Daily Musing: Once Upon A Time - Some Thoughts on "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" and "Skin Deep"

Love love love Once Upon A Time - it's my charming not-so-guilty pleasure.  Tonight was another great twist-filled episode.  I flip-flopped the entire time at whether Sidney was playing Emma - thought for sure he was when Regina seemed genuine about not cutting Emma's brakes (guess Emma's "superpower" hit a snag there) - but then second-guessed myself again when he offered to be Emma's ally ... ugh silly genie ... Also, as much as I hate Regina (albeit of the love-to variety), that was a wicked long-con she pulled on eye-liner!Sidney deserving of some applause.  As for the MaryMargaret/David affair ... well, it still doesn't seem right to me (even though I am fully on the Snow/Charming bandwagon).  On the plus side, the show seems to agree and doesn't seem to be rationalizing their actions either, choosing to have MM rationalize instead but in a very obviously weak and terrible fashion (she didn't even seem to buy the words coming out of her mouth).  This gives me hope this infraction was planned with a meaningful resolution in mind.

Now for the rant ... the promo to next week's episode, "Skin Deep."  The good: Emelie de Ravin looks amazing as Belle (and this is coming from someone who had some doubts).  I've been a fan of hers since Roswell (probably one of the few who really enjoyed Tess, before the imo jump-the-shark character assassination number they did on her), so I'm really looking forward to her take on my all-time favorite Disney princess ... buuuutttt ... which brings me to the OH NO(!) ... how can I fully enjoy Beauty if the Beast is [GAH!] Rumple?!?  I really thought (hoped) all those rumors were a big smoke screen for something more original (by OUAT standards, since Rumple is involved in every fairy tale), but it's now looking like Belle will get dunged : (

I'm sorry, I like Rumple/Mr. Gold I really truly do - I even liked that he was behind every story (we're already seeing how his trade in one story connects to another, such as King George giving him the intel on the fairy godmother which allows Rumple to appear to Cinderella, which has lots of potential), that is, up until now ... because BELLE DESERVES BETTER!  Yes I do play favorites (let some other [generally prissy annoying] princess go with "prince" Rumple if he must have some romance - why does he get to have the best girl!?).  Unfair!

I promise to take everything I said above back if the promo turns out to be misleading and the Beast is someone else (pleeeaase let it be!).  Just in case my good memories of the best Disney-without-Pixar movie might be tainted, I think I'll go check out classic Beauty and the Beast in theaters tomorrow : )

Side note: my money is on "the Stranger" being a Grimm brother.  I am also sold on Henry's father being Nick (oops wrong show) the Stranger's brother aka the other Grimm.

Daily Musing: Does Network Goodwill Exist?

For this viewer - Yes!

I realized today that I have a major weak spot for ABC.  The goodwill I hold towards the network may have started with TGIF and the Wonderful World of Disney, been perpetuated by my love for Alias, and then snowballed as it changed the television landscape as we know it with Lost (as much as television landscapes can be changed in any case), and brought the juicy soapy entertainment that is Desperate Housewives, the charming Ugly Betty, and Dancing with the Stars, one of the few reality shows that doesn't make me want to pack my bag and move to another country.  I even give the alphabet the title of being the network whose soap operas I most watched (RIP All My Children and One Life to Live and good luck escaping that cancellation bear General Hospital).  

Ah, so many positive associations, so much so that it has even managed to weather my hissy-fits relatively unscathed when it comes to its many infractions - cancelling some of my favorites such as Pushing Daisies and Better Off Ted, letting Grey's Anatomy deteriorate into whatever it is today, giving up on (and if conspiracy theories are to be believed, purposely sabotaging) soap operas ... I could go on.  

