Change Your Image
marathon_disco_dude
Reviews
Food Factory (2012)
The worst writing in television
This show takes an interesting concept ("How It's Made") and puts an idiotic spin on it. The dialogue seems as though it was written in five minutes or less, and the narrators' voices are beyond irritating. The 'script' consists of terrible puns and the narrators' complaints that everything the company owners or factory workers are talking about is far too complex or scientific (even when it's fairly straightforward). The hypocrisy of it is what is shocking, as the show assumes its audience is a bunch of idiots who hate the idea of learning, even though the concept is educational in itself. The one positive aspect of the show is that it shows many of the factory workers as people and shows what they do individually. However, it usually cuts out anything interesting they have to say, in favour of a scripted pun.
Shameless (2011)
Does not hold a candle to the original
I am a Canadian and culturally I relate much more to Americans than to Britons. But that being said, I far preferred the British version of this show. I stopped watching the American after the first season because I just couldn't stand it. I had already seen the British version, and maybe it had spoiled me a bit. To me, the British version doesn't need "high" production values: it is raw and real, and the actors, characters, and story lines are brilliant. It's absolutely hilarious and full of life-- one minute your heart is being wrenched and the next you're laughing your head off. But always, you're entertained. The show is fast-paced and always surprising. The characters are all quite well-developed, and all get inside you. You can't help but feel for them. In the American one, I found most of the characters to feel stilted somehow, and fake. Fiona seems as though she were written by some dude who has never dated a woman before, who was like, "Yeah, this is what my dream chick is like." Also, Frank in the UK version is way more believable. William H. Macy is a great actor but to me is not a convincing drunk and drug addict. He's just far too well-spoken. It seems like he's acting in a play.
Ultimately to me the American show is just not realistic in any way. It's also way less racy than the UK version. I am so sick of American shows toning it down for prudish American audiences.
If I were to analyze this series on its own, leaving the UK version aside, I would say it was decent watching, if a little cartoonish and unrealistic. The characters don't really grab me as truly relatable, but the show is entertaining enough.