OT-Homeland
Last week three beers turned into five, five turned into seven, lack of beers eight and nine forced me into a glass of merlot (just awful) and the unexpected drunkenness lead to me call Comcast to order Showtime to catch the last 2/3 of Event Horizon. In any case, Event Horizon is not nearly as scary as I remember, but oooohhhh boy, Showtime can put together a drama. I have been strictly an HBO guy, and while I still maintain that there is nothing on TV as good as Game of Thrones, Homeland may just have slid past Boardwalk Empire in the must see category. For those of you looking for some good watching material, Homeland is a middle east-war-terrorist-CIA drama without the slightest hint on political agenda. Fantastic cast, including Gideon from criminal minds who is flat out awesome), many twists and turns but none contrived. Only through episode five and I'm sure there is a lot to come, but I'm all in. Give it a look if you have Showtime, or if you are intoxicated enough to order it anytime soon.
January 26th, 2012 at 8:54 AM ^
about Shameless, too. A bunch of people have told me it is a "must-watch."
January 26th, 2012 at 10:07 AM ^
January 26th, 2012 at 8:54 AM ^
My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:02 AM ^
So awesome, Saul = Inigo Montoya
January 26th, 2012 at 8:54 AM ^
I enjoyed the show and put it on my "don't miss" list (along with Dexter, another Showtime series).
January 26th, 2012 at 9:02 AM ^
Justified on FX
January 26th, 2012 at 11:02 AM ^
F/X has some brilliant shows. Add to that American Horror Story, Sons Of Anarchy, and past shows like The Shield and Rescue Me. Even the comedies like Archer, The League, and It's Always Sunny
January 26th, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
Love that show. Wife knows that's the one show that cannot be trumped by any other.
January 26th, 2012 at 8:59 AM ^
Homeland is an awesome show . . . very intense, but it's a quiet intensity most of the time. It's not quite Breaking Bad caliber, but let's be honest, what is?
January 26th, 2012 at 9:51 AM ^
There is nothing that is Breaking Bad caliber. But if Claire Danes doesn't win an Emmy, the Emmys will continue to prove how much they suck.
January 26th, 2012 at 11:53 AM ^
The Wire is the only show that is better than Breaking Bad, however once Breaking Bad is all said and done it may surpass it.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:04 AM ^
I wanted to start watching this as a way to pass the time until the next season of Dexter, but my girlfriend wasn't too thrilled with the pilot episode, so that motion was sidelined. Now I'm just waiting for The Walking Dead to start up again.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:07 AM ^
renew the motion. A motion for reconsideration so to speak. The pilot struggled to get its footing, but it really does find the right gear soon after.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:52 AM ^
It took me until episode 4 or 5 to realize how amazing it is.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:57 AM ^
January 26th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^
Is "Gus Johnson sucking up" news?
Labelled OT.
January 26th, 2012 at 10:02 AM ^
January 26th, 2012 at 1:37 PM ^
The Walking Dead is my favorite show on television right now, it's just superb. Favorite character is definitely Norman Reedus', and I'm hoping Merle somehow makes a comeback in this upcoming second half of the season. He adds a different viewpoint to the show, one that is quite interesting, and his character could certainly lead to some great storylines.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:18 PM ^
I don't really get the whole Dexter thing? The writing is terrible and every other actor than Dexter is terrible and somewhat cliche. I have only watched on near full season and that was the Julia Stiles season, which everyone says was the worst, but I have seen earlier episodes and I just don't think it is that good.
Walking Dead is also awesome. I was really excited how good it has been this season since it ended on such a terrible note last season. The first episode might have been the best television show episode I have ever watched and possibly the scariest thing I have ever watched. It slowly went downhill (finale was bad) but this season has been great.
AMC is just awesome: my friend has me watching the 4th season of Mad Men and it is amazing. So well done. Also, Game of Thrones is great. After AMC, HBO, and Showtime, I don't see how anyone can watch those generic cop shows and CSI shit on network television, except for some NBC comedy shows like Parks and Rec, Community, etc.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:06 AM ^
And you aren't even half way through. The last half of the season is insane. I dont think it's as good as Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones but it's up there.,
January 26th, 2012 at 9:34 AM ^
Yeah, the second half of the season is waaay crazier than the first few episodes. I agree with everyone else: Dexter, and Breaking Bad are the best there is with Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire just behind them, but this show is definitely worth watching.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:11 AM ^
On the topic of Showtime...
