carbonel

Wow, somebody writing about some shows I have actually seen! So I just have to comment.

OA. I watched the first season and mostly enjoyed it, but I would never try to make the case that it's a good show. It had just enough of that earnest intensity that you find in projects that are essentially one person's passion project to help me glide over the ridiculous plot holes. (I mean, c'mon! If you were deathly allergic to one particular food, would you have a can of it in your pantry? Really?) I have no desire to see the second season.

Inception. Saw it in the theater, which is certainly the best way to appreciate the plethora of CGI effects. I remember enjoying it at the time, and then forgot about it completely. I think I experienced some of the same distancing sensation that you describe. It was much like watching someone else play a video game with exceptionally good graphics, but just enough plot to get the characters from one level to the next. *meh*

Grace and Frankie. I watched a few episodes of this, but couldn't make myself like it. Nothing about the characters seemed believable. They're all just one-sentence descriptions in somebody's very high-concept show idea. "You know, like the odd couple, but with OLDER WOMEN! And gay men! Think of the untapped audience demographics!" A sad waste of some very good actors.