Image Credit: FringeBloggers
Hope you all had great weekends!
Today's Question of the day comes from Martin who asks.
"What one thing about your Favourite TV Show can't you stand?
For me this is easy for current TV Shows. It's the whole "Love Triangle" with Peter, Oliva and Alternate Olivia from Fringe. Each week I find myself fast forwarding these scenes more and more as I'm so tired of it all. It's slowly turning a great Sci-Fi show into a soap opera. I know that there is a whole huge fandom of these 2 but enough already. I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way and I'm sure it's hurting the ratings.
Anyway,enough of me venting. What about you. What part of your favourite show(s) can't you stand anymore?
Sound off in the comments.
You can see previous Questions of the Day here.
FRINGE - I love this show so hard. What bothers me is how the writers don't address how far apart Boston and Massive Dynamic headquarters in NYC are from each other. The trip would take at least 4 hours by train, driving or bus. The go back and forth A LOT and I doubt they have a private jet at their disposal.
ReplyDeleteTHIS! I swear I think about this every single time! It bothers me!
ReplyDeleteI love Fringe and everything it chooses to be, but it just saddens me that whenever we get to see a new episode -- we all need to worry about the ratings (well, at least I do). It's such a good show, and I have faith in the writers, I'm pretty they'll blow our minds with the whole love triangle story line but I just can't stand the fact that this show is not getting the love and credit it deserves.
ReplyDeleteFringe - How everything is about Olivia Dunham. I mean there are other characters, you know? Remember that interview way back when they compared how they write it to whack-a-mole, how one character comes forward, then it's another character's turn?
ReplyDeleteWhatever game of whack-a-mole these guys are playing, it's broken and stuck on Olivia. The Peter Walter relationship? Walter owning Massive Dynamic? The lies told to Peter last season? Big Eddie? Tessa? Jones? Weiss? No, they don't matter because they mean Olivia doesn't get to emote in front of a camera for an extended period of time.
One other thing - the fact season 3 of Fringe hasn't been Fringe at all. It has been a soap opera.
Supernatural - I really can't stand the last minute of each episode where I must prepare myself for the fact that I'll be forced to wait seven whole days before I can watch the next one...! :p
ReplyDeleteSeriously,the only thing I can come up with are the constant resurrections,but it doesn't bother me THAT much..It depends on the character,I guess.There are some characters that I can live without seeing again and some -Gabriel- that I want to see alive again!
Also,a little more Cas wouldn't kill me.. : )
"What one thing about your Favourite TV Show can't you stand?"
ReplyDeleteStories without character studies and romance and adventure. I don't like when we get some romance and adventure some of the fans of said show whine "soap opera" when they don't even know what a soap opera is. I don't like when fans dismiss something outright without watching the story unfold. They got no love in their hearts and no sense of adventure with no willingness to have an open mind and enjoy the show. I do hate when the writers listen to those kinda fans. I don't like fighting for the ratings because it's a brilliant show and there are small things I would do differently, but overall it is an excellent show.
Well, the thing I can't stand about Fringe (not the show itself) is how people act like Olivia is so superior that if another character makes a mistake or does something bad, they criticize him for it or penalize him for it. I'm talking about Peter here. The fans treat him like crap because of their love for Olivia. I actually like Peter and Olivia and they both have their hang ups and flaws.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming you are talking about Fringe? Actually I agree, it seems people want to see a bunch of robots who have no personality, no personal life, no love, etc then they go off whining about they "don't care about the characters".
ReplyDeleteI totally agree!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Hardly anyone said a thing last season when Olivia kept where was from from him, yet Peter puts milk in Olivia's coffee and he's a monster -_-
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that I can't bear about V (my fav tv show) is Tyler! The most boring, annoying character of all tv.
ReplyDeleteI hate it when the writers of Chuck insert a stupid B-storyline using the Buy Morons and it takes just enough time to make the primary story feel rushed. They've done it less this year than in the past, but its still annoying.
ReplyDeleteExactly, people keep making excuses for her cause to them, Olivia is the supreme human being who has no flaws, doesn't make mistakes, etc but heaven forbid Peter makes stupid mistakes.
ReplyDeleteSupernatural - the way every female character must meet a horrible end - especially if they have had sex with Sam :) but, may I say, worth the risk
ReplyDeleteSmallville. I really hate how slow on the uptake Clark is a lot of the time and how someone needs to hold his hand all the time when he has to make a personal revelation or big decision.
ReplyDeleteV: some of the dialogues, with better writing V could be one hell of a show, I love it completely, but I know my favourite show has a lot of flaws...
ReplyDeleteand Tyler, of course =P
The Mentalist - I love the show, but there's too much focus on Jane. The other characters (especially Cho and VanPelt) are underused and put on the sidelines most of the times. It bugs me because they're great characters played by fantastic actors, but they are usually being mistreated.
ReplyDeletewhat do you expect from a show called "the Mentalist?" Its like whining about how a show called Buffy the Vampire Slayers focuses too much on Buffy.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Fringe has turned into a soap opera like people have suggested and I think the love triangle is important, as the bowling guy, who's name I can't remember at the moment, suggested.
ReplyDeleteHouse has been my favourite show for years, but I can't stand how it's become less funny. There aren't the same number of House-isms, jokes and cool episodes in general. The episodes are decent, but nothing compared to the first 4 seasons.
The thing is, Olivia purposely kept it from Peter, and kept it out of selfishness. Peter did all he could to make who he believed was Olivia happy. And yet he's the one always in the wrong.
