The state of television

[fenchurch]

I've been meaning to do this for awhile and have, in fact, written vast pages about the subject in my head while I've been stuck in my car. Sadly, none of that ever saw its way to my computer's keyboard. When are they going to invent that direct brain input jack, anyway??

So, a few comments on current shows that I've been watching:

Dresden Files: So far, it's enjoyable, but not blowing me away. It feels like they're holding back on us or something. Paul Blackthorne is better than I'd thought he'd be and I mostly like the other actors and actresses... although the one playing Bianca weirds me out. It's her upper lip, I think, that does it. Also, she comes across as sleazy, and I always got the impression of Bianca as being fairly classy. Yeah, yeah I know... the show is not the books. Must think of it as something completely separate.

We still haven't seen the last two episodes yet.

Bones: It took awhile, but I've gotten really hooked on this show. It's not Must See TV (in that I don't search the world over to find a copy of an episode if I happen to miss it when it airs), but the characters are really starting to grow on me. And DB is just so wonderful in that role... as if he was made to play Seeley Booth.

This week's episode was a lot of fun, even if more than a little bit predictable. In fact, right after the second murder, I turned to rackham and said "oh! The other thing the two murders have in common is that they both have clear-cut suspects with a lot to gain who have air-tight alibis... but that seems too obvious, so it's probably not going to end up being important." Heh. The bit of meta (Brennan's fictional character being named Kathy Reichs) actually annoyed me, rather than being funny, which is what I think they were aiming for.

House: Another show that took awhile to hook me, but that I now watch every week. I can't tell you how glad I am that the stupid Tritter storyline is over, over, over... although I wish we'd gotten some sort of forward momentum on character arcs out of it, just so that it would have been worth all the suffering we went through.

Funniest scene this week: House rolling his eyes when Cameron kissed him. I'm still not on the House/Cameron bandwagon and I seriously backed off House/Wilson during the whole Tritter fiasco, although they're starting to win me back. In the end, all I really care about is that House is sarcastic, rude and suffering (but only a little) and that the team is solving improbable illnesses in equally improbable ways.

Blood Ties: I've never read the books, but the show looks like it's going to be really good... and how the heck did this end up on the Lifetime network, anyway?!?! Production values were better than I'd anticipated and the casting seems to be good. I like the fact that the lead actress isn't young and "television pretty" -- she looks like an attractive mature woman who was a cop for awhile and is now making a living as a PI. Perfect! From what I understand, Henry in the books is supposed to look around 17, but I think the showrunners went the right direction with casting a young twenty-something in the part. He seems like he's going to be able to pull off playing a character with several hundred years of experience, but he looks quite a bit younger than Vicki, which I believe is the point. So far I'm also really enjoying the glimpse we've gotten into the interplay in relationships between the various character. I'll be tuning in again this week!

Mythbusters: Yes, I'm a geek. Even more, I'm a geek who likes to watch things blow up. I'm so glad they're still putting out new episodes of this show... I mean, who hasn't wanted to know if you could really distract a guard dog with a hunk of raw meat? Plus Grant Imahara is Teh Hawt!!1!!

Numb3rs: Another show I like but am not particularly hooked on. I had some serious misgivings about Kathy Najimy joining the cast, simply because she's always rubbed me the wrong way in her other roles and I had no idea if it was her or just the characters she was playing. Apparently, it was the characters, because she's been a surprisingly good fit! I still miss Larry, though.

24: I'm so far behind on this show... I loved how they handled the nuclear explosion in the fourth episode (the way it was filmed was incredibly effective) and its immediate aftermath in the fifth episode, but I haven't had a chance to watch the show since then. It's on directly opposite "Heroes" and I'm having to record it on the VCR in the bedroom... and since that's the only VCR in the house, I haven't wanted to take the time to sit in there to watch it. I may have to see about hooking up a VCR somewhere I'm likely to spend some time not sleeping so I don't have to keep dodging spoilers everywhere!

Veronica Mars: I stopped watching VM after the last hiatus. It just occurred to me one day that if I were to watch the show now for the first time, it wouldn't hook me at all. In fact, odds are really good I wouldn't even watch it in the first place. However, I've enjoyed reading everyone else's reactions and discussions about each new episode... and it didn't surprise me in the slightest that the show is getting canceled. Or that RT seems to be going a bit wacky.

Heroes: Oh yeah... now we're talking! Still not the Best Show Ever by a long shot, but it's certainly the best show currently on TV.

