Quick off-topic pondering: Why is evil Prison Break mom so evil? Is it cuz it's hard to see through a dozen layers of of false eyelashes and mascara and eyeliner? And also not to get at least some of that mascara smudged on that spiffy white pantsuit she's wearing? Must be frustrating...
Dollhouse, Week 12
So. Huh. I guess it's appropriate the season finale would be indicative of how I feel about the show as a whole: The two leads are mediocre and poorly written; the plot's a mess; and good actors (and some beautiful sets!) are going to waste.
To the pains...
Her is me. So, shiny sparkly Echo is the reason the psycho killer from Alpha's original self switched on, and he offed his handler, the original Dr. Saunders (an old dude!), and sliced up Whiskey's (Saunders 2.0) face. Why Whiskey? Because she was the #1 Doll and Alpha wanted shiny sparkly Echo to be number one. (Yes, all this chaos and death resulted from a dude wanting the new girl in school.) His obsession with Echo withstands the 40-something personalities he holds in that square head of his, and decides that she should be Omega to his Alpha and have bunches of fucked up personalities too! So they can "ascend" (when did this become fucking Stargate?) and be superstrong psycho freaks together, ruling the world or something, from a warehouse in an abandoned San Pedro industrial park. To do this, they kidnap the ....
...and for some reason Google hiccuped, the toads rained from the sky, and the rivers ran red, deleting my brilliantly bitter post about this sad clusterfuck of a show. So let's cut to the chase, as I am tired and this shit ain't getting renewed...
Acker and Kranz were fantastic and I would love to see these characters interact more. There's some lovely development here that we'll probably never get to see. Let's hope they get better shows next year.
For the first time, I liked Caroline, in the random kidnapping victim who happened to be Mike Seaver's baby sister. But she doesn't have a producer's credit like Eliza so...YA DEAD.
Ballard still sucks and he is already pushing Boyd to the background.
RE: Alpha's serial killer-ness: "I flagged it in the paperwork..." (He was an administrative SNAFU! This explains everything!)
They actually take the prospective actives pre-brainwipe on a tour of the facilities? I figured they would anesthetize them right after signing and make with the mindzapping before there were any second thoughts. Then again, these are the same folks who recruit serial killers for dangerous brainfuckery, give them weapons training, and then headquarter themselves in Tuscon. So, clearly this is SOP... ("It was only 'attempted murder'...")
"Bal-LARD and his crimesolving abilities"?! Biggest laugh of the season.
Is one of Alpha's imprints Dr. Smith?
"Friends are nice."
"You are the best?" Oh for fuck's sake. Amy Acker kicks Eliza's ass everyday of the week and twice on Sundays. Alpha totally traded down...
This is what I've been saying: Don't let Dolls have scissors.
Eyes! Like Deadwood!!!!
You don't get enough Minoan shout-outs.....
"Well, one of my personalities happens to be a multiple personality..."
Wedge. Say it again.
Wedge.
Wedge. Wedge. Wedge. Wedge.
He saved the girl. GEDDIT?!
November = Madeline Cosley. Who is she? Fuck if I know...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
I'm not comfortable having people in my home who aren't delivering me Thai food.
Me neither, Alpha. Me neither.
Dollhouse, Week 11
Here's why I can't get with Caroline or Ballard as my 'heroes': They seem more concerned about being right, rather than them doing right. Flaws are fine, but this just makes them assholes. And not amusing/sorta likable assholes, like House, just annoying, obnoxious, and taking screen time from characters that are actually compelling. It also doesn't help that the actors are fairly mediocre and around more for their hotness than their charisma or talent. That's why I couldn't enjoy this ep like wanted to; there's a good story developing here but it's being hampered by its leads. That's a problem.
Good
Written by Jane Espenson - "Carrots. Medicinal carrots." "I'm gonna die in pajamas."
"It's a small world, right? I went to elementary school with Jenna Elfman."
Let's keep bald black lady Fed and send Ballard to the attic.
Victor as Dominic!!! The freakout of realizing he was Attic-ed and now temporarily in a Doll was a nice touch, and the actor did a fine EvilReedDiamond impersonation.
