i'm out of it for a little while, and everybody gets delusions of grandeur

Geeks for the win!

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:14:08 GMT

"I prefer to let George Lucas disappoint me in the order he intended."

BWAH. Oh, Sheldon, you're awesome. I love The Big Bang Theory.

Maybe I'll watch X-Men next...

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:59:48 GMT

DirecTV provides me with something like 7 different HBO channels...those various stations have been playing 27 Dresses multiple times over the weekend. I already own the DVD, but I keep watching parts of it. I've also watched bits of the HBO Hairspray airings a couple times this weekend.

It is entirely James Marsden's fault. *sigh*

Down with Amy March

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:04:54 GMT

Little Women is on one of the HBOs right now. And it turns out I am still mad about Jo and Laurie. *sigh*

GA kinda rocks these days

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:16:00 GMT

A totally spoiler-filled, somewhat incoherent, squeeful commentary on tonight's GA. Also, if TWoP (which, seriously, is a giant pit of asshattery these days) is anything to go by, monimala and I are the only people in the whole world who liked it.

angel_grace (8:03:40 PM): Damn, JDM is sexy.
angel_grace (8:04:38 PM): Alex cracks me up
monimala (8:08:51 PM): God, JDM is hot.
monimala (8:08:56 PM): LOVE that pullover.
monimala (8:09:10 PM): And Hunt buttoning Cristina's gown was sexy.
angel_grace (8:09:33 PM): I need me a hot redhead from the British Isles.
monimala (8:09:43 PM): Ditto!
angel_grace (8:12:45 PM): So is the new doc high functioning autistic or something?
angel_grace (8:13:34 PM): I wanna freezeframe and just stare at JDM and drool.
monimala (8:14:13 PM): He's more fun dead than he was alive!
angel_grace (8:14:22 PM): Totally!
monimala (8:14:26 PM): And, yeah, she does appear to be a high functioning autistic.
angel_grace (8:14:32 PM): Denny's ghost should be a regular.
monimala (8:14:38 PM): I agree!
monimala (8:14:44 PM): Or Tumor!Denny.
angel_grace (8:14:48 PM): LOL
angel_grace (8:18:24 PM): Clearly, JDM needs his own show. One in which he stands around in clingy pullovers and jeans and makes snarky commentary about the world around him. Occasionally he can be naked.
monimala (8:19:11 PM): I approve.
angel_grace (8:19:20 PM): Thought you might.
angel_grace (8:23:11 PM): Bailey is made of epic win.
monimala (8:24:04 PM): Yeah
angel_grace (8:24:50 PM): A twicebian! Heh.
angel_grace (8:25:46 PM): "I'm just wondering if you're channeling your secret pain into self-mutilation." *snerk*
angel_grace (8:27:44 PM): EWWWWW
monimala (8:28:05 PM): That is so fucked up.
angel_grace (8:28:20 PM): Maybe SHE'S a secret cutter
angel_grace (8:32:51 PM): Sloan and Callie are kinda awesome
angel_grace (8:38:57 PM): What the HELL?
monimala (8:39:10 PM): Okay, yeah, WTH?
angel_grace (8:39:40 PM): In other news...MMM, Denny.
monimala (8:43:27 PM): I concur.
angel_grace (8:48:03 PM): Oh, man, Callie just broke me. And Sloan! Gah.
monimala (8:48:15 PM): Holding her!
monimala (8:48:16 PM): GAH!
monimala (8:48:32 PM): You know, I hated them together when they first hooked up, but love them now.
angel_grace (8:51:02 PM): He's so much more *human* around her and Lexie.
monimala (8:51:09 PM): Yeah.
monimala (8:51:15 PM): Does he suspect she's up to something?
angel_grace (8:51:30 PM): I don't know. He might.
angel_grace (8:51:43 PM): And what's up with George essentially have no storyline the past two episodes?
monimala (8:52:22 PM): Someone loves me?
angel_grace (8:52:27 PM): Heh
angel_grace (8:53:50 PM): BWAH Little Sloan!
angel_grace (8:58:01 PM): OH. MY. GUH.
angel_grace (9:00:35 PM): I am SO confused. Is Izzie now cheating on Alex with a dead guy?
monimala (9:01:25 PM): "Big Sloan," was hilarious.
monimala (9:01:29 PM): And WTH?
monimala (9:01:36 PM): #1. Those interns ARE SO FIRED.
monimala (9:01:46 PM): #2. See your above q. about Izzie and a dead guy.
monimala (9:02:10 PM): She might have one of those tumors that causes you severe sensory symptoms.
angel_grace (9:02:21 PM): Not that I MIND seeing hot shirtless Denny goodness, mind you.
monimala (9:02:25 PM): That's how they excuses Nikolas seeing TumorEmily and sexing HER up.
angel_grace (9:02:36 PM): *snerk*
monimala (9:02:40 PM): (Watching soaps comes in handy!)
angel_grace (9:03:02 PM): I have to say, though, that after some seriously mediocre seasons, I am ALL IN with this damn show again.
monimala (9:03:06 PM): And Cristina and Owen were smokin'.
monimala (9:03:08 PM): Yeah!
monimala (9:03:11 PM): I'm totally sucked in!
angel_grace (9:03:24 PM): Yeah, the wall kiss? Holy cow.
monimala (9:04:19 PM): :::fans self:::
monimala (9:04:41 PM): I love how jumpy he is after the war and just so, so passionate.
monimala (9:04:45 PM): Yet shut down.
monimala (9:04:48 PM): It's a great dichotomy
angel_grace (9:05:04 PM): Yeah. And he's way hot.
monimala (9:05:07 PM): and Sloan does love Lexie!
angel_grace (9:05:13 PM): He totally does!
angel_grace (9:05:32 PM): And the funny part is I don't think he DID until dopey Derek said something.
monimala (9:06:05 PM): I agree with you! I don't think it even OCCURRED to him until he got the Little Grey warning. He was so earnestly all, "OMG, her sutures!!!!!!"
angel_grace (9:06:17 PM): Yes! And now he's all, HMMM
monimala (9:07:42 PM): Yes!
monimala (9:09:37 PM): I can't believe the show got so good.

So long, farewell...

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:44:27 GMT

It is with a heavy heart and deepest regret that I must remove some shows from the DVR rotation. I just watch too much TV, on top of having a life, and alas, something must fall by the wayside.

90210 got the boot weeks ago, thanks to epic suckitude. I must now also bid farewell to its Tuesday-night CW partner, Privileged. I like the show, really. I especially like Michael Cassidy. But the reality is that I'm already several episodes behind, and I just don't see myself carving out the time to catch up. So best of luck to Megan, Charlie, Will, Marco, Sage, Rose, Lily, and Laurel. Hope the show survives.

