Good TV

[Coin]

@HelloRaptor said:

@Roz

I wish they'd just not even pretended to have optioned the material.

I've got a pretty high tolerance for things like this, usually, probably because I watch a lot of anime that do shit like deliberately using the same characters, names, faces, etc but swap around dispositions, relationships, situations, etc to tell largely different stories.

I just have a high tolerance for remakes and retellings and adaptations and whatever. Maybe it comes from my live of alternate reality stories, etc. I don't know.

[Roz]

@HelloRaptor said:

@Roz

I wish they'd just not even pretended to have optioned the material.

I've got a pretty high tolerance for things like this, usually, probably because I watch a lot of anime that do shit like deliberately using the same characters, names, faces, etc but swap around dispositions, relationships, situations, etc to tell largely different stories.

I've got the whole run of Lucifer in trade paperback sitting on my shelves, and I loved it to bits, but I'm 100% okay with a completely twisted up telling of the tale in a similar framework but with shit changed up. Honestly, Lucifer as a direct translation to screen (or even just the parts that really defined the character as he appeared in the comics) would probably make for shit television.

I said the above but my initial response was to pretend you were talking about the Battlestar reboot, because fuuuuuuuuuuuuck that show.

I actually have a fairly high tolerance for adaptation, too. It's just that almost every piece of plot available in the trailers, summaries, etc. are pretty diametrically opposed to the whole. When something begins to bear so little resemblance to the source material, what's even the point? I definitely didn't expect a direct adaptation, because the run of the comics is definitely not a television show.

And why do we need another gd police procedural!

[HelloRaptor]

@Roz said:

@HelloRaptor said:

@Roz

I wish they'd just not even pretended to have optioned the material.

I've got a pretty high tolerance for things like this, usually, probably because I watch a lot of anime that do shit like deliberately using the same characters, names, faces, etc but swap around dispositions, relationships, situations, etc to tell largely different stories.

I've got the whole run of Lucifer in trade paperback sitting on my shelves, and I loved it to bits, but I'm 100% okay with a completely twisted up telling of the tale in a similar framework but with shit changed up. Honestly, Lucifer as a direct translation to screen (or even just the parts that really defined the character as he appeared in the comics) would probably make for shit television.

I said the above but my initial response was to pretend you were talking about the Battlestar reboot, because fuuuuuuuuuuuuck that show.

I actually have a fairly high tolerance for adaptation, too. It's just that almost every piece of plot available in the trailers, summaries, etc. are pretty diametrically opposed to the whole. When something begins to bear so little resemblance to the source material, what's even the point? I definitely didn't expect a direct adaptation, because the run of the comics is definitely not a television show.

And why do we need another gd police procedural!

It's about as much of a police procedural as Person of Interest is, which is to say... there are cops in the show, along with a vague suggestion of police work, but this is not even remotely in the ballpark of Law & Order or the like. At all.

And it actually bears a good bit of resemblance to the source material, at least in a literal sense. There are entire scenes that are taken directly from panels in the comics, right down to the way people are positioned, what's being said, etc.

Edit: To clarify, I mean that basically all the scenes in and around the Lux look to be taken right from the comics, including his confrontations with Amenadiel, and Lucifer's attitudes in the show generally match up with what he expresses in the comics as far as matters of Heaven, Hell, God, and so on go.

[Olsson]

Wait, what comic is this Lucier thing about? Also give me a brief description of the show.

[HelloRaptor]

@Olsson said:

Wait, what comic is this Lucier thing about? Also give me a brief description of the show.

Lucifer, the comic. Created by Neil Gaiman as part of his Sandman run, but written by Mike Carey in his own series (and miniseries).

In the comics he's often more aloof and inscrutable, but that doesn't really play well on tv for a main character (Person of Interest and Blacklist aside).

[Coin]

@HelloRaptor said:

@Olsson said:

Wait, what comic is this Lucier thing about? Also give me a brief description of the show.

Lucifer, the comic. Created by Neil Gaiman as part of his Sandman run, but written by Mike Carey in his own series (and miniseries).

