Thu, May 14, 09 - House, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Kyle XY

05.30 House
07.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
08.30 Kyle XY

House. Season 5, Episode 20. "Simple Explanation" A sick and dying husband (Meat Loaf) gets better as his wife gets closer to her own death. A member of House's team dies.

The off-camera death of Gary on thirtysomething still ranks as one of the best-handled, and most shocking, TV deaths I've ever seen. This one is almost as good. Thing is: usually when one of our beloved TV characters dies, we get to see it up close and personal. We are never removed from it. But in real life, of course, we are almost never there when someone dies. We hear about it when we get the phone call. That's real life. And thirtysomething nailed it.

House isn't trying to capture real life, however, so it allowed it's main characters to be the ones who found the body and all that dramatic stuff. I have no problem with that. It's perfect for House. What really impresses me is the decision to have the death happen off-camera and out of sight. Out of the blue, too.

Very shocking. Very good storytelling.

The case-of-the-week was good, too. One of the best. The Taub scenes were all fantastic. He is now the most interesting of the regular characters, and his scenes with House are electric with tension and drama. Wonderful stuff. Cameron saves the day, this week. House is relying on her more and more and she's had a major impact on the last couple of stories. Indeed, in this strong episodes, it is the scene with Cameron offering the husband the chance to die on the table that stands out as the best scene.



The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 22. "Born To Run" Sarah's in prison, John's in hiding with Cameron, and Catherine Weaver sends a message. A very important message.

Yowsa! Now, that's how to end a season. Some shows deliver a final episode that leaves you feeling that every detail of the season, you've just watched, was planned in detail in advance. Damages did at the end of Season One. Veronica Mars did it twice! The better seasons of 24 have managed it (including this current one).

And Sarah Connor Chronicles ended it's second/final season by laying down a multitude of cards, face up, on the table and allowing us to marvel at how everything fell into place.

The episode stands on it's own, too. There are major character moments for John and Cameron and lots of cool stuff with Sarah in prison. Then it all ends with lots of action, violence and chaos. A first-time viewer would get a lot from this.

But a long-time viewer will get a lot more. Finally knowing where Catherine and John Henry fit into the picture is a real kick. Watching the chemistry between John and Cameron reach boiling point is another rush. How amazing were Thomas Dekker and Summer Glau in that scene on the bed? It was a haunting and beautiful scene.

Garret Dillahunt might be the single best cast member on the show.

And I feel like such a fool now for being hesitant to accept Shirley Manson when she first appeared. She's amazing in the role.

I like the ending. It's a cool ending. It works in two ways. It serves as an ending to the entire series, and it could serve as the opening moments in a new chapter, a new season. As a final ending, which I suspect it must sadly be, it is somewhat ingenious. John Connor is thrust forward in time into the middle of his own destiny. His experiences over the past 31 episodes have shaped him into the Saviour he was always destined to be and now he will take his rightful place in that destiny, with many loved ones and powerful allies beside him.

As a cliff-hanger to a new season, it serves up an interesting new story arc. Some regulars are in the future and some regulars are cast as different versions of themselves and there's the mystery of wondering what has led John Henry to this point in time.

Which makes me wonder if this final few minutes (as wonderful and all as they are) were tacked onto the ending of the season when it was clear that the show wasn't coming back.

With the jump forward in time, the show already had a great set-up for next season. Catherine was about to join the team, Skynet had attacked and Cameron was face-to-face with John Henry with a knife in her hand.

I'm not complaining.

I like this ending.

But I wonder what prompted it. That's all...

Not that it matters. This is how they ended it. And, barring a miracle, the show will not return. So, this is the end of the story. And, as such, I can be satisfied with it. As satisfied as it is possible to be when a show you love is cancelled too soon.



Kyle XY. Season 3, Episode 9. "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" Kyle reaches out to make friends with Cassidy, while Josh prepares to say goodbye to his girlfriend.

This episode is completely dominated by Jessi and the wonderful Jaimie Alexander. And the script has everything. The romance of Jessi and Kyle's feelings for one another, the family drama of Nicole trying to cope with this new development and set boundaries, the loneliness of Jessi's meltdown and feelings of abandonment and isolation, and the all out action of the final scenes. Plus some solid twists and surprises.

I love Kyle and I love Matt Dallas but Jessi is a much more interesting character. It's the same thing that happened with shows in the past. The Six Million Dollar Man came first and later spun-off The Bionic Woman, which was a better show and had a much more interesting lead character. Hercules came first and later spun-off Xena, which was a better show and had a much more interesting lead character. Jessi XX wasn't spun-off from Kyle XY, but she has come to be more of a driving force on the show than the lead character. In a good way. The fact that she is fragile and volatile makes her more interesting. The fact that she has killed, while Kyle hasn't, is another plus.

The show has done a fantastic job of handling this character. And Kyle. Her isolation and outsider-status has made her a sympathetic character from the moment she appeared. And Jaimie Alexander's hilarious performance has made her a likable character now matter how unstable she became. Alexander brings more than great comic timing to the role. She nails the emotions and conveys them with no self-conscious air. Her description of how it felt to be kissed by Kyle will melt your heart.

I never thought the show would make me like a Kyle/Jessi romance, but they managed to make me buy it.

I'm impressed that the show didn't write Amanda out. In fact, based on the fact that she stumbles upon Kyle's big secret in this episode implies that she was about to take a bigger part in the show's a-plots had it not been cancelled.

Only one episode left. Sigh.

Highlight? Sarah Connor Chronicles (the end)
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Sun, Apr 26, 09 - Big Bang Theory, Reaper, Pushing Daisies, Sarah Connor, Supernatural, Parks And Recreation, Phil Silvers

05.00 The Big Bang Theory
05.30 Reaper
06.30 Pushing Daisies
07.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
08.30 Supernatural
12.00 Parks And Recreation
12.30 The Phil Silvers Show

The Big Bang Theory. Season 2, Episode 12. "The Killer Robot Instability" Penny tries to apologise to Howard, after hurting his feelings, while the guys prepare to enter their fighting robot in a contest to the death!

Nice balance of a-plot and b-plot, and a good way to pair up two characters who don't normally share exclusive screentime.

Reaper. Season 2, Episode 7. "The Good Soil" The escaped soul, this week, isn't evil. Just a virgin who wants to have sex with a woman he coveted back in the 90s.

Another good case-of-the-week story and a lots of great scenes for the regulars. Even the Andi scenes were good, after last week's misjudged break-up.

I was surprised/disappointed to see Sock's step-sister being written out of the show. Surely there was lots more to do with that character/story?

Pushing Daisies. Season 2, Episode 12. "Water and Power" Cod's ex is a suspect in a murder.

David Arquette continues to be a worthwhile addition to the regular cast, as Gina Torres proves (as ever) to be a great guest star. And a perfect match for Christine Adams. Cod has great taste in women, it must be said.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 21. "Adam Raised a Cain" A regular dies a quick, cold death, while John Henry tries to save Savannah, even going so far as to tell lies to Catherine Weaver.

An amazing episode. There is no clear place to begin heaping praise.

The Death of Derek happens fast and without fanfare at the very start of the episode. He is shot down in battle, so fast that you barely have time to register it. And the battle continues around his his dead body. Back in Season One I was terrified that they would kill off this character, but - despite the fact that I am sorry to see Derek/Brian Austin Green go - this was a great resolution to the character's story arc. In fact, it felt like the natural ending to everything that the character has done since he arrived from the future, and another component in make-up of the man that John Connor will become.

