Monday, January 31, 2011

Caprica 1x17

Caprica, Here Be Dragons, on Syfy
The Damsels in Distress are still ensconced in their virtual fortress, but Sam Adama has agreed to join Amanda and Daniel Graystone to find them. The Cricket has no idea why the threesome needs to be dressed like Canadian ranchers, but let’s indulge. Sam, however, is not so much interested in finding his niece Tamara, but in killing her and ridding the world of this avatar travesty. Amanda is rightly worried that he may kill her daughter Zoe in the process. So she shoots him back to reality. Zoe senses her approaching parents and sends them some of her childhood’s favorite dragons as a warning. Amanda realizes that Zoe is as contrarian as her parents: if you chase her, she’ll run away; if you corner her, she’ll lash out. They need to invite her, so that she can make her own decision. They won’t have to wait long for the tearful reunion. Zoe concedes she will think about visiting them in their virtual home.

That fearsome Fidelia (we got suddenly introduced to in the previous episode) turns out to be the Guattrau’s daughter. When she informs him of the illicit shipments of Cylons to Tauron, he orders the death of the Adamas. “Quick and painless,” he adds. I doubt that strangulation fits that bill, but Joseph escapes death when his dead wife’s mother attacks his assailant first. Fresh out of V-World, Sam hears of the hit put on his family and rushes to their meeting point – to get money and fake papers so they can escape to Tauron. Two more hitmen reach them. Young William Adama causes a distraction, so that Joseph and Sam can deal with the assassins, but Willie is shot and bleeding profusely. (We are lead to believe he’ll live, since Bill Adama is one of the main characters in Battlestar Gallactica.)

Over on Geminon, Thunderlord Odin betrays Lacey, knowing she will be killed for her ability to control the Cylons. His STO commanders order him to kill her himself. Then the tables are turned as their classmates save Lacey and Odin, and shoot the commanders. Instead of rushing back to Caprica, Lacey takes her friends to the robots. The fight for the One True God is on. While Daniel and Amanda are still in V-World, Clarice and her husbands break into the Graystone house – to find the apotheotic holoband and finish the Graystones off. Zoe’s avatar won’t let that happen. She returns to the U-87 Cylon prototype conveniently lying in the room. The robot sweeps one killing stroke, Clarice and her one surviving husband dash off. Returning to their virtual home, Daniel offers his daughter a partnership to create a real life body for her, flesh and bone. “A skin job,” Zoe contemplates. Finally we are inches away from Battlestar Gallactica! One more episode and we’re done.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Spooks – Series 5

Spooks, Series 5, on BBC
When the fifth season of BBC spy series Spooks picks up, we are exactly where the fourth left off. Some deranged woman, who is plotting to kill the Royal Family, has seriously shot Adam Carter, while Harry Pierce is looking around in a panic. When Adam regains consciousness in a hospital the news is all abuzz about a violent terrorist attack on Britain’s fuel deposits by an al-Qaeda splinter group. With news outlets spreading fear that the country is becoming ungovernable, MI5 (national security) is forced to co-operate with MI6 (foreign intelligence), and the Prime Minister’s son’s life is threatened. While demands increase for new anti-terrorist legislation that would further curb civil liberties, a conspiracy to overthrow the government is well under way to establish a dictatorship. The coup d’état involves media mogul Millington, bucktoothed petrol magnate Jocelyn Myers, some colluding Cabinet Member, and none other than Harry’s MI6 counterpart Michael Collinwood. Of course, the threat is averted in the nick of time. Even detailed synopses won’t be able to do justice to the complexities of every episode’s plot.

Spooks, Series 5, Episode 1Unfortunately, though understandably (as the season first aired in 2006), al-Qaeda remains very much on the forefront throughout the season. Because of that focus, though, episodes can easily become predictable and lose in entertainment value. Other topics, however, are included: a summit on African poverty that risks being torpedoed by a major industrial deal between America and Japan; the head of the Joint Intelligence Committee, Oliver Mace (Tim McInnerny), who appears involved in the execution of seven imprisoned terror suspects; the Mossad (Israeli Intelligence) plotting to de-rail a British nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia; a Christian group hoping to provoke Armageddon by attacking the Muslim community; the transportation of a Serbian war criminal to The Hague; and environmental terrorists aiming to flood the greater London area unless a secret document is made public proving that Britain is collaborating with the U.S. to benefit economically from the catastrophes of global warming – rather than attempting to stem the tide. Nevertheless, this season overall has lost some of its previous intelligent excitement. At times I was even considering to stop watching the show altogether.

Spooks, Series 5, Episode 3Rather than the various plotlines, the strength of the show has thus far been the dynamic between the characters, their moral dilemmas – especially in face of governmental expectations – and their emotional turmoil. That has changed quite drastically this season. There were a couple of fascinating moral judgment calls our spooks had to make. In one of those moments MI5 has to decide whether to protect one of the African heads of state from assassination, when they learn that he intends to go on an ethnical cleansing spree in the north of his country. The main story arc, though, was Adam’s inevitable nervous breakdown from post-traumatic stress disorder. He witnessed the assassination of his wife Fiona; he nearly got killed himself; someone else got shot and died in his arms; he struggles being a good father for his son; out of loneliness and escapism he falls for his son’s nanny; she confronts him about his secrecy and lies; one of his childhood friends is suspected of being a traitor; he breaks down twice during mission. No wonder his operational fitness is seriously questioned. Yet, the emphasis on this story arc (sometimes compelling, sometimes tediously predictable) and draws our attention away from the other characters.

Spooks, Series 5, Episode 5In the past, when main characters were killed off or forced to leave MI5 their replacements were similarly interesting, or even more so. Now we’ve seen Ruth Evershed disappear, the Senior Intelligence Analyst, one of my most beloved characters. She si wicked smart, recognizing literary references at the drop of a hat, but socially awkward. She and Harry were on the brink of romantic intimacy, when she is implicated in someone’s murder whose subway suicide she witnessed. In order to protect Harry, she had to fake her own death. Ruth is briefly replaced, but that character is murdered the next episode. We barely get to know Field Operative Jo Portman (the excellent Miranda Rainson), although there was a nice bit in the beginning when she was able to foil an attempt to take the PM’s son hostage. Likewise, we see frightfully little of the inner feelings of her colleague Zafar Younis, even though he witnessed the deaths of several innocent people right before his eyes.