Tudyk!!!! - So fantastic. Hilarious, menacing, and definitely worth the wait. Eliza's had virtually no presence when they shared a scene. Next week should be interesting... (And I really wanted Alpha to break out while he was in the mindzappy room and shove Ballard into the Comfy Chair.)
Boyd. Fuck Yeah. I seriously hate Ballard for hurting Boyd. This will not stand.
Random
"The Dollhouse is underground." - They're the Mole People!!??!!1
So the LA Dollhouse was built eight years ago?
Dollhouse HQ is in...Tuscon? For christ's sake, why? Then again, a locus of evil located in that god-forsaken place does make some sense. I have feeling Cindy McCain is involved somehow...
"Caroline, you don't have to do what they tell you." - Just do what I tell you. Be free, you brainwashed freak.
Grrrrr
Echo saves the children - was this some pro bono work that's supposed to make us like the Dollhouse tech now? Why did it take up so much time and then go nowhere? Why was it so. fucking. boring?
Why is it just Caroline that matters to Ballard? He doesn't think there are other Dolls that might like to not be Dolls anymore (like maybe the one he's been fucking for the last month)? I don't buy the connection they're trying to build between them. There is no connection, writers, other than their annoyance.
Seriously, Fox: NASCAR popups? During Dollhouse? I'm guessing the demos don't overlap as much as you'd like to think...
Dollhouse, Week 11
Here's why I can't get with Caroline or Ballard as my 'heroes': They seem more concerned about being right, rather than them doing right. Flaws are fine, but this just makes them assholes. And not amusing/sorta likable assholes, like House, just annoying, obnoxious, and taking screen time from characters that are actually compelling. It also doesn't help that the actors are fairly mediocre and around more for their hotness than their charisma or talent. That's why I couldn't enjoy this ep like wanted to; there's a good story developing here but it's being hampered by its leads. That's a problem.
Good
Written by Jane Espenson - "Carrots. Medicinal carrots." "I'm gonna die in pajamas."
"It's a small world, right? I went to elementary school with Jenna Elfman."
Let's keep bald black lady Fed and send Ballard to the attic.
Victor as Dominic!!! The freakout of realizing he was Attic-ed and now temporarily in a Doll was a nice touch, and the actor did a fine EvilReedDiamond impersonation.
Tudyk!!!! - So fantastic. Hilarious, menacing, and definitely worth the wait. Eliza's had virtually no presence when they shared a scene. Next week should be interesting... (And I really wanted Alpha to break out while he was in the mindzappy room and shove Ballard into the Comfy Chair.)
Boyd. Fuck Yeah. I seriously hate Ballard for hurting Boyd. This will not stand.
Random
"The Dollhouse is underground." - They're the Mole People!!??!!1
So the LA Dollhouse was built eight years ago?
Dollhouse HQ is in...Tuscon? For christ's sake, why? Then again, a locus of evil located in that god-forsaken place does make some sense. I have feeling Cindy McCain is involved somehow...
"Caroline, you don't have to do what they tell you." - Just do what I tell you. Be free, you brainwashed freak.
Grrrrr
Echo saves the children - was this some pro bono work that's supposed to make us like the Dollhouse tech now? Why did it take up so much time and then go nowhere? Why was it so. fucking. boring?
Why is it just Caroline that matters to Ballard? He doesn't think there are other Dolls that might like to not be Dolls anymore (like maybe the one he's been fucking for the last month)? I don't buy the connection they're trying to build between them. There is no connection, writers, other than their annoyance.
Seriously, Fox: NASCAR popups? During Dollhouse? I'm guessing the demos don't overlap as much as you'd like to think...
Sunday, April 26, 2009
10 albums to blare from the car on a hot sunny day
1) Boys and Girls in America / the Hold Steady
2) Exile in Guyville / Liz Phair
3) Now We Can See / the Thermals
4) Paul's Boutique / Beastie Boys
5) Houses of the Holy / Led Zeppelin
6) Robyn / Robyn
7) Get Happy! / Elvis Costello
8) Yield / Pearl Jam
9) Being There, Disc 1 / Wilco
10) [any] / the New Pornographers
2) Exile in Guyville / Liz Phair
3) Now We Can See / the Thermals
4) Paul's Boutique / Beastie Boys
5) Houses of the Holy / Led Zeppelin
6) Robyn / Robyn
7) Get Happy! / Elvis Costello
8) Yield / Pearl Jam
9) Being There, Disc 1 / Wilco
10) [any] / the New Pornographers
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Right now, we should be drinking.
