TV catch-up
It's fall TV season time!
In my version of The Good Wife's S4 premiere, in which lawyers know their rights and the characters act like themselves instead of like idiots because the idiot plot requires them to be idiots, Alicia would have said, "Officer Robb, we don't consent to any searches. And my son can't speak to you without being represented by counsel." And that would have been the end of that.
Otherwise, it kind of feels like nothing new ever happens on this show. Peter campaigning for public office, Will and Diane doing partner politics, Kalinda being mysterious and sexy and beating men up. Same same but not really that different, hmm? I even had to look up what season this is, because it totally felt like a retread.
*
Homeland's S2 premiere was way better. We mainlined S1 a few months ago but I didn't have much to say. I think it's a really entertaining, well-done show, and the end of last season was bleak and depressing and kind of brilliant. However, I disagree with its Emmy for Best Drama and particularly Damian Lewis's Emmy for Best Actor. I know the argument that Bryan Cranston has three Emmys already, but to paraphrase one commenter on ONTD, you don't tell Usain Bolt it's someone else's turn for gold. The best is supposed to win. Bryan Cranston is the best. Period.
Anyway. The S2 premiere was very good, and the promo for the rest of the season also looked very good. I think Carrie is one of the most fascinating female leads I've seen in a long time, if possibly ever, and I'm excited to watch the rest of her story. Claire Danes did deserve her Emmy: she makes Carrie incredibly hard to like and sympathize with, but also so incredibly human. The character is painful enough on paper, with all her flaws and vulnerabilities, but as acted...GAH.
I like where things seem to be going with Brody's daughter; I'm really curious how her relationship with Brody will evolve over this season, how much trust and lack of trust will become an issue between them. Brody's wife, tho! Maybe I'm overdosed on ambitious political wives form Scandal (see brief comments below) but DAMN. Her rant in the garage, while deserved because yes, he was lying to her and hiding this huge part of his life, was all about his political career and appearances and reputation and not at all about, "Oh my god, what must have happened to you during those eight years that you needed this faith and how can I come to better understand this fundamental change in your life so that we can be true partners again?" Just gross.
*
Speaking of political shows set in DC, I also picked up Scandal.
I've never watched a Shonda Rhimes show before but I thought I'd give this one a chance because (a) first black female solo lead in an American hour-long TV drama in, apparently, 30 years; (b) run by a black woman who's also running two other hour-long dramas, like, she kind of owns network TV now apparently; (c) okay, fine, there were some really hotass sexy commercials the past couple weeks.
Basically, I only care about the Olivia/POTUS relationship, because Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn have the HOT HOT HOT like fiyah! kind of chemistry, and the infidelity and power issues also make it disturbing and kinky and wrong in that oh so right kind of way. But otherwise the show is a soapy ridiculous mess and it apparently takes place in some kind of fantasy DC where people talk way too fast using way too many words while making very little sense. As of now, I think it's going to be background TV.
*
And finally, Downton Abbey.
- Matthew, WTF. Really hope that was the last bit of him having his head up his ass. He's had, what, a decade to get used to the fact that he's inheriting a shitload of privilege, tradition and wealth via the title and estate. How does he not understand yet that this shit is bigger than him and his mealy-mouthed conscience?
- Mary has the patience of a goddamn saint to deal with that asshole. The fact that she didn't demand an apology from him for accusing her of forging Swire's letter just means she's a better woman than me.
- But I find their chemistry rather unfortunately sibling-like, and not in the oh so wrong but oh so right kind of way. I cringe any time they get physical.
- Fucking Robert. Die already. #FreeCora2012!!!
- EDITH, agh. For the first time ever, this show made my eye leak a mysterious watery substance. I know she's done wrong, but I was so proud of her for trying to get that dick and then look what happens. It's time for her to be happy!
- Sybil/Branson, sigh. I sympathize with the idea of Branson but I get the feeling Julian Fellowes really kind of doesn't, so Branson keeps coming off like a tool even though he's saying things I want to agree with (well, except for the Sybil bashing). I'm not looking forward to next week's episode.
- I have totally forgotten what started O'Brien and Thomas fighting, but I want her to win. I never thought I'd be on her side, but I like that she's fighting for her family too now.
- I liked seeing Shirley MacLaine and Maggie Smith act together. It was fun. Not much else to say about it.
- Oh, and Maggie Smith also did not deserve that Emmy. Not over Christina Hendricks. :(
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comments at its original location at http://hesychasm.dreamwidth.org/254660.html. Please comment there or here.
