1 movie, some TV: my deep, deep thoughts

[rose_griffes]

Generally non-spoilery comments about stuff I've watched these past several months (after summer ended). You know the drill: I babble for a few sentences and move on to the next shiny thing.

The King's Speech doesn't have the visual lushness and beauty you might hope for from a period piece, but the acting is wonderful. At its heart it has friendship, striving to overcome obstacles and living up to unexpected responsibilities. It also has two apparently-happy families.

I knew that George VI inheriting the throne because his older brother resigned as king; David (Edward VIII) decided on love over the monarchy. I didn't know that George VI (called Bertie by his family) stammered and dreaded becoming king when it became apparent that he was going to have to fill the role. Colin Firth was utterly convincing as the king. I love that he's not a perfect person--he's a bit of a snob (unsurprisingly) and frustrated at his own failings. He's also shatteringly honest in a few moments that made me tear up. I may have to see it again. The MPAA rating is disappointing, since the profanities uttered were done so in a context of speech therapy and non-directed. I've seen far more traumatic films with lower ratings.

On to TV--first the older stuff. I haven't yet fallen in love with Farscape. I genuinely like all the characters, but... eh. The season one finale was gripping and pushed me into season two, but with that cliffhanger resolved, I find myself a bit adrift.

For reasons of general nostalgia I rewatched a few episodes of The Pretender last semester--season one stuff. Some worked quite well even with their age; others... not so much. Looks like hulu.com has finally made the show available only to its subscribers, though. Guess I won't be finishing the rewatch unless I get the disks from Netflix.

I rewatched all of season one of Life and most of season two, for Yuletide fic-writing purposes. Oh, Life. You had such great potential from season one. *sniffles*

I'm still in early season one of Fringe. I like it, though I occasionally find myself peeking at the screen with my fingers covering most of my field of vision. Maybe at some point I'll catch up? Hopefully? It does interest me enough to keep watching.

Chaila was right about (season two of) Parks and Recreation. It was lovely and humorous and I'm planning to try and keep up with season three as it airs. eta: YAAAAAAY, all of season two is available for livestreaming via Netflix! I can finally watch the Galentine's Day episode!

Community is delightful without inspiring deeper thoughts. Generally I watch the most recent episode within a week of airtime.

30 Rock has yet to get back into my good graces since a truly horrifying statement by Pete in the season five premiere. Liz's reaction of disgust wasn't enough. I watch it when I have other things to do at the same time, but I'm probably going to give it up entirely before long. The show is still frequently amusing; I'm just angry enough that I don't find myself interested in keeping up. Sorry, Jonathan and Toofer!

I like Castle because it has pretty people and a sweet family relationship (Castle and his mother and daughter) and... guns. And mostly non-gory crime. And frequent adult-like decisions by the two leads, although they have yet to be obligingly openly in love with each other. (I really don't mind that. I'm guessing some others do.) I watch intermittently, because real life intervenes.

Kate Beckett has beautiful hair. And thus endeth my very deep musings about recent TV shows.

Comments

[helen_c]

Farscape is, unfortunately, a very hard show to get into. The first season is barely watchable (though things get better after Jeremiah Crichton), and the beginning of season 2 is a bit blah after all the build-up.

Still, honestly, this show kept getting better with each season--3 and 4 are really wonderful.

(And I found the first season of Parks and Recreation boring to tears; I only watched the end of S2 for Rob Lowe, skipping the first 20 episodes, and was surprised by how much it had improved while I wasn't looking.)

[rose_griffes]

I am planning to continue with Farscape, but it's been bumped down on the priority list.

P&R really wasn't much during its first season. I watched one or two episodes; later I had the same experience as you, surprise at its improvement.

[nicole-anell.livejournal.com]

30 Rock has yet to get back into my good graces since a truly horrifying statement by Pete in the season four premiere.
I know *exactly* what you're talking about and I agree! Not just the statement but the visual, ugh. The show crossed a big squick line for me and hasn't really done anything to make up for it. The humor just seems too cruel in general lately.

