Modern Family/Cougar Town

Modern Family – Dance Dane Revelation

     Who hasn’t wanted to run after a scent-application specialist in the mall?  Especially one who has just sprayed you with cologne and blinded you or made your mouth taste of something you most likely don’t like enough to buy.  I know I am less likely to buy something if it’s been sprayed on me without my consent.  So, when Phil lost it and chased the cologne guy around the store, I totally understood.  Not to mention the fact that Jay had been all over him all day for letting people walk all over him.  Mr. Nice Guy Phil finally hit his breaking point and lost it, although maybe it should have been directed at Jay instead of the salesman.

     Gloria stole Claire’s thunder at the school dance, and I actually felt badly for both of them.  I saw both of their points of view, and could see why it was important to each of them that they succeed.  However, since I am far more a Claire than a Gloria, I would have to side with her on this one.  Gloria shouldn’t have come along and tried to put her stamp on the dance as co-chair, when it really was Claire’s thing.  There have to be other events at the school where Gloria could make her mark.

     I though the Lily being a biter storyline was pretty funny.  It was especially cute that they kept saying that she was biting when it was so incredibly obvious that the little actress wasn’t anywhere near biting at all.  My favorite line of the night was when Cam was belting Lily into her car seat, and after the second time she bit him, he said, “It’s like Twilight back here.”  That comment REALLY made me laugh.

Cougar Town – The Same Old You

     Where the hell is BARB???  Is she so busy on General Hospital she hasn’t had time to do her one-liner on Cougar Town?  I think this is the third episode in a row without a Barb fix. 

     I am SO glad it looks like they are going to address the chemistry between Travis and Laurie.  I know it’s probably a bad idea to put these two together, since there is a pretty big age gap and she is one of his mother’s best friends, but their banter and behavior really are forcing them to at least look at it.  The two actors have such great chemistry together, and it would be natural for Travis to at least have a crush on Laurie, so I really think they do have to at least look at it.  I am glad it came up in this episode, and look forward to them exploring it more.

     Where is Bobby going to live now?  Jules had a spare room after Travis moved out, but it’s a jam room now.  She does kind of owe him, since she was the one who sunk his houseboat.  I would guess it would also cause some fun tension between Bobby, Grayson, and Jules if Bobby moved into her house.  Maybe he will move in with Andy and Ellie.  Or maybe he will do well in the golf tournament he was qualifying for, and will be able to buy a house.

Glee/No Ordinary Family

Glee – A Very Glee Christmas

     I really enjoyed “Baby It’s Cold Outside”.  I also loved Will’s list of gift ideas for Sue: 1) Dog Robot and 2) A Soul.  It made me really laugh. 

     I wasn’t overwhelmed by this episode.  While I thought it was a fine episode and a pleasant enough Christmas episode, I really thought it would be more… something.  More what I don’t know, but just more something.

     Coach Beiste completely and totally won me over this episode, if she hadn’t before.  What she did for Artie, giving him mechanized legs to allow him to walk for brief periods, was amazing.   By extension she also gave Brittany a gift as well, allowing her to continue to believe that Santa Claus exists and can grant almost any Christmas wish.  While I think Brittany’s stupidity is a tough thing to believe (really is anyone this naively stupid?) this was a very sweet storyline this week.

     I was also glad that Sue the Grinch grew a heart and gave Will a nice Christmas.  With the help of the glee club he was able to celebrate the holiday.  I really REALLY expected when he walked in that Terri would be there, waiting for him in a slutty Santa suit or a Christmas bow and nothing else.  It was a great surprise for it to be Sue, and the glee club, and nothing naughty. 

No Ordinary Family – No Ordinary Sidekick

     “Will” will now be known as Joshua, until he adopts someone else’s name.  I really want to like this character, I think he is being forced to do everything he is doing by Dr King, but he is making it really difficult to like him.  I know Dr King is forcing him, but only by holding it over him that if he doesn’t do what he is told he will go back to being “normal”.

     So, Will, damnit Joshua, has somehow brain drained Daphne so she has no memory of the last three months.  She doesn’t remember she has mindreading capabilities, the trip, or anything.  Does she still HAVE the mindreading capabilities, or are they completely gone?  Guess we will find out after the winter break.

