RECAP & REVIEW: 2013 Golden Globe Awards

I always enjoy the Golden Globes.  I love it because it isn’t as stuffy as the other awards shows.  It doesn’t take itself too seriously and it’s always a good time.  Plus, as the wonderful Amy Poehler put it, I love seeing “the beautiful people of film rub shoulders with the rat-faced people of TV.”

First of all the hosts….Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.  They.  Were.  AMAZING!!  I thought Neil Patrick Harris should host every award shows…I was wrong.  Ok, he can keep the Tony’s but I want Fey and Poehler for everything else.  They were perfection!!!  So as a result of their genius, a few of their best bits from the evening:

• “Celebrating shows that have entertained us all year and films that have been in theaters for two days”  - Tina Fay 
• “When you run afoul of the Hollywood Foreign Press, they make you host this show two more times.”  - Amy Poehler
• “When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent 3 years married to James Cameron.”  -AP  (In regards to Kathryn Bigelow’s direction in Zero Dark Thirty)
• “When left untreated, HFPA can lead to cervical cancer.”  -AP
• “He filmed his first films in Boston but moved this film to Iran because he wanted a place more friendly to outsiders.”  -TF (To Ben Affleck)
• “I have not seen someone so totally alone and abandoned like that since you were on stage with James Franco at the Oscars.”  - TF (to Anne Hathaway)
• “She had a difficult time performing with the camera so close to her face.  Then she’ll never make it in porn.  I don’t think she has any plans to do porn Amy.  None of us has PLANS to do porn Tina.”  - TF & AP (again to Anne Hathaway)
• “The Hunger Games is also what I call the 6 weeks it took me to get into this dress” – TF
• “The Life of Pi is what I will call the 6 weeks after I take this dress off!”  - AP
• “Meryl Streep is not here tonight because she has the flu and I hear she’s amazing in it.”  - AP
• “Wow, what an exciting special guest!  Hillary Clinton’s husband!  Bill Rodham Clinton!”  - AP
• “Good night everyone.  We’re going home with Jodie Foster!”  - AP

Unfortunately my bullet points don’t have the same inflections and facial expression that the ladies do so it probably loses a bit but you get the point.  Genius, genius, genius.   My only complaint, we didn’t have enough of them throughout the show.  Actually, they could have gotten rid of some of the boring presenters and just stuck with them.  Except for one pair…their SNL counterparts…Kristin Wiig and Will Ferrell.  Again, hilarious!  Maybe went on a touch too long, but I didn’t care.  It was wonderful.  Just ask Tommy Lee Jones who seemed to be rolling on the carpet howling with laughter at their bit.  (Insert sarcasm.)

There were many parts of this show that I loved.  Some parts that made me laugh, some parts made me roll my eyes, and some parts had me scratching my head.  I loved Jessica Chastain, Adele, and Ben Affleck’s acceptance speeches.   All were really from the heart and genuine and I couldn’t be happier for each one of them.  Take that Oscars for not nominating Affleck for Best Director.  That’s a crime.  Also, just when I thought it was impossible to love Adele more, she proves me wrong.  She is delightful and the type of person I just want to go and have a few pints with.  Just as I thought my love for Adele couldn’t increase, I thought my dislike for Taylor Swift couldn’t increase.  I was wrong, again.  Sitting there with her pissed off face for losing to Adele just shows again what a phony she is.  Show some class and be happy for your colleague who, quite frankly, can write circles around you and your pedestrian crap.  Moving on.  For some reason Lena Dunham and Anne Hathaway’s speeches didn’t come across as genuine.  I love Anne Hathaway. I do.  But her speech came across as a bit rehearsed and fake.  Except for her comments to Sally Field, that felt very real to me and they were beautiful.  But the rest…eh, not so much.  Lena Dunham’s speech was very nice, but it’s harder to believe someone’s sincerity when they are stiffly reading it off loose leaf paper.  I know it’s not fair and she probably had stuff written down because she was nervous.  I get all that.  I’m just saying it doesn’t feel as heartfelt.  Also, to say you’re “so surprised” yet you have an acceptance speech ready?  If you really don’t think you’re going to win, there’s nothing for you to prepare, right?    But I will say, her thanking Chad Lowe?   AWESOME!  Kevin Costner’s speech reminded me why I’ve never liked his acting.  It was a dry and boring and he is.  But congrats!

Then came Jodie Foster.  Foster is one of my all time favorite actresses.  If you really press me, she’s in the top 5.  She’s brilliant.  I was thrilled to see her getting the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement award because she is so deserving and I was ready to be wowed by her speech.  I was watching her feeling empowered yet confused at the same time.  I was touched and baffled all at once.  Does that make any sense?  I couldn’t tell if she was coming out or looking for a date.  If she was retiring or starting a self-help business.  It was bizarre.  But it was also beautiful.  It was just, odd.  It went off in these strange tangents but then when she focused herself back, she had some wonderful sentiments, especially about her mom.   Twitter last night was going off on her speech…some love it and some hated it.  Some were just as confused as I was.  But what no one can deny is that Foster has been a huge force in the film business for over 40 years.  And when looking back on her career, it was, and still is, glorious.

From the winners and losers standpoint, nothing was very shocking, on the TV end, except for one…Don Cheadle winning Best Actor in a Comedy for House of Lies.  Wow.  I love Don Cheadle and think he’s a great actor, but that show is awful.  And before you scream at me, yes I know he won and not the show, but he is wasted on that show.  His character is horrible, the plots are outrageous, and I can’t root for people who help slime balls out of jams they have no business being out of.  There are many awards Cheadle deserves, this wasn’t one of them.   But all the Homeland and Game Change love was well deserved.  The other one I’m not on board with is Girls.  I can’t speak very intelligently with this show because I only watched two episodes, but I couldn’t get into it.  I was bored by it.  And I know it’s the darling show right now and Lena Dunham is the darling writer/actor.  It did nothing for me.  But I’m happy for her and her cast and crew because it’s always nice when a new show can break the mold.  And hell, at least it’s not Modern Family right?   Yeah!!   The one person I’m hoping gets some love soon is Max Greenfield.  He is absolutely sensational as Schmidt on New Girl.  Please, please, please someone give this man the props he deserves!!!

The only thing I’m going to say from the movie side, since this is a TV blog after all, is that I have a TON of movies to see before the Oscars.  The last few years, there haven’t been many “Best Picture” movies I’ve wanted to see and truth be told, I think the last few years, I haven’t seen any of them.  But this year…Silver Linings Playbook, Argo, Django Unchained, Les Miz, Zero Dark Thirty, and Lincoln…wow.  What a great year for movies.  And I can’t wait to see all of these.

What did you think of the GG?  Love or hate it?

 

2013 Golden Globe Awards Winners vs. Nominees List

 

