RECAP & REVIEW: Survivor….The Season So Far

Wow.  Survivor really decided to bring the crazy this season didn’t they?   Between Phillip, Shamar, and Brandon there is plenty of insanity to go around.   But is it really making for an enjoyable season?   When does the exploitation of someone’s mental state cross the line from good old fashion entertainment to down right cruelty and absurdity?  Can the producers, casting department, and psychologists really detect someone who is truly mentally unstable or just being aloof for TV purposes?   Is it fair of us to expect them to forecast expectations of behavior?   I know, I know, it’s a TV show.   Furthermore, it’s a REALITY TV show.   But since this is the hot topic this week after Wednesday night’s disaster that was Survivor Caramoan, I’m curious to hear what people think.

I wasn’t excited when Phillip and Brandon were cast this season.  I thought it was stunt casting to be quite honest with you.  Phillip I thought was just a bad player.  The only reason to bring him back is because he is nuts and to watch his insanity rankle the other players in the game.  The whole Stealth R Us thing, while mildly entertaining for the viewers, I can imagine it wearing really thin out there.  So I was dead set against Phillip this season.  However, I have to say, as annoying as he can be, I give him props for many things.  The first being that he’s been great in the challenges.  Of course everyone expected Malcolm and Brenda to do well because they’re great athletes.   But I don’t think people expected much from Phillip and he’s held his own and actually has been a pretty integral part of them willing several challenges…including this week’s coconut tossing competition.  The second would be him really trying to take charge of the game.  Many people, myself included, really gave Phillip grief for riding the Boston Rob train the last time he was on.   He was Boston Rob’s stooge willing to do whatever his master told him to do.  And Rob rode Phillip to $1 million.  This time, it seems, Phillip is taking charge of the game and not riding anyone’s coat tails.  Now he may be rubbing people the wrong way in the process and I’m not saying he’s doing a masterful job at running the show.   But he’s at least not waiting for his fate to befall him.  He is going out and taking charge and charting his own course to what he thinks will be the million dollar prize.  Will he succeed?   Who knows at this point.  His biggest problem is that he doesn’t know how to take charge of the game subtly.  He needs to let everyone know he’s in charge and that may be his downfall.   Is it because of how poorly he was painted in his last showing?  Perhaps.  But Phillip Shepard needs to let everyone know that he’s in control and that you’re either with him or against him.   The final reason I’m giving Phillip props is for how he handled the Brandon situation.  Unfortunately, because of what I just outlined in point #2, Phillip really rubbed, inadvertently, in Brandon’s face how he will dictate Brandon’s fate in the game.  Not the smartest move on Phil’s part.  But does that mean he deserved what Brandon did to him (and everyone else on the tribe for that matter?)   No.   I’ll get more into the Brandon thing in a minute but I really applaud Phillip for walking away from him at camp when he was really getting to a boiling point and I respect the way he held his composure when Brandon was coming after him before the immunity challenge that was never going to take place.   The only thing he did wrong, was talk about Brandon’s family.  In my opinion, leave everyone’s personal life out of it.  Just stick to what’s happening on the island because you don’t know these people, you don’t know their home life, so you can’t judge or throw that in their face.  Just leave it alone.  Other than that, Phillip kept his calm in handling Brandon.  Honestly the whole tribe did, which floored me, but again, more on that later.  Was I happy with the Phillip casting this season?   No.  Is working my nerves as much as before?   Not yet.  Do I respect his game play more this time than last?   Yes I do.

So let’s get into Brandon.  I seriously think that kid’s unstable.  I’m not saying that to be funny or rude.  I seriously think there is something wrong with him.  He was crazy the first time he played and he was just as crazy this time.   The first time around, he got rid of Mikalya because she filled him with impure thoughts of lust.   Well I can’t see a better reason to get rid of someone!  Plus his mood was all over the place…completely bi-polar.  One day he was up, the next he was down, then he was kind, then he was rude.   He didn’t know who or what he wanted to be.   He wanted to be filled with God but then he would curse and threaten people.  It was bizarre.  So why would we expect anything less this time around?   Because, according to Jeff Probst and other producers, they thought he had changed.   Let’s talk about this.  Probst and the producers/casting department have been getting a lot of heat for bringing back Brandon.   The thought out there is that even though they knew he was unstable, they put him out there anyway because they thought he would bring in ratings.   If this is true (and I’m not saying it is) it would be dumb on so many levels.  Number one because this kid doesn’t bring ratings, he actually stops them.  I know people who didn’t watch this season because he was on there.  They couldn’t deal with another Hantz love fest, especially with “the crazy kid” as one of my friend’s put it.  Number two, you can’t risk putting a mentally unstable young man in an environment that will test his sanity everyday.  Number three, you can’t do that to the other contestants (making them live with a crazy person) it’s unfair to them.   I could go on and on.   So I honestly believe that while they may have been nervous about Brandon, they saw enough in him to warrant giving him a second chance on the show.   Where I will give up on Survivor, is if they decide to bring him back a third time.   I can forgive a mistake now.   But after two disastrously mercurial seasons with Brandon, bringing him back again would be down right abhorrent. He has proven to be a truly hot mess.  The fact that he has kids and another one on the way is down right scary.   And I know I just yelled at Phillip for judging someone’s personal life without knowing them so I am being the ultimate hypocrite, but I can’t help it.  I’ve seen and heard interviews with this kid outside of Survivor and to say it was bizarre is an understatement.  He’s usually incoherent and flighty, to be kind.  It’s frightening to hear his complete lack of self-awareness.  He really has no clue.  I heard Probst say that they immediately had a psychologist on set to talk to Brandon after the whole debacle and that it is standard for the show to appoint a psychologist or psychiatrist to help Survivors after the show or help them find a doctor in their area for support.   That’s actually nice to hear.  And I hope Brandon takes them up on it, but I doubt he will.  In an interview with Dalton Ross (who is the best Survivor recapper ever) on his podcast, Brandon talked about how great life is and he’s great and he’s not crazy and that he’s so proud of the way he played the game.  What?????   You’re proud that you took food and dumped it all over the island so that no one in your tribe would have food.  That makes you proud?  Whatever bro (as he likes to call everyone.)   Speaking of the food dump, is that not the most insane thing you have seen on this show?   I’ve obviously never been on Survivor but even I know that food is like gold out there.  All you have is rice and now they give you beans.  But that’s it.  You’re weak and tired and the only sustenance you have is rice and beans.   And that asshole, to prove some sort of point (I’m still not sure what) dumps it all over the ground.  What I found interesting is that Malcolm or Erik didn’t pile drive him to the ground during the rice part.  I know when he grabbed the bean container Erik made a half ass attempt to retrieve it from Brandon but he backed down pretty fast.   I have to wonder if it’s because they were seriously afraid of what he might do.   At this point they’ve all been living together for what 11-13 days?   Maybe everyone was really terrified of him because he was so unstable.  I’m not trying to make this more dramatic than it was, but it does make sense.  I mean come on….when they got back from tribal council, he was talking about how he thought about burning the shelter down!!!  If I was Corrine, my first question would have been “with us in it?”   Yeah he was talking about peeing in the rice and beans, but HE TALKED ABOUT BURNING THE SHELTER TO THE GROUND!   What is the matter with him?  That is why I sincerely hope the rumors about Brandon failing his psych test for the show are wrong.  Because that would be beyond egregious.

