sometimes the complexity and tangled-ness of it feels maybe a bit more forced than it used to.
Yes, I'm 6 episodes in and I do have the occasional "wait, what was this bit about, again?" feeling, but the show has always been one to rewatch repeatedly, so I'm actually OK with being disoriented. I assume it'll make sense second time round. But otherwise my impressions are very positive. Tobias's license plate alone was worth the month's Netflix subscription.
I've basically been avoiding talking about Arrested Development until I finish the 4th season. But 7 episodes in I can say that I'm very happy they brought it back. Less laugh out loud moments, but the writing is still so great. I think this one will require even more repeat viewings because the fact that every episode basically happens at the same time as others makes it even more difficult to follow than before.
I do wish they had released them one per week to keep everybody on the same pace and it was easier to discuss.
I adore Treme but Jonah it is not going to "pick up the pace." That's the show, loosely plotted vignettes of the characters (who do have arcs, they develop and change and go through stuff just not how tv dictates they usually should) and the city. It is what it is. I just bought the S1 and S2 DVDs to rewatch (plus S1 Game of Thrones, I only recently got a DVD player again). I LOVE that show.
Thanks, that's good to know. I think I may have misunderstood some of the initial comments back when Treme first began, perhaps confusing the use of Wire actors as some remark on the Treme storyline.
I watched another episode today. I think I'm five in. I am still totally irritated by John Goodman's presence, not to mention that junkie piano player, but the annoying radio station dj is becoming less so, and I'm acclimating to the pace of the story.
OH ALSO do check out the Treme Explained series at the Picayune, they are essential to me. Goes through each episode and explains the local references and people, plus all the music used. This is the link to the Season 1 recaps and it just lists the episode titles so if you go there and only click on the ones you've seen you won't be spoiled on anything (not that it is a twists and turns kind of show but there are a couple of things you might prefer not to know beforehand.)
@NankerP That is cool. I've liked the first two season of Treme. The large number of real musicians in it is fun. Steve Earle is is in quite a few episodes. The sudden and random violence that occurs seems to be one of the more accurate parts of its portrayal of post-Katrina New Orleans.
- Oh hell yes! Tryriol the dwarf is back in the game! While there are some actors painful to watch, I think GoT has a pretty strong cast doing a pretty strong job. That said, the dude that plays Tryol is tops of that group. Though, really, pretty much everyone who plays a role as a Lassiter is doing great. Sherry and Jamie both are great characters, the father is a bit of a drag, but for the role he's supposed to play, keeping things dry and flat might be the best face to put to that characters. King Bieber, as irritating as that kid is, wonderfully displays just how fucked up the monarchy system is, etc.
- Aria is still my favorite Stark. Actually, I dislike all the Starks, unless John Snow counts as a Stark, and then I guess I'm okay with him. Actually, I take that back. I hate the Jon Snow character and the actor that plays him is irritating. However, Snow gets to go on all the cool adventures in all the cool places, so I'm always glad when they return to his scenes. As much as I disliked his Downton Abbey girlfriend, I always did enjoy when she's mock him via mimicry.
-So cool that we are getting to see lots of scenes at The Wall. And it looks like my hopes will be answered... next season will be a war against the white walkers and their dead (which, btw, that whole thing got confirmed for me, as far as who was who and what was what).
-That whole Stansislaw Boratian storyline has gotten fucking tedious. And though I did enjoy Stan's second in command asking his daughter, "Why is there a 'g' in 'night'?" as he learned to read, I'd prefer they just make that whole island sink into the sea and pretend it never happened. Stanslaw and that creepy red chick have outlived their interest. The exterior shots of that castle, and some of the rooms that overlook the water, however, are pretty cool from a b-roll perspective.
-I guess I'm okay that Dog is still around. He makes for a cute match with Aria. And now that I think about it, the show has matched Aria with a nice set of complementary characters... that sword-fighting teacher, that dude from the Red Guard (?) that killed those people for her, the bastard kid son of the dead king (John? Robert?), and now Dog, who is growing less irritating.
