If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series – movies and books, then you are probably going to enjoy this movie. If you aren’t then you will have no clue what is going on. Actually, if all you have done is watch the movies, you might be a little lost as well.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series – movies and books, then you are probably going to enjoy this movie. If you aren’t then you will have no clue what is going on. Actually, if all you have done is watch the movies, you might be a little lost as well.
Stargate Universe: Visitation
... in which the crew members left behind on the obelisk planet mysteriously turn up on Destiny’s doorstep.The New Fall Season Thanksgiving Roundup
It's Thanksgiving week in the states, and time to talk about what has turned out to be a disappointing fall season. I will avoid the predictable comment about turkeys.We covered several premieres this fall, and there was only one show that we decided to take on and review every week. That's kind of sad. I was really hoping I'd fall in love with something new, since this is Smallville's last season and I have a reviewing slot opening up soon. Oh, well.
Chuck: Chuck versus Phase Three
“I’m just a needy, love-crazed girl on a husband hunt who’s trained in over 200 ways to kill you.”As a card-carrying feminist (yes, we have cards; no, they are not pink), former riot grrl, and reviewer preoccupied with the male gaze, I only have one thing to say about this adventure into the tougher side of femininity, this blatantly sexy portrayal of female power in short shorts and covered in water, this intermixing of female vengeance and an ass-kicking hottie:
Glee: Furt
“Long story short – you’re having a Glee wedding.”Great casting and acting, above average plotting, and an emphasis on music as part of the story make for the best Glee episode in a long while.
Being Human: Ghost Town
Annie: Oh okay, so I'm contemplating resolving my death so that I can move on to the next dimension and you're worrying about getting your leg over?I did not like this episode. I was really hoping that I would, but I just found it really hard to agree with half of the things Annie did. Maybe it's because I don't like Owen. I don't know.
I usually adore Annie, but from the first scene in the kitchen, where she is crying over a parsley sauce maker, I just wanted to slap her and tell her to get over it. However, Mitchell and George had a far more logical idea: Get Annie out of the house to meet some more ghosts. I still think Annie needs a good slapping, however.
I did like Gilbert and his 'Gilbert Fun'. He's permanently stuck in the 80s, thinks fun is a 'bourgeois' concept and doesn't seem to care about how people see him. I think he's a much more suitable match for Annie, than Owen. I can't remember, but was it explained how Gilbert died? I wish he had stayed for another episode. Maybe one day. I don't know how he managed to deal with Annie's incessant moping over Owen. Gilbert was the only part of Annie's storyline that I liked in this episode.
I guess now with the revelation that Owen was the reason behind Annie's death, we're going to have to put up with more Owen. Great. If they give me more Mitchell and Lauren, I guess I can tolerate Annie and Owen. Barely.
Apparently, Herrick was the mastermind behind Lauren's vampire-porn movie, so that Mitchell would want Lauren and ultimately come back into the fold. Lauren switches her tune a couple of times. First she did it willingly for Mitchell, the next, she was forced to do it by Herrick. Lauren is so devious and manipulative, I find it hard to believe her. Mitchell does, though. Lauren seemed all too willing to get into the car with Seth at the end for me to believe she was that serious about changing and going dry. I guess we'll see. I don't think that video is going to disappear any time soon.
I got horribly distracted whenever I tried to write this review. I ate a mango for breakfast, I took my dog for a walk and I actually did the washing up. I guess it's because I couldn't find all that much to like in it. I liked George and Nina (although watching the scene with Wolf!George and Nina was a bit awkward with my dad in the room) and the Lauren / Mitchell storyline is getting interesting (Who else thought of Angel and Darla with that bathroom scene? The BBC doesn't hold much back when it comes to how graphic a scene is..) I just couldn't get emotionally invested with Annie's swanning about after Owen. It was a great revelation that Annie remembered that it was in fact Owen that killed her, but I didn't even like that enough to stay seated for long.
I'm hoping for better episodes in the future.
Bites and Pieces:
- George's remark about "smashing the granny" when the music stops. Oh, George. Nina must really like you.
