New fan. I am shocked by how much I love this show. I decided to give it a chance out of desperation: I feel like I've watched every TV series that looked remotely interesting to me (not a great many.) A half-hour light series like this is definitely well outside my normal fare (I prefer darker or edgier stuff.)
I am pleasantly surprised by how much of the show revolves around the process of film making. I know we're dealing with a young movie star here, but I do not take for granted that film has to be as central to the story as it is here (Californication features a writer, and that one spends far less time dealing with writing than these guys do with film making). I am even more surprised to be... pleasantly surprised: Usually I don't care for films or series about Hollywood. This may be the first I've seen where I am actually interested in the inner workings of the industry. Perhaps it is because this one series about Hollywood has dispensed of the cynicism that is de rigueur with this material.
Overall, it is perhaps the optimism and goodwill pervading this series that I enjoy the most.
Speaking of that, reading back at some of the older threads, I noticed a curious phenomenon, where people complained that the series was replete with Hollywood cliches, while simultaneously craving some deep rift between the characters, or some spectacular fall from grace or similar development exposing the "dark underbelly of Hollywood." THAT would have been the cliche, and the most refreshing aspect of the series is that it eschews that sort of deeply stale story arc.
Another poster mentioned that the series was geared toward people who were familiar with that world, and I have to strongly agree. I am not sure I would enjoy this series as much as I do if my love for film had not exposed me to the working of that industry and to its characters. We here know what it means to have your indie flick screened at Sundance, or to turn a guy like Harvey Weinstein down. Others can gather all that from watching the show, but not the same way we do, not even close. So yeah, the whole series is something of an inside joke, and I am glad I am one of those who get it. The niche audience is what makes this series premium cable material.
Anyway, big fan. I do think this last season was a bit of a step down. But I did greatly enjoy seeing a less arrogant Vince, significantly humbled by his recent failures. My favorite season is the second one (the drive to make Aquaman was epic), and he was driving me NUTS there.
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H
