What We're Watching

So with the cancellation of V, Stargate Universe, and Heroes within the last few years, and with 24 ending its run, The Murloc and I were concerned we weren't going to have any TV to watch in the evenings, after the chil'uns had gone to bed. We were basically down to Castle, Futurama (only in the summer), and Mythbusters.

Well, the Powers That Be seemed to have decided that this could not stand, and have bestowed upon us lesser mortals more TV fare than we can reasonably consume each week. So here's a breakdown of what we're watching, so you can look down your noses at we who watch too much TV.

Sundays:
The Walking Dead, AMC: Everyone got in to this during the first season last year, and I wanted to give it a shot, but didn't. Finally, after everyone started raving about the second season premiere last month, The Murloc and I decided to add it to the list. After watching the first season on Netflix in two days (it was only six episodes), we got into this one. It's a pretty good take on the forthcoming Zombie Apocalypse, based on a graphic novel. Oh, and apparently, it's very violent. I couldn't tell you, because at some point between murdering hordes of infected with a chainsaw in Left 4 Dead 2, such that I could only see the entrails dribbling from the piles of bodies through the only little splotch on my screen that wasn't covered in blood, and causing the limbs and heads to explode off enemies with a well placed crit in Fallout 3, I became completely desensitized to violence.

Also, I have a theory that when the Zombie Apocalypse actually does happen, it will be stopped almost immediately because we'll all know what to do.

Once Upon A Time, ABC: The Evil Queen casts a curse on Snow White and Prince Charming, and everyone else in the kingdom, erasing their memories and condemning them to never find true happiness by trapping them in a small town in... Maine. No description can do it justice, and it's probably the most imaginative thing on TV in years, brought to you by the writers of Lost. The story revolves around Snow White and Prince Charming's grandson, now adopted by the Evil Queen (who is mayor of the town), who seeks out his mother, who escaped the curse, to bring her back to help break the curse. This is one of three shows that I can't wait for each week.

Mondays:
Terra Nova, Fox: In 2149, the Earth lies in the midst of environmental collapse, but a portal to 85 million BC has opened up to allow humanity to escape to an earlier time—with dinosaurs! This show had me hooked within the first few minutes, but that may just be because I'm a sucker for plots that involve dystopian future societies that limit family size. This show has an interesting premise—with dinosaurs!—and likable characters (including one played by the actor of the best character from blue-people Avatar), which are the two most important things for me in a show, which is good, because it's off to a rocky start—with dinorsaurs! The episodes so far have been a mix between forehead-slapping stupidity and genuine intrigue, much like Star Trek: Voyager, of which it reminds me—but with dinosaurs!—and with which it shares some writers. We'll see how this one goes.

Catholicism, PBS: The four episodes that were to air on public television aired here in October, and were every bit as good as I suspected. Fr. Barron just has a way of explaining the faith in an accessible, intellectual, and moving way. Right now, I'm just waiting for the remaining six episodes to air on EWTN.

Castle, ABC: The best show on TV three years running and vehicle for Nathan Fillion's awesomeness, returns for a much-deserved fourth season. Season three ended with Rick Castle professing his love to Kate Beckett as she lied bleeding from a gunshot wound. Upon recovery, she claims not to have remembered, but we know better. Come for the Firefly references, stay for the great mysteries and crime drama.

Tuesdays:
Last Man Standing, ABC: Why am I watching Tim Allen's new sit-com, which is functionally identical to Home Improvement, but he has three daughters instead of three sons? Shut up, that's why.

Wednesdays:
Mythbusters, Discovery: Stuff blows up. 'Nuff said.

Penn & Teller Tell a Lie, Discovery: Quite clever show, where Penn makes seven amazing claims, of which six are true and one is an utter fabrication. The magic/comedy duo is humorous, and interesting.

Thursdays:
Person of Interest, CBS: A genius computer programmer designs a computer system for the government that monitors everything (surveillance cameras, conversations, phone calls, emails, etc.) looking for terrorist activity. It sees all crimes, but only reports the big stuff, so the designer puts a back door into the system that feeds him the social security number of people the machine thinks will be involved in murder, either as victim or perpetrator. He recruits ex-special-forces operative Jim Caviezel, whom you may remember as Jesus Christ, to assist him. Developed by J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost, Fringe, Star Trek (2009)) and Jonathan Nolan (Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Knight), filled to the brim with intrigue and action, this is easily in the top three things on TV this season.

Fridays:
Grimm, NBC: The second fairy tale-based series in prime time, this one focuses on a detective who is a living relative of The Brothers Grimm, who, as it turns out, wrote about true stories. The detective must "hunt the bad ones", i.e., the villains from the fairy tales. Created by David Greenwalt, who worked with Joss on Buffy and Angel, this one hasn't quite captured my attention like Once Upon a Time. However, I'm willing to give it a try to see where it goes.

Saturdays:
Used for catching up on the rest of the week.

We also find ourselves leaving the TV on Disney channel alot for Damien, so are watching a lot of shows there, the best ones being Phineas and Ferb, and Good Luck Charlie.