Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Friday, September 25, 2009
Let Me Ask You An Important Question
Supernatural: Free To Be You And MeSeason 5, Episode 3
Have you ever stopped and thought, "why are the Winchesters so damn important?" If you're reading this, then the answer for you will be fairly obvious: they are the main characters on one of your favorite television shows. And that's cool, but think about that question within the context of the show. Dean is the vessel for the archangel Michael and Sam is the last child standing after the Yellow-Eyed Demon's child battle royal ended. He was the focus of the demon world's plot to release Lucifer by breaking the final seal. Hell, Chuck is off somewhere writing the "gospel" of the Winchester brothers. That's a lot of emphasis on two twenty-something hunters. Clearly both Heaven and Hell have big things in mind for these boys.I don't have an answer to this question, but I desperately hope the the writers eventually do. We were given some tantalizing tips as to the significance of one of the Winchesters as well as the return of a very old friend, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
The Great Winchester Break-Up of 2009 continues in this episode with Sam working at a bar with the MOST nosy waitress of all time. Sam's in the area of some serious Book of Revelation events and so he calls Bobby to dispatch some hunters to clean up the demon activity. It's good to see Bobby back home and doing his thing. Surely Bobby isn't going to be in that wheelchair forever and I cannot wait to see some more stories focusing on him.
Dean gets to team up with Castiel in an attempt to find God by trapping an interrogating the archangel Raphael. This is pretty much the funniest portion of the night with Dean dropping a ton of one-liners ranging from calling Raphael a "Teenage Mutant Ninjangel" to telling Cas that the last time he teleported him somewhere Dean didn't "poop for a week." Clearly the writers love this pairing since Misha Collins is a series regular now. I do love these scenes, Castiel and Dean trolling for girls in a strip club is surprisingly funny. But there is a greater importance to these events.
Raphael tells Cas that God is dead and Lucifer is who resurrected him. The demoralizing thing about this is that it is very much a possibility. Everything that Raphael tells Cas could be the truth, Lucifer would want to make the angels fight themselves to make the apocalypse easier to achieve. And as Dean points out, this situation is very much like the same one that he and Sam faced back in season one. Does Cas believe that his father is still out there somewhere? Cas has hope, he still believes God is out there. But what about Dean, Cas asks how he is doing being away from his brother. Dean says he's doing great. But the look on his face betrays his his true feelings. It would be smart to remember that Dean also said he was doing great after he made his deal with the crossroads demon.
Speaking of the other Winchester brother, Sam's vacation from the supernatural wasn't going to last long as the hunters dispatched by Bobby run afoul of a multitude of demons and return to confront Sam. The surviving hunters get Sam to admit the demon blood addiction and the raising of Lucifer. Sam successfully denies the demon blood that the hunters pour in his mouth but the damage is already done. Sam, who is trying to prove to himself and his brother that anyone can change, is at a crossroads. When he gets a visit from an old friend: Jessica. Yes, THAT Jessica, the one who died in the pilot episode.
Turns out it's not Jess at all, instead it's our best good friend Lucifer. He tells Sam that contrary to what he believes, there are no second chances and that life sucks. Lucifer is apparently looking for Sam but can't find him(Lucifer is an angel after all, so Cas's sigils are doing their job). What isn't explained is how Lucifer is speaking to Sam at all. But that's not as important as what Lucifer tells Sam. Sam is the intended vessel for Lucifer. Just as Dean is Michael's vessel, Sam is intended as the meat-suit for Lucifer. Lucifer tells Sam that he will never lie to him and that he wants to give Sam a gift. It's incredibly creepy and Mark Pellegrino is spectacular as the devil. I love the direction that they are going with Lucifer. Is he all evil? Is he lying? He seems like an okay guy, which is what makes him so dangerous.
This leads me back to my first question: why are the Winchester brothers so important? It's an important question, one I hope is resolved. I can't help but think that this season is going to inevitably end with a Dean-Michael/Sam-Lucifer throwdown. I feel like Sam and Dean are going to be reunited soon, their separation doesn't seem tenable and with Lucifer's revelation to Sam, he needs the support of his family more than ever. But how is Dean going to react to this news? Probably not well. One thing is for sure, I can't wait to find out where it all goes from here.
And don't forget to check out the Supernatural themed That's A Wrap Podcast going up Sunday/Monday this week!
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
FLUGELHORN!
How I Met Your Mother: DefinitionsSeason 5, Episode 1
Barney: "Lily, can't you just let us be happy?"
Lily: "You're not happy! You Just think you're happy because you feel happy."
Yes, How I Met Your Mother is back for it's fifth season and though many things have changed through the course of the series, Definitions felt like a proper return.First of all I do have to get something off of my chest, we mistakenly forgot to delete the series recording on our DVR for Heroes and it recorded instead of HIMYM. Apologies to show creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for getting my hands on HIMYM in a shady way, I promise it won't happen again. Trust me, I'm NEVER watching Heroes again. There might be people who still like that show, I like to think these people's parents are related.
Right, back to the topic at hand! When we last saw the gang Marshall and Lily had already moved out to their Dowisetrepla apartment, Ted was offered a position as a college professor and Robin and Barney had finally sort of become an item. Interestingly enough, Ted's story here has less of an impact than the supposed 'B' plot of Robin and Barney.
Don't get me wrong, Ted's story is great. It's wonderful to get that tantalizing little clue to the mothers identity and the moment with Ted questioning himself over the correct spelling of 'professor' while standing at the front of the lecture hall was probably the biggest laugh-out-loud moment for me. Hey Ted, it's okay, we've all had trouble remembering if professor has one 'f' or two, it's cool. The problem with Ted's story is that he is...kind of a douche. Which is to say that he acts like ninety-eight percent of all college professors I've had the displeasure to attend class with.
The parts of the episode with Ted spastically jumping from cool-guy-"call me Ted" professor to authoritative dictator professor all felt true to the character of Ted Mosby, but didn't hold much laughter because it's exactly where I expected Ted to go. Though we are creeping towards the eventual culmination of the series with Ted finding his future special-lady-friend, it's hard not to feel like Ted and Marshall are being slightly marginalized.
Ted at least has the new job driving him, Marshall, who hasn't really had much to do since the wedding in season two, continues to be trivialized here as he mostly just acts as a sidekick to both Ted and Lily. Jason Segal can handle more than he's being given here and some of Marshall's best stuff was the drama at the end of season one and beginning of season two. Marshall is my favorite character, so it's hard not to feel slighted when we see him used mostly as a punchline.
At the end of last year we lost Alyson Hannigan when she went out on maternity leave and I can't really say that the show hurt from the loss of her Lily. We don't really gain much from her return (aside from a smaller role for Marshall to play) except for some classic 'Aldrin Justice' as Lily locks Robin and Barney in the bedroom until they define their relationship. As much as Lily annoys me, it's good to see that her characterization has been kept fairly consistent. I like the fact that Lily is a kindergarten teacher who essentially acts like a 5-year-old around her friends.
And of course we have the the supposed 'B' plot - Robin and Barney's relationship. Going into this season I was worried about how these two being a couple would neuter the Barnacle. I can say with confidence that after tonight I don't have that worry. Essentially to placate Lily, Robin and Barney decide to "lie" about their relationship to escape the room. I loved the fact that to these two the lie is the relationship. They may not even realize it at a conscious level, thinking instead that they are perpetrating an elaborate lie (which they indicate earlier turns the two of them on) but when Barney suggests brunch... yeah, they're a couple. But it works, Robin won't get angry if Barney says some disgusting thing about a woman and Robin can hold her own with Barney in drinking and smoking. It was actually sort of sweet in a twisted and disgusting way, which is to say just like Barney and Robin.
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Friday, September 18, 2009
War, What Is It Good For? Episode Titles, Apparently.
