01 Apr – €24.26 (£19.60) @ Amazon.co.uk

The Switch

01 Apr – €9.45 (£6.94) @ Amazon.co.uk

Rambo

08 Apr – €7.86 ($10.99) @ Amazon.com

Supernatural: Season 5

08 Apr – €11.68 ($26.49) @ Amazon.com (partially with gift certificate)

These three are series from my childhood that were made in former East Germany:

Spuk im Hochhaus (Spook in the Apartment Building)

11 Apr – €12.95 @ Amazon.de

In 1782 two innkeepers made their guests drunk and robbed them. When they killed a constable they were cursed to re-appear 200 years later and have to make seven good deeds to amend for their sins. They re-awake in an apartment building and cause havoc while trying to help.

Spuk unterm Riesenrad (Spook Beneath the Ferris Wheel)

11 Apr – €13.98 @ Amazon.de

A giant, a dwarf and a witch were cursed and made into mannequins. In 1979 they are used in a tunnel of horror and by accident end up in the river Spree. This breaks the curse and they re-awake. Now they cause havoc in East Germany.

Spuk von Draußen (Spook from Outer Space)

11 Apr – €13.95 @ Amazon.de

A family decides to move from Berlin to the Erzgebirge mountains. They soon find out that their house is rather extra-ordinary and that aliens are living there, too.

My 50th completed series:

Max Headroom: The Complete Series

13 Apr – €5.17 ($32.99) @ Amazon.com (except for customs paid via gift certificate)

The Guild: Season 4

14 Apr – €0.00 ($11.49) @ Amazon.com (paid via gift certificate)

Legion

14 Apr – €0.00 ($12.99) @ Amazon.com (paid via gift certificate)

Dante’s Peak

16 Apr – €9.99 @ Media Markt

The Fast and the Furious

16 Apr – €9.90 @ Media Markt

Fast & Furious

16 Apr – €9.90 @ Media Markt

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

16 Apr – €11.90 @ Media Markt

First Blood

16 Apr – €9.99 @ Media Markt

Up

20 Apr – €9.99 @ Media Markt

JAG: Season 10

21 Apr – €21.44 ($23.49) @ Amazon.com

Bones: Season 5

23 Apr – €22.24 (£17.84) @ Amazon.co.uk

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

23 Apr – €12.95 (£9.91) @ Amazon.co.uk

Bones
With Bones it’s business as usual. I like their cases and their chemistry and I just enjoy watching them.
And I loved it how Brennan managed to jump over her own shadow for this kids show:

Castle
The same is basically true for Castle. Castle and Beckett are hilarious together and I love the way they solve their cases. Both shows have put the WTWT topic on a back burner which is good for now but it’s obviously still there and will become an issue again. I don’t mind as long as it’s well executed.

Chuck
Chuck’s family tree is becoming more complicated than the one Jennifer Garner had in Alias – and that’s saying something.
Chuck as a person has grown but luckily that doesn’t take away the humour and the appeal of the show. If anything the addition of Morgan as Casey’s “partner” made it even better.

Community
I love it how every episode is mainly about one or two characters but it doesn’t really feel that way because everyone is contributing their own point of view and in the end it’s always an ensemble show.
The zombie movie homage in the Halloween episode was so cool – and I don’t even like zombie movies.

Cougar Town
The show continues where it left at the end of the first season. I’m glad that it doesn’t really matter that Travis is in college because he’s either at home or they are visiting him, so he’s still a full cast member.
I also love how they toy with the series name, for example in episode five the title card read 100% Cougar Free Cougar Town.

Gossip Girl
They certainly have kicked the drama up a notch. I love it that even the viewer doesn’t know what Juliet’s and Ben’s and Colin’s problem with the mains is and what they’re trying to achieve.
[Austin Powers]Gimme more drama, babe![/Austin Powers]

House M.D.
I love the new House, how he’s trying to change, how he behaves with Cuddy. The last episode where he played babysitter was great. “What? How did you eat a dime?” – “House.”

How I Met Your Mother
Somewhere along the way the show lost its appeal. It’s still enjoyable but it’s not high on the priority list anymore.
I often can’t really put it into words why I don’t enjoy that much anymore. But I can still determine it by asking the simple question “Am I going to buy this season on DVD?”. The more important a show is to me, the more eager I am to purchase it.

Life Unexpected
They, too, turned up the drama factor.
Maybe I am gender-biased but when I compare Ryan’s and Cate’s lies and transgressions I still think Cate’s the most dishonest person on the show. Maybe that’s why I like Baze being with Emma. He’s trying to make it work. All Cate ever does is sabotaging her own marriage.

Melissa & Joey
They play very well off each other and I enjoy every episode of it. It’s fun to watch. What more can you ask of a sitcom?

No Ordinary Family
I still haven’t watched more than the pilot and while I like the idea and the characters I’m not too eager to watch the next episode. I think this is going to be a filler series for the mid-season break.

Raising Hope
Still weird. Still very enjoyable. I can’t really explain where the fascination comes from but it’s there.

$#*! My Dad Says
Sometimes it becomes a bit too self-referential (making a career out of writing down what his dad says) but I really enjoy father and son (and to a degree the big brother and his wife).

Smallville
Nothing has changed with this show. Sometime you ask yourself if the writers really know their own canon or just retcon what they need as they go along. Sometimes you have to ask yourself if Clark is ever going to make one step all by himself without being pulled or pushed by a third person.
And still: Clark and Lois, Lois and Clark. They are great together this season. Their “I love you”s in Homecoming, his reveal in Isis, I would totally trade places with Clark just to look into Lois’ sparkling eyes. *extreme character crush*

Supernatural / The Good Wife / The Vampire Diaries
I haven’t even watched one episode of the new season yet. It’s not that they are bad shows; I just wasn’t in the mood yet.

Terriers
Another show I haven’t continued watching (yet!).

The Big Bang Theory
Still as funny as ever. Unfortunately Kaley Cuoco broke was trampled by a horse and broke her leg but it’ll heal and she’ll be back soon.

Two and a Half Men
Even in its eighth year this show is still funny as hell. The focus has shifted a bit from Charlie to Alan but it works.

Community 2×02 Accounting for Lawyers
Jeff in his natural habitat. It was cool to see the lawyer from the pilot episode back and how he could twist anything to his liking.
It was also cool to see them all in formal wear and going on a Mission Impossible.

