So most TV series I was watching have recently ended

[salinea]

Lessee...

The Good Wife has been very, very good. Not a perfect season still, but I think one of those I enjoyed most. Easily my favorite show currently.

The second season of Game of Thrones I have found disappointing, mostly. It was badly paced (may have been a problem with the books already), and the adaption really focused on stuff I was less interested with in the things they changed. Theon's story is the only part I felt was done really well. Tyrion was okay, mostly, but I'm really not sure about what they're doing with Shae (some of the changes have been interesting in making her more easily sympathetic, but I'm afraid that sets up a worse turn in the end); Sansa's story (one of my favourite in Clash of Kings) was shamelessly dropped; I hate the changes with Cat and Robb - they are insulting; Arya was good thanks to her actress being great and the chemistry with Tywin's actor but still rather weakened her character. Cersei was also very much weakened. Can't say I'm crazy with the changes in Jaime either (kinslayer, lol); and while Stannis is pretty great, I don't think Davos comes across with enough charisma. The changes with Daenarys are probably the worst - while they needed to buff up her storyline, the way they did it was incredibly weak and boring and barely coherent. Her scenes in the finale had a nice atmosphere to them at least, even if they came very short of the power of the visions in the book.

Overall I find that this post sums up a lot of my feelings.

Mad Men was very good this season; although I feel it is a bit aimless, like the main story's already done, and now we're just going on, and it's still interesting to watch, but I'm not sure it's been adding anything of note. I'm not sure I'll be able to watch the show if we don't have Peggy as core cast either, so I'm a little bit dubious about what they're going to do next.

Miss Fisher Mysteries was overall a very nice and very fun series. As I got more attached to the cast (and they are very charming) I found myself enjoying it much more. The plots weren't great, and sometimes felt too "issue of the week", but otherwise lots of fun. Dot was my absolute favourite, she is totally adorable and such a fierce one when called on to. I rather feel like she's totally wasted on Hughes, though, who does nothing but irritate me with his bumbling sidekick act. I'd ship her with Phryne if I didn't love Phryne's interaction with Jack so much (he's so cute when he gets flustered and long suffering). Anyway, I look forward to a second season (we do get one, right?).

Anime wise, I'm currently watching Sakamichi no Apollon and Lupin the Third - Mine Fujiko to I Onna, which are both very good. Mine Fujiko is a little bit on the trashy/exploitation-y side with how not coy it is with the main character's use of sex & sex appeal to do things - but I don't really mind that - Sakamichi no Apollon is just, very well done. Often I felt I wasn't in the mood for a love triangle / high school romance kind of deal, but it works anyway because the characterizations and storytelling and of course the soundtrack is just that well done. And the OT3 is strong in this one ♥ Also I think I'm going to give Mouretsu Pirates a second chance (I had initially dropped it after the 3rd episode because I found it too slow/boring) since it continues to get a lot of enthusiasm. And, apparently, canon lesbians.

Otherwise, I've been trying to watch the kdrama Emperor of the Sea, but I have had troubles getting into it. Not because it's bad or anything, but I don't seem to manage to invest myself in the storyline. I think the problem is I find the main character to be utterly blah. There's an awesome female villain, and the female love interest is also pretty cool, but I'm not sure it's enough to keep me hooked, and i'm afraid I'm going to end up dropping it out of lack of motivation.

I've finished watching the X-Men series from the 90's, which, yeah, does get a big drop in quality by the last seasons. Although it continues having a few great episodes and I very much don't regret watching it - it really goes to the heart of the characters and the themes most of the time, I really dig that. And of course all the Magneto episodes are awesome ♥ (I found it hilarious the 4th letter did a blog post mentioning:

I always found it weird how despite being the X-Men’s #1 bad guy and leading the villain army in the intro, Magneto did shockingly little in the villainy department on that show. He fought them in the third episode (where Xavier defeated him by MAKING HIM RELIVE THE HOLOCAUST, which is extremely fucked for a kid show), but all his subsequent appearances had him fighting alongside the X-Men in some fashion. Granted, there was a lot of reluctance from both sides, but he was there.

Because I was thinking the same thing XD And he still works great as a foil to the X-Men!

