Right before the hand-holding. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish/ AMC.
Read on for my recap & review of Mad Men 4xo6, “Waldorf Stories,” aired Sunday, August 29th, 2010:
On Sunday night, before watching Mad Men, I watched the show win the Emmy for “Outstanding Drama Series,” for a third year in a row. Matthew Weiner and Erin Levy took home statues for “Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series,” for the phenomenal season three finale “Shut the Door. Have a Seat.” At the Creative Arts Emmy Awards last week, Mad Men won for “Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series” and “Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series.” The latter was for the fabulous up-do created by department head hairstylist Lucia Mace, for the Roman get-away episode, “Souvenir.” Well-deserved awards all around. It was only fitting that while Jon Hamm attended the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, the fictional Don Draper attended an award ceremony of his own, the CLIO Awards. Named for the muse of history, the CLIO Awards is actually a real organization, and according to its website, “is the world’s most recognized global awards competition for advertising, design, and interactive.” Yes, this week’s award themed episode was well-timed, and the CLIO Awards provided a fitting center piece for the episode airing the night of the Emmys. read more…
Mad Men meets True Blood. Photo Credit: Michael Yarish/ AMC.
[Updated post]: Here is the second Heroine TV Podcast, originally recorded and released on August 27th, and edited a few days later to resolve some audio quality problems. Mad Men talk is first, and the True Blood talk starts around the 63 minute and 20 second mark. Heads up, there is some vague discussion of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, but nothing too spoilery or specific. You can also subscribe to the podcast via iTunes.
So, yesterday, the following series of tweets happened:
For those curious about Alaric's "journal" - go watch the beginning of Bloodlines again. :) (It's after the title card.)
tvdnews
Vampire-Diaries.net
It's either a personal journal, or he has an anonymous blog called Super Sekrit Adventures of a Hot History-Teachin' Vampire Slayer.tvdnews
Vampire-Diaries.net
@tvdnews Um, now I want to write a mock blog post about "the Super Sekrit Adventures of a Hot History-Teachin' Vampire Slayer." Remind me.
heroine_tv
Lucia
@heroine_tv Doooooooo it. "Saw Damon today. Each time we come face to face, I want to knee him in the balls and buy him a drink afterwards."tvdnews
Vampire-Diaries.net
Here is the result of my attempt at “Super Sekrit Adventures of a Hot History-Teachin’ Vampire Slayer.” Even though it’s a blog, Alaric adopted the “Dear Diary” format. Vampire slayers are just funny like that. Also, to preserve anonymity, he purposely used incorrect dates, so the timeline is still uncertain. Enjoy!*
October 16th, 1988
Dear Diary,
Today kids at school made fun of my name, again. I don’t know what my parents were thinking. My mother said that they’re just jealous of my manly good looks, and called me her lil’ Han Solo. I told her that I am 10 and my name is not Han, but she just laughed. Grrrr. I hate my name.
August 24th, 2001
Dear Diary,
I met the most beautiful woman on campus today. Her name is Isobel, and she said that she is studying parapsychology. I don’t even know what that means, but she’s really hot.
August 25th, 2001
Dear Diary,
Well it turns that para-whatever is kind of freaky. That Isobel-chick is into some weird psychic stuff. Whatever, it’s not like any of that supernatural stuff is real. She seems really cool, so this is sure to end well. I just wish she would stop talking about vampires …
September 10th, 2007
Dear Diary,
Isobel gave me the ugliest ring today. It is just soooo gaudy. Oh well, I love her too much not to wear it. I’ll just tell people it’s a family heirloom if they give me a hard time.
September 18th, 2007
Dear Diary,
I can’t believe that Isobel is really gone. They haven’t found her body, and the police have no leads. But I will find out what happened to her. I read all kinds of stuff on her laptop, and it terrifies me. Vampires are real. I have to train to kill them so that I can avenge my wife’s death. But how does one even start? I guess that I will begin with a Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathon. I mean, it can’t hurt, can it?
November 12th, 2009
Dear Diary,
Every day I ask myself, W.W.B.D.: What would Buffy do? But Buffy never taught history in Mystic Falls. Today I’ll have to figure out how to do things my own way, as I start work at my new job. I’m so close to learning more about vampires, I can feel it.
November 19th, 2009
Dear Diary,
Today I staked my first vampire: Logan Fell. He was giving Jenna a hard time, so I kept an eye on him, and realized what he really was. Not only was he a vampire, but he was snooty, just like all the Fells. Good riddance.
