The Vampire Diaries 3x03 "The End of the Affair and The Secret Circle 1x03 "Loner"

So last week I whined that The Vampire Diaries was getting boring and I needed more Caroline and Katherine. The show didn't exactly deliver on that front though they did give me a tease of Katherine, but it gave me a story I can be interested in which I guess the most important thing.

So last week, Caroline's father locked her up in the dungeon. What unfolded tonight is one of the more obvious use of metaphor I've seen on the show as her father tortured her to try to get her to control her blood urges and fix her. The dialogue spelled it out for us as Caroline begged her father and told him she could control the urges but she could not be fixed. Pairing this with Tyler's mother and her immediate acceptance of him when she realized her son was a monster last week, I think this was the show's way of loosely addressing the different ways a family, especially a conservative family that has been taught one thing for generations, might deal with a child who is GLBTQ. It was nicely done though, you could feel Caroline's pain at her father's rejection. It wasn't exactly like she hated him, she mourned that he hated her. And I love that her mother was there for her when push came to shove, and of course Tyler. ♥

Stefan and Klaus went to Chicago because apparently Chicago had the answers, I can't remember, but we learned that once upon a time Klaus and Stefan were friends. They were not only friends but brothers. And Stefan even told Klaus (with a slight nod to the Caroline story going on) that he wasn't an abomination like his family said, he was a king! But here's the deal. I actually really enjoyed this story. It felt like all the old vampire tales of old I have loved. Vampires ruling the town, loving each other, being cruel, etc. I don't know go ahead and judge me if you like. Stefan was in love with Klaus's sister, and they went around doing revolting things like making this guy drink his wife's blood when he wasn't a vampire. Until it all ended and Klaus compelled Stefan to forget, Rebekah--Klaus's sister, wanted to wait for Stefan so Klaus put her in the ground.

Elena was still determined to go rescue Stefan so she and Damon headed off to Chicago where Damon, not the brightest bulb in the bunch, left Elena alone while he went off to do something...oh yeah find a witch for something. So Elena was left alone in Stefan's old apartment which was untouched after 90 years or whatever (lol) and Klaus and Stefan showed up. There was a tense moment where we thought Klaus might discover Elena but whew he didn't Stefan covered for her. I thought Klaus had a better sense of smell than that though.

Anyway, Damon and Elena plan an attempt to grab Stefan and Stefan tells Elena it's over that part of his life is over he's never coming back. And guess what? Two seasons in and I finally feel like Stefan's story holds real interest for me. I can feel his conflict and knowing this history with Klaus and his sister has created feelings inside of me for his character. I don't know I was just really interested in this story and it might be because the scope is bigger they aren't stuck in Mystic Falls and there's all kinds of history. Part of me thinks they really failed in creating a truly compelling and interesting backstory for Damon and Stefan and they are now backtracking and trying to do that. Whatever!

Damon and Elena are not working for me. Damon is getting on my nerves a little bit, and I have to admit it might be some leftover scarring from Gossip Girl, but when he was teasing Elena at the beginning of the episode I wanted to throw something at him. When he didn't let her vent about leaving her alone in the apartment I thought...well you know sorry would have worked, instead of "I've had an hour to think about what a bad idea it was."

No boring Jeremy storyline! No Matt! Pluses for sure. Overall, I really liked this episode, now it just remains to be seen if the show can carry the momentum forward.



The Secret Circle

I really enjoyed this episode, too, actually much more than I expected than to. After binding the circle last week the witches have no power on their own, they must be together. Faye is pissed naturally. Cassie just wants to be left alone because every time she gets close to Adam their chemistry is off the charts. Nick and Melissa are still sleeping together but Melissa wants it to be something more.

So there's this guy..I already forgot his name, who recognizes Cassie and realizes that the circle's been bound and he decides to kill one of them to break the bond. So we get to see the kids work together to stop him and we also learn a little bit of history.

Things I liked!
--Melissa. I thought the way this story unfolded was interesting, Melissa likes Nick but realizes that sleeping with him when she has feelings for him is devaluing herself. So she asks him to the dance and he's like, no. Later Melissa says she's going to the dance because she wants to, Faye puts her down for wanting to go and says that unlike, Melissa, she likes herself. Later when Nick shows up at the dance he confronts her and asks if she likes being dumped on because that's all he does to her. Faye tells Nick off a little later so when Melissa turns him down that night, he suggests they just hang out. I hope/expect this to be a continuing issue--Melissa and her self-esteem, sense of self worth, etc. Every other girl has such a clearly defined role, Diana is the good one, Faye is the bad girl, Cassie is the special one, so it makes sense that Melissa would get a bit lost in all of that. I feel for her character already. I'm curious to see how they continue to work out the dynamics of the Nick and Melissa relationship.

--Cassie and Adam. I can't help it! Their tortured looks and draw to each other pulls me in. I also looove that Diana is still reaching out to and being good friends with Cassie and not acting like she's not aware of Adam's attraction to Cassie. If properly developed this will be a wonderful and delicious angsty triangle!

--Faye. Love her. That is all.

Sooo...are you guys still watching? What did you think?

Other Random TV Things

Still enjoying Revenge! This second episode was a bit slower but it looks like it picks up next week.

Breaking Bad's last episode was amazing. That ending was unbelievable.

Carlton Cuse and Rob Bell are writing a show together? This is like...I don't know a huge shock to me. Carlton Cuse of LOST fame and Rob Bell of Love Wins and Mars Hill fame. The best part of all of this is that it's a show with spiritual overtones. There's such a lack of this in TV and film media that I can't help but have huge hope. I'm sure it will be crushed but hey, this is interesting.

My Yearly Defense of TV (and love for Buffy)

I was feeling sentimental and reflective this week after the announcement that Warner Brothers was going forward with the idea to reboot Buffy The Vampire Slayer without Joss Whedon. For the record, I do think it's quite early to reboot Buffy, it hasn't been 10 years since the show went off the air. And I love Joss Whedon, especially for Buffy, Angel, and Dr. Horrible, though I did enjoy Firefly and Serenity. Even so I think Buffy is an extraordinarily important character for our culture and I'm not opposed to the idea. It might, after all, introduce a new generation to Buffy as the show becomes more dated.

