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Oct. 20th, 2019 04:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Somewhat stressed out this weekend -- worrying over missing credit card, visiting brother, travel anxiety, gas being out in apartment, work, etc. So am staying away from information that will add to it.
It's raining here. Cold and rainy. I watched lots of television shows, and the robot vacuum wander about my small apartment.
2. Television shows..
Emergence - oh dear lord, it takes place on Long Island, and it expects me to believe that there's a private complex and airstrip that no one knows about in the middle of Suffolk County. (I work on Long Island. I've wandered around it. It's rather populated, and airlines cover it daily, along with helicopters not to mention commuter trains, buses and cars. If you wanted to keep something top-secret? I wouldn't do it on Long Island or NYC for that matter.
It's better for me when these series do not take place where I live or near me, because my suspension of disbelief lasts longer. Such as say, Chicago or Seattle or Portland?
I'm also having issues with the evil tech company and the weaponized girl robot story, but that's just me. Granted it's fairly new in some respects.
We'll see how long I stick with this one.
New Amsterdam -- it also stretched my suspension of disbelief. Apparently the city polluted an entire neighborhood with lead poisoning by not covering up the blasting of the lead paint from a bridge. Uhm. No. That can't happen. The NYCDEP would be all over their ass. (New York City Department of Environmental Protection) not to mention OSHA. There's regulations. You can't paint a bridge or remove paint from one without testing for lead paint. Then hiring a licensed abatement contractor to remove it -- paying them to mobilze the area, put up the protective covering. Warn the people nearby, and make the public aware -- just to get the permits. The DOT requires a clearance. Also the writers of this show don't seem to realize it's not the Buildings Commission or the Bridge Commission but the NYCDEP, the DOT (Department of Transportation), and OSHA that would be alerted. I've procured abatement services for a public transportation company for over eight years, I know what is involved. Not only that I know how they handle it.
It took me out of the story. As did the whole bit about Barbers handling rudimentary health services and proscribing blood pressure pills. Uhm no. That has to be monitored by a doctor with a background in it, preferably a primary. My gastrotestinologist refused to proscribe blood pressure meds. If you proscribe the wrong dosage -- you could get sued. Also only a doctor has that ability.
Honestly, it's hard to have much respect for writers.
Stumptown -- this was more enjoyable. I don't know how realistic it was. But definitely more enjoyable. It's pure noir at the moment. Did fall into cliche here and there -- I felt I'd seen it before. But definitely different.
Also Cobie Smulders is selling it. Fun show.
Legacies -- they did a nice job of switching things up this season. I'm actually enjoying it more than last season. Alexis Denisof is a nice addition to the cast (although he looks the same age Giles was when he ended Buffy -- which makes me feel old. Denisof is about the same age or around the same age that I am). He plays the new headmaster -- and he's a Warlock, and an experienced one. Ah Dorian, methinks you may begin to miss Alaric, who had no real supernatural abilities.
Also...it appears that I was right, Josie is the new bad girl, and has been from the beginning. Lizzie was a mislead. We're not supposed to like Josie. Who has made a bee-line for Hope's significant other Landon. The actor playing Landon is VERY good.
Alaric is a Principal of Mystic Falls High, and Hope has met up with him. They are hunting monsters together. Rafe is stuck as a werewolf and avoiding Landon.
Landon and Josie are awkardly together -- Josie is more into Landon, Landon is haunted by Hope. (I wonder how Josie is going to handle Hope -- who's abilities could blow Josie into the afterlife.) Lizzie is nicely interested in other things.
I like Lizzie. And the new guy, Sebastian, I've definitely seen that actor before. (I don't think it's Clark -- he's better looking than Clark.)
Milton and Lizzie have no chemistry. Milton does have chemistry with other characters, however.
Placing Alaric and Hope at the town high school, and everyone else at the Salavator School is a great idea -- it opens things up a bit more, and makes it a bit more interesting, while still keeping the Buffy vibe.
Nancy Drew -- I like the lead a great deal. So am sticking with it for now.