     I have to admit, I follow Julie Benz and Michael Chiklis on Twitter, and they both said this episode was going to blow us away; it was a game changer, etc, etc.  It would have been game changing if Daphne had been killed, memory loss was just interesting.

How I Met Your Mother/Mike & Molly/Castle/Hawaii Five-0/Men of a Certain Age

How I Met Your Mother – The Mermaid Theory

     Kyle MacLachlan’s character The Captain made me laugh a bit.  I like him because I am not sure if he is a good guy or a scary guy.  Obviously the characters had the same difficult time figuring it out, since the bottom of his face is good guy, but the eyes and brow is scary guy.

     I also liked that Ted was really confused about the Lily/Barney story this week.  It’s always been kind of a weird plot point that he would remember these stories so well when relaying them to his children in the future, so it’s always fun when he gets confused.  I didn’t like that the Lily/Barney story is a “future story” where Lily is all pregnant and emotional.  I get that she and Marshall are trying to have a baby, and that it was probably an inevitability, but that doesn’t mean I want to see it happen.  I hate when babies are born into shows and the entire chemistry of the show changes.

Mike & Molly – Carl Gets a Girl

     I laughed during the teaser, which is usually a good sign.

     The whole scene between Victoria and Mike, talking about aliens and big foot really made me laugh.  It was one of the first times Victoria has really made me laugh, and I think it was more because of Mike’s reaction to her than because of anything she said.  Although the line about camping without weed being just sleeping outside did make me laugh.  I know a few people who probably feel the same way.

     It was nice to see Mike bond with Joyce (Molly’s mom) as well.  I don’t like Vince, I think he is a nice guy and I do think Joyce could do better.

     I really liked Mike giving a key to his apartment to Molly.  When she said she wasn’t ready to give him a key to her place, I was shocked:  I didn’t see the joke coming at all.  Well done, show.  Molly is absolutely, positively my hero.

Castle – Last Call

     This show just makes me happy.  I loved seeing how excited Castle got when they went to the bar, and how much he loved the old, neighborhood, backroom bar.  He loved it enough to buy it, so I would guess we will start seeing the cast out of the office and away from work a bit more often, which should be fun. 

     I always enjoy when the team thinks they have proven Castle wrong, only to themselves be proven wrong.  Castle’s reaction to being right is always fun to see, with a look that says “I knew it” while somehow trying to downplay his being right. 

     My favorite part of this episode was the end, when all five of the main cast members decided to take some time for themselves together, and walked out of the precinct arm and arm, on the way to Castle’s new bar, singing Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.”  It made me very happy and, since I am a sap, a bit teary. 

Hawaii Five-0 – Palekaiko

     Ehh.  This was a fine episode for what it was, but it didn’t really hold my attention, and I didn’t particularly enjoy it.  Having just been on a cruise, all cruise ship happenings seemed a bit unrealistic.  If I could afford a single cabin like the serial killer had, if such a single cabin even exists, I would be REALLY happy.  This guy must have had money to be able to take these extended cruises in luxurious cabins once a year. 

     I was pleased that Steve told Chin about what his father left for him, and that Chin was able to find some information in that regard.  I am not pleased that it leads to the suspicion that Steve’s mother’s death was not an accident, but murder.  It feels like so many cop shows have done this before:  it’s tired, and lazy. 

     Speaking of lazy writing, did we ever see Steve’s sister again after the one episode she was in, and did they ever say she had gone back to the mainland?  She doesn’t appear to still be at Steve’s, waiting for him to come home, since he was there with Chin in tonight’s episode.  Maybe they did say where she is at some point, but because this show really doesn’t hold my attention, maybe I missed it.

Men of a Certain Age – If I Could, I Surely Would

     I really enjoyed this show last year, and am glad it’s back.  Let’s see how long that lasts.  I had the opportunity to meet Scott Bakula (who I am about 90% sure was driving behind me in Santa Monica today) and Andre Braugher at an event last year, and they were two of the most gracious, sincere, pleasant people I have been lucky enough to encounter at an event like this.  That goes a LONG way for me, and even if this show has a weak season I will continue to watch because I want to support a couple of guys who were really nice to me, and to all the other fans that attended the even last year.

