Showing posts with label A to Z Challenge. Show all posts
Zero Hour – 1.01 – Strike – Review: A Poor Man’s Davinci Code– A to Z Challenge – Day 26
‘Everyone loves a conspiracy.’
― Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code
Prologue
I literally only choose this because I didn't want to end my A-Z challenge reviewing an animated TV show (sorry, Zeta Project). I watched this pilot in a constant state of second hand embarrassment for all involved. Poor Anthony Edwards, such a long fall from ER and a far cry from the coolest dude ever – Goose from Top Gun.
About the Show
Seasons: 1| No. of Episodes: 13
Premiere Date: February 13, 2013 | End Date: August 3, 2013
Genre(s): Action, Drama
The Show in a Nutshell: Hank (Anthony Edwards) runs the magazine Modern Skeptic with his friends, Rachel (Addison Timlir) and Arron (Scott Michael Foster). They find themselves involved in a dangerous, centuries-long, worldwide conspiracy after Hank's wife (Jacinda Barrett) is kidnapped.
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Episode Summary: Hank Galliston publishes the magazine Modern Skeptic, which focuses on the paranormal. His wife Laila buys a unique-looking clock from a boardwalk vendor and is later abducted. FBI Agent Riley arrives to show Hank and his copy editors, Arron and Rachel, video footage of Laila's abduction. The screen freezes on mercenary White Vincent, with whom Riley is familiar. Hank disassembles Laila's clock to find a flawed diamond. With light shone through it, the stone refracts a map. Hank shows the map and its markings to Father Mickle (Charles S. Dutton), a priest who talks of a language that died in the 2nd century. The priest also mentions the Rosicrucians, a group of Christian mystics of the 17th century, and place called New Bartholomew. The map diamond is left with the priest and Vincent later assaults him, collecting the diamond. Hank leaves his team behind and travels to where New Bartholomew should be, with Agent Riley in tow, as she tells him White Vincent's terrorist history. Aaron and Rachel travel to Bavaria to find the clock maker (Jan Tříska), who wears a Rosicrucian cross. He informs them that after the Nazis created a new "eternal life", the Church appointed twelve new "apostles" that assembled in 1938 to protect the war-torn world from doom. A clock was created for each. The apostles then scattered to hide from the Nazis. New Bartholomew was not a place, but one of the apostles. Hank finds the place on the map where New Bartholomew is located. It is a German submarine, stuck in Canadian ice, with some dead people inside including New Bartholomew, who resemble Hank. Outside, Vincent arrives as the clock maker's voiceover warns of the approaching tumultuous "zero hour".
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Character of the Night
• Hank
Best Character Interactions
• Hank and Father Mickle
Best Scene
• The end scene, which I will admit was a pretty darn cool cliffhanger and it actually made me want to watch the next episode to get a little resolution.
That Awkward Moment
• That awkward when you keep expecting Robert Langdon to burst onto the scene at any moment. This show really was a few years too late on trying to capitalize on an international Easter egg hunt trend that Dan Brown’s Da Vinci code reinvigorated.
The ‘Who thought this was a good idea?’ Award
• Nazis, again? Indiana Jones did it first and did it the best. Knock it off…
Fun Facts: On March 1, 2013, the series was removed from its airing schedule by ABC due to low ratings. On April 26, 2013, it was announced that the remaining episodes will begin airing June 15, 2013, with two back-to-back episodes
Tasty Tidbit: The premiere of Zero Hour marked the lowest-rated in-season debut for a scripted show ever on ABC.
Side Notes: I like when a show’s pilot actually has a real title, I don’t know why, I just do. Most of my favorite shows have this in common for some random reason.
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Grade: C-
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Comparable Shows
If you like shows based on conspiracy theories with a thriller aspect then may I suggest that you check out one, some or all of the following TV shows: The 4400, Haven and/or Continuum.
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Epilogue
Well, that’s it, that all she wrote folks (at least for the A-Z Blogger Challenge, that is)!
I hope you have enjoyed the past 26 days that were filled with reviews of some of the interesting TV shows past and present that I’ve watched. I hope I have inspired you to watch a few, start a marathon of some cult classics with friends and/or also managed to help you avoid wasting your precious time on an unworthy hot mess.
I do hope you continue to come to my blog as it is forever evolving and improving. I’m always on the lookout to make new internet friends, especially bloggers to chat and exchange ideas with, so hit up my inbox, tweet me on Twitter, follow me on Instagram, Google+ or Pinterest, or even friend me on Facebook, all that information can be found in the ‘Contact Me’ tab.
It was a fun run. I’m proud of myself and all the bloggers who attempted this challenge and even prouder of the ones who completed it. See ya next year (or tomorrow, tomorrow’s good also)!
Young Americans – 1.01 – The Beginning – A to Z Challenge Day 25
‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’
- Nelson Mandela
Prologue
Up for discussion today is the network premiere and not the actual unaired original pilot of the WB summer series Young Americans.
About the Show
Seasons: 1 |No. of Episodes: 8
Premiere Date: 07/12/2000| End Date: 08/30/2000
Genre: Drama
Story in a Nutshell: Young Americans is set in the town of New Rawley at a prestigious boarding school, Rawley Academy. Will Krudski, a working class New Englander, earns a scholarship to his hometown's posh boarding school, starting with the summer session, as a means of escaping his abusive father. In a moment of carelessness he confesses to his roommate, Scout, that he cheated on the entrance exam. Their professor, Finn, overhears Will and Scout discussing what to do. Before making a final decision about expelling him, Finn has Will write an essay on who he is.
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Episode Summary: Will settles in at Rawley Academy, where the teacher Finn learns a secret Will shared with Scout. When Scout's dating Bella turns serious, Mr. Banks explains why he won't allow it. The rowing team's cox Jacqueline "Jake" Pratt, who also has a secret, makes a profound impression on Hamilton. Hamilton is surprised by this and starts to question his own sexual orientation.
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Character of the Night
• Will
Favorite Actor
• Ian Somerhalder
Favorite Main Character
• Hamilton Fleming
Least Favorite Main Character
• Jacqueline "Jake" Pratt
Favorite Side Character
• Lena
Least Favorite Side Character
• Senator Calhoun
Fun Fact: Jeremy Sisto was originally cast to play the lead role of Wll.
Grade: C+
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Comparable Shows
If you are interested in finding more shows like Young Americans then please be sure to check out one, some or all of the following shows: Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson’s Creek and/or Gilmore Girls.
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Up Next: I’m writing about the pilot of Zero Hour for the last day of the A to Z Challenge.
X-Files – 9.19 – The Truth– A to Z Challenge – Day 24
‘It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.’
- Mark Twain
Prologue
Up for discussion today is the series finale of X-Files, 9.19/9.20: The Truth Part I&II. X-Files is the show that started me on my journey of learning to love and obsessed about the Sci-Fi genre. I discovered the show in its fifth season when I was 10 and the show ended when I was 15. It was bittersweet and even now every time I watch it, I feel a different way about the ending.
About the Show
Seasons: 9| No. of Episodes: 202
Premiere Date: 09/10/1993 | End Date: 05/19/2002
Status: Off-Air
Genre(s): Science fiction, Horror, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Story in a nutshell: The series revolves around FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigating X-Files: marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder believes in the existence of aliens and the paranormal while Scully, a skeptic, is assigned to make scientific analyses of Mulder's discoveries to debunk his work and thus return him to mainstream cases. Early in the series, both agents become pawns in a larger conflict and come to trust only each other.
