Latest eps of Misfits, True Blood etc

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Have to admit, this is a bit of a writing avoidance post. I should be revising my noel_of_spike story (you know, the one where I couldn't write the sex scene and then decided the sex scene was the only good bit?) but it's really hard to make myself get on with it. Still suffering from a bit of a long, dark night of the soul where writing's concerned, and currently don't know what will shake me out of it.

So anyway, I thought I would make a post about Thursday's ep of Misfits and Wednesday's of True Blood. Still on season 1 of the latter, btw, so please don't spoiler me for anything. And of course spoilers within.



Must admit, I like True Blood more and more with every episode. Okay, it's campy and gothic and OTT and Bill is a bit boring (though I like him more than I did), but it's still great fun, with terrific production values and a wonderful soundtrack (which would be my cue to cross my fingers and hope that the BBC won't ruin Being Human by sticking it with an OTT orchestral score the way they do DW and Torchwood). I really enjoyed the last episode I watched, which was the one where Jason and his creepy girlfriend kidnap Lafayette's V source and Sookie helps Eric and Pam (know who Pam is now, thanks to maharet83) to discover whose been stealing from them. There were some great moments in the ep, and lots of laugh out loud funny moments (my favourite being when the poor bewildered bloke at Merlotte's complimented Tara on her appearance only to get his head bitten off and to ask plaintively if he was being sexist). I think I've sort of fallen in love with this show. Even if it doesn't address any 'deep' issues, I just like it, and I like lots of the characters.

Then there's Misfits, which probably very few people on my flist have actually seen. Ep 3, though it didn't leave me feeling vaguely repulsed, as ep 2 did, still contained some very troubling material. This was all to do with Alisha and her so-called superpower, which is basically to make every man she touches desperate to have sex with her (or the power to get raped, as you could also see it). I'd been worried about where the show was going with this story right from the first episode, and now it's been dealt with (because I think ep 3 was the Alisha episode), I'm still not quite sure what to think. There are some very troubling elements to the storyline, obviously, in that in this ep, Alisha wanted Curtis, but the only way she could get him was by touching him. And when he came out from under her 'fluence and realised what he'd done, he was the one who felt violated. Of course, the show didn't ignore the other all too likely result of Alisha's power, when she was assaulted by both Curtis and the charity worker (let's call him Kumbaya Bloke) because she touched them by accident and only escaped by kicking Kumbaya Bloke in the head.

Thing is, Curtis is right, of course. Alisha does have problems. She seems to have a desperate need for validation of her attractiveness to men. However, it's almost as if her power is punishing her for this by showing her how empty it is, and unless the other Misfits' powers are treated in a similar way, it'll leave me with a bad taste in my mouth.

We'll see. It is still interesting, and I shall be watching till the end, if only because I like Kelly the chav so much.

Comments

[liliaeth]

Well I don't know, I'd say that the invisible kid's powers are also treated as if they come right from his personality (and for the love of God, I just can't remember his name right this second). Even Curtis' power is basically a part of his desire to turn back his mistake and make things right again.

Not sure yet how this works with Kelly though.

[shapinglight]

(and for the love of God, I just can't remember his name right this second).

Neither can I, which is ironic, given that his power of invisibility seems to include making people forget he even exists when he's invisible.

I don't know how it works with Kelly yet either, though you're right that Curtis's power includes a big element of wish-fulfilment too. Can't think that's what's at the root of the whole power thing, though. I don't think the poor probation worker wanted to be a monster, and surely invisible boy would have wanted people to notice him more, not less.

Hmm.

[suki-blue.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're still enjoying True Blood. I love the soundtrack and even bought an album of CC Adcock which is brilliant.

[shapinglight]

CC Adcock? Is that the bloke who sings the title track?

I do like True Blood very much indeed. Can't wait to see season 2 (erm, not that I've seen all of season 1 yet).

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

I agree-there's nothing deep about True Blood but it's a lot of fun. And HBO has put money into making it look (and sound) really good. Even my hubby likes it. :-)

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And HBO has put money into making it look (and sound) really good.

