AlwaysWatching

The dispute between Japan and China could be loosely based on the Senkaku Islands. And yes, it's about mineral rights. hmm I lost my edit edited to add - Tea Leoni is the only reason I'm watching this show. I don't think it will ever rise to "The Good Wife" type writing or directing and that's fine with me as long as I can see Tea Leoni. I can be more than a bit shallow and fickle when it comes to why I like or dislike certain shows.

Oh wow. I was actually nervous before this show started. Asylum will always be my favorite, but, darn...Jessica Lange! I think her German accent is spot on for someone who is not trying to over do a German accent. I lived in Germany for awhile and a German woman that worked for our company had gotten her American accent close to this level. When JL sang Life on Mars ( which I have to admit that I didn't immediately recognize ), I thought her accent was perfect. Also, she is not supposed to be a great singer. Well...I guess that depends on what you consider great singing. And I think the song is perfect for the Freak Show. The words fit right into the storyline. Great choice. That's why I like Murphy and Falchuk's ideas for these series. It's like they throw everything at the word processor and see what sticks. They don't care when the song was actually written. Neither do I. Anyway, I love everything about Jessica Lange. She can do no wrong in my eyes. Check her out in Grey Gardens. You will, uhum, freak. I know Kathy Bates can probably do any accent she wants, but I am also having a hard time figuring out what she's doing. Did someone say she tweeted it was a Baltimore accent? Hmmm. It's going to take some getting used to. Sarah Paulson is amazing as usual. And here again, I don't think we are supposed to be blown away by the special effects. There is always something a little off and a lot of stuff way off. I live in the land of total suspension of disbelief when I watch AHS. I will admit that I miss Lily Rabe and I was extremely disappointed when I found out weeks ago that she wouldn't be in this series. I hope she has success elsewhere, but if not, I hope she can comeback next time and help some of us get through the loss of Jessica Lange. Guess I must comment on good old Twisty. It makes perfect sense to me that there would be a serial killer running around. Why? It's a Ryan Murphy show. I think he really likes to go to horror filled dark places. It's in the title. heh The scene in the trailer actually frightened me and I couldn't figure out why. An ugly, psychotic, serial killing clown just banging things around and scaring the crap out of the woman and the little boy literally gave me a nightmare last night. So, I'd say it was a fantastic return of American Horror Story. Now, the weekly waits.

You just described a Shonda Rhimes show. Bada Boom! It's only a personal opinion and believe me, I have tried to watch several of her shows. I'm extremely happy to see that a woman has been as successful as SR has been. It's too bad that I'm just not in her demo, I guess. Like many other posters, I watched to see the great Viola Davis. The first episode was so confusing to me that I find I must give in and watch next week. OH! So that was their evil plan! You won't get me Shonda Rhimes. Never!

Obviously a Lucy Lawless spoiler. http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/09/24/agents-shield-season2-spoilers/ Unbelievable. The shows I'm watching are dropping like flies.

There are times when I have to slowly realize that I simply don't want to continue watching a show. But, dang! I only heard the rumors about them killing off Shay a couple days ago and when it was obviously shown to true in the first two minutes, I hit the delete button faster than EVER on my DVR. The sad thing is, I really enjoyed Chicago Fire. This was one too many female gay characters killed off for no good reason. So, like a lot of other people have stated, no more CF for me. I also hope Lauren German gets a good part on another show. Oh, and the fact that I have never been able to stand Severide made the decision much easier. And whoever mentioned Third Watch, I still miss that show. It had a ton more depth that CF. I think the only reason I thought I liked CF was because it reminded me just a little bit of Third Watch. That must be the reason I could give it up for a character that really had a rather small part in a large ensemble show. Casey I could handle. Mills was cute as, well, he is cute. Love the Chief. Liked all the characters except Severide. But, I have to start sticking to my principles. They could have made great strides and very interesting storylines with Shay. Nope, it's the Severide show. Oh god, I'll shut up now.

Yes, but she did it so well. By the end of the series, I began to understand those long silences. She was holding so much inside. The fact that she teared up so much worked for me also. This was a woman strong in her control, but half way over the edge every moment. I absolutley loved this series. Janet McTeer, Eve Best and the best work I've ever seen from Stephen Rea. I'm with everyone else that would love to see a series with those actors. Well, sorry Eve Best is gone. I had never been much of a fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal. Now I realize the spot on English accent works better on her than her real accent. She blew me away in this show. I don't care if all the twist and turns didn't make perfect sense. It was believable enough for me to hang on every word and be tremendously entertained. That is simply all I ask for when watching a TV show, a movie, or even reading a good book. One quibble. I didn't really understand the last scene. Did someone say that was just the way they portrayed her psychological prison? I watched the show at 6 in the morning because I was waiting for it to come on HD on Xfinity. Not a good way to watch a show that takes a bit of thinking.

