[QuickTidal]

I am currently catching up with Season 4 of FRINGE (half way through and it's excellent), in prep for Season 5.

Actually in regards to THE WALKING DEAD, I thought the second half of the Season really redeemed the slow first half, and I'm really psyched for Season 3!

[amphibian]

Abyss, on 12 September 2012 - 03:20 PM, said:

I agree with you in some respects. The main vamp plotline was good fun, interesting and well executed and while Bill's character shift was a bit random, it did make sense in the end. Edginton chewed scenery every chance he got and it was joyous to behold.

Where i take issue is with most of the other plotlines. I liked Tara's and Pam's. I was ok w Hoyt even if it was too drawn out. Sam had some good developments and finally started to see the potential in what he can do and stop being a perpetual victim. Alcide's was ok, tho after the first bit he veered away from everyone else to the story's detriment.

But Andy's plotlines were irritating. So was Terry's. Lafayette's started interesting and went nowhere. Jason wandered around undergoing
randon character shifts.

Edginton is a terrific vamp. In every sense of the word. I admit to some disappointment he didn't get to play with the Reverend much to replace Talbot.

Hoyt was actually a weak spot. I couldn't believe that he'd fall in with a hate group that readily. I did like the hate group, as it was gloriously subversive and funny to see the well-cast actors say stuff like "Hate groups are about more than hate. They're about love too." The anti-vampire shop keeper was some of the best visual casting I've seen in a while too. He had the best surly glower in the series. As for Lafayette's turn, the only problem I had was that there wasn't much resolution to the visit to the Don. The powers he has appear to be considerable and him getting further in touch with them provides a few story outs that I like - ghost possession, messages from the beyond, dealing with beasties like the Afreet, Worlow stuff etc.

I've always liked Andy (love the actor who plays him) and seeing him turn from the relentless, angry screw-up to a halfway decent sheriff and boyfriend (now unexpected father too!) has been a pleasure. I thought we got the right amounts of Andy in the stories, especially when he was with Terry early on in the Afreet preparations (and had to walk home).

Jason's character shifts didn't appear to be random to me. He's been searching for meaning and screwing things up all along. The anti-vampire Christian missionary team is the best example of that. The Hoyt/Jason/Jessica storyline has been good for Jason in that he realizes that there's a cost to his tomcatting and more meaning beyond the day to day satiation he's always done. Seeing Jason cry was awesome and having Sookie be the one to comfort him really made Sookie more relatable.

As for Sookie

Quote

Morgoth, on 12 September 2012 - 02:56 PM, said:

My main problem with True Blood was how genuinely unsympathetic Sookie is. Sarah likes to rant about how American television seems only capable of presenting strong female characters as incredibly bitchy, and Sookie is a prime example.

...and we'll add incessantly whiny.

Sook's plotlines went nowhere good. It felt like one big setup for next season with little actually happening. I get why she distanced herself from Bill and Eric but in the process they expected her to carry her own chunk of the show and she failed. the most interesting things hapening in Sookie's plotlines happened to other people (Tara, Edginton, the Elder).

I thought Sookie went nowhere for a long while and really only got going at the end of the season when she was exploring her powers. Her covering up the Deb thing was stupid and Lafayette's reaction to that was not good. The character should have been focused on Jesus more than Deb. It seemed like the Deb/Sookie/Lafayette thing was an excuse to try out the Sookie/Alcide conflicted 'ship, which I never liked and I'm glad the writers abandoned that quickly.

It's a fair criticism to be sure.

[Dutch]

Currently 10 episodes into Once upon a time and quite enjoying it.

Really like the alternate fairy tale style.

[worry]

QT I agree with you about The Walking Dead. First season didn't do much for me (besides real appreciation for the look and the zombie effects). S2 started slow (which I don't necessarily mind), but by the halfway point (and barn twist) I was genuinely enjoying it.

True Blood spoilers ahead:

Season 5 gets points for being the first in which Tara wasn't actually the single worst character on TV. She was even pretty likeable sometimes. I do agree that Hoyt's character has been "messed up" from his original nice guy since the break-up (though the goth stuff was at least funny)....but his farewell was actually well handled and a bit moving. I did hope that this season was all leading to a showdown between Worlow and Russell next season over possession of Sookie (both seem to be pretty special vamps due to age and who knows what else for Worlow), but oh well...it might be Worlow vs Billith instead. The two sour notes of the season for me were the ultimate lameness of the Authority and the pop culture elder fairy (though it was nice to see yet another Veronica Mars alum appear).

[McLovin]

Finally watched the first episode of COPPER. Meh... And a shame since I was really looking forward to see Franka Potente - she's not in enough stuff (in English, anyway).

Meanwhile, our local PBS stattion is broadcasting the Met's new production of Wagner's Ring cycle. Cannot wait to start watching this. Been trying to get to a showing for two years. Hoyotoho!!!!

[Slow Ben]

Season 4 of True Blood pretty much sucks. Eric was the only thing that was interesting, but that's getting old.

I really could just stop watching this show and not give a shit, but my wife lies it, so onward!


PS- Tara might be the worst/most annoying character in the history of tv.

