All Star Team Up
Felicity Smoak and Ray Palmer come to Central City for a visit. Ray needs some help with his suit and hopes to get it from the scientists at STAR Labs. It is her third and his first appearance on Flash. While they are in Central City a new villain strikes, the Bug Eyed Bandit. She doesn't have superpowers but controls a swarm of robotic bees She is out for revenge. Her first two victims are former coworkers. After that she goes after Christina McGee, the head of Mercury Labs. It is her second appearance on Flash. I didn't notice in her first appearance but this is a character from the 1991 Flash TV show. She was a regular member of the cast of that show. She is played by Amanda Pays, the same actress as on the 1991 show.
There is a major subplot involving Eddie and Iris. She can tell that he is hiding something from her. She just doesn't know what it is and that is driving her crazy. Things go from bad to worse over the course of the episode. Barry tries to intercede. For a moment it looks like his one-on-one with Iris might do the trick. In the next-to-last scene in the episode it becomes clear that it doesn't do the trick. She still wants to know what he is hiding from her.
Cisco starts having daydreams in which he sees that Dr. Wells is the Reverse Flash. The dreams are right out of what happened before Barry went back in time a few episodes back. He sees Dr. Wells revealing his true identity and then killing him. It leaves him shaken. I'm starting to wonder if Iris is having similar dreams in which she sees Barry revealing himself to be the Flash before he goes off to save Central City. I wonder if that is why she is pushing Eddie so hard to cough up that which he is hiding from her.
Throughout the episode Barry agonizes over whether he and Joe should tell Cisco and Caitlin about Dr. Wells being the reverse Flash. They don't know everything but they know quite a bit. Barry asks Felicity for advice. He is worried that Caitlin and Cisco are in league with Dr. Wells. Felicity thinks that they are good people and that Barry should trust them. In the end that is exactly what he and Joe do. Caitlin thinks they are crazy until Cisco opens up and talks about the dreams he has been having.
Overall this wasn't a great episode. I think there was a little too much focus on Felicity and Ray. They really didn't need to be in this episode. I don't feel as though they added anything substantial to it. There wasn't as much focus on the villain as there quite often is, I assume that is because Felicity and Ray gobbled up that screen time. Thumbs down for the inclusion of the two visitors from Starling city. Thumbs up for the Eddie and Iris thread and the thread that saw Barry and Cisco open up and share what they know about Dr Wells.
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Saturday, April 29, 2017
UnREAL 2.01
War
The 14th season of Everlasting is about to begin. Rachel is now the show runner. Quinn is still her boss. The relationship hasn't changed much. Mostly it is their roles on Everlasting that have changed. Early in the episode they celebrate the new season by each getting a tattoo on one wrist that reads:
By the end of the episode things aren't quite so rosy.
Darius Beck, the bachelor for the 14th season is a professional football player, a quarterback. He is African-American and the network suits aren't happy about that. Quinn has to play hardball with the network to get her way. She promises ratings and all sorts of drama which will have everyone talking about the show. Rachel has to deliver on Quinn's promises.
There are a number of familiar faces in the supporting cast. Jeremy, the cameraman that Rachel was engaged to once upon a time is still working for the show. Jay, the assistant producer, who tried cozying up to Chet last season is also back.
Chet is back and boy has he changed. He went through a paleo-regime that has him thinking and talking very differently than he did last season. He lost a considerable amount of weight and looks much slimmer than he did during the first season. He is no longer in charge of the show but he isn't about to take that lying down. The title of the episode refers to his attempt to regain control of Everlasting from Quinn.
Madison, the PA, has been promoted. She is now doing the the job Rachel used to do. She isn't great at it. Rachel has to walk her though an interview with a contestant. It seems during the interview that Madison is about to lose it but based on her comment afterwards it sounds like she got a rush from the the experience even though she blew chunks after the interview.
Rachel tries to do run the show right but somethings go wrong. She can't delegate everything. She has to talk Darius into not breaking his contract when he gets cold feet. She goes after Ruby, one of the contestants, who changed her mind at the last minute because it would push back her graduation from university. Things really blow up when Chet lures the bachelor away on the first night of filming. Quinn has seen enough and steps in. She promises to relinquish control once things are back to normal whatever that means. Rachel doesn't look too happy about that but that's where the episode ends.
---
Everything has changed and yet everything feels very familiar. I like it. I had my doubts but I like it. I don't understand how this show does it. It seems like a string of highlights but it works for me.
Part of the appeal for me is that it is essentially a workplace drama. I have a certain affinity for those kinds of shows. I don't like them all. I don't love them all but when they get it right, like this one does, I fall for them hard.
I think part of it is clashes of personalities. In part it is the moral ambiguities that the show navigates. They (Rachel, Quinn, or whomever) do something wrong but there usually is someone there to balance it out, to offer a counterpoint. They don't always say something, sometimes it is just the expression on their face, but their presence gives the show the balance it needs.
