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shadowkatAfter a smattering of warm days, the air has turned crisp, even sort of cool in the apartment. Sitting here typing away in my old tattered blue law school sweatshirt and jeans after watching a batch of tv shows off DVR, which is currently taping the documentary Trek Nation along with Subrogatory and Revenge, as well as another episode of American Horror Story...which appears determined to do a riff off of every classic horror film ever made...I'm waiting for the Exorcist. (damn, that was a long sentence). The Exorcist by the way is a true classic, the scary bits are the ones without the gross special effects. But the suggestion. Good horror - is in the suggestion or anticipation.
TV...I watch it mostly to relax, distract and comfort myself - a sort of de-stresser after a tough and exhausting work day. A way to unwind. Which I'm guessing is not the reason people who are catching tv shows on the net, are watching? I mean if you are bothering to watch it on your lap-top, it needs to be at least halfway worth the effort. Otherwise why bother. I do think, however, that criticism is required. After all some of the people making these tv series are making what most of us would consider lottery winnings on a yearly basis. There's a reason for that though...and I'm being somewhat disingenuous saying otherwise. Acting, writing, producing, directing for television is not an easy gig. It's boring. It's stressful. It's long hours. Often working with people...who aren't very nice and make most normal work-place bullies look like pussycats in comparison. And well...let's not talk about the media publicity machine, the fans, the internet, the critics, etc...who pick you apart constantly and are part of the package. I honestly think half their pay is "hazard" pay.
Tonight watched The Walking Dead and The Hart of Dixie (pilot). Of the two, found Hart of Dixie more entertaining. I'd watched a random episode last week and was a bit surprised by it. It does improve from the pilot. Reminds a little of Northern Exposure with the quirky characters. And I like the strong female casting.
Jobeth Williams (who is unrecognizable) and Nancy Travis were in the pilot. Also, a plus, ethnic casting. It's not all white. Thank god.
I don't recommend it to the folks overseas watching stuff via the net, it's not worth the time and effort. Just annoy you. But if you have a DVR, a tv, and like a show you can dip into, is not violent, has some nice characters, and is hopeful...but not deep and doesn't require you to think? Check this baby out. In some respects I think it has more potential than Secret Circle - less angsty and soapy, with a bit more quirkiness.
On to The Walking Dead - well this episode didn't go exactly the way I expected. It did surprise me in places, but in part because certain characters actions made no sense. I did however like one or two things about it. And the last five to ten minutes were possibly the best of this season, since the highway scene at the start. Although I can't say I was surprised by who died, finally. And I'm admittedly surprised that people who watch tv on their lap-tops have stuck with this show as long as they have...I'd think it would start annoying you at some point. Again too much effort for too little return. See? I don't have to work hard to watch tv shows. I just flip them on. And on a 32 inch screen that is controlled by a remote.
So, I tend to be more forgiving of brainless tv shows...than most people, because hello - that's what I'm expecting and hunting when I flip on the set. Always half surprised when it's not.
*Well, Shane, dude, it is a whole lot easier to kill people you don't know or care about than someone you do - walking dead or not, ain't it? Although kudos for predicting that Sophie was long dead by now. When you are right, you are right...
although something tells me you weren't expecting that.
They actually built that well. I didn't think she'd pop up until she actually did.
And it was incredibly painful. Because throughout the episode, we have people either planning to go out hunting for her, or just returning from hunting for her. This entire season has been about hunting Sofie. Finding her. Holding out hope that she survived and is just lost. And a sort of denial that she isn't dead. There's a pall of denial...they've made it to this safe place, where walkers aren't constantly coming after them. There's food. Water. Medical supplies. And they can try to forget.
They use Sofie as an excuse to stay. And they convince themselves that the woods isn't dangerous...that it's just the woods and she is lost. But their denial is broken up at different points - by the appearance of Walkers in the Woods.
All the people shooting the walkers dead - were also the one's who sacrificed a great deal to find Sofie. Like I said - it was built well. We see them killing the walkers in the barn like target practice, no emotion. Then Sofie appears as a Walker. And they freeze unable to shoot. Shane - who made a huge song and dance about Ric not being strong enough to survive out there, not having what it takes to make the hard decisions. Stands frozen, unable to fire, staring at Sofie. Even after he opened the barn and unleashed them, shooting them like ducks in a barrel. But Ric (and I knew it would be Ric, since they built it up to be him - Rick who told her to hide while he chased the walkers away from her, Rick who kept everyone hunting for her, Rick whose son got shot hunting for her) has to shoot her and goes up close and personal and does.