- I really, really, really do not like Owen.
- Boiled ham with parsley sauce doesn't sound that enticing.
- Loved the scene between George and Mitchell on the couch. Hence the picture.
- I couldn't tell what book Gilbert was reading in the park. Any ideas?
- More shirtless Mitchell, please.
Quotes:
Mitchell: Owen's moved on with his life. You need to do the same.
Annie: I'm dead!
Mitchell: I never know with you if it's Jewish guilt or werewolf guilt.
George: They're pretty much the same thing.
George: And where have you been young lady?.
Annie: I met up with Gilbert. We went to the cemetery.
Mitchell: He knows how to show a girl a good time.
George: I'm not eating raw meat like an animal because a ghost is ovulating!
Mitchell: George, get your lead.
Annie: I'd like to be like his guardian angel and stop anything bad from happening to him.
Gilbert: Can you stop him from listening to Michael Buble?
George: I had sex with Nina last night and it was bloody marvellous!
Mitchell: [Takes George to one side] Annie was killed by Owen.
George: [Sighs] Five minutes. Could I not have had five minutes with the biggest news?
One out of four Moeli graters.
Morgan India.
(P.S. I'm heading up to the Northern Territory [YAY! Wolf Creek!] on the 7th of December and I'm going to be taking my laptop with me, so I will be able to continue writing BH reviews on the slow days.)
NewsFlash: Not Without Joss Whedon
It's no secret that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my favorite television show ever. It's the first show I ever reviewed in a comprehensive way, my first major television obsession, and the chief reason why this site exists at all. My old Buffy reviews get more hits on this site month after month than almost everything else. (Lost was the biggest hitter for awhile, but since it ended, Buffy has taken the lead again.)
Dexter: Teenage Wasteland
Barry: "What are you? Some kind of psycho?"Dexter: "Not today. Just a concerned parent."
I was a bit frustrated at first that we stepped sideways into an episode of Parenthood, but by the end, I thought this was an excellent episode. Like nearly everything in this series, there was so much going on under the surface.
Smallville: Patriot
Lois: "The VRA is a steaming pile of Spanish Inquisition served up with a side of fear and loathing."I have to say that Darkseid and his insidious gathering darkness thing is starting to intrigue me. It may very well be the most complex evil plot we've ever seen on Smallville. I always thought certain politicians were possessed by evil, anyway. In fact, this whole thing with the Vigilante Registration Act and the waterboarding (with an actual board) is giving me flashbacks to the Bush Administration.
Farscape: Durka Returns
When Moya accidentally clips a smaller transport ship, the crew meet the Nebari, a race that values conformity and obedience above all else, and have the ability to mentally cleanse those who behave inappropriately, including --- much to everyone’s shock --- Rygel’s presumed dead torturer, Captain Durka.Supernatural: Clap Your Hands If You Believe
Sam: "You should take a shower."
Can a post-Kripke Supernatural still do an outstanding comedy episode? Survey says... yes. In fact, this might be my first episode review to consist entirely of quotes.
Fringe: The Abducted
“We all have to make sacrifices.”So now Olivia knows that Broyles knows what she knows. Walternate knows that Olivia knows what he worried she knew. And Peter knows what he didn’t know (despite my theory that he did know): he knows that what he thought he knew is wrong. The question is: when will Fauxlivia know what Peter now knows, and what will she do with that knowledge?
Being Human: Tully
George: How did you find me?Tully: You're a werewolf living in Bristol. It kinda narrows the field.
After a pretty good first episode, I have to admit I wasn't exactly expecting a completely stellar second episode. I was right, for the most part. Except for Tully. He was probably one of the only reasons why I watched this episode again.
While the first episode was primarily about Mitchell, Herrick, Lauren and other vampires, it is clearly understandable that they [the writers] would then take a stab (pun intended) at a werewolf storyline, so that we could get to know George and his temporary use of the third-person.
