Whining about Conversational Landmines..and uh, a small completely unrelated bit on Rupert Murdoch.

[shadowkat]

Lost my entire post. Dang-it.

So, instead of rewriting it. Go here to read the article from the Metro on Rupert Murdoch scandal slowly making its way across the pond to the US. The skinny? CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Journalism) has requested that the US Congress investigate Murdoch's News Corp. to determine if they hacked into American politicians and private citizens emails. Also the US Department of Justice is considering using the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to launch an investigation of allegations that News Corp. routinely paid police officers bribes for information - this according to The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). And not to be outdone, Murdoch's stock took a dive on the NY Stock Exchange.

Hot stinky day. And I'm noticing an undercurrent of irritation throbbing through me, either caused by the weather (I'm admittedly a human weather vane) or hormones (annoying things hormones get me into all sorts of trouble be much happier without the bloody things, then again maybe not). Also, an observation? Is it just me or is life or rather all forms of human conversation thwart with emotional landmines? I can get into trouble for just voicing my opinions on movies and television writers and characters - doesn't matter where. Which may explain why I seldom discuss such things offline.

Heaven forbid I admit to liking a show like Buffy offline. Or *cough* Vamp Diaries (I did once and ran into a very uncomfortable discussion over the phone with the Risk Management Manager at work of how Bones and House were more intelligent and better written than Vamp Diaries - they aren't, I know I've watched all three, about the same actually). The Wire - is fairly safe. It's mainstream and critically acclaimed. Farscape? No one has heard of it , except people who loved it or people who made fun of it, sort of helps to know which group your about to run smack dab into before making a comment. True Blood? Need to be careful - fans are split into three groups, those who love the tv series and don't think it's a hilarious comedy, those who loved the books, and those who think it's a great parody/satire of the books and entire trope. In short? See Farscape. Doctor Who and/or Torchwood? See Farscape. Books? Same problem - if I were reading things like Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking or something contemporary literary - or non-fictional literary - like The Midmeasure of a Man, I'd be fine. But I'm reading a YA fantasy novel called Graceling that no one has ever heard of. I am not permitted to discuss Twilight books with anyone. Half my extended family (aunts, cousins, not the immediate one thank god) read the books and loved them to pieces. And co-workers loved it. (I don't understand the appeal frankly. And find the whole fact that such a poorly written book got published highly offensive. See? This is why I'm not allowed to discuss it.) Had a rather awkward experience with my Aunt and cousin during a funeral a few years back. Aunt - your cousin is watching the film Twilight for the second time - if you'd like to join her? Me = wincing. Aunt - okay, perhaps not. The polite thing would have been to go join her, watch Twilight, and resist the urge to wince or snark during it. But I know me.

Used to be religion and politics were the only emotional hot-buttons...but not any more. Even apartment hunting can be problematic as a topic. Life ain't safe...there's verbal landmines everywhere just waiting to be stepped on. The only topic that seems halfway safe any more may be the weather, but you have to make sure you keep it to just the weather and don't start comparing notes on which area of the planet is the best to live, or whether summer is better than winter - because ack, landmines!!! Is it any wonder that I come from work to relax in my cool flat sans people in happy relief?? Happy Hour?? Sounds like a nightmare. With Beer. (Actually tequila, since I can't do beer unless its gluten free and wine, well does not like me any more for some reason. Don't know what I did to piss it off, but it just decided one day, I don't like you and that was that.)

Comments

[local-max.livejournal.com]

Agreed that Buffy would have been a better bet -- but again, if he didn't like it it would annoy me more. The episode was The Wish, too, which is good but probably would lose its impact if you weren't familiar with regular-Sunnydale.

I was making my way through series one of the new show -- the RTD era -- so it was The Long Game, which is the one with Simon Pegg where the Doctor and Rose find a future media empire that tells people what to think and etc. etc. heavy handed social commentary stuff. Though I don't think it's the worst episode I've seen, I think it was the worst in series one.

lol, I do think that the officemate used to watch sci-fi--he used to like Star Trek when he was younger -- but now he feels he's outgrown it or something. Possibly because whenever he watches it it turns out to be bad episodes of shows.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I think officemate needs to lighten up and get over his snobby self? ;-)

Although...you are right about Buffy. It's a serial. There's really no way around it - people have to start with that lack-lustre first season and build their way up to the good stuff. Also it is not to everyone's taste. Whedon is basically making fun of a specific trope and himself in the process. You either get it or you don't.
Most people I know, don't...but oddly my brother did - he surprised me, as did my mother --- one Xmas, I had retreated into the other room to watch Buffy - this was back in 1998 or 1999 or thereabouts, during S3. And I thought I'd done a good job of sneaking out of the main living room to watch my favorite show in peace without any one knowing. But my mother and my brother followed me. My brother telling me that he loved Buffy too and that Dad was watching this horrible show called JAG and he couldn't handle it any longer.
It was a fun moment that I won't forget.

