I remember Tim comparing The Inside to Se7en, and I really think that works in my mind. Se7en was disturbing, but great, which is how I think of The Inside.

To be clear, I don't mind darkness in TV. To my mind, Tim's episodes of Angel season 2's main arc are the best episodes of the entire run. I'm just not sure I want the entire show to be from that angle.

Mel Gibson should get a guest spot on Drive.

Only if Nathan gets to call him "Sugartits".

I'd pay cashy money for that.

Wait. "Newly-shorn" Nathan? Did he cut his hair off? noooooo!

I'll get back on topic... just give me a moment...

I would presume there will be publicity shots of Nathan and his hairy locks shortly.

Hey, I just went IMDBing for Drive, and there's a 2007 film project called "Drive" listed.

Will it be written, directed, and produced by M. Night Shyamalan?

Talky meat:

All the things people have said they loved about The Inside, I did too. All the things people have just said they didn't like, I liked. Was there anything I didn't like about The Inside? ... thinking ... No.

I look forward to seeing Dexter. I want to see if it bothers me, and how. I tend to like things that give me shudders and creep me out (as opposed to squicking me). I'm intrigued by the idea of a (fictional) serial killer who isn't traumatized and severely fucked-up, just -- what, a well-adjusted sociopath?

I only meant my comments to apply to my own experience.

Oh, Cindy, I know. I just took them as a jumping-off place to explore my own thoughts.

I was asked to soberly believe in her and her damage and how it was being exploited the whole time she was onscreen.

ita, would you expound on this? I'm curious about how you may have seen it differently than I did. I believed in her damage and identified pretty strongly with her, and I didn't get the feeling that she was being exploited (except insofar as Webb was obviously exploiting her, and I didn't feel he was doing her further damage; just the opposite).

it's easier for me to entertain more disturbing ideas in my brain, when they're all wrapped up in a shiny fantasy universe

That's a good point, Cindy. Having a fantasy setting allows another layer of emotional distance, I guess. That works for me too; movies like Saw and Turistas are supposed to be set in the real world, and that's just, as Joss said somewhere, "torture porn". They probably appeal to the same people who watch those Faces of Death videos, which bother me deeply. I want to be able to look at the dark places without feeling like anyone's actually getting hurt. The Inside was just far enough removed from reality that I could fully engage with it and still stay in my comfort zone.

Se7en was disturbing, but great, which is how I think of The Inside.

The only thing that bothered me about Se7en was the final death. It didn't follow the pattern. It was just there for shock value.

This is why I like hanging out with Buffistas. There's no one else I can talk to about all these disturbing things I like!

Se7en had one image that kept me awake the night I saw it.

Gluttony, or Sloth?

it's easier for me to entertain more disturbing ideas in my brain, when they're all wrapped up in a shiny fantasy universe

I get this. Usually, though, I just need actors saying stuff writers have written for me to separate it in my head. I can watch some seriously twisted drama and it won't be nearly as disturbing as the news.

That works for me too; movies like Saw and Turistas are supposed to be set in the real world, and that's just, as Joss said somewhere, "torture porn". They probably appeal to the same people who watch those Faces of Death videos, which bother me deeply.

I'm not a fan of faces of death, but damn, do I love torture porn. Show me a guy sawing his own leg off to escape being devoured alive by mutant rats, and I'll show you a bucket o' popcorn and a happy Allyson.