Last year I quickly became fascinated with the tv show "The Killing". I had streamed the entire first season in the matter of a week and watched the entire second season every Sunday night. I was very happy with the show and couldn't have wished for a better crime show to get into. That was, until the final episode of season two. I was simply shocked by what I witnessed that night. Sadly, it was not in the good way.
It baffles me that they could screw up a last episode that badly. I watched for 26 episodes, only to be slapped in the face at the last minute. I waited for two season for the identity of "Rosie Larson's" killer. Only to be disappointed with the answer. The one I got wasn't the one I wanted. it felt like something that belonged at the end of an episode of "Law & Order". Not the end of a story that took two years to tell.
At the time and point this episode aired, I had no idea that there was going to be another season. This seemed to be the end of the road. Talk of the show being canceled made that seem possible. At one point I heard that "Netflix" had picked the show up. This intrigued me because they have become the "HBO" of streaming services with their edgey programming style. That did not last for long. While watching the season three finale of "The Walking Dead" I saw a commercial for the third season of "The Killing".
I have seen a few more ads for it since then. They have given me some interest in the show again. It will be nice to rejoin the characters that I enjoyed to watch grow, but I don't want to get burned again. This is the crossroads that I'm at. I would love to watch the characters and actors that I love again, but at the same time I don't want to be disappointed with a simple answer to a complicated question. This might the risk that I'm willing to take. You'll find out if it was worth it, when I give my review of the season premiere at the beginning of next month.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Tube Talk Recommends: Terminator Sarah Conor Chronicles
I recently realized that most of these recommendations that I do on Wednesdays have been cartoons made within the last decade. I don't regret recommending these, but I think I should put the cartoons on hold for a bit and get into more live action fair. Today I'm going to talk about "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles". A show on the long list of shows that got canceled while they were still in their prime.
To be honest, I actually wasn't a fan of the show when it first started. When the commercials for it began to air, I had some interest in it. Yet when the time came to watch it, I didn't. The first episode that crossed my path was actually the season one finale. From then on I watched reruns starting from episode one that summer. It had exceeded my expectations just as much as the remake of "Knight Rider" had let them down that same year. I couldn't wait for season 2 to premiere. Little did I know it would be the shows last.
"Sarah Connor Chronicles" in between the second and third films in the series, which is where the quality was as well. It wasn't as mind blowingly amazing as the second film, but not even close to as poor as the third. It did what it wanted to do very well, yet still couldn't touch the status of "Terminator 2". Believe me, that is a lot harder than it sounds.
The show got you a lot closer to the characters than you were able to in the films. "John" and "Sarah Connor" had a whole new dimension added to them. They shared the screen a lot more than in the films and they felt more like a mother and son. Not to mention that the terminators were great in this show. "Summer Glau" is my favorite terminator of all time and "Garret Dillahunt" is easily my second favorite.
I could go on and on about my love for this show, but I will spare you a ten page blog post. I can not recall a single thing that I don't like about this show. It was well written, well acted, plotted out with a stroke of genius. I don't know why you're still here reading this. "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles" is now available on "Netflix" instant. Go watch, now!
To be honest, I actually wasn't a fan of the show when it first started. When the commercials for it began to air, I had some interest in it. Yet when the time came to watch it, I didn't. The first episode that crossed my path was actually the season one finale. From then on I watched reruns starting from episode one that summer. It had exceeded my expectations just as much as the remake of "Knight Rider" had let them down that same year. I couldn't wait for season 2 to premiere. Little did I know it would be the shows last.
"Sarah Connor Chronicles" in between the second and third films in the series, which is where the quality was as well. It wasn't as mind blowingly amazing as the second film, but not even close to as poor as the third. It did what it wanted to do very well, yet still couldn't touch the status of "Terminator 2". Believe me, that is a lot harder than it sounds.
The show got you a lot closer to the characters than you were able to in the films. "John" and "Sarah Connor" had a whole new dimension added to them. They shared the screen a lot more than in the films and they felt more like a mother and son. Not to mention that the terminators were great in this show. "Summer Glau" is my favorite terminator of all time and "Garret Dillahunt" is easily my second favorite.
I could go on and on about my love for this show, but I will spare you a ten page blog post. I can not recall a single thing that I don't like about this show. It was well written, well acted, plotted out with a stroke of genius. I don't know why you're still here reading this. "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles" is now available on "Netflix" instant. Go watch, now!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Renew That Cancellation
Last week was the time of the year when television channels, big and small, decide what they are bringing back for next season and what is getting the boot. Today I'm going over a few of the big networks, to give my opinion on their decisions this past week. Let's get started!