People can surprise you.

I was making my way through series one of the new show -- the RTD era -- so it was The Long Game, which is the one with Simon Pegg where the Doctor and Rose find a future media empire that tells people what to think and etc. etc. heavy handed social commentary stuff. Though I don't think it's the worst episode I've seen, I think it was the worst in series one.

Ah, not the best pic. Of course I'm not a huge fan of S1-2 - the Rose Tyler arc didn't work for me. But S3-6 are good. Shame you weren't watching Blink - that's a great episode. Tell the guy he should watch Blink and then tell you if he likes Sci-fi or not.

Because lets' face it all tv shows have their weak episodes. Even the Wire (which I'm watching now as you probably know...) has it's weak episodes. The first two of S1 and a couple in S2. We're human, not perfect...although we'd like to think we are. ;-)

Has he watched anything since Star Trek? It's really odd that a physicist or scientist wouldn't be into science fiction - okay maybe not, I've met a few who have the imaginations of gnats and hate fictional sci-fi. My aunt is somewhat particular in this regard...

[local-max.livejournal.com]

I think officemate needs to lighten up and get over his snobby self? ;-)

I think perhaps he does! But I am forgiving. I think he started watching Game of Thrones, and was interested in BSG -- so I don't think he's entirely closed-minded. I feel like Buffy is a hard sell -- and it takes a few episodes to really get it. But yes, I have also been surprised by the people who like the show. I was talking to someone once who said he didn't get Harry Potter's popularity. And I casually said that I hadn't read them (which I hadn't at the time) but that I see the appeal of narratives that examine school life through supernatural metaphors. He responded, "Like Buffy?" I said, yes. And he said, "I love Buffy." It was nice.

I was just watching series one of Doctor Who for the first time -- so I didn't know which episodes were good and which were bad, and I just suggested watching the next episode of the season that I was on. Which is a shame, because I think the episode immediately before (IIRC, which I might not) was Father's Day, which I thought was strong. I actually liked the Rose arc in series one -- I thought Billie Piper and Chris Eccleston had good chemistry-but-not-quite-romantic chemistry, I liked the material with Rose and her family, I liked the way the season ended with her reaching a huge level of power. But series two didn't go anywhere with it -- it mostly just repeated the story, and while I like David Tennant, he and Billie Piper didn't play off each other nearly as well as Eccleston and Piper did. I am sort of mixed on series three and four -- I haven't quite decided what I think of them. Though I do like Donna quite a bit, at least. I haven't caught up on the Moffat years yet.

I do think that my officemate might just have had bad experiences with sci-fi. We'll see if I can convert him eventually, ha ha. But it's not all bad -- he got me onto Generation Kill, which is a great miniseries by David Simon et al. Which (along with your posts -- which I haven't read, because, spoilers), and numerous other accolades, make me want to watch The Wire. The only problem: right now I am supposed to be finishing my thesis (or at least, doing so soon), and I don't want to get invested in a new series, at least not one that requires a lot of energy and investment, which it sounds like The Wire might. I don't want brainless TV per se -- but maybe something a little less taxing, maybe something a bit lighter. I'm not sure what. Maybe a comedy series. Lots of my f-list are big fans of Community, but I wasn't wowed by the first two episodes.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

The only problem: right now I am supposed to be finishing my thesis (or at least, doing so soon), and I don't want to get invested in a new series, at least not one that requires a lot of energy and investment, which it sounds like The Wire might.

Don't watch The Wire right now. I have to keep rewinding and finally gave up and put it on close-captioning. It's brilliant, but every piece of dialogue matters. David Simon and Ed Burns are genuiuses. By the way Generation Kill isn't David Simon - it's Ed Burns. I think David Simon died during the first season of Treme.

I'd suggest Game of Thrones - it's oddly enough lighter, but also quite violent and very wry wit. Plus...a lot characters to keep track of.

I don't want brainless TV per se -- but maybe something a little less taxing, maybe something a bit lighter. I'm not sure what. Maybe a comedy series. Lots of my f-list are big fans of Community, but I wasn't wowed by the first two episodes.

Community does get better, but like most sitcoms it is uneven. I agree with you, I was less than impressed by it. But I admittedly have a very dry sense of humor and find Community's sense of humor either cringe-worthy or silly most of the time. That said? The paint-ball episode are hilarious. I'll give it that - it has a nice sense of absurdist comedy. There's also a rather funny episode about hijacking a space shuttle which may amuse you.

