Monsters of Television

“What do you say we find that bitch and get us a little frontier justice?”

I don’t think I’m the right person to review this episode. I hate Serena. Hate her. And so an episode where ALL OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS are concerned for her well being does not really work for me. I do love the show though, and this was not a bad episode, so I’ll give it a go. Brace for Serena hatred, which you should come to expect by now.

I was giving thanks for everyone hating Serena at the beginning of this episode, but alas, it didn’t last. Leave it to Serena to ruin everyone’s plans and make Thanksgiving all about her. Sure, she was tricked and drugged and kidnapped by Juliet and company, but still.

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“Why isn’t anyone ever just whelmed?“

I haven’t really read comic books in years, and even then I was a Marvel guy (though I’ve been reading bits of DC lately). That said, I’ve always enjoyed DC’s animated work.  Batman The Animated Series was my Batman (and his rogues gallery, of course) more than Michael Keaton’s performance or Frank Miller’s takes. While I’m not a Superman fan, I appreciated the animated series (great voice work), and the Justice League series were very good. In fact, with the exception of The Batman (interesting ideas, but never liked the execution), I’ve enjoyed most of the DC animated series.

Needless to say, I’ve been looking forward to Young Justice for a little while. Part of this stems from the above, but the behind-the-scenes crew (Greg Weisman (Gargoyles, Spectacular Spider-Man (actually pretty good if you haven’t seen it)! Please, and thank you) is very solid as well, creating a one-two punch that really can’t be denied.

The pilot 2-parter is, as expected, well-made and entertaining from an action perspective. And while only the pilot, it hints at the narrative and character richness that marked the Justice League shows. I’m pretty optimistic about the show’s development.

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“We don’t share information any more?”

It’s like the Kings decided to reward me for mainling The Wire this summer with this episode. Between listening to wiretaps, dealing with drug dealers, sifting through corrupt politicians, and a J.D. Williams cameo, “On Tap” is indeed a big splashy acknowledgment of the HBO drama.

I don’t have all that much to say about this particular episode, so this will not only be brief, but more recappy than my normal pieces. But sometimes a recap is simply more fitting of an episode than an in-depth navigation of it. In my opinion. Read more »

“You are not getting bullets for a long, long time.”

Watch out for Sarah-gator.

Chuck is the ever-expanding sinkhole that constantly sucks his friends in, collapsing any sense of self-determined purpose within them.

Morgan is the most obvious example of this, especially in the beginning seasons (before they realized that Grimes could stand on his own). His character was forever the lackey no matter how horrible Chuck was to the little bearded man. No matter what Chuck did, Morgan was always there with an undying (and increasingly unjustified) bro-code. Letting Morgan in on the spy game was almost essential. Otherwise, his character would almost be too unbelievable. Who would stick around for that much punishment?

Casey’s heart has also melted a bit under the direct light of the Chuck Effect. His cold, harsh stance on Chuck’s incessant whining and lovesick decision-making turned a corner after years of the Intersect coming through for him. He’s come to appreciate the Sarah and Chuck relationship even if it does kind of make him gag.

But, by far and away, the one most bedraggled by Chuck throughout the series (understandably) is Sarah Walker. She went from being the exalted super-spy to the pretty accessory to Chuck’s antics. Her personality has been so diluted by her time in Burbank that it’s hard to define Sarah without using Chuck as a touchstone. She’s the spy Chuck fell in love with. Though it’s good for the show that her personality has evolved over the seasons (professional and intrigued to semi-professional but willing to surrender to hurt but healing to the current, more complex, lovefool), it’s unfortunate that her power has certainly switched from being mostly on her tough spy training to being the muse to Chuck’s formerly stagnant self.

Fool, I think, is the proper term since she sounds more and more like Chuck, particularly when he has his Brunette of the Season. A focused, emotional, protocol-breaking, on-the-edge persona emerges in this episode. And I love it.

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“The time is now…Tetris?“

I am of two minds about “Operation P.R.O.M.” and I bet you can guess which ways I’m leaning.

This season has been pretty frustrating due to the long breaks between halves, the low lows, and the high highs. It’s only fitting then that this episode captures all of those joys and annoyances in a single episode. Compounding my anxiety is whether or not this is a season finale, which it is billed as or if it’s a series finale, which it very well cold be (Adult Swim hasn’t ordered a fifth season). Read more »

“I’m not strolling the streets of Atlanta with just my good intentions, okay?”

