Some say that the holidays are a time to be spent with your family and friends carrying on yearly traditions. When the days are at their shortest and the weather's getting cold, our friends in TV land offer up plenty of goodies from holiday specials, to Christmas movies to dizzying 12-hour marathons (Law & Order is a particular favourite of mine).
Check out TVGuide's 2009 Holiday Marathon and Specials Round Up to find out when to tune in!
Chuck producers have been doling out bits and pieces to build anticipation for the January 10th premiere and well, it's working. We've been told that we'll be getting more Jeffster this season. For us Sarah/Chuck obsessed, we've been granted this fantastic promo
SPIKETV is airing a marathon of the first three (Episodes IV, V & VI) twice on December 24. Does it get any better than that? Maybe, with a 5-minute abridged version of CBS's 1978 Star Wars Christmas Special.
I'll leave you with this. Merry Christmas, Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Dollhouse: "The Attic" (2.10) - Review
I'll see your sports analogy and raise you a Star Wars reference
The tension is rising, the gears are moving and the end is in sight. There is a heavy tone that accompanies "The Attic" the mood and the sets are claustrophobic, the feeling that everything is in a funnel, coming to a head. This is the last episode of 2009, when we return in January we'll be down to the final three episodes to round out this inconsistent (but these days consistently fantastic) series. Many shows announce that they will be introducing a "game changer", but discovering Adelle's true allegiance and Caroline/Echo's significance is truly the announcement that will spearhead this show into the finale.
All the pieces are coming together, we learn that Caroline holds a significance with Rossum, we learn more about Rossum, its founders and the chances (all but 3%) that they will end civilization. Throughout the series we've been privy to much of what occurs in the Dollhouse, although we do not know exactly how long they've been operation. We've seen plans begin to backfire, traitors in the midst, dolls glitch (Alpha, Echo, now Victor and Sierra), and we've seen how far Rossum's reach can extend as they've planted a doll in the government.
We've seen agenda's change and personalities flare. Now we're on the edge, close to the disaster we've seen in "Epitaph One", time is running out and our heroes are coming together to stop it.
Adelle is a woman who plays her hand close to the chest, we spend the episode watching her icy stare, having sent Echo, Sierra and Victor to the attic while berating Boyd, Topher, and scaring the wits out of Ivy. Adelle has had a change of heart after a breakdown, an alcohol infused bender perhaps brought on by excessive guilt as she feels her power slipping away and her complicit actions in Rossum's nefarious plans for the future. She knows Caroline/Echo is special, that's why she hates her, and it's why she needs her.
"Stop-Lost" was essential to this episode, both in depicting how powerful Rossum can be as it develops group think technology and is raising a private army, showing how fragile its technology is when Echo can take it out a whole base almost entirely on her own. It also gave us background into Victor, or Anthony's pre-doll history. He was a soldier who fought in Afghanistan who signed up to be a doll to be cured of his severe PTSD. His military knowledge becomes essential to his role in "The Attic" and his role in the right against Rossum.
The Attic
I felt as though the visual portrayal of the Attic was perfect, it has all the characteristics of a dream state, things don't quite make sense, mismatched scenery, and a dark, nightmarish atmosphere. The Attic is something that if Dollhouse were given more time probably could have been explored in greater detail, but I think this was perfect, it was hard, quick and we got to the bottom of it without dwelling on the details. When Echo arrives in the attic she is in Echo's head, not Caroline's. She explores a world filled with memories and fears from all the personalities that she's built from. Her nightmare is Echo's nightmare, that she won't be able to save them all, her friends and the world.
It turns out that agents conspiring to destroy Rossum are not limited to the real world. Dominic (Reed Diamond) who was sent to the Attic back in season one appears in Echo's head. He's been fighting Arcane, a mysterious figure that has been killing people from inside their nightmares. Everything that Echo is made of is dedicated to saving her friends. After annoyingly running off on her own, she agrees to work with Dominic to save Sierra and Victor, then capture and kill Arcane. Victor/Anthony proves to be invaluable offering his military experience to successfully capture Arcane.
