You're Wearing That?

"You have a problem with my Sexy Rogue Ensemble?"

The Sexy Rogue Ensemble is de rigueur for male characters battling possible supernatural/paranormal foes on television. I was reminded of the less-than-subtle costuming trend when I saw a shot of Duchovny on the set of the new X-Files, because yes, Mulder's in on it too.

Say hello to The Jacket: rugged fabric in camo green or another no-nonsense dark shade, minimal modern interpretation of a collar, and almost a box cut (in that it's not too loose but not too fitted). 

The Jacket borders on a uniform at this point (except sexy rogues are a touch too non-conformist for uniforms), worn with denim jeans and simple tees/shirts. No bright colors in sight. The sexy rogue usually favors short hair, but kind of scruffy short hair. Like they would be in the army if they could handle rules.

I'm callin' it. Urban Warrior all the way.

Traits you can assume any character wearing this clothing trope onscreen possesses (give or take a few points, 'cause rogues are a tad unpredictable):

-Usually hunting something, or being hunted.

-Will step in and save others, if reluctantly.

-Despite sometimes questionable interpersonal skills, deep down has a heart of gold.

-Generally funny (whether intentionally or not).

-Bit of a hit with the ladies.

-Mega hot despite the bad drinking and eating habits. Fit from all the roguein', I guess. (Hey, it's television.)

Yeah, I can see why they'd wrap this costuming trope around Mulder. Frankly, it's an upgrade from his nineties fashion fare...!

Still coming to terms with the lack of red hair over here.

I consider the character of Dean from Supernatural to be the "father" of this trend. Not because he's the first person to wear it like a uniform, but because he cemented SRE in the zeitgeist over a decade of seasons.

"This looks is MINE."

Can another Dean photo reall-y hurt? Wait, how about his brother instead? #keepinitinthefamily

The Jacket lends itself to"supernatural" moves.

...Other hunter characters on the show have tried to channel the look.

Give it up Garth.

Over on Grimm Nick got the memo about the dress code. A cupboard in the creepy Weapons 'n Weirdness caravan is probably full of The Jacket in black, near black, navy, dark blue, and almost black.  

"Should I have gone for a different shade? Maybe charcoal?"

The Secret Circle reminded audiences this dress code applies to teen witches battling witch hunters as well.

A prettier version on Adam, but still The Jacket.

Vampire Diaries fans will tell you Alaric kept his interpretation cleaner. (Keeps? Now he's not dead? #supernaturalgrammarissues). Vampire hunter, sure, but he's also the local history teacher.

Seriously, I can take a class wearing this.

 An invisible barrier like the one in Under The Dome captured a wild SRE. See that sexy rogue in the background?

Barbie should know better. The Sexy Rogue Ensemble
 isn't popular in small towns.

On Beauty and the Beast Vincent's version made it onto the promo poster.

From rooftops to subway tunnels, SRE is all the rage.

Seriously, this look is always in for sexy rogues. Don't believe me? Ask a time traveller.

"I can confirm I've worn this jacket in multiple timelines."

...Annnddd as much as I'd like to spend the rest of my day sourcing examples of Sexy Rogue Ensembles, I think I've made my point xx

2012: A CW Odyssey

When it comes to blogging on the last day of the year, most of us lean toward one of two options. Either evaluating the past year and alternating between ranting and raving, or focusing on the year to come by engaging in a whole lotta speculation.

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.)

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.

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

Is It Your First Day?

Finding a fantastic new scripted tv show in the latest batch of releases can be like searching for a narrative needle in an, occasionally mediocre, storytelling haystack. 

Here's my take on ten recent small screen debuts. The good news is, every now and again, you hit pay dirt. (On a side note, what does this saying even mean? Why dirt??). 

My Favourite So Far (drum roll please)…

1. MOCKINGBIRD LANE

Why Check It Out? Because it's from the producer of Pushing Up Daisies. Mockingbird Lane is fun, but don't get excited. The network passed on it, which means the most promising show of the season was cancelled before it even really began. 

