The Colour of Books

So I did some real soul searching this week.  It started after I finished community season three.  Then finished season 2 and 3 of Workaholics.  I was like "what am I supposed to watch now!?"  And then it came to me.  Could I do the usual where I would watch a new series and then go back and watch old television shows that I usually just fall asleep too.  Futurama, Home Movies, Arrested Development.  But I've already seen those!  So let me go to the random generated entertainment and go to my trusty Netflix.

Then I saw this.  I obviously new it was a European show by the design and also the setting.  American television would never have a show about books if it's not for kids.  Books, as sad as it is, is pretty much dead.  There are more writers then readers.  But why would anyone want to watch a show about people that talk about books?  Oh it's a group.  If you like shows that float around characters like The Office and Community then you are in luck.

The main character is from America.  Ohio to be exact.  She just moved to Scotland to become a writer.  Real close to home.  I went to school for writing and just recently moved!  Wow this is already hitting too close to home.  Also before I even started watching the show I made sure to check how many episodes and seasons there were.  Being European, they have a limited amount of episodes and only a few seasons.  In this series, each season has six episodes.  Each core book group member hosts a book group where people read the hosts selection.  There is only two seasons and each episode is about half an hour.

What made this new and an enjoyment to watch was because not only did it have characters, story, and setting going for it but it did something a television show doesn't do frequently.  It really delivers.  When they read each book, each episode basically revolves around the given book and showing them the aftermath of the absorption of literature.  Then they talk about it.  Then they get into each others lives.  Then they grow.  Each character makes breakthroughs every few episodes.  You actually see their emotions before and after an encounter.

The directing too was amazing.  I thought it dealt with very powerful subject matter.  From handicapped people, to homosexuals, to infidelity, to liars, and to people that are full of themselves.  The intricitsy of the plot starts to really make you watch and "care" for these characters as you would care for your computer.  Television has never been so simpler (put actors in room, talk about book) and has it never been so grounded and so refreshingly real.  None of the plot points when exposed never even endanger the next episode in run off.  They don't tell you what happened last episode because no one does that in real life.  They meet every month so a lot of things change between episode to episode.

Pros
-European (sexy and sophisticated)
-I like books
-Very varied characters
Cons
-2 seasons.

Children aren't getting the right help.

I just watched all of season one of Children's Hospital in one sitting.  Is that a feat?  Not really.  It probably only took an hour and a half.  CH is only in eight minute episodes and are bundled together in two episodes.  It's really easy to space off too. And it's full of a great cast of comedians.  These guys are pretty much in everything that is known to being alternatively funny.  It is not only created, directed and acted by Rob Corddry but is also produced by my idol David Wain.  I think I've talked about it before but The State, Stella, and anything associated with any of these guys are instant satirical comedy.  Do I necessarily get all the humor?  Probably because I'm that smart.
 
This show pretty much makes fun of everything that has every talked about a hospital.  One of the woman in the show walks around like J.D in Scrubs and is constantly thinking about life and death and it's so clique and pointless that it's drawn out into pretty much every episode.  She doesn't really do any actual work in the hospital unless it has to do with drama in the workplace.  Scrubs is definitely a focus of satire since it started the wave of comedy in the workplace.  Yeah it's been done way before Scrubs but Scrubs is new for our generation. 

Childrens Hospital also doesn't have anything to do with medicine unless it's funny.  Is giving a six year old a vasectomy funny?  Very because he has advancing aging disease that is really rare.  Is killing kids always funny?  Usually and this show doesn't miss a beat.  Rob Corddry plays a character that tries to heal all of his patients with laughter.  He wears clown face paint and a smock with blood all over it because you can't cure anyone with laughter.  A comedian making fun of their own profession and it's objective uselessness.  Gotta love that Satire.  And people who are willing to make fun of their profession in their late 30's.  I thought that was only meant for us post-grads without jobs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs5QbUjmtt8

Doesn't alternative comedy rule?  It's funny because you have to decipher the difference between low bro comedy and high brow comedy.  Are they really this smart or are these just poking fun at everything or are they poking fun at me?  Jeez sometimes it can be a mind twist trying to figure out what is going on.  But they make fun of this too esepcially with shows like Dallas and soap operas that make no sense, and come from anywhere even dreams. Rob Corddry makes a joke of this by having an episode where Childrens Hospital stems from a midget Puerto  Rican doctors fart.  IS this too much?  Could be if they didn't have a sit down with the director and producer talking about why this is so artsy and creative.

Pros
-Funny on many spectrums of hilarious 
-Good cast
-Satire
-Makes you realize that television is usually nothing but entertainment.
-Episodes will have intricate plot points that are never brought up again thus providing entertainment without running with an idea for too long
Cons
-includes children in the episodes
-Web series are confusing still.

Olympics

Some people might be like, yo why are you not posting as much?  And I'm like, nothing, because I'm not posting as much.  Yeah it's true I'm not posting as much but I've been busy.  Busy working but that's boring.  You don't need to know about me outside of the internet. It's not as exciting as one might imagine it being.  Busy doing other stuff like writing a story and doing music.  But I am also busy watching the Olympics in London.  Well, I'm not in London but the Olympics are.

Long winded story ahead, I haven't watched the Olympics since Sydney which I think was 04.  I wasn't down with Beijing.  It just wasn't my thing and I didn't like hearing about all that smog affecting our perfected athletes.  Harsh China but I guess since they have to live there that us 1st worlders should see how it is to live in over population.  Not only was I 14 when I watched the Summer Olympics but I couldn't really process a sport till now.  I'm done with college and a born again intellectual.  I didn't realize my uncanny ability to comment on a sport I have never played until I started watching the difficulties of Gymnastics.  Balancing is hard even walking on a sidewalk but then go on top of a saddle horse or whatever it's called in front of a audience, in tight apparel, on television.  When judged on perfection and archaic sports and regulations, you think this would be judged in a closet but since it's so public, it makes me feel bad.

