SFFTV: True Blood (Episodes 4.2 & 4.3)
Wow I’ve had a crazy busy couple of weeks, but I’m back in the game and ready to zombify myself in front of the boob tube! And what better way to enjoy the boob tube then by watching a show with actual boobs? Yes, I realize these shows objectify women, but they also objectify men so it’s equal opportunity! Lots and lots is going on in Bon Temps and Shreveport, which is still the biggest problem True Blood has. So much is going on that I’m starting to forget who has which story line and which one I even care about! Tighten it up, HBO, or you’re going to start losing viewers like flies… (or humans at a Vampire party). Spoilers Ahead!
SFFTV: The 9 Lives (episodes 3 & 4) of Teen Wolf (episodes 5 & 6)
You’ll have to excuse me, I’m having a skeptical day. Both episodes of both of these shows are getting a little obvious. It makes me wonder if ABC Family and MTV are under the assumption that all its viewers are ignoramuses (ok, yah, I probably should have realized this sooner.. I mean… look at their other programming). This is a distinct possibility, but it’s a bit condescending. I generally don’t like being brow beaten by clever story lines, because it means that they’re not all that clever to start with, but then again, maybe it’s because these are fantasy shows designed for people who don’t like fantasy. I’ll have to consider this possibility before I watch next week. Spoilers Ahead!
SFFTV: Outcasts (Ep. 2) and Falling Skies (Ep. 3)
The second episode of Outcasts is another strong showing. A handful of escape pods have made their way to the surface of Carpathia, leaving the citizens of Forthaven the task of finding them and bringing their inhabitants to safety. But there are other people out in the wilderness of Carpathia. People thought to be dead. People who have a dark history with Forthaven and its first settlers. And they’ve taken a survivor from the CT9, the first ship to arrive in Carpathia in five years, well after the pulse beacon from Earth went silent… I love this show. I really do. Everything about it screams “I am good.” The cast is solid, the characters diverse, three-dimensional, and interesting, and the production quality, as I’ve already said, is remarkable. The first episode set the
SFFTV: True Blood Season 4 Premier: "She's Not There"
Last Season of True Blood was, for the most part, much better than the second season, but it still lacked whatever quality made the first season such a standout. Hopefully Season 4 will return to that original core – a character study that just happened to have supernatural creatures. Unfortunately, the premier doesn’t really give me much hope for that. So here are my quick impressions of the new season of True Blood, because, to be honest, the first episode felt as if it only meant to give you quick impressions anyway. Spoilers Ahead!
SFFTV: Outcasts (Ep. 1) and Falling Skies (Ep. 1+2)
Two of the more interesting science fiction shows hitting U.S. airwaves this year are BBC’s Outcasts and TNT’s Falling Skies. The former has already had its run in the UK (cancelled, sadly) and is only now getting its fair shake on BBC America. The latter is the much anticipated, and heavily pushed, Noah Wyle vehicle. Both show remarkable promise. The first episode of Outcasts is an eye-opener. As a Doctor Who fan, I’ve been used to seeing science handled with a heavy dose of humor on the BBC. Outcasts is everything but a humorous show, though it tries hard to lighten the mood with a few jokes. It’s a fine display of what the BBC can do when it puts its mind to serious SF, with a strong cast and beautiful CG and cinematography. Outcasts focuses on the first settlers on the planet Carpathia, who have been specially selected to pave the way for future
SFFTV: The 9 Lives (Episode 2) of Teen Wolf (Episode 4)
You’ll have to excuse us, we’re going through some growing pains and trying to figure out how much space we actually want to dedicate to tv. So that means you get two quick reviews in one post! How exciting is that? We’ll be grouping similar programs so it shouldn’t be too jarring. A mashup of The 9 Lives of Chloe King and Teen Wolf really does make sense, if you think about it (but don’t think about it too long or you’ll get a headache). This week’s episodes have almost changed my mind about which show is better. They’re both working off a standard Romeo & Juliet, puberty analogy, storyline about kids with claws, and aimed at a teen audience, so this is a valid comparison to make. Teen Wolf *might* actually be better. I know, I know, I was all kinds of slamming Teen Wolf when I reviewed the first episode of 9 Lives, but it’s really growing on me. Perhaps that will change over time, but head to head it’s a tough call. Spoilers Ahead!
