"You're never going to satisfy everybody all the time. The best chance you have to satisfy most of the people most of the time is to be true to the characters, make them consistent and then try to show people who were invested with something that you're messing with that you understand that they are invested in it, and you are too, and you have a plan, and if someday they stick with the show, they'll be happy. That's the idea." - Mike Schur, co-creator of Parks and Recreation
Since May, the TV Powers That Be (PTB) have broken up three of my favorite couples on television. On Desperate Housewives, it was Tom and Lynette. On Pretty Little Liars, it was Spencer and Toby. And just last week, Parks and Recreation broke up Ben and Leslie. As you can imagine, this has left me slightly downtrodden, devoid of any couple to really root for and love. However, I've also become slightly numb to the situation. Perhaps for the first time since Tom and Lynette separated, I am actually able to look at these breakups objectively and analyze them like a rational human being. So that's exactly what I plan to do.
The Circumstances
Desperate Housewives
Tom and Lynette's breakup was the messiest of the bunch. After pushing Tom into a new job, Lynette seemingly couldn't stand his sudden burst of self-confidence, his bragging, and his newfound control issues. On the other side, Tom found himself fed up with Lynette's inability to compromise or relinquish power. This led to many screaming matches that were never resolved. Eventually the two went away on a trip to try to work out their problems, but spent the entire weekend sniping at each other and, for Tom's part, being moody and sulky. When they got home, they decided the best thing would be to separate to work on their problems.
Pretty Little Liars
After seemingly abducting the girls' therapist, "A" threatened to kill the doctor unless the girls did exactly as she said. For Spencer, this was a demand to keep Toby safe. Given that Toby's breaks were mysteriously tampered with earlier in the episode, Spencer immediately assumed that "A" was behind this, and that the only way she could keep him safe was to break up with him. This led to a heartbreaking scene where Spencer dumped Toby with little to no explanation, leaving him confused and upset and her an inconsolable mess.
Parks and Recreation
Leslie was approached about running for city council, her dream for years, and knew immediately that this meant breaking up with Ben, who she'd been secretly dating for weeks. The scandal of dating her boss would have ended her campaign before it started, so Leslie felt she had no choice. After several failed attempts to dump Ben, he ended up doing the deed: he had figured out that Leslie planned to run for office and, knowing what it meant to her, let her go so she could fulfill her dream.
My Interpretation
As Mike Schur said about Ben and Leslie's breakup: "...our approach to Leslie and Ben was that we were going to try as much as we could to let the characters dictate their actions. We didn't want them to do anything that seemed too forced, or we were doing it because it was convenient to us...when it's just two people, and they're about to make out with each other, and then the doorbell rings and there's a telegram and one of them just inherited 50 million from a rich uncle and they have to go collect the will and that keeps them apart for 2 years... it has nothing to do with who the characters are. It's less effective to me than when things are emerging out of deeper circumstances or out of the characters themselves."
For me, this quotation sums up the most honest television breakups. For a breakup to be believable, for the audience to be on board with that breakup and support it (or at the very least, understand it), the character motivation has to be clear. Ultimately, the root of the breakup has to come from some place that the audience clearly understands.
Ultimately, this is what made Leslie and Ben the most believable breakup. It was clear from the first episode that holding a political office had always been Leslie's dream. For her to give that up for anyone would be unthinkable for her character. The fact that Ben knew this as well only added to the poignancy of the moment: he cared about her enough to let her go. Even as I was watching this unfold, I found myself at peace with the decision. There was no turmoil, just an appreciation of how intelligently this was written.
To the other extreme, Toby and Spencer's breakup was rooted entirely in circumstances beyond their control. In a classic soap move, a combination of blackmail and martyr complex led to their breakup and left one character completely in the dark about what was really happening. Even though it was believable that Spencer would do this, the breakup still seemed a bit out of left field. After all, it only took one accident to convince Spencer that Toby's life was in danger; I think that if the writers had taken the time to build up the apparent danger over several episodes, Spencer's fears would have been more meaningful and understandable. As it was, there wasn't even a clear indication that "A" messed with Toby's breaks.
