Favorite TV Series: What's Renewed, What's Canceled

R.I.P.

It's that time of year. The networks have announced the shows they have renewed and the shows they have canceled. This means I am happy and a little bit sad today.

Reasons I am happy (favorite shows that have been renewed for the 2016-2017 season):

• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Arrow
• The Flash
• Legends of Tomorrow
• Supergirl (It's been both canceled and renewed. The series is moving from CBS to the CW, where it will join its other DC shows)
• Grimm
• Jane the Virgin
• So You Think You Can Dance
• Sleepy Hollow

Reasons I'm sad: (favorite shows that have been canceled):

• Castle
• Nashville

It's surprising to me that over half of my favorite shows that have been renewed are based on comic book characters. I'm not surprised they have been renewed, just surprised that they've become some of my favorite currently running TV series. I've never read superhero comic books, and I never considered myself a real fan of the superhero movies that came out when I was young, such as the Superman with Christopher Reeve, or the Batman movies with Michael Keaton, George Clooney and Val Kilmer. It wasn't until The Avengers was released that I found myself really enjoying a superhero movie. It could be that it was written and directed by Joss Whedon, the creator of my much-loved Buffy-verse and Firefly. Or, maybe it was Tom Hiddleston. Yea, it could have been Tom Hiddleston. Anyway. So, when I see that five of my favorite TV series are based on comic books, there's no one more surprised than I. I know that it's because of the characters on the show. Sure, I want interesting plots, but unless a show has characters that I care about, then it doesn't matter how good or exciting the plots, I won't want to tune in every week.

Arrow was the first of these current comic book-based series to catch my interest. I watched its first spin-off, The Flash, because they introduced Barry Allen in a few episodes of Arrow. I really liked his character, and how he was played by Grant Gustin. Because I liked these series so much, I was excited when they announced that Supergirl would be getting her own series, and it quickly became one of my favorite new shows of the season. The second spin-off of Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, started out a bit weak, with a couple of characters that I totally cannot abide (and wish they would just abandon them somewhere to live out their destined lives together away from our other "legends of tomorrow), and I fast forwarded through many an episode this season. However, as the end of the season comes closer, the episodes have become more exciting and compelling, and I haven't fast forwarded through an episode in while.

I originally started watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. because it was a new series created by Joss Whedon (along with his brother, Jed). It has gone through rocky times, but I have enjoyed this season, and I find myself anxiously anticipating how this season will end, and what character (if any) won't make it to the next season. I think episode 5, "4,755," is one of the best episodes of any TV series, and the consequences of that episode led to the emerging of a formidable "Big Bad." One of the problems I have with the series, is that it's supposedly part of that big Marvel universe that wants to be connected with all of the Marvel movies, so the Avengers exist in this world, we just never see them in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Hive is the kind of foe that, if this really is supposed to be one big (Marvel) universe, you would think that Coulsen would have wanted to call in the Avengers to help him defeat him. However, since this is television, and the Avengers are only in film, those characters will never (I am guess never) be on this television show, therefore, they can't call them in, and it ruins the continuity they've tried to create in this universe.

It's hard to believe that Grimm is coming to the end of its fifth season. I remember five years ago when I was looking forward to a new TV season that had two series based on fairy-tales. Who knew then how very different these two series would be? Unlike Once Upon a Time (which I'm not going to talk much about in this post, except to say how disappointing it has been since its first season), Grimm has remained very strong in the five years it's been on the air. It has stayed close to its original premise, and it has been exciting, original, and well-written. It has given us some great characters (Nick, Monroe, Trubel, Renard, Wu),  a few surprises (good-bye Juliette, hello Eve), lots of interesting Wesen, and a relationship I really want to hate, but kind of like (Nick and Adalind). I really like episodic TV that has an arc that continues throughout a season, and Grimm does this so well. I look forward to seeing how this season turns out and seeing what next season brings.

