Dark Matter by Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie - Bell Media, 2015-

with
Marc Bendavid as One / Jace Corso / Derrick Moss
Melissa O'Neil as Two / Rebecca / Portia Lin
Anthony Lemke as Three / Marcus Boone
Alex Mallari Jr. as Four / Ryo Tetsuda
Jodelle Ferland as Five / Das
Roger Cross as Six / Griffin Jones
Zoie Palmer as The Android


Android, Four, Three, Two, One, Five and Six

When six crew members working on a derelict spaceship awaken from stasis, they have no memory of who they are or how they got on the vessel. The only clue to their identities is weaponry and a destination -- a remote mining colony soon to become a war zone. They must band together to fight off the threats that they face on a voyage that is filled with vengeance, betrayal and secrets that make survival a question mark for all on board the ship. The sci-fi series is based on the graphic novel of the same name.

Reason why I watched this series? I was doing research on Zoie Palmer (Lost Girl) and there was a tiny article on Science Fiction series that didn't make much noise but definitely got the attention, and Zoie Palmer was in it. Great! Science Fiction, and Zoie Palmer. Wait! She plays what? An Android? Ok...

So, there are so few good Space Science Fiction series, or movies, that I had to check it out. Yes, count them, Battlestar Galactica/Caprica, Fascape, V, Stargate SG1, Star Trek, Firefly/Serenity...
But really, recently? There is an overflow in the 60s and 70s. Then there are all the animated series. But a series, with actual actors in it? Or they are Science Fiction series, but not Space Travel...
Extant, but is it really space travel or just an astronaut back on Earth?
Now, besides it, currently, there is Killjoys. Again, Canadian... Do all the good SciFi series have to be produced there? And thery have been approved for a second season. Is there a heaven there (Not Haven, Canadian again)?

Ok, back to Dark Matters is telling the story of a small team, from which we know nothing, as much as they know themselves actually. Through the episodes, we get to learn more and more about the,, and eventually, also solve one problem an episode... Which is usually a pattern in series, as it help get to know the character, and keep the series with a purpose. I am hoping they will develop a larger arch next season. Production is good, special effect impeccable, the way the world is developed is closed to Firefly, as there are no extra-terrestrial beings (yet?), but it is diverse and fascinating.

One of the things I really like about the series is the sense of humor, which seems to be a constant trait in all the Space Science Fiction series I listed above. It looks like we cannot remain serious if we are to do a series about the Space. And that is good... There are way too many series that take themselves seriously. And most of the humor comes from Zoie Palmer nerdy sense of humor, which we also found in Lost Girl. I wonder if this is why they picked her. She delivers lines like no other, without a hint of humor, but turns out to be so out of place it is hilarious.
Then you have the six crew members of the Raza, with different abilities, and very different personalities. Since they are back to not knowing who they are, or knowing who are the others, we are witnessing their discoveries along the adventures. The contrast between the men in the team is so stark it creates a lot of situations where it would be impossible not to laugh. Five and Two are more the serious angle of the series, but they complete the team to a more elaborate story-line and most of all a leadership regarding two. Gender plays a role, but ultimately, ranks are not divided according to gender. Personality will define roles.

The series left us in such a cliffhanger I don't believe we will know anything until next season, and that is the good news, it has been renewed for a second season!

Lost Girl by Michelle Lovretta - Showcase, 2010-2015

with Anna Silk (Bo), Ksenia Solo (Kenzi), Kristen Holden-Reid (Dyson), K. C. Collins (Hale), Zoie Palmer (Lauren), Richard Howland (Trick), Rachel Skarsten (Tamsin), Paul Amos (Vex), Emmanuelle Vaugier (The Morrigan), Vincent Walsh (Lachlan), Inga Cadranel (Aife)


Left to right: Trick (Richard Howland), Hale (K. C. Collins), Dyson (Kristen Holden-Reid), Bo (Anna Silk), Kenzi (Ksenia Solo), Lauren (Zoie Palmer)

Bo is a small-town girl on the run after a disastrous sexual encounter with her boyfriend ends with his death. Bo learns that she is not human, but a succubus, who feeds on the sexual energy of humans. She and her kind are members of the Fae, creatures of legend, who walk among humans and feed off them in different ways. As she searches for the truth about her origins and runs from her inhuman urges, she vows to help those she meets along the way - human or Fae - who need to right a wrong.

I am definitely team Lauren...

That said, we can move on to the task at hand. This series is quite interesting, as it uses possibly all the myths we have all over this planet, and link them into one specie, the Fae, and the theory holds together. We are in today's world, with people knowing about myths, and this is fun. I have often noted that one of the best part of Fascape is that John Crichton is a human with a general knowledge of pop culture, and when he jokes, he jokes about our human pop culture, such as Clint Eastwood, Einstein, or R2D2. The same way, humans or Bo, with their ignorance of the Fae world, are allowed to make fun of Vampires and Werewolves, or Zeus or Valkyries. Because they exist in our popular culture. So many Werewolf or Vampire movies and series are suggesting that humans are completely ignorant of their concept, as if they had no literature or movie that referred to them, like, about constantly! Anyway, first good point.

Second great thing about the series is its sexual fluidity, and the non-statement of Bo (yes, the main character!) choosing to be in a relationship with a woman, and not making it about coming out, not making in a social statement, and her surrounding being completely natural about it. In fact, it is so special it is probably the only movie or series that doesn't talk about homosexuality, while having a character bisexual. Every series or movie I have seen have at some point to talk about how challenging it is, or they have to come out, or someone judge them for being gay, or it has to become about gay right. Here, the only main problem is basically, one is Human, the other one Fae, so basically, one will most definitely die before the other and that is a big problem. And perhaps also the fact that one uses sex as a regenerating boost which tends to drain the other. Minor details.