So of course I move on to X-Men: Evolution, which, yeaaaaah, doesn't work so much for me. I've just finished the 1st season so for now, besides that I don't like what they do with Magneto, I find it quite a bit too shallow. I don't dislike the high school thing as much as I thought I would (although having both the "good" kids and the "bad" ones in the same school really stretch the suspension of disbelief. What, did they concerted each other for that sake for some... purpose?), their Mystique comes across as wayyy too weak, Kitty feels also like she lost a few levels in badass, Rogue's better than I thought she would be despite how I dislike the goth charadesign; but she still comes very much short from the 90's X-Men series' Rogue, and Storm has yet to really demonstrate a personality (whereas Wolvy has had plenty of focus, grrr). Also Xavier comes hilariously creepy in his methods of recruitment. Scott and Jean are pretty good, and Nightcrawler is absolutely adorable. Oh, and then there's Spyke. He's, errr, there. As for the villain team kids, I reserve judgment; they come across as overly petty in a way that feels hamfisted at times, but they also seem to have potential, so I'll wait and see (at least unless the portrayal of Magneto doesn't make me drop the show before that).

So sad that Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes has been canceled. Although the second season has been weaker and especially uneven, it was still a very entertaining show, and I loved getting Ms Marvel on the team. Depressing that all of Marvel's good cartoons seem to get canceled so easily x_x

I've also watched the Archer cartoon series (for those who don't know, it's a flash animated parody of spy stories with a very dark & sarcastic sense of humour. Think South Park like. Everyone in the cast are assholes.) which is absolutely hilarious and well done. If in a frequently horrible way (and sometimes offensively, though I think they got better on that as they went).

And I've started watching Community, which is also very funny and well written, but in neat contrast with Archer, I don't feel at all anything for the characters. Which is funny considering Community actually tries to do some heartwarming scenes/characterizations and I feel like they all fall patheticaly flat. But still an entertaining show to watch, especially for Abed.

Comments

[shimizu_hitomi]

FTR, Mouretsu Pirates never really does pick up on the pacing -- I don't really find it a flaw though, as it's really more "slice-of-life SF" than "epic space opera" (which is what I had gone in expecting)... That said, aside from the introductory arc, each story arc is pretty self-contained, with just 2-3 episodes per arc or so, and the most recent arcs have been especially fun. (The first plotty one starts at the end of episode 7.)

But yeah, YMMV!

[salinea]

thanks for the tip. Well, I'll see if i'll get more hooked to the characters at least. I don't hate leisurely pacing in itself, but I have to be invested in something!

[meganbmoore]

Phryne's "Hello, Jack" has seriously become one of my favorite sounds ever. She's just so gleefully aware that she's about to mess up his ordered world and he accepts the inevitability.

Have you seen Tomorrow When the War Began? Dot is there as a rather Dot-like character (shy, extra virtuous Catholic guy who is more clever and tough than anyone realizes) and is pretty excellent. (As is the movie in general, but I really hope she doesn't end up too typecast, as I think she's capable of a lot if given the chance.)

The 90s X-Men cartoon was my intro to comics, combined with the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs cartoon, though I've been a bit scared to revisit it as an adult.

[salinea]

yeaaaah the hello Jack were very ♥ and I just love the expression he had then ♥ ♥

I haven't watched it! Thanks for the tip, it sounds I'll enjoy it!
Typecasting is indeed bad, but I'll enjoy the similarity in this one case I think XD

I was surprising how well it hold up, considering, not that it didn't have its moments of weakness and cheese but... the heart is here :D

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs???

[st_aurafina]

There's no news on a S2 for Phryne as yet, but the DVDs on sale are listed as season one, which I'm taking as evidence that a season two is not out of the question.

[salinea]

okay, I'll keep fingers crossed then!! :)

[trobadora]

but all his subsequent appearances had him fighting alongside the X-Men in some fashion. Granted, there was a lot of reluctance from both sides, but he was there.

Hee! I'm so not complaining. *g*

I haven't watched Evo yet. I suppose I will at some point, but it hasn't exactly been calling out to me.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

Hee! I'm so not complaining. *g*
INDEED!

From what I heard one of the appeal of Evo (for us Magneto fangirl) might be the development on the family front. And I am pretty obsessed with the Magnus family - at least if it's not done in too horrible way - so we'll see. Plus, other characters XD

[trobadora]

Keep me updated on Evo, then! :)

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

will do!

