Hello and welcome back to Last Week in TV. I apologize for the column being erratic these last few weeks but most of my big projects are now behind me and it should be more regular until we take a break in July. If you have ever wanted to be a part of writing for Last Week in TV, I am looking for people to help with a special column coming up featuring childhood TV. Just watch a few episodes of a show you liked as a kid or teen and write a short review (a few sentences) about how well the show does or does not standup now that you are older and give it some episode awards. If you are interested in participating or being a guest reviewer over the summer, e-mail me at dahne@spoilertv.com for more details. Also I will be working on the 2nd Annual Pitch Your Show - Summer Version in the next 2 weeks. It's a great time to share why people should try your favorite shows, new and old, cancelled and renewed, ratings hit or not. If you haven't experienced Pitch Your Show before, here's one of the 6 articles based on it from last summer. Not only is it fun to promote your favorites, but you might find a new show to love too. Also if you have a show you'd like me to watch, just fill out the short 2-question form below. A random number generator picks the nominated show each week so next time it is Grandfathered. Since I planned on marathoning the rest of it over the summer anyway, it will be good motivation. I hope you have a great week, and as always, happy TV viewing.
Moment of the Week
While this is normally where episode of the week appears, I have to admit that I've been doing so much catch up TV these last few days, I am no longer sure of what actually aired last week and what ended earlier. Therefore I decided to cheat here and pick my favorite moment. There was a lot to love about the shows I watched this week but my favorite was Lexa's entrance on The 100. While the rest of her time went downhill from there for me, I love how ferocious and utterly kick butt she was in her first 30 seconds of the season finale. From the way she leapt onto the screen to that smirk she gave Clarke to how she neatly dispatched 7 people in 10 seconds, she plain rocked. This show has had plenty of awesome warriors but none hold a candle to Lexa and I still miss this character. Plus, double sword action. Can't beat that.
Nominated Episode
Constantine - 1.05 - Danse Vaudou
I dropped Constantine after the third or fourth episode because I thought Constantine was a jerk, it was way too hyped up in the fandom, and I am NEVER a fan of replacing a lead for someone new right after the pilot. To be honest, it also suffered from my utter loathing of Dracula which was in its place before. Before Grimm went nuts and had the main character start a romantic relationship with his rapist, this show and Dracula before it were both letdowns on my night of Grimm. Coming back at it fresh, it was much better than I remember. Constantine didn't come off quite as douchey and I loved Papa Midnite this time around. Their interaction made the episode. I also loved Chas like usual and Zed started to grow on me. I still think it is overrated but I do see why it reached cult status and has a passionate following. This episode was particularly poignant because it was all about the extra pain that guilt brings in a loved one's death. I enjoyed the guest stars and the back story they came with. While I do not have time to add Constantine to my to-watch list, this was an enjoyable episode and I'm glad I got a chance to re-evaluate my former opinion on it.
Grade: B
Ranking: 3
Audience - those who love a good supernatural mystery to solve
Best Reason to Watch - it's a procedural supernatural show with a strong serialized mytharc / character interactions
Best Scene - Chas and Zed stop the ghosts
Best Character Interaction - Constantine and Papa Midnite
Best Reaction - Corrigan to Constantine's business card reading, "Master of the Black Arts"
Best Twist - the ones who feel guilty are the only ones who can release the ghosts
Best Snark - Constantine
Biggest Shock - the EMT's when Chas starts breathing again and the wound on his torso heals
Biggest What the Heck? - What exactly is going to happen to Corrigan in the future?
Worst Gift - Zed's ability to see the supernatural
Worst Plan - confronting Papa Midnite with no plan
The "Welcome Back" Award - Papa Midnite
The "Welcome Back" Award (actor) - Michael James Shaw from Limitless
Best Quotes -
1. Papa: "I don't like it. It's sloppy. You're like a child with your father's spell book." Constantine: "The only magic my old man ever did was making a pint disappear."
2. Papa: "Our truce is over at the bottom of that glass so sip cautiously."
3. Papa: "This spell is of our own creation. We bow to you united." Constantine: "Oh well, if it's come to that mate, these are dark days indeed."
4. Constantine: "A rich man's scotch, it always comes with an aftertaste."
5. Constantine: "Well why have one case when you can have two with twice the trouble, eh?"
Guest Reviews
12 Monkeys - 2.04 - Emergence
BY BlueStar
So many revelations in this episode. Jones sends Ramse back in time to find Cole and Cassie and so he can let her know via a newspaper ad where they are so she can bring them all back to 2044. Ramse fails to prevent the paradox like Cole and Cassie due to being hit by a car upon appearance in 1944 – ouch! He manages to sneak out of the hospital and get to the mental asylum only for the messenger team to handcuff him. Cassie and Cole are arrested for the murders of Tommy and his father, but Ramse gets free and manages to help them escape the agents. Meanwhile, Jones goes to Jennifer for help understanding what is happening to the forest and time itself. Finally, Cole, Cassie, and Ramse return to 2044 and they (along with Jones) argue over their differences. Cole ends the argument saying that they must work together, now more than ever if they are to prevent the 12 Monkeys from destroying time.
Grade: A-
Status - unknown by SyFy
Best Reason To Watch – We find out what the 12 Monkeys’ ultimate plan is and who the Pallid Man is
Best Scene – Jennifer tells Jones about time’s reliance on the primaries
Best Reaction – The agent to seeing Ramse, Cassie, and Cole travel back to 2044
Best New Character – Dr. Eckland, who I’m liking more and more every time we see him. I love that he’s not afraid to set Jones straight.
Most Interesting Connection – The Pallid Man is the female messenger’s son
Most Like A Cockroach / Least Surprising – The Pallid Man is still alive
Worst Luck: Ramse – They really need a time travel machine that avoids roads (and North Korea while at it).
