05.30 Dexter
06.30 Friday Night Lights
07.30 Burn Notice
08.30 Rising Damp
09.00 The Office
09.30 Corner Gas
Dexter. Season 2, Episode 10. "There's Something About Harry" There's a lot of great stuff in this episode, but all I wanted to see was Dexter and Doakes. How can the show get out of this? I mean, Dexter likes Doakes. He can't actually kill him and still be our hero? Can he? At the mid-way point the episode makes you think that Dexter has actually decided to do the deed. But it proves to be - yet another - red-herring. The show has gotten really good at doing these.
Almost as exciting as the Doakes storyline: Lila. She drugs herself and passes out while on a date with Angel. To what? Frame him? Can't wait to see where this goes and what Dexter does about it...
Friday Night Lights. Season 2, Episode 9. "The Confession" Tami and Julie have more mother-daughter moments. It's good... Don't get me wrong. But haven't they done this already? Or is this different in some way too subtle for me to pick up on?
Much, much better is all the stuff with Santiago and Buddy. I don't know what to think. After Buddy dropped the ball (ha-ha! a FNL joke!) with Riggins a few weeks back, I keep thinking he'll make a mess of things with/for Santiago. But, in this story, he appears to give some really good advice and Santiago gets to not only play at the end but also understand what it's all about: playing with/for your team. Powerful/moving storytelling.
Jason has a dreadful date but, predictably ends up with the waitress. Predictable but irresistibly cute nonetheless.
And, in the main storyline, Landry is cleared of all charges. His guilt/stubbornness nearly ruins things for him. He and Tyra are back on speaking terms now, even hugging and stuff, but they are not dealing with their relationship. Which is what I want to see/hear. Is she going to tell him (on camera) why she said those horrible things to him?
Glenn Morshower continues to steal this show out from under it's named stars in exactly the same way he has been stealing 24 for all these seasons. He's awesome. Every show needs to cast this man in some supporting role. Immediately!
Burn Notice. Season 2, Episode 7. "Rough Seas" Everybody's favourite reluctant hero is called in when some medicine (destined for sick kids, of course) is stolen. Never has the show more closely resembled it's forefathers (A-Team, Equalizer, etc.) than in a story like this. There are sick kids in it, for frak sake! And the bad guys have stolen their medicine! How can you not root for Michael and the team.
As usual, it's clever and funny. Michael even gets to be a little jealous of Fiona's mysterious date and Sharon Gless (normally underused) gets several great scenes. Funny lady.
Rising Damp. Season 2, Episode 3. "A Body Like Mine" The formula is intact: Rigsby is shooting his mouth off and Philip challenges him to a boxing match. Sure, it's the exact same idea as last week. It doesn't matter. It's really, really funny. The comedy comes from the conversations and Rigsby's ideas about the world. Most of the episode is devoted to Rigsby and Alan chatting. The landlord and tenant have a close friendship and - at this stage in the series' run - are willing to be each other's confidant. Even when Alan thinks the older man is completely wrong. Which is 100% of the time.
The physical comedy in this one is top notch. The exercise scenes and the actual boxing match are hilarious. The twist ending is delightful.
The Office. Season 5, Episode 8. "Frame Toby" I liked this episode, but a part of me is sorry to see Toby back. I mean, it's as if he was never gone and the whole (wonderful) Holly thing never happened. I loved Holly almost as much as Michael did. So, now, I think I hate Toby too. But not quite as much as Michael does. That's not humanly possible.
The Jim/Pam storyline was predictable but, nonetheless, enjoyable and sweet.
Michael buying grass to frame Toby (with Dwight helping him) generated all the laughs you'd expect from an episode of The Office.
Corner Gas. Season 5. Episode 6. "The Eight Samurai" In a sea of great lines/moments there's a doozy from Oscar: "You ever notice how every few weeks either me or Hank or Wanda has some crazy new job?"
Man, I laughed at that. What prompted it? Well, this is the episode where Wanda becomes... the town bartender. Naturally, her attempts to listen close and give good advice sows seeds of disharmony between Davis and Karen.
The best bits of the episode, though, are the ones that revolve around Dog River's previous attempts to be twinned with a town in Germany. At several instances during the episode, in quick flashes, we get to see what happened: Hank sent a gift, which looked like a bomb and sent the whole town into a mad panic. Wonderful stuff.
Highlight? Dexter (and Doakes) (Oh, and Lila, too)
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Sat, Nov 22, 08 - Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Burn Notice, Rising Damp, Office, Corner Gas
