TV Time: Yippee for Spring!

Posted in Outlander, Pop Culture by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

2016 is here, and so much TV amazingness is on its way!

First of all, I was tickled pink and purple by the return of two very different shows last weekend. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Downton Abbey over the years, but there’s just no way I’ll miss the final season. Season 6 premiered in the US last Sunday:

Also last Sunday? On a completely different note, it was the ultra-silly return of Gallavant! If you enjoy random singing, surprising guest stars, and Python-esque humor, check it out!

But wait! There’s so much more exciting TV on the way. Here are my can’t-wait top 6 picks for spring:

January 19th: Agent Carter, season 2! Season 1 was so much better than I had expected, and the trailers for season 2 look like such fun:

January 23rd: The return of Black Sails (season 3):

In March, it’s season 4 of The Americans on FX:

And then… oh boy… here comes April, with:

Game of Thrones, season 6 – premieres April 24:

Turn, season 3 – premieres April 25:

And last, because last is best and amazing and awesome… no firm date yet other than April, but that’s good enough to keep me going for the next few months: The return of Outlander! Season 2 is on its way, and it looks gorgeous:

What shows are you most looking forward to in the next few months? Are any of my top picks on your list?

22Nov2015

Grand Beginnings: The Man in the High Castle

Posted in Pop Culture by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Amazon has unveiled its newest original series, and it’s something you really need to see!

The Man in the High Castle debuted this past week, and all 10 episodes are now available for streaming (free for Amazon Prime subscribers). I’ve watched two episodes so far, and I’m hooked.

Adapated from a 1960s book by sci-fi master Philip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle has as its premise the concept that the United States lost World War II. As the show opens, it’s 1962, and the US is divided into three parts: The eastern half of the country is under the rule of the Nazi Reich, the west coast is controlled by Japan, and a neutral zone runs between the two along the Rockies.

Two episodes in, I’m finding the series disturbing, detailed, and utterly absorbing. I won’t go too far into the plot at this point, since I have so much yet to see and have no idea where this is all going.

What I do want to share is the opening title sequence, which is just perfectly chilling. Check it out:

Are you watching The Man in the High Castle? Do you intend to?

If you’ve given it a try already, please let me know what you think!

16Nov2015

TV Time: Flesh and Bone

Posted in Pop Culture by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Every once in a while, I like to talk about TV. Because yes, I’m a TV watcher. And I enjoy it, dammit!

This week, I watched the first episode of Flesh and Bone, a new “limited series” on Starz… and proceeded to binge-watch all eight episodes over the weekend. Which is a lot of gritty ballet drama to absorb in a short time… but hey, I was hooked, and before I knew it, I was too far gone to stop.

So, Flesh and Bone. What’s it about?

Here’s the official trailer:

Soooo… not exactly a feel-good sort of series.

Flesh and Bone tells the story of Claire, a young woman who starts the series by running away from her family home in Pittsburgh, where clearly — judging by the padlock on her bedroom door — there are issues. Arriving in New York, Claire auditions for the American Ballet Company, and despite almost getting pitched out on her ear, she ultimately lands a position with the company.

The company is headed by Artistic Director Paul Grayson, a high-strung former dancer who demands absolute control over his dancers and who uses emotional manipulation and threats to get what he wants. While he’s initially ready to kick Claire out over a minor infraction, once he sees her dance, he realizes he has a star on his hands.

Claire, meanwhile, has to deal with living on her own in the big city, the pressure of being singled out, and the constant malicious gossip from the other members of the company.

The supporting characters include a prima ballerina, Kiira, who’s not willing to give up without a fight, Claire’s anorexic and hostile roommate Mia, and Romeo, the delusional homeless man who lives on the roof of Claire’s building, who seems to have appointed himself Claire’s protector.

All this, plus some glorious dancing, makes for riveting television.

If you’ve seen other ballet movies or TV shows, the standard ballet tropes will jump right out at you: An egomanaical artistic director. A statuesque former ballerina as the company manager. Rehearsals run by a Russian lady with a teeny dog. Catty comments from the other dancers about the new girl. Sexual tensions permeating the company. Sexual favors given and received for advancement. Sexual demands by a powerful donor. An aging prima ballerina feeling displaced by the fresh young talent.

Oh, and stripper poles. Yup. Stripper poles. (You’ll see.)

Despite some familiar themes and cliched moments, there’s also grace and power — although it’s mixed in with scenes of harsh ugliness. Still, check out the haunting opening sequence:

Doesn’t that just make you… feel?

Flesh and Bone is definitely more than meets the eye. For example, there’s a big, dark secret lurking in Claire’s past. There’s a shocking reveal at the end of the first episode — but even then, when we think we’re beginning to understand, it turns out that there’s so much more to it.

