Athena

Some of my fondest book memories are anticipating each sequel and then going to the bookstore the morning of the release day. Then I binged read the book. I experienced four book release days and each more hyped up than the one before especially since for some part of it, I was semi-involved with the HP fandom. I honestly don't think I'll ever feel the same way about the release of another series. I was always excited and I enjoyed each book (though some more than others). I love the characters a lot and I'm easy too, I was satisfied with how it ended. It was a sad day when I finally got the last book because I knew there wouldn't be another release day like it again.

Since @Leigh-Ann just finished it for her marathon viewing diary: Misfits. I was so disappointed with the finale of S3 where my favourite characters leave and the resolution of their storyline is both depressing and full of plot holes. I refused to watch any season afterwards, and consequently, blocked a lot of it from my mind.

Haha. I didn't know he had music videos, but I had seen videos of him performing before. Was it the "Bang! Bang!" one. I watched it now and yeah, it's not a good one. I don't think I should watch the "Simon shower reveal" again. It'll just remind how they ended that storyline. Also, I hit replay on that episode enough after it aired.

All the food looked good except I think I'd pause before ordering the raw blood soup. The weird drunken trip montage was amusing but went on for a little too long. It was nice to see a purely food episode after the last couple of heavy political ones.

A lot of the food looked really good to me. A friend mine is from Jackson and confirmed how good the Big Apple Inn. Mmm. I enjoyed the laid back vibe the show replicated, but also the sort of desolation in the delta.

This is the only time Zamir's presence was useful to the show. Interesting how the show has focused on corruption with Mexico and Russia. I am actually less likely to go to Russia though even though I have always loved Russian literature. I would like to go to Hermitage one day, but I don't know when in that political climate. I really enjoyed the interview with the filmmaker and her analogy about how there are two Russians, one being and instinctive, ruthless bear and the other being a country full of intelligent people. I thought that summed up a lot of what I've read about Russians and their history. It's fascinating at least.

I debated for awhile before requesting this forum because well, I didn't really like the show that much especially at the end. I never loved the show, but at its best, it was fun and entertaining. I really liked Leighton Meester as Blair and before they ruined Chuck, I was even a shipper of that piece of furniture. It was silly before the writers ran into the ground or something. None of the seasons were perfect, but I think S1 is still the strongest. I basically gave up on the show and its quality issues around S3 and the hotel incident, but they pulled me back in with Dan and Blair. Then stabbed me again with the finale of S5. I think the fact that I was pulled back in and hurt again is what makes me not forget about this show. What were your highs and lows from this show?

I really enjoyed the FIFA piece. Like John, I have mixed feelings about the World Cup, but I get excited every time. It's just awful to know that FIFA is the worse sports organisation on earth though. Though, the IOC could give it a good run sometimes.

I think I more or less like all of them. it gets you in a TARDIS-y mood. More on the nostalgia/dated end of things, The Littlest Hobo:

Felix: "Holy Tilda Swinton!" As a Swinton fan, I doubly like it.

You may not like season two Rose any better, but it may get better for you. As @Kromm said in another thread, you just have to wait things out with Doctor Who as the actors and writers eventually all change so you may like it more (or less) when it happens. I started skipping Doctor Who episodes because I've begun to dislike certain aspects too. It's a fairly easy show to fall back into after time away though. As someone who does like Rose, I understand how some people just don't get her. You either get her appeal or you don't; I think it can be personal why some of us do like her. Those first couple of seasons or whenever she gets mentioned can be grating for some fans while perfectly fine for ones like me.

@ABay , @Misslindsey and @aquarian1 (hey gurl!), you are my Doctor Who people. I disliked River Song from the get-go. I don't think she had chemistry with 11 or those five seconds with 10. I found her smug, grating, and propped up plot device character. I've pretty much disliked all of the Mofatt females or been indifferent to them from Amy to Clara to Reinette. I think I only like Sally Sparrow because she was a one-off, not in love with the Doctor as they often seem to be, and played by Carey Mulligan. I also liked the TARDIS as a woman from the "The Doctor's Wife" episode, but I'm crediting Neil Gaiman. I agree about liking Rory, but it's not exactly like he's a best character either. Oddly, I think the scene I like best with River Song is when she interacts with Rory because of their connection that never got developed.

I'd be happy if they bring Jack back from the dead because he really was one of the BAMF on TV. Hey everyone, if you have a nifty title for this thread which is an "All Episodes Talk" or "Small Talk", please let me know. Suggestions welcome. Feel free to also open character threads as well.

I like the Elementary and Doctor Who credit sequences. While I was never a big fan of House, I like their use of Massive Attack too. I only watched one season of The Borgias but I remember how much I adore their title sequence:

I've seen this argument about Mexico come up a few times as well. Tourists aren't really getting in the cross hair as much though there have been some incidents. It still says a lot that 80K Mexican civilians have died as a result of this corruption and cartel problem. It feels like Tony and co. can't seem to win in this scenario. This is not a typical food show and never has been so when it focuses on something less than appealing about a location, people take issue with it. I still want to go even after the cartel stuff because I know that there are safe spots for the most part. I also know that Mexican corruption is a big problem and I'm glad he also highlighted it.