There were some definite twists in the last new episode that really took me by surprise. In fact, I believe I actually said "WHAT?!?!" out loud when the door to Mother Petrelli greeting Claire by name. I've long wondered if the late Papa Petrelli had superpowers that led to his death... now I'm pretty much convinced of it.

It looks like they're going to continue the Peter/Isaac rivalry and hatred, which really disappoints me.

But Ando is back! And saving the day! Yay Ando!!!

Claire has really grown on me since the show started... and having her do incredibly clever things like using airport security as a way to slip away from the Haitian just makes me love her even more.

Also, Nathan's not quite the scum we thought he was! Wow!

And I'm really hoping Mrs. HRG isn't dead... she's grown on me, too.

There. I think that about covers it... at least, I can't think of anything else. Now hopefully I can make an effort to post about stuff on a more timely basis, so I don't have to do these television stew type posts, only touching lightly on each ingredient!

Comments

[sp23.livejournal.com]

The jury's still out for me and Dresden. I'm watching it, but I think the episodes have been very uneven. Even with not being a huge fan of the books, I find myself irritated by all the changes to this world.

I try to never miss Bones, but frankly, after the first season I wouldn't have come back except for David. Now? I'm really enjoying this season, and while Temperance remains my least favorite character she's vastly improved over the first season, and the rest of the regular cast has completely grown on me.

I stopped watching House right after he was traffic-stopped by Tritter. I just... couldn't take House's character any more, and I haven't missed it a bit.

I read the Blood Ties books and didn't like them, but I think I'll give the series a try. I missed the first episode, but I'll check it out this week.

Never watch Mythbusters. Not that I don't think I'd like it, it's just that I never remember it's on. :)

I watch every episode of Numb3rs, and love it dearly. :D

The last two weeks of 24 have been terrific. I hope they keep it up.

I stopped watching VM, too. I agree that if this was the first season I ever saw, I'd really wonder what everyone saw that was so great about it.

I love Heroes liek whoa! *g*

Don't you watch Supernatural? I really love that show too, and the two leads are very pretty to look at. What? I'm not shallow. Okay, maybe a little. *g*

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

I think they called her Kathy Reichs so Kathy R could have that nice concrete fantasy about making out with the FBI agent in the car.

[sandy-s.livejournal.com]

Interesting thoughts about Blood Ties...haven't seen it yet, but I want to! :o) It's on Lifetime???

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Whee! TV!

I don't like The Dresden Files. I usually watch it at 5 PM Friday (where it replaces The X-Files on SciFi and suffers by comparison), but with about half my attention or less. I really dislike the guy who plays Harry, which kind of means I'm never going to like the show.

Bones is fun mainly for DB and the squint squad. Bones herself tends to get on my nerves unless she and DB are banterng. But I like the show a lot anyway.

I would hit House with a baseball bat if I knew him, and the formulaically far-fetched medical stuff annoys me.

Blood Ties looks good, but I missed the lead-in movie and they didn't repeat it during the week. Grrrr. I'm set up to record tomorrow's, though. What books is it based on?

24</> has had better seasons, imo, but it's still a good way to pass an hour.

[jerrymcl89.livejournal.com]

"24" has definitely had better seasons. The creative resurgenge of seasons 4 and 5 seems to have hit a wall. It's still a good show, but it's been better.

"House", is, of course, immensely repetitive. And the funny thing is, the more repetitive it is, the better. I posted in response to something in Wendy's journal that the typical House spoiler would be "House is still a jerk. And it's still not lupus." I'll stand by that.

"Veronica Mars" is a trainwreck. It's currently more watchable if you follow the show politics and intrigue than if you just want to see the story.

"Heroes", of course, benefits from still being in Season 1. But it's a lot of fun.

[elsaf]

They got rid of Larry?!? (I've got the entire season of Numb3rs so far on my DVR, but haven't found time to watch any of it.)

There are elements of Numb3rs I like, but I keep getting taken out of the story every time they drop in a bit of totally dopey ersatz math. Sadly, the math on this show is about as real as the science was on McGiver. (Every time I tried to watch McGiver he would do something that totally wouldn't work, and I would say "Feh!")

[lyr]

I'm still watching and enjoying VM and Bones, but I didn't make it past the first ep of Dresden.

House: I backed off House/Wilson during the Tritter storyline, too. It's hard to get behind a pairing when one person is behaving so crappily to the other. I don't want House to stop being snarky and sarcastic, but if he could be a bit less outright destructive to Wilson (and if Wilson could be a bit less doormat-like), I'd be happier.

