Now I don't know when season 7 Parks and Recreation will get to Australia (my season 6 DVDs are a US import which I did buy here, but I don't know if season 6 has even screened properly) or it would be on this list. I'm trying to limit myself to one show of each stage of the TV series life span- one new, one managing to break beyond first season into a second (that is a big task that many shows fail to do...need I mention Firefly here), one more than two seasons in and hitting its stride, and one on its way out- this again knocks out Parks and Rec in the last camp, but also knocks out House of Cards, Game of Thrones, and Portlandia in the third camp and Better Call Saul in the first (though truth be told I feel that the jury is still out on it in the long run). Also limiting shows on mid season break to one, so no Arrow, or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (though I am pretty crazy excited to see the complete season 3 of Arrow and season 2 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as to see The Flash which I have seen none of yet).
Starting with the new...
Now the last episode of the first season of How to Get Away with Murder aired in the States a few nights ago (no spoilers please US folk!), but it just started on commercial TV here in Australia- it stated so recently in fact that if you are an Australian who wants to catch up on it, all three episodes that have screened thus far are still up on the channel 7 catch up TV website for you to watch (more of it is probably on iTunes but the 7 website is free). A few people who were watching this before 7 started screening it strongly recommended it to me, they were people I trust so I figured I might check it out at some stage. Then I was a little wary when I saw that it was created by Shonda Rhimes as I was unsure post Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice what that meant (yes I used to watch both of these but stopped watching Grey's with any degree of regularity around the sixth season (I dipped in occasionally after that but not often) and Private Practice completely after the third (it was not a great show to begin with and they killed off my favourite character so I had no interest anymore))...would someone who had created such long lived medical dramas that morphed into medical soaps (that weirdly happened to continue to rate well despite of this change- well Private Practice pretty much started as soap) be able to convincing create a legal drama that is also in part a college drama that would rely on a degree of suspense? I wasn't sure so I had a degree of hesitation. Then I was intrigued a little later when I read a post somewhere in internet land that compared How to Get Away with Murder to Donna Tartt's The Secret History- a book I owe you a blog post on, short hand for the minute I loved it- and said that there were striking/good similarities. So sitting down to watch it I was not sure what I'd think... by half way through the first episode, I was completely hooked!
Basic premise of the first episode, in the present day, you see four individuals, pretty soon revealed to be college students, disposing of a body. Flashback three months and it is the start of the college year at a college with a prestigious law school, and these four students (Wes, Connor, Michaela and Laurel) are in their first law school class with Professor Annalise Keating, a highly regarded and very tough law academic, and practicing lawyer who nicknames her class "How to Get Away with Murder". In this class, Professor Keating declares she will select four students who will intern on legal cases with her throughout the semester. To select these students, the class is given the task of assisting her with a defense for a secretary accused of killing her boss, who was also her lover. Are you excited to watch that plot? Well you should be...for good measure I will also tell you (as this isn't a spoiler) that a student from campus has also disappeared and is assumed dead. It has none of over-the-top soap that I was scared might be apparent...thanks in large part to the powerhouse performance by Viola Davis as Annalise. Actually the whole cast acquit themselves really well and I was very happy to Liza Weil continuing to work the icy bitch edge she perfected as Paris in Gilmore Girls as one of Annalise's two associates (in another flashback to my favourite shows of the past, the other associate is played by Charlie Weber who was Ben in season 5 of Buffy and who is now sporting a very attractive beard). It has the right balance of quick paced legal drama and long haul suspense relating to the present day body burying and the case of the missing student. A bit of a warning, though they are brief and not particularly graphic (I am told they might get more so), for those who don't like sex scenes in their TV shows there are a few (at least one in every episode that I've seen)...I'd also hazard a guess that some violence is coming though there is yet to be any on screen in the three episodes I've seen. So that is my new show to check out...if the continued buzz I was hearing from the internet but trying ignore, whilst it was on in the States, it sounds like people were excited about this one for the whole season and it has just been confirmed for a second. It is currently screening at 9.30 on Tuesdays on 7.
Now for the show that made it past the first season (I will link to the first season trailer so as not to spoil it for anyone)...
There was a year long gap between season 1 and season 2 of the UK series Broadchurch leading some to believe based on that and on the wrap up of the first season that there would not be a second series. The reason for the gap was later revealed to be the fact that David Tennant who plays one of the main characters was in the US filming the American re-imagining of Broadchurch, Gracepoint, as were some of the writing/directing team- I haven't seen Gracepoint but from what I hear it is not bad, but not as good as the original. Unlike How to Get Away with Murder, I had no reservations about Broadchurch when I started on the first season. I was late to the game (I watched it on DVD) and many people had recommended it, it starred several of my favourite British actors (mainly Tennant, but also his fellow Dr Who alum Arthur Darvill, and Andrew Buchan, an actor who has been for about a decade seeming to be on verge of breaking out of being a side character in British TV drama), and people were ranting about the soundtrack (along with The Tunnel, it has my favourite TV music of the last few years). The first season definitely delivered and one episode in (for me, two have aired here- both are still up on ABC iView but the first one will come down tonight), the second is looking good.
