tv week in review
Thursdays mark the end of my television viewing week, and after months of reading Television Without Pity and weeks of poking around at other television-related websites, I've decided that I have my own unique perspective to the situation, so I'm going to devote a journal entry to what happened in the world of my television shows this week.
Sunday
Grey's Anatomy - I must admit I was sort of worried this week. I mean, the prior week's episode rocked the world in so many ways. But this show just keeps on going, and it is awesome. Interesting to note that Kate Walsh is now listed in the opening credits. As sorry as I feel for Meredith, I'm glad the powers that be have chosen to leave Dr. Mrs. Dr. McDreamy in the picture. There are so many possibilities. The thing I realized about this show is that I can relate to so many of the characters in some way, so I'm constantly rooting for them all. I understood Cristina's reluctance to tell the chief about her and Burke. I was amused by the pairing of Burke and George. And I was even rooting for sometimes-jerk Alex when he tipped Izzie backwards at the bar and kissed her. I like how so many aspects of the hospital goings-on reflect Meredith's life. I also like that that guy wasn't seriously pregnant. Because seriously, a little realism goes a long way.
Monday
Prison Break - Speaking of realism? This show is quickly becoming too Alias-like for my tastes. Governmental conspiracies. Plots that defy convention. Leave it to the writers to have the new Uber Bad Guy track down Veronica using her ex-fiance's instant messaging program. Huh? So in BFE "we have no phone and we tapped into the power grid where no one will ever notice" we have wireless internet? The wha? But Veronica, why would you be USING said internet connection? And Bad Guys, why didn't you just track VERONICA's cell phone last week? Anyway. I do like how Uber Bad Guy broke one of those agent's hands. Fun moment. Also? I'm ready for the inmates to break out of prison now. C-Note jumps on the bandwagon of People Who Are Trying To Break Out, which is sort of annoying yet inevitable, but at least it'll provide for some interesting dynamics given T-Bag, the white supremacist. The plot of the week wasn't too bad, helping Abruzzi get the mob off his tail for the moment. Anyway, I'm starting to get just a little impatient with this show. Let's make significant strides towards getting out of prison, mmkay? Linc heads to the chair in less than ten days.
Medium - Can you believe it? I forgot to watch this show. So no report this week!
Tuesday
The Amazing Race - If ever there were The Most Boring Two Hours of Television EVAR, this would be it. Lots of pointlessness ensues in The Amazing Race Lite, which is really what this season is, since the teams are being spoon-fed information and rarely leaving the United States. That's right, after an episode in Panama and one in Costa Rica, we're off to... Arizona. FOR TWO EPISODES. What's so special about Arizona? Good Lord. To make matters worse, the Weavers are still in the race. I have never found a team that is so entirely hateable. I mean, at least with Colin and Christie even Colin sorta knew he was a jerk. And Jonathan and Victoria? Well, they have mental issues. Rob and Amber? Annoying, but not hateable. Leave it to the "Christian" family, who is perfect in their eyes (they must not pay attention to all the times they call people idiots and retards and make fun of garbagemen and throw apple cores at PEOPLE WHO ARE NICE TO THEM) to make me pray for God to smite them with a few well-placed thunderbolts. Good Lord. Also, boo to the fact that the Pinks passed the Linzes just before the pit stop. I mean, I love the Godlewskis, and I think they're Hilarious With a Capital H, but I've been rooting for the Linzes all along. The Paolos are out of the race after the first hour episode was a non-elimination for the Bransens. The whole non-elimination-give-me-all-your-money thing? Old.
Wednesday
Veronica Mars - Not as solid of an episode as the previous weeks, if you ask me. It sort of felt like filler to just stretch the Mysteries of the Season out a little longer. As far as those plots go, by the end of this episode, we have an "eyewitness" who claims Logan killed Felix, so he's arrested again. Way to show up, you know, during the hearing months ago, dude. Also, our cliffhanger is in the form of Keith breaking into the facility where the school bus is stored and finding a--rat? Well, that explains the smell (you know, the stench that drove the 09'ers to take a limo back to school after the field trip), but I was expecting evidence of a bomb. Whatever. Oh, and Keith loses the race for sheriff. Go figure. In the rest of Veronica Mars land, we drag Abel Koontz, Clarence Weidman, and Aaron Echolls back for an episode in which Abel Koontz is on his deathbed and Veronica discovers that his daughter has been murdered. She doesn't tell him. Speaking of Veronica not telling people stuff, her dad finds out secondhand about the dead guy with "Veronica Mars" written on his hand. Needless to say, Keith was not thrilled. Meanwhile, Logan gets out of jail again--I mean, hi, bail plus independently wealthy equals man walking--but not before running into his father, who...is? will be?...on trial for murdering Lilly Kane. Aaron insists that he didn't do it, but that Duncan did. Dun dun dun. Also? Weevil allegedly burns down Logan's house, so Logan buys Weevil's grandmother's house and evicts her. What are we, five? And, memo to Wallace: I miss you! Come back!
