entertainment: television: season finale wrap-up
So this has been season finale week for most of my favorite shows. My thoughts:
NCIS 8x24: "Pyramid"
I knew Ray would end up being part of the finale line somehow, but thought it was flaky on the writer's part to have Ziva knock on a hotel door, not get an answer, and go on in. Um, she's Ziva David. Former Mossad agent? Professional badass? She'd know better. But of course something had to happen to Ziva to send Gibbs and Tony into full "we must protect this house" mode, and for Tony to make a pretty inconsiderate comment to EJ about how some agents care about Ziva being missing in a different way than others. Heh. I knew Tony wouldn't take Rota when EJ told him he could have it, but was shocked that he's going undercover again after the experience with Jeanne when Jenny was in charge hurt his relationship with the team. I think the person selling the agency's secrets is EJ because from the look on Tony's face when he opened the envelope it was someone he's close to, I don't believe Ziva, Tony, or Abby would sell secrets, and EJ taking the thing out of her agent's wrist was still completely unexplained. Hard to believe it could be her, though, since she is SecNav's niece.
Castle 3x24: "Knockout"
The most shocking thing about this episode for me was not the ending (although, WHOAH) but Ryan and Esposito getting into a physical fight! Even bromance has its limits. The secret about Montgomery's past was a surprise, and I loved the scene where Beckett referred to herself, Castle, Ryan, and Esposito as "this immediate family." Loved that Castle had to be the one to get Beckett out of the situation with Montgomery. I wonder where the show will go next- will it skip three months as usual, or will the season 4 premiere pick up right where this one left out? I know Beckett will turn out to be okay somehow, but I wonder if she'll be able to acknowledge her feelings for Castle and what that will do for their work together. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if Castle had seen the shooter a moment sooner.
Parks & Rec 3x16: "L'il Sebastian"
Things are not looking good for Ben and Leslie's relationship. The exchange from this episode that made me laugh out loud:
Doctor: The good news is that it's tendonitis.
Chris: How is that good news?
Doctor: The alternative was shoulder cancer.
The Mentalist 3x24: "Strawberries & Cream (Part II)"
CRAZIEST FINALE OF THE SEASON. I do ship Patrick and Lisbon to some extent and it was good to see how much he cares about her, enough to follow her into a sketchy situation and take control of the situation when she wakes up from being knocked out with a bomb strapped to her chest. I really thought he was going to tell her he loved her, but it turned out he was just trying to distract the bomb guy, Gupta. Also wasn't too shocked that Van Pelt's fiance O'Laughlin was Red John's mole within the bureau- that explains why he didn't cover her in the junkyard shootout a few episodes back. I feel truly sorry for Grace- how much would that suck to have already bought your wedding dress and find out your fiance was completely deceiving you? Answer: everything would be ruined forever.
After watching the whole episode, I was like, "Umm, was that also the series finale?" How could the show possibly come back from Patrick Jane killing Red John in the food court of a mall? He can't really plead self-defense when many of the citizens of Sacramento saw Red John walking away. I was shocked to see Patrick armed at all- and how did a man who always avoids guns decide to bring a pistol to the meeting with the person he suspected was Red John's collaborator? What an example of doing the right thing in the wrong way. I always thought that Patrick and Lisbon would catch Red John together and his death would be done in a way in which Patrick got to do it but it would somehow still be legal and just. What happened was straight up revenge. Also I still think LaRoche is a bad dude even if he wasn't the mole- and Patrick knows what's bad about him.
Saturday Night Live: Justin Timberlake/Lady Gaga
Oh, Justin Timberlake.
- The newest version of the Omeletteville sketch (Liquorville) had Kirsten Wiig as a tea bag, Justin as a beer with the same big feet and gloves he always wears in those sketches, and Lady Gaga with a cork on her head and wine glass hands.
- Herb Welsh: "Suck an egg, you mannequin."
- Digital Short: set immediately after "Motherlover," Justin and Andy along with Gaga brought us "The Golden Rule," and those neon overalls were pretty amazing. "This rule dates back to ancient Greece." JIMMY CAME FOR BARRY GIBB TALK SHOW, so I was thrilled because it's my all-time favorite sketch. "I'm Barry Gibb! I survived the Rapture!"