Supernatural: Good God, Y'allSeason 5, Episode 2
One of the things that oftentimes annoys me in television is overuse of character angst. My wife would tell you that main character angst is the reason she refuses to watch Alias and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer (though she has no problem with angsty Winchester brothers, hmmm). Yes, angsty characters can be annoying, but when the drama is EARNED, when it makes sense for the characters to be "whiny," as my wife would say, then I will accept it. That's part of the reason why I could readily accept watching the two aforementioned television shows. Sydney Bristow was obnoxious but her fiance had just been killed by the man she thought of as a surrogate father and her boss. And Buffy? Well, she did die a couple of times and there was that whole "having sex with Angel turns him into an evil dude" thing. So, it makes sense for those characters.At the end of last week's episode we had a dramatic quasi-"breakup" between Dean and Sam. They were going to hunt together still but Dean admitted that he doesn't trust Sam anymore. In my last review I admitted that I didn't buy Dean's seeming to forgive and then reject his brother; I'm happy to say that after tonight's episode the producers have sold me on the Winchester rift in an organic way. Although I fear some fans will be upset by the outcome of tonight's episode, I'm getting ahead of myself here.
First things first, it appears as if Bobby's confidence that he would walk again from last episode was not because of determination on his behalf. No, the first thing he says upon seeing Castiel is a demand for angelic healing. I'm not sure I like this turn at all. Bobby is a determined motherfrakker. Everything we've seen of his character for the last five seasons tells me that he wouldn't rely on an angel (or anyone else, for that matter) for assistance in getting back on his feet. Of course Bobby likely knows that no other power will get him walking again and this is his form of despair, but it's depressing to see him like this. Bobby is usually a rock. I'd expect Bobby to man-up and prepare in any way that he can for the oncoming apocalypse. It's hard to watch Bobby in this state, as one of my favorite characters and a proxy father figure for the boys you want him to be back to full health, if not for himself then for Dean and Sam.
On the surface this episode seems like a diversion from the main plot line of the season. In some respects is absolutely is, Lucifer is not seen and though Castiel is positive God is responsible for his revival (and Dean and Sam's teleportation away from Lucifer) he has not met him yet. But, there are just so many things that are set up in this episode that it cannot truly be considered a standalone.
Cas indicates that the only prudent way to stop Lucifer is to find God. Apparently the only way to find God is use an amulet that burns when in His presence. Just where is this amulet that Cas needs? Right around Dean Winchester's neck. That's right, the amulet that Sammy gave to Dean. Ok, ok, what?! Look, I know during the flashback where Sam gives Dean the amulet it's said that the amulet was special, but what? This reveal just came completely out of nowhere. There was literally no buildup to it in the least. I don't recall during season four anyone even looking at that damn amulet, let alone a reference to it by any of the myriad angels in the season. Maybe I'm missing something, but this really felt like deus ex machina, a way to artificially make Dean even more important than he already is.
One thing I did like about this whole scene was Cas calling Dean on cell phone. Because of the sigils that Cas carved on the boys' ribcages not even he can find them. It's a funny scene but it speaks volumes, the writers realized that having an angel on the boys side was too big of a "get out of jail free" card. So now Cas can't magically find and save Dean and Sam. Which of course leads us to the main plot of the episode.
Rufus (Badass Laureate Steven Williams, beloved by me for his turn as 'X' on The X-Files) calls Bobby on a satellite phone with a cry for help. The phone disconnects before Bobby can get the whole story, but we get to hear some important stuff. A town in Colorado is overrun with demons and Rufus desperately needs help. You can surely see where this is going.
So this town is out in the middle of nowhere, there is no cell phone reception and it looks like the entire town is caught in the middle of this demon showdown. No cell phones means that Castiel isn't going to save the boys at the last minute. Between Rufus showing up in the pre-title sequence and the re-introduction of long gone guest stars, this episode felt like a veritable reunion episode. Yes, tonight marks the return of Ellen and Jo Harvelle, both of whom haven't been seen since season two. Personally, I was excited to see Jo back. And she's hunting with her mother! It's like the anti-Winchesters! I sincerely hope that we get to see more of these two during this season. I loved the arc with the Roadhouse in season two and I always enjoy stories where the boys meet up with other hunters.
It turns out that there are no demons in town, just one sadistic horseman: War (Titus Welliver, who just so happened to guest star as an eco-terrorist in my favorite standalone X-Files episode). War's coming is straight out of the Book of Revelation. Of course, like any modern horseman should, War rides a sweet-ass red Ford Mustang. War has been using a ring to make the townsfolk believe that demons are among them so that they will begin to...well...war with each other.
After figuring this all out the boys stop War by cutting his ring (fingers and all) right off.
For those playing along at home, the correct answer to "when should we have known there were no demons in town," was when Sam used the demon killing knife on a couple of "demons" in the convenience store and there wasn't a light show. I noticed that something was up, but Sammy didn't because he was too busy being a demon blood junkie. Yes, God may have given Sam "demon blood methadone" in the last episode but he's clearly not past the cravings. Dean and Sam have a sit down at the end where Sam admits that he's not doing any better, he doesn't trust himself anymore than Dean trusts him and he needs to find his own way. Dean agrees without a fight, which takes Sam aback. But Dean offers Sam the Impala. That act alone speaks volumes. Dean is protective of two things: his brother and his car. By offering his car to Sam he is telling Sam that he does still sort of trust him and he expects to see him again. Sam denying the car is a way of signaling to Dean he won't be around for a while.
Last week I complained about the Sam/Dean rift. But with Sam admitting that he needs help and he's endangering Dean there is a reason for the angst and drama. It makes the final scene in last week's premiere infinitely better in retrospect. These boys have been through hell (literally, in Deans case) and this was bound to happen. The only question is how long? The Winchesters always seem to have these break-up spats, so how long will this one last?
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Monday, September 14, 2009
The Good, The Bland, And The Ugly
Back by I'm not going to lie, this week's Cast is NSFH. What is NSFH? Well, you've heard of NSFW, not safe for work, NSFH is not safe for humanity. We, uh, we might have gone a bit overboard with the swearing. Seriously folks, if you think this week's podcast is bad--just imagine the stuff we cut.
Marvel: as Billy gets his hate on Up.
Behold: as Garrett talks about a movie he's never seen(try to guess which one!).
Astonish: as Jim becomes the angriest G.I. Joe fan ever.
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
An Ode To Giant Feet and H-Bombs
Lost: The IncidentSeason 5, Episode 16&17
Wow. Well, there you go. The fifth season of Lost, arguably the series' most consistent outing, goes out literally with a bang. But enough with potential spoilers...for now at least. I know I've been slacking my duties as the That's a Wrap! Lost reviewer, but I've just been too enamored with this season to want to really dissect it for criticism. So what I'd like to do today is not really break down everything that happened in the finale, but rather just mull over where Lost is, has been and seems to be going.I've given the producers of the show a lot of shit in the past for being obnoxious about getting to the Goddamn point. It's not that I have a problem with a show being full of mysteries. Of course, I don't have a problem with a show being all mysterious-like. I was an avid fan of The X-Files for ALL nine years, so trust me I can handle cock-tease television. What I can't handle is BORING cock-tease television. I loathed the season one Lost finale because it pretty much boiled down to "people launch and sail a boat/other people blow up the hatch that we've been dicking around with for TWELVE Goddamn episodes." Sure, Waaaaaaaaalt got kidnapped, but that wasn't even the season cliffhanger! No, instead we get to see people looking down the hatch.
Seriously? Yeah. It's a HATCH! We could reasonably assume that there was a DUDE inside the damned thing...why leave THAT for the season opener? Now, I still contend that the best that Lost has EVER been was the first eight episodes. Back before JJ Abrams left to pursue other endeavors(like ruining Star Trek), the show was good on both "freaky shit" and "jungle surviving" accounts. It had so much potential that it was electric watching the show weekly. But then it just started to lose it. Part of that is just my fault. I was thinking about Lost constantly. I lurked on Lost message boards. Hell, I dreamed about the show(Let's just say my "Alien ship on the island" dream thankfully hasn't come true just yet)! I was obsessed with the show. Understandably it would be hard to come up with something that I, and all the other fans, would appreciate and no be disappointed with.
In some ways, the series has never, and can never overcome the sheer expectations that the fans have.
