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shadowkat1. House - half watching this week's episode, it's slow and not as well written as last week's episode. Will however give the writers credit for completely changing the look, style, and set up of the series. It feels almost like a reboot. Also everyone but House does appear to change. Cuddy left the hospital for a new job elsewhere (much like the actress who played her), Chase, 13, and Taube followed suit. Leaving only Omar Epps - Forman, who now has Cuddy's old job, and a young intern who reminds me a great deal of last season's Amber Tamblyn character, except not as compelling or interesting.
2. Ringer - has finally dropped all pretense and become a daytime soap opera on speed. (Yes, daytime soaps have all these twists and turns and dark characters - heck I've even seen some variation of this plot on a couple, they just usually aren't this fast moving. Has to do with the medium. If Ringer had the pacing of a daytime soap, the audience, what's left of it, would have taken off.) Less amusing than last week's episode, and more predictable. (Yet, oddly, still a lot more entertaining than Terra Nova and American Horror Story.) Not a fan of the whiny teen girl drug addict from hell storyline (can we kill her off next week?).
So on Ringer, we spend the episode wondering what the heck best bud Gemma is going to do. Honestly, how she is a best bud, I've no clue. All she's done for the last several episodes is whine about her husband who she can barely look at and can't stand to be touched by. She hasn't noticed that her friend's burn scar disappeared or that her best bud is acting very weird. Also when information is basically thrown at her - she still doesn't figure out that her "best bud" is well not who she appears to be. Gemma in short is one dumbass bitca. And difficult to like, albeit more likable than teen step-daughter (who is actually played by an actress in her mid-twenties) from hell. So what does Gemma do? She careens between whining and blackmail.
Gemma: Siobhan/Bridget whoever you are, it's still all about you. It always was. I don't have to do anything you say. You have to do what I say.
Me: Gemma, you are not wrong. But honestly, black-mailing a gal on the run from a dangerous mobster and the FBI, who is desperate enough to pretend to be her dead sister (who you've no idea how she died) is probably not the brightest move.
Gemma realizes it when Henry calls her enraged about her blackmail attempt on Siobet, which Siobet told Henry about. (Siobet probably had good intentions...)
Siobet: Oh what should I do? Do I go along with Gemma and sleep with Henry and destroy my life or do I let Gemma tell everyone my secret?
Me: Why don't you just kill her? Better yet, tell Henry what Gemma is up to and let him figure it out.
Siobet: Henry, Gemma is blackmailing me and wants me to sleep with you to screw you out of everything. Go home and talk her out of it. Convince her that you love her and will do anything to fix it.
Henry: What? Screw that, I'll just kill the bitch.
(To give Gemma a little credit - when Henry calls her enraged, she calls Andrew in tears and asks him to meet her - because she plans on revealing all - about the back-stabbing Siobet in person. Which of course means she's dead woman walking. Because it's far too soon for the unvarnished truth to come out. Why she didn't just tell him over the phone, I've no clue. They never do in these shows. It always has to be in person - giving someone ample time to stop them. If I were Gemma, I would have put the secret somewhere that would be immediately revealed upon my untimely death. But Gemma is not exactly the brightest girl on the planet.)
And so Henry does kill her, or so we are lead to believe. I suppose it's possible that he didn't. Gives Henry a nice dark edge.
Apparently Siobhan and Henry have this in common.
In a way it is disappointing, I found Gemma to be potentially entertaining, also she reminded me a little of Amber Benson, who apparently has gotten cast in a different role on the same show. Not surprised Gemma is dead. Been waiting for it. But with her dead, we are right back to where we started. Dang it. No one knows Siobet's secret except Siobhan. Who we didn't see this week.
The other half of the episode was spent on teen stepdaughter from hell and her drug habit, also Bridget's drug habit, and Malcolm. Feeling sorry for poor Malcolm. He really doesn't deserve this. And Bridget doesn't deserve that level of devotion.
Makes me wonder about Malcolm. What the heck did she do to make you risk your life and sanity for her? She doesn't seem to care one wit about Malcolm.
