What I Saw: September 29th, 2016

Finally get a day off! I didn't even get a chance to watch anything on the 28th because I had stuff to take care of during the little precious I have before starting my 12 hour workday. Today I got to relax and watch a little bit of TV while catching up on laundry. So without further exposition...

Here's what I watched (click on the series title to skip to it):

Longmire S4.E2 - One Good Memory
The Getdown P1.E5 - You Have Wings, Learn to Fly
Supergirl S1.E12 - Bizarro


Here's what I saw:

Starting off with Longmire.
This episode continues the kidnapping case of the last, and did a good job of wrapping up the case. It also held that nugget of depth that makes this show really good at the stories it tells. The pacing picked up a little better this time around as the pieces from the season premier finally started to come together. And once they did, we the audience realize it was one of the veteran patients Donna was seeing, but it wasn't because she had made one angry, or because they were in love with her (which was a good joke at the end when the kidnapper said "they're going to say I'm a crazy lesbian lover"and Walt asked if she was in love with Donna). Nope, it was all because one of her female patients, Tamar, was raped by her superior officer; and the whole incident got swept under the rug. She was only looking to protect Donna from Walt because she thought Walt was going to rape her.

I've always enjoyed how Longmire shines a spotlight on how the system just screws over people's lives. The first couple of seasons focused on how native americans living on the reservations continue to be marginalized. Last season it was the oil company's influence being felt both on and off the reservation. And this episode we get to see how women in the military get ignored and even retaliated against when they were the victims of sexual assault. It also highlighted the toll it takes when something traumatic happens to you, and yet you're struggle is left unheard.

I also liked how Henry finally took the reins of being Hector. He reminded Mathias that public perception is key when it comes to keeping them in check. With the people having faith in the mantra "Hector Lives," they are more likely to follow the law not because they are afraid of Hector, but because they know that justice will be served by Hector to those who try to circumvent it.


Now on to The Getdown.
Other than the fact that Jackie Moreno predictably (and through inspiration which looks more like magic) comes up with a hit song on the spot after some exposition on Pastor Ramon's more seedy past. (I was really looking forward to seeing Papa Fuerte break some bones in front of the kids). However, the rest of the episode is awesome. The music is spot on like always, as evidenced by my humming them all throughout my chores for today. Both Shao and Ezekiel are schooled by their respective mentors on how they need to discover their raison d'etre: their reason's for being. Shao says he wants to follow in the Grandmaster's footsteps, but Flash tells him he needs to discover his love for music on his own, and needs to do it for the sake of the music. Ezekiel's teacher reminds him that he himself had said he was interested in the internship (which he missed), and needs to remember why he likes to write and collect knowledge; but more importantly he needs to figure out what he plans to do with it. His uncle was also strangely poignant in telling him that right now he is comfortable, but he needs to break out of that comfort to become a real man and find his own destiny.

I feel that Mylene is becoming a bit of a "Mary Sue" (a stereotype), since she seems to be repeating the same things over and over again. She wants to pursue her dream sing, to get out of the city, and she still gets mad when Ezekiel does what he needs to pursue his passion when she would do the exact same thing. I hope they start to add some more dimensions to her character, because I think she could really contribute to the storyline more than she has. Right now I think most of the content on her storyline are from those around her (her uncle, father, mother, Jackie even). I want to see the same level of character depth when we saw from her in the beginning of the series when she was struggling to keep to her own morals in the club while at the same time trying to promote herself to someone who only wants to get in her pants.


Lastly, and most certainly least, Supergirl.
I wasn't sure if I was going to include this on the post, because the episode was more filler than anything else. Instead I'll just give my impressions of the show so far since I haven't posted anything on it yet.

The beginning of the show was definitely feeling self-conscious about a girl superhero being the star. The first 4 or 5 episodes we kept hearing "is it because I'm a girl?" being hammered into the audience over and over again. Supergirl the character was not only trying to convince everyone that she was worthwhile, Supergirl the show was doing it too. I found it to be hard take it seriously because of it. But, it's something I'll put on when I know I can't give the TV my full attention all throughout the episode or if I just want to relax.

