But how did we get to the point where a show I once babbled about with a fervor normally reserved for the religious became a show that I thought had lost its way? Well it all started with Bonnie. It would later come to encompass a lot more than just Bonnie, but it started with her. The witchy, judgmental Bonnie has been the show’s most ill used character for two seasons now (pretty much since Damon staked Vicky, although she did make a brief and ill advised return this season). I like the actress fine, but Bonnie was always forced to play “voice of reason,” which on a show that regularly brushes aside murders, rapes, and mental manipulation is sort of a thankless task. More importantly, however, and more pertinent to the way I think the show lost its voice, Bonnie was ALWAYS the person called in when all the other characters were unable to solve something. She was essentially a magical band aid.

Joss Whedon has a quote about the problem of escalation in serialized television that basically says that when you get to a certain point in a series, and someone says “oh no, how do we solve this?” His response becomes, “Well…  have you tried violence?” There’s no cleverness left in the premise. Bonnie became “violence” in the TVD world. She sucked the narrative tension out of any given situation. Need to unbind the originals? Call in Bonnie. Need to bring someone back from the dead? Bonnie. Need some witchy mojo worked to save Elena? Starts with a B, ends with an “onnie.” And since we rarely saw these spells taking very much out of her (unlike in the beginning, where big magic LITERALLY KILLED GRAMS), there was no real limit to Bonnie’s power.

This lack of stakes began to extend outward. I knew that they wouldn’t really kill all the originals. Maybe one or two of them could kick the bucket, but way before the show introduced the idea that what happens to one original happens to all the vamps in their lineage, I knew we weren’t going to lose Klaus, Rebekah, or he-of-the-fabulous-hair, Elijah. The show is still good, so occasionally it tricked me, but these actors are too much fun and fit too perfectly in this world to lose forever. The bigger problem with them, however, was that despite their now permanent status, the show kept INSISTING they were the big bads. Once your male villain starts pining after the heart of your show, he’s no longer a serious threat. He may do something rash and stupid, and he may still be incredibly selfish, but all of those adjectives could be applied to every other character on the show (especially one who’s name begins with D and ends with Amon). The Original Witch failed to fully capture my attention as well, although at least she was a move in the right direction.

Which leads us into arguably the highest stake part of the show: its love triangle. In Season Two, Elena went from being the part of TVD that I tolerated to one of my favorites. At the beginning of Season Three, she was kicking all sorts of ass, training to be able to physically match the vampires in her life and acting with agency to try and save Stefan and all her friends. The second half of the season, though, so her trapped between the brothers Salvatore in an endlessly vacillating seesaw. Regardless of the side that I’m shipping (which honestly, changes almost as frequently as Elena’s opinion on the matter), this is the weakest of devices. Elena’s make out with Damon a few episodes back didn’t feel earned, it felt… compulsory. I finally felt like the show was succumbing to CW-it is.

And then came the finale, which hit a great big reset button on everything we thought we knew. Damon met Elena first. Alaric is an evil vampire. Jeremy and Matt decide to finally act of their own accord. Bonnie makes a deal with the devil/Klaus. Carolina and Tyler reunite. Elena chooses. And it was a good episode, much more action-y than the show has been lately, and with Alaric being irrevocably lost and Klaus getting staked, also a lot higher stakes. It also featured some nice bro moments between Stefan and Damon, which is my favorite relationship on the show regardless of Elena.

And then the episode ended with Elena plunging off the same bridge her parents died on, and only reopening her eyes as a vampire. And suddenly next season is looking dramatically interesting in a way this season just wasn’t. I still think TVD needs to work out their villain problem, and I think that figuring out how to neutralize Bonnie’s (and now Klaus’s) power is a huge part of that, but significantly altering the status quo with Elena can’t help but be an awesome thing for this show. It will completely change her dynamic with Damon, who thus far is all about protecting-her-against-her-wishes, and alter her sense that she needs Stefan to feel connected to life. But more importantly, it will bring her outside the love triangle, and force all involved to realize that they need to be fully realized outside of their relationships with each other. Plus, it will royally piss off Klaus, who may be in Tyler’s body for now, but there’s no way we’re losing Joseph Morgan.

