Diary of an up and coming sociopath

So many blog entries to write, so little time to do them. I’ve got a bunch of comics I want to write up, but since I’m pushed for time because of some programming, I’m going to do some TV stuff now, and comics and tenerife stuff tomorrow. Then I have something about food I keep meaning to write. It’s an observation on snackfoods that’s dying to be made. But just because I don’t like leaving huges gaps in writing:

Lost 2×01 - I won’t be spoilery because I know there are loads of people in the UK who are luddites that can’t download TV, but by christ, this was a good episode. I was kind of concerned about the season start because it was going to be hard to top the end of the series, which is really what it should be trying to do. I liked how the episode began with a shot of someone’s eye, echoing the pilot, and the inversion of the flashback format. It’s good when the writers get to the point where they can abuse the structure in such a way as to train you to expect one thing and then deliver something totally different. As one of the larger plot threads is wrapped up, it opens a whole new can of worms that appears to be providing a new dimension to the science/faith theme of the show. The main problem, if any exists, with the episode was that having wrapped up one aspect of the plot in the finale, the writers were left with trying to find a plausible reason that now the audience knows that a situation poses no danger, how do you find an in-character reason to move everyone along from that thread. They do it reasonably well, but it’s still a hurdle that slows things down a bit. I just got the DVDs of season 1, and Nikki watched an old episode earlier today which contained a piece of the puzzle which fits excellently with the one I just watched. It was almost a throwaway line at the time, but something Daniel says now makes a lot of sense if I’m drawing the correct conclusions. And that’s part of the fun of Lost. It’s criminal I have to actually WAIT for another episode.

Joey 2×01-2×02 - Okay, I wasn’t going to bother with this, but then I saw that Kevin Smith was guest starring. Fuck. Couldn’t pass it up, just on the basis of that. Then I discoved it was a sodding 2-parter. I was beginning to think I was being punished for something. Now, to its credit, this was actually pretty funny. Kevin Smith’s appearance is gratuitous and self-congratulatory, but then even his appearances in his OWN films are, so it’s not exactly unexpected. I’d say his appearance is the funniest thing in the episode, but I’m a bit biased. Now, there’s a new character played by Miguel A. Núñez Jr. (what a name..) who is a big contributing factor to the quality of this episode. He’s much funnier than the existing cast, and Michael, the whiny character, gets relegated almost into obscurity as a result of the cast expansion. Thank christ. I believe this new guy is recurring, so hopefully he’ll continue to provide humour - and come on, he was Dee Jay in the street fighter move! That has to be worth something. I’m actually quite interested in seeing if they’ve actually improved the show or whether it was just that they had an entire summer’s worth of jokes to use up. Interested enough that I’ll keep watching, for now. Joey’s last season was truly horrible television, but this two parter pounds any episode from last series into the ground. It’s treading a thin line, but it’s earned a second chance.

The Simpsons 17×01 - This season is going to be a real turning point for the Simpsons. It may well mark the point where there become more shit seasons than good ones, and that by extension will make phrases like “The simpsons is really good at its best, but most episodes are crap” start to have actual credibility. A dark day for television. As with Joey, this is actually not a terrible episode. It’s nowhere near the best, but it’s pushing the mediocre stuff. Unfortunately most of the humour comes from ground that’s really best left to things like Family Guy. Well-timed vomitting can be funny, but the simpsons should be able to do better than that given its pedigree, where Family Guy has built its reputation out of going too far. The basic plot (Marge leaves Homer to find herself) is actually verging on the original, since she leaves rather than kicks him out, and goes to “find herself” rescuing sea cows. Yes, that is as dumb as I’m making it sound. I’m concerned that the only reason I find this to be not unwatchable is that I’ve seen some really terrible stuff come out of the simpsons in recent years. At this point I’m only even bothering because I like being able to say how I’ve seen every episode of the simpsons. Of course, if this season does finally push it over the 50% shite margin, then it’ll actually be embarassing to say that. Hmm.

In summation:

You should be watching Lost.
Joey might be worth another try because of the new guy in it, or if you like Kevin Smith.
The Simpsons, at this point, is for masochists only.

As an aside, if you’re into Calvin and Hobbes, check in this SomethingAwful thread. I am struck by a mixture of blind rage and confusion. What the fuck is going on?! I’m now actually torn over buying the complete collection. Over 2 altered panels. Is this unreasonablel!? I forget the status of unregistered users and the forums, so if you can’t see that and want the full scoop let me know and I’ll be a bit less obscure in my explanation.