TEE VEE!!!

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Since Netflix is jacking up their prices starting in September, I've been giving the Instant Watch a workout, trying to cram in as much stuff as I can before cancelling that plan and just going to DVDs by mail. As a result, I have quite a bit of TV watching to report on.

Shows I love:

1. Downton Abbey - OMG YOU GUYS! Practically everyone has been raving about this show for months now, but if you haven't seen it, WATCH IT NOW! Go on, I'll wait. :) OMG SO FABULOUS. I flailed through the whole thing, and then was bummed when there wasn't more of it. (Series TWOOOOOO where are you? Sooon....) If, for some reason, you have no idea what I'm talking about, it's a period drama set in early 20th century England, and follows the goings-on at the Crowley family's wealthy estate, the inheritance of which has been thrown into turmoil. When the heir to the title is killed on the Titanic, it appears Lord Crowley will be forced to pass on the estate to a distant cousin, while simultaneously trying to find suitable husbands for his three daughters. Meanwhile, the arrival of a new valet causes discontent among the servants, two of whom will stop at nothing to get him fired.

2. Jekyll - A modern sequel to the original Robert Louis Stevenson novel, in which Dr. Tom Jackman, a descendant - and doppelganger - of Dr. Jekyll, has developed a sort of time-share arrangement with his "evil half," and is primarily concerned with keeping his wife and children safe, which means Hyde can never know they exist. Then Tom discovers that a secret society trying to recreate Dr. Jekyll's potion has been meddling in his life, and Hyde starts to spiral out of Tom's control.

Shows I was not impressed with:

1. 30 Rock - I don't get it, you guys. Why does everyone love this show? I watched four episodes and was not at all impressed. Does it get better? Or is it just not my thing?

2. Little Britain - Clearly, my love for British humor has its limits.

Shows on which the jury is still out:

1. North and South - I was in the mood for some solid English period drama after Downton Abbey, but this was a bit of a letdown. Maybe it's just a slow starter? I only watched the first episode. It's only four episodes total, though, so I'll probably finish it later, when I'm bored.

2. The Tudors - Two episodes in. I am mildly intrigued. It strikes me as quite similar to Rome - familiar historical story jazzed up with lots of sex, would be much better if I can get invested in some of the characters, but that has not happened yet.

Comments

[goldenusagi]

Downtown Abbey - I've been meaning to watch this. I like period stuff.

Little Britain - how far did you get? I love the first series, but all the completely potty humor loses me in the second and third ones.

I love North and South.

I've never watched The Tudors, despite my love for period stuff, I can't seem to get enthusiastic. That time period just doesn't interest me for some reason at all.

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Little Britain - how far did you get?

About 15 minutes. :\ It was a pretty decisive conclusion that this is Not My Thing.

We'll see how I do with The Tudors. I managed to make it through Rome, but that was a bit shorter.

[louise39]

Downton Abbey is due back at Christmas, I think. A super show!

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Yaaaay!

[caliente_uk]

S2 of Downton Abbey is due to start airing in the UK some time during September. We get eight eps plus a Christmas special. I can't wait! :D

Right there with you on Little Britain. I've never understood why it's as popular as it is. I don't think I've ever even made it through a single episode. Not my sort of humour at all!

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Haha, good to know I'm not alone!

[blackfrancine]

North and South is def. a slow starter--but I love it. Mainly, though, if I'm being honest, I love it because of Richard Armitage--because he's unbearably wonderful in it as it goes on. HOLY CRAP, HIS FACE. (I may have watched every single thing with him in it available on Netflix.) But there's some excellent stuff between him and his mother as well. I say it's worth it to watch on--I fell in love with it. But I could easily understand someone not liking it as well (the female lead is not at all to my taste--either the actress or the character).

As far as 30 Rock goes--I'd watch a little more, but if you don't like it, then I wouldn't force it. It really isn't for everyone--but the main thing to keep in mind is that the whole premise of the show is tongue-in-cheek. Tina Fey is making fun of Tina Fey. Tracy Morgan is making fun of Tracy Morgan. That's what makes it really compelling, imo. But you're not SUPPOSED to be emotionally wrapped up in the characters--it's satire. They're 2-dimensional. It's supposed to create distance so that you can view TV tropes and the TV industry (as well as any number of zeitgeisty things) with a clear eye. It's just that it's served up in a standard sitcom format, so I think we all subconsciously (or consciously) are waiting for a character to really SPEAK to us emotionally--but that's not what 30 Rock is trying to do. I really didn't love it until that sort of clicked--and even now, though I do love it, I still don't watch religiously or anything. So, if you don't like the idea of sitcom-as-satire, then it probably won't grow on you.

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the female lead is not at all to my taste--either the actress or the character

Yes, that's a major part of it, I think. I don't know what it is, exactly, I just don't like her.

It really isn't for everyone--but the main thing to keep in mind is that the whole premise of the show is tongue-in-cheek. Tina Fey is making fun of Tina Fey. Tracy Morgan is making fun of Tracy Morgan.

Hmmm. That may be the problem. The thing about satire is that you usually have to have some appreciation of the thing being satirized in order to find it funny. And I'm just kinda "meh" on the whole idea.

[mcmegan]

I love 30 Rock! I haven't seen much of the recent episodes, but just the stupid little things crack me up. I'd compare it to the Simpsons somewhat. In the beginning of one episode Liz wanted to get her ID picture re-taken because she had "snarted"- a combo sneeze/fart. That made me laugh for a few minutes. Maybe I just have a lowbrow sense of humor. Also, I love Kenneth the page.

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Heh, I was never much of a Simpsons fan, either. Woe!

[ever_neutral]

Downton Abbey YESSSSSS.

Yeah, I've been mulling over whether to get into 30 Rock or not, so. Now I know it's NOT! I have far too many other shows anyway.

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Yeah, really. I may come back to it at some point, but I have WAY too much TV to watch to waste time.

[shapinglight]

The new series of Downton Abbey starts over here next month. Can't wait! Especially as Iain Glen has a guest role in it. The action has moved on to mid WW1, I believe.

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Wooo! I'm excited!

[eilowyn1]

YES. Downton Abbey. And fie on you for being on Dreamwidth so I can't use any of my Sybil icons!

Blackfrancine really had it right about 30 Rock. Don't force it, but do give it a couple more episodes. I am emotionally attached to Liz Lemon, because I am going to grow up to be Liz Lemon, but I'm not invested in . . . her journey, I guess is how you could put it. I'll watch it whenever I find it's on and love it, but I don't have to watch it religiously. I don't care to find out if Liz ever finds love or if her career fulfills her like I would for, say, Buffy, but I do love Liz Lemon in the present tense, what she's doing right now, and as a struggling young feminist it does me good to see her struggling with her identity as a woman and a feminist in a realistic way. No, she's not unabashedly feminist and yes she does have her privileges, but like me she's still working at it, still trying to figure it out with herself, and I appreciate that.

I haven't seen it, but apparently once Anne Boleyn arrives on the scene The Tudors gets good, so maybe stick it out for her appearance? People rave about Natalie Dormer in the role, so if I had the time I'd definitely give it a shot just to see her.

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Awww, no Sybil icons. :(

Thus far, I haven't really identified with Liz at all. And I was kind of looking out for that, because I know she's your girl (and Lauren's? Am I remembering that correctly?), but it hasn't clicked yet.

Yeah, I'm through S1 of The Tudors now, and Natalie Dormer is indeed fabulous. Overall, it's entertaining, but not a lot of substance, you know?