First thoughts on this year's telly premieres ...
Now that I've finally recovered from jetlag, a cold I picked up somewhere in an airport, and an insane couple of work weeks on top of that, I've had the chance to start catching up on the fall premieres and season beginnings. Below the cut, my first thoughts.
Despite its ups and downs, I still love this show. When it gets it right, it *gets* it right. And Blaine's proposal to Kurt in the season premiere was one of those moments. I've been a Kurt/Blaine gal since the moment Blaine appeared on the scene and couldn't have been happier with the proposal. And seriously -- how does Darren Criss make such cheesy lines believable? I was totally misty eyed over the following:
"My soul knew something that my body and my mind didn't know. It knew that our hands were meant to hold each other fearlessly and forever. Which is why it's never really felt like I was getting to know you, it's always felt like I was remembering you from something. As if in every lifetime you and I have ever lived we've chosen to come back and find each other and fall in love all over again, over and over again for all eternity. And I just feel so lucky that I've found you so soon in this lifetime because all I want to do, all I've ever wanted to do, is spend my life loving you. So, Kurt Hummel, my amazing friend, my one true love, Will you marry me?"
I was also very much moved by the Cory Monteith tribute episode. As fans, we needed a chance to say goodbye to both Cory and Finn. And the episode managed to achieve that. The moment they started singing "Seasons of Love" as the first song in the episode I was in tears. For some reason I was expecting them to close with that song, but, in hindsight, what an apropos beginning to the episode. And then it was song after perfect song choice until we got to the end. And bless. How Lea Michelle managed that rendition of "Make You Feel My Love" I have no idea. It was one of those moments when that fourth wall disappeared perfectly. That performance was by Rachel/Lea for all of us, for the cast and crew, and for her.
I've quite enjoyed "Elementary" on its own as a procedural detective show during the first season. I think JLM and LL are excellent actors and have really made the difference between the show being mediocre versus being interesting. Give me "Elementary" in New York, and I can buy it. I still think that Sherlock and Joan should have been given different names and I would have believed in their story more, but fine: I'll suspend my disbelief. In fact, I quite liked their take on Moriarty and Mrs. Hudson (although having said that, now that they've introduced those characters and effectively dealt with their storylines, what more is there?).
But when you took the "Elementary" characters to London and introduced their version of Mycroft and Lestrade into the storyline, it felt wrong. In particular, the canon when it comes to Mycroft is that: "Occasionally he is the British government [...] the most indispensable man in the country." Not the case in this episode (or at least there was no indication of that). As for Lestrade, well, suffice it to say, their version of Lestrade just rocked me the wrong way. Again in canon, he's a well respected policeman who does benefit from Sherlock's deductions. But not in the way suggested in this episode. Frankly, this episode suggested that he was nothing without Sherlock's deductions. Maybe I read the episode wrong, but those were my feelings.
Hmm. I didn't realize I felt so strongly! So, to summarize, although I quite enjoy watching "Elementary"on its own, I don't really consider it as part of the Sherlock world.
I've watched three episodes so far and frankly, I'm really rather meh about it. And that pains me because this is Joss Whedon. And Joss creates brilliant characters! I loved his take on "Avengers" and frankly, until now, have loved all of his t.v. shows. But "S.H.E.I.L.D" just isn't working for me. I adore Coulson and May and think the science twins are great. But I have real issues with Ward and Skye. Never in a Whedon show (to the best of my recollection) has there been an ensemble which just doesn't work. But this ensemble doesn't -- for me. I find Skye to be nothing but annoying at best and Ward isn't doing much better. And I can't quite place my finger on why I feel this way. The storylines haven't been particularly compelling either which doesn't help. I haven't quite given up, but I'm not optimstic.
. You know. I feel bad just writing those words. "Atlantis". To me, those words bring back fond memories of the days of "SGA: Atlantis". Even at its worst, it was still entertaining and silly and had characters I cared about from Day One. Not the case with the new "Atlantis". After "Merlin"'s demise, it wasn't long before the J's were signed up to create the next big Saturday tea time family show. Now, although the J's failed in many ways, they still created an overall entertaining show which captivated so many of us from the very beginning. So, despite my misgivings, I was willing to give the show a chance. Three eps in, I'm nearly at the point of throwing the towel in (I'm already at the stage of only watching it on BBC iPlayer catch up).