Television

Miniseries or TV movie

WINNER: Game Change, HBO

Hatfields & McCoys, History

The Girl, HBO

The Hour, BBC America

Political Animals, USA

Drama

Boardwalk Empire, HBO

Breaking Bad, AMC

Downton Abbey, PBS

WINNER: Homeland, Showtime

The Newsroom, HBO

Comedy or musical

The Big Bang Theory, CBS

Episodes, Showtime

WINNER: Girls, HBO

Modern Family, ABC

Smash, NBC

Actor, drama series

Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire, HBO

Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad, AMC

Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom, HBO

Jon Hamm, Mad Men, AMC

WINNER: Damian Lewis, Homeland, Showtime

Actress, drama series

Connie Britton, Nashville, ABC

WINNER: Claire Danes, Homeland, Showtime

Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey, PBS

Glenn Close, Damages, DirecTV

Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife, CBS

Actor, comedy or musical series

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock, NBC

WINNER: Don Cheadle, House of Lies, Showtime

Louis C.K., Louie, FX

Matt LeBlanc, Episodes, Showtime

Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory, CBS

Actress, comedy or musical series

Zooey Deschanel, The New Girl, Fox

WINNER: Lena Dunham, Girls, HBO

Tina Fey,30 Rock, NBC

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, HBO

Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation, NBC

Supporting actor, series, miniseries or movie

Max Greenfield, New Girl, Fox

WINNER: Ed Harris, Game Change, HBO

Danny Huston, Magic City, Starz

Mandy Patinkin, Homeland, Showtime

Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family, ABC

Supporting actress

Hayden Panettiere, Nashville, ABC

Archie Punjabi, The Good Wife, CBS

Sarah Paulson, American Horror Story, FX

WINNER: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey, PBS

Sofia Vergara, Modern Family, ABC

Actor, miniseries or TV movie

WINNER: Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys, History

Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock, PBS

Woody Harrelson, Game Change, HBO

Toby Jones, The Girl, HBO

Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn, HBO

Actress, miniseries or TV movie

Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn, HBO

Jessica Lange, American Horror Story, FX

WINNER: Julianne Moore, Game Change, HBO

Sigourney Weaver, Political Animals, USA

Movies

Drama

WINNER: Argo

Django Unchained

Life of Pi

Lincoln

Zero Dark Thirty

Comedy or musical

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

WINNER: Les Misérables

Moonrise Kingdom

Silver Linings Playbook

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Director

WINNER: Ben Affleck, Argo

Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty

Ang Lee, Life of Pi

Steven Spielberg, Lincoln

Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Actor, comedy or musical

Jack Black, Bernie

Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook

WINNER: Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables

Ewan MacGregor, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Bill Murray, Hyde Park on Hudson

Actress, comedy or musical

Emily Blunt, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Judi Dench, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Maggie Smith, Quartet

Meryl Streep, Hope Springs

Actor, drama

WINNER: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln

Richard Gere, Arbitrage

John Hawkes, The Sessions

Joaquin Phoenix, The Master

Denzel Washington, Flight

Actress, drama

WINNER: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty

Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone

Helen Mirren, Hitchcock

Rachel Weisz, The Deep Blue Sea

Naomi Watts, The Impossible

Supporting actor

WINNER: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

Alan Arkin, Argo

Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained

Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master

Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln

Supporting actress

Amy Adams, The Master

Sally Field, Lincoln

WINNER: Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables

Helen Hunt, The Sessions

Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy

Screenplay

Chris Terrio, Argo

WINNER: Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained

Tony Kushner, Lincoln

David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook

Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty

Original score

Alexandre Desplat, Argo

Dario Marianeli, Anna Karenina

Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, Reinhold Heil, Cloud Atlas

WINNER: Mychael Danna, Life of Pi

John Williams, Lincoln

Best Original Song

Keith Urban, For You (Act of Valor)

Taylor Swift, Safe & Sound (The Hunger Games)

Hugh Jackman, Suddenly (Les Misérables)

WINNER: Adele, Skyfall (Skyfall)

Jon Bon Jovi, Not Running Anymore (Stand Up Guys)

Animated feature film

WINNER: Brave

Frankenweenie

Hotel Transylvania

Rise of the Guardians

Wreck-It Ralph

Foreign film

WINNER: Amour

The Intouchables

Kon-Tiki

A Royal Affair

Rust & Bone

 

 

SEASON FINALE RECAP & REVIEW: Homeland “The Choice” S2 E12

The Choice.  What a perfect title for the finale.  So many choices had to be made in this episode.   Do you do the right thing or the wrong?  Do you follow your head or your heart?   Do you stay or do you go?  Do you kill or be killed?   All of these conundrums were up for grabs in the season finale of Homeland.

Let’s start with an easy one…Brody and Jess.  The writing has been on the wall for a while with these two.  You could argue ever since Brody came back they were doomed to fail.  But I give them both credit for trying.  After betrayals on both sides and two annoying kids, Brody and Jess gave it the best they could, but it wasn’t enough.  They weren’t enough for each other any more.  So they officially ended their relationship and decided to part ways.  Jess gave Brody her blessing to be with Carrie, and Brody did the same for her and Mike.  Brody even went as far as to go have a beer with Mike and tell him to go be with Jess and the kids.  I thought it was fascinating to see, and I thought the show did a very good job of showing how hard it is for soldiers when they come back from war, to go back to their old lives.  On the flip side, you also see how hard it is on the family they are coming home to.  And even though what happened was no one’s fault and they did still love one another, it just wasn’t the same.  That has to be what makes it even harder.  They didn’t hate one another or become intentionally disrespectful towards one another.  They just couldn’t take a tragic situation, that changes everyone to the point they couldn’t go back, and make it work.  It’s really sad to see and I’m sure happens more often than it doesn’t.

Then you have David Estes.  He made a deal with Quinn to have him kill Brody as soon as Brody was finished helping them get Abu Nazir.  So once Nazir was gone, Quinn had to assassinate Brody.  He followed Brody and Carrie to her family’s cabin and watched and waited for his opportunity.  When it finally came, he couldn’t pull the trigger.  Later he shows up at Estes house, in his room, with a gun.  He tells Estes that his job his to kill bad guys and in his estimation, Brody isn’t a bad guy.  Quinn confronts Estes telling him that the real reason he wants Brody dead is because Brody knows Estes was linked to the Drone attack and therefore only wants Brody dead to protect himself.  I’m not so sure that’s true otherwise Brody would also be going after Estes as well as Walden but I could be wrong.  Now that I think about it, I’m sure he didn’t know but that’s probably why Estes wants him gone.  If he does find out, he’ll go after him.   But Quinn tells him again, he only kills bad guys and if Brody ends up dead, he’ll be back in Estes room.  Wow has Quinn made a 180.  I hated him at first and now, I wouldn’t hate it if he were back next season.   As a result of this conversation, Estes releases Saul from custody and tells him the hit on Brody is off and Saul can go back to work.   I wonder if Saul will ever learn the reasoning behind his release.

Next we have Brody and Carrie and Saul and Carrie but before we jump into their choices, we have to discuss what happened to alter original decisions and what changed their courses significantly from the middle of the episode to the end.

Everyone gathers for the VP’s memorial.  I did find it odd that Jess and the kids weren’t there considering how close their families had become but whatever.  These are also the same people who had Nazir and Brody skyping without tracking so I can overlook the Brody family not being in attendance.  Estes is at the podium paying his respects to Walden and his time not only as the VP but as the head of the CIA.  Brody and Carrie can’t take their eyes off each other and Carrie motions to Brody to leave the room.   They go to another wing of the CIA offices and She announces to him that she’s decided to leave the CIA and start a life with him.  They are about to get down and dirty in someone’s office to celebrate when Brody notices his car in front of the room where the memorial is taking place and mentioning to Carrie that he never parked his car there.  She drops the F bomb and the next thing you know an enormous bomb explodes taking everyone in the memorial with it, including Estes, the VP’s wife and son and many ranking members of the CIA.

Again I know I have to suspend my disbelief but really?   You are having a memorial for the Vice President of the United States at the offices of the Central Intelligence Agency where not only the head of the CIA but many high-ranking members of the agency are in attendance…and there’s no security outside?  No one notices a car parked in a no parking zone, completely out-of-place, right next to the room where the memorial for the VPOTUS is being held?  Seriously?  That’s another tough one to swallow.

I think one thing the writers of Homeland have always done a fantastic job with is making you doubt Brody…is he a good guy or a bad guy?   I was watching the finale waiting for the bomb to drop.  Not literally of course the way that it did, but because of the false security that I and Carrie had been led into thinking Brody was a good guy under the manipulation of a horrible terrorist, only to find out that Brody was on the dark side the whole time.  I was so waiting for that to happen and then the bomb went off.   For a split second, like Carrie, I thought “damn it, he is a bad egg after all!”   But, again like Carrie, I realized that wasn’t the case.  I think the show, while playing with our emotions towards Brody during the first season, made a decision that Brody was going to be a good guy and stuck with that through the end of this season.  Ever since Brody had that vest on and decided not to blow up a bunch of innocent people, the show really did make it clear which side Brody was on.  And we saw all throughout this season with his conversations with Roya, Carrie, Quinn, Nazir, and others, that he wasn’t on the terrorists’ side.  Did he want Walden dead?  Absolutely.  But did he want to destroy the lives of innocent Americans?  Absolutely not.   Brody wanted a normal life.  And he wanted it with the woman he loved.  And Carrie, who was very torn on what to do, made the decision to leave her job at the CIA and live a peaceful life with Brody.  And then the bomb went off.

