BLOG RELOCATION.

I'm discontinuing this blog and moving it to the following website.

https://netflixingthroughlife.wordpress.com/

Halt and Catch Fire. Season One.

Rating: 9.5/10

Creator: Christopher Cantwell & Christopher C. Rogers

Main Cast: Lee Pace, Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy & Kerry Bische.

This show is oft hailed as the "Next Mad Men." Not having seen Mad Men, that statement meant absolutely nothing to me. Pretty soon it became quite clear that it is a pretty high for of praise. So naturally I binge-watched it in two days. And my, what glorious two days they were.

Set in the 80's, during the personal computing boom, this a show initially centered around Joe MacMillan, a visionary who wants to create something extraordinary. He has no skills directly related to the field; he is not a hardware or software engineer. What he has is the ability to talk his way into or out of anything and everything. Essentially a man with a silver tongue. He is a compulsive liar who has no qualms about manipulating people and will not hesitate to do anything, and anyone, to get what he wants. And what he wants is to create a computer that will revolutionize the field of PCs as a whole.

https://media3.giphy.com/media/118f1wPYULWPYc/200_s.gif

To do this he enlists (by enlists I mean manipulates them into) the help of Gordon Clark, an once promising engineer now living a droll and meaningless life, and Cameron Howe, a prodigy and bit of a loose cannon.

http://jeffreysomers.com/blather/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/halt-and-catch-fire-season-1-2014-poster-2.jpg

I cannot stop praising this show. It pulls you in from the get go. The moment you start watching, you are drawn into it. Not only do you get invested in the characters, but also their aspirations.

If you are a computer-person, you will love this! This show has a way of incorporating real events from this era into it, such as the iconic 1984 Macintosh commercial amongst others.

The premise may sound a bit dull if you think computers aren't your thing, but trust me it is anything but boring. This show has a way of making everything interesting. And there are plenty of things going on to keep you enthralled.

The plot is mesmerizing. There is never a dull moment. The paths of the main characters are littered with hurdles. Just as they overcome one, they are met with two more. Not only that, but there are surprises at nearly every corner.

If you enjoy retro shows, you will love this. From the costumes to the sets to the color palettes, it is a delight to watch.

The female characters on this show are so badass. Set in an era, and field, in which men are more prominent, it is amazing to see women who are equally (and in some cases, more) important and competent. And it is very realistic in their portrayal. They are not put into neat little stereotypical boxes. They are shown as humans, with their faults and strength and many, many layers. There is Donna, Gordon's wife, who at first glance seems to be the typical 80's wife and mother. But as you get to know her, you see the fire inside her, her talent and ambition. Cameron, on the other hand, flat out defies the norm as each and every turn. But as you get to know her more, you see that she is more than just a stereotypical rebel.

But the character that undoubtedly stands out the most is Joe MacMillan. Lee Pace does a spectacular job capturing the essence and nuances of this determined, complex, ambitious, and, ultimately, self-destructive man. Joe is a character of endless layers, of which you don't know how much is true and how much is a product of his manipulations. It is a delight watching him manipulate each and every situation and character. After all, there are few things better than a morally ambiguous protagonist.

Lee Pace deserves awards for this as much as Leo DiCaprio deserves an Oscar.

If I could recommend only one show that I watched this year out of all the ones I have watched, it would definitely be this one.

But let's be honest, nothing I can say will describe this show better than a gif from the show itself.

This show is:

http://media.giphy.com/media/mAKejxDGKi6HK/giphy.gif

Don't believe me? Give it a shot yourself.


P.S. Today on "Where Have I Seen That Person Before" : Scott Michael Foster, Cappie from Greek and (more recently) Kristoff from Once Upon a Time, plays Hunt Whitmarsh.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season One.

Rating: 8/10

Creator/Director: Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen

Main Cast: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, and Elizabeth Henstridge.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Agents_of_SHIELD_season_1_poster.jpeg

I love Marvel. Unconditionally. Given a choice between Marvel and DC, I'll pick Marvel. Always and Forever.

