[tiam]

Watched the special features on the AGOT boxset. Would have liked more from it but meh. I actually wouldnt mind read ASOIAF now, even though I know loads about the books and major deaths etc.

[Binder of Demons]

Just caught up on the latest episode of JUSTIFIED. Love that show. The shit is really about to hit the fan now.

On a different note, i saw the intro to the 8th episode of ALCATRAZ and what did i see, only one of the cast of the 4400 appearing as one of the '63's. Now that doesn't really help matters when your show already reeks of similarities to that show. I had better see signs of progression on ALCATRAZ soon or it's gonna get the chop from me.

I still have the overwhelming impression that there is an element of the LOST syndrome here, where you introduce a pretty cool idea, be irritatingly vague (while aiming for mysterious), and then string the audience along for ages while trying to keep the whole thing afloat for as long as possible. Then, panic and try and wrap it up in bow when it looks like your audience may have finally got bored. Except while LOST had pretty high production values, ALCATRAZ looks decidedly cheap, and the writing is passable at best. I really wanted to like ALCATRAZ but to be honest as i think over the episodes i've seen so far, i can't think of anything to recommend it?

At least when i want some pretty silly entertainment i can put on PERSON OF INTEREST and watch GUN-JESUS go hunt people down and punish them.

[McLovin]

Binder of Demons, on 14 March 2012 - 12:15 AM, said:

I really wanted to like ALCATRAZ but to be honest as i think over the episodes i've seen so far, i can't think of anything to recommend it?

Characters aren't terribly compelling. I put that on the writers. They have SAM NEILL, ffs - let him off the leash!

And where the hell did Lucy go? She hasn't even been in flashbacks lately.

Binder of Demons, on 14 March 2012 - 12:15 AM, said:

At least when i want some pretty silly entertainment i can put on PERSON OF INTEREST and watch GUN-JESUS go hunt people down and punish them.

Gun Jesus is beginning to grate on me. Some of the eps have brilliant writing, most are pretty cliche.

[QuickTidal]

McLovin, on 14 March 2012 - 02:29 PM, said:

Binder of Demons, on 14 March 2012 - 12:15 AM, said:

I really wanted to like ALCATRAZ but to be honest as i think over the episodes i've seen so far, i can't think of anything to recommend it?

Characters aren't terribly compelling. I put that on the writers. They have SAM NEILL, ffs - let him off the leash!

And where the hell did Lucy go? She hasn't even been in flashbacks lately.

ALCATRAZ has become that show that Mrs. QT and I see on the PVR and both of us just kind of shrug and say "I don't really feel like watching." It DOES have low production values, and the overall arcing mystery is NOT compelling enough currently to make up for the middling writing on the monster-of-the-week format that is meant to fill out the rest of the show. At this point in its first season FRINGE was already firing huge volleys of WTF at the audience in reference to the overall arc. I'm not seeing that here, and I certainly am not seeing many of the end-of-episode bomb-dropper revelations/twists that LOST had to keep you not only wanting to come back the following week, but salivating to do so. I'm starting to think that the execution of the season arc for the show is WAY off the mark and that's why it seems to be floundering. I think it might be headed the way of TERRA NOVA, SMASH and THE RIVER and might not get a second season if this continues to be the case.

Hell, at this point even a jaw-dropper of a finale wouldn't swing me wholly back on board.

It hasn't gotten the chop from us yet, but both Mrs. QT and my patience with it is tenuous at best.

[Abyss]

McLovin, on 14 March 2012 - 02:29 PM, said:

Binder of Demons, on 14 March 2012 - 12:15 AM, said:

I really wanted to like ALCATRAZ but to be honest as i think over the episodes i've seen so far, i can't think of anything to recommend it?

Characters aren't terribly compelling. I put that on the writers. They have SAM NEILL, ffs - let him off the leash!

And where the hell did Lucy go? She hasn't even been in flashbacks lately.

I'm back and forth with ALC'Z. Each ep basically hinges on the freak-of-the-week and some of them have been great fun and others boring.
I'm intrigued by the overall mystery, but not necessarily enough to watch for years while they draw it out.

As for Lucy, i think they're keeping her for some kind of shocker return towards the season ender, possibly a major hint towards the time-travel/suspended animation/clones debate.

Quote

Binder of Demons, on 14 March 2012 - 12:15 AM, said:

At least when i want some pretty silly entertainment i can put on PERSON OF INTEREST and watch GUN-JESUS go hunt people down and punish them.

Gun Jesus is beginning to grate on me. Some of the eps have brilliant writing, most are pretty cliche.

Yep. The bad eps of this show are painfully baaaaAAAAaaad.

QuickTidal, on 14 March 2012 - 02:40 PM, said:

ALCATRAZ has become that show that Mrs. QT and I see on the PVR and both of us just kind of shrug and say "I don't really feel like watching." It DOES have low production values, and the overall arcing mystery is NOT compelling enough currently to make up for the middling writing on the monster-of-the-week format that is meant to fill out the rest of the show. At this point in its first season FRINGE was already firing huge volleys of WTF at the audience in reference to the overall arc. I'm not seeing that here, and I certainly am not seeing many of the end-of-episode bomb-dropper revelations/twists that LOST had to keep you not only wanting to come back the following week, but salivating to do so. I'm starting to think that the execution of the season arc for the show is WAY off the mark and that's why it seems to be floundering. ...

