Mad for the men, then and now
Yay!, I can cross another thing off my viewing Hot List! Not that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the Mad Men ride all along, because I did. I thought it was fracking brilliant. HBO screwed the pooch when they let that one go (And greenlit John From Cincinnati and Tell Me You Love Me instead?!? Criminal!). But I still wish all the cable channels would have done a better job of scheduling their summer series to end before the fall series started inundating the airways.
The only quibble I've got with the Mad Men finale is the same one a few of the critics have had - and that's Peggy's pregnancy, completely unknown to her or anyone else until she walks into the ER with stomach pains that are, in fact, contractions. Maybe it's not so much that I can't entirely believe Peggy's so naive she wouldn't figure out she was pregnant all these months. I mean, we still have girls walking into ERs today who claim not to know they're pregnant until the doctor informs them they're about to drop a baby. And certainly back in the early 60's, women weren't as aware of their bodies as we are today. Like, when did women start getting regular PAP smears? I don't even know, but I'm guessing it was probably after that.
Still, when the weight gain began - right after the second tryst with Pete in the office - I think fans automatically assumed it would quickly be revealed that Peggy was pregnant. But then the writers went so far out of their way to insinuate that the weight gain was for other reasons - like eating too much - as a red herring, obviously, that now it just seems like such a cheap shot in a show that, up until this point, wouldn't know a cheap shot if it fell over it. The writing was too stellar, too far above simple plot devices and stunts, that it's almost like they hired out at the last second for this one story line. It just doesn't seem to fit with everything else going on in the series.
Aside from that one nit, everything else about the series is like a rich tapestry, glorious to look at with all the exquisite attention to detail. I can't say that I honestly liked any of the characters - it's a hard era to look back on fondly, particularly if you have some memories of how things were in your own households at that time. But I can appreciate the incredible amount of research and work that went into creating these characters and the virtual world, particularly the advertising world, that the series is set in. So I look forward to seeing where the story picks up and goes from here when the second season begins.
Now for something completely different - like last night's Supernatural, which was a ton of fun, for the most part. Very slap-sticky riotous, with the right amount of gore to remind the audience that this is still Supernatural and they are all about the scary, especially this season. ;) Not a lot to say about the episode in detail because, overall, it just made me smile. :) A couple of things ... Like, whack-job Gordon Walker is back, and he's gathering himself a little army of nut-jobs who are just a wee bit more batshit insane than he is. And even he's a little disturbed by that fact. Or maybe, like me, he's just not high on holy-rollers. ;)
I'm glad Sam told Dean about Malibu Demon Barbie Sue; but no biscuit for Sam for not divulging the info about Mother Mary Quite Contrary. Then again, Dean held onto the shit John dumped in his lap for about four or five episodes last season, so Sam has another episode or two to cough up the goods before it starts to get annoying. ;)
Speaking of annoying ... yeah, we gots ourself another one. I guess Kripke's take on tough women is to have them totally bully and bitch-slap his heroes every week, and be overall completely unlikable with no redeeming value whatsoever. Beginning to wonder about his personal taste in dates. Hmmmm.
Sure, Bela Lugosi's cute and all, but if we never saw her again, I wouldn't cry. Of course, I already know she's going to keep showing up, like some sour milk you accidentally drank before you checked the expiration date. So I'd like to put in a request that we get more to her shtick than what we saw last night (same request I made re: Malibu Demon Barbie Sue). Plus is that accent real, 'cuz it sounded fake - except I thought the actress was really British? How weird that her accent wouldn't sound natural.
Jury's going to have to stay out on the brunette one for a while.
Everything else with Sam and his good luck/bad luck (especially the bad luck - HOWL!), and Dean's using him/protecting him routine, was a total hoot! Best stuff of the season so far. :D
Gave the first episodes of Samantha Who? and Women's Murder Club a look-see, just 'cuz. SW is cutesy, though not enough to keep my interest week to week. And, truthfully, I can't see how long the whole amnesia premise could plod on before running its course. Best thing I liked about it was Tim Russ as the doorman. Kudos to Robbie McNeill's direction in the Pilot, though; and the fact that it did so freaking well in the ratings means, certainly, that his directing fee just shot up, I'm sure. Right, sistermarysith? ;D
Women's Murder Club was dreadful - I couldn't even finish the first episode. And that was the second Pilot - the first one they scrapped entirely. Makes me wonder how bad that first one had to be. Yet, it killed in the ratings - though it'll be interesting to see if the second episode tonight manages to hang onto an audience. But, hell, that loathsome piece of crap, Moonlight, is managing to snare a decent-size audience each week in the same time period, so maybe bad TV is exactly what Friday night viewers are looking for at 9 pm. My head is spinning. But as it stands, my Friday nights are free for reading and catching up on stuff I've got sitting on the dvr or dvds.
Though tonight I may break down and watch SGA live since the episode is Doppelganger and that's supposed to be a veritable Shep-fest, if I understand word 'round the flist correctly. ;)
Speaking of reading, I'm currently making my way through The Darwin Conspiracy, by John Darnton, which is a fast-paced read and, while not a perfect tale, I find myself wanting to get back to it every chance I get. A little historical fiction junk food for the mind - just what the doc ordered kind of thing. I'm enjoying it.
Another book I just read that I really enjoyed was Kevin Brockmeier's, The Brief History of the Dead. Really original, different - I had no idea what to expect when I picked it up mostly because the title sounded intriguing. You'd think it could be a real downer, and at times it is, but it's also uplifting in a weird way too. Unusual, and another fast read.
