I can't believe it's only been a week. Ready for some Friday happy links?
Rick Steves, Civil Liberties Hero
Pretty sure many of us need this this week: I Stand With This Pic of Joshua Jackson
The Magicians, Syfy's whimsical drama, is 2017's answer to Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I finally watched the first episode of The Young Pope, which is somehow a real TV show, and you probably want to be reading Nicole Cliffe's recaps.
I'm also quite enjoying Taboo, and the British Library has an interesting related post about the East India Company headquarters.
Hero dictionary Merriam-Webster is exploring knitting terminology here and here.
Ooh, 28 Bookish Mugs for Readers. (I have so many mugs. I do not possibly need more. I want ALL THE MUGS.)
Whoa: This Ice Festival in China Is a Rainbow-colored Dream
Useful! How to Pack a Carry-On
Let's make Anglo-Saxon bread.
What Romance Fiction Can Accomplish
How the Victorian Fern-Hunting Craze Led To Adventure, Romance, and Crime
Showing posts with label The Magicians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Magicians. Show all posts
Friday, January 27, 2017
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Morning Coffee (1/26/16)
ICYMI: Yesterday's Oscar Project post was about Spotlight, which (so far) I want to win it all.
Me elsewhere: The Magicians premiered on Syfy last night and I wrote a bit about it.
Disgusting: Ted Cruz’s campaign is handing out bottled water in Flint — but only to anti-abortion groups
This is fascinating: 14 years a fugitive: the hunt for Ratko Mladić, the Butcher of Bosnia
Why Donald Trump Plays Phantom of the Opera at His Rallies
The most disturbing thing about Donald Rumsfeld's mobile gaming app is how very much I want to play it.
I am greatly enjoying the new X-Files but I ALSO enjoy the Fug Girls' rather grumpy (but loving) recap.
Related: I love when the CIA has a sense of humor.
You may all already know about this but I recently came across We Hunted the Mammoth and it's pretty great/infuriating!
Ooh: Fleeting Wonders: A Petrified Forest Unearthed By A Beach Storm
Shameless fans, here's a video for "The F Word"!
I'm not sure why Slate/Atlas Obscura are talking about Julian of Norwich, but she was quite interesting.
Me elsewhere: The Magicians premiered on Syfy last night and I wrote a bit about it.
Disgusting: Ted Cruz’s campaign is handing out bottled water in Flint — but only to anti-abortion groups
This is fascinating: 14 years a fugitive: the hunt for Ratko Mladić, the Butcher of Bosnia
Why Donald Trump Plays Phantom of the Opera at His Rallies
The most disturbing thing about Donald Rumsfeld's mobile gaming app is how very much I want to play it.
I am greatly enjoying the new X-Files but I ALSO enjoy the Fug Girls' rather grumpy (but loving) recap.
Related: I love when the CIA has a sense of humor.
You may all already know about this but I recently came across We Hunted the Mammoth and it's pretty great/infuriating!
Ooh: Fleeting Wonders: A Petrified Forest Unearthed By A Beach Storm
Shameless fans, here's a video for "The F Word"!
I'm not sure why Slate/Atlas Obscura are talking about Julian of Norwich, but she was quite interesting.
Friday, January 8, 2016
Quick TV Takes: The Magicians, Shannara, American Crime, New Comedies
A few shows started over the past few weeks and I didn't have time to write full posts about any of them, so how about some quick thoughts?
The Magicians (Syfy, Mondays at 9/8c, premieres January 25th) - As I mentioned in today's Morning Coffee, I loved this premiere. "Adult Harry Potter" is the easy way to characterize this, but it's reasonably accurate - young man finds out magic is real and goes to a special university to study it. They make some major changes from the novel but none particularly upset me (so far) and I instantly wanted to watch more, which is always a good sign.
The Shannara Chronicles (MTV, Tuesdays at 10/9c) - Another fantasy novel adaptation (with a third coming next week with Shadowhunters). It was . . . fine? I honestly think the premiere was hurt by being SO LONG (almost two hours) - it started feeling like a slog, and some plotlines were introduced without really giving the audience reason to care about them. I like a lot of the cast; I like the way the chosen one is kind of dumb and surrounded by smart women. The elves wore more t-shirts than I expected. I'll watch at least one more episode.
American Crime (ABC, Wednesdays at 10/9c) - I'm counting this as new because it's an anthology, so this second season has some of the same cast but they're playing different characters and it's a new plot. It took a lot of soul-searching but I managed to watch this even though I only saw a few episodes of the first season. I've seen a lot of people say this show is easier to admire than to like, and that makes sense; luckily I tend to like slow, serious TV, as well as things about prep schools and sports team dynamics. I like that it's paying attention to race and class and gender and how they affect perceptions of crime and justice. John Ridley's directing is great. I'm in.