So since I was thinking about Buffy, I spent some time watching my favorite episodes from the sixth and seventh season, taken aback, again by how a story can reveal itself to you in fresh ways. While stories remain told as is, we as people change and new life experiences, relationships, and circumstances help us see the same tale from different perspectives. I loved it just as much as ever, fell in love with Buffy all over again, and was utterly delighted and moved again. I've watched the series through twice and some episodes multiple times but it's been awhile. I completely enjoyed feeling like I was both visiting a dear friend and discovering the show again.

This may be a politically incorrect thing to say on a book blog, but Buffy is one of the most important stories of my life. One that shapes the way I see story and the world, one that is in my personal "canon", when discussing other stories, I'll often say, "it's like when on Buffy..."

It's not, of course, just because it's a great story. I watched season 2 of Buffy when it originally aired. I went to college after that and when I heard a certain character was back on season 3 I felt like it cheapened the beautiful and dramatic ending of the second season and I stopped watching. I didn't watch again until I was living in Japan. The year and a half I spent in Japan are some of my most formative years...so much more happened than simply living in Japan and teaching English my entire worldview started to shift or expand and during that time I discovered Buffy again. I was completely obsessed. (this is how I get--can't help it!) I'd go home on Saturday night and my friends and I would order pizza and watch Buffy. (the cable channel would show 2 episodes at a time--this is also when I started watching Felicity, Friends, Sex and the City, and Angel--after years of not watching TV!) I loved it.

So I think that while I was changing as a person there was this story with these fabulous characters that I loved so much that filled in the down time in my life. The show of Buffy taught me so much about what I value in storytelling, it taught me about how deeply moving and transformational even watching TV can be. I realized it could be touching, funny, and thought provoking. And how could I not love this character--so complex, powerful, and yet alone. And even though Buffy isn't flawless, I love it for exactly what it is--as I always do with the most significant stories and art in my life. (think: Mockingjay)

Of all the arts TV gets the worst reputation. While you may be called nerdy for liking to read, when you like TV people assume you sit there in a vegetative state unable to think for yourself. While people will admit there are "fluffy" books, they think the act of reading is superior to watching TV. The assumption is that quality television is rare and that most of it is, well, American Idol. Reading--even if you've shut your brain off--somehow taxes you more.

But when I think about the stories that have impacted my life and the characters I love most, they are equal parts television characters and characters from books. I love both Scarlett O'Hara and Brenda Leigh Johnson, Katniss Everdeen and Buffy Summers, Jo March and Felicity Porter, Harry Potter and Dean Winchester, Peeta Mellark and Desmond Hume, Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars.

Television is just another excellent medium for telling a story, for inviting us to reflect on our own lives even as we get swept away into the lives of others. It IS an art and it can change your life if you let it. The best shows raise new ideas and reflect on age old concepts and entertain us all the while. They are layered and open to interpretation, discussion, and debate. Like books, it's up to the viewer to decide how much they want to invest.

I enjoyed my visit back to Sunnydale and will probably go back sooner this time. The end of the year makes me crave the comfort of dearly loved stories.

Want to give it a try? Some of my favorite smart shows are: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, LOST, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Closer, and Damages.

What are yours?

Fall TV: What Will You Be Watching? And A Review of Lone Star

I have to admit there is something so fun and wonderful about fall TV! It means the possibility of exciting new shows to watch as well as the return of characters we love. I've already been enjoying the Vampire Diaries, but this week sees the return of most of our shows as well as the premiers of some newbies.

Here's what I'll be watching:
Monday
House--For some reason, last season's writing and character development was top notch again and pulled me back to this show. I had almost written it off entirely, but found myself charmed last season. (Fox, 8 PM PST0
Gossip Girl--This one forever hangs onto my viewership by a thread. I find myself bored by most of the characters, but forever loving Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass. We'll see what happens this season. (CW, 9 PM PST)
The Event--No idea if this one will stick, but I'll give it a go. (NBC, 9 PM PST)
Hawaii 5-0--Daniel Dae Kim! Also looked like it would be a lot of fun at Comic-Con (CBS, 10 PM PST)

Tuesday
Nothing!

Wednesday
The Undercovers--I'll give this new show a shot and see how it goes. (NBC, 8 PM PST)

Thursday
The Vampire Diaries--LOVE it! And recapping it every week, join in the discussion. (CW, 8 PM EST)
Nikita--watched the pilot and it was okay. This will probably be a show I'll watch if I can but not stress about missing. (CW, 9 PM PST)

Friday
Supernatural--Despite the major fail that was last season, I just can't quit the Winchester boys.(CW, 9 PM PST)

(later this fall I'm looking forward to V returning and The Walking Dead starting)



LONE STAR

Another new show premiering this week is Fox's Lone Star. Fox is going all out to promote this new show and scheduled several advance viewings as well as sent out several screenings. I'd heard such great advanced buzz that I was really excited to receive a screener.

Lone Star is the story of Robert Allen a skilled con artist who has set up two separate lives. This is something he has done his whole life, with great pressure from his father, and it starts to wear on him. He decides he'd like to try to live an "honest" life. Coming to that decision and showing us to the two lives Robert has set up (one with a girlfriend as an everyman, one with a wife, as a successful and wealthy businessman) is the setting of the pilot.

I suspect my expectations were too high. I wasn't blown away by the pilot, and I'm not even sure I'll try to make time to watch this show. It was beautifully shot, no question, and there are some interesting sequences, but I failed to make a strong connection to the main character. Additionally, I think I'd die from the tension of worrying he'll be found out and the people in his life will be devastated each week. On the plus side, the soundtrack is dominated by Mumford & Sons and I enjoyed every second of that!

What will you be watching this fall? What are you MOST looking forward to?

Damages and Why I Love It

(I wrote the bulk of this post before tonight's STELLAR episode. For an excellent write-up of tonight's episode, visit the Televisionary Blog.)

One of my pet peeves is the assumption that television adds no value to life. While I can agree that a lot of people probably sit in front of the tube instead of engaging in their lives, it's not really my place to judge that. And I happen to love television. Not all of it. I have gotten to the point in my life where I can really only watch a little bit. There are weeks when I barely feel I can squeeze in the time to watch LOST.

Like books, there are quite a few good TV shows out there and each person has to choose what they want to watch. Some people may choose to watch a fun show and I don't really begrudge them that choice. There's something delicious about sitting down to a show that doesn't tax your emotions or thinking. My personal favorite for that is The Vampire Diaries.

