Today, I felt like I was in the mood for a (scripted tv) round-up. So, what to write about?
Cue a blog draft lamenting the downfall of Last Resort and the formal pass on Mockingbird Lane, which are the two standout television losses of 2012, to my mind.
Then it struck me... I don't feel like writing all el serious-o. It's New Years Eve. My heart is light (or something like that).
Instead, I want to go girly. Talk about the times throughout the year that tv shows made me jump up and down and clap like I'm at a Bring It On audition (yes, I am that lame). The kind of shows I like to watch after a hard day's work, when I don't have the energy to figure out a Poirot mystery (yes, it's true, I heart the Inspector).
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate complex scripts, love science fiction, adore formats that challenge viewers, and a number of the programs below do offer some of these elements, to a certain degree... but another part of me also likes particular tv shows just because they're charming, sweet, even a litt-le bit silly.
Deciding to take it to the next (girly-girl) level, I've focused solely on CW shows, because let's face it, I do enjoy the network's offerings. They make up a decided chunk of my viewing schedule. Some are darker in tone and deal with more complex themes, while others are light and frothy, like the tv version of a guilty pleasure.
In summary, this year's final blog is a tribute to half a dozen notable moments (in no particular order) that the CW entertained me with this year. Some people will agree, others will be horrified, and many will secretly agree while pretending to be horrified.
But hey, I'm pretty happy to own my own tastes. C'est la vie, right?
1. Gossip Girl Ended Forever and I Cried.
It's true, there were actual tears. (Hey, noone was as surprised as I was!) Admittedly, Gossip Girl went completely off the rails for a while there, to the point where even I couldn't make it through an episode, but the last season reclaimed a little of the iconic show's original sparkle.
I admired the fashion, the interiors were always fabulous, the nod to modern contemporary art was admirable, and frankly, Blair and Chuck were my FAVOURITE tv couple.
The early days of the series were notable because Gossip Girl was one of the first shows to utilise mobile phones and internet access as a positive narrative tool, rather than viewing technology as something that hampered the standard scripted television procedures and formats established for decades.
And I am one of those people who loved the final Gossip Girl identity reveal... it was a lovely nod to The Great Gatsby.
2. Hart of Dixie Won Me Over.
I fell in love with Hart of Dixie, in all its occasionally caricatured Southern awfulness/awesomeness, because the show has an odd kind of charm.There's something so gentle about it. The characters are kind, community-minded, and more often than not, so very romantically confused. There are constant love triangles on this show, to the point where the characters move from one triangle to another. (In a kind of respectably kooky way, might I add.)
The setting itself qualifies as another character. The South is so beautiful! (Well, on tv anyway. Maybe it's the imaginary South I want to visit one day?) Bluebell's eccentric citizens remind me a little of the oddballs on Gilmore Girls back in the day, or even Northern Exposure's quirky crew.
Let's face it, Rachel Bilson is great. Who didn't love Seth and Summer in the OC? She's just as fun in Hart of Dixie.
3. Arrow is the New Cool Kid At School.
It actually surprises me how much I love this superhero show.
I was never a huge Smallville fan. The program had a specific tone that was sometimes too melodramatic for me. When I did watch it, I often enjoyed it (partly because I could see how much effort went into each episode), but I never went out of my way to catch it every week. And while there were aspects of the show I really appreciated, others aggravated me no end.
Enter Arrow as the network's superhero replacement. Somehow, this show struck the BULLSEYE of my viewing preferences. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
I think it's partly the lack of jarring slapstick humour that seems to creep into a lot of superhero offerings (a format truly mastered by superhero maestro Joss Whedon, but not always pulled off by everyone else). In contrast, this program plays it straight (as an arrow! I gotta stop this).
Our main guy, Oliver McQueen, is brutal... and I love it. I love the dark aesthetic, and the way the narrative structure draws parallels between our protagonist's experiences on the island, and his present day experiences back in (so-called) civilisation.
I could go on, but I think I'll save the Arrow love for it's own blog in 2013.
4. Supernatural, The Show With a Never-Ending Afterlife.
I would have to say, in recent years, Supernatural has offered some of the best television writing I've ever seen... and some of the worst. Yes, the script has gone from heavenly heights of awesomeness to hell depths of awfulness (kind of like this pun).
For a show to span such a broad spectrum, in terms of quality, while consistently managing to avoid cancellation... well, that's an achievement in itself. The most recent season appears to be more of a return to form, though some still claim the series jumped the shark long ago.
Just knowing Sam and Dean are still on the air is somehow reassuring. I like the Winchester brothers. I love the way they struggle on. In the eternal battle of good versus evil, these two are epic in their dogged persistence, like re-imagined heroes of old. AND, just like certain heroes of old, they have one of the most complex sibling relationships (television has) ever seen.
They also helped usher in the era of popularised supernatural-themed fiction, television and film. Sure, the vamp craze get a lot of the credit, but seeing Dean and Sam in mainstream press certainly helped inch open a few doors.
For anyone who's wondering if I'm Team Dean or Team Sam.... the answer is, Team Castiel. That's one smokin' Fallen Angel. (Now I'm not even sure if I'm punning. That's how far I am over the line.)
