In the world of mystery writing, the flawed hero has become a cliche. Every big time detective or hard working P.I. has to have some major flaw or it just isn't a mystery novel. In Devil's Star, Joe Nesbo takes that cliche and seems to push it to the limit. His main character, Harry Hole, is as flawed and self-destructive as any human could possible be. We've seen all the flaws before, alcohol, a case that hits to close to home, raging against authority, but Nesbo is able to make them all feel fresh by taking them to there rational conclusion, somewhere most writers are to scared to go. Sure, anti-heroes get in trouble, they get suspended, they get yelled at by the Chief or their client, but Harry Hole is in such a bad state and has such a bad record that he gets fired.
One of the brilliant things about this novel is its ability to not only throw you into a suspenseful murder mystery, but to make you actually ache for the characters. When not following the hunt for the serial killer, we're seeing the tortured lives of the characters. It's adds another level to the story telling, something that was present in Nesbo's Redbreast but sorely lacking in Nemesis. Hole is as tortured a main character as I've ever seen, a man who can't get out of his own way, a man who finds himself in a place where he no longer wants to get out of his own way. Nesbo pulls no punches in his depiction of Hole's fall and because of that we truly ache for some form of redemption, a redemption we're not sure we will get.
Aside from his beautifully drawn characters, Nesbo does a solid job of writing a fresh serial killer story. What gets forgotten is that the idea of a serial killer is pretty much an American creation. The original serial killer may have been British, but ever since Jack the Ripper, the United States has had almost an exclusive hold on the market. That being the case, it is much more novel then we Americans would think for there to be a serial killer running around Norway. You would never guess this is a foreign concept with how tightly constructed Nesbo's story is. He is able to keep the reader guessing without making the reveal seem like it came out of left field.
The Devil's Star is a novel to be held up as an example of the great crime writing coming out of the Scandinavian countries. It's able to lean on genre cliches while still feeling fresh and new. It has a new approach to the old convention. A must read for any crime and mystery novel fans.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Mad Men: The Other Woman
**SPOILERS**
I don't usually post about Mad Men. It is such a talked about show the chances of me saying anything that hasn't been mentioned a hundred times on a hundred different sites is slim to none so I usually don't bother, but this week's episode was so extraordinary I can't pass up the opportunity to write a few words. The Other Woman was probably one of the ten best episodes of any show in the history of television. At this point in the show, the quality of the acting and writing and directing goes with out saying; what made this episode special was the way it took all those elements we now take for granted from Matthew Weiner, John Hamm, and company and stirred up an incredible amount of emotion. They were able to take the five years we've spent with these characters and use it all to create one of the most heartbreaking hours of television I've seen. It was heartbreaking when Joan seemed to entertain the thought of prostituting herself out for an account. She's too beloved a character to fall so low. It was heartbreaking when all the partners except Don agreed to push the issue. We've come to expect such behavior from Pete, but we all want to think more of Roger, Lane and Bert. It was heartbreaking when Joan felt she has no better way to improve her station in life then to sell her body. As if no one is ever going to question exactly how the female office manager suddenly became partner. It was heartbreaking to see Peggy begin to entertain leaving the firm. She's always been the heart and soul of the group; yin to Don's yang. It was heartbreaking to realise Don was late telling Joan he didn't support the other partner's offer. There has always been something strong and unsaid between these characters, something that would have probably changed Joan's actions. It was heartbreaking to hear Don explain why he wasn't going to put Peggy on the Jaguar account, knowing where it was coming from and knowing what Peggy was about to do. Don's intentions were good but showcased why Peggy needed to break free at the same time. It was heartbreaking to hear Peggy site the opinion that Don would do the same if he was in her shoes. We all know, if nothing else, Don values loyalty, and when he was in Peggy's shoes stayed loyal to his employers. It was heartbreaking to compare Joan and Peggy, two strong women put in positions where they had an opportunity to improve their stations in life, but neither seeming to have made a satisfactory decision. This was television at it's absolute best.
I don't usually post about Mad Men. It is such a talked about show the chances of me saying anything that hasn't been mentioned a hundred times on a hundred different sites is slim to none so I usually don't bother, but this week's episode was so extraordinary I can't pass up the opportunity to write a few words. The Other Woman was probably one of the ten best episodes of any show in the history of television. At this point in the show, the quality of the acting and writing and directing goes with out saying; what made this episode special was the way it took all those elements we now take for granted from Matthew Weiner, John Hamm, and company and stirred up an incredible amount of emotion. They were able to take the five years we've spent with these characters and use it all to create one of the most heartbreaking hours of television I've seen. It was heartbreaking when Joan seemed to entertain the thought of prostituting herself out for an account. She's too beloved a character to fall so low. It was heartbreaking when all the partners except Don agreed to push the issue. We've come to expect such behavior from Pete, but we all want to think more of Roger, Lane and Bert. It was heartbreaking when Joan felt she has no better way to improve her station in life then to sell her body. As if no one is ever going to question exactly how the female office manager suddenly became partner. It was heartbreaking to see Peggy begin to entertain leaving the firm. She's always been the heart and soul of the group; yin to Don's yang. It was heartbreaking to realise Don was late telling Joan he didn't support the other partner's offer. There has always been something strong and unsaid between these characters, something that would have probably changed Joan's actions. It was heartbreaking to hear Don explain why he wasn't going to put Peggy on the Jaguar account, knowing where it was coming from and knowing what Peggy was about to do. Don's intentions were good but showcased why Peggy needed to break free at the same time. It was heartbreaking to hear Peggy site the opinion that Don would do the same if he was in her shoes. We all know, if nothing else, Don values loyalty, and when he was in Peggy's shoes stayed loyal to his employers. It was heartbreaking to compare Joan and Peggy, two strong women put in positions where they had an opportunity to improve their stations in life, but neither seeming to have made a satisfactory decision. This was television at it's absolute best.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
2011-2012 TV Wrap Up: Part Three
Here's the final installment of my 2011-2012 TV season wrap up as I go through all the television shows on my TIVO Season Pass...