Spooks, Series 5, Episode 7The team loses one of their most valuable members, Colin Wells (their Technical Specialist), just as he had discovered a plot of a mid-air collision of two passenger planes over the city of London. He is never replaced. Although the National Security Coordinator, Juliet Shaw, is paralyzed from the waist down by a car explosion, she occasionally reappears in her function – seemingly recuperating fast. Adam’s wife Fiona Carter is replaced by former MI6 Operative Roslyn Myers (the petrol magnate’s daughter), who has an air of cold rigidity and apathy about her. She enjoys telling other people what to do, but is fully capable of throwing a few flying kicks and punches around when necessary. I found it difficult to sympathize with her. It’s only by the time of the season’s finale that we establish something of a rapport. But then she is left drowning with Adam in a flooded tunnel. Cliffhangers notwithstanding, I doubt that Adam Carter will survive for much longer. Nor is the Cricket sure he’s curious to find out, though the other critics are still raving about the show.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Californication 4x03

Californication, Home Sweet Home, on Showtime
Hank wakes up in the hospital after OD-ing. The youngish doctor gives him a hilarious antithesis of a lecture. Then Karen walks in. I love that woman, and feel Hank’s pain. What a beautiful moment! She takes him home, lets him sleep in her bed, and admits she was scared witless when she thought he would die. How she makes me cry. Honestly! (The Cricket’s a sucker for romance.) For his part Runkle has to speed Hank up on getting the script ready. Producer Stu Beggs is practically stalking Runkle for it. Stu’s also hitting hard on Marcy – and can you blame him? In return he offers Runkle one hell of a hottie, in the shapely person of his development girl, sweet Heather (Camille Chen). When Hank finally has a moment alone with Becca, he confesses he didn’t give up on her, he didn’t try to kill himself, he merely screwed up – as always. When Karen hears that, she gives up on him all over again, and throws him out. The hurt and anger finally stirs him to rent a room, sit down, and start the script. Will he be able to become the man that Karen can love again? Will he get his life in some sort of order? Don’t get your hopes up too high...

Friday, January 28, 2011

Boardwalk Empire 1x05

Boardwalk Empire, Nights in Ballygran, on HBO
Prohibition or no, people will drink. Nucky Thompson is making his fortune on that truth. The Temperance League, however, is seeing numbers dwindling and have little means to change anything. Then Margaret Schroeder speaks up. She noticed men shipping barrels of beer off a truck behind her home that morning. Perhaps Mr. Thompson could be of help, he’s been of great assistance to her since her husband died (or, rather, got killed as scapegoat for Jimmy’s shootout), she might try and arrange a meeting. Once in Nucky’s office, she realizes her folly: asking a man who’s making a living off the illegal liquor trade to shut down some contraband beer operation. He promises her to take care of it before the tide goes out, and emphasizes he isn’t doing this as a personal favor to her. “Yes, I realize that,” she replies. That night, another shipment is loaded into the garage behind her home. So, Margaret turns to Agent Van Alden, who informs her he doesn’t have the means or personnel to enforce the law. But when she tells him ward boss James Neary owns the garage, it’s a whole other ballgame.

Van Alden busts the St. Patrick’s Eve Celtic Dinner with the press and the women of the Temperance League watching everything outside. Although Nucky spots Margaret among the chanting crowd, he is only drawn more to her for standing up against him. At night, while Van Alden’s men destroy the beer barrels, Nucky knocks impatiently on Margaret’s door. He needs to be with her and they kiss passionately. If she is his angelic conscience, then he must be her repressed desire for danger. (Your Cricket can’t seem to find their mutual attraction very compelling, though. The “opposites attract” trope feels rather trite.) Meanwhile in Chicago, Jimmy’s precious Pearl shoots herself with his gun – seeing no other way out after her face got cut up badly. Jimmy hits Chinatown to forget his miseries in an opium den. Over in New York, Rothstein is afraid of getting caught for fixing the 1919 World Series (i.e., the Black Sox Scandal).

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Gossip Girl 4x12

Gossip Girl, The Kids Are Not Alright, on The CW
Gossip Girl is back from winter break, and my dear god, do I have trouble keeping up with what is going on! Serena was unsuccessful finding the judge who signed the affidavit that got Juliet’s brother Ben into jail. Chuck returns from New Zealand with two busty ladies in his limo – similarly unsuccessful in finding his uncle Jack. To prevent the take-over of Bass Industries (which Lily has put on sale), Chuck recruits Serena, so she can meek out her own vengeance by getting Ben out of jail. Then it transpires that perhaps selling the company now, with the real estate and hotel business in recession, to Bass’s old partner Thorpe (Michael Boatman) who will maintain the company’s integrity will be better than going bankrupt or selling it to the highest bidder. Seems like Lily isn’t such a Wicked Witch of the Upper Eastside after all.

Blair is planning (or should I say “plotting”?) an internship with Indra Nooyi, for which she is obviously employing her minions. In other gossip, she is adamant no one hears of the movie she and Dan saw together. All her plans backfire, and her mother resents her for her childish games. Nate’s father is out on parole, enjoying the hell out of freedom, which worries Nate. Thorpe throws a party, where naturally everything comes to a head. Actually, he is not the intended buyer at all – if he’d known it was for sale he’s buy it on the cheap and hosted a fire sale to dismantle it. Serena learns that her mother persuaded the judge to release Ben. Blair realizes Dan sometimes has his advantages. He scoffingly called her an “evil dictator of taste,” which made her realize she should become an editrix of a fashion magazine. She makes her mother proud – and once more joins Dan to watch a comedy. Unsure about his future, Chuck drinks alone at Riverpark Bar, until Thorpe’s daughter Raina picks him up. What in the name of all that’s unholy is this devil’s daughter scheming at, sleeping with the enemy?

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Modern Family 1x18

Modern Family, Starry Night, on ABC
There are two possibilities: either the Cricket is starting to really like Modern Family, or this is the best episode thus far, because I don’t remember laughing out loud this much watching the show before. Over at the Dunphy residence Clair and Phil have chores with Haley and Luke respectively. Phil needs to make sure that his son finishes his project on Vincent van Gogh, but gets distracted by a chair he wants to repair, then notices a flickering tube light he tries to fix, thus finding his long-lost sunglasses, and in the process knocking about half the contents off the garage shelves. Hottie Haley ain’t no dummy and tricks her mother into baking cupcakes without her help. Then, what do you know? Little Luke surprises everyone by presenting his very own poster board. Clair is baffled that Phil was right, that they should trust their children more, rather than trying to micromanage everything. She throws out the cupcakes and tells her daughter to make them herself. Consternation is written all over Haley’s face!

