NCIS: Los Angeles - The Debt

Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Linda Hunt, Daniela Ruah, Eric Christian Olsen, Barrett Foa, Renee Felice Smith

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Summary (from imdb.com): A botched assignment forces Hetty to fire Deeks and send him back to the LAPD. Meanwhile, an awkward goodbye between Kensi and Deeks leaves her with unexpected emotions for her old partner.

Review: I have to admit, I was a little worried when I first heard that Deeks was being fired in an episode of NCIS: LA. I always kind of suspected it wouldn't stick, but with this show, you can never quite be certain, since they have a tendency to write off popular characters. Luckily, this was not one of those situations.

In this episode, our favorite NCIS team (in Los Angeles) was investigating stolen explosives alongside the LAPD. They were staking out a deal being brokered by a man named Clarence Fisk, who the LAPD had been trying to put away for a while. While attempting to protect a female civilian, Deeks shot and killed an Aryan thug. As a result, the LAPD dissolved their agreement with NCIS, and Hetty was forced to fire Deeks.

Deeks was then approached by John Quinn, an Internal Affairs agent who said he believed there was a leak who was giving information to Fisk and his organization. They suspected Lieutenant Bates, Deeks' supervisor with the LAPD. The NCIS team was coming to the same conclusion around this time, which is when Kensi found out that the man Deeks had supposedly killed was really an undercover NCIS agent who was alive and well. The whole thing had been a setup so Deeks would be recalled to the LAPD and get close to the investigation.

Bates had originally told Deeks he wanted him nowhere near the Fisk case, but eventually he came around and wanted Deeks' help with a raid, one that was off the books and therefore shouldn't have the opportunity to get leaked. Deeks, along with Kensi, followed Bates, while Callen and Sam followed Fisk and his gang. While Fisk was trying to make a deal to sell the explosives, Callen, Sam and the SWAT team invaded and broke it up, catching Fisk in the act. That's when they discovered three of the explosives were missing.

Deeks realized Bates wasn't the leak, and that Quinn had been playing them off each other. Quinn was the real mole, and he'd wired the car that they were using as a meeting point with explosives. Luckily, Kensi figured it out just in time and they were able to get away safely (and catch Quinn).

As a whole, I liked this episode quite a bit. So often they use Deeks as a fool, but I always appreciate seeing his more serious side. Sure, he still had some of his quippy one-liners, but he was much more the straight man in this episode. It's nice to be reminded every once in awhile that he's both a good cop and a good agent, and that there's obviously a reason why he still has both jobs.

The only thing I didn't understand was why Kensi had to be kept in the dark. They tried to explain it by saying that she needed to truly believe he'd killed an unarmed man so she could sell it to Bates when he called her in, but I don't buy it. Kensi is a trained undercover agent; she's practiced in lying, and especially lying under pressure. If she'd known the whole story, there's no way she wouldn't be able to convince someone else that this was what she truly believed.

That being said, I can't be too upset about the deceit, since it led to some wonderful moments between Kensi and Deeks, as well as between Kensi and Hetty. I'd rather NCIS: LA not go the way of its predecessor and tease the romance so long the opportunity passes (like NCIS did with Tony and Ziva), but I like the fact that they almost addressed their feelings... and that Hetty was quick to point out that it might be a good thing if they were separated for awhile if those feelings existed.

Romance aside, it was nice to see Kensi and Deeks' relationship as partners portrayed in a serious light as well. So much of it is characterized by potshots and jokes, and it's always nice to see the moments where they show just how much they care about each other.

The story was easy to figure out this week, but I don't think it really detracted much from the episode. I was more focused on watching the evolution of Deeks than caring who actually leaked information from the LAPD to Fisk, but I didn't have to work hard to figure it out. Even with this weakness, this episode was still a strong way to end sweeps and begin the coast to the midseason finale.

Rating: 3/5
Favorite line:
Kensi (storming in): You kept me in the dark?
Callen: Please tell me you didn't waterboard Nell.

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How I Met Your Mother - The Rebound Girl

Network: CBS
Time: Mondays, 8:00-8:30pm
Cast: Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders, Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Summary (from imdb.com): Ted and Barney discuss making a life-changing decision together, and Robin tries to discourage Marshall and Lily from moving to Long Island.

Review: HIMYM is really throwing viewers for a loop with the whole Barney/Robin saga this season. As someone who started watching the show right around the time they started dating (then went back and watched the rest), I love the idea of them as a couple, and this season really seems to be pushing it. But the road there is apparently paved with potholes.

This episode focused on two main stories, aside from the Barney/Robin plot. In one, Marshall and Lily, who were given a house in a previous episode by Lily's grandparents, are having second thoughts about selling the place. After spending a day there and seeing how big it is, they realize just how tiny their apartment is. But when she sees just how seriously they're thinking about moving, Robin has a minor meltdown and tries to dissuade them.

In the second story, Barney and Ted decide, while drunk, to adopt a baby together. When the idea still seems like a good one in the morning, they begin to talk more, until Ted realizes adopting a baby with Barney is a terrible idea. Which is, of course, when Barney shows up with a baby that he may or may not have kidnapped. It turns out she's his niece, whom he was babysitting. This served to highlight both that Barney wasn't ready to take of a child and that his seemingly newfound desire to have one was earnest and sincere.

There were so many things to like about this episode. Let's start with Barney and Ted's drunken proclamation that everything would be easier if they didn't like girls and that they should be in a gay relationship with each other, which was promptly foiled when they both checked out the waitress. Or perhaps when they're holding the baby (whom they named Hurricane Mosby-Stinson) and a gaggle of women surround them. Or maybe Marshall giving Robin food through the bathroom window.

I have to admit, a part of me was ticked by the idea of Barney and Ted as "bro-parents." I know it would ultimately be a terrible idea, but there's a small part of me that would love to see it. At least it would be funny for awhile.

The part of the story I've neglected so far is the very end, when Barney climbed through the bathroom window and explained to Robin what had happened. When he asked if she could see him as a parent, she blurted out, "I'm pregnant." Cut to black.

This part of the story got spoiled for me before I watched the episode, but I might have figured it out anyway. Looking back, it made Barney's desire to have a child seem sudden and a little jarring. To my memory, he's never expressed any interest in a family, and I can't remember him having any positive interactions with kids. But obviously it was no coincidence that the episode where he finally expressed this longing was the same one in which Robin told him she was pregnant. It may not be his child, but you can bet Barney's going to spend at least the next episode getting excited to be a father, and this episode set it up perfectly. It almost makes you wonder if Ted's jokes throughout the episode that things happened at certain times for the sake of the story weren't tongue-in-cheek comments about this impeccable timing as well.

The other issue they left unresolved was whether or not Lily and Marshall are going to move to the suburbs. I can't imagine how they'll manage that and still have them be an integral part of the show, but I trust the writers to find a way if that's the path they choose. It does seem like a logical step for expectant parents, and I like that it's something they're addressing. I don't necessarily think the show would be lacking without this story, but it's a nice addition.

Obviously I'm looking forward to seeing how the pregnant Robin arc resolves itself, but I'm also looking forward to seeing Ted's reaction to this news. He's been in such a bad place in the romance department lately that this latest blow can't possibly help. Hopefully things will turn around for him soon (though with HIMYM's ratings where they are, it'll still be several seasons before we ever get to meet the mother).

Rating: 4/5

Favorite line:
Marshall: Baby, your grandparents gave you this house outright. The way I see it, we have five options: number one, sell it. Number two, year-round haunted house. Three, giant fence around the perimeter. Chimp sanctuary, there's a swing around the backyard. Four, we destroy it with sledgehammers. I like four.
Lily: Or five, we move in, raise our children, make this our family home.
Marshall: 'Till they graduate, and we destroy it with sledgehammers. As a family.

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NCIS - Engaged, Part II

Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll

Summary (from imdb.com): As the NCIS team continues its search for a missing Marine, Gibbs and Ziva travel to her last known whereabouts in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Tony reveals his deepest fears and Gibbs is forced to relive events from his past.

