Livejournal thing

Hmmm, this Livejournal mass community deletion is not a good thing. I feel like I should be starting fanfiction communities of my own in protest. They can't delete them all, right? I wonder what's waiting in the wings to take Livejournal's place.

Pirates

I liked it. Quite a bit. I'd put it about here:

Return of the King > Revenge of the Sith > At World's End > Return of the Jedi > anything else that's a part 3 (in which the story is directly continued from part 2, thus excluding Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which would probably fall just behind Return of the King in a less exclusive ranking) > Matrix Revolutions

It was also hot. Say what you will about the acting abilities of Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley, but there is no way Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst have that kind of smoldering sexual tension going on in Spider-Man 3.

Needless to say, I want to see it again.

Things I miss about LA...

The song at the end of the last Veronica Mars made me miss LA. These are the things I miss most:

- The malls: The Grove, Beverly Center, Westside Pavillion, Hollywood & Highland, 3rd Street Promenade & Century City
- parking garages
- Borders on La Cienega
- Jamba Juice
- LA Fitness
- Ralph's on Wilshire @ midnight
- 7/11 @ Olympic and La Cienega
- Coffee Bean
- Pumpkin smoothie from Robeks downtown
- Plaza in front of the Arclight
- LAPL Central
- Kalologie
- indie 103.1 morning show with Joe Escalante
- La Brea Tar Pits
- Urth Cafe
- Santa Monica beach
- The Farm
- KROQ
- driving east into the desert
- Wilshire between La Cienega and the LACMA
- Olympic between La Cienega and Fairfax
- La Cienega between Olympic and 3rd

Still reeling

This is like the BSG Season 2 finale. I'm still blown away hours later. This may have been even more of a mind frak. So, questions that have arisen in my mind so far are:

The obvious:
- Who's dead in the future? Right now I'm guessing Locke or Sawyer.
- Who does Kate have to get back to? Here I'm guessing Sawyer or her old husband, Nathan Fillion.
- Does "Through the Looking Glass" mean that all the episodes from now on will have flashforwards rather than flashbacks? That's making sense to me right now. It's also awesome.
- What's the deal with Jacob? and why can't I bring myself to care?
- Why do Locke and Mikhail seem to be unkillable?

The less obvious:
- Seriously, what does any of this have to do with the four-toed statue foot?
- Is Alex's boyfriend's name Carl or Karl?
- Will Jack actually get to go on his murderous rampage? I guess he can't kill Tom like he promised since Sawyer already did, but one of these days he's got to kill Ben. And Locke seems like a good candidate to be killed too.
- Why the hell do the Others keep taking orders from Ben? Even they know he's a lunatic.

My theory for today is that Richard Alpert is Alvar Hanso. It's not a good theory, just a theory.

VM 2

I don't really want to go through it. It was emotionally trying, while also being pretty reminiscent of her investigation into her own rape. Which was good. I liked the return of Jake Kane.

I wish they'd gone into more about Dick and his dad. I maintain that Dick Casablancas needs a spinoff.

What a sad way to leave things. I love the song at the end. Makes me miss LA.

Now I remember why I watch this show

This is some weird and sinister music just for some people walking down the beach.

Why does that women grunt so hard when she hits Charlie? Shit, Charlie just screwed up the blowing up the Others in the tents plan.

Bernard is totally going to die here. Crap, no, they might all die. Yeah, this is all going straight to hell. Naturally.

Seriously, why isn't Rose in every episode?

Sorry I was blaming Charlie for screwing things up. He's being awesome.

Oh Bernard. This is so bad. So, so bad.

Alex, Ben's going to kill you.

Man, Kate's really annoying these days.

This quadrangle angst moment is interesting.

This is the Best. Charlie. Ever. I just can't get over how my love for Charlie has increased in the last two episodes. It's like my feelings for Sawyer from two episodes ago.

Poor Hurley. This constant rejection for his own good is definitely going to pan out in some way.

