TV Watching Round-Up
Time for another update on what I've been watching.
But first, this
Because its so amazing.
Now, for the what I'm watching, in no particular order
SUPERNATURAL
I wasn't a huge fan of the premiere episode, as I felt it was a bit choppy and slow, and I also felt the script wasn't as sharp and witty as is the norm for this show. But, I loved the 2nd episode a lot. I think Jared Padalecki is doing a great job, and to me, he's come along so well as an actor. I remember not thinking much of him in the early seasons, but I think he's owned the last 2. I felt so bad for him, when he's trying to ignore the Devil in the room, but his eyes kept darting nervously over to where it appeared he was sitting. Dean and Bobby have been solid thus far, but I'm going to miss Castiel on a more regular basis. I'm still a little on the fence over this new Leviathon threat, only because it feels a little been-there-done-that to me, but its still early.
PAN AM
There's no doubt that this show looks amazing. And the 4 lead actresses are both attractive and engaging. Unfortunately the pilot was dead boring, and I'm not even sure what this is supposed to be about. Spy stewardess? Family angst? Falling for the wrong guys on flights? Pretty girls trying to be taken seriously? Sexism in the workplace? See, I really don't know. Also, not one male actor in the pilot was even remotely interesting, particularly the hot shot pilot who looks about 22, which would make it highly unlikely that he'd have been given command over a brand new fancy airplane. But, like I said, looks great. Will I watch it again? Only if tonights Homeland premiere doesn't work for me.
BOARDWALK EMPIRE
This is a really good series. I don't love it like I've loved previous HBO series, Deadwood, Rome or Carnivale, or current series Game of Thrones. And its not brain crack like True Blood. But there's no denying the quality in this series, and Steve Buscemi is a great lead. The show is full of really A-game actors, with Jack Huston a standout as the damaged Richard. I do feel like the women on this show aren't nearly as interesting as the men, and I wish that was addressed. Both Aleksa Palladino and Paz de la Huerta could disappear from the show tomorrow, and I'm not sure you'd even feel a ripple. I love the conflict they set up last season, and are continuing on this season.
TERRA NOVA
Too much family angst and whining teenagers, not enough dinosaurs. I guess that shouldn't surprise me since they are on a TV budget, but it wouldn't be such an issue if the former wasn't so damned boring. Jason O'Mara, who is normally a strong, solid actor seems out of his element for some reason, and its terribly distracting that his wife looks about the same age as their teenager daughter. And does every single damned show have to have the mouthy, rebellous teen? I would like teenagers banned from all my shows please! I'm going to stick with it for now, but the pilot only rated a Eh, OK.
GLEE
OK, last year I said I was done with Glee, and I sort of am. What I've been doing is DVR'ing it, and then watching it later with one finger on the FF button. I do think the show is trying to correct some mistakes it made last year, but my problem still remains. I just don't like the characters who are the "chosen ones" on this show. I can't stand Rachel. Since they've turned Kurt into a Saint/Martyr, he's so hard to take. And the Rachel/Kurt friendship makes me want to spork my eyeballs. Finn is a cipher, and is always exponentially less interesting when he's dating Rachel. I love Darren Criss, but I think I'm still waiting for Blaine to become a real character, with flaws and dimensions. Its great to see Quinn and Puck getting a storyline that addresses the baby they had together, but I'm afraid to invest in anything with these characters, b/c the writers don't really care about them, and thus write them with little consistency or care. Its a very flawed show with mediocre writing, and great musical numbers.
NEW GIRL
The first episode was cute, but not particularly funny, but I thought the second one was much funnier. I really missed Damon Wayans Jr though, and if Happy Endings doesn't get a third season, I hope they'll bring him back. I think my favorite character might be her girlfriend, the model.
RINGER
Oh, come on, this show is pretty terrible, though its 3rd episode was its best. Ioan Gruffudd remains the bright spot, but I guess I'm just not feeling what SMG is putting down. She still feels uncomfortably miscast to me in this vehicle. Its very soapy, so I can see what that might appeal to some folks, but I think soap operas sense of the ridiculous doesn't always translate well to late night television. I have to laugh at everytime SMG takes this enormous gun out of her purse and stares at it with furrowed brow.
