Television Violence

Would more realistic violence be helpful or more harmful to viewers?  I'm not talking about a realistic beheading or even realistic damage to a body (see Sons of Anarchy for some of that, or even Breaking Bad, which won a ton of awards).  That's a different territory and I'm not meaning those types of shows.  I think  both have incredible acting and compelling storylines but both actually had me switching the channel due to the intensely graphic violence.  There are also realistic war movies made with an entirely different agenda regarding the violence (see Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, Gettysburg, Platoon, etc.).  I'm also not talking about that genre because those are two genres that I believe are marketed to adults and encompass an entirely different purpose/audience.

I'm talking about action movies.franchises that are geared toward a younger audience.  Captain America, Avengers, Terminator, Transformers, Lara Croft, etc. and television shows that are totally escaping my memory right now. What if people were to see that if you are thrown against a wall by a Hulk or android, you likely don't get up without some serious back issues?  Or if you are in a car crash, you would be in shock and probably at the very least have whiplash, so you wouldn't be out running to the next fight.  Bullet wounds don't just leave a mark.  Recovery from surgery is not a fun process and you are not ready to fight a battle the next day.  Being in close proximity to a huge explosion is going to leave you with some aches/pains/cuts.  And my favorite: smashing through windows, glass doors, glass anything, is going to leave you cut very badly and in need of medical attention, but we rarely see even a scratch from any glass characters come in contact with.  Even a badly sprained ankle could prevent you from putting weight on that leg, regardless of the situation.

Obviously, I think we are all aware that adrenaline IS something that can aid a person who is in imminent danger.  But adrenaline does wear off and then you get hit with all the aches and pains and different things that it helped mask in order to save your life.  Would this help the younger generations who have grown up with graphic video game violence where there are killings and explosions and fights with no actual consequences.  I think it is the consensus that too much violence is not a good idea for children.  Even Jason Bourne would need time to recover after pretty much every fight shown in his trilogy.  You don't get slammed into trucks or fall off buildings and get up and get on with your day!  I, for one, would keep my children watching Disney cartoons until they go off to college (okay, I'm exaggerating but there are many things they would not be watching). I wonder, however, if the consequences of small acts of violence were shown if it would help younger people realize that there are consequences to fighting and explosions and guns in schools.  Not video game consequences where you have to restart your shooter game, but consequences like being shot, having surgery, and taking WEEKS until you are ready to even return to moderate activity.  Or the physical therapy that comes after the car crash.  I know violence is a problem in schools and universities across the country and I don't have a solution.  I just have the question.  Would seeing the long term consequences be any type of deterrent to someone who may be wanting to imitate the violence that is so callously depicted in moves, televisions, games, and even games on tablets and phones, constantly all around us.

This may be a question I have, but really, I would love to see way less violence all over.  We have a crazy high crime rate in this country (particularly gun-related crimes) and yet we condone violence on television as long as there is no nudity.  Europe has a lot more nudity and almost no gun violence.  I am not relating the two, I am simply contrasting the differing priorities.  Naked people should be far less scary than an loaded gun... in my opinion.

Pet Peeve #1

I have some television pet peeves.  I think probably everyone does if you stop and think about it long enough and I have had just such time.  So I'm numbering this pet peeve because I am pretty sure I will think of another in due time.

There are a lot of cop shows on tv today.  A LOT.  I even believe that you could find a fair amount of pet peeves contained solely within this genre.  For me though, I have noticed something that I can't seem to un-notice and it is inevitable that it occurs on pretty much every cop show, including The Wire, which is just so much better than others it might be its on genre.

So as police officers (detectives, consultants, whoever) look for their given suspect, someone on the show will recognize the "perp" from a few blocks away and yell, "Hey, Stop!  Police!"  The suspect will then turn and run and the attractive actors on these shows will give chase, getting a chance to show us all their wonderful physique.  Here's my pet peeve: Why do the police never bother getting as close to the suspect as they can BEFORE yelling out and identifying themselves?!?!?!  Why not walk up to that person, let your partner circle around, calmly identify yourself, and if the suspect tries to flee, BAM, he or she runs right into your partner?  I accept that we must suspend rationality for many tv shows.  This just happens way too often on way too many shows.  I mean, come on, we have crime scene technicians chasing suspects down alleys and over fences.  It makes no sense.  Who among us can say that if someone yelled at us from a football field away that they were coming to arrest us, we wouldn't run?  I think I would feel silly, even if I knew I were innocent, just standing in one place and waiting for the law enforcement officers to finally make it over to me to arrest me.  Plus, I don't know that I have enough faith in law enforcement that I would believe they would figure out that I was, in fact, innocent.  So of course people run!  And then in shows there are comments like "Why do they always run?"   Because you announce yourself as coming to get them!

Come on now.  I am ready for a cop show that feels confident enough to give up the "chase scene."  Anyone else?

