How is it the last day of June already??
An important read: My Wife’s Abortion v. Your Free Speech
Re-reading feminist author Marion Zimmer Bradley in the wake of sexual assault allegations
Awesome: See the Text Messages That Led to Indiana's First Gay Marriage
How a Book Becomes the Book of the Summer
Sigh: Let’s Face It, There Probably Won’t Be Any "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" Sequels
The Limited is doing a Scandal clothing line. Yes, that apparently means that The Limited still exists.
What’s your personal pop culture hell? (I agree with several things on this list.)
This Matisse cut-outs show sounds great.
Showing posts with label Scandal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scandal. Show all posts
Monday, June 30, 2014
Friday, February 28, 2014
Morning Coffee (2/28/14)
Happy Friday! Finally.
Six more Cormoran Strike books? Yes please.
Diet Coke Frost? YES PLEASE.
The BBC is making two new Agatha Christie adaptations. Whee.
Scandal paper dolls!
Ooh, new Ben & Jerry's flavors.
This Game of Thrones pop-up book looks gorgeous.
The Onion: Modern Science Still Only Able To Predict One Upcoming Tetris Block
Very important Friday quiz: What Kind Of Drink Are You Going To Need After Work Tonight? (As Eleanor Barkhorn pointed out, this is the most clever BuzzFeed quiz ever because it implies that you should go back and take it again every day.)
Six more Cormoran Strike books? Yes please.
Diet Coke Frost? YES PLEASE.
The BBC is making two new Agatha Christie adaptations. Whee.
Scandal paper dolls!
Ooh, new Ben & Jerry's flavors.
This Game of Thrones pop-up book looks gorgeous.
The Onion: Modern Science Still Only Able To Predict One Upcoming Tetris Block
Very important Friday quiz: What Kind Of Drink Are You Going To Need After Work Tonight? (As Eleanor Barkhorn pointed out, this is the most clever BuzzFeed quiz ever because it implies that you should go back and take it again every day.)
Monday, October 28, 2013
Morning Coffee (10/28/13)
Well, this is terrible: "You're actually not here to talk about the amazing work you do."
Pope Expels German ‘Luxury Bishop’ From Diocese
Update: ABC employee cleared in 'Scandal' Twitter investigation
This tracks pretty well with my own experience of Disney princesses.
Heh. The Onion: Man Still Trying To Find Right Work-Anxiety–Life-Anxiety Balance
Divers discover Second World War Allied warship
This is . . . not shocking, really: Warner Bros. sues 'Harry Potter'-themed store Whimsic Alley
Color me . . . skeptical.
Pope Expels German ‘Luxury Bishop’ From Diocese
Update: ABC employee cleared in 'Scandal' Twitter investigation
This tracks pretty well with my own experience of Disney princesses.
Heh. The Onion: Man Still Trying To Find Right Work-Anxiety–Life-Anxiety Balance
Divers discover Second World War Allied warship
This is . . . not shocking, really: Warner Bros. sues 'Harry Potter'-themed store Whimsic Alley
Color me . . . skeptical.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Morning Coffee (10/24/13)
Prince George's christening was yesterday. Here's the delightful Guardian live blog.
And a rundown of the godparents and guests.
The official details of the service . . .
And, of course, pictures!
If this is true, it's... icky: Contentious ‘Scandal’ Fan Blogger Exposed as ABC Sales Director
Yes yes yes: Better Without The Bear: How The Cancellation Bear Damages Ratings Culture
The new promos and art for The Following are making me very eager for the show to come back.
Whoa: Meet The Man Who Ran A Marathon While Knitting A Scarf
And a rundown of the godparents and guests.
The official details of the service . . .
And, of course, pictures!
If this is true, it's... icky: Contentious ‘Scandal’ Fan Blogger Exposed as ABC Sales Director
Yes yes yes: Better Without The Bear: How The Cancellation Bear Damages Ratings Culture
The new promos and art for The Following are making me very eager for the show to come back.
Whoa: Meet The Man Who Ran A Marathon While Knitting A Scarf
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Morning Coffee (10/3/13)
Elsewhere: I wrote about Ironside, which I liked, at TheTelevixen.com.
