… because you asked (not really) and I’m here to deliver.
Anyway, how are we all doing? I feel like I never blog anymore. I don’t really know why. I think the pandemic has just quietened the part of my brain that snarks about things. Or, I’m too busy lamenting the stupidity of real people to complain about fictional characters. I’m definitely not really watching much these days. Is it me or is there just too much to watch? And a lot of it is just juvenile (*looks at The Boys*), repetitive and boring.
Ironically, I’ve turned to superheros in these dark times! I’m a genuine Superman fan now. I take back all the times I called him boring. Sure, a lot of the content is lacking, but Superman is iconic for a reason.
On to the list…
Invincible (Amazon)
I watched the first two episodes of this. It’s not bad at all. It kind of has a The Boys/Watchmen feel to it. The end of the first episode was very graphic. I’m curious to see how it all ends. I’m low-key salty that the knockoff Superman isn’t like the real Superman, though. I have problems, I know.
Smallville (The WB/CW)
Yes. I’m still watching it.
I don’t know why or even how this happened, but Smallville is one of the things that’s made this crazy world we’re living in bearable. I’ve decided not to question it and just roll with it.
Right now I’m actually going through season 10 again because so many people like it and I think it’s a very bizarre season. It’s not bad, but ultimately, I’d say there’s one excellent episode, some good episodes and a lot of hit and miss episodes. It’s basically fan service to the max. However, I’m actually grading each episode to see what score it gets. It’s possible that I need to get a life.
Lois & Clark: The Adventures of Superman (ABC)
… the first season of this show? Gold. Just pure gold. I love Lois! Season 2, on the other hand… it was okay, but different. By the time I got to season 3 (Spencer Spencer anyone?), there was an episode so disgusting and bizarre it just put me off. Imagine my utter lack of surprise to find that it was written by the same geniuses who wrote Supernatural’s Racist Killer Truck episode. They’ve been writing garbage for almost thirty years. What a surprise. The producers are also the same as Supernatural from the second season onwards which explained so much. I will continue with it, but I’m taking a break.
Revenge (ABC)
I don’t think this show has aged particularly well, but I’m enjoying it so far. I remember it getting very boring and convoluted back when it was on, but it makes great background noise and the scenery is nice to look at.
Justice League
I’ve always been a DC girl, and somehow I’ve never actually watched this particular animated series in full. I had to rectify this. Loving it so far!
Superman: The Animated Series
…I love this series so much I didn’t want to finish it. So, I haven’t. But I will! Mind you, I enjoyed Parks & Rec and I didn’t finish that. However, I will! I went back to The Mentalist after four years. Anything is possible.
On the movie front…
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
… you know, I see why people like this dull, dreary universe. There’s no alternative. Zack Snyder came in at a time when there was no other screen presence of Superman, Batman and the core DC superheroes. And so certain people have no choice but to like what they’re being served in order to get more.
I say this because I made it through an hour and twenty five minutes before I had to turn it off. It was just so boring. I’m all for character studies, but I don’t think this is necessarily the right way to do it. I will finish it at some point because I want to see Superman and Cyborg’s acts, but there’s nothing to see here. I preferred the complete silliness of the theatrical cut. It was bad, but laughably bad.
… on the book front (and I think you’ll see a theme here)…
Superman vs Hollywood: How Fiendish Producers, Devious Directors, and Warring Writers Grounded an American Icon
I absolutely loved this book. I’m not sure how accurate everything is because I’m not a treasure trove of Superman lore, but it was really cool to read about the comics, the old series, the Fleischer shorts (which look amazing). Being a movie buff, I enjoyed the breakdown of how we came to get Superman Returns after years and tens of millions of dollars down the drain. Someone also wrote a script where Superman is up against Lobo and — can someone write this please? Zod and Brainiac have been done to death and Lobo would be a worthy adversary! Anyway, yeah.
By the way, I see the fans have reacted well to the news that we might be getting Black Superman? I saw someone on Superman Homepage who said he was quitting the site because of the reaction. It’s sad, but predictable. Personally, I’m here for a black Superman. And not another live action Steel either (and I need to watch that and add to the the Bad Moviethon list).
Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet’s Ace Reporter
I love Lois Lane, and it’s crazy how many different characterisations she’s gone through and how much this is down to who writes the content. I think my favourite Lois Lane is a tossup between Teri Hatcher and Erica Durance. I would say Erica edges it because Lois from Lois & Clark wasn’t the same after the first season (and again, we went from having a female showrunner to a male. Make of that what you will). Movie wise, no one holds a candle to Margot Kidder’s Lois. Kate Bosworth doesn’t count. Amy Adam’s Lois Lane is sort of…watered down? Not bad enough to be offensive, but not great either. Anyway, I found this book to be an interesting read.
… on to YouTube
KevOnStage
He’s hilarious. He just is. I love his little reaction videos.
That’s it. The update you’ve all been waiting for!
I’ll probably be blathering on about Smallville in my next post. Probably a season 10 post/series. I have a lot of feelings about it, okay?
This is why I quit The CW entirely. Their shows are literally bad for your health!
supernatural snark 