TV, or not TV?

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Well, obviously, the answer is always tv, but the question is what tv.

Stargate: Universe
For my friends who are still watching SGU: should I really get into the second half of the season? (I know most of you aren't; this question isn't directed at anyone who hasn't seen last Friday's episode.) Will it make me feel better about the show, or just miserable? My comments about previous episodes are here (if anyone is interested); suffice it to say that the one episode I liked was "Time," and I thought that was really smart. That was good viewing. I don't feel the same about any other episode of it.

We have Friday's ep on the DVR, we'll get another tonight, and it's time to fish or cut bait. (Or is that poop or get off the pot?)


Primeval
I'd decided: why watch a show that will just make me miserable? I don't need two more (half or quarter) seasons of Primeval, because
they already killed off or sent away everyone I care about except Lester (I mean, look at my icon, for heaven's sake! Both dead! Both potential inappropriate tv boyfriends, though Cutter is perhaps a tad old for me.)

Now, however, comes news that might bring me back for seasons 4 and 5:



DRAMATIC SPOILER SPACE (in case you just wanted to see why I was mad at the show and didn't want the casting spoilers)




More spoiler space


Alexander Siddig! They're bringing Sid to Primeval! Woo hoo! Oh, dang—now I have to watch, don't I? article with other casting spoilers


It's not that I don't have tv. If these shows don't work out, I can watch things that I know make me happy, like The John Casey Show, or Greatest American Hero; I rewatched "The Hit Car," and, by golly, that's a silly show with bad sfx, but it's still laugh-myself-off-the-couch-funny. (And I might possibly be a little bit in love with Robert Culp, which is doubly unfortunate because a) he's too old for me and b) he's dead.)

Comments

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

And I might possibly be a little bit in love with Robert Culp, which is doubly unfortunate because a) he's too old for me and b) he's dead.

True, but I find it perfectly understandable, anyway. :)

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I find it perfectly understandable
You and Aurora. That's reassuring!

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

I find a and b does not stop my Robert Culp love either.

As for SGU. Last week's episode was...pretty good. I mean, I was entertained by it! There was character development AND there was plot. Um...I did see the previews for this week and I'm skeptical how this uptick will sustain, so it may be a better question to ask after tonight. ;-)

Damn, for Alexander Siddig, maybe *I'll* watch that other show. heh.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Ha! You turned me on to Leverage, so I'll turn you on to—no, that's just not fair. Season 1 of Primeval was fun (though stupid). I thought s2 far less fun and much more frustrating, and s3 simply a disaster. The only hope for s4 is that they have made such far-reaching changes they can actually write something decent, but since it's the same writers, I think that's just pie in the sky.

But for Sid? I will try.

(If anything, I love Robert Culp more because he is dead; I didn't realize I cared until I read he was dead! I thought, "That can't be! You mean I'll never see him again?" Thank heaven for reruns!)

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Ha! You turned me on to Leverage, so I'll turn you on to—no, that's just not fair. Season 1 of Primeval was fun (though stupid). I thought s2 far less fun and much more frustrating, and s3 simply a disaster. The only hope for s4 is that they have made such far-reaching changes they can actually write something decent, but since it's the same writers, I think that's just pie in the sky.

But for Sid? I will try.

(If anything, I love Robert Culp more because he is dead; I didn't realize I cared until I read he was dead! I thought, "That can't be! You mean I'll never see him again?" Thank heaven for reruns!)

[with-apostrophe.livejournal.com]

SID? Okay, I might have to watch this show... Sid on one show with stupid science, James Callis on another... :D

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Ha! I think it's hilarious that I read your casting spoilers for a show I don't even watch, and now you (and aurora_novarum read my link to casting spoilers for a show neither of you watches!

The trouble with Primeval is that it's not just stupid science; it had that in s1 and was still fun. When the characters all got stupid, it stopped being fun, but I kept watching, waiting for the fun to return.

Still waiting; maybe Sid will bring it back.

[with-apostrophe.livejournal.com]

I think it's hilarious that I read your casting spoilers for a show I don't even watch, and now you (and aurora_novarum read my link to casting spoilers for a show neither of you watches!


