Live+7: White Heat, "The Personal Is Political (EP104)" - As this series continues, my feelings become more mixed: The huge time jumps let them visit different interesting periods of history, but make it hard to stay attached to the characters or even follow exactly what's going on with them. This week, I particularly loved Orla's support of Jay and his heartbreaking scene with his family.
Veep, "Full Disclosure (EP107)" - I wasn't as wild about this episode as I've been of some of the previous ones, but it was still solid and I'm still loving the show overall. I was really disappointed, though, that the pregnancy was dispensed with so quickly - I was hoping that they'd do something more interesting with that. Same with Ted, now that I think about it: I'd rather see the way they learned to negotiate the relationship rather than just have the quick joke of someone breaking up by proxy.
Girls, "Weirdos Need Girlfriends Too (EP108)" - Oh, Adam Adam Adam. I think Hannah and Adam's relationship is one of the most realistic I've seen on TV. The "angry guys" theme was well done. I also loved Marnie's wallowing (to Demi Lovato!) and her speech about how it's not fun being the uptight one. I'm really glad I've stuck with this show; it's been such an unexpected delight for me.
On the list... Teen Wolf, Lost Girl
Showing posts with label Veep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Veep. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
What I Watched: The LA Complex Finale, Game of Thrones, & More
Live-ish: The L.A. Complex, "Burn It Down (EP106)" - I like finales that burn everything down (usually metaphorically), so I was excited that they went for it and just called this "Burn It Down." This was a great finale capping off a really solid season, though I must admit I'm more interested in everyone else than Nick (who is really THE WORST, huh?) or Cassie. The CW still hasn't confirmed that this is coming back, but here's hoping.
Live+7: Game of Thrones, "Blackwater (EP209)" - This episode was quite good in general, but what really stood out to me was how great Peter Dinklage is. Not that that's news, but this was a great showcase for him. This one was also more limited in points of view, which I think really worked, though of course I missed Robb, Jon, etc.
Veep, "Baseball (EP106)" - I'm still adoring this show, and I really didn't expect that they would actually have Selina be pregnant. I thought they would take the whole episode to use all the jokes, and then have it all be a false alarm. So I'm really fascinated to see what they do next.
Catching Up: The Killing, "Undertow (EP109)" - Linden wore a new sweater! The teacher's wife became particularly interesting this episode. I still love Holder. Etc.
On the list... Cougar Town, because I tried to watch live but the beginning was preempted for storm coverage. Hatfields and McCoys.
Live+7: Game of Thrones, "Blackwater (EP209)" - This episode was quite good in general, but what really stood out to me was how great Peter Dinklage is. Not that that's news, but this was a great showcase for him. This one was also more limited in points of view, which I think really worked, though of course I missed Robb, Jon, etc.
Veep, "Baseball (EP106)" - I'm still adoring this show, and I really didn't expect that they would actually have Selina be pregnant. I thought they would take the whole episode to use all the jokes, and then have it all be a false alarm. So I'm really fascinated to see what they do next.
Catching Up: The Killing, "Undertow (EP109)" - Linden wore a new sweater! The teacher's wife became particularly interesting this episode. I still love Holder. Etc.
On the list... Cougar Town, because I tried to watch live but the beginning was preempted for storm coverage. Hatfields and McCoys.
Monday, May 21, 2012
What I Watched: Game of Thrones, Veep, Girls
Live-ish:Game of Thrones, "The Prince of Winterfell (EP208)" - This episode didn't particularly strike me as a stand-out, but it was solid, and at this point in the season of any serialized show, there's usually a lot of setup for the finale. Tyrion, of course, continues to be the best, and everyone should just listen to him. I also never liked Arya until she started hanging out with Tywin, so that's . . . odd.
Veep, "Nicknames (EP105)" - I'm still loving this - it's probably my favorite of the HBO Sunday night shows - and Jonah and Dan's faux-bromance was my favorite thing last night, as they're my two favorite characters. I'm impressed with the line this show as walked between combining real-feeling moments with humor while not being so ridiculous that it's all just a joke.
