Hey Everyone :)
Wow, its been a long time. Sadly, I don't have much to say these days. I guess all I had to talk about was Smallville, and I don't have that much more to say about that.
Its an odd thing, because I really did think that I would have a lot more to say about Smallville when it was over. I figured new ideas would pop into my head, and I'd be asking you folks odd questions, and spurring new conversations. But the reality is that I haven't felt much inspiration to do that. I guess I really wasn't kidding when I said that Smallville just wore me down over the last few seasons. And the last season left me totally underwhelmed and unsatisfied. And when I do think about Smallville, all I can seem to dwell on is all the things I wish they'd done differently. Done better.
Which is really strange when you consider that both the new Superman movie, and the new comics Superman seem to be borrowing heavily from ideas and themes that Smallville used just recently.
Sometimes, I wish I could write fanfic because I really would love to put my own ending on the 10 years of series that I watched. The Smallville ending just didn't quite work for me. I know saying this is the kind of thing that draws a bulls eye on your back, but since the show is over I don't care. SV's Clark and Lois? Nope, not buying that as a forever love. I've tried and tried to make it work in my head, but it just doesn't. Of course, its miles more believable then Chloe and Oliver, but I like to tell myself that Clark has little to nothing to do with those two post-SV, so it doesn't quite nag at me in the same way.
But, SV is what it is, and was what it was. I've been doing a very random re-watch fairly regularly, watching eps out of order, from all the seasons. And its made something very clear to me. I'm pretty much an up-through-S5 kind of gal. I love, LOVE the early seasons. Its also quite a trip when you do watch randomly, and realize how many times the show retread the same ground over and over and over again. For instance, in S1's Rogue, Clark loses his temper, and threatens Phelan, and later tells his dad that he wanted to kill him, and he was close, but he didn't. In S4's Pariah, Clark is so distraught by Alicia's murder that he seems intent on doing the same to her murderer, but he stops (with the help of Lois). In S5's Vengeance, Clark still reeling from the death of his father comes close to delivering a fatal brand of justice to Martha's attacker, but he stops himself. In S6's Combat, Clark questions his own motives for wanting to get into the ring with Titan. Later, in the S6 finale, Phantom, Clark goes after Lionel when he finds out that Lionel blackmailed Lana into marrying Lex by threatening to kill him.
Now, mind you, I'm not ragging on Clark, just trying to make a point about the SV writing.
Then, we start off S10 where we have Clark tempted to take out Lex clone (but he stops himself), and AI Jor-El is appalled (he didn't bother being appalled previously), and Clark says "I now know I have it in me to kill". And see, that's my point. He freaking knew that IN SEASON ONE.
Sorry, sorry, I'm retreading ground here, I know. I guess I just wanted to share one of the things I've taken away from my random rewatch. Another thing? Clark and Lana were an intense duo, and their relationship is quite different to watch in retrospect. And Tom and Kristin? Did a lot of really fine work together. I can find them both, individually and collectively, frustrating, but I never question the intensity of the feelings there. A problem that dogged me through S10's Clois. Also, I miss when I still I liked Chloe.
But, lets move on.
Remember when I was all excited about watching Falling Skies? Yeah, well, so much for that. I'm still watching because its only an 8 episode commitment, but man, this show isn't good at all. First of all, it looks shockingly cheap. The writing is full of tired old cliches, and rarely has an interesting or original moment. The cast as a whole is weak, with Noah Wyle being a solid leading actor, but not nearly as strong or charismatic as he needs to be to raise this show up. And Sarah Carter (SV's Alicia) is miscast in a role she feels too old for. I keep hoping its going to get better, and since its been renewed for a 2nd season, maybe improvements can be made (they desperately NEED some strong characters and actors added). But, I doubt I'd watch a 2nd season.
One show that I've not been a big fan of, but that I'm liking more and more this season is True Blood. I don't always know whats going on, having only sporadically watched it in the past, but this year, its really entertaining. Sookie is more likable (as is ImprovedLesbian!Tara). I love what they're doing with Eric. Bill works better as King then Sookie's boyfriend. I can't put my finger on it precisely, but its a much more entertaining show.
Sadly, nothing new announced for Tom Welling, but I think I always figured he'd take the summer off. If this continues onto fall, consider me officially panicked. In fact, of the SV regulars, it seems only Erica moved on to another gig, with Cassidy having filmed a pilot that we won't see until next year (?). I'm sure Michael is keeping himself busy. Justin, Allison and Kristin don't seem to have any new irons in the fire at the moment.
Sadly, the new crop of shows upcoming in the fall leave me cold. I'm going to try The New Girl, even though I loathe sitcoms. But Zooey Deschanel is seriously adorable. I might check out Pan Am, because I like the nostalgic look of it. Maybe Prime Suspect, though I really think Helen Mirren left shoes impossible to fill. The River might be good, but then again, it looks like one of those shows that's mystery upon mystery, with no answers, which is tiresome. I'm going to check out the dinosaur show, Terra Nova, even though it looks pretty bad. But I do love me some dinosaurs. Come fall, I have the return of Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy to look forward. And come mid-season, I'm anxious to check out the Ashley Judd show Missing, and the update of John Grisham's The Firm (starring a longtime fav of mine, Josh Lucas). Also Justified will return. Game of Thrones will probably have to wait until April or May. So, I guess I'll have some things to watch. And who knows, sometimes you just stumble on a show that works for you. I hope that will happen to me.
As for this summer, I've been keeping busy with the insanity at work, and trying to get to the beach as much as I can on the weekends. I even have a tan!! As a pasty white half-Irish gal, that's an accomplishment.