I would have to say, in recent years, Supernatural has offered some of the best television writing I've ever seen... and some of the worst. Yes, the script has gone from heavenly heights of awesomeness to hell depths of awfulness (kind of like this pun).
For a show to span such a broad spectrum, in terms of quality, while consistently managing to avoid cancellation... well, that's an achievement in itself. The most recent season appears to be more of a return to form, though some still claim the series jumped the shark long ago.
Just knowing Sam and Dean are still on the air is somehow reassuring. I like the Winchester brothers. I love the way they struggle on. In the eternal battle of good versus evil, these two are epic in their dogged persistence, like re-imagined heroes of old. AND, just like certain heroes of old, they have one of the most complex sibling relationships (television has) ever seen.
They also helped usher in the era of popularised supernatural-themed fiction, television and film. Sure, the vamp craze get a lot of the credit, but seeing Dean and Sam in mainstream press certainly helped inch open a few doors.
For anyone who's wondering if I'm Team Dean or Team Sam.... the answer is, Team Castiel. That's one smokin' Fallen Angel. (Now I'm not even sure if I'm punning. That's how far I am over the line.)
5. Damon and Elena Finally Hook Up (or more accurately, Stefan and Elena Really Break Up).
Yes, I watch The Vampire Diaries.
I take my hat off to the scriptwriting team. They have dozens of subplots on the go at any time, many often left static till a later point in the season, when re-introducing a particular conflict or character has the most shocking and unforeseen impact. Kudos for a fine display of narrative juggling.
Probably the most erratic aspect of the program is the varying levels of acting talent. Aside from above-par scripts, the series basically survives on quality guest stars and the charismatic skills of Ian Somerhalder and Candice Accola, who carry less impressive leads Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley.
The only flaw I would point out this season, is the continuation of a of determined naivety from certain characters (here's looking at you Bonny) that helps plotlines along, but is slightly less believable as the years go by. (For example, the fact anyone ever had a conversation with creepy Professor Shane to begin with, beggars belief...!)
6. Beauty And The Beast Austen'd Me.
I know, judge away.
This show is pretty terrible. I'm not denying it. The procedural aspect is GOD AWFUL, and I kind of wish the creators would realise it's borderline irrelevant/unnecessary, and shift their primary focus to character interactions.
Some of the support cast are appalling. Any connection to the original concept is so negligible that using the same name is a total marketing fail. (Did the network learn nothing from the 90210 fiasco?!).
Frankly, there are so many things to complain about. AND YET...
I would never miss an episode, because Katherine and Vincent's emotional entanglement makes for heart-wrenching, old-fashioned, pure, unadulterated romance. It's endearingly sweet.
Actors Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan heat up the small screen with more chemistry than I've seen in a long while (hampered by less touching than a Georgette Heyer novel, mind you).
While the screenwriters managed to get everything else about the show wrong, when it came to developing and exploring the integral connection between the two leads, they (accidentally?) excelled. (Or maybe I should give them the benefit of the doubt here?)
The backstories help this tortured coupling work. He's lost a brother and lives in a horrific situation. She saw her mother murdered and hence has more issues than most. Two damaged characters, who as a result of their traumas, feel compelled to help other people.
I think it's this aspect that hooked me in. I also like that despite being the mutual attraction, they're so bad at connecting with other people that it makes for an inevitably rocky (and therefore interesting) road to romance.
Basically, I'm happy to hang in there and hope the show can avoid cancellation long enough to figure out a stronger narrative direction, and learn to work with its strengths, because Kreuk and Ryan deserve the chance to make this show work.
This show is pretty terrible. I'm not denying it. The procedural aspect is GOD AWFUL, and I kind of wish the creators would realise it's borderline irrelevant/unnecessary, and shift their primary focus to character interactions.
Some of the support cast are appalling. Any connection to the original concept is so negligible that using the same name is a total marketing fail. (Did the network learn nothing from the 90210 fiasco?!).
Frankly, there are so many things to complain about. AND YET...
I would never miss an episode, because Katherine and Vincent's emotional entanglement makes for heart-wrenching, old-fashioned, pure, unadulterated romance. It's endearingly sweet.
Actors Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan heat up the small screen with more chemistry than I've seen in a long while (hampered by less touching than a Georgette Heyer novel, mind you).
While the screenwriters managed to get everything else about the show wrong, when it came to developing and exploring the integral connection between the two leads, they (accidentally?) excelled. (Or maybe I should give them the benefit of the doubt here?)
The backstories help this tortured coupling work. He's lost a brother and lives in a horrific situation. She saw her mother murdered and hence has more issues than most. Two damaged characters, who as a result of their traumas, feel compelled to help other people.
I think it's this aspect that hooked me in. I also like that despite being the mutual attraction, they're so bad at connecting with other people that it makes for an inevitably rocky (and therefore interesting) road to romance.
Basically, I'm happy to hang in there and hope the show can avoid cancellation long enough to figure out a stronger narrative direction, and learn to work with its strengths, because Kreuk and Ryan deserve the chance to make this show work.
HONOURABLE MENTION/TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL MOMENT OF 2012:
The actor who played Logan Echolls on Veronica Mars, the inimitable Jason Dohring, had a daughter this year, who he and his wife named Lilly (yes, same spelling as the show). Now that's Meta!
Happy New Year x
