Dracula Season (or series?) finale Review



Lady Jayne, and Grayson 

Dracula came full circle in a couple of ways last night on its season or series finale.  The first was the series opened as Alexander Grayson/Dracula (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) tested his "wireless electricity" machine, and the first season ended with the same test but decidedly different results.  This time the demonstration ended in disaster as the machine blew up leaving death and destruction in its wake. 

The second was with Lady Jayne Weatherby (Victoria Smurfit), the huntress.  The season's ongoing storyline put them in an love-hate relationship; always breaking up, and getting together.  They were a good match with their secrets. Jane hiding that she was a huntress, and Grayson that he was Dracula.  But as the season ended the jig was up, Jayne and her band of hunters had figured out Dracula was back, and more than likely he was none other than Alexander Grayson. 

She arrived at his warehouse to find the disaster in progress; the fire burning out of control, bodies everywhere.  Their final confrontation came in an incredible fight scene ending with Jane begging that he kill her instead of turn her.  In an act of compassion, he obliged.

You know who wasn't so full of compassion? Abraham Van Helsing (Thomas Krestchmann).  The last few episodes he's gone straight off the rails.  He's kidnapped Browning's (Ben Miles)  children, and using Dracula's blood turned them into vampires.  In the finale, he lured Browning to his hideout, and let the kids feed on him, and in so doing kill their own father.  As if that wasn't enough bloodshed for a doctor, he killed Renfield (Nonso Anozie)  by wounding him in the stomach.  The last time we see him he's on the floor bleeding to death.  He also destroyed his lab, including Grayson's daytime serum.

Jonathan (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) ended the season by losing everything.  He lost Mina when he slept with Lucy, maybe lost his job when he betrayed Grayson by working with his enemies.  To complete his humiliation he suffered guilt over the fact he's killed Lord Davenport (Robert Bathurst).  But Grayson knows about that, and would use it for blackmail material.  The episode's final scene hints of a partnership between him, and Van Helsing.

Lucy (Katie McGrath) meanwhile is a loose thread.  She doesn't know what she is, or that she needs blood to live.  She ended up killing her own mother by feeding on her.  This was one of the episode's weak points; no confrontation between her and Grayson or scene where he explains what she is.  I haven't read the book in ages but I think she doesn't survive long as a vampire.

The Mina/Ilona  (Jessica DeGouw) story is another one.  Mina of course ended up in Grayson's arms, his explanation that it was mere coincidence she looked exactly like "someone he loved" didn't wash, especially when they were hinting it something more.   It was one of the weaknesses of the entire season. 

It deserves a second season, with a couple new writers to tighten up the writing.

Musings on a second season of Dracula:

-They'll take Jonathan's character in the bitter, angry direction hinted at in Dracula: The Un-dead

-There will be some kind of past-life or familial  connection between Ilona and Mina.

- Renfield will live; it's impossible to imagine any version of the story of Dracula without him. He'll also develop a story of his own.

-Van Helsing will turn into the second season's "big bad."

-Mina will eventually figure out the key to the "day serum."

-Needing a doctor on his side, Grayson will eventually tell Mina what/ who he really is.

Thanks WNED for nothing- a Sherlock rant

I feel like I'm among the only people on the planet who hasn't seen season 3 yet, and I likely am.  Why?  The local affiliate W.N.E.D Buffalo has decided not to show this season at the same time as their PBS counterparts following Downton Abbey.

Their explanation on the surface makes sense.  It's a matter of demographics; theirs are showing people don't watch much programming under their station after 11pm.  So it's a little hard to show three two-hour episodes from 10pm-12am. To accommodate their demographics, they've chosen to push Sherlock to February 13 (Thursday) in order to air it a 9pm- the hour earlier.  They want to air it together following the first two seasons.

 Apparently when the BBC Canada aired it first the last time, W.N.E.D really suffered in the ratings.  They'll suffer again with this decision as well.  They're airing it two days after it comes out on DVD, and well after any streaming service will have gotten a hold of it.   It's already available on streaming sites; X-Box (access the video app on your Windows 8 computer), iTunes, and I'm sure Netflix will have it by then too.  And not to mention the spoilers available online, which I'm sure people read- it's impossible to avoid on twitter.  It's ridiculous to delay showing it.

And then there's the false advertising.  PBS has advertised it up, down and sideways; and I along with many others bought into the hype.  The ads led me to believe it would be airing on WNED no matter what.  I thought; Sherlock airing at 10pm following Downton Abbey; the makings of a great night of television, and a ratings winner.  No such luck...