CW: I truly do miss the "WB" and "UPN" being two separate channels, but I shouldn't dwell on the past. One of the shows they decided to keep this year was "Arrow". This does not come as a surprise. We are living in an era where superheroes are the it thing. Nothing else is really notable for the "CW", unless you like vampires, assassins, or fairy tales. In that case you will be please with the "CW" fall line up.
FOX: I honestly haven't watched fox for sometime now, except for a rerun of "The Simpsons" every now and again. All of their renewals are for shows that they just won't let die. The most interesting news to come from them this week has to do with both a cancellation and a renewal that have some relation. They canceled the "Kiefer Southerland" drama, push. Only to bring back "24" out of the dead for another season. I don't think it's fair to toy with the man. Taking away something new to force him to do something old.
NBC: I was going to give "NBC" a well deserved pat on the back. They decided to keep character based shows "Parenthood" and "Parks and recreation". They also decided to can crap like "Whitney" and "Smash". Things were looking up until I logged onto the internet last night. They are retiring "Jay Leno", again. Only to give "Jimmy Fallon" the "Tonight Show" and letting "Seth Meyers" take over the late night spot. This didn't work four years ago. Why would it work now?
CBS: They decided on keeping a bunch stuff I don't watch and cancel a few things I don't watch or care about. That's actually not true. They did cancel the last two remaining "CSI" shows. I have to give them some props for finally letting them die. That doesn't make up for all of their horrible sitcoms though.
ABC: I didn't have much to say about "ABC". They made some good moves. They got rid of some junk and kept some shows that people actually like. I don't tune in to this channel much, so I don't really care about either. But then, they pulled me in. The first footage for "Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D." was released this past week and I know for a fact that I will be watching this every week.
TNT: On Friday, I found out that "TNT" canceled "Southland". I could get worked up about it and go on a rampage like every other fan of the show is doing online, but I won't. It was a great show, one of my favorites in fact. I hope it gets picked up by another network. If not, then I still have five fantastic seasons to watch over and over again.
CW: I truly do miss the "WB" and "UPN" being two separate channels, but I shouldn't dwell on the past. One of the shows they decided to keep this year was "Arrow". This does not come as a surprise. We are living in an era where superheroes are the it thing. Nothing else is really notable for the "CW", unless you like vampires, assassins, or fairy tales. In that case you will be please with the "CW" fall line up.
FOX: I honestly haven't watched fox for sometime now, except for a rerun of "The Simpsons" every now and again. All of their renewals are for shows that they just won't let die. The most interesting news to come from them this week has to do with both a cancellation and a renewal that have some relation. They canceled the "Kiefer Southerland" drama, push. Only to bring back "24" out of the dead for another season. I don't think it's fair to toy with the man. Taking away something new to force him to do something old.
NBC: I was going to give "NBC" a well deserved pat on the back. They decided to keep character based shows "Parenthood" and "Parks and recreation". They also decided to can crap like "Whitney" and "Smash". Things were looking up until I logged onto the internet last night. They are retiring "Jay Leno", again. Only to give "Jimmy Fallon" the "Tonight Show" and letting "Seth Meyers" take over the late night spot. This didn't work four years ago. Why would it work now?
CBS: They decided on keeping a bunch stuff I don't watch and cancel a few things I don't watch or care about. That's actually not true. They did cancel the last two remaining "CSI" shows. I have to give them some props for finally letting them die. That doesn't make up for all of their horrible sitcoms though.
ABC: I didn't have much to say about "ABC". They made some good moves. They got rid of some junk and kept some shows that people actually like. I don't tune in to this channel much, so I don't really care about either. But then, they pulled me in. The first footage for "Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D." was released this past week and I know for a fact that I will be watching this every week.
TNT: On Friday, I found out that "TNT" canceled "Southland". I could get worked up about it and go on a rampage like every other fan of the show is doing online, but I won't. It was a great show, one of my favorites in fact. I hope it gets picked up by another network. If not, then I still have five fantastic seasons to watch over and over again.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Tube Talk Recommends: Justic League and Justice League Unlimited
(This week the world lost a very talented and imaginative individual. Special effects artist, Ray Harryhausen, died this past week at the age of 92. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.)
Over the past couple of weeks I have been watching a lot of content on "Netflix". This is due to "Cartoon Network" and their recent contributions to the streaming service. They have added a surplus of cartoons to "Netflix instant". Essentially, my entire child and more can be viewed with the click of a button. This has cause me a little more time using this service than usual, which is what they probably counted on. What I'm watching the most happens to be both: "Justice League" and Justice League Unlimited".