So because of all this mayhem, the Favorites decide to do what I absolutely hate in Survivor…throw the challenge to go to tribal council so they can get rid of Brandon.  I hate when teams do this.  It’s the dumbest thing in the world.   You’re annoyed by someone, you’re up by big numbers, and you think it’s no big deal to throw one little challenge.   WRONG.  It’s absolutely the worst idea ever.  However, this situation was the exception to that.  In this situation, I have no problem with the Favorites doing what they did.  This was beyond someone annoying them.  I really think this was them wanting this ticking time bomb, who could possibly be a danger to himself or someone else (mainly Phillip) off the island because it was safer for all of them.  I really believe that.  Look at the way they all dealt with Brandon.  When he became accusatory towards any of them, they backed down.  Even Corrine, who’s as combative and strong and nasty as they come, wouldn’t touch him with a 50 foot pole.  And I have to say, HUGE props to Jeff Probst for his handling of the situation.  Even though the man rubbing was a little weird, I don’t think Jeff could have handled it any better.   It was obvious this could have escalated into something physical (especially when Phillip when after Brandon’s family.)   Probst did the smart thing by bringing Brandon over to him and away from his tribe.   He was able to calmly talk to Brandon and everyone else so he could get a clear idea of what was happening and how this was all going down.  As a result, he had a tribal council right there where everyone voted him out.  I have to wonder what would happen if something did get physical on the island.  Is there security there?   Do the producers expect the contestants to handle it?   Would someone get kicked off the island or put in time out?   What would happen?  I wonder if they have a protocol in place.  I’m sure that they do.   And if they didn’t, I’m sure that they do now!!

Ultimately, I’m glad Brandon is gone.  I think it was a monstrous mistake to bring him back and all of us fans at home thought the same thing.  I don’t think I read one pre-Caramoan review that said what a brilliant idea it was to bring back Brandon.   But, we’re also looking at it from just the scope of his first run on TV.   These producers are really vetting these contestants to make sure they can do this again.  At least I hope they are.   So they get to see more of Brandon in a different light than what we get to see.  Therefore, they made the decision to go for it and it blew up in their face.   I really hope this is the last time we see any Hantz on Survivor.  And I really hope they think long and hard about who they bring back and who they cast.  I know they want personalities because that brings better ratings.   And there’s nothing wrong with drama on Survivor…it’s part of what makes the show so great.   I get all that.   But I think they really need to draw the line at unstable.   Because if they don’t, the very thing they are trying to get, is the very thing they will push away and be gone to the point they won’t be able to get it back and the show will be dead.

 

SERIES REVIEW: Best Friends Forever

I am so mad.  It’s times like these I can’t see straight with anger and my husband needs to remind me that it’s only a TV show.  But I am furious because it looks like this show isn’t going to make it to next season and this show is AWESOME!!   BFF tells the story of Jessica and Lennon, two BFFs from college who mean the world to one another.

Jessica’s husband is an ass, to put it mildly.  He cheated on her and then served her divorce papers (while Jess was Skyping with Lennon.)   She is devastated so Lennon tells her to come home and stay with her.  Jess flies right back to NYC.  Complicating matters, while Jess is moving back into her old apartment with Lenn, Lenn and her boyfriend Joe have just recently moved in together.  Needless to say, hilarity ensues.

I really feel bad for Lennon.  She’s caught in the middle of wanting to be there for her best friend yet still being respectful to this life she is building with Joe.  The scene that best captures this is when they are watching Steel Magnolias (I love that movie!)  Joe is trying to be supportive by watching this movie he could care less about and immediately becomes my husband in the scene.  My husband is famous for walking in on me watching a show or a movie and start asking 50 thousand questions about what I’m watching distracting me from the show.  It drives me crazy.  And it starts to drive Jess crazy when Joe does this.  She asks him to stop interrupting their favorite movie, when Joe corrects her and says that Braveheart is actually her favorite movie.   They both look at her.  ”Well I have a favorite movie with you and I have a favorite movie with you!”  Well handled Lennon!

The thing I love most about the show, and what I love most about all good comedies, is that this show has heart.  This isn’t just making up stupid crazy situations to put people to try to make an audience laugh.  This is a show about when bad things happen, you need the support of your friends to get you through it.  It’s about learning to compromise and how to adapt to new situations for the people you love.  Jess and Lennon are a little strange.  I love that!  They are odd and quirky but so relatable and funny.  I completely believe they are BFFs.  They would do anything for each other.  From Lennon asking Rav to put on this elaborate scheme to make Jess feel better about herself, to Jess asking around about Joe to make sure he’s right for Lenn.  From Lennon chasing Jessica’s ex-husband away and screaming at him to leave her alone, to Jess questioning Lennon to see where she stands on marriage since she thinks Joe is about to propose.