Hardest of all is coming to grips with the fact that I am almost two seasons behind on Supernatural. As much as I love the boys, they're just taking up too much room on the DVR. Maybe someday I'll Netflix, and marathon my way back in. But for now, I'm bidding them adieu. That will not necessarily preclude me from writing fic in which one or both (although not at the same time) of them have hot, dirty sex with Veronica Mars in the back of the Impala, 'cause that's just how I roll.

In happier fannish news, I signed up for Yuletide yesterday, and got my assignment today. I'm all a-squee. Although I only matched one of the requests, it's actually an idea that I had hoped to see written ages ago, so that's exciting. I only hope my giftee likes what I come up with! Said giftee seems like a possible kindred spirit that I will probably be friending when this is all over, so that's exciting too. Now I just have to brush up on the source material for the fandom I'm writing--what a hardship. :)

FIC: "From a Whisper Start" (Life, Charlie/Rachel) PG

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:48:44 GMT

Title: From a Whisper Start
Author: angel_grace
Pairing: Charlie Crews/Rachel Seybolt
Rating: PG
Word Count: 902
Spoilers/Warnings: Minor spoilers for the episode "Jackpot"; general references to the series as a whole.
Disclaimer: Life isn't mine. Sadly, neither is Damian Lewis. All in good fun, no profit.
Author's Note: Title is from John Hiatt's "Have a Little Faith in Me." And if my math is correct, and Rachel was 9 when her family was killed, she's 21+ now, so really, it's totally not squickybadwrong. Except how maybe it is. I blame in on the fact that Damian Lewis would have chemistry with a lamp post. And on Logan Echolls going down on Hannah in season 2 of Veronica Mars.

The house echoes. There's hardly any furniture, no pictures on the walls. It's like a model home that someone forgot to get ready for display.

She can't decide which is louder, the echoes or the silence.

Three weeks after she moves in, she stands outside his bedroom, just to hear the sound of someone else breathing. It takes her another week before she steps inside.

She stands just inside the doorway, listening to him sleep. She expects him to wake up; Ted told her once that you learn to sleep lightly in prison, for your own safety. But Charlie's breathing stays even, steady, not quite a snore but louder than a sigh. She takes a step closer, her footsteps silent on the deep plush carpeting.

He bought her a kitchen table. Custom job, approximately the size of an Olympic swimming pool. It arrived that morning, and they celebrated the occasion by ordering enough Chinese food for half of China. It's like he doesn't know the meaning of moderation.

Another step, and there's a hitch in his breath. Maybe the air moved, or she exhaled too loudly. She goes perfectly still, not ready for him to wake up, to tell her to go back to bed. Most of all, she doesn't want him to treat her like a child.

Two more silent steps, and she's close enough to make out his features in the moonlit room. The sheet has slipped down around his waist, baring his chest, the pale skin of a redhead gleaming ivory. She wonders if he's wearing anything at all, wonders if he'll allow her to find out.

Every shrink in the world would tell her it's a terrible idea. The man who killed her family would tell her it's a sin. She's not exactly trusting his authority these days.

She's heard him, in the echoes of the house. The random women he seems to collect like baseball cards. Her brother had baseball cards, she remembers. He would sort them, trade them, hoard them. But Charlie...Charlie is more concerned with the gum in the pack than the value of the card.

The women never seem to mind.

Her mind is still on baseball cards when the sound of his voice startles her. "Rachel?" he says, his voice thick with sleep. "What's wrong?"

Nothing. Everything.

He sits up in bed when she doesn't answer, reaches over to click on the lamp. She blinks at the brightness, stares down as the sheet slips a little lower. It's dark orange, the color of sunset over the mountains, and she thinks it suits him. "Rachel?" he asks again.

"I couldn't sleep," she finally replies. It's true, but it has nothing to do with why she's standing here, trying to count the freckles on his shoulders.

"Did you try counting sheep?" he asks. "Or warm milk? My mother used to give me warm milk when I couldn't sleep. I think she would slip a shot of bourbon in it. I tried making warm milk once, after I got out. It didn't taste like I remembered. No bourbon."

One more step, and she's close enough that she could reach over and touch him if she wanted. He doesn't flinch beneath her gaze, doesn't gather the sheet tighter around his waist. He just waits for her to answer.

"I used to pray myself to sleep. Every night. I can't even remember what I prayed for."

"Peace?" he suggests.

"No point praying for something you can never have," she whispers. "Are you at peace, Charlie?"

"It's a work in progress."

"Maybe you can tell me how to work on it." Her hand catches the edge of the sheet, but she doesn't pull it back. "Or maybe you can show me."

She expects him to argue, to let her down gently, to explain why this is the ultimate in bad ideas. His hand covers hers, stops it from moving, and she waits for the metaphorical shoe to drop. "Why?" is all he says.

She can feel her pulse beneath her skin. "I know how to survive. But I think I've forgotten how to live."

It is, she knows, a sentiment he can relate to. Both their lives were taken away that night, even as they continued to breathe. The cars, the fruit, the women...it's him trying to remember.

She sees "I can't" in the green of his eyes; feels "I shouldn't" in the pads of his fingers. But she tastes "I will" in the heat of his mouth.

He's not wearing anything beneath those sunset sheets, and she finds more freckles to count. It doesn't take long before her cries fill the room, and they are not echoes, but exultation. When it's over, she doesn't expect to stay, but he doesn't ask her to leave. His arm curls around her waist, and she can feel the sudden weight of his guilt.

She twists around to face him, catches "this can't happen again" on her lips before it trips off his tongue. "Please, Charlie," she sighs against his throat.

His fingers tighten on her hips, and he doesn't say no. Green eyes drift closed, long lashes soft against the face that has haunted both her nightmares and her dreams. She kisses each cheek, hooks one foot around his ankle, and pushes their bodies close. An uneven breath is his only response.

It's a beginning, she thinks, and finally falls asleep.

4 November 2008

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:28:33 GMT

Tears.

Tears, and joy, and hope.

History is often noted in hindsight...this is happening before our eyes. I'm proud to be a part of it.

VOTE!

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:32:55 GMT

No matter what your political affiliations, if you are eligible and have not already done so, please vote. It is a privilege. Anyone willing to spend hours futzing around on the Internet can carve out the time to exercise their civic duty. We're writing our own history here, so please participate.

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Alex and Izzie and Derek, oh my

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:35:44 GMT

It feels odd, but...I actually enjoyed Grey's Anatomy last night. Was it as good as it once was? No, probably not. But at least it made me remember why I cared about these characters in the first place.

