Tag Archives: tv

MCM 7: Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl gets a mention because it’s probably the worst thing I’ve watched on Netflix ever. (Unless the iSteve ‘documentary’ was on there in which case that was – but I didn’t finish that so it doesn’t really count).

However, I’m pretty far into it now, and I must say, no matter my low opinion I really want Blair and Chuck to end up together. They are definitely the most interesting part of the show.

I think in real life girls like Serena aren’t well liked but I don’t know if that’s because of their bad luck, or the way media encourages female animosity, or because they make the same mistakes over and over without learning and that wears on even the most patient friends and lovers. Maybe girls like her don’t really exist anyways.

P.S. I cheated and checked who gossip girl was like 6 episodes in and now I notice all the places it lines up and doesn’t and that’s probably the second best part of watching after antagonizing over Blair/Chuck.

P.S.S. I think what makes this show bad is that pretty much all the characters are unlikeable, often on a lot of levels.

MCM 5: Downton Abbey

I probably wouldn’t have watched this show if not for my parents. However, we were looking for something none of us had seen that had good reviews to watch over Christmas and this turned out to be it. I’ve spent several of the episodes organizing my computer and playing iPhone games but I enjoy the show none the less. It is sort of sad and weighty seeing the highlights (more often sad than not) of lives going by so quickly in a time that is not that distant and yet almost entirely unrecognizable from our own. Similar to the feeling I got walking around one of these grand old houses on a school trip one time. However, the characters are complex and interesting, and I enjoy their imperfections. Even those characters who you love to hate have redeeming qualities, whether wit, or patience or honour.

I probably like Anna best, though I am also, of course, taken with any handsome young gentleman that get screen time.

And I must admit Mary has grown on me throughout it all. (Then again so has Granny so maybe that doesn’t mean much).

MCM 2: Californication

This is one of the raunchier shows I’ve watched and I liked it enough to watch all the seasons on Netflix but not enough to watch on any further.

Despite all the crazy stuff that goes down and how many times everyone effs up their own lives and relationships I can’t help but feel that the love between the main characters is true. And despite the questionable character of the main characters, so to speak, they forgive each other over and over again. They forgive more than average, even healthy relationships can often withstand. And I don’t think it’s due to a lack of self worth or caring either, it really is motivated by love. That was probably my favourite thing about the show, seeing people misstep in idiotic, sometimes self destructive, ways and then that they loved one another enough to forgive and move forward.

Also Becca is pretty kick ass. So is Mia when she’s not being psychotic.

Strong (and weak) and complex female characters? Yes please.

MCM 1: Life Unexpected

This is one of the shows I tore through in mere days. It’s one of my favorites as far as on-a-whim Netflix shows. The last season became a bit grating but in general I liked the way everyone tried so hard, regardless of failing or struggling or messing things up. I don’t want to include any spoilers but I will just say I was very disjointed not to see a certain person who’s name starts with E in the end of the season finale.

The count of student/teacher relationships starts at 1.

Media Consumption Musings

I’ve had an unusual mix of media consumption as of late. I’ve been watching a lot of tv shows I had lukewarm feelings towards on Netflix while doing schoolwork. However, I liked some much more than others. In addition I have been doing quite a bit of reading over the holidays. So I’ve decided to write up some feelings on a bunch of these and queue them up. I’ll be tagging them with ‘Media Consumption Musings’ if you’d like to follow along.

Life Unexpected

Two days ago I fell in love with this show and since then I’ve watched it all and now I miss it.

I read some fan fiction even.

The characters, at least most of them, seemed so good, crappy things happened to them but they really tried hard, and they really cared about each other. I really liked that.

Sometimes if I read a book or watch a movie I feel so invested, immersed, that its hard to stop thinking about once it’s over. Maybe some people felt that with Harry Potter, or their favourite book, but I feel it a lot when I read or watch. I think I am a deeply empathetic person and it’s easy to get sucked up into other peoples (fictional) lives. It can be really overwhelming sometimes because it kind of of makes all the awful things that happen in the world feel unbearable whenever you’re reminded of them. Something that I’ve found deeply helpful, is this video about dealing about sexual injustice. I haven’t done the activity yet, but I might in the future.

Anyways I got a bit off topic. It can feel good and bad to be sucked deeply into a story but it kind of feels sucky right now cause I have homework to go do and there isn’t any more of the story and that makes me feel a bit sad. I really wanted a happy ending for Lux and Eric.

Anyways, if anyone wants to talk about this show I’d be down.

Link

Why Strong Female Characters Are Bad for Women

An awesome article on the difference between ‘strong female’ characters and ‘strong characters’, female that I found while searching for reviews of HBO’s GIRLS to validate my new found love for it (only 4 episodes left, sob).

The idea that its okay to have only one type of female character so long as they are ‘strong’ should be obviously ridiculous if you take about two minutes to think about it. What we want are girls who are weak and strong and messed up and funny and vindictive and cruel and kind and loving and clever and dull and impassioned and bored and independent and needy. We want all types of girls in our stories, and we want them to be up front and center some of the time, and supporting characters and villains and heroes and best friends. Most of all we want girls who are lots of things, who are complex and unique and likeable and inconsiderate and selfish and charming and weak. All of it.

Changing the flat characterization of women as half the species isn’t really progress, and if you think it is, you probably haven’t thought about it much.

Anyways, its a great article, check it out.