steelcage matches and tv show suggestions

[jlh]

I voted in the preliminaries of the current fandom steelcage match but sadly missed the first round. The third round just went up, and I'm impressed by the march of Mal Reynolds and am cheering for him to vanquish all of Sci-Fi; he's already smashed Kara Thrace and Fox Mulder and is holding his own against Ten, which is impressive. I have my fingers crossed for Chandler Bing and of course Barney, though if they each win their current round I don't know who I'll vote for in the Elite Eight! Also Veronica Mars ftw, Teen division.

I've decided to get Netflix, finally, and I'm sort of atremble at the pile of goodies that await me. I'll be able to finish Deadwood. I'm definitely going to dive into the mystery shows that I would occasionally catch on A&E back when it was a good channel, like Midsomer Murders and Murders in Suburbia and all of that. Maybe even those old Campion shows to decide if I want to read the books (also, aww, Tristan!). I'm also going to watch Martin, which I ignored while it was on for reasons I don't recall.

So, knowing that I adore romance and mysteries, and have probably at this point watched as much sci-fi as I will need to for the next few years, and don't much like action/adventure at all, what tv shows would you recommend I put on the list?

Comments

[longtimegone]

FOX MULDER FOREVER.

(yeah, he's totally going to lose to Captain Tight Pants, I know, but old habits die hard, and Fox Mulder was my first Big TV Love)

Netflix is awesome, because of the ability to watch TV shows, but god, when you get stuck? Total Netflix guilt. :)) I've got Freaks & Geeks in my queue (after I finish Farscape) and also S2 & 3 of Slings and Arrows.

[longtimegone]

Also, the match has moved to round three. The Sweet Sixteen!

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Okay I just looked at the posters, and LOL that Angel's poster is of the muppet. Perhaps they didn't want two photos of Boreanaz.

Anyway, I'm really surprised at how well Mal is holding his own against Ten so far. Also Lorelai against Spike.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I'm really surprised that Mal is smashing Fox and smashed Kara because they both have very large and active fanbases. I mean, I know the browncoats are hard core, but I didn't realize they were that dominant. However, I think he'll eventually fall to the Tenth doctor. The voting just closed and Ned from Pushing Daisies barely edged out Captain Jack from Torchwood and I'm pretty shocked at that one. (The fourth survivor in that bracket is Dean W.)

Freaks and Geeks, I definitely have to put that on the list. Ziggy bought me Firefly so I'm watching that after BSG is over. People keep telling me about the romance in Farscape, but I'm hesitant—maybe when the BSG aftertaste is gone.

I was lucky to catch Slings & Arrows on Sundance. I loved S1&2, but I don't like Lear, so I backed out on S3.

[longtimegone]

The Browncoats are entirely scary... that was easily one of the biggest panel's at Dragon*Con last year. It's really incredible...that show's been off the air for almost 7 years and was only aired for 12 episodes!

Hmmmm, Farscape. I'm in the middle of S2, and it's been slow going with me for the whole ride. It's not that I don't like it, but it's a show I have to be in the mood to watch.

And I can see why you would be hesitant about FS. On one hand, it's possibly the show with the most outward "sci fi" trappings of any show I've watched. On the other, there's a lot going on there, emotionally, for the main character in ways that I don't find on other shows in the genre. And apparently it was conceived as one big romantic arc for John and Aeryn. They are definitely smoking hot together on screen!

I have mixed feelings about the show that I haven't quite thought about enough to articulate. If you do ever watch, I'll be interested to hear what you think.

Re: Slings & Arrows, I watched S1 before I went ot see Hamlet at wordplay's urging, and I really enjoyed it. I want to watch the last two seasons soon!

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

D'you like old (like twenties/thirties era) stuff?

If so, I strongly recommend the Dorothy Sayers mysteries, "Strong Poison" and "Have His Carcase". Romantic mysteries and AWESOME. (The third one, "Gaudy Night", kinda sucks which is sad, bc the book rocks.)