     This was a good second season opener.  It picked up right where last season left off, and treated the audience like we already know these characters.  We got enough background to remember what was going on last year, without having so much exposition that we felt like it we could have just watched this episode instead of season 1 and known everything we needed to know.

     I like that all three of our guys are in positions in which they aren’t comfortable.  Owen is the boss now, Terry is actually trying to work in a real job AND working for Owen, and Joe (it’s still hard from me not to call him Ray) is in a new home and trying to become a pro golfer on the senior circuit, a dream he gave up on when he was younger.  It’s all going to lead to a fun season, I think.

Desperate Housewives/Brothers & Sisters

Desperate Housewives – Pleasant Little Kingdom

     Paul Young is an evil genius.  I don’t believe he has any interest in actually helping ex-convicts, I believe he is doing all he is doing strictly to get back at the residents of the lane for whatever betrayal he believes they perpetrated on him.

     So, the Gabby and Carlos baby switch storyline ended with their biological daughter going off with her switched mother?  That’s it, really?  It’s so annoying when this show starts a story and then it goes nowhere.  I have no idea if this is the true end of this story or if there is somehow more to come, but at face value I am really irritated that this really went nowhere.  Was this all just to explain why Juanita doesn’t look anything like Gabby or Carlos?  It still didn’t explain why her little sister looks just like her.

     First Renee calls Susan “the smart one” on the lane.  She must have already been drunk when she said that, because anyone who has watched this show for more than one episode knows that is the opposite of the truth.  Marc Cherry, just because you say it’s so doesn’t make it so. 

     Then Renee told Susan she in love with Tom, after one weekend together 20 years ago?  I get that she may have residual attraction to him, but in love with him?  UGH  I did love Lynette’s and Tom’s storyline this week.  Their relationship tends to be the most realistic to me, the ups and downs and good and bad of a real, healthy relationship.

     I don’t know how much longer I am going to be watching this show.  Honestly, if something comes up on a rival network that I want to watch, I think DH will be toast for my viewing.  I watch it now mostly out of habit and that there is nothing competing with it that is of interest to me.  I just need something to tip the scales and I am done.  It’s so sad to remember when this show was innovative and different and fun, and see how far it has fallen in six seasons.

Brothers & Sisters – Get a Room   

     This episode made me laugh a lot.  I really enjoyed all the romantic entanglements and even more loved seeing Kevin stoned.    It was great to see everyone having some fun, even if they still had their angst-filled moments.  I didn’t even miss Justin until the previews for the next episode, when I saw him and said to myself “Wow, Justin wasn’t even in this episode!”

     I like that Kitty is going to be “hooking up” with a younger man.  I know he has a decent number of episodes scheduled, and I like the actor, Ryan Devlin most recently from Cougar Town, and I hope he and Kitty get to have a little fun.  She needs to lighten up and I really liked her in this episode, damning the consequences.  I didn’t even think about Robert in this episode, so for me this new character of Seth is a hit.

     I didn’t realize Luc was going to be gone for a while, and while I am sad to see him leaving for a bit, maybe we will get to see more of Sarah in the workplace, especially now that she has a workplace.  It’s funny to me that she bought this big media empire, and the only place we have seen her working is in the radio station (one of six that she owns) in which her mother works.  Shouldn’t she have a big corporate office somewhere, from which she would run her conglomerate?

     It was a good episode, and I hope they continue to bring the humor to the show.  It has been missing for a while now, and things have been really serious for a long time, but this episode reminded me just how funny this cast can be, and how well written the humor is on this show.

Blue Bloods

Blue Bloods – After Hours

     I enjoyed getting a bit deeper into Danny and Linda’s relationship.  It was nice getting a little background on what Danny was like when they met and how far he has come.  It was also really great to hear that he hasn’t ever strayed from Linda, and that he has no interest in being with anyone else.  Even when he was dancing with the witness/suspect/victim you could tell he only did it to ingratiate himself with her, and he wasn’t into it.  I was really afraid a photo of Danny dancing with her was going to end up on Page Six, and Linda would get pissed.  I was pleasantly surprised they didn’t go that route.

