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.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Parenthood - The Big 'O'
Network: NBC
Summary: Kristina's constant worrying affects her and Adam's sex life, and the worrying only gets worse when Max starts working with Gaby, a young behavioral aide. Sarah debates whether she should go out on a date with Amber's teacher Mr. Cyr. Meanwhile, Crosby tries to muster up the courage to tell his parents about Jabbar, and Julia gets jealous of a mom in Joel's playgroup.
Review: In just a few short weeks, this show has really grown on me. Though the pilot episode was confusing and bit of a downer, it's really turned around since then. Which is just another reason why you should never doubt the wonder that is Ron Howard.
Every family member had a storyline in this episode, but it wasn't nearly as overwhelming as it was in the first episode. Perhaps that's because we know who the characters are now (and we've grown attached to them). Or perhaps it's because the writing has just gotten better. I'm not completely sure, but whatever it is, it's working.
Okay, just a quick point: could they possibly get cuter kids to act on this show? One minute I'm going, "Aw, look, Max is playing with a kid his age, he's the cutest," and then Sidney is sitting with her arms around her best friend and I'm like, "Aw, that's so adorable, she's definitely the cutest," and then Crosby brings Jabbar to meet his parents and Jabbar introduces himself and shakes their hands, and I'm like, "Aw, no, look how mature he is, he's definitely the cutest," and then it starts all over again.
Sorry, had to get that out.
It's sort of a segue to a larger observation about the show. The little kids (and the parents who take care of them) were a main focus of this episode, and everyone handled themselves wonderfully. There aren't really any weak links in the acting chain here. I really believe that everyone is related, and they fall into their family roles well. The last couple episodes were good examples of this, with Amber babysitting for Sidney and Adam playing ball with Drew. I like a show that can put any of the characters in a scene together and not make the audience question the decision.
Parenthood also does a good job of mixing the serious, the sweet, and the silly. Though I said previously that I expected it to be funnier, I've readjusted my expectations since then, and now I'm pleased with the results. It's not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not a super-serious drama either. It's got enough light-hearted moments that you never get depressed, and it has enough sweet family love to leave even the coldest heart warmed. There are several different styles of humor at work--witty, slapstick, awkward--and they mesh together nicely with the serious moments.
This episode focused a little more on Kristina than the others. In this case, Adam was a supporting character to deal with Kristina's issues, instead of the other way around, and I liked that they switched it up. She's had so much to deal with, it was nice to see her finally break down in a very realistic way.
Realism is the name of the game, and I think this episode helped prove that. Joel and Julia dealt with a relationship hurdle as well, and I think both their reactions were more realistic than you normally get from a television show. Sure, Julia got jealous and angry, but they talked it out and ultimately handled it in the mature way you'd hope most married couples would.
The only bit of this episode I had trouble with was Sarah's decision to date Amber's teacher. Perhaps it's because I still can't wipe the memory of Lauren Graham making the same bad decision as Lorelai Gilmore, but I was upset that she decided to give in and go out with him. I was hoping she would take Amber's feelings (and obvious crush) into account and at least wait until her daughter was out of the class. As Amber's teacher, I think he should have thought of that before asking her mother out as well. The previews for next week teased that Sarah would tell Amber everything, so at least she's not going to hide it. I still can't imagine that will go well.
This is becoming a highly anticipated show for me, though it still doesn't quite have the pull that, say, Criminal Minds does. I'm looking forward to seeing these characters and their relationships develop more as the series goes on.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Summary: Kristina's constant worrying affects her and Adam's sex life, and the worrying only gets worse when Max starts working with Gaby, a young behavioral aide. Sarah debates whether she should go out on a date with Amber's teacher Mr. Cyr. Meanwhile, Crosby tries to muster up the courage to tell his parents about Jabbar, and Julia gets jealous of a mom in Joel's playgroup.
Review: In just a few short weeks, this show has really grown on me. Though the pilot episode was confusing and bit of a downer, it's really turned around since then. Which is just another reason why you should never doubt the wonder that is Ron Howard.