I don't really care if tourists can't see monuments. I care that the shutdown means millions of babies are at risk of going hungry.
Another reason to avoid Hobby Lobby: They don't stock merchandise for Jewish holidays, and apparently don't respond well when asked about it.
Rethinking the Weekend
Ooh, Ronan Farrow might be getting an MSNBC show.
Spencer Ackerman's Twitter eulogy for his mother was really amazing to watch unfold.
Daniel Radcliffe’s Next Trick Is to Make Harry Potter Disappear
A very good read: Are We Supposed to Root for Fitz and Olivia on Scandal?
Amazing: Your Endorsement On LinkedIn Means Nothing To Me
I don't really care if tourists can't see monuments. I care that the shutdown means millions of babies are at risk of going hungry.
Another reason to avoid Hobby Lobby: They don't stock merchandise for Jewish holidays, and apparently don't respond well when asked about it.
Rethinking the Weekend
Ooh, Ronan Farrow might be getting an MSNBC show.
Spencer Ackerman's Twitter eulogy for his mother was really amazing to watch unfold.
Daniel Radcliffe’s Next Trick Is to Make Harry Potter Disappear
A very good read: Are We Supposed to Root for Fitz and Olivia on Scandal?
Amazing: Your Endorsement On LinkedIn Means Nothing To Me
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Morning Coffee (5/7/13)
Seriously. Did anyone actually read The Great Gatsby? Because it's getting hard to tell.
"(In fact, some of the knights in the Vale speak with Welsh accents, which, Jesus.)" Amazing.
Old news I'd missed: Kelly Clarkson is making a Christmas album!
Armor And Anxiety: Tony Stark Is The New Captain America
Huh: Hollywood conservative unmasked as notorious Holocaust revisionist
How Scandal became the perfect distillation of America’s political nightmares
Why Do NPR Reporters Have Such Great Names?
I must admit I'm all in favor of banning terrible baby names. Yay New Zealand.
"(In fact, some of the knights in the Vale speak with Welsh accents, which, Jesus.)" Amazing.
Old news I'd missed: Kelly Clarkson is making a Christmas album!
Armor And Anxiety: Tony Stark Is The New Captain America
Huh: Hollywood conservative unmasked as notorious Holocaust revisionist
How Scandal became the perfect distillation of America’s political nightmares
Why Do NPR Reporters Have Such Great Names?
I must admit I'm all in favor of banning terrible baby names. Yay New Zealand.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Morning Coffee (3/1/13)
HAPPY FRIDAY. And YAY, IT'S MARCH. I promised you a whole post of happy/fun links to make up for yesterday, so here we go.
Depressed Wombat Cured by Hugs
We Found Our Son in the Subway
Cory Booker Helps Newarker Pop the Question
Check out the beautiful new covers for Stephanie Perkins's books.
'I Urge You to Drop E67-02': Course Syllabi by Famous Authors
See Every Single Outfit Olivia Pope Has Worn on Scandal This Season
Book cakes!
And a fun toy: Pulp-O-Mizer
Depressed Wombat Cured by Hugs
We Found Our Son in the Subway
Cory Booker Helps Newarker Pop the Question
Check out the beautiful new covers for Stephanie Perkins's books.
'I Urge You to Drop E67-02': Course Syllabi by Famous Authors
See Every Single Outfit Olivia Pope Has Worn on Scandal This Season
Book cakes!
And a fun toy: Pulp-O-Mizer
Monday, December 31, 2012
My 12 Favorite Shows of 2012
As I said in my music post, I am again making no claims to "best" here. These are the shows I loved the most this year, the ones that made me happiest and saddest and most thoughtful. They're the ones I most looked forward to week to week or marathoned in feverish gulps. Above all, these are the shows that made me love watching TV in 2012. (Warning: any plot details that aired in 2012 or earlier may be mentioned here.)