This is where things get very interesting. The layers of Rossum begin to peel away. This is where we meet out warrior from the inside, and he's more inside than we might initially think. Meet Clyde, he was one of the original founders of Rossum, and the first resident of the Attic. Explaining that he was betrayed be his partner (whose identity has been erased from his memory), and a doll, Clyde 2.0 and put into the Attic to be the first part of Rossum's mainframe, a human CPU. Clyde has spent his days as Arcane killing the human CPU's to sabotage Rossum from inside the attic, and calculating the probability that Rossum will bring the world to its end, the end doesn't look good, in fact, it will probably look a lot like Epitaph One.
Echo finds a way to escape the Attic, she has to flat line, then revive back in the real world. She leaves along with Priya (Sierra) and Anthony (Victor). Dominic stays in the Attic with Clyde to fight from within.
Anthony/Victor must kill Priya/Sierra for her to escape, this scene is breath taking, they kiss as he stabs her, she slowly collapses in his arms, the fiery world in the background reflects the pain and the love in their faces. She leaves; he stares at the bloody blade, and allows the savages in the Attack to rip him apart.
Caroline
Clyde lets a significant piece of information out, that a woman got into Rossum, she learned something that put the company at great risk. This woman was Caroline. We now understand how significant a role that Caroline, and now Echo plays in the narrative of Rossum. Caroline becoming a doll was not a coincidence.
A conversation between Adelle and Boyd also gives us something to think about. He says that his only goal was to protect Echo. It seems like Boyd was transferred to the Dollhouse specifically to deal with Caroline/Echo. She was always special, they always knew it, and we're coming closer to understanding why.
This is their plan
When Echo leaves the Attic we learn that Adelle sent her in with a mission, to understand what the Attic is, how it works, and to come back, something that no one has done before.
Gathered in Adelle's office is our mighty group of rebel soldiers; Echo, Anthony/Victor, Priya/Sierra, Boyd, Topher, Ivy and Ballard (yes). They decide there is one more person needed to complete the group, that is Caroline, the woman who appears to have started this all.
Oh, and Ballard is back with the help of the Dollhouse technology as many of us predicted - I appreciate that it was not a quick fix and had to involve new ideas and hard decisions.
Some Final Thoughts:
I'm hoping that Alpha was (before his composite event) Clyde 2.0, or otherwise a central figure in Rossum. It would be a fantastic way to satisfy multiple story lines.
Also looking to see how Bennett was involved in Caroline's fight against Rossum. It seems as though Caroline abandoning Bennett has helped shape who Echo is as a person.
The Attic provided a lot of momentum moving forward, and it left a lot of questions that will hopefully be answered in the final three episodes:
When Topher and Ivy restored Ballard's personality to his body via active architecture, they left something out. What do you think that is?'
When did Adelle initially intend to take out Rossum, before or after Caroline, Or was it when Echo emerged as a person and challenged her did she decide that she needed to figure out the Attic? Or (and this is what my money is on) did Adele change her mind during her breakdown/bender?
Who is the original co-founder who betrayed Clyde, and have we met him or her before?
Hopefully all these questions and more will be answered when we return with the final three in January. As sad as I am to see a show that has improved so drastically come to an end. I know it's for the best, and I'm enjoying the ride!
The tension is rising, the gears are moving and the end is in sight. There is a heavy tone that accompanies "The Attic" the mood and the sets are claustrophobic, the feeling that everything is in a funnel, coming to a head. This is the last episode of 2009, when we return in January we'll be down to the final three episodes to round out this inconsistent (but these days consistently fantastic) series. Many shows announce that they will be introducing a "game changer", but discovering Adelle's true allegiance and Caroline/Echo's significance is truly the announcement that will spearhead this show into the finale.
