I understand why the producers wanted to shake things up in season 4, but they've thrown out the rule book and I'm finding it hard to take. Kramer can lock up Neal for life just because he wants to? Straight-arrow Peter is willing to break a bunch of laws (and spend a bunch of money) to protect Neal? Peter is trying to bring Neal back NOW, with nothing having changed in Neal's legal situation? Despite the substantial risks, Neal is recklessly careless in his search for Neal? Collins can just fly out to Cape Verde, where he has no legal jurisdiction, and start waving "Wanted" posters around? The FBI wants nonviolent offender Neal brought in DEAD OR ALIVE? Neal trusts his sleazebag landlord to protect him from an FBI agent offering $500,000? ($500,000? Really? Out of the FBI's current "Ten Most Wanted," only one has a reward higher than $100,000.)
Even setting all that aside, is there any not-entirely-ridiculous path from the current mess into a situation where Peter and Neal are working together again? Most likely, they'll eventually trip up Kramer and Collins somehow, sweep Neal's fugitive status under the rug, and live happily ever after ... which would not count as not-entirely-ridiculous.
@Chandel: Mia Maestro's character is MAYA not Mya. It was a pleasure seeing Maestro here; I enjoyed her short stint as Nadia on "Alias" several years ago.
@TriciaS: I agree about the writing but don't mind the language. Also, if Jai really is dead, that reflects even worse on the writing than if he isn't. Mixed messages.
@Katie Hart: Matt Corman says "the victim of the deadly car explosion really is gone for good," which does suggest pretty strongly that Jai is dead ... although there's still a small chance that the "the victim" is somebody else. You said, "And now the cast is one of the least-diverse on TV." The CIA is not known for its diversity, but it's still a good point.
FWIW, it doesn't seem like the writers really had any idea what to do with Jai. He started off as a hot shot competitor / potential love interest / potential mentor for Annie, but that quickly became sidelined. They later revived him in the silly plot line with his evil dad, but that added nothing good to the show. In any event, there's something big and cinematic about Sendhil Ramamurthy that worked well in "Heroes" but never really fit in "Covert Affairs."
What? No mention of the bracelet that Bo receives from Mysterious Guy during the party and foolishly slips onto her wrist? It is 100% certain to be something bad. How can Bo be so incautious? She just crossed a meany who can turn anything into flesh-eating sand and a shaman who can curse people by knocking nails into boards. She's got plenty of enemies who would snare her with an evil gift in a flash if they thought it would work.
The travel agency was cute but the travel itself was nothing. And how did they get back, anyway? That wasn't covered.
As for the old Ash vs. the new Ash ... neither one is a winner.
We learned halfway through last season that the skitters were harnessed. The only reason to show that was to suggest that the skitters were not voluntary helpers and could be turned against their masters. The skitters are not necessarily good guys -- the could be as bad as their masters -- but it was inevitable that the humans form an alliance with them. This is a reasonable story line; there's no way humans stand a chance otherwise ... except ... why aren't human cyber warriors hacking the mechs? If the aliens' communications can be thrown off by radio jamming, surely their mechs can't be that difficult to hack. But, setting that aside, Humans and Skitters Unite and Fight! is the only way to go.
@tati: Karen is definitely on her way back ... but probably as a double agent.
On second thought, there's a very high chance that Lena is working with Simon -- that's how he knew about the German agents chasing Annie -- and that Jai is alive and working secretly to expose and destroy the organization they work for (KAOS or GROSS or whatever). We have to wonder what Lena and Simon have in mind for Annie. In any event, I predict a 3-6 episode arc. How does Augie's move fit in? It may be that Arthur isn't in the loop on Jai's op and really did choose Augie to figure out who killed Jai. On the other hand, SOMEBODY must be in on Jai's op or there would have been some shock when the CIA realized Jai wasn't in the car.
@Terrie: As soon as Annie started going back for the umbrella, I knew the car was going to blow. We saw someone who could have been Jai walk towards the car, but we did not see him get into the car, and we did not hear confirmation that there was a body in the car and that it was confirmed to be Jai. I'd say there's at least a 60% chance he's still alive.
@TV Junkie: Simon Fuller is played by Richard Coyle.
