hallmark, oc, and joa
Nov. 24th, 2003 12:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fearlesstempYou know what I'm doing right now? I'm not thinking about all the stuff I messed up/didn't finish on Friday afternoon that will be facing me on Monday morning. This is me, not thinking about it! Not at all!
Okay, maybe a little bit.
Imagine I wrote a big paragraph here about how I'm overwhelmed at work and how it's annoying because it's just a TEMP JOB and the problem is that I invest too much in it. The key is not caring. That is the temp mantra. Must remember it.
Anyway! Tonight I watched what may have been the worst movie ever made. And it starred Gary Sinise. Gary Sinise! I love Gary Sinise! I expected *better* of Gary Sinise! And of Hallmark Hall of Fame, for that matter.
I exaggerate, it wasn't the worst movie ever made. Just a little boring. And it featured both crazy old fathers who became homeless people, gratuitous ice skating, and a blind little girl. But I did tear up at one of the commercials so, you know, the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie experience was not a complete wash.
In other TV news:
Okay, seriously? How much do I love The OC? And this episode in particular? THIS MUCH! Quite possibly one of my favorite Thanksgiving episodes of anything ever! This may be because I can't think of any memorable Thanksgiving episodes of anything at all, but still, even if I could, I bet this episode would rank up there. I can't get over how much I just love all of the characters, with the possible exception of Anna, who I appreciate intellectually but who grates on me whenever she's onscreen. I think it has something to do with my line deliver, or maybe it's because I'm all Seth+Summer 4EVA!!! But let's pretend I have more complex motivations.
Fabulous moments included, but were not limited to: Sandy and Summer in the poolhouse; "I always knew you were a late bloomer, honey"; Kirsten getting sloshed; Ryan saying good-bye to his brother (I teared up a bit); Captain Oats making a return appearance; Sandy looking over fondly at Kirsten passed out on the bed; "You're standing uncomfortably close to the corn, mom"; and last, but certainly not least, Marissa, Ryan, and Seth sitting down together to eat Thanksgiving dinner out of Chinese food containers.
I just started watching JoA a few weeks ago but seriously, love it so much. The episode a few weeks ago on death was maybe one of the best hours of television I've seen in a long time, and if the other episodes I've seen haven't quite lived up to that, they've certainly been excellent in and of themselves. I love that a show with such a simple, easily cheesed up premise (Teenage girl talks to God! Wackiness ensues!) seems to make a concerted effort not to be too preachy or go for the obvious solution. And also, Amber Tamblyn (who I'd always thought was good when she was playing Emily on GH) is just incredible as Joan. I love how totally normal she is (you know, except for the divine hotline and all) -- not exceptionally good in school, pretty but not in the cookie-cutter way that's prized in high school, not particularly athletic or popular. And I really like how the show depicts her family all as flawed people who clearly love each other but aren't quite sure how to handle each other or their situations in life.
I know the creator of the show converted to Catholicism as an adult, and I like how though the show treats that as the default religion of the family (I'm not sure, but from the way the parents have talked about going to priests and their own religious upbringing, they seem to me to be lapsed Catholics), it does seem to take pains to show Joan searching for spiritual guidance through the spokespeople of other faiths, like Grace's father the rabbi last week. I also like how ambiguous God is, and how sometimes his/her plans are confusing to Joan and the viewer, even when the supposed good ending has been reached.
Also, there's just the whole thing of how I'm a sucker for shows that ask questions about how a person lives a good life. It's what's appealing to me about Joss Whedon's stuff, especially Angel and, to a lesser extent, Firefly -- how do you navigate the world when it's confusing and the right answer isn't always clear? How do you know what the right thing to do is, and where do you get the strength to do it? I love that stuff! Though really, I should probably spend less time sitting on my butt watching shows that ask these questions and spend more time off my butt trying to answer them myself.
But that would require effort, right? And effort and I don't get along!
Actually, speaking of effort, I'm supposed to make one to get up tomorrow morning early enough to exercise because I feel like a big lump lately. And so I must be off.
Okay, maybe a little bit.
Imagine I wrote a big paragraph here about how I'm overwhelmed at work and how it's annoying because it's just a TEMP JOB and the problem is that I invest too much in it. The key is not caring. That is the temp mantra. Must remember it.
Anyway! Tonight I watched what may have been the worst movie ever made. And it starred Gary Sinise. Gary Sinise! I love Gary Sinise! I expected *better* of Gary Sinise! And of Hallmark Hall of Fame, for that matter.
I exaggerate, it wasn't the worst movie ever made. Just a little boring. And it featured both crazy old fathers who became homeless people, gratuitous ice skating, and a blind little girl. But I did tear up at one of the commercials so, you know, the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie experience was not a complete wash.
In other TV news:
Okay, seriously? How much do I love The OC? And this episode in particular? THIS MUCH! Quite possibly one of my favorite Thanksgiving episodes of anything ever! This may be because I can't think of any memorable Thanksgiving episodes of anything at all, but still, even if I could, I bet this episode would rank up there. I can't get over how much I just love all of the characters, with the possible exception of Anna, who I appreciate intellectually but who grates on me whenever she's onscreen. I think it has something to do with my line deliver, or maybe it's because I'm all Seth+Summer 4EVA!!! But let's pretend I have more complex motivations.
