Television: Fall Watching Plan

[butterfly]

So, my job decided that the best way to celebrate my coming back from vacation was to give me an eleven-hour shift on my first day back (speaking of, my vacation was good -- met my brother's girlfriend for the first time and she's funny, smart, and totally cute. And they are cuddly and adorable together, which is such a departure from how my brother used to be -- he was always very emotionally reserved.). So, that was yesterday, completely gone. I'm going to do my best to respond to (shockingly out-of-date) comments now.

Prison Break

I'm hoping that the utter and complete crack that last season turned into was a sophomore slump. Because the first season was spectacular and the actors were still really good in the second season. But the plots were just... so much crack. Presidential incest. An amputee who has to be an immortal or something. Franklin's entire 'sick kid' storyline. So. Much. Crack. But Sucre, Michael, and Sarah are all really hot, so I'm giving it another chance.

Heroes

So, I've watched about the first half of S1 Heroes and have found myself hooked on the show (I've seen through Distractions). I've seen enough that I'm going to do my best to see the rest before the second season starts because I really wanna see this show live. I fell in love with Claire and Peter in the pilot (oh, poor woobies!), fell in love with Mohinder once his 'science' stopped making me wince, and fell for Hiro and Ando soon after. I mourn for how stupid Niki and D.L. tend to be in their plotlines (their kid is pretty fantastic, though). I've come to appreciate that Claire's father loves her but haven't started liking Nathan yet (major reason to want Claire and Peter to bond (even more) -- oh, god, it sucks to be in their families and they need a new one, stat). Simone is so hot, plus, reasonable and smart. Isaac is so great now that he's clean. I heart them. And I like Matt. He's a decent guy.

Bones

This is my cute, fluffy show. I watch this show because it makes me feel bubbly and warm. I have no idea if there's fandom and find that I don't really care -- I'm just basking in how everyone is adorable.

House

I'm conflicted. Because Chase is my gateway character for the show and I don't know yet how (or if) he's going to be around. But it's on in between two other shows I watch, so there really isn't any reason not to watch it.

Boston Legal

This show is often on crack, but knows how to use it. I'm curious about what they'll do next. Plus, Alan Shore is hot.

Smallville

Lois Lane is the light of my life. Well, slight exaggeration (but not much). I really adore Erica's Lois. She's become my favorite Lois Lane of all time. She's tough in all the right ways, with just the right amount of vulnerable. Anyway, I'm looking forward to what they'll do next.

Supernatural

I love the Winchester boys a whole heaping lot and I am really looking forward to see them every week.

Stargate: Atlantis

I'm so very much looking forward to this season of Atlantis! They had a bit of a sophomore slump but then S3 was so much better, so I think S4 will be just fine.

Numb3rs

This was one of my fluffy bunny shows, until the Colby thing. We'll see what happens next.

And there's no new Doctor Who for ages. So sad! Though the future casting news makes me happy. Still, I'm already all hyped up for S4 and the S4 companion! And now I must wait!

Comments

[spiletta42.livejournal.com]

Welcome back!

I love Bones in a non-fandom way, and I have Heroes sitting here on dvd waiting for me to bother to watch it, which I guess I'd better do before the season starts.

Still looking forward to your Daniel/Vala vid, which I promise to only mention only half has often as I think of it, or in other words, every half-hour.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Still looking forward to your Daniel/Vala vid, which I promise to only mention only half has often as I think of it, or in other words, every half-hour.

Hee! Thanks. For footage reasons, it'll probably end up being done around Christmas or so (I'm waiting to see if my mom is giving me SG 10 for my birthday, as I suspect she's planning to). I already have most of the clips placed in my head, so it won't take long to finish once I have the dvds.

[kb91.livejournal.com]

Yay, another Heroes fan! I was hooked from the first episode, and it was one of my few "don't miss" shows on network TV last year. The fact that CE showed up on it halfway through was just a major bonus. And I totally agree that you should watch the second half of the season before S2 starts -- you really need to see the final story arc to have any idea what's going on, IMO.

Are you spoiler free on Heroes? Just how exactly, are you hoping Peter and Claire will bond? *g* And since you're halfway, I take it you haven't met Claude yet? You're in for a treat. :)

And for the record, I love Mr. Bennett (or HRG, however you want to refer to him). Man seriously needs his own major storyline next year. He's awesome! :D

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Heroes is pretty terrific. I found the first episode iffy, but I'm glad that I stuck with it, because the second episode was terrific and I haven't been disappointed since.

