My big, fat Geek TV post.

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Okay, so I never did get around to posting the 2nd part of my thoughts about the SPN season premiere. This is likely due to me having the same amount of time in my schedule that I usually have and the fact that I am following more TV shows at one time than is usual for me.

And the fact that, usually, I tend to post the flaily reaction bits on here and reply to others' way more coherent posts. 



So, Dean, Yeah. Last week I was all about you "coming into your own" despite your purgatory PTSD. Now, I'm like, "Oh noes". Of course, Dean has always had that particular ability to make and justify the hard decisions. And, I always understood his rationale even when I didn't always agree with it. I also felt that, even though he'd make the same decisions again if that opportunity presented itself, what he has done has affected him on some level. Purgatory Dean? I have to wonder. And, Sam! I was so awestruck by the whole reverse exorcism thing that I totally discounted what he did to poor possessed neighbor woman. Talk about your collateral damage! I get that there is no way that the boys can help being changed by all the crap that has gone down but the whole end justifies the means thing they've got going makes me sad.

Other things I liked: 

Kevin is a great addition. Sure, Sam and Dean were never at this level of newbie where the supernatural world is concerned but it does create a great contrast and highlights just how much Sam and Dean have changed. So, yeah, I felt bad for Dean when he read the note and Kevin is 4 kinds of stupid for ditching the Winchesters but, with what he has seen thus far, I can't say that I blamed him. They seem pretty unsympathetic and uncaring, even Sam to some extent. From his perspective, it must seem like he managed to stay under the radar pretty good until Sam and Dean showed up and it all went to hell.

Kevin Tran's Mom! I hope to see more of her. The whole tattoo sequence from the moment she makes the comment, "what, you think this is my first tattoo?" had me laughing my butt off!

As did them all trying to cobble together a bid and then the looks on their faces when the bidding starts in "Dwarven gold" Hee!

Sam and Thor's Hammer. SAM AND THOR'S HAMMER!!! Oh. my. gosh. Can he keep it? Please tell me he kept it?? Dean got to keep his Purgatory thingamabob.

Things that make me go, hum?

Castiel!!! What happened there. I gotta know, like, yesterday. I do love how the flashbacks are interwoven just to create the right amount of suspense, even if I want to know what happened during that last year so BADLY. It's breadcrumb storytelling at its finest.

I did feel that the episode had a disjointed quality to it with regard to the pacing but that may be because I am now having to watch with the dreaded commercial breaks, even if I can skip through them. Some of the scenes seemed a bit superfluous, like the one where Dean heads out to steal some dwarven gold. Seems like that would be a great opportunity for more bromo feelings or whatever. For the second time, I wondered why Crowley hasn't made much of an effort to kill Sam and Dean. He is such a fun bad guy in that he makes me laugh one minute and has me shaking my fist at the screen the next. Shaking my fist while exclaiming, "Crowley!" has joined my other repertoire of reactions. (The ones that have me clutching my chest while exclaiming, "Oh *insert character name here".)





Merlin has got off to a rocking good start. Of course, there are things that really bother me. I have to say, in the first few minutes of the first episode where decisions are being made and round tables are being displayed, I was feeling a bit of disgruntlement. First, I was like, "Is Merlin still even in this show". Isn't he supposed to be an adviser of sorts? Am I going to be completely satisfied with a "behind the scenes" trusty servant adviser forever?  I am a fair bit annoyed at the maintenance of the status quo as in, really, it's been three years and, really, NOTHING has changed for Merlin? Then I had to just let it go and I did enjoy the rest of the ep. But, my annoyance is not insignificant, either, and it is percolating. I think the banter in the first two episodes is as good as ever and I like that Merlin and Arthur do seem very comfortable in their relationship. But it is still a relationship whereby one person is holding onto a pretty devastating lie. And what's it been in Merlin time? Seven years? The longer it goes, the more I think that this relationship just could not withstand a reveal and so there won't ever be one. "Arthur's bane is himself". You got that right. He really is too noble and trusting for his own good. And it always, ALWAYS bites him in the ass in the end. This is the legend. Why do I keep getting blindsided by it?

And, Merlin. He Is all about Arthur, isn't he? It's not just that whole destiny thing, either. He's come to the point where he isn't even a character in his own right. As far as character and story development, it's pretty obvious that Merlin's character arc just CANNOT progress any further without the reveal. Of all the characters, he is the one that has changed the least. He is supposed to be Emrys but his use of magic and his very presence shouts anything, but. Is it too much to hope that they work on him this year? It's never about him, really. With a few scattered exceptions, most of them with Lancelot,  it's always about him in relation to someone else. The series loves to state his importance, usually via some other magical one off character, but it never really shows it. I would so love to see Merlin as a character of importance in his own right and not just his importance as it relates to someone else. Extra bonus points if we can have an Arthur perspective on Merlin's importance for a change.