It's doing a good job of juggling supernatural elements with real mystery elements, without too much emphasis on the supernatural. The supernatural is eerily suggested and not full in the face at the moment.
It also acts as a good suggestion that something horrible happened in this small town.
So far the mood is nicely eerie, and the characters for the most part likeable or compelling. I'm wondering if Bess is going to be bi-sexual or lesbian? That would be nice angle.
In this day and age, if you do not have diversity of race, gender, and sexual orientation in teen or twenty-something shows, you won't survive. The millenials won't watch it. They won't.
It's a huge change from the 1990s, where they were told not to do those stories and people like Joss Whedon snuck them in anyhow.
So, in a way, we've won the culture wars -- at least on television.
The Good Place
Well, while there were admittedly surprises, I'd been waiting for this storyline for a bit. Also it will nicely shake things up. I can see why this is the last season, the writers are obviously running out of ideas. Some of this schitk has been done on prior series by the same writers.
And sigh, no philosophy. Chidi was underused. And Jason overused. I was ...unamused for the most part.
It turned out to be Janet who got switched out, not Michael as we thought. Nice twist that. That surprised me. And explained a few things. Also, I can see why they didn't catch on -- Janet's been a grumpy pill for a while now. Jason got it via a very simple thing, which was clever.
But the Michael/Eleanor back and forth is getting old. Yes they have great chemistry. But. And it was bit cheesy in places.
If you are watching for Michael/Eleanor -- great episode, if you are like me and watching for the whimisical philosophy and Chidi...hoo hum.
Sigh, and would you believe it? I still have television series on my DVR.
It's raining here. Cold and rainy. I watched lots of television shows, and the robot vacuum wander about my small apartment.
2. Television shows..
Emergence - oh dear lord, it takes place on Long Island, and it expects me to believe that there's a private complex and airstrip that no one knows about in the middle of Suffolk County. (I work on Long Island. I've wandered around it. It's rather populated, and airlines cover it daily, along with helicopters not to mention commuter trains, buses and cars. If you wanted to keep something top-secret? I wouldn't do it on Long Island or NYC for that matter.
It's better for me when these series do not take place where I live or near me, because my suspension of disbelief lasts longer. Such as say, Chicago or Seattle or Portland?
I'm also having issues with the evil tech company and the weaponized girl robot story, but that's just me. Granted it's fairly new in some respects.
We'll see how long I stick with this one.
New Amsterdam -- it also stretched my suspension of disbelief. Apparently the city polluted an entire neighborhood with lead poisoning by not covering up the blasting of the lead paint from a bridge. Uhm. No. That can't happen. The NYCDEP would be all over their ass. (New York City Department of Environmental Protection) not to mention OSHA. There's regulations. You can't paint a bridge or remove paint from one without testing for lead paint. Then hiring a licensed abatement contractor to remove it -- paying them to mobilze the area, put up the protective covering. Warn the people nearby, and make the public aware -- just to get the permits. The DOT requires a clearance. Also the writers of this show don't seem to realize it's not the Buildings Commission or the Bridge Commission but the NYCDEP, the DOT (Department of Transportation), and OSHA that would be alerted. I've procured abatement services for a public transportation company for over eight years, I know what is involved. Not only that I know how they handle it.
It took me out of the story. As did the whole bit about Barbers handling rudimentary health services and proscribing blood pressure pills. Uhm no. That has to be monitored by a doctor with a background in it, preferably a primary. My gastrotestinologist refused to proscribe blood pressure meds. If you proscribe the wrong dosage -- you could get sued. Also only a doctor has that ability.
Honestly, it's hard to have much respect for writers.
Stumptown -- this was more enjoyable. I don't know how realistic it was. But definitely more enjoyable. It's pure noir at the moment. Did fall into cliche here and there -- I felt I'd seen it before. But definitely different.
Also Cobie Smulders is selling it. Fun show.
Legacies -- they did a nice job of switching things up this season. I'm actually enjoying it more than last season. Alexis Denisof is a nice addition to the cast (although he looks the same age Giles was when he ended Buffy -- which makes me feel old. Denisof is about the same age or around the same age that I am). He plays the new headmaster -- and he's a Warlock, and an experienced one. Ah Dorian, methinks you may begin to miss Alaric, who had no real supernatural abilities.
