sholio | Meanwhile, on other shows ...

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tv:ncis,
tv:spn

Meanwhile, on other shows ...

Shockingly, I'm actually watching other shows besides LoM! Amazing, I know. I just keep forgetting to post anything about them. Mostly because I haven't really been blown away by anything dazzling.

I went into my thoughts on the "Ghostfacers" episode of Supernatural in this comment thread over here. Now we're caught up on the latest and ... I kinda just want to write this season out of my personal canon. This wasn't a bad episode, but it's gotten to where I'm so braced to cringe when I watch the show that I'm not even enjoying the good bits anymore, especially since the show seems determined to live down to pretty much every low expectation that I have. And, no, I don't know why SPN is getting to me so much worse on the race & gender stuff than most of the other things I watch. But it is.

None of the recent NCIS episodes have really knocked my socks off, either. This past week's ... I kept feeling all through the episode that Ziva was wildly OOC. Her reaction didn't make sense -- this is a woman whose shot and killed her brother in her first episode on the show, for pete's sake. I really like Ziva as a character, and I generally quite like the episodes where we see beneath her facade to the person inside, but her shell-shocked behavior just felt wrong for her. It was like they'd written the episode for a different character and then retrofitted it to Ziva at the last moment.

I don't even remember the last few episodes all that well. They've been enjoyable enough while I was watching them but not, apparently, memorable in particular. Well, except for the dog episode, which stuck in my head mainly because I disliked the whole idea of the dog getting more sympathy than the guy who was mauled by the dog. I get that Abby's softhearted and can be a bit flighty when she's distracted by something, but considering how protective of her friends she normally is, I couldn't help feeling that her condemnation of McGee for shooting the dog in self-defense was a bit over the top.

Is that all I'm watching right now? I guess it is. Of course, I'm also re-watching LoM again from the beginning, so it's not as if I'm suffering for lack of entertainment.

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Last episode of SPN... was that the one that opens on them torturing a black guy tied to a chair, and ended with yet another female character getting written off the show? Because. Um. Yeah. I'm with you on the whole wanting a different show than what I'm getting. My biggest reaction to the whole thing was "why don't you just burn him?!" as they were burying their Frankenstein.

No, wait. I lie. My biggest reaction was at the very beginning, and went something like this: "Eeeeee, Lorne and Grodin!! Yay! AU!". XD

I'm woefully behind on SPN at the moment. I think I just plan on catching up via DVD whenever it comes out later. I think the most I made out from last week's episode was "Oh, hey is that Lorne? Oh. Guess it was."

Didn't catch last week's NCIS, but yeah, I've kind of had the same feel for the past few episodes. Was not impressed by what looks like Gibbs helping someone get away with murder, and had almost a mini e-mail rant about Abby and the dog (that McGee is suddenly BFF with the following week?), because it just felt so... much. I know they were going for funny, but it really just wasn't.

I liked that Palmer got to have a little showcase, although I will not be buying the Jimmy Palmer action figure when it comes out.

I haven't posted anything on my LJ since March! And it's mostly for lack of squee.

Last weeks Supernatural was *eeeee meep Lorne!* and then I stopped watching and did other stuff. I have a huge problem with Dean and his choice of words so I hardly watch SPN (it's the only thing that had me in stitches watching Ghostfacers: the little skulls. *g*)

NCIS ... I liked Recoil. Like it a whole lot, I thought Cote did a great job. And getting grazed by a bullet on the forehead could throw a person off her game for a couple of days, so that didn't feel too OOC for me (then again, I'm a huge Tony & Ziva fan, so I cut them tremendous amounts of slack :D).

It looks like most writers had a hard time picking up the story line after the strike and it is not helping that they have to squeeze the season into 19 or 20 episodes instead of the usual twenty-four. Too bad.

I agree with you on both counts, both on Ziva acting OOC (I thought about her brother too) and about Abby and the dog, which really annoyed me. Even though I liked the follow up, where McGee kept the dog and still called him Jethro.

With Ziva, I kept hoping she was only acting like she was falling for the guy so she could catch him in action and it really would be him. And then when it turned out her instincts were correct I was happy, but... her entire reaction to the situation just felt wrong.

Not mentioning the latest episode because I don't know if you've seen it yet, but I didn't like the bottom line of that either.

(I am still enjoying the show in general, though. The small moments in between.)

Have you seen the news that one of the networks will adapting LoM for the US? I think I read David E. Kelley will be behind it...

I saw that yesterday too. It's for ABC. Per SciFi (http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=53930).

I've been enjoying NCIS, but I think it's maybe just that it's better than anything else I'm watching right now. :) But you're right - Ziva felt very OOC to me as well in that episode. It wasn't until the end that I figured out that it wasn't shooting the guy that rattled her, it was that she screwed up and almost got herself killed. But still...eh. I lurk at an NCIS community and several people mentioned that they felt like the writers wrote Ziva as Kate that week, and I could see that, especially the looking-at-the-body scene.