Review: I think this was the first NCIS episode I've ever seen where I liked the criminal story more than I liked the character development. This episode was the second in a two-parter. In the last episode, Marine First Lieutenant Gabriela Flores, originally thought dead when the girls' school she taught in was blown up, was kidnapped by terrorists who don't like places where girls think for themselves. Her heartbroken father was pacing the floors of the Navy Yard waiting for news, while Tony and Gibbs each dealt with some personal issues.

This episode began in the middle, with Tony walking into the chapel where Joseph Flores sat with Chaplain Burke, poised to tell them whether or not Gabriela was dead. But before he could get the words out, we flashed back to 48 hour ago, when Gibbs and Ziva landed in Afghanistan. They were barely off the plane when they found out the girls who had fled with Gabriela had been found alive, though both had been tortured. Hot grease had been splashed in one girl's eyes, and the other had cigarette burns all over her.

While questioning a Staff Sergeant, Gibbs found out that the teacher who was pictured with Gabriela hadn't been in school the day of the explosion. Seemed suspicious to Gibbs (and everyone who's ever watched an episode of NCIS), so immediately suspected that the teacher was involved. Luckily, her little brother was in school in DC, so Tony and McGee had something to do.

They chased down the brother, who immediately started running, essentially screaming, "I did something wrong! Arrest me!" Which McGee and Tony promptly did, discovering he had the same tattoo on his finger that his sister had. They took Asa back to the Navy Yard and proceeded to question him, and he tells them they know nothing about his "way of life."
Meanwhile, Gibbs and Ziva meet the girls. They questioned them (in a kid-friendly way, of course) long enough to find out Gabriela was still alive. One girl tells them they were someplace that smelled bad and had a lot of oil. So they take samples from the girls' feet to send back to Abby in the lab. Then Gibbs kissed them adorably on the heads and sent them on their way.

Abby, of course, is able to determine exactly where the oil is from, narrowing down the region to an area near Kabul.

Meanwhile in DC, Tony was doing some soul-searching. He stood in the chapel having a conversation with God, not knowing that the Chaplain was right outside. Did anyone else start to suspect she was somehow involved?

Gibbs and Ziva find Gabriela being held hostage by her fellow teacher, Saroya, who gives her up with surprisingly little fight, and we cut back to the beginning of the episode, where a grim-faced Tony finds Joseph Flores and Chaplain Burke in the chapel. This time the scene continues, and he tells them that they've got Gabriela, and she's alive. Tears all around.

But the story's not over! Turns out, Saroya and Asa have a plan... and an older brother, who is most assuredly not dead, as they believed he was. Instead, about 300 private school girls are taking a well-publicized trip to the capital, and Osman is there, ready to strap a bomb to the bus. At the last second, with one number left, the team shows up to take him down. But instead of shooting him... they jam the signal of his cell phone. No need to traumatize all those schoolgirls.

I thought the terrorism plot was really interesting in this episode. Usually when NCIS does international stories, they tend to be too complex and I find myself not paying attention. Instead, I was engaged and very curious to see what was next, especially since they appeared to catch the bad guy with 15 minutes left to the episode.

I was even intrigued by Gibbs' flashbacks, remembering a girl he'd known in the Marines who'd been killed. I'm not quite sure what the significance of that was however. Were they showing that he loved someone before Shannon? Just that she was a tough, headstrong woman, like Gabriela Flores? Or is she a character who's going to return at some point (which I wouldn't mind in the least, if it means more of Sean Harmon playing young Gibbs)?

The plot that didn't work for me was Tony's, especially at the end. For two episodes, Tony has been thinking about how short life is. He made a bucket list and talked to God. Yet somehow, the whole thing turned into a joke at the end, when Chaplain Burke took him to "confront his worst fear." Apparently, Tony fears children. While this isn't exactly out of line with Tony's characters (he's had some interesting run-ins with kids in the past), it just seemed like such a waste of the story. I guess this might be showing that Tony is maturing enough to want kids of his own, which might lead to a more serious relationship for him, but overall it just seemed so out of place in this episode. It wasn't tied to the story much, except that there was a Chaplain at the Navy Yard, and it didn't even seem to do anything to further Tony's character. Hopefully that's something that will play out more in the future.

Rating: 3/5

Favorite line:
Gibbs: People died because of that teacher, marines. What do you think should happen to her?
Flores: Sir, that's not my decision.
Gibbs: Yeah, but you've thought about it, right?
Flores: She should be held accountable for her crimes.
Gibbs: Oh.
Flores: She should watch those girls change the world in positive ways she never imagined.
Gibbs: That a punishment?
Flores: That's a gift, sir. Punishment is knowing she could have done the same.

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NCIS: Los Angeles - Greed

Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Linda Hunt, Daniela Ruah, Eric Christian Olsen, Barrett Foa, Renee Felice Smith

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary (from imdb.com): When a Navy ID is found on a dead body tied to a hazardous material smuggling case, NCIS is granted permission to investigate in Mexico and asked to help locate the missing materials.

Review: It's been a long time since I've reviewed an episode of NCIS: LA. I love this show; it's one of my most highly anticipated each week. But I rarely have anything to say about each individual episode. This season has been strong so far, particularly as we learned more about Callen's backstory (and Hetty's). This episode didn't stand out much from the others, but it had some wonderful moments.

Both NCIS: LA and its predecessor NCIS are very formulaic shows. In LA, each episode begins with some cute character interaction before diving into the case. This often becomes a recurring joke/theme in the episode, and it's often one of my favorite parts. I love these little moments, where the characters aren't super special agents; they're just normal co-workers. Well, okay, normal co-workers who are wittier and pithier than most. In this case, the episode began with Hetty teaching Deeks and Kensi how to waltz. This scene completely tickled me, and I have to admit I was disappointed that we didn't get to see Sam and Callen's turn.

The main plot of the episode began with a double murder south of the border in Mexico. The NCIS team was dispatched because one of the the bodies had a Navy ID on him. Through a cell phone video, they found out that there was a box missing, one that they believed was smuggled into Mexico from the Sudan.

Kensi and Deeks traced the box back into the U.S., while Sam and Callen met with the dead sailor's wife, who admitted she knew about the box. Her husband had planned to steal it because, as she claimed, it contained $8.5 million in gold.

Meanwhile, Eric traced the tire tracks they found to a truck owned by a Mexican drug cartel in the United States. Sam and Callen went to the garage, got into a shootout (because this is NCIS: LA and therefore there has to be gunfire every 15 minutes or so), and saved the life of one of the less-than-brilliant cartel members who'd gotten himself stuck under a car. He spilled his guts to the men who'd saved him, telling them that there was never any gold in the box. It was brown heroin. Obviously, since they were a drug cartel. Also, Jaime tells them that the guy who has the box wears red cowboy boots and has a wristband with a monkey on it.

Well, that's all Eric and Nell need, and they trace the wristband to its owner in downtown Los Angeles. Unfortunately, when our team arrives, he's already dead and the box is gone. However, they do meet up with Sam's buddy, Michael. Apparently, Sam's been working on an undercover operation for the CIA, and Michael is the CIA operative he's working with. Michael tells them that, nope, it's not brown heroin, it's uranium.

This is where I started to lose the story a bit, and I blame two reasons. For one, it got awfully complicated by this point. Somehow they narrowed it down to three men who were going to use the uranium to attack a convention center. Sam, Callen and Michael rushed in while the center was being evacuated and saved the day, but not before Michael got covered in uranium. He now has only a few months to live, so he returned to the Sudan to continue his work.

The other reason I lost the main story was because I was much more focused on the Eric and Nell subplot. Nell had received mysterious flowers, and Eric was feeling... competitive, so he sent a flower to himself as well (which Nell, not having fallen off the turnip truck yesterday, saw right through). However, it turned out that Nell had sent the flowers to herself as well, since she loves flowers and no one had sent her any in awhile. At some point, between wanting to give Nell a hug and smack Eric in the back of the head, I stopped paying attention to some silly terrorism story and completely lost myself in the geek love plot. Which is because I'm admittedly a 13-year-old girl on the inside. But come on. It was cute!

