See Jane Clack: The Vampire Diaries vs. Twilight
After watching the first episode of The Vampire Diaries on The CW, I thought, “Wow, this is a complete knock-off of Twilight.” But then some of my vampire-savvy friends told me that L.J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries was actually written way before Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight. So if there’s any knocking off going on, then Twilight is a knock-off of The Vampire Diaries. Or who knows, maybe they’re all knock-offs of Dracula.
However it shakes out, it’s not hard to see the similarities between The Vampire Diaries and Twilight (both of which I love). Here are a few that jumped out at me with all the aggression of a hungry vampire….
Diary of a Buffy/Angel Virgin – Spike and Oz take the road trip to crossover town
(Buffy Season 4, Episodes 3-4)
(Angel Season 1, Episodes 3-4)
Now that’s a crossover between two shows. Brilliantly and seamlessly handled. This is why I chose to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel back-to-back like this. I knew Whedon had dropped little treats like this in for his loyal viewers, and now I can pretend to be one, too.
It was also nice to see the return of some familiar faces to both series. As I said last week, the casts are pretty lean. And while I can forgive it as we’re getting settled into our new environments on both shows, it’s time to start stretching out and meeting new people, as well as reconnecting with old friends. Read the rest of this entry »
Angel blew the hatch with Wesley’s road to bad-assery
This example of Hatch Blowing is going to sound familiar, if you read my previous one on Veronica Mars. As I said then, the transformation of Logan Echolls from unlikeable punk to likable suitor for Veronica was remarkable. Along those same lines, Angel had an amazing transformation to behold, with the depussification of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. However, unlike Veronica Mars’s Logan, the road to bad-ass “rogue demon hunter” Wesley took seasons to accomplish in full.
Quotations Marks – Eliot knocks Hardison, Weeds knocks hipocrisy, and FX showrunners knock NBC
Another great quotation week in the world of Television. The great lines weren’t all just on scripted television, as it seemed to be the week of taking shots at NBC, and their … uh … suspect decision making as of late. Can’t say that I blame them. Welcome to the #nbcfail party, boys and girls of FX.
Leverage
“[after explaining how a cell phone is a metal detector] …are you even listening?” – Hardison
“Yeah.” – Eliot
“Well, what did I say?” – Hardison
“You were explaining how you’re still a virgin?” – Eliot
“Skylar? Is that a boy’s name?” – Eliot
The Television Critics Association Press Tour
“They’ve clearly just said, ‘Look, we can’t develop. We can’t develop anything that’s going to stick. We have – clearly can’t find anything with any traction, so we quit.’” – Rescue Me showrunner Peter Tolan on NBC’s new Jay Leno show
“They should take down the American Flag from the building and put up a white one … They’ve given up.” – Tolan again
The trouble with MacGuffins – The Buffy Formula
So far in my summer series on TV MacGuffins and mythologies I have discussed the unhinging of Twin Peaks (my sweet, precious Twin Peaks … and yes, I am wringing my hands like Gollum right now), and the part time mystery of The X-Files. This week I turn my focus to one of my other favorite shows of all time: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I think Buffy is one show that excelled in MacGuffin management. Buffy’s answer to the MacGuffin conundrum was simple and straightforward: pick a new one each season.
Evil has clever writers, but saints have better endings
Long-time commenter bsgfan2003 (or Rosie, if you prefer) is back guest clacking for us today….
True Blood, Moonlight, Reaper and the upcoming Vampire Diaries: I don’t doubt that these shows have clever writing, talented actors, and engrossing stories. In the case of Buffy and Angel, I assume the writing and acting are top notch, because I’m a fan of Joss Whedon’s other work. However, I have seen enough commercials, and read enough plot explanations to know that these shows are not for me.
I have many reasons for passing on EV-TV (Evil Television). Generally speaking, EV-TV muddles truths, twists things of beauty, and profanes what I find sacred. The frightening imagery also does not sit well with me. Even during a commercial for one of these shows, the distorted evil faces make me want to jump out of my skin. Being frightened is just not a feeling I would like to subject myself to on a regular basis.
Read the rest of this entry »
Diary of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer Virgin – Dru may get healed, but what about Ted?
(Season 2, Episodes 9-11)
The plan is to do two three-episode installments in the middle of these 22-episode seasons. That way we don’t have to have an awkward two-episode one at the end of each season. I don’t want to run two seasons together, because I want to feel the dramatic pause the creators intend at those finales. So it’s three this week and three next week.
It actually works out pretty well, because these three episodes take us up to the 1997 holiday break for the series. I guess I need to break out the eggnog for this week. Anybody know where you can find some in June?
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