The one where I really like White Collar.

[thepresidentrix]

So far, any positive comments I've seen about White Collar - including my own - have made a point of saying that it's brainless (if extremely pretty) fun. But I begin to wonder exactly what we mean by that.

I mean, it is tv, which is usually not your high water mark for intellectual stimulation, and by virtue of its very premise, White Collar has

Comments

[tempestsarekind]

1. I've only seen... three? episodes of White Collar beyond the pilot, but I agree with your assessment: I thought the pilot was incredibly charming, and the other episodes I saw fell, rather disappointingly, into the more run-of-the-mill end of things.

2. Your Magic Hair theory (and the subsequent comment thread about it) is hilarious. I blame George Clooney for the lack of Magic Hair. He got that gladiator cut on ER--and it really worked for him, I think, because his hair was actually sort of *distracting* in some way--but then everyone else followed suit, and it was not necessarily a good thing.

(Also, that clip with Matt Bomer in the Clark Kent frames? Eeeeee. Normally he's the sort of guy I see and think, "I recognize his attractiveness" without ever feeling it, but apparently dorky glasses are one of the keys to my heart.)

As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[thepresidentrix]

1. Were they three in order, following the pilot? Because my reaction to the first three was: disappointed, mostly disappointed, slightly less disappointed. (At least the one about the Iraqi museum pieces had the scenes where Neal and Peter talk about women crying and where Peter and Mozzie Haversham get tipsy and talk about Neal right in front of him, so that was something). But I think the last two have been way better. 'The Portrait,' despite some embarrassing scenes involving women, takes seriously that Neal is a criminal and would be accustomed to solving his problems in a criminal way. Plus, there is a scene where he is painting with, I think, his plain white shirtsleeves rolled up, and... I don't even know! It just had me drooling all over my tv set! (I'm such a REPROBATE sometimes. Like forgery is sexy. What would Benton say???) And 'All In' involves the repeated incursions of a very quiet little Asian girl who seems even more adorably determined than Neal to drive Peter crazy. There's some great banter in that one, too - and

Re: As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[tempestsarekind]

I didn't even know there *was* an adaptation of Lady Audley's Secret! Hee. But yes, perhaps close-cropped hair would work better on Jamie Bamber. (I just--I have a very low tolerance for depressing TV? So I kind of stayed away from BSG.)

Costume dramas are probably a good place to find Magic Hair, though. I was always quite partial to Christian Bale's hair as Laurie in Little Women... (*And* he wears vests!)

And speaking of Fraser? Latter half of the second season, and he's getting some Magic Hair, too!I know! I love that half-grown-out thing he has going on. I first started noticing the waves in "One Good Man," I think, and was horribly distracted. (My theory is that the show is very aware of Fraser's attractiveness, so it's not as if I can be expected not to notice. :) But I know what you mean: he tries so hard not to present himself as a physical being, and there I go mooning over his hair and his blue eyes

Re: As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[thepresidentrix]

Well, it's not my place to say what another person will find depressing, but for my own part, I've always been a little mystified by the prevailing opinion that BSG is an unremittingly dark show. I mean, it concerns a genocide as a premise, so... yeah, that's dark. And depressing. But then most of the show is about hope and strength and growth in untenable circumstances. So I find the first couple of seasons to be very uplifting. My favorite storylines are the ones about forgiveness and life-affirmation. (Like with Lee and his father, who've had this very poor, broken relationship, but who have to come together as a family once tragedy strikes, because they're two of the only people left who have any family, at all).

Even if BSG is not for you, there has got to be some less depressing Jamie out there for you, there just has to! He just seems like your kind of dude!

Re: As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[tempestsarekind]

I will have to be on the lookout for less depressing Jamie Bamber stuff, then. :) And perhaps I will give BSG a try someday; I'd been hearing the "unremittingly dark" angle from pretty much everyone, but your take on it is one I hadn't really heard before--it's nice to know that there's more in there than I thought.

Re: As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[thepresidentrix]

I have so many notifications in my email box that I'm starting to get a little confused between them all! (But it's my own fault for starting so many threads

Re: As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[tempestsarekind]

Thanks for this! I'm definitely going to have to rethink my avoidance of the show.

Battlestar! I loved you so much! Why did you have to do me like that, Battlestar?/i>

Heh. I felt that way about Gilmore Girls, only the feeling got steadily worse for, like, three or four whole seasons.

Re: As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[valancy_s]

Was just looking at this thread and need to jump in re: your lack of captivation with Jamie Bamber. Have you or have you not seen Hornblower? Because 1) that is where I learned to love him, 2) it is not depressing, and 3) THE BROMANCE, IT IS EPIC.

Re: As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[tempestsarekind]

I have not seen Hornblower! I always meant to, but never got a chance. That sounds like a good move in terms of non-depressing Jamie Bamber stuff.

[valancy_s]

a good move in terms of non-depressing Jamie Bamber stuff

Er... um... er... so I may have been a little misleading, actually. But Hornblower isn't unremittingly dark! It's only sometimes a bit dark! Lots of it is adventuresome and hearty! It's just that Jamie Bamber's character happens to be involved in a couple of the saddest moments. But the sadness isn't bleakness, I promise.

In brief: totally watch it. Just don't come back and kick me if you need a tissue occasionally.

[thepresidentrix]

In brief: totally watch it. Just don't come back and kick me if you need a tissue occasionally.

This. Right here. ;o9

[tempestsarekind]

Hee. I will keep that in mind. "Sad," actually, I can do. It's "bleak" that I tend to find hard sailing. And forewarned is forearmed, and all that.

Re: As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[thepresidentrix]

Oh, you absolutely have to see Hornblower! But, er, valancy is right. The reason I didn't suggest it originally is that in between the FABULOUS swash-buckling adventures, it can be a little sad sometimes. (And Jamie Bamber's character so often winds up right in the middle of the sadness; Archie Kennedy is sort of the Harry Kim of his milieu, LOL).

But! Handsome young men in uniforms! With swords! And Captain Pellew! And it really is kinda EPIC.

Re: As to dorky glasses, I have an adorable Ten icon somewhere that says 'Specs Appeal,' LOL.

[tempestsarekind]

As I said above, I can manage "sometimes sad." Especially when balanced out by handsome young men in uniforms. :)