Favourite Scenes from favourite shows.

Friday Night Lights, Season 2 episode 14 "Everybody leaves!"

Probably the highlight of the second season, Coach has finally had enough of Matt acting like douche and throws him the bath were Matt unleashes all sadness/anger he's been bottling up, a heart breaking scene that really showcased what an amazing actor Zach Gilford is, if I were him this would certainly be in my showreel.

Buffy, Season 3 episode 9 "Because it has to be"

An overall brilliant final scene to an amazing episode, Giles brings forth Anyanka in order to undo Cordelia's wish. A breath taking fight in slow motion in which we see all the main characters die within seconds of each other and Giles final line showing us how and completely and utterly miserable things really are, gives me chills.

Chuck, Season 2 episode 22 "Watch me for the changes"

Let's face any Jeffster "songtage" is epic (the most recent being "Push It" in 4x13) but this one is certainly a highlight, the shootout between fulcrum and the good guys when it turns into the real song and not Jeffster just brings to a whole new epicness. Not much to say on it but it's just so entertaining to watch.

Babylon 5, Season 3 episode 20 "And the rock cried out..."

A particularly haunting scene and one of B5's finest moments when G'Kar gets his revenge on Lord Refa. The church music set to Refa running away just works so perfectly and makes it all the more haunting, and of course the lyrics are representing what we are seeing on screen, it's really a stroke of genius.

The Shield, Season 2 episode 13 "Your gonna be taken care of"

This again is more of a "songtage" but displays the beauty of how everything came together/apart by the end of the season, and that brilliant look on Vic's face shifting from excitement to "oh shit what have we done", it was really this that became there undoing.

Dollhouse, Season 1 episode 13 "And they burned the house down"

Another "songtage", both depressing and hopeful at the same time, your not really sure whether the pictures are of people died or just something left behind, a brilliant cap on the series and would have a great ending for the show, though I'm glad it wasn't.

Homicide: Life on the Street, Season 4 episode 2 "Apologies accepted"

This is just nice example of Tim and Pembelton's relationship, it has a real kind of weight about where you realise Frank loves Tim and respects him just from that look he gives, an almost blank stare - it just oozes perfection.

Scenes where available on Youtube (spoilers):
Chuck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fgmcqvwLH4
Babylon 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYKloZRwLu4
The Shield: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjisv0hDl-c
Dollhouse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItDO1BEx9iM
Homicide - Life on the Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPsMmaDAZIA

2010 - 2011 Television Season

My personal thoughts on the 2010-2011 TV season. (posted Nov.24th 2011)

AMERICAN:

Caprica - Season 1.5 - A-








What was, was is and would could of been. I really loved this second half of the one and only season, it really pushed the show further and had some interesting places to take the characters and tell the stories. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.
Fave episode(s): Blowback / Apotheosis
Fate: Canceled

Stargate Universe - Season 2: Incomplete









I like what I saw but I never finished it, I think I still have 5 episodes left to watch which is nice, as I was so sad when it was axed.
Best episode(s): ?
Fate: Canceled

Being Human (US) - Season 1: Incomplete

This just grab as much as much the original version, I may go back any finish S1 at some point but I'm no hurry.
Best episode(s): ?
Fate: Renewed for Season 2

V - Season 2: C-

I'm really not bothered this has been axed, the last few episodes of season 2 got a little better but overall it wasn't worth it, if either of the seasons had been the full 22/24 episodes I wouldn't have made it all the way through. Boring two dimensional characters with a standstill plot killed the show.
Best episode(s): Mother's Day
Fate: Canceled

The Chicago Code: Incomplete

I don't know why I never finished this as I really liked it, but it seems kinda pointless now that it's long gone, hopefully this and TERRIERS will a DVD or Blu-ray release at some point.
Best episode(s): ?
Fate: Canceled.

Chuck - Season 4 - B-

Not quite as good as I'd hoped. Started off well but seemed to dip in and out of varying degrees of quality, while everyone loved episode 13 it just didn't sit well with me. That said despite Vivian's hollow motives I did mostly enjoy the final 11 episodes and am interested to see how they end things.
Best episode(s): Vs the Suitcase / Vs Phase Three / Vs the Last Details
Fate: 5th and Final season currently airing.