The Pre-Titles Sequence was mesmerising, as we realised that the child Savannah was under attack and that AI John Henry was concerned and trying to help save her life. That sequence highlighted a stunning development in the evolution of this great character.

The final scene (after Sarah's brutal arrest) was haunting and wonderful and a perfect example of the style of storytelling that is unique to this show. You watch this scene, you cannot mistake it for a scene from any other show. TSCC has it's own voice and style and makes bold choices. "Donald, Where's Yer Troosers?" sung by a child and an Artificial Intelligence in the body of a killer robot is one of the most haunting things I have ever seen...

Supernatural. Season 4, Episode 4. "Metamorphosis" An ordinary married man is changing into something evil. The boys are not sure how to handle this one...

A superb case-of-the-week to take a break (kinda) from the bleak story arc the show is developing. Except that, of course, Sam sees parallels between himself and the poor guy at the heart of the story.

It's a good story, and the show wisely allows the tale to dominate the episode. Jack and his wife take up a lot of screentime and the writers manage to make us invest in them, particularly. Being Supernatural, of course, there is a bleak ending on the horizon and the nature of how Jack's final transformation comes about is tragic.

A shining example of what a great show Supernatural is.

Parks And Recreation. Episode 3. "The Reporter" The adorable Alison Becker (from Z Rock) guests a reporter who asks a lot of awkward questions. Well, not really. Leslie just finds them awkward to answer...

Hard to know to rate this episode. It made me laugh, and I'm liking Leslie more and more but I'm not sure it was wise to do such a serious episode so early on. Namely, the idea of Mark (who's more of an idiot than I first realised) sleeping with someone else, and Leslie being hurt by it.

I suppose the show has to dip it's toes in the waters of serious stories, and this is only the third episode so I should cut them some slack.

Bottom line: lots of funny lines. I'm really like the idea of a running gag based around the inappropriate paintings in the halls of the building where Leslie works.

The Phil Silvers Show. Episode 4. "The Horse" Bilko uses the platoon's money to buy a horse.

A wonderful get-rich-quick-scheme that proves more complicated than Bilko was ready for. There are two absolutely superb gags in this episode. Gags that never fail to make you laugh no matter how many times you see them.

First, there is the sequence where Colonel Hall keeps waking in the night to the sound of a horse running around Fort Baxter. It's very funny the first time it happens, but later (when one of Bilko's men has added headlights to the horse so the rider/trainer can see better) the gag gets truly wonderful. Hall wakes to the sound of horse hooves and - when he goes to check - he keeps getting blinding by the lights, which adds to his considerable confusion. Poor guy. I've been laughing that sequence for the past thirty years and it only gets funnier every time I see it.

This is also the episode where Bilko cons four of his men into taking part in an experiment where they have to eat oats. The fast-talking Sergeant is at his very here. This scene highlights the manipulative genius of Sgt. Bilko the character, and the performing genius of Phil Silvers the man. The scene is more than just funny, it is beautiful. Comedy perfection.

Highlight? The Sarah Connor Chronicles ("Donald, Where's Yer Troosers?")
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Thu, Apr 23, 09 - Parks And Recreation, Unusuals, Sarah Connor, 24, Better Off Ted

06.00 Parks And Recreation
06.30 The Unusuals
07.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
08.30 24
01.30 Better Off Ted

Parks And Recreation. Episode 2. "Canvassing" Leslie, Tom and the gang head out on the street to hear from local residents about the proposed park.

Definitely not as funny as the first episode. I like Leslie. A lot. But when she speaks I hear Michael Scott. And, apart from her, there wasn't much to laugh at in this episode.

The Unusuals. Episode 3. "One Man Band" Casey calls in favours to get a rich kid out of prison, Banks and Delahoy work inside a 'Murder Shop'.

Banks and Delahoy are two of the coolest cops I've ever seen on TV, and this is a fantastic show. Every story, every scene, every character is full of invention and creativity. This is one of the freshest and most exciting cop shows to come along in decades. It is taking the genre and shaking it by the balls.

Never in a million years would I have paired actors like Adam Goldberg and Harold Perrineau, but they are awesome together. And both characters are fascinating. As are all of the regular characters. Noah Hawley has created something special here. I hope it lasts.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 20. "To the Lighthouse" Sarah and John stay with Charley, while Cameron and Derek work together and John Henry faces a very surprising attack.

Wow. A lot of powerful surprises in this very strong episode. Yet, despite all the developments, this is still a completely character driven installment. Many of the scenes are just the characters sharing small private moments, or not speaking at all. And when they do speak, much of it appears inane. It's not, of course. The show is so bloody subtle in it's characterisations that you only appreciate the significance of what is happening when you've watched all the episodes.

I watched this with someone who has never seen the show before. Indeed he had never heard of it. A die-hard fan of shows like Heroes and Smallville, he wasn't at all impressed with Sarah Connor because nothing much happened. Yet, to a loyal viewer, this was significant episode from start to finish (watching Sarah turn to Derek, watching Cameron talk with Derek, etc.)

The ending was action-packed and brutal. Charley's death hit me hard. For many reasons. His place in Sarah's heart was clearly established. And John loved him, too. First Riley, now Charley. John Connor is headed for some very dark places.

And then there was all the stuff with John Henry. That was a total shock to me. I thought the story was headed in a very different direction. Now, I'm confused. And eager to see more...

24. Season 7, Episode 19. "2AM-3AM" Jack vs. Tony.

24 deals with it's biggest-ever twist in superb fashion. I was anxious to see Tony unmasked, but the show wisely allowed us to see more of his machinations before Jack began to put the clues together.

The detective work, when it finally came, was extremely well handled. The show uses events we never saw (but assumed to have happened) against us in spectacular fashion. We trusted Tony, so we accepted his word about things that were said to have happened off-screen.

I am not at all happy that Tony has turned bad, but I will be the first to applaud the masterful storytelling that got us to this place. I am not all happy that Tony has turned bad, but - in the context of the way they have told the story - I see how it was happening all along. That's some feat.

The only downside? Jack's illness has become an annoyance. Since we know that Kim will save his life, the delay in getting it done is starting to bore me. We know he will accept her help and return to full strength for the final hours of Day 7, so the fake waiting is boring me at this stage. Surely Kiefer has his Emmy submission tape in the can by now, let's get Jack back to 100% strength. We need him now more than ever!!!

Annie Wersching once again displays considerable acting chops. Her reaction to Larry's death and the following scenes were superb.

Best scene (that had nothing to do with Tony)? The revelation about Kim's baby (and her name being Teri) brought a lump to my throat. Can't wait for Jack to hear about that.

Better Off Ted. Episode 6. "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" Ted is wiped from the company database.

Another winner. This show has a great sensibility. Very anti-corporations. And some of the lines are comedy gold.

A show this good deserves to be a hit.

Highlight? 24 (Jack vs. Tony)
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Wed, Apr 1, 09 - Sarah Connor Chronicles, Greek

06.30 My Boys
07.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
08.00 Greek

My Boys. Season 3, Episode 1. "Welcome Back, Kalla Fötter" Bobby doesn't get married.

Man, it seems like a long time since the cliff-hanger that ended season 2. And, to be honest, much as I love this show, it took me a while to get back 'into' the situation again.

The first half of the episode was very much like an extended 'catch-up' and - to be honest - I think the show could have skipped it, and brought us back to the characters 'several weeks' later.

Anyway, what's important is that PJ told Bobby how she feels and the ending was simply wonderful. Television to make you cheer and leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling for the rest of the evening.

Lovely.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 19. "Last Voyage of the Jimmy Carter" John confronts Jesse.