$#*! My Dad Says 1×02 Wi-Fight
Shatner as the grumpy old man totally works for me. I’m not sure about the older brother and his wife though. Maybe they need a bit more time to find their pace. They are lucky that they have Shatner and I am willing to give them that time.

Melissa & Joey 1×08 Dancing with the Stars of Toledo
It was an OK episode. I really loved the all-male Tango, it was incredibly funny to watch them dance and they really pulled it off. I also liked the drug-induced dream sequence. It’s of course a staple of these kinds of sitcoms but you also have to find two people that can actually pull it off and I think these two can.

Raising Hope 1×02 Dead Tooth
Even the show acknowledges that it’s weird. And as the cast is getting wider, more weird people come into it. But it also shows the genuine care between father and daughter.
What makes it more fun for me is the fact that I can’t stop seeing Garret Dillahunt as the Terminator from The Sarah Connor Chronicles and then to watch him here.
And Sabrina reminds me a lot of the young Ally Sheedy from WarGames.

Bones 6×02 The Couple in the Cave
To quote someone else (Giles): “The subtext is rapidly becoming the text.” After my last review I have to admit I was surprised how fast they got working together again in a business as usual sense. But there is of course the whole Hannah issue now.
And I have to disagree with Bones on one issue: To lay down your life for another member of your species can absolutely make sense in an anthropological view, for example when a mother dies protecting their offspring.

Gossip Girl 4×03 The Undergraduates
It was interesting to see Serena being the odd one out. After everything that had happened before and in this episode I assumed Juliette’s endgame was against her, but the end proved me wrong.
Eva on the other hand reminded me a lot of Dan. She could be the grounding rod for Chuck that Dan was to Serena in the first season.
And Dan, well, he’s still Mr. Dependable, he would have made a great dad. And I’m not sure this whole Georgina baby story has come to an end. I guess we’ll see.

Life Unexpected 2×03 Criminal Incarcerated
And yet anther one: Emma Caulfield’s character (whose name I have not yet memorized) reminds me a lot of Buffy’s Anya. Not the social awkwardness (that this character doesn’t have) but the switching from pure business to suddenly showing a bit of warmth and compassion.
I also liked it how the entire Paige thing blew up in the most perfect inappropriate moment. It was like a chain of tiny explosions that lead to the big boom.

The Big Bang Theory 4×02 The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification
This episode was beyond ridiculous. Sheldon was again cranked up to (his, not normal people’s!) eleven. But I would have loved to see them actually jog. That would have been so much more fun.

Smallville 10×02 Shield
Now they are pressing forward the idea of going public with all their might and I like it.
I also liked that Clark didn’t question the choice Chloe made but recognized her as one of them (he did it before but I like it confirmed).
And I liked the talk between Carter and Lois. But that also caused some problems. Clark must have known that Lois would recognize him, she wrote a front page article about the JSA after all. So even if she didn’t know the secret that would have raised some red flags.
And being a fan of Stargate SG-1 I loved this whole Carter being an archaeologist thing. Granted he’s more than a thousand years old, but the wink is just too obvious. Like in the season nine finale when he was looking for the Kandorians (i.e. aliens) in Egypt and “all he found in Giza were mummies”. Or the specific mention of the sun god Ra (the first Goa’uld they killed).

Cougar Town 2×02 Let Yourself Go
It’s funny how this show can make you feel like something big is changing even though one has known these characters only for a year.
But now let’s go back to the guys doing same crazy stuff…

House M.D. 7×02 Selfish
That was a hard episode. I always feel stronger towards a case when the solving doesn’t only involve some medical magic but also having someone else sacrificing something.
I also loved how House tried to be himself (telling everyone about Huddy) and not being himself (not going up against Cuddy when he feels to).

How I Met Your Mother 6×02 Cleaning House
This was the first episode in a while that I really liked again. It could have used a little less Barney crazydom but overall it tugged all the right strings. I liked Barney’s brother and his dad and I liked Ted and Robin (Why can’t she be the mother?!).

Two and a Half Men 8×02 A Bottle of Wine and a Jackhammer
Alan has learned way too much from Charlie without even realizing it.
And I have to admit, I’m really curious on how this is going to work out because it brought Jake more back into the game. And I like Lindsey (but I also liked Chelsea and she’s gone, too).

(Still) Cougar Town 2×01 All Mixed Up
I enjoyed having Jennifer Aniston in this episode but it’s not a must-see reunion. And I enjoyed this entire episode, I’m so glad that they are back. It’s such a great bunch that feels so organic.
I just hope that Travis’s going to college won’t remove him from the show.
And I quite liked the irony of the show’s title (Still) Cougar Town since it was under consideration to rename it.

House M.D. 7×01 Now What?
Absolute Huddy overdose. I’m usually not that big of a shipper. But I really, really loved this episode. House and Cuddy were so great together. It felt so right and absolutely honest.
I have no clue why Thirteen left (real-world and in-universe) but I was surprised at how it didn’t bother me at all. I never had anything against her but I’m already not missing her.

Gossip Girl 4×02 Double Identity
Of course Chuck is back. Gossip Girl wouldn’t be the same without him. But for now it’s not the old Chuck that is back and that could be interesting. I really liked him and his new attitude. It basically continues the development of this character if one ignores the huge elephant that was the last third of the last season. But no matter what Chuck Bass he is, he can always say “I’m Chuck Bass.”.
That Georgina’s baby isn’t Dan’s comes at no surprise to me (an AB+ father cannot have an O- baby, that’s biologically impossible – wow, I did remember something from school after all! ).

The Big Bang Theory

A sitcom (with laugh track) about four scientists and their hot neighbour.
I’m still enjoying this show very much. I don’t understand why they broke Penny and Leonard up (especially because it felt like one of the most normal relationships on TV) but at least they didn’t put any bad blood between them.

Bones

Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan and FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth investigate murders where only a skeleton is left of the victim.
Quite a few episodes of this season where just “OK” but it’s still watch-worthy and I assume that next season will have a totally new dynamic due to the “time leap”.

Burn Notice

Michael Westen is a former spy who has been “expelled”. He now works as a “problem solver” for people whom the police can’t help.
It’s a good show but I hope that one day they’ll drop the whole “I want to go back to the spy game” aspect of it and just run with the main plot.

