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shadowkatWatching Project Runway in the background. Last week's made me cry, of course I was PMsing at the time so there's that. But I found Mondo's story about having to hide who he was to avoid shame and teasing, as a counterpoint to his bold and badacious designs - incredibly moving. Also enjoyed seeing the judges with proverbial egg on their faces. They are trying to make me like Michael C, but I keep noticing how much of an ass-kisser this guy is with the judges, who designs boring clothes. Of course the challenges are also increasingly boring - such as this week's challenge which sort of beat last episode's challenge, which I did not think possible. Felt sorry for the designers who were being asked to make what consisted of gray and black casual clothes that you'd wear laying about the house. To offset the utter boredom of the challenge, clearly just to promote Heidi's dull line and self-indulgent fashion on Amazon, they brought back Ivy to torment Michael C and accuse him of cheating.
I think Mondo has this thing sewn up, to be honest - the judges love him and he's sympathetic. (Not this challenge - Andy got that and he deserved it.) The only two who come close to him as far as talent goes are Gretchen and Andy South - and the judges don't like Gretchen (because she's too much like them, critical, opinonated, bitchy and has an ego - she's basically a lot like Nina and Heidi - and they can't deal with seeing it) and Andy's more artistic and interesting designs occasionally confuse them. Michael C is going to get kicked to the curb soon. April may survive to the final three. But Chris is gone this week. I'm willing to bet on it. (Hee, I was right. Chris is boring and that's the kiss of death on a reality show. They have to keep Michael C around for drama. Although those left really aren't into drama and aren't engaging or reacting. So it ain't working. They just don't have the outrageous personalities of prior seasons or for that matter that talent or even the interesting challenges. This is one of those shows that I think has lasted well beyond its expiration date.)
Took today off for a well-needed four day vacation. Popster wanted to know what my plans were.
Besides going to a play and lunch on Sat, errands, church, relaxing, cleaning, working on novel so I can send it out to publishers again with yet another query, not all that much. That and making a dent in the huge number of tv shows saved to DVR. I have three weeks worth, possibly four of Terriers, Smallville, and Supernatural saved on the thing, on top of about five other shows.
Currently - from a purely objective and critical standpoint? I'd have to say Terriers and Mad Men are the best written, produced and directed of everything I've watched on TV. Tight plot. Tight characterization. Pitch-perfect dialogue.
Watched Vampire Diaries and Grey's Anatomy last night. I'll admit, I enjoyed Grey's a lot more. But I don't think anyone reading this watches Grey's so what's the point in writing about it? I could whine about your taste in tv shows, but then that would be giving you carte blanche rights to whine about mine...and honestly, I don't think my blood pressure is up to the challenge.
Vampire Diaries. Sigh. Admittedly this series is not being written for forty-three year old single women, even if forty-year olds are writing it. I'm pretty sure Williamson and Plec are in their forties, but I could be wrong about that. You know you are getting old, when you roll your eyes during the teenage romantic angst portions of the drama. In my 20s, I swooned and ate it up. Now? I roll my eyes and think why am I watching this again? Why did I eat it up back then? Been there done that. So...past it now, it's not even funny. The teenage angsty bits. Not the other bits.
That said, I have a weakness for supernatural soap operas, with chewy dialogue, and hot guys, and this one has that in droves. Plus, Caroline is turning out to be a kick-ass character, who knew.
Last year, I could not wait to see her dead, this year I find her amusing and kick-ass. There may be hope for Elena yet.
And I so did not see that plot-twist coming. I should have. But I was too distracted wondering if Williamson was going to make Mason gay. Williamson by the way is gay, and considered making Dawsen gay in Dawsen's Creek but was talked out of it, so made Kerr Smith (whose currently on Life Unexpected) gay instead. (yes, I watched Dawsen's Creek). Katherine, baby, you do have interesting taste in men. Pretty and dangerous ones. I did wonder what her relationship was with George Lockwood. As for what the moonstone is - I'm currently confused. I thought it was to tame the beast in Mason sort of like the day-rings. But now, I'm wondering if it does something else entirely, because why else does Katherine want it? Katherine is turning out to be an interesting villain.
Also, Caroline surprised me. She goes out of her way to save both Stefan and Damon. Figures out something is wrong, what happened, and where they were taken. And here I thought she was just another spoiled ditz. Not so much. Best moment was when she took down Mason.