So when I first heard of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, I was beyond ecstatic. I watched the premiere, marveled [see what I did there?] about it, and immediately proceed to recommend it to everyone. But then somewhere between episodes three and four, I lost interest. This happened nearly two years ago, so I don't recall why.

But a couple of days ago, in an attempt to fill the Poldark shaped hole in my tv loving heart, I decided to give it another shot.

And now I am writing this review having spent half of yesterday binge-watching the second half (13 episodes) of season one. Yeah, I have no life.

*I apologize for the crappy summary of this show. It is incredibly difficult summarize without spoiling majority of the show or, at the very least, the marvel films (in case some poor soul living under a rock has yet to see them). And if I am being perfectly honest, the title of the show is pretty self explanatory.*

This show follows Agent Coulson and his group of S.H.I.E.L.D agents as they deal with superhuman threats all while trying to uncover how Agent Coulson survived the events of Avengers. His group of agents include: Agent May (the resident stoic badass), Agent Ward (the good-looking one), Skye (the wild card hacker with a mysterious past and questionable origins), and Fitz-Simmons (the two adorkable scientist besties who are so inseparable that they are referred to as one entity).

A picture for your convenience:

One of my favorite aspects of this show is how it incorporates other aspects of Marvel's Cinematic Universe. And not just name dropping, which gets a little annoying to be honest, or having cameos such as Lady Sif and Maria Hill, but actually existing in the same timeline as the films. For example, the repercussions of the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier are seen at a much closer level in the second half of season one.

There are also many awesome references and nods:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4b/29/56/4b29560d0c496addf11e56a13fe0432a.jpg

There are an abundance of plots in this show to keep you entertained. Each episode has its own plot and there is also two overarching plotlines of which one is (mostly) resolved by the end of the season. So definitely not lacking on that front.

From the technology and the special effects used, it is easy to see that this is a big budget venture and that makes the fact that this is an extension of the MCU extremely believable and watching it feels a lot like watching a movie.

The dialogue is very Whedon-y :)

http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2013-11/enhanced/webdr05/22/12/anigif_enhanced-buzz-29312-1385140046-15.gif

And Agent Coulson is as awesome and sassy as always:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/cb/09/d8/cb09d8df3e8c0032cbb5deb6f7c4b0ec.gif

And no one kicks ass like Agent May:

https://33.media.tumblr.com/279a9b411c4a29eabf45dfe7c95cd6ab/tumblr_nq09mf8f5A1thj0xmo1_500.gif

And, to legitimize it I suppose, there is a hilarious cameo by Stan Lee (it is funnier in context):

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/77/d2/d9/77d2d9769a6c5b4865e016e053940945.jpg

But what is undoubtedly my absolute favorite part of this show is the relationship of Fitz-Simmons. They are, in my very biased opinion, two of the most adorable characters on tv. Not only do they have adorable accents (Simmons is British and Fitz is Irish), every time they are onscreen together, they are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

They are such good friends that they are basically the same person. And that friendship is captured so well, that not only is it a delight to watch but it also makes you miss your own best friend.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/39/5a/5d/395a5df8d45387627f1514f69fca5c6a.gif

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/91/d9/4d/91d94d1f0e26fbce71b58e6eb3e1d614.jpg

They are also so adorably nerdy! They are like the non-superhero version of the Science Bros (Science Besties if you will). And in a show full of traditional Bond-esque agents, having two non-violent nerds who are equally important is awesome.

This show ended up being much better than I expected. I had thought that I would once again lose interest in it. But I didn't. The characters just grow on you and you become invested in them. The next thing you know you are knee deep in the middle of season two.

Though honestly I should have foreseen this. I mean, the team is lead by a man who glistens.

https://38.media.tumblr.com/b952c7f849e7b1bc68aed2999ff939bc/tumblr_mw7zusjioI1slzrqyo1_500.gif

Off to continue watching season two. Happy Netflixing!