What's It About? A ver-y loose retelling of The Munsters, which is why it has a different name (good call). The concept's been modernised to accommodate a more gore-savvy audience. The pilot was screened as a Halloween special.

After I Watched It… I was blown away by how kooky but cool the whole idea was, and how well the core cast meshed. I loved the art design too. The opening sequence, where Marilyn buys the house, made me smile, as did Lily and grandpa's arrival (cue rats, smoke and spiders). Fantastic television.

Hits: Deliciously macabre all-round! 

And Misses: Maybe the pacing? The program is such an unexpected style of small screen storytelling, there's no currently popular formula to follow (unlike a procedural).

Other Shows Worth Trying On For Size...

2. ARROW

Why Check It Out? Because superheroes are still all the rage. Speaking of rage, the theme of this show seems to be a slow burning rage that's almost consumed our hero. I love it. 
What's It About?  A billionaire playboy is found five years after he's presumed dead. The sole survivor of a shipwreck, he returns home to discover corruption and greed have taken over the city.  Deciding to protect the innocent by adopting an alternate persona, he becomes the vigilante known as Green Arrow.

After I Watched It… I realised there's often a jovial kind of humour to shows based on comic books, but this series plays it straight. I actually like the intensity. 

Hits: The flashbacks to the boating tragedy, and his time on the island. Beautifully woven in at just the right times. Rather than being jarring, they really contribute to the narrative.

And Misses: I'm not a Green Arrow comic fan, so I honestly can't compare the character mythology to this interpretation. I like the grittiness and brutality of the violence, it kind of blurs the line with the hero a little, bringing a darker edge to the tale. On a side note, just what is it with the girlfriend/love interest of a superhero hooking up with the best mate? 
Note: This is a CW show, so the budget's nowhere near as high as pilot programs on other networks. CW's programming also skews younger. These factors combined mean my expectations were not quite  as high as they might be for a big budget effort on other networks, or cable. But I was pleasantly surprised by the quality here. Big step forward from the 90210 remake, or the show about musical chairs(!).

3. LAST RESORT

Why Check It Out? Co-creator Shaun Ryan's had his finger in a lot of (tv) pies, including Chicago Code, Terriers, Lie To Me, and The Unit.

What's It About? The crew of a submarine are on the run (in a sense). When you're a patriot doing your duty and your country tries to kill you courtesy of internal political machinations, well, the psychological effects are going to be complex O_O Think combat-style pressure, to the nth degree. 

After I Watched It… I started recommending the show to anyone who would listen. This was easily the best premiere of the television season. The follow up episodes are not as strong; partly because not much can compete with the setting up of the original premise, and partly because the move to focus on 'emotional' storylines doesn't translate well. 

Hits: Worth watching, if it can avoid cancellation. The ensemble cast is incredible.

Misses: Sub-plots centred on the bar girl and the wife back home just make me sigh. I think they're supposed to provide, what, emotional fodder? Instead, the characters come across as overly simplistic and tiresome to watch. They don't compare to the intricacies of Autumn Reeser's character.

4. HUNTED

Why Check It Out? Ah, BBC, you send so many good shows out into the world. Major props!

What's It About? I thought it was about a spy who survives an assassination attempt, realises one of her team had to be involved, and (once recovered) returns to work to uncover the culprit. For me, the show lost a little gloss when it turned out the protagonist is not a spy. Instead, she works for a privatised company. Laugh if you like, but the thing is, I can get behind patriotism. Ditching your ethics for cold hard cash? Not so much.

After I Watched It… I took my hat off once again to the BBC. All the clever kind of espionage double crossing at the beginning is riveting. The lead role is written as a very intense, complex character, and while I think it's a bit of a stretch for George, she comes through.

Hits: That would be the entire cast. It's a solid ensemble cast, you're not sighing your way through any scenes. The camera work, the editing, the lighting in a lot of shots, every aspect is top-notch. The real mystery is what they're putting in the water over there?

