Television Round-Up
Warning: Here be spoilers (though NOT any shocking twists from season finales.)
Fringe Wow! Just...wow! I only started watching recently, wrongly thinking the show was a cheesy "X-Files" rip-off until I actually caught an episode. Yes, it's about an FBI division that looks into paranormal phenomena, but this is an ensemble character drama. I love the interconnected backstories and understated family drama. ("What are you doing here?" "Just trying to plug a hole in the universe! What are you doing here?" "Apparently the same thing you are.") Agent Dunham is the perfect female role model - neither damsel in distress nor kick-ass warrior, but instead coolly competent at her job and completely unafraid of her emotions. And Walter is the most adorable mad scientist ever. The season finale blew me away. The tag line - "Answers will be questioned." Plus it has Leonard Nimoy.
Battlestar Galactica While the mini-series rocked, I pretty much agree with hesited's analysis of the show overall, and would just like to add the following questions: How many human men or men who thought they were human from the miniseries were still alive at the end of the series finale? How many human women or women who thought they were human from the miniseries were still alive at the end of the series finale? Just sayin'.
Heroes I liked that the ending surprised me. That doesn't happen often. But in general the show has at least as many negatives as positives. The only character with any consistency is Sylar, and that's a problem. Think about who Peter, Nathan, Hiro, Ando, Claire, Mohindar and Matt (not to mention Rebel's mother!) were at the beginning of the show, and who (or where) they are now. They've all behaved in out of character ways to further the plot. I don't think the writers know what to do with the series anymore, so they keep rebooting it. I will watch next season, but it should be the last.
Lost The pieces all fit together now. I know how the show will end.
Life on Mars (American version) Cute show, and I for one loved the ending.
Dollhouse A bit predictible, but a fun ride. And former "Firefly" actors should be banned from Joss Wheden productions. It's just too disturbing.
Guiding Light The longest running soap opera (it pre-dates television!) is going off the air this fall. Here's how I want it to end: 1) Lizzie gets her baby back. 2) Olivia and Natalia get married. 3) Josh and Reva stay divorced. 4) Beth is a happy, independent, successful single lawyer. 5) Daisy and James remember that they used to be brother and sister. 6) Harley comes back and makes up for being a bad mother. 7) India returns and she and Philip ride off into the sunset together.
and last, but by no means least, Smallville The best Smallville season ever. If you've suffered through the gaping plot-holes and jaw-droppingly stupid actions of characters in previous seasons, this season makes amends. The season finale is this Thursday, and I wouldn't mind if it were the series finale, so the show can go out on a high note. What you need to know if you haven't been watching: Chloe and Jimmy got married and divorced; Lois is no longer a caricature and she and Clark have genuine chemistry; Lana is now a Kryptonite-powered superhero and thus deadly to Clark; Doomsday told Chloe that he won't be a monster if Chloe stays with him (what a line - "But honey, if you don't sleep with me I'll turn into a monster and destroy the world!"); Chloe betrayed Clark for Doomsday and is on the run with Doomsday; Oliver Queen murdered Lex; Clark discovered this fact when the Green Arrow was revealed to have a kryptonite ring designed by Lex to kill Clark; Jor-El (if I'm not mistaken) is on the side of new villain Tess Mercer, Oliver's ex-girlfriend and one true love; Felix Gaita is alive and well and has two legs. For the first time in the series, Clark is completely on his own, and about to face his biggest threat. Remember, in the comics Doomsday killed Superman.
Now go watch tv.
Fringe Wow! Just...wow! I only started watching recently, wrongly thinking the show was a cheesy "X-Files" rip-off until I actually caught an episode. Yes, it's about an FBI division that looks into paranormal phenomena, but this is an ensemble character drama. I love the interconnected backstories and understated family drama. ("What are you doing here?" "Just trying to plug a hole in the universe! What are you doing here?" "Apparently the same thing you are.") Agent Dunham is the perfect female role model - neither damsel in distress nor kick-ass warrior, but instead coolly competent at her job and completely unafraid of her emotions. And Walter is the most adorable mad scientist ever. The season finale blew me away. The tag line - "Answers will be questioned." Plus it has Leonard Nimoy.
Battlestar Galactica While the mini-series rocked, I pretty much agree with hesited's analysis of the show overall, and would just like to add the following questions: How many human men or men who thought they were human from the miniseries were still alive at the end of the series finale? How many human women or women who thought they were human from the miniseries were still alive at the end of the series finale? Just sayin'.
Heroes I liked that the ending surprised me. That doesn't happen often. But in general the show has at least as many negatives as positives. The only character with any consistency is Sylar, and that's a problem. Think about who Peter, Nathan, Hiro, Ando, Claire, Mohindar and Matt (not to mention Rebel's mother!) were at the beginning of the show, and who (or where) they are now. They've all behaved in out of character ways to further the plot. I don't think the writers know what to do with the series anymore, so they keep rebooting it. I will watch next season, but it should be the last.
Lost The pieces all fit together now. I know how the show will end.
Life on Mars (American version) Cute show, and I for one loved the ending.
Dollhouse A bit predictible, but a fun ride. And former "Firefly" actors should be banned from Joss Wheden productions. It's just too disturbing.
Guiding Light The longest running soap opera (it pre-dates television!) is going off the air this fall. Here's how I want it to end: 1) Lizzie gets her baby back. 2) Olivia and Natalia get married. 3) Josh and Reva stay divorced. 4) Beth is a happy, independent, successful single lawyer. 5) Daisy and James remember that they used to be brother and sister. 6) Harley comes back and makes up for being a bad mother. 7) India returns and she and Philip ride off into the sunset together.
and last, but by no means least, Smallville The best Smallville season ever. If you've suffered through the gaping plot-holes and jaw-droppingly stupid actions of characters in previous seasons, this season makes amends. The season finale is this Thursday, and I wouldn't mind if it were the series finale, so the show can go out on a high note. What you need to know if you haven't been watching: Chloe and Jimmy got married and divorced; Lois is no longer a caricature and she and Clark have genuine chemistry; Lana is now a Kryptonite-powered superhero and thus deadly to Clark; Doomsday told Chloe that he won't be a monster if Chloe stays with him (what a line - "But honey, if you don't sleep with me I'll turn into a monster and destroy the world!"); Chloe betrayed Clark for Doomsday and is on the run with Doomsday; Oliver Queen murdered Lex; Clark discovered this fact when the Green Arrow was revealed to have a kryptonite ring designed by Lex to kill Clark; Jor-El (if I'm not mistaken) is on the side of new villain Tess Mercer, Oliver's ex-girlfriend and one true love; Felix Gaita is alive and well and has two legs. For the first time in the series, Clark is completely on his own, and about to face his biggest threat. Remember, in the comics Doomsday killed Superman.
Now go watch tv.