Friday Night Lights - Season 5: A+

I'm still in denial it's over, a great final outing a great show - it deserved nothing better. Two beefs though, the newbie (Harrington or something?) did nothing and was there to obviously just fill a void and the story with Epich (sp?) went nowhere, that's it. While of course I'll never like the new S4-5 kids as much as the S1-3 kids they did continue to grow on me this year, especially Becky. I loved her relationship with Mindy, they really felt like a family unit by the time Becky moved back home. The last episode was amazing, I would have maybe liked a moment between Laundry and Tyra but Laundry's ending was really in "Expectations" and he was (briefly) in the finale to serve a purpose, which he did. In the words of Coach... "I'm gonna miss this".
Best episode(s): Expectations / Don't Go / Always
Fate: Ended

Fringe - Season 3: A

Disappointing finale aside (save the last few minutes) this was a really stellar season, I loved delving more into the alt-universe and the writers did a great job of making those characters whole and more fleshed out. It's a shame then that season 4 hasn't been living up to Fringe's usual high quality.
Best episode(s): Entrada / Subject 13
Fate: Season 4 currently airing.

Glee - Season 2: D/Incomplete

Blah, blah and blaher! Glee became everything (and by the sounds of it more) I didn't want it to! I gave up after the Rocky Horror ep, fair thee well.
Best episode(s): Grilled Chesus
Fate: Season 3 currently airing.

How I Met Your Mother - Season 6: B+

The last few episode fell off a little bit but overall I thought while it didn't quite match s1-4, this year was much better than last. Though the tease of the mother is getting really annoying now, get it through your heads writers - THIS ISN'T LOST!
Best episode(s): Natural History / A Change of Heart
Fate: Season 7 currently + renewed for season 8.

Supernatural - Season 6: B

A bit of a messy season, lots of enjoyable stuff but this year really felt like and experiment that didn't quite work out, hoping next year is better as they seem to have some interesting stuff to lead into.
Best episode(s): Weekend at Bobby's / The French Mistake / The Man Who Knew Too Much
Fate: Season 7 currently airing.

The Event: D/Incomplete

When I first started this I knew it wasn't particularly well written and was pretty silly but the pilot got me excited, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it couldn't wait for episode 2, but soon after that it went from "enjoyable nonsense" to just "nonsense". Jason Ritter is a great actor and was fantastic on his PARENTHOOD arc but this show just doesn't work, I never got invested in the characters and it just feels sluggish and has got rather boring. Thankfully NBC canned it, and Jason Ritter is now back where he belongs, on PARENTHOOD!
Best episode(s): I Haven't Told You Everything (I guess)
Fate: Canceled

Nikita - Season 1: B+

This show has really grown on, I still don't love LOVE it but it has improved greatly on itself, Nikita has become my hot female ass kicking role model for the new age. I love how she is always ahead of Division, always knows exactly what to do in a pinch. Alex continues to grow on me, and I'll enjoyed seeing how fractured her reality becomes now she's an agent and how things imploded in on itself. It's not Buffy by any means but it's a start.
Best episode(s): Free / Pandora
Fate: Season 2 currently airing.

BRITISH:

Doctor Who - Series 6: B+

Didn't quite work as well as Series 5, it felt like too much River Song stuff was being crammed in, I think it needs to slow down a bit for Series 7. There were some fantastic episodes but also some really sloppy ones, Moffat is perhaps pushing too hard on the mythology at this point.
Best episode(s): The Doctors Wife / A Good Man Goes to War / The Girl Who Waited
Fate: Renewed for series 7

Being Human (UK) - Series 3: A

The best series yet IMO, the Werewolf bullet arc was great and reveal of what it really was in the end was pretty cool, though I felt like they copped out and didn't deliver on the really cool ending of episode 7, but the very end of episode 8 made up for that. Series 4 should be a blast.
Best episode(s): The Longest Day / Through the Heavens Fall
Fate: Renewed for Series 4

Primeval - Series 4: C / Series 5: C+

This was a mixed bad, while in series 3 Becker was the bland "action man" this year he was much better written and more interesting. Jess was a nice addition and meshed well with the show, Matt didn't. He was about as interesting as a plank of wood, in fact I've seen planks of wood MORE interesting. The finale was disappointing as well, the wrap up to the Ethan arc was anti-climactic as was Danny's return, it felt like he just popped to say hi and prove his character was still alive and then had to bugger off back to his movie career. Series 5 was a slight improvement they made a few wrong moves though Matt did feel less plankish, it was never LOST or anything but they can do better than this! I'll still watch it if it comes back for Series 6.
Best episode(s): S4, Episode 2 / S5, Episode 2
Fate: Unknown

CATCH UP:

The Vampire Diaries - Season 1: A- / Season 2: A

Had no idea I would love this show, it's so entertaining and always keeps the twists and turns coming. It manages to successfully tell story without dragging it on and ON (*cough*True Blood*cough*). Elena can get a bit whiny sometimes but Caroline more than makes up for that, S3 has been stellar so far.
Best episode(s): Founder's Day / The Return / The Sun Also Rises
Fate: Season 3 currently airing.

