My Walking Dead Love Has Returned...maybe

I was just listening to music from The Walking Dead, and I felt the love...the love that had sort of disappeared recently.

Earlier this week I told Tim I was done with the show for now.  I don't think we should pay for it. We'll watch season five in a year or so when we can get it for free.

But than about an hour or so ago, I told Tim I thought maybe the show had redeemed itself with the Rick bite.  He agreed and said he thinks we SHOULD pay for it.  I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't back in love to that degree.

But now, after hearing the music, I feel back to the fandom.

I think, besides the bite and the music, another reason my negativity has been reduced is the How I met Your Mother.  In comparison, The Walking Dead is doing very well.   

I'm like that with people.  I'll be very angry at someone; then someone else makes me angry and my anger towards the first person is greatly reduced.  

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Immunity to Mind Control

Warning: This post has spoilers about the Harry Potter series, the Twilight Series, season 2 of True Blood, Stephanie's Meyer's The Host and Veronica Roth's Divergent. 

Last night I started thinking about some of the characters in current popular literature; and how they have something in common.  

They seem to have some immunity to brainwashing and/or mind manipulation.

In Harry Potter's world, wizards are able to control other wizards with the imperius curse.  Harry Potter is able to resist the curse to some degree.  He doesn't easily become a puppet.

In the Twilight series, Bella Swan has a strong resistance to the powers of the vampires.  Edward Cullen can read minds; but he can't read hers.  Jane tortures people with some kind of mind trick.   She's unable to torture Bella.

In season 2 of True Blood, the townspeople of Bon Temps become zombie-like while under control of a Maenad.  Sookie Stackhouse is able to resist the control.  

In The Host, Melanie Stryder's mind's so strong; she's able to resist losing herself when an alien body snatcher takes over her body.

In Divergent, Beatrice Prior's fellow Dauntless member factions are controlled by injections and a powerful computer program.  They're made to do horrible things. Beatrice is able to resist.

The immunity to mind control.  It's a good trait for a hero to possess.

I think it also works well in fiction, because the reader and/or viewer can imagine they might possess this trait as well.  Really. How likely is it that their hypothesis will be tested?

I can imagine that I'd be like Sookie Stackhouse....keeping my wits about me while everyone else is involved in wild mindless orgies and blood sacrifices.  Who's going to prove me wrong?

I'm guessing though that this type of extreme mind control can be symbolic of less extreme examples.

The fictional stories might push us to ask realistic questions about ourselves.

If everyone else picked on that particular co-worker, would we join the fun?

If everyone in our book club spoke out against a current bestseller; would we automatically decide it's awful; or would we read it and form our own independent opinion?

If everyone believes a headline murder suspect is guilty; will we assume the same? Or would we consider other sides to the story? 

Are we the type of person to follow fashions because we're told that they're in right now.   Or are we the type of person who wears what we genuinely enjoy wearing?

I'd say if we're free-thinkers in the real world; there might be a chance that we're able to resist when the wizards, vampires, and/or aliens take over.   

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Smart?

I'm feeling empathy for Penny today; the woman from The Big Bang Theory.

She hangs out with four guys who are much smarter than her.  They're nice to her; but sometimes there's that air of superiority.  Well, and sometimes it's much more than air.  It's quite blatant.

I live with two men now; and they both make me feel like I'm dumb.

I feel like Penny.  

Is it because these guys are truly smarter than me?

Or do they just assume they're smarter than me?

I don't know.

Well, they're definitely smarter than me when it comes to certain subjects.

But I will have to assume I'm smarter than them on other subjects.

Both these men talk and talk.

I listen.

They rarely ask me any questions about myself or the subjects I know about.

They assume things about me.

I don't like a certain show because it has become too political.

I must not want to be part of a scientific project that the three males in the family are going to do together.  Right?  Let's not even ask HER.   She's a girl.

Why don't they just build a clubhouse and hang up a sign.  No Girls Allowed.

During an Apples to Apples game I pick Bill Murray as the funniest card.

Why?

Well, it's because of Zombieland.   That's why she likes him.

What?

Do they think I was born ten years ago?

Yes, I liked Zombieland.  But that's not what I think of when I think of Bill Murray. 

You know....I've actually lived for a few decades.

I think the men in my life forget I was born in the 1970's and imagine I was born in this century. 

It's ridiculous.

One of these guys think he's so woman-friendly because he opens doors for them.    

No, seriously.  I understand some women like this; and that's fine.  Really.