THE JOHN LESTER QUICKLY-FALLING-FROM-GRACE DIVISION
8) How I Met Your Mother
If you read this blog at all then you already know my feelings on this once great show. It's a shell of what it once was and the fact that it's this high on my season pass is a testament to how good it once was, not a reflection on the program that has air the last two seasons. It fell from #4 to #8 and probably should have fallen a lot more. I have very little hope that the show will be corrected, especially since he had its highest ratings this season.
THE WILL MIDDLEBROOKS EXCITING-NEW-COMERS DIVISION
7) Tosh.0
Not technically a new comer, but not the type of show I would usually include in this type of listing, so it's new to my list. This show is just to funny to not include. Some people call it a The Soup rip-off, which it kind of is. Some people call it a Web Soup rip-off, which I'm not sure is true because it seems to me they were being developed at the same time. But even if it is one thing can't be argued, Daniel Tosh is 100 times funnier then Chris Hardwick. I've loved Tosh for years and am excited that he found the huge audience that he deserved. If you don't laugh out loud watching this show then you don't have a sense of humor.
6) Suburgatory
This was the big surprise of the season. I had no expectations what-so-ever and ended up falling in love with this cute little comedy about life in a ridiculously over the top suburban community. A ton of the show's charm comes from Jane Levy and Cheryl Hines, who both carry the show sentimentality without sacrificing the humor. Many of the characters go a little over the top, which IS the tone of the show, but these two ladies keep the whole thing grounded. This isn't an attempt at depicting a true to life suburb, it's an over the top satire of the suburban lifestyle that is way more funny then it is caustic. I may have had no expectations for this year, but my hopes are now high on what the show will do in the future.
5) New Girl
I started watching this show because I have a gigantic crush on Zooey Deschanel (I know, not very original, but this seriously goes back to the first time she pops up in Elf, singing in the shower) but I finished the season watching because its one of the best sitcom ensembles on TV. I got a little worried after the first few episodes that this show wasn't going to be able to grow past Zooey's quirky cute personality, but the writers proved me wrong and elevated all the boys to share the spot light. Schmidt quickly became one of the best characters on TV, almost worthy of watching the show just for him. The writers quickly learned there were stories to tell away from Jess and that was when the show was at its best. The biggest problem going forward is obviously going to be how they handle the Jess/Nick relationship. The list of shows ruined by putting the do-they-don't-they couple together is to long to bother mentioning. My fingers are crossed that these writers get it right.
THE DAVID ORTIZ BETTER-BE-IN-THE-HALL-OF-FAME DIVISION
4) Sons Of Anarchy
OK, Hall Of Fame might be a little strong for this show, it did drop from #2 to #4, but boy is it fun. In all honesty I'm not sure it is ever going to regain the heights of season two. It took a big dip in quality in season three and this last season was much better, yet no where near as compelling. This will never be the smartest show on TV, never the best written, but it does turn out some quality acting and some solid dramatic moments. Who couldn't use a little biker gang drama to entertain them once a week?
3) Walking Dead
Another show I write about episode to episode on this blog, so you should already know where I stand. This show takes a lot of knocks from most reviewers, but I love it. Things started a little slow this season, but the writers still delivered on the things I tune in every week to watch: zombie gore, apocalyptic drama, moral struggles and more zombie gore. This show pushes the limit of what can be shown on cable television and does it without any campyness what-so-ever. At times I do worry about how dark the show seems willing to go, there needs to be some hope if the show is going to stay watchable at all, but for the moment this show is as close to appointment television as you're going to get in the TIVO era.
2) Mad Men
What is there to say about this show that isn't said on almost any other media outlet you can find? Every episode is like a mini-movie. It has the highest quality of acting, writing, directing and production that you are going to find on TV. There is very little doubt that this will be number one next year for reasons I will talk about next. I'm not going to waste my time or yours saying things that everyone else has said, but I will end by mentioning, if you're not watching this program I'm not sure why you bother watching TV at all.
1) Community
I hope you all enjoyed this season of Community (and looking at the ratings, most of you didn't) because even though it got renewed, it isn't coming back as the same show. In an attempt to make the show "more broad," NBC fired the show's creator and creative force, Dan Harmon, and replaced him with two gentlemen who have had nothing to do with the show's past. There is some solace in the fact they come from Happy Endings, but not enough to give me hope this show will even be a shell of what it has been the last three seasons. This is (or was) hands down the most clever, quirky, humorous show on TV. This was the one show I couldn't wait to watch every week. As good as the ensembles are in Happy Endings and New Girl, nothing compares to this collection of comedy misfits. I am hoping with all my might it is able to keep even a shell of what it has been, but I'm not holding my breath.
