The promo imagery offers a fair portrayal of the show.
Primarily, I blame my sister. I think she stumbled upon PLL during a Tuscan heat wave. Streaming American TV offered her an activity that required minimal sweating during a period of under-employment. I remember her telling me about it jokingly, at first, but by the end of the first season, her recommendation was, "You should seriously watch this." So I did. The best description I have for PLL is that it's like an ABC Family cross between Gossip Girl and Bones. The plot surrounds four teenaged girls (Gossip Girl) who are trying to solve the murder of their best friend/ring leader Alli while also being tormented by "A" who is possibly the murderer (Bones). It's super soapy with just enough of a driving mystery to keep me hooked in between the relationship drama, other blackmail fodder subplots, and the insane wardrobe. The main characters (in order of my preference) are: Hanna, the "fashionista" former fat kid who has great one liners and an adorable boyfriend; Spencer, the Type-A overachiever; Emily (played by one of the most beautiful humans ever to live), the star swimmer, lesbian, and 'vulnerable one'; and, Aria, whose obnoxious name pretty much says it all. Whatever A, or any of the other nefarious characters of Rosewood, PA, might put them through, and whatever might pit them against one another in the short term, the PLLs are bound by a friend love that keeps them together and keeps them answering one another's "SOS" texts. Season 3 was all over the place with plots involving insane asylums, secret societies, AMNESIA, illegitimate children, and of course, murder. The season ended with both Toby and Spencer double-agenting for A, the girls trapping Mona, but "Red Coat" trying to maybe kill them all, but saving them, with several of them hallucinating(?) that it was Alli. Overall, PLL is a ridiculous, and ridiculously entertaining, show. Some might call it a guilty pleasure, but I'm not even really that guilty about it.
It must be something about Emmy nominations season, because it was three years ago to the week that I wrote my first post here. I just had fun looking back at what I was watching three years ago during that 6 months or so of posting and seeing what was happening on those shows at that time.
Well, I still watch TV, and I still have plenty of thoughts about the shows that I watch, so I'll give it another go! Summer shows that I am currently watching include The Killing, True Blood (still), and I am about to dive into Pretty Little Liars season 4. I'll address that show later. Shows' returns that I look forward to this fall: Parks & Rec, The Mindy Project, SCANDAL, Downton, Girls
Current shows that I am saving for a rainy day: Breaking Bad, Homeland, Veep Crazy good Netflix shows that I look forward to the next season of, whenever they are: House of Cards, Sherlock Three years ago, I was watching most shows on Hulu on my old laptop and some shows on an actual (crappy) TV hooked up to actual channels. I now watch all shows via a newer laptop through various online sources, and now I can also hook up my computer to my new (to me) nice TV, so the quality is a bit better!
I have finally caught up on Community, and it did not disappoint. I think that what I'll refer to as the "blanket fort" episode was intended to be referred to as the "conspiracy theory" episode -- but for me, Abed and Troy will always steal the show. Annie did provide a good Bond girl/sidekick to Jeff, and the gun-pulling at the end was really funny. I'm glad, though, that their romantic plot wasn't significantly advanced, because she's only 19, and that's gross.
Troy's birthday episode was so great. The jokes around his 'expulsion', the relatability of the challenge of picking an acceptable bar for a group, and the added layer to Shirley's character were all very effective and very entertaining. The bottle episode was also great. The puppy parade concept was hilarious, and I, unlike Abed, love bottle episodes for the exact reasons that he hates them. There were no major love developments, but the possibility that Shirley is pregnant is crazy!
And finally, the claymation episode. It truly lived up to my expectations for it, which is high praise! The 'short, sad Christmas song' was incredible, as were Abed's claymation interpretations of the group. Even though the core of the episode was really sad, it was wildly entertaining, particularly John Oliver's character. I think I'll need to watch it again to truly appreciate it, and to catch anything that I may have missed.
Can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store!
So, it doesn't look like it's a realistic goal for me to write a reaction to every episode of TV I watch. I am woefully behind on "my shows" as it is, and technological difficulties often force me to watch several shows in succession when I'm at my parents' house for the holidays, where there's a computer or On Demand that can stream or play the shows that aren't available on Hulu plus. I haven't even seen all of Community! I can't believe that it's not on Hulu plus -- it's the reason I ponied up the $9.99 in the first place! ... It's now $7.99/month, in case you were wondering.
