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shadowkatDidn't do too much today...mainly due to a horrendous migraine headache or sick head-ache. Did manage to get it to abate with decogestant, antihistimine, and Nasaid combo. But did mean I just watched tv and relaxed. Friday was the most productive of my four day weekend - glad I took it off.
1. Finished watched the series finale of Dowton Abbey. Still prefer the downstairs stories to the upstairs. The bulk of the upstairs stuff was building up how great Matthew was and oh dear, what would we ever do without him? And how grateful we all are for him. And I thought...alrighty then.
I knew Dan Stevens who plays Mathew Crowley was leaving at the end of this season, mainly because he has a role on the Broadway stage as the suitor in The Heiress the play adaptation of Henry James novel Washington Square. [James is one of those classic authors - who I got around reading by reading the stage plays. I don't like Henry James, he's flowery and clearly fell in love with his own sentences, also lacks a sense of humor. Reading Henry James is my version of literary hell. If you too hate James too, no worries, his better works have been turned into plays. Not a fan of the depressing early 20th Century/late 19th Century Victorian writers - they were all so brooding and lack wit. In short, they took themselves a tad too seriously. If you wonder how I survived as an English Lit major without reading Nathanial Hawthorn, James, Cather, et al - they wrote short stories. Also I focused on mid-20th Century Lit, early 19th and late 18th Century. (In short I read Shakespeare, Austen, Richardson, the Brontes, Joyce, Collette, Faulkner, Chopin, Heller, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Lewis Carroll. Along with Toni Morrison. There are ways around the writers you despise. )]
At any rate, I kept hoping they wouldn't pick the easy route and kill him off. Which of course they did. And they did it in a damnably cliche manner. In fact I knew he was dead the moment he left Lady Mary's side happy and carefree. But just in case I didn't...the writer went out of his way to make sure...with the music, with the Dowager stating...in response to the Grantham's statement about happy endings, how some people get their just desserts, and both Lord Grantham and Lady Mary being thankful for Mathew and wondering how Dowton could survive without him. The writer basically put a neon sign above poor Matthew's head and said - "HE'S DEAD!!"
Dowton is anything but emotionally manipulative. I've watched daytime soaps that are less emotionally manipulative than this. Needless to say...Mathew's death did not move me to tears.
Although I did feel rather sorry for Lady Mary, who is now in the same boat as Tom Branson. Hmmm...wonder if they'll put those together? I hope not. Be a bit too...Walter Scott. Which actually was the best line in the episode...Matthew's statement to Grayson, Edith's married suitor,
"No, they aren't going to accept you as the married suitor to Edith based on your love alone. This isn't a Walter Scott novel." (Good to know.)
Outside of that, not much happened. Oh we had one of the maid's Edna, flirt shamelessly with grieving and widowed Bransen, making him feel guilty for acting above the servants. Except, I agree with Mrs Hughes on this point. Edna is an employee, Branson is the employer. Just because he and Sybil hooked up, doesn't mean that she can fraternize with him. It would be one thing if she wasn't employed by the family and working for him - as a manager of the estate. But she is.
We also have the Mrs. Paddock and Mr. Southie flirtation - where Southie just wants a cook. I love the Mrs. Hughes/Mrs. Paddock relationship.
Mrs. O'Brien is a force to be reckoned with. Poor Mrs. Wilkinson is out of her depth. Although her attempt at revenge was rather stupid - putting whisky in Mrs. O'Brien's drink? She doesn't think she'll notice? Whiskey has a distinctive taste. I was half-hoping Susan would steal Mrs. O'Brien from Lady Grantham, but no such luck.
Thomas appears to be on the path to redemption. He followed and saved Jimmy the Footman's life.
Got beaten up himself. But at least Jimmy got the doctor.
The Doctor tried to propose to Mrs. Crowly, but she cut him off at the pass - having no interest in getting married. At least I think she did that...you can't quite tell with Mrs. Crowly.
