Things that I'm quite enjoying at the moment...

[butterfly]

1. Torchwood. I've seen some negative responses to it, both on my flist and in various other places online, but I've gotten to a place where that's not making me doubt my own reaction to the show, which has been overwhelmingly positive. I love the characters, I love the dynamics, I love where they seem to be going.

2. Lois Lane on Smallville. In fact, the two episodes without Lois have been my least favorite this year. I don't know if that's actually attributable to Lois or if it's just because Fallout (weak guest acting) and Static (bad A&B plot mixing) weren't as good as the other episodes, but I do know that I'm loving every moment that she's onscreen and she's very close to being my favorite Lois Lane ever. She's everything that Lois should be -- she kicks ass, talks a hard game, and has a tough attitude with a soft underbelly that she tries so hard to hide. And, on a similar note, Oliver Queen is a terrific character. I'm really enjoying him.

3. Rewatching Season 2/28 of Doctor Who on Sci-fi. I adore Rose Tyler, even more in S2 than in S1 (which makes me something of a rarity, as I understand). I love her storylines in both seasons, but her chemistry with the tenth Doctor is a bit more powerful and playful than her chemistry with the ninth and I just flat-out adore Rose with her Doctor (I do see Ten as her Doctor, more so than Nine -- Nine was the shell-shocked war survivor, who was clinging as much as he was loving). Plus, I *heart* the kicky shorter hair. Love her S2 haircut.

4. Boston Legal. This show is on so much crack, but it's amazingly high-quality. Great acting, wonderfully funny but with a strong heart. It has three really great female characters right now, one of them being played by Candice Bergen</td> (Murphy Brown). It has James Spader as Alan Shore, the best lawyer ever! And William Shatner! Who has both funny and touching storylines. Wonderful, wonderful show.

5. Eureka, which is making me regret not watching it air live. It's a really great show, with tons of smart and capable characters. There's an interesting father&daughter relationship, great character dynamics, a lot of diversity. All-around goodness, really. I've seen up to Right as Raynes, which... made me cry at the end... just a little. I'm just really loving the show.

Comments

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

I've gotten to a place where that's not making me doubt my own reaction to the show

Bless. I'm not doubting it either (well, except when I get really depressed at oh dark thirty), I'm just tired of seeing it. :-) I love both the characters and where they're going with them. It's all good. Although Captain Jack could get a little more (on-screen) loving for my taste. ;-)

And, on a similar note, Oliver Queen is a terrific character. I'm really enjoying him.

I love, love, love Ollie. I hope we get to keep him. I haven't any idea of how long he's supposed to be on the show, but I keep seeing people talk about he won't be around for the whole season. I don't know whether that's supposition, or actual fact, though. I'm also enjoying both Lois and Lana more than I ever have, which I never would've expected. I'm really looking forward to tonight.

I adore Rose Tyler, even more in S2 than in S1 (which makes me something of a rarity, as I understand).

There are small pockets of Series 2 Rose fans, never fear. We do seem to be somewhat of an endangered species, though. And although I had some issues with her in the first few episodes, I think that was just her getting used to the new Doctor, as we all were. By the time the Series ended, I loved her more than ever.

her chemistry with the tenth Doctor is a bit more powerful and playful than her chemistry with the ninth and I just flat-out adore Rose with her Doctor (I do see Ten as her Doctor, more so than Nine -- Nine was the shell-shocked war survivor, who was clinging as much as he was loving)

I love how different people's POVs are on this. So many people see a distinct lack of chemistry between Ten and Rose, and think it's much better with Nine. *shrug* Ah, well.

It's a really great show, with tons of smart and capable characters.

I truly came to love this show, and the characters, by the end. I think I said to you earlier that I originally was watching it just to have something to watch, and never expected to actually look forward to it every week. Now I really want to know when they'll be airing more episodes.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Bless. I'm not doubting it either (well, except when I get really depressed at oh dark thirty), I'm just tired of seeing it. :-) I love both the characters and where they're going with them. It's all good. Although Captain Jack could get a little more (on-screen) loving for my taste. ;-)

I've just convinced myself that Captain Jack has been spending too much time pining away over the Doctor and Rose and that he'll get back into the swing of things any time now (the stopwatch scene thinks that maybe that happened at the end of the episode and that we'll get more later on -- he was much more breezy and outspoken about his past sexual exploits in the last episode).

