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5 recent shows to binge watch now that Game of Thrones is over
May 23, 2019, 1:34 pm
Bosch just dropped season 5. Amazon Prime Video
Whether you liked it or not, Game of Thrones finally ended last week. Never fear, however, there are lots of choices out there to whet your TV appetite. Here are five shows I have binged recently that are worth your time.
5) Lucifer (Netflix)
Where it airs: Netflix after three seasons on Fox.
Number of seasons: 4.
Why it's worth watching: Tom Ellis is amazing as Lucifer Morningstar. He leaves hell and runs a night club in Los Angeles and then starts helping with solving crimes. At its heart it is a detective story, and a little formulaic. But the acting and characters are amazing, and with the backdrop of the supernatural, it takes on a life of its own. No season 5 has been announced yet, but season 4 on Netflix was awesome and if there is no season 5, it ended very well. There is still room for more story, though. There are some annoying characters, but it's not Ellis, D.B. Woodside (Amenadiel the angel). Lesley-Ann Brandt (Maze the demon) and Rachel Harris (as a shrink). They are funny, poignant, unpredictable and the driving forces behind the show.
4) Hap and Leonard
Where it airs: Netflix after three seasons on Sundance.
Number of seasons: 3.
Why it's worth watching: James Purefoy, Michael Kenneth Williams are fantastic in this action-packed look at 1980s East Texas. (The villain in season 1 is one of the best you will find). It deals with racism, crime and violence and each season is terrific in its own right. Unfortunately Sundance canceled it after three seasons, but the ending works and the good news is Joe Lansdale is still cranking out novels and they are also well worth your time.
3) Sneaky Pete
Where it airs: Prime Video.
Number of seasons: 3.
Why it's worth watching: If you like con movies - the Sting, Diggstown, etc., this is for you. They have managed to keep it fresh (season 3 dropped this month). The acting is solid, especially Giovanni Ribisi. Everyone in this show has secrets, and they all have interesting stories to tell. Ribisi carries it well, and season 3 might have been every bit as good as season 1, which featured Bryan Cranston.
2) Bosch
Where it airs: Prime Video.
Number of seasons: 5.
Why it's worth watching:Titus Welliver is a Los Angeles detective who lives, works and does everything on the edge. He is always in trouble for something he has done, and always outsmarts everyone. He is not unlike an American version of Luther, which is one of my all time favorites. There are some other memorable characters, most notably Crate and Barrel (Gregory Scott Cummins and Troy Evans), but Welliver carries the show. Season 5 dropped recently and it is worth catching up. If you like police dramas, this is one of the best you will find.
1) Rake
Where it airs: Prime Video.
Number of seasons: 5.
Why it's worth watching: Make sure you get the Australian version. (There is also apparently an American version). Clever Greene is the ultimate degenerate lawyer, brilliant but self-destructive. No matter what, he always comes out on top. The last half of season 4 and first half of season 5 gets a little soap opery, but the finale of season 5 is perfect. Richard Roxburgh plays Clever, and he is easy to root for no matter how badly he screws up. Was a pleasant surprise and one of the most fun shows I have seen recently. Even though the story ended perfectly, I wanted more.
Some all-timers you might have missed
BBC has a couple brilliant shows, Sherlock (featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman) and Luther, which has Idris Elba. Sherlock might be done, but Luther just dropped a new season which will be available in the US in June. Firefly (14 episodes, one standalone movie) and Banshee (four seasons) are in my all-time top 5. And of course, the new Rick and Morty drops in November. The first three seasons were pure brilliance.
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Dec 13, 2024, 8:31 pm
Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3.
Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2.
Series record: Texans lead 8-3.
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami.
Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1.
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23).
Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14).
Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11).
Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12).
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10.
Dolphins player to watch
QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season.
Texans player to watch
QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
Key matchup
Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game.
Key injuries
Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday… LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. … WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. … Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. … DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury.
Series notes
Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. … Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. … The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. … These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal.
Stats and stuff
Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. … K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. … TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. … Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. … The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. … Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. … The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. … Their 42 sacks also rank second. … WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. … TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. … LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. … DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. … DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. … LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. … CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. … CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. … S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco.
Fantasy tip
Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season.