thrones.

 

gmoney41

April 21st, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^

Why did someone neg you for that gobluedave???  The only thing i would disagree with is the Apple products, simply because my ipad is my personal music studio with apps that cost me 30 bucks.  It's great!!  I only use facebook to talk to old friends, but haven't been active for a long time and haven't updated my front page in years.  Skinny jeans and any singing/dancing show are the worst, and should be banned.

DrMantisToboggan

April 21st, 2016 at 11:23 AM ^

I've never watched Avatar, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, or Walking Dead. Or Mad Men. 

The other show I have never watched is Friday Night Lights. All my friends loved it, especially the ones who did not play ball. As someone who did play I feel like I should want to watch it...but I just don't. What's wrong with me?!

grumbler

April 21st, 2016 at 11:24 AM ^

Saw two episodes of Seinfeld several seasons apart, and couldn't muster the energy to try to watch more.  it just didn't grab me at all (though I've enjoyed some out-takes since).

gmoney41

April 21st, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^

Veep is a show that gets a lot of love, but I just don't find it funny at all.  I loved Parks and rec but Veep is just overly vulgar, mean spirited, unlikebale characters even though the cast is full of likeable actors.  My sis had me sit through a ton of the first season, and it was a tough watch.

skurnie

April 21st, 2016 at 11:25 AM ^

I've got a few, mostly TV:

-Six Feet Under

-Oz

-Mash (only a few eps here and there)

-NCIS/CSI/etc (don't plan on them either)

-I also haven't watched all of The Hobbit movies yet. 

BlueinOK

April 21st, 2016 at 11:29 AM ^

I've never watched Harry Potter. I read 20 pages of the first book and got bored. Also never watched LOTR. Don't really care for either. I'd rather go outside and do something than sit inside watching TV or movies. I sit enough during work and Michigan football games. 

Kmaize

April 21st, 2016 at 11:31 AM ^

I've never seen Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, The Soprano's, The Wire, Oz, or SOA. I do want to watch all of those except for TWD, just no time. 

Spartacus is another show that you should watch. That was amazing. Dexter and The Following were very very good.