Damnit! I turned the teevee too soon and thought WILLIAM FICHTNER was gonna be on Dollhouse. *sigh*
Dollhouse, Week 10
Alas, there was no Fichtner, but there was Gregg Henry, one of the kick-ass HITGs. Alas, he was woefully underused. Even as the red herring, he could've been given more to do. (Question: The boat fiasco = The noodle incident?)
Good
Topher - Layers! It appears that even he succumbs to his loneliness once a year, and creates a geek dream girl to play laser tag with for his birthday. Gah, how sad. It wasn't even some nasty, pervy scenario; he just wanted someone to hang out with! Also, love his interactions with Boyd.
Jane Espenson! wrote some of tonight's episode - can you guess which parts? (I'm guessing the discussion with NerdSierra about androids. And the, 'more money for everyone, yay!')
"We can't play with the sleepies..."
Everlasting life? Another morally questionable twist of the Dollhouse tech. Should there be a second season, this facet could give it legs.
Tudyk = Alpha? It's a guess. In any case, I would give about ten Tahmohs for one Tudyk on a regular basis. Let's make this happen, Joss.
Eh.
The Echo-focused plot. I like a drawing-room mystery as much as the next gal, but this was pretty rote and unsurprising. I mean, why wouldn't the killer be the evil popped-collar preppy with a gambling problem, when the bitter daughter and drunken uncle get so little screentime? (Also, I've only seen Jordan Bridges play a good guy once. and he still died.)
And yet another strange wardrobe choice takes me out of the story: the solid gold dress at the end? Seemed a bit much for a daytime reading of the will and stroll by the pasture. One can be both practical and hot in a decent pair of jeans and shitkickers.
November's breasts: MVP of the whole Mellie/Paul storyline? Paul's anger at the whole situation and the rough sex that followed is fine bit of darkness to add to that plot, but I'm still not feeling all that sorry for Ballard, and Mellie is such a simpering doormat I feel like smacking her around a bit myself. Perhaps I should give Joss, et al., kudos for creating a story wherein the mad scientists, rather than their victims, are the most interesting and sympathetic characters.
Um, where *was* Echo's handler? Seemed like he would've been handy when the Topsider Killer made with the syringe....
Dollhouse, Week 10
Alas, there was no Fichtner, but there was Gregg Henry, one of the kick-ass HITGs. Alas, he was woefully underused. Even as the red herring, he could've been given more to do. (Question: The boat fiasco = The noodle incident?)
Good
Topher - Layers! It appears that even he succumbs to his loneliness once a year, and creates a geek dream girl to play laser tag with for his birthday. Gah, how sad. It wasn't even some nasty, pervy scenario; he just wanted someone to hang out with! Also, love his interactions with Boyd.
Jane Espenson! wrote some of tonight's episode - can you guess which parts? (I'm guessing the discussion with NerdSierra about androids. And the, 'more money for everyone, yay!')
"We can't play with the sleepies..."
Everlasting life? Another morally questionable twist of the Dollhouse tech. Should there be a second season, this facet could give it legs.
Tudyk = Alpha? It's a guess. In any case, I would give about ten Tahmohs for one Tudyk on a regular basis. Let's make this happen, Joss.
Eh.
The Echo-focused plot. I like a drawing-room mystery as much as the next gal, but this was pretty rote and unsurprising. I mean, why wouldn't the killer be the evil popped-collar preppy with a gambling problem, when the bitter daughter and drunken uncle get so little screentime? (Also, I've only seen Jordan Bridges play a good guy once. and he still died.)
And yet another strange wardrobe choice takes me out of the story: the solid gold dress at the end? Seemed a bit much for a daytime reading of the will and stroll by the pasture. One can be both practical and hot in a decent pair of jeans and shitkickers.
November's breasts: MVP of the whole Mellie/Paul storyline? Paul's anger at the whole situation and the rough sex that followed is fine bit of darkness to add to that plot, but I'm still not feeling all that sorry for Ballard, and Mellie is such a simpering doormat I feel like smacking her around a bit myself. Perhaps I should give Joss, et al., kudos for creating a story wherein the mad scientists, rather than their victims, are the most interesting and sympathetic characters.
