Television Round-up
Nov. 11th, 2017 10:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Crazy Ex-Girl Friend -- this is an odd show. One online poster stated a while back that it was an excellent depiction of mental illness...which I hoped they were wrong about, because I found it a bit disturbing that that Rachel Bloom was doing a sitcom about someone who was "crazy". But, this week's episode more or less proved that person right. And I've mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I found it well-done. And it demonstrated how people enable and don't know how to aid someone who is mentally ill. Not to mention how horribly our society handles mental illness. And to a degree contributes to it.
Rebecca Bunch may be crazy, but so too is the society that created her. Her co-workers have a weird co-dependent relationship with Rebecca, where she enables in a way their own insecurities and addictions. When she leaves them...they can't quite deal and project their insecurities onto the surrogate -- who aptly calls them on it and takes off threatening to file an HR claim. Paula, also, calls them and herself on it -- realizing they all need to move on. Did they truly care about Rebecca or how they saw themselves in regards to her?
Rebecca flees to her abusive mother...who expertly portrayed by Tovah Feldush (from the film Fiddler on the Roof), doesn't quite know how to handle her daughter. Her first reaction is to criticize her, and tough love her into getting her act together. Resign from your old job, get back to the one you had before you left, we'll just reboot your life. But Rebecca was miserable before she moved to West Covina. West Covina from her perspective was her last chance, her only chance. When it blew up in her face...she falls into despair. She's hit rock bottom. And starts to scan web sites hunting for painless ways to end it. When her mother discovers it -- she panics and begins to medicate her daughter, with strawberry milkshakes spiked with anti-depressants. For a while it works, and mother and daughter begin to bond...but alas, Rebecca's old nemesis appears and blows the charade out of the water -- feeling betrayed by dear old Mom, Rebecca flees again and od's on Mom's ant-depressants on a plane -- but before she loses consciousness, she cries out for help...the help button on the plane blurring into the word "hope" -- she presses it and tells the stewardess that she needs help, showing her the empty pill bottle.
The episode ends with a suicide help line. And suddenly it feels as if we've fallen into that very special episode from Blossom.
Having struggled with depression for a long time now...I get it. But I'm not sure I like how our society and media depict it. Rebecca Bunch is portrayed as narcissistic and self-absorbed. Most depressives aren't like that. And lables irritate me. We use them too often and to our detriment.
But, by the same token, Crazy Ex feels like an indictment of our society and it's current values - showing how impossible it is to be truly happy beneath it's dictates. Those who are, turn it off.
Rebecca can't quite do it. She truly believes she can only be happy if she has the dream, which has been spoon-fed to her since she can remember, even if that dream is a lie.
An absurdly creative and innovative series, Crazy Ex breaks the rules and crosses the lines repeatedly. I can't say I found this week's episode funny, but it was certainly moving and biting in its own way.
2. Riverdale
Continues to impress this season. The gang is slowly being ripped apart by various nefarious characters. Jughead by his need to step up and corral the serpent gang in his father's place. Betty by her need to appease the serial killer called the "hood" who is stalking her. (I've decided it's her father.) Veronica by her need to appease her father. And Archie by his need to avenge his. It's all about the Dad's this season, but in a dark and twisted way. Following in the footsteps of the prior one.
The music, lighting, production, writing, direction and acting are all a step or two above most network fare.
3. The Inhumans Finale
So now that I've seen the entirety of this little mini-series, will state it is better than I expected. I went in with low expectations. That said, not upset it's not continuing. No interest in the Inhumans on Earth. And I honestly think Marvel shot themselves and the Inhumans in the proverbial foot when they kicked the X-men and mutants aside in their favor. Sorry, the mutants are more interesting and more timely. The Inhumans feel like privileged brats, which very well could be the reason they flopped.
The acting was good in places. The writing a bit cliche and anemic. Also, very campy. I did like some of the subthreads ...and the series had a sense of humor. More of one than the DC shows, which lack it. That's my difficulty with DC verse, it takes itself too seriously. Marvel seems to poke fun at itself.
Anyhow better than I expected, but not worth continuing. It ended in a good place. I don't need more.
4. Also saw...but I'm not sure anyone is watching it...
*Kevin Probably Saves the World -- this week he helped an unemployed guy work things out with his wife and get a job. He also worked things out with his sister who was pissed off at him at roping his niece into his misadventures. Never mind said niece was stalking him and sort of interfered on her own. Or that Mom found out about it by reading her daughter's journal.
This all results in the "universe or god's warrior" almost revealing her existence to Kevin's sister and niece, but not quite.
Kevin wonders if he's gotten the friends and family universial protection plan. This is after god's warrior saves his nieces life, after she almost falls from a platform in an old warehouse.
* The Exorcist -- this show is uneven. Parts work, parts don't. The religious stuff is a bit hokey. The ghost story stuff is interesting. Also I like the older priest and the kids. But the side story about the demon conspiracy isn't working for me.
* This is Us -- this episode made me cry, although I could just be hormonal. Perimenupause sucks. Puberty was much better. Anyone who whines about being old prior to the age of 50 should be smacked upside the head. Which these characters sort of do. But whatever. It does handle some difficult issues, and I love the characters to pieces, but...I do wish the writing was a little less heavy handed.
* Grey's Anatomy -- the 300th Episode, Grey's is officially a daytime soap opera in primetime.