To some extent, I feel that this was an example of the writers deciding that Spencer and Toby should break up and then working backward. However, since the heart of this show is a murder mystery, blackmail comes with the territory. It was only a matter of time before "A" somehow messed with Toby and Spencer. That is the crux of Pretty Little Liars; no one is happy for long. For that reason, this couple's breakup was understandable, even if I didn't entirely agree with it.
For me, the most unbelievable breakup was Tom and Lynette. There is no doubt in my mind that this breakup did not grow organically; the writers decided to break up this couple and then contrived circumstances to rip them apart. As a result, the reasons for the breakup were not only inconsistent, but also sloppily explained. Not once did the show give a reason for Lynette's immediate 180 about Tom's new job. Most of the things Tom accused Lynette of had little basis in what we knew of the character and her relationship with her husband. And there was no indication of why this was the straw that broke the camel's back. I have heard people say that this "just happens"; that one day couples can just tire of one another and their issues. However true that may be in reality, I find that it makes for poor television. Character motivation is too important to leave up to the viewers' vague interpretations. If nothing else, that at least should be clear. In this case, it never was explicit.
When I first watched the Tom and Lynette breakup back in May, I contributed most of my anger and frustration to the fact that I truly love this couple. Despite what I may have thought of how the writers handled the situation, I still thought that it was mostly my bias: I could not look at this couple in a calm, rational way.
Ben and Leslie really became my replacement couple for Tom and Lynette toward the end of the season. The more Tom and Lynette fought, the more I needed an outlet in a new couple; as a result, I became almost as obsessed with Ben and Leslie. I spent the summer fearing that they would break up as well, leaving me with nothing to look forward to in the new television season (a fact only compounded when Toby and Spencer broke up, something I did not see coming from a mile away). I approached last Thursday night with a reluctance and a twinge of dread.
You can imagine how surprised I was to find that despite my tears, I almost celebrated the Leslie/Ben breakup for how beautiful and poignant it was. There was no confusion; I wasn't left questioning why this happened or overanalyzing the decision. And it was in that moment that I realized the true heart of the problem on Desperate Housewives was not my bias. In fact, had Tom and Lynette's breakup been written with anywhere near the grace and intelligence of Ben and Leslie's, I might have actually be rooting it on.
Ultimately, the writing sells the breakup.
In closing, I'd like to end with one last quote from Mike Schur. One that I think accentuates the difference between great television writing and sloppy television writing.
Question: So you were never just trying to break them [Ben and Leslie] up.
Answer: "No. Greg's [Daniels, creator of The Office] thing on The Office, which I give him total credit for, was once Jim and Pam got together, he was like, "Why would they ever break up? It doesn't make sense. They're soulmates." What are you gonna do, have another woman come in? You've just watched Jim pine for Pam for years, and Pam's had this sudden realization that she's loved Jim forever, and it would be crazy to have Jim's ex from high school turn up, and suddenly Pam's jealous. It happened on our show, too. We married off Andy and April, which was our will-they-or-won't-they couple for a while, and the only reason I felt comfortable with that because we were replacing them with Leslie and Ben. You need those kinds of long-term relationships to give people something to root for, as they say. And in no way, shape or form was I thinking, "Oh, now we have to break up Leslie and Ben," because I've seen happy relationships work very well on lots of other shows. But in this case, a logical place for them to run into a bit of trouble was this storyline we wanted to do, so we took advantage of it."
And there you have it. Happy relationships can work. And ultimately, that is my hope for all three of these couples some day.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Premiere Week: Day Two
New Girl
I had read so many good things about this show, and I'm happy to say that the premiere far exceeded the hype. I was laughing out loud the entire time, and I already have an emotional connection to some of the characters. I'm going to call right now that this will be my favorite new show of the season.
So the basic premise of the show is that Jess catches her boyfriend cheating on her, and ends up moving with three guys looking for a roommate. They take her in mostly because Schmidt finds out her best friend is a model (which sounds kind of gross, but in reality Schmidt is actually pretty endearing). After seeing Jess cry while watching Dirty Dancing in an incessant marathon format, the boys take her out so she can find a rebound hookup. She does, but the guy turns out to be a jerk and stands her up, at which point the guys meet up with her and seranade her with one of the best versions of "I've Had the Time of My Life" I've ever heard.