Firstly, frankly, there's not a single character I care about at this stage and plot? What plot? Oh! You mean the same plot three weeks running. Jason, Hercules and Pythagoras get into trouble. Jason, Hercules and Pythagorus get out of trouble. Other characters drop in and out with wooden performances (or such OTT performances that you're waiting for the chorus to sing "He's behind you!" in proper pantomime style -- looking at Juliet Stevenson and Sarah Parish in particular). And poor Alexander Siddig -- so wasted as an actor to date.
Considering the production team and all their talk about what they've learned from Merlin and how they're going to make "Atlantis" an even darker version of the story, to date, I haven't seen it. All I've seen is bad scripts, bad acting, bad sets, way, way way too much CGI such that the show doesn't have a natural atmosphere, and no chemistry between the actors. And apparently, I'm not the only one. DenofGeeks did an interesting of the first three eps of "Merlin" and "Atlantis". I'm largely in agreement with their assessment. We'll see, but I'm not optimistic at all.
So. This show came out of nowhere! I hadn't read about it anywhere, only watched it when I saw it being recced elsewhere. And I absolutely love it! It's an NBC creation starting James Spader as Raymond "Red" Reddington, one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives. He's known for brokering deals for criminals and is called the "The Concierge of Crime". After years of brokering, he's apparently turned the other cheek and wants to bring down some of the terrorists and criminals he's helped over the years -- particularly the ones on "The Blacklist". And thus begins the story.
I find the setup intriguing and Spader is brilliant -- as always. And the balance of the ensemble is very good. I'm particularly happy to see Harry Lennix back (having grown fond of him as Boyd on "Dollhouse"). Three eps in, I'm intrigued and looking forward to the next installment. Definitely at the top of my list when it comes to new shows. If I had to describe it, I'd probably call it a delicious blend of "White Collar", "Hannibal" and "Breaking Bad". Well worth a go.
How does Ryan Murphy do it? Oh! I know. Jessica Lange. Sarah Paulson. Frances Conroy. Lily Rabe. And now Kathy Bates. (Plus so many others including a fierce Angela Bassett in -- most likely -- a mere cameo). So, take a bunch of witches, put them in New Orleans, add in the actors above, mix with a bit of magic and ta dah -- you've got a thoroughly entertaining hour of telly. I've watched both the previous seasons of AHS and enjoyed them. Predicting what's going to happen? Don't even bother. Just enjoy the ride. And so far, "Coven" is set to follow the trend. I'll be tuned in :).
I had no expectations when I started watching the first episode. It's the story of Dr. Masters and Virginia Johnson and begins when they first met in the late 50s as Dr. Masters is beginning his studies of human sexuality. It's a compelling story and I found myself quickly drawn in. Virginia's character is strongly fleshed out, very quickly, and the groundwork for her professional and personal relationship with Masters is laid out beautifully. Although it's only three eps in, one senses that Virginia is going to be more than Master's match. Interestingly, the showrunner is Michelle Ashford and she's advised that the majority of the writers are female -- not planned, just happened. That seems to be rare on telly these days. Let's see how it all plays out.
And as for the others (as I watch far too many shows), here are my executive non-spoilery thoughts:
Nashville -- still loving it. Strong women stay strong!
Chicago Fire -- my silly soap which continues to entertain me.
Person of Interest -- mixed feelings. Not enough Finch. Still deliberating on the new characters.
The Walking Dead -- love, love, love. Keep it coming. After the lacklustre 2nd season, the show found its pace last year and has kept going. (And Daryl Dixon -- I want him on my Zombie Apocalypse Team along with Michonne.)
Sleepy Hollow -- unlike many, I haven't been fully drawn in yet. Entertaining, yes. But, we'll see.
Arrow -- for what was supposed to a silly little show, you've grown up. Loving it.
Once Upon a Time -- stay OTT and you'll keep me entertained.
Supernatural -- Castiel! And Tahmok Penikett!! That will keep me happy :).