Mason: You willing to bet you can take me?
Caroline: I don't need to bet on it. I know I can take you down. (after kicking his ass unconscious) See. Told you.
LOL!
Another group of priceless scenes are between Damon and Caroline, and Damon and Sheriff Lockwood.
Where Damon comforts Caroline. And earlier, when he tells her Mom - who says her daughter is gone, Caroline is not her daughter., "you have no idea how wrong you are about that." Damon intrigues me. I'm not really sure what motivates him, but it's not what he's telling us. He pretends to be the nasty, the evil dude, and yep he is a killer. But...there's something underneath all that, which makes me curious. Stefan on the other hand is a bit too much of an open book - characters that I know everything about upfront, tend to bore me. That said, the one thing about Stefan that interests me is his relationship with Damon and his difficulty with blood, Damon can control himself as can Caroline, but Stefan can't. He drinks human blood - he goes crazy. Of course Elena decides to help him learn how to drink human blood by offering her own...stupid girl. A blood bag makes much more sense and is far more practical. (but it's teen romantic angst...can't complain about it - it's a show written for people who love teen romantic angst - that's the target audience.)
Regarding the Buffy comics, hard not to comment on this - when I see five to six reviews on my flist. I've read pretty much all of them now. Not exactly making me want to hurry out and buy this comic, folks, just saying. Also am I the only one who finds it absurdly amusing that Whedon and his comic book editor have literally switched roles? Apparently, for those who have not been following this, Allie (the editor and chief of the Buffy comics at Dark Horse) is currently writing the comics and sending them off to Whedon to edit and tweak. He put in too much exposition at one point and Whedon told him to cut it out because it slowed down the pacing. (as if the pacing has never been a problem before now. Of course, to be fair, Whedon wasn't editing the comics before now, the current writer was. He was, you know, writing or co-writing them. What happened? Besides becoming incredibly busy directing The Avengers and whatever else he's doing. Did Whedon just decide, you know, Allie's a crappy editor, but he might actually make a great writer, so I'll switch places with him?) Don't know about anyone else, but reading the plot-summaries on this issue, gave me a head-ache. Can this plot be any more convoluted? If you want to read a good one - go tostormwreath.
The only thing all the Buffy comic posts have in common is massive speculation regarding a plot point that either was referenced in one of Buffy's dreams or Alyiwun the snake lady said, in which "the closest person, and most unexpected" will betray her. I'm rather ambivalent about this plot-point. I know who it isn't - it's not Spike (because he doesn't fit the criteria, closest most unexpected - everyone always expects Spike to betray them. So unexpected to the Spike fans maybe but no one else. No, Spike's the character who surprises you because he didn't betray you. Angel's the character who shocks you because he did betray you. Hello. What show were you watching? Plus, Spike's not exactly close to anyone - even Buffy. She hasn't seen him in I have no idea how long, guessing two maybe three years. She's closer to Angel. So no, can't be Spike. Not Giles - because again she expects him to betray her. Certainly not Willow - she expects this from Willow and has accused her of it twice already. Faith? See Willow. Dawn? Dawn's toast. Andrew? Who cares. Riley? Isn't he dead or off bleeding somewhere? OZ? see Riley. Angel? Didn't he already do that? Sort of be rinse and repeat, don't you think? That leaves Xander. Obvious choice. Granted these comics don't always go the logical route...so it maybe Satsu for all I know.) What fascinates me about all the reviews is they keep ignoring the obvious choice - Xander. Granted Xander's the most likable character at the moment, but...he also has the most reason to go against Buffy and try something else. It's not like it hasn't been set-up emotionally. He's stood by her no matter what - losing everything he has in the process. Job. Career. Anya. Renee. Eye. And soon Dawn. And he's watched her sell the world (his world) for a boink with a former boyfriend that he despises. Also they are forgetting that right now, Buffy isn't a hero. So whomever betrays her, may well have gotten fed up and is attempting to save the world? So betrayal? Depends on your point of view. ie. It might be a good thing, just not from Buffy's perspective. At the moment, what I'm not seeing is any hint of redeeming of Buffy or Angel. Although not sure it is possible to redeem Angel, since Angel doesn't appear to realize that he needs to change, not the world, not Buffy, not humanity, Angel himself has to change.
