Mr. Higgins and I finally started "Downton Abbey." I must say, when everyone I know recommends a show (even a friend who hates period pieces and anything not masculine), I'm astounded.
Mr. Higgins was doubtful. But after the first episode, he said, "how much time do we have and how many more episodes can we watch?" Ha!
I was doubtful as well. I'm not a big fan of British stuff. Quite frankly, I hate all the attention that very small island gets - especially its royalty.
But what immediately caught my attention in "Downton" was the characters. They are so very real, so very likable. And that's rare in TV. After every episode of "Mad Men," Mr. Higgins says, "I hate those people." And I agree. So it's refreshing to find a drama with so many characters that I genuinely like.
We just started season two, so no spoilers please!
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
GOT Season 3
Are you watching HBO's "Game of Thrones"?
It really is amazing to me that HBO is capable of producing such amazing TV. The books transfixed me; the show blows me away each week. How do they do it?! How do they write such great episodes?
For people who haven't read the book, I'm sure it's a confusing show. There are so many characters, so many families, and lots of places to keep straight. Somehow, though, the writers keep it all wrapped up in a tidy package - if you pay close attention each week. And I love hearing the reactions of viewers - the surprise, the awe, the disappointments....
George R. R. Martin has written five books in A Song of Fire and Ice, with two more books planned. We have to hope he gets these two books written, that the series is finally finished. In case he should die, the writers of the HBO series were told what Martin planned for the last two books. The TV series is currently dealing with material from the third book. So, Martin needs to write - quickly!
If you're not watching the show, I highly recommend it. Actually, I would say to watch the first season and then read the books. There are so many characters that it's good to see the show first to be able to keep them all straight. And remember - HBO has to have lots of gore an sex. This is HBO - not Martin.
It really is amazing to me that HBO is capable of producing such amazing TV. The books transfixed me; the show blows me away each week. How do they do it?! How do they write such great episodes?
For people who haven't read the book, I'm sure it's a confusing show. There are so many characters, so many families, and lots of places to keep straight. Somehow, though, the writers keep it all wrapped up in a tidy package - if you pay close attention each week. And I love hearing the reactions of viewers - the surprise, the awe, the disappointments....
George R. R. Martin has written five books in A Song of Fire and Ice, with two more books planned. We have to hope he gets these two books written, that the series is finally finished. In case he should die, the writers of the HBO series were told what Martin planned for the last two books. The TV series is currently dealing with material from the third book. So, Martin needs to write - quickly!
If you're not watching the show, I highly recommend it. Actually, I would say to watch the first season and then read the books. There are so many characters that it's good to see the show first to be able to keep them all straight. And remember - HBO has to have lots of gore an sex. This is HBO - not Martin.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Battlestar Galactica
In graduate school, I started hearing my friends talk of this show, "Battlestar Galactica" - or, BSG. They kept saying how great it was, how it was Rome in outer space (and, as a historian, I would love it). I'm no stranger to sci-fi but I had little interest in this show.
Fast forward seven (!!!?!) years and Mr. Higgins told me it was the best written drama he had ever seen. I argued that "West Wing" was TV's best drama ever(....well, this is not counting HBO, Showtime, etc, shows). To Mr. Higgins' credit, he watched all seven seasons of "West Wing" and he mostly enjoyed it.
When we finished with that, he insisted we watch BSG. The only reason I went along - besides the fact that I mostly trust his taste - is that he compared it to one of our favorite little shows of all time, "Firefly."
So, off we went with BSG. And...I was hooked in the first episode. I was so hooked that we watched the first season in a week. I was so hooked that Mr. Higgins had to insist we not watch it just so I had to suffer as he did, when it originally aired. Ha!
"Wow," is all I can say about this show. It's sci-fi but not really. There are no aliens, no creepy critters lurking in outer space, and the technology is completely believable. It's like we suddenly started building space ships because we can....but we haven't got everything figured out. Make no mistake, this is no "Star Trek." This is a sophisticated "Firefly" that will blow your mind.
I had no idea there was a BSG that originally aired in the late '70s. I was appalled to hear that Starbuck and Boomer were originally men. Ugh! This BSG is much better.
As for comparing it to "West Wing".... Well, no one beats Aaron Sorkin in dialogue. But BSG, the pure nature of it, leads to more drama.....and that drama is executed in a way that TV had never seen at that time: brilliantly.
(And...if you're into soundtracks like me and Mr. Higgins.... BSG has some of the best written music ever written for TV.)
I highly recommend it. Actually, just go buy the Blu-Ray. You won't regret it.
Fast forward seven (!!!?!) years and Mr. Higgins told me it was the best written drama he had ever seen. I argued that "West Wing" was TV's best drama ever(....well, this is not counting HBO, Showtime, etc, shows). To Mr. Higgins' credit, he watched all seven seasons of "West Wing" and he mostly enjoyed it.
When we finished with that, he insisted we watch BSG. The only reason I went along - besides the fact that I mostly trust his taste - is that he compared it to one of our favorite little shows of all time, "Firefly."
So, off we went with BSG. And...I was hooked in the first episode. I was so hooked that we watched the first season in a week. I was so hooked that Mr. Higgins had to insist we not watch it just so I had to suffer as he did, when it originally aired. Ha!