Castle

Richard Castle is a best-selling thriller author who solves crimes with Detective Kate Beckett who has become his inspiration for his novel heroine “Nikki Heat”.
They are only in their second year and both characters already know they have feelings for each other. Progress! While the WTWT is certainly an aspect of the show that can’t be ignored, I tune in because of the crimes they have to solve and the ways they do it. For me, it’s the unofficial sequel to Murder She Wrote.

Chuck

A guy who works in an electronics superstore get all the secrets of the government uploaded into his brain. From now on he works as a spy and helps to put the members of the most dangerous organisations behind bars.
I enjoyed the first third of the third season but then disliked where the show was going with Shaw and Sarah. Not because I’m a Charah shipper (I am that, too ) but because it didn’t feel real that Sarah would tell Shaw (who just came into her life) things, she didn’t share with Chuck. But now the show is great again, and I can’t wait to see the finale and the fourth season.

Gossip Girl

A show about a lot of spoiled rich kids in New York’s Upper East Side and some “normals” who get caught up in the whole mess.
It took them a while to make the transition from high school to university, but they managed to do it. Bonus points for not having all the characters attend the same university (University of California in Sunnydale or Central Kansas A&M University in or near Smallville ).

House M.D.

Specialist for Diagnostic Medicine Dr. House leads a team of doctors that take care of patients that have rare or inexplicable symptoms and try to help them.
It’s still very formulaic but every year is still different. This year House actually tried to be a better person. That doesn’t mean he stops playing games but now they are means to a different end. And next year will be different, too. I’m watching it because House can still surprise you.

How I Met Your Mother

Ted tells his kids the story of how he met her mother. For that he’s going into greater detail about his early life.
The show as a whole is declining. The search for the mother has been put on hold for a while now and it isn’t as much fun as in the beginning. There are still good episodes in it but as a whole it’s getting more generic.

Leverage

If Burn Notice is the unofficial sequel of MacGyver and Knight Rider, this is the unofficial sequel to The A-Team. A group of con (wo)men who live somewhat outside the law try to help people.
I loved these kinds of shows in the 80s and should I stumble across an episode of The A-Team on TV, I’ll still watch it. And I watch this show for the same reasons. And Jeri Ryan (7 of 9 in Star Trek VOY) was a nice addition to the show this year.

Smallville

The myth behind this show is relatively unknown. It’s about an illegal immigrant who hides on a farm in Kansas. That is, when he’s not out in Metropolis and commits crimes of manhandling, B&E and malicious mischief while running around in a T-Shirt with a stylized “S” on it.
I really didn’t like seasons seven and eight. But this year was really good again and I’m looking forward to its tenth and last season.

True Blood

Vampires are real. And they live amongst us. And they want the same rights we have.
The second season was even more explicit than the first one was. I did not really care about the plot about the Pagan Goddess but that was just one aspect and I will tune in for the third season.

Two and a Half Men

A sitcom (with laugh track) about a man in his forties who lives in a beach house with his brother and his nephew.
It’s the same kind of humour this show had from the beginning but after seven years there are only so many jokes you can make about the same subject. I still enjoy it, but it’s not a priority anymore.

The Big Bang Theory 3×22 The Staircase Implementation
It was a nice “origin story” that I enjoyed (The hair! The suits! The North-Korean spy-girl!).
But I like Babylon 5!

Chuck 3×17 Chuck vs the Living Dead
Even though Shaw might be back I enjoy this season 3.5 much more than season 3.0. I love how Ellie is getting drawn into the spy game and how his father figured out he still was the Intersect. My favourite scene was when Sarah “intercepted” the knife and Orion was wondering whether she also had an Intersect.

Gossip Girl 3×22 Last Tango, Then Paris
It wasn’t bad but a few things bothered me. For example Dan following Serena headlessly without thinking about Vanessa. And even though Jenny was “deported” I didn’t get the feeling that she was actually punished for what she did this year. And Chuck getting shot in a dark alley was a bit too clichéd for me.
But I loved the idea of Georgina returning (and her condition!). And since Mercy was axed she could play a larger role next season.

LOST 6×16 What They Died For
I loved Desmond as sideways-Mastermind, I really enjoyed these parts of the episode. But I also liked the parts on the island. I just don’t think that Ben has turned again (I think he’s conning Smokey) and I don’t think that Jack will actually become the lighthouse keeper; I think there will be yet another twist to this all.

10 Things I Hate About You 1×18 Changes
I was a bit disappointed of Kat’s behaviour. Patrick’s friendly banter didn’t feel out of place. But her reaction to it did.
I enjoyed the rest of the episode though.

Community 1×25 Pascal’s Triangle Revisited
As Abed put it: “Finally. Classic ‘Last Day of School’ plot twist.” Again there was a lot of self-referencing meta humour in it and I enjoyed that. But I have to say that I liked the previous season ending better. But then again: How many shows do actually have to season endings in the same season?

Two and a Half Men 7×21 Gumby with a Pokey
I loved it that Jake had that much screen time and that he still can pull off his dry humour (that is, when he doesn’t do ball jokes).
And Charlie on pot was hilarious with the best part being (of course) that Rose is back. That could become really interesting.

How I Met Your Mother 5×23 The Wedding Bride
Another episode with a lot of meta humour in it. And while I was watching it, I enjoyed it. But now while I’m writing these lines, a bit of “fridge logic” kicks in. It’s not a plot error per se but one has to wonder why Stella and her husband would do that. We know Ted is a decent guy and he didn’t deserve that and from what I remember of Stella she wasn’t a bad person either. It just wasn’t meant to be. It has happened to other people, too. So why did they do it?

Love the trailer, though:

House M.D. 6×21 Help Me
I have to admit that the end came a bit unexpected for me. There have always been “Huddy” fans out there and I always admired that she put up with him but I can’t remember that they ever hinted at the fact that she might have deeper feelings for him.
And it was really sad to see this young woman die and there was nothing he could do about it. It’s been a long while since House seemed to actually care about a patient.

Castle 2×24 A Deadly Game
I liked it that Esposito flat-out told Beckett what she needed to hear. Too bad her epiphany came about half a day too late. And since he couldn’t know she broke up with Theft guy it just wasn’t meant to happen (this time ).
I bet the next step of keeping them apart is that he has a relationship now… We’ll see next year.

Bones 5×22 The Beginning in the End
So, Bones does a time jump I presume. Unless they manage to find an actual archaeological grave site somewhere in Afghanistan and Booth has to protect the dig site.
Let’s just say it could have been worse. They could have ended it with a text page saying “Sgt. Maj. Seeley Booth was killed in action on July, 16th near the Pakistani border.”