The episode was good in places, a bit manipulative emotionally in others. I did like the bits with Amelia (who is more likable without the tumor), and Meredith and Alex. Everyone else...meh. Will see how this season progresses.
* Poldark -- if it weren't for the Warleggan's and 98% of the conflict arising from their nastiness, I'd love this serious.
Rebecca Bunch may be crazy, but so too is the society that created her. Her co-workers have a weird co-dependent relationship with Rebecca, where she enables in a way their own insecurities and addictions. When she leaves them...they can't quite deal and project their insecurities onto the surrogate -- who aptly calls them on it and takes off threatening to file an HR claim. Paula, also, calls them and herself on it -- realizing they all need to move on. Did they truly care about Rebecca or how they saw themselves in regards to her?
Rebecca flees to her abusive mother...who expertly portrayed by Tovah Feldush (from the film Fiddler on the Roof), doesn't quite know how to handle her daughter. Her first reaction is to criticize her, and tough love her into getting her act together. Resign from your old job, get back to the one you had before you left, we'll just reboot your life. But Rebecca was miserable before she moved to West Covina. West Covina from her perspective was her last chance, her only chance. When it blew up in her face...she falls into despair. She's hit rock bottom. And starts to scan web sites hunting for painless ways to end it. When her mother discovers it -- she panics and begins to medicate her daughter, with strawberry milkshakes spiked with anti-depressants. For a while it works, and mother and daughter begin to bond...but alas, Rebecca's old nemesis appears and blows the charade out of the water -- feeling betrayed by dear old Mom, Rebecca flees again and od's on Mom's ant-depressants on a plane -- but before she loses consciousness, she cries out for help...the help button on the plane blurring into the word "hope" -- she presses it and tells the stewardess that she needs help, showing her the empty pill bottle.
The episode ends with a suicide help line. And suddenly it feels as if we've fallen into that very special episode from Blossom.
Having struggled with depression for a long time now...I get it. But I'm not sure I like how our society and media depict it. Rebecca Bunch is portrayed as narcissistic and self-absorbed. Most depressives aren't like that. And lables irritate me. We use them too often and to our detriment.
But, by the same token, Crazy Ex feels like an indictment of our society and it's current values - showing how impossible it is to be truly happy beneath it's dictates. Those who are, turn it off.
Rebecca can't quite do it. She truly believes she can only be happy if she has the dream, which has been spoon-fed to her since she can remember, even if that dream is a lie.
An absurdly creative and innovative series, Crazy Ex breaks the rules and crosses the lines repeatedly. I can't say I found this week's episode funny, but it was certainly moving and biting in its own way.
2. Riverdale
Continues to impress this season. The gang is slowly being ripped apart by various nefarious characters. Jughead by his need to step up and corral the serpent gang in his father's place. Betty by her need to appease the serial killer called the "hood" who is stalking her. (I've decided it's her father.) Veronica by her need to appease her father. And Archie by his need to avenge his. It's all about the Dad's this season, but in a dark and twisted way. Following in the footsteps of the prior one.
The music, lighting, production, writing, direction and acting are all a step or two above most network fare.
3. The Inhumans Finale
So now that I've seen the entirety of this little mini-series, will state it is better than I expected. I went in with low expectations. That said, not upset it's not continuing. No interest in the Inhumans on Earth. And I honestly think Marvel shot themselves and the Inhumans in the proverbial foot when they kicked the X-men and mutants aside in their favor. Sorry, the mutants are more interesting and more timely. The Inhumans feel like privileged brats, which very well could be the reason they flopped.
The acting was good in places. The writing a bit cliche and anemic. Also, very campy. I did like some of the subthreads ...and the series had a sense of humor. More of one than the DC shows, which lack it. That's my difficulty with DC verse, it takes itself too seriously. Marvel seems to poke fun at itself.
Anyhow better than I expected, but not worth continuing. It ended in a good place. I don't need more.
4. Also saw...but I'm not sure anyone is watching it...
*Kevin Probably Saves the World -- this week he helped an unemployed guy work things out with his wife and get a job. He also worked things out with his sister who was pissed off at him at roping his niece into his misadventures. Never mind said niece was stalking him and sort of interfered on her own. Or that Mom found out about it by reading her daughter's journal.
This all results in the "universe or god's warrior" almost revealing her existence to Kevin's sister and niece, but not quite.
Kevin wonders if he's gotten the friends and family universial protection plan. This is after god's warrior saves his nieces life, after she almost falls from a platform in an old warehouse.
* The Exorcist -- this show is uneven. Parts work, parts don't. The religious stuff is a bit hokey. The ghost story stuff is interesting. Also I like the older priest and the kids. But the side story about the demon conspiracy isn't working for me.
* This is Us -- this episode made me cry, although I could just be hormonal. Perimenupause sucks. Puberty was much better. Anyone who whines about being old prior to the age of 50 should be smacked upside the head. Which these characters sort of do. But whatever. It does handle some difficult issues, and I love the characters to pieces, but...I do wish the writing was a little less heavy handed.
* Grey's Anatomy -- the 300th Episode, Grey's is officially a daytime soap opera in primetime.
The episode was good in places, a bit manipulative emotionally in others. I did like the bits with Amelia (who is more likable without the tumor), and Meredith and Alex. Everyone else...meh. Will see how this season progresses.
* Poldark -- if it weren't for the Warleggan's and 98% of the conflict arising from their nastiness, I'd love this serious.
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Date: 2017-11-12 10:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-11-12 11:33 pm (UTC)