Bottomline:  ABC somehow always wins me back.  No easy feat, as I am STILL bitter against FOX for cancelling Dark Angel (and in retrospect Fireflies, which I ironically did not watch when it first aired because I was boycotting for Dark Angel's cancellation) and perpetually annoyed at and judgmental of CBS for playing it safe and focusing on old-people shows procedurals and the fate of Jericho (I do love How I Met Your Mother and am liking 2 Broke Girls, but then Two and a Half Men sort of kills all that positivity ...).  I'm pretty blaise about NBC - the Friends and Frasier goodwill is running low these days, and while it hasn't really cancelled anything to make me cry bloody murder, it hasn't really offered anything worthy of such a reaction either - mostly the network seems to just let its more promising shows crumble to the point that cancellation would be seen more as a gift than a curse (see the epic fail of Heroes after its epic-ly brilliant first (and arguably even second) season; now that I think about it, same goes for the Apprentice, though that's likely more inevitable) - at least it's got the Olympics.  As for the CW ... I'm not sure I can even muster any feeling for this network, especially as I slowly age out as its target audience - basically, I'm done once they cancel Nikita (okay shh so I may still catch Hart of Dixie as a guilty pleasure if it sticks around, but that is IT!  I'm so behind on Supernatural anyway so will just stick to the DVDs).

Back to ABC - it's hitting it out of the park with me this season, with a monopoly over my Wednesdays and Sundays - Revenge and Once Upon a Time are two of my favorite new shows this season (the other being Person of Interest, but boring CBS will probably cancel that just to spite me).  Today, for example, marked the return of the network's Weds comedy block + Revenge, and I was not disappointed.  Suburgatory is really growing on me; Modern Family is at its quirky hilarious best; Happy Endings switched up the usual comedic pairings of the group of friends and teased a new potential couple (and it worked for me!); and to cap off the night, Revenge was even more intense than I had expected (and for a completely different reason!).

So, hats of to you ABC - keep up the good work and try not to prove me wrong.

P.S. looking forward to GCB (loove Kristin Chenoweth) and Don't Trust to B---- in Apartment 23 (if only to see Dawson again).

Terra Nova => FacePalm

As I noted in my thoughts on the Fall's new shows, this the biggest disappointment for me this season, mostly because it was one of the ones I thought had the most potential.  I cited Avatar in my prior post, but now that I've thought about it, a better description of TN would be Avatar without the fantastic special effects to hide the crappy plot, though that may be unfair to Avatar since it was at least consistent and cohesive ...

So what's wrong with Terra Nova?  My take:

The main problem is that the show does not know what it wants to be or where it wants to go.  For example, after sugar coating everything for most of the season, the final episodes try to be edgy by introducing a point-blank murder, explosions, a dinosaur wipe-out attack (finally), and a Lost-wannabe mystery that could change the playing field (I'm thinking Bermuda Triangle and discovery of some people akin to the Tailies).  Not that such efforts are not appreciated - they at least made the finale relatively (and only relatively) better than the rest of the season.  However, after all the excitement and darkness and the chilling new twist, the show suddenly reverts to its "family friendly" motto and ends the season with a whimper - in the form of an utterly anti-climatic meteor shower being witnessed by the Shannon family ... because that is SO much more poignant than, say, a funeral for Wash would have been (I'll take back this statement if it turns out Wash is actually alive and being kept as a bargaining chip by Lucas and the baddies - but I"m not holding my breath).

This lack of identity perhaps contributes to another major problem - weak characterization.  The characters come off so black and white - the heroes/Terra Novans/people on Taylor's and the Shannons' side are good, and the corporation and its minions are bad.  The writing is not very deft at conveying the motivations behind the characters (still not sure what the big deal is that caused Lucas to hate Taylor so much, because the reason given is pretty lame - this could've been a WAY more complicated and intense relationship than the show made it out to be), and the "good guys" become ultra-preachy when justifying their actions (except telling the audience what to believe almost never works out well - Elizabeth Shannon's speech about blowing up Hope's Plaza to ensure their second chance just seemed selfish to me - what about the rest of humanity!  Never mind the fact the Shannons violated the rules in the first place to get there!).  The good guys would actually be more relatable if we saw the struggle behind what should be a tough decision - focusing on just one side of the argument just makes the elephant in the room that much more obvious.