As to be expected, all breaks loose.  Saul comes rushing back (he was on a naval ship overseeing the burial of Abu Nazir at sea) only to find out he is now the highest ranking CIA agent.   He’s trying to find out of Carrie is alive and since they hadn’t found her body, she was presumed dead…as was Nicholas Brody.  Once Saul heard Brody was also unaccounted for, he knew she was alive.  Well, his gut was telling him she was alive but he couldn’t be 100% sure.  Brody and Carrie are on the run and she gets him a new passport, ID, money and tells him of a contingency plan she had set up for her in case she ever needed it and now he is going to use it.  While this is all happening, the national news releases a very interesting video.  It was the video Brody made when he was planning to blow up the VP last season.  Somehow, someone got their hands on it and released it to the press and now Brody looks like the terrorist he was feared to be and he is being set up.  Only problem is, his family is seeing this video and in order to protect himself and them, he can’t contact them to let them know that he’s being set up.   So Brody is on the run.  Of course he wants Carrie to go with him but she can’t.  She needs to stay behind and not only find out who’s responsible but to clear his name.  He understands completely and they have a heartwarming and tearful “see you later” instead of good-bye and we watch Brody take off into the darkness to his new life without Carrie.   I’m glad it ended that way instead of having Brody killed (which I would have bet my right arm was going to happen.)  Now we can have Brody return to the fold, if it makes sense, or he can stay off the canvas and in his new world.   Smart choice by the writers.  Carrie goes back to the scene of the crime and sees Saul praying over the victims.  She calls his name and he tearfully turns to her with a smile on his face as we fade to black.

So early when I brought up the choices for Brody and Carrie and Saul and Carrie, there really weren’t choices at all for the men….just Carrie.  Brody was clear he wanted to give their relationship a chance and Saul was clear she was a lunatic if she decided to leave a job she loves and is good at to go make babies with a known terrorist.  “He’s a man who put on a suicide vest Carrie.  That’s who he is, that’s who he’ll always be”  warns Saul to Carrie.  He also states one of the greatest lines I’ve ever heard in the history of TV “You are the smartest and the dumbest fucking person I’ve ever known.”   No truer words have ever been said about Carrie Matheson.  In Saul’s mind, there is not choice.  He knows Carrie so well that he knows she can never be with a man like Brody.   But you know how women can be!  Sometime it takes a national disaster to change our minds.  And that’s what happened for Carrie.  She was ready to leave her CIA world behind.  But then two things happened, a new threat emerged and her man was being framed for it.   She’s not going anywhere!  In fact, she probably prime for a huge promotion since half of the CIA was wiped out.

I like the fact that we have wrapped up the Abu Nazir/Brody storyline and are moving on to another phase of the show.  The tough part about a show like Homeland (similar to 24) is that it can get very stale very quickly.  But keeping it fresh with new faces and stories, while still maintaining a strong core, should be the key to longer term success.  I still don’t see Homeland as a 10 season show…more like 5 or 6…but since I’m always wrong, it will probably run longer than Law & Order!

What did you think of the Homeland finale and of Season 2 as a whole?  Are you on board for next season or are you out?  Let me know what you think!

 

SEASON FINALE RECAP & REVIEW: Dexter “Surprise, Mother Fucker” S7 E12

WOW!!!  There were many scenarios I pictured in my head about how this season finale of Dexter would play out.  I can guarantee you with 100% certainty that how it actually played out last night was no where NEAR what I thought.  There were many things building to a head this season.  Some things I thought would build little quicker and some things I thought would build a little slower.  But I never in a million years saw THAT coming.  And it really begs the question, where the hell does the show go from here?

If you’ve ever read any of my Dexter posts in the past, you know there is one character I absolutely love and is my favorite of all time and with every passing episode, his absence pains me more and more.  That would be one Sgt. James Doakes.  I’ve been refusing to believe for the past 4 seasons that Doakes is really dead.  I had it in my twisted little head that he somehow escaped that explosion (General Hospital style) and he is alive and well trying to remember who he is only to resurface when we least (or most) expect.   When I saw the title of the finale (sorry Mom for the language!) I thought to myself….HE’S BACK!!!  HE’S ALIVE!!!  I KNEW IT!!!!   Especially since there has been so much Doakes talk lately, I thought that he was absolutely coming back.  And I was right!!!   Well…..sort of.  He’s back but only in a flashback.  A recreated flashback I should say.  And even though it was not the reunion with Doakes I was hoping for, it was ok.  I was so happy to see my main man Erik King back that even though it was only for a short time, I’ll take it just to get my Doakes fill again!

So with my James Doakes/Erik King love out-of-the-way, let’s get into the meat of the episode.   What does what we witnessed last night mean and where does Season 8 go from here?  First I want to talk about Hannah. I know there were many people not too fond of Hannah McKay.  I didn’t hate her character the way some other people have.  I thought she was important for a few reasons.  First, it showed that Dexter could truly love again.  Second, it gave Dexter the chance to fully and completely be himself with someone.  We’ve never really seen that before.  The closest we got was with Lumen but he was very careful with her because he knew deep down that Lumen wasn’t a killer.  She was a victim seeking revenge for her crimes and that once he mission was complete, her “Dark Passenger” would be gone…and it was.   But Hannah was different.  Hannah’s a killer…just like Dexter.   So he didn’t need to lie or hide.  He could be himself with her in way he never could with anyone else, even Deb.  And finally, she brought some inner feelings inside Dexter out I’m not sure he knew were there.  I’m talking about the “Dark Passenger.”  One of the reasons we’ve always been able to buy into Dexter as a “lovable serial killer” is because he always had his code (always kill guilty people…never anyone innocent) and because we thought there was no other choice for him.  This is who he is.  He had a darkness in him that he can’t run from and therefore he needed to find a way to channel it.  But Hannah made him rethink that position.  Is it possible there is no “DP” at all and that Dexter is just a killer who likes to kill.  It puts Dexter in a completely new light.  It’s one thing when he’s doing it because he has no choice and the people he kills are bad.  It’s a completely different scenario if it’s simply for pleasure and because it’s a lifestyle he has chosen vs. one that was fated.  He becomes a much scarier individual because the code is now off the table, if that’s the case.   And if that’s the case, how does our perspective on Dexter change?  How does Dexter’s perspective about himself change?  We saw it with Hannah’s father.  While he was a complete scumbag, he wasn’t worth killing.  He didn’t fit the code.  But he’s not walking amongst the living anymore is he?   Dexter willingly broke his code to kill her father.  Or you could argue, he adjusted his code to justify killing her father.  That’s not the Dexter we’ve grown to care about.  So without his relationship with Hannah, these feelings inside Dexter and this turmoil about who he really is, wouldn’t have come to light.  It also bring an entirely new layer to Dexter’s character which is quite compelling.    The big question is, will Hannah be back?   She’s out and on the run and Dexter will be very well aware of that fact when he returns home.  How will this make him feel?   Because they were very clear with one another that while they both love each other very much and feel only they can understand one another, they also realize that because of who they are, neither one are ever really safe with the other.  I hope Hannah returns next season because I think those crazy kids can find a way to work their issues out!