I think Mondo has this thing sewn up, to be honest - the judges love him and he's sympathetic. (Not this challenge - Andy got that and he deserved it.) The only two who come close to him as far as talent goes are Gretchen and Andy South - and the judges don't like Gretchen (because she's too much like them, critical, opinonated, bitchy and has an ego - she's basically a lot like Nina and Heidi - and they can't deal with seeing it) and Andy's more artistic and interesting designs occasionally confuse them. Michael C is going to get kicked to the curb soon. April may survive to the final three. But Chris is gone this week. I'm willing to bet on it. (Hee, I was right. Chris is boring and that's the kiss of death on a reality show. They have to keep Michael C around for drama. Although those left really aren't into drama and aren't engaging or reacting. So it ain't working. They just don't have the outrageous personalities of prior seasons or for that matter that talent or even the interesting challenges. This is one of those shows that I think has lasted well beyond its expiration date.)
Took today off for a well-needed four day vacation. Popster wanted to know what my plans were.
Besides going to a play and lunch on Sat, errands, church, relaxing, cleaning, working on novel so I can send it out to publishers again with yet another query, not all that much. That and making a dent in the huge number of tv shows saved to DVR. I have three weeks worth, possibly four of Terriers, Smallville, and Supernatural saved on the thing, on top of about five other shows.
Currently - from a purely objective and critical standpoint? I'd have to say Terriers and Mad Men are the best written, produced and directed of everything I've watched on TV. Tight plot. Tight characterization. Pitch-perfect dialogue.
Watched Vampire Diaries and Grey's Anatomy last night. I'll admit, I enjoyed Grey's a lot more. But I don't think anyone reading this watches Grey's so what's the point in writing about it? I could whine about your taste in tv shows, but then that would be giving you carte blanche rights to whine about mine...and honestly, I don't think my blood pressure is up to the challenge.
Vampire Diaries. Sigh. Admittedly this series is not being written for forty-three year old single women, even if forty-year olds are writing it. I'm pretty sure Williamson and Plec are in their forties, but I could be wrong about that. You know you are getting old, when you roll your eyes during the teenage romantic angst portions of the drama. In my 20s, I swooned and ate it up. Now? I roll my eyes and think why am I watching this again? Why did I eat it up back then? Been there done that. So...past it now, it's not even funny. The teenage angsty bits. Not the other bits.
That said, I have a weakness for supernatural soap operas, with chewy dialogue, and hot guys, and this one has that in droves. Plus, Caroline is turning out to be a kick-ass character, who knew.
Last year, I could not wait to see her dead, this year I find her amusing and kick-ass. There may be hope for Elena yet.
And I so did not see that plot-twist coming. I should have. But I was too distracted wondering if Williamson was going to make Mason gay. Williamson by the way is gay, and considered making Dawsen gay in Dawsen's Creek but was talked out of it, so made Kerr Smith (whose currently on Life Unexpected) gay instead. (yes, I watched Dawsen's Creek). Katherine, baby, you do have interesting taste in men. Pretty and dangerous ones. I did wonder what her relationship was with George Lockwood. As for what the moonstone is - I'm currently confused. I thought it was to tame the beast in Mason sort of like the day-rings. But now, I'm wondering if it does something else entirely, because why else does Katherine want it? Katherine is turning out to be an interesting villain.
Also, Caroline surprised me. She goes out of her way to save both Stefan and Damon. Figures out something is wrong, what happened, and where they were taken. And here I thought she was just another spoiled ditz. Not so much. Best moment was when she took down Mason.
Mason: You willing to bet you can take me?
Caroline: I don't need to bet on it. I know I can take you down. (after kicking his ass unconscious) See. Told you.
LOL!
Another group of priceless scenes are between Damon and Caroline, and Damon and Sheriff Lockwood.
Where Damon comforts Caroline. And earlier, when he tells her Mom - who says her daughter is gone, Caroline is not her daughter., "you have no idea how wrong you are about that." Damon intrigues me. I'm not really sure what motivates him, but it's not what he's telling us. He pretends to be the nasty, the evil dude, and yep he is a killer. But...there's something underneath all that, which makes me curious. Stefan on the other hand is a bit too much of an open book - characters that I know everything about upfront, tend to bore me. That said, the one thing about Stefan that interests me is his relationship with Damon and his difficulty with blood, Damon can control himself as can Caroline, but Stefan can't. He drinks human blood - he goes crazy. Of course Elena decides to help him learn how to drink human blood by offering her own...stupid girl. A blood bag makes much more sense and is far more practical. (but it's teen romantic angst...can't complain about it - it's a show written for people who love teen romantic angst - that's the target audience.)