But there are quite a few good shows that will give you the opportunity to think if you want to. Really, it's up to you how much you want to engage or simply be passive when watching TV.

Which brings me to Damages. I loved the first season of this show, but struggled to stay with it the second season. This season, however, has been absolutely outstanding and has given me pause to think many times.

On the surface, this is a show about the cutthroat nature of people, lawyer Patty Hewes who goes after the big corporations and greedy giants who have cheated investors and employees out of their rightful money in one way or another. Patty is ruthless, it seems there's nothing she won't do to win her cases, often at the unbelievable expense of others. It's also about Ellen, a young lawyer who works for Patty in the first season and soon finds herself losing bits of herself in the high cost game of law and power.

These two women are the heart of the show (if the show has a heart), Patty and her continual lust for control and power and Ellen's constant crisis of identity and conscience.

The storytelling is extremely clever as well, starting with the beginning and end of the story and filling in the pieces in between as the season progresses. This is such a fun way to test our assumptions and skills of prediction. Like a puzzle, the viewer works to figure out how the story comes together.

It's not a flashy show, there's no soaring music to guide your emotions. It's essential to pay attention to the dialogue to follow what's going on. It's impossible to always tell who you can trust, who is working on the side of good...are any of them? As the characters battle their own demons, their selfishness,lust, and greed their observations on life are worth considering.

I really appreciated last week's episode and I'm writing this right before the show comes on for tonight. What I loved about last week's episode is that it encapsulates the entire series as Frobrisher (the first season's villain) came to terms with his feelings about Patty. Apparently, Frobrisher is on some sort of quest for redemption, he's written a memoir, he's working to develop alternative energy, but manipulative as ever, he plays his cards just right to get the man he wants to star in the commercials in exchange for the rights to option his story for film. Only, they want to portray Patty as the villain. Frobrisher resists at first. Something about this path to redemption and his conspiring with Patty last season has warmed him towards her. He insists the filmmakers set up a meeting with Patty, so they can see she's not really so ruthless as she seems. He wants them to see there are many dimensions to Patty, that she was simply doing what she had to do.

However, at the meeting, when they ask Patty about the Arthur Frobisher she knows, Patty says, "The Arthur Frobisher I know is a despicable bully. He stole from his employees, then he manipulated the system to escape prison with a slap on the wrist... Do what you want; I don't much like movies."

Frobisher is filled with indignation and rage. All his plans to have a layered Patty Hewes go out the window and he wholeheartedly agrees she ought to be portrayed as the villain.

Ah yes, life. This is the very thing I love about Damages, just when we want to feel sympathy for Patty as we watch her with family falling apart, she does something that feels nearly unthinkable to our own sense of morality. We can never be sure what her true motives are or what scheming is going on in her mind. She certainly doesn't have moral ground to stand on, yet she is clear in her own judgement and sense of right and wrong with others. She is a compelling and complex character, who certainly does a lot of good, but uses questionable means to accomplish her goals. And Frobisher's reaction to her assessment of him shows he hasn't really carved out a path to redemption, he is still reactionary in his thinking, and unable to truly live in the gray places he spoke of earlier in the show.

It reminds me of life--the way we see people depends so much on how they react to us. We certainly struggle to place them in any context apart from the way we feel we've been treated by them. It's hard for us to objectively look at the narrative of our lives and frame our perceptions of people outside of our direct experiences with them. We constantly want to feel they are good as well. Frobisher wishes to believe Patty was doing what she did because it was the right thing to do at the time, and not for any other reason. If he views Patty's actions as having been part of what leads him to redemption, he is at peace with them. But on the other side of the journey, when she still has no respect for him, he is forced to realize there might have been more at work than the story of his own life. He is unendingly self-centered.

The characters on Damages aren't necessarily all that likable. But they are so real they almost breathe, they are complex, and believable. And watching their stories unfold reminds me of the truth of life.

If you've never watched Damages, you must start from the beginning with Season One. It does have language and some violence. It's definitely dark, but it's worth it.

Also, on a fun sidenote, Damages has my favorite theme song for a television show currently on the air. I found out from the ever fantastic Televisionary that the whole song was available for download on iTunes. It's a pretty rockin song. You can see the theme song below:

House on Blogging and Knowability

Can you write a book? So I can stop talking to you? House to Wilson

House is a show I don't always watch but frequently enjoy when I do. The sharp biting humor can be hard to catch and sometimes like and there's definitely a formula to the episodes. In fact, just last night I was thinking that it was pretty sad how many times the patient has to hear they have one thing, deal with it, only to realize that wasn't it at all!

I really enjoyed last night's episode, however, because the patient in question, Frankie, was a blogger. This blogging thing is not quite mainstream, but it's popular and well known enough to be the focus of the occasional television show episode or to get mentioned in movies. And they didn't portray her as a COMPLETE freak...in fact, I thought they touched on the good and bad of blogging pretty well.

The episode opened after all with her typing away and her husband, Taylor, asking if she was ever coming to bed and then expressing his dismay that she blogged things about about their personal life for everyone to read. The blog remained a source of conflict throughout, Frankie felt that she wanted to be transparent about everything on her blog. She blogged HER WHOLE LIFE. Including the many significant medical decisions she needed to make.

At one point Frankie is having a conversation with Chase and he asks about sharing her life with people she doesn't know. "But I do know them," she said. "I comment on their blogs and they comment on mine. Just because you don't know someone physically doesn't mean you don't know them." There is so much truth in this, since I have always felt when meeting bloggers in real life that they are exactly what I thought they would be. If you are on the internet enough your true self will bleed out. It's just impossible to keep it in.

But my favorite part was when her husband reminded her what she had first said about the internet. That the great thing about the internet was that no one ever had to be alone again, you could always find that other person who shared your same interests. But it had turned into having an audience for her and instead of community she was always watching the number of hits she got. (this is the very thing I love about the internet...I can talk endlessly about my passions re: books, music, faith and there is always someone else who will talk about them with me)

What was brilliant about this episode, though, was that it wasn't just the blogging. At the same time, House was reading a book (he was hiding behind the dust jacket of another book) of sermons written by his biological father. Wilson challenges him about why he's reading the sermons, as a man who doesn't believe in God, "why don't you just go talk to him?" Wilson asks. He later concludes that House is reading the sermons because he wants to know the mind of his father. He wants to see if somewhere in them are traces of himself. That he's not the only one. He wants, Wilson says, "to look across the gulf and know there's someone else like you."