All the pieces are coming together, we learn that Caroline holds a significance with Rossum, we learn more about Rossum, its founders and the chances (all but 3%) that they will end civilization. Throughout the series we've been privy to much of what occurs in the Dollhouse, although we do not know exactly how long they've been operation. We've seen plans begin to backfire, traitors in the midst, dolls glitch (Alpha, Echo, now Victor and Sierra), and we've seen how far Rossum's reach can extend as they've planted a doll in the government.
We've seen agenda's change and personalities flare. Now we're on the edge, close to the disaster we've seen in "Epitaph One", time is running out and our heroes are coming together to stop it.
Adelle is a woman who plays her hand close to the chest, we spend the episode watching her icy stare, having sent Echo, Sierra and Victor to the attic while berating Boyd, Topher, and scaring the wits out of Ivy. Adelle has had a change of heart after a breakdown, an alcohol infused bender perhaps brought on by excessive guilt as she feels her power slipping away and her complicit actions in Rossum's nefarious plans for the future. She knows Caroline/Echo is special, that's why she hates her, and it's why she needs her.
"Stop-Lost" was essential to this episode, both in depicting how powerful Rossum can be as it develops group think technology and is raising a private army, showing how fragile its technology is when Echo can take it out a whole base almost entirely on her own. It also gave us background into Victor, or Anthony's pre-doll history. He was a soldier who fought in Afghanistan who signed up to be a doll to be cured of his severe PTSD. His military knowledge becomes essential to his role in "The Attic" and his role in the right against Rossum.
The Attic
I felt as though the visual portrayal of the Attic was perfect, it has all the characteristics of a dream state, things don't quite make sense, mismatched scenery, and a dark, nightmarish atmosphere. The Attic is something that if Dollhouse were given more time probably could have been explored in greater detail, but I think this was perfect, it was hard, quick and we got to the bottom of it without dwelling on the details. When Echo arrives in the attic she is in Echo's head, not Caroline's. She explores a world filled with memories and fears from all the personalities that she's built from. Her nightmare is Echo's nightmare, that she won't be able to save them all, her friends and the world.
It turns out that agents conspiring to destroy Rossum are not limited to the real world. Dominic (Reed Diamond) who was sent to the Attic back in season one appears in Echo's head. He's been fighting Arcane, a mysterious figure that has been killing people from inside their nightmares. Everything that Echo is made of is dedicated to saving her friends. After annoyingly running off on her own, she agrees to work with Dominic to save Sierra and Victor, then capture and kill Arcane. Victor/Anthony proves to be invaluable offering his military experience to successfully capture Arcane.
This is where things get very interesting. The layers of Rossum begin to peel away. This is where we meet out warrior from the inside, and he's more inside than we might initially think. Meet Clyde, he was one of the original founders of Rossum, and the first resident of the Attic. Explaining that he was betrayed be his partner (whose identity has been erased from his memory), and a doll, Clyde 2.0 and put into the Attic to be the first part of Rossum's mainframe, a human CPU. Clyde has spent his days as Arcane killing the human CPU's to sabotage Rossum from inside the attic, and calculating the probability that Rossum will bring the world to its end, the end doesn't look good, in fact, it will probably look a lot like Epitaph One.
Echo finds a way to escape the Attic, she has to flat line, then revive back in the real world. She leaves along with Priya (Sierra) and Anthony (Victor). Dominic stays in the Attic with Clyde to fight from within.
Anthony/Victor must kill Priya/Sierra for her to escape, this scene is breath taking, they kiss as he stabs her, she slowly collapses in his arms, the fiery world in the background reflects the pain and the love in their faces. She leaves; he stares at the bloody blade, and allows the savages in the Attack to rip him apart.
Caroline
Clyde lets a significant piece of information out, that a woman got into Rossum, she learned something that put the company at great risk. This woman was Caroline. We now understand how significant a role that Caroline, and now Echo plays in the narrative of Rossum. Caroline becoming a doll was not a coincidence.