When Sarah meets Duncan, one of the first things he says is, "I don't know how many there are of you. There was more than one insemination team." I think he and Susan started the project and Dyad rolled it out in North America and other countries so he probably doesn't know how far it went. He just has the original map as it were.

Sorry, it must have slipped in there when I was making the list. It's one of the shows I know other people bailed out on in the last couple of years. I use to love it, but I'm just not interested in it all that much anymore. I'm not crazy with the way Moffat has run the show. It's not rage inducing so much as annoying and sad.

Guys, as I was going through this thread, I made a post-it note of all the ones I agreed with and it came up to eleven shows! That's depressing actually. It means I have been disappointed and TV rejected at least a dozen times. By nature, I am not an angry person so when a show disappoints me or when I drop out, I just get super sad about it. I'll limit myself to these three for now: Alias - The show that brought me to MBTV/TWOP and consequently, here. I should have bailed in S3, but I held on until Jen Garner's pregnancy and most of the last season. So awful. At least Sydney got a good ending, but that was about it. That 70s Show - I refuse to ever watch the last season. It didn't happen! Gossip Girl - I just requested this forum because in retrospect, the show was pretty fun and amusing in the earlier seasons. It just became so awful that I skipped out on the last season completely. I agree about Heroes, Buffy, HIMYM, TAR, House, Doctor Who, True Blood and Boardwalk Empire. I actually will watch some of the last three shows, but just without the interest I had before.

I did a rewatch of Star Trek: TNG and Voyager last year. I was one of the few people who seemed to like Voyager when it was on. I even made the point of watching it live in the last season, but it really has not held up over the years. YMMV obviously but for me, something has to be a classic if I enjoy it or find it provocative or interesting years later. With the exception of a few episodes, I realized how boring it was on the whole and how I really only like 1-2 characters. I think seeing it on the whole made me appreciate it less and see more of its flaws. I watched TNG much more than any other Trek and it still holds up for me with the exception of the awful S1 and some of S2 of course, but on the whole, it's held up really well. I always liked the cast and the writing so it still works for me to this day. Haven't tried Full House yet, but I did watch some Saved By the Bell a few months ago and it was terrible. Not just the fashion, but I realized that Zac Morris is a sociopath and if I had kids, I wouldn't let them watch it.

K-Dramas are very popular among East Asians. Almost all the top and popular K-Dramas get subbed or dubbed into other Asian markets: China, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Malayasia, etc. Some K-dramas that do not do well in South Korea end up doing well internationally; I think Playful Kiss is the best example of this. Korean culture (music, tv, film, fashion and technology) has heavily influenced East Asia in the last two decades so the majority of the people I know in the West who watch Asian dramas are people of Asian descent like myself. It depends on various reasons but I enjoy the style, the sense of humor and they can be very entertaining. I've noticed that there a big group of Western viewers such as @BizBuzz 's mother like k-dramas because of their "clean" factor. South Korea is in some ways much more conservative than Taiwan, China and Japan. Their TV programming results in very little sex, bad language or gore. Up until a few years ago, most couples didn't even French kiss on the shows and sex is only ever vaguely alluded to, never shown on screen. I enjoy watching K-drama romcoms, but they are sometimes way too chaste for me which can be great if you have kids or dislike watching that kind of thing.

As Duncan says, Kira is the "the prize".

The recipe is actually on BBC Foods and you can use almond flour or plain. It also specifies regular olive oil. I've used extra virgin in baking before and it's... strange and overpowering. I'm more likely to use the flour version because of the expense of the ground almonds, but it does seem like a great gluten free cake.

The Northam explains why his resume has been spotty after he was hyped up in the late 90s. I tend to think the British industry is less accommodating of jerks and he hasn't done that much theatre or film/tv there. Compare him to Colin Firth who has done exceptionally well post-period piece heart throb. Firth looks particularly good these days too. I'm sure me and other P&P devotees are happy for his success.

@Automne and @vera charles : Have you made the Chocolate Olive Oil Cake with ground almonds (gluten free) and/or with flour? Just curious on taste difference. Thanks!

The Tony thing didn't work for me either. For me, the biggest issue was the hair and I was so creeped out by the Felix kiss. I am very glad they have scuttled him off for now and that he at least moves the Paul storyline forward. What worked for me was Cosima. I have also felt less than interested in her from the get-go. She's been very isolated, but introducing Scott into her storyline has helped a lot. I think they have great chemistry as friends. We see a side of Cosima pre-Clone reveal. I also don't really buy the Cophine ILY if only because their relationship has always been so shady. Rachel's phone manner is amusing. "You know I worry." Really? Does Paul know you worry or feel any emotions? It was weird as if she's trying to be like a normal girlfriend or something when clearly he's working for her under duress. I can believe she's become attached to BDP or part of him any way. As for her freakout, I believe it because she is a control freak and it is not the first time she has talked about motherhood. I really liked TM's rage in that scene. She gives good angry face. The whole barren reveal is interesting in light of both the disease and the fact Sarah is a twin. She's an anomaly in two ways really (three if you count she went unmonitored).