Not to spoil, a bit of a description of the first season. In a small close knit coastal community in Dorset, a young boy is found murdered on the beach. The community is horrified but at the same time starts pointing fingers at the other townsfolk and distrust grows. To investigate the case the local police detective who was recently passed over for promotion is joined by her new senior officer who is not only from out of town (he is from as far away as Scotland) but has also recently come off a difficult case that has left him with what looks like PTSD. The brilliance of this show was partly the performances (Tennant and Olivia Colman, are brilliant as the police detectives but whole cast is outstanding), partly the cinematography, and partly the music, but overriding all of these is the direction and writing. To keep actors in the dark (as well as keeping the public and media there too) as to the identity of the murderer, they were not told until they were given the scripts for episodes 6-8 after they had filmed the earlier episodes, and the impact of that on the acting made it a wise choice as you see the actors attempting to portray a character who may ultimately be revealed to be a killer. Though I guessed the killer quite early on, this made the series creepier and more suspenseful, and at times made me question if I was right in my thoughts on who the killer was. The second season picks up several months after the first and sees the same community grappling with the identity of the killer of the first season as the trial of the killer occurs and introduces some sure to be intriguing new characters, including one played by another Dr Who (well Torchwood really) alum in Eve Myles (the show is full of ex Dr Who folk as the creator previously worked on Dr Who and Torchwood). Anyhow, check out the first season on DVD if you haven't already, and if you have seen season 1, check out the second on ABC on Sundays at 8.30 or on ABC iView for the two weeks after that.
Now for the show that has past its second seasons and is hitting its stride and again this is one a lot of a people might not have seen so again I'll mainly talk season 1, also the new season hasn't started yet so I can't say anything about it anyhow....
When I first heard about Orphan Black, my response was something along the lines of "the same actor plays everyone I don't see that working". That said, I had no idea until just before I watched it why the same actor played everyone (I actually thought that was literally everyone for a while) and so it seemed like it might be a weird casting ploy that could not possibly deliver. Again I was late to the game on this (as is obvious from those last two sentences) and it seemed to generate more and more buzz from critics that finally I cracked and bought the first two seasons on DVD and hoped against hope that I would like it. I was super happy that I made that purchase in the end and I'm very keen for season 3 starting in April.
The premise for those not in the Orphan Black fan club already... an English grifter, Sarah, who has returned to Toronto to see her daughter, Kira, sees a well dressed woman who looks exactly look her commit suicide at a Toronto railway station. It is soon revealed that Sarah is an orphan whose foster mother, Mrs S, moved her and her younger foster brother, Felix, to Canada from England when they were younger, so seeing this woman intrigues her...is this woman a long lost twin or other relative of some kind? If not, why does she look exactly like Sarah? Sarah steals the woman's wallet and keys and pretty soon her identity in a quest to find out more, whilst Felix claims the woman's body as Sarah's in order to help her get rid of her abusive ex, Vic. Firstly to clarify my misunderstanding, Tatiana Maslany does not play every character...she plays Sarah Manning (the main character), Beth Childs (the woman who commits suicide in the first episode), and as at the end of season 2, another seven characters on screen, Cosima Niehaus, Alison Hendrix, Helena, Rachel Duncan, Katja Obinger, Tony Sawicki, and Jennifer Fitzsimmons, as well as three in photographs. That is a LOT of characters still and I'm not telling you why she plays them all as it might be nice to discover that as Sarah does in episode 3 (I think it was three, it might be two) of the first season. Whilst she does not have great skills with accents- I'm very thankful every time she is playing one of the Canadians or Americans in the mix- even through the flawed accents of Sarah, Helena, Katja, and at times Rachel (Rachel's is the least flawed), Maslany does create a unique character of each person she plays to the point where you do not see her as one person playing many roles but each role as a distinct person to the point where people have a favourite one of her roles (personally mine is Cosima), and thankfully her accent skills are slowly improving. It is an acting masterclass from Maslany and the reveal at the end of season 2 makes me intrigued to see the season 3 developments on the one actor, many roles vibe. I also love the rest of the cast particularly Jordan Gavaris as Felix (Maslany could learn accent skills from him, I was SHOCKED when I found out he was Canadian as his English accent is brilliant), Maria Doyle Kennedy as Mrs S, Skyler Wexler as Kira Manning, and my favourite season 2 addition, Michael Huisman (of Game of Thrones fame) as Cal Morrison. Again a warning, this is a show with some sex (not in every episode, just a few times a season) and some violence (some of which is a little on the more graphic side...not on a GoT scale but there was one act of violence in season 2 that definitely had me cringe). Season 1 and 2 are readily available on DVD in Australia, and are also play on demand on Stan (for those who have it)...as it has aired on both SBS2 and the scyfy channel, I'm not certain (and cannot find online) where season 3 will air but I would assume Stan is a strong bet.
Finally a show I'm less worried about spoiling because it is crazy popular and also because it is about to start the second half of it seventh and final season...so I give you the beautiful season 7 part 2 teaser trailer...I mean look at these clothes!