I know I'm in the minority here, but I can't get into Dexter. It's probably due to my short attention span, but I need to have some sort of emotional investment in the characters to keep watching a show. I can't seem to care about any of the characters, which diminishes my craving to watch the next episode and the one after that, and so on. Each episode is pretty entertaining in a vacuum, but I haven't been able to buy into the series as a whole.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:17 AM ^
That is why I have not felt compelled to get Showtime before this. Somebody gave me Season 1 to watch on disk, I thought it was weak. I don't know what all the fuss is about with that show.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:22 AM ^
January 26th, 2012 at 9:41 AM ^
I loved the first season of Dexter, thought season 2 was watchable, and was totally turned off by season 3. The plotlines just got too preposterous for me.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:58 AM ^
Ditto. But my cousins convinced me over winter break to watch season 4, which is supposed to be the best season. It was watchable, but anything that didn't have to do directly with Dexter and John Lithgow was horrible. And I tried season 5 and turned it off.
January 26th, 2012 at 10:15 AM ^
January 26th, 2012 at 9:42 AM ^
I could see this, because not many of the characters are particularly likable until you get to know more of the subtle nuances of each. I would suggest giving it a chance up until the end of the 2nd season. If you can't get into it then, you won't at all.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:35 PM ^
I commented above, but I also really don't think Dexter is very good. Besides shoddy writing, I really dislike all the other characters mainly because I think they aren't crafted very well. I don't think it is as much about not understanding the characters' nuances as much as they seem to lack them, and the acting is terrible. I have only seen a few episodes from the first couple seasons, but I substantially watched the season with Julia Stiles and it kind of sucked. Lots of people seem to like it, but it just doesn't seem that great of a show.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:25 AM ^
Breaking Bad is the best show on TV right now, and one of the best ever, hands down.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:38 AM ^
I've heard lots of good things about fastpasstv.ms
Not that I'd ever go there
No sir.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:42 AM ^
and a must watch IMO.
January 26th, 2012 at 10:03 AM ^
Really enjoyed the first season. Second season has not been as good so far, but here's hoping it improves as the season continues. The first season finale was just so great, so it's hard to get back into it.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:56 AM ^
It's pretty good, if you can tolerate Claire Danes making this face (and/or giving a performance that is essentially the equivalent thereof) for lengthy, credulity-straining portions of its' running time:
The show's depictions of certain topics (bipolarity, religion, terrorism, etc.) are at times a tad overwrought, but that's just my opinion. If it were on network TV, it would probably be the best show in primetime. Comparing it to today's cable programming however, with the likes of Justified, Mad Men, Boardwalk, Breaking Bad...I think it's probably middle of the pack. Still better than 95% of the trash on TV these days, though.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:57 PM ^
Just have a hard time buying her as a CIA agent.
January 26th, 2012 at 9:51 AM ^
reminds me a bit of 24. The Walking Dead is silly. Too many people scared of zombies that only just stumble around. What kind of threat is that? Most could dance circles around them without being touched, then just blow their head off. Oh yeah I forgot, the zombies are always quiet as a mouse and always sneak up behind you. And why don't these people go find an island and kill all the zombies on it so they don't have to live in fear their whole lives?
January 26th, 2012 at 1:40 PM ^
If a zombie apocopalypse occurred, this is what I would do. The biggest issue would be getting supplies from the mainland, because of course you'll run out at some point.
On a side note, can anyone think of a better end of world scenario than zombies? I mean, if I'm going out, might as well be with a bang! At least I could have some fun and take some of the bastards with me, right?
January 26th, 2012 at 2:25 PM ^
The walking dead are Zombiesickles most of the year. Below freezing is your friend.
January 26th, 2012 at 2:46 PM ^
This was always my greatest criticism of zombie movies (beyond all other logical criticisms). Even zombies can't deal with cold. I would live near some cold areas with a potential location farther North. The big issue with cold though would be food; one can't farm so how does one get food as it spoils in the markets and such. Obviously hunting and fishing, but for people who have little to no experience there it would be difficult. Food is a big problem, especially since it can be dangerous to settle down in certain areas. Then throw in sleeping when you know that there are hordes of zombies who don't sleep looking to eat you. Scary and difficult shit to deal with.
On Walking Dead in general, obviously there are some issues that get overlooked (how there aren't guns everywhere if the military was so heavily involved), but where I love it is how it deals with some of the practical issues of dealing with zombies. A big one is that most people don't know how to shoot a gun. Ya zombies are slow but when you have nearly 7 billion walking around and you don't know how to shoot then you have to use other weapons. For example, a bat or axe is only so effective if you are being stumbled on by a hundred zombies. The other issue is the killing of people, particularly people you know, which is focused on more in this season. If one thinks that there could be a cure, could you really shoot your son, wife, brother, or friend if you still have hope that things might get better in the end? It gets tough. Plus, watch the first episode; I think it might have been the best thing I have ever seen on television (for a singular episode).