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Episode Summary: After not knowing Fox Mulder's (Duchovny) whereabouts for the past year, Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) and Scully learn that Mulder is being held for the murder of a military man he could not possibly have killed: Knowle Rohrer (Adam Baldwin), one of the government's secret "Super Soldiers". Mulder breaks out of prison with the help of Skinner, Reyes, Doggett, Scully and Alvin Kersh (James Pickens, Jr.). Mulder and Scully travel to New Mexico where helicopters destroy an Anasazi cliff dwelling ruin along with The Smoking Man (William B. Davis).
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Character of the Night
• Mulder
Best Character Interactions
• Mulder & Scully
Best Scene
• When Mulder and Scully arrive at Anasazi ruins to find a "wise man" who they believe can make sense of the classified documents Mulder has read. They discover the so-called "wise man" is none other than The Smoking Man (William B. Davis), who is hiding to survive the colonization.
Best Guest Star
• William B. Davis
Favorite Actor
• David Duchovny
Favorite Main Character
• Dana Scully
Least Favorite Main Character
• Reyes
Favorite Side Character
• The Smoking Man
Least Favorite Side Character
•Alex Krycek
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Grade: A-
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Comparable Shows
If you are interested in finding more shows like X-Files then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Fringe, The Lone Gunmen and/or Millennium.
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Up Next: I’ll be writing about the series premiere of Young Americans.
Weeds – 1.01 – You Can't Miss the Bear– A to Z Challenge – Day 23
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Veronica Mars – 2.06 – Rat Saw God– A to Z Challenge – Day 22
'Clever tyrants are never punished.'
- Voltaire
Prologue
Up for discussion today is one of my favorite episodes of Veronica Mars, episode 2x06: Rat Saw God.
When people tell me that they’ve never watched or heard of Veronica Mars, I kind of just stare at them blankly. This show was the bomb.com. It was smart, it was snarky and it felt real in an odd kind of way. The cast was just aces all around.
The Veronica Mars fandom never went away we just simmered in the background. Our patience was rewarded with a movie (and maybe even a few sequels, a graphic novel or two is the works along with some companion books to hold us over in between movies). If you haven’t given this show a chance, now is the time to check it out.
About the Show
Seasons: 3| No. of Episodes: 64
Premiere Date: 09/22/2004 | End Date: 05/22/2007
Status: Off-Air
Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Neo-Noir
Story in a nutshell: Set in the fictional town of Neptune, Veronica Mars starred Kristen Bell as the title character, a student who progressed from high school to college during the series while moonlighting as a private investigator under the wing of her detective father.
Why I Love the Show: It has this incredible offbeat humor and the social commentary was always snarky and never preachy.
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Episode Summary: After Keith loses the sheriff election, Veronica gets asked for help by the last person she ever thought she'd see: Abel Koontz. His daughter, Amelia DeLongpre, is missing and he wants to see her before he dies, so Veronica tries to track her down. This leads to surprises and shocks as she encounters Clarence Wiedman as well. Also,Logan and his father have a conversation in jail before Keith has a talk with Aaron.
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• Woody Goodman is elected to the Balboa County Board of Supervisors. The town of Neptune, being unincorporated, has no officers of its own; the Supervisor whose district includes Neptune is unofficially known as "mayor" of Neptune.
• Keith again loses the sheriff election to Lamb.
• A witness turns up for Felix's murder, so Logan is arrested again.
• Abel Koontz succumbs to stomach cancer.
• Amelia DeLongpre was in Neptune, outside Kane Software, a week ago. Her boyfriend wanted her to get more money out of them and Clarence Wiedman complied. Veronica tracks Amelia to a motel in rural California, and finds her body in the ice machine, just as Wiedman shows up; they investigate together. Amelia's boyfriend starts using the (marked) money in Las Vegas, so Weidman goes there, presumably to kill him.
• Keith visits Aaron and tells him that if one hair is hurt on Veronica's head, Aaron will pay for it.
• Keith breaks into the area where the bus is kept and finds a rat taped under one of the seats.
• Logan's house is burnt down, by the PCHers or Weevil, and he now lives with Duncan.
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Character of the Night
• Veronica
Best Character Interactions
• Veronica & Abel Koontz
Best Scene
• Logan and his father have an overdue chat.
Best Cameo
• Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Favorite Actor
• Kristen Bell
Favorite Main Character
• Veronica Mars
Least Favorite Main Character
• Duncan
Favorite Side Character
• Mac
Least Favorite Side Character
• Jackie Cook
Fun Fact: In January 2014, it was announced that a digital spin-off of Veronica Mars was in development with creator Rob Thomas involved in the project. The web series will air on The CW's digital content website, CW Seed. The metafictional concept will feature Ryan Hansen portraying himself in an attempt to make a spin-off based on his character, Dick Casablancas, and will likely consist of six to eight 10-minute segments
Tasty Tidbit: A novel, titled, Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line written by series creator Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham was released by Random House on March 25, 2014. The novels are canon, and will not be negated by a future film.
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Grade: B+
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Comparable Shows
If you are interested in finding more shows like Veronica Mars then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Gilmore Girls, Life as We Know It and/or Pushing Daisies.
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Up Next: Be sure to check out the blog tomorrow because I will be discussing my episode of Weeds.
Undeclared – 1.01 – Prototype – A to Z Challenge – Day 21
‘Months are different in college, especially freshman year. Too much happens. Every freshman month equals six regular months—they're like dog months.’
― Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl
Prologue
Up for discussion today is an episode that can fall into two categories, firsts and favorites. But for this writing exercise I will file it squarely under ‘Favorites’.
I didn't fins Undeclared until two years later after it's original run when I, myself was headed off to college at the tender age of 16. I really liked the show and now looking back wish Judd would stop making the same movies over and over again and get back to writing TV series. The landscape has changed and I think his brand of writing in the sitcom realm of TV would very refreshing.
About the Show
Seasons: 1| No. of Episodes: 17
Premiere Date:09/25/2001 | End Date: 03/12/2002
Status: Off-Air
Genre(s): Sitcom
Story in a nutshell: Undeclared centers on a group of college freshmen at the fictional University of Northeastern California during the early 2000’s.
Why I Loved the Show: The show was not a cliché of college life, it was pretty accurate in an overly exaggerated way as I would come to find two years later when I headed off to college.
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Episode Summary: On Steven's first day at UNEC, he meets and has a one night stand with Lizzie, unaware of the fact that she has a boyfriend. Steven's father Hal shows up at the floor party and announces that he's getting a divorce.
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Character of the Night
• Steve
Best Character Interactions
• Steve & Lloyd
Most Memorable Moment
• Steve rips his X-Files poster to prove that he is leaving his geeky ways behind him much to the dismay of his best friend.
Best Line
• Steve’s Dad: Hey, nice new fancy haircut. You look like you should join the Backstreet Boys. Hello, ladies!
Best Scene
• Steve meets his new roommates.
That Awkward Moment
• That awkward moment when you don’t realize your shirt is actually fugly.
Best Cameo
• Tom Welling
Favorite Actors
• Kevin Hart, Seth Rogen and Busy Phillips
Favorite Main Character
• Steven Karp
Least Favorite Main Character
• Tina Ellroy
Favorite Side Character
• Percy Madison
Least Favorite Side Character
• Susuki
Fun Fact: In 2012, Entertainment Weekly listed the show at #16 in the "25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years
Tasty Tidbit: An alternate version of the second episode, titled "Full Bluntal Nugety" is included on the DVD release of the series.
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Grade: A-
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Comparable Shows
If you are interested in finding more shows like Undeclared then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: A Different World, Boy Meets World and/or Freaks and Geeks.