It's hard to explain Jane the Virgin to people who don't watch it. It's a comedy, it's a drama, it's a mystery. it's a crime show, it's a soap opera (or should we say Telenovela?). It's nothing like anything else on television. It has a narrator who is not one of the characters in the show, and who has some of the best one-liners on television. It has romance, murder, kidnapping, an evil twin or two (or three), and a Telenovela superstar who has the other best one-liners in television.  It has dream sequences, daydream sequences, and flashbacks, and a TV show within a TV show. It has rich, beautiful people running an expensive hotel, and not-so-rich, average people just trying to make ends meet. It even has a child that isn't ignored by the writers or forgotten about entirely. In fact it deals head-on with single motherhood, postpartum depression, and a mother who would like to stay home with her child, but can't. And it all centers around Jane, an aspiring writer, college student, and mother of a one-year old. This show rarely makes a misstep, unlike so many other series that I watch on a regular basis. The writing is so clever, as is the format of the show. There is so much "meta" in this show that I wish I could think of a clever word to describe it that includes "meta" in it. Metatacular? Metacredible? Metasational? Metatastic? Metarrific? Metanificent?  Sorry, I could do this all day. But I won't. Suffice it to say, I'm so glad that it has been renewed for a third season.

I am very happy about So You Think You Can Dance being renewed. I have loved this show since season 1, and I look forward to many outstanding dancers and routines. I really hope they have good choreographers this year. The routines of the last few seasons haven't seemed to live up to the excellence of some of the early season routines. There have been some gems sprinkled here and there, but I'm hoping for some memorable routines, because we never know how many more seasons this show will last. This could its last.

I'm really happy that the CW decided to give Supergirl a new home after CBS decided to cancel it. I really like this show. Not just because its main character is a woman, but because Kara is a superhero who isn't full of angst. She's an orphan whose whole planet was destroyed, but she isn't fighting against something - she's fighting for everyone she can.

Sleepy Hollow's final episode of this season was hard to watch. Not only did Ichabod have to say good-bye to his partner, but we had to say good-bye to one of the best things about the show: Abbie. Who knows where it's going to go from here, but I hope it can not only survive, but thrive without her. I feel like the show was finally getting its footing back after a really rocky season 2, and then this happened. Oh, Nicole, I will miss you. If they only could have given Abbie the stories she deserved. I loved the chemistry Tom and Nicole had together. This could be such an awesome show, a combination of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, National Treasure, and Grimm, however, much like Once Upon a Time, they just haven't been able to recapture the magic of that first season.

Three other series that I've been watching, even though they are not "favorites," that have been renewed are Once Upon a Time, The Big Bang Theory, and Reign. I really think that Once Upon a Time has overstayed its welcome. I still watch it, but I get so infuriated with it. I've written a few posts already about my frustrations with this show, and I just don't see it ever getting better. I feel it will never be able to match the magic and originality of its first season. If it does, I'll definitely post about it. I can honestly say that I do not know why I even watch The Big Bang Theory anymore. Maybe it's because it's only a half hour show and it doesn't feel like I'm wasting that much time (or brain waves) watching it. I'm very surprised that Reign has been renewed, but maybe that means we'll finally get Mary in Scotland and we'll get into the real history that's more interesting than their fictional plots.

Even though Castle is one of my favorite TV shows, I'm not sure that I'm too broken up about it being canceled. It's had a good eight season run, and that's nothing to cry about. I've enjoyed watching Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, and I've loved how you could have a crazy episode about an actor from a cult TV show being murdered at a comic-con-type convention, and also a serious episode where Rick's daughter is kidnapped, and Rick goes rogue to try to find her. I generally dislike procedural TV series, but when it has a great premise, such as a mystery writer teaming with a NY detective to solve murders, great characters, and not-your-run-of-the-mill murder plots, then I'll watch - for eight seasons.