So, what is the third cool thing about the series... The series started with one case per episode, which can sometimes slow down tremendously the rhythm of the over season. Naturally the series evolved into a more complex canvas, with various intertwined story-lines, which sometimes converged. It allowed to develop not only the character of Bo, but the other characters, which have also had their interesting stories. When you have characters that are centuries old, you can afford to dig into their past. A blood-king, a well-traveled shifter, a Valkyrie, Zeus, Hades, a family of Sirens, a wanderer... Even the "humans" have their own curiosity, Dr Lauren Lewis aka Karen Beattie is the most interesting doctor. Anyway, so the series has the luxury to pick into Oriental myths, Germanic, Voodoo, South American, Greek, Native American, Eastern European, Scandinavian, Russian, Celtic... with limitless resources. And it is awesome.

Another great thing, and sad I admit, is that the series is over, but ended with a proper ending. It feels coherent, from the first episode, that this is where the series is headed, and the end is just the apotheosis that was expected, and then the series ends. (I am not gonna comment en series like Farscape and Firefly that had to have their fans striking so they would wind up doing some sort of conclusion). In other words, it is a series that you can watch like a long movie (very long I admit) with a beginning, a middle and an end. Fantastic.

What else, I think I forgot the sense of humor. It is at times sad, but overall, the characters don't take themselves too seriously, and it is funny. Number one funny, not consciously, Dr Lauren Lewis. I think her nerdy ways and the awkwardness are just irresistible. One of the best episode which makes everyone at its best is Season 2, Episode 9 "Original Skin", where Dyson is hilarious. Dex is probably one of the craziest character with the Morrigan, and those are supposed to be the bad guys... Sometimes, you would wish there would be more of them.

Anyway, the cast is really good working together, the writers were quite inspired, and even if the special effects sometimes where quite something, the production is great. I would definitely like to see more of this kind of series.


Left to right: Vex (Paul Amos), Tamsin (Rachel Skarsten), Kenzi (Ksenia Solo), Bo (Anna Silk), Dyson (Kristen Holden-Reid), Trick (Richard Howland), Lauren (Zoie Palmer

American Horror Story: Coven by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk - FX, 2013 (TVMA)

Exploring humankind's unsettling capacity for evil, this darkly twisted drama plays upon the power of supernatural fears and everyday horrors. Each season brings back familiar faces, but they're playing different characters in an all-new setting.
Coven tells the secret history of witches and witchcraft in America. Over 300 years have passed since the turbulent days of the Salem witch trials and those who managed to escape are now facing extinction. Mysterious attacks have been escalating against their kind and young girls are being sent away to a special school in New Orleans to learn how to protect themselves. Wrapped up in the turmoil is new arrival, Zoe, who is harboring a terrifying secret of her own. Alarmed by the recent aggression, Fiona, the long-absent Supreme, sweeps back into town determined to protect the Coven and hell bent on decimating anyone who gets in her way.



This third season has a lot of interesting elements, but in the end, it feels a little too light, there is nothing about the characters that helps us empathize, feel that the story is coherent. It feels like some sort of Harry Potter with all the voodoo culture of the South packed together. We forget about the neighbors, the Beowulf, and even most of the witches are not as relevant. Somehow, also, the empathy for Evan Peters is limited to his performance of an irrelevant character. Jamie Brewer is great but same happens to her, because the meaninglessness of her existence in the script. The freshness come from the new cast made of Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates and most of all Gabourey Sidibe, although somehow, they are simplistic and exaggerated. The only characters that are somehow intriguing are the ones performed by Denis O'Hare and Sarah Paulson, still with an expected outcome. Jessica Lange's characters are now a continuous performance of the same, but simplified more and more. Anyway, the third season is always a more challenging one, and they pulled it off ok.

Currently watching Season 4: Freak Show. Will keep you posted.

with Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange (Tootsie, The Vow), Sarah Paulson (Game Change, Mud), Emma Roberts (We're the Millers), Evan Peters, Lily Rabe (All Good Things), Taissa Farmiga, Jamie Brewer, Denis O'Hare (The Normal Heart, Dallas Buyers Club, True Blood, Milk, Duplicity, Michael Clayton), Angela Bassett (This Means War), Kathy Bates (Valentine's Day), Gabourey Sidibe (Tower Heist, Precious), Patti LuPone, Danny Huston (The Congress, Hitchcock, You Don't Know Jack, Robin Hood, The Conspirator), Stevie Nicks

Read more about
Season 1: Murder House
Season 2: Asylum

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Penny Dreadful by John Logan - Showtime, 2014- (TV-MA)

with Reeve Carney, Timothy Dalton (James Bond), Eva Green (300: Rise of an Empire, Dark Shadows, Perfect Sense - The Last Word), Josh Hartnett (The Virgin Suicides), Rory Kinnear (Wild Target, Skyfall), Billie Piper (Secret Diary of a Call Girl), Danny Sapani (Trance), Harry Treadaway (Fish Tank)

The classic tales of Dracula, Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and more are woven together in this horror series set on the dark streets of Victorian London.
 
To be honest, aside from the aesthetic, the series isn't very interesting. It is pulling all the strings of the masterpieces of British literature and culture, piecing it like doctor Frankenstein, and the result is a little scattered, with intense scenes, no sense of humor and a heavy weight story that now has all the strings interlaced and stuck together in a huge mess. Could have worked still, but the characters are not interesting enough, and Eva Green is too much Eva Green in any movie, which tends to be tiresome. My only curiosity now is to see where the Egyptian lead of the very beginning is going, with the unleashing of a combination of gods, and the last tale of vampire that has been released just before the end of the season.