I can definitely understand being tired of the negativity. I've gotten to the point where I only read the posts of people that I know enjoy the show.

Even with that, there were comments that I read about the most recent episode that were not only incredibly negative but that also didn't make much sense. Like people not getting why Suzie assumed that Gwen was her replacement. Gosh, maybe it's because Gwen is the only new person on the team since Suzie died. Also, Gwen was in the room while Jack questioned Suzie, which would make her jump to the 'second-in-command' substitution, plus Gwen woke her up with the glove. What more evidence does Suzie really need?

I'm also enjoying both Lois and Lana more than I ever have, which I never would've expected.

Lana has really surprised me this year. I wasn't expecting to enjoy her character arc so much.

There are small pockets of Series 2 Rose fans, never fear. We do seem to be somewhat of an endangered species, though. And although I had some issues with her in the first few episodes, I think that was just her getting used to the new Doctor, as we all were. By the time the Series ended, I loved her more than ever.

Right, they had some oddness in the beginning, when they hadn't yet figured out what things between them had changed and what hadn't. But by the end of the season, I just adored them, and especially Rose, so very much (which makes me so nervous about next season -- I trust RTD to create characters that I love, I mean, just look at Rose, but will the actress be able to make Martha as endearing and unique as Rose was? I hope so.).

I love how different people's POVs are on this. So many people see a distinct lack of chemistry between Ten and Rose, and think it's much better with Nine. *shrug* Ah, well.

It's rather fascinating, I agree.

I truly came to love this show, and the characters, by the end. I think I said to you earlier that I originally was watching it just to have something to watch, and never expected to actually look forward to it every week. Now I really want to know when they'll be airing more episodes.

They are definitely airing more of Eureka, right? I'm sure that I read that there would be more.

[beck-liz.livejournal.com]

Replying in reverse, here:

They are definitely airing more of Eureka, right? I'm sure that I read that there would be more.

Yes! I just have no idea when. I thought it'd be in January, but I just double-checked myself and according to the Sci-Fi Channel's schedule, all the episodes in January are Season 1 repeats. *shrug* So I don't know when the new episodes are airing. But so far as I know, it did get the green light for Season 2, and it should happen sometime in 2007. I'm just hoping it's not next Fall, or something.

(which makes me so nervous about next season -- I trust RTD to create characters that I love, I mean, just look at Rose, but will the actress be able to make Martha as endearing and unique as Rose was? I hope so.).

I am very nervous about next season, as well. I'm there for the characters, and of course I love the Doctor, but the other character I loved is gone. Hopefully Martha is awesome, but I also don't want to go into it with my expectations too high, so I'm not disappointed, you know? *sigh*

I can definitely understand being tired of the negativity. I've gotten to the point where I only read the posts of people that I know enjoy the show.

Well, yes, except that's what I was doing when I had my little negativity freakout the other morning. ;-) I suppose nobody's completely 100% safe.

I've just convinced myself that Captain Jack has been spending too much time pining away over the Doctor and Rose and that he'll get back into the swing of things any time now (the stopwatch scene thinks that maybe that happened at the end of the episode and that we'll get more later on -- he was much more breezy and outspoken about his past sexual exploits in the last episode).

I'm thinking that must be it. I hope we get to see much more of this. I definitely think he's still in love with the Doctor & Rose, but seriously. It's just not right for Captain Jack not to be getting some. Although you do realize that some people are still claiming the stopwatch scene was ambiguous, and nothing sexual occurred after it. *eyeroll* Honestly.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Hopefully Martha is awesome, but I also don't want to go into it with my expectations too high, so I'm not disappointed, you know?

Indeed. I don't want to convince myself that she'll be spectacular and I'll love her because... well, I did that with Reinette and I ended up hating that episode with a fiery passion (makes no sense in the context of the season arc. none.).

[amalthia]

i'm loving Torchwood and I really loved Rose in season 2 of Doctor Who. I was surprised to find out that some people didn't like her in season 2. (I think there were a few weak episodes in season 2...but season 1 had a few weaker episodes too) I felt like Rose's interactions with the 10th doctor were a little different than the 9th's. but that makes sense because he kind of changed.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Right. I found Rose lovely and likable in both seasons (though a bit prettier in S2 -- I really loved the shorter hair), and her chemistry with both Doctors believeable and interesting.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I adore Rose Tyler, even more in S2 than in S1 (which makes me something of a rarity, as I understand). I love her storylines in both seasons, but her chemistry with the tenth Doctor is a bit more powerful and playful than her chemistry with the ninth

Oooh yeah! I totally see their chemistry as way closer with Ten than with Nine. Not sure I have a favorite between S1 and S2 when it comes to just Rose. Really liked both as a natural arc to her character.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Oooh yeah! I totally see their chemistry as way closer with Ten than with Nine. Not sure I have a favorite between S1 and S2 when it comes to just Rose. Really liked both as a natural arc to her character.

