Not necessarily just the shows.

[gateslacker]

I escaped my strange, ongoing hermitude today in order to head to Clarksville to see Toy Story 3. It was good and I even shed a few tears during the film. Thankfully, the 3D glasses hid them well..LOL. I had invited a friend in my choir group to come with because I have observed how infrequently I make an actual effort to make new friends other than coworker friends.  She is my age and I do believe she is a genre girl, too, so that was a pleasant surprise. Afterwards, we perused the bookstore and I bought two Terry Pratchett books. People have been telling me for ages that I would like the Discworld books. However, are they to be read in order? There wasn't any definitive way to tell because when I looked at the inside covers of various books, I would see two different listing orders? Is it one of those things where it doesn't really matter? Anyway, I decided on Making Money and Mort. Not sure why other than Making Money was listed first on most of the inside covers and Mort just sounded interesting. Have I totally messed up with regard to chronology?

When I got home, I discovered in my mailbox the CD's and handbook for an NP review course. I have a very generous friend and fellow student because this set would have cost me $289 had I purchased it on my own. What a totally nice thing to do! She recently took her certification exam and passed and she tells me that this review course really helped her. So, for the next 6-8 months, my plan is to listen to them on the way to and from work and when school starts for Brandon (and the pool closes) I am going to set aside one or two days a week to head to the library and study. I had intended this to be my summer of study but have now revised it to my August of study because I am literally eat up with the lazy...LOL.

I am back into Burn Notice. Like Lost, my interest in this show waxes and wanes and it was one of those times where I had left last season's finale on my DVR forever and was able to watch finale and premiere episodes back to back. That works pretty well for me sometimes. It can be such an exciting show and I wonder why I let them pile up. Probably too much going on at the time.

Still Merlin obsessed and looking forward to being able to see The Last Dragonlord on 42 ince widescreen...LOL (Since I have only watched it on the computer a half dozen times). I haven't mentioned some of the great episodes over the past few weeks because, well, even though this is my own journal for chronicling the yawnfest that is my life and the very word journal should imply that I would write about these things whether anyone was interested or not,  it seems silly to post about something for which no one else has the least modicum of interest or will want to read. Yet, still I post. That's where obsession comes in, you see. And it is an obsession of Stargate SG-1 proportions even if I don't quite understand exactly why my fanzeal has reached that level.

I am enjoying the darker feel of the stories as the series progresses. Having to poison a friend to save Camelot is pretty intense, methinks. I certainly can't wait to see what happens when Morgana returns! Eeep! Some have questioned the speed at which the characters are (possibly) evolving into their legend selves, especially with regard to the Arthur/Guinevere relationship. But, in my opinion, if you only put out 13 eps a season and you have plotted a potential five year run, it stands to reason that there cannot be Battlestar Galactica pacing with regard to story and character. (And don't you love it when you are so genre that you start using shows as descriptors and fully expect people to know what you are talking about? Come on, in hindsight only soap operas are paced more slowly than BSG was with regard to overall story arc/character) I have been reading a few wee spoilers. I don't want too many but I can't help myself, really. (You know how I am) I do know that the Crystal Cave will be explored in series 3 and am excited to see what that portends for Merlin, especially after his reaction to the Crystal of Neahtid which I suspect is related to the Crystal Cave. We will be seeing a return of Freya/Lady of the Lake again so I am looking forward to that. Even though The Lady of the Lake was rather weak plot wise, it was high in character/angst factor. I am pretty sure it is the episode where I decided that Colin Morgan is a fantastic actor (and one of those actors that you just enjoy watching when on screen.) Heck, I think I can even pinpoint that scene on the lake with the dying Freya as the exact moment I decided this about him. I tear up everytime he tries to cast that spell to set her watery pyre aflame and falters. Anyway, I hope this means Excalibur is going to be seeing some action soon.

And, of course, I have to post the facebook recap of The Fires of Idirsholas.