BFF is well written, the cast chemistry is fantastic, and it will make you laugh and tear up.  The scene where Jess is taking a bath and Lenn wants to get her out because Joe needs to do a twosie, is hysterical.  Eventually the girls start fighting and Joe is torn as to whether or not he should go in and help.  He decides to go in and just as he does, Jess pulls Lenn into the tub with her while they are still fighting and Joe laments “this isn’t as hot as I thought it would be.”

I can’t stress enough why you should watch this show.  If freaking Rules of Engagement can last 3 or 4 seasons (and that show is dreadful) then this show should last 5-6.  You need to watch this show!!!!  I can’t believe a show like Whitney will be back next season but this show won’t.  Again, bad timing and lack of promotion will doom a show before it starts.  If NBC “LOVES” this show as much as it says it does, then why did it treat the cast and crew like crap and premiere it when it did?   See my TV Rant post for more on the scheduling debacle in network TV these days.  But I am so pissed off that this show doesn’t have a chance but other crap shows do.   So enjoy this show while you can because it’s terrific!

DVRs: 4

 

The Season So Far….Survivor One World Review

I had 4 episodes on tape and because I hated the cast so much, I was in no rush to watch.  But after Kansas beat UNC last night (Go Jayhawks!!!)  I decided to pop in a few episodes and see if it’s gotten any better.  Well, the good news is….unfortunately, there is none.  Not only is the cast still as annoying as before, but it’s actually gotten worse.  WORSE!  I didn’t think that was possible, but it has.

In the beginning, it was very rare to see vile human beings on Survivor (other than Richard Hatch.)  There may have been characters you didn’t like, but no one so disgusting that it took away from the enjoyment of the show.  Bare in mind, there is a difference between loving to hate someone and all out hating someone because they are a horrible human being.  To me, someone like Parvati was someone people loved to hate.  Maybe some people liked her, but for the most part, she was not well liked.   And it had nothing to do with her being a horrible human being.  It was just she was devious and manipulative but all within the spirit of the game.  She is arguably one of the best players Survivor has ever seen.  You also had polarizing people like Coach, Jeri, Courtney, Randy, Sandra, Boston Rob.  Some nasty people in the group, some devious people, and some strange people.  But none of which who were vile, awful people.  Now I was not a fan of Courtney or Sandra…I really hated their characters because I thought they were pretty rude.  But from things I’ve read, they are very different in the real world than on the show.  So I can chalk it up to that.   Plus, their actions always seemed to be within the framework and spirit of the game.  But then everything changed with one show….Survivor Samoa.

Samoa introduced us to the most polarizing player ever to grace our Survivor nation….Russell Hantz.  Russell took playing dirty to a whole new level.  Russell’s arrogance was also like nothing we have ever seen before.  Sure there were people who had confidence in themselves and their game but nothing like Russell.  He was ripping the intelligence of the women around him, he would get in someone’s face, threaten them and then follow through with the threat (by voting them out.)  He was ruthless.   But even though Russell was mostly a hated player, there were still plenty of people out there that loved him and there were plenty of people who loved to hate him.   My husband and I didn’t like Russell but we loved having him on Survivor because he made for riveting TV.   We couldn’t wait to see what he would do next.  I still think he was robbed on Samoa because he deserved to win.   But after that, if you don’t learn from your mistakes, I can’t feel bad for you.

But after Samoa, we have now seen at least three people (at least 3 for me) that I don’t see any redeemable qualities in the type of person they are….Na’Onka, Colton, and Alicia.  And the scariest part, is that two of these people are EDUCATORS!!!!!!  I don’t mind if Survivor wants to bring controversial people on the screen who will shake things up a bit.   But there is a difference between finding a strong personality that will probably clash with other people and finding complete psychopaths who ruin the show.  In fairness to the casting department, they probably don’t know to the extent someone will behave on the island until they get out there.  But wow have they made some bad choices.   People like Na’Onka, Colton, and Alicia aren’t fun to watch.  They aren’t interesting or intriguing.  They are just horrendous.  Na’Onka didn’t totally ruin Nicaragua for me (although she came close) but I hated watching any scene she was in and was so relieved when she was finally voted out.  Talk about a horrible person.  But at least it was just one person.  And once they were gone, it was much better.  This season doesn’t have that luxury.

I have tried to start this paragraph several different ways because there are just no words to describe a repulsive person like Colton.  I’ve never in my life seen anyone behave or act like he did on Survivor.   And the scary thing is, I believe that’s exactly how he behaves in the real world.  He is a bigoted, racist, elitist, asshole.  And that’s being kind.   I understand in your confessionals or even to your closest confidants that you may poke fun or celebrate someone’s ultimate demise on the show.  But to be so blatantly rude and condescending to a fellow teammate by telling them “they couldn’t make an alliance with a hermit crab” or “you can be medivaced out or jump in the fire, it’s up to you.”   Who the hell do you think you are?   And what’s worse….EVERYONE IS ALLOWING HIM TO ACT THIS WAY!!!!   Why is this prick dictating what is going on?   Why did Mike, Jay, Bill, Troyzan, Leif allow this to go on?  Tarzan and Jonah have no spines so it’s not surprising that they have done nothing.   But what about the other guys?   How did Leif and Cristina allow Colton, and eventually Alicia, to talk to them the way that they did?  Grow a set and put him in his place!!!  I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I wish Matt was still on the show because he seems like the kind of guy who would have nipped this in the bud and gotten rid of Colton a long time ago.  Between Colton’s behavior and the fact that NO ONE will call him on it or punish him for it (like vote him off) is what is ruining this season for me.  I can’t stand people who don’t play the game.  It’s one thing to be smart about not pissing off people and making your move at the right time.  But it’s an entirely other thing to be so afraid of getting voted off that you allow this Mussolini to take control of everything….including spearheading the decision to give up immunity and go to tribal council instead of the girls tribe!!!!   I couldn’t believe what I was watching!!!!!  And all because, he didn’t like Bill.  Not because he was a threat, not because he was dangerous, but because he didn’t like his voice and career choice.  WHAT!!!!!!!  And SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE agreed to this.   Man I thought the girls’ tribe was stupid.  The men took it to a whole new level.

