Topic: Rate the last TV show you've seen

[oohhboy]

I believe this Link will provide you all the info you need without causing too much damage.

[broodwars]

My Eden of the East Blu-Ray set arrived today, and I've delved into the first few episodes.  So far, I'm pretty happy with this Mystery series, despite the cliche right off the bat of the main character having a dark past but no memory of it.  It just clicks with me, reminding me somewhat of the days when I would watch the likes of Cowboy Bebop and other such shows that had wide appeal.  The dub's pretty good so far as well, but on the audio side what I'd really like to draw attention to is...well...

THIS

That is probably the most badass anime opening theme song I've heard since When They Cry's; Shakugan no Shana's; and Code Geass' a few years back.  I'm a strong proponent of music and audio in general in my entertainment, despite seemingly most people ignoring it in theirs.  Because of this, I can usually tell how good a piece of entertainment will be within the first 5 minutes by listening to the music.  If the creators cared enough to devote time and effort into something most people ignore on a conscious level, chances are they cared enough to put a AAA effort into everything else (also known as, to me, the "Yoko Kanno Principle"  ).  That intro is just about perfect, very well timed and energetic, setting the tone and mood of the series excellently. 

Unfortunately, because the band Oasis and the record companies wanted licensing fees for every instance the song was used on the discs, Funimation could not obtain the rights to use the song on the North American DVDs/Blu-Rays beyond the first episode.  As a result, they were forced to use a secondary song the production company picked for the international release, and it's well...this.  It's so generic; slow; and sets the completely wrong tone, lacking any of the energy of the original version and the animation obviously isn't timed to it.  Pity that music licensing rights had to get in the way, but at least Funimation was able to license the original song for the first episode's intro.

[broodwars]

Eden of the East (TV) - Yeah, I marathoned the whole 11-episode show in one night, and overall I do really like it...Buuuuuuuuuuutt, this is one of the more frustrating series I've seen in a while.  It's a good show that could have been great if Production I.G. had tightened up the script, because this show is full of plot holes and plot threads that don't really seem to go anywhere.  It's perfectly fine for the first 8 or so episodes moving at its own leisurely pace, and then suddenly in the last 3 episodes the writers just throw in information dump after flashback after plot convenience.  This series was originally supposed to have a second season, which then became 2 movies.  Something tells me that the writers suddenly realized in the last few episodes that they weren't going to get that second season so the series needed to end immediately and set up the movies, so they scrambled to just throw something up.  Sadly, this leads to a pretty sloppy open ending that feels impenetrable in its half-assed complexity and contrivance, as well as making the viewer wonder why several characters and plotlines in the story even needed to exist (especially since the main character has essentially a magic cellphone).  I also have to wonder why the show is called "Eden of the East", when the series' namesake only has a token role in the story.
 
Those gripes aside, this is still a fun, addictive, and most gratifyingly original show that will keep you hooked until the end.  The animation is excellent (though I see Production I.G. still can't animate CG cars with any semblance of believability), the English dub is excellent, and the music is above-average (especially the show's original intro, as I've detailed previously).  I'm looking forward to the show's 2 sequel movies releasing later this year, which perhaps might give this story a proper ending.

[Stogi]

Spartacus Season 2

This show picks up exactly where it left off -- being the best softcore porno I've ever seen. I mean, what other show has a chick orgasming in the same montage as a dude getting merked?

But in all seriousness, the best thing about the show is how conniving motherfuckers are willing to be.

[Caliban]

Where it left off? Season 2 is more of a prequel season than anything else. It's still enjoyable though.

[BlackNMild2k1]

He explained what he meant. It's still the best softcore porno on cable TV.

And the way the season starts, it appears that it's all a flash back in Bautiatus' life in his last moments before death. Like a reflection of what got him to where we ended the 1st season.

My favorite new show by far. The deceit and backstabbery are top notch on this show. It's a shame that this season is only 6 episodes long especially since I was disappointed that last season was only 12 episodes.

[Stogi]

This season is only 6 episodes long?

That blows.