A conversation between Adelle and Boyd also gives us something to think about. He says that his only goal was to protect Echo. It seems like Boyd was transferred to the Dollhouse specifically to deal with Caroline/Echo. She was always special, they always knew it, and we're coming closer to understanding why.
This is their plan
When Echo leaves the Attic we learn that Adelle sent her in with a mission, to understand what the Attic is, how it works, and to come back, something that no one has done before.
Gathered in Adelle's office is our mighty group of rebel soldiers; Echo, Anthony/Victor, Priya/Sierra, Boyd, Topher, Ivy and Ballard (yes). They decide there is one more person needed to complete the group, that is Caroline, the woman who appears to have started this all.
Oh, and Ballard is back with the help of the Dollhouse technology as many of us predicted - I appreciate that it was not a quick fix and had to involve new ideas and hard decisions.
Some Final Thoughts:
I'm hoping that Alpha was (before his composite event) Clyde 2.0, or otherwise a central figure in Rossum. It would be a fantastic way to satisfy multiple story lines.
Also looking to see how Bennett was involved in Caroline's fight against Rossum. It seems as though Caroline abandoning Bennett has helped shape who Echo is as a person.
The Attic provided a lot of momentum moving forward, and it left a lot of questions that will hopefully be answered in the final three episodes:
When Topher and Ivy restored Ballard's personality to his body via active architecture, they left something out. What do you think that is?'
When did Adelle initially intend to take out Rossum, before or after Caroline, Or was it when Echo emerged as a person and challenged her did she decide that she needed to figure out the Attic? Or (and this is what my money is on) did Adele change her mind during her breakdown/bender?
Who is the original co-founder who betrayed Clyde, and have we met him or her before?
Hopefully all these questions and more will be answered when we return with the final three in January. As sad as I am to see a show that has improved so drastically come to an end. I know it's for the best, and I'm enjoying the ride!
TV News Round-Up
To follow up what promises to be a momentous 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother, Neil Patrick Harris will perform double duties as he'll take the reigns as director as well as acting in the101st episode. Amanda Peet will be guest-starring in this episode as Marshall's co-worker.
Mary McDonnell will be reprising her role as Capt. Raydor on tomorrow night's episode of The Closer in season 5, episode 15 "Dead Man's Hand".
Can't wait for January 10th for new Chuck? Producer Josh Schwartz gives some insight into what will go down in season three. This interview contains minor spoilers, so consume at your own discretion.
Tis the season - Slate writer Torie Bosch explains how there are only three types of television Christmas plot lines. I think she's on to something. Find out what these plot lines are here!
And.... new LOST trailer here:
Maybe it's just me, but this actually made me less excited for the new season. Maybe it's the music, or the continued lack of new or provoking material, but I'm sick of this past-season nostalgia. In with the new!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
CHUCK - Season Three Key Art
The countdown begins! The primiere is less than a month away, and I can't wait to be reunited with Chuck, Sarah, Casey, Ellie, Awesome and the intersect!
It's good to see Chuck kicking ass in his signature Chuck Taylors!
It's good to see Chuck kicking ass in his signature Chuck Taylors!
Sneak Peek: How I Met Your Mother's 100th Episode "Girls versus Suits"
Take a look at the first pictures from the much anticipated HIMYM's 100th episode in the style of a musical. Included in the production will a huge musical number with 65 back up dancers and a 50 person orchestra.
The episode will feature Barney's attempts to sleep with the hot bartender who works at MacLaren's, something he strangely has yet to do.
This episode will introduce Stacy Keibler as Katrina, the hot bartender, guest stars include Tim Gunn and Rachel Bilson.
Click here for original article and more pictures!HIMYM's 100th Episode "Girls versus Suits" will air on January 11th at 8/7c.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Getting into the inappropriate Holiday Spirit with NPH
In case you missed Neil Patrick Harris in last weekend's airing of "The Christmas Wish" (1998) on Lifetime here's a very different kind of holiday fare featuring the one and only NPH.