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Homeland Season 4 Premiere, by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa - Showtime, 2014 (TVMA)

with Claire Danes, Rupert Friend, Nazanin Boniadi, Laila Robins (Concussion), Tracy Letts, Mandy Patinkin, Amy Hargreaves, Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi), F. Murray Abraham, Sarita Choudhury, Corey Stoll (House of Cards, Non-Stop, The Normal Heart), Nimrat Kaurm

Carrie Mathison is calling the shots as the newly appointed Station Chief in Afghanistan, deploying every weapon in the Agency's arsenal to fulfill her mission. But every drone strike and tactical raid comes at a cost and she soon learns the true price of power. 

Fuliginous start for Homeland with a two-episode premiere. Honestly, aside from missing Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) through Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), his death doesn't feel like a gap in the story. We already moved on to a far more intriguing storyline. The story reflect on the reality of today's wars in the American way and the controversy of it, through drones and blind operations, as well as the question of guilt and detachment when everything is only visible through screens. On a different level, the series explores the ethical conflict of being a mother but not being able to confront the responsibility. And more... because everything is on a spinning table and we don't know anything, so much is open to possibilities. Looking forward to see where the characters of Aayan Ibrahim (Suraj Sharma - Life of Pi) and Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) are going, and how they will put back once more Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) into the action.
More on Homeland past seasons

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Orange is the New Black Season 2 by Jenji Kohan, Netflix, 2013- (TVMA)

A dozen Emmy Award nominations went to this acclaimed comedy drama series including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Lead Actress for star Taylor Schilling, and one won for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Uzo Aduba. A crime she committed in her youthful past sends Piper Chapman (Schilling) to a women's prison, where she trades her comfortable New York life for one of unexpected camaraderie and conflict in an eccentric group of fellow inmates. Shocking revelations and new arrivals shake up the lives and relationships of Litchfield's prisoners in the highly anticipated second season.



What you would think might fail season 2 (the almost absence of Alex Vause) doesn't. We were all prepared to not see her at all, from all the reviews, so her little presence was sufficient. We got instead to know more about Poussey, Crazy Eyes, and even if somehow the additional character Vee (impressive Lorraine Toussaint) gets us a little on our nerves towards the end, she is an amazing character and trouble-maker. Then the storyline of Chapman and her ex-future husband, which was turning a little boring, fades, so even better. From the book I read from Piper Kerman, there is little left to compare, the story shifted away and continues growing to a complete different plot, and that's okay. After the nominations and one win for Uzo Aduba, I hope the third season is not going to fail, the bar is now raised high.



with Kate Mulgrew, Yael Stone, Laverne Cox, Natasha Lyonne, Laura Prepon, Taylor Schilling (Argo), Uzo Aduba, Selenis Leyva, Samira Wiley, Danielle Brooks, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Taryn Manning, Dascha Polanco, Lorraine Toussaint

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read more on the 1st season of OITNB

Sherlock by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat - BBC, 2010-

In this updated take on Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved mystery tales, the eccentric sleuth prowls the streets of modern-day London in search of clues. At his side -- though hobbling -- is flatmate Dr. John Watson, fresh from the war in Afghanistan.

It has been a while that I haven't watched something that trained my brain, literally. The way the stories are told are in a Conan Doyle style, with Watson's perspective, and a bit of trip to the brain of Sherlock, which turns out to be a great combination of humor and geekiness. Some of the episodes were a bit of a drag, and Sherlock isn't as charismatic as perhaps he should for the sake of the series, but the supporting characters are so good it definitely compensate. London is portrayed as a grey city, but full of colorful characters, exactly as it should. I most loved the paralelism between the fans of Sherlock within the series and the actual fans of the series, who I have to guess much have a geeky side to themselves to enjoy Sherlock.
I have digested, soon after the Emmys total success of the 3rd season, the entire series, and am like an addict that has been cut out of her supplies. Apparently, one episode will be released for Christmas in England, and the others will be shot beginning of January 2015, what do we do till then.
Now, Aside from the awesome characters of Mrs. Hudson (awesomely surprising Una Stubbs), clueless DI Lestrade (Rupert Graves), awkward Molly Hooper (Louise Brealey), Mycroft Holmes (amazing Co-creator Mark Gatiss), bitchy Sgt Sally Donovan (Vinette Robinson) and (spoiler) quite not what we expected Mary Morstan (Amanda Abbington), I have to say the performance of Lara Pulver as Irene Adler was way above the entire series' curiosity, with an amazing script and character fascinating development for the episode "A Scandal in Belgravia". Of course, like any other fan, I would love her character to come back (not only in Sherlock's head) but on the other hand, it couldn't be just for the sake of seeing her come back, it would need a quality script... And to compete might be hard considering the expectations...
Anyway, amazing series, and quite worth the Emmy Awards for best actor (Benedict Cumberbatch) and best supporting actor (Martin Freeman) in a mini-series, and outstanding writting for Steven Moffat for the episode "His Last Vow".

with Benedict Cumberbatch (August: Osage County, Star Trek Into Darkness, War Horse, Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy, The Whistleblower, 12 Years a Slave), Martin Freeman (Breaking and Entering, Wild Target), Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves, Louise Brealey, Mark Gatiss, Andrew Scott, Amanda Abbington, Vinette Robinson, Lara Pulver, Jonathan Aris, Lars Mikkelsen (What Richard Did), Russell Tovey

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Generation War (Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter) by Philipp Kadelbach, 2013 (NR)

Generation War vividly depicts the lives of five young German friends forced to navigate the unconscionable moral compromises of life under Hitler. Level-headed, highly decorated officer Wilhelm (Volker Bruch) goes off to the eastern front with his sensitive younger brother Friedhelm (Tom Schilling). Deeply in love with Wilhelm is Charlotte (Miriam Stein), a young nurse who looks forward to serving in the Red Cross. Greta (Katherina Schüttler) is a talented singer who longs to become another Marlene Dietrich, while her Jewish boyfriend Viktor (Ludwig Trepte) fights for his life while hiding among members of the Polish Resistance.

