Bitten Finale Review

Bitten ended its first season Saturday night.  The series is based on the "Women of the Other World books written by Kelley Armstrong.  It focuses on Elena Michaels (Laura Vandervoort), the world's only female werewolf and her quest to be normal.  She's living her life as a photographer in Toronto when she's pulled back in by her pack.

The first season stuck close to the book with the possible exception of the finale.  The good guys won the final battle at Stonehaven (of course), but there was a twist.  The bad guy trying to take over the house was none other than Jeremy (Greg Bryk)'s  father; William (James McGowan). The other twist was that final scene where Elena screams after finding   Phillip (Paul Greene's) (?)'s head in her bed.

I didn't watch this show regularly.  I watched a few episodes in the beginning, and then really got into it the last 3, or 4 episodes.  As a season, it seemed there were episodes where nothing much happened to advance the plot.  And I didn't care enough to go back and watch them online when I missed an episode.  If there's a season 2, the consistency in writing needs to be addressed.  I think the episodes should be treated as chapters and the writers should ask how they can move the story forward. 

There were times when I didn't buy Laura Vandervoort as Elena; she played her too black and white sometimes, and  I didn't get the sense of the character's duality.  The other characters with the exception of Jeremy, and Paul weren't that interesting to me.  And that was nothing to do with the actors, mostly the writing.

A second season only works if it's less about Elena.  I'd love to see more of the Jeremy/William storyline, and Logan/Rachel
 .
Bitten Musings:

-I don't know if I'd watch second season.  Based on the second part of season 1, yes... first part no.

-Is there a chance Jeremy had Phillip killed, and the killer double-crossed him by working with William?

-Is there a chance  Phillip's still alive? (remember there's only the flash of the head in her bed).  There's a lot more drama to mine there between him and Elena.

-Is Rachel about to become a werewolf as part of William's sick plot.. maybe see what happens when a pregnant woman is bitten?

Downton Abbey Season Finale Review

In a switch from previous seasons, the Christmas Special actually took place during the summer.  It's the "Society Season," and time for Rose to be unveiled to London's upper classes.  The entire family are at the Crawley's London house, and are joined by Cora's mother, and brother (played by Paul Gimatti and Shirley MacLaine) from America.

The question of Bates' involvement with Green's death is finally answered.  Mary chooses not find out, and burns the ticket to London found in his jacket.  Mary meanwhile has two (or possibly three if you count Evelyn Napier) suitors jostling for her hand in marriage.  She finds out Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) actually has money to his name which changes her perception of him.  Following her introduction to the King, he appears at Rose's party to take the first dance. The Dowager Duchess Violet had a great 'cat fight' scene with Martha. Edith decides to take her future into her hands, and brings the baby back to give her to the farmer we met in the first episode.

The servants take advantage of the break, and a day by the seaside is arranged. Daisy is invited to become Harold Levinson's cook (which position Ivy ends up taking).  Baxter broke free of whatever hold Thomas had on her, and looks to be on the road to happiness with Moseley. Thomas is trying his best to spoil it though. The final shot of the episode was one of the most  memorable of the series: Carson, and Mrs. Hughes playing in the waves.

Downton Musings:

Season #5? Looks that way; there's a listing for it on IMDB. Part of me hopes it's the last.  These dramas are usually better quality over quantity.

-I wish the stunt casting would stop; Downton Abbey doesn't need Shirley MacLaine, and Paul Gimatti to be a success.

-Baxter and Molesley are cute.

-Mary bugs me: In this episode, it's as if the writers hit the reset button with Mary, and her love affair with Matthew never happened.  Now she has three possible suitors, and it's as if it's a game to her to play one off against the other.  Character development would be nice.

-Character Development 2: Thomas:  Season 3 was a big arc for him; we found out he was gay, he was beaten up, and generally reviled by the other characters for it.  Would've loved seeing some more of the consequences, and a peek into what it must have been like for a gay person in the '20's.  Instead we get plotting, scheming Thomas who spent a couple of episodes in America.  What a waste!