[Caliban]

Eh, what a short season.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Well it was originally supposed to be a pre-season 2 filler that was gonna air to give time to Spartacus recover from his Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, but that didn't work out as planned, so now this is the new Season 2.

Only good thing about it is that they get to boil the story down to just what is important and avoid all the filler eps and drawn out plotlines and dialogue. Not that last season had any of that, but it was only 12 episodes long unlike most TV shows that might get drawn out to 20 or so episodes.

OTOH though, Dexter was only 12 episodes long and we just had an entire filler season. Most other shows could learn a lesson or two from Spartacus about storytelling and drawing a lot of emotion and character out of so few episodes. I could definitely do with more shorter but great shows than fewer longer but decent ones. But if that's not possible, then more shows could follow the half season story arcs instead.

[ThePerm]

yeah, Walking dead was only 6 episodes the first season....what the heck with such short seasons lately? i guess budgetary restraints? The way its going is there is going to be 6 episodes a year on some of these shows...and the plotlines will go nowhere. A mini-series is 3 episodes....and each episode in a mini series is 1- 2 hours long....

[BlackNMild2k1]

Walking Dead had a really high budget for a TV show though, so they only ordered a 6 episode season just incase it didn't take off. In hind sight, I'm sure they wished they had ordered atleast a 9 episode run, but I'm not sure I would have like The Walking Dead if it was any longer. At least not if they stretched that same exact plot line out for another 3 episodes. They should go with 6 episode half seasons to keep the plot lines tight and the story moving along.

[ThePerm]

thats the thing though....they dont have to write the plotlines! They deviated from the comic a bit, which is good, because otherwise it would be like watching something I read previously, but it was like the last episode was filler. This isn't the first post-apocalyptic show I've seen, the British show Survivors started off really good...and then got mind numbingly boring. The comics are full of action though. I always read the comics in the graphic novel form, which was like 6 months worth of comics. They were about a 2 hour read. If going by the comics...we aren't even on issue 6 yet(the comics are about 24 pages each). So, talk about dragging things out. It isn't like the show is bad, but it could head that way if it starts getting like Survivors.

[BlackNMild2k1]

But they still have to adapt it to TV and that's not as easy as it sounds, and I'm not specifically focusing on just The Walking Dead, but all TV shows of it's type. It's best for certain types of shows to not drag things out longer than they need to just because they are trying to fill a certain number of programming slots throughout the year. It's also good for those types of shows to know when the story is over and end it on a high note and let everyone involved move onto a new project instead of dragging it out and ruining whatever the show had going for it.


But on a completely unrelated note. I'm all caught up on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Not quite as funny as it's been hyped up to be, but it definitely has it's moments.... quite a few of them actually. Everybody is a bunch of self-serving assholes with the combined common sense and maturity of a bunch of first time drunk & high 12 year olds. Since I marathoned it(all 6 seasons) over the last couple of weeks, everytime I feel the need to rant about something I always picture it happening the voice of Charlie with that raspy yell. Also Mac's portrayal of Dee at the costume party was probably the hardest laugh I had during the entire run so far.

Any word on when the 7th season starts?

also it it wrong that when I see of this

I think of "Frank" wanting to play a prank on The Gang but something went wrong off screen at the last second and now he's trying to get the hell out of there instead?

[BlackNMild2k1]

Shameless (US)

New show in Showtime that's a remake of a UK show that's in it's 8th or 9th season now. Down and out welfare family struggling on a day to day basis. Disabled alchololic dad that's more interested in being drunk than anything else. Early 20 something daughter who has had to take on role of caretaker. 2 Brothers, one smart the other gay. A younger sister and a youngest half brother all living in the same house. And the 2 neighbors that all contribute to this rag tag group of urban miscreants. Only 1 episode in, but so far I'm into it.

For some reason I find the oldest daughter to be really damn attractive. Like a mix of a young Julia Roberts meets this girl I went to HS with. Combined, she is hotter than them both. She is my main draw to this show ATM, but it is interesting.





I've seen all 3 episodes, and I am just drawn in by her.
Emily Rossum I think.

