![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Game of Thrones
May. 16th, 2011 06:08 pmI'm not sure how I really feel about Game of Thrones. It's hard to judge it just as a TV series now that I've read so much of the books (somewhere in book three at the moment) and know what has been left out and what has been added. I find myself frequently liking scenes not in the books - generally those with Jaime and Cersei as the early books don't give them much depth - but a lot of the perfectly replicated scenes just feel like exposition.
And my problem with the books is that so many chapters and storylines are just exposition. We find out about things not because we see them through the POV of a character but because that character is told about them. Big events happen but we don't get to witness them and sometimes that works well for the books - I don't want to read endless descriptions of battles - but at other times the constant telling and lack of showing becomes is frustrating and hollow.
With the TV series I find myself enjoying individual scenes but having no strong feelings about the episodes as a whole. I don't think "Wow, that was a perfectly crafted hour of television" but rather "I really liked that scene between X and X." For me, the TV series is working as an illustrated companion to the books rather than a cohesive entity in its own right, as the most recent mini-series adaptation of Dickens's Bleak House did.
I'm curious as to how other people feel, whether they've read the books or not (especially not). Is context clouding my enjoyment of the series?
And my problem with the books is that so many chapters and storylines are just exposition. We find out about things not because we see them through the POV of a character but because that character is told about them. Big events happen but we don't get to witness them and sometimes that works well for the books - I don't want to read endless descriptions of battles - but at other times the constant telling and lack of showing becomes is frustrating and hollow.
With the TV series I find myself enjoying individual scenes but having no strong feelings about the episodes as a whole. I don't think "Wow, that was a perfectly crafted hour of television" but rather "I really liked that scene between X and X." For me, the TV series is working as an illustrated companion to the books rather than a cohesive entity in its own right, as the most recent mini-series adaptation of Dickens's Bleak House did.
I'm curious as to how other people feel, whether they've read the books or not (especially not). Is context clouding my enjoyment of the series?
My week in TV
Apr. 24th, 2011 09:55 pmSome things that I watched in the order that I watched them.
The Killing
Another good episode but I'm slightly concerned that ( Spoilers )
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. ( Spoilers )
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. ( Spoilers )
The Dan and Blair Show
Feeling remarkably optimistic about this one because ( Spoilers )
Parks and Recreation
Was the best! As always! ( Spoilers )
Community
I enjoyed this episode a lot more than any other of late, even as it pointed out just how formulaic Community can be. ( Spoilers )
The Office
I was whelmed. ( Spoilers )
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. ( Spoilers, sweetie )
The Killing
Another good episode but I'm slightly concerned that ( Spoilers )
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. ( Spoilers )
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. ( Spoilers )
The Dan and Blair Show
Feeling remarkably optimistic about this one because ( Spoilers )
Parks and Recreation
Was the best! As always! ( Spoilers )
Community
I enjoyed this episode a lot more than any other of late, even as it pointed out just how formulaic Community can be. ( Spoilers )
The Office
I was whelmed. ( Spoilers )
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. ( Spoilers, sweetie )
