Category: Television

24: 9-10am recap

Tonight brought us another action-packed episode of the final season of 24. Let’s take a look, shall we?

*WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK*

First of all, I have to say I don’t think I have ever seen Jack look as broken as he did in the opening of this hour. Still reeling from the loss of Renee, Jack looked like a man who didn’t know where to turn next. The nurse at the hospital asked if he was going to be alright. I honestly wasn’t sure that he would be.

Next we turn to former President Charles Logan. Who else thinks it is possibly the worst idea ever to be trusting him as much as President Taylor has? Normally Taylor is big on principles, but she seems willing to go to any length to make sure this peace treaty goes through. Is it right to essentially blackmail the Russian government to make this happen though? And how does this help create a meaningful and lasting peace?

Of course Dana Walsh is the one who knows everything Jack needs to know to find the people who had Renee killed. Once this was established, I looked forward to him interrogating her. Is that wrong?

But back to Logan… I really have to say, I don’t trust the man. He obviously only cares about his own interests. Also, how does he know about the Russian involvement in the days events? AND WHY DIDN’T HE TRY TO STOP THEM?! Oh, right, cause all he cares about is himself. And obviously this has helped put him back in a position of power within our government. I didn’t think I could hate him any more than I already did. That was until he started trying to make Jack look like the bad guy and get President Taylor to turn against him. I was proud of Taylor for sticking to her principles. Or rather, I was until later when she told Jack to stand down. After everything that Jack has done for her and the country, he deserves at least this much.

Finally I have a morality question for you. President Taylor argues that this is all for the greater good. That if this is what it takes to get the peace treaty signed then it is worth it. I am not entirely sure how I feel about this. It seems to me that getting the peace treaty signed means nothing if it is done in this manner. Also, Hassan’s daughter should know who she is dealing with before signing the treaty. These people are responsible for her husband’s death. She and her daughter have a right to know who destroyed their family. Logan has put President Taylor in an impossible situation, but she is responding just as he wants her to and it is wrong.

Which brings me to the quote of the night:
Jack: I want justice.
Pres. Taylor: And I want peace. If there was another way to get it I would but there’s not.

Debate time.

What did you think of tonight’s episode? Do you think President Taylor is doing the right thing? Or is Jack the one who is right in pursuing this, despite orders to the contrary? I would love to hear what others have to say on the matter.

We All Deserve To Die – A Recap

Lots to discuss with the new episode of Desperate Housewives. I’m going real in-depth here so if you haven’t watched yet then you’re going to want to stop here until you fix that. You have been warned!

Now, before I begin I need a moment to let the smiles dissipate. Honestly, who else gets chills every time John Barrowman comes on screen? Right then, thought so.

Barrowman did not offer the biggest shocks of the night though, but more on that later (I know, such a tease).

Gabi – I loved the idea of you having Bob and Lee’s baby. It was fun right up until you realized they were planning on taking the kid away to upstate New York after it was born. Then I felt sorry for you. It doesn’t compare to how sorry I felt for them after you backed out and they broke up (?!). Which brings me to…

Bob & Lee – I loved you as a couple. Lee was hysterical and brought color to an already colorful cast. I’m sorry to see you struggling. At the same time I have to wonder why the writers would finally give you a really good story just to end things so abruptly. I have to believe that Lee is coming back eventually. I’m going to miss you.

Susan & Mike – Your story was understandable to an extent, but overall I think Mike is being ridiculous. I get male pride but you are part of a marriage which means you should be sharing EVERYTHING. That includes the bills. You not being able to pay for the car effects the wife too. So let her help pay some of the bills! At least until you get back on track. That is all.

Lynette – You are possibly the best mother a son could ask for. Preston is an idiot if he stays mad at you for more than a day. I love that you were willing to go to any length to protect him from the evil future-daughter-in-law. I also love how the story was finally resolved – with Lynette getting her favor from the Man Upstairs and Preston overhearing the evil shrew telling Lynette that she didn’t matter.

