Television among other things..
Feb. 2nd, 2019 01:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Well, it's warming up -- I know because I'm sort of hot in my apartment. Been doing a mediation package on Re-Framing Loneliness...and it makes an interesting point about how loneliness often sets in around others, not when I'm alone. This is true. It's why the internet can feel very lonely at times or how you can feel alone with a roommate, a significant other, a spouse, your kids, family, at church, at work etc. Actually I can often feel more lonely with others than alone.
It's the disconnection that...stings the most. I think. This feeling of reaching out, putting myself out there and either not getting a response or getting the wrong response.
Then of course, it can be scary to respond at times. I saw a lot of posts this morning on social media forums that I began to respond to, only to think better of.
Providing a response can often feel alienating when the other person doesn't respond in a positive or caring manner to it.
But it's not personal, even though it feels personal -- because at the end of the day, the other person is really not responding to me or to you but to something triggered in themselves. It's rare or so I've found that people hear another person and respond to that person and not just to something that triggers something in themselves -- like to a mirror.
And because of that? It's hard not to feel lonely. I think everyone wants to be seen and heard and understood as themselves not a reflection of someone else.
2. A Million Little Things -- I admittedly am still watching this because I can't figure it out and am curious. (Also I like Gary, Maggie, Eddie and Eddie's son. Everyone else I still have an urge to smack upside the head.) The plot makes no sense. I've jumped between real estate scam to a murder cover-up. Starting to think it's a murder cover-up.
So we finally hear John's letter to Deliah. Ashley finally gives Deliah and the gang his letter and the Rutledge inheritance portfolio that leaves his three male friends and some mysterious woman named Barbara Morgan as the beneficiaries of his estate. Interesting that he didn't put it in Deliah's name. (Yet he loved her and his family?) If I were Deliah, I'd be pissed. She sort of is -- kicks Ashley out of her house. Ashely takes off, but before she does, she telephones Gary, but doesn't give him details. (She goes to Barcelona -- using the plane tickets, John had given her.)
And Deliah and Gary go and find the address that was getting all the mortgage and foreclosure notices by mistake. This turns out to be John's second apartment - a college apartment, filled with people and things that predate the others and they never knew about.) John states in his letter that he was once a good man and was trying to get back to that...but never good. And while he loved Deliah and his family, he was too weighed down by and burdened by guilt to give them what they needed. So, what did he do that he felt so guilty about? Who is Barbara Morgan? It's not the woman who'd been at the funeral and had the votes -- Jerry Hadler, who was a member of the Town Council/City Board. Who'd supported his real estate venture.
But apparently she was the one that painted the picture of the view -- that John hung in Gary's cancer ward.
I'm wondering if someone accidentally killed one of John's former friends, possibly John did, and they buried the person in the foundation of the building? And that's why he had to own the place? Because Ashely took off after Deliah sold the buildings prior to the subway vote didn't go through, devaluing the property. Both Ashley and Jerry didn't want Deliah to sell. I was glad she did.
The whole thing has a "Secret History" feel to it -- Ivy league education, passel of friends that no one talks to any longer. And one of the friends is beset by so much guilt that he finally gives in and kills himself.
For a while I thought it was a Ponzie or Pyramid Scam that John had been running which fell through. Or he was having an affair. But no...that doesn't appear to be it. Whatever business dealings he was involved in they appear for the most part above board -- if a bit risky. So, what did John do that resulted in an apartment that feels like a shrine, a passel of secrets, and suicide?
3. Roswell, New Mexico
Weirdly, just like A Million Little Things, the mystery is more interesting than the romantic elements. Although there's bits here that are interesting on a thematic level as well -- the old legal immigrants, who fought hard for their status resent the immigrants who came into the country illegally. And they have layers...
We have the town's Sheriff, who is also the mother of the doctor, Kyle. Sheriff Valient who does not like the Ortega Family. From her perspective they came into the country illegally, got things easily, while her family had to work hard for what they got. Also their daughter got drunk and killed two people. Life would be better if they didn't exist. Her husband went a bit nuts with his obsession regarding aliens from space invading and work with a military guy who could care less about him as a person.
