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This Month in TV
29/9/13 22:25Downton Abbey
Downton is back and it is quite, quite awful. Julian Fellowes you have won awards for your writing - why was that despicable conversation at the train station allowed to go ahead this week?
In other news, everything is going swimmingly for Anna and Bates which means one of them is DOOMED. Place your bets.
And Thomas has to be evil again this series because I don't even know why, so is becoming pals with terrible returning house maid who I dislike intensely. Please will someone just write me happy fic where Thomas leaves Downton and shacks up with someone like Carmichael and Jack in "Farthing".
Edith's fellow (Might-As-Well-Be-Rochester) is thinking of moving to Germany so he can get divorced from his unstable wife. This actually reduced me to screaming 'DON'T YOU DARE MOVE EDITH TO GERMANY! WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S COMING IN GERMANY.' at the set. Attractive. And, AND, it seems that even though Edith is having an affair with this man they aren't even doing it yet. What is this?! At least Mary got to shag her shameful secret.
Oh, and the series is trying to convince us all that Mary and Tom might get it on. Even though I am 90% sure this is a fake out it upsets me greatly. Don't do it show. Just. Don't.
Also, if anyone knows what is going on with Jimmy's sudden interest in Ivy please just spoil me now because it is bugging me. But if you know she or Daisy are going to end up with Alfred please hide that from me. He's just boring William's dull replacement and I hope he conveniently dies too #mean.
I know I could stop watching but Mary and Thomas and Edith... I just really want to see them through to a happy ending. And maybe Anna and Bates will be fine and that will make it worthwhile (they're not going to be though are they, their happiness will be their undoing in historical soap land).
Orphan Black
Orphan Black is officially the best SFF series I've seen in ages. The third ep was a little TOO MUCH for me, as they tried to cram a bunch of information into a very short space of time, but the first two eps were so good that I'm very hopeful for the rest of the series. How any one actress can play so many different characters so convincingly at the same time just astonishes me. Plus, Felix and Art :D I love that Felix is so central to the story, he's not just the snarky gbf who backs Sarah up while cutely tearing her down because, omg, that's just what gbf's do don't you know! He's her brother and he has real issues with her even though he clearly loves her to pieces - he gets to be a real person. And Art is just boss. I can't wait to see more of his storyline and to see what he'll do when he figures out Beth is Sarah. Wouldn't you just die if Felix and Art became a couple (I would totally love that - how do we make this happen?).
Seriously though world, give Tatiana Maslany all the awards and cash and Dior dresses right now or prepare for a mass strike. I can't decide who my favourite clone is - probably Sarah right now, but Alison is pretty awesome. Who's your favourite?
Peaky Blinders
Please, is anybody else watching this? I <3 it so.
Some of the accents are spotty and people tell me the history was perhaps less dramatic than what we're seeing on screen but I still <3 it so. It's historical drama set in the Midlands, and (important) it's not all cozy and law luv a duckish. And its focus is on how men sent to war are trying to take back control now they've returned because the war stole so much of their self-control. And they help their pals (also torn into by war) along the way, even though their pals are often visibly disempowered - no man left behind! Then there's the use of modern music! And the fact that it's serious drama, but it also employs 'the trick' plot device like fun shows like "The Hustle" - so cool, structured drama story-telling and historical realism in one place. Ugh, and that scene in I think the first episode where the bar maid/spy is singing and this whole pub of rough Midlands blokes back from war join in with the chorus of "The Boy I Love is Up in the Gallery" - heart tearing. Plus, everyone in it is soooo attractive. And if you're looking for a dude ship there's a big one available (Tommy/Freddie - pretty much made to ship).
Anyone?
Under The Dome
This is kind of a paint by numbers drama but it's fun, popcorn SFF horror watching. I mostly like it because Aisha Hinds and Rachel LeFevre are in it. Aisha Hinds is part of a lesbian couple and they have a daughter which is cool ,and rare to see on TV at the moment. I wouldn't say the program has a diverse set up but it does also have three chromatic actresses, one who is playing the Sherrif, and one chromatic actor. I'm also warming to the character of Barbie (ok his name won me from the start, but he still seems kind of awful with the murdering and all). And for anyone who likes (you know what I'm going to say) boys with daddy issue there's the alternately loveable and disturbed Junior. I am kind of a sucker for Dean Norris (Big Jim in this show) in anything as well; I think it's his voice and those steely eyes. I'm going to keep watching at least until we find out what is going on with the dome.