Fabulous moments included, but were not limited to: Sandy and Summer in the poolhouse; "I always knew you were a late bloomer, honey"; Kirsten getting sloshed; Ryan saying good-bye to his brother (I teared up a bit); Captain Oats making a return appearance; Sandy looking over fondly at Kirsten passed out on the bed; "You're standing uncomfortably close to the corn, mom"; and last, but certainly not least, Marissa, Ryan, and Seth sitting down together to eat Thanksgiving dinner out of Chinese food containers.
I just started watching JoA a few weeks ago but seriously, love it so much. The episode a few weeks ago on death was maybe one of the best hours of television I've seen in a long time, and if the other episodes I've seen haven't quite lived up to that, they've certainly been excellent in and of themselves. I love that a show with such a simple, easily cheesed up premise (Teenage girl talks to God! Wackiness ensues!) seems to make a concerted effort not to be too preachy or go for the obvious solution. And also, Amber Tamblyn (who I'd always thought was good when she was playing Emily on GH) is just incredible as Joan. I love how totally normal she is (you know, except for the divine hotline and all) -- not exceptionally good in school, pretty but not in the cookie-cutter way that's prized in high school, not particularly athletic or popular. And I really like how the show depicts her family all as flawed people who clearly love each other but aren't quite sure how to handle each other or their situations in life.
I know the creator of the show converted to Catholicism as an adult, and I like how though the show treats that as the default religion of the family (I'm not sure, but from the way the parents have talked about going to priests and their own religious upbringing, they seem to me to be lapsed Catholics), it does seem to take pains to show Joan searching for spiritual guidance through the spokespeople of other faiths, like Grace's father the rabbi last week. I also like how ambiguous God is, and how sometimes his/her plans are confusing to Joan and the viewer, even when the supposed good ending has been reached.
Also, there's just the whole thing of how I'm a sucker for shows that ask questions about how a person lives a good life. It's what's appealing to me about Joss Whedon's stuff, especially Angel and, to a lesser extent, Firefly -- how do you navigate the world when it's confusing and the right answer isn't always clear? How do you know what the right thing to do is, and where do you get the strength to do it? I love that stuff! Though really, I should probably spend less time sitting on my butt watching shows that ask these questions and spend more time off my butt trying to answer them myself.
But that would require effort, right? And effort and I don't get along!
Actually, speaking of effort, I'm supposed to make one to get up tomorrow morning early enough to exercise because I feel like a big lump lately. And so I must be off.
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no subject
Date: 2003-11-24 03:22 pm (UTC)Last Friday's wasn't my favorite ep, but I'm enjoying this series so much. It continually surprises me and surpasses my expectations--both good things.
And, and! Joan and Adam! Poor Adam! I also love Grace and her ambiguous sexuality--how's that for CBS at 8 p.m.? I agree that Amber Tamblyn is fabulous; I watch her as Joan and think, "God, she's such a teenager." And then I realize that's exactly the point. She may have that divine hotline, but she's still a sixteen year old kid just trying to fit in at school in a new town and deal with a particularly interesting family situation. I'm still not sold on the dad's "Law and Order" storylines, but I think those are dovetailing better with the Joan storylines lately, and I do admit I'm biased--I want all Joan, all the time!
I also agree that it's interesting to watch Joan try to work out what the right thing to do is--and sometimes fail, like she did with Adam's sculpture. I like that the writers let God make Joan make her own choices about how to reach the goals he's set (except maybe this week with the test thing). It's less preachy and perfect and more interesting this way.
Plus, some of the lines are classic. "Don't ever make me walk you through that again." "I have a master's degree in English literature. I could have done anything I wanted . . . okay, three things."
Okay, I'll stop now. Didn't mean to gush--it's just all so new and wonderful to me! :)
no subject
Date: 2003-11-26 09:28 pm (UTC)Isn't it just a fantastic show? I was with you on the "huh?" re: the dad's storylines, but as I've watched (maybe because the storylines are dovetailing better as the series progresses), it's bothered me less and less. The more I think about it, the more I like it, actually, mainly because I like how it shows that making good choices is always difficult, whether you're a sixteen year old girl or the police chief. And also, I just love the Joan/Dad relationship. The last episode? When she so casually said that he was the best person she knew, like it was obvious, and he was stunned? Aww! Loved it!
And! Adam! SO SAD! Oh GOD, my heart just breaks for that kid. His scene in the workshop when Joan found out about his mother -- seriously, both he and AT *nailed* that scene. It was such a difficult series of moments and I was on edge watching it, waiting for a misstep, and one didn't come, and wow, so amazing. That said: Adam and Joan must make up, like, yesterday! It's making me too sad to see each of them all sad! And this is All About Me!
And Grace! Grace is so fabulous! And how much do I love that Luke has a secret crush on her?
Seriously, could go on for HOURS here. It's so fabulous! And I LOLed at the master's degree in English literature line too. Hee!
PS. Fab icon!