Lost - It's on at the same time as VM, so clearly I didn't watch it; actually, I wouldn't watch it regardless of what time it's on. But I heard that Shannon dies, only everyone saw that coming, so whatever (I'm sure my brother has now vowed to stop watching; since Maggie Grace is gone, there is little eye candy left). But seriously--why would anyone watch Lost? To me, it's the anti-Grey's Anatomy as far as characters are concerned. On GA, I love everyone and seriously want to go drinking with them all. On Lost, I hate everyone (except for the dog! Save Vincent!) and wish that they'd all die. But that I'd get to punch them each in the face first.
Thursday
Alias - "Do you know what a spork is?" I love Marshall. So anyway, I heard that this show is "getting good" again. It's sort of a given that this is not the Alias I once knew and loved, but I had to see if the people at TWOP were right or if they're just insane. It appears that the show has stopped not taking itself seriously, which is good, because that's one main reason last season sucked. It's amusing to note that Tyrees Allen is the major bad guy thus far, because he also plays the marriage counselor to the Doctors McDreamy on Grey's Anatomy. Anyway... yeah. Was there a plot? I don't really know. It appears that the writers have run out of ideas and are just recycling storylines. You might as well call Rachel "NeoSydney," but it's nice that they're not making her out to be an ultra-spy. At her first chance for combat, she ran. The time after that, Dixon and a machine gun came to her rescue. Heh. The writers tie in references back to the day when Alias was good, as if that well help. Anyway, the A-plot revolves around NeoSydney traveling to a remote oil rig where some important guy is kept for who cares what reason, and NeoSydney is the female companion of the week... hm... sounds like the episode they aired after the Super Bowl my sophomore year of college. Only Sydney was 1000 times hotter and actually appeared to have a clue. But no, real Sydney is on comm-link the whole time. Yawn. And obviously none of the main characters ever die on this show, so pretending for five seconds that they're about to? Pointless. Keeping with Alias tradition, "special guest stars" get nearly no screen time--in Mia Maestro's case, she lay there in a coma for 15 seconds. Nice to see you! Meanwhile, Sloane's working for Bad Guy Tyrees, and everyone else is just going through the motions, and apparently all the life has been sapped out of this show. Sorry TWOPpers, but you're on crack. Alias blows.
Reunion - I think one reason that I love this show so much is that it could suck so badly, and... it doesn't! So, this week's ep. Can we say, "SWEETEST FAKE-OUT EVER"!?!?!? Anyway, in 1990, Carla sleeps with the father of the child she's a nanny for. Ew. Craig and Sam have been married for six months. Ew. Will is fighting in Kuwait. Eek! Aaron's sleeping with an engaged French chick. Ooh la la. Anyway, it turns out Paul's a psycho, and that plotline is fun and full of "oh my God" moments. Jenna's mom dies. Sam and Craig are on rocky ground, which, duh. But now they're having a baby! Goodness. And it's finally revealed the Sam is the murder victim, after totally making me believe it was Jenna. Bravo, writers. I underestimated you. And I can hardly wait for next week.
The Week In Review
All in all, a week of ups and downs, but it started well and ended well. Grey's Anatomy continues to defy the concept of a sophomore slump, being as on fire as ever. Prison Break is trying my patience, which at least is an emotional response. The Amazing Race can end anytime now, and I hope the Weavers choke and die. Veronica Mars is still smarter than you, but I'm ready to advance the plot. And Reunion scores as my favorite show of the week. Granted, I was drunk, because it took a lot of alcohol to get through Alias. Kidding! Or am I?