Wow. Another stunning episode in a truly superb series. Never have I been more sure that this is 'John Connor' the saviour of all mankind. This series has accomplished an amazing feat: it has shown us a boy growing into a man. An exceptional man. And has chosen to define that growth in terms of the women in his life: away from his mother (Sarah), into the arms of his lover (Riley) and standing side-by-side with his friend (Cameron).

But, aside from the fact that the subject matter is superb, it must be said - again - that the storytelling is simply wonderful. They have shown, time and time again on this show, that they really know how to tell a story and make it enjoyable. In this episode they reveal that John has been aware of Riley's secret for a while and it blew me away. Not only because it firmly establishes John as clever and heroic, but because it's an example of great storytelling.

Greek. Season 2, Episode 3. "Let's Make a Deal" Casino Night.

A perfect episode. The stories were all good, there was a lot of very funny scenes and the character development was top notch. The break-up between Cappie and Rebecca was extremely well written.

And very sad.

Highlight? The Sarah Connor Chronicles (great storytelling)
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Wed, Mar 25, 09 - Sarah Connor Chronicles, Dollhouse, That '70s Show

07.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
08.00 Dollhouse
09.00 That '70s Show

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 18. "Today is the Day" The team react to Riley's murder while, in 2027, we see Jesse on a submarine.

Except for the scene where Sarah found about about Riley's death (which was too silly to be believed) this was another truly fantastic episode. Every conversation (every scene) was layered with tension and highlighted what a fantastic ensemble the show truly has. Take any of them, pair that person with anyone else in the group and watch them talk about Riley and who murdered her... Terrific television.

Best bit? John (the smartest one of the bunch) notices the bruises on Riley's hands...

Dollhouse. Episode 2. "The Target" Chase through the woods.

Okay, this may be a tiny bit better than the pilot but you can't escape the fact that this is utter nonsense. Po-faced, self-important nonsense that reminds me more of god-awful Firefly than it does of Buffy/Angel.

The Dollhouse idea is absurd. Who would set this up? How? Why? Who would use this service? You don't need to go to these extremes to buy people (sadly). The guy in episode one needed a hostage negotiator to get his daughter back, so he went to the Dollhouse? I don't buy that. And the guy in this episode wanted something to hunt and kill. So he went to the Dollhouse? I don't buy that, either.

The idea of this Dollhouse is completely irrelevant to either of those plots. Echo wearing a fake personality didn't add to the first story, and it didn't add to second story either. It's as if they have this premise, but have no stories to tell with it...

Sorry to say, but this is utter rubbish.

I'll watch one more before I call time. But that's asking a lot. Why would you waste your time trying to enjoy something like this where there are shows like Damages or Friday Night Lights to be watched, enjoyed and savoured?

That '70s Show. Season 6, Episode 9. "Young Man Blues" Stolen police car, Jackie's little sister and Eric and Red fix a sink.

Lovely moments in this one between Eric and his father. Very funny, but full of truth.

Highlight? The Sarah Connor Chronicles (tense)
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Thu, Mar 12, 09 - Flight Of The Conchords, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Damages, 24, Night Court

07.00 Flight Of The Conchords
08.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
10.00 Damages
11.00 24
12.00 Night Court

Flight Of The Conchords. Season 2, Episode 8. "New Zealand Town" Hair Gel.

A superb and very funny episode which - almost completely - revolves around the band. There is a subplot about the Prime Minister, which is also very, very funny and has a guest shot from Lucy Lawless, but the main thrust of this outing tells us what happens to the boys when they discover (and, later, becomes addicted to the effects of) hair gel. Hair gel, you see, makes them 'cool' and gets them to a place where people actually attend their gigs.

I loved this episode not just because it was very funny (and had great songs) but also because it was created around the boys, and they were central to the story/humour.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 17. "Ourselves Alone" Riley dies.

The first absolutely superb episode since #12. #'s 13 and 14 were awful, while #'s 15 and 16 were lacklustre. This, however, is every bit as good as the best episodes that the show has delivered. And when this show is good, it's bloody great.

The behaviour of Cameron is a large part of the appeal of this episode. Whether alone, with Riley or with John, every thing she says and does is fascinating. Can we trust her?

Riley's (tragic) story comes to a very satisfying conclusion in this episode. Leven Rambin has been a great addition to the cast and I'll miss her. Having a fight to the death between two recurring characters is very exciting, very clever writing. There's no way to predict which one will get killed.

Jesse is proving to be quite the baddie. I presume she'll be found out, and dealt with, before the end of this season leaving Catherine Weaver for any potential third season. Which, of course, won't happen due to dire ratings.

Finally, I liked this episode because there's nothing here about Sarah being obsessed or nuts and there's nothing to suggest that her team/squad don't trust her and won't follow her anywhere. That ongoing subplot/idea has been my least favourite aspect of the series, and I prefer episodes like this that don't touch upon it.

Damages. Season 2, Episode 10. "Uh Oh, Out Come the Skeletons" One of the FBI guys gets killed.

Lots to enjoy here. The episode is a big turning point for Claire Maddox. When the episode starts she's devoted to Kendrick and happy that her life has been worthwhile. By the end of the episode she knows that she has been working for a criminal. It's a major turning point for a major character and the show accomplishes it with ease. Conflict with her father to cement her world view (for us) and a revelation from a character she trusts to shake her world.

Meanwhile, the two FBI guys get more and more interesting as one of them gets himself killed.

And, in the 'future' we see Patti leaving the apartment after the shooting...

Again, I have to wonder... how can we possibly reach that point in time with only a couple of episodes left...

24. Season 7, Episode 13. "8PM - 9PM" Bill dies.

Damn. I really thought was safe after they teased us with his life in danger during the final episode. When he was running around the corridors of the White House, leading the bad guys away from the President, I feared that his days were numbered. He survived. And I relaxed.

Consequently, his heroic death in this chapter totally took me by shock.

Bastards.

What a great show.

I love the way they kept the dead body on screen for several long minutes, with Jack holding vigil beside his friend. As if the producers were saying "We mean it. He's really dead. It's not like Tony."

Anyway, what else happened...

This is the episode that started off with Jack and the President prisoners in the White House. After killing the bad guy, Jack is taken into custody and Renee Walker goes behind her Superior's back and gets Jack a shot at interrogating Ryan Burnett. However, once he gets to the hospital, Jack is framed for Burnett's murder and finds himself on the run...

Amid all that frantic action, there are many superb scenes. Bill's sacrifice, of course, is the highpoint of the episode. But it's awesome to see Agent Walker becoming more and more integral to the world of 24, by ensuring that Jack gets a chance to bring this crisis to a resolution. Jeffrey Nordling has some terrific scenes in this episode. There's even a scene where Jack Bauer does something funny!! Moss threatens to put a stop this his questioning/antic and Jack gives him a "Yeah, right" look that is simply priceless. All the better, because Jack/24 never ever does moments like this. The humour usually comes from Chloe and... nobody else.

And then we get to the twist (a hitman climbs out of the ceiling, frames Jack for murder and climbs back into the ceiling!!). It's a fantastic twist. Totally absurd and crazy but, to the show's credit, it totally works. Even though it would be more suitable to a crazy show like Prison Break.

I don't care. Jack Bauer is back on the run again. Some of the show's best moments have come from times like these.

Night Court. Episode 10. "Some Like It Hot" Yakov Smirnoff guests as a guy who might set himself on fire.

Another serious story, with a decent quota of laughs. Harry tries to bond with a man, even though they do not speak the same language.

The best laughs come from Dan's attempts to visit the bathroom while handcuffed to Liz.