It took me a while to realise that we had seen Tully in the previous episode, when George was running through the woods to find a place to transform and Tully is leaning against a tree. He reminds me of a bad-arse version of Phil Collins and as most of my friends will attest, considering the amount of times I've belted out 'You'll Be In My Heart' very loudly (alcohol was a factor), that that is not such a bad thing.
George has been having a bit of a hard time dealing with his transformations, especially after he pretty much destroyed the house in the first episode. I don't think I would have reacted as ... rationally as George did when he woke up in the woods to find Tully staring over him, while he was buck naked. I like that they haven't made werewolves pretty and cuddlesome-looking like they have in some films which I won't mention, but it is fairly obvious what particular movie I am talking about. I hope. Tully is the sort of guy who looks like he could be a werewolf, or a predator of some kind, anyway; especially with his interaction with the waitress in the pub? I think it was a pub. George, fairly understandably, isn't a huge fan of Tully initially, although it is the opposite when it comes to Annie and Mitchell. Tully is charming and friendly to George's flatmates, while George just plain exudes animosity towards his fellow wolf..
I thought it was nice how Tully taught George how to look after himself while he is in wolf form. In hindsight, it is Tully's retribution for what he did to George, by being the cause of George being cursed to be a nightwalker. Although Tully lost points with me for pushing himself onto Annie the way he did. I hope we see more of Tully in the future (no spoilers in the comments, please), because I think he, and the actor playing him, to be amazing. Tully reminds me of someone from another sci-fi show, most likely Buffy, but I can't remember who. Probably Whistler. It's all about the hat and the tracksuit.
I have to admit that I didn't initially like Nina all that much when she is first introduced. She's rude to George and doesn't seem all that nice in general. George's awkward, stumbling attempt to hit on her in front of Tully was funny, though; I like her a lot more than I did Becca in the first episode. Hopefully she isn't going to be another typical blonde who is going to be killed at some point. She's feisty.
Now ... for the vampire porn video that was sent to Mitchell. Who else immediately knew it was Lauren? This can only have some sort of ramification between Lauren and Mitchell. And judging by the promo for the next episode, I'm going to like the results. I'm twisted, obviously. I love their relationship. Is Mitchell already going down a dark road after Becca's death at Lauren's hands, especially after those last few minutes, where Mitchell took the DVD out of the bin. Could be a bit unhygienic, Mitchell.
So, after finding out Tully's endgame for George, despite it being more an act of retribution rather than malice, George ended his bromance with Tully, in a scene almost replicating the first scene between the werewolves. I think my heart broke a bit in that scene. George needs more guys in his life. Having Mitchell and Annie (And Nina) cannot be healthy for him. But having his, well ... Maker, around, probably isn't any healthier. It's not going to be as adorable and romantic as Eric and Godric in True Blood.
If anyone call tell me who played Tully, I'd appreciate it. I think I've found my new older guy fantasy ;)
Bites and Pieces:
- The Vin Diesel obsessed neighbour reminded me of myself. Except I talk about Jensen Ackles.
- I wish they had shown Tully and George walking the chicken carcass around.
- I cringed when Mitchell and Annie kissed. No. No. No. Do not want. Mitchell and Lauren, please.
- Lauren's line about Hotel California: "You can check out, but you can never leave." Probably one of my favourite lines this episode.
- Seriously, Tully = Phil Collins in a track suit. I can't be the only one who sees this?
Quotes:
Mitchell: [Voice-over] He should be dead within 30 seconds. The werewolf heart is about two-thirds the size of a human's. But in order to shrink, first it has to stop. In other words, he has a heart attack. All of the internal organs are smaller, so while he's having his heart attack, he's having liver and kidney failure too. If he stops screaming it's not because the pain has dulled, his throat, gullet and vocal chords are tearing and reforming. He literally can't make a sound. By now the pituitary gland should be working overtime, flooding his body with endorphins to ease some of the pain, but that too has shut down. Anyone else would have died of shock long ago. But it won't kill him and that's the thing I find most remarkable. It drags him through the fire and keeps him alive and even conscious to endure every second. Nothing like this could just evolve. This... is the fingerprint of God. An impossible lethal curse spread by tooth and claw, victim begets victim begets victim. It's so cruel, it's... perfect.
