Downtown Abbey Season Two

Downton Abbey does not disappoint with an even more sizzling and complex season Two which keeps us on the edge of our seats in avid anticipation of the third season.

The characters are well-defined and have each ripened gracefully on the screen as the drama unfolds. Kudos to the creator and to the writers of the series for presenting such a superd period drama series–as well as the stars if the series who have brought life to the characters.

Downton Abbey is set in the 1910s around the time of the First World War. It’s an era which is not typically portrayed on tv series and thus it has been enjoyable to see this period tackled creatively and tastefully by the Downton Abbey.

Can’t wait for the next season!

(c) Niconica 2012

Hart of Dixie

Rachel Bilson rocks as Dr. Zoe Hart in the tv series Hart of Dixie. In addition to being poignant and funny, there’s a feel good factor to the series which seems to be shot on a set which seems to resemble the Gilmore Girls set.

The characters are quirky and lovable and the story oozes a certain wholesome and adorable small town feel which takes us back to the ‘good old days’ which exist in our psyches (and perhaps not in reality). It’s a feel-good tale with a Sourhern charm which transports us into the world of Dr. Zoe Hart as she navigates living in Bluebell, Alabama.

A lovely and enjoyable show indeed.

(c) Niconica 2012

Drop Dead Diva Rocks

I had my reservations when I hears about the premise of the tv series Drop Dead Diva but watching it dispelled my hesitations. It is entertaining with drama, comedy, and romance all in one easy to watch format.

The fun frivolity (and I mean this in a good way) balances out with the gravity and relevance of the legal cases. Another way of looking at it is that the fashion, style, and comedy lightens the legal tv series genre without taking anything away from the integrity of ‘lawyer shows.’

It is indeed a refreshing and fashionable take on ‘lawyer shows’ and is very addictive to watch with interesting characters. Thumbs-up!

(c) Niconica 2012

The Good Wife: A Good Show

The Good Wife is surprisingly a good show, and going with the title alone, I mistakenly thought that it was going to be some sort of family drama–and I’m not a big fan of such shows.   When I heard that it was “a lawyer show” my ears perked up.

I enjoyed L.A. Law and The Practice way back when and I miss them.  It has been quite a while since there have been good “lawyer shows” and I am pleased that I have come across The Good Wife, it’s got just the right mix of law, drama, and mind games.

There is a certain joy in  following personal lives of the main characters as they navigate and meet the challenges of each case as they come up, and as the story unravels.

(c) Niconica 2011*

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Downton Abbey: Intricate & Refined

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started watching Season 1 of Downton Abbey. Being an avid Jane Austen fan, I wasn’t disappointed with the complexity and intricacy of the plot.  Jane Austen’s televised novels have a more female bent to it and Downton Abbey differs in the sense that it encompasses the perspective of both genders.

It’s an interesting family period drama created by Julian Fellowes and it is indeed impressive.  I would have wishes that there would have been more episodes to season 1 than the 7 I’ve seen. I felt completely drawn into the challenges and successes of the Grantham family as they navigate rapidly changing times.

Season 1 kicks off with the news of the sinking of the Titanic and gradually creeps towards World War I. We anticipate the whirls of fortune as we witness the unfolding of this epic family saga.

In a word: Majestic.

(c) Niconica 2011*

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BBC’s New Sherlock Holmes: Brilliant & Riveting

BBC’s captivating and refreshing new take on the brilliant Sherlock Holmes is nothing short of fantastic, relevant, and updated.  Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman bring to life the epic duo Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively, and they are doing a fantastic job of it.

It’s pretty awesome to watch Sherlock navigate modern-day London with mobile phones, SMS messaging, e-mails, and the internet. I have just watched the 1st season and I find myself looking forward to the 2nd season–and hopefully they will have more episodes coming up–and soon!

It’s simply… superb!

(c) Niconica 2011*

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Mediums

It’s funny… I’ve come across these books recently… Beyond These Four Walls by MaryRose Occhino,  Spirited by Rebecca Rosen, and Secrets of the Monarch by Allison Dubois.

When I scour the second hand bookshops, I hardly have an idea of what I’ll get… During the last few times when I’ve tried my luck, I’ve come across these three books separately. It happens that these books are written by mediums and are about their practice, so to speak.  I really quite enjoyed reading them and found them utterly fascinating.

I do have some interest in psychic and mediumistic phenomenon but as of late, since I’ve been preoccupied with other concerns, it has not been an active interest. Stumbling upon these books rekindled my interest in the world of the unseen and unexplainable.

It’s very disappointing that Medium and Ghost Whisperer have been cancelled.  I felt that in their own way, both of them have something to contribute to the the interesting field of spirituality and the paranormal… not to mention that they are intriguing and fun to watch.

