Telly stuff - because I have nothing much else to say

[shapinglight]

Yeah, still.

But anyway, I seem to have spent a lot of time the last week watching telly stuff that I shouldn't really be watching yet, or at all.

Because I have no patience.

These include, the first episode of season 6 of The Good Wife (absolutely brilliant), the first episode of season 2 of Agents of SHIELD (not brilliant, but a big improvement on every single episode of season 1), and all episodes so far of a series called Legends, which stars Sean Bean as a (rather implausible) FBI deep cover agent, who just so happens to have a South Yorkshire accent.

I have also totally failed (so far) to watch the final two episodes of the last season of True Blood.

Spoilers for all the above (except True Blood, obvs) behind cut.



The Good Wife always surprises me in how consistently good it is, and how every season it manages to find something fresh to do (the only time it's every stumbled has been in the dull and unpleasant Kalinda-and-her-abusive-ex-husband storyline from season 4), and it's managed to do it yet again. I really have no idea how long it will be before Alicia succeeds in getting Cary out of prison. It may take all season long. All I know is that, whatever happens, the story will be consistenly entertaining and well-written.

As for Agents of SHIELD, I'm not sure why I decided I couldn't wait to watch this, but I've seen it, and quite enjoyed it. I like the new characters, I like that Ward is nuts and creepy in a holding cell, I like that SHIELD are now the underdogs. I didn't even mind the opening scene with the comedy Nazis too much.

Okay, the comedy Nazis weren't quite up to Springtime for Hitler standards, but it was close. I mean, don't most TV shows that feature Nazis these days go for the characters speaking German with subtitles, or at least, if they're speaking English, not having them use silly faux-German accents when they talk? Because it's, you know, silly?

No one actually said "Ve haff vays of making you talk," but they might as well have.

Still, maybe the retro thing was deliberate - a sort of early Marvel comic books tribute?

Anyway, I enjoyed the villain of the week - Crusher Creel, the Absorbing Man. Nice to know all that time spent reading super hero comics as a kid wasn't entirely wasted.

As for Legends, I only watched it because one of the TV critics in our newspaper said it was really good. I'm glad I did, though, because so far I've enjoyed it very much. Sean Bean may look dog rough (by which I mean really, really rough, unshaven, wrinkly and generally like he's been pulled through a hedge backwards - I keep thinking how much of a shock it must be to the American viewing public, who're used to their TV actors looking all plastic and perfect) but he's good in the role, and I'm glad he's been allowed to use his native accent, even though the fact that no one ever remarks on it is ridiculous.

Anyone else been watching this?

How are you all anyway?

I'm back to the decorating now (two bedrooms to go), and have also been spending a lot of time getting annoyed with Photobucket.

Think it's sorted now, though.

Comments

[hawk-soaring.livejournal.com]

Love Legends as well. :) And I love how you described Sean Bean. LOL It's so true. I thought there was comment on his accent early on (by the young-ish girl working with him) and it's funny to watch people quietly freak out when he slips into character and loses that accent.

[shapinglight]

You're right. Ali Larter's character at one point says, "Who knows if that accent is even real," and the young computer genius girl says he has a 'cool accent', but I keep expecting random people to remark on it or ask him if he's even American and they don't.

Glad to find another Legends fan anyway.

[sibilant.livejournal.com]

Not watched 'Legends' yet but I plan to - I've liked Sean Bean (or Seen Been as we've always called him) since I saw him in 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' and 'Clarissa' on the BBC yonks ago. Then I saw him in 'Stormy Monday' and he was great in that too. He can do heroes and villains equally well - quite a skill - and he always has that cliché gritty Northern integrity. Only it's not a cliché when he does it. As for the wrinkles, given what I see in the mirror these days, it's a comfort to see them on telly now and again!

[shapinglight]

Your route to liking Sean Bean sounds awfully similar to mine, except that I'd include his role in Derek Jarman's Caravaggio too.

Not that I've seen everything he's done on telly. I didn't watch Red Riding, in which, so I understand, he played a horrible villain. I didn't see his turn as a transexual either, which I regret. I wish I had seen it.

As for the wrinkles, given what I see in the mirror these days, it's a comfort to see them on telly now and again!

I agree. It is very unusual on American telly, though. He just looks nothing like the rest of the cast. I like it, personally, and the show is really good so I hope they get a second season.

[yourlibrarian]

I was happy with the opening of SHIELD primarily because I'm hopeful about the Agent Carter series and was glad to see her. I don't know why I'm hopeful since, for me, SHIELD wasn't interesting until 2/3 of the way through S1 but there it is. I also didn't recognize Reed Diamond until the end of the episode.

I keep thinking how much of a shock it must be to the American viewing public, who're used to their TV actors looking all plastic and perfect) but he's good in the role, and I'm glad he's been allowed to use his native accent, even though the fact that no one ever remarks on it is ridiculous.

I haven't seen Legends but I saw commercials for what is (and I hope I'm wrong) a U.S. remake of Broadchurch but still otherwise starring David Tennant. I can't imagine why one would be needed though I guess it's good for him if he gets double the paycheck for the same role...

[shapinglight]

I was happy with the opening of SHIELD primarily because I'm hopeful about the Agent Carter series and was glad to see her.

I have no idea who this Agent Carter is. Is she someone from the Captain America movies? If so, is she played by the same actress?

Which was Reed Diamond (who I like I am confusing with Lou Diamond Phillips)?

I had heard there was to be an American re-make of Broadchurch (which I've not actually seen). It does seem odd to remake it when it's already in English (can sort of understand re-making the Scandi-noir stuff).

[yourlibrarian]

Yes, Peggy Carter is one of the future co-founders of SHIELD and was also Steve's love interest in the Captain America origin movie. She appears in both films.

Reed Diamond played Mr. Dominic in S1 of Dollhouse. He also appeared in Joss' Much Ado film. He's the Nazi officer you weren't fond of ;)

Ugh, so disappointing about the remake! When we saw the previews we thought it was a S2.

[shapinglight]

Ah, of course. I knew the actor playing Mr Dominic was also playing the comedy Nazi, but I didn't know what his name was.

I shall like him fine, as long as he drops the silly accent.