'The People v. O.J. Simpson' Premiere Review: A Juicy True Crime Drama

FX debuted its latest anthology drama American Crime Story on Tuesday with The People v. O.J. Simpson. Executive produced by Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story), the series will focus on a different historical event each season, with this first season delving into the O.J. Simpson trial, based on Jeffrey Toobin's book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson.

As someone who was only a year old during the trial, O.J. Simpson has only ever been a pop culture reference or a punchline on Family Guy to me. For many viewers, though, the series likely brings back memories of the highly covered trial. There are a variety of opinions about this case and how it proceeded, but I don't have enough information to pass judgment on the events that occurred. Therefore I can only take this show as a piece of drama, and as such the premiere was highly effective. Although we all know how this story ends, the premiere does a good job of providing enough suspense and drama to keep the viewer engaged thanks to some excellent performances.

Cuba Gooding, Jr. stars as Simpson, and given that I don't really have a reference point, I thought he did a fine job. His body language and expressions suggested there is a lot going on inside his mind that we are not privy to. John Travolta stole every scene he was in as Robert Shapiro, imbuing him with a confidence that seemed to fill the room. Sarah Paulson and David Schwimmer also stepped into their roles with ease, delivering strong performances as Marcia Clark and Robert Kardashian. The scene where Simpson threatens suicide and Kardashian must talk him down is a stand out, effectively depicting the emotional toll that the events had on everyone involved.

As far as pilots go, this was one of the more effective ones this season. Some parts of the episode were somewhat slow, particularly those involving the police investigation when the bigger personalities were not on screen, but those were few and far between. For the most part the episode held my attention, drawing me in from the beginning and ending with a "cliffhanger" (or as much of a cliffhanger as there can be in a well-known story) that left me wanting to watch the next episode. Many shows take a couple of episodes to find their footing and completely pull me in, but this one already has me hooked and anticipating the next nine episodes.

One final thing I found interesting was how the theme of race pervades this story. Given recent events, this show could not be more relevant. The episode begins with archive footage of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and questions of race and how the police are treating Simpson are brought up throughout the episode. Meanwhile, the show highlights how lax the police were in their questioning of Simpson and the favors they granted him given his celebrity status. Based on the scenes for next week's episode, it seems the show will be tackling the subject of race head on, so as sad as it is that we are still dealing with these issues twenty years later, it will be interesting to see what the show has to say about the state of things then and how they relate to now.

As always, feel free to leave your thoughts on the episode below.

Shows I'm Looking Forward To

I only have time for a quick post this week, so I thought I'd list some shows that I'm most looking forward to in the next few months. This includes both new and returning shows.

DC's Legends of Tomorrow
As a DC Comics nerd, Arrow and The Flash are two of my favorite shows right now. But when The CW announced another spinoff featuring a large cast of characters taken from both shows, I was skeptical. I thought it would be too much. But when I learned that the show would feature Rip Hunter and have the group travel through time to stop Vandal Savage, I started getting excited. And then I saw the first teaser last year and the fanboy in me was giddy. Now the wait is almost over as the show premieres this Thursday.

The Magicians
I picked up Lev Grossman's fantasy novel The Magicians two summers ago and was hooked within a few pages. I hadn't been that caught up in a book in a long time. By the end of the summer I bought the next two books in the trilogy. I like to describe the series as a cross between Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia for adults. After I finished the trilogy I was reminded that Syfy was developing a TV adaptation of the series, which was the reason I wanted to read it in the first place. Syfy aired the pilot as a special preview back in December, so I've already seen that. Except for a few minor deviations, the show seems to be sticking pretty close to the source material. I thought the pilot was great, and I can't wait to see the rest of the season when it debuts next week on January 25.

Colony
I'm a little late on this one because it premiered last Thursday. But USA made the pilot available online early so I watched it a couple of weeks ago. One of the executive producers is Lost's Carlton Cuse, and the show stars Lost's Josh Holloway, so naturally I had to check it out. It takes place in a Los Angeles that is occupied by unseen "Hosts" whom we can presume are of extraterrestrial origin. But rather than a typical alien invasion story, Colony focuses on the people trying to live their lives under this occupation. Family and loyalty are two of the themes that become apparent in the pilot, so I'm interested to see where it goes starting with the second episode this Thursday.

Daredevil Season 2
Netflix has been knocking it out of the park with its Marvel series. Both Daredevil and Jessica Jones were fantastic last year. Daredevil had some of the best fight scenes I've seen in a comic book adaptation, including a hallway scene shot in a single take. It also introduced the most complex villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wilson Fisk, AKA Kingpin. I'm very excited for season 2, which will feature the Punisher and Elektra and will be available on March 18.

Person of Interest Season 5
I finally caught up on Person of Interest over the winter break, and the end of season 4 was huge. CBS only ordered 13 episodes for season 5 and has not announced a premiere date, so this could be the last season. This show has changed a lot since it started, becoming much more serialized than its original premise indicated, so I'm excited to see how it ends. All four seasons are available on Netflix if you'd like to check it out before what could be the final season.

Of course I'm excited for all of my shows to return, but these are the ones that immediately come to mind. Until next week, Happy Watching!

Golden Globes TV Predictions

It's awards season, and tomorrow marks the first big awards show of the year (the People's Choice Awards don't count). Hosted by Ricky Gervais, the 73rd annual Golden Globes will take place Sunday night, honoring the best in film and television of 2015.

In preparation for the awards, I decided to make my predictions for who will win in the TV categories. I will also reveal whom I would like to see win. Keep in mind that I am not a professional critic, nor have I seen all of the nominated shows, so don't bet any money based on these. These predictions are informed by years of watching the awards and getting a feel for which shows the Hollywood Foreign Press Association tends to honor, as well as some insight from real critics. You can find the full list of nominees, including the movie categories, here.

Let's get started.

UPDATE: The great thing about the Golden Globes is that you never know what is going to happen. This year had many surprises in the television categories, as evidenced by my awful score of 2/11. But I can't complain because Mr. Robot and Christian Slater won in their respective categories (seriously, you all should watch that show). Also, I called Rachel Bloom's surprise win, so I'm happy. The winners are in red below.

Best Television Series - Drama
Empire (FOX)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Mr. Robot (USA)
Narcos (Netflix)
Outlander (Starz)
Who I think will win: My gut is saying Outlander. I haven't seen it, but critics seem to love it.
Who I want to win: It's very unlikely, but I'd love to see Mr. Robot take it. It is easily my favorite new show of 2015.

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Mozart in the Jungle (Amazon)
Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
Silicon Valley (HBO)
Transparent (Amazon)
Veep (HBO)
Casual (Hulu)
Who I think will win: Transparent for the repeat.
Who I want to win: Out of the nominees, I've only seen Silicon Valley, which is more than deserving of an award.

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
American Crime (ABC)
American Horror Story: Hotel (FX)
Fargo (FX)
Flesh and Bone (Starz)
Wolf Hall (PBS)
Who I think will win: I've only seen Fargo, but I think it will take its second Globe.
Who I want to win: Fargo. In my opinion, it's one of the best shows on TV right now, if not the best.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel
Queen Latifah, Bessie
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone
Who I think will win: This is a wild guess, but I'm going to say Queen Latifah.
Who I want to win: Again, I've only seen Fargo, but Kirsten Dunst was a standout this season.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Patrick Wilson, Fargo

Idris Elba, Luther

David Oyelowo, Nightingale

Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero

Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

Who I think will win: This is a stacked category, and I could see any of these actors taking it. It's a tough call, but I'm going to guess Idris Elba.
Who I want to win: Although I love Idris Elba, I wasn't overly impressed with the latest season of Luther, so I have to give this one to Patrick Wilson, who was another standout in Fargo.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
Eva Green, Penny Dreadful
Who I think will win: Viola Davis will follow up her Emmy win.
Who I want to win: Davis, hands down.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Wagner Moura, Narcos
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Who I think will win: Jon Hamm will get one last award for Mad Men.
Who I want to win: It would be a very pleasant surprise if Rami Malek won for his fantastic performance.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Who I think will win: Based on Gina Rodriguez's surprise win last year, I'm going to take a gamble and say Rachel Bloom.
Who I want to win: I don't watch any of these shows, so I'll say Bloom for the shock factor.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk
Aziz Ansari, Master of None
Gael García Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
Rob Lowe, The Grinder
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Who I think will win: Jeffrey Tambor will take it for the second year in a row.
Who I want to win: Again, I haven't seen any of these shows, but Master of None is high on my watchlist, so I'll say Aziz Ansari.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Regina King, American Crime
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black
Maura Tierney, The Affair
Judith Light, Transparent
Who I think will win: She lost to Joanne Froggatt last year, but Uzo Aduba has won two Emmys, so I'm giving this one to her.
Who I want to win: For the third category in a row, I haven't seen any of these performances. So I'll go with Aduba because we have Boston University in common.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Tobias Menzies, Outlander
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
Who I think will win: I've only seen Mr. Robot, but I've heard great things about Ben Mendelsohn in Bloodline, so I'm going with him.
Who I want to win: Christian Slater. (If you can't tell, I really liked Mr. Robot.)