It is funny!

I actually came in search of opinions whether it's worth continuing with SGU. It seems my opinions tie up with yours, including "Time" being the only good episode in 1-9 (I've not seen 10, I couldn't be bothered).

But the name "Alexander Siddig" caught my eye in a comment, so I HAD to go back and read properly.

Yeah, I don't mind stupid science, most of the time because I'm only vaguely aware that it's stupid, but if the characters are being stupid too, that's not good. And of course I must remember "UK TV budget - crappy effects/sets are not their fault".

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I don't care about effects; I laugh at bad ones, but they make no difference to whether I watch a show or not.

BH and I just watched the SGU ep from last week. I've had enough. I'm done. He'll stick with it a little longer, and tell me if I'm actually missing anything good. I'm not very worried about that. Last week's SGU, by the way, totally featured characters being stupid.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Well, BH and I have watched last week's SGU now. I'm out; I've had enough. I still like Eli, and I'd watch Greer, but I've had it with Young and Rush (had some time ago), can't care about TJ or Wray (I tried, I tried!), and thought Chloe was really stupid in last week's episode: "Let me just stand right here and see what happens next." Yeah. Good plan. And the preview looked like I really don't want to watch the episode that aired last night.

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

Ha ha ha. Yeah, I didn't want to spoil it for you too much but basically last week was a relief because I kept feeling I was supposed to be rooting for Young despite his flaws throughout the first half of the season, and I just never liked him.

Last week was when I realized no, he's just a jerk. Since you didn't care so much for Rush to begin with (I find him intriguing), then that wouldn't sell it enough.

Chloe standing in the light to get taken was yes, just about the most dumbass move she could do. (She realizes that NOW).

And yeah, don't watch last night's. It was pretty lame (except there was an SG-1 shoutout that was a nice highpoint to the lows. They finally got a REAL DOCTOR in to do a surgery, and it was Dr. Brightman from Season 8 SG-1! You remember, from the episode where Daniel was shot by everyone? hee hee hee.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Dr. Brightman! Cool!

What a concept: actually bringing in an expert.

[nialla]

Sid's going to be on Primeval? Damn, I'd talked myself out of watching and now this is going to drag me back into the insanity.

If they come up with a coherent plot regarding the anomalies and the "surprise return of some notable guest stars from earlier series" doesn't mean Helen, it might be good.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

You have corrupted me in so many ways that I should return the favor at least a little!

Coherent plot? Have we had that since s1? When they say "notable guest stars," do they mean they'll be guest stars now (as an appearance from Lucy Brown would be), or they were guest stars before? I can't honestly remember any "notable guest stars from earlier series." Maybe I've just forgotten, or I'm not British enough to note the appropriate guest stars.

[reggietate.livejournal.com]

When they say "notable guest stars," do they mean they'll be guest stars now (as an appearance from Lucy Brown would be), or they were guest stars before? I can't honestly remember any "notable guest stars from earlier series."

This was exactly what I thought when I read that bit - that they never went in for guest stars in the series, it was always just team, creatures, and victims of creatures. So if they're saying it's past guests stars, I haven't a clue who they mean, because apart from Duncan (who we know is coming back), there just aren't any. Helen was a recurring regular, Danny is a regular, Jenny was a regular. I've racked my brains to think of anyone from S1 or2 who would qualify, and failed.

And I think I must be the only Primeval fanperson in the galaxy who isn't squeeing about Sid - he doesn't do a thing for me, sadly. Still, I'm sort of looking forward to the new series, all the same, if only to see what happens. I'm hoping this chap Matt will be passable, even if he's never going to be Cutter.

I miss Cutter :-(

[nialla]

I can't help it. I used to pimp books, TV shows and movies before I was paid for to do so. It's a natural talent. ;)

I don't know if we ever really had all that much plot beyond "Dinosaurs!" but in season one, I really thought they might go further with it than monster-of-the-week. Take a sharp left turn through an anomaly, and you're literally in a different world, where not only characters and set up are at least slightly different, but our destination appears to be Conspiracy Land. I really hate Conspiracy Land, especially when they build it up with no real pay off.

