Lia's Blog

When True Blood ended on that horrid note, I was dejected. First off, Alan Ball had ruined the season finale of my favorite show, and now I would have to wait for at least 9 months, hoping and praying that he will redeem himself in the third season. Secondly, I was also extremely put out because it seemed that there wasn’t going to be much TV for me to watch in the interim.

Oh, how wrong I was…

I started off the fall season watching the multitude of CW shows that the channel began airing this season. On Mondays, Gossip Girl dominates. I watched the first episode, and then I stopped. It was too pathetic. And my favorite couple, the dynamic duo of Chuck and Blair, had fallen far from the peak they hit last season.

On to Tuesday. The remake of the classic 90210 also started, and on a fairly good note. Until the second episode. The show had originally began as something appropriately classic soap-opera-like, but with enough edgy twists to keep an audience from getting bored. Of course that didn’t last (I swear to God, Alan Ball has made me cynical about all television producers/writers/directors!). By the second episode, we were back to the whole “I’m going to take revenge on my arch foe in the stupideset, most cliche and predictable way possible and my arch enemy is not going to see through my devious plan because that would be so un-soap-opera-like”. Luckily, I was introduced to another classic remake, Melrose Place, and found that I actually really loved it! And not just because there is a premed student named Lauren as a main character…which is pretty cool (despite the fact that she’s turned to prostituting herself to pay for her medical school fees…but that’s beside the point). Anyway, it’s a really great show. I’m afraid it won’t last though, because shows like 90210 give it a bad name :(  hmph.

Wednesdays. Law and Order:SVU got pushed here after being kicked off their regular Tuesday spot. I’m not shedding any tears for them there. This new season started off even more ridiculous than the way last season ended (if that’s possible…). The episodes are either comprised of predictable plot-lines or completely, incomprehensibly implausible events that just make you laugh out loud. Which is precisely why I’m still watching it. Plus the fact that you always get interesting guest starts on that show. Also airing on Wednesdays is the new CW drama The Beautiful Life: TBL, which is also surprisingly good. I like the characters a lot, but the plot is not exactly catching my attention. Also, Mischa Barton…really? Ew. And that girl from Summerland? Hmm…okayyyy. Regardless, the characters are pretty well-developed (something refreshing after the disaster that is True Blood).

Thursdays. ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS OF THE WEEK. Because of one show, and one show only. And no, it is DEFINITELY NOT Grey’s Anatomy. PSH. Vampire Diaries. That’s right, you heard me. I know the title sounds cheesy, but it’s SO GOOD. Based off a book series by LJ Smith, Vampire Diaries is one of the best shows on television as of this moment. The writing is incredibly witty (especially Damon’s lines—they have me laughing out loud!) and the characters are all relatable and complex enough to be interesting. Not to mention that show boasts some of the most beautiful actors on television. Seriously. The actors on Vampire Diaries even beat the ones on The Beautiful Life, and those people are supposed to portray models!! I’m loving the show, but once again, Alan Ball has tainted me through and through. I’m paranoid now that they’re going to end up doing the whole “My name is Alan Ball and I’m a prejudiced idiot who is going to make the anti-hero a villain just because I want to without stopping to understand how the audience will see it”. Basically, I’m afriad they’ll Eric-ify Damon—aka make him into a complete and total bad guy with no inner complexities. So far it’s gone alright, but I can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding for the future…All we can do is hope and pray!

Finally on to Friday: which brings me to, quite possibly, the most complex, intricately-developed show on television—Dollhouse. You’ve got to hand it to Joss Whedon, he really understands his audience (unlike some OTHER director we know…ehem). He gives us enough Tahmoh (<3) to satisfy without making the entire show about Tahmoh’s hotness (which would be easy to do). The plot is incredibly interesting, surprisingly deep, and captivating in the best possible way.