-Give him a kiss: I would've kissed Charles Blake (Julian Ovenden) before he left the house in the morning. 

-Is Gregson dead? or a spy?

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.

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

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.

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:

Broadchurch Season Finale Review

Broadchurch is a British mystery series featuring David Tennant (aka the 10th Doctor) as a tired, cynical Detective  Inspector Alec Hardy called upon to solve a child's murder.  The series followed him, and his partner DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) as they followed the clues, and unravelled Town secrets better left hidden.

The brilliant part of this show is that it kept the tension up right until the very last episode.  I couldn't guess at it, I had ideas but they were proven wrong, I really had no theories other than it might be someone close to the child's family.  I purposefully stayed spoiler free, and didn't tweet about it outside episodes. 

Last night the killer was revealed, and in true British fashion it was the person you least expected. I won't reveal the name, but I will say the killer was related to a police officer.  This show is best viewed without spoilers.

The first season covered about 2 months, following the police every step of their investigation.  It was about the town, and family of the dead boy himself.  It gave a taste of what life was like; how the family dealt with losing a son, and how the community dealt with this sudden violent crime was committed by someone living among them.

Broadchurch will be back.  There are rumours of season 2 as a possible prequel focusing on Tennant's character.  In a recent Digital Spy article, series creators refused to confirm if David Tennant or any other cast member will return to the show.

Borgias Series Finale Review

Period Drama "The Borgias" ended its three-season run last Sunday with an episode entitled "The Prince."  This one centred on Francois Arnaud's Cesare, as he successfully took Forlis from nemesis Caterina Sforza (Gina McKee), and her as his prisoner.  Rodrigo (Jeremy Irons) placed ultimate trust in his son, laying out his vision of a Papal empire ruled by Cesare.

Meanwhile, Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger) continued to struggle with finding happiness in her marriage to Alfonso of Aragon (Sebastian De Souza).  The culprit; persistent rumours of her incestuous relationship with Cesare, who upon returning to Rome plots his brother-in-law's murder using an assassin.  He ends up doing the deed himself when Alfonso comes after him with a sword after returning home following a night of drinking.

The final scene is on Alfonso's deathbed.  Cesare arrives to find Lucrezia laying beside her dying husband covered with his blood, and lovingly caresses her face.  "I cannot wash this blood off," she says.  Cesare offers to strip her wash it from her body.

I've read about behind-the-scenes drama, and how it was planned to follow Rodrigo until his death.  Also about how plans for a movie just to wrap up all the storylines were nixed. There is even a #SaveTheBorgias hashtag on twitter.  I'd love to see the tv movie, but I'd be careful of another season.  I think there was a risk of the whole 'incest' angle taking over, and moving it too far towards becoming a 'soap opera.'  It was only rumoured incest.

I'm satisfied with the way it ended.  There was no cliff-hanger; just a single dramatic moment.  I could easily see stopping in to visit the lives of these characters in a year or two down the road.  The one major cliff-hanger moment was with Micheletto; is he dead? Cesare only dreamed he was.  I loved him, and I think he'd make a good character for a spin-off if they had one. 

The way the episode was done from Cesare's point of view left open the possibility they could even go beyond Rodrigo's death with stories told from his point of view, and that could be a direction to take it.

They could go either way, or just leave it as it ended.

The Name of The Doctor: Review

That actually wasn't revealed to the audience in Saturday's episode. It was revealed in a whispered aside  by River Song, so we still don't know the Doctor's name.  Wouldn't it be funny if it's John, or Fred or Henry? Something surprisingly ordinary.
 
But we did solve the riddle of the "impossible girl," but not until the last few minutes of the episode.  "I was born to save the doctor," Clara starts.   She's born, lives, and dies over, and over again.  And she gets to save "Doctor," something that's a little bit mind-blowing of itself; the Doctor needs saving?! Who knew.  This time was no different.

