What I’m watching: Big TV roundup

September 24th, 2008

I’ve been meaning to write up my thoughts on a bunch of TV shows that I’ve been watching of late, with the writer’s strike well behind us the light is beginning to flicker again on the screen.

I will do my best to avoid spoilers, but you know how it is, I could inadvertently let something slip.

True Blood

Oh wow I love this show, I wasn’t going to watch it originally but there was a bit of a drought the week that it started and I figured why not, I can watch a vampire show. I don’t normally go into vampire related stuff as I’m not a big fan of the Anne Rice direction that vamps have gone in of late.

This show is amazing, it’s really interesting, the characters are all intriguing and it’s keeping me guessing. It’s just really well made, it has set up its atmosphere quicker and better than any show where the town is such an important aspect of the tone of the show.

Fringe

X-Files has a successor, it’s from the guy who brought us Lost and is bringing us Star Trek. There’s a lot of love in this room right now for a bunch of shows and none more so than Fringe. I loved The Night Stalker, I actually grew up with that show and when X-Files came along and I loved that show too (for a few seasons).

Now Fringe has come and filled the place in my heart (sorry never got into Supernatural though I do plan on watching it) and two episodes in and I’m hooked. The old professor is just simply brilliant and fun, and it’s nice to see Pacey doing so well on TV again.

90210

It gets two more episodes to convince me, it has already fallen off my cousin Larry list because they are fast tracking the show so we’re only a week behind and I can dodge spoilers for this fairly well. No I do not believe that he is the father of Kelly’s child, it doesn’t make sense and he wouldn’t have run off like that. I doubt we’ll ever see him back on the show either.

House

I’m watching the first episode of the new season as I write this, he is more annoying this season, I’m sick of the petulant child routine, can’t he just be brilliant and simply uber smug? Doubt I’ll watch this regularly again. God he just went home in protest of Wilson leaving, his patient is dying, this show really kind of sucks…

Stargate Atlantis

Yaaawn. After a really cool first episode the show has begun a slide, my attention has waned since hearing about the cancellation. It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere though I did like the episode the other week where we got a little insight into the politics behind the Wraith. I’ll keep watching but I doubt I’ll mourn the passing as much as I did Enterprise’s.

Entourage

They’re back bitches! Last season felt tired to me and when I heard that Don was making a comeback I really didn’t have much hope for the show. But the first three episodes have put me completely at ease and reminded me why I love this show. After such a long absence they have really come back with renewed energy. Plenty of Aquaman references and you all know how much I dig Aquaman.

Boston Legal

I’m still watching the non-fast-tracked episodes from last season and probably will wait to see if they start showing the new season straight away. I love Spader and Shatner in this but I’ve got a feeling that the next and final season was probably the right time to end it, the characters seem to be in a bit of a holding pattern showing only occasional hints of their brilliance. I hope for this next season they will bring out the big guns of story telling and give Denny Crane the right send off.

I read that this is the last season of E.R. coming up too, they apparently want to bring back as many originals as possible to celebrate including Clooney, I really hope they do all come back and I’ll watch, I’ll definitely watch that!

Popularity: 6% [?]

Share and Enjoy:

19 Comments

MC September 25th, 2008
If The Mentalist gets fast tracked down there too, you should check it out. It premiered yesterday in America, and it seems to have a lot of potential.

MCs last blog post..Community Shoutout: House of Self-Indulgence

[Reply to this comment]
By Lee on September 25th, 2008 | Reply
Ok, I don’t know anything about The Mentalist, don’t think I’ve even heard of it. So yeah sure I’m interested in checking it out.

[Reply to this comment]
By MC on September 25th, 2008 | Reply
The Mentalist stars Simon Baker and Robin Tunney and tells the story of a former Television psychic (someone who was amazing at reading people, not a real psychic) who becomes a special agent for an FBI-like agency following a personal tragedy and uses his talents to try to solve crimes.

MCs last blog post..Express Checkout: Closets, Duckman and Wall Street

[Reply to this comment]
Arjan September 25th, 2008
I really like True blood too. Very cool way of putting the vamps in public view.
The Fringe really convinced me with the 2nd episode, far less cliche and just plain cool.
90210: never saw the other series, not planning to watch the new one.

House: I randomly watch episodes on tv..I don’t have a clue from wich season..
I like it, but he ís sometimes toooooo annoying.

SGA: why the hell did they have to bring in the whole doc romance thing again. I thought they were going to let the short Ronin-Keller fling rest..but now..when they’ve got a story to wrap up..they’re bringing it back.

I never saw Entourage..don’t know what it’s about..might start when I’ve got time on my hands
Boston Legal: like House..one of those series I watch on tv sometimes when it’s on. Don’t ask me which season..wouldn’t have a clue.

I also jumped into Heroes again..going to give it another chance..I liked the first two episodes of s3. I stocked Prison Break..until yesterday..aw hell..they pulled me back in. I also started on Merlin (new series) which follows the wizard Merlin when he kinda just arrives at Camelot and Arthur is just a tween and arrogant like you wouldn’t believe: but worth watching.

