TV-update 2019/2020, part 1
May. 23rd, 2020 10:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brabbel123As always I'm listing everything that I watched in this TV-season - not necessarily only new stuff.
Star Trek Picard - season 1
This felt like visiting old friends after a long time. Picard's still hung up over Data's death, especially as synthetic life forms are blamed for destroying the shipyards at Utopia Planitia a decade earlier and have since been dismantled. But then a young woman comes to him for help.
I thought the pilot episode was simply marvelous, the rest of the season couldn't quite live up to it - especially the middle episodes dragged on without a clear focus. Instead they felt more like stuffing in every character that could still possibly be alive (Seven, Hugh, the Borg, creepy Romulan spies etc). It came together in the end with much pathos and little surprise in what would be happening... but it still felt true to the characters which is more than many other series can say about themselves. So, yes, I'll keep watching.
Homeland - season 8
After her imprisonment an release in Russia, there are doubts about Carrie's loyalties. But when once again tensions rise in Afghanistan and the peace talks with the Taliban stall, she's called to contact old friends - and stumbles upon her Russian captor... or is it handler?
The first half of the season was quite brilliant, typical Homeland-stuff. But then it sort of slows down, it's not clear any longer who's friend and who's enemy, does she still work for the CIA or was she turned into a Russian agent during her captivity? And who's playing whom?
So, the end to this season, and the series as a whole, leaves you with a WTF on your lips - but then you'll keep going over this season, every doe-like gaze, every lip wobble, and you find out that this is the end Carrie's been working for the entire time. Quite brilliant, indeed, a worthy ending to this equally brilliant series. I'm sorry to see it gone.
Prodigal Son - season 1
Profiler Malcolm, riddled with anxiety attacks after being a witness to his mass-murderer-father's crimes as a child, now works with the New York police to solve crimes.
I really like this, the characters, the dynamics - and the ending to this season was no surprise. Malcolm has a sister who came across as quite cold in the beginning of the season, but then they toned that down - but I still thought that she'd have more of her father in her than Malcolm... who their father was focusing on, to pass on his legacy. I'll keep watching.
Black Earth Rising
This is one of the rare western programmes that put an African issue front and center - in this case the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Apart from being a suspenseful tale based on real life history, the true value lies in engaging the viewer to actually turn one's eye to the events in Rwanda - what led to them, the Western world's role in it etc. Very well done!
Grey's Anatomy - season 16
I'll just put a big, fat WTF over this season. The way Alex was written out of the series was simply atrocious, a disservice to his character development... He simply writes a couple of letters after disappearing for weeks in which he tells that he got back together with Izzy who in the meantime had 2 children (from the frozen sperm/eggs before her chemo)... Couldn't they just have let him die instead of being an utter ass in how he ends things?
Then we have the whole Webber/Catherine subplot which dissolves itself pretty easily after she thinks he's having an affair, buying out the new hospital he's working at, his filing for divorce etc. Ridiculous.
Maggie's still one of the most uninteresting and annoying characters. Teddy's together with Hunt, but cheats on him with Tom while Amelia's unsure of whether her baby's Lincoln's or Hunt's. And Meredith's her usual omnipotent self, above all laws who gets in trouble when she fakes the insurance information of one of her patients but gets redeemed by testimonies of former patients about how good she is etc... Urgh... And then we have DeLuca who's showing symptoms of bipolar disease.
Overall, a rather annoying season. Why I still keep watching? It's sort of an addiction because when it's good, it's really good... but those episodes are farther and farther inbetween all the repetitive drama. I think it's time to end Grey's Anatomy with a bang, rather than let it fizzle out the way it's been doing for the last few seasons.
New Amsterdam - season 2
So, Max now has a daughter, but lost his wife in the car accident at the end of season 1. Otherwise nothing much happens, that isn't resolved by the end of season 2 (such as Max's romance). It's a good programme, running on emotions - but essentially the status quo at the end of the season equals pretty much that of the beginning. I hope for more development (and not of the obvious will they/won't they variety) in the next season.
Bull - season 4
Some of the cases are pretty emotionally engaging, otherwise a rather generic court case drama. I still like it even though I'd love some more character development, not just friends/family popping up, causing drama (Junk's daughter for example) and then vanishing into thin air again, never to heard from again.
Criminal Minds - season 15
So, season 14 ended with JJ confessing her love for Reid... and this plotthread fizzles out quite soon. Fortunately - although the how leaves her as someone who kind of settled for marriage, pining for Reid from afar. This was a wholly uncalled for and simply stupid plotthread that did all the characters involved a huge disservice.
Reid meanwhile falls in love with a random woman he meets in a park who turns out to be badass when he again has to confront his nemesis.
And the final episode, written by Vangsness, is kind of an hommage to Garcia... wtf? She's one of the most annoying characters ever, and she's hailed as kind of the heart and soul of the team. Yeah, of course (see writer of the episode).
