What I look for in TV shows

I'm very specific with what shows I give my time to since recently I don't seem to have lot of it. Unfortunately I just finished the episodes of Doctor Who on Netflix and am in this television limbo where I don't have a show anymore. Of course the obvious question now is What should I watch next? I could just passively follow Netflix's intense suggestions and advertisement and watch Orange is the New Black but I don't think Netflix entirely understands my taste. That made me start thinking, what do I look for in TV shows? The past shows I intensely followed were Scrubs, 30 Rock, It's South Park, How I Met Your Mother, Doctor Who, and Arrested Development. The first thing I noticed is that I love shows that can make me laugh. So obviously it'll have to be some kind of sitcom or comedy. All of these shows had very strong characters that I easily Sympathized for. JD from scrubs, The Doctor from Doctor Who, and Ted from How I Met Your Mother are all strong, quirky, but powerful characters. They all have such a passion for people whether they're looking for a wife in Ted's case or they're saving the universe in the Doctor's case. All of these characters demonstrate a passion for people and that's what I think I love so much. It reminds of how we talked about creating a backbone for a character that influences every decision they make. For Ted he's always looking for a wife. For JD it's trying to help the patient. For the Doctor it's protecting all forms of life. That aspect of deeper meaning in shows is what I really love.

The next quality I think the writing. All of the shows I've listed here are so beautifully written. In Arrested Development almost every line is joke that also pushes the story line forward. In Doctor Who there are so many different story arch's beautifully intwined in each other that I can't even comprehend how they do it. For 30 Rock the characters are all so exaggerated but the situations and dialogue they're given makes it all seem like a normal thing.  Southpark still blows me away because they make it all seem so stupid and crude but are still able to make informative statements on current events. That's something I really respect because I have no idea how they do it.

The third quality I think I look for is a show that makes statements about current issues. I feel like it's hard to get a lot of people to informatively look into a current issue and have a stance on it but I think TV can help show people an exaggerated version of both sides. 30 Rock very obviously did it especially during the 2012 election. As I stated about South Park earlier, it does a really nice job on that but it also makes both sides look equally ridiculous so no one group of people feel put off by it. Doctor Who has been involving many characters who represent their stance on same sex marriages. It shows to me that they are paying attention and are really trying to make a difference with their medium.

Going from here and with suggestions from friends I think I will be starting Parks And Recreation this weekend. All I've been hearing about it from friends is how great all the characters are and how good it is.

Doctor Who

Now I've never really been one to get caught up in a show that often, especially a science fiction show but I have been very into BBC's show, Doctor Who. My brother was the one who got me into it because he would watch it all the time and I got mad because of how bad some of the effects were. Eventually, from just being around too much, I started picking up on the story line and I fell in love with it. The idea that the Doctor is this nerdy, weird guy, who doesn't use weapons doesn't sound like much of a hero but through his genius and quick thinking the Doctor has become known as the most powerful man in the universe. This whole idea of nonviolent heroes is a very interesting idea to me. Envying a hero who is smart and weird compared to a hero who is macho and strong is not something I see a lot. It's a show that preaches unconditional love and understanding because he tries to understand why the antagonist is causing the problems not how to destroy it. The only alien race that he is trying to destroy is the Daelek. An emotionless race that embodies the worst qualities of human beings like war, destruction, and the striving for a superior race. Time after time, or time before time, or whatever time traveling story line the Doctor is on, he brings understanding and peace back to planet Earth.

Now I started with David Tennant and absolutely loved him as the Doctor. He completely embodied the role and could be that quirky, loving, nerdy Doctor but at the same time he could easily let you know that he is in fact, the most powerful man in the Universe. I absolutely loved it. The season finale for season four was one of my favorite endings for a season of all time. I couldn't get over it and talked about it for days. At the same time I had to get ready for the new Doctor, Matt Smith. He had some HUGE shoes to fill and as of right now I'm in the middle of the 6th season. As it should be, he's putting his own spin on it and I'm actually really enjoying what the writers are doing. He's a younger Doctor who's very energetic and has a hard time sitting still (which I totally relate with). Although his deep power moments haven't been as strong as David Tennant's, I believe he still has a lot of potential and time to really make himself the Doctor.

As of partners the Doctor has traveled around with, Karen Gillian's and Arthur Darvill's characters, Amy and Rory are my favorite so far. I like the idea of having a couple on board the Tardis compared to just one companion. Then I'd have to say Billie Piper, as Rose Tyler, is my next favorite because of the complications she and the Doctor had. Sometimes I really think that this show is nothing but a scientific soap opera but really it's just that the characters are all so great. I care about them, want them to succeed, and enjoy watching them develop through out the show. Overall I highly recommend getting back in tune with your inner nerd and start watching some Doctor Who.

It's bigger on the inside.

As I procrastinate doing work for finals I find myself catching up on shows that I am not up to date on. I found myself watching the new episodes of Doctor Who, and I hate to say it, but I am not impressed. After such a great start to the season with Asylum of the Daleks, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, A Town Called Mercy, The Power of Three, and The Angels Take Manhattan; this half of the season just seems so bland and uneventful.