ReplyDeleteYep!
ReplyDeletewell the first show I thought about being my fave is Castle... and honestly, I don't know what to say... yes, of course I'd like Castle and Beckett being more than just partners, but I love the show like it is now... and about another show... mmmm perhaps in The Big Bang Theory I miss a good storyline for Penny... not just being there for having lunch in the boys' house. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a sci-fi show. Sure, have romance, a lot of people want it, but don't make it the central plot like this entire season has done. If we wanted that we'd be watching Glee or something. And you don't need love to have a well developed three dimensional character. :/
ReplyDeleteHIMYM - The fact that the writers/creators never even gave Barney/Robin a chance. It could have really worked out, and I'm still hoping!
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the record, I don't mind the baby storyline, as long as there's a truly tragic ending to that subplot if you know what I mean...
Agree completely about Fringe. It bothers me that people call it a soap opera!
ReplyDeleteWe get limited character development on a show like V or The Event and they get slammed (even by sci-fi fans). Then we all harp on about "the good old days" of LOST where characters were everything. Then we get some PHENOMENAL character development on Fringe (a wonderful science fiction drama) in the form of really complex characters (all of them and their doubles) with ridiculously tough decisions to make (I mean seriously, have any of us been stuck in the middle of a lover and her double from a parallel dimension).
I can see why some people go on about the baby drama reminding them of Grey's or something; however, it doesn't detract from the show. Do we really just want Olivia to say "You know what Peter, I'm fine with that fact that you slept with my double and didn't notice." It says something about the character that she can understand rationally that Peter isn't to blame AND YET she can't just accept it somewhat irrationally. If they had swept this under the table, we'd all be complaining about how unrealistic these characters are.
*Rant Over*
Supernatural's angst factor. It starts to wear thin in the 6th year of back-breaking guilt and inner turmoil. C'mon writers, let the brothers not brood for just a teeny tiny second, please!
ReplyDeleteI agree to a much lesser extent. She IS the main character after all...It would just be nice to see more Astrid, Broyles, and Peter... And Nina. :)
ReplyDeleteThat Fringe Hasn't been renewed for a 4th season yet
ReplyDeleteAs a chuck fan I love the show on the whole but I am not a shipper by any means meaning that I would rather have c/s in smaller doses then a larger one what we are getting now and I'm finding it getting boring. Not to mention Jeffster I want them gone. Nuff said. That's my complaint.
ReplyDeleteIts one thing to have Olivia as the main character which is fine cause she is more bearable than others but to make EVERYTHING single storyline regarding Peter through OLIVIA'S eyes (which is probably the reason why people see Peter has a bad guy since Olivia sees him that way) and we never see how PETER feels about anything is something I can't tolerate.
ReplyDeleteWe never gotten how Peter is coping with anything.
That's the only reason why I'm not watching much and I miss Joshua like crazy. :(
ReplyDeleteMore Castial wouldn't hurt either. :)
ReplyDeleteNot really about Mad Men itself, but these contract negotiations every few years are frustrating. I hope AMC/Lionsgate/Weiner can come to an agreement very, very soon.
ReplyDeleteI've said a lot in of other surveys about hating Walter's accent, so I won't repeat it here (oops, maybe I just did).
ReplyDeleteJeff and Pierce in Community are just not developing well as characters. Showing Jeff shirtless, or doing pullups, does nothing to add to his character. How nice for Joel McHale that he has good pecs, but Jeff looks superficial enough without going there. And Pierce is just getting too, too evil. It's not working. I liked him better when he was simply clueless. Around those two, however, the other characters are developing wonderfully. The three women get funnier each week. Chang is hilarious, and Abed and Troy are terrific.
Supernatural's constant need to push the romance factor on us. I really don't care to see it on this show. The only relationship I car about is the SamDean one. I don't need or want this show to be a soap opera.
ReplyDeleteYes! And if driving, the traffic is horrible.
ReplyDeleteCriminal Minds isn't a favorite show of mine anymore (I gave it up recently), but what did bother me about it was the lack of character development for the most part. The majority of the episodes focused mainly on the case, not the characters, which is 1 of the reasons I gave it up. the cases were cool and all, but there was no character action
ReplyDeletei am getting tired of jane indeed
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure to find something bad to say about Fringe, I like this show so much !!! :D I don't really agree that the series is becoming a soap opera, because there are still all the strange things that happen on both sides, it's still a Sci-Fi great show to me !! :)
ReplyDeleteI am ok with more astrid, i mean come on how much of a nany baby sitter an FBI trained agent who is good enough to on this fringe team can be? plus a little backstory would be great as well if it is linked to the whole mythology
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY agree with you about Fringe, by the way, the bowling guy's name is Sam Weiss I believe... ;-)
ReplyDeletePlus JJ warned everybody from the start, for hima great show is about family and relationships.
ReplyDeleteI am not a great fan of the triangle but come on, fauxlivia had to seduce peter by pretending she was our version of olivian that has to have consequences...
I hate that Breaking Bad has 13 episode seasons.... I want 26 dammit!
ReplyDeleteI'm right with you. I liked Barney and Robin together! The only problem with it is ao much of Barney's humor and charm come from his scamming on women... and that gets left behind some if he is with Robin. Like you, I have hope tho!
ReplyDeleteI blame Cuddy.... or more to the point Cuddy and House as an item. It means more face time for Cuddy and she is just not funny.
