MovieChat Forums > Trailer Park Boys (2004) Discussion > Thoughts on the new seasons?

Thoughts on the new seasons?

posted 9 years ago by Jitterbug88
12 replies | jump to latest

First off, I'll say that I was so happy to see the boys back after so long. The note that they left on, with the 'Countdown to Liquor Day' just felt so unfinished. And all things considered, I think Mike, JP, and Robb are doing...alright, with the directing/writing. They're clearly a little out of their elements, and it shows..but it could be much worse. Like, Season 3 worse. I'm glad that they've got a feel of the original show and the characters and dynamics...they've lived through it, and who would understand the characters better than the guys who played them for over a decade? At least they're not resorting to cheesie sitcom cliches, or ripping off jokes/ideas from other shows and overdoing it with pop-culture references. There have been a few memorable scenes, and good laughs to say the least. And considering the recent loss of some of the best characters...I guess they'll just have to do the best with what they got to wrap up the story. That's all we can hope for, at this point.

But honestly...it just doesn't feel the same without Clattenberg. They've made a valiant effort to recreate the magic, but it just isn't 100% there. There are too many repeats of the same jokes...the Rickyisms are so excessive now that they're not even that funny anymore...and seriously, who didn't see him coming back from the dead at the end of Season 10 because of weed? It's already happened twice. I knew they wouldn't actually kill him off, but part of me was hoping for some creativity. And wtf happened to Donald? He was actually an interesting, funny new character, and I was looking forward to seeing how his presence would interfere with Randy/Lahey. I'm a little confused about how 'Donna' works into it...I'm assuming Donald has multiple personalities, and doesn't realize it? But it was never really made clear. Either way, Donna is a c--t

I'd like to see Donald come back. I'd like to see more originality with the jokes and no so much recycling old ones. Maybe not so many sub-plots going on at once, and less of the same formula every season of Julian coming up with a 'Freedom 45' idea that is obviously never going to work, and Lahey going from 'I'm sober and I love Randy' to *beep* Randy, I'm drunk and obsessed with Julian now' back to 'I only have eyes for Randy'. I'm also definitely going to miss J-Roc, he was one of my favorite characters.

But all and all, I'm glad more seasons were made. I'm glad they 'kept it in the family', so to speak. Many times, shows get sold to new writers and directors who completely mutilate it beyond repair. And I'll watch it, either way. But I do sense the end is near.

[–] Ramboman24 9 years ago

Imo, they started to lose it when Clattenburg was still around.

Season 7, Countdown to Liquor Day, & Don't Legalize It were all a letdown imo. All directed by Clattenburg.

I feel like pinning the shows decline entirely on Clattenburg leaving is wrong. There's other reasons the show went downhill.

Make up your OWN mind. Don't be a follower.
I didn't quite nail it - Christian Bale

[–] Philip_90 9 years ago

While Season 7 was the start of the magic fading away it still makes me laugh every now and then because the lines were properly delivered whereas Season 10 has funny jokes but the laugh factor is missing.

I also don't know what the hell happened to Black Jesus season 2 either which was directed by Mike Clattenburg and Aaron McGruber yet it sucked in comparison to the first one. Seems like they tried to change things up but sometimes it's best to just have things exactly as they are than to attempt to improve and ruin it.

[–] Jitterbug88 9 years ago

I feel like pinning the shows decline entirely on Clattenburg leaving is wrong. There's other reasons the show went downhill.

That's a fair point, and I don't blame it entirely on him leaving. Although, as someone else pointed out, he and some of the writers, who I believe have since left, at least understood how to properly deliver the lines and keep up with the humor (although his work, too was kind of hit and miss). But it sort of felt a little more structured when Clattenburg was there. He knew what he was doing in terms of directing, because that was his job. The guys did 'Happy Fun Times Hour' and that was a disaster, to say the least, so at least their version of Trailer Park Boys is much better than that. I think they're doing alright. It just doesn't feel the same as the early seasons (not Season 3, mind you), and probably never will.

[–] alan_hanley2003 9 years ago

They are great but less consistent than before. S9 especially spotty but kudos to them for trying something new. When bubbles shakes his head at the flood damaged motel and says 'she's done' it's one of the funniest moments in years.