How couldn't you feel bad watching the Olympics.  Not only are people breaking actual records that actually exist instead of shooting to make your own record (eating the most black OLIVES.)  These are people winning in life.  Yeah it took them all their live to win and I couldn't get sufficient numbers on how many people waste their lives and turn to drugs after they spent all their life trying to make it to the Olympics.  Just to feel it's signifigance, the Olympics that is, it's probably one of the only sports that isn't rigged.  You get placed against the best, you don't get to pick, and then their are 6 other athletes shooting for your medal.  You being ranked number one hardly means anything.  This is competition.

And look how much fun they are having too.  R.e.s.p.e.c.t. 4 sure.  They have to swim, or play, or do whatever sport they do and then go directly into an interview.  A lot of them are out of breath, or feel bad for not winning (COME ON USA< CHINA IS WINNIN).  So much humility goes into that and a lot of these athletes are persuaded that us American's care about them and that they are proving some nationalism in some way.  We all know America sucks.  If only I could live on the fresh soil of the Tubes.  But I can only be on here for so long so I can afford it.
losers
There is still another week of the Olympics and right now we are in some of the early events.  The competitive sports are building through qualifications and excitement is building.  Get on the train.  Get some friends together and start ranting and raving about your un-expertise on sports but our cunning ability to criticize.  Look at that girls nose.  Look at that fag spinning on some bars.  Wow you can swim so fast but we aren't fish anymore.  Weird sports that I think need a little newness to it.  Skateboarding?  Why wouldn't I say that, it's international.  But these old world sports still pack a punch and they are easy to grasp.  I want to be a judge because I, since birth, could never play a sport.  But I sure can ridicule people that have tried or keep trying.  Can't we all America?

Pros
-Rare, every 4 years
-Gets me in the spirit to chant and yell
-Winning without any of the work
Cons
-Body Image Issues
-Old World Sports
-Chicago isn't hosting it.  But could have :(

FALLING SKIES: MOLON LABE REVIEW

By Sean Smyth

 Fish Face Returns

There are few shows on TV now that have the ability to build on top of each episode. Most times there is fatty episodes that have nothing to do with anything that is going on or very little happens to further the every expansive story in any way. Molon Labe doesn't disappoint as it manages to steer clear of this ever increasing trend and only further it's well, awesomeness.

Being quite a few days late on this review I will be brief.

Molon Labe is a very intimate and action packed episode filled with loyalty, honor, heroism, lies, betrayal, love, hate, shooting, and loss.

After the events of last weeks episode, Karen and Ben escaped only to find Karen, as was suspected, was working against the Second Mass. and using Ben to uncover the Skitter Rebel alliance for her Fish Face of a boss, The Overlords, who has taken a risk in coming to see Ben in person. The Second Mass. manage to ambush them and take the Overlord captive, while Karen escapes. From there things just spiral well out of hand.

The Alien version of the "Shit" face.

Karen comes back to get her boss and lays siege to the Second Mass. with a series of assaults that grows progressively more hostile, violent and deadly. Meanwhile Ben is feeling guilty for bringing down the alien hand upon his family and friends, and Tom is doing his best to deny the obvious. Ben is dangerous, and it will only get worse.

The episode starts off in a rush of running and gunfire, and the pace never lets up. It continues to grow in tension, action and complexity as a new alien being is introduced that creates an even greater issue for everyone as time ticks on.

Everyone brings their A game per usual and no one seems underused or the damsel in distress. They all have use and manage to hold their own when the chips are down. That is probably the best thing about this show. Everyone pulls their own weight. Their aren't any characters sitting by the wayside just waiting to die. They are all well rounded characters. Which is great considering the epic scale and plot and story being displayed throughout the series. If the characters weren't right the whole show will fall flat on it's face.

Now two things I want to bring up that may be potential spoilers that really stood out to me in this episode. One, we found that The Overlords are not invincible and they are scared, they have several human traits and are here on Earth for something that has not yet been revealed but I expect is something beyond the needs of human slavery.

The second thing I want to point out is a scene, one of the final scenes of the episode, that involves Ben and Tom. A very heartwarming scene that really displays this shows ability to excel dramatically. It hits home as the show is centered around this family, a normal family with bothers who butt heads, constantly except their are aliens involved.

Where he going?

Overall the show is only getting better, and I constantly look forward to the following week in hopes to find out more instead of waiting to see if the show gets better much like how I do with True Blood, another show I review.  It is because of this that I give the show a straight 5 out of 5.

So there you have, short and sweet. What do you think? You looking forward to see what happens next for Ben, Tom and the rest of the Second Mass.? Let's hear what you have to think. Comment below and thanks for reading. 

TRUE BLOOD: IN THE BEGINNING REVIEW

By Sean Smyth

Lies, Deceit, and Drunken Vamps! 

I didn't start watching True Blood till maybe Season 4, but I managed to check out Seasons 1-3 in just two weeks. It was a good time. Sitting in class waiting to take the train home and watch a few more episodes, before I had doing the same thing the next day. Those were the days. 

Now, watching the show is like a chore. Straining to understand what is going on, who hates who, who wants what? It's just getting to be a little out of the control. The past Season's arcs came together and all the stories pretty much interwove for the most part, but this Season people are just bouncing all over the place and their is so little time to get invested in something before another thing comes along. It's like, they've run out of things to do on the show for certain characters so they just give them crappy side stories because True Blood doesn't like to kill of it's main characters.

I swear if you take one individual character's story, lets say... Sookie for right now, her entire arc of scenes and story could be done in maybe two or three episodes. Instead she gets an entire season to wallow around and just cry about being different. 

I mean, each character (especially Sookie) have faced a life threatening moment in the show at least once, but they've all overcome those moments because someone else saves their ass, or instead the baddie trying to kill them has a change of heart or just doesn't feel like doing it at the moment, even if that character's story has run its course Season's ago. 

Well, In the Beginning has plenty of those moments and is made up mostly of those crappy side stories that you just don't care about and it feels a lot like a supernatural melodramatic Soap Opera. But even Soap Operas kill off their characters now and again. 

Some of those moments include; Andy visiting the old Sheriff Dearborne to ask if he sucks at being a cop, Arlene watching her Wedding Video with Holly while at work (they wouldn't be getting a tip from me with that kind of service), and Terry and Patrick gallivanting in a field and being mocked by the Fire Demon.... I don't know about you, but shouldn't these scenes be used more efficiently to produce greater understanding of what is going on in this already confusing show? 