I think the bigger analysis, is how did Quinn survive?  I thought for sure he was a goner!    No, I’m just kidding!!!  Obviously the bigger question is, Debra.  She had quite a finale didn’t she?  Her character has had such a transformation over the last seven seasons.  Where she once started as an innocent cop who just wanted to do a good job and make her dad and brother proud (and Jennifer Carpenter was not a very good actress) she is now a seasoned lieutenant who is very well aware of what is happening around her (and Jennifer Carpenter has become a very good actress.)   Poor Deb has had pretty much an insane ride on this show.  From falling in love with a serial killer (who happened to be Dexter’s bio brother) to falling in love with a FBI agent who is murdered right in front of her to falling in love with her adopted brother to finding out said brother is a serial killer to becoming a killer herself.   Just when you want to say you’ve had a rough life, take a look at the life of one Debra Morgan!

It’s still hard to comprehend what went down last night because I still can’t believe it was Deb that pulled the trigger….literally.  I was pretty sure LaGuerta was going to die (check out my Dexter Death poll in my earlier post).  Why I wasn’t 100% sure?   Because she didn’t fit Dexter’s code so I didn’t think he was going to kill her. I was right…on both fronts.  She died and Dexter didn’t kill her…DEB DID!!!   I still can’t believe it.  Deb killed LaGuerta.  But did Dexter have a hand in it?  I think he did.

It’s obvious what was going to go down.  Dexter was going to shoot both Estrada and LaGuerta and make it appear as if they shot each other.  Enter Deb who spent most of the time trying to convince Dex not to kill Maria.  Unfortunately, while Dexter was begging Debra to leave and Debra was begging Dexter not to do this, Maria woke up.  I’m glad this happened because, like Doakes, she had her suspicions about Dexter and before she met her maker, her suspicions were confirmed.  But when Maria woke up she begged Debra to shoot Dexter.  I found this reaction from Maria interesting.  Instead of Maria telling Deb to call for back up or turn him in, she yelled at her to shoot him.  Hmmm.  Meanwhile, Dexter is telling Deb that it’s ok and that she needs to do what she thinks is right.  And with a tearful and pained look on her face, with the gun aimed at Dexter….BANG.    The shot goes off but instead she shoots LaGuerta.  In what I read this morning was an off the script scene, Deb runs screaming to LaGuerta and hugs her and tells her NO while Dexter watches in disbelief at what Debra just did for him.   It was such a powerful moment made even more powerful once learning that was all ad libbed by Jennifer Carpenter.

Deb and Maria had always had a difficult relationship.  At first, Maria didn’t like Deb because she was threatened by her.  She was the darling up and comer with a huge backing in Captain Matthews.  And as a result, she made Deb’s life very difficult resulting in Deb not trusting and hating her lieutenant.  Eventually, she made Deb detective…which is something she always wanted.  Their working relationship improved slightly but there were still moments of tension and distrust.  Eventually, Maria got promoted to Captain and in turn promoted Deb to lieutenant.   And as of late, they worked well together.  Their relationship came full circle last night.  It started with Maria holding Deb’s future in the palm of her hands and ended with Deb holding Maria’s future in the palm of her hands.  While Deb and Maria had their moments of angst, there is a part of me that always thought they did want the best for the other.  As the only other woman in the department, I think if anyone was going to succeed, Maria wanted it to be Deb and in turn, there were many times Deb viewed Maria as an asset and mentor.  That’s why it hurt Deb so much to do what she did.  Not only because she just killed someone, but because it was Maria.

I read an interview with one of the show runners who alluded to the idea that Dexter was very much in control of the situation with Deb and manipulated her into doing his dirty work.  It’s hard to argue with one of the men behind the show, but I’m going to anyway.  I don’t buy that.  I think Dexter was very distraught over the idea of putting Deb in this position and he was really giving her the ok to shoot him if she felt she had to do it.  He was trying to make it easier for her.  I don’t think he was trying to manipulate her into shooting Maria.  I really don’t. I think he was shocked when she did it because all things Maria said were true…Deb’s a good person, she’s not like Dexter, she’s not a killer.   But I guess that didn’t stop Maria from shouting at Deb to kill her own brother!  I guess she’s a killer if she’s saving Dexter but not Maria.  Anyhoo, Maria was right about Deb.  So I don’t think it ever entered Dexter’s mind that she would shoot Maria.   He was just as stunned as the rest of us!

So now what?   What does this do to Deb?  How does this impact her relationship with Dexter moving forward? How do they get out this?  I certainly think hearing of Maria’s death will bring Angel back from retirement and this will be his last case before he really does step away.   I guess a lot will depend on whether or not Season 8 is really Dexter’s last season.  Right now the show runners are planning as if it is.  But they did say if Showtime wants more, they can spin it and go longer.  As much as I would like to see more Dexter (if the quality holds up) I almost think you’re at a point of no return.  I think next season has to be the last because as many people as Dexter has been involved in killing, he can’t run forever.  At some point, it has to catch up and I think next season it will.   Otherwise, it gets ridiculous and there is no way we can trust any of these cops who would be so blind to what is happening right in front of them.

So what did you think of the season finale and season 7 as a whole?   And do you want next season to be the final season?   I can’t wait to hear what you think!!!

 

RECAP & REVIEW: The Good Wife “Battle of the Proxies” S4 E10

I’m so mad at myself that I haven’t been as up to speed on The Good Wife as I would have liked.  But Sunday’s have been brutal.  I basically had a marathon this weekend and now I’m even more mad at myself.  I know there are some people who aren’t happy with the story lines this season but I’m not one of them.  Well, except for the Kalinda/Nick story line which has been horrible.   But it appears the writers agree and Nick is now gone so I’m not going to crush them for one bad idea over 4 seasons!

This whole thing with Nick probably wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t been for the build up.  The last 3 seasons, we were led to believe that Kalinda was on the run from a really bad dude and that her life could be in jeopardy if he were to find her.  Instead, we got a kinky, sex crazed, wacko, who did nothing but make me want to FF every scene he’s in.  I mean really?   This is the guy Kalinda was so afraid of?  We all know how tough Kalinda is so I would think it would take a pretty significant person to make her squirm.  But Nick was a joke.  Hell, Scott Porter was more intimidating than Marc Warren was.  And I know Kalinda has this whole sex appeal thing going on, but does everyone in contact with her need to be about sex?  Because it’s hard for me to buy her being deathly afraid of this man is she’s constantly screwing him every chance she gets.  But he’s gone…thank God.  So the question remains, HOW is he gone.  The ending was left very vague.  And maybe if this were a more interesting storyline, we would care what happened to Nick.  Since it wasn’t, I don’t…I just want him to stay gone.

I’m loving the addition of Amanda Peet this season.  She doing a fantastic job and I hope they keep her on moving forward.  And seeing Chris Bulter made me realize how much I miss seeing Matan Brody.  He was such a good character and then he just vanished.  Big mistake.  Bring back Matan!!!   But Peet has been solid and I’m liking the chemistry she is developing with Will.  I hope that starts to go somewhere because I really like them together.

By the way, Jackie and condoms…one word…ew.

And I know this happened in A Defense of Marriage but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the last scene in the bathroom between Peter and Alicia.  Holler!!!!!!!   You all know I want those two back together.   They are amazing.  I think the key to remember in all of this is that Peter and Alicia NEVER stopped loving each other or being attracted to one another.  They may have had their issues with their spouses choices (rightfully so) but they never fell out of love.  Which is why they will always find their way back to each other.   And Stockard Channing, I love you woman but STAY OUT OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP!!!  Don’t you be telling Peter to back off.  You back off!

So what do we think is going on with Eli and this investigation?  Is this a Maddie Hayes creation?  And what a crappy position to be put in…assist us in nailing your current candidate or we’ll nail another candidate who just so happens to be your ex-wife.  Low blow man.  Those justice agents go right for the gonads don’t they?   Luckily he has Diane on his side to assist him and I’m sure they will both find a way to get Eli out of this.

And for the love of all that’s holy and good, can we PLEASE give Cary Agos a storyline.  We wasted half the season on this stupid Nick guy, now it’s time for Cary to shine.  Please?   Pretty please?  I’m begging the writing staff…do something for my guy!

How are you all liking this season?   And are you as happy as the rest of the world seems to be that Nick is gone?   Let me know!

