So. much. TV.

[swan_tower]

I watch a surprisingly large amount of TV these days, because there is so much out there, and so much of it good. But I wind up almost never posting about any of it, because I have all these thoughts and then I don’t get around to writing the big long in-depth post. In lieu of that, have scattershot thoughts about things I’ve watched in the last year.

* I didn’t like the second season of Supergirl quite as well, due in part to me having zero interest in Mon-El. But man, that show is not remotely shy about wearing its politics on its sleeve, with episode titles like “Resist” and “Nevertheless, She Persisted” and plots about protecting resident aliens from attempts to deport them. So even though they have the occasional episode where everybody is phenomenally stupid in order to give Mon-El a chance to look smart (seriously, that one was so bad), it is balm to my soul.

* Frequency has hooked me surprisingly fast, with some good dialogue and a clever twist on what might otherwise be a bog-standard serial killer investigation plot: because the SFnal conceit is that the cop heroine is in communication with her cop father twenty years in the past, when she has him follow up on a lead, half the time she winds up changing the evidence out from under her own feet, e.g. going to a suspect’s house only to find out that in the new timeline he moved away nineteen years ago. Also, it turns out to be based on a film — but among other changes, they turned the father/son setup into father/daughter instead. Woot! Sadly, because everything I like gets canceled, there’s only thirteen episodes of it. (Currently we’re seven in.)

* The Defenders was decent, but distinctly uneven, in no small part because my god Danny Rand is just. not. interesting. (As I said on Twitter a while back, Iron Fist bored me so intensely that I didn’t even get far enough in to hit the unfortunate racism.) And unfortunately, he’s kind of at the center of the plot. On the other hand, watching the script take the piss out of him at absolutely every opportunity was kind of entertaining. And you could make a fabulous montage just of the reaction shots from Luke Cage and Jessica Jones.

* I have no idea what they’ll do with the second season of The Good Place, but dude, somebody made a comedy show ABOUT ETHICS. Like, actual philosophical discussions of what constitutes ethical behavior and how the various models of that differ. I am so there. Again. (I can’t believe it got a second season.)

* The Musketeers is far more entertaining than I expected it to be (though admittedly, my expectations went up when the opening credits told me it had Peter Capaldi). Of course it bears only a general relationship to the novel, being an episodic TV series, but it doesn’t have to warp the concept too far out of shape to work; the basic engine is the running political conflicts between the King’s Musketeers and the Cardinal’s Guards, with invented incidents to keep that rolling along. Capaldi is an excellent Richelieu, obviously scheming and ambitious without being a one-note villain (sometimes he and the Captain of the Musketeers work together). And the episodic format gives them some time to explore the individual characters. Much to my surprise, Porthos — usually my least favorite of the set — is really good here, in part because the actor is black and that is relevant to the character’s life story. A Porthos with depth, rather than just being the drunken comic relief? What is this madness??? Also, it’s doing reasonably well by its female characters, including making sure that the invented incidents have women in them, so you’re not limited to the recurring trio of Constance, Milady, and the queen. Yeah, okay, so I’m pretty sure Constance bears only the most passing resemblance to her novel incarnation — but since I like this version of her and have no particular attachment to the novel incarnation, I’m fine with that.

* Ascension was interesting, but flawed. Basic concept: A generation ship got sent out in the ’60s and is now halfway through its 100-year-journey, with tensions rising. The worldbuilding was intriguing, even as I wanted to beat characters about the head for some parts of it (seriously, who thought class stratification in a society that small and enclosed was a good idea?), but the end felt like it was a cliffhanger for a season 2 that, as near as I can tell, not only doesn’t exist but was never intended to.

* I feel like the seventh season of Game of Thrones was distinctly better than the sixth, transit time silliness notwithstanding. It registered on me as a better balance of major plot movement and the little dyadic interactions, which have always been one of the show’s strong points: the writers’ ability to put two characters together and have a fabulous scene happen, whether the flavor is hilarious banter or a flaming train wreck. Plus, Olenna Tyrell may have claimed the title of Most Badass Moment for the entire series. I mean, it was horrible. But it was also this phenomenally powerful, vicious interaction that played out as a quiet conversation between two people alone in a room, without any action spectacle whatsoever. Kudos.