You know, once upon a time, I feel like I must have liked Derek. I mean, he was McDreamy. But somewhere along the way, he became McAsshole, and it's gotten to the point that I actually dislike him more than Meredith. Where I used to think they deserved each other because they both essentially sucked, now I believe she deserves better. I was completely astonished by his bulldozing into the house and demanding that Alex and Izzie move out, even going so far as to whip out the tape measure. Clearly, the living situation was yet another thing that did not get addressed prior to their diving into the next phase of their relationship. While I can't actually fault him for wanting to live with just his girlfriend, the way he handled it was abominable. How could it not occur to him that this is something Meredith should have a say in? Being as it is, after all, her house. Even at the end, when he conceded the point "for now," it was utterly smug and condescending. Yes, at some point, he and Meredith will need to live together, just the two of them. Certainly she knows that as well. But his concession felt more like he was humoring a petulant child than actually admitting he had been in the wrong. Asshat.

I felt bad for Izzie in this episode. Obviously, as viewers, we can understand why her behavior over the last two seasons has driven away those closest to her. Presumably, though, it's much more difficult to perceive from the inside. While Izzie could have possibly been a bit clearer that she wanted to room with Cristina, I couldn't help thinking that Cristina was being selfishly obtuse. She knows that Derek is trying to kick out Alex and Izzie, knows that Izzie would therefore need somewhere to live. Izzie made a point of telling her that she wasn't an awful person, the implication, within the context of the conversation, being that she wouldn't mind living with Cristina. And while I think that could have been a very interesting storyline, with the two of them as roommates, instead we just get Cristina taking what she wants.

Speaking of Cristina, I am so tired of her complete and utter lack of teaching skills. One lousy stitched banana does not an instructor make. She bitched and moaned so much about Hahn not giving her the time of day last season, and she's even worse to her own interns. I'm so glad that Lexie approached Sloan, and was able to help the patient. Cristina's goal rarely seems to be in helping the patient, but instead to prove her own (perceived) awesomeness. Clearly, they need to bring back Kevin McKidd stat, so I can go back to liking Dr. Yang.

I'm really, really loving the rapport between Lexie and Sloan. I love that he gives her shit about George, and I love even more than she can look beyond his teasing and still go to him as a doctor. She gets things done, and for as much as he harasses her, I think he respects that. It would be so, so interesting if he were to well and truly fall for her.

Bailey will always be awesome. Poop water for the win!

I don't have a particular vested interest in Alex/Izzie, but I have to say that I am totally in favor of anything that gets Justin Chambers more airtime. He's awesome, even when he's being an unapologetic asshole.

In other news, CSI broke my heart a little, Ugly Betty is still amusing, and Life On Mars didn't grab me at all--I turned it off about five minutes in.

TV Overload

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:32:24 GMT

So much TV, so little time. So far, the only new show that I've tried and abandoned this season is True Blood. My Own Worst Enemy and Life On Mars haven't premiered yet, so we'll see how those go. I'm still watching 90210, although it's getting harder and harder to justify why. I checked out The Ex List, and it's cute enough to warrant another viewing. Was bored last Sunday, and ended up watching Valentine, mostly for Autumn Reeser and Patrick Fabian (Taylor Townshend! and Professor Lasky!). Total brain candy, and I doubt that I'd bother to DVR it, but if I'm home, I'll probably watch. I also got totally sucked into Life, which is entirely the fault of monimala

So far this week, I've managed to watch The Big Bang Theory, Chuck, Heroes, Life, NCIS, Bones, Private Practice, and CSI: NY. HIMYM, GG, TSCC, 90210, Privileged, and two episodes of FNL (not to mention my continued backlog of House, entourage, Lost, and SPN) still await me. *sigh*

Here's the thing. I love HIMYM. I love Barney. I love Barney/Robin. It's a fantastic show that has become a part of my cultural lexicon. But minute for minute, I laugh longer and harder at The Big Bang Theory. This was a show I fully expected to loathe, that I started watching only as a time-filler. But dude, I love this show. My level of geekitude is moderate (increased by an engineering degree and an undying love of Star Wars, but tempered by a lack of any sort of videogame or roleplaying savvy), but this show totally speaks my language. Plus the characters are endearing, in large part because of--not in spite of--their flaws. And really, how often do you come across a show that makes visual jokes out of non-Newtonian fluids?

I continue to very much enjoy Chuck as well. It's a bit of a candy-coated show for me--nothing particularly deep or thought-provoking, but good, solid entertainment. Plus, Captain Awesome is still, well, awesome. This show totally has fabulous guest stars. Melinda Clarke? Always, always superb. Even John Larroquette, who I can pretty much take or leave, was delightful. I also appreciate the fact that, even though Chuck is still part of the Buy More world, the characters there are getting more independent storylines. Even having Morgan interact with Captain Awesome was fun. And yay for Matthew Bomer! I totally called the return of Bryce Larkin when Chuck showed up with the rose, largely because I saw the actor's name in the credits. Now, I get that Bryce is supposed to be something of an antagonist, or at least a rival, for Chuck, but can't we keep him? I love me some Matthew Bomer. (Plus, honestly, the Sarah/Chuck pairing doesn't bother me, but I'm not particularly invested in it, either.)

Heroes continues to show flashes of greatness in between tidal waves of mediocrity. The nearly continual time-jumping has gotten old. Domesticated Sylar was completely adorable, but that speaks to the talent of Zachary Quinto, and not to any intrinsic story value. Who was the kid's mother? Why was the kid named Noah? Did Sylar go all "Gabriel" solely for the kid? And why is Future Claire a brunette?

Nathan and Heidi are clearly not together any more, but do you think the writers could spare one lousy line as to why? That said, Ali and Adrian are totally hot.

Still not quite following the Niki/Tracy/Barbara nonsense. I thought it was established at some point that Jessica was Niki's dead twin, not just a separate personality. Continuity much?

Maya and Mohinder are still essentially useless. If they're not going to be having the sex, I don't care about them.

Matt and Daphne? And they somehow are raising Molly? Poor Mohinder totally got the boot in that little family.

David Anders! YAY!

I am in Life overload, after marathoning S1 online and then NBC doing the two-episodes-per-week schedule. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about the changes made for S2. So did NBC get a two-for-one deal on "frozen man shattering" special effects technology. We already saw it on Heroes, courtesy of Tracy, and now Charlie accidentally breaks a murder victim? With a pen? Seriously? Hey, it's Marguerite Moreau! Always nice to see one of the Mighty Ducks.
Donal Logue's character continues to suck. I hate that they're clearly heading for some kind of hookup between him and Dani. Blech. I generally loathe superior/subordinate hookups, plus he's just smarmy and icky.

I can't really get behind the sudden shift in gears to Charlie/Jennifer. For one thing, she's married. For another, the actress has that awful bobblehead/stick body look so popular on the new 90210.

And what the fuckity fuck was that scene with Connie? She doesn't show up in the first two episodes of the season, and when she finally does, it's essentially to betray Charlie? Um, what? All I can say is that she better have been threatened or something. Otherwise she's just a stone cold bitch.