Girls, "The Return (EP106)" - This was the first episode that didn't take place in New York and didn't really include the girls other than Hannah, so I was a little worried that it wouldn't be as engaging, but it more than made up for the lack of main characters with the way it handled Hannah's trip home to Michigan. It was pitch-perfect, from Hannah's instant reversion to the emotional age of 12 when she entered her parents' house to her interactions with former classmates to the ridiculous benefit event.
Catching Up: The Killing, "The Cage (EP102)" - I know I'm really late to the party, but this show is fascinating so far. I'm hoping that knowing everyone's frustration with how the first season ended - and having season 2 on the TiVo already - will mean I don't wind up hating it.
Game of Thrones - I like this but don't find it as compelling as a lot of my friends do, so I hadn't watched most of this season until I decided to catch up yesterday. I think I like it on an intellectual level but don't find it emotionally engaging. I'm not sure whether I'd feel this way no matter what or whether it has to do with having read the book already. Although I don't mean to sound so negative - I like it a lot and it's extremely well-done.
Royal Pains - I love this show but missed the third season, so I'm catching up before it comes back next month. The third season is rather darker than the earlier ones, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It also occurred to me while watching yesterday that USA shows are basically the only things that make hot weather look appealing to me. Good thing they're on almost every night this summer.
On the list... Sherlock, The Killing, The Borgias
Veep, "Nicknames (EP105)" - I'm still loving this - it's probably my favorite of the HBO Sunday night shows - and Jonah and Dan's faux-bromance was my favorite thing last night, as they're my two favorite characters. I'm impressed with the line this show as walked between combining real-feeling moments with humor while not being so ridiculous that it's all just a joke.
Girls, "The Return (EP106)" - This was the first episode that didn't take place in New York and didn't really include the girls other than Hannah, so I was a little worried that it wouldn't be as engaging, but it more than made up for the lack of main characters with the way it handled Hannah's trip home to Michigan. It was pitch-perfect, from Hannah's instant reversion to the emotional age of 12 when she entered her parents' house to her interactions with former classmates to the ridiculous benefit event.
Catching Up: The Killing, "The Cage (EP102)" - I know I'm really late to the party, but this show is fascinating so far. I'm hoping that knowing everyone's frustration with how the first season ended - and having season 2 on the TiVo already - will mean I don't wind up hating it.
Game of Thrones - I like this but don't find it as compelling as a lot of my friends do, so I hadn't watched most of this season until I decided to catch up yesterday. I think I like it on an intellectual level but don't find it emotionally engaging. I'm not sure whether I'd feel this way no matter what or whether it has to do with having read the book already. Although I don't mean to sound so negative - I like it a lot and it's extremely well-done.
Royal Pains - I love this show but missed the third season, so I'm catching up before it comes back next month. The third season is rather darker than the earlier ones, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It also occurred to me while watching yesterday that USA shows are basically the only things that make hot weather look appealing to me. Good thing they're on almost every night this summer.
On the list... Sherlock, The Killing, The Borgias
Monday, May 14, 2012
What I Watched: Veep, Blue Bloods Finale, & More
Live-ish: Veep, "Chung (EP104)" - I know this show isn't particularly realistic, but I'm still really enjoying it anyway. And I did like the cynicism of this episode: when it finally got into real issues (like immigration), I thought it was clever to avoid having Selina really take sides that would potentially alienate viewers by going all the way through that issue and having her take sides for purely political reasons, rather than having her avoid espousing positions at all. Jonah is still my favorite. "You're not even your mom's favorite Jonah, Jonah!"
Live+7: Common Law, "Pilot (EP101)" - I saw a screener of this several weeks ago, so I watched the finished version of the pilot last night to refresh my memory. I'm not sure it will ever attain the level of my favorite USA shows like Burn Notice and White Collar, but it seems like it will be solid fun, and I already like it better than Suits or Necessary Roughness. (Over at TheTelevixen.com, read my feature with star Michael Ealy and our 10 reasons to watch.)