January 21st, 2010
Dear Diary,
I can’t stop thinking about killing Logan Fell. I mean, I finally found a vampire. I found one, after years of research and study. There it was, right in front of me. I was terrified. As I stared it in the eyes, I drove a stake through its heart. I was right about Mystic Falls. There is evil here. I can sense it. Feel it. It’s everywhere.**
Later that night …
But Logan Fell was not the only evil thing in Mystic Falls. The vampire who killed my wife is here! I ran into him at the Mystic Grill. He’s extremely handsome … those blue eyes are just so piercing. Um … where was I? Oh yeah … alas! Alack! Sigh. I am so tortured. I barely have time to shave. I only have time to shave just enough to remain ruggedly handsome. I mean, it’s not like I’m trying to go for the classic Marlboro-man look, and I definitely don’t have a picture of scruffy Harrison Ford from the 1970s hanging next to my bathroom mirror. Really. Wait, what have you heard? I just turn out swoon-worthy without even trying. And have I mentioned lately that I miss my wife? I’m so damaged and sensitive.
January 28th, 2010
Dear Diary,
Today I read some porn for history teachers. I love a good first hand account of the Civil War. Also, I think that the Gilberts are definitely connected to vampires, but I have to learn more. Let’s see … what else happened today? Oh, yeah, I chaperoned a dance and my wife’s killer showed up and tried to compel me. Luckily, I just thought, W.W.B.D., and totally kept my cool. I’m really starting to get the hang of this whole vampire slayer thing. Oh, and Jenna totally digs me.
February 4th, 2010
Dear Diary
I had a run in with Stefan Salvatore today. But don’t worry, I was totally in control of the situation. Totally. He even compared me to Van Helsing. I mean, Van Helsing is not as cool as Buffy, but still pretty awesome. I am so hard-core.
March 25th, 2010
Dear Diary,
Jenna roped me into a Bachelor Auction fundraiser. But wait, it gets worse. I was auctioned off next to DAMON of all people … er, vampires. And he started talking trash about my dead wife. Ugh. I hate that guy. Though he does have lovely eyes. But still … such a jerk. Oh, and apparently Isobel had a child before I knew her, and it is possibly Elena. Why me, world? Why me? I am starting to feel like I didn’t know Isobel very well.
But wait, it gets even worse. I was so pissed at Damon for what he said, that I went to his house and tried to stake him. I mean, that’s what Buffy would do, right? Unfortunately, I ended up dead. Yep, the a#!hole killed me. Luckily the ring from Isobel protected me. Ugh, I hate Damon.
April 8th, 2010
Dear Diary,
Today I teamed up with Damon and Elena to save Stefan. I know, right? I never thought that I would team up with my wife’s killer to save another vampire. Hmmm … why did I again? Oh yeah, nobody calls me “coward.” I am the Marty McFly of vampire slaying. Also, I punched Damon in the face. It was amaaaaaaaazing. Today was the best day ever.
April 15th, 2010
Dear Diary,
Ugh. Elena’s uncle has a ring that looks exactly like mine! And it gets worse: he is the one who gave Isobel the ring that she gave to me! FML.
April 22nd, 2010
Dear Diary,
The Founders’ Council think that Founders’ Day is more important than WWII, apparently. Ugh. So to placate them, I have to interrupt my syllabus to talk about the town’s history. Studying Texas would be way cooler. Only wimps have ancestors from Virginia. Also, I helped Elena with a plan to drug Stefan today. He’s so out of control that he even choked me. I thought that we were friends! I’m totally deleting Stefan’s number from my phone book. I mean, he was getting close to Fave Five status, but no more.
April 29th, 2010
Dear Diary,
I’m starting to think that Damon’s not half-bad. Yeah, he killed my wife, and he killed me, but gee he is so much fun. We went to investigate a tip on the tomb vampires today, and I ended up staking a vampire. It was so funny, because before we went into the house, I warned Damon not to kill anyone, but then I totally ended up killing someone. Hilarious! Okay, maybe you had to be there. Anyways, after I killed the vamp, we shared some blood and beer. No big deal. Oh, and we bonded over unrequited love. We’re totally Scoobies now.
May 6th, 2010
Dear Diary,
Today was the worst day ever. I was drowning my sorrows at the bar last night, as I am wont to do, when my dead wife showed up. She is a vampire! I am not even kidding, you guys. She didn’t have any answers for me. It sucked. All she wanted was for me to arrange a meeting with her and her daughter, Elena. When I said no, she threatened to kill my students. They’re all pretty annoying, but it would be wrong, so I had to arrange the meeting. When I went to report to the other Scoobies, Damon kept on asking me a million questions. I was like, “Hello, I was a little too distracted by my dead vampire wife to ask questions.” Geez, people.