I hate it when stations do that.  Would it have killed the folks at W.N.E.D. to add the line: "Check local listings" onto their commercial for Sherlock? Or perhaps to move Downton to an 8pm time slot, and then showed  Sherlock?  All they air is then is the previous week's episode of Downton it wouldn't be that big of a loss. Or keep it on the Thursday, and only re-air the second season.  That's the one that counts because it directly leads into series three.  Show the new episodes the Thursday before each Sunday episode.

50% of W.N.E.D's audience is found in Southern Ontario, and  I'd estimate that in the area of 3-5 million people.  That's some pretty big ratings PBS is missing thanks to this decision.  And I'm sure a few people are as irritated as I am, which could translate into lost membership opportunities.

Downton Abbey Season 4 Episode 3

Mary and Anthony Gillingham

Episode 3 found the end of the house party, and Mary (Michelle Dockery), Tom (Allan Leech), Edith (Laura Carmichael) and Rose (Lily James) going to London.   Mary and Tom were going to see the tax people, while Rose just wanted some fun, and Edith to see her boyfriend Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards).  They stayed at Rosamund's (Samantha Bond) house, who managed to hold a dinner party featuring Anthony Gillingham (Tom Cullen), and then an evening of dancing at a local dancing club.

The club was where a lot of drama happened.  Rose's beau left her alone on the dance floor, to be rescued by the black American band leader (a big deal in those days).  The group was scandalized, and left right after.   Gillingham travelled to Downton on the same train as the rest, and proposed marriage to Mary.  She turned him down, but admitted that decision might come back to bite her.

Edith meanwhile spent the night with Michael Gregson at his house. He had her sign something to make it semi-official while he was in Germany.  She was caught sneaking back into Rosamund's house by a maid.  Rosamund lectured her on putting her reputation at risk, and agreed not to tell Cora.

A fairly quiet episode from Lady Violet.  Isobel (Penelope Wilton) was asked by the doctor to help out at the urgent care clinic, and she did.  She even agreed to look in on one patient and her son.  I like how they're using work to pull her out of her sadness over Matthew's death.

Below stairs meanwhile everyone came to Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) with their problems.  She was urging Anna (Joanne Frogatt) to go to the police about the rape, and to tell Bates about it.  Mrs. Hughes helped Tom get rid of Braithwaite helping him to prove she was trying to blackmail him into marriage.  Mrs. Hughes served as confidant  to Carson as they talked about Alice, with Mrs. Hughes getting him to put her picture on his desk in an attempt to make him seem more human.


Downton Abbey Musings

"The business of life is the acquisition of memories.  In the end that's all that matters."  Quote of the week from Carson, the Butler.

"I'm sure Matthew was a good chap..." There's a romantic way to start a marriage proposal.  It's no wonder Mary turned down Anthony Gillingham.  Use some tact next time (if there is one)

-Love the way Mrs. Hughes tries to bring the 21st century sensibilities to the rape story line urging Anna to go to the police

-Edith pregnant? One night is all it takes as Braithwaite kept telling Branson.

-The Edith/Gregson story is going to continue into next season.  I think he'll be forced to become a Nazi in W.W. II

-I love Thomas' new seen and not heard attitude.  It gives him more opportunity to be a trouble maker.

Book Review: Anne Rice's Wolf Gift

Anne Rice is writing horror/supernatural again.  The author best-known for Interview with A Vampire took a break from the genre to focus on Christian literature before moving away from organized religion in 2010.

She released Wolf Gift in February, 2012; the first in the series.  The story followed the adventures of Reuben Golding, a San Francisco Reporter.  Reuben is assigned a story on the sale of an old house in Northern California, and goes to interview the owner.  They're attacked, and Reuben is bitten by a "man-wolf" and as the story goes eventually turns into one.

That's where the usual tale takes an interesting turn.  Rice's take casts werewolves as superheroes.  They only take on the bad guys, and they retain the consciousness of a man, and remember everything they do as a wolf.  Reuben sees the transformation as a gift, instead of a curse; he can help people in need.  This finds him conflicted between his newfound gift, and the values he was taught through his Catholic upbringing. 

I stopped reading Anne Rice for a long time, and I'm thrilled she's writing horror again. This is a great kickoff to a series. It manages to set up the story without getting bogged down in minute details.  Rice's vivid descriptions portray the joy Reuben feels as the "wolf."  The characters introduced at the end are a great way to add the necessary explanation, and set it up for the next novels.