* That said? There were some eye-rolling bits here and there. Ric agreeing to help Herschel drag the Walkers back to the barn? I can see why he did it - he was trying to negotiate with Herschel. But seriously? And Glenn makes a great point - alive or dead, the walkers are dangerous! You think? He actually had to be reminded of that?
Talk about your PTSD syndroms.
I can see what they were trying to do...show how people handle those with disease.
And the Walkers are in a way a metaphor for disease. Okay not a metaphor. They are literally walking disease - that's all that is left the disease, the human is gone.
Herschel wants to cure the disease, thinking he can retrieve the human. He's clinging to that hope...while nice metaphor? It's not really believable. I mean come on - as Shane points out, how can you believe something that can be riddled with bullet holes and cut in half is still alive? Also wouldn't you prefer to be killed than allowed to live if you became that? Hello. So...Herschel's perspective is, I'm sorry not sympathetic, so much as insane.
As his daughter, excuse me, step-daughter, points out - you are putting dead people before the living. Ric states the same thing. Are you nuts? And let's lose the holier than thou bit.
* I know I'm supposed to hate Shane in this episode - but he is right. They needed to get rid of the Walker's in the barn, only a matter of time before the Walkers figured out a way out of the barn. Also dragging more Walkers to the barn and putting yourself and everyone else in danger is sort of stupid. Rick's coddling of Herschel isn't helpful. Shane's also right about Sofie - if they haven't found her by now, she's dead. Hello? There's Walking Dead wandering about the forest. It's not like she's just in the forest with a few animals. No, she's in it with Walking Dead who will relentlessly pursue her, and she has no weapons. Chance of survival? Pretty much zip. Particularly after two weeks. (And yes, we get confirmation that it was only two weeks...I know, I know, it felt like three months...we're on tv time, it moves at a different pace than reality (how else do you explain 24?) )
But poor Darryl can't let it go. He's a nice character, but not the smartest bulb on the planet. He must find Sofie. Sofie's Mom starts to wisen up to this, and wonders why he's still so convinced Sofie's alive. Even Mom's begun to give up. Darryl is also in denial and frantically clinging to hope. The reveal of Sofie as a Walker in the barn, after he's been spending almost every waking moment hunting her - had to be painful. Also...Herschel couldn't have told them there was a little girl in the barn who was a Walker that might be Sofie? Or he'd found her and she was dead? Stupid Herschel...that would have ended this whole thing a lot quicker. Which is why it didn't happen, because we can't have that.
Oh well, at least something interesting happened in this episode, the last few episodes felt a bit like a horror version of Peyton Place meets the great outdoors.
(ie. a wee bit too much on the soapy side for the genre.) Although, Ric did not react to the news of Shane and Lori having slept together the way I thought he would.
Was rather stoic and calm, all things considered, nor all that surprised. Seemed to have halfway expected it. Which also makes sense - since we are given quite a bit of back story as to how much of a ladies man Shane used to be, and Rick followed in his footsteps. Ric oddly is the one to tell Shane, and doesn't seem to question that the kid is his (Ric's). Shane of course jumps to the conclusion it is his. Lori says doesn't matter - it's Ric's one way or the other. Deal. Personally, I don't see why it matters at all - they are all sort of stuck together, living, sleeping, on top of each other struggling to survive. Seriously Shane, considering the odds are against any of you living to tomorrow...I'd say this is not that big a deal.
Don't blame Shane for making something happen. Thank you Shane.
And finally Glenn gets up the nerve to tell everyone what's in the barn, as if Dale wouldn't have eventually. Although one never knows with Dale.
They still need to kill off a few more characters...cast is too damn big, can't add any new people...but who? My money's on the black guy now...he has nothing to do. That actor must be bored. Personally? I'd kill off Dale - I find him annoying.
Also, Herschel - who is incredibly creepy - is it just me or are the actor's eye's beady and black? And his skin albino white? Looks like he walked off the set of
Harvest Home or a gothic horror flick. They can keep his daughter - who I sort of like, we need more tough women in this series.
I think there's a burgeoning romance developing between Darryl and Sofie's mother (who really needs a name other than Sofie's mother, now that Sofie is dead and all.)
Which is cool. Guess Andrea got on Darryl's nerves. Can't see why. I'm not being sarcastic, I truly can't see why. She's not whiny, and she doesn't want to be a victim. Darryl methinks has a savior complex and likes women in distress?
