05.30 Blood Ties
06.30 Supernatural
07.30 Kyle XY
11.00 The Six Million Dollar Man
12.30 Good Morning Miami
01.00 Flying Blind
Blood Ties. Episode 16. "Bugged" The one where Mike and Henry work a case together and try to keep Vicki out of the loop...
It was always going to be impossible to top the previous episode, but the show comes pretty darn close with "Bugged". The formula on this show is well establish by now: something odd happens and a client comes running to Vicky, she enlists Henry's aid and - before long - Mike is caught up in the case, too. Coreen provides intel along the way.
The previous four episodes have not followed this formula. First it was the return of a previous bad guy, then it was a ghost client, then it was Mike leading the investigation and asking Vicki for help, then it was the (awesome) time loop episode and now we have a tale which partners Vicki with Coreen, and Henry with Mike.
And it's a blast. The ladies work really well as a team (lots of mild comedy from their strong personality clash) and the guys are really fantastic as a team (lots of strong character drama from their opposing views of things). To my surprise it turned out that the two cases were connected and the story ends with a nice hint of things to come...
Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 13. "Ghostfacers" An episode made to look like an episode of a reality show about ghosts.
Awful.
Where do I begin? First off, I was shocked and disappointed that the producers had opted to bring back Ed and Harry from "Hell House" a weak season one story. I felt then, and feel now, that these characters do not belong in the world of Supernatural. They are silly and inept. They shouldn't be part of the SN mythology. Bringing them back (and giving them a team to back them up) is seriously wrong.
Secondly, the idea that we were watching a pilot for a new TV show was ridiculous. It made no sense that these guys would have 14,000 cameras set up everywhere in the house. So, every time we moved to a new shot I was taken completely out of the story. I was constantly trying to figure why there was a camera able to capture what I was seeing. So, it was a novel way of telling the story, yes, but it was intrusive and it ruined the story for me.
Third, I was unhappy with the death of a main character and the fact that this was supposedly something I was watching as part of a TV show (or, to be more correct, a pilot for a TV show). That just left a bad taste in my mouth. The montage/tribute at the end was also ill-conceived. It made me hate the Ed and Harry characters even more than I already did.
Fourth, I hated the episodes attempts at humour. All of them were guff. Back in Season One, SN was a very serious show and I found the antics of these idiot characters to be jarring with the tone of the show. Since then, SN has evolved a lot. There is a lot of comedy in the show now. And all of it is character comedy. And it - mostly - makes you laugh out loud. That is not the case here. This is not character comedy. This is all aren't-these-guys-annoying comedy. And it sucks.
Finally, I feel cheated. I feel as if I have missed an episode of Supernatural. The narrative device (of making me think I was watching a TV show) created a distance between myself and Sam and Dean that I wasn't happy with. I feel like I wasn't 'with them' on this one. In fact, they were more like 'guest stars' in this one than main stars. And I hated it. I tune in to be with Sam and Dean on their adventures. I don't tune in to see this kind of crap.
Kyle XY. Season 3, Episode 2. "Psychic Friend" Kyle is frantic following a psychics prediction.
Kyle is frantic following a psychics prediction?! Huh? Since when is Kyle going to accept this kind of stuff? He's pure science this guy, he should scoff at all this stuff of vague predictions. It doesn't fit well with him, and it doesn't fit very well with the tone of the show.
I had other problems with the prediction, too. It was obvious that the psychic was lying, and it was obvious that she was working for the new Bad Guys on the show. Also, it was obvious that the 'twist' at the end would turn out to be that Jessi was the one in danger, not Amanda. Fine, that's okay. I don't want Kyle and Jessi to be together or anything but I like the idea of introducing that concept to Kyle and Jessi and making them deal with it. And - hopefully - reject it.
However, I have to ask: how on earth did the bad guys manipulate events so that Jessi was in danger at the very end? How did they drive her to the White Rabbit? It was all down to a lot of random coincidences, wasn't it? And most of it was down to Kyle pushing events forward.
How could they have known?
It makes no sense to me. A weak episode in an - otherwise - very good show.
The Six Million Dollar Man. "Wine, Women and War" The second movie about Steve Austin is a huge departure from the pilot movie. In fact it has more in common with the James Bond franchise: a womanizing super-spy goes after an arms-dealing bad guy with a quip for every occasion. The content is nothing like the movie that started off the series and the tone is nothing like the one-hour episodes that followed.
The movie opens with lots and lots of recycled footage of a submarine. Steve is on a mission and a sub has been sent to pick him up. None of this makes very much sense, but it sure gives the viewer plenty of time to admire the submarine. But the time the first act is over, Steve is back in America (damaged from an explosion) and learning that his mission has been a total failure. Worse than that: the girl he fell for has been killed by the bad guy, so Steve... walks away from the spy business and goes on a vacation!!
I hate this kind of crazy thinking. It's something that always bugged me about Glen Larson heroes: they never want to work and they always want to go on vacation. Even as a kid, it really turned me off when Michael Knight wanted to go on a long holiday about two weeks into the Knight Rider series. Jerk!
Anyway, Steve goes to lie on a beach somewhere and forget about the dead girl. However, it turns out that he has been lied to by his buddy (Earl Holliman) and is, in fact, staying in a guest house next door to the bad guy (Eric Braeden) from his previous mission. Even more shocks are on the way: another friend (David McCallum) is mixed up in the case and he assumes that Steve must be there to get involved. Pretty soon, Steve has been kidnapped to keep him out of the way. He escapes - after a romantic interlude with Britt Ekland - and teams up with the very, very sexy Michele Carey to get the nuclear missiles and save the world.