ReplyDeleteFringe - Everything's Olivia and everything hurts.
ReplyDeleteI tolerated her character until they decided to spend and ENTIRE season on her. Peter's my favourite character and because the writers have tried to make Olivia out as some 'superhero', he's been criticized for the littlest things and hated-on since the premiere. Also, we went 8 episodes without the Peter-Walter relationship so they could look at the Olivias, their storyline has been trashed for her. Apparently, Peter's forgiven Walter. Where the hell did that come form? They never spoke about what happened.
Couldn't agree more! It is not soap operatic to me at all....I mean how much more Sci-Fi can you get than inter-dimensional doppleganger sex that could result in the end of the worlds... worlds!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. She is the main character, and honestly has not had THAT much more about her this season... technically. Almost half of "Olivia's" face time has ben Fauxlivia.... which is a completely different character despite having the same actress play both roles. If anything, there may be less Olivia this season....
ReplyDeleteI don't know how the baby plot wraps up without tragedy.... butI hope I don't find out!
ReplyDeleteI agree with that as well. The story has pretty much been from Olivia's perspective, and I really am jonesing for some insight into what Peter is thinking /feeling, etc.. (I suspect this may happen through the rest of the season as they are making him seem more cryptic and internalizing than usual... his actions are given without the context, etc.) but honestly, I can completely sympathize with Olivia AND not hate Peter. I think that maybe the writers wanted to make their point, and they just sort've got carried away with it... However, for me it's always been "OMG poor Olive, and poor Peter...the realization of Fauxliv's betrayal just sunk his little ship!)
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU. That needed to be said.
ReplyDeleteSupernatural-- I stan this show so hard but I do have a nitpick.
ReplyDeleteFor once I'd love to have a female character that wasn't either A) a colossal bitch-slash-monster that wound up dead by the end of the episode, B) one of Sam's or Dean's various hump-and-dumps who wound up either extremely boring or extremely dead by the end of the episode, C) one of Sam or Dean's longer-term relationships who ended up falling into the category of A or B by the end of her episode arc.
Ellen and young Mary, of course, were the wonderful exceptions... RIP. Also, vampire Lenore and that hunter chick from The Magnificent Seven hold a fond place in my heart for general ass-kickery and the fact that they walked away relatively unscathed from the show. But overall... stronger female characters, please!
This whole post is made of win.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree.
Is the threesome storyline in FRINGE annoying? How about no storyline at all. I'm talking about GLEE here. 1st season, it didn't bother me that much. Basicaly, there was tons of great music and evil Sue Sylvester back then. This year we have special guest stars instead...
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong. I'm not especting any West Side Story drama, but come on.
Nothing is going on. Characters are one-dimensional, stereotypes who didn't change AT ALL since the day we met them. No one and nothing is moving forward. There is no plot except glee club itself.
I hope it'll change soon.
More singing or more thinking... or just anything with a feelling.
CHUCK - The think I can't stand about this show is it's network NBC. Little to no promotion during the week and now yet another season on the bubble for renewal.
ReplyDeleteSo many talented actors in this group that are branching out and seen all over the map doing other things....and NBC doesn't capitalize on it. It takes effort to remain #4 out of 3...
That would introduce the risk of filler episodes. I prefer 13-episode seasons. As a matter of fact, sometimes I wish shows like SPN were 13-16 episodes a season and were more focused on the main storyline.
ReplyDeleteI was picturing at that high level for twice as many episodes more so, but.... I think with that level of writing and acting I could handle a filler episode or two. Maybe about the rival dealers....
ReplyDeleteAgreed about SPN... and they would have twice as much budget per episode that way and maybe finally have some decent FX and score music!
I suppose you want her to just get over her abusive parental issues, and extensive experimental trials being forced on her at a young age, then losing her first love to an unspeakably disturbing death, being sucked into another universe to be forced into even more experiments, which included being brainwashed into being another version of yourself, then realize that this other version of yourself is superior in many ways, that she actually has fun, that she isn't afraid to go after what she wants? That she is not haunted by anything, and is generally normal? Then, coming home after barely escaping live organ-removal experiments to find the life she has wanted with Peter has already started without her. That the man she's so close to opening up to is sleeping with an imposter who he finds to be a lighter, more fun version that he was so proud of to be doing so well after everything that has happened to her. Therefore the feeling of being so easily replaced that the man who supposedly loves her couldn't even tell that it wasn't her at all... The fact that someone took up her residence and all the people that surround her, who are all incredibly intelligent individuals, could not even tell a difference?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but I just can't agree with you on that one.
As for Peter-Olivia's situation: Peter has been so good about taking the horrible mishap and trying to deal with it in a reasonable way. He's been nothing but honest to her, and he understands what you seem to not: that this sort cluster of issues really does get to her, as he understands the pain of betrayal himself, and he is merely waiting for her to work through it all on her own. He can't force his stance on her, she must be open to him. Notice in the last episode, she finally got over it, and realized that she was just not scared anymore, and that the only thing holding her from Peter was in fact herself. He was just patiently waiting for her, and it paid off. However, the impending baby storyline might just throw the world's biggest wrench in that process...We will just have to see.
And Peter has not forgiven Walter, he stated that earlier this season. I feel that will be deferred until around the finale when the story comes full circle: Walter seems to be on a path of realization that everything that has happened is squarely on his shoulders and I think that he will finally be able to verbalize it later this season, and Peter will have to make a decision with all these factors in play that will determine the fate of a helluva lot of people.