Bridget: Malcolm why won't you return my calls? I need you. I can't do this without you? How could you desert me!
Malcolm being tortured by mob boss that Bridget is too chicken to testify against.
Not to worry - Bridget has found a new sponsor, a guy who looks oddly familar, and I swear I've seen somewhere. But can't place. This guy keeps trying to get more info, but Bridget for once is careful.
Andrew...dear god, Ion Grufford is playing this role stiffly. Not that he has much to work with at the moment. At any rate poor Andrew is still oblivious to everything. We do get a bit more info. Apparently Siobhan slept with Andrew while he was still married to Juliette's mother, they were separated but not divorced, which is why Juliette hates Siobhan and her father.
Can't say I blame her for that. Geeze these characters are terribly narcissitic aren't they? The only one who appears to care about someone other than himself is Andrew - but that's only because I know nothing about him.
It's odd, I can't say I necessarily like the characters, but I do oddly care or am curious to see what happens. The soap stuff obviously doesn't bother me nor does the production value - I've been watching daytime soaps for years, this is just faster paced is all. It's light airy fun. Guilty pleasure viewing at it's best. Watch and forget.
Off to bed.
Oh - blurb from EW which made me giggle: "Have you ever written a piece of fan fiction in which Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast members Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters guest on Supernatural as a troublesome wraith and her husband?
Then it's time to lawyer up!"
(Hee. No, but I'm sure someone has. Because I vaguely remember reading it. Also first thought that popped into my brain upon reading it? Too bad SMG and DB weren't available. They could have done a mini-version of The God of Carnage, with SMG, DB, CC and JM all cast as spouses...I can't believe no one has written that fanfic.)
On Buffy comics front? I've been reading the reviews again. But just the reviews. My curiousity never extends past that.
What I wanted from the comics or the story, the writer wasn't interested in. I wanted a continuation of the television series, where characters evolved and old subplots were wrapped up and "continuity" a factor. The writer wanted to reboot the story in a new medium. And go over or rehash old themes. Which may explain why the movie reboot rumor annoyed him? I mean, he did it himself already. First in TV format. Now in comic format. This is okay, just doesn't interest me. Interests other people though and well, I'm not the target audience...not that I ever really was, but that's another story.
Anyhow?
1) I think the guy killing the people in the comics or the mystery is most likely Marty Stu Slayer of the Week - from the reviews I've read, that sounds like the obvious choice and it fits Whedon's MO. This isn't really a spoiler - since I lifted this from reviews and am most likely dead wrong.
2) I also do not understand how anyone can be coming after Buffy for student loans? This makes no sense. She left school when the money ran out. Was barely there more than a semester and a half. Also, isn't Sunnydale U in a crater, so who exactly is alive to be asking for the money? Dawn? I can see them coming after Dawn for student loans. OR Willow maybe? Come to think of it - why aren't they? Did Dawn get a massive scholarship? Did Willow?? And if it's the dirt cheap state schooling, why doesn't that apply to Buffy? Seriously Whedon and company should not introduce financial issues into these stories - it never makes any sense. Stick to the supernatural metaphors, leave reality to the experts such as Terry Moore and Marjap (Persepolis).
2. Ringer - has finally dropped all pretense and become a daytime soap opera on speed. (Yes, daytime soaps have all these twists and turns and dark characters - heck I've even seen some variation of this plot on a couple, they just usually aren't this fast moving. Has to do with the medium. If Ringer had the pacing of a daytime soap, the audience, what's left of it, would have taken off.) Less amusing than last week's episode, and more predictable. (Yet, oddly, still a lot more entertaining than Terra Nova and American Horror Story.) Not a fan of the whiny teen girl drug addict from hell storyline (can we kill her off next week?).