Meanwhile, and somewhat ironically, her deputy sheriff is an alien from outer-space, who may have actually been responsible for Rosa Ortega's accident and the three deaths. And her son is sort of on to him and has a thing for Liz Ortega.
There is a little problem in the series -- the actor playing Kyle is more interesting, not to mention prettier and a tad more charismatic than Nathan Parsons who plays the male romantic lead, Max. I foresee this being a problem going forward.
I got a bit triggered by the Sheriff's scene with her son, where she states: "We got here legally, we fought hard, we struggled, we value the law and are Patriotic and wanted to be Americans. How dare they not do what we did!"
I've heard this argument a lot...and, it sounds a lot like: "I walked five miles in the snow to school and it was all uphill. Why should I drive you, when it's only a scant half mile?"
Or...
"When I came to this company, I had to figure it all out myself. I had to set the procedures. I had to organize everything. Why should I teach you?"
Answer? Because I would hope you are a good person and care about someone other than yourself? And frigging hell, do you ever stop to wonder why -- maybe the reason you had it tough was so you could learn from the experience and help make it easier for someone else?
I love her son's response: "You realize how bigoted that sounds." He's in the unique position of knowing what a hypocrite she is.
As for the mystery? I've no clue who killed Rosa. The episode confused me. For a while there I thought it was Isobel, but I'm wondering if Max may have accidentally done something and doesn't realize it?
4. The Passage
This series is actually getting better writing wise. The performances are still strong and what is holding it together. But the episode had less of the kid -- and too much of the pretty blond Shawna who was of course raped and molested for years by her step-dad. (Well, who didn't see that one coming -- she killed both her parents, come on, there had to be a cliche television reason for it. I would have preferred that there had been no reason...) I did however like the fact that her profession was make-up artist and she wanted to get involved with FX or special effects movie makeup. That was her dream. And she killed her parents for a) stealing the money that would get her that dream, and b) allowing her step-father to rape and abuse her and acting like it was her fault. I can't blame her for killing them. Neither could the government agent that she was manipulating with the flashbacks.
I did love the tee-a-tee between Jonas and the Agent protecting Amy (whose name I keep spacing for some reason).
Agent: Virals? Why not call them what they are?
Jonas: Which would be?
Agent: Vampires.
Jonas: We're scientists. Besides Vampires don't exist.
Agent looks at the vampire in the cage and at the scientist, thinking, okay, you've lost it.
Agent: What does he even want?
Jonas: What anyone wants I suspect, to be free.
The Passage uses flashbacks in an interesting way -- similar to Lost actually, where various characters give others their back story in mental flashbacks. Or sometimes the character will flashback themselves. Jonas did last week. Shawna this week.
The characters are interesting and the acting is good -- they did a good job of casting this show. The plot doesn't quite hold water, but few television plots do, so I can handwave it. As long as the characters are interesting, evolve, and well acted and the themes don't piss me off -- I'm there.
It's the disconnection that...stings the most. I think. This feeling of reaching out, putting myself out there and either not getting a response or getting the wrong response.
Then of course, it can be scary to respond at times. I saw a lot of posts this morning on social media forums that I began to respond to, only to think better of.
Providing a response can often feel alienating when the other person doesn't respond in a positive or caring manner to it.
But it's not personal, even though it feels personal -- because at the end of the day, the other person is really not responding to me or to you but to something triggered in themselves. It's rare or so I've found that people hear another person and respond to that person and not just to something that triggers something in themselves -- like to a mirror.
And because of that? It's hard not to feel lonely. I think everyone wants to be seen and heard and understood as themselves not a reflection of someone else.
2. A Million Little Things -- I admittedly am still watching this because I can't figure it out and am curious. (Also I like Gary, Maggie, Eddie and Eddie's son. Everyone else I still have an urge to smack upside the head.) The plot makes no sense. I've jumped between real estate scam to a murder cover-up. Starting to think it's a murder cover-up.