I still love me some NCIS, but I can't say that I found this week's episode overly engaging. First off, does the relationship between Gibbs and Abby feel different this season? It just isn't as affectionate as it used to be, and that makes me sad. The forensic investigation of the cupcake theft was totally over the top, but I was pleased that McGee was the culprit, since I just cannot bring myself to like the character very much. From reading random message boards, a lot of people seem to adore him, but frankly, Sean Murray irritates me.

I totally thought the Senator's wife was going to try and seduce Gibbs. Not that I would entirely blame her.

I'm slowly warming up to Director Vance. At least he and Gibbs don't have an eye-rolling romantic past. In France. Eesh.

Anyone want to lay odds on whether the introduction of Gibbs's father next week leads to Jethro getting slapped upside the head?

Bones: Still not as good without Zack. Wasn't impressed with this week's NotZack. And yes, writers, we get it: Temperance isn't religious. Get a new idea already.

Private Practice still has lots of pretty people. That said...No Dell?! At ALL?! Not cool, show. Not cool at all. You don't give a guy a totally hottifying haircut and then not have him on! Hmph.

So do Shonda and Co. want us to view Naomi as the victim here? The poor, mistreated soul who is being ganged up on by mean ol' Sam and Addy? Because I'm not buying it. Sure, maybe they could have handled the situation more delicately, by not ambushing her and stripping her of her power. But here's the thing: she was lying to everyone in the practice. Their livelihoods were at stake. Whatever she was doing, it wasn't going to magically get better with a little "faith," which is why the scene where Violet told off Sam annoyed me so much. Yes, Violet, sometimes, in the real world, where people actually treat patients instead of having coworkers massage their ass, occasionally you have to compromise a little in order to survive. Ideals rarely pay the bills.

I'm actually not hating Cooper/Charlotte nearly as much as I expected to...although I still think he and Violet belong together.

The less said about the actual patients, the better.

Wednesday procedurals

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:22:07 GMT

Okay, I can admit it: I was wrong. When Bones ended last season, I wasn't particularly upset about the developments. The execution was a little sloppy, but I honestly didn't much care that Zack was going to be gone. Although I liked his character early on, he grew to annoy. I didn't really see any positive growth. After watching several episodes this season, though, I will say it again: I was wrong.

So far, most of this season's episodes have been pretty blah, and I couldn't seem to put my finger on why. Last night had a different vibe, though, and I have to believe it was because Zack was back (sort of). If nothing else, what he did was an elephant in the room that went virtually ignored for the first several episodes. It needed to be dealt with, and while it was ridiculous to take him to the diner after his escape, it felt good to have the game back together.

I also found it very interesting that he didn't actually kill anyone. It makes me wonder if they are somehow laying the groundwork for him to return full time. It would still be a stretch, but less so than if he physically murdered someone.

I actually liked this week's NotZack, partially because I'm shallow and he was cute. It didn't look like he was going to be sticking around, though.

Some nice Booth/Bones moments at the end. Nothing overtly romantic, but it was sweet that he knew her reviews, and admitted to reading her books. They're so totally dating without the fun stuff.

I very much enjoyed the return of CSI: NY. It's still my favorite of the three, largely because no one in the cast makes me want to throw things at the screen, unlike the insufferable Horatio Caine and the why-couldn't-they-kill-her-off Sara Sidle. The premiere picked up pretty much where last season's finale left off. I'm very pleased that Mac was safe almost immediately--we know they're not killing off Gary Sinise, so why even pretend he's in danger?

I did enjoy the cat-and-mouse game, largely because I've had a soft spot for Elias Koteas since he was a badass with a heart of gold (Hey! He was totally Weevil!) in Some Kind of Wonderful. My only quibble was Mac's last line, when he listed all the reasons he was being arrested, and ended with "but most of all, for pissing me off" or whatever. Dude. Don't pull a Horatio. You're better than that.

Was there a point to introducing Flack's troublemaking sister? Is she going to become a recurring character? If it means more Eddie Cahill, I'm cool with that. :)

Very pleased to see AJ Buckley (and Robert Joy) in the opening credits, as Adam is awesome and definitely a favorite.

Tonight's lineup: Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy, while Supernatural gets DVRed.

Tuesday O.D.

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:54:52 GMT

Oh Tuesdays. Why must you be so challenging? Managed to watch 90210, Eureka, NCIS, and The Mentalist, all of which I enjoyed to varying degrees.

So far, my biggest proclem with 90210 is the teen characters. More adults, please! The scenes between Kelly and Brenda were great. Shannen Doherty has kept the essence of the character, but it's clear that Brenda has grown up. I enjoyed her snarking with Silver, reminiscing with Kelly, and connecting with Adrianna.

Of course, the Annie-replaces-Adrianna plot was completely predictable. I have to admit, though, that I kind of loved bitchtastic Adrianna at the hotel--possibly because I hate Annie. My only question is, where did Ty go?

Dixon and Silver continue to be the only palatable teen characters. I loved their makeout session, and her assertion that she wants to take things slow. As long as she isn't the new Donna Martin, we're cool.

No Navid again this week. Meanwhile, Naomi and Ethan are still boring. And the soon-to-be-ex-Mrs. Clark better stay away from Harry.

Not enough Ryan this week, although to next episode looks promising. My shallow observation for the night was that he has really gorgeous eyes.

The mid-season finale of Eureka held a few surprises. Since I've started watching the S1 DVDs, I'm really missing Ed Quinn as Nathan Stark in the new episodes. It's my understanding that the actor wanted to leave, but it just seems wrong to kill off someone that hot. Now, of course, we get the reveal that Allison is pregnant with Nathan's child (which I figured out early in the episode). They're clearly moving towards Jack/Allison, but without Nathan, it's all rather boring. I'm still holding out hope for a resurrection.

I enjoyed getting the backstory on 'Eva Thorne.' She and Jack were fun to watch, both as adversaries, and then working towards a common goal.

The relationship between Zane and Jo really does absolutely nothing for me, and I was hoping the breakup would stick. It probably doesn't help that Jo doesn't really click for me as a character. The only time I liked her in the episode was when she talked about being in sync with Jack.

Zoe's boyfriend is a tool. And can someone please explain to me how Aunt Lexi was able to just move to Eureka and be privy to all the super-secret GD stuff?

Of course, the big twist was Jack being fired as Sheriff. I will be stunned if it lasts more than one episode. Still, it managed to surprise me.

The best part of the night was that my beloved NCIS came back! I have ridiculous amounts of affection for this show, largely thanks to Mark Harmon and the rest of the cast. Overall, I was very pleased with the way this episode played out. I was fully prepared to dislike the new director, so I was pleasantly surprised when his reasons for breaking up the team were revealed. Despite his apparent willingness to reassemble the 'real' team, I'm still not 100% sure he's trustworthy. After all, we still don't know who sent that text message to Agent Lee.

Incidentally, I like that they made her the traitor. Of the three, she is the character viewers spent the most time with, so her betrayal feels more significant.

