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.

The Big Bang Theory 4×03 The Zazzy Substitution
And I thought Leonard was the one with the cat fixation when his love life took a dive. Sheldon and Amy are perfect for each other even when they split up.

Smallville 10×03 Supergirl
This (final) season brings a whole lot of confusion. In the season nine finale Salvation Clark had become a leader, confident of himself and his destiny. And now Jor-El suddenly tells him is doing everything wrong again, even disowns(!) him in this episode and everyone except Lois is on the Clark-bashing train again. I just hope there’s something wrong with the Jor-El A.I. because otherwise this makes no sense at all. But making no sense is not unheard of in Smallville land either…
The Darkseid story could be interesting but it’s that back and forth again that muddies everything. For example: At the end of last episode we saw a confident Clark in a new costume on top of the Daily Planet and suddenly his cousin comes back and flat out tells him that he has too many doubts and cannot defeat Darkseid.
The only thing I’ve enjoyed so far this season is all the Lois scenes, either with Clark or with Carter.
And Lois extended her costume collection.

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).

How I Met Your Mother 6×01 Big Days
We are still no step further towards the mother. And the episode itself wasn’t that funny. The only really noteworthy thing for me was that Alyson’s breasts are still larger than usual while Cobie’s are back to normal size (in comparison to their respective real-world pre-pregnancy state).
I don’t know, somehow the fun of this show is gone…

Castle 3×01 A Deadly Affair
Aww, they are back together. I don’t mind this whole will-they-or-won’t-they because these two have a great chemistry even when she is mad at him. I also loved how he was always the first at the crime scene (even on the first one as cardboard stand-up), it was a nice running gag.

Two and a Half Men 8×01 Three Girls and a Guy Named Bud
Charlie is still the same and he still has it. The show is still very funny – mainly due to Charlie’s very own view of the world.

Chuck 3×18 / 3×19 Chuck Versus the Subway / Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II
Even though he’s listed as “confirmed casualty” on Ausiello’s season finale scorecard, I don’t really believe that we won’t see Stephen J. Bartowski again. I mean, c’mon. He gets shot a few feet away from a hidden room where there’s cellular regeneration technology that brought Shaw back from the dead. And Ellie was hidden behind a pillar. On a show where death is cheap!
I liked the conclusion of the season and how it took yet another turn to stay fresh. I just wonder if the Buy More storyline is now really over or if they simply open a Buy Something Different store (Remember when in Alias SD-6 was disbanded yet all the characters found themselves in a similar environment again?).

The Big Bang Theory 3×23 The Lunar Excitation
I couldn’t help but to think of Zack as a grown-up version of TaaHM’s Jake.
I enjoyed the episode and was totally with Raj and Howard when they asked themselves what the hell they had done.

How I Met Your Mother 5×24 Doppelgangers
This episode had some nice heart-warming moments and was a nice conclusion to the season. I just hope that they get back on track next year.

Two and a Half Men 7×22 This Is Not Gonna End Well
I have to say I was terribly annoyed by both Alan and Jake in this episode. Not just the usual funny way, this time they were actually annoying.

10 Things I Hate About You 1×19 / 1×20 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough / Revolution
Too bad this show ended with these episode, I really enjoyed it for what it was and I think I’m still going to buy it on DVD, even though it’s just one season.

Doctor Who 5×08 / 5×09 The Hungry Earth / Cold Blood
I really enjoyed this two-parter. It was a quieter one (read: less running ) and I liked that both parties had their faults and the will to overcome their differences.
It was sad when Rory died but it was the most elegant way to get rid of him. But I am also sure that he will be back when the Doctor fixes that whole crack mess.
Though I have to say I consider this a plot-hole: Amy could remember the cleric-soldiers after they went into the light but not her fiancé.