This is a very singular viewpoint on the war from a German view, but also from the very particular viewpoint of five people experiencing it, not bad people initially, relatively open-minded, liking everything the youth of this generation liked, meaning parties, ideas, music, and somehow too, their country. Except that the context sends two to the front, one to be a nurse, one to the concentration camps, and the last one to be the cheer-up singer for the troops. The actions they are to make is going to define who they are and their survival. Because you have sufficient time to understand who they are and the context of things, it allows you to have more patience, an understanding of why they have to do what they do, sometimes decide to do what they do. They are somehow powerful and victims, irresponsible and desperate. Of course, the movie is not (and I am sure it doesn't pretend to be) a portrayal of the war and the Nazis, nor it tries to justify the Germans for having done all the horrors of the Nazism. I believe as the original name says ("Our Mothers, Our Fathers" in English), that it is about understanding what that generation had to go through, and allows the next ones to see them as human too, at least some of them. The issue with this movie is that it is so focused on one story that it omits to nuance it (which is not its role), and therefore seen individually, it creates statements that are not acceptable. On the other hand, there has been so many movies that depicted all Germans as evil that I find it ok for once to try and dig in what was going on in the lives of some.

with Volker Bruch (The Reader, The Red Baron - Der rote Baron), Tom Schilling, Katharina Schüttler, Miriam Stein, Ludwig Trepte, Henriette Richter-Röhl, Götz Schubert, Hildegard Schroedter

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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Harald Zwart, 2013 (PG-13)

After teen Clary Fray witnesses a murder at a New York nightclub, a sinister stranger named Valentine attacks and kidnaps her mother. Endowed with supernatural vision, Clary recruits a band of youthful human-angel hybrids to help rescue her mother.

I have been expecting this movie for a long time, because I am a fan of Lena Headey. For a long time. I am probably not quite objective, but I actually liked the movie, and am looking forward to the next episode. The story has this mystery that most likely is quite predictable, but on the other hand,
the cast is effective, besides vampires and werewolves, magic, and sort of British castle with a hint of Harry Potter's hogwarts and X-Men Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, there is a whole new world of supernatural creatures, with doors to other worlds, this suffice to make me hooked. Looking forward to the next episode...

with Lily Collins (The Blind Side, The English Teacher, Mirror Mirror), Jamie Campbell Bower (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, Winter in Wartime - Oorlogswinter), Robert Sheehan, Kevin Zegers, Lena Headey (The Red Baron - Der rote Baron), Kevin Durand (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Cosmopolis), Aidan Turner, Jemima West, Godfrey Gao, CCH Pounder (Avatar, Face/Off), Jared Harris (Lincoln, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Albert Nobbs)

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True Blood by HBO, 2008-2014 (TVMA)

with Anna Paquin (Margaret, X-men), Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Chris Bauer, Nelsan Ellis, Carrie Preston, Alexander Skarsgård (What Maisie knew, Disconnect, Melancholia), Todd Lowe, Deborah Ann Woll (Ruby Sparks), Kristin Bauer van Straten, Jim Parrack (Annapolis), Joe Manganiello (Magic Mike), Lauren Bowles, William Sanderson (Blade Runner), Michael McMillian, Kevin Alejandro, Janina Gavankar, Marshall Allman, Adina Porter, Dale Raoul, Lucy Griffiths, Jessica Tuck, Denis O'Hare (Milk, Duplicity, Michael Clayton), Tara Buck, Mehcad Brooks, Fiona Shaw (The Tree of Life), Valentina Cervi, Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler, Mildred Pierce, Simone, The Conspirator), Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex, 127 Hours), Michelle Forbes (Battlestar Galactica)

Cast of True Blood

True Blood is an American television drama series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in northwestern Louisiana. The series centers on the adventures of Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a telepathic waitress with an otherworldly quality, and how her life is turned upside down when the Vampire Bill, walks into her place of employment two years after vampires 'came out of the coffin' on national television.

True Blood Season 2 featuring Michelle Forbes

My first impression about this series is there was no way to take it too seriously. They always turn out doing something so off the ridicule hits and gives us a reminder this is all for fun, and there is some serious drama going on. Still, it is good that this didn't turn out as a Twilight, and instead, its very own taste of what vampire-fairy-werewolf cohabitation may look like in a human world. I grew fascinated by the strangely aging Barbie-like SM Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) and the war vet gentle-crazy Terry Bellefleur (Todd Lowe). Tara (Rutina Wesley) has perhaps the most interesting turn, stealing somehow the light from Anna Paquin. The supporting roles - the enormous cast is great, holding it together into a little village feeling of belonging, over the six seasons. Of course, as a good fan of Battlestar Galactica, it was good to see Michelle Forbes again, and since I learned to really like Alexander Skarsgård (Disconnect, What Maisie knew) and have fallen in love with the amazing Lizzy Caplan, whose performance in Masters of Sex is impeccable.
Update Sept 21, 2014: the final season tries to settle some history, and transition to a future where things are settled, and besides the radical losses (what the f*** happened to Tara?!?), people find finally each other, vampires and humans, and life goes back to ordinary, of course with Pam and Eric on top of the world. Ok, everything has to have an end... But I guess HBO could still develop on further adventures, since the writer of the original book keeps on going...