The actor is good in the role.
Andrea's good. She's enjoying bad boy Shane, and up with the firearms.
Overall? Better episode than last week. Actually better than the last six weeks.
And I liked the ending or twist. So there's that. Oddly? Not as violent as some other shows. Sure they are shooting zombies - but they are zombies.
*As an aside? I peeked at the preview pages for the 4th issue of Buffy S9 comics out of curiousity, and...the first thing that popped into my head was: "Damn, they ARE going to turn Spike human!" (Time was, I'd care. But I can't see them doing the story I'd want. No one has done the Spike as human tale that'd I want.)
TV...I watch it mostly to relax, distract and comfort myself - a sort of de-stresser after a tough and exhausting work day. A way to unwind. Which I'm guessing is not the reason people who are catching tv shows on the net, are watching? I mean if you are bothering to watch it on your lap-top, it needs to be at least halfway worth the effort. Otherwise why bother. I do think, however, that criticism is required. After all some of the people making these tv series are making what most of us would consider lottery winnings on a yearly basis. There's a reason for that though...and I'm being somewhat disingenuous saying otherwise. Acting, writing, producing, directing for television is not an easy gig. It's boring. It's stressful. It's long hours. Often working with people...who aren't very nice and make most normal work-place bullies look like pussycats in comparison. And well...let's not talk about the media publicity machine, the fans, the internet, the critics, etc...who pick you apart constantly and are part of the package. I honestly think half their pay is "hazard" pay.
Tonight watched The Walking Dead and The Hart of Dixie (pilot). Of the two, found Hart of Dixie more entertaining. I'd watched a random episode last week and was a bit surprised by it. It does improve from the pilot. Reminds a little of Northern Exposure with the quirky characters. And I like the strong female casting.
Jobeth Williams (who is unrecognizable) and Nancy Travis were in the pilot. Also, a plus, ethnic casting. It's not all white. Thank god.
I don't recommend it to the folks overseas watching stuff via the net, it's not worth the time and effort. Just annoy you. But if you have a DVR, a tv, and like a show you can dip into, is not violent, has some nice characters, and is hopeful...but not deep and doesn't require you to think? Check this baby out. In some respects I think it has more potential than Secret Circle - less angsty and soapy, with a bit more quirkiness.
On to The Walking Dead - well this episode didn't go exactly the way I expected. It did surprise me in places, but in part because certain characters actions made no sense. I did however like one or two things about it. And the last five to ten minutes were possibly the best of this season, since the highway scene at the start. Although I can't say I was surprised by who died, finally. And I'm admittedly surprised that people who watch tv on their lap-tops have stuck with this show as long as they have...I'd think it would start annoying you at some point. Again too much effort for too little return. See? I don't have to work hard to watch tv shows. I just flip them on. And on a 32 inch screen that is controlled by a remote.
So, I tend to be more forgiving of brainless tv shows...than most people, because hello - that's what I'm expecting and hunting when I flip on the set. Always half surprised when it's not.
*Well, Shane, dude, it is a whole lot easier to kill people you don't know or care about than someone you do - walking dead or not, ain't it? Although kudos for predicting that Sophie was long dead by now. When you are right, you are right...
although something tells me you weren't expecting that.
They actually built that well. I didn't think she'd pop up until she actually did.
And it was incredibly painful. Because throughout the episode, we have people either planning to go out hunting for her, or just returning from hunting for her. This entire season has been about hunting Sofie. Finding her. Holding out hope that she survived and is just lost. And a sort of denial that she isn't dead. There's a pall of denial...they've made it to this safe place, where walkers aren't constantly coming after them. There's food. Water. Medical supplies. And they can try to forget.
They use Sofie as an excuse to stay. And they convince themselves that the woods isn't dangerous...that it's just the woods and she is lost. But their denial is broken up at different points - by the appearance of Walkers in the Woods.
All the people shooting the walkers dead - were also the one's who sacrificed a great deal to find Sofie. Like I said - it was built well. We see them killing the walkers in the barn like target practice, no emotion. Then Sofie appears as a Walker. And they freeze unable to shoot. Shane - who made a huge song and dance about Ric not being strong enough to survive out there, not having what it takes to make the hard decisions. Stands frozen, unable to fire, staring at Sofie. Even after he opened the barn and unleashed them, shooting them like ducks in a barrel. But Ric (and I knew it would be Ric, since they built it up to be him - Rick who told her to hide while he chased the walkers away from her, Rick who kept everyone hunting for her, Rick whose son got shot hunting for her) has to shoot her and goes up close and personal and does.