SONS OF ANARCHY
I'm going to dub this season "When is Clay going to freaking die?" So far, I don't know what to feel about the current storyline. If there is significant and long lasting fall-out over all this, then its worth it. If its just going to get swept under the rug ala the hit that killed Opie's wife 2 years ago, then I'm going call Foul! I've never been a big fan of Clay, but at this point he's completely loathesome. And Jax, who should be our touchstone character, is being a total selfish jackass who prefers running drugs for a cartel over having to let his wife be the breadwinner for a few years while they figure things out. And speaking of Tara, can she just freaking do something? Anything? What a dish rag of a character. And I'm just not buying the storyline with Juice at all. But, I've never loved Bobby or Piney more then I do this season, and Opie is still my guy. I think this storyline could be great, but only if the writers are courageous enough to go where this storyline really needs to go.
REVENGE
My favorite of any of the new shows I've watched. I've never thought much of Emily Van Camp, but I think she's doing a great job. I just love when she does that pretty smile, and then when no one is watching her, she goes all steely and cold. This is another new show that looks fantastic, but its got good substance as well as style. And the cast of actors works for me almost completely (points off for obnoxious teenagers, Again!). One of the things I was worried about with this series was that the premise would not have a lot of places to go, but having watched 3 eps, I think I'm really seeing more and more possibilities here. Highly recommended.
PROJECT RUNWAY
Its not really a great group this year, is it? I think Anya is a good designer, but I'm just not as in love with her as the judges are. I have a soft spot for Bert. Since we're down to 6, I've already picked my top 3, Victor, Anya and Bert. And its not that the 3 of them are so great, its that the other 3 remaining, Josh (so fucking annoying), Laura and Kimberly are so damned mediocre, the possibility of them making the finals makes my eye twitch.
ARCHER
Its finished its special 3 ep run with a very funny episode. Rip can stay!
Tonight, I try Showtime's Homeland to see what I think. And Walking Dead is back in a few weeks! I'm excited. Bring on the Zombies!
And I end this post with this sentiment....OK Mr Welling, you're really starting to cheese me off now. Time to get back in front of the camera, NOW!
But first, this
Because its so amazing.
Now, for the what I'm watching, in no particular order
SUPERNATURAL
I wasn't a huge fan of the premiere episode, as I felt it was a bit choppy and slow, and I also felt the script wasn't as sharp and witty as is the norm for this show. But, I loved the 2nd episode a lot. I think Jared Padalecki is doing a great job, and to me, he's come along so well as an actor. I remember not thinking much of him in the early seasons, but I think he's owned the last 2. I felt so bad for him, when he's trying to ignore the Devil in the room, but his eyes kept darting nervously over to where it appeared he was sitting. Dean and Bobby have been solid thus far, but I'm going to miss Castiel on a more regular basis. I'm still a little on the fence over this new Leviathon threat, only because it feels a little been-there-done-that to me, but its still early.
PAN AM
There's no doubt that this show looks amazing. And the 4 lead actresses are both attractive and engaging. Unfortunately the pilot was dead boring, and I'm not even sure what this is supposed to be about. Spy stewardess? Family angst? Falling for the wrong guys on flights? Pretty girls trying to be taken seriously? Sexism in the workplace? See, I really don't know. Also, not one male actor in the pilot was even remotely interesting, particularly the hot shot pilot who looks about 22, which would make it highly unlikely that he'd have been given command over a brand new fancy airplane. But, like I said, looks great. Will I watch it again? Only if tonights Homeland premiere doesn't work for me.
BOARDWALK EMPIRE
This is a really good series. I don't love it like I've loved previous HBO series, Deadwood, Rome or Carnivale, or current series Game of Thrones. And its not brain crack like True Blood. But there's no denying the quality in this series, and Steve Buscemi is a great lead. The show is full of really A-game actors, with Jack Huston a standout as the damaged Richard. I do feel like the women on this show aren't nearly as interesting as the men, and I wish that was addressed. Both Aleksa Palladino and Paz de la Huerta could disappear from the show tomorrow, and I'm not sure you'd even feel a ripple. I love the conflict they set up last season, and are continuing on this season.