There we go. My picks for the 2016 Golden Globes. If I get at least 8 out of 11, I'll call it a success. I'll update this post with the winners afterwards. Feel free to leave your picks in the comments, and don't forget to tune in to the awards at 8:00PM ET on NBC.

2016 TV New Year's Resolutions

It's been a year since my last post, but instead of making excuses and looking back at what prevented me from writing in 2015, I'm going to take this opportunity to start fresh. It's a new year, and there are some things that I want to work on in 2016. So here are my TV-related resolutions for the new year.

1. Be More Active
No, I don't mean exercise (although I should really do that as well). I'm talking about this blog. I don't know if I was too busy, too lazy, or both, but I really failed to keep up with this blog in 2015. I do enjoy writing about TV, so I'm determined to do more of that this year. My goal is to post at least once a week. In order to accomplish that, I hope to add some variety to my posts. So in addition to reactions or reviews, I might post a recommendation or a list every so often. That way, when I inevitably fall behind on my shows and can't post a timely review, I'll still have options for things to write. I already have some ideas for posts, including a monthly recommendation, so I'm excited to get writing in 2016.

2. Work On the Years-Old To-Do List
There are plenty of shows that have been on my watchlist for several years that I've never gotten around to watching. These include, but are not limited to, Doctor Who, Orange Is the New Black, and The Wire. I'm not saying that I will clear my entire watchlist in 2016, but I do hope to at least start a couple of these shows. The problem is that there are too many current shows that I need to keep up with, so I rarely get a break to start something from several years ago. Clearing my watchlist will be a long and gradual process, but I have to start sometime, right?

3. Spring Cleaning
I'm not making any promises with this one. It's safe to say that I currently watch more shows than I can count, so naturally there are some shows that I would probably be better off saying goodbye to. The problem is that I am a completist, so once I am a season or two into a show, I need to see how it ends. My resolution then, is to let go of any shows that are no longer keeping my interest and make room for new shows. In the past few years I've let go of Hawaii Five-0 (which was a tough decision) and Under the Dome (good riddance). Right now I can't think of any that deserve that fate, but as 2016 promises several interesting new series, I'll need to take a look at what I'm watching and decide if they're really worth my time.

4. Plan For the Future
I'll be graduating this year, so I need to figure out how I'm going to watch TV. Although I watch the majority of my shows online, there are some that I catch live. Right now I have the university's cable, but once I graduate I will need to decide if I want to get cable or rely on over-the-top services. With all the talk of cord-cutting these days, it's a big decision and one that I will not be taking lightly.

As much as it pains me not to have a round 5, that's all I could come up with. 2016 is going to be a big year both in the TV industry and in my own life, and I'm ready to tackle it head on. I'll be back with my first actual post of the year soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, have a happy new year, and happy watching!

'Galavant' Premiere Review: Not the Worst Thing Ever

After seemingly endless promotion, ABC's "musical comedy extravaganza" Galavant debuted on Sunday. ABC will air the eight half-hour episodes over four weeks in hour-long blocks, so I'll review both of Sunday's episodes together. Created and written by Dan Fogelman with music by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater, all of whom worked on Disney's Tangled, the show follows titular hero Galavant (Joshua Sasse) as he seeks revenge on King Richard (Psych's Timothy Omundson), who stole Galavant's love Madalena (Mallory Jansen). Although it sounds like your typical medieval fairy-tale, Galavant is very self-aware and even subverts expectations to good effect.

The earliest twist comes at the end of the opening number when Galavant interrupts Richard and Madalena's wedding only to be rejected by Madalena, who would rather share the king's riches than Galavant's love. The show handles the genre very well by delivering moments like this that go against expectations, as well as by playing into the genre while delivering self-aware lines and lyrics. For example, the second half of the hour features a training montage set to an "Eye of the Tiger"-sounding song about furthering the plot by rising up to a challenge. As an unapologetic fan of metahumor and parody, I really enjoyed these moments. Fogelman proved himself a smart writer and was able to keep my attention throughout the hour.

The show's success was greatly aided by the songs. Each half hour featured two main musical numbers (not including the aforementioned training song), and while the only one likely to stick with the viewer is the ubiquitous "Galavant" theme (ABC went overboard with the cross-promotions during the commercial breaks), they were all hilarious. Menken and Slater did a fantastic job with these songs, effectively delivering both exposition and jokes with catchy tunes and clever lyrics. The songs were especially useful in the first half hour, which was almost entirely set-up for the rest of the series. Plot details and backstory can be more craftily delivered in a catchy song than in clunky dialogue.

The entire cast did a fine job both acting and singing. The standouts in this first hour were Omundson and Vinnie Jones, who plays Gareth, King Richard's right-hand man. Jones brought plenty of humor to what could have been a thankless role, and he and Omundson played off of each other very well. Omundson was great as Richard and brought just enough sentiment to make us sympathize with his character. Although, that could also be the result of Jansen's over-the-top performance as the seemingly heartless Madalena. Over-the-top is not necessarily a bad thing, especially in this kind of show, but Jansen is close to taking it too far. That said, there was a subtle moment of tenderness near the end of the hour that was played well by Jansen. Sasse was fine as Galavant, but he failed to make us truly care about his plight. His joke delivery was great, but there's something missing from his performance. For now he's somewhat bland.

The second half also featured John Stamos as the first guest star. He played an arrogant knight with a fantastic name (I won't spoil it here), whom Galavant must face in a joust. Stamos clearly had a lot of fun with the role, delivering countless lame, yet oddly hilarious, "your mother" jokes. His character also allowed Galavant his first chance to prove himself as the hero, which was good to see.

My biggest complaint with the hour is Richard's man-child schtick in the second half. It's one thing to make him "unmanly," but to have the chef feed him is taking it a bit to far. However, the pay off, in which Gareth teaches Richard the "art of manliness", was good and allowed for more screen time for Jones.

I really liked Galavant, much more than I was expecting, but I know that it won't be for everyone. The plot is rather cheesy, and there are plenty of clichés, but the creative team of Fogelman, Menken, and Slater effectively play with those clichés to create a fun, humorous hour of television. With only four hour-long blocks, the show most likely will not overstay its welcome. If you're a fan of The Princess Bride, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, or people singing about disembowelment, I recommend checking out Galavant. If not, you only have to ignore it for three more weeks. In the meantime, those of you who have seen it are welcome to leave your thoughts in the comments.

2014 TV Highlights

After a very stressful semester, I have some time off for winter break. I thought I'd try to play catch up and look back at the year in TV. So without further ado, here are my 2014 TV highlights.

DC Comics TV

I'll begin with perhaps my favorite thing to come out of this year: the rise of TV adaptations of DC comics. The CW's Arrow has been on the air for two years now, but this year saw the debut of not one, not two, but three DC TV shows: The Arrow spin-off The Flash, FOX's Gotham, and NBC's Constantine. The Flash quickly became my favorite new show of the fall. It is everything I wanted it to be and more. I love it so much that I could probably write a thousand words about it, which I may end up doing when the season ends in the spring. But in the meantime I will impatiently await it's return in January. I was less impressed by Gotham, which follows a young James Gordon as a detective navigating the crime and corruption of Gotham before Batman. The show sometimes spends too much time hinting at Batman and his villains, but I still do enjoy the show. Robin Lord Taylor is a stand out as Oswald Cobblepot (who will become the Penguin), and the mob war between Falcone and Maroni is enough to keep me engaged. As of the time of my writing this, I've only seen the pilot of Constantine, but I liked what I saw. It's a darker corner of the DC universe that hasn't been seen in film or TV since the Keanu Reeves movie, so I look forward to catching up over break.

Looking Ahead: DC will continue to take over TV as more projects have been announced. CBS has ordered a Supergirl series from Greg Berlanti, the man behind Arrow and The Flash; Syfy is developing Krypton, which will take place on Superman's home planet and follow his grandfather; and TNT is working on a live action Teen Titans adaptation. I am always on board for anything DC-related, so I am looking forward to all of these shows, should they end up airing. It seems that while Marvel dominates the box office with its movies, DC will continue to throw its properties at TV, and given its current track record, it's looking like they will continue to stick.

Marvel TV

Marvel only has one TV show to DC's four currently on air, but 2014 has been a good year for it. ABC's Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. got off to a rocky start last year, but it picked up steam in its second half, especially following the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier back in April. S.H.I.E.L.D. takes place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), so anything that happens in the movies can affect what happens in the show. Without spoiling anything, I will say that Winter Soldier had huge ramifications for S.H.I.E.L.D., infusing new life into the show. Now in its second season, the show is better than ever. It ended the year with a gamechanging midseason finale that introduced a new element from the comics into the MCU, and I am very excited to see what happens next.