@Dan: It's clear that Nina ... I mean Lena put the psycho whammy on Annie, subtly pushing her to take risks she wouldn't normally take and to go to bed with this guy. She obviously hasn't fooled Simon at all; he's just toying with her. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Nina ... I mean Lena is in league with Simon. It's also very likely that Annie was moved to Lena's group so Annie can get the scoop on Lena.
To finish that thought ... and to show once again that post length limitations are pointless ...
This year's two canceled shows -- "Sanctuary" and "Eureka" -- were both filmed around Vancouver, BC. Maybe Ontario has a significant price advantage. Hm.
@Jim: "The Clones were using real world DNA which means Jenna isn't a pre-teen, she is still a toddler."
First, DNA deteriorates somewhat as you age (telomeres, in particular), but there are no direct markers of age in DNA. The difference in how you look at age 1 and age 5 REFLECTS your DNA but is not reflected by a CHANGE in your DNA. Second, the bodies are PRINTED and somehow manage to be indistinguishable from real human bodies. Do you happen to know how the machine turns DNA into a viable printed human body? Me neither. Third, SARAH can tell that Replicant Carter's cells are 1 day old with a CAT Scan (which is absurd) that she conducted as he stood on the stairs (which is absurd). Is there really a point in questioning Jenna's age?
@Bob R.: Although "Alphas" is filmed in Hamilton, Ontario, it's produced by US companies (BermanBraun, Universal Cable Productions) for SyFy, just like "Warehouse 13" (also filmed in Ontario by Universal Cable Productions). Interestingly, this year's two canceled shows -- "Sanctuary" and "Eureka" -- were both filmed around Vancouver, BC. Maybe Ontario has a significant price advantage.
SIX MONTHS! The show advances six months, from early in the primary season to just after the November 2010 elections. Is the show going to nearly catch up to date before the end of its first run?
One more thing: Why no follow-up on the Halliburton scandal regarding Deepwater Horizon spill? It was built up on ep. 1 and then disappeared.
I enjoyed episode 3 much more than episode 2 and at least as much as episode 1. I even learned something (I didn't realize quite how large Koch Industries was.) I thought that the preachy stuff fit better and the lapses into sitcomland were less egregious than in episode 2.
I don't especially like the way Maggie and Mac are written, but I disagree with Matt's characterization of them as "desperate" women. Mac is clearly hurt and flustered by Will's bringing his girlfriends into the studio. Yet, unlike Will, she is able to begin a relationship that lasts for months. Maggie's relationship is messed up, but whatever is driving her mistakes, it seems to be more immaturity, insecurity, and fear of the unknown than desperation.
Things nobody seems to be mentioning: JANE FONDA! The Big Star ex-wife of a TV network mogul is playing a network mogul on TV! Fun! SIX MONTHS! The show advances six months, from early in the primary season to just after the November 2010 elections. Is the show going to nearly catch up to date before the end of its first run?
One more thing: Why no follow-up on the Halliburton scandal regarding Deepwater Horizon spill? It was built up on ep. 1 and then disappeared.
I actually enjoyed the episode. Sookie's "It must be Thursday" speech was fun, and the gang's adventure in the insane asylum was engaging. Like Matt, I liked Jessica's pep speech to Tara, although I kept expecting (a) Jessica to give Tara an invite to the local Sanguinista clib, and (b) Tara to tell Jessica to shut up and stop boring her.
I wish Hoyt would curl up and die, on the other hand. He's more of an annoyance than Lafayette's brujo thing. And who was that head with the stitched up mouth? And who was the woman calling to Lafayette?
My wife, who never sees more than snippets of the "True Blood" episodes, observed tonight, "That show has a LOT of characters." I don't know why the writers can't get this through their heads.
1. Senator WEN. Not "Wyn" or "Winn". WEN. Played by Ming-na WEN! (She dropped her surname a while back and now goes by "Ming-na".)
2. Wen seems the most likely culprit, but ... Where is she, physically, anyway? If Holly is really Wen, why isn't Wen reviving her own body?
3. Did Carter TASER Wen when she was captured? We know that bad NPC Carter TASERed Holly, so when Holly said "Now we're even" (or something along those lines), my thought was that the e-mail made Holly back into Crazy Holly, not into Wen.
