Grimm: La Llorona

Monroe: "Halloween for us? Come on, that's, like, bigger than Christmas. There's a long Wesen tradition of an All Hallows' Eve midnight Woge - running through the woods, scaring the crap out of villagers. Literally, sometimes."

This episode of Grimm gets a Hispanic twist as a child abduction points to the legend of "La Llorona" - the woman in white. Valentina Espinosa joins the team as an expert on these serial kidnappings.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Billie Doux

I love Halloween, and not just for the candy. When I was little, I had an audio tape of Halloween songs that I played over and over again, because many of them were really rather wonderful. Every year I think of those songs, and how they connect me to this unfortunately increasingly commercial holiday. Still, it is a holiday rooted in childhood, horror, and things that scare the bejesus out of you. This year we've compiled the thoughts of some of our writers in order to celebrate this spooky time of year. So without further ado...

Revolution: Sex and Drugs

"You're right. The world's not a bunch of pretty postcards."

With a title like "Sex and Drugs," it's gotta be good. And actually, this was a pretty decent episode.

Revenge: Forgiveness

"I needed someone, you walked through the door. Don't let it get to your head."

Finally! This was the first truly great Revenge episode of the season, and I couldn't be more pleased. I was starting to lose my passion for the show, but this hour singlehandedly proved me wrong by weaving together a splendid web of intrigue around several moving developments.

Merlin: Another's Sorrow

"If you betray me again, I'll bury your father alive. Understand?"

I knew this would happen sooner or later. After three terrific episodes, this season was bound to produce a dud at some point. And here it is.

The Walking Dead: Walk with Me

Merle: “How’s about a big hug for your old pal Merle.”

Welcome to Woodbury. I don’t like small towns for the same reason Michonne is antsy in this one. There is always a dark underbelly. In small towns everyone seems polite and kind but that’s just because they are very good at hiding the nasty side of human nature. At least cities are honest in their mix of good and bad.

Dexter: Swim Deep

Dexter: "I didn't want you to drown."
Deb: "You were my hero."

This episode was relatively light and amusing, at least by Dexter standards. And there was actually flirting and sexual tension along with the blood spatter. How about that.

Fringe: The Bullet that Saved the World

“Love.”

I spent this entire episode waiting for something, watching to see how Fringe would avoid doing the obvious, plotting out how the eventual something would be sad—but resolved, as clearly the Over-Therians were destined to return, so it would all work out. But, frankly, I was overthinking it.

Nikita: Innocence

"Now imagine all my frustration at being the last one to find out, and use that to pull the lever."

I was afraid of episodes like this with Nikita's new standalone format. This wasn't a bad hour per se, in fact it had a lot of wonderful character beats, but it was definitely not indicative of the show's usual brilliance.

Doux News: October 28, 2012

This Week: Mmm…Liver -- Mmm…Brains -- Mmm…Candy -- Mmm...Blood -- No More Happy Endings -- Do Showrunners Dream of Electric Sheep? -- What? How? What? -- Henri a Gagné le Gros Lot

Cloud Atlas

Robert Frobisher: "A half-finished book is, after all, a half finished love affair."

I can see why the film-makers tried to explain this movie in a 5 minute-plus trailer. Still I can't imagine any synopsis would work for this labyrinth of a story. I remember distinctly thinking that the historical parts of this movie would be dull, and I would only really like the stuff set in the future. I was absolutely wrong.

Arrow: Lone Gunman

I had a bad case of lazy writer this week, so I'm sorry about the lateness of this review. I think I'm still feeling a little lukewarm about this series, not that that is an excuse, but I feel like they aren't taking the risks I would like them to... Which is a bit like building up an imaginary show in my head and then getting disappointed when the reality isn't what I'd created. Which is probably why so many book adaptations get panned.

Vampire Diaries: The Rager

“There’s more to you than meets the eye, isn’t there?”