I say this(and mention the first season finale) because in a lot of ways it felt like the first season finale. Let's be honest, most of the finale was people trying to get to the Swan Station site. Shit, they were trying to blow up the fucking hatch...AGAIN...only thirty years earlier. Yeah...so, why wasn't I disappointed? Well, part of me was. I had two major gripes with the finale and I'd like to get them out of the way right now:
1. Juliet's flip-flop back and forth over Jack's plan. It payed off in the end with Juliet and Sawyer sharing a final scene together that literally had me on the verge of tears(those two were so good with each other that I feel like punching Cuse and Lindelof for "killing" Juliet), but every time Juliet changed her mind on whether or not they should blow up the island or not, I cringed.
2. Just as I suspected(I attempted to temper my co-worker's excitement over the finale by telling them to expect this) the episode ended with the bomb going off and presumably the time-traveling castaways causing the incident.
That's it. Those are my only two genuine gripes. So how come I liked this finale when it so closely mirrors the season one finale? Well, things happened...that's one reason. In this case, Cuse and Lindelof were able to balance the mythological happenings with the dramatic character moments and in some cases tie them into one another. See: Hurley's introduction to Jacob.
A lot of things happened in this episode, and I feel that just listing them out would be a disservice to the great season. I want to say that I am overall elated with the season, it was the first season that felt like it knew where it was going from start to finish. This was the strongest group of episodes that Lost has produced back to back. Maybe not the greatest episodes, but in tandem the strongest.
I was upset to see Sayid(easily one of the best and under-utilized characters on the show) gut shot in a Dharma bus and I hated seeing Juliet laying at the bottom of the hatch banging on an H-bomb. Both of their fates seem written, but I'm holding out hope at least for Juliet. It stands to reason that exploding the bomb is what causes "the incident." And if the incident sends the Lostaways back to 2007, I don't see why Juliet can't go back as well. Sure, she was right next to the bomb when it exploded, but Sawyer, Jack, Kate and the rest were only a good hundred yards above ground when the Jughead detonated. If THEY don't die(and there wouldn't be much of a sixth season without our cast) can we really assume that Juliet died? I suspect that she will be missing for most of the final season, but I do feel strongly that she will return.
I hesitate to speculate too much on the 2007 shenanigans, but I was elated to finally get a clear villain for the show. Nameless-guy-posing-as-Locke-who-may-or-may-not-be-the-smoke-monster certainly does seem like a total prick(not many people can totally CON BEN LINUS like he/it did), kicking poor defenseless tapestry-weaving Jacob into a fire pit was a downright despicable thing to do, even if I don't know if Jacob is a good guy or not...
Of course, the first time we meet Jacob he's wearing white and his angry possibly-fake-Locke buddy is wearing black. Possibly-fake-Locke says something about the cycle repeating itself on the island that sounded just a BIT too much like Battlestar Galactica's, "This has all happened before..." mantra. I swear to Christ, I'll scream if Jacob and fake-Locke end up being angels or God and the devil.
I was worried that the final season of this show wouldn't have any surprises for us, aside from tying up loose myth threads. I am not worried about that now. Hell, I'm even glad that they waiting almost four years to show us the significance of the four-toed statue. Can we assume that Jacob and the real Locke are dead? What does this mean for the island? Many questions. The most pressing question among them:
Is it January yet?
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Friday, April 10, 2009
Like Meeting Old Friends...Drunken, Angry Old Friends
Rescue Me: BaptismSeason 5, Episode 1
When last we saw firefighter Tommy Gavin he was enjoying an uncharacteristically quiet baseball game with his alcoholic father. The game was quiet because Tommy's dad passed away during the game and as the camera moved away and faded to black the audience was left just as dumbfounded as Tommy. Season four was a complete wash, a boring mess that frustrated viewers.Does the new season continue the trend? Hit the Jump to find out!
The answer is thankfully, no, at least not so far. Season five is set to be the longest season of the series so far with 22 episodes and it remains to be seen if Leary and Tolan can keep the pace up beyond this first episode, but thankfully for right now it appears that they've solved their problems.
One of the complaints garnered last season was the lack of fire sequences, consider this complaint rectified, the first episode contains not one but two fire scenes. Which is great becuase, the series...is...about...firefighters.
In the end, it's business as usual. Tommy is a big bundle of anger, but he's still sober unlike his cousin Mickey who falls off the wagon in the episode.
All in all I have little to say about this episode, it's a big step forward compared to last season but it's not the most explosive episode. This is purely set up and I'm very interested in seeing how things shape up. Especially some of the side stories like Black Shawn and Tommy's daughter and Garrity/Mike's bar. That says nothing of Michael J. Fox's return to TV as Janet's new beau. It's a solid beginning to be sure, and after almost two years without the show, I guess that's all I can ask for for now.
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Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Killin' Time With 24
24: 12:00P.M.-1:00A.M.Season 7, Episode 17
Welcome to "Killin' Time With 24." A weekly morning-after 24 discussion hosted by your faithful That's A Wrap! editors, Billy and Jim.Every Tuesday morning we get together to discuss the previous evening's episode of 24. What we liked, disliked and where we would like to see the series go while avoiding any real work. It's like a virtual coffee break.
Sit back and let us do the complaining for you.
(22:27:52) Jim: so i figured out a way for this all to be believable - if voight actually plays the role as legitimately insane
(22:28:13) Jim: like certifiably institutionalize-level crazy
(22:28:41) Billy: That is the only way. Considering how much scenery that mofo is chewing.
(22:29:33) Jim: and his crazy requests like, hey release my mid-level flunky who one of your men WITNESSED commiting murder... if i lose him, there's only like three or four other people I can have make calls for me
(22:30:51) Billy: Oh my lord, he's making a ton of requests that NO ONE should be giving in to. Why the hell isn't the president telling this douchebag to fuck off. Drop the missile, sacrifice the people to kill this guy.
(22:31:19) Billy: If she gives in now then she'll be taking it in the ass from him forever.
(22:31:42) Jim: seriously, at this point I'm ready for him demand an office next to the president's to make all the decisions he wants indefinitely - and her to allow it
(22:32:23) Jim: what ever happened to the "we don't negotiate with terrorists" ideal? guess it went the way of ryan chappelle's brain
(22:32:39) Billy: "Corner office, nice view, big ass tv...oh and a turkey sandwich on rye with mayo. Tut tut, madam president, I've got bioweapons."
(22:33:49) Jim: seriously why not just address the nation in the morning and say he has the weapons, show the country the evidence and say he needs to turn them over? WTF could he do - use them and hope millions of people aren't demanding his blood for commiting genocide on american soil?
(22:34:38) Jim: It's not like osama could say, get the hell out of the middle east or I'll have some dude crash a plane into you and get anything
(22:35:26) Billy: Or just drop the damned missiles now! those planes were over their targets. I really doubt he could have launched those rockets before those bunker busters turned him into a pile of ash.
(22:35:56) Billy: Plus, those missiles looked hella fake, I think the president just got Photoshop fooled.
(22:36:17) Jim: I just know he'll come up with a bunch of demands that includes the one: "and nobody can know about it." I repeat - just fucking tell people and he is toothless
(22:37:04) Billy: Well, maybe crazy first daughter will redeem herself by allowing creepy reporter to run the story?
(22:38:03) Jim: would you really want aaron back if i told you beforehand it was to stand outside a hotel room while the FD boinks her way through the press corp?
(22:38:10) Jim: it's such a waste
(22:38:40) Jim: unless he's the voice of reason that convinces her to give up her evil ways
(22:38:57) Billy: Well, aside from the crazy first daughter and the wimpy president, it was an ok episode.
(22:39:28) Jim: when she showed him the video I kept thinking back to the words of Barney - "It just takes a really long time to shut down."
(22:40:02) Billy: ha ha
(22:40:19) Jim: but yeah, at least they set up the reintroduction of kim
(22:40:53) Jim: although where was the "So there is a cure! You could't have fucking mentioned it when you said I was dying and there's no cure?! WTF is wrong with you people?!"