What really makes this pilot wonderful are all of the little moments. For me, Jess' quirky behaviors--bursting into song at random times, dancing incredibly goofily, and spouting ridiculous pickup lines--made me instantly love her character. The fact that she is a bit of a dork, and perfectly okay with it, is refreshing. And maybe it hits home with me because sometimes I will break out in incredibly lame dance moves while in the hallway at school (my students have caught me and laughed), but seeing a character that also isn't afraid to be a little out there is fun for me.
As far as the guys go, all three are great. Coach made me laugh (he had a line about not being able to take an interest in jeggings that slayed me); Schmidt was strangely adorable despite his douchebag tendencies; and Nick was honestly sweet, attempting throughout the episode to deal with his breakup with a long term girlfriend. I have as much interest in the male characters as the female lead, which is wonderful.
Finally, the little things in this show really added up. The douchebag jar (like a swear jar) was one of the most amazing things I've seen in a long time. I love that. Dirty Dancing references (as I discussed last night) make my day. And the guys absolutely butchering "I've Had the Time of My Life" was brilliant. If you like off-beat, quirky shows, this one is definitely for you. I already can't wait to see the next episode.
Grade: A+
Parenthood
This technically premiered last week, so this is already episode two. But since it's fresh in my mind, this is the one I'll break down. For my own sanity, I'm going to break it down by plot.
Max Starts Mainstream School
This was incredibly well done. I don't know if people realize how good Max Burkholder is at playing an austitic child, but I'd really like to give him some props. I've had autistic students, and he is fantastic at portraying the mannerisms and behaviors of a kid with asbergers. Tonight was no exception. The first scene in class was brilliant. I loved his attempts to make friends (with unfortunately little success). The end, when Jabbar and his buddies came to ask Max for advice, was heartwarming. It was wonderful to see someone appreciate, even admire, Max for who he is.
Along with that, the show looked at Kristina's frustrations as a mother. I constantly find Kristina's struggles with these issues to be compelling. There is something about her borderline desperation to see her kids succeed that I love; it's heartbreaking, but at the same time endearing; it's so obvious how much she loves her kids. I liked that the teacher pointed out that Kristina is going to have to let go of some control. That should be an interesting arc for her character to take this season (and I can only imagine it will be to varying success).
Legal Woes
Wow. I cannot remember the name of Haddie's boyfriend. My sister and I still refer to him as Vince (the name of his character on Friday Night Lights). So I guess that's what I'll continue to call him here. I don't have much to say about this, honestly. Haddie is one of my least favorite characters; I often find her shallow. Then I remember that she's a teenage girl, and I try to cut her some slack. Tonight was a great example of that. All through the episode, I was frustrated with Haddie's lack of understanding of the seriousness of Vince's legal situation. It wasn't until the very end, when Vince confessed that he'd be lost without her, that I was struck by what a big burden that is on the shoulders of a seventeen-year-old. But that's part of why I love this show; it can turn your perceptions of things in an instant.
Ha! Alex! I knew if I thought about it long enough his name would come to me.
Sarah and Mr. Cyr
I love Sarah. I love Mr. Cyr. I love them together. Is that specific enough?
The bedroom scene where he hid from her father was amazing.
The end of the episode, when Sarah's true reason for her reluctance to date him came out (Amber and her feelings about the situation), was brilliant. Granted, I often find Amber and Sarah's scenes to be some of the most interesting (and nine times out of ten they're the ones that make me cry). I'm glad that this wasn't treated overly dramtically either. Amber had a crush on him two years ago. It's appropriate and logical that she would be over it, and I'm glad they're not trying to drag out a plot point that has long since passed its expiration date. Other shows could take a lesson from that. IT IS OKAY TO LET YOUR CHARACTERS GROW!
(Whoops, my bitterness is showing.)