Meanwhile, Mitchell made plans to watch a meteor shower with his father, the only interest they share. Their bonding moment doesn’t go as Mitchell hoped, as Jay brought Manny along for the stargazing, who mocks and zings him with delighted gusto. More hilarity ensues when Mitchell gets sprayed by a skunk and has to don one of Gloria’s dresses. For his part, Cameron wants to patch up things with gorgeous Gloria after he ridiculed that Columbian lady and her little Brown man – though he was merely deriding Ivy Leaguers, it all came out wrong. Although Cam has made reservations at a fancy restaurant, Gloria rather goes to some Latina dive in her old neighborhood. Obviously he orders the most spicy dish on the menu, not to be outdone by his sweet thing. They remain my two most favorite characters – and their scenes together are adorable – but the antics of Clair and Phil really made me roar with laughter!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

In Treatment 3x13

In Treatment on HBO
Paul Westen’s Bengali patient Sunil is convinced his daughter-in-law Julia is having an affair, the thought of which repulses him as much as it enthralls him. He finds her open flirtatiousness at once shamefully immoral and irresistibly enchanting. His absolute proof that Julia is sleeping with one of the authors her firm represents is that he found birth-control pills in her study, when he felt compelled to look for the manuscript of this genius author, who he ridicules. His son Arun would very much like to have another child with Julia, so why would she be taking contraceptives? Sunil speaks about a disturbing dream and about watching Arun and Julia in their sleep, and then returns to the girl, Malini, he loved when he was in college. It is clear he’s buried the pain of losing her deep down his heart, and it’s similar to the animal he tried burying in his dream. And just as the animal fell off a high cliff, Sunil tells Paul that Malini, the love of his life, jumped off a bridge after breaking up with him. It’s a deeply emotional moment – even Paul is pained by the tragic story. The universal theme of love and heartache also bridges the cultural divide that has prevented Paul from making much progress with Sunil. However, Sunil remains unwilling to accept that he recognizes in his son’s marriage the love and passion he felt for Malini, or that the anger he feels towards Julia is not so much because her affair might jeopardize her marriage with Arun, but that he wishes to save his son from the same undying hardship. In short, this was yet another wonderful and highly gratifying episode.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Caprica 1x16

Caprica, The Heavens Will Rise, on Syfy
Despite the build-up towards the series’ end and despite the fairly good previous episode, this installment was rather a dud. For instance, suddenly a new character is introduced, who threatens to unveil the whole scheme the Adamas are running, smuggling Cylons to the resistance on Tauron against the Guattrau’s wishes. This dangerously seductive dame just got out of prison, but what do you know, her name is Fidelia (“Loyalty”)! At the STO training camp on Geminon, Lacey Rand discovers that she can give orders to one particular Cylon that overrides authorized officers. She believes this is the U-87 in which Zoe’s avatar was once trapped, but we know that cannot be, because that specimen is lying at Daniel’s lab. Curious. Quite naturally, Lacey also commences a romantic affair with thundergod Odin, who likes to smoke weed through the barrel of a gun.

For their part, the Avenging Angels Zoe and Tamara have now become mediaeval damsels in distress in their virtual fortress far, far away from the vices of New Cap City. Daniel Graystone, however, is desperate to talk to his daughter – if only to understand better how his daughter can still be alive in virtual reality. He enters the holographic machine, somehow whisking Tamara to him, hoping that she can mediate with Zoe. Then Zoe bashes into their conversation and slashes her father with a knife. If Daniel and Amanda ever wish to see their virtual daughter again, they should need some hired muscle to restrain her. Sam Adama, at first, wants no part of it. Yet, when he finds his nephew sporting an Avenging Angels t-shirt, he is determined to join Daniel – if only to end the travesty once and for all.

Over at the Willows, meanwhile, Amanda has switched Clarice’s holoband for recently burned agent Duram. When the Willows find out, they realize Amanda has been the one spying on them, and they have killed their wife Marbeth for nothing. Oh, the betrayal. Mind you, they were plotting a major terrorist attack to make martyrs of the Soldiers of The One. Just when Amanda has handed Clarice’s holoband to Duram, he is shot and the holoband is stolen. But who now has all Clarice’s information about STO members and terrorist plots, the Avatar software, and Clarice’s delusional Apotheosis program? So many plotlines and so little that’s fascinating or entertaining. And all of this is somehow going to lead up to the circumstances that set off the entire Battlestar Gallactica series...

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Dexter 5x12

Dexter, The Big one, on Showtime
This is the Big One in more than one way! Dexter desperately needs to save Lumen from the clutches of Jordan Chase. But his family surprises him by returning to Miami because they want to celebrate Harrison’s first birthday together. Astor and Cody also ask if they can stay with Dexter for the summer. He excuses himself saying he has pressing work at the office. The Miami Homicide gets called to a murder scene, that of Liddy. While Dexter has to investigate his own crime scene, Quinn becomes flustered and is caught with blood on his shoe. After killing Emily, Chase for his part is taking Lumen to the summer camp where it all began years ago. At a traffic light, a street vendor hears the noise of Lumen kicking in his trunk and informs the police. Meanwhile, Deb was looking into Chase’s real estate properties – even on his old name Eugene Greer. Dexter gets to the summer camp first, but in his anxiousness to safe Lumen gets into an accident toppling his car. Chase captures him, but Dex is soon able to nail him to the cabin floor with one of his knives.

Dex and Lumen prepare their kill room – and even on his deathbed Chase is unrelentingly evil. It’s a relief when Lumen finally strikes the blow. She’s at once excited and overwhelmed now that it is all over. Before they can remove Chase’s body, Deb has followed the few clues she has and arrives on the scene. She knows her vigilante is behind a matted plastic sheet, and notices a second person. Her theory was right. Vindicated in her instinct, she speaks to them through the sheet, while Dex and Lumen hold their breath petrified. Not knowing who they are, she congratulates them for ridding the world of the men who physically and sexually abused the Barrel Girls, then lets them go, before calling Miami Metro PD. As expected, though, now that her mission is completed, Lumen feels she can no longer stay with Dexter. She appreciates what he has been doing, but she can’t be his serial killing partner. So, alas, Lumen leaves him. The finale ends with Harrison’s first birthday party – Dexter blowing out the single candle while looking ominously at us. His Dark Passenger is still with him.

You may know I’m a stickler for details, with an obsession for chronology. So, pardon me for being a spoilsport. When Dexter married Rita (season 3 finale) it was December 1st, 2008, and she was supposedly about three months pregnant. Harrison must have been born according to human logic late in May or early in June (making him a Gemini – for you astrology fiends). Yet in the beginning of this season Harrison is said to be ten months old – even though the first couple of episodes take place in the few days after Rita was brutally murdered by the “Trinity Killer” on December 5th, 2009 (season 4 finale). Incidentally, it’s interesting that in neither finale we see any Christmas decorations! To make matters worse, eleven days after Rita’s death Masuka quips “It’s twenty-ten, who smokes?” In this finale it’s Harrison’s Big One, and we’re back in the (early) summer, 2010. It seems the writers can’t keep their timeframe straight!