So, how has everyone else been? Tell me a story :)
Its an odd thing, because I really did think that I would have a lot more to say about Smallville when it was over. I figured new ideas would pop into my head, and I'd be asking you folks odd questions, and spurring new conversations. But the reality is that I haven't felt much inspiration to do that. I guess I really wasn't kidding when I said that Smallville just wore me down over the last few seasons. And the last season left me totally underwhelmed and unsatisfied. And when I do think about Smallville, all I can seem to dwell on is all the things I wish they'd done differently. Done better.
Which is really strange when you consider that both the new Superman movie, and the new comics Superman seem to be borrowing heavily from ideas and themes that Smallville used just recently.
Sometimes, I wish I could write fanfic because I really would love to put my own ending on the 10 years of series that I watched. The Smallville ending just didn't quite work for me. I know saying this is the kind of thing that draws a bulls eye on your back, but since the show is over I don't care. SV's Clark and Lois? Nope, not buying that as a forever love. I've tried and tried to make it work in my head, but it just doesn't. Of course, its miles more believable then Chloe and Oliver, but I like to tell myself that Clark has little to nothing to do with those two post-SV, so it doesn't quite nag at me in the same way.
But, SV is what it is, and was what it was. I've been doing a very random re-watch fairly regularly, watching eps out of order, from all the seasons. And its made something very clear to me. I'm pretty much an up-through-S5 kind of gal. I love, LOVE the early seasons. Its also quite a trip when you do watch randomly, and realize how many times the show retread the same ground over and over and over again. For instance, in S1's Rogue, Clark loses his temper, and threatens Phelan, and later tells his dad that he wanted to kill him, and he was close, but he didn't. In S4's Pariah, Clark is so distraught by Alicia's murder that he seems intent on doing the same to her murderer, but he stops (with the help of Lois). In S5's Vengeance, Clark still reeling from the death of his father comes close to delivering a fatal brand of justice to Martha's attacker, but he stops himself. In S6's Combat, Clark questions his own motives for wanting to get into the ring with Titan. Later, in the S6 finale, Phantom, Clark goes after Lionel when he finds out that Lionel blackmailed Lana into marrying Lex by threatening to kill him.
Now, mind you, I'm not ragging on Clark, just trying to make a point about the SV writing.
Then, we start off S10 where we have Clark tempted to take out Lex clone (but he stops himself), and AI Jor-El is appalled (he didn't bother being appalled previously), and Clark says "I now know I have it in me to kill". And see, that's my point. He freaking knew that IN SEASON ONE.
Sorry, sorry, I'm retreading ground here, I know. I guess I just wanted to share one of the things I've taken away from my random rewatch. Another thing? Clark and Lana were an intense duo, and their relationship is quite different to watch in retrospect. And Tom and Kristin? Did a lot of really fine work together. I can find them both, individually and collectively, frustrating, but I never question the intensity of the feelings there. A problem that dogged me through S10's Clois. Also, I miss when I still I liked Chloe.
But, lets move on.
Remember when I was all excited about watching Falling Skies? Yeah, well, so much for that. I'm still watching because its only an 8 episode commitment, but man, this show isn't good at all. First of all, it looks shockingly cheap. The writing is full of tired old cliches, and rarely has an interesting or original moment. The cast as a whole is weak, with Noah Wyle being a solid leading actor, but not nearly as strong or charismatic as he needs to be to raise this show up. And Sarah Carter (SV's Alicia) is miscast in a role she feels too old for. I keep hoping its going to get better, and since its been renewed for a 2nd season, maybe improvements can be made (they desperately NEED some strong characters and actors added). But, I doubt I'd watch a 2nd season.
One show that I've not been a big fan of, but that I'm liking more and more this season is True Blood. I don't always know whats going on, having only sporadically watched it in the past, but this year, its really entertaining. Sookie is more likable (as is ImprovedLesbian!Tara). I love what they're doing with Eric. Bill works better as King then Sookie's boyfriend. I can't put my finger on it precisely, but its a much more entertaining show.
Sadly, nothing new announced for Tom Welling, but I think I always figured he'd take the summer off. If this continues onto fall, consider me officially panicked. In fact, of the SV regulars, it seems only Erica moved on to another gig, with Cassidy having filmed a pilot that we won't see until next year (?). I'm sure Michael is keeping himself busy. Justin, Allison and Kristin don't seem to have any new irons in the fire at the moment.
Sadly, the new crop of shows upcoming in the fall leave me cold. I'm going to try The New Girl, even though I loathe sitcoms. But Zooey Deschanel is seriously adorable. I might check out Pan Am, because I like the nostalgic look of it. Maybe Prime Suspect, though I really think Helen Mirren left shoes impossible to fill. The River might be good, but then again, it looks like one of those shows that's mystery upon mystery, with no answers, which is tiresome. I'm going to check out the dinosaur show, Terra Nova, even though it looks pretty bad. But I do love me some dinosaurs. Come fall, I have the return of Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy to look forward. And come mid-season, I'm anxious to check out the Ashley Judd show Missing, and the update of John Grisham's The Firm (starring a longtime fav of mine, Josh Lucas). Also Justified will return. Game of Thrones will probably have to wait until April or May. So, I guess I'll have some things to watch. And who knows, sometimes you just stumble on a show that works for you. I hope that will happen to me.
As for this summer, I've been keeping busy with the insanity at work, and trying to get to the beach as much as I can on the weekends. I even have a tan!! As a pasty white half-Irish gal, that's an accomplishment.
So, how has everyone else been? Tell me a story :)