My TV Viewing
So, 2 television shows I've been watching have drawn to a close, and 1 television show I've been waiting for has made its debut.
I'll put my comments about all 2 under a cut for anyone who doesn't wish to be spoiled for something or other.
FALLING SKIES So, its got some problems. The show looks a little cheap, which surprised me. And while Noah Wylie is doing a bang up job, and it was great to see Sarah Carter again, the supporting cast feels a little weak. Maybe I just need some more time to warm up to them?The leader of the outlaws shows some promise, at least.
But, having said that, I was hooked. I think the show has a solid premise, and I see lots of possibilities for it. I'm going along for a the ride. Hopefully we'll see the supporting cast blossom, and there is always the possibility to bring in a lot of new characters along the way.
THE KILLING OK, I won't front at all here. I thought it sucked.
Now, here's the thing....I can understand wanting to end a first season with a cliffhanger. And when a show has been really good and exciting, its OK if they don't pay everything off at the end, because you know that its worth being on the ride.
However, The Killing doesn't earn that good will for me. It had a great premiere, and its had a few episodes that were very well done. But its had just as many eps that were dead boring, ponderously slow, and sometimes, downright stupid. Its had pointless red herrings that weren't the least big exciting because we never really bought into them. Its had preposterous detours into things like persecuted muslims, female genital mutilation, Russian mobsters, Belko's mother and Indian reservations. All done is the most boring way possible.
Bottom line, this show NEEDED a pay off at the end of its first season to feel worthy of me committing for a 2nd season. I didn't get one, and I won't be back for S2.
Another problem with this show is that the characters feel paper thin, and no one is really all that likeable. I can appreciate the acting job that Mirielle Enos is going, but I don't LIKE Linden. She's humorless, unpleasant, treats her fiancee and child like afterthoughts, and for all her commitment to the job, I don't get the sense that she's a great cop. As for the Larsons, I find their grief palpable, but also suffocatingly BORING. I keep hearing these critics praising the performance of Michelle Forbes, but its the same one note hit over and over again in every single episode. I think myself, strangely, more sympathetic to her bartender/part time hooker sister.
The only character that really struck a cord with me was Joel Kinnerman's Holder. And then they throw in some curve ball with him in the final seconds of the season? Oh, fuck you show.
Sorry, but I'm out. I'll find out who killed Rosie Larson on line...if they ever bother to implicate someone for it 100%
GAME OF THRONES What a freaking kick ass series. When this show first started out, I was worried that I wasn't getting into it, and I doubted I'd be able to sustain my interest past Sean Bean's inevitable on screen death (doesn't he die in just about everything?)Well, I was so very wrong.Slowly at first, and then more quickly as the first season approached its end, the younger, unknown cast of Game of Thrones started to ROCK IT OUT!!Now, was the S1 finale perfect? Well, no, because does anyone need to see some old man that they don't really care about provide some exposition on past kings with the oft naked prostitute Roz washed herself? No, no one needs to see this. And besides, the exposition didn't really offer anything new, or move the episode forward. But it took forever.
But, aside from that scene, everything felt well placed and necessary.
It was good to be able to see Bran again, because the child actor playing him has a real deep and haunting quality about him. And I find Osha, the wilding woman, to be rather entertaining. And its good to get some glimpses of the Stark's youngest child, Rickon, who seems just a little off...
I feel so bad for Sansa, and she hasn't been my favorite Stark child up till now. But she's now caught in an awful place, with no allies in sight. But could it be The Hound has developed a soft spot for her? I think so. However, I would've preferred that he had let Sansa push that horrible inbred little shit Joffrey right off that bridge, which I feel certain she was planning to do.
I was really torn on what I wanted Jon Snow to do. Because a big part of me really wants him to go be at Robb's side and join the fight against the Lannisters. But, on the other hand, I admire the sense of duty and honor that runs through the Stark family, and Jon's friends coming after him and reminding him of his oath was very touching.
I've grown to love Robb. Here he is, leading an army, being proclaimed a king, and yet that scene when he soundly thrashed a tree, and fell into his mothers arms in tears highlighted just how very young he is.
And can there be any doubts that Arya is a survivor, and an adapter/ Strangely, I don't worry for her. Because I know she will find a way to keep going. How ironic that she should befriend the dead King's bastard son as she marches away from Kings Landing?
And I know Jaime is a total scuzbag, but I see a shred of humanity in him. And it was evident in his expression when Lady Stark walked away from him. After all that bravado, you could see that tiny flicker cross his face. I hope there's something more to him.
And Tyrion Lannister, you tiny little Rock Star, you. Peter Dinklage continues to give the performance of the show. I adore Tyrion. Might those be the first semi-kind words he ever heard from his father? I think so. And I think he'll be an excellent Hand of the King. Though I doubt Joffrey and Cersei will think so.
And then we go across the narrow sea, to Dany and Drogo. My heart completely broke for Dany. Here she finds a place, and love, where she wasn't expecting it, and it all gets brutally ripped away. And she thought she was doing the right thing. A kindness. And yeah, yeah, I get that the old witch had a point, but I still smiled when Dany had her tied to the funeral pyre. I thought her mercy killing of Drogo was tragic and romantic. And then...then....DRAGONS! Squeeeeeeeeeee
I'll be back next season. With bells on!!!
