New Rating System

I have come to the conclusion that having only two ratings, either Watch or Pass doesn’t cover the spectrum enough. And at the same time, giving each episode a numerical or alphabetical rating really can’t create a distinctive enough difference between each episode. Does giving a show one week a B and the next a B- really make a difference? So I have opted to add a middle ground for my current reviewing. Watch is for anyone, fan or not, for that week’s episode. A watch denotes that the episode is good enough to stand on its own. Next rating is Fans Only, which should only be for fans of the show. This rating is for episodes that don’t aspire for greatness, but don’t fall into the vast pit of boredom that pass shows get. Sometimes this rating can butt against pass, but doesn’t grind on my nerves. Finally, there is Pass, which is the final rating. This is reserved for episodes that serve no real purpose what so ever and only send any progress made in the show backwards or stall for so long that it becomes daunting. 

White Collar Season 3 Episode 3

White Collar Season 3, Dentist of Detroit

Four weeks into a stellar season, this episode falls to the bottom of the pack. This wasn’t a bad episode, just overall average, especially for an episode about Mozzie’s past. The episode felt more of a sob story for Mozzie, which adds to his lacking backstory, but at the same time felt unbalanced. This wasn’t the backstory I was hoping for but I can settle for what they gave me in this week’s episode. The unbalanced side of the story really came at the mob being the villain of the episode, particularly when they killed a person that knew the Dentist. White Collar has a hard time dealing with murders; it kind of brings the nuanced sophistication of the show down.

But there were high points within an average episode. Mozzie has the best rummage sales that I’ve ever seen on TV. I would buy almost anything that he is selling, though the banana with a knife in it is strange, but still very 80s spy. The other highlight was the fight that Peter and Neal had at their sting operation. This turned from staged to serious very fast between these two characters, especially the remark about Peter’s wife. It was the right amount of humor that the episode needed. Also bringing back the spy gadgets back in the episode was a nice touch, letting Mozzie use some of his outdated memories get him away from the suits. And the con he played to get away being called a Ferris Bueller was amazing. More cons need to have John Hughes’ movie titles.

For a flashback episode, White Collar didn’t bring anything new to the table. Nor did they leave anything behind. I would have liked to see White Collar add some of their signature flare to the episode, there were so many opportunities to elevate this episode. Never the less, this week’s White Collar was fine, and if this is the low point of the season, I can be alright with that.

Rating: Fans Only 

True Blood Season Four, Episode One

True Blood Season Four, She’s Not There

True Blood is back, and hopefully this season can rise from the dead, the dead being the mess of a season the show had during season 3. For the most part I liked the episode, aside from the opening moments in the Fairy World, partially because I am a book purist, also it felt forced on the episode, as if to wrap up the ‘cliffhanger ending’ from season 3. The show introduced Sookie’s family secret and her relationship with fairies, but this doesn’t do the justice that the books gave to the fairy story line. Also the bit with her grandfather, felt fine, but Sookie got over his death very fast, though she did lose him once so it is understandable. The special effects when Sookie and her grandfather jump back into our world = horrible. This show isn’t about effects like this and they know it, so this slip up is forgiven (for now).

The show hit the reset button within the first few minutes, a new approach to creating new storylines within a show, but the episode also fell into the trap of skipping ahead (time wise) in a show. This episode had a lot going on, too much for one episode to hold. Not to say that these storylines weren’t interesting, but the main focus should have been on Sookie, Bill and Eric. These are the pillars of True Blood, and for a season premiere, let alone one that deals with a time jump, they needed to be more forward in the episode. Sam, Jason, Jessica, Lafayette and Tara all had their moments, but their stories could have been explored more in future episodes. The only one that mad sense to include more of was Lafayette’s, since it ties into Bill’s story.

Some of the cliffhangers were answered in the episode in passing conversation: Jessica was almost shot by Hoyt’s mother; Sam shot his brother in the leg; and Tara went to New Orleans and begun to date women. The most interesting one I’m waiting to hear about is how Bill became King, since in the books he never reaches such a high level in the vampire world.

