This Is Where We Talk About The Teevee

[nonotyet]

(This is your fault for resurrecting the movie sequels thread.) Everyone else, this can be the official talk about television shows without confusing or angering everyone else thread (even though its very existence may anger some).

Who is going to die on Veronica Mars? I am on tenterhooks. And I wouldn't have asked if I didn't NEED TO KNOW.
(thread title edited because I fear internet wrath)

[elpollodiablo]

I refuse to let this thread be monopolized by the WB/Joss Whedon/teen drama  crap! Paulie Walnuts sez:



let's be grownups!

Seriously, tho, I can't believe no one on this forum has once had my back on the Sopranos. Have any of you actually seen it?

[Wally]

No one dies, they can't. I won't allow it. Maybe that Dick. A bit iffy that one. Too rich for my tastes.

[DCDave]

I've seen Sopranos. I like Deadwood more.

[Wally]

I've seen Sopranos. I like Deadwood more.

It kills me to say this, but I'm with Dave on this.


edited to point out that whilst it may kill me, having my support is perhaps enough to kill his argument.

[elpollodiablo]

Are you for real? The dialogue is just utter CRAP, man, I really wanted to like that show, but the script is just so laughably bad I couldn't take it seriously.

[DCDave]

Did you not see the monologue to the severed indian head? The dialogue MAKES that show.

311 I AM READY TO FIGHT@(*&#!(*&#@!*&

[elpollodiablo]

The writers of Deadwood could never produce something as brilliant as 311 I AM READY TO FIGHT

[DCDave]

The writers of Deadwood could never produce something as brilliant as 311 I AM READY TO FIGHT

Cocksucker.

[elpollodiablo]

FUCK IF I KNOW THE FUCKER

^^^^
Actual dialogue.

[Wally]

The writers of Deadwood could never produce something as brilliant as 311 I AM READY TO FIGHT

Cocksucker.

Motherfuckin cocksucker, I think you'll agree.

[dieblucasdie]

I don't know nny, I'm really not into superspoilers like that, just the kind of spoilers you'd get from say, reading an episode summary on tvguide or something.  If you DO find out DON'T TELL ME.  The only vaguery I know is:

Over the summer, when there were initially rumors of a death, the rumors stated that a "fan favorite" would die.  I think that rules out Duncan, Dick, Beav, any of the n00bs this season, and minor characters like Meg or Mac.  People seemed to take it as an indication that Logan, Wallace, or Weevil were headed for death.  Keith is also a possibility, though I think he's too vital as a plot device for the writers to lose.

All of the HBO shows are OK, but severely overrated.  OMG THEY'RE SWEARING ON TV THIS IS SO GROUNDBREAKING!

Edit:  Haha, xpost, I wrote that before the swearing began.

Edit edit:  The Wire is excluded from the above since I haven't seen it yet, and dooon't chide me, I'm getting around to it.

[elpollodiablo]

All of the HBO shows are OK, but severely overrated.  OMG THEY'RE SWEARING ON TV THIS IS SO GROUNDBREAKING!

See, I agree completely. Six Feet Under was relatively tame in that regard, because it wasn't essential to the character a lot of the time. Most of the guy son the Sopranos are uneducated bigots who grew up poorer than dirt, so that's understandable. You could make the same case for Deadwood, but it is SO gratuitous and belabored I think it'd be pretty hard.

[DCDave]

I say things like "Fuck if I know the fucker" all the time.

[dieblucasdie]

Well, see, I think the first few seasons of SFU were great, then it devolved into a glorified daytime soap, only worse than a daytime soap because it liked to pretend it was all deep and quirkily spiritual, which it was not.  

Sopranos is a good show, but I think it used up all its tricks too early in the series.  I think it's too one-note.

[elpollodiablo]

See, I see it as a really deep and intense character study of a few key people.

[nonotyet]

Have any of you actually seen it?

