Dave

I found last nights' episode to be painfully boring, to be honest. The final battle/fight scene was sweet, but it was a lot of "along the journey" stuff. Felt like total filler.

At least there were two more scenes supporting a certain theory with Little Finger's history lesson for Sansa and Stanis' talking about Ned Stark not being the type to hook up with a tavern whore.

It's also getting further and further away from the books. Every story line has elements that are significantly different.

Sorry to bump this, but I have a question. I decided to watch this series on ShowtimeAnytime, but I didn't realize that they put the season up in reverse order. I just clicked the first screen capture and watched it. It seemed confusing, but like a show that was going to give big plot points and then you discover them through flash backs or something. I honestly thought maybe they were going to show the same sequence from each character's perspective over the course of the entire season. Only after watching it did I realize I watched the Finale first.

DOH!

Any reason to go through and watch from the beginning now or should I just pick it up when Season 2 comes out?

Pretty much.

 

Dave, did you watch the Wrestling Isn't Wrestling video I posted here?

I did. I get it. I don't enjoy it anymore (did when I was a kid), but I get it.

Pretty much.

 

Dave, did you watch the Wrestling Isn't Wrestling video I posted here?

I did. I get it. I don't enjoy it anymore (did when I was a kid), but I get it.

 

More pure gold from Jared Keeso, who just turned Letterkenny Problems in to a show on Comedy network here.

That's sick. Thanks Dunny.

Minor Threat - I don't Wanna Hear It

Black Flag - My War

Gorilla Biscuits - Cats and Dogs

Plus, these bands don't fit to a "T", but anything by Rage Against the Machine, Tool, Monster Magnet, Alice in Chains and even Primus as well.

:rofl:

 

But you understand my point, right?

Yeah, I get it. I guess it's just that this thread is mostly about complaining about how good it isn't. Seems odd, is all. I turned on Homeland after 3 bad episodes and I've wanted the main character dead since the first season.

:rofl:

 

But you understand my point, right?

Yeah, I get it. I guess it's just that this thread is mostly about complaining about how good it isn't. Seems odd, is all. I turned on Homeland after 3 bad episodes and I've wanted the main character dead since the first season.

Still happening. I'm using things that happened decades ago because they'd be more relevant to what you know of the sport/entertainment. I'm not sure it'd have the same effect if I'm showing you Eric Young turning on Bobby Roode, because I'm pretty sure you haven't a clue who either man is.

 

I'm not even a WWE fan, but I think torontynyr actually posted a equally amazing moment from WWE last year, give or take, where Mark Henry was apparently announcing his retirement, had the crowd in tears, only to turn on John Cena and beat the snot out of him. Utterly shocking. But again, I'm not sure you'll know who these men are.

 

But remember, it's not just about twists, either. I already admitted that a lot of the stories are told and retold, but it doesn't change the story line appreciation at all. I mean, when a seventh round draft pick turns into a star in the NHL, are you shocked? You might be somewhat shocked that your teams' pick managed to pan out, but it's not as though this has never occurred before in sports, right? I mean, it happens every now and then. Yet you still appreciate it when it occurs despite the fact it's not utterly original.

 

The key is simply telling the right story. The story the audience wants to be told. That's the thing about wrestling that makes it so unique. It's a meritocracy in so many ways, where the guys who the fans really love and support are the ones who actually get pushed hardest (in most cases).

 

But here, you want a quick compilation list of a lot of moments I "marked out" for? Right here:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtTa5Q4r4ao

Seems like a lot of guys laying down on the job.

Still happening. I'm using things that happened decades ago because they'd be more relevant to what you know of the sport/entertainment. I'm not sure it'd have the same effect if I'm showing you Eric Young turning on Bobby Roode, because I'm pretty sure you haven't a clue who either man is.

 

I'm not even a WWE fan, but I think torontynyr actually posted a equally amazing moment from WWE last year, give or take, where Mark Henry was apparently announcing his retirement, had the crowd in tears, only to turn on John Cena and beat the snot out of him. Utterly shocking. But again, I'm not sure you'll know who these men are.

 

But remember, it's not just about twists, either. I already admitted that a lot of the stories are told and retold, but it doesn't change the story line appreciation at all. I mean, when a seventh round draft pick turns into a star in the NHL, are you shocked? You might be somewhat shocked that your teams' pick managed to pan out, but it's not as though this has never occurred before in sports, right? I mean, it happens every now and then. Yet you still appreciate it when it occurs despite the fact it's not utterly original.

 

The key is simply telling the right story. The story the audience wants to be told. That's the thing about wrestling that makes it so unique. It's a meritocracy in so many ways, where the guys who the fans really love and support are the ones who actually get pushed hardest (in most cases).

 

But here, you want a quick compilation list of a lot of moments I "marked out" for? Right here:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtTa5Q4r4ao

Seems like a lot of guys laying down on the job.

Absolutely. Ever hear the term "heel turn"? It's when a good guy turns bad in pro wrestling, if you haven't, and not all of them are predictable. Sometimes they legitimately come out of nowhere. In fact, the most infamous one, in which the fans in the arena threw garbage into the ring occurred when Hulk Hogan went "Hollywood" and formed the NWO with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.

 

It's one of the greatest swerve moments in wrestling history, and the story behind it was told perfectly right down to the announcers' call of it.

 

 

As to the acting, well, I'd much rather they keep that to a minimum personally. They're mostly poor actors, so the less they have to do so the better simply because they aren't nearly as good at it as the actors and actresses on a show like 'Homeland'. But that's not to say that all wrestlers lack personality, charisma and the ability to speak either. A lot of them actually thrive on it. The Rock turned his ability with a microphone, along with his physique, into a Hollywood career in which he's now cast in one blockbuster every other year. He can thank wrestling for that.

 

Not every hit is a home run, but the ones that are are usually quite memorable. Whether that's in wrestling or any other avenue of entertainment.

I get all this, but you keep pointing to things that happened decades ago. Are these extremely memorable twists still occurring or are you just hoping that sooner or later they will again?

Absolutely. Ever hear the term "heel turn"? It's when a good guy turns bad in pro wrestling, if you haven't, and not all of them are predictable. Sometimes they legitimately come out of nowhere. In fact, the most infamous one, in which the fans in the arena threw garbage into the ring occurred when Hulk Hogan went "Hollywood" and formed the NWO with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.

 

It's one of the greatest swerve moments in wrestling history, and the story behind it was told perfectly right down to the announcers' call of it.

 

 

As to the acting, well, I'd much rather they keep that to a minimum personally. They're mostly poor actors, so the less they have to do so the better simply because they aren't nearly as good at it as the actors and actresses on a show like 'Homeland'. But that's not to say that all wrestlers lack personality, charisma and the ability to speak either. A lot of them actually thrive on it. The Rock turned his ability with a microphone, along with his physique, into a Hollywood career in which he's now cast in one blockbuster every other year. He can thank wrestling for that.

 

Not every hit is a home run, but the ones that are are usually quite memorable. Whether that's in wrestling or any other avenue of entertainment.

I get all this, but you keep pointing to things that happened decades ago. Are these extremely memorable twists still occurring or are you just hoping that sooner or later they will again?

Is it scripted? Yup. Are the punches real? Nope. Are the bumps real? Absolutely, even if their delivery is pre-determined. Does any of that actually matter? Not to me. And not to most wrestling fans, I'd imagine (though I'll let them speak for themselves).

 

At the end of the day, or the end of the show, pro wrestling is simply adult-oriented story-telling that rides on a wave of visual athleticism. It's often along the same stories told year-after-year (David v. Goliath, good versus evil, etc), but at it's core it's simply a visual depiction of "good guys" versus "bad guys" where eventually, the good guys prevail and justice is served. Much in the same way you would watch a Western movie knowing that by the end of it the cowboy is almost assuredly going to win, kiss the girl and ride off into the sunset after gunning down the bad guy, we do the same, just to a different theme. It's why I detest the patronizing "you know it's fake, right?" question. When I'm in a good mood, I'll respond kindly by explaining that yes, I know it's "fake", and no, I don't care. On less kind days, I fire back similar jabs like "You know 'Homeland' is fake too, right? And 'Dexter'? And 'Ray Donovan'? And any other scripted show you watch and enjoy and are able to suspend disbelief over?

 

So sure, it's been the same basic thing for the past thirty years, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable IMO. I still "mark out" all the time when a new guy debuts or the underdog wins the title, etc. Even when I can see it coming a mile away.

 

Is it a little ridiculous that I watch scripted athleticism where guys in tights "fight" over titles? Maybe. But no better or worse than any other scripted fiction on television, I'd argue. At the end of the day, is wrestling really that much worse than say... Duck Dynasty? The Bachelor? The Jerry Springer Show?

 

 

 

TNA (Impact Wrestling) actually did do what you were suggesting. So did ECW. It didn't work. Sex sells, but it doesn't really sell. Wrestling fans, as a whole, tend to buy in more with classic story-telling than they do debauchery for the sake of debauchery. I could show you clip after clip of shit TNA tried to pull off to get people talking. Even WWE. Some of it is disgusting and ridiculous, but the reason a lot of it failed to work is because wrestling fans are a lot smarter than most people give them credit for — including the people running the show. People who I would argue regularly underestimate the intelligence of their audience.

 

I'm sure you watched wrestling, even if it were only for a short time in your life. Think back — what are the most memorable moments for you? Yamaguchi threatening to "choppy choppy yo pee pee" to Val Venis, or Hogan slamming Andre? Orlando Jordan squirting white lotion on his chest, imitating ejaculate, or Randy Savage marrying Elizabeth? I think you get my point.

Yeah, I watched it when I was a kid. I remember the matches/skits you mentioned, but eventually I stopped after I found out it was fake and then saw the same things happening over and over again. I get that it's a male soap opera. I don't get why people watch soaps either. The difference between these things and shows like Homeland or Dexter is that the latter have quality acting, innovative writing and often have unsuspected twists and turns. Are you getting that out of wrestling? I see mostly complaints about poor acting and predictability. When a scripted TV show suffers from those two things (or even one of them) they end up failing.

Is it scripted? Yup. Are the punches real? Nope. Are the bumps real? Absolutely, even if their delivery is pre-determined. Does any of that actually matter? Not to me. And not to most wrestling fans, I'd imagine (though I'll let them speak for themselves).

 

At the end of the day, or the end of the show, pro wrestling is simply adult-oriented story-telling that rides on a wave of visual athleticism. It's often along the same stories told year-after-year (David v. Goliath, good versus evil, etc), but at it's core it's simply a visual depiction of "good guys" versus "bad guys" where eventually, the good guys prevail and justice is served. Much in the same way you would watch a Western movie knowing that by the end of it the cowboy is almost assuredly going to win, kiss the girl and ride off into the sunset after gunning down the bad guy, we do the same, just to a different theme. It's why I detest the patronizing "you know it's fake, right?" question. When I'm in a good mood, I'll respond kindly by explaining that yes, I know it's "fake", and no, I don't care. On less kind days, I fire back similar jabs like "You know 'Homeland' is fake too, right? And 'Dexter'? And 'Ray Donovan'? And any other scripted show you watch and enjoy and are able to suspend disbelief over?

 

So sure, it's been the same basic thing for the past thirty years, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable IMO. I still "mark out" all the time when a new guy debuts or the underdog wins the title, etc. Even when I can see it coming a mile away.

 

Is it a little ridiculous that I watch scripted athleticism where guys in tights "fight" over titles? Maybe. But no better or worse than any other scripted fiction on television, I'd argue. At the end of the day, is wrestling really that much worse than say... Duck Dynasty? The Bachelor? The Jerry Springer Show?

 

 

 

TNA (Impact Wrestling) actually did do what you were suggesting. So did ECW. It didn't work. Sex sells, but it doesn't really sell. Wrestling fans, as a whole, tend to buy in more with classic story-telling than they do debauchery for the sake of debauchery. I could show you clip after clip of shit TNA tried to pull off to get people talking. Even WWE. Some of it is disgusting and ridiculous, but the reason a lot of it failed to work is because wrestling fans are a lot smarter than most people give them credit for — including the people running the show. People who I would argue regularly underestimate the intelligence of their audience.

 

I'm sure you watched wrestling, even if it were only for a short time in your life. Think back — what are the most memorable moments for you? Yamaguchi threatening to "choppy choppy yo pee pee" to Val Venis, or Hogan slamming Andre? Orlando Jordan squirting white lotion on his chest, imitating ejaculate, or Randy Savage marrying Elizabeth? I think you get my point.

Yeah, I watched it when I was a kid. I remember the matches/skits you mentioned, but eventually I stopped after I found out it was fake and then saw the same things happening over and over again. I get that it's a male soap opera. I don't get why people watch soaps either. The difference between these things and shows like Homeland or Dexter is that the latter have quality acting, innovative writing and often have unsuspected twists and turns. Are you getting that out of wrestling? I see mostly complaints about poor acting and predictability. When a scripted TV show suffers from those two things (or even one of them) they end up failing.

In other news, Chris Bourque was the only 'Pack 'Star with 30 points in 33 games.

 

Also, Bobby Sanguenetti is representing Utica. #gooddraftpick

He was taken by the Rangers 21st overall. It's not like the guy taken 22nd overall that they could have taken has probably done much of anything. Let me go take a look to see who that was...oh...oh my...I'm going to quietly back out of the room now.

Who is Haggerty playing with, Miller?

Just checked some box scores from the past few nights. Based on who was out when goals were scored it appears Lindberg, Haggerty and Vaive are on a line together. Miller is playing with R. Bourque and Fast.

Wifey is getting on my nerves. Felt bad for Mick when she threw the bag he got her on the bed. Poor guy. :)

I could see her getting killed, maybe protecting the daughter. It would be a great season finale which would really open up the options for next season. It would fracture Ray's family completely. Similar to the way Brodie's family came apart in Homeland. Probably though they go a similar route, but with the cop being killed. Wife can blame Ray that way.