Best Quotes:
1. Jennifer: “Time and man, we grew up together. We depend on each other.” Jones: “Impossible. Time’s older than man, and infinite.” Jennifer: “But in the here and now, we help it think. Time needs us. Some of us more than others. Primaries – living, breathing gears in time’s wristwatch. We keep it moving, steady, in sync. Tick, tock, past, present, future. But now, if someone were to destroy us…” Jones: “Paradox.” Jennifer: “Gears break. Time stops working. Collapses. No past. No present. No future. Only now. An infinite now of death and life together. No beginning, no end. All of humanity unborn and destroyed. A memory of tomorrow.”
2. Dr. Eckland: “Why are you being such an ***hole?” Jones: “How dare you? I’m trying to solve the problem.” Dr. Eckland: “No, you’re not. You’re trying to be right. So let’s try this instead. Just-just shut up and listen. Open your mind. You are not just a scientist. You are an explorer. You’re pushing boundaries. Inventing the new. You’re not just analyzing the old. That’s what makes you you, Katarina.” (Pauses) “Oh, time is cruel. Because of that, you don’t know me. But, boy, I know you, and you are lost, and you’re scared. But what does the explorer do when they’re lost? They go full speed ahead into the unknown. You taught me that.”
3. Ramse: “I get it. I’m alive because of him. You know what, Cassie? I could say one thing with absolute certainty.” Cassie: “What’s that, Ramse?” Ramse: “James Cole is loyal. To a fault. That’s a rare thing. He beats himself up for what he turned you into, and you want to hate him for it.” Cassie: “I don’t hate him.” Ramse: “Forgive him. Like he did me. Like he would for you.”
4. Agent #1: “Okay, look. The reason we brought you here is we’re in a huge sh** storm because of you two. So before things get all complicated with lawyers and judges, we gotta get this right. [To Cassie] Let’s have at it, honey.” Cole: “I’m honey. She’s baby-cakes.”
12 Monkeys - 2.05 - Bodies of Water
BY BlueStar
This one goes to the girls! Cassie goes back to 2016 to get information from that version of Jennifer, who is now sane after having taken pills for a while. Needing to trigger her visions, Cassie brings her to her family summer house, and the 12 Monkeys team finds them there. Olivia causes Cassie to have a vision using the water again, and she doesn’t just see the Witness this time, but Aaron too (Does that mean they are one and the same?). Jennifer ends up saving her, and stabbing Olivia (most likely) fatally. Meanwhile in 2044 Cole and Ramse make a plan to get rid of Deacon once and for all by giving him up to an enemy of his, but the plan fails since Deacon manages to escape. The episode ends with Cassie and Cole meeting in a bar in 2016 and her sending him after another primary in 1975 New York, warning him he won’t be friendly like the others. Finally, the Pallid man speaks to the Witness and becomes the next 12 Monkeys leader.
Grade: B overall (It would be in a B+/A- range if it had been all about sane Jennifer and Cassie's team up)
Best Reason To Watch – Sane Jennifer was actually pretty great. I liked her a lot.
Best Scene – Jennifer stabs Olivia
Biggest Question – Who is the Witness?
Horror Movie Moment Award – Deacon shows up covered in blood
Most Tension – Tie between Cole and Ramse vs. Deacon and Olivia vs. the Pallid Man. The 12 Monkeys team is falling apart one failure at a time.
Most Tragic – Jennifer’s mentally ill mother tried to drown her.
Warming Up – Cassie, who is beginning to feel more like the Cassie I loved last season
Worst Consequence - Jennifer is drawing pictures again after helping Cassie get information on another primary
Worst Decision – Cole and Ramse deciding to throw Deacon to the wolves, sort to speak. He totally deserves it (Yeah, sorry about his brother, but he still was a cold-hearted SOB, remember?) but I knew it was going to backfire. Plus, really, Cole? Don’t go back to your old ways now.
Best Quotes:
1. Jennifer: “You want to know what the difference between you and my mother is?” Olivia: “What?” Jennifer: “I get to say goodbye to you.”
2. Jennifer: “I take my meds. I watch my stress. I stick to my routine. I cope. But she’s always there. You have no idea how exhausting it is being crazy.”
3. Ramse: “What is she – what are you doing?” Cassie: “Mustering up my energy to face Jennifer Goines again.” Cole: “Oh, come on, she’s not that bad.” Cassie: “She’s worst!” Ramse: “She’s horrible, man.”
4. Cole: “You never call; you never write.”
Agents of SHIELD - 3.20 - Emancipation
BY Swanpride
Well played, writers, really well played. I spent the first half of the episode thinking "No, Lincoln can't be THAT stupid, this has to be a plan." But he played his role so well and once he attacked Mack, they had me. Of all the rouses Coulson has thought up in the past (and there have been a few - remember Bakshi? Or Talbot using Creel as back-up plan?), this was the first time I fell for it too. Though I am not sure what to think about the result of said rouse. The long expected fight between Hive and Lash seemed to be over a little bit fast for my taste, and I dislike the notion that Lash's one reason for existing was to rescue Daisy. Not just because I think that she is already way too "special" anyway, but also because I would like the notion that Lash failed to fulfill his destiny, leaving Hive with no real opponent. I don't think that killing off Lash at this point was necessarily a bad idea (RIP, Andrew), since it makes the finale more unpredictable. I certainly have run out of fan-theories how to defeat him.
Grade: B+
Status - Renewed by ABC on Tuesdays
Best Reason to Watch - That was some really clever writing
Best Scene - Lash freeing Daisy from the sway.
Best Character - Lash, even though his last fight is a little bit of a let-down
Best Team-up - May and Coulson makes the best plans
Best Effects - The fire chain, though I really didn't appreciate it cutting through Lash
Most Creepy - The...whatever the things are Hive created. I know those were despicable human beings to begin with, but nobody deserves that.
Best Nickname - Swayze Daisy, too bad that the opportunity to use it has passed
Biggest Hypocrite - Coulson's little speech about the list. Not that I disagree with them, but I can't remember him getting rid of the index.