Damn, Walt is tall.

That was the most nonsensical "I love you" ever.

They absolutely don't need to talk. Someone just needs to shoot Ben. No, not five minutes. Just shoot Ben. What reason does Jack possibly have to believe Ben?

Hmm, Sayid, Jin and Bernard dead? Or did something unexpected happen?

Psycho Jack is kind of hot. Bearded Psycho Jack and Island Psycho Jack.

NOOOOOO! Do not bring Ben with you! He will just manipulate someone else in the group! Dammit Jack! Finally, a reasonable thought from Kate. Just kill Ben! Hmm, apparently Jack's going to go on a murderous rampage as soon as he's rescued.

Holy shit, Sayid just killed a man with his feet! And yes, good plan by Sawyer. Don't trust Others. Even friendly ones like Tom.

How did Jack recover from this drug addiction enough to go back to being a respected doctor again before his dad died?

Hey, twenty minutes left and so far everything's coming up Losties. Things must be about to go horribly horribly wrong.

And so it does. It did seem like Charlie had time to get out of that door and close it behind him though. Also, what difference would it have made if that door to that small room hadn't have been closed? It seems like Desmond and Charlie should have been able to make it back to shore.

Dear Lord, this has all gone completely crazy. And whatever the hell is going on is officially awesome. And I'm saying it before I watch the moment that confirms it...in this episode, the Island parts are the flashback. Psycho Jack is Jack after getting off the island.

Wow. So many questions. Never any answers. How will any of this relate to the four toed statue foot?

VM 1

What's with the suspenders? Not really that hot.

Huh, Weevil. There he is. Well, his skin looks less weird, but more scarred, and he's still on the hefty side. Seriously, what has been up with Francis Capra this year? This arguement about workman's comp and setting Weevil up to go back to a life of crime is kind of annoying...and long. But it's got that weird guy from Drive who worked for the Race!

I love how Veronica is unable to express her feelings directly and has to do so over the phone. Aww, Piz and Veronica could be so cute together, if only she wasn't destined to be with Logan.

We're back to some good old fashioned VM here. The student criminals, Veronica helping exonerate her friends, Wallace with a model plane. It's season 1 all over again.

Eh, I'll make more comments about the finale.

Welcome to Hidden Palms, Bitch!

I just watched the last two episodes of Veronica Mars, but I'm too emotionally overwhelmed to say anything about them right now.

I am, however, perfectly capable of commenting on what is undoubtedly this summer's upcoming hit on the CW, "The OC." Oh, I mean "Hidden Palms." Starring Oliver, Zach, Jackie, some girl, two women from NYPD Blue, some other girl, some sleazy dude, and Jake Kane in some capacity. Here's the plot, as far as I can figure:

A troubled kid (we'll call him something normal, like Ryan) moves to an affluent neighborhood with his mom and stepdad (who we'll call the Cohens). Once there, he's instantly drawn to an equally troubled and tragically beautiful young girl (how about...Marisa). Then there's his charming next door neighbor Zach (or, better yet, Logan), also troubled due to the murder of his best friend, and his slutty mom (*cough* Julie Cooper-Nichol *cough*), who Ryan befriends and fends off advances from, respectively. Eventually he meets a smart, nosy and undoubtedly troubled girl (rhymes with Harmonica Cars) who helps him solve the neighborhood mysteries. But before it's all over, the troubled party girl from the big city (Jen Lindley, if you please) shows up just to make things complicated. Parties, fights and crimes of passion ensue.

Wow, Kevin Williamson, I don't know what to make of the drag queen, but make one of those kids the child of a criminal, amp up the class struggle and throw in some racial tension and I think you've got yourself a hit. And it would probably also help if at least two of the characters find out that they're siblings. Well done!

Gadgets!

This iGoogle thing rocks. I love that I can check almost all of my blogs just by going to one page.