But later Damon and I spent some quality time together, and I’m really starting to understand him. And I don’t believe that he’s really given up all his humanity, like Isobel has. But I’m still not letting him kill my wife, evil bit#! or not.
*This is meant to be entirely silly. Please take it for the nonsense that it is. Thanks!
**Actual dialogue from “Bloodlines.”
Okay, all done for now. Please feel free to construct your own diary entries in the comments section. Have some fun!
Julie Benz stars as Stephanie Powell, a scientist, wife, and mother. Oh, and she also has super speed. Photo Credit: ABC.com.
Good news: if you’re in the U.S., you can view the No Ordinary Family pilot in its entirety, though only for a limited time. Just go to No Ordinary Family Advanced Screening and enter the case-sensitive password: Extraordinary. Thanks to No Ordinary Family Online, for posting the info. [Update: KSite TV posted about this advance screening yesterday, and the password was originally discovered by The Stitch Kingdom.] The series doesn’t actually premiere until September 28th, at 8/7c on ABC, so it is a nice treat to watch more than a month in advance.
Not sure if it’s worth 44 minutes and 15 seconds of your time? Well, here’s the concept. The show centers on an oh-so-stereotypical nuclear family: dad, mom, teenage daughter, and teenage son. Dad is unfulfilled at his job, and just wishes he could make a difference. Mom is super successful at work, but struggling to balance her duties at home. Teenage daughter texts all the time and has a teenage boyfriend, who she’s worried might break up with her because she’s not ready to sleep with him. And teenage son is struggling with school and whines a lot. But things take a turn when the family’s plane crashes while on vacation. They survive, but not unchanged, as each soon discovers startling new abilities. How will each of these characters deal with their newfound powers? And how will these new powers affect each family member’s relationships with one another? These are the questions that the pilot explores, and that the series promises to continue to explore.
Comparisons are inevitable, so let’s just get that out of the way. There are some elements to remind us of Heroes and The Incredibles, but there is also a lot of everyday family drama. The tone and scope of No Ordinary Family is drastically different from Heroes. For one thing, it is far less epic than Heroes ever tried to be, which could work in its favor. No Ordinary Family is more concerned with Stephanie and Jim’s rocky marriage than destiny and saving the world. It is about one family, one story, not 15 or so different ones, conveniently combined into one show. This could allow for greater depth of characters and story lines, as the plot is not constantly shifting to take on new and shiny powers. However the No Ordinary Family pilot is in no way as strong and moving as the Heroes pilot was. Heroes started out spectacularly, but couldn’t sustain the momentum. No Ordinary Family has a less brilliant start, but there is a lot of potential for growth, and not as far to fall and disappoint. We shall have to wait and see what the series becomes.
All in all, I enjoyed the pilot. It was heartfelt, while also remaining light and entertaining. Julie Benz and Michael Chiklis are great in their roles, and I also really enjoyed their respective sidekicks, played by Taylor Townsend and Romany Malco. The kids are probably the weakest link, so hopefully their characters will become less annoying in the future. While annoying teenagers are realistic, they are hard to watch every week. Another problem is that some of the writing is just clichéd and unoriginal. The dialogue attempted to be witty at some points, but it never quite got there. The humorous moments ran a little flat. Still, a show is just starting to find its feet in a pilot, so there is a lot of potential here, and I will definitely keep watching. read more…
People.com has posted a new trailer for season 2 of The Vampire Diaries. It is all Katherine Katherine Katherine. (Okay, fine, there’s some other stuff too.) And thanks to ItsBadassStew, it is available on YouTube, so I’ve posted it below:
Wow. Just what I’ve alwaaaaaaaays wanted. Thank you, television gods. Mark your calendars for the season 2 premiere, Thursday, September 9th at 8/7c on The CW.
Photo Credit: Michael Yarish/ AMC.