Um, where *was* Echo's handler? Seemed like he would've been handy when the Topsider Killer made with the syringe....
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Maybe there'll be cake?
Dollhouse, Week 9
Well fuck me, THAT was an excellent episode.
Adele uses Victor! Holy shit! There was cake! (so the 'meeting' was just a much-needed day off...) And, fittingly, it's kinda violent and twisted and desperate. Adele is just a fascinating character and Olivia Williams is incredible. It was an excellent use of the entire cast while maintaining Echo as a focal point, action-y, emotional, suspenseful... Which makes next week's ep seem all the more disappointing - an Echo mystery of the week? Really?
Random observations
I told Joss there should be swords...
Victor's got a hot lady handler! We need to see more lady handlers... And I don't mean that in a dirty way!
"...or an assassin that does cheers..."
"You think I'm a spy?"
"Not in a bad way...."
Art class? Are there be fingerpaints and paper mache? Wait, they let them have scissors? and not the blunt-point kindergarten kind? That's not gonna end well.
Ballard - how many guns are shoving in your pants there, buster?
For a minute I thought that file room was the Intersect.
"...no need to hide your flaws" - so really, the Dolls just give you the out if you have a tendency to fart in bed...
Oh Evil Reed Diamond, I hope we'll see you again...preferably bound and splayed in the back of my van...
Well fuck me, THAT was an excellent episode.
Adele uses Victor! Holy shit! There was cake! (so the 'meeting' was just a much-needed day off...) And, fittingly, it's kinda violent and twisted and desperate. Adele is just a fascinating character and Olivia Williams is incredible. It was an excellent use of the entire cast while maintaining Echo as a focal point, action-y, emotional, suspenseful... Which makes next week's ep seem all the more disappointing - an Echo mystery of the week? Really?
Random observations
I told Joss there should be swords...
Victor's got a hot lady handler! We need to see more lady handlers... And I don't mean that in a dirty way!
"...or an assassin that does cheers..."
"You think I'm a spy?"
"Not in a bad way...."
Art class? Are there be fingerpaints and paper mache? Wait, they let them have scissors? and not the blunt-point kindergarten kind? That's not gonna end well.
Ballard - how many guns are shoving in your pants there, buster?
For a minute I thought that file room was the Intersect.
"...no need to hide your flaws" - so really, the Dolls just give you the out if you have a tendency to fart in bed...
Oh Evil Reed Diamond, I hope we'll see you again...preferably bound and splayed in the back of my van...
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Banana pancakes? We're all gonna die.
Dollhouse, Week 8
Freedom has to be earned. God, their teasers suck. Poor Eliza got her boobs shoved up to her neck and we get a redundant fantasy sequence that shows us nothing but Tahmoh's absurdly smooth and ripped torso. And still, despite said torso, Ballard's stuff leaves me cold.... "Show - don't tell" - OREALLY?! Too meta show, too meta...and not in your favor.
Staff meeting! One of the main reasons the last few eps have worked better than their predecessors is that they've stayed in the office. The House is the most fascinating aspect of the show, and that's where the cream of the cast is. Dr. NotFred rocks. Not sure why she isn't a regular, as I have avoided (most) spoilers. And I'd definitely like to find more backstory on her than Caroline or Ballard.... Also, I want Olivia and the First Lady to arm wrestle with those serious biceps they got. We also finally saw some female handlers! Finally! Where have they been and will we see them again?
Aliens! I thought for sure the blonde dude was your redshirt for the evening. Somewhere that actor has sung 'Springtime for Hitler'* in community theater.
The faux Doll revival/revolt was exciting and answered some questions, including the incredibly depressing fact that Sierra apparently entered the Dollhouse because she was raped...and got raped again (many times over?) by Handler McPerv. Mellie/November, though, was not consistent: she was frightened, then badass, then frightened again, so I wasn't sure what to make of her. Of course, by the time she hit the cemetery I was just wishing the poor girl could catch a break. But: awww Victor/Sierra smoochies...
Um, I don't like Caroline. She's righteous to the point of foolishness - the type of foolishness that gets people killed (bye cutie boyfriend!). And sweetie, we're part Cylon, we're totally programmable.