Homeland -- this would have been an utterly brilliant show if it had ended after Season One. With a big boom. It feels like it's living on borrowed time.
Despite its ups and downs, I still love this show. When it gets it right, it *gets* it right. And Blaine's proposal to Kurt in the season premiere was one of those moments. I've been a Kurt/Blaine gal since the moment Blaine appeared on the scene and couldn't have been happier with the proposal. And seriously -- how does Darren Criss make such cheesy lines believable? I was totally misty eyed over the following:
"My soul knew something that my body and my mind didn't know. It knew that our hands were meant to hold each other fearlessly and forever. Which is why it's never really felt like I was getting to know you, it's always felt like I was remembering you from something. As if in every lifetime you and I have ever lived we've chosen to come back and find each other and fall in love all over again, over and over again for all eternity. And I just feel so lucky that I've found you so soon in this lifetime because all I want to do, all I've ever wanted to do, is spend my life loving you. So, Kurt Hummel, my amazing friend, my one true love, Will you marry me?"
I was also very much moved by the Cory Monteith tribute episode. As fans, we needed a chance to say goodbye to both Cory and Finn. And the episode managed to achieve that. The moment they started singing "Seasons of Love" as the first song in the episode I was in tears. For some reason I was expecting them to close with that song, but, in hindsight, what an apropos beginning to the episode. And then it was song after perfect song choice until we got to the end. And bless. How Lea Michelle managed that rendition of "Make You Feel My Love" I have no idea. It was one of those moments when that fourth wall disappeared perfectly. That performance was by Rachel/Lea for all of us, for the cast and crew, and for her.
I've quite enjoyed "Elementary" on its own as a procedural detective show during the first season. I think JLM and LL are excellent actors and have really made the difference between the show being mediocre versus being interesting. Give me "Elementary" in New York, and I can buy it. I still think that Sherlock and Joan should have been given different names and I would have believed in their story more, but fine: I'll suspend my disbelief. In fact, I quite liked their take on Moriarty and Mrs. Hudson (although having said that, now that they've introduced those characters and effectively dealt with their storylines, what more is there?).
But when you took the "Elementary" characters to London and introduced their version of Mycroft and Lestrade into the storyline, it felt wrong. In particular, the canon when it comes to Mycroft is that: "Occasionally he is the British government [...] the most indispensable man in the country." Not the case in this episode (or at least there was no indication of that). As for Lestrade, well, suffice it to say, their version of Lestrade just rocked me the wrong way. Again in canon, he's a well respected policeman who does benefit from Sherlock's deductions. But not in the way suggested in this episode. Frankly, this episode suggested that he was nothing without Sherlock's deductions. Maybe I read the episode wrong, but those were my feelings.
Hmm. I didn't realize I felt so strongly! So, to summarize, although I quite enjoy watching "Elementary"on its own, I don't really consider it as part of the Sherlock world.
I've watched three episodes so far and frankly, I'm really rather meh about it. And that pains me because this is Joss Whedon. And Joss creates brilliant characters! I loved his take on "Avengers" and frankly, until now, have loved all of his t.v. shows. But "S.H.E.I.L.D" just isn't working for me. I adore Coulson and May and think the science twins are great. But I have real issues with Ward and Skye. Never in a Whedon show (to the best of my recollection) has there been an ensemble which just doesn't work. But this ensemble doesn't -- for me. I find Skye to be nothing but annoying at best and Ward isn't doing much better. And I can't quite place my finger on why I feel this way. The storylines haven't been particularly compelling either which doesn't help. I haven't quite given up, but I'm not optimstic.
. You know. I feel bad just writing those words. "Atlantis". To me, those words bring back fond memories of the days of "SGA: Atlantis". Even at its worst, it was still entertaining and silly and had characters I cared about from Day One. Not the case with the new "Atlantis". After "Merlin"'s demise, it wasn't long before the J's were signed up to create the next big Saturday tea time family show. Now, although the J's failed in many ways, they still created an overall entertaining show which captivated so many of us from the very beginning. So, despite my misgivings, I was willing to give the show a chance. Three eps in, I'm nearly at the point of throwing the towel in (I'm already at the stage of only watching it on BBC iPlayer catch up).