And yeah, I did think Abby's dog defense was OTT. I enjoyed last night's episode a lot though, and I'm intrigued about what's going on with the director - I don't think that situation is just going to go away.

I've just watched an NCIS episode last night that had Palmer as a main character for a change, and I quite liked it...mainly because it showed more character for him, and all. (I'm not sure it was a re-run, but it was the episode where he got shot at while Ducky was checking up on the body and things. I have no idea what it was called.)
Stargate Atlantis still gives me very much squee...when I play catch up, and manage to watch a few "re-runs" of the show throughout season's three-four. I have yet to catch up to the last episode of the show, and it's driving me INSANE! But in a happy sense, because then I know that there's still plenty good things to see.
Anyhoo...I think that NCIS has recaptured my interest. I KNOW that House has, and I've actually just watched my first ever Bones episode, and I found that I really enjoyed it. It was vastly amuzing, especially with the characters competing who can sing. :D I think it's my new fav.
But really...I know what you mean about not getting enough squee...some shows have gone down since I've started watching them, and others have gone up. I don't know for certain weather I'm even going to bother keeping up with them, as I don't have a good satelitte at home. But for your sake, and others who're fans, I sincerly hope that the SQUEE shows pick back up and everyone can have something to talk about.

My biggest reaction was at the very beginning, and went something like this: "Eeeeee, Lorne and Grodin!! Yay! AU!". XD

Hee! Well, yes. There was that! (I really wish Craig Veroni would get a regular role in something. *misses Grodin*)

But overall, yeah. And as well as Bella getting (maybe) written off, what was her main driving motivation? Sexual abuse! I wondered the same thing, about burning the Frankenguy -- I was expecting them to tie him up and set his cabin on fire, but what they actually did kinda made me feel sorry for the bastard! And that horrible opening scene ... Oh, show. STOP IT.

... one thing that was neat, though, was the casting on young Bella. She really, really looked like the adult actress -- so much so that when they faded into the flashback it took me a minute to figure out that they hadn't just somehow made her look younger!

I haven't seen last night's yet. I completely agree that last week's episode felt as if it was written for Kate, though. In fact, knowing that shows tend to keep unused ideas and old scripts on hand, I wonder if it was possible that, with the writer's strike, they used a script from the first couple of seasons that was originally written for Kate, refitting it to work in season 5.

The casting on Bella was awesome. I was impressed with that. I was not impressed with her motivated-by-sexual-abuse story. Siiigh.

Wonder if they did what they did to Frankenguy so that they can have a Return of Frankenguy ep?

Also, I give this show too much credit - when Sam rescued the damsel from Frankenguy, I was all ready to believe that it was somehow him, transferred to a new body, and playing the helpless victim to get to Sammy and his juicy liver, or something. But, no. Just a random chick needing rescuing. Snore. (Though they've cut down a little on the gore, haven't they? Which is always something.)

The Abby and the dog thing really bothered me, especially since everyone seemed to be ignoring the fact that a dog that attacks a person, for whatever reason, is dangerous! I love dogs as much as the next pet owner, but blaming a friend for shooting a dog in self-defense is just stupid. I know they were going for a joke but the actual situation was too serious for the joke to work, especially when Abby ended up forcing the dog onto McGee, which was stupid x100. Some of the best dogs I've had were rescued from abusive owners, but no way in hell would I be willing to live with a dog that attacked me!

So nice to know it's not just me! Although I do really like the idea of McGee having a dog -- the characters in general have so little life outside work that I love all of those little things (Ducky's mother, McGee's dog...). But the setup for it, and Abby's lack of sympathy when normally she freaks out whenever any of her friends are in danger or hurt -- it just felt wrong to me.

The Ziva episode kinda felt like it had been written for a different character. I like Ziva a lot (she's grown on me tremendously from her early episodes) and I was happy to have an episode focused on her, but her reactions didn't feel right. Who knows, maybe the writers are trying to backpedal from her hard-bitten-killer image, but if so, it's just coming off as inconsistent characterization.

I do still enjoy the show (obviously) but there are a lot of little things that bug me about it.

I'm trying not to think about it! I could get behind the idea of taking the basic premise of the show and rewriting it with all-new characters, but recasting the existing characters ... no. I just don't want to see that. I'm also dreading how they'll handle the rampant sexism and racism of the original, especially if they set it in LA (which was what I'd heard they were thinking about) with all of its diversity.

I haven't seen last night's episode yet. It's a new one.

