Coupling - Season Three (2002)

Coupling (2000-2004)

Created by: Steven Moffat

Season: Three (2001)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 7
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Up for a threesome?

[IMDb]

Comments: More of the same goodness with the third season of Coupling. I did find that the episodes tended to be a bit more serious at times, but overall the quality of the show was just as good. One more to go!

Coupling - Season Two (2001)

Coupling (2000-2004)

Created by: Steven Moffat

Season: Two (2001)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 9
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

More than just a one night stand!

[IMDb]

Comments: I quite like Coupling. It's a fun show that has great writing (the season finale was phenomenal) and a strong cast. There's certainly some issues here and there - like why anyone would want to hang out with Jane, who's ungodly annoying and never has any humanizing moments. Plus, the total lack of realism hurts at times (I'm mainly speaking of how characters act in the most bizarre way possible), but overall I've enjoyed my time with these six individuals. Despite those issues, it's completely hysterical and well worth a watch. Also, I'm totally phoning this review in if you couldn't tell.

Oh, and the teeth! I know it's sort of a stereotype about the British and their teeth, but some of the guest stars they had on the show were awful. Try to find someone on American TV with bad/dirty teeth. It doesn't happen! Even in the post-apocalyptic future when we're being attacked by zombies, those babies are pearly white.

Sorry for going off on a tangent. Teeth are just something I notice... and I noticed it a lot in Coupling.

Coupling - Season One (2000)

Coupling (2000-2004)

Created by: Steven Moffat

Season: One (2000)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

The naughty new comedy about nothing... but sex!

[IMDb]

Comments: Fuck me. Sarah Alexander, where have you been all my life? You are just about the goddamn cutest thing I've ever seen. And those "Nude Practice" skits you used to do on that Armstrong and Miller sketch show? Jesus fucking Christ. Why don't they release those on DVD? You are just so... oh, right. We're here to talk about Coupling.

Coupling has often been described as the British version of Friends, and that's certainly true to an extent (though it's also not giving Coupling enough credit). The show also has some definite Seinfeld influences as well, given the nonsensical relationship rules and phrases that come up over the first season. But the biggest reason why this show exceeds Friends is the writing of Steven Moffat - he of Doctor Who and Sherlock fame. As dumb as the comedy is in Coupling, it's also always smart and the episodes are well-conceived. It's a fun show, and I'm looking forward to watching the following seasons.

Also, have I mentioned Sarah Alexander?

Parks and Recreation - Season Four (2011-2012)

Parks and Recreation (2009-????)

Created by: Greg Daniels and Michael Schur

Season: Four (2012)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 22
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Because parks don't grow on trees.

[IMDb]

Comments: As I mentioned before, I really dig Parks and Rec. The show has to be one of the most kind-hearted shows on television (in addition to being one of the funniest). And I'm not saying that as a bad thing - I love that all of these characters are inherently good and always try to do the right thing to each other. That just tends to resonate with me, and as a result I genuinely care about them as if they were my friends.

I wish my job was like this.

Parks and Recreation - Season Three (2011)

Parks and Recreation (2009-????)

Created by: Greg Daniels and Michael Schur

Season: Three (2011)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 16
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Because parks don't grow on trees.

[IMDb]

Comments: I am really loving this show. It's not perfect, but it's fucking awesome nonetheless.

I've been really slacking on watching other shit though. Between watching Parks and Rec, the massive amount of shit I'm recording on my DVR (Castle, Raising Hope, Arrow, South Park, perennial guilty pleasure The Challenge, The Office, The Big Bang Theory, Last Resort, It's Always Sunny, Mythbusters, and The Walking Dead), and the fact that I've been playing NHL 13 a few hours a night with my hombres, I've had little-to-no time for anything else. I've bought a few things at Best Buy during their Upgrade and Save sale recently (read: entirely too much shit), but I've watched none of it. I don't see too much changing in the next few weeks, but I have two weeks of vacation to burn in November and December because I have no fucking life (I've barely used any throughout the year as I have nothing better to do than go to work). Movies will be watched at that point... I promise.