Blood Ties: I was pleasantly surprised by this, too! I didn't expect much, but it was actually fun, and not completely unlike the books.

Heroes: That last ep really did pull me in. Go, Ando! But I'm more than a little worried about Mohinder.

[mistraltoes.livejournal.com]

No, no, Larry will be back in a few weeks! His character is off having an adventure while the actor is on 24.

(Though Peter MacNicol hasn't signed his S4 contract yet, grr. I don't even wanna think about Numb3rs without Larry.)

[nmissi.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for new fun tv, let me suggest you check out Robin Hood on BBCAmerica. It's lightweight, but it brings the pretty (I'm a sucker for Guy of Gisbon) and it's enjoyable.

I couldn't get into Dresden. I think my mental pictures are just too strong- I couldn't accept THEIR view of the character, or the world he inhabits. A pity, as it appears many people really like it. Clearly I am missing out on something, but I know not what.

[mistraltoes.livejournal.com]

I have Dresden Files taped, but haven't been moved to actually watch it yet. My niece thinks it's okay, though, so I probably will watch it soon.

I agree that DB was born to play Booth. I like him so much more in this role than I liked Angel; I think he's actually what keeps me watching the show. But I did like the meta, which surprised me, since I usually find that sort of thing kicks me out of the story.

As to House, I didn't mind the Tritter arc because it meant more Wilson. But I don't care two pins about the formulaic medical 'mysteries'. I just want House to be snarky and Wilson to be exasperated and long-suffering about it. Oh, and Chase can do those occasional cute things like announcing he's going to hug House.

Larry is supposed to be back on N3 the last week in April, and I can't wait.

And Mrs. Bennett can't be dead! She was just getting interesting. Surely that remark about knowing how to play dumb means there's more to her than we've yet seen.

[bubonicplague.livejournal.com]

In the end, all I really care about is that House is sarcastic, rude and suffering (but only a little) and that the team is solving improbable illnesses in equally improbable ways.

That sums it up for me! Thank you.

I never really could get into Bones, because the lead character is so annoying. But Boreanaz is stellar.

As for Heroes...well, it's popcorn. But really fucking tasty popcorn. I agree that it's probably the best (or at least most watchable) show on TV right now.

[allthatjazmyne.livejournal.com]

I'm liking Dresden Files. I read the first book close to when I watched the first episode, so the character hadn't cemented in my head yet. I'm happy with Dresden, I love Bob, and the only thing that bothers me is that Murphy's hair is the wrong color.

I like House, but I don't pay much attention to the arcs. But I just started watching it regularly a couple of months ago. Oddly, it didn't bother me after getting out of the hospital, and ER did. I think because it's a lot more "hang out in the office and figure things out" than ER is.

I really love Bones. Temperance drove me nuts at first, but she's grown on me. And yeah, DB was born to play Seeley Booth.

I loooooooove Mythbusters. It's one of those shows I can watch over and over again. I can't believe I didn't realize science was this cool when I was in school.

[tomte.livejournal.com]

Plus Grant Imahara is Teh Hawt!!1!!

I second THAT emotion, sister! *snap snap*

[textualdeviance.livejournal.com]

Third!

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Dresden Files - I'm watching it mostly for PB who is doing a great job. A couple of the storylines were interesting but last week it was blah.
Blood Ties - I liked it for the cheesy demons and the sparkage between the three main characters. And yeah, Vicki is not only older but she's got actual curves (I mean I noticed them). And Henry has a nice twinkle in his eye.
House - I actually stayed away during the Tritter arc because I hated it so much but now that it's back I'm happy again. And I don't want anyone with House, I like him best when he's cranky and miserable.
VM - Did not like the rape storyline at all and wasn't overwhelmed with the Dean's death. The show just seems to be foundering so I don't know what I'm going to make of the last episodes. And if RT really gets the show back and sets it in the future and there's no Keith I'm gonna be pissed.
Heroes - Is just a lot of fun as long as Nikki/Jessica isn't anywhere around sucking the life out of the show. And now that MMcD is on board I'm even happier.
Rome - Must see TV for me although there's only 2 more episodes to go. "weeps".

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

I've never read the Dresden books. And THANK YOU for making that observation about Bianca's lip. I kept wondering if it was her real lip? Or plastic surgery gone bad. But it hasn't hooked me. I've stopped watching it, unless I'm bored during the Friday rerun.