Thank you show for saving us from the grieving of the Crowly's and Grantham's over the death of Matthew. Sybil was bad enough. Not sure I wanted to see that. Ending it with his death - as a psuedo cliff hanger, worked fine. Also does open up some story lines, I guess.
Lots of failed romances in this episode, was relatively depressing if you think about it. Bates and Anna remain secure and at the heart of the series, as does Cora and Robert, but the only other one that survived the episode was Edith and Grayson. Both Branson who madly loved Sybil, and Lady Mary who madly loved Matthew are now bereft.
2. Revenge - was actually less soapy and better than Dowton Abbey, believe it or not.
Plus more happened. It's more action packed and less plodding. Still not as entertaining as Once Upon a Time though.
So, they decided to kill of Amanda? Not surprised. I knew either Jack or Amanda would bite the bullet in that episode. Amanda or E-Amanda works better - because that opens Jack up to Emily and puts Emily in a bigger dilemma. Also it reinvigorates her desire for revenge. She got a bit distracted by the Initiative.
I found Amanda's death touching. Emily had grown to love and appreciate Amanda. And she had given Amanda a family, had accepted her into her heart as a sister. Amanda was more her sister than Charlotte could ever be. They had each other's backs. It was quite sad - since Amanda died trying to retrieve the necklace Emily gave her.
Grayson's have screwed up thinking they got rid of Amanda Clark, no, they got rid of Emily Thorn, the real Amanda Clark hates them even more and has become even more dangerous.
Don't have much else to say about this one though.
3. The Good Wife
Good episode, but not emotionally satisfying. Sometimes, often actually, I don't like Alicia very much nor am I guessing am I supposed to. She's a fascinating character. Will do anything to safe-guard her family, her way of life and her comfort...she hates chaos and mess. Although to be fair, I know Carey and Kalinda would have done the same thing.
It's all about office politics with Eli/Elsbeth and Kyle McLachlan providing the comic relief.
Kyle McLachlan portraying the male version of Elsbeth was inspired - that actor specializes in those roles.
The office politics - were about the equity partners delaying the partnerships of the 4 Associates, who they offered partnership to in order to save themselves from the creditors. Now that they are doing far better than they ever expected, they don't want to share the wealth.
Alicia and Carey are understandably pissed. So Alicia suggests pulling together the other associates and plotting against Senior Partners. Her kids, worried, ask her not to get fired from her job. Meanwhile Carey proposes that Alicia start a firm with him - they go off on their own, instead of constantly dealing with the equity partners demands, creditors, or Will and Diane.
Doing all the work, getting none of the credit. Even if they make partner, he tells her, they still have to answer to the others. But Alicia, ever the pragmaticist and also with a lot more side responsibilities than Carey (ie kids, a mortgage, and a hubby running for governor) doesn't want to take any risks.
But...in a way staying with Lockhart Gardner is a risk. Will clearly still has the hots for her - he kisses her and she's upset, because Alicia never does that. Cool collected Alicia doesn't.
And how does she avoid it? Also, Carey and the other partners may well feel the betrayal, which is why Lockhardt Gardner did it - to split them apart. Quite realistic and clever. While it may appear it was done because of Will's preferences, it's clearly not - the partner's rightly figured out that Alicia had spearheaded the plotting amongst the associates, and Alicia brings great clients, and Peter Florick's name to the table. She's still shadowed by her husband's power and connections, no matter what.
I was rather disappointed, because I like the Carey/Alicia and Kalinda chemistry. And I still think Carey/Alicia starting their own firm is a great end-game. But they may not go that route, having troubles seeing it happen now. Although if Carey is honest with himself, and now he tends to be, he'd do the same thing - and he more or less stated that.
The characters in this series would stab each other in the back to get ahead...but the do it politely and civililly.
4. Justified - better last year than this year. A bit all over the place this season.
That said rather liked last week's episode, and adore Sheriff Shelby. Plus Boyd's handling of the revivalists was admittedly entertaining.
1. Finished watched the series finale of Dowton Abbey. Still prefer the downstairs stories to the upstairs. The bulk of the upstairs stuff was building up how great Matthew was and oh dear, what would we ever do without him? And how grateful we all are for him. And I thought...alrighty then.
