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1. Finally watched The Good Place - S3 Episode 9 -- Janet(s) which appears to be the fall season finale. (I always miss the last four seconds of the episode, because my stupid DVR cuts it off and I forget to tape the show after it. Have the same problem with the Connors. It's annoying.)
This episode focused depended a bit too much on the D'Arcy Caden's acting, which is fine if you like a certain acting style (non-emotive, stiff, and highly restrained), not so much...if you prefer more emotive, and less stiff. Although to be fair that could have been the direction. I've not seen her do anything else...so no clue. But I'm rather ambivalent and this episode made me no less so. Your Mileage Most Likely Varies.
That's really my only quibble about the episode.
Everything else I enjoyed quite a bit -- particularly the discourse on the self and how philosophy viewed the self, and really if there is even such a thing as the self, and why in the hell should we care. Also the side philosophical bit -- about how Chidi got into philosophy because he wanted to make rational sense out of everything, only to discover this is not possible and there is no rational sense to be made. I think the series is at it's best when it is ripping apart philosophical theories, poking fun at them, and questioning them. It reminds me a little of a book I read ages ago...but couldn't finish...about a girl named Sophie who falls into a philosophical rabbit hole. Can't remember the name of it at all. [ETA: Sophie's World - thank you londonkds.]
As an aside, my brother recommended The Good Place to my mother. So she asked me about it -- took her a while to get the name right.
Mother: You're brother's into this show I think you are watching...it's Right something or other. The Right Place, the Special Place, I think it's place. Not sure.
Me: Do you know what it is about?
Mother: No.
Me: Place...wait, is Ted Dansen in it?
Mother: Is he the guy from Cheers?
Me: Yes.
Mother: yes that's it.
Me: The Good Place. It's great but...you can't just start watching it. You sort of have to start at the beginning and it takes a while to like it. I gave up, discovered the twist, got curious, and came back -- the second season is bloody brilliant.
Mother: What's it about?
(I tell her, including the twisty spoiler...because my mother doesn't care about spoilers. She'll read the end of books first and spoils me all the time on things.)
Mother: Uh. It has philosophy in it? It's focused on "philosophy"?
Me: Yes, that's the best part!
Mother: I think I'll pass. Bleach. Philosophy.
What can I say? It's not for everyone.
( spoilers )
2. The Conners
Still holding strong. Darlene may be too stubborn for a relationship. I actually recognized Matthew Broderick this round. I find it hilarious that Mathew Broderick is now playing all the characters that his younger self used to drive insane. Also, while watching this episode I had a flashback to Godzilla (the first time the did a modern American adaptation) with Matthew Broderick and John Goodman in it. The actors have a good rapport. The show has also managed to pull Juliette Lewis out of hiding.
I did have one cringe-inducing moment -- Darlene's date with her new boss. I felt sorry for the Boss. Darlene would drive me crazy. But I know Darlene. I've met the people in Roseanne. Many of them are members of my extended family. I've been inside that house. So there's a resonance there that is lacking in most situation comedies. And I'm guessing this may be true of most people. Also, how cool is it that there is little makeup or hair styling? The characters feel and look real.
I liked how Becky gives Darlene advice...and it sort of backfires and makes Darlene self-conscious.
But I'm bummed that once again the stupid DVR cut off the last five to six seconds of the show. It was the great joke at the end, where Darlene's daughter is asking Jackie and Darlene for relationship advice and they both state -- don't ask. LOL!
I'm loving this show. We'll see how long it lasts.
3. Great American Baking Holiday Edition
It's basically the same as the Great British Baking Show but with American constestants, an American judge and an American host. I miss the British hosts, and no offense Cheryl, but I prefer Prue. Prue and Paul Hollywood have great chemistry. Other than that no issues. Also much prefer Paul Hollywood to Mary Berry -- I've never liked Mary Berry. Don't get the appeal. Of course I'm not British or part of the Baking World, so no clue who she is.
So far nothing that interesting in the recipes. I don't know why they did eclairs as a show-stopper. Eclairs are rather boring to look at. So too are some of the other items they picked. But, whatever.
