memememememe!

[lirazel]

YULETIDE FIRST DRAFT DONE AND DONE. Off to the beta's tonight! *cheers for self* I popped that thing out in practically one sitting!

So, in celebration, a meme.

Which TV shows did you start watching in 2011?

Oh, me. In no particular order:

Happy Endings, Game of Thrones, The Hour, Once Upon a Time, The Borgias, Shameless, Parks and Rec, The Good Wife, Black Books, Modern Family, Ringer, The Walking Dead and Pan Am. I think. I may have forgotten a few, but that's what's on my list.

Which TV shows did you let go of in 2011?

Both Ringer and Once Upon a Time. Couldn't handle it. Might try Ringer again at some point because I really do love Smidge's face that much. I also only watched about three episodes of The Walking Dead. The pilot was pretty flawless, but I'm just not sure I care enough about the characters to keep going with it.

Which TV shows did you mean to get into but didn't in 2011? Why?

Breaking Bad and Justified. IT WILL HAPPEN SOON.

Which TV shows do you intend on checking out in 2012?

See the above. Plus things like Rome and Deadwood and such. I have a loooong list on my computer at home. It's long. Really long.

Which TV show impressed you least in 2011?

Uh...Once Upon a Time. I WANTED SO BADLY TO LIKE YOU.

Which TV show do you think you might let go of in 2012 unless things significantly improve?

Downton Abbey. There's a reason my tag for it on tumblr is "downton abbey you are on notice." Also maybe Misfits? I haven't watched this series yet, but I'm nervous. What's with the whole cast leaving? See also: Being Human. I looooooove those ladies, but I'm nervous about where the show will go. Though I have faith that it can still be awesome.

Which TV show impressed you the most in 2011? Why?

Parks and Rec for sustaining such flawlessness. Also Friday Night Lights, which I finally got around to finishing. It really is the show of my heart. If I had to pick just one show to have in my life, it would be a toss-up between that and BtVS.

OH! And The Hour! I kept thinking it was going to do something to make me furious, and it really didn't! Good for you, show!

Which TV shows do you think you'll never let go of no matter how crappy they get? Why?

I don't know that I can say that there's any. I think there are shows like Parks and Rec that even if they get worse won't ever reach the point where they drive me away because I don't think the showrunners will ever let quality drop that far. I have faith in that show. But as we saw a couple of years ago with my Epic Breakup with Supernatural, there's nothing I won't toss aside if it pisses me off enough. So.

And now if I can add a category:

Shows I watched and loved that aren't mentioned on this list because I started them in another year

The X-Files, The Vampire Diaries, Doctor Who, Community, Skins, Being Human, and Leverage. Hopefully that's everything!

Comments

[zombie_boogie.livejournal.com]

I feel like Breaking Bad is on everyone's "to-watch" list. It's certainly on mine. OH AND YES WATCH ROME OH MY GOD I WILL BE A ONE WOMAN STAN BAND FOR THIS SHOW FOREVER.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Every time she sees me, my BFF is like, "YOU HAVE TO WATCHING BREAKING BAD OMG IT'S SO GOOD." Since I'm usually the one introducing her to TV, I have to assume it's pretty great.

I have several big Rome fans on my flist, so I'm looking forward to it!

[ceciliaj.livejournal.com]

I will be very interested in what you make of Deadwood. I watched it for a class, so my take was kind of mediated by the professor's love for it, but I'd love to read your reactions :).

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

It's probably a couple of shows away, so don't hold your breath. But I'll remember this invitation to ramble!

[aerintine.livejournal.com]

Just about the time I decided I really loved it it ended. Damn Deadwood.

[aerintine.livejournal.com]

I totes snagged this meme. BLACK BOOKS! I love Black Books!

Why is Downton Abbey on notice? I thought it was soapy goodness this season. Except for bungling Sybil/Branson I thought they did well. What's your take?

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

BLACK BOOKS IS RIDICULOUS AND DELIGHTFUL. OMG THAT SHOW.