So on top of the whole, Colton is an asshole fiasco, you have his partner in crime, Alicia, who is just as much of an abomination as he is.  She is foul-mouthed, nasty, rude, arrogant, and is not above threatening to beat you up and slap you around if God forbid you need about an inch of room to sleep in the shelter.  And this is someone who teaches special needs children.  Like I said during Na’Onka’s season, if I had my kid in her class, I would yank them out so fast.  I wouldn’t want that woman anywhere near my kids.

I’m so frustrated because I really love this show.  But I am starting to get tired of not only the nasty people, but the stupid people.  It’s another problem Survivor is facing because you have people getting cast on this show who don’t play the game.  Either they’re too dumb to play or too lazy to play.  Between the dreck from Redemption Island to this One World cast, the casting has been horrible.  Out of the 18-22 people (depending on the season you get) who are cast, removing the returning players from the mix, you are only getting about 5-6 people who truly seem to want to play the game.   And unfortunately, they are usually deemed the “threatening people” are therefore voted out of the game early by the idiots.  Or, in the case of RI and South Pacific, just do whatever the returning player wants them to do and don’t bother developing their own game plan.   Where are the Rob Cestraninos?   The Ceries?  The Parvatis?  The Boston Robs?  While we all bitch about seeing the same people come back time and time again, at least these people play the game to win.  I’d rather watch that than people like Natalie and Ashley from Redemption Island or take your pick from this season.

But you know what they say….karma’s a bitch.  Colton was thankfully carted off the island this past week with an appendicitis.  I shouldn’t say thankfully because that sounds cruel.  Hopefully, medically, he’s ok.  I’m thankful because he won’t be on my TV screen anymore.  But I hope his health is just fine.   Unfortunately, Alicia is still there but hopefully won’t be for much longer.  I’m still rooting for Kim, Sabrina, Chelsea (although not as much with her) Troyzan and Jay.  I was hoping this season would turn around but I’m afraid it’s too far gone.  If we can get Alicia, Tarzan, and Kat off the show soon, it may have a chance because the rest of the people, I believe, want to play the game.  Except for Christina but because of how she was treated, I’m really hoping Alicia and Tarzan go before she does.

What do you think of Survivor One World?  And what are your thoughts on some of the recent casting decisions over the last few seasons?   Does it bug you as much as me or am I reading too much into it?   Comment away!!!

 

REVIEW: Survivor One World “Total Dysfunction” S24 E2

It’s official.  I hate these people.  Between the cocky Mike, Matt, and Jay to the most annoying Survivor ever in Colton.  And don’t get me started on the idiots that is the women’s tribe.  This reminds me of Season 3 Africa where everyone (except Ethan) was so grating and agitating that I hated the season.  Unfortunately, this may be another one of those seasons.

This has to be the dumbest group of Survivors I have ever watched.  Wait, I think I still have to give the nod to the crew from Redemption Island.  I am still steaming that Ashley and Natalie and the like allowed Boston Rob to walk all over them like the Godfather and his minions.  Not that I am upset at the way Boston Rob played because it was genius.  It’s because I hate people who go into Survivor but don’t want to PLAY Survivor.  If you aren’t going to play the game, stay the hell home.  I digress.  But this group is a close second.

First you have Matt pounding his chest about having the “strong man, cool clique” alliance that makes him completely comfortable in his position.  Hey asshole.  You only have four people in your alliance.  You know how many people are on your tribe?  Nine.  If the other 5 team up, which they will, you’re screwed dumb ass. Then you have Kat.  ”What does ambiance mean?”   Really?  I know it’s not polite to pick on people’s vocabulary (especially when mine isn’t the greatest either) but come one.  Kat also has problems following the rules of a challenge.  It’s simple..get around the other people on the beam but you can only touch one person at a time, otherwise you have to start all over again.  In fairness to Kat, Cristina was also brain-dead during this challenge as well.  Between Cristina constantly touching other people and Kat jumping in the water wasting time when she didn’t need to, they were dead from the start with their challenge.  Finally Monica said, move away, I’m doing this.   Again, in fairness to Kat, if the other girls were so annoyed at her stupidity (like Nina) then why didn’t some one tell her to get at the end of the line and let someone else go through all eight people? After 3 failed attempts, that’s what should have happened.  Then you have foul-mouthed Alicia who likes to pick fights with everyone.   I would love to know where Survivor finds all these educators who are completely psycho.  Remember NaOnka everyone?   If I were the parents of the kids she teaches, I would move them to another school.

Finally, there’s Colton.  OMFG!!!!!  Easily the most annoying Survivor to date.  All he does is bitch that he doesn’t fit in with the men.  Then he annoys the only people who liked him by constantly begging to live in their camp.  In the course of 3-5 days he has managed to alienate everyone.  How about this Colton?   If you want to fit in, TRY!!  Don’t lounge around camp doing nothing pissing your tribe mates off even more.  Don’t always run to the girls complaining about the guys and how you are more a girl than a guy anyway.  Try to find a way to get along.   I know it’s hard but you had to know going on Survivor that at SOME point you would have to try to work with men on your tribe.  Are you kidding me?

