If you want something really, really bad...

Haven Season 4 Premiere in ( three short sentences )

Oh my god, how did I not know that Johnny Capps and Julian Jones are producing a new genre show for the Beeb, called Atlantis?

Seeing as normally Merlin would start up its fall Season again soonish, I wondered if the Beeb had any costume drama replacement for it. And sure enough, brought to you from the guys who thouroughly slaughtered one of the most beloved British legends EVER. And kicked every rule of storytelling in the face while doing so. Repeatedly. With steel-toed boots.

I`ll give them a good first Season. It was fun, it was goofy and heartwarming. On some level it still holds up as one of my all-time TV-faves. There was even a brief revival of that feeling during Season 4 (and points for "making it canon" in the end) but by far and large, their show was carried by the charme of their actors.

Now they`re grabbing famous folklore from another culture - guess they were at least banned from British stuff? - and I don`t think anyone expects a different outcome. And I have no idea if they managed to cast well this time either. Am undecided if I`m gonna be there for it has something of a small desaster, it naturally draws your curiosity. Oy.

Slightly late but: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to mareen and frogspace

Hope you had a great day, respectively, and many more to come. \o/

Checking in back from vacation...



Had a wonderful time - cruise ships are the height of decadence yet also the height of relaxation - but believe it or not, I managed to get a sunburn even in( more clues to guess behind the cut )

Caught up on Season 3 of Teen Wolf. This show is actually well-suited for marathon watching (though honestly, most genre fare are) instead of waiting in between weeks.

It`s funny because I kind of have been checking up on reactions beforehand and the actual show was not what I expected from that. Maybe I lack the deeper investment in the characters and show as a whole but it certainly helps along with the enjoyment factor. ( Slight spoilers )

Here you can find longer trailers for all the new CW fall shows.

Strange they only picked The 100 as mid-Season because it looks the most interesting out of all. Tomorrow People can go either way, thematically it looks like a cross between Jumper and Mutant X and I hope that is where the similarities will end.

Unfortunately with Reign the bad acting practically leaps at you, even in this 4-minute trailer. Shudders. Star-Crossed looks to be a mixture of Roswell and I am Number 4 and not a good one at that. And I liked Season 1 of Roswell.

The Originals is basically just scenes from the backdoor Pilot so at this point you don`t really get a feel for this show.

I give the CW credit for trying to develop some genre fare and go back to their WB roots but either I`m gettting too old (entirely possible) or TV truly just isn`t what it used to be. God knows the golden-day-WB-shows had their trash factor, too, but somehow they seemed more sophisticated.

All the networks have presented their schedule now for the fall Season 2013/2014 and, looking at it, I realized my viewing schedule will likely also be full.
Highlighted shows I will watch for sure, those in italics I plan to check out, anything else is stuff that at a certain point I may simply drop or hang on till the bitter end aka undecided

Monday
8 p.m.: Bones (Fox)
9 p.m.: Beauty and the Beast (CW)
Sleepy Hollow (Fox)
10 p.m.: Castle

Tuesday
8 p.m.: Agents of Shield (ABC)
NCIS (CBS)
The Originals (CW)
9 p.m.: NCIS Los Angeles (CBS)
10 p.m.: Person of Interest (CBS)

Wednesday
8 p.m.: Arrow (CW)
9 p.m.: Criminal Minds (CBS)
The Tomorrow People (CW)

Thursday
8 p.m.: The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
The Vampire Diaires (CW)
9 p.m.: Reign (CW)
10 p.m.: Elementary (CBS)

Friday
9 p.m.: Grimm (NBC)
10 p.m.: Dracula (NBC)


Why did they stuff Tuesday so crazy full next fall? I know they put SPN there, too, but after digging the first half of this Season, I found the second half completely DOA. Maybe after the show is over and it ended in a way I didn`t completely hate, I will sample it again. If it goes on the same path it is now, though? Good riddance.

