My week in TV
Apr. 24th, 2011 09:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bennet_7Some things that I watched in the order that I watched them.
The Killing
Another good episode but I'm slightly concerned that they're running through suspects too quickly. First we had the janitor, then Jasper and Kris were taken out of the running, and now they've turned to the teacher Mr Ahmed. And it's hard to suspect him of anything more than an inappropriate relationship with Rosie because we're still spending so much time with the campaign that it looks like the murderer is going to be one of them. Maybe they're just introducing us to the rogues gallery for now and we'll go back to one of these early suspects later in the game but if they're just padding out the episodes with red herrings, why not spend some time with other people in the police department like the coroner and the forensics team?
I like that we're getting to know more about Linden and Holder (is he really a junkie) and their different styles of investigating. We've now had two episodes in a row where someone has complained about Holder's style so fingers crossed that he shows up to work in a suit soon.
People who are more observant than me were right after all: it wasn't Sterling in the video.
I'm wary about Stan's ties to organised crime as I don't really want to see this turn into a MASSIVE! CONSPIRACY!!!
Forbrydelsen
I watched the first episode of the original Danish version of The Killing and damn it was weird. So many similarities, not just in terms of the script, but the shot composition and the acting choices as well - particularly Mitch Larsen. I knew before that the two series shared the same composer but it was really jarring to hear the same music cues used. There are some notable differences though, mostly in the structure. You learn something about Stan in the first Danish episode that only comes up in the fourth American one.
I know that the killer is going to be different and that the American version will eventually diverge from the original but for now I'm going to wait to watch the rest of Forbrydelsen until after The Killing is finished as its the latter I'm currently more involved with and I don't want to be spoiled on even the smallest details.
Game of Thrones
I wasn't super psyched for this one because it looked grim, depressing, and incesty and it is all those things but I enjoyed it anyway and am really looking forward to the next episode. It's nice to see Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has finally found a decent show after the boring New Amsterdam and the interesting but not picked up Virtuality. That man is fine and talented (Your life will be better if you see a little film called The Baker, TRUST ME.) and while his character is pretty awful at this point in the show, I look forward to the development I know is coming (hat tip to TV Tropes).
But I am not shipping Jaime with Cersei or anyone with anyone at this point. It is nice to find a ship in the first episode but incest is not my cup of tea. It was difficult enough to find characters to like but now that I've started reading the first book (currently 2/3s through) most have become at least sympathetic. Except Viserys. He's still gross.
I must say that I don't think Jon Snow is actually Ned's son. This thought first occurred to me while watching the TV show: I thought he was actually Benjen Stark's son and that Ned had claimed him because men of the Night Watch are supposed to be celibate. But now, having read a good chunk of book one and read up a little on Wikipedia and TV Tropes, I have another theory which I'll spoiler bar because it's based on information we haven't learnt yet on the show.
I think Jon is still Ned's nephew but his sister Lyanna's son. In the books she is "abducted" (she may have gone willingly) by Rhaegar Targaryen, Viserys' and Dany's older brother, after he declared her the most beautiful woman at a tournament (I think). Since Robert Baratheon was in love and engaged (but not faithful) to Lyanna that sparked off the rebellion against King Aerys. Ned eventually found his sister and she had been "raped" (it may have in fact been consensual but Robert thinks she was raped) and she had vague illness, resulting in a fever from which she died. Her last words were "Promise me, Ned" something Ned dwells on a lot. I have yet to learn how long she was away from her family and when exactly this occurred, two pieces of information that could quickly shoot down this theory in flames. But I think this is a good little theory for two reasons.
1. It makes Jon Snow very important. He's still a bastard but he has a claim to the throne through Rhaegar who was the crown prince and who would have succeeded to the throne rather than Viserys if he hadn't been killed. And he's still a Stark on his mother's side, the Starks being descendants of the first rulers. So he combines those two bloodlines, perhaps making him the truest heir to the iron throne.
