JPod

I have recently become a Douglas Coupland fan and was very excited to find out that jPod was going to become a show. I actually only started reading the novel after the show had been advertised. I feel the need to address that a television show and a novel are two different forms of mediums and I will treat them as such. As a television show I find it very entertaining and am actually impressed that a television show that actually holds my interest can be Canadian. The only other Canadian show (of fiction) I am a fan of is the Kids in the Hall. For years I have given up on television but thanks to jPod and the show Reaper I have reasons to watch TV again. I recommend this show and want nothing but the best for this great Canadian show.

By reading the earlier reviews of unsatisfied viewers, it's easy to see that it was only the first few episodes that did not meet expectations. I personally loved the book and found it's off-beat humour to be hilarious and interesting. When I heard the sitcom was in the works, I was skeptical it wouldn't meet my expectations.

Granted, I did not think the first episode was excellent and I worry that too many people judged it right off the bat. It did take the first episode to develop the story but once underway, it is very catchy and one of the few television shows I've had to watch on each new episode day.

Jpod is definitely of interest for anyone who is into satirical comedy and a lover of the original novel. Even if you haven't read the book, the show is a huge success in my mind. I crave each new episode each week.

OK, so I read the book a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I actually have a friend who works in a similar job to the "podsters" and found a lot to relate to with the characters. However after seeing the first two episodes of the series, I've got to say it's a major let down. First off the humour just seems to fall flat. Areas of the book where I was laughing out loud, once converted to the small screen, lose their edge and wit.

Unfortunately the characters haven't converted well either, not only is one of my favourites, Evil Mark missing altogether but Ethan's character development and relationships seem rushed. Worst of all he appears a lot less compassionate and therefore less likable. Other major characters don't live up to their literary cousins either, whether this is due more to poor scripting or bad acting I can't quite decide yet.

All in all, a clever and witty book has been stripped of its best qualities, leaving us with unlikable characters which have lost their clout in translation and therefore meander from one wacky plot turn to the next.

After episode three, the series could grow on me like a new haircut you hate at first.....but I seriously doubt it.

Your only hope with this series is to have not read or intend to read the book. but I wouldn't recommend that.

This show wasn't very good, and wasn't funny or well written or well acted. I was quite disappointed. Maybe expectations were too high?

There were some genuinely amusing moments in the first show, primarily the mother having to repeatedly revisit a corpse of a drug dealer she accidentally killed. I enjoyed the role reversal of son bailing out his two irresponsible parents time after time.

Parts of it were just silly and embarrassing, like the obscene towel dance. It was as if writer Coupland thought "What can I have this character do unexpected, totally off the wall, and almost incomprehensibly motivated."

My nephew played juniper/John Doe. He had few lines, but mostly just stood around acting sanely as balance for everyone else, and every once in a while showing off his startling blue eyes.

There was some over the top spoofing of violence in video games. And of course the boss from hell who was an utter idiot but is blissfully unaware of it.

It has a tone similar to Arrested Development, where characters behave in grossly exaggerated ways. The show gave the impression of little set pieces just thrown together without any glue to hold them together. The first show was also a bit long on exposition to introduce the characters.

I will have to see how the show develops.