Julia and the Coffee Girl
Confession: Julia is my favorite character. I wish she got more screen time. I think she and Joel are adorable, and they're one of my favorite married couples on TV right now. And if you haven't watched this show, here is one of the reasons why I love them: Joel knows Julia so well. His ability to see through her translucent ruse was amazing; he knew that she was going to ask the coffee girl about adopting her baby, and of course he was right. I also love how they balance one another, Joel a calming force to Julia's impulsivity and passion.
Anyway, even though it was obvious that Julia was going to break down and ask about the baby, it was still horrible how callous the girl's "no" was. Of all the moments tonight, that one hit me the hardest.
Adam and Crosby's Business Venture
I don't have much to say about this. They amused me. I'm glad they're going to be working together. I hope that Adam doesn't act like too much of a jerk.
Overall, this was a good episode. It didn't make my cry (last week did), but it was still really enjoyable.
Grade: B+
Well, that's it for tonight. I wimped out on Glee, mostly watching it in mute and turning on the sound for the musical numbers. If I'm honest, that's the part of the show I like best anyway. The rest is a jumbled mess of some of the worst character motivation and development I've ever seen. *Sigh*
Tune in tomorrow for Up All Night and Modern Family.
I had read so many good things about this show, and I'm happy to say that the premiere far exceeded the hype. I was laughing out loud the entire time, and I already have an emotional connection to some of the characters. I'm going to call right now that this will be my favorite new show of the season.
So the basic premise of the show is that Jess catches her boyfriend cheating on her, and ends up moving with three guys looking for a roommate. They take her in mostly because Schmidt finds out her best friend is a model (which sounds kind of gross, but in reality Schmidt is actually pretty endearing). After seeing Jess cry while watching Dirty Dancing in an incessant marathon format, the boys take her out so she can find a rebound hookup. She does, but the guy turns out to be a jerk and stands her up, at which point the guys meet up with her and seranade her with one of the best versions of "I've Had the Time of My Life" I've ever heard.
What really makes this pilot wonderful are all of the little moments. For me, Jess' quirky behaviors--bursting into song at random times, dancing incredibly goofily, and spouting ridiculous pickup lines--made me instantly love her character. The fact that she is a bit of a dork, and perfectly okay with it, is refreshing. And maybe it hits home with me because sometimes I will break out in incredibly lame dance moves while in the hallway at school (my students have caught me and laughed), but seeing a character that also isn't afraid to be a little out there is fun for me.
As far as the guys go, all three are great. Coach made me laugh (he had a line about not being able to take an interest in jeggings that slayed me); Schmidt was strangely adorable despite his douchebag tendencies; and Nick was honestly sweet, attempting throughout the episode to deal with his breakup with a long term girlfriend. I have as much interest in the male characters as the female lead, which is wonderful.
Finally, the little things in this show really added up. The douchebag jar (like a swear jar) was one of the most amazing things I've seen in a long time. I love that. Dirty Dancing references (as I discussed last night) make my day. And the guys absolutely butchering "I've Had the Time of My Life" was brilliant. If you like off-beat, quirky shows, this one is definitely for you. I already can't wait to see the next episode.
Grade: A+
Parenthood
This technically premiered last week, so this is already episode two. But since it's fresh in my mind, this is the one I'll break down. For my own sanity, I'm going to break it down by plot.
Max Starts Mainstream School
This was incredibly well done. I don't know if people realize how good Max Burkholder is at playing an austitic child, but I'd really like to give him some props. I've had autistic students, and he is fantastic at portraying the mannerisms and behaviors of a kid with asbergers. Tonight was no exception. The first scene in class was brilliant. I loved his attempts to make friends (with unfortunately little success). The end, when Jabbar and his buddies came to ask Max for advice, was heartwarming. It was wonderful to see someone appreciate, even admire, Max for who he is.
Along with that, the show looked at Kristina's frustrations as a mother. I constantly find Kristina's struggles with these issues to be compelling. There is something about her borderline desperation to see her kids succeed that I love; it's heartbreaking, but at the same time endearing; it's so obvious how much she loves her kids. I liked that the teacher pointed out that Kristina is going to have to let go of some control. That should be an interesting arc for her character to take this season (and I can only imagine it will be to varying success).