4. Does the smart dust mirror thing actually make any sense?
The only way Sorkin and his writers are going to get their heads in the right place to create a whole season of watchable television is to swear off "funny" for at least one episode. Only after they get the serious elements of the show down and learn to respect the characters and the setting can they reintroduce humor without looking like idiots.
@Matt: Do us a favor, if you can -- Corner the producers and demand that they explain why they can't limit themselves to half a dozen subplots like a normal TV show.
@Ted: No, I didn't see that Monk episode, and I can use a dictionary as well as the next fanatic. The generalized meaning of decimate is much closer to hurt or injure than it is to destroy, obliterate, or execute. It's not appropriate in this context.
@ChuckB: Right on both counts (Kenzi warning about fae, batibat's apparent invisibility)
@Carla: The Bo is never going to be over Dyson and vice-versa. I suspect that in this season's finale Bo will learn how to undo the Narn's voodoo and that she will spend much of next season making the necessary sacrifices.
#1 Highlight: Pam and Eric's moment as he released her
#1 Lowlight: Lafayette's inner witch doctor putting the hoodoo on Sookie's Yugo
Really don't care about Terry. Really not impressed with what has become a stereotypical image of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. Really not impressed with it coming out as a flashback.
Really annoyed with the Pelt family act. They put us through all that just so Alcide could get into Sookie's pants? Couldn't he have just asked her out on a date or something?
Really disappointed that the big vampire traitor was a little kid sitting at the council table. Who cares? Total waste of time. At least it was a little interesting to know that the Authority has known foreign enemies.
Really unhappy that Pam saved Tara. Couldn't Pam have said, "That's not the way to commit suicide, you moron. Here, meet Mr. Stake. Blam!"
@Chandel: The old man did NOT have kuru (which is the same sort of prion disease as Mad Cow). That was Hank screwing around. He had a B12 deficiency, which had nothing to do with his being in New Guinea.
I agree with Chandel that the whole episode felt like it was only loosely sketched out. They had a couple of set pieces they wanted to squeeze in -- the choking zombie groom, Hank becomes a zombie and attacks Evan -- and everything else felt gauzy and a bit out of tune. Maybe they had to slap this one together at the last minute for some reason.
Last time, I said I'd rather have Boris than dad ... and we got both. Interesting. Yes, it's clear that something is up with Boris. And I enjoyed the slap-down the former gave the latter before the troops came marching in.
As for Divya's mom, didn't we see her having an affair in the first season? Or am I thinking of Divya's sister?
@Donna: The old man was played by John Collum, formerly Holling in "Northern Exposure" among other roles.
@Chandel: The old man did NOT have kuru (which is the same sort of prion disease as Mad Cow). That was Hank screwing around. He had a B12 deficiency, which had nothing to do with his being in New Guinea.
If he was thinking clearly, Nick would never have taken Juliette to the trailer; he would have brought her straight to Monroe. I don't think they were trying to show that Nick was off balance, so I think this was just lame plotting.
He should have brought Hank to see Monroe. There's no excuse at this point for continuing to keep Hank shut out. The "I'm protecting him by keeping him ignorant" excuse clearly doesn't apply here ... if indeed it ever applies anywhere.
Renard's failure to overcome the bad guy only makes sense if Renard is much less powerful than we expect or if Renard is so powerful he knew he could easily save himself if he really needed to.
I was mortified when Mel walked onto the stage with her mission to bring Bo to justice. I was amazed that the writers had suddenly begun to take Bo's past killings seriously; it's not like they've taken her killing very seriously since then, whether of the jerk in the bar in episode one or at any time since. I didn't really want to see Bo brought to justice -- that would hurt bad! -- but how could the writers bring her accidental and not so accidental misdeeds to the fore and then brush them away? They can't, not without looking like cheaters. And Mel's acceptance of Hale's lies is a very big, disappointing cheat.
Comments by WatchesTooMuch (Page 6)
White Collar Review: Welcome to Paradise?
Even setting all that aside, is there any not-entirely-ridiculous path from the current mess into a situation where Peter and Neal are working together again? Most likely, they'll eventually trip up Kramer and Collins somehow, sweep Neal's fugitive status under the rug, and live happily ever after ... which would not count as not-entirely-ridiculous.