* That said? There were some eye-rolling bits here and there. Ric agreeing to help Herschel drag the Walkers back to the barn? I can see why he did it - he was trying to negotiate with Herschel. But seriously? And Glenn makes a great point - alive or dead, the walkers are dangerous! You think? He actually had to be reminded of that?
Talk about your PTSD syndroms.
I can see what they were trying to do...show how people handle those with disease.
And the Walkers are in a way a metaphor for disease. Okay not a metaphor. They are literally walking disease - that's all that is left the disease, the human is gone.
Herschel wants to cure the disease, thinking he can retrieve the human. He's clinging to that hope...while nice metaphor? It's not really believable. I mean come on - as Shane points out, how can you believe something that can be riddled with bullet holes and cut in half is still alive? Also wouldn't you prefer to be killed than allowed to live if you became that? Hello. So...Herschel's perspective is, I'm sorry not sympathetic, so much as insane.
As his daughter, excuse me, step-daughter, points out - you are putting dead people before the living. Ric states the same thing. Are you nuts? And let's lose the holier than thou bit.
* I know I'm supposed to hate Shane in this episode - but he is right. They needed to get rid of the Walker's in the barn, only a matter of time before the Walkers figured out a way out of the barn. Also dragging more Walkers to the barn and putting yourself and everyone else in danger is sort of stupid. Rick's coddling of Herschel isn't helpful. Shane's also right about Sofie - if they haven't found her by now, she's dead. Hello? There's Walking Dead wandering about the forest. It's not like she's just in the forest with a few animals. No, she's in it with Walking Dead who will relentlessly pursue her, and she has no weapons. Chance of survival? Pretty much zip. Particularly after two weeks. (And yes, we get confirmation that it was only two weeks...I know, I know, it felt like three months...we're on tv time, it moves at a different pace than reality (how else do you explain 24?) )
But poor Darryl can't let it go. He's a nice character, but not the smartest bulb on the planet. He must find Sofie. Sofie's Mom starts to wisen up to this, and wonders why he's still so convinced Sofie's alive. Even Mom's begun to give up. Darryl is also in denial and frantically clinging to hope. The reveal of Sofie as a Walker in the barn, after he's been spending almost every waking moment hunting her - had to be painful. Also...Herschel couldn't have told them there was a little girl in the barn who was a Walker that might be Sofie? Or he'd found her and she was dead? Stupid Herschel...that would have ended this whole thing a lot quicker. Which is why it didn't happen, because we can't have that.
Oh well, at least something interesting happened in this episode, the last few episodes felt a bit like a horror version of Peyton Place meets the great outdoors.
(ie. a wee bit too much on the soapy side for the genre.) Although, Ric did not react to the news of Shane and Lori having slept together the way I thought he would.
Was rather stoic and calm, all things considered, nor all that surprised. Seemed to have halfway expected it. Which also makes sense - since we are given quite a bit of back story as to how much of a ladies man Shane used to be, and Rick followed in his footsteps. Ric oddly is the one to tell Shane, and doesn't seem to question that the kid is his (Ric's). Shane of course jumps to the conclusion it is his. Lori says doesn't matter - it's Ric's one way or the other. Deal. Personally, I don't see why it matters at all - they are all sort of stuck together, living, sleeping, on top of each other struggling to survive. Seriously Shane, considering the odds are against any of you living to tomorrow...I'd say this is not that big a deal.
Don't blame Shane for making something happen. Thank you Shane.
And finally Glenn gets up the nerve to tell everyone what's in the barn, as if Dale wouldn't have eventually. Although one never knows with Dale.
They still need to kill off a few more characters...cast is too damn big, can't add any new people...but who? My money's on the black guy now...he has nothing to do. That actor must be bored. Personally? I'd kill off Dale - I find him annoying.
Also, Herschel - who is incredibly creepy - is it just me or are the actor's eye's beady and black? And his skin albino white? Looks like he walked off the set of
Harvest Home or a gothic horror flick. They can keep his daughter - who I sort of like, we need more tough women in this series.
I think there's a burgeoning romance developing between Darryl and Sofie's mother (who really needs a name other than Sofie's mother, now that Sofie is dead and all.)
Which is cool. Guess Andrea got on Darryl's nerves. Can't see why. I'm not being sarcastic, I truly can't see why. She's not whiny, and she doesn't want to be a victim. Darryl methinks has a savior complex and likes women in distress?