Oh, Nashville, Nashville. What you've done in the name of prime time soap operas has really put the final nail in your coffin. This series started out great, as a story about the rivalry of two country singers, one who was an older, established superstar, and the other a young up-and-coming starlet. I was interested in seeing where these characters' stories would take them. I loved the original music from the show. I looked forward to going to iTunes every Tuesday so I could buy my favorite tracks. Three seasons later, I just get angry every episode at the choices the characters make. And if I'm not getting angry at the characters, I'm getting angry at the writers for not letting ONE character have any happiness or joy. It's become such a depressing show. Not even the music makes it enjoyable. So, why, you ask, do I still watch? Good question. I guess because I've grown to like a lot of the characters, and I want to see if any of them will have anything good happen to them this week. I'd just like to see one thing before this show goes away forever - Maddie, you have to see what a conniving, opportunistic jerk (yes, I could use another word here, but I won't) Cash is! If you don't, and you don't apologize to your Mama for being a selfish, teenage brat, then a shoe may make contact with my TV, and then I'll be really sad. If Juliette and Avery, and Scarlet and Gunnar get back together, and Will gets a number one hit, and Layla falls off the edge of the stage, and Daphne has a solo hit, and Rayna and Deacon have one moment of happiness, then that would just be icing on the cake. And Autumn? Well, she could just fall off the edge of the stage with Layla.

Another canceled show that I watched, but never really became a favorite, was Galavant. I was so excited when it was announced two years ago that Alan Menken would be writing the music for a TV musical set in medieval times. I am a musical junky, and thought it was such a great idea. However, there were only small bits of it that I liked. Most of it fell flat for me. I thought the music was quite generic, which was so disappointing because I usually love Alan Menken's music. I felt like he phoned most of it in. I did read that there is a possibility that it may be adapted for the stage, with a possibility of going to Broadway. If so, I hope that it aims much, much higher - especially the music.

Now, I'm looking forward to hearing what new series will be starting in the fall. I hope there are some gems in the bunch.

Favorite BBC Series: Robin Hood

As much as I like to find new movies and TV series to enjoy, I love revisiting favorite series and movies. I have been rewatching the BBC series, Robin Hood, that ran for three seasons. If you like TV series that have action, adventure, romance, a touch of legend, and a little bit of history (a very little bit), then I would highly recommend Robin Hood. I have to admit that I was originally drawn to the series because Richard Armitage plays Sir Guy of Gisborne. Those of you who have seen the BBC miniseries, North and South, are familiar with Richard Armitage, who plays John Thornton in the excellent miniseries (that's another post for another day). Although I bought the first season of Robin Hood because of Richard Armitage, I bought the second and third seasons because I loved the show.

The first two seasons are wonderful. The third season wasn't as strong as the first two. Three main characters from seasons 1 and 2 left the series, and they were sorely missed in season 3. Out of the new cast members added in season 3, I only really cared for two: David Harewood as Tuck, and Toby Stephens as Prince John. Season 3 had a few good episodes; however, I didn't like the direction the last season went, and the writing didn't seem as good. However, in spite of the series going a bit downhill, I still enjoy watching the characters I had grown to love.

The entire cast is excellent. Most BBC series have at least a few actors I'm familiar with from other BBC shows, but other than Richard, I was not familiar with any of the actors. However, I have grown very found of Robin and his merrie band. Since then, I have seen many of the actors in other TV series.

The series starts when Robin (the Earl of Locksley) returns to Nottingham from the Holy Land, where he fought with King Richard. He returns to find that Sir Guy of Gisborne has taken over his lands of Locksley and is over-taxing and terrorizing the people of Locksley in the name of the Sheriff of Nottingham. While fighting to get his land back from Guy, he goes against the Sheriff, and is branded an outlaw.

Jonas Armstrong is a great Robin. He brings a youthfulness, and an energy that is so fun to watch. He is very believable as an action hero, and you can feel his passion to do what is right and fight for the people of Locksley, Nottingham, and in effect, all of England.

After growing to love Richard Armitage as John Thornton in North and South, it was a little difficult to see him as a villain - a murderous villain. However, he is such a great actor that at times he still brings a vulnerability and unexpected likability to Sir Guy. Lucy Griffiths is a very spunky Marian. She was perfectly cast, and I love watching her character evolve through the series. Her character is very complicated, and even though there are times when she is the damsel in distress (Robin needs to be able to save the woman he loves every once in a while), she usually holds her own, fighting for justice and freedom in her own way.

Sam Troughton plays Robin's faithful servant, Much. I loved seeing their relationship. Much had gone to the Holy Land with Robin to fight with King Richard, and he remains a support and loyal friend to Robin through the good and bad times (there are mostly bad times, thanks to the Sheriff and Gisborne). Keith Allen is over-the-top as Vaisey, the Sheriff of Nottingham. His acting sometimes feels like "schmacting" (in live theatre, we also refer to that as "chewing the scenery"), but in this version of Robin Hood, it works.

