Fantasy TV Shows for 2011
Mar. 21st, 2011 10:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatOkay, I think both Smallville and Supernatural may have finally lost me. Although Supernatural - at least still has some coherence. Smallville is all over the place.
Or just not in the mood.
Feeling restless - I googled tv fantasy shows for 2011 and ran into some interesting possibilities.
Lucky Brits are getting Game of Thrones on SKY (is this your premium cable or is it like our standard cable? Think the Sopranos but in Middle Earth, with castles, zombies, dragons and direwolfs). I'm going to have to wait for the DVD's, because I can't afford HBO right now. Tempting as it may be. Not that big a deal - did this with True Blood, The L Word, and Dexter, not to mention Weeds. Will most likely do it with Torchwood as well, since I can't get Starz, and possibly Camelot. It's what netflix is for after all. [Only problem is I can't chat with people online who are watching as it airs.]
Other interesting fantasy shows?
Outcasts (in UK not here yet - traditionally Europe and Japan are more sci-fantasy friendly than the US has been. I remember because when I wandered over there in the 1980s, I discovered all sorts of science fiction and fantasy mags, tv shows, movies, etc. Also the US fantasy/science fiction shows do better overseas than in the US. Don't understand why this is exactly, just that it is. OR rather was - things have changed greatly since the advent of cable. Cable has given us sci-fi/fantasy geeks a smorgasborg in the way of tv shows.), It's apparently going to show up on BBC America soon.
Terra Nova (the Steven Spielberg produced/directed series which keeps getting delayed - it's a prehistoric time-travel tv show, where a family goes back in time to save the future or something like that). Is it just me or did Spielberg just get bored of film finally and decide to go the tv route like everyone else? He has at least three series in development. The other one is the less appealing, War of the Worlds series - Falling Skies - where guys fight and women cower. (Yawwwn)
17th Precinct by Ron Moore (who has pitched five different tv shows in the last year and this is the one that got picked up, since it is starring three favorite actors of mine - I'll probably tune in - Stockard Channing, Jamie Bamber, and James Callis),
Doctor Who - worth watching just to see the Doctor in a cowboy hat in UTah.
Powers/Alias Jessica (based on the comic series - which looks interesting, it's a female private detective who used to be a super-hero or something like that - I'm hoping this gets picked up, it's in development though...and it's a long-shot),
Blood and Chrome (the latest installment of Battle Star Galatica - which is starting to remind me of Babylon 5 in how it keeps doing weird but not very successful spin-offs of itself - this round, we find a young Adama getting his first position on the new battlestar Galatica, as an ensign.),
Fox's Lock and Key looks wickedly cool - Based on Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's twisty, trippy IDW comic book—about the Locke family, coping with the patriarch's murder and a series of supernatural threats that invade their lives—this pilot comes with an awful rich pedigree. Star Trek's Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are executive producing, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' Josh Friedman is running the writers' room, and Never Let Me Go's Mark Romanek is directing the pilot, which will star Lord of the Rings' Miranda Otto. Stars Miranda Otto and written by Josh Friedman? Count me in. I lovvved Sarah Connor Chronicles - amongst the best sci-fi series on.
Walking Dead S2 - Fall AMC (according to the spoilers I've read, Laurie's character starts becoming a fighter in the second season and we get more development of female characters).
Go here to see pics and read about it yourself:http://blastr.com/2011/01/11-sci-fifantasy-tv-shows.php
Sorry, guilty pleasure is sci-fantasy books, movies and tv shows. What can I say? I loves them. This genre is my current comfort food.
Or just not in the mood.
Feeling restless - I googled tv fantasy shows for 2011 and ran into some interesting possibilities.
Lucky Brits are getting Game of Thrones on SKY (is this your premium cable or is it like our standard cable? Think the Sopranos but in Middle Earth, with castles, zombies, dragons and direwolfs). I'm going to have to wait for the DVD's, because I can't afford HBO right now. Tempting as it may be. Not that big a deal - did this with True Blood, The L Word, and Dexter, not to mention Weeds. Will most likely do it with Torchwood as well, since I can't get Starz, and possibly Camelot. It's what netflix is for after all. [Only problem is I can't chat with people online who are watching as it airs.]
Other interesting fantasy shows?