George: We have to put a stop to this. Doesn't he understand, these people are British? You're not allowed to talk to your neighbours until you've nodded at them for fifteen years.
[My dad is from England. He thought that line was funny, he does that here, too]
Lauren: And the blood, Mitchell. Can you remember the taste? So rich and warm. You can have it again. As much as you want.
Mitchell: I can't, the cost is too high.
Lauren: Please! Who are you saving, really? Have you seen Britain's Got Talent?
Mitchell: He's a twat!
George: Well, he's my twat!
Mitchell: You know, I'm sure that sounded much better in your head.
George: Do you know the difference between you and [Tully]?
Mitchell: Mmm, I don't know, I don't have to shave my palms?
George: I, I think that's actually racist.
Annie: Maybe he's had a blow to the head.
George: I'm sorry?
Annie: Happened to my Nan. She got hit in the head by a radio controlled plane at a county fair. From that moment - obsessed with pygmy goats.
George: There wasn't a single bit of that sentence I understood.
Mitchell: We can't just dip our toe! We have to dive into the churn of humanity. Laugh with them, listen to their stories.
George: About Vin Diesel?
Mitchell: A remarkable man, I'm starting to realise.
[Good analogy of humanity being chum, whilst George and Mitchell are obviously the implied sharks]
George: Look, don't try to understand George.
Annie: George? George who?
George: Me!
Three out of four chicken carcasses.
Glee: The Substitute
Will: “Tell me again about this life with no consequences?" Holly: "It's kind of awesome!"
Glee tackles healthy eating in schools and the importance of the work/play balance as teachers. New Principal Sue’s years long quest for power finally bears fruit and Terri the shrew returns, hurrah!
Stargate Universe: Malice
... in which Rush must face the “unforeseeable consequences” of his actions of late, while much of Destiny’s crew struggles to cope in the wake of tragedy.Smallville: Abandoned
Lois: "Aw, Shelby, come on. I am Watson to his Holmes, Cher to his Sonny. Just like you're Scooby to his Shaggy."There were several intertwining stories in this episode: Lois's encounter with her long-dead mother, Clark seeing his biological parents for the first time as they really were, and Tess discovering the identity of her biological father. Guess which two stories I liked, and which one I didn't?
Chuck: Chuck versus the Fear of Death
“Neuroscience hurts.”A friend of mine once gave me this niblet of relationship wisdom, courtesy of his mother: All men want to feel needed, and all women want to feel special. Chuck is a complex guy, though: he wants to feel both special—spy-worthy, that is—and needed by Sarah. What Chuck doesn’t understand is that it’s not the Intersect, or his massive brain that can handle the Intersect, that makes him special. It’s his ordinary qualities that make him seem exceptional to her, along with his sweetness and loyalty and humility.
Dexter: Take It!
Dexter: "This is all much easier with a partner. But a partner in what?"This must have been an amazing episode, because I kept saying "Wow" out loud while I was watching it.
Being Human: Flotsam and Jetsam
Annie: "Everyone dies. Actually, can I start that again? Everyone deserves a death. I was going to die of old age. That was the plan."Supernatural: All Dogs Go To Heaven
Dean: "Thanks, Dexter. That's reassuring."
Are they going for the upfront symbolism this season or what? (You all got that Sam was the dog, right?)
Farscape: Jeremiah Crichton
After Moya’s pregnancy accidentally forces her to Starburst, Crichton is stranded on a nearby planet for three months, believing his shipmates abandoned him. When D’Argo and Rygel finally arrive to rescue him, Rygel is mistaken for a local deity who is expected to rise up and lead the people to the light.Fringe: 6995 KHz
“If you end up breaking the universe, this time it’s on your head.”Vampire Diaries: Katerina
“We’re talking centuries of truth mixed with fiction.”A long, long time ago, the first vampires were made—The Originals. The original Original is allegedly Klaus. Compared to Klaus, Elijah is “the Easter Bunny.” At some point in time, a shaman cursed both the vampires and the werewolves: vampires cannot walk in the sun; werewolves can only turn on a full moon.