Highlight? 24 (Bill dies a heroic death)
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Thu, Mar 5, 09 - Flight Of The Conchords, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Damages, 24

05.30 Flight Of The Conchords
06.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
07.00 Damages
08.00 24

Flight Of The Conchords. Season 2, Episode 7. "Prime Minister" The Prime Minister visits.

A superb and very funny episode, but it has little or nothing to do with the band. Indeed Bret is pushed to the background by several much funnier characters played by Brian Sergent and Mary Lynn Rajskub.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 16. "Some Must Watch, While Some Must Sleep" Sarah is having dreams/nightmares.

Once again, while the story being told is nothing special, one must admire the way that the story is being told. You spend a lot of time trying to figure out which parts are real, here, and which parts are fantasy. I made my guess, and I guessed wrong.

However, while I can hold my hands up and say I was fooled, and the storytelling was impressive, it does not make me forget that the story itself was kinda lame. I mean, what was all that about? Why do I care about Sarah and that guy? Isn't there a better way to spend an hour? Why is the show spending so much time inside Sarah's head? And why do they harp on about the fact that she appears unstable to her team and they don't really support her anymore.

It's a wonderful show that has become very frustrating to watch.

Damages. Season 2, Episode 9. "You Got Your Prom Date Pregnant" Patti goes after the FBI, and discovers that there is no actual FBI investigation into her.

The cryptic flashforwards continue to add much to the series but, at times, they feel like the could be from a different season. With only four episodes left, I have no idea how what we are seeing now will lead to watch we are glimpsing in the flashforwards.

Never mind. This is superb stuff. Patti's husband is brought in the web in this episode and Ellen embarks on her relationship with Wes. I don't believe for a second that Ellen is being fooled here. I'm sure she knows not to trust him.

Pretty sure...

24. Season 7, Episode 12. "7PM - 8PM" The White House is attacked.

A truly superb episode. It delivers none of what I was expecting, and still manages to blow me away. I assumed, after the cliff-hanger, that the attack would go ahead and Jack would come from his cell and set about rescuing everybody. Not so. He's immediately added to the President's protective detail and spends most of the episode hidden away with the President.

The drama, therefore, falls to Bill, Aaron and Renee. Renee gets the most action and - since she is a new character - we never believe that she is going to get killed. Bill and Aaron are a different matter. We are invested in them. And, with 24, you just never know... For instance, when Aaron was shot I cried out in shock. I really have no idea what they are going to do with this character.

Speaking of Aaron, I loved the bit where he and Jack spoke to each other on first name basis. That sort of stuff is way cool.

Renee ends up being the one to sound the alarm, proving that her storyline for these two episodes wasn't a dead end and managed to accomplish something.

What happens next? Well, I presume Tony comes storming to the rescue, but I'm damned if I know how he's gonna get Jack out of this predicament.

Highlight? 24 (thrilling)
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Wed, Mar 4, 09 - Rules Of Engagement, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Damages, 24, Twilight Zone, Famous Five

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, Feb 18, 09 - Worst Week, Sarah Connor Chronicles

06.30 Worst Week
07.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Worst Week. Episode 15. "The Epidural" The baby is about to be born, and Sam is at the wrong hospital.

Typical episode. Mishaps befall Sam and he soldiers on, in that way that makes him lovable. Kyle Bornheimer turns in an even-better-than-usual performance and there are laughs to be had. I'll miss this show. It gave me lots of hearty laughter over the weeks, even when the situations were strained, or predictable, and I really fell in love with Sam and Mel. As a couple, and individually.



The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 14. "The Good Wound" Sarah kidnaps a doctor for medical attention, while John waits by Riley's bedside.

They painted themselves into a corner with the previous (weak) episode and there was nowhere for them to go with this one. We went into this knowing that Sarah was shot/injured so that had to be dealt with, and we knew that John would be reacting to Riley's suicide attempt. Consequently there is little or nothing here that surprises or entertains. The John scenes are bland and pointless, while the Sarah scenes veer towards genuinely awful (she has a delusion that John's father has come back and is talking to her, and giving her strength). If everything concerning Sarah veers towards awful, it can safely be said that everything concerning the doctor is actually awful. The 'big twist' in the story is that she's being battered by her cop boyfriend and, in the episode's climax, she turns a gun on him and shoots him (after her decides to verbally abuse her). Right.

In the middle of this mess are a couple of thought-provoking scenes involving Ellison and 'John Henry'. That's about it for this episode.

Highlight? Worst Week (last episode)
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Wed, Dec 17, 08 - Sarah Connor, Hitchhiker, Swamp Thing

07.30 Worst Week
08.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
09.00 The Hitchhiker
09.30 Swamp Thing

Worst Week. Episode 6. "The Ring" Olympia Dukakis is somewhat wasted in this average episode. After six episodes we know what to expect: Sam means well, but is dogged by bad luck. You get the feeling that the writers have decided to cut the guy a small break, as Dick seems to have grown tolerant of him at this stage. It's nice, but it takes some of the edge off.

Anyway, in this chapter... Sam lets the baby swallow the wedding ring and has to wait for it to poop. When this does happen events conspire and he ends up destroying the Wedding Dress. Which suits Melanie who hated the dress.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 13. "Earthlings Welcome Here" The weakest episode of the season so far. Sarah is off on her own, obsessed with her vision of the three dots and unsupported by the rest of her team. She winds up in the middle of a group of UFO abductees, befriends one of them and ends up getting shot at some secret facility. It lacks the tension and coherence of most episodes of this great show. In general, I'm not enjoying this Sarah-is-obsessed-and-nobody-believes-her storyline.

The sub-plot, meanwhile, tells us Riley's backstory. It is much as we suspected. It's not great, but it is much better than all the Sarah stuff.

The Hitchhiker. Season 3, Episode 6. "Ghostwriter" One of the very best episodes. Willem Dafoe fakes his death to make his books sell better. His wife and his agent are happy to find him dead, since they are lovers, but his return complicates things. So a real murder is planned. However, all is not as it seems and the fast-paced script keeps you guessing as to who is really working with whom.

Swamp Thing. Episode 2. "Falco" It's an odd world, the world of the Swamp Thing. The bad guy of this one is a former bird who has been turned into a man by the evil Dr. Arcane. He makes an attempt on the evil scientist's life and then... does nothing much for a while. He just kinda wanders aimlessly. A bit like the script, really.

Jim, possibly the most annoying child ever featured in a TV series, falls out of a boat later on. And the bird/man saves him and learns a valuable lesson: it's not so bad being human.

Swamp Thing appears, too, and talks to the bird/man a couple of times without really accomplishing anything.

A very strange series.

Highlight? The Hitchhiker (twists galore)
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Wed, Dec 10, 08 - Logan's Run, Sarah Connor, Twilight Zone, Swamp Thing, Captain Power

06.30 Logan's Run
07.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
08.30 The Twilight Zone
09.00 Swamp Thing
09.30 Captain Power

Logan's Run. Episode 9. "The Judas Goat" It's all a bit slow-moving and serious, and there is a logic flaw at the start, but this is a very good story in several respects.

It starts off in the City Of Domes that Logan and Jessica ran from at the start of the series. The police force (the Sandmen) have created a double-agent (Nicholas Hammond) whose mission is to head out after Logan and fool him into coming back. He does this with ridiculous ease, making you wonder why the Sandmen don't just head out and ambush Logan since he is that easy to find.

Nevertheless, the stuff with the double-agent is very good. Before he leaves the City Of Domes he is brought to the council of rulers (last seen in the pilot) and learns to his surprise that all is not as it seems in the City. This short scene adds a nice political subtext to the series: corrupt city officials trying to keep the population in the dark, etc.

