I have never seen True Blood, but I draw the line at calling Fantastic Mr. Fox shitty. The movie may havbe been shitty, don't know, haven't seen it. But the source material, Dahl's book, is an all-time favorite.

Maybe Dahl just deceived you. In which case, I wonder when art and entertainment isn't meant to deceive one... (to completely go back on my earlier statement...)

(I didn't really like the movie, though I didn't find it awful, for the recor, but I grew up with the novel. It's very much a Wes Anderson flick, for good and bad, and the only time I've really loved him is when he was ripping off Salinger's Glass Family saga with Tenenbaums...)

Edited June 13, 201015 yr by EricMontreal22

I enjoy being deceived by Alan Ball because there has been no other show on tv where all the characters have at one point been my favorite and made me care.

As for Bill Bell, he's over-rated to the extreme. Just because most HW are so shitty in comparison does not make him great.

But, I mean, it's OK, you fell for it, it works for you. People are allowed to be deceived.

It looks like the REAL Sylph finally shows up again - I haven't seen this side of you in a while. LOL

I don't think you watched much.

He doesn't. Notice how he never goes in specifics.

(and I don't think people ARE allowed to be deceived, at anytime. I do think they're allowed to like what they like, and there's more worth in trying to figure out why they like it than pointing out why they shouldn't)

Sylph likes to point out how dumb we all are - we're either deceived or fooling ourselves whenever we like something that Sylph thinks is crap.

Anyway, can't wait for the new season. I just hope this season focuses mostly on the vampires (especially my Jessica ), and please, no more maynards!

I don't think you watched much. The setting was never even a crutch on SFU--it was about people who HAPPENED to live in a funeral home, not the other way around.

Stopping here. I watched. But you obviously haven't read what I said. Which was precisely this: he had to put it in a funeral home with depressing, mentally... interesting people. He absolutely couldn't have put it somewhere else.

Similarly with True Blood, what's so great about it is the "non normal" stuff is just there--even unlike much lauded writers like Joss Whedon (who does use sci fi/fantasy as a crutch IMHO), the show could and would work without the supernatural stuff. I've gotten so many people into the show who profess to hating vampires and "vampire stuff" before, snobby people like the lit prof I work for. (Yes, that IS pretnetious of me to bring up, but--there's a reason Tony Kushner of all people called it the best show on tv).

"He is actually quite like Ryan Murphy, but a 'magician' with cheap tricks higher up in the hierarchy."

WHAT cheap tricks exactly? The strength of SFU was it had very little to do with their "crazy" work situation. It showed just how relatable and normal the people were--and then ultimately used death only for its metaphorical weight. I've never seen better written soap opera, to be honest, and much of that was because, take the setup away, and it's still awesome character work.

Your argument could easily be turned around to say Bill Bell was no great writer because he relied on soap opera as a starting point, with all its conventions.

A while back you accused me of being condescending and nasty to you. Is this payback?

(and I don't think people ARE allowed to be deceived, at anytime. I do think they're allowed to like what they like, and there's more worth in trying to figure out why they like it than pointing out why they shouldn't)

I have explained all this. People have to right to be deceived if that is their choice, everybody has a right to a choice. People want to salivate over Ball? OK, doable.

I never mentioned Bill Bell. It's a non sequitur in this discussion. Bill Bell, among an army of psychos, wrote very realistic people and storylines set in realistic places. Something Alan Ball can't do. But yeah, you know, I don't watch. I haven't seen that accusation in a while and love it when it pops up.

The cheap tricks and everything else has been explained. Re-read. I hate going around in circles.

I just hope this season focuses mostly on the vampires (especially my Jessica ), and please, no more maynards!

Maenads, maenads.

It's funny how no one here knows a thing about Greek mythology.

I love it how you follow me, Toups, and how you couldn't wait to put me in your container box and say: That's the real Sylph. Funny.

Edited June 13, 201015 yr by Sylph

Stopping here. I watched. But you obviously haven't read what I said. Which was precisely this: he had to put it in a funeral home with depressing, mentally... interesting people. He absolutely couldn't have put it somewhere else.

No, I read that. Maybe I live around scry people, but I thought they were completely relatable in every way, even in their compulsions. I don't think the characters in SFU (or True Blood) are out of the ordinary by any means.

I have explained all this. People have to right to be deceived if that is their choice, everybody has a right to a choice. People want to salivate over Ball? OK, doable.

I never mentioned Bill Bell. It's a non sequitur in this discussion. Bill Bell, among an army of psychos, wrote very realistic people and storylines set in realistic places. Something Alan Ball can't do. But yeah, you know, I don't watch. I haven't seen that accusation in a while and love it when it pops up.

The cheap tricks and everything else has been explained. Re-read. I hate going around in circles.

Maenads, maenads.

It's funny how no one here knows a thing about Greek mythology.

Hey I called her our as a Maenad before she was revealed as one--I studied a lot of Greek mythology, thank you very much

Enjoying someone's writing isn't the same as being deceived--or maybe it is, but like I said maybe that's a good thing. Have no authors ever "deceived" you? And if not, that's kinda sad.

You're definition of tricks makes no real sense, Sylph. SFU's drama woulda worked 100% as well without the setting, as would even True Blood's. Maybe you disagree--that's fine.

LOL @ Eric. First, I am irritated that you reply 756 hours late. I loose my will to reply. Second, it's funny how you didn't get anything, but now say: Your definiton of tricks makes no sense. No sh!t. Whatevs.

If those people are "real" and "relatable", it's a scary world. They all needed deep, deep psychotherapy. Years and decades of it.

I do come from a background heavy in psychology--my mom was bi polar, I grew up seeing family shrinks, saw one as a teen and then became a councellor, so I admit my bias. That said, do you really live in a world where if someone likes something you don't, you have to rationalize it as them being tricked or deceived? Cuz that's kinda crazy, Sylph. And a world I don't wanna live in

And sorry, I actually went out dancing last night after posting my reply--I thought it'd be tacky to post from my cell phone between songs

I am looking forward to S3 - i felt it got off track last year with all the Michelle Forbes stuff. i thought there was still plenty of juice left in the vampire theme without going into other weird stuff.

Besides that, i thought it was just sub par writing.

I think Sookie/Anna is a weak link and hope this season strengthens the character.

Did anyone watch?

It was lots of fun. The more time passes by, the more I fall in love with Pam. And it looks like the new season theme--werewolves--is going to be great.

I do come from a background heavy in psychology--my mom was bi polar, I grew up seeing family shrinks, saw one as a teen and then became a councellor, so I admit my bias. That said, do you really live in a world where if someone likes something you don't, you have to rationalize it as them being tricked or deceived? Cuz that's kinda crazy, Sylph. And a world I don't wanna live in

And sorry, I actually went out dancing last night after posting my reply--I thought it'd be tacky to post from my cell phone between songs

Not really, no. I actually think you've just rationalized Ball's shows for yourself. Note all the bunch of stuff you threw out at them to do so: Knots Landing (it was important for you for it to be that, v2.0), the universality of premise and setting in your view...

Anyway, irrelevant.

And I thought you were an actor? But now you're a shrink? Working for an English literature professor?

Did anyone watch?

It was lots of fun. The more time passes by, the more I fall in love with Pam. And it looks like the new season theme--werewolves--is going to be great.

I watched it twice and enjoyed it even better the second time around. My favorite scene was the one between Bill and Sam, man those two have chemistry.

My favorite scene was the one between Bill and Sam, man those two have chemistry.

How could I forget? God, it was orgasmic.