Since we`re nearing the Season Finales of most of my shows, I thought I`d do one more little update on how they fared this year IMO. As a little aside, though, can I ask: what is up with this habit to pump up the Seasons to 23-24 episodes lately? Because lets get real, writers had trouble filling the usual 22 eps and at least 1/3 of it was mostly filler and/or shit. I get they want to reduce reruns but before upping quantity, you should up quality.

Anyway, here goes:

Pretty much all my crime shows, Castle, Bones, NCIS, NCIS LA and Criminal Minds can be summed up with: I still watch those, I still like some characters/concepts and some episodes truly entertain me, others, not so much. Now, NCIS LA has to be the less tired of all of them because it is the youngest whereas NCIS (going into Season 11!!!) is more of a chore.

Elementary is a new one I started this year and it entertains me for an hour each week, to be forgotten till it`s next on. I don`t have a problem seeing Sherlock as Sherlock Holmes, though. It has always been a character I could accept in wildly different incarnations so this one? No prob either. Am impressed that so far they are staying true to the "no romance" mandate.

Hannibal I just picked up but I already know, it wouldn`t work for me longer than probably this one Season. I like it but it is mini-series material for me.

My sitcoms are still
- The Big Bang Theory - still watch it but the best episode this Season for me (the one where the girls discuss Thor`s hammer) also made me sad because the show had this kind of nerd humor all the time and now it simply doesn`t. I still laugh during episodes but it`s more generic humor now.
- Community - I enjoyed the beginning of the Season but the last few eps? Just not my thing. Didn`t really feel like Community and wasn`t funny so it`s probably just as well that it`s coming to an end.

Now for the more genre fare.

New shows I picked up this Season are:
Arrow - I really do like how the show has developed, the overarching story, the characters, it feels much more cohesive than in the beginning. Also, I think Stephen Amell is better than just his abs in my opinion. NowOllie is a somber, brooding character but islandOllie is a hoot and a half and pre-islandOllie is a fratboy douchebag and I think he manages to make them distinct characters from each other.

Beauty and the Beast - yup, I`m apparently one of two people still watching it because the romance works for me. I absolutely get why people would walk away from the show in disgust and boredom because the romance is the only thing it has got going for it. So if that doesn`t grab you, it will be a bust.

Defiance, I just started but so far, I`m invested.

Returning shows were:
The Vampire Diaires - an odd Season, I can see why it got some hate but individiual episodes still entertain me and I`m curious for the Finale

Person of Interest - I put this down as genre because of reasons but nevertheless, it kicks major ass. I haven`t loved every ep this year but the main story arc and character work? Fantastic.

Grimm - Apart from one storyline this year (three guesses on what is), I loved the second Season. I love Nick`s camaraderie with all of his Wesen friends and allies.

Game of Thrones may be halfway through Season 3 already but it`s hard to judge till a year/book is finished so I will just say: good stuff.

Fringe ended - sniffle and Samnat got dropped.

In conclusion: I still watch way too many shows.

Hm, if a plot development in a story makes you go "yes, hallelujah, that is so cool, this has so much potential" when it is clear the narrative wants you to root against it, but later on, when that same plot development is reversed, makes you then go "yes, hallelujah, fucking finally, I couldn`t take more of this", is that a sign of good writing or bad? Did the writer who initially failed to get you on the same page simply rectify their mistake? Or just screw up the potential awesomeness so badly you fell on that same page in defeat?

This is the random stuff my mind likes to get lost in sometimes. :D

So, the CW already picked up The Originals as a show for next fall Season. Hm, the ratings weren`t good and the reception wasn`t exactly warm. I can still see why they did it but surely, they made their decision before airing it in this case? Personally, I will likely give it a shot because I`m one of the few people left who likes the characters and sees (more) potential in them if they removed from TVD - lets face it, their prospects would always be stifled there on account of their roles in the story.

However, I thought Plec was either drunk or insane writing it. ( Spoiler ) This might be the third oddest writing choice I have ever seen. You are free to guess who my number one and two are.

Also renewed: CW`s Beauty and the Beast. Hm, I don`t mind too much but that doesn`t leave much slots open for next Season and didn`t the CW have a couple cool-sounding genre Pilots in the pipeline?