And finally, companion to all of this we have Chase's arc of the episode, the realization that people like him for his pretty face and not so much his personality. When he goes speed dating he acts like a complete jerk to all of the women and they still all want him to call. He's troubled by this, and spends much of the episode wondering if people are ever really reacting to him or to his good looks.

At the end of the episode, when he's talking over with his colleague if you can know someone better on the internet than face to face, she says "Faces can be distracting but there's nothing like looking into someone's eyes and everything that goes with that."

I loved this episode and it's exploration of what it truly means to know someone, to not be alone, to examine what our relationships are starting to look like now that we are not confined to just knowing the people in physical proximity to us. I loved the discussion of secrets, and communities and even the hints that sometimes not being known might be our preference but is not necessarily the best thing for us. How do we know that we are truly connecting with someone and that our face isn't getting in the way, either because it's too pretty or not pretty enough? These are questions I think we all think about.

This is one of the most well written episodes of television I've seen in awhile, and a great reminder that any medium of storytelling can reach into the universal questions we all have. By discussing the issue of how we all feel alone in this big vast universe, we already feel a little less alone.

Talking the Wire: Season 1 Episodes 1,2

My weekly conversation with Nicole and Elizabeth!

So...now that we've watched the first couple of episodes, what do you think? Does this show live up to the hype? Do you still want to "Talk The Wire"?

Nicole: My first though was that it definitely didn't live up to the hype. The acting in some places didn't seem all that great to me, and I was wondering what all the excitement was about. Of course, we are watching the very few episodes so the series is very new and still finding it's feet. I was a little overwhelmed by all of the action and all of the players in this story. There are a bunch of people to track...The FBI, the police, the criminals...and everyone has these agendas and particular personal relationships.

Amy: It doesn't live up to the hype yet, but I could definitely see the appeal after one episode. I will keep watching for sure as I feel it's the kind of show where the tension builds slowly, and that feels a lot more realistic than a lot of television. I did feel like I needed to wash my ears without soap, though, LOL.

Nicole: I definitely agree with you.about both the appeal and the attention because as I was watching I kept seeing the potential, and though I was a bit confused, I definitely wanted to see what was going to happen next.

Elizabeth: I am not feeling it yet. I think I need to feel a connection to a character before I can really fall completely into the story, and right now I'm just overwhelmed with all the new people - trying to remember names, faces, interactions, etc. Like you both said, I do see that it has potential - I am curious to see how the storylines will develop, and I like the idea of getting the viewpoints of all the different players - good guys, bad guys, etc.

There are several different divisions and factions in this series, the police, the FBI, the drug dealers...is there any group that is more interesting for you to watch? Have you established any loyalties this early on?

Nicole: I am having such a hard time keeping everyone straight! I don't really have any firm loyalties, but I am finding that I am liking a few out of each of the group. I really love the beginnings where the guys are hanging out and talking about life and applying its principles to what is going in the street and just for a general education. The conversation about Jackson being on the 20- dollar bill, and how he had to have been a president because there was no other way that an ugly white man was going to find himself on a piece of currency. If you don't know anything about presidents, then that is one way that you will be able to recognize at least a few of them.
Amy: I am totally confused about this. I'm hoping it all gels in my mind and makes sense. I feel fairly invested in all of the stories at this point and find the way in which they unfold to be interesting. I thought the Lance Reddick character's conversation with his wife (what's his name on the show?) to be absolutely brilliant. "You can't lose if you don't play the game."

Elizabeth: Hmmm. I don't think I've picked a "side" so far, but again, I am certainly interested to see how each segment plays out. I'm specifically interested in the narrative style - it seems very much like Lost, in that it throws a whole bunch of people at you right away, and then takes (I'm assuming) the rest of the season to sort them all out.

Which character do you like the most and why? And then which character has been the most memorable?

Amy: I like the female cop and I admittedly like McNulty. I feel something for the conflict going on in D'Angelo Barksdale as well. I think I'm really going to like this show for the complex and flawed characters.

Nicole: Which one is D'Angelo? Is he the head guy? I am feeling something for the cousin who used to manage the towers but was demoted. The series started with him getting away with murder and playing the tough, but he also seems to be conflicted about the fact that an innocent man may have been killed for testifying against him.

Elizabeth: I like Kima, the female cop. I like the actor who plays Stringer, so I'm interested to see how his character plays out. I have a feeling this might not be a show where I actually LIKE very many people, but still find them fascinating.

2009 --Television I Loved

The truth is there's not a lot of television I actually watched in 2009 that's worth talking about with the exception of LOST, my discovery of Supernatural, and Vampire Diaries.

Let's start with LOST. Admittedly, season 5 was not my favorite. I thought it was excellent, but there were times I thought the writing almost rushed plot lines along too much -- to the point of more telling than showing. There is one episode I thought was beautifully written, though, and I probably watched it..well never mind how many times I watched it.

It's no secret that I was a Sawyer and Juliet fan and so the episode I loved is LeFleur. I just thought it was beautifully and thematically written and developed. After 4+ seasons of watching an angsty Sawyer pine after an unstable Kate, it was lovely to see the flower of true love bloom. (please sigh with me in bliss) I love everything about how their relationship unfolded on screen in this episode, I love that the deep trust that existed between them (until later on when the devil Kate comes back) began with the first steps of simply being there for each other. I love the scene when they're at the dock and Sawyer asks Juliet to stay. "Who's going to get my back?" and Juliet looks at him and realizes what he's asking. The acting is phenomenal. (I <3 Elizabeth Mitchell!!) I love that they believe in each other in the "present" scene we're shown. This relationship was a very rare thing on television...a happy mature, stable couple that brought out the best in each other. Even up to the last minutes of the show where we're shown Sawyer and Juliet spooning in bed, a sweet glimpse into the intimacy they shared. Gorgeously written, beautifully acted, one of the finest character pieces of the season. Lefleur how sweet the flower of love is and how easily crushed...Team Darlton I hate you just a little bit for the season finale.

Anyway, I guess I'm just a big softy romantic at heart. I enjoyed the season, I'm looking forward to the last season (while also sort of dreading it being over) and I'm sure the blog will be covered in LOST soon.

