TV stuff

[shapinglight]

On the days when I'm at home (often only two a week at the moment), I always wake up determined to get back into journalling - make a post that isn't just wittering on about TV shows that no one seems much interested in except me- chatty ones with pics, like I used to make. But then I make the mistake of reading the news or whatever and I just can't face it any more. I suspect I'm not alone in this.

:Sigh:

In fact, the same thing's happened this morning. So more TV show wittering behind cut.

Spoilers for Lucifer season 3 and vague (so vague as to not really be spoilers at all) for The Expanse up to season 2 episode 1, Star Trek :Discovery and The Defenders.



I've started making some Lucifer season 3 icons. Okay, they're terrible, but hopefully someone will make some better ones soon. I've now watched the first two episodes of season 3 three times and I've enjoyed them more each time. Have seen some people (okay, peasant) saying they don't like Ella this season, but have to say I don't get that. She seems the same to me as she's always been - a little OTT, very tactile, very fannish, always very polly, given to talking about God a lot. I don't get what's changed. IMO, what has changed (and rebcake is the one who pointed this out), is that we haven't (so far) had many (any?) scenes between the female characters - no Chloe/Maze/Trixie scenes, for instance. But I'm sure this will change when Maze comes back and Dr Linda in particular has been fabulous in these first two episodes.

I was thinking, though, that it would be nice if the show developed a small cast of regular recurring characters. I quite liked the horrible comedian in episode 2. Thought he was a decent actor, unlike many of the one-off characters in the procedural parts of the show, and wouldn't mind seeing him recurring. Likewise the little stalker girl from season 2. In small doses, characters like that add to the world - not that I think the Lucifer showrunners are that much into world building. Guess they don't need to be. The world is already built for them by Gaiman and Carey and they can just use the bits they think will work in the show and discard the rest (ie. most of it).

Anyway, so far, my stand out favourite scene has to be the one with the gun inside the puppet, if only because it's made me laugh out loud every time I've watched it.

On a far more sombre note, I've now watched the whole of series one of The Expanse and I think it's far and away the best sci fi series I've ever watched (which doesn't mean I like it the best, will take a lot to dislodge Babylon 5 from that position). I find the setting (not to mention the politicking) very believable and like most of the characters. The end of season 1 was quite horrific. Can't wait to see where that goes.

To the extent that I'm considering reading the books. Are they any good, does anyone know?

Star Trek: Discovery continues to be a frustrating watch - for me (because I really don't care much about Star Trek and am not at all bothered if this show has a completely different tone to all the other series) because of the Klingons. I just don't get why the show has chosen to alter their appearance so radically. The make up/prosthetics are so heavy it's impossible for the actors to emote, making every scene they're in (of which there are far too many) boring and draggy. Not helped by all that Klingon dialogue with subtitles. Whoever thought this was a good idea should be given their marching orders, IMO. Apart from that, I quite like the main character, the dodgy captain and the rude scientist. Everything else is pretty meh! Watchable, is as far as I'll go, but no way I'd take out a subscription to some streaming platform just to watch it.

Was trying not to rush through The Expanse too quickly so I started watching The Defenders. Was afraid that not watching Daredevil season 2 (due to the excessive violence in season 1) and not being able to get through all of Iron Fist (due to extreme dislike of the main character) would impact on my understanding of the plot. But it doesn't. I've watched three episodes now and it's okay so far. Danny Rand is still annoying as hell and Daredevil's Catholic guilt schtick is also pretty annoying. But Cage and Jessica Jones make up for that, and I always liked Elektra as a character (though not enough to go back and watch Daredevil season 2, which Mr K tells me is even more violent than season 1).

A-and this is pretty much all I have to say. Sorry. How are all of you?



In a fit of possible overconfidence (or, more likely, given this is me, guilt over having done nothing to try and keep the fandom going for so long) I signed up for the autumn round of seasonal_spuffy. It feels like forever since I wrote any fanfic. I'm not sure I can still do it. Oh dear!

Comments

[ex_peasant441]

Have seen some people (okay, peasant) saying they don't like Ella this season, but have to say I don't get that.

The lurkers support me in email!

I was thinking, though, that it would be nice if the show developed a small cast of regular recurring characters.

Well we did have the reappearance of the underpants thief, so maybe we will get some others. I'm hoping we will see something of Charlotte and/or Mum. Having the ongoing villain be a crime boss does mean there could be some continuity within the procedural bits.

[shapinglight]

The lurkers support me in email!

What, all of them?

