I found it bizarrely compelling and watched it straight through but can't quite articulate why. I thought ILX could help. In fact I assumed there would already be a healthy thread about it. But nope.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 04:54 (ten years ago) link
I heard it was terrible, and then had people on twitter watching it and talking about how terrible it is, so I wasn't even going to bother. Open to other opinions though.
― Gukbe, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 05:26 (ten years ago) link
Started it tonight. It's totally batshit, only time will tell if its batshit awesome or batshit terrible.
― O_o-O_O-o_O (jjjusten), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 06:30 (ten years ago) link
We've watched the first couple of episodes, it seems decent. Famke Janssen's dramatic overacting and English accent are a bit silly, but the other actors are fine. I like that things are developing slowly, you don't even see the werewold until the end of the second episode.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 07:04 (ten years ago) link
It is kind of a mess in some ways but it's definitely much closer to batshit awesome than batshit terrible. There are a lot of interesting colors in it. People (usually) don't say the lines you expect them to say. A lot of use is made of facial expressions. Exposed intestines, when they appear, do so tastefully.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 14:04 (ten years ago) link
I totally watched the whole thing over a long weekend. Concur that it is batshit awesome. I understand why reviewers are panning it, but I don't understand why they care; it is super fun.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 14:06 (ten years ago) link
I guess since I think vampires and werewolves and teenagers are all intrinsically and deeply silly, I like a show that accepts that truth and breathes it in. Also all the actors are ridiculously attractive.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 14:08 (ten years ago) link
I understand why reviewers are panning it
I don't, actually! I mean, I can imagine somebody taking a unified stance saying "I think weird shows about imaginary creatures where people get eaten and there's some creepy music are intrinsically bad," but television is loaded with such shows and many of them are well-respected. For instance, Hemlock Grove is on every level a much better show than Walking Dead, which is its opposite in every way except that they both have exposed intestines.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 14:22 (ten years ago) link
The next paragraph has a spoiler, so skip it if you want to watch the show.
Well, the plots and storylines are a mess, and the acting is pretty campy. I like the characters and atmosphere, and their refreshingly oblique take on the supernatural and magic elements (except for the cringeworthy "love is stronger than anything" speech that handwaves away the fact that Peter's face got eaten and he died but in the next scene he's back and as pretty as ever).
The danger here is like Heroes... it's fun to meet everybody and figure out how the supernatural powers might work, so season one is easy to like. But by season two you're familiar with everyone and the fantastical stuff has ground rules, so if the plot isn't compelling it gets tedious and stupid really quickly. Hope they'll get that sorted.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 16:59 (ten years ago) link
Loving this
― O_o-O_O-o_O (jjjusten), Friday, 3 May 2013 07:51 (ten years ago) link
Someone explain to me what happened.
― Jeff, Sunday, 30 June 2013 15:41 (ten years ago) link
they put a batshit awesome show on netflix and nobody watched it
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:24 (ten years ago) link
I did. It got kinda schizo there at the end, didn't it.
― Tottenham Heelspur (in orbit), Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:25 (ten years ago) link
Listening to Bill Skarsgard try to fake an American accent did drive me batty, but Lili Taylor and Destiny the amazing gypsy fortune teller cousin made up for a lot.
― Tottenham Heelspur (in orbit), Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:28 (ten years ago) link
The fortune teller cousin had an aversion to pants.
― Jeff, Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:29 (ten years ago) link
I sympathize.
― Tottenham Heelspur (in orbit), Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:30 (ten years ago) link
I got most everything until right at the end. Spoilers if you haven't seen it:
What exactly did Olivia want Roman to do? Kill the baby? Cut off its tail? Kill her? And why did he make out with his mom?
― Jeff, Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:32 (ten years ago) link
This was good http://www.tvguide.com/news/hemlock-grove-crazy-moments-1066025.aspx
― Jeff, Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:33 (ten years ago) link
giant crush on Lili Taylor in this
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:46 (ten years ago) link
We concurrently watched 6 feet under, so it was quite a character difference with Lili.
― Jeff, Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:57 (ten years ago) link
I'm about 2/3rds of the way through. Started like Tommy Wiseau's American Horror Story, and then got more intriguing as it went on, esp since there was little in the way of bloodshed for so many episodes. Then they killed off the twins in the most blase manner, which was a bummer. Will still watch the rest eventually.