Epic...not so much

So, Veronica Mars is gone. I guess it's been a long time coming. Hmm, it's gradual slide towards cancellation looked a lot like Arrested Development's slow demise. Two great, critically acclaimed seasons, and then a begrudgingly granted by the network, shortened, less than stellar third season.

Boy is probably right. The show should have done the jump to the future after last year and avoided the college thing altogether. I don't know why that high school to college transition is such a show killer. It's deadlier than Paula Marshall.

The worst part of the situation is that One Tree Hill did get picked up and is using this new jump four years into the future concept thereby allowing the characters and writers to skip "college" and get on with the more entertaining "life." I personally feel that One Tree Hill should have tried the more amusing tactic of having the characters stay in high school forever. 10 years from now Chad Michael Murray could still be trying to play varsity basketball but now struggling to overcome not just a genetic heart defect, but also, tons of illegitimate children, several ex wives, a mortgage and a receding hairline. And all of that with no logical explanation at all.

I'm just glad the CW didn't pick up Barnes, the pilot about a college kid, played by Veronica Mars' Mercer (Ryan Devlin), using his geekiness and gadgetry to solve mysteries. They would have been cancelling Veronica Mars to make room for Guy Veronica Mars.

All in all, season three of VM has been limping along since the end of the Hearst rapist arc. It was probably still better than anything new that'll start next year, and it had great character moments, but it wasn't exactly justifying its own existence. I'm just disappointed that it won't get to have a really good pre-planned ending.

With Veronica gone and the upcoming TV tough girls, Bionic Woman and Sarah Connor, being brunettes, Starbuck is the only ass-kicking blonde on TV, and she might be dead.

Crack den, sweet crack den

I find it more than a little disconcerting that there's a hypodermic needle on the ground in the courtyard between my building and the next. Maybe I shouldn't be out there in flip flops. It makes me worry that the glass on the ground is actually shattered crack pipes. And here I thought I lived in a nice neighborhood.

You All Everybody

Was it entirely necessary to waste a bunch of dynamite to blow up a tree as an example? I think everyone is already pretty convinced of dynamite's explosive capabilities.

Karl! I hope Karl and Alex are regular cast members in upcoming seasons.

So that's what Charlie's been missing this whole time, a ring. Wait, no, The Ring!

Despite how annoying they made him most of the time, I really liked Charlie in this episode, and I kind of like him in general. I like his friendship with Hurley. I like his weird British solidarity with Desmond, and apparently with Naomi. (I like British solidarity in general.) I like that his relationship with Claire and Aaron seems to consist of being a male nanny, because it doesn't really seem like he and Claire are too intimate (that was a very chaste kiss), nor do they seem to cohabitate that tent. And, of course, I like that he was willing to cherish the life he'd had and then willingly give it all up to save the people he loved. It's very Spike of him. He's come a long way from being a junkie.

Oh hey, Jack was in this episode. Nope, I just can't muster much interest there.

10 to 1 says Ben's childhood girlfriend, Annie, lives in the Looking Glass. By the way, for as calculating and manipulative as Ben is supposed to be, he sure is a hothead. Why does the current Richard Alpert seem so meek and uninformed when the 30 years ago Richard Alpert seemed to be the leader of the hostiles? Maybe the current one is a clone.

Season 2 recall

I'm having a hard time focusing on the episode for two reasons: 1) the show has most likely been cancelled and 2) this episode is not that gripping. I'm kind of upset about both points. This season has been kind of disappointing and I was actually interested in the possibility of the revamped FBI version of the show. And now I'm feeling legitimately disappointed that I'll never get to see that show.

I'm pretty convinced that this season's fatal flaw was abandoning the full season mystery.

Oh my god, Dick Casablancas just made me cry. Why isn't this show coming back? Why?

Mr. and Mrs. Awesome

...with their children Totally and Freakin'. Yep, that's why this show is awesome. Also, the awesome overuse of the word awesome. I love them for that.

