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Sandy, LJ crap, Revenge, The Good Wife, Revolution, Walking Dead, and Copper
Sigh gloomy week...haven't seen the sun in what feels like forever now. And it keeps raining off and on. Meanwhile LJ in its infinit wisdom is playing games. It wants me to change my password. Uh no. I like it. I can remember it. Have to change my passwords every 90 days at work and it gets tiring. Also a bit of advice on passwords - all passwords can be easily hacked. And it wants me to change my friends page settings so that it resembles Tumblr, considering I hate Tumblr and find Tumblr impossible to navigate - this is not a good idea. I don't want to migrate to DW. More of my readers and friends are here. And all my entries are here. (yes, I know, whine, whine, whine.)
The Good Wife - was quite good this week. It's still the most realistic scripted tv show on at the moment. The legal stuff certainly is. Since I'm not obsessed with it (ie don't re-watch and therefore don't tend to remember small details), certain things don't bug me that much.
Don't have a lot to say about it, though. Just enjoyed the heck out of it. And it took me away from my worries.
Well do have a few things to say...
* Kalinda and Nick Santoros (Mark Warren) appear to be a critique of 50 Shades of Grey and the whole Boddice Ripper/BDSM romance trope or a realistic take on it. I'll give the writers credit for depicting why these relationship are a bad idea in real life. Every time I see some wet-behind-the-ears poster on Good Reads state how they are hunting for "Christian Grey" or "Spike" or "Gideon Cross" or "Edward" or "Angel" or fill in the blank in real life - I think, damn, we need to give this lady a copy of the 1970s thriller Looking for Mr. Goodbar or at the very least have them do a week's worth of volunteer work at a Domestic Violence Shelter. Abusive relationships are fun in fiction, not in reality and uh, not quite on the Good Wife either for that matter. I'm tired of the Kalinda subplot. Kalinda reminds me of characters like Spike, Angel, and Omar from the Wire, less is definitely more. Show too much of this character, give them too much of an independent arc, particularly one that doesn't quite connect with the rest of the story or takes away from it - and you risk hurting the character.
That said, I see what they are doing here. And the relationship does parallel Alicia and Peter fairly well - depicting what Alicia can lose going back to Peter (her independence).
It also demonstrates the threat female friendships have on male/female romances. Or platonic relationships on romantic ones. Often people will drop their platonic relationships in favor of the romantic one or fight to keep it. Alicia's relationship with Maddie - could be broken up by Maddie's dislike of Peter, and/or it is because of Peter that it exists. Alicia's relationship with Kalinda...could put Alicia in danger, due to Kalinda's hubby.
It's once again about power. Nick wants Kalinda to be who she was. She made him love her, obsess about her, he can't be without her, how dare she not feel the same? If he needs her, she must need him too. He wants to possess her. While Kalinda, much like Alicia, has discovered her own independence, is no longer dependent on him, and doesn't need him. Nick like Peter Florick (in regards to Alicia) needs Kalinda far more than Kalinda needs him.
(Actually I'm not sure Kalinda or Alicia need their hubbies much at all, and possibly were better off without them...which poses an interesting power dynamic.)
* That's Grant Shaud as the guest judge of the week or two weeks running. Now I just have to remember what I last saw him in. It wasn't Northern Exposure...ah that's right, Murphy Brown. He's managing Diane a bit better than he did Murphy.
* Annabell Sciorra played the lawyer of the week - the lawyer willing to get her hands dirty for bucks. She was Lamont Bishop's Criminal Defense Attorney. (TV really gives Criminal Defense Attorney's a bad rap...even if some of them deserve it.)
* Loved the whole bit about the footnotes. CPA's/Accountant's hide their errors in the footnotes. So do lawyer's by the way. Defense lawyers are notorious for winning motions by hiding stuff in the footnotes. No one reads the footnotes, so you hide critical stuff in them. It's why I make fun of academics with their footnotes...people if you only knew what you could do with footnotes. It's also why I hate the bloody things. (If you want to see an example - go hunt down my Buff the Vampire Slayer and Television Media essay.)