* I enjoyed the first season of Lucifer, but the second took off like a rocket. Seriously, were the writers on a sugar high all season long? They just cranked everything up to eleven, and the result came to life for me in a way the earlier episodes hadn’t. I’m sad they lopped off the last couple of episodes to put them on the beginning of season three, because it meant I got less of what I was enjoying last spring, but from a narrative standpoint I can absolutely see why they did. That comes back in a few weeks and I’m looking forward to it.

* Also, more of The Librarians. One of the few things I fell in love with that hasn’t gotten canceled, even if I don’t think the third season was quite as good.

Has anybody else been watching these? Any recs for shows you’ve been enjoying? I’m primarily interested in stuff that is either SF/F or historical, and skewed more toward the “fun” end of the spectrum than gritty greasy grimdark. I am almost completely burned out on police procedurals, unless they’ve got a strong metaplot or a substantial twist from the usual model.

Originally published at Swan Tower. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[yhlee]

Joe and I adored The Good Place. Joe also managed to predict the big twist either two or three episodes in. :p But it didn't matter, because we were having so much fun discussing it and enjoying the characters and the humor and, my God, the ethics discussions.

[swan_tower]

I had read your posts about it, so was thoroughly spoiled -- and I loved it anyway. It doesn't require surprise to be good.

[yhlee]

We got partly spoiled (not for the big reveal) by autoplay weirdly taking us to a later episode that revealed something about one of the characters, but that was okay. Because yeah, it was still great!

[twistedchick]

Where are you seeing The Musketeers? I love that series but lost track of it.

[swan_tower]

Hulu has it.

[sovay]

In lieu of that, have scattershot thoughts about things I’ve watched in the last year.

I was just talking to rushthatspeaks about how I have no idea what's on television lately, so this post is very useful!

Frequency is very appealing to me; of course it's dead. I have been hearing good things about The Musketeers and especially Porthos for a couple of years now. I believe it's supposed to be complete.

[swan_tower]

As others note, and I concur with based on what I've seen so far, Frequency may be better off in short form. Its concept is one that would get weaker the longer you try to spin it out.

[alessandriana]

I also love The Librarians and The Musketeers! Although I'm behind on both.

One of my friends has been raving on about Killjoys, both because of plot but also because it is non-grimdark and features tons of lgbt representation-- it's probably next on my watch list.

[mrissa]

The Killjoys starts with the threat of sexual violence and a LOT of misogynist slurs very first thing, so be forewarned. I'm still only two episodes in. It may get to be the fun fluffy thing I am promised it will be. But when people are bouncing about fun and fluffy and not-grimdark and then they give me LITERALLY a sexual violence threat opener, I feel pretty frustrated with our culture's standards for fun and fluffy.

[alessandriana]

Thanks for the heads-up!

(I don't think I've heard it described as fluffy...?)

[swan_tower]

That is a very good heads-up to have, thank you.

[nonniemous]

Wynona Earp is amazing. In your face, Canadian version of Supernatural only with 100% more ovaries.

Also, the first season of Musketeers was amazing. The next two...not so much. Enjoy the first, and don't worry about the rest.

If you have not watched Sense8, it is phenomenal--and got cancelled at the end of the second season, leaving a major cliffhanger. Supposedly there is a movie in the works to wrap it up, but I'm not sure that will happen. Still, it is a wonderful, wonderful show.

*waves* Here because I read and loved Lady Trent's memoirs and very much enjoyed Onyx Court 1. Planning to read the rest, soon.

[swan_tower]

Welcome, and thanks for chiming in!

I've watched a few eps of Wynonna Earp, but wasn't paying close enough attention to really follow the dialogue; I think I need to start over from the beginning and give it a better shake.

Good to know about later seasons of The Musketeers, thanks.

Sense8 was an awesome concept and awesome characters, but the pacing drove me up the wall. And from what I've heard, the glacial approach continues through the second season. I just wasn't hooked enough to stay interested without more forward movement on the metaplot.

[dhampyresa]

I love Lucifer and the Librarians!

Edit: It sounds like a band name, put like that.

