In Which I'm a Grumpy Debbie Downer

[shipperx]

:
1)  So I'm trying with HIMYM.  I still like Marshal and Ted.  But... I'm in serious need of a break-up with this show.  Once upon a time, I thought Barney was funny.  Horrible... but funny.  And once upon a time, I liked Robin/Barney together.  Then came their manufactured break-up and Barney reverting to worse than he had ever been before a few seasons ago and since then... ugh.   I keep trying... but I keep disliking it these days.  I seriously need to break up with this show.

2) Speaking of annoying characters... I need to stop picking the scab.  I also need to stop watching "New Girl."  Oh good grief, I find ZD's character to be annoying.    The show has got good ratings and good reviews... so why do I find it to be relentlessly unfunny and its lead to be annoying?  

I did laugh at EW's "Contrarian recap" so at least I know I'm not the only one.  Excerpt from EW:

So far, the first season of New Girl has ruined Dirty Dancing, “Bust a Move,” bangs, and my faith in human beings. {...} You can read about last night’s episode in Lanford Beard’s regular recap of New Girl here, but based on EW’s comments sections, there’s a portion of readers not being served every Wednesday morning by a traditional recap. I’m talking about those of you who have declared a loud “I Don’t (Get It)” to Zooey Deschanel’s quirky new series. {...} She’s flashy, 'adorable', and every so often, makes annoying noises. So I suppose I should understand her roommates’ utter disgust with the new girl. But their disgust is just so incredibly misdirected. Sure, they too find Jess annoying, but her cloyingly quirky personality isn’t what necessarily bothers them. It’s the fact that she has a personality at all. And that is the worst thing about New Girl. And, yes, I’m counting the theme song’s assault on my ears.

In the first few minutes of last night’s episode, Jess instantly became a passive character, pushed around by virtually everyone around her. Nick needed to bring a date to a friend’s wedding in order to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. But he can’t possibly bring his absolutely drop-dead gorgeous new roommate along. She has glasses! And a ponytail! And a personality to boot! “We’re not trying to be mean. We just don’t want you to be yourself in any way,” said Schmidt, who I liked much better when his name was Dennis and he was on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. So Jess agreed to play generic hot girl, and in a mere eight seconds by my count, managed to get dressed in a cute, sexy number. That Jess — she’s so unbelievable, she actually does things that are unbelievable! {...} and I continue to not understand how someone with so little social grace and care for one’s self can have the energy to style her hair so perfectly.

{...} Schmidt unloads on our heroine and calls her a “ruiner.” This is a horrible thing to say about someone in public, mostly because it’s not a word. But it’s also horrible since it was directed at a woman attempting to  aid her new friends. So would Jess finally fight back? Would she give a piece of her mind to these dudes that have done nothing since her arrival but label her a pathetic mess incapable of doing anything for herself? Would she call them out on their sexism and horribleness? Take it away, Jess! Show us your pent-up frustration with these dudes! You are woman! Tell them they can’t suppress your unique, feminine ways, no matter how irritating they may be!

“Tough tator tots, tooter,” she told them. [Head Desk.]

I have to admit I gave up half-way through the episode.  The twee... it bugs!

3)  Speaking of twee that bugs... *sigh* I'm just going to have to accept that I also cannot stand Glee's Rachel Berry.  When it's reached the point that I'm irritated by facial expressions, I'm going to have to accept that I'm not a fan.  Also not a fan of Emma.  Or of Will/Emma and as pretty as Coldplays "Fix You" is... I really, really hate that he thinks he's going to fix Emma's issues (Issues went OTT during the characters  'marriage' to John Stamos. I can sympathize with her OCD.  I can't sympathize with the situation she consciously landed herself in with that unconsummated marriage that so totally would not happen and she wasn't forced into to it so OMG what was she doing?!  *ahem* ) Loved Mike Chang though.

See?  Said I was going to be a grumpy debbie downer.

On the bright side, Raising Hope?  Still funny.

Comments

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Loved Mike Chang though.


It wasn't the traditional Cool but it was still full of energy and amazing dance moves.

[rahirah]

I only watched one episode of New Girl and hated all the characters. The only thing I disagree with in the above review is that she turned into a passive character just for that episode; she was passive for 95% of the episode I watched, too.

If the character weren't conventionally gorgeous, maybe I'd have an easier time believing her self-esteem was so damaged in this particular way. And maybe if I didn't find her so intensely annoying myself, I'd feel sorry for her. Sadly, neither is the case.

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

The show has got good ratings and good reviews... so why do I find it to be relentlessly unfunny and its lead to be annoying?

I think Deschanel is an acquired taste, and her appeal also hinges on how much you identify with her characters. Unfortunately, I happen to identify with her a lot, not because I think I'm pretty and charming (which Deschanel is), but because her characters always seem to have an undercurrent of bitterness and/or inalienable, soul-crushing social ineptness and weirdness.

Yeah, the guys in NG are douches/wimps, but they're just handmaidens to Deschanel. I dunno; I like the show in spite of myself.

As for Raising Hope, it still kills. This week's Deadwood reunion pleased me to no end.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Deadwood! that's where I recognized the guy! It kept bugging me that I recognized him from something but I couldn't think from what.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Yep. This pretty much covers it. I was trying to give it a few episodes, but I think I've just thrown in the towel.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Like him a lot.

[chrisvee.livejournal.com]

ED seems to play the same character over. And over. And over.

I thought I might like NG based on all the great reviews but after three eps, I had to give up. I find it unwatchable.

I've given up on Glee. The characterization is just so uneven and it's gotten absurd enough that the songs and Finn's cute facial expressions just can't paper over it.

I'm enjoying lots of sudsy stuff this season like Ringer and Revenge.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying Revenge. And i agree re: ED, NG, and Glee.