07.00 Flight Of The Conchords
08.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
10.00 Damages
11.00 24
12.00 Night Court
Flight Of The Conchords. Season 2, Episode 8. "New Zealand Town" Hair Gel.
A superb and very funny episode which - almost completely - revolves around the band. There is a subplot about the Prime Minister, which is also very, very funny and has a guest shot from Lucy Lawless, but the main thrust of this outing tells us what happens to the boys when they discover (and, later, becomes addicted to the effects of) hair gel. Hair gel, you see, makes them 'cool' and gets them to a place where people actually attend their gigs.
I loved this episode not just because it was very funny (and had great songs) but also because it was created around the boys, and they were central to the story/humour.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 17. "Ourselves Alone" Riley dies.
The first absolutely superb episode since #12. #'s 13 and 14 were awful, while #'s 15 and 16 were lacklustre. This, however, is every bit as good as the best episodes that the show has delivered. And when this show is good, it's bloody great.
The behaviour of Cameron is a large part of the appeal of this episode. Whether alone, with Riley or with John, every thing she says and does is fascinating. Can we trust her?
Riley's (tragic) story comes to a very satisfying conclusion in this episode. Leven Rambin has been a great addition to the cast and I'll miss her. Having a fight to the death between two recurring characters is very exciting, very clever writing. There's no way to predict which one will get killed.
Jesse is proving to be quite the baddie. I presume she'll be found out, and dealt with, before the end of this season leaving Catherine Weaver for any potential third season. Which, of course, won't happen due to dire ratings.
Finally, I liked this episode because there's nothing here about Sarah being obsessed or nuts and there's nothing to suggest that her team/squad don't trust her and won't follow her anywhere. That ongoing subplot/idea has been my least favourite aspect of the series, and I prefer episodes like this that don't touch upon it.
Damages. Season 2, Episode 10. "Uh Oh, Out Come the Skeletons" One of the FBI guys gets killed.
Lots to enjoy here. The episode is a big turning point for Claire Maddox. When the episode starts she's devoted to Kendrick and happy that her life has been worthwhile. By the end of the episode she knows that she has been working for a criminal. It's a major turning point for a major character and the show accomplishes it with ease. Conflict with her father to cement her world view (for us) and a revelation from a character she trusts to shake her world.
Meanwhile, the two FBI guys get more and more interesting as one of them gets himself killed.
And, in the 'future' we see Patti leaving the apartment after the shooting...
Again, I have to wonder... how can we possibly reach that point in time with only a couple of episodes left...
24. Season 7, Episode 13. "8PM - 9PM" Bill dies.
Damn. I really thought was safe after they teased us with his life in danger during the final episode. When he was running around the corridors of the White House, leading the bad guys away from the President, I feared that his days were numbered. He survived. And I relaxed.
Consequently, his heroic death in this chapter totally took me by shock.
Bastards.
What a great show.
I love the way they kept the dead body on screen for several long minutes, with Jack holding vigil beside his friend. As if the producers were saying "We mean it. He's really dead. It's not like Tony."
Anyway, what else happened...
This is the episode that started off with Jack and the President prisoners in the White House. After killing the bad guy, Jack is taken into custody and Renee Walker goes behind her Superior's back and gets Jack a shot at interrogating Ryan Burnett. However, once he gets to the hospital, Jack is framed for Burnett's murder and finds himself on the run...
Amid all that frantic action, there are many superb scenes. Bill's sacrifice, of course, is the highpoint of the episode. But it's awesome to see Agent Walker becoming more and more integral to the world of 24, by ensuring that Jack gets a chance to bring this crisis to a resolution. Jeffrey Nordling has some terrific scenes in this episode. There's even a scene where Jack Bauer does something funny!! Moss threatens to put a stop this his questioning/antic and Jack gives him a "Yeah, right" look that is simply priceless. All the better, because Jack/24 never ever does moments like this. The humour usually comes from Chloe and... nobody else.
And then we get to the twist (a hitman climbs out of the ceiling, frames Jack for murder and climbs back into the ceiling!!). It's a fantastic twist. Totally absurd and crazy but, to the show's credit, it totally works. Even though it would be more suitable to a crazy show like Prison Break.
I don't care. Jack Bauer is back on the run again. Some of the show's best moments have come from times like these.
Night Court. Episode 10. "Some Like It Hot" Yakov Smirnoff guests as a guy who might set himself on fire.
Another serious story, with a decent quota of laughs. Harry tries to bond with a man, even though they do not speak the same language.
The best laughs come from Dan's attempts to visit the bathroom while handcuffed to Liz.
Highlight? 24 (Bill dies a heroic death)
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Thu, Mar 12, 09 - Flight Of The Conchords, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Damages, 24, Night Court
