Emily of New Moon, season 1 round-up
Jun. 26th, 2012 11:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
felicitykingSo many TV series, so little time!
I've only ever seen seasons 3-4 of this show, but hulu has made it available for a limited time (which is why I'm interrupting my Merlin marathon...). EoNM is a Canadian series based on the books by L.M. Montgomery (you have may seen or the read the Anne of Green Gables series, also by her?). It follows Emily as she grows up. Emily is destined to be a writer, and to overcome great odds.
1.13 "The Sound of Silence." No, actually the sound of RELIEF that this dumbshit season is over. The last episode desparately drew important plot points from EoNM, book 1, to prove: Oh, look! the characters have evolved! They're all family now! Um. NO. Emily wasn't a stubborn, immature brat in the books. She learned to understand where Aunt Elizabeth was coming from. Also, Aunt Elizabeth wasn't a rigid, unflexible bitch the entirety of the book. She slowly changes. I HATE how the series villianizes her when she's the only one with ANY sense. Laura and Jimmy have NO discipline over Emily, and the series turns Laura into a spineless, drug-addicted doormat. But I do ship Laura and Dr. Burnley. Of all the dumb non-canon things this show has done wrong (basically everything....), it did get that right. But I think that is largely due to the actors being subtle and understated on a show that loves to scream morals from the rooftops.
1.12. An Edwardian farmgirl isn't going to be against killing ratcoons and preaching the merits of veganism. She just isn't. The farm is how she survives. She understands animals have to die to feed the family. But not in this version of the Edwardian age. No, this Emily (who is already, you know, open-minded when it comes to racism, sexism, women's roles, religion and a score of other things) is of course turning vegan. Oh, and this dumbshit show doesn't get Murray Pride. Elizabeth Murray would IS NOT NEVER WAS ashamed of her farm background or her possessions. Yet, here she is seen pathetically trying to impress a rich woman by making Perry pretend to a butler and using the fine china.
1.11. Way to ruin one of Aunt Elizabeth's key growth moments in the book, Marlene!, And, yes, Dean is open-minded, but he's not some teeny-bopper boy band idol with a hump. He's supposed to be creepy in a sly, understated manner. Not the hero who saves Emily. GAH! The melodramatic flustering just keeps happening. One of the best bits of the books was ruined too: the mystery concerning Ilse's mother. But I did have an AHA! moment. Maybe Marlene is a fan of Japanese ghost films. I've seen enough of them this year and this episode does recall it. It totally violates the spirit of the Emily books, but it does work if one thinks of it in that context.
1.10. Thanks show! I can't believe you just ruined: how Emily got bangs, (SO essential to book 1 and understanding Emily's character), how Jarbeck rescued Emily (Emily is NOT a whiny crybaby although this season consistantly portrays her as such, why the writers insist on making her appear so undignified baffles me) the bonds between the all the Murrays by implying Oliver would turn Emily out (he wouldn't, she would just be a duty to him) and the Priests (the black sheep of the family but FEARED not mocked). Oh, and Ilse's mother's past is not this big secret. (Why is everything a BIG SECRET with this series????). This week's ridiculous bit: Aunt Nancy owning a spider, Elmer, used to frighten Emily (not in the books, as you may have guessed). Only Phyllis Diller, as Great Aunt Nancy, saves the episode from being a complete waste.
1.09. I should have liked this episode since it was taken from book! Emily, but it felt random and shoehorned in. If the previous episodes had shown us Ilse's ambition to be an actress, Perry's desire for politics, and Emily's struggles with Aunt Elizabeth to write at home, I would have appreciated it more, but the series has deviated so far from the books, that this felt pointless. Also, more proof the writers don't get the characters: Miss Brownell was just a mean, bitter teacher just because not because she any family tragedy. And, Mr. Carpenter, although a drunkard, would never have gone on a bender just because his precious student cough Emily cough felt broken-hearted at his critiques. Finally, you know the writers have lost it when they have characters spouting "I could have you put in jail for reading my mail!" They simply do not get the books or the characters because they too focused on drama, drama, drama.
