Television and Life in general ....
May. 13th, 2012 07:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1.Happy Mother's Day.
My 7 year old niece has a variation of OCD...she asked her mom, why me? Why has this happened to me? She is better and struggling with it. My heart goes out to her. There's a little bit of it in me as well (in case you haven't noticed - but it does rear its head online at times)...She's super-sensitive, highly empathetic, obsessive about things, and compulsive. The poor dear got addicted to Dick Van Dyke Show. At times it manifests as a need to continuously wash her hands, others...a compulsive need to watch one tv show, or re-read and re-read a book. She binge reads and does it compulsively. And she worries about things. Has troubles sleeping - brain too busy. Is an introvert. And is intense. Sigh...she's not going to have an easy life...being quirky isn't easy. I know, I'm quirky. I had to stay in today - take a people break to recharge. And haven't slept well all week.
2. Sent the second part of my novel to publishing friend...along with a response to her email, attempting to explain my intent...we'll see what happens. I'm not sure if my book can be published through traditional channels, it's quirky - so hard to nitch market.
3. Caught up on TV. Decided wasn't in the mood to see a movie. This really has less to do with the movies out and more to do with not being in the mood to sit in a crowded uncomfortable movie theater. Also, I really don't want to see The Avengers in 3D - 3D gives me a headache (except for AVATAR...which was just pretty). So may just wait until it comes out on DVD - where I can rewind and hear the great dialogue and ignore the action scenes. The actions scenes from the trailer look the same as Battle Ship, Transformers, Thor, Captain America, etc. But I've heard the character interaction and dialogue is different.
Right now, just about everyone who is remotely interested in it has seen it on my livejournal. They've switched from reviewing it to analyzing it. (Apparently you can analyze the Avengers regardless of what the film critical elite believes.) I can't read any of these posts without getting spoiled and since I would like to still see it - I'm avoiding the spoilers or trying to. I can't decide if the people lj would have loved it if it were directed and written by anyone other than Joss Whedon. I'd say they saw it just because Whedon wrote and directed it - but only four of us reviewed Cabin in the Woods - which was Whedon unfettered, unrestrained, doing whatever he wants - with his pal Drew Goddard. While the Avengers was controlled by various people. And Whedon was sort of put in a straight-jacket - hello, Disney, Marvel, Downey Jr, and Samuel L Jackson. So, I'm guessing it's a combo of comic geek fandom and Whedon fandom. (I'd be a hypocrite if I begrudged either - considering I'm a former insane fan of both. Well not the Avengers necessarily, but definitely comic books and Whedon.)
Regarding TV?
* Revenge is the best new show you aren't watching. It's amazing. That show has jumped into high gear. It's tightly plotted, well written, and well shot. Bordering on flawless in places. The last four episodes rocked. And I honestly don't know where it is headed. Also it has some great lines...this week's episode: "Sometimes in a story...the villain and the hero are the same..." In Revenge...the line is often blurred.
* Secret Circle got cancelled and deserved it. It's odd that it has the same creative team as Vamp Diaries, but lacks Vamp Diaries' wit and plot structure. The twists are sort of cliche and the characters hard to relate to. Unfortunately, the series got interesting, as did its characters in the season finale. I'm guessing if it had been given a second chance - the second season would have been far more interesting than the first.
That said - the best thing about the show sort of got resolved and in a disappointing manner by the end. Many people including myself were only tuning in to find out what the kids parents had done in the past and who/what John Blackwell was about. Once that got revealed the show lost its oomph. The kids who were the central focus of the series never really grabbed our attention...and hence the cancellation.
* Vamp Diaries - whoa. Hard to discuss without spoilers.
- Whoa...they turned Elena into a vampire. I'm guessing Damon's blood sired her, since that's the blood Meredith stole to heal people? Nice plot-twist. Particularly considering the love triangle. I won't say it was unpredictable, I mean come on, they aren't going to kill off Elena. I knew the moment she died that she was going to become a vampire. They set that up well - she's in the hospital. And when Alaric comes to get her, he confronts Meredith regarding her use of vampire blood to save people and destroys her stash - after Elena had left. Also Elena seems perfectly fine all of a sudden. Add to that - Damon telling Jeremy that he had a whole parade of vampires who could have given Elena blood to heal her. That's all set-up. So the moment she dies - you know, somewhere in there she got vamp blood. Cleverly - it wasn't any of the vamp's fault. It was Meredith - who didn't know Elena was going to die.