Once our double-agent finds/joins Logan the rest of the episode plays out like a typical adventure-of-the-week: the trio (now a quartet) find a hidden society and run foul of it's leader (the excellent Lance LeGault). That fact that one of the heroes is a double-agent (and we know it) makes the story much more interesting than it would normally be. Logan and the new guy have a strong dynamic. And this conflict between the 'heroes' is a nice change of pace for the show.

All in all it's a solid hour. Logan's Run is such a serious drama series, it's difficult to think of it as being only a couple of years older than Buck Rogers. The two shows are decades apart in style and sensibility. One is fluff and nonsense and the other (while flawed) is a very strong drama series with occasional flair in the storytelling.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 12. "Alpine Fields" Another flawless outing. And another example of this show's fantastic storytelling.

Derek is the main character this time out (with Sarah having a very strong b-plot). The story unfolds on three fronts: one in the far future, and two of them in the present day, but six months apart. It's the story of a family that (first) Sarah and (then) Derek are trying to protect from a determined Terminator.

Samantha Krutzfeldt almost steals the episode out from under Brian Austin Green, but not quite. Nevertheless, she makes quite an impression as two versions of the same young woman separated in time by six months of experience. The story leaves no opening for the character to return, which is a great pity, but given that Krutzfeldt is exceptionally beautiful she will undoubtedly appear on Supernatural before too long!

The Twilight Zone. Season 3, Episode 5. "Dream Me a Life" Absolutely superb. J. Michael Straczynski (once again) delivers a really great story, and Eddie Albert delivers a showcase performance.

Roger is living a quiet live in a friendly retirement home when he starts to have a series of vivid nightmares, when he meets a woman who is terrified of something trying to break down a door and get to her. She pleads for help. Over and over. It all means nothing to Roger until the same woman suddenly moves into the same retirement home. He tries to speak to her, but she speaks to nobody. She just sits there. In silence, shut off from the world. Next time Roger enters the dream to try and save the woman, he burns his hand and wakes to find the same burn on his hand here in the real world...

The dream sequences looks fantastic and Albert is fantastic to watch. On one occasion the camera just stays on him for a long passionate speech/rant and he covers about 96 different emotions and moods going from line to line. It's pretty cool, and Roger is one of the Zone's coolest heroes.

Swamp Thing. Episode 1. "The Emerald Heart" A strange concoction. Which probably owes something to Twin Peaks for it's odd flavour.

There's no story, as such, just a lot of random events involving a mad scientist, a kid and a mysterious 'monster' who dwells within the swamp.

Some of the cast are very, very weak and the lines they are given are often quite dreadful. There's no logical behind most of what happens. Characters regularly say and do things that make no sense, and don't serve the story.

It's really odd, and deadly serious.

Captain Power And The Soldiers Of The Future. Episode 1. "Shattered" Solid opening episode. It opens with a long, exciting action sequence and follows up with a good story of betrayal and loyalty.

Captain Power (who leads the resistance forces against evil Lord Dredd) gets a message from an old flame. He goes to meet her in the remains of San Francisco. Turns out that it's a trap. But there's more to it than that, and a fairly compelling reason behind her actions. Guest star Ann-Marie MacDonald gives 100% to the role and sells all the horror and pain that is needed to justify what the character does. She's amazing.

The regular cast comes across very well, too, with Jessica Steen in particular making a great impression as Pilot.

Highlight? The Sarah Connor Chronicles (blows me away, yet again)
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Thur, Dec 4, 08 - Sarah Connor, NCIS, Always Sunny, Supernatural, Larry Sanders, Son Of The Beach

06.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
07.30 NCIS
08.30 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
09.00 Supernatural
10.00 The Larry Sanders Show
10.30 Son Of The Beach

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 11. "Self Made Man" Another winner. A slice-of-life tale, taking into the activities of the characters between battles in the war. Derek, Jesse, Ellison, Catherine and Sarah are left out this week, but there are still many things to watch and savour:

Cameron. This episodes reveals what she does when the others are asleep: She sneaks off to a nearby college library and does research. She also appears to have bonded and formed a friendship (of sorts) with the night watchman! And it is fascinating to watch. Cameron is obviously using the guy, but she appears to have genuine 'concern' for him and his well-being. Yet, I don't trust her. At the end of the episode I half-expected her to put a bullet in him. It is this kind of complex characterization that makes TSCC such a joy to watch.

The story. The story is cool. But it takes a real leap of faith to make it work. It's awesome to think of Cameron being able to track the activities of this Terminator almost 100 years earlier, but you have to accept that he was photographed at just the right moment to capture what he was doing and you have to accept that she stumbled upon this picture and was able to figure out what it meant and track him down. It's way, way out there. But if you can take the leap and go along for the ride: it's a great tale.

The action. The battle at the end is great. Not just the action on-screen, but the whole setting and reasons for the battle are cool, too. As Cameron stalks the empty building looking for her prey, the camera angle's capitalise very nicely on Summer Glau's appealing... physique. Nice.

John and Riley. Again, I have to say that I love the character of Riley and her impact on John. She drags John to a party in this one. And we get see him as a bit of social misfit. This plots paints a dark and lonely picture of life for these two characters.

NCIS. Season 5, Episode 5. "Leap of Faith" NCIS is not like the other CBS crime procedurals. Witness the scene where Tony and McGee are waiting outside the office of the man they are supposed to be questioning. Tony has an embarrassing picture of McGee on his phone and - while left completely alone - the two men get into a long wrestling matching for possession of the phone. Eventually they are caught and have to identify themselves as NCIS agents on a case. Hilarious, and an example of why I love this show. It's fun.

Susan Kelechi Watson guests as a germophobe NCIS agent. Watching the others (particularly Tony) react to her quirks is hilarious. Best bit? Tony does a fake sneeze and sprinkles water (from a bottle) on top of her. To her horror and his own great amusement.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Season 3, Episode 9. "Sweet Dee's Dating a Retarded Person" Music is the obsession of the week, when everybody decides they want to be in a band. Not the same band, mind you, rather they set up competing bands. Competing bands that are awful. Awful is a delighful-to-watch sense. Best bit? It's almost impossible to pick one. But if I must, I'll go for Charlie Day singing Nightman.

Supernatural. Season 3, Episode 3. "Bad Day at Black Rock" 'I'm Batman' declares Dean at one stage in this delightful episode, the latest in a long line of very, very funny SN episodes.

The boys cross paths with a cursed object. One that grants the owner fantastic good luck. Until he gives it away... At that point, his luck turns bad. So bad that, eventually, it kills him. Sam has the object for a brief moment and it is stolen, meaning that his life is in danger. Dean chases the thief, while Sam waits in a motel room to stop him from falling over things, etc.

Lauren Cohan is the latest in a long line of very beautiful female guest stars. Her scenes with Dean are hilarious.

Sterling K. Brown returns to cause problems (from prison) and he's enlisted the fantastic Michael Massee to do his bidding. Great development.

With the boys dealing with a cursed object, for once, this one reminds me of the great Friday The 13th TV series. There is even what appears to be a shoutout to the show at one point, when the boys name the date on which the cursed object was created. Nice.

The Larry Sanders Show. Episode 2. "The Flirt Episode" With great roles in shows such as The Loop, Jesse Stone and My Boys, Mimi Rogers seems to cornered the market when it comes to playing sexually aggressive older ladies. Back when she was only 36, she played pretty much the same role in this wonderful episode of Larry Sanders. Mimi, as herself, is a guest on Larry's show. They flirt a lot on-air and it causes a lot of problems for Larry. Mimi is a delight.

