entry about tv
Okay, I gotta throw a shout-out to Ryan Seacrest. Kill me now; I've been watching a little American Idol this season, and you know? I thought he was an obnoxious little tool, but he can actually hold his own. Kudos, Seacrest, for rising slightly above Carson Daly walking mouthpiece level.
The people I wanted to win on Beauty and the Geek didn't. *sniff*
And now I've been meaning to say something about Lost. From the beginning, this show has been pretty uneven. Though despite my complete ambivalence toward this show, this season, I've become completely obsessed with the fic. But anyway...
There have been few good eps this season. 'The Long Con' was one. And putting aside the dodgness of Claire's randomly returning memories and the lurking incompetency of abandoning their own flashback device (geez, Claire's only *had* one backstory episode!), last week's episode had potential. It made me think, anyway. See, I like "high concept" and I like themes. No, I do. I like them in GA, even, where they have mini-themes every episode and everything has some cheesy overtone. I like them in BSG, which is a very thematic show. Lost doesn't do them half so well as BSG, and plus there are no spaceships (though knowing J.J. Abrams, or at least going by his other shows as examples, I wouldn't rule it out completely *g*) ...so most the time, I could care less about analyzing the "clues" because I have absolutely no confidence that they are ever getting anywhere. Sorry, but again, may I point to the examples of J.J. Abrams' other shows? Neither of them ended well...or even gracefully (yes, I watched Felicty and no, I've already given up on Alias). So yeah. I don't get too emotionally involved in Lost. Of course, they keep killing people off, so it's really better for me if I don't. Have I mentioned I don't understand why shows try so hard to put their fans through the wringer these days? I guess it's a perverted attempt to actually attract that emotional involvement--there are a lot of people who just WATCH movies and TV, without interacting with the subject matter, caring what human issues are involved, and only marginally how one plot point gets to the next (and let me tell you, those people drive me NUTS)--but what does it say of people who allow a show to get them emotionally wound-up to the point of being devastated by a fictional character's peril or death? Seriously. It doesn't sound that healthy when you put it that way, does it? Anyway.
My major issues with Lost:
1. It isn't brave when a show kills off people. It's brave when they work to turn a character's storyline around. It's brave when they don't know where to take a character so they forge a new path. That's the kind of writing I like. I don't respect a show that kills off characters willy-nilly, and the writers and producers of Lost can justify all they want, but people aren't going to be fooled forever, you know? It makes it even worse that they *know* there are lines they cannot cross and people they absolutely cannot kill off if they don't want to lose big chunks of their audience. It isn't fair. It isn't edgy. It's a load of crap.
2. I like the idea of a bunch of mad scientists controlling the perceptions and fears of these people. But for me to enjoy that concept (and like I said, I *like* high concept), I have to see more of it than the unspoken implication of a wig and the tools of a makeup artist in an abandoned closet found by Kate. So far, Lost hasn't been big on following up on clues quickly or in a satisfactory manner. I wasn't one of the people upset by the non-reveal of the season one finale, mind you. I guess I hold off from judgement longer than most people--which usually just means I get the message a little later.
3. The mysterious nature of Locke, Eko, and Sayid. I wasn't exactly sold on the idea of Locke=spiritual vs. Jack=science dichotomy we were fed earlier this season. For one thing, I don't actually believe there *should* be a big unbridgable gap between science and faith, but I do think it's an interesting concept (there's that word again) to explore. It should be, anyway. The devices (like the button) they use to give Jack and Locke something to react to are terrific. But they try to get too much mileage out of them. They keep teasing us with this idea that Locke and Jack are going to be truly at odds with each other, but then they throw in this guy ("Henry Gale from Minnesota") to plant very deliberate seeds of strife, devil-like, in Locke's ear--and Locke goes for it with a dramatic flare of ego (where he ever got the idea he and Jack made decisions "together" I have NO idea) and none of the Locke-zen we might have come to expect. Sometimes I like that we have no idea what Locke's, Eko's, or (since Shannon) even Sayid's motivations are. Other times, I think it's just lazy storytelling. *They* (the writers) don't know, so they'll leave it up to us to guess. That's just plain ridiculous. I just plain can't respect myself for allowing them to manipulate me like that.