Let me add to that: RECURRING stronger female characters that aren't brought into an episode for slaughter after being absent for 3 years.
ReplyDeleteOk, thanks.
(Even if Ellen and Jo's death was absolutely insanely sad!)
THIS.
ReplyDeleteI MEAN REALLY. The scores of late have been atrocious.
ReplyDeleteWhat, you mean like how Peter's gotten over been kidnapped from an alternate universe at seven years old, lied to most of his life, the man who he believed to be his father experimenting on him all through his childhood and finally being institutionalized when he was only thirteen, having to look after his depressed mother on his own from then, then having her kill herself when he was about twenty one, then doing God knows what throughout his twenties in order to survive, at around 30 is tricked into coming to Boston to work with the man who stole his childhood from him, stuck around after he was tortured, finally managed to let just a few people into his life only to find out Olivia's kept a big secret from him purely out of selfishness (he didn't even get an explanation as to why she kept it, nor did he get an explanation as to why Walter kidnapped him, for all Peter knows he was simply a replacement), how he's gotten over discovering that this mother he'd been grieving for years isn't even his mother, that his REAL parents want to betray him, that Olivia, his one piece of happiness, has betrayed him, and that he has the fate of two universes and 14 billion people on his shoulders? Because heaven forbid, they show a little of that. If they're going to show characters angsting about, at least balance it out a little with showing someone OTHER than Olivia.
ReplyDeleteI'm really annoyed about the lack of Peter/Walter. It is the shows most interesting relationship and it's just been sidelined so a romance plot can take its place. Peter/Walter makes Fringe unique, no other show has a father/son relationship like it, and to see it be overtaken by a romance plot, something every single other show out there does just sucks.
Very much agreed XD. The first half of season 3 was probably the best portion of Fringe yet and, while it rested squarely on Olivia's shoulders, the other issues haven't been forgotten.
ReplyDeleteSeptember was all about Walter's relationship with Peter (from Walter's perspective) AND the fact that there are a lot of things that are his fault. I guess people have forgotten ALL of that in favour of that one cryptic line ("It must be hard being a father"), which somehow spawned all of the baby rumours.
It's funny, I'm noticing through the comments section that a fair number of Fringe fans have one particular character they love (be it Olivia, Walter, or Peter). Olivia fans are angry with Peter. Peter fans are angry with Olivia. It's very strange. I mean, it's kind of cool and shows that both characters are well grounded enough to be easy to relate to (minus the random shapeshifter assassinating, which will probably come back around soon).
I noticed that too... There's really nothing that happens with any consequence on the show.
ReplyDeleteAlso, do they really have to couple up everyone?
I mean, I think we've got all the combinations you can get from this group of people...
I agree. I don't see why liking one seems to make people dislike the other. Overprotective much? Personally I like almost all the characters on the series.... other than August... he creeps me out.
ReplyDeleteYes! "Do they really have to couple up everyone?" So true for all shows. Not only does everyone have to be part of a couple, but that partner must be someone from the cast, never the outside. A change from that formula would be refreshing.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think the last two episodes have been downright bad, but if they had decent scoring... they would have been better. Maybe almost average! LOL
ReplyDeleteLol, August? The one from that one episode last season? He wasn't so bad :P.
ReplyDeleteReally? I think season 3 is the worst Fringe has ever been. And I'm obsessed with this show, I love it, but it's really let me down this year, to the point of wanting to skip the rest of the season.
ReplyDeleteWould it kill the writers to maybe do a few scenes or a few episodes (though that's pushing it) about how OTHER characters are affected by what's happening to THEM? I mean all this crap has happened TO Peter, yet we're seeing how it's affecting Walter and Olivia. It's nonsensical.
Although I guess, yes it would pain the writers to focus on Peter as being more than just a device for Olivia's storylines. Because what was that they said recently - Walternate is the biggest victim on Fringe? What about the little boy who was actually kidnapped? ...Oh, no, he's not actually a character, is he? The reason barely anyone seems to like Peter is because it's the fans who have to give him that third dimension, because God knows, the writers won't. This promos for this Friday have given me a little hope, but I have an awful feeling it'll focus more on Peter and Olivia's "destiny" and crap more than the child who has just been stolen from his parents.
Well look, I agree with a lot of what you're saying. What I said below kind of addresses how Peter fans rage against Olivia and Olivia fans rage against Peter. Can't we all just accept that BOTH characters are wonderfully complex, flawed, and interesting?
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I agree with is that the father son relationship is interesting because most shows neglect everything in favour of romance. One of my biggest complaints about LOST is that, besides a few key friendships (Sayid-Hurley, Kate-Claire), most were completely ignored. What about Jack-Sayid. Or Jin-Sawyer. Or Sun-Kate. Or Hurley-Charlie. They all developed these strong bonds, only to have romance take the centre-stage.
On the other hand, romance is obviously important. Jin/Sun, Desmond/Penny, and Charlie/Claire (to name a few) were the centres of some beautiful love stories. The problem is striking a balance between both kind of relationships.
I disagree with you in that, I think the show is doing a fair job of developing things other than romance. September was an episode all about Walter. Alt-Broyles had a very interesting connection to our Olivia. Peter's always been a pretty relaxed guy. Things with Walter are strained, but things with Olivia are worse. Don't worry, they obviously haven't forgotten about Peter. Just give it some time.