1. Borgen - This drama about the first female prime minister of Denmark and her staff and family, her rivals, and the press is the show I watched this year that came closest to being perfect. The political issues are intriguing, the interpersonal and workplace conflicts are compelling, and the personal and family dramas are heartbreaking, and these threads are all woven together virtually flawlessly. Borgen also has the most nuanced look at issues of women, work, family, and power of any show I can think of. The show is so incredible that after a while I practically stopped noticing that I was watching with subtitles, though now I want to learn Danish.
2. Homeland - I came late to this show and actually watched both seasons in 2012, but I'm trying to separate them out in my mind. I understand why some critics did not like the second season, and there were definitely some flaws and ridiculous plot elements that drove me a little crazy. But to be honest, I don't watch TV for plot; I usually watch for characters and themes and ideas and moods and writing, and for me, all those elements were strong enough in season two of Homeland to far outweigh the negatives. Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, and Mandy Patinkin are all such fine actors with such superlative chemistry that watching them together is constant joy and heartbreak.
3. Fringe - This is another show with which I understand and agree with a lot of the criticisms I've read, but still think it's better than practically any other show out there. The timeline reset in season four didn't bother me as much as it did many fans, I assume in part because I marathoned most of the show over the summer and so didn't have the years of attachment to the original timeline and the months of waiting for Peter to return. And while I'm still not entirely certain how I feel about the time jump in season five, and especially some of the things we missed because of it, I love many of its results, especially Etta and her story, Peter's struggle with his humanity, and Nina's heroic end. And above all, I love these characters and the way they've come to love each other. (This show also has one of the most underrated casts on television; why doesn't John Noble, especially, have all the awards??)
4. The Newsroom - When Aaron Sorkin speaks as himself, he says all sorts of things I disagree with. But when he writes TV shows, his writing feels like it has a direct connection to my heart and my brain in a way that no one else's does. As I said above about both Homeland and Fringe, I know the flaws. I've read the reviews. I don't even disagree with a lot of the individual points. But for me, none of them are fatal flaws, and none outweigh my love of these characters and this writing. The show's framing in the very recent past has been controversial, but it's one of the elements I really enjoy, and I don't think the show would be anywhere near as powerful if it used invented news events. The cast is great, and John Gallagher, Jr. was one of the breakout stars of the year for me.
5. The Good Wife - This show has an astoundingly good cast, both in its regulars and its recurring guest stars, and the writers are very good at playing to each actor's strengths. Julianna Margulies! Chris Noth! Josh Charles! Archie Panjabi! Christine Baranski! Matt Czuchry! ALAN CUMMING. They really have more than their share of great actors. It is in some ways a straightforward legal drama, but there are a million things going on in every episode, and it almost always feels effortless (which certainly means that people worked very hard to make it happen). Even when the plot doesn't go the way I want (I really liked Alicia and Will together, for example), the show does a good job of persuading me to go along with whatever it's doing. The one exception to this was Kalinda's ridiculous storyline this season; if that hadn't happened, the show would have probably been even higher on my list.
6. The Killing - I did not at all mind the slow pace of this crime drama; it was like the television equivalent of reading a complex novel rather than a series of interrelated short stories. Having one case last for two seasons allowed for figures who would be one-episode guest spots on most crime shows become fully fledged main characters, which I found fascinating. Sure, it was convoluted and got a bit hard to follow, but I'm willing to put up with that for the chance of getting a different kind of mystery show, and I thought the ending of the season did a remarkably good job of tying everything together. I loved the tone of it, so dark and lyrical and bleak all at once, and the reluctant friendship between Linden and Holder was one of my favorite relationships on TV this year. (Also: Sweaters!)
7. Ben and Kate - Simply put, this was the most delightful show of the year; each and every episode made me happy while watching it, even if I was sad or stressed in general. I love the combination of blood relatives and created family, and the way the show focuses on people who are flawed and problematic and yet love each other and would do anything for each other. Plus, it makes me laugh more than most comedies do, and Maggie Elizabeth Jones does a remarkable job of walking the "adorable but not obnoxiously twee" line that so often trips up child actors.
