In which I overthink teevees

[selenay]

I've been thinking about this a bit more. My main concern is still that the kiss scene was about as cliche-ridded as it's possible to get. The fact that I haven't so far engaged with either character is, I think, not helpful. Nor is the fact that both characters are fairly new and this is the first major story-line for either of them, which makes it feel like they were only introduced in order to do this story. If I'd already seen one of them handling a multi-episode arc of some kind then I might have more engagement with them even if I still did not like them.

Malick is a character that I loathed when he first arrived and have been gradually learning to either love to hate or sometimes just mildly dislike if he does something very cool. As most of my favourite Holby characters are ones that I loathed initially (Connie, Jac, Penny for example), I have high hopes that Malick will follow that pattern.

Dan is, er, rather a dull character with pretty much no personality so far. In fact, he's been irritating and a little bit pointless throughout his admittedly short tenure. Plus every case he's been involved in has showcased his incompetence, which isn't a winning trait in a surgeon. I don't even loath him, it's more mildly wishing that he wouldn't clog up so many scenes every week.

I watch Holby for the crack. It's silly, insane and no hospital on earth could possibly function like it. However, while it doesn't tend to do cutting-edge drama there have been some story-lines that it has done surprisingly well. Gina Hope's decision to go to Dignitas is one example that I thought was particularly nicely done. It's something that I'd forgotten about because the stories lately have been, er, a little flamboyant to say the least. Everything applied with a sledge-hammer rather than a delicate brush.

I suppose that what I'm trying to say is that on first glance, this looks like a story-line filled with over-used tropes and cliches. At least that scene was. It could easily go that way based on past experience of many suddenly gay plotlines. After all, every drama and soap does the suddenly gay story at some stage, often more than once, and they're frequently cookie-cutter images of each other.

However, there is the nugget of hope that it need not be the predictable stereotype this time. Malick is certainly not the stereotyped gay bloke that we're usually given. Although Dan is, so far, filling many of the stereotypes for his part, the writers could be planning something very interesting and subtle with him. Neither of the actors have been there long enough to give us a good idea of their potential dramatic range. We could be treated to an interesting, nuanced, beautifully acted story-line that takes an entirely different approach to anything we've seen before. After all, Holby does occasionally do some fantastic stories and we may find new depths to Dan and Malick.

Maybe.

I won't try to hold my breath, though.


Someone, shoot me if I show signs of getting even more Holby obsessed than I already am?

The lovely gmul sent me the first season of Better Off Ted. I'd planned to watch it when I needed something fun and light while I was recovering, but have not actually allowed myself much veging with TV time that hasn't been to specifically watch particular things. It felt like giving in. Now that summer is here, the teevee box is empty and my back is being a PITA, I've started watching it as my light, fun time-filler when I need something to fill a gap. It's very funny and quite lovely.

Last night, I also put on an episode of All Creatures Great and Small on Netflix. I'm definitely keeping the subscription now that I've found many things to watch. Anyway, it's odd watching ACGS (but fun! Lots of fun!) because Peter Davidson is so incredibly young and many of his mannerisms in this are the same ones that he used for the Doctor. So they're Davidson mannerisms and vocal tones rather than character-specific ones. Anyway, when he sounds particularly Doctor-ish and I've got my eyes on my knitting, I half-expect to look up and find him dressed as an Edwardian cricketer. It's very strange.

Also, did you know that because they had no FX-cows, when you see James, Siegfried or Tristan with their arms up cows bums, they did in fact have to learn how to stick there arms up cows bums? Now that I know this, I watch those scenes with much more sympathy. And sometimes more giggling at the surprised expressions on the cow's face. Last night's cow looked particularly shocked.

Also, can someone tell me whether they changed the actress playing Helen? Because that's definitely not Lynda Bellingham playing her and I could have sworn that Lynda Bellingham played her when I watched.

In other Netflix news, Judi Dench is absolutely brilliant in As Time Goes By and I may have a tiny crush. I refuse to believe that they started making that twenty years ago. I cannot be that old.

Comments

[davidbrider.livejournal.com]

Re: All Creatures; yeah, Helen was originally played by Carol Drinkwater. Lynda Bellingham took over...I think when they revived the series in the mid 80s ish.

[selenay]

Thank you! I'm so happy to know that I'm not going crazy :-)

[sazandra.livejournal.com]

Good to see that icon getting an outing ;)

Someone, shoot me if I show signs of getting even more Holby obsessed than I already am?

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!