And so TVD, not for the first time, I tip my hat to you, for subverting my expectations, pulling back from the brink of cliché, and keeping me tuned to a CW show long after it’s age appropriate.

SEASON FINALE GRADE: A-
SEASON THREE GRADE: B

Probably unnecessary,  but spoilers.

HIMYM has struggled somewhat in its seventh season. Despite a late-in-the-game burst of energy from Josh Radnor in his performance as Ted, and the lovely handling of two huge emotional arcs (Robin’s infertility, Ted’s declaration of love), a lot of this season has felt like stalling. We knew HIMYM had at least one more season, and so a lot of the development felt like forced obstacles to our characters reaching their endings.

I’m not one to complain about the fact that, seven seasons in, we still haven’t met the mother. I feel like if you’re watching the show just to witness the titular mother then you’re not really understanding the show. Since the very first episode, it’s been about the journey our characters take in order to end up as their adult selves. It’s about Robin learning to commit, Barney learning to trust, Ted learning to stop trying to make his life like his fantasy, and Lily and Marshall turning into loving, caring parents. The problem this season, however, is that the characters have started to feel stalled in their development. Ted faced this the most explicitly, with an interesting take on his whole love lorn shtick that had Robin telling him that he has failed to find the one because he isn’t really trying. It’s an interesting look at Ted, but it doesn’t REALLY mesh with the guy we knew in Season One and Two, and it feels more like a justification for the story’s meandering than it is for Ted’s meandering.

Robin and Barney are the two characters who have grown the most throughout the show, and I’d argue the show has been most successful in setting them up. But by Season Seven, and with all the weight of their every interaction behind them, did anyone REALLY think Barney was marrying anyone other Robin? I’m still pumped as hell to watch them get to that point, but it sort of invalidated an entire season’s worth of pretense.

To continue the misdirection theme that the minds behind HIMYM really liked (and I’ll admit has occasionally been employed by them to great avail), the season finale of season seven sort of confirmed that all of season seven was just misdirection. They were getting us to focus on things like Ted’s love for Robin and Barney’s love for Quinn, while trying to set the pieces for the love story that will dominate the time left until we finally meet the mother. Which is all well and good, but at this point in HIMYM’s run, I want my characters to stop with all the misdirection and start moving towards the actual magic.

SEASON FINALE GRADE: B
SEASON SEVEN GRADE: B

Random Thoughts:

• That may have sounded harsh, but overall I still love HIMYM
• I really liked Robin and Ted attempting to distract Lily with goofy stories, especially the episode 1 capper where they all jumped out at Marshall from the closet
• I actually like Quinn. Not more than Robin, by any stretch of the imagination, but as a stand-in she’s pretty cool, although the stripper thing never entirely worked for me. Maybe I just love Becki Newton.
• Let’s hope the creative team decides that season nine will be the last one for HIMYM, so we can have the best season ever
• Waitforit IS the coolest middle name ever.
• Drunk Marshall is my favorite Marshall

Another person frustrated by their lack of hunger is Megan. Unlike her other actress pals, Megan can afford to loaf around between gigs, getting into angry confrontations with the eternally hungry for everything Sally Draper. Here, Sally’s hunger for affection and connection is manipulated by Betty, and turned into a weapon against Megan and Don’s happiness.

That idea of happiness still confounds Betty. It’s here that Mad Men gets almost insultingly literal. I’m on record as hating fat Betty. I find the fat make up distracting, and overall it’s just not a particularly interesting way of representing Betty’s particular brand of happiness induced complacency. I much prefer the late-episode spiteful Betty, manipulating her own child to try and make herself feel better about her life. For years we’ve wondered if there’s something deeper inside Betty Draper. In “Dark Shadows,” we find out exactly what happiness means to Betty when she claims she’s thankful that “I have everything I want and no one has anything better.” In the middle of the episode, we see a sweet scene between Betty and Henry Francis that made me think for one moment that Fat Betty was just the price to be paid for Happy Betty. But as her petty antics prove, Betty is still far away from happiness, and so her hunger continues.