     I am completely and totally over this Blue Templar story.  They need to either move it forward faster or drop it.  I feel like they just don’t know what to do with Jamie’s story, so they are just dragging this Blue Templar stuff out.  Let’s get on with it people!

Vampire Diaries/Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice/Fringe

The Vampire Diaries – The Sacrifice

     I think by now you all know I really love this show.  I think the acting is excellent, and the writing and direction are usually superb.  However, I have a couple of issues with this episode, related to Katherine’s cave.

     I absolutely hated the whole “we have to get the moonstone” in the most convoluted way possible plan.  Here is my confusion:  I know that once a vampire is trapped behind the invisible barrier they can’t get out.  So, they decided to have Bonnie try a spell to take barrier down briefly so Stefan or Damon could speed in, get the moonstone and speed out before Katherine could react (since she’s not feeding she is weak).  Bonnie also created some kind of powder that would render Katherine unconscious for a couple of minutes.

     Jeremy decided to take the initiative and go after the moonstone himself, on his own, with only a portion of the powder to assist him.  I understand that he was trying to protect Bonnie, and trying to help keep Elena out of harm’s way, but really?  REALLY?  Even after Damon insulted his ego, it just seemed really reckless, even for Jeremy,

     I guess I don’t understand why several things happened/didn’t happen.  Why did Jeremy try to do this on his own?  Why couldn’t Bonnie just walk in there with him, toss the powder on Katherine and do a binding spell or something while he searched for the stone?  Why didn’t Jeremy just stake Katherine when she was unconscious?  He had at least one stake with him, and the barrier isn’t physical; he could have thrown the powder in her face from his side of the barrier, she would have gone out, and he could have staked her and it would have been done.

     Even after all of Jeremy’s mistakes, when Bonnie and Stefan arrived, I still don’t understand why Bonnie didn’t just go in and get Jeremy.  I assume they were afraid Katherine would overpower her, but if Katherine killed Bonnie, would she ever be able to escape the cave?  This whole plan and plot had so many holes in it I just couldn’t get past it.  It felt like lazy writing.

     I also think Elena was being stupid and reckless, but I can get past that because she was scared and angry and upset.  Besides, the heat between her and Damon made her whole plot this week worth it.  I absolutely find them really powerful when they are together.

     I liked Caroline and Tyler together again in this episode.  I am ready for him to turn, and I think it’s going to be in next week’s episode.  I wonder if Caroline will stay with him during the full moon.  I don’t know if I see them as a couple, but I do want her to be there for him when he needs her, like Stefan tried to be for her. 

Grey’s Anatomy – Adrift and at Peace

     I think Cristina is finally starting to heal.  Her time on the boat with Derek, the quiet that she finally allowed herself, may have been the first little step.  I like that these two are developing an actual friendship, outside of their individual relationships with Meredith.  I think when the characters, and audience, look back on the story of Cristina’s PTSD, her loss and her return; Derek will be the person most responsible for her recovery.  He is giving her everything she needs from a friend right now.  I also really love that there is absolutely no sexual chemistry between them; at no point have I worried that they are thinking something inappropriate about the other.  It’s nice to see a show that realizes a man and woman really can be friends without sex or sexual chemistry being an underlying factor.

     Callie and Mark are the opposite of this, their friendship has a TON of sexual chemistry, and they took advantage of that, each to try and make themselves feel better.  It didn’t really work, but any reason to have Eric Dane shirtless and wet works for me!  I liked that both of them realized it really wasn’t helping and it just made them miss the people they want to be with more.  Mark finally kissed Lexi again, and while they do have issues, and I don’t think they are getting back together right away, he obviously caught her attention with that kiss.  Arizona showed up on Callie’s doorstep, and gave Callie an impassioned speech about how much she missed her.  Callie, who had an awesome, kick ass, day, shut the door in Arizona’s face without a word.  I have no doubt these two are going to get back together, but I was SO happy Callie did that!  Because she saw her self-worth all day, from the shower with Mark, to the work on the hip replacement, she was able to be strong and take a stand, instead of just being grateful for Arizona’s return.  The strong, amazing woman that Callie was at one point, but then wasn’t for so long, may have finally returned and I am glad.