Oh yeah, and this scene was pretty useless too. 

Besides Bill and Eric's excellent adventure with The Authority, or at least what's left of the Authority since the Guardian was betrayed by Salome (like I said, but the way they went about how she did it was anything but smooth. She basically just says, yeah I followed you when you were burying Russell, saved him and now I want to praise Lilith.), the rest of the episode is just there.

That's another thing this show has become known for doing. Over explaining. It feels as though we only learn one or two new plot points each episode because we are forced to sit through things that we learned in episode one because, and this is just my guess, the writers of the show think we are stupid. Hey Alan Ball take a page out of Justified or Breaking Bad and stop telling us what's happening. Just show us. I mean that's screenwriting 101. I learned that my first day in school. Lazy... 

But I digress, as usual...

Bill and Eric discover the plot to overthrow the Authority is centuries in the making,  Nora and Salome are a couple Vampire Bible thumpers and Russell is just being Russell. Ripping off heads and making a mess. 

This thing on? Is anyone listening to me? 

You see this episode is supposed to mark a change. A reversal if you will for the remainder of the season. Though I felt like things were just getting good with the Authority. Like we should have had the rest of the season with them being the big bad. Instead Russell comes in stakes the Guardian and things just fall apart. Russell apparently finds religion and doesn't want to hurt his nemeses he vowed to destroy and everyone in the council gets drunk of old Vamp blood and wanders around what looks to be New Orleans. 

Man does that leave a bad taste in my mouth. It is just boring. Even the climatic scene feels as though it falls short of being interesting, and has one of the worst special effects I've ever scene on True Blood (It literally made me laugh out loud). Hopefully the much talked about Human/Vamp War that keeps being discussed comes about and we can get out of this whole Soap Opera vibe and hit the more Epic tone as the show should be. At least Eric sees things are getting a little weird...

Besides Bill and Eric staggering around with the Authority and what I mentioned as pointless scenes before, we have the following:

Sookie learns she can be Fairy no more, Jason hates Vamps again, Jessica is feeding up on humans, Hoyt joins up with the Supe Murders, Tara makes a good stripper but her mom hates her so Tara looks at Pam as a new mother figure, Sam argues with Luna and smells stuff while looking for the people who shot him, and Lafayette goes to see Jesus' uncle who is not to pleased with him.

Overall the episode kind of falls flat on it's face. After having so much promise from it's previous episodes, and so much build up, things just bounce off the ground instead of landing. I don't know, maybe I'm not the target audience anymore. Maybe that audience has grown to be middle aged housewives or something... But this episode did nothing for me and thus only gets a 2.5 out of 5. 

Do you agree with that? Is True Blood falling apart or is it the best it's ever been? You tell me in the comments below. And as always, Thanks For Reading.  

BREAKING BAD: MADRIGAL REVIEW

By Sean Smyth

What Goes Around, Comes Around.

Fresh out of the gates of a pretty suspense filled season opener we have an episode that continues the rise of the great Walter White. 

Madrigal is something we only get once in a great while on Breaking Bad. An episode dedicated to a peripheral character. A character you didn't think would make it as far as they have or maybe a character who's really grown on you to become someone you care for more than some of the main players. That character is Mike Ehrmantraust, or Mr. Ehrmantraust as he is preferred to be called by people he doesn't like. Our favorite security expert, body guard, Private Investigator, cool as a cucumber assassin for hire who turns out used to be an ex cop. 

If you can't tell I rather like Mike. He is just so cool and efficient at his job that nothing really bothers him except Walter. He is always all business but he will do anything that will ensure his and his grand daughters best interests. That is something your can really get behind. No one wants to be on the opposite side of his gun when it is drawn because more than likely that not, that person will end up dead. 

Now Mike doesn't control the entire episode. Walter and Jesse take up a large chunk as well along with Hank who has a couple lengthy scenes. 

Forget your Hand Cuffs?

This episode as well as the show is still dealing heavily in the fallout of Gus' death. Hank and the DEA are searching for his accomplices, Walter and Jesse are trying to fill the market left by Gus and take over, and Mike and Gus' benefactors are just trying to keep their distance and eliminate potential threats. In some cases that involves one another. Hopefully we can finish with the fall of Gus in the next episode so we can deal more so with Walter's rise to power, which is an interesting change from him usually getting pushed and beat around. 

There is an odd cold open this episode following a German financier involved in the development of food chains, more specifically Los Pollos Hermanos. Things begin break down all around for Mike and the rest of Gus' surviving employees as DEA unravel Gus' accomplices and off shore accounts. 

Waiting for the Nanny to leave.

From there we find Walter and Jesse working together to try and find a way to gather supplies to start cooking again after Walter schemes a rather elaborate plot to make Jesse trust him even more. Though they need Mike's help in order to start cooking. Mike unfortunately for them, doesn't want anything to do with Walter because he's a ticking time bomb. "Tick, Tick, Tick." Mike then takes over the show. Moving from scene to scene dealing with a petrified benefactor and an itchy DEA. Both wanting him to roll on the remaining accomplices. One more... extreme than the other. 

"Tick, Tick Tick."

I think the biggest reason why this episode works so well is that it takes it's time, even more than the show usually does. Perhaps they were using the time and the way the episode plays in relation to the character they based it on. Mike. Mike as we know is very slow. Talks in a single monotone voice and rarely loses his cool. It takes a lot for him to explode. And when he finally does, you don't want to be in his way, 

I don't want to give away to much because this episode is pretty dense, even with the small amount of Walter. Mike treks across Madrigal quite perfectly. Wit, and cleverness that makes this episode feel new and fresh. Madrigal is a perfect example of why exactly Breaking bad works so well and is constantly number one. 

In the end the episode stands out as one of the better episodes in the show, but lets hope they are able to move past Gus' fallout sooner rather than later. But the show is always great with time so, I'm sure they will work it out. I give this episode a 5 out of 5 for originality and ingenuity that most shows won't dare try. 