Pete Campbell managed to overtake Roger professionally by being hungrier than him. Now that he’s reached that point, his hunger stretches out aimlessly, globbing onto the idea of Alexis Bledel’s bored housewife with a starving man’s fervency. But watching Pete overtake him has reawakened Roger’s hunger, always striving just below the surface. The show has done a great job of showing the way that these men’s wandering eyes are mainly a result of their constant hunger for something to fulfill them. No one embodies this more than Roger, who has gone through two wives and one serious mistress all trying to fulfill the need he can’t explain. And here, he succeeds professionally only to let that omnipresent yearning tear down Jane just as she’s starting to get herself back up.

The greatest thing about Roger’s storyline is how far it shows the character has come. His obvious remorse upon leaving Jane in her now-ruined apartment is heartbreaking. In fact, this episode was a great episode all around for character growth, whether it was Megan and Don talking out their problem and reaching a consensus, Sally stretching her newly manipulative and terrifying anger muscles, or Peggy standing up to Roger. It wasn’t my favorite episode of the season by far, but it set up an interesting emotional space for the rest of the season to play out in.

Random thoughts:

• The jewish girl in me is always thrilled with jokes about manischewitz.
• “I’m not an airplane either. I can write for anything.” Peggy explaining why she could write for a jewish company
• Ginsberg was kind of a tool this episode, huh? I could use an episode humanizing him again.
• You think the timing of all those Dark Shadows jokes is an accident?

Needless to say, when Grey’s Anatomy began airing its doomsday preview of “Flight” I found myself fully anticipating this dramatic finale. Sure, Shonda Rimes had already made it clear that a major character would bite the bullet this season, but nonetheless the previews still got to me. I’ve been replaying it over and over and obsessing about which character may leave us. With several contracts seemingly up in the air, I always assumed Mer/Der would be leaving this season but suddenly, I’m beginning to wonder if the whole gang will stick around in the aftermath of yet another tragedy. So, instead of watching the promo in slow-mo again (you can find it on youtube, I promise), I’ve decided to write my top 8 list of the characters in danger and who I really think will die this week.

“Why top 8″ you may ask? Well, it really should be a top 6. The promos have stated that 6 went down and 1 will die. Based on the penultimate episode, the 6 in danger would be: Christina, Meredith, Derek, Arizona, Mark, and Lexie (the only significant people on that flight). That Shonda Rimes can be a tricky one though, so my guess is these aren’t the only ones in danger of leaving Seattle Grace forever. So without further ado, the 8 most likely deaths are:

8/ Mark- I can’t really see how Mark’s death would impact the show. Sure, Lexie would be heartbroken. Derek would be super sad. Arizona/Callie might be bummed that their baby daddy is gone. But life would go on. The core original group (Meredith, Christina, and Alex) would not be greatly affected by Mark’s demise. In fact, I might even cause a more likely migration east for MerDer. My guess is he’s the safest one on that plane.

7/ Derek- His death would be too easy. The previews do a great job of not once showing Derek, and I’m sure he’ll be noticeably missing from most of the episode as well. The one who you think will die never does, so he’s probably safe as well. Also, I think Shonda loves MerDer too much to give them an unhappy ending now that they are finally a family.

6/ Lexie- Another way too easy death. Lexie has been severely underused and somewhat missing from most of this season. Other than her childlike infatuation with Mark, there’s been little in the way of creative stories for Lexie. The crash will be an opportunity for her to gain a new spark. Mark and Lexie will likely get a chance to reconnect as a couple next season. There’s nothing like a terrible tragedy to make you rethink your loved ones. Also, she’s one of the only two characters to look like she’s in danger in the preview, so she probably won’t be in the actual episode.

5/ Meredith- I really don’t believe Meredith will die for all the same reasons Derek won’t. These two will have a happy ending. I very much doubt Ellen Pompeo will stick around for more than another season (if that), but I’ve never once thought Meredith’s death would be the driving force for her exit. So why is she so high on my list? I really believe they’re trying to surprise us with this death. Mark, Christina, and Meredith are the only three plane crash survivors with little to no injuries. Imagine how awesome/terrible it would be if after everyone is rescued, Meredith falls down and dies of internal bleeding or some sort of hemorrhage.