Gordon Kennedy, is the epitome of Little John. Joe Armstrong plays Allan A Dale, whose journey takes a different direction than his comrades in season 2. This change in direction was great in the story arc of the second season. Harry Lloyd plays Will Scarlet. I'm most familiar with Harry from his great performance as Baines in the two part episodes, "Human Nature" and "Family of Blood" in Doctor Who. The characters of Will and Baines couldn't be more different, and it's great to see Lloyd's range as an actor.  Anjali Jay plays Djaq (pronounced Jack), the Saracen who joins Robin's gang. It's great to have a female in the band who can hold her own. Jay is wonderful in the role.

Joanna Froggat (Anna in Downton Abbey) and Lara Pulver (Irene Adler in the BBC's Sherlock) are two characters added in the third season, and I don't care for their characters or their plot lines very much. The actors are still good, but it's hard to watch characters that you don't particularly like.

When you start watching this series, you have to remember that this isn't the Disney version, the Kevin Costner version (thankfully), or the classic Errol Flynn version. This is a Robin Hood for a new generation, and though it isn't completely faithful to the legend you're familiar with (but then, are any of them?), it is a series that has the heart of the legend. And isn't that what you want anyway when you watch the journey of Robin Hood?

A Bunch of Cool Sundry Items

There are a few items I found on the Internet that I think are cool, and I decided to lump them all into one post.

Another Doctor Who alum is joining the cast of Arrow. Alex Kingston, who played the popular River Song on Doctor Who, will be playing Dinah Lance, Laurel's mother.

Speaking of Doctor Who... For all of you fans out there, here is the link to the BBC's official Doctor Who 50th Anniversary website. Enjoy!

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (The Tudors, Bend It Like Beckham) will play the title character in Dracula, a new NBC series. Jessica De Gouw  (Huntress in Arrow) will play Mina Harker, and Katie McGrath (Morgana in BBC's Merlin). I like Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. He could make a very interesting vampire. I didn't particular like Jessica De Gouw in Arrow, but that could just be her character, so we'll see about her. And I have mixed feeling about Katie. I liked her in the first couple of seasons of Merlin, but not as much after she turned evil.

A friend made me aware of an artist who has drawn some the Disney animated characters as they might look if they were real people. This page doesn't include all of them he's done. He's also done Ariel and Ursula. So, surf through his blog to see them, and his other work. You'll be impressed by his talent.

And just because:

Reign: A Series about Mary, Queen of Scots

The CW has announced it will pick up a new series about the young Mary Stuart, who became Queen of Scotland when she was six days old. At 16 she married the Dauphin of France. At 17, she became Queen of France, and at 18 she became a widow for the first time.

According to Deadline.com, the project, Reign, is described as Game of Thrones meets Marie Antoinette - if Mary Antoinette had a girl posse and was coming of age as a warrior queen.

I am so excited about this series! I love history, especially history of Scotland and England, and Mary Stuart had such an interesting life. I hope it's good, and that they don't make a mess of it.

The Return of My TV Shows

It's January, and the television season will resume with new episodes of favorite series.

Here are the shows whose new episodes I'm looking forward to seeing:

Big Bang Theory - January 3rd
Elementary - January 3rd
Once Upon a Time - January 6th
Castle - January 7th
Nashville - January 9th
Arrow - January 16th
Glee - January 24th
Smash - February 5th
Grimm - March 8th

There's still no word about when Beauty and the Beast is returning. I didn't particularly like it when it first aired, but it's grown on me.

What television series are looking forward to returning?

Once Upon a Time: Heart of Darkness

I love Once Upon a Time!

It was so wonderful to see a Snow/Charming-centric story. It's interesting to see other stories, but this is what this show is all about. I am a sucker for romance, and this episode gave that in spades.

I loved seeing a wanted poster for Snow White hanging on a tree in Fairy Tale Land.