I love everything about Fringe and think this season has been the best yet. I love the story about the parallelle universes, I don´t mind the love triangle and I don´t care that MD and Boston are far apart. It is such a great show and I enjoy every minute of it.
ReplyDeleteI also love True Blood, BUT I just don´t like Tara. She has terrible story lines, and I find myself fasting forward whenever her face comes on the TV. She is also so very very different from the books.
I hate that Breaking Bad has 13 episode seasons, and then takes a YEAR OFF. I understand then need to refresh and write the best possible stories for the show, but I think they're pushing it taking an entire calender year off between the last episode and the next.
ReplyDeleteAGREED.
ReplyDeleteI like history shows/documentaries and used to watch Conquest hosted by Peter Woodward (August) ... he just always annoyed me. I have no clue why ... or why I kept watching despite it. But something about August had major creep factor to me.... No clue why.
ReplyDeleteSupernatural's fear of complexity. They're great at transforming simple ideas into wonderful stories and I love this show but sometimes I miss real story arcs for minor characters.
ReplyDeleteCastle - love the show, hate being in the UK and having to wait to see new ones and the fact we can watch the spoilers on ABC website but not the episodes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis year it really became more serialized to me and because of that far more enjoyable. The first season (and to a lesser dgree seconnd season) had so many MOTW stories. They were good, but rarely draw me in like a serialized plot does.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the lack of Peter backstory.. he is one of the more intriguing characters to me on a basic level to me. Even without the kidnapped boy or possible destroyer of worlds aspects. Just the rogue making it by his wits, dealing in many grey to pure illegal activities that were hinted at in the first episodes, but never explored n great detail.
I think part of the reason (maybe the main reason) we have been lacking Peter-centric stories this season is that there is no alt-Peter (or no Peter from our universe to be accurate) and so many of the episodes showed only the alternates "over there". On top of that more episodes on "over here" have dealt with dynamics between our Walter and Olivia and their alternates.
I get why they have stated or made Walternate out to be the biggest victim honestly. The writers made us see him as evil incarnate at first, then showed how he lost a son and had little choice in many of his actions the viewers disliked earlier. So he was a victim of the writers themselves and of circumstances, That is not to say Peter (adult or as a boy) was not a victim too, but I see him as a victim of Walter's kidnapping without the weight of countless death's that Walternate has caused.
I do agree we should have more information on the character that has been proclaimed pivotal to our world or there world's survival... or destruction. I think, i hope we get more into Peter as this season continues. Maybe next week will be a start....
This is the first thing I thought of when hearing the question. How much angst and guilt can two people take? It's exhausting for me so it has to be overwhelming to them. I'd love to see them have fun once in a while. Or...new concept...not everything is about them so they don't have to shoulder all the blame all the time. It's time for another Bobby smack-down intervention.
ReplyDeleteI love, adore and am totally obsessed by Fringe!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat i dont like about it..... mmmmm
1. the fact that we have to wait a week between episodes. This kills me!
2.the fact that its not rating through the roof..it should be...its awesome!
3.the fact that it hasnt been renewed for a 4th season
I think Jeff is fine but Pierce annoys me to no end. Chevy Chase is the most un-funny one in the whole group and we know he can be funny. I blame the writers who can't get a handle on his character.
ReplyDeleteI feel you pain! I live in the US and watch a number of BBC shows or features and can't watch the streams online. I can find some elsewhere, but not as convenient as going to a show's homepage....
ReplyDeleteI agree. She has to be the most underutilized character on the show. It is easy to forget she was an agent in the first place when all she gets to do is babysit Walter and buy ice cream all the time. She is supposed to be brilliant, why don't they let someone else babysit Walter? He owns Massive frickin' Dynamic! I'm sure they could afford somebody else so Astrid can get back to some real work. It was great to see Altrid (I don't know what to call her) getting to do stuff in the "over there" episodes. I'd rather see her in a relationship than Peter and Olivia. It doesn't make any sense that an over-qualified, interesting, and attractive young women would spend all of her time in a basement with a crazy old man. Does she have friends, family, her own life, her own place? Even Nina has gotten more story than Astrid.
ReplyDeleteFRINGE - Charlie and Lincoln are still not part of main cast. Hope it happens by S4 but unfortunately have my doubts :(
ReplyDeleteAlso that whole baby story
And one thing that I can't stand about Supernatural ...I have to wait a whole week between episodes and it has long hiatuses :(
I love Lisa and Ben and didn't find it soap opera-ish in the least. In fact, I found it to be a refreshing change for epic battles that ended up being people talking in a field and angel annoyance. Well, until this last episode. This one sucked. You seem to be getting your wish though.
ReplyDeleteThe instrumentals in the back ground of late are merely irritating. They detract from the moment, especially the ending brother scene last week, and are a constant reminder that I do NOT have classic rock playing in my ear. I feel like i'm listening to the elevator soundtrack of Supernatural.
ReplyDeleteIf she was honest with Peter, she would tell him that she had the mind reader listen to his thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI hate how easily characters pass out on Smallville. It happened so much with Lana and quite a bit with Lois until recently. It's like every time they get the slightest bit traumatized or bumped on the head they pass out, just conveniently enough to keep them from witnessing Clark doing super-stuff.
ReplyDeleteOne reason I think that LOST did NOT go into the friendships as much is just "time". I think some people forget they were not on the island very long (excluding time travel to the past) and much of their 108 days was spent in multiple camps, groups splitting off on missions or adventures in small groups. Generally speaking, romance, lust and attraction form faster than friendship in my eyes. So that's one reason we saw romance develop faster and play a larger role. For those that went back in time and became part of The Dharma Initiative, we saw the bonds of friendship more so. But they had been together for what .. more than 3 years?