That aside, I do appreciate that NCIS: LA can tell a compelling, serious story without feeling the need to be too melodramatic. I mean, terrorism in and of itself is a dramatic plot, but the storytelling is simple. The characters move from one theory to another without much fanfare. They rarely break the rules if they can work within them, so when they do go rogue, the situation is made all the more intense for it. This episode set up the next, in which Sam will return to the Sudan to find Michael. I imagine this means eventually Callen (and maybe Kensi and Deeks) will wind up there as well, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the story will hold.

And the 13-year-old girl in me is looking forward to seeing what the Eric and Nell story will hold.

Rating: 4/5

Favorite line:
Nell: You took a flower from Hetty's desk?
Eric: She cuts them herself. It's a big bunch. She'll never miss it.
Nell: Hmmm.
Eric: I'm doomed, aren't I?
Nell: You sacrificed yourself to compete with me.

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How to Be a Gentleman - Pilot

Network: CBS
Time: Thursdays, 8:30-9:00pm
Cast: David Hornsby, Kevin Dillon, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Rhys Darby, Dave Foley, Nancy Lenehan

Summary (from imdb.com): When etiquette columnist Andrew Carlson is told he must adapt to the new, sexier style of his magazine, he hires his old high school bully Bert Lansing to help him become a modern man.

Review: I had mixed feelings about this pilot. Overall, I finished with optimism, but there are definitely some areas where it could use some work. It's premiere ratings were low, but I'm hoping CBS will give it a shot to build its audience (though with 2 Broke Girls doing so well, that could be a problem for Gentleman in the future).

This introductory episode focused on Andrew, a columnist whose magazine was just sold and restyled. Their new boss wants the magazine to have a "sexier" style and appeal more to middle aged men who "think they're 15." Meanwhile, his sister, in her attempt to butch him up, gives him a gift certificate to a gym which, it turns out, is owned by one of Andrew's (many) former tormentors, Burt.

Are Andrew and Burt both fairly stereotypical characters? Yes. Burt is the high-school-dropout meathead who bought his father's gym, and Andrew is the effeminate metrosexual who is still getting the crap beat out of him. And the unlikely friendship isn't really so unlikely... at least, not if you've ever watched a television sitcom before.

But is the stereotype necessarily a bad thing? I think it's too soon to tell. Now that we've established the baseline for our characters, where will they develop from here? A few throwaway lines from Burt indicated he has a tempestuous relationship with his father. Can the writers expand on that without turning it into a cliche? Is there a reason Andrew is so obsessed with being a gentleman? Will we find that out, and will it satisfy us as viewers?

There's plenty of potential for this show. The writing wasn't stellar, but it wasn't horrible either. I've found that pilot writing isn't necessarily indicative of how the show will be anyway. Writers come and go between development of the pilot and a pickup. And even if they don't, as the show continues, the writing becomes tailored more towards the actors and the characters they're developing, making it feel more natural. Some shows click right away (like Criminal Minds), but others take a little longer (like Castle).

The supporting characters were a little overdramatic, but they also have the potential to turn out pretty funny. Andrew's sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Mike, are almost as oddly matched as Andrew and Burt. In fact, Mike may have been my favorite character of the show so far. Rhys Darby's matter-of-fact delivery of even the most farfetched lines had me cracking up, and the chemistry between him and Mary Lynn Rajskub's Janet was really very good.

Long story short, I'm not in love with it yet. But I'm also not quite ready to write it off. Hopefully last night's numbers will hold or be a little better than last week's, and maybe Gentleman will have a chance to develop some of its potential.

Rating: 3/5

Favorite line:
Janet: You're doing it again.
Mike: What?
Janet: Talking.

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Big Bang Theory - The Skank Reflex Analysis

Network: CBS

Time: Thursdays, 8:00-8:30pm

Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Kaley Cuoco, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik



Summary: The gang deals with the fallout from Penny and Raj's night together. Amy counsels Penny when she considers moving back to Nebraska due to her failing acting career. Sheldon takes charge of the paintball team.



Review: I know critics were tough on her, but I think the addition of Amy Farrah Fowler was one of the best things that happened to Big Bang Theory. I love the way her character interacts with both Sheldon and Penny, supporting their stories while still developing as a character in her own right. I also love that the girls' story balances the boys' without changing the basic premise of the show. At its heart, BBT is about nerds (and Penny), and that doesn't change just because now they're sometimes girl nerds (and Penny).



This episode was yet another wonderful use of Amy, who really seems to be growing and evolving in her role as Penny's "bestie." Mingled with somewhat heartbreaking hints at her childhood ("I wish I could tell 13-year-old me it does get better!"), she acted as Penny's confidante while the latter tried to sort through the mess she'd made of her relationships with the guys.



Penny's side of the conversation felt more real to me than most things that happen on this show. Upset that she'd managed to hurt several of the guys she's come to really care about, she makes a decision to return to Nebraska, giving up on the idea of becoming an actress. While a last-minute commercial job eventually changes her mind, they actually had me a little worried that Penny might leave. Also, was I the only one who felt unbelievably happy that Penny got that part? I feel like we've been working towards her acting career since the show started, and even a little progress made me grin.



Meanwhile, Raj was also dealing with the fallout from the season finale. Both Leonard and Howard are mad at him, Leonard because Raj slept with Penny, and Howard because he found out Raj wrote poems about Bernadette ("marionette" also rhymes with Bernadette, BBT writers. I'm just saying). The strained friendship took its toll on everyone, and ultimately Sheldon paid the biggest price, when he stepped unarmed onto the field during the interdepartmental paintball game and insulted...everyone. The reunited friends raced forward to avenge his death.



I liked the way this story was handled, from Raj's belief that he and Penny were now a couple to the kicked puppy look on Leonard's face whenever he thought about it to Sheldon's on-field promotion of himself. But the real shining moment of both this story and the episode was the conversation Leonard had with his mother. His voice when he told her he didn't want to be with Penny (though is there anyone who actually believes that?) but that he didn't want Raj to be with her either was so sincere. I feel like they underused Leonard in the beginning of season 4, and it's nice to see him get to really shine every so often. And it's also good to see Christine Baranski reprise this role.



This was a solid episode to kick of season 5. In some ways, BBT reminds me of a geekier version of Friends, with the way the characters interact with each other. I'm looking forward to seeing the continuing evolution of these relationships as the season progresses.



Rating: 4/5



Favorite line:

Leonard (after telling his mother about Penny and Raj): Got any advice?

Beverly: Yes ... buck up.

Leonard: Excuse me, you're a world-renowned expert in parenting and child development, and all you've got is "buck up"?

Beverly: I'm sorry. (pause) Buck up, sissypants!

Criminal Minds - It Takes a Village

Network: CBS
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Matthew Gray Gubler, Shemar Moore, Kirsten Vangness, AJ Cook

Summary: In the seventh-season opener, the team's actions in the aftermath of the loss of Prentiss are questioned by a Senate committee, and a familiar person unexpectedly appears to rally them.

Review: So far, I've felt the premieres were only mediocre this season. Apparently this is the one I was waiting for.

This episode jumped back and forth in time. In the present day, the team was on trial (well, on hearing) for actions taken over the last few months, actions that ultimately brought down Ian Doyle, the man responsible for Emily Prentiss's "death." In the flashbacks, we got to see what the team has been up to since we last left our heroes in May. Apparently Hotch has been in Pakistan, but the rest of the team, led by Morgan and aided by Garcia, were hard at work on Doyle's trail. Morgan had made it his mission to get the guy who hurt one of theirs. He followed Doyle's son Declan around until Doyle caught up with them. When he and the team caught Doyle, they found out Declan had been snatched too. Which is when Hotch called Prentiss to return so they could find out who took the boy and save his life.