Seriously, with television like this, who needs a real life? New episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Veronica Mars, Reunion, and more, next week. Stay tuned!
Sunday
Grey's Anatomy - I must admit I was sort of worried this week. I mean, the prior week's episode rocked the world in so many ways. But this show just keeps on going, and it is awesome. Interesting to note that Kate Walsh is now listed in the opening credits. As sorry as I feel for Meredith, I'm glad the powers that be have chosen to leave Dr. Mrs. Dr. McDreamy in the picture. There are so many possibilities. The thing I realized about this show is that I can relate to so many of the characters in some way, so I'm constantly rooting for them all. I understood Cristina's reluctance to tell the chief about her and Burke. I was amused by the pairing of Burke and George. And I was even rooting for sometimes-jerk Alex when he tipped Izzie backwards at the bar and kissed her. I like how so many aspects of the hospital goings-on reflect Meredith's life. I also like that that guy wasn't seriously pregnant. Because seriously, a little realism goes a long way.
Monday
Prison Break - Speaking of realism? This show is quickly becoming too Alias-like for my tastes. Governmental conspiracies. Plots that defy convention. Leave it to the writers to have the new Uber Bad Guy track down Veronica using her ex-fiance's instant messaging program. Huh? So in BFE "we have no phone and we tapped into the power grid where no one will ever notice" we have wireless internet? The wha? But Veronica, why would you be USING said internet connection? And Bad Guys, why didn't you just track VERONICA's cell phone last week? Anyway. I do like how Uber Bad Guy broke one of those agent's hands. Fun moment. Also? I'm ready for the inmates to break out of prison now. C-Note jumps on the bandwagon of People Who Are Trying To Break Out, which is sort of annoying yet inevitable, but at least it'll provide for some interesting dynamics given T-Bag, the white supremacist. The plot of the week wasn't too bad, helping Abruzzi get the mob off his tail for the moment. Anyway, I'm starting to get just a little impatient with this show. Let's make significant strides towards getting out of prison, mmkay? Linc heads to the chair in less than ten days.
Medium - Can you believe it? I forgot to watch this show. So no report this week!
Tuesday
The Amazing Race - If ever there were The Most Boring Two Hours of Television EVAR, this would be it. Lots of pointlessness ensues in The Amazing Race Lite, which is really what this season is, since the teams are being spoon-fed information and rarely leaving the United States. That's right, after an episode in Panama and one in Costa Rica, we're off to... Arizona. FOR TWO EPISODES. What's so special about Arizona? Good Lord. To make matters worse, the Weavers are still in the race. I have never found a team that is so entirely hateable. I mean, at least with Colin and Christie even Colin sorta knew he was a jerk. And Jonathan and Victoria? Well, they have mental issues. Rob and Amber? Annoying, but not hateable. Leave it to the "Christian" family, who is perfect in their eyes (they must not pay attention to all the times they call people idiots and retards and make fun of garbagemen and throw apple cores at PEOPLE WHO ARE NICE TO THEM) to make me pray for God to smite them with a few well-placed thunderbolts. Good Lord. Also, boo to the fact that the Pinks passed the Linzes just before the pit stop. I mean, I love the Godlewskis, and I think they're Hilarious With a Capital H, but I've been rooting for the Linzes all along. The Paolos are out of the race after the first hour episode was a non-elimination for the Bransens. The whole non-elimination-give-me-all-your-money thing? Old.
Wednesday
Veronica Mars - Not as solid of an episode as the previous weeks, if you ask me. It sort of felt like filler to just stretch the Mysteries of the Season out a little longer. As far as those plots go, by the end of this episode, we have an "eyewitness" who claims Logan killed Felix, so he's arrested again. Way to show up, you know, during the hearing months ago, dude. Also, our cliffhanger is in the form of Keith breaking into the facility where the school bus is stored and finding a--rat? Well, that explains the smell (you know, the stench that drove the 09'ers to take a limo back to school after the field trip), but I was expecting evidence of a bomb. Whatever. Oh, and Keith loses the race for sheriff. Go figure. In the rest of Veronica Mars land, we drag Abel Koontz, Clarence Weidman, and Aaron Echolls back for an episode in which Abel Koontz is on his deathbed and Veronica discovers that his daughter has been murdered. She doesn't tell him. Speaking of Veronica not telling people stuff, her dad finds out secondhand about the dead guy with "Veronica Mars" written on his hand. Needless to say, Keith was not thrilled. Meanwhile, Logan gets out of jail again--I mean, hi, bail plus independently wealthy equals man walking--but not before running into his father, who...is? will be?...on trial for murdering Lilly Kane. Aaron insists that he didn't do it, but that Duncan did. Dun dun dun. Also? Weevil allegedly burns down Logan's house, so Logan buys Weevil's grandmother's house and evicts her. What are we, five? And, memo to Wallace: I miss you! Come back!