8. Scandal - When I heard Shonda Rhimes was doing a show about a DC fixer, I figured it would be Grey's Anatomy but about politics, and honestly, that would have been enough for me to enjoy it. But Scandal turned out to be so much more than that. Conspiracy! Murder! Fraud! And it has my all-time favorite set-up: damaged people teaming up to work toward a common goal and saving each other along the way. (See also, from this list, Fringe, Elementary, The Newsroom, The Killing, and to some extent Borgen, The Good Wife, and Homeland.) One more thing: It's not really a positive, but the show's ability to get me to root for an adulterous couple certainly speaks to its power.
9. The Hour - The second season of this historical drama about a BBC news TV program in the 1950s still has one more episode to air (on January 2), so it's possible that my opinion will change drastically then. As it stands, though, I still love this show but have had a harder time getting into this season. I know the spy stuff was widely ridiculed last year, but what they've replaced it with is harder to follow and takes time and energy away from the characters I love doing their jobs and interacting with each other, which is why I love the show in the first place. But Romola Garai, Ben Whishaw, Dominic West, and Anna Chancellor all remain incredible, and I am happy to follow Bel and company wherever the ride takes us.
10. Elementary - I am an enthusiastic Sherlock Holmes fan but by no means a purist, which makes me probably the ideal audience for this modern take on the great detective. I love Jonny Lee Miller's portrayal of Holmes as a modern addict. I love Lucy Liu's take on Watson. (I love that Watson is female!) I love the way they play off each other and the way the show isn't making it a romantic thing, at least not immediately. The show has a firm grounding in the original stories, and references them frequently, but it's a loose enough adaptation that it's felt very much like its own thing from the start, which makes it a show I want to come back to week after week for its own sake, rather than a clever parlor trick that I admire but don't love, which is how I often feel about the other modern take, Sherlock.
11. Arrow - Arrow was probably the biggest (positive) surprise of the fall season for me; I don't particularly seek out superhero stuff as a rule, and I knew virtually nothing about the source material going in. I was hoping for no more than fun CW fluff with pretty people but found it to be surprisingly compelling and actually good. I've been a Colin Donnell fan since I saw him on Broadway, so he's a particular treat each week, and this show has clearly made some sort of deal with the devil that allows them to cast every geek favorite ever in guest starring roles.
12. Cougar Town - This is another show that I caught up on from the beginning in 2012, and I'm very glad that I was convinced to give it a try. Yes, the name is dumb, and the premise - some friends in a neighborhood in Florida talk to each other, basically - is simple, but the show is both hysterically funny and surprisingly moving. My favorite comedies are those that make me cry regularly as well as laugh regularly (yes, I have issues), and this is a perfect example. Season three dealt with a lot of changes in the characters' lives, which were necessary but always a bit hard for a show to navigate, and the show did remarkably well at dealing with these changes without losing what makes it good to start with.
Honorable mention: Bomb Girls, Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23, Game of Thrones, Girls, Magic City, Suburgatory
1. Borgen - This drama about the first female prime minister of Denmark and her staff and family, her rivals, and the press is the show I watched this year that came closest to being perfect. The political issues are intriguing, the interpersonal and workplace conflicts are compelling, and the personal and family dramas are heartbreaking, and these threads are all woven together virtually flawlessly. Borgen also has the most nuanced look at issues of women, work, family, and power of any show I can think of. The show is so incredible that after a while I practically stopped noticing that I was watching with subtitles, though now I want to learn Danish.
2. Homeland - I came late to this show and actually watched both seasons in 2012, but I'm trying to separate them out in my mind. I understand why some critics did not like the second season, and there were definitely some flaws and ridiculous plot elements that drove me a little crazy. But to be honest, I don't watch TV for plot; I usually watch for characters and themes and ideas and moods and writing, and for me, all those elements were strong enough in season two of Homeland to far outweigh the negatives. Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, and Mandy Patinkin are all such fine actors with such superlative chemistry that watching them together is constant joy and heartbreak.
3. Fringe - This is another show with which I understand and agree with a lot of the criticisms I've read, but still think it's better than practically any other show out there. The timeline reset in season four didn't bother me as much as it did many fans, I assume in part because I marathoned most of the show over the summer and so didn't have the years of attachment to the original timeline and the months of waiting for Peter to return. And while I'm still not entirely certain how I feel about the time jump in season five, and especially some of the things we missed because of it, I love many of its results, especially Etta and her story, Peter's struggle with his humanity, and Nina's heroic end. And above all, I love these characters and the way they've come to love each other. (This show also has one of the most underrated casts on television; why doesn't John Noble, especially, have all the awards??)