Most Meat - The whole discussion about if Talbot should inform other authorities show that the Sokovia Accords would never work in an actual emergency situation.
Most Random Observation - Naturally Coulson would basically be Team Cap.
My Prediction of the Week - I have the feeling that the crucifix will become some sort of hot potato next week but I lay my money on Coulson concerning the big question of who will die.
Best Quote:
1. Talbot: "Okay, Coulson, I have seen the good and the bad, now show me the ugly."
2. Talbot: "Why do you think this Lash can defeat Hive, and who in tarnation names these things?"
Agents of SHIELD - 3.21 - Absolution
BY Swanpride
This episode had one of the worst starts possible. I hate dream sequences with a passion, especially if they are only there to create false drama. In fact all the Daisy scenes in the beginning annoyed me because they took the pace out of the mission. But once the show concentrated on what the other characters were up to, the episode became a relentless ride. The Quinjet flying under water, the trap set for Hive, Fitz doing computer magic and nearly being dragged into the Zombie mist and finally Daisy begging Hive to take her back, every bit of it was equally surprising and compelling. Especially nice touch was triggering all the memories in Hive, though I wish the show had done a little bit more with that concept. Also, they really had to throw in Lincoln wanting to leave, didn't they? That was the point at which I was 99% sure they would go for the cop-out solution and kill off Lincoln instead of one of the core members of the team.
Grade: A-
Best Reason to Watch - Inhuman action!!! God, I love Yoyo!
Best Scene - Yoyo taking out Hive…temporarily
Best Character - Did I mention how much I love Yoyo?
Best Team-up - Mack and Yoyo
Best Effects - The under-water-flight
Most Missed - Joey. Hopefully he will be back next season.
Best Comic Relief - Doctor Radcliff who has really grown on me, the little, beady-eyed worm
Most Cute - Jemma planning to take Fitz's breath away...by going snorkeling
Best Prop - The overlong code
Most Random Observation - I hope the real safeguards for war heads are a little bit better, because if the government really had to shut down one fast, they would be in trouble.
Best Quote:
1. Yoyo: "Oh, this isn't about super speed; this is about your turtle speed. You work and then you stare. Then work and then more staring. We have to go."
2. Hive: "This won't kill me." Mack: "No, but it will suck."
3. Yoyo: "He is lucky he is handsome."
4. Talbot: "Seriously stupid. Like betting on Wrestlemania stupid." (Editor's note - Bwaaahhh! ~Dahne)
Agents of SHIELD - 3.22 - Ascention
BY Swanpride
I am torn on this one. Yeah, they went with the cop-out dead but for what it was, it was exceptionally well done. The episode picked up speed from the previous episode, allowing every character a moment to shine, proving once again that while fighting abilities are useful, smart thinking is ultimately superior. And then it delivered a conclusion drenched in symbolism, but also in genuine emotions just to pull the audience abruptly out of it. The same way I disliked how the previous episode started, I disliked how this one ended, with a six months jump which expected me to care about Daisy's emotional problems. But I was not in the mood for this at all. I wanted to reel a little bit over the loss of Lincoln, who really deserved better than this, and Ward. Brett Dalton had an exceptional run on this show, and while Ward was more creepy than likable, I always felt it was a joy to watch him. Also, what about all those people who got turned? Or the Inhumans? They barely used them this season, does this mean we won't get a proper team with them next season either now that their nominal leader is missing in bad make-up? I have to give the shows props, though for setting up a new storyline for the upcoming season right under my nose. While I really enjoyed Radcliff those last episodes, I never expected him to be more than a one-off character.
Grade: A-
Best Reason to Watch - The feels!
Best Scene - Hive and Lincoln, sharing their last moment together
Best Character - Let's give it to Brett Dalton, for all the great work he did with Ward and Hive.
Best Team-up - May and Fitz are practically a two-men army with her fighting abilities and his brain
Best Effects - Hive's true face
Best Action - The team vs mindless whatevers
Most Out of Place - Hive doing the Superhero landing. Villains are not allowed to do this specific overly dramatic pose.
Most on the Nose - Daisy's story being one about addiction
Best Prop - Fitz invisible gun (and he even told the guy!)
Most Wasted - Mack's Shotgun-Axe. After waiting the whole season for it, it really didn't get enough attention with everything else which was going on
Most Dramatic - Yoyo catching the bullets for Mack
Most Geeky - Coulson pretending to be Princess Leia
Most Random Observation - I hope Fitzsimmons did a lot of snorkelling in the six months. And Fondue.
My Prediction of the Week - None this time around. I have no idea what the show will do next, but I hope that they will use what will most likely be their last season wisely. Considering the speed ABC is currently getting rid of Marvel shows, I doubt that this one will last past syndication, no matter what the ratings say or what BS excuse they come up with for moving it to a later time slot.
Best Quote:
1. Radcliff: "It's not a hunch, it's science. It's a science hunch."
2. Coulson: "We better follow him. He has no idea where he is going."
3. Coulson: "The only difference is, when you give an order, your soldiers have no choice but to obey. But when I gave my team the order to stay behind, they just wouldn't listen."
4. Hive: "To feel a connection. But you must feel it already. To sacrifice for them. With all their flaws."
Lincoln: "They are only human."