The strongest element of this show is not the character, story, or depth held within. It is the music. Blake Neely, who also produces the music for the other DC comic shows (Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow), has a few really good songs that set the mood of the scene more perfectly than the scene itself. I watch the show to try and catch some more of these moments. I'm also watching it because the show is changing stations to the CW where Arrow and The Flash are. While Arrow's latest seasons haven't been as strong as the first two, The Flash has gripped mine with an iron fist in its narrative. I'm hoping the switch to CW might change the tone of Supergirl to something I might get into more, and am watching this first season to do some catch up.

What have you guys been watching these days? Anything you would recommend I try and watch this fall season? Let me know in the comments below!

What I saw: September 27th, 2016

So another workday so only time for one episode again. Not only that, but I actually had to waste time cooking to feed myself, so that left me with only half an hour.

That being said, today I watched Nurse Jackie S3.E7 - Orchids and Salami

What I saw:

Jackie is a pretty self-righteous person, believing she has all the right answers to help other people. Now, due to her many years of experience as a nurse she is right most, if not all, the time in the hospital. Up to this point she has felt pretty confident in her personal life too. This episode highlighted how she is not not so sure of her choices when it comes to her personal life.

Sam is her foil when it comes to her addiction because he is open about his previous use and is getting help for his addiction. Jackie avoids and dislikes him for this very reason. However, in this episode Jackie has a mirror held up to her when a mother is brought in by her 11 yr old son for an overdose. She hands off taking direct care of the son to Zoey in order to avoid looking into that mirror. Near the end she talks to the son to give an update and tries to justify the mother's actions instead of talking from her self-righteous podium like she normally would, and is shut down by the son who screams "she's an addict! That's all there is to it!" Jackie cannot argue differently because that is exactly what is going on with herself as well.

What do you think about Nurse Jackie's journey through addiction? Who are your favorite characters (mine is Thor, he's just a badass teddy bear)? Answer in the comments below!

What I saw: September 26th, 2016

Since today is a workday, I only watched one episode of something.

And today I watched the Longmire season 5 premier: A Fog That Won't Lift.

What I saw:

This episode picks up shortly after the finale, where Cady finds Walt bleeding and the psychiatrist he is dating has gone missing. Walt goes AMA and leads the investigation to find her by saying "eff you" to HIPAA laws to track down her patients for any leads. He also half heartedly tracks down one of the oil workers who he was investigating at the end of the last season. The oil worker was released by another sheriff who is friendly to the oil company. Henry is blackmailed to continue to take over Hector's mantel. Cady comes clean about taking a job with the reservation legal aide office funded by Jacob Nighthorse.

This episode was more about where the characters are going rather than the plot itself. Walt doesn't care about a lot of people, but the ones he does care about he goes in all the way. We learn through the psychiatrists son that she may not be as serious about their connection as Walt is. For Walt, it doesn't matter because he feels a connection and will do what he feels is right to his own moral code. This is somewhat anarchistic, but it stems more from his existential viewpoint than just a disregard for rules. His willing to steal confidential records further proves he is willing to do whatever it takes to help someone he cares about. The only other moral dilemma that came up was Cady's job at the legal aide funded by Nighthorse's casino. Cady argues that even if the source is corrupt, it does not mean it will corrupt her work in helping the people on the reservation. All we can do as the audience is wait to see which one is right, because it's possible Nighthorse will simply fund it and leave it alone, or he can try and use it to his advantage to screw over the people of the reservation. The last scene of Henry telling Walt he was too busy to help him because he got called in by his blackmailer, Walt looked surprised and hurt. This might become a test of their friendship for the remainder of the season.

A slower start to this season, I would say. We'll see who the main baddy ends up becoming, whether it is the casino, the oil company, or something new that hasn't been introduced yet. Either way, it'll probably test the characters' sense of right and wrong. For those who didn't binge watch the season already, where do you think the show is going? Who do you think will change the most?

What I saw: September 25th, 2016

This is my second blog post, so here's a little description on how it's going to flow. First I list what episodes of a show I watched and then I'll talk a little bit about what I saw in each episode.