The only people I like right now are Sabrina, Kim, Chelsea, Leif, and Bill.  So in no particular order, I am rooting for them.  Here’s the biggest problem with Survivor these days…people make alliances WAAAAAY too fast.   Idiot Alicia took a look around and saw 4 other girls who “looked” young, strong, and athletic so she created her alliance with them on the walk to the beach.  You haven’t known these people for an hour and you’ve already decided who’s in your alliance?  I give her credit for one thing….at least she can do math.  Maybe she could teach that to Matt.  I have to imagine that Sab, Chelsea, and Kim are kicking themselves aligning with Alicia and Kat.  They even said it at TC last night when they said they would make different alliances at this point in the game.  But what are you going to do?  If someone comes up to you wanting you to be part of the power alliance, what are you going to say?  No?  Let me get to know you first?  You would screw yourself.  What I would do if I were Sab, Kim, and Chelsea?  I would regroup with Monica and Cristina and vote of Kat and Alicia next.  It’s early in the game so they won’t be part of the jury and you won’t have to worry about that coming back to bite you.  It was a mistake to vote off Nina.  Kat should have gone.  And I think changing your alliance at this point, doesn’t make you a liar or fraud.  In this case, it would make them smart.  But I have a bad feeling that won’t happen.

What do you guys think of One World so far?  I think the two biggest things I like are no redemption island and returning castmates.  Other than that, two thumbs down….so far.  We still have 16-17 episodes more to go.  Plenty of time to turn the season around.

 

RECAP & REVIEW: Revenge “Commitment” S1 E13

This has become one of my favorite shows on TV.  I know I haven’t written much about Revenge.  It’s just been a timing issue.  I’ve always been away or had work commitments that have kept me from talking about it in a timely manner and it kills me because there is so much to discuss!

Let’s start with last week’s bomb shell that exploded tonight…Charlotte isn’t Conrad’s daughter.  She’s David Clarke’s!!!  Emily has a half-sister.  I have to say, I never saw that coming.  That’s one thing I really enjoy about this show…it continues to surprise me because there have been many twists that I didn’t see at all.

I really thought this new development was going to simmer for a while and Emily would use it to her advantage at some point.  I didn’t think that point would be the very next episode!  But it was.  Conrad gets the tape of David confessing and plays it for Victoria and her lawyer.  Afterwards, he basically tells her that she is no longer dictating the rules of this settlement…he is…and he is going to leave her with nothing.  Man these Hamptonites sure are bitter when divorcing!    As a result, Victoria realizes she has to start telling Daniel and Charlotte.  She never gets around to Charlotte but she has an interesting way of telling Daniel.   She leads him to believe that David Clarke raped her and that’s how she was impregnated.  Victoria Grayson is on my official hate list forever.   That is something you NEVER lie about.  EVER.   She is disgusting.

You know what else was disgusting?  The fact that Conrad kicked Charlotte to the curb after finding out the news.  I’m sorry but she has been your daughter for 16, 17 years.  Now all of a sudden, she’s nothing to you?  When did his become her fault?  I never thought he would do that to her.  Conrad isn’t a good man but I thought he loved his daughter.  Apparently, not so much.   With that family, I can’t believe Charlotte isn’t on massive amounts of drugs or liquor.

In other big news, Daniel proposes to Emily in a very romantic scene.  He brings her on the family yacht (because everyone has one of those just hanging around in a dock) with a four piece string band and private wait staff for dinner.  It begins to rain to everyone runs off the boat, but not Daniel.  He stays and begins to tell Emily how much he loves her and drops to one knee (but not before handing her the umbrella to hold for them.) He pops the question and she says yes.  Did it seem a bit hesitant to you?   It did to me.  I’m not sure if marrying Daniel was part of Emily’s plan but I guess in order to carry out her end game, she has to see this through.  I’m also not sure if she really has feelings for him or not.  I think she’s grown to like him more than she thought, but I don’t think her feelings for him are real…especially after the final scene.

Emily was ready to walk away from the whole revenge game.   Jack was beaten severely and she doesn’t want anymore innocents getting hurt because of her.  So she was going to break it off with Daniel and leave the Hamptons.  Yeah right, like that was really going to happen.  Well before she could tell Danny boy that they were through, he tells her that the “terrorist” that lived in her house prior, is the asshole responsible for raping his mother and getting her pregnant with Charlotte.  Emily amazingly keeps her composure during all this and asks Daniel questions about this new twist in the story.  He is visibly angry and distraught by this and Emily calmly sits and listens to him.  Eventually, Daniel asks her what she was thinking about all morning and her response is “what do you think of a June wedding?”  While she’s hugging him, she sees Victoria on her terrace and gives her the worst stare down since Maximus to Commodus at the Colosseum.   The game is back ON!!!!

The other big twist I didn’t see coming…Victoria’s lawyer, Ryan Huntly, was working with Emily the whole time.  When we first saw the flash back of Emily (in that horrid black wig) with Huntly, it appeared to be a contentious discussion.  Turns out, we see the remainder of the conversation where Huntly tells Emily (then Amanda) that he always believed her father was innocent.  He was trying to help her destroy Victoria from the inside and he did a pretty good job.  He also was able to save the day when Victoria invites Amanda over for tea only to use it as a rouse to get her DNA because she refuses to believe that she’s David Clarke’s daughter.   Victoria may be a vile human being, but she’s not stupid.  Huntly was able to “fix” the DNA test to prove that yes she and Charlotte are related and therefore David’s daughter.  Victoria still didn’t believe it, but it doesn’t matter.   She proceeds to fire Huntly.

Finally Amanda Clarke has left the Hamptons.  Emily comes to clean to her about her real motives for being there and she warns Amanda that she is in danger.  The Graysons are powerful to the point that they could have her destroyed or worse, killed.  Amanda offers to help Emily in any way she can and wants to be there to support her friend.  Emily tells her the best way to help her is to get out-of-town and be safe.  She agrees but she is heartbroken to leave Jack.  She tells Em she can’t say good-bye and Em agrees to do it for her.  Amanda doesn’t say good-bye but she does leave Jack a Dear John letter making Jack’s day even worse than it was before.  (Jack got the tar beat out of him by one the Grayson’s henchmen because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.)

