The TV Discussion Thread

[Milky Joe]

I just think this is wonderful and am truly sorry I'll never get to know how it was supposed to end.

You'll wanna read this:

http://www.avclub.com/article/daniel...ong-weir-92780
http://www.avclub.com/article/daniel...-of-icar-92877 (2nd part)

[Dead & Messed Up]

Two things I have yet to watch.

But yes, you're right. It's a show that feels deeply perverse as opposed to just weird or sensationalistic like most Horror fiction. I also got the feeling that the writers had a pretty thorough show Bible since the characters and situations have an almost novel-like density. In fact, I wish they'd manage to end the story in any medium.

The show bible used to pitch is available online, and it's a pleasure to read.

[Grouchy]

Well, thanks for those links, all of you! The interviews I already read and they're very good. The Show Bible is going to take me a bit longer.

[Spun Lepton]

A fpoon.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Captioning Pee-wee's Playhouse. Been working on just this show for the entire week. Barely watched it as a kid, but watching it as an adult, it's very clever, a hallucinogenic riff on Mr. Rogers that somehow stays heartwarming - although later seasons toss in a little too much innuendo for my taste. I remember enjoying it as a child, and I liked Big Adventure as an adult, but what I never really noticed before was how perfectly modulated Pee-wee is as a character. Abrasive, but sweet-hearted, and his most explosive outbursts carry the ring of childlike truth, like when he can't wait to answer the door or phone, or how he's a little confused by Miss Yvonne - he knows she's pretty, but he's not at a stage where he has any grasp of why he thinks so.

My favorite puppet is Pterri, because dinosaur (or dinosaur-related, at least). Randy is a close second, the snarky little prick.

[Spun Lepton]

All right, I've finished DS9. Overall, I'm glad I watched it. But, it wasn't without its fair share of frustrations. Thoughts on the final episode behind the spoiler.

[

Show Spoiler

First off, the Dominion War was a fun and interesting storyline. I liked the way that whole thing played out. Special praise for Jeffery Combs and his wide-eyed but extrordinarily evil Weyoun.

But, they spent episodes building up the Pah Wraiths storyline with the Kai and Gul Dukat, only to have it fizzle in the end. They spent so much time on building it up, but in the end it's treated like an afterthought. I almost expected Sisko to say, "Oh, wait! That's right! I'm supposed to go sacrifice myself now." I wonder how much more successful that storyline would have been if they'd found a way to integrate it into the war / main plotline itself at the end.

They also spend several sickly saccharine moments having character reflect on their adventures on the DS9. But, when Warf reflects, you see everyting BUT Jadzia, the freakin' defining storyline for Warf on DS9. So clumsy.

]

In case anybody's wondering, yes, I've moved on to Voyager. Wish me luck.

[Irish]

Voyager is the beginning of the end. Ugh. Seven years, one good episode & it nearly celebrates every single weakness that Star Trek ever had.

So, uh, good luck?

[Mara]

I really think everyone needs to catch up on Rectify before the next Cutties. The first season is on Netflix.

[number8]

I already did. Leave me alooone.

[Mara]

I already did. Leave me alooone.

No. Go watch Slings & Arrows.

[Spun Lepton]

Voyager is the beginning of the end. Ugh. Seven years, one good episode & it nearly celebrates every single weakness that Star Trek ever had.

So, uh, good luck?

That appears to be the consensus. I'm going to give it a chance. That said, my main TV show right now will be Game of Thrones.

[EyesWideOpen]

I really think everyone needs to catch up on Rectify before the next Cutties. The first season is on Netflix.

That was already next on my list now that I've finished Orphan Black.

[D_Davis]

Captioning Pee-wee's Playhouse. Been working on just this show for the entire week. Barely watched it as a kid, but watching it as an adult, it's very clever, a hallucinogenic riff on Mr. Rogers that somehow stays heartwarming - although later seasons toss in a little too much innuendo for my taste. I remember enjoying it as a child, and I liked Big Adventure as an adult, but what I never really noticed before was how perfectly modulated Pee-wee is as a character. Abrasive, but sweet-hearted, and his most explosive outbursts carry the ring of childlike truth, like when he can't wait to answer the door or phone, or how he's a little confused by Miss Yvonne - he knows she's pretty, but he's not at a stage where he has any grasp of why he thinks so.

My favorite puppet is Pterri, because dinosaur (or dinosaur-related, at least). Randy is a close second, the snarky little prick.

It's a tremendous show.

[D_Davis]

Just finished watching the second and last season of CarnivÃ*le. Just a tremendous show with a personality that few others can claim to be imbued with. The casting of Michael J. Anderson seems prophetic as the series goes on to have a feel reminiscent of Twin Peaks, and can in turns be disturbing, dramatic or bizarrely funny. It's also obvious that a lot of research went into the reconstruction of the 1930s, even down to the way people talk.

Why didn't it work? I think if it had come out a few years later, with audiences getting more used to involvement with shows that don't necessarily provide all the answers, it might have. But I'm not that confident with my analysis nor am I a great TV watcher. I just think this is wonderful and am truly sorry I'll never get to know how it was supposed to end.

Whoo!

It's basically my favorite show, in that it's the kind of show I would want to make in my wildest dreams. The unapologetically serious fusion of history and myth and religion and supernaturalism and darkness and sex (it's so strangely kinky - but so is Greek myth and the Bible). And there's a palpable unease that accompanies the supernaturalism. It feels intrusive and threatening, as opposed to the banal "fantasy" of most monster-of-the-week sci-fi/fantasy shows.

