TV Show Reviews

Doctor Who Series Nine Episodes One – Four – BBC Saturday 9 EST

Doctor Who Series Nine Episodes One – Four – BBC Saturday 9 EST

Network:

BBC

Starring:

Peter Capaldi

Jenna Coleman

Thoughts:

I’ve watched Doctor Who since 2008 when I discovered it on Netflix and proceeded to watch the first four series over and over again. I loved David Tennant and introduced so many friends and family to the show because of that love. When Matt Smith showed up I was wary but ended up adoring him and the Ponds.

Around series seven things started to change and the show didn’t make me as excited. Even the Ponds weren’t doing it for me anymore. I still cried when they left, but it was almost because I was expected to. I continued to watch the show but I stopped watching it live, I stopped watching it on Saturdays, I pretty much had to force myself to do it.

The fiftieth anniversary special felt like a return to what I loved and I was excited again, but then it was back to more of the same. The Doctor changed and I hoped that we would get things back to what I loved, but nope.

It would be easy to blame Clara, Jenna Coleman, but I really don’t think it’s her fault. I also don’t think I’ve somehow changed fundamentally in the TV I like. I’ve decided to put the blame on Moffat, which is crazy because he’s given me some amazing episodes, but I can’t think of any other culprits.

I’d love to point to what changed but I loved Doctor Who so much that my brain basically melted any time I tried to come up with why. Now that I don’t like it I can’t really point to a reason.

It still has the cheesy Sci-Fi, the Doctor still saves the day, but something has changed. The risks don’t seem as high and Clara doesn’t seem as human as the other companions, but I’m not sure why. Missy, Michelle Gomez, is fine and I enjoyed Pink, Samuel Anderson, but they aren’t enough to make my old love return.

I watch every week with a hope that things will get back to what I loved, but each week it gets more difficult. I intended these weekly posts to be about my favorite episodes of the week, but I couldn’t ignore what’s going on with Doctor Who and I wanted to know if I was the only one that feltthe same. I know that the people I introduced to Doctor Who feel the same, but maybe they do because I do?

What does everyone else think?

 

Arrow Season Four Episode One – Green Arrow – CW Wednesday @ 8 EST

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Arrow Season Four Episode One – Green Arrow – CW Wednesday @ 8 EST

Life has been a bit hectic in my house so I apologize for missing a post, it probably won’t be the last because I’m very behind on a lot of things. Life, man.

Anyway, Arrow was probably not the best episode of television I’ve watched this week, but it was certainly the one I had the most comments on. I’ll start off with what I disliked and then try and end on a positive.

Did not like Diggle’s new costume, the helmet looked very cumbersome and like it would be more of a hindrance then a help in a fight situation. Also didn’t like any of the Felicity/Oliver scenes, which makes me sad. I’ve loved Felicity since the beginning, but I really don’t think she should have gotten together with Oliver, they just don’t work as a couple. It’s too domestic, maybe when he’s older, way older, but not now. I can only see one satisfying way out for the character, though, and I don’t like it.

Pros. I liked Thea. She’s clearly enjoying her new violent lifestyle and I think it might be interesting to see how far she’ll go before realizing she has a problem. It is a CW show so they had to throw in the big brother talk and her brushing him off like a silly teenager, but since the Felicity/Oliver bits were worse it was easy to overlook.

I also noticed that Oliver and Diggle seem to be a lot more buff then they were, especially Diggle. It’s obvious what they were doing this summer.

I also liked the addition of mysticism in the Arrow/Flash universe. It’s in DC comics so I’m glad to see it enter the TV shows.

The surprise at the end I totally didn’t see and then the very ending could end up being so many people that I’m only sixty percent sure I know who it is.

Ultimately I’m looking forward to the new season but this episode didn’t blow me away.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 3 Episode 1 – ABC Tuesday @ 8 EST

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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 3 Episode 1 – ABC Tuesday @ 8 EST

I was prepared to write a blog post about how I was unimpressed with Fall TV so far. Everything I’ve watched has been pretty meh, which I’m really sad about, however this episode of S.H.I.E.L.D. brought my hype back up for this show.

