Vampire Diaries - Miss Mystic Falls, S01E19

Excitement and anticipation are coming to full boil as the first season of Vampire Diaries rapidly approaches its finale. What exactly the focus of everything it has been building towards will be, I cannot say. Will Elena (Nina Dobrev)'s mother appear and bring chaos? Or will Katherine make her first appearance in Mystic Falls in 150 years? What about Johnathan Gilbert (David Anders)? And what will be the result of the relationship between Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) and Anna (Malese Jow)? So many questions, and we aren't even focused on our leads, Stefan (Paul Wesley), Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Elena.

At the beginning of the episode, Stefan seemed much more himself...well, mostly. He was more amusing, more charming, more fun than he had been, but he wasn't on edge anymore. Mostly, that was because he was giving into his cravings. The problems only came when he saw blood. And then he had a hard time controlling the lust he had let burst forth.

Despite Stefan's addiction problem, Vicki's death (so recently discovered), and Johnathan Gilbert's crazy and unknown plans, things in Mystic Falls continued to go along happily, as they do in small towns. Miss Mystic Falls had to be elected for the Founder's Celebrations, and Elena and Caroline (Candice Accola) had to go head to head in the competition. During their presentation, Stefan disappeared, kidnapping one of the girls whom he deemed would make a good snack, and Damon was forced to fill in for him. Despite Damon's ease at giving into his own cravings, he is in control of himself most of the time, and he is very very charming when he wants to be.

Stefan's issues were not the only painful confrontation Elena suffered through. Bonnie (Katerina Graham), finally returned after her lengthy absence, blames Stefan and Damon for her grandmother's death and has therefore removed herself from Elena's life. I can't help but consider this a little bit stupid. Bonnie's grandmother took the risk knowing the risk. She died, and perhaps she died in vain, since the rest of the vampires escaped the church, but she did not get involved expecting things to be easy. Bonnie's alienation of her best friend, whom she supported through the death of loved relatives, is only more ridiculous considering her developing powers and ability to control Stefan when no one else could. Then again, she's a 17 year old high school student. I should expect anything more from her.

And so the episode ended with Elena tricking Stefan into being pumped full of vervain and locked in the basement. We all know how well it worked when Stefan did the same thing to Damon...I just hope that whatever transformation Stefan goes through on his road to recovery - we've got to get him back at some point - that it is believable.

Otherwise, I'm just really excited to see everything come to a head. And to be annoyed that I won't get my answers or find out what happens for an entire summer.

Bones - The Predator in the Pool, S05E18

My sense that the 100th episode of Bones has given the show new life continues to deepen as the new episodes interest and entice me. I now pay full attention, interested in what new and tiny development will reveal a clue to how the victim died and who was the murderer. Sure, the characters' stories are ever present, but I have no complaints there. These characters are what make murder mysteries more interesting than a simple case solve ever week. The main thing is, though, that the characters are back to being colour, while the cases are the backbone, instead of letting the show stand up on feelings alone.

A murder at an aquarium was discovered when a recently released shark washed up on shore with a human leg in his gullet. No comment was made about the failure of the reintroduction of that shark to the ocean, but I will let that slide. I will also not make mention of the "it only happens on television" moment when the Aquarium coordinator swore it was impossible that anyone had been eaten in her tank at the same moment as a giant fish burped out a human skull. Clearly, she did not have all the facts.

I did enjoy meeting the new love interest for Booth (David Boreanaz). She seemed very sweet and spunky and confident enough that she might be able to be in a relationship with him without constantly worrying about his continuing affection for Brennan (Emily Deschanel). I also laughed myself silly when Brennan told him "You deserve a good woman," and he replied, "So do you." He clarified what he meant, of course, by I was still amused.

I was also amused by Hodgins (T.J. Thyne)'s desire for a bigger boat, and Sweet (John Fracis Daley)'s comment that 9-year-olds are essentially psychopaths.

Most of all, I was glad to see the team working together to uncover pieces of the puzzle. Booth harassed mafia without Brennan always riding shotgun, and Hodgins discovered the murder weapon by carefully surveying the particulates. Between him and Clark (Eugene Byrd), it seems some actual work got done in the lab this week.

If next week's episode continues on this line, I am sure to be delighted with the rest of the season and very excited about Season 6. That was not the case a few weeks ago.

Glee - The Power of Madonna, S01E15

One might have been concerned that all the hype about the Madonna episode would raise the bar to a level Glee was not likely to obtain, but this week's episode was fantastic. Not only was the singing and the music exactly what we've come to expect, but the storyline dealt with important teen issues in an approachable and accurate manner.

