Post #74: This is the Dawning of the Age of Summer Television

Last night saw the two-hour (or two-epsiode, depending on how you see it) premeire of Aquarius on NBC. If you're not caught up/planning to watch, go watch and then come back. Also- I'm not planning on bingeing on NBC, I'm going to watch week-to-week, so all future blog posts will reflect that.
Okay. So I think this show has potential on the disturbing crime drama bandwagon. It's got an interesting, albeit mostly fictional, plot, enough drama to keep the show rolling, and David Duchovny as...Fox Mulder. So it's a crazy psycho killer and not aliens. Whatever. Duchovny is playing Hodiak, a cynical LA detective with a new, relatively idealistic, super-cute partner (Grey Damon as Brian Shafe). Mulder Hodiak accepts a case that isn't really a case, when he gets called by an old girlfriend. Help my daughter has been taken by aliens Charles Manson! Duchovny plays Hodiak the same way he played Mulder, and it's a shame, because it's really the only glaring issue with the show. Brian Shafe is a: really cute, even when he's a grimy, scruffy undercover cop; and b: an interesting character. He is a great foil to the other officers as well as the rapidly changing world in wich he lives in. He's a great blend of by the books ("You gotta read him his rights...The Miranda rights.") and standing for what is right even when it's pits him against senior officers. I also really like Charmain Tully, the female officer in the ridiculous 1960's female cop uniform of a below-the-knee skirt and heels. Because that's practical. She's a great character too. She's really idealistic and super sassy ("you were on drugs! You're still on drugs!"). I like the Shafe-Tully relationship right now, especially because Shafe has a wife and (hopefully) Shafe and Tully can just be professional friends. Shafe's wife is also an interesting plot point. I won't spoil that one. I will spoil Hodiak's crazy wife and now AWOL from the army son. I think that the son is going to cause trouble for Hodiak's career. And if he doesn't, the wife will. All in all, a good kick off for my summer TV season.

I also went and saw Hot Pursuit. It was pretty silly. If you like cheesy cop comedies, this one's pretty good.

Tomorrow is the homeschool prom, and I'm not one to pass up a chance to dance. I've had a fun/terrible time putting together an outfit for this thing! It's tropical theme, and I'm not super into tropical anything unless it's a frozen drink, so I decided to channel Summer Roberts from The O.C. circa season three. I found a super cute floral dress that's not too casual and not too formal, so I'm pleased with that. 

"I dress to kill, but tastefully." - Freddie Mercury

-D. 

Post #73: The Good Word

If you know me, or you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you probably know I love The O.C. Like really, really love. It's my favorite. Today while I was out walking, we ended up at a garage sale, and there they were. All four seasons of The O.C. I had the first three seasons, but my season one wasn't in super great condition (I bought them second hand) and I didn't have season four. So I bought those two, and the guy gave me a hard time about breaking up the set, and then they tried to remember the name of Seth's girlfriend, they had Ryan's (Marissa) so I said "Summer!" the guys were impressed, and even moreso when I said that Seth named his boat after her. Did I mention I really love this show? So we headed on our way, and I was thinking about it, and I figured I could pass on my copies of the first three seasons, or sell them as a set, and for $1, I'd go back and pick up seasons two and three. So I walked back and the one guy said "Ah, she's back" and laughed and gave some spiel about giving them to my friend and I said "I'll get her sucked in too!" and the other guy said "Yes, share the good word! Spread the gospel of The O.C." It was by far the most glorious thing anyone has ever said to me. I also got Footloose, so I'm excited about that. I want my life to be more like an 80's movie. I want Kevin Bacon to yell "Let's dance!" as glitter rains from the sky. I think that would be cool.
On a more serious note, Memorial Day is Monday, and I would like to take a moment to thank all of our veterans and those currently serving, as well as their families. I also reccomend reading this blog post: https://wdavisonjr.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/remembering-a-friend-on-memorial-day/
"On the stereo, listen as we go, nothing's gonna stop me now." - Phantom Planet ("California" is the theme song for The O.C.)
-D.

Post #72: Finally, Summer!

As of the the thirteenth, I will have finished my first year of college! Yay! It's been a pretty decent year, and I can't wait for next year, mostly because my class lineup is way better than this year's.
Maybe it's because my classes are all lower level, or maybe it's because I took AP classes and I'm pretty good at taking tests, but I just don't feel the pressure some of my classmates are feeling concerning finals week. There are so many kids either sleeping wherever they aren't going to get stepped on or crying. So much crying. Maybe it's just my finals. For Creative Writing, we just had to bring in a poem to read to the class. I performed "Direct Orders" by Anis Mojgani. And I mean performed. I can command a room when I need to. "Direct Orders" has been my favorite ever since Mr. Burge showed it to us my freshman year of high school right before Thanksgiving. Every time I listen to it or read it, I find something new that speaks to me, similar to the way the Schweddy Balls skit on SNL gets funnier every year. I'll admit I had to pause to take a deep breath after I read the line "rock out like your dead grandfather has just come back to take a drive with you in your new car."
With the advent of summer, there also comes the inevitable end of my favorite shows. Gotham ended last week, and it was by far my favorite show this season, followed closely by The Goldbergs. The Chicagos finish up in the next couple of weeks, and I think there's a few more episodes left of The Night Shift (I know, I know, it's bad. But it's so bad it's good. I love it.). This summer's lineup is pretty good. Graceland, Dominion, and The Last Ship come backin the next couple of months, and I'm looking forward to Aquarius on NBC. I also recently started The Following and let me tell you, that show is intense! The season one cliffhanger was crazy! And of course, there's still Masterpiece on PBS. I'm looking forward to Poldark and the WWI medical drama.
The movie lineup for this summer is pretty okay. I saw the latest Avengers movie last week, and it was really good. I want to go see Slow West, Jurrasic World, Pan, Fantastic 4, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (Aw yes Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer!). And most of all, I want to go see Mad Max. I am so excited for it! Tom Hardy as Max? I think yes! And one of the trailers had "Dies Irae" from Verdi's Requiem!
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." - Marcus Aurelius
-D.