4. The Newsroom - When Aaron Sorkin speaks as himself, he says all sorts of things I disagree with. But when he writes TV shows, his writing feels like it has a direct connection to my heart and my brain in a way that no one else's does. As I said above about both Homeland and Fringe, I know the flaws. I've read the reviews. I don't even disagree with a lot of the individual points. But for me, none of them are fatal flaws, and none outweigh my love of these characters and this writing. The show's framing in the very recent past has been controversial, but it's one of the elements I really enjoy, and I don't think the show would be anywhere near as powerful if it used invented news events. The cast is great, and John Gallagher, Jr. was one of the breakout stars of the year for me.
5. The Good Wife - This show has an astoundingly good cast, both in its regulars and its recurring guest stars, and the writers are very good at playing to each actor's strengths. Julianna Margulies! Chris Noth! Josh Charles! Archie Panjabi! Christine Baranski! Matt Czuchry! ALAN CUMMING. They really have more than their share of great actors. It is in some ways a straightforward legal drama, but there are a million things going on in every episode, and it almost always feels effortless (which certainly means that people worked very hard to make it happen). Even when the plot doesn't go the way I want (I really liked Alicia and Will together, for example), the show does a good job of persuading me to go along with whatever it's doing. The one exception to this was Kalinda's ridiculous storyline this season; if that hadn't happened, the show would have probably been even higher on my list.
6. The Killing - I did not at all mind the slow pace of this crime drama; it was like the television equivalent of reading a complex novel rather than a series of interrelated short stories. Having one case last for two seasons allowed for figures who would be one-episode guest spots on most crime shows become fully fledged main characters, which I found fascinating. Sure, it was convoluted and got a bit hard to follow, but I'm willing to put up with that for the chance of getting a different kind of mystery show, and I thought the ending of the season did a remarkably good job of tying everything together. I loved the tone of it, so dark and lyrical and bleak all at once, and the reluctant friendship between Linden and Holder was one of my favorite relationships on TV this year. (Also: Sweaters!)
7. Ben and Kate - Simply put, this was the most delightful show of the year; each and every episode made me happy while watching it, even if I was sad or stressed in general. I love the combination of blood relatives and created family, and the way the show focuses on people who are flawed and problematic and yet love each other and would do anything for each other. Plus, it makes me laugh more than most comedies do, and Maggie Elizabeth Jones does a remarkable job of walking the "adorable but not obnoxiously twee" line that so often trips up child actors.
8. Scandal - When I heard Shonda Rhimes was doing a show about a DC fixer, I figured it would be Grey's Anatomy but about politics, and honestly, that would have been enough for me to enjoy it. But Scandal turned out to be so much more than that. Conspiracy! Murder! Fraud! And it has my all-time favorite set-up: damaged people teaming up to work toward a common goal and saving each other along the way. (See also, from this list, Fringe, Elementary, The Newsroom, The Killing, and to some extent Borgen, The Good Wife, and Homeland.) One more thing: It's not really a positive, but the show's ability to get me to root for an adulterous couple certainly speaks to its power.
9. The Hour - The second season of this historical drama about a BBC news TV program in the 1950s still has one more episode to air (on January 2), so it's possible that my opinion will change drastically then. As it stands, though, I still love this show but have had a harder time getting into this season. I know the spy stuff was widely ridiculed last year, but what they've replaced it with is harder to follow and takes time and energy away from the characters I love doing their jobs and interacting with each other, which is why I love the show in the first place. But Romola Garai, Ben Whishaw, Dominic West, and Anna Chancellor all remain incredible, and I am happy to follow Bel and company wherever the ride takes us.
