donutsweeper | Hey look, an entry!

Wow, I have barely posted this year. I did intend to but, well, the road to hell and all that.

It's just me and the animals at home for a bit as Hub gets son settled at college which feels weird. Molly (the dog) misses her girl (who's off at college herself) like crazy, or at least I assume so, she spends her day on her chair sleeping or looking bored and pathetic but that's part and parcel for her so it's hard to tell. The cats are getting along as well as ever (aka Santini and Kato get in arguments over who is supposed to be licking the other's head and Dusty hisses at Tini whenever he tries to get her to play).

Fannish-wise I've been into a few things this summer. I am watching/watched the new seasons of Teen Wolf (although question why more and more every episode), Graceland (ditto), Hannibal (more for its visual beauty than what it considers plot), and Dominion (whose second season has added even more interesting world building and amazing wingporn) while getting drawn into the new show Killjoys (the Syfy/Space channel show), watching all of Sense8 on Netflix in one day and all 4 seasons of a BBC show Death in Paradise (excellent mystery series, especially the first two seasons).

I really wish I could recommend Sense8 to everyone I know. The world building and set up is clever. Without giving away too much the plot is that a group of 8 people around the world discover they're linked mentally and that there are others trying to hunt them down and there's a lot of twists and turns as they figure everything out. The diversity is AMAZING. When they say around the world they mean around the world. The eight are a German man, Indian woman, Korean woman, Kenyan man, Icelandic woman, Mexican man and two Americans (one a white man, the other a white transgendered woman). The (established pre-show) relationships these folks are in are diverse too- one straight, two single sex (one of which is interracial). However, and this is a big however, there is quite a bit of violence (some *very extreme*), nudity (full frontal) and explicit sex scenes (including a quasi orgy) which contain the kind of audio that would make watching in public uncomfortable/questionable.

This is the kind of thing that makes me want to hike my trousers up around my chest, shake my cane at the clouds and shout about kids these days- so much of entertainment available today seems to be about pushing the envelope, of putting edginess and the desire to shock above anything else. I guess I just miss the days of fade-to-black and relying on the audience to use their imagination/whatever instead of blatantly showing everything and, in some cases (not Sense8 necessarily but too many tv shows and movies) dragging out the length of the fights/sex scenes to the point they take up a quarter or third of the screen time and TPTB hoping that by shocking the viewers with the violence or sex or effects they don't need to bother with thinks like plot that makes sense. Anyway. Rant over. It's a good show. Just... have the ff button handy, maybe?

Killjoys just finished (having only a 10 episode first season) and if you're looking for a show with truly amazing world building, great main plot (massively boiled down it's the story of 3 impartial bounty hunters trying not to be sucked into interplanetary politics and the possibly oncoming war) as well as engaging subplots, a kick ass female POC main character, incredibly fleshed out supporting characters (several of which are also POC), several Bechdel (and similar type) test passing moments and the best spaceship's AI I've seen in ages then this show is for you.

If you're a fan of mystery/murder/detective shows do consider checking out Murder in Paradise. The premise is a Scotland Yard detective is sent to the Caribbean (the setting is a fake island, but it's actually filmed down there so it looks amazing) to investigate the murder of the island's DI (Detective Inspector) and stays, taking over that position. Although somewhat formulaic and embracing of the 'fish out of water' stereotype it's still quite good. The plot of the murders makes sense (especially the why and how, something most Inspector Lewis and similar shows lack) and there's lovely subplots and interactions between the detective and the police force he inherits as well as the locals. It's on US Netflix and not too hard to find via creative googling.

Hmm, I was sure there was more I wanted to blather about but now I can't remember. Oh well. Hope all's good with everybody.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Aw, hope son adjusts well to college.

LOL at your cat's shenanigans.

I hear you about Teen Wolf. I don't think this season has been quite as bad as season 4 was, but I find I'm not invested in half the characters and it still boggles my mind how most characters disappear from this show and are never spoken of again, as if they never existed.

I'm still debating whether to watch Sense8. The first reviews are read were beyond mixed, but a lot of people on my f-list absolutely adore it.

Stacey

Yeah, season 4 of Teen Wolf was a mess, although I'm going to refrain from judging how S5 compares to it until S5 is over because there's still a LOT that can go wrong/be ignored/be changed/etc and who knows how it'll all pan out.

I'm glad it's not just me that is scratching their head wondering about where the Hales went or Chris Argent (or, heck, DANNY). I don't understand this kind of writing. How hard is it to at least mention previous characters?