Firstly, frankly, there's not a single character I care about at this stage and plot? What plot? Oh! You mean the same plot three weeks running. Jason, Hercules and Pythagoras get into trouble. Jason, Hercules and Pythagorus get out of trouble. Other characters drop in and out with wooden performances (or such OTT performances that you're waiting for the chorus to sing "He's behind you!" in proper pantomime style -- looking at Juliet Stevenson and Sarah Parish in particular). And poor Alexander Siddig -- so wasted as an actor to date.
Considering the production team and all their talk about what they've learned from Merlin and how they're going to make "Atlantis" an even darker version of the story, to date, I haven't seen it. All I've seen is bad scripts, bad acting, bad sets, way, way way too much CGI such that the show doesn't have a natural atmosphere, and no chemistry between the actors. And apparently, I'm not the only one. DenofGeeks did an interesting of the first three eps of "Merlin" and "Atlantis". I'm largely in agreement with their assessment. We'll see, but I'm not optimistic at all.
So. This show came out of nowhere! I hadn't read about it anywhere, only watched it when I saw it being recced elsewhere. And I absolutely love it! It's an NBC creation starting James Spader as Raymond "Red" Reddington, one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives. He's known for brokering deals for criminals and is called the "The Concierge of Crime". After years of brokering, he's apparently turned the other cheek and wants to bring down some of the terrorists and criminals he's helped over the years -- particularly the ones on "The Blacklist". And thus begins the story.
I find the setup intriguing and Spader is brilliant -- as always. And the balance of the ensemble is very good. I'm particularly happy to see Harry Lennix back (having grown fond of him as Boyd on "Dollhouse"). Three eps in, I'm intrigued and looking forward to the next installment. Definitely at the top of my list when it comes to new shows. If I had to describe it, I'd probably call it a delicious blend of "White Collar", "Hannibal" and "Breaking Bad". Well worth a go.
How does Ryan Murphy do it? Oh! I know. Jessica Lange. Sarah Paulson. Frances Conroy. Lily Rabe. And now Kathy Bates. (Plus so many others including a fierce Angela Bassett in -- most likely -- a mere cameo). So, take a bunch of witches, put them in New Orleans, add in the actors above, mix with a bit of magic and ta dah -- you've got a thoroughly entertaining hour of telly. I've watched both the previous seasons of AHS and enjoyed them. Predicting what's going to happen? Don't even bother. Just enjoy the ride. And so far, "Coven" is set to follow the trend. I'll be tuned in :).
I had no expectations when I started watching the first episode. It's the story of Dr. Masters and Virginia Johnson and begins when they first met in the late 50s as Dr. Masters is beginning his studies of human sexuality. It's a compelling story and I found myself quickly drawn in. Virginia's character is strongly fleshed out, very quickly, and the groundwork for her professional and personal relationship with Masters is laid out beautifully. Although it's only three eps in, one senses that Virginia is going to be more than Master's match. Interestingly, the showrunner is Michelle Ashford and she's advised that the majority of the writers are female -- not planned, just happened. That seems to be rare on telly these days. Let's see how it all plays out.
And as for the others (as I watch far too many shows), here are my executive non-spoilery thoughts:
Nashville -- still loving it. Strong women stay strong!
Chicago Fire -- my silly soap which continues to entertain me.
Person of Interest -- mixed feelings. Not enough Finch. Still deliberating on the new characters.
The Walking Dead -- love, love, love. Keep it coming. After the lacklustre 2nd season, the show found its pace last year and has kept going. (And Daryl Dixon -- I want him on my Zombie Apocalypse Team along with Michonne.)
Sleepy Hollow -- unlike many, I haven't been fully drawn in yet. Entertaining, yes. But, we'll see.
Arrow -- for what was supposed to a silly little show, you've grown up. Loving it.
Once Upon a Time -- stay OTT and you'll keep me entertained.
Supernatural -- Castiel! And Tahmok Penikett!! That will keep me happy :).
Homeland -- this would have been an utterly brilliant show if it had ended after Season One. With a big boom. It feels like it's living on borrowed time.