CW 13-22

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

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

The Big Bang Theory 3×19 The Wheaton Recurrence
Didn’t they have the “I love you.” – “Thank you.” joke on last year’s Two and a Half Men (another Chuck Lorre production)?
But first to the Wheaton part: I enjoyed him being back and once again triumphant over Sheldon. They can keep this up if it were for me.
Now to Leonard & Penny: I smell break-up. But the problem is that it wouldn’t feel organic if they did. Penny and Leonard had the most normal intimate relationship in all TV shows over the last few years. They got together and then they just were. No obstacles, no real complications – most often their relationship wasn’t even a real topic in the episode. And suddenly Penny gets cold feet. Maybe they decide that they need a break. Then Leonard sleeps with another woman, Penny doesn’t forgive him and five years later she has a baby with him and in the end she wants to move to Paris and … oh hold on there. That was another couple…

LOST 6×10 The Package
I liked the idea of Sun not speaking English anymore. It brought back memories of the first season.
Unfortunately I didn’t feel that both stories brought the entire story really forward (except for the last minute, but I already guessed that it would be Desmond).

LOST 6×11 Happily Ever After
Everything is falling into place, I can feel it. I still don’t see the whole picture or how this flash-sideways is going to turn out but I can really feel how we’re steering towards the end of a long journey and I’m still exciting to be on board.
If Smokey can’t penetrate an EM fence and Desmond can survive huge EM pulses maybe it will be his task to lure Smokey into such a place (Remember? Huge EM pockets beneath the island?) and then tear him apart in an EM eruption.
And I think Penny and Charlie are so much more interesting than their counterparts on FlashForward.

LOST 6×12 Everybody Loves Hugo
Yes we do! I liked Hugo from the moment he fainted over the U.S. Marshall. He’s basically the only one who didn’t have a big agenda over the last six years, he just went along with one group or the next.
I think it was a big mistake of Smokey to throw Desmond into that well because I bet that’s the place where Desmond was supposed to end up anyway, at the core of everything.
Assuming Sun is the correct Kwon, it means that all remaining (known) candidates are in one place: Jack, Sun, Hugo, Sawyer, Sayid and an unknown person.
One oversight on Richard’s part: since he cannot blow himself up, he should have handled the dynamite…

Smallville 9×15 Escape
It was an OK ghost story. I’ve read somewhere that “Silver Banshee” is a known DC character but I have to say I’ve seen better guest appearances of other DC characters.
But I’ve enjoyed the bathroom scene very much; somehow it reminded me of the first witch episode in season 4. I also like it when they play the forgetfulness card to embarrass one of the characters – like when Chloe figured everything out.

Smallville 9×16 Checkmate
I don’t know if it’s really a good idea to bring yet another party into the game at this point in the season. We’ve already got the “JLA”, the Kandorians & Checkmate. Why a fourth group and why would John join them? – Unless of course it’s the old JSA who don’t yet trust the “new boys in town”. We’ll see. I just hope they don’t screw it up again towards the ending – but so far I’m very optimistic since I’ve enjoyed the entire season so far.
Too bad Lois wasn’t in this episode, I missed her. In earlier seasons I didn’t mind but by now I feel she should be present most of the time.

Human Target 1×10 Tanarak
It was an OK episode but the end fight had some obvious continuity errors (like when they jumped of the truck but were nowhere to be seen in the wide shot afterwards when it blew up only a second later and to the other car with it).

Human Target 1×11 Victoria
While the plot was obviously a big nod towards Princess Diana, I did enjoy the episode; especially when the Irish Connor recognized the Princess of Wales.
Though they seemed to have a problem to get enough people with an English accent to pose as security detail – I doubt the queen would have that many Americans in her staff.

Human Target 1×12 Christopher Chance
I honestly don’t think she’s really dead. Why? Because it was one of these obvious fake TV deaths. You see something blown up where you saw the “dead” person last alive. But here it’s even worse than in White Collar. Because there were minutes between when we saw her and when the boat blew up. I know Baptiste is rather ruthless, but maybe he had another plan or he couldn’t get to her before she vanished. Or whatever.
But as long as I don’t actually see a person die on television I am not convinced she or he is actually dead. And even if they are dead: If it’s the right genre that might mean nothing.

Everything considered I think it’s a nice action show but if you don’t watch it you haven’t missed anything either.