They always do, of course, but it's not just that. The characters are engaging and the scripts are witty. Without that, it would just be a deep south version of Twilight. As it is, it seems more like an ironic commentary on Twilight in a way.

Also, I like that the vampires have a worked out society and that they really do seem like another species. That wasn't so in the Buffyverse, because for a start, Joss wasn't interested in the vampire characters, and when they did intrude, he had specific roles for them to fulfill and the ones who became characters rather than just disposable monsters just seemed like not terribly nice humans most of the time.

[quinara]

unless the other Misfits' powers are treated in a similar way, it'll leave me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Mm. *nods* There have been brief touches of the others' powers being both good and bad, I think (though I can't remember entirely what Kelly's boyfriend was thinking) and the trailer for Curtis' episode seemed to imply his episode is going to be a bit like that too, but it's not really the same.

For me, that bit in the car seemed a lot like rape scenes can often come across in fic - weird and so out-of-the-blue that they don't really make sense. And that's possibly realistic, it just makes for a very odd plot point. Although, a lot of the Alisha/Curtis stuff seemed quite inorganic to me (at least in this episode), so I don't know.

Also really not sure about the Kelly/Nathan UST they seem to be trying to create.

[shapinglight]

There have been brief touches of the others' powers being both good and bad, I think (though I can't remember entirely what Kelly's boyfriend was thinking)

Heh! The thing I remember most about that scene is that Kelly's boyfriend's thoughts weren't that different from Kelly's dog's thoughts.

and the trailer for Curtis' episode seemed to imply his episode is going to be a bit like that too, but it's not really the same.

No, not really, though it could well end up with all the powers being examples of 'be careful what you wish for,' as lilaeth points out above. Though so far, Kelly doesn't seem to fit the pattern at all.

Although, a lot of the Alisha/Curtis stuff seemed quite inorganic to me (at least in this episode), so I don't know.

Do you mean the fact that he was attracted to her all the time and didn't say? Must admit, I thought he fancied her, but him admitting that she didn't need to use her powers on him because he was 'already there', which implies a lot more than physical attraction, did seem to come a bit out of nowhere. I did think the episode was interesting in the way it showed Curtis's reaction to discovering he'd been made to have sex against his will (sort of like reverse date rape), but since he and Kumbaya Bloke still had the physical strength in the relationship, it was only interesting as an idea.

It's one of those things where you wonder if the writers have really thought it through.

Also really not sure about the Kelly/Nathan UST they seem to be trying to create.

No, me neither, though Nathan has been nicer to everyone except Invisible Boy since he sorted things out with his mum.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

The man who sings the True Blood "theme song" is Jace Everett .

I think I've sort of fallen in love with this show. Even if it doesn't address any 'deep' issues, I just like it, and I like lots of the characters.

I think you'll find Season Two even more fun although Eddie (the kidnapped vamp) will have some excellent scenes with Jason this Season.

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although Eddie (the kidnapped vamp) will have some excellent scenes with Jason this Season.

That's good. Must admit, I've got quite fond of Jason. He's such an idiot that he brings out the mum in me.

And I must get some True Blood icons. This ep was the one where Bill comes home and finds Erik naked in his bath. Quite enjoyed that scene, I must say.

[deborahw37.livejournal.com]

I'm loving True Blood and have started reading the books which are really rather well written and very engaging.

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I thought of picking one up in Smith's the other day, but then I remembered being told that certain aspects of the books have been changed in the show, and since I enjoy those changes so much, I decided against it.

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Not much left off season one then off True Blood. :-)

[shapinglight]

The one I watched was ep 8, so four more to go. Unfortunately, this probably means I'll miss the last episode and have to catch up with it at some later date.

[ex_peasant441]

I'm liking both shows. One of things I like about True Blood is the credit sequence which I think is great.

