Monday Fandemonium
Oh, TV, I've missed you. Sure, I had my summer dalliances with So You Think You Can Dance, The Middleman, Psych, etc. But it feels like forever since there was a full slate of shows for me to anticipate. We're not actually there yet, as the premieres are spread out over the next month or two, but last night got things off to a pretty good start.
For starters, there was the return of Gossip Girl. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure, but if Matt Nathanson can cop to watching it, then I guess it's good enough for me. Overall, I was pleased with the season premiere. The things I enjoy were still there, as were the things that annoy. Oh, Blair. I think I missed you most of all. The witty repartee, the fabulous clothes, and the fascinating combination of broken and bitchy. Clearly, she and Chuck have fallen for each other in a much deeper, more real way than either of them could have anticipated. At the same time, neither of them are willing to do what it would take to make a relationship work. If Chuck had actually said "I love you" to Blair, the way she so desperately wanted, it wouldn't have felt true to the character. While I believe that he does love Blair, typical romantic gestures aren't really his stock in trade. Sure, he'll buy diamond necklaces and show up with flowers, but those barely scratch the surface of what Blair is craving. And if Blair wants to strip away the cruel streak, the acid tongue, the perpetual disdain, and come away with a swoon-worthy leading man, I think she'd find that if you take those things away from Chuck, what you're left with is, well, Nate. Or Lord Marcus/James/Whatever. It's such fun to watch these two circle each other, fight their undeniable attraction, send each other to dizzying heights and oppressive lows...I really can't say I'm too eager for a happily-ever-after.
You know what 'happily-ever-after' gets you? Serena/Dan, who continue to remain absolutely snoozeworthy. Penn has gorgeous bone structure and some nice arms and shoulders, but eesh, is Dan self-righteous and dull! Their arguments are the same tired rehash as last season. Serena can't be honest with him. Dan can't stop being judgmental for more than 3.7 seconds. And around and around we go. Bleah.
Nate, Chuck, and Erik playing croquet was so deliciously Heathers, although that's a pop-culture reference that surely predates the target audience for this show. I'm thrilled that Erik lost those wretched roots in his hair. He's a sweet character, with just enough of a spine to make him interesting. I'm glad that he and Jenny are back to being friends, since he makes her more likable by association. Actually, Jenny managed to not piss me off at all last night. I can't say I especially care about her fashion aspirations, but at least they're consistent with the character we met in the pilot. I doubt the world will end if she doesn't make the pages of W before she's 16, however.
I did not miss Vanessa AT ALL. I did, however, miss Lily and her absolutely smokin' chemistry with Rufus. More HotDad, please!
I also do not care about Nate/Catherine (Pacey/Tamara much?), aside from the fact that it gets us nearly-naked Chace. Still not entirely sure when the actor/character went from boring/annoying to funny/hot, but I'm enjoying the transformation.
Although I don't plan to keep up with it once Heroes is back on, I did watch One Tree Hill last night. The whole blatantly obvious opening-scene fake-out of "who did Lucas choose" was downright nauseating. How many times did we have to listen to three beautiful, successful women tell Lucas how wonderful he was? How easy it was to love him? Give me a freaking break. And, of course, he chose Peyton. They probably deserve each other, since they both essentially suck. Perhaps they could ride into the sunset and off the show. I just cannot bring myself to care about them.
Deb and Skillz is just...ew. No. Poor Nathan.
Nathan, Haley, and Jamie continue to be absolutely adorable. I didn't think Jamie could get any cuter and more awesome, but he totally has. His scenes with Q were priceless. And I'm so glad they've developed Q's character into someone I can care about.
Is Mouth really leaving? I'm not sure I would mind, although I've always enjoyed the Brooke/Mouth Odd Couple friendship.
Brooke and her mom...just don't care. Victoria is too much of a one-note bitch to make the situation compelling.
And of course, there's Dan and PsychoNannyCarrie. Still not totally clear on how she spirited him off to that house, since...weren't there witnesses when that car hit him? The whole Misery scenario feels forced and lame, and again, I just don't much care.
Wow, this show sucks.
Finally, I watched the season (possibly series?) finale of The Middleman. Not the best, not the worst. I definitely have a few issues with the show, but overall I enjoy it. If it doesn't get renewed, I won't exactly be rending my garments. I always enjoy a good parallel universe plot, and this one wasn't bad. On a shallow note, my interest increased significantly when we got to the part with a shirtless, tattooed, leather-chapped, eye-patched Matt Keeslar. Yum. I'm not convinced that Fatboy being evil in the mirror world means that they're good in the 'real' world, since not everyone's moral compass was reversed. Tyler was still good, Lacey was slutty but on the side of right, the Middleman eventually did the right thing, etc. It was mostly Wendy who was truly opposite.
Of course, since they've done their damnedest to hammer home the "Wendy sees MM as a father figure" nonsense, I thought it would have been a great opportunity for MirrorMM to make a pass at her. Clearly, he would have none of the paternal, mentoring feelings of his counterpart, and, frankly, seems the type to hit on lots of women. But no, we got yet another Lacey/MM anvil thrown at our heads. (They used to do that shit with Sam/Jack on SG-1, too, and it annoyed me then. Sigh.)
Mostly, I find Tyler incredibly endearing, and I enjoy him and Wendy as a couple. They very easily could have made the character negligible, functioning only as Wendy's supposed soulmate. If nothing else, I guess I'd like to have season 2 in order to see his developing role with Fatboy, and possibly to learn the mystery of Wendy's father.
