[Geek On] Five Shows I’m Not Watching(That I Probably Should) 4
I know, shocking right? I write for a tv blog! I have a column that has geek on the title. And yet, here I am, admitting to the world(or at least the readers that we have) that there are some very popular shows that I have never been able to get into. Below the cut, I reveal my shame.
5. The Middleman
What’s it about?
Wendy Watson(Natalie Morales), a struggling artist is suddenly recruited by a secret agency to work with The Middleman(Matt Keeslar) a freelancer of sort that deals with ‘exotic problems’.
Why it should be right up my ally?
Those exotic problems mentioned above? They’re of the comic book and B movie variety. We’re talking mad scientists, parallel universes, robots, monsters, and everything that is cool and right with the world. While the fact that it’s based on fairly popular comic book doesn’t automatically put it on my list of shows to watch, the general consensus so far is that it captures the crazyness of the comic book really well.
Oh, and did I mention that Wendy is a comic book fan? And one with good taste, as she’s cited her favorites being Powers, Fell, Mouse Guard, and Flash(although apparently we have yet to find out the important question, Barry or Wally?)
Why aren’t I watching?
In a perfect world, advertising would have nothing to do with my decisions. But seeing as Daniel Way is writing a Deadpool comic, we know this isn’t a perfect world. Hey, it’s my geek column, I’m allowed to throw a comic book joke every now and then. Sadly, The Middleman was one of those shows that while I had heard about before it went on the air, I never heard it was a must watch. I’ll admit to being a bit biased with the fact that it was airing on ABCFamily. And while I digged the casting of Wendy from the beginning, Mat Keeslar didn’t seem that interesting to me in the beginning.
4. Eureka
What’s it about?
Eureka is the name of a town located somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, inhabited almost entirely of brilliant scientists, U.S Marshall Jack Carter(Colin Ferguson) ends up becoming the new sheriff of the town and has to deal with experiments gone awry.
Why should it be right up my alley?
It’s light hearted science fiction, which is my favorite sort of science fiction. The premise is actually quite smart, and from the snips that I seen, the special effects are actually surprisingly good for a television.
Why aren’t I watching?
Because Sci Fi pulled a FOX on Eureka’s first season, airing episodes out of order. Supposedly this wasn’t as bad as Firefly, but nonetheless when I heard of that, it just left a bad taste in my mouth. I have watched a few episodes, and while they are cute, that’s all they seem to be. There is very little connecting storyline from show to show, and it seems to be more of a “monster of the week” type of show.
3. Reaper
What’s it about?
On his 21st birthday, Sam Olivier(Brett Harrison) discovers that his parents promised him to the devil(Ray Wise). So now Sam must save as a bounty hunter, capturing escaped demons and souls and taking them back to hell, all while juggling his job and romantic life.
Why it should be right up me alley?
First, the casting. I been a fan of Brett since Grounded for Life, and I actually also liked him in his short live 
FOX comedy The Loop. And tell me the choice of Ray Wise as the devil wasn’t an inspired one. Much like most of the shows on this list, the premise is also really cool, and something we could only see in this geek accepting era of television. To prove that, the first episode was directed by Kevin Smith. Plus I always been a sucker for religion in popular fiction.
Why aren’t I watching?
Out of all five shows, this is probably the one that I really wanted to like and continue to watch. I really enjoyed the first episode, as the interaction between Sam and his fellow Work Bench employee’s was fun and witty. Unfortunately the spark from the first episode quickly started to go out. This is a show that should have started to build a mythology from the beginning. Now, I’m not saying make it a Lost level of mythology, but they should have been building up to something early on. I don’t know if it’s because of the writer’s strike, but instead the show focused on single episodes, which quickly began to get old. Plus it has Michael Ian Black.
2. Battlestar Galactica
What’s it about?
I don’t think there’s much of a need for this, but here it is anyways. A successful re imagining of the 1978 series it deals with a future war between Cylons, robots originally created by mankind and the last remaining humans.
Why it should be right up my alley?
Because it has arguably become the geek show to watch. Lost might get more viewers, but for the hardcore, BSG is where it’s at. Plus I’ll admit that it seems to have a somewhat fascinating mix of science fiction, religion, and human storyline. This is another show that doesn’t look ‘cheap’, as the effects, from the inside of the space ships, to the battles themselves have a very realistic edge to them. Plus come on, it stars some of the hottest women in television.
Why aren’t I watching?
It seems entirely too depressing and serious. Look at the rest of the shows on this list, they are all somewhat light hearted entertainment. I get the impression that joy was killed in that universe. Every time I have manage to catch it, everyone is one hundred percent serious, and full of anguish. I can’t imagine sitting down and watching more than one episode. It’s gotta be draining man. Also, you can’t just turn on the television and watch an episode, this is a show that demands to be watched from the beginning.
1. Doctor Who
What’s it about?
Another show that really doesn’t need an explanation. A british science fiction show, it depicts the adventures of “The Doctor”, who while looking entirely human is actually a time traveling alien. Along with his companion he travels through space and time fighting monsters and righting wrongs.
Why it should be right up my alley?
I
f Lost is for mainstream geeks, and BSG for hardcore geeks, Dr. Who is for old school geeks. We’re talking about a television show that has been running since the early 1960s. In fact, it holds the Guinness World Record for longest science fiction program. Then we have the fact that some episodes have been written by the likes of Neil Gaiman and Adam Douglas.
Why aren’t I watching?
Okay, there’s two big things that keep me from watching this show. The first is baggage. I’m daunted by BSG’s three seasons I would need to catch up. Dr. Who has more than FORTY YEARS worth of history. While every few years a new doctor might appear, the history of the show constantly pops up. I think I would feel like I’m always missing something. The second thing, an the one I’m sure I’ll get flak for is that well, the show is so British. Yes, yes, British wit is awesome and everything, but this is a show for anglophiles. The fact for the most part it also looks pretty cheap doesn’t help matters.
So those are the five shows. Now that I put them down on paper, I actually feel pretty bad about not watching them. Now that I actually have a DVR, I think I’m going to give them all a try. Or I will once they come back on the air.