― da croupier, Sunday, 30 June 2013 20:32 (ten years ago) link
Olivia wanted Roman to suicide because that's how they transform into vampires or whatever they're being called in this show. They are only made through taking their own lives, which I think was the point of showing us her childhood elopement & subsequent self-harm. It's pretty cruel to drive your own son to take his own life, though--I realize this is the least of her/the show's problems, I'm just saying. It seems like she just misjudged how far she could push him without getting the backlash?
― Tottenham Heelspur (in orbit), Sunday, 30 June 2013 20:35 (ten years ago) link
One thing I did totally love was that they didn't pretend that teenagers don't smoke, do drugs, or have sex, and they didn't cut away or fake the drug scenes afaict. Like shows in which someone is supposed to be a heroin junkie but it's "too much" to show needles so they make them snort something invisible instead or whatever. Teenagers smoking as a matter of course? Hardly in anything anymore!
― Tottenham Heelspur (in orbit), Sunday, 30 June 2013 20:41 (ten years ago) link
My favorite thing about the show was Bill SkarsgÄrd (ridiculous accent notwithstanding).
My least favorite thing was that only women died and a (SPOILER) woman was the killer who ate the other women "snatch first" becaus she didn't like their sexuality, which given it was an Eli Roth show I am not going to bother to try and twist into a non-misogynist plot device. Also wasn't too keen on the fish and wildlife woman being skilled alive.
I'll prob watch season two though bc see favorite thing about show.
― carl agatha, Sunday, 30 June 2013 20:48 (ten years ago) link
wait, is there going to be a season two???
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Sunday, 30 June 2013 20:50 (ten years ago) link
yep, in 2014
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Sunday, 30 June 2013 21:07 (ten years ago) link
JUSTICE IS SERVED
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Sunday, 30 June 2013 21:11 (ten years ago) link
This show is so bad yet weirdly compelling
― lego maniac cop (latebloomer), Sunday, 30 June 2013 21:35 (ten years ago) link
just finished watching this -- so what was the deal with the baby?
― not some dude poking a Line 6 pedal with his dick (sarahell), Monday, 30 September 2013 21:36 (ten years ago) link
netflix is so desperate to get me to watch this, it puts a "if you liked this, you'll love this!" after basically every single thing i watch
― socki (s1ocki), Monday, 30 September 2013 22:16 (ten years ago) link
was kinda disappointed it became vampires vs. werewolves -- was hoping Olivia and progeny were some other mythical monster
― not some dude poking a Line 6 pedal with his dick (sarahell), Monday, 30 September 2013 22:19 (ten years ago) link
I completely forgot that I watched this... and I can't remember the deal with the baby. Oh dear.
They were kind of demon vampires, which I guess is the slightest twist on the vampire/werewolf thing...
― carl agatha, Monday, 30 September 2013 22:31 (ten years ago) link
I forgive a lot of this show's shortcomings because of Young Skarsgard and his youthful but weary good looks and hilarious accent.
― carl agatha, Monday, 30 September 2013 22:32 (ten years ago) link
he is very nice to look at. when it was a possibility that he would be killed, i was upset because i didn't want to be deprived of that visual pleasure.
― not some dude poking a Line 6 pedal with his dick (sarahell), Monday, 30 September 2013 22:41 (ten years ago) link
he is kind of an elongated River Phoenix
― not some dude poking a Line 6 pedal with his dick (sarahell), Monday, 30 September 2013 22:42 (ten years ago) link
The fourth or so time I off handedly (so I thought) mentioned that I found Bill Skarsgard to be quite handsome, Jeff pointed out that I said that at some point during every episode and I felt like a dirty old woman.
In my defense, I think he's the most handsome when he's smoking and drinking like a grownup.
http://24.media.tumblr.com/d5353d1d60e0de5a314861a95fed476a/tumblr_moel8ailhZ1rapogeo1_500.png
― carl agatha, Monday, 30 September 2013 22:50 (ten years ago) link
Oh ffs this is the second time in this thread I've mentioned Bill Skarsgard...
To counteract this I have to keep pointing out the fortune teller that is pants adverse.
― Jeff, Monday, 30 September 2013 22:59 (ten years ago) link
Thus proving that Hemlock Grove is a great family show with something for everyone!
