#tv swap

[wawf]

Re: New Girl, Episodes 1-3

Original post by Mel, response by Mae

1) Mel did not include the video above in her post, because quality-wise it's a little peasanty. However: watch it. Watch it right now. Waste 42 seconds on motions you will never forget.

3) As for the makeover scenes Mel didn't like--I am pro makeover scenes. How you dress is not a purely superficial thing. It's a signal about confidence, and it also correlates with what you think looks "good," which is a cultural signifier--it can mark you as someone who is into high fashion, or someone who is into sports bars, or whatever. Obviously, there are other ways to indicate your confidence and subculture, but I don't think big reactions to makeovers are inherently objectifying or superficial. I think all the sitcom characters who do makeover spit-takes are reacting to the visual and the suggested persona change.

Also, I like Jess specifically starring in makeover scenes because yeah, most of the time, her roommates aren't thinking about how she looks--they're thinking about how she's a wreck. I hate the idea that because Jess is pretty, people should react to her as "hot" at all times. You can absolutely negate your looks by being weepy and awkward, and she does; the guys need a physical transformation to defamiliarize her and put her looks on the table. I feel like the New Girl makeover scenes reaffirm that yeah, shiny hair is great, but it's even greater to watch Dirty Dancing less than once a day.

[wawf]

Sherlock, Episode 1: What A Great Sociopath!

Suggested by Mel, "reviewed" by Mae

I was SO into this show. I give it 500 stars and three out of three Sherlocks! Part of why I liked it so much was that my old roommate watched a lot of Law & Order: SVU, so I have spent a lot of time in the same room as that show, passively osmoting it into my brain. But Sherlock had a) a more intricate puzzle than any SVU episode, b) a more creative one (linked suicides!), and c) AMBIGUITY. 

The sociopath part was the hardest for me to stomach--Sherlock is super rude to his landlord, ditches Watson at a murder-y abandoned house, constantly tells people they're dumber than him, etc. My mom always told me that if people are really smart, they can figure out how to be nice, and I fully buy into that. It's unsettling, seeing Sherlock SO observant while solving crimes and SO unwilling to apply that scrutiny to other people's feelings. But the show seems excited about probing his grossness. And Watson's (fyi Watson just casually murdered someone). So hopefully it will all end up more interesting than disappointing.

The TRUE issue with the show is that it's low-key suspenseful, so only people who love me unconditionally should watch with me. I can totally watch suspenseful stuff, but a built-in part of that process is me yelling "WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN" all the time. Like, even after the credits are rolling (because there's gonna be a second episode and what will happen then!). Mel is a very patient soul. 

Quick roundup of other Sherlock things I liked: Nice grayish scenery everywhere; Watson is hot; the women are styled to look naturally beautiful instead of TV actress beautiful; everyone is very accepting of gay people :D

[wawf]

New Girl, Episodes 1–3

Suggested by Mae, "reviewed" by Mel

Because my roommate watches the show regularly, I've caught snippets of later New Girl episodes. I've liked what I've seen—the writing seems sharp and different. Also Schmidt is a hunk-a-lunk.

Jess's character has an utter lack of shame when it comes to her emotional vulnerability and embarrassing habits. That's an admirable tack, and an exciting one at first. But the more I saw of her, the more I was annoyed by her over-the-top childishness. She's honest with herself, but she's also dumb in a way that is more frustrating than entertaining. She needs the three new men in her life to come to her rescue at the ends of episodes 1 and 2, simply because she proves too sad and stupid to resolve her own mini-plots.

I couldn't stop drawing comparisons between Jess and Liz Lemon, because both female protagonists rely on self-deprecating humor. With Liz, the jokes are given life by her wit and passion. With Jess, all of the jokes seem flat and self-fulfilling. She's wallowing, pointing it out, and repeating the cycle; a cycle tinged with awkward quirkiness that I just don't find endearing. Her jokes seem like the most "random" and lazy ones on the show. 

And, okay, I have to know, is that just how Zooey Deschanel talks? She sounds like a drunk sleepwalker. It reads like another forced part of her oh-so-frumpy-but-adorable persona, and it bothers me a LOT on a knee-jerk level. ENUNCIATE. HOW ARE YOU A SCHOOLTEACHER. 

I suppose it's refreshing to have the star of a sitcom be unapologetic for her personality. I just wish that her personality rang true to me. Instead, it serves as a launching pad for the far more interesting personalities of the guys. Nick and Schmidt's interactions were the best parts of these episodes, seeing as Winston hasn't had much time to shine yet.

I'm being this harsh (and writing this much) because I do think that I'll end up liking the show a lot. When it did make me laugh, I cackled. I think that Zooey Deschanel is talented and I want to see Jess become more than a hot-but-inept goofball. 

...Aaaaand I could do without multiple "makeover" scenes. When will we get rid of this fucking idiotic trope. She puts on a sexy dress and suddenly the dudes are AWAKENED to find that GLORY BE, SHE'S BANGABLE. I feel the same exasperation whenever she's contrasted with her HAWT MODEL BEST FRIEND. They're both stunning, and to imply otherwise by artfully rumpling Jess's hair and labeling her the weird one is to insult my intelligence.

(Schmidt sort of makes up for this when, at episode 1's conclusion, he reassures Jess that he would totally do her.)

[beedomeemaw]

missmanta replied to your post: it is my goal in life to force all my friends to...

possibly another TV show swap? :O

YES GOOD.

Except I still haven't finished Star Trek yet! D: I made it about halfway through the first episode before I had to go out and I haven't watched any since theeeeen

I'm so bad at tv swapping

[batcows]

tv swap } fullmetal alchemist x firefly } team mustang as the crew of serenity

Roy: Well, look at this! Appears we arrived just in the nick of time! What does that make us? Riza: Big damn heroes, sir! Roy: Ain't we just.