As for Heroes? My jaw dropped, literally, five times during the last episode. I am really enjoying it. I love it when a show actually tells me something!

I just got through watching Season 1 of Veronica Mars. Sorry to hear that it tanks in Season 3, because I really loved Season 1. And, apparently, it's not dead yet. They're getting a chance to "revamp." So that means it'll be dead next year. :)

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

I am really enjoying Robin Hood. I know that there are many who are horrified by it, but the lead does have a certain charm. It's a fun show.

[rahirah]

The problem with the Peter/Isaac rivalry is that it feels manufactured. And I don't particularly care about either of them, or Simone, so...

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

The jury's still out for me and Dresden. I'm watching it, but I think the episodes have been very uneven.

Agreed. Plus I think that if the writers are going to change the mythos for the television series, they need to make sure they do a good job of keeping track of what the new mythos is going to be. I don't ask that these sorts of shows be consistent with real life, but I'm getting a bit annoyed by the lack of continuity in the otherworldly aspects from episode to episode.

I try to never miss Bones, but frankly, after the first season I wouldn't have come back except for David...

Same here. I originally watched for DB, but the others have really grown on me, especially this season. Except for Brennan, who still annoys the heck out of me.

I read the Blood Ties books and didn't like them, but I think I'll give the series a try.

Second episode tonight and still pretty good! In fact, I hate to say it, but I think I like this show better than Dresden Files. I may even give the books a try... I have one or two of them up on the shelf that I'd picked up used somewhere along the way, but the first book I ever read by her had some errors that my brain wouldn't quit picking at and it sort of turned me off trying anything else. I now know that it was one of her early books so she's very likely improved since then, but she'd based the main plot and point of the book on an old filk song... and had gotten the lyrics wrong. In fact, the thing that she got wrong is what she built the crux of the book around. It just rankled every time I read it.

Never watch Mythbusters. Not that I don't think I'd like it, it's just that I never remember it's on.

It's geeky and generally has lots of explosions. I had the same problem, though, since the Discovery channel is down in a range of channels I almost never look at... I've got the DVR set to record them now.

Don't you watch Supernatural?

Supernatural is one of those shows that I should love... and yet I just can't get into. I'm not sure why, because it seems like it would be tailor-made to appeal to me.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

ROFL!!!!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Yep! Episode 2 aired tonight. Near as I can tell, they're not reairing them later in the week but instead are offering them for download on iTunes (for a fee, of course).

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Bones is fun mainly for DB and the squint squad. Bones herself tends to get on my nerves unless she and DB are banterng. But I like the show a lot anyway.

Ditto, ditto and ditto. DB is wonderful on that show and the rest of the crew has really grown on me, but Brennan makes me want to throw things at her most of the time.

Blood Ties looks good, but I missed the lead-in movie and they didn't repeat it during the week. Grrrr. I'm set up to record tomorrow's, though. What books is it based on?

It's a series of books by Tanya Huff. I think the first one may be Blood Price. Tonight's episode was actually pretty good, as well... nothing ground-breaking, but enjoyable with a few small twists in the mystery and some fun interpersonal stuff among the lead characters.

Hmmm... I think maybe I need some new icons, since I don't have any for either of those shows yet!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I posted in response to something in Wendy's journal that the typical House spoiler would be "House is still a jerk. And it's still not lupus." I'll stand by that.

LOL! So true!!

As for VM, I'm definitely having a lot more fun reading the fallout from the backstage stuff than I've gotten fromthe show in a very long time.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Blood Ties: I was pleasantly surprised by this, too! I didn't expect much, but it was actually fun, and not completely unlike the books.

That's good to know! I'm thinking of tossing the first book on my Teetering Pile (which means it will probably get read sometime in the next year, the way my life has been going lately).

Heroes: That last ep really did pull me in. Go, Ando! But I'm more than a little worried about Mohinder.

One thing that can definitely be said about the writers and showrunner on Heroes... they've VERY good at pacing. It's never a dull moment on that show, and they certainly know how to ratchet things up when they need to.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I may have to look at Robin Hood... although that's one character who just doesn't seem to draw me in. I could never get into the earlier BBC Robin Hood series, either, even while I could completely understand the appeal.

Clearly I am missing out on something, but I know not what.

I feel the same way about Supernatural. Everyone's talking about it and seems to love it, but I'm just not getting it, I guess.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Exactly! They had actually been working together without any problems and then blam-o, Isaac hates him enough to be firing a gun wildly at him. It's one of the few aspects of the show that's fallen a bit flat for me.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I've never read the Dresden books.

