So ... what is a fangirl watching these days?
So many things! And most of them fabulous entertainment. Where to begin? In no particular order ... (although I have co-opted Pudsey from Children in Need to help me out as I suspect he shares many of my views with my choices as he's sporting a lovely Camelot cape :D):
Firstly: Downton Abbey. What a brilliant series. If you haven't seen this yet, it's definitely worth watching. It's set in England right before World War I: and for a taste of what's gone on? Here's a summary from Sam Wollaston of the "Guardian".
On the surface, Hugh Bonneville's character, such a frightfully nice chap, has everything - lovely house, lovely wife, three lovely daughters (well, two lovely daughters and one rather less lovely one if we're being honest). But, as we've discovered over the last few weeks, it's not quite as simple as that.
There's that blasted entail for one, hanging round his neck like a millstone. And Mmummy the dowager countess - so sublimely played by Maggie Smith - sticking her oar in wherever it will go, and lots of places it won't, too. Then daughter number one, Lady Mary, won't settle down, and people in London are saying dreadful things about her - that Mr Pamuk the Turkish gentleman popped her cherry before popping his clogs. Now it turns out it was daughter number two, Lady Edith the munter, who let the cat out of the bag. So Mary has to get Edith back by totally ruining her life. Man, these posh birds take revenge to a whole new level. And daughter number three, Lady Sybil, who is turning out to be a raving leftwing loon, wants women to get the vote! Whatever next?
Hold up though, because lovely wife Cora is up the duff again, and a male heir will solve everything. Yay, it is a boy! But boo, he's dead - murdered before he was even born by O'Brien the maid.
O'Brien's not the only below-stairs problem. The footman's up to his tricks, the cook's gone blind, the rest want out, and the driver's not just another commie but Irish as well, and combinations don't get much more dangerous than that. Oh, and Bates is a drunk and a thief. Actually he's neither, but he is an idiot (does anyone else dislike Bates's sanctimoniousness as much as I do?).
And as if that wasn't enough for poor Lord Grantham to worry about, it's also all kicking off in Europe - some hoo-ha with Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo and now we're at war with bloody Germany. Filthy bad luck.
There is one piece of good news, though: it may be over for now, but Downton Abbey will return next year."
Aside from what the Guardian said, I've adored this show because of several factors: firstly, the ensemble cast is brilliant. There are ca. eighteen main characters (if I recall correctly), and you wouldn't think that over the course of seven episodes, they could *all* get storylines such that you actually remember them all and care about them. But Downton Abbey achieved it.
And the look of the show and the attention to detail is incredible. I'm just as curious about the life of the servants as I am about the lives of the Grantham aristocracy. And with a very deft hand, they encourage you to think about what it meant to be both a servant and a member of nobility. I recommend this series without any hesitation.
Secondly, Hawaii Five-O. Talk about slashy goodness. In fact, check out this Bingo Card from Entertainment Weekly -- look at the fifth line, adjacent to the image of Kono :D. Yep. That pretty much sums it up.
Seriously though, this is my happy go-to show of the 2010 new season. Pretty boys and girls, great recurring characters, fabulous guest stars, TEAM!! (Steve and Danno and Chin and Kono are brilliant together), and -- of course -- a fabulously slashy main pairing. Seriously -- hearts in the eyes every time Steve looks at Danny. And so much more! Little Gracie steals every scene she's in, and how can you not love the gorgeousness of the Hawaiian scenery. I've never wanted to go to Hawaii before, but now...
Thirdly, Glee. We're into Series Two, and I'm still adoring the show. After a rocky start with the very visually entertaining but not Glee-like Brittany episode near the beginning, the series has returned to its roots. And hello! I love the Kurt storylines. It's also been lovely to see all of the main characters have screen time. It's no longer just the Rachel/Finn story.
Fourthly, Merlin. Yes, Series 3 has been a mixed bag of episodes to date, but there has been much to enjoy!! Hello: Bradley shirtless (over and over and over again). Colin pulling out that killer smile dozens of time. Bradley pulling the best faces ever -- seriously. Gwaine. (Seriously, Gwaine alone is reason to watch Series 3 of Merlin.) Morgause and Cendred just looking hot. Georgia King as Elena -- she would have been a worthy Queen of Camelot indeed!
Yes, the show is no longer the much more light hearted series we had in the first season, but, things must change. Nonetheless, there is still much to enjoy about the series. And I for one, was happy to hear that there will be a Series Four.
Fifthly, Hellcats. I really shouldn't enjoy this show. I mean seriously: cheerleaders at university? But, like Glee, it snuck up on me. The characters aren't predictable. Fair enough, the female protagonist "can do no wrong", but her supporting cast is *interesting*. They are very much human and their foibles show through. And even the female lead has cracks in her armour. All in all, easy to watch and entertaining. That works for me.