4. Sawyer. I usually have a ready defense for Sawyer and his motives, but the potential that I'm reading some kind of anti-communist manifesto into Sawyer that the Lost producers have no idea is there is far, far too great to make it a good reason for me to continue watching.
5. Kate. I have no idea who Kate is. I liked her from the start, and then she turned out not to be who I thought. Which I can accept--except that I've been waiting all this time for them to replace my expectations with something else, and I still don't have any insight into her character at all. That's not why I watch television. I like high concept, but I like characters even more and in the end, they're *far* more significant.
So you see, there are plenty of reasons why I shouldn't still be watching this. And yet, somehow--at least when it's not up against something I like better--I still am. Sigh. eta: I guess it's pretty obvious, due to my fondness for the fic, that for me they still haven't completely passed the point of no return. I do still think there's potential to bring the concept back on track. Do I think it's *likely*? No. But I'm an eternal optimist, damnit. /eta
TV is evil.
Actually, it's probably good that 24 put these 2 episodes together, because if the first hour was the only episode of the week, people would have been throwing fits. It was boring. It was a lot of setup. And does anybody think Jack is maybe going a little TOO far over the edge? There was a hint of "oh, gee, here I am screaming at defenseless [woman, child, my girlfriend's husband, sex slave minor, fillintheblank] again" when he started yelling at Christopher's wife. How many times have we seen a scene like that already?
But anyway.
Not to be all passive-agressive on the LoTR geeks or anything, but HAHAHA, Samwise gets his! Ahem. Do we know if he made it out alive?
Edgar's death was a little dramatic, but I was spoiled for it (not by choice) so I can't really be objective.
And there was Kim. I have a feeling I'm REALLY going to regret ever wanting her to come back. Though Chloe telling her to get over herself (not in so many words, but close enough, since Chloe rocks like that) was cool. Ordinarly I would assume Jack would not take too much guff off that psychiatrist dude, but add Kim's attitude into the mix and I don't know. I guess it's good to wonder what happens next.
Prison Break and 24 will make an excellent pair.
And the X3 trailer that aired during the second half was exxxxcellent.
Since I snuck a comment about movies in there, here are a couple more links: I love the Year of the Superman page, if only for the Superman franchise trailer. Awesome integration of all the Supermans. Light on the Superman Returns footage, of course, but that really can't be helped.
Here's a good article about the next James Bond movie. Yes, yet another franchise I just can't quit. *snicker*
The people I wanted to win on Beauty and the Geek didn't. *sniff*
And now I've been meaning to say something about Lost. From the beginning, this show has been pretty uneven. Though despite my complete ambivalence toward this show, this season, I've become completely obsessed with the fic. But anyway...
There have been few good eps this season. 'The Long Con' was one. And putting aside the dodgness of Claire's randomly returning memories and the lurking incompetency of abandoning their own flashback device (geez, Claire's only *had* one backstory episode!), last week's episode had potential. It made me think, anyway. See, I like "high concept" and I like themes. No, I do. I like them in GA, even, where they have mini-themes every episode and everything has some cheesy overtone. I like them in BSG, which is a very thematic show. Lost doesn't do them half so well as BSG, and plus there are no spaceships (though knowing J.J. Abrams, or at least going by his other shows as examples, I wouldn't rule it out completely *g*) ...so most the time, I could care less about analyzing the "clues" because I have absolutely no confidence that they are ever getting anywhere. Sorry, but again, may I point to the examples of J.J. Abrams' other shows? Neither of them ended well...or even gracefully (yes, I watched Felicty and no, I've already given up on Alias). So yeah. I don't get too emotionally involved in Lost. Of course, they keep killing people off, so it's really better for me if I don't. Have I mentioned I don't understand why shows try so hard to put their fans through the wringer these days? I guess it's a perverted attempt to actually attract that emotional involvement--there are a lot of people who just WATCH movies and TV, without interacting with the subject matter, caring what human issues are involved, and only marginally how one plot point gets to the next (and let me tell you, those people drive me NUTS)--but what does it say of people who allow a show to get them emotionally wound-up to the point of being devastated by a fictional character's peril or death? Seriously. It doesn't sound that healthy when you put it that way, does it? Anyway.