I'm assuming "earlier series" means earlier seasons (which the Brits refer to as series), so we'll see familiar faces from the show itself. Now whether they're going to be some of the former regulars or just someone who appeared a time or two remains to be seen. Their definition of "notable" may vary a lot from ours.

Do I put in my vote for Captain Tom Ryan now or later? Or as many times as possible? ;)

[aelfgyfu_mead]

whether they're going to be some of the former regulars or just someone who appeared a time or two remains to be seen
Yes, I get the series thing (and occasionally have to remind myself not to use the words 'series' and 'season' interchangeably); yours is the question I was pondering. Apparently folks at primeval_denial have also been wondering, including some of the Brits, who didn't notice anyone 'notable' guest-starring in the early seasons!

The Dashing Captain Ryan! I'm so with you! The only good thing about his death is that it prevented him from turning stupid, like all the other characters (except possibly Lester, but he could have been a bit sharper himself!).

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

SGU. Hmmm. We're still watching it, and it continues to have neat moments involving Eli and occasionally other people. But -- apologies in advance to people I know like the show a lot more than I do -- I tend to zone out a lot, and it continues to handily live up to our unofficial title, "Bastards in Space!" Also, the resolution of the cliffhanger was, IMHO, about as anti-climactic as it could get. (Seriously, if you think to yourself, "Rush has been left for dead, and no one knows Young killed him! What is the lamest way that they could resolve this?" ... then what you come up with is probably similar to what actually happened.)

[aelfgyfu_mead]

The sad thing is that now your comments have just intrigued me. I was assuming that Rush would get the alien spaceship working and catch up; is that lame? Brilliant Husband said, "I'm assuming Young actually left Rush's evil twin to die, and Rush is still on the Destiny." Or maybe it was the other way around, with the evil twin on the ship. That would be beyond lame.

If I thought they had any hope of turning Destiny around, I'd think the lamest resolution would be an attack of a hitherto unsuspected conscience in Young.

I think I'll have to watch at least the one episode now. Bastards . . . in . . . Space!

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

The sad thing is that now your comments have just intrigued me.

wahaha. Oops. (It definitely wasn't awful. It was better than some of last season's episodes. I'll be interested to see what you think...)

Brilliant Husband said, "I'm assuming Young actually left Rush's evil twin to die, and Rush is still on the Destiny." Or maybe it was the other way around, with the evil twin on the ship.

Wouldn't Rush's evil twin be kind, polite and helpful? In which case, I'm all for that. :D

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I didn't like it, I'm afraid. I was intrigued a bit by the aliens, but they seemed to be just another obstacle for the idiots on Destiny to fling themselves against. I did think briefly that it was cool that they got Rush, but then it turned out that of course he'd been in the alien spaceship, making it work again, and his escape with Chloe was too freaking convenient.

I wanted to see more of the aliens, but not enough to watch any more episodes, I think. I felt for poor Eli, always overworked and yelled at but never really getting credit for how much he does. At least one person is really glad to have Rush back! And I like Greer, but he doesn't get much to do.

Wouldn't Rush's evil twin be kind, polite and helpful?
Now that I'd like to see!

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

See what I mean about the anti-climax? At the end of the previous episode, Young has basically murdered Rush. Ooh! What will happen? Well, nothing. At the end of this episode ... Rush is back on Destiny and the situation is pretty much as it was before. WHAT. (Actually there was a bit more fallout in the following episode, but nothing that couldn't have been achieved by having the aliens attack and leaving out the murder attempt altogether.)

I really enjoyed the Eli bits, and I wish that there was the slightest chance Rush rescued Chloe for any reason other than to improve his own standing back on Destiny, because saving her from the ship would have been really adorable if it wasn't obviously motivated by self-interest.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I can see Rush rescuing Chloe at least out of fellow-feeling; he needn't have been purely mercenary. I just can't care enough anymore, which is sad.

[sg-betty.livejournal.com]

I decided not to watch SGU anymore. It feels like work and I just don't like them. Uh, I'll still tune in for Daniel, of course.... I just hope they don't sully the character too badly. I have a feeling that Michael Shanks wouldn't be inclined to let them push it too far.