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tellitslantOH
MY
GOD
I... actually don't know if I can react to this show. I mean. I just. I am constantly floored by how good it is. The acting. The writing. The cinematography. Have I mentioned the acting. The feminist politics. The post-feminist politics. The spotlighting and systematic dismantlement of straw men. The refusal to be predictable.
I have guessed bits and pieces of this show and its general shape, but for the most part, in the bigger picture, I have no idea where it's going to go from episode to episode. It looks like it's going to head in one direction and then it does something completely different, without invalidating any of the setup. I am perpetually in awe.
I forget, when I'm not watching, just how good this show is. I remember that it's good, but I think I convince myself that I must be wrong or something, and then I am just bowled over when I put it back on. I can't believe that this show does things that I am pretty sure I would hate on any other show and manages to do them in a way that does not make me tear my hair out. Every single character has so much depth and so many different wants and needs. It's just. so. good.
Notable points: Caitlin quitting to be a mom. Totally blindsided me. I did not see that one coming at all. Even within the episode. And yet, loved it.
Diane, in general, but with her two men on the string particularly! And I do so love her and Will scheming together. And her standing up for Alicia. And just her. She has had some delightful moments this year, which makes me really happy.
Jackie! I did NOT see her scheming coming and I am very excited to see what the hell happens with her from now on.
Alicia. alicia alicia alicia. Standing UP for herself, in so many ways. Kicking so much ass. Recognizing her own awesome and seeking external validation. Taking on Jackie. Taking on the blue ribbon pane. Supporting Peter for her own reasons. She has grown past Peter in so many ways, and yet that seems to be tying them ever tighter together. Just in general, she has grown up so much (which sounds silly to say about a character in her 40s, but it's true). Watching her deal with her family as well as with her work world is just leagues past what we saw in the first season. The flashbacks in the last few eps really pounded that home. Kudos to her makeup and wardrobe people as well, because her transition to the sleek powersuits she's been wearing is so telling.
KALINDA. Fucking hell how is she so good. I am so pleased to see that Archie Panjabi has been nominated for an Emmy, and even knowing that Christine Baranski is also competing against her, if Panjabi doesn't win there is no justice in this world. I was watching these last couple of eps just thinking about how much she has evolved as a character over the last three years. Everyone has, to some extent, but Alicia and Kalinda have made the greatest strides, I think (and that's WITH Will's suspension - has that really changed him? How much has Peter changed? Even Diane!). I did NOT expect to see Lana return (so so so pleased I wasn't spoiled for that), and, that scene in Lana's flat. How is it even possible for someone to be simulaneously that in control and that vulnerable (and that HOT?)? And actually talking to Alicia and answering old questions and being honest and not running. The one thing I was spoiled for was the fact that Kalinda had a husband, so that reveal was a bit lost on me, but pulling out her stash and then changing her mind and staying, with her gun, and, you know what? Incredible. In.cred.ible.
...I may have a few feelings about Kalinda.
The only thing that's rubbing me the wrong way is the whole subplot about Alicia and Peter's old house. Maybe it's me, but I find it really weird, and it seems like it would just bring up bad memories for Alicia, and I spent a lot of time wanting to smack the kids over the head with big guess what, it's not gonna go back to everything being perfect bricks. Again, maybe it's just me, but I do not WANT Alicia to turn around and go back inside and play at happy families again. That said, I have no idea where I do want her to go, because I was watching that fantastic bookend of a scene with her and Will in the elevator - calling back to that LAST finale elevator scene - and going, nope, that's not right either.
(Speaking of elevators, that lovely, subtle, hilarious scene where the absurdities just keep coming to face them in front of the elevators at the law office? Killed me dead. Absolutely brilliantly written and acted and filmed. IT'S A SURPRISE PARTY FOR YOU KALINDA. mnaugh. (but actually that is so emblematic of the show itself, and the way all these undercurrents are present and rarely talked about and leaned on and then suddenly pulled out into the open splat in the middle of the reception area, SO GOOD.) And speaking of acting, Nyholm's and Canning's faces when Peter said he and Alicia were separated? Delightful.)