There are a few other points of criticism. Can it really be that Deb didn’t notice Dexter’s car wreck near the camp – and that he was able to get it towed before the full police team arrived on the scene? It was a little convenient, too, that Dex let Quinn off the hook about Liddy’s blood on his shoe – especially since Quinn has been pursuing him for half a year for Rita’s death. The Machete Murders was a big case that somehow fizzled out. What happened to the other Fuentes brother who didn’t get shot? And what happened to Cira Manzon, the officer who teamed up with Debra in the case? She got promoted when Deb was suspended, and disappeared without a trace when Deb returned. Then there was the marital friction between Angel and LaGuerta, about which we heard next to nothing in the past few episode until they returned to it at Harrison’s party. I also expected a little more from the Irish nanny. If you have such a stellar actress as Maria Kennedy Doyle, why not take advantage? These are minor complaints, of course, that detract little from the fact that Dexter is one of the best shows on TV. Thanks to all who recommended the Cricket to watch it!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Californication 4x02

Californication, Suicide Solution, on Showtime
Hank is out on bail for the second time in a week. Bunking on the Runkles’ couch wasn’t too comfortable. So he crept into bed next to Marcy. Hilarious! The old opening credits are back, though. Karen still doesn’t want to talk to him. His lawyer lady Abby admits she gets off on cases like his. Marcy has a little talk with Karen so Hank can finally see his daughter. But Becca isn’t so happy to see her father either. Having screwed up so bad he can’t fix his relationship with the two loves of his life, Hank is too depressed to think about the movie adaptation of his novel. Still, Charlie introduces him to Eddie Nero (Rob Lowe) who would like to play Hank in the movie. He puts on a compelling performance that charms Hank, though he hates him, and scares Charlie, though he loves him. Nero toasts to hard cocks and handsome man. Hank visits Sasha again in her room, but they’re interrupted by Nero. Hank returns to the Runkles, popping too many pills and drinking too much booze. He types a letter to Becca and passes out. He OD’ed.

Yes, I understand that Moody broke the law when he slept with Mia. But, seriously, Cricketeers, what’s the big deal? She set him up – twice! It’s not as if a guy is going to ask to see a girl’s ID when she looks twenty-five. Did you see her boobs? Mia did not look like a sixteen-year old. She seduced him, punched his lights out, stole his manuscript and published it under her own name. This is the show’s set up from the start. Of course, it didn’t make anything better that Mia was the daughter of Karen’s boyfriend. He should have come clean, though, rather than sticking his head in the sand and hoping it would all go away. His life has been unraveling ever since. Now Hank has reached the point of no return. His career is looking up. He’s recognized as the author of Mia’s novel and production is about to start on the story’s adaptation. But his personal life is in shambles. He’s lost the two loves of his life, Karen and Becca. Will things be different this season? Will he get his life back on track? Will he win back his daughter? Will Karen move on? And most of all, will the Mia situation finally blow over?

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Modern Family 1x17

Modern Family, Truth Be Told, on ABC
Truth Be Told, Modern Family has its funny moments. “Alex has cello lesson at eleven and junior congress at noon,” says Clair. “Doesn’t she also have no boyfriends at forever,” Haley chides in while powdering her cheeks. “Don’t you have an eating disorder you need to attend to,” Alex retorts. Now, that’s funny! They’re trying to plan movie night, but Phil can’t make it because he’s seeing his ex-girlfriend Denise. Haley is grossed out by the idea of her father with a woman, Luke is surprised his father had another woman before Clair, and Phil brags he had plenty fun in his time, “and then I met your mom.” “And thank you Phil,” Clair resigns. Naturally Clair doesn’t trust that recently Denise has no ulterior motives. “Women in their 30’s on the internet are like Ninjas. They get in their little, black outfits and try to sneak their way into your marriage,” she reasons. To prove her wrong, Phil invites her over to the house, instead of going the romantic French place Denise had suggested. As long as Clair is in the room, Denise seems harmful enough, but the moment she’s alone with him, she is all over Phil. The look on his face when she hands him her hotel room keycard! Priceless! Now he ponders how many more of his 447 Facebook friends he has been unwittingly flirting with. Things get all uncomfortable again, and Denise has to make a hasty exit.

Meanwhile, Jay tries to console Manny that he lost a part in the school play by hanging a picture in his room. Accidentally he kills Manny’s turtle. Rather than admitting, Jay fakes a crime scene to lay blame on a hungry raccoon. Gloria doesn’t buy it for a minute. “I’m Columbian. I know a fake crime scene when I see one!” she exclaims. Eventually Jay caves in and tells Manny what happened. Since they’re on the topic, Manny wants to tell Jay about that scratch on his Jay. Jay tells him he already knows: it was a raccoon. For his part, Mitchell quit his job at the law office after missing out on too many moments in Lily’s life because his boss is requiring him to work overtime – even on the weekends. “If my daughter can stand up then so can I,” are his parting words. He feels liberated, tingly, his heart is pounding. He has a panic attack. Yup, funny stuff!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

In Treatment 3x12

In Treatment on HBO
In last week’s session Paul mentioned Max’ drawings being gloomy and dark. We’ve seen some of his work now, a cityscape from a bird’s eye perspective. When Paul asked who’s point of view it was Max sad, “no one’s, I guess.” Then Paul unfolded a thrown away sketch and sees a previous attempt of a cityscape, with an eagle spreading its wings ominously. No wonder Paul worries about his son. Paul justified coming back to Adele because he doesn’t know how to tell Max about his symptom of Parkinson’s. One day, they are getting ready to go to a show. Max is googling the address and notices an abundance of links to Parkinson’s in the browser history. “Dad?” he asks anxiously. His session with Adele is a hoot. Not because there’s anything remotely funny Paul brings up, but because the way he is avoiding questions, dodging bullets, and still questions her competence. She asks him about his headaches, he talks about Parkinson’s; she asks him about Max, he talks about Jesse; she returns the conversation to Max, he starts talking about Gina; she points out he’s avoiding her questions, he begs her to bear with him. He’s struggling with all of these issues.

Somewhere, I’m sure, he’s worried that Gina was right about him, in that he invests so much in his patients that he is incapable of maintaining a meaningful relationship outside of his practice. He’s worried that he is losing touch with his son. He sympathizes with Jesse’s adoptive mother, because he is afraid his ex-wife’s new partner is taking his children away from him. He’s wondering if he is still able to remain objective with his patients – or if he’s ever been. Not in so many words, but truly, he’s asking Adele to take over Gina’s role as his supervisor. It’s only halfway through the session that Paul opens up, tells her about the incident the other night with Max and how it was the worst possible way to break the bad news to him, but that he slept through the night for the first time in months. In the end, Adele wraps it all up, proving once again how incredibly intelligent she is, by indicating Paul’s consistent need for help, his desire to be comforted – and, what’s more, that it seems to her to stem from his own fear of being incompetent, that he has convinced himself that he is incapable. “Why would I do that?” Paul sighs twice over, realizing how right she is. I was so enthralled, I could barely breathe. What a superb show!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Caprica 1x15

Caprica, Dirteaters, on Syfy
There’s a Tauron tattoo ritual in honor of Sam and Joseph Adama’s promotion within the ranks of the Ha’latha crime syndicate. Then a flashback to the time their parents took a stand against the oppression on their home Colony. We see how Sam became a petty thief and Joseph the quiet observer. And we learn how they became orphans. But back in the future, the Guattrau would rather cell Cylons to the Soldiers of The One on Geminon than to the rebels on Tauron, and orders the death of Daniel Graystone after he has sold them the Avatar Resurrection program. Over in New Cap City, the Deathwalkers Zoe and Tamara are playing Avenging Angels cleaning out the trash. Too bad. I rather enjoyed the hedonistic sex and drugs and rock and roll. The ladies kill two wannabe virtual assassins, who in real life turn out to be two of Clarice’s husbands.

