Sarah Says...

Wow, was this an entire episode without an awkward sex scene?

I’m glad I kept watching. I pretty much have a hate-hate relationship with this show. One, I watch because I have a huge amount of respect for Lena Dunham. She’s my age and has done so much! It’s like, what am I doing with my life - sitting here blogging? She’s writing, directing, producing, acting…wow. Just w-ooooo-w. Anyway, I think this show has so much potential. I think a show about girls in their 20s living in NYC and having sexuality and dealing with issues needs to be on TV. But this show feels like such a let down. Most episodes it’s just feeling like Hannah is Lena, you know? And it’s just sex, sex, sex, and it’s not with a point, and it’s awkward and uncomfortable to the point it’s hard to watch. Like, why is she staring at the doll during sex? Why is he talking about cumming on her face and sending her home to her parents? Just sdfsdfsdf. This episode was different though, and THANK GOODNESS. Which brings me to two, this is why I keep watching, for hopes it gets better, and three, it’s that sort of really bad it tastes so good I can’t stop watching this terrible TV thing.

But on to this week’s episode. First of all, there was no sex. Amazing start. Then it also wasn’t so much about making people uncomfortable, but exposing that delicate vulnerability I love so much. Let me break it down. First, we get a look into married life, the struggle as the honey moon falls apart into reality. It’s heart breaking, but interesting to watch it unravel. Jessa is a hard ass, she doesn’t weep and beg for acceptance, she punches her husband in the face. He’s as much of an asshole as she is inconsiderate. I think when you see her snotting in the bath tub you realize though, that she did care more than was let on, and that is a side to her I loved seeing. Who really just gets naked in the tub with their friends though and like, snots in the water? I’m not that comfortable with my body, I don’t want to see my friends naked, but that’s besides the point. 

Then the subway scene. I seriously love Shoshonna. She’s my favorite character because she’s hilarious and always so heartfelt. She’s up front about everything and entirely sincere. Her naivety is refreshing instead of annoying. It just warms my heart she’s able to find someone to accept her as she is, because so often we see characters like her made out to be the joke, or trampled on. I loved her asserting her independence after the break up, being strong, but still being able to be soft enough to forgive when he was clearly changed and ready to be better. She accepts Ray as he is and their moment at the subway at the end with the train whizzing by was so perfect and I can’t even fully grasp how it is emotional, but it somehow is. 

I find it weird that Charlie and his girlfriend hang around and act like Marnie is the stalker, when they were her friends in the first place, but I loved the way Hannah, even though she was mad at her (for a totally stupid reason, obv) stood up for her, when Charlie was trashing her. 

Finally let me just say I LOVE the music this show uses, it’s always spot on, whether it’s a song I already know and love (Wonderwall) or it’s introducing me to a new one (I Don’t Care), but literally every week, in the final scene I’m just like YES. Which also reminds me, I for some reason loved Hannah singing in the bath tub. Her life isn’t together at all but compared to last season she seems much more well adjusted. Minus the whole coke thing - which don’t get me started on that cause I really hated last week’s episode and that played a big part. Anyway, I like the direction this is going, and I want even more of it, I want it to go deeper.

Overall this was a quality episode I found myself enjoying, instead of wanting it to be over.

I don’t love this show because it’s quality TV, I love it because it’s trashy, and they know it’s trashy. It’s hilariously awful in the way it hurts so good to watch, and somehow, at some point, it stopped being a parody and now I find myself actually enjoying it.

I wanted to see Warm Bodies originally because it looked hilarious and had a few of my favorite actors in it. How surprised was I to learn it had a lot of heart? You know how much I love my heart strings pulled. It was a pleasant journey with humor, anxiety, and heart melting sweetness. I couldn’t believe how invested I got in the characters, and how such a ridiculous sounding plot could end up being so pure, and so emotionally satisfying. I highly recommend it to everyone!

