David Tennant in Broadchurch, beginning August 4 on Showcase
I find it boring. I'm not into the Amazing Race: Canada; What's the point? How come we only do Canada, while the U.S. has the entire world? Generally I've had it with reality television though. Sharknado just has no appeal for me, even though I hear it's so horrible, it's good
I've given The Listener a second chance; or tried to. It's changed too much since I first watched it. I loved its otential as a science-fiction mystery show. But now it's just a procedural crime show where a guy uses his mind-reading ability to solve crimes. I liked Toby's mystery; where did his mindreading ability come from? Are there others like him? There's still a few open questions left to be solved there.
I watched the first season of Showcase's Continuum. I've only seen bits and pieces of its second season; and it looks like it's even better maintaining its constant questioning of how your actions affect the future. I've definitely got some catching up to do there. I am looking forward to David Tennant in Broadchurch beginning August 4, 2013.
I've loved Saving Hope so far this year. There was a huge pay-off with Charlie (Michael Shanks) finally waking up in the season 1 finale, and the new wrench into the relationship of Charlie's talent. I like seeing what's going on with the other characters too; it's developed into an ensemble show.
The one good thing about summer is having a chance to catch up on reruns. CBC is rerunning a lot of last season's lineup; Murdoch Mysteries, Arctic Air, and Republic of Doyle. If you've missed any of those, now's the time to catch up on them.
I'm turning to Netflix a lot. I've watched House of Cards, and have got a couple of episodes of Hemlock Grove left on season one. It's filmed in Canada, and I think I read somewhere even in Milton. I'm also starting to re-live old favourites like Foyle's War. All are worth checking out if you're look for something to watch.
Other than that, I'm more likely to watch a movie, or spend time on the web than watch tv. The fall television season can't come soon enough.
Looking up on my blog I have an entry about Summer reading from last year. This year though I have nothing. I've been reading George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones' series and have returned library books unread.
I've got 190 pages of book 5: "Dance with Dragons." The whole series so far has been a work of art. Martin has created his own world; complete with its religions. It is as detailed as Lord of the Rings, but I find it faster-paced thanks to the way he switches points-of-view every chapter. I keep waiting for story lines to merge and it seems like I'm about to be rewarded for my persistence. And yes, you should be reading the first four books before you read this one. If you spend your summer reading one series, make it this one, it'll make you forget how hot it is outside.
I still have a few on my table waiting to be read- Hilary Mantel's sequel to Wolf Hall; I think this one takes on Anne Boleyn. It could be good for a break from the fantasy world. There's also Jack Layton's "Speaking Out Louder" which, I can't seem to get through without arguing with myself. I'd love to go back and read more Kelley Armstrong, for a bit of Canadian content.
The last book in Ken Follett's Fall of Giants' trilogy is due out later this year. This series follows the fortunes of five interrelated families across the 20th century. Think of this as historical fiction with the pacing of his thrillers. The first two books seamlessly blended elements of both. Like with Game Of Thrones, you should read them first.
What have you guys been reading this summer? Any books I should add to my reading list? Hit that comment button below
I don't need much to write; my laptop, my blackberry and its usb connector (aka the charger). A notebook or two, a few pens. Usually I need a silent, or low-distraction environment; the fewer people around the better which I get at my home office. I haven't written in my home office for a good two weeks now due to renovations; it was just easier to move around the house or even go to a coffee shop.
This week it's been different. I've been living in a hotel for the last week; restricted mostly to my one room with a king-sized bed, television, and bathroom within a few feet of each other. As far as places to write go, that sounds like paradise doesn't it? I mean you don't need to leave the room accept to eat. But do I write in there? Have I done anything with my laptop besides fool around on Facebook and check email? No, at least not until today.
Today I broke out. I left the room with its huge comfortable bed (did I mention there was room for probably three of me) and took the small step of moving out to the breakfast bar for a while and watched TV. Then my parents left, and shortly after so did I. I was bound for the lobby or "Great room," or lobby home to both breakfast buffets, and dinner receptions. I snagged a table right beside an outlet and set up shop. Then went and grabbed my laundry basket with the goal of multitasking; laundry plus writing. I was determined to be productive either domestically (laundry) or professionally (writing).
I managed to do both. There was one other person using the "great room" as his office; we chatted a little about the cabinet shuffle, then went back to work- I to my interview audio, and he to his transcript. Of course it being a semi-public place there were a few distractions; people passing down the hall, stopping at the front desk. But it didn't stop me. Within a couple of hours (that includes stops for laundry checks) I had what I consider a passable draft of an article.
