Chuck - Chuck vs the Mask, S03E07

Interesting that after two seasons of will they/won't they resulting in a "they did, but it did not last long," I am not particularly upset about Chuck (Zachary Levi) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) being in relationships with other people.

Sarah attraction to Shaw (Brandon Routh) fits perfectly with her type. Both Bryce and the hot MI-6 Brit from last season were amazing spies with fantastic good looks too. Funny how now that Chuck has joined their ranks as an amazing spy, Sarah's interest in him has wained.

Meanwhile, Hannah (Kristin Kreuk) is the perfect girl for Chuck, the type he would have been dating over the last two years if his spy life had not got in the way. Yet, his spy life is already in the way because he had no idea and had not at all noticed Morgan (Joshua Gomez)'s interest in the girl. Now that is bad! When you aren't even aware that your actions are breaking your best friend's heart, and you are too selfish to think about how your personal choices are affecting those around you when you already know that your professional choices put them at risk.

Still, Chuck and Sarah's relationship has greatly evolved. Both still realize the depth of feelings they have for one another, but both are prepared to watch the other with someone else because that is what is best for everyone. Granted, Shaw will likely be brutally killed soon, and Hannah's just as likely to be an agent for the Ring, but for the moment, I'm actually quite happy that the plot is moving forward in other ways.

I am not happy about the lack of Casey (Adam Baldwin). Yes, he had a few good lines, but his screen times was unacceptably low. I WANT MORE CASEY!!!

What about you? Do you want more Casey?

The Good Wife - Bad, S01E13

Though Peter(Chris Noth)'s trial was an important part of this episode, I was far more drawn by the confusion over Alicia (Julianna Margulies)'s case.

Colin Sweeney (Dylan Baker), which is a name that makes me think serial killer the moment I hear it, was found not guilty of killing his wife, but everyone believes he did do it. Now, his step-daughter is suing him in civil court - he should not inherit any money from a death that he caused.

Alicia believes that Sweeney killed his wife, yet she still does her best to defend him. Even at the end of the episode, when it looks like the daughter was the one who committed the murder when the body was finally found on her farm, Alicia is still convinced that he is the murderer.

And I can't decide whether or not she is right. Dylan Baker knows how to maximize his creep-factor, and his portrayal of Sweeney was not meant to be sympathetic - the S+M, the other women, the violent paintings on his wall. Many people are very uncomfortable with what he considers normal sexual behaviour, and he makes no effort to hide who he is or make himself more socially acceptable.

And thus my confusions. Is this man, though in many ways a social deviant, a murderer? Do his different social norms go so far as guiltless murder? Or is the sweet and pathetic step-daughter the actual killer, insinuating herself so carefully into society that no one would suspect her first? The best defense is not to be noticed or suspected, which Sweeney clearly did not do, but perhaps he could not, or it was too late anyway.

Though at the end of the episode, Alicia still believed Sweeney to have murdered his wife, framing the step-daughter, I still cannot be sure. Often, the most obvious suspect - the cheating, bondage-loving husband - is the murderer, but sometimes, he is not.

Who do you think killed Sweeney's wife?

Vampire Diaries - Children of the Damned, S01E13

Vampire Diaries is always such a satisfying show to watch. Finally, we got to see a more clear perspective on the events in 1864 which resulted in the Vampires being locked in the church, and after watching it, I have a lot more questions.

We finally learned how the Vampires, including Anna (Malese Jow), were able to walk in the light. Emily, the witch from that era, created a spell connected to the rings to give them this power.

We also learned that Stefan (Paul Wesley) was to blame for Katherine being captured and locked in the church, something Damon (Ian Somerhalder) has never forgiven him for. Perhaps the guilt Stefan feels over this is the reason that over the last 145 years, Stefan has continually let Damon into his life, let his guard down, and had all hell break loose. He feels he deserves the punishment for having broken Damon's trust first.

I can only hope that Stefan's affections for Elena (Nina Dobrev) will prevent him from allowing that sort of havoc to happen again.

I am even more desperate to find out how Damon and Stefan were made into vampires. Unless they had already drunk some of Katherine's blood before their father dragged her away, then how could she be their makers? How did they become Vamps?

The best part of watching episodes with historical flashbacks is the costumes. We should all start dressing in Civil War styles again! Don't you think so?

Caprica - Reins of a Waterfall, S01E03

I figured out what it was that I really didn't like about the opening of Caprica. It's that it reminds me rather of Warehouse 13 or Sanctuary than of BSG, Stargate, or Eureka. Which means it reminds me of shows that, while they are entertaining, lack sophistication and unity.