Grey's Anatomy

*SPOILERS*

For those of us who follow Grey's Anatomy (which I have since the pilot even though I believe it may have peaked, I'm pretty invested).  I watched the season finale where they killed off Lexie within the first 15 minutes and thought that was bold, but then spent the summer rationalizing why the show wouldn't kill anyone else off.  Yeah, I was wrong.  There are certain characters who seemed to make the show bigger just be being around.  I was surprised at the momentum the show kept when George died, I will never understand how Meredith survived being "dead" for basically a day after she drowned and suddenly came back (I know, I know... symbolism).  I find myself pretty uninterested in the new batch of interns, but at the same time, there is something to this show that I connect with emotionally.  Something about it from the beginning has been able to elicit emotions better than almost any show.  I think they also used to use music in a wonderful way but I haven't heard that in the recent seasons.

There is one moment in an episode from Season 2 (Ep. 24, Damage Case) where a tired doctor from another hospital fell asleep at the wheel, killing a pregnant mother and injuring her family.  There were sub-plots and other things going on, but the tired doctor kept asking to see the family of the woman he killed so he could apologize.  When the father of the girl comes in, I think most people were ready for a tirade or physical attack, but what we got, was, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful displays of mercy/forgiveness I've ever seen on tv.  All the actors did it exactly right for me, and Kate Havnevik's "Nowhere Warm" plays throughout the scene that never fails to bring tears to my eyes.  So whether or not I love every episode or every character, there are some moments that take my breath away and allow me access to emotions that most tv shows do not.  I have been feeling fewer moments in the later season and I was hesitant to get my hopes up for them to provide a real, emotional reason for another main (some would say vital) character to exit the show.

Obviously, the big story this season has been the fact that Christina Yang (or, more specifically, Sandra Oh) is leaving at the end of the season.  I know I'm not the only one wondering how they could possibly explain a split between Meredith and her after she returned to the hospital following their plane crash.  Well, I am writing this post because I am not often shocked by tv shows and generally a character's exit is predictable (death, transfer, randomly never shows back up).  I was shocked by the plane crash.  I was shocked that they killed George in sort of a weird way.  I cannot, however, think of a show that has surprised me like this past show, maybe ever.  They brought back the one character whose absence I think left a glaring hole, but who also apparently offended much of the cast.  (Not that I have any idea whatsoever what goes on behind the scenes).  To help with Christina's exit, they did what I thought would never in a million years happen and yet was the only thing that would make any sense....  They brought Burke back.

I have missed his character on the show since he was let go and I don't think they settled things well between Christina and him.  I was, however positive that the one thing that could never happen was that he would show up again on the show.  I have not yelled at the tv (well, computer) often in my life, but when I saw him, I couldn't help it.  It was the exit I assumed Christina would never get.  It was the closure that was about seven years coming.  It was all worth it.  I wish he could have stayed on the show, simply from a character perspective.  But the bold move of not just mentioning his character, but letting us all see their reunion and the way he understands her as a surgeon and knows basically the only things to say to get her to leave... For me, those moments are why I cannot give up on this show.  It was awesome and it was gutsy and it was a bold move and I loved every second of it.  I could think of no other reason for Yang to leave... but Preston Burke knew how to do it.  So, Shonda Rhimes and Grey's Anatomy, as a fan from the beginning... THANK YOU for that amazing moment!!!!!

Merlin (SPOILERS)

(This is a post about the final episode only, for those not wanting to be spoiled.  Although in hindsight, I think I may have been grateful to have been spoiled so I didn't expect a wonderful ending.  Your choice.)


I enjoyed the British tv show Merlin.  It is fantastical and funny and the acting is quite good.  I mean, it has Anthony Head who will always get love from me just for the fact he played Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  In fact, the show deserves its own post where I say nice things about it.  And when I get past the series finale, I will write about the good things... BUT having just watched the final episode, I feel utterly misled.  I don't know if I am missing something about British tv, but I'm trying to figure out exactly what the point of the series was and/or what the writers of this show were thinking.

A little background: Throughout the series,  at the beginning of each episode is a voice-over that says: "In a land of myth, and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name... Merlin."  There are also numerous references to the destinies of Arthur and Merlin and how they are destined to unite all of the U.K. (I think) as the Land of Albion.  This is not just something someone mentioned once, those two things are mentioned in almost every episode.  Everything in the series builds towards Merlin becoming a great wizard and Arthur and Merlin restoring the land of Albion (which I think means something in Arthurian legend but I'm not entirely sure what) together.  Ok, so those viewers who watched the entire series felt like they were witnessing the birth of a legend... BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WAS TOLD TO THEM ALMOST EVERY EPISODE!!!!