I am working on a Veronica/Lamb apocafic. It's going very slowly, as I am apparently incapable of writing anything short and fun. It's all plotty and angsty and why won't they just have sex already?!
For starters, there was the return of Gossip Girl. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure, but if Matt Nathanson can cop to watching it, then I guess it's good enough for me. Overall, I was pleased with the season premiere. The things I enjoy were still there, as were the things that annoy. Oh, Blair. I think I missed you most of all. The witty repartee, the fabulous clothes, and the fascinating combination of broken and bitchy. Clearly, she and Chuck have fallen for each other in a much deeper, more real way than either of them could have anticipated. At the same time, neither of them are willing to do what it would take to make a relationship work. If Chuck had actually said "I love you" to Blair, the way she so desperately wanted, it wouldn't have felt true to the character. While I believe that he does love Blair, typical romantic gestures aren't really his stock in trade. Sure, he'll buy diamond necklaces and show up with flowers, but those barely scratch the surface of what Blair is craving. And if Blair wants to strip away the cruel streak, the acid tongue, the perpetual disdain, and come away with a swoon-worthy leading man, I think she'd find that if you take those things away from Chuck, what you're left with is, well, Nate. Or Lord Marcus/James/Whatever. It's such fun to watch these two circle each other, fight their undeniable attraction, send each other to dizzying heights and oppressive lows...I really can't say I'm too eager for a happily-ever-after.
You know what 'happily-ever-after' gets you? Serena/Dan, who continue to remain absolutely snoozeworthy. Penn has gorgeous bone structure and some nice arms and shoulders, but eesh, is Dan self-righteous and dull! Their arguments are the same tired rehash as last season. Serena can't be honest with him. Dan can't stop being judgmental for more than 3.7 seconds. And around and around we go. Bleah.
Nate, Chuck, and Erik playing croquet was so deliciously Heathers, although that's a pop-culture reference that surely predates the target audience for this show. I'm thrilled that Erik lost those wretched roots in his hair. He's a sweet character, with just enough of a spine to make him interesting. I'm glad that he and Jenny are back to being friends, since he makes her more likable by association. Actually, Jenny managed to not piss me off at all last night. I can't say I especially care about her fashion aspirations, but at least they're consistent with the character we met in the pilot. I doubt the world will end if she doesn't make the pages of W before she's 16, however.
I did not miss Vanessa AT ALL. I did, however, miss Lily and her absolutely smokin' chemistry with Rufus. More HotDad, please!
I also do not care about Nate/Catherine (Pacey/Tamara much?), aside from the fact that it gets us nearly-naked Chace. Still not entirely sure when the actor/character went from boring/annoying to funny/hot, but I'm enjoying the transformation.
Although I don't plan to keep up with it once Heroes is back on, I did watch One Tree Hill last night. The whole blatantly obvious opening-scene fake-out of "who did Lucas choose" was downright nauseating. How many times did we have to listen to three beautiful, successful women tell Lucas how wonderful he was? How easy it was to love him? Give me a freaking break. And, of course, he chose Peyton. They probably deserve each other, since they both essentially suck. Perhaps they could ride into the sunset and off the show. I just cannot bring myself to care about them.
Deb and Skillz is just...ew. No. Poor Nathan.
Nathan, Haley, and Jamie continue to be absolutely adorable. I didn't think Jamie could get any cuter and more awesome, but he totally has. His scenes with Q were priceless. And I'm so glad they've developed Q's character into someone I can care about.
Is Mouth really leaving? I'm not sure I would mind, although I've always enjoyed the Brooke/Mouth Odd Couple friendship.
Brooke and her mom...just don't care. Victoria is too much of a one-note bitch to make the situation compelling.
And of course, there's Dan and PsychoNannyCarrie. Still not totally clear on how she spirited him off to that house, since...weren't there witnesses when that car hit him? The whole Misery scenario feels forced and lame, and again, I just don't much care.
Wow, this show sucks.
Finally, I watched the season (possibly series?) finale of The Middleman. Not the best, not the worst. I definitely have a few issues with the show, but overall I enjoy it. If it doesn't get renewed, I won't exactly be rending my garments. I always enjoy a good parallel universe plot, and this one wasn't bad. On a shallow note, my interest increased significantly when we got to the part with a shirtless, tattooed, leather-chapped, eye-patched Matt Keeslar. Yum. I'm not convinced that Fatboy being evil in the mirror world means that they're good in the 'real' world, since not everyone's moral compass was reversed. Tyler was still good, Lacey was slutty but on the side of right, the Middleman eventually did the right thing, etc. It was mostly Wendy who was truly opposite.
Of course, since they've done their damnedest to hammer home the "Wendy sees MM as a father figure" nonsense, I thought it would have been a great opportunity for MirrorMM to make a pass at her. Clearly, he would have none of the paternal, mentoring feelings of his counterpart, and, frankly, seems the type to hit on lots of women. But no, we got yet another Lacey/MM anvil thrown at our heads. (They used to do that shit with Sam/Jack on SG-1, too, and it annoyed me then. Sigh.)
Mostly, I find Tyler incredibly endearing, and I enjoy him and Wendy as a couple. They very easily could have made the character negligible, functioning only as Wendy's supposed soulmate. If nothing else, I guess I'd like to have season 2 in order to see his developing role with Fatboy, and possibly to learn the mystery of Wendy's father.
I am working on a Veronica/Lamb apocafic. It's going very slowly, as I am apparently incapable of writing anything short and fun. It's all plotty and angsty and why won't they just have sex already?!