Comments on: A Good Ache?

By: Andreas

Andreas — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:13:59 +0000

Which characterization? “A cock-fight of epic proportions, drawn out to and tied into ribbons around itself”?
The best thing about the show is that it shows that a dwarf and self-styled prick can be a better human being than a whole bunch of other dicks.
In keeping with the theme.

By: Matthias Wivel

Matthias Wivel — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:41:35 +0000

Heh, good point. I doubt Martin and his many fans would agree with such a characterization of his work, but I’m not sure I would object.

By: Andreas

Andreas — Mon, 28 May 2012 07:45:43 +0000

I think the show itself can be summed up in the word “Gratuitous”.
The watchers’ fascination, “Vicarious”.

It’s a pulp fantasy, but not quite Conan. More of a Kull the Conqueror. My wife had a good laugh when we saw the opening titles of that one (all we could last), you see, if you add (as the Finnish phonaesthetics demand) an “i” to the end of the name Kull, it means “erect member”. Which is what the genre is about, really.

By: Matthias Wivel

Matthias Wivel — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:56:23 +0000

Well, thing is I actually find it strikingly bad, as in hard to endure and wonder why people love it so much. Boardwalk Empire I haven’t gotten around to yet, though I probably will. I saw the Luck pilot and found it hard to follow, but it seemed interesting. Against my better judgment, I tend to like what Michael Mann does with character.

By: DerikB

DerikB — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:06:27 +0000

Well, it just may not be your thing. Considering it’s about 10 hours of my life a year, I find it entertaining enough. Kind of like Boardwalk Empire, actually. Which I find entertaining but not very… rich… I’d rather have 10 more hours of Luck, alas.

By: Matthias Wivel

Matthias Wivel — Sun, 27 May 2012 06:40:41 +0000

Hm, I did see the first episode of the second season and found it pretty much the same, albeit with a greater focus on intrigue. But still: lots of purple, declaratory language, delivered with a straight face, interspersed with lots of t&a delivered with commercial cynicism. People tell me I should give the rest of the season a chance, but I don’t know…

By: DerikB

DerikB — Sat, 26 May 2012 22:08:45 +0000

Haha, that paragraph is bad. I tried reading the sample of the Kindle version of the first volume and didn’t even get through that little bit.

I’ve been watching the show, though, sticking with it through season one despite a lot of reservations, and I’ve found the second season to be a big improvement. I do find it, thematically, to be, so far, rather one note. It’s all about power. All the time. Which gets tiring.