10. Elementary - I am an enthusiastic Sherlock Holmes fan but by no means a purist, which makes me probably the ideal audience for this modern take on the great detective. I love Jonny Lee Miller's portrayal of Holmes as a modern addict. I love Lucy Liu's take on Watson. (I love that Watson is female!) I love the way they play off each other and the way the show isn't making it a romantic thing, at least not immediately. The show has a firm grounding in the original stories, and references them frequently, but it's a loose enough adaptation that it's felt very much like its own thing from the start, which makes it a show I want to come back to week after week for its own sake, rather than a clever parlor trick that I admire but don't love, which is how I often feel about the other modern take, Sherlock.
11. Arrow - Arrow was probably the biggest (positive) surprise of the fall season for me; I don't particularly seek out superhero stuff as a rule, and I knew virtually nothing about the source material going in. I was hoping for no more than fun CW fluff with pretty people but found it to be surprisingly compelling and actually good. I've been a Colin Donnell fan since I saw him on Broadway, so he's a particular treat each week, and this show has clearly made some sort of deal with the devil that allows them to cast every geek favorite ever in guest starring roles.
12. Cougar Town - This is another show that I caught up on from the beginning in 2012, and I'm very glad that I was convinced to give it a try. Yes, the name is dumb, and the premise - some friends in a neighborhood in Florida talk to each other, basically - is simple, but the show is both hysterically funny and surprisingly moving. My favorite comedies are those that make me cry regularly as well as laugh regularly (yes, I have issues), and this is a perfect example. Season three dealt with a lot of changes in the characters' lives, which were necessary but always a bit hard for a show to navigate, and the show did remarkably well at dealing with these changes without losing what makes it good to start with.
Honorable mention: Bomb Girls, Don't Trust the B---- in Apt 23, Game of Thrones, Girls, Magic City, Suburgatory
Friday, October 26, 2012
What I Watched: The Vampire Diaries, Scandal, Guys With Kids
The Vampire Diaries, "The Rager (EP403)" - This episode had a lot of clever lines and fun/cute moments - not to mention some music I really love - but it wasn't my favorite overall - it felt scattered, and for an episode with so much happening, it felt oddly slow. I'm used to glancing at the clock and suddenly realizing the hour is almost over when I feel like it's just started, and that didn't happen here. But it was all worth it for Damon's exploding kitten line, really.
Scandal, "Beltway Unbuckled (EP304)" - As soapy as this show is, I think the acting really sells it. Here's my weekly statement that I don't want to like Olivia and Fitz together, but I do. Of all the various political shows, Fitz is probably the most compelling version of the "brilliant, flawed powerful man" I can think of. And that thing at the end - wow. WOW. I literally squealed aloud when I saw who was walking into that room. I am INTRIGUED.
Guys With Kids, "Apartment Halloween (EP106)" - This is still mostly cute. It was a pretty organic-feeling Halloween episode, which was nice. I've seen people saying they think the show makes Sheila a completely one-sided villain, but it doesn't really come across that way to me. Seen from the viewpoint of her ex's friends, pretty much anyone would come across badly.
Scandal, "Beltway Unbuckled (EP304)" - As soapy as this show is, I think the acting really sells it. Here's my weekly statement that I don't want to like Olivia and Fitz together, but I do. Of all the various political shows, Fitz is probably the most compelling version of the "brilliant, flawed powerful man" I can think of. And that thing at the end - wow. WOW. I literally squealed aloud when I saw who was walking into that room. I am INTRIGUED.
Guys With Kids, "Apartment Halloween (EP106)" - This is still mostly cute. It was a pretty organic-feeling Halloween episode, which was nice. I've seen people saying they think the show makes Sheila a completely one-sided villain, but it doesn't really come across that way to me. Seen from the viewpoint of her ex's friends, pretty much anyone would come across badly.
Monday, October 15, 2012
What I Watched: Homeland, Bomb Girls, Scandal
Homeland, "State of Independence (EP203)" - Whoa. Show. Whoa. You are Not Playing Around. I'm still bothered by some things that seem too coincidental or implausible, but it's so powerful and well-made that I'm willing to overlook that. Except, seriously, why would anyone send a famous war hero/congressman to do ANYTHING covert? But that semi-ridiculous set-up was made worth it by what Brody did in those woods. (I rewound my TiVo twice to make sure I'd actually seen what I thought I'd seen, because I was so shocked.) And the end, with Saul and Carrie . . . just wow.