Diggin’ holes.

Do you ever get the feeling that men are just a problem in this show? Nevermind the fact that they’re all racists or adulterers or abusive but they’re also generally useless to the survival of the non-walkers. They serve as lookouts and muscle but only the women help keep the camp functioning with laundry and educating the children and the various other tasks that the men in which the men never seem to participate. I would say this is like some early patriarchal hunter/gatherer society, but, when Daryl’s gone to Atlanta to find Merle and get guns, the women do the hunting, too. Men are just the blight on this struggling society.

On the podcast yesterday, we talked a little bit about how this Lord of the Flies-esque societal regeneration is similar to that of Lost, especially with a hero (Rick) emerging, complete with antagonists both to his power (Merle) and his being (Shane), to help save them from the Others (walkers). Sure, the walkers don’t have a ringleader like Ben or an ancient spiritual leader like Richard but many of them don’t have faces either so we can’t expect too much. The more interesting difference is how the new society is formed with baser instincts: cliques, a bit of mistrust, paranoia, and an surprising lack of unity despite the superficial all-togetherness. There is far more poison in this bunch than on the island, with a few people feeling they have the right to rise to the throne. The inherent fear of their situation, of each other sometimes, and a lack of collaboration to get them out of harm’s way, can only prove to be detrimental to their cause of survival.

It’s like they don’t know that they need learn to live together or die alone.

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“Parallelogram!“

I had a very brief conversation to find out the song used at the end of tonight’s episode (another musical coup for the show this week, and I’ll address it in a little bit), and the responder to my query said it was his favorite episode so far. I don’t think he’s far off base saying that. I’m still very partial to “Shaman of Fear” and “Shadows of Youth”, but I think “Lessons in Love” is a remarkably strong “stand alone” episode, if I can use that term (and I’ll justify its use, too).

I will say this though: “Lessons in Love” proves you should be watching Sym-Bionic Titan if you’re not already. Read more »

“I’m sure we can all think of examples where revenge has worked splendidly.”

I received a pretty high compliment from Justin Fowler on Twitter a few days ago: “One of the reasons I like your blog is that you guys write about shows most other blogs don’t. No Mentalist, tho.”

I like that we write (and now talk) about shows that don’t get a lot coverage at the more visited blogs (though A.V. Club’s new leadership will be adjusting some of that I think). In any case, I decided to thank Justin for his compliment by reviewing this week’s The Mentalist. This was a bit of fun because I’ve never seen an entire episode of The Mentalist (Pysch for life, yo). Based on the promos, I expected a reasonably light, but not too light, procedural about a stylish guy who is seeking the man who murdered his family.

I think I got a different kind of episode than what is normal for this show, as it appears I stumbled onto an episode concerned in some way with the Red John storyline and it was a little darker than I was expecting, especially Patrick Jane himself. Read more »

“You tried to Nancy Screw me out of my free credit!“

My face still hurts from laughing. And my belly. I’m still laughing about some of it while I try and type.

“Conspiracy Theories and Soft Defenses” may not be an episode that people think back to when they rank episodes of Community, but for my money it’s easily one of their single funniest episodes of any sitcom I’ve seen in a while. It’s clever without being overly clever, grounded while still being silly, and allows for yet another glimpse into the characters without making the episode completely about the characters. Read more »

“Everyone says that internet dating is, like, for geeky, socially awkward types, but I meet a lot of people just like me.”

Yes this was a fairly George centric episode. Yes this dealt with a great story in which he had to decide against putting away a mob lieutenant and protecting Jim’s secret. Yes he was given a love interest. But the crowning moments of this episode had to deal with JJ and Katie, both as individuals and in stories with one another.

I’ve said it before and I’m sure this won’t be the last time I say it: Katie is the best character on the show. She fills the role of audience informant very well with her explanations of things, she fills the nerd quota with her constant (and amazing) comic book references and she fills the “lust” role as Daphne is too young and Stephanie is in a committed relationship (even though both are still admittedly beautiful). “No Ordinary Mobster” shows Katie getting more involved in the show not only with the Powells but with the seasonal arc as well.

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