This show is fabulous!  I am on the edge of my seat each and every week with what will happen next.  I’m a sucker for a good night-time soap.   But this is more than that.  The term “night-time soap” can conjure up different biases.   Mainly because most of them are poorly written and acted.  But that would be a fallacious perception in regards to Revenge.  This show is smart, fast paced, well acted, and has a compelling story that grips you each week.   How many shows can you honestly say that about right now?  I don’t mean watching the first season of Damages on Netflix.  I mean shows presently on network TV right now.   This isn’t a Titans or Model’s Inc.  This isn’t about sex, money, or power.  Well, it is a little about power.  More about bringing down power and the people who have abused it for years.  This is about righting a terrible wrong that was done to many by people who thought they were above the law and paying for their mistakes.  This about a woman who loved her father so much that she will do anything, including destroying her own life, to make sure her father’s good name is cleared.  I am rooting for Emily/Amanda 100% and I can’t wait to see what happens when she gets to her ultimate goal of taking down Conrad and Victoria.

 

Revenge “Commitment” Recap Coming Tomorrow

Charlotte is David Clarke’s daughter.  Victoria’s lawyer was working with Emily.  Victoria alluded to the idea that David RAPED her and that’s how she got pregnant.  Amanda finally left town.  Can this show get any better?

That sound you just heard was my head exploding!!!!  I have so much to discuss but my dog really needs to pee and I need to get some sleep.  But the recap will be up ASAP tomorrow!  So come back then!

 

SERIES PREMIERE REVIEW: Are You There, Chelsea? “Pilot” S1 E1

Right now, I am 0-3 with liking new comedy pilots.  This is show is #3.  Are You There, Chelsea stars Laura Prepon as Chelsea and Chelsea Handler as her sister Sophie.  Chelsea seems to be a very self-centered, drunk, slut.  Which can make for some pretty good comedy!   She works in a bar and it’s the story of her relationships with her family and friends and a young woman trying to find herself and her place in the world.

I actually think this show has promise, I just think it’s horribly miscast.  I know people are going to set my house on fire with my next comment, but, I don’t find Laura Prepon funny or attractive.  She is one actress I just don’t get.  I don’t understand all the fuss about her.  I always thought she was the weakest person in That 70s Show.  I didn’t hate her as Nikki Heat on Castle.  To be fair, I thought she was pretty good.  But she wasn’t good on October Road.  She just always seems to be overshadowed by the usually funnier and stronger cast surrounding her.  The same could be said here.   And I think the biggest disservice to Prepon is having Chelsea Handler in the cast.

Handler is flipping hysterical.  Her delivery is spot on and she is ridiculously witty.  But every time she is on-screen, I’m reminded how so far out of her league Prepon is, comedically.  All I keep thinking is “Gosh, I wish Handler was playing herself because this show would be much better.”   Handler outshines Prepon with every scene she is in.  I understand why Handler isn’t playing herself, because a younger actress is better suited for the way this show was constructed.  But then, cast someone else other than Handler so we aren’t reminded each time she’s on-screen how much stronger the show would be if she was the lead.  Or, if you want a sitcom with Handler, do a show appropriate to her age so you can feature her and have Prepon in a supporting role.  For me, that is going to be the show’s biggest down fall.

My favorites so far have been Olivia (Ali Wong) and Dee Dee (Lauren Lapkus.)  Although, I can see Dee Dee really working your nerves if she’s on too much.  But in the pilot, she was used the perfect amount.  I think she’s subtly hilarious as Chelsea and Olivia’s new roommate.  I have to say, I like the fact that even though she is SOOOOOOO different from Chelsea and Olivia and incredibly dorky, they were never mean to her or nasty.  You can see them doing things to mess with her or talk down to her and they never did.  They give her some rolls of the eyes, which is understandable, but they seem to get along well, at least for now.  I also liked the bartender, Rick (Jake McDorman.)   He seemed the most down to the earth, but also a lot of fun.  There is a slight history (romantically) with him and Chelsea that hasn’t gone anywhere yet, but you can see it has potential.   Then there is her dad (Lenny Clarke.)  He was slightly annoying but I guess he could be ok.  My jury is still out on him.

I’m going to give this show a little more time.  I hope I can get past the Prepon/Handler issue, because the show has potential to be really funny and solid Wednesday comedy, but I don’t know if I can.  Time will tell.   What did you think?

DVRs: 2

 

RECAP & REVIEW: Revenge “Treachery” S1 E9

It’s official. “Amanda” is going to be a real Thorne in “Emily’s” side. Like that play on words? What I’m trying to figure out is if “Amanda” is a bit of a stalker or is she playing “Emily” the way “Emily” thinks she’s playing her? I’m not sure. Or did she simply change her tune when she saw “Emily’s” lifestyle? That is what is so great about this show. There are so many moving parts and with each passing episode, it gets more and more exciting. There are two shows on TV that I can’t wait for the next episode each week….Homeland and Revenge. With each element that the show introduces, whether it be a new character like real Emily/fake Amanda or a twist in the storyline with Lydia being alive and trying to regain her memory, Revenge always sets itself apart because the storytelling is so compelling.

Here are some key/random takeaways from the episode:

1. Daniel noticed Emily sneaking back into bed
– so what does that mean if anything? Are his suspicions now heightened? Were they before? Or is Daniel starting to feel untrusting of the people closest to him? I don’t think there’s anything sinister regarding his seeing Emily come back into bed (although his look certainly would suggest otherwise). I honestly think that was a typical end of episode eye brow raiser. However I wouldn’t be surprised to see him question her about it.

2. Amanda/Emily outside watching Emily/Amanda hugging Daniel.
– is Amanda a stalker or could she be playing Emily right back? I think she’s has a really strong connection with Emily and isn’t ready to leave yet especially after seeing Emily’s new lifestyle. This is going to turn into a big problem for her, I have a feeling. But what will she do about it? You know now thing I would like to see is how the real Emily Thorne warmed up to the real Amanda Clarke. We know why real Amanda did it (after seeing her conversation with the warden) but how did she turn real Emily from sworn enemy to BFF?

3. Lydia’s memory is still gone and she is off Emily’s back…for now.
– so Lydia is awake and now living with the Grayson’s so they can keep an eye on her. But she doesn’t have her short term memory. However when she sees Emily she doesn’t have warm feelings towards her and in fact brings up the photo again to Victoria. Luckily, Nolan had it photoshopped and Emily is now out of the picture when Victoria and Lydia look at it. But the big news is that Lydia overheard Conrad and Victoria fighting and heard them say how they sent Frank over to her house. Of course she is freaked out and rightfully so. I can’t feel too bad for here since she was bumping uglies with her best friend’s husband.