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Orange is the New Black by Jenji Kohan, Netflix, 2013- (TVMA)

with Taylor Schilling (Argo), Laura Prepon, Michael Harney, Michelle Hurst, Kate Mulgrew, Jason Biggs, Natasha Lyonne, Pablo Schreiber, Nick Sandow, Dascha Polanco, Joel Garland, Lea DeLaria, Samira Wiley, Matt McGorry, Yael Stone, Danielle Brooks, Uzo Aduba, Catherine Curtin, Selenis Leyva, Constance Shulman, Annie Golden (I Love You Phillip Morris), Vicky Jeudy, Emma Myles, Laverne Cox, Taryn Manning, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Maria Dizzia (The Other Woman, Keep the Lights On), Lolita Foster, Beth Fowler, Abigail Savage, Madeline Brewer, Jackie Cruz, Diane Guerrero, Jessica Pimentel, Adrienne C. Moore, Lauren Lapkus, Lin Tucci, Matt Peters, Michael Chernus (Jack and Diane), Lori Tan Chinn, Laura Gomez, James McDaniel...

From the creator of “Weeds” comes a heartbreaking and hilarious new series set in a women’s prison. Piper Chapman’s wild past comes back to haunt her, resulting in her arrest and detention in a federal penitentiary. To pay her debt to society, Piper trades her comfortable New York life for an orange prison jumpsuit and finds unexpected conflict and camaraderie amidst an eccentric group of inmates. The series is based on Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman, a memoir about her experiences in prison, and aired on Netflix (House of Cards).

OITNB by Brazilian graphic design student Renis

I am in withdrawal. Watched it too fast, finished it too fast, loved too much the characters, and now they are gone for one year. And reading the sneaks that have been spilling around didn't make me feel better. Why is Alex only in one episode? Is she? Not to offense anyone, but that is a very bad idea. I think I can speak on behalf of a lot of people, we need her in the show. If the creators are reading, this is a message, put her back in, in third season if too late for the second season. And I didn't even like her, initially. But the series is so much about humanity, any character is having a perspective to offer on their own situation, own behavior, not that everything is justifiable, but definitely, it broaden your judgement, made so easily in perhaps the first episode and broken every step of the season. Brilliant. You learn to love every one of them, perhaps the hardest to like is the main one that is leading us to get to know all the other, Piper. But in a way, the conflict you have with her are the ones you have of someone who isn't really real, someone who still have some shallowness to drop down. But the reflective effect of the prison is definitely already changing her. And it doesn't goes only for the better. I in the end have no idea how realistic the prison is, I don't wish to have an experience of it, but I really love the portrait of the women Jenji Kohan traced. It is beautiful, human, not pretty, but full of humanity. And Laura Prepon makes it have that edge that seduces you. How about making Alex a bigger character in the next season? Right, I already pleaded...

PS: I put quite a lot of the cast, which I am usually lazy about, but hey, I am a new yorker, the cast is mostly from here, they cast some people I know in it, and I think all these actresses need all to be recognized for they gave an amazing performance.

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Homeland by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, Showtime, 2011- (TVMA)

with Claire Danes, Damian Lewis (Assassin in Love - The Baker), Morena Baccarin (Stargate), Jackson Pace, Mandy Patinkin, David Harewood, Jackson Pace, Morgan Saylor, Diego Klattenhoff, Rupert Friend, David Marciano, Navid Negahban, Jamey Sheridan, Sarita Choudhury, Hrach Titizian, F. Murray Abraham, Amy Hargreaves (Shame, Michael Clayton), James Rebhorn (My Cousin Vinny, The Game), Marin Ireland (Mildred Pierce, Hope Springs)

Homeland is an American drama-thriller television series developed by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa based on the Israeli series Hatufim created by Gideon Raff. When Marine Nicolas Brody is hailed as a hero after he returns home from eight years of captivity in Iraq, intelligence officer Carrie Mathison is the only one who suspects that he may have been "turned".

Season 3 is started. It starts slowly but don't be fooled, it is dense. The aftermath of the decimation of the CIA headquarters, two months later, announce to have terrible consequences on the credibility of the organization, and the disappearance of the number one Suspect is making it worse. But as the new season starts, you already see the premise of what is going to blow back at the face of the CIA, ten times worse. And Carrie is off her meds... Clearly not so quiet... And we are hooked for one more round.
PS: Congratulation to Claire Danes for a second consecutive Emmy awards

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 2012 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Masters of Sex produced by Gregory Prange Showtime, 2013- (TVMA)

with Michael Sheen (Beautiful Boy, Tron: Legacy, Alice in Wonderland, Frost/Nixon, Midnight in Paris, Music Within, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2), Lizzy Caplan (True Blood, 127 Hours), Nicholas D'Agosto, Caitlin FitzGerald, Teddy Sears, Beau Bridges (Stargate, Tron: Legacy), Heléne Yorke, Allison Janney (The Help, The Hours, Margaret, Liberal Arts, Juno), Julianne Nicholson (Keep the Lights On, August: Osage County, Puccini for Beginners)

MASTERS OF SEX stars Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as real-life pioneers of the science of human sexuality, William Masters and Virginia Johnson. Their research touched off the sexual revolution and took them from a midwestern teaching hospital to the cover of Time magazine and multiple appearances on Johnny Carson's couch. He is a brilliant scientist out of touch with his own feelings, and she is a single working mother ahead of her time. The series chronicles their unusual lives, romance, and unlikely pop culture trajectory.