(22:41:48) Billy: Right. And can I just say I am fairly tired of Sutherland's basic "I'm hurt/sick/being tortured" acting.
(22:42:07) Billy: Oh, forgot "being tased"
(22:42:28) Billy: He always does that eyes rolled back seizure motion.
(22:42:36) Jim: I know you can excuse it as she researched it a bit, but you really should make sure there isn't a cure that storytelling-wise there's a 99.99999% chance of working before you tell him its hopeless. freaking cockteasing death
(22:42:50) Jim: yeah, jack's hurt acting is just funny at this point
(22:43:05) Billy: It's 24. Cockteasing death is it's business.
(22:43:42) Billy: I'm just glad that they found a way to make reintroducing Kim...gasp!...useful!
(22:44:02) Jim: it's just about a first
(22:44:31) Billy: Though I am kinda sad that there is a possibility of a cure.
(22:44:40) Jim: i know, i know
(22:45:02) Billy: Not that I want Jack to die, it's just...I don't know, interesting to see Jack mortal.
(22:46:00) Jim: yeah, it's like we know we'll be back to Invincible Jack by season's end and until then we have to suffer through In Pain (Eventhough Keifer Only Has That One Annoying Face) Jack
(22:47:05) Billy: But enough with the bitching. Tony was awesome. Playing Solid Snake with the soldiers was pretty cool.
(22:47:25) Jim: Totally cool
(22:47:35) Billy: And, I actually like seeing Jack as the office work guy.
(22:47:54) Billy: Nice change of pace, harkens back to season one.
(22:47:55) Jim: excellent takedown, worthy of comparison to some of Jack's best moments and love his acting skills
(22:48:22) Jim: very nice change of pace to have someone else carry the "in the field" workload
(22:49:29) Billy: Yes. I gotta wonder though, is Chloe done for the day? I know it's still pretty far from the finale, but...
(22:49:50) Jim: I thought they might pull her in to decode the security system, but garafalo was all over that
(22:50:07) Jim: even if it cost yet another helpful person's life
(22:50:33) Billy: Which brings us back to Crazy Voight
(22:50:35) Jim: i kinda understand the perspective of the villains, look at the death rate of people that cooperate with the government
(22:50:58) Jim: he did take it to honest to god crazy with killing that guy
(22:51:23) Jim: sending him crashing into the map of the world was something out of a stallone movie
(22:51:28) Billy: I was thinking insane when he started screaming at Moss.
(22:51:30) Jim: or at least rainer wolfcastle
(22:52:35) Jim: yeah, his "I know I commiting crimes against humanity and treason. But I'm Jon FUCKING Voight!"
(22:53:06) Billy: I especially liked how the search warrant only covered one building...
(22:53:28) Jim: well in all honesty it's not like there was a search warrant
(22:53:59) Jim: there was a executive order, which 24 always uses when convenient
(22:54:03) Jim: saves us some time
(22:54:23) Billy: Damn executive loop holes.
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Saturday, April 4, 2009
Killing Hitler? Nah.
Lost: Whatever Happened HappenedSeason 5, Episode 11
Did Lost do the impossible? Did a Kate-centric episode NOT suck? I'm almost in shock over the events of last night's episode, not the least of which was the fact that Kate's story was--gasp!--interesting! That's not to say it was perfect.Hit the jump for the my full thoughts.
Throughout the history of Lost, the episodes that I've always dreaded the most were the Kate-based ones. The reason for this is simple. Kate is an obnoxious and childish idiot. Plain and simple. In the first few seasons of the show half of the tribulations that the lostaways got into were because Kate wouldn't mind her own damn business and stay out of the frickin' jungle. That says nothing of the pathetic "love triangle" between Jack, Sawyer and herself.
So when I say that as of now, Kate is the only member of the Oceanic 6 who I feel legitimately has a purpose and a reason for being on the island(keeping in mind that we've yet to see Hurley's story prior to boarding Ajira Airlines Flight 316) and is now the character whose story I am most interested on the island, please feel free to express great shock.
I know, I know, Kate's flashbacks in this episode were still somewhat obnoxious and we had to see Aaron again but this time there was a purpose to them. Kate realizes that taking Aaron and lying about the rest of the lostaways still on the island was wrong. She decides to go back--not because she is forced to, not because she's depressed, not because she's afraid of curses--No, Kate decides to return because she can and must find Claire and the others. She decides that she must find them and bring them all home. No more lies, no more happy fake homes, Kate finally takes responsibility for everything and is attempting to fix it.
All of our characters have changed this season and last. Most for the worst, but Kate and Sawyer--two characters that I've roundly loathed for years--have grown and morphed into two of the most rounded characters in the cast.
Speaking of Sawyer, I couldn't help but cheer when he informed Kate that he wasn't helping her save Little Ben for any reason other than Juliet. He loves Juliet and although he's somewhat confused by Kate's return, he's still dedicated to Juliet. The pairing works, Sawyer and Juliet are a joy to watch, not quite Penny and Des but still fantastic.
So we know why Kate came back to the island, what else did we learn? Well, we know how Little Ben becomes Horrible-No Good-Very Bad Ben. Apparently Richard (who, we learn, does sorta have to answer to Chuckles Widmore, confirming that Widmore was at some point a major Other player. Opening up major questions about when Penny was conceived.) can take Ben to the Temple to be healed but it will taint him forever. So, when Sawyer and Kate deliver young Ben to Richard fully knowing that what they are doing right there is going to lead to so much of their suffering, it's a powerful moment.
Now, as impressed as I was with the episode, I did have one gripe. And it's something that I suspect I will be standing opposite of most Lost-fanboys on. Miles and Hurley's ridiculous "who's on first"-esque explanation of time travel was not only unfunny, but a terrible waste of time. Seriously, am I to believe that someone who reads as many comic books as Hurley cannot grasp the details of their time travel? No, it was a scene written SOLELY for the dullards in the audience who still don't get what has happened. You know the type, the same kind of people who didn't understand The X-Files despite the entire mythology being wrapped up in season six.
Aside from that niggling point, Lost is poised to finish with it's strongest season yet. I've every confidence that the producers have something epic in store for all of us.
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Killin' Time With 24
24: 11:00 P.M.- 12:00P.M.Season 7, Episode 16
Welcome to "Killin' Time With 24." A weekly 24 discussion hosted by your faithful That's A Wrap! editors, Billy and Jim.Every Tuesday morning we post our live discussion of the previous evening's episode of 24. What we liked, disliked and where we would like to see the series go while avoiding any real work. It's like a virtual coffee break.
Sit back and let us do the complaining for you.
(21:00:30) Jim: 24 - and we're live!
(21:00:43) Billy: The worlds deadliest bio-weapon??
(21:00:47) Jim: EvAH!
(21:00:49) Billy: What the eff? (21:01:02) Billy: It looked like dry ice to me.
(21:01:13) Jim: how are they going to justify Jack surviving something worse than smallpox or ebola?
(21:01:45) Billy: Jack Bauer is invincible. (21:01:50) Billy: apparently.
(21:02:47) Jim: indeed
(21:03:25) Billy: So, we've had only two legitimately GOOD episodes this season. hopefully this won't disappoint.
(21:03:38) Jim: naked Jack time (21:03:45) Jim: I thought this seeason was missing something
(21:03:45) Billy: SUNNY MACER! (21:03:59) Billy: We have not seen her in four years! (21:05:04) Billy: Nice call back to previous seasons with Jack's tats, scars and old CDC people
(21:05:45) Jim: how could this security company be so big that the US freaking government is sweating having to assault them... THEY. ARE. THE. GOVERNMENT.
(21:06:29) Billy: We ARE in a recession. And the president is a Republican, maybe she cut back on EVERYTHING. (21:07:01) Billy: Though, Jon Voight makes a compelling counterpoint to your gripe. (21:07:18) Billy: Oh God, another Brannon Braga episode (21:09:42) Billy: What the hell is Jon "Hodges" Voight's lackey's name?