Yawn.
Very little of what he does seems like the real Steve Austin, Oscar Goldman has been added to the cast but he and Steve aren't friends yet, and the nuclear explosion at the end seems way over the top and silly.
In the movie's defence, the pace is fast, the music is good and the cast is great. Particularly Michele Carey, who has a very sexy body and a very sexy voice. I wish she had worked with Steve on a few more missions.
Good Morning Miami. Episode 16. "The Big Leap" Jake is jealous of Penny's new guy, Frank and Gavin prepare to jump out of a plane and Claire takes Dylan out for lunch.
With this episode, the show make a firm effort to give all the characters something to do. Jake's love-life still drives the show, but everyone else has something to do, too. The success of this effort is varied, with some parts being funnier/better than others. Frank and Gavin having a fight over a piece of fruit is goofy, but amusing, and it gets better when they take their squabble up in the air. The Dylan/Claire storyline is fairly laugh-free. Claire is meeting a blind date and she's used Dylan's picture. There are opportunities for comedy, but the script fails to find any.
Meanwhile, in the a-plot, Jake doesn't believe that Penny has a new guy. Dumb. But it leads to a very funny and solid character conversation between the two of them. It's funny ('Jake, are you stupid?") and it's a really good summation of the Jake/Penny relationship.
Unfortunately. Since I would have liked to see them together for a while longer.
Flying Blind. Episode 4. "Single White Eurotrash" The twin of Alicia's dead lover moves in.
There are laughs to be had but, once again, the story revolves around Neil having to compete with an ex-lover of Alicia's. Sure, this time out the ex-lover happens to be dead, but nonetheless...
Highlight? Blood Ties (new pairings keeps things fresh)
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Sun, Feb 8, 09 - Blood Ties, Supernatural, Kyle XY, Six Million Dollar Man, Good Morning Miami, Flying Blind
Sun, Feb 1, 09 - Blood Ties, Supernatural, Kyle XY, 10 Items Or Less, Head Case
05.30 Blood Ties
06.30 Supernatural
07.30 Kyle XY
01.30 10 Items Or Less
02.00 Head Case
Blood Ties. Episode 15. "Five: fifty-five" Vicki is trapped, living the same day over and over.
Wow. Many (all?) genre shows have taken a turn at doing the old Groundhog Day story. Only one week ago, I watched the Supernatural take on it. SN did a good job. They mostly played it for laughs, and used the back half of the tale to strengthen the character development of Sam. Blood Ties, however, opts to tone down (avoid) all of the comedic elements inherent in the premise and go straight for the jugular: with a strong character-driven tale. The effect is superb and means they have delivered their finest episode to date.
Wow. The final third of the tale is where all the magic happens. Up to this the episode has been top notch. Vicki adapts quickly to what is happening to her, and - one of the great strengths of Blood Ties - she is quickly able to convince her friends that something is happening. They don't question her. They believe her. And the story (while avoiding comedy) is able to move very quickly.
Then Mike dies.
And, in a moment of genius storytelling, Vicki opts to 'end the world' to bring him back, but it is actually Henry who must 'end the world' in order for Vicki to get sent back in time.
This is very clever stuff. The love triangle at the heart of this show drives the episodes in a subtle way. Normally. Fact is: we know Vicki loves Mike, she loves Henry, she won't commit to either and we really have no idea who she is 'in love with'. It's one of the best elements of the show. It's also one of the most infuriating. I adore Vicki, but if I knew her I'd want to strangle her!!
So, in this episode, we get to see some very interesting fodder for the fans to debate. Let's see: Vicki took the risk or ending all life on earth so that she could save Mike, she asked (pleaded with, in fact) Henry to do this for her, and Henry did it for her. There is so much boundless love in that little triangle, no wonder they can't resolve anything.
Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 12. "Jus In Bello" Henrikson captures the boys, but they are all trapped by a horde of demons.
Supernatural does Assault On Precinct 13. And, wow, do they ever do a great job! Not only is the episode superb from start to finish but the ending, where everybody dies, has got to be the best ending the show has ever had on an episode.
Kyle XY. Season 3, Episode 1. "It Happened One Night" Kyle and Jessi set out to rescue Amanda.
There are elements that I enjoyed (Jessi and Kyle in superhero action) and others that I didn't (the too-neat ending). This is the most action-packed episode of Kyle XY and the closest the show has come to being a real 'superhero' show. Kyle does a flying leap at one stage, basically flying off a roof to escape some bad guys, and it is very cool. It's great to Jessi still a part of the show (after apparently 'leaving' at the end of Season Two) her team-up with Kyle is the highlight of the episode.
In the story, a nefarious secret group (the latest one to bother poor Kyle) kidnap his girlfriend and Kyle has to get her back... before her mother finds out she is missing! Part of me thinks this is a cute idea well executed and part of me thinks this is downright silly. Kyle does rescue Amanda and he does manage to get her home before curfew. Also, because the 'bad guys' were only doing this as a 'test' it turns out that she was never really in any sort of danger. That's the sort of revelation that tempts me to roll my eyes is disbelief/scorn. And there's more... Amanda was drugged, so she has no memory of anything that happened to her. Obviously the writers want to protect the show's status quo, but this is extremely silly. Bending over backwards to contrive a situation where Amanda can be in peril but never suspect that Kyle has super powers.