So that’s that for fall TV of 2009! Stay tuned :) ….yuck. that was cheesy :p

Love, Lia <3

PS. Desperate Housewives. GOOD show. I’m currently about halfway through the first season and LOVING IT. Yay for suburban moms with dark secrets!!

Okay. I’ve decided that hands down, war movies are the BEST source for hot guy entertainment. From Band of Brothers, to Black Hawk Down, to Saving Private Ryan, war movies ALWAYS have hot guys.

The newest addition to my list of hot guys in war movies is the seven part HBO miniseries Generation Kill. I was, of course, inspired to start watching this because of the love of my life, Mr. Alexander Skarsgard. And let me just say…there are no words to describe the amount of hotness he exudes in that show. His acting is really good as well. And he smiles! In contrast to True Blood, where we are rarely blessed with seeing the beauty of his smile, he gives these manly grins that makes me die of happiness. God, that man is beautiful.

Anyway, I’m about to watch episode two: “The Cradle of Civilization”, even though I should be studying for my biology test and doing my homework…oh well. Drooling over Alexander Skarsgard > everything!

Love, Lia <3

I have to admit, although it may sound nerdy, I really was looking forward to my first day of school. Summer is definitely my favorite time of year, don’t get me wrong, but when you lay around with nothing to do for weeks on end…Well it definitely gets a bit tiring.

Every person—especially girls—hopes to start off the new year a more-improved, prettier version of last year. On our first day, we get to school with our hair perfectly done, dressed in the cutest outfit we manage to put together, and secretly hope that the boy we’ve always had a soft spot for will turn his head and finally notice. Or any boy, for that matter.

No such luck. Unless you get a “Princess Diaries” full-blown makeover, everyone pretty much looks the same, except slightly better dressed.

It is fortunate that people are so resilient, because if they weren’t, if they felt the let the full impact of the non-reaction hit them, no one would be able to hope for anything again. Yet, in our youthful tenacity, we plow forward, determined that we each will get our day—a magical day where people will appreciate your careful makeup, your delicate curls, your expensive floral skirt, or your newly-toned legs.

Let’s be real here. It is precisely because we desire this that causes no one to notice. Everyone is too focused on wanting everyone else to notice them, that of course no one is looking at anyone else. If everyone looked at everyone, everyone would be appreciated—ideally, at least.

I came to school in a simple beige JCrew top with pink ribbing, a Sevens jeans miniskirt, and my favorite pair of white Sketcher flip flops. And I was comfortable with that. I felt that simplicity looked good, and I felt good. My best friend was a different story altogether. A bright yellow tank top, a loud paisley skirt in brown and gold, and look-at-me brown gladiator-style sandals. She looked pretty, no doubt, but I couldn’t help but pity her efforts.

Because despite the newly-highlighted hair and the matching outfit, she is still the same person as last year. And no matter what she wears, people did and always will regard her just the same. People are just too self-centered to appreciate others. It’s just a fact of life.

I’m no cynic, and I don’t pretend that I’m not selfish at times. But I specifically complimented all of my friends on what they wore at least once each. A unique observation for each friend. My friends are the cream of the crop. Whereas some of the people in my grade wouldn’t return the compliment at all, they at least offered a few appreciative glances and generic compliments on my hair.

Just a thought…

Love, Lia <3

Sadly, True Blood disappointed me again this week. Even more so than last week, actually. At least last week we got a little tidbit of Eric x Sookie goodness, but this week…NOTHING. In fact, we hardly saw Eric this episode, although we got a few tantalizing scenes with him looking absolutely sexy in a tailored gray suit (and Pam looking fabulous in an ‘80’s jumpsuit). We also got to see that Eric can fly!

The rest of the episode fell pretty flat. I was impressed by Sophie-Anne’s palace, but Evan Rachel Wood’s acting was pretty awkward and unbelievable. Also, Bill was once again being a goody-two-shoes and looking like the perfect boyfriend as he rejected all of Sophie-Anne’s offers. I’ll admit that he did look nice in his leather jacket, but when he was reclining poolside I couldn’t help but feel the incomparability between shirtless Bill and shirtless Eric. I mean, really?? I would take Mr. Northman’s sexy, smooth chest over Bill’s pale, hairy one any day.

