On the plus side, Rebecca Black is probably making some considerable money off this, which is exactly what rich teenagers need on top of internet fame and appearances in Katy Perry videos.
First, thanks for stopping in and commenting. You've got some great insights, and it's clear we've got similar tastes. I agree with you on "Homeland", that we'll need to wait and see, which is always tricky about television writing. I'm definitely excited about the show, I think it's just that I have a tough time trusting Showtime.
Having just recently read through the first 4 books of the Song of Ice and Fire series, I'd say the adaptation was pretty impressive, particularly considering the sprawling nature of the books. I'll be even more curious to see how they handle future seasons both from a special effects and larger scope perspective.
Great catch on those old Metacritic scores. In the case of Boardwalk Empire and The Killing, I would've thought early raves were undeserved, too. Walking Dead had such a strong debut, but dropped off with each subsequent episode. Mad Men...it's difficult for me to remember. I thought Game of Thrones started off with a bang, though.
I do have high hopes, especially with the end of the 4th episode. But even with the interesting turn, there was something about that last line that was way too on-the-nose. It was clear they were flirting, right? Why hammer it with the "second or third meeting" bit? A couple other issues I've had:
- Jessica and Mike having a conversation right outside the freaking church while Brody was talking to the head politician.
- Jessica and Mike touching frequently while lots and lots of people are around.
- That, in investigating one of the leads, the analysts didn't pick-up on the fact the family had just recently purchased a house right under a flightpath.
- That characters' interactions fluctuate so wildly, it seems inconsistent with the characters we know. It makes sense that Brody would be charming and would make a connection with Carrie, but I guess I don't get why some of his charm wouldn't have come out before.
- Probably my biggest eye-roll was reserved for the dialogue between Brody and his wife after the deer shooting incident:
Brody: "Hey, you alright?"
Jessica: "Yeah. Just watching the storm."
Brody: "Oh yeah? Is it coming or going?"
Jessica: "Hard to tell."
We get it, they're talking about their relationship, or the show's overall drama here, but geez. Does it look to either of you like a storm just passed over your house? Are there telltale signs, like, say, the ground being wet from rain. Or having heard a storm pass over your house?
So, again, there's a ton of potential here, but I just don't picture great showrunners or writing teams missing such glaringly bad interaction.
An addendum to my last comment: Your point is very well taken on Rubicon, Walking Dead, and The Killing, all of which featured scenes I distinctly remember rolling my eyes at. So maybe I should've said, "This wouldn't happen on HBO", because I seriously can't remember a time when it did...
...OH! WAIT! Any of the Anthony Bourdain written scenes in "Treme". Those were pretty bad.
Anyway, my point is you're right. Still wouldn't give "Homeland" a 91, though. I'll stick with the mid-80s.
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Having just recently read through the first 4 books of the Song of Ice and Fire series, I'd say the adaptation was pretty impressive, particularly considering the sprawling nature of the books. I'll be even more curious to see how they handle future seasons both from a special effects and larger scope perspective.
I do have high hopes, especially with the end of the 4th episode. But even with the interesting turn, there was something about that last line that was way too on-the-nose. It was clear they were flirting, right? Why hammer it with the "second or third meeting" bit? A couple other issues I've had:
- Jessica and Mike having a conversation right outside the freaking church while Brody was talking to the head politician.
- Jessica and Mike touching frequently while lots and lots of people are around.
- That, in investigating one of the leads, the analysts didn't pick-up on the fact the family had just recently purchased a house right under a flightpath.
- That characters' interactions fluctuate so wildly, it seems inconsistent with the characters we know. It makes sense that Brody would be charming and would make a connection with Carrie, but I guess I don't get why some of his charm wouldn't have come out before.
- Probably my biggest eye-roll was reserved for the dialogue between Brody and his wife after the deer shooting incident:
Brody: "Hey, you alright?"
Jessica: "Yeah. Just watching the storm."
Brody: "Oh yeah? Is it coming or going?"
Jessica: "Hard to tell."
We get it, they're talking about their relationship, or the show's overall drama here, but geez. Does it look to either of you like a storm just passed over your house? Are there telltale signs, like, say, the ground being wet from rain. Or having heard a storm pass over your house?
So, again, there's a ton of potential here, but I just don't picture great showrunners or writing teams missing such glaringly bad interaction.
...OH! WAIT! Any of the Anthony Bourdain written scenes in "Treme". Those were pretty bad.
Anyway, my point is you're right. Still wouldn't give "Homeland" a 91, though. I'll stick with the mid-80s.