THE TIM WAKEFIELD YOU-DON'T-WORK-HERE-ANYMORE DIVISION
Here is a list of shows that got cut from my season pass over the course of the year. I will stop and explain why when I feel it's important...
Canceled shows that I cut before they got canceled: Pan Am, Terra Nova, Man Up
Canceled shows I'm pissed got canceled: Alcatraz, The River, Awake (this show is the biggest travesty of the season. Why you people didn't turn into what was probably the smartest show on TV but continued to watch crap like 2 and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory is a huge commentary on the state of the country)
Shows I couldn't keep watching: Up All Night, 2 Broke Girls, Whitney
Shows that I use to love but got sick of:
Glee- this show fell off the face of the planet. It use to be really good but is now totally unwatchable. I mean painfully unwatchable. I thought it was going to be an original daring clever show but it ended up being the same hour every week. So disappointing!
The Office- man was Steve Carell important to this show or what? This was once my favorite show on TV, this season I couldn't even get through 10 episodes before I deleted it from my TIVO.
Fringe- I just found myself not paying attention when this was on. It became background noise and it's way to complected a show to be background noise, so I gave it the old heave hoe.
THE JOHN LESTER QUICKLY-FALLING-FROM-GRACE DIVISION
8) How I Met Your Mother
If you read this blog at all then you already know my feelings on this once great show. It's a shell of what it once was and the fact that it's this high on my season pass is a testament to how good it once was, not a reflection on the program that has air the last two seasons. It fell from #4 to #8 and probably should have fallen a lot more. I have very little hope that the show will be corrected, especially since he had its highest ratings this season.
THE WILL MIDDLEBROOKS EXCITING-NEW-COMERS DIVISION
7) Tosh.0
Not technically a new comer, but not the type of show I would usually include in this type of listing, so it's new to my list. This show is just to funny to not include. Some people call it a The Soup rip-off, which it kind of is. Some people call it a Web Soup rip-off, which I'm not sure is true because it seems to me they were being developed at the same time. But even if it is one thing can't be argued, Daniel Tosh is 100 times funnier then Chris Hardwick. I've loved Tosh for years and am excited that he found the huge audience that he deserved. If you don't laugh out loud watching this show then you don't have a sense of humor.
6) Suburgatory
This was the big surprise of the season. I had no expectations what-so-ever and ended up falling in love with this cute little comedy about life in a ridiculously over the top suburban community. A ton of the show's charm comes from Jane Levy and Cheryl Hines, who both carry the show sentimentality without sacrificing the humor. Many of the characters go a little over the top, which IS the tone of the show, but these two ladies keep the whole thing grounded. This isn't an attempt at depicting a true to life suburb, it's an over the top satire of the suburban lifestyle that is way more funny then it is caustic. I may have had no expectations for this year, but my hopes are now high on what the show will do in the future.
5) New Girl
I started watching this show because I have a gigantic crush on Zooey Deschanel (I know, not very original, but this seriously goes back to the first time she pops up in Elf, singing in the shower) but I finished the season watching because its one of the best sitcom ensembles on TV. I got a little worried after the first few episodes that this show wasn't going to be able to grow past Zooey's quirky cute personality, but the writers proved me wrong and elevated all the boys to share the spot light. Schmidt quickly became one of the best characters on TV, almost worthy of watching the show just for him. The writers quickly learned there were stories to tell away from Jess and that was when the show was at its best. The biggest problem going forward is obviously going to be how they handle the Jess/Nick relationship. The list of shows ruined by putting the do-they-don't-they couple together is to long to bother mentioning. My fingers are crossed that these writers get it right.
THE DAVID ORTIZ BETTER-BE-IN-THE-HALL-OF-FAME DIVISION
4) Sons Of Anarchy
OK, Hall Of Fame might be a little strong for this show, it did drop from #2 to #4, but boy is it fun. In all honesty I'm not sure it is ever going to regain the heights of season two. It took a big dip in quality in season three and this last season was much better, yet no where near as compelling. This will never be the smartest show on TV, never the best written, but it does turn out some quality acting and some solid dramatic moments. Who couldn't use a little biker gang drama to entertain them once a week?
3) Walking Dead
Another show I write about episode to episode on this blog, so you should already know where I stand. This show takes a lot of knocks from most reviewers, but I love it. Things started a little slow this season, but the writers still delivered on the things I tune in every week to watch: zombie gore, apocalyptic drama, moral struggles and more zombie gore. This show pushes the limit of what can be shown on cable television and does it without any campyness what-so-ever. At times I do worry about how dark the show seems willing to go, there needs to be some hope if the show is going to stay watchable at all, but for the moment this show is as close to appointment television as you're going to get in the TIVO era.
2) Mad Men
What is there to say about this show that isn't said on almost any other media outlet you can find? Every episode is like a mini-movie. It has the highest quality of acting, writing, directing and production that you are going to find on TV. There is very little doubt that this will be number one next year for reasons I will talk about next. I'm not going to waste my time or yours saying things that everyone else has said, but I will end by mentioning, if you're not watching this program I'm not sure why you bother watching TV at all.