In my bedroom, I would have watched tv, read my book, and enjoyed that giant bed. Hotel rooms have always equalled vacation, coziness, and relaxation. The lobby distractions focused me, knowing I had a limited amount of time to get it done before dinner. Knowing I had another chore on the go at the same time helped too. It was as if the more distractions, the more the focused I became.
"I want to buy another dress." Six words I'd never thought I'd hear myself say. It was Monday; hot, and sticky. I was getting ready to head off to a networking meeting and asked the daily question: "What do I wear?" Usually the answer ends up being jeans, a nice top, maybe a blazer. I cast aside the 'jeans' option it was too hot for denim; didn't feel right with capris- it was for "business" after all.
So I found myself taking the only dress I own from the closet. It's black with purple polka-dots, and a skirt that goes just past my knees. I slipped it on, and matched it with a pair of low black heeled sandals and I was good to go. And it kept the heat away too; so much so that I found myself thinking later that day "I want to buy another dress."
This is a big step for me in terms of fashion. I'm the girl that asks 'is this comfortable?' instead of 'does this look good?' when shopping. I was never really the fashion crazy girl; call it a left-over after spending my childhood playing with the neighbourhood kids; which all happened to be boys. Call it a side-effect of being a bigger girl, and because of that having my clothing options severely limited. I've always let my comfort level override my sense of fashion.
I bought the dress almost by accident. I was shopping with my mom, and she found it hanging on a sale rack. I tried it on, and before I knew it I was willingly buying a dress. It wasn't for a special occasion like Prom (I was also the girl who bought the first prom dress she saw), it was just because I liked it.
I've worn it maybe 10-15 times including to that networking meeting. And it's been a faithful friend, as I've lost, and gained weight. And now it's made want to take that next step in a slow style evolution and admit; "I want to buy another dress."
Period Drama "The Borgias" ended its three-season run last Sunday with an episode entitled "The Prince." This one centred on Francois Arnaud's Cesare, as he successfully took Forlis from nemesis Caterina Sforza (Gina McKee), and her as his prisoner. Rodrigo (Jeremy Irons) placed ultimate trust in his son, laying out his vision of a Papal empire ruled by Cesare.
Meanwhile, Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger) continued to struggle with finding happiness in her marriage to Alfonso of Aragon (Sebastian De Souza). The culprit; persistent rumours of her incestuous relationship with Cesare, who upon returning to Rome plots his brother-in-law's murder using an assassin. He ends up doing the deed himself when Alfonso comes after him with a sword after returning home following a night of drinking.
The final scene is on Alfonso's deathbed. Cesare arrives to find Lucrezia laying beside her dying husband covered with his blood, and lovingly caresses her face. "I cannot wash this blood off," she says. Cesare offers to strip her wash it from her body.
I've read about behind-the-scenes drama, and how it was planned to follow Rodrigo until his death. Also about how plans for a movie just to wrap up all the storylines were nixed. There is even a #SaveTheBorgias hashtag on twitter. I'd love to see the tv movie, but I'd be careful of another season. I think there was a risk of the whole 'incest' angle taking over, and moving it too far towards becoming a 'soap opera.' It was only rumoured incest.
I'm satisfied with the way it ended. There was no cliff-hanger; just a single dramatic moment. I could easily see stopping in to visit the lives of these characters in a year or two down the road. The one major cliff-hanger moment was with Micheletto; is he dead? Cesare only dreamed he was. I loved him, and I think he'd make a good character for a spin-off if they had one.
The way the episode was done from Cesare's point of view left open the possibility they could even go beyond Rodrigo's death with stories told from his point of view, and that could be a direction to take it.
They could go either way, or just leave it as it ended.
That actually wasn't revealed to the audience in Saturday's episode. It was revealed in a whispered aside by River Song, so we still don't know the Doctor's name. Wouldn't it be funny if it's John, or Fred or Henry? Something surprisingly ordinary.
But we did solve the riddle of the "impossible girl," but not until the last few minutes of the episode. "I was born to save the doctor," Clara starts. She's born, lives, and dies over, and over again. And she gets to save "Doctor," something that's a little bit mind-blowing of itself; the Doctor needs saving?! Who knew. This time was no different.
This episode started off with Clara psychically consulting with Trax, Madame Vastra, River Song, and Jenny through a communal dream. Madame Vastra had just met with a prisoner who told her that the Doctor's greatest secret has been revealed. The conference didn't get very far before the whisper men interrupted to tell River and Clara, 'killed' Jenny, and awakened Madame Vastra: "Tell the Doctor his friends are lost forever more unless he goes to Trenzalore."