I've er... also been watching All Creatures Great and Small on netflix watch instant with fond pbs type memories. But I don't know how you feel about vets. But they are cozy and I love them. But not a mystery, though romance happens, of course.

Will see if I can think of anything else good.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I own the Sayers, actually! Gaudy Night does suck compared to the book, but taken on its own merits it's not bad. I don't blame them for wanting to distill the book to the mystery plot, though it's annoying that it therefore is more about Peter than Harriet.

Have you watched any of the ones they made in the 70s from the non-Harriet books? I saw Murder Must Advertise long ago.

My family were hard core on All Creatures; I should add that to the list. Many Saturday nights were spent with some coke, chip & dip, and Muppet Show/All Creatures.

[kalichan.livejournal.com]

Should've known of course, re: Sayers. I also missed the pleasures of Oxford & ivory tower in the adaptation, but i guess that's hard to convey. I haven't seen any of the 70s ones, but I should try to track them down. I am on a Sayers kick at the moment.

Oh, another guilty thing... I'm uh.. waiting for disks of the Avonlea series that used to play on Disney in the eighties, I think? "Road to Avonlea" or something? We never got pay channels so I never got to watch them as a kid... so I guess I have been waiting to see them for TWENTY YEARS. lol.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Oooh, right. I haven't seen much of those, but I did see the Anne adaptations. The first one was excellent, the second a weird blend of Anne of the Island and Windy Poplars, in a way that just confused me at the time—Anne falls for little Elizabeth's father? I haven't seen the one they made recently, which I believe this icon is from. I always loved that Bruce McCullough from Kids in the Hall was steady Fred Wright. You'll have to tell me how the series is. I think it's a take off on those Chronicles of Avonlea books.

[heinous_bitca.livejournal.com]

Chandler was ahead with a strong early lead, but Jon has come from behind. I was surprised (Go Team Bing!), but pleased. Now I am sad, because I thought he might have a chance.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I need to link to round three! At the moment I voted, Chandler and Jon were neck and neck. Which I'm kind of surprised by, I have to admit.

[heinous_bitca.livejournal.com]

And now Chandler is ahead.
And now he's behind by 3.

/blames strangerface!!!

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Constant refreshing leads to madness!

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

I was also going to suggest "Freaks and Geeks" - it's so good, Clio! We're rewatching right now b/c I have a plot bunny for it and I had forgotten how very much I loved it. I think you'll really enjoy the music, too, plus early Jason Segel!

Was it you I was talking to last week who didn't really like "Wonderfalls"?

[jlh.livejournal.com]

You remind me that I have borrowed Wonderfalls from Val, and should watch it! Durh! She also lent me the recent Shakespeare adaptations and I've watched two of those. I need to put those things right in front of me so I remember. (So that wasn't me who didn't like it.)

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Have you ever watched "The Grand?" I got really into that when it was on. It's about a Manchester Hotel in the 20s.:-)

[jlh.livejournal.com]

And I need to follow your lead and rewatch House of Eliot! But The Grand sounds, er, grand!

[sisterpandora.livejournal.com]

I'm sure this is to be expected of me, but I would greatly like to recommend the Foyle's War set. Nineteen English mysteries set in and around Hastings during WWII. I cannot tell you how much I adore them. There is romance, there are wonderful characters, there's even some appearances of American troops. I can tell you more if you like, but I don't want to over sell just because I love it.

If you really like romance in with your mystery, and don't mind something a touch older, perhaps you would enjoy the Brother Cadfael Mysteries. Set during the war between Stephen and Maud, They follow the mysteries encountered by a soldier turned monk (in his late middle life) who happens to be an expert herbologist at an English monastery set just a ways from the Welsh boarder in Shrewsbury. The romances are there, as well as some herb lore, and interesting tidbits along the way. I really enjoyed them back when they originally aired but I cannot say whether they will hold up next to Sayers.