Atlantis
I don't think this new venture from the "Merlin" team is going to replace "Merlin" in anyone's hearts but it's cute in a super predictable way. The mythology is all mixed up which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but some of those mixing up choices are a little confusing (Roman versions of names given to Greek mythological living on a Greek island?). If you like curly haired boys who take their shirts off, and adorable geeks who don't know they will grow into world famous figures, there's something here for you though. Next week, Jason meets Medusa who looks like a perfectly normal woman in the trailers - please don't doom here to a head full of snakes and life in stone program, or I will go right off you.
By Any Means
The "Hustle" team tries to reproduce the exact same format of "Hustle" but with police officers as Robin Hood figures instead of crooks. If you're fine with people who have police powers saying 'It's a grey area' whether they're police or not, that they "Must have left their ID in the car" when asked to produce it, and who break into the houses of criminals you can watch this happily. I am not fine with that, it's kind of a huge bugbear of mine that I think fictional police officers should behave lawfully no matter what. I also did not enjoy one of the characters giving a speech about how there are 'White hats and black hats just like in the films' in real life. Shut up.
On a positive note the most senior police figure is female, and the main cast hits gender parity and approaches racial parity.
Maybe someone can explain to me though why a channel would cancel a program made by a particular creative team only to commission another program that is basically the same but worse. Like, why cancel "Hustle" if you were then going to commission "By Any Means". It uses the exact same format, its just changed up the team setting (adding less appelaing male leads) and switched out the character's professions for another. If "Hustle" wasn't getting the ratings what makes the BBC think THE EXACT SAME SHOW but worse will? Same goes for "Atlantis". Why not just make more "Merlin" instead of getting the same team to make the same show but less good? Confusion abounds - can anyone explain the workings of TV central?
Downton is back and it is quite, quite awful. Julian Fellowes you have won awards for your writing - why was that despicable conversation at the train station allowed to go ahead this week?
In other news, everything is going swimmingly for Anna and Bates which means one of them is DOOMED. Place your bets.
And Thomas has to be evil again this series because I don't even know why, so is becoming pals with terrible returning house maid who I dislike intensely. Please will someone just write me happy fic where Thomas leaves Downton and shacks up with someone like Carmichael and Jack in "Farthing".
Edith's fellow (Might-As-Well-Be-Rochester) is thinking of moving to Germany so he can get divorced from his unstable wife. This actually reduced me to screaming 'DON'T YOU DARE MOVE EDITH TO GERMANY! WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S COMING IN GERMANY.' at the set. Attractive. And, AND, it seems that even though Edith is having an affair with this man they aren't even doing it yet. What is this?! At least Mary got to shag her shameful secret.
Oh, and the series is trying to convince us all that Mary and Tom might get it on. Even though I am 90% sure this is a fake out it upsets me greatly. Don't do it show. Just. Don't.
Also, if anyone knows what is going on with Jimmy's sudden interest in Ivy please just spoil me now because it is bugging me. But if you know she or Daisy are going to end up with Alfred please hide that from me. He's just boring William's dull replacement and I hope he conveniently dies too #mean.
I know I could stop watching but Mary and Thomas and Edith... I just really want to see them through to a happy ending. And maybe Anna and Bates will be fine and that will make it worthwhile (they're not going to be though are they, their happiness will be their undoing in historical soap land).
Orphan Black
Orphan Black is officially the best SFF series I've seen in ages. The third ep was a little TOO MUCH for me, as they tried to cram a bunch of information into a very short space of time, but the first two eps were so good that I'm very hopeful for the rest of the series. How any one actress can play so many different characters so convincingly at the same time just astonishes me. Plus, Felix and Art :D I love that Felix is so central to the story, he's not just the snarky gbf who backs Sarah up while cutely tearing her down because, omg, that's just what gbf's do don't you know! He's her brother and he has real issues with her even though he clearly loves her to pieces - he gets to be a real person. And Art is just boss. I can't wait to see more of his storyline and to see what he'll do when he figures out Beth is Sarah. Wouldn't you just die if Felix and Art became a couple (I would totally love that - how do we make this happen?).