1) Community
I hope you all enjoyed this season of Community (and looking at the ratings, most of you didn't) because even though it got renewed, it isn't coming back as the same show. In an attempt to make the show "more broad," NBC fired the show's creator and creative force, Dan Harmon, and replaced him with two gentlemen who have had nothing to do with the show's past. There is some solace in the fact they come from Happy Endings, but not enough to give me hope this show will even be a shell of what it has been the last three seasons. This is (or was) hands down the most clever, quirky, humorous show on TV. This was the one show I couldn't wait to watch every week. As good as the ensembles are in Happy Endings and New Girl, nothing compares to this collection of comedy misfits. I am hoping with all my might it is able to keep even a shell of what it has been, but I'm not holding my breath.
THE TIM WAKEFIELD YOU-DON'T-WORK-HERE-ANYMORE DIVISION
Here is a list of shows that got cut from my season pass over the course of the year. I will stop and explain why when I feel it's important...
Canceled shows that I cut before they got canceled: Pan Am, Terra Nova, Man Up
Canceled shows I'm pissed got canceled: Alcatraz, The River, Awake (this show is the biggest travesty of the season. Why you people didn't turn into what was probably the smartest show on TV but continued to watch crap like 2 and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory is a huge commentary on the state of the country)
Shows I couldn't keep watching: Up All Night, 2 Broke Girls, Whitney
Shows that I use to love but got sick of:
Glee- this show fell off the face of the planet. It use to be really good but is now totally unwatchable. I mean painfully unwatchable. I thought it was going to be an original daring clever show but it ended up being the same hour every week. So disappointing!
The Office- man was Steve Carell important to this show or what? This was once my favorite show on TV, this season I couldn't even get through 10 episodes before I deleted it from my TIVO.
Fringe- I just found myself not paying attention when this was on. It became background noise and it's way to complected a show to be background noise, so I gave it the old heave hoe.
Monday, May 28, 2012
2011-2012 TV Wrap Up: Part 2
Here's the next ten shows on my TIVO season pass as I review the 2011-2012 TV season...
THE DUSTIN PEDROIA SO-CONSISTENTLY-GOOD-PEOPLE-TAKE-FOR-GRANTED DIVISION
18) Beavis and Butthead
It's almost like they never left. I was a little dubious about the return of this 90's classic and a little excited as well. Mike Judge came through and delivered a show that fulfilled the excitement more then the hesitance. Our tow favorite morons didn't miss a beat after 14 years off the air. Judge did a great job of bringing back the things that made us laugh while updating the show for the world we now live in. I'm happy to have Beavis and Butthead back in my life.
17) Family Guy
Family Guy took a big tumble from #9 all the way to #17. Its not that the show isn't funny, it still makes me laugh a ton, its just that it feels like old hat. As shocking and jarring as the humor can be, every episode seems to follow the same pattern of set up and punchline. It just doesn't feel new and fresh anymore even though its quality hasn't changed at all. I might not consider the show appointment TV anymore, but it's not leaving my season pass anytime soon.
16) Survivor
Survivor dropped from #13 to #16. While the first season this year, Survivor: South Pacific, was an OK season, Survivor: One World, which saw the contestants split by gender and thrown on the same beach, fell flat. This is another show that has been around so long it feels like old hat. And every time they try to spice it up it doesn't work. There's enough good moments to keep the show watchable but it is starting to fall into the category of background noise.
15) South Park
South Park fell one spot from the beginning of the year and in all honesty, it's probably not a fair ranking. South Park continues to be the best satire on television sparring nothing or no one from ridicule, and is probably the most consistently funny show out there. Much like the last few shows I've talked about, I think South Park falls down my season pass mostly because it's been around so long. Fresh and new feels better then old and steady. Even though I have it at #15, this remains a great show, one of the best on TV.
THE KEVIN YOUKILIS FALLING-SHORT-OF-EXPECTATIONS DIVISION
14) Modern Family
Modern Family took a big fall from #8 to #14. I think it's a case of the show no longer being fresh and new so I can see it for what it really is; a solid, funny show but nothing spectacular. In all honesty, it might have fallen further if it wasn't for Julie Bowen, who I have been in love with since her days on Ed. I wouldn't be surprised if this falls completely off my season pass in the next couple of years.
13) Parenthood
Another show that took a big fall from #6 to #13. The biggest problem with this show is there is just too much going on, too many storylines to keep up with. I love almost everyone in the cast but most of the characters aren't getting their just do. When you have so many storylines someone is going to fall through the cracks or not get filled out as much as they should. I hate to say it, but if they cut some characters this could be a much better show.
THE ADRIAN GONZALEZ GREAT-WHEN-ON-A-HOT-STREAK DIVISION
12) Happy Endings
The biggest mover of the year, Happy Endings jumped from #29 to #12. It went from a show I was watching just to see Elisha Cuthbert every week to one of the best comedies on television. It's the perfect mix of quirky, silly and witty humor. Each character is perfectly drawn and adds something to the show; they are able to be slightly over the top without feeling like caricatures. I'm looking forward to what this show can do in the future.
11) 30 Rock
This was a really strong season for a show that has had a lot of ups and downs over its six year run. It jumped from #20 to #11. Some of that had to do with the removal of a few other shows, but mostly was due to great writing. The live show was probably the funniest thing on TV all season. The skit with John Hamm and Tracey Morgan was comedic genius. With next year probably being the last season, it's nice to see this great show finishing strong.