This episode started off with Clara psychically consulting with Trax, Madame Vastra, River Song, and Jenny through a communal dream.  Madame Vastra had just met with a prisoner who told her that the Doctor's greatest secret has been revealed.  The conference didn't get very far before the whisper men interrupted to tell River and Clara, 'killed' Jenny, and awakened Madame Vastra: "Tell the Doctor his friends are lost forever more unless he goes to Trenzalore."

When Clara tells the Doctor his reaction is unexpected.  He sits on the sofa, and cries.  Then he goes off to the Tardis' underbelly eventually programming the coordinates to Trenzalore.  Trenzalore is... the location of the Doctor's grave site.  The Doctor must never go there because he's crossing his own timeline- a big no-no for time travelers.  Remember the first half's finale when Amy dies- she reveals her own grave stone and the doctor couldn't save her.

The TARDIS knows this and initially refuses to land of its own accord.  The Doctor forced it to fall to the ground.  The scene reminded me of something out of a Christmas Carol- the part where Ebeneezer Scrooge is with the ghost of Christmas future walking through a cemetery.  The Doctor meanwhile sees the graves of his friends; River Song- ("River's not buried here," he says).  River appears to Clara, and they have a little conversation; her grave is actually a tunnel to the Doctor's grave.  Of course, The Doctor and Clara follow it.  Clara remembers the "forgotten day (Journey to the Centre of the Tardis), and starts asking him about it. The Doctor lets slip the little detail River is his wife.

A vine-wrapped TARDIS interior is the stage for the final battle.  Everyone's there looking at the Doctor's corpse; a blinding blue light made of frayed threads. Dr.  Simeon (aka The Great Intelligence) announces: "The doctor's life is an open wound, and an open wound can be entered."  There's nothing left to do following that statement but enter it, which, is exactly what he does.  The Doctor falls to the ground writhing in pain; all of his good work is undone. 

The stars begin going out, Jenny dies again;"The silence will fall, and darkness will reign..." I digress.  Enter Clara who comes up with the idea of jumping into the time stream to save him.  "The time winds will tear you apart," warns River.  That explains why the Doctor keeps running into her; each version of her life will be lived to save him.  Clara doesn't heed the warning of course, and jumps into the time stream anyway, and everything is set to rights.  It's kind of the ultimate expression of love; living your life unconditionally to save just one person.  "Run you clever boy, and remember.." were her last words.

The Doctor wakes up, has a little exchange with River which ends with her saying enigmatically: "Spoilers," when he asks her why she hasn't faded yet. Maybe season 8's mystery??

The Doctor enters his own time stream to save Clara.  They meet up in a post-apocalyptic type of place, where John Hurt.  "I didn't say he was "The Doctor," I said he was me," The Doctor informs Clara.   And that's where it ends.  I can just hear Clara asking John Hurt the next question: "What am I to call you?" Which is probably going to reveal to the audience The Doctor's name.

I think John Hurt's going to be some version of the Doctor.  Perhaps the one who destroyed Gallifrey? It would fit with his seemingly world-weary attitude; lonely bitter, resigned to his fate.  And Clara- still a mystery; is this the real Clara? and what happens when she crosses her own timelines?

I can't wait for November.

While we're waiting below is the trailer for the 50th anniversary special from BBC One.

Scandalous Cliff Hanger

Scandal ended its second season last night with its usual amount of fast-talking twists and turns.  The mole turned out to be the former chief-of-staff to the Vice President, and Jake turned out to be working  for Olivia's dad;  David turned out to have busted the Defiance mess wide open, and managed to play it for a big pay-off 

I loved the Fitz/Olivia moments.  The chemistry between them has always been obvious and very well played by the actors but their whole together/ not together storyline is getting really tedious.  Last night for the second time Fitz confessed his love to Olivia,  and his willingness to do whatever it takes, and what does she do? Send him back to Millie. Of course he was aided significantly by a graphic sex tape uncovered by Cyrus thanks in part to Jake- he bugged Olivia's apartment earlier in the season. 