― carl agatha, Monday, 30 September 2013 23:03 (ten years ago) link
though Peter the werewolf looked a bit too much like one of the hobbits from LOTR for me to thoroughly accept how so many women had the hots for him, and he wasn't all that hirsute tbh
― not some dude poking a Line 6 pedal with his dick (sarahell), Monday, 30 September 2013 23:09 (ten years ago) link
Ha yes. That is mentioned in that TV Guide Absurd moments from Hemlock Grove:
13. When everyone acted as though Peter being super hairy proved he was a werewolf, when he's practically bald from the neck down.
http://static.tvguide.com/Includes/newsletter-images/blog-images/hairy2.gif
― carl agatha, Monday, 30 September 2013 23:20 (ten years ago) link
I guess by TV waxed chest standards he's practically a furry what with his facial scruff and 50-odd chest hairs.
― carl agatha, Monday, 30 September 2013 23:21 (ten years ago) link
Yeah that was a real denial of reality moment that happened again, and again, and again....
― Tottenham Heelspur (in orbit), Monday, 30 September 2013 23:23 (ten years ago) link
do any of you remember what the sheriff dude looked like shirtless from his BSG days?
― not some dude poking a Line 6 pedal with his dick (sarahell), Monday, 30 September 2013 23:24 (ten years ago) link
It's the dude version of when they put glasses on a woman who meets or exceeds every contemporary beauty standard and call her "plain" or whatever. xp
OH yeah. Chief was my favorite.
― carl agatha, Monday, 30 September 2013 23:25 (ten years ago) link
like, i kept thinking -- wasn't Chief Sheriff at least as furry in the chest as our "hairy" wereboy
― not some dude poking a Line 6 pedal with his dick (sarahell), Monday, 30 September 2013 23:29 (ten years ago) link
So frustrated this thread revive didn't signal that season 2 was up
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 1 October 2013 00:39 (ten years ago) link
This revive is signalling that season 2 will be up on July 11th!
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Monday, 14 April 2014 22:53 (ten years ago) link
And away we go!
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, 11 July 2014 20:01 (nine years ago) link
this season is shit
i think i'm up to ep 5 and i'm just gonna stop now - the awful corny speech miranda gave peter and roman before taking them both to bed was just laaaaaaame
― just1n3, Sunday, 20 July 2014 23:43 (nine years ago) link
yeah it was pretty weak. the last couple of episodes are pretty fun though.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Monday, 21 July 2014 00:07 (nine years ago) link
i am on ep 4 or 5. objectively this is completely corny but i can't stop looking at skarsgaard's face in it and i enjoy it much more than i do most "better" shows. it's a show that seems to enjoy being its corny self.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Monday, 21 July 2014 01:54 (nine years ago) link
the first season was way ott but it was fun and kept me watching - now it's just corny and kinda boring
― just1n3, Monday, 21 July 2014 05:41 (nine years ago) link
Actual line of dialogue uttered by Dr. Price in ep 5 to his Slavic underling: "THAT IS OF NO CONCERN OF YOURS!"
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Monday, 21 July 2014 15:48 (nine years ago) link
Dr. Price was probably the most fun character this season. I found myself sympathizing with him and his frustration with the incompetence and bumbling of everyone else while he tries to do all that heinous science stuff.
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Monday, 21 July 2014 21:26 (nine years ago) link
I can't honestly recommend people watch this all the way through, but I gotta say, the last hour was one of the most batshit crazy things I have ever seen.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Friday, 8 August 2014 05:16 (nine years ago) link
Like, you feel like they just said "let's take what was already crazy in this series, and can we also throw in a monkey's head exploding, and a huge fucking dragon?"
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 12 August 2014 15:27 (nine years ago) link
only 6 episodes in but i'm enjoying this a ton
― ciderpress, Saturday, 16 August 2014 19:21 (nine years ago) link
it is 'bad' in all the ways that i don't really care about given the premise of the show
― ciderpress, Saturday, 16 August 2014 19:22 (nine years ago) link
Season 1 or Season 2?
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Saturday, 16 August 2014 19:32 (nine years ago) link
season 1
will probably watch thru the whole thing over the next week or 2
― ciderpress, Sunday, 17 August 2014 05:01 (nine years ago) link
I don't care if I'm all alone, I've now watched every episode of all three seasons of this gloriously messed up show
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 25 November 2015 06:05 (eight years ago) link
I haven't watched season 3 yet... where does it land compared to seasons 1 and 2?
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Wednesday, 25 November 2015 07:12 (eight years ago) link
It makes even less sense, to be honest, but it just throws a lot of crazy shit in the pot and stirs it all up and asks everybody to chew the scenery as much as possible. I enjoyed it.
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Thursday, 26 November 2015 03:45 (eight years ago) link