So what do you think? Does Mike's hold his own as the lead of the episode or do you wish he would have taken a shot to the head? Let's hear what you think. Comment often! And thanks for reading. 

Pretty Little Things

Pretty Little Things

Season Three Episode Six

This is not really going to be a review but my praise for Pretty Little Liars.  If you also watched shows like The O.C. like me (twice) then some familiar faces will arise.  Just because you have crushes on teenaged characters in a show doesn't mean the ACTRESS isn't 25.  These girls are cute.

Then comes to mystery.  This is about secrets....shhhhh.  Keep it down.  TURN DOWN YOUR MUSIC IF YOU ARE READING THIS.  The whole show is on big cat and mouse game.  The cat are the 4 main actresses and they are trying to chase down not only a killer but a stalker.  I am not saying you need to catch UP to the series but start watching it yah know.  You get sucked in and I can hardly remember all the nuances.  I am not fanatic but I will stay caught up. 

The characters are funny at times because they get into stupid situations.  Teenage girls going out at night into the woods and doesn't think she is going to get hit?  BUT IT WAS A!  That's the antagonist.  Well one of them.  They also have the girl that was their mutual friend that got murdered. 

I really don't feel like people watch this show so I might not actually tell you about the episode.  Watch it.  It's great?  If not move on possibly. 

The real problem is I watched two episodes back to back and I don't remember what happened in which one.  That good.
9 blips out of 10
Pros
-Great multi-layered plot (several protagonists and antagonists)
-Thriller constantly and behind the corner
-Sexy characters with reasonable emotions
-Fun to get into the High School Atmosphere.  Whose dating who now?
Cons
-One character keeps getting played up as if she is going to leave the show but never does.  Just do it, we are all waiting.

What other shows do you follow aimlessly?

FALLING SKIES: HOMECOMING REVIEW

By Sean Smyth

Karen... We Hardly Knew Thee. 

Homecoming is a great stride forward in the series filled with already fantastic episodes only this one is alien free.

There is zero aliens in this episode. Zero, zilch, none. But it was probably one of the strongest episodes thus far. Why? Tons of stuff happened that reveal some big twists to come and because they reintroduce a de-harnessed Karen back into the fold. Hal's old flame is back in a big way and totally untrustworthily looking from the get go, but we'll get to that in a second.

Tom and Anne start things off this time around two weeks after the events of last weeks episode. Second Mass. has really made this new hospital their home and really falling back into a stint of normalcy which was nice to see.  The newfound couple have a nice intimate moment discussing what life used to be like before everything went to shit and really making a connection. It was truly a sweet moment that actually made me smirk. So kudos to to Noah Wyle and Moon Bloodgood. They are really pulling off the couple vibe well. 

That can't be good.

From there we go to a daily scheduled meeting hosted by Weaver, who has a fit as a result of a bite from a harness creatures a few episodes back. Turns out the infection has spread through his whole body and is killing him. Weaver passes out leaving Tom in control for the first time, only he doesn't really seem up to the task of heading up the Second Mass.  He is far from informed on the duties especially when he learns that Weaver has been using the gas from the cars to fuel the generators at the hospital. From there the shit just keeps rolling down the hill as more and more continues to pile up on top of Tom's already large plate.

The biggest piece coming from an old friend. Karen, who Hal finds laying naked and de-harnnessed in a pile of dead kids covered in leaves returns to camp being carried by Hal.  Tom orders a quarantine  for her to be questioned, while Ben advises not to trust her and that he will stay on watch. 

Soon a divide between Hal and Ben spawns on how to treat Karen with Maggie (suspicious but willing to give her the benefit of the doubt), while  Anne and Tom argue on how to care for Weaver's infection. Both are interesting pieces of story. You really feel Ben's opposition towards Karen while Hal desperately wants to believe every word Karen says.  The trick is, you honestly can't tell if you can believe her or not as Jessey Schram plays the scenes she is in (she is the bulk of the episode) perfectly. 

I prefer freak over tool any day.

Meanwhile Tom and Anne fight over moving Weaver to Charlotte or treating him there at the hospital. The argument really gets heated and rocks their relationship casting out the honeymoon phase for sure. Tom pulls rank and Anne pulls the I'm not a solider card. It was great seeing them on opposite sides of the fence for a change seeing as how they've always been one and the same since the beginning. As usual Tom folds to reason, thank god, and gives Anne twelve hours to come up with a treatment. 

All the while Pope makes a dramatic return with urgent news that is problematic for Second Mass. Turns out not more than two days ago Karen was looking for Ben with her Overlords, or "Fish Faces" as Pope calls them, to help find the Skitter Rebellion. So that doesn't really help Karen much. 

The episode ends on a cliffhanger of a note, as usual, making you wonder what will happen in the week to follow, and just how everything will be affected.

Overall the story was very personal, which most of the series is. That is why I like it. Having these characters fighting for a bigger cause and yet still dealing with family and trust and betrayal, really makes the show one of the better shows on TV. The lack of special effects helped contribute to the plot and characters growth instead of constant shooting and running, so seeing actual scenes, especially scenes with characters who have yet to interact with one another, Ben/Karen, Karen/ Maggie, was great. 

That awkward moment when your Spikes make you kiss.

This show only has been getting better and better. The twists were easy to see but you hoped they wouldn't happen for the sake of the characters you love. That being said I enjoyed "Homecoming" so much, as well as my new found crush n Jessey Schram, that I will give this episode a 5 out of 5. 

Pros/Cons

Pros:

Alienless.

Intimant stories.

Interesting character scenes/sequences

Increased mythos

congruent, linear arch.

Cons

I can't think of any that's how good this episode was.

Oh wait, the little spat between Maggie and Hal in the woods before finding Karen was a little cheesy, pointless, and coincidental, but hey, I forgot all about that by the time they found her in the leaves. So I forgive it.

So what did you think? Was this episode a game changer that will affect the rest of the season? Lets hear your thoughts in the comments below. And as always Thanks for reading.

TRUE BLOOD: HOPELESS REVIEW

By Sean Smyth

IT'S A TWIST!!!

As usual, True Blood picks up right where we last left our favorite and not so favorite characters. 