Son Of The Beach. Episode 3. "Fanny and the Professor" Harmless sex jokes and robots. Robots?! Yes, this is the episode where Notch and the gang are fired by the Mayor and replaced by three identical robots. Notch doesn't cope well with unemployment and - within 24 hours - is found living homeless on the beach.

Highlight? The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Cameron)
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Wed, Nov 26, 08 - Sarah Connor, Prison Break, Slings And Arrows, Twilight Zone, Big Wolf

05.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
06.30 Prison Break
07.30 Slings And Arrows
02.30 The Twilight Zone
03.00 Big Wolf On Campus

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 10. "Strange Things Happen At The One Two Point" It puzzles me that TSSC never became a big ratings hit. Maybe the show is too cerebral? Despite the fact that most episodes (including this one) feature a strong action element, this is still show driven by concepts and ideas. It's a clever show. Maybe too clever for it's own good.

The show is not driven by easy-to-define ideas, while the other best shows on TV are. "Find Earth", "Get off the island", "Steal Scylla" are the engines drive other TV shows and you can see - every week - how the heroes are progressing towards that goal. On TSCC it may not be possible, for the average viewer, to see how the story onscreen fits into the stated aim of the heroes: "Stop Skynet."

This is not a criticism. Just an observation. I love this show and every element of it. And the show's fans love it. I just don't think that the average viewer (who flicks across channels and finds the show) is going to see anything that will grab them. It's a pity. It's a remarkable show. And this is yet another very strong episode. One packed with some surprises.

Sarah becomes involved with a company called Dakara Systems because she believes that they will lead her to the Turk (from Season One) and - once again - the show introduces us to apparently decent people whose actions will inadvertently lead to the rise of Skynet. It's one of my favourite elements of the show: Sarah and the gang having to stop good people.

Things are not as they appear, however, and by the end of the story Sarah is kicking ass in a major way. She throws the Dakara guy around the room in much the same manner that Cameron flings people around and reminds me that she is still the central hero in the show. Lena Headey does a great job in the role. She not only makes Sarah believable as an action hero but she conveys all the confusion/doubt that the character has been experiencing in recent episodes.

This is the episode that tells us that Riley is all all she appears to be. I love the character of Riley. Not because of the character herself. It's not like liking Emerson Cod on Pushing Daisies, which means I love the character and if they spun him off into his own show I would want to watch it. No, this affection for Riley is based on how she fits into this show and how she affects John. His mother and the rest of the gang have told him to stay away from Riley and he has disregarded them every step of the way. I find that fascinating, as an example of his growth into manhood.

Tonight we learn that there is much more to Riley. She's an agent for Jesse and she is deliberately trying to get John away from Cameron. Wonderful. The show has made us think in the past about John's influence on Cameron, and we've seen her changing (or appearing to change). Now, for the first time, the show makes me think about Cameron's influence on John. Jesse says it. In the future, he has spent decades with this woman/android. She is his only confident. And that is fascinating.

It also draws attention to the idea of John and Cameron spending all this time together. A friendship/love that spans the years. And nobody outside the two of them quite understanding what it is that they have. What a tragic 'love affair'.

Tragic is the word to describe the death of Dr. Sherman. Killed by the AI (now called "John Henry") who doesn't understand the idea of death. This incident (which was a twist I did not see coming) allows Ellison - and us - take a fascinating journey into the mind of the AI. What a great creative decision it was to avoid using a corny computer voice and instead allow John Henry to communicate through pictures. Genius.

As Ellison went head to head with John Henry to talk about morals/ethics and The Ten Commandments I was riveted to the screen. These concepts are at the core of what the Terminator Universe should be about. But, again, I wonder what the average viewer makes of all this stuff?

On a sidebar, I notice that the show started off with two strong heroic females and has added three deceptive/duplicitous females to it's ranks in Season Two. And, when you think about it, the jury is still out on Cameron.

Prison Break. Season 4, Episode 12. "Selfless" A thrill ride from start to finish. One of the wonderful things about Prison Break has always been it's skillful storytelling. They always manage to keep back crucial details, and mislead you about what you are seeing. You see something and you think you know what it means. You think you know why the information has been given to you. Misdirection. The stuff of good comedy, good magic and great storytelling.

There were many twists in this episode. We find out who the General's daughter is and we see how Michael uses that to his advantage. We also find out that Self is more than he appears to be.

It was a very satisfying episode. Seeing the General react to everything that Michael said/did was a hoot. Seeing really mean bad guys get taken down in spectacular fashion is part of the reason for watching this wonderful show. And it never fails to deliver.

Slings And Arrows. Episode One. "Oliver's Dream" Superb opening episode. Most of the hour is devoted to Oliver Wells and the opening night of his 10th production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in the town of New Burbage. It's a flat, lifeless production and Oliver knows it. So his story is a sad one, but not without its laughs. Other characters step into the limelight: An eager young actress, her jaded friend, the general manager of the theatre/festival and - most notably - an actor who is no longer part of life in New Burbage.

It's a superb opening hour. The feeling of backstage life is perfectly captured. I've been there and I recognise the types. It's a superb cast but Martha Burns really impressed me.

The Twilight Zone. Season 3, Episode 4. "The Hunters" Some cave paintings come to life, kill an archaeologist and are then destroyed by the local sheriff. End of story. Not much of a story. Just a tale of an odd happening, with nothing much to tie it to the characters in the story. The first three episodes were much stronger. The first tale was about one man's vision of the world. Story two was also a personal tale while the third one was a study in personal guilt. This one is different. And is all the weaker for it.

Michael Hogan is good as the Sheriff, Louise Fletcher is a bit stiff as the archaeologist, and the while thing looks good. The scenes where she is being menaced in the cave are very effective. When the Sheriff sees the cave paintings move, it looks great.

But, ultimately, none of it means anything.

Big Wolf On Campus. Episode 15. "Fangs for the Memories" Some vampires hit town. It's an okay story but the pace is quite slow. There are only a few changes of setting/location and most of the story is confrontations between the heroes and the bad guys. The show is at it's best when it stops for comedy. Very few of the comedy highlights are Merton-based, which is unexpected, and the character of Stacey is not at all nice. For instance, she is really horrible to Tommy for coming to her rescue (when she is being hassled by the vampire guys). It looks like some misguided attempt at writing female empowerment.

Highlight? Prison Break (satisfying)
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Wed, Nov 19, 08 - Logan's Run, Sarah Connor Chronicles, House, Big Wolf On Campus, My Secret Identity

07.00 Logan's Run
08.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
09.00 House
11.30 Big Wolf On Campus
12.00 My Secret Identity



Logan's Run. Episode 7. "Crypt" It might be a tad po-faced and slow in places but this is a great hour of TV. On their way to rescue six cryogenically frozen plague sufferers Logan and his crew are caught in an earthquake and half of the antidote is destroyed! So Logan is face-to-face with six strangers (from 200 years in the past) who only have 48 hours to live, and only enough serum to save three of them. It's a great dilemma, perfectly realised by six talented guest actors: Led by the always-great Christopher Stone and a very sexy Adrienne Larussa who sets out to seduce Logan.

REM (the show's best regular character) gets several solid scenes in this one: trying to understand the strange ways of humans and (in the story's final moments) giving a long speech before revealing which of the candidates are not who they appear to be. Although they both get a fair amount of screentime, Logan and Jessica appear here as secondary characters to REM. The opening scenes are nothing more than the two of them firing questions at REM. Questions he is always able to answer. Later his very nature (as an android) is a matter of much debate among the plague sufferers and - as I said - at the very end he is the one who solves everything.