Three for three. This season is coming to an end fast. On the one hand I’m actually glad. It will clear up my schedule for other stuff to watch. On the other hand: No new episodes ’till fall.

Cougar Town 1×24 Finding Out
This was a good conclusion to this first season and it contained all the elements I like about the show.
I’m glad that they dropped the entire “cougar” angle and just went along with what they already had.

Justified 1×10 The Hammer
I always like Stephen Root as a guest character on any show. I always enjoy him in his roles.
I also liked all the twists of this episode (the trailer explosion, why the guy came after the judge, the pot grower not being able to identify the shooter…).

Party Down 2×04 James Ellison Funeral
It’s unbelievable how they manage to turn every event you could possibly cater into a “freak show”. I laughed my ass off when the final scene revealed the Asian woman and her child.

The Good Wife 1×22 Hybristophilia
The way they kept Cary on the show was certainly an interesting twist. And I’m also glad that Childs (Titus Welliver) is not going anywhere. I’ve come to like to dislike his characters on several shows (Supernatural, LOST).
But I have to say that I find that new (previously mentioned) red-headed lawyer extremely irritating. You can get away with portraying someone as ditzy despite them knowing exactly what they are doing, but it didn’t work for me here.

Party Down 2×05 Steve Guttenberg’s Birthday
Brilliant episode. Steve as himself and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin in Superbad, Red Mist in Kick-Ass) as Roman’s writing buddies were great. I loved how they read the scenes Roman and Kent had written, it was so spot on on bad sci-fi scripts. And Kyle’s friend Colette was so great as the robot bio-cybernetic organism.

Doctor Who
I won’t be reviewing this week’s episode since I’ve just learned that it’s a two-parter and I won’t be watching it until next week when the second part becomes available.

CW 20 (LOST Finale)

Chuck 3×16 Chuck vs the Tooth
I already like this new mini-arc (there are only three episodes left). My guess for the end is something like this: Ellie and Orion get caught by the Ring and Chuck and Sarah have to burst in to save them and thus revealing themselves.
I loved to see Christopher Lloyd in this episode and while I only know him as “elderly person” I was a bit surprised how old he actually looked now (he’s 71 after all…). On TV Tropes there’s a trope called “Running the Asylum”. It has a different meaning but I loved the idea that an inmate of the Cuckoo’s Nest is now the chief psychiatrist for an asylum full of spies.
Spoiler (mark to read):
Since I’ve read that they introduce yet another game-changer into the finale my guess would be that Orion removes the Intersect from Chuck’s head for good. Except for the Karate they didn’t make much use of it this season anyway (or at least I have that feeling). I think Chuck is ready to be a spy in his own right and they don’t actually need the Intersect as plot device anymore.

The Big Bang Theory 3×21 The Plimpton Stimulation
“You are my landlord and you are my movers. And I can’t pay any of you.” Great episode. It was a great fun in itself.
I’m still somewhat troubled over that whole break-up thing. I don’t have the feeling that they’ve actually explained why they’ve broken up. Penny just ran out on him and that was it. No real aftermath or real explanation. For me that makes it a bit unreal.

10 Things I Hate About You 1×16 Too Much Information
The first episode was a bit anvilicious (modelling & eating disorders…) but I liked that Kat tried to help Patrick open up.

10 Things I Hate About You 1×17 Just One Kiss
I liked the second episode better, especially with bringing Blank/William back.

Bones 5×21 The Boy with the Answer
I liked it that they brought the Gravedigger case again. I also liked that the writers and actors made me really hate her for attacking “my people” by questioning their integrity.
I also smell change coming. When characters start to question their own purpose and goals right before the season ends, most of the time they are going to change the concept of the show (at least for a while).

Castle 2×22 / 2×23 Food to Die For / Overkill
On the one side I like this little rivalry between Castle and Theft guy as long as it’s on the fun side. But when you see him hurt at the end, it’s just sad. Rationally I know it’s the foundation of these shows but emotionally I like them both (Castle & Beckett) enough to not wanting to see either of them hurt.

Community 1×24 English as a Second Language
It couldn’t top last week’s episode (but I think that’s pretty much impossible – and that in turn is amazing for a first season episode). But I thoroughly enjoyed Good Will Hunting meets Disney Eyes.
And just when I thought this was the season finale, I learned that there’s another episode coming.

Cougar Town 1×22 / 1×23 Feeling a Whole Lot Better / Breakdown
The red balloon story that wove through both episodes was so funny because of all the physical comedy involved. But I also liked the elongated and well structured graduation speech Travis gave and the reasons why he emphasised on his father.

Gossip Girl 3×20 It’s a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World
It was an average episode that was just the warm-up for the next one.

Gossip Girl 3×21 Ex-Husbands and Wives
I loved it how everybody turned to Queen B. and how the gang worked together to foil Dr. Evil van der Woodsen’s plan. It was only sad that S. got hurt in the process but at least no one did it intentionally.
The end worries me though; I just hope N. doesn’t make a huge mistake now. Little J. has done enough damage already.
(see how I did Gossip Speak there? I always find it funny how nobody seems to have a complete name on that show. )

Happy Town
Since the show was already put on a break AND has been cancelled, I don’t even bother to watch the second episode.

House M.D. 6×19 The Choice
A good episode. I liked it how they didn’t verbally judge him for lying to himself about his sexuality. But they made it clear that he’s lying to himself.
And I always love karaoke pieces, especially when the characters/actors also seem to have a lot of fun with it.

Veronica Mars:

Angel:

Smallville:

House M.D. 6×20 Baggage
From the story-telling POV I loved the episode. The way it was told, the way they changed the scenery and how they interwove House’s session with his memories or assumptions.
And the ending is just sad because it feels like House is giving up and no good can come out of this.

Justified 1×08 Blowback
It’s no new character trait to him. He always spoke quiet and polite to his opponents in the previous episodes. But I really liked how they made an entire episode out of it and he didn’t even had to shoot anyone.

Justified 1×09 Hatless
And another episode I enjoyed, especially with everyone pointing out that he’s not wearing his huge hat.