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Up Next: In the queue for tomorrow is a Mini Recap/Retro Review for yet another one of my favorite, ‘gone too soon’ shows of my hipster youth, Veronica Mars. I’ll be writing about the pilot so be sure to come back and check out the blog tomorrow.
Twisted – 1.01 – Pilot – A to Z Challenge – Day 20
“We cannot expect people to have respect for law and order until we teach respect to those we have entrusted to enforce those laws.
- Hunter S. Thompson
Prologue
Today, I’m writing about the pilot of ABC Family’s latest teen mystery: Twisted.
I was excited about this show beyond belief but things managed to go from bad to worse and never got any better. It never made it on to my ‘must see TV’ list unfortunately. I adore almost all of the actors and actresses young and old alike but the writing is lackluster and the pacing tends to plod along.
About the Show
Seasons: 1| No. of Episodes: 19
Premiere Date: March 19, 2013 | End Date: N/A
Status: On-Air
Genre(s): Teen drama, Mystery, Thriller
Story in a nutshell: The series focuses on charming sixteen-year-old Danny Desai (Avan Jogia), who was charged with killing his aunt when he was eleven. Having spent five years in juvenile detention, he is released and returns to his hometown of Green Grove, New York. While trying to rekindle old friendships and facing the challenges of dealing with his judgmental peers, Danny becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a classmate. Realizing the town does not care about the truth and only wants to see him charged with the crime, Danny becomes determined to clear his name. Meanwhile, he must maintain a secret he has never told anyone: the reason he killed his aunt.
Why I Wanted to Watch the Show: The reason why I initially wanted to support this show is because it was something a little different from the usual things that air on ABC Family. This show was supposed to be about a male lead who is also a person of color. It was also supposed to be more of a psychological thriller.
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Episode Summary: Danny, Jo, and Lacey were best friends in childhood. At age 11, Danny murdered his Aunt Tara and was placed in a juvenile detention center. Five years later, Lacey is part of the popular crowd, while Jo is a social outcast; the two no longer friends. Newly released, Danny tries to reconnect with the girls. Jo warms up to him and they go to a party thrown by Regina, Lacey's best friend. Lacey also begins to warm up to Danny when they share a bag of chips in Danny's bedroom later in the evening. That night, Regina texts Danny that she knows why he killed his aunt. The next day, she is found murdered, the necklace from her neck the only thing missing. Danny becomes the prime suspect, and it is revealed that he has the necklace.
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Character of the Night
• Jo
Best Character Interactions
• Danny & Jo
• Jo & Rico
Most Memorable Moment
• Drunk!Jo babbling on about her night to her mother
Best Line
• Regina: I've been super vicious since I went off the gluten.
Read more: http://www.tvfanatic.com/quotes/shows/twisted/episodes/pilot/#ixzz2zgSXN3iy
Best Scene
• Danny comes to Jo’s rescue when she gets in over her head at a popular people’s party.
That Awkward Moment
• That awkward moment when you ex-bestie who is a convicted murderer tries to talk to you in front of the whole school like he just got back from summer vacation.
Favorite Actors
•Avon Jogia and Kylie Bunbury
Favorite Main Character
• Lacey
Least Favorite Main Character
• Jo
Favorite Side Character
• Rico
Fun Fact: The show’s original title was ‘Socio’.
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Grade: C+
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Comparable Shows
If you are interested in finding more shows like Twisted then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: The Lying Game, Pretty Little Liars and/or Secret Circle.
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Up Next: In the queue for tomorrow is a Mini Recap/Retro Review for one of my favorite, ‘gone too soon’ shows of my hipster youth, Undeclared. I’ll be writing about the pilot so be sure to come back and check out the blog tomorrow.
Supernatural – 5.22 – Swan Song – A to Z Challenge – Day 19
Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more
- Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas from their 1976 album Leftoverture
Prologue
Up for discussion today is hands down my favorite season finale of Supernatural. Honestly, had it not been for the last 10 seconds of the episode, this could have easily served as the show’s series finale. It was definitely the culmination of Eric Kripke’s vision for his show.
It is said that sometimes a writer’s characters take on a life of their own and the original story intended has to evolve and in the case of Supernatural, the series that was once known as the ‘little show that could’ that is just what happened.
About the Show
Seasons: 9| No. of Episodes: 188
Premiere Date: 09/13/2005 | End Date: N/A
Status: On-Air
Genre(s): Horror, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Mystery
Story in a nutshell: The series follows the two brothers as they hunt demons, ghosts, monsters and other supernatural beings in the world.
Best Thing about This Episode: When the episode begins it frames the story with a love letter to the Impala, which the fandom calls Baby and made her the most important object in the universe.
Best Reason to Watch the Show: The chemistry between Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles is amazing and has carried the show through some very rough patches. I've seen very few actors care so deeply and genuinely about their characters and love their fans as much as their fans love them. Also the twists on mythology and urban legends is pretty dang cool as well.
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Teleplay: Eric Kripke/Story: Eric "Giz" Gerwirtz
Director: Steve Boyum
Episode Summary: Chuck begins to narrate the life and times of the Impala and the boys' life inside of it. Chuck reveals their time spent in the Impala and how they made it their home throughout the years before and after they began hunting.
Remembering a comment made by Lucifer in the future, Dean realizes that the fallen angel is in Detroit. Sam and Dean confront Lucifer, who knows of their plan to use the Horsemen's rings to trap him back in his cage. Despite this, Sam offers himself as a vessel, hoping that he can overcome Lucifer's control and throw himself into the prison. Lucifer is too strong, and Sam disappears in his body.
As Lucifer tries to make Sam happy by killing the demons sent by Azazel to manipulate him during his childhood, Dean learns from Chuck the time and location of the final battle between Michael and Lucifer. The following day at the battleground—Stull Cemetery in Stull, KS (just outside of Lawrence, Kansas) — Lucifer tries to talk Michael out of fighting, but he refuses. However, Castiel interrupts the fight by banishing Michael with holy fire. An angry Lucifer kills Castiel, and then snaps Bobby's neck when he shoots him. He then starts brutally beating Dean, but stops when he notices an old army man of Sam's inside the Impala revealed earlier during Chuck's narration.
Sam remembers his life growing up with Dean, and manages to take control of his body. He uses the rings to reopen the door to the cage, and prepares to jump inside. Michael returns and tries to stop him, but he too is pulled into the pit while grappling with Sam. Castiel, resurrected again as an angel, heals Dean and brings Bobby back to life. He returns to Heaven, hoping to bring order now that Michael is gone.
As Dean attempts to move on, he seems to turn his back on hunting and returns to Lisa. Chuck smiles after finishing his narration of the story, and vanishes into thin air. Later that night, a street light flickers out and Sam is revealed outside Lisa's home, looking in the window at the "family" eating dinner together...
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Character of the Night
• Sam Winchester
• Baby Winchester
Best Character Interactions
•Sam and Dean
Most Memorable Moment
• Sam’s consciousness is able to break free for a moment and that allows him to jump into the pit and stop the apocalypse.
Best Line
•Chuck: So what’s it all add up to? Well, it’s hard to say. But me, I’d say it was a test. For Sam and Dean. And I think they did alright. Up against good, evil, angels, devils, destiny, and God himself - They made their own choice. They chose family. And well, isn’t that kinda the whole point?
Best Scene
• Dean arrives at Stull cemetery
Memorable Moments
• Dean put on his mixtape that is labeled ‘kick it in the ass’
• Lucifer uses his finger to draw a pitchfork in the frozen window.
• The flashbacks to Sam and Dean as little kids making the Impala theirs.
Lines I Loved
• Chuck: Three days later another car rolled off that same line. No one gave two craps about her, but they should’ve. Because this 1967 Chevrolet Impala would turn out to be the most important car... no, the most important object in pretty much the whole universe.
