My television shows, let me show you them
Dec. 18th, 2009 12:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
donnaimmaculataJust popping up to share my thoughts on some television shows I've been watching lately. Exciting, eh?
Stuff I've been watching:
Monty Python's Flying Circus. I came unexpectedly into the possession of the complete show and am currently approaching the end of season 3. My latent crush on young Eric Idle is in full swing. Why Eric? It's not as though young Michael Palin was entirely unfanciable. I can't stand John Cleese, though. He's always been my least-favourite Python, and the more I watch him, the more I want to bash him round the head with something blunt and heavy. Plus, he's a really poor actor, isn't he? *is going to be stoned to death due to blasphemy*
And where is all the Monty Python slash?
Carnivàle". Finally got round to it. Brilliantly dark and atmospheric and creepy. This is the sort of fantasy I like to watch - no silly plastic or CGI monsters, but heaps and heaps of spookiness instead. And I can't think of another ensemble show where I genuinely liked so many individual characters. Anyone here watched it? Because I'd like to talk about the finale and my disappointment therewith. (The disappointment was only to be expected, seeing as the rest was absolutely breathtaking, so I'm not really complaining. But.) I understand and appreciate why they made Sophie Brother Justin's daughter; they needed to end it with a twist, a punch in the gut. However, I found a) Sophie only mildly interesting and b) Brother Justin's journey and his own struggles quite sufficient. He started up as a genuine priest - unless I missed something in the early episodes? I was under the impression that he was a true man of God, until it was slowly revealed to him that he was, in fact, a demon. He was devastated when he found out and wanted Norman to kill him. That's pretty heavy stuff - and absolutely believable. I loved the transformation of Justin and the way he finally succumbed to his nature and fate and embraced them lovingly. (In fact, I was kind rooting for Justin in the finale. He was so much more interesting than Ben. I loved Iris, too. Quite possibly my favourite character in the entire show, and that is saying something.)
In that light, Sophie's sudden demonisation feels pretty blah. She didn't have that journey, she just suddenly was there. She had a different kind of journey and underwent a different kind of development. I absolutely did love her relationship with Apollonia. Obviously, it was set up from the start that Justin was the man who raped Apollonia and fathered Sophie, and it works fine within this plotline. But within Justin's plotline? Again, my understanding is that he wasn't in touch with his demon nature until the epiphany by the river - and then he wanted to die rather than give in into Evil. So how was he a mad demon rapist 20 years ago? When he didn't even have the tree tattoo yet? Wouldn't it have made more sense to make Management Sophie's father, as well as Justin's? Or was that what they actually did do and my sleep-deprived brain misunderstood something?
So yeah, Carnivàle.
Misfits. Anyone apart from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
shocolate watching it? I haven't seen the finale yet, but I loved, loved, loved the penultimate episode. My favourite one of the lot so far. I wasn't too crazy about episode 4, because the Groundhog Day stuff rarely works for me - not when it has to carry an entire episode, at least. It's absolutely fine when they use it like they did within the Curtis and Sam plotline in episode 5. That was rather genius.
But anyway. Simon. Oh, Simon! How I adore him! I was a bit worried that they would pull that thing when they show us that the weird kid is not actually weird, that the others are wrong and that what he is is Shy and Noble and Misunderstood and Tortured and Too Intelligent For His Own Good, the poor w00bie.*cough* fandom!Snape *cough*. But they... didn't. Simon is rather disturbingly creepy. He stalks! He burns people's houses down! Nathan was spot-on with his assessment - which doesn't stop Nathan from being an obnoxious dick and Simon disturbingly lovable.
What I particularly loved about the entire episode was how Sally was manipulating Simon. I liked Sally from the very first second she showed up, and I very much appreciate how she went about finding out what happened to her boyfriend. Within the context of Misfits, poor Sally had to be set up as the antagonist, because we are within the PoV of the Misfits and are on their side throughout the show. However, she is the one who is in the right, and she apparently doesn't get much outside help. So, she does her own sleuthing, being such a grown-up woman throughout - intelligent, resourceful and determined. She is a figure of authority - even though the kids don't treat her as such - and she is bound to have learned something working as a probation officer. Simon is the weakest link, she knows it, and she exploits it masterfully. It's such a pleasure to watch her manipulate the poor boy, and it's even more of a pleasure to see her do it in an entirely non-evil kind of way. I do believe that Sally honestly liked Simon and wanted to help Simon and that she would have believed him if he told her that it wasn't him but the others who killed her boyfriend - because she clearly saw that he was the outsider of the group. At the same time, she wanted and needed results. This episode is a tragedy in its purest form: all Sally wanted was to do the right thing - by Tony and by Simon, but Fate would have none of it.
Spooks. I kinda follow it on the off-chance that Mr. Armitage takes his kit off (again). But it's really quite bad. I only mention it, because I feel the need to point out that, in episode 4, the "Russians" talk German with each other - albeit with a Russian accent. That's just sad. Plus, they've killed Mr. Bell!
There. I got more wordy than expected.
Stuff I've been watching:
Monty Python's Flying Circus. I came unexpectedly into the possession of the complete show and am currently approaching the end of season 3. My latent crush on young Eric Idle is in full swing. Why Eric? It's not as though young Michael Palin was entirely unfanciable. I can't stand John Cleese, though. He's always been my least-favourite Python, and the more I watch him, the more I want to bash him round the head with something blunt and heavy. Plus, he's a really poor actor, isn't he? *is going to be stoned to death due to blasphemy*
And where is all the Monty Python slash?