Speaking of the Shannons, I still don't understand what is so special about this family, and I don't find their "so long as we are together and have a future screw everyone else" attitude endearing at all.  Focusing the show on this family of self-righteous rule breakers was a big mistake in my opinion.  They each have a few redeeming qualities but are generally useless and pointless.  I actually like all the actors just fine too, but the characters are so bland and in some cases (*cough*Josh*cough*Zoe*cough*) a nuisance.

Finally, the characters are written out of character to suit the plot so often I wish I'd made it a drinking game when watching.  Case in point, I find it hard to buy that a genius like Lucas getting played by the Shannons and Skye the way he did in the finale or that the mercenaries could be so dumb - why would Jim Shannon not be locked up or at least watched 24/7???  I kept waiting for twists that never came - that Lucas was hitting on Skye to provoke Josh so Skye would lead the baddies to the rebel council (but no that'd mean all the good guys on the inside would be caught in one swift blow) or at least to expose Jim, and then failing that, that the baddies would use the transponder they found to set a trap for Taylor and his crew (but again that'd mean the good guys would lose).  I just didn't find the Terra Novan's triumph all that believable, given it was more a result of a plot device - i.e. the bad guys not thinking or being remotely prepared (like bringing their own medical staff and engineers).

I could go on and point out more loopholes, inconsistencies and nonsensical actions, but will instead just sum up by saying, if there is another season, the show has GOT to get some better writers!

Side note:  I did laugh out loud at the corporate guy's scream before he was snapped up by the Dino (but I'm oddly sad that he's gone - dino-killing aside, he contributed to some hilarious moments in the finale).

Side note 2:  Despite the creepiness, the tension between Lucas and Skye was inexplicably hot and entertaining.

Side note 3:  I really hope when the baddies left Terra Nova they had taken supplies and meds from the colonists.  Otherwise it'd be another unbelievable plot device.

Fall 2011 New Shows Roundup

First up, an overview of the Class of 2011 I checked out:

ABC

Charlie's Angels 

Status:  Cancelled.  As a huge fan of the cheesy but addictive original series and the girlpower infused movie remake (#1 only), plus two Transformers alums (Rachael Taylor and Ramon Rodriguez, who I actually liked in their respective movies) and Victor "Jack Bristow" Garber in the cast to boot, I was really hoping this one would stick.  Unfortunately, it started off quite weak and quickly sank into oblivion.  Still, while the show wasn't superb, I didn't think it was as bad as the critics made it out to be either - not appointment television by any means but fine blind entertainment.  It also seemed to be slowly finding its footing towards the end (or at least earned brownie points for guest spots by my favorite Lois Lane (Erica Durance) and the creeptastic Dr. Christian Shepard (John Terry)).  Alas, too little, too late.  Looks like I'll have to stick with Burn Notice for my fix of the Miami sun.

Once Upon a Time

Status: Full season pickup; 2nd season looking promising. Another show I really REALLY wanted to do well.  Not only am I a fan of some of the main cast (Ginnifer Goodwin from Big Love, Jennifer Morrison from How I Met Your Mother, and Josh Dallas from Thor) and a sucker for fairy tales, the show is created by a couple of Lost writers, and after a dull Lost-less season last year, especially when it comes to genre shows like these, I have decided to forgive them for that imperfect ending.

So far, OUAT has mostly lived up to the hype:

-  The first couple of episodes piqued my interest and imo set the groundwork well for the series.  I had seen all the major twists coming, but props for giving me the chills with the ending shot of the gravestone in episode 2.
-  The third episode completely sold it for me.  Loved the twist to the Snow White/Prince Charming story and loooved kick-ass SW (the original was such a wimpy bore, one of my least favorite Disney princesses).  Prince Charming also won me over and was indeed charming.  Bonus for the David Anders appearance (loved him as Sark on Alias - not even his Heroes character can wipe that goodwill away).
-  The fourth episode was a bit blah for my taste.  I found Cinderella to be really irresponsible, annoyingly naive and generally unlikeable - sounds mean and perhaps even evil, but she sort of deserved what was coming to her ... I was totally rooting for Rumple!  Oh, and her prince was essentially a wooden caricature so no sympathies there either.
-  The fifth episode bounced back though by setting the focus on Jiminy Cricket.  The show had twists, a big reveal (discovery of Snow White's coffin buried beneath Storybrook!), and more importantly, heart, and was very reminiscent of a Lost episode.
-  The last couple of episodes were some of the series' best to date, piling on twist after twist (enjoyable and believable ones at that) and culminating in a heartstopping (literally) cliffhanger, all the while taking care to add layers to and explain the motivations of the characters.
-  Lost Easter Eggs - love and appreciate the nuggets the show throws at us Lost fans.  Favorite to date:  Henry's Apollo Bar!

