Reviewapalooza (Spoilers)
Reviews for the latest episodes of Legion of Super Heroes, The Batman, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy, American Dad, 24, and the Stephen King novel The Stand.
Legion of Super Heroes "Lightning Storm"
I wasn't too crazy about this episode. It was alright I guess but Lightning Lad is STILL an unlikable character. I thought it was cool however that this seemed to be the first episode in which all of the core Legionaires appeared. I also like how Khary Payton and Tara Strong voiced some of the villains. ***.
The Batman "Seconds"
Spectacularly cool episode but that's been the standard this season. AWESOME concept for a villain (it's something JLU might have done) and I love how they carried the time-warping powers out because even though it could have potentially been confusing they managed to make everything seem crystal clear for the audience. Dave Foley gives a terrific performance and I thought it was absolutely brilliant and hilarious when he went back in time to "fix" his lame quips. I also found the ending to be seriously touching. GREAT episode. ****1/2.
The Simpsons "Little Big Girl"
I have a HUGE feeling this episode is going to be hated by the fans but I loved it anyways. Seeing Bart make out with a fifteen year old was hilarious (as was his reaction to finding out she was pregnant) and I love his kid logic in regards to romance and what is the right thing to do. I also loved Lisa's subplot and how many Indians at the end claimed to have faked their heritage (ESPECIALLY the woman who says she is actually Japanese). It's an Al Jean episode so it isn't perfect but this episode seemed to be more in the spirit of the Golden Age than most of his episodes. ****1/2.
King of the Hill "SerPUNt"
Seriously amusing episode with some truly priceless Dale bits. The story was pretty standard but the idea of snakes in a sewer and the panic it caused was funny and I loved how Dale was the one who managed to save the day. I also love Hank telling Bobby a story about what REALLY happened to Josh at the end. ****.
Family Guy "Peter's Two Dads"
Mixed feelings about this ep. While the first half was hilarious I feel the story wasn't as strong as it could have been. I know, that's the story of Family Guy's life but I'm kinda bummed we never got any resolution to Stewie's hilarious subplot about him turning into a masochist. I also found the retcon of Peter not actually being a Griffin to be dubious at best since some of the best jokes on the series have been about his ancestors. ***1/2.
American Dad "A.T. the Abusive Terrestrial"
This episode posits the amusing question of what would have happened if Eliot turned out to be an abusive psychopath. I thought this idea was hilarious and sick in the very best way. Seriously great Roger stuff and I loved how they tied it into his favorite TV movies and After School Specials. The Stan/ Francine Mr. Pibb subplot however was weak. ****.
24 "Day Six: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM"
Good episode, I think. The Morris being tortured stuff was hard to watch but I really liked the political intruige with Tom Lennox and Gorilla Grodd. Tom may be a jerk but I think I understand him a little bit better and how he was REALLY against the idea of Palmer's assasination until he found out that CTU bungled finding Fayed. That's COMPLICATED, man, and I like how unlike the lame power struggles at CTU for the previous five seasons that this actually seems to be much murkier with no clear cut bad guys. I disagree with Lennox's politics STRONGLY but we at least learned this episode that he has his country's best interests at heart even if the people who are pulling his strings might not. ****.
24 "Day Six: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM"
Whoa, Jack's Dad is EEEEVVVIIIILL. I truly expected an empty house rather than a bomb and I was as horrified as Mrs. Bauer about that explosion. I also RELLY liked the cliffhanger with her and Milo at the end. I kept expecting Milo to get killed but the fact that they left it as a cliffhanger leads me to believe he and Mrs. Bauer will manage to escape next week. I can't see how Philip being a Black Hat can possibly be kept secret for much longer. I think Jack is gonna find out next episode. Good episode and GREAT cliffhanger. ****1/2.
The Stand by Stephen King
I like this novel by Stephen King but even though King's fans tend to consider this his best novel I STILL think it is somewhat overlong. The first third of the book dealing with the plague is easily King's scariest and disturbing work EVER because unlike clowns that live in the sewer and haunted hotels a Superflu designed by the government is eerily plausible. So I didn't like that too much. But once the book gets down into setting up a new society with the survivors and the Stand between good and evil at the end it really starts cooking. My favorite characters in the book were Glen Bateman and ESPECIALLY Nick Andros who is one of the coolest King characters of all time and the book's gaurdian angel (I hardly think Mother Abigail came off as perfect as she was supposed to).
The book explored big themes and Bibical themes in the struggle of good against evil and I love how it got into the nitty gritty of the apocalypse and what could possibly happen. Randall Flagg was a SCARY good villain (I'm SO glad he returned in The Dark Tower) but I think I really like Lloyd Henried because he was so sympathetic. It seems that the message of the book is that EVERYONE, good or evil, is part of God's great plans whether they realize it or not (Trashcan Man Proves this). I liked the big themes explored in the book and though I still think it is a little bit overrated I still think it is really good. ****1/2.