I think it's because Ten trusts Rose's feelings for him more than Nine did. He doesn't feel the need to emotionally manipulate her to stay with him (like Nine did at the end of World War Three) because he knows that she wants to. He doesn't feel the need to question just how much she cares about him, because she made that very, very clear in The Parting of the Ways. So they have a more relaxed relationship, more of a partnership. More RST, less UST.

I do love Rose's personal arc in both seasons. I agree with you that it feels very natural.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Oh, a very big Wordy McWord to it all.

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

I need to see Torchwood. Why won't Sci-Fi or BBC America buy the episodes? *sulks*

I love both Nine and Ten, and love seeing Rose with both of them, though the dynamic is different, of course. But then, I'm one of those people who can't pick a favorite companion, or a favorite Doctor. If you asked me, "Who is the best Doctor?" I'd say, "Yes. Who IS the best Doctor. Every single incarnation of Who."

Because seriously, how can you choose? They're all different aspects of the same person.

For the same reason, I can't choose between the Doctor's Companions. From Susan Foreman to Rose Tyler, they've all been something special. And I assume that Martha Jones will be too.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Well, as regards to Torchwood, I'm fully willing to send people copies of the episodes, considering the long wait they may have. But I was thinking of waiting until the whole season had aired before offering. I think that all the episodes would fit on one disc. Unless it's all-but-one. Hmm.

Because seriously, how can you choose? They're all different aspects of the same person.

Indeed. I completely agree!

For the same reason, I can't choose between the Doctor's Companions. From Susan Foreman to Rose Tyler, they've all been something special. And I assume that Martha Jones will be too.

I do have a lot of hope, when it comes to Martha. She's being created by RTD, who was the guy who wrote up Rose. And I like RTD's female characters, in general.

[honorh.livejournal.com]

I'm loving S2 take-charge Rose. I really, really don't get where the complaints are coming from. I think she's grown as a person, her relationship with the Doctor has grown, and Billie has grown as an actress. As of last week, I'm up to The Satan Pit, in which I think she was terrifically kick-ass.

As for her relationships with Nine and Ten, I can't make up my mind which I like more. I loved Nine's character arc, going from raw, wounded soldier to peace, having saved the person he loves most. The reason I saw their relationship as being more inherently romantic than Rose and Ten's is because of the longing and the little edge of tension. Rose helped Nine heal, and that resulted in his regeneration into the more happy-go-lucky Ten.

OTOH, Rose and Ten have such a lovely and deep friendship--they're so perfectly comfortable with each other. I don't think that he's more *her* Doctor, necessarily; if anything, I think Nine more roundly belonged to her. Rose and Ten are more a fusion of equals, and rather than the emotional balance of their relationship resting mostly on Rose, it's something they share.

Anyway, I love the girl, and I'll be sad to see her go. But then, I was also sad to see Nine go, and I adore Ten now, so I'm sure I'll adjust to the new companion.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I'm loving S2 take-charge Rose. I really, really don't get where the complaints are coming from. I think she's grown as a person, her relationship with the Doctor has grown, and Billie has grown as an actress. As of last week, I'm up to The Satan Pit, in which I think she was terrifically kick-ass.

Rose is just lovely in S2. I definitely agree with you that she's grown in just about every way. Billie's just been doing an amazing job with her.

For me, the difference between Nine/Rose and Ten/Rose is that Nine and Rose had a lot more unresolved sexual tension. Ten and Rose seem more... resolved, one way or the other. They're clearly amazingly good friends, but they aren't clinging to each other, the way Nine clung to Rose in the aftermath of the war.

Anyway, I love the girl, and I'll be sad to see her go. But then, I was also sad to see Nine go, and I adore Ten now, so I'm sure I'll adjust to the new companion.

I do have quite a lot of hope. I just hope that Moffat isn't the one who introduces her! I wasn't pleased at all with The Girl in the Fireplace and his two-parter is when I least liked Jack (visually and thematically, his episodes are wonderful, but I really dislike how he intros new characters).

