06.30 10 Items Or Less
07.00 Burn Notice
10.00 In Plain Sight
11.00 Rising Damp
11.30 WKRP In Cincinnati
10 Items Or Less. Episode 2. "Miracle Worker" When a water stain starts to resemble Jesus, the store decides to cash in on it.
A big come down from the opening episode. The story has appeared on other sit-coms and this show does nothing with it. In fact, lots of what they do just isn't funny. And the bit at the very end (where Leslie thinks he is talking to his dad) is just plain stupid.
Burn Notice. Season 2, Episode 12. "Seek and Destroy" Michael goes up against a nasty arms dealer.
Such a clever episode from this wonderful, fun show. Most episodes stick to a rigid formula: Michael meets his client, Michael poses as somebody and meets the bad guy, Michael runs a scam on the bad guy and wins. End of episode. This episode cleverly, and easily, flips the middle part and puts it first. Michael needs money so he poses as a security expert and gets himself a job. By the middle part of the episode he's found out what is really going on and meets his real client for the first time. From then on it is business as usual, until the happy conclusion.
It's a great, fun show and I very much admire the way they cleverly flip things around in the formula to give us a 'fresh' type of episode.
Also, there's some nice continuity with Michael and Fiona after the romance last week...
In Plain Sight. Episode 10. "To Serge with Love" Two protected witnesses start dating, which sends Mary and Marshall into a panic.
A story they could only tell on "In Plain Sight" and a great story, too. Not only is it exciting (because we want to know if Serge is trustworthy or not) but it manages to hit several beats on the concepts of love/romance which resonate brilliantly with the stuff going on in Mary's personal life.
Mark Sheppard guests, by the way. Which, let's face it, is pretty much the seal of excellent. The guy is awesome in whatever he does. And this is no exception. He appears in the Brandy ongoing subplot and - as it gains momentum - this is turning out to be a good story.
Best bit? Marshall checks out the info that Mary got, even after fighting with her. Aw...
Rising Damp. Season 3, Episode 2. "Stage Struck" The gang are preparing for a play.
Reaching out, in desperation (one would assume) to generate story ideas, Eric Chappell moves an actor into the boarding house and gets all the regulars involved in a play. Luckily for all concerned Peter Bowles is cast as the new lodger and the results are hilarious. He camps it up and is probably the only guest star in the series history to almost steal scenes from Leonard Rossiter. While their big 'love scene' is so funny it hurts, it's fair to say that most of the scenes in this episode are examples of the show at it's very best.
WKRP In Cincinnati. Episode 67. "Till Debt Do Us Part" Johnny's ex-wife is getting married.
The first half is painfully unfunny (due a very annoying performance from Hamilton Camp) but the second half is rather wonderful. Johnny and his ex are alone and they talk about their past, and - I suppose - their future. It's not very funny, but it successfully avoids every single cliché you can think of and it hits you right in the heart. Not in a schmaltzy way, either. Everything that's said by the two of them seems honest and low key. Very much like real life. And it works. You get a real sense of the strong affection these two people have for one another, despite all that Johnny put them through. And it's amazing to see that captured so well in a sit-com format.
Highlight? Rising Damp (Peter Bowles)
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Fri, Feb 6, 09 - 10 Items Or Less, Burn Notice, In Plain Sight, Rising Damp, WKRP
Sun, Feb 1, 09 - Blood Ties, Supernatural, Kyle XY, 10 Items Or Less, Head Case
05.30 Blood Ties
06.30 Supernatural
07.30 Kyle XY
01.30 10 Items Or Less
02.00 Head Case
Blood Ties. Episode 15. "Five: fifty-five" Vicki is trapped, living the same day over and over.
Wow. Many (all?) genre shows have taken a turn at doing the old Groundhog Day story. Only one week ago, I watched the Supernatural take on it. SN did a good job. They mostly played it for laughs, and used the back half of the tale to strengthen the character development of Sam. Blood Ties, however, opts to tone down (avoid) all of the comedic elements inherent in the premise and go straight for the jugular: with a strong character-driven tale. The effect is superb and means they have delivered their finest episode to date.
Wow. The final third of the tale is where all the magic happens. Up to this the episode has been top notch. Vicki adapts quickly to what is happening to her, and - one of the great strengths of Blood Ties - she is quickly able to convince her friends that something is happening. They don't question her. They believe her. And the story (while avoiding comedy) is able to move very quickly.
Then Mike dies.
And, in a moment of genius storytelling, Vicki opts to 'end the world' to bring him back, but it is actually Henry who must 'end the world' in order for Vicki to get sent back in time.
This is very clever stuff. The love triangle at the heart of this show drives the episodes in a subtle way. Normally. Fact is: we know Vicki loves Mike, she loves Henry, she won't commit to either and we really have no idea who she is 'in love with'. It's one of the best elements of the show. It's also one of the most infuriating. I adore Vicki, but if I knew her I'd want to strangle her!!
So, in this episode, we get to see some very interesting fodder for the fans to debate. Let's see: Vicki took the risk or ending all life on earth so that she could save Mike, she asked (pleaded with, in fact) Henry to do this for her, and Henry did it for her. There is so much boundless love in that little triangle, no wonder they can't resolve anything.
Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 12. "Jus In Bello" Henrikson captures the boys, but they are all trapped by a horde of demons.
Supernatural does Assault On Precinct 13. And, wow, do they ever do a great job! Not only is the episode superb from start to finish but the ending, where everybody dies, has got to be the best ending the show has ever had on an episode.
Kyle XY. Season 3, Episode 1. "It Happened One Night" Kyle and Jessi set out to rescue Amanda.
There are elements that I enjoyed (Jessi and Kyle in superhero action) and others that I didn't (the too-neat ending). This is the most action-packed episode of Kyle XY and the closest the show has come to being a real 'superhero' show. Kyle does a flying leap at one stage, basically flying off a roof to escape some bad guys, and it is very cool. It's great to Jessi still a part of the show (after apparently 'leaving' at the end of Season Two) her team-up with Kyle is the highlight of the episode.
In the story, a nefarious secret group (the latest one to bother poor Kyle) kidnap his girlfriend and Kyle has to get her back... before her mother finds out she is missing! Part of me thinks this is a cute idea well executed and part of me thinks this is downright silly. Kyle does rescue Amanda and he does manage to get her home before curfew. Also, because the 'bad guys' were only doing this as a 'test' it turns out that she was never really in any sort of danger. That's the sort of revelation that tempts me to roll my eyes is disbelief/scorn. And there's more... Amanda was drugged, so she has no memory of anything that happened to her. Obviously the writers want to protect the show's status quo, but this is extremely silly. Bending over backwards to contrive a situation where Amanda can be in peril but never suspect that Kyle has super powers.
Which bring me to a gripe I have about the show as it launches into Season Three: why does Amanda have to be kept in the dark any more? Kyle has explained his reasons, in the past, but they are minor compared to the benefits that he would surely get from being open and honest with her. I like Amanda and I want him to tell her. I also think it would lead to new story opportunities.
10 Items Or Less. Episode 1. "The New Boss" A likable ensemble manages to raise a few smiles in a show about goings-on in a small supermarket. Reminiscent of The Office. But not as funny or interesting.
Head Case. Season 2, Episode 1. "Live and Let Diet" Cases for a Hollywood therapist, with a very hard-to-like leading character. Reminiscent of Curb Your Enthusiasm. But not as funny or interesting.
Highlight? Blood Ties (time loop)
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