In the comics he's often more aloof and inscrutable, but that doesn't really play well on tv for a main character (Person of Interest and Blacklist aside).

While Red Reddington is certainly inscrutable to a point, I'd hardly call him aloof. He's downright personable. And Reese isn't even the main character of PoI at this point, which is why he works.

[HelloRaptor]

@Coin said:

@HelloRaptor said:

@Olsson said:

Wait, what comic is this Lucier thing about? Also give me a brief description of the show.

Lucifer, the comic. Created by Neil Gaiman as part of his Sandman run, but written by Mike Carey in his own series (and miniseries).

In the comics he's often more aloof and inscrutable, but that doesn't really play well on tv for a main character (Person of Interest and Blacklist aside).

While Red Reddington is certainly inscrutable to a point, I'd hardly call him aloof. He's downright personable. And Reese isn't even the main character of PoI at this point, which is why he works.

Seriously? Red is aloof pretty frequently. He's only personable if you've got his attention for some reason, in which case you're probably going to regret it, need it, or probably both very shortly. >_>

And Reese was the main character for nearly four seasons, so still stands as a good example.

[Coin]

@HelloRaptor said:

@Coin said:

@HelloRaptor said:

@Olsson said:

Wait, what comic is this Lucier thing about? Also give me a brief description of the show.

Lucifer, the comic. Created by Neil Gaiman as part of his Sandman run, but written by Mike Carey in his own series (and miniseries).

In the comics he's often more aloof and inscrutable, but that doesn't really play well on tv for a main character (Person of Interest and Blacklist aside).

While Red Reddington is certainly inscrutable to a point, I'd hardly call him aloof. He's downright personable. And Reese isn't even the main character of PoI at this point, which is why he works.

Seriously? Red is aloof pretty frequently. He's only personable if you've got his attention for some reason, in which case you're probably going to regret it, need it, or probably both very shortly. >_>

And Reese was the main character for nearly four seasons, so still stands as a good example.

I don't really think it counts if Red is aloof with people except for most of the main cast, which have his attention.

And Reese was not. He stopped being the main character the second we learned more about Harold, at which point they were both main characters. In any case, I think the point is that both shows have something that mitigates the aloofness, wherein Lucifer probably wouldn't, so making him less so is good.

[Roz]

Probably the bigger issue with Lucifer as he exists in the comics is how supremely disinterested he is in actual humans. Like, the idea of the comics Lucifer helping out the LAPD is laughable.

[Coin]

@Roz said:

Probably the bigger issue with Lucifer as he exists in the comics is how supremely disinterested he is in actual humans. Like, the idea of the comics Lucifer helping out the LAPD is laughable.

In the show, he takes likings to specific humans, at least, which helps move the plot along.

[HelloRaptor]

@Roz said:

Probably the bigger issue with Lucifer as he exists in the comics is how supremely disinterested he is in actual humans. Like, the idea of the comics Lucifer helping out the LAPD is laughable.

By way of clarity, not defense, in the show Lucifer isn't interested in the LAPD at all and mostly seems to hold them in contempt. The general premise of the pilot at least is that one of the humans he did take an interest in got killed in front of him, and it irritated him so he started to look into it, and along the way met another human who interests him because she seems immune to the influence he has over people (not just the sexy thing, but at all). At one point he asks her if his Father sent her, and it didn't really seem rhetorical even if she didn't actually get what he meant, because she's kind of anomalous.

So he's got no real interest in 'helping the police', but has some in figuring out what her deal is, and since he's functionally immortal and has a way with getting people to spill their guts, he's decided to stick his nose into her business.

One thing that is communicated well is Lucifer's contempt for "God's Plan", and how supremely bored he's been (with Hell, primarily, but on earth as well), which maches up pretty well. There's definately not the same disinterest though, no.

[Cobalt]

Alright.

I need something new to watch -- preferably something I can watch a full season at a time (I don't do well with weekly episodes anymore, netflix has spoilt me, also I'm forgetful). I just need something to break up my X-Files marathon.

Anyone got suggestions?