I knew Dan Stevens who plays Mathew Crowley was leaving at the end of this season, mainly because he has a role on the Broadway stage as the suitor in The Heiress the play adaptation of Henry James novel Washington Square. [James is one of those classic authors - who I got around reading by reading the stage plays. I don't like Henry James, he's flowery and clearly fell in love with his own sentences, also lacks a sense of humor. Reading Henry James is my version of literary hell. If you too hate James too, no worries, his better works have been turned into plays. Not a fan of the depressing early 20th Century/late 19th Century Victorian writers - they were all so brooding and lack wit. In short, they took themselves a tad too seriously. If you wonder how I survived as an English Lit major without reading Nathanial Hawthorn, James, Cather, et al - they wrote short stories. Also I focused on mid-20th Century Lit, early 19th and late 18th Century. (In short I read Shakespeare, Austen, Richardson, the Brontes, Joyce, Collette, Faulkner, Chopin, Heller, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Lewis Carroll. Along with Toni Morrison. There are ways around the writers you despise. )]
At any rate, I kept hoping they wouldn't pick the easy route and kill him off. Which of course they did. And they did it in a damnably cliche manner. In fact I knew he was dead the moment he left Lady Mary's side happy and carefree. But just in case I didn't...the writer went out of his way to make sure...with the music, with the Dowager stating...in response to the Grantham's statement about happy endings, how some people get their just desserts, and both Lord Grantham and Lady Mary being thankful for Mathew and wondering how Dowton could survive without him. The writer basically put a neon sign above poor Matthew's head and said - "HE'S DEAD!!"
Dowton is anything but emotionally manipulative. I've watched daytime soaps that are less emotionally manipulative than this. Needless to say...Mathew's death did not move me to tears.
Although I did feel rather sorry for Lady Mary, who is now in the same boat as Tom Branson. Hmmm...wonder if they'll put those together? I hope not. Be a bit too...Walter Scott. Which actually was the best line in the episode...Matthew's statement to Grayson, Edith's married suitor,
"No, they aren't going to accept you as the married suitor to Edith based on your love alone. This isn't a Walter Scott novel." (Good to know.)
Outside of that, not much happened. Oh we had one of the maid's Edna, flirt shamelessly with grieving and widowed Bransen, making him feel guilty for acting above the servants. Except, I agree with Mrs Hughes on this point. Edna is an employee, Branson is the employer. Just because he and Sybil hooked up, doesn't mean that she can fraternize with him. It would be one thing if she wasn't employed by the family and working for him - as a manager of the estate. But she is.
We also have the Mrs. Paddock and Mr. Southie flirtation - where Southie just wants a cook. I love the Mrs. Hughes/Mrs. Paddock relationship.
Mrs. O'Brien is a force to be reckoned with. Poor Mrs. Wilkinson is out of her depth. Although her attempt at revenge was rather stupid - putting whisky in Mrs. O'Brien's drink? She doesn't think she'll notice? Whiskey has a distinctive taste. I was half-hoping Susan would steal Mrs. O'Brien from Lady Grantham, but no such luck.
Thomas appears to be on the path to redemption. He followed and saved Jimmy the Footman's life.
Got beaten up himself. But at least Jimmy got the doctor.
The Doctor tried to propose to Mrs. Crowly, but she cut him off at the pass - having no interest in getting married. At least I think she did that...you can't quite tell with Mrs. Crowly.
Thank you show for saving us from the grieving of the Crowly's and Grantham's over the death of Matthew. Sybil was bad enough. Not sure I wanted to see that. Ending it with his death - as a psuedo cliff hanger, worked fine. Also does open up some story lines, I guess.
Lots of failed romances in this episode, was relatively depressing if you think about it. Bates and Anna remain secure and at the heart of the series, as does Cora and Robert, but the only other one that survived the episode was Edith and Grayson. Both Branson who madly loved Sybil, and Lady Mary who madly loved Matthew are now bereft.