Parenthood - Season 1: A / Season 2: A

I absolutely fell in love with this show as I knew I would, it works best when the drama is taken up a notch and everyone is arguing with each other and there was certainly a lot of that in season 2. All the performances are outstanding, it's a show that really grabs at me and I hope it stays on for a long time to come.
Best episode(s): Lost and Found / Don't Sleep With Your Autistic Nephews' Therapist
Fate: Season 3 currently airing.

Community - Season 1: A / Season 2: A+

OH. MY. GOD. Where has this show been all my life? I really liked season 1 but season 2 just knocked if out the park without dropping the ball once (mixed metaphor perhaps?). Any show that can do Paintball War, Zombies, stop motion and Lord of the Rings epicness needs a place in my heart. It always makes me laugh and I really feel like it's (though not strictly) tailored for someone like me, what with all the movie references and straight up WHOLE episodes devoted to referencing. This is one for the books. "Set Phasers to LOVE ME!"
Best episode(s): Modern Warfare / Epidemiology / Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Fate: Season 3 currently airing. (though things look shaky)

Spartacus: Blood & Sand: A / Gods of the Arena: A-

I really never would have thought I would have liked this but it really grows on you, first few episodes aren't so great but it really became an amazing show. It's just straight up entertaining, and it knows it! Rightly so as well, gratuitous sex, mass amounts of violence and lots of of use of the word "cock", whats not to love? It's not Shakespeare or anything but it's too fun not to enjoy, and can we just say Blood & Sand has one of the most brilliant and frankly rewarding finales ever which LITERALLY had me jumping out of my seat. Bravo! It's a shame Andy Whitfield can't return and has now passed away which really shocked me, I hope the new guy can live up to his high standards.
Best episode(s): Kill them All / The Bitter End
Fate: Renewed for Season 2 & 3

Misfits - Series 1: A- / Series 2: A

One the best British shows currently on, can't believe I blew this off originally (I seem to do that a lot). Brilliant characters and storytelling make for a fantastic show, wish the seasons could be more like 12/13 episodes each but there's not much I can do about that, E4 only has so much money.
Best episode(s): S1E4 / S2E6
Fate: Series 3 currently airing.

To look out for:

REVENGE
Apparently this is one of the better news shows of the 2011/2012 season, one I plan to watch.. at some point lol.

Best Christmas TV Episodes (in no order).

VERONICA MARS: An Echolls Family Christmas (Season 1, Episode 10)
Veronica is on the case once again when Weevil's winnings go missing at a little 09er poker game while Kieth try's to find out who is sending threatening messages to Aaron Echolls before his big Christmas party.









GAVIN & STACEY: Christmas Special (2008 Special)
Taking place between Series 2 and 3, here this special provides the usual brilliant mix of laughs while being equally heartwarming as we see this extended family celebrate Christmas. Brin is on top form especially when we see he got Sex and City: The Movie and the slight awkwardness continues between Smithy and Ness, a must watch at Christmas time for sure.








SUPERNATURAL: A Very Supernatural Christmas (Season 3, Episode 8)
Not one that immediately comes to mind as a favourite SPN episode, this one sees Dean and Sam on the case of people getting sucked up the chimney in a very anti-Santa way but it proves for an interesting backdrop for brotherly tension as we get to see what Christmas was like for boys when they were young and on the road with Dad in flashback form.








JUSTICE LEAGUE: Comfort & Joy (Season 2, Episode 23)
An odd choice perhaps but one that has for me become a yearly tradition, in this cute one off episode we get to see what all the JLA members get up to for Christmas. In an odd sight for the series we get to see Clark go back for home Christmas with John and how excited he gets around this time of year (lead wrapping paper anyone?). We get to see how Hawkgirl celebrates back on her homeworld getting into bar fights with Green Lantern and Flash does something nice for the kids. It's nice episode and one that always puts me in the Christmas mood.








