Marry Me Originally rated as a 4.5 out of 5, Marry Me is definitely my favorite new sitcom this year. It's funny and goofy yes, but it's also brutally honest about the flaws people have, embracing them instead of demonizing us for our selfishness or incompetence. Stalker Stalker, a 4 out of 5 show, quickly became a favorite for Kristofer and I. This series adds just the … Continue reading →
Book Review: The City of Heavenly Fire: The Mortal Instruments Finale
Wow, that title is a long one, eh? I really just want to emphasize that this is the last book in the series, because a) I don't want to bother discussing any of the others and b) I'm going to tell you about how it really won't be the last book in the series.Also, let me preface this possibly ranting review with: I read this book not too long after reading The Infernal … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: The McCarthys
The McCarthys is a Boston-based, sports-obsessed, close-knit-family sitcom based loosely on the experiences of the creator and producer. First Impressions I like the style of humor and the jokes are funny to me. The highest compliment I can give it is "families are just like this!" Really, I think it catches the essence of how crazy our families seem, especially to us, … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Odyssey
As far as I can tell, not a lot has been released about Odyssey, beyond the NBC website for it: http://www.nbc.com/odyssey First Impressions There's no trailer or anything for this show, so not much to find out about it. I only have the promotional photo on the NBC site, with their description:It's a conspiracy show! Hopefully that can keep this series lively. But … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Secrets and Lies
Secrets & Lies is a new American drama based on the Australian series of the same name, which aired March 3rd of this year. First Impressions Oh no, too sad already.So the entire season will be the audience determining if this guy murdered the little kid? I'm sure they'll spice it up, but man does that sound slow paced.Anyway, I don't think I could like this … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Black-ish
The brain-child of Anthony Anderson and Laurence Fishbourne, Black-ish is an African-American family-centered sitcom. (I originally didn't even mention "African-American," but since so much of the pilot episode is centered on cultural identity, I figured it was a pretty important identifier -- never mind the title of the show.) First Impressions I feel sort of the same … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Selfie
#Seflie is a modern, social media My Fair Lady. First Impressions KAREN GILLAN I LOVE DOCTOR WHO.I hate her voice. And she looks super Lindsay Lohan in ...a club. (Wait, is that the point?) Does not look funny... buuuut that's what I've thought initially for just about every comedy so far, isn't it?Painful to Listen To This dialogue is so hard to … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Scorpion
</scorpion> is a disaster-fighting drama based on a real-life genius, Walter O'Brien, who helped catch the Boston bombers. In this show, he builds a team of like-minded geniuses who will work together to assist the country in surviving various crises. First Impressions "A tactile team made of of the smartest people on the planet." This looks pretty cool! I'm such a … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Madam Secretary
An American politics drama, Madam Secretary will air during the 2014-2015 season as part of the CBS network. First Impressions So up until, like, 3 minutes into this 5 minute trailer, I was really curious about this show. A sarcastic ex-analyst thrown into a high-ranking office? Yeah, I was thinking this show would be interesting without being too much of a boring drama. … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: The Whispers
The Whispers, formerly known as The Visitors, is a Steven Spielberg series, so I'm sure it's no surprise the show is about aliens. First Impressions Ooh, another thriller! And creepy kids! And one woman, out to solve the mystery! But... aliens? I hate aliens. They're always a cop-out excuse for not having a feasible plot. (OK, that statement is a little biased and … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Marry Me
Another new romcom, Marry Me is about the horribly, terrifyingly, hilariously embarrassing engagement of Annie and Jake. First Impressions Besides wondering where this guy is from (I'm so bad with recall! BTW it was Veronica Mars <3), I felt an overwhelming, painful awkwardness. But I couldn't help but burst out laughing! Then, of course, I felt bad for this poor girl … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Stalker
Stalker is a new TV series starring Maggie Q of Divergent and Dylan McDermott of American Horror Story. Investigating (you guessed it) stalking incidents in LA, the series follows a traditional crime show format, though with more victims per episode. First Impressions I don't know... this show doesn't seem like anything I want to watch. I can't really articulate why. Is … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: A to Z
Another new romcom this season, A to Z is the chronicling of Andrew and Zelda's budding relationship, set to last 8 months 3 weeks 5 days and 1 hour. First Impressions OMG BUG AHHH.This show reminds me of How I Met Your Mother, and not just because Zelda was the mother. This nerdy, try-hard guy ("Meant to be??" How very Ted Mosby.) won't even be liked by the viewers, … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Constantine
Based on the Hellblazer comic, Constantine is determined to solve some new problem, in the wake of condemning himself and a young girl to an eternity in hell. Trailer Impressions My first thought on this series was "but, I saw the movie..." which sort-of still holds true after watching this trailer. Not that I remember much of the movie beyond the ending, and that it was … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Forever
Dr. Henry Morgan is a mortician who can't die. Detective Jo Martinez is investigating a crime. Along with the only person who knows Henry's secret, Abe, they make up the trio of this new fantasy, romcom, crime drama. Intrigued yet? Despite it's very unimaginative title, Forever isn't boring at all. Trailer Impressions My first thought during this trailer (well, beyond … Continue reading →