Not sure if you've tried Big bang theory? It's also uneven, but often funnier than Community.

I think the only Situation Comedy series that weren't that uneven that I watched were pre-21st centurary - News Radio, Frasier, Cheers, Murphy Brown, Seinfeild, MASH. Post -90s is so...over-the-top, I can see the joke coming from a mile a way, also a prevalence of documentary style humor. But if you like documentary humor and haven't seen it already - try Arrested Development - it is sort of wry wit and the precursor to Modern Family (a lot better actually). Another possibility is a spin-off of Beavis and Butthead - Daria.
Or...Weeds? Although Weeds got on my nerves after the 3rd season.

I liked Femme Nikita and Covert Affairs - but they may be too light for you.
Vamp Diaries and True Blood too soap operaish. True blood has some good satire though - particularly S2. Vamp Diaries is hilarious but it's also very Dawson's Creek - think Scream meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Dawson's Creek.

Terriers is lighter and fun. So is The Walking Dead for that matter. And I loved Justified - if you like Westerns.

Sigh. I watch too much tv - it's my vice, well one of them at any rate. ;-)

[local-max.livejournal.com]

Oh the other thing I just thought of -- for me at least, I find that it's much easier to spot a "bad episode" in a genre/sci-fi show, than in a straight drama. I don't know why that is. I think it might be that genre shows are, by their nature, more variable -- there is a bigger tendency for those shows to experiment, do different ideas, run with different *concepts* of how to tell stories, work with different central metaphors, and that type of thing. And sometimes the metaphors will fall flat and be ridiculous; sometimes it fly past suspension of disbelief; and the like. Non-genre, *formula* dramas, tend to be more consistent -- and when they fail, it is because the writers have lost track of the characters (as with House this year). Certainly some dramas are not really formulaic in the same way. Mad Men is structured around the advertising cases, but it isn't always, and it switches genres, from melodrama to full-out satire. But it does seem as if there is less difference between episodes, in terms of what they do, than in genre shows. I think that's part of why sci-fi gets a bad rap -- which is that it might be easier to spot when it *isn't working*. Or at least, it's easier to latch onto problems with the plotting or whatever.

That said -- this all might be wrong, I was just thinking aloud (well, thinking into a comment).

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I think you are right. Genre tends to play more. But most shows have at least five to six stinkers per year. Was listening to a commentary by one of the writers/producers of Farscape a while back, this guy had also done several other television series, the names escape me at the moment, some genre, some not, and he repeated a story that he'd been told while working for another head writer - I think either Sydney Sheldon or Stephan J. Cannell - who told him - you will write at least one bad episode each year. It won't feel bad when you write it. It won't look bad. But it will be bad. One great episode, one stinker, and several in-between. If you are really lucky you'll get five or six great episodes.

TV is a tough business. The show are written and produced so quickly. The fact that any are good is a miracle. In the US - so many of the network tv series have 22 episodes - which is exhausting. One of the best television writers ever - Rod Serling of Twilight Zone- burned out trying to keep up the pace, he would write 18 of the episodes each year, back to back. He couldn't do it. It was too much. Be a bit like writing 18 books a year.

The better series are actually the shorter ones. The Wire is 10-13 episodes each season. That's roughly half the number of episodes of each Season of Buffy. Same deal with Game of Thrones, Dead Wood, Mad Men...if you are only writing 10-13 episodes, you can do an arc, it's easier.

Genre tv has a problem that realism doesn't - the genre tv show often has to great a world along with the characters, and a mythology, with rules. Ron Moore - prior to filming BSG, wrote a character bible and mythology, he built his world. Joss Whedon wrote up something similar but not as detailed and it showed - Whedon's one weakness was he's not detail oriented enough to write genre, he has a comic book/soap opera writers' laziness. Genre fans are crazy about the details. Sci-fi? You have to have some understanding of science - to play with it effectively. (The Lost writers read every time travel scientific theory they could get their hands on - trying to stay true to hard science.) Genre often requires more attention to detail, and more
knowledge of your world and characters than say a show like Castle or Bones.
You have to make it up and you have to do a convincing enough job that your audience will buy your world - it won't distract them or throw them out of the story.

It's very hard to do well. Which is why sci-fantasy gets such a bad rap. It will either fail - in that it pays too little attention in building its world, or it fails in paying too much and the characters get lost or become cardboard ciphers (Neil Gaimen is guilty of this at times). Balance between the two - very difficult.