Poldark. Season One.

Rating: 9.6/10

Creator/Director: Debbie Horsfield

Based on Novels by Winston Graham

Main Cast: Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ruby Bentall, Jack Farthing, Heida Reed & Kyle Soller.

*Not on Netflix :(

Have you ever watched a show so good, that everything else afterwards just seemed mediocre? And after you have seen all of it, you don't know what to do because it seems that nothing will ever match up to it?

This is that show.

Oddly enough, somehow I missed out on the hype surrounding this show when it was actually airing. But the last two week, I was basically bombarded with it. Thus I decided to give it a shot.

I adore period pieces and I love BBC, so I went into this knowing that the odds of me liking this show were pretty high. Little did I know the extent to which I'd enjoy it.

    This is a story of man named Ross Poldark, who is just back from fighting in the American Revolutionary War, having been gone for three years. He comes home to find that he has been assumed dead, his father has actually died, his estate and mines are in ruins, and the girl he loved is engaged to his first cousin, and olympic gold medalist in stupidity*, Francis Poldark**. Basically his life is falling apart.
    He then rallies in the face of horrible odds in an attempt to pull his life back together.
    There are obstacles at every turn. Whether it is the Warleggans, a family of bankers out to basically bankrupt everyone while accumulating wealth themselves, his feelings towards his soon to be sister-in-law, the injustices that are forced upon the lower classes, or his struggles against the morally questionable norms of society.

*This may or may not be a proven fact.
**The man is a literal representation of the word "meh." As quoted on a buzzfeed article, he is "a proper wet fish."

It's like a mixture of North & South, Pride & Prejudice, and a little bit of My Fair Lady. And the end result is astounding.

It is gripping! There is drama! Humor! And an unexpected, yet adorable, romance.

And I would have to admit that I have never before been this interested in responsible mine ownership.

Majority of the main characters are part of higher society, thus they are supposed to act classy and elegant at all times. And this leads so some of the most sarcastic and witty conversations on tv. Nearly every sentence uttered is a jibe at someone thinly veiled as a compliment or a passing comment. Evidently no one throws shade like the gentry during the 1780s. It is awe-inspiring.

The scenery and landscape are simply breathtaking.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03280/poldark2_3280375b.jpg

http://images.spoilertv.com/cache/archived-old-shows/Poldark/Episode%20Promotional%20Photos/Episode%201.08/8355919-high-_FULL.jpg

The plot is magnificent and you never lose interest. Not even when they discuss mine ownership and the financial aspects of it. Yeah, it's just that good.

The characters are so well written that you become attached to them almost immediately. The characters you dislike, you loathe with the utmost passion. The ones you like, you love unconditionally despite the reckless, and sometimes self-destructive, decisions they make.

This show has basically everything that you can want from a period piece. There are gunfights and riots, balls and ballgowns, humor and tears, power struggles, adversity, class difference, drama that keeps you at the edge of your seat fearing for the well being of your favorite character, and some magnificent hair.

No, seriously. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the hair. It is basically a character in it's own right.

http://whatsarahread.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/113/2015/08/poldark-part1-11-45.gif

Not only does season one end on a cliffhanger, the cliffhanger takes place while two main characters are overlooking a cliff. *laughs and simultaneously sobs*

So whether you're in it for the captivating drama, the intriguing plot, the flawless dialogue and zingers, the picturesque scenery, the gorgeous costumes or the attractive actors and actresses, there is something in this show for everyone.

And with season two slated to air in 2016, this is a masterpiece I'd definitely recommend watching.

***And if anyone else is wondering why Jud, Ross Poldark's servant, looks familiar, it's because he was the cabbie from the first episode of Sherlock :)

Not Another Happy Ending.

Rating: 2.5/10

Creator/Director: John McKay

Main Cast: Karen Gillan, Stanley Weber, and Iain De Caestecker.

