Serial watcher

Yaay! Something not related to wrestling!


Just as well, because I'm more and more feeling out of my depth talking about it, since I hardly follow the product anymore. A bit like Kim Kardashian trying to explain recent developments in quantum physics, to put it into an analogy.

I'm a media whore, truthfully. Every tv show that has an interesting premise will have a go. Thank you, "certain websites" for allowing me to keep up. 

So, what do I watch? I love science fiction and comedy, or sci-fi with a flavour of comedy. Though I've started late on both, I've seen every episode of How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory. Both shows have known an incredible lull, but managed to pick up again later on. (Thankfully!)

I love the ending for HIMYM, which I won't spoil for those who haven't discovered the series yet. (Where the fuck have you been?). It's an unpopular opinion, considering the premise of the show pushed the plot in an opposite direction, but it was so wonderfully ballsy, that I can't help but admire it.

BBT on the other hand was a show I somewhat related to. I'm not as bright as these characters are, and I'm not into comic books and video games that much, but in terms of being an antisocial outcast, it rang especially true. While the original premise of the show has sort of faded away, it's still fun to watch in a mindless fashion. A bit like pro wrestling in that regard, with the exception that BBT still entertains.

As stated above, I do like science fiction. You won't catch me at conventions, dressed like a character from some obscure tv show, because frankly, that's just weird. If you're into that, more power to you, but seriously ...

A popular show amongst cosplayers is Doctor Who. Naturally, a slightly tacky show that's been around for 50 years from 1963-1989 and again from 2005 to the present day. I won't get into the specifics, except that there's an alien that looks human, travels in a 1950's British police box throughout space and time. The role has been played (canonically) by 13 actors since its inception and is probably now as popular as it's ever been. 
Series 8 of the current run will debut in August, so that gives you time to watch each episode from 2005's pilot "Rose" onward before it begins, with Peter Capaldi playing the titular character. Go on, DO EET!

Another show I really like, or should say "liked" was Warehouse 13. A Syfy original series about a bunch of secret service agents collecting items with a historical meaning that have gained extroardinary properties. I'll go more in depth on the final season at the end of this entry. It had a bit of a lull midway through, but ended on a high note. I'm immensely sad it has ended now. The potential was, as ever, limitless.

Mondays have been particularly fruitful this past season, since besides WH13, there was also Being Human, Castle, The Tomorrow People, Agents of SHIELD and HIMYM.

Being Human got canned too, which was strangely enough for the best. They had been slowly running out of story ideas (at least in my mind) and it ended perfectly. Imagine though, a vampire, werewolf and a ghost living together in a house, trying to lead a normal life and evidently failing. It was surprisingly heavy. 
Not to mention it is a remake of a BBC series, and did the unthinkable. It outclasses the original in every way. 

The Tomorrow People lasted all of one season before getting shitcanned. Truthfully, I watched it for Mark Pellegrino, who is totally awesome in every role he has ever played. He also played the chief vampire in Being Human, so I knew how awesome he was. Even though the Tomorrow People was entertaining, it left a lot to be desired. No surprise it got canned. 

Castle is something else. While not every season has been as enjoyable, it's still a good show. Starring Nathan Fillion in the title role (who can seriously do no wrong in my eyes) as a good natured writer trying to make a partnership work with a hardass female cop who becomes the inspiration for the lead character in his book series. The result of that partnership is a given, but it hasn't really descended into the mushy shtick you'd come to expect. Season 6 is now over, and it has been renewed for a seventh season so yay!

Also, if you like Nathan Fillion, watch him in Firefly, seriously. It's Joss Whedon's best work and even though it has only lasted a season and a feature film, its cult status is entirely justified. 

Speaking of Joss Whedon, he also created Marvel's Agents of SHIELD alongside a handful of people. Having been a Marvel fanboy since the mid-90's, I was very pleased. I stuck with it, even though it became hard early on. Though, after it picked up some steam in the latter half, it became incessantly awesome.
On top of that, some episodes tie in with the Marvel movies like Thor 2 and Cap 2. If you plan on watching it later on, stick with it throughout those first couple of episodes. Just keep THIS in mind.

Tuesdays are also NCIS days. I don't care for the LA version, but the original is still pretty damn fantastic. Eleven seasons and counting, still entertaining. It's a show that glorifies war, and gives Republicans boners like no other, but looking past that, it's simply a good show. 

A series I've recently started watched is one co-produced by BBC and Starz network. After the highly successful (though critically panned) Torchwood: Miracle Day, they put their shoulders under a fictionalized version of Leonardo Da Vinci in Da Vinci's demons. The second season ended literally a couple of days ago, but I'm liking it. I'm still only midway through the second season, trying to spread it out a bit to make the wait for season 3 (slated for 2015) a little easier. 

It's glorified, filled to the brim with anachronisms and otherwise historical inaccuracies (artistic liberties for the win!) but it's gloriously well acted and also tits. Seriously, the first minute into the pilot, there are tits. Now, as a big fan of tits, that's a good indication.

And it doesn't stop there! The male nudity in almost equal measure is something you'll have to endure along the way. Highly recommended so far!

Another one of those series is Black Sails. Who dun like pirates n' shit? I've seen the pilot, but I'll leave it for a little later, though. 

Breaking Bad. Of course it's great. I've managed to get through the first season, but it's heavy stuff, so I'll get to the rest gradually.

Now, Warehouse 13. The final season. Honestly, I'm glad we even got those six episodes, but it feels like a cop out. The show has always been great, except for the aforementioned lull, but since production costs are exorbitantly high, it's tricky to keep it on the air. Either way, we got 4 and a half seasons out of it, and the cast got to say goodbye in a fine manner. 

Of course, having the incomparable Anthony Head kick off your final season as the villain is a great way to start for any show. Managing to write back Mark Sheppard(!!!) into the fold is even better. The characters that needed some more closure ended up getting it, so it was a good way to go. 

The Renaissance fair episode though ... if you have six episodes, don't do fillers. Though possibly the next episode, the infamous "Telenovela" episode, was even worse. But since that episode is half in Spanish and quite camp, it was mindless fun. Also, props for referencing Harvey Korman.

The ending to the show was actually pretty perfect. That's all I will say. I'll probably end up rewatching the entire run after I'm done with Da Vinci's Demons.

Also, very excited for the return of Heroes in 2015. Even though it's a miniseries, it's with a new cast, so that means there won't be any Hayden Panettiere stinking up the place. She was always a weak link in the original run (and of course she and the guy that played her dad were the only ones that have been in every fucking episode).

Anyways, if there are tv show suggestions, feel free to give them (and Sons of Anarchy is on my list, Tom :p)


~D.