And Misses: Melissa George's pouting. The actress's interpretation of a stern, serious spy face, includes a slight pout. Spy chic? If you created a drinking game and tossed back a shooter for every pout shot, you'd be wasted asap.

Good, But Probably Could Have/Should Have Been Better...

5. ELEMENTARY

Why Check It Out? Reinterpreting the iconic character of Sherlock Holmes, ie placing him in a modern day setting, worked so well for the Brits. 

What's It About? A genius-type who notices everything, works with the police (for free) when he gets out of rehab, assisted by a retired surgeon hired by his father to act as a sobriety companion.

After I Watched It… To be honest, the Sherlock character doesn't seem frighteningly clever to me. He seems more like a highly intelligent individual with a personality disorder. Kind of a stupid person's version/idea of genius.
Let's face it, the crew over on Castle solve these types of crimes quite regularly. If Sherlock's going to stand out from the crowd, the procedural aspect needs to be a lot more polished. Today's audiences are quite jaded in regards to the solving of homicide mysteries.

Hits: Lucy Liu. She's a great actress, and her character here is a very different take on Watson, a much more proactive interpretation of the famous sidekick.

And Misses: Elementary is just a standard procedural, with a little Sherlock wrapping. More similar to House, or The Mentalist. If you're going to cash in on the success of the BBC effort, you have to put in the budget to equal the quality of their product, and pay the same attention to detail (considering the topic at hand, that's almost a pun).

Still To Come...

6. PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD

This is screening soon, so I'm taking a punt on it and putting it in the list as a potential fun show, (maybe) in the same way Warehouse 13 is entertaining. Why? Because I enjoy the occasional Canadian program, and because Amanda Tapping and Gillian Horvath are involved (think Sanctuary). I don't mind the leads either (guy from Eureka, girl from The Vampire Diaries). Will update this blog with impressions of the first episode when it airs later in the week. Since I've never seen the British original, maybe I'll check that out too...

Currently On The Fence...

7. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Why I'm Not Sold: Oh, for a lot of reasons. Mostly the script, and most notably the atrocious procedural aspect, which is highly cringeworthy. Not to mention, taking an old show and creating a modern interpretation rarely ends well. This is the network that tried 90210 and Melrose Place reboots, so you think they'd have learnt their lesson by now… Nostalgia is a powerful thing, so shows are judged a lot more harshly when they reference a past favourite to pull an audience. 
Most would argue this should be in the 'Avoid' category, but I really like Kristin Kreuk. She was a big factor behind the original success (ie the early years) of Smallville. And I do enjoy the stylised fight scenes. Fingers crossed it gets better? Maybe the production company could pull a Walking Dead with the writing staff? (And no, I don't mean eat or zombify- just replace!)

8. 666 PARK AVENUE

Why I'm Not Sold: This one comes down to personal taste. I enjoyed the opening few minutes (I'm always up for a series with a supernatural slant, I love seeing how writers work it into the narrative)... till I discovered Rachael Taylor has a lead role. I am not a fan of Rachel Taylor on the small screen, in the same kind of way I'm not a fan of Anne Hathaway on the big screen. Meaning, I can only sit through about five minutes of screen time before I have to leave the cinema, or turn off the telly.

Those Best Avoided…

9. MADE IN JERSEY

I was going to say, avoid this one like the plague, it's horribly oversimplified and has an oddly condescending tone (God-awful barely describes the clunky script effort), but it's already been cancelled. 

10. REVOLUTION

Don't even get me started. There are just too many logistical problems with the concept, and honestly, who wants to read a reall-y long rant? Nobody, I'm guessing. I love stories set in dystopian futures, but in the last few years it seems networks have conveniently ignored the fact this kind of programming requires solid conceptual script work. The premise here has a slapdash feel to it that I find truly aggravating. When you create a world, it has to be consistent, so the audience can maintain suspension of disbelief... Two words, people. Robert McKee. Google him!