ReplyDeleteEither way I still hate shows that cause the formation "shipper" teams and crack on rival "shippers".... and the love triangles that spawn "Shippers" in general!
i agree with all your statements except i live in europe ;)
ReplyDeleteand i'm adding two more:
6. it bothers me that the love story seems to be the main plot these days. i'm all about peter and olivia, but as a background story!
7. i hate the idea of altlivia being pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of the things I hate about Supernatural (did I just say that?????) ahem......one of the few things I hate about Supernatural is the low budget.
ReplyDeleteWe get less and less awesome classic rock, and the special fx are not nearly as 'special' as they could be....just think what an amazing dragon they could've cooked up for us in Like A Virgin....
Having said that, I still think they do an awesome job with what they're given.
Astperger? (Astrid + Asperger's) She certainly seems to have Aspeger's syndrome to me so maybe that would work?
ReplyDeleteI agree about Community. Pierce is getting creepier while Jeff seems to be going nowhere as a character. The others are all pretty funny, but they should go ahead and let Chang in the group already.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that bothers me about Community is how unlikely it is that they would all have so many of the same classes together, and how often they seem to have new classes. The show needs a few teachers to stick around for at least a few episodes.
Good call! I don't know that I have ever watched a prime time show with worse writing. I love many of the actors, the premise, and the plot so I keep watching... But it's a struggle to remain interested in characters with such terrible dialogue (and the presence of Tyler :P).
ReplyDeleteExactly/Well said!
ReplyDeleteD was complaining about how the plot has stopped dealing with things like Peter/Walter (relatively untrue); however, I feel that the MOTWstyle earlier season 1 or 2 episodes did more damage developmentwise than any doppleganger hijinks has this season.
I like the Buy More squad and Jeffster less than the rest of the cast, but I think they would be okay in rare (like once a year MAX) appearances.
ReplyDeleteI think Jeffster should be like the fine China many parents had. Sure we know it's there, but it's only brought out under the most special of circumstances.
Ok, so this thread is about being able to vent and complain about our favorite shows. I can certainly do that since I don't think you can be a fan of a show and not find something that bothers you. I do hope we get a "What one thing about your favorite show do you love best?" thread later though. I feel like I've been incredibly negative lately.
ReplyDeleteSupernatural is my favorite show and generally even the humdrum shows are better than 90% of the episodes I see of other shows. Still some things bug me to no end. First, Dean and Sam leave their fingerprints and DNA at every single place they go. You'd think they would know better than to pick up the freaking murder weapon. Supernatural makes every law enforcement officer look like morons, well except for when they kill them.
Two, enough with the emo. I understand life has been hard for the Winchesters and that they have made some hard decisions. Get over it or go into therapy. I don't care which one but I still remember fondly the "no chick flick moments" year. Please bring it back.
Three, enough with the angels. They had their story arc. We suffered through the LamePocalypse because of them. We've gone through WeepyLucifer and watched half of them get killed off. The story is over - let's go back to earth. It seems like the writers are reaching desperately for threads just to keep Misha employed. Give Cas a great death. Let us mourn him and then for goodness sake, give Misha his own comedy series. He deserves it and I am far more excited about him as another character than the continuing adventures of Angel Wars part 93.
Four, I love meta within episodes. Clever one-liners that wink at the show and its fans. I HATE meta episodes. The show would have been a whole lot better without Chuck, Becky, and all the meta that has ceased to be funny and now is just about how crackalicious they can get. Crack for crack's sake is jsut a filler that takes time away from things like the Mother of All Monsters. Notice how she is the big bad this season and we've seen her for 2 minutes thus far. Can we stop with the crack episodes and the fillers and get back to the heart of the story. Winchesters killing bad things!
That being said, Supernatural is still by far the best show I watch. Definitely the show that has kept me entertained for the longest continual stretch of time. These are the minor things I would change in a sea of awesomeness.
I can live without Cas. In fact, I wish all the angels would go, but I agree about the constant resurrections and ghosts and heaven visits and all the other excuses they use to write back on dead characters. You killed them off - keep them dead. Or better yet quit killing characters off with the idea that you can always come back to them. It makes death ineffectual on the show and is becoming to go-to plot device to get out of writing blocks. It's no longer creative or interesting.
ReplyDeleteI fear that this "Mother of All" plot may bring the angels back into play more.... but I agree - enough angels already! The brothers can handle the comic relief on their own without Cas....
ReplyDeleteI don't mind her as a character, but I am so sick of seeing her lip-trembling face every time she is in a seen. The plot with her and Franklin seemed pointless too. I never read the books so at least I don't have to compare.
ReplyDeleteOut of all that Dahne...."a sea of awesomeness" ....love it :)
ReplyDelete(I agree with everything you said though)
According to Jensen Ackles we will be getting our classic rock back. Hers hoping he meant soon and not you know some random episode in a far off galaxy many light years from now.
ReplyDeleteI think CW shows in general have that cheaply made look. Smallville has a weird hazy glow mixed with a lot of shadows or bad lighting or something. I can see it on Supernatural a little bit too. It doesn't help any that CW is still not in HD here.
