Portlandia and The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret

[on:]

Probably my two favorite TV shows right now, srs lack of love here. Discuss!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVmq9dq6Nsg

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6NgB7Vy_9c

[Reply #1 on:]

Someone was discussing Todd Margaret in another thread.  I haven't watched the whole series, but it's obviously gold.

[Reply #2 on:]

The video you linked for Portlandia is not a good preview of the show at all. It's the very first thing shown in the pilot episode, and has nothing to do whatsoever with the rest of the show. It's also simply not very good.

The actual rest of the show is a series of sketches mostly making fun of hipsters and LA idiots. Many of the sketches are really funny, and some are meh. I'd say it's worth checking out, especially if you know some people that are like those being made fun of in the show.

[Reply #3 on:]

Much like the trailer for Todd Margaret, I thought it gave a nice conceptual overview of the show. Also it was funny so up yours.

Something more relatable to most of you all probably: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQttrkzWOo4

[Reply #4 on:]

Both shows are great, in my opinion. Quirky, quick paced humor, eccentric characters, etc.

Todd Margaret is my idol.

[Reply #5 on:]

Oh my, Todd Margaret got a second series? That's unexpected, but it makes me somewhat happy. I'll get right on it.

[Reply #6 on:]

I watched all 8 episodes of Todd Margaret so far. Enjoyed it very much.

[Reply #7 on:]

I just finished episode 2.1. It was very good. Much better than I remember series 1 being, in fact, although I probably just remembered it not being as good as it was.

[Reply #8 on:]

And that concludes 2.2. Back to the standard I remember most of the first series being: good but not great.

Also, as someone who's lived in Leeds, I was disappointed that we barely saw any of it and that what we did see didn't really look like the Leeds I know and love. Ah well.

[Reply #9 on:]

So... does anyone else want to discuss the second season or am I alone, here?

The finale was just... Christ. I'm sort of sad that there's no way a third season could possibly happen (surely not with that ending) - but then, I felt the same way after season 1's ending, so I suppose stranger things have happened.

But yes, I loved how gloriously dark the finale was. All in all, season 2 was a huge step up from season 1 in my eyes.

[Reply #10 on:]

As a Leodsian I was most upset the "Leeds" scenes were shot in West London, but otherwise the second series was excellent. I hope for more

[Reply #11 on:]

Yeah, I went to university in Leeds so I was really hoping they shot on location and I could recognise bits and pieces, but alas, no.

[Reply #12 on:]

Why is there one thread for two separate shows?

[Reply #13 on:]

Because there's not a lot of discussion about them and they're both from the same television network (IFC) and as far as I know these are its only two popular-ish shows. So it kind of makes sense.

[Reply #14 on:]

Bump! Bumpity bump bump bump!

Just wanted to say that season 2 of Portlandia was a HUGE step up from season one. The sketches were definitely more fully developed. They stopped doing that thing they did a LOT in season one where they would take perfectly good sketches and then end them by taking them in a ridiculously random and nonsensical direction, which was occasionally good for a chuckle but for the most part just made me ask "why?". The last episode of the season, Brunch Village, is one sketch stretched out to a full episode, with various sets of characters (mostly all played by the two main actors), and in my opinion it worked excellently. I was skeptical of how much I liked this show at first, but I'm definitely going to keep watching (if it gets another season) as it seems to be coming into its own.

[Reply #15 on:]

Quite unexpectedly, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret has just received an order for a third season from IFC.

Hurrahs are in order!

[Reply #16 on:]

I don't think they should continue it. The story's fucking over, man. I mean, where do you even go from there?

Also, given the immense dip in quality the show suffered in season 2, I'd be dubious about more Todd Margaret even if the story hadn't concluded.

[Reply #17 on:]

Wait, what?

Cool, I guess. The ending to the second season was fantastic, but as I said earlier, I had no idea how they'd be able to continue the series after season 1 and they managed that so I should give them the benefit of the doubt.

I don't actually remember anything about what happened in season 1, but I read my post up there and I usually trust my own opinion, so you know.

[Reply #18 on:]

Portlandia's a fun series. It's definitely a good show to watch for some easy laughs, without too much thinking. My favorite skits were the Spoilers one and the episode-spanning Battlestar Galactica one.

[Reply #19 on:]

I don't think they should continue it. The story's fucking over, man. I mean, where do you even go from there?

Also, given the immense dip in quality the show suffered in season 2, I'd be dubious about more Todd Margaret even if the story hadn't concluded.

I've read that IFC had always wanted to continue the show into a third season, but David Cross wanted to stop it after two seasons. Hence, the conclusive ending. I'm not worried about that aspect, though. DX is a comedic genius.

And I didn't think there was a dip in quality.

[Reply #20 on:]

Yeah, if anything, I thought season 2 was better.

[Reply #21 on:]

Season 2 certainly had its moments (the Jon Hamm scenes were hilarious, the way in which they were able to tie minor things back into the story was impressive, and I particularly enjoyed the scenario Todd was in when the cops found him), but I found myself laughing far less often than I did in season 1.

I think the revelation that the entire thing was just Dave's elaborate plan made it infinitely less fun for me - it turned the show from "moronic compulsive liar who makes increasingly bad decisions" and turned it into "watch a rich, entitled prick progressively ruin another man's life," which is infinitely less fun of a premise, and the whole show just became far too mean-spirited for my liking. Granted, it was mean-spirited right from the start, but at least the first season was enjoyable to watch. Season 2 was a real struggle to get through, and I'm honestly not sure if I even want to spend any more time in the Todd Margaret universe, to be honest.