Next season is going to be Legend-wait for it...

And you are?

I liked David Spade on SNL and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

So, I watched the SNL in the 90s special last weekend. I enjoyed it. Mainly because I enjoy SNL. I think the reason that I've always watched SNL with some regularity, despite how good or bad it may seem at the time, is that something about the concept of it appeals to me. I think part of it is the fact that no matter how funny I find any given sketch, it's always pretty clear that the cast members enjoy what they're doing. Watching them entertain each other is a really enjoyable part of it.

Also, I now realize that a lot of the things I find funny, I find funny in retrospect. Sure, "Dick in a Box" was really funny the first time, but somehow it's funnier the 10th time. "More Cowbell" was great the first time, but it's even better now that we all know it so well.

This entry was intended to be entertaining in some way, but it's really not, so it's done.

What's an anagram for Richard Alpert?

I know that we've seen all these little things over the course of the season like the van and Roger Work Man and the rabbit and now we're supposed to be thinking "ah, it's all been part of the plan, giving us clues that are now being tied together." Instead it's feeling more like, "Hey, we've put in a lot of weird crap. Think we can explain it all in one episode?"

Hey, Ben's got Daddy issues. What a surprise! And his dad has some sort of unnecessary exposition problem. Cool!

54439?

Umm, huh? And...huh?

Holy...Whoa! Okay, this is the kind of smoke monster-polar bear shit that made Season 1 interesting. But still, this episode did not manage to answer a single question. Except who Roger Work Man was, and honestly, I hadn't even been wondering that.

Lotta dudes in this episode

And, Veronica Mars thoughts so far. I really don't like it when a person I like guest stars on a show that I like but as someone really annoying. Like Paul Rudd is doing right now. Although the radio interview bit was kind of funny. And yes, I'm rooting for him to man up and play his new songs. And now I'm glad that he did.

I missed Leo. I'm happy he's around again. Hmm, Vinnie for sheriff? Well, he's never really been a bad guy, just a weird guy. And I do like Keith better as a PI. I still have a weird suspicion that Lamb isn't really dead. I could be crazy though.

Oooh, there is some brilliant Mac/Logan action going on.

Where is Veronica? Piz is leaving so they decided to give him his own episode? That's weird. Not that I mind. Screw the Grey's spinoff, Chris Lowell deserves his own show. Is next week a Parker episode? And, hey, where's Weevil?

Those weird little hand drawn anti-drug ads are freaking me out. They make me feel guilty for things I don't even do.

Okay, now if next week we can get some Leo, Logan and Piz all in a room together mumbling at each other, that'll rock. Next week's ripped from the headlines Kaavya Viswanathan plot doesn't look like it'll rock very hard though. Apparently college in Neptune just isn't as dirty and scandalous as high school.

Lost News

Okay, news today that Lost will end after three more 16 episode seasons. Part of me is a little disappointed because I was hoping we'd be able to wrap this madness up next year. Another part of me is just relieved that there's an end date and there won't be any dragging on for years and years. I'm also happy about the 16 episode seasons. Maybe they'll be able to cut down on filler now that the writers won't have to worry about filling 22 episodes. Although I might be happier with two 24 episode seasons, both because it's nicer when you don't have to wait so long between seasons and because, as I mentioned before, it'd be nice to get this over and done with. I really hope this news means that someone's got the basic 48 episode storyline already planned and they won't just be making it up as they go.

This reminds me of the BSG related comments (I can't remember if it was Eick or Moore) about knowing the end point for the series and just deciding whether they're going to get there in one more season or two. It seems to be working well for people that start a show with an end point in mind rather than attempting to format something that can run indefinitely. I feel like Rob Thomas may have done better to go into VM with that kind of plan. If nothing else, it may have made this season a little tighter. Although maybe he did and he's just having to recalculate as the timeline shrinks. Damn, those upfronts just can't get here soon enough.