So on Ringer, we spend the episode wondering what the heck best bud Gemma is going to do. Honestly, how she is a best bud, I've no clue. All she's done for the last several episodes is whine about her husband who she can barely look at and can't stand to be touched by. She hasn't noticed that her friend's burn scar disappeared or that her best bud is acting very weird. Also when information is basically thrown at her - she still doesn't figure out that her "best bud" is well not who she appears to be. Gemma in short is one dumbass bitca. And difficult to like, albeit more likable than teen step-daughter (who is actually played by an actress in her mid-twenties) from hell. So what does Gemma do? She careens between whining and blackmail.
Gemma: Siobhan/Bridget whoever you are, it's still all about you. It always was. I don't have to do anything you say. You have to do what I say.
Me: Gemma, you are not wrong. But honestly, black-mailing a gal on the run from a dangerous mobster and the FBI, who is desperate enough to pretend to be her dead sister (who you've no idea how she died) is probably not the brightest move.
Gemma realizes it when Henry calls her enraged about her blackmail attempt on Siobet, which Siobet told Henry about. (Siobet probably had good intentions...)
Siobet: Oh what should I do? Do I go along with Gemma and sleep with Henry and destroy my life or do I let Gemma tell everyone my secret?
Me: Why don't you just kill her? Better yet, tell Henry what Gemma is up to and let him figure it out.
Siobet: Henry, Gemma is blackmailing me and wants me to sleep with you to screw you out of everything. Go home and talk her out of it. Convince her that you love her and will do anything to fix it.
Henry: What? Screw that, I'll just kill the bitch.
(To give Gemma a little credit - when Henry calls her enraged, she calls Andrew in tears and asks him to meet her - because she plans on revealing all - about the back-stabbing Siobet in person. Which of course means she's dead woman walking. Because it's far too soon for the unvarnished truth to come out. Why she didn't just tell him over the phone, I've no clue. They never do in these shows. It always has to be in person - giving someone ample time to stop them. If I were Gemma, I would have put the secret somewhere that would be immediately revealed upon my untimely death. But Gemma is not exactly the brightest girl on the planet.)
And so Henry does kill her, or so we are lead to believe. I suppose it's possible that he didn't. Gives Henry a nice dark edge.
Apparently Siobhan and Henry have this in common.
In a way it is disappointing, I found Gemma to be potentially entertaining, also she reminded me a little of Amber Benson, who apparently has gotten cast in a different role on the same show. Not surprised Gemma is dead. Been waiting for it. But with her dead, we are right back to where we started. Dang it. No one knows Siobet's secret except Siobhan. Who we didn't see this week.
The other half of the episode was spent on teen stepdaughter from hell and her drug habit, also Bridget's drug habit, and Malcolm. Feeling sorry for poor Malcolm. He really doesn't deserve this. And Bridget doesn't deserve that level of devotion.
Makes me wonder about Malcolm. What the heck did she do to make you risk your life and sanity for her? She doesn't seem to care one wit about Malcolm.
Bridget: Malcolm why won't you return my calls? I need you. I can't do this without you? How could you desert me!
Malcolm being tortured by mob boss that Bridget is too chicken to testify against.
Not to worry - Bridget has found a new sponsor, a guy who looks oddly familar, and I swear I've seen somewhere. But can't place. This guy keeps trying to get more info, but Bridget for once is careful.
Andrew...dear god, Ion Grufford is playing this role stiffly. Not that he has much to work with at the moment. At any rate poor Andrew is still oblivious to everything. We do get a bit more info. Apparently Siobhan slept with Andrew while he was still married to Juliette's mother, they were separated but not divorced, which is why Juliette hates Siobhan and her father.
Can't say I blame her for that. Geeze these characters are terribly narcissitic aren't they? The only one who appears to care about someone other than himself is Andrew - but that's only because I know nothing about him.
It's odd, I can't say I necessarily like the characters, but I do oddly care or am curious to see what happens. The soap stuff obviously doesn't bother me nor does the production value - I've been watching daytime soaps for years, this is just faster paced is all. It's light airy fun. Guilty pleasure viewing at it's best. Watch and forget.
Off to bed.
Oh - blurb from EW which made me giggle: "Have you ever written a piece of fan fiction in which Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast members Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters guest on Supernatural as a troublesome wraith and her husband?