The way they kill her is ironic and fitting - she is once again in the car under water.
Matt had intended to get her away from town and safe. So she circles back to that night at the bonfire, the night she fought with Matt (who wanted a commitment and Elena didn't want Matt's nice safe life, and safe love.) She's ironically making the same decisions here that she did back then.
1. Romance: Do I choose a nice safe life with Matt. Safe love. With a guy who saved my life. Who has always supported me. Who never fights my choices. Who follows my lead.
And never challenges me. Or do I want someone who fights with me, challenges me, who is dangerous, unpredictable, and whose love is consuming? Do I want the bad-boy or the boy next door? Do I want safe or adventure? Elena...in the past, chose adventure, dumped Matt, and ended up under-water and saved by Stefan. Stefan taught her how to live again.
She doesn't remember her conversation with Damon - who met her first, but compelled her to forget. He told her that she wanted adventure, a consuming wild love...and he hoped she found all those things. That she wants passion over safe.
In the present - Elena chooses nice safe Stefan..who doesn't challenge her, let's her make the decisions, and never argues with her. With Stefan she can stay safely in Mystic Falls. But dangerous, unpredictable, argumentative and difficult Damon - who consumes her and threatens to take her over...she lets go. She says goodbye to Damon.
And then ends up underwater, trapped, with Matt. When Stefan comes to save her - she insists he save Matt, just as her father once upon a time insisted Stefan save her.
The whole thing is ironic - because in their attempt to save Elena, Matt and Jeremy doom her. Matt tries to convince her to go to Damon...away, but she insists she return home to Stefan and let Damon go - and she dies. Picking the safe route kills her. And she comes back a vampire. I'm not sure vampire Elena is going to be satisfied with Stefan. Human - yes, Vampire - not so much. Stefan would be a bit boring to a female vampire, I'd think.
I personally don't care that much either way. But the writers are definitely headed in that direction. Hence the plot-twist.
* Plot-twist two - is equally interesting. Bonnie makes a deal with the devil, she switches Niklaus out of his body and into Tyler's - and by doing so, manages to keep his death from killing any of the people that he sired. She saves all her friends. When he states that the spirits will be unhappy with her - she says she does not care. She did it for herself. Both Bonnie and Elena have become a bit darker.
Rather fun episode. Each season this show gets more and more interesting. I'll miss Joseph Morgan though - that boy was hot. Hotter than the guy who plays Tyler. Although Nik sharing Tyler's body with Tyler is sort of interesting - since they both have a thing for Caroline.
This is one of those shows in which you like all the characters. Even the ones they kill off. I'll miss Alaric too...although I guess he can still pop up from time to time as a ghost.
* Game of Thrones - I can't remember the book at all at this stage. Because I've no idea what will happen next. Oh, I know what happens in the latter books, but I can't really remember how they got there. Makes it interesting and I'm less critical of the series as a result.
It's quite well written. And I enjoy it. Particularly love the casting of Brienne - which is a stroke of genius, and has got to be the biggest actress I've seen on screen. She's amazing. And Charles Dance's Tywin Lannister blows me away. That man deserves an Emmy nomination. As does the little girl playing Ayra. God the performances in this series are amazing. But I find I have little else to say about it. Dragons? Cool.
* Big Bang Theory - just saw an interview with Jim Parsons on NY1 - he's starring in a revival of the play "Harvey" - which I've read and seen three times. The actor is amazing. He's nothing like Sheldon and he has a sensitivity and intelligence...that informs his work. Actually that's why Big Bang works - it has some excellent actors who can embody quirky characters by playing them like real people not over-the-top or satirically. That's probably my favorite sitcom, it's the only one that feels consistently funny, and consistently real, and not a parody of other things, a parody of itself or a blatant and at times crude satire. My problem with most sitcoms...is the characters come in second to the comedy or they are the punch line. In Big Bang, the characters come first.
