Sun, Mar 2nd, 2008
06:30 Moonlight
07:30 Supernatural
11:30 Lost
12:30 Death Note
Moonlight. Episode 9. Almost as good as Episode 7. Moonlight is on a roll, I think. The balance between case-of-the-week and ongoing-plots is perfect here. So is the relationship dynamic between the three leads. Shannyn Sossamon simply burns the screen up as Mick's new partner in his latest investigation (he has hired her to take photographs as means towards making amends for what happened back in Episode 7). The Mick/Morgan dynamic is far more interesting than the Mick/Beth dynamic, I feel, but the contrast between Morgan and Beth is simple superb. The casting here has been simply superb. And using Beth as the narrator for this story (the one where she stabs Morgan) was a touch of genius. From an average pilot, Moonlight has emerged into one of the highlights of the TV week. Just by writing about the characters and making them interesting.
Supernatural. Episode 12. Another change-of-pace episode opens with the boys at the end of a case-of-the-week. Dean is injured. Badly. So Sam takes him to a healer (very much against his wishes) and - of course - all is not what it seems. The Bad Guy is terrific, the guest star is the always fantastic Julie Benz and some of the best scenes are just conversations between Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. Each man gives 110% committment to his role and it's a pleasure to watch them do their thing. Backed by strong scripts (like these last two) and a washed-out visual style they are making this one of my favourite shows of the week. I can't believe I ignored this show for so long. Does it keep getting better?
Lost. Season 4, Episode 5. Lost keeps getting better. This new season is the strongest the show has ever been. It's more exciting now than it was in it's first season, and that is some accomplishment. This Desmond-centric episode is dominated (for me) by a stand-our performance from Jeremy Davies. Watching Desmond and Daniel team-up to cope with the vagaries of time travels makes for a fantastic hour of television.
Death Note. Episode 7. Tension builds upon tension as Kira continues walking with the girlfriend of the FBI agent he murdered in an earlier episode. She has unwittingly signed her own death warrant by sharing her theories on the case, and all he has to do now is get her name, write it in the Death Note and watch her die. When he gets it, writes it and nothing happens he realises (as do we) that she has given him a false name. With only ten minutes left before they reach the police station, Kira has to find a way to get her to confess her real name, without making her even more suspicious than she already is.
There follows an incredible game of mental chess. Kira weaves a web of lies to gain her trust and - of course - he does. It's fascinating to watch. And somewhat epic. And sad, also. In the end he gets her real name, writes it in the Death Note and tells her who he is, just before she leaves to take her own life. It's a haunting moment. The soundtrack and animation are exquisite. Snow is falling and everything suddenly takes on an unreal, beautiful quality. Haunting.
Highlight? Lost
Moonlight, Supernatural, Lost, Death Note