But rest assured, this isn't the extent of my current viewing. These are just my current top five. But I adore the next five as well :D.
So, what are *you* watching?
Firstly: Downton Abbey. What a brilliant series. If you haven't seen this yet, it's definitely worth watching. It's set in England right before World War I: and for a taste of what's gone on? Here's a summary from Sam Wollaston of the "Guardian".
On the surface, Hugh Bonneville's character, such a frightfully nice chap, has everything - lovely house, lovely wife, three lovely daughters (well, two lovely daughters and one rather less lovely one if we're being honest). But, as we've discovered over the last few weeks, it's not quite as simple as that.
There's that blasted entail for one, hanging round his neck like a millstone. And Mmummy the dowager countess - so sublimely played by Maggie Smith - sticking her oar in wherever it will go, and lots of places it won't, too. Then daughter number one, Lady Mary, won't settle down, and people in London are saying dreadful things about her - that Mr Pamuk the Turkish gentleman popped her cherry before popping his clogs. Now it turns out it was daughter number two, Lady Edith the munter, who let the cat out of the bag. So Mary has to get Edith back by totally ruining her life. Man, these posh birds take revenge to a whole new level. And daughter number three, Lady Sybil, who is turning out to be a raving leftwing loon, wants women to get the vote! Whatever next?
Hold up though, because lovely wife Cora is up the duff again, and a male heir will solve everything. Yay, it is a boy! But boo, he's dead - murdered before he was even born by O'Brien the maid.
O'Brien's not the only below-stairs problem. The footman's up to his tricks, the cook's gone blind, the rest want out, and the driver's not just another commie but Irish as well, and combinations don't get much more dangerous than that. Oh, and Bates is a drunk and a thief. Actually he's neither, but he is an idiot (does anyone else dislike Bates's sanctimoniousness as much as I do?).
And as if that wasn't enough for poor Lord Grantham to worry about, it's also all kicking off in Europe - some hoo-ha with Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo and now we're at war with bloody Germany. Filthy bad luck.
There is one piece of good news, though: it may be over for now, but Downton Abbey will return next year."
Aside from what the Guardian said, I've adored this show because of several factors: firstly, the ensemble cast is brilliant. There are ca. eighteen main characters (if I recall correctly), and you wouldn't think that over the course of seven episodes, they could *all* get storylines such that you actually remember them all and care about them. But Downton Abbey achieved it.
And the look of the show and the attention to detail is incredible. I'm just as curious about the life of the servants as I am about the lives of the Grantham aristocracy. And with a very deft hand, they encourage you to think about what it meant to be both a servant and a member of nobility. I recommend this series without any hesitation.
Secondly, Hawaii Five-O. Talk about slashy goodness. In fact, check out this Bingo Card from Entertainment Weekly -- look at the fifth line, adjacent to the image of Kono :D. Yep. That pretty much sums it up.
Seriously though, this is my happy go-to show of the 2010 new season. Pretty boys and girls, great recurring characters, fabulous guest stars, TEAM!! (Steve and Danno and Chin and Kono are brilliant together), and -- of course -- a fabulously slashy main pairing. Seriously -- hearts in the eyes every time Steve looks at Danny. And so much more! Little Gracie steals every scene she's in, and how can you not love the gorgeousness of the Hawaiian scenery. I've never wanted to go to Hawaii before, but now...
Thirdly, Glee. We're into Series Two, and I'm still adoring the show. After a rocky start with the very visually entertaining but not Glee-like Brittany episode near the beginning, the series has returned to its roots. And hello! I love the Kurt storylines. It's also been lovely to see all of the main characters have screen time. It's no longer just the Rachel/Finn story.
Fourthly, Merlin. Yes, Series 3 has been a mixed bag of episodes to date, but there has been much to enjoy!! Hello: Bradley shirtless (over and over and over again). Colin pulling out that killer smile dozens of time. Bradley pulling the best faces ever -- seriously. Gwaine. (Seriously, Gwaine alone is reason to watch Series 3 of Merlin.) Morgause and Cendred just looking hot. Georgia King as Elena -- she would have been a worthy Queen of Camelot indeed!
Yes, the show is no longer the much more light hearted series we had in the first season, but, things must change. Nonetheless, there is still much to enjoy about the series. And I for one, was happy to hear that there will be a Series Four.
Fifthly, Hellcats. I really shouldn't enjoy this show. I mean seriously: cheerleaders at university? But, like Glee, it snuck up on me. The characters aren't predictable. Fair enough, the female protagonist "can do no wrong", but her supporting cast is *interesting*. They are very much human and their foibles show through. And even the female lead has cracks in her armour. All in all, easy to watch and entertaining. That works for me.
But rest assured, this isn't the extent of my current viewing. These are just my current top five. But I adore the next five as well :D.
So, what are *you* watching?