• Lucifer: A wrestling match inside your noggin. I like the idea. Just you and me, one round, no tricks. You win, you jump in the hole. I win... well, then I win. What do you say, Sam? A fiddle of gold against your soul says I'm better than you.
• Sam: If this thing goes our way and I Triple Lindy into that box, you know I'm not coming back.
• Dean: Sammy? Sammy? It's okay, I'm here. I'm not going to leave you.
• Castiel: You got what you asked for Dean. No Paradise. No Hell. Just more of the same. I mean it Dean. What would you rather have? Peace - or freedom?
Scenes I'm Smitten With
• All of them, literally, except for the very last scene that closes the episode.
Favorite Actors
• Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles
Favorite Main Character
• I literally love the brothers equally though for very different reasons
Least Favorite Main Character
• In season 5 it was by and far Castiel (though I do love Misha to pieces)
Favorite Side Character
• Bobby Singer
Fun Fact: Stull Cemetery is a real cemetery near Lawrence, Kansas, where Sam and Dean were born. It has a lot of lore associated with it, including that it may be a gate to Hell.
Tasty Tidbit: The phrase "Swan Song" refers to a final work or performance, or the final part of a story. It was also the name of the record label founded by Led Zeppelin.
Side Note: After the episode fans placed an ad in The Hollywood Reporter to mark Eric Kripke stepping done as showrunner.
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Grade: A+
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Comparable Shows
If you are interested in finding more shows like Supernatural then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Grimm, The Walking Dead and/or X-Files.
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Up Next: In the queue for tomorrow is another ABC Family show: Twisted. I will be breaking down the pilot. Come back and check it out!
Revenge– 1.22 – Reckoning – A to Z Challenge – Day 18
'A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green.'
- Francis Bacon
Prologue
Up for discussion today is the first season of Revenge’s finale.
This is the only show on the ABC network that I watch. Ever since Lost ended I just haven’t really found anything else on the network to hold my attention. I’m not really into comedies, so that pretty much rules out all of their critically acclaimed stuff.
At first blush I remember thinking I thought this was a pretty weak finale but upon two rewatches I discovered I actually liked quite a bit more than when I first watched it.
About the Show
Seasons: 3| No. of Episodes: 63|Premiere Date: 09/21/2011| End Date: N/A | Status: On-Air
Genre(s): Soap Opera, Drama, Psychological thriller, Mystery
Story in a nutshell: Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) comes to the Hamptons and rents a beach house next to the Grayson family mansion for the summer. Emily is really Amanda Clarke, whose father was framed for treason when she was a little girl. After a lengthy trial, he was imprisoned for life, and was murdered in prison by agents of the people who framed him. Amanda was separated from him after his trial and never saw him afterwards. She has now returned to the Hamptons as an adult to get revenge on those who wronged her and her father. Her primary target is Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe), matriarch of the Grayson family, who loved and betrayed Amanda's father.
Best Reason to Watch the Show: If you are looking for a show that is just good, soapy , ridiculous fun this is the show for you. It may be a bit over the top but the character motivations and relationships are compelling enough to keep you coming back for more. Also, if you are into live tweeting, I personally think this is best Sunday night shows to do it for.
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Episode Summary: Emily moves forward with the final phases of her master plan for revenge against the Graysons as their empire is slowly self-destructing. When Emily discovers her closest ally, Nolan, has been kidnapped and held hostage by the white-haired man, she comes face to face with him and a battle to the death ensues.
Ashley has to make an important decision regarding her loyalties to Conrad and Victoria, and she betrays Emily once again by telling Daniel what she saw happen between Jack and Emily. Daniel confronts Emily, and Emily says the reason she did what she did was because he was not the person she fell in love with and he is turning into all the things he never wanted to be, a Grayson. She gives him the engagement ring back.
Emily decides she will tell Jack that she loves him and reveal her true identity. However, she finds that Amanda is back and is pregnant, leaving Emily heartbroken.
Charlotte reveals an affair Jaime had with a history teacher to the whole school, embarrassing Jaime publicly; Declan tells Charlotte to never talk to him again.
Because of John McGowen, Victoria discovers Conrad signed contracts to kill David Clarke. Victoria and John McGowen fly to Washington D.C. for the incriminating trial of the century regarding Conrad Grayson and the recent terrorist allegations that have been released to the SEC.
The "white-haired man" pulls the wheel brakes off the plane with both Victoria Grayson and Lydia Davis on board, causing the plane to crash. After hearing that no survivors have been found, Charlotte calls Declan to tell him, but he yells that he will never speak to her again before angrily hanging up the phone. Charlotte overdoses.
Nolan reveals to Emily a dark secret from the evidence that Conrad tried to destroy and that the framing and death of her father involves so much more than the Graysons; many others played a role in the false accusation. Emily finds out her mother is still alive from a very old security camera tape of Victoria, and she tells Nolan to resume playing the tape so she can presumably find her mother.
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Character of the Night
• Emily
Best Character Interactions
• Emily & Daniel
• Emily & Victoria
Most Memorable Moment
• Emily waiting on ‘The White Haired Man’ with an axe
Best Line
• Emily: In every life, there comes a day of reckoning, a time when unsettled scores demand their retribution. And our own lies and transgressions are finally laid bare.
Best Scene
•The fight scene between Emily and ‘The White Haired Man’
That Awkward Moment Award
• That awkward moment when your plan quite literally blows up in your face.
Favorite Actors
• Emily VanCamp, Josh Bowman and Connor Paolo
Favorite Main Character
• Nolan
Least Favorite Main Character
• Ashley
Favorite Side Character
• Takeda
Least Favorite Side Character
• Tyler
Fun Fact: The show is inspired by the Alexandre Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo.
Tasty Tidbit: The pilot episode scored a 3.3 Nielsen rating in the 18-49 age demographic and 10.02 million viewers, winning the 10 pm hour time slot against CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Side Note: During the show’s first season it was ABC’s highest-rated series overall in Wednesday’s 10 p.m. hour in more than 4 years since Lost during the 2006-07 television season.
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Grade: C+
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Comparable Shows
If you are interested in finding more shows like Revenge then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Arrow, The Good Wife and/or Scandal.
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Up Next: Tomorrow I will be writing about my favorite season finale of Supernatural. That episode would be 5x22: Swan Song.
Queer As Folks– 1.01 – Premiere – A to Z Challenge – Day 17
‘What I'm not confused about is the world needing much more love, no hate, no prejudice, no bigotry and more unity, peace and understanding. Period.’
- Stevie Wonder
Prologue
Up for discussion today is the pilot episode of Queer as Folks - the US Version.
I love British television and tend to hate the American remakes of good British TV shows. But this was a pretty decent adaptation, I must say. This is not the type of TV I usually watch but it is the show that but Showtime on my radar as the premium cable station to watch.
About the Show
Seasons: 5 | No. of Episodes: 83
Premiere Date: 12/03/2000 | End Date: 08/07/2005
Status: Off-Air
Genre(s): Drama
Story in a nutshell: The series follows the lives of five gay men living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brian (Gale Harold), Justin (Randy Harrison), Michael (Hal Sparks), Emmett (Peter Paige), and Ted (Scott Lowell); a lesbian couple, Lindsay (Thea Gill) and Melanie (Michelle Clunie); and Michael's mother Debbie Sharon Gless) and his uncle Vic (Jack Wetherall).