There was almost nothing I didn't like about this episode. I spontaneously burst into tears three times (once when Emily first walked in, once when she was apologizing to Morgan, and once when she was reciting the FBI oath at the end). I sat on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Doyle was going to get away, or if they were going to save Declan (because Criminal Minds is so not above killing kids if it suits their needs). I sympathized with Morgan's anger and felt like both Prentiss and Reid needed hugs through most of the episode.

In short, this episode had what almost every episode was lacking in season 6: watchability. I had a desire to keep the TV on, a desire to get through commercials as fast as possible to get back to the action.

It also had the full team back.

And maybe I was just so happy to see AJ Cook and Paget Brewster back (and to see them finally using AJ Cook) that I'm glossing over problems with the episode. There were some. I would have liked to see more of the team's reactions besides Morgan's, particularly Reid's, since he and Prentiss were so close by the end of season 6. The episode also felt a little rushed, probably because they crammed so much into one hour in their desire to wrap up this story. They went from finding out that Declan was alive to catching Doyle in the blink of an eye, and I honestly felt that if both Morgan and Doyle could find the kid in less than a month, maybe Prentiss didn't do such a great job hiding him.

But these problems were small in the grand scheme of the premiere. The team is back together, and that seems to have been the missing piece. Season 6 wasn't exactly bad, but not one of those episodes held my attention the way this one did. I was hooked right from the beginning, and I wasn't disappointed by how it all played out. I can't wait to see where the season is going to go.

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Rating: 5/5

2 Broke Girls - Pilot

Network: CBS
Time: Mondays, 8:30-9:00pm
Cast: Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, Matthew Moy, Jonathan Kite, Garrett Morris, Noah Mills

Summary: Max and Caroline, two struggling waitresses at a Brooklyn diner, try to save money to open their own cupcake shop. In the opener, Max is disgusted when once-wealthy Caroline starts working at the diner, but the two soon hit it off and become roommates.

Review: Well, this was a pleasant surprise.

I put 2 Broke Girls on my schedule reluctantly. After hearing both EW.com and TVLine.com rave about it, I figured it couldn’t hurt to watch the first episode. Worst case scenario, all I’ve wasted is a half hour.

Instead (and a little unfortunately, considering how many shows are on said schedule), I found myself sucked in right from the first moments. Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for a show with a smart, sarcastic female lead (yes, I still miss Gilmore Girls). Maybe it’s because Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs have oddly fantastic chemistry. Maybe it’s because the cast of characters featured in this show is wonderfully eclectic. Or maybe just because it’s a good show.

The premise is this: Max (Dennings) is a waitress/nanny, living with her boyfriend in Brooklyn and baking fantastic cupcakes. Caroline (Behrs) is a trust fund baby from Manhattan who lost everything when her daddy’s ponzi scheme was discovered and now has to support herself somehow. When Caroline gets a job at the diner, Max is… less than impressed. But Caroline’s earnestness wins her over (somewhat), and Max lets her spend the night, during which time Max’s boyfriend hits on Caroline, has sex with another woman after Caroline turns him down, and gets kicked out by Max. Max, looking for a new roommate, offers to let Caroline stay with her.

There were a lot of bits that made this series premiere enjoyable. Dennings’ Max is tough, responsible and confident, though she let some vulnerability show. Behrs’ Caroline looks like Trust Fund Barbie, but it can’t be forgotten that she went to the Wharton School of Business (it really can’t be forgotten… they said it four or five times), and she clearly has quite of bit of her conman father in her. The supporting characters are quirky, with the potential to turn into downright funny, especially when combined with their obvious chemistry with Max. And there’s a horse in the backyard of a Brooklyn apartment.

Sure, the episode was a little stiff at times, and some of Behrs’ lines felt forced, but it did everything it needed to do as a pilot episode: it hooked me. I’ll be back next week to see how much more money they earn towards their cupcake shop.

Rating: 4/5

Favorite line:
Caroline (after tasing Max): "Sorry, I didn't think it'd hurt so much, it's pink!"
Max: "It didn't feel pink!"

NCIS - Ships in the Night

Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll

WARNING: The following review contains spoilers for the episode.

Summary: When a marine is murdered while on a dinner cruise, the team works with the Coast Guard Investigative Service to solve the crime. (from tvguide.com)

Review: Eight seasons in, NCIS has become fairly formulaic.  It's a science that clearly works for them, since NCIS is arguably the most-watched scripted show on television, but it means that some episodes will be nothing special.

This was a nothing special episode.

The only thing that made this episode stand out a little from others was the return of CGIS Special Agent Abigail Borin (aka Other Abbs).  Abigail is the Gibbs of the Coast Guard, from the succint statements to the coffee swilling.  I've always enjoyed watching Gibbs when he's forced to interact with other agencies, and this was no exception.  She's probably the only one he's ever actually seemed to like (since he always pretends to be annoyed when he has to work with Fornell), and I really liked their scenes together.  I hope they'll continue to bring her character back.

The rest of the episode was on par for an NCIS episode.  They investigated the shooting of a marine who was on a cruise with SA Borin, a marine who also happened to be the prodigal son of a wealthy family.  Turns out Junior wanted to take the family business and make it a charitable non-profit.  The minute that little tidbit was introduced, I was able to identify the killer, so no surprises there. 

Even our regular characters were just average tonight.  Coming off a great DiNozzo episode, I was a little disappointed that Tony was back to his usual self, apparently having learned nothing from his joke-free time.  McGee was slightly off, two days of overtime turning him into a bit of a slacker (though he still does more in any given episode than everyone else on the team combined).  And I can't even remember the scenes in autopsy.

The only character who stood out in this episode was Abby, who seemed to be having a great time with the other Abby.  It's rare that Gibbs and Abby like the same woman, but it seems like SA Borin might be the exception.  The scenes in the lab were by far my favorite moments, and the dynamic between the three was fun and engaging.  Borin's brisk manner complemented Abby's long-windedness well, and Gibbs' brevity fit in well with both.

Were you as apathetic towards this episode as I was?  Leave me some comments and let me know.


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Rating: 3/5

Big Bang Theory - The Alien Parasite Hypothesis

Network: CBS
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-8:30pm
Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar

Summary: Amy finds she has sexual feelings for Penny's ex, while Koothrappali and Wolowitz try to prove who would be the better superhero. (from imdb.com)

 Review: As with much this season, I liked exactly half of this episode of Big Bang Theory.


I’ll start with the good. I know there are a lot of critics who dislike Amy but I loved her in this episode, and I think it did a lot to separate her from being “a female Sheldon.” To begin, I think the odd little friendship that’s forming between Amy, Penny and Bernadette is wonderful. Bernadette seems to genuinely like Amy, and Penny is easy-going enough to roll with it. The scene in the restaurant had a comfortable feel to it, like they actually were three friends going out to eat (a significant change from the slumber party which felt like two women forced to hang out with a friend’s weird girlfriend). The change was that Penny and Bernadette didn’t make a big deal out of Amy’s quirks in this episode; they accepted them like they’d accepted her.

It also makes me happy that they’re able to add a female component to Big Bang without changing the concept of the show. At its core, Big Bang is about geeks who hang out together. Penny has always been the exception to that rule. I was worried that a friendship ring that centered around her would lose the geek aspect (since she is not), but Bernadette and Amy are as nerdy as the guys, which is what makes this new thread work. It also takes some of the focus off the guys, whose stories have gotten a little stale this season.

Now that I’ve spent more time talking about the Big Bang women than they actually spent together in the episode, we come to the main story: Amy has needs (cue laugh track from any latent That 70s Show fans). Turns out, she’s not an automaton, which is a concept that troubles Sheldon so much that he almost walks out of Amy’s lab with the human brain she’s dissecting instead of his lunch (and can I just say ew?).