Jane the Virgin – 2.21 – Chapter 43
BY Emma
Jane and Michael’s wedding and Mateo’s birthday are just around the corner. Planning is going well and Jane is feeling good. Uh oh, that’s the first sign we have a rough hour ahead of us! Jane has problems with the wedding when the crew of Rogelio’s telenovela threatens to strike the day before the wedding. Ordinarily, not a problem except they built the set where Jane is getting married! Rogelio tries to appease the crew in typical Rogelio fashion (gift baskets) before making a deal to join the crew for a week – if he makes it the whole week, they wait to strike until after the wedding, if not, he becomes the face of their cause. They shake on it and the crew comes up with increasingly devious ways to get Rogelio to throw in the towel. Rogelio takes it all in stride until they ask him to change a light bulb, in the ceiling, using scaffolding because they know he’s afraid of heights. It takes a tough love pep talk from Jane for him to get it done and all seems to have ended well until Rogelio learns that the executives plan to fire the entire crew the day before the wedding! Meanwhile, Mateo’s cough has become serious and he’s admitted to the hospital – just in time to celebrate his first birthday. Rafael meets Jane at the hospital and while Mateo sleeps, he tells Jane about how Petra’s plan to trap Derek failed and he had to give in to his blackmail demands. They have a moment while we flashback to Mateo’s greatest hits over the last year – making me even more suspicious that Rafael will not “forever hold his peace” during next week’s wedding!
Grade: B+
Status - Renewed by The CW on Mondays
Best Reason to Watch – Rogelio spends a week working as a member of the crew
Best Scene – Rogelio changes a light bulb
Best Humorous Scene – smack down on the playground
Best Awww Scene – Jane calls Petra family and asks her to reconsider coming to her wedding
Best Character Interaction – all of Jane and Petra’s not-competing-but-competing scenes
Best Foreshadowing – Mateo has a cold
Best Plan that Should’ve Worked – fake FBI raid to elicit a confession from Derek
Best Use of Music – Mission Impossible: Lightbulb Change
The “I Was Right!” Award – Anezka IS in cahoots with Magda
The “Best Fiancé. Ever.” Award – Michael, for reading Jane’s romance novel draft
The “I’m With You, Mateo” Award – clowns are scary and make me cry too
The “Bless Her Heart” Award – Alba, thinking everyone who wants to read Jane’s work is a publisher
The “Welcome Back” Award (characters) – Magda / Susanna / Sin Rosetro (flashback)
Best Quotes:
1. Jane (to Petra): “Now I’d like you to reconsider coming to my wedding because you’re my son’s half-sister’s mother which makes us family and family shows up.”
2. Rogelio: “Ready to go to work? Welcome production personnel to this very special production meeting. With Dina away, I am thrilled to be your leader today.” Narrator: “Huh, guess they don’t applaud at production meetings.”
3. Rogelio: “They asked me to change a light bulb but I just can’t do it. And I know what you’re going to say…that it doesn’t matter and that you love me.” Jane: “Wrong. You’re doing it.” Rogelio: “What?” Jane: “Otherwise, Michael’s mom can’t come to the wedding. So, stop being a baby, walk this catwalk and change that freaking light bulb.”
Jane the Virgin – 2.22 – Chapter 44
BY Emma
Earlier in the season when Jane chose Michael, I predicted that Jane would marry Michael but he would be shot and killed getting ice after they consummated their marriage, but the consummation would lead to Jane being pregnant in S3. Well, they did get married, he was shot getting ice and there is a S3 pregnancy but it’s not exactly how I predicted. Let me start from the beginning…Jane and Michael’s wedding day has arrived. All the planning, all the obstacles, it all comes down to this one perfect day. It wouldn’t be a telenovela if they didn’t face a few more obstacles but the wedding is beautiful and the reception is the best party in town (seriously, they have Bruno Mars). They were originally going to spend their wedding night in a different hotel but hormones dictate they stay put. However, Jane’s not going to waste a perfectly good nighty and Michael goes to get ice for the champagne while she changes. As I predicted, Michael is shot – by his partner Susanna! Susanna heads back to her hotel room and reveals herself as Rose to Luisa and asks her to run away with her! Meanwhile, Anezka puts her and Magda’s plan into action. She drugs Petra causing a condition known as Locked-In Syndrome. Petra can’t move or speak so Anezka takes her place telling Petra that she will take care of Rafael – and she wastes no time in doing so! How long can Anezka pass for Petra? Is there a real Susanna and if so, where is she? Will Michael survive? Is Xo going to keep the baby and if so, who’s the father? Will Jane ever lose her virginity? Ugh, is it October yet?
Grade: A
Best Reason to Watch – the wedding/reception
Best Scene – the vows / Jane and Michael’s first dance / the Father/Daughter dance
Best Story – what really happened at Abuela’s wedding and the history of the veil
Most Beautiful – all three generations of Villanueva women walking down the aisle
Most Adorable Pair – Rogelio and Mateo wearing matching t-shirts
Best Timing – Mateo takes his first steps just in time to walk down the aisle
Best Multitasker – Jane doing an oral presentation for her new thesis topic on the way to the wedding
Best Advice (Surprisingly) – Luisa tells Rafael to keep quiet about his feelings and let Jane go
Most Surprising – Susanna has been Rose in disguise all along
Least Surprising – Xo is pregnant
Worst Way to Get Busted – having a sex basket delivered
Best Resurrection – Rose/Sin Rostro
The “Worst Rehearsal” Award – the Bride and Groom are fighting, Parents of the Bride are fighting, and Mateo starts a chain reaction that leads to the priest getting knocked out
Best Quotes:
1. Jane: “You two are not fighting the night before my wedding. After my wedding, you two can kill each other but before my wedding, everyone gets along. Got it?”
2. Rogelio: “Jane, please stop running, your makeup will melt. Let me carry you.” Jane: “No way, then your makeup will melt.” Rogelio: “You’re right. We’ll reapply when we get there.”