2. It explains why honourable Ned Stark would claim to have broken his marriage vows and brought shame on his wife. Now their marriage was arranged and they weren't together much during their first years of marriage. But if there is one thing Ned Stark takes super duper seriously (over everything else he only takes super seriously) its oaths and I have a hard time believing he'd break his oath to Catelyn. But why would he let Catelyn think he had? Because Robert is a jealous mofo and if he learned that Lyanna had had a child (and maybe that she'd loved another man) he would have wanted that child dead. Claiming Jon as his own was the only way Ned could protect him and could have been his deathbed promise to Lyanna.
I expect to be proven wrong and find out this is the oldest theory in fandom. Oh well.
It seems like this show is going to a some point employ every TV actor in Britain and this episode had a number of Hey! It's That Guy! moments. The weirdest one for me was Roger Allam as Illyrio whom I recognised from The Thick of It by his voice ("Hello, I'm Peter Mannion"); his face was obscured by that awful forked beard. It was amusing to see him as a political advisor type and it paves the way for a decent crossover with The Thick of It - can't you just imagine Malcolm Tucker in this world? Threatening to impale people and then actually doing it? Or they could just cast Peter Capaldi in a similar role. I would be happy with that.
How I Met Your Mother
Decent! Loved the credits.
Chuck
Beige! The only bright spot for me was Sarah's impression of Chuck's intersect face.
Cougar Town
Yes, I watch Cougar Town. I swear it's really really good! These episodes were no exception: funny, but with heart. Penny can!
The Chicago Code
I liked how this episode showed that there are people other than Gibbons that Teresa has to fight. I couldn't believe it when the Mayor hung her out to dry like that and then she had to deal with the union people. Clearly if they do get rid of Gibbons, Chicago will still have problems.
But at least she had her boys to back her up and it was nice to see Ray falling in with Jarek and Caleb. He made a mistake but he still offered her good advice. Nothing hugely shippy going on between them but it's just good to see someone who isn't gunning for Teresa.
One quibble I do have is with Vonda and her shiny, shiny hair. I found it distracting that she was wearing it down like that at work, while in uniform. I thought it would be part of the dress code to have hair that long tied back. Oh well. I suppose its actually slightly less ridiculous than the women of CSIs wearing their hair that way while detailing crime scenes.
The Dan and Blair Show
Feeling remarkably optimistic about this one because I don't think Blair spent the week in bed dwelling on something she's already realised (Blair always wants to be with Chuck. This is not new information). No, there was something to that kiss, I'm sure of it. I think its more likely that she was trying to convince herself that she still does love Chuck because if she felt anything with Dan then that must mean that Chuck isn't The One and then what the hell has she been doing for the past three years?
I do wish she would reject Chuck for reasons other than him being too immature - THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER (WORSE) REASONS.
I hate that they've gotten me to care again.
Parks and Recreation
Was the best! As always! I am all right for now with them road blocking Ben and Leslie because Leslie at least knows both that she likes Ben and that he likes her so its not like they're being kept apart by miscommunication: they have feelings, they're just not acting on them. In the mean time we'll see them fall in love with each other and when it all comes to a head with Chris, I bet he is won over ("This is literally the most romantic story I have ever heard. Ben Wyatt, Leslie Knope, you have my blessing").
I really liked that before the road block happened, Leslie had already asked Ben out like a normal person.
I find Tom's obnoxiousness endearing.
And Chris's burger sounded amazing. I'm not surprised Ron won but I'd like to try Chris's for myself.
Community
I enjoyed this episode a lot more than any other of late, even as it pointed out just how formulaic Community can be. Sure, not every episode follows the pattern of big fight/Jeff speech but a lot of them do. Hopefully this was a sign of them acknowledging the trend and giving it up.
I loved seeing all the snippets of their other adventures (I wish we could have actually seen some of them, though) but sometimes Community is too meta for its own good. If you're continually commenting on yourself as a text then its hard to be sincere, especially when the characterisation is increasingly cartoonish. Maybe they were trying to address that when Jeff said Abed was being "Too meta" but in doing so they were still being really fucking meta.
I don't think Dan Harmon et al know quite how to have their cake and criticise it too. I really feel the first season was stronger.
But I would like to do a little I called it! dance about Jeff and Britta secretly hooking up.
