Nearing the End - Smallville, Supernatural, Fringe

4/30/2011

A plea to the writers of some of my favorite shows: please do what is right for both your characters and your viewers. My Friday superhero, supernatural, scifi trio of Smallville, Supernatural, and Fringe all are hinting at things that I really would rather not happen. Oliver Queen may succumb to Darkseid, Castiel is working with Crowley, and Peter has jumped 15 years into the future in an instant. Since Smallville is almost over, and because the show is more lighthearted than the other two, I would expect Oliver to ultimately win over his darker nature. I don't know about Castiel, though. Love the guy - and the adorable Misha Collins - but with everything the writers have put the Supernatural characters through, I wouldn't be surprised if they finished off the series (nope, don't ever wanna think about that) with the eradication of all life on Earth. And there's still one more episode of Fringe, so I would expect a spectacularly dramatic cliffhanger (hopefully featuring more emotional Walter) that does not resolve the timeline shift...and then so many months of nothing. Damn Fringe finales.

This is all related to another post I have yet to finish - let's call it a younger sister - which has to do with the inevitable killing off of my favorite characters. It's usually completely unnecessary and hardly anyone does it right; but I'll leave that complaint for the other post, a little thing that grew so big that I just decided to wait for season finales. I started it back in January because of Medium, then got sidetracked with other examples, life, and then more chararacters leaving. So BOLO for that one...or not; whatever you wanna do. I'm not forcing you. If only I could.

Here is a great interview with John Noble about the finale of Fringe and season 4.

I'm Loving "The Killing"

4/28/2011

I recently posted in the Fringe forum at Hulu that Fringe and Supernatural are the only shows that ever made me tear up. They just had that perfect combination of heartbreaking characters, incredible actors, excellent writing, and unforgettable storytelling. But I somehow forgot about Doctor Who. While I'm at Hulu fixing that oversight, I really need to add my new addiction,The Killing, to that short list.

Every episode of this finely layered murder mystery is dark and depressing, with the only hope coming from the two detectives on the case - played by Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman - who are more determined as the days pass and the evidence mounts. They are not the traditional main characters that you immediately warm to, but they feel real. The highlight, though, is Michelle Forbes, who makes a mother's grief almost unbearably palpable. The feel of the show, if not the focus, is reminiscent of the gripping and disturbing Wire in the Blood, which starred the brilliant Robson Green. Both leave you with an unsettled feeling, and yet you'll keep coming back for more.



Stargate Universe Actors Guest on The Killing

4/27/2011

I was watching the Killing, "A Soundless Echo," and a big smile came across my face - quite rare in a show like this - because I saw Brody (Peter Kelamis) from Stargate Universe. The show still has two episodes before it's gone forever, so it was surprising to see a familiar face so soon. And then, a little while later there was a shaggy mop of blond hair that could only belong to Volker (Patrick Gilmore)! Loved that. I hope to see everyone from SGU somewhere soon, preferably in pairs...or more.

"That Is Not Okay!"

4/17/2011

"O as in 'Oh, my God, it's Robert Loggia!" My brother, father, and I were just talking about that scene this morning, and Robert Loggia popped up in the new episode that just ended. Sure had a good laugh.

Better Off Ted - Insulting Language

4/02/2011

I was just thinking about Better Off Ted last night. Not sure why, but something funny must have triggered it. I always remember the ploves: plates that spontaneously combust when hit too hard. My father decided to look up some clips and found the one with the meat that tastes like despair. He also accidentally played a gag reel that was on the DVD, which I now need. It was from the episode where a memo went out that said "employes must NOW use insulting language." The video below was priceless as was the very short-lived show. Maybe it should have been on HBO, seeing as how it was too different (read: intelligently written, odd, and hilarious), and the uproarious insults are certainly not for the networks, and sadly never will be.