Posts tagged 30 days of television
Quiet Superstitions
SOME COLLISION BETWEEN ORDINARY AND IMAGINARY
30 Days of Television: Day 30…
SADDEST CHARACTER DEATH
Winifred Burkle (Angel).
“I need you to talk to my parents. They have to know I wasn’t scared, that it was quick. That I wasn’t scared. Oh, God … I’m not scared. I’m not scared. I’m not scared. Please, Wesley…why can’t I stay?”
There have been a lot of tragic deaths in the shows I watch, but the reason this one always sticks with me is because it wasn’t quick and painless or in the heat of battle. It was over the course of a whole episode, she knew it was coming, and she suffered. Fred wasn’t just important to one person, then important to others by association - she meant something to each of them. Angel saved her from ‘the monsters’. She shared a dislike for Pylea with Lorne. Gunn dated her and (to their detriment) killed a man for her. She saved Spike when no one else seemed to care. And she was the love of Wesley’s life.
30 Days of Television: Day 29…
CURRENT SHOW OBSESSION
Leverage. I’d never even seen an episode of this show before buying the first two seasons on DVD. The cast (Gina Bellman, Christian Kane), producer (Dean Devlin) and guest stars (Mark Sheppard, Wil Wheaton) were enough to convince me that it would be a worthwhile purchase; they weren’t wrong. From the very first episode - set against the beautiful backdrop of Chicago - it’s pacy, clever, unique, witty and lots of fun.
30 Days of Television: Day 28…
FIRST SHOW OBSESSION
Blackadder. I remember my parents watching this when I was growing up and I loved the ridiculous/slapstick component to it. But as I got older and understood more of the dialogue, as well as their bastardisation of history, I fell in love with that, too. Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie remain three of my all-time favourite actors to this day because of that series and I still quote it religiously.
30 Days of Television: Day 27…
BEST PILOT EPISODE
Alias: Truth Be Told (1.01). I watch a lot of television and like a lot of shows, but I can’t remember ever being so engaged by the first episode of something as Alias. It usually takes me a few episodes to warm to the premise or the characters, but I was instantly drawn to the lead character and her double life. I found myself rejoicing in her happiness, empathising with her pain and admiring her resolve - all in the space of seventy minutes! Very impressive.
30 Days of Television: Day 26…
BIGGEST SEASON FINALE SHOCKER
Lost: Through The Looking Glass (3.22 / 3.23). This episode is the epitome of everything that was great about Lost - mystery, suspense, intrigue, mythology, and, above all else, misdirection. It is a brilliantly executed game-changer that gave the show a fresh twist, whilst keeping the same formula that made it so successful in the first place.
Notable mentions go to The Getaway (Dexter - 4.12) and Before The Flood (Alias - 4.22).
30 Days of Television: Day 25…
A SHOW I PLAN ON REWATCHING
Arrested Development. I usually rewatch all my favourite shows, cycling through them every two or three years, but I’ve been meaning to rewatch this one for a while. I can’t see segues, hear The Final Countdown, call someone a chicken or ponder on analyist/therapists without thinking of this show and all its ridiculous, hilarious associations.
30 Days of Television: Day 24…
BEST QUOTE
Culled from an incredibly long list, there were pearls of wisdom from Lost, clever quips from Firefly, and hilarious excerpts from The IT Crowd, but this is the one I kept coming back to. Eloquent, poetic and all too true:
“Passion. It lies in all of us. Sleeping…waiting… And though unwanted… unbidden…it will stir…open its jaws, and howl. It speaks to us…guides us… Passion rules us all. And we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love…the clarity of hatred…and the ecstasy of grief. It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion, maybe we’d know some kind of peace. But we would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank… Without passion, we’d be truly dead.”
Angelus, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Passion - 2.17)
30 Days of Television: Day 23…
MOST ANNOYING CHARACTER
Ellie Bartowski (Chuck). I came close to choosing Dawn Summers (Buffy), but she at least has the excuse of being an adolescent. I think Sarah Lancaster is adorable, but I cannot stand Ellie Bartowski - and it’s punctuated by the abundance of fantastic characters in this ensemble! Ellie has what seems to be a perfect life: an adoring husband; a fantastic career; a loving brother. But she is never happy! If she’s not treating Devon with contempt, she’s lamenting over and interfering in Chuck’s life and lack of direction. I’m know she’s meant to be seen as the caring big sister (and she is on very rare occasion), but I find her overbearing and insufferable.
30 Days of Television: Day 22…
FAVOURITE SERIES FINALE
Angel: Not Fade Away (5.22). I find that most series finales are a recipe for disappointment. You’re reaching the end of something you’ve become invested in and the longer a series, the higher the expectation. Most shows opt for a nostalgic farewell over a decent storyline. But this finale ticked all the boxes: recent arcs climaxed or brought closure; familiar faces returned; tears; action; laughter; death; and a looming battle to ensure they go down fighting.
30 Days of Television: Day 21…
FAVOURITE RELATIONSHIP
Chris Turk and John “J.D.” Dorian (Scrubs). I love a good bromance, but it’s more than just their ‘Guy Love’. It’s the incredible strength and longevity of their friendship. It’s the way they understand each other unequivocally. It’s the fact have such different personalities but share the same values and childish sense of humour, whilst being unapologetically inseperable.
Notable mentions go to Chuck Bartowski/Morgan Grimes (Chuck) and River Tam/Simon Tam (Firefly).
