2015 Fandom Meme
I did the 2015 Fandom Meme, inspired by frelling_tralk. I mostly speak in generalities for a lot of forms of media but beware of specific spoilers for Mad Men, House of Cards, Transparent, and Homeland.
Which TV shows did you start watching in 2015?
Game of Thrones (no really!), Orphan Black (no really!) Master of None, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Transparent, UnREAL, Bloodline, Reign, Battlestar Gallactica, Younger, Jessica Jones, most recently Mr. Robot.
Which TV shows did you mean to get into but didn't in 2015? Why?
Agents of Shield, Battlestar Galactica, Better Call Saul. I dropped all of them because of technical/scheduling reasons- not because I didn't enjoy them. Netflix dropped BSG. I was watching Agents of Shield as it was live-airing through S1 but real-life demands made me lose track of S2 and I never picked up since. Family problems interrupted keeping up with Better Call Saul.
Which TV shows do you intend on checking out in 2016?
The former three. I'm really looking forward to when Better Call Saul appears on Netflix in early 2016. Like a total nerd, I'm actually pretty hyped for OJ Simpson: American Crime Story on FX.
Which TV show impressed you least in 2015?
True Detective, like everyone else. I liked the first season, but the second season was just too dreadful to continue.
I know that Season 3 of House of Cards is genuinely divisive but I fall into the ANTI-category, even if the acting remained excellent. I'm hoping it was just a transition season because the show really hadn't answered the core conundrum in giving Frank Underwood the presidency as early as S2- THEN what happens??? Does Frank become a Putinesque tyrant who transfers the American democracy into his own dictatorship or does Frank use his cunning and strength to actually have a successful presidency, even if the trade-off is evil is in charge. I guess the answer is that the country elected a Democratic George W. Bush- hostile to democracy AND cluelessly ineffective. I guess I was hoping for something a little less....pedestrian?
Which TV show do you think you might let go of in 2016 unless things significantly improve?
Hmm, this is a tough one. There are a number of factors in giving up on a TV show- exactly HOW crappy did it get, is it interesting in is craziness or just boring, does other real life/cultural activities keep me especially busy. I can't answer.
Which TV shows do you think you’ll never let go of no matter how crappy they get?
I've watching Nashville, Homeland, and The Good Wife for a LONG time- I'm pretty invested in seeing all three shows through the end, even though they've gone downhill* but retain a lot of watchability. There's little mystery in Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory and they DID get crappy- but I dunno, they're pretty baked into my life so I continue to watch.
Your main fandom of the year?
I've been focusing on Mad Men more this year as a fandom. It's always been among my very favorites- but I have more confidence meta-ing since it's over and I CAN SEE THE WHOLE BOARD.
Your favourite film you watched this year?
Hmm, this meme has actually caught me in a moment of pondering The Big Short. My Jewish family doesn't have a Christmas Chinese Food tradition- but we do go the movies every Christmas Day for a double-feature if we're not traveling. We saw Carole (which we hated) and The Big Short. We were completely HIGH on The Big Short as we walked out of the theater because it's exciting and hilarious and it's about the mortgage meltdown which both invites a certain sauciness of bitter snarky conversation gone-by but also calls on true emotional investment and anger.
However maybe I'm suggestible by the critics, but I'm coming around the idea that the movie spoon-fed those oft-repeated facts about how the financial meltdown in gimmicky ways. But like, Margot Robbie explains subprime mortgages IN A BATHTUB was annoying- she just explains the basics and subprime is kind of explained with context clues throughout the movie but the movie just jazzed it up the short academic definition of subprime with blatant objectification. However, Selana Gomez and Dr. Richard Thaler actually ACTING OUT the concept of synthetic CDOs on a Vegas poker table with the Vegas crowd around them was brilliant. So, the gimmick sometimes worked- but it sometimes didn't. However, the movie is a little on the empty side because it's a witty depiction of the mortgage meltdown but without much authentic heart.
I straight up loved Brooklyn and The Martian this year. They lacked the charisma, for lack of a better word, and certainly applicability to my life as The Big Short. However, there was far more heart in both movies, especially Brooklyn.
On another note, it took me awhile to get around to seeing Birdman even though that was a 2014 film, and I thought that was great. Charisma AND heart.
Your favourite book read this year?
