It's finally Fall TV season
So, a lot of my f-list is saying how we should all post more, so instead of paying bills like I should, here are some thoughts on recent tv (and SPN rewatch!).
Wow, I didn't expect them to introduce Lestrade and Mycroft in the same ep. I liked what they did with Lestrade - like a lot of the rest of the show, it's different from canon but the core is still there and recognizable. I was intrigued by Mycroft but the jury's still out on whether I'm going to appreciate their take on the character. I did love how Sherlock reacts to him and treats him - they got it right with this version of Holmes. And the whole convo about Watson wanting to have sex with Mycroft as the second-rate version of himself - LOL! On the whole, I'm loving this show and appreciating the little tips of the hat to canon that I catch. It really makes me want to finish my re-read of all the stories as I'm sure there are a bunch I'm missing!
I think Jane really is scared, and I wonder if Lisbon did the right thing telling the others about the Red John suspects. But I'm glad she did, and I was kind of all "you go, girl!" when she drove off and left him. The whole chain with Van Pelt/Rigsby/Cho was pretty hilarious. I would definitely like more Cho, please, but I understand this was really a Jane/Lisbon ep to get things going for the season. I've heard that we'll find out who Red John is by Christmas. Are we going to have one killed each ep? There are only a couple suspects that I still feel any familiarity with after all this time, so I hope they spend some time re-establishing those without immediately killing them off.
Oh, Castle, why are your season finales and premiers my least favorite eps? I read another comment that said "Castle is best when they don't try too hard" and I think that hits the nail on the head. I still enjoyed the first two eps this season, but it just doesn't have that zing when they're being too serious. Let's get back to the fun stuff, please! Btw, if you're on Twitter and don't follow Nathan Fillion, you should. He interacts a lot and is hilarious.
I finished rewatching S8 through "Torn & Frayed" last night and I've decided it's one of my favorite season arcs. I know a lot of people don't like 8.0, but I think bringing in the outside characters of Benny and Amelia was perfect to add some variety and drama. Benny's own arc (not counting how he affects Dean) is engaging enough. The poor guy comes back for vengeance and that doesn't go right, then finds a place to hide and live and Sam messes that all up. And then Dean gives him the boot and he's got nobody. Poor Benny! And poor Dean, he's so bound up in having to take care of everyone that he not only feels betrayed by Sam not looking for him (I had forgotten the depth and awfulness of the rage speech in "Southern Comfort"), but also by Cass not accepting his help (and would have been by Benny if he had killed). With Dean, once you're his brother/friend/whatever, he has expectations for you and for himself that must be lived up to. And he betrays his own expectations when he leaves Benny high and dry. That was very difficult for him, especially when he didn't know if Sam was staying or not at that point. Much like the end of Swan Song, Dean chooses Sam over everything else in the end and redeems himself in my eyes for the crappy way he's treated Sam. Speaking of, I just about have to switch from Team Dean to Team Sam for 8.0. Poor Sammy! It was so nice to see him actually having a relationship of any kind outside of Dean. Having a little bit of the regular life that he's wanted for so long. I don't think Dean had any right to castigate him about it, much less be as horrible as he was with what he said and the Amelia text and all (not that I don't understand why he did it - it's perfect Dean and I'm not sure he could've done anything else. I just get so mad at him for doing it!). And while I wish Sam could've accepted Benny, I understand that too. And I was so glad he brought up Amy because yes, Dean, it is the same frickin' thing! Just like Dean's attitude toward Crossroad deals changes when it's him losing a loved one, he changes his tune when it's him with a "good" monster friend. I'm just glad Sam called Dean on all his crap and made him think about what he was doing. And at the end, they choose each other, just as it should be. :-)
And I haven't even mentioned poor Amelia! and poor Cass! And double poor Samandriel!! I had to fast fwd through those parts - I think it's the gruesomest (word?) thing in SPN ever, which is saying something. I think it's that it goes on for so long. Those were my least favorite scenes - one of my most favorite was when Sam meets Benny. Sam seems to get a lot of these scenes where he has no lines for a long time but is still "saying" a lot (beginning of Jus in Bello, for instance). I love the way Jared (and Jensen) use their eyes and body language in that scene - a whole conversation happens in just a few looks. And Dean at least has the grace to look a bit guilty.
One plot point that still bothers me - Sam left Amelia because of Don, right - he had no idea Dean was back? And it just happened to be right when Dean gets back? And Dean never says "why did you come back now, what happened?" It just niggles.