LOST 6×15 Across the Sea
I have to say, I was a bit disappointed of this episode. Because even if it pretended in doing so, it didn’t actually answer any questions (except for the unimportant ones). For example: Now we know who the skeletons are. Wow. That was the question I’ve been dying to get an answer for. And they used a sledgehammer to make that point (when did the LOST viewer ever need an actual memory-flashback to connect the dots?).
But it didn’t answer the important questions: Why was bother-without-name not allowed to leave the island – even before he became Smokey? And more to the point: If I understood it correctly, he didn’t even become Smokey. Smokey was something Jacob released when he killed his brother.
So far I was under the impression that Smokey wasn’t allowed to leave the island because that would be bad for the world (and probably is). But with b-w-n’s back-story that doesn’t make much sense anymore, does it?
And how did b-w-n know the things he knew, especially what a wooden wheel could do with a subterranean glowy thingy.
Also: When did that happen? I’m no Bones, but I would guess that bones that lay out in the open (even if it’s in a cave) would decompose eventually. For me it seems unlikely that they would even outlast the time Richard has already been there.

How I Met Your Mother 5×22 Robots Vs. Wrestlers
Sometimes I think I watch this show out of pure habit. It isn’t as funny as it used to be, especially since Ted doesn’t seem to move forward anymore. Granted, I liked it how he enjoyed this party – it was within Ted’s character. But there doesn’t seem to be a lasting consequence. It was just a one-episode gag.
And to be perfectly honest, I didn’t like it at all that the gang always interrupted him with their infantile fart noises.

Party Down 2×03 Nick DiCintio’s Orgy Night
Blunt and honest as always. Liked it.

Smallville 9×21 Salvation
Great finale, if you ask me. A cool yet short super-powered fight and then a really good man-to-man without powers. I also liked the JSA/JLA cameos, even though not all of them were there (Impulse, Aquaman, Zatanna).
And I really liked how Clark inadvertently spoke the same sentence to Lois that the Blur said to her a few episodes ago. But I also believe that he must have known that she’d figure it out when he kissed her. After all, it was the same way she figured out he was Fake Green Arrow in 6×14 Crimson.
I just hope they don’t pull another amnesia joker out of their lower backs.

Supernatural 5×21 Two Minutes to Midnight
I really like the notion that Death is by default above all this petty rivalry and if you really think about it, who Death is, then it makes absolutely sense. Thus I liked that he simply gave Dean his ring and even explained how they work exactly.

Supernatural 5×22 Swan Song
I’m at peace with both endings. Sam sacrificing himself and pulling Michael with him, thus ending the rivalry (at least on Earth) and Dean keeping his promise to both Death and Sam.
I honestly could have lived with that as a series ending and liked the way Chuck told the story about the brothers and the ‘67 Impala.
The only question that remains now is, was Chuck God? Or was he simply just a prophet and got some kind of reward in the end?

And since there is a sixth season and we’ve already seen a being that looked strangely familiar I take it that Sam got an honourable discharge from the service. It might be possible that I’m wrong, but I think that he will be regular Sam because Eric Kripke stated that this whole five season arc would end with this episode.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand 1×11 / 1×12 / 1×13 Old Wounds / Revelations / Kill Them All
Just when I was about to say that they eased up on the blood, the finale comes along and with it the biggest slaughter of them all (the episode title can be taken quite literally). Let’s just say not many people from the first season cast will be seen again in the second season…
Everything considered I’d say the adjective best describing this new show would be “interesting”, in all the facets that word can be used. “Bloodporn” would be a noun describing the show. I promise, there is a story in it and it’s not that bad but one must decide for oneself if the main dish is worth all the toppings.

Two and a Half Men 7×20 I Called Him Magoo
$1000/day hooker is still cheaper than marriage. Says Charlie Harper. Charlie Sheen pays his ex-wife Denise Richards $1,643.83/day. Is it just me or is this show getting more meta with every episode in the recent season? Or has it always been this way and Charlie S. just wasn’t so much in the news?

Doctor Who 5×07 ***’* ******
I hadn’t read the episode title during the opening credits and to honest I’m glad I didn’t and I think it’s a bit spoilerific. Of course all Doctor Who titles are a bit spoilerific (What to expect from Vampires in Venice?) bit I think in this particular case they could have been a bit more cryptic.
That being sad I can say I have figured out who this was all about long before it was remotely made clear in the episode itself.
Though I had thought it would end differently. I had thought the TARDIS reality was the first to vanish. My reasoning was that for all Companions the travel with the TARDIS are a wonderful dream come true. But one day, inevitably, this dream must come to an end; the Companion awakes in the real world again. This will be true for Amy, just as it was for Sarah Jane, Rose, Martha, Donna and all the others who travelled with the Doctor at one time or another.
But I also have to admit, I didn’t figured out who the Dream Lord was, for a moment I assumed it was a shadow of the Master or something like that.
PS: I enjoyed it very much.

The Good Wife 1×20 Mock
The People vs. Hänsel & Gretel. Great choice. I also liked the skateboard stunt in the beginning. Otherwise it was an average episode.
PS: Can someone help me out here: Who exactly was the redhead at the beginning of the episode?

The Good Wife 1×21 Unplugged
It had to end this way. Since it’s a show about her and it’s unlikely that she will change firms and introduce an entire batch of new co-characters it always had to be her in the end. Ironically, it’s the same for the character of Cary as well as his actor. Unless of course they’ll find a way to keep both around (I haven’t sneak-peaked).
And that Eli would come to collect was also no surprise for me (that it was a surprise for her was a surprise for me, she shouldn’t have been that naïve).

CW 19-20

Chuck 3×14 Chuck vs the Honeymooners
I’ve enjoyed this episode very much. It had the typical Chuck mixture of fun and action the early seasons had. Sarah’s Texan impersonation was also very funny and I don’t think I have to say anything about her habit of walking around in lingerie all the time.
But I also really enjoyed Jeffster’s (IMHO good) interpretation of Leaving on a Jet Plane.

Romantically Challenged 1×02 The Charade
Nope, nothing special about this show. Just your average multi-camera sitcom with laugh-track.

Happy Town 1×01 In This Home on Ice
I’m a bit confused. Is this pure mystery? Is there a supernatural element in the story? What’s up with Chloe?
The pilot felt a bit rushed because so many different characters had to be introduced (however briefly) but it certainly looks intriguing and I’ll continue to watch.

10 Things I Hate About You 1×15 The Winner Takes It All
If there’s one thing in TV Land that gives me the creeps, it’s public embarrassments in front of a big audience, especially if one sees it coming. I always cringe and even try to stall the inevitable moment by pausing(!) the video. And yet I will not skip over it.
In contrast, I have no problem with putting myself into a spotlight and do things I’m not talented enough to do – just for the fun of it.