Anyhow...I laughed my head off when Nathan Lane's trustee figured out the shady business dealing through something found in the footnotes. (You really can't make up this stuff. It exists in reality. Which is what makes the Good Wife so good - 50% of it wasn't made up, they experienced it, I know I have, which is also why those who haven't scratch their heads over it.)
* The Indiria Campaign Worker scam is starting to annoy me. Wrap-it-up already. Although it may reveal Maddie's agenda regarding Alicia.
Revenge was also quite good, not as good as The Good Wife (which basically wipes the floor with it - but I can't think of anything on right now that is as good as the Good Wife - which has become the prestige guest star spot. Everyone wants on the Good Wife. Has the premier actors and writers.)
But that said, I still enjoyed Revenge tremendously. Lots and lots of subplots.
* Poor Nolan...has the worst taste in romantic partners. I'm hoping Padme doesn't have an agenda or turn on the poor guy. Emily is fine - she liquidated her shares in Nolan's company ages ago to protect her identity and Nolan.
* I rather love the Emily/Nolan relationship - it has a brother/sister twinge to it.
And clearly they can only trust each other.
* Not sure what to make of Aiden and Takawada...except Takawada clearly trained E-Manada (Emily) to take down the Initiative. They used her desire to revenge her father's death and what happened to her - to take out a common enemy. Which begs the question why does Takawada want to take out the Initiative and why does Aiden? What is their agenda?
(I'm willing to bet Aiden is the dead guy in the boat at the beginning of this season.)
* Was a tad disappointed by Kara Clark, Jennifer Jason Leigh, who I thought would go after Victoria a bit more. Although it's possible this could still happen. Right now Vickie and Conrad believe Kara is behind all the journals and A-Emily (Amanda). (Nope that would be E-Amanda or Emily).
Not surprised both women forgave Kara (by both women - I mean, E-Amanda and A-Emily). Was surprised that Emily told Amanda that Jack was in reality the father and she'd lied to keep Amanda on her side. Amanda was understanding - because she realized what she'd done to Emily. (I could be wrong...but this feels too nice and easy, Amanda may not be much longer for this world or revealed very soon to be a fraud.)
Right after that, Mason Treadwell confronts Amanda and tells her that he knows she's not really Amanda Clark - who she is, is up in the air, and who the real Amanda Clark is ...well, I don't know if he knows the answer to that either. (I hope not.) I wouldn't put it past Amanda or Emily to kill him.
Overall fun, if a bit convoluted. But it is a soap opera, they are supposed to be convoluted.
Sigh. I think Sandy may soon be entitled the storm that eat the media. They are doing it too death now. Much like they did 9/11 and Irene. Yes, it's historic. Yes, it's horrible.
But could you relate the important stuff and then move on?
Am hoping this clears up in time for the election next Tuesday. Guessing the big Village Parade will be cancelled?
Also watched the second episode of Revolution - which continues to be a bit silly, but...I find Miles Mattheison's back story with the villains of the piece to be rather intriguing. Actually Billy Burke's Miles is the most interesting character in the series right now. As is his doomed prior friendship/relationship with his best bud Monroe, who it appears - he turned into a Monster.
Walking Dead is also a bit comic-bookish, but it is intended to be. Not as much fun though. My problem is that I'm not sure I care what happens to the characters any longer?
It all feels rather grim.
Copper finished out its season rather well. Depressing. But well written. Tied up some bits, left others open. And I like how well-written the male and female characters are. One of the better series of the summer. The Hour S2 is coming on November 28 on BBC America. Would tend to agree with the critics...in some respects I prefer it to Mad Men.
The Good Wife - was quite good this week. It's still the most realistic scripted tv show on at the moment. The legal stuff certainly is. Since I'm not obsessed with it (ie don't re-watch and therefore don't tend to remember small details), certain things don't bug me that much.
