TV shows, new and old
OK, I've been resisting talking about the shows I watch ALL SEASON, but, well, I'm weak. Also, I have large amounts of Akkadian to do. So! Onto the procrastination! In alphabetical order, because... well... I like the alphabet. LJ-cuts for obvious spoilers, not length.
Being Human: I'm so torn about this. On the one hand, it is Good Drama, Well-Done Vampires, Werewolves and Ghosts, and the latest twist about the identity of one of the villains really caught me by surprise. But I miss when the housemates actually spent TIME together! First George was all moody, now Mitchell is off strolling through Morally Grey Land since someone DID die and made him King of the Vampires. Not to mention Nina, NOOOOOO NINA DON'T GO GETTING DEAD, and Annie stuck being invisible again after Saul in the second episode. Geez, that episode. Terry Wogan talking out of the TV was hilarious, Saul trying to push her through the door was fucking terrifying.
In short, I like the drama, but I wish the characters weren't so angry and concerned about it, because goddammit, being concerned makes Mitchell grumpy and I like HAPPY Mitchell, and happy Mitchell gives me more Mitchell/Annie fodder. HE HAS NOW SNAPPED AT HER AT LEAST TWICE. Gaahhh. The sad life of an unrequited shipper.
In conclusion: NINA DO NOT GET DEAD.
Chuck: FINALLY got series 2 on DVD. Love love love love love. Just waiting for Bryce Larkin to get back. His episode in series 1 is one of my most watched episodes of any TV series EVER. I wish I could explain it away with the interesting change in dynamic he brings to the group, the new sides of the characters we see, the advancement in the arc plot with the introduction of Fulcrum... buuuuut I am just that shallow.
Doctor Who: BYE DAVID TENNANT. The first part of your finale was clearly written on the Bad Crack, with John Simm bouncing around devouring turkeys, homeless guys and the scenery with you chasing after him, and everyone was distracted in the second part by Timothy Dalton bellowing all over the place, but... it all got very poignant in the end, you were fantastic, AND I'LL MISS YOOOOOUUUUU.
Also - I will never accept Martha/Mickey. MARTHA HAD THE HOT PAEDIATRICIAN. WHO SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR HER. I can't believe they'd break up, and the only alternative is he died when the Daleks invaded Earth in the series 4 finale, which, DO NOT WANT. In conclusion: epic denial. DR SEXY PAEDIATRICIAN NOOOOOO.
Dollhouse: So, I haven't seen any of series 2 except the amazing Priya-centric episode, but I've read the recaps on io9 and it seems to be getting AMAZING. And now I've borrowed the series 1 DVDs off trinityblack and, rewatching? They're better than I remember. It's probably from knowing the background plot I know now, and picking up on the tiny references that become big later, or just the fact I'm not paying full attention since I'm usually doing Akkadian at the same time, but... I kinda wish it wasn't being cancelled! It could have gotten much bigger. Oh well, Whedon knew what he was getting into when he went back to Fox.
Incidentally, one of my favourite bits is when Whedon goes and subverts one of his very own cliches. When Ballard's just hooked up with Mellie, and that guy comes to kill her when he's out, and the music gets all tragic and slow, and at first you think "Oh man, here goes Joss again, killing one half of a couple just as soon as they're happy", but then BAM! She's a Doll and KICKS HIS ASS. Sure, the couple is still broken up in traditional Joss fashion, but not in the way you expect.
Also - VICTOR. That actor must go on to better and brighter things, because he is AMAZING.
Heroes: Why, WHY have I been sucked back into this show. It is SO DUMB. I still haven't seen the last few episodes of series 3, with Sylar's identity crisis and the Sylarification of Nathan, but I'm actually LIKING Sylar's headfuckery of Matt (he does snarky very well) and the new improved Peter, and Cello girl. And now I HAVE to keep watching because ADAM COMES BACK AAAARGH. Only in Hiro's head, but FINALLY, CLOSURE.
But. I can't believe Peter PHONES a DEAF GIRL and LEAVES A MESSAGE. Show, SHOW. WHYYYYYY.
How I Met Your Mother: I'm still smarting about the crap handling of the BroTP. Why did they even get them together if they were just going to break them up like that?? Barney with the crush was adorable, and I understand they wanted to keep him free and single (though his behaviour towards women grates way more now), but I refuse to believe there wasn't a better way they could have handled it. I used to trust the writers whole-heartedly, but now, not so much. I've really liked the last couple of episodes, but... it's just not the same. It IS its 5th season, it shouldn't be any surprise it's getting a bit tired, but still... sadness.
Merlin: I know series 2 of this ended a while ago. I DON'T CARE. I LOVE THIS SHOW. UNASHAMEDLY. It makes me want to buy girly notebooks and cover them in ARTHUR/GWEN 4EVA. but I still love when Lancelot shows up.