1.08. I spent the first half of this episode thinking they finally "get" Aunt Elizabeth: that she is strict but compassionate, underneath her cold exterior is caring woman. I should have known better to trust the writers! Turns out she's an old worm because she was jilted in love once. UGH! Book!Elizabeth is an Old Maid because she chose to be, and has no regrets. New Moon is her life, and the only life she cares for. Series! Elizabeth can't be whole though. No, she has to have a tragic love affair in her past. I feel really insulted by this. Oh, and I didn't give a rat's ass about Guest Star of the Week's story. More time should be spent with and on the New Moon characters NOT subpar guest character stories that only make the main characters looks bad and spiteful. Marlene Matthews is officially the Stephanie Savage of LMM fandom.
1.07. Reasons why I liked this episode:Emily, Ilse, Teddy, and Perry interacted as friends (it only took 7 eps!), Laura & Elizabeth had actual personalities, even a sense of humour, I laughed (this series loves its seriousness, so a laugh is welcome), Dickens! (apparently the writers only get book! Emily if they reference him and she came though despite all in this ep), and the costumes and scenery porn were lovely. Even the introduction of Maita Flynn didn't bother me (Emily's Cousin Oliver's lover who bears him a bastard son...not in the books of course, cuz Marlene Matthews loves to drill social commentary in our heads, but it well done.) Yes, shocking. I liked an episode! Don't worry. I don't think it will last!
1.06. Why do I even bother? Persistance. I've already started watching it: I want to see how much more shitty it gets. Still, it bothers me that Marlene Matthews & Company basically don't get the books, and ignore the treasure trove to found within them, for their own annoying, unenchanting soap opera. Rather than use the wonderful stories in the books, they keep feeling the need to invent new characters, new stories, and then brush over book! Emily's mythology. The Lost Diamond is downplayed in this for some nonsense over an old doll that doesn't exist in the books. And look! A love interest for Laura, as as usual, she's already heartbroken he's engaged even though she just met him this episode. And I'm getting sick of Elizabeth being written as a Nazi, Laura a complete pushover, and Emily a spoiled shit of a girl with no respect for Aunt Elizabeth. I'll take dignified, awesome book! Emily who could smash series! Emily into the ground with "The Look."
1.05. Kevin Sullivan ruined the Anne series, but he also lost the rights to the Anne books, so one can make allowances. However, Marlene Matthews? What's her excuse? Lofty John is one of the most colourful, humourous, and offbeat characters in the books--and his feud with the Murrays is petty, funny, and just. However, for whatever reason, Marlene has decided to rape and pillage over another aspect of the Emily mythology and make LJ into an illegit Murray, and the feud a sad, bitter Shakespearean thing. Marlene, stop raping the damn books! Take your silly subpar agenda somewhere else! Oh, BTW Marlene, Emily doesn't sob, whine, and moan when she thinks she's going to die. She just goes to the barn and thinks over her life. Nor is she so immature and irresponsible either.
1.04. HEATHER CONKIE! Thank goodness for a reassuring name. As a former writer of Road to Avonelea, she's a LMM veteran, which may be why this episode, despite it's taking even MORE liberties the books, feels authentic. The whole show benefits from having Conkie: E is more multifaceted and less strict, Laura is more than just an "Emily's supportive aunt" and Jimmy isn't just the tragic handicap. I'm feeling rather bipolar though. I've always been a Perry/Emily shipper but we've seen nothing to warrant Perry having feelings for Emily, especially this early on. Laura didn't need that love affair either. But Teddy! Teddy is not my favorite LMM hero, but Shawn Roberts plays him right. Might also add this series hurts itself by trying to cram in too much in each episode (much of it has nothing or little to do with the novels).
