TV I iz watching!
Feb. 2nd, 2010 12:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sarren1. Paradox
Five episode BBC series. I thought it was BEYOND AWESOME. Of course, critics gave it mostly negative reviews - just makes me glad I'm not a critic.
Murray Ferguson, chief executive of Clerkenwell Films, said that they were looking for something "different from the traditional formula of investigating a crime that has already taken place" and premise for the series, the police having knowledge of future incidents, was developed. Lizzie Mickery (The 39 Steps, The State Within) was chosen to write the series and she said she has "always been interested in the decisions you're not aware you are making" and the series was based on the "moral and emotional implications of having the ability to change the future".
From Wiki, but don't go there and read about the episodes - gives away the entire plot.
Things I love about this show:
- the BBC combining scifi and police drama and nailing it.
- The fabulous Tamzin Outhwaite (The Fixer) in the lead role, and how much do I LOVE that I'm watching my third series in a row with a woman who's in charge and it just is.
- the characters are just ordinary flawed people, making the best decisions they can, and trying to cope with their whole world being turned upside down.
Preview on youtube
2. The Big Bang Theory - I was told that this comedy about science geeks was hilarious so I watched the first two episodes, and it was just as funny as promised. Then I went away and for reasons that do not need explaining at this juncture, a week later I watched the first two episodes of season 3. Which I did not find especially funny - which wouldn't have been a problem, except for how it made me aware of the laugh track. I have an issue with laugh tracks - if you need to tell us when to laugh, you need new writers. Probably not a show I'll go out of my way to watch.
Geeks being funny - youtube clip with funny scenes pastd on yay. I was nearly crying with laughter just watching this, so the laugh track didn't bother me. Shame about all the necessary plot development scenes between gags that will be filled with canned laughter too.
3. Spartacus Blood and Sand - Watched episodes 1 & 2. Holy moly that show is craptacular. Won't be bothering with any more. Lots of graphic violence and sex filmed in slow motion and with interesting camera work is still lots of graphic violence I'm not interested in watching. *g* Oh wait, in looking for a link to put under the title I found out that episode four reveals the *dun dun* gay character!!! I may have to watch that. It's my duty.
Official trailer on youtube
Five episode BBC series. I thought it was BEYOND AWESOME. Of course, critics gave it mostly negative reviews - just makes me glad I'm not a critic.
Murray Ferguson, chief executive of Clerkenwell Films, said that they were looking for something "different from the traditional formula of investigating a crime that has already taken place" and premise for the series, the police having knowledge of future incidents, was developed. Lizzie Mickery (The 39 Steps, The State Within) was chosen to write the series and she said she has "always been interested in the decisions you're not aware you are making" and the series was based on the "moral and emotional implications of having the ability to change the future".
From Wiki, but don't go there and read about the episodes - gives away the entire plot.
Things I love about this show:
- the BBC combining scifi and police drama and nailing it.
- The fabulous Tamzin Outhwaite (The Fixer) in the lead role, and how much do I LOVE that I'm watching my third series in a row with a woman who's in charge and it just is.
- the characters are just ordinary flawed people, making the best decisions they can, and trying to cope with their whole world being turned upside down.
Preview on youtube
2. The Big Bang Theory - I was told that this comedy about science geeks was hilarious so I watched the first two episodes, and it was just as funny as promised. Then I went away and for reasons that do not need explaining at this juncture, a week later I watched the first two episodes of season 3. Which I did not find especially funny - which wouldn't have been a problem, except for how it made me aware of the laugh track. I have an issue with laugh tracks - if you need to tell us when to laugh, you need new writers. Probably not a show I'll go out of my way to watch.
Geeks being funny - youtube clip with funny scenes pastd on yay. I was nearly crying with laughter just watching this, so the laugh track didn't bother me. Shame about all the necessary plot development scenes between gags that will be filled with canned laughter too.
3. Spartacus Blood and Sand - Watched episodes 1 & 2. Holy moly that show is craptacular. Won't be bothering with any more. Lots of graphic violence and sex filmed in slow motion and with interesting camera work is still lots of graphic violence I'm not interested in watching. *g* Oh wait, in looking for a link to put under the title I found out that episode four reveals the *dun dun* gay character!!! I may have to watch that. It's my duty.
Official trailer on youtube
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(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-01 08:48 pm (UTC)And, ahem . . . *hints ever so subtly* I hope that all this watching is leaving you a little spare time for writing . . . *g*
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-01 10:03 pm (UTC)I haven't seen any of those shows, but I think BBT is starting on one of the pay tv channels from ep 1 soon. Will keep an eye out for it.
Have you seen Sherlock Holmes yet?
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-02 01:20 am (UTC)One aspect of the series itself is that the characters are becoming more rounded out and I'm pretty sure more of the scripting is relating to their backgrounds. I think especially if you jump in where you did, which continues on from the polar excursion at the end of the previous series, some of the character interactions will be less funny than if you had the full background. That has to be an issue for most TV writers: Do you rely on character behaviour which is known to the long-time audience, or do you just keep everything self-contained. Not doing the former may bore the existing viewers, while not doing the latter may put off new or occasional viewers.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-02 01:53 am (UTC)I feel like they've developed the characters over the seasons, so it's not all about going for the obvious or quick laugh. I think the show is more complex than that.
As for the laugh track... there is not one. Bill Prady, who's the producer for the show and who is on Twitter has said explicitly that there is NO laugh track - he doesn't believe in them and he doesn't like them. They have a live studio audience, so any laughter you hear is from that.
Since you liked the first two episodes, I suggest you go back and watch the rest of season 1 before you make your final decision.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-03 10:58 am (UTC)Sounds fab.
I managed 15 minutes of Spartacus. OMG! I only managed that long because I thought the actor playing Spartacus was hot.
Felt it was aimed at late adolescent males.
Please tell me if I need to watch the gay guy ep. I will bow to your expert opinion.
Mr Bean was cracking up laughing at whatever Big Bang episode was on TV the other night. Unfortunately, I was rearranging my sock drawer at the time.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-02-15 01:55 pm (UTC)I'm not sure I can bring myself to watch any more, even for the promise of teh gay.