ugh i also have a new layout but i don't remember how to have a sidebar, dammit.

[elapses]

Today was that day -- the first true show of spring, when all anyone can seem to talk or think about is how nice it is outside, with an awkward reverence that comes from knowing more ice is just as possible as a string of these days. Somehow we have grass now! That does not even seem possible, and yet. And yet! My French lit class is on the third floor and it has this magnificent view of the flatirons, which is so nice in winter, because you watch the flurries pass the mountain backdrop and thank everything you don't have to go back out there for another thirty minutes. But today we were much too close to the sunshine not to feel jealous of it, and good lord was it every difficult to tear our minds from the windows, back to Flaubert and his métaphores figées.

There was this weird attitude in the FMM comments about Brennan, this idea that she is somehow "less" of a character and Bones is somehow "less" of a show now than it was in seasons one and two. This is not the first time I have seen this said, and I have to say it completely and totally mystifies me. I get that Bones has since season three has devolved into a certain kind of silliness that is only going to appeal to certain people, what I cannot wrap my head around is this idea that Bones was some magnificent show back when it was not this ridiculous. Most of season one of Bones feels to me like the blandest, most mediocre procedural possible, peppered with these incredibly awkward, trying-too-hard character moments that are endearing only if you are looking back on them with season three/four/five eyes. Not completely-- there are a handful of standout moments and a couple of standout episodes, but even the memorable parts are the ones that are more in keeping with the tone of the later seasons. Season two is harder to comment on because I've only watched it the once, the first time, two years ago during the strike, but I will tell you that pretty much what I remember is a) Aliens in a Spaceship (good television), b) the one where they go to Vegas and go undercover as an engaged couple (delightful silly television), c) some stuff with what I think of as Bones' mytharc, which is not actually a mytharc at all I guess but just the ongoing story with Bones' parents, which I actually always liked, and d) the second half of the season was really boring and I just wanted it to end. ANYWAY, outside of the "Aliens in a Spaceship" argument... where the hell are these people coming from? SERIOUSLY I DO NOT UNDERSTAND AT ALL, WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER PASSIONATELY MISS SEASON ONE/TWO OF BONES? Where is the greatness? The realism? THERE WAS A HOLOGRAPHIC COMPUTER. Ugh I realize I am being derisive but it genuinely eludes me, it really seems like after two seasons they realized their best moments were the moments when they were taking a page out of the books of ff.net authors everywhere, and then let that formulate how they would continue with the show. I can't even dig into the Brennan idea, I can't tell if it stems from the perception that her social obliviousness got better and that got worse again (which I can't comment on, I guess I haven't paid enough attention) or the idea that she's less ~ass-kicking~, because to be honest I am so okay with that being a backburner part of her character, that moment in the pilot where she kung fus out airport security is so awkwardly written and conceived I sometimes wonder how any of us ended up as fans of this show.

This dress in red was Annie Edison (of Community)'s valentine's day dress, and then two weeks ago Kristin Kreuk wore it on Chuck. I've had it since December in blue and I wear it so much, finally decided the universe was telling me (via television, naturally) to get it in red too. I'M HOLDING IT IN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW, best decision ever.

Comments

[sleuths.livejournal.com]

HONESTLY, I think you just read my brainwaves sometimes, or something. I actually just found out through FMM that people actually felt that way about Bones--and I was so confused. I am not a good judger of what makes good television good (critically acclaimed, loved by people who are not critics but have good taste in television, loved by the public, etc.), so I will always love Bones forever and ever and ever for everything about it, so long as the characters are present. But after I read several comments in the vein of Bones going downhill and Brennan not being a great character and all else, I was completely mystified! I left a comment asking a person who seemed particularly impassioned about the topic, but s/he never got back to me, so I am... still perplexed. Especially because outside of those two episodes you mentioned, as well as the Howard Epps ones (he really creeps me out), nothing comes up as particularly significant in the first two seasons.

But this, THIS: Most of season one of Bones feels to me like the blandest, most mediocre procedural possible, peppered with these incredibly awkward, trying-too-hard character moments that are endearing only if you are looking back on them with season three/four/five eyes--THAT IS SO TRUE. TNT goes through the show every couple of months and right now we're at, uh, I think the midpoint of Season 1, and that is SO TRUE. The only thing that I really, really, REALLY miss about Seasons 1 and 2 is Zach. But then--I adore the new interns, and I love how the cycling keeps it interesting. But it's my affection for Zach and the interactions between him and Hodgins and Angela (oh gosh, Hodgins and Angela in their happiest days!) and like you said, the season 3-5 eyes that allow me to love them even more. I mean, I only started watching last summer, watched much of it out of order, so--that could be the reason why I can't see this erosion of quality, but... it's the characters that I love.

Which is why IT MAKES ME ANGRY THAT PEOPLE INSULTED BRENNAN. The general show, okay, whatever, but I love Brennan. I WISH SOMEONE COULD JUST EXPLAIN IT TO ME????

This was... a long ramble.

I LOVE THE DRESS! and clearly all those instances on television were signs!

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Dude if she ever comes back and does reply to you, I want to hear about it! Because that is the thing! I want it explained to me! That opinion actually makes so little sense to me that I need someone to write it out. LIKE, REALLY, WHAT?

Once I ran across a Bones community that was about this, actually, and mostly they complained about how Aliens in the Spaceship was the greatest ever and Bones is so lame now and Hodgins doesn't get enough screentime. Or something. I think. It was mostly locked. And now I don't remember what it was called.

Anyway I agree re: Zack, that is the only thing about seasons 1 and 2 that makes me nostalgic. HE WAS SO DEAR. But honestly I am still amazed by the way they decided to replace him-- BY NOT ACTUALLY REPLACING HIM. I really think if they had thrown in one new intern we would've all hated that person on principle, but the rotating interns is like... ugh, such a brilliant feat of executive decision making.

In any case I have no idea how I did get into it by watching in order, because it really is pretty lame back in the beginning. AND PEOPLE ARE STUPID, I GUESS WE SHOULD MOVE ON? (But I want to knooooooow.)