My sad confession about Parks & Rec is that I've given it a couple of chances, and every time I come away thinking that I really enjoy the characters and existence of female friendships but I just never *laugh* at it. It's such an odd duck in the comedy lineup.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

I'm relieved it wasn't just me to feel like that 30 Rock moment crossed a line. BLEH!

As for P&R, I wonder if part of my own appreciation is in the recognition of the characters. The people have such a midwestern feel; it's sort of like laughing at that silly thing your cousin did at the last family reunion. Hm... I'll have to think about this some more.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

P&R is also sort of the anti-The Office. Same fake documentary style, but the heart of the show is about people that you would probably really like if you knew them personally. (Even if they wrangled you into volunteering at a senior citizens' center for a Valentine's Day dance. Yes, I finally got to watch "Galentine's Day"! It was just happy-making!)

[daybreak777.livejournal.com]

I cover my eyes with Fringe too! Mostly I look away and groan, "Oh, Fringe." That show needs a support group, I tell you.

No love for Farscape? But isn't Aeryn awesome? I have been saving that show for a long stretch. I hoped it would be awesome!

P.S. I love Walter on Fringe. My favorite lines:


Peter: You bring your own sweetner?

Walter: Don't be ridiculous. That's my medication.

Peter: You aren't on any medication, Walter.

Walter: Yes, I am. I'm making it myself in the lab.

Peter: You are self-medicating with home made drugs?

HEE. Yup. The best is that Walter is so reasonable about it all. Love him. :-D

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Hah, yes, Walter's calm, reasonable tone while he delivers that kind of speech makes for awesome hilarity.

No love for Farscape? But isn't Aeryn awesome? I have been saving that show for a long stretch. I hoped it would be awesome!

I like everyone! Really, everyone! I just... something about the plots so far. I would say that they don't connect enough to the characters, but that's not it. I'm not sure what it is or isn't! I'm planning to watch more, but it's not a priority right now.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about Farscape. We've been working through it slowly, but we took a break to do Glee and blasted through that, several episodes a night. I adore Aeryn especially, but for some reason I am just not grabbed and addicted. I don't know why.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

I adore Aeryn especially, but for some reason I am just not grabbed and addicted. I don't know why.

Yeah, I haven't figured that out yet myself.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Your Leslie Knope appreciation post was quite influential! Hurrah!


I'll tell you exactly what 30 Rock did, but it will induce rage. So feel free to skip the rest of this if you don't want rage in your life right now.

[rage space]
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Pete made a statement to Liz about how great his day had been so far, starting with waking up early and having sex with his wife. Only his wife was still asleep (so he didn't "have to be gentle"). UGH. And Liz told him that it was gross, but THAT ISN'T ENOUGH. Gross is eating overcooked broccoli; what Pete did was rape, unless he and his wife agreed on this beforehand.

This was aired before the accusations against Julian Assange, but I can't help wondering WHAT THE HELL THE WRITERS WERE THINKING! And I wish I'd stopped watching the episode right then, because maybe that data would somehow get transmitted to NBC. (I was watching on hulu.com.) The more I think about it, the angrier it makes me.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

I've been debating over the letter. And nicole_anell mentioned the visual that went with the discussion, which I mostly missed because I was also... grading papers? Something. Anyway, so yes, it wasn't just a conversation, it had an image to go with it.

It makes me so confused and enraged that someone thought this would be funny. Why include it otherwise? We know that Pete is sort of passive-aggressive in his relationship with his apparently domineering wife, but there are plenty of other references that would keep continuity with his character and NOT TACITLY ACCEPT RAPE.

[lyssie.livejournal.com]

Farscape is one of those acquired taste-type shows. Either you love it, or you're meh, or, in some cases, you loathe it.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

I'm still planning to watch the rest of season two, but it's not in the priority pile right now.

[rose-griffes.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm just surprised, because so many other LJ-ers really enjoyed it, and I've found other shows I've liked from y'all.

I'm not giving up yet; I'll try the rest of season two this summer, probably.