Parks and Recreation - Season Two (2009-2010)

Parks and Recreation (2009-????)

Created by: Greg Daniels and Michael Schur

Season: Two (2009-2010)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 24
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Because parks don't grow on trees.

[IMDb]

Comments: I can't even begin to describe how much Parks and Recreation improved over the last half of Season Two. For the first season, along with the first few episodes here, I enjoyed the show but was never smitten by it. I'm not sure what it was, but my overall enjoyment of Parks and Rec was ramped up during the second half of the season (as evidenced by the fact that I started watching episode 15 after work tonight... and then all of a sudden it was 1:30 in the morning and I'd finished the season).

There's a few things that really improved my enjoyment of the show. The first, because I'm a sap, was the inclusion of a solid romantic storyline between April and Andy. I'm a sucker for this type of romance, and I think it was well done. Secondly, Amy Poehler was my least favorite character early on, and often her mannerisms annoyed the shit out of me. I don't know if I got used to her, or she just honed her character a bit (or a combination of the two), but I really started to like her as the season went on. And finally, how can I not love a show with Ron Swanson?

And for my last ramblings of the evening, I must say that Aubrey Plaza is a winner in my book (meaning I'd like to marry her if given the opportunity). I just love the looks she gave the camera, and like I mentioned her storyline with Chris Pratt was well done and felt both genuine and authentic.

And I want to marry her. (If Alison Brie isn't available.)

Parks and Recreation - Season One (2009)

Parks and Recreation (2009-????)

Created by: Greg Daniels and Michael Schur

Season: One (2009)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 6
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Because parks don't grow on trees.

[IMDb]

Comments: This is why I don't ever declare October to be Horrorfest. Despite my best intentions of watching nothing but horror throughout the month, I always get burned out a week or two into it. I love horror, and it's absolutely my favorite genre, but I need to break it up a bit. I found myself yesterday staring at the titles I wanted to watch and not having a desire to watch any of them at the moment. I needed something different. Fucking ADD.

And that brings us to Parks and Recreation, a show I've wanted to watch for some time. It's essentially the sister show to The Office, which works for me (although when this debuted I thought it was going to be an unmitigated disaster). I've heard increasingly good things over the years, and combined with the fact that I loved Ron Swanson even before I ever watched the show, I knew I'd dig Parks and Rec. After the short first season, I can see where it needs to grow a bit, but overall I really enjoyed it. Onward!

Sherlock - Season One (2010)

Sherlock (2010-????)

Created by: Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss

Season: One (2010)
Genre: Crime | Drama | Mystery
Number of Episodes: 3
Episode Running Time: 90 Minutes
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

A new sleuth for the 21st century.

[IMDb]

Comments: After a very compelling debut episode ("A Study in Pink"), I was left underwhelmed by the first season of Sherlock for a few reasons. The main issue I had was that the show was produced so close to the theatrical version, and I'll admit to being more partial to Downey and Law. Secondly, with only three episodes, it's hard to get really become invested in the characters. That means we must rely on the cases, and "A Study in Pink" was the only story that stood out to me. I did love the actors chosen for the roles; Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Andrew Scott as Moriarty (even though he's only in the last episode) were inspired choices. And I can't forget to give love to Martin Freeman - Tim Canterbury will always have my respect.

Though I'm in possession of the second set of episodes from Sherlock, I may just wait until they're available on Netflix. I just can't find a TV show to really latch onto lately; hopefully that trend will end soon.

Strike Back - Season One (2011)

Strike Back (2011-????)

Created by: Chris Ryan

Season: One (2011)
Genre: Action | Drama | Thriller
Number of Episodes: 10
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Diplomacy is overrated.

