Once in a long while, a piece comes along that is so compelling that is spawns a litany of covers and variations.
Original: Ramin Djawadi
The intricacy, depth and layering lends itself to split screen fun.
Guitars: Misha (OogirtMoonfrad)
Violins: Jason Yang
The period feel also begs for adaptation to different genres and eras.
Heavy: Roger Lima
The natural evolution of all these variations is to breed them together!
Mash-up: Jason Yang + Roger Lima
Castle, an ABC drama-comedy, starring Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) is wise-cracking mystery novelist, Rick Castle, who is called in to consult on a homicide case when bodies are found arranged and apparently killed the same way characters in his novels were.
It is an awesome show. Mondays at 10.
about how awesome Olive (and Pushing Daisies) is, I'll let you see for yourself.
Hopelessly Devoted to You
Pushing Daisies S01E02 - Dummy
Numfar Dances the Dance of Joy
Angel S02E21 - Through the Looking Glass
that is to say i am the type of person that waits. i try to arrive at events or appointments or classes 30 minutes early so that i can get a lay of the land and gather my thoughts. it's like swimming after eating. you'd be doing yourself a favour by waiting the half hour.
i hate being rushed. there are situations in life that you should get pumped up for, like watching your wife-to-be walk down the aisle, or lunging out to catch an egg from falling. getting to class should not be one of those situations.
waiting is not about killing time (take that, clock!). waiting is about preparing yourself, your attitude and your mindset before said event, appointment or class. with the right attitude, you'll be equipped to handle whatever comes your way. say the event goes bust because something catches on fire and there is panic at the disco. because you were there half an hour early, you had time to scope out all the fire exits, alarms and extinguishers, thus saving the day by directing everyone to the exits and defeating the blaze with your arrayment of extinguishers.
as illustrated by the above example, waiting is not a passive activity (oxymoron!). waiting implies future decision, or action. it is the calm before the storm, the shoring of armaments before battle, the inhalation before the exhalation. waiting is doing something.
it's been a long wait; many months of nothing. but now it is done. Avatar has wrapped up it's third and final season in epic fashion. it was well worth the wait.
returns July 14, 2008, after a long hiatus due to the WGA strike. but before that day comes, audiences will be given an hour long tv movie (episodes 314-15) titled "The Boiling Rock" to tide them over until then.
In "The Boiling Rock", Sokka takes it upon himself to infiltrate the highest security prison of the Fire Nation, built on an island in the middle of a volcanic lake, in the hopes that he will find his father who was captured during the botched invasion on the day of the solar eclipse. He receives help from the most unlikely of sources and finds a familiar face among the prisoners.
The Second Half of Book 3 - Fire: Trailer
Last Friday marked the premiere of Battlestar Galactica's final season. In Canada, it is on the Space Channel, Fridays at 10 pm.
For the uninitiated, the premise of the re-imagined version of BSG follows that of the original 1970 version (which was really campy and obviously trying to play off the popularity of Star Wars, Star Trek and Bonanza). Somewhere in the galaxy are 12 planets, colonized by humans originating from the planet Kobol. The human race developed an artificial intelligence and manufactured machines to do their work called Cylons (a la Terminator, The Matrix, Blade Runner and a host of other science fiction plotlines). Realizing their lot in life was a bit of a raw deal, the Cylons rebelled, and a great war was fought. During the course of this war, the humans and Cylons reached an armistice (peace agreement); for 40 years they lived apart, the humans with their 12 colonies and the Cylons finding their own region of space. The truce is broken suddenly when the Cylons launch a surprise, all-out offensive that decimates the 12 Colonies in a flourish of nuclear strikes. Battlestar Galactica is the story about the survivors, a rag-tag fleet of ships being led in a glactic convoy to safe harbour and possibly a new home by the Battlestar Galactica, the sole remnant of a once vast military force.