When Sue (Jane Lynch) decided to empower her Cheerios with Madonna music, Will (Matthew Morrison) was quick to realize it was a good idea and follow suit. He had overheard his Glee girls talk about their relationships with the men in their lives, and realized that the Glee guys weren't properly respecting their female counterparts. Madonna was the answer to all that.

Music highlights included Sue singing Vogue, as we expected it would, and Rachel (Lea Michelle), Finn (Cory Monteith) and Emma (Jayma Mays) singing Like a Virgin as each contemplated losing his/her virginity. I also loved that Kurt (Chris Colfer) and Mercedes (Amber Riley) joined the Cheerios to add singing to Sue's repertoire because they felt that Glee wasn't giving them the occasions they deserved to shine.

Sue's continued comments about Will's hair were fantastic. "I thought I smelled baking cookies wafting from the ovens of the elfs that live in your hair," was the best so far. And you had to feel sympathy for her when she revealed her comments were based on jealousy because her hair was neither as healthy nor as luxurious as his. But, frankly, he does wear a lot of gel.

And the virginity question was perfectly dealt with. Jesse (Jonathan Groff) wanted to have sex with Rachel, but she wasn't ready and they had a fight. To win her back (or perhaps as a plot to destroy Glee club), Jesse transferred to her school and promised her romance when she was ready, and not to pressure. She was pleased and decided she was ready.

Finn, meanwhile, was not happy that she was dating someone else, even less so that she had lied about it. Santana (Naya Rivera) seduced him so that he would be more attractive to Rachel, making her jealous.

The day after, Rachel said she'd done it, and that it hadn't been a big deal, and Finn said he couldn't go through with it, but both lied. Rachel wasn't ready and she didn't go through with it and Jesse was supportive of this, while Finn did have sex but didn't think it was anything special and was rather disappointed in the whole thing.

I really do like Jesse and Rachel together. I know that Rachel and Finn will probably end up together, but that is only because it's a TV show. In reality, while Rachel and Finn have chemistry and they have music and singing in common, someone as intelligent as Rachel needs a smart guy to keep up with her. Finn is not smart. He's sweet and kind and talented, but he's dumb as a pile of bricks and a girl like Rachel needs more than that. And I think Jesse fits that bill.

I guess we will have to see how things progress! Keep the music coming.

V - We Can't Win, S01E08

Alright, now this episode of V I liked a lot! There was action, there was death, there was suspense, and there was stuff you might find in a science fiction program. If V keeps making episodes like this, the ratings might go back up and the show might have an actual shot at getting renewed.

We finally got to see Anna (Morena Baccarin) playing in the political sphere of Earth, and, while she made a very good showing, someone asked the question "If they are only visitors, why do they need political clout?" A very good and interesting point. Finally we are seeing that the governments are not completely oblivious, although perhaps they have let things go to far anyway.

We also got to see Blue Energy, which is apparently a sustainable source of clean energy, but one over which the V have complete power. They can give it to us, and when it suits them best, they can take it away.

But the highlight of the episode was when Joshua (Mark Hildreth) got Lisa (Laura Vandervoort) to take the empathy test and she failed. She is beginning to feel things for Tyler, things that a good V should not be feeling, but she is not 5th column yet. So Joshua had a choice to make, risk everything by asking her to join him or lose her potential support by allowing her to die. Both had risks and losses, but both had rewards as well. But Joshua was even smarter than that. He found a third option; he did not tell Anna, but, instead of hoping Lisa was ready now, he told her he saved her so that she would later owe him a favour. Lisa has time to let her feelings develop, time to become the enemy of her mother, and I can't wait to see the outcome.

Has V been meeting your expectations of late, too?

Castle - Den of Thieves, S02E21

I think Castle was trying to kill me with delight this week. Not only did we get a great Esposito (Jon Huertas)-centric episode, but it was full of great (and attractive) guest stars. And awesome sparring.

When a thief is found tortured to death in his car, homicide and robbery team up, bringing Det. Tom Demming (Michael Trucco) into the lives of Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion). Oh wait, we met him the morning before, when he was at the gym where Beckett works out, and already demonstrated a clear attraction to her. And she to him.

It didn't take long for Castle to feel left out, and say quietly to himself "Two weeks ago, I saved your life twice."