Bree – I give you points for brilliance in stopping the customers from eating the ruined dish by setting off the sprinklers. Having said that, you are accepting Sam into your life and your business way too easily. Sam is definitely up to something. Why are you the only one who doesn’t see that?! I have to admit, when he accuses Andrew of sabotaging the meal I thought this might be the case. Then when Orson pointed out he is not that clever I realized he was right. Plus he wouldn’t want to ruin his mother since he blames Sam for everything and is suspicious of his intentions. Orson just says what we are all thinking and Bree doesn’t want to see – Sam wants Andrew out of the way and will do whatever it takes to make that happen. My question is, “Why?” I am sure his intentions are not good but I don’t understand what he is trying to do getting close to Bree. At first I thought he was behind the missing girls, but that was until…

Eddie turned out to be the serial killer! Irina might have been a total shrew, but she didn’t deserve to die. She got what was coming to her with Preston tossing her out on the street. This was a real shock for me. I have been pretty good at predicting the twists and turns of this show, but that came out of left field and provided the biggest shock of the night. Yes, even bigger than the opening where…

Logan is sitting in the coffee shop that his son conveniently works at. My question from the start was, “Does he know that is his son?” By the end of the night I was convinced that the answer is “yes”. I find it poetic that not only does he decide to kidnap his son as the ultimate in payback, but he asks Danny-boy for advice on the situation before finalizing his plans. I really think he knows who Danny is and is going to get close to the kid before finally snatching him away. Might even convince him to come on his own. That would be the thing that would truly hurt Angie the most.

Finally, my favorite scene tonight was when Logan and Danny are talking about how to finish the “story”. Logan says killing her (Angie) would be too easy. I knew what his solution would be before he even said it. “Oh God, he’s going to kidnap the son,” I thought to myself. Danny apparently got that sense too and… DING DING DING! We have a winner! This was also the moment I realized how poetic it all was. Not only the plan, but also the fact he is talking about all this with the person who is the center of the whole story. I really think Desperate Housewives has raised the bar with this season. They have found the perfect balance of darkness and humor. While they owe a lot of this to the addition of John Barrowman and his story, it is not the only factor. The writing has been excellent this season, even better than usual. I congratulate them for a job well done and hope they keep the momentum going through the rest of the season. Sunday nights have never been this exciting, and it is all thanks to them.

Trust Him, He’s The Doctor

Amy: Who are you?
Doctor: I don’t know yet, still cooking.

Sizzling is more like it.

After weeks of speculation as to whether or not Matt Smith would be a suitable Doctor, I can honestly say that we need not worry. Matt makes the character his own from the moment he jumps out of the TARDIS and into the life of his new companion, Amy Pond. Speaking of the TARDIS, it’s new and shiny too, as is the sonic screwdriver. Even the opening titles have a slightly new theme, although it is essentially the same tune we have grown to love over the years. If anything it is just slightly edgier and darker than what we are used to. Overall I would say stop worrying about Matt Smith and Steven Moffat and just let the show be what it is: a timeless adventure that will make you feel as if you had been running right alongside your beloved Doctor.

Every episode is followed by a special Doctor Who Confidential, which can be found on the BBC America website along with other behind-the-scenes features.

So, all of time and space. Everything that ever happened or ever will. Where do you want to start?

How I Fell For the Doctor

I was going to title this post “Why You Should Be Watching Doctor Who” but I didn’t want to presume to tell anyone what their television viewing habits should be. Instead I thought I’d regale you with a tale of my experience with The Doctor, and why I would describe it as love at first sight.

As a senior in college I have not had the experience with Doctor Who that, say, my father had. I can’t say I grew up with him my whole life or anything like that. Likewise, I cannot talk about how it is an institution here, since the US is really playing catch-up to the level of fandom that the UK has for the show. For that matter, we may never reach the levels of attachment that its homeland has for the series. But that only seems fair.

No, I was first introduced to The Doctor 4 months ago. I met enough people who were obsessed enough with the show that I decided to give it a try during my winter break. Being a lover of sci-fi, I figured it was a good bet I would like the show as well. I was wrong.