Looking Ahead: Marvel will add two more TV shows to the MCU in 2015. ABC will air the entire eight-episode run of Marvel's Agent Carter in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s normal timeslot starting in January. This series takes place after the events of Captain America: The First Avenger and will see Hayley Atwell reprise her role as Peggy Carter. She has been seen in a couple of episodes of S.H.I.E.L.D. this season via flashbacks, so I am excited for her to carry her own show. Meanwhile, Netflix has been working on the first of its five Marvel series, Daredevil, which will become available sometime in 2015. Starring Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, the show, because it is on Netflix, will get away with a darker tone. While I didn't hate the Ben Affleck movie (probably because I saw it when I was young and I liked everything back then), it will be nice to see a new, darker take on the character.

Game of Thrones

This season of HBO's Game of Thrones was easily my favorite so far. There were so many breathtaking moments (both for the characters and the viewers) that I can't believe it all happened in one ten-episode season. I don't want to spoil anything, so I will vaguely touch on the ones that immediately come to mind. It all started with a certain wedding of a violet hue and things only escalated from there. There was Tyrion's speech, the Viper vs Mountain fight, the Battle of Castle Black (which was perhaps the most beautifully executed episode to date), and the entire finale. Oh, and Arya's laugh was a standout moment for me. It was quite the eventful season, so I wonder if they can top it with season five.

Looking Ahead: I haven't read the books, so I don't know what is coming next. But with so many cliffhangers, I can't wait to find out.

HBO

Unlike previous years, Game of Thrones wasn't the only HBO show I watched this year. Over the summer I caught up on True Detective and Silicon Valley, and I was able to watch The Leftovers as it aired. I loved all three shows. I don't know what to say about True Detective except that it lived up to the hype that it has received. Both Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson gave fantastic performances, and the structure of the men recalling a closed case allowed for an interesting use of narration. Silicon Valley, starring Thomas Middleditch and T.J. Miller as the founders of a startup company, was absolutely hilarious. The cast had great chemistry, and while some of the more technological dialogue went over my head, I was still able to follow the plot and catch the majority of the jokes. The algorithm scene in the finale had me cracking up, and it made me recall so many of the detailed discussions about trivial things that I've had with my friends. Finally, The Leftovers, created by Lost's Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta and based on Perrotta's novel of the same name, follows the residents of a small town in New York three years after the mysterious simultaneous disappearance of two percent of the world's population. The series is very bleak and depressing, so it is not for everyone, but for whatever reason, I was mesmerized throughout the season. The third episode, "Two Boats and a Helicopter," followed Christopher Eccleston's Rev. Matt Jamison and was one of the best hours of TV I've seen in a while. The novel does not explain the reason for the disappearance and Lindelof has said that he doesn't plan to explain it in the show, but while that may turn some people off, I'm much more interested in the characters, and they've done a great job defining them.

Looking Ahead: All three shows have been renewed for a second season. Silicon Valley and The Leftovers will continue where they left off, and although neither ended with a big cliffhanger, I'm looking forward to more of both shows. The second season of True Detective, however, will have a new setting and cast, so I don't know what to expect. HBO has recently confirmed that the cast will include Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell, Taylor Kitsch, and Rachel McAdams, so I'm excited to see what they bring to the show.

The Legend of Korra

This year we got two complete seasons (Books 3 and 4) of Nickelodeon's The Legend of Korra, the sequel series to the popular Avatar: The Last Airbender. Unfortunately, they were the last two, and they came with some behind-the-scenes drama. In the middle of the Book 3, Nick pulled the show from its schedule with no warning. The rest of the episodes were then released online weekly. Luckily, this happened right before San Diego Comic-Con, so the creators were able to clear everything up to the fans and the press at the SDCC panel. They knew it was going to happen, but they didn't know when; so they were just as surprised as we were. But that didn't stop the fans from watching the show. Another surprise came when Book 4, the final book of the series, premiered just over a month after Book 3 ended. On the one hand, fans got more episodes much sooner than they were expecting, but on the other hand, the show would be ending sooner than they were expecting. Despite the confusion, the show delivered two fantastic seasons. Book 3 saw the rebirth of the air nomads and the rise of a very powerful villain, and Book 4, which took place three years after Book 3, saw politics play a major role and a favorite character from The Last Airbender return for a few episodes. Korra was a great continuation of the Avatar story and helped expand the universe in ways I had never expected. I am sad to say goodbye to this world, but it was a great ride.

Looking Ahead: Creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko have no plans to continue with the Avatar world, and I think that is for the best. If at some point down the road, they get an idea of how to continue the story, I will fully support them, but for now I look forward to their next projects.

Obviously there was plenty more notable TV this year that I didn't get to. Fargo was a brilliant show with amazing performances from Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, and Allison Tolman. Bojack Horseman was an...interesting addition to Netflix's lineup of original programming. Psych ended its eight-year run in true Psych fashion. How I Met Your Mother ended its nine-year run in...a fashion (more on that here). Sherlock and Hannibal, two of my favorite current shows, both delivered outstanding seasons. And in its midseason finale, Arrow made perhaps the most ambitious creative choice I've ever seen. There are also plenty of shows that have been highly praised that I haven't seen yet, as well as shows that I wish I hadn't seen (I'm looking at you, Under the Dome). Overall it was a good year to be a TV junkie, and I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store.

As always, feel free to share your own 2014 highlights in the comments. Until next time, I'd like to wish you all the happiest of holidays.

'How I Met Your Mother' Series Finale Reaction: How We Met the End

After twenty hours of avoiding all social media and entertainment sites, I finally watched the series finale of How I Met Your Mother on Tuesday. Luckily, I was able to make it through the day without having the ending spoiled for me (I felt like I was reenacting the season two episode "Monday Night Football"). Having read the online reactions and taken time to figure out my thoughts, I'm ready to pitch in. Obviously SPOILERS follow, so if you haven't seen the finale, stop reading immediately.

Let me begin by saying that I fully understand the rage that many people are experiencing at the finale. We've spent nine years waiting for Ted to meet the mother of his children, expecting her to be his soulmate and them living happily ever after. Then we spent all of this last season learning about the mother, whose name we find out is Tracy, and seeing her and Ted together in flashforwards. I know I'm not alone in thinking that Tracy was perfect for Ted. But after all of that, Tracy dies from a terminal illness and six years later Ted goes after Robin one last time. It's hard not to feel cheated by this ending, so I understand why people are upset.

However, I'm okay with this ending, for the most part. When fans started speculating about the mother being dead when Ted tells the story, I didn't want to believe it. I was still holding onto the hope that they would have their happy ever after. But when it turned out to be true, I realized that it made sense, especially given the clues that the writers have been dropping since last season. What I didn't like was that Tracy's death came and went. I would have liked some sort of goodbye scene between Ted and the woman that he has been searching for for nine years, but instead we get a brief voiceover about her being sick and a shot of him reading to her in a hospital bed. I know that a scene like that would have been really heavy, but it would have made Ted's moving on at the end more powerful. That being said, I can look past this because how they handled Tracy's death was fine given the ultimate reveal that the story was really about Robin.

But that's where my main problem with the finale comes in. Actually, it's not even a problem with the finale but more with the series as a whole. I'm not angry that Ted went after Robin at the end, mostly because that is clearly what the creators had in mind from the beginning. The final scene with the kids was shot close to the beginning of the series because the actors needed to appear the same age. Plus, looking back, the pilot is all about how Ted meets Robin, so coming back to that in the finale makes perfect sense. My issue is that it has been made clear multiple times throughout the series that Ted and Robin are not right for each other, so that's what makes the ending unrealistic to me. Ted has also said on several occasions that he is over Robin. I know that I can't take Ted for his word on that because he's Ted, but I felt that this season's "Sunrise" provided closure in that regard. Even if Ted never did get over his feelings for Robin, that doesn't change the fact that she's always been focused on her career while he always wanted to settle down. Ted found someone who was able to give him everything that he wanted, and he clearly loved her, but now I'm supposed to believe that after being with Tracy for ten years he still thinks Robin is the one? I don't buy it. Maybe if Robin had shown some sort of change in character, I would be more inclined to believe it, but she still seemed very career-focused at the end. Like I said, the finale made sense logistically, but I wish they developed Robin's character a little more at the end so that I could more believably see them together.

Now on to the other characters. I'll start with Barney. Personally, I loved how Barney has grown so much over the course of the series. I thought his proposal to Robin was great and, although I may be alone in this, that they were good together because they each had their own issues with commitment. Then when he and Robin get divorced, he makes a complete reversal to the guy he was at the beginning of the series. I don't think that was the best choice, but giving him a daughter was a great touch. Seeing him as a devoted father was touching, even if it was the result of a one-night stand. I just wish that they could have gotten there a different way, but I don't know how else it could have happened.

Lily and Marshall have pretty much been the only constants in the series, except for when Lily went to San Francisco. But once they got married, the only issues they had were career-related. Their relationship never wavered, so there wasn't much for them to do in the finale because they had their biggest closure in "Daisy" when we found out Lily was pregnant. However, I will say that I'm glad Marshall got to be a judge and that they have a big happy family.