3. Anezka (to Petra): “Her first laugh! Baby has your sense of humor. Laughing at others' tears.”
Nashville - 4.20 - It’s Sure Gonna Hurt
BY Jessica VanWinkle
Let me just start off this review by saying how sad I am that there’s only one more episode of Nashville (Editor's note - I am so sorry for you and the other fans. ~Dahne). I know that people have said this show ends on a cliffhanger (which I hope that rumor is wrong), but this episode felt like stories were wrapping up. We had flashbacks of Scarlett and Gunnar, and we had a recap of Rayna and Deacon’s love story through their therapy session. I like that Rayna and Deacon are trying to work through their problems, and they better get their happy ending. I did not spend four years of my life watching this show for them not be together. Juliette also broke up with Noah, but I don’t know if she will end up with Avery. It seems too soon. As long as she is happy, I’ll be content. Nashville started out focusing on the journey of Juliette and Rayna so I just hope the writers give them a proper ending. And I so hope that Scarlett and Gunnar end up together because I would throw up if the show ended with Gunnar and Autumn as a couple. Elsewhere, Luke and his son had a nice talk, and they seem at peace with each other. I’ve really enjoyed Luke’s story this season with him fighting for Will. He’s definitely come a long way! I sincerely hope that whatever happens next week, Nashville viewers will be satisfied.
Grade: B
Status - cancelled, sorry fans
Best Scene- Scarlett is photographed as she listens to her music and remembers her life with Gunnar. Clare Bowen was brilliant. Very powerful and heartbreaking.
Best Reason to Watch- Recapping Rayna and Deacon’s love story and seeing flashbacks of Gunnar and Scarlett together.
Best Guest Star- Elton John! I was impressed that Nashville convinced him to come on the show!
Most Improved- Luke Wheeler. I think almost everyone disliked him when he came to town. Now he’s one of the good guys.
Not Missed- Maddie. Didn’t miss her at all. The only good thing about the show ending next week is that I will never have to see that brat ever again.
Outlander - 2.05 - Untimely Resurrection
BY Swanpride
I don't get why the show keeps insisting on adding unnecessary drama where none is needed, especially since it undermines Claire's character at every turn. Her seriously considering to allow Alex Randall to rot in prison and then breaking up him and Mary makes her look like quite a b... and has nothing to do with the woman full of principles I like so much. I wanted to throw up watching her do it, especially when Alex called her a good friend to Mary, after she does everything in her power to ensure that she will marry a sadist down the line. In addition, it also undermines everything the book did by showing that Alex and Mary had no chance to find happiness because of the class differences between them. On the upside, though, I really liked that it spent some time on Jamie's and Murtagh's reaction to what happened in the alley. And throwing the King of France into the encounter of Jamie and Jonathan Randall turned out to be quite a genius stroke. The whole situation was hilarious (well, I get some pleasure out of seeing Black Jack Randall humiliated for a change) and tense at once.
Grade: B
Status - unknown by Starz but promising
Best Reason to Watch - The plot is thickening
Best Scene - Versaille
Best Character - Duvernay, though having only a brief appearance, managed to really shine in this tense episode
Best Visual - The camera moving through the chaos left after the dinner party
Best Costume - Jamie wearing a kilt combined with a French court dress.
Best Music - They really know how to set the mood for Versailles
Most Cruel - Claire when she destroys Mary's and Alex's future
Most Useless - More or less the whole dialogue with Annalise
Best Quote:
1. Duvernay: "He is an utter a**."
2. Duvernay: "But I wonder that someone who is such a good judge of horse flesh is such a poor judge of men."
3. Claire: "One year, after that I swear I will help you bleed him myself."
Outlander - 2.06 - Best Laid Schemes...
BY Swanpride
I sometimes wonder how the show manages to pluck out scenes from the book without understanding their meaning. For example, the scene in which the proper way to conduct an execution is described happens in the book, but there it serves as a warning to Jamie, not to Monsieur Raymond. But I guess in this case it doesn't really make a difference. All in all, the show is back on track. Not by following the book (quite in opposite in fact) but this time around it feels like the changes serve the story by inserting a little bit more adventure into it and allowing certain events to happen in a more orderly fashion. But then, again, it bothers me that Claire doesn't really come off that well in the end. It seems like her careless behaviour is partly responsible for her starting to bleed, when originally her pregnancy wasn't going as smoothly as it should from the get go. This doesn't really set well with me, because it carries some unfortunate implications in it. Hopefully they will handle it well next week.
Grade: B+
Best Reason to Watch - Swashbuckling all around!
Best Scene - The duel
Least "Bonnie" - Prince Charles, who is quite a whiner
Best Costume - Randall during the duel. Beige is the perfect colour to show off some bleeding.
Best Reaction - Murtagh when Jamie explains the truth to him
Most Over the Top - The reaction of the ladies to Claire mentioning the poor of the city.
Biggest Cutie - Fergus in his devotion to Jamie
Best Quote:
1. Murtagh: "Masquerades and Games. What's next? A rousing game of Charades?"
2. Charles: "Mark me, I will take my own life if I am forced to life in godforsaken Poland."
New Shows
Houdini & Doyle (1.01 - 1.03)
Confession - I actually marathoned all 10 episodes of season 1 but since this time between the regular season and the full start of the summer season is so slow, I have decided to run this like Motive and do it weekly by when it is airing in America. Plus, overall I like this series enough to rewatch it. That being said, it does start a little rough for one reason - Houdini. I am not sure if they wanted to make the point that Brits are awesome while Americans suck or if Houdini really was a world class douche to everyone except his mother, but whatever it is, Houdini starts off as almost a deal breaker for me. If I hadn't been marathoning the show, I'm not sure I would have gotten past the first 2 episodes. There's also the problem of the 2 leads arguing non-stop with each other. Have faith though, as the show goes on Houdini gets better, if not less abrasive, and the relationship between Houdini and Doyle, while still argumentative, also develops into a bromance that is endearing.
Each case opens with an element of the supernatural so in some ways this is a British version of The X-Files. Doyle is Mulder, the believer whose personal life has left him open to the paranormal. Houdini is Scully. They are joined by the first female detective at Scotland Yard, Adelaide Stratton. The three work cases together to the protest of…well, everyone else at Scotland Yard. Her co-workers are not fond of having a female in the workforce, they hate Doyle for making the police look like fools in his Sherlock novels, and well, I've already explained about Houdini. They are overruled though because Houdini has connections in high places. The trio's combined skills work well together and anyone who liked season 1 of Agent Carter should try it. Although they do not kick butt like her, they do show the same smarts and it does confront head on the problems women faced when joining a primarily male workforce.
