Must see tv
So I have no life. Ergo, I watch far too much TV. This is a week in review! (May contain spoilers)
Gossip Girl S03 E02 - The Freshmen
This episode was kind of a lame duck, as far as I'm concerned. I actually like the premise of Dan being the popular one now and Blair having to claw her way up the rungs of the social latter but the execution of it really fell flat with me. Perhaps part of it was due to the machinations of Georgina - a character I've never liked even as a villian. I don't understand her motivations or why she appears to have absolutely no redeeming qualities. Tis bizarre.
I really love the Blair/Chuck moment at the end, though! They are absolutely OTP for me, to the point where I tuned out toward the end of last season because they just couldn't seem to get it together and all of their pointless drama just got to me. However their comforting snuggles after a hard day? Bless my poor little heart! Adorable!
Glee S01 E04 - Preggers
How awesome is this show? I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE. Football players dancing to Single Ladies on the field? Forget how many infractions that would cause, it was pure and unadulterated awesome.
I loved pretty much everything about this episode. The Cheerleading Coach's spot on the local TV news. Kurt's gutwrenching confession and his father's honest but loving response. The fact that both Finn and Puck wanted to do right by Quinn and the baby. (The fact that Finn is so gullible and naive that he actually bought the hot tub story!) Even Rachel's hissy fit. (I love it when a character has big, gaping flaws that help to define who they are. It doesn't make her unlovable, it's just makes her less than perfect.)
I really like that this show has chosen to start by painting their characters with such broad, stereotypical strokes and then slowly begin to define them with finer brushes into fully-rendered, three dimensional human beings. At least that seems to be the way it's heading. I mean, for all it's silliness, that part is true to life. We don't see people with much nuance when we first meet them. We make sprawling assumptions we often need to be disabused of as we get to know them better. This is pretty much perfect.
I might be the only person who likes Will's wife's fake pregnancy at the moment, but I think it's a curious story line and I'm intrigued to know how it will play out. Staying tuned, for sure!
Modern Family S01 E01 - Pilot
I received an email a few weeks ago inviting me to preview this show but never bothered because it looked like just another of those stupid stereotypical sitcoms (of which there have been too many and none of which I've ever liked). But some extremely glowing reviews by critics I trust caused to give it another look and I am impressed!
It basically follows three families that could be stereotypes except that somehow the writing manages to turn things on their heads. It's similar to The Office in that it's a mockumentary with cut-away scenes to characters explaining their behavior (often to much hilarity). I fear you might have to actually watch the 1/2 hour show yourself to really understand what I'm talking about but absolutely I recommend that you do!
Supernatural S05 E03 - Free To Be You And Me
A warning: I just starting watching Supernatural this season at the behest of my BFF who loves the show like no other. I haven't gone back at watched the previous seasons and am still not sure if I will. If I do, it'll probably only be the last one. I don't exactly care for the demon hunting element. What I do enjoy immensely is the heaven vs hell / interfering, malevolent angels aspect.
I really liked Dean and Castiel's interaction in this episode, but also Sam's angst and the pretty blond recovering alcoholic who tried to coax the truth out of him. Of course, the best part was definitely finding out at the end that Dean is Lucifer's true vessel or whatever. You know this makes a Dean vs. Sam / Michael vs. Lucifer show down at the end absolutely, positively unavoidable, right? The writers wouldn't set up that kind of perfect scenario only to forgo it. Definitely tuning in again next week :)
Merlin S02 E02 - The Once and Future Queen.
Oh, Merlin, how I've missed thee! Last week's episode had me completely re-immersed in the fandom and all of it's kick-assery (check my delicious for some great new recs!). I love this stupid show like whoa.
Unfortunately no, this week's episode title sadly does not refer to Arthur but rather the lovely Guinevere. Yes, my friends, we have at last arrived at the inevitable Gwen/Arthur portion of the show. Can't say I was really looking forward to it - if you watch this show and are not a huge Arthur/Merlin shipper, idek what's wrong with you - but I honestly must admit it was rather well done. I do think it would be hard for even the pairing's most ardent supporters to deny that their relationship progressed a bit too fast - from first real pangs of attraction to kiss to we can never be all in one episode - but the actors made it as believable as they could given the shitty pacing. The kiss scene itself was ridiculously pretty and by the end my heart did ache a little for their parting. (Don't worry, Gwen. Yes, things will change once he's king and you two can be together! Also, you will cheat on him and run off with his mate. Oops.)
Arthur and Merlin's relationship, however, remains a point of frustration. It's seemingly taken about four giant and confusing leaps backward - steps which the writers have failed to justify (like, at all). I fear they have to correct this and quick or they might lose people. (My BFF actually complained last week about how the regression of their relationship was putting her off.)
I loved Merlin blowing up at Gaius over how much he does for everyone and how little respect/recognition he gets for it. Merlin is more benevolent and patient than most, but I imagine putting up with that much bullshit gets old eventually. I'm thinking that this might actually be the reason for the writers emphasizing Arthur's pratliness in the past couple episodes - they're setting the stage for a big blow-out moment between the two of them. It's an interesting prospect and at least it would give a reason (if not an excuse) for Arthur's behavior.
Really, Arthur's behavior just in general has been kind of strange. I guess in this episode it can be chalked up to him wanting to impress Gwen, but it honestly seemed like he took absolutely none of what she said to heart except for in the last 5 minutes of the show. And while Arthur can be extremely prideful, he's never come off as a lying, apathetic a-hole. It all just seemed slightly OOC to the Arthur they were building toward the end of the last season. Idek *shrugs*
Anyhow, next week's episode looks good. So I'm crossing my fingers.