Then it's time to lawyer up!"
(Hee. No, but I'm sure someone has. Because I vaguely remember reading it. Also first thought that popped into my brain upon reading it? Too bad SMG and DB weren't available. They could have done a mini-version of The God of Carnage, with SMG, DB, CC and JM all cast as spouses...I can't believe no one has written that fanfic.)
On Buffy comics front? I've been reading the reviews again. But just the reviews. My curiousity never extends past that.
What I wanted from the comics or the story, the writer wasn't interested in. I wanted a continuation of the television series, where characters evolved and old subplots were wrapped up and "continuity" a factor. The writer wanted to reboot the story in a new medium. And go over or rehash old themes. Which may explain why the movie reboot rumor annoyed him? I mean, he did it himself already. First in TV format. Now in comic format. This is okay, just doesn't interest me. Interests other people though and well, I'm not the target audience...not that I ever really was, but that's another story.
Anyhow?
1) I think the guy killing the people in the comics or the mystery is most likely Marty Stu Slayer of the Week - from the reviews I've read, that sounds like the obvious choice and it fits Whedon's MO. This isn't really a spoiler - since I lifted this from reviews and am most likely dead wrong.
2) I also do not understand how anyone can be coming after Buffy for student loans? This makes no sense. She left school when the money ran out. Was barely there more than a semester and a half. Also, isn't Sunnydale U in a crater, so who exactly is alive to be asking for the money? Dawn? I can see them coming after Dawn for student loans. OR Willow maybe? Come to think of it - why aren't they? Did Dawn get a massive scholarship? Did Willow?? And if it's the dirt cheap state schooling, why doesn't that apply to Buffy? Seriously Whedon and company should not introduce financial issues into these stories - it never makes any sense. Stick to the supernatural metaphors, leave reality to the experts such as Terry Moore and Marjap (Persepolis).
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no subject
Date: 2011-10-13 04:09 am (UTC)But that's as much fanwanking as I'm willing to do for the comics. :)
And I agree with your point that the comics are a reboot not a continuation.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-13 12:23 pm (UTC)Yeah, I know applying logic to Whedon is akin to applying logic to a daytime soap opera. Hee. Except the soap opera makes more sense.
Sadly, CA universities are no longer cheap.
Date: 2011-10-13 04:54 pm (UTC)Re: Sadly, CA universities are no longer cheap.
Date: 2011-10-13 05:13 pm (UTC)NYU is %52,000 a year. I think CUNY is about $15-$20,000 or thereabouts.
University of Kansas in the 1990s for Law school? Only $3,000 a year.
Re: Sadly, CA universities are no longer cheap.
Date: 2011-10-13 07:56 pm (UTC)Re: Sadly, CA universities are no longer cheap.
Date: 2011-10-13 09:13 pm (UTC)The most expensive school in the country is Sarah Lawrence in upstate New York at $58,000.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-13 02:29 pm (UTC)I think that may actually have been the original character synopsis for Gemma when they were developing the show.
But, actually whiny teenage drug addict attempted to murder Gemma. Henry then accidentally tried to murder whiny teen thinking she was Gemma. Next episode, new character, handsome-doctor Lance miraculously saves everybody. Everybody saved has amnesia. Everybody saved falls in love with handsome doctor Lance. Lance says he loves Gemma but cheats on her with whiny teen, who we learn is in fact Henry's daughter. Meanwhile Henry falls in love with his male handsome-defense-attorney, Rance who only has eyes for Siobet. All, of course, in one episode. ;o)
no subject
Date: 2011-10-13 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-10-14 02:13 pm (UTC)It really needed a bigger budget.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-14 10:38 pm (UTC)As you state, even the least interesting characters on Revenge are developed to a degree, while Ringer only has five characters and the most developed meet well Revenge's OC subDivision.
And it is admittedly unfair to compare the two...which is why I've stopped for the most part...hee.
OH, a reviewer over on EW.com picked up on your aging dog nitpick.