I also watched Supernatural for the first time this year. I LOVED the first three seasons of this show but it started to fall apart a little bit for me with the introduction of angels in the fourth season. And the fifth season needs to change directions fast. I'm NOT happy with all the meta crap...it's like the writers are having fun with all their little inside jokes but it's doing serious damage to the integrity of their story. Additionally, I'm not thrilled that everything is falling into line with the angels vs. demons storyline. I didn't need the Trickster to be some high powered angel...and I sincerely hope that little trick doesn't get pulled again. I just want to watch my favorite brothers battle monsters...is that too much to ask? Having said that I do highly recommend the first three seasons...they are mad crazy addictive.

Lastly, I'm loving Vampire Diaries! While very different from the books it's still lots of good fun and the rich mythology developing is keeping me interested.

Honorable Mentions are of course, The Closer and V. I'm behind on Mad Men so it's not on here and while I love Chuck and Blair, Gossip Girl is also losing steam.

TV Episodes That Made Me Cry

It's a well documented fact that I love TV almost as much as I love books. And due to the laziness of summer, and the fact that apart from LOST I pretty much ignored TV for the past several months, and because my forthcoming collaborative TV blog isn't ready to launch yet, I've had a renewed interest in blogging about TV.

Now unlike some of you, I cry very easily. Extremely easily. Melanie asked recently if it was normal for me to cry during books, well, yes. Yes it is. Do I cry in every book? No. Let's get real, I have changes in my hormones throughout the month, I have different life circumstances, etc. But I do cry a lot. And not just books, movies. And not just movies, TV shows. And not just TV shows, blog posts. Yes, if you've written a moving blog post, I was probably sniffling away over here.

My tears are close to the surface, what can I say? And I have buckets of empathy for made-up people. Give me a hint of how they're feeling, and I'll share their tears.

Anyway, I thought I'd pay tribute to my favorite moving TV episodes:



LOST's The Constant
How could you not feel Desmond's profound longing for Penny throughout the series to this point? And how you could you not be moved to tears by the sweet life-saving reality that she was his constant and she had no plans to give up on him? Beautiful and touching!



Supernatural's What is and What Should Never Be

If I didn't love the character of Dean Winchester so darn much, this probably would not have been so sad, and if the writers didn't completely torture the Winchester boys all the time, it wouldn't have been such a tear jerker, but this episode tackled my favorite themes in a beautifully Supernatural way. Dean is attacked by a djinn who gives him a glimpse of what a normal life would have been like. I pretty much started crying when Dean said, "It's good to see you happy, Sammy." Because Sam's happiness is strongly tied to his own. Anyway, Dean must make the choice to leave the fantasy of feeling loved and secure and safe to choose life--full of war and fighting, loneliness, pain, and death. But yet rewarding in its own way--saving people. Great episode.



Buffy the Vampire Slayer's The Gift
Everytime I watch the last five minutes of this episode I get major goose bumps. And cry a little. I'm not saying anything else in case you've never seen the series!
(for the record there are many other Buffy episodes that made me cry!)



Angel's I Will Remember You

I'm not even a Buffy/Angel girl and this episode kills me. I just don't think there's anything sadder than star-crossed lovers! And the sacrifice that Angel makes...and the fact that Buffy doesn't remember oh the pain!!!!!
(and yes there are other Angel episodes that made me cry!)




LOST's The Incident
I don't care if you're a hard core Skater (Sawyer/Kate fan) there is just no way you could watch Juliet drop into the well and Sawyer grieve without feeling like your heart was being ripped out. Josh Holloway's performance is outstanding...and heartbreaking. I get major chills when I think of this scene.
(and yes for the record there are several other episodes of LOST that brought tears to my eyes...most notably Ji Yeon and also whenever someone dies)

Every Episode of Cold Case
Okay that's not true. But this show is really good at bringing home the senselessness of murder, the grief of a life cut too short, the pain of long kept secrets, and the waste of often reckless unintentional actions. Throw in a soundtrack of haunting time appropriate music and it's all over. Tears!

So those are some of mine...I know I've cried during Grey's Anatomy when I used to watch it as well. How about you? Can you think of any TV episodes that made you cry?

LOST Recap and Discussion: 316

Whoa, what an episode!! If you haven't yet watched tonight's LOST, spoilers and speculation galore follow!!!

Here's the way I saw this episode....a bunch of new mysteries are opened up to keep us guessing. I decided to try a proper recap this week....so it's a bit longer than normal! We start off with Jack opening his eyes in the jungle again! Classic in many ways, he hears cries for help and rushes off to find...Hurley. After quickly assuring Hurley he will be okay, he frantically seeks Kate. Who is lying on a rock. One would think if she had fallen from the sky she would be dead, but no, she seems relatively intact. No bones jutting out of her skin like Locke suffered from last week. But wait! How did our beloved Losties find themselves LOST again on the island? Well, 46 hours earlier....

We find ourselves back with the ever creepy Mrs. Hawking who is also Daniel Faraday's mother, Desmond, Sun, Jack, and Ben. Mrs. Hawking has a secret! It's called the Dharma Initiative Lamp post! This is how to find the island. It has something to do with that big huge swinging pendulum, pockets of energy, and windows. Yeah, I didn't really get it either.

Suddenly, Desmond protests, "Hold up you crazy crack smoking people! Don't you remember how I spent 3 years pressing a button? Did you forget about that big black smoke thing that picks people up and throws them around? How about spending every single day on the island trying to get off it? And you want to go back????

Sun looks over at him and rolls her eyes, sighing impatiently. "Yes."

Desmond decides to hightail it out of there, and rightly he should...he needs to get his little family away from there and FAST.

Mrs. Hawking then announces they must take a flight replicating the circumstances of how they originally got to the island. Jack looks uncertain. "What if we can't get anyone else to come?" Well, the results will be unpredictable. "So that's it?" Jack asks. "Not for you!" says Mrs. Hawking.

Mrs. Hawking then throws Jack into waves of guilt and self-doubt when she shares Locke's suicide note with him. "Why would he do that?" Jack agonizes.

Well, it's simple. They need to bring a dead body back with them! And like a wedding Locke needs something borrowed to pull off the hoax...something from Jack's dad. Jack throws a fit as he is oft to do and heads out.