Possibly a case of classic first-season show trying to find its way, but most don't overcome that. Even LOST was throwing in more and more interesting stuff at this stage. It floundered when the makers realized 'oh fuck people are watching and we actually have to make this make sense now'.


I'm weeks behind on pretty much everything except THE VOICE. It's embarrassing how much i like this show.

[McLovin]

Caught up on ALCATRAZ, so we're now working through the SMASH backlog.

2 eps in, not bad.

[QuickTidal]

McLovin, on 18 March 2012 - 12:32 PM, said:

so we're now working through the SMASH backlog.

2 eps in, not bad.

It's gonna get cancelled...don't get too sunk in. So are the RIVER and ALCATRAZ for that matter...and of those the only faith I have in one pulling through, it's MAYBE ALCATRAZ...but FOX is notoriously bad with letting shows find their legs.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 18 March 2012 - 02:06 PM, said:

...
It's gonna get cancelled...don't get too sunk in. So are the RIVER and ALCATRAZ for that matter......

Yah not looking good.
TERRA NOVA got the axe already... the cancellation bear is craving some genre meat, it seems.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 19 March 2012 - 03:54 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 18 March 2012 - 02:06 PM, said:

...
It's gonna get cancelled...don't get too sunk in. So are the RIVER and ALCATRAZ for that matter......

Yah not looking good.
TERRA NOVA got the axe already... the cancellation bear is craving some genre meat, it seems.

The problem is that nothing, and I do mean nothing on regular network TV can compete with HBO, AMC, sTARZ or the like for long arced genre shows. They either put out crap week to week or they don't give decent shows the chance to find legs. As far as I am concerned being able to pick and choose from good shows on iTunes (minus HBO of course) is taking the place of even bothering with prime time network TV.

[Abyss]

Prime time network still gives us worthwhile viewing (see FRINGE)... it's just lost sometimes in creative stupidity.

[JLV]

I liked the River, fuck the critics.

Any word on Fringe being picked up for a 5th (?) season?

[Binder of Demons]

I haven't seen any definitive word on whether FRINGE will be renewed or not but i've got my fingers crossed.

I did see that GRIMM has been renewed for a second season though which makes me happy, as it has a nice edge to it.

CBS apparently went nuts and announced the renewal of 15 of their current shows including PERSON OF INTEREST and THE MENTALIST (which i also enjoy as a bit of casual light entertainment with a surprisingly dark undercurrent). Lost amid all the renewals was the news that DAVID CARUSO gets to retire his sunglasses as CSI:Miami gets the chop........Yeah!!!!!!!!!


But the most amazing bit of news was that HBO has cancelled LUCK even as they were filming the second season. It would appear that there have been several equine fatalities (at least 3) despite all their safety precautions and they made a decision to stop production.

Here is the official statement

Quote

It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series Luck.
Safety is always of paramount concern. We maintained the highest safety standards throughout production, higher in fact than any protocols existing in horse racing anywhere with many fewer incidents than occur in racing or than befall horses normally in barns at night or pastures. While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won't in the future. Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision.
We are immensely proud of this series, the writing, the acting, the filmmaking, the celebration of the culture of horses, and everyone involved in its creation

Considering the positive reviews the show was getting, I am surprised but glad that those involved put animal safety ahead of profits. Reassuring if this is indeed the reason though my cynical side thinks there may be more at play.

[Abyss]

Binder of Demons, on 20 March 2012 - 06:45 PM, said:

...But the most amazing bit of news was that HBO has cancelled LUCK even as they were filming the second season. It would appear that there have been several equine fatalities... though my cynical side thinks there may be more at play.

.

[worry]

Stay tuned for the Luck comic book that will finish out the storyline.

[HoosierDaddy]

Evil Abed!

[QuickTidal]

DOWNTON ABBEY Series 2 Episode 5 = Scott crying manly, manly tears.

No seriously, this is probably in my top 3 favourite TV shows (amongst lofty heights of DOCTOR WHO and SHERLOCK). I love every last moment of this show.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 27 March 2012 - 01:30 PM

[HoosierDaddy]

The South Park "Meme" episode might be one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

[Slow Ben]

QuickTidal said:

1332855022[/url]' post='948355']
DOWNTON ABBEY Series 2 Episode 5 = Scott crying manly, manly tears.

No seriously, this is probably in my top 3 favourite TV shows (amongst lofty heights of DOCTOR WHO and SHERLOCK). I love every last moment of this show.

Just watched that ep tonight.
This shows damn good.

[QuickTidal]

Slow Ben, on 03 April 2012 - 02:37 AM, said:

QuickTidal said:

1332855022[/url]' post='948355']
DOWNTON ABBEY Series 2 Episode 5 = Scott crying manly, manly tears.

No seriously, this is probably in my top 3 favourite TV shows (amongst lofty heights of DOCTOR WHO and SHERLOCK). I love every last moment of this show.

Just watched that ep tonight.
This shows damn good.

Keep watching, it gets even better!

I finished up Series 2 (including the Christmas Special) and I'm really going to go through withdrawal awaiting Series 3 to start airing in September.

[polishgenius]

Trailer for The Newsroom, Aaron Sorkin's new show.

Okay, a show-behind-the-show is hardly new ground for the man but a new Sorkin is always worth looking out for.

Seems a lot less optimistic than The West Wing though...