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Episode Summary: After a night out at the club Babylon with Michael, Emmett and Ted; Brian picks up a cute guy named Justin for a night of fun, but afterwards coldly rebuffs Justin's attempts to see him again. Michael also gets lucky taking home a hunk only to be happily interrupted for a trip to the hospital after Brian learns that Lindsay and Melanie have had a baby boy, Gus. In the meantime, Michael stays in the closet at work, which causes some problems with an interested co-worker while at the same time he struggles with feelings of jealousy over Brian's relationship with Justin.
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Character of the Night
• Michael
Best Character Interactions
• Brian & Justin
Most Memorable Moment
• Brian pours a bottle of water all of himself as part of his seduction ritual.
Best Line
•Emmett: When did 70’s night become 80’s night?
Ted: I remember this song from high school.
Best Scene
• Brian, Michael and Justin go to see baby Gus for the first time.
That Awkward Moment Award
• That awkward moment when you’re interested in someone and they’re interested in you but it’s just not the right time.
Favorite Actors
• Hal Sparks & Sharon Gless
Favorite Main Character
• Debbie Novotny
Least Favorite Main Character
• Emmett Honeycutt
Favorite Side Character
• Dr. David Cameron
Least Favorite Side Character
• Daphne Chanders
Fun Fact: The series was set in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which it depicted with a good deal of creative license. Pittsburgh was chosen as the closest parallel to the UK series' industrial setting of Manchester, England. However, since Pittsburgh does not have a large gay district like San Francisco or New York, almost all of the Liberty Avenue scenes were filmed in and around the Church and Wellesley area of Toronto which is that city's gay village. In fact, not a single shot of the real Liberty Avenue was ever used in the series.
Tasty Tidbit: The series, at times, made humorous reference to its image in the gay community. A few episodes featured the show-within-a-show Gay as Blazes, a cheesy, dull, badly acted, and abundantly politically correct drama which Brian particularly disagreed with, and which was eventually cancelled.
Side Note: Queer as Folks was the first American television series that depicted simulated sex scene between two men containing mutual masturbation, anal sex, and rimming.
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Grade: B
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Comparable Shows
If you are interest in finding more shows like Queer as Folks then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Dante's Cove, The L Word and/or Will & Grace.
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Up Next: If you like Beauty and the Beast, Grimm and/or Hannibal be sure to the blog out tomorrow, if not be sure to come back Monday, when I talk about the first season finale of ABC's Revenge.
Pretty Little Liars– 4.24 – A is for Answers – A to Z Challenge – Day 16
‘Questions are never indiscreet, answers sometimes are.’
- Oscar Wilde
Prologue
I’m a casual fan. The first season I was absolutely obsessed but as they diverted more and more from the books I just lost interest. But season 4 was the season where things started to come back together and we also promised some answers by season’s end so I checked in on the series and was delightfully surprised.
About the Show
Seasons: 4 | No. of Episodes: 95|Premiere Date: 06/08/2010 | End Date: N/A| Status: On-Air
Genre(s): Teen drama, Mystery, Thriller
Story in a nutshell: Set in the fictional town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, the series follows the lives of Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario), Hanna Marin Ashley Benson), Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell), and Aria Montgomery (Lucy Hale), who are four girls whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their queen bee, Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse). One year later, they begin receiving messages from a mysterious figure using the name "A", who threatens to expose their secrets. At first, they think it's Alison herself, but after her body is found, the girls realize that someone else knows their secrets—including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew. "A" also stalked Alison, and the girls continue to discover more and more information about "A" and Alison's disappearance—all while risking their lives.
Best Reason to Watch the Show: If you read and liked the books it will still keeping you guessing as a sufficient amount of things have been changed; some for the better and others for the worse. Even if you haven’t read the books and just like a show with a good mystery then you might want to check it out.
The Best Thing about This Episode: We do actually get some answers.
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Episode Summary: Holbrook interrogates CeCe Drake who has been arrested for Wilden's murder. CeCe tries to strike a deal by providing proof that Ali is still alive.
Noel Kahn brings Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer to Ali's loft apartment above a coffee shop/bar. Ali appears and recounts the night of her disappearance from her perspective. The girls learned new information from Ali including that Ali copied Ian's videos from his laptop onto a USB stick during their weekend getaway in Hilton Head, Ali met Ezra in a bar near UPenn and convinced him that she and CeCe were college roommates, Ali used the N.A.T. Videos as a bargaining chip to blackmail Ian, and that one-by-one, Ali confronted all of her "A" suspects throughout the night. Ali confessed that she drugged the girls by dropping sleeping pills into the communal drinking cup in the barn - Spencer didn't fall asleep with the others because she was on amphetamines. Ali also explained that she went home thinking she had silenced "A" and saw her mother gasp from inside the house before she was hit on the head with a rock. Ali awoke to find her mother burying her.
Melissa returns from London to find her home being searched by police. Rosewood PD interrogates the Hastings family while searching for the whereabouts of the girls, still missing since the fundraiser. Melissa confesses to Peter that Spencer did not kill the girl buried in lieu of Ali and whispers something mysterious to him.
The police track the GPS of Spencer's car but do not find them in the dusty space in Philadelphia. "A" attacks the PLLs in the coffee shop. They run to the rooftop to escape. To their surprise, Ezra joins them. Ezra fights "A" and gets shot in the stomach. Hanna is able to gain control of "A's" gun but "A" escapes by jumping to the next building and does not take off the mask.
The PLLs are frantic when they discover Ezra's bullet wound. We pull back to reveal that they are not in Philadelphia but Manhattan.
Finally, Jessica's dead body is shown being dragged across a yard and someone, presumably "A," buries her.
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Character of the Night
• Allison
Best Character Interactions
• The Liars & Allison
Most Memorable Moment
• Ezra get shots.
Best Line
• Hanna (to Ali) “I wanna hug you and slap you at the same time
Best Scene
• The flashbacks
That Awkward Moment Award
• That awkward moment when your mother is willing to let you die to protect someone else.
Favorite Main Character
• Emily
Least Favorite Main Character
• Spencer
Favorite Side Characters
• Jason & Paige
Least Favorite Side Character
• Melissa
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Grade: B-
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Comparable Shows
If you are interest in finding more shows like Pretty Little Liars then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Gossip Girl, The Lying Game and/or The Nine Lives of Chloe King.
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Up Next: Tomorrow I will be discussing the pilot of Queer as Folks (US).
Orange is the New Black– 1.05 – The Chickening – A to Z Challenge – Day 15
“I dreamed a dream.”
‘I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die’
- Les Miserables - I Dreamed A Dream
Prologue
Up for discussion today is one my favorite episodes of 'Orange is the New Black'.
I stumbled upon this show by accident honestly. I was a fan of Weeds for the first 5 seasons and then it all went to hell and never recovered. I hate the final season and I hated the series finale more than anything. I say this because the woman who created Weeds is the showrunner for this show as well. Not to mention a media depiction of a woman's time in prison can be laughable. But then I learned it was based on true story and that is was partially adapted from a woman's life. A woman who was very heavily involved in the behind the scenes stuff. That gave me hope.
Another hindrance was it was on Netflix. My only experience with Netflix original programming at that point had been 'Hemlock Grove' and 'Lilyhammer' both shows I did not care for one bit. But the first episode sucked me in and didn't let go and here I am, almost a year later waiting like a junkie for her next fix.
About the Show
Seasons: 1| No. of Episodes: 13|Premiere Date: July 11, 2013| End Date: N/A| Status: On-Air
Genre(s): Comedy-drama, Crime, Dark comedy
Story in a nutshell: The series revolves around Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a bisexual woman living in New York City who is sentenced to 15 months in a women's federal prison for transporting a suitcase full of drug money to her former girlfriend, Alex Vause (Laura Prepon), who is an international drug smuggler. The offense occurred ten years prior to the start of the series, and in that time Piper had moved on to a quiet, law-abiding life among New York's upper middle class. While in prison, Piper is reunited with Alex, and they re-examine their relationship and deal with the tough inmates.