This episode had some wonderful moments and some wonderful set-up, including “vague threats, ominous prophecies, and disappearing tattoos.” But it also made me realize why I have been a little bit uncomfortable this entire season: Elena’s transition to vampire is—how to put this?—kinda horrifying, and not in the good Halloweeny way.

Scandal: Beltway Unbuckled

“I’m the leader of the free world, I’m arguably the most powerful man on the planet and I am being brought to my knees by my wife and my... and Olivia Pope.”

I really liked this episode. For the first time this season, the weekly client’s case dovetailed neatly into the Olivia/Fitz romance, we made some progress on the Quinn mystery, and Abby got to do something with her face besides frown.

Person of Interest: Triggerman

“Good to know the Irish mob’s still alive and kicking.”
“I suppose if the city’s going to have organized criminals, they should at least be diverse.”

Person of Interest returns to the world of organized crime with a bang. And what would be a PoI mob episode without everyone’s favorite big boss?

Haven: Over My Head

Claire: “You’re only one person, Audrey. You can’t save everyone.”
Audrey: “But I have to try.”

Curiouser and curiouser. This episode was better. I still don’t like Det. Bowan, but he certainly looks like he’s going to make things interesting. It was fun to see Dave and Vince back on the case even if the detective stymied them. I hope they don’t stay down for long.

Supernatural: Bitten

"No idea on this one. And no clue who is painted on the walls."

This one just might be for the fans who have been saying Supernatural isn't bothering to push the envelope any more.

Alphas: God's Eye

Rosen: “What the hell am I doing? I’ve never stolen anything in my life.”

Seriously?! Seriously?! Well talk about your cliff hangers. When I got to the end of this episode I really couldn’t believe that it was the last one of the season. I actually went and checked several sources just to make sure.

666 Park Avenue: Hero Complex

"I don't care what zip code you come from, you're your own man."

What a mess this show has become (and we're only four episodes in). I really, really wanted to love 666 Park Avenue. It's got one of the best casts ever assembled for a television series and a spooky premise in a fascinating backdrop. However, the show just squanders all of its potential with every passing episode. It should be kicking ass by now but instead, it's just slogging along never really culminating into anything more than passable, disposable TV.

The Walking Dead: Sick

Tomas: “Who are you people, anyway?”
Axel: “You don’t look like no rescue team.”

You know you have been through hell and back again when the safest place you can think of is a prison and you don’t think twice about taking on what in the old world might have been the most dangerous of people.

Revenge: Intuition

"When at a crossroads, my father was fond of saying 'go with your gut'... intuition always has our best interests at heart."

My faith in Revenge has finally been restored after a rocky start. I really wasn't loving the first half of this episode, but it looks like the writers finally know what they're doing.

Once Upon a Time: The Crocodile

“You don’t need power, Rumple. You need courage, to let me in.”

When the curse was broken, and half of Storybrooke remembered the wrongs that Regina and Rumple had brought upon them, both characters immediately hit a turning point. Regina and Rumple had to either make a change, or turn back down the road they came. Since the first season built up their villainy so heavily, and the flashbacks mostly focused on each of their journeys towards these dark places, there wasn’t any other direction to go but up. Regina made the decision to do what’s best for Henry, we saw that much when she let him go, and Rumple decided to do what’s best for Belle, but is there any truth to his sacrifice?

Merlin: The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

“Merlin has...”

This time last season Howard Overman did us all a favour and finally killed off Uther Pendragon. And now, for one night only, he has brought him back.

Dexter: Run

"Run. I don't run. (pause) However, I do run if there's a bull coming after me with an axe."

I am having such a good time this season -- so far, anyway. Dexter and Deb have so much history together, and so much love between them. It's fascinating to watch them wrestling with this unique dilemma and trying to find a way to salvage their relationship.

