08.00 NCIS
09.00 Damages
10.00 24
11.00 Lost
12.00 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
12.30 Flight Of The Conchords
03.00 Night Court
NCIS. Season 5, Episode 10. "Corporal Punishment" An average, and preachy, outing finds the team on the trail of a delusional and violent Marine who thinks he's still in Iraq.
There's a good twist at the end, and there are several great Ziva scenes, but this is a hard episode to like. Gibbs gets a great scene where he makes clear his views on the war, but most of the rest of what happens is preachy and boring.
Damages. Season 2, Episode 3. "I Knew Your Pig" The story broadens out to include a reporter working with Daniel and we get to see the background to Patty's and Daniel's history.
I did not think that anybody could steal this show from Glenn Close but William Hurt is doing it. This the strongest episode so far this season and it includes nothing at all from the 'six months later' portion of things. Instead, it is the performance of William Hurt that drives the episode off the chart and well into A+ territory. He lights the screen up with every single scene (my favourite being the police interrogation scene).
24. Season 7, Episode 5. "12PM - 1PM" Two great cliffhangers.
We start off watching Jack in the middle of the kidnapping. By the mid-way point he has succeeded, captured Agent Walker as well and is travelling, by van, to meet the Bad Guy of the piece.
Chloe and Bill do not appear (which sucks) and all of the stuff at FBI HQ is boring and pointless, because the characters there are boring and pointless. But the episode positively sings in the Jack and Henry storylines and both build towards fantastic cliff-hangers.
Henry finally finds out who killed his son. It's not much of a twist that his bodyguard is evil, but it is a shocker that he is the one that actually killed Henry's son. Also a shocker: the drugging and impending murder of Henry. As the clock closes on this episode: Henry is paralysed and awaiting certain death. It's a horrific situation to be in and I cannot wait to see how it is resolved. I presume Samantha will save the day...
Renee Walker, meanwhile, has a very tough hour. She finds Jack and Tony, but gets captured and finds herself facing execution by Jack Bauer. All of the scenes in the van are superb, and Annie Wersching proves herself to be a worthy addition to the cast of 24. The execution scene, itself, is superb. Jack's terse words of advice and the burial scene are top notch television.
I don't think Walker is in great peril (I presume she can easily wriggle free from the shallow grave when the van drives off) but that final scene is a classic. The visuals (shots of her terrified face alternating with her point of view) make it horrifying. A high-point in the life of 24.
Lost. Season 5, Episode 1. "Because You Left" I loved every minute of this, but - let's be honest - it's a total mess of an episode.
The problem is: this episode tries to include every single character and advance their story in some small way. Lost never does this, and here's why: it's unsatisfying chaos. In fact, it felt like one of this innumerable clip-show episodes of Lost that I detest and avoid like the plague.
Highlight? The Sayid/Hurley action scene was superb but, like every other scene, it moved away from the characters just when things were getting really good. Bugger that!
The island scenes were fun. Time travel is always cool and I'm sure the ladies enjoyed seeing Josh Holloway shirtless for the whole episode. I, myself, was more than happy to see Elizabeth Mitchell and Rebecca Mader well established as the new heroes we can root for on the island. This is important. Except for Sawyer and Locke there is nobody from the original main cast left on the island at the moment. To Lost's considerable credit all of the 'new' characters trapped with them on the island are interesting and likable. The audience are invested in them. In all of them, I might add, I just picked Mitchell and Mader because they are crazy hot.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 3, Episode 15. "The Gang Dances Their Asses Off" The third season ends with a dance contest, where ownership of bar is the first prize...
...and the gang betray one another at every turn. Wonderful stuff. Very funny. The season ends on a high by playing to the strengths of this wonderful show: a high concept situation where the regulars behave in a despicable manner where possible.
Flight Of The Conchords. Season 2, Episode 1. "A Good Opportunity" No good songs, but a funny opening episode finds Murray fired from the band.
In common with many first season stories, this one is driven by the removal of somebody from the group. This time it is the manager Murray. Murray also gets a great musical number. The lyrics/tune are quite basic (and I can't imagine being in a hurry to add it to my iPod) but the visuals are simply stunning. I've rarely seen New York's skyline so lovingly displayed on screen.
Night Court. Episode 9. "Wonder Drugs" Lana takes medication, has a bad reaction and goes a little crazy.
Karen Austin (who I had a crush on when this was new) gives a tour de force performance as the uninhibited Lana: climbing around the furniture, kissing Harry and expressing every desire and thought. She's very funny (and very sexy) and this is her best episode on the show. Sadly it is also her last.
Austin looks ready to devour the whole world as she shows us the crazy side of Lana. She takes physical control of the show's set in a way that few actresses could have managed. It's an amazing performance. She never seems to second guess herself or put less than 100% into each word, gesture and movement. She comes across as primitive, raw and very sexual. Her hair flies about her, untamed and out of control. A bit like 'medicated Lana'.
Her kiss with Harry is fantastic. A season high-point and one of my favourite memories of the show in general. The one-liner she zings out directly afterwards is also terrific.
Which is a huge part of the show's appeal: funny lines in the middle of a strong story. In this case a story very much driven by the characters. Lana is out of character due to medication, but it is her feelings for Harry and her dissatisfaction with her own relationship that really causes this behaviour.
Highlight? 24 (two great cliffhangers)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Thu, Jan 22, 09 - NCIS, Damages, 24, Lost, Always Sunny, Flight Of The Conchords, Night Court
