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[krickets]

Community
Let me just come right out and say that I like Jeff and Annie. The finale overall was little more than a set-up for those two. It felt like the episode before it was the real finale, in hindsight. I loved Troy's giant cookie and Shirley's friend Gary.

Jeff: Um... everyone has to go to the transfer dance today.
Shirley: I'm going. My friend Gary's transferring!
Annie: Ugh, good!
Abed: Finally.
Britta: Thank god.
Troy: I hope he transfers to hell.
Shirley: *sadface*

And, well I just love this cute little ensemble show. There are moments where it's over the top, yes. But who cares. It still has a lot of heart and a great cast and smart, but sometimes appropriately idiotic writing. [Which if you think about it, is also smart.] And to top it off, the cast is just awesome beyond belief. Allison Brie has made me seriously consider watching Mad Men, and Danny Pudi is perfection as Abed. Cannot get enough of these people.

The only problem I have been having is with the treatment of Britta. I feel like they've been overly apologetic about who they introduced us to in those first several episodes, which bothers me more than I can possibly say. Additionally, I did not like the way she behaved in that last episode. It was so very un-Britta-like and just a huge turn-off, character wise. It feels like the show is trying to re-write her character and I'm just not impressed at all. Britta is best when she's a part of the group and not singled out in any way, because I just don't think the writers really know how to do her justice. And that's sad.

I also wish they would give a little bit more humanity and inject some "reality" to the character of Pierce. Chevy Chase is a classic and he deserves a little more meat. The shtick is getting slightly old. They need to mix it up a bit.

Regarding my tossing up three cheers for Jeff/Annie. It has a little bit to do with the mistreatment of Britta, yes. But there are other reasons. I liked Jeff/Britta at the start [not that I was committed to it, but I thought it could be cute]. But now I feel like the show has not really handled that relationship well. I initially liked the idea of it but not the way they've handled it. It has felt incredibly forced to me, despite my wanting to get behind it. I was hoping that the show would either step up their game on that front, or do something completely different. And seeing the finale it's very clear to me that there's a reason it felt forced and unappealing. It's because the show had been setting up for the much more subtle and satisfying combination of Jeff/Annie. The thing that surprises you. From a storytelling standpoint, that feels much more organic to me and I really liked how they had built up to it in this subdued but believable way.

I have been seeing a lot of rumbling on my flist about ship wars and Britta bashing but I don't see any of that on my flist. If anything, I feel like I'm going to be pummeled for admitting to liking this pairing. Which is kinda sad.

Parenthood
I actually am baffled as to how much I love this show. There's something about the dynamic that they're getting absolutely right. Not all the family squabbles are profound and meaningful. Half the time it's just people trying to shout over each other and the audience only being able to pick out little pieces here and there and I love that for its realism. They get the tender, sweet moments right too. And the little mundane moments as well.

I can't say I have a favorite character -- except for maybe Crosby. But I will say that since those first few eps, Peter Krause's Adam has grown on me a lot more. I actually was a bit perturbed at the way Kristina [Monica Potter] was acting in the last couple of episodes, but I suppose that all of the characters have their flaws. This couple in particular.

Crosby, Jasmine, & Jabbar: There is nothing about their story that I don't absolutely love. They've really played the burgeoning romance between Jasmine and Crosby nicely against Crosby's newfound fatherhood and bonding with Jabbar. And I don't think that's necessarily an easy task. It's all just too adorable. And I love that Crosby gave up his life and his proximity to his family to go with them to New York. I have a feeling they will all be back in time for season two, however. Which I am glad for. I'm actually very pleasantly surprised at Dax Shepard's portrayal of Crosby. He's pretty excellent here.

Sarah, Drew, & Amber: I really like this dynamic as well, it's different and less put-together than the others but they all seem to sort of work together well. And Lauren Graham as Sarah is just great. They each have their own very separate journeys, rather than a cohesive direction. I particularly love Drew, even though he hasn't gotten much in the way of a storyline. But I like his relationship with Adam and that he seems to be a calming force in the family -- a good fit for his volatile [but awesome!] sister and mother. And I just love both Sarah and Amber and their rocky, yet loving mother-daughter relationship. And Sarah's romance with Mark [Jason Ritter] is really unbearably sweet.

Julia, Joel, & Sydney: Sydney is stinkin' adorable, first of all. And there is really something about these three that I can't put my finger on, but works very well. I like how genuinely helpful and sometimes clueless Julia is, despite being a capable lawyer. And I love that Joel is a stay-at-home-dad and that the show has actually used that term to describe him. I have to say the scene where Julia yells at Zeek in the finale was really great to see. She was yelling in spite of herself and her dad was being a stubborn mule and deserved every bit of it.