Let's get started with a new Series. Perhaps not the most talked about, and at the same time, trying to be the most sensational one. Masters of Sex.
The cast is so far, from the first episode, impeccable. It took me a little bit to place the actress who plays Virginia Johnson, confusing her with Zooey Deschanel. They it came back, she is this pretty and adorable one who was in True Blood, the girlfriend of Jason in the first season. The character played by Michael Sheen of William Masters is incomprehensible, which apparently is meant to be that way. Beau Bridges is a little bit similar to his character in Stargate, which gets me a little confused, but never the less, with a hospital context, university and prostitute house, makes an interesting alternate reality to what is Mad Men, from the same period. Looking forward to see the next episdodes. And by the way, this research of Masters may have been redefining the knowledge of sex as we know it now, I believe there is still so much to learn from his research, much unknown.

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House of Cards (season 1) by Beau Willimon, 2013 (TV-MA)

Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Breaking and Entering, The Conspirator), Kate Mara (127 hours), Corey Stoll, Michael Kelly (Did you Hear About The Morgans?, The Adjustment Bureau), Sakina Jaffrey, Kristen Connolly, Constance Zimmer

Ruthless and cunning, Congressman Francis Underwood (Oscar® winner Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) stop at nothing to conquer everything. This wicked political drama penetrates the shadowy world of greed, sex, and corruption in modern D.C. Kate Mara (“American Horror Story”) and Corey Stoll (“Midnight in Paris”) costar in the first original series from David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Game) and Beau Willimon (“The Ides of March”). It is an adaptation of a previous BBC miniseries of the same name which is based on the novel by Michael Dobbs.

I don't believe I have ever seen such a troubling movie or series on politics. Francis Underwood is a manipulator, calculator, extremely smart, selfish and a bad looser, therefor dangerous to anyone who stand on his way. Surrounding him are people with ethics that are quite questionable, perhaps slightly more humanized, showing a little bit of their humanity. Overall, you have the feeling that higher power is completely independent from the people's will, and democracy an ideal that was created to comfort people in making them feel important. I felt the brightness of these minds, the wittiness of the dialogues made me enjoy some of the journey, but overall, your level of cynicism just get greater. It is brilliant, and hopefully fictional! The series is composed of three seasons, this is so far the first one, lets see how the cards are played, but the way season 1 ends suggest the game might change for an even more interesting one. What a suspense...

Watch Trailer:

Updates on Claudia Black, a journey to the impossibles

Following the article: Claudia Black, a journey to the impossibles

Claudia Black in the recording studios for Dragon Age Inquisition, 2014

I keep seeing these pictures on the side of my blog, as it appears to be very popular, and I feel weird because I just want to post a picture of Claudia Black the way she looks now, which is more beautiful than ever. Just come back to the front of the screen, even if that means more make up/prep up and less crazy voices to perform for video games. 

Update 10/01/2016: I am still catching up with the last episodes, so don't spoil it for me. But my, my... Lommers is quite the politician in Containment, I am thrilled she was cast in it. Looking forward to the end, and more shows with her in it.

Update 02/18/2016: Alright, Claudia Black has been back, with the role of Dahlia in the Originals, (spin-off from The Vampire Diaries), pretty much immortal. And something I really look forward to, she will be part of the cast of "Containment", set to debut April 19, 2016, meaning really soon!!! This is good news.

Update 12/19/2013: Just in: "Strange Frame: Love and Sax" is now available in Netflix. Only thing I gotta do when I get back home after holidays is to watch it! Yay!

Update 08/05/2013: Finally, just saw the other vampire Claudia Black was turned into, for the movie "Queen of the Damned". Honestly, I much prefer the one of "MoonLight". They made her have luggage under her eyes, bad skin, and an insignificant role. Anyway, the movie is not that interesting either, so I guess it is a good way to skip Claudia Black for once. Still have to see "Strange Frame" and "Rain From Stars".

Update 11/29/2012: Answer from the producers of Strange Frame: "Weʻre still working on a screening for New York. Stay tuned, but it will be out on VOD in February and DVD in March."
Simple as asking!

Claudia Black as Pandora in "Queen of the Damned", 2002

Update 11/28/2012: Just watched for the first time Haven, this series from SyFy (who produced BattleStar Galactica) of course to check out the latest work of Claudia Black ("Magic Hour" Part 1 and 2). I kind of got hooked to the series, it has an interesting point, despite the fact that it looks like "The 4400" and "Heroes" in more than one way... Or X-men... Wonder why there is such a fascination for people with superpower (oh now I remember half of the movie industry money comes from stories about people with Super-Powers :) Anyway, I am starting to get annoyed at Claudia Black for staying no more than three episodes without being outcast or killed, or simply popping by just long enough we would point our attention to her and then leave. Can any producer be smarter than that?
But... she looks like she is getting a serious credit in the coming-up movie "Rain from Stars", which is not an animated movie. Yes!!! It's finished, so let's wait and see. In the meantime, I keep asking in case... where can we see "Strange Frame: Love and Sax" in New York?

Claudia Black in TV series "Haven" as Moira in episode "Magic Hour"

For more on Claudia Black, I recommend IMDB and claudiablackonline

Claudia Black, a journey to the impossibles

I never knew one of my recent obsession would become the reason why my blog is so much read. Definitely, I believe that there is a major curiosity to be built upon Claudia Black. She was once overly wearing make-up for "City Life", which is here in the US practically impossible to watch, except if you understand Russian and you are not bothered by the fact that it is only one person (male) that does he voice over for all the characters, with the enthusiasm of Aeryn Sun in "Look at the Princess" for Dregon Carzenova (Aaron James Cash). I personally do not understand Russian. Anyway...

