Television, Television

[przed]

Well, we're finished the Painting the Baseboards adventure, are midway through the Moving Everything Off the Second Floor adventure and ready to start the Have the Hardwood Floors Installed on Said Second Floor adventure starting on Monday. As a result, I've mostly been MIA on LJ. But I do have a few brief TV related musings.

First off, we finally finished season 1 of Veronica Mars. Just in time for season 2 to finally show on Canadian TV. (And I'm really trying hard not to stress about the fact that we've already got 4 eps of it built up on the PVR. I have a feeling we're going to resort to buying the box set of season 2 almost as soon as it's out.) I love Veronica Mars, and think it's one of the smartest shows out there, but did anyone else think it was a piece of lazy-assed writing to have Aaron Echolls pop up in Veronica's back seat in the last episode? I'm mean, two minutes before it happened, the Sweetie and I looked at each other and had the "oh, Christ, Aaron's going to be in the back seat, isn't he?" "But no, they wouldn't be that lame" "Oh no, they're going to be exactly that lame" conversation. Apart from that, I adored the first season whole-heartedly. I even thought the revelation that Aaron was the murderer was completely set up and yet not something I called.

Second, I have officially given up on The Chief. I've had 17 episodes of it sitting on the PVR since at least the spring, and not even the gorgeousness of Martin Shaw (and he is bloody gorgeous in it) can make me watch the damn thing. On the purely technical side, I can't handle the cheap-assed, shot on video, poorly lit, crappily composed quality of the whole thing. On the narrative side, I want to shake the writers and tell them that having people argue about the police budget for the five millionth time does not scintillating drama make. And while Martin is clearly out-acting most of the cast, the directors have a remarkable tendency to shoot the back of his head (no, really, I'd prefer to see his face, thank you) and even he has occasional lapses where he's trying too hard to sell the drama of a scene. So, I'm going to burn through those eps as fast as I can and I'm not going to bother copying them any more. 'Cause really, the chances of my ever watching 'em again is slim to none, and slim just left town.

On the other hand, I've decided I utterly adore Judge John Deed. Yet again we have a gorgeous, if older, Martin Shaw, which is always a plus. And I have somehow managed to turn off the part of my brain that knows something about the law when watching it, so I no longer need to clutch my head in pain when Deed does something particularly bone-headed, illegal or improper. I have also managed to stop taking offense whenever Deed sleeps with yet another woman who's crossed his path, though I haven't stopped yelling at Jo to keep away from him when tries yet again to win her back. I'm also shocked that I've developed an amused affection for George. I'll be holding back the final 4 episodes I've got left on the PVR as a reward for when I manage to get through a few of those bloody Chief episodes.

I may be disappearing entirely for a week or two. On top of the house stuff, I'm about to try upgrading my computer. New hard drives (320 GB!), new OS (Tiger!), new software (Final Cut HD!), all of which is probably going to entail new memory and a new graphics card, though that remains to be seen. If it all goes south, it may take me a bit to get it all sorted. So, send your good computer thoughts my way.

Comments

[shaw012145.livejournal.com]

Not even the fact that ALAN CADE and JOHN DEED "both" wear braces can tempt you to keep for another view another time?

I can't really speak as I know I will never watch Rhodes again. Maybe because the character would not appreciate being ravished by a red blooded woman.

[stewardess.livejournal.com]

I bought the first season of Judge John Deed. I will buy every season. I am that show's lackey.

[empty-mirrors.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen The Chief, but I completely concur on the Judge. Brilliant character, totally brilliant. So wonderfully flawed and idealistic and stupid and well-meaning and fucked up.

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

With you on JJD. He's great in that.

I've only seen a couple of TC, so it's hard to comment, but from what I did see, you most definitely have a point.

Hope the house and computer stuff goes well.

Take care of you.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I've only watched a few episodes of Deed and none of the Chief, though I do have the show, and found I'm not crazy about the change in his speech. Makes me wonder if it's affected now or then. But I liked For the Greater Good, where his speech patterns were somewhere in the middle. But I try not to get too involved with any of the other characters either played because, well, they really can't hold a candle to Bodie and Doyle, now can they? ;-)

[paris7am.livejournal.com]

Sending you lots and lots of good computer thoughts!

So nice to hear your thoughts on TC and JJD. I can't comment on TC since I haven't seen it, but I absolutely love JJD - with all of his flaws and however much you want to smack him up, he's just so charmismatic and sexy and wonderful... and there's always that thing lurking in the back of your mind that finding the right *man* will turn it all around for him... okay. Back to the nursery for me!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've only seen the first Chief ep so far, but I'm still curious to see the rest! And there's A&E I've not watched too, so I'll be curious to see how he is there. I think my favourite not-Doyle character has to be Don DeMarco though... Also, I think I secretly, deeply recognize that JJD and George suit each other perfectly. Jo needs to stop being such a wimp - to everyone! not just JJD!

Sending good computer-y and good house-y thoughts your way...

Couldn't resist using the icon...

[stormheller.livejournal.com]

Uh. I'm not seeing SGA on that list. Atlantis, I think we have a problem.
8-(
Your personal SGA pimp,
~ Stormy

[faramir-boromir.livejournal.com]

Uhm. With all those adventures, you may need to stay home for some quiet time in the future. *thinks about what comes next* Forget I said that.

Haven't seen either Chief or Deed, but if they're shooting the back of somebody's head to be artistic, they ought to be returned to their 101 courses for some remedial work.

On the computer thingee: backup backup backup.

I may need a 12 step group. I now own 60 zines and just bought 10 more.