-Guh, they just couldn't go an episode with showing that blonde dragon chick. So boring. Yes, it's very nice that she's setting slaves free, but really she's just as spoiled and entitled as anyone else who thinks they've got a birthright. It was cool to see the dragons again. They didn't show up the last couple episodes. Unfortunately, she's probably going to be a major player in next season, which is not a good thing.
-It was kind of a dull episode, now that I think upon it. Not much for a season finale. But then again, it seems like the fireworks of GoT Season Finale have historically been let loose on the next-to-last episode of the season, so the relative dullness can be forgiven. And besides, they showed a bunch of the Lancasters (Lassiters?) on the last episode, so that made me very happy.
-That councilor who was the mayor of Baltimore on The Wire... I kind of expected he's show up in the final episode, but the way the storyline went, there was no reason for that. I assume he'll be one of those characters that gets forgotten, but then gets revisited at some dire and important moment when he comes to save the day (or comes to kill the day).
-I'm kind of warming to the Stone Isle sister of Theo (is it Theo? The ones who's getting tortured?). I don't know... she just had a nice scene arguing with her father. I'm kind of looking forward to seeing where that goes.
-I don't mind the Theo torture scenes. I was always irritated with his character and am glad someone is taking it out on him. Now, if only they could get the legless Stark kid and his friends with their Fob powers up on the torture rack, then maybe I wouldn't get so irritated by them. Except for Hodu, who I like. It was an adorable look on his face when the fat kid said Hodu's name to him.
-That fat kid isn't irritating me as much. It was kind of obvious that eventually his character would be "redeemed," but the transparency doesn't make it any less enjoyable, really.
-I like how the Lancaster father wants "credit" for doing something for the family because he didn't murder his dwarf son. That whole family is fucked up. Well written, for sure. Very believable even as the qualities go so way over-the-top.
I think that's it. I write more if it comes to me.
I couldn't remember her name. I took a stab at it, hoping it was close enough. Actually, my first guess was "Shermie," but I don't think that's even a name, so I went with "Sherry."
I'm not sure why I get Jamie's name right. They must've said it a bunch way back in the first episodes. Usually if I remember a name correctly on the first try, I'll always remember it. But on a show like GoT, when they're introducing so many characters all at once, I'm less likely to remember any of them.
As far as being a fan... no, I think he's a serious s-o-b. At first I hated him because he pushed that legless Stark Fob out of the window. But then I grew to like Jamie, because I was getting sick & tired of that legless Stark Fob kid, and I was glad Jamie pushed him out of the window. But now I hate Jamie again, because I am seriously sick of that legless Stark Fob kid, and I'm pissed off at Jamie for not finishing the kid off. I mean, seriously, how do you fuck up killing someone with a 500 foot fall? Guh.
Cersei? You mean Jamie's sister, the Bieber king's mother? Cersei? That's even less a name that Shermie is! Good grief, GoT writers are even worse with GoT names than I am! Cercei, guh.
Nice picture, Craig. The other intro, besides GOT, that I never fast forward through is from The Borgias on Showtime - has made an excellent Sunday night double feature with GOT lately, but the theme from the Borgias is OK but it's the period artwork they show during the intro that I just can't take my eyes off of. Amazing paintings, no matter how many times I've seen them (snippets of them in fact but there is a site devoted just to them - edit, here tis - Art of the Title - The Borgias). Bummer, just read that Showtime has cancelled the series, so Sunday is series finale. I thought it was damned entertaining.
Speaking of shows that have cool intros and since it's starting up again this weekend, I really enjoy the intro to Trueblood. Jace Evertt's Bad Things is a well chosen song, the shots of swaps and roads with the juxtaposition of decaying animals with humans acting crazy (?) is cool.
I've had Borgia on my sfl for a long time - glad to know it's entertaining; I'll have to check it out some time.
Finished watching the new Arrested Developments ; final assessment - I liked it. I'm still pretty confused about some of it. I should watch the all again. Someday maybe I will, but right now there is so much to watch, so little time.