Outcasts (in UK not here yet - traditionally Europe and Japan are more sci-fantasy friendly than the US has been. I remember because when I wandered over there in the 1980s, I discovered all sorts of science fiction and fantasy mags, tv shows, movies, etc. Also the US fantasy/science fiction shows do better overseas than in the US. Don't understand why this is exactly, just that it is. OR rather was - things have changed greatly since the advent of cable. Cable has given us sci-fi/fantasy geeks a smorgasborg in the way of tv shows.), It's apparently going to show up on BBC America soon.
Terra Nova (the Steven Spielberg produced/directed series which keeps getting delayed - it's a prehistoric time-travel tv show, where a family goes back in time to save the future or something like that). Is it just me or did Spielberg just get bored of film finally and decide to go the tv route like everyone else? He has at least three series in development. The other one is the less appealing, War of the Worlds series - Falling Skies - where guys fight and women cower. (Yawwwn)
17th Precinct by Ron Moore (who has pitched five different tv shows in the last year and this is the one that got picked up, since it is starring three favorite actors of mine - I'll probably tune in - Stockard Channing, Jamie Bamber, and James Callis),
Doctor Who - worth watching just to see the Doctor in a cowboy hat in UTah.
Powers/Alias Jessica (based on the comic series - which looks interesting, it's a female private detective who used to be a super-hero or something like that - I'm hoping this gets picked up, it's in development though...and it's a long-shot),
Blood and Chrome (the latest installment of Battle Star Galatica - which is starting to remind me of Babylon 5 in how it keeps doing weird but not very successful spin-offs of itself - this round, we find a young Adama getting his first position on the new battlestar Galatica, as an ensign.),
Fox's Lock and Key looks wickedly cool - Based on Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's twisty, trippy IDW comic book—about the Locke family, coping with the patriarch's murder and a series of supernatural threats that invade their lives—this pilot comes with an awful rich pedigree. Star Trek's Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are executive producing, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' Josh Friedman is running the writers' room, and Never Let Me Go's Mark Romanek is directing the pilot, which will star Lord of the Rings' Miranda Otto. Stars Miranda Otto and written by Josh Friedman? Count me in. I lovvved Sarah Connor Chronicles - amongst the best sci-fi series on.
Walking Dead S2 - Fall AMC (according to the spoilers I've read, Laurie's character starts becoming a fighter in the second season and we get more development of female characters).
Go here to see pics and read about it yourself:http://blastr.com/2011/01/11-sci-fifantasy-tv-shows.php
Sorry, guilty pleasure is sci-fantasy books, movies and tv shows. What can I say? I loves them. This genre is my current comfort food.
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no subject
Date: 2011-03-22 04:26 pm (UTC)Primeval - I haven't really tried, although it is on both Syfy and BBCAmerica repeatedly. Should, I guess. It looked from the previews to be a bit too "monster of the week", but maybe it's not? Tried Sanctuary for a bit...but the writing didn't hold my attention and too many tv shows.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-22 08:44 am (UTC)We are indeed! I've been watching trailers for it over the last couple of weeks and it starts here on April 17th (I had a bit of a panic at the weekend as I'd thought it was 17th March and I'd missed it *phew*). SKY is a premium cable/satellite channel though, not one of the free to air ones.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-22 03:47 pm (UTC)I always check out the new sci-fi shows when they come out (I don't try the vast majority of cop, lawyer and/or doctor shows) because they are much more likely to provide some fun.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-22 04:22 pm (UTC)According to the spoilers - Rick (the head guy) starts screwing up and becomes less acceptable as a leader, Laurie becomes more kick ass and proficient fighter (that's the single female character and my favorite on the series, the one with the sister who died.) And a couple of new characters get introduced.
The second half of the first season sounds a bit better.
??
Date: 2011-03-23 01:06 am (UTC)Is he gone forever?
Of course the show probably isn't picked up for next year anyway....
Re: ??
Date: 2011-03-23 04:11 pm (UTC)Julie Benze's character figured out that Joshua's powers included the ability to wipe minds. And that he was one of the evil Dr. King's protegees. She told Katie, who confronted Joshua. Joshua confessed to everything - stating that he fell in love with Katie and just wanted to make a fresh start, and his erasure of Daphne's (the teen girl) was in part to protect her - because she knew too much, and in part to acquire the information he needed. Katie couldn't forgive him. And he went away to Mexico on a bus.
I think this occurred during John Anthony Hall (formerly of the Dead Zone) guest appearance as Daphne's boyfriend's handicapped and abusive father.
Joshua (the only character I liked...