(21:10:13) Jim: Didn't catch Mr. Good Idea's name. for once, I'd like to see the villain say, "Know what - you're right. This has gone a little too far. I'm outta here."
(21:10:48) Billy: Wow, 15 minutes to identify the infection. Things have gotten super Goddamn fast over the last four years since Season 3. (21:11:15) Billy: Rick Berman?! (21:11:28) Billy: As White House Chief of Staff? (21:12:03) Billy: Leaving the private sector? Getting fired from Star Trek doesn't equate to LEAVING.
(21:12:03) Jim: couldn't they get the Biscuit? He was CoS just a couple months ago. (21:13:35) Jim: and Berman didn't leave Star Trek. He killed it. That's life saying Leonardo DiCaprio LEFT the Titanic.
(21:14:13) Billy: Oh no, the United States is FUCKED with him as Chief of Staff.
(21:14:26) Jim: at that point, I say let the terrorists win
(21:16:37) Billy: So, I suppose that when this commercial break ends we will find out whether or not Jack is infected. I bet no, since it's not a cliffhanger.
(21:17:23) Jim: Jack's Lady is about to be sad
(21:18:00) Billy: You know, aside from her tendency towards annoying morality(only because they happen at inopportune times), I really like Renee.
(21:18:19) Jim: does she look like somebody ready to handle a debrief?
(21:18:44) Billy: She looks like somebody who is lamenting not being able to jump Jack's bones.
(21:18:45) Jim: but she toughens up pretty quick (21:19:04) Jim: wow, FD really is hot for Aaron
(21:19:12) Billy: Oh noes, Aaron, don't fall for it.
(21:19:23) Jim: this season is like 24: The Near-Boinking
(21:20:21) Billy: I suspected that the "rift" between the first daughter and former Chief of Staff was an affair of some sort. (21:21:07) Billy: they need to drop a Goddamn missile on that facility.
(21:21:33) Jim: did they just reference the chicken guy episode from X-Files?
(21:21:42) Billy: Creutzfeld-jacob? Everything I know about that I learned from the X-files. (21:22:06) Billy: I can say that about most things. I'm very sad.
(21:22:09) Jim: as long as Jack avoids KFC he should be fine then
(21:23:17) Billy: Of course it sounds like Jack isn't going to be contagious. (21:23:41) Billy: So he can get back in the game.
(21:23:45) Jim: Hey, it's the One Smart Bad Guy (21:25:00) Jim: saving Tony, good plan... probably getting killed for it, but still...
(21:25:07) Billy: Wait a minute...I just thought of something, why is Sunny Macer in DC? (21:25:34) Billy: Wait, what the hell was that?
(21:25:59) Jim: the results of his blood work (21:26:12) Jim: they're going to tease us about it for a little longer
(21:26:25) Billy: Seriously, they are going to cliffhanger THAT over a commercial? Ugh.
(21:29:30) Jim: see, he's okay
(21:29:43) Billy: What. A. Fucking. Cock. Tease.
(21:29:55) Jim: crapola
(21:29:58) Billy: Jack is infected! (21:30:00) Billy: Huzzah!
(21:30:10) Jim: Sweet! No cure!
(21:30:34) Billy: I shouldn't be happy that Jack is going to potentially die. (21:31:12) Billy: But this vulnerability is something that the series has lacked since season 2.
(21:31:42) Jim: we can fear for our favorite character again - definitely a sweet decision
(21:32:45) Billy: Now, of course, at the 11th hour (or 24th hour rather) they will more than likely find a cure...but still.
(21:33:10) Jim: gotta fill the time someow (21:33:17) Jim: somehow
(21:34:57) Billy: Greg!! The smart bad guy has a name! (21:40:29) Billy: How is a non-contagious toxin(my biology professor wife would like to contend that it is not a virus because it's non-propagating) the most deadly bio-weapon ever?
(21:41:37) Jim: yeah, it would be deadly, but isn't the main advanatage of biological weapons the ease with which they can spread throughout a civilian population?
(21:41:51) Billy: Bingo (21:45:00) Billy: They won't let Jack Bauer play with the other kids? That won't last long.
(21:45:29) Jim: they're taking him out of the action way too quick here
(21:48:29) Billy: 11:51 already? Wow, what a fast moving episode.
(21:48:51) Jim: yeah, that's gotta be a good sign (21:49:22) Jim: despite it being more filler - a get the pieces in place episode - I've been interested throughout
(21:49:31) Billy: I agree. (21:50:11) Billy: It's been very interesting. My theory is 24+ "virus" = good. (21:50:40) Billy: Moss is dead. (21:50:53) Billy: A missile is gonna knock his heli down.
(21:50:56) Jim: It'll get Jack involved again for sure
(21:50:59) Billy: I just feel it.
(21:51:21) Jim: BATTLE!
(21:51:51) Billy: I love it when this show surprises me by NOT doing something. (21:52:30) Billy: good Bad Guy is looking MIGHTY Squirrelly.
(21:53:05) Jim: indeed, that's rarely a good sign
(21:54:02) Billy: Bad good guy, it seems.
(21:55:26) Jim: oh, I just remembered I knew Bad Good Bad Guy from Empire Records and The Last Don
(21:55:36) Billy: Heh. (21:57:35) Billy: Tony gave that guy a look, like he knew him.
(21:57:39) Jim: so maybe it was talking about it throughout, but I was really locked in this week... a nice change of pace
(21:58:00) Billy: I'm pleasantly surprised. I liked it. (21:58:47) Billy: the lack of serious White House shenanigans, and Jack being humanized worked wonders.
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Sunday, March 29, 2009
Terminator: Brought To You In Part By DODGE, Grab Life By The Horns!
Terminator:TSCC: To The LighthouseSeason 2, Episode 20
It's hard to believe that we're almost finished with this season. There's been some ups (fun in the future) and there have been some MAJOR downs (the somber-Sarah Quadrilligy). It's hard to keep faith that this series is going to be renewed with it's sagging ratings, but considering the amount of Dodge product placement in each episode how much does Fox really spend on this show? I can't wait to see a Dodge-branded T-800 endoskeleton.All product placement griping aside, how does this episode stand up? Hit the jump to find out!
I'll cut right to the chase, it was a pretty damn good episode, but it's mostly set up for the finale stretch. The good news? We finally see the return of Sarah's ex-beau, Charley. The bad news? Terminator does it's best 24 aping by killing him off in the end.
Charley just couldn't catch a break on this show. First Sarah and John ditch him when they time-jump eight years into the future, then when he finally finds out that the duo aren't dead, Cromartie kills his wife! It's enough to make a guy despise Sarah Connor and become a crazy isolationist fisher. Charley is living in the titular Lighthouse, surrounded by perimeter alarms and Semtex charges he's waiting for something bad to happen. Of course, that "something bad" is presumed to be more killer robots. You just know as a soon as Charley tells John and Sarah about his defenses that they are going to be used at some point in the future and sure enough it happens.
Remember Sarah being told that she would die of breast cancer? Well, the whole reason that she takes John to see Charley (while Cameron and Derek empty the weapon storage in anticipation of the move to the new safe house) is because she's found what she believes is a tumor. She's never trusted Cameron and recent revelations regarding Jesse have made her regret trusting Derek. So, Sarah leaves to get an examination and of course everything goes to pot. All three groups (four if you include John Henry) are attacked.
Sarah finds that the "tumor" is in fact not a toomah but rather a transmitter. Of course, it all makes sense now, the somber-Sarah Quadrilligy actually had some purpose, as we flashback to Ed Winston (the guy we presumed was killed by Sarah in the fall finale, but actually was torturing her), realizing that the "tumor" is actually a transceiver.
It turns out that these simultaneous attacks are orchestrated by a mystery person who knows much about the T-800s. As I mentioned, John Henry is attacked too. A breach in his code from the Internet reveals that a second AI (this one expressly created by Cyberdyne and Miles Dyson) is attempting to communicate with John Henry.