P.S. I love how everyone's breaking out their relevant fandom icons for this post. You guys are awesome <3
Gossip Girl S03 E02 - The Freshmen
This episode was kind of a lame duck, as far as I'm concerned. I actually like the premise of Dan being the popular one now and Blair having to claw her way up the rungs of the social latter but the execution of it really fell flat with me. Perhaps part of it was due to the machinations of Georgina - a character I've never liked even as a villian. I don't understand her motivations or why she appears to have absolutely no redeeming qualities. Tis bizarre.
I really love the Blair/Chuck moment at the end, though! They are absolutely OTP for me, to the point where I tuned out toward the end of last season because they just couldn't seem to get it together and all of their pointless drama just got to me. However their comforting snuggles after a hard day? Bless my poor little heart! Adorable!
Glee S01 E04 - Preggers
How awesome is this show? I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE. Football players dancing to Single Ladies on the field? Forget how many infractions that would cause, it was pure and unadulterated awesome.
I loved pretty much everything about this episode. The Cheerleading Coach's spot on the local TV news. Kurt's gutwrenching confession and his father's honest but loving response. The fact that both Finn and Puck wanted to do right by Quinn and the baby. (The fact that Finn is so gullible and naive that he actually bought the hot tub story!) Even Rachel's hissy fit. (I love it when a character has big, gaping flaws that help to define who they are. It doesn't make her unlovable, it's just makes her less than perfect.)
I really like that this show has chosen to start by painting their characters with such broad, stereotypical strokes and then slowly begin to define them with finer brushes into fully-rendered, three dimensional human beings. At least that seems to be the way it's heading. I mean, for all it's silliness, that part is true to life. We don't see people with much nuance when we first meet them. We make sprawling assumptions we often need to be disabused of as we get to know them better. This is pretty much perfect.
I might be the only person who likes Will's wife's fake pregnancy at the moment, but I think it's a curious story line and I'm intrigued to know how it will play out. Staying tuned, for sure!
Modern Family S01 E01 - Pilot
I received an email a few weeks ago inviting me to preview this show but never bothered because it looked like just another of those stupid stereotypical sitcoms (of which there have been too many and none of which I've ever liked). But some extremely glowing reviews by critics I trust caused to give it another look and I am impressed!
It basically follows three families that could be stereotypes except that somehow the writing manages to turn things on their heads. It's similar to The Office in that it's a mockumentary with cut-away scenes to characters explaining their behavior (often to much hilarity). I fear you might have to actually watch the 1/2 hour show yourself to really understand what I'm talking about but absolutely I recommend that you do!
Supernatural S05 E03 - Free To Be You And Me
A warning: I just starting watching Supernatural this season at the behest of my BFF who loves the show like no other. I haven't gone back at watched the previous seasons and am still not sure if I will. If I do, it'll probably only be the last one. I don't exactly care for the demon hunting element. What I do enjoy immensely is the heaven vs hell / interfering, malevolent angels aspect.
I really liked Dean and Castiel's interaction in this episode, but also Sam's angst and the pretty blond recovering alcoholic who tried to coax the truth out of him. Of course, the best part was definitely finding out at the end that Dean is Lucifer's true vessel or whatever. You know this makes a Dean vs. Sam / Michael vs. Lucifer show down at the end absolutely, positively unavoidable, right? The writers wouldn't set up that kind of perfect scenario only to forgo it. Definitely tuning in again next week :)
Merlin S02 E02 - The Once and Future Queen.
Oh, Merlin, how I've missed thee! Last week's episode had me completely re-immersed in the fandom and all of it's kick-assery (check my delicious for some great new recs!). I love this stupid show like whoa.
Unfortunately no, this week's episode title sadly does not refer to Arthur but rather the lovely Guinevere. Yes, my friends, we have at last arrived at the inevitable Gwen/Arthur portion of the show. Can't say I was really looking forward to it - if you watch this show and are not a huge Arthur/Merlin shipper, idek what's wrong with you - but I honestly must admit it was rather well done. I do think it would be hard for even the pairing's most ardent supporters to deny that their relationship progressed a bit too fast - from first real pangs of attraction to kiss to we can never be all in one episode - but the actors made it as believable as they could given the shitty pacing. The kiss scene itself was ridiculously pretty and by the end my heart did ache a little for their parting. (Don't worry, Gwen. Yes, things will change once he's king and you two can be together! Also, you will cheat on him and run off with his mate. Oops.)
Arthur and Merlin's relationship, however, remains a point of frustration. It's seemingly taken about four giant and confusing leaps backward - steps which the writers have failed to justify (like, at all). I fear they have to correct this and quick or they might lose people. (My BFF actually complained last week about how the regression of their relationship was putting her off.)
I loved Merlin blowing up at Gaius over how much he does for everyone and how little respect/recognition he gets for it. Merlin is more benevolent and patient than most, but I imagine putting up with that much bullshit gets old eventually. I'm thinking that this might actually be the reason for the writers emphasizing Arthur's pratliness in the past couple episodes - they're setting the stage for a big blow-out moment between the two of them. It's an interesting prospect and at least it would give a reason (if not an excuse) for Arthur's behavior.
Really, Arthur's behavior just in general has been kind of strange. I guess in this episode it can be chalked up to him wanting to impress Gwen, but it honestly seemed like he took absolutely none of what she said to heart except for in the last 5 minutes of the show. And while Arthur can be extremely prideful, he's never come off as a lying, apathetic a-hole. It all just seemed slightly OOC to the Arthur they were building toward the end of the last season. Idek *shrugs*
Anyhow, next week's episode looks good. So I'm crossing my fingers.
P.S. I love how everyone's breaking out their relevant fandom icons for this post. You guys are awesome <3