Following a hint by Joseph, Daniel realizes he will soon be killed if he delivers his “resurrection software” to the Guattrau. So, he approaches a disillusioned Sam with an offer he can’t refuse. Daniel will arrange Cylons for the Tauron rebels on the condition that Captain Sam will keep him alive. Hearing about the Avenging Angels hype, he returns to V-World to find his daughter, who wants nothing to do with him. Zoe and Tamara dream up some virtual impregnable fortress where no one will get to them. Meanwhile, Amanda Graystone’s position at the Willows residence becomes endangered when Agent Jordan Duram is removed from the Global Defense Department by his STO sympathizing superior Garra. For her part, Sister Clarice is soaring in megalomania over the prospect of implementing her Apotheosis program. Seriously, if all episodes were more like this one, Syfy would never have had to pull the show. For this was all quite entertaining!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Dexter 5x11

Dexter, Hop A Freighter, on Showtime
The end of the season is approaching ever so near! This season has been unbelievably good. Five seasons ago the Cricket was reluctant to even watch a show about a serial killer. Gradually we’ve gotten to sympathize with him. And now we get to see Dexter through Lumen’s eyes. She doesn’t see him as a monster at all. He’s her partner, helping her take down the men who raped and tortured her. Boyd Fowler has disappeared off the face of the earth, so did Cole Harman, and now Alex Tildon, too. “What’s the connection,” Deb asks Jordan Chase, with Quinn in tow. “What did they have in common?” She continues. “You. They had you in common.” Chase remains indignantly unmoved. At the office, Deb explains her “vigilante theory” that one of the barrel girls escaped and has been taking down the perverted perpetrators who abused and violated all these girls. Masuka confirms that the living room in the empty house next to Tildon’s was so spotless it must have been recently swiped clean. Meanwhile, Deb and Quinn learn Chase’s real name, Eugene Greer. Batista found evidence that ties Chase to Tildon. Now every one of the perps can be traced back to Chase, and they have proof that he has been lying. They’re closing in but all remains circumstantial.

For their part Dex and Lumen plot to take down Chase, like a loving couple plans seats for their wedding. They’re deciding on whether to use her or Deb as bait to lure Chase. Then suddenly the baby monitor picks up a signal from Liddy’s camera. Dex suspects it’s Chase watching them, but there are too many vans, RVs and trucks around. He could be anywhere. Liddy’s been permanently discharged from police service. So he cannot make a move against Dexter, but threatens Quinn he best come running when he calls. Dex finds the camera and to his shock discovers it is property of Miami Metro Police. He learns that the bugging devices were checked out on Quinn’s name, with a case number dating to 1982, and without a permit to bug his house.

There’s an amazingly beautiful scene between Deb and Dex, where she confesses about Quinn’s theory that Dex is somehow connected to Rita’s death. She broke up with him because she cannot trust him. Then she starts ruminating about her “vigilante theory,” how the barrel girl must have someone close to her help her killing these perps. She finds it loving, even if it’s messed up. Only we and Dex are in on the fact that Deb is looking right at that man. And for his part Dex is realizing he must be in love with Lumen. They really are adorable together, holding hands, and teaming up as serial killers. I don’t want Lumen to ever leave Dex. But what will happen once Lumen is done meeting out her vigilante justice, once she has killed all her abusers? And will they get to Chase before he gets to them?

In fact, Chase books a tour through Europe to give his motivational speeches, an indication he’s hoping to get away from under police scrutiny. So they need a court order to demand him in as a material witness. It gets denied when Deb puts it in herself, but LaGuerta requests another with a judge who owed her a favor – and thus she teaches Deb a little lesson about office politics. Checking on the one remaining van that hasn’t moved in a week in front of Dex’ condo, he gets tased and kidnapped by Liddy. Right then Chase lures Dex and Lumen by having Emily Birch, the only girl he let live, call Lumen to beg for help. With Dex out of reach, Lumen goes on her own, terrified when she finds Chase there. Dex is able to overpower Liddy and kills him, with Quinn standing right outside the blinded van – and Liddy’s blood dripping on his boot. Chase is enraged that Lumen didn’t bring Dexter, and vents his anger on Emily, who he kills in two blows with a poker. When Dex finally arrives, Emily’s house is empty. Evidence of a fight everywhere. Oh, boy, the finale is going to be big, I mean, BIG!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Californication 4x01

Californication, Exile on Main Street, on Showtime
For X-Mas the Cricket got two leaked episodes of the new Californication season! Did you miss Hank Moody? Of course you did! We get all new opening credits with a new tune as well. Hank just got out of jail. His buddy Charlie has been instructed by his soon-to-be ex-wife Marcy not to bring Hank to the love of his life, Karen. She doesn’t want to see him. Word got out that the novel, Fucking and Punching, Mia stole from him and published under her own name was in fact written by him. When he finally gets home, Karen slams the door in his face. Hank and Charlie visit an attorney (Carla Gugino who plays Amanda Daniels on Entourage) and puts himself at her disposal. Then he has a run in with Sasha Bingham (hot newcomer Addison Timlin), who introduces herself as Mia and tells him she is definitely not going to sleep with him. Actually, she’s going to star in the movie adaptation of Hank’s novel – even showing her beautiful boobs to prove the point she has no qualms about gratuitous nudity. Charlie Runkle gets his old job back on the condition that Hank rewrites the script himself. After a long day, Charlie takes Hank to Sasha, so that they can talk about the script, and he can crash on her couch. She’s in shirt and panties in her hotel room. And as “Sympathy for the Devil” plays on the soundtrack, they have sex. While she’s atop of him, she practices the punch Mia gave him back in the beginning. Hank’s arraignment is the morning after. Good news is the assault charges have been dropped. The bad news? He’s accused of statutory rape.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Boardwalk Empire 1x04

Boardwalk Empire, Anastasia, on HBO
In Chicago, young Al Capone walks into the Four Deuces brothel and shoots a blank in Jimmy Darmody’s ear, who’s lying in bed with a lovely lass named Pearl. After Capone leaves, laughing out loud, Jimmy and Pearl already talk about leaving for California together. Jimmy then joins Capone to Chicago’s Greek Town, where some speakeasy owner is informed that he is are in John Torrio’s territory now, not Sheridan’s. Capone beats up the man to bring home his point. Jimmy is visibly disturbed and tries telling Capone that violence is not only unnecessary but not gentler persuasion might be more effective. Later, at the Four Deuces, Jimmy explains that “You don’t invade a country all at once. You take it over one piece at a time.” When Sheridan drops in to express his annoyance that those Brooklynites Torrio and Capone are trying to take over Greek Town, Jimmy suggests there is room enough for all of them, but Capone insists on fifty percent of Sheridan’s take. When the latter agrees to an accommodation, Capone is convinced his bullying has worked. Jimmy tells him that’s one way of reading the situation. Later still, one of Sheridan’s goons takes Pearl to her room, sleeps with her, and then carves his knife across her face. To facilitates his exit, his buddies start shooting downstairs, while Pearl screams in pain.