The 14th season of Everlasting is about to begin. Rachel is now the show runner. Quinn is still her boss. The relationship hasn't changed much. Mostly it is their roles on Everlasting that have changed. Early in the episode they celebrate the new season by each getting a tattoo on one wrist that reads:
Money
Dick
Power
By the end of the episode things aren't quite so rosy.
Darius Beck, the bachelor for the 14th season is a professional football player, a quarterback. He is African-American and the network suits aren't happy about that. Quinn has to play hardball with the network to get her way. She promises ratings and all sorts of drama which will have everyone talking about the show. Rachel has to deliver on Quinn's promises.
There are a number of familiar faces in the supporting cast. Jeremy, the cameraman that Rachel was engaged to once upon a time is still working for the show. Jay, the assistant producer, who tried cozying up to Chet last season is also back.
Chet is back and boy has he changed. He went through a paleo-regime that has him thinking and talking very differently than he did last season. He lost a considerable amount of weight and looks much slimmer than he did during the first season. He is no longer in charge of the show but he isn't about to take that lying down. The title of the episode refers to his attempt to regain control of Everlasting from Quinn.
Madison, the PA, has been promoted. She is now doing the the job Rachel used to do. She isn't great at it. Rachel has to walk her though an interview with a contestant. It seems during the interview that Madison is about to lose it but based on her comment afterwards it sounds like she got a rush from the the experience even though she blew chunks after the interview.
Rachel tries to do run the show right but somethings go wrong. She can't delegate everything. She has to talk Darius into not breaking his contract when he gets cold feet. She goes after Ruby, one of the contestants, who changed her mind at the last minute because it would push back her graduation from university. Things really blow up when Chet lures the bachelor away on the first night of filming. Quinn has seen enough and steps in. She promises to relinquish control once things are back to normal whatever that means. Rachel doesn't look too happy about that but that's where the episode ends.
---
Everything has changed and yet everything feels very familiar. I like it. I had my doubts but I like it. I don't understand how this show does it. It seems like a string of highlights but it works for me.
Part of the appeal for me is that it is essentially a workplace drama. I have a certain affinity for those kinds of shows. I don't like them all. I don't love them all but when they get it right, like this one does, I fall for them hard.
I think part of it is clashes of personalities. In part it is the moral ambiguities that the show navigates. They (Rachel, Quinn, or whomever) do something wrong but there usually is someone there to balance it out, to offer a counterpoint. They don't always say something, sometimes it is just the expression on their face, but their presence gives the show the balance it needs.
Kids on the Slope 1.05
Things are still awkward between Kaoru and Ritsouko. Some of the awkwardness is alleviated after they talk briefly through a string telephone. Kaoru tries apologizing, Ritsouko tells him that it was her first kiss.
Yurika definitely has a crush on Junichi. Things are awkward for her when Ritsouko invitees her in to watch a practice session and both Junichi and Sentaro are present.
Kaoru goes to Tokyo so visit his monther. He hasn't seen her in years. Sentaro invites himself along. They try to visit Junichi but his neighbors tell him that they haven't seen him in a while. There are rumors circulating about what happened to him.
Kaoru visit with his mother goes well. He promises to see her again and gives her a copy of Lullabys of Birdland, sung by Chris Connor.
Not an outstanding episode but a good one. It is hard to tell what the show might be building to next. By the end of the episode things seem to be close to back to normal between Kaoru and Ritsuko. There is the mystery of Juichi. Where is he? What's up with him and Yurika?
Friday, April 28, 2017
Iron Fist 1.04
Eight Diagram Dragon Palm
Danny survives the fall from the building. There's no clear explanation as to how. He is found by Ward Meachum, who is the one who pushed him from the building. Harold shows up and talks Ward into letting Danny have back his rightful place at Rand Industries. He tells Danny about how he died and was resurrected by the Hand. He swears Danny to secrecy, he can't tell Joy that her father is still alive.
There were parts of this scene that I thought were pretty weak. I'm not impressed by Finn Jones (Danny Rand). Maybe if the show were written, directed, or produced better they could compensate for the lead actor.
Colleen fights again in the steel cage for money. This time she takes on two guys at once who are both much bigger than her. There's something about the way the steel cage matches are shot that make it very unconvincing to me. I think this may be one case where it is easier in a comic book to get away with having a character with a slight build beat up a larger, tougher looking character.
Joy and Danny get attacked by some Chinatown triad gangsters. Danny fights them off but then goes looking for their boss to find out why they were attacked. The answer he gets ties back to something that happened last episode when Joy talked a businessman into selling a pier to Rand. The Hand was behind that acquisition. The triad were not aware that the Hand was involved. The triad leader apologizes to Danny and quickly backs down when he finds out.
It isn't enough for Harold. Once he finds out about what happened he asks Madame Gao for permission to get retribution for what happened to his daughter. It seems like they are setting Harold up to be the big bad guy in this season. I hope that is not the case. I hope that the confrontation between Danny and Harold happens within the next couple episodes.
