I talk about some tv shows below. Spoilers included!
I think I missed my calling as a TV writer or TV recapper or paid TV opinion sharer in some capacity but, no problem, there's always Twitter and I can talk at length about television over there, never irritating a soul.
TV really is a passion for me, which makes me sound kind of lazy, I know. (Spoiler: that's because I am.) What's even more a passion of mine, though, is talking about television and pop culture with smart people. This is why I have many archived emails about how Sons of Anarchy is such an interesting example of -- not just what the perfect set of abs looks like -- the gray morality humans can be accepting of. Would we cringe at a news report that a grown man smashed in the face of a porn star? Uh, yes, I'd guess we would. Did we kind of cheer when the grown man in question was Jax Teller? I did, I can admit.
TV makes us relate to characters better than we relate to people because of how much more of the story we're allowed to see, and I find that fascinating.
So, basically, once every couple weeks, I'd like to share (here) some things I'm watching and re-watching and maybe we can start some interesting conversations. (Or, maybe it'll just be me talking! Risk I'm willing to take!)
First up: The Good Wife
Sure, I'd heard this show was very good what with Julianna Marguiles winning all the awards at all the shows (taking an Emmy from Connie Britton, in fact), but I don't really like niche dramas (legal, medical, police/crime). I'd also catch a few minutes here and there over the past couple years, and would never get sucked in.
Starting from the beginning of the series, though, was a whole new ballgame. This show is excellent. The characters are all interesting and likable. (Also unlikable, sometimes in the same episode.) The actors are very nearly perfect, acting often without saying much but still conveying a whole helluva lot. I love that. And, probably my favorite part of the entire show, is how good the writers remember the details. They bring back small characters from episodes past, referencing subtle history as part of a bigger story, and this attention to detail is so refreshing. You are constantly reminded that the writers 1) know what they're doing and 2) they know what they're doing far better than the viewers. (Haven't you watched shows in the past where you just want to offer up your services to the writers as someone ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION so they wouldn't miss such obvious things?)
The show is marketed -- at least early on -- as being about the scandalized and humiliated wife of a politician who has slept with a prostitute. Just hearing that premise makes you hate the husband. I sure did. But somehow he grows on you, not in an "all is forgiven" kind of way -- and not even in a way that makes you want her to stay with him -- but just in a "there's more to a person than their worst offense" kind of way.
I also plan to walk through life continually asking myself, "What would Kalinda do?" (FYI, it likely involves awesome boots and possibly taking a bat to someone's car.)
Anyway, if you're looking for a summer show to get caught up on, I recommend this one!
Do you watch The Good Wife? Do you love it?
Some other shows I have in my queue to watch: Southland, Veep, Homeland, Sports Night, Justified. Anything I'm missing?