My 7 year old niece has a variation of OCD...she asked her mom, why me? Why has this happened to me? She is better and struggling with it. My heart goes out to her. There's a little bit of it in me as well (in case you haven't noticed - but it does rear its head online at times)...She's super-sensitive, highly empathetic, obsessive about things, and compulsive. The poor dear got addicted to Dick Van Dyke Show. At times it manifests as a need to continuously wash her hands, others...a compulsive need to watch one tv show, or re-read and re-read a book. She binge reads and does it compulsively. And she worries about things. Has troubles sleeping - brain too busy. Is an introvert. And is intense. Sigh...she's not going to have an easy life...being quirky isn't easy. I know, I'm quirky. I had to stay in today - take a people break to recharge. And haven't slept well all week.
2. Sent the second part of my novel to publishing friend...along with a response to her email, attempting to explain my intent...we'll see what happens. I'm not sure if my book can be published through traditional channels, it's quirky - so hard to nitch market.
3. Caught up on TV. Decided wasn't in the mood to see a movie. This really has less to do with the movies out and more to do with not being in the mood to sit in a crowded uncomfortable movie theater. Also, I really don't want to see The Avengers in 3D - 3D gives me a headache (except for AVATAR...which was just pretty). So may just wait until it comes out on DVD - where I can rewind and hear the great dialogue and ignore the action scenes. The actions scenes from the trailer look the same as Battle Ship, Transformers, Thor, Captain America, etc. But I've heard the character interaction and dialogue is different.
Right now, just about everyone who is remotely interested in it has seen it on my livejournal. They've switched from reviewing it to analyzing it. (Apparently you can analyze the Avengers regardless of what the film critical elite believes.) I can't read any of these posts without getting spoiled and since I would like to still see it - I'm avoiding the spoilers or trying to. I can't decide if the people lj would have loved it if it were directed and written by anyone other than Joss Whedon. I'd say they saw it just because Whedon wrote and directed it - but only four of us reviewed Cabin in the Woods - which was Whedon unfettered, unrestrained, doing whatever he wants - with his pal Drew Goddard. While the Avengers was controlled by various people. And Whedon was sort of put in a straight-jacket - hello, Disney, Marvel, Downey Jr, and Samuel L Jackson. So, I'm guessing it's a combo of comic geek fandom and Whedon fandom. (I'd be a hypocrite if I begrudged either - considering I'm a former insane fan of both. Well not the Avengers necessarily, but definitely comic books and Whedon.)
Regarding TV?
* Revenge is the best new show you aren't watching. It's amazing. That show has jumped into high gear. It's tightly plotted, well written, and well shot. Bordering on flawless in places. The last four episodes rocked. And I honestly don't know where it is headed. Also it has some great lines...this week's episode: "Sometimes in a story...the villain and the hero are the same..." In Revenge...the line is often blurred.
* Secret Circle got cancelled and deserved it. It's odd that it has the same creative team as Vamp Diaries, but lacks Vamp Diaries' wit and plot structure. The twists are sort of cliche and the characters hard to relate to. Unfortunately, the series got interesting, as did its characters in the season finale. I'm guessing if it had been given a second chance - the second season would have been far more interesting than the first.
That said - the best thing about the show sort of got resolved and in a disappointing manner by the end. Many people including myself were only tuning in to find out what the kids parents had done in the past and who/what John Blackwell was about. Once that got revealed the show lost its oomph. The kids who were the central focus of the series never really grabbed our attention...and hence the cancellation.
* Vamp Diaries - whoa. Hard to discuss without spoilers.
- Whoa...they turned Elena into a vampire. I'm guessing Damon's blood sired her, since that's the blood Meredith stole to heal people? Nice plot-twist. Particularly considering the love triangle. I won't say it was unpredictable, I mean come on, they aren't going to kill off Elena. I knew the moment she died that she was going to become a vampire. They set that up well - she's in the hospital. And when Alaric comes to get her, he confronts Meredith regarding her use of vampire blood to save people and destroys her stash - after Elena had left. Also Elena seems perfectly fine all of a sudden. Add to that - Damon telling Jeremy that he had a whole parade of vampires who could have given Elena blood to heal her. That's all set-up. So the moment she dies - you know, somewhere in there she got vamp blood. Cleverly - it wasn't any of the vamp's fault. It was Meredith - who didn't know Elena was going to die.