(Framework of things I enjoyed recently: Sense8, The Strain (in theory), Chopped (shutup), X-Files (obviously), um. Farscape. I wouldn't say that I enjoyed Stargate, but I've been subjected to it recently and have mostly managed only get upset over the fake science a couple of times...)

[Three-Eyed Crow]

I LOVE CHOPPED. And cooking competition shows in general.

Have you watched any of the Anthony Bourdaine shows (Parts Unknown and No Reservations in particular, which I think are still floating around on Netflix or some streaming service)? They are very fun food TV for me.

ETA: Project Runway used to scratch a similar 'televised crafts competition' itch for me, but I completely fell off it when it moved to Lifetime. Is it worth trying to pick up the new season at all? Google tells me it's still airing/Tim Gunn is still alive.

[Arkandel]

@Cobaltasaurus have you tried Banshee? It was my most recent huge binge-run.

[Cobalt]

@Arkandel

what is Banshee?

@Three-Eyed-Crow, I get the craving for Project Runway every now and then. Pretty clothing is pretty. But I'm also not sure it is worth it. I haven't tried the Anthony Bourdaine things, I might try...

[Coin]

@Cobaltasaurus said:

Alright.

I need something new to watch -- preferably something I can watch a full season at a time (I don't do well with weekly episodes anymore, netflix has spoilt me, also I'm forgetful). I just need something to break up my X-Files marathon.

Anyone got suggestions?

(Framework of things I enjoyed recently: Sense8, The Strain (in theory), Chopped (shutup), X-Files (obviously), um. Farscape. I wouldn't say that I enjoyed Stargate, but I've been subjected to it recently and have mostly managed only get upset over the fake science a couple of times...)

Marco Polo.
Hemlock Grove.
Teen Wolf.
Fringe.
Defiance.
Dollhouse.
Eureka.
The 100.
Humans.
Orphan Black.
Warehouse 13.
Torchwood.
Sliders (... heh)
The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

And tons more, just from the science fiction section. Except for Marco Polo. That's historical fiction.

[Cobalt]

@Coin said:

Marco Polo.

Maybe.

Hemlock Grove.

Watched the first season, I'm not positive what is holding me back from the second. But I've been filled with apathy to continue watching it.

Teen Wolf.

Maaaaybe.

Fringe.

Nah.

Defiance.

I really liked the video game, so perhaps I should actually try the show. (Also I wanna play the game again. Maybe I should hook my PS3 up and shoot aliens.)

Dollhouse.

I loved the first season, but something about the first episode of the second season quite violently turned me off of the second season. Not completely sure what it was. It might be that I just don't like Joss Whedon very much.

Eureka.

Too campy.

The 100.

Once the second season is on Netflix! Yes! I'm very interested in seeing what happens with the mountain place.

Humans.

Oh, I was going to watch the first episode of that and never did. I really should. Is the first season done and watchable all at once?

Orphan Black.

I watched the first season obsessively. I'm not positive what is keeping me from watching the next one(s). Might be the same thing holding me back from Hemlock Grove.

Warehouse 13.

I actually watch this occasionally with my roommate. I can only take a little bit at a time because I don't enjoy camp.

Torchwood.

No. All of the No.

Sliders (... heh)

Nope, watched it as a child with my father. Not interested in going back.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Maybe.

And tons more, just from the science fiction section. Except for Marco Polo. That's historical fiction.

Thank you for the suggestions. Aside from the ones that are firm 'No'. I might look at them. I'm very unlikely to look at Marco Polo, but I might. I'm not a huge fan of historical settings.

[Coin]

@Cobaltasaurus said:

@Coin said:

Marco Polo.

Maybe.

Hemlock Grove.

Watched the first season, I'm not positive what is holding me back from the second. But I've been filled with apathy to continue watching it.

Teen Wolf.

Maaaaybe.

Fringe.

Nah.

Defiance.

I really liked the video game, so perhaps I should actually try the show. (Also I wanna play the game again. Maybe I should hook my PS3 up and shoot aliens.)

Dollhouse.