4) Christina- She is barely any likelier to die than Meredith, but again I could totally see the hemorrhage thing happening. The only reason I would be less shocked by a Christina death than a Meredith one, is she’s had easily the most interested character arc this season. Christina’s decision about her future career- and the lack of any real decision until recently- has caused turmoil for a lot of characters. She’s the one death that would affect everyone in the hospital. Also, what better way to bring Teddy and Owen back on good terms?

3) Richard- What? He wasn’t on the plane! Yea, I know. I believe 100% that all the plane crashers are safe and therefore I have to look at the Seattle Grace group to determine who is next likely to meet the reaper. Richard, to me, is one of the weaker characters lately. With his wife’s disease and current love affair, he is getting some interesting storylines. It’s just hard to buy the whole chief-turned-surgeon without assuming the next step is retirement/death. Who better to die and cause all the residents to stick around and work for the hospital he spent his life creating? On the other hand, who better to die and cause some of the Seattle Grace lifers to seek an out and move on? Either way, a Richard death would drive the plot forward.

2/ Arizona- This is the one I’m worried about the most. Again, the previews clearly show Arizona and Lexie are the two in danger. Both girls are trapped underneath bits of the plane, and Arizona seems to be a bite more panicky than Lexie. If one of them is actually in danger, Arizona would be the likeliest target. She is one of the most beloved characters and one who brings the most light to the show. Recently, she’s been thinking a lot about death with the reappearance of her cancer-ridden childhood friend. Arizona’s parting words to Callie made her wife promise never to leave her. Her second strongest relationship, with Alex, also ended with some hostility. Arizona wasn’t supposed to be on that plane, but she felt betrayed and abandoned upon learning that Alex is considering a position at Hopkins. In a last minute change of plans, she took Alex’s seat on the plane, possibly sealing her fate. The bottom line is if writer’s are going for an emotional wrought finale, Arizona might be the one to kill.

1/ April- All of this might not matter, because I’d be willing to bet April leaves Seattle Grace (and the world) this Thursday. She’s been on a downward spiral for several episodes after failing the boards. She finally lost her virginity only to feel as though she completely turned her back on her beliefs. She’s had her job offers at all hospitals revoked, including and most importantly, Seattle Grace. The bottom line is April doesn’t have a future on the show. She’s been in a drunken stupor for several recent scenes and there can only be two possible deaths for her:  (1) a drunken car accident or (2) suicide. Regardless of how she goes, my guess is the tragic plane crash is simply a distraction from the real tragedy that is playing out inside April.

Then again, maybe the plane crash is really sending them all into a mystical island where one by one they will all die at the hands of a mysterious smoke monster…I mean, come one. Could that preview be any more like Lost?

Last night’s Game of Thrones, “A Man Without Honor,” was the funniest episode of the season to date. A lot of that comes down to the re-appearance of Jamie Lannister, who’s biting wit serves to alienate everyone from him (except for the distantly related cousin, who said wit draws in closer, only to lead to a brutal head smashing). I missed Jamie, and his appearance here reminds me of all the reasons why.

It also gives Catelyn Stark her most exciting work to date. Whether she’s being a badass and staring down the hordes who want Jamie’s head on a platter, or verbally sparing with the Kingslayer, Catelyn was in rarefied form last night. For those of you watching who have also read the novels, I also think that the way the whole confrontation between Jamie and Catelyn went down is way more effective than within the book, and actually strengthens Catelyn’s character. But more on that next week.

Also in Lannister/Stark relations, we have Arya and Tywin’s strange mentorship. You can see why Tywin, who has spent his whole life being ashamed of his children, clings so strongly to the tough, smart, manipulative young woman who waits on him. And once again, enough cannot be said about Maisie Williams’ performance as Arya, playing the perfect mixture between a young girl who has always wanted someone impressed with her and a vengeful budding psychopath hellbent on killing her enemies. I think the episode kind of sidestepped the fact that Arya’s recklessness last week led to a whole bunch of people getting killed this week, but I hope this idea is taken up more seriously in the weeks to come.