I'll put my comments about all 2 under a cut for anyone who doesn't wish to be spoiled for something or other.
FALLING SKIES So, its got some problems. The show looks a little cheap, which surprised me. And while Noah Wylie is doing a bang up job, and it was great to see Sarah Carter again, the supporting cast feels a little weak. Maybe I just need some more time to warm up to them?The leader of the outlaws shows some promise, at least.
But, having said that, I was hooked. I think the show has a solid premise, and I see lots of possibilities for it. I'm going along for a the ride. Hopefully we'll see the supporting cast blossom, and there is always the possibility to bring in a lot of new characters along the way.
THE KILLING OK, I won't front at all here. I thought it sucked.
Now, here's the thing....I can understand wanting to end a first season with a cliffhanger. And when a show has been really good and exciting, its OK if they don't pay everything off at the end, because you know that its worth being on the ride.
However, The Killing doesn't earn that good will for me. It had a great premiere, and its had a few episodes that were very well done. But its had just as many eps that were dead boring, ponderously slow, and sometimes, downright stupid. Its had pointless red herrings that weren't the least big exciting because we never really bought into them. Its had preposterous detours into things like persecuted muslims, female genital mutilation, Russian mobsters, Belko's mother and Indian reservations. All done is the most boring way possible.
Bottom line, this show NEEDED a pay off at the end of its first season to feel worthy of me committing for a 2nd season. I didn't get one, and I won't be back for S2.
Another problem with this show is that the characters feel paper thin, and no one is really all that likeable. I can appreciate the acting job that Mirielle Enos is going, but I don't LIKE Linden. She's humorless, unpleasant, treats her fiancee and child like afterthoughts, and for all her commitment to the job, I don't get the sense that she's a great cop. As for the Larsons, I find their grief palpable, but also suffocatingly BORING. I keep hearing these critics praising the performance of Michelle Forbes, but its the same one note hit over and over again in every single episode. I think myself, strangely, more sympathetic to her bartender/part time hooker sister.
The only character that really struck a cord with me was Joel Kinnerman's Holder. And then they throw in some curve ball with him in the final seconds of the season? Oh, fuck you show.
Sorry, but I'm out. I'll find out who killed Rosie Larson on line...if they ever bother to implicate someone for it 100%
GAME OF THRONES What a freaking kick ass series. When this show first started out, I was worried that I wasn't getting into it, and I doubted I'd be able to sustain my interest past Sean Bean's inevitable on screen death (doesn't he die in just about everything?)Well, I was so very wrong.Slowly at first, and then more quickly as the first season approached its end, the younger, unknown cast of Game of Thrones started to ROCK IT OUT!!Now, was the S1 finale perfect? Well, no, because does anyone need to see some old man that they don't really care about provide some exposition on past kings with the oft naked prostitute Roz washed herself? No, no one needs to see this. And besides, the exposition didn't really offer anything new, or move the episode forward. But it took forever.
But, aside from that scene, everything felt well placed and necessary.
It was good to be able to see Bran again, because the child actor playing him has a real deep and haunting quality about him. And I find Osha, the wilding woman, to be rather entertaining. And its good to get some glimpses of the Stark's youngest child, Rickon, who seems just a little off...
I feel so bad for Sansa, and she hasn't been my favorite Stark child up till now. But she's now caught in an awful place, with no allies in sight. But could it be The Hound has developed a soft spot for her? I think so. However, I would've preferred that he had let Sansa push that horrible inbred little shit Joffrey right off that bridge, which I feel certain she was planning to do.
I was really torn on what I wanted Jon Snow to do. Because a big part of me really wants him to go be at Robb's side and join the fight against the Lannisters. But, on the other hand, I admire the sense of duty and honor that runs through the Stark family, and Jon's friends coming after him and reminding him of his oath was very touching.
I've grown to love Robb. Here he is, leading an army, being proclaimed a king, and yet that scene when he soundly thrashed a tree, and fell into his mothers arms in tears highlighted just how very young he is.
And can there be any doubts that Arya is a survivor, and an adapter/ Strangely, I don't worry for her. Because I know she will find a way to keep going. How ironic that she should befriend the dead King's bastard son as she marches away from Kings Landing?
And I know Jaime is a total scuzbag, but I see a shred of humanity in him. And it was evident in his expression when Lady Stark walked away from him. After all that bravado, you could see that tiny flicker cross his face. I hope there's something more to him.
And Tyrion Lannister, you tiny little Rock Star, you. Peter Dinklage continues to give the performance of the show. I adore Tyrion. Might those be the first semi-kind words he ever heard from his father? I think so. And I think he'll be an excellent Hand of the King. Though I doubt Joffrey and Cersei will think so.
And then we go across the narrow sea, to Dany and Drogo. My heart completely broke for Dany. Here she finds a place, and love, where she wasn't expecting it, and it all gets brutally ripped away. And she thought she was doing the right thing. A kindness. And yeah, yeah, I get that the old witch had a point, but I still smiled when Dany had her tied to the funeral pyre. I thought her mercy killing of Drogo was tragic and romantic. And then...then....DRAGONS! Squeeeeeeeeeee
I'll be back next season. With bells on!!!