Latverian Diplomat, I really need to rewatch the show because I wanted to give an opinion on the other thread. I haven't had a chance to as of yet, so I'm guessing here. I think the drug that is so destroying the youth is heroin. Again, I will have to rewatch, but I thought those "brown brick" type things hidden in the bags of sand were pure heroin. I think. Then, each person who buys it to sell it, cuts it down with all kinds of filler. That way, when these people buy however much they buy, it is actually weaker and weaker and they need to buy more to get the same high. Some herion is sent out too pure and that's where you start getting overdoses. But, there are still a lot of people that think if someone smokes a joint that they will automatically go to herion or other truly hardcore drugs. This show might have been pushing, no pun intended, this philosophy. I need to watch it again and soon! I was too busy watching the wonderful SGT. Cawood and also, the accent got the best of me a few times. I love it, but I've lost some hearing and have to wear earphones to catch conversation. I'm pretty sure heroin has made a major comeback in the States. Probablly the same in Britain. It's supposedly fairly cheap and is perfect for hooking a lot of young people. I can see why SGT. Cawood is going crazy trying to figure out how all of this stuff is spreading so quickly and seemingly impossible to stop. edited to try and find mistakes..heroin, not herion.

I've never missed an episode of Criminal Minds. Sadly, for me, I think they've just lost me with Jennifer Love Hewitt. I'll give the show a try, but I can't imagine a worse fit for CM. Hopefully, I'm wrong and I..uh..who am I fooling? I don't care for her as an actor in anything, much less the formulaic but tight acting that has made this show better than your every day slaughter fest. Although I hate being negative, I did want to express my unhappiness about her joining the team. I'm sure she will do fine. I'm the one with the problem.

Portia, I'm giving you CPR! You've got to undie to see Series 2. ;)

I'll admit to watching Happy Valley simply because Sarah Lancashire was not only it in, but also the lead character. I started really getiing into it because of the story. When that creepy little guy ( I do like that actor, though ) goes off the deep end and stupidly sets up the kidnapping, I was thinking..eh standard stuff. THEN he comes into work the next day and his boss gives him everything he wanted and so much more. I don't know how original that really was, but it was a real neat twist for me and from then on I was interested in both SGT. Cawood and the two storylines that ran so close together. Sally Wainwright writes in a very steady, end to beginning style. In the first episode we see SGT. Cawood a certain way. By the end of the series, that is almost totally turned around. And I sure felt sorry for that little boy. I think we all loved to see flawed heroes, especially female. We rarely get to see women in this position in TV or movies. They are always the wife, the girlfriend...the appendage. This is why we desperately need more female writers. Having said that, I do think some tiny bit of progress is being made. Also, like SGT. Cawood, older women appear to be getting some very good parts. Let's hope it continues on both sides of the pond. Happy Valley Series 2 on it's way!

Another Catheriine Cawood fan here! I watched all six episodes the other night and was not bored for a second. That's probably because SGT. Cawood is in almost every scene. I agree that there were some slow periods in the last two episodes, but just watching Sarah Lancashire work her magic kept me up way past my bed time. Guess what? She's coming back for Series 2!!

Thanks maraleia! I wanted to, at some point, bring up what I was feeling about Maura's seemingly changed position on the show, but I really didn't know where to put it when I was commenting on the front end of the episode. I still think a lot of it could be "just me". Ha! Oh, I think the only reason R&I would not be renewed, IM, would be if Angie or Sasha wanted out. The show is still very high in the ratings for TNT. I'm really curious to why there are posts listed on episode 9 already. Did I miss a week? Sorry, not sure where to ask that question. I try to stay unspoiled even though I pretty much know what happens in part of it. I feel so confused! ;)

Something's different about Maura/Sasha this season. I know she's a very good actor and I've been surprised by either how they are writing her or how she is possibly not into the material. Some of her smiles and laughs seem forced. Maybe it's just me. Jane/Angie is pretty much the same as usual. I did notice Sasha acting, I don't know, just different, around Angela. Again, I can't put my finger on it and I'm not trying to blame the actors, writers or anybody. The dynamic between Maura and Jane has changed quite a bit to me. It's like someone put a governor on the A/S natural chemistry. The writers do appear to be throwing one subtext comment at the beginning of each episode then having them barely be on screen together the rest of the hour. I wish they would just dispense with trying to appease that fandom (which I am a part of btw ) and have the two do more scenes together. I'm starting to think that this might be the new Jan Nash formula. The front end of this episode where Maura starts to talk about the camping trip they took and that Jane really hates camping, well, it was strange. Why would Jane look like she was going to get caught having done something a little more than embarrasing. Again, maybe it's just me.