It's actually pretty unusual for a show to hold my interest as long and intensely as SGA has. However, they don't usually go downhill like a ton of bricks the way SPN is doing, either...

It's even worse than one could imagine. Check out this trailer: US version of LoM (http://www.etonline.com/popup/affiliate_popup.html?vid=61628&config=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldG9ubGluZS5jb20vbWVkaWEvdmlkZW8vMjAwOC8wNS82MTYyOC9pbmRleC5waHA=&slate=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5ldG9ubGluZS5jb20vbWVkaWEvdmlkZW8vMjAwOC8wNS80ODUzNC9ldF9saWZlb25tYXJzY2xpcF8wODA1MTNfc2xhdGUuanBn&title=Q2hlY2sgT3V0ICdMaWZlIG9uIE1hcnMn). Warning: Viewing this trailer may cause one's head to explode or stomach contents to disgorge.

I did like having a Ziva-centric episode (she's grown on me tremendously since her first appearance) but her reactions felt off to me ... almost like it was a script that had been written for a different character. Which, with the strike and all, it might have been!

I used to really love SPN but, wow, my interest in it has tanked lately.

....

... speechless ...

...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

I ... I don't know where to BEGIN on the wrongness.

Maybe it will die a quick and merciful death ...

Maybe it will die a quick and merciful death ...

One can only hope. In the meantime, I'll have to keep telling friends that the real LoM isn't anything like that travesty and is, in fact, stunningly awesome and worth watching over and over again.

I blame the writer's strike for all the crap we've been forced to deal with. Most of the shows I've watched the quality of the scrips post-strike were other hit or miss or just bad.

Point in case:

Bones

First two episodes were boring, formulaic and uninteresting except for the 'partner's therapy' and increasing Sweet's character. The last two were back to the show I enjoyed. Witty, fun, action and twists and turns in the mystery.

NCIS.

I HATED the dog episode. I so wanted to wrap my hands around Abby's throat. As many of said I'm all for animal rights but the dog mauled a co-worker who's supposed to be your friend. Abby was way over the top in that one.

I echo the Ziva thing. Again it was cool to get a Ziva centric eppy, but not at the cost of ruining the character. Ms. Assassin, military trained killer, gets PTSD over killing this guy who was trying to kill her? It was way OCCC.

This week's was pretty good though and I have decent hopes for next week's.

SPN

I loved Ghostfacers. Yes, its been done before in fandom, but it was funny, I loved the way they shot it and the overall storyline had a lot of emotion for involving a ton of OC's. I loved me some Ghostfacers! I wish it had a bit more Sam and Dean but meh.

Long Distance Phone call was waste of using John IMO and I hate it when they split up the brothers. I was feeling better about last week's eppy. What can I say Kripe, really, really listens to the fans unlike some shows..maybe to a fault? He wanted to keep Bela, liked her, but he caved to fan pressure to get rid of her, he said so in many interviews. Though I'm glad she's gone I hated her. I didn't fall for the sexual abuse angle if that was what that scene was meant to be..she was cold blooded, always in it for herself. It still doesn't explain the colt. If she sold it, why did she steal it ? I thought it was to fight off the demon who had her contract..so I'm thinking something is up with that, too big a plot hole.

Hopefully season finales will make me happier..but meh I doubt it. I might just re-watch Rome over the summer and be happy whiel waiting for SGA.

I kind of snuck a peak at it, and all I could thing was "...is that Cadman?!" Also, they're totally lacking the feeling of the British LoM. Though - hey, Colm Meany! It's always fun to see Colm Meany.

Sigh. Why couldn't they just take the concept, and go with it? Why use the same names and situations and lines and everything? I guess I just don't really get why you couldn't simply show the original. Are people that afraid of "foreign" stuff in the US? (I've seen this done to other shows, and the result is usually... um. Of doubtful quality? When it works at all. I'm thinking of the US Red Dwarf pilot, here.)

...okay, I'll stop invading your discussion now. *g*

No, by all means, invade away! :D

I really don't get the American tendency to remake foreign stuff, either. And they typically get the basic trappings while missing whatever made the original good -- in this case, it looks like they've remade it as a typical Hollywood action show. (A big, muscular, buff Sam? The mind boggles!) The odd, sweet, sad, moody, slightly creepy vibe of the original is just gone. And I don't understand, either, why they can't just take the general idea and make something that's distinctly and uniquely itself, rather than a poor remake of a very good and quirky show.

You rarely see foreign anything on TV here (except for anime, but even then it's usually cut and dubbed), except on certain channels that are devoted to it. BBC America is, obviously, all British shows all the time, and I'm pretty sure they showed Life On Mars as part of their programming. But even something as well-known as Red Dwarf or Dr. Who runs late at night on PBS (our public -- i.e. non-commercial -- network). You just don't see foreign shows on prime-time TV, and never anything subtitled. I think it's incredibly sad that there's this whole world of excellent shows and movies that just don't get broadcast here; it's like a vicious circle where Americans don't pay much attention to the rest of the world, so network executives don't schedule international programming, so Americans pay even less attention to the rest of the world ... it's sad.