January 26th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
I love the fact that such situations as you mentioned are tackled in the show. As much as I can sit here and say, " yeah, I could kill any zombie anytime"... I mean, could I really? It would be tough. Despite the fact that the end of this half-season was completely obvious, Rick doing what he did (trying to avoid spoilers) was still heartbreaking. I find myself becoming emotionally attached to the characters, so I was still holding out hope for Sophia. Can't wait for the second half of the season to start.
January 26th, 2012 at 5:35 PM ^
Ya, you throw the emotional aspects of killing a zombie in with the physical difficutly of accomplishing such a goal and survival becomes very difficult. Zombies don't hesitate, feel pain or remorse, lack all sentimental connections to mankind, and don't care about injuries or death. Versus a uninfected human who has so many concerns, such as connections to family who you have to protect, which zombies lack. Also, just getting bit or scratched infects you, but you can cut a zombie in half and it can still be coming at you (to a certain extent). This was an issue in 28 Days later (great movie) where a guy gets bit after they kill a bunch of zombies and he has to be killed immediately before turning. Killing zombies are never as easy as it seems; that is why as the t-shirt suggests, trip someone so you can get away, although that would be really mean....
January 26th, 2012 at 3:56 PM ^
But it's just general genre things that would be a problem. How would people survive in the cold? The same way people survived the last million years in the north, without Central heating, or spring farms. Like people in Alaska and northern Canada do now.
Are most modern Americans not that capable doing those things? You bet. They'd die out. But really, how many of us are really ready to truly mass farm for people? Me growing some sickly tomatoes and peppers in my backyard doesn't really feed the surviving population of humanity.
But people would have to get back to being good at those things, because the biggest problem in the whole "Zombieland" mentality is how fast things would go bad if there weren't people, and power, running it. Watch any of those History Channel Life After People type things, and it doesn't take long for nature to take over. Food would all perish without refrigeration, and no one stocking shelves. I don't know who's out there mass producing bullets anymore. Once the bullets run out, how many unraided gun shops are there still out there? Better get good at making and using bows and arrows again.
In the early stages, farming sounds good, but as zombie food sources run out (us) those places are going to be the new grocery stores. Only the undead aren't paying.
Like the show, because the Zombies are really just plot devices. The stories are about the people. They're the Walking Dead. It's as well done as the genre has had. But I do worry that behind the scene politics ($$$) might mess that up. For all the love for AMC, them cutting budget and people to feed the lower rated (or in some cases, acclaimed) Mad Men might be biting off the hand that feeds them. (And yes, I intended the pun).
January 26th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^
Every September I renew Showtime for Dexter but with this past season of Dexter being a complete disaster I only kept the subscription for Homeland. Great cast, great 24-ish story without the ridiculous plot twists and the right mix of dramatic tension and action.
Dexter on the other hand? What a shipwreck that show has become.
January 26th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
Have been a huge fan of Dexter from the beginning, and with the addition of Homeland --Showtime definitely has the strongest one-two punch on television.
I'll admit, however, that I was a tad underwhelmed by this season's Dexter -- particularly the ending. The whole incest thing was just plain creepy, and I was extremely disappointed when they killed off the two most interesting characters (Professor Gellar and Brother Sam) before the ending. Much as I like Tom Hanks son, he wasn't strong enough to bring this season home safely by himself. Personally, I thought Season Four (w/ John Lithgow) was the strongest of them all. But It's a great show from beginning to end.
Homeland is just beginning, but for its first season -- an absolutely riveting drama. My only negative is that Claire Daines tends to over-act. She's lucky she has Inigo Montoya as her wingman in most scenes.
January 26th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^
AMC shows like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, The Killing, and even the new show Hell On Wheels is a way better lineup. People can say what they will about The Walking Dead, but the character development is what really draws me to it, and for anyone who has not seen The Killing, I highly recommend catching up on it before season 2 kicks off soon.
January 26th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
Can't argue with Breaking Bad. Great freaking show. I'll have to suspend judgement on the rest til I get a viewing or two.
January 26th, 2012 at 3:34 PM ^
Don't forget Mad Men is also a part of that lineup once Season 5 starts this spring. I don't know who has a better lineup, the Detroit Tigers or AMC.
January 26th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
Glad I just finished the latest Dexter season. Spoiler alert much?
January 26th, 2012 at 10:10 AM ^
Kill your television.
January 26th, 2012 at 10:24 AM ^
After the Ohio game, I found myself with plenty of free time, and in 3 days I watched the entire season. If you have Cinemax, you might like Strike Back as well.