Don't have a lot to say about it, though. Just enjoyed the heck out of it. And it took me away from my worries.
Well do have a few things to say...
* Kalinda and Nick Santoros (Mark Warren) appear to be a critique of 50 Shades of Grey and the whole Boddice Ripper/BDSM romance trope or a realistic take on it. I'll give the writers credit for depicting why these relationship are a bad idea in real life. Every time I see some wet-behind-the-ears poster on Good Reads state how they are hunting for "Christian Grey" or "Spike" or "Gideon Cross" or "Edward" or "Angel" or fill in the blank in real life - I think, damn, we need to give this lady a copy of the 1970s thriller Looking for Mr. Goodbar or at the very least have them do a week's worth of volunteer work at a Domestic Violence Shelter. Abusive relationships are fun in fiction, not in reality and uh, not quite on the Good Wife either for that matter. I'm tired of the Kalinda subplot. Kalinda reminds me of characters like Spike, Angel, and Omar from the Wire, less is definitely more. Show too much of this character, give them too much of an independent arc, particularly one that doesn't quite connect with the rest of the story or takes away from it - and you risk hurting the character.
That said, I see what they are doing here. And the relationship does parallel Alicia and Peter fairly well - depicting what Alicia can lose going back to Peter (her independence).
It also demonstrates the threat female friendships have on male/female romances. Or platonic relationships on romantic ones. Often people will drop their platonic relationships in favor of the romantic one or fight to keep it. Alicia's relationship with Maddie - could be broken up by Maddie's dislike of Peter, and/or it is because of Peter that it exists. Alicia's relationship with Kalinda...could put Alicia in danger, due to Kalinda's hubby.
It's once again about power. Nick wants Kalinda to be who she was. She made him love her, obsess about her, he can't be without her, how dare she not feel the same? If he needs her, she must need him too. He wants to possess her. While Kalinda, much like Alicia, has discovered her own independence, is no longer dependent on him, and doesn't need him. Nick like Peter Florick (in regards to Alicia) needs Kalinda far more than Kalinda needs him.
(Actually I'm not sure Kalinda or Alicia need their hubbies much at all, and possibly were better off without them...which poses an interesting power dynamic.)
* That's Grant Shaud as the guest judge of the week or two weeks running. Now I just have to remember what I last saw him in. It wasn't Northern Exposure...ah that's right, Murphy Brown. He's managing Diane a bit better than he did Murphy.
* Annabell Sciorra played the lawyer of the week - the lawyer willing to get her hands dirty for bucks. She was Lamont Bishop's Criminal Defense Attorney. (TV really gives Criminal Defense Attorney's a bad rap...even if some of them deserve it.)
* Loved the whole bit about the footnotes. CPA's/Accountant's hide their errors in the footnotes. So do lawyer's by the way. Defense lawyers are notorious for winning motions by hiding stuff in the footnotes. No one reads the footnotes, so you hide critical stuff in them. It's why I make fun of academics with their footnotes...people if you only knew what you could do with footnotes. It's also why I hate the bloody things. (If you want to see an example - go hunt down my Buff the Vampire Slayer and Television Media essay.)
Anyhow...I laughed my head off when Nathan Lane's trustee figured out the shady business dealing through something found in the footnotes. (You really can't make up this stuff. It exists in reality. Which is what makes the Good Wife so good - 50% of it wasn't made up, they experienced it, I know I have, which is also why those who haven't scratch their heads over it.)
* The Indiria Campaign Worker scam is starting to annoy me. Wrap-it-up already. Although it may reveal Maddie's agenda regarding Alicia.
Revenge was also quite good, not as good as The Good Wife (which basically wipes the floor with it - but I can't think of anything on right now that is as good as the Good Wife - which has become the prestige guest star spot. Everyone wants on the Good Wife. Has the premier actors and writers.)
But that said, I still enjoyed Revenge tremendously. Lots and lots of subplots.