Just how exactly, are you hoping Peter and Claire will bond?

Hee! Oh, I'm totally spoiled on most of the Petrelli-based storylines (I've been pleasantly surprised at how much other stuff that I haven't been spoiled about though!), so I knew about Peter and Claire going into it. Still, after the first episode, I said, "Well, I understand why people started shipping them -- they are the only sane, decent people in their respective families." This was before I started liking the Bennetts. Mind, I'm still not fond of Mama and Nathan Petrelli. Plus, once the characters finally meet, they do have quite excellent (and rather unfamilial) chemistry with each other. So, on the one hand, I'm kinda glad that they're related, so that Peter can finally have a family member that doesn't play mind games with him, but I can totally see why people were shocked and disappointed.

[coneyislandbaby]

Do I want to know what the Colby thing is? *wibbles*

Also what Who casting news? I know some but not others I think?

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Do I want to know what the Colby thing is? *wibbles*

*considers*

No. Well, it depends on how things fall out this next season. It's pretty OMGWTF, though.

Also what Who casting news? I know some but not others I think?

The good news about David staying on for the 2009 specials. I'm just posting several days behind everyone else!

[coneyislandbaby]

Uh oh. I don't think I'll search it out. Numb3rs is a mostly non fannish show for me but now I'm worried. Eeep.

And yes, such good news for Who though he will leave eventually I'm sure. I would not mind if Jack Davenport were Eleven (we'll say he gets a few good years in his new show first though).

[katesutton.livejournal.com]

Heroes: The show started off a little slow and shallow, but by the end? So much fun. I love Claire and her father(but her mother as well) and Claude...well, Claude had better make another appearance. YOU HEAR ME, WRITERS? Come up with a story compelling enough to drag CE back!

Numb3rs:The Colby thing made no sense. NONE. There had better be excellent explanations in store.

Chase is totally my gateway character too, and I didn't even realize it 'til the end of this season. And it makes no sense, because we have nothing in common at all and I think he's sort of pretty, but nothing special. But there you have it. Atlantis kinda lost me at the end of last season with Weir and those horrible Lucius episodes. They get a couple episodes to impress me this fall.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Heroes: The show started off a little slow and shallow, but by the end? So much fun. I love Claire and her father(but her mother as well)

Agreed on both points (well, all three! Claude is an excellent character). The first episode, especially, was kinda making me go "huh" at the gender portrayals, but it's really improved over time.

Chase is totally my gateway character too, and I didn't even realize it 'til the end of this season. And it makes no sense, because we have nothing in common at all and I think he's sort of pretty, but nothing special. But there you have it.

I know! I didn't know how much I liked him until they threatened to take him away. And I don't want to lose him!

Atlantis kinda lost me at the end of last season with Weir and those horrible Lucius episodes. They get a couple episodes to impress me this fall.

I probably would not be so bouncy about Atlantis were it not for the casting news. I'm thrilled about the casting news.

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

The Heroes folks have been saying that new viewers shouldn't have problems jumping in with the second season, so I suspect you'd be okay to watch the end of S1 and the beginning of S2 concurrently.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Cool. Though I'll probably try to finish up S1 before the end of the month regardless. It's a good story, with a lot of cute touches.

[bell]

If you like, I can tell you what I know about Chase's status/presence for next season?

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yes, please!

[bell]

Okay, just for safety's sake:

HERE BE SPOILERS.

Chase's actor (JS) is indeed hired for next season. I heard (from the horse's mouth) that at least one of the ducklings won't appear in the first episode of s4, but it's not Chase. ...Which doesn't mean that he won't not appear either.

It seems that the ducklings are expected to continue being main characters though I can't imagine in what capacity, since there will be (eventually) new characters. Chase may or may not return to working for House.

My impression is that the actors, and maybe the writers as well, don't know exactly how involved each character will be-- a sort of "we'll see how it goes" attitude. So, for you, I'd say you might want to tune in at first and if it looks like the Chase quotient starts going down, tune out.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[jedi_of_urth]

You and I have radically different viewing plans, I don't watch any of those shows except Heroes, which is awesome, go finish season 1, the back half of the season is even better than the front AFAIC (though there are some timeline issues).

I finally kicked Smallville to the curb last year and Chloe was about the only thing I miss (I would have thought I'd at least also miss Lex and Lionel, but not as much as Chloe). L&C Lois will always be my definitive Lois, can't stand Smallville Lois, but to each their own.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

You and I have radically different viewing plans, I don't watch any of those shows except Heroes, which is awesome, go finish season 1, the back half of the season is even better than the front AFAIC (though there are some timeline issues).