Legal Woes
Wow. I cannot remember the name of Haddie's boyfriend. My sister and I still refer to him as Vince (the name of his character on Friday Night Lights). So I guess that's what I'll continue to call him here. I don't have much to say about this, honestly. Haddie is one of my least favorite characters; I often find her shallow. Then I remember that she's a teenage girl, and I try to cut her some slack. Tonight was a great example of that. All through the episode, I was frustrated with Haddie's lack of understanding of the seriousness of Vince's legal situation. It wasn't until the very end, when Vince confessed that he'd be lost without her, that I was struck by what a big burden that is on the shoulders of a seventeen-year-old. But that's part of why I love this show; it can turn your perceptions of things in an instant.
Ha! Alex! I knew if I thought about it long enough his name would come to me.
Sarah and Mr. Cyr
I love Sarah. I love Mr. Cyr. I love them together. Is that specific enough?
The bedroom scene where he hid from her father was amazing.
The end of the episode, when Sarah's true reason for her reluctance to date him came out (Amber and her feelings about the situation), was brilliant. Granted, I often find Amber and Sarah's scenes to be some of the most interesting (and nine times out of ten they're the ones that make me cry). I'm glad that this wasn't treated overly dramtically either. Amber had a crush on him two years ago. It's appropriate and logical that she would be over it, and I'm glad they're not trying to drag out a plot point that has long since passed its expiration date. Other shows could take a lesson from that. IT IS OKAY TO LET YOUR CHARACTERS GROW!
(Whoops, my bitterness is showing.)
Julia and the Coffee Girl
Confession: Julia is my favorite character. I wish she got more screen time. I think she and Joel are adorable, and they're one of my favorite married couples on TV right now. And if you haven't watched this show, here is one of the reasons why I love them: Joel knows Julia so well. His ability to see through her translucent ruse was amazing; he knew that she was going to ask the coffee girl about adopting her baby, and of course he was right. I also love how they balance one another, Joel a calming force to Julia's impulsivity and passion.
Anyway, even though it was obvious that Julia was going to break down and ask about the baby, it was still horrible how callous the girl's "no" was. Of all the moments tonight, that one hit me the hardest.
Adam and Crosby's Business Venture
I don't have much to say about this. They amused me. I'm glad they're going to be working together. I hope that Adam doesn't act like too much of a jerk.
Overall, this was a good episode. It didn't make my cry (last week did), but it was still really enjoyable.
Grade: B+
Well, that's it for tonight. I wimped out on Glee, mostly watching it in mute and turning on the sound for the musical numbers. If I'm honest, that's the part of the show I like best anyway. The rest is a jumbled mess of some of the worst character motivation and development I've ever seen. *Sigh*
Tune in tomorrow for Up All Night and Modern Family.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Premiere Week: Day One
I thought I'd take some time this week to share my thoughts about the various shows I watch. Believe it or not, I do watch more than Desperate Housewives; of course, with the exception of Parks and Rec (I have watched every episode of that at least twenty times now), nothing comes close to touching that obsession. But the truth is that I love TV--it's as simple as that.
So here we go.
How I Met Your Mother
I don't think I did more than faintly smile during either of tonight's episodes, which isn't exactly a ringing endoresement for a comedy. This show, for me, has been hit or miss with the comedy for the past few seasons. The only truly hilarious moment I remember last year was the episode where they were racing through NYC, and that was mostly because of the genius that was Marshall Vs. The Machine. However, I think the show does those big, emotional moments really well. Last year, I absolutely bawled during the episode with Marshall's father's funeral. (Of course, if I'm honest, I cry very easily; I'm pretty sure I cry weekly at Parenthood, but that's another story.) Anyway, for me tonight, the comedy wasn't the most enjoyable part of the show.
So, the big moments for me. The funniest part (the part I smiled the broadest at) was the montage of Ted crying while giving toasts. I hope that the show continues its trend and actually creates those videos.