Also, the dudes on this show, also, how so amazing. Eli and his ex-wife was fantastic. And Eli and JACKIE. Peter being the one to come out and be honest about his and Alicia's separation! Will being all schemey and yet going to Diane when the lawyer he's dating might get hired by the firm. And Cary's back, and Peter heing so noble about Cary leaving, and and and. I don't understand how they can all be so GREAT. HOW DO I LOVE EVERYBODY ON THIS SHOW, HOW.
As an aside, having just written a thesis where I had fifteen pages of film and television bibliography, each and every entry requiring directorial information, I have spent a lot of time noticing how male-dominated the production and direction industries have been. Not that I didn't know this before, but copying and pasting all these names into painstakingly assembled black and white in front of me really made it stand out. And so I have also noticed that TGW has a pretty decent number of female names in th production/direction/writing/editing slots. Rock on with embracing in real life the same politics your show is presenting, ladies and gents.
IIt is entirely unfair that I didn't get around to catching up till August and yet I still have to wait till the end of September for new eps. I know none of you have any sympathy, BUT STILL.
...maybe I will just rewatch the whole series. What, I have time. And there is not another show around with this overwhelming number of incredible ladies being incredible at and to and with and against each other. It makes me happy in my soul.
MY
GOD
I... actually don't know if I can react to this show. I mean. I just. I am constantly floored by how good it is. The acting. The writing. The cinematography. Have I mentioned the acting. The feminist politics. The post-feminist politics. The spotlighting and systematic dismantlement of straw men. The refusal to be predictable.
I have guessed bits and pieces of this show and its general shape, but for the most part, in the bigger picture, I have no idea where it's going to go from episode to episode. It looks like it's going to head in one direction and then it does something completely different, without invalidating any of the setup. I am perpetually in awe.
I forget, when I'm not watching, just how good this show is. I remember that it's good, but I think I convince myself that I must be wrong or something, and then I am just bowled over when I put it back on. I can't believe that this show does things that I am pretty sure I would hate on any other show and manages to do them in a way that does not make me tear my hair out. Every single character has so much depth and so many different wants and needs. It's just. so. good.
Notable points: Caitlin quitting to be a mom. Totally blindsided me. I did not see that one coming at all. Even within the episode. And yet, loved it.
Diane, in general, but with her two men on the string particularly! And I do so love her and Will scheming together. And her standing up for Alicia. And just her. She has had some delightful moments this year, which makes me really happy.
Jackie! I did NOT see her scheming coming and I am very excited to see what the hell happens with her from now on.
Alicia. alicia alicia alicia. Standing UP for herself, in so many ways. Kicking so much ass. Recognizing her own awesome and seeking external validation. Taking on Jackie. Taking on the blue ribbon pane. Supporting Peter for her own reasons. She has grown past Peter in so many ways, and yet that seems to be tying them ever tighter together. Just in general, she has grown up so much (which sounds silly to say about a character in her 40s, but it's true). Watching her deal with her family as well as with her work world is just leagues past what we saw in the first season. The flashbacks in the last few eps really pounded that home. Kudos to her makeup and wardrobe people as well, because her transition to the sleek powersuits she's been wearing is so telling.
KALINDA. Fucking hell how is she so good. I am so pleased to see that Archie Panjabi has been nominated for an Emmy, and even knowing that Christine Baranski is also competing against her, if Panjabi doesn't win there is no justice in this world. I was watching these last couple of eps just thinking about how much she has evolved as a character over the last three years. Everyone has, to some extent, but Alicia and Kalinda have made the greatest strides, I think (and that's WITH Will's suspension - has that really changed him? How much has Peter changed? Even Diane!). I did NOT expect to see Lana return (so so so pleased I wasn't spoiled for that), and, that scene in Lana's flat. How is it even possible for someone to be simulaneously that in control and that vulnerable (and that HOT?)? And actually talking to Alicia and answering old questions and being honest and not running. The one thing I was spoiled for was the fact that Kalinda had a husband, so that reveal was a bit lost on me, but pulling out her stash and then changing her mind and staying, with her gun, and, you know what? Incredible. In.cred.ible.