I loved the first season, but something about the first episode of the second season quite violently turned me off of the second season. Not completely sure what it was. It might be that I just don't like Joss Whedon very much.

Eureka.

Too campy.

The 100.

Once the second season is on Netflix! Yes! I'm very interested in seeing what happens with the mountain place.

Humans.

Oh, I was going to watch the first episode of that and never did. I really should. Is the first season done and watchable all at once?

Orphan Black.

I watched the first season obsessively. I'm not positive what is keeping me from watching the next one(s). Might be the same thing holding me back from Hemlock Grove.

Warehouse 13.

I actually watch this occasionally with my roommate. I can only take a little bit at a time because I don't enjoy camp.

Torchwood.

No. All of the No.

Sliders (... heh)

Nope, watched it as a child with my father. Not interested in going back.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Maybe.

And tons more, just from the science fiction section. Except for Marco Polo. That's historical fiction.

Thank you for the suggestions. Aside from the ones that are firm 'No'. I might look at them. I'm very unlikely to look at Marco Polo, but I might. I'm not a huge fan of historical settings.

Sure!

Marco Polo has the saving grace that is KUBLAI KHAN and the fact that it should be really called Kublai Khan and his Fantastically Stupid White Servant. That said, it has kung fu and is very fictionalized and I liked it a lot.

I haven't actually watched The sarah Connor Chronicles. I couldn't get into Warehouse 13 (but enough people I know liked it that I recommended it). I can get not liking camp, though. I HIGHLY suggest you just sit the fuck down and watch Orphan Black, and Hemlock Grove just gets so crazy, it's great.

The first season of Humans is indeed done.

I mostly just used this to remind me of what shows I might recommend.

[Cobalt]

@HelloRaptor In reflection about The Strain. My problem isn't the personal drama -- I was fine with it on The Walking Dead, for example. My problem is that the personal drama is poorly timed. The same way I felt that some of Sense8's jumping around was poorly timed. I get that the idea is to cause suspense, and tension, but for me instead of doing that it just left me frustrated or thinking that the characters were stupid. Like Diane said at one point, "Oh there's an epidemic going on that's so bad, but you still found time to have sex on the rug?"

Like. I get that a part of human emotion means that when faced with danger or death and having survived it there is a large urge to have sex-- to prove that you're alive, or some ingrained instinct to reproduce because you could die and the species shouldn't die with you.

But couldn't they have done it in a slightly safer location?

I think that part of what they are trying to do is show that people get seriously messed up and do stupid things during disasters -- but I think they are doing a poor job of it. Aside from a few instances (the gas station episode was perfect, and what happens to Kelly, and to Ansel's wife), most of the time it's like:

Why are they still alive? How have they not just been killed since they're sitting there arguing about X or Y, WHEN THERE ARE VAMPIRES RIGHT THERE. This makes no sense!

[Shebakoby]

@Roz said:

@Coin said:

I finally pinpointed what bugs me about Teen Wolf, which is a really good show, but something was really bugging me. It's that it feels, if using a MU comparison, like the things we see on-screen are just the "PRP logs", while all the other tons of roleplay going on isn't there. You see bits and pieces, but only because maybe a normal log turned into a "surprise! prp!" log in the middle. It's all-action, all-the-time, and while that should usually work, on a show with teens that has a lot of parallels to what it is to grow up, to take responsibility, i.e. coming of age, etc., it feels like it's missing something. There's no downtime.

Man, Teen Wolf is making me a little wistful this season. I didn't even love Derek, but I'm kind of sad he's not around, especially because we now have several new pretty white boys who kind of just look the same. (I guess only two. But still.) I definitely miss Peter, because Peter's fucking great and I wish he was around being sarcastic 24:7. I get that they probably want to just move on from certain characters, and how many seasons can they have Peter trying to take over and kill everyone, but, like I said -- wistful about moving on from a number of the original cast.

Re: Lucifer, you can't even make me watch that because that comic series is amazing and that show is 100% unrelated to the series. I wish they'd just not even pretended to have optioned the material.

whoa, someone made a reboot of the show from the 80s that was based on the movie starring Michael J. Fox?