My major issues with Lost:
1. It isn't brave when a show kills off people. It's brave when they work to turn a character's storyline around. It's brave when they don't know where to take a character so they forge a new path. That's the kind of writing I like. I don't respect a show that kills off characters willy-nilly, and the writers and producers of Lost can justify all they want, but people aren't going to be fooled forever, you know? It makes it even worse that they *know* there are lines they cannot cross and people they absolutely cannot kill off if they don't want to lose big chunks of their audience. It isn't fair. It isn't edgy. It's a load of crap.
2. I like the idea of a bunch of mad scientists controlling the perceptions and fears of these people. But for me to enjoy that concept (and like I said, I *like* high concept), I have to see more of it than the unspoken implication of a wig and the tools of a makeup artist in an abandoned closet found by Kate. So far, Lost hasn't been big on following up on clues quickly or in a satisfactory manner. I wasn't one of the people upset by the non-reveal of the season one finale, mind you. I guess I hold off from judgement longer than most people--which usually just means I get the message a little later.
3. The mysterious nature of Locke, Eko, and Sayid. I wasn't exactly sold on the idea of Locke=spiritual vs. Jack=science dichotomy we were fed earlier this season. For one thing, I don't actually believe there *should* be a big unbridgable gap between science and faith, but I do think it's an interesting concept (there's that word again) to explore. It should be, anyway. The devices (like the button) they use to give Jack and Locke something to react to are terrific. But they try to get too much mileage out of them. They keep teasing us with this idea that Locke and Jack are going to be truly at odds with each other, but then they throw in this guy ("Henry Gale from Minnesota") to plant very deliberate seeds of strife, devil-like, in Locke's ear--and Locke goes for it with a dramatic flare of ego (where he ever got the idea he and Jack made decisions "together" I have NO idea) and none of the Locke-zen we might have come to expect. Sometimes I like that we have no idea what Locke's, Eko's, or (since Shannon) even Sayid's motivations are. Other times, I think it's just lazy storytelling. *They* (the writers) don't know, so they'll leave it up to us to guess. That's just plain ridiculous. I just plain can't respect myself for allowing them to manipulate me like that.
4. Sawyer. I usually have a ready defense for Sawyer and his motives, but the potential that I'm reading some kind of anti-communist manifesto into Sawyer that the Lost producers have no idea is there is far, far too great to make it a good reason for me to continue watching.
5. Kate. I have no idea who Kate is. I liked her from the start, and then she turned out not to be who I thought. Which I can accept--except that I've been waiting all this time for them to replace my expectations with something else, and I still don't have any insight into her character at all. That's not why I watch television. I like high concept, but I like characters even more and in the end, they're *far* more significant.
So you see, there are plenty of reasons why I shouldn't still be watching this. And yet, somehow--at least when it's not up against something I like better--I still am. Sigh. eta: I guess it's pretty obvious, due to my fondness for the fic, that for me they still haven't completely passed the point of no return. I do still think there's potential to bring the concept back on track. Do I think it's *likely*? No. But I'm an eternal optimist, damnit. /eta
TV is evil.
Actually, it's probably good that 24 put these 2 episodes together, because if the first hour was the only episode of the week, people would have been throwing fits. It was boring. It was a lot of setup. And does anybody think Jack is maybe going a little TOO far over the edge? There was a hint of "oh, gee, here I am screaming at defenseless [woman, child, my girlfriend's husband, sex slave minor, fillintheblank] again" when he started yelling at Christopher's wife. How many times have we seen a scene like that already?
But anyway.
Not to be all passive-agressive on the LoTR geeks or anything, but HAHAHA, Samwise gets his! Ahem. Do we know if he made it out alive?
Edgar's death was a little dramatic, but I was spoiled for it (not by choice) so I can't really be objective.
And there was Kim. I have a feeling I'm REALLY going to regret ever wanting her to come back. Though Chloe telling her to get over herself (not in so many words, but close enough, since Chloe rocks like that) was cool. Ordinarly I would assume Jack would not take too much guff off that psychiatrist dude, but add Kim's attitude into the mix and I don't know. I guess it's good to wonder what happens next.
Prison Break and 24 will make an excellent pair.
And the X3 trailer that aired during the second half was exxxxcellent.
Since I snuck a comment about movies in there, here are a couple more links: I love the Year of the Superman page, if only for the Superman franchise trailer. Awesome integration of all the Supermans. Light on the Superman Returns footage, of course, but that really can't be helped.
Here's a good article about the next James Bond movie. Yes, yet another franchise I just can't quit. *snicker*