Bomb Girls, "Armistice (EP105)" - I love what they're doing with Gladys and James's story. I was convinced that they would just have them implode, so I'm delighted that they're taking the more mature and less common route - at least so far - and letting them communicate and work things out - and make major changes, including with Gladys's father's company. Lorna's story has also been quite powerful, and I love the way Kate is blossoming, though I'm worried about that imploding too. Next week is the finale, and the promo looked very interesting, so yay.
Scandal, "The Other Woman (EP202)" - The "mistress of a great man" theme was a little heavy-handed, but the fact that it was so self-aware made it a little better - Olivia, Fitz, and Melly all very clearly saw the parallels, so it was less annoying than, say, some of the crazily coincidental Grey's Anatomy patients of the week. I still love Olivia and Fitz together, and hate that I love it, so, um, well done, Shonda? And most of the supporting characters and storylines are great, but I just don't care about Quinn's intrigue as much as the show wants me to.
Bomb Girls, "Armistice (EP105)" - I love what they're doing with Gladys and James's story. I was convinced that they would just have them implode, so I'm delighted that they're taking the more mature and less common route - at least so far - and letting them communicate and work things out - and make major changes, including with Gladys's father's company. Lorna's story has also been quite powerful, and I love the way Kate is blossoming, though I'm worried about that imploding too. Next week is the finale, and the promo looked very interesting, so yay.
Scandal, "The Other Woman (EP202)" - The "mistress of a great man" theme was a little heavy-handed, but the fact that it was so self-aware made it a little better - Olivia, Fitz, and Melly all very clearly saw the parallels, so it was less annoying than, say, some of the crazily coincidental Grey's Anatomy patients of the week. I still love Olivia and Fitz together, and hate that I love it, so, um, well done, Shonda? And most of the supporting characters and storylines are great, but I just don't care about Quinn's intrigue as much as the show wants me to.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
What I Watched: Common Law, Girls, Scandal
Live+7: Common Law, "Ride-Along (EP102)" - So far, at least, I don't think this show is quite at the level of White Collar or Burn Notice, but this episode was thoroughly enjoyable, and after two episodes I'm definitely into it enough to keep watching. The one thing I'm worried about is that the therapy bit will get annoying and repetitive after a while. It was a good hook for the show, but I'm not necessarily sure how long they can keep it up (or keep it onscreen, at least).
Catching up: Girls - I hadn't watched this since the premiere, and while I wasn't sure whether I'd like it from that episode, I definitely like it after watching the subsequent ones. The writing is strong, and the characters all feel like slightly exaggerated versions of people I know. That said, I understand why it's certainly not for everyone. It definitely feels like it has niche appeal.
Scandal - I hadn't watched this one since the premiere either, but I watched the rest of the season yesterday and got completely addicted. It's the perfect blend of political machinations, soapy personal stuff, and a little mystery solving, and the cast is incredible, especially Josh Malina, Kate Burton, and Tony Goldwyn. And really, you can keep all the paranormal love stories and whatever - apparently President/fixer is the kind of forbidden romance I can get behind. This ended with quite a cliffhanger, though I'm not as invested in Quinn's mystery as in the political stuff, and I'm so glad it's coming back in the fall.
Catching up: Girls - I hadn't watched this since the premiere, and while I wasn't sure whether I'd like it from that episode, I definitely like it after watching the subsequent ones. The writing is strong, and the characters all feel like slightly exaggerated versions of people I know. That said, I understand why it's certainly not for everyone. It definitely feels like it has niche appeal.
Scandal - I hadn't watched this one since the premiere either, but I watched the rest of the season yesterday and got completely addicted. It's the perfect blend of political machinations, soapy personal stuff, and a little mystery solving, and the cast is incredible, especially Josh Malina, Kate Burton, and Tony Goldwyn. And really, you can keep all the paranormal love stories and whatever - apparently President/fixer is the kind of forbidden romance I can get behind. This ended with quite a cliffhanger, though I'm not as invested in Quinn's mystery as in the political stuff, and I'm so glad it's coming back in the fall.
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