4. Ashley now hates Emily?
– when did that happen? I thought they were friends and after one walk of shame and conversation with Tyler, she doesn’t like Emily anymore and is with Tyler to bring her and Daniel down? Does that make any sense to anyone else because it makes none to me! And I would still like to know Tyler’s ultimate end game. Is to destroy Daniel? The Grayson family? Conrad’s company? Guess we’ll have to wait and see!

This show is fabulous and if aren’t watching it….what is wrong with you! Watch it now! Of course after your done reading my post! Let me know what you think of Revenge!

 

RECAP & REVIEW: Revenge “Intrigue” S1 E6

I have to wonder if all people ever do in the Hamptons is have parties.  Seriously, every week, there is some major party or event going on.  But I guess they need to find someway to keep Ashley involved in the story.  This week’s episode is the Fourth of July and the Graysons are gearing up for a monster blow out of a bash.  But before we get to that, we need to discuss the fall out from the most popular internet video since Pam and Tommy Lee’s porn video…Lydia’s “accident” that resulted in her being in a coma.

First, Nolan shows the video to Emily, who watches it completely stone faced.   I have to give a round of applause to Emily VanCamp.  I never thought that girl could pull off being a vengeful, cold-hearted person.  She always plays a sweetheart!  Well she’s spectacular and she pulls it off without a hitch.  She admits that this was not part of her plan but regardless, she will use it to her advantage.  She tells Nolan to send the video to Conrad and let the Graysons destroy Frank.   Which is pretty much what happens.  Conrad sees the video and fires Frank after 20 years of service.   Frank not so subtly reminds Conrad that if it weren’t for him, he would be in jail and David Clarke would be alive.  But as rich people do, he ignores it and gives him a ginormous check and tells him to get as far away from the Hamptons as he can.  Sensing a connection between Victoria and Frank, Conrad decides to show Victoria the video.  She watches in horror while Frank polishes a gun telling her to stay away from Frank and he’ll protect her.  I have to wonder, was Victoria’s look of horror because she was watching a woman struggle to save her own life and couldn’t or was it because the man she is starting to care about was the one to have a hand in her demise?

Now that Frank is seemingly out-of-the-way, Emily can turn her sights back onto to Tyler.  He certainly is a trouble maker that Tyler.  Isn’t he?   First he gets Daniel to fall off the wagon.  Then he tries to break Emily and Daniel up.   Now he let’s it slip that Daniel is now a bartender at the Porter’s bar (which he knows will incense Victoria) and he tells her that it was all Emily’s idea.  What a turd face!  Of course Victoria confronts Daniel over this and it goes over as well as a wet fart in church.  (I know my mother just cringed reading that line.)  Tyler doesn’t care though.  He will do anything he can to break up Daniel and Emily, especially after Emily grilled him the night before and basically Sydney Bristowed him in front of Daniel and Ashley.  But Tyler took his scheming to a whole new level and not in a good way.  He went from being manipulative to down right criminal.  From the looks of it, he slipped Daniel a date rape drug while he was working at the Stowaway.   When Daniel starts to go downhill, Tyler brings him upstairs and proceeds to try to make a move on him.  Daniel is still strong enough to push him away and Tyler leaves pissed off.  He goes outside and gives a wooden pillar as suspicious eye.  He then proceeds to smash his face into the pillar.  I was hoping he would keep going until he knocked himself out but it wasn’t meant to be.  With a huge gash on his head, he smirks and goes back to the Grayson party.

At the party everyone is there.  Emily shows up wearing another stunning dress.  The wardrobe department has done an excellent job because all of Emily’s clothes but especially her event dresses have been gorgeous!   Emily and Victoria have their typical friendly, I mean chilly, hellos.  Not soon after Nolan shows up with Jack and Declan.   The Porter men have come to claim their wealthy women away from the oppressiveness of the rich and famous!!!  Maybe it’s not quite that severe but Declan is there for Charlotte while Jack plans to make a move on Emily.  Declan has much more luck with Charlotte than Jack has with Emily.   Probably because Charlotte is actually available.   Call me crazy but that might have something to do with it.   But both Porter men, have very sweet and endearing ways of trying to woo their lady friends.  Unfortunately for Jack, Daniel is part of Emily’s plan and her breaking things off with Daniel to be with the man she really wants to be with, just isn’t in the cards right now.   And as a result, she has to break his heart, which in turn, breaks hers.

Back at the party, Nolan is on a hunt for copious amounts of Beef Wellington while Frank shows back up with a gun and escorts Nolan away.  Earlier in the day, Frank was able to get his hands on the surveillance video from Lydia’s apartment and saw Nolan entering her apartment the same night he was there.   Needless to say, Frank would like to have a little chat with Nolan about that.   The go into the pool house and Frank wants to know who hired Nolan to plant the camera in Lydia’s apartment.  Frank wants to know if it’s Conrad and Nolan tells him firmly that it wasn’t.  Meanwhile, ass face has arrived with his bloody forehead and Victoria is mortified.  Tyler tells her that Daniel did this to him but that he now more determined than ever to get Danny the help that he needs.  Oh cry me a river!   Emily watches this and follows Tyler to the pool house where she confronts him about what happened to him.  As they enter the pool house, they seeing Nolan lying on the floor shaking with fear and the back door open.  (Frank got out just in time.)  Nolan leaves and asks Emily to join him.  He tells her that Frank knows it was him that sent the video.  She wants to know how and he tells her because he’s better at this than we are.   Nolan is seriously freaked out and tells Emily that she is on her own.   Guess who witnesses the whole conversation….Frank.   This was really the first dumb move Emily has made but more on that later.

