Sunday, January 4, 2009
04.30 Mystery Science Theatre 3000
06.30 Blood Ties
07.30 Kyle XY
01.00 Good Morning Miami
Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Season 7, Episode 7. "Bloodlust" Teens land on a plush island and find themselves chased by an evil hunter.
This weak (but not very bad) movie makes for a below average episode of MST3K. None of what happens on screen is very bad so, I guess, the gang were stuck for stuff to make fun off. Yes, it's a dull movie, and the bad guy isn't very threatening, and the hero makes a lot of bad choices, and so on. But it's well made and (mostly) well cast. So none of the insults the guys hurl at the screen are all that special.
The Host Segements (which I usually regard as nothing more than filler) are actually very funny in this episode. Easily the highlight. Especially the therapy bit that opens the show.
Blood Ties. Episode 11. "Post Partum" The ending is too rushed, bu Gina Holden gets lots of good screen time and the story is strong.
Vicki goes undercover at a fertility clinic, while Coreen and Henry investigate some former clients. Turns out that a Black Elf has been using the place to impregnate humans and sent out loads of 'evil' children.
The episode's best scene comes when Mike helps Vicki go undercover. Posting as her husband, he kisses her goodbye. She responds with passion and the two of them are clearly shook by the kiss that ensues. I love these characters and their tangled love-lives.
Outside the clinic, Henry and Coreen meet an evil kid and all the scenes in this sub-plot are great. The kid is creepy and the father (raising him alone and clueless about what is in store for him) is genuinely likable.
The actual showdown with the Elf is not satisfying. The editing is abrupt and clumsy. Everything happens way too fast. I'm not sure if they were trying to hide the make-up or what? It looked quite good to me, the little of this that I saw.
However, a rushed ending can't ruin what is still a pretty strong episode.
Kyle XY. Season 2, Episode 20. "Primary Colors" Another superb episode finds Kyle's powers going out of whack, at a time when everyone needs him.
The show cleverly finds ways for everyone to need Kyle at the same time and gets mileage from his guilt when he lets them down. It's a real mystery, too, trying to figure out what is causing the problem. I suspected that it might be the record he was playing, but I was also wondering whether it could be the cancer-curing hug from last week. Just like the script wanted me to.
It's a clever show, and it has more heart than anything else on TV.
Good Morning Miami. Episode 13. "Mee So Torny" Some of the comedic elements don't work, but the developments in the character's relationships make this one of the best episodes of the run.
Jake is waiting on a phone call from Dylan, because he (for some strange reason) assumes that Gavin will tell her what he discovered in the previous episode (that Jake is in love with her). Gavin, of course, doesn't tell her the truth. He lies about Jake being ill. With leads to a long, un-funny conversation between Jake and Dylan (where each one thinks they know what the other is talking about it). Painful. But, thankfully, it's over before too long.
Penny finally pours her heart out to Jake and the last half of the episode deals with that fallout. There are a few good laughs (mostly generated by Frank, in the background) but the real enjoyment comes from watching the characters decide what to do next.
Dylan decides to find out if Jake likes her, and she runs to his office: to find him kissing Penny.
And, on that excellent cliffhanger, they brought the first production batch to an end.
Highlight? Kyle XY (powerless)
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
Yet Another TV Review Book
Yet Another Film Review Blog
A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Blood Ties, Kyle XY, Good Morning Miami