House
House : Mos Def on the virtual beach :: Death : Max Van Sydow playing chess on the shore
I haven't seen the Kutler suicide ep yet, but I'm happy for Kal Penn's new White House job. He seems like an earnest down-to-earth guy who sincerely believes in the administration's work.
Also, see him in The Namesake, a touching, lyrical film based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri.
ER
It was a lovely, low-key series finale, despite Stamos' scenery-chewing. Alexis Bledel impressed me with very believable non-Rory portrayal of a young intern: inexperienced but smart, overwhelmed and awkward, but caring.
Young Rachel Greene is tall just like her Pops and seems to have gotten over her troubled teen ways... but why did they give her that awful up-do at the beginning of the ep? It was like she was in a BBC costume drama from the neck up.
Oh, Dr. Carter you haven't looked the happy - or that hot! - in ages. You're a County rat and you know it...
Castle
Nate Fillion has a new murder mystery show: it's pure fluff and lamely predictable and absurdly unrealistic. But then there are random moments where he's playing laser tag with his precocious but responsible teen daughter, or Susan Sullivan just appears in all her fabulousness, or he's wearing onion goggles while making dinner, or name-checking Commander Riker and Sleestacks ... and it becomes damn charming ... and evident of some serious geekitude on the writing staff.
Also, the wardrobe folks on this show dress Fillion very well.
(But what in the hell were they thinking when they put the lovely Stana Katic in that ruffly hot pink atrocity and the wing-y hair last week? She looked like a refugee from Shindig...)
*It's Captain Jack!
Freedom has to be earned. God, their teasers suck. Poor Eliza got her boobs shoved up to her neck and we get a redundant fantasy sequence that shows us nothing but Tahmoh's absurdly smooth and ripped torso. And still, despite said torso, Ballard's stuff leaves me cold.... "Show - don't tell" - OREALLY?! Too meta show, too meta...and not in your favor.
Staff meeting! One of the main reasons the last few eps have worked better than their predecessors is that they've stayed in the office. The House is the most fascinating aspect of the show, and that's where the cream of the cast is. Dr. NotFred rocks. Not sure why she isn't a regular, as I have avoided (most) spoilers. And I'd definitely like to find more backstory on her than Caroline or Ballard.... Also, I want Olivia and the First Lady to arm wrestle with those serious biceps they got. We also finally saw some female handlers! Finally! Where have they been and will we see them again?
Aliens! I thought for sure the blonde dude was your redshirt for the evening. Somewhere that actor has sung 'Springtime for Hitler'* in community theater.
The faux Doll revival/revolt was exciting and answered some questions, including the incredibly depressing fact that Sierra apparently entered the Dollhouse because she was raped...and got raped again (many times over?) by Handler McPerv. Mellie/November, though, was not consistent: she was frightened, then badass, then frightened again, so I wasn't sure what to make of her. Of course, by the time she hit the cemetery I was just wishing the poor girl could catch a break. But: awww Victor/Sierra smoochies...
Um, I don't like Caroline. She's righteous to the point of foolishness - the type of foolishness that gets people killed (bye cutie boyfriend!). And sweetie, we're part Cylon, we're totally programmable.
House
House : Mos Def on the virtual beach :: Death : Max Van Sydow playing chess on the shore
I haven't seen the Kutler suicide ep yet, but I'm happy for Kal Penn's new White House job. He seems like an earnest down-to-earth guy who sincerely believes in the administration's work.
Also, see him in The Namesake, a touching, lyrical film based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri.
ER
It was a lovely, low-key series finale, despite Stamos' scenery-chewing. Alexis Bledel impressed me with very believable non-Rory portrayal of a young intern: inexperienced but smart, overwhelmed and awkward, but caring.
Young Rachel Greene is tall just like her Pops and seems to have gotten over her troubled teen ways... but why did they give her that awful up-do at the beginning of the ep? It was like she was in a BBC costume drama from the neck up.
Oh, Dr. Carter you haven't looked the happy - or that hot! - in ages. You're a County rat and you know it...
