The Librarian: Quest for the Spear

He’s memorized the Earth. He has 22 degrees. He decrypted the language of the Garden of Eden in under 8 hours. He’s never had a girlfriend, and he lives with his mother. He is Flynn Carson, The Librarian. In The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, hopeless and hapless Flynn rather unwittingly gets a job as the librarian of a secret and labyrinthine treasure trove hidden below the New York Metropolitan Library. On his second day, Flynn, along with his bosses Judson and Charlene, discovers that the library’s piece of the Spear of Destiny has been stolen by the Brotherhood of the Serpent, an evil group bent on—you guessed it—world domination. Flynn’s reaction? “I really thing that you should get a parking space before being asked to fight an evil conspiracy.”

Buffy Season Eight: After These Messages, We'll Be Right Back

Buffy: "I just had the strangest dream. We were back in high school. And you were there. And you were there. And you were there."
Willow: "And Toto, too?"

Synopsis:

Buffy battles a variety of monsters, and isn't getting enough sleep. When she finally conks out in a big way (in Xander's bed), she wakes up back in her old bedroom in Sunnydale, and Joyce is yelling up the stairs that Buffy will be late for school. Buffy is understandably ecstatic that Joyce is alive. She hugs Dawn a lot, too. Dawn is much younger than we've ever seen her, because of course, she didn't exist back then. "Then" is obviously the latter part of season one.

Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy #4

Recap

Finn examines the pliers. He surmises that the insulation was worn due to age. Sweet Eight suggests that maybe “someone didn't like the idea of a machine breathing their air” and an argument breaks out amongst the crew. Sweet Eight blames Brooks for Pilot Eight's death. Brooks is indignant and points out that the pliers were meant for him – he was the intended target. Gaeta tells them all to “shut the frak up.” He tells them it was an accident and asks for suggestions on what to do with the body.

Has Heroes jumped the extremely large marine predator?

Although I tend to downplay my feelings of negativity when I like a show, it's pretty obvious to me that Heroes is in serious trouble.

How did this happen? Maybe it was the writers' strike. Maybe they're just not doing what they should be doing. And maybe it's just the basic concept of the show. The origin stories for our superheroes in season one were exceptionally cool, definitely what got us all hooked. Maybe the regular stories will just never measure up to the origin stories. Which may be why they keep introducing new supercharacters. That, unfortunately, we don't like all that much. (Two words: Maya and Arthur.)

Buffy Season Eight: Time of Your Life, Part 4

Buffy: "I'm leaving. I don't care about your world. I have to save mine."

Synopsis:

Buffy is unconscious, tied to a chair, surrounded by Future Willow, Melaka and Erin. Future Willow remembers that there will be an opening in the temporal rift that night. Harth and his lurks arrive, hovering above. Harth wonders why Willow told Harth one thing (that Buffy's coming would cause the future to be) and Melaka another (that Buffy returning to her present would cause the future not to be). Future Willow says that it isn't who dies, but who kills them. Gates the four-handed monkey releases Buffy. Gunther (who got away from Harth) shows up. Big battle.

Buffy Season Eight: Time of Your Life, Part 3

Melaka: "Summers, you drive like a spaz!"
Buffy: "And that phrase stood the test of time?"

Synopsis:

Buffy, reading through Fray's old books, is extremely upset about the no-more-slayers thing, as well as the world-not-being-better thing.

Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy #3

Recap

Aboard the stranded raptor, Brooks offers to examine the ships CO2 scrubbers. He removes a panel from the side of the ship and begins his diagnostic. Behind him, Gaeta whispers to Sweet Eight, "You're her."

Heroes: The Recruit #1: Private Mills

Recap

At an undisclosed facility in Tappen, NJ, Angela Petrelli interrogates Rachel Mills, one of the Pinehearst recruits. Mills is ignorant as to the whereabouts of the serum, but suggests it was stolen to synthesise a cure. Angela tells Mills that things will get much worse if the serum isn’t recovered. She expresses regret over Mills’ injury and touches her wound, causing Mills to have a brief flashback. Angela rests both hands on Mills’ head and asks her again “Now where is it?”

Terminator: Earthlings Welcome Here

Well, this episode was a bit underwhelming for a mid-season finale. It did have some shocking moments and a few action sequences, but overall, it left me in more of a befuddled “What the hell?” state, rather than an eager, “Holy crap, I can’t wait for more!” state.

Dexter: Do You Take Dexter Morgan?

Dexter: "I promise to be the very best husband and father that I can be."