[sovay]

Edit: It sounds like a band name, put like that.

I would listen to that band.

[swan_tower]

Band name . . . or Yuletide crossover? :-D

[dr_whom]

I liked Frequency a lot but I think one season was the right length for it.

Definitely looking forward to season 2 of The Good Place.

I just got into iZombie; after watching the first couple episodes a year ago or so and not getting into it, I gave it a second chance a couple weeks ago and was surprised how much more involving it gets after the first two episodes.

[swan_tower]

Yeah, I should have noted that I do think the concept of Frequency is one that can't sustain itself forever, and the longer they stretch it out, the weaker it would get.

iZombie's core concept puts me off too much to get into it.

[carbonel]

I enjoyed what there was of Frequency but had had enough after that one season.

There's a short video that gives closure to the series, and made me much happier than I think a second season would have.

[swan_tower]

Yeah, as I just said to dr_whom above -- I should have noted that I do think the concept of Frequency is one that can't sustain itself forever, and the longer they stretch it out, the weaker it would get.

Thanks for the video link! I'll check it out when we're done.

[mtbc]

I rather liked the movie Frequency on which they based the show, that's worth a watch. I didn't bother with subsequent Supergirl but I concede that the first season comfortably exceeded my low expectations. This latest Game of Thrones season felt too rushed to me, plenty of fanservice but less natural progression. Currently giving Ozark a try on Netflix, seems good but still deciding, and will give season two of The Bureau a try (French spy show). Hoping to get to see False Flag someday but all of this is neither SF nor fun, pity Orville isn't worth it.

[swan_tower]

GoT S7 felt like a more natural progression to me than S6 did -- S6 seemed like it pulled its "okay, time to go to Westeros!" climax out of its ear. By contrast, the Big Event at the end of S7 felt to me like multiple Chekhov's guns going off in quick succession.

Thanks for the other titles -- I'll take a look at them!

[mtbc]

Fair point about season six! But season five was so, so grim anything seemed like a relief after that. I wish I could think of more recent television that is actually good and fun or science fiction. Something like Firefly maybe, or at least if it's serious then with some wit too, like how David Duchovny's cop character's wry humor helped to make Aquarius bearable. Admittedly friends have liked shows like Expanse which I've yet to see myself. But, for instance, Preacher's fun only if you don't mind silliness and more gore than Banshee, and even Rick and Morty's fun only if you don't mind families being incredibly mean to each other. Apparently much of my viewing slants toward the grim.

[mtbc]

Oh, now I think further, Travelers is science fiction and wasn't too grim, and season one wasn't too bad either, though ends on a cliffhanger.

[swan_tower]

The fun stuff keeps getting canceled, it feels like. Galavant and Agent Carter and Powerless and so forth.

Thank you for reminding me of Travellers, which I forgot to include in the post. It's not exactly fluffy, but it isn't super grim either, and I enjoyed the first season.

[mtbc]

Yes, I didn't love Travelers as much as some but enough that I will watch the next season.

Also, I did like Agent Carter's first season: initially it seemed a bit heavy-handedly obsessed with sex discrimination but overall it delivered well. I think they made more but I didn't bother.

Some of the fun science fiction bogs itself down in needless digressions into arrantly daft scientific explanation; The Flash was a culprit there; I didn't stay with it long enough to find if it improved.

Of course, there's also fun stuff that's more paranormal-weird than science fiction, anything from Wonderfalls to Dead Like Me, can't remember what there is currently though.

[swan_tower]

I had some massive issues with The Flash. It also had amazingly stupid technobabble, but I could have dealt with that if I got worthwhile female characters and no Basement Gitmo; as it stands, I quit after the first season. (And the crossover eps I've watched because of Arrow and Supergirl have not persuaded me to go back.)

[lokifan]

Entirely agreed on Supergirl. I'm optimistic for season 3 now Mon-El's gone. And I really liked the final few episodes - multiple significant middle-aged women and the glorious return of Cat. "At least tell me you're still a Democrat." ♥ ♥ ♥

[swan_tower]

Yeah, I was extremely happy to see Cat back. Not sure if she'll stick around, but we'll see.