Sense8... it's very original, which is nice. I personally think it'd have been better if it had less characters since trying to give equal storytime to 8 people with each having their own supporting characters and trials and tribulations besides their shared one and also the bad guy's ones and the other recurring characters stories... There's a lot there and while interesting, it can be muddled and moves both too slowly and too quickly at times. I guess if you've some time on your hands you could always check out the pilot and see if it's for you?

Yeah, the total disappearance of Danny is a head scratcher. He went to the trouble at the end of 3B of revealing Danny knew what was going on in Beacon Hills and yet somehow decided there was nothing he could do with Danny. I'd much rather see Danny as part of them pack than most of the newbies who have come along.

I don't necessarily expect them to constantly mention dead characters, or characters who have gone, but at the very least their disappearance should be explained with more than a two word non-explanation or someone writing their initials down somewhere. Characters like Derek and Isaac, who were very important members of the pack, deserve better than that.

"it can be muddled and moves both too slowly and too quickly at times." That was something I read in the reviews. I think I'll give it a try, see if I like the characters. If I can invested in at least some of the characters, some plot problems might not bother me too much.

Stacey

Not being able to find a storyline for Danny was so ridiculous. And I'd much rather have him around than the newbie gay bf character (Miles? Maybe?) Nothing against that character, but I just don't care about him and am not sure why I'm supposed to. Derek's nonmention is really weird. You'd think with all the things they were trying to figure out this season they'd think of asking the one guy they knew who grew up in the life.... {Tonight's cliffhanger though. Part OMGNO and part *roll eyes*)

Hope you like Sense8!

Out of all the new characters I have come to like Mason the most. But, yeah, if it was a choice between him and Danny, I'd go with Danny. I think you're supposed to like him because he's Liam's Stiles and they're trying to recreate that whole dynamic with them. Other than that, I have no idea.

It's completely ridiculous no one has thought to call Derek or mention him, with everything that's going on. Then again, even when Derek was around these guys never seem to ask the people they should any questions.

I have no idea yet what to make of the finale. I was reading before the finale spoilers that mentioned several characters would die. While there are a lot of characters I want to disappear, I wasn't necessarily thirsting for anyone to die (except Theo), I was more than a little disappointed that not only did none of the deaths tonight stick, but none of the ones this season. If I wanted to see anyone resurrected it was not these bunch of chimeras. In a way, like the Benefactor stuff, it makes the whole season seem pointless.

Thanks.

Stacey

Yeah, there is a kind of 'all that happened WHY' kind of feel to the cliffhanger. Also- some of the chimeras died in pretty gruesome ways, how are they suddenly okay again? It makes very little sense. (I know, I know, expecting Teen Wolf to make sense, what am I thinking?)

And since 5b is apparently just a continuation of 5a it makes even less sense that Derek has been completely ignored/absent. *sighs*

Also, if the Sheriff really goes the way the cliffhanger makes it look like he's going? It may be the straw that breaks me from this show. It would just be unacceptable.

Teen Wolf does A LOT of stupid stuff, but I don't honestly see them killing the Sheriff off, at least not yet.

Stacey

one of the things i love about killjoys is how many of the supporting characters are women, and that they fall all over the spectrum in terms of age, shape, coloring, and kinds of power. (also whether or not they're actually human. :D ) the worldbuilding is really cool, the killjoys themselves are an interesting team, john is the cutest, and it's just a really fun show. i hope it gets a second season, because wow, cliffhanger.

i think hannibal still has a plot, but other than "catch the red dragon" i have no idea what it is.

your poor doggie. :( the cats fighting over who gets to lick whose head make me giggle, tho.

Yes! Bellus, Delel Seyah Kendry and Pawter Simms are all such different people, I love it! (And Lucy, can't forget Lucy!) That season finale though with Fancy and D'Avin and whatever is going on on Arkyn. It better not get cancelled there is so much I want to find out about.

Huh, may have to check into Death in Paradise if it's on Netflix. Within the past month I've realized the wonder of Netflix, stupid thing.

Have you watched the other SyFy show, Dark Matter? I really want to like it, but I think it's killing my soul.

Netflix is awesome. I go through stages where I don't watch it for months and then I'll spend all weekend watching one thing after another :)

I have been thinking about trying Dark Matter now that Killjoys is over. Most of the reviews I've seen of it are mixed though.

I also got sucked into Amazon prime. Have you done that? argh! lol

Take a look at one or two eps and tell me what you think.

Currently I don't have Amazon Prime, so at least I can't get sucked into that at least I guess.

I'll let you know! :)

It's good to hear from you!

I kind of agree - for a lot of my entertainment I am just looking to be entertained. (Also I don't agree that art's purpose is to provoke ~learning and ~reflection, I can do that elsewhere thanks).

Hey look, an entry!

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