Friday, October 9th, 2009
05.00 Community
05.30 The Vampire Diaries
06.30 Defying Gravity
07.30 Warehouse 13
09.00 FlashForward
Community. Episode 4. "Social Psychology" Shirley and Jeff bond (over gossip), while Annie uses her friends as test subjects.
Some good laughs and some nice observations (friendship formed using gossip about others to full the awkward silences in chit-chat). It's not exactly fresh observations, but they are honest and (carried by this cast) the show is likable.
The Vampire Diaries. Episode 5. "You're Undead to Me" Car-wash episode.
Lots happens in this episode and all of it is good. Very good, in fact.
It's very cool that Bonnie's powers are growing, but the show (wisely) makes it cooler by letting Stefan see the event.
This is also the episode where Elena starts putting the clues together. A sign that she's no fool, and a sign that the show isn't afraid to move this forward at a brisk pace.
Defying Gravity. Episode 5. "Rubicon" The mission reaches the point of no return.
Another slow-moving and deep episode. Man, for anyone willing to think about they stuff they are seeing this is a rewarding show. For the second week in a row, the case-of-the-week is actually quite good.
But this show is about the characters and the over-arc mystery. And, let's face it, both are superb.
Warehouse 13. Episode 6. "Burnout" Learning the fates of two former agents.
Another pretty solid case of the week, with the added bonus of a former agent adding her experience into the mix. Although the pilot would never indicate it, this show has quite a talent for good self-contained stories every week.
FlashForward. Episode 3. "137 Sekunden" Mark and Janis go to Germany.
This is dreadful. Horrible rubbish.
Mark and Janis must make a deal with a Nazi war criminal, which leads to scenes of discussion about the morality of it all. Like you've seen on a hundred other movies and TV shows. It can be an example weak, obvious storytelling on a poor show, but it shows up here as particularly bad when you consider that these particular heroes are investigating a world-wide crisis. At least that what the viewers at home are thinking. The characters in the show, based on this plot and others, seems to have lost sight of that fact.
This particular viewer at home (when it came time for the bit about the crows) was also thinking: well, here's one show I won't be watching ever again.
Highlight? The Vampire Diaries (lots happens in this episode)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Community, The Vampire Diaries, Defying Gravity, Warehouse 13, FlashForward