It was nice to see the writers finally making a distinction between Amy and Sheldon, more than just the gender thing. Yes, they’re still freakily similar, from the science brains to the general distaste for being touched to their complete inability to spot sarcasm. But just as we’ve occasionally seen Sheldon’s human side show (usually when his mother’s involved), we’re now getting a glimpse of Amy’s.

Also, I loved the modified version of “Who’s on First?”

Will this open the door for more touching in the future? Sheldon didn’t pull away when Amy held his hand at the end. I haven’t decided which side I’m on yet—the “Sheldon only loves science” team or the “Sheldon and Amy should do it” team—but I’m curious to see how this story moves along. My only request is that they take their time with it. Instead of forcing their relationship down our throats, insert Amy into the everyday activities, like they did with Penny at the beginning. Now that Amy’s starting to exhibit some unique characteristics, she can bring a different perspective to the group.

And now we’re going to move away from happy land and enter the most painful plotline to date. Howard and Raj were arguing about which one of them would be a superhero and which would be the sidekick. I liked absolutely nothing about this. First of all, I wanted to shake both of them and say, “You’re both sidekicks in this show.” Second of all, this felt more like a bit that would occur at the beginning or end of an episode, or be a running gag throughout, not the supporting plot. It sounded like something they’d snipe and tease each other about in between things that were important. Howard and Raj have always been silly, but this was ridiculous.

I didn’t even find the sight gags very funny. I know many people thought they were hysterical in the wrestling outfits at the end, but it did nothing for me. And I actually would have preferred if they’d actually fought, instead of just dancing around each other, wasting their time and mine. The only thing that evoked even a slight smile was the spider crawling up Howard’s arm, and him trying to blow it off his back.

My biggest problem, however, was the complete waste of Johnny Galecki in this episode. I know a lot of the previous seasons have centered around Leonard (and his relationship with Penny), but he’s done nothing but whine or look depressed in weeks. It might be time for Sheldon to step back and let Leonard have some of the spotlight again. The show is best when it’s balanced.

What did you think? Did the Raj/Howard superhero challenge work for you? Are you warming to Shamy? Leave a comment and let me know.

Rating: 3/5

Criminal Minds - What Happens at Home

Network: CBS
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness

Summary: The team profiles a killer targeting women inside of a gated New Mexico community, and Hotch asks for help from an FBI cadet.

Review: One of the things I love about Criminal Minds is how the writers are constantly finding new angles for their stories.  Obviously, there are only so many different ways to approach serial crimes.  At the most basic level, many people who have something in common are being killed, raped, kidnapped, etc.  There are a finite amount of reasons why such crimes would be perpetrated.  Yet somehow Criminal Minds continues to surprise.

This week marked the arrival of Agent-Trainee Ashley Seaver, who exists essentially to replace JJ as the third woman on the team (cue angry protests from those of us who aren't ready for a new girl just yet).  Despite my best intentions to hate her on sight (yes, I'm petty), I found myself intruiged by the backstory she brought to the table.  Ashley is the daughter of a notorious serial killer, one Rossi and Hotch brought down many years ago.  She's also a minor prodigy at the Academy, though nowhere near our boy Reid, who apparently failed every aspect of FBI training that didn't come out of the manual yet was somehow still cleared for field work.

Seaver brings a unique perspective to profiling.  As Prentiss pointed out, we rarely think about the families serial killers leave behind after they're caught.  Occasionally we've been given glimpses at them (such as the episode where the two suburban fathers were raping and killing teenage girls), but when the episode is over, I don't give them another thought, not like the families of the victims.  But Seaver brings that situation into the forefront, which is then obviously reflected in the case.  I wish they'd spent a little less time harping on the fact that her father was a serial killer though, and more time showing how that influenced her profiling skills.  The scene in the church where she was explaining what her father was like was good, but I wanted more like that.

Gated communities are an interesting psychological study, and a crime committed within one rocks the neighborhood to the core.  The extra security of the gate leads to complacency, which means that a violent crime is even more unsettling than it would be in even a typical suburban area.  This episode could have done more to show the sense of panic that such an offense, particularly a serial one, could cause in this kind of area, but they did do a good job of making everyone a suspect.  I still spotted the killer early, but there were moments where I had my doubts.

The team dynamic that I felt was sorely lacking last season is back, and it's wonderful to see them playing off each other in the way that first attracted me to this show.  Garcia was a breath of fresh air in a mostly serious episode, and she managed to do both her job and half of JJ's while still having time to flirt with Morgan, tease Reid, and make Hotch smile.  Seaver didn't have a lot of initial chemistry with the team, but her scenes with Prentiss weren't too bad, and I imagine she'll eventually find her place.  She does fill the youngest child role that Reid seems to have abandoned this season, and her existing relationships with Rossi and Hotch could be fodder for future episodes.

For now, I'll regard Seaver with cautious optimism.  I enjoyed the episode as a whole, and I see some potential in this new character that I hope will continue to grow as the season continues.

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Rating: 4/5

Criminal Minds - Compromising Positions

Network: CBS
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness

Summary: The team profiles a serial killer who targets married couples.

Review: Despite the fact that I'm still mad at Criminal Minds for kicking off JJ, there was a moment at the end of this episode (right about when Hotch was turning both Garcia and me into goo) where I remembered why I first fell in love with this show.  As interesting as I find forensic psychology and profiling, that isn't the reason I tune in every week.  I don't look forward to seeing how each killer will commit their crimes and why.  The fact that I like the subject matter is a nice perk, but the reason I keep coming back is because of the wonderful chemistry between the actors and the stunning moments where they remind you that they're a family.

What I liked most about this episode was that it focused a little bit on every character.  It was primarily about Garcia and her desire to fill JJ's shoes, but everyone had their moment in the spotlight.  Most CM episodes go one of two ways: they're either completely case-driven and the team works together without anyone being in the spotlight, or they take on a more personal approach where one character is more important than the others.  This episode broke the mold a little, where it blended the crime and the personal, but still made everyone significant.  Aside from JJ's departure, almost all the episodes since the 100th last season have been very case-driven.  It was about time for an episode that made the audience feel good at the end.  I don't know about all of you, but I definitely got some warm fuzzies.

Speaking of the characters, Kirsten Vangsness was totally on her game for this episode.  Every once in awhile, they do a Garcia-centric episode, and I'm always blown away by the vast array of emotions Vangsness exhibits.  Garcia, by nature, is a happy-go-lucky character, despite what she sees everyday.  But in this episode, she ranged the spectrum from quirky to super-professional to overeager to overwhelmed and back again.  It was weird to see Garcia away from her computers for a change (though not for long, since she was still doing her job on top of JJ's), but it made complete sense for her to try to step up this way, almost as if she wanted to lessen the blow of JJ's departure.  And even though Morgan seems to be turning into a Hallmark card, Shemar Moore stepped up wonderfully to create a really touching scene between the two.

I find the cases in CM to be more interesting than most other crime shows, possibly because they don't feel the need to try to trip you up.  The point isn't to be a mysterious as possible and keep the audience guessing until the last minute; it's to show how they reach the conclusion that we (usually) already know.  There are plenty of things about the UnSub that we don't know, and the real mystery is why he committed the crime, not who he was.

I also liked that, despite this being a more character-driven episode, the case didn't play second fiddle.  Most of the episode still revolved around solving it, especially since people kept dying throughout.  It used the characters' personal moments (Reid showing off his interrogation skills, Emily trying to seduce the UnSub) to further the plot, not detract from it.  Not all shows can find a way to blend the two sides, but CM did a particularly good job in this episode.

It's been a long time since a Criminal Minds episode really stood out in my mind, but I think this is one I'll rewatch a few times so I can really appreciate it.  Did you feel the same way?  Leave a comment below and let me know.

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My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad

Blue Bloods - Samaritan

Network: CBS
Time: Fridays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynihan, Will Estes, Len Cariou

Summary: The Reagans weigh the pros and cons of vigilantism when a man with a police record takes action against a criminal who is terrorizing riders on a subway.