On my own with the pups tonight. The Spousal Unit is escorting The Girl Child and her fellow creatures of the night to Halloween Horror Nights. Frightening. ;)
The only quibble I've got with the Mad Men finale is the same one a few of the critics have had - and that's Peggy's pregnancy, completely unknown to her or anyone else until she walks into the ER with stomach pains that are, in fact, contractions. Maybe it's not so much that I can't entirely believe Peggy's so naive she wouldn't figure out she was pregnant all these months. I mean, we still have girls walking into ERs today who claim not to know they're pregnant until the doctor informs them they're about to drop a baby. And certainly back in the early 60's, women weren't as aware of their bodies as we are today. Like, when did women start getting regular PAP smears? I don't even know, but I'm guessing it was probably after that.
Still, when the weight gain began - right after the second tryst with Pete in the office - I think fans automatically assumed it would quickly be revealed that Peggy was pregnant. But then the writers went so far out of their way to insinuate that the weight gain was for other reasons - like eating too much - as a red herring, obviously, that now it just seems like such a cheap shot in a show that, up until this point, wouldn't know a cheap shot if it fell over it. The writing was too stellar, too far above simple plot devices and stunts, that it's almost like they hired out at the last second for this one story line. It just doesn't seem to fit with everything else going on in the series.
Aside from that one nit, everything else about the series is like a rich tapestry, glorious to look at with all the exquisite attention to detail. I can't say that I honestly liked any of the characters - it's a hard era to look back on fondly, particularly if you have some memories of how things were in your own households at that time. But I can appreciate the incredible amount of research and work that went into creating these characters and the virtual world, particularly the advertising world, that the series is set in. So I look forward to seeing where the story picks up and goes from here when the second season begins.
Now for something completely different - like last night's Supernatural, which was a ton of fun, for the most part. Very slap-sticky riotous, with the right amount of gore to remind the audience that this is still Supernatural and they are all about the scary, especially this season. ;) Not a lot to say about the episode in detail because, overall, it just made me smile. :) A couple of things ... Like, whack-job Gordon Walker is back, and he's gathering himself a little army of nut-jobs who are just a wee bit more batshit insane than he is. And even he's a little disturbed by that fact. Or maybe, like me, he's just not high on holy-rollers. ;)
I'm glad Sam told Dean about Malibu Demon Barbie Sue; but no biscuit for Sam for not divulging the info about Mother Mary Quite Contrary. Then again, Dean held onto the shit John dumped in his lap for about four or five episodes last season, so Sam has another episode or two to cough up the goods before it starts to get annoying. ;)
Speaking of annoying ... yeah, we gots ourself another one. I guess Kripke's take on tough women is to have them totally bully and bitch-slap his heroes every week, and be overall completely unlikable with no redeeming value whatsoever. Beginning to wonder about his personal taste in dates. Hmmmm.
Sure, Bela Lugosi's cute and all, but if we never saw her again, I wouldn't cry. Of course, I already know she's going to keep showing up, like some sour milk you accidentally drank before you checked the expiration date. So I'd like to put in a request that we get more to her shtick than what we saw last night (same request I made re: Malibu Demon Barbie Sue). Plus is that accent real, 'cuz it sounded fake - except I thought the actress was really British? How weird that her accent wouldn't sound natural.
Jury's going to have to stay out on the brunette one for a while.
Everything else with Sam and his good luck/bad luck (especially the bad luck - HOWL!), and Dean's using him/protecting him routine, was a total hoot! Best stuff of the season so far. :D
Gave the first episodes of Samantha Who? and Women's Murder Club a look-see, just 'cuz. SW is cutesy, though not enough to keep my interest week to week. And, truthfully, I can't see how long the whole amnesia premise could plod on before running its course. Best thing I liked about it was Tim Russ as the doorman. Kudos to Robbie McNeill's direction in the Pilot, though; and the fact that it did so freaking well in the ratings means, certainly, that his directing fee just shot up, I'm sure. Right, sistermarysith? ;D
Women's Murder Club was dreadful - I couldn't even finish the first episode. And that was the second Pilot - the first one they scrapped entirely. Makes me wonder how bad that first one had to be. Yet, it killed in the ratings - though it'll be interesting to see if the second episode tonight manages to hang onto an audience. But, hell, that loathsome piece of crap, Moonlight, is managing to snare a decent-size audience each week in the same time period, so maybe bad TV is exactly what Friday night viewers are looking for at 9 pm. My head is spinning. But as it stands, my Friday nights are free for reading and catching up on stuff I've got sitting on the dvr or dvds.
Though tonight I may break down and watch SGA live since the episode is Doppelganger and that's supposed to be a veritable Shep-fest, if I understand word 'round the flist correctly. ;)
Speaking of reading, I'm currently making my way through The Darwin Conspiracy, by John Darnton, which is a fast-paced read and, while not a perfect tale, I find myself wanting to get back to it every chance I get. A little historical fiction junk food for the mind - just what the doc ordered kind of thing. I'm enjoying it.
Another book I just read that I really enjoyed was Kevin Brockmeier's, The Brief History of the Dead. Really original, different - I had no idea what to expect when I picked it up mostly because the title sounded intriguing. You'd think it could be a real downer, and at times it is, but it's also uplifting in a weird way too. Unusual, and another fast read.
On my own with the pups tonight. The Spousal Unit is escorting The Girl Child and her fellow creatures of the night to Halloween Horror Nights. Frightening. ;)