Joan of Arcadia

[dsc]

Friday's at 8pm on CBS is one of the best shows on TV. Joan sees God each week in the guise of different people which sets up the main story line for each week. This week was grieving, last week was a wicked satire of cheerleaders and a story of true friendship. The wonderful supporting cast is used in secondary and terciary stories. This week's was a police brutality, last week's was the use of gay as an insult in high school. It is hard to over recommend this show.

[supernova]

1. It's really good

and not sappy like "Touched by an Angel" :puke:

[roughsatori]

2. An excellent show

I watched it with my very ill 76 year old, Irish Catholic macho father, and after the show was over he started crying. I have never seen him do this. He told me something I had never heard before: That when he was 7 and playing with a friend on the rail-road tracks his friend was "cut in half" by the train. He said that the boys hand could not be fixed and he remembered they had a "fake" hand on the body at the "wake." He started crying again and said that what bothered him the most was not even being able to remember his friends name.

My father only went to 4th grade. He also enlisted in WW2 at 15 years old. He was a janitor and then worked in factories. Kierkegaard is my favorite philosopher. When they quoted Soren on the show my Father and I discussed the concept of "remembering your future." It was odd, since I have always been the bookworm, and not at all close to him. I was surprised how the show moved us both. It is so simple and they don't ever go for the big effects in the writing, acting, and directing.

[supernova]

3. I think the writing

is superb. Tonight for instance, they didnt try to trivialize grief or explain it away and make it all better in an hour. Even the God character did not lecture her, but just heard Joan. And in return was saddened with/for her. Very powerful.

[dsc]

4. Their writing is supurb

So many times I have had I wish I had said that moments. What the priest said to Joan's mother was incredible. "I have married a lot of people and am familiar with the words. You are denying him the honor of living up to those words." What a way to put it.

I also though the thing with her little brother thinking he was gay rang do true. And I love her older brother's character he is so well drawn.

[supernova]

5. Yes, the older brother is very well-drawn

All the characters are. It's like I'm coming in on the 3rd season or so, not the first. I don't get that everybody's feeling their characters out feeling like you do with so many new shows.

I missed the gay little bro' moment though. Came in late.

[dsc]

6. He isn't

He has a crush on the very 'butch' girl who is Joan's friend. His best friend calls him gay for loving the 'lesbian'. He then goes to his older brother thinking he may be gay since he loves this girl and hasn't had sex. His older brother asks him what he thinks about at night. After a few hilarious tries at answering from him (one involving Condalesa Rice) he figures it out and says Christian Ricci. Then the brother says see you are straight. The use of gay as all purpose insult and the fear one might be gay was very well drawn.

[supernova]

10. LOL!

Thanks for explaining that. Sorry I missed it.

gay = having the hots for Condolezza! LMAO!

I hope they do more with the butch girlfriend she's very interesting on many levels.

One more God tidbit: As the bus drove away, that looked like one very lonely and forlorn diety, as if he himself were in hell (seperated from others). Sometimes even being God is a bitch. :(

[roughsatori]

16. The line about giving one the privilege of living up to marriage vows

Was quite profound. It really illuminated something "sacred" about
wedding vows, and by implication the privilege of helping anyone we love.

[roughsatori]

12. The writing is great, and you are right the power came tonight

in that the grief was not fixed up or prettified. Also, I always think that the 2 friends of Joan's remind me of the kind of people I've always liked befriending. The female friend cracks me up with her barbed wit.

[supernova]

15. True here as well

I tended toward the outsiders. The disaffected quiet ones, like myself.

[Lindsey]

7. Thanks for the heads up

I've heard so much about this show but have never caught it. I'm just hangin' out at home tonight so I'll catch it at 8 (CA time).

[dsc]

8. This is a terrific episode

You won't be sorry. I haven't seen all of them but this is the best one I have seen.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. I admit, I tuned in because a neighbor said the actress playing

Joan was the spitting image of my daughter. Once I started watching, it was easy to get hooked...although from the descriptions I didn't think I'd care for it. I agree with you 110%!

Oh here's my "Joan"

[supernova]

11. Wow!

Your daughter does look like Joan. She's pretty. :-)

[dsc]

13. They are an amazing likeness of each other

seperated at birth?

[roughsatori]

14. I have to say she really does seem like a "Joan" type

That's a great photo of your daughter.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. Thanks you guys..She has the attitude down too...

The eye rolling...and all. :)

She'd be mortified if she knew I posted her pic here, but I'm just a crazy mom, I'm allowed.