Supernatural: Loving, loving, LOVING this show and its Apocalypse, but not over the moon about the news of its renewal for a 6th season. Are they going to extend the Apocalypse for another season? Then what's the Big Bad/ climax of this season going to be? And how much padding and filler is that going to involve? What I think could be cool is if they DID avert the Apocalypse this season, but in such a manner that the entire world found out about monsters and religion and all that, and the last season was them trying to deal with some Big Bad related to that.
Eh, I don't know, the writers have been good with overarcing plots so far, and I do still trust them. Most of all? I want Dean and Sam to get a happy ending. After the episodes with the post-angelic-possession vegetable vessels, and the old hunter in the mental institution (being pursued by a monster and everyone just assuming you're crazy and keeping you trapped = worst. nightmare. EVER.), I'm reeeeally scared the writers are going to have one or both die or end up in one of those fates, which would be WORSE, and... I want them to live happily ever after, OK?? They've been through enough!
One thing that's changed my TV viewing experience is that, lately, I've become a bit more feminist. Especially with regards to the portrayal of women in books, TV and films. Girl Genius is one of my favourite things ever for having such an awesome heroine AND female supporting characters (Zeetha, MARRY ME) and, well. We all know Heroes has Gender Equality!Fail (and Race!Fail, and is just Fail in general), Supernatural has so many problems with the victimization/sexualization of women - especially in the first season - that I'm actually embarrassed to show it to my friends, and Dollhouse, I don't even know what to think (They're constantly deliberately dressed up to be titillating! But that's what they'd be for their clients! And it's FOX! But the girls do all kick ass! They are put in sexy positions where they have little control by the men around them, but defy expectations and work to break out of their assigned roles! Is it Whedon getting crap past the FOX radar? Is it a DECONSTRUCTION of feminism?? I AM NOT SMART ENOUGH FOR THIS) - anyway, I'm just more aware of it. For example, I'm more likely to dislike an episode of How I Met Your Mother if Lily and Robin don't get much to do, or if it's focussed on Barney's 'hilarious' tricking of insecure girls into one-night stands. And I can't wait for the next series of Merlin, especially if it's Morgana and Morgause working together being eeeevil.
I don't really know where this has come from. All I know is, I'm thrilled all the original stories I've written so far passed the Bechdel Test with flying colours, before I was even aware of it. And the adventure archaeology story, which was supposed to involve the snarky romance of kick-ass heroine Dr Alexandra Scott with the dashing Daniel Johnson while they run around hunting the Lost City of Akkad, has actually transformed into the story of her friendship with her bitchin' airship pilot Tanja Jackavensca. What's the girl equivalent of a Bromance? Because I adore these two.
I've just realized the potential hypocrisy of going on about feminism in TV shows when about half my reactions to TV shows above involve how pretty one of the male cast is. Oh well, it IS our turn.
Being Human: I'm so torn about this. On the one hand, it is Good Drama, Well-Done Vampires, Werewolves and Ghosts, and the latest twist about the identity of one of the villains really caught me by surprise. But I miss when the housemates actually spent TIME together! First George was all moody, now Mitchell is off strolling through Morally Grey Land since someone DID die and made him King of the Vampires. Not to mention Nina, NOOOOOO NINA DON'T GO GETTING DEAD, and Annie stuck being invisible again after Saul in the second episode. Geez, that episode. Terry Wogan talking out of the TV was hilarious, Saul trying to push her through the door was fucking terrifying.
In short, I like the drama, but I wish the characters weren't so angry and concerned about it, because goddammit, being concerned makes Mitchell grumpy and I like HAPPY Mitchell, and happy Mitchell gives me more Mitchell/Annie fodder. HE HAS NOW SNAPPED AT HER AT LEAST TWICE. Gaahhh. The sad life of an unrequited shipper.
In conclusion: NINA DO NOT GET DEAD.
Chuck: FINALLY got series 2 on DVD. Love love love love love. Just waiting for Bryce Larkin to get back. His episode in series 1 is one of my most watched episodes of any TV series EVER. I wish I could explain it away with the interesting change in dynamic he brings to the group, the new sides of the characters we see, the advancement in the arc plot with the introduction of Fulcrum... buuuuut I am just that shallow.
Doctor Who: BYE DAVID TENNANT. The first part of your finale was clearly written on the Bad Crack, with John Simm bouncing around devouring turkeys, homeless guys and the scenery with you chasing after him, and everyone was distracted in the second part by Timothy Dalton bellowing all over the place, but... it all got very poignant in the end, you were fantastic, AND I'LL MISS YOOOOOUUUUU.
Also - I will never accept Martha/Mickey. MARTHA HAD THE HOT PAEDIATRICIAN. WHO SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR HER. I can't believe they'd break up, and the only alternative is he died when the Daleks invaded Earth in the series 4 finale, which, DO NOT WANT. In conclusion: epic denial. DR SEXY PAEDIATRICIAN NOOOOOO.