Superstore (NBC, Mondays at 8/7c) - This comedy about employees at a Walmart clone also does some interesting things with race and class and gender, actually. It's funny and charming. America Ferrera is a delight, of course. And the most recent episode revealed something that genuinely surprised me and suggested it wasn't going the most predictable route, so now I'm intrigued.
Telenovela (NBC, Mondays at 8:30/7:30c) - I just realized while writing this that NBC has two comedies with Latina leads back to back and that's nifty. I don't like Telenovela as much as Superstore, but it's cute, and has some actors I like in it (Diana Maria Riva! Zach Levi!).
Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life (Fox, Sundays at 8:30/7:30c) - Comedy about post-college guys learning about the real world. I watched four minutes of this and decided it wasn't for me. It was far from the worst comedy I've ever seen, I'm just . . . not its audience. Which is fine! I wish to like fewer TV shows, in general, really.
(I haven't watched Angel from Hell or Shades of Blue yet - look for another post next week about them and a few other new shows.)
The Magicians (Syfy, Mondays at 9/8c, premieres January 25th) - As I mentioned in today's Morning Coffee, I loved this premiere. "Adult Harry Potter" is the easy way to characterize this, but it's reasonably accurate - young man finds out magic is real and goes to a special university to study it. They make some major changes from the novel but none particularly upset me (so far) and I instantly wanted to watch more, which is always a good sign.
The Shannara Chronicles (MTV, Tuesdays at 10/9c) - Another fantasy novel adaptation (with a third coming next week with Shadowhunters). It was . . . fine? I honestly think the premiere was hurt by being SO LONG (almost two hours) - it started feeling like a slog, and some plotlines were introduced without really giving the audience reason to care about them. I like a lot of the cast; I like the way the chosen one is kind of dumb and surrounded by smart women. The elves wore more t-shirts than I expected. I'll watch at least one more episode.
American Crime (ABC, Wednesdays at 10/9c) - I'm counting this as new because it's an anthology, so this second season has some of the same cast but they're playing different characters and it's a new plot. It took a lot of soul-searching but I managed to watch this even though I only saw a few episodes of the first season. I've seen a lot of people say this show is easier to admire than to like, and that makes sense; luckily I tend to like slow, serious TV, as well as things about prep schools and sports team dynamics. I like that it's paying attention to race and class and gender and how they affect perceptions of crime and justice. John Ridley's directing is great. I'm in.
Superstore (NBC, Mondays at 8/7c) - This comedy about employees at a Walmart clone also does some interesting things with race and class and gender, actually. It's funny and charming. America Ferrera is a delight, of course. And the most recent episode revealed something that genuinely surprised me and suggested it wasn't going the most predictable route, so now I'm intrigued.
Telenovela (NBC, Mondays at 8:30/7:30c) - I just realized while writing this that NBC has two comedies with Latina leads back to back and that's nifty. I don't like Telenovela as much as Superstore, but it's cute, and has some actors I like in it (Diana Maria Riva! Zach Levi!).
Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life (Fox, Sundays at 8:30/7:30c) - Comedy about post-college guys learning about the real world. I watched four minutes of this and decided it wasn't for me. It was far from the worst comedy I've ever seen, I'm just . . . not its audience. Which is fine! I wish to like fewer TV shows, in general, really.
(I haven't watched Angel from Hell or Shades of Blue yet - look for another post next week about them and a few other new shows.)
Morning Coffee (1/8/16)
Happy Friday! And a big thank you and welcome to my newest Patreon patron Lisa! Want to join in the fun and get exclusive stuff? Click here!
I loved the first episode of The Magicians, based on my pal Lev Grossman's books, and it's now online and on demand if you want to give it a watch before the January 25th premiere! Let me know what you think!
Speaking of TV, I'm sure you will all be shocked to hear that I am VERY EXCITED about The Crown, Netflix's upcoming drama about the Queen. Here is the first preview. It looks so angsty! Matt Smith looks so much like Prince Philip! I'm mildly concerned it's going to be unfair to the Queen, for whom I honestly have a lot of respect because of the way she has sincerely devoted her life to duty and hard work!
Ooh! The New York Public Library Just Uploaded Over 187,000 Free Images For All To Use
DANCING DINOSAURS
GINGERBREAD HOGWARTS
The Periodic Table Just Got Four New Elements. Everything Is Different Now.
I love this song and did not know any of this! How "The Sound of Silence" Became a Surprise Hit
Greatest list of losers ever?
Perhaps your Friday needs a quiz of dreamy men: Which British TV drama man will you hook up with? (I got Poldark, and he's a bit earnest and idealistic for me, but I guess we're saying "hook up with" not "deal with forever" so . . . I'll take it.)
Every Time Someone’s Eyes Flash Fire In A Sir Walter Scott Novel
I loved the first episode of The Magicians, based on my pal Lev Grossman's books, and it's now online and on demand if you want to give it a watch before the January 25th premiere! Let me know what you think!