The Office
I was whelmed. Still not finding Will Ferrell a great addition. Don't really care for Rent so I wasn't overly impressed by the song. Nowhere near as good as the original Dundies episode. Kind of would like this show to be cancelled so I can stop watching. Remember when the central premise of this show was "work is mind numbing hell, with people you don't like, that has brief fleeting moments of enjoyment"? I miss those days.
Doctor Who
I liked a lot of this episode but I think I'm going to need to see the next part to figure out if I love it. I did like the BAMF-ness of River Song, the ridiculous things the Doctor wore on his head, Rory's everything, Amy's hair, Mark Sheppard crossing another Sci-Fi show off his bingo card, and the concept of the Silent (I think that's what they're called, yes?).
I don't think the Doctor is dead and I wouldn't be surprised if it was River who "killed" him.
The Killing
Another good episode but I'm slightly concerned that they're running through suspects too quickly. First we had the janitor, then Jasper and Kris were taken out of the running, and now they've turned to the teacher Mr Ahmed. And it's hard to suspect him of anything more than an inappropriate relationship with Rosie because we're still spending so much time with the campaign that it looks like the murderer is going to be one of them. Maybe they're just introducing us to the rogues gallery for now and we'll go back to one of these early suspects later in the game but if they're just padding out the episodes with red herrings, why not spend some time with other people in the police department like the coroner and the forensics team?
I like that we're getting to know more about Linden and Holder (is he really a junkie) and their different styles of investigating. We've now had two episodes in a row where someone has complained about Holder's style so fingers crossed that he shows up to work in a suit soon.
People who are more observant than me were right after all: it wasn't Sterling in the video.
I'm wary about Stan's ties to organised crime as I don't really want to see this turn into a MASSIVE! CONSPIRACY!!!
Forbrydelsen
I watched the first episode of the original Danish version of The Killing and damn it was weird. So many similarities, not just in terms of the script, but the shot composition and the acting choices as well - particularly Mitch Larsen. I knew before that the two series shared the same composer but it was really jarring to hear the same music cues used. There are some notable differences though, mostly in the structure. You learn something about Stan in the first Danish episode that only comes up in the fourth American one.
I know that the killer is going to be different and that the American version will eventually diverge from the original but for now I'm going to wait to watch the rest of Forbrydelsen until after The Killing is finished as its the latter I'm currently more involved with and I don't want to be spoiled on even the smallest details.
Game of Thrones
I wasn't super psyched for this one because it looked grim, depressing, and incesty and it is all those things but I enjoyed it anyway and am really looking forward to the next episode. It's nice to see Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has finally found a decent show after the boring New Amsterdam and the interesting but not picked up Virtuality. That man is fine and talented (Your life will be better if you see a little film called The Baker, TRUST ME.) and while his character is pretty awful at this point in the show, I look forward to the development I know is coming (hat tip to TV Tropes).
But I am not shipping Jaime with Cersei or anyone with anyone at this point. It is nice to find a ship in the first episode but incest is not my cup of tea. It was difficult enough to find characters to like but now that I've started reading the first book (currently 2/3s through) most have become at least sympathetic. Except Viserys. He's still gross.
I must say that I don't think Jon Snow is actually Ned's son. This thought first occurred to me while watching the TV show: I thought he was actually Benjen Stark's son and that Ned had claimed him because men of the Night Watch are supposed to be celibate. But now, having read a good chunk of book one and read up a little on Wikipedia and TV Tropes, I have another theory which I'll spoiler bar because it's based on information we haven't learnt yet on the show.
I think Jon is still Ned's nephew but his sister Lyanna's son. In the books she is "abducted" (she may have gone willingly) by Rhaegar Targaryen, Viserys' and Dany's older brother, after he declared her the most beautiful woman at a tournament (I think). Since Robert Baratheon was in love and engaged (but not faithful) to Lyanna that sparked off the rebellion against King Aerys. Ned eventually found his sister and she had been "raped" (it may have in fact been consensual but Robert thinks she was raped) and she had vague illness, resulting in a fever from which she died. Her last words were "Promise me, Ned" something Ned dwells on a lot. I have yet to learn how long she was away from her family and when exactly this occurred, two pieces of information that could quickly shoot down this theory in flames. But I think this is a good little theory for two reasons.