Favorite bit of the recap

Gaius: You didn't have a choice, Merlin. You saw how dark her eyeliner was getting. Once she moved from charcoal to black onyx, it was only a matter of time before she axe-murdered us all.

Heeeee!

BTW, de23  I have Netflixed season one of Leverage.

Comments

[dm-lunsford.livejournal.com]

Burn Notice has been pretty good this season. I have mixed feelings about the "addition" of the new guy - I fear this is going to come back to bite Michael in the butt in a big way. As his mom has warned him it will. Oh wow - that was a good scene. I love the way he just stared after her as she walked away.

Hey, why don't I have a Burn Notice icon?

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

I think the situation with the new guy is going to bite Michael in the butt, too, but I agree with Fi in that I like him. I really like the way he rattles Sam.

However, I keep getting the niggling feeling that Jesse already knows that it was Michael who burned him. The idea is probably way off base (and I am still two episodes behind).

I need some new icons, too! There are several shows not represented in my iconage.

I always love those scenes between Michael and his mom.

[dm-lunsford.livejournal.com]

I keep getting the niggling feeling that Jesse already knows that it was Michael who burned him.

Oooh, now there's an interesting idea. Wouldn't mind seeing how something like that could play out.

And I agree, Jesse has added an interesting dynamic to the team. I love how he and Fi play off each other. And even though he rubs Michael the wrong way at times, it's fun to see Michael having to keep on his toes. ;)

Did a quick icon! You're welcome to use.

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

Nice icon!

Jesse as an unknown factor has them feeling unsettled and that is great fun to watch.

[soniag.livejournal.com]

I finally caught up with MERLIN this past weekend and thought of you the whole time. I wanted to have someone to talke about it with! I just love the Arthur/Guinevere stuff, as well as the dark turn things are taking. They are starting to incorporate some of the stuff from legend, but in a highly unorthodox way. (Which is fine -- it makes things fresh -- and yet I wish, wish, wish that Mordred had been born of incest like in the legends. Perhaps that's just too squicky for a quasi-kid's show?)

I did fast-forward through some of the shows -- like that one where Uther wants to marry a troll, and I confess, the Lady of the Lake ep. I might go back and watch the latter at some point, but I was deteremined to zoom through. Don't know how I'm going to watch the finale -- maybe it will be on Hulu at some point? We leave for England today and it's totally throwing a wrench in my TV viewing!

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

The Arthur/Guinevere was one of my favorite storylines until Morgana finally started to get going. The actress is so striking, it really adds to her character's mystique.

And Sonia, watch the troll one. I didn't think I'd like it, but it's a really funny episode.

I'm glad it's moving at this pace. I want to get to the meat of it and I thought it was actually moving a little slowly if they were ever going to get there.

[scarym1.livejournal.com]

I am getting interested in Merlin. It just sucks that I am so far behind. I am up to the third ep of Season One. The one where Guinevere is almost executed for being a witch and everything thinks Merlin is in love with her.

Burn Notice is not airing up here as far as I know so I haven't kept up with it. I had to dl the MS eps last year.

I keep hearing good things about Leverage. Another show that isn't being aired here,as far as I know. Sometimes it sucks being Canadian. ; )

I think I am eat up with Lazy too, especially at work. Sometimes I think I am secretly part of an experiment to see if one can actually die of boredom. ; )

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

You know, it really does put a damper on international discussion when shows air so differently. And they wonder why people download so often. Even if you are behind, as obsessed as I am I will likely be able to discuss it anytime.

I watched the first three eps of Leverage last night and it was good. Also, it has a Stargate connection with Dean Devlin directing so many eps. (It all comes back to Stargate;-) So far, my favorite character is Hardison because he always makes me laugh! I thought The Wedding Job was brilliant!

Sometimes I think I am secretly part of an experiment to see if one can actually die of boredom. ; )

ROFL!!

[scarym1.livejournal.com]

This morning I had kind of funny, embarrassing fangirl moment.