I enjoyed Ghostfacers more than any SPN episode in the latter half of the season; it was very entertaining and I loved the concept. But I was left feeling kind of disturbed at the end -- it was funny, but ultimately it felt more like laughing at the nerds than with the nerds, and I really wasn't entirely comfortable with that.

What can I say Kripe, really, really listens to the fans unlike some shows..maybe to a fault? He wanted to keep Bela, liked her, but he caved to fan pressure to get rid of her, he said so in many interviews.

See ... I didn't know that, but that makes me uncomfortable, too. I can't help feeling that SPN is a little too fan-driven -- having the writers pay attention to the fans' opinions is one thing, but killing off a character because the fans don't like her really raises my hackles. I didn't like her much, either, but I basically blame that on the character being poorly conceived and developed. I wonder if they also plan to do a quick write-off for Ruby? She certainly hasn't been around much lately.

And you're absolutely right about the Colt. Bella taking the Colt to try to kill the demon and protect herself makes perfect sense ... but if so, where the heck is it? And if she stole it to sell it ... WHY? Maybe the demon promised her that it would let her out of the contract if she gave it the Colt (I seem to recall that some of the dialogue implied that was the case, though I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention) but if so, obviously it welched on the deal. *sigh*

Hmm - that's interesting. Maybe so.

As far as the director's storyline, I wasn't referring to last night's episode - I'm sorry I wasn't very clear. I was actually referring to the episode where they found The Frog and Jeanne came back.

Oh! Heh. I misunderstood your post! Yeah, I think they're planning something big with the director. I just wish I cared more about her as a character! I'm kind of bummed that I don't like her much, because I loved Lauren Holly in another show she used to be in (Picket Fences) and I thought I was going to like her just from cast pictures I'd seen ... and I really haven't found her interesting at all.

I can't help feeling that SPN is a little too fan-driven -- having the writers pay attention to the fans' opinions is one thing

I tend to agree here. Its a bit odd isn't it? That Kripe listens SO much to the fans that it effects the show..I wonder if the fear over ratings the tiny 3 million audience makes him feel he has to listen to them on matter like this...which makes me wonder when things changed.

When 'fans' heard about Joe and the Roadhouse and thought their TV boy friends were going to be threatened he told them to trust him and see that he wasn't trying to hook up the brothers.

So when did it go from telling the fans to trust him to caving in? Of course Spn fans are pretty darn obsessive..lol

Hmmmmmm

I'm so relieved I'm not the only one really bothered by the dog thing. When I first saw the preview for the episode, I seriously doubted they would try and go for the "McGee shot a dog who attacked him, BAD MCGEE!" angle, but they did. It's just so... I can see a kid, a little kid maybe in elementary school, thinking no bad can come from their pet, but a grown woman?

"Jethro Jr was on crack at the time, but he's clean now."

The scene at the end, forcing the dog on McGee I think irritated me the most. You have to be able to trust your animals, at the very least to not try and hurt you in your sleep. If you don't trust them they totally can pick up on that. I was glad to see in the follow-up that he and the dog were getting along as owner and pet should, but the whole "McGee's overreacting to being attacked!", that really irritated me.

Gibbs's quiet concern in the episode was great, looking out for Tim even if everyone else was being a jerk about it.

It makes me wonder what in the world Abby expected him to do in that situation. Just sit there and let the dog maul him? I was sort of halfway hoping that the dog would try to attack someone else and she'd see the error of her ways, but, er, no. Like you said, it's very childish behavior, not something that you'd expect to see from an adult!

Gibbs's concern was sweet, though. I really love Gibbs in "taking care of his team" mode. :D

No I don't care for Jenny much. I never was all that attached to her, but when I found out her whole private obsession and how she used Tony to get to The Frog - that didn't endear her much to me. And for some reason I've found her even more unlikeable than usual lately - I'm wondering if they're doing this for a reason. Lauren Holly hasn't been around much since the strike - I'm wondering if they're paving the way for an exit for her? Especially with the new guy on board.

Interesting. I'm enjoying SPN more than I've ever enjoyed a tv show in my life. And that's a lot of tv watching!

Well, to each their own, of course! I don't begrudge anyone's enjoyment of the show, and I'm glad you're liking it. We're almost to the finale, right?

Tomorrow night. *pins and needles*

I won't deny there are issues with the show, but I'm getting what I want out of it, so I'm cool. *grins* After this I'll be eagerly awaiting the return of SGA!

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