My wife and I watched the first episode of Copper last night; a BBC show about the NYPD in the 1860's. wife's reason for watching is good; "I'm interested to see the British take on 1860s NY." And my wife's assessment after was dead on; "I'd watch another episode, but not tonight."
There's probably a movie thread somewhere, but I'll put it here; watched Dragonslayer (a documentary about a down and out skater, not a GoT spinoff) and really enjoyed it.
Somewhere out there there's a companion blog post that goes "My 27 year old fantasy show loving kid still lives with me and monopolizes my tv on Sunday nights and he thinks I'm lame because I don't remember the names of his little characters."
We watched about 5 or 6 episodes of Copper but drifted away - I'm only mildly debating catching up because Season 2 is coming - probably won't. Liked Ripper Street way more. Am still watching Defiance on Syfy although it's a little lame sometimes but the alien races makeup is pretty cool, and the US or should I say Canadian spinoff of Primeval just started on Syfy last Saturday - got to love a show with dinosaurs tearing people up - I did like the BBC show even though it went a little weird in latter seasons.
Watched the first 2 episodes of Continuum on Netflix, since Season 2 just started, and it is likely to win the want-to-catch-up-with-this-one prize.
Comments
Yes, I'm 6 episodes in and I do have the occasional "wait, what was this bit about, again?" feeling, but the show has always been one to rewatch repeatedly, so I'm actually OK with being disoriented. I assume it'll make sense second time round. But otherwise my impressions are very positive. Tobias's license plate alone was worth the month's Netflix subscription.
I do wish they had released them one per week to keep everybody on the same pace and it was easier to discuss.
Thanks, that's good to know. I think I may have misunderstood some of the initial comments back when Treme first began, perhaps confusing the use of Wire actors as some remark on the Treme storyline.
I watched another episode today. I think I'm five in. I am still totally irritated by John Goodman's presence, not to mention that junkie piano player, but the annoying radio station dj is becoming less so, and I'm acclimating to the pace of the story.
Cheers.
Cheers.
I hope it's Joffrey's wedding. That would be a most excellent cliff hanger for next season.
Paste has a funny review to that effect.
"Knock, knock."
"Who's there?"
"Balon Greyjoy?"
"Who wants to know?"
"Special delivery."
"Ya think I'm a fool? We have no special delivery in the Iron Isles."
"Knock, knock."
"What now?"
"Candygram."
"Ah, you're just a landshark trying to fool an Ironborn. I don't think so."
"Knock, knock."
"Who the bloody hell are you?"
"Peckergram."
- Oh hell yes! Tryriol the dwarf is back in the game! While there are some actors painful to watch, I think GoT has a pretty strong cast doing a pretty strong job. That said, the dude that plays Tryol is tops of that group. Though, really, pretty much everyone who plays a role as a Lassiter is doing great. Sherry and Jamie both are great characters, the father is a bit of a drag, but for the role he's supposed to play, keeping things dry and flat might be the best face to put to that characters. King Bieber, as irritating as that kid is, wonderfully displays just how fucked up the monarchy system is, etc.
- Aria is still my favorite Stark. Actually, I dislike all the Starks, unless John Snow counts as a Stark, and then I guess I'm okay with him. Actually, I take that back. I hate the Jon Snow character and the actor that plays him is irritating. However, Snow gets to go on all the cool adventures in all the cool places, so I'm always glad when they return to his scenes. As much as I disliked his Downton Abbey girlfriend, I always did enjoy when she's mock him via mimicry.
-So cool that we are getting to see lots of scenes at The Wall. And it looks like my hopes will be answered... next season will be a war against the white walkers and their dead (which, btw, that whole thing got confirmed for me, as far as who was who and what was what).
-That whole Stansislaw Boratian storyline has gotten fucking tedious. And though I did enjoy Stan's second in command asking his daughter, "Why is there a 'g' in 'night'?" as he learned to read, I'd prefer they just make that whole island sink into the sea and pretend it never happened. Stanslaw and that creepy red chick have outlived their interest. The exterior shots of that castle, and some of the rooms that overlook the water, however, are pretty cool from a b-roll perspective.
