I don't normally blog about tv, I tend to stick to film because I'm snobby that way. Disclaimer/Actual Truth: I watch way more TV than I should and most of it's trashy so I don't like to broadcast shows that I'm obsessed with. However there is one show in particular that I'm going to have to share with whoever it is that actually strolls across this blog.
Swamp People.
I know, you just laughed out loud didn't you? Over the last 48 hours any time I ask some one if they've seen the show, EVERYONE chuckles (or gives me an lol via text) and EVERYONE says yes. How in the world have I missed this phenomenon until Tuesday evening? I was perusing through Instant Netflix on my TV and I was like "what the heck...I'll give this show a try" and oh my word, I'm so glad I did. I'm sorry but I'm a huge fan. Everyone laughs because of how silly the coon asses are (their own description of themselves, not mine) and sure the producers probably found some of the extreme personalities within this sub culture but that's their job. Have we ever heard of a little show called Jersey Shore?? Seriously though, if you're from the country, you know more than one person exactly like the people on the show. In my case, being from Columbus Texas, the accent is different but the comparison is still pretty powerful. Perhaps this is a reason why I like the show so much but techically, there's a lot these producers did well.
First of all, the pacing and story telling in each episode is very well done. We clearly have a beginning, middle, and end for each person's story line in the meta-narrative playing out before us. The problem is clearly laid out with what is probably an exaggerated sense of urgency, but nevertheless effective. It's a great show to work out to because you're so transfixed on whether or not they're going to catch one specific gator or find someone who's been poaching their land, you almost forget you're out of breath and tired. I said almost.
The exploration of the sub culture and the relationships between each family of hunters is fascinating. I really like that the producers decided to focus on this so heavily because it makes the suspenseful hunts that much more intriguing. The medium of film/tv is such a great way to observe the way humans react to each other. I love it. Speaking of suspense, they did a great job building up the pressure and making it so that you as an audience member HAVE to know what's going to happen at the end of the show so that almost nothing can deter you from finishing that episode. Forget the fact that I had chicken cooking on the stoveprobably drying out from being over cooked, I just had to know if they were going to capture that cannibal gator. It's paramount for their season that they catch him!! He's going to eat all of the gators they need to catch to tag out at the season! I really do feel that some of the urgency is forced a tad multiple times throughout the show, but oh well.
The main reason I suspect I like this show so much is actually much more personal. If you're reading this post and you don't want to hear about how it forced me to relive a lot of my child hood over the past few days, which you probably don't, now's the time to shut this browser tab and go back to perusing facebook.
So here we go. There's one character on the show in particular who eerily reminds me of my grandfather, Papa Dean. I mean, it's uncanny. I asked my sister and cousin Jennifer if they thought the same but they weren't nearly as creeped out by it as me. I'm pretty sure this guy Troy on the show is a long lost cousin somehow related to the Venghaus' or Brokmeyer's. The way he acts and reacts in different situations brought me back to summer days as a child when we would spend time with him and my Nanny Peggy on their farm. While my grandparents are no gator hunters, they did raise cattle for a living, had a garden, fished, made their own sausage, and other things that allowed them to live by their own means. Before I was born I think there were many more farm-y activities going on over there but in their age they slowed down.
While Papa wasn't quite as hard core as Tony as far as the accent and living off the land goes, pretty much everything else is just crazy similar. Both men love to joke around and poke at you, teasing you about something you're probably a bit self conscious about. But you instinctively know by their charisma alone not to be offended and you can't help joining in with their unique old-man chuckle. This one time Papa teased my cousin Jessica for "walking so slow, you old grandma,'' and although she has Down's syndrome without at beat she replied, "Quiet. You gonna give me a heart attack!" Oh, I thought he was going to fall on the floor he was laughing so hard. I remember this moment so precisely, I can clearly recall us all sitting at the dining table eating chicken stew. With this contagious sense of humor comes a pretty intense temper, noticeable in both men. When Troy is on the boat and it's go time, time to shoot the gator before you lose him, he doesn't play around. Papa was the same way. We'd be trying to pen cattle or who knows what else and in a moment we can go from chatting to yelling at the cows telling them to "move it, you son of a *****, you stupid piece of ****, God ******!!" In that moment, you know you're not supposed to laugh but you can't help it. There's nothing funnier than an old man losing it on some cows (who might be the stupidest animals on the planet, by the way) but at the same time it's scary to see your sweet grandpa that pissed off. I may or may not give him credit for teaching me to cuss. If he's mad at you, he'll tease you a few minutes later to let you know it's ok. Thankfully I was never at the end of one of these temper fits with him. :) Both men always know what's best too, and they're not afraid to tell you. They know they have a lot of experience and know what they're talking about (even if they don't) and you're going to hear all about it.
Troy wears the SAME polo in every episode, every time he goes out on the water he's wearing the same shirt. Papa Dean had multiple Hanes plain white v-neck tshirts he'd wear when he was working every single day. I suspect Troy smells like my grandpa too...Ivory soap and Old Spice. Even these two guys' mannerisms are exactly the same...they way they hold a fork, the very recognizable way that they walk, their reactions, etc. Their faith in Jesus is also something you figure out about them really quickly as well as the fact that they'll give you the shirt off of their back in a heart beat if you really need it. Unfortunately they're both hard workers to a fault. At least Papa Dean was, I can't say the same for Troy but it seems that way.