Anyway, to start 2011, I'll just sum up some of my favorite TV episodes of the fall, with the disclaimer that I'm not caught up.
In no particular order:
- The Brittany/Britney episode of Glee. Brittany is a hilarious character and Heather Morris is an INCREDIBLE dancer -- and I will always have a special place in my heart for Britney. John Stamos, too. And since that episode is no longer available on Hulu, here's a close runner up for favorite Glee moment of the season:
I'm just mad that I didn't think of that mash up idea first.
- Bones and Lie to Me having good episodes, finally. I had just about given up on both of these shows. I lump them together because they're basically the same: crime-ish procedurals with just enough of a season-long character/plot arc to keep me interested week to week. But with Bones and Booth separated by Booth's annoying journalist girlfriend and no serial killer, and with Lightman interested in the dirty cop/the blonde lady who gave him money and very little face-reading being done, I didn't feel motivated to watch. I don't watch Bones because I'm dying to find out how the body ended up inside the giant chocolate bar (seriously?!) -- I watch it for the Bones/Booth tension, and a little bit for Angela and Hodgins. I feel a little bit differently about Lie to Me because the crime-solving is actually really interesting to me, when they get into the science of it (the facial expressions, etc.). But I also watch for the Lightman/Foster and Torres/Loker tension.
Anyway, to me, both shows had lost focus on the things that drew me to them, respectively. I was about to write them off (of my Hulu queue), but I gave them each one last chance one night while I was baking up a storm for a few cookie swaps. I was pleasantly surprised by the Bones episode "The Doctor in the Photo" and Lie to Me "Veronica." In "Veronica," Lightman's daughter, and somehow therefore Foster, play prominent roles. I think that Lightman's interactions with his daughter are much more interesting than watching him use his one move on his possible love interest of the week: talking up close in her face. Also, Loker and Torres get to interact for what feels like the first time since their one night stand before Loker's promotion killed whatever romance they had brewing. I feel like I could fill a whole blog with "weak plot devices that kill couples." Like when Joey breaks up with Dawson to draw. I digress.
"The Doctor in the Photo" was a doozey. Bones loses it! And confesses her love to Booth! Who rejects her! Emily Deschanel was great in this episode. And that helicopter pilot broke my heart. Lastly, I love Enrico Colantoni and welcome his presence in any show. It was a mini Veronica Mars reunion between Enrico and Francis Capra! (Someday, I will write a retroactive Veronica Mars post -- likely in conjunction with Party Down -- stay tuned!)
So whether it was November sweeps or just the producers and writers finally figuring out that they had lost their way, Bones and Lie to Me have effectively re-hooked me, easy target though I may be.
- The Office Christmas episode. I still have to rewatch it because it didn't have my full attention the first time, but Holly's return, the Jim/Pam gift exchange, and most importantly, the Jim/Dwight prank-off of the century had me cringing, clutching my hands to my heart, and belly laughing in all the right proportions.
- The season-long Serena Vanderwoodsen takedown on Gossip Girl. I already forget the schemer's name -- but her teaming up with Vanessa and Jenny was evil gossip genius. I wasn't even that mad about Blair and Chuck's getting back together only to break up again because I was too distracted that Serena was in mandatory rehab and Lily had gone over to the dark side! On a related note, I seriously heard the "Lincoln Hawk" song from Season 1 0r 2 in a coffee shop the other day. Luckily, I was with a friend who could corroborate that it was, in fact, a Gossip Girl original song. I wonder if the baristas threw it in the mix just to see if anyone noticed -- because I doubt that that song is in any kind of legitimate circulation.
- SNL: Paul Rudd and Jon Hamm as hosts, Stefan, Arcade Fire, the Miley Cyrus Show, Jay Pharoah's impressions.
- NOT THE MAD MEN FINALE. That proposal had the record-skip noise going off in my brain for days. Although, the scene with Peggy and Joan talking about it was almost worth it. I'll be very interested (as usual) to see what happens next season.
