Wow, the silence is deafening so far. Episode one debuted to awful ratings (by HBO Sunday drama standards); between the apathetic response to it and the Emmys as competition, I'm afraid to even guess the numbers for episode two.
I watched the first episode with a couple of friends (all guys....yes, are thought process was even if its not good it might have nudity). After the show ended, we sat in silence and all we could ever say was how graphic it was.... unless I hear from you that it gets better, I think I'll pass
I've tried twice, and I can't imagine trying again. If I want realism--which is supposedly the selling point--then I want to see less blow-dried perfection, maybe some stretch marks.
Me, I prefer my writing to have a beginning, middle and end, even within a serialized format. And I like my relationship dramas to focus on people I'd actually want to pay attention to week in and week out. Well-observed details are all fine and good, but they need something to hang on.
After seeing this ad online, I couldn't resist avoiding work (for all of five minutes) and making this spoof. I could go on, but that about sums it up for me.
Once was enough, and I'd been looking forward to it since your positive notice a while ago (you watched the whole season on DVD, yes? Or several episodes?).
The sex scenes made me really squeamish, the opposite of aroused. The characters were largely dull and contrived (Though something about the Ally Walker/Tim DeKay couple's seemingly loving marriage, good family but zero happening under the covers was very engaging). Dislike everyone else, and most damningly, I can't recall a single memorable conversation or interesting plotline seed. "Let's bang for a baby", "Why don't we ever bang?", and "Don't bang anyone else, OK?", are not gonna hold my interest for a 10 episodes. One and done.
Every woman I've talked to about this show (plus reports from men who watched it with women)absolutely hated it. Most because of the nudity and sex, a few others because of the cold nature of the sex and relationships.
Since "complicated relationship drama" screams "chick flick," the fact that women won't watch it leaves me scratching my head as to who the intended audience is here.
I haven't heard from any men that liked it either - the distinctly unsexy sex proved to be a huge turnoff, go figure.
After seeing this ad online, I couldn't resist avoiding work (for all of five minutes) and making this spoof.
Very funny, David, but you missed a golden opportunity, given the Anonymous poster who last week brilliantly described the show as "like watching paint fuck."
There are absolutely no likeable characters on this show. They're not bad actors and all decent looking (though Luke Kirby could use a shower) but I can't stand to listen to more than five minutes of the dialogue. Who knew a show with such over-hyped sex scenes would be so damn boring?
I bet with Alan's suggested change you could sell more "TELL ME YOU WATCHED ME Paint. Fucking." T-shirts than this show could ever get viewers. It really has to be the most supernaturally bad writing I have ever witenessed on a TV show. Every scene is so ridiculously on the nose. It's like these characters can't have a moment that doesn't illustrate their one dimensional sexual dysfunction. And these things never arise organically, but are instead presented in clumsy, unnatural ways. So much for realism.
Anyone who suggests a link between this show and Bergman's "Scenes from a Marriage" or the films of John Cassavettes should be immediately put to sleep.
Very funny, David, but you missed a golden opportunity, given the Anonymous poster who last week brilliantly described the show as "like watching paint fuck."
Ah, but see, the paint fucking was never the point of the parody, I was only using that as a medium to discuss the other issues of the paint. I'm actually quite surprised that anyone would focus on that. But rest assured, the paint fucking is not there to be prurient, just realistic.
Actually, watching paint fuck would be more entertaining, just to see how that would work.
I'm sure there's a horrible Bob Ross "let's just stick a happy little bush over here" joke in there somewhere, but it's too late in the day to bother setting it up...but that would give new meaning to "The Joy of Painting."
There's some compelling acting, particularly by Ally Walker, but the show is terribly unpleasant. I know it wears its unsexy graphic sex like a badge of honor, but there's a problem--unsexy graphic sex is not entertaining, especially when the characters involved are almost all nasty, annoying and unrealistic.
Yup, after episode two I CAN'T STAND these characters! Gotta agree with everything in comment made by david j. loehr. I don't know and have never known couples who act or talk (or look...or fuck) like these people. Navel-gazing at its most annoying.
Well, I'd say this thread may have killed the blog's MPAA-like rating. I forget what the rules are on that.
I have to agree with everybody. I had this show on my DVR and came up with reasons not to watch it until last night. I doubt I'll watch it at all once the new season starts next week. All this show is really good for is snarking...
As I said last week, I'm not going to weigh in week by week on "Tell Me You Love Me," but fire away on all things episode 2.
Wow, the silence is deafening so far. Episode one debuted to awful ratings (by HBO Sunday drama standards); between the apathetic response to it and the Emmys as competition, I'm afraid to even guess the numbers for episode two.