Grade: B / B- / B
Status: unknown by ITV or FOX
Ranking: already watched first season
Audience - anyone who likes mysteries, history, or Agent Carter-like smarts in the face of persecution
Best Reason to Watch - the combination of each person's skills to solve crimes
Best Scene - Touie wakes up
Best Relationship - Houdini and his mother
Best Character Interaction - Touie and Doyle
Best Save - Stratton, who saves both Houdini and Doyle from a watery grave
Best Nod to the Past - Houdini and Doyle both brag about their cars' speed, which is 15 and 14 miles per hour respectively
Best Line That Got Cut Out - Houdini: "Well she could have been faking her illness to get away from your long-winded speeches."
Best Twist - Lucy is Sister Grace's daughter
Best Point - Houdini raises a good point about population and reincarnation although disrespectfully
Most Poignant Subplot - Doyle's wife
Most Annoying / Biggest Douche - Houdini
Least Likely to Keep a Secret - Kingsley
Least Likely to Help Do Any of the Work - Houdini
Biggest Ewww - the bug coming out of the dead guy / boils
Biggest Aww Moment - Doyle goes in for a date with his wife only to learn she's slipped back into the coma
Biggest Hmm - American audiences are missing chunks of this show, I'm guessing because in England they don't have as many annoying commercials. Either that or the uberannoying Fox streaming platform is even worse. Why did they have to cut parts of the Doyle and Touie scenes in 1.03? They were the best parts of the episode.
Biggest Problem - the constant bickering between Houdini and Doyle
Biggest Hmm - I thought Houdini was a believer in the supernatural before his mother died and only started a crusade against false mediums after that. I'm going to have to do some research.
The "Poor Baby" Award - the Doyle family loses Touie again
The "Turnabout's Fair Play" Award - Houdini slaps Doyle awake and then Doyle returns the favor
Best Quote -
1. Doyle: "Maybe she was just trying to shut you up." Houdini: "That's a pretty big lie." Doyle: "Shutting you up is a pretty big task."
2. Touie: "What is it?" Doyle: "I gave up on you." Touie: "It was precisely your faith that brought me back. You've nothing to feel guilty about…unless you've taken up with Vera." Doyle: "I do like her plum pudding."
3. Houdini: "Maybe he didn't mean it literally." Doyle: "A 10-year-old who speaks in metaphors." Houdini: "So he was a professor of literature in his past life."
4. Doyle: "It seems to me the title of world's greatest escape artist is a bit oversold." Houdini: "And you could have deduced that we were walking into a trap."
5. Stratton: "Do you know this might be some kind of bet for you, but for me, this is my life. You saw those hopeless girls in the laundry. Do you know how many women live in fear of that fate? This is not just a job for me, it's…this is a hope that we can avoid not only those laundries but something almost as bad, a life of pretty dresses and condescension."
6. Doyle: "Wonderful to see you again." Houdini: "I love you Brits. The way you lie in the name of politeness is so charming."
Weekly Shows
The 100 (3.13-3.15)
The 100 was all over the place for me in these last three episodes. I'm not too crazy about Polis being turned into Alie Central and so quickly. I'm even less of a fan of the apparent crawl Kane, Pike, and the grounders were going at to arrive at Polis after Jaha's army. It was a wasted opportunity when we did not see Kane and Jaha in a battle over Polis. I did love the flashbacks though and everything Kane. He rocked the episode. I also loved the ending on the oil rig. The biggest difference between most of the fandom and me for 3.13 though is how much I hated the schmaltzy, trite, and downright eye-rolling dialogue that was Clarke and Bellamy excusing each other of being hypocritical mass murderers. Ugh to infinity! As for 3.14, that was the worst one for me mostly because I loathed everything Clarke. She thinks she knows best for everyone and is so tunnel visioned that she ends up getting people killed. Luna rocked but for her sake I hope she stays as far away from Clarke as possible. She truly is the commander of death. Every freaking peaceful person she comes in contact with dies in some way because of her. It's old and so is her hypocrisy. A high point was Monty in the episode though. How heartbreaking to see him have to kill his mom again. That's twice more than any kid should have to. Thankfully, the penultimate episode brought back feelings of the previous seasons. The pacing was spot on and the episode was so chock full of action that there wasn't time for long-winded speeches and drippy "I forgive you" moments. Indra and Raven were the standouts in this episode with both being the voice of common sense in their situations. Jasper being chipped is the best thing that could have happened to him too. I love how cold and calculated he was. It's a big improvement over whiny and emoangsty. He can still die though. In fact, I expect them to keep cleaning up house in the finale with at least one major character dying. I'll be shocked if they don't. That being said, could we finally make it a character I want to die? I liked Roan and thought he had a lot of story left. Here's hoping that he survived, although I doubt it. I am glad that Abby made it though. Her scenes were doubly disconcerting and a testament to how dark this show gets. Watching her torture her daughter and then voluntarily hanging herself was as disturbing as Charlotte murdering Wade way back in episode 3. Absolutely chilling! Here's hoping that Indra and Kane made it too. Indra has quickly become one of my favorite characters and watching her save Kane instead of getting herself to safety, even though she knows Kane is chipped and will likely kill her if Alie says so, is one of my favorite moments of the whole series. While I am looking forward to the finale now that action is back on the table and the showdown with Alie is set, I have to admit that I am looking forward to season 4 more. Let's hope they fix the issues of this season and return the show to its former glory.
Grade: B- / C- / B+
Status - renewed for season 4 by The CW, airs midseason
Best Reason to Watch - the action and pacing
Best Scene - Monty deletes his mom's code
Best Save - shockingly that's Murphy, who has definitely gotten his redemption arc
Best Twist - Jasper has the chip
Best Character - Raven
Best Moment - Indra protects an unconscious Kane
Best Place to Hideout - an oil rig
Best Continuity - playing Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, just a different version
Biggest Huh? - So Pike and Kane arrive at Polis after Alie's zombies even thought they left days earlier?