The actor is good in the role.
Andrea's good. She's enjoying bad boy Shane, and up with the firearms.
Overall? Better episode than last week. Actually better than the last six weeks.
And I liked the ending or twist. So there's that. Oddly? Not as violent as some other shows. Sure they are shooting zombies - but they are zombies.
*As an aside? I peeked at the preview pages for the 4th issue of Buffy S9 comics out of curiousity, and...the first thing that popped into my head was: "Damn, they ARE going to turn Spike human!" (Time was, I'd care. But I can't see them doing the story I'd want. No one has done the Spike as human tale that'd I want.)
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no subject
Date: 2011-12-01 01:13 pm (UTC)I call it the "perfectly quaint small town" tv trope. Or "fish out of water" story. Doc Hollywood, that flick with Michael J. Fox? made if hugely popular.
I've seen about twenty versions. They all take place in a quaint small town either in the North east, South, or North west - which is the town time forgot and doesn't exist in this reality.
Hart of Dixie if fun, if a)you aren't interested in thinking, b) you want to watch a show that is as far from your current lifestyle as possible (and you happen to live in NYC and work in a city, and aren't familiar with the South).
In short it worked for me. But I also live in NYC and have a mentally exhausting job. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2011-12-01 06:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-01 09:40 am (UTC)...what do you mean, they're going on hiatus for a few months?
Well, in fairness, the difference between some of the s2 episodes and no episodes at all is really just academic. Unless I hear very good things about season 2.5, I doubt I'll bother.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-02 12:20 am (UTC)It's not worth it. It's easy for me to watch it - in English.
(I say that having rented and watched the Brilliant Lars Von Stiers The Kingdom in it's original language subtitled. That was worth it. Walking Dead? Not so much. Buffy? Yes. BSG? Maybe. Lost? No. There's frankly very few tv shows that are worth it. The Wire? Once you get past the drug dealer romanticizing..yep. Actually it is. So was Farscape - that would be worth it.
And I might have done it for Doctor Who and The West Wing. Also the Good Wife (less preachy than the West Wing but it's in its early seasons). )
See? Easy not to be picky - when all you have to do is flip on the set.
Anyhow...agreed. The last five minutes were the best of the whole season but not enough to keep people around until Feb. Also, we can sort of predict what will happen next. Herschel will go off the deep end. Rick will rally the troops. Shane will continue to be an ass, albeit a smarter one that anyone else in the show. I know people love Darryl, and yes he's cool, but he is also a cliche of the redneck southerner, and dumb. Everyone else doesn't really register. And Rick is too cliche "square" hero to intrigue.
This episode was slow and boring until the last five to ten minutes. Not a good sign. Starting to understand why the previous show-runner quit. Don't blame him.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-02 09:02 am (UTC)Herschel will go off the deep end. Rick will rally the troops. Shane will continue to be an ass, albeit a smarter one that anyone else in the show. I know people love Darryl, and yes he's cool, but he is also a cliche of the redneck southerner, and dumb. Everyone else doesn't really register. And Rick is too cliche "square" hero to intrigue.
*nods* I was kind of intrigued by Angela becoming a badass zombie hunter, but given the show's history, I'm not sure how they would have handled it.
Starting to understand why the previous show-runner quit. Don't blame him.
Actually, he was fired (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/walking-dead-what-happened-fired-221449). They fired an Oscar-winning director for suggesting that they actually make it a good TV series rather than just a cheap one.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-01 08:37 pm (UTC)It wasn't really to my taste, but I think that says more about my TV preferences than any viability of the show. It's hard for me to see Rachel Bilson as an NYC Doctor but the cast seems fine. (And kudos for Scott Porter taking the right role for himself after he proved on 'The Good Wife' that he cannot play a bad guy).
I'm not really gonna watch it, but just from the pilot it seems like there's no reason they shouldn't be able to squeeze three seasons out of it.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-02 12:12 am (UTC)where I live or know. Basically fluff. But it's not memorable nor appointment tv. Also even though a serial? Easy to jump in and out of.
In some respects it is better written than Secret Circle - better dialogue and less angsty. I'm guessing it will last longer, but hard to tell. I'm watching both - but again a mood thing. Work is killing me at the moment...I need brainless fluff. ;-) (Although may do a Fringe marathon...tonight...because want to kill my boss at the moment. Who has developed a jekyll and hyde personality.)