Unfortunately, 10 Things won’t get a second season. While it’s not the best show out there, I certainly enjoyed it.

Bones 5×19 The Rocker in the Rinse Cycle
This is one of the episodes I have my problems with. Bones always dealt with magic when it came to solve their murders but the way they found the cause of death this time was once again too over the top. It was like the episode where the bones turned into foam and they still could determine the way the blade (bullet?) went through the rips. Wall Banger.
But I enjoyed the other parts: Booth getting loose, B&B singing, Hodgins & muslim guy talking Baseball, Angela invoking her father, …

Cougar Town 1×21 Letting You Go
I know I become repetitive with this but the guys rule! And that to the music of Enya!

Gossip Girl 3×19 Dr. Estrangeloved
Yes! Jenny’s plan failed. Now I need a real comeuppance for her and I’m happy.
In the case Dan vs. Vanessa I have to say I’m on his side. She simply could have told him and none of this would have happened. If she really expected to have no chance at all, why did she send it in the first place?
As for Blair & Chuck it’s surprising how the roles have switched; earlier in the season it was he who was the adult, responsible guy and suddenly she seems to be more mature than him.
And of course Dr. van der Woodsen is up to no good, I did expect no less…

Smallville 9×19 Sacrifice
Too bad this is Smallville. Otherwise I’d expect a huge battle at the end of this season, like the battle in X-Men 3 where everyone has to choose sides.
But since it is Smallville, I expect that the Kandorians will be dealt with without a big bloodshed. I imagine they get bottled up again. And Zod will die by his own hand or stupidity or whatever. I don’t see him being killed by any Human (because that would be cheap) and Clark can’t do it (you know that divine character clause that prohibits him from doing such things…).

House M.D. 6×18 Open and Shut
House simply can’t resist and I’m still not sure whether he really does it for Wilson’s sake or for his own. But at least his meddling takes place on a rather civilized level compared to what he did over the last years.
And Taub … well, he’s Taub. Let’s see when this comes crashing down.
This was also the first time in quite a while that I remembered that Thirteen has an actual name (Dr. Hadley) though I still can’t remember her first name…

Justified 1×07 Blind Spot
And M.C. Gainey’s back…
This was yet another interesting episode; I’m getting quite fond of that show, even though I have my usual problem of not being able to place all the faces and their role in the story.

Supernatural 5×20 The Devil You Know
So, dead ex-boyfriend of Lana Lang’s (Jason Teague) meets another dead ex-boyfriend of Lana Lang’s (Whitney Fordman). The universe is a small place, even when it’s an alternate one.
And yet another familiar face: Mark A. Sheppard, who first got on my radar Badger in Firefly. This season alone I’ve seen him in White Collar, Leverage, Chuck & Supernatural. This guy deserves his own show!
I just hope he doesn’t screw Bobby over because anything is possible with two Horsemen, one fallen Angel and only two episodes left…

Doctor Who 5×05 Flesh and Stone
Seems that River-Song doesn’t seem to know the Doctor as well as she thinks. At least I couldn’t notice any difference in his behaviour just because he found out that she was in prison and why.
I especially enjoyed how Amy tried to snog the Doctor without the hesitation her predecessors had.

One thing my mother(!) noticed: When the Doctor leaves Amy and then comes back to tell her that she must remember, one only sees his face and hands – most of the time. But when you see his neck you can clearly see a tweed jacket.
First of all: He shouldn’t wear that jacket in that moment because the Angels took it from him.
Second of all: Does it look slightly different (darker)?
If it is a different jacket then this was certainly not the Doctor from this episode (and since time is re-writing itself, it’s not impossible that he was actually twice there).
If it’s the same jacket it still poses the question if this was a simple production error (different order of scene shooting) or on purpose which leads to the same conclusion above.

The Good Wife 1×19 Boom
Maybe I wasn’t really paying attention but I was surprised how the trial (not) ended because of that last testimony. Maybe I have to watch it again.
Nonetheless I liked the other two stories of that episode, the one with the lawyer castling and the personal story of Alicia and her husband.

Stargate Universe 1×11 / 1×12 / 1×13 Space / Divided / Faith
It’s getting better (but since it’s rising from the basement that doesn’t mean much) but I’m still not really interested. I just watched it because I was tired anyway and I didn’t want to miss out on a show that I really care about.
The “rebellion” in the 12th episode made no sense whatsoever. If it had succeeded, what was their plan for afterwards? What would have changed? Soldiers without guns. And then? Their argument was that in a democracy the military obeys a civilian government. Okay, but how was that ever supposed to work here? Even if Young agreed: At one point (next battle) they would have gotten back their weapons and if he decided “Screw this!” then there would be nothing the civilians could do about it…

CW 18

Romantically Challenged 1×01 Don’t Be Yourself
What I’ve seen so far is a run-of-the-mill sitcom and I’ve seen nothing (except for Alyssa of course ) that makes this one special. Maybe I watch a few more episodes, maybe I don’t. But I honestly don’t think I’ll miss something if I don’t.

10 Things I Hate About You 1×14 Meat Is Murder
It was really cool how Blank played Kat while being completely honest with her.
But I also liked how Bianca tried to smooth things up with Cameron and how she “trained” Stacy (especially on the topic of LOST) so that she would be perfect for Cameron.

Bones 5×18 The Predator in the Pool
Rena Sofer, huh? I can see why Booth would be attracted to her. I find it fascinating who both Bs know that it’s “wrong” what they are doing and yet go through with it (for now). But I liked the uncomfortable look on Brennan’s face because the ball is on her side now and she has to act.
As for the case: A lot of convenient coincidences in this one (like the fish burping out the skull at the right moment). I have no problem with written coincidences on TV shows but please not too many and not blatantly obvious.

Castle 2×21 Den of Thieves
Michael Trucco, huh? Starbuck fell for him, Penny fell for him – so why not Kate?
I really liked it that Ryan and especially Esposito played a bigger role than usual. They have been criminally underused so far. And it was great how the two of them and Castle totally “inconspicuously” investigated Trucco’s character.
I also liked how the episode ended and they all covered for Esposito.

Cougar Town 1×20 Wake Up Time
Again the men were the highlight of the episode. Grayson on the emotional level, Andy on the funny level and Bobby on his usual weird level. Too bad Kylie is gone already; I really thought she and Grayson made a nice couple.