Biggest Rip Off - the flashback to the Ark would have been a great time for a cameo of Finn and some other dead favorites - plus there is a slight canon issue with Octavia being there
Most Intriguing - Luna and her stance against killing
Most Intense - Abby tortures Clarke / Abby goes to hang herself so Clarke will talk
Most Pointless - Why in the world would they torture Clarke instead of just force feeding her the chip? That would be faster and more reliable.
Most Kick Butt - Luna
Most Interesting Twist - Monty's mom in the computer
Most Tunnel Vision - Clarke, who puts a peaceful society at risk because she always thinks she knows best
Most Likely to Shoot First and Ask Questions Never - Bellamy
Dumbest Plan - Monty asks if Harper sees Jasper instead of warns her that he's chipped
The "Pretty Please" Award - Octavia, would you kindly push Pike down the elevator shaft for me? You know you want to.
The "You Still Suck" Award - Love how you partially blame Lincoln's death on Octavia now, Bellamy. Go away.
The "Just Die Already" Award - Pike
The "23rd Verse, Same as the First" Award - They keep killing off the best characters. Let's hope Roan is still alive, but it wouldn't surprise me if he too is gone.
The "Welcome Back" Award - Indra, Kane, and Roan
Best Quotes -
1. Octavia: "Why are you looking at me like that?" Indra: "Because I know what you're thinking." Octavia: "Why is he still alive?" Indra: "Because the dead can't help us." Octavia: "He was my home." Indra: "Your home is here."
2. Luna: "I didn't flee the conclave because I was afraid I would lose. I fled because I knew I would win."
3. Murphy: "Up the tower, right. You know after this, doing the right thing can kiss my a**."
4. Murphy: "We just saved your lives. Why do I think I'm going to regret that?"
The 100 - 3.16 - Perverse Instantiation (Part 2)
There was a lot to like about this season finale, the biggest being Lexa's entrance. Raven continued to rock as well and the fight scenes were all tight. However the pacing was all over the place, especially the endless scene in the faux Ark with Becca and Alie trying to convince Clarke to do things their way. It would have made for a tighter episode to have cut down the wait time and have Clarke struggle more to get to the kill switch. I'm not sure why Clarke must have an eternal internal struggle every single season finale, most of which drag down the pacing. Another puzzling thing was why so very few people died in this episode. Really only Pike died and while I am ecstatic for that, I was shocked that they did not use this opportunity to clean house. I am though very pleased that Kane made it to another season. I worry all the time that he's going to bite it next. Mostly because I really like this character and those are always the first to go it seems. All in all, I am disappointed in this season and The 100 will most likely receive my Biggest Fall award for 2015-2016, in part because of the high expectations I had for it after season 2 and the dismal storytelling that was the first half. Still every show has its bad season, many of which recover nicely. I will wait until season 4 to see if this was a fluke due to taking chances (an admirable thing) or if it's time to pull the plug.
Grade: B+
Best Reason to Watch - Alie and Pike are finally gone
Best Scene - Clarke gets the chip out of Abby and they reunite
Best Action - fight in the throne room
Best Entrance / Best Skills / Best Return - Lexa. Let's just say that Lexa is awesome in every form - warrior, leader, download.
Best Game - follow the infinity symbol
Best News - Indra's alive
Best Plan - electrocuting Kane, Emori, and the other Alie zombies
Worst Plan - Octavia lets the Alie zombies in so they can kill Pike
Biggest Ewww - open heart massage
Least Surprising - Super Special Snowflake Clarke becomes even more super special
Most Surprising - the only person who died in the finale was Pike (plus Ontari technically and Alie)
Most Practical - Harper
Most Likely to Try My Patience - Clarke as she waits to pull the kill switch so Alie and Becca can debate. Just do it already!
The "Good Riddance" Award - Octavia kills Pike
The "Rising Star" Award - Harper has gone from face in the crowd to one of my favorites. I like her no-nonsense approach and the fact that she's no damsel in distress. No more sex scenes but more time for Harper please. I'd love to get some back story.
The "Time's A-Wasting" Award - Dear Lexa and Clarke, you don't have time to be hugging on each other. Find the freaking kill switch. Take down Alie. Be awesome. There's no time for heartfelt speeches or emoangsting moments.
Best Quotes -
1. Monty: "Jasper, I know this world can suck but at least its real. We can get through this together." Jasper: "You really believe that?" Monty: "We will be happy again. I promise."
2. Clarke: "Human beings have free will. We get to decide how we should live." Jasper: "Human beings are the only species that act against our own self-interest. We torture each other. We fight, hurt each other, break each other's hearts. None of that exists here. Alie is protecting us from ourselves."
3. Monty: "What happens if Alie is updated?" Raven: "She'll delete the kill switch. We won't be able to stop her." Harper: "So find the damn kill switch."
4. Alie: "Would you really condemn the human race to die in 6 months?" Clarke: "We'll figure something out. We always do."
5. Lexa: "Our fight is not over."
Crowded (1.09 -1.12)
~I just can't with Stella. She's too dumb to know how to breath. They need to make her competent at something beyond taking her clothes off and hooking up with drug dealers and musicians. She has no moral compass and no brains. That's a lousy combination. Good thing I am adoring everything between Mike and his dad. I even liked Bob and Martina in episode 1.11.
~Let's just say that episode 1.12 was not my kind of humor. Plus I'm not sure how family fun night ends up in a gay strip bar with your mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa.
