regarding tv (spoiler-free)

[xparrot]

Heroes. Why are you not awesome? Your premise is so very the kind of cliche that should rock the airwaves. Superpowers are the new black and I'm onboard for that, was thrilled to pieces by the intriguing possibilities of the premiere. But why is the follow-through so poor? Why must you treat your audience like infants? And not just details like the simultaneous solar eclipse (in NYC, Vegas, and Japan at the same time? Say whah now?) or the persistent claptrap about evolution applying to individuals (small wonder the geneticist community booted him). Scientific stupidity I can ignore. But why must every character painstakingly state their transparent motivations every single episode? Show, not tell, people: it's not just a pithy catchphrase. And why must said characters all be annoyingly moronic as well as impressively self-centered? They don't care about anyone or anything but their own problems and/or sex and/or "Destiny," and every one of them becomes less likable with each episode. By now (the fourth ep) those I can stand have been reduced to the cheerleader, the painter, and Hiro. And even Hiro is making me twitch, not only for the uncomfortably inaccurate portrayal of Japan but because of the awkwardness of assigning the sole comic relief role to the foreigner. Though it's the main reason he is likable, because the show is in sore need of comic relief. I'm not saying it ought to be comic-book camp (though I might have preferred it that way) but even the recent cinematic dramatizations of superheroes still give them some killer lines and sparks of humor glittering through the darkness (see Michael Caine's Alfred in Batman Begins).

The show wouldn't annoy me so much if I didn't want to like it so bad. As it is, I'm going to give it a few more eps, but right now it's feeling more and more like someone watched Fantastic Four and thought, Slow-paced, poorly scripted, pointless and remarkably low on action? Now that's the way to do superheroes!

In conclusion: watch Numb3rs.

No, really. More people should be watching this show. Well, obviously some people are, as it's on its third season. But I haven't heard much babble about it, and really it's all kinds of goodness of such a quiet, laid-back variety that you don't notice how good it is until you realize that it's the show you're most eagerly anticipating each week (after Supernatural, naturally. I have nothing to say about Supernatural that everyone hasn't already heard: Eric Kripke is a fangirl, end of story.) The advertised gimmick of Numb3rs is that it's a cop drama with math - LA FBI agent calls in his genius mathematician little brother to help with his cases, in ways which range from realistic to completely contrived to pretty dang cool.

That's a cover, though: the real gimmick is that it's a family drama cunningly disguised as an FBI case show. Or maybe it's a case show cunningly disguised as a family drama. Whichever - it's genre-breaking without even trying, and the relationship dynamics, both within the family and with the FBI team, are cute like a cute thing. And yes, we all know I'm weak to brothers, but Numb3rs tickles a different button than usual, because the family here is stunningly - functional. Not that the characters don't have their issues, but the brothers and their dad are supportive without being codependent, loving without going gooey, and generally persistently, wonderfully warm and fuzzy - but only in small doses, so rather than getting old it always leaves you craving more.

Also, having grown up with a math genius little brother, Charlie cracks me up with how strikingly, terrifically familiar he can be at times.

Also, Megan totally rocks in this understated way, in that she isn't trying to be the coolest femme or anything, she's just doing her duty knowledgeably and competently, without anyone trying to get into anyone else's pants, just being one of the guys, and doing such an awesome job of it that she ends up being one of the best female chars I've seen on TV lately. Also, she and Larry are adorable. (Larry in general is love.)

Also, something bad needs to happen to Charlie. A little abduction or something. Because Don would flip the hell out and the whole team would be crossing lines with him to get their favorite genius geek back and I want to see it.

And lastly, why the hell is no one writing me Sinclair/Granger? Is the whole of fandom blind? Two lovely hot FBI partners, with no girlfriends, who are buddies and hang out and talk about their problems and worry about each other and got drunk together at least once and really, blind? Is it too obvious? Are they too manly men? What? The collective body of Numb3rs slash is nearly entirely incest - which is its own special WTF, because the Eppes about the most non-incesty brothers I can think of. I mean, the Winchesters, I don't get it myself, but I can see the subtext. There is no subtext in Numb3rs. Except that which is stacked three feet high on the David/Colby platter, and why the heck is nobody serving? Come now, people!

Comments

[utopiantrunks.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Okay, I'm sold... but can I watch it without getting the previous seasons first?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yah, you should be able to watch it straight off the bat - it's got some light character arcing but the main plots are all episodic, classic criminal investigation stuff. The one advantage of mainlining all of it at once is that you'll probably get into it faster. For me, it wasn't one particular ep or scene that sold me, but seeing a lot of it, getting to know the chars. There's at least one adorable family bit per episode, though, as a rule. ^^

[stitcher2ficcer.livejournal.com]

Yup. You've sold me, too. Will try to catch it... when time finally permits. Still haven't started Supernatural.

I do love when you write reviews of this sort. Gave me my laughs for the day... much needed after the hell that is BSG.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Eee, yes...I'm not sure how I feel about BSG these days. I mean, it's good, definitely, it's just...so, so dark! (loved your e, btw ^^)

Watch Supernatural first!
Though Dad might enjoy Numb3rs too - it is half a cop show, he might like the mysteries and criminal investigations (though they vary; sometimes they're intriguing and other times we know who did it the moment they're introduced.) But you'll like it for the family stuff; it is very pleasant to see a loving, supportive adult family. And you will occasionally recognize certain aspects of your son in Charlie. ^^

[kc-rumors.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you, and I haven't even finished watching the first season.

