The Minutiae of Life as a Militant Squirrel

Totally had to clean out my poor DVR, which was at 87% full and threatening to explode, so this was a TV weekend.

Yesterday was "series day", which means that I watched the last two episodes of White Collar. I LOATHE Eliza Dushku, and I devoutly hope we never have to see her again, but I have the unfortunate feeling that she'll be back. Dammit. I am, however, enjoying the struggle in Neal's character. Looking forward to seeing where this goes when the season picks up again in the fall.

Then I watched the last two episodes of Haven, which also made me very happy. I've been rooting for Audrey and Nathan since the series started, so I hope it works out for them. One of the things I like best about the show is that none of the actors are Hollywood-gorgeous . . . you know, men with chiseled features and equally chiseled abs, women like skeletons with breast implants and flowing manes of hair, flawless features and equally flawless makeup. Lucas Bryant is very attractive, I'll grant you, but not in the currently popular mode. For one thing, he's too skinny by the standards of typical Hollywood hunks-- as is Eric Balfour, whose features have become almost satanic as he's aged. Again, neither of them are leading-man material. And Emily Rose is adorable, but she's also not typically attractive by current standards.

So all that is what originally drew me in to the show. Yes, generally I choose my TV viewing based on the quality and the quantity of the pretty, but Haven really sucked me in because it was so different. Then I stayed for the plot, which has been absolutely fascinating. Sure, a couple of weak episodes here and there, but over all . . . really enjoying it. Though I rather hope something nasty eats Luke Perry's character soon, as he gets on my nerves in a major fucking way.

I've also been following Alphas, but I'm not sure how long it will hold my interest. At the moment, it's interesting, but it also has the potential to become formulaic, I think. Did you know that the guy who plays Hicks in Alphas played the vampire leader, Luther, in SPN? Yeah, I had to look it up, too. I knew he looked familiar, but I couldn't place him for the life of me.

Still behind on Necessary Roughness. Callie Thorne just annoys me SO FUCKING MUCH, I'm having trouble watching it, even for the hotness that is Riley Finn I mean, Marc Blucas. Maybe if I mute the volume I can deal with it better.

Of course, I also had to take a few breaks to watch men's tennis, specifically the Western & Southern Open. My TV tennis boyfriend, Novak Djokovic, made it through the semifinals but had to retire in the beginning of the second set of the final today with a injured shoulder. It's obviously been a hard slog on all the players . . . there have been a lot of disappointing matches these past two weeks, with players withdrawing left and right with injuries or just plain playing well below their usual standard of talent. When Djokovic has won this week, it's either been a long and ugly slugfest, or the the other guy has tapped out--which is its own kind of disappointment. Tsonga went down that way, and so did Berdych, both of whom would have been great matches.

The ATP doesn't give the two-day breaks between matches that the Grand Slam events do, and I think it shows in the weariness of all the players. All the top guys just looked utterly exhausted even after Montreal, and then you add in the weather in Cincinatti? Yeah, small wonder that they're dropping like flies. Djokovic traditionally doesn't seem to do well in the heat, and I naturally sympathize. I'd curl up like a salted slug if I tried to even breathe outside in weather like that. Yuck. I just really hope he went home and faceplanted into his couch and is going to stay there for the next week, recovering and resting up for the US Open. 'Cause I really want to see him win some more titles and prove to all the naysayers that he DESERVES to be Number One. There's still way too many people out there who are pooh-poohing his success, calling him a fluke and a flash in the pan, and to them I say NO.

I've been watching Novak Djokovic since he turned pro in 2003, and I've been waiting for him to have this year. He deserves it, and I hope he gets to keep it.

Abrupt ending here, as it is now late, and I must pack for another work-week staying at Mom's house. *yawns* Glad I had that nap earlier, 'cause I'm sleepy.

Good night!

So with my bowl of cereal this morning, I got to watch Resident Evil: Afterlife, which was a pretty awesome way to start the day. I'm a surprisingly big fan of the RE franchise, considering that I generally loathe zombies, but RE 1 & 2 totally had me hooked from the very first time I saw them. What I liked most was the emphasis on strong female characters-- action heroes in their own rights-- not just cupcake rewards for the manly men to rescue.

Okay, okay, and the slash in both movies totally wrote itself.

Of course, then RE 3 had to come along and ruin EVERYTHING, but I'm glad to see that somebody pulled it together for RE 4. I have great hopes for 5, which I understand will be coming out next year some time.

One of the things that I thought would bother me was that Wentworth Miller was playing the part of Chris Redfield. Originally Jensen Ackles was cast in the role, but he pulled out, I'm guessing because of scheduling conflicts with SPN's shooting schedule. And although I think Wentworth is hot like burning, I deeply, deeply resented that he was NOT Jensen.