10) Louie
I'm not sure how to classify this show. Louis CK is one of the best stand-up comics around, so one is apt to call it a comedy and sometimes it is, but there are other moments of such high drama and poignancy that it transcends that label. The show is actually a piece of high concept art. In this its second season, Louie moved from #15 to #10. Chances are it will be moving up again if Louis keeps his wonderful artistic vision on the cutting edge or both humor and drama.
9) Breaking Bad
I'm not as big a fan of this show as most, but there is no denial that it is one of the best programs on TV. The acting is amazing, the writing is top notch. There really isn't anything bad I can say about the show except it just doesn't seem to hold my interest as strongly as the shows that are to come. That's not to say there aren't deeply compelling moments, anytime John Carlo Esposito was on screen my eyes were glued, but taken as a whole, the show just doesn't hold up to others.
THE DUSTIN PEDROIA SO-CONSISTENTLY-GOOD-PEOPLE-TAKE-FOR-GRANTED DIVISION
18) Beavis and Butthead
It's almost like they never left. I was a little dubious about the return of this 90's classic and a little excited as well. Mike Judge came through and delivered a show that fulfilled the excitement more then the hesitance. Our tow favorite morons didn't miss a beat after 14 years off the air. Judge did a great job of bringing back the things that made us laugh while updating the show for the world we now live in. I'm happy to have Beavis and Butthead back in my life.
17) Family Guy
Family Guy took a big tumble from #9 all the way to #17. Its not that the show isn't funny, it still makes me laugh a ton, its just that it feels like old hat. As shocking and jarring as the humor can be, every episode seems to follow the same pattern of set up and punchline. It just doesn't feel new and fresh anymore even though its quality hasn't changed at all. I might not consider the show appointment TV anymore, but it's not leaving my season pass anytime soon.
16) Survivor
Survivor dropped from #13 to #16. While the first season this year, Survivor: South Pacific, was an OK season, Survivor: One World, which saw the contestants split by gender and thrown on the same beach, fell flat. This is another show that has been around so long it feels like old hat. And every time they try to spice it up it doesn't work. There's enough good moments to keep the show watchable but it is starting to fall into the category of background noise.
15) South Park
South Park fell one spot from the beginning of the year and in all honesty, it's probably not a fair ranking. South Park continues to be the best satire on television sparring nothing or no one from ridicule, and is probably the most consistently funny show out there. Much like the last few shows I've talked about, I think South Park falls down my season pass mostly because it's been around so long. Fresh and new feels better then old and steady. Even though I have it at #15, this remains a great show, one of the best on TV.
THE KEVIN YOUKILIS FALLING-SHORT-OF-EXPECTATIONS DIVISION
14) Modern Family
Modern Family took a big fall from #8 to #14. I think it's a case of the show no longer being fresh and new so I can see it for what it really is; a solid, funny show but nothing spectacular. In all honesty, it might have fallen further if it wasn't for Julie Bowen, who I have been in love with since her days on Ed. I wouldn't be surprised if this falls completely off my season pass in the next couple of years.
13) Parenthood
Another show that took a big fall from #6 to #13. The biggest problem with this show is there is just too much going on, too many storylines to keep up with. I love almost everyone in the cast but most of the characters aren't getting their just do. When you have so many storylines someone is going to fall through the cracks or not get filled out as much as they should. I hate to say it, but if they cut some characters this could be a much better show.
THE ADRIAN GONZALEZ GREAT-WHEN-ON-A-HOT-STREAK DIVISION
12) Happy Endings
The biggest mover of the year, Happy Endings jumped from #29 to #12. It went from a show I was watching just to see Elisha Cuthbert every week to one of the best comedies on television. It's the perfect mix of quirky, silly and witty humor. Each character is perfectly drawn and adds something to the show; they are able to be slightly over the top without feeling like caricatures. I'm looking forward to what this show can do in the future.
11) 30 Rock
This was a really strong season for a show that has had a lot of ups and downs over its six year run. It jumped from #20 to #11. Some of that had to do with the removal of a few other shows, but mostly was due to great writing. The live show was probably the funniest thing on TV all season. The skit with John Hamm and Tracey Morgan was comedic genius. With next year probably being the last season, it's nice to see this great show finishing strong.
10) Louie
I'm not sure how to classify this show. Louis CK is one of the best stand-up comics around, so one is apt to call it a comedy and sometimes it is, but there are other moments of such high drama and poignancy that it transcends that label. The show is actually a piece of high concept art. In this its second season, Louie moved from #15 to #10. Chances are it will be moving up again if Louis keeps his wonderful artistic vision on the cutting edge or both humor and drama.
9) Breaking Bad
I'm not as big a fan of this show as most, but there is no denial that it is one of the best programs on TV. The acting is amazing, the writing is top notch. There really isn't anything bad I can say about the show except it just doesn't seem to hold my interest as strongly as the shows that are to come. That's not to say there aren't deeply compelling moments, anytime John Carlo Esposito was on screen my eyes were glued, but taken as a whole, the show just doesn't hold up to others.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
2011-2012 TV Wrap Up: Part One
I started this TV season going through my Tivo and commenting on all the shows I would be watching. It only seems fitting that I do the same to wrap up everything that went down. What shows kept my interest, what shows fell from grace, what shows am I looking forward to next year. It's going to take a few installments, but here is my 2011-2012 television season wrap up in order of where each show falls in my Tivo Season Pass broken down into fun divisions...