Personally, I loved to see Eric back, acting in his normal manor. This is best shown in his interview he gives about why humans should trust vampires. And he was the one that bought Sookie’s house so he could own her, even better. Book four was always one of my favorite books, especially for [spoiler] Eric and Sookie’s relationship. On a side note, not to mention Pam in the same breath as Eric is a crime. Pam is one of the best characters on True Blood. Her extremely dry humor and whit makes her the bell of the ball. She just drips sarcasm, and needs to have her own show, either when True Blood isn’t on the air or some kind of webisode. I can never get enough of her.  

True Blood did an alright job entering into their fourth season, well as best they could from the mess of season three’s ending. The first part of the episode was laughable, but the story worked out more towards the end. The episode had to establish most of the season’s characters and where they are now after a year, but it felt cluttered. This season has promise, just don’t let us down this time.

Rating: Watch

Burn Notice Season Five, Episode One

Burn Notice Season 5, "Company Man" 

Burn Notice is back, and finally this show is starting to change how it operates. Burn Notice started the trend for USA shows: for the show to tell a loose story throughout the season, with case of the week stories being the main meat in each episode. But if Burn Notice can keep the main story and case of the week stories together, the show will prove that this is the flagship show for USA. The episode was fun in a similar Burn Notice way, but at the same time had a different feeling because the show was now taking place outside of Miami. Yes, this isn’t the first time the show has gone out of Miami, but this felt like it was the start of a new trend, rather than just the exception for a few episodes. 

But the main difference in the show is the core story, things are actually progressing past the slow grind of events that the show has been treading for 4 seasons. This is a well welcomed change for the series, because the same old same old wasn’t making the grade anymore, particularly when compared other USA shows that realize their problems and  correcting them (cough, White Collar). Michael actually doing CIA work again has a new promise for the show and hopefully things will heat up this season, making it stand out from the status quo that Burn Notice has become.

Rating: Watch 

White Collar, Season Three Episode Three

White Collar Season Three, Deadline

The Devil Wears Prada meets White Collar. This week, Diana goes undercover as an assistant for an overbearing Miranda Priestly type journalist to make sure she isn’t killed from an unknown threat about a story she is writing. The episode was fun, though the main case of the weak felt bogged down, lacking a sense of feeling from the journalist boss that is so present in the episode. Unlike The Devil Wears Prada, there is nothing really redeeming about this character, who is forcing Diana to do the impossible at every turn.  This story wasn’t bad; it gave a chance for Diana to be more a part of the episode than in previous episodes.

Diana’s personal is highlighted nicely through the show’s main season story, with Neal trying to get the manifest that Diana is working on decoding. This starts with Neal and Mozzie trying to do a bait and switch with the briefcase Diana has with her, but has to call it off when Diana’s girlfriend shows up. Being classic Neal, works his way into a scenario in which he will get into Diana’s apartment; cooking an elegant dinner for a double date, with Sara being his distraction.

The main story works alight for the first half, but almost falls apart in the second with the introduction of the mysterious informant, who turns out [spoiler] trying to kill the journalist in the end, since the real informant has been killed. Diana gets to be the hero and when offered to work full time for the journalist, says that she has found her place working at the FBI and couldn’t picture herself anywhere else. Not much of a shocker of an ending to an otherwise average case of the week story. But the main saving grace of the episode was the humor that was sprinkled throughout.

This show has some of the best’ procedural show’ humor that I’ve seen in a while, which makes every episode rise to another level. This week started with Mozzie poorly hiding behind a bush as he aborted the bait and switch at the start of the episode. Jones’ remark about when Neal was going to cook for him was well placed, so was Peter’s quick jab about Neal and Sara playing doubles tennis with Diana and her girlfriend. But the best laugh of the episode was getting Elizabeth to be the party planner for the kids’ party, since this event was too over their heads to handle. When Peter gave the task to Jones to put the party together and Neal constantly shook his head in disapproval really helped to sell the idea that the FBI needed a ringer to elevate this party.

There was so much more in this episode, Neal and Sara trying to get it on only to be interrupted by Mozzie, Neal being shirtless one and a half times in this episode (are they trying to get more of a female audience?), the manifest got to DC yet Neal wasn’t overly upset about it, and Peter knows that Neal knows, but Neal didn’t know until now, or does he (it gets very confusing who knows what about who between Neal and Peter).

Not the best case of the week story, but the characters and their interactions with one another help make this episode worthwhile.