- So I still haven't seen the claymation Christmas episode of Community, but I'm willing to bet that it would make this list, if I had. The trampoline episode was pretty good. Donald Glover is so damn funny.
- The Barefoot Contessa and Scrubs: the TV I watch the most consistently is Ina Garten in the breakroom at work on my lunch break and old episodes of Scrubs at the gym. Ina inspired me to make chocolate truffles this Christmas, and sometimes I laugh out loud on the treadmill at Scrubs, even when I'm reading closed captions.
Things to look forward to in 2011: - Parks and Rec - the conclusion of Steve Carrell's tenure on The Office -- Michael and Holly riding off into the sunset - someday catching up on Community - Gwenyth Paltrow's return to Glee - Portlandia:
I CANNOT WAIT for the Portland, Maine response to this show.
Fall's arrival may mean that True Blood is over, but it also means that network television is back with new seasons. Here's what I'll most likely be watching. (Click here for the unabridged fall television TV Guide listings.)
Shows that I may feel compelled to write about:
- Mad Men, obviously. There are still 4 more episodes in the season!
- Gossip Girl. Yes, I realize that I'm not 14. But a small part of my soul always will be. This show is wildly entertaining, soapy as hell, very funny, and the fashion is incredible. So whatever, judge me all you want. I love this show. I probably won't write much about it, though, because the Vulture recap says it all, and then some. Highly recommended reading.
- Glee. Another one for the 14 year old girl category. Overproduced a cappella renditions of classic and modern pop songs? Not one, but two will they? won't they?'s? Jane Lynch? Yes, please. I think the second half of last season dragged a little, but they did do an entire Gaga episode.
- Modern Family. I watched this at the recommendation of a friend about halfway through the season last year and was immediately hooked. This show is insanely funny.
- The NBC Thursday night comedy block: Community - 30 Rock - The Office - Outsourced. See my previous post about Community -- I think it's one of the best shows on television right now, along with 30 Rock. And my expectations are high for Steve Carrell's last season of The Office, which is definitely one of my all time favorites. I'm sure I'll watch Outsourced, too, because why not? I haven't heard anything about it one way or the other yet. And I'm looking forward to Parks & Rec when it's back on in January. Amy Poehler and Will Arnett just need to stop popping out children.
- SNL. The cast is shaping up this season and Jon Hamm is already slated to host again! I'm the kind of SNL fan who likes the show even when everyone else thinks it's bad.
Other shows that won't need recapping:
- House. I love Hugh Laurie, bottom line. This will be an interesting season with House and Cuddy together.
- Bones. I can't help it.
- Stewart & Colbert occasionally, though I rarely watch them anymore since they left Hulu last year.
New shows that I'll check out on a rainy day:
- The Event. I need a new Lost, and so does America.
- The new Will Arnett show on Fox. I have a bad feeling about this already.
Now, the question remains whether I'll physically be able to watch this much TV-- my old 4 day/week work schedule left my Friday mornings generally pretty open for catching up on the Thursday night shows, in particular. There's also the new season of Weeds, but those episodes are so short and so addicting that I usually cruise through an entire season in less than 24 hours when it's all over.
All I can say is that this was an incredible hour of television. I don't think that an episode of Mad Men has ever been so moving, or so well acted. Not only was the episode smart, heartfelt, and visually beautiful, but it was the Don and Peggy episode that the viewer (me) has been waiting for for four seasons.
We know that Don and Peggy are kindred spirits, whether they (he) acknowledge it or not, but we finally see, for an entire hour, the culmination of all of the secrets that they've kept for one another in the small and huge gesture of Don briefly holding Peggy's hand. It was such a tender movement, but the look on his face was deadly serious. Somehow Don and Peggy have finally reached common ground -- during Don's steepest downward trajectory and Peggy's highest upswing.
I think that the thing that makes this episode most effective is the tension building between where Peggy wants to be and where she feels obligated to be. It's such a relatable feeling -- being exactly where you want to be, but being pulled elsewhere by other forces. Or knowing that what you want isn't what you're "supposed to" want. As always with Mad Men, though, the beauty is really in what goes unsaid -- except when Peggy says, "that's not true."