Review: Overall, I was very disappointed by the quality of the new shows this season.  Out of the 35 shows I planned to watch, at least 17 of them werefreshmen.  As of week three, I'm still watching seven.  Blue Bloods is one of them, but I'm not completely sold yet.

I'll start with the positives.  Blue Bloods has a phenomenal cast, and they bring their A-game to each episode.  What's more: they're given a quality script to work with.  This probably wouldn't go on my list of "best chemistry" shows, but they do alright.  I can believe that these people are a family, albeit one with a few issues to work through. 

I also found the case in "Samaritan" to be particularly interesting.  A lot of shows these days focus only on solving murders (and sometimes kidnappings).  Sometimes it's easy to forget that there are other crimes that are also heinous, but not nearly as sexy.  Though there was a murder in this episode, it's not really the main conflict.  Instead, they deal with robbery and gang violence, which occur far more frequently but are reported far less.

Now for the negatives.  To start, I hate the mystery story they developed for Jamie.  I'm bothered by the growing trend in crime shows where the first episode needs to introduce some big mystery that will unfold throughout the season/series.  Jane and Red John in The Mentalist.  Neil and Kate in White Collar.  Even Callen's unknown past in NCIS: Los Angeles.  It works in some shows (like The Mentalist and Monk).  But some shows, like this one, don't need a big complex puzzle to solve.  I haven't yet grown to care about the living characters in Blue Bloods; I certainly don't care about their dead brother.  It's enough right now to develop the characters through episode-centered stories until they're more fully formed.  I like seeing how they balance their family and their jobs (especially since most of the family is working together).  Why does it have to be more complicated than that?

That's the biggest fault I see so far.  I'd like to see Bridget Moynihan's character get a story for herself, but it's only the second episode, so there's still time for that.  I'd also like to see the side characters develop a little better.  Right now, the only one I can identify is Jamie's partner.  I know Frank has both an assistant and a girlfriend, but I don't know which is which when they come on screen (situational clues notwithstanding).  Also Danny has a family and Jamie a girlfriend, but I don't feel like we know anything about them.  Again, this will probably change as the season progresses.

I do like watching Blue Bloods, but I hope some things change and grow as it continues.  The first few episodes of a show aren't always indicative of its future, so I have faith that, given enough time, this has the potential to develop into a really enjoyable program.


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My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad

NCIS: Los Angeles - Borderline

Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Daniela Ruah, Linda Hunt, Barrett Foa, Peter Cambor, Eric Christian Olsen

Summary: Deeks and Kensi partner on a mission to find three marines who disappeared after their Humvee was ambushed in the desert.

Warning: This review contains spoilers for the episode.  Stop now unless you've seen the episode or you don't care.

Review: NCIS: Los Angeles is a show that really started growing into itself towards the end of season one, culminating in a wonderful season finale and a strong two-part premiere.  I was worried when pre-production started that it could never live up to its predecessor, but there are times when I actually think it might be better than the original (not that I don't love NCIS, of course!).

I find this show far more serious than NCIS.  The characters manage to have both a sense of humor and a level of professionalism, and they deal with more international terrorism cases than simply missing or murdered Marines.  They also don't have the "cowboy" quality that Gibbs' team has.  For the most part, they follow the rules.  When they do break them, it's because of special circumstances.

This episode centered around a Mexican drug cartel that had kidnapped two Marines and killed another.  To find the missing Marines, the team split into two groups.  Sam (with Callen as backup) reactivated a dangerous undercover identity to work the drug angle, while Kensi and Deeks tried to track the cartel through the southern California desert.  The humor went with Kensi and Deeks; the drama went with Callen and Sam.

Amidst the case was a lingering mystery... where did Hetti send Nate, and how did he learn to shoot?
The  drug cartel story was done well.  Unlike NCIS, Los Angeles seems to be able to pull off case-based episodes, even when the characters' personal lives aren't in the forefront.  This may be because Los Angeles is newer and hasn't had as much time to use lots of different scenarios.  Or it could be because they don't look for plot twists; the focus of this story was how they got from the crime to the rescue.

The chemistry between Kensi and Deeks was pretty good as well, though Deeks is clearly struggling to find his place in the show.  I liked him when they introduced him, so I'm hoping he eventually settles in.


My biggest problem was the resolution of Nate's storyline.  I understand that the writers and producers are trying to show the audience that no character is safe, but did they really need to write Nate out?  The team was working, and his character provided something that no other offers: the psychological insight into the criminals (as well as the team).  Obviously the show can survive without him, but it's stronger when he's there.  I haven't heard whether or not it was Peter Cambor's choice to leave, nor do I know if this is a permanent move, but I'm bothered by the trend in shows to get rid of the side characters whose jobs are not the main focus of the show.  I hope he'll be back by the end of the season.

Speaking of side characters, I heard rumors that Eric is in for a story of his own sometime soon, and I'm really looking forward to seeing some more of him, considering I think he had about five lines this episode.

"Borderline" was another in a line of solid episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles, but I worry that constantly shaking up the team will turn more people off than the quality writing and acting can keep.  It is only the beginning of the second season, so I suppose the show is still suffering from some growing pains, but I hope they don't do any damage to themselves while they continue to develop.

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My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad

NCIS - Worst Nightmare

Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray, Cote de Pablo, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen

Summary: The team searches for a kidnapped girl, whose grandfather complicates the investigation.

Review: I continuously have the same problem with NCIS.  I love the show--it's one of my most highly anticipated of the week--but the case-related plot lines have recently started to fall flat.  I started noticing this with the introduction of the Michael Rivkin storyline in season 6, but then it started to pick up again in season 7... until the drug cartel.  There was no need to delve further into what Gibbs did after Shannon and Kelly were killed, no reason to humanize the man he murdered.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I was perfectly fine with him remaining anonymous, and the act simply being a part of Gibbs' past that no one really knows about.

I know that story was (mostly) resolved in the season 8 premiere, but this week's plot wasn't much stronger.  This time, a kidnapped little girl's grandfather turns out to be not what the NCIS team expected, and he gets in the way of their investigation into her disappearance.  It wasn't that it was overly complex or overly simple or anything like that.  It just wasn't that interesting.  Is it possible NCIS is running out of interesting cases, or was this one just a little weak?

But then the cases have never been why I tuned in to NCIS each week.  I do that because I'm completely in love with the characters, and I love to watch them interact with each other.  And, in that respect, this episode was certainly worth the time.  It was intern week at NCIS, and each section of the team had a college student to teach.  Most of the focus was on McGee and his intern Conrad (played by Greek's Zack Lively), who really didn't want to be there.  It was wonderful to see McGee, who's done a considerable amount of growing up since he first appeared on the show, with a probie of his own... even if it was just for now.  Not only did it emphasize the changes in McGee, but it was good to get some fresh blood into the bullpen.  Whether Lively will start making regular appearances seems unlikely, but it might be good for them to introduce a new cast member to shake things up a little.

The intern in the morgue created an interesting kind of story for Palmer, who didn't appear until midway through the episode to find his place at Ducky's side may have been usurped.  The new girl shared Ducky's love for long, rambling stories and Scottish music, and poor Palmer wasn't sure what to do with that.  I was mildly amused by his quest to find a new place at NCIS, but I mostly just felt bad for him.  For awhile I really thought they were grooming him to take Ducky's place, but now I'm not so sure.  Hopefully this episode was an anomaly, and Palmer will go back to being the autospsy gremlin we all know and love next episode.

The final intern was in Abby's lab.  Abby, it must be said, has had some bad experiences with people in her lab, and she was not happy about having an intern... especially one with a little crush on her.  I do love seeing Abby flustered.  She takes her normal level of over-caffeinated and doubles it, and it's always fun to watch the reactions of the people she's talking to, especially Gibbs, who just takes it all in stride and fixes it with a word or two.