Best Reason to Watch the Show: It’s a realistic depiction of life in a women’s prison. The nudity is matter of fact and honestly not very titillating at all. Each character has a compelling backstory. Piper is not the hero of the story rather the plot device through which we see this strange new world.
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Episode Summary: While relaxing in the exercise yard, Chapman sees a chicken. Red recounts her dream of cooking a proper chicken and offers a gift to the person who catches the chicken. Larry discovers that Vause gave Chapman's name to the Feds. To keep Chapman focused on life beyond prison, Larry lies to her. Polly Harper arranges for Chapman to take a business call, but Chapman skips it to chase the chicken. Morello ends her relationship with Nichols. Burset asks Sister Ingalls for estrogen pills, but she refuses. The overloaded chapel ceiling collapses from a heavy cross Doggett had tried to hang. The prisoners work to clean up and repair the damage. Miss Claudette starts researching her legal appeal. Bennett and Dayanara pass notes to each other. Aleida advises her daughter to date another guard who can do her favors. Flashbacks depict life in the Diaz household. =====================================================================================
Character of the Night
• Piper
Best Character Interactions
• Sister Ingalls & Sophia
Most Memorable Moment
• When and her crew try to hang her cross and the ceiling collaspes
Best Line
• Polly: Ah! Classic projection.
Best Scene
• Piper blows off her phone call with Barney's to chase the chicken, only to see the chicken on the other side of the gate.
That Awkward Moment Award
• That awkward moment where a girl has to basically become her mother, who she hates, to provide for her younger siblings.
The ‘Mommy Dearest’ Award
• Aleida who is Daya's mom is a total c***. She never has anything nice or helpful to say. She is emotionally stuck at 15 years old it seems.
Side Note: I actually discovered this show because of its theme song. I happen to be a fan of Regina Specktor and I was scrolling through Amazon’s music store and saw that she had a “new” single and that it was the theme song for a show. I googled the show, watch the pilot and the rest is history. PS: The name of the show’s theme song is ‘You’ve Got Time’.
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Grade: B-
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Comparable Shows
If you are interest in finding more shows like Orange is the New Black then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Girls, Weeds and/or United States of Tara.
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Up Next: If you like ABC Family’s flagship show Pretty Little Liars then you are in luck my friend. I will be writing about the show’s fourth season finale tomorrow.
Nikita – 4.06 –Canceled – A to Z Challenge – Day 14
‘I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.’
- Abraham Lincoln
Prologue
Today, I'm discussing the series finale of Nikita, episode 4x06: Canceled. I was sad to see this show go. I was most perturbed by the fact the show only got six episodes to wrap up their story (I mean even Gossip Girl got 10 episodes).
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of my time watching cable TV (that honestly hasn't changed much), more specifically, the USA Network. I loved Highlander and La Femme Nikita. Those two shows were my JAM! I loved the TV show so much so that I even did a little leg work and watched both films that the show was based on. Now, that's dedication, at least what an 11 year old is capable of dedicating their time to a TV show between cello lessons, ballet recitals and archery tournaments.
When it was announced that The CW was going to be 'reimagining' the show I was excited. I loved all of the casting, especially Shane West. I was surprised to see him not only on the small screen but on The CW no less. But most shockingly, in a spy thriller. From the pilot I was hooked. It was a good mix of procedural, serialization, character development and action. When the ratings started to slip, I knew it was the beginning of the end. But I enjoyed the ride and was glad they show was given a chance to wrap things up for the fans who had stuck by the show throw all the twists and turns and ups and downs.
About the Show
Seasons: 4| No. of Episodes: 73
Premiere Date: 09/09/2010| End Date: 12/27/2013 |Status: Off-Air
Genre(s): Action, Spy fiction, Thriller
Story in a nutshell: The series centers on a secret government-funded organization known as Division, who recruit young people with troubled backgrounds, sometimes directly from prison. Division erases all evidence of their past lives and molds them into efficient spies and assassins. The recruits generally do not have the freedom to leave the agency. While in the previous series, recruits are warned they may be "cancelled" (killed) if their progress is deemed unsatisfactory, in the new series, Division also implants in them tracking devices along with kill chips. Having broken away from the government, Division now performs operations for their own gain, hurting their country if need be. However, Nikita, a Division agent, has gone rogue after her civilian fiancé is killed by Division. She makes it her mission to bring down Division.
Best Reason to Watch the Show: By now, you should be well aware that I love a show with a strong female lead. The fact that Maggie Q did all of her stunts was very pleasing. It was fun but at the same time the plot was an endless wonder of where the mythology could go. At the beginning of each season you literally never knew where the season was going to end and I love when a show can keep me guessing.
The Best Thing about This Episode: It starts off focusing around a love story but there is so much more to the show than that. It had some of the best action on TV and the characters were very fleshed out but at the same time you wanted to dig as deep into their background as possible to see the ‘how and why’ their lives lead them to Division.
Here’s What You Need to Know: At the end of the third season Nikita goes rogue all on her own, leaving the team behind. The first episode of the final season picks up a few months down the line where Nikita is being framed for the murder of the President. It is soon discovered that Amanda and the Group have created exact human replicas of high-power government officials, dubbed the "Doubles", who are subject to the group's rule. Nikita and the team try to clear her name leaving destruction behind. Michael and Nikita's relationship has hit a rocky patch. Alex is on a mission to save the world and also clear Nikita's name, encountering old enemies along the way.
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Episode Summary: The episode starts with a flashbacks of Nikita and the time she spent in Division.
Nowadays, after witnessing Ryan Flecher's death, Nikita is even more vengeful and convinced of the need to kill all members of "The Group", including Amanda. With the marines on their way to stop Nikita and start shooting, Michael alongside Birkhoff and Sam, tries to convince her to back off. However when Nikita kills the rest of "The Group", Alex is forced to attack her from behind in order to save her life.
After Alex, Birkhoff and Nikita are arrested, Michael and Sam decide to team up in order to save them and get them out by tracking down and releasing "The Group"'s imprisoned victims whose imposters are under Amanda's control throughout the world. While she is arrested, Nikita is visited by Amanda who reveals that she has full control now that all members of "The Group" are dead.
However, Nikita gets free and locks Amanda, revealing to her that she didn't kill the members of "The Group", she only used them to track down Amanda. Nikita leaves Amanda locked up alive in the prison, in a place where nobody can find her, but will be kept alive for life. Nikita walks out saying, "Welcome back to the basement, Helen", referencing Amanda's childhood where she was used as a lab rat for her father's inhumane experiments--in a season 3 episode.
In the end, Alex and Sam start a relationship, Birkhoff reveals more information about Shadownet to the public, while Michael and Nikita — who are happily married — reside to Mompiche, Ecuador with both of them vowing to keep going on missions.
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Character of the Night
• Nikita
Best Character Interactions
• Nikita & Alex
• Nikita & Michael
Most Memorable Moment
• Nikita’s locks unlock and Amanda begins to realize she has lost.
Best Line
• Alex: You know if you want to invade the moon, I’ll find the next rocket ship.
Best Scene
• The montage of the gang’s ‘happily ever afters’
That Awkward Moment Award
•That awkward moment when you’re yelling and screaming at your TV because there is only 10 minutes left and there is still so much to ground to cover.