If you're looking for a different take on the werewolf myth, check out Wolf Gift, available at most book stores.

Nashville Review

ABC's Nashville made its return to primetime last night.  The "fall finale" focused on the music festival featuring performances from Deacon, Scarlett, and Juliette, ended on cliff hanger; the classic "Who died" scenario?

 As the episode ended, singer Will (Chris Carmack) stood along railroad tracks looking into the headlights of an oncoming train, and Peggy (Kimberly Williams Paisley) laid out after being shot.  It was Peggy who died, and the episode that aired last night  covered what happened after.

This is going to play itself out over the rest of the season.  You have Teddy's (Eric Close) grief, what happens with the daughters, and Rayna's (Connie Britton) reaction.  Teddy finds out the man who shot her blames him for his ongoing unemployment dating back five years. Rayna meanwhile has to make some tough choices about her new album, regarding the single that should launch it.

Will's alive.  He ended up disappearing for a few days into the wild for some time away; Gunnar (Sam Palladio) brought him back to Nashville.  He's struggling with his sexuality after a one night stand with another guy, putting an end to a dubious relationship with Layla (Aubrey Peeples).

Juliette (Hayden Panettere) is still in trouble with her fans for breaking up the "world's most beloved couple, with fans stalking her chanting "Juliette has no respect" everywhere she goes.  She is misunderstood as to something she said and made Layla go on television to correct it.


Nashville Musings:

- The guy who shot Peggy is going to be tied in somehow to the scheme they were trying to hide in the first season.

-Will's struggle with his sexuality is topical.  How accepting would country music be of a gay singer? 

-When is Juliette going realize Layla's bad news?

-Layla will turn out to be partially responsible for what happened after

-When will Liam stop going back to Rayna? She's treated him like crap

-Deacon will end up joining Rayna's label

Fox's 24 Returns

Season 1 teaser for 24

I was a late-comer to 24.  I discovered it when A&E used to show 4 hour blocks of it, daily for a while.  It was enough to get me addicted to the show.  The newer seasons became appointment viewing.  Every Monday at 9pm I tuned into find out how Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) would get himself out of this one.  The show followed super agent Jack Bauer through an actual 24 hour day, with each episode representing an hour.

Fox is bringing it back for a limited 12 episode run in 24: Live Another Day.  This series finds Bauer (Sutherland) on the run in Europe, and a radicalized techie Chloe O-Brian (Mary-Lynn Rajskub).  Also returning are William Devane (James Heller- season 4), and Kim Raver (Audrey Heller).  The series has dropped the 24 hour real-time format, and allowed for some time jumps for the writers.  "If this ends up re-booting the show, or causing a movie, then so be it," Sutherland said in this TV Guide article.

One of my favourite shows is coming back to television, I should be excited.  I'm not; I'm actually kind of nervous.  This was such an incredible show in its time, with great characters, and great storytelling that I wonder how you can replicate even a measure of its success.

The show left on a high note.  Those final scenes were the best way to end a series; Jack waving to the camera as if to say good bye to the viewers, and then walking off.    It was the only way to end it, and I'm okay without having the answer to "where is he now?"

There were times when that show was pure magic.  I don't see the problem with leaving it like that.  And so it makes me wonder if they shouldn't just quit while they're ahead.  I'll definitely watch this, because as I previously said I'm a huge fan.  But I wonder is there anything wrong with going out on top?

Downton Abbey: Episode 2

I knew about this episode before it aired here, but thought it happened later in the season, as a kind of cliff hanger.  It drew a lot of fire from British viewers for a scene in which Anna (Joanne Frogatt) was raped.  The audience hears it happen, doesn't see it; but that's what triggers the imagination, and that's what could trigger memories in the viewers.

A jump of a month between episodes to a house party at Downton. Legendary opera singer Dame Nellie Melba (Kiri Te Kanawa) performed for the entire staff, and party-goers. Edith brought Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards) determined to make friends between him and her father, and succeeded only after Gregson won back what Robert lost playing cards.  Mary meanwhile rekindled a friendship with Anthony Gillingham, who continued encouraging her to take control of her life again.



