So!

ita and I were talking guns over in Boxed Set, as one does, and it turns out you guys are watching Top Shot! Yay! I thought no one was, because the last thing I remember being said about it last season was the astute comment that the contestants were all, like, "And then I thought about having an emotion, but I remembered, and didn't." Which is true! But somehow doesn't diminish the drama for me. I kinda love that it's a competition show without the personalities that are always in competition shows.

So anyway, this season is great! I miss last year's female shooter, and wish she could have been grandfathered into this year's competition. I love how guys like Jay defy their storyline. I still wish he'd take expert advice, but he keeps winning, so what do I know? I cannot believe Daryl is out! Shock! Last week's twist was crazy; I was sure it was going to end up being Jay and Ashley up. I really like Ashley's personality, but I think Daryl was a better shooter than him.

I also love Chris, and can't stand George.

I wish the challenges were a tad less showy; I could totally watch them stand there and shoot at a static target and be happy. I don't love stuff like the trick shots, but they were fun to watch, if not necessarily indicative of the best talent.

I agree with everything you said, Liese, except I can't remember which one George is.

My favorite expert this year is Jack Dagger. The hatchet toss was the great equalizer. Nice to see the fellows humbled a little.

But somehow doesn't diminish the drama for me. I kinda love that it's a competition show without the personalities that are always in competition shows.

This is precisely how I explain it. It's obvious that the producers digs for drama, but this show is all about the skill. I love that.

George is the one who lambasted Jamie for being in the Navy. He's the Air Force sniper who keeps using words like "destroyed" and "annihilate." He just comes off as arrogant, and not in a good way. But I think some of it was tempered last ep when he missed his challenge (the axe head, I think?) and congratulated the guy on the other team who succeeded at it. Maybe I just haven't seen enough of where he's failed and willing to admit it. That kind of arrogance, competence based, I'm okay with.

I've seen bits and pieces of it, Liese, but Ben (the middle kid) loves it.

Today he also alerted me to something called ... Sons of Guns? Something like that, anyway, on Discovery. They're a custom gun shop, and they were making a prop gun for a movie, and got to meet Jeffrey Dean Morgan on today's episode! I love my kid, man.

He's the Air Force sniper who keeps using words like "destroyed" and "annihilate."

Oh, right. That guy bugs me. He should just up and shot.

Some of the guys seem like genuinely noble men, but that guy comes off as a punk.

Jay can come off as a brat some times too. "I came here to shoot guns, not play with arrows." Dude, I have to imagine the different kinds of weapons were mentioned when you auditioned. Just do it!

Yeah, and I loved when the expert called him on his attitude last episode. He trotted out the same "Would you change your grip in a half hour?" line he has been using this whole time (if he'd started trying the new grip the first time it'd been offered, he'd have expertise in it by now!) and the expert paused, and then said, "I think I might." Seriously, man, if every single person you encounter mentions it, you might at least try! And then say, no, I'm more comfortable the other way. But to not even try is disrespectful to the expert.

I cannot stand him. he is such an asshole.

Seriously, man, if every single person you encounter mentions it, you might at least try! And then say, no, I'm more comfortable the other way. But to not even try is disrespectful to the expert.

Right?

I understand that everyone in the cast is a champion of some sort, but the ones that really go far are the ones who survey the offerings and choose wisely.

The special ops winner from last season was super cocky, but he soaked up everything being shown him like a sponge. He'd find something that worked and be all, "I'll have that!" and just did it. That is a winning strategy.

I miss the Serpico looking NYC cop from last season. He was a hoot.

This year, I like the Marine Range instructor. He's clearly skilled, retains his sense of humor and seems genuinely humble. The Marine birthday party surprised me in a good way. I'd never heard of that.

Oh, yeah, that was great. And I have to give Jay props there, because I thought for a minute we were about to go off the rails with him being the only civvie left. I am glad he was respectful and willing to learn in that environment.

I'm still totally a pacifist, but I'm a troops supporting pacifist (complexity, I has it) so I found the Marine birthday party really moving.

I am glad he was respectful and willing to learn in that environment.

At first, I was on the edge of my seat thinking he was going to lip off and make it uncomfortable. My next thought was, "He may be a brat, but he ain't stupid."

I'm still totally a pacifist, but I'm a troops supporting pacifist (complexity, I has it) so I found the Marine birthday party really moving.

I am your twin in this. My friends are appalled at how much I love this show but, yeah, layers.