Friday, August 21st, 2009
06.30 Michael And Michael Have Issues
07.00 In Plain Sight
08.00 Burn Notice
Michael And Michael Have Issues. Episode 2. "Biederman's Birthday" Buying drugs.
A much stronger plot than episode 1, and a much funnier episode. Michael Ian Black's attempt to buy drugs in the park leads to his arrest and sets up the comedy highlights for later in the episode: Black shows up at the home of Michael Showalter at 4am (Michael Showalter ran out on him during the arrest) for a 'friendly chat', and - even funnier - Black then forces Showalter to attempt a middle-of-the-night drug buy. The buy goes great, but there are other unexpected results...
In Plain Sight. Season 2, Episode 14. "Once a Ponzi Time" A rich guy joins Witsec and gives all his money away. For this, Mary calls him a 'dumb ass'.
Once again, here's a great story that could only be told on In Plain Sight. James Frain (who was great on 24) plays a formerly wealthy man who tries to live a simple life. His wife vows to stand by him. That, in itself, is the makings of an interesting story. But it doesn't quite work out and the story of how it all plays out instead has several twists, the last of which is a real doozy. Even though the 'clue' was there, I totally didn't predict it. Nice work Alexander Cary and John Mankiewicz.
As much fun as the story is, there is even more fun to be had from watching Mary deal with her partner and her boyfriend. Now that Rafael knows what her job is, it opens up a whole new set of problems. One of them being her partner's unhappiness that she told his secret too... The other one being Rafael's ability to stop anyone else from finding out.
The episode end with a great conversation between Mary and her partner. Everything is painful and vague. Something the show does really well. And something which contrasts really well with their great case-of-the-week stories.
One of the best shows on TV.
Burn Notice. Season 3, Episode 9. "Long Way Back" There's a guy in town who wants to kill Fiona.
There are about twenty things in any given episode of BN that are great. And one of the best is the troubled Michael-Fiona relationship. Making her "the client" for an episode is just what the show needed right now (as she prepares to leave town, and walk out of Michael's life).
Two of this season's recurring characters meet their end in this episode (one of them dies by Michael's hand in a very satisfying scene) and it's pretty much one of the strongest episodes the show has delivered. In a season that has been, without doubt, the best one yet.
Episode highlights? Anytime the script (by Craig S. O'Neill) calls for Jeffrey Donovan and Gabrielle Anwar to gaze into one anther's eyes with love and passion and pain and confusion...
Highlight? Burn Notice (Michael and Fiona)
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
Yet Another TV Review Book
Yet Another Film Review Blog
Follow Me on Twitter
A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Michael And Michael Have Issues, In Plain Sight, Burn Notice