During the first interview of the first person of interest, Esposito's connection to the case was revealed when his anger over past injustice and the murder of his partner overcame sense, and he had to be held back. His feelings became more confused when his dead partner's prints were discovered on the body of the victim, proving him alive, and proving that his death had been faked 3 years ago so that he could disappear. And Esposito's rage was not abated by the arrival of Lt. Stan Holliwell (Scott Cohen), who had investigate his partner before the faked death and now resumed that investigation.

With so many players in the game, suspicion was hard to nail down, although they determined that a cop, some cop, was a mole, and likely the guilty party. Naturally, Demming, who had just transferred from Esposito's former precinct and who had asked specifically for the case, looked good for it, to Castle's delight. Even Beckett, who was clearly aware of the chemistry, fully planned to prove guilt where it existed.

And then we got the hottest sparring session on television this year, with Kate and Tom at they gym, sweaty and sexy, while Castle, Esposito, and Ryan (Seamus Dever) stole his phone to check his records. But Tom was aware of what they were doing, and let them take the phone before telling of his alibi - couching little league for disadvantaged children.

In the end, in a show down between Esposito, his not-dead-anymore partner, and Holliwell, the murderer was caught, and the man he had tried to take down's name was cleared. It was very sweet when Esposito introduced Ryan as his partner to his former partner, and then introduced Castle as his other partner.

What was even more sweet was the triangle developing between Beckett, Castle and Demming. Demming had the decency to ask Castle if anything was going on between him and Beckett before he made a move. He sensed the chemistry between himself and the detective, but he wanted to make sure he wasn't misinterpreting and that he wasn't moving in on another guy's girl. You have to respect him for that.

But you can't help but feel a little sorry for Castle who clearly has feelings, and who doesn't like to lose, but who still plays fair.

How is this romance going to progress? And how will it affect the connection between Castle and Beckett? So few episodes left, so much excitement still to be had!

The Pacific - Part 6: Peleliu Airfield

As I continue to watch the Pacific, I find the value of having a gravestone and knowing where it lies all the more valuable. Over time, places of burial are lost, but that is different from having never existed in the first place. The tombs of unknown soldiers just can't make up for the number of bodies never recovered or returned.

I'm also amazed at how little we can comprehend while watching. Oh, sure, I'm always terrified about who's going to get shot and who's going to die, but what kind of terror is that compared to what these men must have gone through while running across an open space like an airfield while getting shot at. Besides, I'm witnessing actions that I know did actually take place, but performed by actors (talented ones, but still actors), and only in an hour. Sure, they can convey to me the fear, the tension, the thirst, but I can't feel it. And in an hour, I am still in my living room, comfortable and safe, while they were sleeping on rocks, being bombed, for months.

I am sad, though, that it appears that Leckie (James Badge Dale)'s story seems to be coming to a close. He was injured running back across the air field (a crazy and incredible feat), trying to get a doctor for a fallen comrade. Now he and that friend are on the boat home. Much as I credit the authenticity of the series in that it was unlikely that any man would fight in all the battles of interest in the Pacific, I had come to favour him very much and will be sad that he receives so little focus.

But what is that sadness compared to how I feel about what the real Robert Leckie lived through.

Murdoch Mysteries - This One Goes to Eleven, S03E06

Alright, I have to start by commenting on the hilarious episode titles we've been getting this season: The Murdoch Identity; Victor, Victorian; Me, Myself, and Murdoch. All were clear references to popular movies, and the plots of each episode were slightly connected to the plots of the movies, but This One Goes to Eleven? I'm not sure what Spinal Tap and Murdoch Mysteries have in common, but man this made me laugh.

The reference in the episode was of course to the fact that Mr. Pendrick (Peter Stebbings) built a building which was an impressive 11 stories high. When we think of that nowadays, it is no more impressive than paying $40 000 for a Rembrandt. Neither number is remarkable, except in its lowness. But that's the beauty of Murdoch Mysteries - isn't it amazing how far Toronto has come in only 100 years?

We even say "Funnily enough," without worrying about it. So much so that the line appeared in this episode, said by George (Jonny Harris) to Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) without any reaction to the absurd, grammatically-failing expression.

Highlights of this episode include the very clever plan of the thieves to build an elevator room above the elevator so that they could steal the Rembrandt, Murdoch becoming incredible embarrassed and uncomfortable as he and Julia (Helene Joy) discussed a red triangle in a modern painting, and the fact that, though the murderer had been caught and the painting restored by the end of the episode, not everything was fully resolved.

Unlike in season one, when the crazy ventriloquist escaped, it seems to me that this case and loose end may likely come back within the season. A very exciting prospect.

And so, for those who have lamented a lack of attention to character interaction, did the moments of observing paintings satisfy you, or is there still more you are wanting?