THE JOSH BECKETT NOT-SURE-WHY-THIS-GUY-IS-STILL-ON-THE-TEAM DIVISION
28) The Killing
I'm not quite sure why I still watch this show. Chances are extremely strong that once we find out who killed Rosie it's going to find its way off my season pass. There is no reason I can come up with why the stuff happening this season shouldn't have happened last season other then trying to lengthen the mystery. All that happened last season was nothing but a string of red herrings that have had no effect on the events of this season. The show has annoyed me to the point that I really don't care about any of the characters. I just watch because I'm pot committed. I'm sure whoever the killer ends up being is only going to make me more made, but oh well.
27) Green Lantern: The Animated Series
I just started watching this because I'm a huge DC fan, but, I'm not big on this style of animation and Green Lantern is far from my favorite DC hero. We'll have to wait and see how long this one lasts, but its chances aren't very high.
26) Falling Skies
This is a summer series, so we're still waiting for season two to be delivered. Season one was everything one could ask for from a summer show: fun action packed, thoughtful without being too heady. It's far from the best show on TV but an enjoyable summer watch with tons of potential to be a little more. I'm looking forward to season two.
25) Saturday Night Live
Just because is the only reason I came come up with for still watching this show. It isn't funny very often (but it did have two or three great skits this season) and nine time out of ten I could care less about the musical act (if I've even heard of them). 37 years of broadcasting and 20 plus years of habitual viewing must have some cache because it still has a place on my season pass.
THE RYAN SWEENEY DOESN'T-OFFEND-BUT-HASN'T-HIT-A-HOMERUN DIVISION
24) The League
This was #16 at the beginning of the season. The fall has to do with new additions to the list and not a drop in the amount of laughs. This season of The League was more of what we have come to expect from the show: quirky, odd-ball humor mixed with some gross out jokes. And my critique also remains the same. It needs less fantasy football talk and more Jason Mantzoukas as Rafi.
23) It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
This show was #18 at the beginning of the season, and much like The League, that drop is not a comment on the show but due to the addition of other shows. This was probably one of their stronger seasons, but there are just too many shows that are better. At the end of the day, Always Sunny is what it is. It doesn't answer any of the world's problems, it's not appointment TV, but it makes me laugh.
22) Hell On Wheels
It's no Deadwood, but it's nice to see a western on TV. One can't help but compare this gritty western to Deadwood, which it will never be, but that really isn't fair to the show. It has compelling characters, an interesting enough plot and doesn't seem to shy away from tough subject matter. It's not a great show, but good enough for me to keep watching at the moment.
THE MIKE AVILES PLEASANT-TO-WATCH-BUT-FAR-FROM-GREAT DIVISION
21) Once Upon a Time
A pleasant surprise from network television. It wasn't mind blowingly good, but it was highly enjoyable. The writers kept the show consistently decent, never made it too complicated while giving it its own mythology and keeping the storylines fresh, and gave the viewers a payoff while leaving questions for next season. In other words, it was the anti-Lost. There is still plenty of room for the show to go south, but for now it's pretty solid.
20) Young Justice
The latest in the line of excellent DC comic cartoons. It continues the legacy established by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini and their amazing work on Batman, Superman and The Justice League. It hasn't quite reached the heights of those shows and I'm not sure with the characters it deals with that it can, but it's still a fun watch and is a must watch for any DC Universe fan.
19) The Aquabats Supershow
I've waited 15 years for an Aquabats TV show. Nothing in my life has been more deserving of a Saturday morning show then this over-the-top-silly ska band/collection of superheros. Better late then never, I guess. I wish they used the theme song they recorded for Fury of the Aquabats. I wish they still has a horn section. I wish they would use more old school characters. But, the show still makes me laugh and entertains my inner child.
THE JOSH BECKETT NOT-SURE-WHY-THIS-GUY-IS-STILL-ON-THE-TEAM DIVISION
28) The Killing
I'm not quite sure why I still watch this show. Chances are extremely strong that once we find out who killed Rosie it's going to find its way off my season pass. There is no reason I can come up with why the stuff happening this season shouldn't have happened last season other then trying to lengthen the mystery. All that happened last season was nothing but a string of red herrings that have had no effect on the events of this season. The show has annoyed me to the point that I really don't care about any of the characters. I just watch because I'm pot committed. I'm sure whoever the killer ends up being is only going to make me more made, but oh well.
27) Green Lantern: The Animated Series
I just started watching this because I'm a huge DC fan, but, I'm not big on this style of animation and Green Lantern is far from my favorite DC hero. We'll have to wait and see how long this one lasts, but its chances aren't very high.
26) Falling Skies
This is a summer series, so we're still waiting for season two to be delivered. Season one was everything one could ask for from a summer show: fun action packed, thoughtful without being too heady. It's far from the best show on TV but an enjoyable summer watch with tons of potential to be a little more. I'm looking forward to season two.
25) Saturday Night Live
Just because is the only reason I came come up with for still watching this show. It isn't funny very often (but it did have two or three great skits this season) and nine time out of ten I could care less about the musical act (if I've even heard of them). 37 years of broadcasting and 20 plus years of habitual viewing must have some cache because it still has a place on my season pass.