When I saw the trailer of this movie (I often randomly watch trailers on Youtube), I immediately thought that I'd love it. I love watching mindless/predictable rom-coms. There is just something comforting in knowing how things will end *glares at season 5 of GoT*. I absolutely adore Karen Gillian. And Agent Fitz from Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D is in it. So what could go wrong, right?

Hah, I was wrong.

The premise of the movie is that Jane Lockhart is a author who can only write well when she's miserable. Thus her publisher, Tom Duvall, of a struggling publishing company, makes it his life's goal to make her miserable. But then he falls in love with her. Which obviously conflicts with the whole lets-make-her-miserable scheme. 

Theoretically, this has the perfect makings of a mindless rom-com. Attractive actors, check. Two unlikely people fall in love, check. A problems that stands in the way of them being together, check. A resolution that allows them to be together, check. 

Yet somewhere along the way it goes wrong. What should have been a charming movie that you watched, enjoyed, and promptly forgot about becomes tedious, lengthy, and, frankly, a tad bit boring.

No matter how much I wanted to, I just could not bring myself to care about the characters or the storyline. 

I loved hearing the accents and few of the shenanigans that ensued were funny, but overall this is not a movie that you'd watch a second time. If you manage to sit through it once that is.

Being Human (UK). Season One.

Rating: 8/10

Creator/Director: Toby Whithouse

Main Cast: Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey, and Lenora Crichlow.


A few years ago, a friend of mine recommend the American version of this show to me. By recommended, I mean she told me to watch it at least four times a day until I gave in and finally watched it. I absolutely hated it, thus I went into this with trepidation.

Much like Broadchurch, and unlike the Office, the UK version proved to be far superior.

Being Human is about three roommates, who happen to be supernatural beings (a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost), trying to blend in, live normal ordinary lives, and, essentially, be human.

That's pretty much what it boils down to. There is conflicts of course. The temptation of blood to a vampire who is attempting to be sober. A werewolf trying to find a balance between his two lives. A ghost trying to figure out how to move on. All in the midst of an underlying power struggle that I will not delve upon for the sake of not spoiling things.

People turn their nose up at everything that involves vampires and werewolves ever since Twilight gained popularity. But I would say that this show is worth giving a try.

The premise is interesting as are the plot lines, but what makes this show truly worth watching are it's characters and their chemistries.

*Keep in mind that I have only seen season one at this point and cannot speak for what happens later.*

The interactions of these characters are so great that I would be content with just watching them being roommates, without any plots or storylines. The sarcasm! The banter! The dialogue in general! It is one of those shows, like How I Met Your Mother or Friends, that immediately makes you think that if you knew these people in real life, you would be best friends.

I tried to find examples, but this show, unlike say Supernatural, isn't popular enough to have gifs of everything :(

http://heartbeinghuman.tumblr.com/post/13724777247

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e9/3d/82/e93d826762abba171d976b47c7dcd535.jpg

http://heartbeinghuman.tumblr.com/post/12166369756

http://heartbeinghuman.tumblr.com/post/13833485217

One of the best things about this show is how platonic their relationships are. In most shows that I have seen, at this point there would be a romance between at least two of the roommates. Having them just be friends is a refreshing change of pace.

https://38.media.tumblr.com/18def443cb8386af8bcee8b2109d31b1/tumblr_naggpd3pYz1t4u6xno1_500.gif

But my absolute favorite part of the show would have to be Mitchell (the vampire) and George (the werewolf)'s bromance. It is arguably one of the best bromances on TV. (Notice I said ONE of the best, not THE best).

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6d/67/09/6d6709c3913136c60a111cbdb09551e6.jpg

Every time they interact it puts a smile on your face :)

Also if seeing Aidan Turner smile, doesn't also make you smile then you're lying. That smile is right up there next to the plague in terms of contagiousness.

This show is no Sherlock (the best show ever made in my opinion), nor does it pretend to be. What it is, is a pretty great show.

It has captivating storylines, some plot twists that are great, some that are rather cliche, witty dialogue, a great set of characters, and wonderful villains. Also did I mention that season one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger?