I really loved Criminal Minds when we only got glimpses into the perpetrators' minds through the investigation - but as soon as the Unsubs took up more time, were actually shown in committing their crimes, it became the generic crime of the week-programme. And that's a shame. It was still good and the main characters likeable, but nothing extraordinary anymore. Maybe it should have ended its run 5 years ago...
All Rise - season 1
Courtroom drama about a new judge, a defense attorney and an assistant district attorney. So far like it, like the dynamics, the different points of view, definitely will keep watching.
The Mandalorian - season 1
A mercenary's life gets thrown into chaos when the target of a job turns out to be a baby-Yoda. Well, it drags on a bit in the beginning, but it comes together in the end, baby Yoda's of course stealing every scene. Don't know if I'll keep watching as my interest in Star Wars has been waning (though I'll still watch the Kenobi-series whenever that one comes out, but that's more because of McGregor than because of "Star Wars")...
The Rookie - season 2
Right now, one of my feel good series. I like the characters and their interaction, I like the cases... *shrug
Lincoln Rhyme: The Hunt for the Bone Collector - season 1
Years ago, the hunt for a serial killer called the Bone Collector left Lincoln Rhyme paralyzed. Now, through a new-found collaboration with the New York police and a young officer he gains a new lease on life just as the Bone Collector picks up where he left off.
Overall, a pretty good series, but the characters are too flat, the actor for Rhyme (who only has his mimics and voice to work with which he simply can't live up to) comes across as flat, the young officer as part-time over-active, all knowing and oh-so experienced etc. I liked Rhyme's old partner best to be honest. But in the end, after the appearantly necessary dragging middle episodes the climax is quite exciting (albeit pretty forseeable when all of a sudden Lincoln's family appears in New York and, of course, gets targeted)... and I might even tune in for a second season where the characters will hopefully be fleshed out more... which would also make their loss more relevant...
FBI - season 2
Still like this. It's still a generic villain of the week programme, but it's well done. Pilgrim's pregnancy should have maybe found its way into the narrative, or handled better as it's obvious pretty much from the beginning of the season (and she leaves for an "undercover assignment" i.e. maternity leave just 2 episodes before the end of the season)...
FBI: Most Wanted - season 1
Spin-off to FBI, this one had a good first season, although the focus on the family of the lead character is a bit too heavy. I don't need his daughter and/or the grief for his deceased wife shoved into my face in practically every episode. But otherwise, I'll keep watching.
9-1-1: Lone Star - season 1
Well, Rob Lowe goes firefighter in Texas, faces some opposition there, including his own body's that's fighting lung cancer caused by the fumes of 9/11, and his drug-addicted also-firefighter son's. It's a feel-good series that juggles drama and cases pretty well so far. I'll keep watching.
Star Trek Picard - season 1
This felt like visiting old friends after a long time. Picard's still hung up over Data's death, especially as synthetic life forms are blamed for destroying the shipyards at Utopia Planitia a decade earlier and have since been dismantled. But then a young woman comes to him for help.
I thought the pilot episode was simply marvelous, the rest of the season couldn't quite live up to it - especially the middle episodes dragged on without a clear focus. Instead they felt more like stuffing in every character that could still possibly be alive (Seven, Hugh, the Borg, creepy Romulan spies etc). It came together in the end with much pathos and little surprise in what would be happening... but it still felt true to the characters which is more than many other series can say about themselves. So, yes, I'll keep watching.
Homeland - season 8
After her imprisonment an release in Russia, there are doubts about Carrie's loyalties. But when once again tensions rise in Afghanistan and the peace talks with the Taliban stall, she's called to contact old friends - and stumbles upon her Russian captor... or is it handler?
The first half of the season was quite brilliant, typical Homeland-stuff. But then it sort of slows down, it's not clear any longer who's friend and who's enemy, does she still work for the CIA or was she turned into a Russian agent during her captivity? And who's playing whom?
So, the end to this season, and the series as a whole, leaves you with a WTF on your lips - but then you'll keep going over this season, every doe-like gaze, every lip wobble, and you find out that this is the end Carrie's been working for the entire time. Quite brilliant, indeed, a worthy ending to this equally brilliant series. I'm sorry to see it gone.
Prodigal Son - season 1
Profiler Malcolm, riddled with anxiety attacks after being a witness to his mass-murderer-father's crimes as a child, now works with the New York police to solve crimes.
I really like this, the characters, the dynamics - and the ending to this season was no surprise. Malcolm has a sister who came across as quite cold in the beginning of the season, but then they toned that down - but I still thought that she'd have more of her father in her than Malcolm... who their father was focusing on, to pass on his legacy. I'll keep watching.
Black Earth Rising
This is one of the rare western programmes that put an African issue front and center - in this case the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Apart from being a suspenseful tale based on real life history, the true value lies in engaging the viewer to actually turn one's eye to the events in Rwanda - what led to them, the Western world's role in it etc. Very well done!
Grey's Anatomy - season 16
I'll just put a big, fat WTF over this season. The way Alex was written out of the series was simply atrocious, a disservice to his character development... He simply writes a couple of letters after disappearing for weeks in which he tells that he got back together with Izzy who in the meantime had 2 children (from the frozen sperm/eggs before her chemo)... Couldn't they just have let him die instead of being an utter ass in how he ends things?