And then we have the Stark boys’ romantic comedy travails, both of which are unlikely to have wonderful outcomes. Robb Stark continued his flirtation with Jeyne, and even asked her along with him on his next mission. Jeyne herself seems to realize just how bad an idea this is. And Jon Snow, poor virginal Jon Snow, spends most of this episode getting sexually harassed by Ygritte. Rose Leslie, who plays Ygritte, is perfect casting, and the way she plays Ygritte as infinitely smarter than Snow is a nice challenge to the lad. Plus, we got the first of many “you know nothing, Jon Snow”s.  But all that romantic comedy verbal foreplay (and talk about boners, which was pretty funny in a 13-year-old way) led to Jon’s capture by wildlings at episodes end, proving that one should never be distracted by red heads (are you listening Stannis?).

The most heart breaking moment award this week is a toss up between two characters who seemed unlikely to elicit much sympathy during Season One. The first of these is Cersei, who has been softened somewhat from the book’s portrayal of her and to great effect. Cersei and Tyrion’s heart to heart this episode, in which Cersei admits that her son is a monster she can’t control and that she worries that this is her recompense for her happiness with Jamie, bordered on kindness. Tyrion and Cersei may not often seem eye to eye, and Cersei as much as any character seems fond of blaming every bad thing on her brother, but there is more than just familial loyalty between them.

But I’m going to give the award to Sansa, who gets her first period and immediately sets about trying to stab her mattress to get rid of the evidence. The addition of Shae as her surprisingly intense partner in crime is a welcome one. It serves to deepen our affection for Shae, and help to show just how desperate this moment is for Sansa. Cersei and Sansa’s final “you’re a woman now” heart to heart serves to further illustrate both characters’ heartbreak, and how trapped these two disparate women are by their circumstance.

Danaerys’s storyline this week is mostly trippy, and it is also a huge departure from the book, and once again it is a huge departure that I kind of love. I actually turned to my roommate and said “wow, they’re just really good at this,” because in this episode every bit of added/changed scene felt like it deepened what the book had brought before it. Danaerys finds out that her dragons are being held hostage in the House of the Undying, right before the creepy corpse man kills all the other members of the 13 (save himself and Xaro). Danaerys’s subsequent attempts to flee are the show at its arresting best.

And last we have Theon, still chasing after Bran and Rickon as they flee Winterfell, and still feeling the sting of being considered less than a man in the Iron Islanders eyes. As we saw last week, as Theon ineptly hacked off a man’s head, all this pressure is turning the often pathetic little man into an even more dangerous foe. A man so out of his own control can be made to do anything. And so the episode ends with the image of two tiny burned bodies, as Theon surveys the shocked and heartbroken denizens of Winterfell. This should be Theon’s proudest moment, his final conquering of Winterfell, but destroying the Starks was never Theon’s goal, and as he looks out on the people he grew up with, who now look at him with hatred and disgust, his face falls slack.

The episode’s title is A Man Without Honor, a title that could be slapped upon a number of our main characters at this point. Robb, for ignoring his contract with the Freys? Joffrey, for being Joffrey? Stannis, for kinslaying? The one who it is most often applied to is Jamie Lannister, who certainly seems honor-free as he bashes in his own cousin’s head with manacles in a failed escape attempt. But it most likely applies to poor Theon, who’s lack of honor has caused one of the show’s greatest tragedies.

Only two more episodes to go in the season, and I know we’re in for some majorly intense episodes. As much as I can’t wait to see what’s to come, I can’t believe I’m going to have to wait another year before I get to watch this show.

Yes.

It will be like this pretty much the whole time.

Don’t make me turn this car around, buster.

Anyway, ya good?

Feel adequately warned?

Great. Onward.

IT’S STARTING!!!

We’re in the training room. Again.

This season is like Rocky.

Less montage-y, I guess.

But it sort of makes sense. Korra’s said that she finds the spiritual stuff challenging and the physical stuff easy, so it makes sense that a lot of her time in the beginning is spent on what she’s a natural at.

That said, writer boys, could we get on top of Korra’s spiritual growth, please? Because she keeps thinking that punching things is going to fix everything. ….And it’s not.

AMON’S INFECTING THE RADIO WAVES

The city is not safe.