* Poor Nolan...has the worst taste in romantic partners. I'm hoping Padme doesn't have an agenda or turn on the poor guy. Emily is fine - she liquidated her shares in Nolan's company ages ago to protect her identity and Nolan.
* I rather love the Emily/Nolan relationship - it has a brother/sister twinge to it.
And clearly they can only trust each other.
* Not sure what to make of Aiden and Takawada...except Takawada clearly trained E-Manada (Emily) to take down the Initiative. They used her desire to revenge her father's death and what happened to her - to take out a common enemy. Which begs the question why does Takawada want to take out the Initiative and why does Aiden? What is their agenda?
(I'm willing to bet Aiden is the dead guy in the boat at the beginning of this season.)
* Was a tad disappointed by Kara Clark, Jennifer Jason Leigh, who I thought would go after Victoria a bit more. Although it's possible this could still happen. Right now Vickie and Conrad believe Kara is behind all the journals and A-Emily (Amanda). (Nope that would be E-Amanda or Emily).
Not surprised both women forgave Kara (by both women - I mean, E-Amanda and A-Emily). Was surprised that Emily told Amanda that Jack was in reality the father and she'd lied to keep Amanda on her side. Amanda was understanding - because she realized what she'd done to Emily. (I could be wrong...but this feels too nice and easy, Amanda may not be much longer for this world or revealed very soon to be a fraud.)
Right after that, Mason Treadwell confronts Amanda and tells her that he knows she's not really Amanda Clark - who she is, is up in the air, and who the real Amanda Clark is ...well, I don't know if he knows the answer to that either. (I hope not.) I wouldn't put it past Amanda or Emily to kill him.
Overall fun, if a bit convoluted. But it is a soap opera, they are supposed to be convoluted.
Sigh. I think Sandy may soon be entitled the storm that eat the media. They are doing it too death now. Much like they did 9/11 and Irene. Yes, it's historic. Yes, it's horrible.
But could you relate the important stuff and then move on?
Am hoping this clears up in time for the election next Tuesday. Guessing the big Village Parade will be cancelled?
Also watched the second episode of Revolution - which continues to be a bit silly, but...I find Miles Mattheison's back story with the villains of the piece to be rather intriguing. Actually Billy Burke's Miles is the most interesting character in the series right now. As is his doomed prior friendship/relationship with his best bud Monroe, who it appears - he turned into a Monster.
Walking Dead is also a bit comic-bookish, but it is intended to be. Not as much fun though. My problem is that I'm not sure I care what happens to the characters any longer?
It all feels rather grim.
Copper finished out its season rather well. Depressing. But well written. Tied up some bits, left others open. And I like how well-written the male and female characters are. One of the better series of the summer. The Hour S2 is coming on November 28 on BBC America. Would tend to agree with the critics...in some respects I prefer it to Mad Men.
no subject
Not having seen the first/early seasons, was there ever a sexual attraction from Kalinda directed at Alicia, or was the relationship always platonic?
This comes up because of Nick's comment in the last ep (after Kalinda was speaking on the phone to Alicia) about "That wasn't a work voice."
While Nick is likely an unreliable narrator, there does seem like there's something there, but I don't really know their past beyond that Kalinda apparently had an affair with Peter.
Thanks for any clarity you can provide, and thanks even more for getting me to watch this great show.
no subject
It was always platonic. Others have wondered about Kalinda's relationship with Alicia - because most of Kalinda's relationships are sexual, she rarely has platonic ones. But her relationship with Alicia has always been purely platonic. 1) Alicia is straight. 2) Kalinda appreciates having a relationship where sex is not involved because Kalinda either manipulates through sex or is manipulated through sex - sex is power for Kalinda.
Kalinda and Peter, however, did have an affair - which almost cost her the platonic and close friendship she was building with Alicia. So they broke up, but are now friends again.
Carey and Kalinda have kissed and have had a romantic relationship, albeit brief.