Regarding the Buffy comics, hard not to comment on this - when I see five to six reviews on my flist. I've read pretty much all of them now. Not exactly making me want to hurry out and buy this comic, folks, just saying. Also am I the only one who finds it absurdly amusing that Whedon and his comic book editor have literally switched roles? Apparently, for those who have not been following this, Allie (the editor and chief of the Buffy comics at Dark Horse) is currently writing the comics and sending them off to Whedon to edit and tweak. He put in too much exposition at one point and Whedon told him to cut it out because it slowed down the pacing. (as if the pacing has never been a problem before now. Of course, to be fair, Whedon wasn't editing the comics before now, the current writer was. He was, you know, writing or co-writing them. What happened? Besides becoming incredibly busy directing The Avengers and whatever else he's doing. Did Whedon just decide, you know, Allie's a crappy editor, but he might actually make a great writer, so I'll switch places with him?) Don't know about anyone else, but reading the plot-summaries on this issue, gave me a head-ache. Can this plot be any more convoluted? If you want to read a good one - go to
stormwreath. The only thing all the Buffy comic posts have in common is massive speculation regarding a plot point that either was referenced in one of Buffy's dreams or Alyiwun the snake lady said, in which "the closest person, and most unexpected" will betray her. I'm rather ambivalent about this plot-point. I know who it isn't - it's not Spike (because he doesn't fit the criteria, closest most unexpected - everyone always expects Spike to betray them. So unexpected to the Spike fans maybe but no one else. No, Spike's the character who surprises you because he didn't betray you. Angel's the character who shocks you because he did betray you. Hello. What show were you watching? Plus, Spike's not exactly close to anyone - even Buffy. She hasn't seen him in I have no idea how long, guessing two maybe three years. She's closer to Angel. So no, can't be Spike. Not Giles - because again she expects him to betray her. Certainly not Willow - she expects this from Willow and has accused her of it twice already. Faith? See Willow. Dawn? Dawn's toast. Andrew? Who cares. Riley? Isn't he dead or off bleeding somewhere? OZ? see Riley. Angel? Didn't he already do that? Sort of be rinse and repeat, don't you think? That leaves Xander. Obvious choice. Granted these comics don't always go the logical route...so it maybe Satsu for all I know.) What fascinates me about all the reviews is they keep ignoring the obvious choice - Xander. Granted Xander's the most likable character at the moment, but...he also has the most reason to go against Buffy and try something else. It's not like it hasn't been set-up emotionally. He's stood by her no matter what - losing everything he has in the process. Job. Career. Anya. Renee. Eye. And soon Dawn. And he's watched her sell the world (his world) for a boink with a former boyfriend that he despises. Also they are forgetting that right now, Buffy isn't a hero. So whomever betrays her, may well have gotten fed up and is attempting to save the world? So betrayal? Depends on your point of view. ie. It might be a good thing, just not from Buffy's perspective. At the moment, what I'm not seeing is any hint of redeeming of Buffy or Angel. Although not sure it is possible to redeem Angel, since Angel doesn't appear to realize that he needs to change, not the world, not Buffy, not humanity, Angel himself has to change.
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no subject
Date: 2010-10-08 11:39 pm (UTC)While Angel gets stuck on the other side? That would actually be emotionally satisfying to me. I hope they do that, which means they won't. Damn. Maybe someone will write a fanfic about it. No, wait, Gabrielle already sort of has (except without all the other crap) so - never mind. Course if the transdimensional ship gets sealed there too - then they have a way to get back? How do you know it is a transdimensional ship? I don't remember anything about that. (I'll go back and check when I do my review.)So.. they could I suppose seal off Buffy, and Spike could try and save her in his transdimensional ship and that would be the cliffhanger?
(Nah - also too emotionally satisfying, so ain't going to happen.)