Dame Maggie Smith, and Kiri Te Kanawa

Tom became a fish out of water this episode, and began questioning his place in the family.  It was Brathwwaite to the rescue, as confidant, and provider of whiskey.  He also became the Dowager's foil as she corrected him on his behavior.  He commented that it was illogical, and she answered: "If I were looking for logic, I wouldn't  look for it in the British upper class."  This was the best line of the episode. 

Below stairs was dominated by the "Anna" story.  The physical contact between her and "Green" a servant for Lord Gillingham made it obvious something was going to happen.  Balancing it was the humour brought by Jimmy as he tried to open a jar, ending up wounding his hand.  It was the butler/deliveryman Molesley to the rescue, serving as a replacement footman for the evening.  Mrs. Pattmore (Lesley Nicol) had a panic attack forcing a re-alignment of the kitchen with Alfred doing some of the cooking.

I've read the Anna rape story will be one of the dominating story lines for the rest of the season.  It'll be interesting to see how they handle it; if rape was done it was forgotten about even amongst the servants.  Eventually the truth will come out, I think Mrs. Hughes is wily enough to keep the dress Anna took off.

Please seek help if you were affected in any way by this week's episode.  SAVIS of Halton (Sexual Assault Violence and Intervention Services) has a 24 hour help line: 905-875-1555.

Downton Musings:

-Is it just me or does Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards) look alarmingly like Sir Anthony Strallan (Robert Bathurst)?

-Braithwaite is up to something, and I think it'll snare more than just Branson

-Robert constantly wanting to control the estate is starting to get to me.  Doesn't he remember the feeling of nearly losing everything?

-The rape storyline will cancel out any relationship Mary could have with Lord Gillingham.  Anna is Mary's lady's maid.

See you next week!

Review: CTV's Intelligence

Intelligence follows the adventures of Gabriel Vaughn (Josh Holloway) an Intelligence Agent with a computer chip inside his brain and a cyber security division supporting him led by Lillian Strand (Marg Helgenburger).  The first episode introduced the characters, and followed them as they struggled to keep the technology behind the chip from getting into the hands of the Chinese.

The chip makes him the most valuable asset to American security, even in need of his own body guard.  Enter Megan Ory as Riley, the capable Secret Service agent whose job it is to guard him.  Ory and Helgenburger signal a new age of strong female roles.  Helgenburger's Lillian isn't without a heart encouraging Gabriel to go after his wife, a missing and presumed dead deep cover agent.

That's one of the long-term story lines, the "is she/isn't she alive" is meant to keep people guessing.  The other is Gabriel's back story, how did the intelligence chip program start? And what's going to happen to the Chinese agent? What's Lillian's back story?
  Through the chip Gabriel sees the whole picture, and walks himself through the situation so that the audience sees it too.

Overall I love it.  It's very topical: How close are we to putting these chips inside human beings?  What lengths would people go to in order to possess that technology? After developing a phone as small as a watch the chip inside someone's head isn't that far behind.  I love the perspective too; Gabriel is able to see a three-dimensional model of an event, and walk himself through it.

 A new episode of Intelligence airs Monday at 10pm on CTV, and CBS.  CBS is re-airing the pilot tonight at 8pm.  Can't catch it tonight?  Watch a 3 minute preview below.

Hilary Mantel's Bring Up The Bodies Review

Bring Up The Bodies is Hilary Mantel's second novel in her trilogy about Thomas Cromwell.  In the follow up to Wolf Hall we join Cromwell as he successfully brings down Henry VIII's second Queen: Anne Boelyn. 

In Wolf Hall I felt as if I was transported to the 1500's, following Cromwell as he rose through the ranks at Henry VIII's court.  There was a great blend of historical detail, and fiction that made it worthy of the Man Booker Prize.  At the end I felt I came away feeling as if I knew the man a little bit better.

Bring Up The Bodies is a clunky read.  It has the same attention to detail as its prequel, and similar characters of course because of the time period.  But that's where the similarities end.   A big difference is the narrator. In technical terms I think what Mantel was going for here was either a "3rd person first"  or maybe a second person narration?  She tried to make the narrator a separate character, and yet was also trying to see inside Thomas Cromwell's head. 

On page 182 Mantel writes: "He, Cromwell, stands back while Thomas Cranmer, pale and smooth takes charge of the king's bereavement."  She uses the expression of "He Cromwell," a lot to get into his head.  The lack of commitment to a point-of-view makes it a tough read.  If the character Thomas Cromwell is a mysterious figure, then why not use first person? The failure to commit to a narrator makes it confusing.