THE RYAN SWEENEY DOESN'T-OFFEND-BUT-HASN'T-HIT-A-HOMERUN DIVISION
24) The League
This was #16 at the beginning of the season. The fall has to do with new additions to the list and not a drop in the amount of laughs. This season of The League was more of what we have come to expect from the show: quirky, odd-ball humor mixed with some gross out jokes. And my critique also remains the same. It needs less fantasy football talk and more Jason Mantzoukas as Rafi.
23) It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
This show was #18 at the beginning of the season, and much like The League, that drop is not a comment on the show but due to the addition of other shows. This was probably one of their stronger seasons, but there are just too many shows that are better. At the end of the day, Always Sunny is what it is. It doesn't answer any of the world's problems, it's not appointment TV, but it makes me laugh.
22) Hell On Wheels
It's no Deadwood, but it's nice to see a western on TV. One can't help but compare this gritty western to Deadwood, which it will never be, but that really isn't fair to the show. It has compelling characters, an interesting enough plot and doesn't seem to shy away from tough subject matter. It's not a great show, but good enough for me to keep watching at the moment.
THE MIKE AVILES PLEASANT-TO-WATCH-BUT-FAR-FROM-GREAT DIVISION
21) Once Upon a Time
A pleasant surprise from network television. It wasn't mind blowingly good, but it was highly enjoyable. The writers kept the show consistently decent, never made it too complicated while giving it its own mythology and keeping the storylines fresh, and gave the viewers a payoff while leaving questions for next season. In other words, it was the anti-Lost. There is still plenty of room for the show to go south, but for now it's pretty solid.
20) Young Justice
The latest in the line of excellent DC comic cartoons. It continues the legacy established by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini and their amazing work on Batman, Superman and The Justice League. It hasn't quite reached the heights of those shows and I'm not sure with the characters it deals with that it can, but it's still a fun watch and is a must watch for any DC Universe fan.
19) The Aquabats Supershow
I've waited 15 years for an Aquabats TV show. Nothing in my life has been more deserving of a Saturday morning show then this over-the-top-silly ska band/collection of superheros. Better late then never, I guess. I wish they used the theme song they recorded for Fury of the Aquabats. I wish they still has a horn section. I wish they would use more old school characters. But, the show still makes me laugh and entertains my inner child.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Book Review: Flashback by Dan Simmons (48 in 2012? #17)
When I did my Top 5 Current Author list a while back I had Dan Simmons as number three. I said that he might not be the most acclaimed author on the list, but for my money he was the most talented. Please keep that in mind as you read the rest of this post, because his latest novel, Flashback, falls well short of the standard Simmons has established with the rest of his catalogue. It gives me great pain to write bad things about a piece of work from an author I hold in such high regard, but, for me, this novel just didn't work. Everything about it felt cliche and hackney (AHHH, again, it kills me to describe anything by Simmons as hackney, but there I wrote it). I guess every artist has to have a slip up at some point, this one is Simmons'.
Flashback is Simmons attempt at the great American dystopia. After writing powerful tomes in seemingly every genre known to man, it looks like Simmons finally found one his talents couldn't live up to. Most of the plot and characters felt too familiar to be as interesting as one has come to expect from a Simmons novel. Either consciously or unconsciously, he painted a world that could easily be realized by watching Strange Days and Blade Runner back to back. Just because Simmons made flashback a drug, and not an apparatus that you put over your head, doesn't make it feel any less of an idea stolen right from the movies. He is able to modernize the plot enough to give commentary on the issues that grace the front of newspapers and websites today, but even that comes off as forced and trite (Did I mention that I REALLY love Dan Simmons as an author?). What bothered me even more was Simmons obviously tried to cram a hard-boiled noir story into a dystopian world and couldn't pull it off even though he has three awesome hard-boiled PI novels on his resume. He's traveled this literary road before and did so with style, yet this effort came off as flat, heavily relying on cliche and stale dialogue. It wasn't a matter of trying to write in yet another new genre and coming up short, it was more putting out a story that belied his capabilities.
But like I said at the on-set, let's not forget that this is the work of a man I named my third favorite working author. Even a substandard piece of work is going to be more readable most of what's out in bookstores. I may have groaned a few to many times, and I may have felt that I had visited the story before, but it was far from a struggle to pour through Flashback's 554 pages. The plot kept moving enough keep me turning pages. And if there was one masterful stroke in the story, it was Simmons' slightly ambiguous ending, which, even though it felt like The Matrix, was as good a gut punch as you could expect from the novel.
This wasn't a great novel, it probably wasn't even a good novel. I really wouldn't suggest it to anyone other then the most diehard of Simmons' readers or those who have no problem with the volumes of slop that finds it's way to bookshelves. This would have been a solid effort for a John Grisham or a Dean Koontz but for Dan Simmons the only hope I have for this not being a wasted effort is that he intended it to be a campy cliche fest.