1.03. Let's get something straight: Aunt E was not anti-Cat. She let Emily take 1 of her 2 cats with her to New Moon after her father died. And, seriously, brushing over the Murray mythology? Yes, they are "old-fashioned," but LMM makes very clear Blair Water doesn't cross the clan, even if the town secretly mocks them. And, dear writers, Emily had visions & visions only. SHE DID NOT SPEAK TO SPIRITS OR IMAGINE HER REFLECTION TALKING BACK TO HER!!!!! So, please, stop with that utter nonsense. Glad you got the introduction of Ilse Burnley right. Also, have to give credit to Stephen McHattie who manages to evade the piss-poor translation of the books and be the Jimmy LMM intended.
1.02. The first 15 minutes were pitch-perfect. The last 30 minutes overdramatic and missed the point of the first 15. Was it really necessary to have Emily run away. twice. in one episode? No, but somehow the focus of the series seems to be on the melodramatic aspects of the books. However, except for EQ, the books weren't that melodramatic. Also, Emily wasn't that insolent, nor was Aunt Elizabeth that hard. However, for the first 15 minutes, I'm willing to pretend the rest of the episode doesn't exist (which introduces Perry Miller--Kris Lemche nails him--but mainly is about Emily's settling into life at New Moon.)
1.01. What is this fuckery? It's very heavy-handed. It takes the graceful notes from the books and uses unsubtle means of relaying that Emily is different. In the books, Emily's visions come to her through misty means--as if in a dream--here she talks to her reflection in a mirror (it talks back to her) and actually sees her dead mother. And, while I don't mind the series trying to tackle racism, the way they've gone about it here is soooo show-offy "oh look! Emily and her Daddy are the advanced ones while everyone else is ass-backwards." Thank god I caught this series later in its run--and while I on a LMM high--otherwise I wouldn't have given it a chance. Lastly, I don't like how her father's death was handled. It just so melodramatic.
LMM knew what she she was doing when she wrote the book, and Marlene Matthews would have done better to have stuck to it.
I've only ever seen seasons 3-4 of this show, but hulu has made it available for a limited time (which is why I'm interrupting my Merlin marathon...). EoNM is a Canadian series based on the books by L.M. Montgomery (you have may seen or the read the Anne of Green Gables series, also by her?). It follows Emily as she grows up. Emily is destined to be a writer, and to overcome great odds.
1.13 "The Sound of Silence." No, actually the sound of RELIEF that this dumbshit season is over. The last episode desparately drew important plot points from EoNM, book 1, to prove: Oh, look! the characters have evolved! They're all family now! Um. NO. Emily wasn't a stubborn, immature brat in the books. She learned to understand where Aunt Elizabeth was coming from. Also, Aunt Elizabeth wasn't a rigid, unflexible bitch the entirety of the book. She slowly changes. I HATE how the series villianizes her when she's the only one with ANY sense. Laura and Jimmy have NO discipline over Emily, and the series turns Laura into a spineless, drug-addicted doormat. But I do ship Laura and Dr. Burnley. Of all the dumb non-canon things this show has done wrong (basically everything....), it did get that right. But I think that is largely due to the actors being subtle and understated on a show that loves to scream morals from the rooftops.
1.12. An Edwardian farmgirl isn't going to be against killing ratcoons and preaching the merits of veganism. She just isn't. The farm is how she survives. She understands animals have to die to feed the family. But not in this version of the Edwardian age. No, this Emily (who is already, you know, open-minded when it comes to racism, sexism, women's roles, religion and a score of other things) is of course turning vegan. Oh, and this dumbshit show doesn't get Murray Pride. Elizabeth Murray would IS NOT NEVER WAS ashamed of her farm background or her possessions. Yet, here she is seen pathetically trying to impress a rich woman by making Perry pretend to a butler and using the fine china.