Bottomline, I'm intrigued where the show will go from here and more twisted retellings of other fairy tales.  I'm especially looking forward to the Belle episode, since she's my favorite Disney princess (followed by Rapunzel and Jasmine), but hopefully the story will do the character justice.  I'll definitely be back for more!

Pan Am

Status:  Eh, effectively cancelled?  I must really love ABC this season, since this is another show I hope would do well.  Unfortunately, despite the cool theme song and retro setting, I found it hard to invest in this show.  The characters are okay - though I only find Kate, Laura and Ted to be particularly likeable (I'm a fan of Christina Ricci, but her character's pretty over-the-top and inconsistent).  One episode - where the crew makes a detour to Haiti - stood out from the general mediocrity, but not in a good way.  The entire episode had me rolling my eyes and thinking "wtf", and the arrogance and self-righteousness of the stewardesses/pilots in this episode got tedious real fast - guess I identify with the passengers more - who wouldn't be upset at having to leave their luggage behind?  Not to mention the only person I liked in that episode ended up dead and left behind on the runway in a strife-ridden country ... and since the entire reason for the Haiti landing was to save his life, this just made the entire ordeal even more pointless.  Bottomline, after that senseless babble for which I wish I had my time back, I probably won't miss this show if it's gone.  For what it's worth, contrary to popular opinion, I do enjoy the spy storylines, though ironically they may perhaps be too realistic to be very exciting.

Revenge

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season looking promising.  Now this was a show that got me hooked from the start - when I saw a sneak preview of the premiere.  I love that the heroine, Emily (whose real name is Amanda), is not "good" per se, and I relish in her take downs of the rich and fabulous.  Emily also has an awkward but awesome genius side-kick by the name of Nolan Ross, who ties Monroe from Grimm (see below) for my favorite character of any new show this season.  Bonuses: seeing Kyle from Roswell on screen again and Thom from Nikita popping up in the Hamptons as a creepy Mr. Ripley.  Bottomline:  Looking forward to the show's return but hoping Emily doesn't lose her edge!  Also hoping that FakeAmanda/Real Emily raises havoc before she's ultimately downed - the girl's disturbed and has no moral compass, but I love it!

Suburgatory

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season looking promising.  A quirky, funny show that mocks suburbanites.  It's not appointment television yet, but it sure has grown on me.  Honorable mention to Cheryl Hines for making a loony plastic suburban housewife actually vulnerable and endearing.

CBS

2 Broke Girls

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season virtually assured.  Honestly didn't think I'd like this show as much as I do, but the cast and especially the main actresses have wonderful chemistry and the jokes are raunchy but work.  Caroline the down-on-her-luck-rich-girl-with-an-actual-brain-and-go-getter-attitude is so refreshingly funny.  Great time-slot pairing with HIMYM.

How to Be a Gentleman

Status:  Cancelled.  Once again, not appointment television, but I watched the episodes On Demand and was entertained while it lasted.  Cool seeing Johnny Drama after Entourage and Chloe from 24 in a comedic role.

Person of Interest



Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season TBD.  How could I not at least check out a show featuring Ben from Lost!?  Turns out, the writing is not to shabby, and the action is pretty bad-ass.  I love on-screen shootouts and moral ambiguities, and this show is dripping with them (for a network show).  Right up there with Once Upon a Time and Revenge as my favorite new shows this season.  Fingers crossed for a second season, especially now that the groundwork for some potentially intense serial arcs have been set.

