Frakking Dolls
Feb. 21st, 2009 05:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chaniI'm caught up with my Friday's American tv shows, that are BSG , Battlestar Galactica and Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles (yes that's a new addiction...I'm weak).
Let's start with BSG...
Well "Deadlock " was not the best episode of the season, but worth watching if only for Saul Tigh. M. Hoogan rocks !!!!
Of course Ellen was right, Saul/Bill is the greatest love story told on the show.
There were good moments (all connected to Saul...I loved his "I feel it less with words"), and Ellen's jealousy made sense. She had to be a trouble maker as usual. As she told Bill at the beginning: "I'm still Ellen". The rest of the episode proved it.
However some things were off. Tyrol's behaviour was odd, as everybody pointed out on![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
battlestar_blog–even though he was the one recalling that Anders wanted them to stay. Galen seemed to have found his place back in the previous episodes and now he wants to leave? It doesn't make any snese unless it's connected to Boomer. Maybe seeing her changed the deal .
Also I wasn't convinced by the Gaius scenes, the guns stuff, the starving issue– which was something I've been thinking about for a while as an issue that should be addressed, but it didn't work. The Six!Head scenes didn't work as well as they used to either. The comic relief seemed forced. I wish Paula the Amazon would have kicked Baltar's ass because I had high hopes for him and he's disappointing me. On the other hand I liked his "I'm flattered" when he heard that the boy's name was "Gaius". It wasn't only a funny line showing Baltar's ego...it sort of foreshadowed the last scene and Bill saying to Saul "short for Liam".
Yes I cried during that last scene. It was just touching to see Saul in Bill's arms, both of them in tears. I wanted Bill to marry Saul and the two of them have hybrid babies together !
The problem is that I think that Bill Adama loves his ship, his girl, more than anyone hence all the scenes showing him watch the Cylons work on the Galactica. The scenes weren't very good btw. Too repetitive, and the fake Sixes look really...fake which was distracting.
Poor Saul, and above all, poor Caprica Six. She hasn't been lucky so far, concerning the men she has loved. On one hand I don't believe that Saul ever loved her as a woman, he loves Ellen, and it's his love for Ellen that provided the key element that allowed the sex to lead to procreation; it wasn't only porn in his head. That's Baltar's trick.
On the other hand Saul grew attached to Caprica, especially after he found out about being a Cylon himself; he came to love her as the mother of his unborn child. When Ellen showed compassion eventually and was ready to sacrifice, or so she said, it was obvious that Saul.
I'm feeling all Helo-deprived. I miss Athena too. Give me my fighting Agathons back!!!!!
Didn't Ellen Tigh say that Saul had been frakking a doll ?
The second episode of Dollhouse was slightly better than the pilot. Some things still don't click though. It's mostly the Dollhouse itself with which I have problems. Too many plotholes, the treatment scenes don't work at all for me and I have a general impression of amateurism. I just don't believe in that organization so far.
So there's still weakness in the show but Eliza Dushku's acting was much better this week IMO.
Also I liked the storyline. I could make out Joss' mind behind it. The way he used several layers in the narrative for instance. The psychopath playing with Echo as his prey, chasing her in the countryside(so déjà vu since Delivrance, in many mediocre tv films) was just hiding another serial killer, the mysterious Alpha, and the chase we witnessed concealed the other one, the one that will go throughout the sries, the one that Paul Ballard has started. When Echo said that the guy wouldn't quit and would look for her until he's dead it was actually a good description of Tahmoh's character. Pursuit within pursuit. Not convinced by Paul's neighbour though. I totally believe that she would have a crush on him, and he was all "charming without trying to be because not interested in her" but the actress didn't quite deliver. The FBI stuff seems botched up too, even though I found that Tahmoh played them right again. I hope we'll get longer meatier scenes in upcoming episodes.
On the other hand I liked the relationship between Echo and her handler/caretaker. The reversal of the script was an interesting way of showing the dysfunctional evolution of the doll and how it moved the handler (forgot his name). The tree scene was nice.
Before signing off, here are some thoughts on Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles
Season 1 got me hooked despite many plotholes, some religious talk that got on my nerves several times, and the huge disappointment in seeing the new actor playing Kyle Reese. I started watching it because I was curious about Summer Glau's work on it, and I loved the first Terminator movie at the time. I stuck with it when I saw that Dean Winters (my dear Ryan O'Reilly from OZ) was on it, and that Penny from Lost was playing his wife. By the way I realised that the actress looks like Linda Hamilton which was weird given that the new Sarah looked nothing like Linda Hamilton!