Rating: Watch 

The Killing, Season Finale

I fell as if shows live and die by their premieres’ and finales’. The Killing brought with it an amazing premiere, showing that a crime show can be more ‘realistic’ rather than solving a case a week. The Killing showed that a bleak, dark, painful world can and does exist on television, which is a breath of fresh north pacific air. Then there is the finale. The show stumbled half way through the season, on an arch that took far too much time to get through, especially with the mystery of whether or not he did kill her out of the question because there was another five episodes left. But the show got back on track, and seemed to be wrapping the season’s murder up. Last week we thought we knew who the murder was, the city council member / mayoral candidate and this week the detectives brought the case down on him. Case closed. Well, not at all, if it was closed that would be a lot better for the show, yet we are left with a cliffhanger. Not to say that I’m against having cliffhangers at the end of a season, but they have to pay off, and this one did not pay off in anyway. It just left me frustrated.

The Killing once prided itself in keeping the facts straight and doing real police work. Again, a nice difference, showing that doing this job takes time and patience rather than some kind of fast process that happens instantly. The show kept the slow, arduous police work, but lost keeping the facts in order. This all comes into play in the season finale. There are so many pothole questions that the season finale did not answer. What happened to the teacher that was almost beat to death? What about the Aunt and her involvement in the death? What about the actual use of police work? What about checking out your partner’s work, let alone your subordinate’s work. This is what made the finale more frustrating than just the cliffhanger that the season ended on. Now about that ending.

I always felt there was something wrong with Holder, particularly in the first few episodes of the season. He felt like a dirty cop. But then the show develops him into the humorous character that happens to be in a stalkerish relationship, and gets the job done with non-regulation tactics. But, for some unknown, mysterious reason, Holder has set up the city council / mayoral candidate up for the murder. Then gets in a car and says that the photo worked. I’m not seeing his motivation for setting someone up for murder, let alone working with someone who murdered Rosie. The show could have given some kind of reason for his choice to botch the case and who he was working with / for. It was nice having Linden stuck on a plane for the next 90 minutes or so without the ability to contact anyone with the knowledge that Holder is dirty, but there are so many ways to get around that. Linden could just tell the plane she is a cop and she has vital information in a murder case. Then there are the three or so other lose ends that the season left open, but most of those really aren’t that interesting in comparison to the murder.

I was hoping that the murder would be wrapped up this season, with some kind of satisfying ending and season two would bring the consistency that the show started out with. And the plot of season two you say? I would have loved to see the case previous to this one, where Linden had some kind of mental break while solving the case. That would have made a great second season. The case could have been even more brutal, and would have been a nice treat for those who watched season one since we knew parts of the repercussions to Linden’s life.

I have high hopes for season two of The Killing. I hope that the show realizes where they stumbled in their freshman year and fix those problems in the season premier. This might weigh down the premier, but it could just take the trash out that has been lying around from season one and push forward with season two. This show has so much going for it and a hap hazard plot should not be bringing down this adventure into a dark world that The Killing has the potential to be. 

Alias Season Two Re-Watch

I wound up re-watching and re-starting my love affair with Alias by accident, but what a lovely accident it has become (once again). I’ve seen season one several times, but season two holds a special place as being the best overall best season that the show put together. And during this second viewing, the second season delivered once again and held up to my enjoyment from my first viewing. This season had so many redeeming qualities, not to say that season one was bad in any major way, but for me a show really proves itself in their second season. Alias gave a masterful second season, with many good story plots, introduction of Sydney’s mother Irina, as a major player in the show, and using characters that have fallen flat (Francie). This season well deserved a Saturn award for this amazing show and for a great season.

As mentioned, Sydney’s mother Irina was a great member to add to the cast, especially since this allowed the show to expand on Sydney’s family’s situation. Irina also allowed forced Sydney to ‘remember’ that she was part of Project Christmas, a project done by her father, Jack, to test for future spies and prepare them to be activated later in life. Since I’m on a Project Christmas line of thought, this works into bringing up Will’s role in the season. After he admitted he has a drug problem, forced to do so my SD-6, he ended up working for the CIA as a researcher, who ended up working for Vaughn, investigating what tests where given to kids in the 80s regarding Project Christmas. Project Christmas comes up again in the season, but I’ll get to that when I talk about Francie’s role.

