Television!!

[ash48]

So much good TV these days! We are truly spoilt. Here are a few shows I am enjoying (and maybe will enjoy) at the moment...



Broadchurch: This is my absolute FAVE show at the moment! Just finished season one and I loved it! I love mystery/thrillers at the best of times, but the brilliant performances (Olivia Colman's performance as Ellie is simply stunning), solid plotting, strong characterisations and gorgeous cinematography make this an absolute must watch. Just started season 2 - it's not feeling as tight as the first season, but it may smooth out as it goes along.

House of Cards: (US) has been another favourite. Fabulous scripting and characterisations. I adore Robyn Wright as Claire Underwood. I've become quite interested in politics lately (because we have such a shit government in Aus at atm) and this seems to cement my cynicism in politics generally. But it's more than that. It's intriguing, gripping, well written and entertaining.

Brooklyn 99:. This has been a recent discovery for me and I have to say it's probably my ALL TIME fave comedy (I think perhaps M*A*S*H is still my all all time fave though). The characters are the key to this for me. They are wonderfully drawn, beautifully performed and full of warmth, love and humour. I love the depth of representation and level of observation. It's my happy place after watching all the angsty, dark TV I seem to be drawn to. I'm hanging out now for the next season.

Orphan Black: I loved the last 2 seasons and have just started the 3rd. I've only watched the first episode and I hope it manages to keep my attention. I worry about it being too dark - as in, overly cruel. Tatiana Maslany's performance is something to behold and I am mostly watching now because I love seeing what she does with all the characters she juggles.

Daredevil: I started watching this and I think I like it. I'm not busting to watch more eps (I've watched about 6 eps I think), but I will do as I like many aspects of it (mostly Foggy and Matt's relationship). It just seems to be dragging a wee bit. I like that we can get darker elements in the story than we get from say, Arrow. But, I need it to move along a bit faster.

Game of Thrones:. Oh man. I do enjoy watching this but it really challenges me. There's just a lot of, um…cruelty that makes it difficult to watch at times. I'm hooked, but often left disturbed. The amount of rape in the series really bothers me. I realise that the world is a harsh place (and I know it's probably an accurate representation of medieval times), but it makes me squirm so much it's hard to call it "enjoyment"). I will say that the final scene in 3.08 (Hardhome) was jaw dropping!

Hannibal: I've been really looking forward to the return of this show. I've loved the first two seasons. It's SO beautifully shot, brilliantly acted and I love the level of macabre. The first episode of S3 didn't disappoint and I'm looking forward to more.

Sense8: Watched two eps and I'm still making up my mind. I like some of the character situations, but I'd like to be seeing an overall story connecting them all by now. Still making my mind up about this one...

Supernatural: (SPOILERS if you haven't seen all of S10). I don't usually include this in a general watching list ('cause obsessive watching is what this is!), but if I WAS to "generally" review it, I would say that I probably "enjoyed" watching S10 more that I did S8 and S9. Looking back though, I think S8 and S9 were more daring and opened up some challenging themes. Those themes weren't fully explored so the finales felt like a let down. S10 had a sense of resolution (at least the the MoC story line), so felt a bit more satisfying. There's still strong themes in the wind (most notably the brothers' co-dependency and what they are prepared to do for each other), so there's still potential for some of the hanging themes to be explored in the future. I'm curious to see where they take S11. It feels like it could go in any direction.

Comments

[chomaisky.livejournal.com]

Hanniballlll!!!!!! I'm so loving the show right now. I enjoy the game Will and Hannibal play. I'm also amazed at the level of creativity this show displays.
And Will!!!!!!!!
Edited because I may have spoiled you of S3 lol

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched 302 yet! I'm hoping to have a chance tonight! I can't wait to see Will again. I adore the games they play. Their relationship is so complex and delicious. <33

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Yey for Hannibal, Game of Thrones and Brooklyn 99!!! Daredevil and Sense8 are on my watch list, so it's great to hear your thoughts on those.

And yes, I agree with you about SPN. Overall I think I found season 10 more enjoyable for both the myth arc and the single mothw episodes. It did feel like got some resolution and took a step forward in terms letting the MoC go and bringing in a couple of new and exciting big bads (The Darkness and I'm including Rowena too!)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I know many people love Daredevil and Sense8. I'm still making up my mind, so will watch some more to see if they keep me interested.