S10 is classic, like top two or three.

[–] Jitterbug88 9 years ago

The funniest moments of the new seasons for me, were Julian and Ricky high as kites, having to buy 20 bottles of crab shampoo. The other episode I cracked up at was the Jimmy Kimmel one, with Ricky and Julian's gun fight and the whole "Do you wanna go to F--k Town!?" "Do YOU wanna go to F--k Town!?". I kinda like that Julian's character isn't quite so serious anymore, and actually has a few funny lines here and there.

Also, Lahey's drunk smurf bit, and Bubbles calling Tommy Beans "Home Alone", haha. There's probably tons more I could list. Definitely not the worst seasons, by far.

[–] iamrioto 9 years ago

Before i watched the compelete season i heard bad story's about the last three seasons.

so i watched season 7 / 8 / 9 and 10 for the first time a few weeks ago.

Season 7 had some great episode's and i really like say goodnight to the bad guys. Phil collins was awesome. Three good men are dead is among my favorite episode's.

Season 8 had some ok episode's but nothing special.

Season 9 was really really bad and boring.

Season 10 was alright, a step up from 9

I hate how they ruined jim lahey, the guy was so much fun the first 7 seasons but now it seems they don't know what they should do with him and Ricky became a moron.

I will watch season 11 but i hope they go back to the roots.

[–] DingusStudley 9 years ago

I didn't know anybody disliked season 7. That was hilarious.

Last season was dissapointing until the last several episodes. It had a fantastic, super strong finish.

I despised some of the changes, like making the cross dressing character a 24/7 female. The male persona was hilarious, the female one is unbearable.

This recent season started off really well, one of the funniest seasons they've done. And then Snoop and the rest of the *beep* celebrities show up. Wow, *beep* awful. They sorta saved it with a quality final ep, but good lord, there's about 3 episodes in there that are downright unwatchable. *beep* painful stuff. Beyond that, the violent, abusive 3 female bullies weren't funny and were some of the most obnoxious things i've ever seen on tv. I wouldn't mind if we never saw Barb or the tranny again, and certainly never want to see the obese bat wielding one again.

I also HATE the big reveal we get.

[–] PrimeMinisterOfTheSinister 9 years ago

I didn't know anybody disliked season 7.

A LOT of people disliked Season 7. Before the return of the show with Season 8, there were a ton of threads here about how much people disliked Season 7. Once Clattenberg left, though, most of the people on the board seemed to have retroactively started liking it because he was there for it and not for the new ones. Maybe most of the people that didn't like 7 quit watching the show and don't come to the boards anymore, leaving only the diehard fanboys. Years ago, though, this forum was very much full of "Season 7 sucked" and "I *beep* hate Conky".

[–] williamwallace-4 9 years ago

I hated season 7 and conky as well thats the exact season this show fell apart and still hasn't recovered. Its nice to see them back going but its too bad it feels so overdone because everything is recycled so much it feels..

[–] brooksshows 9 years ago

I think the earlier seasons are definitely funnier, I've watched them a few dozen times at least. Along about Season 5 they seemed to just run out of gas or something... I think there was just nowhere else left to go with the plot. They limped through the final couple of seasons with Clatt... then took the hiatus. When they returned, it was refreshing to see the familiar characters again and for a bit, it seemed to be as good as some of the earlier episodes but it started to fade quickly as the writing became too predictable and the jokes were being recycled.

This show is a nightmare to critique because it has always been such a train wreck from the standpoint of continuity and plot holes. From the very first episode, we have to stretch our imaginations to believe what we're watching. Who the hell moves himself into someone's trailer while they are away in prison? BUT... that was what made this show so awesome! You couldn't imagine what they might get into next... but now you know what's coming, it's so predictable.

I will still watch it... I am hopelessly addicted to the characters and show. It's one of my all-time favorites and I can't give it up. But I do believe it has precipitously declined over time and there's nothing much that could be done to prevent it really. It's natural for any show to go downhill after a while and this one has had a very long run to be such a dog of a show to start with.

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