Read on for my recap & review of Mad Men 4×04, “The Rejected,” aired August 15th, 2010:
This week, Don and Allison both dealt with the consequences of their night together. Allison cried, she threw something breakable, and finally quit. “I don’t say this easily, but you are not a good person,” she declares, as she walks out the door. It was a brilliant exit for her character, and for her portrayer Alexa Alemanni, as we so rarely see women show how they really feel on this show. Our three female leads—Betty, Peggy, and Joan—rarely permit the world to see what they’re feeling. But Allison let it all out. While one could argue that she should have known better than to get mixed up with her boss, and that she really could not have hoped for better treatment from him, it was still almost triumphant to see her confront him. After all, he is in a position of authority over her, as her employer, so the burden of the blame must be put on him. The icing on the cake, however, was Don’s punishment at the end of the episode: he is saddled with Miss Blankenship. At first I thought that perhaps Don’s guilt over hooking up with Allison drove him to request an older woman, so he wouldn’t be similarly temped. But then I realized, no. No way. When Joan saw Allison running out of Don’s office, she sized up the situation immediately. This is certainly not the first time that she has seen this behavior, and it will probably not be the last. While Joan can’t control everything, she does control the hiring of secretaries. This is Don’s punishment, as meted out by Joan. Thank you, Joan. (Also, that royal blue dress looked absolutely divine on her, didn’t you think?)
This was also an important episode for Peggy, who had a lot to do. It was interesting to see her reaction to Allison’s break down in the session with Faye. Peggy is very sympathetic … at first. However, when she realizes that Allison slept with Don, and, even worse, that Allison (and probably others too) thinks that Peggy slept with Don too, she gets defensive. She cares about Don, and doesn’t want to believe the worst of him. Additionally, she is offended on her own behalf. Peggy lashes out: “You’re problem is not my problem. And honestly, you should get over it.” Waaaaay harsh. And also a lie. In many ways, Allison’s problem is Peggy’s problem … or at least it was. No, Peggy never slept with Don, but she did have an office romance that ended badly: a sexual relationship with Pete that resulted in an unwanted pregnancy. But Peggy has pushed that part of her past so deep down, that she’s not able to access those emotions to relate to Allison. Instead she berates her. Her words to Allison echo those of Joan, back when Peggy was falling apart, but there is a far different tone. Joan didn’t want any of her girls crying to her about their problems. Personal problems were to be dealt with outside of work, and on one’s own time. Peggy is far more defensive, and far less professional. But knowing what she’s been through, how can you blame her? read more…
The first Heroine TV Podcast: Glamping, women in the sixties, Edith Wharton, vampires, and more
The consequences of glamping. Photo Credit: ABC Family.
My sister Francesca (the author of much of the “sister commentary” on this blog and on my Twitter) agreed to let me record our latest conversation. So here is my first attempt at a Heroine TV Podcast. We talk about Pretty Little Liars, Mad Men, and True Blood … and lots of other stuff too. In case you don’t watch all three, the PLL discussion is first, and then the Mad Men talk begins at the 39:20 mark. Skip ahead to 92:40 for True Blood. Tangents include Edith Wharton’s masterpiece The Age of Innocence, One Tree Hill, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Gilmore Girls, Jack & Bobby, Kelly Cutrone, and more. We have a sliiiiiight problem staying on topic. Take a listen if that doesn’t bother you. Enjoy!
Update: You can now subscribe to the podcast via iTunes.
A rare glimpse of Joan's home life. Photo Credit: AMC/ Michael Yarish.
Read on for my recap & review of Mad Men episode 4×03, “The Good News,” aired August 8th, 2010:
Previously on Mad Men, we learned that Don was really Dick Whitman, but had taken on the identity of dead soldier Don Draper. Snag? The real Don Draper had a wife, who knew that Dick was not really Don Draper. The two made friends, however, and the con worked out. This week, we saw this original Mrs. Draper again, as Don went to visit her in Los Angeles. Also previously, Joan learned that her husband, Dr. Greg Harris, was not the talented surgeon that she dreamed he was. His failure prompted him to join the army—a decision that will most certainly result in him being sent to Vietnam. But back to the present … er, the very end of 1964.