I got hooked because of the Cameron character and her journey amongst human beings. It's the best part of the show. Cameron-centred episodes are fabulous. Sometimes she looks very dollish. Much more than Eliza Dusku and yet she manages to shows depth and suggests ambiguity...the ghost in the machine. Summer Glau does a great job. She should have more scenes with Derek. There's a potential 'ship there. What? Don't tell me I 'm the only one who saw it ! ;- )
The second half of season 2 is a bit disappointing. Some storylines are dropped too quickly. Some stuff is wasted. The character of Ellison really annoys me now, and has become pointless. The T1000 girl (forgot her name) who is supposed to be more sophisticated than the old terminators actually comes out less interesting than the T888 were, either Vic or Cromartie(well apart from that time when she mimicked an urinal before killing the guy...now that was interesting and I can't believe censorship let it pass!). Her scenes witht he little girl are becoming repetitive and heavy. Also there's more and more a X-Files vibe coming from the story and it's getting boring. The last episodes that focused on Sarah's quest in the desert and the mysterious plant were blah. Did I mention how the new Kyle doesn't work for me at all? He is nothing like the guy we saw on the film, either physically or psychologically. I guess they had to change him, to make him younger and less tough because of Derek.
Please let's go back to the subplot and the subversive mission of Derek's girlfriend! It isn't much that I want more Reily or see the truth unveiled, it's about that part of the resistance who's challenging John Connor's decisions and doubting the messiah. mUch more interesting IMO.
I really enjoyed the episode with the librarian in the wheelchair though, but it was Cameron-centric..
Let's start with BSG...
Well "Deadlock " was not the best episode of the season, but worth watching if only for Saul Tigh. M. Hoogan rocks !!!!
Of course Ellen was right, Saul/Bill is the greatest love story told on the show.
There were good moments (all connected to Saul...I loved his "I feel it less with words"), and Ellen's jealousy made sense. She had to be a trouble maker as usual. As she told Bill at the beginning: "I'm still Ellen". The rest of the episode proved it.
However some things were off. Tyrol's behaviour was odd, as everybody pointed out on
battlestar_blog–even though he was the one recalling that Anders wanted them to stay. Galen seemed to have found his place back in the previous episodes and now he wants to leave? It doesn't make any snese unless it's connected to Boomer. Maybe seeing her changed the deal . Also I wasn't convinced by the Gaius scenes, the guns stuff, the starving issue– which was something I've been thinking about for a while as an issue that should be addressed, but it didn't work. The Six!Head scenes didn't work as well as they used to either. The comic relief seemed forced. I wish Paula the Amazon would have kicked Baltar's ass because I had high hopes for him and he's disappointing me. On the other hand I liked his "I'm flattered" when he heard that the boy's name was "Gaius". It wasn't only a funny line showing Baltar's ego...it sort of foreshadowed the last scene and Bill saying to Saul "short for Liam".
Yes I cried during that last scene. It was just touching to see Saul in Bill's arms, both of them in tears. I wanted Bill to marry Saul and the two of them have hybrid babies together !
The problem is that I think that Bill Adama loves his ship, his girl, more than anyone hence all the scenes showing him watch the Cylons work on the Galactica. The scenes weren't very good btw. Too repetitive, and the fake Sixes look really...fake which was distracting.
Poor Saul, and above all, poor Caprica Six. She hasn't been lucky so far, concerning the men she has loved. On one hand I don't believe that Saul ever loved her as a woman, he loves Ellen, and it's his love for Ellen that provided the key element that allowed the sex to lead to procreation; it wasn't only porn in his head. That's Baltar's trick.
On the other hand Saul grew attached to Caprica, especially after he found out about being a Cylon himself; he came to love her as the mother of his unborn child. When Ellen showed compassion eventually and was ready to sacrifice, or so she said, it was obvious that Saul.
I'm feeling all Helo-deprived. I miss Athena too. Give me my fighting Agathons back!!!!!
Didn't Ellen Tigh say that Saul had been frakking a doll ?
The second episode of Dollhouse was slightly better than the pilot. Some things still don't click though. It's mostly the Dollhouse itself with which I have problems. Too many plotholes, the treatment scenes don't work at all for me and I have a general impression of amateurism. I just don't believe in that organization so far.
So there's still weakness in the show but Eliza Dushku's acting was much better this week IMO.
Also I liked the storyline. I could make out Joss' mind behind it. The way he used several layers in the narrative for instance. The psychopath playing with Echo as his prey, chasing her in the countryside(so déjà vu since Delivrance, in many mediocre tv films) was just hiding another serial killer, the mysterious Alpha, and the chase we witnessed concealed the other one, the one that will go throughout the sries, the one that Paul Ballard has started. When Echo said that the guy wouldn't quit and would look for her until he's dead it was actually a good description of Tahmoh's character. Pursuit within pursuit. Not convinced by Paul's neighbour though. I totally believe that she would have a crush on him, and he was all "charming without trying to be because not interested in her" but the actress didn't quite deliver. The FBI stuff seems botched up too, even though I found that Tahmoh played them right again. I hope we'll get longer meatier scenes in upcoming episodes.
On the other hand I liked the relationship between Echo and her handler/caretaker. The reversal of the script was an interesting way of showing the dysfunctional evolution of the doll and how it moved the handler (forgot his name). The tree scene was nice.