Flashback is Simmons attempt at the great American dystopia. After writing powerful tomes in seemingly every genre known to man, it looks like Simmons finally found one his talents couldn't live up to. Most of the plot and characters felt too familiar to be as interesting as one has come to expect from a Simmons novel. Either consciously or unconsciously, he painted a world that could easily be realized by watching Strange Days and Blade Runner back to back. Just because Simmons made flashback a drug, and not an apparatus that you put over your head, doesn't make it feel any less of an idea stolen right from the movies. He is able to modernize the plot enough to give commentary on the issues that grace the front of newspapers and websites today, but even that comes off as forced and trite (Did I mention that I REALLY love Dan Simmons as an author?). What bothered me even more was Simmons obviously tried to cram a hard-boiled noir story into a dystopian world and couldn't pull it off even though he has three awesome hard-boiled PI novels on his resume. He's traveled this literary road before and did so with style, yet this effort came off as flat, heavily relying on cliche and stale dialogue. It wasn't a matter of trying to write in yet another new genre and coming up short, it was more putting out a story that belied his capabilities.
But like I said at the on-set, let's not forget that this is the work of a man I named my third favorite working author. Even a substandard piece of work is going to be more readable most of what's out in bookstores. I may have groaned a few to many times, and I may have felt that I had visited the story before, but it was far from a struggle to pour through Flashback's 554 pages. The plot kept moving enough keep me turning pages. And if there was one masterful stroke in the story, it was Simmons' slightly ambiguous ending, which, even though it felt like The Matrix, was as good a gut punch as you could expect from the novel.
This wasn't a great novel, it probably wasn't even a good novel. I really wouldn't suggest it to anyone other then the most diehard of Simmons' readers or those who have no problem with the volumes of slop that finds it's way to bookshelves. This would have been a solid effort for a John Grisham or a Dean Koontz but for Dan Simmons the only hope I have for this not being a wasted effort is that he intended it to be a campy cliche fest.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
How I Met Your Mother: The Magician's Code
The Season 7 finale of HIMYM was a microcosm of the season, it had brief flashes of brilliance and funny moments, but they were far out weighed by bad jokes, trite emotional events and annoying plot twists. I mean really, after everything the writers have pulled the last few seasons, was there really anyone who didn't think that Barney was getting married to Robin? Unlike Barney's magician code that the episode was named after, there is no need for the writers to hide how their tricks are done; we already have it figured out. I wasn't going to let Lucy pull the football away from me this time. The amount of love I had for the Barney/Quinn relationship was really all the proof I needed that they were going to take it away. That seems to be the HIMYM writers big trick, build something up until you like it so they can pull it away and elicit cheap emotion. The truly creative and ballsy move would have been to keep Barney and Quinn together, but this group of writers has proven long ago that whatever spark of creativity the show started on is long gone.
At least I know not to get invested in the Ted/Victoria relationship. The writers have to understand how cheap a stunt it is to act like these two have any type of future when we've already been told Victoria isn't the mom. I love the Victoria character and her moments with Ted are some of my favorites, but it feels like a ride I've already taken, a road I've already driven down and don't feel like revisiting six years later knowing there is no pay off. There was a moment of wonderful character development in the first half hour when Robin points out to Ted that he has always chosen women that would have made the family life he has said he always wanted practically impossible. It was one of the first times in many seasons that I became interested in Ted and intrigued by his motives, either conscious or subconscious. And then the writers ripped it away by digging up a relationship that was better off dead. Not to mention that it made me think considerably less of Victoria. Again, we've seemed to reach a point in this shows history where we are taking one step forward and three steps back.
I have no idea where this show is headed in the next year, nor do I really care. They have lost my faith that there is any direction to the show at all. All the things that made it great seem to be gone. I'm too pot committed at this point to stop watching, but my expectations of what this show can do couldn't be lower. If the writing was better there would be a lot of interesting questions for next year, how is the group going to handle a kid in the mix, what exactly is going to happen with Ted and Victoria, what is going to happen between Barney and Quinn that leads to the Barney/Robin wedding, but I have no faith that any of these questions can be handled in a satisfactory manner. I expect more rug pulling and football moving that is more groan worthy then laugh inducing.
At least I know not to get invested in the Ted/Victoria relationship. The writers have to understand how cheap a stunt it is to act like these two have any type of future when we've already been told Victoria isn't the mom. I love the Victoria character and her moments with Ted are some of my favorites, but it feels like a ride I've already taken, a road I've already driven down and don't feel like revisiting six years later knowing there is no pay off. There was a moment of wonderful character development in the first half hour when Robin points out to Ted that he has always chosen women that would have made the family life he has said he always wanted practically impossible. It was one of the first times in many seasons that I became interested in Ted and intrigued by his motives, either conscious or subconscious. And then the writers ripped it away by digging up a relationship that was better off dead. Not to mention that it made me think considerably less of Victoria. Again, we've seemed to reach a point in this shows history where we are taking one step forward and three steps back.
I have no idea where this show is headed in the next year, nor do I really care. They have lost my faith that there is any direction to the show at all. All the things that made it great seem to be gone. I'm too pot committed at this point to stop watching, but my expectations of what this show can do couldn't be lower. If the writing was better there would be a lot of interesting questions for next year, how is the group going to handle a kid in the mix, what exactly is going to happen with Ted and Victoria, what is going to happen between Barney and Quinn that leads to the Barney/Robin wedding, but I have no faith that any of these questions can be handled in a satisfactory manner. I expect more rug pulling and football moving that is more groan worthy then laugh inducing.
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