Let me say up front that I doubt any season of Dexter will ever be as amazing as the first. But this season was very entertaining and suspenseful and as usual, exceptionally well-plotted, well-written, and well-acted. This finale was satisfying. I wanted a happy ending for Dexter. It's so funny how I can't help liking Dexter, our friendly neighborhood serial killer. I've stopped trying to rationalize it.

Chuck: Chuck versus Santa Claus

Chuck creator Josh Schwartz had a lot to live up to with the first Christmas-themed episode of the series. (Last year a mid-winter hiatus skipped right over the holiday season). Schwartz’s crowning achievement, The O.C., consistently excelled at Christmas episodes. Whether inventing the new holiday of Chrismukkhah, sending key characters to an “alt-world,” or just emphasizing the importance of friends and family, Schwartz always managed to combine the plaintive sweetness required of any good holiday episode (Buffy’s “Amends,” anyone?) with just enough flip irreverence to keep us laughing through our tears.

Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy #2

Recap

Inside the stranded raptor, Finn sends out a distress call. Esrin attempts to fire up the FTL drive, but it's unresponsive as their last jump has taken them over the red line. Gaeta theorises that a high energy discharged subatomic particle has corrupted the jump data, causing them to jump into the middle of nowhere. Amidst the panic, Sweet Eight looks at Gaeta and smiles softly. She asks him if he recognises her.

Heroes: Dual

Angela: "A child starved for attention throws a temper tantrum."
Claire: "Well, I'd like to give him a good spanking."

Lockdown showdown. *Yawn.*

Highlander: Reunion

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

One travesty of a movie after another, and an eighteen-minute webisode managed to do what none of them did: it gave me a taste of the series again. Yes, it was just a nibble, but it was a big nibble, and it was delicious. I watched the whole thing with a great big smile on my face. And then I watched it again.

(Note from later: I kept putting the YouTube link here, and the webisode kept getting moved. It's also in several parts. If you'd like to see it, go to YouTube and search for "Highlander Reunion." It's also available on Tubi at the end of season six as I'm writing this note in 2026.)

They did several things right. The big one? They centered the story around Methos. Finally! Pardon my sarcasm, but you'd think that would be a no-brainer. Why did it take them so long? They also brought back Joe and Amanda, the other two best Highlander supporting characters, and all three of them were very much themselves instead of some poorly written parody.

And the plot was centered around what I thought was the best recurring theme in the series, i.e., how to deal with growing older, and what it takes to have the endurance for immortality. Joe was, of course, quite literally older and tireder and wishing he were immortal, but Methos and Amanda apparently felt much the same as Joe. Part of that may have been an acknowledgment that the actors are a bit older (even though they still look pretty darned good), but we all know that immortals get tired of life, too.

Methos was about to plunge into marriage number sixty-nine with a mortal named Julia. He told Julia he was immortal, but nothing more – and we Highlander fans know that being immortal is just the surface when it comes to Methos. (Amanda brought up the Four Horsemen. Quite a lot to dump on a mortal fiancee.) Is Methos ready again to commit to another mortal wife, someone who might be endangered by the Game? Or maybe Methos had had it with mortals. There was some serious Methos/Amanda flirting in this webisode. Back in season four's "Till Death," Methos said that he'd never married another immortal. Perhaps, with MacLeod out of the picture and involved with someone else, Methos and Amanda might be ready for each other. I'd be down with that.

I was completely and totally bummed by Highlander: The Source and, to continue with my food metaphor, I needed something to get the taste of it out of my mouth. Highlander: Reunion did the trick. It was yummy. Yes, it was just an appetizer, but the resolution made me hope that there may be others. I know that I will probably never get the Methos spinoff I wanted so desperately, but more webisodes would at least be something. I'll take anything I can get.

Bits and pieces:

— The webisode was produced by the official Highlander people, Davis-Panzer Productions, and written by Highlander alum David Abramowitz.

— Peter Wingfield, Elizabeth Gracen and Jim Byrnes were the only actors, and it was all interiors and conversations. (Looked like Malibu.) There was a battle with swords, but it took place off camera.

— MacLeod was mentioned a few times. He is with someone named Sara, and it's serious. Joe is no longer his Watcher; Joe retired eight months ago and is bummed about it.

— Methos actually gave his age: 5,164. Except I always had the impression that Methos doesn't actually know how old he is, and there's the whole "before recorded history" thing, so how would he know what year he was born? He was probably making it up, which would be like him. Not to be outdone, Amanda also gave her age: 1,187.

