On one hand the first two Terminator films were great, the third was a bit pants, and too self-referential and mocking. On one hand it has Summer Glau in it, and who doesn’t love Summer?, but on the other, it has Fievel Mousekewitz in it, and can a mouse really take on The Machines?
And then there is the fact that the trailer doesn’t look all that great, that Fox are making it, and, that it is a spin off of a spin off of a spin off. Milking the cash cow dry anyone? And then there is the fact that it is a TV show, and there aren’t really all that many good shows left any more.
Example the first: Lost pants pants pants.
Heroes I do like. But I don’t love. It has some interesting storylines and characters but nothing that really grips me. I haven’t taken advantage of the fact that I can watch ahead on d’internet after all. Which says it all
Veronica Mars cancelled. And while I adored the first season, the second really didn’t grab me. And while I will watch season 3, and I do hope for the best, I’ll admit to feeling a little meh over it.
BSG I really do love. But it annoys me so. It could be so great, and I love most, if not all of the characters, but, as I’ve said before, the writers flinch away from the big issues. Which wouldn’t be a terrible thing if they didn’t set themselves up for them in the first place. If you are going to introduce “big” issues, then you are obliged[1] to deal with them properly. Brushing them under the carpet and solving them with one liners achieves nothing, well, apart from annoying me.[2] There is also the sense that they don’t really know where they are going. Part of this isn’t there fault, it is down to the possibility of cancellation and the fact that they don’t know how long they are going to last.
Rome. Okay, this is my exception. Great TV. But[3] there has only been one season. Where is season two BBC?
Life On Mars - I loved the first season. It was new and funny and interesting. But season 2? I dunno, it just wasn’t as good. Still better than a lot of stuff out there, but I was disappointed. And I disliked the finale. The Gene Genie was excellent, but there was very little character development or any forward movement at all.
House I dunno. I really liked it at first. But then it became a little cliched, and when it clashes with something else I tend to watch the something else.
Medium I like. I like a lot, but it isn’t great tv. It is highly watchable. And likeable. And while it does have some nice touches it is predictable and has never been must see tv.
The Sopranos I love when it is on. But when it isn’t I don’t think about it.
The solution to my telly woes? Give Joss a tv show, I loved Buffy, thought Angel was even better. And Firefly? Best of them all.
Or am I being too hard in my old age? Is there some great tv that I’m missing out on?
Leaving the apt yesterday evening I noticed a fire engine down the road. And getting a bit closer I spotted the fact that the firemen[1] had the hose out and were aiming it at a tree in the park.
Hmmm, I says to myself, don’t tell me someone has started a fire.
Well no, they were bravely and valiantly attempting to rescue two footballs that were at the very very top of the tree, stuck in the branches. Did I ever wish that I had my camera with me.
Unfortunately, I believe they were unsuccessful as upon my return they were gone, but the two footballs were still in the tree. Then again, they could have rescued them only for the silly childers to kick them back up again. Who knows.
Life on Mars finished up last night. The last ever episode[2] and I’d have to say that I’m all bit meh over it. I really loved the first season, but the second wasn’t quite so great. Although Gene Hunt remained magnificent throughout. But I really didn’t like the ending.
Issue the first; Sam returned to the present right, but we never found out about the girlfriend wan from the very first episode did we?
Second; he felt nothing in his original life, so he committed suicide in order to return to the past. Okay… not even glad to see his Mam or anything. Plus, tv-makers, promoting the suicide of a mentaller? Are we sure we wanted to do that.
Returning to the past; was that life real then? Including the whole back story? And if so does that mean that the future parts were the hallucinations?
What happened yer man Morgan and his investigation into Hunt? Why did Hunt et al accept Sam the Snitch back into the “gang”>
Last night we had our first Wii related accident. The flatmate and her boyfriend bought a Wii a week ago or so. It has been over at his new place for most of the time, but came back on Friday. Course what with the rugby I haven’t had much time to play with it, but I’ve had a few goes, and it is fabtastic.