The episode opens on Joan’s appointment with her gynecologist. We have met this doctor before, and I believe that he and Joan even once had a romantic relationship. That is all in the past now, as Joan gets advice on getting pregnant. He asks when she stopped taking her birth control pills, and warns her that it can take a while before she’s fertile. Joan quips, “All this time I’ve been afraid of skipping one, and it can take two months?” He suggests that she join her husband at basic training in San Antonio, but Joan explains that they don’t know when he’ll be going. The doctor is surprised that Joan and her husband have been married for two years, but are only now trying to start a family. Joan tells him, tersely, “We have a plan.” And I imagine that plan did not include Greg coming home one day to tell her he joined the army. The doctor adds that he only went to Korea because they made him: “I didn’t have a choice or a wife.” Not very comforting. Joan: “Walter, I just want to make sure … well, you know that I’ve had a couple procedures … I just want to make sure they don’t affect anything.” Dr. Walter: “A couple? I only remember one.” Joan explains, “There was one before that.” The doctor asks, “Was it performed by a physician?” Joan: “She said she was a midwife.” He reminds her that she got pregnant after that, and adds: “Like the song says, whatever will be, will be. Happy New Year.” Wow. While the word “abortion” is never used, clearly Joan has had two. I’m not exactly surprised, as this was possibly hinted at in earlier seasons. Still, it is sad to think about Joan’s rocky road towards love and success. Like Peggy, pre-marital sex is fraught with peril and consequences for Joan, in stark contrast to their male counterparts. This reality is why Peggy could not be swayed with arguments of what one does is Sweden. It also contributes to how Joan holds on so tightly to the respect she has earned in the workplace. read more…
GDon is totally blocking Joan in this photo. I do not approve. People want to see the red dress! Photo Credit: Michael Yarish/ AMC.
Read on for my recap and review of Mad Men 4×01, “Christmas Comes But Once a Year,” aired August 1st, 2010:
Previously on Mad Men, it was made very clear that the fortunes of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (hereafter referred to as SCDP) are directly tied to Lucky Strike. The cigarette company is by far the firm’s largest client—making up 70% of their business. An “untenably insecure position,” indeed, Mr. Pryce. Lee Garner, Jr. has power over SCDP, and he’s willing to use it, just for sport. The extent of Garner Jr.’s selfish cruelty was already made apparent with his treatment of Sal back in “Wee Small Hours” (I miss you, Sal!), so his behavior this week was no surprise, sadly. This time around, Jr. set his sights on Roger Sterling. No, not sexually, but he used his power to force Roger to dress as Santa Claus. A small act, but one aimed to humiliate and send a clear message as to who’s in charge. These machinations, of course, took place with the holiday season in the background. Despite the title of the episode, Christmas does come more than once this year. And the early Christmas present is just what I always wanted (and some stuff that I could do without). I mean, we got a heartwarming letter to Santa, a Conga Line, amazing dialogue, and Joan wrapped up like a present. Thank you, Santa AMC! Unwanted, however, is Don’s treatment of his secretary. For shame, Don Draper. For shame. On to the recap …
It is snowing when the episode begins, and we see Betty and family shopping for a Christmas tree. Bobby and Henry seem to have a good relationship, which is interesting. Sally is definitely less happy with the new arrangement. Suddenly a boy calls Sally’s name. It is Glen—that weird neighbor boy who was obsessed with Betty and asked her to cut a lock of her hair for him. Shiver. Sally politely greets him and he reminds her, “It’s Glen.” Sally, like the viewers, knows this. Glen protests, “Well, you all walked right by me when you came in.” Ouch. Sally apologizes. He tells her that his mom got married. Remember her? The scandalous divorced woman? Betty was oh so disapproving of her. My, how things have changed. Anyway, Bobby explains that she got married, and now he’s supposed to live with his new step-father. Bobby asks if Glen is buying a tree. No, he explains, he’s working. His job is to bring twine over and then he gets to cut it. He proudly shows the kids a lanyard that he made, attached to a knife for cutting said twine. Aaaand the creepy child is ARMED. Uh oh. Bobby is impressed, and possibly Sally is too. As the Draper children prepare to leave, Glen tells Sally, “Maybe I’ll call you.” Yikes! Be afraid, Sally. Be very afraid. read more…
The original foursome. Oh, they look so young!
Thanks to a Christmas gift of Dawson’s Creek: The Complete Series
Dawson’s Creek premiered on January 20th, 1998, during my junior year of high school. Back then, I turned my nose up at the show. In my 16-year-old mind, it seemed like television for preppy people who wore Abercrombie & Fitch, and the actors looked straight out of a J. Crew ad. This did NOT appeal. Looking back at the fashions for Beverly Hills, 90210, a show that I did watch loyally, my fashion snobbery is mind-boggling. Also the theme song seemed sappy and annoying, and I harbored the mistaken notion that I was too cool for such things. Again, I will point out that I watched Beverly Hills, 90210. Sigh. I have since learned that there are few things that I am too cool for. Also, working against The Creek was that none of the actor’s conformed to my 16-year old notion of attractiveness—neither girls nor guys. A preppy show with a ridiculous theme song, and no prospective beauty idols or imaginary TV boyfriends? As if. read more…