I love the Sopranos, and seem to recall discussing my highly inappropriate crush on Tony Soprano a long long time ago, and would have had your back if I were aware you wished to discuss it. However, I find it hard to contribute to discussions about shows I can only watch on DVD and/or have a new season once every 25 years or so.
And VERONICA MARS IS NOT ON THE WB. IT IS ON UPN.
...um.
No, seriously, clearly you've already started to, but talk about whatever you want to. I just needed answers.

Weevil

If this happens, I will BREAK MY FUCKING TELEVISION.
And then write angry letters.
MANY, MANY ANGRY LETTERS.

[Andrew_TSKS]

i like the sopranos. you all know i think the wire is the best show on television. deadwood left me cold. i thought i'd like it more than i did. six feet under was great the first couple seasons, but i've never seen any more after season two.

that's all i have to contribute.

[dieblucasdie]

That's true to an extent, but then why the overreliance on plot twists (read:  OMG!  (person you didn't expect to get whacked) GOT WHACKED!)?  Prolonged character study is the one thing TV can do that film can't do, so when I say The Sopranos is a pretty good show, I'm taking for granted that it's a good character study.  I've just seen better... for example... Veronica Mars!

Edit:  Re to pollo, obv

[elpollodiablo]

The Wire is really, really good, and I thought I'd hate it based one the pilot--which was hands down the worst-written episode of the series, due in large part to Deadwood-style dialogue.

The new season comes out next year, I think.

[elpollodiablo]

That's true to an extent, but then why the overreliance on plot twists (read:  OMG!  (person you didn't expect to get whacked) GOT WHACKED!)?  Prolonged character study is the one thing TV can do that film can't do, so when I say The Sopranos is a pretty good show, I'm taking for granted that it's a good character study.  I've just seen better... for example... Veronica Mars!

Edit:  Re to pollo, obv

I just can't believe that a show on UPN has the breadth of scope or intricacies of character development that they've achieved on the Sopranos.

And the thing about contrived plot twists is a little unfair, I think. You mean this Veronica Mars show doesn't have something to the same effect? Because it seems you're all on the edge of your seats about something.

[dieblucasdie]

If it's any consolation nny:

I'm 99% the episode orders for Francis Capra, Jason Dohring, and Percy Daggs aren't up, so they'll be in it more this season.  Of course, it could just be flashbacks.

And pollo, when they created Veronica Mars, they were actually gearing it toward Showtime or HBO, it just ended up getting picked up by UPN.  And yeah, all TV shows rely on plot twists to an extent.   Veronica Mars is only in its 2nd season, so it has plenty of time to derail.  Part of what's so good about it is the talented young actors.  They bring a lot of subtlety to those characters.

[nonotyet]

That's a terrible consolation, sir.
Edit to pollo: It's not that it doesn't contain the occasional contrivance, it's just that everything else (acting [...well, except, um, Teddy Dunn], writing, where they're taking the characters and allowing them to grow [except Teddy Dunn], the fact that there are at least three people on the show who actually look like real high school students) makes it so compelling that you're able to forgive the occasional things that don't work.
And how can you not love people who say things like

Shut up! If I want you to speak, I'll wave a sausage in front of your nose.

 
How can you not love that?

[Andrew_TSKS]

The Wire is really, really good, and I thought I'd hate it based one the pilot--which was hands down the worst-written episode of the series, due in large part to Deadwood-style dialogue.

The new season comes out next year, I think.

i can't fucking wait. i hear this one involves the baltimore public schools.

[Em]

Seriously, tho, I can't believe no one on this forum has once had my back on the Sopranos. Have any of you actually seen it?

I would most definitely have your back where the greatness of the Sopranos is concerned, but:

a) I'm new and anonymous on this forum, so my opinion doesn't have a whole lot of weight, and

b) I'm too busy mourning the long-forseen but nonetheless disheartening demise of Arrested Development to think clearly about TV shows