06:00 NCIS
07:30 Rules Of Engagement
08:00 Samantha Who?
02:00 Battlestar Galactica
03:00 Battlestar Galactica
04:00 Lost
NCIS. Season 4, Episode 17. "Skeletons" was a so-so episode. The best moments were the ones where Ziva referred to what happened in the previous episode. The case-of-the-week was average. Nothing about it was unique to NCIS. It was a serial killer. So what? It was great to see Susanna Thompson back, but I lost interest somewhat as soon as I realised that the romance with Gibbs wasn't going smoothly. I want to see him in a relationship, see how that effects him. The character needs to be fleshed out. Putting Tony in a relationship has done wonders for him. Can't it be Gibbs turn now?
Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 13. "Russell's Father's Son" The more I observe Jeff and Audrey the more I love them. They are more playful and loving in this episode than in any other and it's great. And it's always great when the writers do a story that doesn't depend on Jeff being an idiot. This time out he's trying to look out for Audrey (in his own twisted way) and it's cute.
Samantha Who? Episode 14. "The Affair" As the end of the season looms near, the show seems to have found it's groove. It's not quite as fantastic as the early episodes but it's still a good show. Christina Applegate, Jennifer Esposito and Melissa McCarthy are three great leads. Each one gets laughs and it's great fun watching them every week. The show's only flaw seems to be generating story ideas. They seem to be clutching at straws to come up with ideas. This episode's storyline comes from the first chapter of Standard Sit-Com Plots. Sam thinks that her mom is having an affair. Sigh. It's dumb. And the twist ending is dumb, too. But, I have to be honest and say I was chuckling and laughing all the way through the episode and that's enough to keep me watching.
Battlestar Galactica. Season 4, Episode 7. "Guess What's Coming to Dinner" Watching Battlestar Galactica... You sit there: body clenched, eyes wide, lips dry, taking in every layer you can of everything that is happening on screen. And there is a lot to take in.
When I watch Roslin and Lee talking about her shared visions, I think back to how they first met at the start of the series and how there seemed to be a bond between them from the moment they met. How I wanted to see where that would lead. So much has changed over the run of the series and now they are far from close, often at opposite ends of debates. When I watch Roslin and Starbuck talking about her shared visions I'm reminded that at the start of this very season they were face-to-face with a gun between them and now they are forging an alliance to get some answers. So much has changed over the run of these few episodes.
In many ways this is a completely different show from what we had last year. Starbuck is a different character. Tyrol, Tigh, the others. The Cylons are different. At least some of them are. The conversations between the three rebel leaders in this episode are unlike anything we could have imagined the show being able to do in previous seasons.
Truly, Battlestar Galactica is painted on a very large canvas and you really do need to keep your eyes wide open to take in as much as you can...
Battlestar Galactica. Season 4, Episode 8. "Sine Qua Non" What a strange, unsatisfying episode. I suppose when the Big Cylon Ship jumped away at the end of the previous episode the last thing I wanted the show to do was stay with the fleet for the next chapter. Yet, that is what has happened. We stay with the fleet and Lee (who has been marginalised this season) takes centre stage. Mark Sheppard makes a welcome return but (while most of his scenes are great) his "big scene" with Lee was just plain awful. A real what-the-frak-are-the-writers-doing moment. In general this quest the two of them were on was boring and predictable. There's nothing at stake that the audience at home cares about to any large degree. Really and truly this episode could have been resolved in the first big conversation between Lee and Tom Zarek and it would have been much better (and packed a bigger punch) if they had done it that way. Sure, it's great character development, but to build a whole episode around it?
It's amazing how one duff episode can take the shine off something. Don't get me wrong: I still love this profound show with a passion, but - taking a step back as I watched this episode - I reflected for the first time ever that it's no bad thing that the show is in it's final season. How many more times can we watch different permutations of characters go through the same motions as others have done? How many more times can Adama reprimand someone he clearly loves? How many characters are going to leave the fleet to go on a quest of some sort? How many times can best friends have a fist fight? How many flight deck farewell scenes can there possibly be?
Battlestar Galactica is a great story. But it's definitely time to bring this story to an end.
Lost. Season 4, Episodes 12 and 13. "There's No Place Like Home, Part Two" and "Part Three" Because Lost tells it's story in non-linear fashion part of the fun is in watching how the pieces of the jigsaw fall into place. All season long we've been wondering how those specific six people came to be in the one place at the one time and - thus - get off the island together. And now we know. And, to the show's considerable credit, even minutes before it all fell into place I wasn't quite sure how it would all pan out. Clever. Particularly the way Sawyer was taken out of the picture. Clever and suitable romantic. Of course, in terms of romantic moments, nothing comes close to the reunion between Desmond and Penny. That was awesome. Not a dry eye left in the house.
Ben and Locke make such a great double act. Several of their early scenes together were extremely funny. Ben's constant frustration with Locke is a great source of amusement and provides comedy when you least expect it.
The show has also teased us successfully with the idea that Jin may not be dead. Now, at last, we appear to have a definitive answer. But, then, this is Lost. What about Faraday and his people? Are they not nearby? Or will we never see them again?
And we finally know who was in the coffin last year. I can say - with my hand on my heart - that I predicted that this would be the big twist this year. In the 48 hours leading up to the finale I was part of several conversations about Lost and - each time - I put forward the theory that it would be a hell of twist to kill this character off. And, even better, not only would it be a great twist but it makes perfect sense in terms of what the bigger picture of this show is starting to appear to be. If this is the story of Jack's journey, then these last two seasons must be the story of his return to the island and for him to go back to the island there must be a void for him to fill. Now, there is a void to be filled...
So, did it lessen my enjoyment any when the camera panned down to reveal the dead body? Of course not! It merely convinced me more than ever that these writers have a very tightly plotted story to tell us.
Can't wait for it continue...
Highlight? Lost
Thurs, May 29th, 2008 - NCIS, Rules Of Engagement, Samantha Who?, BSG, Lost