It's great that Snow was humming "With a Song in My Heart." Having access to Disney's large canon, wouldn't it be cool to have a musical episode of Once Upon a Time using Disney songs. I would love it!

Snow looks so cute with her curled hair and big red bow.

It's nice to see Jiminy again. He needs to be in more episodes.

I love that Jiminy asks the dwarfs to write letters to Snow to let her know their feelings. It's a great intervention attempt.

Regina: I know what it's like to lose someone you love, to be publicly humiliated. It put me in a very dark place. It changed me.

Side note: So, I'm writing this after seeing the episode where we find out why Regina hates Snow, and this makes a lot of sense, except for the "publicly humiliated" part. I wonder if there's more to the story.

Why does Snow tell Grumpy to get out of her way when he's not standing in her way. She's going the other way.

Snow to Grumpy: What I don't need is to be lectured by a dwarf with a bad attitude.

Emma: You have to go home.
Henry: Not going to happen.

August is there to make Emma believe who she is.

Henry: Last time I tried to find proof, I got stuck in a sink hole.

Why did Snow take the soldier's underwear too? It's a funny scene, but just a little creepy.

Regina: Everyone has a dark side, David.

Regina: I always believed evil isn't born, it's made.

Rumpelstiltskin: If you bottle love, you can do anything.

Grumpy: If you take that bow, you do it alone.
Snow: That was always my plan.

Rumpel to David: If she kills the Queen, she becomes as evil as the woman whose life she's taken.

Snow: Words, words, words.

Snow is now quoting Shakespeare ("Words, words, words" is from Hamlet.)

It's great to see Dr. Hopper again.

David can remember Fairy Tale Land when he's hypnotized. So, Henry just needs to get everyone hypnotized. *wink*

James to Jiminy: You can talk?
Jiminy: Yea, and you can listen.

It was a great scene when James was trying to get Snow remember him.

James: I would rather die than let you fill your heart with darkness.

Best moment was when James kisses Snow and she finally remembers him, especially seeing both of them with tears running down their cheeks. I am such a romantic.

Snow: I will always find you.

Oh, David how could you doubt Mary Margaret? How could you?

I'm so glad that the writers allow David/James to cry. They let him show his emotions rather than going with the mantra, "man up."

Grumpy: Let's show that King what Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs can do!"

I love the dramatics of watching Mary Margaret unlock the jell cell and opening the door.

Emma: Belief is not proof.

What is Rumpel going to do with Love, now that he's bottled it?

Once Upon a Time: Red-Handed

At last we are given Red's back story, and what a tale it is. I have to say that I didn't expect the twist in this one.

This episode should have been called "Peter and the Wolf."

Emma to David: I'm pretty good at spotting a liar, and honestly, liars have better material.

Why does Emma say so many times that she can tell when a person is lying? Just so that we can see how often she is wrong about that? Although, in this case she was right. David was not lying.

A wolf howls before we cut to Ruby in Granny's diner. What a great moment.

Granny: You know red repels wolves.

Ruby to Granny: You just want me to act like you until I turn into you.

Ruby: You dress like Norman Bates when he dresses like Norman Bates's mother. Ruby

I love that August tries to hide laughing at that line.

Ruby: I should be out there having adventures with lemurs.

Emma: Buses out of town don't really happen. 

Don't they find it strange that there are no buses out of town? 

Red: When there's something I want, I'm good at tracking it down.

Snow: So your Granny's kind of intense.

It's funny that there's a reference to Pongo from 101 Dalmations. And poor Pongo has been separated from his owner, Roger, in Storybrooke, and he lives with Archie.

Red: Do you think I can save him?
Snow: I think you can save everyone.

When Ruby goes to pick up food at the diner, she doesn't order anything for Henry. Poor Henry, he wanted a hot dog and a cookie.

Why is Peter carrying a chain?

Henry: She doesn't remember how cool she is, what she's capable of. 

If Henry knows that Red was a wolf, why would he say something like that? She's a wolf, she's capable of killing people. 

Does Red not turn into a wolf in Storybrooke because that's magic, and there's no magic in Storybrooke?

Emma: There's a lot of Maine to search, Regina.