When Clara tells the Doctor his reaction is unexpected. He sits on the sofa, and cries. Then he goes off to the Tardis' underbelly eventually programming the coordinates to Trenzalore. Trenzalore is... the location of the Doctor's grave site. The Doctor must never go there because he's crossing his own timeline- a big no-no for time travelers. Remember the first half's finale when Amy dies- she reveals her own grave stone and the doctor couldn't save her.
The TARDIS knows this and initially refuses to land of its own accord. The Doctor forced it to fall to the ground. The scene reminded me of something out of a Christmas Carol- the part where Ebeneezer Scrooge is with the ghost of Christmas future walking through a cemetery. The Doctor meanwhile sees the graves of his friends; River Song- ("River's not buried here," he says). River appears to Clara, and they have a little conversation; her grave is actually a tunnel to the Doctor's grave. Of course, The Doctor and Clara follow it. Clara remembers the "forgotten day (Journey to the Centre of the Tardis), and starts asking him about it. The Doctor lets slip the little detail River is his wife.
A vine-wrapped TARDIS interior is the stage for the final battle. Everyone's there looking at the Doctor's corpse; a blinding blue light made of frayed threads. Dr. Simeon (aka The Great Intelligence) announces: "The doctor's life is an open wound, and an open wound can be entered." There's nothing left to do following that statement but enter it, which, is exactly what he does. The Doctor falls to the ground writhing in pain; all of his good work is undone.
The stars begin going out, Jenny dies again;"The silence will fall, and darkness will reign..." I digress. Enter Clara who comes up with the idea of jumping into the time stream to save him. "The time winds will tear you apart," warns River. That explains why the Doctor keeps running into her; each version of her life will be lived to save him. Clara doesn't heed the warning of course, and jumps into the time stream anyway, and everything is set to rights. It's kind of the ultimate expression of love; living your life unconditionally to save just one person. "Run you clever boy, and remember.." were her last words.
The Doctor wakes up, has a little exchange with River which ends with her saying enigmatically: "Spoilers," when he asks her why she hasn't faded yet. Maybe season 8's mystery??
The Doctor enters his own time stream to save Clara. They meet up in a post-apocalyptic type of place, where John Hurt. "I didn't say he was "The Doctor," I said he was me," The Doctor informs Clara. And that's where it ends. I can just hear Clara asking John Hurt the next question: "What am I to call you?" Which is probably going to reveal to the audience The Doctor's name.
I think John Hurt's going to be some version of the Doctor. Perhaps the one who destroyed Gallifrey? It would fit with his seemingly world-weary attitude; lonely bitter, resigned to his fate. And Clara- still a mystery; is this the real Clara? and what happens when she crosses her own timelines?
I can't wait for November.
While we're waiting below is the trailer for the 50th anniversary special from BBC One.
Scandal ended its second season last night with its usual amount of fast-talking twists and turns. The mole turned out to be the former chief-of-staff to the Vice President, and Jake turned out to be working for Olivia's dad; David turned out to have busted the Defiance mess wide open, and managed to play it for a big pay-off
I loved the Fitz/Olivia moments. The chemistry between them has always been obvious and very well played by the actors but their whole together/ not together storyline is getting really tedious. Last night for the second time Fitz confessed his love to Olivia, and his willingness to do whatever it takes, and what does she do? Send him back to Millie. Of course he was aided significantly by a graphic sex tape uncovered by Cyrus thanks in part to Jake- he bugged Olivia's apartment earlier in the season.
I get the "wanting to be together no matter what" thing. She loves him even though Fitz killed Velma, he loves her even though Olivia kept Defiance from him. If I don't get some kind of huge pay-off soon, I may have to reconsider my Thursday night viewing options. Why not let Mellie play the wronged woman for a while? she can make political capital out of that. I think Fitz even learned a thing or two in the art of cruelty from her.
Quinn completely crossed to the dark side. The moment she took the drill from Huck I thought 'oh no, she isn't' and she did. What's worse is judging from her reaction is she liked it, and wanted to do it again. Huck had a 'what have I created' moment as he slammed the door in her face. How he'll sort her out next season will probably be a plot for next season.
The ending was the best part. Olivia blissfully distracted with her music opens the door to go for a run, and cameras, and microphones are shoved in her face. She takes her ear buds out to be greeted by questions about being the President's mistress. She's pulled into a limo and greets "Miles" with "Hi dad."
Does this mean Olivia's dad blabbed to the press about with Fitz? If so why? Where does he fit in with the Defiance plot? Does he have any ties to this so-called 'secret' C.I.A. division Jake works for?
Scandal returns to answer these questions, Thursdays this fall on ABC.