It may be an unpopular opinion, but I still can't stand McGee.

Abby is still the 'heart' of the show, and, as ever, I love her interaction with Gibbs.

The final exchange between Gibbs and Tony from the Seahawk was unexpectedly sweet. Tony got slighted in absentia by both McGee and Ziva, so it was nice to see Gibbs express affection. I'm hoping that after next week, Tony will be back where he belongs.

Finally, I watched the debut of The Mentalist. I've enjoyed Simon Baker since his days on The Guardian, so I was looking forward to checking this out. Before the show premiered, I read a lot of complaints that it was just going to be Psych without the funny. I'm happy to say that's really not the case. Simon Baker's Patrick Jane has comparable powers of observation to Shawn Spencer, but the entire premise of Psych is Shawn pretending to be psychic. In the current timeline of The Mentalist, everyone knows Patrick isn't psychic. It's certainly a less egregious rip-off than a certain vampire p.i. series.

As expected, I very much enjoyed Baker. Much like Profiler (where I first encountered Julian McMahon), Patrick has been personally affected by an uncaught serial killer--his wife and child were killed. I appreciate the pathos this adds to the character. The fact that his house is empty, and he sleeps on a simple mattress beneath a bloody smiley face in the room where they were murdered is a bit much, however.

The supporting cast is a bit of a mixed bag. Amanda Righetti has not, to the best of my knowledge, been good in any role, ever. I have no idea how she ended up on this show. Robin Tunney appears to have only one expression--a sour, pinched face. Owain Yeoman is usually awesome, fortunately, and Actor Whose Name I Do Not Know seems promising.

One of my biggest quibbles with the show is that they hired Steven Culp, whom I adore, featured him in two scenes, and killed him off in the first five minutes. What a waste of a good guest star!

On the whole, a decent premiere, and I'll keep watching for a weekly dose of Simon. I love that you can hear his sexy accent when he does the "stay tuned for scenes" bit. Yummy.

Wednesdays are a light TV night, so I just have Bones and CSI:NY on tap. I also need to watch last night's Fringe.

Manic Monday

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:31:23 GMT

Monday night was the first test of fall DVR insanity, although Chuck still isn't back. I managed to watch Gossip Girl, Heroes (how did I not realize it was two hours?), How I Met Your Mother, and The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The Big Bang Theory is on tap for after work tonight, and as planned, I've abandoned One Tree Hill, even though I will miss Jamie.

Gossip Girl continues to be all sorts of trashy fun, and I really enjoyed most of the developments in last night's episode. Despite Chuck giving Blair the 'dossier' on Amanda, I did not put the pieces together that he had orchestrated the whole thing just so Serena would retake her crown from Blair. Well played, show. Chuck certainly isn't someone I'd want to know in real life, but he makes for fabulous TV. I hope they continue to show him taking Erik under his wing, since the two of them crack me up.

I can't say that the revelation about Marcus and Catherine surprised me, nor am I sad to see either of them go. I did feel sorry for Blair--Leighton played the scene where she found out to perfection. Of course, her subsequent manipulative bitchiness was also delightful. Meanwhile, I still can't quite decide what I think of Vanessa. She and Nate have a pretty good vibe, but they're not especially interesting. As long as she stays away from Rufus, we're good, I guess.

Also not interesting are Serena and Dan. The 'whoever dates first wins' philosophy was pure Blair, and it felt like they dropped a year's worth of character development by having Serena go all super-bitch. While I certainly don't care if she and Dan stay friends, it's clear this behavior could cost Serena her friendship with Blair. Of course, wishful thinker that I am, I would love to see Blair align herself with Dan after being betrayed by Serena. I've liked Penn Badgley in other things, so I can't help thinking that Dan could be better if he had a more talented scene partner than Blake Lively (I originally typed 'Blank Lively,' which kind of fits).

It was also nice to finally have Lily return. After all the marvelous Rufus/Lily interaction at the end of last season, I felt cheated when Kelly Rutherford wasn't in the first few episodes. Of course, the two of them broke my heart again. Rufus was right--she made her choice, and it's not fair to use him as a security blanket. Clearly, though, their feelings won't go away anytime soon.

Overall, it was a solid episode, and the previews for next week look interesting.

Another decent, if not spectacular, episode of The Sarah Connor Chronicles this week. Does anyone else find it vaguely inappropriate that John was hanging out (okay, stealing cable) with Casey, in her bedroom, and she wasn't even wearing a proper shirt? Sure, she's still ginormously pregnant, and I didn't get any weird sparkage between them, but the scene felt a little off.

Please make Riley go away now. Bleah.

Cameron didn't really have much to do this week, did she?

I like Dean Winters, so I didn't really mind that so much of the episode focused on Charley and his wife. I can't say that I'm surprised that Michelle died, particularly if the writers intend for Charley to be an integral character. It wouldn't really work if he kept needing to go home to his wife. Now the question is whether he will align himself fully with the Connors, or if he will blame Sarah for Michelle's death.

Meanwhile, the 'shipper in me very much enjoyed the bits of Derek/Sarak interaction we got. Even though he knew it was a trap, even though he didn't agree with going, there was no way Derek was letting Sarah go off on her own.

I still maintain that we need more gratuitous Derek shower scenes.

Interesting that Shirley Manson offered Ellison a job. I enjoy the actor playing Ellison a lot, so I hope he gets more to do.

And then, of course, there was Heroes. Holy crap, a lot of stuff happened. It was confusing enough on its own, but add the huge time gap since the S2 finale aired, and I had trouble keeping up.

Nathan/Peter/Claire/Sylar/Mama Petrelli: I'm very glad that Nathan didn't die, since Adrian Pasdar is one of the strongest actors on the show. I'm not sure where they're going with the "touched by God" angle, but I totally called Linderman being a hallucination. So my question is this: Did Nathan survive because FuturePeter healed him? Or is there something else at work here?

Is this the first time we've been told what Mama Petrelli's power is? Her nightmare of the future was way creepy, although I was very excited to see David Anders again. And dude, I did not expect the twist of Sylar being her son.

Speaking of Sylar, his scenes with Claire were scary. It all felt very slasher-movie, and I'm a big wuss. I'm not sure how I felt about him becoming virtually indestructable--to have three people on the show apparently unable to die feels like a bit of a cheat. I am glad to know, though, that he doesn't actually eat brains.

I'm also intrigued by the development of Claire not feeling pain. But seriously, unless there's going to be another reveal that Peter and Claire aren't related, they really need to lay off the 'shippy vibes. I know Hayden and Milo are dating, but come on.

Mohinder/Maya: The good news is that Maya is marginally less annoying than last season, although she still seems pretty useless. I haven't quite decided how I feel about the "super-powered adrenaline" or whatever. The show needs a few characters who are 'normal,' so I was a little perturbed by HulkSmash!Mohinder, when he magically had heightened abilities. On the other hand, shirtless Mohinder tearing off Maya's clothes was hot. :) Still, I'm glad there are apparent consequences to his 'powering up,' even if I really didn't need to see him peel off a chunk of skin.