There was however a great moment -- when over half the bakers joined forces to help one get all their eclairs on the serving tray. Made me teary.
This episode focused depended a bit too much on the D'Arcy Caden's acting, which is fine if you like a certain acting style (non-emotive, stiff, and highly restrained), not so much...if you prefer more emotive, and less stiff. Although to be fair that could have been the direction. I've not seen her do anything else...so no clue. But I'm rather ambivalent and this episode made me no less so. Your Mileage Most Likely Varies.
That's really my only quibble about the episode.
Everything else I enjoyed quite a bit -- particularly the discourse on the self and how philosophy viewed the self, and really if there is even such a thing as the self, and why in the hell should we care. Also the side philosophical bit -- about how Chidi got into philosophy because he wanted to make rational sense out of everything, only to discover this is not possible and there is no rational sense to be made. I think the series is at it's best when it is ripping apart philosophical theories, poking fun at them, and questioning them. It reminds me a little of a book I read ages ago...but couldn't finish...about a girl named Sophie who falls into a philosophical rabbit hole. Can't remember the name of it at all. [ETA: Sophie's World - thank you londonkds.]
As an aside, my brother recommended The Good Place to my mother. So she asked me about it -- took her a while to get the name right.
Mother: You're brother's into this show I think you are watching...it's Right something or other. The Right Place, the Special Place, I think it's place. Not sure.
Me: Do you know what it is about?
Mother: No.
Me: Place...wait, is Ted Dansen in it?
Mother: Is he the guy from Cheers?
Me: Yes.
Mother: yes that's it.
Me: The Good Place. It's great but...you can't just start watching it. You sort of have to start at the beginning and it takes a while to like it. I gave up, discovered the twist, got curious, and came back -- the second season is bloody brilliant.
Mother: What's it about?
(I tell her, including the twisty spoiler...because my mother doesn't care about spoilers. She'll read the end of books first and spoils me all the time on things.)
Mother: Uh. It has philosophy in it? It's focused on "philosophy"?
Me: Yes, that's the best part!
Mother: I think I'll pass. Bleach. Philosophy.
What can I say? It's not for everyone.
( spoilers )
2. The Conners
Still holding strong. Darlene may be too stubborn for a relationship. I actually recognized Matthew Broderick this round. I find it hilarious that Mathew Broderick is now playing all the characters that his younger self used to drive insane. Also, while watching this episode I had a flashback to Godzilla (the first time the did a modern American adaptation) with Matthew Broderick and John Goodman in it. The actors have a good rapport. The show has also managed to pull Juliette Lewis out of hiding.
I did have one cringe-inducing moment -- Darlene's date with her new boss. I felt sorry for the Boss. Darlene would drive me crazy. But I know Darlene. I've met the people in Roseanne. Many of them are members of my extended family. I've been inside that house. So there's a resonance there that is lacking in most situation comedies. And I'm guessing this may be true of most people. Also, how cool is it that there is little makeup or hair styling? The characters feel and look real.
I liked how Becky gives Darlene advice...and it sort of backfires and makes Darlene self-conscious.
But I'm bummed that once again the stupid DVR cut off the last five to six seconds of the show. It was the great joke at the end, where Darlene's daughter is asking Jackie and Darlene for relationship advice and they both state -- don't ask. LOL!
I'm loving this show. We'll see how long it lasts.
3. Great American Baking Holiday Edition
It's basically the same as the Great British Baking Show but with American constestants, an American judge and an American host. I miss the British hosts, and no offense Cheryl, but I prefer Prue. Prue and Paul Hollywood have great chemistry. Other than that no issues. Also much prefer Paul Hollywood to Mary Berry -- I've never liked Mary Berry. Don't get the appeal. Of course I'm not British or part of the Baking World, so no clue who she is.
So far nothing that interesting in the recipes. I don't know why they did eclairs as a show-stopper. Eclairs are rather boring to look at. So too are some of the other items they picked. But, whatever.
There was however a great moment -- when over half the bakers joined forces to help one get all their eclairs on the serving tray. Made me teary.