Every family member had a storyline in this episode, but it wasn't nearly as overwhelming as it was in the first episode. Perhaps that's because we know who the characters are now (and we've grown attached to them). Or perhaps it's because the writing has just gotten better. I'm not completely sure, but whatever it is, it's working.
Okay, just a quick point: could they possibly get cuter kids to act on this show? One minute I'm going, "Aw, look, Max is playing with a kid his age, he's the cutest," and then Sidney is sitting with her arms around her best friend and I'm like, "Aw, that's so adorable, she's definitely the cutest," and then Crosby brings Jabbar to meet his parents and Jabbar introduces himself and shakes their hands, and I'm like, "Aw, no, look how mature he is, he's definitely the cutest," and then it starts all over again.
Sorry, had to get that out.
It's sort of a segue to a larger observation about the show. The little kids (and the parents who take care of them) were a main focus of this episode, and everyone handled themselves wonderfully. There aren't really any weak links in the acting chain here. I really believe that everyone is related, and they fall into their family roles well. The last couple episodes were good examples of this, with Amber babysitting for Sidney and Adam playing ball with Drew. I like a show that can put any of the characters in a scene together and not make the audience question the decision.
Parenthood also does a good job of mixing the serious, the sweet, and the silly. Though I said previously that I expected it to be funnier, I've readjusted my expectations since then, and now I'm pleased with the results. It's not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not a super-serious drama either. It's got enough light-hearted moments that you never get depressed, and it has enough sweet family love to leave even the coldest heart warmed. There are several different styles of humor at work--witty, slapstick, awkward--and they mesh together nicely with the serious moments.
This episode focused a little more on Kristina than the others. In this case, Adam was a supporting character to deal with Kristina's issues, instead of the other way around, and I liked that they switched it up. She's had so much to deal with, it was nice to see her finally break down in a very realistic way.
Realism is the name of the game, and I think this episode helped prove that. Joel and Julia dealt with a relationship hurdle as well, and I think both their reactions were more realistic than you normally get from a television show. Sure, Julia got jealous and angry, but they talked it out and ultimately handled it in the mature way you'd hope most married couples would.
The only bit of this episode I had trouble with was Sarah's decision to date Amber's teacher. Perhaps it's because I still can't wipe the memory of Lauren Graham making the same bad decision as Lorelai Gilmore, but I was upset that she decided to give in and go out with him. I was hoping she would take Amber's feelings (and obvious crush) into account and at least wait until her daughter was out of the class. As Amber's teacher, I think he should have thought of that before asking her mother out as well. The previews for next week teased that Sarah would tell Amber everything, so at least she's not going to hide it. I still can't imagine that will go well.
This is becoming a highly anticipated show for me, though it still doesn't quite have the pull that, say, Criminal Minds does. I'm looking forward to seeing these characters and their relationships develop more as the series goes on.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Thursday, April 8, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
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.
Want more NCIS news? Follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
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.
Want more NCIS news? Follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
White Collar - Out of the Box
Network: USA
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Natalie Morales, Willie Garson, Tiffani Thiessen, Sharif Atkins
Summary: Neal and Alex pair up to go after the elusive music box at the Italian consulate. Meanwhile, Peter asks Diana to help him get rid of Fowler.
Review: Wow. That's the only word I had left after the first season finale of White Collar. Just wow.
There have been a few rocky episodes since White Collar returned after the winter hiatus. The story has focused so much on Neal finding Kate and rescuing her and, as a result, there's been a ton of tension between Neal and Peter. At no point did the show ever get bad per se, just rocky.
But not anymore.
While this episode obviously focused on Neal and Kate, it no longer creates the same kind of tension between Neal and Peter. Neal clearly trusts Peter again, so much so that he lets him in on his plan to steal the music box. And Peter seems to finally understand why Neal is doing what he's doing. There's a really nice moment where you see the pieces finally click into place for Peter, when he realizes Neal really loves Kate.