Heroes has definitely gotten better over the course of the first season. I'm looking forward to checking out the next one.

I finally kicked Smallville to the curb last year and Chloe was about the only thing I miss (I would have thought I'd at least also miss Lex and Lionel, but not as much as Chloe).

I never quite got over what Chloe did in S2. Clark forgave her and I get why he did, but that she's capable of that kind of betrayal just sticks with me.

L&C Lois will always be my definitive Lois, can't stand Smallville Lois, but to each their own.

I love L&C's Lois, too. Until SV's Lois, she was my favorite. My least favorite is SR's Lois.

[mekare-enra.livejournal.com]

Your fondness for Supernatural was one of the things that encouraged me to start watching it, and I absolutely love it now.

Heroes is great, but you're the first person I've heard express any fondness for Simone. She's a beautiful woman, but not a popular character as far as I can tell. I liked her best in Homecoming, when she decided to believe in Peter and showed him the postcard version of Isaac's painting of Peter's death. I also felt for her when her dad died; the actress did an excellent job in that scene! Peter is my favourite by far. And there's still time for Nathan to grow on you, but maybe he won't :D

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Your fondness for Supernatural was one of the things that encouraged me to start watching it, and I absolutely love it now.

It's such a fun, angsty show. And I just found out that Kripke is a Buffy fan, which was delightful news (he talks about how much he loved Normal Again in one of the S2 commentaries).

Heroes is great, but you're the first person I've heard express any fondness for Simone. She's a beautiful woman, but not a popular character as far as I can tell. I liked her best in Homecoming, when she decided to believe in Peter and showed him the postcard version of Isaac's painting of Peter's death. I also felt for her when her dad died; the actress did an excellent job in that scene!

I can't quite see why people don't like her. She didn't believe in Isaac in the beginning, but he's also addicted to heroin, so that's understandable to me. She seemed like a smart, no-nonsense women who knew her own mind (sadly, I just saw the episode where she dies! So painful for Isaac and Peter).

Peter is my favourite by far.

Peter and Claire are just about tied for me. And I really love Mohinder, too.

And there's still time for Nathan to grow on you, but maybe he won't :D

Nathan was a bit better in a recent episode. It kinda sucks that the person he's an asshole to the most is his brother.

[ljs-lj.livejournal.com]

You know what I love about you? Your love for SV's Lois. Everywhere I look, there's Lois-hate (unfortunately, the majority of my flist is Chlark or Chlex-centric when it comes to SV), but every now and then you post a little something about Smallville and mention your Lois-love and that really brightens my day.

I think the only things from your list I'm *not* watching are Prison Break and Boston Legal - though SGA is delayed because we don't have cable. And Bones is one of my "fluffy", good-feel shows, too. I love the friendship of the "Squints" and the adorable Booth/Brennan UST.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

You know what I love about you? Your love for SV's Lois. Everywhere I look, there's Lois-hate (unfortunately, the majority of my flist is Chlark or Chlex-centric when it comes to SV), but every now and then you post a little something about Smallville and mention your Lois-love and that really brightens my day.

Yeah, there's a lot of hate for Lois out in the more vocal parts of fandom (it reminds me a bit of the Doctor Who Rose-hate -- hating the woman who sweeps in and completely flusters, challenges, and inspires the (alien) leading man, throwing him off-balance in a way that he's never felt before. Plus, Lois and Rose both get the 'dumb' and 'uneducated' insults thrown at them).

I think the only things from your list I'm *not* watching are Prison Break and Boston Legal - though SGA is delayed because we don't have cable. And Bones is one of my "fluffy", good-feel shows, too. I love the friendship of the "Squints" and the adorable Booth/Brennan UST.

Bones is such an adorable show. I loved the team-y vibe that's developed between Booth and Brennan's team. So cute!

[xander-harris.livejournal.com]

Mondays I usually watch How I Met Your Mother. Aly's so great in that show. From Buffy to comedy show. Its an ensemble so it really works. And Neil Patrick Harris as Barney? Uh...awesome. Never really got inot prision break.

But Bones, SN, Smallville...I"m all over it. They're just great shows. Well written and acted. I love Lois.

She's my current wallpaper...stripper scene. hehe. I am such a guy.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I've heard so many good things about How I Met Your Mother. Makes me wish my Mondays weren't already all booked up. I may have to check it out via an alternate source.

Lois really is a terrific (and attractive) character.