It's probably option number 3, Buffy, Spike and Angel get sealed off in the hell dimension. (OR just Buffy) Either way it does fit all those nightmares she's had of being alone in a hell dimension surrounded by demons, with Spike and Angel with her. It also, oddly enough, circles back the Chain - where her double is sealed off underground, alone fighting demons. While her other double lives the high life of a normal girl above ground with the Immortal. (Just got that metaphor - thank you. Now I understand it. Of course I should explain what I just got...but I have to fix dinner, so maybe later.)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 12:01 am (UTC)I don't think the ship will. Maybe just the Seed chamber? 'Cause in the panel with The Master in 36, it's in a dilapidated ruin, but in the panel where Buffy's crying (and in the dream in Always Darkest...) it's a pristine temple. So either the Seed moved, which we know it can't lest Hell pour in, or the room moved.
I think it's just going to be Buffy that's sealed off. That's her biggest nightmare, being left behind, alone and forgotten by her friends. I think she's going to end up being stuck in Twilight (that newly made dimension) alone. That leaves Buffy (the Mother) to raise the child (universe) alone which fits in along with Joss's tendencies in the show.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 03:33 am (UTC)I guess his causing it would give him something to angst about, but frankly, I don't think I'm up for Angel angst after the shit he's pulled in the comic. He needs an old-fashioned ass kicking.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 03:49 am (UTC)I'd tend to agree. There's just no possibility of a good emotional payoff in all of it. Both Buffy and Angel are characterized so horribly, how are we supposed to be severely emotionally affected by what happens to them? This is why I think there will be a 'wake up' moment similar to Angel waking up before being sent to Hell. That would parallel the first arc.
As for Angel, Jeanty has said for Angel fans to turn away from 39. Thing with that is, given my theory, I'm not sure what he can do unless it's to the Scoobs themselves. I don't see a reason for him to hurt them other than to try to kill them to remove Buffy's ties to the world and get her back to Twilight. Finish what he started. If he kills Dawn, he's done as a character. I mean, he pretty much is now but at least he can say he was duped to start.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 04:12 am (UTC)And, yeah, generally I think Season 8 has been offensive bullshit that has somehow made all the ships far, far worse but left them in the exact same place (after all, Buffy had convinced Spike she'd never love him with "does it have to mean anything?", she'd already promised Angel "someday" and a spare (but evidently since forgotten) bone was thrown at the Spuffies with "ILY/NYDBTFSI"... and we're right back to where we were, except of course, now there's no way to fanwank that she actually did mean it because it seems to have been as erased from history as Connor and Cordelia.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 04:19 am (UTC)If their screw-ups actually made sense, it'd probably be easier. :P It's like you mentioned somewhere else, the things they're doing aren't *flaws*. They're just horrible actions that make no sense given who they are.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 03:30 am (UTC)Well, it would fit her saying she'd choose to spend forever with Angel, so -- obviously -- she won't.
There was some sort of confirmation that there will be a Buffy comic, an Angel comic, and a Spike comic for a
no doubt equally as direseason 9.Although I will say that ever since they've said something about this fracturing the characters/verse/scoobies or whatever (I've forgotten the exact wording) that it'll probably be literal. I think the characters are literally going to go different ways.
It's probably option number 3, Buffy, Spike and Angel get sealed off in the hell dimension. (OR just Buffy) Either way it does fit all those nightmares she's had of being alone in a hell dimension surrounded by demons, with Spike and Angel with her.
Oh joy [/snark] So we could get that damn volcano three-way where she leans toward Angel 'cause she wuvs him best? ::headdesk::
Does Spike's hell have to be emotional as well as physical?
Course if the transdimensional ship gets sealed there too - then they have a way to get back?
'Twould be convenient.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-09 04:03 am (UTC)I think the characters are literally going to go different ways.
That's my take, too.
And if that happens, I will have to ask why the hell they didn't just follow up from S5 of AtS. That's what's most annoying about all of it. None of this was needed. At all. No need to mock B/A (provided that's what they're doing), shit on B/S and destroy the characters. All of them had moved on in a mature and believable way. They could have Giles/Faith interaction, Spike could have his ship, Angel could still be a good character, Xander could become an inexplicable girl-magnet in Africa, Dawn could go to school and cheat on her BF, they could have Buffy and the Immortal go at it six ways to Sunday if it's so 'important to the story'. None of this was needed at all. It's not like it was a good story with a moral or anything. Most of it's pretty darned offensive and anti-BTVS.