     Teddy offered to marry a patient, so he could get on her health insurance and she could save his life.  Granted that patient is Scott Foley who looks great (and the green shirt bringing out his green eyes was a great wardrobe choice for him), but does she really have to marry him?  I get that she is floundering in her personal life, feeling guilty for failing Cristina in her professional life, and just looking for a way to make it up somehow, but I don’t know if this is the way to do it.  I think it will be interesting to see where this story goes.  As long as it doesn’t turn into Denny 2.0 I will be happy, since I hated that storyline then and still hate it now.

   

Private Practice – Just Lose It

     I have read that some people are angry at Cooper for his behavior in this episode, specifically him kissing Amelia.  I don’t feel that way.  Cooper is dealing with his own trauma, in addition to trying to help Charlotte deal with hers, and he is having a tough time too.  Both of them are trying to be strong for the other, neither realizing the other just wants them to open up and be honest about their feelings. 

     Cooper has always been highly sexualized, and for Charlotte to not even want to be touched has got to be very hard for him.  Actually, it’s hard for both of them.  Then for the prosecutor to tell them that because of Charlotte’s past behavior and her lying about being raped and not identifying her attacker in the first line up they aren’t going to prosecute the rapist felt like she was blaming Charlotte.  That didn’t make either of them feel better about anything.

     I think Cooper kissed Amelia because he was looking for comfort, but also because in his heart he knew it wouldn’t go any farther.  He knew one of them would stop it before it really went to a place he and Charlotte wouldn’t be able to recover from.  If he wanted just sex, he could have hired someone for that, and he knows it.  It was about connection and sadness and need and fear and pain, not about sex.

     I think Sam and Addison have a long way to go before either of them is ready to co-parent.  They are both being selfish about having a baby (she wants one, he doesn’t particularly) and they really aren’t communicating well at all.  I like them together, but I don’t want them to bring a baby into their relationship.  She also needs to stop internalizing every patient’s story and making it about herself.  She judges everyone by her own desire to have a baby.  Thanks to Amelia, at least there is someone I can relate to regarding the non-desire to have a baby.  Not every woman feels the need to procreate, and Amelia seems to be most like me in that respect.

Fringe – Entrada

     Finally, the Olivias (Olivii?) are both back in their respective correct universes.  I am so glad to have our Olivia back here, but the repercussions and ramifications of the time they were switched haven’t even begun to be felt.  I also don’t believe we have seen the last of the alternate universe.  I think there is still so much to explore over there, I don’t think we will just go back to focusing solely on our universe. 

     I was sad that alt-universe Broyles is dead, but he made the ultimate sacrifice in the hopes that our Olivia was telling the truth, and that both universes can survive simultaneously.  It amazes me that those in the alt-verse believe we are already at war with them, but most people here don’t even know they exist.  I think if our world did know about them, war might be inevitable, so I hope our Fringe team can keep their world a secret.

     I felt badly for Peter, because he really had started to fall for Fauxlivia thinking she was Olivia.  I think both Peter and Olivia are going to have a difficult time dealing with what all of this means. 

The Whole Truth

The Whole Truth – Liars

     The network is burning these episodes off now, since the show has been cancelled and November sweeps has ended.

     I am actually a bit disappointed this show isn’t going to survive.  I understand the ratings just weren’t there for it to be worth it to the network to keep the show on the air, but the two leads are just SO likeable it’s hard.  I do have to say though, that while it wasn’t airing during sweeps, I didn’t miss it.

     In tonight’s episode, I didn’t see the victim’s affair with his ex-wife’s best friend coming.  Once that was revealed, I knew pretty much right away that the two of them had conspired to kill him.

     For me the most compelling thing about this show is the relationship between Jimmy and Katie.  They were friends in college, and while they are always on opposite sides of their cases, that friendship shines through even when they get really enmeshed in opposite sides.