I love non-fiction. It's an old book now, but I'm enjoying the hell out of Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential over the holidays. After he became a bona-fide celebrity and important travel/food presence, it's clear that Bourdain was overstating his gravitas as a chef/manager whose been around the block and has a track record of restaurant performance in his subliminal analysis even though he recounts his history as a druggie restaurant failure. It's a weird kind of humble-bragging. But never mind, while I don't think Bourdain had any real power until his career took after AFTER Kitchen Confidential, he's an exceptionally smart and well-spoken bullshit artist. His points about the restaurant business ring out as plain-spoken truths about the business itself even he is playing some sleight of hand on his biography.
Before that, I loved On Immunity: An Inoculation. I think the author (Eula Bliss) is a genius. It's a credible scientific work- that still reads like social commentary and almost poetry as she uses analogies like the vampire to describe how anti-vaxxers' fears of vaccine are grounded far more fictional archetypes than scientific realities.
Your favourite TV show of the year?
Mad Men, of course. I'm pretty sure it's been my favorite currently airing show since it aired in 2007.
However to pick a second place, Fargo had a brilliant second season. I really liked S1 but I think the show went to new heights in its sophomore season as it transcended the always terrific Coen Brothers dark quirkiness and become something more poetic? historically relevant? hard to nail down?
I think the AV Club actually described it perfectly here:
But Fargo’s more narratively and thematically complex second season subtly employed another core Coens tactic, turning a seemingly glib period piece into knowing cultural anthropology. In season two, the late 1970s isn’t just the setting, it’s the vibe. While telling another bloody, twisty Midwestern crime story, Hawley also captured the state of the nation immediately pre-Reagan, when the last vestiges of cosmic hippie weirdness and homespun Americana started to give way to big business and authoritarianism-all with the blessing of the ordinary citizens who were feeling overwhelmed by the creeping ugliness of the wider world.
Your biggest fandom disappointment of the year?
I'll say it- Master of None is over-praised. It was a serviceable sitcom, more notable for relatable Millenial moments (favorite? how to find the best food truck across different food rating sites online) than actual JOKES. However, it isn't inventive. It didn't transform the sitcom in any real way. All due respect to Azis Ansarsi and how he feels about telling his stories as a second-generation Indian-American, but I thought his Social Justice Episodes felt like a gimmicky capitalization on hip diversity sitcoms than saying anything controversial or heart-felt- especially his bizarre ep on gender issues like cat-calling, stalking, gender roles in commercials.
I liked but didn't ADORE Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I think it can go downhill faster than 30 Rock. However, I'm a little ticked that UBS was the toast of the 'net in the summer but it hasn't been featured in the final top TV shows lists and it's predicted to lose at the awards, partly because Masters of None pulled focus and hype. It was a far better show than Masters of Sex- and making a sunshiny colorful comedy stemming out of a complete dark story WAS inventive and played a role in transforming the sitcom.
But Transparent beat both of them by a lot in the Social Justice net online-providers comedies contest.
Your biggest squee moment of the year?
Honestly, when Pete/Trudy got back together! I actually think many people overstate how the Mad Men-world is a sugar-free, unhealthy, antiquated King Midas world. It certainly has that element, but there ARE plenty of warming, content moments. However, I will admit that it wasn't one to produce squee-moments but I think Pete/Trudy delivered more than any other couple and especially on the final yardline.
Also, I gotta say- I had a similar Pete/Trudyesque "guarded squee but I think is all the better for being clearly guarded" at the Pfefferman family sitting shiva after Ed Paskowitz's funeral and introducing Josh's unknown child who'd been brought as a goy to chopped liver after their fights and betrayals and driving Ed out of his bed to die outside. They're still unbelievably flawed people who really haven't resolved any of their issues but they're still a real family and disproving the cynicism that a person who chooses to transition has to necessarily give up on keeping their family. The Pfeffermans are messes but they're better than that. That's my prediction- anyway.
The most missed of your old fandoms?
Can't think of an answer.
The fandom you haven't tried yet, but want to?
I'm really excited about starting Better Call Saul, most of all. However, I expect it doesn't have much a fandom.
Your biggest fan anticipations for the coming year?
The Gilmore Girls reunion! I completely missed out on Gilmore Girls fandom when it was airing realtime. I really look forward to both watching the show, and inevitable debates and wank.
*Homeland went downhill for S2-3 from S1. It picked back up in S4-5 to be a very good show- but it's as a stylish but superficial action-adventure show. NOT! Season 1's promise that Homeland would be the prestige psychological study doubling as a commentary on the American security apparatus and a Top 10 TV show worthy contendah!
