Comments | elfhawk: What makes or breaks a show

elfhawk

What makes or breaks a show

Oct 07, 2008 20:42

I like multitasking. Perhaps multitasking isn't the right word for it. I like reading a book and watching television at the same time. Or watching movies while doing my cross stitch. Drawing while holding a conversation. Things along those lines- though reading while holding a conversation is even more difficult than you'd imagine. I say this ( Read more... )

rant, movies

Comments 16

pariahsdream October 9 2008, 01:59:03 UTC

I want mini-series. Mini-series that aren't trimmed down to the bare minimum but also not so tied to the original source as not to breathe and grow on their own.

I got REALLY annoyed at Eureka when they suddenly made what'shisname and Allie getting married and back together....and then vaporized him. Talk about cheap, cheap, CHEAP melodrama. I expect that on a soap opera not my quirky little sci-fi show. They need to focus more on what makes that show work than what doesn't. Granted I kind of like their monster of the week thingies- they're well done- but it doesn't make me jump to watch the show.

Supernatural benefits from repeat viewing. You can catch up on the overarching plotline in little hints dropped here and there. And that's totally my excuse for having all the boxsets. *coff*

Otherwise I'm not seeing a whole lot out there that I wanna watch. Or am eager to try.

elfhawk October 10 2008, 20:48:58 UTC

The problem with killing Nathan was they had to remove him because the actor wanted out. (Probably the usual melodrama where the actor isn't being paid what he's worth; or else that the budget only has so much money, and booting an expensive main character will allow for filler characters for an entire season.) But because they spent season two strengthening his bond with Allison, they couldn't just have him transfer out. Thus his dematerialization. And you know for increased dramatic effect, they kill characters at the height of the audience's sympathy for him. Eureka Unscripted offers juicy 'wish they were on the DVDs' extras.

As for Supernatural, obviously there is only the repeat watching for plot. *nods head vigorously*

carmenwoods October 9 2008, 13:31:44 UTC

"(Okay, also because we want to scale Jensen Ackles like he's Everest, but that's neither here nor there.)"

O.O ....meep.

carmenwoods October 9 2008, 14:24:45 UTC

And then my second thought was "scale him like a fish", which made me giggle.

jachyra October 9 2008, 16:37:31 UTC

Let's see. What shows do I actually watch regularly...
Supernatural.
Smallville (I enjoy laughing at horrible acting and plots)
House
Fringe
Chuck
Knight Rider (another show I watch because it's so bad)

I despise Smallville e_heidi_liz October 9 2008, 21:59:50 UTC

One time the boyfriend showed me his selection of the best 5 or 10 episodes of Smallville. Out of all 7 seasons.

There were maybe two in there that actually seemed kinda cool. The other few ranged from okay to ugh.

It was so stupid. Firefly had more really good episodes in one truncated season than Smallville had middling-okay episodes in 7.

I liked the Christmas Smallville where Lex and Lana were happily married in the alternative future.

Shows I watch: Sarah Conner and Heroes (Monday night TV!), and BSG whenever it comes on.

But we watch(ed) a lot of boxed sets. Buffy, Angel, Dark Angel, Heroes, Veronica Mars, House...

Re: I despise Smallville jachyra October 9 2008, 22:19:22 UTC

I know what you're saying about Smallville. I just enjoy watching one or two shows that are absolutely horrendous. Ask Lee, she'll tell ya.

Re: I despise Smallville pariahsdream October 10 2008, 01:05:05 UTC

The pain. God the pain. I will never get those braincells back!

Thread 9

tkie October 10 2008, 00:25:09 UTC

Funny you mention going through B5, as Pug and I have started going through the series as well. We're about two-thirds of the way through season 1 and are loving it, as always.

I'll admit to being back on the Heroes train after being increasingly uninterested last year. I think the key to the show is that as long as they can maintain a few juicy mysteries that I want to figure out, it keeps me amused. (Also, it gives me conversation material for when we have lunch with a friend of ours.) But I can't imagine wanting to buy the DVD sets or re-watch the series.

Stargate: 90210 would be hilarious in a totally unwatchable way.

elfhawk October 10 2008, 20:54:39 UTC

E has Heroes on DVD, and I occasionally listen in. The stupidity of supposedly bright characters annoys me. I can move through time, but I can kill this serious bad guy with an axe to the head before he becomes super powerful! (Or no, wait, that's what causes him to become a bad guy. Or maybe that was another supposed 'villain' who turns out to actually be doing the right thing, just through really bad means.)

It's not like the Atlantis characters are that old... Betcha the Firefly fans they picked up now think that Jewel Staite is cursed.

tkie October 11 2008, 00:12:57 UTC

Agreed. Mohinder the supposedly brilliant genetic researcher makes some astoundingly bad choices. INT 12, WIS 0?

Eh, if Atlantis had been cancelled during the season when Jewel Staite was a recurring character, that might make her seem cursed. Besides, Firefly fans probably picked up on Atlantis's problems same as you did. And the Atlantis cast is on the young side for the positions of authority they hold (including Keller, much as I like Jewel Staite). I suppose when you advertise for off-world adventurers, you would tend to get younger folks, though.