 

RECAP & REVIEW: Homeland “Broken Hearts” S2 E10

We are certainly building to something major in the last two episode of Homeland this season and did we just find out who the mole was all along?   This episode really asks you to suspend much disbelief but when it comes to Homeland, I don’t care.  I trust the writers and I am completely along for the ride.  So I don’t care how unbelievable it is that Brody would be able to Skype Nazir on his cell phone, right outside his safe house door without SOMEONE knowing about it.  It doesn’t matter to me.   What does matter to me, is how this story is going to wrap up.

Let’s start with the VP.  This all went into motion back last season, when the show premiered.  Brody was brain washed and manipulated into killing VPOTUS Walden after Nazir’s son Issa was killed in a drone strike orchestrated by the VPOTUS and David Estes.  I’m not sure if Brody and Nazir are aware of Estes involvement. Signs indicated they are not, but other actions might indicate it’s possible (more or that later.)  After several failed attempts to kill Walden, an opportunity arises out of a pretty scary situation.  After Carrie hangs up the phone from talking to Brody, she is broad sided by another vehicle.  Turns out the maestro behind that was none other than Nazir.  Nazir has Carrie and he is using her as leverage to get Brody to do his bidding.  He tells Brody he needs the serial number for the VP’s pacemaker so he can attack him by making it appear as though he had a heart attack.  Nazir tells Brody exactly where to find it and that if he wants to see Carrie alive again, he will do as he asks.  Brody takes a pretty hard-line with Nazir, knowing how driven he is by revenge, and tells him that he’s going to kill Carrie no matter what so he refuses to give him the number until he sees that Carrie is free and alright.  Nazir acquiesces and Brody sends him the number.  A remote tech dude starts doing something with it and when the VP shows up in his office (where Brody had to get to, to get the pacemaker) Brody tells him he’s not running with him and he slowly starts to watch the VP, die.    At one point even telling Walden “You still don’t get it.  I’m killing you.” He then runs to the top of steps and screams for someone to get a doctor because the VP is having a heart attack.  But it’s too late, Walden is dead.

Where to begin.  I guess the first thing is that the show has basically come full circle in one sense.  Brody’s mission upon returning to the US was to kill the VP.  I think Nazir would have liked it better if he killed him and someone innocent American’s as well, but I digress.  So Brody’s mission is complete.  He did what Nazir set in motion for him to do.  And did it in a way in which no one else got hurt.  I think what we learned about Brody is that he is certainly not a terrorist.  And I would go out on a limb and say that the writers have done an excellent job of presenting Brody as a character you can empathize with.  This was a man tortured and brain washed into doing what he thought was right.  Is it right for him to take matters into his own hands?   No.  Did he help rid the country of really bad, corrupt, and vile politician?  Yes.   Not to mention, we have seen many instances where Brody wouldn’t do certain things because he doesn’t want to hurt innocent people.  To him, there is no collateral damage.  The only person he wanted to pay for his crimes, was Walden.  And now it’s happened.  The thing I loved about the first season, is that we were never really sure if Brody was wearing the black or white hat.  Even up through a few episodes ago, we still weren’t sure.  But I think we learned that Brody’s hat was a very pale grey.  He was by no means innocent, but he was not the insane, diabolical terrorist that was certainly possible.   Brody is a broken man who has, for all intents and purposes, been driven insane by everything that’s happened to him.  I know I would be!   And now it’s time for him to put the pieces of his life back together…or not.

I have to say though, there were some pretty questionable things that happened that led to all of this.  First, there is no way in hell an accused terrorist and traitor to his country (Brody) wouldn’t have a tap on his phone.  Someone would have heard/seen that conversation between himself and Nazir.  Second, how did Nazir know where Walden kept his pacemaker?  Didn’t that seem awfully convenient?  Third, why isn’t Carrie being tailed?  Estes doesn’t trust her so you would think he would have someone on her.  Especially after the surveillance showed how “close” she’s gotten to Brody.   Fourth, how was a known terrorist like Nazir able to rent a car, smash into a CIA operative’s car, and leave the scene without a trace?   Again, very convenient.  Unless he had computer boy do it all for him.

As for what’s happening within the CIA?  That might juicier than what’s happening with Brody, if you can believe it.   Saul tracks down Dar Adal in a diner where he has his weekly waffle lunch.  Before we dissect this meeting, I have to say, really?  One of the men in charge of Black Ops who is so hard to find because he changes his address every few days goes to the same diner every week for waffles?   Seriously?  It had to be said.  Anyhoo, Saul wants to know why Quinn was sent into run his operation…he’s a soldier, not intelligence.  Adal basically questions Saul’s backbone and tells him that when tough decisions need to be made, Saul is too soft.  Quinn can take care of the hard stuff.  Saul’s not too happy about that so he leaves.    He confronts Estes about Quinn’s presence.  What Quinn was originally tasked to do has happened…they thwarted the terrorist plot…so why is Quinn still around?  He bluntly asks him if it’s to keep Brody from talking about the drone strike.  But as this conversation is progress, the man himself, Quinn, comes racing over to tell Estes and Saul that Carrie was in an accident and that she’s now missing.  When Saul takes off, Estes tells Quinn that Saul knows.

Later when Carrie is freed (see above) she tracks down and truck and steals the guy’s cell phone to call Saul and let him know where she is so they can go get Nazir.  Once Saul and crew have the plan in place, they head out to where Carrie is.  But before they leave, Quinn and Estes exchange a glance and Estes picks up the phone.  Flash to the CIA lobby where security grabs Saul and ushers him upstairs, no wait downstairs, no wait…those guys don’t know…they just know one thing…get Saul.

So here lies the big question…is Estes the mole?  Are he and Quinn working with Nazir?  It would make sense since they are trying to kill Brody because I can see Nazir wanting to silence Brody after his bidding is complete.   The big question would be, why Estes and Quinn?   But if it’s true and Estes and Quinn are working with/for Nazir, that would set up a monster Season 3!!!!

I think at this point, it’s a given conclusion that Brody is going to die at the end of the season.  I’m not sure what they would do with him at this point since his storyline has basically come to an end.   Other than the Jessica/Carrie triangle.   But I guess that’s one question I have looming…do Carrie and Brody love each other or are they still playing each other?  The romantic in me says they love each other.  The skeptic in me says I’m not sure.  Carrie seems very black and white with her convictions so I can’t see her building a life with Brody.  I don’t think the government’s deal with Brody would allow for it even if she wanted to.   And now that Jess has pretty much solidified the idea of going back with Mike, what does that mean for Brody?  Dana has no interest in her father anymore.  It’s really just Chris.  And if Mike, who raised him practically his whole life, is back in the picture, Chris will have his father figure.   So I think Brody, sadly, will be a goner at the end of the season.    If I had my choice, it would be the most annoying teenager ever in Dana but I don’t think that will be the case.  I mean really, have you ever seen a stranger, more annoying person in your life than Dana Brody?  Because I haven’t.

Only two episodes remain.  What will happen?  What do you think and how do you think Homeland will wrap up this season?  Sound off below!

 

RECAP & REVIEW: Dexter “Helter Skelter” S7 E9

Is it wrong that I’m a little sad that Issak is dead?  I really liked his character and I was hoping he’d be sticking around a little bit longer.  He was a great foil for Dexter and their chemistry was fantastic.  But it was inevitable that he had to die so I guess I can’t be too upset.

How do you all feel about Hannah?  I really want to like them together because of what she gives Dexter…someone he can completely be himself around.  She knows all about who he is and she doesn’t judge him because he doesn’t judge her.  In many ways, she’s the perfect person for him.  But I worry that she can’t be trusted.  One false move from Dexter or maybe he doesn’t put the dishes in the dishwasher correctly and poof!  She poisons him and he’s a goner.  I can see why Deb is so concerned about that.  Because she has no code like Dexter.  She’s just a killer.  Whatever her reasons or motives are, she’s more unpredictable and that’s very dangerous.