The Mentalist, "Red Rover, Red Rover (EP423)" - I usually count on this show for some mindless procedural fun, so it's always disconcerting when it goes creepy and serious as it did in this episode. That said, it was really well done, and a good reminder that Simon Baker can be more than just a pretty smirk when they actually give him something to work with. I'm still not thrilled with what they've done this season in general, but this episode definitely got me interested in seeing where they go with the finale. Oh, and I also liked the way it illustrated how Lisbon actually cares about Jane, and how that may get her in big trouble eventually.
Blue Bloods, "Mother's Day (EP222)" - This was the season finale, and gosh, I'll miss the Reagans until they come back in the fall. The "terrorist plot against the city" storylines never have all that much tension (on this show or others) because we know the good guys will actually save the day, so I liked the way they added tension with Frank's thoughts of resigning - I didn't believe they'd destroy New York, but I believed they might have him quit. I also really liked the stuff between Danny and Jamie, and I've been impressed by the way they weave in the family's grief and unresolved feelings about the mother and Joe without belaboring it or making them seem overly fixated.
On the list: Sherlock, The Borgias, The Killing, Game of Thrones, Girls
Live+7: Common Law, "Pilot (EP101)" - I saw a screener of this several weeks ago, so I watched the finished version of the pilot last night to refresh my memory. I'm not sure it will ever attain the level of my favorite USA shows like Burn Notice and White Collar, but it seems like it will be solid fun, and I already like it better than Suits or Necessary Roughness. (Over at TheTelevixen.com, read my feature with star Michael Ealy and our 10 reasons to watch.)
The Mentalist, "Red Rover, Red Rover (EP423)" - I usually count on this show for some mindless procedural fun, so it's always disconcerting when it goes creepy and serious as it did in this episode. That said, it was really well done, and a good reminder that Simon Baker can be more than just a pretty smirk when they actually give him something to work with. I'm still not thrilled with what they've done this season in general, but this episode definitely got me interested in seeing where they go with the finale. Oh, and I also liked the way it illustrated how Lisbon actually cares about Jane, and how that may get her in big trouble eventually.
Blue Bloods, "Mother's Day (EP222)" - This was the season finale, and gosh, I'll miss the Reagans until they come back in the fall. The "terrorist plot against the city" storylines never have all that much tension (on this show or others) because we know the good guys will actually save the day, so I liked the way they added tension with Frank's thoughts of resigning - I didn't believe they'd destroy New York, but I believed they might have him quit. I also really liked the stuff between Danny and Jamie, and I've been impressed by the way they weave in the family's grief and unresolved feelings about the mother and Joe without belaboring it or making them seem overly fixated.
On the list: Sherlock, The Borgias, The Killing, Game of Thrones, Girls
Friday, May 11, 2012
What I Watched: Vampire Diaries & Secret Circle Finales & More
I was home sick yesterday, and after sleeping for half the day it meant I managed to catch up on some things . . .
Live-ish: The Vampire Diaries, "The Departed (EP322)" - I wasn't as blown away by this finale as I have been in previous years, but I thought it was good, and I'm THRILLED with what it set up for next season. I know a lot of people are upset about some things that happened, and I understand why, but this is definitely a time when I think my viewing experience is improved by not having a horse in the shipper race for this show. I particularly loved Jeremy and Matt in this episode, and I'm so glad that neither of them were killed off. Snarky Damon is my favorite Damon, and I can't wait to see what happens now that Elena will remember everything.
The Secret Circle, "Family (EP122)" - This finale was very strong, and led me to write the phrase "Witch Hitler Casanova" for the first time in my life, and this show has improved so much overall that I will be very sad if it doesn't come back next season. The finale set up some REALLY interesting ideas for where they could go with it.
Awake, "Say Hello to My Little Friend (EP111)" - THIS SHOW. Why is no one watching this show? I know everyone else was crying over vampires and witches, but this was the episode last night that really got to me. Jason Isaacs is astonishingly good, and I will never listen to "Bohemian Rhapsody" the same way again.
Community, "Curriculum Unavailable (EP319)" - I usually love Community's moments of darkness, but I watched this episode after the previous three shows mentioned last night, and I was perhaps a little too tired and drained for it. But still, it was very good, and I love when they "remember" things they never showed us (as in the "clip show") because the idea of characters having whole lives we don't see is one that knocks us off balance in an interesting way.