What sets this show apart from the original (and the 1980s reboot) and other space exploration shows? Firstly, they nuked the campiness that drove the original to an early, merciful demise. Unlike most science fiction shows floating around, the technology and alien themes that litter those lesser shows take a backseat to true storytelling: character drama, political/sociological/moral/philosophical dilemmas and a rich tapestry of moods (primarily post-apocalyptic darkness). This show was developed around the same time Joss Whedon's Firefly was in production. There are similarities between the two, especially the way both shows eschew the clean cut sterility of 20th Century futurism, opting instead for a grittier, dirtier realism (through documentary-style filming) and exploration of current themes and questions against a backdrop of space. Also, the actors are all extremely hot.
There is a lot more that can be said, but I don't have the resources or the space to do so. There are professionals who can take you through a tour of the show and provide insightful commentary. I'd ask you all to watch it (because it awesomes like nothing else), but since it is a highly serialized show, you'd be frustratedly at-a-loss from the get-go.
Fortunately, SciFi Channel, the American carrier of the show, has done us all a solid by whipping up an 8-minute recap video. Needless to say, if you haven't seen the show before, spoilers ahead.
i can never find any cool videos by going to Youtube's homepage, but i can always find awesome things from links people post.
even though it does not look like it outside (thanks to the Chinook), it is the winter and the holidays are over; the january ennui is about to set in. here's something from Angel Season 1, episode 13 to cheer you up. this clip is from the beginning of the episode where Angel, the broody vampire with a soul, is invited to Cordelia's party, where one of her friends chats him up.
BONUS: from season 5. mild spoiler warning
Morgan: Ellie, let me ask you a question. Am I the kind of guy you would categorize as... immature?
Ellie: Do you really want me to answer that?
Morgan: Yes. Be straight with me; fire away, both barrels --
Devon (AKA Capt. Awesome): Would you mind stepping into the kitchen with me, Morgan? (to Ellie) I'll handle this one, honey.
Morgan follows Capt. Awesome into Ellie's bedroom. Morgan pauses at the door.
Morgan: Ellie's room. (inhales deeply) Wow.
Capt. Awesome: There comes a time in a man's life when he reaches... well, a crossroads; (as he leads Morgan to the mirror) a time when he must ask himself, "Am I a tucker?"
Morgan glances about, confused
Capt. Awesome: I'm talkin' about your shirt, Morgan. I wasn't always a tucker, you know. Then, one day, it just happened.
Morgan: How do you know it's time?
Capt. Awesome: Just feel it. Go ahead, tuck her in. See how she feels.
Morgan: (as he buttons his shirt) aw, I don't know. Nah, nah, I'm just kinda happy with how my shirts hang there.
Capt. Awesome: C'mon. You're safe in here.
Morgan: Um... (exhales deeply)
Capt. Awesome: Tuck her in.
Morgan: I don't know if I'm ready --
Capt. Awesome: Do it.
Morgan clears his throat and tucks his shirt into his waistband.
Capt. Awesome: Mm hmm.
Morgan: (exhales) I don't know. I- I kind of feel like my- (whispers) my junk's out there for the whole world to see.
Capt. Awesome: Maybe that's the point, Morgan. Maybe that's the point.
but i have good news.
Announcement: Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Serenity) will be back on the small screen with a new show called Dollhouse.
the good news is that Joss will be a) back on tv; b) doing his own show; c) sidekicked by good buddy Tim Minear who was deeply involved in Buffy, Angel and Firefly; d) joined by Buffy and Angel alumnus, Eliza Dushku.
the premise is, like all Joss, part sci-fi, part social critique, and all quirk. there is an undergound (figuratively) facility known as the Dollhouse that houses an elite group of individuals who can be imprinted with a variety of personalities, abilities, skills, etc. to complete missions for the highest bidder. these missions can vary from sexual fantasies to clandestine operations. at the end of every mission, the 'doll' has his or her memory wiped and goes back to living a child's life within the Dollhouse. Duskhu plays the heroine of the show, Echo, who begins to retain snippets of her memory. it is a very Phillip K. Dick sort of premise, where the sci-fi takes a backseat to the story, but still permeates every level of it to serve not only as a plot driver but also a character builder.