Jack meets up with Ben in the church again and asks Ben some questions thinking that Ben has had a major change in character and he'll get some answers. Ben is nothing if consistent and masterfully evasive. A classic LOST dialogue ensues about believing and doubts and then Ben ominously announces he needs to keep a promise to an old friend and heads out. Jack goes to drown his sorrows in a drink, but gets a call. He needs to go have a talk with his granddad. While there, he discovers a pair of shoes of his father and asks if he can take them.

Jack heads back to his place and frantically searches for a drink to cope with all the crazy turns his life has taken. He hears something and discovers Kate at his place looking a bit like she's lost everything. She announces she'll go back to the island with him on the condition that Jack never asks her what happened to Aaron. She then tries to drown her sorrows in some lovemaking with Jack.

It's the morning now, and Kate and Jack are all uncomfortable with each other, probably because Kate still looks like someone ripped her heart out. We learn the significance of the shoes going back to the island and Kate departs when Jack's phone rings. The phone call reveals a distraught Ben with blood/scratches/burns? all over his face. He's by the dock, folks, he's by the dock. AMY IS NOT HAPPY.

Anyway, Jack goes to pick up Locke's body since Ben can't make it, gives him his father's shoes and tries to bury the unread suicide note.

FINALLY! We are at the airport. A distracted Jack answers questions about transporting Locke's body. Jack looks relieved to see Kate. Sun is also there, winning worst mother of the year award for possibly orphaning her daughter. Sayid appears to have been arrested and is being escorted onto the flight (echoing Kate on 815 assume) Hurley is also there and bought up all the seats to save lives, I assume.

Soooo....we have all of the Oceanic 6 minus Aaron together again. And then a damaged Ben along, too. Hurley protests, Jack calms him down. Oh hey, those helpful security people found the suicide letter and decided to dig it out, and make sure he got it! They're so thoughtful, at least to the viewers who were all annoyed that Jack was actually NOT going to read it. Ben delivers a classic line about not caring about the other passengers...and WAIT! Our pilot is Lapidus! Jack insists on seeing Lapidus and when Lapidus sees the Oceanic 5 gathered he realizes....we're not going to Guam are we?

Ben reassures Jack that Locke's suicide was not his fault, and Jack finally reads the suicide note. Locke doesn't gush on and on in his final words on earth, but simply says, "I wish you had believed."

And ladies and gentlemen...we have ourselves a....I'm not exactly sure what. I'm not sure it was a crash. It resembled one of those time flashy things. I think it might have just snatched the important people off the plane...what do you think?

ANYWAY, we're back to the beginning of the episode. Jack immediately goes back to leader of the island mode.."let's spread out and look for the others." That would be all nice and good except....someone comes towards them with a gun in a Dharma van! And it's...JIN! cue....LOST


Analysis
I actually really liked this episode and it achieved something that hasn't happened in awhile. I felt for Jack. I actually really genuinely was interested in Jack and this journey for him. I enjoyed watching the gentle shift from pure doubt to the beginnings of belief. In that regard, this was one of the strongest character episodes we've had this season. Additionally, enough mysteries were woven into the story to keep us coming back for more.

Questions
What happened to Aaron?
Did Ben kill Penny? Desmond? Charlie? I'm really worried about that whole situation and I NEED to know.
How did both Sayid and Hurley end up at the airport?
Why is Jin dressed like a Dharma Initiative person? Is that the time period we're in?
Where are Sayid and Sun?
Will I ever like Sun again?

Favorite Line
Jack: How can you read?
Ben: My mother taught me.

Next Week
We find out about Locke. Looks pretty incredible. But was Ben kneeling to Locke in the preview??? Weird stuff.

Your Turn
What did you think? Sound off below.

Dear Potential Audience for Dollhouse

Dear Potential Audience for Dollhouse,

If you, like me, are a fan of Joss Whedon's work, it's likely you tuned in Friday for Dollhouse. You may have been disappointed in the show. (unless, like me, you read so any negative reviews, you actually liked it!)

I'd just like to remind you about a little show I love called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I still frequently recommend this show to people who have never watched it. I also tell them, the first season is a little cheesy, but keep watching, it gets much better. Am I ever thankful that Buffy had an audience that gave it 7 seasons. An audience willing to give this show roughly a season and a half to find its footing and give us one of the best shows ever made. Seven lovely seasons that sit in a small box on my shelf...one of my favorite possessions. :)

So it's with that in mind that I ask you to give Dollhouse a chance. I know we live in a society where we want every pilot to be as amazing as the LOST pilot. We don't have time for things that don't grab us immediately. But I see so much incredible potential in the idea of this show, that I actually ache to think it will not be given a chance to find its groove.

So please. For the love of good storytelling, television, and all that jazz....will you please tune in again next week?

Yours truly,

24 is Back!

Did anyone else watch the first two hours of 24 season 7 last night? (or were you all watching the golden globes?)

Man, is this show back! I have to admit I was worried. Season six was, well, weak. 24 started to show it's age that season, the tricks were all the same and the believability stretched so far that it was hard to stay interested. The television movie back in the fall did impress me though and gave me hope. And tonight's first two hours were action packed and suspenseful in a way only 24 can do. I think moving the action to Washington D.C was a smart choice. I can even buy a living Tony Almeida, although the explanation still sounded a little fan fiction-y to me. Needless to say, the hours slipped by quickly and left me feeling happy this show is back and looking forward to tonight.

In other news, another show I was worried would be unable to reinvent itself also turned in another strong season premiere...Damages. Does anyone else watch this? If not, I highly recommend the first season. It's got fantastic writing and does time jumps all over the place, giving you only snatches of the truth, until the end when the whole is finally formed. The first season felt like the full story, so I wasn't sure if a second season would work, but they've definitely got me interested!

And lastly, I just checked to see who won at the Golden Globes..I'm glad to see Mad Men win...either though I haven't seen season 2, that show feels like the richest thing on television. (no worries, LOST is still my favorite.) Kate Winselt also cleaned up! I mean was it necessary to let her sweep it like that? And admittedly I'm puzzled by Vicky Cristina Barcelona winning best comedy or musical. I thought that film was pretty forgettable.

So what did you think of 24, Damages, or the Golden Globes? I guess I'll have to check out Slumdog Millionaire...what it is about? Oh and one more question...should I read Revolutionary Road before seeing the movie? Thoughts appreciated!