My family is the kind of family that doesn’t eat on the kitchen table, the dark wood is covered instead with cost co sized obese boxes of rice crispy treats and at least six different kinds of potato chips. My mom works 40 hours a week so she doesn’t have a lot of time to vacuum, and my dog’s hair pretty much coats the carpet. Today, she tells me, she lost a baby. The parents, a young teenage couple, say the baby fell from it’s crib. She never says if it’s a boy or a girl, just it, it, it, the baby, the patient. They do a scan on it, and there’s no pool of blood to suggest it hit it’s head. The patient is just braindead. She says they must have shook him. I can’t imagine taking a tiny and innocent life in my hands and rattling it until it breaks. Tonight she cleared off the kitchen table. I haven’t seen it since Christmas. There’s still one box of rice crispy treats, and a box of Milkbones for my dog, but you can eat at it now. Maybe tomorrow I’ll vacuum.

The thing I love about Shameless most is the heart. People look at me, and the shows I watch, and then they look at the previews for Shameless and they’re like, “You watch this because it’s set in Chicago” or “You watch this because you wish you had family like that” and yes, those things are true, but it’s so much more than that. Sure, it’s ridiculous, and the Gallaghers are constantly up to crazy things, but there is so much soul in that show. I think my favorite part was like, the fact okay.. SPOILER TIME!

Debs basically is solicited by an uber creepy pedophile. So then they’re like ‘lets look at sex offenders in our neighborhood’, and they discover one moved in just a block away. The boys get a huge mob together of the whole neighborhood and stomp over there to kick ass. Who answers the door? Not a creepy old dude but a hot young woman. Suddenly, everyone but Lip is like ‘oh this is totally okay she fucked a little eighth grade boy’ and walk off. Lip is still like ‘this is not okay’ and wants to do something about it. Him and Ian are talking, and Ian is all ‘psh no way does that count’ and Lip asks what he would feel if it were their little brother Carl, and Ian says Carl would be lucky. Then Lip says it’s wrong, and asks Ian how he would feel if it was Debbie with an old dude, and Ian says it’s fucked up and different, and Lip says it’s not. And I just want to say thank you to the writers and Lip for FINALLY realizing that sexual assault comes in many forms and is awful no matter what.

This really has nothing to do with the heart where I started but I just really wanted to talk about how important that was to me. But I guess it’s just - Shameless covers a lot of issues and there are so many terrible things that happen yes but I admire the way they plough through them and there’s something so vulnerable and honest and redeeming about the show, I love these characters and what they do.

Glee… oh Glee. You are tacky and I hate you. Seriously, this show is down in the tubes and it almost makes me sick to watch yet I tune in every week. I think they somehow manipulate the brain. This whole episode sucked and was ultra unrealistic which really peeves me off. But the last.. I dunno, two scenes? Gold. And it hits me, that’s why I watch Glee. Because season one was amazing and though now it’s 95% crap, they have excellent scenes once in a great moon. I loved the you’re the one that I want dance, the scene was pretty damn flawless, I loved the flashback montage, and I really loved Finn and Rachel’s conversation at the end, it moved me emotionally even though I don’t give a crap about them. My only complaint was that it just felt sort of forced and awkward to like, do that whole scene, then have Kurt pipe up, then Blaine, and do it all over again. And is it just me or is Mr. Shue and Finn totally creepy??!?? And how did they NOT realize Kitty was tampering with costumes? Anyway, bad bad bad then goooooooood. Pleasant surprise. 

Arrow I’m always sort of meh about. I think it has a really few funny moments and I love Blonde Ruby (Katie Cassidy but she’ll forever be Blonde Ruby to me) but it’s just a little…. slow? And I don’t get why mama would be alll like ‘let’s kill my hubby and son, yo’ and I’m sort of sick of these island flashbacks that don’t really explain a lot. And like, wasn’t Laurel and Tommy all like ‘okay lets be together’ in that alley? What happened to that? Whatever. I mean, it’s good, I like watching it, but it’s one of few shows I don’t deem decent enough to own on DVD or rewatch, and when I do my weekly viewings off the DVR (I work nights) it’s pretty much the last I get to, but oh man, once again, the MOMENTS. I loved Tommy in this episode. I loved him being selfless and caring about what Laurel cares for, and I loved how he took care of Thea. It was very sweet, and I’m a sucker for watching that stuff.

