HBO and Spike
Jun. 19th, 2007 05:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
proggrrlIt's summer, so it must be time to talk about new HBO shows (these are sort of spoilerish if you haven’t watched ‘em yet):
Complete change of subject for a Wow…Syfy Portal is reporting that James “Spike the Vamp” Marsters is joining the cast of Torchwood, the Dr. Who spinoff? That’s about as meta as it gets in fangirldom, right?
JOHN FROM CINCINNATI after watching first 2 eps of premiere season...
First, here's David Milch on what this show is about:
“If God were trying to reach out to us, and if he felt a certain urgency about it. That’s what it’s about...The wave is the only visible embodiment of what physicists tell us all matter is composed of, which is particles held together by some kind of magnetic or molecular force. And that’s what makes the waves move...And if God were trying to reach out to us, and teach us something about the deepest nature of matter, he might use some drugged-out surfers.”
It took me almost an entire season of watching DEADWOOD to realize how much I loved it. When I watched the S1 DVD extras before S2 began, and listened to the mad genius of David Milch doing pretty much unfiltered interviews, I was permanently hooked.
There is basically NOTHING anyone can say to stop me from watching JFC for at least another 6 eps. The brilliant rollercoaster ride of Milch dialogue is back. Cranky, dysfunctional, suddenly violent yet loving characters? Check. Neuroses on parade, check. Conniving and collusion, check. Only now, Milch uses surfing and magical SoCal surreality - instead of cursing, whoring and muddy gunslinging. I am loving the suicidal fruit, the surfing fans with hidden agendas, John’s magical pants pockets, and the extended family. I am most definitely IN. Milch oh Milch, thank you Mr. Milch.
I will also go out on a limb here and say, if you liked either DEADWOOD or TWIN PEAKS, there is a lot here for you. Give it some time, and don’t bail just yet if you are not totally satisfied.
First, here's David Milch on what this show is about:
“If God were trying to reach out to us, and if he felt a certain urgency about it. That’s what it’s about...The wave is the only visible embodiment of what physicists tell us all matter is composed of, which is particles held together by some kind of magnetic or molecular force. And that’s what makes the waves move...And if God were trying to reach out to us, and teach us something about the deepest nature of matter, he might use some drugged-out surfers.”
It took me almost an entire season of watching DEADWOOD to realize how much I loved it. When I watched the S1 DVD extras before S2 began, and listened to the mad genius of David Milch doing pretty much unfiltered interviews, I was permanently hooked.
There is basically NOTHING anyone can say to stop me from watching JFC for at least another 6 eps. The brilliant rollercoaster ride of Milch dialogue is back. Cranky, dysfunctional, suddenly violent yet loving characters? Check. Neuroses on parade, check. Conniving and collusion, check. Only now, Milch uses surfing and magical SoCal surreality - instead of cursing, whoring and muddy gunslinging. I am loving the suicidal fruit, the surfing fans with hidden agendas, John’s magical pants pockets, and the extended family. I am most definitely IN. Milch oh Milch, thank you Mr. Milch.
I will also go out on a limb here and say, if you liked either DEADWOOD or TWIN PEAKS, there is a lot here for you. Give it some time, and don’t bail just yet if you are not totally satisfied.
BIG LOVE after watching first 2 eps of S2...
I am always willing to give HBO dramas more time and effort than dramas on other stations. I ended up enjoying this show last year, against my better judgement, and after watching the first two eps of the new season I am still supportive (though not effusive). The leads are all great, and the show’s focus on this plural marriage and the way such a family functions continues to fascinate me. The showrunners seem to know that at its heart, BIG LOVE needs to explore the dynamics of a group of people all married to each other – rather than merely an anthropological exploration of Mormon culture.
The tension created in these first few S2 eps by first wife Barbara’s threatening to leave the marriage, has offered an opportunity to further explore the ongoing theme of how all four are married to each other – rather than three women each married to the same man. When the other two wives begin to question how her departure might fracture the entire set-up, there are some really great scenes that come out of that – I especially liked it when Margene realized how much she would be feeling Barbara’s absence. That it might make her leave the marriage as well. The whole idea of what this family structure means to these three women is being handled so well.
Well those are my opinions of two very talky, pretty vague, one might say extremely LOW-ACTION type shows. But both are working for me. Then again, I have a high pain tolerance - I gave Carnivale a whole season before I stopped watching, disgusted with its sloth and empty symbols.
And don’t forget – if you’ve missed the first few eps of either show, and you’ve got American digital cable, you can catch up using Video On Demand for FREE.
I am always willing to give HBO dramas more time and effort than dramas on other stations. I ended up enjoying this show last year, against my better judgement, and after watching the first two eps of the new season I am still supportive (though not effusive). The leads are all great, and the show’s focus on this plural marriage and the way such a family functions continues to fascinate me. The showrunners seem to know that at its heart, BIG LOVE needs to explore the dynamics of a group of people all married to each other – rather than merely an anthropological exploration of Mormon culture.
The tension created in these first few S2 eps by first wife Barbara’s threatening to leave the marriage, has offered an opportunity to further explore the ongoing theme of how all four are married to each other – rather than three women each married to the same man. When the other two wives begin to question how her departure might fracture the entire set-up, there are some really great scenes that come out of that – I especially liked it when Margene realized how much she would be feeling Barbara’s absence. That it might make her leave the marriage as well. The whole idea of what this family structure means to these three women is being handled so well.
Well those are my opinions of two very talky, pretty vague, one might say extremely LOW-ACTION type shows. But both are working for me. Then again, I have a high pain tolerance - I gave Carnivale a whole season before I stopped watching, disgusted with its sloth and empty symbols.
And don’t forget – if you’ve missed the first few eps of either show, and you’ve got American digital cable, you can catch up using Video On Demand for FREE.
Complete change of subject for a Wow…Syfy Portal is reporting that James “Spike the Vamp” Marsters is joining the cast of Torchwood, the Dr. Who spinoff? That’s about as meta as it gets in fangirldom, right?
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no subject
Date: 2007-06-19 10:08 pm (UTC)I will never put BL on my fave shows list, but I really appreciate the detailed interactions between all the family members and the slow, careful examination of this very unusual family.
Also, there is this other plot thread, the Hiding In The Closet arc. The way they have to bend over backwards and constantly fear being revealved - and then, sometimes, when they actually ARE revealed as polygamists, it turns out to be not such a big deal after all.
no subject
Date: 2007-06-19 11:51 pm (UTC)I haven't seen JfC though. I will look it up right away though. I love(d) Deadwood so thanks for the info. I didn't realize the connection.
Since you are the only person I know that might know, do you know what happened to the supposed two-part finale that was supposed to happen for Deadwood?
no subject
Date: 2007-06-20 08:57 pm (UTC)I read an interview with someone a few months ago (it may have been Milch or one of the leads from Deadwood), that it was a go but details are murky. I assumed that was because of Milch being in the thick of JFC at the time...As far as I know it's ON.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-16 02:18 pm (UTC)I see now the Milch connection to Deadwood and JfC. As I said in my previous post that I am LOVING JfC. Last night's epi was jaw-dropping, the reason for the disconnect between Sissy and Butchie. OMG! Didn't see that coming at all!
Thanks again for the rec!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-16 04:04 pm (UTC)Yeah - glad this tagging thing is working! I'm going back through my entire LJ to tag it all today. WHEW, tiring.
Haven't watched last night's JfC yet, cannot wait to see...