What I watched:

Mr. Robot, S2.E12 Finale
The GET Down Part 1, Eps 2-4

What I saw:

Starting off with Mr. Robot:

Mr Robot has quickly become one of my all time favorite shows. A little late, but I watched the 2nd of the two part finale over this weekend. So we the audience were finally given answers, but left with just as many questions. Darlene is alive, with her boyfriend confirmed dead. Darlene is in FBI custody and giving them a hilarious run around and refusing to cooperate. Joanna Wellick finally pulls the trigger on her long con and convinces a witness to the murder Tyrrell committed to change his statement; all at the small price of taking a beating by the man she is framing. Tyrrell Wellick finally reveals to Elliott what stage two is, which is destroying the paper records that E Corp has conveniently congregated into one location. Mr. Robot then makes Elliot make a choice, and Tyrrell shoots Elliot to stop him from aborting stage 2. Angela gets called in by WhiteRose to take care of an injured Elliott.

Once again we are left with what is the right thing to do, and whether anything they have done has made any real change. Darlene continues to ride on faith that it was all for something, which is why she is tight lipped. She can't be shaken by usual tactics because she is ready to be a martyr for the cause, because at least that would have a clear purpose. Elliot on the other hand, believes he has gone so far off the deep end that he can't trust himself. Well actually he can't trust his other self: Mr Robot. Rather than take a leap of faith he tries to stop the whole thing. But Tyrrell has completely dedicated himself to the higher calling, as he has finally "looked above." Mr Robot set it up where Tyrrell would make the final leap and defend the revolution at all costs, cementing everyone's position. Same with Angela, where she is now fully integrated into the mission, and she finally feels happy at being where she feels she belongs. Purpose, belonging, and being remembered are the central themes of the show.

The Get Down:

So I watched a few episodes over the last couple of days. Ezekiel confessed his love, but Mylene places her own dreams of becoming a singer above all else. Ezekiel and his friends join Shao on the mission to master "the get down" aka the birth of hip hop. Mylene's uncle Francisco becomes her connection to the music world, and she defies her father to be discovered by a has been producer who fails to write a song for her demo tape. She finally acknowdges her feelings for Ezekiel.

The Get Down is an awesome show for the mere fact that the starring cast is made of people of color, and while the backdrop is in the poor Bronx, it doesn't paint is as a pity story. It focuses on the main characters struggle to discover who they are and realizing their potential. Mylene wants to become a singer and will do almost anything to realize her dream. She even sacrificed the relationship with her father for the opportunity to be noticed by a producer. The producer learns a lesson from Mylene and comes clean that he has fallen, but is willing to try and help her by trying to write a song. Unfortunately, he is unable to break through the fog that years of drug use left his brain in, which shows that sometimes no matter how hard you wish it, our past choices still affect our current lives. Ezekiel is flaky at accepting an internship because he sees the political games the white men play at the office he will work and does not want to be a part of it. However, Francisco helps Ezekiel to realize that not playing at all means the white people win by default, and their people in the Bronx will be left to rot just as planned. It's nice to see that the struggle of the poor is portrayed  on a larger scale as opposed to the the stereotypes that are shown on TV. Shao is  the ultimate search for belonging, as he tries to master the get down but fight off the pull of being a full member of a street gang.

What I Saw Today: September 22nd, 2016

This is my first post, so a little breakdown of how it's going to flow. I start off by listing what episodes of a show I watched today, and then I kind of give a critique by what I thought the show was going for or just my experience of it in general. As a result, there will be spoilers...you have been warned! Click on the show title to jump to it if you aren't interested in the others.

What I watched today:

Shameless, S2.E6 "Can I have a Mother"
Black-ish, S3.E1 "VIP"
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.LD, S4.E1 "The Ghost"

What I saw:

So first up is Shameless:

I'm about halfway into the 2nd season, and so far some of the characters have undergone a bit of a transformation. The elusive Steve made a reappearance in Southside Chicago, and between him and Fiona it was very clear something was still going on. Grandma Gallagher showed up at the door and sprinkled some love/money to the grandkids but just completely put down her son, Frank. Lip and Ian are still not talking to each other after a misunderstanding regarding admission in Westpoint. And V and Kevin's foster kid ran away after being visited by members of her old cult.

