Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
05.00 Cougar Town
05.30 The Closer
01.00 House
02.00 Castle
Cougar Town. Episode 1. "Pilot" Jules must track down a kid who has been stealing sexy posters of her (and her amazing cleavage).
Hilarious opening episode with a whole bunch in instantly likable characters. Courteney Cox is a hoot. Funny and likable from the moment she appears on-screen.
The Closer. Season 5, Episode 7. "Strike Three" Brenda and Raydor clash while investigating cop deaths involving the shooting of a civillian.
Mary McDonnell is superb (that's a given) and in the character of Sharon Raydor the writers/producers have given her a character worthy of her considerable talents. Raydor is in constant conflict with Brenda and her team, but for reasons that make sense and allow the viewer to sympathise with Raydor, while simultaneously feeling the (justified) frustration of the regulars. It's a balancing act. And the show completely succeeds in pulling it off.
The final conversation between Raydor and Brenda is worth the price of admission.
House. Season 6, Episode 2. "Epic Fail" Foreman takes charge, and must deal with a patient constantly posting his symptoms on the Internet.
A big come down from last week's good premiere. Whereas the previous week's change-of-pace departure-from-formula felt fresh and different, this week's attempt to do exactly the same thing feels like threading water. A time-wasting exercise to keep the viewer waiting for the (eventual) return to the formula/team we know is coming.
The delaying tactic this week is that House has resigned and is turning his skills to cooking instead. He's leaving medicine behind. It's logical (and fun) that he would turn out to be a genius chef. But little else about this detour is enjoyable.
Foreman makes all the mistakes that we would expect. Yawn. And when the script created a patient that was posting his case on the Internet I knew we'd learn (in a 'big twist' at the end) that House had solved the case.
And we did.
He did.
I yawned.
Maybe week #3 will be better.
Castle. Season 2, Episode 2. "The Double Down" Castle makes a bet with two other detectives, as to who can solves their respective case first.
Much more fun that week #1 and a prime example of why Castle is such a good show. Sure, there's nothing here particularly groundbreaking or novel. And the case-of-the-week, while complex and full of twists and turns, isn't exactly original either. But the show just zips along and you are always sure to be chuckling at the antics of the regulars (particular Nathan Fillion). The show has stayed true to it's central idea and you really get a light comedy-drama where a have a very un-coplike central character working side-by-side with a bunch of typical TV cops. And it's a dynamic that proves entertaining. Particular when he gets them all betting on the eventual outcomes of their cases.
There's very little Castle/Beckett romance material this week, either. I guess she's still pissed off at him, darn it. The show need nice scenes between them.
Highlight? The Closer (Mary McDonnell)
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Cougar Town, The Closer, House, Castle