One more complaint that I've read that I must address is more about this final season as a whole. Many people have complained that this whole season was focused on a marriage that only lasted three years (and about fifteen minutes on screen). This comes on top of the complaints that this season dragged on and shouldn't have spanned a 72 hour period. I am in the small group of people who actually liked this season overall, but I agree that it seems weird that the divorce came so soon. Personally, I liked the idea of the season taking place within one weekend because it made for a more serialized season that led up to Ted meeting the mother. I always figured that that meeting wouldn't happen until the series finale anyway, and I never expected to get to know the mother as much as we did, which was a nice surprise. I agree that this season wasn't the greatest, but I didn't hate it nearly as much as a lot of other people did.

That said, I think that the finale could have been better served if the end of the wedding happened a few episodes previously and the divorce could have been announced more gradually. Then the finale could have spent some more time on Ted and Tracy's relationship and made her death more powerful as well as make us believe that Ted and Robin would work together.

I know that all of this sounds like I didn't like the episode, but that's not true. Although there was a lot that they tried to fit into one hour, as finales go, it was pretty good overall. It hit all the right notes: I laughed, I cried (not really, but I did get choked up a bit), and I was surprised. The writers did a great job of bringing back recurring gags, including my favorite running joke, the Private Joke (when someone says a phrase that includes a military rank, Ted and Robin repeat it and salute, e.g. "Major pleasure"). The emotional scenes were all great as well, especially the gang's goodbye to Ted before he supposedly leaves for Chicago and the titular meeting between Ted and Tracy.

Overall I did like the finale. It's just some of the plot choices that bothered me, but that's going to be the case with any show. After spending years getting emotionally invested with a cast of characters, you're never going to be completely satisfied when you have to say goodbye. I got to see Ted meet his soulmate and some of their life together, and that's more than I could've hoped for. I'm sure that when I watch the episode again, I'll feel differently than I do now and appreciate the ending more. But these are just my initial reactions. I may not agree with all of the decisions that the creators made, but I'm glad to have been witness to their legendary creation.

'Sherlock' Review: The Best Best Man Speech

On Sunday PBS aired the second episode of Sherlock's third season, "The Sign of Three." Although not the most exciting or action-packed, it was quite possibly the funniest and most heartwarming episode to date. Spoilers follow, so if you have not seen the episode, you may not want to continue reading.

We open with a series of scenes spanning several months in which DI Lestrade (Rupert Graves) repeatedly fails to catch a group of bank robbers. When they are finally caught and Lestrade is about to arrest them, he gets a text from Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) saying "Help me." Lestrade leaves, calling for maximum backup on the way. He arrives a Baker St. to find Sherlock at his desk trying to write a best man speech while sirens and a helicopter are heard. This scene, though predictable, captures the nature of Sherlock Holmes and sets up the rest of the episode, which takes place at the wedding reception of John Watson (Martin Freeman) and Mary Morstan (Amanda Abbington).

Almost the entire episode takes place during Sherlock's speech and includes several flashbacks to events that he discusses in the speech. These flashbacks provide the funniest moments in the episode, and some of them even provide some of the funniest moments in the series to date. The best of these comes as Sherlock recalls John's bachelor party, in which Sherlock and John had a drink at every street on which they had a case. Sherlock monitored their alcohol intake, but John secretly took a shot and slipped one in Sherlock's beer, resulting in a very drunk, very funny duo. After only two hours out, they ended up back at Baker St., where they were visited by a client who believed she had dinner with a ghost because her date never contacted her again. This entire sequence, especially Sherlock's drunken inspection of the crime scene, were hilarious, mainly because we have never seen this side of the pair before.

Cumberbatch and Freeman were both great in their drunken scenes, but they especially shined in the more emotional part of Sherlock's speech. After upsetting everyone at the reception by insulting both weddings and religion, Sherlock delivered the most heartwarming words he has ever spoken:

"The point I am trying to make is that I am the most unpleasant, rude, ignorant, and all-around obnoxious asshole that anyone could possibly have the misfortune to meet. I am dismissive of the virtuous, unaware of the beautiful, and uncomprehending in the face of the happy. So if I didn't understand I was being asked to be best man, it is because I never expected to be anybody's best friend. And certainly not the best friend of the bravest and kindest and wisest human being I have ever had the good fortune of knowing. John, I am a ridiculous man, redeemed only by the warmth and constancy of your friendship."

There is much more worth quoting, but these, I believe, are the best lines because they show that Sherlock is, in fact, aware of his flaws and that he both recognizes and appreciates John's friendship. This was a rare beautiful moment from Sherlock, and it was great to see a more friendly side to him.

The sentimentality and humor coincided at the end of the episode when Sherlock makes his "first and last vow" to John and Mary:

 "Whatever it takes, whatever happens, from now on I swear I will always be there, always, for all three of you.... I'm sorry. I mean two of you. All two of you. Both of you in fact. I just miscounted. Anyway, it's time for dancing."

This accidental deduction of Mary's pregnancy and quick retraction was a nice final touch to an already humorous episode. The episode was riddled with great quotes, both funny and sentimental, but this last one is my favorite because it combines both elements.

The mystery itself in this episode was nothing too exciting, but it was handled interestingly. After reminiscing about two of his cases, an unsolved murder and the "ghost date," he realizes that someone at the reception is going to be murdered. He prolongs his speech in order to stall while he works out who is the target. He finally realizes that the two cases, though seemingly unrelated, involved the same person, a person at the reception. The killer turns out to be the photographer, while the target is John's former commanding officer. While this solution was not very shocking, it was a clever way to tie the two cases together and also allow for a focus on the John and Mary's wedding.

While I won't go so far as to say that this is my favorite episode to date (that honor goes to "The Great Game," season 1, episode 3), I will say that no other episode has made me laugh so hard or feel so touched by Sherlock Holmes. It's always nice to see Sherlock's humanity shine through his sociopathic exterior, and what better way to show that off than in a best man speech?

2013 Fall Pilot Battles

I was hoping to write another post about the fall TV season earlier, but it has been difficult to keep up with all of my shows. So I decided to wait until I watched all of the pilots that I wanted to watch and briefly review them all in a single post. I only watched the pilots whose trailers interested me, so keep in mind that there are several other new shows this season that I will not discuss. Also, some of these shows are a few episodes in because the pilots aired at different times. Therefore, I will try to limit my reviews to the pilot episodes. Finally, since there are six pilots that I watched, I decided it would be fun to pair them up by genre and say which one in each pair I liked better. That's about all I have to say as an introduction, so let's get to it.

The Sitcoms: The Millers (CBS) vs Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)

The Millers: The only reason I watched this pilot is because it stars Will Arnett. Arnett plays a recently divorced man whose mother (Margo Martindale) moves in with him after separating from his father (Beau Bridges). The pilot was very predictable and many of the jokes fell flat. However, I did think Arnett was very good as the straight man, and his reactions to his irreverent parents were pretty funny. That said, this show will have to hook me in the next couple of episodes for me to continue watching it.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Andy Samberg leads the cast of this workplace comedy as goofball detective Jake Peralta whose NYC precinct comes under new command when hard-ass Captain Ray Holt (Andre Braugher) takes over. I thought Samberg was hilarious as the childish-yet-effective detective, and Braugher was great as the stoic, seasoned captain. I look forward to seeing their relationship take shape. The rest of the characters each have their quirks and were only mediocre in the pilot, but I think that with time and character development, this show can be great.

Winner: Brooklyn Nine-Nine wins by a long shot, but I do hope that The Millers can find its footing, if only for Will Arnett.

The Monday Night Thrillers: The Blacklist (NBC) vs Hostages (CBS)
The Blacklist: James Spader stars as elusive criminal Raymond "Red" Reddington who turns himself into the FBI and offers to help them catch other terrorists and criminals under the condition that he speaks only to new recruit Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone). I enjoyed this pilot and thought Spader was great as the cryptic fugitive. Something about Spader's delivery makes me question everything that Reddington says, which I'm sure is the point. I'm not sold on Boone quite yet, but I think she'll grow on me in time. The episode had several twists and set up multiple plot points, so I am interested to see where this show goes.

Hostages: Dr. Ellen Sanders (Toni Collette) is a day away from operating on the president when her family is taken hostage by a group led by FBI Agent Duncan Carlisle (Dylan McDermott). The acting in this pilot was solid all around, and the plot is new and exciting. The twist at the end sets up for an interesting dynamic between Ellen and Duncan, and I look forward to seeing how it plays out. My only problem with the show is that Ellen's husband, son, and daughter each have a secret that is very predictable, so I hope the show doesn't dwell too much on those subplots.

Winner: I have to give a slight edge to Hostages because of the plot and acting. Even though The Blacklist had better twists, there may have been too many. Also, Hostages seems to be more of a serial, which I prefer to procedurals.