The former was broadcast from 2001-2004 and the ladder aired from 2004-2006. They both similar to each other in many ways, yet still have several differences between them. "Justice league Unlimited" is technically the sequel series to "Justice League". This can be seen by the two sharing: producers, voice actors, and both have a very comparable sense of humor. The main difference between them are: the cast lists, and series structure. "Justice League" has a very unique way of telling their stories. Every episode in the series is told over the course of two or three episodes.
The same can't be said for "Justice League Unlimited". Every story in this series is a stand alone episode. This is to focus on the countless amount of heroes featured across many different stories. Unlike the "Justice League" show that came before this one, which had a small cast of only seven super heroes. That is why the second series is the only one that bares the name unlimited. It is referring to the number of heroes that are featured through the course of the show.
If this would be your first viewing or even your 100th of these great shows, I would recommend watching them as soon as you can. They are filled with great stories, hilarious jokes, thrilling action, and more super heroes than you can count. Both cartoons can be found and streamed instantly on "Netflix" right now.
Over the past couple of weeks I have been watching a lot of content on "Netflix". This is due to "Cartoon Network" and their recent contributions to the streaming service. They have added a surplus of cartoons to "Netflix instant". Essentially, my entire child and more can be viewed with the click of a button. This has cause me a little more time using this service than usual, which is what they probably counted on. What I'm watching the most happens to be both: "Justice League" and Justice League Unlimited".
The former was broadcast from 2001-2004 and the ladder aired from 2004-2006. They both similar to each other in many ways, yet still have several differences between them. "Justice league Unlimited" is technically the sequel series to "Justice League". This can be seen by the two sharing: producers, voice actors, and both have a very comparable sense of humor. The main difference between them are: the cast lists, and series structure. "Justice League" has a very unique way of telling their stories. Every episode in the series is told over the course of two or three episodes.
The same can't be said for "Justice League Unlimited". Every story in this series is a stand alone episode. This is to focus on the countless amount of heroes featured across many different stories. Unlike the "Justice League" show that came before this one, which had a small cast of only seven super heroes. That is why the second series is the only one that bares the name unlimited. It is referring to the number of heroes that are featured through the course of the show.
If this would be your first viewing or even your 100th of these great shows, I would recommend watching them as soon as you can. They are filled with great stories, hilarious jokes, thrilling action, and more super heroes than you can count. Both cartoons can be found and streamed instantly on "Netflix" right now.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Death Of The American Sitcom
I grew up watching "Nick At Nite" before going to bed. This may seem like a simple thing, maybe even uneventful. But those are some memories that I still Cherish to this day. I would enjoy a block of classic sitcoms that included: "Happy Days", "I Love Lucy", and "Laverne and Shirley". That time has now passed. The network does not show these sitcoms anymore. They have update to more recent shows, such as: "Friends" and "That 70's show". There hasn't been a sitcom, like the classic ones I've listed above, in sometime. I feel that there never will be again.
The era of the classic sitcom is gone and it does not seem to be coming back anytime soon. There are still funny sitcoms and ones that are trying to do things in a new way, but they are not the same as the ones I grew up watching. There is no way to capture that magic again or to make a sitcom as memorable as the classic ones are. The world is constantly moving forward and there is no way to move backwards. Any attempts just look foolish.
Sitcoms seem to be moving in two different directions at the moment. The first way is moving forward with single camera comedies. These are shows that do not involve a studio audience and are filmed with only the use of a single camera. They are also use sets that look more realistic than the classic sitcoms used. The second way is the moving back with the three camera comedy. These are shows that use a three camera system, film in front of live audience, (Or rather a laugh track), and use sets that don't look anymore than just a studio set.
In my opinion, the first method seems to be the only logical one to use nowadays. Laugh tracks feels patronizing in this day and age. By going with the old methods of constructing a sitcom, you are just trying to recapture the old days. The golden age of television, if you will. This doesn't make any sense to me. These shows may not even gain popularity and if they do, then they won't be memorable years from now. Do you honestly think that audiences will look back at "The Big Bang Theory" with fondness in sixty years, like they do with "I Love Lucy"?
I still enjoy watching the classics to this day, but I don't think they can be made today. For all I know I could be wrong. A funny, imaginative, and heartwarming show could pop up out of no where tomorrow. At this point and time the classic American sitcom is gone from the air waves, but not forgotten.
The era of the classic sitcom is gone and it does not seem to be coming back anytime soon. There are still funny sitcoms and ones that are trying to do things in a new way, but they are not the same as the ones I grew up watching. There is no way to capture that magic again or to make a sitcom as memorable as the classic ones are. The world is constantly moving forward and there is no way to move backwards. Any attempts just look foolish.