So if you've stuck it through this massive post, good for you! I think I just needed to get all of that out because I've been in a bit of a funk these past few days, missing my grandpa like crazy. I always thought there was no one like my Papa Dean, but luckily there is. I enjoy being reminded of these great things about my grandpa even if it makes me miss him. He's partying with Jesus up in heaven, so it's all good. I feel really blessed that I grew up in a situation that has allowed me to get to know and love all of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended cousins, etc so well. Unfortunately I don't think that's common any more except when you're from the country. :)
Swamp People.
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| I love the treatments they did on the footage. Made it interesting. |
I know, you just laughed out loud didn't you? Over the last 48 hours any time I ask some one if they've seen the show, EVERYONE chuckles (or gives me an lol via text) and EVERYONE says yes. How in the world have I missed this phenomenon until Tuesday evening? I was perusing through Instant Netflix on my TV and I was like "what the heck...I'll give this show a try" and oh my word, I'm so glad I did. I'm sorry but I'm a huge fan. Everyone laughs because of how silly the coon asses are (their own description of themselves, not mine) and sure the producers probably found some of the extreme personalities within this sub culture but that's their job. Have we ever heard of a little show called Jersey Shore?? Seriously though, if you're from the country, you know more than one person exactly like the people on the show. In my case, being from Columbus Texas, the accent is different but the comparison is still pretty powerful. Perhaps this is a reason why I like the show so much but techically, there's a lot these producers did well.
First of all, the pacing and story telling in each episode is very well done. We clearly have a beginning, middle, and end for each person's story line in the meta-narrative playing out before us. The problem is clearly laid out with what is probably an exaggerated sense of urgency, but nevertheless effective. It's a great show to work out to because you're so transfixed on whether or not they're going to catch one specific gator or find someone who's been poaching their land, you almost forget you're out of breath and tired. I said almost.
The exploration of the sub culture and the relationships between each family of hunters is fascinating. I really like that the producers decided to focus on this so heavily because it makes the suspenseful hunts that much more intriguing. The medium of film/tv is such a great way to observe the way humans react to each other. I love it. Speaking of suspense, they did a great job building up the pressure and making it so that you as an audience member HAVE to know what's going to happen at the end of the show so that almost nothing can deter you from finishing that episode. Forget the fact that I had chicken cooking on the stove
The main reason I suspect I like this show so much is actually much more personal. If you're reading this post and you don't want to hear about how it forced me to relive a lot of my child hood over the past few days, which you probably don't, now's the time to shut this browser tab and go back to perusing facebook.
 |
| Papa Dean and Nanny Peggy |
While Papa wasn't quite as hard core as Tony as far as the accent and living off the land goes, pretty much everything else is just crazy similar. Both men love to joke around and poke at you, teasing you about something you're probably a bit self conscious about. But you instinctively know by their charisma alone not to be offended and you can't help joining in with their unique old-man chuckle. This one time Papa teased my cousin Jessica for "walking so slow, you old grandma,'' and although she has Down's syndrome without at beat she replied, "Quiet. You gonna give me a heart attack!" Oh, I thought he was going to fall on the floor he was laughing so hard. I remember this moment so precisely, I can clearly recall us all sitting at the dining table eating chicken stew. With this contagious sense of humor comes a pretty intense temper, noticeable in both men. When Troy is on the boat and it's go time, time to shoot the gator before you lose him, he doesn't play around. Papa was the same way. We'd be trying to pen cattle or who knows what else and in a moment we can go from chatting to yelling at the cows telling them to "move it, you son of a *****, you stupid piece of ****, God ******!!" In that moment, you know you're not supposed to laugh but you can't help it. There's nothing funnier than an old man losing it on some cows (who might be the stupidest animals on the planet, by the way) but at the same time it's scary to see your sweet grandpa that pissed off. I may or may not give him credit for teaching me to cuss. If he's mad at you, he'll tease you a few minutes later to let you know it's ok. Thankfully I was never at the end of one of these temper fits with him. :) Both men always know what's best too, and they're not afraid to tell you. They know they have a lot of experience and know what they're talking about (even if they don't) and you're going to hear all about it.
 |
| Troy Landry |
Troy wears the SAME polo in every episode, every time he goes out on the water he's wearing the same shirt. Papa Dean had multiple Hanes plain white v-neck tshirts he'd wear when he was working every single day. I suspect Troy smells like my grandpa too...Ivory soap and Old Spice. Even these two guys' mannerisms are exactly the same...they way they hold a fork, the very recognizable way that they walk, their reactions, etc. Their faith in Jesus is also something you figure out about them really quickly as well as the fact that they'll give you the shirt off of their back in a heart beat if you really need it. Unfortunately they're both hard workers to a fault. At least Papa Dean was, I can't say the same for Troy but it seems that way.
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| Papa Dean, Nanny Peggy, Evan, Morgan, Hannah, Jenn, Me, Jessica. I'm pretty sure this was our last Easter together in '04. Maybe it was '03... |
So if you've stuck it through this massive post, good for you! I think I just needed to get all of that out because I've been in a bit of a funk these past few days, missing my grandpa like crazy. I always thought there was no one like my Papa Dean, but luckily there is. I enjoy being reminded of these great things about my grandpa even if it makes me miss him. He's partying with Jesus up in heaven, so it's all good. I feel really blessed that I grew up in a situation that has allowed me to get to know and love all of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended cousins, etc so well. Unfortunately I don't think that's common any more except when you're from the country. :)