So now I watched the final episode.  I assumed there would be an epic battle, Arthur would learn of Merlin's magic, he would accept his friend and they would bring about a wonderful kingdom together.  Yea... that's not what happened.  Instead, Arthur takes an entire episode to accept that his friend uses magic... and then he dies.  Oh, and then we see a lonely Merlin walking along a modern road, apparently waiting for Arthur to rise again?  I'm sorry, but what just happened here??  For five seasons I have been waiting to see Arthur and Merlin creating greatness together and for Arthur to allow magic back in to Camelot...  So that doesn't happen.  I've been waiting to see a few episodes where Arthur learns Merlin's secret and how that plays out to become a great destiny... and we got about twenty minutes.

I don't know if the writers were trying for a hopeful end, thinking that the best is yet to come and Arthur will apparently rise from the dead?  But they just failed miserably.  Instead it is a depressing end where an apparently friendless Merlin wanders around with no purpose.  And I don't care if the best is supposed to come in a future time... then show us that time in the future!  As viewers, we've watched the whole series with the promise of these two men sharing a great destiny and that promise does not come to fruition.  It is not shown on-screen.  I feel like it would be like watching Smallville or Superman if they ended right before Clark Kent actually BECOMES Superman, in which case those would be a show or movie about a boy growing up with cool powers and they should be advertised as such.  Don't let viewers spend the whole time waiting to see the guy fly around in a red cape if your intention is never for him to do so.  It's ridiculous.  It's way more ridiculous than Lost.  It may be akin to the Red John reveal in the Mentalist (which, in my opinion, was horrific and ruined the show up until that point).  Either way, it was depressing and I feel cheated because they promised one thing and then never gave it.  If the show was supposed to be a set-up to the glory days of Camelot, I apparently missed those short days.  I also can't imagine any viewer who watched the show who was not expecting for Arthur to accept Merlin and finally accept magic as part of the world in which the show is set.  It's just ridiculous.

Obviously this is all only my opinion.  Others may feel differently.  I feel like I was the subject of a long con by the producers of this show.  Not cool.

The West Wing

The West Wing had it's natural television run while I was in college for the most part, which means I was oblivious.  I was aware that many people watched the show but not a whole lot more than that.  I also figured that if most of America watched it, it was probably middle-of-the-line politics so as not to offend one side or the other... I was so wrong!

The West Wing came back on my radar when I saw it available on Netflix.  Being sick, I had the time on my hands to give the series a proper watch.  What I saw was nothing short of thought-provoking, inspiring, aspirational television.  I love that the issues were debated and both sides were brought up, even if the show ultimately lands far to the liberal side of issues.  I loved the first entrance of Martin Sheen's mesmerizing President Bartlet.  I loved, when in one episode, they gave me goosebumps by simply declaring "I serve at the pleasure of the president."  I love that the name "Bin Laden" was dropped in a chillingly casual manner in an episode that aired in 1999.  I love recognizing actors who would come to be known on other shows.  And I love that I watched Psych before I watched The West Wing and that only made me appreciate Dule Hill's Charlie Young even more!

For me, the fact that The West Wing introduced characters who had flaws and made mistakes only strengthened the depths of those characters because we got to be aware that they all fundamentally wanted to do the right thing for the right reasons.  I love that the President is almost always the smartest man in the room.  (Without getting too political, I know there are real Presidents about whom the same could not be said).  I loved the honor with which they show him overcoming adversity without sugar-coating those things in his life that were, in fact, adverse.  I love that these characters challenge each other and respect each other and demonstrate their intelligence in each episode.  Sam Seaborn, Josh Lyman, Toby Ziegler, CJ Cregg, Leo McGarry and others are idealists, while being imperfect human beings.  It is how I would love to imagine the White House to truly exist.

This is well-made television, particularly the first 3-4 seasons, although I am glad it ran the course it did.  To transition the Bartlet administration out of office seems like a fitting way to transition its viewing audience away from their habitual watching.  In fact, while I do think the show shifted a bit after Sorkin left, the only thing I could not wrap my head around was the arc for Toby in the final season.  I won't go into it here yet because I'm going to encourage people who have not seen this show to watch it.  Plus, I may feel the need to write about this show in seasons or particular episodes.  I am just not sure.  Of course, it would have been more fitting for John Spencer to end the show with the rest of the cast, but he had certainly already made a mark with his character.  Anyway, agree with it, disagree with it, it doesn't matter.  It matters that it is impossible not to think about it.  And isn't that what all television should aspire to?

The Wire

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I had already seen half of the entire series of The Wire but I recently got on a kick of re-watching and wanting to finish the last two seasons.  I am still convinced it is just outstanding in almost every way.  In a total of 5 seasons, there was only one character who annoyed me (Marlo), and when dealing with feds, police, politicians, kids, druggies, dealers, etc. that is saying a lot.  I am amazed this show did not get major awards in its time.  I am amazed that watching it now feels just as relevant, if not more so, than when it originally aired.  I am amazed that the actor who portrayed Bubbles was an Ivy League grad.  I am amazed that they hit home the hypocrisy to "do more with less" so damn well.  

