Television opinions

[winter]

In brief:

Game of Thrones - I didn't read the books, and I think that might be why I'm so repelled; I don't know who those people are, and instead of making me care (with the exception of small humanising moments for Clan Stark), HBO's going through the predictable checklist of "let's shock people!!!" that made me stop watching True Blood, combined with stock political fantasy material. Unless the second episode presents a dramatic departure, that'll be it for me.

The Borgias - This, on the other hand, I like lots. My kind of murderous priests, and the storytelling is aces ♥ Doesn't hurt that Jeremy Irons is having the time of his life, and Cesare-guy is adorable when he goes all threatening. (And the women - Giulia Farnese in particular, possibly the first time in American television I've seen the other woman done as a sympathetic character.)

Castle - Still watching, still enjoying :) This and Mentalist remain my mostly-mindless entertainment shows. (And White Collar, when it's on.)

Doctor Who - WHY ISN'T IT EASTER YET?

Comments

[cairea.livejournal.com]

I kind of feel like when people are recommending the series, they focus entirely on the complex political plot and how 'real' and 'gritty' the world feels without telling you that 'real' and 'gritty' means a lot of violence towards women (which, to be fair, is how a world like the one GRRM's set up would work, but augh I was sure surprised since no one said anything) and a lot of people who are not particularly sympathetic.

For complicated scheme-y plots and selfish main characters I vastly prefer Scott Lynch's books. Apparently there's a movie of The Lies of Locke Lamora in the works and I can't wait because I just want to see the city he created.

[winter]

...and since Scott Lynch was too in-your-face "look how edgy and not nice my characters are!" for me, that means I probably shouldn't read GRRM.

[cairea.livejournal.com]

Well, I will say that I think there are probably more just downright evil and otherwise not-nice people in Scott Lynch's stuff. GRRM's characters often seemed to be doing what they thought was best. I don't quite know what I think the difference is, actually, except that I actually liked the main characters in one and didn't in the other.

[winter]

...and I just got spoiled for GRRM's animal harm. Passing on that, I think.