List number one.

[royalmarriage]

List of progs/films/books to explore now that I'm back from Connotations - either pimped at the Pimp session, or more casually, or just mentioned in a way that got me interested.

• The State Within. I think it was fides who was discussing this and showing us some screenshots. I've always thought it sounded a fairly interesting programme and I'm not sure why I didn't watch it at the time, so, heh, one to watch.
  
• Traveler. Because it's got the guy who plays Bryce Larkin in Chuck in it, and he's cute. And it sounds interesting.
  
• Charlie Jade. Been meaning to check it out since SFX gave away the first ep on a free DVD a year or two back. At one of the panels, one of the attendees was praising it to the hilt.
  
• The Lair. Gay vampires in a nightclub. What's not to like?
  
• Stargate Atlantis. Just because it's so hugely popular (at least among the Connotations attendees) that I really think I'll understand some of the conversatons a lot better if I'm at least familiar with it.
  
• Dante's Cove. Well, having won a fifth share in a boxed set of the DVDs, it would seem daft not to check it out.
  
• A Touch of Frost. On a non-Connotations related note, I still haven't quite got over visiting my gran a few years back and her watching this on the telly and saying "I don't suppose you'll like it." W, T, and indeed F??? Anyway, definitely in the "fandoms I so didn't expect to see represented at Connotations" category (along with Chas/Morph, frankly...), there was a lovely little fanvid showing that actually it does have a rather slashy potential to it. (Anyone got a link to that anywhere? I'd love to see it again...)
  
• The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne. Seems rather deliciously crack-tastic and, on the whole, right up my street.
  
• Primeval. Some eps were playing when I arrived on the Friday, and quite frankly, in a similar way to SGA, I feel I'll be missing out if I don't.
  
• Skins. I've seen bits of it already, but not really been greatly bothered. However, at the pimp session Fuchsia was pointing out that it's really rather slashy on a Tony/Sid axis. Think I may check it out. On the bright side, 'tis available for free on 4oD. On the less bright side, that's a fat lot of good as I've got a Mac.
  
• The Middleman. Pimped by fides at the pimp session. Sounds joyously geeky. Saw bit of some episodes that had been showing earlier, and sort of half fell in love with it then.
  
• Shelter. Pimped at the pimp session. Two hot surfer dudes make out. What's not to like? (Shallow? Moi?)
  
• Twilight. Okay, it was mainly mentioned in the "why do people still publish crap novels" panel, which is hardly a recommendation. And okay, it appears to have some iffy gender politics, and Edward's a stalker and the age difference between him and Bella makes it really rather ultra iffy, but I've been curious about this series for a while now and I'm still rather keen to check it out. However, I'll try to keep my critical faculties turned on, though...
  

Things I might not check out, on the other hand:

• Noah's Arc. Saw a couple of episodes at the post-con wind-down, and, erm, the acting was just dire, and it seemed to be pandering to as many gay stereotypes as is humanly possible. Horrible.
  
• Queer as Folk (US). Have been meaning to check it out for a while, but have been talked out of it by Moth, on the grounds that it's rubbish, which has saved me time and money. Will, however, be giving the UK series a re-watch in the not-too-distant, because I've not see it in yonks and frankly, it still rocks.
  

May be checking out some of the bad fanfic, some of which was sort of kind of but not quite "so bad it's risibly funny". And sometimes, y'know, I just need a laugh. And to feel superior.

Comments

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

The Lair sounds good!

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I'm back at work today and wishing I wasn't! At least I have you updating your LJ so it gives me things to read, thanks :-p

Yes, it was fides who started the pimping early on. Those were nice screenshots too, weren't they?

I definitely approve of you wanting to try Traveler; I was a big fan - even wrote a fic for it - and I mourned its loss when it was cancelled. Though after reading what the writers had in store for our characters, I realised that cancellation is sometimes a good thing!

I'm curious about A Touch of Frost too, though after seeing the vid and being spoiled for the ending, I think I'd have to stop before the last episodes!

[hestia8.livejournal.com]

The State Within is AMAZING. I honestly found about one nit to pick throughout the entire series, and i can't even remember what that was now. It's jsut a wonderfully written, acted and plotted show (Sharon Gless OMG!). Watch it watch it watch it! I feel the way about this that most people feel about State Of Play.

There's only 13 episodes of Primeval so far so it won't take you long to catch up.

[astation.livejournal.com]

Shelter is really quite good. I only watched it a couple of weeks ago and was impressed. It's not great, but definitely worth checking out.
Skins is not only slashy in terms of Tony/Sid, but Tony/Maxxie, which is yummy.

Huge Twilight fan, but it has incredible flaws. The writing's really not that impressive. The story, however, is quite good and it's very character-driven. Though I must warn you, If you ever get into it and read on till the third novel, skip the fourth. Really.

Saw a bit of Noah's Arc, and I agree, it was terrible. However, I'm a huge fan of Qaf. Both of them, though the US one moreso. It's mainly got to do with how long the show ran for and thus got a lot more character development (although the last two seasons were rubbish). And Brian is painfully gorgeous.

Ha, and I know you don't know me. My Google Alerts picks up on these things.

[lonely-lycanth.livejournal.com]

I liked the US version of Queer as Folk. I haven't actually seen the original one, but this one was definitely entertaining. I am in no position to tell you if it's an accurate representation of American gay culture (I certainly hope not), but the characters are sympathetic and attractive, and the plots are well paced.

[lonely-lycanth.livejournal.com]

Oh, and if it makes you feel better about reading Twilight, I only picked it up because mocking the poor writing without actually having personally witnessed it is hypocritical. The gender politics ARE iffy, and he IS a stalker. Honestly, the whole thing reads like a bad self insert mary sue fanfiction for Sookie/Bill Compton from Southern Vampire Mysteries... only this time, the vampire can hear people's thoughts, and he also sparkles. And she falls "in love" a lot quicker.

But for all that, Stephanie Meyer definitely knows how to put together a story you'll keep reading. Even as you're horrified by the bad plot and characterization, you'll start the next chapter.

[taurenova.livejournal.com]

I approve heartily of The State Within watching. It is awesome. Truly. I actually should do a rewatch - I have the horrible feeling that my Brocklehurst is becoming more Bond and less Brocklehurst.

Also a big resounding yes! to The Middleman. It currently sits as my favourite show this year. Just genius. On a par with Pushing Daisies for zany but awesomely awesome. And Wendy Watson is one of the best new heroines for years. (And it's funny, oh Gods it's funny! And geeky. And just...made for fandom, really)