[IMDb]

Comments: Strike Back has the distinct honor of being the first Blu-ray (in this case, set of Blu-rays) to not work on my player. My firmware is up-to-date and my laptop plays the discs without fail, yet for some reason the 'ol Sony just locked up and had to be unplugged to get the disc out - no matter which disc I inserted.

Luckily, Strike Back also has the distinct honor of being the only Blu-ray TV set I have that also comes with a DVD copy. Because I'm lazy as shit and didn't feel like hooking my laptop up to my TV to watch the Blu-rays, standard definition was how I forged ahead. To be honest, the picture quality wasn't terrible so it never really hindered my experience.

Strike Back is a show I knew nothing about until a few weeks ago. When I first read a review, I was informed that this release was labeled "Cinemax Season One," when in all actuality this was the second season of a British show that Cinemax acquired the rights to broadcast. I immediately ignored it, as I can't stand watching anything out of order. However, a few days later I learned that the show was almost completely overhauled, and there was only one character from the first season to make it into "Cinemax Season One," and that was essentially a cameo in the first episode. This knowledge, combined with the fact that Strike Back was described to me as 24 with more sex and violence, was all I needed to hear. Yes, that's the sound of me spending more money on Blu-rays.

Strike Back was pretty goddamn entertaining. The "first" season runs ten episodes, although the episodes are two-parters (i.e. episodes one and two are one story, three and four are another, and they all play into the main over-arcing plot). There's definitely an element of 24 at work here, but there's a lot more fun to the show as well. I can't tell you how many times I got pumped up when our two main heroes got into gunfights or told their would-be captors that by the end of the ordeal, they were going to kill them. With a show like this, you know the good guys are coming out on top. Combine this with the fact that the American lead (played by an Australian, of course), is banging some random chick every five minutes and you've got yourself a recipe for one hell of an entertaining show. Everyone that said Strike Back was like 24 with more sex and violence was pretty much right. If you've ever read anything else on this blog, you know that those are two of the things I enjoy most in my entertainment.

If you're at all a fan of "big" (read: lots of explosions and unrealistic scenarios where the good guys miraculously survive) military-based action films and shows, I highly recommend Strike Back. The "second" season is currently airing, so I'm looking forward to grabbing that Blu-ray when it's released (hopefully this one will actually work). The show's a ton of fun and has a really engaging storyline to go along with it. And boobs. Plenty of boobs. How can you go wrong?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season One (1997)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Created by: Joss Whedon

Season: One (1997)
Genre: Action | Drama | Fantasy
Number of Episodes: 12
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Get home before dark.

[IMDb]

Comments: I know Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been quite the cult hit since it debuted, and it's definitely a show I've been interested in. But that doesn't mean the first season couldn't be rather terrible. And for the most part, it is.

- OK, let me say that the first few episodes are GOD-AWFUL. Slowly, the show finds its footing and I found the last three-to-four episodes to be pretty decent. But it's really rough early on, to the point where there were a few weeks where I didn't watch a single episode. I have no doubts that the show will only get better, but it certainly didn't have the best start.

- My favorite part of the whole season was how many people at Buffy's high school were killed... and no one seemed to care. I'm pretty sure there would have been a major investigation when multiple faculty members and even more students show up dead. It's generally treated as an everyday occurrence.

- While elements of Joss Whedon can be found early on, I really started to pick up on Joss' signature style toward the final few episodes (any wonder why I enjoyed them more?). I can only expect this will continue in future episodes.

- That about sums up my thoughts on Buffy. When I watch a show I'm not completely addicted to form the get-go (i.e. Breaking Bad), I feel like I always say "I'm going to take a short break, but I'll be back." And then I never come back. Well, I have fucking six other seasons to watch (plus five of Angel), so I better goddamn comeback. But I just bought Strike Back the other day and I've been itching to watch that, so it'll be a bit...

- See what I mean?

Pawn Stars - Season One (2009)

Pawn Stars (2009-????)