I was oddly mesmerized by Barney and Robin's dance scene. I remember Neil Patrick Harris mentioning that he was going to be dancing on the show when he guest judged on So You Think You Can Dance, and it exceeded my wildest expectations. I probably could have watched an entire episode of them dancing, especially with the subtle Dirty Dancing references. They harkened back not only to an awesome movie, but also to Barney's amazing claim that he lost his virginity at Kellerman's. Excellent scene.
The other huge moment for me was the return of Victoria! I actually cheered (out loud; luckily no one was around to mock me). After a string of obnoxious girlfriends for Ted, climaxing with the horrible Zoey, I am so excited to see her back! Of course, that just leaves me with a string of hopes: hope that she sticks around for awhile; hope that Ted doesn't ruin the relationship again; hope that, somehow (it would be a miracle), she is actually the mother. Regardless, though, what a breath of fresh air in this aging show.
Unfortunately, other than that, I didn't find too much to get excited about in either episode. I was disappointed by the fact that Lily really had very little too do. She is one of my favorite characters, and I hope this isn't indicative of how the pregnancy arc will go. It seemed redudant to have Marshall get plastered in both episodes, especially as it wasn't particularly humorous. And Martin Short is already wearing on my nerves.
As for the resurrection of Barney/Robin, I have mixed feelings. I was a huge fan of this pairing back in the day. Until they actually got together, and it was a trainwreck. The only way I would be okay with this is if they truly are going to let Barney finally grow up. (Also: it's about time; his schtick is really growing thin.) Even then, Robin...Nora...I don't particularly care who he marries. And indifference is probably the worst emotion to invoke.
So overall, I'd say B-.
That's it for Monday. I'm watching the premiere of 2 Broke Girls right now. To give a two sentence review: it seems pretty witty, but I'm not laughing out loud. If they move it to right after HIMYM I'll probably continue watching, but if it remains after the abominable Two and a Half Men, there's a good chance I'm done.
Well, that's my lightest night of viewing. Tune back in tomorrow for New Girl, Parenthood and possibly my return to Glee.
So here we go.
How I Met Your Mother
I don't think I did more than faintly smile during either of tonight's episodes, which isn't exactly a ringing endoresement for a comedy. This show, for me, has been hit or miss with the comedy for the past few seasons. The only truly hilarious moment I remember last year was the episode where they were racing through NYC, and that was mostly because of the genius that was Marshall Vs. The Machine. However, I think the show does those big, emotional moments really well. Last year, I absolutely bawled during the episode with Marshall's father's funeral. (Of course, if I'm honest, I cry very easily; I'm pretty sure I cry weekly at Parenthood, but that's another story.) Anyway, for me tonight, the comedy wasn't the most enjoyable part of the show.
So, the big moments for me. The funniest part (the part I smiled the broadest at) was the montage of Ted crying while giving toasts. I hope that the show continues its trend and actually creates those videos.
I was oddly mesmerized by Barney and Robin's dance scene. I remember Neil Patrick Harris mentioning that he was going to be dancing on the show when he guest judged on So You Think You Can Dance, and it exceeded my wildest expectations. I probably could have watched an entire episode of them dancing, especially with the subtle Dirty Dancing references. They harkened back not only to an awesome movie, but also to Barney's amazing claim that he lost his virginity at Kellerman's. Excellent scene.
The other huge moment for me was the return of Victoria! I actually cheered (out loud; luckily no one was around to mock me). After a string of obnoxious girlfriends for Ted, climaxing with the horrible Zoey, I am so excited to see her back! Of course, that just leaves me with a string of hopes: hope that she sticks around for awhile; hope that Ted doesn't ruin the relationship again; hope that, somehow (it would be a miracle), she is actually the mother. Regardless, though, what a breath of fresh air in this aging show.
Unfortunately, other than that, I didn't find too much to get excited about in either episode. I was disappointed by the fact that Lily really had very little too do. She is one of my favorite characters, and I hope this isn't indicative of how the pregnancy arc will go. It seemed redudant to have Marshall get plastered in both episodes, especially as it wasn't particularly humorous. And Martin Short is already wearing on my nerves.