You should! They're much better than the TV series, but they're also pretty quick reads, light but entertaining.

And THANK YOU for making that observation about Bianca's lip.

It was almost freakish! And it's all I could look at whenever she was on the screen! Hopefully we won't be seeing too much of her in the future (although she turns up a lot in the books, so I may be out of luck).

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Dresden Files -- PB has surprised me with how good he's been in the role. I really wasn't expecting it, based on the few other things I've seen him do.

Vicki is not only older but she's got actual curves (I mean I noticed them).

Yes! Exactly!! She looks like the character she's supposed to be playing. It's wonderful! And this week's episode was still pretty good (and the second episode of a new show is often fairly weak, so I was impressed).

And I don't want anyone with House, I like him best when he's cranky and miserable.

Oh, me too... but I still love reading things into his interactions with Wilson. It's fun.

Is just a lot of fun as long as Nikki/Jessica isn't anywhere around sucking the life out of the show.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I don't dislike her as much as I used to... but I'm much happier when she's not taking up too much screentime. Even Micah is starting to lose his appeal for me and I suspect it's because most of his scenes are with her.

Rome -- it's on a network we don't get, so I've never had a chance to watch it.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Dresden Files -- The guy playing Harry is actually doing a pretty decent job... much better than I was expecting from him, to be honest. But Bob is probably my favorite character on the show. I liked him well enough in the books, but he's really taking off for me on the TV series.

House -- I just started watching it last year... and even then it was fairly sporadic. I finally picked up more full time this year, just in time for the stupid Tritter arc. Blech. I agree with you on the ER stuff. After our own ER experience, I have a very low threshold for watching that sort of thing on TV.

Bones -- She still annoys the heck out of me, but I'm beginning to suspect she's supposed to. I do enjoy watching her banter with Booth, though. I'm a sucker for banter.

Mythbusters -- Hee! We've started recording them and burning them to DVD to keep... they're great fun to put on at the start of parties, when people are just arriving (okay, that may be because everyone who comes to our parties is a *geek*).

Oh, hey... did you by any chance get a package from me a little bit ago? I just want to make sure it made it there okay.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I never really could get into Bones, because the lead character is so annoying. But Boreanaz is stellar.

She's still annoying, but I'm beginning to suspect she's supposed to be. They've really started perfecting the banter thing between her and Booth, though, and I'm such a sucker for banter.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Chase can do those occasional cute things like announcing he's going to hug House.

Hee! That was good! One of these days I'm going to pick up the first season on DVD, so I can get a bit of a better idea about some of the characters' backgrounds. It's the one thing that occasionally leaves me a little flummoxed, since I came into the show so late.

Larry is supposed to be back on N3 the last week in April, and I can't wait.

Thank you! I had no idea when he was supposed to be back, but I was really hoping it was sometime this season.

And Mrs. Bennett can't be dead! She was just getting interesting.

Exactly! Of course, if this were a Whedon show, that would mean she was doomed for sure... :-p

[sp23.livejournal.com]

I finally got to watch the Blood Ties pilot, which I'd missed, by downloading it from iTunes. Hey, it was worth a buck ninety-nine to me because ZOMG! Henry Fitzroy! The hottest vampire I've seen since a certain blond beauty showed up in Sunnydale. *g*

While I don't much care for voodoo themed shows, I liked last night's episode, and I find that I'm in total agreement with you regarding this series - much, much better than Dresden. Much!

I'm going to reread the books because I never pictured Kyle Schmid in my mind when I was reading Henry. *g* I think I owned the books, but they're MIA now, probably sold in a yard sale since I hadn't much liked them, so I'll just grab them from the library and reread them from my new, enlightened viewpoint. ;P

Supernatural is one of those shows that I should love... and yet I just can't get into.

I love the entire mythos around Supernatural, and I love relationship the two boys have (and I'm so not into the Wincest. I think the boys are great with just deep brotherly love and protective instincts). And Jason and Jared are not too hard on the eyes either. ;P

Hmmmm, I think I need a Henry icon now. *g*

[allthatjazmyne.livejournal.com]

Ooh, yes I did! I've been very bad about Thank You notes. But I got it, and in fact, I'm wearing the beautiful scarf you sent today! Thanks!

[shadowlass.livejournal.com]

Considering the borderline panic now in the VM fandom, I'm glad I never found the series tempting enough to watch regularly. Some of the fans scared me right from the start.

Are you still using the eatough.net email address? If so, check your email. :)