next_to_normal: (Default)
next_to_normal ([personal profile] next_to_normal) wrote2010-05-26 02:30 pm

30 Days of TV - Day 17

Day 01 - A show that never should have been canceled
Day 02 - A show you wish more people were watching
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show

Day 17 - Favorite miniseries

Okay, I don't really watch miniseries, like ever, so there really weren't many to choose from. I'd say my favorite is probably The Lost Room, which I watched after [livejournal.com profile] rahirah mentioned it in a post about good plotting. ("It makes sense" is a major selling point for me when it comes to stories.) It's a sci-fi show about a mysterious motel room that exists outside of normal space and time. Objects from the room have weird powers, one of which - the room key - falls into the hands of Detective Joe Miller (played by Peter Krause, which is another major selling point for me). When his daughter disappears in the room, Joe has to track down the other objects and solve the mystery of the room in order to get her back.

Honorable Mentions: Well, there's Into the West. As I recall, the first couple hours were really good, and then after that it was much less interesting. Uh, I remember liking The 10th Kingdom back in the day. Does the BSG miniseries count? That's literally all the miniseries I can think of. Anyone got any good recs?

And the rest of the days, for those who want to play along...

Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death

[identity profile] urania-calliope.livejournal.com 2010-05-26 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I enjoyed the Dune miniseries. I think you need to be really into the books to enjoy them though, especially the second one. There are a couple points where it just craaaaaaaawls.

[identity profile] urania-calliope.livejournal.com 2010-05-26 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
It's to science fiction what 'Lord of the Rings' is to fantasy. A really rich world that sometimes gets bogged down in it's richness. I really enjoyed it and a select few of the sequel books but I know some people find it dull.
snickfic: (Buffy desert)

[personal profile] snickfic 2010-05-26 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I was going to rec Dune, too! However, I don't think it's necessary to have read the books - I saw the miniseries first and enjoyed it enough to go read the books afterwards.

Eowyn, it's far future SF with lots of galactic politics and personal vendettas and a whole lot of sand - it's mostly set on a "desert planet." The worldbuilding was definitely the selling point for me - I'm fascinated by the different futuristic developments and cultures, especially the desert tribes native to the planet (and not very subtly modeled on peoples in the Arabian desert).

[identity profile] urania-calliope.livejournal.com 2010-05-26 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Tidbit: Herbert also wrote the story in semi-contest with everyone's favorite creepy old guy: L. Ron Hubbard.
snickfic: Buffy looking over her shoulder (Default)

[personal profile] snickfic 2010-05-26 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Hah! (I'm assuming you mean everyone's favorite creepy old dead guy, right?) Especially amusing since Dune is a classic and Hubbard is pretty much only remembered for Scientology anymore. (Although even with the religious connection, I think Hubbard's novels might have a better chance if his publishers would lose the atrociously ugly pulp cover art. E-ye-yuck. Then again, what little I've read of him is horribly dated by any standard; possibly the cover art is just truth in advertising.)

[identity profile] urania-calliope.livejournal.com 2010-05-27 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
Although since the contest was to see who could inspire a new religion and make a million dollars... Hubbard technically won although the human race won more with Dune.

[identity profile] fenchurche.livejournal.com 2010-05-26 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmmm... I might have to look at adding that to the Netflix queue. I somehow missed it, first time around.

[identity profile] brunettepet.livejournal.com 2010-05-26 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I enjoyed The Lost Room, too. I mainly tuned in for Peter Krause but it held my interest right to the end.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2010-05-26 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh! The Lost Room sounds gooooood. I’m gonna have to look that up.

My two faves are both adaptations of Elizabeth Gaskell’s works: North and South and Cranford. The former is my favorite costume drama. It’s got a great ship, sort of like Elizabeth and Darcy except that I like it way more than Lizzie/Darcy—I adore Margaret and Mr. Thornton is totally wonderful. Plus, it’s socially conscious! Unions and strikes and poverty and class warfare! Great acting! Pretty music! Watch it!

Cranford is much lighter fare, but it’s absolutely gorgeously done with lots of fantastic British character actors. And it’s kind of the story of a village over about a year or two, and there are tons of fun characters and multiple couples but not everyone ends up having a romance and you’ll laugh and cry. Watch it!
snickfic: Buffy looking over her shoulder (Default)

[personal profile] snickfic 2010-05-26 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I am absolutely looking up both of these when I get back to the States. They sound like great fun. (I confess, I like P&P despite, not because of, Lizzie/Darcy. I like Lizzie and I like a lot of other things about the novel, but I kind of don't care about them together.)

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2010-05-26 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
You should, you should! I think you'd adore them!

And I can't tell you how giddy it makes me to know that you don't care a thing about Darcy and their relationship. I don't either! I like Lizzie, I like tons of the character, I like Austen's prose, and I like her insights into social interactions of the day. But that particular romance does nothing for me. And I feel so aloooooone!
snickfic: Buffy looking over her shoulder (mood shippy)

[personal profile] snickfic 2010-05-26 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, in considering this lack of shipping enthusiasm on my part you should remember that not caring about ships is my default. I'm much more interesting in people as individual and people in platonic relationships than I am in "romances."

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2010-05-26 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
True, true. I guess I just don't much see the difference, personally, in my reaction to Buffy/Spike versus Spike&Dawn. I mean, obviously, I want different things for them as their relationships unfold. But my fascination with them isn't dissimilar. I know that's not the case with many people, but it is with me.
snickfic: Buffy looking over her shoulder (Default)

[personal profile] snickfic 2010-05-26 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Also, Lauren's comment reminds me - the 1995 BBC miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice is fantastic. Some great casting - including Colin Firth's breakout role as Darcy himself - and a light touch. If you're at all interested in Austen adaptations, this is a great place to start.

[identity profile] dragonflylady77.livejournal.com 2010-05-27 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
Oh The Lost Room I just remembered that I wanted to watch that!! Peter Krause is a major selling point. And making sense can't be bad. ^_^

[identity profile] dragonflylady77.livejournal.com 2010-05-27 07:45 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yes. Definitely.


*giggles*