06.00 Rules Of Engagement
07.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
09.00 Damages
10.00 24
11.00 The Twilight Zone
11.30 The Famous Five
Rules Of Engagement. Season 3, Episode 1. "Russell's Secret" Russell and Audrey share a common interest in musical theatre.
Maybe the show is going to rein things in a bit in the third season? Most episodes are driven by Jeff doing something really stupid and - by the end - learning his lesson. This time out, things are not quite so extreme. He's still in the wrong, and he stills learns a lesson, but none of it is quite as over the top.
It's still funny, though. I was laughing from start to finish. It's good to have the show back.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 15. "Desert Cantos" The gang attend the funerals for those that worked in the factory.
Must better than the previous two episodes, but still a long way from the brilliance of... every other episode. I'm not sure what has happened to the mojo, but it seems to be gone.
On the plus side, this is a rare episode that features all four regulars on-camera together. At once. Working like a unit again.
As usual, the story (such as it is) is told with style and flair. There's nothing here that's particular bad or weak, it's just that the while episode is very unremarkable and bland.
Damages. Season 2, Episode 8. "They Had to Tweeze That Out of My Kidney" Patti and Tom start to put pressure on the hooker to tell them about the guy she was arrested with.
Brilliant from start to finish. Driven by insights into Patti, Pete and Frobisher.
Patti. We get to see a more human side to Patti in this episode. We see her flashing back to her childhood and being very nice to Pete. We also get to see (in the episode's big revelation) her appearing to be totally terrified of Ellen.
Pete. He didn't die after all, so we get to see him being very defiant (once again) to the FBI guys. We also get to see the return of the guy that came after Ellen, last season, and a brilliant sequence where she nearly meets up with him again.
Frobisher. This guy continues to be utterly fascinating. He's like a big spoiled child most of the time, and this episode shows him being pulled back in by the web he set in motion last season. Being pulled back... against his will.
24. Season 7, Episode 11. "6PM - 7PM" Jack enters the White House to interrogate a suspect.
Another example of 24 at it's best. Jack going it alone to protect those close to him. The sight of him pulling a gun on Bill is almost hilarious. But it works. In fact, as the episode came to a conclusion we can see that it totally make sense: Jack is behind bars but Bill is still free to move around.
The torture scenes are fantastic, as is the debate that follows. And, let's face it, it shouldn't be. It should be boring and anti-climatic because we want the story to advance. But it's neither of those things. Instead the show manages to complete grip us as we watch the President come to terms with her evolving morals. Fantastic stuff.
Agent Walker proves more than capable to sustaining a plotline on her own as she goes after the terrorise group and maintains our interest. I wonder, however, if this is a dead-end storyline. Why good can she accomplish? It's not like she can do anything to avert the attack.
Even Janis manages to be interesting this week, when she goes up against Chloe and wins. Boo, hiss!
But the main appeal of this episode comes from watching Jack (who we know is right) being stopped by characters (who we know are in deadly danger). They are struggling with their morals (some are downright weak) and Jack is living in a world of black and white. They criticise him, look down on him, and - ultimately - imprison him. Yet, we know that - within minutes they will be looking to him to save their lives.
A great episode.
The Twilight Zone. Season 3, Episode 6. "Memories" What if everyone remembered the past lives?
Another strong, interesting story. It asks a very compelling question: what if we remembered all of our past lives, what would our current life be like? And gives a very surprising answer.
Enjoyable tale, with a great cast (Barbara Stock and Nigel Bennett) but it lacks a catalyst to get things started. Our heroine just wakes up one morning and finds that reality has changed around her. Now, she is the only one who doesn't remember a past life and everybody else does. And that's fine. But, I couldn't help but wonder why this happened to her? And why on this particular morning? What was different?
The Famous Five. Episode 3. "Five Go Adventuring Again" The Five have a tutor to keep them company over the holidays.
Once again the great music on the soundtrack increases my enjoyment of the show. Because this is an adaptation of a novel, the pace is frantic. Scenes are short (very short) and the story is very entertaining. The fast pace is not a flaw, but given the space devoted to character development in the first two episodes, one does wish that this had been a two parter, also, so that we might get a little more time to watch the children just interating. As opposed to simply saying things that advance the story.
But, again, that is not a flaw. This is a very enjoyable story, and the fast pace is part of the appeal. The bits that have been left in (by Richard Carpenter, no less) have been wisely chosen and you are always fully up to date on the (reasonably) complex story.
In terms of the characters, Julian is firmly shown here as the leader of the group but George is easily the strongest personality. Anne and Dick fade into the background somewhat since there is so much going on.
Highlight? 24 (Jack is stopped from doing his thing, as danger looms)
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Wed, Mar 4, 09 - Rules Of Engagement, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Damages, 24, Twilight Zone, Famous Five
