Lately, television has been taking a bit of a dive lately. Of course we all know the reason for that. The Writer’s Strike has been going on for a while now and I believe that it has successfully hit TV really hard. For example, the CHRISTMAS episode of House just aired the Tuesday before the Superbowl (January 29 if my reading of Google Calendar isn’t failing me). Wow. I understand the need to do a Christmas episode and similarly the need to stretch your season out as far as possible, but holy crap cracker, think about that. You are releasing a Christmas episode in January. Personally, they should have released it as the last episode of last year as that was such an interesting episode that it could definitely have worked as a “we’re taking a break” episode.
A show that I am slightly annoyed by is Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. This show is mostly annoying me because I think they write the episode AFTER they finish shooting it. Slight exaggeration, I know, but the show has such terrible points of atrocious acting and the inability to keep a straight story. I just finished watching Heavy Metal which is episode 4. Now, I have voiced my biggest issue with this show to those few that I have talked in person with about this show. Well, in case you aren’t one of those lucky few that I have had the pleasure of having dinner with, here it is. Summer Glau’s character is Cameron, the machine that is sent back in time to protect John Connor. In the pilot episode when you were introduced to the character, you genuinely believed that she was a normal high school student. Personally, I was doubting the fact that she was a Machine when you first hear her talk and interact with John. Then as the show goes on, she becomes a Machine like we expect; stale and static in personality. Don’t get me wrong, I like the way Ms. Glau is playing the character now, but that first episode was kind of off-putting in comparison to the character she plays in the rest of the series thus far. The one thing that is constantly annoying about the show is that John Connor is a whiny bitch. He doesn’t understand what the fuck he is doing, but doesn’t give a shit because if things don’t go his way, he will either sulk and be a whinier bitch or put everyone in danger much like in the episode I just watched. Btw, I just got around to watching it today because it wasn’t released online until today. I have to watch it online due to recording conflicts. You put six people in a house with a single DVR and eventually you have to give up a show here and there. Now, the show as a whole is rather enjoyable and I will continue to watch it regardless of how bitchy and whiny John Connor becomes.
Another show that I am starting to watch and enjoy is In Treatment. This drama is about a psychologist and his patients and how his sessions with his patients influence his personal life. The show is on HBO every Monday through Friday. Each day is a session with a client on that particular day. Monday’s are Laura, Tuesdays Alex, et cetera. Every episode is simply the session with the client, so the complexities arise in the dialog between Paul, the psychologist (Gabriel Byrne), and whatever client(s) he happens to have that day. Not a whole lot happens in each episode, just talking and two people interacting, but the way the show has played out so far makes it extremely interesting. Maybe its Gabriel Byrne. Maybe its that this show is about what my wife wants to do with her life. I can’t really explain why it is interesting other than the interactions between the characters is so damned enthralling. I definitely recommend this show if you haven’t started watching it.
Well, I think that’s about it for now. I hope you all enjoy the nifty stories that share in the Google Reader widget over there to the right.
Tags: Christmas, Gabriel Byrne, Google Calendar, House, IMDB, In Treatment, Summer Glau, Superbowl, Television, Terminator
We don’t have cable or satellite or anything so I a stuck watching stuff online or with my friend Michelle in the middle of the night at her house. I appreciate your opinions because generally you have really good ones and these will save me time. Now I know at least a few things I don’t really want to watch and a few I can look forward too.
Also thank you for the links you add. I know it is extra work to add them but it is helpful. I love Summer Glau and didn’t realize she was in all that stuff. It is also very sweet of you to link to Lexy’s page. I’ve been wondering about her lately since she hasn’t blogged recently. Keep up the good work.
I can forgive the whole inconsistency of the new terminator being a bit too human on the first episode, but what really really bothers me about the new show is Summer Glau’s birthmark/scar/mole/whatever-it-is on her left eyebrow. Every time I see her in a scene I’m distracted by it, and being in high def only makes it 10 times worse. Am I crazy?
Yeah, you’re crazy. :) Seriously though, it is a bit distracting and I don’t really have any preference for that show at all.
Hey there Becca! I’m fine and I know I need to blog more often. I just get really sensitive about the quality of stuff I post. I need to take the husband’s advice and just “let it flow” more often. I think that’s what he does and I always like to read his stuff.
What Tony says is true, I would love to do what the main character from “In Treatment” does. I would love to have a home someday that could be modified to accommodate an office and such where I could see clients. I’m not look forward to the every day grind of running my own business like haggling back and forth with insurance companies and doing business taxes. After you put in so many hours doing paperwork you end up not making as much money as people think counselors and psychologists make. Sure you charge a boatload an hour but there’s so much paperwork you can only see 2 clients a day, maybe less. Anyway, I digress. :)
Well there you go Lexy-chan! Something to blog about right there. I can add oddles of comments about business owning, customer service, and such. I also agree that we should all just do like Tony-chan and “let it flow.” ^_^
so the complexities arise in the dialog between Paul, the psychologist (Gabriel Byrne), and whatever client(s) he happens to have that day