Grade: C / B / B- / C
Status: Cancelled, and I'm okay with that
Best Reason to Watch - Mike this time
Best Scene - any time Bob and Mike are in the helicopter
Best Threat - Mike and Martina threaten to cyberstalk Stella to keep her from internet porn
Best Interaction - Martina and Bob
Best Point - Stella finds Pepe Le Pew a bit rape-y and it's hard to argue with that
Best Reference - Frasier / Downton Abbey
Worst Reference - Notting Hill, that quote was ugh-worthy even when it was new
Worst Slogan Ever - "It was fresh when we made it."
Worst Plan - Selling private online chats to make rent money. I'm fairly certain Criminal Minds or some other show where people wind up tortured and murdered already covered this.
Most Chill about Everything - Alice, as in "on medication" type mellow
Most Mercurial Rise - Shea, who actually makes a tough business negotiator
Most Embarrassing - Alice gives Ethan money at his strip club job
Biggest Blabbermouth - Martina
Biggest Huh? - Why is everyone okay with Stella being a drug dealer? Seriously?
Biggest Face Palm - Why is it a question about whether having sex with your uncle is creepy or not? I don't care if it's by marriage instead of blood. YES! It is creepy.
Biggest Laugh - Mike's uncomfortable talk about Viagra with his dad
Weirdest Family Reunion - at the strip club
Best Quotes -
1. Mike: "Well I want to talk about something, something that I'm not comfortable talking about on earth. Plus this way, if it gets really awkward I can crash into some rocks and kill us both."
2. Mike: "And what is this one?" Stella: "It's Viagra. Way to act like you didn't know, dad." Mike: "You dating some super old guy? And if you are, can he marry you and pay your bills?"
3. Mike: "Look Stella, I don't love either one of you best but I did love you first, and don't tell your sister but that will always make you special." Stella: "Awww, dad."
4. Ethan: "Wow, going from a professional golfer to a French fry cook. That's a pretty steep drop off. On the plus side, I'd be making an income. On the minus side, those fries would be salted with my tears."
5. Mike: "Whoa, whoa, back up. What were you doing in a gay strip club?" Martina: "They invited me." Shea: "Yeah, she's our friend." Mike: "Not sure I approve of your friends."
6. Mike: "On the other hand, I don't want him to like me just because I have sex with women." Martina: "Women?" Mike: "Well you specifically and other women if you run off with that stripper." Martina: "I think he's a little young." Mike: "That's what's holding you back? Okay. I will talk to dad and if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go do a thousand sit-ups, which I can totally do."
Elementary - 4.24 - A Difference in Kind
Besides bringing Moriarty back, there's no better move Elementary could have made than hiring John Noble to play Sherlock's father. Not only is the man perfect for the role, but he can sell every aspect of the character, turning what could have been a complete douche of a character into one of the most complex roles on TV this year. I am sorry to see him go but I love that the prospect of him returning is always there. They had better not kill him off screen or I'm coming after someone. Not even kidding. What I love most about this episode besides all the great scenes with Sherlock and Morland is the fantastic twist of having Morland become the head of the evil empire. It continues to make him a thoroughly gray, morally ambiguous character. Is he really doing it to save Sherlock? Is it revenge on the people who killed his lover? Will he find a way to profit off their collapse? Will he stay alive and return next season? Who knows but I'm fascinated with this character and I want to find out. I do wish that Sherlock and he had parted on better terms though, but that is the way of the Holmes men. I felt the same thing with Mycroft. Sherlock can never unbend and Morland shows that he earned that trait naturally. While this finale was a little too light on Joan and bringing up her annoying sister was like a bucket of ice thrown on the ending (please just say no to a relationship between her and Bell), this was a great way to end a reinvigorated season. I love how they do not end on a cliffhanger. I was frantic that Morland was going to be missing at the end and then I would have to fret about him over the summer. Instead, they made him even more compelling than he already was. I want a spin-off to follow him in his pursuits.
Grade: A-
Status: Renewed, airing on CBS on Sunday nights
Best Reason to Watch / MVP - John Noble
Best Scene - John Noble, er, Morland tells Sherlock that he is to become Head Evil Mastermind
Best Reaction - Sherlock to Watson trying to set up Bell with her sister
Best Back Story - Vikner saw Morland as a threat to his rise to power and tried to have him killed
Best Point - the internet is often dead wrong (sorry about the pun)
Best Save - Morland's spy, who confronts the bomber at Sherlock's place
Best Compliment - Sherlock tells Morland he would have been a failure at being an evil mastermind
Worst Plan (at first) - framing Vikner for murder
Worst Plan Ever - Morland giving himself to the group to save Sherlock
Most Dysfunctional - the entire Holmes clan and not in a fun way
Most Surprising - Watson is completely fine with framing Vikner for murder
Most Annoying - the overconfident villain spiel that is so cliché it's nap-inducing
Best Quotes -
1. Watson (looking at the dismantled bomb still in the brownstone): "You know I'd really like to get rid of that." Sherlock: "I promise I'll clean my room as soon as I've done my homework."
2. Watson: "Do you think Morland would have said yes to the offer to take over the group?" Sherlock: "No, there's no denying that over his long and storied career my father has facilitated business deals where death was the likely outcome for someone somewhere, but Vikner and his people, they pursue death as a business deal. It's a difference of kind, not of degree. It makes the murder of Sabine Raoul all the more pointless. My father was never a threat to Vikner's ascendency."
3. Watson: "We should ask Marcus to join too." Sherlock: "What does he know about real estate?" Watson: "Probably nothing but he's single and so is Lynn." Sherlock: "And to think that my father thought that I was the greatest threat to our circle of friends."
4. Morland: "Actually Ms. Hashemi is not taking Vikner's place. I am." Sherlock: "What?" Morland: "Her idea. Vikner goes away and she gets what she's wanted for several years, a steadier hand at the wheel of the group." Sherlock: "You know you haven't told a joke in the 4 decades I've known you. Better late than never I suppose." Morland: "I did it for you, Sherlock. You and Joan. It was the only way to guarantee they'd never harm you." Sherlock: "There's a rule in place established by the group's found