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Monday, March 12, 2012

TV / Nerd We Haven't Talked at All About Alcatraz...

Posted by Mary Traverse on Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 10:30 AM

...and I'm not even sure we need to. Is anyone watching it? Well whatever, we're here now, let's discuss:

I recently re-watched the pilot and first few episodes of Lost, and while yes, yes, Lost had its problems and made us all sad with the stupid church at the end, I still feel like it built really well in the beginning. Crazy stuff does go down right from the start, but the show was also about the relationships between the survivors. By the time we got to the crazy time-travel and other insane stuff we were already invested in the characters.

So, look, I like Sam Neil. And I have a deep affection for Jorge Garcia. But I feel like Alcatraz is capitalizing on my nostalgia for them and for Lost instead of earning its own way. It feels like we got thrown into the series partway through... Like JJ Abrams is saying to us, "Remember that part where you were really in love with Lost, before things started going to crap but after you were already invested?! This is just like that!!!"

You know who I don't care about? The lead... Tough-But-Vulnerable Lady Cop. I don't even hate her, she's just boring.

I dunno. What do you guys think?

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I actually think Lost started diving once it started killing off all the hot babes and the dating ratio turned into something approaching Seattle.

Then it got better as it kept killing babes, but replacing them with new ones (like the pilot with the iPhone from the future).

The Church ending...well, what did you expect. The writers were assholes. They didn't hide the fact.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on March 12, 2012 at 10:51 AM

I am liking the new show, it's holding together better than Fringe. Jorge and Sam have A LOT to do with this, and after last night's episode I am really interested in the Warden.

Posted by wisepunk on March 12, 2012 at 10:55 AM

@1, there's a reason why hot young women don't want to date you, Bailo. Several reasons, actually. Can you guess what they are?

My favorite thing about "Alcatraz" is that on the real Alcatraz, people are now sneaking off from the guided prison tour looking for the "secret room", which doesn't exist, and finding instead dangerous parts of the long-abandoned building and protected bird nests instead.

Posted by Fnarf

on March 12, 2012 at 10:55 AM

i enjoyed terra nova more overall but i didn't finish season 1 of either show.

Posted by Swearengen on March 12, 2012 at 11:03 AM

I used to like Terra Nova, but like Swearengen I just kind of put it on the back burner.

Alcatraz ... meh.

Now, HBO has some good series - Game of Thrones is just the start.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on March 12, 2012 at 11:07 AM

This show is fucking THE WORST. A pox on its viewers for enabling it's continued existence.

Posted by fnark on March 12, 2012 at 11:09 AM

I like Alcatraz for, in order of awesomeness: Parminder Nagra, Sam Neil, Leon Rippy and Robert Forester. If they would get rid of Sarah Jones and Jorge Garcia and just concentrate on the horrible medical and psychological testing that prisoners went through, this show would be the shit.

And I do not understand why some of those who came back have colloidal silver in their blood and others do not and I know they will cancel this show before it is explained.

Posted by sisyphusgal on March 12, 2012 at 11:18 AM

I'm the last guy to be about myth building, or to rag on story-of-the-week stuff, which I love, but all the episodes of Alcatraz so far haven't pulled together much anything. It's a complete muddled mess that leaves me with no interest whatsoever in what's behind the central time-travel mystery.

The most compelling parts, I think, are the flashback bits. They at least present characters more fleshed out than "He's the sniper!" or "He's the bomb guy!" or "He's the kidnapper!"

Posted by sjbrot

on March 12, 2012 at 11:19 AM

I'm enjoying Alcatraz for what it is, namely dumb entertainment. It's something they can easily keep going for a while, which is nice. Garcia, Neill, and the dude who plays blonde girl's grandfather are all excellent. Blonde girl is shredded wheat boring. I can't be bothered to remember either her real name or character's name. That's how boring she is.

And I have to disagree with @2: After the humdrum first half dozen episodes of the 1st season, Fringe has consistently entertained me, and I'm still enjoying this season as much as the last few.

Posted by NateMan on March 12, 2012 at 11:19 AM

The flashback stuff to when the prison was open is pretty cool. The present day stuff is booooorrrrrrring. (Even though I like Sam Neill and Jorge Garcia.)

Posted by MLM on March 12, 2012 at 11:23 AM

Alcatraz seems too "villain of the week" for me. Seems to cater to the same level of capable cast vs. weak material akin to Hawaii Five O.

Yeah, Fringe is really going places with their mythology now. Can't wait for it to return.

Posted by Grrr on March 12, 2012 at 11:26 AM

#3

Are you denying what I said?

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on March 12, 2012 at 11:34 AM

@8 has a good point. The lack of connected episodes is part of why I lost interest in Alcatraz. Each is Stand Alone.

@10 also has a good point.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on March 12, 2012 at 11:44 AM

I like it well enough. I am in between awesome and ok. I am watching it because I like it and not because it is a JJ production. I agree that it is getting a bit too "villain of the week." I get it that it is good guys vs. bad guys but can't at least one prisoner be nice enough and not become a psycho killer as soon as they get of the island.

Posted by Simone on March 12, 2012 at 11:51 AM

@9 I agree on the dumb fun, my brain is usually fried after Saturday, and I need that type of entertainment.

Fringe lost me when they started re-writing the time line.

X-Files:Millennium :: Lost:Fringe

Posted by wisepunk on March 12, 2012 at 12:42 PM

@12, yes. The fact that you can't see any hot girls in Seattle is attributable not to the lack of hot girls in Seattle but to the fact that you are old and ugly and openly creepy and live in a hole in Kent. They see you coming, my man.

Posted by Fnarf

on March 12, 2012 at 12:50 PM

#16

Oh, yes, now I see that you are so right...the facts bear you out...the data is in and wait...no. You're wrong.

Cities where women outnumber men: Is Seattle one?

From eyeballing the map, the Seattle area appears to have roughly 30,000 more single men than women.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/201…

Oh, and as far as the "Scenery Kill" in Lost, here's the numbers:

http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Body_cou…

Now, care to spout any more fumes from your blowhole?

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on March 12, 2012 at 1:37 PM

Fringe rules. Alcatraz makes me say things I used to mock Lost viewers for saying. But it'll be canceled before we "learn" anything.

Posted by JonnoN on March 12, 2012 at 1:47 PM

I've been ripping this show apart on my Facebook page...best reflection was something along the line of Lost being all the early Genesis records right up to "Invisible Touch", and Alcatraz being "We Can't Dance".

@17, etc

always good to know that beggars can be choosers!

Posted by LEE. on March 12, 2012 at 2:14 PM

I'd pay to see Jorge Garcia wear Peter Gabriel's flower-head outfit with matching leotard from the old Genesis days.

Posted by Grrr on March 12, 2012 at 3:15 PM

The show is based on a mystery, to keep us watching, but if they tell us how the bad guys got time-traveled here, we'll stop watching. Hoping they do a finale soon and answer all the questions. (I do love Jorge, but he's not looking healthy these days)

Posted by angel in indy on March 13, 2012 at 7:29 AM