Sookie, Bill, Eric, and Alcide are fighting for their lives against Russell and his Wolves after Alcide is jumped from behind. Jessica and Tara have a bit of a spat that puts their friendship on hold. Jason is hell bent on finding the Vamp that killed his parents, Patrick is convinced that Terry isn't crazy somewhere in the middle of nowhere, Lafayette sees his mom, Hoyt tries to kill himself via being drained, and SPOILER, Sam and Luna survive their gun shot wounds and start the hunt for their attempted murders.

Business is as usual in Bon Temp. Shooting, killing, sex, drugs, and all that good fun stuff we all have come accustomed to when True Blood is mentioned however it is way more spread out as they keep adding more and more characters to an already overpopulated show.  Refusing to kill anyone of any significance (sort of). 

I want to say I love True Blood, I really do. It's got all of the things I like, Fantasy, multiple story arches that intersect, and supernatural creatures, but now its just getting a little out of hand. I mean, how big of a game changer would it have been if Sam or Luna died? It would have been great. But true to business as usual, they survive by the skin of their teeth. 

But enough of me groaning. As I said, things get started off in each story with kind of a bang. In Sookie's life, we have Russell in her face wanting a snack but that plan is halted rather quickly by light hands, Eric and a band of Authority soldiers with some serious rifles laser sights. True Blood really love those laser sited guns. Sookie is then pretty much told to stay out of the night life and be normal and that makes her all sad and stuff. (As you can tell I really don't know what to do with her.) She had some use last episode but then she goes right back to being damsel in distress. 

"You got a purdy mouth."

It's like that's all the writers use her for. Her thick head gets her into a jam and someone comes along and saves her. Also, her character is bouncing around so much from story to story, it's hard to even care or understand her. One minuet she's dealing with Debbie, then Tara, then a coverup, then Vampire Tara, then Alcide and Bill and Eric, and then Russell and then a full one Eighty to Fairies, just to round it out.  I mean, pick a story line and stay with it. Good god. 

Oh yeah, Sookie goes to that club Jason was at a few episodes back full of Fairies in the alternate dimension. Not much happens. So I'll spare you the details. Just know she got herself into a bind again. 

The biggest story line this episode, at least the most interesting anyway, is Sam's. After being shot, all he wants to do is find out who did it and offers his help to Andy to track down the Supes shooters, to which Andy reluctantly agrees and they team up using Sam's super human shifter powers. 

Sam's vigilantism is a great turn for the character after spending the first few episodes dealing with fall out from last season's finale. So it is nice to see him actually doing something, instead of taking it all the time. Their's no question Sam is my favorite character and has the coolest ability, to shift into any animal you can think of. So I can't wait to see what else they do with him and how many stories his will overlap with. 

Other than that, this episode is still just more set up, or if you look at it from the glass half empty perspective, it is a wash. Tara sits out most of the episode, Hoyt tries to get Jessica back and fails, and Lafayette learns Jesus is in trouble and "loves fags." His mom's words not mine. 

"EWWW... I got the goooo on me."

The only redeeming quality as usual is the ending (the twist I refer to), which may or may not be taken back right away, because that's just what True Blood loves to do. However, the preview for the next episode suggests that this ending actually took this time. So bust out the party hats and streamers and celebrate.

I won't give it away, but the finale sequence of the episode involves Russell's execution and the Guardian, giving a speech about how order trumps chaos. FYI "Order is for Pussies."

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH IS FULL OF SPOILERS SO CEASE READING UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN THE EPISODE:

So, last episode we learned that a woman helped Russell escape the cement, and she wore a crest around her neck. Nora and Salome, the Greek chick on the console, wears that same pendant and I can only speculate, that well, I know, it is Salome pulling the stings. She has everyone wrapped so tight around her finger no one really sees it coming, and she seems so interested in keeping Russell alive and making sure things go the way she wants. It has to be her, because that would be the twist I would use. However, it's not a very good twist if I was able to spot it as far back as Episode 3.

"She's been playing us from the start. I'm almost sure of it."

I must say Valentina Cervi, who plays Salome, has done some great character work and has now officially become my third favorite on the show. My second being Russell and my first I mentioned before. Sam. She has so many little moments that hint to her ulterior motives and that she herself might twist everything around and turn out to be the great Lilith, that it just makes my head spin.  

Oh and what's up with no one helping the Guardian as Russell lays a stake into his chest. Is everyone against him? Or are they all just a bunch of cowards? I mean, there was at least eight people standing around that could have helped but they chose to watch. 

It is because of that sequence that I can't wait to see what happens in the following episode, and if I'm right, expect a told you so at the top of my next review. BOO YA!  This episode gets a 4 out of 5. Sure there was only three stories worth any real mention but that were entertaining enough that it will make you coming back for more. 

So there you have it. What do you think? Do you agree? Or am I an idiot. Let's hearr your insults and comments hurled at me through our comment section. As always thanks for reading.

STREET LEAGUE GLENSDALE ARIZONA

By Egan Click

This is the last and final stop of street league before the finals.  And was it a big one.  First off, I never thought I would be blogging about skateboarding.  Second, I love skateboarding.  Finally, I don't think this even fits with this blogs format ha.  Who knew a bunch of nerds, writers and artists would like a sport?  Well the only one I follow is skateboarding and for good reasons.  I grew up with it.

http://espn.go.com/action/skateboarding/streetleague/2012/story/_/id/8169104/glendale-ariz-finals-paul-rodriguez-wins

There is a lot to skateboarding that I could bring you up to speed but even Street League needs to be properly introduced.  Street League was started by Rob Dydrek.  Yes there are other well known skateboarding competitions and besides the Dew Tour, this is the only one that is an actual series of competitions.   Big prize money and Big corporate sponsors.  I am all for it.  There is 28 pro skaters that compete to get into the finals.  The finals consists of three sections (Run, Best Trick, Big Section.)  Each skaterboarder is amazing in their own "Style."