That's right everyone's favourite show about the world of 1960s ad men is coming to an end! Where will I go for super stylish 60s fashions without Joan and Betty? When will there be characters whose repeated infidelities I can excuse like I did with Don and Roger...exactly that one I can forgo? How will I cope with leaving the 60s behind on my TV screen? A favourite of mine since it first screened here on SBS, in some ways it is a miracle that Mad Men lasted the seven seasons it did as the show had so many studio difficulties in the season 3-5 window that it might have been cancelled; an oddity in and of itself as the show always had overwhelming support from critics and, though there were swings, generally it had solid ratings to boot.
There is little to say about Mad Men that has not been said, it is truly one of the highest points of the so called "golden age" of television that we have been living in for the last couple of decades. It manages to perfectly and succinctly capture the beauty of a past age and show both the heights of that beauty and murky depths hidden underneath it. Be it a housewife shooting pigeons, an office lawn mower accident, a truly honest summary of the position of women in 1960s business (the scene between Joan and Peggy in season 5 where they discuss their work success versus what the men in their office celebrate is simultaneous one of the most heart breaking and one of the best scenes the show ever gave us), or a song and dance number it gave us moments that will stay with us. It sought to portray the open struggles for equality by women and African Americans in the 60s whilst also showing the more hidden struggles of gay men in that era. It gave actors who already played characters I didn't like elsewhere more horrible characters to play- the scheming Cutler in seasons 6 and 7 was made worse by memories of Harry Hamlin as Aaron Eckolls in Veronica Mars and more importantly with Pete Campbell, Vincent Kartheiser gave me my second most hated TV character of all time after Vincent Kartheiser as Connor in Angel (let's hope he gets a more likeable part soon). It gave me an underdog to root for in Peggy...I assume everyone loves Peggy because how could you not. It gave me a big time eccentric and a small time eccentric to delight in with Bert Cooper and Roger Sterling. It gave everyone the opportunity to watch one of the most outstanding child actors ever grow up on screen as Kiernan Shipka delivered what is hopefully the performance that starts a long and brilliant career in her portrayal of Sally Draper. It gave us amazing actresses delivering amazing performances in amazing fashion with Christina Hendricks, January Jones, and Jessica Pare never letting the dresses stealing the day. It made unlikely characters some how likeable..Betty Draper/Francis is no-one's idea of a good wife and mother yet still the audience loves her. It refused to treat Christina Hendricks as anything other than one of the most beautiful women on television, despite the fact that others would rush to label her plus size...if only, other shows and in fact most of the entertainment and beauty industry would learn from this. It revived everyone's love of the fashion and the music of the 60s. And most importantly, it gave the world Don Draper.
What would I like for the end of Mad Men? I would like Don Draper to live- the creators have promised that he will but I've been stung by that promise before (I'm looking at you, folks who created Big Love!). I think it would be interesting to end with Don and Betty back together...don't get me wrong I love Megan (Henry not so much) but I think this would be an interesting turn of events. I would like to see some reconciliation between Joan and Roger...messed up as their relationship has always been, there is still a lot of tenderness there and they are two of my favourite characters. I would like to see Sally get her life together (or start to) despite her upbringing. I would like someone to be nice to Harry Crane...to make a Parks and Rec reference, he feels like the Gerry of Mad Men. I would like Megan to get some acting success. I would like "Harris" or "Olsen" to appear in the company's name, or for Joan and Peggy to start their own successful company. I would like to see what has become of Peggy and Pete's kid. Base line I would like to see Sterling, Cooper & Partners keep on being brilliant into the 70s and beyond!
In end, I'm pretty sure that I will be happy with whatever they do and they will leave me wanting more...
BUT my one big request, that they probably won't deliver on, would be please, please, please can Pete Campbell be painfully killed?
Mad Men will be on Showcase and iTunes- I assume.
Finally after some recommends for this season of TV, I feel I should acknowledge the passing of a TV great. My mother is a Star Trek fan so when I was quite young, I was introduced to the original crew of the Enterprise...my mother was clearly trying to make me a nerd from a young age, and also trying to instill me with solid social justice ideals partly around race (if you don't know much of the original Star Trek, it was the most racial diverse show on US TV in its day, it featured the first black woman in a main role, and the first interracial kiss on TV). For me, there will always be only one crew of the Enterprise and today it had a great loss. Spock was my favourite character in the original series and Leonard Nimoy's ability to welcome that role being the role that he would be forever known for is almost unmatched (except by others from Star Trek). His wit in playing this up in golden era Simpsons episodes was just a hallmark of this. He inspired a lot of time spent perfectly the Vulcan salute in my house, he also inspired the name of one of my brother's pet mice (Spock, like his namesake, was a very peaceful mouse, who was bullied to the point of near death by fellow mouse, Indiana- my brother was six or seven at the time and he thought these were pretty cool names). He is a great loss to the entertainment industry. In tribute I share a clip of my favourite Spock moment from my favourite Star Trek film...no it isn't from Wrath of Khan which most believe to be the best Star Trek film (probably correctly), it is from The Voyage Home which struck a cord with me when I was a young girl who wanted to be a marine biologist and this scene still strikes a cord with me as an adult who travels on public transport...
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