Never really saw it like that, my admiration for Homicide came from its willingness to push the boundaries of network TV to the absolute limit. I just loved that they were willing to try and demystify the popular notion of what detective work is all about, but maybe not to the same extremes that The Wire did with cops like McNulty or Herc. I have a special place in my heart for things that push boundaries and try to shake up the established formula and Homicide does that beautifully. Add in how much crap the show had to put up with from NBC and you've got a real underdog of a show that you can't help but root for.

Anyone else oddly compelled by Hannibal? It's way better than I thought it would be. I'd never watched it until the most recent episode; my sister was still in town because of the funeral and what-have-you, and she watches any show that has anything to do with crime. I was all, "Waah, no, we watched a Psych marathon today, no more."

Then I got sucked in. It's actually quite well done, and it's Bryan Fuller, the creator of two of my favorite shows: Dead Like Me, and Pushing Daisies.

Didn't know that until I IMDB'd the **** after being like, "Huh. Actually enjoyed that."

That Danish dude (I think he's from Denmark?) who plays Hannibal is solid, and Hugh Dancy exceeds expectations. Plus, Lawrence Fishburne and Gina Torres; yes please.

Edit: Of the afore-mentioned Fuller shows, it's more similar in my eyes to Dead Like Me, because it's darker with less humor. Pushing Daisies was dark, but quirky. This has a much darker edge to it, but there's still a compelling weirdness to it, and a very familiar treatment of character and episodic quality that was present in both of his previous shows I loved.

I just don't feel like Hannibal would be good on network television. It needs to be on a paid cable channel to really spread it's wings imo.

I just haven't given it a chance yet. They even skipped showing an episode because it was too graphic or something along those lines. It dealt with kids killing other kids.

I do agree with that to a certain extent. God knows that Fuller really thrived with DLM on paid cable, because he could really do what he wanted to, and it was fantastic. The movie sucked ass, really, but the show was where it's at.

Pushing Daisies did quite well on network, but unfortunately people really didn't watch it. Tragic, because it was something interesting, different, and thoroughly entertaining.

Where Hannibal is the darkest of all three of these shows, I can see where HBO, Cinemax, etc. would have been a better venue, though.

BUT it is actually quite good. I enjoyed it quite a lot, even before I knew it was Fuller. I thought it reminded me of something, but couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I used to watch Pushing Daisies faithfully with my parents when it was on.

As far as the DLM movie goes, I didn't even care how bad it was. I was just kind of happy to see most of the characters back. I really wish Rube would have dropped in for a surprise though.

I think my bitterness at Rube's absence tainted my enjoyment of the movie, tbh. He was way too important in main series to not even cameo. I understand scheduling conflicts and what-have-you, but that saddened me.

It wasn't horrible, it was kind of touching in its way, but it wasn't nearly as good as the series.

EDIT: To reference another short-lived series I loved; it'd be like have a Reaper movie without Ray Wise so much as playing a cameo as the devil. To reference yet another; a Twin Peaks-related film (ignoring FWWM) without Kyle MacLachlan.

Oh I certainly agree with that too.

The Americans

Southland

Curb your Enthusiasm & Happy Ending

Scandal-this is actually a really good show & normally I never would have watched it, buy my bf is obsessed w/ it so I watched it once & I was pleasantly surprised.

I know. It was bull**** that that got cancelled and yet we still have three CSI's. Back then Wednesday was easily my favorite night for network TV. That and Dirty, Sexy Money were just the bees knees, and I even somehow got into Private Practice.

I've definitely been enjoying Hannibal, but since I don't have a DVR (or cable) I have to choose between that and Elementary. Elementary is a much more easy to digest show, and I have a short attention span so that's good, but Hannibal looks like it has such potential to build and build. My only reservation is also that it looks like it would be better on cable, but it's managed to be disturbing enough that I'm hoping they can manage to get around network TV BS.

Edit: Although it is slightly annoying at just how slow it seems to be moving. I'm not asking for anything major, just maybe a little glimpse of some Hopkins action. Lecter is just too reserved (along with a few other characters for that matter) to really grab me at this point. Again, I'm hoping for buildup, but with Elementary tugging at me I might just lose patience.

Elementary is great I have really been getting into it. I've been watching alot of Mad Men and Bates Motel also, both really good shows.