By the way, Merlin Missy's review of The Stand on Dwayne McDuffie's forum and how the ending was NOT a cop-out is easily the best summation of the book I have ever read.
Legion of Super Heroes "Lightning Storm"
I wasn't too crazy about this episode. It was alright I guess but Lightning Lad is STILL an unlikable character. I thought it was cool however that this seemed to be the first episode in which all of the core Legionaires appeared. I also like how Khary Payton and Tara Strong voiced some of the villains. ***.
The Batman "Seconds"
Spectacularly cool episode but that's been the standard this season. AWESOME concept for a villain (it's something JLU might have done) and I love how they carried the time-warping powers out because even though it could have potentially been confusing they managed to make everything seem crystal clear for the audience. Dave Foley gives a terrific performance and I thought it was absolutely brilliant and hilarious when he went back in time to "fix" his lame quips. I also found the ending to be seriously touching. GREAT episode. ****1/2.
The Simpsons "Little Big Girl"
I have a HUGE feeling this episode is going to be hated by the fans but I loved it anyways. Seeing Bart make out with a fifteen year old was hilarious (as was his reaction to finding out she was pregnant) and I love his kid logic in regards to romance and what is the right thing to do. I also loved Lisa's subplot and how many Indians at the end claimed to have faked their heritage (ESPECIALLY the woman who says she is actually Japanese). It's an Al Jean episode so it isn't perfect but this episode seemed to be more in the spirit of the Golden Age than most of his episodes. ****1/2.
King of the Hill "SerPUNt"
Seriously amusing episode with some truly priceless Dale bits. The story was pretty standard but the idea of snakes in a sewer and the panic it caused was funny and I loved how Dale was the one who managed to save the day. I also love Hank telling Bobby a story about what REALLY happened to Josh at the end. ****.
Family Guy "Peter's Two Dads"
Mixed feelings about this ep. While the first half was hilarious I feel the story wasn't as strong as it could have been. I know, that's the story of Family Guy's life but I'm kinda bummed we never got any resolution to Stewie's hilarious subplot about him turning into a masochist. I also found the retcon of Peter not actually being a Griffin to be dubious at best since some of the best jokes on the series have been about his ancestors. ***1/2.
American Dad "A.T. the Abusive Terrestrial"
This episode posits the amusing question of what would have happened if Eliot turned out to be an abusive psychopath. I thought this idea was hilarious and sick in the very best way. Seriously great Roger stuff and I loved how they tied it into his favorite TV movies and After School Specials. The Stan/ Francine Mr. Pibb subplot however was weak. ****.
24 "Day Six: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM"
Good episode, I think. The Morris being tortured stuff was hard to watch but I really liked the political intruige with Tom Lennox and Gorilla Grodd. Tom may be a jerk but I think I understand him a little bit better and how he was REALLY against the idea of Palmer's assasination until he found out that CTU bungled finding Fayed. That's COMPLICATED, man, and I like how unlike the lame power struggles at CTU for the previous five seasons that this actually seems to be much murkier with no clear cut bad guys. I disagree with Lennox's politics STRONGLY but we at least learned this episode that he has his country's best interests at heart even if the people who are pulling his strings might not. ****.
24 "Day Six: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM"
Whoa, Jack's Dad is EEEEVVVIIIILL. I truly expected an empty house rather than a bomb and I was as horrified as Mrs. Bauer about that explosion. I also RELLY liked the cliffhanger with her and Milo at the end. I kept expecting Milo to get killed but the fact that they left it as a cliffhanger leads me to believe he and Mrs. Bauer will manage to escape next week. I can't see how Philip being a Black Hat can possibly be kept secret for much longer. I think Jack is gonna find out next episode. Good episode and GREAT cliffhanger. ****1/2.
The Stand by Stephen King
I like this novel by Stephen King but even though King's fans tend to consider this his best novel I STILL think it is somewhat overlong. The first third of the book dealing with the plague is easily King's scariest and disturbing work EVER because unlike clowns that live in the sewer and haunted hotels a Superflu designed by the government is eerily plausible. So I didn't like that too much. But once the book gets down into setting up a new society with the survivors and the Stand between good and evil at the end it really starts cooking. My favorite characters in the book were Glen Bateman and ESPECIALLY Nick Andros who is one of the coolest King characters of all time and the book's gaurdian angel (I hardly think Mother Abigail came off as perfect as she was supposed to).
The book explored big themes and Bibical themes in the struggle of good against evil and I love how it got into the nitty gritty of the apocalypse and what could possibly happen. Randall Flagg was a SCARY good villain (I'm SO glad he returned in The Dark Tower) but I think I really like Lloyd Henried because he was so sympathetic. It seems that the message of the book is that EVERYONE, good or evil, is part of God's great plans whether they realize it or not (Trashcan Man Proves this). I liked the big themes explored in the book and though I still think it is a little bit overrated I still think it is really good. ****1/2.
By the way, Merlin Missy's review of The Stand on Dwayne McDuffie's forum and how the ending was NOT a cop-out is easily the best summation of the book I have ever read.