Claudia Black as Angela Kostapas in "City Life"

My journey of discovering Claudia Black started (obviously) with Aeryn Sun in "Farscape". Interesting character, who pretty much stole the series, evolving from tough military to someone more complex, with feelings, emotions, hopes.

Claudia Black as Aeryn Sun in Farscape

Something in her pushed me into watching "Stargate SG-1", while my friends (who had recommended me "Farscape") were kind of reticent. My only curiosity came from the fact that in one of the episodes of "Stargate SG-1" named "200", she was playing Aeryn Sun. But instead of going straight to the point, I started back to "Prometheus Unbound" and watched her as Vala Mal Doran in all the episodes in between to get to that point. I was definitely on the one hand deceived that it wasn't Aeryn Sun per say, but one the other hand, I got my only laugh for watching "Stargate SG-1" which largely compensated.

Claudia Black as Vala Mal Doran in Stargate SG-1

Following this Stargate period, I got into what is called at my age (28) a shameful moment. Yes, I watched "90210" aka Beverly Hills. It used to be successful as a different generation cast, when I was 8 years old, with the reputation to be for kids and teenagers. When I was 8, I thought it was an adult show, with real heart drama. Watching it now was sort of a learning experience, first of that target audience, second of a certain mentality that perhaps some high school have. Anyway, Claudia Black played for a few episodes a guru, Sona. Of course, she has to be the bad guy, and of course, the whole game has to be unveiled in an obvious manner. Anyway, definitely a character change. My shame was more or less watching the rest of the episodes that ended the series...

Claudia Black as Guru Sona in 90210

Next was the wonder of "City Life" dubbed in Russian, which I probably gave up to easily, although reading about it, it made me realize this was a response to Melrose Place from New Zealand, meaning not sure I want to be hooked to a sitcom again. 

Then came "Rango"... I had to see it, because of the reviews, and because of her role as Angelique. Well, the movie is great, the character of Angelique, let's define it: nearly nonexistent. Sad because she is funnily arrogant, could have had more slashing lines.

Claudia Black as Angelique in Rango

I checked the trailer of the animation movie "The Alchemist Agenda" but it looked like it was still a work in progress. I was also watching this episode of "MoonLight" where she appears, kind of SM Vampire Cleaner, reminding me of Trinity in "The Matrix" (And I love Trinity... But The Cleaner wasn't a recurrent role so I gave up).

Claudia Black as Ariel Allis in The Alchemist Agenda

Claudia Black as The Cleaner in MoonLight

Now, my two latest moves are to watch "Pitch Black" which when it came out was a blockbuster, and hum... "Xena: Warrior Princess" that's it, I said it. I believe I watched that once on tv when I was a teenager, at my aunt's house (never had tv in my childhood), bored to death and at 11am during the week with no cable tv, obviously not much to watch either. I was not impressed. So this time, this particular episode where Claudia Black appears, "Lifeblood" is with guest star Selma Blair and is about this leader from the past Xena is having visions of. We are at the time of the early Sapiens I think, and Claudia Black is a hippie with skins and fur named Karina. Her character is close enough to Aeryn Sun, sort of a leader herself, very naive tho. Anyway, It was a bit painful to watch, since everything is over-staged, loud and absolutely not convincing, from the acting (except perhaps Claudia who also strangely never dances with the crowd, skipping in extremis a ridiculous fate.)

Claudia Black as Karina in Xena: Warrior Princess

I am trying to watch in the subway (yes, New York) every time I can "Pitch Black". Not sure this is a good idea since last time, because I couldn't hear the deep voice of Vin Diesel, I put the volume to the maximum and then they shot something really loud (in order to scare) while I was leaving the train, got my ears and heart by surprise, I almost hurt someone. I am pending on the time where Sharon 'Shazza' Montgomery, her character, is going to die, seems like everyone will besides Vin Diesel and Radha Mitchell...

Claudia Black as Sharon 'Shazza' Montgomery in Pitch Black

Ok, to jump subject, I watched a few interviews of the "Real" Claudia Black, she looks very funny, grounded. Which might have been why in a way, she decided to focus her career on voice-over for films and video-games and other priorities. I am looking forward though to her next performance in a feature film, if possible not in an animation movie :)

Update 08/25/2012: The latest news is the completion of the animation movie "Strange Frame: Love & Sax" which has Claudia Black playing Parker C. Boyd, a women from a few centuries forward in a society that has stopped living on earth, saxophonist, falling for another woman with an extraordinary voice, Naia X. who ends up becoming the slave of her new manager. So of course, Parker needs to save her. The trailer is out there, the animation seems a bit unequal, between 3d landscape that are absolutely stunning of realism, to the characters that look like painting or video-game from the 2000s, but awkwardly animated. Would love to see it tho when it comes out in New York. Still running its first rounds in L.A. so far...

Update 12/25/2014: yes that's Christmas night and I am reviewing my notes on Claudia Black... Just felt like having a revival of Farscape, that's why... So, thanks to Netflix, the movie is on demand! And it is an interesting story, although the animation is a bit unequal and sometimes sketchy. 

On a Christmas note, I needed to express how beautiful Claudia Black looks lately with her blonde and curly hair. She should be in a movie (ah ah!). Anyway, seriously, any director reading this?