The end of the story is very good. And, while Logan's Run is certainly not as good/clever as something like Star Trek, it is far above '70s contemporaries like Fantastic Journey, Man From Atlantis or Buck Rogers.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 9. "Complications" Another flawless episode. Ellison makes a horrible mistake that has me shouting at the screen in despair. But, given all that has been happening to him this season, it makes sense that he would trust Catherine Weaver. Idiot!

Cameron gets some amazing scenes this week, as her nature continues to evolve. The scenes with John and the moment where she turned Ellison over (from lying on his back) are among the best that the show has ever done with this character.

But the absolute how-frakkin-cool-is-this highlight of the episode was the Derek storyline as he and Jesse capture/torture/execute a man from the future for crimes he committed in a timeline that Derek does not remember anymore. Awesome.

Awesome because we have tangible proof that the heroes are getting some good work done and awesome that a TV show delivers a low-key time conundrum that makes sense. Ideas like the decision to torture the younger version of the prisoner really make this the most exciting show on TV right now.

Brian Austin Green does some of his best work in his scenes with Richard Schiff. The whole thing is a delight.

House. Season 5, Episode 5. "Lucky Thirteen" When you watch House you keep hoping for things to happen that never will. You want House to show his nice side and treat someone with compassion. In this episode Thirteen (who is dying) is spiralling out of control and you keep hoping House will treat her well, reach out to her. But if he doesn't then he's not really House any more.

It's a great episode. Thirteen's downward spiral into drugs and casual sex is wonderfully realised and you keep hoping the show will offer her a light at the end of the tunnel. But if it does than it's not really House any more.



Big Wolf On Campus. Episode 1. "Pilot" Broad comedy and great characters. While both stars are terrific in their roles it is Danny Smith as the sidekick who gets all the big laughs and provides the main reason for watching/loving this cool little show. The tone of the show allows the comedy bits to be large and OTT, but the moments that allude to the friendship between the guys are played down and - consequently - work. Brandon Quinn is a terrific leading man. Tommy is an atypical superhero. In his normal life he is the popular kid: everybody loves Tommy and he's the star of the school. Becoming a werewolf puts a major crimp in his style until Merton shows up with a ton of answers and their friendship is born.



My Secret Identity. Episode 1. "My Secret Identity" It's got one of the best-ever TV Themes and it's about a comic-book reader who gets superpowers. What's not to love? Jerry O'Connell and Derek McGrath make a great team from the get-go. So what if the mechanics of the plot (the kidnapping of a girl that Andrew likes) are simplistic? It's just a ton of fun watching Andrew master his powers and Jeffcoate rush in to give back-up.

Highlight? The Sarah Connor Chronicles (time-travel conundrum)
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Sat, Nov 15, 08 - Dexter, Sarah Connor, Rising Damp, Mary Tyler Moore, WKRP, Office, Corner Gas

07.30 Dexter
08.30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
09.30 Rising Damp
10.00 The Mary Tyler Moore Show
10.30 WKRP In Cincinnati
11.00 The Office
11.30 Corner Gas

Dexter. Season 2, Episode 9. "Resistance Is Futile" My stomach is tied in knots after watching this amazing episode of Dexter. Surely the single best episode they have thus far delivered? The first half is constructed to make you think that Dexter has been found out. You are thinking to yourself that that cannot possibly be the case, yet how else do you explain what is happening?

The answer, when it comes, surprised me. It shouldn't have. I should have anticipated that Doakes would be a suspect. But I didn't. I could see it heading in this general direction, yes, with him storming out on the meeting with Lundy in the previous episode. But I did not expect things to move this fast. Pow! This show hits you between the eyes.

Barely had I processed the fact that Doakes had found Dexter's hidden stash of blood samples (last week) than the FBI has the box and is using it as the main evidence in their case against Doakes. Wow! I feel whiplash from the speed of that development. Yet, it makes perfect sense.

Then, before I have time to process that development, Dexter and Doakes are locked in a pitch battle to the death (which, of course, it isn't) with one of them getting shot and Doakes - finally - confronting Dexter about his murderous ways.

It's brilliant. But the show is brilliant in other ways, too. Usually, the fact that Dexter is a serial killer takes second place to the fact that he is socially inept. And, usually, the moments of high drama, come from Dexter's attempts to lead a normal life. This is not one of those episodes, however the scenes that depict Dexter's normal life are just as gripping as usual this week.

His ex-girlfriend showing up, in the midst of his friends, trying to pretend that all is rosy between them (while - in private - they have a blazing row) is a moment that pretty much every viewer can relate to. I know I can. Likewise, Dexter's humbling but honest/heartfelt apology to Rita struck a chord.

It's amazing. In the midst of a crazy, wonderful, OTT plot development about a serial killer covering his tracks this is still a show about a ordinary guy trying to navigate the pitfalls of everyday life.

Which is what makes it such a great television series.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 8. "Mr. Ferguson is Ill Today" If this isn't the best single episode of the show to date, it is certainly the cleverest. Terminator goes Boomtown on us as it shows the events of the day from the perspective of each of the regular characters. It doesn't add anything much to the story, but it sure as heck is a cool way to tell a story.

The effect is stunning. Gripping. Wonderful. We see early on that Sarah is captured by Cromartie, then the narrative follows John and Riley on the sojourn to Mexico. To the considerable credit of the show, the writers and the actors every single second of this is absorbing and superb. Even though we know that Cromartie is on his way, we are never for one second bored by anything that happens between John and Riley. Their conversation (as she tries to peel back the layers of who he is) is relentlessly fascinating. I love this character. Love her because of the way she impacts on John and I love the way he sticks by his decision to bring her into his life. This show is extremely well-written and planned out. It has a very strong overall arc. John is making the wrong decision here, but I want to see how long he sticks to his guns.

The (later) scenes with Sarah locked in the truck are wonderful. We see nothing. We hear much gunfire and carnage. The show is promising a fantastic climax. So - by doing that - it is running the risk of failing to deliver and disappointing us.

Some hope! The climax is superb. Some of the best action this show has thus-far delivered. Unable to provide Terminator-style carnage on a weekly basis, the show instead concentrates on solid drama week-in week-out with an occasional all-out action episode to keep the blood pumping. This is one of those.

Cromartie bites the dust. I'll miss Garret Dillahunt. I warmed to him slowly, but once I did embrace him I loved what he did with the role. His removal shocks me, but I suppose it makes sense and represents a logical step-forward for the show. Cromartie is gone and Ellison and Sarah are united (?).

I wonder was this originally supposed to be the Season One finale? Had they had 13 or 16 episodes last year, instead of 9. We'll probably never know, but it feels like the ending of one chapter and the start of another.

Rising Damp. Season 2, Episode 2. "Food Glorious Food" Rigsby shoots his mouth off and Philip challenges him to stay off food for 48 hours. Simple premise. Delightful execution. Leonard Rossiter is hilarious in every scene. As usual, his bond with Alan comes to the forefront and he pleads with the young medical student to sneak him some food. It doesn't happen, but it nicely sets up the twist ending. Very funny.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Episode 18. "Second Story Story" When Bob Dishy and Vic Tayback are your guest stars you can't really go very far wrong. And so it is with this MTM episode in which Mary is burglarised and two cops investigate. Episodes away from the workplace tend to interest me less, but this one has some nice bickering between Rhoda and Phyllis and lots of laughs along the way. Highlight? Dishy.