In my version of The Good Wife's S4 premiere, in which lawyers know their rights and the characters act like themselves instead of like idiots because the idiot plot requires them to be idiots, Alicia would have said, "Officer Robb, we don't consent to any searches. And my son can't speak to you without being represented by counsel." And that would have been the end of that.
Otherwise, it kind of feels like nothing new ever happens on this show. Peter campaigning for public office, Will and Diane doing partner politics, Kalinda being mysterious and sexy and beating men up. Same same but not really that different, hmm? I even had to look up what season this is, because it totally felt like a retread.
*
Homeland's S2 premiere was way better. We mainlined S1 a few months ago but I didn't have much to say. I think it's a really entertaining, well-done show, and the end of last season was bleak and depressing and kind of brilliant. However, I disagree with its Emmy for Best Drama and particularly Damian Lewis's Emmy for Best Actor. I know the argument that Bryan Cranston has three Emmys already, but to paraphrase one commenter on ONTD, you don't tell Usain Bolt it's someone else's turn for gold. The best is supposed to win. Bryan Cranston is the best. Period.
Anyway. The S2 premiere was very good, and the promo for the rest of the season also looked very good. I think Carrie is one of the most fascinating female leads I've seen in a long time, if possibly ever, and I'm excited to watch the rest of her story. Claire Danes did deserve her Emmy: she makes Carrie incredibly hard to like and sympathize with, but also so incredibly human. The character is painful enough on paper, with all her flaws and vulnerabilities, but as acted...GAH.
I like where things seem to be going with Brody's daughter; I'm really curious how her relationship with Brody will evolve over this season, how much trust and lack of trust will become an issue between them. Brody's wife, tho! Maybe I'm overdosed on ambitious political wives form Scandal (see brief comments below) but DAMN. Her rant in the garage, while deserved because yes, he was lying to her and hiding this huge part of his life, was all about his political career and appearances and reputation and not at all about, "Oh my god, what must have happened to you during those eight years that you needed this faith and how can I come to better understand this fundamental change in your life so that we can be true partners again?" Just gross.
*
Speaking of political shows set in DC, I also picked up Scandal.
I've never watched a Shonda Rhimes show before but I thought I'd give this one a chance because (a) first black female solo lead in an American hour-long TV drama in, apparently, 30 years; (b) run by a black woman who's also running two other hour-long dramas, like, she kind of owns network TV now apparently; (c) okay, fine, there were some really hotass sexy commercials the past couple weeks.
Basically, I only care about the Olivia/POTUS relationship, because Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn have the HOT HOT HOT like fiyah! kind of chemistry, and the infidelity and power issues also make it disturbing and kinky and wrong in that oh so right kind of way. But otherwise the show is a soapy ridiculous mess and it apparently takes place in some kind of fantasy DC where people talk way too fast using way too many words while making very little sense. As of now, I think it's going to be background TV.
*
And finally, Downton Abbey.
- Matthew, WTF. Really hope that was the last bit of him having his head up his ass. He's had, what, a decade to get used to the fact that he's inheriting a shitload of privilege, tradition and wealth via the title and estate. How does he not understand yet that this shit is bigger than him and his mealy-mouthed conscience?
- Mary has the patience of a goddamn saint to deal with that asshole. The fact that she didn't demand an apology from him for accusing her of forging Swire's letter just means she's a better woman than me.
- But I find their chemistry rather unfortunately sibling-like, and not in the oh so wrong but oh so right kind of way. I cringe any time they get physical.
- Fucking Robert. Die already. #FreeCora2012!!!
- EDITH, agh. For the first time ever, this show made my eye leak a mysterious watery substance. I know she's done wrong, but I was so proud of her for trying to get that dick and then look what happens. It's time for her to be happy!
- Sybil/Branson, sigh. I sympathize with the idea of Branson but I get the feeling Julian Fellowes really kind of doesn't, so Branson keeps coming off like a tool even though he's saying things I want to agree with (well, except for the Sybil bashing). I'm not looking forward to next week's episode.
- I have totally forgotten what started O'Brien and Thomas fighting, but I want her to win. I never thought I'd be on her side, but I like that she's fighting for her family too now.
- I liked seeing Shirley MacLaine and Maggie Smith act together. It was fun. Not much else to say about it.
- Oh, and Maggie Smith also did not deserve that Emmy. Not over Christina Hendricks. :(
This post has
comments at its original location at http://hesychasm.dreamwidth.org/254660.html. Please comment there or here.