Claudia Black in Strange Frame: Love & Sax as Parker C. Boyd

Trailer:


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For more on Claudia Black, I recommend IMDB and claudiablackonline 

On Lip Service by Harriet Braun (TV series, 2010-2012) (TV-14)

with Laura Fraser, Ruta Gedmintas (The Borgias), Fiona Button, Heather Peace, Emun Elliott, James Pearson, Roxanne McKee, Steven Cree, Anna Skellern, Adam Sinclair, Natasha O'Keeffe, Valerie Edmond, Hilary Maclean...

Cast of "Lip Service", Season 1 - from left to right: Cat (Laura Fraser),
Sam (Heather Peace), Frankie (Ruta Gedmintas), Sadie (Natasha O'Keeffe),
Lou (Roxanne McKee) and Tess (Fiona Button)

Lives, loves and lusts of Lipstick Lesbians in Scotland.
"Lip Service" is an irreverent and poignant drama series that focuses on the romantic lives of young gay women in contemporary Glasgow. Frankie, Cat and Tess were at university together, and in the subsequent years, were all swept into relationships.

Cast of "Lip Service", Season 1 - from left to right: Sam (Heather Peace),
Cat (Laura Fraser), Sadie (Natasha O'Keeffe),
Frankie (Ruta Gedmintas), Lou (Roxanne McKee)  and Tess (Fiona Button)

Who doesn't remember "The L Word"? Who doesn't miss a decent series that actually speaks to lesbian in a - if possible - positive way? Lip Service is a BBC production, a risky one, that decided to take on the subject, with the idea of representing mostly lipstick lesbian, in their environment, in a set place (Glasgow) and time (the series two seasons take place in six month nowadays time).

Cast of "Lip Service", Season 2 - from left to right:
Lexi (Anna Skellern), Ed (James Anthony Pearson), Frankie (Ruta Gedmintas),
Tess (Fiona Button), Jay (Emun Elliott) Cat (Laura Fraser) and Sam (Heather Peace)

The fist season was more of a show off of a diversity of lesbian having an active emotional life (and sex life for some), focusing on the love drama and the past of Frankie, with a soft mystery on who are her true parents. Honestly more of a pretext to go on with a dramatic and imbalanced character. The second season take a turn (radical) which makes the character deal with it in various ways, creating a better context for the audience to involve themselves.



In other words, if the first season was a way to discover characters in a very shallow way, with fancy cinematography and hot/original sex scenes, the second one goes deeper in a psychological journey for some of the characters in dealing with an intense event, growing up and dealing with a departing career for Tess and the brother of Cat, Ed, and eventually more romantic drama and sex.

Cast of "Lip Service", Season 1 - from left to right: Sam (Heather Peace),
Sadie (Natasha O'Keeffe), Frankie (Ruta Gedmintas), and Tess (Fiona Button),
Cat (Laura Fraser) and Lexi (Anna Skellern)

I didn't like so much the first season of the series, kept on watching and was greatly surprised by the second season. Will there be a series 3? To be continued...

Watch Trailer - Season 1


Watch Trailer - Season 2

On Stargate by Peter DeLuise... (TV series, 1997 - 2007) from the "Farscape" time

Transported by a portal to other worlds in the known universe, a diverse crew of intergalactic investigators helps to bring peace and hope to strange and new civilizations. In Season 9, a new commanding officer is assigned to Stargate Command. A new member also joins the team and a deadly enemy threatens Earth. The long-running sci-fi hit kicks off its 10th season with Vala Mal Doran (Claudia Black) giving birth to Adria (Morena Baccarin), the rapidly aging leader of the Ori forces, prompting Landry (Beau Bridges) to question whether Vala can still be trusted at Stargate Command. The season also includes an exciting midseason two-parter called "The Quest," in which Stargate Command meets an old nemesis while pursuing an ancient device known as the Holy Grail.

Teal'c (Christopher Judge), Vala Mal Doran (Claudia Black), Dr. Daniel Jackson
(Michael Shanks), Col. Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder), Major Samantha Carter
(Amanda Tapping) and Major General Hank Landry (Beau Bridges)

2005-2007 (Season 9-10): Stargate SG-1 team changes. No more O'Neal, instead comes Col. Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder) and Vala Mal Doran (Claudia Black), the Farscape main cast, funnily. Not that I was big on Stargate the movie (1994, I was a little bit). Or that I actually watched all the seasons (211 episodes!). But I was willing to give it a try, just for the sake of being a fan of Farscape. Followed of course by "Stargate: The Ark of Truth" and "Stargate: Continuum".

Major Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and Vala Mal Doran(Claudia Black)

So, what to say about Stargate. It has an interesting conception of the universe, god(s), mythology and Celtic legend, and at that time, no much longer a reminder of Egypt land, since they already explored it over and over in the previous seasons and movie. The story is realistically coherent with our own history, there are two big enemies they have to fight against, missions to accomplish. It is like a video game that you cannot play. The suspense is good in between episodes, but the journey within each episode can be a stretch. The emotions are limited to the minimum (I guess they settled that this was not the point of the series, period.), the attachment to the characters therefor minimal. I was surprised tho that for no reason, you could potentially be attached to Lt. Col. Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping), I think it is more because of her acting than because her character is necessarily more developed emotionally than the others. They are trying to show weaknesses in Mitchell, but it is not in his acting. And Vala Mal Doran is a clown. Even in the last episode of the season, "Unending" where they are trying to build a late relationship Between Vala and Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), everything sounds fake.

Vala Mal Doran (Claudia Black)

Anyway, I was told from day one that Stargate wouldn't reach the level of Farscape and BattleStar Galactica. That was right... But one mention to a sort of geeky sense of humor: "200", where they parody all the best SciFi Series, and literally trash in one second Farscape, it was funny, I admit.

Teal'c as Ka D'Argo and Samantha Carter as Chiana in the parody of Farscape