The reveal of a software based AI, which we can presume is SkyNet, is intriguing since that is part of the Terminator mythos from T3. It also begs the question, if SkyNet exists what is John Henry? The first thing I thought of was the biblical story of Cain and Abel. But which AI is which? I think it's safe to assume that this second AI is not up to good, but whether or not John Henry will be able to avoid being corrupted by his "brother" is a question that I don't have an answer for.
In the end Charley is killed protecting John. When Sarah finds Charley's body we notice that his boat and John are both missing. Did John escape on the boat? It's possible, it's also possible that John was taken along with the boat by the attackers.
It's exciting that we once again have a main villain pursuing the Connor clan. Possibly even a modern day SkyNet. Glimpses of the future that we've seen seem to indicate that some of the terminators (the T-1000 seen in last week's episode in particular) are demonstrating their own agenda. Is it possible that in the future John Henry AND SkyNet command their own robot army? If that's the case, then John Henry may end up being an ally to John Connor. I'm just spit balling at this point. There are many questions waiting to be answered and I'm just glad that the show has become interesting enough on it's own that I want to theorize about those questions. I just hope that Fox will renew the series for one more season. Please Fox! Just one more!
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Thursday, March 26, 2009
Fun Times With Space/Time Paradoxes(Paradoxii?)
Lost: He's Our YouSeason 5, Episode 10
Battlestar Galactica is gone, so now most of my television Sci-Fi hopes and dreams are pinned on Lost. It's probably not fair to expect Lost to carry the torch left behind by BSG, but, what the hell, I'm just that kind of guy.So, did this week's Lost keep me happy in my post-BSG bliss? Hit the jump to find out!
Well, the answer is unsurprisingly complicated, much like Lost itself. If I wanted to keep it concise, I would just say that the episode was good. Middle of the road, with no real nagging issues to derail the whole thing, but just not entirely exciting. Sure, there was the ending, oh boy, what an ending...but I'm getting ahead of myself.
If I had one big problem with this episode(and honestly this is a gripe that is probably not going to be rectified anytime soon) it's that the producers have created several "mysteries" with the express purpose of having something mysterious. Specifically the mysteries surrounding Sayid's break with Ben(somewhat answered here), why Kate returned to the island sans-Aaron, where Ben went before the flight, how he got all banged up and what happened to Desmond. Honestly, while intriguing, these ideas seemingly only exist to extend the storyline for the rest of the season. Once the Oceanic 6 arrived back on the island--what then? What is the overarching plot supposed to be? Ostensibly the group must get back to the present, but then what? Back in season one, two and three the goal was to get off the island. That was easy to grasp, but what now?
So, how does Lost begin to answer these questions? Well, by falling back on the tired flashback crutch. It's not that I didn't appreciate getting most of the off-island questions answered for Sayid, it's just that I don't want to fall back into old routines that I thought we'd gotten rid of.
In the end, "He's Our You" is a serviceable episode that doesn't particularly stand out except for one giant white elephant in the proverbial room: Sayid's shooting of poor little '70s Ben Linus. Yes, Sayid tries his damnedest to test the "Grandfather Paradox Theory" by emptying a round in young Ben's chest. Upon first brush this is exciting, but upon further inspection we realize that more than likely little Ben isn't going to die, instead the island will save him. He will remember that it was Sayid who tried to kill him and he will morph into the sneaky bastard that we all love to hate.
I'm reminded of a certain line..."All of this happened before and all of this has--" Too soon? Sorry, BSG is still on the mind.
All in all this episode is a perfectly capable one, but serves mostly as filler until we begin our sprint to the season finale finish line. It's quite indicative of the quality of this season that a somewhat filler episode is one in which Sayid effectively kills Ben. Don't worry, I find the irony quite hilarious.
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Monday, March 16, 2009
All Of This Has Happened Before, Crappily, And All Of This Will Happen Again
I think anyone who reads this site (hi mom! Just kidding, she wouldn't even read this stuff) knows that I am smitten with stories of killer robots. Hell, just robots. I grew up with a healthy diet of science fiction television and movies. Sure, it's geeky, but who cares. In the summer of 1997 I happened upon a television program being played on Sci Fi Channel. I didn't know what it was(oh the dark days before digital cable could tell us instantly what we were viewing) but I did know that it had robots. Shiny robots with very familiar red eyes. Of course those eyes were very reminiscent of KITT from one of my favorite television shows Knight Rider. And while KITT isn't exactly a robot, he was damned cool, so I continued to watch.
What I ended up watching was ridiculous by even my standards. Shiny robots on 1980s Earth. Riding in a taxi cab. It was Galactica 1980, the spin off series to the original Battlestar Galactica and it was awful. So awful, in fact that it drove me to avoid anything with the name Battlestar Galactica for many, many years. That includes the new series. I'll explain more about that later this week in my new series retrospective, but first lets take a look back at the series that started it all!
Battlestar Galactica was created by Glen Larson and there is a reason that KITT and the Cylon shared the same eyes, the two series were created by him. I love, love, loved Knight Rider but could not muster the same love for BSG.Coming a year after Star Wars Battlestar Galactica has a more space age-y feel. The ships all fire lasers, there are alien insects and humans have randomly colonized planets far from the colonies(so that we can randomly happen upon guest stars, you see). You can tell that the creators of the new series must have loved this old series, warts and all, because
they kept so much of it. Names, themes, hell even most of the ships(including the Galactica herself) for the most part keep the same basic looks from this series. In particular the Viper ships are almost exactly the same. It's a great design, one of the few that this series had. Considering the horrible clothing that the colonists wore, I'm frankly surprised that the Vipers were as good looking as they ended up being.As someone coming from the new series to the old series it's an odd viewing experience. The names are all the same and the main plot is essentially the same, but there are some noticeable differences and gender changes. Yes, yes, Starbuck is a dude. When the new series came on the air that was what most people were complaining about. Starbuck was originally a man, played by Dirk Benedict. Benedict you might recall from The A-Team(another 80s fave of mine). Here he is playing almost the exact character he would play in that later show, Starbuck is a ladykilling shyster. He's not the most deep character in this show, but he's practically the only one worth watching.
Richard Hatch, recently seen in the new series as Vice President Tom Zarek, plays Apollo in the original. Apollo is a good son with no unresolved daddy issues, unlike the new Apollo. Apollo does have one other huge difference between him and the new Apollo, original recipe Apollo has an adopted son: Boxy.
You might remember Boxy in the new series as the kid who Boomer befriends in the miniseries. He only appeared in a couple of other episodes and then only in tiny cameo appearances. Thank the Gods. Boxy in the original series is one of the worst aspects(right up there with atrocious costumes, terrible acting and feeling like a Star Trek rip-off). He's the cliche cute kid who shows up at inopportune times to throw the main characters into peril or get into peril himself thus inciting the plot. He's annoying, he's precocious, he's got a Godsdamned robot dog. One that will forever give me nightmares.
In the original BSG dogs(or in Battlestar speak, Daggits) apparently died out during the Cylon attack. Boxy desperately wants a daggit, so Apollo has a robot daggit made for him. Muffit. Yeah. It's stupid looking and makes obnoxious noises. Muffit is the only thing more annoying than Boxy. Why? Well, when boxy isn't running off doing something to incite the plot, Muffit is.The first episode of the series has the colonials on a casino planet. Starbuck is transfixed by a stripper/singer alien and wonders aloud that they could make a ton of money if they could just get her on the "star circuit." Yes, the entire human race has just been decimated and THIS is what Starbuck is worrying about. Oh Boy. Plus the stripper/singer alien looks like THIS.
A face only a mother could love.
Did I mention that the Cylons were created by humanoid insects? Yeah.
All in all, I can thank Glen Larson for creating this show simply for one reason. It was the spark that led Ron Moore to create the new BSG which I feel is one of the greatest science fiction stories of all time. But the original series? Not worth your time.