Back to Irina. She provides a major driving force behind the season, which Irina explains in the season finale to Sydney. She also remains in the morally ambiguous gray zone through most of the season. She wants to have a relationship with Sydney, and does so by giving the CIA important information to help stop Slone. But Irina’s intellect breaks through, shown by planning this elaborate partnership with both Slone and the CIA and double crossing both in the end. Irina’s relationship with Sydney is reflected in the confined space of Irina’s cell at the start of the season, will Sydney not willing to talk to her mother and ends opened ended, seen by their last conversation atop a building in Mexico City. Irina really helped to break up the big villain role that Slone had to endure alone up until this point in the show.

Then there is Slone, who help destroy SD- half way through season two. This was a game changer because the show was destroying its major episode format. Sydney would normally get her mission from SD-6, then a counter mission from the CIA then execute both at the same time. But once SD-6 and the Alliance was destroyed, the format changed to the CIA side only. This aloud the show to focus more on Sydney’s relationships gets together with Vaughn finally and more with her parents as a unit rather than just her father. But the show lost some of the tension of whether or not she would succeed with her mission for the CIA and not be discovered. The show fixed this problem with clever problem solving, but still lost some of that fun, exciting tension. Anyway, Slone played (once more) a major role in the show, being one of the driving forces of the plot by destroying SD-6 and assembling the Rambaldi device. His only major fault this season was the story with his wife and the black mailer. It was too drawn out, it needed to be a shorter arch since we obviously knew she was alive, which made some of the scenes with Slone pointless (opening the coffin in the heavy downpour for example), but it was nice to see a humanizing side to Slone.

Then there is Francie, who was Sydney’s best friend, had been doubled and the double is working for Slone. This gave the character something more diverse to her, more than being the one person in Sydney’s life that did not know Sydney was a spy. She was creepy; cold hearted and killed off a lot of third and fourth rank characters this season.  She also made the episode about Project Helix be very important, since there was a second, mystery character, who was doubled and the CIA had to find out who it was, but the audience was aware of the identity of this mystery figure. It was nice that the show played with the hierarchy of knowledge, since the audience is normally in the dark. She also started the theme of characters being doubled, even if it only happens two more times in the series, it starts the trend never the less. Allison, who was the doubled agent who turned into Francie, happened to be one of the kids who were apart of Project Christmas, bringing up Will’s research and Sydney's at the same time.

Then there is the season finale, which has to be one of the best episodes of the series, let alone TV. I’m going to focus on the last 15 minutes of the episode, since that is where so much amazing aspects of Alias take place. Will realizes that Francie is a double and tries to fight back against Allison, but loses in a big way, almost dead in a bathtub. Then Sydney gets the message that Will left about Francie being the double, by the way her phone is extremely loud, then an amazing fight starts between the two spies. This fight reminded me of the opening fight from Kill Bill, strange since this came out almost a year before Kill Bill did, but still an amazing fight. This was brutal. Both were thrown around the house, cut, beaten, and shot at. The brutality was enhanced by the choice to just have the sounds of the fight being the only noise in the scenes rather than have non diegetic music in the scenes. Sydney wins the fight, but passes out and wakes up in Hong Kong. She is then taken to a safe house and Vaughn fills her in that Sydney has been presumed dead for 2 years. In the last few minutes of this episode, so much for season three is set up. She has been missing for two years; a strange new scar on her abdomen, Vaughn got married. So much in those few minutes. Amazing way to end the season. 

White Collar Season 3, Episode Two

White Collar Season 3, Where There’s a Will

This season of White Collar is showing what summer TV is about, especially the USA network (though most of their shows haven’t aired yet). Last week was a great start to the season and this week brought a treasure hunt to the show, and it was a fun adventure. A father who leaves a masterful puzzle for his two sons to work through to find the real will was interesting, though it was slightly cluttered in some of the clues / process of getting to the next clue. But nothing was lingered on too long, so all in all it worked for the most part. Along with a kidnapping, a bitter friend of the dead father and Mozzie pretending to be blind / being his usual self brought this episode together nicely. (Side Note about Mozzie’s bit, how dare he blame the dog for the botch attempt to turn the book’s page was hilarious). 