Created by: Brent Montgomery

Season: One (2009)
Genre: Reality-TV
Number of Episodes: 14
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

[IMDb]

Comments: I don't really watch any "reality" television shows (with the exception of MTV's The Challenge, a show I'll admit I totally fucking love), but I happened to catch a few episodes of Pawn Stars at a friend's house the other week and really enjoyed the show. The scripting at times is obvious, and the underlying stories they weave in each week make me cringe at times. But overall I like the show's stars, and in general I find Pawn Stars interesting. This isn't a show I watched continuously, but it's something I'd pop on when eating dinner at night. There's a metric shit-ton of episodes on Netflix, so I'm sure I'll keep watching them over time. Pawn Stars is the definition of relaxing television.

Workaholics - Season Two (2011)

Workaholics (2011-????)

Created by: Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine, Anders Holm, Kyle
  Newacheck, Connor Pritchard, and Dominic Russo

Season: Two (2011)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 10
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Seize the day.

[IMDb]

Comments: I really dig this show. Workaholics is not the greatest show on TV by any means, but it's funny as hell (even if it is It's Always Sunny's red-headed step-child, and I mean that in a good way). Even if there's an episode where I'm not laughing out loud, I'm always entertained. I do wish more episodes took place in the office because I love both the bitchy boss Alice (who's fucking hot... and the bitchier she is, the hotter she gets) and the semi-insane Jillian (even if she's the human version of Pam from Archer). But regardless of the show's location, Workaholics is a definite fun watch. I have the first several episodes of the third season recorded on my DVR, so I'll be diving into those soon. I'm pre-ing right now just thinking about it.

Breaking Bad - Season Two (2009)

Breaking Bad (2008-????)

Created by: Vince Gilligan

Season: Two (2009)
Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller
Number of Episodes: 13
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Unstable. Volatile. Dangerous. And that's just the chemistry.

[IMDb]

Comments: Let me say this first: Breaking Bad is a terrific show, completely deserving of the praise and fanfare it has received over the last few years. Th performances and writing are all top notch, and I totally understand many people stating this show is one of the greats. But there's a catch. For the life of me, I can't "get into" it. When one episode ends (unless there's a crazy cliffhanger), I have no burning desire to start the next episode immediately after. If there was a cliffhanger, I'd start the following episode, watch the first ten minutes or so, and then save the rest for another day. This is why it took me nearly TWO FUCKING MONTHS to watch thirteen episodes (Jesus, that does make me feel fucking pathetic). Does this make me a bad person with a horrible taste in TV? Possibly.

I really think the main reason I don't have a lasting connection to Breaking Bad is the characters. They're well-written, but I really don't like any of them. Walt started out as a doing a noble but illegal thing, but his actions toward certain characters (particularly in the twelfth episode of Season Two) and lack of visible care for his family makes me feel nothing for him. Jesse was on the right track to be the great anti-hero of the show, but he's such a bitch that it's hard to get behind him. And Skyler, well, she just fucking annoys me. (I was becoming a big fan of Hank's with the PTSD issues that plagued him, but he was barely in the last few episodes.) Many would argue that these characters aren't catered to typical television stereotypes, and I definitely agree. But I need at least one character that I give a shit about; that's what makes me come back every episode.

I have Seasons Three and Four on Blu-ray (naturally), and I think I'll be watching them soon. While I'm not addicted to the show (ha!), I do find it to be great television (despite my complaints). I have a few other things I want to watch first TV-wise (the second season of Workaholics, for example) but I'll be popping the third season in soon.

Workaholics - Season One (2011)

Workaholics (2011-????)

Created by: Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine, Anders Holm, Kyle
  Newacheck, Connor Pritchard, and Dominic Russo

Season: One (2011)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 10
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Netflix Watch Instantly

Seize the day.

[IMDb]

Comments: Even though Workaholics is like the red-headed step-child of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the show is still fucking funny as hell. I already have the second season pre-ordered (I'm not waiting for it to come to Netflix) and I plan on watching the third season when it begins at the end of the month. I'll have more with my year-end TV round-up in a few days.