Seriously though world, give Tatiana Maslany all the awards and cash and Dior dresses right now or prepare for a mass strike. I can't decide who my favourite clone is - probably Sarah right now, but Alison is pretty awesome. Who's your favourite?
Peaky Blinders
Please, is anybody else watching this? I <3 it so.
Some of the accents are spotty and people tell me the history was perhaps less dramatic than what we're seeing on screen but I still <3 it so. It's historical drama set in the Midlands, and (important) it's not all cozy and law luv a duckish. And its focus is on how men sent to war are trying to take back control now they've returned because the war stole so much of their self-control. And they help their pals (also torn into by war) along the way, even though their pals are often visibly disempowered - no man left behind! Then there's the use of modern music! And the fact that it's serious drama, but it also employs 'the trick' plot device like fun shows like "The Hustle" - so cool, structured drama story-telling and historical realism in one place. Ugh, and that scene in I think the first episode where the bar maid/spy is singing and this whole pub of rough Midlands blokes back from war join in with the chorus of "The Boy I Love is Up in the Gallery" - heart tearing. Plus, everyone in it is soooo attractive. And if you're looking for a dude ship there's a big one available (Tommy/Freddie - pretty much made to ship).
Anyone?
Under The Dome
This is kind of a paint by numbers drama but it's fun, popcorn SFF horror watching. I mostly like it because Aisha Hinds and Rachel LeFevre are in it. Aisha Hinds is part of a lesbian couple and they have a daughter which is cool ,and rare to see on TV at the moment. I wouldn't say the program has a diverse set up but it does also have three chromatic actresses, one who is playing the Sherrif, and one chromatic actor. I'm also warming to the character of Barbie (ok his name won me from the start, but he still seems kind of awful with the murdering and all). And for anyone who likes (you know what I'm going to say) boys with daddy issue there's the alternately loveable and disturbed Junior. I am kind of a sucker for Dean Norris (Big Jim in this show) in anything as well; I think it's his voice and those steely eyes. I'm going to keep watching at least until we find out what is going on with the dome.
Atlantis
I don't think this new venture from the "Merlin" team is going to replace "Merlin" in anyone's hearts but it's cute in a super predictable way. The mythology is all mixed up which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but some of those mixing up choices are a little confusing (Roman versions of names given to Greek mythological living on a Greek island?). If you like curly haired boys who take their shirts off, and adorable geeks who don't know they will grow into world famous figures, there's something here for you though. Next week, Jason meets Medusa who looks like a perfectly normal woman in the trailers - please don't doom here to a head full of snakes and life in stone program, or I will go right off you.
By Any Means
The "Hustle" team tries to reproduce the exact same format of "Hustle" but with police officers as Robin Hood figures instead of crooks. If you're fine with people who have police powers saying 'It's a grey area' whether they're police or not, that they "Must have left their ID in the car" when asked to produce it, and who break into the houses of criminals you can watch this happily. I am not fine with that, it's kind of a huge bugbear of mine that I think fictional police officers should behave lawfully no matter what. I also did not enjoy one of the characters giving a speech about how there are 'White hats and black hats just like in the films' in real life. Shut up.
On a positive note the most senior police figure is female, and the main cast hits gender parity and approaches racial parity.
Maybe someone can explain to me though why a channel would cancel a program made by a particular creative team only to commission another program that is basically the same but worse. Like, why cancel "Hustle" if you were then going to commission "By Any Means". It uses the exact same format, its just changed up the team setting (adding less appelaing male leads) and switched out the character's professions for another. If "Hustle" wasn't getting the ratings what makes the BBC think THE EXACT SAME SHOW but worse will? Same goes for "Atlantis". Why not just make more "Merlin" instead of getting the same team to make the same show but less good? Confusion abounds - can anyone explain the workings of TV central?