For me personally, it gets on my nerves.

I want to say, Instead of opening doors for me; why not open YOUR mind?  Treat me like an equal.  Don't assume things about me.   Realize I'm a multi-faceted interesting human being; and ACT like you know that.  Don't treat me like I'm your pet duck.  

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Man of Science, Man of Faith

The Lost Room (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last night we watched the first episode of a miniseries.  The Lost Room.  

The show's about a magical key. Open any door with it; and you end up in this mysterious motel room.  

I was led to believe, by the person providing the DVD, that my mind would be intensely occupied by the mysteries of the show.

The plot was puzzling and I'd want to figure it all out.

I definitely liked the first episode, and I want to see more.  It's a captivating program.

But I don't feel obsessed with getting my questions answered.

I don't even know if I have questions.

What is the mysterious motel room?

That's a question.

I'm not caring much about the answer....at least not yet.

I started to think about Lost.   

With that show, I WAS obsessed with the puzzles.

I had lots of questions.

I wanted answers.

I wasn't alone.

A whole chunk of the world's population was obsessed with getting their Lost questions answered.

I think one of the reasons for this is there was one main question behind all the small questions.

And that is....

Is this a science fiction story; or is it supernatural?   Or is it none of the above?   Could it all just be a bunch of coincidences?

Why is there a polar bear on a tropical island?   Did you notice Walt was reading a comic book with a polar bear on it?   Is Walt a magical child?   Did he conjure that bear?   Or is it just a coincidence?   

What is the smoke monster?  Is he supernatural?  Is he a scientific experiment?

What is Jacob?   Is he a man?  A real god?   Or is he just a symptom of mass hysteria and brainwashing?  

Later the show became less ambiguous.

Some people were happy with the answers, and some people were disappointed.

But I think it's the wondering and the debating (Science or faith) that kept us watching in the beginning. 

With The Lost Room there seems to be no question of whether it's supernatural or not.   The only thing I can think of is the infamous....It was all just a dream.

But that would be silly.

I find it hard to be interested in the puzzles of the supernatural; because there really are no parameters.   Right now, anything goes.  I don't wonder how something can happen; because in their universe ANYTHING can happen.

Now I'm thinking of Harry Potter.

There were questions in the series that made me curious.  But I don't think many of the questions involved the supernatural.  Most of it involved the characters. Who will live? Who will die?   Who is good?  Who is bad?  Who will end up falling in love with who?  What relationships will be redeemed in the end?  

The same goes for The Lost Room.  If I do have any questions; they're about the characters.

Will the main guy find his daughter eventually?  And if he finds her, will he lose or win the custody battle? 

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Pass Me the Yams, Please

I think one of the saddest celebrity break-ups was Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.   I mean...for me it was.  I'm talking in a selfish sense here.

I loved the Thanksgiving episode of Friends with Brad Pitt.

I think one of the things that made it extra funny was knowing that while Brad Pitt's character on Friends hated Jennifer Aniston's character; in real life they loved each other.

The love has vanished.  

There's an additional context to the scene now; and it's a rather sad one.  

Still.  I think the scene has some humor and entertainment value.

Maybe it's best to watch it and ignore the fact that Pitt and Aniston were ever a couple.  

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Premiere of The Big Bang Theory (Spoilers)

Tonight we watched the premiere of season 6 of The Big Bang Theory.

This summer we had a crash course in the big bang.  We watched seasons 1-5.  We watched about 2 episodes 5 days a week.  We were addicts.

I wasn't very happy with the episode tonight.  Although it might be one of those things where I better appreciate the episode on a second viewing.  This has happened to us with episodes of The Simpsons and Modern Family. 

I feel bad not liking this episode, because my reason's somewhat irrational.

I didn't like that the characters acted so much like themselves.

I wanted them to be different.

I wanted to see growth.

I wanted to see a continuation of the Sheldon we saw in the finale of season five; the one that held Amy Farah Fowler's hand.

I wanted Penny to listen to Raj and tell Leonard she loves him.

I'm getting tired of Howard's mother and that whole storyline.

I'm tired of Raj being lonely and dropping hints that he might not be completely heterosexual.  

I guess the show's just getting old to me.  It's losing it's magic.

But then I know you can't have characters change too much. That can be detrimental to a series.

Sheldon Cooper reminds me a bit of Christian Troy from Nip/Tuck.   In one episode, Christian Troy would do something to prove he had a heart.  Then in the next episode, he would completely regress back into being an asshole. 