I'm looking forward to the new big bads! At least it doesn't look like it's Sam and Dean (at the moment!). Hopefully it will be the two of them together agains the baddies!

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

I loved Broadchurch one. Like you I found 2 to be less tight, but the performances remain wonderful across the board. Olivia Coleman is magic.

Oh Supernatural, the show I obsess on! I think they may be about to deal with the co-dependency issues. Then I see the audience reaction of "Yay! The brothers are willing to destroy the world for each other", which is only part of the show I loved. The main part was when they didn't actually destroy the world and cared more about saving people or at least as much. I'm worried that once they defeat a force that it took God and all the archangels to defeat that it will make them too powerful? I also want God to stay off screen so I'm leery about season eleven. Maybe they end the show with Sam and Dean becoming demi-gods of hunting? I could live with that being end game.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Olivia Coleman is magic.

Agreed! Her performance is top class.

I think they may be about to deal with the co-dependency issues.

I'm thinking that maybe they'll keep any sort of "final" resolution to the final episode/season. The last time it was resolved was at the end of S5 (end of Kripke's vision) and we saw the boys being able to save the world by letting each other go.

The main part was when they didn't actually destroy the world and cared more about saving people or at least as much.

It's really interesting isn't it? The only time I can think of those occasions is end of S5 and the beginning of S8. It's hard to really know how it was actually going to end as per S5 (though I think both were going to jump into the pit to save the world?) - but that was really the only time (I think!) we've seen them put the world before each other. In S8 we saw Sam "try" and do the "right" thing by not making any deals to bring Dean back, only he was berated by Dean upon his return (and by fandom). In S9 Sam again tried to state that it's "selfish" to keep each other alive - again to be vilified by fandom and saw Dean's disappointment by his response to speaking up about it. Sooooo - yeah, I think it's still being examined and may one day find a type of resolution. In the mean time I personally enjoy seeing the ideas of them destroying the world for each other being played out. It's not a theme we see much in TV (to this extent), especially between two men or brothers.

I'm worried that once they defeat a force that it took God and all the archangels to defeat that it will make them too powerful?

I have absolutely no idea how they are going to deal with this. Extremely powerful Winchesters might be really interesting. Not sure how they'd play that though (unless they do that at the very end of the series. The idea of them becoming the very thing they've hunted is interesting. …)

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

If this were the last season, I wouldn't be very concerned. They could make Sam and Dean powerful enough to defeat God and the angels if they want and go out with a bang. I just don't think this will be the last season. I really think it ends only when the Js decide they don't want to work any longer and I expect they will give enough notice that the CW will be able to announce "the final year of Supernatural, watch the end of the journey!!!", including at least three exclamation points. Supernatural makes Warner Brothers a ton of money and it has no reason to not keep Supernatural going. I don't think those co-dependency issues will be resolved for years, even though I think there could be a good show even if the issues went away.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

*nods* I can't see why the Js would leave just yet. I mean, Jared's recent exhaustion aside, I think they're just on such a good thing it would see strange for them to give it away (unless maybe one or both were offered another series). Though, I do have to wonder how long they can tell stories with these two as they get older - I probably hope it's for a little while yet. :)

[harrigan.livejournal.com]

Orphan Black is my must-see TV these days. (Walking Dead is probably the only show that I feel driven to watch *live* (if you'll excuse the near pun), but they're between seasons at the moment. Orphan Black is airing new eps in the US right now, which has me excited every weekend.

There was a stretch where I was less engaged in the conspiracy plot and just wanted to multi-task during those bits, but toward the end of season 3 I was back to paying riveted attention again.

EVERY time I see the opening credits I think to myself, that's not enough names. And then I remember... ;D

Supernatural I will watch till the final curtain, though. No worries, mate.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Walking Dead is not a show I've really given a go. I watch about 3 episodes and then didn't go back to it. It must be good because I keep hearing it mentioned about the place. :)

EVERY time I see the opening credits I think to myself, that's not enough names.

I know! She's amazing isn't she?! I think about how much damn busy she is. She's in every scene (sometimes twice!). Amazing work.

No worries, mate.

haha. Onya mate!