Which bring me to a gripe I have about the show as it launches into Season Three: why does Amanda have to be kept in the dark any more? Kyle has explained his reasons, in the past, but they are minor compared to the benefits that he would surely get from being open and honest with her. I like Amanda and I want him to tell her. I also think it would lead to new story opportunities.
10 Items Or Less. Episode 1. "The New Boss" A likable ensemble manages to raise a few smiles in a show about goings-on in a small supermarket. Reminiscent of The Office. But not as funny or interesting.
Head Case. Season 2, Episode 1. "Live and Let Diet" Cases for a Hollywood therapist, with a very hard-to-like leading character. Reminiscent of Curb Your Enthusiasm. But not as funny or interesting.
Highlight? Blood Ties (time loop)
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Sun, Jan 25, 09 - Blood Ties, Supernatural, Kyle XY, Good Morning Miami
05.30 Blood Ties
06.30 Supernatural
07.30 Kyle XY
02.00 Good Morning Miami
Blood Ties. Episode 14. "Wild Blood" Change-of-pace episode finds Mike as the central character, questioning a woman with supernatural abilities.
Vicki and Henry get lots of screen time, but this is Mike's episode. In every other episode he has always been brought into the story after it starts (and brought into the world of the supernatural, kicking and screaming). This time out it is Mike who spots the supernatural elements and brings it to Vicki. And that highlights one of the strengths of this show: Vicki is not the only person who believes that all this stuff is going on.
Mike has other people to deal with however. His partner Kate has been playing more and more of a role in the series, questioning his involvement with odd cases and his secrecy. In this episode she has a full-on fight with Vicki over Mike. Pretty cool. I like this character and this development.
The story-of-the-week is okay: A woman who can turn into a panther taking revenge for the murder of her brother. The episode is half-over before the viewer figures out what is going one, which is pretty good. The climax is a bit rushed, but it's not a total mess (like the conclusion to some recent episodes) and it leaves one satisfied.
Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 11. "Mystery Spot" Sam is caught in a time loop, reliving the day of Dean's death over and over and over.
One of the show's great strengths is it's ability to tell the type of stories that you would expect it to be able to do. Case in point: the Groundhog Day story that crops up on every long-running genre show at some point. To their considerable credit the writers find a logical way to include this tale in the Supernatural canon.
So is it any good? Well, it does have several funny moments (especially the death-of-Dean montage in the middle) but it's tends to be more tiresome than cool after it goes on a while. The last third is interesting (Sam goes on living without Dean and becomes even more of a hard-nosed killer than he has become of late) but it's fails to really excite the viewer because we know that it's just another part of the fantasy, another illusion. And we just want it to be over, so Sam can solve this and reunite with his brother.
There are a few good laughs, and we get to see that Sam can survive without Dean, but there's little else to recommend this change-of-pace episode.
Kyle XY. Season 2, Episode 23. "I've Had the Time of My Life" Everyone is excited about the Prom for different reasons, and Jessi prepares to leave town.
Another wonderful episode. The ten episodes of Kyle XY shown in 2008 were just about perfect in every way. Each one had solid character development and drama, great dilemmas for Kyle to resolve and a truly wonderful character in Jessi. Her departure (if this is indeed her last episode) makes a show a lot less interesting in my eyes.
Lori finally makes her decision about Declan and, while I am sorry to see the story end this way, I am glad that the writers seem ready to move on from this story and give Declan more to do than mope over Lori (preferably something in Kyle's storylines).
Josh is the character who has changed most in the run of the series and it shows in all his exchanges in this episode. I've even grown to like his girlfriend. It took a while, but I got there.
Kyle and Nicole always have some of the best scenes on the show. The characters really seem to share a specal bond and her talk with him (before he heads out to the Prom) highlights all that is great about these characters on-screen talks. Marguerite MacIntyre always impresses me in these scenes.
The best scenes, however, are the Jessi scenes. Every one of them is a treat. This is where she prepares to leave. So we get to see in conversation with Amanda, then with Lori and - finally - Kyle. Jaimie Alexander is terrific in all these scenes, and the rooftop goodbye with Matt Dallas will bring a tear to the eye.
Then there is the Kyle-Amanda romance. Their final dance at the Prom is magical and romantic and - totally - didn't prepare me for the shock cliff-hanger...
Good Morning Miami. Episode 15. "Mutt and Jake" Dylan and Gavin are about to get a pet, but Dylan is thinking about Jake. Jake, meanwhile, is trying to get his relationship with Penny up and running, but he is thinking about Dylan...
A funny episode completely driven by the romance. No b-plot appears on-screen, although a plotline involving Frank and Claire was filmed and - I assume - edited out for time reasons. It's unusual to see a whole episode without Frank, but the storyline about the dogs more than carries the episode.
Dylan's feelings have changed a lot in these last few episodes. Slowly we have seen her falling out of love with Gavin and come to see Jake as a potential boyfriend. The scene where she almost tells him this is very funny, since she is - on the surface - talking about dogs (the 'sit' and 'roll over' lines are particularly priceless).
However, since Penny is my favourite character, my sympathies are with her...