I get the "wanting to be together no matter what" thing. She loves him even  though Fitz killed Velma, he loves her even though Olivia kept Defiance from him.  If I don't get some kind of huge pay-off soon, I may have to reconsider my Thursday night viewing options.  Why not let Mellie play the wronged woman for a while? she can make political capital out of that. I think Fitz even learned a thing or two in the art of cruelty from her.

Quinn completely crossed to the dark side.  The moment she took the drill from Huck I thought 'oh no, she isn't' and she did.  What's worse is judging from her reaction is she liked it, and wanted to do it again.  Huck had a 'what have I created' moment as he slammed the door in her face.  How he'll sort her out next season will probably be a plot for next season.

The ending was the best part. Olivia blissfully distracted with her music opens the door to go for a run, and cameras, and microphones are shoved in her face.  She takes her ear buds out to be greeted by questions about being the President's mistress.  She's pulled into a limo and greets "Miles" with "Hi dad." 

Does this mean Olivia's dad blabbed to the press about with Fitz? If so why? Where does he fit in with the Defiance plot? Does he have any ties to this so-called 'secret' C.I.A. division Jake works for?

Scandal  returns to answer these questions, Thursdays this fall on ABC. 

 

Arrow: For Whom The Bell Tolls

I loved it.  It combined action, drama and a true cliff hanger. For whom the Bell Tolls followed Oliver/ Arrow as he tried to stop a manically evil Malcolm Merlin (John Barrowman) from using his earthquake device to destroy Starling City.

He succeeded in a way; Detective Lance diffused the bomb before it went off thanks to Felicity's help.  "If I learned anything as a successful businessman it's redundancy," Malcolm said to Oliver. 

Translation; there was another bomb, which, went off causing death and destruction in its wake.  The episode's title refers to the ending.  Who lives? Who dies? It's obvious that Laurel, Detective Lance, and Oliver all live.  But what about Thea, Moira, Diggle, Roy and even Walter? What about Malcolm and Tommy?

I'd love to see them both live.  I was starting to get into the darker, grittier Tommy (Colin Donnell) as he dealt with the fact his best friend killed people as the vigilante.  I would've loved to see the dynamic between him and Malcolm as well after Malcolm's reveal as Dark Arrow.  That would've really messed Tommy up.

 But if I had to pick between them, I'd say Malcolm lives- he was in the 'panic room' for a while, he had an escape plan in place. Besides redundancy, I'm sure as a successful businessman he always had a contingency plan.  Character aside, I love John Barrowman, and if I can't have him  as Jack Harkness on Torchwood, I'll take him as Malcolm Merlin on Arrow.  I also hated that line... Writers: You  can think of better final words writers than that!

I was back and forth on Laurel for the whole season.  The last few episodes I found her annoying. I wouldn't care if they revealed in the season 2 premiere a piece of debris fell on top of her and she died of her injuries.  I am curious as to what they're going to do with that character to make her less annoying. 

There have been hints Oliver's going to be completely honest with her.  How will she deal with the fact her boyfriend has killed people? That he's been lying to her since he returned from the island? That the presumed dead Tommy knew? So much drama to play out in that relationship.

Is it Season 2 yet?

My Saturday with Space

Saturday Night I spent watching Space.  They showed the second half season Premiere of Doctor Who and premiered a new show: Orphan Black. The Doctor was up to his old tricks; searching for the answer to the "twice dead girl," in a monastery in 1207 he gets a call from Clara trying to figure out what happened to her Internet connection.  The premise for this one was really interesting; a computer virus swept the world, and when people clicked the link they would be uploaded.  This reminded me of a few earlier episodes where the Doctor, and Rose spent time on this space station where people pretty much lived in reality shows. From the first episode it has a clear overarching storyline this season, if you were watching there were a couple of ties to the Christmas episode.
Quote from the night: "3 hours ago you knew nothing about computers, and now you just made a joke about twitter."  The Doctor to Clara.  