I am at work and during my morning break I am checking out LJ. The first thing I see is that my friend DL has posted the most lovely pics of MS. I let out an OMG!. My co-worker is just across the room heard me and asked what. It was then I realized I said it out loud. LOL!!!

I would love to share them but she specifically asked that they not be shared with anyone outside of her Friend's list.

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

LOL..I have done that before but more often when I am reading something funny. I can't access LJ at work (you know because we are all a bunch of small children who'd likely let someone die because we were reading our LJ). But, I can access it on my iPhone at lunch or break.

I actually did the same thing reading those Merlin FB parodies.

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the next ep in the series one line-up is The Poisoned Chalice. It's one of my favorite series one eps probs because it hits all my friendship, hurt/comfort buttons.

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see where they go with Morgana, though I hope she is a more conflicted villain than we have seen thus far. I mean, I understand why so many have a vendetta against Uther but they all seem to not worry about destroying everyone else in the process of trying to get to him.

I think the pacing during the second series was just right. I also thought the troll episode was pretty funny but wondered at its being a two-parter. With only 13 eps, you'd think they would have gone with something a little more epic and more pertinent to the overall story arc for that.

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

Yays!!! I think the Arthur/Guinevere stuff is really heating up and I am looking forward to seeing where that goes. And I don't feel it just came out of no where. There are some really great Arthur/Guinevere moments in the finale. (Am I being too spoilery by even saying that?)

They are starting to incorporate some of the stuff from legend, but in a highly unorthodox way

It has been fun to see what their spin is going to be which is why it is fun to speculate about certain spoilers. At first I wasn't too keen on their take on Mordred because the whole Arthur's son/incest thing is a BIG DEAL in the legends, I think. (And rife with dramatic implications!) But, that Asa Butterfield kid is pretty creepy and he has the whole I-can-kill-you-with-my-evil-eyes thing down and I can buy into him as a villain, now. I agree that it is probably the quasi kid show squick factor.

I did fast-forward through some of the shows -- like that one where Uther wants to marry a troll, and I confess, the Lady of the Lake ep

The troll episode isn't one that I want to watch over and over as I prefer the more dramatic/darker eps with occasional comedic elements moreso than straight up comedy but I have to admit the actress playing the troll really made me laugh. Like I said, the Lady of the Lake is pretty weak, plotwise, and it was hard to buy into the love story out of thin air (even if Merlin was very awwwww sweet) until that scene by the lake. Based on that scene alone, I looked at the ep in a whole new way upon rewatch.

Oh, have fun in England. I eagerly await your picspam. I am so hoping that I can see some of these sights for myself next year!

[de23.livejournal.com]

I just saw this post. Glad to hear you are enjoying Leverage! The Wedding Job is a good one. It has one of my fav Hardison lines: "The cake-maker of Kiev could whup all our asses!" And Nate's wedding homily! I could go on and on. I can't wait to get home now and catch up on tv.

Have you read the Pratchett books yet? I have a spreadsheet with the timelines at home that I'll send you. Yes, there are so many books and so many different characters that overlap timelines that it requires a spreadsheet to keep track of. I wouldn't say you have to read them in order, although it would be a little less confusing.

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

A spreadsheet, you say! I never could figure out what the order was and am reading Making Money (when I can tear myself away from fanfic.)

I have seen all of season one of Leverage. It is a great show! Thus far, I do think my favorite character is Hardison because he just makes me laugh. There are many examples of course, just none that stick in my brain at the moment. Well, that bit where Eliot is flirting with the nurse trying to visit Nate in "rehab" and Hardison pretends to be his gay love interest had me ROLLING on the floor, it was so funny. And that bit where he and Parker are pretending to be FBI agents in The Bank Job! Hee!! Plus, the little thing he has going/not going with Parker is so cute.

He also has the best lines, I just can't think of any at the moment. Between this show and Big Bang Theory, I should really keep a pen and paper handy to keep track of my favorite lines!

[de23.livejournal.com]

"Age of the Geek, baby!" :-)