This new incarnation of Christmas classic "Frosty the Snowman" is a hybrid of the original with Neil Patrick Harris' character Barney from How I Met Your Mother inserted into the role of Frosty. All the quotes were lifted from "Rough Patch" (season 5 episode 7) with permission from CBS.
To check out the video click here!
This new incarnation of Christmas classic "Frosty the Snowman" is a hybrid of the original with Neil Patrick Harris' character Barney from How I Met Your Mother inserted into the role of Frosty. All the quotes were lifted from "Rough Patch" (season 5 episode 7) with permission from CBS.
To check out the video click here!
This Week in TV News
I know, I've been seriously slacking with the news updates, I had to shift
my priorities to finishing up exams for this year.
Here are a few tidbits from the TV new this week:
Glee delivered a fall finale that was all we hoped this show could be last Wednesday. Now we're left in a lurch with new episodes not resuming until April 2010! There may be good news in this cloud of a 4 month hiatus, there is talk that FOX will be producing original Glee material to fill the gap in the from of clips and music video.
New TV coming to NBC this January isn't too far off, NBC has released it's mid-season schedule, including the highly anticipating return of Chuck on Mondays at 8pm. Conspicuously missing from its Monday time slot is Heroes. No word yet on the show's uncertain future.
Awards shows seem to be on their way up starting with Neil Patrick Harris hosting the 2009 Emmys. Ricky Gervais, the man who took both British and American comedy TV by storm will be hosting this year's Golden Globes. Well picked hosts must really increase viewership because I will certainly be tuning in. Check out what Gervais has to say about his hosting duties in an interview with Daniel Manu from TWOP.com. Click here for the interview.
In film news, Natalie Portman will be staring in the film adaptation of Pride, Prejudice and Zombies. Maybe zombie movies have over saturated the market in the past few years, but that hasn't stopped my obsession. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the film version of this new spin on the genre.
my priorities to finishing up exams for this year.
Here are a few tidbits from the TV new this week:
Glee delivered a fall finale that was all we hoped this show could be last Wednesday. Now we're left in a lurch with new episodes not resuming until April 2010! There may be good news in this cloud of a 4 month hiatus, there is talk that FOX will be producing original Glee material to fill the gap in the from of clips and music video.
New TV coming to NBC this January isn't too far off, NBC has released it's mid-season schedule, including the highly anticipating return of Chuck on Mondays at 8pm. Conspicuously missing from its Monday time slot is Heroes. No word yet on the show's uncertain future.Awards shows seem to be on their way up starting with Neil Patrick Harris hosting the 2009 Emmys. Ricky Gervais, the man who took both British and American comedy TV by storm will be hosting this year's Golden Globes. Well picked hosts must really increase viewership because I will certainly be tuning in. Check out what Gervais has to say about his hosting duties in an interview with Daniel Manu from TWOP.com. Click here for the interview.
In film news, Natalie Portman will be staring in the film adaptation of Pride, Prejudice and Zombies. Maybe zombie movies have over saturated the market in the past few years, but that hasn't stopped my obsession. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the film version of this new spin on the genre.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Dollhouse: Don't Mess With Adele (2.7) - Review
I'm sad to say that after last week's double feature, my expectations for Dollhouse have gone way up making the first half hour of this episode hard to swallow. Despite "Meet Jane Doe" [almost] completely delivered with an excellent second half. The plot took some very interesting turns and made a lot of progress. Plus, and I cannot say this enough, Olivia Williams owned this episode.
Just to get the not so great out of the way first let's talk about Echo's storyline. With the exception of the gratuitous fighting scenes with Ballard and exceptional sexual tension between those two (or maybe I'm just a sucker for Tahmoh Penikett without his shirt on) this story was bone dry. We are already aware that Echo is able to sift through her different personalities and is developing a personality of her own, but I wish there was a more interesting way to communicate the progression of these trends without a weird jail break story line and cheesy special effects.