Yeah, so I'm going to binge watch season two now. Bye and Happy Netflixing!

Also did anyone else recognize Russell Tovey? He was in the Hound of Baskerville episode of Sherlock and is Alonso of the "Allons-y Alonso" from Doctor Who. Isn't it great when fandoms collide? :)

Pushing Daisies. Season One.

Rating: 9.8/10

Creator/Director: Bryan Fuller

Main Cast: Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Kristin Chenoweth, Chi McBride, and a variety of guest stars that you will definitely recognize.

*This is no longer on Netflix :( *

If you asked me to recall how I happened upon this show, I wouldn't be able to tell you. Perhaps it was from the vague recollections I had of watching the previews on abc while I was flipping through channels when I was 11-ish or from the gifs I have seen on Tumblr and Buzzfeed throughout the past couple of years.

Or perhaps this gif in particular, which in my, heavily biased, opinion is one of the adorable-st things to happen on tv:

ABC / Via wolfsuit.tumblr.com

Regardless of the origins, a few weeks ago I found myself suddenly hell bent upon watching this. Thus I did.

   This is a show about Ned the Piemaker, who in addition to baking what looks to be delectable pies, also has a special skill set. He can bring dead people back to life with a touch. Not in a creepy-zombie sort of way, but in a just-not-dead-anymore sort of way. But this comes with a caveat. If he keeps a previously dead person alive for more than 1 minute, another person/being in random proximity will die. Also, if he touches this previously dead person again, they will die permanently and he will not be able to bring them back (hence I said "permanently.")
   Thus he using his gift to solve murder cases with private investigator, and the unofficial king of sass, Emerson Cod.
   All is well, until he comes across the dead body of this childhood sweetheart Chuck. Whom he decides to keep alive. 

I won't go into much more detail because I'm trying to keep this as spoiler free as possible.

**This is one of my all time favorite tv shows of all time, so fair warning this is very biased.**

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful shows I have ever seen. It was created by Bryan Fuller, who in my opinion is the Wes Anderson of tv. Everything is so colorful and vivid! The sets and costumes so gorgeous and quirky. I would give up cheesecake (my absolute favorite dessert of all time) for life to be able to see the world through Bryan Fuller's eyes for a day. That man is a certified genius.

I mean just LOOK at the color schemes!

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ll5vxnKIGf1qdhvcuo1_500.png

If that doesn't convince you, look at the pies:

https://tvatemywardrobe.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/pushing-daisies-pie.png

If I am being honest, I would admit that the two pies I made last week were inspired by this show.

The storylines are memorable, each with its own set of whimsical crimes. The dialogues are witty and  delightful; things that make you say "aww" or perhaps applies to you in some levels or just makes you want to frame it and put it on your wall.

https://38.media.tumblr.com/789e35c4cd87e227fa13faaf6096e643/tumblr_mp135odGwo1r0rgyso1_500.gif

Mixed in with quotable gems like these:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmom6AJTbxYAcBB3zU_ZjoRFuydJwtSTTZfeWnt1pjfwbR_UKQM0LDDkb705pPPSxFTRJ8woUBxDEaEDST8DO8zzdWypWOm0PboUjsSaLLnqFj8wExal32n9G1TnnJs5O6BUGN5KrXmjI/s1600/tumblr_mj548cG16q1qb0s4do1_500.gif

http://i.imgur.com/8rigmYp.gif

Also, Lee Pace is the ORIGINAL Cinnamon Roll. I mean just look at this face.

http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me7jvucech1qa365w.gif

This could've easily been a very sad/depressing show. It is essentially about a guy who can never touch the love of his life without losing her permanently.

But it's not sad at all.

It is quirky. It is fun. It makes you laugh. It makes you gasp. Sometimes it makes you tear up. But at the end of each episode, it leaves you with a smile on your face, humming the theme song, and dreaming of a bright and colorful world with Ned the Piemaker and a Girl named Chuck.