@Chandel: Mia Maestro's character is MAYA not Mya. It was a pleasure seeing Maestro here; I enjoyed her short stint as Nadia on "Alias" several years ago.
Covert Affairs Season Premiere Review: Marrakesh Impressed
@Katie Hart: Matt Corman says "the victim of the deadly car explosion really is gone for good," which does suggest pretty strongly that Jai is dead ... although there's still a small chance that the "the victim" is somebody else. You said, "And now the cast is one of the least-diverse on TV." The CIA is not known for its diversity, but it's still a good point.
FWIW, it doesn't seem like the writers really had any idea what to do with Jai. He started off as a hot shot competitor / potential love interest / potential mentor for Annie, but that quickly became sidelined. They later revived him in the silly plot line with his evil dad, but that added nothing good to the show. In any event, there's something big and cinematic about Sendhil Ramamurthy that worked well in "Heroes" but never really fit in "Covert Affairs."
Lost Girl Review: Happy Birthday Bo
The travel agency was cute but the travel itself was nothing. And how did they get back, anyway? That wasn't covered.
As for the old Ash vs. the new Ash ... neither one is a winner.
Falling Skies Review: Taking the Red Eye
@tati: Karen is definitely on her way back ... but probably as a double agent.
Covert Affairs Season Premiere Review: Marrakesh Impressed
Covert Affairs Season Premiere Review: Marrakesh Impressed
@TV Junkie: Simon Fuller is played by Richard Coyle.
@Dan: It's clear that Nina ... I mean Lena put the psycho whammy on Annie, subtly pushing her to take risks she wouldn't normally take and to go to bed with this guy. She obviously hasn't fooled Simon at all; he's just toying with her. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Nina ... I mean Lena is in league with Simon. It's also very likely that Annie was moved to Lena's group so Annie can get the scoop on Lena.
Eureka Review: I Am Jack's Evil Twin
This year's two canceled shows -- "Sanctuary" and "Eureka" -- were both filmed around Vancouver, BC. Maybe Ontario has a significant price advantage. Hm.
Eureka Review: I Am Jack's Evil Twin
First, DNA deteriorates somewhat as you age (telomeres, in particular), but there are no direct markers of age in DNA. The difference in how you look at age 1 and age 5 REFLECTS your DNA but is not reflected by a CHANGE in your DNA. Second, the bodies are PRINTED and somehow manage to be indistinguishable from real human bodies. Do you happen to know how the machine turns DNA into a viable printed human body? Me neither. Third, SARAH can tell that Replicant Carter's cells are 1 day old with a CAT Scan (which is absurd) that she conducted as he stood on the stairs (which is absurd). Is there really a point in questioning Jenna's age?
@Bob R.: Although "Alphas" is filmed in Hamilton, Ontario, it's produced by US companies (BermanBraun, Universal Cable Productions) for SyFy, just like "Warehouse 13" (also filmed in Ontario by Universal Cable Productions). Interestingly, this year's two canceled shows -- "Sanctuary" and "Eureka" -- were both filmed around Vancouver, BC. Maybe Ontario has a significant price advantage.
The Newsroom Review: Throwing a Tea Party
SIX MONTHS! The show advances six months, from early in the primary season to just after the November 2010 elections. Is the show going to nearly catch up to date before the end of its first run?
One more thing: Why no follow-up on the Halliburton scandal regarding Deepwater Horizon spill? It was built up on ep. 1 and then disappeared.
The Newsroom Review: Throwing a Tea Party
I don't especially like the way Maggie and Mac are written, but I disagree with Matt's characterization of them as "desperate" women. Mac is clearly hurt and flustered by Will's bringing his girlfriends into the studio. Yet, unlike Will, she is able to begin a relationship that lasts for months. Maggie's relationship is messed up, but whatever is driving her mistakes, it seems to be more immaturity, insecurity, and fear of the unknown than desperation.
Things nobody seems to be mentioning: JANE FONDA! The Big Star ex-wife of a TV network mogul is playing a network mogul on TV! Fun! SIX MONTHS! The show advances six months, from early in the primary season to just after the November 2010 elections. Is the show going to nearly catch up to date before the end of its first run?
One more thing: Why no follow-up on the Halliburton scandal regarding Deepwater Horizon spill? It was built up on ep. 1 and then disappeared.
