Watching series

[salinea]

I've finished watching Samourai Shampoo

I found it pretty uneven, starting on a high crackful note, then going through a phase were I was mostly bored with episodes, before picking up speed at last for the finale. My favourite episodes were the most crackful and crazy ones, especially the ones with commentary from the police officer guy, like the Tagging episode or the Gay Dutch episode, which let the stylistic qualities shine through without being slowed down by the lack of plot or any real characterizations. I got pretty annoyed by the Kidnapped Damsel routine of Fuu (even if it only happened, what, 5 times?...) and her general uselessness. Of course all the characters obviously used Intelligence as their dump stat. :p Overall it's got it's fun moments and some graphic qualities, but I won't remember it as a shining moment.

I've started watching Battlestar Galactica
So far I've seen the pilot/miniseries and the first season, and I'm really liking it.


It's not very original in any way, but it's quite well done. Visually and dramatically the show works and is fairly immersive, and very well paced. The characters are decently written and very well acted, with just enough flaws to make them appealing. I like that the stories often focus on logistic and strategic challenges rather than pure action, and the emphasis on hard choices.

In terms of characters I'm loving Starbuck of course, she's wonderfully acted and very hot and generally awesome ♥ I'm also adoring Baltar... he's just the kind of slimy, cowardly, narcissic scums which I occasionally take a contrarian liking to, and it's very nice to see such a character developed as he is, and he's generally hilarious. Again, major kudos to the actor because he could easily have been more annoying than funny.

I'm liking most of the other characters. Secondary characters like Dualla, Billy, Calli, Gaeta the Chief, etc. are fairly appealing and cute and I hope we'll see them more developed in the future. I like Roslyn. Adama makes it just barely because he's well acted despite being too classical a figure for my taste. Tigh is fun for the explosive bickering with Kara. Boomer's stories are intriguing even if I don't know if I like her as such or not. In general I appreciate the development of a lot of different kinds of relationship between characters.

On the other hand, I'm really annoyed at Number 6 fanservice nature.
I look forward to watching the S2 as soon as possible. If you have old posts talking about the S1, I'd love to see them, but, please, no spoilers ^^

Comments

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

I really do have a thing for Six, because she's just so scary. And her manipulation of Gaius, and fanaticism mixed with just a touch of neediness.

Baltar and Kara are the best, though. And I love Helo and Gaeta! (Gaeta's crush on Gaius... ;D)

I hate Chief and Cally and Dualla. The rest are okay or awesome ;)

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

Six is very good at being freakish and scary in an alien way. But she spends so many times being the hot, nearly-naked girl which annoys me.

I'm really intrigued by what they're doing with the religious themes. I don't quite trust them with it, but I'm wondering.

(Gaeta's crush on Gaius... ;D)
OMG, yes!!!

I hate Chief and Cally and Dualla.
Any reason you can share with me?

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

I am going to guess shipping is at the root of the dislike.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

You know what they say about assumptions :p

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

I love your icon. Also, it's not so much shipping as choices the characters in question make - and Cally's just plain annoying anyway. I sort of cringe whenever I see her.

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

I guess I feel like a lot of those choices seemed to be tied into shipping... you know?

Yay. Roslin is the best.

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

I disliked Cally before, but it increased with the shipping. I disliked Chief for his behaviour in general, and partly because I find his subplot boring. When it comes to Dee... I like her when it's all about her issues, but when I have her in the here and now as a soldier, I sort of can't care less ;)

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

Yeah. None of them are favorites with me... and I guess I feel like when the show ships it's like shining an arrow saying "pay attention to these characters"... which doesn't appeal to me in this case.

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

And the ships are sometimes sort of... artificial? Arbitrary? I love some of the romantic subplots - Roslin/Adama(s?), Kara/Apollo, Six/Gaius and Helo/Sharon... and Gaius/Gaeta (okay, I might be going a bit far here) but some others proof that when it comes to ships on this show, they'd better have "battle" in the name.

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

Indeed. So very much so. I feel like their shipping is best when it's implied and worst when it is focused on in the show.

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

Religion, mythology and philosophy - I love the way they're dealing with these so far.

Six is so much in control of her sexuality - as far as I'm concerned - that she doesn't disturb me as eye-candy.

Gaeta's crush on Gaius is... sweet. And amusing. And there's a blooper with the actor playing Gaeta lying down and saying "Gaius!" in a dreamy way.

Dee quite simply gets on my nerves. Cally... there's something disturbing about her admiration for Chief. And as to Chief, you'll see, I guess.

By the way - I prefer the Cylons to humans ;)

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

Religion, mythology and philosophy - I love the way they're dealing with these so far.
Good to know.

By the way - I prefer the Cylons to humans ;)
Hahahaha!