And now for “emotional chicken”:

Gossip Girl 3×18 The Unblairable Lightness of Being
I like it that there’s no coming back from this whole Indecent Proposal affair but I certainly would not like to see Dan and Blair involved in any way. But I guess the next big storm clouds are Jenny-Nate-Serena and Rufus-Lily-Dr. van der Woodsen anyway.

House M.D. 6×16 Lockdown
That was a really interesting episode and a nice pairing off due to the external circumstances. The best part certainly was House and that patient (since we all know House does not like patients) and the way they talked about things. Second place goes to Thirteen and Wilson and their truth or dare game. I honestly didn’t really care for Cameron. She’s a character who’s left, she won’t come back, so I’m done with her.

House M.D. 6×17 Knight Fall
I’m somewhat torn about the morality aspect of this episode. I don’t think the “knight” was really an idiot. To tell a female friend who’s getting married to another friend that one loves her is IMHO not a move one should make lightly, especially if it’s not certain, how she would take it. Sure, in TV land all would end well but in reality it’s more likely that at least two people get burned.

How I Met Your Mother 5×19 Zoo or False
The monkey and the doll and the Empire State Building. Great ending to a nice episode.

How I Met Your Mother 5×20 Home Wreckers
Finally a real episode about Ted and his progress again. Just like with the last episode I liked it that it remained ambiguous who really cried at the wedding (my bet was: Both of them).
I also liked it that this was the actual house, because that wasn’t just a comment by Marshall, that’s actually who Ted is (as been shown over the last five years).

Justified 1×06 The Collection
That man’s so cool, he’s giving me frostbite. How he calmly talked the horse trainer out of shooting him. Awesome, dude.
What I liked even more was the Voyager’s Doctor’s collection of Hitler’s paintings and the way he stored then. *thumbs up*

LOST 6×13 The Last Recruit
For now it seems pretty obvious that Jack’s going to be the lighthouse keeper but because it’s so obvious I bet there will be another turn of the table. After all, there are still 5 episodes left.
But I really liked that the ATL people are clustering at high speeds. If they keep that rate up, they all will meet in one spot sooner rather than later.

Party Down 2×01 / 2×02 Jackal Onassis Backstage Party / Precious Lights Pre-School Auction
The dynamics have changed a bit but it’s still the same show. They are still great at showing the truth about every of these events they are catering. The appeal of this show for me is that it’s not a sequence of setup & jokes but it feels more like a documentary where all the characters are involuntarily funny without actually meaning to be.

Smallville 9×18 Charade
So, the Daily Planet is looking for a new editor-in-chief? I wonder who that will be.
While Lois’s reasoning why she doesn’t want him to reveal who he is may be textbook superhero reasoning, it still sounded a bit off to me. The Blur never said to her that he doesn’t want to reveal himself. He simply didn’t do it (so far). Also, these hypothetical thugs would have to know that she knows or doesn’t know his face; otherwise her being-at-risk status doesn’t change at all. But maybe someone sent Lois a Spider-Man DVD.
I just hope that Lois & Clark don’t break up, despite what the end was indicating.

Doctor Who 5×04 The Time of Angels
I wonder how the Angels ever got in that cave. Did someone put them there while being well lit? Because there are so many of them they are bound to look at each other and with the tiniest bit of light they would be quantum-locked for all eternity. Or maybe it’s the nursery and that’s why they haven’t got their wings yet?
But I digress. I find it fascinating that this is a point in time where both the Doctor and Doctor Corday River-Song have met each other but both not for the first time and yet they both have different times when they first met. Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey. Love it.

The Good Wife 1×18 Doubt
10 years for nothing. 10 years for murder. I liked this episode and how they showed most of it from the jury’s point of view. If you take away what you (as the viewer) additionally saw it’s no wonder the jury had trouble to decide. Even with that additional information it never became clear whether she did it. It’s a heavy burden such a group has to bear.

Two and a Half Men 7×18 Keith Moon Is Vomiting in his Grave
Maybe I’m already preparing for this show to end but I didn’t find it as funny as other episodes. Charlie not really caring is one thing, but actually forgetting what just happened is something else.

Supernatural 5×16 / 5×17 / 5×18 / 5×19 Dark Side of the Moon / 99 Problems / Point of No Return / Hammer of the Gods
The finish line is getting closer. Considering the casualties in these episodes they are certainly cleaning up the field to make room for big end fight.
I somehow still wish that Gabriel tricked himself out of this once again but I fear that’s it for him. He had a good run there.
Logic dictates that if the other Gods like Odin can be killed, then the God must also be killable, since they made it clear in this episode that he’s no better than them. Unless of course the power of a God dependent upon the number of his worshippers.
And even if they trap Lucifer again, what’s with Michael? Would he actually stop the war or will God intervene after all?

This is certainly a show I will put in a marathon once I’ve got all five seasons on DVD.

Screw Destiny!

CW 13-17

Chuck 3×10 Chuck vs. the Tic Tac
The team has hit rock bottom now. It’s basically not even a team anymore. But as the saying goes, it’s always darkest before dawn and since this season was only supposed to have 13 episodes and got an additional set of six and going by what I’ve read I assume this arc will be resolved by the end of episode 13 and then a new one begins.
Chuck without either Sarah or Casey wouldn’t work, so I’m pretty sure they’ll find a way to bring them both back.

White Collar 1×14 Out of the Box
This was a pretty cool season finale. I didn’t expect that so much would be going on in there. As for the final scene, I didn’t really care whether Neal was going because if there’s a season two he would have come back anyway. But this ending was a bit too clichéd – no way in hell did Kate die on that plane.
I certainly like that show and I will be back for the second season.

LOST 6×07 Dr. Linus
The episode didn’t do much to bring the mythology forward but it was a helluva story. Both sides were really great. I loved it not knowing how Ben or Dr. Linus would decide and I loved it how he decided off-island and how the story turned on-island. Michael Emerson is a great actor one has to admit that.
Now I am wondering how this puzzle will look when completed since off-island Dr. Linus and his father have actually been to the island.

LOST 6×08 Recon
And another great episode. Miles and Sawyer as cop-buddies – I’d watch an entire show of that. What did strike me as odd though was the fact that now-we-know-he’s-a-cop Sawyer let Kate escape at LAX in LA X. And I have to wonder if everything has a deeper meaning or if the producers just throw in a bone from time to time (“LaFleur”).
And it’s nice to know that LAPD cops are allowed to sleep with suspects.