Maybe that's realistic though. 

Yeah, sadly I think it is.  As we were told in that story from The Crying Game, people don't change. 

Sometimes they may take a step forward; but then usually they later take five steps backwards.

It's realistic for things to stay the same with the characters in The Big Bang Theory.  

Maybe I'm wanting a world that's unrealistic....at least when I partake in my fiction addiction.  

Anyway....

I hope all this blabbing is for nothing, and that next week I love the episode.

I was so madly in love with The Big Bang Theory this summer.  I don't want to imagine that the love has already died.   It would make me feel so fickle.
 

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Neighbors (Spoilers)

We watched the new ABC alien comedy tonight.   Neighbors. 

I knew I wouldn't like it.

I'm not the type of person who likes corny over-the-top silly science fiction sitcoms. 

That's not my style.

Then....

I remembered Third Rock From the Sun. 

I loved that show.

Okay, so maybe it IS my style...sometimes.

I can't say I have fallen head over heels in love with Neighbors.  Sometimes I cringed at the lines.

But I like it enough to watch it again.

I did laugh at some lines.

The Obama one was probably my favorite.

I loved the family portraits on the wall.

Now that I think of it....

We also love Galaxy Quest.

Neighbors is kind of along the same vein. 

One of the stars of the show is Jami Gertz.  

My main association with her is Lost Boys. 

It's been way too long since I've watched that movie, because tonight I questioned whether she had been a vampire or not.

I think she was, right?   She wasn't just some kind of vampire groupie?

I don't remember seeing her with fangs, or anything?

Did she not have a fang scene?   Or am I having a memory block? 

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"Bringing Up Baby" (Modern Family Spoilers)

We watched the season premiere of Modern Family. 

If a show makes me get all choked up, I judge it as being at least somewhat successful.

That happened for me tonight when Jay reacted to the news of becoming a father.    It's an emotional moment in itself; but I think that it being unexpected made it more emotional.

There was some funny moments, including Jay expressing excessive joy over Cam and Mitch's new kitten.  


He did that because of Claire's instructions.  Someone's going to give you some big news.  Be supportive.

It makes me wonder if his reaction to Gloria was faked.

No...

I don't think so.

But maybe it did influence him.   Maybe it put him in a more positive mood?

As for the rest of the episode....

I loved the jump in time.   That caught me by surprise.

I liked the Mitch and Cam storyline the most for this episode.    The cat stuff was fun.

I wasn't thrilled with the other storylines until it all came together in the end.  

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Modern Family

The 4th season of Modern Family begins tonight. 

I'm excited, but also a little weary.

I loved season 1 and season 2.

I liked season 3 less.

I'm not sure why.

Maybe some of the writing decreased in quality.   Although I guess the Emmy people disagree with me. 

I'm surprised Modern Family won again.  I'm especially surprised that "Baby On Board" earned the show an award.   I didn't see that episode as the icing on the cake of mediocrity.  

There were some episodes that I did like.

"Phil on Wire" was lovely, especially the ending.   I got a bit choked up.

I liked the deep thoughts expressed in "Punkin Chunkin."

I could relate to issues in "Lifetime Supply" and thought that episode was well done.

I thought "Little Bo Bleep" was probably the best episode of the season; not just for Lily's new vocabulary word, but the hilarious references to YouTube. 

I liked "Disney Land".  That had it's funny moments, as well as some touching ones. 

"Express Christmas" was fun, but one scene partly ruined it for me.   It was the scene with Hailey and Claire at Target.  Suddenly Hailey is presented as this master shopper. 

Yes, shopping fits with the stereotype that Hailey represents: popular, beautiful, bad at school, dates a boy her parents don't approve of, picks on siblings, etc.

But prior to that episode, Hailey hadn't been shown as a shopaholic.  Yes, I did assume that as a teen Hailey probably likes shopping, but not to the degree that's painted in that scene.   It seemed forced and out of character. 

It makes me wonder if the writer got confused and thought they were writing for Mallory Keating rather than Hailey Dunphy. 

A part of me wonders if winning awards lessened the quality of the shows.  For the cast and crew....there could be a case of overconfidence and arrogance.  More likely though, it's probably a case of them now feeling too much pressure.  They raised the bar so high in season one and season two.   I think they failed to reach it in season 3.

I hope I'll feel differently about season 4. And if I don't....I wonder whether or not the Emmy people will agree with me this time.  

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