--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, ultrarishi wrote: > > Suggestions come from all fronts.
Indeed they do. That's why I cannot fathom anyone being interested in a supposed "algorithm" to categorize movies and TV to better sell them to customers. Just thinking back over the things I've enjoyed this last year, there simply *isn't* any "genre" or even half a dozen of them they could be categorized into. I get my "tips" from folks here, from the occasional professional reviewer whose taste I trust (there are only 2-3 of them at this point), and from the recommendations of Internet friends and Pirate suppliers whose taste I've come to trust because they've never let me down. If they recommend it, it's interesting...even if it turns out to be not entirely my cuppa tea. But on the whole I can't *conceive* of being so dependent on Other People's Taste to shape my own that I'd have to rely on "genre" descriptions or reviews. That just doesn't compute. I see a title in my list of available downloads, and either "get an intuitive hit on it" or I don't. If I do, I immediately check it out on the IMDB, and if the cast, director, writer, or short description appeal to me, I download it. That said, thanks for the reminder about "Top Of The Lake." I avoided it at first because of Jane Campion. She fell off my Directors To Be Trusted list with "Holy Smoke" and "In The Cut" and I've been avoiding her ever since. But maybe I'll give this one a try. I avoided "Dancing On The Edge" because yet another series about the British upper crust just didn't appeal to me after Downton Abbey. But, as you remind me, it's Chiwetel Ejiofor, so maybe I should transcend my aversions and give it a try. Thanks. As mentioned a few times, I'm a fan of Canada's "Lost Girl," but for reasons that may not appeal to others here. First and foremost, of course, is the Babe Factor, which Anna Silk, Ksenia Solo, and Zoie Palmer supply in spades every week. Second is the fairly remarkable approach the writing takes to sex and sexuality, which I find refreshing and rare -- there are straight relationships, gay ones, and even odder ones, and *none* of them are treated as anything but normal. The third factor is what does it for me (but probably won't for most people), and that's the writing. "Lost Girl" is FUNNY, in a way that allows comparison only to "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." That, for me, is a high compliment. There are more great one-liners per show than pretty much anything else on the air (but they go fast quickly, without drawing attention to themselves, so many people may miss them). I'm all caught up on "The Blacklist" now, and will probably keep watching. The "draw" is, of course, James Spader. What a surprise. My first reaction when I heard his name was the same as everyone else's I mention this series to: "Is he still alive?" But he not only is, he's turned into a damned good character actor. The boyish good looks have been replaced by a paunch, somewhat bloated features, and a balding head, and not only does he not hide these things, he turns them into *assets* when forming his character. Plus, the writers are good enough to keep us guessing, and to foil all of our assumptions from time to time. But I think you nailed the Big Thing about a TV series for me in your posts. As I've mentioned before, I'm more drawn to "character-driven" series than "plot-driven" series. But it's the issue of "overriding arc" that makes for good characters. Whether it's one long plot (like "True Detective") or episodic (like "The Blacklist"), the "hook" for me is whether the characters are allowed to have their own "long stories" that develop over time. If they don't, I'm pretty much outa there. I'm also outa there even if they have long stories if those stories become boring, and I lose interest in the characters and find myself not really caring what happens to them. That has happened for me with "Mad Men" and "Boardwalk Empire." I go back and try to catch up, and can't even finish an episode, because I can't bring myself to care about these people any more. Go figure. Anyway, thanks for the raps about TV and movies, and enjoy your viewings... > This is the first year we watched the Golden Globes. We're glad we did because it gave us a heads up on 2 series we would have not known about otherwise. The NZ crime drama Top of the Lake was excellent with an award winning performance by Elizabeth Moss. That's available on Netflix streaming already. > > The British series Dancing on the Edge we just started and it appears to be very good as well. It is starring > Chiwetel Ejiofor, who is having one helluva year. > > Orphan Black was tremendous because of the many, many characters the incredibly talented Tatiana Maslany is able to play seamlessly. The writing is great as well. > > Ray Donovan is intense and gritty. Just our cup of tea. Didn't overly pander like some cable shows with excessive tits and ass and violence because, after all, it's cable and it's why people go there. Just good story telling, excellent stars and writing. > > Big dissappointments are Intelligence and Almost Human. As well produced as these shows are they fail to sustain our attention because neither show has established a long arc in their stories. Shows like The Good Wife or The Blacklist are much more involving because not everything is tied up neatly. Things carry over the season, and that delayed resolution hook's us. We like to kick around the dinner table "what if" scenarios based on where we think the stories might be going. > > My favorite thing about Netflix is the big FU they have given the studios and the cajones they have shown to green light their own material. Looking forward to Season 2 next week of the wonderful House of Cards. Orange Is The New Black was fun as well. >