Sigh, me too. I liked Joshua and Katie, everyone else either grates on my nerves or bores me. I was only watching it for that relationship and those two characters.
This story is incredibly cliche in places, and the writing is just bad. What is it with American tv and super-heros? They can't appear to do one to save their lives - they all, without exception fall into campy cliche.
Smallville wasn't bad...and is probably the best of the bunch, but that's not saying much. And the reviews of David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman aren't great.
Meanwhile across the pound - we have the somewhat edgy and innovative Misfits.
Re: ??
Date: 2011-03-23 04:44 pm (UTC)It is sad: they have a great cast, really talented actors, on 'No Ordinary Family', but the dialogue and story lines are dumbed down so they can do nothing with the roles...
Josh Stewart (Joshua) always brings a lot of smoldering layers to every character I've seen him play... and I've always loved Eric Balfour (Wolverine guy) too. I think because they were playing bad guys they could add more texture/inner conflict to their performances.
I'm going to have to get ahold of 'Misfits'!
Re: ??
Date: 2011-03-23 11:12 pm (UTC)Not sure you'll like it or not? It's young and very raw in places, about a group of juvenile delinquents who get super-powers through an electrical storm while doing community service. It's an inter-racial cast, and takes place in North London - or the new industrial wasteland of it. Crude in places, with a very British sense of humor. I rather like it - can't see them doing it over here though.
It is sad: they have a great cast, really talented actors, on 'No Ordinary Family', but the dialogue and story lines are dumbed down so they can do nothing with the roles...
Josh Stewart (Joshua) always brings a lot of smoldering layers to every character I've seen him play... and I've always loved Eric Balfour (Wolverine guy) too. I think because they were playing bad guys they could add more texture/inner conflict to their performances.
What else has Josh Stewart been in? He looked familiar. I really liked his Joshua. And I also like Balfour and Lucy Lawless.
As well as Benze and Chicklis and Stephen Collins. But the script is so bland. And it is a shame...because there's so much missed potential.
It's not coming back - both Benze and Chicklis are in new pilots they are hoping will be picked up. Best indicator that the series is on the chopping block. Also it's ending before sweeps, not a a good sign.
I'm getting good at telling which tv shows will survive and which won't - seen so many that have been canceled, it's not hard. Happens when you are addicted to or have a weakness for weird tv shows. LOL!
(I'm still trying to resist the call of HBO...and Starz for that matter. But all these shows will be on netflix.)
Re: ??
Date: 2011-03-23 11:59 pm (UTC)I never saw him on 'Criminal Minds' because I almost never see that... but I was thrilled when he started on 'No Ordinary Family' because he just brings so much to every role.
I started watching 'Misfits' today online (I have my websites) and I do really love it. It can be violent and gross, but it is so darkly funny and so well written.... I'm really enjoying it.
Of course I blew almost the entire day watching episodes back to back (it was rainy and windy so I wasn't really tempted to try to go anywhere anyway). Thanks for offering to loan me your DVDs though!
Re: ??
Date: 2011-03-24 06:29 am (UTC)This is what 'Heroes' should have been: they should have allowed for ordinary people getting powers they were unprepared to use... They should have gone more for the humor (the wonderful dark disturbing humor).
This show is made of awesome.
Re: ??
Date: 2011-03-24 12:19 pm (UTC)Re: ??
Date: 2011-03-24 12:20 pm (UTC)Re: ??
Date: 2011-03-24 07:30 pm (UTC)to me to see it?
It is wonderfully darkly funny and innovative, isn't it? The best super-hero series that I've seen on tv to date. Too many of them try to recreate the world of mainstream super-hero comics, as opposed to doing something new.
Re: ??
Date: 2011-03-24 07:48 pm (UTC)http://www.rootforum1.com/index.php
It used to be, to join, you had to post a number of times and then you could access the forums with links in them... People in the UK post Doctor Who and other shows, people in the USA post Dexter and other shows, and people all over the world can watch those shows on the links at the site....
I don't know if they've tightened up the criteria for joining more recently or not, I do know they altered the way they fund the site.... But I'm kind of grandfathered in under the old rules.
Anyway that is where I found 'Misfits' and I am completely amazed at how much I love this series. It is so well done, and so hilarious.... They could never make a show like this in the US, even HBO or Showtime would be afraid to get this weird (Dexter is strange, but nowhere close to this). I seriously love this show!
no subject
Date: 2011-03-22 04:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-03-23 04:13 pm (UTC)