Also...it appears that I was right, Josie is the new bad girl, and has been from the beginning. Lizzie was a mislead. We're not supposed to like Josie. Who has made a bee-line for Hope's significant other Landon. The actor playing Landon is VERY good.
Alaric is a Principal of Mystic Falls High, and Hope has met up with him. They are hunting monsters together. Rafe is stuck as a werewolf and avoiding Landon.
Landon and Josie are awkardly together -- Josie is more into Landon, Landon is haunted by Hope. (I wonder how Josie is going to handle Hope -- who's abilities could blow Josie into the afterlife.) Lizzie is nicely interested in other things.
I like Lizzie. And the new guy, Sebastian, I've definitely seen that actor before. (I don't think it's Clark -- he's better looking than Clark.)
Milton and Lizzie have no chemistry. Milton does have chemistry with other characters, however.
Placing Alaric and Hope at the town high school, and everyone else at the Salavator School is a great idea -- it opens things up a bit more, and makes it a bit more interesting, while still keeping the Buffy vibe.
Nancy Drew -- I like the lead a great deal. So am sticking with it for now.
It's doing a good job of juggling supernatural elements with real mystery elements, without too much emphasis on the supernatural. The supernatural is eerily suggested and not full in the face at the moment.
It also acts as a good suggestion that something horrible happened in this small town.
So far the mood is nicely eerie, and the characters for the most part likeable or compelling. I'm wondering if Bess is going to be bi-sexual or lesbian? That would be nice angle.
In this day and age, if you do not have diversity of race, gender, and sexual orientation in teen or twenty-something shows, you won't survive. The millenials won't watch it. They won't.
It's a huge change from the 1990s, where they were told not to do those stories and people like Joss Whedon snuck them in anyhow.
So, in a way, we've won the culture wars -- at least on television.
The Good Place
Well, while there were admittedly surprises, I'd been waiting for this storyline for a bit. Also it will nicely shake things up. I can see why this is the last season, the writers are obviously running out of ideas. Some of this schitk has been done on prior series by the same writers.
And sigh, no philosophy. Chidi was underused. And Jason overused. I was ...unamused for the most part.
It turned out to be Janet who got switched out, not Michael as we thought. Nice twist that. That surprised me. And explained a few things. Also, I can see why they didn't catch on -- Janet's been a grumpy pill for a while now. Jason got it via a very simple thing, which was clever.
But the Michael/Eleanor back and forth is getting old. Yes they have great chemistry. But. And it was bit cheesy in places.
If you are watching for Michael/Eleanor -- great episode, if you are like me and watching for the whimisical philosophy and Chidi...hoo hum.
Sigh, and would you believe it? I still have television series on my DVR.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-20 11:47 pm (UTC)I hope you find the credit card.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 12:16 am (UTC)Isn't that exactly what happened when they first switched up the paint on the Tobin Bridge? Of course, that was a long time ago. (Then again, other disasters like the ongoing water crisis in Flint, not so much.)
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 12:32 am (UTC)Can't compare it to Flint. This is state regulated not federal. Michigan's regulations are vastly different than New York.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 01:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 12:42 am (UTC)Well, Emergence finally resolved the "What is Piper?" mystery, easily the least interesting aspect of the series. Jo doesn't seem clueless anymore, and she's caught up with the audience (only two episodes too late).
Now they can concentrate on the "WHY is Piper?" mystery, which has a lot more potential. Why did Richard Kindred build Piper to resemble a young girl, and for what purpose?
I still think Jo is a little nuts for keeping Piper around, because she is freaking dangerous, good hearted android or not. (I don't quite get the motivation either--it's not like Piper is the daughter she never had.) At the very least, Jo needs to come clean with her family, because they're in danger every second Piper is in the house.