Then we have the whole Webber/Catherine subplot which dissolves itself pretty easily after she thinks he's having an affair, buying out the new hospital he's working at, his filing for divorce etc. Ridiculous.
Maggie's still one of the most uninteresting and annoying characters. Teddy's together with Hunt, but cheats on him with Tom while Amelia's unsure of whether her baby's Lincoln's or Hunt's. And Meredith's her usual omnipotent self, above all laws who gets in trouble when she fakes the insurance information of one of her patients but gets redeemed by testimonies of former patients about how good she is etc... Urgh... And then we have DeLuca who's showing symptoms of bipolar disease.
Overall, a rather annoying season. Why I still keep watching? It's sort of an addiction because when it's good, it's really good... but those episodes are farther and farther inbetween all the repetitive drama. I think it's time to end Grey's Anatomy with a bang, rather than let it fizzle out the way it's been doing for the last few seasons.
New Amsterdam - season 2
So, Max now has a daughter, but lost his wife in the car accident at the end of season 1. Otherwise nothing much happens, that isn't resolved by the end of season 2 (such as Max's romance). It's a good programme, running on emotions - but essentially the status quo at the end of the season equals pretty much that of the beginning. I hope for more development (and not of the obvious will they/won't they variety) in the next season.
Bull - season 4
Some of the cases are pretty emotionally engaging, otherwise a rather generic court case drama. I still like it even though I'd love some more character development, not just friends/family popping up, causing drama (Junk's daughter for example) and then vanishing into thin air again, never to heard from again.
Criminal Minds - season 15
So, season 14 ended with JJ confessing her love for Reid... and this plotthread fizzles out quite soon. Fortunately - although the how leaves her as someone who kind of settled for marriage, pining for Reid from afar. This was a wholly uncalled for and simply stupid plotthread that did all the characters involved a huge disservice.
Reid meanwhile falls in love with a random woman he meets in a park who turns out to be badass when he again has to confront his nemesis.
And the final episode, written by Vangsness, is kind of an hommage to Garcia... wtf? She's one of the most annoying characters ever, and she's hailed as kind of the heart and soul of the team. Yeah, of course (see writer of the episode).
I really loved Criminal Minds when we only got glimpses into the perpetrators' minds through the investigation - but as soon as the Unsubs took up more time, were actually shown in committing their crimes, it became the generic crime of the week-programme. And that's a shame. It was still good and the main characters likeable, but nothing extraordinary anymore. Maybe it should have ended its run 5 years ago...
All Rise - season 1
Courtroom drama about a new judge, a defense attorney and an assistant district attorney. So far like it, like the dynamics, the different points of view, definitely will keep watching.
The Mandalorian - season 1
A mercenary's life gets thrown into chaos when the target of a job turns out to be a baby-Yoda. Well, it drags on a bit in the beginning, but it comes together in the end, baby Yoda's of course stealing every scene. Don't know if I'll keep watching as my interest in Star Wars has been waning (though I'll still watch the Kenobi-series whenever that one comes out, but that's more because of McGregor than because of "Star Wars")...
The Rookie - season 2
Right now, one of my feel good series. I like the characters and their interaction, I like the cases... *shrug
Lincoln Rhyme: The Hunt for the Bone Collector - season 1
Years ago, the hunt for a serial killer called the Bone Collector left Lincoln Rhyme paralyzed. Now, through a new-found collaboration with the New York police and a young officer he gains a new lease on life just as the Bone Collector picks up where he left off.
Overall, a pretty good series, but the characters are too flat, the actor for Rhyme (who only has his mimics and voice to work with which he simply can't live up to) comes across as flat, the young officer as part-time over-active, all knowing and oh-so experienced etc. I liked Rhyme's old partner best to be honest. But in the end, after the appearantly necessary dragging middle episodes the climax is quite exciting (albeit pretty forseeable when all of a sudden Lincoln's family appears in New York and, of course, gets targeted)... and I might even tune in for a second season where the characters will hopefully be fleshed out more... which would also make their loss more relevant...
FBI - season 2
Still like this. It's still a generic villain of the week programme, but it's well done. Pilgrim's pregnancy should have maybe found its way into the narrative, or handled better as it's obvious pretty much from the beginning of the season (and she leaves for an "undercover assignment" i.e. maternity leave just 2 episodes before the end of the season)...
FBI: Most Wanted - season 1
Spin-off to FBI, this one had a good first season, although the focus on the family of the lead character is a bit too heavy. I don't need his daughter and/or the grief for his deceased wife shoved into my face in practically every episode. But otherwise, I'll keep watching.
9-1-1: Lone Star - season 1
Well, Rob Lowe goes firefighter in Texas, faces some opposition there, including his own body's that's fighting lung cancer caused by the fumes of 9/11, and his drug-addicted also-firefighter son's. It's a feel-good series that juggles drama and cases pretty well so far. I'll keep watching.