Arjans last blog post..True Blood {main theme}

[Reply to this comment]
By Lee on September 25th, 2008 | Reply
I remember Tracey’s first comment whilst we watched True Blood and they had something about vampire rights on the tv and T said “it’s like watching an episode of Twilight Zone”.

And she’s right it’s a whole series based on a concept that could easily have been in the Twilight Zone or the Outer Limits. Which is a huge compliment

You would so dig Entourage man, you should try and make some time to watch the first couple of episodes (only half hour show) - it is just great fun and I think you’d enjoy the music.

I saw something about Merlin and thought it was the miniseries that was made ages ago for some reason, it still doesn’t really inspire me though so I’ll probably give it a miss until it comes to Aussie TV.

[Reply to this comment]
Ian September 25th, 2008
So many show, so much stuff to move to make time to watch them, whatamigonnado!!!

Start at the beginning and slowly-but-surely get through them, that’s what
House and Life just started on TV here, so I’m recording them to watch on the weekends. I’m also recording Fringe as we saw the 1st episode and it blew us away.

I’ve also bought season 1 and 2 of Dexter as I find it very interesting and entertaining.

My wife can fill me in on SGA, as she always does.

[Reply to this comment]
By Lee on September 25th, 2008 | Reply
I really didn’t like Life, I don’t know it was a little like Burn Notice for me where if it was on I’d watch it but really didn’t care if I missed an episode, miss enough episodes and you start not caring if you never see another episode

We’re going to buy Dexter too, started watching it on TV and then made the same decision we did with Lost - get it on DVD and watch them later.

Fringe is awesome.

[Reply to this comment]
Marita September 25th, 2008
I’m loving True Blood. Not been watching any of the others.

Even Stargate Atlantis with my beloved Rodney can’t grab me.

I am finally catching up on Generation Kill which hubby has been raving about.

Maritas last blog post..Reflections

[Reply to this comment]
By Lee on September 26th, 2008 | Reply
With SGA they needed to start really turning the quality up, especially if they want people to follow them over to DVDs. When you get such advance warning about cancellation you really have to throw everything out the window and go for broke, like Angel did.

[Reply to this comment]
robertas September 25th, 2008
I still have to see True Blood (shame on me I know
I thought about watching 90210, but I dont know it lost its luster somehow… I agree with you on House, I find him so irritating this season…

Fringe I absolutely love… and I would definitely recommend Supernatural because this season I think will be better then ever.

robertass last blog post..TV offerings

[Reply to this comment]
By Lee on September 26th, 2008 | Reply
True Blood is the show I’m saying is Must See this season, that and Fringe though I’m noting a distinct division on Fringe, either loving it or really hating on it.

90210 has enough ties to the original to make me comfortable with them calling it 90210, I got hooked on the show a couple of years ago when it was on cable here and I was working from home.

[Reply to this comment]
sean bennett September 25th, 2008
Fringe, more like Cringe. I can’t believe the hype surrounding that show. I’ll give it a bit more of a chance though. I wrote a post about it on my blog. I can see some potential but I’m not sure it is my type of show.

[Reply to this comment]
By Lee on September 26th, 2008 | Reply
I’m pretty happy with how Fringe is unfolding, easily as strong as X-Files was in its first couple of episodes (I watched them recently). I also like the nutty scientist, he’s damaged and brillaint. No I’m sticking with this one.

[Reply to this comment]
By sean bennett on September 26th, 2008 | Reply
Yeah, probably too early to write it off but surely too early to say it is as good as some people are making out. Time will tell, I guess.

[Reply to this comment]
Kelley September 26th, 2008
I hear you about House. I used to have the HUGEST crush on that bad boy and now I am all Meh. Cause the show has gone to Meh, dammit.

Hearing a lot about Entourage. Might need to google it or something…

Kelleys last blog post..Be careful what you wish for.

[Reply to this comment]
robertas September 26th, 2008
I really think Fringe is ok… not fantastic, but good just as well.

I get you about 90210, although it is an old fancy of mine, after all I grew up on that stuff Now that does make me feel old However I really was not even tempted to watch the new stuff. It was all downhill when Bitchy Brenda left.

House is well… do you know they signed Hugh Laurie on until 2011/2012?
I know the greedy networks want to milk that cow (sort to speak) as long as they can, but I’m wondering whether it will go through the ratings slump?
I always said House is House, even when its average it is still good… but the last 2 episodes really made me question that.
I think I’ll just watch some Blackadder although Hugh Laurie looks much much better older and grumpy
robertass last blog post..Red Dwarf returns - Yay!!!

[Reply to this comment]
By Lee on September 26th, 2008 | Reply
Brenda’s back though!

[Reply to this comment]
Bettina September 28th, 2008
I didn’t mind what I managed to see of Fringe the other night. And I LOVE Boston Legal! Denny farting in the superior court was a crack up! lol

Supernatural has replaced Buffy in my heart I must admit (though I shall always have a fondness for the vampire slayer)

Bettinas last blog post..Simple Pleasures Sunday

[Reply to this comment]
By Lee on September 30th, 2008 | Reply
I’m going to sit and watch Supernatural next I think because so many people do say good things about it and I have season one and two sitting there. I also have to watch Lost as I’d like to catch up before the show finishes and the ending is spoilt.

[Reply to this comment]