In my dejection, I decided that I needed to search for my Eric fix elsewhere. So, I did what I hadn’t wanted to do in fear of ruining the show. I starting reading the original book series by Charlaine Harris. I must say, I’m starting to like them a bit better than the show (at least plot-wise). In the books, Bill is DEFINITELY not such a goody-two-shoes perfect Southern gentleman. He actually does some pretty heinous stuff to Sookie and has a manipulative agenda. Eric, on the other hand, is…amazing. All this time I’ve been reading in the fan forums about this legendary “shower scene” between Eric and Sookie in the fourth book, Dead to the World. Well, it’s certainly as amazing as everyone says. Maybe more. I have to say that there are some pretty delectable moments between our favorite couple in the third book, Club Dead. One particular scene is…quite possibly the sexiest thing I’ve ever read.

Also, the books gave me hope that the next season of True Blood will be involving more of this Eric x Sookie goodness. And that hopefully, if Alan Ball can find it in himself to do so, an ending of this stupid “Bill is perfect” crap. I was also fearing the arrival of a third love interest for Sookie, that of Alcide Herveux, the werewolf. After reading the books, though, I was happy to find that Alcide wasn’t much of a threat to Sookie and Eric, and he was pretty likable. Not as lovable as Eric, obviously, but definitely more likable than Bill…yuck.

Sorry, Stephen Moyer. It’s not your fault that your character is BORING. And it’s not your fault that your co-star happens to be one of the most beautiful men alive. Don’t take it personally…

Love, Lia <3

PS. Let’s all cross our fingers and hope that the season finale will AT THE VERY LEAST give us ONE scene between Sookie and Eric!!

Hmmm…nothing could sum up this week’s True Blood except for one word: unsatisfied.

Unsatisfactory Thing #1: The episode only lasted 46 minutes! Obviously far too short to satisfy.

Thing #2: Definite let-down after last week’s amazing episode. The last two episodes have been nothing short of brilliant, building up the plot and really letting the audience get excited for the last three episodes. And with so few episodes left, you’d think the show would try to build up as much excitement as possible in them, right? Wrong. I’m feeling a bit dejected because the writers have squandered one of the precious last episodes before viewers have to wait MONTHS for season 3.

Thing #3: Probably the biggest issue I had with this episode. Substantial lack of Eric and Sookie. The first 2 minutes of the episode was brilliant, with Sookie comforting Eric (as always, Alexander Skarsgard did a perfect job of expressing his character Eric’s heartbroken emotions convincingly). Then NOTHING. The rest of the 44 minutes were spent watching Maryann’s crazy black-eyed orgy followers running around town trying to lynch poor Sam. Seriously. The woman really needs to just DIE already.

Don’t get me wrong. There were moments in this episode that were enjoyable. It’s pretty much impossible to find a True Blood episode that I completely hate. Eric and Sookie was BY FAR the most amazing part of the episode. But Jason pretending to be god/the devil/Dionysus made me laugh quite a bit. You’ve gotta love Jason and his ridiculously brilliant mind. Also Tara snapping out of Maryann’s influence and reconciling with her mom was heartwarming. We also saw a soft, caring side of Lafayette that I enjoyed. So yes, enough good stuff that I didn’t end up pulling my hair out by the roots in frustration.

*crossing fingers* Let’s just hope next week’s episode is a MILLION times better. And with more Eric, because let’s face it. The two best episodes of the show (“Timebomb” and “I Will Rise Up”) all involved a healthy dose of the hunky Viking.

I’ll be posting the clip of Eric and Sookie in his hotel room at the beginning of the episode as soon as I can find one. So good!

Love, Lia <3