06.00 Dexter
07.00 Friday Night Lights
08.00 Battlestar Galactica
09.00 Lost
Dexter. Season 3, Episode 4. "All In The Family" The team investigates the murder of a man, with the help of his loving fiance, while Dexter tries proposing to Rita and manages to convince Miguel that his brother is unstable.
It's a strong episode. The three threads of the episode are very satisfying. The murder-case-of-the-week is something that Dexter never does. Yes, we get to see him and the team at various murder scenes, but - unless it is connected to an ongoing storyline - we never get to hear about the outcome of the case. This is different. This time out we get to follow one murder case from crime scene to the arrest of the killer at the end and - even better - the case is used to impact upon Dexter, Debra and Quinn in significant ways. Even without that fallout, it's a pretty nifty murder case: Julie Ann Emery makes a great guest star.
In the ongoing storylines Dexter is working his magic: manipulating Miguel's brother so that he over-reacts to stuff. Dexter wants to keep him out of loop, so he does all of this to sever the trust between the brothers. It's good stuff, but - in common with much of the Miguel Prado scenes - we've seen it all before. Last Season Dexter manipulated Doakes in a similar manner. Now he's at it again. I'm not as impressed this time out.
I'm very impressed with the proposal at the end, however. That was superb storytelling. Dexter uses the phrases/words/ideas of a crazed killer to convince Rita to marry him and the voice-over tells us how lonely, confused and needy he is. Haunting stuff.
Friday Night Lights. Season 3, Episode 1. "I Knew You When" Tami must deal with financial problems at school, Tyra must fight for her right to apply to college and Smash gives up on his dream of returning to football.
One of the best-ever episodes of the show and probably better than any episode made for Season Two! There are no annoying mother/daughter fights, there is nothing about any cliched love triangles, and there is nothing about the show that is low-brow and easily accessible. Most of the good scenes are subtle and most of the moments that stay with you are inspirational and meaningful in ways that television doesn't do.
Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are still the best couple on TV. Watching Tami react to the differences in budget was hilarious, and so was all the stuff where Julie tried to play her parents off one another. Very funny, as well as being very real.
Tyra and Smash got the best storylines, however. Heart-breaking and heartwarming in equal measure. The sort of stuff that brings a lump to the throat and makes you care about the characters.
Battlestar Galactica. Season 4, Episode 13. "The Oath" Gaeta's forces make their bid for power.
Since this is even better than last week's episode, it once again ranks as one of the best ever episodes of BSG. While neither Gaeta nor Zarak can be classed as beloved or popular characters it is true to say that they have been a highly visible part of the ensemble since the show began and it's distressing to see them turn against everyone else. Yes, it would more powerful if they were popular characters but I'm in a mood to split hairs here: this is powerful stuff. Dark and grim.
The sight of the fleet under attack (from within) does give rise to some of the most positive and uplifting moments that the show has thus far offered us: Starbuck and Appollo side-by-side in battle and in vision (after sharing a kiss, no less), Adama and Tigh side-by-side in battle and declaring their allegiance to each other, Adama and Roslin kissing in front of everyone (cementing their image as the Father and Mother of the fleet), Baltar and Roslin working together to calm the fleet, and Tyrol (always a favourite character of mine who I've lately grown to distrust) openly throwing in with the side of the angels.
So, while this is a dark and horrific episode of BSG, it does contain moments that might never have happened without the mutiny. "No cloud without a silver lining", and all that...
Lost. Season 5, Episode 3. "Jughead" Daniel and the gang meet Richard in 1954, while Desmond runs around in the present day trying to find Daniel's mother.
Except for Locke and Sawyer (who has a minor role in this episode) all of the main characters in this episode are people who did not appear in the show during it's first season. For a start, none of the Oceanic Six appear in this installment, and all except on of the main stories are driven by new main characters: Desmond's quest takes up much of the story, while on the island everything that happens revolves around Daniel and Locke (Daniel is 'the leader' of his gang now and he's given the job in this episode of dealing with an atomic bomb, he also finds time in this episode to declare his love for Charlotte, while Locke gets a face-to-face with Richard and tells him all about his time travel exploits).
Lost has changed a lot. Jack, Kate and the gang are still the 'stars' of the story and I love them all very much. But my favourite characters on the show, now, are the newbies: Ben, Juliet, Daniel, etc. Daniel in particular. Poor guy. It was shock to nobody when he announced that he was in love with Charlotte. Charlotte, meanwhile, looks at him with much the same gaze that a woman gives a newborn puppy so I hold out no great hope for Daniel to sweep her off her feet anytime soon. Assuming that she doesn't die, as this week's cliff-hanger would seem to imply.
Highlight? Battlestar Galactica (even in a night of truly superb TV, there is one clear highlight)
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
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Yet Another Film Review Blog
A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Sat, Jan 31, 09 - Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Battlestar Galactica, Lost