Speaking of TV, I'm sure you will all be shocked to hear that I am VERY EXCITED about The Crown, Netflix's upcoming drama about the Queen. Here is the first preview. It looks so angsty! Matt Smith looks so much like Prince Philip! I'm mildly concerned it's going to be unfair to the Queen, for whom I honestly have a lot of respect because of the way she has sincerely devoted her life to duty and hard work!
Ooh! The New York Public Library Just Uploaded Over 187,000 Free Images For All To Use
DANCING DINOSAURS
GINGERBREAD HOGWARTS
The Periodic Table Just Got Four New Elements. Everything Is Different Now.
I love this song and did not know any of this! How "The Sound of Silence" Became a Surprise Hit
Greatest list of losers ever?
Perhaps your Friday needs a quiz of dreamy men: Which British TV drama man will you hook up with? (I got Poldark, and he's a bit earnest and idealistic for me, but I guess we're saying "hook up with" not "deal with forever" so . . . I'll take it.)
Every Time Someone’s Eyes Flash Fire In A Sir Walter Scott Novel
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Morning Coffee (10/14/15)
Me elsewhere: The Last Kingdom is promising. As is the new Magicians trailer.
This is one of those headlines that makes you say "Wait, ALL options here are terrible:" Afghan ISIS Branch Makes Inroads in Battle Against Taliban
!!!! “Serial” Update: We Need To Talk About Hae’s Boyfriend Don
Well: "In August of last year, its website dispensed with nudity. As a result, Playboy executives said, the average age of its reader dropped from 47 to just over 30, and its web traffic jumped to about 16 million from about four million unique users per month."
Nobel Renews Debate on Chinese Medicine
Who Will Save the World's Chocolate? AN IMPORTANT QUESTION INDEED.
Happy belated Ada Lovelace Day! Here's a good book list.
This conversation between Ezra Klein and the CEO of Trello is great, if you, like me, are fascinated by productivity software and organization methods.
How a Fake Typhus Epidemic Saved a Polish City from the Nazis
Decades After Her Death, Mystery Still Surrounds Crime Novelist Josephine Tey
Perfect: A Harry Potter Where Hermione Doesn’t Do Anyone’s Homework For Them
This is one of those headlines that makes you say "Wait, ALL options here are terrible:" Afghan ISIS Branch Makes Inroads in Battle Against Taliban
!!!! “Serial” Update: We Need To Talk About Hae’s Boyfriend Don
Well: "In August of last year, its website dispensed with nudity. As a result, Playboy executives said, the average age of its reader dropped from 47 to just over 30, and its web traffic jumped to about 16 million from about four million unique users per month."
Nobel Renews Debate on Chinese Medicine
Who Will Save the World's Chocolate? AN IMPORTANT QUESTION INDEED.
Happy belated Ada Lovelace Day! Here's a good book list.
This conversation between Ezra Klein and the CEO of Trello is great, if you, like me, are fascinated by productivity software and organization methods.
How a Fake Typhus Epidemic Saved a Polish City from the Nazis
Decades After Her Death, Mystery Still Surrounds Crime Novelist Josephine Tey
Perfect: A Harry Potter Where Hermione Doesn’t Do Anyone’s Homework For Them
Friday, May 15, 2015
Morning Coffee (5/15/15)
Happy Friday!
Me elsewhere: Our final network fall schedule: The CW.
I'll continue recommending Todd's schedule analysis: CBS, ABC, FOX.
And here's his How The CW went from near extinction to surprising success
Eee, look at the trailer for The Magicians!
Anne Helen Petersen's celebrity features are always worth reading: Anna Kendrick vs. the Hollywood Type Machine
Find Out What Your Name Would Be If You Were Born Today is fun . . .
. . . but finding out what presidential candidates' names would be is better.
In case you also missed it: Downton Wars. And the fact that Rob James-Collier owns evilbutler.com is my new favorite thing.
I haven't had a chance to play yet, but this Where Is Your Gun Now, Mr. Chekov? game looks nifty.
Signs That Agatha Christie Is About to Murder You
Me elsewhere: Our final network fall schedule: The CW.
I'll continue recommending Todd's schedule analysis: CBS, ABC, FOX.
And here's his How The CW went from near extinction to surprising success
Eee, look at the trailer for The Magicians!
Anne Helen Petersen's celebrity features are always worth reading: Anna Kendrick vs. the Hollywood Type Machine
Find Out What Your Name Would Be If You Were Born Today is fun . . .
. . . but finding out what presidential candidates' names would be is better.
In case you also missed it: Downton Wars. And the fact that Rob James-Collier owns evilbutler.com is my new favorite thing.
I haven't had a chance to play yet, but this Where Is Your Gun Now, Mr. Chekov? game looks nifty.
Signs That Agatha Christie Is About to Murder You
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)