ReplyDeleteAlan,
ReplyDeleteI watched the first episode with a couple of friends (all guys....yes, are thought process was even if its not good it might have nudity). After the show ended, we sat in silence and all we could ever say was how graphic it was.... unless I hear from you that it gets better, I think I'll pass
The only thing that separated this from some crappy relationship drama was boobs. Halfway through, I started looking at the Emmy results online.
ReplyDeleteI've tried twice, and I can't imagine trying again. If I want realism--which is supposedly the selling point--then I want to see less blow-dried perfection, maybe some stretch marks.
ReplyDeleteMe, I prefer my writing to have a beginning, middle and end, even within a serialized format. And I like my relationship dramas to focus on people I'd actually want to pay attention to week in and week out. Well-observed details are all fine and good, but they need something to hang on.
After seeing this ad online, I couldn't resist avoiding work (for all of five minutes) and making this spoof. I could go on, but that about sums it up for me.
Once was enough, and I'd been looking forward to it since your positive notice a while ago (you watched the whole season on DVD, yes? Or several episodes?).
ReplyDeleteThe sex scenes made me really squeamish, the opposite of aroused. The characters were largely dull and contrived (Though something about the Ally Walker/Tim DeKay couple's seemingly loving marriage, good family but zero happening under the covers was very engaging). Dislike everyone else, and most damningly, I can't recall a single memorable conversation or interesting plotline seed. "Let's bang for a baby", "Why don't we ever bang?", and "Don't bang anyone else, OK?", are not gonna hold my interest for a 10 episodes. One and done.
Every woman I've talked to about this show (plus reports from men who watched it with women)absolutely hated it. Most because of the nudity and sex, a few others because of the cold nature of the sex and relationships.
ReplyDeleteSince "complicated relationship drama" screams "chick flick," the fact that women won't watch it leaves me scratching my head as to who the intended audience is here.
I haven't heard from any men that liked it either - the distinctly unsexy sex proved to be a huge turnoff, go figure.
Did HBO not focus-group this thing at all?
After seeing this ad online, I couldn't resist avoiding work (for all of five minutes) and making this spoof.
ReplyDeleteVery funny, David, but you missed a golden opportunity, given the Anonymous poster who last week brilliantly described the show as "like watching paint fuck."
There are absolutely no likeable characters on this show. They're not bad actors and all decent looking (though Luke Kirby could use a shower) but I can't stand to listen to more than five minutes of the dialogue. Who knew a show with such over-hyped sex scenes would be so damn boring?
ReplyDeleteI bet with Alan's suggested change you could sell more "TELL ME YOU WATCHED ME Paint. Fucking." T-shirts than this show could ever get viewers. It really has to be the most supernaturally bad writing I have ever witenessed on a TV show. Every scene is so ridiculously on the nose. It's like these characters can't have a moment that doesn't illustrate their one dimensional sexual dysfunction. And these things never arise organically, but are instead presented in clumsy, unnatural ways. So much for realism.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who suggests a link between this show and Bergman's "Scenes from a Marriage" or the films of John Cassavettes should be immediately put to sleep.
Very funny, David, but you missed a golden opportunity, given the Anonymous poster who last week brilliantly described the show as "like watching paint fuck."
ReplyDeleteAh, but see, the paint fucking was never the point of the parody, I was only using that as a medium to discuss the other issues of the paint. I'm actually quite surprised that anyone would focus on that. But rest assured, the paint fucking is not there to be prurient, just realistic.
Actually, watching paint fuck would be more entertaining, just to see how that would work.
I'm sure there's a horrible Bob Ross "let's just stick a happy little bush over here" joke in there somewhere, but it's too late in the day to bother setting it up...but that would give new meaning to "The Joy of Painting."
There's some compelling acting, particularly by Ally Walker, but the show is terribly unpleasant. I know it wears its unsexy graphic sex like a badge of honor, but there's a problem--unsexy graphic sex is not entertaining, especially when the characters involved are almost all nasty, annoying and unrealistic.
ReplyDeleteYup, after episode two I CAN'T STAND these characters! Gotta agree with everything in comment made by david j. loehr. I don't know and have never known couples who act or talk (or look...or fuck) like these people. Navel-gazing at its most annoying.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'd say this thread may have killed the blog's MPAA-like rating. I forget what the rules are on that.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with everybody. I had this show on my DVR and came up with reasons not to watch it until last night. I doubt I'll watch it at all once the new season starts next week. All this show is really good for is snarking...