Television Past and Present

[eldritchhobbit]

Two television series I greatly enjoyed are being released on DVD.

The first, the clever The Lone Gunmen, a spinoff of The X-Files with some of my favorite characters from that show, is available on DVD today. You can read my review of the series here at Revolution Science Fiction. The series delivers heroism, chuckles, and a lot of heart. Moreover, I am gratified to learn that this collection will indeed include the moody pilot, an episode that was excellent at the time (pre-9/11), but which had the eerie misfortune of centering much of its action around a hijacked plane descending, and only narrowly missing, the World Trade Center.

The second, the brilliant Miracles, which did not even run for a full season, is available with its unaired episodes on DVD on April 19. This visionary show about the nature of Good, Evil, and Free Will deserves careful attention. And yes, I reviewed this show for Revolution Science Fiction, as well.

I highly recommend both series.

And while I'm discussing television, I should mention that I am intrigued by the forthcoming Into the West, a six-week miniseries beginning on June 10 that claims to "tell both sides" of the U.S. Western experience. I am not overwhelmed by trust for either Steven Spielberg or TNT, but the cast is remarkable. Wes Studi, Irene Bedard, and Graham Greene, for example, are some of the most distinguished and talented Native American actors today, and I am impressed that they have joined the project. Added to such accomplished names are Millennium's Lance Henriksen, Firefly's Alan Tudyk, and The Lord of the Ring's Sean Astin; truly, this list reads like a Who's Who (Russell Means, Skeet Ulrich, Beau Bridges, etc.). I withhold judgment, but one thing is certain: I'll be watching.

The quote for the day is short and simple.

"We never gave up. We never will. In the end if that's the best they can say about us, it'll do."

Byers from "Jump the Shark," The X-Files

Comments

[helveticat.livejournal.com]

And while I'm discussing television, I should mention that I am intrigued by the forthcoming Into the West, a six-week miniseries beginning on June 10 that claims to "tell both sides" of the U.S. Western experience. I am not overwhelmed by trust for either Steven Spielberg or TNT, but the cast is remarkable.

I'm also excited about this. It also features Balthazar Getty (not Native American, but certainly a beautifully underrated actor) and Gil Birmingham (remember him? He was in The Doe Boy and Dream Keeper), and, you're right, about a billion others.

The three writers are who I'm looking at, though. Like Will Mastrosimone, who did the Benedict Arnold TV movie a couple years ago, and Cyrus Nowrasteh, who wrote for the La Femme Nikita series. And the best of the best--Craig Storper, who wrote Open Range, one of the classiest western screenplays I've ever read.

So there's some hope, indeed. :-)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Great points, especially about Craig Storper. (I agree 100% about Open Range. Very well done.) I didn't realize Nowrasteh wrote for LFN, but that inspires hope, as well. I'll be teaching my Native American Identity class this summer as this unfolds, and I must say I'm feeling rather pleased at the timing! One way or another it will make great fodder for discussion.

Thank you so much for pointing out some connections I hadn't made. I'm feeling more hopeful by the minute! :) This could be really amazing.

[vaklam.livejournal.com]

Lone Gunmen! Yes! I miss that show.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Me too! At least we'll have the DVDs now... :)

[melissagay.livejournal.com]

"We never gave up. We never will. In the end if that's the best they can say about us, it'll do."


Best. Quote. Ever. Thank you. :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :) I'm so glad you like it, too!

[estellye.livejournal.com]

I am very intrigued by Into the West as well. I guess we will just have to see how they did with it! It can't be worse than past efforts that I have seen. I look forward to your comments about it afterward.

It turns out we have a formal marketing awards ceremony that my new company is involved in and I will have to attend - so no road trips to Tenessee for me! I will have to wait for my next oportunity to catch one of your lectures! Please continue to keep us informed of your upcoming engagements!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

It can't be worse than past efforts that I have seen.

Very true indeed! It doesn't have to be much to be an improvement! :)

I look forward to your comments about it afterward.

Thanks so much. Likewise. We'll have to compare notes!

I really appreciate your interest in coming to my lecture. You have no idea how much that means! Tomorrow I'll feel your good vibes and know you're there in spirit! :) In the meantime, best wishes for the marketing awards ceremony. May it be a great day.

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

Oooooooh. "Into the west" sounds muy interesting. What a cast! The Lone Gunmen were hilarious.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I agree on both counts! :) (((MoO)))

[sailingwest.livejournal.com]

I am soooooooooo incredibly excited about Into the West.Most people don't know this,but I have this crazy thing for westerns and stories like that.The cast is just going to be incredible,so many of my favourite actors.And Eric Schweig is going to portray Sitting Bull! Eric is one of my all time fave actors and I feel like its an honor to play someone like Sitting Bull.Graham Greene is also another fave,and with Russell Means on cast,I can imagine he would be lobbying to have more truth revealed on film.

Oh,my goodness and its gonna be odd to see "Samwise" in a western isn't it?

Sadly Jon and I are going to be out of town for a Regional War practice this weekend and out of town a bunch for the next several weeks so it just better come out on dvd very,very soon.**sniffles**

I am going to be looking forward to hearing everyones thoughts on this series though.