Mantel writes sections of the book without dialogue.  I appreciate there is a lot of detail to cram into a book about Henry VIII and Anne Boelyn. But, as a writer, and reader too, I find dialogue key to advancing the plot, and showing a character's background.  She's not successful at it here.  Basically the only thing I'm left with after reading it is that Cromwell is  good to his friends/family.  This I can see through his conversations with his neighbour Ambassador Chapuys, and the occasional exchange with other characters.

And then there's Henry VIII himself.  He's relegated to a secondary character for most of the book.  That makes sense since the primary focus is Thomas Cromwell who struggles in the background. Towards the end Henry VIII becomes a little more prominent as he reacts to Anne's betrayal, and is played up to be melodramatic.  In everything I've seen on television or read in history books, this King was anything but melodramatic.  I found myself thinking; she betrayed you, and you do get a chance to mope around... but honestly it's time to get over it now.

Overall verdict on this one: Great for historical detail, but not if you're looking for a good story.  

Downton Abbey Season 4, Episode 1 Review

Downton Abbey reopened its doors to North American viewers last night on PBS.  Lady Mary was in deep mourning for her husband Matthew (Dan Stevens left the show) while life slowly moved on around her.  Edith resumed her life with her beau; the newspaper editor. Robert spent most of his time trying to protect Mary from the outside world, even offering to handle baby George's wealth- we all know how well he managed his own.

Below stairs the servants were astir with news O'Brien had quit for a position with Lady Flincher.  This left Thomas (Rob James Collier) without a foil, and Cora without a lady's maid. He managed to cause trouble on his own, first by getting Nanny West fired,  then by going after Anna for advising new maid Bratihwaite against being friendly to him.  Anna, and Bates worked together to help Mosely who had fallen on hard times following Matthew's death.  Bates ended up giving Moesley 30 pounds to pay off some debts.

Violet as usual had her hand in a lot of pies last night.  When she wasn't helping Molesley try to find work, she was helping bring Mary out of her depression.  She invited Mary and Branson to her home and proposed that Branson tutor Mary on the estate's affairs. "But what would Papa say about it?" Violet answered: "There is sometimes too much truth in a relationship."By the end Mary  was starting to come out of her depression, and Molesley felt a bit better about himself, and Isobel was starting to find purpose again through nursing an old friend of Carson's.

I loved the pacing in this episode.  It would have been easy to milk the grieving widow storyline for all that's worth, but Julian Fellowes didn't and that helped capture the whole life moving on around Mary story. So much of the last three seasons has been about Mary and Matthew's love affair that you forgot that hey this is an ensemble show and there are other characters.   I love how in the premiere at least we're getting separate storylines for Violet, and Isobel, and Carson, and Daisy.  I hope this is a hint of things to come; if so then I think we're in for a great season.

This week's memorable lines from Lady Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham:

What did A&E Expect?

What did A&E expect when they hired a redneck family?  This question keeps popping into my head the more I hear about the Robertson's latest controversy.  Family patriarch Phil was initially in trouble for remarks made to GQ regarding homosexuality, and was suspended by the network because of those views. 

Now his latest comments are about marriage; Robertson married wife Kay when he was 19, and she 15.  He thinks other men should do the same.  In comments uncovered in a Youtube video Robertson says: "You wait til they're 20 years old, and the only picking that's going to take place is in your pocket.  You got to marry these girls when they are about 15 or 16. They'll pick your ducks. You need to check with mom and dad about that, of course." The remarks were part of a 2009 speech to a Sportsmen's Ministry event in Georgia. I disagree with his comments; in the first case they're homophobic, intolerant and crude.  In the second, they degrade and insult women by implying most of us are gold-diggers once we reach 20. 

This says more about reality television.  It's all manipulated to fit into storylines. Clips can be made to say anything; make people look however they need to in the name of ratings.  On the show Willie Robertson (CEO) looks like an idiot, and Silas looks like a crazy old fool.  These characters are maybe 30-40% true.

That brings me back to Phil.  A&E must be going crazy as they realize that Phil won't be controlled or molded into a character for the sake of the show.  He hasn't denounced any of his comments, and why would he? Like them or not, they're his beliefs and they come from his background, and knowledge. Having the courage to speak them out loud makes him probably the most honest person on reality television.

A&E should quit worrying about what Phil Robertson does, and focus more on network content.  This way the next time a Robertson does something they don't like, they can just pull the show.