Nyjah Huston has won pretty much every Street League event besides last years finals and two others (6/10 is his ratio.)  He is only 17 and the youngest professional in the "league."  It's interesting that they promote this like any other sporting event and that's why I support these competitions.  Yes, skateboarding was always an alt-culture but boo hoo to you outlying assholes.  We need to get peoples attention and show that we aren't some band of misfits.  This is a sport, it's competitive, and built around one upmanship.  So let's raise the stakes.
Shane Oneil from Australia steals the show in the first two sections.  The run section is a little unbalanced (in my opinion) but I am glad it is included because it's the traditional skateboarding competition.  this is how X Games does it and Maloof.  It's how every other extreme sport is calculated and it's great to see these professionals link together some very big tricks and technical.  You'll here that a lot in skateboarding.  What does technical even mean?  Well, first off, a tricks technical awesomeness is judged on it's difficulty.  Board rotation is technical.  Body rotation is technical.  Stance (switch, nollie, fakie, regular) is a big factor in techiness and also "style."  Style can mean a few things but it is mostly determined by a skateboarders ability to launch, stick, and land the trick smoothly or with steez (badassery.)
The best trick section had something like 4 Nine club entries.  Nine Club means that they got scored by a panel of judges (LIKE THE OLYMPICS), and their trick was in the top ten percentile.  Switch kickflip lipside by P-Rod.  Feeble varial heel by P-Rod.  270 Nose slide by Cole.  Oneil had a nollie krook flip to rail slide for a 9.5.  Just completely amazing to watch and it really proves that these competitors are trying to either get into the Finals, make some money, or even be pushing skateboarding.
P-Rod wins who is the son of the famous comedian, Paul Rodriguez.  He dominated the big section which is where the skateboarders accumulate all their points because they widdled down the final contestants from 8 to 6.  It's his first win and just last week he won X Games Gold for street as well.  Even though I am really up and into skateboarding, I still get amazed what these guys can do first try.


My only problem with the win is P-Rod is a boring skateboarder.  Chris Cole and Oneil really innovate skateboarding.  Luan Oliveria pushes it as well.  P-Rod really only skates technical.  Everything he does is switch.  I am not saying switch is not hard because it's like trying to write a novel left handed or with an inverted keyboard.  But being a professional, switch becomes comfortable.  Possibly just as comfortable as skating their regular stance.  Skating has two ways to skate (Regular or Goofy).  Regular has your left hand facing the front of the board and Goofy has your right.  Then their is regular stance and switch stance.  Doing a trick switch is technical but my question is "Does it make the trick better?"  I would usually say yes.  I would always say yes if the trick was first done regular.  If you can do it both ways, then the trick switch is really worth it's weight in gold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkHKwsMbFd0I'm glad (and every one else) is glad Nyjah Huston lost.  He is a prodigy and we all hope he sticks to skateboarding.  Holy cow I can't even imagine.  But if skateboarding is going to start replacing baseball (I hope) we need some new faces.  Possibly even teams


Now how to review this.
Pros
-Skateboarding is fun to watch.  Also slams do happen for you masochists.
-Technical
-Professionalism
Cons
-Oneil should have won
-Consistency is rated over Creativity/Innovation
-Still needs a few other pros to have all star "league"
Suggestions
-Teams (Plan B, Girl, etc.)
-Try to reach other stadiums.
-Longer season or more frequent stops.

BREAKING BAD: LIVE FREE OR DIE REVIEW

By Sean Smyth

Breaking Bad is back and it's as magnetic as ever.

Breaking Bad has picked back up (FINALLY) for it's fifth and final season to a record breaking viewing of 2.9 million viewers, says a press release from AMC.  So as you can see Breaking Bad is back in a big way. 

When I first started watching Breaking Bad, and I admit I was not a fan from the beginning, but when I sat down and watched it, I could not help but get into the characters. The show is just so real and ominous. It has a real sense of life and story unlike any other show on TV, that's probably why it's the number one show out there. 

The ability to become so cerebral with the characters and giving scenes a sense of time and space allowing for these long hanging silences and pauses, or just plain old dead air. Yes sound is a major contributor that makes Breaking Bad what it is. But the biggest thing it has going for it is the one and only Bryan Cranston. He is a force to be reckoned with in this show both as an actor and as Walter White, the cancer stricken science teacher turned Meth cooking drug lord. However the only reason he is who he is, is because of the people around him. His co-stars carry their own weight and provide him with the ability to just do his thing and it makes for some of the most tension filed, dramatic, murderous, hilarious moments on TV. 

Now Live Free or Die kicks off, not with the bang most TV shows do. No. In fact, I don't think Breaking Bad has ever really started big. It likes to have that slow burn story telling that really makes you think, and this episode is no different from the rest except it's doing something the show has not utilized yet. Flash forwards. 

Breaking Bad is known for using it's cold opens as backstory pieces or moments in characters lives that really show who they are and what they want. They had several with Jesse and Walt, and even one with Danny Trejo's character before he ended up with his head attached to a turtles back. 

This cold open starts us off a little ways down the road with a scruffy bearded and short haired Walt, looking worse for wear as he meets with a strange man in the bathroom at a Denny's (Jim Beaver who is awesome) to buy something on the DL. 

The sequence is great, seeing Walt on his own and still living this life that he's come accustomed too. Having a polite and normal conversation with the waitress claiming after claiming it was his 52 birthday coupled with his uneasiness in meeting with this guy. I can only wonder if they are going to continue these flash forward cold opens until the events of the linear show coincide but seeing into the future is always cool. And makes us wonder why our anti-hero is alone and haired and seemingly sick. 

Walt looking like a Vietnam Vet. 

The show picks up right where last season left off (minus the cold open) as Walt and Company are dealing with the fall out of what has happened to our favorite Drug King, Gus, after a bomb from Walt left him missing half his face and dead. 

Now the question is this. With the big bad drug dealer out of the way, what's next? Well, hide the evidence of course. And that is pretty much what this entire episode is about. Walt, Jesse, and Mike (Old Man Assassin Bad Ass and Gus' former right hand man) are reluctantly thrown together to try and retrieve evidence from the bombed out Meth Lab at the Laundry Mat before the Po-Po can look at it. 