Book Review: The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
A SciFi tale of time travel, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August follows one man who must continually re-live his life. Faced with immortality, Harry sets out to determine 'what it all means,' when he is tasked with saving the future. Slow, take-your-time novel A thoughtful, exploratory story, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August isn't a page-turner, an action … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice is an HBO series.HBO doesn't have a public trailer, but there's one from the original BBC series that can be viewed.I'm already bored just watching this trailer. It's hard to tell what's going on both visually and mentally. Clearly, a guy is convicted for killing a girl and for some reason he's even the people in prison don't like him. Beyond that, … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Galavant
Galavant is a hilarious, honest musical - yes, you heard that right. Actually, I sort of liked it, and I felt that I should be a bit embarrassed by that! Trailer impressions I saw this pilot before the trailer, so I was so caught off guard when it started. I absolutely thought it was a joke. But as the description says, "Comedy. Musical. Fairytale. What's not to love?" … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Jane the Virgin
A modern day "miracle", Jane is artificially inseminated - on accident. If that doesn't make this show sound bad enough - it's by the CW. Now that we have established that this show is probably very trashy... let's also come to terms with the fact that I will absolutely be watching it. Trailer impressions Another show I watched before the trailer, I really had no idea … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: American Crime
American Crime is a drama set in California, exploring the way in which a single crime can affect the lives of many. Touching on racial issues and class politics, this new show promises to be emotionally charged from beginning to end. Trailer Impressions This show, just based on the title, was pretty low on my pilot list. It's not that I don't love my country... there's … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Manhattan Love Story
Another new one from ABC, Manhattan Love Story is an adorable, honest, funny Rom-Com about a newly set-up couple as they begin, and navigate the trails of, their relationship. First Impressions I get it. It's going to be a unique style with adorable characters and humorous situations. Only, I don't get it. These inner voices are not cute to me. This show is not funny to … Continue reading →
Book Review: The Girl With All the Gifts
The Girl With All the Gifts is a pleasantly surprising novel about a child and her gradual understanding over the world, and people, around her. Written by M.R. Carey and released June 2014, this book originally caught my eye on Goodreads' "Movers and Shakers" list with the following description: NOT EVERY GIFT IS A BLESSINGEvery morning, Melanie waits in her cell to … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: CSI: Cyber
CSI: Cyber is the third CSI: Crime Scene Investigation spin-off, starring Medium's Patricia Arquette. And in case you don't want to scroll to the bottom: it's awful. First Impressions All I have to say about this trailer is the following quote, "it's not the perfect crime. It's cyber crime." (3:23) Stop. Now.Even just using the word "cyber" sounds weird. No, I get it … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Cristela
Cristela is a quick-witted, Latina sitcom with back-to-back punchlines and a laugh track that seems to last for the entire show, non-stop. Like I prefaced in my last review (that I love crime dramas) let me preface that I've watched very few sitcoms (see the list). Trailer Impressions I can't really give "first impressions" here because I watched a few pilots before the … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Mysteries of Laura
I'm choosing which TV pilot I watch very carefully and strategically: by the names that sound cool! Then I watch the trailer, followed by the pilot itself.The cut and dry on Mysteries of Laura: I like it! I feel like I should preface this with I love crime shows - but this is more of a drama/comedy. I'd give it a few episodes during the Fall release to win me over … Continue reading →
Pilot Review: Fresh Off the Boat
After gaining access to 12 pilots from ABC (I'm not really the first-to-know-type... it makes me a little obsessive) I'm feeling pretty fancy. I'm trying not to binge watch all of them, but as I write this I'm also trying to determine which show I'll watch next. As well as how I can get the pilots from the other networks. (See what I mean about becoming obsessed?)So if … Continue reading →
The Infernal Devices Series Review
Let's get this out in the open, quickly: The Infernal Devices was such a disappointment. It lacked originality, unique characters, and even back-bone. Synopsis Set in the late 1800s, Tessa Gray gets pulled into a dark, supernatural world with the discovery that she has powers beyond her understanding, or any of the Shadowhunters who come to her rescue. In the time that … Continue reading →
Book Day: 7 Books to Read in 2014
Happy World Book Day! To celebrate, here are some 2014 releases on my "must-read" list. :) Released this Year Uninvited by Sophie JordonIn a futuristic society, genetic markers can reveal who will become murderers, and who will not. The main character, Davy, will be one of those murderers, and she must learn to deal with that reality. A reflection on identity and … Continue reading →
Divergent Series Review
Did you know Wednesday is Book Day? In anticipation, I want to share a couple book reviews this week. :) Today's will be The Divergent Series, what with the recent release of the movie (which I haven't been able to see yet)! Divergent Synopsis: The introduction into our series, Divergent is about a teenage girl and her typical feelings that she doesn't fit in. This … Continue reading →
The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls
I recall when I read the first book in this series, I kept rolling my eyes at how ridiculous everything was. By the second book I was like, incest? This is SUPER awkward. And yet I had fallen in love with Jace and Clary, and read on to the third novel. Once the entire plot was drawn together, it was one of those "aha!' moments when the story works out and you're not so … Continue reading →