Apparently, all good things...
Had another boring Ultimate game today. I dunno what it is, but when I play, I either feel incredibly bored and entirely unmotivated to put forth any effort, especially on offense or I feel this ecstatic energy and feel like I can run forever. I think it might have something to do with who I'm playing with: if there's camaraderie I'm more likely to keep my head in the game. I love my med school team for this reason. But when I play Tuesday pickup, I talk to virtually no one on my team and I get bored and make stupid plays and embarassingly absentminded mistakes that I shudder to reminisce about.
But enough about that. Television is a much more interesting topic.
I remembered reading somewhere that John Simm is one of the few actors who can tearfully hug a TV and make the whole thing not look ridiculous. The amazing thing is that, during those scenes, the thought that "this really should look ridiculous" never even thought of crossing my mind. If this isn't indication of talent, I don't know what is.
But, instead of Life on Mars, I've been mainlining Boston Legal for the past few days. I have seasons 2 and 3 on DVD and have exhausted those. I started watching season 4 online and it made me realize that the first three seasons really were the golden era for this show. Especially season 3, I think. Jeffrey Coho was a fun antagonist and Claire Simms probably has the most depth and character development that I've ever seen given to a female character. And her relationship with Clarice was beautiful. Lincoln Meyer was creepily delicious and everything I look for in a villain (I doubt any furniture was left unchewed). Brad and Denise were perfect for each other and their antics (starting in season 2 with that whole priest debacle) were phenomenal with Denise trying to be the straight (wo)man to Brad's overconfidence and craziness and failing miserably because she has her own foibles and ticks. Even Paul Lewiston grew on me. He was given the unenviable role as designated driver in a firm full of employees just this side of sane, a role which he shouldered admirably well in that he kept the ship afloat without forcing everyone to conform to "normal workplace behavior". In short, the entire cast of minor characters made turned what would have been a solid show about the friendship between the two main characters into an outstanding series that is as engaging as it is witty.
But then season 4 rolls around and Brad and Denise are effectively gone. So is Claire (did we ever get closure as to her and Clarice's relationship? I really should start watching things in order). And Lewiston. And we get Carl Sack, a man who seems like he's from a completely different dimension until you realize that, no, he's absolutely normal. In fact, he is exactly what you would get if you threw a senior partner from a firm in real life into Crane, Poole, & Schmidt and it kind of sucks the fun out of everything. I wish I could think of a good metaphor, but in a show where everyone is their own particular type of crazy, crazy becomes the standard and the viewer falls into the mindset that this is how things are supposed to be. Throw in Sack, and...I hate to say this, but it all seems a bit...pathetic? From a writer's standpoint, I have no idea why Mr Kelley decided to have a character like Sack because it throws into sharp relief just how (delightfully) absurd the entire firm is and the contrast between Sack and everyone else is really grating. I hate every scene with him in it. My best guess is that he was brought in as a straight-man replacement for Lewiston because someone needs to voice the obligatory voice of reason, but Lewiston never gave the air of a person who really expected anyone to listen and he went about his role with a resignation and acceptance. Sack really thinks he can, and should, change the firm. And even when he allows the characters to carry on as they normally would, he's still so normal and upright that he's boring at best and offensive to the part of me that loves ridiculousness at worst.
Yes. I just ranted, at length, about a fictional law firm.
But not just any law firm. No, Crane, Poole, &Schmidt is definitely something special.
EDIT: Yes, I described Lincoln Meyer as "creepily delicious". I hope to God that wasn't an actually Freudian slip because I really meant to say "deliciously creepy" in the way that the best villains are (Nii Jianyi, The Master, Hans Gruber, etc). I also used the word "fool" instead of "full" when describing how insane the characters are, but thankfully caught that error in time. Wow. I really need to go to bed.
On an additional note before I do, I looked up Lincoln Meyer's actor and he is so normal! Ugh! I LOVE fantastic actors!!!
But enough about that. Television is a much more interesting topic.
I remembered reading somewhere that John Simm is one of the few actors who can tearfully hug a TV and make the whole thing not look ridiculous. The amazing thing is that, during those scenes, the thought that "this really should look ridiculous" never even thought of crossing my mind. If this isn't indication of talent, I don't know what is.
But, instead of Life on Mars, I've been mainlining Boston Legal for the past few days. I have seasons 2 and 3 on DVD and have exhausted those. I started watching season 4 online and it made me realize that the first three seasons really were the golden era for this show. Especially season 3, I think. Jeffrey Coho was a fun antagonist and Claire Simms probably has the most depth and character development that I've ever seen given to a female character. And her relationship with Clarice was beautiful. Lincoln Meyer was creepily delicious and everything I look for in a villain (I doubt any furniture was left unchewed). Brad and Denise were perfect for each other and their antics (starting in season 2 with that whole priest debacle) were phenomenal with Denise trying to be the straight (wo)man to Brad's overconfidence and craziness and failing miserably because she has her own foibles and ticks. Even Paul Lewiston grew on me. He was given the unenviable role as designated driver in a firm full of employees just this side of sane, a role which he shouldered admirably well in that he kept the ship afloat without forcing everyone to conform to "normal workplace behavior". In short, the entire cast of minor characters made turned what would have been a solid show about the friendship between the two main characters into an outstanding series that is as engaging as it is witty.
But then season 4 rolls around and Brad and Denise are effectively gone. So is Claire (did we ever get closure as to her and Clarice's relationship? I really should start watching things in order). And Lewiston. And we get Carl Sack, a man who seems like he's from a completely different dimension until you realize that, no, he's absolutely normal. In fact, he is exactly what you would get if you threw a senior partner from a firm in real life into Crane, Poole, & Schmidt and it kind of sucks the fun out of everything. I wish I could think of a good metaphor, but in a show where everyone is their own particular type of crazy, crazy becomes the standard and the viewer falls into the mindset that this is how things are supposed to be. Throw in Sack, and...I hate to say this, but it all seems a bit...pathetic? From a writer's standpoint, I have no idea why Mr Kelley decided to have a character like Sack because it throws into sharp relief just how (delightfully) absurd the entire firm is and the contrast between Sack and everyone else is really grating. I hate every scene with him in it. My best guess is that he was brought in as a straight-man replacement for Lewiston because someone needs to voice the obligatory voice of reason, but Lewiston never gave the air of a person who really expected anyone to listen and he went about his role with a resignation and acceptance. Sack really thinks he can, and should, change the firm. And even when he allows the characters to carry on as they normally would, he's still so normal and upright that he's boring at best and offensive to the part of me that loves ridiculousness at worst.
Yes. I just ranted, at length, about a fictional law firm.
But not just any law firm. No, Crane, Poole, &Schmidt is definitely something special.
EDIT: Yes, I described Lincoln Meyer as "creepily delicious". I hope to God that wasn't an actually Freudian slip because I really meant to say "deliciously creepy" in the way that the best villains are (Nii Jianyi, The Master, Hans Gruber, etc). I also used the word "fool" instead of "full" when describing how insane the characters are, but thankfully caught that error in time. Wow. I really need to go to bed.
On an additional note before I do, I looked up Lincoln Meyer's actor and he is so normal! Ugh! I LOVE fantastic actors!!!