However it isn't Walt or Mike that comes up with the plan this time. It's Jesse on the deck and delivering a solid idea to which Walter follows up with. That leads in to some time consuming scenes that I don't mind personally because I love long scenes. I believe you can see the actors truly being their characters in the longer scenes, and that makes all the difference. But the biggest thing is that these scenes lead into us actually being able to see the plan play out in both an ingenious and hilarious turn of events. And it was nice seeing Jesse and Walt back on the same side and working together. 

"Doesn't if seem like we've done this dance before?"

Meanwhile Skyler and Saul are meeting up to discuss the incident that occurred last season involving Ted. And for anyone who saw it, you know I'm talking about the whole tripping over the rug they set up kinda obviously. Turns out Ted is in a bad way and Skyler feels she is to blame. 

Skyler is also dealing with the knowledge that her husband and father of there children has become a murder. And a good one at that. She is utterly terrified of the man. So much that she doesn't really acknowledge him. It's him being forced to talk to her. Maybe this new found terror will rein Skyler's sassiness back in and maybe I can start feeling more for her because lets face it, over the years her personality has been, for the lack of a better word, annoying. She's with Walter, she's against him, she's being responsible, she's trying to hard and becomes irresponsible. 

That is pretty much the episode in a nutshell. It was very Walt centered with Mike and Jesse tagging along for the ride. While Skyler did her Skyler thing. Other than that, Hank takes a visit to the after math of the Meth lab and hints at a future problem that the gang will  more than likely have to deal with down the road. 

Overall the episode was long and cerebral with tons of dead air and tension that really built on the characters new relationships and Walt's new frame of mind after blowing Gus to hell. The sound and the centric visuals on mundane things are always a treat especially when they are a big part of the characters. More then anything though, Live Free or Die really laid the ground work of what is to come in final season of this masterpiece. And I Can't wait to see more. 

I got next

It's to bad they are splitting it up with such a mid sea on gap. I guess AMC wants to savor the show as much as they can. But I'm greedy so... I want it now!

Pros/Cons

Pros:

Great open.

Wonderful slow burn story telling that allows for the building to tension

A great sequence that makes you laugh and say damn that's new at the same time.

Cons: 

Skyler's story doesn't go to many places. 

Hank is a bit under utilized.

I don't consider this a con but you may: The scenes can go on a bit long if your not into that kind of thing, 

I give this beauty a 4.5 out of 5! Blame Skyler for not letting it be a 5 out of 5. 

Anyway, there you have it. What did you think of the episode? Let me here it in the comments below. As always thank you for reading. 

MY LOVE IS BURNING FOR "BURNING LOVE"

By Egan Click

It's getting hot in here...

I don't necessarily know where this fits.  The discussion behind web series has really flickered after the independent crowd really tussled it up.  I personally am I giant fan of them.  I've seen the guild and watched it all in about a week.  I also enjoy shorts by "Stella" and David Wain's "Wainy Days."  It's free television, shorter, quicker, and usually ironic. 

I actually found out about Burning Love through stumble upon.  So devious of me, but I am surprised I did not know about this.  Yet again, huge fan of Ken Marino from Party Down and The State.  Lover of Michael Ian Black.  I own both his books and pretty much anything he's written, directed or acted in.  I find this crew or even style of comedy (reminiscent of The State (early MTV sketch comedy show circa 1990's.)  These shoot right at low brow and high brow which is great because they hit so many ranges of comedy. 

But back to the WEB SERIES called BURNING LOVE. (http://screen.yahoo.com/burning-love/)  The beauty is that it is completely free. Yeah there is an ad between each webisode (about ten minute long episodes) but whose to complain.  This is what we have always wanted!  Free entertainment.  Burning Love is a scripted reality show where Ken Marino's character tries to find love while be introduced to 15 women. 

This is where it gets interesting.  Not only does it feel like a straight up reality show (are those things scripted because I LOVE THEM) but it is also intentionally funny.  First off, the girls are great.  It could be that my girlfriend just broke up with me but I am entirely indifferent about women.  This show has the best range of women characters ever.  The closeted lesbian, the stalker, the tits, the partyier.  The best characters from your favorite reality shows have a role in this, fictionally of course. 

I think I already said this but this show has amazing cameos.  And great "What you will be seeing next episode" moments that are on par with Arrested Development's.  Yeah I said it. (E> Chris rock)

Each episode revolves around at least one elimination.  There's a talent portion and then he picks the winner of that which he goes on the date.  Basically Ken's character is an every guy.  Guy's are easy to write for and they really nailed him into just this guy going with the flow.  He has a therapist who isn't a license therapist.  Man this show (webishow?) goes off the rails in a gooood way.

10/10 (BIAS!)
Pros
-Definitely MY thing
-Best cast
-Hilarious.  I don't laugh alot but I at least laugh twice OUT LOUD an episode.
-The Big Bang for it's buck
Cons
-Web Series are confusing

FALLING SKIES: LOVE AND OTHER ACTS OF COURAGE REVIEW

By Sean Smyth

REVOLUTIOOOON!

MINOR SPOILERS TO FOLLOW:

So far this season Falling Skies seems like the main focus is right on the Mason family with the exception of last week's Weaver episode, which I didn't get to review but thought it was very strong and set up some potential plot twists down the way. One in which happens right here in this episode. 

After the cold open of Ben running across the roof, showing he really can't control his actions as well as he thought, he kneels down and joins in a Skitter howler at the setting sun. It is at this moment that you truly see how much the spikes are starting to affect his being. You had a small glimpse in last weeks episode but this one takes it one step further.

Things get started relatively quick after this, as an explosion and small arms fighting in the distance startles the camp and forces them to investigate, while Ben's absence is noticed by Tom and the rest of the Mason's. When Tom and company reach the source they find a battle ground of dead skitters laying about and question whether or not they are beginning to fight one another. Then they find a familiar face. Rick. 

You all remember Rick right? The guy that led the Skitters to the 2nd Mass last season? Yeah well he's back and wants Tom's help. Turns out he know's where Ben is and will take them to him. Only when they do, a little surprise is waiting. Ben and Rick are working together to protect a Skitter! Weaver and Tom want it dead but the boys convince them to take it prisoner instead. 