Adam, Kristina, Haddie & Max: I think the best thing about this little unit is the way that they've dealt with Max's Asperger's. I also really loved the episodes that dealt with Adam feeling like he needed time away from the family and Kristina being completely offended that he finds them all so mundane, culminating with her wanting to go back to work. [Which didn't end up happening after all? I'm blanking on that one.] Haddie is a problem area for me. At times I really like her and at times she seems to take on all of the characteristics about her parents that I really hate.

Zeek & Camille: I can't say too much about them. Zeek bugs me and I don't think Camille should have taken him back so easily. Although the moment with the song was truly memorable. [He needs to cut his hair though!] Hopefully he really is going to change for her. He's the patriarch of the Braverman clan and really the only character I have yet to warm to at all.




Modern Family
What the hell don't I like about this show? I can't think of anything. AT ALL. I want to say that it's my favorite new show of this season by miles and miles. Every character has a quirk or just a certain something hat I love about them. Every single one.

Let's break these guys down too.

Jay, Gloria, & Manny: I really love Gloria. And I love that they haven't played the Jay/Gloria romance as anything other than complete and utter affection. He doesn't come across as some creepy older guy who left his wife and married a younger, hot, latina woman to feel young again. [Come to think of it, I don't even recall what happened to Mitchell and Claire's mom -- or any other wives if he's had them.] These two really do feel like a match. He allows himself to learn from her and from Manny, and she I think learns from him as well. And Manny is just too much. I love that kid and his need for unwrinkled dinner jackets. So funny. I am willing to bet the actor who plays him doesn't have a clue as to what half of his lines mean.

The Dunphys: Holy crap what to say about these guys? The dynamic is hilarious and perfect. I love Phil's goofy sincerity played off of Claire's more serious wtf-ery. [Why the face?] And can I just say that I literally almost cried when Claire realized he was leading her down to a vow renewal ceremony? How utterly perfect. Phil can be an idiot, but he is also such a sap. It's perfect. And Luke. That kid. There is something wrong with him. And I love it. Haha. Seeing him and Manny play off each other is just like an accident waiting to happen. And the girls are brilliant too, Alex in particular with her sarcasm and her smarts.

The Pritchett-Tuckers: These guys are too funny. I love their dynamic. Cam being the more dramatic fun-loving one and Mitchell being more serious. Come to think of it, all of the Pritchetts are on the more serious-side whereas their more dynamic spouses bring out the other side of them. Cam and Mitchell's interviews are oftentimes the most hilarious ones. They come across as knowing each other a lot better than they know themselves. And Lily! Holy crap, cute baby much?

Now that I've broken them down like this it seems so wrong because the whole family has all of these wonderful interactions and relationships. Jay's supportive relationship with all of his kids and grandkids. The odd relationship between Manny with Claire and Mitchell. Claire and Mitchell themselves -- the figure skating routine! And Claire and Gloria have had quite a few interesting moments as well. And how could I forget Haley and Cam squeeing together over how cool their respective boyfriends were! Hah. Loved that.

The muddy family photo really was the perfect way to end the season. I am dying for more of these guys.

Comments

[di-br.livejournal.com]

I don't watch Parenthood, but I DO watch Community and Modern Family and I just love them!
Modern Family is definitely my new favorite show this season, too! The whole family is wonderful, and whenever I watch and episode I just feel like giving the show a great big hug!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I know, I know! They are just the cutest ever!

I would highly recommend Parenthood, but I don't think anybody's really listening to me about that, lol.

[ozmissage.livejournal.com]

I'm completely and utterly in love with Jeff/Annie, have been for ages now, but I kind of hate what the show did to Britta in the finale. That whole declaring her love for Jeff thing didn't feel like Britta at all. I hope they figure out a way to write her that doesn't involve constantly dumping on her next season because Britta Perry is wonderful. Now if only we could get Harmon and co. to realize that.

Parenthood and Modern Family are both amazing shows. I'm constantly surprised by how they both find new and interesting character combinations to play with every week. On Parenthood I particularly like watching the siblings together. That scene where they were arguing over who gets the front seat was hands down one of the most charming things I saw on any show this year.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Yeah I definitely am disappointed with the direction they've gone with Britta. I sincerely hope that they find a way to fix that, I hope it's not too late.

I think the thing with all three of these shows is that they have managed the ensemble casts so incredibly well. Each week you have no idea who's going to be getting up to what hijinks with whom.