So, as every episode of Caprica begins, I am preparing for something of lesser quality, and though lowering my expectations might be helpful considering how far from the mark I feel that Caprica has been so far, it does not fill me with the sense that the show will get better. A hope that I cling to. I have watched the first seasons of both Warehouse 13 and Sanctuary; I may watch the second seasons at some point, but if I don't, I will not consider it any great loss. And, at the moment, I feel like it would not be such a great loss if I stopped watching Caprica.

There is just something bizarre about Willie Adama, who will later be Bill Adama, skipping school and drinking beer at 12 with his gay, hired-killer uncle, while his lawyer father (in whose footsteps Apollo apparently followed when he gave up the military) bribes judges and issues statements along the lines of "Balance is important. He lost his daughter. I lost my daughter, and my wife." Not to mention that that isn't the cheesiest line.

The writers threw us in the middle of a mess of plotlines which they themselves have not entangled. Who was Joseph Adams (Esai Morales) before he became Joseph Adama? What was his relationship with the mafia like when his daughter and wife were still alive? Would he ever have considered murder the right step? I'm not sure, because I have no idea what he was like before that bomb went off.

I also have no idea what is going on with Sister Clarice (Polly Walker). What is she after in all of this, and is she a danger to poor Lacy (Magda Apanowicz)? And what is Avatar Zoe (Alessandra Torresani)'s purpose? At least I'm interested in finding these things out, though I wish things were a little more clear.

I simply continue to feel like the show is directionless. It goes off on a variety of tangents as seem to suit it, but the method to this madness is not apparent. I have no desire to watch hours of television that will get me nowhere. Where is this going?

Again, I ask, are you hooked? And why? What makes you watch Caprica still?

Caprica - Rebirth, S01E02

My commitment to watch Caprica continues to be based in my affections for its predecessor rather than anything the new show has done. That said, I did watch all 10 episodes of Stargate Universe that have already aired for the same reason.

The biggest problem I have with Caprica is that it feels directionless to me. Where is it going? What is it going to do? What sort of journey am I on? I cannot guess as to what sort of experience watching the show will bring me, and therefore can't guess if it is worth my time.

The opening sequence certainly is not worth my time. It's SO cheesy, with Joseph Adama/Adams (Esai Morales) kneeling before a family grave, and little William looking on...It just ends up being so contrived. It also really gives no hints about what we're getting ourselves into.

Then we get into the religious and moral questions being brought up. Clarice Willow (Polly Walker) is in a group marriage, which was not something that I recall having been common in Ancient Rome or Greece, so I'm interested to see where that's coming from, or going, or what the point of it is. And there was no ignoring that comment that Lacy (Magda Apanowicz) made about Zoe (Alessandra Torresani) being a trinity. Human Zoe was God, Avatar Zoe is her daughter, and the robot is the dove? If you say so.

At least the episode ended with the kind of turmoil that is leading somewhere. When Amanda Greystone (Paula Malcomson) announced that her daughter was probably the terrorist who bombed the train, well there is not way that isn't going to result in major repercussions for the family and their companies. But what does that really mean?

I need more, I want more. Give me something to sink my teeth into, which makes me excited and interested in Caprica for Caprica itself, and not because of Battlestar Galactica.

Are you craving this too, or is there something I'm missing that has won you over?

The Mentalist - Redline, S02E13

There is something so delightfully perverse about a wealthy man enjoying the experience of being a murder suspect because it is a new experience, and having everything, new experiences are rare.

Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) had a lot of fun this week, teasing Lisbon (Robin Tunney) about her mixed feeling regarding Grace (Amanda Righetti) and Rigsby (Owain Yeoman), driving around blindfolded in the car of the wealthy suspect, Walter Mashburn (Currie Graham), forgetting to use the clutch in said car so that it would drive off a cliff, allowing him to lead the team to the murder weapon, a fancy red car.

Mashburn, despite the loss of his car, loved the experience. He was not, in the end, the murderer, though there is always hope that he will reappear again, since killing someone would also be a new experience for him as well. Truly, though, watching a man not deny that he was a murderer to enjoy the company of Jane and to see if the former psychic could tell his guilt, that was not only entertaining, but yet another unique step.

Unfortunately, the Mentalist also uses old material. Grace and Rigsby, with their jobs on the line, now suddenly have major relationship issues. Who's job is more important, where is there relationship going, etc. etc.. Frankly, I liked it better when we had the will they/won't they stuff going on. And in the end, Lisbon refused to acknowledge their relationship, which no longer matters since they are clearly on the rocks.

Maybe we'll get the will they/won't they tension back over the next couple of episodes.

Still the episode was a whole lot of fun, and I'm really looking forward to the next one, which will focus on Cho (Tim Kang)!!! About time, I say!