Now for the awesome:
It is absolutely to see the plot turning back to last season's unaired conclusion "Epitaph One". Last season's episode seemed like a dystopian projection. This season as we are beginning to see the development of this world changing technology, This episode felt like a real turning point bringing a darker tone to the rest of the series.
Olivia Williams, damn this woman can act. Without a word the physicality she brought forth as a powerless Adele communicated the demoralized state her character was in. I was feeling so terrible for this woman who is though lesser of the evils, still pretty evil. Williams then turns on a dime once Adele has her ammo, and reminds us what Adele on a mission looks like, shoulders back and her face glowing using her knowing eyes to stare a hole into her opponent.
I'm not sure if we're supposed to believe that she has completely betrayed her house, or that she genuinely wants to help but needs to regain her power. We were offered a glimpse into the fact that the new management was putting dolls into more dangerous engagements and Adele was powerless to stop this. I think this story line may have been more effective if more screen time was devoted to this issue. That is unless this was kept ambiguous on purpose.
It seems appropriate to note that the L.A. Dollhouse had turned into quite the boys club upon Adele's demotion. This short scene about the opening of the Dubai house was representative of the sort of company she had to fight with to gain her standing in the company.
Topher is a fantastic, hilarious genius, but is unfortunately all too trusting. It was completely in his character to believe the best of people, and really believe that Adele would be on his side. He seemed so utterly crushed when Adele had what she wanted from him and then made him disposable to him.
Fran Kranz's acting this episode was also certainly something to watch, I really appreciate his consistency with all the little ticks Topher has. It was really interesting to notice the subtle changes in Topher once he was put in a position of more power and authority. As much as he appreciates free reign and budget to experiment, the spotlight isn't his thing. And once again, I loved his continuing rambling use of words as he tries to express ideas larger than he is able to articulate.
The age old dilemma of scientific experimentation, technological innovation and its dangers which is an overriding theme of Dollhouse was visited quite directly in this episode. Topher is not malicious, he is curious and brilliant. He was simply trying to figure out what the evil people were trying to accomplish so he could know, and possibly prevent it. This is a typical dilemma of scientists throughout history, where honest curiosity and experimentation has led to massively dangerous weapons when taken out of their hands.
I have to comment on the use of the high angle camera in Topher's office when he reveals his plans to Adele. I interpreted this as a camera feed from Dollhouse security. This added an extra layer of suspense when Topher discovered his plans were missing, I thought that perhaps someone else had seen the security feed and stolen the plans. This made Adele's betrayal even more painful to watch. (Except that it was sort of delicious because Olivia Williams plays evil impeccably).
Other little things I loved:
A return to the Victor/Sierra relationship, I lost it when the congratulations turned into a full make out session.
Perhaps it's the eternal optimist in me, but I think that Adele really did have her house's best interests in mind, this girl has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. Do you think that Adele is going to remain on her fast track to Rossum's biggest bad guy, or will she use her power to save her house and her actives?
Will the world of the Dollhouse head into the dystopia of Epitaph One, or will the day be saved and by who?
Stay tuned for my review of "A Love Supreme", it'll be up as soon as the fan-girl in my head catches her breath.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Scrubs: "Our Role Models" (9.3) Have I seen this before? - Review
Now that the charm of the first week back has worn off, let's see what we're left with.
I'm really getting into the Drew character, he's nice to watch and I actually find myself wanting to know more about his past and where he's going to go from here. Cutting the Golden Boy story short really gave Drew a chance to show us depth early on, and I have faith that we're going to get there.
Meanwhile, Lucy (who I continue to adore) seems to be headed more in the direction of Elliott than J.D., really Lucy, Cole, again? I'm just waiting to hear an interior/exterior monologue about how her mother ruined any semblance of self confidence she might have had a chance at.
I really admire that she really perseveres, at least so far, and takes the initiative to make changes when a situation isn't working for her, example: dumping J.D. for Denise as a mentor when she wasn't getting what she needed.