It's a great twist to make Red the wolf. So, when Granny and Red lock up the cottage, they're not locking the wolf out, they're locking the wolf in. However, if they lock the wolf in, and if Red wears her red cloak to bed, how did she get out to kill all of the men who were hunting the wolf?

Poor Peter. They kill off a lot of nice looking men in this show. Dang it.

Ruby: I don't know what I am.

Granny: We're approaching from downwind so we have a chance.

Good thing Granny explains that so that people like me won't be asking the question of why the wolf doesn't smell them coming. *wink*

After working with Emma, Ruby doesn't dress like a "drag queen during Fleet Week" anymore - not so much like a slut. And she tones down the makeup, to a more natural look. She looks so pretty.
 
Ruby to Granny: I said that you wanted me to turn into you, but what I meant was I don't know how to be you. You're a tough act to follow.

Ruby: I sort of found someone in myself that was more than I expected.

Ruby: Emma was my lemur.

Why are David and Mary Margaret talking in the pet shelter? Is that where David works? If not, it's just so random. 

TV Review: Missing

I have a new favorite TV show. (I have so many favorites now, I can't say which of those is really my favorite.)

Missing stars Ashley Judd as Rebecca Winstone, a former CIA agent whose 18 year old son, Michael, is kidnapped when he's in school in Rome. Rebecca goes to Italy and uses some of her old contacts and old moves to try to find Michael.

Ashely Judd is great as Rebecca Winstone. I have always liked her and her acting, and this is a great role for her. Her reaction when she sees the footage of Michael being abducted is so believable. And when she runs after the airplane that Michael has just been dragged onto, and it flies off, she sinks to the ground in despair, and it is heartbreaking.

The show is filmed on location in Europe, and it is wonderful to see the many famous landmarks.

Each episode feels like a mini-movie, from the stories to the cinematography, from the acting to the action scenes and stunts.

I don't know what will happen at the end of the series. Michael can't be missing forever. Mom has to find him sometime. But for now I am thoroughly enjoying the ride.

Sad to See You Go, Chuck

Chuck is exactly the type of TV show I like. It has action, humor, twists and turns in the plot, good actors playing great characters, and a little romance. And I never watched one episode for five seasons. Until Friday night.

I decided to watch Chuck on Friday because Grimm wasn't on, and since these were the final episodes, I thought I would give it a chance.

I loved it!

I loved it, and it's over.

Adam Baldwin (Jayne from Firefly) is in it, as well as Linda Hamilton from the 80's TV series Beauty and the Beast.

Where was I for the last five years?

Thank goodness for Netflix. I can enjoy it from the very beginning.

And Grimm will be back next week.

Quippy Quotes:

Casey: General, with all due respect, shut up! We're saving you.

Once Upon a Time: TV Series

There were only two new shows that I was really looking forward to in the new fall season (other than Smash, which doesn’t start until February), and they were both based on fairy tales. Once Upon a Time and Grimm. And I am hooked on both.

I liked the premise of Once Upon a Time: fairy tale characters that have been cursed to live in our world. And I enjoy how each episode goes back and forth from Fairy Tale land to modern day Storybrooke. However, when I saw the first episode, I wondered how they were going to be able to stretch the premise into a full season, or even more. It seemed more suited to a mini-series.

Luckily, they have more stories in them that I thought. Each episode usually highlights one specific fairy tale character/story in Fairy Tale Land, with a parallel story featuring the same characters in Storybrooke.

Once Upon a Time isn’t a perfect series to me. There are some things that I don’t particular like.

I like deconstruction of fairy tales, however, it would be nice if they deconstructed more from the original fairy tales and not from the Disney-fied version of the stories. For example, as much as I like Raphael Sbarge and his character, Jiminy Cricket is a Disney creation, not part of the original fairy tale. And I don’t believe the bad fairy in Sleepy Beauty has a name, but in Once Upon a Time her name is Maleficent, just as it is in the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty.

Another thing that bothers me is that there are so many fairy tales to use in the series, so why did they use a King Midas, a mythological character? If they continue in that direction, and if they’re basing characters on Disney animated movies, I guess we’ll be seeing Hercules soon.

In spite of these things, I still like Once Upon a Time very much, and I am excited to see where the story goes.