WKRP In Cincinnati. Episode 65. "A Simple Little Wedding" Not the funniest episode, but one of the sweetest. Carlson and his wife plan to get married again. Because - the first time around - they eloped as everybody was interfering too much. Particularly his mother. Guess what? They end up having to elope again because everybody is interfering too much. Particularly his mother.

The episode's best scene occurs when Herb hires two strippers to dance in the newsroom. The camera pans across the faces of the six male regulars and each one is having a different reaction. Perfectly in character. A sign, not only, of what an accomplished actor each man is, but also of how well these characters have been defined. Johnny is enjoying the strippers, but in a furtive (about to get caught) kind of way. Venus is openly enjoying the performance in a confident, man-of-the-world kind of way. Les is bewildered by all the fuss. Andy is like a kid in a candy story. Carlson is embarrassed beyond belief. Herb is sleazy beyond belief.

That quick pan is an example of why I love this show so much. Great performances and great characters. You could drop the WKRP regulars into any given situation and you can imagine how each will react. It's like Sam and Woody on Cheers. Each has moments of being stupid, but it's a different kind of stupid for each man. Well defined character, brought to life by superb performers.

The Office. Season 5, Episode 7. "Business Trip" If there ever was a 'perfect' episode of The Office, then this is it. It was very funny, it gave many characters a lot of good screentime, it was sad at times, it fed into the ongoing growth/education of the lead character and it ended with a wonderful romantic reunion. It had everything packed into one half-hour. Most shows would be lucky to deliver a quarter of that in twice the length.

There was many, many great laughs in this one. Most of the best bits came from the Kelly/Ryan hook-up. I particularly loved the shot of Darryl walking away after being dumped by Kelly (in a text message written by Ryan). What's not to love about every single development here? Ryan's closing line is a classic: I can't - for whatever reason - do better than Kelly.

It was great to see Oscar getting quality screentime, and pairing him with Andy was genius. Their partnership was funny and reminded us that - for all his ineptitude - Andy is basically a decent guy. It was priceless, however, when Oscar got drunk and started asking him what he saw in Angela. Who hasn't wondered that about some co-workers hideous partner? And the show really ran with it, and Oscar continued to let his true feelings for Angela dominate the questions that he asked. Hilarious.

In contrast with this, most of the Michael scenes at the very end were very sad, as he confronted his boss about sending his girlfriend away from him, and so were the scenes between Jim and Pam as they came to terms with the fact that she was going to have to stay in the city for longer than planned. Michael continues to evolve. He gets to experience sex-without-love in this outing and his rant at the end was wonderful to see. The audience likes/loves this guy for all his flaws. We don't want to see his heart broken like this.

But the episode didn't end on a downer. There was a lovely 'twist' at the end. Dwight being there, to totally ruin the moment, made it all the more perfect.

Man, when you watch The Office you are in the hands of a group of writers who really know what they are doing.

Corner Gas. Season 5, Episode 5. "Wash Me" Nancy Robertson is the funniest thing in this episode: trying (unsuccessfully) to ask a guy out and coming up with ever-more-bizarre ways to her hide her embarrassment ("Milk!!"). It's a great episode all round. Most of the storyline depend on the quirks of these wonderful characters: Hank writing important info on his dirty truck, Oscar and Emma getting into a war of toiletries, Davis spending most his days asleep. You could not pinch this script and use it in another show about folks living in a small town. The jokes depend on these specific characters in order to work. It's funny because we know these people. And it's funny because nobody can extol the virtues of milk like Nancy Robertson!!

Highlight? Dexter (shocking developments)
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Wed, Nov 5, 08 - Sarah Connor, Twilight Zone, Hitchhiker, Logan's Run

06.00 The Sarah Connor Chronicles
07.00 The Twilight Zone
07.30 The Hitchhiker
08.00 Logan's Run

The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Season 2, Episode 7. "Brothers of Nablus" Another winner. No big events in this one, but a solid advancement of several running themes. Cameron gets to be bad-add cool (again) and kill some kids who picked the wrong house to rob. Sarah gets to make a very bad decision (from the heart) and give Cromartie a solid lead towards finding them. Derek gets to hold some secrets from the others and voice his dissatisfaction about how John is growing up, and how Sarah is handling things. Ellison gets attacked, but saved.

The Twilight Zone. Season 3, Episode 2. "Extra Innings" DELIGHTFUL. Marc Singer stars as a time-travelling baseball player. He lives a double life: in modern times, he is a failure with a broken marriage, but in the past he is the star of his baseball team. It's a real treat. I love time-travel stories in general but this one is a hoot. Usually, I hate the boring story-device of the cranky unsupportive wife/girlfriend who just doesn't 'get' the importance of what the male hero does. Yes, I know that the world does have women just like that, but on TV it's a lazy storytelling device.

In this story, however, it works. For several reasons. Singer's character is an obsessive collector of baseball cards. He's a hobbyist. And it doesn't matter if it is baseball cards or comic books (my own weakness) the sad fact of it is: women don't get it. They don't understand the hobby, or why you must keep these things in mint condition or why you must always be searching for ways to complete the collection. When TV Cops or TV Doctors are saddled with unsupporive wives it bores me. While many real-life relationships can have problems caused by work committment, I think TV storytelling uses this device a disproportionate amount of times. So much so that it doesn't always work.

But it works here. He collects babeball cards, he's obsessed with them and he's refusing to move on with his life. I totally understand why his wife is ready to bail. But, cos it's Marc Singer, I still like the guy and root for him. Plus, he time travels and that's frakkin' cool.

The story has other elements that really work, too. His best friend is a twelve-year-old girl. And the tale makes no point on this. It just happens that that is the case. And that's refreshing to see, too. A grown man who had a friendship with a child. Why not? A female child, too. Even better. It's a pretty cool friendship. She's wise beyond her years and he's basically a kid at heart. I liked all of their scenes together and the ending of cool, too (he stays in the past forever and becomes a star).

State Of Mind was the last TV show (I remember) to make the point that's it's okay, normal and healthy for grown men to like children and make friends with them. He's a perfect example. A strong friendship forged over a common hobby.

Another great little story from the syndicated version of The Twilight Zone. Another reminder that the CBS seasons were rather poor by comparison.

The Hitchhiker. Season 3, Episode 2. "Out of the Night" Stylish and interesting. A man (Ricky Paull Goldin) who appears to be on the run from a cop for an unspecified crime takes refuge in - what appears to be - a very odd hotel. He runs from room to room having a series of surreal encounters and is tormented on an ongoing basis by a strange magician (a superb Kirstie Alley). It's odd stuff. It looks great. The whole thing has a peculiar dreamlike quality and the ending predictable. But still satisfying.

Logan's Run. Episode 6. "Half Life" Guest work from Kim Cattrall and William Smith can't help this weak episode. It pays lip service to deep themes and feels like a rip-off of much better Star Trek episodes. Logan, Rem and Jessica take refuge in a society where each person has been divided into two seperate beings: the good half and the bad half. The good ones live inside the gleaming city and the bad ones live outside like savages. There's not much in the way of logic to the events of the story. Only Jessica is processed for some reason and this means Logan and Rem spend the episode trying to rescue her. Along the way they are (somehow) able to convince the entire society that this is not the correct way to live, that they should reunite and destroy the technology.

Huh?

Daft, simplistic nonsenese. Easily the weakest episode so far in the run. It doesn't really have anything to say. Logan's half-hearted observations that you need both halves of yourself to be a complete person (or something) are hardly profound and it seems incredible that this one thought is enough to unravel an entire belief system and unite both factions.

Highlight? The Twilight Zone (delightful)
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