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!
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