The Best of 2008--TV

I actually think TV was kind of lame this past year. Even shows I still watch took some plot twists I didn't enjoy. (Brothers and Sisters for example) But there's still some great television out there and A LOT to look forward to in 2009.

Of course the best show on this year for me was LOST. SPOILER ALERT
This season took place through mostly flash forwards and interesting flashbacks. With so few episodes, each episode served a strong purpose and propelled the story forward. We learned who all of the Oceanic 6 are, how their lives unfolded once off the island, how they got off the island, and who was in the coffin. There were so many twists and turns and there are still so many questions left, I really think the next two seasons will be just as strong. My favorite episode of the season was The Constant which also Time's best episode on TV for 2008! Thanks for recognizing that Time! (as I was typing this I saw another new preview! This one looks like maybe Penny and Desmond have a baby? Someone has a baby!)
And for a new record....the third time I have posted this video on my blog, the conclusion of The Constant:



It is truly ridiculous how much I love this show.

Other Good Shows of 2008...
Gossip Girl
I usually like to watch one show that fills that need for teenage drama in my life and Gossip Girl has fit the bill these past two seasons. I love Chuck Bass. And Blair. But mostly Chuck. In fact, if they aren't in the show very much it's not nearly as enjoyable. I also like Vanessa and Nate, but I don't know how long that will last. Serena and Dan? Get on my nerves. and I really want to like Dan since he's a writer and all! Here's a video of Chuck Bass...um, before you watch I should probably remind you Gossip Girl is a bit of a trashy teenage soap.



The Closer
Kyra Sedgewick is a brilliant actress. But more than that, this is one crime drama that's full of sharp writing and great characterization. Even if I'm not stumped by the mysteries, the episode always flies by and entertains me. (this is part of how I mark a great TV show) The season finale was an emotional cliffhanger and I look forward to its soon return. (sadly I can't find a good video to post for this show)

American Idol
After a somewhat boring season 6, American Idol came back this year with some interesting contestants but most notably my favorite idol ever in David Cook. There were some great moments on the show this year as David customized the songs to fit his style and made many excellent choices. I haven't had much of a chance to listen to his CD yet, but I hope he's successful.
One of my favorite of his performances:


Pushing Daisies
We lost this show, but if you have some time to watch the DVDs I do recommend them. This show is bright and colorful and full of great acting and imagination. The dialogue is smart and funny. And I simply love the cast.

I know there are a lot of other great shows on TV but I don't have time to watch them all. I know I'm missing out on shows like Mad Men, Friday Night Lights, Battlestar Galactica, Dexter...the list goes on.

For 2009, there's so much great TV to look forward to! LOST, 24, American Idol, Damages, and that new show Lie to Me looks good. And of course Joss Whedon's new one, Dollhouse. Yay!

By the way, even though I review lots of books on this blog, the TV blogging kicks up a notch in the spring because I live blog American Idol (when we get to the top 12 or whatever it will be this year) and will recap LOST.

What are your best TV shows of 2008?

My Recent Thoughts about the TV Shows I Love. Or Don't Love. Or Used to Love.

I, for one, was glad to see Jack Bauer back in action, saving children no less, last week. Is it just me or was 24: Redemption pretty awesome? I think this show has a serious chance of reviving itself so long as I can buy the reason Tony is still alive. I'm excited about the new direction, and found the child soldier storyline powerful and effective without half the violence of the movie Blood Diamond (which is also good just very very very violent) Some of the things I love about 24 are the incredible production (tight editing, original score, fantastic shots--so few shows have this), the ability to convey serious emotional consequence amidst all the action...and of course Kiefer Sutherland whom we love so dearly as our hero Jack Bauer. A flawed and imperfect hero to be sure, but one that is impossible not to root for. (I once saw a poll that asked who was the better hero...Jack Bauer or Jack Shephard...really? Sorry, no contest)

In other very sad news, Pushing Daisies has been canceled. This is a big loss as far as I'm concerned. Sadly, I tried to force my relatives to watch it Thanksgiving Eve and they just didn't get it. It's a highly stylized show but even as the relatives were rolling their eyes, I was giggling at the funny and smart dialogue. (i.e. from Emerson: "You're about to be the first man to be murdered twice") Oh well. I guess we can't win them all. I hope Lee Pace finds another awesome job asap. I just love him.



LOST released a new promo that struck me with the realization that Desmond might be required to go back to the island. This is intolerable. He can't leave Penny! (not to mention he was on that island for soooo long already!)


Did anyone else watch Gossip Girl last night? Nate continues to baffle me, Dan and Serena clearly need to get back together (am I really supposed to take Aaron seriously? eww!), and Chuck and Blair keep teasing me!!! Actually it looks like Ed Westwick has some great stuff coming up in the next show. By the way, I read that Verizon will have an exclusive series from the viewpoint of Dorota. I have to admit when I first read this, I thought it was the dumbest thing ever. But, I suppose if they make it funny enough, it might not be bad.



Which leads me to the show I wish I liked, but just can't seem to get. I really really really wanted to like Fringe. It had so much going for it. An interesting mythology. A pretty stellar cast. J.J. Abrams. (and other LOST alums) but I've missed several episodes and can't seem to care. When I do manage to watch it, I sometimes have to force myself to concentrate. I've tried to figure out why this show doesn't work for me and sadly I think it's the main character, Olivia. She just has no spark. She's boring. Very boring. And while I'm somewhat interested in Josh Jackson's character and his father, that interest is not enough to overcome the fact that I feel nothing for Olivia. Anyone else share these sentiments?

Oh and I've officially given up on Grey's Anatomy. Considering how much I used to love that show, this is kind of surprising. But somehow, the writers thought when there was backlash over Izzie/George that what the fans wanted was Izzie and Denny sort of resurrected from the dead. The writing is just so completely out there in almost every storyline that I can no longer enjoy it. Which is too bad, because the first two seasons were excellent television.

So....how are your favorite shows going?

My Favorite TV Couples

Last week Booking Through Thursday asked about favorite literary couples and I just couldn't think of any literary couples that I LOVE LOVE LOVE.

But I almost immediately thought of my favorite TV couples. (who I do sort of feel strongly about) I think (and agree with Florinda) that it's easier to think of favorite TV couples because you get to see the relationship develop overtime and see the chemistry of the actors, etc.

So while I should probably save this for Valentine's Day or something, I thought I'd talk about my favorite TV couples.

