Random Thoughts!

Wow, I'm kind of impressed with myself. I've never been great with deadlines, especially those I set for myself. But today, with a good two months of clearance I've finished the Christmas Card I'll be sending to family and friends.

(Now there's only the minor hassle of printing it to be concerned with)

And it looks great, one of the best peices I've ever done, I gotta say I am very, very pleased with it.
Of course the other thing I was hoping to have done before Christmas was a 2009 Calendar, and that, unfortunately, is not yet ready, but, crossing fingers. . . .

And speaking of TV (notice the smooth segway?)

The new TV season is several months in, and has brought an odd mix of surprises and disapointments.

Heroes, after the brilliant first season, and an okay second season may very well of jumped the shark. I'm not yet ready to call it dead, but it's no longer a weekly must-see. It's a shame really. But it has become little more than very broad brushstrokes with any hint of subtlety removed. And given that this is an ensemble cast with a potential for great drama and story telling, it's a shame to see it sliding into overly cheesy sci-fi territory.

Dexter, though, is just absolutely brilliant. If you haven't been watching this, or have never watched Dexter, then DO! The first season was an excellent slow boiler, every episode better than the last, and now, after three seasons they have just kept on getting better. This is possibly my favourite show on TV right now, the other contender is -

Chuck. Okay, I'm little behind with the episodes of this one, and catching up where I can, but first season was so funny, with justthe right mix of drama and story to keep it compelling.

I feel funny using the word 'drama' to describe these things, but it's the best word I can use to describe the core of what elevates any great story-telling. it's about the characters at the core of the story. EVERY great story is always about the journey of it's characters.

And that last paragraph feels like what is missing from this season (and to a big degree last season) of Heroes. It's as if they know exactly what events they need to happen when, and are forcing the characters journeys to fit the events. The end result feels like a struggling, shambolic mess, rather than the elegantly unfolding story of season 1.

And the absolute Dark horse on the field of this seasons TV is Terminator;The Sarah Connor Chronicles. It is truly miles better than the haphazard third Terminator movie.
I gotta say, I liked the first season,but I didn't really love it. This season however has been going from strength to strength. Again it's the human story at the core here that has elevated it, the stark world of humans versus robots and the threat of a post-apocalyptic future is only the backdrop and catalyst for the story. As it should be.

It's nice to know not evrything was hit hard by the writer's strike. Still, Family Guy and American Dad, once absolute brilliant peices of shlock comedy, seem to be in a very definite recovery period, with recent episodes being very poor when compared to some of their past greatness, cross fingers and hope for recovery I guess.

And well, I guess that's enough babble for today,
It's back to work for me,

Cheers,
-K