when there's nothing left to burn, you've got to set yourself on fire!
I have, at long last, discovered my television kryptonite: high-school ensemble dramas.
After discovering Beverly Hills 90210 (reruns on seven days a week, where have you been my whole life?), I've come to the conclusion that it's what I love. Buffy, my all-time favourite show was set in high-school, during the best seasons. Everwood, The OC, Dawson's Creek, Veronica Mars. They're not necessarily good (ie Dawson's Creek) but I LOVE THEM ANYWAY.
I watched the leaked pilot for Hidden Palms, the new CW series that supposed to air mid-season next year. I liked it, in a non-committal, “watch it if it doesn’t clash with my other shows” way, but that’s the way I liked SPN at first- and we all know the way THAT went!
It’s part Veronica Mars, because Johnny’s a photographer and there’s a mystereeee and it’s part Desperate Housewives, because all the parents are horny and annoying and botoxy. The parts of it that are OC is ca-razy, what with the two male leads having played supporting in roles and Dawson’s Creek, what with the K-Williamson!
Johnny is kind of confusing and not as emo as I thought he would be, but is so. Amazingly. Real. Exactly like a boy is age would act and since I am his age, I would actually know. When he’s trying to impress a girl, he’s suave, but transparently suave and he’s awkward and gleeful and sososo good. As an added bonus, there’s not one single trace of Oliver anywhere in him, thank the lord! He goes to AA and has a cross-dresser for a mentor.
Cliff is awesome and smarmy and reminds me a little of Dylan McKay from 90210. He’s kind of evil and might have killed his best friend but he wears these popped-collars! and aviators! AND HE WAS ZACK ON THE OC. I LOVED ZACK. I MISS ZACK. SHORT HAIR NOW BUT IT’S STILL GOOD.
Greta is the weirdo, sexy girlfriend type. She’s actually pretty cool, because she goes swimming in her clothes and makes Johnny dance in sprinklers, but the actress does this thing where she is always looks at him from under her lids. My theory is it’s her attempt at bedroom eyes, but all it really does it make her looked doped up. One big complaint: they made her the super-sekrit intellectual. You know? The one who doesn’t do well in school because she Just! Doesn’t! Care! but she reads Salinger in her free time. The supe-sekrit intellectual is overused and BORING, unless it’s a hot guy, like Milo Ventimiglia.
There’s another girl named Lisa or Liza, or possibly something else entirely, who I LOVE. She blows up things and is weird-awkward in the most adorable way possible. She totally loves Johnny in a “check yes/check no” way. ADORABLE. And she tried to slut herself up with make-up and shit. LOVE.
The music is CRAP. All singles that everyone knows and Coldplay and overoverplayed so that it didn’t jell with the show at all. Hopefully, since the show doesn’t air til January (ZOMGSOLONG) they won’t get approved for their music options and have to change it to something lesser known.
Two best moments of the episode?
1. Cliff kicks the little yappy pug dog. He’s outside and he calls to it, all “I won’t bite. C’mere.” And when it comes he KICKS IT. So good (not the dog-kicking, but having a main character be a dog-kicker, daring, K-Will, daring.) All I could do was gape and laugh in shocked horror. Then he calls it “Little bitch.” WHICH IT TOTALLY IS, SO W/E.
2. The Greta/Cliff hug. She’s soaking wet from crying in the sprinklers and she says “I hate you.” And he just says, “I know.” and they hug. IT IS SO SAD. I probably didn’t cry. Probably. but they played Blower’s Daughter, which reminds me of Shannon, who IS DEAD!