Either he's pissed or very constipated. 

Meanwhile elsewhere in the city, Hal, Maggie and company are off looking for medical supplies, seeing as how the camp is running low, when a caravan of Mechs appear and they are forced to hide in a car on top of one another. The scene was great, with a beautiful contrast between the tense and suspenseful alien hardware outside and the sweet and tender intimate moment inside the car with Hal and Maggie. It really just makes you want to say "Just Kiss Already!" Although Maggie has to put her foot in her mouth and bring up Karen, who is still harnessed by the big bads. It kinda ruins the mood a bit. 

We also find out an interesting piece of backstory later after evading the Mechs and finding another hospital stocked full of supplies like it was just abandoned days before. Maggie explains to Hal that she had brain tumors and nearly died. This leads to an awkward moment between the two and as true to TV leads to problems.

I'll be your Karen.

Back at camp the Skitter talks to Tom through Rick and explains that their are other's just like it that are trying to overthrow the Overlords. They want to work together with the human and Tom is the only one who can convince them. Because yeah he's trustworthy with all his alien probes coming out of his eye and all.  Needless to say Tom doesn't believe a word. At first, unfortunately  they didn't have much time to talk because of the death squad barreling down on their position so things got a bit heated. 

It was nice to see that the enslaved Skitters do have a heart and have a slew of human emotions.  If this isn't just a rouse. The exchange between Tom and the Skitter and Rick was one of the strongest parts of the episode along with a very dramatic scene from Hal and Maggie that really touches the heart with how predictably played out it is. 

Then there is Weaver's little problem. He got bit my a harness creature at the factory in the previous episode and his leg isn't looking to hot. It's almost like he's been poisoned or is slowly turning into something else and is constantly being treated by our beloved Dr. Glass. He has had one of the more interesting arches this season, accepting Tom back into the fold and finding his daughter has bother softened him and made him a better leader. And it shows in the actions taken by the people around him. 

Love and Other Act's of Courage is just what this entire episode is about. The love of family and friends, and the effects of people in this post apocalyptic world coupled with the courage from multiple characters all tying to achieve a common goal, survive, which is said for the humans and the Skitters. 

The episode is one of the stronger one's thus far this season and deserves what it's earned. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Only because of some really cheesy parts and a storm off I personally didn't get. 

What do you think? Got questions? Comments? Concern? Want to rant about how bad I am? Feel free to post below. And as always thanks for reading. Come back soon.

TRUE BLOOD: LET'S BOOT AND RALLY REVIEW

By Sean Smyth...

Seem's like this show is really starting to kick up it's boots and rally hard in the fifth episode. Bout Time...

Some minor spoilers: 

Congratulations to True Blood for finally keeping my attention through the whole episode. I usually find myself typing away on my computer or searching the web in and out with anything that had to do with Sookie or Terry, or Jason, or even Lafayette, my favorite character. 

Let's Boot and Rally kicks it off with Bill and Eric (who's stake vest things are now armed) reinserting themselves back into Sookie's life whether she likes it or not to ask her to help find Russell Edgington for the Authority. Sookie continues to be whiney and as annoying as ever at least in the opening, but she is supposed to be drunk so it can be somewhat forgettable. Though when she says and I may be paraphrasing, "...Vampires want to eat me? Must be Thursday," was especially annoying.  

Alcide takes Bill, Eric, and Sookie to their only lead, Doug, a construction foremen. You may remember him from the season four finale when he had no idea what happened or how the big hole in the pavement came about. Well Sookie uses her fairy powers and helps Doug remember what happened that day and where Russell went. As far as a Sookie powered story it wasn't half bad probably because she was actually of some use. 

What's that smell? 

From there we got Jason struggling with this new knowledge of his parents being killed by Vampires, and has a series of visions involving his parents bleeding from neck wounds or just dead at crime scenes. Overall it was nice seeing Jason in a competent setting rather than running around trying to make the sex for no reason or having some kind of mental crises seeing his old teacher at a store. I'm really interested to see where he takes this discovery about his parents and how this new "Supers" killing spree affects Bon Temp.

Back at the Authority, people are kind of moseying around and and Ronan our high and mighty chancellor is upset about his betrayals within his inner circle as an his right hand lady, who's name escapes me (which isn't good since I should know this), seemingly is trying to manipulate everything.

Then there was Terry and Patrick off galavanting, trying to stop something and having some recalled memories in flashback mode, which frankly hurts my. Terry learns that the fire last season may have been something more than a fire. While Patrick doesn't believe a word of anything and just thinks their old army buddy went off his rocker and are killing old squad mates. I have to note the resemblance of this part of the story to Supernatural's Sam and Dean. I mean it's pretty much the same concept and I'm not sure where it's going but I hope it connects back to some other stories soon because it was interesting this episode but I have no idea where they are going to take it. What am I saying, this is True Blood. They're probably going give up on it mid season and do something else instead.  

Is it racist to choke your Black Vampire Kin?

Tara on the other hand is possibly the best thing this show has going for it at the moment. Watching her be mentored and accepted by Pam, who seems kind of attracted to Tara in some way, really shows character growth in both these former enemies. Pam is really taking her Maker duties to heart accept if it involves her beloved bar. Tara also has a pretty meaningful heart to heart about killing people with Jessica who explains she wants to be friends and understands Tara's pain. It was probably one of my favorite scenes, well minus the slow motion intercut monolog cutscene that goes between each and every character in the story which is both weird, amazing, heart wrenching and awesome.

Let's Boot and Rally, I'll never understand why they name their episodes after song titles, pushes many stories forward and has great new developments that can have a relatively awesome turn of events and an all out war. Who knows maybe even a few main character demises! A girl can hope! So I'm throwing this episode of True Blood a 4 out of 5 in comparison to the season thus far. And with Russell finally back in the picture, my favorite villain, we may have the makings of a somewhat decent season. I keep watching hoping for it to get better, and finally it happens. Heres to hoping they keep things rolling. Oh, and Sam was there too, but I mean he had nothing really to do accept talk about his two dead friends who were shot in the head last week and confirm they were shifters.