I can’t y’all. I just can’t. I tried to watch Gang Related. But it’s just so bad. Even with Terry O’Quinn. If you can’t deliver a lead character that has me caring about what he’s gonna do next, or if he lives? See ya. There are two episodes on my Hulu queue, and they’ll stay there ’til they disappear. I could be wrong — I did the same thing with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and ended up getting completely addicted hooked when I jumped back in at episode 10. But I’m betting Related ain’t gonna go that way.
So what have I been watching lately? Sadly, I missed the leak of the Flash pilot episode, but I’m ever hopeful that a screening/screener will come my way. Instead, I’ve been main-lining Penny Dreadful (hooray for FWC — Friends With Cable!) and the first season of The Bridge (all eps on Hulu.) My thoughts right now?
Rose, you look peaked. Image: Showtime
Penny Dreadful
Premise: Think League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but twisted all to hell. In some cases, quite literally. Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton) tries to find his daughter Mina, but things aren’t going well because vampires. Meanwhile, American Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) comes to London to ply his Wild West schtick, but ends up signing on as muscle for Murray and his … friend? aide? Vanessa (Eva Green, as wickedly stunning as ever). Chandler meets beautiful consumptive Brona (Billie Piper! Rose!), the hooker with a heart of gold and a mouth like a bloody sewer. Oh, Dorian Gray, Victor Frankenstein and his creation, and a Renfield-like fella area also around. Take storylines, hit frappe. Enjoy.
So far: I’m into Episode 5, still getting over a minor character getting ripped apart (literally), wondering if Piper’s Brona will make it through the season…alive, and trying to figure out of the vampires here are scarier than those in The Strain. Jury’s still out.
Nutshell: I’ll be watching every single episode I can get my grubby paws on. It’s sick, twisted and fhttps://atomicfangirl.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.phpascinating stuff. There’s plenty — PLENTY — of gore, and not a little premium grade ho-yay. (New Now Next has the perfect summation of the “subtext” of this series, and you need to read that whenever you get the chance.)
Image: FX
The Bridge
Premise: A body is found right smack dab on top of the border line between the USA (by way of Texas) and Mexico. Weird-ass Texas cop Sonya (Diane Kruger) and laid-back but talented Mexican detective Marco (Demian Bichir) must join forces, because all is not what it seems. Cut to folks trying to cross the border, and a creepy guy who seems to be slaugtering young women just because he lives in a trailer.
So far: I’ve only gotten to Episode 3, but that’s because sleep called. Dammit. I’m a sucker for cop shows, and this one — based on a Swedish show I now need to see — looks like a winner so far. Just enough twists and turns to keep things interesting without making it seem as if the show runners are trying too hard. Bonus: second season just started. I can haz more episodes!
Nutshell: I absolutely love the look at “real life” in Mexico, and the back-and-forth between Bichir and..well, anyone he’s sharing the set with, is awesome. (Seriously though, love the scenes with Marco and his wife. It’s a look at how cops can live, as opposed to the usual “good guy bad mariage” trope.) And a Matthew Lillard sighting! What? I’ve crushed on him since Scream. Sue me. But Kruger’s Sonya is grating; I read that the character is supposed to have Asperger syndrome, but I’m sick to death of “colorful” cops. I had my fill at Monk, so unless you’re Matthew McConaughey in True Detective? Just stop it y’all. Even with her obnoxious character, I’ll keep watching because the story is fascinating, and Bichir’s Marco is awesome.
Atomic Fangirl 