Wow, I didn't expect them to introduce Lestrade and Mycroft in the same ep. I liked what they did with Lestrade - like a lot of the rest of the show, it's different from canon but the core is still there and recognizable. I was intrigued by Mycroft but the jury's still out on whether I'm going to appreciate their take on the character. I did love how Sherlock reacts to him and treats him - they got it right with this version of Holmes. And the whole convo about Watson wanting to have sex with Mycroft as the second-rate version of himself - LOL! On the whole, I'm loving this show and appreciating the little tips of the hat to canon that I catch. It really makes me want to finish my re-read of all the stories as I'm sure there are a bunch I'm missing!
I think Jane really is scared, and I wonder if Lisbon did the right thing telling the others about the Red John suspects. But I'm glad she did, and I was kind of all "you go, girl!" when she drove off and left him. The whole chain with Van Pelt/Rigsby/Cho was pretty hilarious. I would definitely like more Cho, please, but I understand this was really a Jane/Lisbon ep to get things going for the season. I've heard that we'll find out who Red John is by Christmas. Are we going to have one killed each ep? There are only a couple suspects that I still feel any familiarity with after all this time, so I hope they spend some time re-establishing those without immediately killing them off.
Oh, Castle, why are your season finales and premiers my least favorite eps? I read another comment that said "Castle is best when they don't try too hard" and I think that hits the nail on the head. I still enjoyed the first two eps this season, but it just doesn't have that zing when they're being too serious. Let's get back to the fun stuff, please! Btw, if you're on Twitter and don't follow Nathan Fillion, you should. He interacts a lot and is hilarious.
I finished rewatching S8 through "Torn & Frayed" last night and I've decided it's one of my favorite season arcs. I know a lot of people don't like 8.0, but I think bringing in the outside characters of Benny and Amelia was perfect to add some variety and drama. Benny's own arc (not counting how he affects Dean) is engaging enough. The poor guy comes back for vengeance and that doesn't go right, then finds a place to hide and live and Sam messes that all up. And then Dean gives him the boot and he's got nobody. Poor Benny! And poor Dean, he's so bound up in having to take care of everyone that he not only feels betrayed by Sam not looking for him (I had forgotten the depth and awfulness of the rage speech in "Southern Comfort"), but also by Cass not accepting his help (and would have been by Benny if he had killed). With Dean, once you're his brother/friend/whatever, he has expectations for you and for himself that must be lived up to. And he betrays his own expectations when he leaves Benny high and dry. That was very difficult for him, especially when he didn't know if Sam was staying or not at that point. Much like the end of Swan Song, Dean chooses Sam over everything else in the end and redeems himself in my eyes for the crappy way he's treated Sam. Speaking of, I just about have to switch from Team Dean to Team Sam for 8.0. Poor Sammy! It was so nice to see him actually having a relationship of any kind outside of Dean. Having a little bit of the regular life that he's wanted for so long. I don't think Dean had any right to castigate him about it, much less be as horrible as he was with what he said and the Amelia text and all (not that I don't understand why he did it - it's perfect Dean and I'm not sure he could've done anything else. I just get so mad at him for doing it!). And while I wish Sam could've accepted Benny, I understand that too. And I was so glad he brought up Amy because yes, Dean, it is the same frickin' thing! Just like Dean's attitude toward Crossroad deals changes when it's him losing a loved one, he changes his tune when it's him with a "good" monster friend. I'm just glad Sam called Dean on all his crap and made him think about what he was doing. And at the end, they choose each other, just as it should be. :-)
And I haven't even mentioned poor Amelia! and poor Cass! And double poor Samandriel!! I had to fast fwd through those parts - I think it's the gruesomest (word?) thing in SPN ever, which is saying something. I think it's that it goes on for so long. Those were my least favorite scenes - one of my most favorite was when Sam meets Benny. Sam seems to get a lot of these scenes where he has no lines for a long time but is still "saying" a lot (beginning of Jus in Bello, for instance). I love the way Jared (and Jensen) use their eyes and body language in that scene - a whole conversation happens in just a few looks. And Dean at least has the grace to look a bit guilty.
One plot point that still bothers me - Sam left Amelia because of Don, right - he had no idea Dean was back? And it just happened to be right when Dean gets back? And Dean never says "why did you come back now, what happened?" It just niggles.