Hiro/Ando/Daphne: I love Hiro and Ando. I don't even mind the new girl (yet). But one of the detriments of S2 was having Hiro and Ando isolated in their 'feudal Japan' plot, barely interacting with any of the main characters. (Who didn't miss Hiro wandering around shouting 'Mystery Sock!' and 'Flying Man!' and 'Peter Petrelli!'?) I sincerely hope that doesn't happen again this year.

As far as 'evil' FutureAndo, I'm not convinced it was really him. It could have been either Sylar or Peter, having absorbed the shape-shifting ability.

Elle/Bob/'Jesse': If nothing else, I will be absolutely thrilled if this show brings about a Veronica Mars reunion. I never got my Veronica/Weevil hookup, so perhaps Kristen Bell and Francis Capra will get a second chance as Elle and Peter-as-Jesse.

HRG: More, please!

Parkman: Wandering in Africa with a conveniently English-speaking dude? Come on, give the guy a real story or let Greg Grunberg move on to Fringe or something.

Niki/Jessica/Tracy: Um, what? Tracy seems to have more of a function than Niki/Jessica did, so yay, but would anyone really miss Ali Larter? On the plus side, hi, Bruce Boxleitner! You'll always be Scarecrow to me.

Are Micah, Molly, and Monica gone for good? Was it because their names all start with 'M'?

On tap for tonight: DVRing NCIS and The Mentalist (mmm, Simon Baker) on CBS, and House and Fringe on FOX. 90210 and Eureka get the live view, Greek will be recorded during its Wednesday late-night re-airing, and I'll catch Privileged on Sunday. At least this is the mid-season finale for Eureka, which will make things a little easier.

Wingwoman style

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:28:33 GMT

Oh, Barney. How did NPH not win an Emmy last night? How was this show not even nominated for an Emmy last night? Grr.

Much as Ted is a doofus, I have to agree that I don't think I could marry someone who didn't love Star Wars. This may be why I'm still single.

Of course, for me, the best parts of the episode dealt with the Barney/Robin relationship. I love that he has realized that he's in love with her, but hasn't fundamentally changed what makes him hysterically awesome. Also? NPH is hot. Yummers.

Tuesday's gray and Wednesday's blue

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:28:11 GMT

Another day, another night of TV. Last night's viewing schedule included 90210, Privileged, and Fringe, all of which I enjoyed to varying degrees.

First up, the most famous zip code in the world. Okay, was anyone seriously surprised when Dylan was revealed to be the father? Once Kelly mentioned that she had a history with the guy in high school, he was easily the most logical candidate. It's certainly not a daring choice. Of course, now it becomes a matter of whether they can convince Luke Perry to reprise his role. It would be kind of funny to see Dylan and Ryan competing for Kelly, since Ryan Eggold is 24 to Perry's almost-42.

Some other stuff happened in the episode, too. Dixon as the new Brandon is further emphasized when he gets a job at the new Peach Pit. At least he doesn't have to wear the ugly teal uniform. Dixon and Silver continue to be adorable together, and practically the only teens I can tolerate. (Navid was sadly absent this week.) I also totally thought the guy whose car Dixon hit was scamming him on the price, so it was nice to see him instead invite him to a Lakers game. (And hi, Pip!)

I think Annie is officially my least favorite character, much like Brenda before her. But where Brenda was epic in her bitchiness, Annie is just perky and annoying. Plus she has that ginormous head on that little stick body. And snickerdoodles? Somebody's been watching Veronica Mars.

This show has pretty much made it so I never want to see Spring Awakening. Although Lucille Bluth will forever be awesome.

Fortunately, the second episode of Privileged was just as much fun as the first, and I was much more engaged by it than 90210. My favorite character is Charlie, who Michael Cassidy plays as a genuinely good guy (much like Zack on The O.C.). Normally, in the tried-and-true 'best friend pining' plot, it seems preposterous that the pined-for party is completely oblivious to the best friend's feelings. In this case, though, Charlie is low-key enough that it makes sense that Megan genuinely doesn't suspect. Plus, she's busy doing a little pining of her own, for Will.

No surprise that Lily and Will ended up kissing on the beach (after spending the night together? It seemed to be morning...). Frankly, the attempts to make Megan out as the bad guy in the sisterly relationship didn't really work for me. Lily is a drug-using, boyfriend-stealing, trashy bitch (hey! She's Brandi on In Plain Sight!), and we're supposed to feel sorry for her? Sorry, no. It's awfully easy for Sage to stay up on her high horse, so determined to make her sister happy (although frankly, it seems more like controlling her sister), when Rose is a genuinely sweet person. Quite honestly, I doubt if anyone at that hoity-toity party felt sorry for Megan or Lily. I would guess their sympathies were with Laurel, who had the misfortune to bring the girl who caused a scene.

I am glad that Laurel and Megan talked things out, because having Sage, Lily, and Laurel actively working against Megan was a bit much. (And why is Megan the only main female character not named after some type of plant?)

Although Will is certainly charming and handsome, is he really anything but a rich playboy? He seems interested in Megan, but if it were genuine, would he hook up with her sister?

Right now, the only thing I genuinely dislike about the show is the cheesy opening title. It's completely fake-looking and lame.

And finally, Fringe. Wow. I really enjoyed this episode, after being very iffy about the pilot. Consider me hooked. Certainly, the storyline bore a few similarities to the classic X-Files episode "Squeeze," where a serial killer removes a specific body part from his victims in order to ensure his own survival. Unlike The X-Files, though, there's not really a supernatural element to this show; it's clearly a case of science gone wrong.

It will be interesting to see how many of the cases relate back to Walter's own work. What happens if and when they encounter something he has no connection to? I also look forward to finding out if any other cases that Olivia worked with John turn out to be related to 'the Pattern.' How long was he involved with what was going on? How much did he know? And can we please have more Mark Valley?

I liked Anna Torv a lot better this week, which is encouraging. I enjoyed the interaction between her and Peter, even if I don't necessarily see romance (yet). I was glad to see something push her to her limit, make her snap, at least temporarily.

Peter (who I am trying very hard not to call 'Pacey') is, unsurprisingly, my favorite thing about the show. The dry wit gets me every time. And the eyes don't hurt either. :) Naturally, I'm very intrigued to find out what the 'circumstances of his birth' were. On a further shallow note, while I certainly have no desire to be kidnapped by a serial killer bent on removing my pituitary gland, waking up to ~~Pacey~~ Peter comforting me would be a damn fine rescue.

Was that the Fibonacci sequence Walter was going through the first time he tried to lull himself to sleep? Heh.