Breaking Bad - Season One (2008)

Breaking Bad (2008-????)

Created by: Vince Gilligan

Season: One (2008)
Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller
Number of Episodes: 7
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Unstable. Volatile. Dangerous. And that's just the chemistry.

[IMDb]

Comments: I'm certainly much more lenient and forgiving when it comes to rating television shows - as opposed to how harshly I can judge films at times. I tend to get wrapped up with the characters and rate shows higher than they actually deserve. Take note of how the rating for a few seasons of The Big Bang Theory are equivalent to this season of Breaking Bad. The shows aren't even comparable as The Big Bang Theory and its lowest common denominator humor doesn't even come close to Breaking Bad, but I guess TV shows have to be complete shit for me to give it a low rating. Anyway, while I really enjoyed the opening season of Breaking Bad, I did find it to be a bit slow at times, and it lacked that addictiveness that I really love. I have supreme confidence that it will only get better (due to the overwhelming positive reviews), so I'm eagerly anticipating popping in Season Two. Until then.

Beavis and Butt-Head - Season Eight (2011)

Beavis and Butt-Head (1993-1997; 2011-????)

Created by: Mike Judge

Season: Eight (2011)
Genre: Animation | Comedy | Music
Number of Episodes: 11
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

[IMDb]

Comments: I don't claim to be a huge Beavis and Butt-Head fan, but I enjoyed the show enough when I was younger (the movie was probably my favorite part of the initial run). When I heard the show was being brought back, I almost completely dismissed it. What was the need? However, my cousin had mentioned that recent run was actually good, so of course I picked the show up when it was released on Blu-ray. And shit, my original opinion was way off. These are the best episodes of Beavis and Butt-Head that I've watched, and not only that, but the fact that they watch MTV shows in addition to music videos only makes the experience better (particularly 16 & Pregnant and Jersey Shore). If you've enjoyed Beavis and Butt-Head in the past, don't be wary that they were brought back in vain. It's the best decision MTV has made in ages.

Firefly - Season One (2002)

Firefly (2002)

Created by: Joss Whedon

Season: One (2002)
Genre: Drama | Sci-Fi
Number of Episodes: 14
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

[IMDb]

Comments: Ah, Firefly. A show with a reputation for being one of the best ever one season shows (the only show that I can think of with as much fanfare is Freaks and Geeks). I've owned the show for a long time, but as usual, put off watching it way too long. I finally dove in a week-and-a-half ago and promptly fell in love.

Make no mistake, Firefly isn't the greatest show ever, no matter what diehard Browncoats say. But, it was rather great with a chance to be spectacular, had it been allowed to continue. It had everything I love in a show: action, suspense, romance (though the main romance between Mal and Inara never had the chance to run its full course - or any real course) and comedy. It was awesome, and I really understand why its cancellation pissed so many people off.

I'm about to pop in Serenity, the show's big screen follow-up. I've seen the movie before, but never having watched Firefly, so it'll be like watching the film all over again (I don't really remember much about it, anyway). It's a shame the show never got the chance it deserved, but even with fourteen episodes, it accomplished something that few shows ever can. And it's shiny.

Game of Thrones - Season One (2011)

Game of Thrones (2011-????)

Created by: David Benioff and D. B. Weiss

Season: One (2011)
Genre: Adventure | Drama | Fantasy
Number of Episodes: 10
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned Blu-ray

Winter is coming.

[IMDb]

Comments: I really didn't care much about Game of Thrones until a few weeks ago, when all of a sudden I decided I was going to buy the first season on release day and dive right in. I have no clue why I did this, or how my interest was suddenly cultivated, but I'm glad I did/it was. Game of Thrones rules.

- I'll get this out of the way first: I love me some Emilia Clarke (who plays Daenerys Targaryen). She's just... yeah.

- All of the acting was great, but Peter Dinklage stole the show in whatever scene he was in. It's hard for actors of a "small stature" to be taken seriously at times, but Dinklage commands respect every time he's onscreen.