It appears as though the Deb being in love with Dexter story is finally put to rest.  I guess the writers felt they couldn’t just walk away and ignore it so this was a way to acknowledge the fact that it was there, it was addressed and now is handled.  Basically Dexter gave Deb the “don’t worry you are so screwed up you’re in love with me” speech.  He told her that while he can’t reciprocate, he can understand why her feelings went there.  Deb is still creeped out by the whole thing (as are we all) but is going to move past it and just go back to normal with Dexter.   Thank God.   I give Dexter mad props here because if it were me and my sibling told me they were in love with me, I don’t think I could ever be around them again.   But since Dexter is asking Deb, a police detective, to accept the fact that he’s a serial killer, I guess it’s only fair he learn to accept and move past the idea that his sister’s in love with him.

LaGuerta and Matthews are working together again…well, kind of.  I thought it took a lot of balls for Maria to go see Tom after she destroyed his career.  But to her point, kill or be killed and he was after her just as much as she was after him.  She just ended up winning.  We’ve already talked about how Maria never believed Doakes was the Bay Harbor Butcher.  Now she’s on Dexter’s trail.  The scent is getting stronger and stronger and now she’s strategizing with Matthews over the Butcher case and who the actual perpetrator is.  My question is, why does Matthews care?  I know why Maria is invested in this but why, with Matthews career  destroyed, care?  He cares because he wants Maria to get him reinstated so he can work just long enough to get his pension.  She agrees and so their investigation begins.   This is sooo bad for Dexter.  It’s one thing to have Maria on your trail.  Now he’ll have former Captain Matthews as well?  It’s really getting for ugly.   To the point of, what the hell is he going to do?  He can’t kill them, they don’t fit his code.  So what does he do when they find out?

Other Random Thoughts:

1. At this point, it’s not a matter of if Quinn dies, but when.
2. Looks like we have a new Big Bad in the form of a serial arsonist.  Will this story run into next season or be wrapped up this year?   It’s hard to believe we are throwing another element into this season with already so much going on!
3. Does anyone else care about Batista’s restaurant?   I’m not sure why it’s being mentioned but part of me thinks it must be for a bigger reason.  At first I thought it was just to set up Batista’s retirement when the show ends next season but the fact that it’s mentioned in every episodes means it could be something more.   Then again, maybe I’m just reading too much into it.
4. It’s also official that George is a dead man at this point and possibly Nadia as well.

Only three episodes left.   How will this season end and what will the set up for the final season be?  I can’t wait to find out!!

 

QUICK REVIEW: Dexter “Argentina” S7 E8

I don’t think I’ve ever sat through a more cringe worthy scene than the one I watched on Sunday night between Dexter and Deb.   I literally squealed during that scene.  And I thought Carpenter and Hall played the hell out of it.  There have been many jaw-dropping scenes this season on Dexter.   But NONE as “HOLY SHIT” as that one!!

First, we have Deb asking Dexter to kill Hannah because she’s going to get away with another murder.  Other people have mentioned how the season has been a good, slow build to that point.  I disagree.  While this may be 6-7 weeks in our time, it’s probably only 2 weeks, maybe, in Dexter time.  So I don’t think Deb would jump on the “hey can you pick up some beer and kill the suspect I can’t nail?  Thanks Bro!” bandwagon just yet.  I think Carpenter has done a fantastic job showing all the ranges of emotion Deb is going through this season.  But I still don’t think her character would succumb to Dexter’s dark passenger that fast.  I just don’t.  I think it’s too soon.   And while I do think Dexter denied killing Hannah because of his feelings for her, I also think he did it to protect Deb.  He knows she’s not that kind of person and she would regret it.  She can’t be responsible for the death of someone else..intentionally.  And that’s what this would have been.

It all comes to a head when Dexter goes over to Deb’s place and he throws down keys on the desk and Deb recognizes them as Hannah’s keys.  Dexter borrowed her van to spy incognito on Issak.  Oops.  So then the tiny detail of Dexter and Hannah doing the horizontal mambo together is revealed and Deb is beside herself.  She asks if they’re in love and Dex says he isn’t sure.  At this point, it seriously would not have shocked me if Deb’s head exploded right off of her body.   How much more can this girl take?

So while all this is happening, Deb decides now would be the absolute perfect time to reveal to Dexter that when she went to see him last year, when she caught him killing Travis Marshall, she was going there to tell him that she is in love with him.   WHHHHHHHOOOOOOOAAAAA!!!!  And..EEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!!!!   I was really hoping the writers forgot that horrible storyline existed and were dropping the whole thing.   Nope.  No apparantly Deb really needed to share that information with Dexter and the look on Dexter’s face was priceless.   He looked as creeped out as the rest of us feel with this God awful storyline.  Even Deb said to him, you’re a serial killer in love with a serial killer and I’m more fucked up than you because I’m in love with a serial killer who happens to be my brother.  Well, geez when you put it that way, she’s right.   I can’t even begin to tell you how much this grosses me out.  I’m not sure why the writers felt the need to go down this path.  It is beyond disgusting.  But they are so, ok.

On the flip side, I LOVE the character of Issak.  Ray Stevenson is brilliant in this role.  And I’m sort of disappointed because Issak is right.  In any other circumstance, he and Dexter would be great friends because they understand one another.  Why is that?  Because we learned tonight that Viktor was not Issak’s son but his lover.  Our boy Issak is gay.  So Issak and Dexter bond over losing the person they love and the revenge they wish to seek on the person that took their loved ones away.  Unfortunately for Dexter, he killed Viktor.  So while Issak can respect Dexter, he’s going to kill him.  And while Dexter respects Issak, he’s going to kill him.  That’s quite the conundrum for this budding bromance.   But I don’t want Issak to die.  You can kill Jason Gedrick’s character but let’s keep Issak around?  He’s quite entertaining!!

I think we need to start a “death pool” for the final 5 episodes this season and the 12 for next.   Who is going to die?   Let’s look at the main cast and place some % chances:

Dexter  50%
Debra  0%
Angel  0%
Quinn  100%
LaGuerta  50%
Masuka  0%

As for the secondary cast:

Issak  75%
Hannah   100%
Jamie  25%
George  100%
Astor  5%
Cody  5%
Harrison  0%

It’s hard to list a second tier cast for next season since we don’t know who’s in play so we have to go with this for now.   But these are my best guess for who’s dying at some point before the end of the series.   I’m pretty sure George, Hannah, and Quinn are goners at some point and I have a sinking feeling Issak is going to have to go.  I think Dexter and LaGuerta could go either way.  LaGuerta doesn’t fit Dexter’s code but we all know Dexter has killed people who don’t fit the code.  But I can’t see him killing her.  But what does he do when she puts all the pieces together?  As for Dexter himself, it could go either way.  I can see the show having him escape or I could see the show putting him behind bars or I could see the show killing him.  So it’s a toss-up.   Jamie and the kids, I don’t really care but since they’re around I put some % and that would really be storyline dictated but I don’t think anything will happen to any of them.   But you never know!!!!   Maybe I’m just hoping someone takes out Rita’s annoying kids.

What did you think of Dexter?   This season is the best in a long time but the creep factor is at an all time high on this show and I really wish the writers would abort the mission.

