Television round-up

[shadowkat]

1. 9-1-1 - the second episode is much better than the first and was written by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuck and Tim Minear. And I realized while watching it why I find these three writers interesting and keep wandering over to check out what they are doing. A creative writing professor told me once, ages ago (the man died last year), that I was interesting writer. I was interested in exploring the difficult emotions, the painful ones, that many don't want to look at. That's why I find Minear, Murphy and Falchuck interesting, they are also interested in exploring those tough emotions.

9-1-1 dealt with the pain of not being able to save someone, of discovering one's husband was in love with another man, even though you still loved him and you were a woman, of being interested in a much younger man -- who had issues with sex and women.

Not quite as dark as their usual stuff.

Also it's cast Peter Krause and Connie Britton well, both were horribly miscast in their previous series (the Catch) and (Nashville).

And it stars, my fav, Angela Bassett, who I see as the lead of the sci-fi book that I'm writing.

2. This is Us -- I love this show. Not everyone does. Quite a few people hate it, but I don't like the shows they do, so we're even. (The Unbreakable Kimme -- gives me a migraine, Girls --- ugh, and Transparent irritates me.) Anyhow, it helps that the show focuses heavily on sibiling relationships, particularly with brothers, and that's a hard core story kink for me. I'm obsessed with brother/sibling relationships. Parents, not so much. Sibilings? Yes. Has to do with having a problematic sibling relationship myself. I'm fine in regards to my parents.

And this episode pushed on the sibling relationship hard.

I cried at the end. It often makes me cry, sometimes ugly cry.

3. Nashville -- this episode made me realize that the series has lasted past its expiration date and it's a good thing this is the finale season. The only thing I liked about it was the team-up, the long overdue, musical team-up of Avery, Will and Gunnar. The show has unfortunately jumped from being focused on women and female relationships to male perspective, and male relationships. The women aren't that likable, all are blond, and in the periphery or supporting to the men. I could really do without Juliette's narcissism. Her latest journey feels like Scientology by way of the Country Music Industry.

4. The Good Place -- this was an excellent episode. It really delved into, no wait, poked fun at the philosophical view of "being your best self". It also made fun of various things like Doctor Oz and stress balls with corporate logos. Plus, had quite a bit of character development for Tahini, Chidhi, Eleanor and Michael. Jason and Janet need work, they are rapidly becoming one-joke wonders.

To say more would involve spoilers. And this is a series that is best to see spoiler free.

I laughed throughout. I did not cry. I don't identify that closely with anyone. Actually people who remind me of these folks I want to smack upside the head. This is unfortunately true of 98% of the situation comedies that I watch. Which is why I struggle with the format.

But, it was still good. And Ted Danson is comic gold.

5. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Weird show. I'm never quite sure what to make of it. It appears to be making fun of romantic love (again) at the moment, along with mental illness. It actually does a half-way decent job of both.
But the characters, as a result of this, often get on my nerves. They feel as if they are set up for the joke. (This is a long-running issue that I have with situation comedies by the way.)

That said? I rather liked the musical numbers -- I think there were only two numbers. (They need more.) The first one -- "Without Love You Can Save the World" was in some respects hilarious. Although I think it needed to narrow it down a bit more -- without obsessive romantic love, you can save the world, if you are so-inclined and not too busy navel gazing and fucking up other peoples lives like these folks are. Also I'm not sure a borderline personality disorder can do it.

And the second, "Great Looking Guys Have Problems Too" -- Bwhahaha. Although I don't think any of these guys are particularly great looking. This may be the result of having a younger brother who is a woman magnet. I am into eyes. The rest of the body...eh.

I feel sorry Valenzcia...I'm not sure what she ever did to deserve Rebecca as a friend. If I were Valenzia, I'd move somewhere far away, like Greg did.

Although...the show makes a good point about romantic love and marriage, and how...focusing too much on either is hardly helpful. Makes me happy that I'm single and picky.