Also, Korra, acquire someone with tech skills of some kind. Amon’s got’em. Clearly, they come in useful.

And he’s CALLING ON THE COUNCIL TO SHUT DOWN THE FINALS!!!!

There are threats of violence!

A good creepily whispered “or else” just sort of covers everything, don’tcha think?

“WE’RE GOING TO CITY HALL!!!”

to ratify some addendums and perform our civic duties?

Let me know if you see Leslie

OH MY GOD SOMEONE MAKE THAT CROSSOVER RIGHT NOW!!!

Btw, I don’t mention this much, but the soundtrack/music of this show can sometimes be heavy handed, but … it’s pretty. And it’s got a distinct flair.

Cut to: Fire Ferrets bursting into the council room

“Korra, you can’t be in here”

“As the Avatar and a pro bending player—“

NO.

STOP RIGHT THERE.

Thing 1) this is what we like to call a conflict of interest. It does not make you More Qualified to make good, objective decisions; it makes you a hell of a lot less likely to make good, objective decisions.

Thing 2) WHENEVER YOU SAY SHIT LIKE THAT, AMON WINS!!!!

Just saying.

Okay, you do have a right to be heard. But that’s it.

“While I’m still committed to bringing that lunatic to justice, I’m not going to put innocent lives in danger just so you and your friends can play. … A game.”

How did they–? Wha–?

They managed to turn me around on Tarlok!

Yay writing realistic, grounded characters (even the jerks)!

“It may be a game to you but…. think of what it means to the city”

Oh lord. Mako’s talking again

“It’s the one place where benders and non-benders gather in peace”

Blatantly untrue.

The music is swelling and this is turning into that Winger speech of all the other speeches that didn’t make any sense but sounded really inspirational.

Bo takes it there.

Korra, tell me that AS THE AVATAR you are now more concerned with protecting innocent lives than just winning the Stanley Cup (I mean, what? Go Devils! Also, what team doesn’t benefit from a little R&R /extra practice between matches? Take it as a gift)

….No.

Nope.

Nope.

Nopers.

*Le sigh* well… that’s dumb.

Korra, get your priorities in order.

They should look a little something like this:

Korra’s Priorities:

1)    General safety of the populace

2)    Airbending training with Tenzin

3)    Spiritual training with Tenzin/Anger management

4)    Figuring out sensible solutions to the Amon issue (Get spies. SPY WAR!!!)

5)    Learning more about Republic City and its governance

6)    Pro bending practice

….

20078,90023945729348) Smooches with Mako.

CHIEF BEIFONG AGREES WITH THE AVATAR!?!?

What.

The.

Fuuu–?

Also, I’m so with Tenzin on that one.

If you don’t start to do some talking and conceding on actually making sure that non-benders aren’t treated as, or thought of as lesser, you’re gonna be bantha poodoo.

And Amon will be right to revolt!

And I just noticed that everyone in this room, talking about this issue, is once again, a bunch of benders.

…. #currentpoliticalparallels?

Oh Tarlok, is being a jerk again. He just basically made Beifong assume responsibility for all of the spectators. AND AS LONG AS IT WASN’T ON HIM ANYMORE, HE WAS ALL “GAME ON!”.

Ugh. Hate.

Also, my does Tenzin have no party? He’s just … Ned Starkin’ it. Being noble. … Alone. Thankfully, this is billed as a kid’s show, so it’s highly unlikely that he’ll get his head chopped off.

“A word, please, Lin”

AND NOW THEY’RE HAVING A PRIVATE CONVO IN THE HALL

CAN I PLEASE BE RIGHT ABOUT HER BEING TENZIN’S ASAMI?!

PLEAAAAAAAAASE?!!!!

Subtext is happening!

Tenzin, REVEALING STORYTIME.

His dad and Beifong got along awesomely (can you imagine growing up with Uncle Aang? That would be great. He would be your favorite uncle. No question).

He and Beifong—

I WAS RIGHT!!!!

I am dancing. Dancing dancing dancing dancing.

KORRA’S PUTTING IT TOGETHER!!!!

“WHY AM I EVEN TELLING YOU THIS?”