As for the resurrection of Barney/Robin, I have mixed feelings. I was a huge fan of this pairing back in the day. Until they actually got together, and it was a trainwreck. The only way I would be okay with this is if they truly are going to let Barney finally grow up. (Also: it's about time; his schtick is really growing thin.) Even then, Robin...Nora...I don't particularly care who he marries. And indifference is probably the worst emotion to invoke.
So overall, I'd say B-.
That's it for Monday. I'm watching the premiere of 2 Broke Girls right now. To give a two sentence review: it seems pretty witty, but I'm not laughing out loud. If they move it to right after HIMYM I'll probably continue watching, but if it remains after the abominable Two and a Half Men, there's a good chance I'm done.
Well, that's my lightest night of viewing. Tune back in tomorrow for New Girl, Parenthood and possibly my return to Glee.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Some Really Random Thoughts...
1) Amy Poehler/Parks and Rec were robbed at the Emmys tonight. And I say this as someone who is a fan of Modern Family as well.
2) As much as the whole Tom/Lynette breakup kills me, I think that this whole body coverup plot really irks me even more. It feels like jump the shark material to me (although who knows; maybe it will be the best plot ever). And...
3) Add to that that Tom and Lynette ARE broken up and (spoiler) it looks less and less likely that they're actually going to separate to work on their problems, and you're looking at the first season I'm really not looking forward to.
4) Although this body coverup seems beyond stupid to me, I wonder if I would be more enthused if it had been Tom/Lynette-centric instead of Gaby/Carlos. Especially since part of what bothers me is that they had kind of resolved the whole Alejandro thing earlier in the season. Bringing it back again at the end seemed ridiculous. And I've been thinking lately that they could have taken Tom and Lynette in a much more interesting, dramatic direction if the plot was centered around them.
5) But isn't the breakup interesting and dramatic? Yes and no. I mean, I guess it's different, which is good (these characters NEED a change). But from what I've read, I worry that deep down it's going to be the same old conflicts (dealing with disciplining the kids, jealousy of other women, Lynette trying to control things beyond her control), only now they won't be together. And then some huge tragedy will bring them back together without any problems being resolved. So in the end, what is the point?
6) That all said, I STILL haven't decided if I'm going to watch next week or not.
7) But I probably am.
8) Despite the fact that I'm less than enthused about Desperate Housewives, I am happy that Parks and Rec is starting again. Not only because it's one of my favorite shows, but also because...
9) Ben and Leslie have become my other favorite TV couple.
10) But I would bet a lot of money that they're going to break up too.
11) Despite all of this, I am still really excited for new TV this week.
2) As much as the whole Tom/Lynette breakup kills me, I think that this whole body coverup plot really irks me even more. It feels like jump the shark material to me (although who knows; maybe it will be the best plot ever). And...
3) Add to that that Tom and Lynette ARE broken up and (spoiler) it looks less and less likely that they're actually going to separate to work on their problems, and you're looking at the first season I'm really not looking forward to.
4) Although this body coverup seems beyond stupid to me, I wonder if I would be more enthused if it had been Tom/Lynette-centric instead of Gaby/Carlos. Especially since part of what bothers me is that they had kind of resolved the whole Alejandro thing earlier in the season. Bringing it back again at the end seemed ridiculous. And I've been thinking lately that they could have taken Tom and Lynette in a much more interesting, dramatic direction if the plot was centered around them.
5) But isn't the breakup interesting and dramatic? Yes and no. I mean, I guess it's different, which is good (these characters NEED a change). But from what I've read, I worry that deep down it's going to be the same old conflicts (dealing with disciplining the kids, jealousy of other women, Lynette trying to control things beyond her control), only now they won't be together. And then some huge tragedy will bring them back together without any problems being resolved. So in the end, what is the point?
6) That all said, I STILL haven't decided if I'm going to watch next week or not.
7) But I probably am.
8) Despite the fact that I'm less than enthused about Desperate Housewives, I am happy that Parks and Rec is starting again. Not only because it's one of my favorite shows, but also because...
9) Ben and Leslie have become my other favorite TV couple.
10) But I would bet a lot of money that they're going to break up too.
11) Despite all of this, I am still really excited for new TV this week.
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