Before signing off, here are some thoughts on Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles
Season 1 got me hooked despite many plotholes, some religious talk that got on my nerves several times, and the huge disappointment in seeing the new actor playing Kyle Reese. I started watching it because I was curious about Summer Glau's work on it, and I loved the first Terminator movie at the time. I stuck with it when I saw that Dean Winters (my dear Ryan O'Reilly from OZ) was on it, and that Penny from Lost was playing his wife. By the way I realised that the actress looks like Linda Hamilton which was weird given that the new Sarah looked nothing like Linda Hamilton!
I got hooked because of the Cameron character and her journey amongst human beings. It's the best part of the show. Cameron-centred episodes are fabulous. Sometimes she looks very dollish. Much more than Eliza Dusku and yet she manages to shows depth and suggests ambiguity...the ghost in the machine. Summer Glau does a great job. She should have more scenes with Derek. There's a potential 'ship there. What? Don't tell me I 'm the only one who saw it ! ;- )
The second half of season 2 is a bit disappointing. Some storylines are dropped too quickly. Some stuff is wasted. The character of Ellison really annoys me now, and has become pointless. The T1000 girl (forgot her name) who is supposed to be more sophisticated than the old terminators actually comes out less interesting than the T888 were, either Vic or Cromartie(well apart from that time when she mimicked an urinal before killing the guy...now that was interesting and I can't believe censorship let it pass!). Her scenes witht he little girl are becoming repetitive and heavy. Also there's more and more a X-Files vibe coming from the story and it's getting boring. The last episodes that focused on Sarah's quest in the desert and the mysterious plant were blah. Did I mention how the new Kyle doesn't work for me at all? He is nothing like the guy we saw on the film, either physically or psychologically. I guess they had to change him, to make him younger and less tough because of Derek.
Please let's go back to the subplot and the subversive mission of Derek's girlfriend! It isn't much that I want more Reily or see the truth unveiled, it's about that part of the resistance who's challenging John Connor's decisions and doubting the messiah. mUch more interesting IMO.
I really enjoyed the episode with the librarian in the wheelchair though, but it was Cameron-centric..
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-02-21 11:27 pm (UTC)I have lots of mixed feelings about Dollhouse but this second ep was more interesting than the first one. I can see ED as someone other than Faith (though this episode made me think of her horror movie Wrong Turn). The FBI stuff is by far the weakest part of the show so far and I'm not sure where I read it but it's true that the Dollhouse never seems real not like the Firefly or Gile's library.
I didn't enjoy BSG as much this week. You make a lot of good points.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 11:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-22 12:01 pm (UTC)\o/ Join usss!
I agree that episodes with Cameron in them tend to be the best ones; she's fascinating as a character. But the Catherine Weaver (T-1001) subplot is compelling viewing too, not because of the plot but because of the questions it raises about free will and responsibility and the role of religion in creating morality. And the episodes focussing on Sarah herself are growing on me.
I suspect you're alone in wanting more of the Riley & Jessie sub-plot; it's not very popular among fans. ;-) (I've got no strong opinions here either way).
Making Kyle seem like a young kid seemed an interesting creative choice; after all, this is Sarah remembering when she was just a naive 18 year old herself. He represents her lost innocence.
no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 11:32 am (UTC)Making Kyle seem like a young kid seemed an interesting creative choice; after all, this is Sarah remembering when she was just a naive 18 year old herself. He represents her lost innocence.
I am not convinced by your interpretation, sorry. The actor was showed in flashbacks from the future first, wasn't he? He was introduced through Derek's eyes, not through Sarah's memory, so I think that it has more to do with Derek's perspective since Derek is the new tough warrior from the future and Kyle was his baby brother, hence the baby-faced guy playing the part.
By the way I really hope the writers aren't heading towards a Sarah/Derek pairing...
So do you watch Dollhouse, Stephen?
no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 06:58 pm (UTC)I saw the first episode of 'Dollhouse' but haven't seen the second yet. I'm not sure I've got enough information to talk coherently about it yet. :-)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 07:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-22 08:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-22 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 11:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 10:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 11:38 am (UTC)Bt I wouldn't be suprised if the naked guy behind the curtain (or is it before the screen?) turned out to be much more than an active. Who created the Dollhouse?
no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 06:43 pm (UTC)About that Ballard's neighbour? I've got a theory... (And I think you do, too.)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-23 07:18 pm (UTC):- )
Am I that transparent?
no subject
Date: 2009-02-24 02:02 pm (UTC)Well, if anyone is transparent, it's Joss. And we know how television works...
(That said, I'm unspoiled for the new episodes, but back when the cast members were introduced I might have read something about a certain character who was then officially axed but the actress was supposedly cast in a different role and putting two and two together.....)
no subject
Date: 2009-02-24 07:25 pm (UTC)