It can only be hoped that I do end up stumbling upon more good reads about mediums, mediumistic ability, and furthermore, that there would be good series which deal with mediumistic abilities again–whether it be like Medium which deals with solving crimes or Ghost Whisperer which deals with finding peace for wandering spirits, or something else which deals with ghosts or spirits along similar lines.

The shows were probably cancelled because they didn’t turn out to be as popularly accepted as other shows which deal with more generally accepted themes… which does not go to say that they did not have its own niche following or that they were not popular at all.  I’ve been an avid follower of both these shows and I believe that I am not alone with these sentiments… Both Medium and Ghost Whisperer will be missed.

(c) Niconica 2011*

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Gilmore Girls: Fantastic and Incomparable

I’m sure Alexis Bledel must have had her own reasons for deciding not to continue with Gilmore girls and Lauren Graham would have her own reasons for following suit… but I cant help but miss “Gilmore Girls” and which that it had continued till at least Season 10.

The dialogue is fantastic, the premise of the whole story is amazing, and the characters are interesting.  It would understandably be hard to keep up with memorizing and acting out the dialogue for years on end… however, all the effort is well worth it… resulting in the amazing series that is “Gilmore Girls.”

I would not be exaggerating if I said that I watch this series repeatedly because it appeals to me so much. It’s clever and funny without being a full-blown comedy.  It’s very well done and the scriptwriters deserve kudos for the clever repartees and the creators of the series deserve praise for well-developed quirky characters… along with the talented cast for bring the characters to life.

If I knew who to write to, I would definitely write to request for the series to be resurrected… It can be hoped that perhaps Alexis Bledel might change her mind and would want to come back to the series where she has lent Rory Gilmore grace and charm.

I have read in an article that the creator of Gilmore Girls, Amy Sherman-Palladino has mentioned that Jess is Rory’s true love and it would be interesting to see how it plays out now that a few years have passed and they are older and wiser. Aside from Dean, I can’t quite relate to Rory’s tastes in men…

There have also been a few strange plot twists along the way after the creators of the series Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino have left the show… however, the endearing quirky colorfulness of the characters we have come to know and love still stood out.

I feel that the series has come to a premature end, much to the disappointment of die-hard Gilmore Girls fans such as myself. The funny and intelligent dialogue and conceptualization of the interactions of the characters show remarkably insight into the nuances of human behavior without being pedantic.  This series definitely deserves a standing ovation!

(c) Niconica 2011*

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Morbid and Riveting: Dexter

It takes me time to catch on to the latest TV shows mostly because I seems that at times I have the tendency to resist trying new things but recently, due to some mixture of boredom and ill health, I decided to watch Dexter for the first time.

I’ve watched the first few episodes so far and even though I had my reservations about the premise of a serial killer as a protagonist which was why I was hesitant about the idea of giving the Dexter series a try for years, I am pleased to say that this show has won me over.

Of course, it is when I start to ask deeper questions as to why it has won me over that it gets trickier. It is, after all, a show filled with murder and violence, severed limbs, bloodied corpses and such and I wonder how it reflects upon me as a person.

As much as we do not condone violence in society and the as much as the  idea of teaching of exposing children is unappealing to us, humans have a certain fascination for violence which accounts for the existence of the Crime Channel and many popular criminal mystery TV series.

The need to explore and/or give voice to our darker side vicariously is coupled by the multifaceted personality of Dexter who channels his sociopathic personality towards a sort of covert vigilantism which satisfies the human desire for revenge as well as the tendency to want to see “bad guys” get punished.

It’s not a pretty facet of the human psyche–definitely not something we’d wrap up in a bow and put under the Christmas tree but I have to give the creators of Dexter credit for giving an interesting twist to the personal struggles of a complex serial killer without coming off as a one-dimensional character –and to the crime genre in general.

You’ve got a new fan. Thumbs up!

(c) Niconica 2011*

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Simply Sublime! BBC’s Emma (2009)

BBC has done it again!  Their 2009 TV miniseries rendition of Emma is wonderful!  No wonder it had been nominated for the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Satellite awards.  Romola Garai‘s portrayal of Emma Woodhouse is unparalleled and I would have to say that this is my favorite depiction of Jane Austen‘s Emma to date.

How they handled the unfolding and narrating of the story is wonderful.  It comes across like a Jane Austen fairy tale and what could be better than that for us avid Jane Austen fans?  Jonny Lee Miller indeed does our beloved Mr. Knightly justice – just the right amount of intensity, sternness, and appeal.

It would come as no surprise that Rupert Evans‘s Frank Churchill is just the right amount of charm and recklessness.  Tamsin Greig‘s handling of Miss Bate’s character is also notable – an effective combination of vulnerability and nervous chatter really brought Miss Bate’s character to life.

A veritable and delightful treat for all Jane Austen fans and a definite must-watch for all!

(c) Niconica 2011*

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