I loved Season 1.  I thought it introduced great characters who I got attached to, so I was wary when they moved outside of Barksdale's organization, but the scope of the show was great.  The meaning behind the few words in some scenes had me hooked.  If a show can teach a life lesson and an overview of its entire season while one drug dealer explains chess and can also have an entire conversation and exploration of a crime scene using only the word "fuck," it is deep in more ways than one.  This show can be violent.  It can be suddenly and graphically violent.  It is one of the very few shows I can think of though that didn't turn me off because of it.  It's really not gratuitous.  I wouldn't let my kids watch, of course, but it also doesn't glamorize violence in any way.  

I recommend Season 4 to anyone teaching and feeling frustrated... truly.  It just works on every level.  I felt for every kid and teacher, wanted the best for the them and knew there was no way for most of them to achieve it.  And for Bubbles, I was pretty sure things would not work out, but his storyline really worked for me.  The show is frustrating... the good guys do stupid things, they don't always prevail, and sometimes the lesser of two evils is the one that gets put away.  But I thought about every episode.  Maybe I'll write about each season separately... It certainly deserves it.  But while it was fresh in my mind, I am taking the time to remind everyone just how well crafted and well acted this show was.  If you haven't seen it and you're an adult... watch it.  Watch at least 3 episodes.  Then we can discuss, debate, agree, whatever... but I absolutely encourage more people to learn about this exceptional television series.  

And I leave you with characters I loved... good and bad: Bunk, Omar, Bubbles, Duquan, Lester, Daniels, Prez (Seasons 4/5), Sydnor, Avon, Bodie, D'Angelo, Stringer Bell, Gus, Greggs, Bug, Carver, and Carcetti's aide who laughed at all the madness in the final episodes... Thank you to all of those actors for leaving an impression and giving me something to think about.  Thanks to them, I still love seeing them whenever I notice a connection.  I have seen Lance Reddick (Lost, Fringe), Andre Royo (saw him in Fringe), Michael K. Williams, Deirdre Lovejoy (had an awesome and odd few episodes on Bones), Wendell Pierce (FBI psychiatrist in Numbers), Wood Harris (who I loved from Remember the Titans before I saw The Wire and I still bought him as Avon Barksdale), Idris Elba (Pacific Rim, Thor, Luther), Pablo Schreiber (Orange is the New Black), Michael B. Jordan, and I know I've seen others.  They all deserve a standing ovation for The Wire.

Haven (Season 1)

Ok, so oddly enough... even though I can't grasp what exactly I like about Haven, I find it pretty addicting.  I finished Season 1, although it was only 13 episodes, so not crazy long.  The lead actress to me still isn't quite standing out but in the moment, while I'm watching, I like her.  She reminds me too much of other actresses though, like a combination of Maggie Grace, Stana Katic, Anna Paquin, Robin Tunney and Mariska Hargitay.  But not really as good of an actress as any of them.  (Well, Robin Tunney is questionable, in my opinion).

I recognized only two people from the first season.  I'm used to seeing supporting actors and trying to figure out what else I've seen them in but so far I'm not recognizing anyone except for a guy who was killed off in the first episode of Buffy and the female lead from The Dead Zone (and she was only in the first episode).

I like that there are elements of a procedural show here but it is spun in a way I haven't seen before, except perhaps in Fringe.  There are obvious similarities between the two shows and Fringe comes out on top of all the categories except that I would say Haven looks a little prettier.  But seriously:
- Science Fiction?  Check
- Blonde lead female FBI Agent?  Check
- Stoic African-American Superior FBI Agent?  Check
- Characters who are somewhat helpful and yet obviously not telling you everything they know?  Check
- Blonde lead, with two male co-leads?  Check
- Mysterious cases to investigate that somehow she is right in the middle of?  Check
- Weird occurrences, believed only by our small investigating team?  Check
- Sinister undercurrent?  Check
I could keep going...

What I find intriguing as well as what makes me apprehensive is that there is an over-reaching science fiction arc throughout the whole season.  (And being that it wasn't resolved, I'm assuming throughout at least the next season as well).  We are left with questions about the town of Haven, Maine, its quirky townsfolk, the FBI Chief, and the origins of our main character, Audrey.  The questions are interesting enough to keep me watching but close enough to Lost to make me wonder if they will ever be answered properly or if we're supposed to think that loose ends are good?   I want to hope they will provide answers, but with Lost and The Mentalist, I am beginning to wonder whether hoping for answers is just an exercise in futility.  What is the saying...?  The definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing over and over again while expecting a different result?  Are these television shows driving me slowly insane?  Hopefully not.  Until then, I am on to Season 2.