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Sunday, March 15, 2009
I Could Totally Quote That Cliche Line From Godfather 3, But I'll Refrain
Terminator:TSCC: Today is the DaySeason 2, Episode 18
Thank the Gods, the drought is over. After the terrible, terrible quadrilligy of awful mopey-Sarah episodes we're finally come back to the type of stories that made the second half of season one so much fun to behold. In many ways, last week's episode and this week's felt like part of the same episode and considering this episode ends with those three dreaded words TO BE CONTINUED, I'll hold my total judgment until next week's conclusion.Ok, so Riley is dead. This is good and bad. It's good because we will no longer have to see obnoxious teenager Riley nor obnoxious time traveler Riley. It's bad because now John is probably going to be even more angsty. Somehow everybody believes that Cameron was responsible for killing Riley. We, of course, know that she/it didn't kill Riley, but whenever someone asks Cameron if she did it she refuses to flat out deny it. Instead she plays coy. A ROBOT plays coy. Let that sink into your gourd for a moment.
I'm going to make this quick, again I will reserve my total critique until the final episode of this two-parter, I will say this. This show is always at it's best when it shows us glimpses of the future.
I know, I know, it would be a huge rip off of Lost if they did this week in and week out, but seriously this show always intrigues me most when they tie the future events (Past for some of our characters) to our present storyline. In this case we got to see Jesse say goodbye to Derek before he, presumably, goes back in time on Connor's orders. We also got to see a mission on her submarine, the U.S.S. Jimmy Carter. What's interesting here is that the captain of the sub is seemingly a T-800 named Queeg(played by Chad Coleman who, I am contractually obligated to mention, appeared on HBO's The Wire). Queeg informs Jesse and her crew that Connor has altered their mission and they are to infiltrate an oil platform and procure a package for him.
This is what made this episode great for me. I liked seeing the future sub, Queeg was interesting, but really that oil platform...oh boy. Not much happens here but we see a couple of non-skinned T-800s and a plastic skinned T-800(great call back to The Terminator with the first infiltration Terminators said to have been very fake looking) guarding the package. We don't get to see what's in the box. Thus the "To be continued."
Not quite as interesting this week, but still better than Sarah, was the Catherine Weaver story. I am still enamored with the mystery surrounding Weaver-1000 and John Henry. I really don't think that Weaver is evil. Why train the (assumed) progenitor of SkyNet moral ethics if the goal of it's creation is to wipe out the human race? We get a little bit of the ethics work here when John Henry forces Weaver and Ellison to play Hide and Seek with Weaver's daughter. Ellison is furious at John Henry for not telling him where the girl is hiding. Weaver plays along with John Henry a little too easily, probably giving away her true identity as a Terminator to Ellison. It's an interesting scene if only because Weaver seems eager, if not overjoyed to be playing the game with John Henry. Despite not wanting to play the game earlier with the girl. It seemed like she was showing true emotion, not just emulating them. Does Weaver-bot hail from a future where SkyNet has created terminators with emotions? I don't know, but I'm excited to find out.
The turn around in the show has me bristling for the next few episodes. I just hope that Fox holds onto this one for next season. I feel like it's getting it's legs back and could be a great series soon. If Terminator Salvation, hitting theaters this summer, is a big box office winner then T:TSCC could stand to get more viewers next year, as long as the Friday Night Death Zone doesn't take another victim.
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Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Killin' Time With 24
24: 8:00P.M.-9:00P.M.Season 7, Episode 13
Welcome to "Killin' Time With 24." A weekly morning-after 24 discussion hosted by your faithful That's A Wrap editors, Billy and Jim.Every Tuesday morning we get together to discuss the previous evening's episode of 24. What we liked, disliked and where we would like to see the series go while avoiding any real work. It's like a virtual coffee break.
Sit back and let us do the complaining for you.
Also, be sure to check out the latest episode of the That's a Wrap Podcast!
(09:55:34) Jim: And so we lay to rest the guy who used to boink Michelle, turned Karen Hayes into a more tolerant pain in the ass and generally was one of the less shitty elements of the last two seasons
(09:56:15) Billy: Well, before I lament the death of my namesake and potential BFF... (09:56:25) Billy: I have to bitch about Comcast. (09:57:27) Billy: Their DVR service, which we pay for, does not work half the Goddamn time. It didn't record Redemption. It didn't record Lost last week and it didn't record 24 this week. (09:58:13) Billy: So, screw you comcast for ruining my 24 viewing. (09:58:16) Billy: End Rant. (09:58:53) Billy: They turned Bill into the Libby(see:Lost) of this show. (09:59:18) Billy: What happened to Karen...seriously. (10:00:01) Billy: There were far too many questions left open with his death, of course it could mean that Karen will return to mourn him, but I doubt that will happen.
(10:00:06) Jim: At least he went out like a champ... although I find fault in his reasoning that nobody except Jack could uncover the next level of the conspiracy
(10:00:25) Billy: Right. (10:01:08) Billy: Aaron Pierce did NOT die, though the "I'll be back on my feet in a couple of hours." line was ominous (10:01:14) Billy: and a little cheesy.
(10:01:26) Jim: indeed. (10:01:41) Jim: dude you are shot, it's nearly 9 PM, maybe call it a night
(10:02:40) Billy: Vice President Heywood Jablowme was completely worthless. Except to yell at Moss for breaking rules right before he busts Jacks ass for breaking rules. (10:04:19) Billy: So, the White House crisis is over. And I can't help but think that the whole three episode plot was a waste of time. (10:05:14) Billy: If that were the first half of the season plot, forget Dubaku...it might have worked, but as a secondary small plot, it's just too BIG for me to buy it actually happening.
(10:06:00) Jim: A question, considering Moss breaks the rules one minute and effectively fired Renee the next for the exact same thing... methinks jealousy is the issue? (10:07:16) Jim: the White House plot was a waste of time... there was no reason for Juma to be in this country... and the entire thing came off as outlandish and further disconnected the show from anything even resembling credibility with the real world
(10:07:33) Billy: Exactly. (10:07:44) Billy: Plus it was responsible for Bill dying!
(10:08:01) Jim: there was absolutely no reason a strike force couldn't have tried to take the president when she was at the hospital (10:08:16) Jim: where security ideally would be far weaker (10:08:32) Jim: and could be more belieable
(10:09:59) Billy: At first I liked Jack's show of emotion over Bill's death, but when Renee said "He died for his country." I realized that Jack wasn't upset at Bill dying. His response angered me, "It was supposed to be me." Jack was upset because he was denied the chance to die protecting the President. He's Lieutenant Dan now!
(10:10:27) Jim: yeah, Jack has not been handled well at all this season (10:10:58) Jim: and I don't think returning him to the old, on the run from the good guys, angle will help things
(10:11:31) Billy: How many times can he go rogue, and/or be framed for something he didn't do?
(10:11:33) Jim: i mean if Jack was set up to distract the fbi, doesn't running away and forcing them to look for you kind of force the issue (10:11:51) Jim: just open the door surrender and that plot gets uncovered in like 15 minutes
(10:12:25) Billy: Burnett is dead. (10:12:39) Billy: His circulatory system is no longer functioning.
(10:12:40) Jim: I mean I doubt while Jack was on camera he snuck into the roof, cut and looped the security feed (WITH NO EQUIPMENT) and hoped back down and killed the guy
(10:12:52) Billy: therefore the nerve agent should still be in his blood.
(10:13:13) Jim: plus I'm willing to bet most paralyzing nerve agents (SERIOUSLY?!) will leave some chemical trace in the body
(10:14:13) Billy: Oh man, this is going to be really nitpicky...but the set they used for the hospital ceiling is the same set they used for the rafters in Dubaku's hideout, sans green computers.
(10:14:40) Jim: yeah, that is really nitpicky
(10:14:53) Billy: I just struck me as lazy (10:15:06) Billy: Anyways, back to the hospital plot.
(10:15:10) Jim: i mean the set-up of Jack makes no sense. people besides jack know there is a bigger conspiracy, why not just kill the lead investigator
(10:15:37) Billy: So, no one noticed the assassin lugging around Mercenary Fanny Pack?
(10:16:16) Jim: indeed, and of course moss for all his, "i won't let you touch him" retoric doesn't leave anybody in the room with Jack, even in a closet or something???? (10:16:31) Jim: i call bullshit
(10:16:36) Billy: Yeah. (10:16:51) Billy: Now, this episode didn't anger me as much as some others. (10:17:01) Billy: But Jon Voight...