For some reason, I have not been bothered all that much with the Bill flashbacks. Since the first of this season, I've been thinking these flashbacks have had to have a reason other than Bill history. I think Bill is going to die the true death and be reunited with Caroline-his only true love. Ahhhhh. Just guessing and realizing that would be a great ending for Bill. Eric? He must live, or, uh, not die the true death. I don't know if I expect any kind of happy ending for the show, I just hope there is a decent ending. It does appear that they are trying to give every past character some screen time. Sookie, I suppose, is the end game, but not with a lover. Just Sookie, Jason, Lafayette, Jessica, Sam and all the Bellefluers left to go on existing in Bon Temps. Or, maybe the town will be disappeared. heh I have no idea. But, I've been a fan from the start and a fan to the end - regardless of how they choose to end it all.

Thanks Trey and I'm so glad you received a transplant! You give me hope. :-) I think I had stopped watching My Name is Earl by the time the episode you mentioned came on. Just have to remember that particular show was totally crazy. I liked it a lot, it just got lost in my shuffling of programs. I'll stick to Motive topic now and say that the one reason I like it so much is the believable banter between the two leads. Almost as good as Castle. Again, really great to know you are doing well.

For some reason I thought I was the only person who watched Motive. Good to see other fans. I was all ready for the nurse to be a true bad guy. The actor had that I'm a bad guy look down perfectly. Very nice twist. This episode bothered me more than it should because I have the exact same disease the mother has in the show. I just call it PKD and I'm fifth stage (out of five) and I'm living on fumes. I'm also AB-. It upset me that they didn't mention why dialysis wouldn't work for her. I'm getting set up for that right now and I guess I'm still not sure I can handle dialysis. Hmmm. I was on a transplant list for two and half years, but they took me off because I kept myself too healthy. ??? Maybe that's what this character did and she waited too long. I don't condone murder of even scumbags for their kidneys, but I'm glad she got one. I've noticed that everytime I think Motive looks a bit boring, they always pull out an interesting ending. It's one of those summer shows I always watch. edited for found errors

I thought it was a very good, touching episode. When Frost ( Lee, because there is no longer a difference between them now ) shows up on the sidewalk...well, it simply gave me a severe case of the goose bumps and I made this weird mourning sound while saying "how did they do that?". I've since read the how and why of the scene. Brilliant. I couldn't even post last night because, as you see, fully formed sentences are still alluding me. It was such a great idea to NOT over do each character's grief. I personally believe they got everyone spot on. Also, the murder plot actually worked to get just the right tone. A woman loses her memory due to traumatic grief. I now feel like I have said "Goodbye" to Lee Thompson Young and his character, Barry Frost. Thank-you Rizzoli and Isles.

Hmmm. I was going to be strong and drop this show like I have so many in the past few months. My addiction to TV is driving me crazy! Got to thin it out a bit. Jane being pregnant was perfect for me. It didn't make me hate the show, I just wasn't as interested in it anymore because I am never, ever interested in pregnancy or children story lines. Also, I had to really get over some problems I had with Angie Harmon. I surprised myself with how easily I was able to see "Jane Rizzoli" and not Angie Harmon. She is great with the funny faces and that caught me off guard. Heh! Someone upthread mentioned that it felt like it was becoming a bit more the "Jane" show and that maybe Maura was being left behind a bit. Maybe that's what was being said. If I have that wrong, sorry. But, I did get that feeling. This was just the first episode back and I can't help but think about all of the actors still being in shock because of sweet, sweet, Lee Thompson Young. Next week will be sad as sad can be. I'm going to watch at least four or more episodes because, well, because there is a whimsy that I hope is still there, a very strong female friendship that I no longer need to be anything more than what it is and because I love Maura, Mama Angela, Detective Korsak and good guy Frankie Rizzoli Jr. If I want great writing or interesting story lines, I can always watch Masterpiece Theatre or True Blood ( when it's good ).

Thank you, Jon, for the great reporting on how the VA Healthcare system has always had horrible problems. I'm one of the lucky ones, I guess. My VA Hospital and Clinic have given me very good care for about ten years. Serious stuff that kept me from being insurable through any other means. Thanks Jon and thanks VA! And I think Jon's picking a fight with Phillie to get a certain guest or get some free cheesesteaks. :)