I was not impressed by this episode. It exhibited the same sort of problems that I saw in the previous one. The biggest problem is probably the lead actor. I don't find the story to be very compelling or cohesive. Hopefully it will get better in the next nine episodes.
Danny survives the fall from the building. There's no clear explanation as to how. He is found by Ward Meachum, who is the one who pushed him from the building. Harold shows up and talks Ward into letting Danny have back his rightful place at Rand Industries. He tells Danny about how he died and was resurrected by the Hand. He swears Danny to secrecy, he can't tell Joy that her father is still alive.
There were parts of this scene that I thought were pretty weak. I'm not impressed by Finn Jones (Danny Rand). Maybe if the show were written, directed, or produced better they could compensate for the lead actor.
Colleen fights again in the steel cage for money. This time she takes on two guys at once who are both much bigger than her. There's something about the way the steel cage matches are shot that make it very unconvincing to me. I think this may be one case where it is easier in a comic book to get away with having a character with a slight build beat up a larger, tougher looking character.
Joy and Danny get attacked by some Chinatown triad gangsters. Danny fights them off but then goes looking for their boss to find out why they were attacked. The answer he gets ties back to something that happened last episode when Joy talked a businessman into selling a pier to Rand. The Hand was behind that acquisition. The triad were not aware that the Hand was involved. The triad leader apologizes to Danny and quickly backs down when he finds out.
It isn't enough for Harold. Once he finds out about what happened he asks Madame Gao for permission to get retribution for what happened to his daughter. It seems like they are setting Harold up to be the big bad guy in this season. I hope that is not the case. I hope that the confrontation between Danny and Harold happens within the next couple episodes.
I was not impressed by this episode. It exhibited the same sort of problems that I saw in the previous one. The biggest problem is probably the lead actor. I don't find the story to be very compelling or cohesive. Hopefully it will get better in the next nine episodes.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Young Justice 1.01
Independence Day
Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Speedy are brought to the Hall of Justice in Washington, DC for the first time. They are under the impression that they are going to be given full access and going forward be treated as peers by their mentors. They are mistaken. Speedy storms off disgusted, after revealing to the others what Green Arrow told him: the Justice League's real headquarters is secret satellite called the Watch Tower.
The other three stick around but are left behind when their mentors take off on a mission. Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash don't sit around for very long. Instead they head to Project Cadmus after getting a report of a fire. After helping to rescue a couple scientists they discover an elevator that goes 52 floors below ground. They also see some things that look very not kosher, including a teenage clone of Superman. He is being kept in what looks like a cryogenic sleep.
After they free the clone he attacks them. They try to talk him down but he is relentless. He keeps fighting with them until he has them all down for the count.
This is my third time watching this season on Young Justice. I really enjoyed it both previous times. This episode is not the best but it does a very nice job of setting the table. The focus is all on the guys in the team. At this point there are no gals on the team but there soon will be.
Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Speedy are brought to the Hall of Justice in Washington, DC for the first time. They are under the impression that they are going to be given full access and going forward be treated as peers by their mentors. They are mistaken. Speedy storms off disgusted, after revealing to the others what Green Arrow told him: the Justice League's real headquarters is secret satellite called the Watch Tower.
The other three stick around but are left behind when their mentors take off on a mission. Robin, Aqualad, and Kid Flash don't sit around for very long. Instead they head to Project Cadmus after getting a report of a fire. After helping to rescue a couple scientists they discover an elevator that goes 52 floors below ground. They also see some things that look very not kosher, including a teenage clone of Superman. He is being kept in what looks like a cryogenic sleep.
After they free the clone he attacks them. They try to talk him down but he is relentless. He keeps fighting with them until he has them all down for the count.
This is my third time watching this season on Young Justice. I really enjoyed it both previous times. This episode is not the best but it does a very nice job of setting the table. The focus is all on the guys in the team. At this point there are no gals on the team but there soon will be.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
NewsRadio 2.19
Presence
Mr. James loses the office coffee maker and Bill in a poker game with another radio station owner. Jimmy gets some help from Lisa (whose relationship with Dave isn't going so hot at the moment) to win Bill back.
This may not be the out and out funniest episode but I love the silliness of the premise behind it all.
Mr. James loses the office coffee maker and Bill in a poker game with another radio station owner. Jimmy gets some help from Lisa (whose relationship with Dave isn't going so hot at the moment) to win Bill back.
This may not be the out and out funniest episode but I love the silliness of the premise behind it all.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Seinfeld 3.03
The Pen
Jerry and Elaine visit with Jerry's parents in Florida. Jerry inadvertently causes trouble when he compliments one of his parents' neighbors. Elaine has some problems of her own.
Not bad but not great either. George and Kramer are not in this episode. Elaine has a great moment with a classic line.
Jerry and Elaine visit with Jerry's parents in Florida. Jerry inadvertently causes trouble when he compliments one of his parents' neighbors. Elaine has some problems of her own.
Not bad but not great either. George and Kramer are not in this episode. Elaine has a great moment with a classic line.
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