I’ve kept S.H.I.E.L.D. on the roster because I really love the Marvel universe, but I’ve never been a huge fan of the show. It’s had moments I’ve really liked, but not much that I really loved and I can’t think of anything that’s blown me away. This episode made me excited for the season to come, though.

Maybe it’s all the other underwhelming TV I’ve watched or maybe it’s because this episode seemed more than just filler for upcoming movies, whatever the case I hope it continues and I’m really looking forward to next week’s episode.

Shows I’ve Already Dropped:

Moonbeam City – Comedy Central – It’s a futuristic 80s Archer. None of that’s bad, however I felt like it was too much Archer and if I wanted that I’d watch it. I didn’t even finish the first episode.

The Muppets – ABC – First episode was eh, second episode didn’t even make me smile, don’t feel like watching anymore.

Heroes Reborn – NBC- See previous post

Shows that are on the edge:

Gotham – Fox- Never been a huge fan of prequels but for some reason I watched the last season and it was alright. I’m not as lenient this season, though, so they’ll need to find a way to keep me.

Minority Report- Fox- This is petty of me and I genuinely feel bad for people that are working on this show, but I’m glad the ratings aren’t good. I really miss my Almost Human.

 

Heroes Reborn Mini-Series (2015)

Heroes: Reborn - Season 1

Heroes Reborn Mini-Series (2015)

Network:

NBC

Starring:

Jack Coleman

Gatlin Green

Ryan Guzman

Robbie Kay

Zachary Levi

Plot:

A year ago, a terrorist attack in Odessa, Texas left the city decimated. Blamed for the tragic event, those with extraordinary abilities are in hiding or on the run from those with nefarious motives.

Review:

I think I would have preferred an outright reboot to a mini-series that picks up two seasons after I dropped the original show. Since I did stop watching around the beginning of the third season I’m not sure if things would have been clearer if I was up to date. I honestly planned on watching the first four seasons before this aired, but never got around to it.

With all the other superhero shows that I’m already watching Heroes Reborn was going to have to be pretty awesome for me to pick it up. Sadly it was more of the whole save the girl, save the world business. Maybe I didn’t like it because I wasn’t up to date, but I don’t think so.

The two hour season premiere asked a ton of questions, I think they were expecting me to already be invested in the world and want the answers, sadly I do not. There was also the horrible “video game” story line that was going on that turned me off as well. That part was set in Tokyo, why the hell didn’t they make it look like anime?

Whatever, if there’d been some new characters I was interested in I might have stuck around, but nobody really grabbed me. For a moment I thought maybe I’d watch it for Zachary Levi but I hated the character of his wife, she was just so guns blazing stupid. I will say I read a theory online that those two aren’t really married and based on the premiere I think that’s probably true.

I’m actually sad that I’m dropping this show, but I see no reason to stick around. This Fall season has been really rough, even my returning shows aren’t blowing me away. Maybe I’ve finally met my TV limit.

2/5

 

Limitless (2015-?)

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Limitless (2015-?)

Network:

CBS

Starring:

Jake McDorman

Jennifer Carpenter

Hill Harper

Plot:

A man gains the ability to use the full extent of his brain’s capabilities. A television adaptation of the 2011 film, ‘Limitless’.

Review:

I haven’t seen the movie this is a spinoff of, so the appearance of Bradley Coopers character didn’t mean more than, “Oh that’s nice it’s Bradley Cooper.” From what I’ve read he might make a few more appearances, we’ll see.

Anyway, this is the first pilot I’ve seen this season that I actually liked. I’m hoping that they do more than just make this some kind of procedural show, though they probably won’t, but I think there’s some potential.

I like the casting. I enjoyed McDorman in last season’s failed Manhattan Love Story, so it’s nice to see him getting work. He’s funny but not the point where this is a comedy, just enough to lighten it up in places. I saw the first two seasons of Dexter back in the day so I recognize Carpenter but she isn’t locked in my brain as someone who drops the f-bomb all the time. I even like Harper from his CSI New York days.

It will interesting to see what happens to this show. If it becomes just another crime solving drama or if it becomes something more.

4/5