Live+7: Revenge, "Legacy (EP120)" - This flashback episode was fun, but it didn't necessarily do a whole lot to advance the plot or keep up any sort of momentum. Update: Nolan is still the bestest.
Veep, "Catherine (EP103)" - I'm enjoying this show more with each episode, and I thought newcomer Sarah Sutherland did an amazing job as the sort of uber-Ellie Bartlet. I hope she's back in future episodes, and I hope her interesting chemistry with Jonah is explored.
White Heat, "The Past Is a Foreign Country (EP101)" - Loved it. Quick Pilot Thoughts post will be up later today.
Catching up: Gossip Girl, "It Girl, Interrupted (EP519)" - I'm not sure how I got so far behind on this show, given that I think Dan and Blair is the best thing to happen to it in a long time. And I loved Nate actually scheming semi-successfully in this episode. Nate Archibald: Serious Businessman is such a thoroughly delightful surprise this season.
How I Met Your Mother, "Now We Are Even (EP721)" - I know exactly how I got behind on this one - Bones moved into its timeslot. Anyway, I liked this episode and especially the way it handled the Ted/Robin friction, but I am becoming ever more worried that on Monday we will discover that Barney is marrying someone other than Robin, and that is UNACCEPTABLE.
On the list: Scandal, Missing
Live-ish: The Vampire Diaries, "The Departed (EP322)" - I wasn't as blown away by this finale as I have been in previous years, but I thought it was good, and I'm THRILLED with what it set up for next season. I know a lot of people are upset about some things that happened, and I understand why, but this is definitely a time when I think my viewing experience is improved by not having a horse in the shipper race for this show. I particularly loved Jeremy and Matt in this episode, and I'm so glad that neither of them were killed off. Snarky Damon is my favorite Damon, and I can't wait to see what happens now that Elena will remember everything.
The Secret Circle, "Family (EP122)" - This finale was very strong, and led me to write the phrase "Witch Hitler Casanova" for the first time in my life, and this show has improved so much overall that I will be very sad if it doesn't come back next season. The finale set up some REALLY interesting ideas for where they could go with it.
Awake, "Say Hello to My Little Friend (EP111)" - THIS SHOW. Why is no one watching this show? I know everyone else was crying over vampires and witches, but this was the episode last night that really got to me. Jason Isaacs is astonishingly good, and I will never listen to "Bohemian Rhapsody" the same way again.
Community, "Curriculum Unavailable (EP319)" - I usually love Community's moments of darkness, but I watched this episode after the previous three shows mentioned last night, and I was perhaps a little too tired and drained for it. But still, it was very good, and I love when they "remember" things they never showed us (as in the "clip show") because the idea of characters having whole lives we don't see is one that knocks us off balance in an interesting way.
Live+7: Revenge, "Legacy (EP120)" - This flashback episode was fun, but it didn't necessarily do a whole lot to advance the plot or keep up any sort of momentum. Update: Nolan is still the bestest.
Veep, "Catherine (EP103)" - I'm enjoying this show more with each episode, and I thought newcomer Sarah Sutherland did an amazing job as the sort of uber-Ellie Bartlet. I hope she's back in future episodes, and I hope her interesting chemistry with Jonah is explored.
White Heat, "The Past Is a Foreign Country (EP101)" - Loved it. Quick Pilot Thoughts post will be up later today.
Catching up: Gossip Girl, "It Girl, Interrupted (EP519)" - I'm not sure how I got so far behind on this show, given that I think Dan and Blair is the best thing to happen to it in a long time. And I loved Nate actually scheming semi-successfully in this episode. Nate Archibald: Serious Businessman is such a thoroughly delightful surprise this season.
How I Met Your Mother, "Now We Are Even (EP721)" - I know exactly how I got behind on this one - Bones moved into its timeslot. Anyway, I liked this episode and especially the way it handled the Ted/Robin friction, but I am becoming ever more worried that on Monday we will discover that Barney is marrying someone other than Robin, and that is UNACCEPTABLE.
On the list: Scandal, Missing
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