briarwood: True Blood - Jessica from S3 promo pic (TB Jessica S3)
Morgan Briarwood ([personal profile] briarwood) wrote2010-08-03 09:12 am

Overdue comment on the summer's TV

New US shows, new seasons.

True Blood

I am really, really hating this season. Call me weird, I just don't find a steady diet of rape and sexualised torture entertaining. WTF happened to my show? I mean, True Blood has always been adult (and then some!) and never shied away from the violence, but it's never been torture!porn before. Tara, one of the show's strongest characters in season one, is raped, mind-raped, kidnapped and I have no words for what else. Sookie - frequently a victim of violence on this show, I admit - is now raped and damn near eaten. Yes, that's from the book, but they've changed so much I'm not sure that justifies it. Lorena may be a twisted bitch but that doesn't mean it's fun to watch...and again, I have no words that I want to use for what's been done to her. And Pam. Pam is so awesome and she, too, has been chained up and tortured.

Maybe I'm becoming squeamish in my old age.

Maybe I'm finally growing up.

The Gates

Five episodes in, the show is finally beginning to come together. I'm guessing most viewers won't have stuck with it that long. I'm intrigued by the supernatural elements, boared stupid by the Desperate Housewives-esque bits, mildly diverted by the tortured cop. I think it's worth watching and has the potential to be really good, but it's only aiming for mediocre so that's all it is. Most of the characters are well drawn but there's no one I particularly identify with.

I'm hoping there'll be some actual explanations of the supernatural rules at some point. Like how come the vampires aren't bothered by daylight? It's irritating when these things aren't explained.

Haven

Man, do I love the look of this show. It's got a reality right there: the landscape looks real, not some Hollywood back lot, the people look real, the lighting looks real. So many shows go for that horrible over-saturated Disney look; Haven is so refreshing!

So far, I'm iffy on the plot, but I have a feeling this is going to be one of those shows like Buffy, where I'll like it better when I can watch the whole season in one long marathon. I like the main characters, I like the mystery-of-the-week format plus ongoing arc mystery, and when I have time to pay more attention I'm sure this could be a show to get fannish about. Which, with my luck, means it'll get cancelled.

Leverage

Leverage is my popcorn show: turn on TV, disengage brain. It's fun, it's pretty and it's formulaic. So I don't have a lot to say about it except I'm glad the ongoing arc seems to have vanished. This show doesn't need it.

I know many fans get more out of this show than I do, and don't misunderstand: I adore Parker, I love Hardison's geek references like woah, and I love Sophie (especially in S1. She's changed). But the other guys do little for me and I don't see myself ever writing about this show. That's not a yardstick of my enjoyment of it, but it does influence my fannishness.

That's it. That's all I'm following this summer. No, I haven't seen Sherlock yet; I'll catch it on iPlayer when I have a moment. I can't wait for new Dexter though...
birggitt: Happiness (Dexter)

[personal profile] birggitt 2010-08-03 10:33 am (UTC)(link)
Skipped your True Blood bit, because I'm two episodes behind, so... trying hard to not be spoiled :P

The Gates: Yes, exactly! At first, I was really meah! now, it's getting a little bit more interesting, but it's not what I'm looking for on my week (and yes, one of the reasons I'm at date with it it's because I don't need to pay it too much attention, so I watch it as I'm doing something else.

Haven: I really, really like this show. I'm enjoying it very much.

Leverage: Another show which doesn't needs my full attention, but this one, I enjoy. It's fun, it's kind of geeky, and I adore Parker, so yeah!

I can't wait for new Dexter though...
You too? U just was telling my son yesterday how much I want Dexter to be here! *thinks about that last sentence* Well, not here as here, you know. Not my choice of friend or even neighbour *laughs*
birggitt: Happiness (Dexter)

[personal profile] birggitt 2010-08-03 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, September 26. Still a long wait... *sigh*
shanaqui: Aeris from Final Fantasy VII. ((Aeris) Breeze)

[personal profile] shanaqui 2010-08-03 01:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Sherlock is... troubling me. I enjoyed the first episode, and the second episode had a couple of moments, but the total dismissal of disability (PTSD can be cured within a day of meeting Holmes!) and the lack of women (potentially strong female character walks in, doesn't like Holmes, and is immediately reduced to the affair she's having with a co-worker by smartass Holmes!) seriouuuusly puts me off.
shanaqui: River from Firefly. (Default)

[personal profile] shanaqui 2010-08-03 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
There are some bits I loved, as well, so I'm watching the final episode, and it kind of depends how that goes whether I watch any others that might potentially happen.
shanaqui: River from Firefly. (Default)

[personal profile] shanaqui 2010-08-03 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I had trouble. Lisa was watching at the same time, and occasionally had to clarify what was going on for me.