1.11. Way to ruin one of Aunt Elizabeth's key growth moments in the book, Marlene!, And, yes, Dean is open-minded, but he's not some teeny-bopper boy band idol with a hump. He's supposed to be creepy in a sly, understated manner. Not the hero who saves Emily. GAH! The melodramatic flustering just keeps happening. One of the best bits of the books was ruined too: the mystery concerning Ilse's mother. But I did have an AHA! moment. Maybe Marlene is a fan of Japanese ghost films. I've seen enough of them this year and this episode does recall it. It totally violates the spirit of the Emily books, but it does work if one thinks of it in that context.
1.10. Thanks show! I can't believe you just ruined: how Emily got bangs, (SO essential to book 1 and understanding Emily's character), how Jarbeck rescued Emily (Emily is NOT a whiny crybaby although this season consistantly portrays her as such, why the writers insist on making her appear so undignified baffles me) the bonds between the all the Murrays by implying Oliver would turn Emily out (he wouldn't, she would just be a duty to him) and the Priests (the black sheep of the family but FEARED not mocked). Oh, and Ilse's mother's past is not this big secret. (Why is everything a BIG SECRET with this series????). This week's ridiculous bit: Aunt Nancy owning a spider, Elmer, used to frighten Emily (not in the books, as you may have guessed). Only Phyllis Diller, as Great Aunt Nancy, saves the episode from being a complete waste.
1.09. I should have liked this episode since it was taken from book! Emily, but it felt random and shoehorned in. If the previous episodes had shown us Ilse's ambition to be an actress, Perry's desire for politics, and Emily's struggles with Aunt Elizabeth to write at home, I would have appreciated it more, but the series has deviated so far from the books, that this felt pointless. Also, more proof the writers don't get the characters: Miss Brownell was just a mean, bitter teacher just because not because she any family tragedy. And, Mr. Carpenter, although a drunkard, would never have gone on a bender just because his precious student cough Emily cough felt broken-hearted at his critiques. Finally, you know the writers have lost it when they have characters spouting "I could have you put in jail for reading my mail!" They simply do not get the books or the characters because they too focused on drama, drama, drama.
1.08. I spent the first half of this episode thinking they finally "get" Aunt Elizabeth: that she is strict but compassionate, underneath her cold exterior is caring woman. I should have known better to trust the writers! Turns out she's an old worm because she was jilted in love once. UGH! Book!Elizabeth is an Old Maid because she chose to be, and has no regrets. New Moon is her life, and the only life she cares for. Series! Elizabeth can't be whole though. No, she has to have a tragic love affair in her past. I feel really insulted by this. Oh, and I didn't give a rat's ass about Guest Star of the Week's story. More time should be spent with and on the New Moon characters NOT subpar guest character stories that only make the main characters looks bad and spiteful. Marlene Matthews is officially the Stephanie Savage of LMM fandom.
1.07. Reasons why I liked this episode:Emily, Ilse, Teddy, and Perry interacted as friends (it only took 7 eps!), Laura & Elizabeth had actual personalities, even a sense of humour, I laughed (this series loves its seriousness, so a laugh is welcome), Dickens! (apparently the writers only get book! Emily if they reference him and she came though despite all in this ep), and the costumes and scenery porn were lovely. Even the introduction of Maita Flynn didn't bother me (Emily's Cousin Oliver's lover who bears him a bastard son...not in the books of course, cuz Marlene Matthews loves to drill social commentary in our heads, but it well done.) Yes, shocking. I liked an episode! Don't worry. I don't think it will last!
1.06. Why do I even bother? Persistance. I've already started watching it: I want to see how much more shitty it gets. Still, it bothers me that Marlene Matthews & Company basically don't get the books, and ignore the treasure trove to found within them, for their own annoying, unenchanting soap opera. Rather than use the wonderful stories in the books, they keep feeling the need to invent new characters, new stories, and then brush over book! Emily's mythology. The Lost Diamond is downplayed in this for some nonsense over an old doll that doesn't exist in the books. And look! A love interest for Laura, as as usual, she's already heartbroken he's engaged even though she just met him this episode. And I'm getting sick of Elizabeth being written as a Nazi, Laura a complete pushover, and Emily a spoiled shit of a girl with no respect for Aunt Elizabeth. I'll take dignified, awesome book! Emily who could smash series! Emily into the ground with "The Look."