The secret to NCIS's success is focusing on personality stories instead of case ones.  When the plot is more centered on what the team is doing, they're engaging, humorous and sometimes dramatic.  When it's more about solving a murder, they tend to come off as a little dry and sometimes trite.  NCIS certainly hasn't lasted for eight seasons by exclusively sticking to one of those methods, but the episodes are definitely more enjoyable when they don't spend a lot of time worrying about creating and solving a complex crime.

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My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad

Criminal Minds - JJ

Network: CBS
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster, Matthew Gray Gubler, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness

Summary: While JJ attempts to reunite a family whose daughter has mysteriously disappeared, her BAU family braces for the loss of one of their own.

Review: I understand a news reporter is supposed to be objective about the stories she covers, never letting her personal opinion prevent her from telling the facts.  That's why I'm extremely glad I'm a reviewer in this case, not a news reporter.

I haven't been quiet about the fact that I'm upset they wrote JJ out of Criminal Minds, and I know there are many, many other fans who feel the same way.  And while I appreciate that she went out in a dignified, almost wonderful manner, it doesn't change the fact that she's gone, and my enjoyment of Criminal Minds has gone down just a little.  I know I'll get over this eventually because it's just a television show and it doesn't really matter, but right now I'm sad and angry.

Clearly the writers felt this way too.  From start to finish, they couldn't have done a better job of making it obvious that they believe JJ (and consequently AJ Cook) to be irreplaceable.  The fictional reason for her leaving mirrored the real reason in many ways, with her being forced to leave the position she loves because people with more power and authority made her.  Even when Garcia asks who will make the team feel safe with JJ gone, and JJ spits back a sarcastic, "There are plenty of big, strong men around," is a thinly veiled comment on the sexism that many fans feel contributed to the firing of AJ Cook (and Paget Brewster's impending departure next season).  The writers obviously felt it was wrong for Cook to leave, and they channeled those feelings into the script.

These same feelings were apparent in the actors' performances as well.  Probably to appease angry audiences, we were treated to a touching scene between JJ and Hotch; an angry scene between JJ, Emily, Reid, Morgan and Rossi; and an absolutely heartbreaking scene between JJ and Garcia.  All three were perfect in their own way, from Hotch's almost-awkward handshake to Reid's lost little boy voice to the very real tears Garcia cried.  I sniffled when Hotch told her he'd miss her.  My eyes filled up when Reid insisted they couldn't take her away.  And I bawled like a baby when they showed flashbacks from JJ's many episodes over the past five seasons.  I'm not ashamed to admit it; this is probably tied for the most emotional Criminal Minds episode ever (with the final Reaper episode, of course).

It's also unfortunate that this was probably one of AJ Cook's best episodes.  I've always loved her character, but they rarely let her get any good stories.  Not only was she the focus because she was leaving, but they also focused on the part of her job we don't see as much, where she deals with grieving families and somehow gets them to help solve the case.  It was wonderful to see her getting so much screen time, even if I didn't like all the reasons.

The sad thing is, I could really have liked this episode.  Watching Morgan, Rossi, Emily and Reid take turns trying to crack the two suspects while JJ tried to handle a family about to break was good.  It wouldn't have been the most action-packed episode, but it was uplifting in its own way.  If the last ten minutes had never happened, I would really have enjoyed it.

I still don't know why someone thought it was a good idea to get rid of an actress who is not only clearly beloved, but important to the show, but I would certainly love to be able to go back in time and stop them from making that move.  As is, I'll have to make due with hoping the backlash from this will be bad enough that they'll call and offer Cook her job back.  And that she'll accept.  For now, I give this episode 4 out of 5 stars because the acting and writing were wonderful, but I just can't see the episode where JJ leaves as excellent.

What did you think?  Are you as upset as I am?  Sound off below.

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NCIS - Moonlighting

Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll

Summary: Gibbs and Fornell work together when an NCIS polygraph specialist's night job is connected to murder.

Review: This was probably my favorite NCIS episode in a long time, and not just because loyal fans of the McGee and Abby relationship were finally thrown a bone.

It seems like the pieces are finally starting to click back into place for NCIS.  I'm not sure what happened between the season premiere (which some may remember I declared to be the best episode of the series) and now, but it's been rough going for awhile.  The episodes have felt forced, the cases have been boring and unnecessarily complicated, and everything's just been a little... off.

I remarked that the last new episode felt like NCIS was on an upswing, getting back some of the mojo it had lost, and, after seeing this episode, I think it's back on top.  This episode made me remember why I loved this show.  The banter was light-hearted and funny, the case was a pleasant sidenote, and Gibbs had his sense of humor back!  I don't know about you guys, but I sorely missed the dry wit that it Leroy Jethro Gibbs.  And Gibbs bantering with FBI Agent Tobias Fornell is just ten times better.

I used to have a sort of love/hate relationship with Fornell, but somewhere along the way I realized he makes the episodes he's really awesome.  His relationship with Gibbs has evolved throughout the seasons, and it's nice to see Gibbs just be someone's friend.  I know he and Ducky have been friends forever too, but their relationship is somehow different, in a way I haven't been able to put into words (I know, and they pay me to write?).

This episode also saw the return of McGee-stalker/polygraph technician Susan Grady.  If you remember, she's the one who told McGee he had to retake his polygraph test so she could ask him if he had a girlfriend.  In this episode, it was her second job that was possibly involved in the murder of a petty officer... which meant Gibbs wanted McGee to interview her.

Susan is... a weird character.  She's kind of a mess.  She's emotionally all over the map, and she has the people skills of a slightly moldy block of cheese.  Yet she's an oddly pathetic character, and I found myself feeling bad for her and growing to (almost) like her by the end.

Also, please let me take a moment to let the fangirl part of me give a squeal about how jealous Abby got over Susan.  I liked this episode for a number of reasons, but definitely my favorite scene was the one where Tony, Ziva and Ducky are giving Abby a hard time about McGee and Susan.  And then the subsequent scene where she goes back to her lab and finds the two of them there.  For those of us who've been waiting for Abby to realize she's been crazy about McGee since season 1, this was a good episode.

OK, I promise that's all about that for now.  I anticipate plenty of opportunities to do that again in the next few episodes.

I'm also pleased with the way they've been using Palmer lately.  I love the little autopsy gremlin, and I love that he has a hot girlfriend.  Of course, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop with her, because no one on NCIS ever has a girlfriend (or boyfriend) who's not going to die or trying to kill them.  With the exception of Lt. Col. Mann.  And that one that Ducky wore different ties for, but we never met her so she doesn't count. 

Of course, having Palmer show up more and (especially) interact with Gibbs more, only reinforces my theory that Ducky's on his way out.  I've had a gut feeling for about half the season that Ducky was thinking about resigning at the end of it, but I've not proof to back it up.  So I guess we'll find out about that in a few weeks.

This episode didn't have a whole lot of negatives, and it made me really anticipate the next few weeks.  I think all the episodes are new from now until the season finale (finally), so I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing what happens next.


What'd you guys think?  Was it worth wait of all the reruns that have been on lately?  Are you as excited about the season finale as I am?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Criminal Minds - The Fight

Network: CBS
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness

Summary: SSA Aaron Hotchner and his team investigate the murders of several homeless men in San Francisco and coordinate their efforts with another team of BAU agents who are working on a separate case that seems to be connected.

Review: I honestly don't think I've ever finished a Criminal Minds episode and not gone, "Oh, that was a good one."  So perhaps my saying that doesn't carry as much weight as it should.  But it really was a good one.

This is the episode that many fans were waiting for, the introduction of the second BAU team that will spawn the spin-off affectionately dubbed Minds 2.0 (at least until someone gives it a real title).  And they successfully introduced the new team, while still keeping focus on the things that are important--the heart-stopping case and our usual team of superheroes.