And finally, a nit to pick, although it applies more to TV in general. Every time someone on TV needs to look someone or something up, they magically know the correct spelling. Case in point: 'Dr. Claus Penrose.' It's particularly jarring when it's a spelling I consider non-standard. I've only ever seen the name spelled 'Klaus,' but Olivia's assistant (whose name I cannot recall) somehow knew to use a 'C.' I get that spelling doesn't make for compelling TV, but it just totally pulls me out of the moment. Because I am a GIANT NERD.

Holy TV, Batman

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:06:40 GMT

Well, this is the last week before my TV viewing schedule goes absolutely, completely batshit insane. I've already dropped one new show--True Blood--since I couldn't even compel myself to watch the entire first episode. The new 90210 is still on probation. Ryan Eggold is all kinds of hot, but the fact that I'm mostly watching for the grownups--some of whom aren't even series regulars--doesn't exactly bode well. Despite it not being part of my original fall grid, I've added Privileged to the lineup, and it's a stronger contender than 90210. Adding it does make Tuesdays at 8 iffy, though, at least until Greek and Eureka finish their current runs.

I had hoped to be caught up with House before the season premiere tonight, but that didn't quite happen. I'm through episode 5 of S4, so only 11 to go--a lot closer than the 35 I was behind a few weeks ago! So far, I'm not minding the arc of House finding a new team. I've read a lot of bitching and moaning about Chase and Cameron being marginalized, but so far I just don't care. Cameron mostly irritated me anyway, and although Jesse Spencer is gorgeous, I often felt that Chase was underdeveloped. His new dynamic with House is more compelling to me, even though there's less focus on his character.

After I finish marathoning House, I really need to tackle Supernatural, and then Lost.

Monday night TV this week was good, if not great. For starters, Chuck and Blair continue to be the best thing about Gossip Girl. Chuck propositioning Blair at the party was, quite simply, hot. The chemistry between Ed and Leighton is off the charts. This isn't a couple that I want a "happily ever after" for; it simply wouldn't be in character. Instead, I love watching them circle each other, antagonize each other, bait each other; the pulling together and pushing apart; all of that is fascinating.

Which is fortunate, since Dan and Serena are still boring as shit. Thank God they broke up again. And thank heavens Blair had the sense to point out that nothing had changed between S and Lonely Boy. They didn't work through the problems and reconcile, they simply ignored the issues and started having sex again.

Jenny is still acting like a human being, but the whole "ingenue gets fired but wins back mentor's goodwill with talent and vision" storyline is so trite. Bored now! And where was Erik this week? I enjoy him with Little J.

Chace is still pretty, and Nate is 1000X more interesting than he was when the show began, but for the love of cougars, Catherine is way more annoying than Tamara ever was. Plus, I want Nate and Vanessa to be happy together, if only so the weird, vaguely inappropriate vibes between Vanessa and Rufus will stop. Did anyone else think his mystery girlfriend resembled Vanessa? The thing is, I fully recognize that Rufus is totally hot. I could totally buy one of the Upper East Side girls hooking up with him. But Vanessa has been friends with Dan since they were kids, so the only thing she should see Daddy Humphrey as is a father figure, and vice versa.

Finally, Marcus bores me. Next!

As noted in last night's very brief entry, One Tree Hill made me cry. Like, a lot. When I was a senior in high school two of my classmates died. One, an acquaintance, in a car accident. The second, a close friend, a suicide. Needless to say, even all these years later, the death of a teenager resonates with me.

I bash OTH a lot, and I make no apology for that. The Lucas/Peyton "romance", Lucas and Peyton in general, the ridiculous amounts of violence, the caricatures masquerading as characters--all of these make for a pretty mediocre show. All that said, I have to give credit where credit is due. With the exception of the "Misery redux" plot, and some of the more overwrought Brooke scenes, this episode was well done. Emotionally manipulative, but well done. :)

All of the reactions to Q's death felt genuine. As precocious as he is, I'm glad that Nathan and Haley didn't treat Jamie like a miniature adult. They explained what happened in terms they thought he could understand, and they discussed whether he was old enough to handle the funeral. That's what real parents do. I also appreciated that Jamie didn't immediately grasp the concept of death. He is, after all, only 5. The scene between him and Q's brother Dre was spot-on and sweet. Two five-year-old boys aren't going to sit around talking about feelings. "My mom makes the best spaghetti in the world" and "My grandma wears really tight pants" were perfect. Of course, I started bawling when Jamie gave Dre Q's jersey.

It was also nice to get the reminder that the "adults" on the show are only 22, and they, too, struggle to comprehend the tragedy. Haley not knowing what to say to her class, Lucas feeling like he failed Q, Skillz crying in the gym--it all felt very real.

Of course, the funeral was the emotional climax of the episode. I totally lost it when the team walked up and gave Q's mom the flowers. (Speaking of Q's mom, hi, Jaleesa!) Dre getting up to take Q's place with the team just about destroyed me, and Jamie laying out the cape was the final straw. Seriously, my eyes were sore.

A few other quick notes:
-Um, is anyone ever going to notice the FINGER-SHAPED BRUISES on Brooke's arm?
-Do we really need to replace troubled-but-rehabilitated-teen Quentin with troubles-but-sure-to-be-rehabilitated-teen Samantha so soon?
-Shut up, Peyton.
-Are we supposed to feel sorry for PsychoCarrie because of her dead son? (And heh, I just flashed to that funeral scene in Heathers--"I love my dead gay son!")
-Was a funeral really the best place to out the Deb/Skillz relationship?
-No, really, SHUT UP, Peyton.
-It was odd yet interesting to have a scene with just Nathan and Brooke.
-Do you think anyone called to tell Mouth about Q?
-Because it can't be said enough...shut up, Peyton.

Last but not least, there was Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I just really enjoy this show, even when it's maybe not the most exciting episode. First, the stuff I was 'meh' about. Hey, they found a girl for John who has about as much discernible personality as he does. NEXT. Also, not enough Derek.

The "Karen and Cindy" show at the bar/pool hall was twelve kinds of awesome. Can we have more semi-lighthearted undercover hijinks?

Hey, it's Busy Phillipps! And dude, she is enormously pregnant. If that's seven months, what the hell is nine going to look like?

I have no idea what's up with Cameron. Is she going to go bad again? Is she developing free will? It will be interesting to see the storyline develop.

Maybe I'm stupid, but I'm really not clear where the bloody writing came from. Did dying future guy put it there before he crashed through the window?

Did I mention the fact that there wasn't enough Derek? Seriously, I need more of the disturbing BAG hotness. I know I read somewhere that they're not going to do a Derek/Sarah hookup, but I don't care. I will continue to contrarily 'ship them. Anyone have some nice, smutty fic recs?

Tears of a fool

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:00:38 GMT

I am a big sobbing, bawling mess, and it's all One Tree Hill's fault. Dammit, I did not need to relive my own high school trauma.