1.05. Kevin Sullivan ruined the Anne series, but he also lost the rights to the Anne books, so one can make allowances. However, Marlene Matthews? What's her excuse? Lofty John is one of the most colourful, humourous, and offbeat characters in the books--and his feud with the Murrays is petty, funny, and just. However, for whatever reason, Marlene has decided to rape and pillage over another aspect of the Emily mythology and make LJ into an illegit Murray, and the feud a sad, bitter Shakespearean thing. Marlene, stop raping the damn books! Take your silly subpar agenda somewhere else! Oh, BTW Marlene, Emily doesn't sob, whine, and moan when she thinks she's going to die. She just goes to the barn and thinks over her life. Nor is she so immature and irresponsible either.
1.04. HEATHER CONKIE! Thank goodness for a reassuring name. As a former writer of Road to Avonelea, she's a LMM veteran, which may be why this episode, despite it's taking even MORE liberties the books, feels authentic. The whole show benefits from having Conkie: E is more multifaceted and less strict, Laura is more than just an "Emily's supportive aunt" and Jimmy isn't just the tragic handicap. I'm feeling rather bipolar though. I've always been a Perry/Emily shipper but we've seen nothing to warrant Perry having feelings for Emily, especially this early on. Laura didn't need that love affair either. But Teddy! Teddy is not my favorite LMM hero, but Shawn Roberts plays him right. Might also add this series hurts itself by trying to cram in too much in each episode (much of it has nothing or little to do with the novels).
1.03. Let's get something straight: Aunt E was not anti-Cat. She let Emily take 1 of her 2 cats with her to New Moon after her father died. And, seriously, brushing over the Murray mythology? Yes, they are "old-fashioned," but LMM makes very clear Blair Water doesn't cross the clan, even if the town secretly mocks them. And, dear writers, Emily had visions & visions only. SHE DID NOT SPEAK TO SPIRITS OR IMAGINE HER REFLECTION TALKING BACK TO HER!!!!! So, please, stop with that utter nonsense. Glad you got the introduction of Ilse Burnley right. Also, have to give credit to Stephen McHattie who manages to evade the piss-poor translation of the books and be the Jimmy LMM intended.
1.02. The first 15 minutes were pitch-perfect. The last 30 minutes overdramatic and missed the point of the first 15. Was it really necessary to have Emily run away. twice. in one episode? No, but somehow the focus of the series seems to be on the melodramatic aspects of the books. However, except for EQ, the books weren't that melodramatic. Also, Emily wasn't that insolent, nor was Aunt Elizabeth that hard. However, for the first 15 minutes, I'm willing to pretend the rest of the episode doesn't exist (which introduces Perry Miller--Kris Lemche nails him--but mainly is about Emily's settling into life at New Moon.)
1.01. What is this fuckery? It's very heavy-handed. It takes the graceful notes from the books and uses unsubtle means of relaying that Emily is different. In the books, Emily's visions come to her through misty means--as if in a dream--here she talks to her reflection in a mirror (it talks back to her) and actually sees her dead mother. And, while I don't mind the series trying to tackle racism, the way they've gone about it here is soooo show-offy "oh look! Emily and her Daddy are the advanced ones while everyone else is ass-backwards." Thank god I caught this series later in its run--and while I on a LMM high--otherwise I wouldn't have given it a chance. Lastly, I don't like how her father's death was handled. It just so melodramatic.
LMM knew what she she was doing when she wrote the book, and Marlene Matthews would have done better to have stuck to it.