The same is true of so much about this series. You could look at Flesh and Bone as just another ballet show, but that description really doesn’t capture the full picture of what F&B is all about. I thoroughly enjoyed the complexity of the relationships, the unpredictability of the push and pull between artistic glory and human grittiness, and the lovely directing and artistry that keeps the beauty in balance with the blood and sweat.

Starz is defining Flesh and Bone and a limited run season, eight episodes and done. No second season is planned, which is too bad, as far as I’m concerned. The show does have a great ending, but I could definitely envision much more story left to tell. If Starz changes its mind and decides to do more, I’d gladly watch.

Oh, and a final fun fact: If you were a fan of Center Stage, the 2000 ballet movie, then you have one more reason to check out Flesh and Bone. Because Sascha Radetsky from Center Stage dances in F&B as well, and he’s just so… awesome.

Pausing for a moment of Center Stage nostalgia.

(For more on the Center Stage/Flesh and Bone connection, check out this piece from Vulture.)

Have you watched Flesh and Bone yet? Do you intend to? Share your thoughts in the comments!

26May2014

TV Time: Season Wrap-Up

Posted in Pop Culture by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Veering off the book blog path for a moment to talk about one of my very favorite things: TV!

If I weren’t such a voracious reader, you’d be right to worry about me. Yes, I do watch a lot of TV. Yes, that does entail sitting on the couch for hours and eating bowls of popcorn. No, it hasn’t rotted my brain yet, as far as I know. Yes, if I had to choose one or the other, I’d pick reading… but fortunately, I live in a world where I don’t have to choose! I want it all!

Am I excited when my favorite shows are on? Yeah, you could say that.

Moving on…

The traditional TV season has come to an end, more or less — although one could argue that the concept of a “season” for TV is out of date, since there’s excellent programming year-round. Still, May seems to be the time of year when many shows air their season finales, and it just so happens that nearly all of “my” shows have finished their seasons.

So, I thought I’d tell you a bit about what’s just ended — and which shows ended with an especially big bang!

(This is a completely subjective list. It’s just the shows that I personally watch and enjoy, not at all a comprehensive overview of what’s worth watching!)

Done for the season:

The Americans: Just wrapped up season 2 this past week, and wow! What a way to pull off a finale! Season-long mysteries were resolved, some loose ends were tied up, some long-awaited confrontations finally took place… and lots of groundwork was set for the next major conflict. Just a stellar season all around, with incredible acting, superb writing… and yes, plenty of wig action! If you’re not watching The Americans, you’re missing out. Give it a try!

The Originals: I scoffed a bit at the beginning of the season, and true, the show did get off to a very rocky start, plot-wise. But this spin-off show turned itself around and ended its season 1 with incredible drama, plus open-ended plot developments that actually wrung a tear or two out of my dried-up soul.

The Vampire Diaries: Okay, I’ve been quite frustrated this season (and last), and have almost walked away a few times… but the season finale was not bad, there were some genuinely emotional moments, and the ending leaves me wanting more. Not bad is really the best I can say about it. This show needs to straighten out its muddled mythology and start having actual stakes (as in life-or-death consequences, not the pointy wooden things). When everyone on the show has died and come back a few times already, why should we worry when one more bites the dust? Particularly when the most recent “death” is one of the show’s biggest stars, it’s a no-brainer to assume this person will be back in the fall, in one way or another.

Mad Men: Why do I keep watching this show? I keep asking myself that question, yet I keep watching. This season has been more energetic and engaging that the last couple, but still — despite all the reviewers out there who rave about this show, I find it hard to maintain interest week after week when nothing much seems to happen. Yes, I know, character-driven TV, blah blah blah. Like I said, I watch, but I don’t love.

Survivor: Cagayan: I started watching Survivor again a couple of years ago when my son took an interest, and was surprised to realize just how much fun it still is, even after all these years. My kiddo and I had a great time with the latest go-round, which in my mind was an incredibly strong season with players who came to play hard. From a parent’s point of view, it’s interesting in a number of ways: We talk about strategy, and numbers, and the thought-processes that go into the various alliances and blindsides. At the same time, we can discuss the differences between game-play and life, what it means to play a game like Survivor and make choices to betray and lie, and whether a successful player can also be a good person. I think the fact that Survivor is something I can watch with my son is a big draw for me — it’s become one of our go-to weekly events, and even works as a motivating tool. “No Survivor ’til the homework is done” is my rallying cry…

Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD: I’m a relative newbie when it comes to the Marvel universe, but I’ve been digging the movies of the past several years, and adored the Whedon-riffic Avengers, so there was no question of not watching Agents of SHIELD. After an admittedly slow kick-off, the show dug in and revealed layers only hinted at early on — then kicked into super-high gear with its connection to the events of this spring’s Captain America movie. The last batch of episodes was… well, let’s not mince words… epic! I’m hooked, and can’t wait to see where the show goes from here.