ReplyDeleteLet me see the one nitpick I have with White Collar is I wonder when Neal's betrayal of the first half finale will be adressed? Cause I figure it's too big to be let go now. Something's gotta give or I will be very cranky with the writers, not to mention I'll never forgive them for adding HB to the cast when the show already has the other cast members vying for screen time. Romantic couplings be screwed I love romance as much as the next fan but WC was unique and fresh with a duo male leads who have a great older/younger brother, best friend, father/son relationship. I don't like outsiders coming in especially if they aren't liked by the viewers. I know some fans like Sarah and others like myself don't. I just wish the writers could come up with something we haven't seen before.
ReplyDeleteThe Polivia love story is AWESOME and i believe a necessary plot device to drive the story forward. These 2 need to be together in order to save the 2 universes. Whilst i was furious with the writers for the Alt-liv pregnancy....i have calmed down a lot. Its also a necessary storyline....and i have accepted it. Polivia and the Alt-liv pregnancy will take the show even further than we have ever been before. Just sit back and enjoy the episodes to come.....i have a feeling they are going to be EPIC!!!
ReplyDeletei have to agree with peter being a very shallow character... and it bothers me very much, especially after watching reciprocity! peter was supposed to be a very complex character as he was introduced as a guy often involved in shady business with untrustworthy people. and i always thought that the writers should have explored that aspect of peter. instead, they just made him a babysitter for walter and his interpreter... but then reciprocity showed a side of peter that we weren't used to, and personally i loved it! i think that they could have made peter a much much richer and more interesting character if they had explored the conflict between peter's good intentions and questionable means.......
ReplyDeletei don't think this is fringe's best season, though. it's better in the sense that it's more about the overall mythology (although lately hindered by the romance...) instead of MOTW (which i like from time to time, though). but i miss the dynamic the team used to have. and the characters are not being completely true to themselves, imo. and i miss rachel and ella!
Fringe - The part that I can't stand is that I have to wait a whole week for the next episode. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you here.........This is why i love this show....cause it isn't the drivel that fills up the CW timeslots.....I watch this show so i can escape the relationship 'melodrama' that is the format for 90% other shows on the air.....although this show has relationship drama with the Sam/Dean one.....it's a different type of drama....It's more refreshing/exciting to watch...I'm all for Sam/Dean pulling into a town to deal with business, with a girl here or there.....When it starts to veer into long term relationship stuff, like with Lisa and Ben.....I become so bored cause then i start seeing all the other shows i'm watching supernatural to avoid....So yeah...that :D
ReplyDeleteAlso i LOVE fringe too...but this season is lacklustre because of what the show is doing....I think they made a really bad move with this 'baby plot'....It screams soap opera, and is gonna unfortunately for me overshadow what made this show great to begin with...Others like it....i respect that, but i think it was a mistake that won't help the show in the long run :((
30 Rock-- How the show 'treats' Liz Lemon. I understand she's supposed to be a 'mess', but she's also not the grossest person on the planet.
ReplyDeleteI can 100% agree. Whenever the episode hits a momentary lull, I think about all the "new" viewers possibly tuning out at the moment. I can't really TRULY enjoy an episode without thinking about how many other people are tuned in. :(
ReplyDeleteSorry to be so 'harsh' but....Pierce 'disgusts' me as a character....I find him appaling, and way too dark for Community...Ok, so he is the villain of community.....but what was so productive to what he was doing during the 'dungeons and dragons' episode.....It was extremely uncomfortable to watch him taunt/bully that poor fella, and what was the message at the end....The fella accepts the insults, and is fine with it...What ?
ReplyDeleteReplace him, and bring more Chang...cause for all his creepy...he's hilarious...As for Jeff....Yeah...agree.....not much there at all.....very shallow character, that seems to be there just to react to things....Abed/Troy are the awesomeness of community :D
Actually I think it was important to see that they didn't just have her go back to her normal life without letting us see some of the repercussions that this whole switcheroo had on her and how she views the people in her life after all this. And I think the reason we haven't seen much of what Peter has been doing or feeling about all this is because he's been more secretive this season. But not only that, I actually think they're doing it intentionally as the fate of both worlds lies in that machine and how Peter is feeling and which Olivia he chooses. They're building it up and I'm sure we'll find out and when we do it's largely going to affect what happens next. But anyway, I think the focus on Olivia and lack of focus on Peter is intentional.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Neal broke his parole, got a gun, left the area, tampered with his ankle monitor, and screwed over Peter. I understand why he did all these things, but the law should not. I expected to at least see him stewing in jail for a bit while they figured out what to do with him this time. It's a cop out to not address it because it wasn't a minor infraction.
ReplyDeleteOn the Sara issue, ugh! I don't find her interesting when she's only in 2-3 episodes. To have her as a regular is atrocious. They already have more interesting characters that they don't involve as much as they should. Why would they add yet another character? Give Elizabeth and June more screen time. Add a plot for Diana. For goodness sake, give Jones something to do besides sit in the van and babysit Neal. Why can't he go undercover sometime? He's the most wasted character of them all. Work with the characters you have and don't add in a new character that most people find irksome to boot.
