07.00 Dexter
08.00 Friday Night Lights
09.00 In Plain Sight
10.00 Battlestar Galactica
11.00 The Office
11.30 Corner Gas
Dexter. Season 3, Episode 2. "Finding Freebo" Dexter finally kills the guy he set out to get last week, but - just after doing the deed - he is found at the scene by Jimmy Smit's character: Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado.
The strength/appeal of Dexter is it's way of looking at normal life. The early part of this episode is devoted to the ritual of Dexter arriving at work, talking with his co-workers, catching up, and getting ready for the day ahead. A huge part of the episode is devoted to Dexter's musings on the news that he is about to become a parent. So, Dexter may be about a serial killer and all, but - at it's heart - it's just a drama series about a normal guy doing normal things and facing normal problems.
Friday Night Lights. Season 2, Episode 14. "Leave No One Behind" Smash urges the team on to victory (even though he is no longer one of them), Matt Saracen goes on a drinking binge with Tim Riggins, Tyra confronts Lance, uh, Landry to tell him how she feels about him. And Tami and her daughter have another fight. Or is it the same fight? Being repeated over and over...
FNL is a great show, but it does repeat itself a lot. The show has three identical love triangles, for instance.. It looks like Tim and Lyla are fated to be together, but for the time being Lyla is dating Chris. It looks as if Matt and Julie are fated to be together, but for the time being Matt is dating Carlotta. It looks as if Landry and Tyra are fated to be together, but for the time being Landry is dating Jean.
Chris, Carlotta and Jean are badly sketched characters, added to the story to serve a single purpose: act as an obstacle to true love. Jean is easily the best character of the three, and Brea Grant is wonderful in the role, so much so that I was really sad for her when Landry broke it off to go kiss Tyra.
The episode's best scenes, however, belong to Smash as he deals with the destruction of his future. It's been a wonderful storyline: Smash may have been hot-headed but he's never done anything wrong and he's taking a severe punishment from fate. It's not fair, but it makes great television.
In Plain Sight. Episode 8. "Don of the Dead" An unhappy couple enters the Program and events take an unexpected turn.
Another wonderful story. Very unusual. A couple who want to go their separate ways, but cannot do so because their religion forbids divorce. By the mid-way point you start to realise that the husband isn't actually dead, just pretending to be, but you can't foresee where the story is taking you.
Over in the land of ongoing subplots, Brandi is rapidly becoming my favourite character on the show and I've started to cotton on to the fact that Nichole Hiltz is very, very hot.
Battlestar Galactica. Season 4, Episode 11. "Sometimes a Great Notion" Everybody is depressed, and one regular commits suicide rather than go on.
After the heartbreaking revelation at the end of the previous episode this is the only logical way to continue the story: with everybody feeling despondent.
I might have expected the series to jump forward in time a week or two and show us the regulars working together to explore the new planet and try to understand what had happened there. But that is not what happened. Instead, the show picks up directly from where it left off and it shows everybody dealing with what they are seeing.
This episode also details the suicide of a beloved regular. On first viewing it is very, very shocking. Very unexpected. In hindsight: it makes sense. What little I understand of suicide leads to believe that those who choose that option often achieve a sense of peace in their final hours. And that's what happens here. We witness one of our characters having a perfect day: playing with a child, going on a date with a lover, laughing and having fun. And, then, with quiet resolve, putting a gun to their temple and blowing their brains out.
It makes sense, but it is horrific and sad. Very much in line with the established tone of BSG.
The Office. Season 5, Episode 11. "The Duel" Andy vs. Dwight.
Much better than the Christmas episode and a prime example of hardcore Office goodness (when what you see on screen makes you cringe, but you cannot look away). Best bit? Andy pins Dwight with the car. "He deserves the win," says Oscar (one of the funniest lines I have ever heard on TV. Ever.)
Corner Gas. Season 5, Episode 11. "Top Gum" Oscar and Hank team up to run a gum selling business, while Lacey and Davis team up to buy/sell house.
Average. There are a few good laughs but none of this is classic material. When the boys start to compete with Karen you can predict some of the dirty tricks that will emerge, and when Lacey and Davis start to be protective of the house you can predict that they will begin sabotaging prospective buyers.
Normally one of the things that makes Corner Gas such a delight is the way it takes the stories in unexpected places. So, even if you are laughing, you can still be a bit disappointed when they milk the situations in obvious ways.
Highlight? Battlestar Galactica (bleak)
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Sat, Jan 17, 09 - Dexter, Friday Night Lights, In Plain Sight, Battlestar Galactica, The Office, Corner Gas,