I think you're right that it was probably ahead of its time. Post Game of Thrones and post True Detective, there'd probably be a larger appetite for its measured, relaxed thriller storytelling.

Have you guys read The Circles of Dr. Lao, by Charles G. Finney? Not only is it one of the most creative, best, and most wonderfully written novels ever - totally ahead of its time, still totally bizarre and weird over 70 years later - but it had to be in influence on this show. We just started watching it since the HBO stuff was added to Amazon Prime, and I keep thinking of a mix between Dr. Lao and Twin Peaks.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Have you guys read The Circles of Dr. Lao, by Charles G. Finney? Not only is it one of the most creative, best, and most wonderfully written novels ever - totally ahead of its time, still totally bizarre and weird over 70 years later - but it had to be in influence on this show. We just started watching it since the HBO stuff was added to Amazon Prime, and I keep thinking of a mix between Dr. Lao and Twin Peaks.

I'll add it to my list - I remember being whelmed by the film Seven Faces of Dr. Lao.

[Irish]

That appears to be the consensus. I'm going to give it a chance. That said, my main TV show right now will be Game of Thrones.

Keep an eye out for a two parter (?) called The Year In Hell. It's the best episode of the series, and maybe one of the best in the Trek universe.

[D_Davis]

I'll add it to my list - I remember being whelmed by the film Seven Faces of Dr. Lao.

A total travesty compared to the depth, pathos and brilliance of the book.

The book will shock you, it's so good. Like just, completely fucking bonkers and awesome. It totally blows my mind that it was written in the 1930s, because it's as weird, bizarre and boundary-pushing as anything by anyone like Ligotti, Cisco, etc.

It's so utterly complex, mystifying and creepy, that I could probably read it a hundred times and never get tired of it, used to it, or really understand what it is saying.

[Thirdmango]

All right, I've finished DS9. Overall, I'm glad I watched it. But, it wasn't without its fair share of frustrations. Thoughts on the final episode behind the spoiler.

In case anybody's wondering, yes, I've moved on to Voyager. Wish me luck.

I liked the last 10 episodes probably a bit more then you. In fact I love the last 10 episodes. It's as far as I remember my favorite part of the series. I've been slowly rewatching DS9, I'm in the third season, and it's not as good as I remember it which is too bad.

Since I have usually been the one replying you'll still get a lot of comments from me from Voyager. There is some really fun stuff in the series, but it's a jarring series in a lot of respects. I'm still excited to hear your thoughts. I also hope it doesn't burn you out of watching Enterprise which despite having a pretty terrible first season has a great 3rd and 4th season.

[Spun Lepton]

I liked the last 10 episodes probably a bit more then you. In fact I love the last 10 episodes. It's as far as I remember my favorite part of the series. I've been slowly rewatching DS9, I'm in the third season, and it's not as good as I remember it which is too bad.

Since I have usually been the one replying you'll still get a lot of comments from me from Voyager. There is some really fun stuff in the series, but it's a jarring series in a lot of respects. I'm still excited to hear your thoughts. I also hope it doesn't burn you out of watching Enterprise which despite having a pretty terrible first season has a great 3rd and 4th season.

I think my favorite episode of the entire run was the one where Jake lived out his entire life with Capt. Sisko appearing and disappearing out of reality. Tony Todd freakin' owned that part. That said, most everything having to do with the Dominion War was above-par for the series, so aside from some mistakes in the final episode (and final season), it was very enjoyable. It's funny to think I didn't like a majority of the characters when it began (especially Bashir), but by the end I was rooting for all of them, (even Bashir).

I've watched the pilot and 2nd episodes of Voyager. There's some painfully bad dialogue. But, it has a certain tone TNG had that DS9 did not. Hopefully that will be enough to propel me further into the series. Despite all the negative appraisal, I really do want to like the series. The setup is intriguing. I've found that I already like Neelix and the hologram doctor characters quite a bit, (probably because they're comic relief).

[MadMan]

Well I went back to watching Dexter. I'm deep into Season 3.

[Henry Gale]

Well I went back to watching Dexter. I'm deep into Season 3.

Nooo! Get out while you can!

But seriously, I wouldn't go further than the end of Season 4. Every person I know completely regrets staying with the latter half of the series and it seems to haunt them every time they talk about getting into any show.

[MadMan]

But I have to finish it. The last show I saw the end of that wasn't two or one seasons long was 24. And it didn't actually end!

[EyesWideOpen]

The last season specifically the ending is really the only part I considered bad in Dexter. I don't regret watching any of the other stuff and I really liked alot of the seasons after 4.

[Mara]

Finally getting to seeing The Hollow Crown. I'm totally excited.

[Mara]

So, Richard II was excellent. The direction didn't need to be much to get through it, but instead it choose to be downright stylish, with a distinct point of view and some lovely visuals. The play itself is a few great scenes bulked out with political intriguing that could easily get tedious, but excellent performances and good locations add visual interest to even the driest power arguments. A couple moments were on-the-nose enough to be silly (Richard's name being erased from the sand; a magic floating crown at one point) but the whole is sumptuous enough to make up for it.

Ben Winshaw and Rory Kinnear have the heavyweight parts, and they conduct themselves very well, especially Winshaw, who plays Richard as a great mix of pitiful and irritating. He is preening and arrogant and we want to smack him down; but when events go against him his sorrows are genuinely affecting. Even the smallest parts are a who's who of great English actors, though, and I'm surprised who they grabbed for even a few lines.