I understand that they are trying to introduce a new companion and story to go with her, but the episodes just seem so slow and uneventful. They did it just fine with Amy Pond, so why are they messing it up so badly now?  The mid-season opener, The Bells of Saint John, did not compare at all to the start of the fifth season, The Eleventh Hour. I am actually upset because I had high hopes for Jenna-Louise Coleman as a companion, but it seems like this season is set to be the worst yet in my opinion. 

I really hope this season picks up soon, because I would hate to have this show killed for me. I would have to bury it between Heroes and Prison Break.

The Doctor Is In

So this semester I finally got into a TV show that many of my friends have been pestering me to watch for years - Doctor Who. I was hesitant at first to be honest. A show about aliens just didn't seem like it would appeal to me, but I've quickly fallen in love with it.

For those who don't know, Doctor Who is about a 900 year old Time Lord (that's a kind of alien) who travels around time and space with a human companion in a blue police box. If you're someone who hasn't really seen it, this may seem like a super odd concept...which it is. It has been on television ever since 1963, which is pretty cool. My Dad actually saw the very first episode as it was being broadcasted live (he's British, so it makes sense). In the old Doctor Who the special effects were pretty adorable...meaning terrible, but hey, it was the 1960s! Here's the first part of the very first episode.

Thankfully in the new series (which returned in 2005 after a 9 year hiatus) the special effects are better. They're not always superb, but they try.

Sometimes this show is pure brilliance! Great stories, scary monsters, witty dialogue, and superb acting, but when it's bad it's pretty terrible. But Whovians (which is what super fans of the show are called) love to pick apart the episodes and find plot holes and just discuss the show for hours. I do that.

The tenth doctor, David Tennant, is arguably the best doctor thus far. Here's a clip of one of my favorite moments with him.

All in all, this is strangely one of my favorite shows. It took me a few episodes to get into it, but now I can't imagine my life without the doctor and his blue box. It sounds strange that a show that can be as hokey as this one has had such a big impact on my life, but it has. I strongly encourage everyone to watch at least a little!

FIRST OFF I'D LIKE TO BRAG THAT I GOT THE 700TH POST

So yeah about that: Ha.

Also upon typing in the URL to the blog in the address bar I had to remind myself: "Oh yeah! It's not a Tumblr! Will, you're silly. The Fiction Field blog isn't on Tumblr. Ha ha ha. Ha ha haaaaAAAOHH GOD I'M ADDICTED, SOMEONE HELP ME-HEE-HEEEEEEEEEEEE"

But I digress. Let's move on.

I've been watching 3rd Rock From The Sun a lot recently. Let's go beyond the fact that the show was made in the nineties when TV was better and blah blah freakin' blah. It's well written in general. The idea of aliens landing on Earth and taking the bodies of humans seems so blasé and cliché and everything else with an "é" at the end; and yet the final product is charming, with every episode forcing you to laugh whether you like it or not. One scene with John Lithgow and Wayne Knight tap dancing with Jane Curtin almost killed me. This was due to me eating Nutella at the time. We all know the consistency of Nutella. (But it's so damn good. I mean seriously, if you go shopping again this semester, get Nutella. It's hazelnutty chocolatey goodness formed into a spread that you can eat anything with. ANYTHING. GO GET IT. NOW.)

Also I'm still plowing through Doctor Who. I'm on David Tennant's tenure as the Doctor right now. My mind blows every time he appears on screen. As much as I loved Chris Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor, David blows him out of the water. This stresses the importance of good casting; if your actor doesn't fit the part, the character is going to suck. Big time. Can you imagine Gilbert Gottfried as the Doctor? I can, and it's not a pretty picture.

Anyhow, I'm going to pretend to watch this color correction presentation. Peace out.

Special FX: Also, call me Ishmael, plus Here she is, Miss Amerrrricaaaa

For some reason Google signed me in with an old account, so when I looked at my list of blogs it showed me two that I had created in high school. They each have one post. They're both awful. I'm gobsmacked, really.

Several people have been informed that I have rediscovered my love for Doctor Who. After watching a few episodes with David Tennant years ago and then forgetting to watch anymore, I decided to hop on Netflix and start from the beginning of the reboot. What amazes me most -- besides the characters, acting, story, soundtrack, visuals, and just about everything -- are the low-budget special effects. In one episode, the Dalek levitating seemed cheaply made, but it looked legit enough to make me go "Oh! So that Dalek can levitate and HOLY WHAT THE IT'S GONNA KILL EVERYONE AHHHH" instead of "Oh! So they didn't have enough money in the BBC budget! Way to go, you crumpet eating shmucks." It made me realize that if the production team behind one of the world's most loved shows can do awesome on a low budget, then so can we. Must investigate further.

Also, we're talking about microphone patterns in class right now; and the drawings on the board look like two parts of the male human body that I can't mention without sounding unprofessional/failing the class/sounding like a five year old. But it's rather hilarious nonetheless.

Now, a picture of a puppy: