09.30 NCIS
11.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
12.30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
01.00 Samantha Who?
NCIS. Season 5, Episode 1. "Bury Your Dead" A great season premier. Full praise to NCIS for a season-long deception, during Season 4, that I never suspected was coming. That's one of the best twists I have ever seen on TV and I loved this. This was a great episode, too. We got to see the team reacting to the 'death' of Tony, we got to see the resolution of the storyline devoted to Le Grenouille and we got to see Tony and Jeanne breaking up. Pity it was in that crazy visual style they use for flashbacks, but never mind.
Jenny's reasons for wanting to track Le Genouille are - finally - explained and... they make sense. I don't really care that much about Jenny (or her quest) but - at least - it make sense. The scene between her, Gibbs and the arms dealer was very, very good. So was the big revelation scene with Tony telling his story, while (at one point) Gibbs looked on with pride. The ending was good, too. Nice final shot. Very shocking.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 6. "The Tower is Tall But the Fall is Short" Another stunning episode. Flawless. Every scene in this has a double layer. It's an incredible script. No matter what is happening on screen, no matter how much it means for it's own sake, there is extra meaning because of what we know about the characters. We know that Catherine Weaver is not what she appears to be, we know that Derek has a reason to enjoy sitting in the park soaking up life around him, we know (before the script even tells us) that the AI project over at ZeiraCorp is acting like a child, we know lots of stuff.
We don't know, of course, what happened inside that room when Sarah and John were held hostage...
I had hoped, during that episode, that it would turn out to John who rescued his mother and saved the day. I thought (before anything happened and before Cameron showed up to kill John) that it would be a bad-ass cool way to tell the audience about his 'growing up' and all. But the narrative jumped across the incident and left us in the dark. And did it in a low-key way, also. So much so that I wasn't suspicious, merely annoyed that we didn't get to see what happened.
Now, of course, it comes back to haunt everyone. The script for this episode makes us think (again skillfully) that John saw Sarah kill their captor. Not so. In fact, we learn in the final shocking moments that John really did save the day back in the first episode but there are pains to go with the transition from kid to warrior.
Suddenly a lot of little comments from other episodes make more sense: Derek saying to John that he could tell that Sarah had never killed, etc. Clever.
This show's scripts are all about knowledge. The viewer often has knowledge that the character on-screen does not and it adds to our enjoyment. We get to see scenes and appreciate the added layer that our perspective gives us. But there is more to it. Sometimes the writer's withhold knowledge and unveil it after the fact. They are very good at knowing when to do this. Part of me was surprised that they told us from the get-go what Catherine's secret was but now, having seen where they have taken it (with her being a parent, for instance), I can see that it was absolutely the right choice. I trust them. And admit they were wise to tell us.
But they are keeping other secrets: Does Ellison suspect? What is Jesse's mission? Did Cameron destroy the other Terminator's chip? Was it android 'suicide'? Like Derek's suicide attempt? And - maybe even - John's?
I'm pretty sure I know the answers to some of these. But who knows? This is a clever and profound show. The scripts are clever and deep and worthy of much re-watching. And the second season is much better than the (fantastic) first. Isn't it about time they renamed this The John Connor Chronicles?
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 3, Episode 4. "The Gang Gets Held Hostage" Always Sunny does Die Hard, with Danny DeVito crawling around in the air vents with a gun. Sounds crazy, yeah? But if you've seen it then you know that that's what this episode actually is. And it's hilarious. The gang turn on one another: everyone plots the death of at least one of the others at some point. It's delicious. Best bits? Dennis in seduction mode; Charlie and Frank have their show-down; Dee gets licked by Liam McPoyle; and the entire slow-motion sequence at the end. Genius comedy.
Samantha Who? Season 2, Episode 1. "So I Think I Can Dance" Amusing and sweet. Christina Applegate can always raise a smile with her antics, but there's little else to get very excited about. It's a nice story. Sam discovers she can dance, makes a challenge to someone and - then - discovers that dancing was one of the 'things' the forgot in her bout with amnesia. Cue: some pretty good slapstick. And guess what? At the end, we discover she really only wanted to spend more time with her mother. Aww...
Highlight? The Sarah Connor Chronicles (The John Connor Chronicles)
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
Yet Another TV Review Book
Yet Another Film Review Blog
Thurs, Oct 23, 08 - NCIS, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Always Sunny, Samantha Who?
Thur, Jun 19th, 2008 - Riptide, Samantha Who?, In Plain Sight, Back To You, Keen Eddie, Joey
06:00 Riptide
08:00 Samantha Who?
08:30 In Plain Sight
09:30 Back To You
10:30 Keen Eddie
12:00 Joey
Riptide. Episode 3. "Somebody's Killing the Great Geeks of America" Good performances from Joe Penny and guest star Cindy Pickett are the highlight of this episode. A woman hires the guys when a hit-man targets her for some reason. It turns out she went to high school with Nick, they were friends back then but she hates him now and he can't figure out why. Riptide is the perfect show for this sort of story. These private eyes get beaten up, their helicopter won't start, their car breaks down during chases and - while Boz does all the computer work - the other two do very little except buy donuts and hang around (a very funny scene). Giving lots of scope for biting comments from Pickett's character.
Samantha Who? Episode 15. "The Birthday" ends the first season with Sam's birthday party. No crazy plots this time out, just a nice character-driven tale about Todd's inability to be out of a relationship for any length. So, it turns out that Sam is not the only one that needs to change... That's a nice way to end the season: seeing how the 'new' Sam is having an impact on her circle of friends (echoed in the fact that her mum and best friend have a civilised chat for the first time, and the doorman drops by at her party).
In Plain Sight. Episode 3. "Never the Bride" As usual, this week's script is just clever enough to make it something special. Mary's case involves somebody she doesn't like. Somebody that she feels doesn't deserve the fresh start of the Witness Protection Programme. She gives them a wonderful speech at the start of the episode and (much to her surprise, and ours) she finds (by the end of the episode) that they have taken her advice to heart and are able - in fact - to give that same advice back to her. It's a nice episode. In lots of ways. And I'm starting to like the sister now. The scene where she helped Mary get dressed up was good. More sister-bonding, less fighting, would be nice.
Back To You. Episode 12. "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back" It's a bit late in the day, but Back To You manages to deliver a good episode. I still think changing the focus of the show completely over to Chuck's reunion with his daughter was a mistake but this is a funny episode. It takes place on the night that Chuck and Kelly finally tell their daughter the truth. She takes it badly. And while they deal with this, we get to see flashbacks to the night they slept together (possibly as a means to get the rest of the cast into the episode?). There are plenty of gags and the ending is good, where is looks as if Chuck has run off (again) but he's actually managed to find a way to put things right. Good stuff.
Keen Eddie. Episode 2. "Horse Heir" As much as I love the pilot (and I loved it the first time I saw it) it is really only with Episode 2 that you are getting the full effect of the Keen Eddie TV series. There is nothing else on TV that looks or sounds like this show. Fast cuts, rewinds, zooms and everything else they can throw at you keep the visuals interesting. This episode has some Matrix-style fights! The soundtrack is wonderful, too, and perfectly chosen for the scenes. I watch Keen Eddie on my own DVR's because the DVD release removed all the original music. Crazy!
This episode is better than the pilot because there is no set-up and the formula is fully in place. There is a case to be solved (a stolen horse), there are lots of odd suspects (two warring pub landlords, for instance, who have to be seen to be believed) and there is a full-on war in progress between Eddie and his gorgeous flatmate (Sienna Miller). This is also the first episode where Eddie mishears Miss Moneypenny. (A running gag on the show involves Eddie hearing sexual comments from his bosses secretary that nobody else can hear.) Awesome.
Joey. Season 2, Episode 19. "Joey and the Critic" I would love to ask the Joey writers why they let the character of Jimmy dominate the show so much in Season Two. His constant shouting is enough to ruin many episodes for me. Not this one, thankfully. Jimmy is still central to the story (he becomes Joey's manager) but he tones down his more violent instincts and the result is an okay episode.
Highlight? Keen Eddie
Thurs, May 29th, 2008 - NCIS, Rules Of Engagement, Samantha Who?, BSG, Lost
06:00 NCIS
07:30 Rules Of Engagement
08:00 Samantha Who?
02:00 Battlestar Galactica
03:00 Battlestar Galactica
04:00 Lost
NCIS. Season 4, Episode 17. "Skeletons" was a so-so episode. The best moments were the ones where Ziva referred to what happened in the previous episode. The case-of-the-week was average. Nothing about it was unique to NCIS. It was a serial killer. So what? It was great to see Susanna Thompson back, but I lost interest somewhat as soon as I realised that the romance with Gibbs wasn't going smoothly. I want to see him in a relationship, see how that effects him. The character needs to be fleshed out. Putting Tony in a relationship has done wonders for him. Can't it be Gibbs turn now?
Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 13. "Russell's Father's Son" The more I observe Jeff and Audrey the more I love them. They are more playful and loving in this episode than in any other and it's great. And it's always great when the writers do a story that doesn't depend on Jeff being an idiot. This time out he's trying to look out for Audrey (in his own twisted way) and it's cute.
Samantha Who? Episode 14. "The Affair" As the end of the season looms near, the show seems to have found it's groove. It's not quite as fantastic as the early episodes but it's still a good show. Christina Applegate, Jennifer Esposito and Melissa McCarthy are three great leads. Each one gets laughs and it's great fun watching them every week. The show's only flaw seems to be generating story ideas. They seem to be clutching at straws to come up with ideas. This episode's storyline comes from the first chapter of Standard Sit-Com Plots. Sam thinks that her mom is having an affair. Sigh. It's dumb. And the twist ending is dumb, too. But, I have to be honest and say I was chuckling and laughing all the way through the episode and that's enough to keep me watching.
Battlestar Galactica. Season 4, Episode 7. "Guess What's Coming to Dinner" Watching Battlestar Galactica... You sit there: body clenched, eyes wide, lips dry, taking in every layer you can of everything that is happening on screen. And there is a lot to take in.
When I watch Roslin and Lee talking about her shared visions, I think back to how they first met at the start of the series and how there seemed to be a bond between them from the moment they met. How I wanted to see where that would lead. So much has changed over the run of the series and now they are far from close, often at opposite ends of debates. When I watch Roslin and Starbuck talking about her shared visions I'm reminded that at the start of this very season they were face-to-face with a gun between them and now they are forging an alliance to get some answers. So much has changed over the run of these few episodes.
In many ways this is a completely different show from what we had last year. Starbuck is a different character. Tyrol, Tigh, the others. The Cylons are different. At least some of them are. The conversations between the three rebel leaders in this episode are unlike anything we could have imagined the show being able to do in previous seasons.
Truly, Battlestar Galactica is painted on a very large canvas and you really do need to keep your eyes wide open to take in as much as you can...
Battlestar Galactica. Season 4, Episode 8. "Sine Qua Non" What a strange, unsatisfying episode. I suppose when the Big Cylon Ship jumped away at the end of the previous episode the last thing I wanted the show to do was stay with the fleet for the next chapter. Yet, that is what has happened. We stay with the fleet and Lee (who has been marginalised this season) takes centre stage. Mark Sheppard makes a welcome return but (while most of his scenes are great) his "big scene" with Lee was just plain awful. A real what-the-frak-are-the-writers-doing moment. In general this quest the two of them were on was boring and predictable. There's nothing at stake that the audience at home cares about to any large degree. Really and truly this episode could have been resolved in the first big conversation between Lee and Tom Zarek and it would have been much better (and packed a bigger punch) if they had done it that way. Sure, it's great character development, but to build a whole episode around it?
It's amazing how one duff episode can take the shine off something. Don't get me wrong: I still love this profound show with a passion, but - taking a step back as I watched this episode - I reflected for the first time ever that it's no bad thing that the show is in it's final season. How many more times can we watch different permutations of characters go through the same motions as others have done? How many more times can Adama reprimand someone he clearly loves? How many characters are going to leave the fleet to go on a quest of some sort? How many times can best friends have a fist fight? How many flight deck farewell scenes can there possibly be?
Battlestar Galactica is a great story. But it's definitely time to bring this story to an end.
Lost. Season 4, Episodes 12 and 13. "There's No Place Like Home, Part Two" and "Part Three" Because Lost tells it's story in non-linear fashion part of the fun is in watching how the pieces of the jigsaw fall into place. All season long we've been wondering how those specific six people came to be in the one place at the one time and - thus - get off the island together. And now we know. And, to the show's considerable credit, even minutes before it all fell into place I wasn't quite sure how it would all pan out. Clever. Particularly the way Sawyer was taken out of the picture. Clever and suitable romantic. Of course, in terms of romantic moments, nothing comes close to the reunion between Desmond and Penny. That was awesome. Not a dry eye left in the house.
Ben and Locke make such a great double act. Several of their early scenes together were extremely funny. Ben's constant frustration with Locke is a great source of amusement and provides comedy when you least expect it.
The show has also teased us successfully with the idea that Jin may not be dead. Now, at last, we appear to have a definitive answer. But, then, this is Lost. What about Faraday and his people? Are they not nearby? Or will we never see them again?
And we finally know who was in the coffin last year. I can say - with my hand on my heart - that I predicted that this would be the big twist this year. In the 48 hours leading up to the finale I was part of several conversations about Lost and - each time - I put forward the theory that it would be a hell of twist to kill this character off. And, even better, not only would it be a great twist but it makes perfect sense in terms of what the bigger picture of this show is starting to appear to be. If this is the story of Jack's journey, then these last two seasons must be the story of his return to the island and for him to go back to the island there must be a void for him to fill. Now, there is a void to be filled...
So, did it lessen my enjoyment any when the camera panned down to reveal the dead body? Of course not! It merely convinced me more than ever that these writers have a very tightly plotted story to tell us.
Can't wait for it continue...
Highlight? Lost
Thurs, May 22nd, 2008 - NCIS, Rules Of Engagement, House, Back To You, Samantha Who, 30 Rock
05:00 NCIS
06:00 Rules Of Engagement
06:30 House
07:30 Back To You
08:00 Samantha Who?
08:30 30 Rock
NCIS. Season 4, Episode 16. "Dead Man Walking" Wonderful story. Ziva falls for a dying man. He shows up at the start of the episode, with radiation poisoning and asks the team to solve his murder (Dramatic, much?). For a while the episode teases us with the idea that Ziva knows him somehow, but once we discover how she knows him we realise we are watching a tragic little love story. What I love most was just how low-key everything was. Everybody underplayed everything. It was very sweet and very sad.
Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 12. "Optimal Male" The Russell storyline is a bit weak, but the other two plots are very funny: Jeff trying to lose weight for an insurance physical and Adam letting his ex crash at his place. "That kid is a special kind of stupid," says Jeff at one point. Very funny episode. As usual, Jeff is doing something stupid (fasting to lose weight) but - at the end - Audrey admits that for all his stupidity she kinda admires his singlemindedness. Aww. Sweet. One of my favourite couples on TV.
House. Season 4, Episode 16. "Wilson's Heart" I watched it again with one of my best friends. It's such a great episode. "Is House Having An Affair With Amber?" is one of the running questions in the episode. Interesting. It reveals that we don't really trust Amber and her love for Wilson. Fair enough. It also reveals that we don't trust House. Which might be unusual for some shows, but not this show. He can be a pretty bad person sometimes. The question reveals that Wilson doesn't trust House (or Amber). He certainly asks a lot of questions about why they were together. Other team members suspect House, too. Most interesting, the question reveals that House doesn't trust House. The scene with Amber in his office (which was a dream, and therefore a visual representation of House's own thoughs) shows us how he doesn't know himself why they were together and also documents (in her words) what he thought of her. What he really thought of her. Very interesting stuff.
Back To You. Episode 11. "Hug & Tell" Except for some very funny slapstick at the very end (Chuck faints, then Kelly faints) this is a laugh-free dreadful episode. The first third is a therapy session with Chuck and Kelly venting their mutual anger. Yikes! No giggles there. Next up is a lengthy sequence where Kelly reveals her romantic feelings for Chuck. Hmm. When this is then revealed to be a delaying tactic, I pretty much gave up on Kelly the character and Back To You the show. Seriously, this is god-awful rubbish.
Samantha Who? Episode 13. "The Gallery Show" The one where Sam brings a mugger to her ex-boyfiend's gallery show. Ha! If that doesn't make you smile nothing will. As usual, this show wears it's heart on it's sleeve: Sam has been telling everyone for 13 episodes that she has changed, and now she is face to face with someone who also claims to have changed. Will she believe him?
30 Rock. Season 2, Episode 13. "Succession" Dr. Spaceman is a truly superb character. And the show (wisely) keeps his appearences to a minimum. Of those appearances none has even been as fantastic as his "rush to the rescue" in this particular outing. Liz has inadvertantly sent Don Geiss into a coma (well, accidents happen) and she and Jack send for Dr. Spaceman. Given his track record this may not be the wisest choice, but who ever thinks logically on this wonderful show. So he arrives: music blaring, cape blowing in the wind (wind?). Amazing.
Highlight? NCIS
Tuesday, 13th May, 2008 - Samantha Who?, House, Lost
07:30 Samantha Who?
08:00 House
09:00 Lost
Samantha Who. Episode 12. "The Butterflies" While this is a funny episode, it highlights some of the problems that the show is having. A good situation comedy series should find that the situation generates the stories. Yet, in this episode, the story is driven by the fact that Samantha's boss (Rick Hoffman) falls in love with Samantha's best friend (Samantha, of course, is tempted to use this for her own ends). And while the laughs are there, it is a bit hard to swallow the way in which the episode starts. It's not quite as bad as the loopy idea that had Samantha moving in with her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend! That strained credulity to the limits! This wasn't so bad, and did lead to some laughs. The most laughter, however, was generated by Jennifer Esposito who can make me laugh by just turning around and mugging the camera. She's fantastic.
House. Season 4, Episode 15. "House's Head" A remarkable hour of television. The episode starts with a badly-shaken House, in the aftermath of a horrific bus crash, trying to remember the hours leading up the crash, convinced that he saw something vital to someone's survival. It's a clever concept for a story, and the show gets an A+ from me for that alone. But the execution of the story is beyond superb. Many sequences are filmed like a stage play. A bare stage, almost, with people appearing and disappearing randomly as we are privy to what goes on inside the mind of Gregory House.
It's not the first time the show has taken us inside House's head, but it's the first time we've seen things in such a jumbled mess in there. Plus there are the methods that House uses to get in contact with his lost memories: hypnosis at one stage, an drug overdose at another stage. Amazing television.
The episode has many highlights. The lapdance by Cuddy being one of them. It's a series highlight, never mind an episode highlight(!), and it's one of the sexiest things I've ever seen on TV. Truly, this is the stuff that fantasies are made of. Kudos to Greg House for having such a great fantasy life. I loved the scene for many, many reasons. Not only because Lisa Edelstein has such an amazing body (she has!) but because she knew exactly how to do the dance (those close ups on her mischevious stare being one of the best things about the whole scene). Why, oh why, aren't these two characters hooked up on the show?
Great to see Ivana Milicevic having such a substantial role. I've been a huge fan since her days on Mind of The Married Man. She was given nothing to do in the most recent James Bond film, so it was cool to see her here.
And then there were the final few minutes of the episode.
Gut-wrenching does not adequately describe the impact of finding out who was on the bus with House, or the horror of watching the bus crash for the first time and seeing his fruitless attempts to keep her safe. It was awful. Painful. I love this character so so much, not just the actress but also the amazing character she plays and what she can bring to the dynamic of this wonderful show. And I will be utterly heartbroken if they kill her off in the next episode...
Lost. Season 4, Episode 11. "Cabin Fever" Another thrilling episode in this best-ever season of Lost. A lot of vital information in this one, and a lot of super-cool moments. This show (and this episode in particular) excels at "Wow, how cool is that" moments. The journey of Locke, Ben and Hugo afforded lots of this moments. "What happened to them?" Hugo asks about the dead bodies. "Him" says Locke, indicating Ben. Later on, we get to see Hugo and Ben sharing a candy bar in a (wordless and) wonderful scene. And how about Locke in the cabin? "How do I save the Island?" he askes. Who wasn't cheering when he asked that?
Highlight? How do I choose between House and Lost? Impossible. Lost had a slight edge, I suppose, but only slight.
Rules Of Engagement, Miss/Guided, Samantha Who?, Out Of Practice
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
06:30 Rules Of Engagement
07:00 Miss/Guided
07:30 Samantha Who?
08:00 Out Of Practice
Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 10. Very funny. Jeff arranges a week-end away for the two couples (because he gets his own trip paid for) and Russell has to wear Audrey's clothes to a meeting (Trust me, it makes sense in context. Sit-com sense.) Audrey, meanwhile, is overly conscious of being naked in front of Jennifer. All the plots generate laughs, the cast are on top form and you could not ask for a better episode of an old-fashioned sit-com.
Miss/Guided. Episode 3. Chris Parnell gets a lot of screen time in this one, so it's not just Judy Greer carrying the show this week. Parnell is funny, as his character tries to track down a mysterious blogger who has suggested that he may be gay. The episode contains one moment of sublime slapstick when the heroine is repeatedly whacked by a car door while trying to check her appearence in the car window, and - overall - it's a good, amusing episode. Also, like the central character, the show has it's heart in the right place. The closing conversation between Becky and one of her students shows that this sweet (somewhat unfortunate) lady teacher really does make a positive impression on the kids she looks after. Yay, Becky!
Samantha Who? Episode 11. Much better than last week. It's sadly lacking in laugh-out-loud moments, but a strong storyline has Timothy Olyphant showing up as a new suitor in Samantha's life.
Out Of Practice. Episode 17. Krista Allen (of What About Brian? and Baywatch) guests as a woman that both of the brothers are interested in. And a vague telephone message leads to confusion at a restaurant (in typical Out Of Practice fashion). It's very funny. And, unlike the usual episode, where random circumstances conspire against the brothers, this is a case where their sister sets it all up (to get revenge) and sits back to watch it all happen.
Highlight? Rules Of Engagement.
Samantha Who?, Dexter, Battlestar Galactica, Columbo, The Office, Corner Gas
Sat, Apr 12th, 2008
05:00 Samantha Who?
07:00 Dexter
08:00 Battlestar Galactica
09:00 Columbo
10:30 The Office
11:00 Corner Gas
Samantha Who? Episode 10. After a very funny start the episode gets too crazy to be believed. A crazy plot-device means that Samantha must move in with her ex-boyfriend and his new girl! Too silly for me. And, sadly, not funny at all. Definitely the weakest episode so far.
Dexter. Episode 11. Another killer episode. Dexter finally figures out who the Ice Truck Killer is. The way they did it was very clever. As much as I loved the storyline with Dexter I was really impressed with the other two storylines. Angel's marriage finally coming to an end in a low-key way and, in the episodes best scenes, Rita taking her kids to see their father in prison. Powerful drama.
Battlestar Galactica. Season 4, Episode 2. Another winner. Focus shifts to the Cylons in this episode. Tricia Helfer (playing her third ongoing character) is simply superb. And has never looked more beautiful. The developments within the Cylons are stunning. As are all the scenes between Adama and Starbuck. Some of the most intense drama this show has ever delivered. Likewise, the scene between Adama and Roslin. Who am I kidding? Every frakkin' scene was intense and dramatic!! Particularly the end with Adama and Starbuck. I loved it.
Columbo. Episode 3. Our hero goes up against an egotistic writer for the first episode that aired as part of the regular series. Columbo faces many kinds of foes, but my favourites are the arrogant ones. The ones that underestimate Columbo and try to bombard him with misleading imformation. Jack Cassidy gives a flawless performance as this type of foe, particularly in the jaw-dropping (when you first see it) final seconds. This is widely-regarded as the best-ever Columbo episode. I don't think it is. It's certainly not my favourite, but it is as flawless an episode of Columbo as you are ever likely to see, and serves as a perfect introduction to the character/formula.
The Office. Season 4, Episode 9 is disappointing. In striving to create the most awkward, uncomfortable dinner party ever seen, the show has crafted an awkward, uncomfortable episode instead. Jim and Pam raise laughs, yes. So does Dwight when he arrives (making a great entrance). But, in general, the endless scenes of Michael and Jan fighting were more sad than funny.
Corner Gas. Season 4, Episode 13. Another classic. The highlight being the storyline where Hank and Oscar are asked to take the town census (Hank and Oscar??). Aside from being completely incompent at the job, they end up acting like clichéd buddy cops (one tough, one a rookie). And it all ends with an inspired gag: "So how many people in town?" "About... 500." "Yeah, this town does have about 500 people."
Highlight? Dexter
Carnivàle, Damages, Entourage, Samantha Who?, The Closer
Tuesday, December 11th, 2007
07:30 The Closer
09:30 Samantha Who?
10:00 Damages
11:00 Carnivàle
12:00 Entourage
The Closer. Season 3, Episode 14/15. The best-dressed cops on TV investigate a more violent crime than is usual for them: two suspects rob an armoured car, killing most of the guards in the prospect. When the surviving guard flees across the country to Atlanta, four of the regular characters follow. And end up staying with Brenda's parents before all of six of them (plus criminal) take a four-day road trip back to LA.
There is much to admire in this show. The performances. Bill Heck is a great guest star. The seemless blending of comedy and drama. While there is much to laugh at, with the slapstick revolving around the criminal, there is a lot of genuinely sad and touching moments along the way, too. And, finally, the nature of the the types of story being told. On one hand you have a very exciting, very grim crime drama. And, on the other hand, you have some quality writing showcasing the sometimes difficult relationship between Brenda and her father/parents.
Samantha Who? Episode 9. The show that America has forgotten continues to produce quality comedy week-after-week. Samantha finally has sex. It might be obvious what lessons she is supposed to be learning this week, but the show takes a wonderful turn at the mid-point. Suddenly, it turns out that the wacky sub-plot (about her secretary) is themeatically the same!! This is a very skilfully written show. And - while this was not the funniest episode so far - it also a laugh-out-loud funny show.
Damages. Episode 12. Finally! Some answers. And, you know what, it all make sense now. How could we not have guessed. Everything that went down on the night that David died could really only have gone down that way. Not that that was obvious to us as the series was in progress. My comparisons to Veronica Mars and 24 still stand. VM gave us a season-long mystery every year with a resolution that (a) made perfect sense to the characters, (b) was perfectly obvious in hindsight. Ditto Damages. 24, meanwhile, has given us a tougher-than-tough protagonist scarred/changed by the death of a loved one and the betrayal of close friends. Ditto Damages. Ellen is now one of my fave TV characters. One episode left. Are they really going to kill Ellen off?
Carnivàle. Season 2, Episode 2. There is a theory that we watch some TV shows every week because they depict a nice place to go. Carnivàle fits the bill. Every week we get taken 1930s Dust Bowl America and we join a travelling carnival as they travel from two to town in poverty-ridden times trying to eek out a living. Sure, we also get to watch two supremely powerful supernatural beings prepare to do battle, but most of the time we are watching the carnival folk. And I love them. And the world that the show brings us into. The stunning Clea DuVall gets a lot to do in this episode, as she comes to terms with her mothers untimely death and tries to find a way to fit into carnival life without her meal ticket. Engrossing, and painful, to watch.
Entourage. Season 2, Episode 11. There is a theory that we watch some TV shows every week because they depict nice people we would like to hang out with. Entourage fits the bill. These four friends, plus Ari are somewhat disfunctional and they have a tendency to bicker a lot. But, at heart, they are decent people, trying very hard to look out for one another in a crazy environment. Well, maybe not Ari (who is still fearful of losing Vince to a rival agent). This is the episode where Johnny Drama plays Brook Shields brother and hugs her in an inappropriate way.
Highlight? Damages.
30 Rock, Carnivàle, Damages, Entourage, House, Samantha Who?
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007
07:30 Samantha Who?
08:00 House
09:00 30 Rock
09:30 Damages
11:30 Carnivàle
12:30 Entourage
Samantha Who? Episode 8. Samantha borrows her father's car, has a minor accident and decides to cover it up by making it appear that the car was stolen. Result? "Samantha Who?" delivers it's best episode so far. There hasn't been an episode yet that has been this laugh-out-loud funny, and there's hasn't been an episode yet that has had this much genuine heart.
Watching Andrea terrify Dena was a lot of fun, but the best bit of the entire episode was when Samantha stepped out of the car after telling her mother what she had done. Christina Applegate was so so perfect in this scene. Her every line of dialogue was a delight. Her facial expressions, her body language. She's amazing.
House. Episode 1. The opening twenty minutes or so are slow, and everyone looks way too young somehow, but the House formula is in place from the get-go and the case-of-the-week is very involving. I'd also forgotten just how gorgeous Cameron is/was with dark hair.
30 Rock. Season 2, Episode 2. I decided to give the most disappointing episode of this season (for me, anyway) a second whirl (in the company of someone who hadn't seen it) and I must admit that I stand by my first impressions. Storylines for Jack, Tracy and Jenna totally fail to raise laughs. The worst offender (least funny) is the storyline for Jack. His rival is trying to induce a heart attack? Maybe it's funny on paper, or with different actors or something, or I'm just missing the joke. Never mind, the season got better after this.
Damages. Episode 11. The tension ramps up to another level. And parts of the puzzle start to fall into place. Last week I compared the show to 24, but this time I was reminded of Veronica Mars as we watched the big puzzle start to make sense. Not completely make sense yet, of course, but it has started to fall into place.
After being months, then weeks, away from the murder of David (shown to us in the pilot) we are now mere days away. And the landscape has changed. Ellen is now outside the firm. She is also kicking ass, and taking names. And it's so exhilarating to watch.
Zeljko Ivanek dominates this episode and he is stunning. I've been a fan since his days on Homicide, watched him on 24 and Oz, but I've never been as affected by his performance as on this show. This episode. Like pretty much everything else on Damages, the audience is told very little about the relationship between Ray and Gregory. We've seen the sad ending to it, and the fallout from it will continue, but we never acutally saw the friendship until this episode. And now that we got to see it, it's every bit as beautiful and painful as every other story they are telling on this series. Born from lonliness and desperation it culimates with Ray makes a clumsy pass at a dis-interested Gregory on a quiet street one dark night. Magnificient in it's honestly and despair, it is a scene that will stay with the viewer long after viewing. In this scene, and in every other, Ivanek is amazing.
Carnivàle. Season 2, Episode 1. The first season kept Ben Hawkins and Brother Justin Crowe apart and ignorant of one another. This second season premier is all about setting the stage for their coming together. We open with the aftermath of the fire. Sofie's mother died in the fire and Professor Lodz died, too. Not in the fire, though. And Ben tries hard to come to terms with what he has done, while "The Management" tries to coerce him into following his destiny. Justin, however, gets more powerful and more scary.
Entourage. Season 2, Episode 10. "Aquaman" has gone into production and Vince has blurted out his feelings for his co-star. As they prepare for Ari's daughter's Bat Mitzvah, the boys (particularly Eric) try to cope with how this changes things. One of the joys of this show is the perfect blend of Hollywood Drama with Personal Drama and Johnny Drama. Right from the start of this season I've been worried for Vince and his feelings, and watching him boldly go after the (wrong) girl is rivetting stuff. Ari, meanwhile, sabotages his own daughter's big day in an effort to prevent another agent stealing his star client. And, in the c-story, Turtle and Johnny spend the big day searching for elusive food. Hilarious. A perfect blend of Hollywood Drama with Personal Drama and Johnny Drama.
Highlight? Damages.
Baywatch, Damages, House, Samantha Who?, Seinfeld
Thursday, November 29th, 2007
08:30 Damages
09:30 Samantha Who
10:00 House
11:00 Seinfeld
01:00 Baywatch
Damages. Episode 10 opens with another one of those gimmicky dream sequences they are so fond of. In this one poor doomed David thinks he is having sex with Patti (the 'evil' boss of the law firm). Okay, we get it. He thinks Ellen will turn into Patti. Hmm. Based on what happens later in this episode, he may have a point.
I love a lot of things about this show. I love all those conversations where we get to watch the characters spouting untruths and half-truths at each other. Case in point: Patti informs Ray at the start of this episode that Gregory Molina has been murdered. We know a lot more about Ray's relationship with Gregory than Patti does. Or so we think. Her parting comment makes it clear that she knows enough.
This is also the episode where Patti decides to dispense with Ellen. As she explains to Tom, Ellen was useful as a bridge to Gregory Miolina. He's dead. Ellen's out. Poor Ellen. I didn't warm to her at first. But, ten episodes in, I absolutely love her to bits. When she told Patti what was on her mind, I cheered at the screen and as she went out on her own (after being fired) and contacted the Deep Throat witness she was forbidden to speak to I was as excited as I would be watching Jack Bauer take on a team of terrorists. Even better than that: Seeing her confront the Deep Throat guy and see through his crap makes me admire, and root for, her all the more.
The same goes for Arthur Frobisher, the supposed bad-guy that Patti, Ellen and Tom (the good guys) have their sights on. This episode puts pay to the Arlington storyline. What exactly happened back there? We - the audience - are never told. We know that Patti and the gang think there was a cover-up. But we are never told. Maybe Frobisher was really just doing the right thing by the dead girl's family? Maybe he's a lot closer to the decent guy he, clearly, thinks he is than would first appear.
All this, and the shock accusations in the "present day" portion of the storyline. Did Patti really try to have Ellen killed? What the Frak is up with that? I don't know. But I do know that this is one of the most intelligent shows to grace televison this year.
Samantha Who. Episode 7 was the one where Samantha (the girl with amnesia) asked Todd (her ex-boyfriend) to coach her for a date with Kevin (a potential new boyfriend). And he did it. And it was achingly romantic to watch them together, before she headed off to win Kevin's heart. Sigh.
House. Season 4, Episode 9. This show has done arcs before. It has brought in new characters before. Used those characters in great storylines and then bid them adieu. It has done all of that before. But never, in four fantastic seasons, have they created such an amazing character as "Cuthroat Bitch". I can't believe she's gone. I really am heart-broken.
Seinfeld. Season 8, Episode 6 contains some of the most memorable imagery from the whole series. Frank (George's dad) talks about his days as a cook in Korea. And they whole thing is filmed as if it were a graphic war film. Even better, the scenes come back to haunt him in the shows final minutes and lead to an awesome climax. Those are some of my favourite images from the history of the show.
The bit under the closing credits is probably my second favourite one, ever, in the history of the show. George is standing up to deliver a speech. He has the wrong speech in his hands. Jason Alexander says very little. He mumbles a few words and with consumate comic skill checks and re-checks the papers in his hands. And it cracks me up each and every time I see it.
Baywatch. Episode 12. Three music montages and two strong plots indicate that the Baywatch formula is well in place at this stage in the run. The b-plot is nonsense (Eddie gets involved with car thieves) but it feeds brilliantly into the a-plot at the end of the episode and serves to bring about the resolution of that storyline. Great storytelling.
A short scene at the very start highlights the easy-going chemistry of David Hasselhoff and Parker Stevenson. Soon, a girl they once fought over is back in town and Mitch is falling in love all over again. Without taking the subject head on, the two best friends are soon fighting about other matters while those around them try to find a way to get them to sort it out. Well written and well played, this storyline is a winner from start to finish.
Highlight? House.
Damages, House, Samantha Who?, The Big Bang Theory, Two Guys And A Girl
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007
07:00 Two Guys And A Girl
07:30 Damages
08:30 Samantha Who
09:00 House
10:00 The Big Bang Theory
Two Guys And A Girl. Season 3, Episode 4. This is one of those shows I can watch over and over and it always makes me laugh out loud. Mostly because of Ryan Reynolds who totally cracks me up. In this episode, his girlfriend's ex-husband shows up, and tells him that she is violent and he should be afraid for his safety. Reynolds' delivery in some of his scenes inspires genuine awe. He is a genius.
But, having said that, I must add that the other cast members are frequently fantastic, too. Traylor Howard has a few great scenes in this episode. At one stage, her character stands on a chair at work and gives a wonderful passionate (but somewhat misleading) speech to everyone, and it's pretty much the highlight of the episode.
Damages. Episode 9. The web of deceipt and lies gets even more tangled. We see Patti in the "present day" portion of the story and she is not in good shape. What the frak is going on?
Samantha Who? Episode 6. When the new Bionic Woman was shown to be an idiot in the kitchen, it was annoying and was enough to convince me to stop watching that (horrible) show. But, when we see Sam setting fire to her kitchen, and poisoning herself, it has a completely different effect. It's not just funny, but it plays wonderfully into the character.
House. Season 4, Episode 8. Ever since his appearances as a magician on Night Stand, I've been a fan of Steve Valentine. And, to my delight, he pops up on House playing... a magician. (If he had shouted "Thank YOU!" to camera it would have been even more perfect. Man, I wish I'd kept my tapes of Night Stand. It was awesome. How can you not love a show that gives you angry black filmmaker Tupac Zemeckis?). Valentine's character, and his magic tricks, is brilliantly used to set up the common thread for all plotlines: "What's better? Knowing or not knowing?" Which comes to startling fruition when we finally get the Big Reveal about Number Thirteen and her secret. Giving Olivia Wilde a chance to prove her acting chops. Finally. Plus, when she drugged House and tied him up, I took notice of her properly for the first time. Majorly. She's no "Cutthroat Bitch" but she has potential.
And speaking of that particular lady, when the Fall Season of 2007 is remembered by future generations, will it be for the debut of Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who, Cavemen? Will it be remembered as the Season that started the long strike? Maybe it will be for the debut of "Cuthroat Bitch": the best regular House has ever had, and pretty much the best character on any show at the moment. Her every utterance in this episode was a delight. This character is a goldmine. Maybe TV's best new character since... Gregory House.
And how about the multiple twists in that ending? Seriously. I'm just so shocked by who eventually got fired. I did NOT see that coming.
Wow, what a show.
The Big Bang Theory. Episode 8. I had planned on saving this last episode until next week, but I was out-voted. Kunal Nayyar took centre-stage. It was hilarious. Now, let's get this strike thing sorted and get these guys back in front of the cameras. Fast!
Highlight? House.
Back To You, Cavemen, Damages, Extras, Friday Night Lights, House, My Boys, Rules Of Engagement, Samantha Who?
Thursday, November 15th, 2007
05:30 Friday Night Lights
06:30 Damages
07:30 My Boys
08:00 House
09:00 Samantha Who?
09:30 Back To You
10:00 Rules Of Engagement
11:00 Extras
11:30 Cavemen
Friday Night Lights. Episode 22. For once, the football drama that doesn't usually feature many football scenes devoted lots and lots of the episode to "The Big Game". And, we got to see some of the plotlines we've been following all season come to fruition. Others, strangely, just faded away. So, on one hand, I was delighted to see so much quality time devoted to the Taylors and a couple of great conversations between Tyra Collette and Lyla Garrity, on the other hand I was disappointed that the Lyla-Jason romance/break-up got almost no screen-time. Neither did the Tyra-Lance (I mean Landry) storyline. Had this been a series finale, it would have sucked, but it wasn't. And it was a cool episode devoted almost exclusively to Eric Taylor.
Damages. Episode 8. In the middle of this tangled web of lies and double lies, we get to Larry's story. Larry has been secretly working with the bad guy all along and in this episode, this information is brought to the attention of Patty Hewes. And, in what is definitely Patty's best scene so far, she goes to his house and takes him down, right in front of his family. Awesome. Meanwhile, after an episode of enduring the The Worst Assistant Ever, Ellen finally grows a pair and (in another very cool scene) fires him. Sure, it's probably a sad moment, since it's symbolic of her selling her soul or something, but it was still cool to watch. A great episode. My only complaint? The actual mechanism of getting Patty to find out that Larry was a double agent was a bit clumsy and simplistic for a show this complex. We are asked to believe that Ray Fiske, a very clever guy, would fall into her trap that easily and mention the exact amount of money she mentioned to Larry earlier? I don't think so.
My Boys. Episode 22. The best new sit-com of 2006/7 ended it's first run with one of the best season finales I have ever seen. It was funny, it had heart, it gave all the regulars something important to do, it brought back several characters from earlier episodes and - most important - it faded to black on a truly awesome cliff-hanger.
House. Season 4, Episode 7. The a-story was called "ugly" and it featured a disfigured boy. The b-story looked at House's inability to get past the good looks of his beautiful co-workers. When described it sounds gauche, yet the exection was flawless from start to finish and the result/juxtaposition made for another perfect episode of House.
Samantha Who? Episode 5. While this was the weakest installment so far, it was still very funny, and Samantha was still utterly adorable as she set out to resolve her "Daddy-issues".
Back To You. Episode 7. Once again, the writers find a clever way to keep the characters together in a non-work setting. And, since this is a very funny emsemble, it leads to a lot of laughs as they chase a raccoon around a suburban house. Patricia Heaton has started to grow on me, I must admit, but the star of the show is always Ty Burrell.
Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 8. While not the best episode so far, this is probably the first where all the storylines were equally good. My favourite was Russell's: he stayed in an elevator for several days to meet a cute girl he had spied, everyone he met thought this was a really romantic gesture, but when he met the girl again, he was maced for his trouble. But, across the board, this episode generated a lot of laughs. And it's great to see a battle-of-the-sexes storyline that doesn't rely on Jeff behaving like a dimwit for the first twenty minutes to keep it in motion.
Extras. Season 2, Episode 6. Not with a bang, but with a whimper? Wow. While there was still a lot to enjoy here, this series finale of Extras ended things in a very ordinary way. The Robert De Niro cameo was cool, but the storyline of the sick kid didn't deserve all those scenes. It basically took up the whole episode, when all the laughs for it were in the first scene. Disappointing, to say the least. One duff episode? And it's the last one!
Cavemen. Episode 5. Oh, dear. A major backward slide with the least funny episode so far. Nick was annoying and Joel was boring in this one. Andy's story, however, got some laughs thanks to the incredibly hot Stephanie Lemelin. Andy, she discovers, has quite a lot of road rage and it gets her in the mood very fast whenever he cuts loose. Andy, of course, is oblivious to this. Lots of laughs to be had, leading to my favourite line in the episode: "Why don't we wait out all this traffic? Pull into one of these cheap motels!"
Highlight? My Boys.
House, My Boys, Samantha Who?, Seinfeld, The Bionic Woman, Timeslip
Friday, November 9th, 2007
07:00 The Bionic Woman
08:00 Seinfeld
08:30 Samantha Who?
09:00 House
10:00 My Boys
12:30 Timeslip
The Bionic Woman. Season 2, Episode 14. Deserves to be considered a classic for six reasons. First, Lindsay's performance. She gives every scene her full conviction and commitment. This is remarkable. She is largely playing all her scenes alone and, despite the apparently limited story setting, she is asked to convey a large range of emotions. Jaime goes through a lot in this episode. A lots of highs and lows, a lot of pain, a lot of terror and frustration and pity and sorrow and fear. Lindsay nails every one of them. And it's a joy to watch.
Second, the setting. A large computer complex/compound which is 8 levels in depth and several miles in area. Third, the story. Jaime goes up against a computer. Fourth, the scope. The story takes the whole world to the brink of doom and - despite the arrogance of trying such a feat - actually manages to convey what it sets out to do. Kudos to Kenneth Johnson, who wrote, directed and produced. He clearly had a vision. And he executed it.
Fifth, the voice. Alex 7000, the computer that Jaime goes up against, has a haunting voice. Perfect casting: Guerin Barry. Sixth, the ending(s). The episode has three endings. A false one, which leads to a twist I did not see coming. A ending for the action-adventure portion of things. And, a downbeat thoughtful ending. This, of course, is the best.
Seinfeld. Season 8, Episode 1. Susan is dead and George can move on with his life. Not! Thanks to a well chosen "Star Trek" quote from Jerry in the graveyard, George finds himself dogged by the legacy of Susan. Literally. A great start to the first non-Larry-David season. Any doubts/worries we had back then soon disappear and this season contains some of my favourite episodes/moments/ideas.
Samantha Who? Episode 4. I'm more in love with the character, the actress and the show than ever. Samantha doesn't remember ever having sex, so she sets out (with help from her best friend, mother and stalker) to have some. The show never puts a foot wrong. The laughs come hard and fast, the sentiments are honest and the simmering love-story-arc gets better every week.
House. Season 4, Episode 6. With two fascinating A-plots, there was enough material here for two seperate episodes. Or a two-hour episode. Man, it was good. This was the episode that pushed Andy Comeau's Brennan ahead of "cutthroat bitch" to be my favourite new character and then, in the closing the seconds, the show pulling a truly stunning twist ending. And he's gone. Bang! You're out! Meanwhile, the other A-plot ending up by... pulling a truly stunning twist ending. And we've a fascinating new regular character. For a show to make you go "Wow!" outloud at the end of the story is remarkable. To do it twice, within two minutes... Well, that's just showing off, that is.
My Boys. Episode 21. The best new sitcom of last season. Ahead of Notes From The Underbelly and 30 Rock. Two plots, continued from last week, drive this episode: Andy is still depressed over the arrival of his second child, and what it means for his life in suburbia. Meanwhile, the awesome Michael Landes (from Special Unit 2) is somewhat awesome as he tried to fit in with gang. This show never fails to nail real life situations. And the scene where Evan (Landes) tried to fit it, while totally failing to get the rhythm of the gang, was one of the best written and best played I've seen in the show.
Timeslip. Series 2, Episode 2. Time-travelling teens Liz and Simon (think Hermione Granger and Harry Potter) return from their mini-adventure 20 years into their own future. Aside from the cool gimmick of time-travel, the strength of this series is the well-written characters. And none is better than Commander Traynor the bad good-guy (anti-hero? or possible villain, who knows?). The episode takes place in the present day. Liz's parents have forbidden any more excursions through the time-barrier and forgidden Traynor to have contact with the children. There are lot of well-written conversations between various characters are they deal with the absurdities of the things that have happened, and as Liz and Simon appear to grow closer romantically, but the episode is dominated by the performance of Denis Quilley as Traynor attempts to manipulate three of the other regulars, so that he can get the kids back into the future again. The multiple manipulation in the morning scene alone is magnificent to watch.
Highlight? House. (Even with The Bionic Woman and Timeslip both being brilliant, there is absolutely no contest. House rules!)
Batman, Damages, House, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, My Boys, Samantha Who?, She-Wolf Of London, The Big Bang Theory
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
06:30 The Big Bang Theory
07:00 Samantha Who
07:30 Damages
08:30 My Boys
09:00 House
10:00 Kolchak: The Night Stalker
12:00 She-Wolf Of London
01:00 Batman
The Big Bang Theory. Episode 6. The four guys get invited to a Halloween party. The episode plays out much as you would expect, with our four nerds dropped into the midst of normal people. A lot of the gags hit their mark, with Jim Parsons being particularly funny. Leonard gets a kiss from Penny, too.
Samantha Who. Episode 3. Samantha heads to a wedding in this outing. Her amnesia means she's forgotten who any of these people are (or why they hate her) but that don't stop irrepressible Samantha. She is so so adorable. And the ending to the episode is a stunner. Her ex-boyfriend (possibly waking up to the fact that this is a New Samantha) stares at a picture he took at the wedding. As he gazes at the computer screen, his finger hovers over the "delete" button. Will he delete? Won't he? Freeze Frame: All over. Clever, but "What the frak did he do?" Hmm. I wonder is this how Sopranos fans felt...
Damages. Episode 7. The absolute best episode yet. Most of Damages is filled with events from months ago, with occasional flashes from "now": the end of the story. This time out, however, we get a lot more scenes in the "now" portion of things, as poor Ellen explains how she was attacked and nearly killed, and how she then found her boyfriend's body. Just prior to being arrested. These scenes fill in a lot of information about the end of the story. Like, who's alive and around and who Ellen trusts. Or who she appears to trust. Like always, on this fantastic show, all is not what it appears to be.
My Boys. Episode 20. One of the best shows they have done. The gang hit the suburbs for a barbeque. Andy gets a shock or two: he's gonna be a dad, and he's grown up to be just like his own dad. While the show is hyterically funny (as evidenced by this episode) what makes it something special is it's accurate observations on real life, and real life situations. Andy's story here has a great poignancy. Jim Gaffigan proves that he's not just the scene-stealing funniest guy on the show, when he tones it down and plays it straight he's a good actor, too.
House. Season 4, Episode 5. A patient whose personality mirrors that of the person he's talking to? Brilliantly played by Frank Whaley (and not Woody Allen, heh heh) the character is used to give us fascinating insights into all the new regulars who've joined the cast this year. This means I now find Andy Comeau's character interesting for the first time. Even better, at episode's end, House fired none of them, so they all return next time. Which suits me fine, cos I love them all at this stage. And, on the subject of lovable regulars, it was fantastic to see Foreman back on the team and sparring with House. Missed him. Their final scene, where they walked off together, discussing the new team members, was absolutely brilliant.
Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Las Vegas, 1972, and a series of odd murders attract the attention of veteran newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak. Bit by bit, Carl realises that the culprit is more than human, displaying all the classic characteristics of a vampire. Most of the scenes are stuffy boring press conferences. Boring for Carl, not for the viewer. Wit and humour and great performances keep the movie in the A+ range from start to finish, and what we get is the story of a man fighting the people who hold the reins of power. There is a vampire, there are action scenes, and there is a very scary climax. But, the story for me has always been about Carl and the city fathers. Those who know what is going on, and will do anything to keep Carl silent. The end is as bleak as any I have ever scene. And when Carl says "Tell yourself that it couldn't happen here" I know that it could.
She-Wolf Of London. Episode 1. The story that introduced Randi and Ian, investigators of the paranormal years before Mulder and Scully made it cool. Randi arrives in England (July, 1989) to study with a reknowned professor (Ian). She also, unfortunately, gets attacked by a werewolf, and - next full moon - turns into one herself. She and Ian track down the original werewolf by the end of the episode, but they are no closer to finding her a cure. So they place their newspaper ad (an ad that will launch their further adventures). The initial werewolf attack is brief, but scary. The werewolf rampage that dominates the mid-point of the episode is fantastic, however. Great filming, editing and stuntwork combine to make something special. Special, too, is the enormous chemistry between stars Kate Hodge and Neil Dickson. He looks like he wants to drink her up, and I would not blame him. Great casting, wonderful pilot.
Batman. Episode 23. It's a dark, stormy night (they always are, in the best Batman episodes) and an informant is being moved by boat. There's an explosion and the guy disappears. Evidence suggests that Detective Bullock (suspected of being on the take) might be responsible. There's more rainfall, more lightning flashes across the night sky, and lots of detective work from Batman. Another criminal disappears, and again it looks as if Bullock might be guilty. Doing away with anyone that might link him to crime boss Thorne. Even Batman thinks so. But, then, there's no love lost between these two. Another villain is actually responsible (making his first appearence on the show) and Batman takes a while to figure it all out in this good episode from early in the show's run.
Highlight? Damages.
Damages, Extras, House, Logan's Run, Samantha Who?, The Big Bang Theory
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007
07:30 The Big Bang Theory
08:00 Damages
09:00 Samantha Who
09:30 House
10:30 Logan's Run
11:30 Extras
The Big Bang Theory. Episode 5. We get to see where Penny works for the first time. Leonard, meanwhile, shares a night of matter-of-fact passion with fellow scientist Leslie. Leslie's second episode is funnier than her first, but the highlights of the episode are Leonard's attempts to decipher Penny's innocent comments for hidden meanings.
Damages. Episode 6. Lots of surprises in this outing. David seems to be falling into the clutches of a psycho, and an attempt is made on Gregory's life from an unlikely source. But the episode belongs to Ted Danson who gives a stunning performance when his character wrestles with his self-image and decides to write a memoir to correct the public's mis-conception of him.
Samantha Who. Episode 2. The top-rated new show of the season hits another one out of the ballpark. Applegate is funnier than I've ever seen. And Samantha is an absolutely adorable (and somewhat manic) character. My favourite parts are whenever she makes her point and then speaks for a little bit too long: "By the time you and I are out of court this place is going to be called Chapman, Funk and Newly. Or just Funk and Newly. [pause] Newly and Funk. [pause] Either way." Dialogue like that is delivered with pitch-perfect gusto from Applegate. Her performance, plus snappy writing, make this an unmissable show. Samantha is the craziest heroine we've had on TV in quite a while. It's great.
House. Season 4, Episode 4. One of my favourite new regulars bites the dust in a good episode about a woman seeing ghosts. The reasoning behind House's dismissal of Henry made perfect sense and the two of them were in perfect sync right up to the end. I'll miss Henry, he brought a whole new dynamic to House's relationship with his team-members. Oh, and it's great to see Cameron back for several scenes. But my heart went out to Foreman as he realised nobody wants him. Because he's... too much like House.
Logan's Run. Episode 3. Logan must team up with his enemy Francis when both of them are hunted through the wilderness by a crazy couple. There's lots of running through the woods, good guest performances from Mary Woronov & Horst Buchholz, but the best parts of the episode are the conversations between Logan and Francis. They debate the ethics of the City of Domes that Logan escaped from, and make promises to one anther that (suprisingly) are honoured in an excellent conclusion.
Extras. Season 2, Episode 5. Ian McKellen guest-stars and Andy has major problems appearing in a "gay play" but the episode highlight occurs early on when Andy tries to chat up a passing woman (to prove a point) and ends up shoving an exploding bottle of sparkling water into his own mouth.
Highlight? House.
K-Ville, Reaper, Rules Of Engagement, Samantha Who?, The Big Bang Theory
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
07:30 The Big Bang Theory
08:00 K-Ville
09:00 Rules Of Engagement
11:30 Samantha Who
12:00 Reaper
The Big Bang Theory. Episode 4. A funny episode, revolving around Sheldon (Jim Parsons), is stolen by Laurie Metcalf (from Roseanne) as his mom. I've noticed that the show is generally better when Kaley Cuoco is on-screen. As funny as the four guys are, the show becomes better when she's on screen as a contrast to them. It's great to see (almost) no mention of the potential romance with Leonard this week.
K-Ville. Episode 4. Why does nobody like old-fashioned action cop shows any more? Four episodes in and this is pretty much my favourite show of the new season (tied with Pushing Daisies). Trevor Cobb is definitely the season's best new character: an ex-convict pretending to be a cop to make amends for his past.
In this episode he gives some of his ill-gotten gains to a deserving young woman (Amanda Righetti from Reunion), but the plan backfires: the money is marked and she gets arrested. How does he clear her, without revealing his secret? His partner, meanwhile, must try to find forgivness in his heart for what his former partner did (deserting when Katrina hit New Orleans). My favourite part of the episode was the resolution of this storyline, when the two guys met for a drink in a local bar and made no reference to the former animosity between them. They were in a bar, having a beer: nothing more needed to be said. I find that to be more true to the way men behave than those guys over on Big Shots.
Finally, this episode has an awesome chase sequence.
Rules Of Engagement. Season 2, Episode 4. The funniest episode so far. Hilarious. The stuff between Jeff and Audrey was straight out of "Men Are From Mars...", instead of contrived nonsense about t-shirts or snoring, and it was all the better for it. Meanwhile Bianca Kajlich looked hotter than she's ever looked on the show. If I get time, I'll watch this episode again this week.
Samantha Who. Episode 1. A great pilot. One of the best of the season. Fast moving and funny. Finally, after the unwatchable Jesse, a show that I can watch Christina Applegate in again! She is a very talented funny lady and I've missed her since Married With Children.
Reaper. Episode 3. The weakest outing so far. Sam pines for Andi and... does nothing about it.
Highlight? Rules Of Engagement.