Fuck.

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:07:29 GMT

There's nothing on tonight. Boo.

As for the anniversary elephant in the room, it's not something I've made a habit of posting about, and I don't intend to start now.

TV roundup

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:07:32 GMT

For the record? Privileged is better than 90210. Michael Cassidy (AKA Zack on The O.C.) is completely adorable. Now if only I could get Ben McKenzie back on my TV...

People I care about on 90210: Kelly, Brenda, Ryan, Harry, Aunt Becky, Dixon, Silver, and Navid. People I do not care about: Annie, Ethan, Ty, Naomi, Adrianna.

Things that suck: the DirecTV on-screen showing a listing for Eureka and instead airing Scare Tactics. Bastards.

Bones didn't really interest me tonight, aside from some of the B/B relationship stuff. Also, I love Sweets.

Cartwright, Casey Cartwright

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:06:18 GMT

The fall TV schedule is already getting overwhelming, and most of the shows haven't even started yet. I am in so much trouble. Last night my cause was actually aided by the fact that 90210 and Privileged (which I have decided to check out solely for Michael Cassidy) didn't air until 10:30 and 11:30, thanks to a baseball game.

Those two shows, along with Eureka, are waiting on my DVR, as I only managed to watch Fringe and Greek before succumbing to sleep. Greek is such frothy, delightful fun, and this episode really highlighted that. First off, let me just say how much I loved the fact that they addressed the issue of everyone thinking Evan was president of his fraternity. I know I certainly thought that was the case, at least for a while. Nicely played bit of tongue-in-cheek.

Cappie continues to get most of the fun pop-culture lines, whether they are referencing Knight Rider or Press Your Luck (although he's too young for both of them--the new Knight Rider doesn't feature a Trans Am, but maybe he watches PYL on the Game Show Network). I thought the break-up with Rebecca was handled well. They clearly care about each other, but Cappie is still very much set in his goofy ways, and given all that is happening to her, Rebecca needs more than that. I was pleased that they didn't make it all about Casey, although her "at least not for me" comment may have alluded to what he is willing to do for one versus the other.

Evan and Calvin continue to be awesome together. I love their big brother/little brother vibe, but it just makes me giggle how they sit around talking about their problems. And then get dressed in the same room. It was too cute when Evan handed him the cigar and then they peeled off in opposite directions at the casino night. And can I just say that Evan was looking particularly yummy last night? Pity he's such an ass most of the time.

I loved the entire casino night plot, actually. Casey and Rusty crack me up with their bickering, but I love when they work together. The end scene was very sweet, when she loaned him her car. Really, though, the highlight for me was Max. I thought he was kind of cute in a dorky way when they introduced him last week, but holy cow, I'm totally on board with him and Casey hooking up. The slicked-back hair was unfortunate, but the rest of the time he was fabulous. I really hope that he's just painfully shy and doesn't know what to do with a pretty girl, rather than him having some big secret that hurts Casey. I'm totally okay with her being in a nice, normal relationship that doesn't involved Cappie or Evan. That said, will someone please find Ash a man? She deserves more than to be the perpetual sidekick. So far she's had to deal with awful Travis, then the dork in the Travis suit, Calvin being gay, the Hot Ness Monster falling for Casey...give the girl a break. I am glad that they didn't make the charge card debt magically go away. A lot of college students get themselves in trouble with credit cards, so it's nice that she will have to take some responsibility.

Fringe benefits

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:52:44 GMT

So, I watched the premiere of Fringe. Sadly, my impression of the first hour was a rather resounding 'meh'. Fortunately, the last half hour or so was markedly more interesting, and I'll keep watching for a while. And not only for Pacey. Hee.

Unfortunately, the weakest part of the show for me is the lead actress. Let's face it, Joshua Jackson could have chemistry with a potted plant, and he was twinkling all over the place even while being bitchy, and she was just...useless.

Of course, it was lovely to see Mark Valley (AKA MV the Greater) back on my TV screen. Honestly, the fact that he turned out to be a bad guy (sort of) is what will have me tuning in next week.

There was other stuff, like the cow, and SpongeBob, but mostly...still meh. *sigh*

Objective: Terminate

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:02:33 GMT

After the heartbreak of One Tree Hill, watching The Sarah Connor Chronicles was refreshingly, kick-ass awesome.

1. Loved the opening scene, with the music and the action and the fire. Didn't recognize the song--anyone know what it was?

2. Brian Austin Green is still remarkably, disturbingly hot on this show. I mean, seriously. Sure, he was moderately cute back in the 90210 days (once his voice changed, that is), but, um, GUH. Also, when he and Charley were being all snarky? They totally should have made out.

3. John lost the emo hair! Thomas Dekker still isn't my favorite, but it's nice to see him transforming from mopey teen to badass soldier.

4. Without comment on her acting skills, I love Shirley Manson's accent. And the big reveal at the end? Fucking AWESOME.

Too tired to write more, but on the whole, I very much enjoyed the premiere.

Bastards

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:01:20 GMT

~~Dear~~ Mark Schwahn,

You suck. That is all.

No love,
Me

More premieres

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:13:34 GMT

I do not understand people who no longer watch a show posting on a message board solely to bitch about how the show sucks and they no longer watch it. Just GO AWAY. Post about shows you watch, dammit.

Look, I get that a lot of people were upset about last season's Bones finale. Frankly, it didn't surprise me, and while it was rushed (thank you, asinine writers' strike that accomplished nothing), I can't say I have a problem with what happened. That said, if you're pissed enough about the plot development to no longer watch, that's fine. But stop bitching already. Eesh.

On the other hand, I really don't understand the point of breaking up Angela and Hodgins tonight. All that effort to get a divorce for Angela, and they just throw it all away? Am I the only one who thinks it's perfectly natural to be bothered by a close friend sleeping with an ex, even if the relationship is truly over? And also perfectly natural for a guy like Hodgins (who, yes, I find attractive, who has StealthChest, and gorgeous blue eyes, but is not in the league of whatshisname, physically) to feel threatened by him? And rather than work through it, they just pitch it out the window? Passive-aggressively, at that? Bleah.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the premiere, although it certainly wasn't my favorite episode. I didn't entirely see the point of going to London, but I thought they developed both Ian and Pritchard well enough. There were certainly parallels between the pairings, but it wasn't as cringingly anvilicious as I've seen on, say, NCIS.

Really, I watch the show for the characters, and their interactions, particularly Booth and Bones. In that respect, the show delivered. They continue to be awesome together, both as friends and the potential for more. Seriously, though, they are totally in love/all but dating/essentially married.

I'm too tired to go into detail, but I enjoyed 90210 enough to keep watching. I must say, I enjoy the adults much more than the teens, probably because I am one. And yes, I'm very much hot for teacher. Hi, Ryan Eggold! Yum.