The Big Bang Theory: Sure, you could argue that after so many years, there’s not a whole lot of fresh material for BBT to explore. And yet, I’m always charmed, episode after episode, and when it’s not making me giggle, BBT actually has some genuinely sweet and heart-felt moments. I like this show! And I think this past season was surprisingly strong, ending on a high note for Penny and Leonard, and with a big huge question mark for our beloved Sheldon.

Gone… and soon to be forgotten?

I was sad to see the demise (a.k.a., cancellation) of two new shows from this year that I’d really had fun with.

The Crazy Ones, a star vehicle for Robin Williams, was really an ensemble gem that I suppose just didn’t get the viewership it needed. I laughed. A lot. And was delighted to have Sarah Michelle Gellar back on my TV screen. Bye, Crazy Ones!

My kiddo and I had been watching The Tomorrow People on the CW all year… and yeah, it didn’t always make sense or stick to its own rules, but it was compelling watching all the same, and I’m sorry that we won’t get to see whatever craziness would have happened next. Plus, Mark Pellegrino! A big huge plus for any show, any day.

A bit earlier on, we had the series finale for Being Human, and I’m still not over it! When this show first started, I sneered. Who needs yet another American re-hash of a BBC series? But the Syfy production of Being Human took off on its own and created its own show, thanks to creative storytelling and a remarkable cast… and damn it! if I think too much about it, I’ll get all weepy again. Sniff. I’ll miss you, Being Human!

Not over yet:

Game of Thrones: The disadvantage to having read the books first is knowing what’s coming… and being powerless to change it! I know I don’t want to see what’s coming in the next episode — but I’ll be glued to the TV anyway. Three more episodes left this season! I can’t quite figure out how the showrunners will juggle books 4 and 5 in the next season or so, but I’ll be watching to find out.

Orphan Black: We still have several more episodes left this season, right? I’m loving season 2, and even this far along, I’m still amazed by Tatiana Maslany’s ability to convince me that I’m watching separate actresses playing separate characters.

And still to come:

I’m really looking forward to meeting the new Doctor this August when this rolls around:

Doctor Who, returning in August!

And… shocker of shockers… the TV show I absolutely can’t wait for is…

Yes, I will be glued to my TV on August 9th, thanks for asking! So DO NOT DISTURB.

So what TV shows were you sad to say good-bye to? Which had the best season finales? And what will YOU be watching this summer?

8Mar2014

TV Time: The Americans

Posted in Pop Culture by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Last week, I wrote a post called Stuff I Love: TV Time!, in which I talked about how good TV shows can be as enjoyable for me as a good book — and as a reader, what are the elements I need in a TV show in order to really get into it.

And now it’s time to get more specific: Every so often, I think I’ll wander away from my book-related posts and focus instead on a TV show that I’m obsessing over.

Up first: The Americans, now back for its second season on FX.

According to the FX website:

The Americans is a period drama about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington D.C. shortly after Ronald Reagan is elected President. The arranged marriage of Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell), who have two children – 14-year-old Paige (Holly Taylor) and 11-year-old Henry (Keidrich Sellati), who know nothing about their parents’ true identity – grows more passionate and genuine by the day, but is constantly tested by the escalation of the Cold War and the intimate, dangerous and darkly funny relationships they must maintain with a network of spies and informants under their control. Their neighbor, FBI Agent Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich) has already come dangerously close to discovering their secret, but was thwarted by Nina (Annet Mahendru), his KGB mole and paramour. Torn between his wife Sandra (Susan Misner) and his deepening feelings for Nina, Stan is completely unaware that the beautiful Russian is actually a double agent, reporting on him to the KGB. Philip has been more successful handling his mole within the FBI, Martha (Alison Wright), assistant to Stan’s boss, Special Agent Gaad (Richard Thomas). Romancing Martha under the guise of one of his cover identities, an FBI bureaucrat named Clark, Philip has secured her unquestioning loyalty…by marrying her. Meanwhile, in the Jennings’ house, Paige has become increasingly suspicious that her parents are hiding something.

Why do I love The Americans?

For starters, it’s unlike anything else on TV right now. While a period drama, it doesn’t play the 1980s for laughs. Instead, it perfectly captures the Cold War paranoia of the Reagan era, and it’s fascinating to watch the spy games play out in a low-tech world, with hand-written codes, dead drops and radio transmissions… and oh, the wigs!