The "Superhero" Dramas: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) vs The Tomorrow People (The CW)
S.H.I.E.L.D.: Marvel's TV spinoff of its movie franchise, S.H.I.E.L.D. takes place after the events of The Avengers and Iron Man 3 and sees a revived Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) lead a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as they deal with extra-normal situations. This was easily one of the most hyped shows of the season, and sadly, the pilot didn't live up to the hype. However, I still enjoyed it and I think the show has potential. Gregg gives a good performance, but the rest of the cast needs to find some chemistry. The best part of the pilot was Fitz-Simmons, a pair of scientists, Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons, who deliver some of the funniest lines of the episode. Given some character development and strong storylines, I think this show could be a hit.

The Tomorrow People: Strange things have been happening to high school student Stephen Jameson (Robbie Amell, cousin of Arrow's Stephen Amell), who finds out that he is a member of a superhuman race called "Tomorrow People." These people have the powers of teleportation, telekinesis, and telepathy, and they are being hunted by an organization called Ultra, led by Dr. Jedekiah Price (Mark Pelligrino). I originally wasn't planning on watching this pilot because it is on The CW and the only CW shows I've liked are Smallville and Arrow, both based on DC Comics characters, but I decided at the last minute to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. While not a great show, the plot kept me interested and the action sequences, though not Arrow quality, were pretty good. Also, the ending surprised me, and it seems that the show is going in a direction that I had not expected for this type of show. I'm intrigued, so I will keep watching for now.

Winner: Based solely on the pilots, this one is a draw. S.H.I.E.L.D. was over-hyped and fell short, while The Tomorrow People didn't seem too interesting but was a surprise. If I could only watch one, I would probably choose S.H.I.E.L.D. simply because of the Marvel brand, but quality-wise, these pilots were pretty even.

That's it for now. There are more pilots that I'm looking forward to this season, but they don't air for a while. In the meantime, I'll be trying to catch up on these shows and all of the returning shows that I watch. If anything strikes me as exceptionally noteworthy, I'll write about it, but since I'm very behind, don't expect another post any time soon. As always, feel free to leave your thoughts on these or any other pilots in the comments.

'How I Met Your Mother' Premiere Review: This Is It

The fall TV season has arrived. And with it comes a whole slew of TV shows to look forward to. Unfortunately I didn't get around to writing a "most anticipated" list this year, so I will just be writing reviews as the shows premiere. First up is the final season of How I Met Your Mother. If you haven't seen the premiere yet, I recommend watching it before reading this post.

In last season's finale, the gang was getting ready to go to Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin's (Cobie Smulders) wedding (we also got our first look at The Mother, but I'll get to that). Last night's hour-long premiere picked up right where we left off, 55 hours before the wedding. This season will take place entirely within the wedding weekend and will culminate (I assume) in Ted (Josh Radnor) meeting The Mother. This is definitely an interesting choice because 24 episodes worth of story will only take up two and a half days, but based on the premiere, I think it will turn out alright.

A lot happened in this episode, so I will break it down by each character's storyline. First I'll talk about Marshall (Jason Segel). At the end of last season, Marshall was in Minnesota visiting his mother with Marvin before the planned move to Italy. However, he ends up taking a judgeship position without telling Lily (Alyson Hannigan). Now on the plane, Marshall sees an online post from his mother congratulating him. He then tries to get her to delete it before Lily sees it. This leads to an altercation with the passenger next to him, Daphne (Sherri Shepherd), which gets them both kicked off the plane, and there are no open flights to New York left. They eventually end up renting a car together to drive to New York. While this is one of the weakest Marshall subplots I've seen, Segel and Shepherd seemed to have some chemistry, so I am looking forward to their interactions on the road.

Next up is Barney and Robin. The first half of the premiere saw the couple in the back of the limo discussing "wild cards," people who could possibly ruin the wedding. They then realize that they share a crazy Cousin Mitch, and they are afraid they might be related. Although it turned out to be a false-alarm, it allowed for an awesome Game of Thrones reference and led to this exchange:

Barney: Our wedding is going to be legendary
Robin: No waitforit?
Barney: I’ve got you. I don’t have to wait for it anymore. 

As cheesy as this line is, this new side of Barney is nice to see. He has matured a lot in the last couple of seasons. This maturation is also seen in his reaction to finding out that his brother James (Wayne Brady), whose marriage made Barney believe in true love, is getting a divorce. Instead of freaking out like Robin expected, Barney takes it very well. I'm sure there will be hurdles to overcome in Barney and Robin's story this season, but for now, it's good to see them happy.

Speaking of being happy, let's go on to Ted, who repeatedly has to insist to the hotel clerk (Roger Bart) that he is happy after he asks for a single key to his room. (Sidebar: I loved this gag. I thought Bart was hilarious as the clerk, who was really concerned for Ted.) Ted didn't have much to do in this episode, but future Ted reveals that he will be the wild card at the wedding. That may or may not have something to do with the locket that Robin was looking for last season and that ended up in Ted's pencil box. In a flashback, we find out that the pencil box ended up with Stella, who has since moved to Los Angeles. Although Ted promised Lily that he wouldn't go after it, another flashback shows Ted buying a ticket to L.A. four days ago. I don't know where this storyline is going, but I'm excited to find out how Ted becomes the wild card. The episode ended with a flashforward to one year later, when Ted brings The Mother, played very well by Cristin Milioti, back to the hotel. This is the first scene with both Ted and The Mother, and even though it wasn't present-day Ted, it was still an amazing, heartwarming scene. Radnor and Milioti have great chemistry, and hopefully we will see more scenes with them together this season.

Finally we get to Lily. Like I said earlier, we got our first look at The Mother last season. In the first half hour, we get to see more of her when Lily meets her on the train. Lily is the first of the gang to meet The Mother, and they hit it off right away. We also learn through future Ted's narration some great things about The Mother, like her nickname for slow-driving Ted, Tedwina Slowsby, and her love for some of the same nerdy things that Ted loves. Lily's interactions with The Mother provided the beginning of a picture of Ted's future wife. So far Milioti is great in this high-pressure role, and I'm really excited to see how The Mother gets along with the rest of the gang. The rest of Lily's storyline was nothing special, but I'm sure she'll have more to do once Marshall gets there and tells her about the judgeship.

Overall, I really liked this episode. It wasn't perfect, but it was a solid start to what promises to be an eventful final season. It got the ball rolling for some interesting storylines, and gave us a look into who Ted is going to spend the rest of his life with. How exactly he meets her is still uncertain, but I look forward to seeing how he gets from the lonely single guy at his best friends' wedding to the happy, lovestruck guy we saw in the flashforward. 

'The Bridge' Pilot Review: Culture Clash

On Wednesday FX aired the pilot of its newest drama, The Bridge. The show begins with a mysterious figure strategically placing a body on the border between El Paso, TX, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. This forces two detectives, Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger) from El Paso and Marco Ruiz (Demián Bichir) from Juarez, to work together on the case, which seems to be the work of a serial killer.

The most interesting thing about The Bridge is its depiction of the culture clash between the U.S. and Mexico. Immigration is a hot topic today, so it's about time a TV show takes a look at the differences between Mexican and American cultures. The Bridge handles this well by not focusing on either culture but rather providing a balanced and (so far) unbiased look at both. It is very interesting to see how police work is conducted on either side of the border. Sonya does everything by-the-book and puts a lot of effort into her work, while Ruiz is more laid back because in Juarez, the police are often bribed by drug cartels, so many cases are not looked into thoroughly.

The differences between the two detectives are also seen in their personalities, which are portrayed well by the two leads. I quickly grew fond of Ruiz thanks to Bichir's acting. Bichir seems to lose himself in the role, making Ruiz a very real and likable character. He is a family man and seems to be one of the few uncorrupted cops in the Juarez police force. I couldn't help but smile during many of his interactions with Sonya, who is almost completely opposite Ruiz.

Kruger, however, did not grab my attention as much as Bichir. At first her acting seemed rather stiff, but then I realized that it was the character who is stiff. Sonya is a professional, but she lacks personality, which seems to be the point of her character. Whether it is because of a mental illness or something from her past is unclear, but Sonya buries herself in her work and lacks empathy, as seen (and directly stated) when she must tell the victim's husband the bad news. Kruger portrays this lack of emotion well, but it is kind of a turn-off. Hopefully her character will be developed and provide Kruger with some more room to act.

The episode was rather slow-paced, but for some reason I didn't mind that.  Pilot episodes are usually fast-paced to draw in viewers, but this one was slower yet still managed to keep my attention. The pacing allowed me to get to know the characters, but not through heavy exposition. It was their interactions with each other that showed me who they are.

There are many lingering questions other than the main case that make this show very intriguing and will keep me watching. The biggest question is how the two subplots connect to the main case. In one, a woman named Charlotte (Annabeth Gish) has just been widowed and discovers a second phone among her late husband's pocket, leading her to snoop around their property. In the other, a shady American kidnaps a young Mexican woman. Whether he is the killer remains to be seen, but he is certainly suspicious.