Charlotte will definitely be back. Not sure when, though.

[ex_peasant441]

naturally all of them. The lurkers are like that.

Good to hear about Charlotte returning.

I'm guessing we will move away from the ongoing plot for an episode or two next, just to get the pacing of the season right, then return to it with some real forward movement. Hang on, didn't you say we were getting one of the stand-alones next? Looks like I'm right :D

[shapinglight]

Yes, the next episode is one of the standalones, and it's Maze-centric.

naturally all of them. The lurkers are like that.

Mine aren't. They agree with me. :)

[ex_peasant441]

:D

[dragonyphoenix]

The Expanse. Eqivalent to B5? I'll give it a watch. I can use new excellent sci fi to take a look at. Thanks!

[shapinglight]

The Expanse. Eqivalent to B5?

I wouldn't quite go that far (though the special effects are of course in another league altogether to B5). The Expanse is based on a series of novels, unlike B5 which was original material, but it is intelligent space opera and there's not nearly enough of that around.

[yourlibrarian]

The make up/prosthetics are so heavy it's impossible for the actors to emote

This! I completely agree with your whole statement about this. Can't say anything further about the show as I have no access but I did watch two episodes of the Orville including the one people were lauding with the trans themes. However, I found it dull and predictable. I do understand what people were saying about it being fairly true to the Trek themes though.

I never saw Iron Fist or Luke Cage, Daredevil bored me, and given my impatience with JJ I figured there would be no point in watching Defenders. However I plan to try out The Gifted.

I will try to address Lucifer first though. I just got back yesterday but I expect Mike and I can start catching up this weekend.

And yay for fic! No one will hold it against you if you can't manage something, but I imagine it will be good to give it a try, just to keep your hand in.

[sueworld]

Yes the Orville is very flawed, but it does get better and manages to deliver some very Trek like nuanced stories.

Gotta say I'm enjoying more the Discovery, but maybe thats not saying much. :)

[shapinglight]

I never saw Iron Fist or Luke Cage, Daredevil bored me, and given my impatience with JJ I figured there would be no point in watching Defenders. However I plan to try out The Gifted.

I've watched two episodes of The Gifted now. I'm very unimpressed, I'm afraid.

I hope you had a good holiday?

[yourlibrarian]

Yes, it went well, thanks! I plan to post a few photos in my next post.

[sueworld]

Good luck with your fic! :D

[shapinglight]

I'll need it! ;)

[shadowkat]

Anyway, so far, my stand out favourite scene has to be the one with the gun inside the puppet, if only because it's made me laugh out loud every time I've watched it.

Yes, I laughed as well. It was hilarious. I liked the procedural for that bit alone.

I think my issue with Ella this season -- is we only see her being "fangurl squee" or "religious squee" and not the forensic professional or friend to Chloe, that she was last season. Also there's less Chloe this season...and more of the male characters. I feel like the female characters have gotten reduced somehow?

To the extent that I'm considering reading the books. Are they any good, does anyone know?

In some respects I liked the first book better than the television adaptation of it, better paced and tighter. It also goes a bit more in depth in regards to Miller and Julie's characters. But the politician and the characters on earth do not pop up until Caliban's War, which is the second book in the series.

Since for the most part many of the books were self-published by the writing team J.A. Corey, we have a lot of novellas, and character specific short stories available in e-book. I didn't make it to the other books as of yet, for various reasons that had nothing to do with the books.

Apart from that, I quite like the main character, the dodgy captain and the rude scientist. Everything else is pretty meh! Watchable, is as far as I'll go, but no way I'd take out a subscription to some streaming platform just to watch it.

Thanks. I got tempted, but have backed off. While I have a link to download onto computer and watch it that way...I hate watching shows on the computer, and figure I'll let it pass like I have the Good Fight.

[shapinglight]

Also there's less Chloe this season...and more of the male characters. I feel like the female characters have gotten reduced somehow?

Possibly it's the introduction of Tom Welling that's making you feel that way? Certainly, the first two episodes have been very Lucifer-centric, and have spent some time establishing Pierce as a (lame, cliched) character. And it's true, the female characters are reduced, in the sense that Maze, Charlotte and Trixie have yet to make an appearance at all. However, after just two episodes, I think it's way too early to see this as a fundamental change in the show.

Since for the most part many of the books were self-published by the writing team J.A. Corey,

I understand they used to be writing assistants to George R R Martin. Is that correct?

[shadowkat]

Agree, more or less on Lucifer and Welling.