I loved Donal Logue as sleazy (but successful) PI Artie Banks on Stumptown; it's a shame they had to rush into a redemption arc the very next episode. I want him to butt heads with Dex--and she won't know if he's on her side, working against her, working a different angle altogether... and not able to trust a word he says. (Let's hope they can "re=sleaze" him down the line.)
Glad they're keeping Sue Ellen Blackbird in the mix. Love her dynamic with Dex.
I get what you're saying with Chidi. He's a central character, and The Good Place isn't the same with William Jackson Harper on the periphery. Same thing with Janet, in a way. She's THERE--but she isn't, and you feel the absence. (It's like the Cordelia arc in Angel S4.)
On the other hand, I do watch for Michael/Eleanor, and Bell and Danson have been on point all season. Michael's speech about how the gang could never know his real self was fantastic.
*************
Off-topic: are you interested in seeing "Parasite"?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 12:49 am (UTC)Yes. Work Chidi loved the hell out of it -- apparently he went and saw it with a bunch of movie buds and they couldn't stop talking about it. I asked how he'd describe it -- and he said "social commentary" kind of like Get Out. (Notably he did not like either US or Midsommer.) He also refused to spoil me on it.
I just don't know when. I'm off to Hudson this coming weekend to see my brother and his daughter.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 05:00 pm (UTC)I think it's also coming to Cobble Hill cinemas..
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 01:00 am (UTC)Well, Piper stopped the car to save a turtle, so obviously she's a good person.
Sigh.
I agree. It didn't work for me either. This is an unknown entity with unknown programming, created by a guy who has had people killed.
Although...my guess is Emily may be the reason Piper is not a nasty killer, but a little girl who cares about others. They sort of hinted that pretty loudly in the last episode. Emily is the most interesting cast member to pop up. No clue who plays her. Terry O'Quinn (Kindred) has gotten type-cast, as has Michael Emerson (Evil's bad guy) as creepy bad guys. It's a real shame. "Kindred" -- LOL! Get it. Unless I misheard it. The writers have a sense of humor. Piper. Kindred. Hee Hee.
I'm still hanging in there...even though I can sort of already guess at why.
I loved Donal Logue as sleazy (but successful) PI Artie Banks on Stumptown; it's a shame they had to rush into a redemption arc the very next episode. I want him to butt heads with Dex--and she won't know if he's on her side, working against her, working a different angle altogether... and not able to trust a word he says. (Let's hope they can "re=sleaze" him down the line.)
I'm not holding out a lot of hope that we'll see him again. I hope we do. I love Donal Logue. And I want the layers. I was little disappointed that his daughter turned out to be real.
I get what you're saying with Chidi. He's a central character, and The Good Place isn't the same with William Jackson Harper on the periphery. Same thing with Janet, in a way. She's THERE--but she isn't, and you feel the absence. (It's like the Cordelia arc in Angel S4.)
Yeah. The problem is the series is too focused on Eleanor. It works best when it is more of ensemble effort. The writers are spending a bit too much time on Michael/Eleanor, or too much on Jason. I feel as if Tahani, Janet, and Chidi are sort of pushed to one side. Also not enough of Simone.
The best episode to date was The Girl From Arizona Part II -- it's also the only one I laughed during. The reason -- it utilized the entire cast, and not just three people.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 01:38 am (UTC)I need layers.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 01:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-21 02:43 am (UTC)You can't have a series from a skeptic's POV, when the skeptic is seeing demons...it sort of takes away the whole bit about being a skeptic. Scully stayed a skeptic a lot longer, and wasn't interested in Mulder until sometime around S2.
I don't know if you saw The Exorcist television series? But it sort of had the same set up in a way, except with two priests. One who didn't really believe and one who really did. I thought it was better written. And it had problems as well. (Also not my genre -- so I bolted when it got too scary.)
no subject
Date: 2019-10-22 01:18 am (UTC)But I really do think they're building up to something that will be worth the wait.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-22 12:58 pm (UTC)This is my hope as well. It's the pattern with the series to date. Although the Second Season (my favorite to date) focused on the philosophy pretty much throughout with Chidi more of a central character. But Seasons 3 and 1 did get off to a slow start and both did take a while to address the philosophy.