Yet, much to my surprise, I liked him quite well. I did, however, find it easy to imagine how Jensen would have played the role instead. I really would have liked to see what he would have done with it . . . but, oh well. Nothing to be done for it, I suppose.

And now I am settling in on the couch to watch my TV tennis boyfriend, World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, beat the crap out of some other guy at Wimbledon. ( Yeah, yeah, I know. Baghdatis. Whatever, I care NOT. )

It's gonna be a good day.

Watched last week's TVD in preparation for tonight's episode.

There was one massively good thing about it:

Damon Salvatore, bloody and in chains.

Yeah . . . there's no bad there.

Now let's see what happens next.

Sherman has been in the shop again all week. *sadface*

This means that I have been crashing on my mom's sofa, since I can walk to the bus stop from her house. *sigh*

I miss my car!

And I miss my house!

But! I made Mom watch my shows on Thursday night, and she actually liked Vampire Diaries! SPN just confused her, but that's understandable. It's kind of hard to follow if you're coming in cold.

Of course, it doesn't say much about Vampire Diaries that it is possible for a complete neophyte to understand it when plunked into an episode halfway through the season. But I never claimed that the show was particularly deep.

I've seen some people make the argument that Damon is a true psychopath, unable to determine the difference between right and wrong. I disagree with that assessment. Others argue the common definition of a sociopath-- that he knows the difference and just doesn't care. I don't think either of those definitions are entirely accurate.

I think Damon is equipped with a moral compass-- it just isn't the same one you or I or certainly Stefan might use. I've said before that he is almost entirely motivated by self-interest . . . but that extends to certain others he chooses. In last week's episode, he publically humiliates Alaric, but the action seems to be more about lashing out at Stefan. It certainly backfires on him when it upsets Elena. Later, when Alaric is so enraged that he finally decides to try and kill Damon, he has to attack him three times before Damon finally loses his patience and ends the struggle.

I think it's easy to see there that Damon doesn't actually want to kill Alaric. He doesn't see any point to it. Alaric hasn't personally caused Damon any grief--in fact, the opposite is certainly true, and Damon isn't above taking some petty vengeance in explaining himself--but again, it comes off more as impatient and frustrated than anything else. Hell, Damon isn't even hungry enough to want a snack. The attitude seems to be that Alaric has deeply inconvenienced Damon by insisting on dying in his living room, but, whatever. Damon has other things to worry about.

Damon seems to like playing mind games, but he mostly likes to play them with Stefan. In fact, as much as he is obsessed with his memory of Katherine, the great of love of Damon's life is actually his brother. His world actually revolves around Stefan-- whether tormenting him or using him in some fashion, or even the few occasions where he seems to exhibit honest warm feelings, however brief.

I think Damon is angry, yes, but also bored, and--though he won't admit--very lonely. He's had nothing but endless rage to keep him company for the last hundred-odd years, and although he's allowed some relationships to go a little deeper, they've still mostly been superficial. And I wonder how many of them went bad for him and reinforced the trust issues he already had?

Look at what happened when he went on a road trip to visit an old girlfriend; she betrayed him and tried to have him killed. So of course his moral compass dictated that he kill her--not just as reflexive retribution, but I think also as a pre-emptive strike against any further actions. That's something else I see in Damon-- he has a temper, we saw that when he attacked Bonnie in a rage after she destroyed the amulet while possessed by the spirit of her ancestor, Emily-- but he's often very cool and calculating in his actions. "An eye for an eye" isn't just a saying for him . . . it's a way of life, and it kind of has to be, because he probably has to assume that anyone who's tried to kill him once will try again.

No wonder he has trouble believing in people. I sympathize.

Okay, yes, in addition to being more than halfway in love with Damon, I identify with him quite a bit as well.

Hell, if I were an immortal vampire with the strength and speed to be able to do it, I'd probably rip out the heart of someone who broke mine, too.

You know, because bloody mayhem and gruesome violence just relieve stress so much more than posting in one's LJ ever could!

*grin*

( SPOILERS FOR 4.21 WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS )

I gotta watch this ep again, do a play-by-play reaction. Mostly, I'm still just squeeing, but there's so much meta-thinking I need to do.

I must percolate.

OMG DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!

AND OMG CASTIEL!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Hopefully more coherent words will follow tomorrow.

In sum . . . SQUEEEEEEEEE!!!!

( Also, I think I kinda came or something. You know when. DEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAANNNNN! )

I'm freezing. When the penguins are cold, IT'S FUCKING COLD!!!!

Even Amanda is complaining. Stoli slept curled in a ball with her tail over her nose last night. I know she's wearing a fur coat, but I felt sorry for her and let her sleep on my bed with me for the extra warmth. Dad and I are still fighting over the heat in the house . . . I maintain strenuously that, as it is WINTER IN NEW JERSEY, it is unreasonable in the extreme to keep the indoor temperature at 74 degrees, just so that he can lounge comfortably in short sleeves. Put on a fucking sweater, for God's sake.

