Okay, so my first blogging attempt consisted of comments on television and books. Ah, well, they are of my interests, high-brow or not.
Anyway, Ill stay on topic. I thought the season premiere of WBs Everwood was quite good. When it first started last season, I didnt think it was that much better than average. Yes, WB heavily promoted it and it had seemed pretentious, with the whole Yeah, were a good family quality WB show look to it. The series follows the misadventures of Dr. Andy Brown, his children, the brooding teen Ephram and happy-go-lucky Delia, as they moved to their new home in Everwood, CO, from New York City after the death of Mrs. Brown. The lives of the other Everwood denizens also get portrayed. It can seem very mundane (Oh, look, a show about a Rockwellian small town; can we get any more sweet and precious around here?), and at one point, when I channel-changed to WB, I found that it tiresome to keep watching Ephrams tirade about how Andy was a bad dad for not being around, for being too busy being Super Neurologist, and for moving them out of New York City (which, he has a point, since Andy was probably taking his grief too far). Andys attempts to be the new general practitioner in Everwood could be trite. Andys medical rival, Dr. Harold Abbott, seemed too smug, and the Abbott teenagers, Bright and Amy, were too perfect. I couldnt see why Ephram even had his crush on Amy, besides her being pretty (I thought her stubbornness seemed annoying).
Everwood is no Dawsons Creek substitute. Theres no Dawson-Joey-Pacey love triangle, even if Everwood tried to play out the Ephram-Amy-Colin storyline. You see, there are gasp adults on the show.
But, yes, Everwood is a WB show, with WB characteristics – the teens are all moody, making pop references, etc. But, no, not one character is perfect, theyre flawed and all very human. You want to shake them, smack them on the upside of their heads for their bad actions; hug and admire them when they do well; and, their actions have consequences, for good or not. I would end up glued to watch for a whole hour, without originally meaning to do that. I didnt even plan to watch this seasons premiere but ended up doing it. Its moving television, without being saccharine.
In the season premiere, Andy is feeling guilt for having operated Colin, who died off-screen in the end of last seasons finale. The town condemns Andy, for losing their local hero. Amy wont forgive Andy, for taking away the love of her life. Ephram wants to be on his fathers side, but hates how the towns alienation is affecting the Browns, as if Andys kids had to suffer for Andys sins. Is Amy taking her grief too far? Will Andy explain what happened? Its quiet turmoil, if you can believe that television still does that anymore. I know its up against Monday night football, but its a great alternative.
Now, enough about a season premiere; I have to watch a series premiere already. Hmm. Should be interesting.