In the end, Jack heads back to the Stowaway only to find Daniel passed out upstairs.  Now here’s a dumb question, why was the bar empty and seemingly shut down the for the night?  It’s Fourth of July weekend in the Hamptons.   Probably one of the busiest nights of the year.  Jack didn’t stay at the party that long.  Fireworks were going off so it’s safe to say it wasn’t 2 or 3 am.  So why was the bar empty and shut down?  That bugged me.  But I’ll let it go for now.   Then we flash to Emily at her house and she heads right to the newly fixed porch swing in the location her father always wanted it…aiming towards the sunset.  Jack fixed it for her.  I really like him.  She sits on the swing watching the fireworks….while someone is watching her.    Any guesses?   Of course you know who it is!    It’s Frank.   Dun dun dun dun!!!!   Frank calls Victoria to tell her that he had nothing to do with the video and that he is being set up.  ”I think we’re all being set up.”   Uh oh.   You don’t want someone as clever as Frank on your tail Em!   Conrad bursts into the room and grabs the phone from Victoria telling Frank never to call again or he will end him.   He then throws the phone against a pillow.   I guess the big fluffy pillow will not only hang up the phone for him but it will also scare Frank with the enormously loud thud.  I have to say, that’s one of the first really soapy moments of the show for me.  Conrad throwing a phone against a down pillow made me laugh out loud.   First, most smartphones have an “END” button.  You have to push it to hang up, dumb ass.   Second, if you want to emphasize your veracity, maybe throw the phone against the wall so it explodes.  The down pillow won’t do much to instill fear into the person on the other end.  But it was good for a laugh.

Up until now, Emily has been pretty spot on with her Revenge plot.  But I think Nolan is right.  Unless she proves me wrong, she may have severely underestimated Frank.  And now that Nolan is freaked out, I’m not sure if she’ll have her trusty sidekick anymore.  And she’ll miss him more than she realizes.  But something makes me think after the scariness of what happened to Nolan wears off, he’ll be back helping Emily.  I can’t see him abandoning her.  Frank is probably the worst person to be onto Emily.  Possibly Victoria as well but Frank is a little more sinister.  I also have to shake my head at her and Nolan.  She has been so careful and meticulous up until this point.   Frank is onto Nolan in some way shape or form.  Nolan and Emily also know that Frank JUST left the pool house so he isn’t far away and still on property.  So why in the world would you have that conversation with Emily in the middle of the party for everyone to see and Frank to be able to see as well?  I would have pulled her back to the Stowaway or even Queens before I told her anything or linked her to me because common sense would tell you that Frank is watching.  You just mentioned how he’s better than you at this.   Well then why would you talk to Emily in an open forum the way you did?  It was dumb and they are both smarter than that!

Next week’s episode was revealed to be a “game changer.”  I hate when shows do that.  Usually when episodes are promoted as game changers, they aren’t and over hyped.  But this show has been solid from beginning to end so I believe that next week will be the game changer it’s promoting.  So what do we think that means?   Does someone really find out who Emily is?   Does someone major die?   Does the truth about David Clarke come out?   I guess we have to wait and see but I already can’t wait for next Wednesday.

 

QUICK REVIEW: Franklin & Bash “Pilot” S1 E1

Franklin & Bash premiered this week on TNT Wednesday night.  It stars two of my favorite people…Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer as Peter Bash and Jared Franklin.   They have their own law firm and they also employ a private investigator, Carmen Phillips (played by Dana Davis) and researcher Pindar Singh (played by Kumail Nanjiani).   I wouldn’t go as far to say they are ambulance chasers (even though they did witness an accident and ran over to the one victim looking to attract him as a client) but they do take any case they can without any care or direction.  They end up getting that case and winning while Stanton Infeld (played by Malcolm McDowell) watches in the gallery.  He is one of the senior partners at Infeld Daniels.  Turns out they beat his nephew, Damien Karp (played by Reed Diamond) who is supposedly an up and comer at the law firm of Infeld Daniels.  As a result, Infeld hires them (along with Carmen and Pindar) and an automatic in-house feud between Franklin & Bash and Karp commences.

For summer time shows, I don’t need anything very heavy.  It’s like reading a book.  I can read Dan Brown or Tom Clancy in the winter time because I am ready for something thought-provoking and intense.  But in the summer, give me my James Patterson and Nicholas Sparks.  It’s lighter, it’s easier to follow, and I don’t have to think too much.  I feel that way about my shows too.  Franklin & Bash is one of those shows.  It’s relatively entertaining and incredibly predictable.  It’s characters are pretty standard characters without too much originality.   Bash is a great people person, a ladies man, and everyone loves him plus he’s very good at his job.  But the ladies man does long for the woman he used to have but doesn’t anymore because he screwed it up and now she is engaged to someone else so of course he wants to win her back.  She also happens to be an ADA he fights in court constantly, Janie Ross (played by Claire Coffee.)  Franklin is the wild card, hates authority, doesn’t care what anyone else thinks, wise-cracking best friend and partner of Bash.  It reminds me a lot of The Defenders but without all the smugness.  Plus I am willing to forgive a lot more for summer viewing on an non-major cable TV network than a fall, major network, broadcast TV show.  I really didn’t like The Defenders.  I didn’t like the writing because it felt like they were trying to be a serious law show, defending serious clients, with crack pot, jokes of lawyers in Belushi and O’Connell.   As soon as a law show tries the “our client is innocent because he’s a great guy and we believe him, therefore you should too” defense and they win off of that, the show has lost me.  This show is slightly different in that right now, they aren’t trying to be serious lawyers with serious cases.  They defend car accident defendants who were distracted by naked girls and prostitutes who fell in love with their clients.  This show certainly isn’t trying to be The Practice.  It isn’t taking itself too seriously so that’s why I don’t mind it.

Considering I really enjoy The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, and HawthoRNe, Franklin & Bash, right now, isn’t as good as those shows are.  But if I have nothing else to watch on Wednesday night and it’s on, I will watch it because I like the cast and I didn’t hate the show.  I’m not going to make a point of DVRing it or making it must see TV this summer, but if it’s on and I’m home, I’ll definitely watch it.