Highlight? Kyle XY (goodbye Jessi)
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Sun, Jan 18, 09 - Blood Ties, Supernatural, Kyle XY, Good Morning Miami
05.30 Blood Ties
06.30 Supernatural
07.30 Kyle XY
04.00 Good Morning Miami
Blood Ties. Episode 13. "D.O.A." The ghost of a cop shows up asking Vicki to find his dead body.
Another strong episode marred by a rushed ending. And silly special FX.
The story is very strong in this one, and holds the interest from the get-go. A ghost showing up to ask for help is a good hook, and (being an undercover cop with a shady background) he turns out to be a very interesting guest character. And things get even more entertaining at the mid-point when the story throws out a nifty little surprise. Gina Holden gets some quality screen-time and, all told, it looks as if we are in for a solid episode.
However, everything kinda falls apart at the end. The events come to a head much too fast and the Bad Guy is rendered onscreen as some kind of worm, which Vicki has to attack it and kill. Which looks stupid and takes the viewer right out of the episode.
A better ending would have made this a Grade: A episode. Easily.
Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 10. "Dream a Little Dream of Me" The boys face a bad guy who can enter/control dreams.
Placing Bobby Singer in danger is clever. He's a minor, but very important/likable, supporting character. Is the show going to kill him off? You never know...
It's also cool to see a foe who can manipulate dreams. It gives the episode a 'special' feel and it gives the writers a nice way to reveal character stuff. Cindy Sampson makes a brief/wonderful cameo and when it is all over Dean finally confesses/realises that he doesn't want to die. A major moment for the character and the season-long story arc. Good stuff.
Kyle XY. Season 2, Episode 22. "Hello…" The prom gets closer and Sarah and Jessi prepare to meet.
"She Could Be You" by Shawn Hlookoff is used in almost every episode and I never tire of it. It's a wonderful, fitting piece of music and it pretty much always brings a tear to my eye.
Ally Sheedy seems like an odd choice to play Jessi's mother but - it must be said - she brings a great... snarkiness to the role. She comes off as cold and lacking in emotion. So... the perfect mother for the dysfunctional Jessi!
Good Morning Miami. Episode 14. "Take a Penny, Leave a Penny" As the show starts into it's second production block the stories/characters are obsessed with the love quadrangle that drives the show. Jake and Penny must decide what to do after their big kiss, Jake must decide whether to close the door on the hope of a relationship with Dylan, etc. Lucia and Sister Brenda have been written out and Frank, who plays no part in the quadrangle, is paired with Gavin in this episode in a storyline that tries to bond them as friends.
All the best scenes are the Penny/Jake scenes. Because Penny is funny and Constance Zimmer is hot. She seriously has the best/biggest smile ever to appear on TV. The opening credits (where Jake and Dylan are wrapped in each other's arms) make it clear what the show is supposed to be about, but - on first viewing - I was more interested in the Jake/Penny romance and that was the couple that I wanted to make it. An example, I suppose, of cast chemistry allowing the characters to take on lives of their own.
By the end of this 14th episode I was a happy viewer: Jake convinces Penny to give him a chance and they are a couple...
Highlight? Kyle XY (Jessi waits to meet Sarah...)
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Sun, Jan 11, 09 - Blood Ties, Supernatural, Kyle XY, 24
05.30 Blood Ties
06.30 Supernatural
07.30 Kyle XY
12.00 24
Blood Ties. Episode 12. "Norman" A former foe returns to get revenge on Vicki.
It's a very good episode. There's no case-of-the-week so it's a departure from formula, the foe is clever and manipulates Vicki into making all the right choice. The script is clever enough to make her do all the wrong things without ever seeming stupid. Even as you shout at the screen in frustration you have to admit that - from Vicki's point of view - everything she does makes sense. Sadly, she is just leading the bad guy to all the cursed objects and getting people killed in the process. The point, I suppose, is that if Vicki trusted Henry more then none of this would be happening. But it's not like Vicki to sit back and let someone else protect her. Mostly it works in her favour, but this time it works against her.
Silly lead character, great script.
Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 9. "Malleus Maleficarum" A strong story, a great finale, a bevy of beautiful women and solid character work on a new regular. One of the best SN episodes so far this season.
A covern of 'old school' witches have been using magic to affect their good luck, but one of them takes it too far and kills a romantic rival. Dean and Sam arrive after this death and are soon on the track of the witches. Things fall into place quickly which makes the boys look like impressive heroes. Right from the start it's a strong, very interesting, story but it has a great twist at the mid-way point which makes it even better.
The climax has Dean and Sam totally defeated and helpless. Erin Cahill does some great work as the last remaining witch, as she comes to terms with the nightmare around her and tries (in her dying moments) to do some good. She fails. But I enjoyed her tragic story from start to finish.
Cahill is one of several very beautiful women in this episode. SN always likes to have one babe in the midst of things, but they really went to town in this episode.
When all appears lost, it is Ruby who comes to the rescue. Not only does she save the boys, but we get to hear her backstory and it's rather cool. Not only that, but it tells us a bit more about the mythos of the whole series. Her actions scenes are cool, and her final scene with Dean is wonderful. It took a while, but I really like Ruby now. Katie Cassidy gives her best performance also. I'm starting to believe that she's tough. (On a side note, I've just seen pictures of her as a brunette and she's much hotter. Why can't Ruby be dark haired? Sigh.)
Kyle XY. Season 2, Episode 21. "Grey Matters" Another flawless episode in a run of quality episodes that simply amazes me. Kyle XY is - quite simply - the highlight of my TV week right now and has been for the last two months. Every episode delivers a strong story with great character development for all of the characters. There is nothing flashy or action-packed about anything that is happening but it is every bit as entertaining as Prison Break or Sarah Connor Chronicles.
Amazing.
This time out Jessi is once again at the centre of everything. But in a subtle way. She steals the test paper from an upcoming exam and posts it online. Unfortunately Kyle is the number one suspect and Josh (who didn't cheat) is in trouble because he did better than usual in the exam.
Everything that is happening to Kyle, Jessi and Josh is in this episode is skillfully written so that it is part of their ongoing development as characters. All three have changed a lot this season. All three have grown.
Meanwhile, everything that happens to the other regulars is somehow tied to Jessi or tied to the idea of breaking/bending the rules (cheating). It's clever. It seems like every body has to think about and weight up the consequences of going outside the rules.
24. Season 7, Episode 1. "8AM - 9AM" Strong opening episode makes me optimistic and the show is back to it's pre-Season 6 glory.
We see Jack in three locations. In court he defends all of his past actions and comes across as unapologetic and confident. In the FBI building he quickly puts together the clues and sends the good guys in the right direction, making him seem heroic and clever. In the appartment he comes close to torture to get answers. And he doesn't seem to mind. Making him seem dangerous.
This is a good way to open the season. We don't want a weak Jack Bauer, feeling regret for all the things he's done. This guy isn't a mess. He's worked through his demons. He's unapologetic, confident, heroic, clever and dangerous. All of that is good.
Working closely with Jack, Renee Walker makes a good impression in this first episode. She says almost nothing to Jack that isn't directly related to the case, and doesn't bring her personality into play at all. A perfect character for 24, really. She doesn't attempt to make a personal connection with Jack, or - because of this - with the audience. Instead, she's a Joe Friday type of character.
My theory? She's working for/with Tony and both of them are good guys. She just needs to get a message to Tony.
Not much else to say. CTU is gone, and publicity for the show made a big deal about that. However the show has clearly substitued the FBI for CTU so there is basically no change at all. Stupid.
Then there is Janeane Garofalo, who is fantastic in this and in anything. But what's the story with this character? Isn't she just Chloe-lite? What good is that? I want Chloe back!!
Highlight? Kyle XY (flawless. again.)
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Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Blood Ties, Kyle XY, Good Morning Miami
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)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Sun, Nov 16, 08 - Blood Ties, Kyle XY, Supernatural
05.30 Blood Ties
06.30 Kyle XY
07.30 Supernatural
Blood Ties. Episode 10. "Necrodrome" Another perfect episode. This show has found a great balance between fantasy and reality and created a very distinct world for itself. In the opening scene a corpse gets up and walks from a funeral home during the night. The owners catch it on surveillance video and are assured - by a recurring minor character in the series - that Vicki Nelson is the private eye for the job. So it's not one of those shows where only the hero knows that there are supernatural things happening, and it's not a show where there is any great big conspiracy to unite any of these events. No. This just happens to be a world where odd things happen and people do not to talk about it very much (or they will be locked up for being nuts).
So Vicki takes the case and Henry helps out. Last week, Vicki to go hassle him (basically) to get him to join her on the case. This time out, he's an eager beaver. Mike gets a lot of screen time this week, too, but the show devotes no screen time to the love triangle. This episode is dominated by the case-of-the-week: corpses brought back to life to fight to the death (again!). It's a really strong story and Ken Kirzinger gives a terrific performance as the resurrected corpse gone missing. Very strong, very dangerous and driven by the urge to see his wife one more time. Henry convinces him it's a bad idea, so (in the episode's wonderful final minutes) he pretends to be 'dead' again so she can see his body and say her final, tearful goodbye (while he listens). She leaves and he opens his eyes, waiting for Henry to step forward and send him back to final rest.
It's a goofy story idea, but the show makes it work with 100% success. The acting and the tone sell it. And it's a story moment I'll remember for a long time to time.
Worth noting, too, is the fact that this is the third successive episode to end/fade to black with a strong story moment. First it was Vicki holding on to a means to stop Henry, then it was Vicki and Mike side-by-side in the woods reflecting on unrequited loves and this week the show fades to black as the main guest character dies (a second time) and Henry backs away into the night. Great endings like this make me eager to see the next episode.
Kyle XY. Season 2, Episode 13. "Leap of Faith" Flawless episode. Kyle and Jessi team up and go searching in the woods. Their bond is strong now. They are basically brother and sister, right, so why don't they come out and say it? Bugs me.
Kyle phones Amanda to get her help at a key moment. She's having a hard time dealing with the while Jessi situation but the bottom line is: she trusts Kyle and agrees to help. Good character writing. I'm more interested in this type of storytelling. Having Amanda storm out when she thinks something might be happening between Kyle and Jessi is a bit too fake for my liking. This is more credible drama.
The stuff in the woods was good, but so was the stuff back at the Trager House. The family (kept in the dark for all of Season Two) start to put the clues together and ask questions about Kyle and his nature. These are some of the best scenes the show has ever delivered and so is the scene between Declan and Tom Foss (Kyle's Guardian Angels).