Let's talk for a minute about some familiar faces that reappeared in this episode. I, for one, would like to give Marsha Thomason a hearty welcome back to the show. She's changed a bit since she was Peter's underling. For one thing, she has her own identity, which she really hadn't developed in episode one. Also, she's tough as nails and really, really cool. And with the White Collar producers promising that she'll be a full cast member next season, I'm looking forward to seeing how she'll mesh with Jones and Cruz (particularly Cruz, since Natalie Morales basically replaces Thomason in the series).
Also back was Gloria Votsis, reprising her role as Neal's con-artist buddy Alex. She's another character I'd like to see have more screen time next season. She's another spunky, strong female character, and her sometimes-friend-sometimes-adversary relationship with Neal is always fun to watch.
So this whole episode basically centers around Neal and Alex (and Mozzie) plotting and attempting to steal the music box from the Italian consulate. The scheme they come up with is amazing (to those of us who have absolutely no conning abilities whatsoever). It was possibly my favorite scene of the entire season to watch.
Except, perhaps, the scene where Neal is shirtless and forging a statue. But we won't go there.
Everything clicked in this episode. Everyone's timing was good, the bad guys were bad in all the right ways, the plot was well-developed, and the ending was jaw-dropping. Literally.
I cannot wait for next season.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Comments? Leave them here.
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Natalie Morales, Willie Garson, Tiffani Thiessen, Sharif Atkins
Summary: Neal and Alex pair up to go after the elusive music box at the Italian consulate. Meanwhile, Peter asks Diana to help him get rid of Fowler.
Review: Wow. That's the only word I had left after the first season finale of White Collar. Just wow.
There have been a few rocky episodes since White Collar returned after the winter hiatus. The story has focused so much on Neal finding Kate and rescuing her and, as a result, there's been a ton of tension between Neal and Peter. At no point did the show ever get bad per se, just rocky.
But not anymore.
While this episode obviously focused on Neal and Kate, it no longer creates the same kind of tension between Neal and Peter. Neal clearly trusts Peter again, so much so that he lets him in on his plan to steal the music box. And Peter seems to finally understand why Neal is doing what he's doing. There's a really nice moment where you see the pieces finally click into place for Peter, when he realizes Neal really loves Kate.
Let's talk for a minute about some familiar faces that reappeared in this episode. I, for one, would like to give Marsha Thomason a hearty welcome back to the show. She's changed a bit since she was Peter's underling. For one thing, she has her own identity, which she really hadn't developed in episode one. Also, she's tough as nails and really, really cool. And with the White Collar producers promising that she'll be a full cast member next season, I'm looking forward to seeing how she'll mesh with Jones and Cruz (particularly Cruz, since Natalie Morales basically replaces Thomason in the series).
Also back was Gloria Votsis, reprising her role as Neal's con-artist buddy Alex. She's another character I'd like to see have more screen time next season. She's another spunky, strong female character, and her sometimes-friend-sometimes-adversary relationship with Neal is always fun to watch.
So this whole episode basically centers around Neal and Alex (and Mozzie) plotting and attempting to steal the music box from the Italian consulate. The scheme they come up with is amazing (to those of us who have absolutely no conning abilities whatsoever). It was possibly my favorite scene of the entire season to watch.
Except, perhaps, the scene where Neal is shirtless and forging a statue. But we won't go there.
Everything clicked in this episode. Everyone's timing was good, the bad guys were bad in all the right ways, the plot was well-developed, and the ending was jaw-dropping. Literally.
I cannot wait for next season.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Comments? Leave them here.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Modern Family - Fears
Network: ABC
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-9:30pm
Cast: Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Rico Rodriguez, Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Ariel Winter
Summary: Each of the families discuss and confront some of their fears.
Review: For a half hour show, Modern Family really packs a lot into each episode, yet does it in a way that makes sense and doesn't overwhelm the viewer (unlike, say, Parenthood's first episode). This episode had stories involving Jay and Manny facing their fears of roller coasters, Haley going for her driver's license test (for the third time), Alex going to a school dance, Luke and Phil exploring under the house, and Mitch and Cam's fear that Lily's first word was "Mommy." All that in 30 minutes, and still enough time to delve into a side story about Lily's pediatrician (played by the awesome Suzy Nakamura, who was Sam's original assistant Cathy on The West Wing).
