Friday, March 11, 2005
Survey of TV...
As many of you know I'm a helpless devotee of certain TV shows. I actually watch a lot less TV than I used to, a function of how awful programming has become and how little free time I have (work, blogging, house-hunting). I do watch a couple of shows and I'm going to indulge you all with my thoughts on my TV:
Alias - Wednesday / 9:00 / ABC
The fourth season of Alias has been much better than last year's slow, depressing trudge through the horror Sydney's life had become. I give Alias credit for being a show willing to make bold risks in its story-telling. Their decision in season two to destroy the villianous SD-6 upset their story-telling paradigm, as did their decision in season three to have Sydney wake up and find two years of her life had passed by and that her lover Vaughn had married. Bold moves that upset the show's paradigm storytelling, but I give them credit for being willing to make big changes to prevent the show from getting stale.
This year's decision to unite former SD-6 boss Sloane and his former CIA aversaries was a brilliant decision: the renewed tension and hatred between Sydney and Sloane has led to great moments on the show. Naturally we're all left to wonder why Sloane is back in the CIA's good graces. When will he turn evil?
Bolder still was their introduction of Sydney's half-sister as a full-time CIA operative, a decision which we all know will have tremendous repercussions (if I recall, it is prophesized that the two will do battle against one another one day). The interplay between the two is impressive and it has given the show some new story-telling opportunities. Renewed tension, conspiracies galore, this is the Alias we've all grown to know and love.
24 - Monday / 9:00 / FOX
The fourth season of 24 has had some nifty surprises, from the misdirection of the Secretary of Defense's kidnapping to Tony's return to the dissention in the ranks of the terrorist Arnaz family. Like Alias, I felt that year three of 24 had become a sad trudge for the show's characters. The plot was too depressing and it felt like it blocked the show's writers in.
This year's plot is a welcome break from the last two WMD plots. In fact, it has taken some nifty twists that I hadn't anticipated at all. I was happy when season three came to a close because I had lost interest in finding out what the next twist was. I'm really interested in seeing what unfolds this year.
Desperate Housewives - Sunday / 9:00 / ABC
I enjoy Desperate Housewives because the show has captured (with soapy embelishments of course) the lives of middle-class suburbanites. It reminds me of Melrose Place (yes, I'm embarrassed to admit I watched it, but there you go) at the height of its glory. The show has had some nice plot twists, from the murder of Ms. Huber (who saw that coming?) to Gabrielle's affair. Desperate Housewives is entertaining, different and always a topic of conversation at the office watercooler.
Alias - Wednesday / 9:00 / ABC
The fourth season of Alias has been much better than last year's slow, depressing trudge through the horror Sydney's life had become. I give Alias credit for being a show willing to make bold risks in its story-telling. Their decision in season two to destroy the villianous SD-6 upset their story-telling paradigm, as did their decision in season three to have Sydney wake up and find two years of her life had passed by and that her lover Vaughn had married. Bold moves that upset the show's paradigm storytelling, but I give them credit for being willing to make big changes to prevent the show from getting stale.
This year's decision to unite former SD-6 boss Sloane and his former CIA aversaries was a brilliant decision: the renewed tension and hatred between Sydney and Sloane has led to great moments on the show. Naturally we're all left to wonder why Sloane is back in the CIA's good graces. When will he turn evil?
Bolder still was their introduction of Sydney's half-sister as a full-time CIA operative, a decision which we all know will have tremendous repercussions (if I recall, it is prophesized that the two will do battle against one another one day). The interplay between the two is impressive and it has given the show some new story-telling opportunities. Renewed tension, conspiracies galore, this is the Alias we've all grown to know and love.
24 - Monday / 9:00 / FOX
The fourth season of 24 has had some nifty surprises, from the misdirection of the Secretary of Defense's kidnapping to Tony's return to the dissention in the ranks of the terrorist Arnaz family. Like Alias, I felt that year three of 24 had become a sad trudge for the show's characters. The plot was too depressing and it felt like it blocked the show's writers in.
This year's plot is a welcome break from the last two WMD plots. In fact, it has taken some nifty twists that I hadn't anticipated at all. I was happy when season three came to a close because I had lost interest in finding out what the next twist was. I'm really interested in seeing what unfolds this year.
Desperate Housewives - Sunday / 9:00 / ABC
I enjoy Desperate Housewives because the show has captured (with soapy embelishments of course) the lives of middle-class suburbanites. It reminds me of Melrose Place (yes, I'm embarrassed to admit I watched it, but there you go) at the height of its glory. The show has had some nice plot twists, from the murder of Ms. Huber (who saw that coming?) to Gabrielle's affair. Desperate Housewives is entertaining, different and always a topic of conversation at the office watercooler.
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