Castle
Nate Fillion has a new murder mystery show: it's pure fluff and lamely predictable and absurdly unrealistic. But then there are random moments where he's playing laser tag with his precocious but responsible teen daughter, or Susan Sullivan just appears in all her fabulousness, or he's wearing onion goggles while making dinner, or name-checking Commander Riker and Sleestacks ... and it becomes damn charming ... and evident of some serious geekitude on the writing staff.
Also, the wardrobe folks on this show dress Fillion very well.
(But what in the hell were they thinking when they put the lovely Stana Katic in that ruffly hot pink atrocity and the wing-y hair last week? She looked like a refugee from Shindig...)
*It's Captain Jack!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The best of all possible worlds?
BSG: The End.
It was a contradictory ending, no? Both within and outside of the story. AngelGaius bemoans the modern world of Times Square, while AngelSix counters: yeah, but maybe they won't fuck it up this time? And then the montage of RobotFutureDoom....
So. Civilization's (of the metal or fleshy sort) rush for the new new tech outpaces our emotional and big-picture understanding of that tech bringing Armageddon, and all-around badness. Certainly we've made our mistakes, Mr. Moore, but that tech also brings the pretty, pretty explosions on your teevee show and games on your iPhone. Would you like to give that up, along with your cigarettes and scotch, just to till the soil and be one with the earth and God? I thought not. We all have those moments where we're at the end of our respective ropes and want a do-over. But that Never. Happens. The show has been about a fleet that, despite incredible hardships and guilt and trauma, puts its head down and barrels through as they learn and fight for survival. Far from perfect, but noble to the end. But now they should be passive fatalists, munching on dandelions and awaiting movement from the hand of God? For a show that had prided itself on being brutally honest about human nature and suffering, that whatever, here's a pat-on-the-back ending does feel disingenuous.
Fuck, G, I woulda killed the bitch too, if I found out she shot the wife I didn't really love all that much out the airlock. Go on with your Highlander-self and be at peace! Wait, *I* killed my wife... oh well, bygones!
(We never found out what Tory's deal was and that did piss me off. Huge loose thread there, writers.)
Finding Earth is fine, but why not go outside our known history? Why ditch all the ships and redo the hunter/gatherer business? Why not integrate, learn, and grow and show an alternate-Earth story?
On a lighter note: did anyone else see the tribal Earthlings and wonder if one of them was the First Slayer? Crossover!
The future is always better than the past. Even Voltaire knew that, and he invented this trite shtick. If you can't believe that -- if you fear the future you're creating, for yourself -- you're done. Because there's no point: end it today, or stop bitching and apply yourself to making it better, because essentially the implication is that nobody knows how to save the world, but you, and nobody but yours will ever figure it out. That is dead. That is death.
It was a contradictory ending, no? Both within and outside of the story. AngelGaius bemoans the modern world of Times Square, while AngelSix counters: yeah, but maybe they won't fuck it up this time? And then the montage of RobotFutureDoom....
So. Civilization's (of the metal or fleshy sort) rush for the new new tech outpaces our emotional and big-picture understanding of that tech bringing Armageddon, and all-around badness. Certainly we've made our mistakes, Mr. Moore, but that tech also brings the pretty, pretty explosions on your teevee show and games on your iPhone. Would you like to give that up, along with your cigarettes and scotch, just to till the soil and be one with the earth and God? I thought not. We all have those moments where we're at the end of our respective ropes and want a do-over. But that Never. Happens. The show has been about a fleet that, despite incredible hardships and guilt and trauma, puts its head down and barrels through as they learn and fight for survival. Far from perfect, but noble to the end. But now they should be passive fatalists, munching on dandelions and awaiting movement from the hand of God? For a show that had prided itself on being brutally honest about human nature and suffering, that whatever, here's a pat-on-the-back ending does feel disingenuous.
Fuck, G, I woulda killed the bitch too, if I found out she shot the wife I didn't really love all that much out the airlock. Go on with your Highlander-self and be at peace! Wait, *I* killed my wife... oh well, bygones!
(We never found out what Tory's deal was and that did piss me off. Huge loose thread there, writers.)
Finding Earth is fine, but why not go outside our known history? Why ditch all the ships and redo the hunter/gatherer business? Why not integrate, learn, and grow and show an alternate-Earth story?
On a lighter note: did anyone else see the tribal Earthlings and wonder if one of them was the First Slayer? Crossover!
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