So we finally hear John's letter to Deliah. Ashley finally gives Deliah and the gang his letter and the Rutledge inheritance portfolio that leaves his three male friends and some mysterious woman named Barbara Morgan as the beneficiaries of his estate. Interesting that he didn't put it in Deliah's name. (Yet he loved her and his family?) If I were Deliah, I'd be pissed. She sort of is -- kicks Ashley out of her house. Ashely takes off, but before she does, she telephones Gary, but doesn't give him details. (She goes to Barcelona -- using the plane tickets, John had given her.)
And Deliah and Gary go and find the address that was getting all the mortgage and foreclosure notices by mistake. This turns out to be John's second apartment - a college apartment, filled with people and things that predate the others and they never knew about.) John states in his letter that he was once a good man and was trying to get back to that...but never good. And while he loved Deliah and his family, he was too weighed down by and burdened by guilt to give them what they needed. So, what did he do that he felt so guilty about? Who is Barbara Morgan? It's not the woman who'd been at the funeral and had the votes -- Jerry Hadler, who was a member of the Town Council/City Board. Who'd supported his real estate venture.
But apparently she was the one that painted the picture of the view -- that John hung in Gary's cancer ward.
I'm wondering if someone accidentally killed one of John's former friends, possibly John did, and they buried the person in the foundation of the building? And that's why he had to own the place? Because Ashely took off after Deliah sold the buildings prior to the subway vote didn't go through, devaluing the property. Both Ashley and Jerry didn't want Deliah to sell. I was glad she did.
The whole thing has a "Secret History" feel to it -- Ivy league education, passel of friends that no one talks to any longer. And one of the friends is beset by so much guilt that he finally gives in and kills himself.
For a while I thought it was a Ponzie or Pyramid Scam that John had been running which fell through. Or he was having an affair. But no...that doesn't appear to be it. Whatever business dealings he was involved in they appear for the most part above board -- if a bit risky. So, what did John do that resulted in an apartment that feels like a shrine, a passel of secrets, and suicide?
3. Roswell, New Mexico
Weirdly, just like A Million Little Things, the mystery is more interesting than the romantic elements. Although there's bits here that are interesting on a thematic level as well -- the old legal immigrants, who fought hard for their status resent the immigrants who came into the country illegally. And they have layers...
We have the town's Sheriff, who is also the mother of the doctor, Kyle. Sheriff Valient who does not like the Ortega Family. From her perspective they came into the country illegally, got things easily, while her family had to work hard for what they got. Also their daughter got drunk and killed two people. Life would be better if they didn't exist. Her husband went a bit nuts with his obsession regarding aliens from space invading and work with a military guy who could care less about him as a person.
Meanwhile, and somewhat ironically, her deputy sheriff is an alien from outer-space, who may have actually been responsible for Rosa Ortega's accident and the three deaths. And her son is sort of on to him and has a thing for Liz Ortega.
There is a little problem in the series -- the actor playing Kyle is more interesting, not to mention prettier and a tad more charismatic than Nathan Parsons who plays the male romantic lead, Max. I foresee this being a problem going forward.
I got a bit triggered by the Sheriff's scene with her son, where she states: "We got here legally, we fought hard, we struggled, we value the law and are Patriotic and wanted to be Americans. How dare they not do what we did!"
I've heard this argument a lot...and, it sounds a lot like: "I walked five miles in the snow to school and it was all uphill. Why should I drive you, when it's only a scant half mile?"
Or...
"When I came to this company, I had to figure it all out myself. I had to set the procedures. I had to organize everything. Why should I teach you?"
Answer? Because I would hope you are a good person and care about someone other than yourself? And frigging hell, do you ever stop to wonder why -- maybe the reason you had it tough was so you could learn from the experience and help make it easier for someone else?
I love her son's response: "You realize how bigoted that sounds." He's in the unique position of knowing what a hypocrite she is.
As for the mystery? I've no clue who killed Rosa. The episode confused me. For a while there I thought it was Isobel, but I'm wondering if Max may have accidentally done something and doesn't realize it?