I'm loving Denise this season, she's growing and maturing as a Doctor. Unlike most characters on Scrubs she has realized the extent to which her career path as a doctor will have an impact on her life. I appreciate that the writers have gone beyond her sex life to portray her as an independent woman. She took care of her student, her patient, and her patient's child without having to be seriously goaded into actually acting like an adult and doing her job. To me this makes her one of the most mature characters on the show, and the most together.
The story of Denise bonding with a patient and having to deal with the real consequences of this bonding when things go bad brings back a more somber side of Scrubs that we know well form past seasons that didn't appear in the premiere hour block. It's a good story, and good tone, but I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say that I've seen this story from Scrubs before.
The things that I didn't like:
Cole - again. If he's going to be on my screen every week we need to make some progress with him beyond the one note legacy frat boy.
J.D - While last week I was simply confident that Scrubs would be fine without J.D. on board, after this week I'm convinced that his departure from a central role will actually benefit the show. And although I would still appreciate the occasional scene of J.D. goofing off with Turk, his jealousy of Drew and continued insecurities with Dr. Cox are becoming more than irritating.
When J.D. said to Turk, "I feel like I'm being replaced", it was clearly a self-referential comment about what is actually happening, but I just want it to hurry up and happen sooner.
Has Scrubs run out its story lines or do you think the writers will be able to pull out something new to spice up the new era of Scrubs?
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Dollhouse: Going out in High Gear - Review
I've often noticed that shows that are either conceived as a fixed length (or mini-series) or shows that have an established end date tend to really ramp up the intensity.
After viewing "The Private Eye" and "The Left Hand" (episodes 2.5 & 2.6) it appears that Dollhouse has certainly caught the bug. I have been a dedicated Dollhouse fan throughout its run, but I will admit that it the overarching story hasn't always been the most captivating part of the show. The majority of episodes have been heavy in stand-alone engagement structure that begins and ends in the hour with little overall plot advancement.
If this first two-hour block is any indication of what Joss Whedon will be dishing out in Dollhouse's final episodes it seems like we will be treated to a more complex narrative structure involving all the different characters in a strongly motivated forward moving storyline that will actually be serving a means to an end.
The world of Rossum is opening up to us and we've only begun to understand the the extent off its reach and the L.A. Dollhouse's role within it. Personally, I can't wait to find out more, and am hoping that Enver Gjokaj and his constantly show stealing performance as Victor is at the center of it all.
The cancellation of Dollhouse hasn't all been bad news. A finite number of episodes can lead to top notch TV. At least FOX has agreed to air the entire season unlike the untimely fate of Whedon's previous project Firefly.
I think this FOX imposed end date will be worth it for the quality TV it will produce.
Do you think Dollhouse ending is a blessing in disguise or are you still reeling from the cancellation news?
This review has been featured on Sidereel.com: check it out!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
From Slate: "You really should be Watching Parks & Recreation"
I wholeheartedly agree with Jonah Weiner's analysis of NBC's sophomore comedy Parks & Recreation. This is a show that struggled through its short first season only coming back funnier, stronger and with a better focus in season two.
You really should be watching Parks & Recreation and here's why:
Over the past month or so, TV writers have been working to hip America to an apparently little-known fact: NBC's Thursday-night sitcom lineup does not, as one may have thought, kick off at 9 p.m. ET with The Office only to end an hour later with 30 Rock's closing credits. Several critics have encouraged us to check in at 8 p.m., when the daffy new Community airs, followed by Parks and Recreation, currently in its second season after debuting last spring as a six-episode, midseason replacement. The ghosts of Rachel Green and Cosmo Kramer have been drafted to the cause: "NBC's Thursday comedy block," the Los Angeles Times declared, "has matured into a lineup almost as formidable as that of its 1990s heyday."Continue reading on Slate.comGoing by the ratings, Parks and Recreation is Thursday's weak link, limping behind the pack. According to Nielsen, the average second-season Parks and Recreation episode (as of mid-November) has drawn 5.3 million viewers, compared with current-season averages of 6.5 million for Community, 7.3 million for 30 Rock, and 10.1 million for The Office. In the world of meager TV ratings, the line separating a loser from an underdog can be blurry, but with its second season, Parks and Recreation has vaulted definitively into the latter category. Contributors to Salon, the Los Angeles Times, and New York are among those who have rallied on behalf of the show, which has gone from an erratically funny nonevent to astonishingly good.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Scrubs "Our First Day of School" & "Our Drunk Friend" - Review
I was delightfully surprised by the Scrubs premiere episodes tonight. I see the effort to incorporate the new cast members into the Scrubs world, with Lucy eventually I'm assuming becoming more and more central to the series as the old guard of J.D. and co. are slowly phased out.