These aren’t so much reviews as they are me rambling my opinions, but that’s because this is just a blog and I’m pretty sure no one cares but I like having at least a screen to talk to about my feelings. ONLY YOU UNDERSTAND ME TUMBLR!

Misfits, oh my lawwwwwd. Is there anything this show is not afraid to do? I recently moved back home with my parents, like many college graduates who failed to find immediate employment, and it’s shown me how effed up my taste in TV is. While watching Misfits I find myself constantly embarrassed, because my dad has a habit of wandering down the hallway, scratching his stomach, and stopping to stare slack jawed at the TV to see what I’m watching before he goes outside for a cigarette. He happens to do this during every worst possible scene imaginable, like Simon fucking an old lady (rewatching the reruns on Logo). Then there’s this weeks episode, which I’m not watching on TV but in the safety of my room on my laptop, and I still have the same fear - why is his step mother sucking him off? Why is there so many awkward moments it hurts to watch? UK television goes to way more places than Degrassi. I do not know what’s going on with either of the probation workers but I think they’re both really weird. I have to really wonder what kind of shows I’m watching when two young offenders get locked in a freezer by another one and share a pee together. It’s just… so weird. But I can’t stop watching because I love Rudy. I’m also really impressed with how this show can kill so many people off and keep it going with quality. Looking at you, Supernatural. But I also have to wonder wtf is with the correctional system over there? Shouldn’t these guys be in jail by now…? I think the dialogue is really believable and I love watching to find out what happens next, I enjoy the emotional play…but gosh. I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so twisted. Pretty much my only coherent thoughts were ?!?!?!!?! Which isn’t that coherent at all.

I was bored tonight and sampled some project runway allstars. Without Tim or Heidi. And it was just….lame. Not the same. I decided it was pointless and moved on, especially because I don’t remember like, 3/4 of those people. 

Revolution by the way, is really good. Really good. I think the recap in the beginning every week is annoying, but I’m satisfied with the pace of the plot, and absolutely love the characters. I find the story riveting. At first Charlie was more annoying than I wanted but in just a few weeks she’s really grown up. It totally reeks of Kripke. I feel like I’m just watching an AU of Supernatural sometimes. Aaron has quickly shaped up to be my favorite character, but I also love Nora, and Miles. They killed off everyone I had a problem with (I swear, between Lost and Supernatural these guys are so kill happy, I’m surprised we haven’t lost more people yet) and I have high hopes. I just hope they follow Kripke suit and wrap up this main mystery of the power this season, and start with something different in two, instead of dragging everything out in Lost. I got bored with Lost, you know? Just get to the point already. I still have to finish s6. I’m terrible, I think I got to season six, episode five.

American Horror Asylum is kick ass. I was very skeptical because Ryan Murphy, to me, makes awesome things, and then destroys them because he gets some sort of madness. I’ve mentioned this before, Ryan Murphy syndrome. I also had my doubts because season one was SO SO GOOD and I feel like they left it hanging. But I’ve decided that’s just the American in me, because we like to drag the same cast through the show, over and over and over (coughcough Glee) instead of moving on like shows should (Skins). I thought he was kidding, to be honest, because of all the ‘ohhh people aren’t happy we’re reconsidering’ and how do you create the antichrist then abandon it??? And I wasn’t ready to let go of Tate and Violet. But…the story was done. I realize that now. And I honestly like this season even better. I really never, ever, got over the weird ghost impregnanting her thing. I mean, ghosts can disappear and go through walls because they don’t have a solid form. I get how they can get it on, with the illusion of sensation or whatever, but I don’t understand how a person who has been dead since like 1994 and has no more body, is just a spirit, can have functioning jizz and create a demon baby. I can look past reality for the ghosts, just.. not that. It always stuck out as a plot sore, in my opinion. So far this season there’s been nothing like it, and it’s interesting to see it all sort of unravel at the same time, in the past, instead of it revolving around the people in the present. Also, I was SO SURPRISED THIS WEEK! The doctor twist caught me off guard. I love Zachary Quinto. I never expected that, it was set up so perfectly to be someone else, and it was an amazing twist. Though I started to be like ‘hmmm’ at the confession, so it’s not like it was out of the blue. I love it when shows surprise me and too often everything is spelled out. My hat off to you, AHS. I feel so bad for nymph, though. She didn’t deserve that. The only issue I have this season is aliens - and that’s only because even though I adore scifi I can never get into aliens. 