— Methos asked Joe to be his best man at the wedding. Except that it's probably off. Methos and Joe also told each other "I love you," which was sweet.

— In this episode's hair report, Amanda's was white-blonde and chin-length. At least it wasn't a buzz cut any more. I still think she should stick with black hair.

Quotes:

Amanda: "I did see a shrink once. You know what happened?"
Joe: "You slept with Sigmund Freud. (Amanda glares at him) Hey, I'm a watcher, remember?"

Methos: "She knows I'm immortal, but how much do I tell her about my past?"
Joe: "Tell it all."
Amanda: "I would leave out the part about raping and pillaging when you were one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I think it would be wrong to confuse her with too much information."

Two words. More, please.
---
Billie Doux knows that there can be only one. And that's Methos.

• Highlander home
  

Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy #1

Where it fits

Six to nine days after "Revelations."

Terminator: Alpine Fields

I liked this episode. Another week with characters we’ve never met before, and likely won’t ever see again, but I think the writers did a better job of integrating the tale with the overall story and our characters. The episode largely felt like a stand-alone piece for Derek, but it tied into the series continuity and tone a lot better.

Heroes: Our Father

Sylar: "Cake?"

Well.

They did some stuff right, and they made me laugh. They ticked me off big time, though. Writing out Kristen Bell was a huge mistake. Of course, they'd done so much screwing around with her character that she was probably relieved.

Dexter: I Had a Dream

Miguel: "I accept you, Dexter. Like a brother."
Dexter: "I killed my brother. I killed yours, too."

What an extraordinary fake-out. It knocked me completely off balance, and I stayed off balance for the rest of the episode. I had, of course, thought that Miguel would be the piece de resistance for the finale, but interestingly enough, no. Fortunately for Maria.

Heroes: The Eclipse, Part 2

Sylar: "A chance to reinvent ourselves, free of powers or parents."
Elle: "Scary."

I didn't think I'd be happy with a reset button. But I was. It was good to see everyone getting their powers back. Except I was sort of hoping Peter... ah, well. And why did Mohinder have to get scaly again?

Terminator: Self Made Man

This episode did not work for me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really enjoy it either. Overall, it felt too disconnected from the main story, and it largely focused on characters we've never met before and may never see again.

Terminator: Strange Things Happen at the One Two Point

Strange things indeed. Another strong episode with some pretty shocking moments. And a fantastic reveal at the end!

This week's theme was all about getting played. Nearly all our main characters were or are being hoodwinked in one way or another. Sarah got played by Akagi. John is being completely snowed by Riley. Jessie still seems to be putting one over on Derek. And poor, deluded Agent Ellison was victimized by Catherine Weaver.

Heroes: Destiny #4: Escape

Recap

Elisa tells Santiago that they need to escape. She tells him that neither of them belong there. She also reveals that his father wasn't a bad man. He was simply destroyed by The Organization. They kiss and she dissolves... slips under the door and unlocks it from the other side. MBL and her henchmen appear. Santiago uses his powers to get both himself and Elisa to safety.

Dexter: Go Your Own Way

Dexter: "Just what I ordered. Feigned civility with a heaping side of betrayal."

Dexter seriously underestimated how completely ruthless Miguel is. But then again, Miguel still does not realize with whom he is screwing.

Lost Missing Pieces #13: So It Begins

Where it fits

Right before the pilot episode.

Lost Missing Pieces #12: The Envelope

Where it fits

During the episode "A Tale of Two Cities."

Lost Missing Pieces #11: Jin Has a Temper-Tantrum on the Golf Course

Recap

Jin, Michael and Hurley are playing golf. All Jin needs to do to win is sink the putt. But he misses by about ten inches. As Michael celebrates, Jin suddenly and inexplicably flips out. He's angry at how stupid the game is. He's angry about not being happy. He's angry that no one can understand him... and he's angry about losing the game to Hurley and Michael, of all people.

Michael and Hurley, unsure as to the cause of Jin's outburst, eventually leave him to himself.

Chuck

Season 1 | Season 2 |
Season 3 | Season 4 |
Season 5 |
Articles | Cast |

Programming note: Our Chuck coverage is extensive but incomplete.

Chuck (2007-2012) is a clever comedy about a techie whose brain is implanted with super-secret spy info. It's often hilarious, and frequently sweet. It's got beautiful people selling TVs at a BuyMore and saving the world from international baddies. The music is great, and the pop-culture references are... well, legion. What more could we ask for?