Then there was the larger story of Neal and Mozzie trying to sell their new stash of priceless art to escape into the sunset.  Neal finally found out what we were privy to in the last episode, that part of the manifest was recovered, so the FBI will be able to know if anything from the boat is sold and ketch the person(s). Neal had to be his normal cunning self to get this information out of a special agent from D.C. that deals in Art. Fun, sexy, high tension adventures that come together in a successful conclusion are what summer shows strive to be, and White Collar delivered this week. If they can keep it up, this might be one of the best shows of the summer.

Rating: Watch 

Covert Affairs: Not Hiding Anything

Covert Affairs started its second season this week, and I had high hopes for a show that felt flat during the first season. I was let down, again. This show has the potential to do great things, since as a spy show, (Piper Perabo’s character) Annie Walker can do a lot regarding the week to week plot.  Annie has the ability to be a kick ass spy, and it does come out in small quantities, but she ends up being the one who needs saving the most. Such a shame. Then there is the supporting cast, which is very large and amorphous for a USA show. Most USA shows have a partner relationship, in which two opposing character types end up working together to solve a mystery, crime, etc. it ends up being formulaic, but at least it works. Covert Affairs is missing any type of character development outside of Annie, and for a lead character she is still lacking on ‘why do I care about this character and her actions'. 

The show needs to notch up the sexiness that is seen in other USA shows. The lead show White Collar is masterful at everything that makes a USA show work. Covert Affairs needs to find a partner for Annie, make her more kick ass, and add some mystery to make this show something work watching rather than just background noise. And for some inspiration on how to pull off a successful spy show, watch some Alias. Alias manages to pull off high tension action, romance, family dynamics, and friends while all at the same time being worth watching. Alias is good, just go watch it and the differences between it and Covert Affairs are obvious when it comes to both spy shows and the drama genre in general. Please USA, make this show worth watching, as for now

Rating: Pass

Vampire Diaries Season Two, Brave New World (episode 2)

Vampire Diaries Season Two, Brave New World 

I started off this first time watch of season 2 of the Vampire Diaries as a re-watch, having already seen the season premiere in the fall, in an attempt to see the conclusion from the season one finale. This is about the second episode of the season, so I'll get to the recap / thoughts. This episode plants several seeds to the mythos that the season will have to deal with, mysterious supernatural creatures, special family relics that hold larger meanings, what Katherine is up to, and her motivations for coming back to Mystic Falls after all these years. That's a lot of story telling to churn through during one episode, but the show was able to push through and tell a over all average episode for the series, which is not a bad thing to say. 

But more about the context of this episode. Caroline was emotional rollercoaster for most of the episode. it was nice to see a more primal, wilder side to her character, but going back to the pitiful, sad character that started this episode was a step in the wrong direction. Also her character seemed to take to the vampire lifestyle too quickly, stealing a blood pack and sipping on it like kool aid in the hospital seemed to push the envelope of someone who is trying to realize what is happening to them. But she did become a vampire, which was one of the major sources of conflict for the episode, and I could guess for the season (or at least an arc). 

The other story was that of Tyler and his uncle (who seems way too young, but anyway) Mason and their family secret. This story felt weak, and in comparison to the other driving force of the episode, it was since it was more of a build up for further revelations / stories to take place later in the season. if Mystic Falls can teach people one thing, it is that when a family member shows up randomly, it isn't for good intentions. They will want something out of their trip. But to look at Tyler's circumstance, it closely mirrors that of Elan's from the first part of season 1, questioning the strange events around him but not getting any answers until he can put some facts together for himself. 

Damon's character is so refreshing in almost every episode. He becomes the mouthpiece for the viewer, but doesn't go too far by telling the viewers what we want. For instance he brings up the irony of the last time they had to deal with a new female vampire outbreak was at a fair, and once again they are at a fair having to deal with another one. The swagger of this character never seems to give, which is a very good thing. Damon even had a rare moment where I felt sorry for him, when Bonnie went on an unjustified witch attack on him for the death of the guy Caroline ate. Yes Bonnie stuck to her word , but this was a wild character swing for her as well, though it was awesome seeing her improved powers. 

The episode only confirmed that Caroline became a vampire, but next to that nothing else than build for later episodes, but it did this nicely. it told several stories that are going somewhere, which is a very good thing for viewers that stick it out for the long haul. 

Rating: Watch