I love that Korra’s making Tenzin reminisce/put on a stupid sparklyface/be embarrassed about his younger self.

Okay, I get that Amon is a daunting evil genius, but I am really starting to suspect a mole, because otherwise I have no idea how he predicts things correctly so often.

I mean, I would love for there to be a mole because THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

And I really really really hope it’s Asami so that she’s not just uselessly nice.

Secret theories/dreams about the mole:

a)    It’s probably Tarlok

b)    If it’s not, I hope it’s some faceless/nameless council member that we haven’t met yet, who’s bitter about being unimportant

c)    It would be great if it were Beifong, but if it were, I feel like that would be mentioned/ revealed /subtext in this storyline between her and Tenzin. And alas, there’s no sign of that.

d)    ASAMI COULD STILL BE/BECOME A SPY, PLEASE!!!

e)    The Wolfbats could be the champs because they figured out how to do sneaky sabotage chi-blocking. Which seems less feasible given the logistics of pro ending, but, hey, a girl can hope.

…. Hopefully this stadium doesn’t blow up, but it probably won’t. I feel like Amon’s going to use it to chi-block Korra and the gang publically.

Cut To: The Probending Arena for the Championship Finals

I would like some smack-down soup, please.

THERE ARE CARTOON PEOPLE DRESSED UP AS THE FIRE FERRETS IN THE STANDS!!!

So meta (where’s my Abed?).

Also, I’m going as them for Halloween now (the fangirl dressed like Korra. Not Korra).

Asami and Mako are blowing kisses to each other, and Korra’s rolling her eyes and groaning.

I’m with Korra.

Why do the Wolfbats have the costumes/hair/pyrotechnics of an 80’s hair band?

Ooh, Maybe it’s because they paid off the refs/the whole world.

Grody.

The Wolfbats win!—

Wait, what’s that?

KORRA’S HANGING ON BY LITERALLY ONE HAND

AND

MANAGES TO HOLD ONTO MAKO

AND

SWING HIM BACK ONTO THE PLAYING PLATFORM?

(I really need there to be caplocks for capslocks.)

Oh, hey.

Remember that one time when she was the avatar and therefore was allowed ungodly luck/arm strength?

“The fire ferrets aren’t just bending the elements, THEY’RE BENDING MY MIND!”

…

I admit, I love it.

Question: what does a pro-bending penalty look like?

Also, Korra, you really gotta stop being tempted by the idea of just kicking the crap out of people as your first recourse. It’s just not very productive.

And does anyone else find it weird that Mako’s the playmaker/sensible one in the trio?

I mean, thank god, otherwise I would get more annoyed with him all the time, but it’s just weird (nice weird, mind you, but weird) to be reminded that he’s helpful and an essential part of why they’re a good team.

Everybody gets to be awesome at stuff and an awesome person.

Korra kicked the guano out of Tano

(and she still keeps calling him Pretty Boy.

You keep on using that word. I do not think it mean what you think it means)

BEIFONG AND KORRA SHOULD SO BE BEST FRIENDS PLEASE?

The … Wolfbats won by hitting the fire ferrets in the face with rocks. Seriously guys?

EQUALISTS IN THE AUDIENCE!!! EQUALISTS ARE THE AUDIENCE!!!

They have scary neck warmers which they’re drawing over faces… very slowly

THEY HAVE BIONIC HAND WEAPONS IN THEIR POPCORN!!!!

Best use of concessions ever.

Also, by bionic hand weapons, I mean Republic City taser equivalents.

So… they’re taking out the police? I guess? Or just regular audience members (that would be really dumb)?

We’re going with the police.

Amon’s creepy man is electrocuting the fire ferrets in the pool.

Cheap, dude. Cheap.

This is also bringing up a lot of Pokémon flashbacks.  I mean, when Pikachu wasn’t winning because of his Heart and Love For Ash, he was winning because some dumb hick from whatever one-horse “city” they were in would forget that water conducts electricity. Blah blah blah.

Oh no! They’re going to electrocute the reporter/narrator.

“I am currently wetting my pants, folks.”

That’s some honest, unfiltered live-blogging right there.

And here’s Amon, on the platform, staring down Tano.