(10:17:11) Jim: I hate it when common sense takes a back seat to the writers staging the ONLY way their next plot twist could occur... I call it the Heroes Syndrome
(10:18:12) Billy: his plot is obviously not nuclear. or biological. It could be a nerve agent, but it seems like a basic missile attack.
(10:18:54) Jim: Yeah, Voight is the new Powers Boothe... this show has a habit of picking incredibly lame actors in guest roles
(10:19:01) Billy: Which seems really odd, since they showed the logo of his company and it seemed like they may be Blackwood-esque mercenaries for hire. (10:19:49) Billy: Plus, the map they showed of the areas they will attack included Oil City Pennsylvania. (10:20:09) Billy: What the HELL is in Oil City that needs attacking?!
(10:21:15) Jim: Just an idea for next year, tone down the scope... it just can't be upped anymore. the last couple have just been ridiculous. How about a group that is just bombing a city... with conventional explosives... threatening in its randomness instead of scope
(10:21:50) Billy: Well, season 8 is probably going to be the last season. (10:22:01) Billy: I want a personal story again. (10:22:50) Billy: I'd like to see someone terrorizing Jack, I want a mystery again.
(10:23:08) Jim: something intimate, maybe with a mystery that requires more than torture to resolve (10:23:45) Jim: because I have to tell you... I am all tortured out
(10:24:42) Billy: Of course, Brannon Braga being an executive producer and one of the main writers this season, and presumably next season as well...we'll be lucky if the entire series doesn't turn out to be a holodeck program that Riker is watching on the Enterprise before bed...
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Who Needs Warm Milk
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: Some Must Watch While Some Must SleepSeason 2, Episode 16
I'm going to sound like a broken record here, but I watch Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles for stories about the impending apocalypse and the take over of SkyNet. I'd like the stories in a series called TERMINATOR to involve actual terminators as opposed to silly dream-terminators. You know what, I'd just like the series to be GOOD. Which, sadly, it hasn't been in a really long time. I'm not asking for GREAT, that ship sailed long before the series started(the writers have never really been as well versed in Terminator mythology as most fanboys are, myself included). I just want the show to be about killer robots from the future and John Connor kicking ass. Is that so hard to ask for? Apparently so, because for the fourth episode in a row we've be witness the most boring stories that I've seen in a long time.Look, I know Sarah Connor's name is in the title of the show, but for crying out loud so is the word Terminator. Sarah Connor as played by Lena Heady is boring and morose. I know Heady can be a good actress and I'm not laying the blame on her solely but she can't carry this show. She shouldn't have to! Thomas Dekker, Summer Glau, Richard T. Jones are all good enough actors. Hell, Brian Austin Green owns every scene he is in. Yeah, I know, I was shocked too. But, it's true, Brian Austin Green is one of the most compelling things about this program. Yet here we are with another episode that is 95% Sarah Connor and the only other characters we see are John and Cameron.
Weaver, Ellison and John Henry are fast becoming important and intriguing components of the series, yet they are completely ignored in this story. I want to see more of them. God help me, Shirley Manson is a horrible actress, but her T-1000 is such a compelling an fascinating figure. Leaving these characters out of the story is downright criminal.
There has got to be some irony in the fact that Sarah's story revolved around her having insomnia and going to a sleep clinic. I've got a sure fire way to cure that insomnia, WATCH THIS EPISODE! We flitted between Sarah trying to sleep and Sarah being held captive by Ed Winston, who we were led to believe was dead...since we saw sarah, ya know, kill him. The big question was which of these stories was bogus, and the even bigger question is: why do we care? Seriously, on one hand we have Sarah in a sleep clinic in a plot that totally rips off at least TWO Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes and on the other hand we have Sarah facing Mr. Should-Be-Dead. I mean, we wasted an hour last week attending this dude's funeral, it just felt like a slight to have him alive and well(despite being shot by Sarah in the fall finale) with absolutely no explanation.
So, to summarize: Television program about killer robots from the future - killer future robots = a sleepy Billy. I've said it before and I'll say it again here. Kiss this show goodbye, because it's not coming back for another season. Thank you, Josh Friedman. You shat all over War of the Worlds and you've done shat on Terminator. What's next? Robbing my house and killing my kitty cat? I love that cat.
0 Billy's cats out of 5
Ain't he a cutie?
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Friday, February 6, 2009
I Don't Really Care About Those Six, Get ME Back to the Island!
Lost: The Little PrinceSeason 5: Episode 4
Lost continues the season long arc that sees our main cast members split up into two groups. We have the Oceanic 6 (plus Ben and Desmond) who have left the island trying to return to "crap-hole island," and the survivors still on the island who are flashing through time.This weeks episode focused mostly on the plight of Kate and like every other Kate-centric episode, I really couldn't care less about her story.
Spoilers after the jump.
There's not much to say about the story off the island. Desmond and Penny aren't seen this week, Hurley is in county lock up(in the snappiest orange jumpsuit) and is only seen for a few moments. Jack has brought Sayid back from the brink of death following his being tranquilized in the past episode.
Kate is still on the run...again...this time from the evil lawyer who wants a blood sample from Aaron. For some reason Aaron annoys the hell out of me. I know he's just a little kid, but hearing "mommy!" every five minutes is just about as obnoxious as hearing his mother screech "My BAY-BEE!"
Sayid is attacked by someone carrying Kate's address in his wallet, so Jack goes to find her. She's actually stalking the lawyer. Long story short, Ben hired the lawyer to scare Kate. The last thing we see from the mainlanders is the entire group at the marina(sans Hurley, of course), Sun has a gun. Things will not be pretty.
Back on the Island, however, things are moving. Through time! Zing! Charlotte's cliffhanger nosebleed-blackout clears up just long enough to get the group moving again. But, what's this? Miles has a nosebleed now? Faraday raises the possibility that the onset of the nosebleed indicates the length of time spent on the island. So, is Miles Dharma video guru Dr. Chang(or Wickmund,Candle or whichever alias you like)'s son?
Locke theorizes that the flashes through time are happening because the Oceanic 6 left, and that if he can go to the Orchid he can leave the island and bring them back. The plan is typical Locke bullish nonsense, we can presume that the island being unstuck in time is a result of Ben using the frozen donkey wheel at the end of season four. So what difference does it make if the Oceanic 6 come back?
On the way towards the Orchid the group flashes back to the night Claire gave birth to Aaron. They see the Hatch light(Locke suddenly goes all Doc Brown on us and wants to avoid bumping into himself) and Sawyer gets to see Kate assist Claire with the delivery.
Along the way, the group flashes into what is presumably the future, the camp is trashed and row boats sit on the beach. Water bottles from an Ajira Airlines are in the boats. Not wasting any time, the group snatches a boat and heads towards the Orchid. Of course, nothing is so simple, the "other Others" give pursuit and begin shooting at the boat. By virtue of another time shift the group escapes. The big question here is who is this new faction, will we see them at some point this season or next?
The group lands the boat on shore where they find wreckage...from a French vessel. Methinks they have landed back in 1988. But of course they have! The next thing we see is a group in a life boat picking up a castaway in the water. Who are the life boat people? Who is the adrift castaway? Well, the answer to both questions is fairly simple and totally bad ass. The castaway is a totally not-dead Jin, and the lifeboat folks? Danielle Rousseau's science team. Yes, we get to meet a VERY pregnant Danielle Rousseau when she first arrived on the island.
Some final thoughts:
- No flashback for the long-dead Danielle, but it looks like we'll get to see what happened to her group after all(I hope!).
- Why does Locke want JUST the Oceanic 6 back? We know that he visited Walt before he died, so why don't they want him back on the island. Why not Desmond for that matter?
- Who were the Ajira airline people? Some internet folks are predicting that the Oceanic 6 take Ajira airlines back to the island. I don't know about that since they are all meeting at a pier, I assume they are boating back to the island.
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