So after watching the return of Lost last night we had one quick game[1] of tennis before bed. But as it was late we decided not to bother standing up and playing properly, so we didn’t move the coffee table.
Can you tell where I’m headed yet?
Yup, attempting to get an ace the flatmate took an overenthusiastic swing, and bang, straight into her glass of wine which went flying in my direction.
Or should I saw the wine and shards of glass went flying. Luckily it all missed me, but the couch got a drenching. Didn’t stop us playing another game once we had cleaned it up.
Over at Metafilter they are discussing 24 and its impact on people’s willingness to accept torture. I’m not so sure that I’d go along with that, but that was one of the reasons I stopped watching the show. Ideological grounds
But in news of a much better TV show, Life on Mars is back tonight. Yay! Course it conflicts with Battlestar, but I’ve been recording BSG anyways, so no real worries.
Linknotes:
yes, it turned into 4 matches, of 3 and five games ↩
So last night saw the last episode of this season of Life On Mars. Now what am supposed to watch on Mondays? I know, there is Lost, but it’s booooooooring. I want my retro 70’s cop/time travel/maybe just in a coma tv show back.
Anyways, to mark its final episode I’ve decided to list a collection of Huntisms. Yes, the Gene genie certainly had some great lines, but I know there are some I’ve forgotten/didn’t find to steal from other places, so if you can think of any more, let me know in the comments section
Huntisms:
[to a group of armed men in a deserted cotton mill at night]
Drop your weapons! You are surrounded by armed bastards!
[to some children playing on the street]
Anything happens to this motor, I’ll come round to yer houses and stamp on all yer toys got it? …Good kids.
We’re here to talk about ‘ow yer brother copped it
Gene: I’m not a Catholic meself, Warren, but isn’t there something about ‘Thou shalt not suck off rent-boys’? Warren: ‘HOW DARE YOU COME IN HERE!’ Gene (Indicating rent-boy): ‘You could have said that to him!’
[Sam asks what year it is. Gene slams him against some filing cabinets]
It’s 1973, almost dinnertime. I’m having ‘oops!
Is there anything more revolting than a dishonest ‘ippy?
Sam: I think i’ve got something Gene: Number for the special clinic’s on the wall
There will never be a woman Prime Minister so long as I have a hole in my arse
Sam: I’m the negotiator. Gene: I’ll make you a hat!
[Gene spikes some fella's pint] Sam: I’m not sure that’s ethical. Gene: It’s not, it’s vodka.
Sam: If it was to do with football he’d have serious injuries! Gene: He’s dead. That’s quite serious.
Bloody hell I’ve seen road accidents look more cheerful than you.
[after driving his car in hot pursuit across a football pitch]
Oi Ref Are you blind? Next time move or I’ll run you over!
I’m not really sure why I started watching this show. The trailers made it look very poor. Some crap cop police show, only with time travel thrown in. I was half thinking it’d be The Bill meets Time Cop. Yet for some reason I tuned in. Probably because there was nothing else on on a Monday night.
And I am so glad I did. This has to be my favourite British show, in a long time, maybe ever. Though Cracker was fantastic in its day.
Have to say, I am really enjoying the BBC’s new cop shpw, Life on Mars, its all about this detective who gets hit by a car in 2006 and wakes up in 1973. So either he has gone back in time or he is in a coma and this is all a dream. Cue lots of 70’s music, fashion, and hairstyles, not to mention bent cops and un-PC attitudes, and car chases through cardboard boxes. Retro man, it is the only way to go.
I know, that doesn’t make it sound all that great, but in reality this is a really funny show, with some great characters. Personally I just love DCI Hunt; he is just horrible and yet still manages to be a good guy, just about. “You are surrounded by armed bastards”
We’ve just had episode 4, of eight, but I hear a second season in being looked at.
Also, was some miles from the city, and I noticed FM has a little Last.fm chart, so I stole the idea. But in order to make the image (right col. down the bottom) legible I had to mess a little with the layout. So if you viewing has been altered and made icky let me know, I’ll regress.
