I love The Wire. And every episode is jam packed with character and story and revelation and exploration, even if the Plot doesn't advance very far. Lost is long and complicated but they are rarely just spinning their wheels. I'm talking about these shows like V and Flashforward where the "unfolding" is just story…

Slow stories are cowardly
This persistent trend of having a single "epic" story "unfold" over time just makes me more and more angry. EVERY episode of television should have a story with a beginning, middle, and end. It can contribute to a larger whole, things can be complex and challenging, but if you can't finish up…

Still gets me emotional
I rewatched this film today, I have to admit that it still strikes me even after all this time—- I have a weird soft spot in my heart for the Dixie Chicks story. It is true, as noted in the review, that the Dixie Chicks were not in a position where they would be destitute if they lost some of…

the good news is…
…that almost every science fiction series has had a bad first episode. There are rare exceptions—- X-Files, Firefly—- but "genre" shows have a very hard time getting it right out of the gate. So I still have hope.

I did not find there to be any allegory at all. In fact, there was no depiction of the aliens having any impact on the culture at all— characters talked about it, but nothing actually happened which suggested that people were being recruited or indoctrinated or anything except for going to church more. They seemed to…

RE: privately producing television, that is pretty much what Dr. Horrible is. Word on the street is that Joss spent about two hundred thousand to produce that. (that included paying no one.) Having an extremely dedicated fan base probably helped with distribution, but The Guild and The Legend Of Neil have done pretty…

For years and years, sci-fi producers tried to tell great stories in each and every episode. Now we have this notion that you should have one idea for one story and drag it out over an entire season, or an entire series. I think it is perfectly reasonable to "pass judgment" on a show based on the the first three…

I think I have watched almost every episode. There was a run of about 4 episodes last season that were really hot and interesting. But four out of 17 is a dismal track record. And rather than coming back strong this season, they have re-dedicated to the random, meandering formula that most people agree was the worst…

Let This Sick Child Die
It breaks my heart, but Dollhouse is just flat out horrible. I am a passionate Whedon fan, and I wish I had the ability that you other fans have to force your brain to like this show for the tiny occasional moments that are interesting, even though 95% of it is just very rotten. Porn-movie…

I truly cannot believe that people enjoyed this episode. I have loved most of the show, thought the episode six jump up was huge… but this was a massive mess of nonsense. The story was plodding and painfully predictable. And how can you think that "rinse and spit" is anything other than stunningly stupid?
All of the…

The director of "Wrath Of Khan" had exactly the same approach: he wasn't a Star Trek fan and wanted to aim the movie at all audiences, not fans. Interesting that the only two Trek Movies that are genuinely considered good films are the ones created by non-fans.

The movie is clearly designed (intentionally) to be seen in a raucous party group environment. If you saw it that way and liked it, doesn't that mean the movie is a success? Stand by your drunken love, man!

But it hurts so good…
Repo! is a great example of a movie which is quite terrible (just like Rocky Horror is) but once you have already seen it once or twice, you can start to ignore the things that are horrible (oh, those lyrics!) and just enjoy the other unique and fun and outrageous details. I don't think "cult"…

Dollhouse and Terminator: Same Problem
They are a perfect match: both shows are determined to avoid their own best ideas. For Terminator, they have fascinating robots with huge sci-fi (and action) potential and instead make a show about depressed suburbanites sulking around warehouses. With Dollhouse, they have a…