I didn’t just like Doctor Who; I loved it. From the moment The Doctor grabs Rose and tells her to follow him I knew this was going to become one of my favorite shows of all time. With each new episode I fell even more in love with every element of the show. The acting is superb, as is the writing. Russell T. Davies and Stephen Moffat never seemed to have a shortage of new and exciting adventures for the Doctor and his companion to enjoy.

Yes, from the moment I started my journey with The Doctor, I was hooked. Countless times the words “One more episode” would be uttered, only to be said again 50 minutes later. By the time I was finished, I had forgotten what a world before meeting the Doctor was like. It was as if I had known him my whole life.

It feels appropriate to share my love for Doctor Who now that the 5th Series premiere is scheduled for tomorrow (April 17th) on BBC America. Even if you haven’t watched a single episode before today, I still highly recommend giving it a chance tomorrow. BBCA will be airing the second half of Series 4 all day tomorrow as well as the specials that aired in between seasons. If nothing else, try to watch The End of Time, as it leads in to the new episode (and is possibly one of the best stories in the series. Russel Davies definitely went out on a high note).

*if you don’t have time to play catch-up, this scene is all you really need to know*

Now is the perfect time to start your adventure with The Doctor for a number of reasons. The show is seeing a new Doctor (Matt Smith), new companion (Karen Gillan), and new producer (Stephen Moffat). Moffat wrote one of my favorite episodes in the series (Blink), so I look forward to seeing what he does now that he is in charge of the whole thing. If I haven’t convinced you Doctor Who is worth checking out, maybe Matt Smith can:

AVC: Doctor Who has always been more of a cult sensation here in the U.S. than in Britain. How would you describe the series to someone here who has never seen it before? What would you say it’s like?

MS: I’d say it’s about a 900-year-old alien who travels around time and space in a blue police box, which is called the TARDIS, having adventures, saving the world, and defeating evil. It’s not bound by space or time or logic or genre, and therefore creatively it can go anywhere and do anything. You can be in the past with dinosaurs one week and in the future the next week, as the world is about to explode. I think it’s full of heart and humor and wit and invention. I think Doctor Who improves your life. And I mean that. It’s not just, like, my mission statement. I do, as a man who’s come to it late on, as well. It’s never too late to get into it. I think we’ve got a new team and a new show, and I think now is the time to start watching.

-excerpt from an interview between AV Club and Matt Smith, the new Doctor (the rest of the interview is the title link for today)

If that doesn’t convince you that Doctor Who is worth your time, then I don’t know what will. I hope you will share in the magical journey with me. I will be posting reviews of the new series as it airs here in the US. I’m sure it will be brilliant.

Everybody Loves Lost

*Warning! Warning! Danger! Danger! Spoilers ahead! If you have not watched this week’s episode of Lost yet then proceed with caution. You have been WARNED.*

After last week’s episode of Lost, I finally started developing a real working theory about what is going on this season and how the series is likely to end. The episode really was one of the defining moments of this season. We see that there is definite crossover between the Sideways world and the island. We also seem to be gradually demonstrating that certain people are destined to meet. Also, Desmond seems to be the one connecting them all. This reminds me of Jacob’s role before he “died”. If this is the case, I wonder what his death on the island would mean for the show (assuming he is dead, that is). Another theory could be that only one version of each character is allowed to survive future events before some kind of merge happens (?). If that is true, then we can expect more deaths for the future. It also might be a second chance for those already lost (Charlie, Libby). Speaking of Libby, when the doctor mentioned she had issues with reality, I couldn’t help but think, “Issues with reality, or more in touch with it?” It would seem the latter, since Hurley eventually remembered (via the ever classic “magic kiss”, no less). And finally, quote of the night comes from Ben: “No sooner does she tell you who you are then she blows up. The island was done with her. Makes me wonder what it’s going to do when it’s done with us.” Good question, Ben. Good question.