- The showrunners did a great job in casting Prince Joffrey. I haven't hated a TV character like him since Penny Johnson Jerald in the early years of 24.

- The plot was a little too fantasy driven at times for my taste - especially later on - but only because the first several episodes are so grounded in reality (sans the white walkers). By the end, there's zombies and dragons and black magic (all of which are fucking awesome, don't get me wrong), but they all feel out of place from what occurred over the majority of the first season.

- I know most people were happy with how the first season followed the book, but it made for a generally lackluster finale (particularly for someone who hasn't read the books). I felt like the show was building up to this gigantic war, but then the season just kind of ends (at least it ended on a good note, with a healthy dose of Emilia Clarke nudity).

- Game of Thrones is awesome. I'm saddened that I don't have HBO to watch the Season Two premiere in three weeks, and I'm even sadder thinking I'll have to wait until next March (?) for the show to be released on Blu-ray. I know there's 'alternative methods,' but fuck that. Maybe I'll buy the episodes on Amazon...

The Big Bang Theory - Season Four (2010-2011)

The Big Bang Theory (2007-????)

Created by: Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady

Season: Four (2010-2011)
Genre: Comedy
Number of Episodes: 24
Episode Running Time: 30 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Smart is the new sexy.

[IMDb]

Comments: I realize that The Big Bang Theory isn't considered "high art" for most serious television fans. And then there's the fact that I generally avoid anything that airs on CBS. But despite these issues, I must say that I really enjoy this show. One of the main problems I have is that even though The Big Bang Theory often sounds sophisticated, the show is dumbed down enough for the average viewer (of which there were many) to find both identification with the characters and consistent humor. I still think the show is entertaining, despite never being as clever and smart as it could be. It's funny, occasionally touching, and it's easy to digest in large doses. If you don't expect much, The Big Bang Theory is worth a watch.

On a side note, it's amazing how much of a better character Sheldon is now than in the first season. He's changed from an unbearable annoyance to the heart of the show. I also really liked the additions of Mayim Bialik and Mellisa Rauch to the cast. The evolving friendship of "besties" Bialik and Kaley Cuoco was great to watch and a really funny subplot. Much like Jim Parsons, Bialik was ungodly annoying originally, but she was slowly molded into a likeable character that really integrated well with the main cast.

Also, I want to have Kaley Cuoco's babies.

Castle - Season Three (2010-2011)

Castle (2009-????)

Created by: Andrew W. Marlowe

Season: Three (2010-2011)
Genre: Crime | Drama | Mystery
Number of Episodes: 24
Episode Running Time: 60 Minutes
Viewed: Owned DVD

Solving murder has never been so much fun.

[IMDb]

Comments: I am so glad that I decided to pick up Season Three of Castle and not just put it off as something I'd watch down the road. After a mediocre first season and second season that steadily improved, I can definitely say that Season Three was excellent - well, as excellent as a "case of the week" show can be. There's certainly a fair share of filler here - episodes that only serve to pad out a 20+ episode season (which is why I love channels that prefer 13 episode seasons; it's a great number). But when the episodes of Castle were on target, the show was awesome. The Castle-Beckett dynamic was superb; granted, there's not too much longer they can delay the inevitable romance without annoying viewers. And once that occurs, shows tend to lose a step if the whole thing isn't handled properly. Here's hoping that it is.

Anyway, it's time to catch up on Season Four so I can start watching the show on a weekly basis. Often, that ruins the spark the show had for me - not being able to feast on multiple episodes on a nightly basis. But after the awesome season finale, I just have to see how everything plays out. So... I'm done here.

But one last thing: My immense lack of posting is due to the fact that I've been watching Castle instead of movies. However, I have a backlog of Blu-rays to watch that I picked up over Black Friday... but I also have the complete series of both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel that I picked up. So... posting may be rather infrequent at times. Not that it matters anyway, because who reads this shit to begin with?