The way they kill her is ironic and fitting - she is once again in the car under water.
Matt had intended to get her away from town and safe. So she circles back to that night at the bonfire, the night she fought with Matt (who wanted a commitment and Elena didn't want Matt's nice safe life, and safe love.) She's ironically making the same decisions here that she did back then.
1. Romance: Do I choose a nice safe life with Matt. Safe love. With a guy who saved my life. Who has always supported me. Who never fights my choices. Who follows my lead.
And never challenges me. Or do I want someone who fights with me, challenges me, who is dangerous, unpredictable, and whose love is consuming? Do I want the bad-boy or the boy next door? Do I want safe or adventure? Elena...in the past, chose adventure, dumped Matt, and ended up under-water and saved by Stefan. Stefan taught her how to live again.
She doesn't remember her conversation with Damon - who met her first, but compelled her to forget. He told her that she wanted adventure, a consuming wild love...and he hoped she found all those things. That she wants passion over safe.
In the present - Elena chooses nice safe Stefan..who doesn't challenge her, let's her make the decisions, and never argues with her. With Stefan she can stay safely in Mystic Falls. But dangerous, unpredictable, argumentative and difficult Damon - who consumes her and threatens to take her over...she lets go. She says goodbye to Damon.
And then ends up underwater, trapped, with Matt. When Stefan comes to save her - she insists he save Matt, just as her father once upon a time insisted Stefan save her.
The whole thing is ironic - because in their attempt to save Elena, Matt and Jeremy doom her. Matt tries to convince her to go to Damon...away, but she insists she return home to Stefan and let Damon go - and she dies. Picking the safe route kills her. And she comes back a vampire. I'm not sure vampire Elena is going to be satisfied with Stefan. Human - yes, Vampire - not so much. Stefan would be a bit boring to a female vampire, I'd think.
I personally don't care that much either way. But the writers are definitely headed in that direction. Hence the plot-twist.
* Plot-twist two - is equally interesting. Bonnie makes a deal with the devil, she switches Niklaus out of his body and into Tyler's - and by doing so, manages to keep his death from killing any of the people that he sired. She saves all her friends. When he states that the spirits will be unhappy with her - she says she does not care. She did it for herself. Both Bonnie and Elena have become a bit darker.
Rather fun episode. Each season this show gets more and more interesting. I'll miss Joseph Morgan though - that boy was hot. Hotter than the guy who plays Tyler. Although Nik sharing Tyler's body with Tyler is sort of interesting - since they both have a thing for Caroline.
This is one of those shows in which you like all the characters. Even the ones they kill off. I'll miss Alaric too...although I guess he can still pop up from time to time as a ghost.
* Game of Thrones - I can't remember the book at all at this stage. Because I've no idea what will happen next. Oh, I know what happens in the latter books, but I can't really remember how they got there. Makes it interesting and I'm less critical of the series as a result.
It's quite well written. And I enjoy it. Particularly love the casting of Brienne - which is a stroke of genius, and has got to be the biggest actress I've seen on screen. She's amazing. And Charles Dance's Tywin Lannister blows me away. That man deserves an Emmy nomination. As does the little girl playing Ayra. God the performances in this series are amazing. But I find I have little else to say about it. Dragons? Cool.
* Big Bang Theory - just saw an interview with Jim Parsons on NY1 - he's starring in a revival of the play "Harvey" - which I've read and seen three times. The actor is amazing. He's nothing like Sheldon and he has a sensitivity and intelligence...that informs his work. Actually that's why Big Bang works - it has some excellent actors who can embody quirky characters by playing them like real people not over-the-top or satirically. That's probably my favorite sitcom, it's the only one that feels consistently funny, and consistently real, and not a parody of other things, a parody of itself or a blatant and at times crude satire. My problem with most sitcoms...is the characters come in second to the comedy or they are the punch line. In Big Bang, the characters come first.
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Date: 2012-05-14 03:03 am (UTC)