That being said, and maybe it's just me, but you really should write a Supernatural/Numb3rs crossover. Cause Sam and/or Dean as an FBI agent working for Don is hot and comparing the family dynamics between the Eppes and the Winchesters is wibble inducing.

Also, something bad needs to happen to Charlie. A little abduction or something. Because Don would flip the hell out and the whole team would be crossing lines with him to get their favorite genius geek back and I want to see it.

OMG, yes!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Isn't it goodness? Second season starts off a little different that 1st, what with adjusting the cast and all, but give it time, in the end I liked it even better. And 3rd season thus far has been excellent. Even if Charlie has yet to be kidnapped *sigh*

Heh to the x-over. Combining brothers is always fun (I really oughta get back to work on that other SPN x-over I was doing...) Though the Winchesters would be so astonished by the functionality of the Eppes! "So...your mother died, and your little brother's a supergenius...are you sure there was never a mysterious fire when you were young?"

[kc-rumors.livejournal.com]

So I was watching the commentary for one of the 1st season episodes (I'm so totally an extras whore, you would not believe) and they were talking about how they always stuck in scenes where the feds were just sitting around talking about the case and bouncing ideas off each other and I totally just *poinged* because it's just like how Dean and Sam work! (I hope you appreciate how much I'm refraining from talking in caps) And... I'm a big Supernatural crossover nerd. But you know, I bet if anything supernatural happened on Numb3rs, that Larry'd totally believe in it's possible.

And now that I'm done with season 1, I'm so getting season two tonight. Though I'm curious if they're going to explain what happened to the female FBI agent, I like her.

[immicolia.livejournal.com]

You know, I'd kept hearing people talking about Heroes and didn't have a clue what it was about. Now I'm kinda glad I didn't succumb to curiosity. It stounds so "meh"

Now, Numb3rs I had heard of, and always been mildly curious. I just never followed up on it. Maybe after I finish the NCIS marathoning I'll give it a shot. Because I can only mainline one hour-long drama at a time. I think if I tried two at once I'd go braindead (as it was, I watched eight episodes of NCIS in a row last night and pretty much was braindead for the rest of the day ^^)

Although, ultimately, my question is still: Why the hell am I the only one who seems to be watching Jericho. Melodramatic PostApoc, dammit! What's not to love?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Meh. Heroes is basically X-men genesis, some people have wacky mutations (only to avoid stepping on X-men's toes they talk only about evolution instead of mutation) that give them powers, and they're only just now finding out about them. Great idea, poor execution. Shame, really; I love superhero stuff :P

Numb3rs is totally worth it, when you have the brainspace for marathoning. Since it's episodic it goes down easier than arc shows (at least for me, if I watch more than a few eps of a continuing story at a time I get overwhelmed, but I can swallow a lot of individual episodes at one go)

Ah, but Battlestar Galactica is already fulfilling my melodramatic PostApoc needs! (well, light on the melo and heavy on the actual, painful drama, but...) Unless Jericho has cute brothers...? ^^

Heros...

[long-lost-words.livejournal.com]

I watched the show because of the X-Men snatching. It's so obviously a shadow of X-Men, but yes, mentioning evolution instead of mutation seems to be their fanfic discalaimer.

Still and all, am I the only one to be applying the whole Ryou and Bakura thing to Niki (played by Ali Larter)? Yes, I watch the show because the deal between Niki and her inner demon reminds me of a live action, female version (how close does that toe the line with Ryou...), of that aspect of Yu-Gi-Oh.

Re: Heros...

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the blatant X-men plagiarism homage is amusing. And Niki's split personality is straight out of anime! I have a hard time recalling series that don't have at least one MPD case ^^

Re: Heros...

[long-lost-words.livejournal.com]

I think that Ryou and Bakura are the only MPD that I've seen (though I'm pretty new to watching more than one anime - I started with Sailor Moon). I don't think the whole Ceres thing counts, does it?

Re: Heros...

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I don't know SM! But just in YGO there's also Yugi and Yami, and Malik and his dark self (who are the only true MPDs, rather than a case of possession by an ancient spirit... ^^) In Rurouni Kenshin there's Kenshin and Battousai; in GetBackers Ginji has Raitei; in Gravitation Sakuma Ryuuichi is pretty divided; in Saiyuki Goku's unsealed Seiten Taisei self is his nightmare...the list goes on and on; I've even got one in my own webcomic ^_^

Re: Heros...

[long-lost-words.livejournal.com]

I loved Sailor Moon. It's what got me enjoying anime. Wow, Malik and his dark side. It is truly a mpd. Somehow, stories that had a "Yami Malik" existing in Ancient Egypt always bugged me. The others you mentioned, I hadn't heard of. Except for Kenshin. When Cartoon Network used to have a good Saturday night lineup, it used to be on there. I'm pretty sure. Your own webcomic? I will have to check that out!

BTW, I loved, LOVED, 'Legally Insane' and it is hands down at the top of my must read list. Doesn't matter how many times I've read it, it never fails to be enjoyable.