‘Downton Abbey’ and Soap (Opera) Scum

There’s a certain point when watching a soap-laden period drama stops being fun and just starts feeling… well… dirty. Not the kind of dirty felt after reading Lady Chatterly’s Lover. But the kind felt because the series has become so implausible and sensational that it overwhelms the enjoyment of it, let alone being intellectually engaged with it. During the first series, Downton Abbey was a grand escape, a way to explore a new world through characters entirely relateable to ourselves. Yet this past season, the melodrama been thrust into the spotlight, and the result is a more uncomfortable viewing experience. Even if there are still characters and relationships that keep this series worth watching, the imbalance of cringe-inducing soap-operatics to genuine emotional connection is growing at an alarming rate. This week’s double episode (2.06 by PBS’s count) is the paradigm example.

The Little Family Drama that Could: Parenthood’s “Road Trip”

 

With all the grand spiritual narratives and cutting comedies on my television line-up, I often overlook the heartfelt slice-of-life drama Parenthood. Yet no series moves me so deeply and sincerely on such a regular basis. Last week’s episode “Road Trip” is a paradigm example of what the series does best, by setting our Bravermans adrift across the California landscape and strictly focusing on the intricate relationships amongst them.

“The Trial of Leslie Knope,” the Heart and Soul of Parks and Recreation

I realized that a mere Twitter sized love-fest for this week’s Parks and Recreation, “The Trial of Leslie Knope,” is an insult to the greatness that was this episode. Parks and Rec is already one of my all time favorite sitcoms, but this episode stands apart from the rest, and deserves proper recognition. NOTE: This post is all kinds of spoilery, so avert your eyes, those faint hearted amongst you!

So why the bleeding heart over this episode?

Community’s “Advanced Gay” and the Season 1 Problem

Heart attack or clever way to get out of this episode?

After two stellar episodes from Community, “Advanced Gay” pales in comparison. “Remedial Chaos Theory” and “Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps” exemplify what is best about the show, a comedy that is not afraid to push the boundaries of how stories are told on television without sacrificing the status and growth of its characters. Yet “Advanced Gay” seemed to fall back on the tired, unimaginative threads of Pierce’s conservative social views, Jeff’s Daddy Issues (still left unresolved in any way), and Britta’s ill-informed overreaching. But most disappointing is the resuscitation of the “Look! Community college students! They take their studies so seriously. Aren’t they quaint?” approach to storylines, which I was hoping the writers had gotten over by the end of season 1.

For some context, let’s take a look back.