Felicity and Ben

For some reason, I just LOVE Felicity and Ben. And a great deal of it is probably that I love Felicity. I know some people found her annoying, but I found her incredibly endearing. Maybe because I related so much to the trying to find meaning in everything/overanalytical side of her. And Ben was so mysterious with that barely above a whisper voice. And that smile.... Long before the bigger successes of Alias and LOST, J.J. Abrams worked on this little gem of a show. There's nothing more romantic than a girl chasing a boy across the country, learning to stand on her own two feet, and then eventually winding up with him anyway. Sometimes, the on again off again tension could get to be a little much but I loved these two. I love this show.

Buffy and Spike

I'm sure that this one comes as no surprise after yesterday's post, but this was the first TV couple I cared strongly about being together. The chemistry between them was super hot and the amount that Spike suffered for Buffy was incredibly romantic. You're going to see the theme of the bad boy here...in real life, I actually go for the nice guys but I'm much more forgiving of fictional TV characters. :)

Logan and Veronica

Yes, yes, yes, LoVe all the way. I think I've said it before, but Logan Echolls is quite possibly my favorite bad boy on TV. I remember watching the pilot for Veronica Mars and thinking how perfectly Jason Dohring was cast. From the very first seed planted that Logan and Veronica would get together, I was a total shipper! I just wish they hadn't trashed their relationship in season 3. Even so, the relationship still ended on a decent note with Logan beating the crap out of that guy.

Here's a perfect example of why I love Logan and how all the intense relationship scenes always seemed to play out. (Logan pouring out his heart and Veronica freaking)

Chuck and Blair

Sadly, I haven't had a lot of satisfaction in this relationship yet. However, I do think they are meant to be, as fangirly as that sounds. I just don't think we'll arrive there anytime soon. Their chemistry is amazing and they are so well suited to each other. Blair is the most interesting heroine I've ever rooted for on TV. She's not self-sacrificing and saving the world like Buffy, kind and intelligent like Felicity, or driven by justice like Veronica. Instead, she's rich, selfish, and still deeply insecure. She's manipulative and seemingly heartless, and yet, I prefer her to Serena any day of the week. And Chuck is just as wounded. LOVE THEM!

Penny and Desmond

My favorite epic love story! I just really hope there is no killing of the Penny or the Desmond in the next 34 episodes. Penny and Des forever!!! In fact, let's have a look at that beautiful phone call again.




There aren't any other couples I really care about. I would be interested in a Naomi /Dell relationship on Private Practice, but I don't know if the show will ever go there. I prefer Kate and Sawyer together on LOST, but I won't die if she ends up with Jack. (talk about some really fervent shippers, though...) Once upon a time, I loved Meredith and Derek but that show did a great job of making me just not care.

So, um, do you like any of the same couples? Who are your favorite TV couples?

Pushing Daisies is Back Tonight!

Pushing Daisies may well be the best show you're not watching and it's back on tonight! Yay!

I've shared before that I love this show, but here are some specific reasons why...

1) It's charming and wildly imaginative. It's like a gorgeous fairy tale complete with interesting fashion choices and outlandish storylines. Even with murders taking place each week, it never descends into grotesque science.

2) An amazing cast. Each member of this cast is delightful and bring their characters to vivid life.

3) It's family friendly. Such a rarity today, this show aims to make people happy.

4) Music! With so many talented castmembers, we get spontaneous musical performances which add to the whimsy.

5) Snappy, funny dialogue. Listen closely, there's lots of quote worthy goodness on this show.

6) It's sweet in every way.

I'm so looking forward to the return of this show...if you love Pushing Daisies, too, tell me why! If you've never watched it...check it out

Next week...

This blog is going to be ALL books. And bookish blogging. So I figure I better get my other random thoughts out of the way!

And surprisingly enough, they have to do with television.

First of all...how hot is Gossip Girl so far? For some reason, I can't tear my eyes away from these spoiled self-indulgent teenagers. And their beautiful clothes. And don't Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick have the most amazing chemistry? Nothing about this show resembles reality as I know it, but still I watch it.

Now for the more serious issue...Fringe. I was really looking forward to this one, and I liked it....but it kind of, almost felt like, it was trying too hard. And too many similarities to LOST and even the X-Files....but I'll keep watching.

So...what do you all think? And was True Blood good?

90210, the Second

In my Fall TV post yesterday, I completely forgot to mention that 90210 is starting again! The strangest thing ever, in my opinion, but what I really want to know is...will you be watching?

I don't think anyone mentioned it yesterday, although a lot of you mentioned TruBlood and I don't have HBO so I'm totally jealous of those you who do, you'll have to let me know if it's any good.

As far as Heroes, well I've already seen the first hour of the premiere and it was pretty cool, so I think this will be a good year for that show. Just had to rub it in a little more, since I did stand in a line of 6,000 at Comic-Con to get in!

And I can't wait for Pushing Daisies either!

And obviously LOST can't come back quickly enough for me. And I'll miss Moonlight, too.

Fall TV

This past week has been crazy. Our internet is having major issues which causes me major stress.

I can't believe that Fall TV starts this week! I can't believe that tomorrow I'll get another scandalicious episode of Gossip Girl to enjoy! I wish it actually felt like fall. It's still going over 100 here, and killing me.

Fringe starts in a week as well! I'm really looking forward to that show.

What shows are you looking forward to most this year?

Just a Point of Clarification

I've been watching the Olympics and I noticed that there was a little preview for Heroes that referenced Comic-Con. It seemed to indicate that upon showing the season premiere for Comic-Con attendees there was a standing ovation. I would just like to point out that not all 6,000 people gave a standing ovation, for example no one in my area did. That doesn't mean it wasn't a great premiere...it was, but that ad is just slightly misleading.

Thank you.

The Olympics...Will You Be Watching?

I have a slew of books set in China to read to put me in the right mood for watching the Olympics, but I'm still a little conflicted about the whole idea of the Olympics being in China. It will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

Generally, I like to watch the gymnastics, swimming, and track and field events. How about you?

In recent years, the ratings for the Olympics have started to decline. It's kind of too bad, because the idea of so much of the world joining together in an event is kind of special. And who doesn't enjoy all the fascinating human interest stories that emerge?

Will you be watching any of it this year?

(I was in Japan during the last summer Olympics and was surprised by how different the coverage was...a lot of judo and ping-pong!)