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

You have an extremely awesome taste in shows hun, I wish I had more time to myself! O_O

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I watch all these shows with my hubby, which (for me!) means I have more time for watching stuff! Luckily we have very similar taste in shows so we watch all of the above together (each night mostly). The ones I enjoy that he doesn't (Spn notable and Teen Wolf), I have to find my own time for - which is much harder…;)

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Steve and I already have so many we watch together, if we watched any more neither of us would have time to sleep, eat or work ;) but it's lovely that you get to do these with your partner :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Haha! I know the feeling! :D

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

I'm also enjoying Hannibal :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to seeing how the new season pans out… :)

[ciaimpala.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about watching Broadchurch! I watched Gracepoint, so I know the general idea, but I've heard Broadchurch is the better version.

I'm hoping to catch up on Hannibal Season 3 sometime this week :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

DO DO DO watch Broachurch. It's brilliant. The cinematography alone is amazing - but the performances on top of that…

[ciaimpala.livejournal.com]

It's definitely on my short list of shows to watch! Right now I am watching all of Criminal Minds and The West Wing.

Can't believe I forgot to say this the first post, but I LOVE Brooklyn 99! It's absolutely my happy place.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I watch so little - but both me and the hubster love Brooklyn 99, so much fun but with depth to it.

Broadchurch's first season blew me away - so powerful and original. Season 2 - not so much, though I still loved David Tennant and Olivia Coleman (such an underrated and neglected actress! She deserves so much more recognition than she got).

[ash48.livejournal.com]

*nods* to both those shows! I'm watching more lately because we've just got Netflix in Aus. And there's so many more shows that both my hubby and I can enjoy together. We've been really enjoying watching TV together (compared to me watching SPN by myself!).

She deserves so much more recognition than she got

I thought she won some awards for her performance? I'm not sure if that's true. If not, she should have done!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I think she did win awards but then afterwards she didn't get another acting gig for ages - plus the US one took David Tennant across for their version but didn't bother with her - when a huge proportion of the show's impact was down to the spark there was between Olivia and David. But there you go.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Seriously!?! I can't believe that. :( It's her performance that keeps me coming back. I also love their chemistry. After that performance I'd like people would be knocking down her door...

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Aye, me too, but I read somewhere recently that she languished for nearly a year before someone came knocking. She guessed that everyone thought she'd be swamped so didn't bother asking...

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

Except for SPN, I haven't seen any of these. Part of it is that we don't have HBO, hence no GoT.

I'm taking the summer off, nothing regular.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ahh, We just got Netflix in Aus so heaps more shows to discover and enjoy. :))

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

Ooh.. Yes to Broadchurch (watched both seasons), GOT (of course, lol) and Sense8! I'm really into that one! Watched all of season one within 3 days. Don't give up on it yet and enjoy the ride!! :D
You watch Supernatural? I've never heard of this show. Is it any good?... *g* ;D

x♥x

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I occasionally watch Supernatural. Not sure I'm that into it actually. I could take it or leave it.

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes.. I won't bother watching it then...

*cough*..*giggles*...bwahaha! *dies laughing*

Who are we fooling, eh? :D

[ash48.livejournal.com]

alternate reality…;D

[yourlibrarian]

I've also seen Broadchurch, HoC, Brooklyn 99, and am currently a few episodes behind on Orphan Black. I agree with your comments on them, though I ended up enjoying S2 of Broadchurch just as much but found HoC had a weaker ending in S3 than earlier ones. I'm finding the plotting in Black to be erratic but agree that the acting never fails to impress.

I think Community still owns my heart when it comes to comedies but B99 is a big favorite as well and I'm usually tire of comedies more quickly than dramas.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I've watched all of S2 Broadchurch. I did enjoy it a lot - but probably not quite as much as S1. Mainly because of some coincidences that drove the story forward. HoC was funny for me because I had no idea I was watching the season finale so was totally unprepared for what happened in the end.

I really need to give Community a go. We are looking for something to replace B99, so maybe I gotta give that a go (or Parks and Rec have been mentioned to me also…)

[yourlibrarian]

A friend of mine is loving Parks and Rec and we plan to get to it at some point -- maybe this summer since the DVR is relatively empty.

Community is the perfect comedy for people in fandom. As I said to this same friend, Big Bang Theory is a comedy about geeks for non-geeks. Community is a comedy about geeks for actual geeks. It starts out like a typical sitcom but by the end of S1 it's stepping on the pedal and by S2 it knows what it wants to be.