The 100: Currently The Best Show on TV

Yeah, you’re probably not watching it, and that’s a shame, because you know what?  Our long-awaited heir to the mantle of “Sci Fi Show That Asks Good Questions About Humanity” previously belonging to LOST and Battlestar Galatica has arrived.

But you probably aren’t watching it because it’s on the CW, and everyone knows that only girls ages 10-17 watch that channel.*  But if you can put aside your prejudice—and let’s remember that our culture reserves an absolutely obscene amount of totally unwarranted derision for “things teenage girls like” but that’s for another post—trust me, it’s worth it.  Now, it’s not without it’s flaws.  In fact, if after reading this you only watch the pilot, I fully expect you to show up on my doorstep with sad puppy dog eyes, asking “How could you?”  (The pilot is garbage, is what I’m saying.)  The pilot was so clearly pitched towards what people think the primary audience of the CW should be that it stumbles out of the gate.  But stick with it—the second episode is leaps and bounds better than the first, and by the fourth episode, it’s phenomenal.

*If you avoid the CW solely because of this idea, you’re missing out my friend.  It really airs a lot of quality TV that is also entertaining.  Arrow, Reign, and The 100 are all shows that are defying the “CW Is for Idiot Girls” stereotype that is in and of itself problematic. 

Reign, which should really be called "Anthropologie hosts a 16th century-themed prom at Coachella."

First things first:  the fashions on this show are ridiculous and amazing and you're damn right I'm going to be talking about them.  One thing they are not, however: within spitting distance of historical accuracy, much like the show itself.

Second: how on EARTH do you pronounce Coachella?  Co-AH-chella?  Coach- ella?  How many syllables are there?  Do I even need to know?  (For the record, my brain always says Co-AH-chella, which is probably wrong).

Anyway, Reign is CW's attempt to capitalize on Game of Thrones' popularity, only with actors who look like they've showered in the last decade and based on the real Mary, Queen of Scots.  However, it appears just about the only thing they are keeping from actual history are the names, and they've jettisoned most of those too.

Now, a note: I am a historian* but definitely not of this era, and considering the massive liberties they are taking with this story I really can't tell you what happened and what didn't (although I'm fairly certain Francis did not spend some time hunting a woodland demon, which is a thing that happens in this show.)  However, I do know the big stuff, that being: Mary did marry Francis, the crown prince of France, but he died shortly after their marriage.  His mother, Catherine de Medici, maybe/possibly/almost certainly ordered the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, during which most of France's Protestant leaders were murdered AT HER OWN DAUGHTER'S WEDDING, which sparked days of Catholic violence against French Protestants and a death toll of some 10,000, and was overall a rather terrifying and badass Queen Regent.**  After Francis' death, Mary left France and returned to Scotland where she married a series of good-for-nothing drunks and was arrested by England for plotting to overthrow her cousin, Elizabeth I of England, and spent her house arrest continuing those plots.  Eventually, Elizabeth had to be all "Dammit, Mary, could you stop trying to overthrow me for, like, ONE SECOND?" and Mary was all "LOL, no" and then Elizabeth had her beheaded.***

*It's "a" historian not "an" historian and anyone who tells you otherwise is a pretentious asshole.
** Catherine de Medici: a real life Tywin Lannister, only way more hardcore.
*** Exact dialogue between these two 16th century monarchs has been painstakingly replicated here.

Friday Night Lights: In Which I Jump on the Bandwagon Eight Years Too Late

Friday Night Lights is a show that is universally beloved and criminally underwatched.  I should know-- I'm one of those people who didn't watch it until very recently, through the magic of a major Netflix binge.  And it really is one of the most thoughtful shows I've ever seen.