Grimm: The Other Side

This week's "Previously On" clips seemed to indicate we'd get some movement on the Renard front - both with the effects of the potion and his relationship with his brother. Unfortunately, things still seem to be progressing very slowly. Now I'm just hoping we get some major developments for the midseason finale.

Vampire Diaries: Memorial

“He made me understand how important it is to be part of a team, a community.”

I went to a wedding this weekend. It was just far enough away, and required just enough bizarro preparatory errands, that the whole adventure took about 26 hours spread over two days. So I spent all week complaining: what were my friends thinking? How could they schedule a wedding now, when I’m so busy? Could I just not show up? Maybe I’d get a flat tire…that would be useful. There are some great potholes on Sunset Blvd.

Doux News: October 21, 2012

This week: And they're already talking cancellations -- This week in casting goodness -- How like New Zealand -- I hope it's not science fiction

Nikita: 3.0

"You had me at 'give me the damn glock'."

Coming into the season three premiere, I definitely had my reservations. After all, this episode was going to signal a whole new chapter in the show's legacy so I was very hesitant. Now I know I should have had more faith in Craig Silverstein, who managed to usher the show's masterful storytelling into thrilling new avenues. Welcome back Nikita, you're still as phenomenal as ever.

Scandal: Hunting Season

"I am angry because you are behaving like a traitor to your country."
"To my country or to you?"

This week the show rewrote nine episodes of character development for the convenience of the plot. This is why I stopped loving Charmed. You can’t change the rules of your universe just to make one episode work.

Person of Interest: Masquerade

“Sorry baby, you’re just a beautiful loose end.”

Well color me disappointed. After two weeks of fantastic episodes, PoI seems to have returned to its season one formula. It wasn’t a bad formula, I had just been hoping the show was heading in a darker, more complex direction. Maybe next week?

Alphas: Need to Know

Kat: “The glasses, the messy hair, the cardigans. He seemed like such a nice old dude.”

This was a hard review for me to write, because I am finding the episodes difficult to watch. Not because they are not up to snuff, but because they are so well acted and work so hard to stick to “reality” while dealing in science fiction. I’m not a fan of watching people unravel.

Arrow: Honor Thy Father

Dig: "Home is a battlefield."

I like the theme of this second episode – that, in the struggle to find our place in the world, sometimes our family can't see us the way we want them to. Oliver and Laurel are both condemned to follow their parent's legacy but realizing they can't do it the way they wish. Perhaps the producers drove home this theme a little too literally, but this is already shaping up to be a fairly blunt show.

Supernatural: Heartache

"I do a lot of cardio."

I'll give them this: I got more than halfway through this episode and still couldn't figure out what the frak was going on. I thought at first it was the haunted body part thingy, which has happened before, but no. When Randa mentioned staying close to the mother ship, I even thought for a moment that they were finally giving us aliens.

Star Trek Voyager: Cathexis

'Find your way home, Commander.’

While Chakotay lingers at death’s door in sickbay, a mysterious alien presence appears to be possessing his crewmates…

Scandal: Grant: For the People

“You can’t do this. You can’t have him.”

Pope & Associates are on clean-up duty. So are the writers of Scandal. After a whole season (cough, six episodes, cough) of creating an elaborate mystery, they have given themselves one episode to resolve everything. While some of the attempts at clean-up were overly simplistic (Huck getting Charlie to murder Billy), they did a credible job and even managed to set up a mystery for season two.

Grimm: The Bottle Imp

Hank: "I gotta say, man, you live one weird life."
Nick: "Tell me about it."

The story this week focuses on a father and daughter who are badger-like Wesen, while Monroe manages the shop for Rosalee, and Renard and Juliette suffer some side effects from the "pure of heart" potion and the kiss.

New Fall Shows Recap -- Part Two

Here is part two of my television recap. Thanks to all of you who commented on the first one.

666 Park Avenue: The Dead Don't Stay Dead

"Clearly he doesn't like people breaking deals."