No one is going to die because the thermostat is kept at sixty-two. Especially not if we survived my childhood at 55 degrees in the house.

I spent so much time and effort squealing over Jensen's movie that I completely forgot to squee over SPN! I'm totally rewatching the episode now.

( SPN 4.13, AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL )

In sum . . . AWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!

Leverage remains vastly amusing! Last week's episode contained yet another BtVS alumnus: anybody notice Jonathan as the bad guy accountant?

( Leverage 4.10 )

Leverage remains mostly lighthearted fare for me, but I love it and will continue to watch. I really hope they get renewed!


SQUEEEEE!! New SPN tonight, yay!

OMG MBV3D TONIGHT!!!!

The awesome lucifrix has agreed to put up with my squealing. In return, I have promised to try and keep my dolphin-noises to a minimum.

So, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

*bounces*

A little disappointed am I in Leverage 1:8, "The Mile High Job". It gave me a sense that the characters were out of their element, and because of that, I felt the episode lacked cohesion. Also, what was the point with the Genogrow security specialist being on board the plane? Why was he earmarked for liquidation? I get the accountant chick . . . that makes sense. I think I'm missing something and I need to re-watch the ep.

Nate and Sophie are becoming a bit predictable, though. I keep shouting at the screen, "Would you just *fuck* already!"

Of course, I loved Spencer as an air marshal. *snerk*

Message to Christian Kane: No, the fucking idiotic soul patch does NOT make you look badass; it makes you look STUPID. Shave, for God's sake. Also, a long blunt haircut is no one's friend, especially yours. Again with the stupid. CUT YOUR GODDAMN HAIR.

I want to write an SPN / Leverage crossover wherein Spencer tangles with the Winchester brothers over an artifact. I am trying VERY HARD not to start it until I finish something else in my WiPs folder.

Last night I watched Criminal Minds for the first time in eons and enjoyed it immensely. Though I didn't know Mandy Patinkin had left the show and I kept saying, "What is Joe Montegna *doing* here?"

I was rooting for the family of serial killers to escape, but the ending was pretty cool anyway. That other kid, at the very end, though, was FUCKING CREEPY-LOOKING, what with the bug eyes and all.

Anybody else notice that the second girl they swiped was played by the girl who played child-Lilith in SPN "No Rest For The Wicked" and "Yellow Fever"? It must have been SPN-alumni night, because Madison showed up on CSI: NY, also. And I spotted someone else on yet another show, but now I can't remember who it was or what role he played.

I rewatched SPN "Heaven and Hell" and was struck all over again by how silly the sex seemed. Dean has had more chemistry with a CHEESEBURGER than he did with Anna . . . though I do not object whatsoever to the gratuitous shirtlessness. I've always had a thing for shoulders and arms and hands on a guy, and now I can add "Jensen Ackles' naked back" to the list of THINGS THAT TURN ME ON INSTANTLY. Music choice for seduction, though? SERIOUSLY LAME.

I saw some of the stills from My Bloody Valentine recently, and I'm surprised to say that I think Jensen might be working out a bit too much. He's starting to look kind of . . . uneven. You know, out-of-proportion. Awesome under clothes, but a little weird out of them.

Still, the pretty kind of makes up for it.

And I also saw an episode of Bones, which I ( surprisingly ) enjoyed. I'd watched the pilot when it premiered, been vastly disappointed, and never bothered with it again. But this episode was funny and snarky and quite entertaining! Amanda has the whole series on DVD, so I might borrow it from her and get caught up.

Just what I need, another show to follow. GODDAMMIT.

My supervisor just informed me that the latest issue of TV Guide says that this is the final season for Prison Break. This is most disappointing! Still, TV Guide has been known to be wrong, and I can certainly understand that the writers may have milked the concept for all it's worth.

I will miss my Monday-night eye candy, though. *sighs*

Seems like that's it for now! I'm sure I'll think of more to say, as soon as I hit POST.

Leverage: The Bank Shot Job, 1:5

Spencer: ( speaking into his earpiece ) Tell me what's goin' on in there.

Deputy: I'm afraid I can't do that, sir-- this is an active crime scene, and you need to--

Spencer: I'm not talkin' to you.

*shivers*

Okay, now that? Was HOT. Mad, bad, and dangerous-to-know Christian Kane. *sigh* To say nothing of the kicking-ass-and-taking-names later in the show. I'm so fucking easy.

This crush is getting even more pathetic than it already was. Also, I am genuinely amazed that he's managed to be as successful as he is, with absolutely no formal acting training. That's pretty damned cool.

Still not happy with his musical sellout to Nashville, though. I kinda want to headslap him for that.