FOX

New Girl

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season virtually assured.  Hands down the most awkward main character of any show this season, but it's fine for some fluffy lighthearted fun.  It helps that the show has toned down Jess' (Zooey Deschanel) more cringe-worthy quirks, and Schmidt, one of the roommates is a total hoot.  Writing's on the wall though that Jess will have a thing with her other roommate Nick sometime down the line, but at least they have good chem so I will forgive this cliched transgression when it inevitably happens (but let's hope it'll be well-written).  Bottomline:  not really appointment television in terms of quality, but I watch so many there's really no reason to leave this one off the schedule : )

Terra Nova

Status:  1st season complete; 2nd season TBD.  So much promised, so little delivered ...

I thought this show had SO much potential.  It could have capitalized on the Avatar craze (exotic new terrain, time travel, DINOSAURS and even having the main villain from Avatar in the cast to boot!) and remedied a serious lack of science fiction on network TV.  Instead, it somehow turned to this pseudo family-friendly (unless one would consider seeing a character get shot in the face or patricide family-friendly) blob overloaded with inconsistent writing and shallow, unrelatable characters.  Now that the first season is over and done with, I can honestly say this was the most disappointing new show for me - see my separate rant for details.  With better writing and a new direction though, I do believe this show can still be saved (quality-wise).

Bottomline: I can live with not seeing this show come back, but I'm worried what that means for shows in this genre getting a chance in the future.

NBC

Free Agents

Status:  Cancelled.  Caught the first couple of episodes and actually enjoyed it, but not really feeling the loss.  I suppose one could always check out the original for closure.

Grimm

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season TBD.  Though also based on characters from fairy tales, Grimm is otherwise not really comparable to Once Upon a Time.  It is much darker, based on the original Grimm creatures, and is underneath the gloss a police procedural that involves the supernatural characters, with a slight hint of an overarching storyline and "Big Bad".  Still, some great bromances brewing on this show, and the actors/characters are gelling well, especially Monroe the werewolf gone good and adorable, who plays the cello and really loves celebrating Christmas.  The last few episodes had also been more engaging than the earlier ones in the season - hope this trend continues.  Will keep watching.

The Playboy Club

Status:  Cancelled.  Wasn't bad, but wasn't great either.  The only character I liked was the ambitious Carol-Lynne, the bunny mother.  The writing certainly did no favors by having the main girl, Maureen, a new bunny, who is suppose to be smart and savvy despite her provincial background, make a series of stupid mistakes, such as leaving a bloodstained costume that could incriminate her in virtual plain sight.

Up All Night

Love love love Will Arnett and Christina Applegate ... could NOT get into this show at all.  I'm not a parent though, so perhaps that's why a show about keeping up with baby doesn't really strike a nerve.

THE CW

Ringer

Status:  1st season complete (I think); 2nd season TBD.  Sarah Michelle Geller plays twins in this drama-thriller with lots of twists.  I'm not sure I feel for any of the characters yet and was okay with missing an episode here and there, but it is interesting and original enough and plus features Richard Alpert in all his natural eyeliner glory.  Still, let's just say Nikita has all my loyalties if the cancellation bear has to kill one of these.

Hart of Dixie

Status:  Full season pickup; 2nd season TBD.  I was not planning on watching this show - the premise sounded a bit cliche and to be honest I'm still not sure whether I fully buy Rachel Bilson as a brainy doctor/surgeon.  But a recent trip to Charleston and Savannah infected me with a love for grits and Spanish moss, and I just had to check out any show with such a southern setting.  Surprisingly, I am really really enjoying this show, and I find all the character charming and/or sympathetic in their own way (especially Wade, who I initially didn't think I'd like at all).  It's just so darn cuuute!  As I noted for Ringer though, it'd be a bigger sacrifice with HoD, but if it means giving Nikita another season ... ah, the tough choices to be made in life : )

Happy New Year!

It goes without saying that my new year's resolutions include updating this blog more frequently ... way more frequently ... [Note to self: must not let work get in the way and sap all energy to update!]

More thoughts on the 2011 fall season to come ... finally after a couple of lackluster seasons following the writers strike, some exciting stuff this year (include a few new shows that're keeping my faith in network television alive - woot!).