Smallville 9×17 Upgrade
Ah the good ol’ Red K again.
What bothered me about this episode (and every time it has happened in the past) is when Clark asks or demands of someone to be “totally honest” with him. I know he just wants to protect them but it’s always a bit hypocritical because … well you know why. If he doesn’t want to share his secret that’s fine with me but he should give others the same right.
I’m also still worried about Chloe, she has done too many things to others “for their own good” and of course without telling them. I think that will backfire one day – way worse than it did this time with Clark. And since this is Allison Mack’s last season (as far as I’m aware) this could go down rather badly.
LoJacking Lois may also not have been Clark’s best idea – even if he just wanted to protect her. And what was with his Red K ego this time? I know they tried to explain it in the end, but I still though he was very different than on his previous travels to RedRubyLand.

Bones 5×17 The Death of the Queen Bee
Sweets: And this Ray Buxley was a prime suspect in ‘94?
Booth: He was high school custodian, but they didn’t have enough to hold him.
Sweets: Lives alone, low-status job, obsession with gruesome crime stories, surrounded by teenage girls. Very creepy. It’s like Freddy-creepy.

He can still pull it off. I loved it how Ray and Bones talked about things that are slightly disturbing from an outside POV and thought nothing of it. In fact I loved the entire aspect of Bones’s class reunion and how the others reacted to her.

10 Things I Hate About You 1×13 Great Expectations
It was an average episode and I can’t really say much about it.

Castle 2×20 The Late Shaft
I didn’t enjoy this episode as much as other Castle episodes, mainly because the trail to the murderer felt a bit too constructed (a death threat by a not-murderer started the whole thing and it ended with the elaborate way he was actually murdered) and I couldn’t really feel why he did it even though he spoke the words. It was just not really convincing.

Justified 1×03 Fixer
I like that strange assortment of people they seem to have in that town. And I like this man’s style. He certainly makes sure that the prisons aren’t overly crowded.

Justified 1×04 Long in the Tooth
I enjoyed Alan Ruck in this role, it was fitting for him (Cameron Frye anyone?). And the whole thing that got the episode started: Ouch. Too bad it ended that way but I assume he knew that his wound was fatal and he tried to protect her…

Justified 1×05 The Lord of War and Thunder
No wonder he wanted to get away from that town. That’s quite a family. And one has to give it to him: He is persistent; gardening for days just to get a peek into a house…

So far me is liking that show.

A few months back I was wondering if TV Show seasons are getting shorter and I expressed some regret over it. Now I’m not so sure that this is really a bad thing. 13 or 16 episodes are still in a range where you can tell a good story.
I may be imagining it but I thing these shorter series seem to have less or no filler episodes like the full season series do. Shorter seasons also make it possible to watch more and different series.
Don’t get me wrong, if there’s enough story, sure, go ahead, tell a full season. But if there isn’t then less is more.

Life Unexpected 1×11 Storm Weathered
Nice analogy there between Jones-Lux-Bug and Baze-Cate-Ryan. I bet after the revelation that Baze might have feelings for Cate after all, it’s going downhill from here.

Life Unexpected 1×12 Father Unfigured
While it adds drama, I liked it that not everything is now suddenly sunshine and roses. I don’t think it would have been a good idea if Cate’s father would now suddenly return and become yet another piece of this already complicated family puzzle.

Life Unexpected 1×13 Love Unexpected
What? No Big No at the end? The deal is sealed? This is going to be an interesting honeymoon… It was fascinating how Baze changed his opinion very five minutes, depending of with whom he was talking to before. But since Ryan and Cate had their doubts, too, I’d rather not speculate how long this marriage is going to last (provided that the show gets a second season).

I have to say I enjoyed this new series. The characters were interesting and it’s nice to watch a show once in a while were not the entire world is at stake or where an killer has to be caught every episode. This is just about a small family who have their own problems. “Bend or broken is the family tree…”

Doctor Who 5×03 Victory of the Daleks
Now I’m wondering why Amy doesn’t know about the Daleks. Obviously it has something to do with the crack in the reality but I wonder how the Doctor caused it and more importantly: When. If the Daleks are survivors from the end of season 4 then logically it should happened before that. But then Amy should remember the Earth out of orbit and in the Medusa Cascade. Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff makes my head spin.

CW 13-16