The ‘Best Resolution Possible with the Time Allotted’ Award
•Nikita was only given six episodes to conclude its final season. For five weeks, the whole entire Nikita fandom was wondering how the show could possible bring all of things that were happening to a head. The cast and crew really did an amazing job with the little time they were given. I was very much satisfied with everyone’s “happy” endings (except for Amanda, I really did want Nikita to kill her).
Favorite Main Character
• Alex
Least Favorite Main Character
• Michael
Favorite Side Character
• Birkhof
Least Favorite Side Character
• Owen
Did You Know?
•Maggie Q did all of her stunts.
•The show has won two Primetime Emmys in the category of ‘Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series’.
Fun Fact: The series borrows many characters, or at least their names, from the 1997 television series La Femme Nikita.
Tasty Tidbit: The series is said to be more closely tied to Luc Besson's 1990 French film Nikita than the 1997 television series, La Femme Nikita, at least originally.
Side Note: The pilot episode drew 3.57 million viewers on its initial broadcast. The CW broadcast an encore of the pilot the following day, which drew approximately 2.6 million viewers
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Grade: A
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Comparable Shows
If you are interested in finding more shows like Nikita then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Alias, Covert Affairs and/or Le Femme Nikita.
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Up Next: Tomorrow I will be writing about one of my favorite episodes of the Netflix break out hit, Orange is the New Black.
Melissa & Joey – 2.07 –Mixed Doubles – A to Z Challenge – Day 13
‘Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.’
– James A. Baldwin
Prologue
Today, I’m writing about my favorite episode of the ABC Family sitcom, Melissa & Joey.
This episode is notable for a fun allusion to Clarissa Explains It All and also features an actor that appeared in Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
The Allusion to Clarissa Explains It All: Ryder suggests that Lennox call her blog "Lennox Explains It All" when she has difficulty picking out a fitting name. Lennox refers to the idea as "original," though the name refers to the 1990s teen sitcom starring Melissa Joan Hart.
Trivia: John Ducey co-starred alongside Melissa Joan Hart in the seventh season of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, as Leonard, Sabrina's creepy co-worker at Scorch magazine.
About the Show
Seasons: 3| No. of Episodes: 71|Premiere Date: 08/27/2010| End Date: N/A |Status: On-Air
Genre(s): Sitcom
Story in a nutshell: Mel is a local politician from a political family. When a family scandal leaves her niece, Lennox, and nephew, Ryder, without their parents, Mel takes them in. Meanwhile, Joe is a former commodities trader left bankrupt after a Ponzi scheme, and finds himself searching for a job. So when Mel finds it hard to handle an instant family and her own life, she hires Joe to become the family's new male nanny, or "manny".
Best Reason to Watch the Show: The two stars are unconventional lead choices for a ‘will they or won’t they’ scenario but it oddly works. If you are a 90’s kid like am, then you are probably super familiar with both Melissa Joan Hart (I know her best from Sabrina the Teenage Witch but she was also in Clarissa Explains It All – a show I didn’t watch during its original run but am a fan of now). You might have also been a bit obsessed with Blossom as well which starred Joey Lawrence as the dumb middle child (If Joey Lawrence or any of other Lawrence brothers weren’t a crush of yours in 90’s I don’t know if I can trust your judgment, XD). Confession: I still have Joey Lawrence’s single from when he tried to launch his singing career. The stars are what drew me in initially but I stayed because it’s a pretty good show.
The Best Thing about This Show: I’m a huge fan of ‘Who’s The Boss’ and this is basically just the 21st Century’s version of that show. It’s 30 minutes of light hearted fun with bonus inside jokes for 90’s kids who have watched a few the stars other earlier projects.
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Episode Summary: After a conversation about each other constantly seeing the wrong people, Mel and Joe agree to date someone that the other person set up for them. Joe goes on a date with Ariel (Dilshad Vadsaria), one of Mel's business colleagues, and it seemingly goes well until she refuses to partake in Joe's interests. Mel sees Clark (John Ducey), a friend of Joe's, who gets overly emotional when reminiscing about his ex-wife. Lennox is kicked off of the school blog and so she decides to create her own, devoting all of her free time to it. This annoys her new boyfriend, Haskell, whom she begins to ignore.
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Character of the Night
• Mel
Best Character Interactions
• Lennox & Rider
Most Memorable Moment
• Mel trying to knit
Best Line
• Mel: You know what you need? A woman like me… that can stand you.
Best Scene
• Mel tells Joe that he is dating the wrong kind of women
That Awkward Moment Award
• That awkward moment when you are out on a date and the other person can't stop talking about their ex. - Poor Mel, that guy Clark was super obsessed with his ex wife. She never stood a chance.
Memorable Moments
• Mel & Joe dance together
• Rider suggests some titles for Lennox’s blog
• Ariel & Joe flirt with each other
Notable & Quotable
• Ariel: Are you trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me?
Mel: I haven’t given up on men completely just yet but if I do, you are totally at the top of my ‘if I were gay’ list.
Ariel: Aww, that’s so sweet.
• Mel: OK, hot and flaky. You’re dating puff pastry.
• Mel (about Lennox and Haskell): They totally get each other, it’s sickening.
Superb Scenes
• Mel tells Joe about her date with his friend.
• Mel and Ariel relax over wine.
• Haskell comes over and he and Lennox figure out how to make their relationship work.
Favorite Main Character
•Mel
Least Favorite Main Character
•Ryder
Favorite Side Character
• Stephanie Krause
Least Favorite Side Character
• Holly
Style Spotlight:
Did You Know?
• Did you know that Joey Lawrence starred in ‘Gimme a Break’?
• Did you know that Joey Lawrence sings the theme song for Melissa & Joey?
Fun Fact: Melissa & Joey stood as Wednesday's #1 cable TV telecast at 8 o'clock in Adults 18–34, Women 18–34, Women 18–49 and Females 12–34 Demographics.
Tasty Tidbit: Melissa Joan Hart was the first woman to direct an episode of the series.
Side Note: Hart and Lawrence have co-starred together in another ABC Family production; the 2009 television film, My Fake Fiancé.
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Grade: B+
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Comparable Shows
If you are interest in finding more shows like Melissa & Joey then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Baby Daddy, Cougar Town, State of Georgia, and/or Suburgatory.
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Up Next: I'm going right back to my bread butter of Sci-Fi & Fantasy with a strong female lead tomorrow. Be sure to come back to the blog if you are interested in hearing my thoughts on the series finale of Nikita.
Lost Girl – 1.01 –It's a Fae, Fae, Fae, Fae World – A to Z Challenge – Day 12
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
― Aristotle
Prologue
Today, I’m writing about the pilot of Lost Girl. This episode falls firmly into the category of ‘Firsts’.
A majority of the shows that I’m obsessed with fall into the Sci-Fi & Fantasy genre and it more often than not has a strong female lead. Lost Girl is such a show that falls into my wheelhouse. But not just because it’s a Sci-Fi/Fantasy show with a strong female lead (and not to mention 3 out of the five main characters are women as well). I LOVE the mythology of fairies. Another reason I gave the show a shot was my friend told me, Emmanuelle Vaugier, who has been one of my lady crushes since forever was in the pilot. So, it was pretty much inevitable that I would check this show eventually.
I am a casual viewer of this show. Currently, the show has four completed seasons and right now, I’m only at the half marker of season 2. I’m trying to get all caught up for the season 5 premiere that will be occurring in the fall of 2014. I like the show well enough but it’s not amazing enough to be put on my weekly TV viewing schedule. But it could possibly get there because with every episode I watch I find more things to love and fewer things to complain about.