 

RECAP & REVIEW: Once Upon a Time…Season 2 So Far

Does anyone else feel that there are starting to be WAAAAAY too many characters and lands?   We are only 5 episodes in and it’s starting to feel a bit too much.  Let’s take a look at all the new people we have met so far this season:

• Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)
• Mulan
• Sir Lancelot
• Captain Hook
• Smee
• Dr. Frankenstein

Rumored to be joining the cast this season are:

• Aladdin
• Jafar
• Rapunzel
• Ariel
• Jack and the Beanstalk

And here is who we already have as the main cast or regular recurring characters:

• Emma
• Henry
• Snow White
• Prince Charming
• Little Red Ridding Hood
• The Evil Queen
• Rumplestiltskin
• Belle
• Jiminy Cricket
• The Mad Hatter
• Grumpy (and the other 6 dwarves)
• Pinocchio
• Geppetto
• The Blue Fairy
• King George

Finally, other characters we have met:

• Cinderella
• Cinderella’s Prince
• King Midas
• Princess Abigal
• The Magic Mirror
• Cora
• Malificent
• Hansel and Gretel
• Prince Phillip (Aurora’s Prince)

Wow.  Even I didn’t realize how many people/characters there were until I just wrote that list.  I love the show, but I think we’re getting slightly out of hand.  In addition to all those characters we also have several different lands and possibly another one on the way.  We have current day Storybrooke, past Fairy Tale land, current Fairy Tale land, Wonderland and possibly Neverland.   We are starting to creep into “Lost” territory of becoming too complicated with different timelines and too many characters confusing and frustrating viewers.

I remember when Lost hit its second season and they brought in the “tailies” as they were affectionately called.  Then you had all their back stories and story lines and it took away from the main characters we had grown to care about.  At least for me, and many other Lost fans I talked to, people wanted more focus on the driver characters….Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Charlie, Claire, Sayid, Jin, Sun, Locke, Michael, Walt, and Hurley.  Eventually that extended to Ben Linus, Desmond, Penny, Juliette, Farraday, Richard, The Man in Black, and Jacob.  But anyone else (especially Paolo and Nikki…ugh) were sort of distractions from the core group.  That’s how OUAT is starting to get, for me.   Yes there are lots of Disney and fairy tale characters that would be interesting to see on the show.  However, we don’t need to see them all at once and unless they make sense to the story, we don’t need to see them at all.  For example, Sleeping Beauty.  I love Sarah Bolger but I’m not sure why Sleeping Beauty is in the story right now.  What is her purpose?  Really?   So I hope that OUAT doesn’t get too carried away with all the Disney/fairy tale characters they want to introduce to us and keep it simple and streamlined and make it about the story.

Speaking of which, what do you think is the over arcing premise of this season?  Last season it was getting Emma to believe so she can break the curse.  Now what is it?  Is it getting the characters back to their true land?  Is it learning to live in this new land as their characters?  Is it taking down Regina?  Is it Rumplestilkin’s quest for magic so he can find his son?   Maybe it’s a combination of all of these things.   My early impressions are that season one really set the base of who these people are, how Emma is connected to them, and that once the curse was broken, it opened opportunities to go in many different directions in season two.  And while I’m on board for the ride, I hope the ride has a destination.

Having said all that, I’m really enjoying this season.  Most especially, I’m really enjoying seeing the relationship with Snow White and Emma develop while they are in Fairy Tale land.  Their relationship has to slightly shift from being a BFF type of connection to mother/daughter.   Not that mothers and daughters can’t be BFFs but you know what I mean.  It’s different.  I loved the 4th episode when Emma got to see what would have been her nursery and what her mother did to protect her.  All this time she was angry at Snow for sending her away and that she would have rather been scared but with her parents than safe and alone.  But after seeing the devastation, she can appreciate what they did to protect her.  And to be fair, isn’t that exactly what she did for Henry?  You would think Emma would be more understanding considering she gave her son up for adoption.  But the new closeness developing between her and Snow is awesome.  Likewise, the relationship between Henry and Charming is adorable.

We got a better understanding of one of the big stories this season…Rumpy and his quest for magic.  Belle seemed to think (as I’m sure most of the viewers) that Rumpy was going for the magic because he was still “The Dark One” from FTL (Fairy Tale Land) and he was obsessed with the power it brought.  While maybe there’s a small part of him feeling that way, it’s not the driving reason.  The driving reason is because he feels he needs that magic to find his son…Baelfire (Bae as he calls him.)

I’m going to go out on a huge prediction limb as to who Bae is going to end up being.  Are you ready?  Brace yourself…….I think Bae is going to end up being Henry’s biological father.  BAM!!!  I’m not sure how old Bae was when he went through the magic bean portal to the “land with no magic” and I don’t know when that happened in relation to when baby Emma went through with Pinocchio.  But I think it’s VERY possible, that that is who Bae will be.  You heard it here first people!!!

In Sunday night’s episode, we finally learned who Dr. Whale was.  There was much speculation that because of the “Whale” last name, that he could be Captain Ahab or Ishmael.  Instead, it a surprising twist, he had nothing to do with Melville’s novel and was actually the main characters in Mary Shelley’s novel….Victor Frankenstein. Now call me crazy but at one point, I actually thought he was possibly The Wizard of Oz but my husband said right away he was Dr. Frankenstein.   Before you bust a gut laughing, here’s why I thought he might be the Wizard of Oz.  First, the Mad Hatter described him not only as a wizard, but as wonderful.  Then, there was talk about how things happen in “his land.”  Finally he was looking for a heart (possibly for the Tin Man.)  So there were many references to the idea of him being the Wizard of Oz.  But when you see him bringing back someone from the dead (and his apprentice called him Victor) it was kind of sign, sealed, and delivered at that point that he was the famous Doctor.

I am enjoying this season and I’m anxious to see where all this is going.  What are your thoughts on Season 2 so far?

 

SEASON FINALE RECAP AND REVIEW: True Blood “Save Yourself” S5 E12

Now that’s a season finale!  After a pretty lousy season, to be quite honest, True Blood kicked it into gear the last two episodes leading up to last night’s finale and WOW what a finale it was.  Talk about one jaw dropper after another!!

One of my big problems with True Blood this season (and all other seasons where I haven’t like it) is that there are too many stories running throughout the season.  Here’s a quick run down of the stories and characters we had at some point this season:

• Sookie and Lafayette helping Tara’s transformation
• Tara and Jessica getting into it over Hoyt
• Hoyt inadvertently joining a mini KKK
• Hoyt’s relationship with Jessica and Jason
• Jessica turning into sex crazed party girl with Bill gone
• Bill, Eric, and Nora fighting together against the Authority
• Roman’s leadership of the Authority vs the Sanguinista movement
• Salome bringing Russell back and Russell killing Bill
• Salome turning Nora and wanting her to help lead the new Authority (which involves another 4 people)
• The Authority wanting to destroy the idea of peaceful living with human
• Russell and Rev. Newlin forming a bond
• Luna and Sam being hunted and Emma being kidnapped
• Emma’s grandmother being very protective of her while Emma stays with her to keep her safe
• Luna, Sam, Andy, and Jason all learning that the former Bon Temps Sheriff is part of the mini KKK and is led by a female dragon that he was sleeping with
• Alcide and Sookie finally hook up only to take time off after he finds out she killed Debbie
• Alcide fighting over who should be pack leader
• Alcide sleeping with one of the members of the pack who backs him
• The wolf pack being high on V
• Alcide going to see his dad and his dad being a douchebag
• Andy gets a Fairy knocked up and could possibly hurt his relationship with Holly
• Terry going off the deep end with Patrick and going after their old Army crew
• Terry having to kill Patrick to have the curse lifted
• Tara dealing with her new life and new relationship with Pam
• Pam on the hunt for Eric
• Eric trying to keep Bill from becoming a psycho on Lilith V
• Lilith going after everyone in the Authority saying they are the chosen ones

See what I mean?   We only have 12 episodes a season and to me, that is WAAAAY too many characters and stories going on….and I didn’t touch on everything.

The two guest stars I was most excited about this season that ending up failing miserably were Scott Foley and Christopher Meloni.   Christopher Meloni was awesome when he was on, but he was only on for 3 episodes before he was killed.  What a waste!  It was better for the story but the way his appearance was pumped up, I thought we would see him for more than 3 episodes!!  As for Scott Foley’s character, he was a victim of a boring storyline.  Because there were so many other things going on, and since Terry has always been a background character, I could have cared less about what was happening with them.  Plus, their storyline always felt like filler to me.  The best part about it was that it brought Arlene into the fold more, and I love her character, but I FF every time Terry and Patrick were on the screen because their story did nothing for me.