Which TV shows did you start watching in 2015?
Game of Thrones (no really!), Orphan Black (no really!) Master of None, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Transparent, UnREAL, Bloodline, Reign, Battlestar Gallactica, Younger, Jessica Jones, most recently Mr. Robot.
Which TV shows did you mean to get into but didn't in 2015? Why?
Agents of Shield, Battlestar Galactica, Better Call Saul. I dropped all of them because of technical/scheduling reasons- not because I didn't enjoy them. Netflix dropped BSG. I was watching Agents of Shield as it was live-airing through S1 but real-life demands made me lose track of S2 and I never picked up since. Family problems interrupted keeping up with Better Call Saul.
Which TV shows do you intend on checking out in 2016?
The former three. I'm really looking forward to when Better Call Saul appears on Netflix in early 2016. Like a total nerd, I'm actually pretty hyped for OJ Simpson: American Crime Story on FX.
Which TV show impressed you least in 2015?
True Detective, like everyone else. I liked the first season, but the second season was just too dreadful to continue.
I know that Season 3 of House of Cards is genuinely divisive but I fall into the ANTI-category, even if the acting remained excellent. I'm hoping it was just a transition season because the show really hadn't answered the core conundrum in giving Frank Underwood the presidency as early as S2- THEN what happens??? Does Frank become a Putinesque tyrant who transfers the American democracy into his own dictatorship or does Frank use his cunning and strength to actually have a successful presidency, even if the trade-off is evil is in charge. I guess the answer is that the country elected a Democratic George W. Bush- hostile to democracy AND cluelessly ineffective. I guess I was hoping for something a little less....pedestrian?
Which TV show do you think you might let go of in 2016 unless things significantly improve?
Hmm, this is a tough one. There are a number of factors in giving up on a TV show- exactly HOW crappy did it get, is it interesting in is craziness or just boring, does other real life/cultural activities keep me especially busy. I can't answer.
Which TV shows do you think you’ll never let go of no matter how crappy they get?
I've watching Nashville, Homeland, and The Good Wife for a LONG time- I'm pretty invested in seeing all three shows through the end, even though they've gone downhill* but retain a lot of watchability. There's little mystery in Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory and they DID get crappy- but I dunno, they're pretty baked into my life so I continue to watch.
Your main fandom of the year?
I've been focusing on Mad Men more this year as a fandom. It's always been among my very favorites- but I have more confidence meta-ing since it's over and I CAN SEE THE WHOLE BOARD.
Your favourite film you watched this year?
Hmm, this meme has actually caught me in a moment of pondering The Big Short. My Jewish family doesn't have a Christmas Chinese Food tradition- but we do go the movies every Christmas Day for a double-feature if we're not traveling. We saw Carole (which we hated) and The Big Short. We were completely HIGH on The Big Short as we walked out of the theater because it's exciting and hilarious and it's about the mortgage meltdown which both invites a certain sauciness of bitter snarky conversation gone-by but also calls on true emotional investment and anger.
However maybe I'm suggestible by the critics, but I'm coming around the idea that the movie spoon-fed those oft-repeated facts about how the financial meltdown in gimmicky ways. But like, Margot Robbie explains subprime mortgages IN A BATHTUB was annoying- she just explains the basics and subprime is kind of explained with context clues throughout the movie but the movie just jazzed it up the short academic definition of subprime with blatant objectification. However, Selana Gomez and Dr. Richard Thaler actually ACTING OUT the concept of synthetic CDOs on a Vegas poker table with the Vegas crowd around them was brilliant. So, the gimmick sometimes worked- but it sometimes didn't. However, the movie is a little on the empty side because it's a witty depiction of the mortgage meltdown but without much authentic heart.
I straight up loved Brooklyn and The Martian this year. They lacked the charisma, for lack of a better word, and certainly applicability to my life as The Big Short. However, there was far more heart in both movies, especially Brooklyn.
On another note, it took me awhile to get around to seeing Birdman even though that was a 2014 film, and I thought that was great. Charisma AND heart.
Your favourite book read this year?