I understand they used to be writing assistants to George R R Martin. Is that correct?

I didn't know he had writing assistants. Seriously, he had writing assistants? This would explain a lot. Although not why it takes the man 5-8 years to issue a book, I mean he has no full time job outside of writing and writing assistants??

The link below gives you the info that I know on James S. A. Corey. One of my social media friends has read all of their books and is a huge fan -- masqthephilosopher or masquerade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_S._A._Corey

[shapinglight]

Okay, thanks very much.

[thenewbuzwuzz]

I doubt the fandom relies on any of us to keep going, but I hope you have fun with the Spuffy that is seasonal! :) Good luck!

[shapinglight]

It doesn't rely on any of us, no, but I guess it does rely on all of us, if that makes sense?

Good luck!

Thank you. I'll need it ;)

[thenewbuzwuzz]

You're right, it does.

[shapinglight]

Anyway, I will try to produce something, though it probably won't be very long.

[tinny]

I think Ella is the same as always, yes. What bothers me is that she used to be the most unbelievable character (because she has so many quirks), and now that stupid chief is even more unbelievable. But that's not Ella's fault, of course. :) I just think I may be losing faith in the writers.

I didn't like either episode much this season, although Lucifer himself, Amenadiel, and Linda were great to watch as always.

The Expanse is amazing in its scope and its realistic depiction of space. I loved it. Haven't seen all of season 2 yet, either.

I would make Lucifer icons if I had any inclination to icon anything else except Black Sails these days. *sigh* But I guess that will have to end at some point, too, freeing me for my usual fandoms again.

[shapinglight]

I just think I may be losing faith in the writers.

Well, I don't think it's the writers' faults if Welling can't act. I also think the scripts are as good as ever so I'm not worried on that score.

I didn't like either episode much this season, although Lucifer himself, Amenadiel, and Linda were great to watch as always.

You didn't? I'm sorry to hear it. I thought they were really good (apart from Welling).

I would make Lucifer icons if I had any inclination to icon anything else except Black Sails these days.

:Gloom: Oh well, I'll just have to carry on making my own rubbish ones and hope you feel inspired soon. ;)

[tinny]

Well, I don't think it's the writers' faults if Welling can't act.

Haha, no. I agree with you that he can't act. But the way the character was introduced, with being an ass to everybody and juxtaposed with Ella gushing about him, I won't lay that at Welling's door.

Also, spying on the team? What kind of chief does that? So, yeah, I am wary of what the writers are doing there.

All the rest: bland acting, definitely.

You didn't? I'm sorry to hear it. I thought they were really good (apart from Welling).

I only just noticed today that I hadn't even finished ep 2, and I hadn't even noticed. Normally, when a new season comes along, I'm all over it and excited, and like the episodes just as much for having waited for them for so long as for their inherent quality. (damn that last half-sentence has four fors. //))

This season, it's not happening. It may be that my capacity for excitement is just exhausted because I was very busy those last two weeks. That is entirely possible. I'm just... not sure what to think about the wings and the Sinnerman. So far, this seems to be the arc of the season, and I'm not really feeling it yet? (Doesn't help that Welling is all up in Lucifer's face about it, I think.)

I haven't seen the third ep yet. (but RL has finally let up last week, so I should hopefully be more on time again soon)

[shapinglight]

:GlooM:

You're the second person on my flist who seems to have lost the Lucifer love. I feel all alo-one! :(

Not blaming you or anything, btw. We like what we like. Always.

[tinny]

I'm so sorry. I haven't completely lost it, and I've already bought the season pass, so I'm definitely going to watch it all.

It's just that nothing compares to Black Sails right now, and I feel a bit lost and afloat with the way that fandom is hogging all my focus while at the same time I don't want it to because it's heartbreaking and still I can't get out of it? It's weird, and unusual for me, but I'm not questioning it too much and just let it sweep me along for a while longer.

So I'm not 100% focused on anything else right now, I can't help it.

I watched one more Lucifer ep last week, though: ep 3. I liked it. Gotta go look up your post on it.

[shapinglight]

You've really no need to apologise, honestly. I do understand how you feel re: Black Sails. I felt the same way about BtVS for many years - over a decade in fact. I've only really got over it in the last six months, partly thanks to Lucifer, which, though I love and adore, I don't think will ever have the power to actually hurt me the way BtVS did.

Which is good.

[kseenaa]

I'd say you're definitly not alone thinking like this. :-P

[shapinglight]

It's bad, isn't it? :(

The one post I've made recently that was more personal, I ended up making private.