[citizenjess.livejournal.com]

Magneto gets better after season one, really he does! Also, YAAAY Archer and Community!

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

ah, good.

:) Community keeps getting funnier!! (when does Archer have a new season?)

[citizenjess.livejournal.com]

TBH I'm not sure if they announced it yet, but I suspect in the fall. They ended on a cliffhanger in season three, grrr.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_profiterole_/]

GoT Saison 2 ne m'a pas vraiment passionnée. Le sort de Renly n'a pas aidé. J'avais été spoilée mais j'espérais le voir jusqu'à la fin de la saison.

C'est sûr qu'X-Men: Evolution n'est pas à la hauteur de la séries des années 90. Je n'avais regardé que la première saison. Wolverine and the X-Men et l'anime ne sont pas à la hauteur non plus.

Je suis en train de regarder Community. C'est une bonne sitcom mais sans plus (ce qui est positif de ma part car j'aime très rarement les sitcoms). Abed est génial.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

hélas pauvre Renly. Les differences livres/séries sont intéressantes pour le coup pasqu'elles lui ont donné une personalité beaucoup plus déterminée et compatissants. Mais j'aimais que c'était un fat arrogant dans le livre XD

J'ai bien aimé W&tXM même s'il faut que je le revoie pour vraiment apprécier l'adaptation des persos en tant que telle maintenant! Mais c'est vrai qu'avec une seule saison, il a pas pu être très développé.

Vi c'est vrai que je suis pas une très grande fan de sitcom non plus, donc c'est peut être ça aussi. Abed est fabuleux ♥

[http://users.livejournal.com/_profiterole_/]

Un des problèmes que j'avais avec W&tXM est que j'y voyais du Wolverine/Xavier. C'était très traumatisant car le Xavier/Magneto, c'est sacré.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

LOLOLOLOL effectivement.

[annwyd.livejournal.com]

I'm really interested in Mouretsu Pirates, but kind of turned off by, on the "I am lazy" side, the lack of a batch torrent for the first season and, on the "fandom is stupid" side, the people who've been popping up lately to say that it is The Right Sort Of Yuri-Subtext Anime That Serious Feminists May Watch, As Opposed To All Those Other Awful Shows That Bad Women And Disgusting Men Watch. Neither of which has anything to do with the quality of the show, of course, so I do plan on watching it eventually! It sounds really cool, even if the pacing will probably make it a bit difficult for me to get into.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

the people who've been popping up lately to say that it is The Right Sort Of Yuri-Subtext Anime That Serious Feminists May Watch, As Opposed To All Those Other Awful Shows That Bad Women And Disgusting Men Watch.
awww fuck people x_x what's with all the fucking fandom & taste policing. I DO WHAT I WANT THOR!

[q99.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize Mags fought them so little in the 90s show. I do remember the times he worked with them... but I guess the opening had impact ^^

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

there are a couple of episode when he starts fighting them, before ending up their ally by the end, too :D

[q99.livejournal.com]

Well, as long as he starts with the fighting :)

[i-llbedammned.livejournal.com]

A Game of Thrones: Is it that the series can't measure up to the books or is the series itself all sorts of wonky?

Oh man, Lupin the 3rd! I haven't seen that in ages! I used to watch it a lot back in the day.

Magneto: Hey, if you have a common enemy you work together despite your differences of opinions.

I remember Nightcrawler being my favorite in X-Men:Evolution when I watched.

Sad on the Avengers:Earth's Mightiest Heroes getting cancelled. I liked that series.

I've seen Archer a couple of times. It is so wrong, but I laugh at it anyway.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

GoT, in my opinion, is a very uneven series. The fourth and fifth books were especially boring. Six is a little better, but none match one and maybe two for me.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

I'd try to watch & assess the series in itself, but I'm not able, being too immersed in the book, I can only watch it as a an adaptation.

I've never watched any Lupin the 3rd series before (although now I'm rather keen on trying them), but take notes this one probably comes across as pretty different (at least, it has a lot of sex & nudity).