The Bridge definitely seems to be a show to stick with. The two main characters are interesting, and I am excited to learn more about their pasts. The acting overall is very good. Two other great performances to point out are Ted Levine as Sonya's boss and Matthew Lillard as a jerk journalist. Finally, the writers did an excellent job with raising both questions about the plot and about culture and morality. Not only does this show make you wonder what will happen next, but it also makes you think about the differences between the U.S. and Mexico.

If you didn't watch The Bridge, I highly recommend it. If you did, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Freshman Show Roundup Part 2: 'Go On,' 'The Following,' and 'Nashville'

Like myself, most new shows of the 2012-2013 TV season have finished their freshman year. I decided that in order to save time, I will write brief assessments of all of the new shows that I watched. These include the ones that I highlighted back in September (with the exception of Elementary, whose pilot didn't hook me enough to keep watching) as well as a few that I picked up along the way. To avoid information overload (and also to give my fingers a break), I will do this in two posts, each one briefly summarizing and assessing three shows. I won't include spoilers since my hope is that you might decide to watch one or more of these shows if you haven't seen them.

For Part 2 I will discuss NBC's Go On, FOX's The Following, and ABC's Nashville. You can read Part 1 here.

Go On
Summary: After his wife passes away, cocky radio sportscaster Ryan King (Matthew Perry) is ordered by his boss Steven (John Cho) to attend group therapy sessions. With the help of group leader Lauren (Laura Benanti) and the group's odd members, Ryan tries to cope with his loss as well as become a better person.
Assessment: Although not the funniest sitcom on TV, I really enjoyed Go On. Unfortunately, despite its good ratings early on, NBC canceled it after the 22-episode season ended. However, the show did have some closure in its final episode, which is always nice. While Perry was great in this role, I especially liked all of the supporting characters. Every member of the group was funny in his or her own way, and there was a good variety of personalities. My favorite character was easily the wonderfully odd and creepy Mr. K (Brett Gelman). Cho was underused in the show's early episodes, but in the second half he had a bigger role. The diverse cast is what made this show, but it was probably hurt by its writing, which wasn't always the best it could have been. That being said, had it been given a second season, I think Go On could have become a hit. This one will be missed.
Rating: 4/5

The Following
Summary: Serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) escapes from prison, and former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) must consult on the case to track him down. The FBI soon learns that Carroll has gathered a cult following during his time in prison.
Assessment: Going in, I expected The Following to be a procedural show with each episode showcasing one of Carroll's followers. I was excited to learn that I was wrong and that it is, in fact, a serialized show. Bacon and Purefoy played off of each other well, and I thought Purefoy, for the most part, was great as the sadistic, manipulative, and brilliant serial killer. At some points he tried to be a bit too poetic, but I was able to overlook that. It seems that the writers tried to develop Bacon's character this season, but I don't think it worked the way they wanted it to. Hopefully they can flesh Ryan out some more in the second season. Also, I enjoyed Shawn Ashmore as young agent Mike Weston. He was given a good storyline in the second half of the season that I'm not convinced we've seen the end of. Finally, I appreciate the decision to keep the season to only 15 episodes instead of the usual 22. In fact, I think the season could have been shortened even more. The shorter season allows for a more fast-paced show (something that I think Revolution needs). Overall, there are definitely some kinks to work out next season, but I will continue watching.
Rating: 4/5

Nashville
Summary: Veteran country singer Rayna James (Connie Britton) and young sensation (think Taylor Swift) Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) must put aside their differences--or at least pretend to--when they are forced to go on tour together. There are about a million other characters and plots but this is the main one.
Assessment: I'll be honest. I watched this pilot for two reasons: 1) it got amazing reviews, and 2) Hayden Panettiere. It was a good pilot, but I hate strongly dislike country music, so the only reason I continued watching was because my girlfriend wanted to keep watching. However, I will admit that despite the excessive drama, the acting and writing--and, yes, the music, if I must be objective--are pretty good overall. Although the drama was painful to sit through at times, the acting, especially by Panettiere, who excels as the bitchy and arrogant pop star, and Charles Esten, who was a surprise as Rayna's band leader and ex-boyfriend Deacon Claybourne, was enough to get me through it. That said, some of the plots--and maybe even some of the characters--should be cut out for the next season. If it were up to me, I probably wouldn't watch next season because it's not my cup of tea, but between my girlfriend and those darn cliffhangers in the finale, I'll most likely be tuning in.
Rating: 3.5/5

So there you have it. Those are the six new shows I watched this season. (I'm also watching Hannibal, but there's still two episodes left, so I will likely review that by itself.) As always, leave your thoughts in the comments. And if there are any other freshman shows you watched that you think I would like, by all means let me know. 

Freshman Show Roundup Part 1: 'Revolution,' 'Arrow,' and 'Last Resort'

Like myself, most new shows of the 2012-2013 TV season have finished their freshman year. I decided that in order to save time, I will write brief assessments of all of the new shows that I watched. These include the ones that I highlighted back in September (with the exception of Elementary, whose pilot didn't hook me enough to keep watching) as well as a few that I picked up along the way. To avoid information overload (and also to give my fingers a break), I will do this in two posts, each one briefly summarizing and assessing three shows. I won't include spoilers since my hope is that you might decide to watch one or more of these shows if you haven't seen them.

For my first post I will discuss NBC's Revolution, The CW's Arrow, and ABC's Last Resort.

Revolution
Brief Summary: Fifteen years after a mysterious blackout rid the world of electricity, Charlie Matheson (Tracy Spiridakos) must rescue her brother Danny (Graham Rogers) from the militia of the Monroe Republic, one of the republics that arose to replace the United States government. Along the way, Charlie learns about her family's involvement in the blackout.
Assessment: Revolution began as one of my favorite new shows, but in the middle of the first half of the season it lost some steam. Not much happened as Charlie, Miles (Billy Burke), and the rest of their gang made their way to Philadelphia to rescue Danny. The show picked up again for the midseason finale (you can read my review for that episode here), but then the second half was the same as the first. It started out strong, was a little slow in the middle, then picked up toward the end. For the most part, I really enjoyed the last few episodes, especially the season finale. The end of the finale made me very excited for the next season. It seems like they're going in a completely different direction for the second season, which I think is a smart move.
Overall Rating for the Season: 3.5/5

Arrow
Summary: (Based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow) After being stranded on an island for five years, wealthy playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) returns to Starling City to right the wrongs of his father as a masked vigilante. Flashbacks reveal what happened to Oliver during his time on the island.
Assessment: As a fan of DC Comics, I was very excited for Arrow, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it quickly became my favorite new fall show. The acting and writing were both very good, and the action sequences were excellent. What made the show even better for me was the inclusion of several minor DC characters and subtle references to the comics. The island flashbacks started out somewhat weak, but they became much better once Slade Wilson (Manu Bennett) was introduced. I would recommend this show not only to fans of DC Comics but also to people who like exciting, action-packed TV shows. Because the show is on The CW, there is of course a love triangle subplot, but that is overshadowed by the rest of the show.
Rating: 5/5

Last Resort
Summary: After U.S. Navy Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) refuses an order to fire a nuclear missile from his submarine, he is attacked by another US sub. He and his crew, including his second-in-command Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman), take refuge on a small island.
Assessment: Power struggles and government conspiracies abound in this short-lived ABC drama. Last Resort was canceled about halfway through its 13-episode run, but fortunately that gave the writers time to craft an ending that gave some closure to those who stuck with the show. I was one of those people. I don't think it was good enough to deserve a second season, but I enjoyed the show while it lasted. Braugher and Speedman were both great in the lead roles, but there were too many minor characters to keep track of. The conspiracy plot was intriguing but also somewhat confusing. Overall, I liked the show, but I'm not sad to see it go.
Rating: 2.5/5

That's it for part one. Stay tuned for part two, where I will discuss Go On, The Following, and Nashville.

'The Office' Series Finale Review: A Perfect Goodbye

After nine seasons, NBC aired the series finale of The Office last night. What started off as a great show became somewhat mediocre in its second half. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't as must-see as it was in its earlier seasons. Exit Steve Carell in season 7, and people wondered whether the show could survive. Carell was surely missed, but I think the show did well without him. He was just one actor in a very large, very solid cast, and that cast helped keep the show alive. Season 8 was definitely not the best of the series, but it could have been a lot worse. I know that a lot of people hated the odd, creepy Robert California (James Spader), but I, for one, thought Spader was a good addition to the cast for one season. Then, after season 8 ended, NBC and the showrunners agreed that season 9 would be the final season. I was excited because it's always nice for showrunners to go into a season knowing it will be the last so that they can end the series properly. Season 9 started off ok (it didn't feel very different from season 8), but by the second half, the writers kicked it into full gear and ended the series perfectly.