It's nice to see Denise socializing with J.D and Turk, and continuing to be fleshed out as a character. I was glad to see her grow as a person letting others in, both in her relationships with her colleagues J.D. and Turk, and also with Drew. Her growth was just baby steps, which is appropriate, anything more would be unbelievable.
I really believe that this new format will work. Despite the overhaul in cast and setting, the show has retained its same successful components of quirky characters, fantasy sequences, interesting relationships balanced with actual story lines within the hospital.
Lucy seems like she will work well as the new J.D., and her surrounding med students, quirky Australian included, seem like they will be able to grow into a well rounded supporting cast. This of course will all be held together with the magic that is Dr. Cox and his tough love teaching.
Other little things I loved:
- The return of "Guy Love" as J.D. and Turk ran into each others arms.
- Reference to House when Dr. Cox assigns numbers to his med students
- Dr. Kelso with the WingMom
- J.D. and Turk singing in the bar... and Drew joining them
Things I didn't like:
- J.D. has continued to have such little character growth in 9 seasons. He is still incredibly needy and requires constant approval from his students, peers and most importantly, Dr. Cox.
- Cole... I don't know how long I can deal with this guy. Is he being set up to be the new Todd? I can see him actually being too much for the Todd to handle. He either needs to turn the dial down on his obnoxiousness or cut the screen time because really, I was watching his scenes through my fingers. In my opinion, his antics weren't funny.
Do you think the new format will be successful? Or do you miss the old Sacred Heart? What are your best/worst moments of the first two episodes?
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From Slate: "Boxed In"
Grady Hendrix writes an insightful article looking at the culture surrounding TV on DVD, and how marathon watching isn't the way TV is meant to be seen.
Boxed In: Giving someone a TV series on DVD is like giving them a life sentence.
Posted Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, at 12:15 PM ETRecently, my father-in-law broke his leg when his golfing buddy ran him over with their golf cart. Don't shed too many tears. These things happen as one ages: Eyes dim, hearing fades, reactions slow, and eventually someone runs someone else over. If you have any tears, save them for the sad scene I witnessed when I visited him during his convalescence.
There he was, slumped on the sofa like a dead body in a vacant lot, looking like a man who already saw the vultures circling. I asked him if he was in pain and he moaned, raising one trembling finger like the Ghost of Christmas Future and pointing to the source of his distress. And there they were, stacked up on the other side of the room as menacing and oppressive as the Berlin Wall: Seasons 1, 2, and 3 of Lost, five seasons of The Wire, 16 hours of Foyle's War, Mad Men, The Sopranos, Nip/Tuck, and Prison Break. The most critically acclaimed television series of our time—now on DVD!—looming over him like grim death.
The DVD box set is the newest and most terrifying form of ritualistic abuse we inflict on one another. In the past, a sick person received unwanted hardback books, but these days when someone is laid up with an illness, they are buried beneath an avalanche of DVD box sets containing hundreds of hours of television series.
"You must watch this," devotees say. "You're really going to love it." With the unspoken threat being: "And if you don't, you are an idiot. I will still acknowledge you in public, but in my heart I will know that you are an anti-intellectual vulgarian."
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