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[Finally got the windows somewhat winterized - it's not perfect, but drafts are at a minimum -- so neither freezing nor boiling. Also figured out how to make a rather yummy butternut squash soup. And found a way to light my closets. All around a productive Sat. Today am vegging in front of the telly. Have the flicks "Boyhood" and "How to Train Your Dragon 2" on my tv stand, waiting to be viewed. Just finished watching "Empire" and "Agent Carter".]
1. Agent Carter - this is a seven part mini-series that is a spin-off of the Captain America film and Marvel Agents of Shield. And it's amongst those rare instances in which the spin-off is actually head and shoulders better than the source material. Or at least has more to say.
The character spun off is Captain America's girlfriend, Agent Maggie Carter. She's been regulated to perfunctory secretarial tasks by the male leadership of SHIELD, and considered the token gal Friday. Anyone who has watched or studied the 1940s and early 50s or Post WWII Noir film genre and spy genre, which sort of went hand-in-hand, will note how the writers are lightly mocking various sexist stereotypes of the genre. It is a sexist genre. And the series is having a blast subverting the stereotypes and making fun of them. It's also have a bit of fun mocking the 1940s cliffhangers.
( Read more... )
2. Empire - this is the musical drama written by Danny Strong (Mockingjay Part 1, The Butler, and Game Change) and Lee Daniels (The Butler). Strong also portrayed the character of Jonathan in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It stars Terence Howard and Tanij P. Henderson (who were in Hustle and Flow, amongst other films). All black cast, except for maybe two people in supporting roles, one's a girl-friend (white) of one of the brother's, the other (a hispanic) is the boyfriend of one of the brothers.
This distinguishes it from a lot of dramas on network television.
In some respects it reminds me of Nashville -- it's about the music industry, the musical aspects are performances in that industry, and it centers on the personal and business lives of the players. Also, like Nashville it has a strong female character and a gay male character. That's where the comparisons end.For one thing, it's far less soapy than Nashville, which is interesting considering Daniels was going for a Dynasty vibe and the writers of Nashville really weren't.
( Read more... )
1. Agent Carter - this is a seven part mini-series that is a spin-off of the Captain America film and Marvel Agents of Shield. And it's amongst those rare instances in which the spin-off is actually head and shoulders better than the source material. Or at least has more to say.
The character spun off is Captain America's girlfriend, Agent Maggie Carter. She's been regulated to perfunctory secretarial tasks by the male leadership of SHIELD, and considered the token gal Friday. Anyone who has watched or studied the 1940s and early 50s or Post WWII Noir film genre and spy genre, which sort of went hand-in-hand, will note how the writers are lightly mocking various sexist stereotypes of the genre. It is a sexist genre. And the series is having a blast subverting the stereotypes and making fun of them. It's also have a bit of fun mocking the 1940s cliffhangers.
( Read more... )
2. Empire - this is the musical drama written by Danny Strong (Mockingjay Part 1, The Butler, and Game Change) and Lee Daniels (The Butler). Strong also portrayed the character of Jonathan in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It stars Terence Howard and Tanij P. Henderson (who were in Hustle and Flow, amongst other films). All black cast, except for maybe two people in supporting roles, one's a girl-friend (white) of one of the brother's, the other (a hispanic) is the boyfriend of one of the brothers.
This distinguishes it from a lot of dramas on network television.
In some respects it reminds me of Nashville -- it's about the music industry, the musical aspects are performances in that industry, and it centers on the personal and business lives of the players. Also, like Nashville it has a strong female character and a gay male character. That's where the comparisons end.For one thing, it's far less soapy than Nashville, which is interesting considering Daniels was going for a Dynasty vibe and the writers of Nashville really weren't.
( Read more... )