Back in Atlantic City Nucky Thompson wants his sheriff brother to step up the murder investigation of Chalky White’s driver Kendall. With the upcoming elections, Nucky wants to be sure he can count on the black vote. So, brown-shirt Eli Thompson raids a Ku-Klux Klan meeting and arrest the Grand Cyclops Joseph Dinler for Kendall’s lynching. “Being a member is not against the law!” one member exclaims. “No, but stringing up darkies is,” Eli replies. Then Chalky White interrogates Dinler, building up the suspense to terrorize his into a confession. But even when he cuts off one of his fingers Dinler sticks to his story that he has no knowledge of the lynching. For his part, Lucky Luciano is looking for Jimmy, but only finds his rather assertive mother Gillian (sassy Gretchen Mol) opening the door, perhaps thinking she’s Jimmy’s wife. “I am looking for James,” he says telling her he’s a friend. “His friends call him Jimmy,” she replies. When she tells him Jimmy isn’t in, Luciano asks, “So where can I find him?” “Have you tried looking up your ass?” she retorts. Luciano follows Gillian around for days, attending her burlesque shows and waiting outside the Beaux-Arts Theater. She asks him what it is he wants from her, he tells her she must have a pretty good idea, and she replies she knows what it is she wants, and asks him to wait for her after the last show.

When Nucky throws a “surprise” birthday party for himself everyone of importance is present, including Commodore Kaestner, Senator Edge and Mayor Hague of Jersey City. The conversation turns to the topic of suffrage and the Commodore belittles Nucky’s girlfriend Lucy for not knowing anything about politics. Then there is a wonderful exchange between Margaret Schroeder and Senator Edge (Geoff Pierson, who plays Captain Matthews on Dexter) on the topic. She stands her ground very well, while the senator snaps one condescending remark after another. She tells him that if they withhold something most women want, they will always know to withhold something most men desire. She impresses Nucky, who understands he will need the female vote as much as he will need the black vote in the upcoming election. He may be Republican, but he sure isn’t dumb. He takes Margaret for a dance at great applause. And even as Lucy jumps out of the enormous birthday cake, Nucky cannot keep his eyes off Margaret. Readers of these chirps will know that this Cricket needs his time before becoming engaged in new TV series. Still, I can’t say I’m much enthralled yet by this show. I’m not much drawn to any of the characters, although Nucky and Margaret and sympathetic.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Modern Family 1x16

Modern Family, Fears, on ABC
What is a Modern Family most afraid of? Alex: global warming and getting a B. Clair: the phone ringing in the middle of the night. Phil: job interviews. Jay: pigeons – ’cause they’re shifty. Cam: losing Mitchell. Mitchell: hotel bed spreads. Haley: never getting a driver’s license – or getting one, but the picture sucks. Manny: dying alone. Yes, yes, the Cricket admits: this show is growing on me! Haley really is petrified she will fail her driving test. To make it worse, she gets the same instructor who failed her twice before. He’s able to calm her nerves and she finally passes the test. For her part, Alex wants to dodge the school ball because she thinks its lame – and because she’s afraid no one will ask her to dance. Clair convinces her to go and she does end up dancing at the ball. Then there’s Phil, who’s afraid of small, dark spaces. When Luke wants to go treasure hunter under the house, Phil turns a remote-controlled toy truck into a Mars Rover, so he won’t have to go inside the crawlspace. Naturally, the truck rolls over, Luke gets stuck, and Phil has no other choice than to crawl inside and save the day. He pronounces himself a hero.

Meanwhile, Manny doesn’t want to go to a party at an amusement park, because he’s scared of roller-coasters. Gloria offers to take him on a fishing trip off the pier. This, of course, was a diversion, as there’s a roller-coaster at the pier as well. Turns out, Jay is scared of them, too. But when Gloria decides to take the helter-skelter by herself, the two men can’t stand by idly. They overcome their fear, but by Jay’s pale face, I’d say, only by the skin of his teeth. Cameron has invited Lily’s Asian-American pediatrician, lovely Dr. Miura (Suzy Nakamura), over for brunch. A gay father’s worst nightmare happens when Lily utters her first word at the table: “Mommy”! Cameron is sure this is because Lily was raised by Vietnamese nurses before they adopted her, and Dr. Miura is, well, Asian, too. Plus, Mitchell believes it’s because Dr. Miura has, you know, breasts. OMG, these guys are hilarious! She tries to reassure them, but Lily repeats the M word, just to rub it in. She tells them Lily is the luckiest little girl having two caring fathers – and that mother’s aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. But in the end they find that Lily simply picked up the M word from her new doll that says “mommy” when you squeeze its belly. “The doll says ‘mommy’!” they exclaim in excitement, hugging and dancing. They’re the happiest guys on earth!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

In Treatment 3x11

In Treatment on HBO
When Paul opens his door to the hallway, Jesse is already waiting, wearing sunglasses. When he takes them off, he has a big black eye. “She came,” he says, “just like you wanted,” referring to his adoptive mother Marisa – of course Paul never asked for Marisa to join them. Paul asks Jesse about the black eye and Marisa explains he got attacked in the bathroom at the Whitney Museum. Jesse admits it was Nate, his ex-fling who he called a stalker last week. He got suspended from school according to Jesse because he got into a fight, but Marisa worries it’s rather because he’s gay. Jesse is the one who got beaten up, not the other way around. Jesse is angry, mean-spirited, verbally abusive to the point that Paul has to shut him up that he cannot talk to his mother in therapy like that. Marisa wonders why she is there and Jesse springs on her that his birth mother wants him back. She is so upset at the thought of losing Jesse that she breaks down and apologizes herself. Jesse just feels abandoned and is convinced his adoptive parents hate him. Paul asks him if this is the normal dynamic between Jesse and his mother. He doesn’t seem to understand the question.

Paul then changes the conversation to the photos Jesse mentioned last week which upset Marisa so much. And that is where we finally come to a real breakthrough for the first time. Jesse calms down and truly opens up. He explains that in sixth grade they had to do a family tree project, which he did by means of the camera his father Roberto gave him for his birthday. After he shot photos of his cousins and nephews, he started taking pictures of the life guard and his friend. He deliberately stepped on a rusty nail to draw their attention. He told them he was an orphan and Roberto had to look for him all day to find out where he was. The life guard’s friend turned out to be a pre-med student and took him to the hospital. When they had their show-and-tell at school, Marisa became upset that Jesse included photos of the life guard and his friend, but his teacher urged him to stick with photography because she saw the artistry in them. So, on that day on the beach, Jesse discovered his creative talent, plus he discovered that he was gay, he invented his first fake identity, and found a momentary but meaningful relationship with the life guard’s friend. Afterwards, Jesse felt that his father started to distance himself from Jesse – and his mother stopped going to church.