In the second half of this season, we were introduced to one of the members of the documentary crew, that is, the people behind the cameras that have been following these people around for 9 years. This was the first acknowledgement in a while of this show actually being a PBS documentary. Then the promos for the documentary aired and we realized that we're approaching the end. Throughout the series, we often forgot that these people were the subject of a documentary, so bringing that to the foreground in the final episodes brought the show full-circle. It was a very fitting way to end the series.

This episode takes place one year after the airing of the documentary as a sort of "Where are they now?" episode. It centered around two major events: a Q&A panel for the characters (i.e. the subjects of the documentary) and Dwight and Angela's wedding, with the wedding getting the primary focus. The wedding, although a little cliché, is a perfect way to bring back old characters, including, of course, our favorite Regional Manager--Michael Scott (Carell).

Carell's appearance, though not very surprising, was beautifully handled. Jim, Dwight's best man, had been pulling a series of "gutenpranks" (good pranks) to surprise Dwight. These included making excuses to PBS so that the Q&A panel fell on the same weekend as the wedding (so people like Andy and Darryl would be there), giving Dwight the chance to fire a bazooka as part of his bachelor party, giving him the opportunity to reconcile with Kevin (whom Dwight had fired), and making up a phony tradition that meant Michael would have to replace Jim as best man. This last gutenprank led to one of the best lines of the episode when Dwight sees Michael:

Dwight: I can't believe you came.
Michael: That's what she said.

This moment, Michael's final "That's what she said," was beautiful and completely captured the character of Michael Scott. What made this cameo great was that it was just that: a cameo. Carell had only a couple of lines, so he didn't steal the episode away from everyone else. But we did find out that Michael finally got the family he always wanted, which was a heartwarming revelation.

The other characters all got closure as well. Oscar is running for senate; Erin found her biological parents; Andy got a job at Cornell; Stanley is retired; Creed got arrested for a long list of things I can't even begin to recount (but not before singing an original song about friendship); and Jim and Pam, who had had marital struggles this season, sold their house and are moving to Austin where Jim will work for the company he helped start earlier this season. All of this closure is exactly what you want to see in a series finale, especially one for a show with a large cast of characters that you've grown to love.

The last ten minutes of the episode almost had me tearing up. Everyone got their last word in their final testimonials. And it all ended with Pam's perfect closing line about choosing Dunder Mifflin for a documentary: "There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn't that kinda the point?"

Although it was not a perfect series, I am very glad to have stuck with The Office through all of its ups and downs. It is and probably always will be one of my favorite sitcoms, and the finale, by highlighting all of the characters, reminded me why that is. The Office will be missed, but I can't imagine a better way to say goodbye.

'How I Met Your Mother' Finale Reaction: Buckle Up

Like my last HIMYM post, I'm not going to write a formal review because my feelings about last night's finale are mixed, and I don't really how to put them into words. Also, I want to address next season, which requires a lot of speculation. So excuse the randomness of this post because I'm going to rant.

There was a major reveal at the end of this episode, so if you haven't seen it, stop reading immediately.

I both liked and disliked this episode. I liked it because it had a good mix of comedy and drama, which is something that HIMYM does well most of the time. I loved Barney and Robin's interactions with the other couple. I also liked the more dramatic scenes between Lily and Ted, even though I'm sick of Ted pining over Robin. What I didn't like was that nothing was really resolved. I know that finales are supposed to end with cliffhangers, which this episode did, but they also should resolve the main plots of the season. It did resolve Barney and Robin's hesitance to get married, but Lily and Marshall's move to Italy was further complicated rather than resolved, and Ted's moving to Chicago came out of nowhere. In that sense, this episode felt more like a "part 1" of a finale than a finale.

That is, except for the last shot. Showing The Mother's face was a curveball I was not expecting and was a perfect way to end a finale. However, I don't know if it was the right choice given the nature of this show. For those of you who don't know, next season will be the last, so Ted has to meet The Mother next season. What worries me is when he'll meet her. Future Ted said that he meets her at the wedding, which will probably happen early next season. So if he meets her then, what will the rest of the season be about? I always thought that Ted would meet The Mother in the series finale, you know, since the title is How I Met Your Mother. I wonder if Ted will only briefly meet her at the wedding and the rest of the season will lead up to them starting to date. Or the entire season could be them dating, but  then what would be the endgame? A logical ending to that season would be Ted proposing, but to me, that would be too soon. But then again, that's something Ted would do. Anyway, I hope it's the former because I don't think I would like an entire season of them dating, leading up to a proposal. I would rather them start dating in the finale than get engaged or married. Whatever happens, I'm cautiously excited for next season. Final seasons are always a big deal, and I always look forward to them, even though it means the show is ending.

Last night's episode reminded me that we're so close. So buckle up because next season is going to be an interesting ride.

As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

'Psych' Review: 100 Episodes Later

On Wednesday, Psych aired its 100th episode, a big milestone for any TV series. This special episode is an homage to the 1985 film Clue. For those who haven't seen the movie, it is based on the classic board game of the same name. The episode, titled "100 Clues", featured guest stars Christopher Lloyd, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren, all of whom starred in Clue. Naturally, the episode was riddled with subtle references to the film, including a title sequence similar to the closing credits of the film. It was a great episode, but that may be only because I am a fan of Clue and appreciated all of the references.

The episode's plot was almost identical to that of Clue: Somebody is murdered at a house party in a mysterious mansion, and Shawn (James Roday) must figure out whodunnit. As an episode of Psych, it was nothing special. The twists were predictable, and the non-Clue-related jokes were funny but not funnier than anything we're used to. What made this episode great was that it was Clue-themed. I found the movie on Netflix and watched it Wednesday morning, and I'm very glad I did. I hadn't seen it since sixth grade, so I probably wouldn't have caught most of the episode's references if I didn't watch it on Wednesday. Referencing 80s pop culture is what Psych does best, so designing a whole episode around a specific piece of that pop culture is always a welcome choice. The references were both clever and funny, making it a great episode, despite the predictable plot.

What is most interesting about "100 Clues" is that the ending was chosen by live votes from the viewers. This is not a new idea, but it is a first for Psych. It is a reference to Clue, which has multiple endings. I'm not usually a fan of live voting during shows, but in this case it worked. The way the episode was written allowed for multiple endings, so I look forward to seeing the other possible endings.

My biggest complaint is that Tim Curry, who plays the butler in Clue, wasn't able to make an appearance. He is the best thing about the movie, and he would have been a welcome addition to this episode. However, he did appear in the season 2 episode "American Duos," so he would have had to play the same character, which might have been odd. That being said, Curry's presence was felt whenever Roday impersonated him (for example, running through the house to explain how the killer pulled off the murders or saying "no" in Curry's accent).

Overall, I thought this episode was on par with "Dual Spires," Psych's homage to the TV show Twin Peaks, which is one of the best episodes of the series so far. Like "Dual Spires," "100 Clues" may not be appreciated by people who are unfamiliar with the source material. However, hopefully it will bring more attention to Clue. It's a wonderfully ridiculous movie, so if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend watching it and then re-watching this episode of Psych.

'House of Cards' Review: Political Intrigue At Its Finest

Once again I must apologize for my inactivity. I've been very busy, and it has become harder for me to keep up with current shows. Also, to be honest, nothing has stuck out as exceptionally blogworthy. Hopefully now that Psych has finally started and Game of Thrones and Revolution are about to come back, I will have more to write about.

Having said all that, since I am now on Spring Break, I had some time to finally sit down and watch Netflix's second original series House of Cards. I had been waiting for this show ever since it was announced over a year ago because it stars Kevin Spacey, my favorite actor. Netflix released all 13 episodes on February 1, but I was unable to watch it at the time. I finally started it on Monday and finished it last night. I figured I would write a review of the show as a whole instead of writing individual episode reviews since very little time was spent between episodes. I know that a lot of you probably haven't seen it, so I will avoid spoilers.

House of Cards follows Congressman Francis "Frank" Underwood (Spacey), whom, although he was promised the position by President-Elect Garrett Walker (Michael Gill), was passed over for Secretary of State. Not taking kindly to this broken promise, Frank declares his distrust in everyone and devises an elaborate plot to work his way up the ranks. He is assisted by his wife Claire (Robin Wright) and his chief of staff Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly). Frank's pawns in the plan include Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), an ambitious young reporter, and Congressman Peter Russo (Corey Stoll), a drug-and-alcohol-abusing divorcé.

The acting all-around is phenomenal. Spacey excels at portraying Frank's conniving, smug nature. This comes at no surprise since Spacey is excellent in whatever role he takes on. Wright is also excellent as Claire, Frank's loyal and just-as-conniving wife. I was not expecting to like her character, but Wright makes Claire likable, even if she is a bit controlling. Spacey and Wright are both great in their scenes together, and Frank and Claire's relationship quickly became one of the most interesting aspects of the show.

The real surprise in the acting was Corey Stoll as Congressman Russo. When he was first introduced, I didn't expect to like Russo, but Stoll won me over within a few episodes. His portrayal of the troubled and helpless congressman is fantastic, and I found myself very invested in his character.

