scrb

So there are more reviews out there. Time: http://time.com/2923387/review-leftovers-hbo-damon-lindelof/ Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/hbos-leftovers-tv-review-714910

Two doctor should be able to do better than economy or a shabby hotel. No direct flights to the ME from LAX so daddy would have had to buy up at least two planes. Or more typically, send a private jet. So Barry has at least one bad secret from his past haunting him. But what's he going to do, hulk out and become a total despot, his father's son after an entire adulthood of being a meek pediatrician? The previews suggest that a military coup is possible and only by staying, Barry could stave off the country becoming even more repressive. But he didn't seem to care what happened to the country after he left and he was ready to get out of Dodge ASAP so him staying to make the country better or rein in the military seems off. So does for that matter deciding to take his family to the wedding, after avoiding the return for most of his life.

Yeah Cara could hang on the endurance challenges and may have done well in the puzzles. Otherwise, best chance to beat Laurel was the puzzle pyramid. Most of the elimination challenges give advantage to the bigger, stronger players but the puzzle nullifies that advantage. Theresa just crumbled under pressure and CT did as well.

Review: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-almost-royal-review-20140621-column.html

Were the ratings as strong as S1?

The Hollywood Reporter article I linked above kind of explains the casting decision ... May not be a satisfactory explanation but it's an explanation.

Will they ever have an elimination contest that doesn't give advantage to bigger people?

So I'm not sure how much they will play up the Godfather angle. Looks like the prodigal son returns, reluctant to take over the family business. In fact, the family business made him run away in the first place.

Good background here on the series. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fxs-tyrant-dramatic-backstory-709209

Some countries like Italy will issue residency visas if you demonstrate financial means, so that you won't try to work.

If we get a bunch of flashbacks, flash forwards and then a bunch of mysteries that is never satisfactorily explained we'd know he's fucking with us. Do it once shame on you, do it twice ...

I might think that the name was an unfortunate choice but given DL's involvement, it might be an attempt to prank/punk the viewers again.

I think the old movie Breaking Away was filmed in Athens, GA. While it wasn't the main topic of the movie, there was some about the townies vs. the college students IIRC. College students looked down on the townies, who resented the students. Also, didn't Ben Rothlisberger go to some small GA college town to party and that's where he was alleged to have raped some college girl?

I've stayed in B&Bs in Europe and avoid ones without elevators. Typically put in 10 miles of walking a day so no need to return to the accommodation only to have to walk up several flights of stairs, which are typically made of stone or marble, which is a lot harder on you than wooden stairs.

Didn't realize they had chosen a venue. They were rejected in some other towns and there was a question of whether the cast was going to get enough money or whether they'd be replaced. Athens is a college town? I don't think any of these people went to college. Would they go to the same hangouts as the college students?

I didn't read the books. But is there depth to it or is it mainly a page-turner set in a quasi medieval, mythical world? IOW, the imputed philosophy is incidental to the narrative drive?

Saw the episode of the Aussie couple moving to Lake Garda. Nice properties for around $1000 a month. I think one criteria is how close to an airport the place is. I've seen real estate sites that list driving time to nearest airport. That is one thing of interest to Americans wanting to live in Europe, that they can get on flight of 2 hours or less and reach just about anywhere. Could be one reason Paris and other big cities are so expensive, that they are an attraction on their own but also gateways to the rest of Europe. Wanted to add that HGTV has gotten lazy about putting details on particular episodes on their website. The older HHI had a Resources section after the episode summary, often with name of the agent and their contact info. They don't do that anymore. Maybe because the agents are actors now more and more? Would have liked to have seen the contact info. or the web site of the agent in Lake Garda.

Any reviews yet?

When they choose cab drivers, do they have to get them to sign releases? If a driver doesn't want to sign a release, they probably go to another driver? They can't just jump in a cab and go. Besides getting the driver to sign the release, they have to get the camera man set up in the front seat.

Can someone explain Oberyn's past? His sister was killed by The Mountain, whom Cersei has chosen as champion in the trial by combat? Surely people knew about this history and maybe Cersei would have chosen someone else?

Not sure P&E are hardcore ideologues. They showed the difficult childhood E had right in the aftermath of WWII. From there, she was chosen for the program and her gratitude to the fatherland is understandable. But if she really thought the same way as Soviet propaganda about the decadent West, she wouldn't be able to integrate into American society so easily. It also appears as if concerns about the children will take precedence in the S2 finale coming up, over loyalty to country and ideology.

This season had some good moments. A lot of close finishes than I can recall on other seasons, including this final leg where the race was won by D&C outrunning the girls to the clue box in front of the helicopter place. Even though it was only a few seconds, they had to let the first helicopter get through and let them jump before the second helicopter could enter. So Dave landed several minutes, instead of just a few seconds, before the girl.

No 24 always made you buy some ridiculous premises. All the terrorist attacks with American accomplices over the years. Even in these first two episodes, Morgan shocking the guard to check on Jack would not be forgotten, even if she was right. And a hacker controlling drones and on top of that a group of hackers being able to track CIA operations to warn Chloe and Jack?

It always starts out fast moving but then the implausibilities pile up one after another, you have to suppress the desire to roll your eyes. Funny that it starts out with Chloe being tortured and Jack about to be tortured. How long before Jack tortures someone? How long before AEI holds a conference extolling the demonstration of enhanced interrogation on the new 24?

They got Hannah McKay as the CIA field agent? Oy Vey!