CHUCK: Chuck Versus Santa Claus (Season 2, Episode 11)
Big Mike wants big sales at Buy More this holiday season but things don't quite as plan when they get gate crashed by a small time crook caught up in a police chase, things aren't quite as they seem when the crook and a police officer turn out to Fulcrum agents and we get to see just how far Sarah will go for Chuck. Bonus points for the nice little tie in with Die Hard.








THE X-FILES: How the Ghosts Stole Christmas (Season 6, Episode 6)
In this spookly festive episode Mulder drags Scully along to a haunted house on Christmas eve where she reluctantly agrees to investigate with him. Once they get inside though they find a ghost couple who are a little more than willing to give relationship advice, like Supernatural this one serves as an interesting backdrop to really dig deep into the main characters relationship.








DOCTOR WHO: The Christmas Invasion (2005 Special)
Perhaps to this date Doctor Who's best Christmas special, here is where we got our first proper taste of David Tennant as The Doctor, and what a ride he would take us on. Here we got evil spinning Christmas trees, evil trumpet blaring Santas, the first of many disasters on Christmas day, the first taste of Torchwood, and the beginning of the wonderful 10/Rose relationship.










BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: Amends (Season 3, Episode 10)
Perhaps a slightly more depressing Christmas episode as we get our first look at The First Evil who would of course become the "big bad" for Season 7. A fantastic little episode overall as we see Willow try and reconcile with Oz (working the Barry White) an amusing off hand reference to "Band Candy" and some interesting shared dreams. Though this is really Angel's episode as we see The First use Jenny Calander to try and get Angel to "taste" Buffy once more, pleasant stuff indeed.

HONERABLE MENTIONS:
HOMICIDE - LIFE ON THE STREET: All Through the House
FRIENDS: The One With the Holiday Armadillo
THE SIMPSONS: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
BATMAN - THE ANIMATED SERIES: Christmas with the Joker

2009 - 2010 Television Season

I'm not the most partial viewer but I love TV and these are my thoughts on this past TV season (all ratings are off the top of my head), I would think this goes without saying but beware spoilers!

V: Season 1 - D+








Wow could this have been so much better, unfortunately it was just "there", it had a stellar cast and a great (though not original, obviously) premise. I haven't seen the original but I've heard it's way better, this was a letdown it wasn't terrible I just felt really indifferent towards it. Sometimes I wandered why I was watching it as I didn't care about the characters or the story that much - good thing it was only 12 episodes because if it has been 22 I wouldn't have lasted. Things did pick up in the last 2 episodes though so I'm hopeful for Season 2. (Bonus points for Elizabeth Mitchell and Laura Vandervoort)

Caprica: Season 1.0 - B+








This is cheating a little seeing as it's only the first half of Season 1 but I did really enjoy it. Great characters and interesting premise that set's itself apart from BSG, my main problem with it is that I can't figure what the driving force of season is as to what the story is. Aside from that I really think Alessandra Torresani shines as Zoe Graystone, hopefully SyFy will do the right thing and pick it up for Season 2.

Dollhouse: Season 2 - A-








Boy did this pick up a lot, fleshing out the story and characters finally giving Echo a personality so we had someone to root for, the second half especially raised the stakes with the highlight for me being episode 10: "The Attic". For obvious reasons the ending did feel rushed but I'm glad Joss and co got to close things of properly, and yeah I got a little emotional. It was fun while it lasted!

Chuck: Season 3 - A-









There's not much to say about Chuck, it isn't exactly the deepest of shows but it sure is fun. I'm so glad they decided to change things up this year because frankly the show could have become boring if they just keep delaying Chara (?) romance and keeping him in the car. Thank goodness they got them together and it didn't hurt the show in the slightest, the 2 pt finale was great and I look forward to meeting Chucks mum in Season 4.

Friday Night Lights: Season 4 - A









Another fantastic season of FNL, it was brave of them to completely change gears on the show, the only thing that really brings it down was them trying to fit 22 episodes worth of story into 13 episodes. Zach Gilford surely gave one the best performances this year in "The Son", and Amiee Teegarden was fantastic in episode 7 (?) after Matt left, she broke my heart. So glad to see the show get emmy recognition, looking forward to seeing some old faces in Season 5!