[radioreverie.livejournal.com]

Episodes without Lois really just tend to drag. She's one of the only characters on the show that reacts to things with a certain spark and energy, and when she's not there they all seem to be sleepwalking.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

She does give things a new life. It's not a coincidence that the three worst episodes of the season are the ones that didn't have Lois in them. Having ED there seems to revitalize everything, from writing and plotting to acting.

[embitca.livejournal.com]

I love Torchwood as well and have been scratching my head over the negative reactions to it. I love Captain Jack and just how dark he is and how dark they are willing to go with his characterization. In fact, I think I love Torchwood even more than Doctor Who.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yes! I love the darkness of Jack in Torchwood. I'm not sure that I could say one way or the other which show I like better, but TW seems to be to be, in some ways, all about the absence of a Doctor.

There's no nine-hundred year old non-human who knows what's going on (and even when the Doctor didn't know what was going on, he still acted like he did) -- instead there's Jack, who is older and somewhat bitter and not the same type of human as the others, but he doesn't have the Doctor's certainty. TW lacks the decisiveness of Doctor Who, the intense feverent knowledge that is embodied in the Doctor and his space-time machine. It's about what humans do, try to do, without having a Doctor to tell them to get over themselves. It's fascinating.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yay! Lois love! yay!

Also, I really appreciate your thoughts on Rose and the Tenth Doctor. I wholeheartedly agree. I preferred her in Season 2, and I see Ten as her Doctor.

Fandom is weird.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Lois is completely made of win. I've loved Lois Lane from way back, you know, and ED's Lois has all of the things that I've always adored Lois for -- spirit and defiance and wit and resilience.

Also, I really appreciate your thoughts on Rose and the Tenth Doctor. I wholeheartedly agree. I preferred her in Season 2, and I see Ten as her Doctor.

They're so comfortable and happy with each other in S2. It's such a lovely outgrowth of Rose coming back for him and him sacrificing himself for her in Parting of the Ways. This is what they're like after they have the knowledge that they would do anything in their power to save the other.

It's lovely.

Fandom is weird.

So true. So very true.

[greenet.livejournal.com]

5. I might possibly maybe have cried a little too. Maybe.

1. I love Torchwood. Okay, sometimes it makes me wince, but that's mainly camera work/cutting, really. The acting and the storylines, I love. Also, Ianto/Jack, baby! *shallow*

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Hah! They do have some odd shots and weird pacing sometimes. The acting is definitely gold.

[sperrywink]

I love Torchwood and never got all the negative reactions also. What's not to love about the characters and dynamics. Since I didn't understand why everyone was so down on the show, I finally stopped reading other people's comments because I just didn't want to see it.

I was happy when you started posting positive stuff about it and there was someone who was seeing the great show I was seeing.
:)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I love Torchwood and never got all the negative reactions also. What's not to love about the characters and dynamics. Since I didn't understand why everyone was so down on the show, I finally stopped reading other people's comments because I just didn't want to see it.

I've gotten to that point, too. I'm busy enjoying the show and don't feel the need to bring myself down.

I was happy when you started posting positive stuff about it and there was someone who was seeing the great show I was seeing.

Yay! I'm glad to help.

[coneyislandbaby]

People are stupid.

I couldn't pick between Nine/Rose and Ten/Rose if you held a gun to my head. Though I think Jack goes better with Nine/Rose personally ;)

And Torchwood is amazing. On the strength of one episode I love everyone - except Suzie, she gave me the creeps. But I liked her giving me the creeps so.

And hey, if I worked at Torchwood, I'd be Ianto.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

People are stupid.

Sadly, I'm afraid that I must concur. People make no sense sometimes.

I couldn't pick between Nine/Rose and Ten/Rose if you held a gun to my head. Though I think Jack goes better with Nine/Rose personally ;)

Ooh, yes! Agreed on the Jack. Though I'm curious as whether or not he'd spark with Ten. But he definitely worked so well with Nine and Rose. Perfect threesome.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

1. I love Torchwood and I freely admit it.

4. Boston Legal is the only show that would get away with having a character say something like, "don't you think if there were new characters they would have been in the first episode of the season."

Flamingos!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Boston Legal is the only show that would get away with having a character say something like, "don't you think if there were new characters they would have been in the first episode of the season."

So true! That's just why I love the show so much. They do things that you can't imagine any other show doing.