Shouldn't I be taller?
Oct. 28th, 2007 04:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bennet_7I haven't updated in ages for a couple of reasons, chief of which has been uni. I've been so busy lately with school, researching and writing, and I tend to feel guilty about posting to lj if I haven't finished the latest assignment. Fortunately, that hard work has been paying off as my current results stand at three high distinctions and one distinction, which isn't too shabby at all. One of those HDs was for an essay on the relationship between India and China since their independence and my prof said that it was the best essay he'd read in ages.
So yeah, very cool.
Unfortunately, all this hard work has had a deleterious effect on my health and I caught the flu. The worst part has been the headaches which were so bad I spent my 20th birthday (which was Tuesday) in bed. Not cool. Plus, I had an essay due the next day which I hadn't finished so I ended up doing that too. Yuck.
But I'm definitely on the mend now. I finished my last assignment this morning and spent three blissful hours sitting on the couch watching the 1996 BBC mini-series of Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
(Which was very good by the way. While there were some diversions from the novel which slightly irked, it did succeed in capturing the spirit of the novel which is better. Helen was just as kickass awesome as she is in the novel, but I didn't immediately warm to the way they wrote Gilbert. They took away his narration of the story which disappointed me, but as Gilbert comes of as very smug in both the novel and series, it might have been a good idea. Anyway, the camera work was a lot less staid than you generally see in period mini-series and I for one was thankful, and the performances were great. It isn't as good as Pride and Prejudice or North and South, but I recommend this one).
Anyway, I have been sort of keeping up with the TV shows because I watch them while eating. That way I use the excuse "Hey, can't eat and type at the same time!" and my conscience is ok with that.
Here are my thoughts on:
Pushing Daisies
Honestly, I'm not enjoying it as much as I expected to. I like it a lot but I don't love it yet. Sometimes it's just a bit too cute and twee for me. I really dig the dark humour but sometimes there isn't enough of it. I think I maybe just need to rewatch the eps, something I haven't had time to do.
Chuck
I downloaded the first four eps but we just didn't click. It's a good show and if it were on TV here in Australia, I'd probably watch it. But I have to download it and that takes up time and my download limit and I just decided it's not worth it. Sorry Chuck. You're a nice guy but I already found my funny spy-capers show and it's called Burn Notice.
Gossip Girl
I really like this one. Sure it's a soapy teen melodrama with the kind of love octagons I quickly grow to hate but right now it's fun and entertaining and that's all I need from a TV show to watch it.
Dirty Sexy Money
Also fun. I love me some dysfunctional rich families, that's for sure. The characters are great (I particularly love Jeremy and Brian) and the acting, especially from Donald Sutherland (who is so going to be winning an Emmy for this role), has been wonderful. I'm sticking with it.
Heroes
You know what is not fun? This show. It's slow moving and kinda dull right now. I haven't been downloading it, just watching it on regular TV here in Aus, which is one week behind the US. If it wasn't for the shirtless Milo Ventihowdoyouevenspellhisnameia (dude's been working out), the upcoming Kristen Bell, and the fact that I still really like Clare and Mr Bennet (mostly because they actually move their stories along), I wouldn't be watching. They've wasted David Anders so far, which is a shame because he was brilliant on Alias. Anyway, I'm watching but if we get too much more of the annoying wonder twins or if they kill Mr Bennet, I'm out.
The Office
So far I'm enjoying this season, though, like everyone else on the internet, I agree that they shouldn't do hour long episodes. They're handling Jim and Pam in the exact way I wanted and it has been awesome. Hopefully, now they're back to the shorter episodes, they'll regain their stride.
I haven't been watching Dexter so far, but I plan to catch up. I've avoided Friday Night Lights but I am going to give the second season a shot, despite my misgivings.
Finally, my icon: great or greatest?
So yeah, very cool.
Unfortunately, all this hard work has had a deleterious effect on my health and I caught the flu. The worst part has been the headaches which were so bad I spent my 20th birthday (which was Tuesday) in bed. Not cool. Plus, I had an essay due the next day which I hadn't finished so I ended up doing that too. Yuck.
But I'm definitely on the mend now. I finished my last assignment this morning and spent three blissful hours sitting on the couch watching the 1996 BBC mini-series of Anne Bronte's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
(Which was very good by the way. While there were some diversions from the novel which slightly irked, it did succeed in capturing the spirit of the novel which is better. Helen was just as kickass awesome as she is in the novel, but I didn't immediately warm to the way they wrote Gilbert. They took away his narration of the story which disappointed me, but as Gilbert comes of as very smug in both the novel and series, it might have been a good idea. Anyway, the camera work was a lot less staid than you generally see in period mini-series and I for one was thankful, and the performances were great. It isn't as good as Pride and Prejudice or North and South, but I recommend this one).
Anyway, I have been sort of keeping up with the TV shows because I watch them while eating. That way I use the excuse "Hey, can't eat and type at the same time!" and my conscience is ok with that.