Misfits is an odd one. The rape stuff was presumably supposed to Mean something but I'm not quite sure what. Their superpowers clearly do come from their personalities - the shy boy becomes invisible like in that BTVS episode, the tart provokes any man who touches her, the runner can turn back time. Kelly is presumably because she pisses everyone off by not being understanding, so knowing what they are thinking is the reverse of that. The old woman became young again, the girl will hair loss makes folk bald etc. I'm trying to work out what Nathan's superpower must be. Presumably something to do with his gift of the gab.

[shapinglight]

One of things I like about True Blood is the credit sequence which I think is great.

Oh yes, it's terrific, though HBO ones often are.

As for Misfits, I'm not sure if Nathan does have a superpower, but if he does, I'm sure you're right. It'll be something to do with not being able to shut up for five minutes.

And I don't know if it all does Mean something. I think Buffyverse fandom has conditioned us into thinking everything has to to Mean something, but since we've learned that even in BtVS this isn't true (for which see Joss's episode commentary for Restless), we shouldn't assume it.

[willowgreen.livejournal.com]

So glad you're enjoying True Blood! It's one of my current favorites. I read a few of the books before the TV show started and thought they were OK, but IMO the TV show is much better.

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I did pick up one of the books the other day, but I doubt I'll read them. Vampire stories aren't usually my thing, nor are first person narratives. I'll stick with the show, which I like more and more every week.

[calturner.livejournal.com]

I like True Blood more and more with every episode.

I was exactly the same.

I think I've sort of fallen in love with this show. Even if it doesn't address any 'deep' issues, I just like it, and I like lots of the characters.

True Blood is one of those shows that seems to draw you in before you even realise it. I started off just enjoying the campness of it, but then fell for it harder than I've fallen for a show in a long time - and as much as I enjoyed S1, S2 is even better.

I'm so glad you're enjoying it, Deb! :)

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I started off just enjoying the campness of it, but then fell for it harder than I've fallen for a show in a long time - and as much as I enjoyed S1, S2 is even better.

It definitely has a way of sucking you in - which is probably a pun. I don't find I have a great deal to say about the episodes, beyond that I enjoyed them, but that doesn't matter. It's still a very high quality product and very entertaining.

I'm so glad you're enjoying it, Deb! :)

Me too. I'm glad I still have lots of episodes to get through. Am beginning to think that catching up long after everyone else (which I've done with both BSG and Dollhouse) has increased my enjoyment.

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Glad to read that you found some love for true blood :)
It's not rocked science, but it's far from Twilight too.

[shapinglight]

Glad to read that you found some love for true blood :)

Oh yes, I love it. And one of the things I love about it is that despite a couple of superficial similarities (blonde, spunky heroine + vampires) it couldn't be less like BtVS if it tried. I believe Alan Ball when he says he's never seen BtVS. And a good thing too, probably.

The reason I feel this way, incidentally, is because it means I can enjoy both shows for what they are and not have to mentally compare them or expect them to do the same thing.

[vampirefever.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying Misfits. I'm not sure if the powers are coming from wishes that were in each persons' head when the storm struck or an exaggerated part of their personalities - as all are obviously connected to the individuals way of life.

I'm interested in where the show is going, which is what's keeping me watching.

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I'm interested in where the show is going, which is what's keeping me watching.

Yes, me too. I think it's very well done in a very gritty, British sort of way. Even gritty US programs are sort of glossy in comparison.

[goodbyebird]

Great to see it's growing on you. You seem to be going through the same motions I did with the show. And if you're liking the score, you should buy it. I did and I definitely don't regret it. Actually posted three of the tunes on my lj a little while back. One of those free servers, so not sure if the links have expired or whatnot..

And lemme know if you're in need of some non-spoilery icons, and of which characters. I've got several lovelies just sitting here on my harddrive ;)

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And lemme know if you're in need of some non-spoilery icons, and of which characters. I've got several lovelies just sitting here on my harddrive ;)

That would be great, actually. Thank you. And I'm pretty sure I'll be buying the soundtrack.

[candleanfeather.livejournal.com]

True Blood and Being Human have arrived on French TV (once more on the cable. Grumbles) accompanied by some pretty good reviews.

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Oh dear! Does this mean you don't get to see either of them?