"Wow," is all I can say about this show. It's sci-fi but not really. There are no aliens, no creepy critters lurking in outer space, and the technology is completely believable. It's like we suddenly started building space ships because we can....but we haven't got everything figured out. Make no mistake, this is no "Star Trek." This is a sophisticated "Firefly" that will blow your mind.
I had no idea there was a BSG that originally aired in the late '70s. I was appalled to hear that Starbuck and Boomer were originally men. Ugh! This BSG is much better.
As for comparing it to "West Wing".... Well, no one beats Aaron Sorkin in dialogue. But BSG, the pure nature of it, leads to more drama.....and that drama is executed in a way that TV had never seen at that time: brilliantly.
(And...if you're into soundtracks like me and Mr. Higgins.... BSG has some of the best written music ever written for TV.)
I highly recommend it. Actually, just go buy the Blu-Ray. You won't regret it.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
GOT
We had a Game of Thrones, Season 1 marathon over the course of the last two Sundays and now I'm really looking forward to season 2, which starts this Sunday.
Few shows have been done as well as GOT. HBO, though obsessed with showing as much skin and sex as possible, does a great job with their shows, especially the period pieces. GOT is fantasy, which causes even more obstacles with the effects needed to create another world. If any network can handle fantasy, it's HBO.
Mr. Higgins and I blazed though all of Martin's Song of Fire and Ice last summer. Whenever I read something that quickly, I forget a lot of the details. So, the second season will be full of suprises and "oh, yeahs."
I can't wait!
Few shows have been done as well as GOT. HBO, though obsessed with showing as much skin and sex as possible, does a great job with their shows, especially the period pieces. GOT is fantasy, which causes even more obstacles with the effects needed to create another world. If any network can handle fantasy, it's HBO.
Mr. Higgins and I blazed though all of Martin's Song of Fire and Ice last summer. Whenever I read something that quickly, I forget a lot of the details. So, the second season will be full of suprises and "oh, yeahs."
I can't wait!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Zombie Invasion!
Zombies are all trendy now. They've even surpassed vampires! Thank goodness zombies aren't at all romantic or we'd be suffering through another Robert Pattinson fanaticism.
If you didn't see AMC's "The Walking Dead" last year, it's now out of DVD and Blu-Ray for your viewing pleasure....or disgust. It's a very good show, despite the gross subject matter. Just a little tip....don't try to eat while watching it!
Along those lines, World War Z by Max Brooks has gotten rave reviews. Mr. Higgins read it and now I'm starting to delve into it's fascinating pages. So far, it's utterly addicting in the way the story unfolds - as an oral history after a global zombie war.
I've never been at all fascinated by zombies, but they've popped up on my radar through various books and TV shows. It's entertaining and disturbing and sometimes downright laughable.
But at least zombies don't glow!
If you didn't see AMC's "The Walking Dead" last year, it's now out of DVD and Blu-Ray for your viewing pleasure....or disgust. It's a very good show, despite the gross subject matter. Just a little tip....don't try to eat while watching it!
Along those lines, World War Z by Max Brooks has gotten rave reviews. Mr. Higgins read it and now I'm starting to delve into it's fascinating pages. So far, it's utterly addicting in the way the story unfolds - as an oral history after a global zombie war.
I've never been at all fascinated by zombies, but they've popped up on my radar through various books and TV shows. It's entertaining and disturbing and sometimes downright laughable.
But at least zombies don't glow!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Mad Men
Mr. Higgins suggested I watch the previous seasons of MAD MEN so that I can watch the upcoming season, which starts in July, with him. I'd always been intrigued by what I'd heard about the show and was willing to watch it. Given the crazy Texas heat, we've had plenty of opportunities to stay inside, in the air conditioning, and watch MAD MEN the past few weeks. We're halfway through season two, I think.
I've never so thoroughly enjoyed watching a show that revolves around so many despicable people. I can't name one character that I like or sympathize with, but it's still so much fun watching them screw up their lives and tamper with the happiness of others.
The time itself freaks me out - the 1960s. In my mind, the time of the housewife, misogyny, smoking....basically, my worst nightmare. I hate the way women are treated and my inner feminist is perpetually appalled both by the men who so casually commit adultery and the women who tolerate such disgusting men. And the worst of all evils...the blonde trophy wife....Betty Draper. Is there an original thought in her head? Ugh!
Still, the storylines hook me in, every episode, without fail. And that's what great TV is, methinks!
I've never so thoroughly enjoyed watching a show that revolves around so many despicable people. I can't name one character that I like or sympathize with, but it's still so much fun watching them screw up their lives and tamper with the happiness of others.
The time itself freaks me out - the 1960s. In my mind, the time of the housewife, misogyny, smoking....basically, my worst nightmare. I hate the way women are treated and my inner feminist is perpetually appalled both by the men who so casually commit adultery and the women who tolerate such disgusting men. And the worst of all evils...the blonde trophy wife....Betty Draper. Is there an original thought in her head? Ugh!
Still, the storylines hook me in, every episode, without fail. And that's what great TV is, methinks!
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