-I guess I'm okay that Dog is still around. He makes for a cute match with Aria. And now that I think about it, the show has matched Aria with a nice set of complementary characters... that sword-fighting teacher, that dude from the Red Guard (?) that killed those people for her, the bastard kid son of the dead king (John? Robert?), and now Dog, who is growing less irritating.
-Guh, they just couldn't go an episode with showing that blonde dragon chick. So boring. Yes, it's very nice that she's setting slaves free, but really she's just as spoiled and entitled as anyone else who thinks they've got a birthright. It was cool to see the dragons again. They didn't show up the last couple episodes. Unfortunately, she's probably going to be a major player in next season, which is not a good thing.
-It was kind of a dull episode, now that I think upon it. Not much for a season finale. But then again, it seems like the fireworks of GoT Season Finale have historically been let loose on the next-to-last episode of the season, so the relative dullness can be forgiven. And besides, they showed a bunch of the Lancasters (Lassiters?) on the last episode, so that made me very happy.
-That councilor who was the mayor of Baltimore on The Wire... I kind of expected he's show up in the final episode, but the way the storyline went, there was no reason for that. I assume he'll be one of those characters that gets forgotten, but then gets revisited at some dire and important moment when he comes to save the day (or comes to kill the day).
-I'm kind of warming to the Stone Isle sister of Theo (is it Theo? The ones who's getting tortured?). I don't know... she just had a nice scene arguing with her father. I'm kind of looking forward to seeing where that goes.
-I don't mind the Theo torture scenes. I was always irritated with his character and am glad someone is taking it out on him. Now, if only they could get the legless Stark kid and his friends with their Fob powers up on the torture rack, then maybe I wouldn't get so irritated by them. Except for Hodu, who I like. It was an adorable look on his face when the fat kid said Hodu's name to him.
-That fat kid isn't irritating me as much. It was kind of obvious that eventually his character would be "redeemed," but the transparency doesn't make it any less enjoyable, really.
-I like how the Lancaster father wants "credit" for doing something for the family because he didn't murder his dwarf son. That whole family is fucked up. Well written, for sure. Very believable even as the qualities go so way over-the-top.
I think that's it. I write more if it comes to me.
Cheers.
Craig
I couldn't remember her name. I took a stab at it, hoping it was close enough. Actually, my first guess was "Shermie," but I don't think that's even a name, so I went with "Sherry."
I'm not sure why I get Jamie's name right. They must've said it a bunch way back in the first episodes. Usually if I remember a name correctly on the first try, I'll always remember it. But on a show like GoT, when they're introducing so many characters all at once, I'm less likely to remember any of them.
As far as being a fan... no, I think he's a serious s-o-b. At first I hated him because he pushed that legless Stark Fob out of the window. But then I grew to like Jamie, because I was getting sick & tired of that legless Stark Fob kid, and I was glad Jamie pushed him out of the window. But now I hate Jamie again, because I am seriously sick of that legless Stark Fob kid, and I'm pissed off at Jamie for not finishing the kid off. I mean, seriously, how do you fuck up killing someone with a 500 foot fall? Guh.
Craig
ETA: Oh, and not that you care, but it's Cersei.
Craig
I haven't seen The Simpsons in ages.
Craig
Finished watching the new Arrested Developments ; final assessment - I liked it. I'm still pretty confused about some of it. I should watch the all again. Someday maybe I will, but right now there is so much to watch, so little time.
My wife and I watched the first episode of Copper last night; a BBC show about the NYPD in the 1860's. wife's reason for watching is good; "I'm interested to see the British take on 1860s NY." And my wife's assessment after was dead on; "I'd watch another episode, but not tonight."
There's probably a movie thread somewhere, but I'll put it here; watched Dragonslayer (a documentary about a down and out skater, not a GoT spinoff) and really enjoyed it.
See? I'm not alone. Maybe, just maybe, it's all of you who are wrong about the names.
amclark2 - We've seen the first handful of episodes of "Cooper" and can't decide if we like it or not.
Craig
Watched the first 2 episodes of Continuum on Netflix, since Season 2 just started, and it is likely to win the want-to-catch-up-with-this-one prize.