Fringe: Season 2 - A-







This is more like it, Season 2 gave us what we wanted by shifting the focus more to Peter and Walter without comprising the mythology in fact they improved upon it. The soldiers bit was somewhat similar to The X-Files and it felt a bit of a cop out that Olivia couldn't remember what happened in the alt verse in the premiere. Though the final was one of the best of the year, hopefully Season 3 doesn't disappoint.

Glee: Season 1 - B+








While I did love Glee's first season it looses point for some missteps in the story, it felt like it wasn't quite entirely sure how it was going to get where it wanted to go. Mr. Shue's wife got bum treatment when the writers turned her into some cliche villain type role in the back 9 episodes. That being said for the most past it was a blast, I think Quinn surprised me most as she turned into my favourite character when I thought I was going to hate her. The finale was excellent and I look forward to Season 2 with apprehensions, my worst fear is that they get lost in there own success like HEROES did.

Lost: Season 6 - B








As a whole I'm not sure how I feel about this season, somethings I loved but mythology wise the show did frustrate me. I was happy with how it ended and it was satisfying to know there was more to the sideways flashes but I wanted to find out more concerning the mythology, why set up questions that are pretty important then not answer them? Still a lot's happened and I'm glad I stuck through it all.

Stargate Universe: Season 1 - B+









After a slight rough start and the drab episode 3 this show really came into something of it's own, admittedly it does sometimes feel like the little brother of BSG and Lucian Alliance story in the last few eps felt a bit shoe horned in to raise the stakes. Other than I always look forward watching and the characters have really grown on me, especially Eli. It will be interesting to where they go with Season 2, hopefully they have a slightly better arc planned this time.

Supernatural: Season 5 - A








Up until now I've always said Supernatural gets better as it goes along, unfortunately I don't think S5 exceed S4, the pacing felt slightly off, but it was still brilliant with loads of great episodes ("Changing Channels" was definitely a highlight) and an excellent finale that reminded me somewhat of the Buffy S6 finale. The CW's scheduling was completely out of whack though, I think it will work better as a whole on DVD.

Modern Family: Season 1 - A/Incomplete








Unfortunately I missed a bunch of episodes but I saw a large chunk of the season and enjoyed the hell out of it. It had great characters (I loved Manny) funny stories with heart - definitely one to get on DVD.

24: Season 8 - D/Incomplete








Rinse and repeat that's what 24 does, cliche villains poor writing and characters that you don't care about with annoyingly pointless subplots, I didn't see all of Day 8 but I will just because it's the last season but frankly I'm glad it's over - 24 is way past it's prime. FUCK YOU 24!

Bones: Season 5 - Incomplete







And when I say incomplete I mean I watched the first episode and never saw the rest, I do plan to catch up though, I already have the DVD boxset reserved on my Lovefilm list.

The Vampire Dairies: Season 1 - Incomplete







I saw the first few episodes of this but lost track and never caught up, from what I saw it was decent but I hear it gets a lot better. I definitely pegged this as Twilight: The Series originally but it seemed like it could be more than that - hopefully I'm right.

Doctor Who: Series 5 - A







My favourite series of New Who to date, perhaps I had grown tired of David Tennant or maybe Russel T. Davies writing style but I welcomed the change. I loved Matt Smith as The Doctor and his new companion Amy Pond. The only story I wasn't overly fond of was the Dalek WWII one but other than that it was great season, I loved the resolution of the crack storyline and am so glad Amy and Rory will be sticking around for Series 6.

Being Human: Series 2 - B









Really enjoyed their second offering, was definitely on par if not better than S1. I still think drama stories don't have enough time to develop in 6-8 episode seasons, but it felt like they weren't squeezing as much in this year. My main problems with Series 2... what was the point of Annie turning corporeal? And I felt that the main villain became a little cliche towards the end turning into a more typical villain. Aside from that I really enjoyed it, looking forward to Series 3 and the American version.

Gavin & Stacey: Series 3 - B-








I'm sure not what it was about S3 but it didn't quite have the pop of S1 & 2, Ness remained great though and loved seeing her as mother "tidy". I loved the way they ended it though and was glad they chose not to do Series 4.

Shows to look out for: PARENTHOOD
I need to see this show pronto, it has one of my favourite people ever in it, Lauren Graham - I've of course also heard it's an extremely good drama which will always catch my eye. Come on Uk don't force me to get it from an "American Aunt", pick up the show already, even if it's bloody ITV4!

FINAL THOUGHTS: I watch way too much Television!