Quadrangle is the new Triangle

It amazes me that it takes me so long to realize that I'm watching the same thing happen on every TV show I watch. So BSG had the Dee/Lee/Kara/Sam love quadrangle and VM has the Parker/Logan/Veronica/Piz quadrangle and I've finally come around to the fact that Lost has the Juliet/Jack/Kate/Sawyer quadrangle. Part of me longs for the good old days of the triangle. Or even the days before that of the "sexual tension-having" couple. I'm not sure when it first happened that people started using the quadrangle instead of the triangle, but clearly word got around that it was the way to go, because it's everywhere. I can't wait til the quadrangle gets tired and writers start introducing the love pentagons. I mean, with TV show casts getting as large as they are these days, it doesn't seem unreasonable. We're drifting closer and closer to daytime soaps at every turn.

I ♥ James Ford

Okay, 22 minutes in and these are my thoughts so far:
1) Why is Locke so obsessed with destroying crap? Whoever's file he was looking at, did he really need to burn it?
2) I have never liked Sawyer more than I do right now.
3) I like that Jack has the new requirement of one conversation in the kitchen per episode.
4) Why was Naomi keeping the satellite phone in her pants?

And 40 minutes in:
1) Why don't any of those people who were kidnapped by the Others mind that they don't get to go home? And how good can they really be if they don't mind that their camp has a creepy old guy tied to a pillar?
2) Wouldn't it be great if everyone on the island turns out to have been fathered by one of, like, three people?
3) Okay, I have never loved Sawyer more than I do right now.

And at the end:
1) Locke's dad must really have thought he was already dead because he sure was working hard to get himself killed.
2) Juliet's been to the salon for some highlights since last week.
3) Locke needs to run off and live with Rosseau. They'd have their own crazy armory love shack.
4) My love for Sawyer knows no bounds.

And finally:
Whatever happened to that boat that the Others used to get from the prison camp/bear cage island back to the main island?
And I get the feeling that whatever Jack knows that we're going to find out in the last three episodes is going to be really disappointing.

Keep up, Towelie

Okay, as far as the MoW went, it was a little over-the-top, sugary sweet, politically correct. But I like the fact that the client was the CEO of the Rome branch of Wolfram & Hart. I realize, of course, that no one understands what this means but me.

This episode was ridiculously referential, both of the pop culture and the self varieties. The 90s teen romcom referencing exchange between Mac and Logan was particularly amusing. As was the callback to the Anti-Prom episode with the space elevator line.

Logan and Parker are a little bit like the episode's plot, with the over-the-top, sugary sweetness. They certainly look great together and the relationship seems to have made Logan a better person, but I have to wonder how satisfying a relationship it really is. As Buffy once said, regarding the absence of misery and pain in a relationship, "isn't that where the fire comes from? Can a nice, safe relationship be that intense?" And I tend to agree with her. It's the same reason I was opposed to Veronica and Duncan.

But this episode was full of adorable coupling. Mac and Max are made for each other (and I never much cared for Bronson) and Piz is just cute as a button with Veronica. Whoa! I was just hit with the notion that the VM writers are ripping off BSG a little bit in the relationship department. This Parker/Logan/Veronica/Piz thing absolutely reeks of the BSG Quadrangle of Doom and that drama quickly became repetitive and annoying. But with Chris Lowell leaving for the Grey's Anatomy spinoff I guess there's no way it could last into a hypothetical next season.

And finally, there was no start of a big mystery in this episode. Does that mean that the last five episodes of the season, possibly the series, will all be stand alone MoWs? That's kind of disappointing. I did notice, however, Veronica's line about her FBI aspirations. I don't know if that was thrown in just in case the CW goes for the new "5 years in the future FBI" version of the show or if deals have already been made and decisions just haven't been announced yet. Damn I cannot wait for the upfronts.

P.S. I like Keith better as a PI than as the sheriff.