While I was out, amongst other things, I finished The Wire.
What to say? I don’t even know. To everyone who told me (repeatedly) it was the best show ever: You were (mostly) right. I don’t know that it is my FAVORITE show of all time, but it’s definitely the BEST show I’ve seen. Everything is top-notch, from the writing, acting, cinematography, use of location, etc. Everything is carefully and perfectly constructed. There are no mistakes. Not a word is wasted.
Now that I finished it, I want to go back and watch again. This is a show that needs repeat viewings. Although I watched carefully, I’m sure there’s still a ton of stuff I missed. Also, I could listen to that dialogue all day long. It’s brilliant.
As you can see, I have nothing intelligent to say about the show. I’m still processing. However, those looking for intelligent discussion and breakdowns should read Sepinwall’s excellent recaps. I supplemented my viewing with these, and found it helped a lot. Look on the sidebar for The Wire seasons. He even divided his recaps into two separate categories: “newbies” and “veterans.”
What else? Favorites? Sure. (Spoilers ahead, proceed with caution.)
And we’re back. Had a lovely time in Chicago, despite the heat. Came back to…more heat. And more lists. So here is part two of the television survey making its way around the internet. Go here for part one.
So summer is upon is, and with that comes summer TV (or, in my case, summer DVDs). Usually by the end of May, I am worn out from TV. This year is no exception. While it was a strong season overall, a lot of my favorites (30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, and don’t even get me started on The Office) were not up to snuff. They need to figure out how to return to their former greatness, and I need a break so as to not be bitter.
Still though, a pretty great year for TV, especially for new comedies: Modern Family, Cougar Town (trust me) and Community all proved to have strong freshman seasons, and I’m ready for seconds.
In the meantime, I am working my way through The Wire (currently on season 4, no spoilers, please!) and am also basking in the glory that is Daria.
Yes, Daria. Didn’t you hear? The series was released on DVD. FINALLY. While I haven’t yet bought it (but it will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine) I started watching season 1 and it’s just as great as I remember. Daria is awesome. She was my hero in high school. (Though I always fancied myself more of a Jane, despite not being able to draw a straight line with a ruler.)
If only Doug and You Can’t Do That On Television would be released, my childhood trifecta would be complete.
Not sure what else I will watch this summer. I’ve already tackled a few shows from my New Year’s list – among them, Freaks and Geeks (best show ever), Sons of Anarchy, and the part of The Wire. What next? Maybe Firefly, to complete my Joss Whedon experience? Mad Men? Breaking Bad? Suggestions are welcome – check out my original list and let me know. But before you suggest it, I think I’ll let the Lost fans calm down a bit before I start watching. Sorry, Lost fans. It’s too much expectation right now.
In the mean time, enjoy some Daria. Makes me feel like it’s 1997 again. (Which brings up a good point – is Daria dated? Does loving it officially make me old?)
Happy Easter weekend, everyone. I hope you all had a good time, and enjoyed the gorgeous weather. (If you live on the East Coast, anyway – I’m not sure what the weather was like elsewhere.)
I got the weekend to myself, and had a perfectly luxurious time. I ran a few errands, cleaned up stuff on my computer, did some reading, and reaquainted myself with some old friends from Stars Hollow.
Now, those of you who know me know of my former major obsession love of the Gilmores. And you also know of my disenchantment, anger, broken heart, and temporary break-up with Gilmore during its final season. I eventually caved and finished out the season, but since the show ended, I’ve only watched a handful of episodes.
Until this weekend.
I don’t know if it was the nice weather, the resurgence of Lauren Graham on my TV again, the fact I had a weekend to myself, or my rediscovery of this* coupled with my rediscovery of a Lorelai mix I made three years ago, but I found myself jonesing for some Gilmore all week long.
You know how you have those friends who you used to be really close to and now, for one reason or another, you don’t get to see them very often? Maybe you live in different cities, maybe one of you got married, maybe you’re in grad school and have no time for a social life, but you’re just not as close as you once were. Every once in awhile though, you get to see each other, and your bond is so close that it feels like you were never apart? That’s how this was. (Yes, I am aware that I am talking about a TV show, thanks.)