True Blood Review: Up in Smoke
I wish Hoyt would curl up and die, on the other hand. He's more of an annoyance than Lafayette's brujo thing. And who was that head with the stitched up mouth? And who was the woman calling to Lafayette?
My wife, who never sees more than snippets of the "True Blood" episodes, observed tonight, "That show has a LOT of characters." I don't know why the writers can't get this through their heads.
Let's Boot and Rally
Sookie says "Let's boot and rally" as she herds the boys (Alcide, Bill, and Eric) out of her house to go after Edgington.
Eureka Review: Dust in the Wind
2. Wen seems the most likely culprit, but ... Where is she, physically, anyway? If Holly is really Wen, why isn't Wen reviving her own body?
3. Did Carter TASER Wen when she was captured? We know that bad NPC Carter TASERed Holly, so when Holly said "Now we're even" (or something along those lines), my thought was that the e-mail made Holly back into Crazy Holly, not into Wen.
4. Does the smart dust mirror thing actually make any sense?
5. Ready for this show to be over.
The Newsroom Review: Will of the People?
Rizzoli & Isles Review: Layers of Guilt
No, we already knew. I think Mom let it slip. Or maybe it was a nosy axe murderer, or maybe she told Casey. One of the above.
Why the Giovanni and the sister? The writers couldn't think of anything better to do in an episode where we meet Maura's mom? So ridiculous.
Falling Skies Review: A Ruined Reunion
LOL! Isn't it cheering to know such people still exist?
True Blood Review: Chasing Fairy Tail
True Blood Review: Chasing Fairy Tail
Lost Girl Review: Succubus Barbie
@Carla: The Bo is never going to be over Dyson and vice-versa. I suspect that in this season's finale Bo will learn how to undo the Narn's voodoo and that she will spend much of next season making the necessary sacrifices.
True Blood Review: Chasing Fairy Tail
#1 Lowlight: Lafayette's inner witch doctor putting the hoodoo on Sookie's Yugo
Really don't care about Terry. Really not impressed with what has become a stereotypical image of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. Really not impressed with it coming out as a flashback.
Really annoyed with the Pelt family act. They put us through all that just so Alcide could get into Sookie's pants? Couldn't he have just asked her out on a date or something?
Really disappointed that the big vampire traitor was a little kid sitting at the council table. Who cares? Total waste of time. At least it was a little interesting to know that the Authority has known foreign enemies.
Really unhappy that Pam saved Tara. Couldn't Pam have said, "That's not the way to commit suicide, you moron. Here, meet Mr. Stake. Blam!"
Eureka Review: The House That Jack Built
@fortyseven: "Jack and Allison don't understand each other do they?"
They used to. You can either credit current behavior to their time in the simulation or to the writers needing to jazz things up with conflict.
Royal Pains Review: It Lives?!
@Chandel: The old man did NOT have kuru (which is the same sort of prion disease as Mad Cow). That was Hank screwing around. He had a B12 deficiency, which had nothing to do with his being in New Guinea.
Royal Pains Review: It Lives?!
Last time, I said I'd rather have Boris than dad ... and we got both. Interesting. Yes, it's clear that something is up with Boris. And I enjoyed the slap-down the former gave the latter before the troops came marching in.
As for Divya's mom, didn't we see her having an affair in the first season? Or am I thinking of Divya's sister?
@Donna: The old man was played by John Collum, formerly Holling in "Northern Exposure" among other roles.
@Chandel: The old man did NOT have kuru (which is the same sort of prion disease as Mad Cow). That was Hank screwing around. He had a B12 deficiency, which had nothing to do with his being in New Guinea.
Grimm Review: On My Mother's Side
If he was thinking clearly, Nick would never have taken Juliette to the trailer; he would have brought her straight to Monroe. I don't think they were trying to show that Nick was off balance, so I think this was just lame plotting.
He should have brought Hank to see Monroe. There's no excuse at this point for continuing to keep Hank shut out. The "I'm protecting him by keeping him ignorant" excuse clearly doesn't apply here ... if indeed it ever applies anywhere.
Renard's failure to overcome the bad guy only makes sense if Renard is much less powerful than we expect or if Renard is so powerful he knew he could easily save himself if he really needed to.
Lost Girl Review: I'm a Monster