[amphibian]

Slow Ben, on 16 September 2012 - 07:07 PM, said:

Season 4 of True Blood pretty much sucks. Eric was the only thing that was interesting, but that's getting old.

I really could just stop watching this show and not give a shit, but my wife lies it, so onward!


PS- Tara might be the worst/most annoying character in the history of tv.

Season 5 makes up for it. It is such a big bounce back from 4.

[Slow Ben]

amphibian said:

1347827205[/url]' post='994877']

Slow Ben said:

1347822457[/url]' post='994866']
Season 4 of True Blood pretty much sucks. Eric was the only thing that was interesting, but that's getting old.

I really could just stop watching this show and not give a shit, but my wife lies it, so onward!


PS- Tara might be the worst/most annoying character in the history of tv.

Season 5 makes up for it. It is such a big bounce back from 4.

Thank God.
Another thing. Alexander Skarsgard is a fantastic f'ing actor (and IMO Eric is the best character in the show). Did anyone watch Generation Kill on HBO he starred in? Worth watching?

[Binder of Demons]

I thought GENERATION KILL was excellent. Frightening the circumstances the soldiers had to face if it is at all accurate (mostly the stupidity of some of their superiors). Regardless of how you feel about the merits of going into Iraq, it's a good portrayal of the difficult conditions the soldiers on the ground had to face (conflicting orders, moral questions, boredom, terror).

Skaarsgard was great in it too. His "Ninja" quote from one of the episodes had me in stitches. The scene with the minefield was the best illustration of bureaucratic stupidity I've ever seen.

Since it's only 7 episodes, it's definitely worth a watch.

[amphibian]

Slow Ben, on 16 September 2012 - 10:24 PM, said:

Thank God.
Another thing. Alexander Skarsgard is a fantastic f'ing actor (and IMO Eric is the best character in the show). Did anyone watch Generation Kill on HBO he starred in? Worth watching?

Generation Kill is like The Hurt Locker, if you've seen that, but much better. You may also recognize Ziggy from The Wire too.

[QuickTidal]

Series 3 DOWNTON ABBEY premiere.

Absolute PERFECTION! Feeding my addiction ten fold. I love this show!

[worry]

Meanwhile Netflix Instant still doesn't have Series 2, so I'm way behind on that show. I'm just being stubborn about not renting the actual discs. Or streaming it from somewhere else less savory, though it's readily available. Come to think of it, I actually don't know what my problem is. There's not even a true principle involved. Why am I doing this to myself? What the hell am I doing with my life? It's a shambles, an absolute shambles. Damn it all.

[QuickTidal]

worrywort, on 18 September 2012 - 12:03 AM, said:

Meanwhile Netflix Instant still doesn't have Series 2, so I'm way behind on that show. I'm just being stubborn about not renting the actual discs. Or streaming it from somewhere else less savory, though it's readily available. Come to think of it, I actually don't know what my problem is. There's not even a true principle involved. Why am I doing this to myself? What the hell am I doing with my life? It's a shambles, an absolute shambles. Damn it all.

All true, just get your hands on it. It's well worth it. Crack-like turn of the century Soap.

[worry]

Oh I've seen the first series, cuz that one is on Instant.

[worry]

Also I LOLed at "All true..."

[Binder of Demons]

Just watched the return of PERSON OF INTEREST. Should be good fun this season. John had some more of his classic "understated chats" with various bad guys. Plus we got to see more of the background of "the machine" and how it came to be.

I'm really waiting for tonight though, with the return of GRIMM and FRINGE.

[Slow Ben]

amphibian, on 16 September 2012 - 08:26 PM, said:

Slow Ben, on 16 September 2012 - 07:07 PM, said:

Season 4 of True Blood pretty much sucks. Eric was the only thing that was interesting, but that's getting old.

I really could just stop watching this show and not give a shit, but my wife lies it, so onward!


PS- Tara might be the worst/most annoying character in the history of tv.

Season 5 makes up for it. It is such a big bounce back from 4.

Yeah, enjoyed 5. 3 was ok and 4 was awful, imo. But 5 was pretty damn good.

Besides the obvious stuff already stated, Sookie being a whiny bitcher, etc...

[QuickTidal]

Oh man, this is funny!

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Number of downloads: 0

[McLovin]

Saw the pilot of 666 PARK AVENUE. It was decent, not terribly original, but appropriately creepy. We'll see how well the concept wears over a season but I'll tune in for ep 2.

[Kruppe's snacky cakes]

Although I've been a fan of Terry O'Quinn since Alias, I was not impressed with 666 Park Avenue. Didn't find any of the characters at all likeable...which, I guess is not surprising, given the premise of the show. Still, not much motivation to watch, when you don't care who lives, dies, burns in hell, etc.

I guess I'll have to wait for American Horror Story to satisfy my creepiness craving.

Speaking of horror, I've been watching Toy Hunter on the Travel Channel, and their recent Chiller Expo episode gave me a nerdgasm and inspired me to buy a Frankenberry bobblehead bank. I didn't even like those sickly sweet marshmallow cereals when I was a kid. But it was just too kitschy to pass up.

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Number of downloads: 0