[broodwars]

Well, I've finished Tears to Tiara, and overall I'm pretty satisfied with this relatively-straightforward fantasy anime.  The series has a good flow to it, character designs and personalities are nice and distinct, the animation is above average for television animation (though still nothing extraordinary), the quirky English dub is excellent, and for fracking ONCE the series features a satisfying ending that wraps up the major plot points of the series.  Aside from some rather convenient writing towards the end, a fairly bland music score, and a couple fairly wasted characters (the elves, mainly), there really isn't much to complain about here.  I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a successor to Record of Lodoss war.

[Stogi]

The Wire -- so far 11/10

I've been watching this show as if it were my job. I'm in the middle of the 3rd season and it's making me feel good. I've even clapped at the end of episodes as if it were the premiere of a hollywood blockbuster. This show is engaging, brilliant, and most of all, thorough. I know the characters so well that 99% of the time I can logically conclude what they are going to do. There are some curve balls but rarely though the characters themselves. You see the crossroads coming in regards to characters ambitions. They are that well-rounded and contemplated. It's unlike any show I've encountered. "Best show on TV"? More like "Best show period".

[BlackNMild2k1]

The Wire is great, but I still consider The Shield as my #1 Cop involved show ever. The Wire is a close 2nd though.
They are very different shows and not really directly comparable, but since they always seem to be, I thought I would make my preference known... again.

But as to why I came back into this thread;
I've decided that I'm never gonna finish 24 or Lost and that Sopranos was low on my watch list at this point in time. I'm all caught up on every other show I watch or have started at this time (except for Skins s5 UK), and that is ALOT of TV shows* at this point in time. So now I'm looking for a new show to watch inbetween all those other shows. Ive currently decided on Carnivale. A cancelled HBO show about a traveling Circus that has been highly rated by fans and supposedly abruptly ends somewhere in the 2nd season, yet is supposedly still very worth the watch.

I just put on the 1st episode of s1, should I continue knowing the show never finishes even though I am mildly interested in the first 15 minutes so far?
Is there something else worth checking out at the moment? preferably something that is many seasons deep and/or already off the air?


* Current DVR Schedule:
Sun: Family Guy, Cleveland, American Dad, Shameless
Mon: House, Chuck, Being Human
Tue: No Ordinary Family, V, Tosh.0
Wed: Human Target, Modern Family, The Middle, Cougar Town
Thu: Community, 30 Rock, Royal Pains
Fri: Smallville, Supernatural, Spartacus
Sat: N/A

Other Shows: Skins (UK), Misfits (UK), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dexter, Weeds, Boardwalk Empire

[Stogi]

Boardwalk Empire is dope. Slow but like The Wire, it's all for character development. And we know that's coming back with a second season later this year.

[BlackNMild2k1]

yeah, I'm all caught up on that(it's listed at the bottom).

I just realized that Breaking Bad is also in my "to be watched soon" queue.
Maybe I'll watch that instead of Carnivale.... or maybe just finish Carnivale since it's only 2 seasons long.

[Stogi]

Well...I've lost all interest in The Wire. How after I was so ecstatic? Well because Stringer, my favorite character, has been murdered.

BnM, should I continue watching?

[BlackNMild2k1]

That was Season 3 right? You are already past the worst (s2 @ The Docks) and the the show only gets better from there
Your most hated event is only leading up to a more intense show, so yes you should continue if for nothing else just to finish the story.

You can still root for Omar... even though you may not agree with all of his umm... lifestyle choices.
You only got 2 more seasons to go.

[Stogi]

Omar's my nigga, don't get me twisted. But Bell was me. The cold calculating type, with his mind on the end result. It's a shame that I basically died.

[BlackNMild2k1]

"They seen your ghetto ass coming from a mile away"

Definitely finish the show. That was a Holy **** moment, but the rest of the show is still pretty good (s4 is barely better than s2, but s5 is really good).

Going off memory I think I would rank it like this;
s3 > s5 > s1 > s4 > s2

[Stogi]

This was the worst season yet.

I have no one to root for.

[BlackNMild2k1]

which season are you on?