NCIS 8x24: "Pyramid"
I knew Ray would end up being part of the finale line somehow, but thought it was flaky on the writer's part to have Ziva knock on a hotel door, not get an answer, and go on in. Um, she's Ziva David. Former Mossad agent? Professional badass? She'd know better. But of course something had to happen to Ziva to send Gibbs and Tony into full "we must protect this house" mode, and for Tony to make a pretty inconsiderate comment to EJ about how some agents care about Ziva being missing in a different way than others. Heh. I knew Tony wouldn't take Rota when EJ told him he could have it, but was shocked that he's going undercover again after the experience with Jeanne when Jenny was in charge hurt his relationship with the team. I think the person selling the agency's secrets is EJ because from the look on Tony's face when he opened the envelope it was someone he's close to, I don't believe Ziva, Tony, or Abby would sell secrets, and EJ taking the thing out of her agent's wrist was still completely unexplained. Hard to believe it could be her, though, since she is SecNav's niece.
Castle 3x24: "Knockout"
The most shocking thing about this episode for me was not the ending (although, WHOAH) but Ryan and Esposito getting into a physical fight! Even bromance has its limits. The secret about Montgomery's past was a surprise, and I loved the scene where Beckett referred to herself, Castle, Ryan, and Esposito as "this immediate family." Loved that Castle had to be the one to get Beckett out of the situation with Montgomery. I wonder where the show will go next- will it skip three months as usual, or will the season 4 premiere pick up right where this one left out? I know Beckett will turn out to be okay somehow, but I wonder if she'll be able to acknowledge her feelings for Castle and what that will do for their work together. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if Castle had seen the shooter a moment sooner.
Parks & Rec 3x16: "L'il Sebastian"
Things are not looking good for Ben and Leslie's relationship. The exchange from this episode that made me laugh out loud:
Doctor: The good news is that it's tendonitis.
Chris: How is that good news?
Doctor: The alternative was shoulder cancer.
The Mentalist 3x24: "Strawberries & Cream (Part II)"
CRAZIEST FINALE OF THE SEASON. I do ship Patrick and Lisbon to some extent and it was good to see how much he cares about her, enough to follow her into a sketchy situation and take control of the situation when she wakes up from being knocked out with a bomb strapped to her chest. I really thought he was going to tell her he loved her, but it turned out he was just trying to distract the bomb guy, Gupta. Also wasn't too shocked that Van Pelt's fiance O'Laughlin was Red John's mole within the bureau- that explains why he didn't cover her in the junkyard shootout a few episodes back. I feel truly sorry for Grace- how much would that suck to have already bought your wedding dress and find out your fiance was completely deceiving you? Answer: everything would be ruined forever.
After watching the whole episode, I was like, "Umm, was that also the series finale?" How could the show possibly come back from Patrick Jane killing Red John in the food court of a mall? He can't really plead self-defense when many of the citizens of Sacramento saw Red John walking away. I was shocked to see Patrick armed at all- and how did a man who always avoids guns decide to bring a pistol to the meeting with the person he suspected was Red John's collaborator? What an example of doing the right thing in the wrong way. I always thought that Patrick and Lisbon would catch Red John together and his death would be done in a way in which Patrick got to do it but it would somehow still be legal and just. What happened was straight up revenge. Also I still think LaRoche is a bad dude even if he wasn't the mole- and Patrick knows what's bad about him.
Saturday Night Live: Justin Timberlake/Lady Gaga
Oh, Justin Timberlake.
- The newest version of the Omeletteville sketch (Liquorville) had Kirsten Wiig as a tea bag, Justin as a beer with the same big feet and gloves he always wears in those sketches, and Lady Gaga with a cork on her head and wine glass hands.
- Herb Welsh: "Suck an egg, you mannequin."
- Digital Short: set immediately after "Motherlover," Justin and Andy along with Gaga brought us "The Golden Rule," and those neon overalls were pretty amazing. "This rule dates back to ancient Greece." JIMMY CAME FOR BARRY GIBB TALK SHOW, so I was thrilled because it's my all-time favorite sketch. "I'm Barry Gibb! I survived the Rapture!"