Now we're talking! 666 Park Avenue is slowly yet capably finding its identity. However, the sad thing is I'm unable to fully enjoy it since it's pretty darn obvious the show is going to get cancelled very soon. The ratings are just too abysmal for it to even last a whole season which is so unfortunate. With a cast this stunning, it would be a shame for this show to become nothing more than a failed memory.

Revolution: Soul Train

Neville: "You gotta toughen up, son."

I'm getting Lost vibes. This was a Neville-centric episode, complete with flashbacks to show how he became the vicious prick that he is right now.

Scandal: The Trail

“You’re right. I would be lucky to have you.”

Best. episode. ever. By all accounts, it should have been a trainwreck. The entire episode was exposition. The only plot of the thing happens in the last two minutes. Yet it was amazing. I think this proves without a doubt that when you put Tony Goldwyn and Kerry Washington together, magic happens. Sexy, sexy magic.

Haven: The Farmer

Fiance: “When this wedding is over, I’m so done running.”

I was disappointed in this episode. I like Haven because it is light and fluffy and is careful not to take itself too seriously. Well, I think the writers went over the edge with this one and tried to go for dark and serious. I just found it annoying and icky.

Castle: Murder, He Wrote

“I’m not going to deny that I’ve brought other women up here, but none of them were you.”

Castle has whisked Beckett off to the Hamptons for their first romantic weekend away together. It doesn’t take long before a man stumbles into their lives and falls dead into Castle’s pool. A direct homage to another brilliant ABC show, this case is about someone exacting revenge.

Revenge: Confidence

"Are you disappointed to see me alive? Death by dumpster had such flair."

I may be in the minority here but I'm not loving this season of Revenge. It's perfectly entertaining and intriguing, but I'm not finding it as thrilling as it was last year. I'm sure it's going to blow my mind at some point soon and rock for the rest of the season (I have a lot of faith in Mike Kelley's writing team) but so far it's been a slow-burn.

The Walking Dead: Seed

Mustache guy: “Holy shit.”

Well, yes, holy shit indeed.

Once Upon a Time: Lady of the Lake

“Every kingdom needs a hero, don’t you think?”

Three episodes in and there’s no signs of this season slowing down. One thing that Once has to combat this year though, is combining all these dueling stories without making the entire episode seem disharmonized. As far as this episode goes, there wasn’t a hint of discord throughout, but with such a killer pace, the show is definitely going to run that risk.

Community: Mixology Certification

“Yes. I want to bathe in manhood.”

I have a confession to make. Before starting work on these catchup reviews, I had never actually seen this episode before. Back when this episode first aired, I had just started a new job and was moving into my own place for the first time. It was something of a very hectic time in my life. As a result some things slipped. This was one of them. So now I've finally got around to watch it I have just one observation: why the hell did I take so long to finally watch this?

Merlin: Arthur's Bane, Part 2

“I feel that the die is cast, and for good or ill Albion’s great trial has begun!”

Another fantastic episode. I will admit that I did have my doubts that this would live up to the trailers. Last season the two-parters tended to start out strong, but then disappoint in the second half. Not so in this case, I'm happy to say.

Dexter: Buck the System

Dexter: "My lizard brain has been your secret weapon all along. You just didn't know it."

The opening scenes were classic Dexter, as he fantasized about killing the clerk in the post office and Masuka before he lost it and actually attacked a recalcitrant prisoner. How long does Dexter go between victims? Didn't he kill Viktor what's-his-face a couple of days ago? (Note that he wasn't fantasizing about killing Deb, his actual "jailer".)

Doux News: October 14, 2012

This week: Community delayed – Dr. Horrible 2 – Arrow – Trouble for the Munsters – And more heartache for Doctor Who fans.

The Walking Dead: Wildfire

Jim: "I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay.”

I feel like every character in this show must have that mantra running through their heads, at least at the subconscious level. As with Jim, things are not okay, and no amount of self-talk is going to make it that way.