...I may have a few feelings about Kalinda.
The only thing that's rubbing me the wrong way is the whole subplot about Alicia and Peter's old house. Maybe it's me, but I find it really weird, and it seems like it would just bring up bad memories for Alicia, and I spent a lot of time wanting to smack the kids over the head with big guess what, it's not gonna go back to everything being perfect bricks. Again, maybe it's just me, but I do not WANT Alicia to turn around and go back inside and play at happy families again. That said, I have no idea where I do want her to go, because I was watching that fantastic bookend of a scene with her and Will in the elevator - calling back to that LAST finale elevator scene - and going, nope, that's not right either.
(Speaking of elevators, that lovely, subtle, hilarious scene where the absurdities just keep coming to face them in front of the elevators at the law office? Killed me dead. Absolutely brilliantly written and acted and filmed. IT'S A SURPRISE PARTY FOR YOU KALINDA. mnaugh. (but actually that is so emblematic of the show itself, and the way all these undercurrents are present and rarely talked about and leaned on and then suddenly pulled out into the open splat in the middle of the reception area, SO GOOD.) And speaking of acting, Nyholm's and Canning's faces when Peter said he and Alicia were separated? Delightful.)
Also, the dudes on this show, also, how so amazing. Eli and his ex-wife was fantastic. And Eli and JACKIE. Peter being the one to come out and be honest about his and Alicia's separation! Will being all schemey and yet going to Diane when the lawyer he's dating might get hired by the firm. And Cary's back, and Peter heing so noble about Cary leaving, and and and. I don't understand how they can all be so GREAT. HOW DO I LOVE EVERYBODY ON THIS SHOW, HOW.
As an aside, having just written a thesis where I had fifteen pages of film and television bibliography, each and every entry requiring directorial information, I have spent a lot of time noticing how male-dominated the production and direction industries have been. Not that I didn't know this before, but copying and pasting all these names into painstakingly assembled black and white in front of me really made it stand out. And so I have also noticed that TGW has a pretty decent number of female names in th production/direction/writing/editing slots. Rock on with embracing in real life the same politics your show is presenting, ladies and gents.
IIt is entirely unfair that I didn't get around to catching up till August and yet I still have to wait till the end of September for new eps. I know none of you have any sympathy, BUT STILL.
...maybe I will just rewatch the whole series. What, I have time. And there is not another show around with this overwhelming number of incredible ladies being incredible at and to and with and against each other. It makes me happy in my soul.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 01:40 pm (UTC)I'm totally with you on the house subplot, too. It feels like a huge step backwards! But possibly interesting? Maybe?
-J
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-21 08:45 pm (UTC)I tend to think there's two options with the house thing, which aren't mutually exclusive. :) The first is that it's about the part of Alicia that wants to turn back time, who feels bad that her kids aren't getting the life they all thought they would: like, that part of her says she has to try, but then it'll come round to her understanding (emotionally as well as intellectually) that she can't. It doesn't work that way.
The other option I think is that it is setting up something even bigger with Jackie and/or Peter. My guess is on both. Because SHOW IS AWESOME. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-24 09:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-08-24 09:12 pm (UTC)Clearly you have tapped into the writers' brains, yes. So do tell, what happens next? :P
Re the house, part of it is thinking about what it would be like were I to move back into my parents' old house, and just, WOW NO. But it's also that much of what we've seen has been it being really difficult for Alicia to be in that house. I really hope it doesn't turn into some big metaphor for how she's going to end up with Peter again. :/