The backdoor pilot concept is what NCIS did when introducing NCIS: Los Angeles (and JAG did when introducing NCIS, and all the CSIs did, for the matter).  Now, those of you who follow what I write know I'm a huge NCIS fan, but, in this case, CM did it better.  NCIS only sent Gibbs and McGee out to LA to work with the new team, leaving all the rest of our favorite characters at home, creating a disjointed feel.  There were two storylines to fixate on, the case (and thus the introduction of the new team) and the tension between Tony, Ziva and Michael Rivkin.  So while I certainly met the new team and fell a little bit in love with them, I didn't get the same warm feeling from watching the team I already cared about mesh with the team I was supposed to learn to care about.

CM, on the other hand, meshed everyone together right from the beginning.  Each person from the new team was paired with one from our team, and it allowed the audience to learn more about them based on the way they interacted with people we already knew. So Cooper (Forest Whitaker) paired up with Hotch, LaSalle (Beau Garrett) with Morgan, Rawson (Matt Ryan) with Prentiss , and Prophet (Michael Kelly) with Rossi.  Which left us with a little less Reid and JJ than I normally like to see, but I suppose that was okay for one episode.

The actual plot of the episode was as compelling as they usually are.  I love the way everything clicks into place when they finally figure out who the UnSub is, and the profile syncs up perfectly.  I even admit to shedding a few tears when the father realized he might never be able to talk to his daughter again and tried to tell her everything he'd wanted to.  I'm not sure I completely believed Emily would have been caught off-guard the way she was in the second-to-last scene of the episode, but I know it had to be done to establish a little more about Rawson's character (basically that he's awesome).

And I have to admit that the teenage girl part of me hopes they find some opportunities in the future to put Prentiss and Rawson together.  The flirting/banter thing they had going on was just so much fun.

I admit I was kind of iffy about the new team in the beginning, when they were alone. The interactions felt forced, and I wasn't really sure why they were so awkward around each other. But I warmed to them as I continued watching, and I'm definitely intrigued by the spin-off, though I'm still wondering how they're going to distinguish this team and show from the BAU team we already know.

NCIS - Guilty Pleasure

Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll

Summary: The death of a Navy officer is linked to a prostitute, and the team asks for help from a D.C. Madam, Holly Snow. Guest starring Dina Meyer.

Review: Aw, this was a fun episode.

I mean, sure, it started with a guy getting hit by a car after being stabbed multiple times, but it pretty quickly devolved into the character banter it's so good at.  From the get-go, McGee and Tony are the middle of a little spat--the "seven year bitch," as Ziva says.  It lasts for the whole episode.

It is probably the funniest thing I've seen on this show in a long, long time.

McGee gets jealous because Tony's hanging out with Detective McCadden.  And Tony's mad because McGee wouldn't be his wingman and help him pick up a girl at a museum.  So they spend the entire episode sniping at each other like teenage girls, while Ziva watches and laughs at them (as well she should).

It was fun to see tension on the show that wasn't between Tony and Ziva.  Or Gibbs and Allison Hart.  Or Gibbs and a CGIS agent.  Or Gibbs and... any woman who walks onto the show (really, how many almost-romances does he need to be in?).

Speaking of almost-romances, this episode marked the return of the DC Madam Holly Snow.  Did anyone else completely forget the previous episode she was in until midway through this one?  And did anyone else think she was way cooler this time than she was last time?  She was kind of a really sweet character.  I actually felt pretty bad for her through the whole thing.

I also really appreciated that Tony was more serious in this episode than he's been in awhile, almost on par with the Tony of the first couple seasons.  Tony's always been the comic relief of the show, but he used to work hard behind-the-scenes, surprising his co-workers by behind a step ahead of them.  Recently, he's been all funny and not enough seriousness.  McGee usually does all the real work, and Tony and Ziva go pick up potential suspects.  It was nice to see Tony doing some of the work this time.

There were a couple other really funny moments.  Like when Tony went undercover as a John to trap a prostitute and was hopelessly out of his element that it was actually kind of surprising.  Or Abby realized McGee was jealous of Tony's "man-mance" with McCadden and tried to get Gibbs to give him a hug.

But there were a couple off moments as well.  Like when Abby tried to confront Holly about her prostitution, but only managed to stand there awkwardly while Holly did most of the talking.  Or Gibbs charged in like a white knight, gun a-blazing at the end of the episode.

It seems like NCIS is on a bit of an upswing again, with this episode and the last being generally pretty good.  I still don't feel like I'm anticipating it quite the same way I was at the beginning of the series, but there are still a few episodes left for them to win me back, and the episodes are certainly enjoyable to watch.

Do you feel the same way too, or is it just me?  What'd you think of this episode?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

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NCIS - Jurisdiction

Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll

Summary: The team investigates the murder of a Navy diver, and they work with their Coast Guard equivalent (CGIS), with whom they find some striking similarities.

Review: I have mixed feelings about this episode of NCIS.  On the one hand, it was funny and engaging in a way that the last few episodes haven't been.  On the other hand, it was an old gag and, overall, not a particularly strong episode.

This season has hit both the highs and lows of NCIS.  The first few episodes were amazing, even if they lacked the witty banter that has become a staple of the show.  But recently it seems to be struggling a little.  The cases, which were never the strongest part of an episode, are lackluster, and even the characters seem to be off just enough to leave me wanting more from each episodes.

On the positive side of this episode, Gibbs' character seemed to settle back a little closer to the way he used to be (pre-season 6 finale).  He's still a man of few words, but the wicked sense of humor he had in the first couple seasons was back (throwing the keys into the middle of the bullpen to let the agents fight over them, his little verbal sparring session with Tony, etc.). Even his possibly-romantically-charged interaction with CGIS Special Agent Abigail Borin (played by Law & Order: SVU's Diane Neal) was reminiscent of the Gibbs of old (and could it mean that he's done fooling around with Rena Sofer?  Please?).

Other positives: a frustrated Abby = a funny Abby.  Abby, for all her eccentricities, is usually confident, capable and completely in control (to be unnecessarily alliterative).  When she breaks, it always makes for a good laugh.  On the slight negative, however, where was Mortimer?  You don't train a seeing eye dog in a week.  And he was so cute!  I know it's expensive (and troublesome) to have a puppy on the set, but I was kind of hoping he'd be back.

Positive (mostly): Tony and Ziva.  Aside from a completely really blatant "oh, we might be in a relationship, but if not, we're just going lay on the sexual tension extra thick" moments, it was fun to watch the two of them together again.  The scene where they checked out Lt. Jensen's storage locker was my favorite of the episode, and the last scene had a sweet feeling that's been seriously lacking since Jeanne showed up a few seasons ago.

Negative: Ducky.  The bow ties were back, and with them was a melancholy attitude that only serves to reinforce my theory that something big is going to happen to Ducky (like potentially a retirement) by the end of the season.  Now, Ducky fans, don't get all excited yet.  I have absolutely no proof to back this up, just a Gibbs-style gut feeling.  So we'll see.

Positive: Palmer.  This little dude has been growing on me since he came on the show, and now he's pretty much cemented a place as one of my favorite characters.  Especially now that he's got a hot new girlfriend, he's gained so much confidence.  He can hold his own in a verbal battle against Tony.  Plus he makes completely inappropriate comments at completely inappropriate times.  He's really kind of wonderful.
Slight positive: The case.  It was actually pretty good for once, even if it was a little predictable. 

Negative: The gag.  This is the second NCIS episode in a row that I feel like I've seen before.  In this case, there was an episode in season 1 or 2 where they met a local PD that seemed to basically be their clones.  In this episode, it's just the CGIS agent in charge who's a Gibbs-clone.  It had some funny moments, but it felt tired.  (For those who are curious, the other episode was the guy with two wives, which I'm pretty sure they did before, but I can't remember which episode.)

Overall, not a bad episode, but not an amazing one either.  I feel like I'm watching so many crime shows that have the same gimmick (the cowboy-ish lead agent and his witty band of absurdly loyal followers) that NCIS needs to do something to stand out from a crowd that includes The Mentalist, White Collar and Lie to Me.  The season's starting to wind down now, so I'm eagerly anticipating the next few episode, and I hope they don't disappoint.