Paul tries to encourage Jesse to see things from his parents’ perspective. It may not be that they cannot accept his homosexuality or that they don’t love him, as Jesse claims. His mother may have stopped going to church precisely because she doesn’t want to support an institution that excludes her son, and his father may have found it difficult to relate to Jesse’s creativity. Paul opens up about his relationship with his son, who likes to draw, but Paul cannot fully understand what drives Max to produce such dark sketches. Although Jesse cannot yet wrap his head around Paul’s suggestions, and remains convinced his parents hate him, he stays calm and listens. A seed has been planted. Then Paul confronts Jesse about the lies getting Marisa to join him in session. Paul believes Jesse rather took her with him so that Paul could tell her about Karen, Jesse’s birth mother, and that Jesse is afraid that she, too, may eventually abandon him. Jesse gets defensive again. Paul inquires if Jesse has been thinking about calling Karen. He ups and leaves with an angry, “That’s all I think about!” Marisa is still waiting for him in the hallway – despite Jesse’s conviction she rushed to church begging the priest to take her back after all those years. What a revelation this show!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Caprica 1x14

Caprica, Blowback, on Syfy
So, Syfy pulled the series off the air midway through the second half of the season last year, citing poor ratings – not too surprisingly, considering the tedious plot twists and lackluster performances. Now the final five episodes have been transmitted in one big burn-off marathon even though the whole show is already available on DVD. Here’s to commercial television at its worst! When we pick up the story, Sister Clarice sends Lacey Rand to Geminon to train with the Soldiers of the One together with a group of other students. However, things go awry when their space ship is overtaken by polytheistic zealot mercenaries. Their leader’s ramblings are difficult to follow, so his demands aren’t too clear, nor who he is negotiating with. What is clear is that they will kill the students one by one, unless his demands are met or they denounce their monotheism. The STO recruits try to calm each other and devise a plan. Lacey finally grabs a bar and wields it at the mercenaries’ leader. A fight ensues, until the STO leader steps in and explains it all has been their initial placement exercise to find out how they would function under stress, who would crumble and who would rise to the occasion. At the STO compound on Geminon Lacey is showered with praise for her courage. But there’s one doubting Thomas, aptly called Odin, who shows her an execution far off of several weaker recruits – by a Cylon no less.

Meanwhile, Amanda Graystone is still snitching at the Willows residence for Agent Jordan Duram of the Global Defense Department. Unbeknownst to them Clarice has a sympathizer on the inside, in the person of Duram’s superior Garra. For her part, before she left, Lacey told Clarice about a gold STO pin that may contain a backup of Zoe’s “Avatar” program. Clarice has Garra retrieve it from the Graystone evidence file and arrange a drop off. The missing evidence, however, tips Jordan off that there’s a leak in the force’s top brass. As a trap, he tells his superior that he has a confidential informant at the Willows, one of Clarice’s wives Marbeth. When Marbeth is murdered by Clarice, Jordan knows never to trust his superior again, but he is able to requisition a bugging device that Amanda can plant at the Willows. When Daniel Graystone confronts the Adama brothers that the Ha’latha is smuggling Cylons from his company, Joseph admits that the Guattrau is selling them for profit to the STO on Geminon. Sam is outraged that the Tauron syndicate isn’t sending Cylons to the resistance movement on their home Colony, while Daniel loathes the fact he might be charged for treason if the government finds out his exclusively-contracted military robots are sent to support a terrorist organization. The Guattrau gives Daniel no more than two weeks to finish his “Resurrection” program, but insinuates to the Adamas that whether Graysstone delivers or not, he must die. Of course, Daniel isn’t anywhere near completing the software – and the problem is that Clarice has just gotten her hands on it. Honestly, this episode wasn’t too bad – even if you have to suffer through some of the futuristic mumbo-jumbo.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Dexter 5x10

Dexter, In the Beginning, on Showtime
Dexter now knows that Jordan Chase is on to them. So, to get him out of harm’s way, he asks Sonya to take baby Harrisons to his grandparents in Orlando and spend time with his brother and sister. And to protect Lumen, he takes her out of the house to his condo. Unfortunately, that shitty Liddy is still tailing them, despite Quinn’s violent demand to stay away. At Miami Metro Deb’s discovery of partial DNA’s has forced LaGuerta to reopen the barrel girls case. Jordan Chase isn’t among the suspects, but he is wanted for questioning – and so is Cole, who is of course already buried at sea. Naturally, Chase pretends he is insulted by the insinuations hurled at his direction and refuses further co-operation without his lawyer present. Meanwhile, Dex and Lumen pay a visit to Emily Birch, whose blood Chase keeps in a vial around his neck, but she shuts the door on them. When they get a search warrant for Cole’s house not only do they find blood (remains of his skirmish with Dex and Lumen), they also find thirteen numbered discs worth of torture-rape footage. The last one must be Lumen. Now Dexter has to stage a clumsy accident to switch her disc when Masuka isn’t paying attention. Lumen’s taken aback how much Dex is willing to risk his life and career for her.

Later Deb tells Dex that watching those (other) discs made her think maybe it was for the best these women died, because she believes no one could ever have a life again after going through that torture. She has been through some horrible experiences herself, from which she’s come back. Deb, wicked smart as she is, has already been able to connect the case with the plastic-wrap murder, figuring (correctly) that someone has been taking out the perpetrators – and she reckons there’s some kind of vigilante out there who knows what these morbid perverts have been up to, someone she feels is like her. She just doesn’t know how right she is. Then Lumen visits Emily again and confronts her with the footage of her own abuse and asks if it has also happened to her. She admits that twenty years ago at summer camp the same group raped and tortured her, but Jordan Chase was still called Eugene Greer. Emily also remembers the name of the fifth member of the group, Alex Tildon. Lumen tells Dex she wants to be the one killing Tildon. When Deb and Quinn go down the list of Cole’s acquaintances found on his computer, they also talk to Tildon, who confirms that he knows him, but denies knowing any of the other names associated with the case. Liddy forges Quinn’s signature to get recording devices – and with it he sits outside of Dex’ condo listening in on their conversations and watching their every move from inside his van. The most disturbing scenes this episode is when Chase talks to Emily, who explains she told Lumen everything – and he sits there like a king on his throne, telling her no one can replace her, that they have a bond, that she is special to him, and that she made him who he is now.