Carnivàle". Finally got round to it. Brilliantly dark and atmospheric and creepy. This is the sort of fantasy I like to watch - no silly plastic or CGI monsters, but heaps and heaps of spookiness instead. And I can't think of another ensemble show where I genuinely liked so many individual characters. Anyone here watched it? Because I'd like to talk about the finale and my disappointment therewith. (The disappointment was only to be expected, seeing as the rest was absolutely breathtaking, so I'm not really complaining. But.) I understand and appreciate why they made Sophie Brother Justin's daughter; they needed to end it with a twist, a punch in the gut. However, I found a) Sophie only mildly interesting and b) Brother Justin's journey and his own struggles quite sufficient. He started up as a genuine priest - unless I missed something in the early episodes? I was under the impression that he was a true man of God, until it was slowly revealed to him that he was, in fact, a demon. He was devastated when he found out and wanted Norman to kill him. That's pretty heavy stuff - and absolutely believable. I loved the transformation of Justin and the way he finally succumbed to his nature and fate and embraced them lovingly. (In fact, I was kind rooting for Justin in the finale. He was so much more interesting than Ben. I loved Iris, too. Quite possibly my favourite character in the entire show, and that is saying something.)
In that light, Sophie's sudden demonisation feels pretty blah. She didn't have that journey, she just suddenly was there. She had a different kind of journey and underwent a different kind of development. I absolutely did love her relationship with Apollonia. Obviously, it was set up from the start that Justin was the man who raped Apollonia and fathered Sophie, and it works fine within this plotline. But within Justin's plotline? Again, my understanding is that he wasn't in touch with his demon nature until the epiphany by the river - and then he wanted to die rather than give in into Evil. So how was he a mad demon rapist 20 years ago? When he didn't even have the tree tattoo yet? Wouldn't it have made more sense to make Management Sophie's father, as well as Justin's? Or was that what they actually did do and my sleep-deprived brain misunderstood something?
So yeah, Carnivàle.
Misfits. Anyone apart from
shocolate watching it? I haven't seen the finale yet, but I loved, loved, loved the penultimate episode. My favourite one of the lot so far. I wasn't too crazy about episode 4, because the Groundhog Day stuff rarely works for me - not when it has to carry an entire episode, at least. It's absolutely fine when they use it like they did within the Curtis and Sam plotline in episode 5. That was rather genius.But anyway. Simon. Oh, Simon! How I adore him! I was a bit worried that they would pull that thing when they show us that the weird kid is not actually weird, that the others are wrong and that what he is is Shy and Noble and Misunderstood and Tortured and Too Intelligent For His Own Good, the poor w00bie.
What I particularly loved about the entire episode was how Sally was manipulating Simon. I liked Sally from the very first second she showed up, and I very much appreciate how she went about finding out what happened to her boyfriend. Within the context of Misfits, poor Sally had to be set up as the antagonist, because we are within the PoV of the Misfits and are on their side throughout the show. However, she is the one who is in the right, and she apparently doesn't get much outside help. So, she does her own sleuthing, being such a grown-up woman throughout - intelligent, resourceful and determined. She is a figure of authority - even though the kids don't treat her as such - and she is bound to have learned something working as a probation officer. Simon is the weakest link, she knows it, and she exploits it masterfully. It's such a pleasure to watch her manipulate the poor boy, and it's even more of a pleasure to see her do it in an entirely non-evil kind of way. I do believe that Sally honestly liked Simon and wanted to help Simon and that she would have believed him if he told her that it wasn't him but the others who killed her boyfriend - because she clearly saw that he was the outsider of the group. At the same time, she wanted and needed results. This episode is a tragedy in its purest form: all Sally wanted was to do the right thing - by Tony and by Simon, but Fate would have none of it.
Spooks. I kinda follow it on the off-chance that Mr. Armitage takes his kit off (again). But it's really quite bad. I only mention it, because I feel the need to point out that, in episode 4, the "Russians" talk German with each other - albeit with a Russian accent. That's just sad. Plus, they've killed Mr. Bell!
There. I got more wordy than expected.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 11:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 11:58 am (UTC)The exact opposite is true for John Cleese. His interview on the Fawlty Towers DVD made me cringe. Why does he come across as so unlikable?
no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 12:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 12:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 02:35 pm (UTC)Probably because he is?
no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 02:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 12:03 pm (UTC)Oh poor slightly creepy, peeing Simon!
Wait until you see him being slightly creepy in episode six...
I am so glad you love it!
no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 12:15 pm (UTC)I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the finale. I've just dl-ed it, but I'm saving it up for tonight.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 12:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 12:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 12:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 02:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 02:55 pm (UTC)*You've got to admit he's got class. And the most charming smile. In fact, I found Mr. Bell rather more attractive than Mr. Thornton. And then he had to get himself killed by a Mysterious Disease.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 03:31 pm (UTC)Oh, good lord.
... oh, well we can each have the one we fancy! :D
no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 03:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 03:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 03:37 pm (UTC)I didn't care all that much about Sofie throughout the show, and the ending felt as though they were desperately setting it up for another season: Evil is not dead and all that. Even though they had been clearly setting her up for going dark, as evident in Apollonia's rape scene flashbacks. But I need to watch the show again before I'll be able to analyse it.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 03:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-18 04:10 pm (UTC)Do you remember Brother Justin's henchman who tracks down Scutter? He hums and sings jazzy little tunes in the most chilling kind of way. I was very impressed.