Sitcoms seem to be moving in two different directions at the moment. The first way is moving forward with single camera comedies. These are shows that do not involve a studio audience and are filmed with only the use of a single camera. They are also use sets that look more realistic than the classic sitcoms used. The second way is the moving back with the three camera comedy. These are shows that use a three camera system, film in front of live audience, (Or rather a laugh track), and use sets that don't look anymore than just a studio set.
In my opinion, the first method seems to be the only logical one to use nowadays. Laugh tracks feels patronizing in this day and age. By going with the old methods of constructing a sitcom, you are just trying to recapture the old days. The golden age of television, if you will. This doesn't make any sense to me. These shows may not even gain popularity and if they do, then they won't be memorable years from now. Do you honestly think that audiences will look back at "The Big Bang Theory" with fondness in sixty years, like they do with "I Love Lucy"?
I still enjoy watching the classics to this day, but I don't think they can be made today. For all I know I could be wrong. A funny, imaginative, and heartwarming show could pop up out of no where tomorrow. At this point and time the classic American sitcom is gone from the air waves, but not forgotten.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Tube Talk Recommends: Robotomy
Three years ago "Cartoon Network" had a smash hit with the premiere of "Adventure Time". Later that same year they tried out a couple of other buddy themed cartoons. One of them was the equally popular "Regular Show" and the other one was the quickly forgotten "Robotomy". The ladder only lasted a single season of ten episodes. "Adventure Time" and "Regular Show" have each had over one hundred episodes each. Even "Chowder" had forty nine episodes to it's name. Did "Robotomy" deserve to be cancelled this quickly?
"Robotomy" was a show about two robots (Blastus on the left and Thrasher on the right) trying to make it through high school. The setting was an alien planet that was inhabited completely by robots. This race of robots were constantly at war with an unknown enemy. Every character has a violent side of their personality because of the war time setting. No one can blame them since they were always being trained for war at their local high school.
When I watch this show it reminds me of a couple other cartoons that I enjoy watching. The first one is obviously "Regular Show" and the other one is "Futurama". It shares the buddy/slacker aspect of "Regular Show", but shares the comedic style and futuristic setting as "Futurama". That is one of the reasons why i think it got cancelled so quickly. The humor, character designs, world, and story lines feel a little too mature for the audience it was trying to target. The main characters get killed/destroyed about half a dozen time within the first episode. The entire cast has that done to them dozens of time throughout the series.
There doesn't seem to much of a mystery to why "Regular Show" and "Robotomy" didn't. "Regular Show" is a lot less centered around violence and has a cast of animal themed characters that a parent can a approve of. It's not a surprise that parents wouldn't want their children to watch a show featuring spiky, violent, robots in a war time setting. This might of led to the cancellation in my opinion. There also might not have been room for three buddy themed cartoons on the line up.
I think this show would be enjoyable for a teenager or even an adult. The ladder would get the references in the show a bit better. If you're a fan of cartoons like "Futurama" or cartoons centered around physical comedy, then this show might be for you. I know that I enjoy this unique look at a futuristic robot society. I would've liked to see another season or two to see where it went. You can stream the one and only season now on "Netflix".
"Robotomy" was a show about two robots (Blastus on the left and Thrasher on the right) trying to make it through high school. The setting was an alien planet that was inhabited completely by robots. This race of robots were constantly at war with an unknown enemy. Every character has a violent side of their personality because of the war time setting. No one can blame them since they were always being trained for war at their local high school.
When I watch this show it reminds me of a couple other cartoons that I enjoy watching. The first one is obviously "Regular Show" and the other one is "Futurama". It shares the buddy/slacker aspect of "Regular Show", but shares the comedic style and futuristic setting as "Futurama". That is one of the reasons why i think it got cancelled so quickly. The humor, character designs, world, and story lines feel a little too mature for the audience it was trying to target. The main characters get killed/destroyed about half a dozen time within the first episode. The entire cast has that done to them dozens of time throughout the series.
There doesn't seem to much of a mystery to why "Regular Show" and "Robotomy" didn't. "Regular Show" is a lot less centered around violence and has a cast of animal themed characters that a parent can a approve of. It's not a surprise that parents wouldn't want their children to watch a show featuring spiky, violent, robots in a war time setting. This might of led to the cancellation in my opinion. There also might not have been room for three buddy themed cartoons on the line up.
I think this show would be enjoyable for a teenager or even an adult. The ladder would get the references in the show a bit better. If you're a fan of cartoons like "Futurama" or cartoons centered around physical comedy, then this show might be for you. I know that I enjoy this unique look at a futuristic robot society. I would've liked to see another season or two to see where it went. You can stream the one and only season now on "Netflix".
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