Stargate Universe: The Greater Good
... in which Rush and Young have a long-awaited confrontation, secrets are revealed, and the dreaded communication stones lead to apparent tragedy.Glee: Never Been Kissed
"You can't punch the gay out of me any more than I can punch the ignoramus out of you."Glee tackles bullying this week – the kind of issue I expected them to make more of in the first season after Theatricality. Once all of the antagonists had actually joined New Directions, Glee needed some bullies to remind us that the club is still not the place to be at McKinley High. Dave Karofsky and friend seemed to disappear after ‘disturbing the freak hive’ so I’m glad he was brought back this week. Puck also makes a welcome return and begins developing a friendship with Artie, partly to fulfill his community service duties after a stint in juvvie. Coach Bieste almost quits the school after discovering the male Glee kids are using mental pictures of her as an erection killer, and Kurt (and thousands of gay kids who watch Glee) gets a new, positive gay role model in Blaine.
Let Me In
Smallville: Ambush
Lois: "None of my other boyfriends have ever survived the general's assault."Did they really just blow up the Talon? This must be the last season or something.
Dexter: Circle Us
Lumen: "I just had a feeling. Some sort of lizard brain thing."Dexter: "She's starting to sound like me."
I am really enjoying this season. I'm starting to like Lumen. And Dexter and Lumen together. It's the romantic in me.
Star Trek: I, Mudd
I liked this one a lot when I was a kid. It's still fun, but I have to say it hasn't aged well.
Farscape: The Flax
During a piloting tutorial, Crichton and Aeryn become trapped in the Flax, an invisible drift net used by Zenetan pirates to capture and loot unwary ships. While they struggle to escape or survive until rescue, D’Argo joins forces with Staanz, an ex-Zenetan pirate, to secure mapping information from a derelict Luxan warship, and Zhaan and Rygel try to distract Kcrackic, a dangerous pirate who has a score to settle with Staanz.Fringe: Amber 31422
“Nature doesn’t recognize good and evil. Nature only recognizes balance and imbalance. I intend to restore balance.”Over in this week’s Supernatural thread, commenter Felipe just mentioned that The Vampire Diaries had spoiled him on plot development. On VD, the changes come fast and furious, and missing one episode would probably be like missing about ten Fringe episodes. So even though this episode seems stuck in neutral, I think that we should be okay with that. We have our characters, our worlds (two! What a deal!), and some fairly interesting plots. Fringe isn’t running at a break-neck speed, and that’s okay. It’s still way, way better than FlashForward.
Supernatural: Family Matters
Dean: "Is he even still Sam?"Castiel: "You pose an interesting philosophical question."
I'm officially out of my Supernatural sixth-season malaise. Yes, we all suspected, but it was nice to have confirmation that there's a reason for the "off"-ness. I feel a lot more grounded now.
Vampire Diaries: Rose
“It’s Elena.”This was not the best episode ever, and it had some glaring inconsistencies, but the Massive Information Dump pretty much set up the rest of the season and contributed a huge amount of (relevant) lore to the world of the Vampire Diaries.
Smallville: Harvest
Lois: "It's like dating a god. Or Bono."Yes, it was another recycled plot. Your basic Children of the Corn and/or variation of Shirley Jackson's Lottery has been done so many times that it's outright painful. But as always, it's the execution that counts, and as far as that goes, it wasn't too bad. And that's mostly because of Lois.
Stargate Universe: Trial and Error
... in which Young has himself a pity party and another “worst day since yesterday.”Chuck: Chuck versus the First Fight
“It’s just so thrilling. It reminds me of that great episode of Alias. I love that show.”So many crosses and double-crosses that I can hardly keep track, but Mama B continues to delight, and I’m so happy that Ellie got some closure, not to mention a great car. And, hey: Sheep! (What episode of Alias featured sheep?)
Dexter: Everything is Illumenated
Dexter: "This isn't how I was planning to spend my evening."Exceptionally suspenseful and exciting episode.
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