4. The Passage
This series is actually getting better writing wise. The performances are still strong and what is holding it together. But the episode had less of the kid -- and too much of the pretty blond Shawna who was of course raped and molested for years by her step-dad. (Well, who didn't see that one coming -- she killed both her parents, come on, there had to be a cliche television reason for it. I would have preferred that there had been no reason...) I did however like the fact that her profession was make-up artist and she wanted to get involved with FX or special effects movie makeup. That was her dream. And she killed her parents for a) stealing the money that would get her that dream, and b) allowing her step-father to rape and abuse her and acting like it was her fault. I can't blame her for killing them. Neither could the government agent that she was manipulating with the flashbacks.
I did love the tee-a-tee between Jonas and the Agent protecting Amy (whose name I keep spacing for some reason).
Agent: Virals? Why not call them what they are?
Jonas: Which would be?
Agent: Vampires.
Jonas: We're scientists. Besides Vampires don't exist.
Agent looks at the vampire in the cage and at the scientist, thinking, okay, you've lost it.
Agent: What does he even want?
Jonas: What anyone wants I suspect, to be free.
The Passage uses flashbacks in an interesting way -- similar to Lost actually, where various characters give others their back story in mental flashbacks. Or sometimes the character will flashback themselves. Jonas did last week. Shawna this week.
The characters are interesting and the acting is good -- they did a good job of casting this show. The plot doesn't quite hold water, but few television plots do, so I can handwave it. As long as the characters are interesting, evolve, and well acted and the themes don't piss me off -- I'm there.
no subject
Date: 2019-02-03 08:09 pm (UTC)So has everyone else on DW and LJ (not to mention FB) (maybe not with Rosewell, but they've done it with Doctor Who, the Good Place, and Buffy and other things...and seriously there's no difference.)
In other words, You're in very good company. ;-)
See, because of all the energy spikes when he gets upset, and the massive blowout when he finished healing Liz, I feel more like Max's powers are based on electromagnetic fields. Like, he naturally redistributes the amounts he runs into on a day-to-day basis, but he was so panicked about Liz that he collected way more than he needed, and it was more of an overload than a flatline when Michael and Isobel found him outside the diner.
Sort of like an overcharged battery? Yeah, I was thinking something similar. You did a better job of articulating it. I think Liz keeps overcharging his batteries and not providing him with much of an outlet to release them. (LOL!) And I think you're right the electronmagnetic or biomagnetic energy that humans have and he somehow clicks into or absorbs or something is usually not that big a deal since it's a small town. But when someone is angry or he cares deeply for them -- it can overcharge him?
He tells her at different points that she's sort of overcharged him. That he's been like a tornado since he saved her. And Liz sort of leads him on a bit -- stating she'll kiss him and has feelings, then suddenly doesn't have them and accuses him of murder. Not to mention his siblings - Isobel and Michael are giving Liz a hard time and are in his face about it. I think this sort of overcharging the battery -- and to date the only release is his partner, and well he can only go so far there.
If people are going to get together, they get together, and then the drama is in the relationship itself, rather than the obnoxious build up. Julie Plec for the win on writing things that don't drag out the emo -- at least in that way.
While I had issues with Vamp Diaries, I will give Plec credit for not dragging out the relationship emo angst. The Stefan/Elena/Damon love triangle wasn't drawn out indefinitely (unlike Buffy). The woman made a choice. Women writers and show-runners seem to get this. The male writers are under this insane impression that romantic should be drawn out in a will-they-or-won't-they dynamic forever. (SMH).
no subject
Date: 2019-02-05 04:11 pm (UTC)Vampire Diaries definitely had its issues, and boy was the love triangle one of them, but it was a decisive love triangle. It was one or the other, with some reservations, but it was never, you know, oh woe is me I shall be alone forever I cannot love either of them alas alack. (Maybe for like half an episode once, and then Elena was like, "Wait, I'm an awesome, independent human being. Fuck that shit.")