Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine So what are you WATCHING?

I've been meaning to post about Bates Motel, which I'm also enjoying quite a bit! It's definitely weird watching a teenage Norman Bates texting, but it's working for me! Love the "corrupt small town" setting!

Yeah, basically, the Bates' are just another piece to a town that has all kinds of crime and weirdness going on. They fit right in!

Also, I'm not sure what to think about the acting of the guy who plays Norman. He often has kind of a half-smile going on even in the middle of tense situations. I don't know if it's a deliberate acting style or a quirk of the actor. In any case it seems to fit the character so far.

Norman also isn't quite the social outcast I would have thought him to be. He recently hooked up with a cheerleader-type and has a really cool nerdy girl who's totally into him!

It seems to me the actor is trying to channel Tony Perkins quite a bit. He definitely brings a kind of quirky creepiness to the character.

Lardy, my wife and I got into Once Upon a Time big time two months ago, watching season 1 on DVD. As loved it! Smart writing as really great acting! I haven't seen any of season 2 yet.

Peebz, I agree on the Spartacus / Gannicus tension, though it is pretty freaking awesome when Gannicus joins them! The issues they had that led to the prequel ended up allowing for the series to develop in a much better way: additional layers to Lucretia, Onomeious, Asher and Criscux, and the inclusion of Gannicus. Seasons 2 and 3 have just built on it all so well.

And I love when a great show has a set ending with in 4-5 season timeframe; it makes it all more rewarding.

Yeah, like I said...it's working. I wonder if it was originally his choice or if the producers encourage him to go that way. As I watch an episode, I often find myself watching his expressions a lot. I can see where this could be compared to Perkins, but the performance has also got some other stuff in there that's pretty fascinating.

The actress playing Norma has an uncanny resemblance to the Desperate Housewives actress whose character had so many kids. I was sure it was her, but it's not!

The half-brother Dylan is an interesting addition to the dynamic. I like how his relationship with Norman has already changed.

I keep wanting to hate this show for all the Disneyfied elements, but it keeps being so good despite those that I'm still really enjoying it!

Rumor has it that there may be a spinoff focused on the Mad Hatter!

Yeah, I've watched OUaT since the beginning. I particularly love the twists on the classic fairy tales, such as the much more complex story of Snow and Charming/David among many other examples. I also kinda dig how they both skew towards the Disney versions of the stories that are the best-known versions while at the same time using them to set us up for major alterations to them that make their universe more cohesive.

It's definitely NOT a Fables rip-off!

Season 2 is about as good as Season 1 overall!

I love how crazy Henry's family tree has become!

Huh?

Oh, I'm just confused.

Though, in my defense:

Well, I suck at fan theories!

I DO wonder what the deal is with the fiancee, though. I suspect we'll learn more in the remainder of Season 2...

Re: Bates Motel.

Here's a nice article discussing some of the changes made from the original Psycho films.

I just heard about Bates Motel a few days ago from a coworker.
He made it sound pretty good and you guys are into it too so I'll be looking for a torrent to catch up and PVR the rest.

Tense, excellent Bates Motel episode this week! Shit hits the fan!

Speaking of which, Game of Thrones' new ep ended with an excellent Daenerys moment!

Season 2 of "Veep" just started and it is Hi-LAR-i-ous! My wife and I rewatched S1 to get prepared and I swear we laughed harder the second time around for some reason. Really smart writing, characters who tear each other new ones almost any chance they get, and even good political satire thrown in for good measure.

Really digging the new season of Veep as well.

GoT has been excellent this season so far.

One show we've started on is the Netflix original "Hemlock Grove". It looked like it was about to veer into standard genre fare at first, then it swerved. Then it swerved back. Now I'm not sure where it's going, but we're definitely intrigued and along for the ride.

Just saw the new Star Trek film. Parts of it were great but the plot/script was a real let down. Mostly pandering and/or playing with known cues. If you're going to do something new, do something new. If you're going to remake *redacted* do that. Trying to do it all with no strong cohesive vision was just narratively lazy.

I did enjoy how they mixed things up. Some freaky details and gruesome bits, but also some surprising stuff, like Shelley Godfrey (who was played by three people...), who quickly became one of my favorite characters.

Famke Jannsen really hammed up her role, and I loved it, and Kandyse McClure remains one of the most beautiful women of this generation (IMO).

With various shows like The Following and Grimm done, I guess it's time to wait for the summer shows.

Until then, catching up with Archer on Netflix is keeping me laughing out loud.

For stuff that's still out, Defiance is passable, if not great, Revolution remains watchable, and Hannibal has proven to be interesting (with the actor playing Hannibal thankfully not even trying to match Anthony Hopkin's performance).

Orphan Black just keeps getting better and better after 8 episodes!

It's this intense thriller, but it's peppered with really hilarious moments. And every single week, you get so much bang for your buck with each episode being an integral piece of the puzzle and plots being advanced and taking so many twists and turns! Plus, it's also pretty damn sexy on top of every thing else. Something else else for everybody.

And episode 8...wow. This one had a truly gut-wrenching ending.

I wholeheartedly endorse this series to anyone seeking smart and thoroughly entertaining viewing.



I also continued to enjoy Bates Motel, which just concluded its first season. This one's not as stellar as OB, but it is very good. Good cliffhanger for the already-announced second season.

My favorite line in Bates Motel so far has been Norman telling his mother she's scaring him and she responds:

"I scare YOU ?!?!?!"

Nobody else seems to appreciate that but it just floors me. And I think the actress really enjoyed saying it. Are people just not putting it in the context of the movie? Why else would they be watching this?

Anyone with HBO needs to check out "Behind the Candelabra." Bizarre and fascinating story. Excellent performances by the entire cast. Matt Damon's beefy bare buns. Worth subscribing to HBO for if you don't already have it.

Great pecs too. Hope someone can get a screencap for the Pecs thread.

He goes through a great range of body shapes in this movie.

After watching multiple episodes of River Monsters on Animal Planet, the only advice I can give is, don't go in the water.....EVER!

Wow. Anyone who watched Game of Thrones last night....absolutely devastating. Just wow.