I love non-fiction. It's an old book now, but I'm enjoying the hell out of Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential over the holidays. After he became a bona-fide celebrity and important travel/food presence, it's clear that Bourdain was overstating his gravitas as a chef/manager whose been around the block and has a track record of restaurant performance in his subliminal analysis even though he recounts his history as a druggie restaurant failure. It's a weird kind of humble-bragging. But never mind, while I don't think Bourdain had any real power until his career took after AFTER Kitchen Confidential, he's an exceptionally smart and well-spoken bullshit artist. His points about the restaurant business ring out as plain-spoken truths about the business itself even he is playing some sleight of hand on his biography.
Before that, I loved On Immunity: An Inoculation. I think the author (Eula Bliss) is a genius. It's a credible scientific work- that still reads like social commentary and almost poetry as she uses analogies like the vampire to describe how anti-vaxxers' fears of vaccine are grounded far more fictional archetypes than scientific realities.
Your favourite TV show of the year?
Mad Men, of course. I'm pretty sure it's been my favorite currently airing show since it aired in 2007.
However to pick a second place, Fargo had a brilliant second season. I really liked S1 but I think the show went to new heights in its sophomore season as it transcended the always terrific Coen Brothers dark quirkiness and become something more poetic? historically relevant? hard to nail down?
I think the AV Club actually described it perfectly here:
But Fargo’s more narratively and thematically complex second season subtly employed another core Coens tactic, turning a seemingly glib period piece into knowing cultural anthropology. In season two, the late 1970s isn’t just the setting, it’s the vibe. While telling another bloody, twisty Midwestern crime story, Hawley also captured the state of the nation immediately pre-Reagan, when the last vestiges of cosmic hippie weirdness and homespun Americana started to give way to big business and authoritarianism-all with the blessing of the ordinary citizens who were feeling overwhelmed by the creeping ugliness of the wider world.
Your biggest fandom disappointment of the year?
I'll say it- Master of None is over-praised. It was a serviceable sitcom, more notable for relatable Millenial moments (favorite? how to find the best food truck across different food rating sites online) than actual JOKES. However, it isn't inventive. It didn't transform the sitcom in any real way. All due respect to Azis Ansarsi and how he feels about telling his stories as a second-generation Indian-American, but I thought his Social Justice Episodes felt like a gimmicky capitalization on hip diversity sitcoms than saying anything controversial or heart-felt- especially his bizarre ep on gender issues like cat-calling, stalking, gender roles in commercials.
I liked but didn't ADORE Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I think it can go downhill faster than 30 Rock. However, I'm a little ticked that UBS was the toast of the 'net in the summer but it hasn't been featured in the final top TV shows lists and it's predicted to lose at the awards, partly because Masters of None pulled focus and hype. It was a far better show than Masters of Sex- and making a sunshiny colorful comedy stemming out of a complete dark story WAS inventive and played a role in transforming the sitcom.
But Transparent beat both of them by a lot in the Social Justice net online-providers comedies contest.
Your biggest squee moment of the year?
Honestly, when Pete/Trudy got back together! I actually think many people overstate how the Mad Men-world is a sugar-free, unhealthy, antiquated King Midas world. It certainly has that element, but there ARE plenty of warming, content moments. However, I will admit that it wasn't one to produce squee-moments but I think Pete/Trudy delivered more than any other couple and especially on the final yardline.
Also, I gotta say- I had a similar Pete/Trudyesque "guarded squee but I think is all the better for being clearly guarded" at the Pfefferman family sitting shiva after Ed Paskowitz's funeral and introducing Josh's unknown child who'd been brought as a goy to chopped liver after their fights and betrayals and driving Ed out of his bed to die outside. They're still unbelievably flawed people who really haven't resolved any of their issues but they're still a real family and disproving the cynicism that a person who chooses to transition has to necessarily give up on keeping their family. The Pfeffermans are messes but they're better than that. That's my prediction- anyway.
The most missed of your old fandoms?
Can't think of an answer.
The fandom you haven't tried yet, but want to?
I'm really excited about starting Better Call Saul, most of all. However, I expect it doesn't have much a fandom.
Your biggest fan anticipations for the coming year?
The Gilmore Girls reunion! I completely missed out on Gilmore Girls fandom when it was airing realtime. I really look forward to both watching the show, and inevitable debates and wank.
*Homeland went downhill for S2-3 from S1. It picked back up in S4-5 to be a very good show- but it's as a stylish but superficial action-adventure show. NOT! Season 1's promise that Homeland would be the prestige psychological study doubling as a commentary on the American security apparatus and a Top 10 TV show worthy contendah!