Someone told me recently that they've noticed my love of ensemble casts and that's really true to the Nth degree. Modern Family and Parenthood don't seem to have a clear main character and I love that. Community is the only one where I can definitively point out Jeff in that role -- but even then, it's still such a strong ensemble that it hardly matters. The way they play with the different dynamics between a multitude of unique and well-drawn characters is really admirable and remarkable.

[hypertwink.livejournal.com]

I love that you love Community and Modern Family...which I love too. I wasn't really a fan of Jeff/Annie even when it was just sparks here and there but then a week after the finale, I think I'm on board. I love Abed.

And Modern Family? I remember loving The Office this much, especially the oh so perfect 2nd season. I love every one of them but I especially love Luke, Gloria and Phil.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Abed is one of my favorite new characters of this TV season. He just makes me laugh and shake my head and smile all at the same time.

I don't know if I loved The Office this much, but then I was never a week-to-week viewer of that show. I remember loving EPISODES this much, though. I haven't seen it in so long I don't know how it is now.

I think my favorite character is probably Gloria. It's hard to rank them though because they're all so amazing.

[sweetcakes983.livejournal.com]

If you're being pummeled, it's from me out of excitement that you like Jeff and Annie! All season long they've had a very subtle chemistry that was just building (all of the many different ways Jeff looked out for Annie and the way she always would go to him when she had a problem) and then there was the Debate episode and hot damn! That kiss! And after that, I was sold. I just didn't think they'd go there because of the obvious reason...the age difference. Screw the age! She's legal. They have mad chemistry.

Also, ditto on Modern Family. Fantastic show. I love everything about it!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I didn't see many people singing the praises of Annie/Jeff so I thought the consensus was that it was a bad thing. Apparently, and happily, I was wrong. I can agree that the age difference may be problematic for some, but Vaughn seems like he's pretty close to Jeff's age and she's been dating him for a while. Not that much of a leap for her to date Jeff.

I can't say a bad word about Modern Family. The only part I didn't love was the awkward stuff with Ed Norton as the washed-up rocker, haha. The rest of that episode was still good though.

[gigglemonster.livejournal.com]

Well I for one completely agree with you on the Jeff/Annie front. I haven't seen TOO much in the way of ship wars or Britta bashing on my flist either, which makes me happy. However, I do feel that the majority of people I've talked to prefer Jeff/Britta to Jeff/Annie, which *shrug* idk basically exactly what you said! But:
Allison Brie has made me seriously consider watching Mad Men, and Danny Pudi is perfection as Abed
SO MUCH! In fact, I kind of think Abed is the most shipable character on the show lol He has cute scenes with practically everyone!

Modern Familllyyyyyyy I LOVE IT SO MUCH! All of them OMG. It's like whenever I watch that show I literally laugh out loud, like full bellyaching laughs. My cheeks hurt at the end of every episode and I honestly can't say that with any other show. And the cherry on top is that it's FULL of heart. It's fantastic and I totally agree with all your character opinions. I think Phil has gotta be my favorite though :) Why the face? LOL Never gets old!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Yeah I haven't seen it, but I've certainly heard about it. I'm not about to go jump into the fandom because A) I really don't think I could bring myself to write fic for this show. I don't think I've ever written for a sitcom and I don't think I could or would ever want to. And B) I'd just as soon not, if it's all about ship wars. Cause the truth is that looking at the show that way just pisses me off. This awesome ensemble show deserves way better than that!

Hahaha, I seriously love that show so much. It's really the heart that makes it work. I think it was clear from the start that I knew this show was a bit different than your average fare. But in the episode where Claire lets Phil win the race, that's when I was completely and utterly won over. I was wooed. I would marry this show if I could, haha.

How cool would it be to be a part of the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker-Delgado family?

[anoel.livejournal.com]

So much word about Modern Family. I was hesitant about Jay/Gloria at first (coaldigger lol) but I truly do believe they love each other and that it has nothing (or almost nothing) to do with money or beauty. And agreed about all the dynamics being so great. Cam and Mitchell interviews are definitely my favorite, they really do have an amazing sense of familiarity.

Now my question is, are you still vidding them??? Cause I'm dying for that vid ;)

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I think I was hestitant about them as well, but it was really the idea of them. Every bit of execution with them has seemed perfect to me.

The vid well, I had to write these AVS files [sorta-like-thing] in order to do it with the big files I wanted, and that all got wiped when I had computer troubles lately. So if it happens it's going to be with regular ole' TV rips, cause I'm not up for that particular challenge a second time.