As Dex is preparing his killing tools, Lumen lights up, “look at those,” as if she’s looking at a case of jewelry at Tiffany’s. That’s when Liddy finally catches on from inside his van. Tildon calls Chase asking if he should leave town for a while, but Chase tells him to stick to his usual routines to the letter so as not to cause any suspicion – knowing full well that Dex and Lumen will be waiting for him at his house. Then he calls Deb, pretending that Tildon had called his secretary asking about Cole in a panic. So, right when Dex and Lumen are in the kill room, Deb and Quinn are driving up to Tildon’s house. The tension is unbearable! Will they be able to get away at close call? Deb and Quinn search Tildon’s house and find nothing. The kill room is at the empty house next door! Lumen strikes the blade at Tildon’s heart and gasps for air. It’s therapeutic. Outside, Deb notices a partial footprint, it’s small, Quinn figures it’s female, and Deb concludes (again correctly) that the vigilante must be the group’s last victim meting out her own brand of justice. But by that time Dex and Lumen have returned to his condo, where they commence to make love. Did Liddy follow them to Tildon’s house? We won’t know until next time. What an unbelievable show!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Modern Family 1x14

Modern Family, Moon Landing, on ABC
Clair has lunch with an old friend from work she hasn’t seen in fifteen years. At first she believes Valerie (Minnie Driver) is secretly jealous of her family life – despite the fact that Valerie has a stellar career and multiple lovers in various cities. But in reality Valerie came to gloat about her upcoming promotion – and to rub it in she tells Claire she would have gotten the job if she hadn’t chosen for Phil the Thrill. It’s Clair who is secretly jealous. It’s all awkwardly uncomfortable.

In other news, Haley breaks up with Dylan because he went to an Anne Hathaway movie with another girl, while Luke and Alex are collecting bottles for charity. “What’s Jägermeister?” Alex asks innocuously. “Uhm, well,” Phil begins, “you know how in a fairy tale there’s always a potion? That makes the princess falls asleep and then the guys start kissing her? Well, this is like that. Except you don’t wake up in a castle, you wake up in a frat house with a bad reputation.” How’s that for a G-rated explanation? Ahahahah! Meanwhile Cameron has challenged Jay to a game of squash (moon landing included), while Gloria is trying to convince Mitchell it was not her fault she got into a little car accident (so he can help her with the legal issues). Well, this one wasn’t so bad. Still, the Cricket is no big fan, not yet.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

In Treatment 3x10

In Treatment on HBO
When I think about Frances in this session, mostly descriptive adjectives come to mind. She is anxious, defensive, guilt-ridden, passive aggressive, deceitful, insecure, worried what people think about her, overly sensitive, concerned about her looks, apprehensive about getting old, unwilling to lay any blame on her mother (so there clearly are issues there), upset about being compared to her sister Patricia, jealous of her, convinced Patricia is punishing her – for becoming a famous actress and discouraging her from pursuing an acting career herself (telling her she was not very good at it, though she thought she was great and it came so much easier for Trish than for herself). She walks out moping like a child that she will be embarrassed in front of twelve hundred people at the preview performance and that she has no one to count on to help her with her lines, not even Paul. I am curious if the performance is really going to be as disastrous as Frances has feared, or if it will turn out a success – and in that case if it will soothe her into talking about the root of her insecurities. She chose a profession in which she is constantly being appraised, under critical scrutiny, subject of the public’s gaze staring at her, judging her. She never seems to have found a way to cope with that aspect of her career, and she is translating those anxieties into her private life. Will Paul be able to help her with that? Will she open up about her mother and accept that she and her sister were cast into roles unwittingly? Will she be able to make amends with Trish and her daughter Izzy?

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Dexter 5x09

Dexter, Teenage Wasteland, on Showtime
Dexter and Lumen disposed Suit Guy Cole together out at sea. Unbeknownst to them, they were followed by shitty Liddy, who has been keeping tabs on them even though Quinn was getting wary about spying on Dexter while he’s dating Debra. Eager to share the latest about Dex, Liddy keeps bugging Quinn, but Quinn is getting too involved with Deb. She also finds out that Quinn suspected Dexter of assuming the name “Kyle Butler” to associate with the Trinity Killer and may know something about Rita’s brutal murder. Deb is livid and hurt, no matter her burgeoning feelings for Quinn, no one touches her brother. Meanwhile, Dexter is in for a shock when suddenly Astor breaks into their old house – the one where Lumen is staying. Astor ran away from Orlando with her friend Olivia, they stole money and got drunk. Lumen was petrified fearing that someone was coming after them. Astor is upset that Dexter found a new girlfriend so soon after Rita’s death. Dexter assures her Lumen is just a tenant, but it’s clear they know each other better than that.

Then the girls go missing, Dex recruits the entire police force, it seems, fearing that somehow Jordan Chase is honing in on him for the murder of Cole. They find the girls arrested for shoplifting, Olivia’s stepfather came rushing on the scene acting a tad too overbearing. It’s clear something isn’t right. Back at Dex’ house, Deb is surprised to find her brother has a new, hot blonde girlfriend, or tenant, whichever; and Lumen is surprised to find Dex has a sister. Dex isn’t very successful trying to talk to Astor about her behavior, but Lumen discovers Olivia is covered in bruises from her stepfather. Dex gives the guy a few punches of his own and forces him to disappear, break up with Olivia’s mother and never come near them again. Astor is happy to find that Dex backed her up, and he is proud that she stood up for her friend. When he drops them off in Orlando, they share a beautiful moment talking about Rita. Dexter isn’t a monster after all. He isn’t just acting on primal instincts to kill and protect his nest. He is developing actual emotions and a talent for empathizing with others. It’s fair to say this is a pivotal moment.

At Miami Metro Homicide, Deb is still on suspension, but is stuck in the file room until her hearing. Batista backed up her story – against LaGuerta’s version of events. In the archive Deb happens upon the recently closed files of the barrel girls case. She can’t help going through the details one more time, and notices that the DNA report indicates there were at least three male perpetrators involved. They had been so focused on Boyd Fowler, that they closed the case before the DNA report came in. She shares the information with Masuka and Batista, find a partial match with Cole’s DNA, but no one wants to step up to LaGuerta and get the case re-opened. She overhears their conversation, but is reluctant to agree. She just cleared the air of the shooting at Club Maya and she doesn’t want another storm in the media about the incapability of their department. Deb, naturally, argues that this isn’t about the department, but about the deaths of a dozen girls and several perpetrators still on the loose. In the end, LaGuerta caves in.

For his part, Dexter is also trying to find a way to take on Jordan Chase. He scheduled private sessions with him, hoping to get some foot in the door and check out his security. He learns that Chase is keeping a little vial of blood as a necklace. He nips a pinch of the blood with a syringe, when Chase is taking a shower, but carelessly leaves the locker door ajar, and when Chase puts the necklace back on, he notices a little drop of blood on his finger. He knows Dexter is after him. When Dexter has the blood tested for DNA, it turns out the vial is not some kind of trophy of one of their victims: the woman is still alive. Later Chase calls Dexter’s home phone and gets Lumen on the phone. He leaves a message for Dexter, “Tick, tick, tick, that’s the sound of your life running out.” You can cut the tension with a knife. Lumen is nearly hyperventilating. Before he hangs up, Chase says, “Goodbye, Lumen.” This was yet another wonderful episode, full of excitement, human drama and emotional depth.