Please don't generalize and say that the fans treat Peter like crap because I've always liked Peter no matter what flaws he has and I know a lot of other people who feel the same. That's what I like about this show is that all the characters have flaws (yes even Olivia) though it does seem that with all shows the main hero or heroine's flaws aren't as emphasized as the other characters are. For the record I wasn't happy with Olivia that she kept that secret from Peter last season either and you might remember that Nina called her out on it too. And as much as I sympathized with her this season after finding out that the other Olivia was living her life and no one caught onto it, I still felt for Peter that he got the brunt of that blame (though she did apologize a few episodes later for it). I also really admired Peter for being honest with her about it right away where again Olivia kept the truth from him last season. It's hard to dislike any of the main three characters on this show because they're all (as blunt as this is to say) damaged. Peter and Olivia are damaged mostly BECAUSE of what Walter did to them not to mention Walter is responsible for most of the destruction we've seen on this show so if anything Walter should be the one that is hated but you can't hate Walter because he's damaged in his own right both from the trauma of losing his son and the brain damage. Anyway, this is one of the first shows where I've liked all the central characters and their flaws are actually what I like most about them.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair she didn't have the mind reader listen to his thoughts. He did that own his own because he could tell that Olivia wanted to know what Peter was thinking then told her to show her why you should never be able to read someone else's thoughts. But yeah I agree, she should have told him that. Honesty has never been her best trait.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more!
ReplyDeleteI think this has been the best season of Fringe because it dealt more with the mythology than just creature of the week episodes and I think Peter will get his due at the end of the season considering his feelings and mindset are what determines what that machine is going to do. What's fun about it for me right now is that we don't know exactly how he's feeling about all this but thanks to Sam Weiss we now know that whatever he is feeling is going to be extremely important and will have a major impact (much greater might I add than what Olivia or Walter is feeling) on the fate of the two universes. Just wait. There's still 8 episodes to go.
ReplyDeleteDahne, I've probably watched National Vacation 10 times. And old SNL skits. He's a classic and they should use him better.
ReplyDeletenumbersarebad, and how unlikely it is that they can afford those beautiful apartments!
I forgot to add about Fringe: That it as a show and the awesome cast does not get recognized. Anna Torv is amazing with her facial expressions and deserves major recognition, like Emmy's and Golden Globe. The same goes for John Noble.
ReplyDeleteFringe quickly became my favorite show on television but there are some things that I wish were different
ReplyDelete1 - That this show isn't getting the ratings it should be. I really don't get it.
2 - I wish we had some more background on Astrid. She's such an important part of the team and she has all this expertise but we don't know anything about her. It would be nice to see her as more than just Walter's babysitter and lab assistant. Or if we could see the kind of relationship she has with Peter or Olivia.
3 - I miss the family dynamic of the main characters. Lately it seems like it's mostly been about the romance, which I don't mind, but it seems we've lost that family dynamic a bit. Hopefully it will come back more in the next episodes.
And of course, that Fringe has not been renewed for a 4th season yet!
I never saw White Collar, but I just read that there's a character named "Peter." That makes at least three Peters, adding Florrick and Bishop. A few seasons ago every other character was "Jack" (Shephard, Bauer, Donaghy, etc.). This doesn't actually bother me deeply. I'm just amused that TV shows seem to have a character-name-of-the-year thing going :)
ReplyDeleteWell this lack of focus on Peter is making people criticize him or whine constantly. One poster can't get it out of her head to stop whining about how Peter didn't make the first move. I mean really,
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteYou do realize the next episode has everything to do with Peter's inter-universal issues, right? While I strongly agree that a lot Peter has gone through seems to have not been touched on as much as (or more like Not even close to as much as) Olivia's inter-universal issues, I'd think it has something to do with the fact that a lot of that has to be built up in a series of episodes that help add to his backstory and how he got here. Also, the immediate issues at hand usually take precedence (even if sometimes I wish we could get rid of a MOTW episode for a "What's Peter up to lately?" episode) and I get the feeling that the writers really want to flesh out all the details of that story first. Now, we just might be in for a shift in the dynamic of the show, where Peter finally comes to Olivia (possibly after Olivia and Peter find out he knocked up Fauxliv and she gives him the 3rd degree) and gives his input on the situation that sets the whole record straight that there isn't just one victim in this situation, and that he has done the best he can, and that if it isn't enough she just needs to leave. If his traumas and betrayals don't add up to something for her to realize he understands and is still a generally functioning individual, then it's over. So Olivia will have a realization, about it, blah blah blah anyway what my point was originally is that I think the writers have created so much heartache for so many characters that they are having issues juggling everything at one time. I hold hope for the end of the season to deal mostly with showing both sides of the issue, adding to the backstory, and then Peter coming to the forefront and making a decision that could end a world to save another, or damn both, or save both. We'll just have to see.
ReplyDeleteThey might've meant shallow as not-well-developed....
ReplyDeleteI swear those people should have brain damage by now...
ReplyDeleteOh and that there is no word on the 4th season for Fringe yet. Other than that, perfect.
ReplyDeleteI think people are being unfair.
ReplyDeleteThe fanboys have had 2 and a half years of hard core scifi and only 4 episodes have had specific and direct relationship dialogue.
Fringe has the maturity to deal with the relationship in a manner that has depth, a way that only Bones could dream of.
We weren't complaining and writing articles about the lack of relationship focus for the last 2 years.
The show needs it. If it was dealt with quickly and wrapped up in one episode it would feel rushed and lumped in (holla at ya X-Files!)
People love this triangle....well they love POlivia and it angers me because the producers and network pay attention to these kinds of comments (re: most recent conference call interview).
So, its not the worst thing in the world if in an entire episode there are 3 scenes dealing with it. We care about the characters and thus their feelings and relationships.
There's allot of love for it so here; http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/polivia
yes!!! i miss all the rock music!!
ReplyDeleteit was such a classic part of this show that has been gone for a long time :(