My favorite thing about this show is the odd choice of having Frank speak directly to the camera to provide his own commentary. Frank would be in the middle of a conversation with another character when all of a sudden he turns to the camera to provide a short aside. I don't know whether to attribute this to the writers or the directors, but it was an excellent choice. These side comments and glances at the camera are where Spacey shines, and they provide some of the funniest moments in the otherwise dramatic show.

Normally I would avoid political dramas like this one because politics bore me to no end, but with Kevin Spacey starring, I had to give it a try. Needless to say, I'm extremely glad I did. With impeccable acting and smart writing, House of Cards puts itself up there with Homeland and Breaking Bad as one of the best dramas on TV around. If you have Netflix, I highly recommend watching this show. If you've already seen it, leave a comment with your thoughts.

'The Following' Pilot Review: Death with a Side of Bacon

On Monday FOX premiered its newest midseason show, The Following, which stars Kevin Bacon as former FBI agent Ryan Hardy, who is called back into action when serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) breaks out of prison. Hardy had previously caught Carroll, preventing the murder of Sarah Fuller (Maggie Grace). Carroll, a university literature professor whose hero is Edgar Allen Poe, escapes so that he can try to finish what he started, that is, kill Sarah Fuller. Along the way, Hardy discovers that Carroll had gathered a following through the internet, effectively creating a cult of serial killers.

Creator Kevin Williamson has successfully created an enthralling crime drama that seems to have a big serialized aspect to it. Unlike most crime dramas, The Following focuses on a single killer through his cult of followers. Also, Carroll's murders are related to Poe's writings, which provides a common theme in what will surely be a case-of-the-week format. This common theme, along with the serialized aspect, make this show much more interesting than most crime dramas that I have seen.

Both Bacon and Purefoy were fantastic. Bacon portrays Hardy well, even if the character could use some work. In this episode, Hardy was written too one-dimensionally. He is a typical stoic ex-cop with a drinking problem. However, Bacon was able to show some emotion in his interactions with Carroll's ex-wife Claire Matthews (Natalie Zea). Bacon was also great in the final scene with Purefoy. All things considered, Bacon did well with what he was given. Carroll, however, was written perfectly, and Purefoy was outstanding as the professor-turned-killer. He gave Carroll all the creepiness and derangement that one would expect in a serial killer. I look forward to seeing more of Joe Carroll this season and find out what turned him into a killer.

That brings me to the flashbacks. I am always a fan of flashbacks that give insight into the characters' pasts, but some of the flashbacks in this episode distracted me from the main plot. If the writers continue to use flashbacks in the show, they need to integrate them better. Well-placed flashbacks will be able to show how Carroll became a killer or how he drew people in and turned them into killers. They can also show Hardy's relationship with Claire, with whom he seems to have a history.

Overall, I was intrigued by The Following and look forward to the rest of the season. As long as the writers make better use of the flashbacks and develop Hardy into a fully fleshed-out character, The Following will be a successful interpretation of the crime drama genre. If you haven't seen this pilot, I recommend giving it a try. But be warned: it is very violent and is not for the faint of heart.

'How I Met Your Mother' Midseason Finale Reaction: What's Next?

How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) aired an hour-long midseason finale on Monday. Instead of writing a formal review, I thought I would write a reaction in which I rant about my thoughts after seeing the episode. Once again, I must give a SPOILER ALERT since the ending was a rather big one, so if you haven't seen the episode yet, please do not keep reading. Seriously. Stop now.

If you are still reading, this is your last warning to stop if you don't want to be spoiled.

First of all, this episode was probably my favorite in a while. At the very beginning of Part 1, Barney is jinxed at the bar, so he cannot speak until somebody says his name. It's this kind of childishness that I love to see in the gang, and we haven't seen it a lot in the last few seasons. This episode reminded me of the early seasons, which were the best of the series, so it was a nice return to form.

Now on to that ending: Barney proposes to Robin. I'm still not sure how I feel about the two of them together, although I did like their storyline this season. I also really liked the proposal scene, so I guess I'm okay with their relationship. What I liked most about the proposal was that it combined the new Barney with the old Barney. Although Barney has changed and is no longer the womanizer that he once was, making his proposal his last "play" was very smart move. It is definitely something that Barney would do. It also made a lot of sense because I wasn't entirely convinced by his relationship with Patrice. Barney's proposal to Robin was a clever twist (even though we knew their wedding was on the horizon), and it sets up what will surely be an interesting second half of the season.

Which brings me to my final point: the rest of this season. The creators are still in talks about whether this will be the last season. Personally, I hope it is. As much as I enjoy the show, I think it is time for them to wrap things up. We already know that Ted meets "the mother" at Barney's wedding, so now that Barney and Robin are engaged, 12 episodes is plenty of time to get us to that point. Adding another season would just drag things out more than necessary.

That's about all I have to say about the episode. It was a great one, so I look forward to the rest of the (possibly final) season to see where they go from here. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments, whether they're on the episode or where you want the season to go.

This blog will likely be dormant for the next few weeks since most shows are in hiatus until January. Therefore, I wish you all a Happy Holidays, and I'll see you (in a sense) in the New Year.

'Revolution' Midseason Finale Review: A New Beginning

I haven't been writing about Revolution since the pilot because I watch each episode a day or two after it airs. Also, I haven't had very strong feelings about the show so far. It's definitely not the best show on TV, but I do enjoy it very much. That said, it still has a few kinks to work out, especially in the dialogue writing, but it has proven itself to be a success since it has gotten very strong ratings and decent critic reviews.

I did watch last night's episode live, and it was the show's midseason finale. This means we will not see the second half of the season until March. Therefore, I decided to write a review of the episode. I don't usually do this, but I am going to give a SPOILER ALERT because I want to address the episode's ending. So please, if you haven't seen the episode and would not like it to be spoiled, do not read this review until after you have watched it.

Knowing that this was the midseason finale, I was expecting an intense showdown between Miles (Billy Burke) and Monroe (David Lyons). The show has been building up to this moment ever since we found out that Miles used to be a commanding general in the Monroe militia, and the scene did not disappoint. After Miles takes out Monroe's soldiers, the two point guns at each other and have an intense face-off. In a scene of great acting by both Burke and Lyons, Monroe puts down his weapon and reminds Miles how they are like brothers and invites Miles to rejoin the militia. Miles puts down his weapon, but tells Monroe, "You're no the same person. ... We aren't brothers." He also says he's sorry he didn't kill Monroe the first time. The two then have sword fight which was great while it lasted. More soldiers come and Monroe tells them to kill Miles, but Miles is able to jump out of a window just in time. At first I was disappointed that nothing happened in the fight, but upon looking back, I realized that this was only the midseason finale, and we still have a whole half of a season for a resolution in the Miles-Monroe conflict. With that in mind, I think this scene was handled very well, and it provided a look into how each of them feels about their relationship.

Another great scene was when Charlie (Tracy Spiradakos) is reunited with her mother, Rachel (Elizabeth Mitchell), after being thrown into the same cell. There wasn't much dialogue between the two, but through her facial expressions and body language, Spiradakos was able to portray the confusion, anger, and joy that Charlie must have been experiencing all at once. Spiradakos, in my opinion, has proven herself to be the right choice for this show. She still has a little farther to go to become a great actress, but she is doing a fine job so far.

As I mentioned in my introduction to this review, the writing needs a little work. Overall, I think the writers have been doing a great job in how they are progressing the plot, but some of the dialogue has been cheesy. For example, in this episode, when Rachel is being taunted by one of Monroe's henchmen, he says something along the lines of, "That daughter of yours is quite the little peach, and I could eat peaches all day." My friends and I immediately started laughing at how ridiculous that line was, so hopefully they can work on some of the dialogue. But like I said, the plot development has been good, and I still like the flashbacks. This episode didn't have many flashbacks, but the few that it did have provided insight into the relationship between Miles and Monroe. I especially liked the flashbacks to their childhood that were placed among their scenes together in the present. Given that there are fifteen years of untold story, I hope the writers can continue to make good use of the flashbacks to tell that story.

The last thing I want to address is the ending and where the show goes from here. I am very glad that the showrunners decided to have the gang rescue Danny and Rachel. This half of the season was all about them trying to rescue Danny, and while it was a fine first half, I wouldn't have wanted to see that plot in the second half. It seems that the rest of the season will focus on Monroe using the amplifier that Rachel built to power-up his army and "flex his muscles," showing everyone who has the power. What I would like to see more of is the other republics. They have been mentioned a few times so far, but I think a whole story arc involving the interactions between republics would be very interesting. Also, I am interested in how Charlie and Danny will interact with their mother, whom they believed was dead. We have already seen Rachel kill two people, so I wonder how that will affect her relationship with her children. In any case, I look forward to the second half of the season, as there is potential for a new beginning for both the show and its characters.

As always, feel free to leave your thoughts on the episode, the show as a whole, or where you would like to see it go from here.