Orphan Black I found kind of jarring.  I tuned in thinking; great another British Sci-fi series.  I'll give it a try.  Little did I know it opened with a scene that ends on top of a very familiar train platform at Union Station- one that I've crossed a few times as well on my way out of the station, and the train that hit a main character looked just like a GO Train. And that's just the start.  In one part of the episode, the character Sarah pulls out Canadian $20 bills, and an Ontario drivers license from the dead girl's wallet.  More scenery- the glass tower condos towering over Downtown Toronto; alleyways that look suspiciously like  the ones Rick Mercer delivers his famous rants in.  Added to that the two main characters Felix and Sarah both have British accents (both incidentally are Canadian actors).

Maybe the 'jarring' feeling is on purpose.  Maybe it, is meant so the audience get a feeling for these two characters who have fallen into a situation they have absolutely no idea what to do in.  I'm going to give this another couple of episodes because I'm a sucker for a good mystery.  

Doctor Who airs Saturdays at 8pm on Space, and Orphan Black airs at 9pm.  Catch up on both right now by visiting Space

Revolution Review

As always with most of my television posts: SPOILER ALERT.  If you haven't seen the show yet go visit my other blog: Milton Views.

After 4 long months Revolution returned to NBC last night.  The ratings I've heard aren't that great- down from something like 7.2 million from its fall premiere.  That really isn't surprising; everyone wanted to tune in, and see what it's like.  A new post-apocalyptic drama from J.J. Abrahams, executive produced by Steven Spielberg- obvious pedigree.

I was a little bit puzzled by this episode.  The season started off- girl leaves home, goes off searching for her brother.  In the Fall finale she finds him, and her mother alive.  And then then they kill the brother off... what?? Why kill the guy you spent the first half of the season trying to save?? Why give the family a happy ending only to have it brutally snatched away??

Initially I felt cheated.  Rescuing the brother was Charlie's (Tracy Spiradakos) raison d'etre for the entire first half of the season.  It seemed a waste to do get rid of the character.  I'm interested to see how they develop Charlie- will she become as cold and driven to defeat the Monroe army? Or will she back down?

Another storyline that could be really good is the one happening between Tom, and his son.  Tom beat his son up within eyesight of the rebel camp.  It'll be interesting to find out if this was faked to get intelligence on the rebels, or if this was somehow genuine- that he sensed on some level the son's heart was being torn between his father and any feelings he might  have for Charlie.

I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with Colm Feore's character Randall.  He looks like he's going to be head of an army of scientists meant to reproduce the pendants or something.

The only thing that I was left wanting was more scenes between Monroe and Miles the former best friends turned enemies. Sebastian now has electricity and will no doubt use it take over the United States from sea to shining sea, as he so sinisterly put it.

 The irony isn't lost on me. History nerds will know there was such a thing as the Monroe doctrine. Passed in 1823 by U.S. President James Monroe, it basically told European powers if they tried colonizing  the western hemisphere they'd have a fight on their hands. Would love to see how this fits into the show's development.

I'm ready for the Revolution to continue.

Deception Season Finale Review

Spoiler Alert-

If you watched the full season, you would've figured out by now that Robert Bowers (Victor Garber) murdered his daughter.  Heck after the the fourth, maybe fifth episode I had it figured out.  The only question I had was when Joanna was going to be finally and fully revealed to all as a cop; by the way that still hasn't happened yet.

Other reviewers have called it the poor man's version of Scandal.  I watch Scandal, and although it does compare in that they're both ensemble dramas, full of twists and turns that's where the comparisons end.  The big difference is the writing.  Like I said before I had Robert Bowers pegged for the murderer since the fifth episode; it's a little bit predictable.  In Scandal is so fast-paced and you truly don't know which character is behind what plot twist.  It's doubtful at times even the writers know on that show.

