06.00 Prison Break
07.00 Mission: Impossible
08.00 The Closer
01.15 NewsRadio
Prison Break. Season 4, Episode 15. "Going Under" The weakest episode of Season Four. While it is always nice to see guest stars like Muse Watson, Titus Welliver and Denise Crosby all of the stuff that takes place inside Michaels' head is boring old guff and the stuff that takes place outside his head is too far-fetched to be believed. Even for Prison Break.
The twist that Linc is now working for The General, and potentially working with T-Bag, Gretchen and Self from here on in, is just too hard to take. It's a huge leap and I'm not sure I'm able to make it.
Alex gets the best scenes. And his escape is thrilling. But haven't we seen all of this before?
In it's first three seasons, PB reminded me of 24. This year it's been more like Mission: Impossible than anything else. And with this episode, it made another switch. Now it resembles Alias. Heroes and Villains working side-by-side and nobody trusting anyone. Not sure if I like this new direction.
And what the heck is all that 'Bargain' stuff about?
Mission: Impossible. Episode 79. "The Controllers" Leonard Nimoy joins the show as the fourth season gets started with this exciting two-parter. An evil scientist has created a mind-control drug and it's up to the IMF to discredit him and his creation. The pace is fast and there are two moments in supreme tension in this first hour. Barney is driving a fake prison van at one stage and split-second timing is needed (of course) to substitute Willy for a real prisoner. In the middle of it all, the real prison van had engine trouble throwing off the timing.
Later, Willy has gone undercover and has convinced a room full of observers that he is under the spell of a fake mind control drug. They want to test it. And the suggestion is made that that Willy should shoot himself. The tension ramps up as the viewer wonders how could the IMF be ready for this, and how will Willy get out of it.
Other trademarks of Mission: Impossible are to be found in this first hour. Two real prisoners are taunted and tested while Willy stands by and does nothing. He can't do anything, really. But if this was another show, then he would. Not on Mission: Impossible. The tone here is always darker and more brutal. Brooke Bundy and Stanley Kamel have several great scenes as the unfortunate couple. He eventually gets shot during a break-out attempt and she gets dragged away screaming.
In short, the bad guys are truly evil and you cannot wait for the IMF to win the day.
The cliff-hanger, when it comes, packs quite a jolt.
The Closer. Season 4, Episode 10. "Time Bomb" Teenagers plan to go on a killing spree in this untypical episode. One of them is dead before the episode starts (it is his death that starts the investigation) and a second one is dead in police custody by the mid-part of the episode. After that, the police assume that the threat is over. But the script leaves enough questions unanswered to keep the viewer (and Brenda) unconvinced. The tension builds until most of the regular characters are caught in the middle of a long, graphic gun battle. Slow-motion violence is not normally what you expect to see on The Closer, but when they go this route they really pull out all the stops. It's stunning television. And makes for a great cliffhanger when Sanchez takes three bullets in the back...
NewsRadio. Season 3, Episode 1. Jimmy runs for "President" as the third season kicks off. Lisa sets out to bring him down (by uncovering his skeletons) while Bill gets the episodes biggest laughs by being smarmy every chance he gets. The Matthew-grows-a-moustache storyline gets many more laughs than you would expect. All told: a winner.
Highlight? Mission: Impossible (cool)
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Tue, Dec 16, 08 - Prison Break, Mission: Impossible, The Closer, NewsRadio
