accidentally a few too many feelings about TV shows.
Can we talk about the Blacklist? Because I really want to talk about the Blacklist.
I will totally admit that I started watching it because James Spader trolling the universe and being affably evil is too great an opportunity to pass up, but it turns out that the show is actually made of things that are catnip for me in a way I didn't expect at all and I'm not even sure how to deal with it.
On the surface, it's pseudo-procedural; the gist is that Raymond Reddington, one of the FBI's ten most wanted turns himself in, carrying a list in his head of Very Bad People that should be taken out; he will work only with one specific profiler (Elizabeth Keen). This is TV logic and made me yell at the screen a fair bit in the first couple of episodes, but no, really, I think it's genuinely worth it.
The thing about this show that I find so desperately compelling is that it's all about loyalty, honor, and the places they intersect. I've said before, a few times, that one of my favorite character themes is the ones who will walk into hell with their eyes wide open in service of a greater good, and this show is absolutely made of that. The different ways that the different characters have each other's backs, the camaraderie between the team members (ask me how much I love well-functioning teams), the many and hilarious ways that Red can manipulate a situation to his own advantage--it's fucking awesome.
It's a show that rewards binge viewing and close attention; we watched all of season 2 in the space of about a week and watching all the little pieces fit together is fantastic.
Stuff I love: I love the agents on the task force. I love to hate the villains. I absolutely flat adore James Spader trolling everyone. I love the way the show sets up little things and then hits you between the eyes with how important that throwaway line was two episodes later. I love that the villains are smart and everybody has contingency plans; yeah, the good guys will probably win (depending on your definition of "good guys"; the villains are definitely worse than the protagonists but sometimes one does wonder, and I love that.) I love things like the show taking on the concept of when it is OK to shield something behind classification/national security vs. sunshine laws (my job gives me an infinite number of feelings about FOIA requests and what they should and shouldn't do.) I love the tiny details of a show set in DC. Have I mentioned that I love Red trolling things? I love the way the characters are evolving and compromising and deciding what they're willing to live with (and that the show pulls that straight out and talks about it instead of just pretending the audience should accept it.)
Things I'm not so fond of: at least three times per season I'm screeching because logic doesn't work that way or god fucking damn it procedures are in place to STOP SHIT LIKE THIS stop making drama out of stupidity. The Blacklist is generally less bad than NCIS (and spin-offs) and Criminal Minds about Magical Computer Tricks but it still does it sometimes. Red is a little too competent to be believable (but that's part of his charm; there's always an exit strategy and always an end game.) Sometimes I don't care for the particular way Keen's emotional reactions are done.
But overall I find it a really fascinating, compelling show.
and now I'm going to screech enthusiastically and spoilertastically about something from the end of Season 2: HOLY FUCKING SHIT MR. KAPLAN IS ELIZABETH'S MOTHER. Red called her "Kate" in 2x19, and then two episodes later in 2x21 we find out that Liz's mother was a Soviet mythical spy named Katarina Rostova. KATE. Holy shit. HOLY SHIT.
Also I am screaming and weeping forever at Red being Liz's sin-eater. I can't. I JUST CAN'T GODDAMN IT.
So, yeah, I have Feelings about this show that I didn't expect. I meant to just be here for James Spader trolling. why am I so emotionally compromised and invested? We just don't know.
I've posted this at http://lassarina.dreamwidth.org/1128482.html and you may comment there or here. On Dreamwidth, this entry has
comments.
I will totally admit that I started watching it because James Spader trolling the universe and being affably evil is too great an opportunity to pass up, but it turns out that the show is actually made of things that are catnip for me in a way I didn't expect at all and I'm not even sure how to deal with it.
On the surface, it's pseudo-procedural; the gist is that Raymond Reddington, one of the FBI's ten most wanted turns himself in, carrying a list in his head of Very Bad People that should be taken out; he will work only with one specific profiler (Elizabeth Keen). This is TV logic and made me yell at the screen a fair bit in the first couple of episodes, but no, really, I think it's genuinely worth it.
The thing about this show that I find so desperately compelling is that it's all about loyalty, honor, and the places they intersect. I've said before, a few times, that one of my favorite character themes is the ones who will walk into hell with their eyes wide open in service of a greater good, and this show is absolutely made of that. The different ways that the different characters have each other's backs, the camaraderie between the team members (ask me how much I love well-functioning teams), the many and hilarious ways that Red can manipulate a situation to his own advantage--it's fucking awesome.
It's a show that rewards binge viewing and close attention; we watched all of season 2 in the space of about a week and watching all the little pieces fit together is fantastic.
Stuff I love: I love the agents on the task force. I love to hate the villains. I absolutely flat adore James Spader trolling everyone. I love the way the show sets up little things and then hits you between the eyes with how important that throwaway line was two episodes later. I love that the villains are smart and everybody has contingency plans; yeah, the good guys will probably win (depending on your definition of "good guys"; the villains are definitely worse than the protagonists but sometimes one does wonder, and I love that.) I love things like the show taking on the concept of when it is OK to shield something behind classification/national security vs. sunshine laws (my job gives me an infinite number of feelings about FOIA requests and what they should and shouldn't do.) I love the tiny details of a show set in DC. Have I mentioned that I love Red trolling things? I love the way the characters are evolving and compromising and deciding what they're willing to live with (and that the show pulls that straight out and talks about it instead of just pretending the audience should accept it.)
Things I'm not so fond of: at least three times per season I'm screeching because logic doesn't work that way or god fucking damn it procedures are in place to STOP SHIT LIKE THIS stop making drama out of stupidity. The Blacklist is generally less bad than NCIS (and spin-offs) and Criminal Minds about Magical Computer Tricks but it still does it sometimes. Red is a little too competent to be believable (but that's part of his charm; there's always an exit strategy and always an end game.) Sometimes I don't care for the particular way Keen's emotional reactions are done.
But overall I find it a really fascinating, compelling show.
and now I'm going to screech enthusiastically and spoilertastically about something from the end of Season 2: HOLY FUCKING SHIT MR. KAPLAN IS ELIZABETH'S MOTHER. Red called her "Kate" in 2x19, and then two episodes later in 2x21 we find out that Liz's mother was a Soviet mythical spy named Katarina Rostova. KATE. Holy shit. HOLY SHIT.
Also I am screaming and weeping forever at Red being Liz's sin-eater. I can't. I JUST CAN'T GODDAMN IT.
So, yeah, I have Feelings about this show that I didn't expect. I meant to just be here for James Spader trolling. why am I so emotionally compromised and invested? We just don't know.
I've posted this at http://lassarina.dreamwidth.org/1128482.html and you may comment there or here. On Dreamwidth, this entry has
comments.