And each story was not only well-rounded (beginning, middle, end), but coherent, funny and sweet all at the same time. I love the sweet side of Modern Family. Most sitcoms, even the family ones, focus so much on being funny that they don't have the same heart-warming effect Modern Family has. And I'm not sure this kind of sweetness has a place in every sitcom. After all, could you imagine The Big Bang Theory if Sheldon and Leonard sat down and talked out their feelings at the end of each episode? Or Seinfeld if Jerry had a voice over at the end talking about what he'd learned from that episode? It wouldn't work at all.
But Modern Family makes it work, which is why I think it's one of the (if not the) best sitcoms in at least the past two decades.
Plus it's funny. Even the characters that aren't particularly likable (Phil) are still funny to watch. And it manages to encompass several different types of humor. Phil is the master of the awkward humor that I don't particularly enjoy but everyone else seems to like. Mitch and Cam do the gay humor really well, but find the right balance between flamboyant homosexuality and an honest, wholesome couple. And Jay relies more on a dry wit and sarcasm, especially when dealing with his precocious stepson.
This episode was just another in a long line of solid episodes from this show. Ultimately, I don't think this one will stand out in my head the way the one with Luke's birthday party does, but it still deserves a high rating for generally being excellent. This show has been nothing but consistent so far, and I look forward to it every week to see what they'll do this time.
Favorite lines:
Jay: I'm not afraid of anything.
Gloria: What about pigeons?
Jay: Oh, yeah, I don't like them. They're shifty.
Jay: (about Manny) I could have guessed he'd have trouble with roller coasters. That kid gets woozy at barbershops when they spin his chair towards the mirror.
Phil: We're like Ponce de Leon and his son... little Ponce.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-9:30pm
Cast: Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Rico Rodriguez, Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Ariel Winter
Summary: Each of the families discuss and confront some of their fears.
Review: For a half hour show, Modern Family really packs a lot into each episode, yet does it in a way that makes sense and doesn't overwhelm the viewer (unlike, say, Parenthood's first episode). This episode had stories involving Jay and Manny facing their fears of roller coasters, Haley going for her driver's license test (for the third time), Alex going to a school dance, Luke and Phil exploring under the house, and Mitch and Cam's fear that Lily's first word was "Mommy." All that in 30 minutes, and still enough time to delve into a side story about Lily's pediatrician (played by the awesome Suzy Nakamura, who was Sam's original assistant Cathy on The West Wing).
And each story was not only well-rounded (beginning, middle, end), but coherent, funny and sweet all at the same time. I love the sweet side of Modern Family. Most sitcoms, even the family ones, focus so much on being funny that they don't have the same heart-warming effect Modern Family has. And I'm not sure this kind of sweetness has a place in every sitcom. After all, could you imagine The Big Bang Theory if Sheldon and Leonard sat down and talked out their feelings at the end of each episode? Or Seinfeld if Jerry had a voice over at the end talking about what he'd learned from that episode? It wouldn't work at all.
But Modern Family makes it work, which is why I think it's one of the (if not the) best sitcoms in at least the past two decades.
Plus it's funny. Even the characters that aren't particularly likable (Phil) are still funny to watch. And it manages to encompass several different types of humor. Phil is the master of the awkward humor that I don't particularly enjoy but everyone else seems to like. Mitch and Cam do the gay humor really well, but find the right balance between flamboyant homosexuality and an honest, wholesome couple. And Jay relies more on a dry wit and sarcasm, especially when dealing with his precocious stepson.
This episode was just another in a long line of solid episodes from this show. Ultimately, I don't think this one will stand out in my head the way the one with Luke's birthday party does, but it still deserves a high rating for generally being excellent. This show has been nothing but consistent so far, and I look forward to it every week to see what they'll do this time.
Favorite lines:
Jay: I'm not afraid of anything.
Gloria: What about pigeons?
Jay: Oh, yeah, I don't like them. They're shifty.
Jay: (about Manny) I could have guessed he'd have trouble with roller coasters. That kid gets woozy at barbershops when they spin his chair towards the mirror.
Phil: We're like Ponce de Leon and his son... little Ponce.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
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