Lost - It's on at the same time as VM, so clearly I didn't watch it; actually, I wouldn't watch it regardless of what time it's on. But I heard that Shannon dies, only everyone saw that coming, so whatever (I'm sure my brother has now vowed to stop watching; since Maggie Grace is gone, there is little eye candy left). But seriously--why would anyone watch Lost? To me, it's the anti-Grey's Anatomy as far as characters are concerned. On GA, I love everyone and seriously want to go drinking with them all. On Lost, I hate everyone (except for the dog! Save Vincent!) and wish that they'd all die. But that I'd get to punch them each in the face first.
Thursday
Alias - "Do you know what a spork is?" I love Marshall. So anyway, I heard that this show is "getting good" again. It's sort of a given that this is not the Alias I once knew and loved, but I had to see if the people at TWOP were right or if they're just insane. It appears that the show has stopped not taking itself seriously, which is good, because that's one main reason last season sucked. It's amusing to note that Tyrees Allen is the major bad guy thus far, because he also plays the marriage counselor to the Doctors McDreamy on Grey's Anatomy. Anyway... yeah. Was there a plot? I don't really know. It appears that the writers have run out of ideas and are just recycling storylines. You might as well call Rachel "NeoSydney," but it's nice that they're not making her out to be an ultra-spy. At her first chance for combat, she ran. The time after that, Dixon and a machine gun came to her rescue. Heh. The writers tie in references back to the day when Alias was good, as if that well help. Anyway, the A-plot revolves around NeoSydney traveling to a remote oil rig where some important guy is kept for who cares what reason, and NeoSydney is the female companion of the week... hm... sounds like the episode they aired after the Super Bowl my sophomore year of college. Only Sydney was 1000 times hotter and actually appeared to have a clue. But no, real Sydney is on comm-link the whole time. Yawn. And obviously none of the main characters ever die on this show, so pretending for five seconds that they're about to? Pointless. Keeping with Alias tradition, "special guest stars" get nearly no screen time--in Mia Maestro's case, she lay there in a coma for 15 seconds. Nice to see you! Meanwhile, Sloane's working for Bad Guy Tyrees, and everyone else is just going through the motions, and apparently all the life has been sapped out of this show. Sorry TWOPpers, but you're on crack. Alias blows.
Reunion - I think one reason that I love this show so much is that it could suck so badly, and... it doesn't! So, this week's ep. Can we say, "SWEETEST FAKE-OUT EVER"!?!?!? Anyway, in 1990, Carla sleeps with the father of the child she's a nanny for. Ew. Craig and Sam have been married for six months. Ew. Will is fighting in Kuwait. Eek! Aaron's sleeping with an engaged French chick. Ooh la la. Anyway, it turns out Paul's a psycho, and that plotline is fun and full of "oh my God" moments. Jenna's mom dies. Sam and Craig are on rocky ground, which, duh. But now they're having a baby! Goodness. And it's finally revealed the Sam is the murder victim, after totally making me believe it was Jenna. Bravo, writers. I underestimated you. And I can hardly wait for next week.
The Week In Review
All in all, a week of ups and downs, but it started well and ended well. Grey's Anatomy continues to defy the concept of a sophomore slump, being as on fire as ever. Prison Break is trying my patience, which at least is an emotional response. The Amazing Race can end anytime now, and I hope the Weavers choke and die. Veronica Mars is still smarter than you, but I'm ready to advance the plot. And Reunion scores as my favorite show of the week. Granted, I was drunk, because it took a lot of alcohol to get through Alias. Kidding! Or am I?
Seriously, with television like this, who needs a real life? New episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Veronica Mars, Reunion, and more, next week. Stay tuned!