I can't imagine Nightcrawler not being the favourite of anyone watching Evolution XD

so wrong yet so funny, that does characterised Archer well XD

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

EMH has been cancelled? :( I hope we'll at least get the whole second season? (Which I haven't seen at all yet.) I see now in Wikipedia they're going to have a new Avengers show next year and I'm guessing it'll be something closer to the movies... maybe? But damn it, I liked EMH. :(

Oh, Mad Men. I've been so much into an Avengers headspace lately I just gave up on keeping up with most other things at some point and I'm awfully behind in this. Like, still in the 5th episode of something. I need to catch up! You say the show feels a bit aimless now, and IDK, but I think even if it's not as good anymore, it'll still be better than most other shows probably.

Re Game of Thrones: You know, once I decided to watch the show as its own thing, separate from the books, I found I'm able to enjoy it much more. Well, it's not really easy to stop making comparisons but it kind of helps. :) Oh, about Arya. You're right they've weakened her character. At this point she should already be on her way to becoming the little ruthless killing Arya. Still, she was one of the things I enjoyed most this season. See? Not easy to stop making comparisons. ;)

[q99.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's been canceled. And I think you'll get your full season- it's just the 'not renewed for the next' kind of canceled.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

yeah, trouble with the new Avengers show is Loeb's involvement, and the fact they want it to be similar to the Ultimate Spider-man TV show, and more based on one shot. Plus, it's silly to cancel one Avengers show which team is clearly based on the movie for another even more clearly based on the movie x_x

Mad Men is clearly worth catching up on!!

Wish I was able of watching it as its own thing, but I've been in the books fandom for too long to be able to compartment them in my mind. Exactly my feelings on Arya!!

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

Loeb, eh? I know that name. *looks it up in Wikipedia* Ah, I've actually read quite a few things from his Marvel comics bibliography, and I remember one series I loved and one I hated, and don't remember what the others were about as there are only issue numbers there. (So what's your opinion on Loeb?) I haven't seen Ultimate Spider-Man, nor read anything Ultimates (though I haven't heard anything good about the Ultimate universe), and if the new show will be more one shot episodes - meh, I much prefer story arcs. Plus, the S2 EMH summaries with all the new characters sound exciting and - yeah, not happy. :(

Oh, the quote in your icon. Where's it from? :)

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

I don't have much opinion of Loeb, I haven't read much by him (only X-Sanction, which was, err, there?) but he does have a pretty bad reputation.

TV show Ultimate Spider-Man isn't the same thing as the Ultimate comics. I've watched the first episode and it was very so-so. Targeted to a much younger audience, you know?

That's a Loki quote from Amazing Spider-Man #503, in which he teams up with Spider-Man ^_^

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I'll... try to keep an open mind about Loeb? Since I sometimes like things a great part of fandom hates? But I'm already biased against the new show, especially since it replaces one I already like, so. :/

Ha, I figured it must be Loki. :D The way I speed-read older comics I must have skipped that one. *goes to find it*

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

So that and the next issue were great, thanks! Loki and Spidey sitting on top of a building, eating hot dogs! XD I wondered if Spider-Man ever asked Loki for that favour, but after googling it, it seems not. Pity. It could have been a great follow-up story. And... I kinda want to ship them now? XD

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's a very cute story, isn't it? I may have an icon with the hotdog eating somewhere on my journal if you search the icon tag ;) Too bad they didn't follow up on it :( missed opportunities!

Haha can't blame you to ship it XD

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

I found it! But then I kinda fell in love with this one. XD Thanks!

Btw, if I use it on Dreamwidth, would you rather I credit you on LJ or there?

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

either are fine to me.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I agree completely about Good Wife and Game of Thrones (and very good points those are). But Community engages me with the characters very much. It doesn't have as clear a plot arc (maybe the last few episodes did) and each show is short, but I find myself very caught up in them, in all their weirdness. Different views, I guess.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

perhaps Community's characterisation will convince me later, but so far I've felt the cast had whatever personality made for good set up for jokes & plots based on whichever stereotype they were rather than being built as characters.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I think as of now on Mad Men we can count on Peggy as still being a core castmember. Not sure how it will work, of course.

I hope she doesn't come up with the Virginia Slims campaign. Everyone keeps assuming they've practically told us this already, but it's such a famous campaign I just couldn't buy it!

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

I hope so!!


Well not so famous that I heard of it.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Probably me being Ameri-centric and generation-centric! People still use the phrase "You've come a long way, baby!" sometimes as an expression--that was the slogan.