Supernatural. Season 2, Episode 20. "What Is and What Should Never Be" Wow. I admire the way this show can take standard stories of sci-fi/fantasy and bring them into it's own narrowly-defined mythos. When they were able to do the Zombies overrun the town plot and make it work I came to the conclusion that they can make any story work on Supernatural.
And, gosh darn it, I was right again!
This week, they have a go at doing the ol' Parallel World storyline: where the hero gets to see an alternate version of himself/herself and various other series regulars. Many shows have used this idea to shed new light on the characters and, even when it fails to have depth, the tales are usually a lot of fun.
The SN version is the best of both worlds. Because the 'world' that we are seeing is generated by Dean's deepest wish, we can surmise a great deal about him from what we see onscreen. And, of course, because everybody in it hasn't been scarred by the events of the real world we get to admire the coolness of all these people being shown to us in a new way. In the case of two of them, just being alive is what's cool. And in the case of Sam Jared Padalecki gets to present us with another version of the hero. He's played a couple of versions of Sam in recent weeks and this time out we get to see a Sam who has lived a normal life.
But the episode is not about Sam, it's about Dean. It's about what he wants and - in the end - it's about what he fears.
The first third is mostly light-hearted. Dean's reactions to the world are wonderfully funny. SN has started being funny, now, and I like it. There are many wonderful scenes/moments. My favourite is the lawn-mowing bit, where Dean waves to the guy across the street with unabashed glee. Then he sits and Jensen Ackles delivers an amazing look of self-referential 'knowingness' that speaks volumes for what is really going through at that exact moment.
By the mid-third things have started to go awry, as Dean learns that his dream world is not all that it is cracked up to be. For all that he has, there is something that he does not have: a close relationship with his brother.
Why, one wonders, can the genie (for it is a genie that is doing all of this) not deliver unto Dean a perfect world where is also very close with his brother? I have no easy answer. But I can surmise that because the world is a reflection of the man (and Dean is no fool) it must adhere to certain basic rules of common sense. Deep down Dean knows that their hunting days have brought them together. So in a world without that spark, their friendship lies dormant.
Of course, the episode could have taken it in another direction. Dean's fantasy could have had them as best friends. And Dean's intelligence could lead him to be troubled by that and question it. Thus leading to the same story resolution. Either version works. Bottom line: Dean it too smart to be fooled or - more important - fool himself.
Also, and this is a different take on things: Dean's never had it easy. There's always been a fly in the ointment. Why should his fantasy world be any different?
By the final third, the story has gotten truly cool. Dean realises that it's all a dream and sets about fighting his way out. If the episode has a flaw it's the fact that Sam was there waiting for him when he opened his eyes. Yes, Sam would obviously track him down, he knows - roughly - where he was so that's not the issue I have. I just feel it would have been more powerful if Dean had fought his way out and found himself alone and trapped. Briefly. Then, Sam could have arrived to the rescue. I would have liked to see Dean hit rock bottom (having left the perfect world behind him) before his brother (the real reason he left) showed up and lifts him up again.
But this is a minor quibble.
I loved this episode. And it cements my belief that Dean is an epic heroic figure burdened by choices that his brother does not have to make. This time out he chose to sacrifice an entire world of perfection because he loves, and wants to be with, his brother.
Highlight? Supernatural (No contest. As good as everything else was, this show was off-the-chart awesome this week.)
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Sun, Nov 9, 08 - Blood Ties, Kyle XY, Supernatural
05.30 Blood Ties
06.30 Kyle XY
07.30 Supernatural
Blood Ties. Episode 9. "Stone Cold" A solid case-of-the-week written by the person who wrote the books that the series is based on (Tanya Huff). Not only is the case good, but so is all the stuff between the three main characters and their messed-up love-triangle. The opening scene deals (very well) with the events that closed the previous episode and then we are launched into the case. A woman is turning men into stone statues. The story works and the writer uses it to (skillfully) make comments about sex-appeal, aging, love and romance. The cast (especially Christina Cox) are nothing short of superb in dealing with the statue and treating it as a real person.
The final scene is very, very sad. Vicki and Mike, out in the woods at night, staring straight-ahead, and talking (very briefly) about the way people sometimes fall in love with the wrong person. Wonderful writing wonderfully played.
Kyle XY. Season 2, Episode 12. "Lockdown" A bottle show, of sorts, where everything happens in the house where the family lives. Kyle has a long dream sequence where his mind manifests two people and he discusses with them the problems that he is facing. For the first time in the history of the show the scenes with Andi were not totally awful and I could bear to watch them. I'm not even remotely interested in her, or her cancer story. I wish the character was dropped from the show, to be honest.
The parents have a bad fight but, by the end of the episode, have opted to tell each other some things they know about Kyle. A good step forward. For them, and for the show.
The final scene (Kyle meets Jessi in the woods) is very good. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Supernatural. Season 2, Episode 18. "Hollywood Babylon" Another funny episode? So soon? And one that really works, too. In-jokes abound as the boys go-Hollywood and join the production crew on a horror flick. Dean is hilarious in pretty-much every scene. But, right across the board, the script is a gem.
Comedy and Horror go together very well on TV. Kolchak: The Night Stalker (the best show in the genre) was very funny and very scary. The X-Files got funny after they moved production to California and managed to poke fun at Fox Mulder and the conventions of the show without ever compromising the integrity of the character or the drama of the stories.
Lots of other shows (She-Wolf Of London, Special Unit 2, etc.) have been both funny and 'scary'.
Supernatural seems, late in this second season, to be finding it's funny bone. And Dean, much like Fox Mulder before him, is the target of a lot of that. Deciding to make the show's most tragic/heroic character a figure of fun is undertaking a dangerous balancing act but the series (and the actor) pulls it off with no strain. Dean is frakkin' hilarious. He's such a goofball and I love him. Betraying his fanboy roots when face-to-face with a modern scream queen. It seems right, somehow, that this kid who knows nothing of pop culture would have found time to devote his free time to the world of low-budget horror flicks.
Comedy aside, this is a great case-of-the-week. Inventive and entertaining. The writers (having well established the rules of this world) now continue to find clever ways to change things around).
Highlight? Supernatural (I laughed. A lot.)
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Sun, Jun 1st, 2008 - Fast Track, Supernatural, Blood Ties, Greg The Bunny
06:30 Fast Track
08:30 Supernatural
12:30 Blood Ties
01:30 Greg The Bunny
Fast Track. Pilot. The lives of four characters criss-cross when each of them gets involved with the world of illegal street racing. And lots of fun it is, too. Lee Goldberg has created four very interesting characters and set up some cool dynamics between all of them. It's got a few good stunts here and there, but most of the two hour pilot is devoted to the relationships betweeen the characters: the deeply-in-debt owner of a garage and her boyfriend, a cop who secretly street races for thrills. Her friend, Mike, wants to be a street racer if she will give him the chance. She won't, but a rich, bored trophy wife is happy to jump into his world, and he's happy to jump into her bed in return. There's some criminal hijinks and a few gun battles along the way and - by the end of it all - the four leads have bonded into a very unusual team. I would love to see more.
Supernatural. Episode 22. "Devil's Trap" There's enough here for three episodes! The first third features the capture of (and final battle with) Meg. It's stunning stuff. The middle third is an action-packed rescue sequence where the boys go after their captured father. It's got multiple possessions, multiple demons and a fair bit of smashing through doorways and shoot-outs in allleyways. The final third is the big confrontation in the deserted cabin where all three actors deliver the best performances of the series. I have nothing new to say about Supernatural at this stage: it's a superb action series which manages - in every single episode - to craft it's storylines around it's characters and - by the end of this first season - it has delivered unto us two really great heroes. Likeable and complex.
Blood Ties. Episode 8. "Heart of Fire" Most of the scenes between Henry and his capturer/torturer are boring. Because it's pretty much the same scene over and over. But, in every other way, this is the show's best episode so far. Mike and Vicki have to work together to find/save Henry. Mike, of course, is responsible for this situation in the first place so it's fascinating to watch him try and fix it, while still maintaining his belief that Henry is evil. The Vicki-Mike relationship is more interesting to me than the Vicki-Henry one. Henry's a vampire, he's dark, mysterious, sexy: she's drawn to him. I get it. I've seen it before on every other vampire show. But the Mike storyline is different. The ex-lover, ex-partner who still cares for Vicki and wants to look out for her. It's more fun, I think, to watch them together. To watch them dealing with their feelings for one another.
By the end of this episode it appears that each of them are having second thoughts about Henry. Mike doesn't use the iluminación del sol to kill Henry, although he knows how to. Very interesting, when you consider that he has just been attacked by Henry and has even mor reason to dislike/distrust him. Even more interesting, as the picture fades and the credits appear, Vicki (who has now seen a new side to Henry) quietly picks up the device and slips it into her pocket...
Greg The Bunny. Episode 1. "Welcome to Sweetknuckle Junction" I've seen various episodes of Greg The Bunny over the years, but never all of them and never in the right order. I've always liked it, but found it to be uneven. Despite it's inspired concept (puppets are real) there are a few unfunny episodes. There are also some hysterical ones. The first episode falls somewhere in the middle. We meet Greg (an out of work puppet looking for an office job who accidently winds up starring in a TV show) and his friend Jimmy, a loser pool-boy who follows Greg into show business (acting as his agent). At heart, it's basically an old-fashioned ensemble situation comedy series, about a mis-matched group who produce a kids TV series. Half of them just happen to be puppets, that's all. Greg's funny, but it's especially worth watching for Warren's one-liners and Sarah Silverman's short skirts!
Highlight? Fast Track
Sun, May 18th, 2008 - Scrubs, Moonlight, Reaper, Supernatural, New Amsterdam, Blood Ties
04:30 Scrubs
05:30 Moonlight
06:30 Reaper
07:30 Supernatural
08:30 New Amsterdam
11:30 Blood Ties
Scrubs. Season 6, Episodes 21 & 22. "My Rabbit" & "My Point Of No Return" There's a lot of wacky comedy (at one point a pot plant gets up and walks away!) but the core of these two episodes is very serious: JD is trying to decide whether to make a go of things with Kim (who is carrying his child). Meanwhile, Elliot has to decide about her marriage.
Moonlight. Episode 16. "Sonata" A great finish to a great series. Sure, they left a lot of things up in the air, but they really went out with a great episode. The story gives us another view inside Vampire Society and introduces us to a tragic couple. The couple are used to make Mick and Beth (and us!) think about their future together. And it works. Superbly. The vampire couple reach a sad end and it prompts our favourite couple to do some hard-thinking. The ending won't leave a dry eye in the house, but - at least - you do feel that you've seen a story to it's ending.
Reaper. Episode 17. "The Leak" Another hoot. This is easily the best of the case-of-the-week stories so far. This guy isn't scary at all, in fact he's charming. A bit of a rogue. It makes a refreshing change to have the bad guy calling round to Sam's place and inviting him out for a night on the town! Ben's ongoing story-arc reaching a funny conclusion, too. I love this show!
Supernatural. Episode 20. "Dead Man's Blood" Since vampires are quite an ordiary foe (for this show), the writers (wisely) bury them in an episode that is really about something else: the boys' father shows up and leads them into battle. At this stage in the series the characters are so well-crafted that it is easy to predict how this will pan out. And it goes as expected. With one or two surprises (Dean standing up to his dad) and some very emotional scenes (Sam hearing about his college tuition) along the way. This ranks as one of the best episodes so far.
New Amsterdam. Episode 7. "Reclassified" is adequate. Which isn't good enough, I suppose. The cop story isn't actually bad, but it is painfully predictable. John is asked by his dying partner to find out who shot him many years ago. The identity of the killer is obvious from early on, so there's nothing left to watch far except a few flashbacks showing us John's early days on the police force. The flashbacks are pretty good (he was quite an angry guy back then) but there are very few of them this week. It's a passable enough episode, I suppose, but sadly nothing to get excited about.
Blood Ties. Episode 7. "Heart of Ice" Excellent. Vicki's case-of-the-week finds her (and Henry) going up against a windigo. The story moves fast and has a couple of great, fast moving fight scenes. Mike, meanwhile, is contacted by a mysterious stranger who knows everything about Henry and confirms Mike's suspicions the smooth-talking vampire is a deadly killer and not to be trusted. Hoping to protect Vicki Mike makes some very stupid choices. The three-way love story between Vicki and the two men in her life is the best aspect of this cool show, so it's interesting to see matters coming to a head this fast. Can't wait to see what happens next after than stunning cliffhanger...
Highlight? Moonlight
Moonlight, Reaper, Supernatural, Blood Ties, Taxi
Sunday, April 27th, 2008
06:30 Moonlight
07:30 Reaper
08:30 Supernatural
11:30 Blood Ties
12:30 Taxi
Moonlight. Episode 13. Fated To Pretend. I think I was more exited by the return of Moonlight, than I was by the return of Lost. Crazy, huh? Well, not really. Moonlight left it's characters in lots of bother. Mick is no longer a vampire and he and Beth are no longer on great terms. Plus, Coraline (my favourite character) is in a lot of danger. No wonder I was eager to see the show return! Did it disappoint?
Well, I was disappointed to see Coraline left out, but it was still a fantastic episode. The show still looks cool and stylish, it tells good stories, has superb action sequences and has a sweet romance at it's core. A regular character that I found annoying is killed off (yay!) and the resulting case-of-the-week is one of the best the show has done. Since it spirals off into three different directons. The episode made more use of Josef than normal and that is always a good thing. Seeing him kick ass at the end was awesome. The end of the episode was predictable, but no less effective for it. Sad. But that was a great kiss.
Reaper. Episode 14. Rebellion. This cool show returns with one of it's best episodes. The case-of-the-week is only given a few scenes and is totally resolved by the mid-point of the episode. Josie, Ted and Andi get screentime and the show is better for it. I've never liked Andi, but I will admit that the scenes between her and the show's hero were fantastic. Romantic and sweet. What about, um, his girlfriend? If the show gives Andi more screen time like this, and lets her in on the secret, then I will warm to the character very fast.
Anyway, the meat and potatoes of this show was the story of the Demon's living next door and their plans to overthrow The Devil. Half hilarious and half scary, it was an inspired storyline. This show has great dialogue. Some of the stuff coming out of the mouths of demons and The Devil is hilarious. Plus there is the incredible sense of menace that Ray Wise brings to the role. I was quite nervous for Sam as the Demons put their plans into action. A great episode, a great twist and lots of laughs. How could this be on the verge of cancellation?
Supernatural. Episode 18. Something Wicked. A solid outing. The case-of-the-week is strong, and it fits nicely into the backstory for the brothers and their relationship. There's a great quote at the end, where Dean wishes Sam didn't have to see the crap that he does, and the ep contains some nice flashbacks to the early 90s showing their Dad on the road on a job.
Blood Ties. Episode 6. Love Hurts. Back on form for this outing. Vicki is hired by a suspicious husband and - of course - his wife turns up dead before long. And everything is happening a place a lot like Wisteria Lane. The strengths of this show are good stories (and this one has a nice twist where the demon isn't the killer) and great chemistry between the characters. It's fine when Vicki and Henry are on-screen and doing their PI thing, but the show really gets good when Coreen and Mike are on-screen, too, and all four characters are working together. Vicki is cool (she's also hot, it must be said) and there's a lot of fun to be had from watching her trying to control her little group and stop them from squabbling.
Taxi. Episode 33. Elaine's Secret Admirer is one of the most beautiful scripts I've seen them use on the show. Elaine is feeling down, so Jim sends her love poems to cheer her up. Eloquent, beautiful love poems. But he keeps it a secret, because he knows how disappointed she would be to know who is sending them. And, of course, he's right. There are no happy endings in Taxi, but a lot of sweet genuine people. And lots of laughs, too. That final scene, where Jim builds a castle in Elaine's living room before walking out into the night, is a real classic. Wonderful and beautiful.
Highlight? Moonlight