Gossip Girl 3×13 The Hurt Locket
Four months can be a long time. And it has been four months since the last Gossip Girl episode had been aired. And I have to admit, I had forgotten about what was going on in the show. Thus the first half of the episode I was figuring out the who-why-what questions.
And even at the end of the episode I felt very indifferently towards all of the characters, not even the Jenny drug scam could upset me.

Gossip Girl 3×14 The Lady Vanished
I’m still only slowly reconnecting to the show. All the dramatic events of this episode had little to no effect on me.
As I said before the big break I thought that Chuck has become a grown-up man. But now I also noticed it with Sabrina, Blair & Nathan. They’ve all seemed to have become older and more settled whereas the real adults haven’t changed at all and are as unsteady as ever.

How I Met Your Mother 5×17 Of Course
Going by this episode I bet Barney and Robin are back together by the end of the season. And I am not against it. Once again Barney has proven he’s a decent guy after all.
All in all it was a very funny episode.

The Big Bang Theory 3×17 The Precious Fragmentation
But this one was even better. I laughed so hard at all these nerd jokes (I recognized all of them of course ) and I loved it how they recognized how very nerdy they behaved (which happens very rarely).
“I pity the fool who’s illogical!”

House M.D. 6×14 Private Lives
I know that woman. But from where? Even though I have trouble recognizing faces I am not familiar with it happens from time to time that I see a face that I know I know and just can’t plcae it anywhere. Naturally I look it up, favourably in IMDb. And what do I see: I already looked her up recently; the link is marked as visited (I came from an episode of How I Met Your Mother). But I didn’t found what I was looking for since there are no other links visited. But now I take a closer look and what do I find? That ’70s Show. And now I suddenly see her clearly before me in that garage they used to hang out. Funny thing the mind is because I couldn’t tell you if I had ever seen two full episodes of that show. It was just something that flashed by when I zapped through the channels and yet I can clearly see that big dumb guy, a small Italian(?) guy, the blonde in question and a hot redhead? No wait the hot redhead was in the show with that toy rabbit in the basement…

Anyway… I loved the whole porn story and also Wilson’s retribution. They are becoming more and more The Odd Couple (if that wasn’t the template from the start ). And the whole Chase-”I am really good looking?”-affair was also very funny.

House M.D. 6×15 Black Hole
With this episode I have to wonder if that brain imaging machine is actually something real (or at least a theoretical concept in some young doctor’s dissertation) or if it’s just techno voodoo. Because I don’t really like it when shows drift from “real” to science-fiction. For example: Bones had that stuff from the beginning so it didn’t bother me. But House seemed to be a bit more grounded even when they stretch their diagnostic abilities to the breaking point.
This was once again an episode that showed how House has changed since his visit to the loony bin. His mind is still great but he doesn’t (necessarily) use it anymore to torture those around him (like when he said to Taub “Good for you.” and seemed to mean it).

With this episode I have watched 300 episodes in this TV Season 2009/2010 Diary now.

Human Target 1×08 Baptiste
This episode worked much better than last week’s. Lex Luthor’s ex-wife has more chemistry with Chance than the guerrilla woman from the episode before. I also liked the way they told the story with mixing the talk on the bench with scenes of what happened before. Not just a simple “8 hours earlier” and that’s it.
But they didn’t fool me, I didn’t believe she was dead. I can’t remember the last person who was in an episode of any show and then “died” off-screen that was actually dead in the end.

Life Unexpected 1×08 Bride Unbridled
Sometimes I have the feeling they add the drama for its own sake. I really can’t think of an actual reason why Lux would be mad at Baze for helping Jones to give her a happy day – a day where she had the chance to see her best friend again.
But I liked it that Ryan and Baze had a man-to-man and I hope that they will get along better from now on.

Life Unexpected 1×09 Formal Reformed
OK, that went not so well. Maybe Baze is still a bit of the guy he was 16 years ago. And sleeping with Kate’s sister might also not have been his best idea. But on the other hand, he is not in a relationship and Kate has pushed him away once more. So he’s not obligated to anyone. But I bet there will be drama when this comes out.
But in one regard mother and daughter have something in common: They both have more than one guy who cares for her.

Two and a Half Men 7×17 I Found Your Moustache
It was an OK episode, Chelsea’s father and his friend a certainly a funny addition to the show.

The Good Wife 1×15 Bang
Gary Cole was a really interesting character and I loved it how he “spoofed” Diane’s picture with Hillary Clinton with his own: Him & Sarah Palin.
I also like Eli, he’s so refreshingly outspoken.
But what I found most amusing was that this book actually exists. (Check out the Customer Reviews!)

The Good Wife 1×16 Fleas
I wouldn’t have liked it when they had taken that Drug Lord as a client. I know that law firms are by definition not only representing the good guys but sometimes I like to indulge myself in the illusion that at least my television law firms belong to the good guys.
And now really start to appreciate Eli.

The Good Wife 1×17 Heart
This episode was a bit too American for me. All these endless abortion arguments and the husband who has been unfaithful and now needs to make amends to the public…
Real life example: Why did Tiger Woods apologize to the public because he cheated on his wife?! She has to decided whether she accepts his apology; the public has no business in what happens in other people’s bedrooms if no felony is involved.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand 1×06 / 1×07 / 1×08 / 1×09 Delicate Things / Great and Unfortunate Things / Mark of the Brotherhood / Whore
I wouldn’t have it thought possible but they actually managed to show even more naked women per episode. In some scenes there’s not a single dressed woman anymore. It’s like softporn – with an actual story.
And now they not only show gallons of blood in the arena, but also in the mind of the protagonist.
What I also noticed is that they disposed of quite a number of characters in the first two episodes. And when Spartacus finds out that he had his wife killed Batiatus’s life won’t be worth a single coin…

At this point I’m wondering what the long-term plans for this show are, i.e. do they make it up as they go along or is there a master plan that at some the story point switches from the arena to his uprising?

FlashForward 1×11 / 1×12 Revelation Zero, Part 1 & 2
It was not perfect but I thought it was much better than the last episodes I saw of this show. But maybe it was because Mark wasn’t that much in it. I don’t know, we’ll see.
And the hobbit has lost parts of his finger; that brings back old memories.

CW 12