Basically, the story was laying the groundwork for where the rest of the character's arcs are going to go for the season. Lip has been spiraling down the whole season over the break up with his (non)girlfriend, and it has been painful to watch. Lip was usually smart and and had a plan for everything but has grown so angry and obsessive over Karen that it seems out of place. The one thing I did notice is that Lip is drinking more, so it may be kind of the fall of a Gallagher becoming the inevitable drunk, we'll see. I think the show is trying to convey that emotions or love are sometimes out of our control, but on Lip it just doesn't fit. They definitely nailed it with Fiona, who would reach out and call Steve when she felt the most sad or stressed because despite the way he left, she still loves him. Their passionate reconnect added to that.

We finally get to see why Frank drinks so much! Given how we see Grandma Gallagher just ream him the entire episode, it would make anyone reach for the bottle and never look back. I thought it was interesting to see that, especially when Fiona makes the comment "I know what it's like; I have shitty parent's too." Frank finally messes up with Sheila since he is so stressed out and he moves back into the house with the kids - and his mother. This is all about having to face one's demons, which given how Frank is an alcoholic, is something he hates.


Second is Black-ish:

Just gotta say I love this show! Hilarious social/racial critique similar to The Boondocks but without the N-word being thrown around every few seconds (The Boondocks is still awesome though, don't get me wrong). The Johnsons go to Disneyland, and true to Dre's style they go all out with VIP passes. The kids and Dre of course take it too far and have everything taken away. Meanwhile Bow and the in-laws lose themselves in the Disney experience, literally at first and then figuratively.

Basically for Dre and the kids it's all about humility. The whole theme of the show is Dre, who grew up in the hood but managed to achieve the American Dream and is in a position to spoil his kids, but the kids end up having different view of morality and appreciation. That's basically what happened in this episode, but tenfold since Dre "bought" a white tour guide which let them cut in front of everyone. I liked how he kept using that word as a kind of "that's what your race gets for enslaving mine" kind of moments. Diane of course had the best line in the show after they lost their VIP status and she also lost her glasses: "I can't see how far we've fallen, but I can sure feel it." Dre had to instill humility back into his kids by ditching them in a line after their VIP status was revoked, and all was well again. And as for Bow and the in-laws, it was more about how experiences can bring people closer together, even though Bow and Ruby are enemies.

This episode wasn't as densely packed with meaning as last year's season premier, but it was still funny to watch. I will add that Disneyland/Disneyworld really creep me out morally and philosophically. If you've never really thought about, check out this episode of an anime that delved into what meaning is at the heart of those kinds of theme parks.


Last up is Agents of SHIELD:

Daisy is going solo vigilante tracking down a new group of baddies and runs into a mysterious...okay it's Ghost Rider. It was pretty obvious and they had advertised it anyways. The old team has been separated per the new director and Fitz-Simmons are finally Fitz-Simmons for reals. Radcliffe designed a non-AI based robot (which when he described it sounded an awful lot like AI) to be used to help SHIELD, so he says. The team track down a weapon which is more spiritual/supernatural than what they're used to, and Mae seems to have been infected by it somehow by the end.

I like how Daisy has been given the moniker "Quake," and it seems like she has become more of an anti-hero, as SHIELD is trying to hunt her down because of what she has done. The pacing in this episode was good, where they hinted at the sinisterism of the new Director and the introduction to Ghost Rider. I liked how they made GR Latino, which I think is much needed in the superhero world. DC did something similar with The Flash when they changed the West family into people of color. I like when producers take a step back and ask "do they really have to be white?" as the answer is almost always no. It's important to add diversity, because while TV shows are fiction, the fictional part isn't that people of color do not exist or are only background characters.

The best part came at the the end when Ghost Rider had Daisy dead to rights, and it was her time to be judged. GR had mentioned earlier that it was "him" that decides who should live or die, and the survivor he went to finish off said "I don't want to die" with the reply "they all say that." Daisy, true to form, told him to kill her because she deserved it; yet she was spared by "him." This goes to show it is not about being free of sin, but owning up to it and trying your best to make it right.

Per Joss Whedon's MO, we are only given hints at what may lay down the road, which is what I really enjoy about him as a showrunner. He plays the long game, and when you have 23 episodes to tell your story it's best to take advantage and let the audience discovery it along with the characters.


That's it for my first post, hopefully somebody reads it! This took longer than I thought so I might not post everything I watch, or at least not right away. Or I guess I could just watch less TV...but probably not!