what Whedon has done so very well in the past is getting his actors to play completely different characters within the reality of a particular show. there was an episode of Buffy in which Buffy and Faith switched minds, or when Willow encountered a dimensionally translocated vampire version of herself. Dollhouse provides that opportunity on a weekly basis. Dushku is a proven talent. her character on Buffy was originally intended for a five episode arc, but she was so good that they kept her for the rest of the season (and then some).
the bad news is that this show is slated to run on FOX. this is the same Fox network that showed Whedon's last gem (Firefly) out of order, changed the schedule willy-nilly and unmarketed it to the point where they felt justified in cancelling it. this is the same Fox network that gave Tim Minear's last project (Drive) two episodes before pulling the plug. this is the same Fox network that killed Arrested Development. i HATE Fox.
on top of that, there is some writers guild strike about to go down, so even though Fox has signed on for seven episodes, it will be quite some time before we see anything. and since i've finished rewatching every episode of Buffy and Angel and seen every episode of Firefly 3 times (at least) and Serenity about 5 times, i'm jonesing for some new Joss. speaking of new Joss, tonight's new episode of The Office, 'Branch Wars,' is directed by Joss Whedon.
the beginning of the school season also marks the beginning of the television season and the hockey season; it also marks the beginning of my descent into academic purgatory on account of all the above.
anyway, here is a list of the stuff i am watching, or will be watching, in case you are interested (since i have good tv taste, right?).
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Book 3: Fire
Genre: Animated Action/Comedy
though it is aimed at the under 18 demographic, the show's depth, excellent writing, spot-on character voicing and stellar animation sets it a cut above all other kids shows. season 3 was originally slated to be the final act of the 3-part story, but it looks like there will be 3 more seasons following this one as well as a live-action movie trilogy helmed by M. Night Shyamalan.
Dexter - Season 2
Genre: Live-action Thriller/Drama/Comedy
the heavily serial nature of this show makes it difficult to watch part way through a season as themes, motifs and story arcs run season-long. but it also makes this show difficult to put down once you've started. i watched season 1 straight through in about 3 days. it walks a fine twisted line between the darkest abyss of human savagery and slightly off-beat black humour. unlike Avatar, i would not watch this with kids.
Pushing Daisies - Season 1
Genre: Live-action Fantasy Drama/Comedy/Procedural
this show just premiered last week and it has already hooked me. it might have something to do with the whacky premise. it might have something to do with the fantastic colours. it probably has a lot to do with the way it reminds me of Amelie. there was even a scene in the pilot episode ("Pie-lette") that had a song from Amelie playing in the background. the lead actress, Anna Friel, reminds me of the canceled Standoff's Rosmarie DeWitt.
Smallville - Season 7
Genre: Live-action Action/Soap Opera
this is one of my guilty pleasures. the writing is crappy and sappy. half of the acting is pretty sucky. and again, the writing is REALLY REALLY crappy. but still i watch it. because it's Superman, pre-flight.
The Office - Season 4
Genre: Live-action Comedy
this show has almost everything i've ever wanted in a show: smart writing, humour (ranging from flagarantly crude to subtle snark), eye-candy, witty dialogue and videography, and characters that i care about. the only thing that's missing is action (but there is some of that).
come January, some other shows will be coming back:
Battlestar Galactica - Season 4
Genre: Live-action Science Fiction Action/Drama
this show can take you to moral, ethical, political, legal, social, and personal places you couldn't possibly grasp on your own. just because it is set in space does not mean they don't deal with racism, elitism, discrimination, love, justice, violence, etc. the dialogue is... not memorable, but the fully developed characters are. sometimes you'll find yourself saying, "Admiral Adama would not have allowed that," when watching the politcal reports on the news. sadly, season 4 will be the last one.
