07:00 The Shield
08:00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
09:00 Flight Of The Conchords
The Shield. Season 4, Episode 6. "Insurgents" See Jane Run! See Vic Tap-Dance!! Another great episode finds Vic trying to cover for Shane (who he knows is dirty) and still keep things good with Captain Rawling. The Vic-Rawling relationship is fascinating to watch. Almost a romance, almost a parent-child dynamic. They are leaning desperately on one another while forces mass against them (Shane on one side, Aceveda & Julien on the other. Boo Hiss Boo!). Vic speaks to her like she's an equal, yet he clearly respects her a great deal. He fights for her approval constantly and strives to cover up his past mis-deeds and fix his problems without coming clean to her. It's fascinating to watch.
The Shane-Antwon relationship is just as fascinating to watch, now that Antwon has gained the upper hand. It's rivetting stuff watching Shane bow down like this. We know Shane. He's not clever enough to get out of this, but he is unpredictable and dangerous, so he will do something. Watching him in this episode is like watching a ticking bomb.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Episode 8. "Vick's Chip" At some stage, perhaps late in the second season, I will be able to watch this show and not marvel at the fact that they are doing it right. And have got it so right. This episode has no action sequences at all and - instead - offers up some of the best character drama the series has thus far delivered. Derek doesn't trust Cameron. A revelation during the episode means that the others have a reason not to trust Derek. Cameron tells John that she sometimes lies to him. Meanwhile, John lies to Sarah about how close Cromartie. And on and on. It's only four people, alone in a small grey house, yet this strong episode puts each of them in conflict with one (or more) of the others in splendid fashion.
The actual storyline is brilliant, too. The heroes use the brainchip from a destroyed Terminator to learn more about it and it's plans. They get a window into the life that "he" led. The wife he used, deceived and (in the final chilling scene) killed. Deceptions and conflicts at every turn. A great show.
Flight Of The Conchords. Episode 9. "What Goes on Tour" I think Murray (the band manager) is my favourite character. He gets to appear in every scene here, as he takes the band on tour. He funds the (ill-fated) tour himself, which leads to a series to hilarious phone conversations with his nagging wife. Murray's ineptitude and rose-tinted vision of what the guys are doing is simply hilarious. So are the series of random disasters that befall the guys on their (not at all) epic journey through some tiny, empty venues.
Highlight? Flight Of The Conchords
Wed, May 21st, 2008 - The Shield, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Flight Of The Conchords
