Fandom, TV

Are You Happy (Town) Now?

8,855 Comments

Wow. Though I had one person tell me via Twitter that Happy Town has a HUGE following, as expected, it was canceled. The last two episodes can be seen online only, and I have seen them. Wow. Um. Yeah. The risks in following new shows are A) The constant fear of cancellation when you love them (Legend of the Seeker), B) The realization that the show is terrible (The Gates), C) That a show won’t be able to find it’s way in time (Happy Town).

I’m not going to do any background checking to see if the last episode was re-edited as the finale, but I can only imagine that it was. We got most of the answers to the big questions (Who is the Magic Man? What’s the deal with Dan?), but the details that could have been fleshed out over time would have made the show so much better. For instance, I still have no idea what Henley’s deal was. Is she Chloe? If so, big deal. We don’t know the significance of “Chloe” at all. Her last phone call was a bit contradictory, but was is significant? And the Magic Man. Whoa. How did the Magic Man get away with everything when the identity wasn’t exactly secret at all? Magic, I guess. *pfft*

Regardless, I guess in the end, I don’t regret having watched the show, and that’s a lot more than I can say about most of them.

Fandom, TV

Check Your Records Again

1,725 Comments

River Song, you are amazing. I was lukewarm at best upon first meeting Prof. River Song, and even if I discount all the talk about, “Who is River Song?” her performance in “The Big Bang” was so compelling and completely badass, that I am now a fan. I think she’s going to disappoint me later on, and I’ll be watching her every move side-eyed, but for now? Yeah!!!!

My head is still spinning from all the greatness of S5. Matt Smith, I get teary eyed just thinking about how great your Doctor is. I’m just as thrilled to find that many of my friends, who are diehard fans of The Tenth Doctor, have come to love Eleven as well. There is a magic in the eyes that just sucks us in. This, combined with an utterly delightful companion or two has made this a great time to be a fan. This series was also significant to me because of the excellent writing. I’m on record as defending RTD, and I will continue to do so, but this series we got to see a poignancy that most sci-fi shows are too timid to allow. The Doctor’s concern for his companions, other races, and other worlds is a given, but seeing The Doctor’s interactions with young Pond was both inspiring and heartbreaking.

I always try to keep my posts (mostly) spoiler-free, so there’s not much more I can say. This is probably just an excuse though, because I’m still so ridiculously giddy that I can’t really find words anyway. I can’t wait for the next special, and thank you, Doctor Who, for making this the year of redemption.

TV

Bottom Chef

1,635 Comments

This is not a typical post from me. I can’t even be bothered to find images to accompany this one. I almost never post about reality tv shows, though I am a fan of many of them. I detest anything with singing or dancing, but throw a bunch of people into a house and/or creative competition and I am almost certainly there.

Top Chef has remained one of the best produced, most interesting, and creative shows in this genre. All of that changed last night. This episode was, by far, the worst of the series (and that’s saying something since Hosea was once named the winner…). Washington DC is, of course, a political town. Top Chef, however, did not have to “go there” with the whole school lunch thing. If anyone, First Lady included, thinks they can abolish childhood obesity in a generation (or twelve), they are delusional. For Top Chef to pay such respect to such bull truly diminished the spirit of the show. When the cheftestants of the first season were charged with creating lunch for children using monkfish, they had FUN. The teams were still able to cook healthy food, but without the OMG!NO MONEY FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES pity party hanging over their heads. Even the kids in this episode seemed bored.

This season is off to a very slow start overall. I spent the first episode thinking, “Shut up, Tim, you big baby,” only to have him redeem himself (at least temporarily) in this episode. Maybe I just hated everything else so much that even Tim didn’t bother me. I don’t know. I’ve never turned against a show so quickly (not even Lost), and I am hoping that this isn’t the end for this fandom. Get back to doing what you do right, show!

Fandom, TV

Hello, Sweetie, Indeed!

1,564 Comments

The Doctor is in a lot of trouble now. The Pandorica actually does contain the greatest warrior the universe has ever known. Earlier in the week, I foolishly looked at some concept art for the episode and ruined my own surprise. Drats! Anyway, what can you do when you are confronted with nearly every adversary you’ve ever really humiliatingly defeated?!?

You can always attempt to call them out, right? I very much cheered for The Doctor as he made his last stand speech. His Jesus-pose > Ten’s. I’m just saying… I didn’t cringe once during the speech, which is rare for me. I normally roll my eyes at grandstanding, or maybe I’m just flashing back to the buffoonery of the last few years. Then again, I’m also one of those people who has weird nervous habits, for instance, in high pressure situations, I yawn. Constantly. It’s a wonder I’ve ever landed a job.

Without overspoiling anyone, I think it’s safe to say that I don’t think we’ve seen the end of our three-ish companions just yet. River Song, love her or hate her, is important. Furthermore, I think she’s important in way more than a deus ex machina way. I’m smiling punningly at myself right now, because I am in full support of THIS THEORY. As a matter of fact, if this doesn’t turn out to be mostly true, I’m going to be a little disappointed.

Since, like most series enders, we have no preview for next week, I’m going to just re-watch “The Pandorica Opens” a few more times and prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.