Because we had a lot going on this season, I was glad the writers chose to wrap up the Terry/Patrick storyline and the Hoyt/Jessica/Jason storyline 2 episodes early.  Very smart on their part.  That way you aren’t clouding the finale with these side stories, and Hoyt got the proper send off he deserved vs. being an after thought.  I’m sad Hoyt is gone because I always liked the character and the actor but his character has run his course and True Blood really does need to thin out the crew.

There were three main storylines happening last night: the Authority (which I’ll get to last), Sookie and Jason’s investigation into their parents’ death, and Sam and Luna being hunted and getting Emma back.  Let’s start with the latter.

I’m not a big Luna fan.  She’s always annoyed me since she came on-screen.   I can’t really put my finger on why, but she does.  And while I’ve always liked Sam, his storylines have always bored me.  This season was probably the most interested I was in his SL.  We find out that the guys in the Obama masks were mini KKK members wanting to rid society of anything that wasn’t human.  So it wasn’t a personal attack against Sam and Luna specifically, it was any shifter, vamp, wolf, etc was fair game to these people.  But with the help of Andy and Jason, they are able to track down these idiots and either kick their ass or kill them.  In the meantime, the hunt to get Emma back is on.  They find out she’s with Rev. Newlin and go to the Authority (as mice in his briefcase) to get her back.  It was great.

At some point, Luna was able to shift into Rev. Newlin (she had already shifted into Sam inadvertently in the episode prior to the finale) and therefore was able to grab Emma.   She was just about to escape but not before Rosalyn grabs “Newlin” and forces “him” to do an interview condemning the acts for which they are being accused of starting.  Rosalyn is holding Emma while “Newlin” does the interview.   Everyone can see he is really struggling and then all of a sudden starts convulsing and starts shifting back into Luna.  Luna then tells everyone what is really happening at the Authority when Rosalyn kicks over the camera.  She is about to attack a very weak Luna when Sam flies in (as a fly) into her mouth and then shifts back into himself inside Rosalyn causing her to explode.  It was the nastiest death yet but also the coolest at the same time!

The only thing I really want to say about Sookie and Jason searching for who killed their parents is that we learned that they were killed by a vampire who was promised the first fairy baby from the Stackhouse family.  Which ends up being Sookie.  And that vampire is named Warlow.  Who is he?  Why does he appear in ghost form?  I am curious about this.   I’m also interested in seeing how this is impacting Jason, who has turned into Jason the Vampire Slayer before our eyes.  Between finding out your parents will killed by a vamp, your sister’s heart was broken by one, and you have a major head injury causing you to see visions of you parents, no wonder Jason is going full board into destruction mode.  But I’m anxious to see that storyline continue next season….just not with 10 others!

Leading into last night, the storyline I was most interested in was the idea of the Authority no longer being the Authority as we know it and becoming a sanguinista society in which human and vampires do not live peacefully and the only relevance humans have for vampires is sustenance.  This was most interesting to me because this show started on the foundation that vampires wanted to live peacefully with humans and have the same rights they do.  So a little product called True Blood was created so vampires wouldn’t have to feed on humans.  Now with Lilith’s blood rushing through all of them, this is no longer the society they want and they try to come up with a plan on how to best create this war of vamps vs. humans.  Bill suggests destroying all the True Blood factories so it can’t be produced and vampires have no choice but to feed on humans.  It’s actually a great idea on his part and much easier than what the rest of them were coming up with.  The funny thing is, even though this is what they want, they are still spinning it to the public that this was a terrorist attack and they are still behind the idea of living among the human race without chaos….such politicians!  On top of it, their own people have no idea what’s going on!  Pam was telling Tara all about the Authority but she was telling her about the OLD Authority not the new crazy Authority that’s actually taking form.   But I also have to remember this whole season is taking place over the course of one week (not several months.)

I have to say, I’m glad this storyline wasn’t wrapped up this season but I am glad certain parts of it were. I wasn’t crazy about the whole Lilith angle.  The Authority was something we have come to respect as a viewing audience as the government arm of the vampires that keeps them in check.  Now that’s all gone.  Why?  Because some power hungry members of the Authority got high on Lilith blood and now the Authority as we know it is gone and a crazy cult has formed in it’s place.   I’m curious what you all thought about what/who Lilith actually was.  Because for the entire season, up until the last scene, I thought she was a hallucination.  Now I’m not sure because of what happened at the end of the episode.   Holy crap how about that!!!!!

To set it up, Eric and Nora breakout of the complex so they can warn everyone to what’s going on and they can build a little army to stop it.  Which by the way, Nora turned back to the good side a little too easily for my liking, but I digress.  Eric and Nora bring back Sookie, Jason, and Tara to take down the vamps and they do in classic Dirty Harry fashion.  It was awesome.  Jessica and Pam were in their prison cells so Sookie and Tara break them out.  To celebrate, Pam and Tara play tonsil hockey in a scene we all knew was coming, I just didn’t think I would see it until next year.  The Authority is destroyed and everyone is leaving but Eric and Sookie want to go get Bill.  You see, Lilith came to Bill to tell him over and over again that he is the Chosen One.  The problem is, she also came to about 3 other people and told them the same thing.  So Bill is one by one killing all those other people, including Salome, so there is no one left but him and a vile of Lilith blood.

Eric and Sookie rush to see him and Bill is not the Bill we have come to know.  Actually I like this Bill much better because he is SOOOOO much more interesting than polite, boring Bill.  Bill is going on and on about how humans are nothing but food for vamps and that he is the Chosen One to lead this new regime of the Authority in Lilith’s name.  Eric and Sookie are trying to get to the old Bill inside and convince him he is coo coo for Cocoa Puffs but Bill won’t listen.  Sookie gives him a tearful “if you ever loved me at all” speech and it didn’t work a lick.  He blows her off and proceeds to chug the remaining Lilith blood in the vile.

The next thing you know he is vomiting blood and blood is pouring out of every crevice in his body and then…..BOOM, Bill explodes into the pile of vamp goo all vampires explode into when they meet the true death!!!  Holy shit did I just watch Bill Compton die on my TV screen? I didn’t see that coming at all!!!  I have to say, when that happened, Twitter completely exploded in its own right last night!   But then, slowly, we start to see the blood pull together and here comes Bill (just as Lilith looked) emerging from his “remains” covered in blood and looking quite frightening.  Eric yells at Sookie to RUN and Bill flashes his fangs….cut to black and the music.

So this leads back to my question about Lilith.  I thought she was a hallucination all season.  But after seeing that, I think it’s fair to say that she wasn’t.  So now what the hell is Bill and is Lilith now gone or is he just working with her?  Is Bill dead again or not?   What the hell is he????  It’s been a long time since my jaw completely hit the floor watching a show where I didn’t see it coming and have no idea what’s about to happen next.  I was ready to leave True Blood after this season but there is NO WAY that’s happening now.

Other Standout Scenes from the Finale:

• Pam and Tara hooking up.   Remember, this season happened over the course of one week in Bon Temps time.  While I saw Pam and Tara giving google eyes to each other all season, I didn’t think they would hook up until next season.  It seemed a bit fast for me, considering their history.   But it was still awesome to see these former foes start to fall for one other over the course of the season!
• The Fairy Giving Birth.   That had to be one of the funniest scenes I have ever watched on True Blood.  Lafayette, Arlene, and the other lady siting there drinking Cajun margaritas as Holly is helping Andy’s mistress give birth to four fairies while apparently orgasmic at the same time, was priceless.  It was like they were watching a football game together.  That’s where Arlene at Lafayette are at their best…their witty and snarky one liners are the best on the show!
• Russell’s Death.  I was really hoping the show wasn’t going to bring Russell back only to kill him in the finale….but they did.  I always loved his character so I’m a bit sad he’s gone for good.  I will say though, I didn’t see it coming in the first 2 minutes of the episode.  There were many jaw droppers last night and that was the first of many!

What did you guys think of the season finale and the season as a whole?  Sound off in the comments section below!