2. Revenge - was actually less soapy and better than Dowton Abbey, believe it or not.
Plus more happened. It's more action packed and less plodding. Still not as entertaining as Once Upon a Time though.
So, they decided to kill of Amanda? Not surprised. I knew either Jack or Amanda would bite the bullet in that episode. Amanda or E-Amanda works better - because that opens Jack up to Emily and puts Emily in a bigger dilemma. Also it reinvigorates her desire for revenge. She got a bit distracted by the Initiative.
I found Amanda's death touching. Emily had grown to love and appreciate Amanda. And she had given Amanda a family, had accepted her into her heart as a sister. Amanda was more her sister than Charlotte could ever be. They had each other's backs. It was quite sad - since Amanda died trying to retrieve the necklace Emily gave her.
Grayson's have screwed up thinking they got rid of Amanda Clark, no, they got rid of Emily Thorn, the real Amanda Clark hates them even more and has become even more dangerous.
Don't have much else to say about this one though.
3. The Good Wife
Good episode, but not emotionally satisfying. Sometimes, often actually, I don't like Alicia very much nor am I guessing am I supposed to. She's a fascinating character. Will do anything to safe-guard her family, her way of life and her comfort...she hates chaos and mess. Although to be fair, I know Carey and Kalinda would have done the same thing.
It's all about office politics with Eli/Elsbeth and Kyle McLachlan providing the comic relief.
Kyle McLachlan portraying the male version of Elsbeth was inspired - that actor specializes in those roles.
The office politics - were about the equity partners delaying the partnerships of the 4 Associates, who they offered partnership to in order to save themselves from the creditors. Now that they are doing far better than they ever expected, they don't want to share the wealth.
Alicia and Carey are understandably pissed. So Alicia suggests pulling together the other associates and plotting against Senior Partners. Her kids, worried, ask her not to get fired from her job. Meanwhile Carey proposes that Alicia start a firm with him - they go off on their own, instead of constantly dealing with the equity partners demands, creditors, or Will and Diane.
Doing all the work, getting none of the credit. Even if they make partner, he tells her, they still have to answer to the others. But Alicia, ever the pragmaticist and also with a lot more side responsibilities than Carey (ie kids, a mortgage, and a hubby running for governor) doesn't want to take any risks.
But...in a way staying with Lockhart Gardner is a risk. Will clearly still has the hots for her - he kisses her and she's upset, because Alicia never does that. Cool collected Alicia doesn't.
And how does she avoid it? Also, Carey and the other partners may well feel the betrayal, which is why Lockhardt Gardner did it - to split them apart. Quite realistic and clever. While it may appear it was done because of Will's preferences, it's clearly not - the partner's rightly figured out that Alicia had spearheaded the plotting amongst the associates, and Alicia brings great clients, and Peter Florick's name to the table. She's still shadowed by her husband's power and connections, no matter what.
I was rather disappointed, because I like the Carey/Alicia and Kalinda chemistry. And I still think Carey/Alicia starting their own firm is a great end-game. But they may not go that route, having troubles seeing it happen now. Although if Carey is honest with himself, and now he tends to be, he'd do the same thing - and he more or less stated that.
The characters in this series would stab each other in the back to get ahead...but the do it politely and civililly.
4. Justified - better last year than this year. A bit all over the place this season.
That said rather liked last week's episode, and adore Sheriff Shelby. Plus Boyd's handling of the revivalists was admittedly entertaining.
no subject
Date: 2013-02-19 10:53 am (UTC)Yes, it was really hard to avoid coming to that conclusion :) I was probably intended to be more upset than I actually felt as Matthew's storylines have never felt particularly interesting and there are characters I'll miss more. The only "upstairs" character I have much interest in now is Edith.
no subject
Date: 2013-02-19 11:20 pm (UTC)Read a depressing article in the paper today about rich New Yorkers wanting the same service that is on Dowtown Abbey, with a Butler similar to Mr. Carson serving their every need. Including the ability to drive a yacht, take the dog out for a walk, buy groceries, etc. Sigh.
The more things change, the more they stay the same...