Psych - Season 2 (second half)
Genre: Live-action Procedural/Comedy
you know all those shows that have cropped up recently that are based on Sherlock Holmes? let me refresh your memory: House, Monk, Bones, CSI, blah blah blah... anyways, Psych is the funny version. it reminds me very much of Scrubs. it is a very self-aware comedy that is not afraid to poke fun of itself and the genre of police procedurals.
like maybe 1 or 2 of my readers will be mildlyextremely excited about this.
and this:
[SPOILER ALERT - if the above link is important to you and you do not wish to have surprises become expectations, do not watch the following video]
i have an essay due tomorrow. i started it after the hockey game last night (6-1 Leafs over Hurricanes). i spent the last hour or two reading an analysis on narrative satisfaction and the subsequent discussion (not all of it, which would be maddness^2) -- all about a tv show that was cancelled at its peak. while this is procrastination at its highest (i.e. a monolithic mis-use of time), it does serve the purpose of getting my analytical cogs turning. i originally wrote "analytical juices flowing," but that was too close to "anal juices" for my tastes (and now i've gone and juxtaposed it with "taste." gah!). if you thanked me for pointing that out to you, you are welcome.
My favourite piece from the Firefly Official Soundtrack. Click title to listen (as well as the rest of the OST if you so wish. I also recommend The Funeral and Inara's Suite. I also highly recommend watching the show).
A bit of backstory: Firefly was a critically acclaimed tv show, the brainchild of Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel) that got canned by Fox, but not before muckings-about at the executive level led to schedule juggling and showing the series out of order (who shows the pilot episode only after the show has been cancelled?). The fanbase flocked to the DVDs once they were made available and Firefly was resurrected as the movie Serenity, which -- for those keeping track of such things -- never happens. Ever.
Firefly is, on the surface a sci-fi Western drama (with a splash of the self-conscious comedy recognizably Whedon). It chronicles life in the distant future (when the US and China have colonized space) aboard a small transport ship, Serenity, whose captain and crew are just out to make a living (legal and otherwise) and get by -- Millennium Falcon style. They pick up travelers for a bit of extra cash. Unfortunately, two of them are wanted criminals with bounties on their heads worth more than the ship they fly in.
Simon and River Tam are brother and sister on the lam. River, a genuinely gifted mind and dancer, was abducted by a secret government organization that sought to awaken her latent psychic abilities and turn her into a brainwashed weapon. Simon, a promising young trauma surgeon at the top hospital of the Core planets gave up his career and personal wealth to fund a network of contacts and spies that eventually led to him rescuing his sister from the government facility.
"Inside the Tam House" is a sparse and beautifully flowing piece that annunciates the longing for the life and home that the Tam's lost. The piece is supported by the rippling arpeggios of the piano at the base. Soaring above with the melody is the violin, punctuated and augmented occasionally by the woodflute.
Throughout the show (and thus the soundtrack), the combination of piano and violin are used as signatures for River and Simon (209, Goltz). Where other characters are signified by Western mainstays, like the guitar, the fiddle, and banjo -- portable instruments befitting nomadic lifestyles, the originally wealthy Tams are represented by instruments with classical and aristocratic connotations. At the base is the piano, a large, stay-at-home instrument, physically representing the nostalgia for a past life that cannot be reclaimed. The piano ripples up and down, in and out, in an omnipresent and pervading way (like some sort of river). It is supported by the elegant, but flighty violin, characteristic of River's psychotic tendancies as a result of experimentation on her brain. The violin melody is wistful and has an Asian flavour (note the Asian surname). The woodflute is a distinctly Asian instrument, further reinforcing the Anglo-Asian blend seen on the show. It evokes a sense of pastoral landscapes (important in Westerns) and of freedom from the urban Core planets (also important in Westerns).
The creativity, deliberation, craft and genius that went into the composition and arrangement of this soundtrack testifies to the overall creativity, deliberation, craft and genius of the show itself. The idea of a crew of rag-tag nobodies in a ship flying around avoiding the Alliance and just trying to stay in the sky became an apt metaphor for a show brimming with potential, vision and talent that did all it and its fans could to stay afloat, but ultimately failing.
Goltz, Jennifer. "Listening to Firefly." Finding Serenity. Ed. Jane Espenson. Dallas, Texas: Benballa, 2005. 209-216.
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