Gwen! Is fantastic!! I love her in these first two episodes. This has been the best story development for her, oh, ever!

And Morgana was able to strike that balance between vulnerability and bat shit crazy. She has moved beyond the smirking, moustache twirling villain even if she is still completely OTT predictable.

But Mordred!?! MORDRED is going to be GREAT! His scenes with everyone are utterly fantastic. I really like him. I don't want to like him.  it's gonna break my heart. (Seriously, I don't even remember the movie or show the quote comes from but my mind was thinking, "Curse your sudden, but inevitable, betrayal!" If anyone knows, tell me cause it is gonna drive me crazy.)

As much as I adore the shirtless Knights, (who doesn't?) I felt there was a little too much of them as scene fillers. I thought the overall look of the series is great but I could do nothing but laugh every time I saw the Euchdag (or whatever it is called)  (as an aside, my brain keeps supplying the word "douchebag" every time I see this term for the creature) As I commented to someone else, my exact train of thought in the initial sequence and thereafter was, "WTH?!?" followed by laughter at "Coneheads in Merlin" followed by flashbacks to Stargate. Major fandom collision, here! As a result I had a hard time taking any scene with her? it? seriously.

Other thoughts:

And though it was a set-up for her? it? to talk to Merlin alone, I was all WTH again when they all just leave Merlin there, unconscious. Seriously? 

Poor Aithusa. Loved the Dragonspeak, as usual and, oh wait, was that some real, actual magic Merlin did? Wonder of wonders! I love how they constantly have all these opportunities for Arthur to happen upon Merlin using magic or being all dragonlordy but it never, ever happens. Where I used to hope that Arthur would see "something" (anything?!?) that made him question Merlin, now all it does is make me kind of pissy.

Revolution

Yes, I am going against type and am watching a "new" show that does not a) have an TV Boyfriend actor that I am following nor b) is  a spin off of a favorite show. This time, it is all about Kripke. Cause I'm hoping that Kripke will be the much needed temperance to the typical Abrams overly convoluted mythologies. Overall, I am liking it pretty well and think there is great potential. Still, one thing I dislike about stories that tell a post apocalyptic story is my fear of getting too close to any of the characters because they will likely be killed off at any time. But, ah, too late, Glenda!!  Because Maggie had already really sucked me in with her story and her iPhone full of her children's pics that she carried around even though it would not even turn on. When it powered up those few seconds and she saw them, I cried! To have more of her tragic story and then KILL HER OFF; have her ask for her phone as she is DYING is just plain mean. *shakes fist* "Kripke!!!" Of course, when Rachel told a very young Charlie to "not let go of her brother's hand" that was SO Dean and Sam. Again, I exclaimed, "Kripke!" but in a more, voila, I know that was you, there sort of way. It all just makes me want to now try and guess which elements I attribute to Kripke and which I attribute to Abrams. Of course, I realize that there are more folks involved but, still, it will be fun. I think Abrams has had more experience creating kick ass female main protagonists than Kripke so how Charlie works out remains to be seen. I like her but she's no where near Olivia Dunham level of awesomeness. Miles is beginning to suck me in. Hum, Could this be the beginning of a TV boyfriend that is somewhat more age appropriate?





Arrow

I don't have much to say to this except that I am intrigued enough to want to know more. What happened on the island to turn Oliver Queen into a superhero is one question? When's John Barrowman gonna show up?



And, in a not on TV note, I finally saw Avengers! Awesome!! Tony Stark, there is never any story that I will not love you based on your dialogue alone. Your superhero suit of awesomeness is just icing on the cake. And, I'm sorry, Thor. Sam Winchester would like his hammer back, please. No offense to the actor that plays Thor but now that I have seen Sam Winchester wield Mjolnir, I think the role should be recast with Jared Padalecki. Just sayin'

Whew, after all that I think I need to add something fun to top it off. And, whaddaya know, I first heard this song at D*C at the end of karaoke so, geek applicable.  de23 you may remember it. I have to say that this is the most fun use of clips from funny scenes, cons,  and the gag reels that I have ever seen. Not spoilery for those of you still in the first and second seasons of SPN.  Not a fan of SPN? You may still see the comedic value of it, especially if you are the vidding sort. Should I feel shame in admitting I downloaded the song to add to my exercise tunes? Probably.

Also, I can't explain the font of weirdness so please ignore if it shows up that way to you.