Ugh. Where to start? I thought the entire Robert plotline was stupid and made me actively hate him. They killed Lavinia My Girl for no reason. The forcing-Daisy-into-marriage thing never got called out by any of the other characters except Daisy (poor girl!). Thomas didn't get any development at all. The pacing was all wrong with the flitting through WWI just here and there and making things that should be one episode be more than that and things that should be more than that be one. All of the men got to play martyrs. Anna had zero plotline aside from Bates. Not enough Mrs. Hughes and Carson. Everything skewed too much upstairs without enough development downstairs. Instead of doing something actually interesting with Sir Robert, they just turned him into a caricature of a bad boyfriend. Sybil was totally wasted as a character. Plus, as you say, bungling Sybil and Branson, which I had loved so much in S1. There are other things that just aren't coming to me at the moment.

[eta] Oh! And I forgot about the utterly predictible stupidity that was the Matthew's paralysis plotline. Did anyone actually think it wasn't going to happen exactly as it did? The writing in general this season seemed dumb and lazy to me (some Violet quips aside), though I continued watching because the acting is just so great. I love these characters, even when the writer's making them do stupid things.

That doesn't mean there weren't things I liked. Mary and Edith were both flawless (kissing married farmers aside). The Dowager Countess continues to be the best. It remains gorgeous to look at and with great music. But it didn't work for me like S1.

[aerintine.livejournal.com]

These are all fair criticisms. Poor Daisy indeed! And the pacing was definitely off.

I guess expect soapiness from this show, and so the OTT storylines amuse and entertain rather than annoy me? Like Mattherw's paralysis and Lavinia's death - all quite soapy and melodramatic... but exactly what I expect from DA.

I thought Mrs. Hughes had quite a bit of screen time with the pregnant maid storyline. And we are in agreement on the perfection of Mary and Edith - but I disagree that Sybil was wasted. I loved watching her grow as an independent young woman with a budding career she claimed for herself despite her parents' misgivings. Any character who grows from spouting principles to actually living them gets my full respect. Unfortunately I think she's giving her new freedom up by marrying Branson - biggest mistake of her life.

I also really liked having the hospital at Downton and the mixing of classes which necessarily happened. I like that the show takes the time to highlight how times are changing and the old ways conflict with the new, while doing it with a modern sensibility that's entirely relatable to a generation who grew up watching things like Falcon Crest and Knots Landing.

I'm looking forward to the Christmas special to fill in some blanks and keep us hooked for next season. :)

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

See, and I really didn't find the first series that soapy, so it was a disappointment for me that it went in that direction. If I'd found it soapy from the beginning, I would have been much more willing to forgive that soapiness, if that makes sense?

I loved watching her grow as an independent young woman with a budding career she claimed for herself despite her parents' misgivings.

But I didn't feel like we got to see much of that! The first episode or two (which largely worked for me), yes, but after that her storyline seemed to be subsumed into the Branson one. I wanted more for her!

I also really liked having the hospital at Downton and the mixing of classes which necessarily happened.

Agreed! That was one of the things that really worked! I just thought it was explored in nearly enough detail. I love the large cast, but it makes it difficult to really explore thing to the depth that I'd like.

I'm actually quite looking forward to the Christmas special, too. I think that since it doesn't really have to further the plot if it doesn't want to, we could get some really interesting character stuff, which I'd love.

[aerintine.livejournal.com]

I really didn't find the first series that soapy, so it was a disappointment for me that it went in that direction.

*nods* That makes sense then. I can see why you'd be disappointed. Me, as soon as Pamouk died in Mary's bed and had to be snuck by her and Anna back to his room OMG SCANDALl I was all this shit is bananas. I LOVE it. And just, the arch-villainy of Thomas and O'Brien and the backstabbyness of Mary and Edith a la Alexis and Krystle Carrington - It was like an Edwardian Dynasty from the start for me.

RE: Sybil. I agree completely about Branson. But Sybil embraced nursing wholeheartedly, even though it was a drudgerous, bone-tiring, constant job - throughout the season she's lamenting having to leave work early to come to dinner, etc. I loved all that, and thought it was consistent and not over-played. And I am pleased that despite the fact that she's marrying Branson, she's still determined to work in a hospital in Dublin. I wish she were doing it single, but alas.

Is the Christmas special airing on Christmas? Does anyone know? I haven't checked the DA comm in awhile so I don't know. I don't want to miss it!

[silverusagi]

Ditto to Once Upon A Time.

I'm still watching Ringer, though. I know it's bad, but I must watch.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

At least we can acknowledge it's bad, even if we feel compelled to watch it....