This was all over the place but there you have it.

This is the now the official home of my new website. I’m still getting writing up and tweaking a few things but feel free to poke around and enjoy.

I haven’t heard back on any of my submissions yet - and I sent them in July! One was rejected so I heard that but the other four haven’t even read it yet, which is valid, but man it takes awhile!

I really regret moving home. I’ve saved up a lot of money so far (well only 1000 but its something more than I had in Chicago, barely living off my paycheck), but there are NO GOOD JOBS. I keep finding jobs I’d die for in New York and thinking I should be there. Plenty of good ones in Chicago and Portland too. I’m just trying to be as fiscally responsible as I can so I don’t get screwed over anything. Hopefully something works out, because this job I’m at right now is TERRIBLE. That’s also why I haven’t been around as much, it’s sucking my soul.

The New Normal is the new buzz. Southern affiliates of NBC have pulled the plug on the show because it doesn’t line up with their conservative ideals. The internet says it’s trying too hard to be the new ‘Modern Family’. I personally wasn’t very excited, because I thought the same thing. Then I watched the pilot. It’s not very out there - so I don’t get why people are freaking out. But it’s not a Modern Family clone. This has nothing to do with show quality but I have to lead on this note - the couple on the show (Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells) have the cutest puppy and dog! Seriously. I want to steal them. Justin and Andrew have a believable chemistry that makes me fall in love with them as a couple, and the show. I find them endearing and entirely believable. And it’s like, how many sitcoms are there about straight families? So what if we have two gay couples on television trying to get a baby? One major difference is this isn’t a traditional family in any sense. You have a great grandmother who was married to a gay dude and popped out a kid young, then her daughter who had a kid too young and ran off, than the grandaughter who got pregnant at 15 and now has a ten year old daughter. Nana is hilarious, she’s not afraid to speak her mind and she’s not exactly open minded. Goldi, the surrogate, has not made the best choices, but starting in the pilot she’s turning her life around. She is an underdog you can root for, with Bambi eyes to sell it. Like all of Ryan Murphy’s work it’s a solid start full of promise, and when it kicks off and does well the fame will go to his head and he’ll start smoking his crack pipe and everything will get too weird. But as of now, I give it an A+.

So I’m super impressed with the first four episodes this season! It’s pretty much exactly what I’ve been talking about. I love the fresh characters. I love the fresh takes on old storylines. I’m genuinely excited about this season!

The Romeo and Juliet with two gay guys is great.

I love the relationship between Tristan and Owen. I’m a sucker for siblings, and a sucker for gay, so two brothers with one gay is great. The scene where he’s trying to work out with Owen is kind of hilarious.

I didn’t like Tristan pretending to be Maya to get to Cam though. That was creepy. And VERY ripped off M or F.

I think Tori sang AMAZING. She did deserve to be Juliet even though I’m glad it’s Tristan as Jules.

I really like that Degrassi switches out old castmembers and brings in new ones. Change is key, people.

I like that Bianca is finally using her smarts.

One of my fave moments was when Dallas was giving Adam shit for being a girl and Drew called him out on it and was like ‘fuck with my brother again and I’ll kill you’ etc. I told you, I love that shit!!!

I’m excited to see what happened to Fiona and Imogen.

And surprisingly, I’m not bothered but impressed by the tension Becky brings as a homophobic character. We’ve mostly had super chill people on Degrassi in recent seasons, so I’m interested to see how it goes.