Philip and Elizabeth live a double life. They’re devoted KGB agents who believe in Mother Russia — but they’re also living a happy life in the suburbs with their clueless kids, enjoying their large home, the kids’ school assemblies, racquetball and the daily paper, trips to the mall and family TV nights. As the fake marriage becomes more real, there’s more and more at stake for the family, and their safety and survival is constantly on the line.

There’s an odd morality at play in Philip and Elizabeth’s marriage. The marriage itself is an assignment, albeit one that now feels real to them. At the same time, in practically every episode, we see Philip and Elizabeth using whatever means necessary, including all sorts of sexual encounters, to get what they need from their web of informants and contacts.

Okay, and the wigs! Both routinely don disguises, but Philip’s wigs became an almost obsession for fans during the show’s first season. Would they stay on? How do they stay on? How do they stay on while he’s doing THAT? Really hilarious — and addressed nicely in the first episode of the 2nd season during a scene in which there was actual wig peril. Oh my.

The Americans has all of my must-haves for TV: Well-defined, complex characters; a plot that moves forward and establishes the players, the stakes, and the risks; a setting that’s captivating — and different from the run-of-the mill; a premise that’s unique and layered; and performances that are pitch-perfect, week after week.

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out this promo for season 1:

If nothing else, try to check out the first episode of season 1, which is truly spectacular. A super-sized 90-minute episode, it hits all the right notes and perfectly establishes the tensions in the family/espionage setting. Plus, bonus points for a truly stellar soundtrack, anchored by an unforgettable usage of Fleetwood Mac’s “Tusk”. Trust me on this one — you’ve got to see it!

Do you watch The Americans? What do you think of season 2 so far? Share your thoughts in the comments!

2Mar2014

Stuff I Love: TV Time!

Posted in Pop Culture by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

I’m a reader, but I do love me a good TV show.

Am I excited when my favorite shows are on? Yeah, you could say that.

“Good” is, of course, subject to interpretation, but for me, the best TV shows are the ones that give me some of what I get from the best books:

Character must-haves:

Characters who are interesting, smart, and with a purpose.
Development: The best shows, for me, are the ones that show their characters learning, changing, and progressing over time.
Consistency: Nothing worse than a show that suddenly has a character acting completely “out-of-character” for the sake of plot. Ugh. Way to alienate your viewers, show.
Something in their lives besides a love interest. Shows that are only about love triangles are so boring.

Plot must-haves:

Consistency: You can’t ignore events from season 1 or retcon them just because they’re no longer convenient.
Mythology: For shows with mythologies — stick to them! I hate when a show suddenly changes the rules just because they need a new twist.
Stakes: I don’t mean the wooden kind. If we’re supposed to care about the show or its characters, then there has to be something on the line.
Forward motion: I cannot stand shows where, at the end of the season, all of the characters are more or less at the same place or in the same situation that they were at the start.

Other essentials:

Clever dialogue. Quirky is good. Smart is good. Quotability is golden.
Choreography: If there’s action, it should be fun to watch.
Set design, costumes, props: Visually engaging, please.

I’m much more of a drama fan, although I do watch a few comedies here and there. Still, it’s the on-going dramas that catch me, hold me, and bring me back week after week. As with my book preferences, I enjoy shows that keep my brain engaged, that challenge and surprise me, that have an internal logic, and that build each episode on what’s gone before.

I don’t watch crime shows or police procedurals… but then again, I don’t generally read crime novels or read mysteries. (I make more exceptions in my reading life than in my TV life.)

I tend not to read soapy books, and mostly avoid soapy shows as well. (Eye of the beholder, though — my definitions and yours may be nothing alike.)

This past week was a heavy TV-viewing week, as a lot of “my” shows came back after their Olympics hiatus and a few other returned for a new season. I think I had about 8 hours worth of episodes that I *had* to watch last week or risk seeing serious spoilers, and a couple more will be added this coming week. So maybe it’s no wonder that I’m always whining about not having enough time or staying up too late reading every night?

Still, at the end of a busy day of work, family, and getting the kid to do his homework, I like my hour or so of decompression in front of the screen. It soothes me and gives me downtime, gives me a chance to unwind (and eat a bowl of popcorn), and is a good de-stresser before curling up to read.

Sure, if I absolutely had to choose, I’d pick books any time. But why can’t I have both? And while I’m completely justified in telling my kid, who never reads without arm-twisting, “turn off the TV and go read a book!”, nobody around my house can claim that I don’t read enough… even if I am glued to the TV like a total fanatic when my shows are on.

From time to time, you may see me writing about my favorite TV shows… when I’m in the mood for a non-bookish moment or two. So stay tuned… later this week, I’ll tell you about one of my newer favorites and why I love it so much!