For me, Gilmore has always been a comfort. (Except when it wasn’t, but we don’t like to talk about that time.) It’s the TV-equivalent of pot roast and chocolate pie. And even though it’s been years, and things have changed, and I have changed, when I put in my season 2 DVD and started watching, it was as though I never stopped. I was back in my apartment in Chicago, watching my illegally-burnt copy of A Film By Kirk, pausing it to go get my roommate, because Sean Gunn dancing was something he had to see.
I decided to watch episodes I often skip over. I’ve seen Rory’s First Kiss and Last Week Fights, This Week Tights too many times to remember, but what about those hidden gems in seasons 2 and 3? I always gloss over seasons 2 and 3, in favor of season 4 (the ultimate season) and season 5 (because Luke and Lorelai are FINALLY together). So this weekend, I rediscovered hidden gems like Lost and Found, where Luke looks for a new apartment, and Dear Emily and Richard, which is both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. I watched Paris melt down on C-Span in The Big One and Emily battle it out with the original Lorelai in That’ll Do, Pig. These are episodes no one really thinks about, because they are episodes that don’t advance the plot much. Not a lot happens in these episodes, and yet everything happens.
So that’s how I spent my weekend. Should I have gone outside more? Perhaps. But I’m happy with my decision. I got reacquainted with an old friend, and remembered what made me love the show in the first place. I rediscovered the awesomeness of high school Rory, Lauren Graham’s amazing hair and beautiful eyes, and that Luke, was, on many occasions, a very funny man.
Now. The only problem with this is that…as many of you know…I had a…*slight* problem with Gilmore. As in, you know, some might say, a wee bit of an addiction. So my goal this week is to not spend it with my head halfway in Stars Hollow. I need to be in the real world. I think I can do it. I know I can do it. Because, even though I remember the girl who spent her nights locked in her tiny room in Chicago, watching those bootlegged DVDs, I am not that girl anymore. Really. I swear. I can stop any time I want to. Gilmore doesn’t control me, I control when and where Gilmore watching takes place. Seriously. Wait, stop. Don’t take the DVDs away from me. I can handle it! Where are you going? Stop!
Video of the Day: Enjoy some highlights from season 3. (Really, I forgot how much I love this season. If you have the DVDs, go back and watch. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.)
(*We’re never supposed to talk about it, but the Gilmore fandom produced a MASSIVE amount of fanfiction. Right around the height of it, I got my first post-college job – a job that required me to to absolutely nothing, and thus had a lot of free time on my hands between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. So, I got pretty familiar with the stuff – at least, stuff written from 2004 to 2006. A lot of it was crap, but that story is really, really good. So, if you have several hours to kill, check it out.)
Dear NBC,
I’m still mad at you for the whole Conan/Leno fiasco, and I think you’ve successfully run your company into the ground these last few years.
However, you gave us a second season of Parks & Recreation, and just renewed it for a third, which shows some sense on your part. After all, everyone needs some Ron [Fucking] Swanson in their lives.
And coming soon: Parenthood! NBC, I am known to hold grudges, but if Parenthood lives up to its promos and stellar cast, I just might be able to leave my anger behind. Here’s a suggestion for saving your network: Replace Jeff Zucker with whoever put together the Parenthood promos. I can’t stop watching them. Seriously. I pretty much watch things exclusively on DVR, but if I see a promo for this show while zipping through a commercial break, I’ll stop, rewind, and watch the whole thing. By now, I’ve seen them all several times, but still stop. They’re that good. They’ve become one of my favorite parts of the Olympics.
Please don’t fuck this up, NBC. You have tremendous talent both in front of and behind the camera. This could be TheCosby Show for the new decade. It could revive the network. It could give Lauren Graham and Peter Krause the Emmys they deserved long ago. DON’T. FUCK. THIS. UP.
Sincerely,
A life-long watcher of NBC
Videos of the Day: See, can’t stop watching. Also, kudos on the music. I love it. My favorite is the Peter Krause, “Yo, yo, yo” promo, but sadly, it is not online. But just watch NBC for like, 5 minutes and I’m sure you’ll see it.
Retrowatching 