Here are my thoughts on:
Pushing Daisies
Honestly, I'm not enjoying it as much as I expected to. I like it a lot but I don't love it yet. Sometimes it's just a bit too cute and twee for me. I really dig the dark humour but sometimes there isn't enough of it. I think I maybe just need to rewatch the eps, something I haven't had time to do.
Chuck
I downloaded the first four eps but we just didn't click. It's a good show and if it were on TV here in Australia, I'd probably watch it. But I have to download it and that takes up time and my download limit and I just decided it's not worth it. Sorry Chuck. You're a nice guy but I already found my funny spy-capers show and it's called Burn Notice.
Gossip Girl
I really like this one. Sure it's a soapy teen melodrama with the kind of love octagons I quickly grow to hate but right now it's fun and entertaining and that's all I need from a TV show to watch it.
Dirty Sexy Money
Also fun. I love me some dysfunctional rich families, that's for sure. The characters are great (I particularly love Jeremy and Brian) and the acting, especially from Donald Sutherland (who is so going to be winning an Emmy for this role), has been wonderful. I'm sticking with it.
Heroes
You know what is not fun? This show. It's slow moving and kinda dull right now. I haven't been downloading it, just watching it on regular TV here in Aus, which is one week behind the US. If it wasn't for the shirtless Milo Ventihowdoyouevenspellhisnameia (dude's been working out), the upcoming Kristen Bell, and the fact that I still really like Clare and Mr Bennet (mostly because they actually move their stories along), I wouldn't be watching. They've wasted David Anders so far, which is a shame because he was brilliant on Alias. Anyway, I'm watching but if we get too much more of the annoying wonder twins or if they kill Mr Bennet, I'm out.
The Office
So far I'm enjoying this season, though, like everyone else on the internet, I agree that they shouldn't do hour long episodes. They're handling Jim and Pam in the exact way I wanted and it has been awesome. Hopefully, now they're back to the shorter episodes, they'll regain their stride.
I haven't been watching Dexter so far, but I plan to catch up. I've avoided Friday Night Lights but I am going to give the second season a shot, despite my misgivings.
Finally, my icon: great or greatest?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-10-28 08:16 pm (UTC)I love the icon, by the way. Dorky humor always gets me.
As for TV, I understand what you're saying about PD, but I'm just not that bothered by the twee of it at times (I just tend to gloss over a good chunk of Ned/Chuck stuff for the other stuff.
I like Chuck, but I can see why you might not like it. I think I'm a sucker for anything that takes place in LA right now.
I have a weird sort of love for Gossip Girl and Dirty Sexy Money, too. Donald is great here, and it's really refreshing to see him on TV.
As for Heroes, I have no real investment in it, which I suppose explains why I just watch and sort of forget about other stuff.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-29 04:56 am (UTC)When I was making this icon I kept on thinking "Surely someone has made this joke before" but I am such a dork that I had to keep going.
I think with a lot of TV shows, I may just need to rewatch them to love them. Well, except Heroes. I think that one will still be boring.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-28 08:48 pm (UTC)As for t.v.
Pushing Daisies:
It is a bit too cute and twee for me too. More than that, I believe it lacks direction, and that's unfortunate. I might love the cute bits if I felt there was a point to any of the characters. If they had goals and some sort of overarcing plot/motivations (other than Olive, who does have motivation).
Chuck
The fourth episode (I think?) was about the time I finally came around to it. But it took awhile to warm up to, for me. But I can see how it wouldnt' be a draw.
Heroes
I've never been very impressed with it, and it's even worse this year. I agree that Claire and Mr. Bennet are one of the few worthwhile storylines (and even then, him more than her), because, as you say, their story actually seems to go somewhere and have a point. Stupid meandering show with WAAAAAAAAAAAY too many characters. Although, I'm actually okay with wondertwins (again, at least their story seems to have a point and a direction), except that they add to the overabundance of characters and lack of focus.
The Office
I agree that they handled Jim and Pam nicely. Too bad I find "nice" boring. I think I've de facto given up The Office. I'm just not motivated to watch it. I'm glad you're enjoying them though.
I'm looking forward to what you think of Dexter and FNL
no subject
Date: 2007-10-29 05:05 am (UTC)With PD they just need to find a better balance between the twee and the black humour. However, I am impressed that they can fly a plane into a building and nobody bats an eyelid.
Stupid meandering show with WAAAAAAAAAAAY too many characters.
Yeah, I like ensemble shows a lot but this one does have too many characters. Plus, I think the dialog has actually gotten worse this season, which amazes me. They've lost the tension and suspense they had at the end of last season too.
I'm looking forward to what you think of Dexter and FNL
I'm actually really nervous about watching these two because they had such wonderful first seasons. I think I'll save up a bunch of episodes and then marathon them so that I can become really invested in the stories.