1. It makes Jon Snow very important. He's still a bastard but he has a claim to the throne through Rhaegar who was the crown prince and who would have succeeded to the throne rather than Viserys if he hadn't been killed. And he's still a Stark on his mother's side, the Starks being descendants of the first rulers. So he combines those two bloodlines, perhaps making him the truest heir to the iron throne.
2. It explains why honourable Ned Stark would claim to have broken his marriage vows and brought shame on his wife. Now their marriage was arranged and they weren't together much during their first years of marriage. But if there is one thing Ned Stark takes super duper seriously (over everything else he only takes super seriously) its oaths and I have a hard time believing he'd break his oath to Catelyn. But why would he let Catelyn think he had? Because Robert is a jealous mofo and if he learned that Lyanna had had a child (and maybe that she'd loved another man) he would have wanted that child dead. Claiming Jon as his own was the only way Ned could protect him and could have been his deathbed promise to Lyanna.
I expect to be proven wrong and find out this is the oldest theory in fandom. Oh well.
It seems like this show is going to a some point employ every TV actor in Britain and this episode had a number of Hey! It's That Guy! moments. The weirdest one for me was Roger Allam as Illyrio whom I recognised from The Thick of It by his voice ("Hello, I'm Peter Mannion"); his face was obscured by that awful forked beard. It was amusing to see him as a political advisor type and it paves the way for a decent crossover with The Thick of It - can't you just imagine Malcolm Tucker in this world? Threatening to impale people and then actually doing it? Or they could just cast Peter Capaldi in a similar role. I would be happy with that.
How I Met Your Mother
Decent! Loved the credits.
Chuck
Beige! The only bright spot for me was Sarah's impression of Chuck's intersect face.
Cougar Town
Yes, I watch Cougar Town. I swear it's really really good! These episodes were no exception: funny, but with heart. Penny can!
The Chicago Code
I liked how this episode showed that there are people other than Gibbons that Teresa has to fight. I couldn't believe it when the Mayor hung her out to dry like that and then she had to deal with the union people. Clearly if they do get rid of Gibbons, Chicago will still have problems.
But at least she had her boys to back her up and it was nice to see Ray falling in with Jarek and Caleb. He made a mistake but he still offered her good advice. Nothing hugely shippy going on between them but it's just good to see someone who isn't gunning for Teresa.
One quibble I do have is with Vonda and her shiny, shiny hair. I found it distracting that she was wearing it down like that at work, while in uniform. I thought it would be part of the dress code to have hair that long tied back. Oh well. I suppose its actually slightly less ridiculous than the women of CSIs wearing their hair that way while detailing crime scenes.
The Dan and Blair Show
Feeling remarkably optimistic about this one because I don't think Blair spent the week in bed dwelling on something she's already realised (Blair always wants to be with Chuck. This is not new information). No, there was something to that kiss, I'm sure of it. I think its more likely that she was trying to convince herself that she still does love Chuck because if she felt anything with Dan then that must mean that Chuck isn't The One and then what the hell has she been doing for the past three years?
I do wish she would reject Chuck for reasons other than him being too immature - THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER (WORSE) REASONS.
I hate that they've gotten me to care again.
Parks and Recreation
Was the best! As always! I am all right for now with them road blocking Ben and Leslie because Leslie at least knows both that she likes Ben and that he likes her so its not like they're being kept apart by miscommunication: they have feelings, they're just not acting on them. In the mean time we'll see them fall in love with each other and when it all comes to a head with Chris, I bet he is won over ("This is literally the most romantic story I have ever heard. Ben Wyatt, Leslie Knope, you have my blessing").
I really liked that before the road block happened, Leslie had already asked Ben out like a normal person.
I find Tom's obnoxiousness endearing.
And Chris's burger sounded amazing. I'm not surprised Ron won but I'd like to try Chris's for myself.
Community
I enjoyed this episode a lot more than any other of late, even as it pointed out just how formulaic Community can be. Sure, not every episode follows the pattern of big fight/Jeff speech but a lot of them do. Hopefully this was a sign of them acknowledging the trend and giving it up.