What got to me about last night's episode was John Larroquette's character Senator Dwight Haverstock.  The whole season the character's been a scumbag; hints that he even possibly raped Vivian, and of course is Mia's dad.  Now suddenly to turn on a dime; announce he's running for office and will eventually destroy Robert is a bit unbelievable to say the least; maybe bad writing.  I get suspending belief; Scandal has enough of that.  But there's been few hints this character has any redeeming qualities.

I hope this show continues.  I want to see how the try and redeem the characters, and if Robert slips up, as well as the many other plots and subplots continue.  We need decent dramas on television, and this could be one.
   

What happened to Smash?

Loved the first season of Smash- the tension between Karen and Ivy, the whole idea of a musical about Marylin Monroe.  The cast is incredible; Megan Hilty, Catherine McPhee, Angelica Houston just to name a few.  The stories were good too; Karen adjusting to life as a Broadway actress fighting Ivy to be Marylin.  Julia fighting for her family- to keep her marriage together.  Derek well... being Derek. 

This season hasn't been as good so far.  I missed most of the season premiere so I'm not as up-to-date as should be.  But last night's episode didn't have the same rhythm for me- it lacked a certain something.  It's left me asking: well... what happened to Smash?

What I've seen of this season it's been kind of disjointed so far.  There were hints from the season finale Julia (Debra Messing) would be pregnant.  What happened to that? Now the character "Joe (Will Chase)" is barely mentioned, yet he's a serious enough love affair for her to trash her marriage for it.  She's a lynch pin of the show, I feel like we were meant to watch her struggle with heartbreak.

Another odd part of the show is with the Karen-Ivy dynamic.  They're rarely in the same scene or storyline.   Part of the show's brilliance was the way these two played off each other- the innocent Karen vs. the conniving Ivy.  I haven't seen that yet this season.

The creative team has changed, and so should the show- it's only natural to tweak it in its second season.  But not this much.  I miss the old Smash. 

True Blood Season 4

On Sunday night I did something I rarely do to a television show I like.  I turned off True Blood with about 20 minutes to go in its season four finale... and I didn't care.  I still don't.  It's a symptom that a show may be past its prime for me to do something like that.

True Blood is based on the Sookie Stackhouse/ Southern Vampire novels written by Charlaine Harris.  I love their wit, charm, and their readability.. I can finish one in as little as a few days.  The show has strayed a little too far away from the books for my liking. 

Season one started off as horror; a tightly paced original show; a typically high-quality HBO series. Seasons 2, and 3 continued in the same direction using the  horror-fantasy genre introducing witches, werewolves, and shifters.  I loved Russell Edgington; probably the best bad guy of the whole series so far, but that was also where the series started to go camp.

Where do I start with season 4? The Sookie Stackhouse character has gone from the kick-ass heroine portrayed in the books to the damsel in distress, poor defenseless and waiting for Eric and Bill to rescue her.   The vampire women seem to have gotten all the good lines in the season too.The Sookie character in the novels is the books' heart, and humour.  She also has a more steely side to her.

Speaking of Eric and Bill.  Bill as vampire King doesn't act very kingly.  He's not as dangerous, as you'd might expect, and really you might hope for.  And Eric; in the book season 4 is based on he has to fight for her affections, it's more like the beginning of a relationship.  In the show there's barely any hints of that. 

Tara was useless.  Honestly if she left the show, I wouldn't care.  Her only purpose on it seems to be as the angry, and bitter character towards the entire supernatural world.   And also to discourage Sookie from choosing Bill or Eric; Tara doesn't have a life of her own besides her anger. Too much anger can be boring after a while.
 
Season 4 lacked cohesiveness for me.  Usually there is an 'aha' moment where all the puzzle pieces fall into place, and that there wasn't for me.  Does this mean I won't watch season #5 when Space shows it? I want to give it a second chance, so that means yes I probably will.  It's just not appointment viewing for me anymore.