Fall Lineup

We're a little more than a month away from the premiere of the new fall lineup by the four major networks. Honestly, this should excite me more than it depresses me. I was eyeing the respective websites of the big four and there were not many surprises. A lot of the "New" programming that has been posted are just rehashes or stale ideas. I could not even scroll half way down these pages without being bumrushed by; family sitcoms, crime dramas, and work place dramas. 

It's just the same types of shows they've been airing for decades and there is not much of a chance that one of these will be a surprise twist on their genres like "Southland" or "Raising Hope". But there is a little bit of hope in this long list of recycled material. There are three shows that I'm looking forward to. 

Dracula: Does there really need to be another adaption of Bram Stoker's classic story of Dracula? Hell no. Is it amazing that Jonathon Rhys Meyers is going to be playing him? Hell yeah. I haven't seen any footage from the show, but the screenshots look very promising. Now if we can only get tv shows about "The Wolfman" and "Frankenstein" and we would have a really good friday night. 

Sleepy Hollow: I saw a commercial for this a couple weeks back and I have to say that it did intrigue me. This isn't the most anticipated show on this list, but it's sadly the only new show from "FOX" that even remotely interests me. All it is is a crime drama that involves the story of "Sleepy hollow", as well as taking place in the present day. I'm a sucker for crime dramas and I have always enjoyed "Sleepy Hollow". I just hope it turns out well. 

Agents Of Shield: Do I even need to explain why I'm excited for this one? It's a tv version of "The Avengers". I get the chance to revisit this universe every week. For free? All I have to do is tune the channel to "ABC" once a week? Fair trade.          

The Killing Review

A few weeks ago the third season of the crime drama "The Killing" premiered on "AMC". I want to give my thoughts on the season so far, but first I want to talk about my experience with the first two seasons of the show. Let's begin. 

 In the beginning of 2011 I was intrigued by the advertisements for a new show called "The Killing". I've always been interested in crime dramas and I couldn't pass this one up. I remember watching the first few episode, then dropping shortly after. I enjoyed the high concept and David Fincher-esque execution, but I had other things going on in my life at the time couldn't find time to sit down and watch it. A year later, right before season two was about to premiere, I saw my chance to get back into it. Luckily for me, the entire first season was on "Netflix" by that point.

I streamed the entire first season over the course of a week. it had become almost like an addiction, trying to figure out who killed "Rosie Larsen". As I got more into the meat of the show I realized that the mystery wasn't the only enjoyable part. The well rounded characters in this show are so much fun to watch. Just seeing their interactions with one another could the show, even without the use of the murder mystery. This statement was tested during an episode which only contained those character interactions of which I speak.

Season 2 proved to be just as good. Both with the mystery and the character development. I was glued to my tv every Sunday night, waiting for the curtain to be pulled and the answers to be revealed. Little did I know, the answers that I got weren't going to be the ones that I wanted. When it came time for the final episode of the second season, I had high expectations. Anticipation was very high and I just couldn't wait for the conclusion. When it finally happened, my jaw literally dropped. I couldn't believe that anything could honestly be as bad as this episode. I had lost faith in the show and didn't think I would be watching it again. 

A year later, ads for the third season began to run on tv. As the weeks went by I saw myself actually start to get excited about this. I'm not sure exactly why. It might have been because I had no other shows to follow or the hopes that this season could tie things up a bit better. 

      Just A few weeks ago, I got my answer. The new season had shown it's mug and it wasn't so ugly. I instantly found myself to be invested back into the characters and into the story. This might have been due to the slate more or less being wiped clean. The old case isn't discussed. Instead, a case from Sarah Lindon's past has come back to haunt her. 

Enough has changed, yet enough has stayed the same. We follow the detectives around, as well as a group of homeless teens, and a pair of men on death row. I've found myself caring about all of these characters, even though my time has to be swiftly divided between all of them. I have to hand it to the writers, they've done a great job in getting back into the show. It feels good to see a show that is this fresh on tv. I would recommend it to everyone, even the episode I did not care for. The first two seasons of "The Killing" are available on "Netflix" and new episodes air every Sunday night on "AMC".

The Killing, Or Not The Killing

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.          

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!          

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.