About the Show
Seasons: 4| No. of Episodes: 61|Premiere Date: 09/12/2010| End Date: N/A|Status: On-Air
Genre(s): Mystery-Crime, Supernatural drama
Story in a nutshell: Lost Girl is about the life of a bisexual succubus named Bo, as she learns to control her supernatural abilities, help those in need, and discover the truth about her origins.
Best Reason to Watch the Show: This show explores the world of the fae. The fairy realms have an interesting mythology and it’s not done to death like vampires and werewolves.
The Best Thing about This Show: It is has a bisexual female lead character and it’s handled in a very matter of fact kind of way.
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Episode Summary: Bo is a young woman who has been living on the run for years, trying to figure out why she kills people (both men and women) when she kisses them. After leaving someone she kills out in the open, she is contacted by a group called The Fae. She discovers who and what she is, and is told to join one of two tribes, either the Light or the Dark. She refuses and chooses the side of humanity instead.
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Character of the Night
• Bo
Best Character Interactions
• Bo & Kenzie
• Bo & Dyson
Most Memorable Moment
• Kenzie asks Bo if she is a vampire.
Best Line
• •Bo: Kids at their camera phones.
Best Scene
• Dyson helps Bo prepare for her test.
That Awkward Moment Award
• That awkward moment when Lost Girl channeled its inner True Blood by having Bo utter, ‘She is mine! (in regards to Kenzie)’
Memorable Moments
• The first thing we learn about Kenzie is that she is a pickpocket/thief at best and more likely a grifter at worst.
• Kenzie drinks all of the spiked drink in pretty much one gulp and blows the guy who bought it off.
• Kenzie films Bo draining the guys life force with her camera phone.
Notable & Quotable
• Kenzie: This is so going to be viral (as she films Bo sucking the creepy dude's life force from him).
• Bo: It was nice while it lasted.
• Bo: It would have dropped you off at home but none of these wallets appear to be yours.
Superb Scenes
• Bo intercepts the creepy guy who spiked Kenzie's drink in the elevator and sucks the life force out of him thus saving Kenzie.
• Bo and Lauren meet for the first time (and sparks fly).
• Dyson drops off Bo and Kenzie and offers his assistance ANYTIME.
• The show looks cheap & cheesy (I here production value gets better around season 3)
• The wardrobe is awful
• The hairstyles are laughable
• The acting was a bit stiff
Favorite Main Character
• Dyson
Least Favorite Main Character
• Kenzie
Favorite Side Character
• Evony Fleurette Marquise: The Morrígan
Least Favorite Side Character
• Clé Bennett
Fun Fact: As a promotional prequel to the show's premiere on September 12, 2010, Showcase released a six-chapter series of interactive motion comics, Lost Girl: The Interactive Motion Comic, on its Lost Girl website.
Tasty Tidbit: To promote the show's United States premiere on Syfy in January 2012, a limited edition comic book, Lost Girl: Prologue, was distributed during the Lost Girl panel on July 22, 2011, at San Diego Comic-Con 2011
Side Note: A series of four webisodes streamed on the Showcase website were created as a promotional lead-in to the premiere of Season Four in Canada, with the first installment released on October 13, 2013
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Grade: B-
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Comparable Shows
If you are interest in finding more shows like Lost Girl then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Buffy, Haven, and/or Orphan Black.
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Up Next: If you are an avid ‘Who’s The Boss’ fan like I am, then be sure to come back tomorrow to read my take on the 21st century’s version, Melissa & Joey.
Knight Rider - 1.01 - Pilot - A to Z Challenge - Day 11
'I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people convinced they are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference.'
― Ellen Goodman
Prologue
My secret shame is that I'm a huge fan of David Hasselhoff. I loved him in everything he has ever done. I have seen every single thing that has something to do with the Knight Rider franchise, so naturally I was excited and terrified when NBC announced plans for this show.
What can I say? Sometimes a person just needs some good cheesy fun that is fluffy and requires minimal brain processing power.
About the Show
Seasons: 1| No. of Episodes: 17|Premiere Date: 09/24/2008 | End Date: 03/04/2009|Status: Off-Air
Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller
Story in a nutshell: The story takes place twenty five years after the original Knight Rider series. Mike Traceur (who later changes his name to Michael Knight), son of the original Michael Knight, has become the driver of the next generation KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand), now a Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang. Along with a former fiancée Sarah Graiman, the daughter of the scientist Charles Graiman who designed both KITTs, Mike becomes the new champion of Knight Industries, a high tech government and law enforcement contractor.
Best Reason to Watch the Show: It was as fun as it was cheesy and the cars are pretty dang cool.
The Best Thing about This Show: The cheesy title formula… they always used clichés that featured the word night and then replaced it with Knight.
Here’s What You Need to Know: There is a two hour TV movie simply entitled Knight Rider that served as the show’s backdoor pilot. If you’ve never watched the original Knight Rider and you are interested in checking this show out, you should probably watch it before you watch the first episode.
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Episode Summary: Mike goes after a woman from his past who abducts a man whose DNA contains a key to an unbreakable code.
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Character of the Night
• KITT
Best Character Interactions
• KITT & Michael
Most Memorable Moment
• The package gets his thumb chopped off.
Line of the Night
•KITT: You could probably move faster if you ate a healthier diet, decreased you alcohol intake and reduced your extracurricular activities with your lady friends.
Scene of the Night
• Mike and Sarah decide to give their relationship a fresh start, and it is also revealed that Mike's new last name is Knight.
That Awkward Moment Award
• That awkward moment when your ex-fiance finds out years later that on the day you proposed to her you were out kissing other women.
The‘How James Bond of You Award’Award
• Really, cuff links as mini explosive devices?
Memorable Moments
• Turns out Sarah can kick butt too! .
• KITT's attack mode is pretty cool
• The opening title sequence rocks! (If you like cheesy)
Mike gets shot by Carrie.
Notable & Quotable
• Sarah: I hate needles.
• Sarah: Mike, you should really pay attention in the briefings.
• Billy: Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Superb Scenes
• Sarah tells Mike that he proposed to her, the same day that the footage of him kissing the female agent he is after was taken.
• Dr. Graiman and Alex discuss Michael’s condition and what will happen if he ever remembers while KITT eavesdrops on them.
• KITT and Mike talk about the upsides of being legally dead.
• The graphics were truly awful.
• The dialog was super cheesy.
• The character of Zoe was super annoying.
• The acting was stiff
Favorite Main Character
• KITT
Least Favorite Main Character
• Alex
Favorite Side Character
• Dr.
Least Favorite Side Character
• Zoe
Did You Know?
• There was a TV movie called Knight Rider 2000 which was made in 1991 and it was supposed to serve as a pilot for a new show but despite high interest the plans were abandoned.
• There was a TV show called Team Knight Rider that aired from 1997-1998 which is a syndicated television series that was adapted from the Knight Rider franchise.
Fun Fact: Val Kilmer was the voice of this version’s KITT
Tasty Tidbit: The KITT in this series is a Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang. Over the course of the season we learn that KITT could transform into a Ford F-150 FX4 pickup truck for off-road purposes, a Ford E-150 van, Ford Flex, Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, and a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang for disguise purposes.
Side Note: On December 3, 2008, NBC reduced its season order to seventeen episodes.
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Grade: C-
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Comparable Shows
If you are interest in finding more shows like Knight Rider then I recommend you watch one, some or all of the following shows: Covert Affairs, Kingpin, and/or Raines.
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Up Next: Monday, April 14, 2014 is all about returning to where I live and breathe, Sci-Fi & Fantasy with a strong female lead. I’ll be writing about the pilot of Lost Girl so be sure to come back and check out the blog then. If you like Beauty and the Beast, Continuum, Grimm and/or Hannibal then come and check out the blog tomorrow.
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