Profile: Jack Bauer

*Caution! Huge amounts of spoilers for last night’s 24 follow. Read at your own risk. You have been warned!*

The following is a somewhat stream-of-consciousness thought process on the events of last night’s 24 and what it means for Jack Bauer. Sorry if it is hard to follow. I’ll try to be as coherent as possible.

After watching last night’s episode of 24, I had a few thoughts on the character of Jack Bauer.

First: this guy is seriously not allowed to be happy!

Case in point: after failing his mission of protecting President Hassan (and looking dejected as hell for it) Jack goes home and actually is seen being happy with a member of the opposite sex. Long-time friends rejoice, and yet are hesitant. Seeing Jack and Renee being all kinds of happy with each other, I couldn’t help but think, “But Jack isn’t allowed to be happy.” It didn’t take long for the writers to prove me right.

As the bullets started flying, I knew one of them had to hit Renee. I also knew there was slim chance she would actually make it to the hospital and survive (but was still hopeful). What little hope I had was dashed though when the doctors came out of the OR almost immediately after going in. “It’s too soon,” I thought, as a sat up in my seat. I knew she was dead even before the doctors said so. The look on Jack’s face was that of a man who had been broken. It was the best and worst kind of hurt puppy dog face ever. It was the kind of face that makes you whimper (both inside and out). I actually almost cried for him. After everything this man has done for his country, after everything he has sacrificed, couldn’t he once, just once, get a happy ending?! No, I said. This was too much. Hasn’t he suffered enough?

Apparently not.

My only hope is that Jack avenges Renee’s death and gets some solace in that. It isn’t the same as having someone to grow old and retire with, though. And for that, Jack, I am truly sorry.

Doctor Who Countdown

As the US premiere of Doctor Who comes ever closer, Americans everywhere are just trying to not get spoiled. BBC America offers a countdown widget to keep track of the date (as if we weren’t doing that on our own anyway).

The widget also offers a videos, interviews, and a photo gallery to have fun with while you wait. Speaking of fun, did you hear about the new DW game that they are making? It’s going to be four interactive episodes, the first of which will be available in June. Especially cool for those of us who ever wanted to be the Doctor (or his companion).

*Doctor Who Series 5 premieres April 17th on BBC America. Leading up to that all day will be the end of Series 4 starting with The Doctor’s Daughter all the way through to Journey’s End, followed by all the specials (The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead, Waters of Mars, and The End of Time).*

Doctor Who News

Lots of Doctor Who related tidbits with the new series ready to debut soon.

For those of us in the US, we have two events to look forward to. One is Monday April 12th at The Paley Center. This is going to be offered to members of the Center first before the general public is allowed in. The event is free but seating is limited so they ask you to reserve a seat. Details can be found here. If you can’t make it to this smaller event, there is a bigger one happening at Village East Cinema on April 14th. This is also free but you’re going to want to get there early as it is first come, first served. Details courtesy of BBC America.

In other news, Doctor Who Magazine has won a Guinness World Record as the Longest Running Magazine Based on a Television Series. It joins Doctor Who as the longest running Sci-fi series and most successful Sci-fi series in 2009. The show is brilliant and deserves all the recognition it has been getting recently. Congratulations!
Doctor Who Series 5 premieres April 3 in the UK and April 17th in the US.

John Barrowman’s Desperate Debut

The following has mild amounts of spoiling. Please wait until have seen the episode if you don’t want even the vaguest of details.

From the minute John Barrowman first appears on screen, you know you are going to be in for something special. He starts out cool and charismatic. Your first thought is, “Well, he doesn’t look that scary.” Oh, but he will be. For two minutes later you see another side of him, and as he smashes the window of the neighbor’s apartment and gets ready to tie up a few loose ends, you realize he is definitely going to be trouble. He won’t be seen again until the final seconds, but the glare he gives from the shadows of his car could give the bravest of us chills. Desperate Housewives won’t be on again until after Easter unfortunately, but you can be certain there will be plenty of action once it returns.

Hold on, folks. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.