The Price of Past Mistakes

Gossip Girl S01E17

“Woman on the Verge”

Now this is what I look for in an episode of Gossip Girl. It had everything that is needed for a trashy piece of drama. And it makes me a little upset that we only have one episode left.

… And I’m back.

Tests are done. I’m back home, though nowhere near unpacked. And I spent all of last night catching up on television that I missed during the week. For most shows I’m going to do quick blurb rundowns before getting back to the big reviews this week. Let’s do this in alphabetical order.

30 Rock “Cooter”

This was by far the strongest post-strike episode. It’s pretty painful, then, that this was the season finale. What hit the perfect note for me was the evolution of Jack and Liz’s friendship. The parade of voice mails that Jack listened to were heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time. Liz’s pregnancy scare was pretty good, if only because we had another chance to see Dennis, who in small doses is amazing. Jack had the best storyline of anyone in the episode. There were a number of hilarious gags the occurred at the Homeland Security office. Everything from the ceiling leak, the candle under the lampshade, the lack of pens, and the subsequent box of pen caps was just continually topping itself. Kenneth’s attempt to go to Beijing was the low point of the episode. I never really found the whole page conflict to be that interesting. Though the story was somewhat saved by Jenna, who has been all but absent in the second half of the season.

Battlestar Galactica “Faith”

Thankfully, the mutiny situation was dealt with fairly quickly. They made it to the basestar and Starbuck was able to speak to the hybrid. I was afraid, after seeing this scene in the previews, that it was going to be held until the final five minutes of the show. It was great that the prophesy was deciphered so quickly, normally it’ll take characters forever to figure that kind of stuff out. Roslin slowly becoming more spiritual, and in doing so is beginning to think that Baltar may be on to something. I really want to see how this plays out in Roslin’s belief that she is the dying leader. Clearly if someone else can offer spiritual leadership, it undercuts her own prophesized position

Gossip Girl “All About My Brother”

This was an incredibly strong episode and it makes me excited for what is going to come. Serena is falling back into old habits, Jenny is on outs, and Eric is gay. Georgina is here to for a while and things are going to be exploding very soon. Just please let’s not even think about Rufus’ snore-inducing pursuit of Lily. Plus it is going to take a deft touch to make Serena killing someone into a believable story.

Lost “Cabin Fever”

John Locke is the savior of the island. He has been all his life, except he is the last person to realize it. Move the island?! What we had here was the ultimate plot mover. Everything is now set up for the explosive three-hour season finale that begins on Thursday. The question that I can’t help but ask, what is going to happen to Desmond? It doesn’t appear that he gets off the island and he seems unwilling to leave the ship, so it seems like something big is going to happen.

Medium “Being Joey Carmichael”

Again, the mystery was underwhelming. Though a great turn by Miguel Ferrer as the eventual killer. The sparks were provided by Kelly Preston and her inappropriate fixation on Joe. It looks like he is going to be leaving his dream job because of some inappropriate behavior. Which will add just the right amount of tension back to the DuBois marriage. Just after things were getting back to normal following Joe losing his job.

The Office “Job Fair”

A ho-hum episode. It had some good moments and some bad ones. Jim getting the sale was one of the lower moments of the episode. The job fair was the main attraction and it was worth it. It was ridiculous without being over the top. And now we only have one episode left. The big question is what is going to happen with Jim. He’s been put on warning about a job that he doesn’t like. He fought for it this episode but will he continue to? Pam was told that for graphic design she has to go to New York or Philadelphia. Could they be setting up the couple moving to New York as Jim takes Ryan’s job as he spirals out of control?

The Paper “Deadline Duel”

Amanda is becoming quite the sympathetic character. Alex has taken charge and everyone is shocked to see Amanda taking it. Adam’s trip to High School Musical on Ice was great, and I’m pretty sure that the synchronized dance number between him and the cast finally answered anyone’s lingering questions about his sexual orientation.

Sorry …

I apologize that I haven’t been keeping up with shows for the past five or six days. It’s finals time here at Georgetown and I’ve been hunkered down in the library without much access to television.  I will spend this week slowly catching up as my school year winds to a close. Thanks for your patience.

“Of course she knows. She’s a woman.”

Lost S04E10

“Something Nice Back Home”

So, this week was a step back from last week, not a big step back but a step back nonetheless. On the beach we had Jack’s life endangered by appendicitis. Jack’s not-so-idyllic home life with Kate in the flash-forward. And lastly, Clare, Sawyer, and Miles returning to the beach. Well, let’s get on with it already.

Pop Culture Consumption (Week 1)

In all of my posts I dissect and analyze television. Yet, as anyone who has watched television knows, it does not exist in a vacuum. Pop culture seeps into television and television bleeds into other pop culture. I understand that I am coming from a specific point of view and I believe that I can do this best when my point of view is understood. It allows you to get a better grasp of who I am and hopefully it will start a conversation of other forms of pop culture.

“… all sorts of invisible, silent, and violent systems that make our modern lives possible.”

Medium S04E14

“Car Trouble”

Once again, this is a little later than I would’ve liked and I’m doing my best to catch up on this week’s TV. This week’s episode had a rote mystery that had little if nothing to do with anything. That said, it also established the potential for a great storyline.

“… and you know how I get when my feelings are hurt.”

Gossip Girl S01E15

“Desperately Seeking Serena”

Sorry that this is a little later than I thought it was going to be, I’ll work to do better in the future. So Georgina has arrived, and it appears that she is as big an evil bitch as we all could’ve hoped for. What I was afraid was going to happen this episode was another thirty-five minutes of build-up and a reveal of Georgina only at the very end. Yet, as this freshman season has demonstrated, this show gives the goods that it promises.

“I bet they have huge cups.”

The Paper S01E03

“Friday Night Fights”

The student body has sport on the brain, and Amanda is somewhat displeased by it. “It’s not called a sports-paper,” she casually reminds the viewer. Yet, it is sports that is the catalyst for the episode. I have to say, even though this show is likely edited to within an inch of its life, I do love the thematic unity of the episodes. In this short period of time, it is incredibly easy to get to know and understand these characters.

Knowing when enough is enough …

Thursday is quite a busy night for television, especially quality television. 30 Rock, The Office, and Lost all within a two-hour period. It’s hard enough keeping up with those shows on a regular basis, trying to follow any more would be quite difficult. Considering myself someone who likes to overcome the difficult, I’ve been following Scrubs and Grey’s Anatomy as well this season. After the latest installments of both shows, I’ve realized that I now have definitive proof that I am an psychological masochist.

“Sometimes, the right thing is a luxury.”

Battlestar Galactica S04E04

“Escape Velocity”

You can feel that the end is near. Since their time on New Caprica, the show has only gotten darker and this season has magnified that trend. The desperation and hopelessness is present in every character, in every action that they undertake. Everyone is just looking for the clarity that would allow them to know what to do. As Caprica Six asks, after pummeling Col. Tigh, “Can you feel it, Saul? Can you feel the clarity of it all?”