It may have taken seven episodes to get us there, but Ray Donovan finally convinced its lead character to do something interesting. Watching Ray put himself repeatedly in harm’s way (to the absolute bafflement of those he’s trying to get through) almost approaches the level of charming. Especially with the overall, off-kilter weirdness of Sully’s Boston surroundings. More
ComicCon offers all kinds of experiences for attendees. You can stay completely in the world of film or immerse yourself in comics or even spend the weekend exploring tutorials and self-help panels. This year, due to a number of factors and in a pleasant surprise, my Con ended up being very music-heavy. I had the […] More
Ray Donovan, Season 1, Episode 5: “The Golem” Written by: Sean Conway Directed by: Dan Attias Airs Sundays at 10 PM (ET) on Showtime This week’s Ray Donovan is dark, dismal and ultimately useless. For the past four episodes, the show has been two completely separate entities, but as the season creeps towards its eventual […] More
There’s plenty of TV to discuss this week on the podcast, with comedy and reality premieres galore. First we go through the week in comedy, including the premieres of Web Therapy, Childrens Hospital, and NTSF:SD:SUV::. Then we move on to reality, including the premieres of Top Chef Masters and The Writers’ Room and the recent […] More
Four episodes into Ray Donovan and already a regular viewing pattern emerges. When Ray appears onscreen, the natural reaction is to tense up. These are the moments when the show is at its bleakest; when it truly tries to be a crime drama and not some mishmash of family interludes and semi-comedic relationships that might actually be intended for comedic effect. More
Ever since watching the series finale of IFC’s new series, Maron, I have struggled to find the right words and the right tone to describe my experience with the show. It is far from perfect and has its fair share of missteps, but excels in bringing to life Marc Maron’s sardonic world view that he […] More
2013 is only halfway done, but there’s a fair chance that, in a television context, it might well be looked back upon as the year any and all accepted rules of “quality television” became utterly meaningless and the promise of great things arrived in all shapes and sizes, from all directions. Consider Netflix’s House of […] More
Ray Donovan, Season 1, Episode 1: “The Bag or the Bat” Written by: Ann Biderman Directed by: Allen Coulter Airs Sundays at 10 PM (ET) on Showtime There are two sides to Ray Donovan– both to the man and t the series that bears his name. The man is a hard-edged Hollywood fixer (think Harvey […] More
The third track on one of my favorite rock records of the last decade, Okkervil River’s The Stage Names, is called “A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene.” Without context, its lyric is a bit of a tough nut to crack. Will Sheff sings about events unfolding on a TV screen in the first verse, recaps […] More
5-American Horror Story If you’ve yet to tune in to Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck’s show American Horror Story, now’s your chance to catch up before the newest season kicks off this upcoming October. One of the more unique shows currently on air, each season acts as a new story. A new era, new location, […] More
From the first few remarks of a cryptic prologue, Carnivále’s pilot, “Milfay,” ushers in a different sort of drama, a form of storytelling comfortable with its own weirdness and undaunted by grandiose ideas. Just as one might expect from the acts of a traveling circus, there’s much more to Carnivále than meets the eye, and its ambitious first episode deals with themes of magic and a conflict of biblical proportions.
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There’s a bit more TV to discuss this week on the podcast, with a few premieres, some event television, and catch-ups on recent series. First we look at the usual comedies, plus a check in with Save Me, then some reality, including this week’s Tony Awards, and finally our standard dramas, as well as the […] More