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By ucblockhead (Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 05:31:51 PM EST) (all tags)

I was sick for days.

I watched a fair bit of TV last week. Other than catching up on many episodes of Mythbusters (which I won't relate), I mostly watched:

The UK version of The Office. The original thing. My wife and I had watched the first episode of this eons ago, but didn't really get into it. We then later started watching the American remake, and found it extremely amusing and so I always meant to go back and try again. I did and to different result. Looking back on it I think part of it was that the accents took a bit getting used to and we were missing many of the jokes.

What struck me most about the pilot was how similar the two shows are. They essentially use the same script and roughly the same characters. After that, the shows seem to have diverged. The American version seems to have played up the office of quirky characters to an extent the UK version didn't. The American boss is more of a fool while the UK boss is more of a prick. Though I think both succeed because both are played by top notch comedians.

I've also been watching season 2 of Rome. I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, it is exceedingly well written and well acted, and is probably the best view of the *cultural* history of the Roman Republic that has ever been on a visual medium. On the other hand, it runs completely roughshod over the history of events. What's worse, they seem to have done this mostly so they could cram ten years of history into twelve episodes. I'd have preferred a longer, more accurate, series. Especially since we'd have gotten more of Caesar instead of having him die at the end of Season 1.

Also, my wife and I need to talk. Ok, well, we don't, but it seems like I'm supposed to say that. Not that everything is wine and roses. But the biggest problem is that we've no damn time and by the time we do get it, we're to tired to do anything other than stare at the TV/laptop (her) and console (me).

Retirement Countdown: 23 years. Or maybe less if I can save more.

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Media review | 16 comments (16 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

Rome by MillMan (4.00 / 1) #1 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 05:57:49 PM EST

I don't think it pretends to be all that accurate, and it succeeds in large part due to the two truly fictional main characters in the story anyway.

The original plan was for three seasons - unfortunately it didn't catch on until after season one had been broadcast, by which point HBO had already cut the series down to a two season run since the production costs were exorbitant. So they crammed 24 episodes of material (and 10 years of history like you said) into 12, and it really shows in the reduced quality of season two (partly redeemed by the excellent final episode).

When I'm imprisoned as an enemy combatant, will you blog about it?

Yeah by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #2 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 06:07:01 PM EST

I'm still only half way through season 2, but even season 1 seemed rushed to me.
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_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

: *nod* by jared (2.00 / 0) #3 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 06:14:28 PM EST

I watched Season 1, enjoyed it, and then decided not to watch Season 2 (before it came out, even) because I didn't believe that S2 would be nearly as good. Seems that I was right in my prediction.

[ Parent ]
: I enjoyed Rome by spacejack (4.00 / 1) #9 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:35:38 PM EST

But I thought its biggest flaw was that the overall arc was forced to go from one deliberate point to another, no matter what it did to the dramatic narrative. Some of those points were interesting, some weren't.
I (and probably most other people) thought was most engaging story was the fictional one about Lucius & Titus.
I gave The Tudors a try, but gave up on it after a few episodes.

[ Parent ]

totally agree by cam (2.00 / 0) #11 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 08:21:21 PM EST

nt

cam
Freedom, liberty, equity and an Australian Republic
[ Parent ]

I assume you're talking about Vorenus and Pullo by houser2112 (2.00 / 0) #16 Tue Feb 05, 2008 at 08:06:43 AM EST

I agree that they were the highlight of the series. It was nice that the focus wasn't entirely on toga wearing senators. I'd add Atia into the success, she was my favorite next to Pullo. I've read that while there was an actual Atia, she was nothing like the character in the series.

I wish that they were able to make that third season.

[ Parent ]

Talking by jared (2.00 / 0) #4 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 06:18:19 PM EST

Aph and I have a "monthly talk" where we set aside an evening or afternoon and talk about all of the stuff that couples are supposed to talk about. In practice we probably talk maybe 9 or 10 months out of the year, but that's still a pretty good number. (We also don't have munchkins to take care of, and I can completely understand that there are things that you'd like to be able to talk about with your wife without little ones being around.)

Aside from the fact the communication is a really good thing in relationships, is there anything in particular you're feeling the two of you need to be discussing?

: Not really... by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #5 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 06:39:59 PM EST

I was poking fun at all the plonkers and talking that is going about.
At this point, the only talk I need to have is about why the hell hasn't she called the damn 401k person yet.
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_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]

I loved the original office by codemonkey uk (2.00 / 0) #6 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:08:16 PM EST

The American version is a travesty.

--- Thad ---
developer of ... ?

: not so by ucblockhead (2.00 / 0) #13 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 09:46:52 PM EST

It was well done.
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_{ウセーバラケダ}
[ Parent ]
: aye by dev trash (2.00 / 0) #15 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 10:55:04 PM EST

Scranton is NOTHING like they portray. It's worse.

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Click
[ Parent ]

Retirement Countdown: 2 years by MohammedNiyalSayeed (2.00 / 0) #7 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:29:11 PM EST

Then again, I'm not exactly planning on being around after that point so I won't need money, nor is any other human relying on me for anything, so it's not that big an achievement, I guess.

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You can build the most elegant fountain in the world, but eventually a winged rat will be using it as a drinking bowl.

Have I mentioned lately how much the girls by georgeha (4.00 / 1) #8 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:33:19 PM EST

think of their uncle mns? If only they had the money to start a puppy sanctuary playing math rock in the background.

[ Parent ]

: My funds will be sufficient by MohammedNiyalSayeed (2.00 / 0) #10 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 07:43:36 PM EST

for obtaining the Art Supplies necessary for a proper exit, but I won't be leaving any piles of loot behind for Intarweb Nieces' puppy sanctuaries, despite the nobility of such a cause.

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You can build the most elegant fountain in the world, but eventually a winged rat will be using it as a drinking bowl.
[ Parent ]

I TOO AM A VICTIM OF POP CULTURE by discordia (2.00 / 0) #12 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 08:41:37 PM EST

more specifically, Heroes (both seasons) and BSG (just started)

all hail netflix!

Because I have to! by me0w (4.00 / 3) #14 Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 09:55:30 PM EST

"There's really only one sexually related thing I'm good at: Producing incredibly volumous amounts of spooge on a regular basis." - ni

Media review | 16 comments (16 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback