‘If Only One More’ – TV Shows We’d Love to Have Gotten One More Season Out Of…

So for our latest Staff Piece we decided to take a look at shows we feel could’ve gone a little longer. This list is consists of TV shows that could’ve benefited from one more season…

Deadwood (Brian Kronner)

tv showsThis is one of those shows whose cancellation seemed to make no sense. I mean it obviously came down to the monetary expense of the show’s production and the never stellar ratings like anything else, but it seemed popular enough to survive those obstacles. Critically loved and awarded (28 Emmy Nominations in 3 Years), this is the show that put Ian McShane on the map and won him a Golden Globe during the 2nd season. The show itself ended somewhat ambiguously, with Bullock (Olyphant) and Al Swearengen (McShane) having to join forces against Hearst, who is taking over the town. The season ended with Hearst leaving town, victorious, and many local matters unresolved amongst our principal characters.

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Game of Thrones: Most Anticipated Locations PART 1

Winterfell: Cool. The Wall: Impressive. King’s Landing: Breathtaking. The Eyrie: Intimidating. Yes we have seen some of the most important locations from the Song of Ice And Fire series in the HBO series A Game of Thrones. But there are still so many to come and there are some good ones. I’ve compiled a list of some of the coolest ones that HBO will no doubt make look as brilliant as the ones we’ve already seen thus far. There may be some spoilers below, however minor. You’ve been warned!

SPOILERS! (you’ve been warned again)

Harrenhal

-Ruling Lord: (Currently) House Baelish

Harrenhal is the largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms, but is for most of the time uninhabited due its cost to maintain and the amount of people needed to run it smoothly. It is widely believed to be cursed since every Lord who has had dominion over it has fallen to an ill fate time and time again. I assure you over the course of the series you’ll see it change hands more than once, starting with Janos Slynt who was made Lord of Harrenhal for betraying Ned Stark in “The Pointy End”. Eventually it falls into the hands of one Petyr Baelish though we have yet to see if anything unbecoming happens to him.

Storm’s End

-Bastard Last Names: Storm

-Ruling Lords: House Baratheon

So who wouldn’t want to see Storm’s End, the home of the Baratheons? The castle itself has never in its history been breached during war or by a siege. The only reason the last ruler lost it to the Baratheons was because he was stupid enough to meet them in open combat. The Baratheon’s would probably have never been the new Storm Lords if he hadn’t done that. After the War of the Usurper, Renly was placed as the lord of Storm’s End while Stannis as the heir to Robert was given the traditional island fortress of Dragonstone.

Dragonstone

-Ruling Lords: (currently) House Lannister

Before conquering the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, House Targaryen made their home at Dragonstone, an island in the Blackwater Bay to the far Northeast of King’s Landing. Everything about the castle of Dragonstone is of course likened to Dragons. Would you expect any less from the Targaryens? From the towers, the walls and even the main kitchen it was dragons, dragons and more dragons. After the Targaryen conquest of Westeros, Dragonstone became the seat of the heir to the present king. So after the Targaryens were forced out of power the island fell under the rule of Stannis Baratheon (brother to Robert) who was none too happy to lose the bountiful lands of Storm’s End for the rocky and poor island of Dragonstone.  Sure it looked cool, but it didn’t have much in means of population besides a fishing village. To add insult to injury his younger brother Renly was given command of Storm’s End. That’s the bummer man. Still, I’d like to see Dragonstone on film because dragons are awesome…

Highgarden

-Bastard Last Names: Flowers

-Ruling Lords: House Tyrell

The family of Loras Tyrell, Knight of the Flowers rules over Highgarden, which is a lush and bountiful land further South of King’s Landing. This one may have a wait in being seen on the HBO series because it has not yet been visited in the book series yet. The Tyrells become very involved in the story but their homeland hasn’t as of yet. Hopefully the picture below can give you an idea of what it might look like until we do in the series.

Dorne

-Bastard Last Name: Sand

-Ruling Lords: House Martell

The Martell family don’t really show up until book 3, and we aren’t treated to the location of Dorne and it’s capital Sunspear until book 4. Dorne is located in the southern most part of Westeros, being the only location with a desert. The most interesting thing about Dorne is that they were the only kingdom that resisted the Targaryen’s during their conquest of Westeros and didn’t actually join the seven kingdoms proper until they married into the Targaryen bloodline. The Targaryens allowed Dorne to join the seven kingdoms after that while still being able to rule themselves under Dornish law, in order to entice them into loyalty.

Emma Stone Might Star in a Movie That Could Get Made – ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ *Update*

It’s been a bumpy road for the screen adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  After a slew of fickle directors (including David O. Russell and Mike White) backing out of the project, as directors do, it was finally announced that Craig Gillespie (Fright Night) will be taking the helm.  Now, with the script reaching completion, we still have no definitive word on a female lead for the film.

Originally it was supposed to be Natalie Portman, which would have been awesome.  But she had to back out (some garbage about having a baby), and will be on the project as producer.  Then there were rumors of Mia Wasikowska, who recently played Jane Eyre in the film of the same name.  One period piece under her belt, why not another?  It doesn’t matter that I thought she was 14.  After that, it was all about Anne Hathaway.  That makes sense; because, really, what has Anne Hathaway not been in lately?  If a film lately has a 20-something female lead, I’m actually to the point where I’m surprised when she’s not in it.

 It now appears that we have moved on to Emma Stone.  How is this any more definitive than any other rumors we’ve heard so far?  Well, it isn’t.  It would only be super awesome if it were true.  She doesn’t necessarily strike me as a shoe-in for a film in the time period, but her role in Zombieland gives her a pretty good edge on this particular film.  She’s beautiful, she’s talented, and she has experience with the undead.  What more could you really ask for?

*Updated*

According to both Bleeding Cool and Deadline Emma Stone is now officially a no go for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies on film. Not much on why she isn’t doing the film but the bottom line is that she said no. That’s the bummer man.

Hero Express – Captain America Trailer, Cowboys & Aliens Featurette, and Cheadle talks War Machine

Welcome to Hero Express, your one-stop shop through the news filled world of superhero’s in Film, TV, Video Games and whatever else floats your boat.

This is the Hero Express for June 24, 2011:

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FX’s Wilfred – Series Premiere “Happiness” Review

Never before has there been a show that I was so uncertain of going in. For months worth of Justified we were bombarded with ads for a show about Frodo and a man dressed as a dog. We didn’t know much more than that. However, given their track record, I’ll give anything on FX a chance.

The show starts off with Ryan’s (Wood – see what I did there?) attempted suicide. He is trying to over-dose on the anxiety medicine his sister gave him, and failing miserably. His survival results in a wasted 4th draft of his suicide note and his impending introduction to his new neighbor Jenna and her dog – Wilfred.

Wilfred is no regular dog though as you can see. Because of Ryan’s fragile psyche, he sees Wilfred a man playing dog, where the rest of the world just sees a dog. This allows Ryan an outlet and someone to talk to, in what is really a Fight Club situation, and Ryan is talking to himself.

What he perceives to be Wilfred though means nothing but trouble for out protagonist, and that results in the further spiral-downturn that his life heads in. Ryan starts out simply tolerating Wilfred to get closer to Jenna – obviously, but he then grows attached the low-life canine. As he begins to trust his new friend, the audience learns this pooch can’t be trusted. This harkens to Youth in Revolt and makes for the start of what should prove to be an entertaining show, if it survives.

The idea isn’t new, it’s actually a re-make of an Aussie show by the same title, and staring the same dog – Jason Gann. The original series ran from 2007-2010 before Gann was able to sell FX on it and bring it to the states.

The first episode was funny and original (at least here in the US) and had a dark humor that I think is really paired well with its Thursday night partner Louie. That however is what worries me, this may be too dark and clever to survive.

Not knowing what to expect going in turned out to be a nice surprise for me, it’s not often that’s the case. I really liked it and look forward to next week. Though at the same time my girlfriend and her sister, who both watched it with me, didn’t laugh at all, so I wonder if it has enough mainstream appeal to draw in new viewers. In any case, I once again give FX kudos as they try to populate my TV with something a little different.

I’d give this first episode a ‘optimistic for the future’ 3.5/5 Bears. 

DCNu: Brand New #1’s – ‘Justice Leagues’

Continuing our look at the DCNu, it’s time to check out the heavy hitters. The go-to gang, the Justice League. Or Leagues, I should say. Featuring some of the biggest heroes in the DC Universe, all of whom have their own #1’s coming out as well. We’ve already looked at Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern (plus Teen Heroes and Solo Heroes) so let’s see the rest. Descriptions from CBR:

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