Dollhouse: So, I haven't seen any of series 2 except the amazing Priya-centric episode, but I've read the recaps on io9 and it seems to be getting AMAZING. And now I've borrowed the series 1 DVDs off trinityblack and, rewatching? They're better than I remember. It's probably from knowing the background plot I know now, and picking up on the tiny references that become big later, or just the fact I'm not paying full attention since I'm usually doing Akkadian at the same time, but... I kinda wish it wasn't being cancelled! It could have gotten much bigger. Oh well, Whedon knew what he was getting into when he went back to Fox.
Incidentally, one of my favourite bits is when Whedon goes and subverts one of his very own cliches. When Ballard's just hooked up with Mellie, and that guy comes to kill her when he's out, and the music gets all tragic and slow, and at first you think "Oh man, here goes Joss again, killing one half of a couple just as soon as they're happy", but then BAM! She's a Doll and KICKS HIS ASS. Sure, the couple is still broken up in traditional Joss fashion, but not in the way you expect.
Also - VICTOR. That actor must go on to better and brighter things, because he is AMAZING.
Heroes: Why, WHY have I been sucked back into this show. It is SO DUMB. I still haven't seen the last few episodes of series 3, with Sylar's identity crisis and the Sylarification of Nathan, but I'm actually LIKING Sylar's headfuckery of Matt (he does snarky very well) and the new improved Peter, and Cello girl. And now I HAVE to keep watching because ADAM COMES BACK AAAARGH. Only in Hiro's head, but FINALLY, CLOSURE.
But. I can't believe Peter PHONES a DEAF GIRL and LEAVES A MESSAGE. Show, SHOW. WHYYYYYY.
How I Met Your Mother: I'm still smarting about the crap handling of the BroTP. Why did they even get them together if they were just going to break them up like that?? Barney with the crush was adorable, and I understand they wanted to keep him free and single (though his behaviour towards women grates way more now), but I refuse to believe there wasn't a better way they could have handled it. I used to trust the writers whole-heartedly, but now, not so much. I've really liked the last couple of episodes, but... it's just not the same. It IS its 5th season, it shouldn't be any surprise it's getting a bit tired, but still... sadness.
Merlin: I know series 2 of this ended a while ago. I DON'T CARE. I LOVE THIS SHOW. UNASHAMEDLY. It makes me want to buy girly notebooks and cover them in ARTHUR/GWEN 4EVA. but I still love when Lancelot shows up.
Supernatural: Loving, loving, LOVING this show and its Apocalypse, but not over the moon about the news of its renewal for a 6th season. Are they going to extend the Apocalypse for another season? Then what's the Big Bad/ climax of this season going to be? And how much padding and filler is that going to involve? What I think could be cool is if they DID avert the Apocalypse this season, but in such a manner that the entire world found out about monsters and religion and all that, and the last season was them trying to deal with some Big Bad related to that.
Eh, I don't know, the writers have been good with overarcing plots so far, and I do still trust them. Most of all? I want Dean and Sam to get a happy ending. After the episodes with the post-angelic-possession vegetable vessels, and the old hunter in the mental institution (being pursued by a monster and everyone just assuming you're crazy and keeping you trapped = worst. nightmare. EVER.), I'm reeeeally scared the writers are going to have one or both die or end up in one of those fates, which would be WORSE, and... I want them to live happily ever after, OK?? They've been through enough!
One thing that's changed my TV viewing experience is that, lately, I've become a bit more feminist. Especially with regards to the portrayal of women in books, TV and films. Girl Genius is one of my favourite things ever for having such an awesome heroine AND female supporting characters (Zeetha, MARRY ME) and, well. We all know Heroes has Gender Equality!Fail (and Race!Fail, and is just Fail in general), Supernatural has so many problems with the victimization/sexualization of women - especially in the first season - that I'm actually embarrassed to show it to my friends, and Dollhouse, I don't even know what to think (They're constantly deliberately dressed up to be titillating! But that's what they'd be for their clients! And it's FOX! But the girls do all kick ass! They are put in sexy positions where they have little control by the men around them, but defy expectations and work to break out of their assigned roles! Is it Whedon getting crap past the FOX radar? Is it a DECONSTRUCTION of feminism?? I AM NOT SMART ENOUGH FOR THIS) - anyway, I'm just more aware of it. For example, I'm more likely to dislike an episode of How I Met Your Mother if Lily and Robin don't get much to do, or if it's focussed on Barney's 'hilarious' tricking of insecure girls into one-night stands. And I can't wait for the next series of Merlin, especially if it's Morgana and Morgause working together being eeeevil.
I don't really know where this has come from. All I know is, I'm thrilled all the original stories I've written so far passed the Bechdel Test with flying colours, before I was even aware of it. And the adventure archaeology story, which was supposed to involve the snarky romance of kick-ass heroine Dr Alexandra Scott with the dashing Daniel Johnson while they run around hunting the Lost City of Akkad, has actually transformed into the story of her friendship with her bitchin' airship pilot Tanja Jackavensca. What's the girl equivalent of a Bromance? Because I adore these two.
I've just realized the potential hypocrisy of going on about feminism in TV shows when about half my reactions to TV shows above involve how pretty one of the male cast is. Oh well, it IS our turn.