I loved seeing all the snippets of their other adventures (I wish we could have actually seen some of them, though) but sometimes Community is too meta for its own good. If you're continually commenting on yourself as a text then its hard to be sincere, especially when the characterisation is increasingly cartoonish. Maybe they were trying to address that when Jeff said Abed was being "Too meta" but in doing so they were still being really fucking meta.
I don't think Dan Harmon et al know quite how to have their cake and criticise it too. I really feel the first season was stronger.
But I would like to do a little I called it! dance about Jeff and Britta secretly hooking up.
The Office
I was whelmed. Still not finding Will Ferrell a great addition. Don't really care for Rent so I wasn't overly impressed by the song. Nowhere near as good as the original Dundies episode. Kind of would like this show to be cancelled so I can stop watching. Remember when the central premise of this show was "work is mind numbing hell, with people you don't like, that has brief fleeting moments of enjoyment"? I miss those days.
Doctor Who
I liked a lot of this episode but I think I'm going to need to see the next part to figure out if I love it. I did like the BAMF-ness of River Song, the ridiculous things the Doctor wore on his head, Rory's everything, Amy's hair, Mark Sheppard crossing another Sci-Fi show off his bingo card, and the concept of the Silent (I think that's what they're called, yes?).
I don't think the Doctor is dead and I wouldn't be surprised if it was River who "killed" him.
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no subject
Date: 2011-04-24 04:58 pm (UTC)Really liked this week's Chuck. For me it was the best since the mid-season finale and a reminder of what makes (or should I say made) the show so great.
And I loved this week's Community! Of course there always is some negative truth when a show makes fun of itself but this was just so damn funny! (and I really want to see the Mexican-drug-runner-adventure...)
no subject
Date: 2011-04-24 06:01 pm (UTC)I didn't really have strong feelings either way about Chuck which is why I deemed it beige. Admittedly, I've never been super into the show so it takes a lot to get me really excited about an episode. I really wanted to learn more about Sarah's mother from this ep but she still didn't get a mention.
I desperately want to see the Mexican-drug-runner-adventure too! It reminded me of Arrested Development's Mexican adventures - looked like the same location. All the shenanigans in this ep really worked for me, it's just when the show gets too meta that I have trouble with it.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-24 05:43 pm (UTC)I didn't know that! I wonder why they changed the killer? I'm very curious now.
Game of Thrones is pretty grim, huh? I thought the (other!) blonde, royal lady with the odious brother might be pleasantly surprised by her savage looking groom, but no, it was TEARS, RAPE, TEARS. I hope she gets to behead someone soon, preferably the hubby or brother! I won't hold my breath though.
can't you just imagine Malcolm Tucker in this world? Threatening to impale people and then actually doing it? Or they could just cast Peter Capaldi in a similar role.
Ahaha, that's a terrifying thought!
Feeling remarkably optimistic about this one because I don't think Blair spent the week in bed dwelling on something she's already realised
Yeah, I don't think this episode shut the door on D/B or anything, and Blair's lunatic reaction was in character. But her "epiphany" sending her right back to Chuck was disappointing enough for D/B fans without leaving out the kiss on top of that. If they were going to pull that surprise Chuck/Blair epiphany stuff, they should have shown us Dan and Blair's first kiss to soften the blow! I still don't understand why they wouldn't show it, tbh, if they want viewers to be invested in that pairing?
I haven't seen Parks & Rec yet so I'm skipping over that part.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-24 06:16 pm (UTC)In Game of Thrones its not like "Shit gets real". The shit is already real and there is a tonne of it. I feel so sorry for Daenerys (Yes! Spelled her name right!) but I think she's not going remain a victim for long. She has dragon eggs and hopefully they are like Chekov's gun.
Ahaha, that's a terrifying thought!
Terrifyingly awesome! I need Malcolm Tucker back in my life.
I have a hunch that we'll eventually see the entire kiss played out in a later episode (this hunch is based on the fact that they showed a second more of this kiss in this episode). But then, there's no telling what these writers will do. Sometimes they are super clever with all their references and parallels but then they want the wrong things!
no subject
Date: 2011-04-24 06:40 pm (UTC)Ha! Really? I've never heard of any American remake of anything taking that precaution.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-25 02:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-26 07:28 am (UTC)