Too Much Television

I stopped watching Falling Skies. I got about halfway through the current season and it just felt like it was getting silly without any real purpose and forward movement. The whole sub-plot with the daughter reminded me of the original V series. It was too much and there are so many other shows I’d rather waste my time on.

2014 dallasDallas is a great example. I watched this show when it first aired on CBS 30 years ago. No, not every episode, the last few years I’d catch an episode but lost interest. The current revival on TNT is something I really enjoy. Of course as with any other soap opera (let’s face it, that’s what this is) there are storylines and character actions that fly in the face of believe-ability but it is still really fun to watch. One of the things I realy like about the series is not just how it brought back original stars but also how it heavily features them instead of focusing solely on pretty 20-somethings. I just hope the death at the end of the current season is for real.

Interesting how I give more leeway to a human “drama” with regards to believe-ability but not a science fiction program.

I tried to give Matador a shot. It’s an original series on the new El Rey network, and as a matter of fact I think it is the only original scripted series so far. It’s got a decent premise where a DEA agent is recruited by the CIA, and his cover is playing professional soccer. Then it’s revealed the target of the CIA investigation, the whole point of the series, is the owner of the soccer team. The whole of the season is going to be spent taking him down. Then what? The guy drops being a soccer player or being a CIA agent? This is the type of television series I can’t stand, taking what is essentially a movie plot with a very definite beginning, middle and end, and then trying to turn it into an ongoing series. No thanks.

the blacklistOh, but The Blacklist is back. I really like James Spader in the role of Raymond Reddington. He is so evil. He harkens back to J.R. Ewing levels of evil, only this character has a global reach. He is so fun to watch. There’s an overall mystery but the premise of the series isn’t dependent on it. The Blacklist is a fun show about a bad guy helping the good guys, and also helping himself.

Then there’s Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. The first season had a great first episode then it sputtered for another 10 or so. The second half of the season ramped up to where it should have been all along and I’m glad to see the second season start out strong.

Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. had their season premieres this week too. Laura and I really liked those shows and are glad to see them return. The cliffhanger from the Chicago Fire season finale did result in one death, but only one, and not a whole cast shake-up which could have happened. It was the character Laura and I liked the least.

Not many new shows that I’m looking forward to. Actually I can’t think of one that I added to the DVR schedule. I’m not sure when Constantine is set to begin, and I’ll add The Flash when it comes up next month, but other than that, there isn’t much of anything that looks good. I have zero interest in Gotham or some of the other procedurals with quirky premises. Am I missing something?