TERRA NOVA
Too much family angst and whining teenagers, not enough dinosaurs. I guess that shouldn't surprise me since they are on a TV budget, but it wouldn't be such an issue if the former wasn't so damned boring. Jason O'Mara, who is normally a strong, solid actor seems out of his element for some reason, and its terribly distracting that his wife looks about the same age as their teenager daughter. And does every single damned show have to have the mouthy, rebellous teen? I would like teenagers banned from all my shows please! I'm going to stick with it for now, but the pilot only rated a Eh, OK.
GLEE
OK, last year I said I was done with Glee, and I sort of am. What I've been doing is DVR'ing it, and then watching it later with one finger on the FF button. I do think the show is trying to correct some mistakes it made last year, but my problem still remains. I just don't like the characters who are the "chosen ones" on this show. I can't stand Rachel. Since they've turned Kurt into a Saint/Martyr, he's so hard to take. And the Rachel/Kurt friendship makes me want to spork my eyeballs. Finn is a cipher, and is always exponentially less interesting when he's dating Rachel. I love Darren Criss, but I think I'm still waiting for Blaine to become a real character, with flaws and dimensions. Its great to see Quinn and Puck getting a storyline that addresses the baby they had together, but I'm afraid to invest in anything with these characters, b/c the writers don't really care about them, and thus write them with little consistency or care. Its a very flawed show with mediocre writing, and great musical numbers.
NEW GIRL
The first episode was cute, but not particularly funny, but I thought the second one was much funnier. I really missed Damon Wayans Jr though, and if Happy Endings doesn't get a third season, I hope they'll bring him back. I think my favorite character might be her girlfriend, the model.
RINGER
Oh, come on, this show is pretty terrible, though its 3rd episode was its best. Ioan Gruffudd remains the bright spot, but I guess I'm just not feeling what SMG is putting down. She still feels uncomfortably miscast to me in this vehicle. Its very soapy, so I can see what that might appeal to some folks, but I think soap operas sense of the ridiculous doesn't always translate well to late night television. I have to laugh at everytime SMG takes this enormous gun out of her purse and stares at it with furrowed brow.
SONS OF ANARCHY
I'm going to dub this season "When is Clay going to freaking die?" So far, I don't know what to feel about the current storyline. If there is significant and long lasting fall-out over all this, then its worth it. If its just going to get swept under the rug ala the hit that killed Opie's wife 2 years ago, then I'm going call Foul! I've never been a big fan of Clay, but at this point he's completely loathesome. And Jax, who should be our touchstone character, is being a total selfish jackass who prefers running drugs for a cartel over having to let his wife be the breadwinner for a few years while they figure things out. And speaking of Tara, can she just freaking do something? Anything? What a dish rag of a character. And I'm just not buying the storyline with Juice at all. But, I've never loved Bobby or Piney more then I do this season, and Opie is still my guy. I think this storyline could be great, but only if the writers are courageous enough to go where this storyline really needs to go.
REVENGE
My favorite of any of the new shows I've watched. I've never thought much of Emily Van Camp, but I think she's doing a great job. I just love when she does that pretty smile, and then when no one is watching her, she goes all steely and cold. This is another new show that looks fantastic, but its got good substance as well as style. And the cast of actors works for me almost completely (points off for obnoxious teenagers, Again!). One of the things I was worried about with this series was that the premise would not have a lot of places to go, but having watched 3 eps, I think I'm really seeing more and more possibilities here. Highly recommended.
PROJECT RUNWAY
Its not really a great group this year, is it? I think Anya is a good designer, but I'm just not as in love with her as the judges are. I have a soft spot for Bert. Since we're down to 6, I've already picked my top 3, Victor, Anya and Bert. And its not that the 3 of them are so great, its that the other 3 remaining, Josh (so fucking annoying), Laura and Kimberly are so damned mediocre, the possibility of them making the finals makes my eye twitch.
ARCHER
Its finished its special 3 ep run with a very funny episode. Rip can stay!
Tonight, I try Showtime's Homeland to see what I think. And Walking Dead is back in a few weeks! I'm excited. Bring on the Zombies!
And I end this post with this sentiment....OK Mr Welling, you're really starting to cheese me off now. Time to get back in front of the camera, NOW!