More Orphan, more Orange.

[falafel_musings]

First a quick health update for anyone who's interested. I'm feeling a little better. My doctor has confirmed that while I do still have a hormone imbalance (high stress hormones in particular), the pill seems to be the main thing that has been messing me up, so now I'm coming off it there's hope that my body might re-balance itself naturally. To

Comments

[cylune9]

I'm relieved you're feeling a little better and your doctor has given you a game plan. Can't really go wrong with eating better, sleeping more and exercising! Hope this will work!! Please keep us updated.

I enjoyed season 2 of Orphan Black but I had my issues with it, some of them have been mentioned in the earlier comments. Also, this review pretty much sums up how I feel about season two. It was awesome seeing the four main clones together in the same room but the dancing went on for far too long and I went from 'how cool' to 'here's Tatiana dancing in front of a blue screen please make it stop bad special effects fiesta you can stop anytime now STOP!!!!'.

Game of Thrones - I'm actually surprised how much I enjoyed season 4. Other than one scene involving Jamie and Cersei, I have nothing bad to say. Just like you have to accept the 'heightened reality' of Hannibal, you have to accept that GoT is moving extremely slowly. Now that I've accepted that, I'm enjoying the show a lot more. I'm really looking forward to season 5, which is the last one with published material. At the rate the show is going, we'll know who ends up on the throne before the last book is published!!

Justified - Finished season 1 and started season 2. It's entertaining and Timothy Olyphant is a cutie but nothing to be really excited about. The fandom looks mesmerized with the character of Boyd Crowder (and the actor playing him) but I just found him annoying (actor and character). I wish he would go away but looks like he's here to stay. sigh.

As for the Critic's Choice Awards, very happy with the results too! Even with the Matthew McConhayay win, who was absolutely amazing in True Detective. If I was an Emmy voter, I would have a terrible time deciding between Matthew and Bryan. I just wish Hannibal was nominated in the best drama category.... Maybe next year.

[falafel_musings]

Thanks Lune *hugs* I just hope there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I just want to get to a point when I'm not constantly anxious over the way I'm feeling and if I'll sleep at night or if something I eat/drink will make me feel awful.

I must have a really bad eye for special effects because I thought the dance sequence looked great. And after the first few moments I wasn't really thinking about it as a special effect - I just embraced it as the clone club family bonding and letting off steam after all the shit they'd been through.

My trouble with GoT isn't so much that it's slow paced, just that I've never been overly invested in any of the characters. I enjoy the fantasy spectacle of the show but I've not got a big emotional investment. I still really want to catch up though. And yeah. I'm also wondering what they'll do when they overtake the books!

I'm kinda surprised Hannibal doesn't get more nods from the CC Awards. It's the critics who seem to keep Hannibal afloat more than the viewership.

[cylune9]

I must have a really bad eye for special effects because I thought the dance sequence looked great.

Maybe it's the difference between watching on a computer and a big screen HD television. What made it worse is that they usually do it seamlessly... so sudden bad special effects made it jarring.

I've never been overly invested in any of the characters.

Same thing here. Although Oberyn came very close! And I still have a soft spot for Theon. Anyway, I'm still a casual viewer with very little expectation so maybe that's why I was able to enjoy season 4 as much as I did.

I'm kinda surprised Hannibal doesn't get more nods from the CC Awards. It's the critics who seem to keep Hannibal afloat more than the viewership.
I have a theory that, even though a lot of the main 'online' tv critics are watching and praising the show (IGN, AV Club, Hitfix, Vulture, TV Guide) there is still a lot, less known critics, that aren't watching... even less Emmy voters. Maybe next year... It's certainly gaining some momentum.

So here are my favorite TV shows of the season:
1. Breaking Bad (season 5b)
2. Hannibal (season 2)
.
.
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3. Game of Thrones (season 4)
4. Orange is the new Black (season 1)
5. Sherlock (season 3)
6. True Detective (season 1)
7. Orphan Black (season 2)

[falafel_musings]

I think the main Emmy problem with Hannibal is that it's considered a genre show. It's full of fantastical horror and gore. So like Battlestar Galactica, Orphan Black, The Walking Dead, etc, it's not taken seriously. Sometimes it surprises me that Game of Thrones broke through to get Emmy noms but then a) Thrones has a bigger audience and b) it's unlikely to ever win the show award.

I'm wondering if Shameless will have any luck this year. It's been snubbed for three seasons trying in the Drama category so this year they've switched to the comedy categories. Even though it's not a comedy at all. It sucks that it doesn't fit well into either bracket because I've enjoyed ever season and there's plenty of great acting on it too, Emmy Rossum especially.

Have you started Orange S2 yet?

[cylune9]

No, I haven't started Orange yet but I'll try tonight (now that my Sunday nights are free!).

It might be weird, but I see GoT more as a historical drama than a fantasy show. The fantasy elements (dragons, giants) are really kept at a minimum. Historical dramas are popular in award ceremonies...

I really want to watch Shameless too! As for Emmy categories, there should be a way for Emmy people to overrule some glaring stuff... For example True Detective in the Drama category instead of Miniseries?? And I don't see Orange in the comedy category either. Maybe Hannibal should enter the comedy category next year... 'Is your social worker in that horse' was the funniest line ever. sigh.

[falafel_musings]

Yeah, I think GoT is perceived as historical too and that's why it avoids the usual fate of genre shows. It's like how Lost disguised itself as a desert island drama instead of a scifi show and so the Emmys accepted it.

You should watch Shameless! It's got a lot of heart. Every year I seem to have low expectations for Shameless yet it's one show that never disappoints me. Tone-wise it's similar to Orange. It's a 'dramedy' so impossible to place at the Emmys. I think William H Macy and Emmy have had CC nominations but Joan Cussack is the only one to ever get an Emmy nod.

[falafel_musings]

Maybe it's the difference between watching on a computer and a big screen HD television.

This may be true. Though I actually did watch it on my TV (plugging my USB stick). I swear, this is why I dislike HD! It can make things look worse. I still remember the first Blu-ray I watched I was distracted because I could see the make up lines on the actors faces.

[cylune9]

LOL!! OMG yes!!! I could see the make up lines too.... and pimples! It's a bit better now that people are used to HD... but yeah, it can make average special effects look really bad.