Season One

1.1 Chuck versus the Intersect (Pilot)
1.2 Chuck versus the Helicopter
1.3 Chuck versus the Tango
1.4 Chuck versus the Wookie
1.5 Chuck versus the Sizzling Shrimp
1.6 Chuck versus the Sandworm
1.7 Chuck versus the Alma Mater
1.8 Chuck versus the Truth
1.9 Chuck versus the Imported Hard Salami
1.10 Chuck versus the Nemesis
1.11 Chuck versus the Crown Vic
1.12 Chuck versus the Undercover Lover
1.13 Chuck versus the Marlin

Season Two

2.1 Chuck versus the First Date
2.2 Chuck versus the Seduction
2.3 Chuck versus the Break-Up
2.4 Chuck versus the Cougars
2.5 Chuck versus Tom Sawyer
2.6 Chuck versus the Ex
2.7 Chuck versus the Fat Lady
2.8 Chuck versus the Gravitron
2.9 Chuck versus the Sensei
2.10 Chuck versus the DeLorean
2.11 Chuck versus the Santa Claus
2.12 Chuck versus the Third Dimension
2.13 Chuck versus the Suburbs
2.14 Chuck versus the Best Friend
2.15 Chuck versus the Beefcake
2.16 Chuck versus the Lethal Weapon
2.17 Chuck versus the Predator
2.18 Chuck versus the Broken Heart
2.19 Chuck versus the Dream Job
2.20 Chuck versus the First Kill
2.21 Chuck versus the Colonel
2.22 Chuck versus the Ring

Season Three

3.1 Chuck versus the Pink Slip
3.2 Chuck versus the Three Words
3.3 Chuck versus the Angel of Death
3.4 Chuck versus Operation Awesome
3.5 Chuck versus First Class
3.6 Chuck versus the Nacho Sampler
3.7 Chuck versus the Mask
3.8 Chuck versus the False Name
3.9 Chuck versus the Beard
3.10 Chuck versus the Tic-Tac
3.11 Chuck versus the Final Exam
3.12 Chuck versus the American Hero
3.13 Chuck versus the Other Guy
3.14 Chuck versus the Honeymooners
3.15 Chuck versus the Role Models
3.16 Chuck versus the Tooth
3.17 Chuck versus the Living Dead
3.18 Chuck versus the Subway
3.19 Chuck versus the Ring, Part 2

Season Four

4.1 Chuck versus the Anniversary
4.2 Chuck versus the Suitcase
4.3 Chuck versus the Cubic Z
4.4 Chuck versus the Coup d'Etat
4.5 Chuck versus the Couch Lock
4.6 Chuck versus the Aisle of Terror
4.7 Chuck versus the First Fight
4.8 Chuck versus the Fear of Death
4.9 Chuck versus Phase Three
4.10 Chuck versus the Leftovers
4.11 Chuck versus the Balcony
4.12 Chuck versus the Gobbler
4.13 Chuck versus the Push Mix
4.14 Chuck versus the Seduction Impossible
4.15 Chuck versus the CAT Squad
4.16 Chuck versus the Masquerade
4.17 Chuck versus the First Bank of Evil
4.18 Chuck versus the A-Team
4.19 Chuck versus the Muuurder
4.20 Chuck versus the Family Volkoff
4.21 Chuck versus the Wedding Planner
4.22 Chuck versus Agent X
4.23 Chuck versus the Last Details
4.24 Chuck versus the Cliffhanger

Season Five

5.1 Chuck versus the Zoom
5.2 Chuck versus the Bearded Bandit
5.3 Chuck versus the Frosted Tips
5.4 Chuck versus the Business Trip
5.5 Chuck versus the Hack Off
5.6 Chuck versus the Curse
5.7 Chuck versus the Santa Suit
5.8 Chuck versus the Baby
5.9 Chuck versus the Kept Men
5.10 Chuck versus the Family Drama
5.11 Chuck versus the Final Nemesis
5.12/13 Chuck versus Sarah/Chuck versus the Goodbye

Articles

Five TV Shows I Stopped Watching

Cast

Zachary Levi (Chuck Bartowski)
Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah Walker)
Sarah Lancaster (Ellie Bartowski)
Adam Baldwin (John Casey)
Vik Sahay (Lester Patel)
Scott Krinsky (Jeff Barnes)
Joshua Gomez (Morgan Grimes)
Ryan McPartlin (Devon 'Awesome' Woodcomb)
Mark Christopher Lawrence (Big Mike)
Bonita Friedericy (General Diane Beckman)
Julia Ling (Anna Wu)