Bitten by Books
Greetings, Watchers. The last few years have seen a resurgence in genre television, now providing fantasy/paranormal/science fiction fans with a number of different choices. Whether you want to follow stories about vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings, fantasy taking its stories from fairy and folk tales, or prefer post-apocalyptic/dystopian fare, it is very likely you will find numerous possibilities.
Though these types of shows have been around for many years (The Outer Limits, Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and The Night Stalker, to name a few), lately they have been gaining ground as mainstream viewing on major networks. I honestly believe that Buffy the Vampire Slayer helped pave the way for this trend, as that show always engendered critical support. What do you think?
A couple of months ago we discussed here in the column the loss of some shows we thought ended much too soon (Almost Human, Revolution, The Tomorrow People) as they still had more stories to tell. Sorry as I am to see those three shows named disappear, there seems to be an endless supply of others to help fill the void.
Is anyone watching The Almighty Johnsons, a New Zealand import airing on SyFy Friday nights? I find the show particularly appealing with a fun premise and crisp, witty writing.
I finally watched The Originals this summer, and really, really enjoyed it-much more than I was expecting.
What have you been watching this summer? What are you most looking forward to the return of? What new shows are you anxious to see?
Until next time, happy viewing!
I have to say that the show I am most looking forward to (for a new show) is Constantine. The trailer is great and everything I am hearing about it is good. As for returning shows- Sleepy Hollow for sure!
I also managed to watch the pilot for Outlander and an defiantly intrigued.
I agree that it is a wonderful time for genre television! Oh, and I am beyond excited for the optioning of Anne Rice’s vampire works. It is about time they did something to erase the memory of the tragedy that was Queen of the Damned.
Oh- forgot to add Gotham! It seems I am in a comic book mood this season.
I actually watched the episode of Outlander at a friends as well. I enjoyed it. I am currently listening to that series on audio book via the library on my phone. Love it!
It is great to see the resurgence of genre shows on television. After watching the Outlander pilot, I look forward to seeing more of the series. Anne Rice is one of my favorite authors and I am so excited about her Vampire Chronicles.
I’ve been watching THE ALMIGHTY JOHNSONS too…I like the quirkiness of it, and have a soft spot for New Zealanders anyway. (Sigh, if only FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS still aired on HBO-the crossover episode possibilities would be endless!)
It’s nice to see this kind of series are coming back (I haven’t watched most of the series named above though) but there are series that need to reach and end and not drag the plot too much, specially if they are based on books. It’s unfair for those who read them first.
Wow I so agree about being human I loved that show, I was gonna watch the uk verision but I have not yet. I have heard it is really good too, I miss it already and I hated the ending, my mom loved the ending. I am so in love with the vampire diary’s I can not wait for it to come back, I also like the origanals too. Last season of the vampire diarys was not to good for me, I hope it is better, I love under the dome and hope they don’t get rid of it. I have not watched the new shows on sci-fi yet but I will check them out, I do watch Lost girl on Sci-Fi and I do like that show.
I was excited about The Almighty Johnsons and really wanted to like it. Unfortunately I couldn’t watch it beyond halfway through the second episode. It is quite possibly the most misogynistic show I’ve ever seen. Starting with the whole ‘girl vs boys’ thing where the female group is evil and their whole mission is to thwart the heroes. The one brother basically uses his power to to magically turn unsuspecting women on…so, um, he’s kind of a rapist. Same brother brings women to his brother on his birthday as ‘gifts.’ Now birthday brother has to boink his way through New Zealand’s female population, and automatically throw away anyone who turns out not to be his mate. I honestly don’t go looking for sexist crap on tv, and am sure I would go crazy if I did. I’m sure I like a lot of shows where sexist crap happens all the time and my brain glosses over it. But the misogyny in this show was so blatant it drove me mad. Sorry if I ruined it for you.
Looking forward to the fourth season of Once Upon a Time, which is suppose to start back up in September. The third season comes to DVD sometime this month. Grimm is another I’m looking forward to coming back on.
I like the Originals quite a bit. I started in the middle of it and was happy that they brought all of the episodes back as reruns this past season - in order so I could get the entire series at once. I love it! Anything in New Orleans is pretty much a guarantee watch for me.
I am not crazy about TrueBlood. I was in the beginning but the stories were so far fetched and everyone of them had too many people taking off their clothes! C’mon - Maxine Fortenberry in the buff - Ugh!! Or Jane the town drunk - no way. They don’t all look like Alcide!
I would watch a lot more shows but I don’t have enough time to work and watch as much tv as I would.
Good to see everyone so far is impressed with the Outlander show and also the books on which it is based are being checked out to read. I am currently reading the latest one out titled Written in My Own Hearts Blood. With the final season of True Blood coming to an end (talk about deviation from the book story) I have been checking out a few new shows for the fall season like Gotham and Forever plus looking forward to the new American Horror Story Freak Show and the new season of the Walking Dead. I am also glad to see my picks on book releases by Kelley Armstrong, Anne Rice and Kim Haririson are the top of everyones list
I’m looking forward to Outlander and Gotham. I know it”s not until next January but I want to watch the second season of Bitten. I think I read somewhere that it was renewed.
Yes, Beth, Bitten was renewed.
I can’t wait until Arrow and Sleepy Hollow return, and also for Flash to start. They’re my favorite shows!
What have you been watching this summer? The leftovers on HBO a great one
What are you most looking forward to the return of? The Blacklist
What new shows are you anxious to see? Games of thrones and Gotham
I don’t watch much TV during the summer. I’m looking forward to Gotham and Outlander.
Can’t forget Under the Dome
I really like Defiance but will be sure to watch The Almighty Johnsons too. I am looking forward to Fall and hoping that The Neighbors will be back but am afraid that they cancelled it. So stupid some of the crap they keep and then cancel stuff like Michael J Fox and The Crazy Ones.
Sorry, The Neighbors did get canceled.
Nooooooo. Ugh, did you love the show too?
Yes, I loved the Bird-Kerseys. Even though it got banished to Friday, millions of people still watched it; I don’t get network tv sometimes. It’s like why put a show on your network and then do everything to kill it, even though people are watching (aka making you money?) Like Fox did to Almost Human. Now I’m spiraling.
Ok, and hello? They cancelled The Crazy Ones and Michael J Fox? I mean really? MJ Fox and Robin Williams? Plus you know TONS of Buffy fans were watching… What the heck?
I got into Penny Dreadful and Dominion, now cant wait for PD to return and Dominion getting renewed. OF course sad that Sons of Anarchy is ending too
I’m looking forward to the return of Grimm.
I’m going to miss all three of those shows, especially Almost Human. I’ve been watching The Almighty Johnsons, and I think it’s a lot of fun. I’ve also been watching Falling Skies, The Last Ship and Under the Dome, all great shows in my opinion.
I LOVE Grimm, Face Off (Awesome special effects make-up, on the SyFy channel), Penny Dreadful, Heros of Cosplay (awesome costumes!), Sleepy Hollow, The Quest (it ROCKS) and Muppet creatures completion.
I LOVE learning HOW things are put together & a GOOOOD action/scary show.
Mindy
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I’ve been watching a lot of Dateline reruns on YouTube this summer. I don’t watch much television, so I’m not looking forward to the return of any shows. I’d love to see a modern-day version of The Twilight Zone.
lol I love these type of shows but have to be choosy cause hubby loathes these type of shows so they have to be extraordinary for me to watch them. Cause watching them means I have to watch more westerns with hubby. I generally wait for the dvds and watch them that way when he’s out.