Now would be the right time for Tano to say: “D–.. Daddy?”

LET’S DO THAT STORY!!!

Cut to:

Kora’and the fire ferrets are floating belly up, getting fished out of the pool

OH NO

THEY HAVE TENSIN

The Wolfbats blow compared to the chi-blockers/Equalists. Those guys are brutally efficient.

DID AMON TAKE THE WOLFBAT’S POWERS?

OR DID HE

ACTUALLY JUST KILL THEM?

Korra’s getting dragged and now there are flashbacks.

And what are these flashbacks?

There’s … Toph, I’m pretty sure, and Aang, and I don’t know who/what else.

Maybe Amon is that guy that Aang thought he put away?

That other guy they mentioned once a couple episodes ago?

We shall see.

Amon was bullied as a child.

Boo hoo.

So now you’re going to take away an epic part of people’s identities?

Someone did not go to therapy.

(Although to be fair, if he’s not lying, some bender did take away HIS FACE. …so… that is rough)

Okay, the Wolfbats are alive.

Not happy, not bending.

But alive.

Oh no.

Amon just talked about bending as an impurity (and he just unfurled some crazy flags all over the stadium, and I didn’t even know that things could do this, but somehow he just went from 0 to Nazi in like, two seconds).

Man, and just when I thought we’d dodged a darkness bullet in terms of the dead Wolfbats issue.

Cut to: The Fire Ferrets tied up under the tournament platform.

Pabu is going to save the Fire Ferrets. By eating some rope.

Yay Pabu and Bolin.

Amon is also going into skill vs. buyable tech and martial arts v. guns places.

In terms of, only some are born with bending, but everyone can buy a bionic hand chi-blocker/taser.

Interesting.

Amon’s airlifting himself out of there.

…With no special care paid to Korra and the gang…. which is weird to me, but … presumably he has other, bigger plans for her later

Korra goes after Amon

Uh, see that part where the water doesn’t reach?

This is where that airbending training you’ve been neglecting would help.

Beifong literally gives her a meaningful boost.

ROOFTOP FIGHTING!!!

Man, these fight sequences are so much better than the probending sequences.

They’re gorgeous.

Uh I think Beifong just did some break dancing earthbending.

It was awesome.

UH OH

KORRA IS FALLING

BEIBONG IS SAVING KORRA’S LIFE.

Best friends now please?!

Cut to: They’re safe on the ground with Tenzin and the Fire Ferret bros

Fire ferret /AwkTrio “I’m so glad that you’re alive” hugs.

Beifong: “I played right into his hands.”

Yes, yes you did.

‘REPUBLIC CITY …. IS AT WAR.”

The end.

That was the end of the episode.

Okay, so… while a lot of stuff did happen in this episode, I feel like, more than anything, this episode sets us up nicely for the rest of the season.

Amon’s free (because with his hot air balloon escape shenanigans, he is clearly also Carmen Sandiego), The Wolfbats have won the championships, I guess (but they’ll also never pro bend again. I mean, they’ll never bend again at all), the Asami/Mako/Korra triangle is on the back burner, and we’ve planted the seeds of

a)    Weird flashback that need some explanation/probably will force Korra to figure out her spiritual stuff

b)    The fact that Korra’s still not an airbender yet, and she’s going to need to be.

I’m pretty stoked for all of that to unfold.

(And if Korra and Beifong could be besties Mentor/Mentee, that would be really really great).

See you next week!

Back at 221B Baker Street, Sherlock is going through cigarette withdrawals, making him extra catty. He is bored out of his mind. The only case he has waiting for him is that of a missing, glowing rabbit named Bluebell – not exactly the mental distraction he craves. Then Henry shows up. He explains that when he was a little boy, he saw a dog kill his dad. Sherlock is skeptical, but Henry insists a hound killed his father, and he thinks it’s back. Sherlock does a 180, and says he will take the case.

Sherlock and John arrive at Dartmoor and admire the scenery- the lovely moor, and Baskerville, the super top secret government lab that allegedly conducts genetic experiments, and is surrounded by minefields. Meanwhile, Henry talks to his therapist, Dr. Mortimer. He keeps remembering words “Liberty’ and ‘in’. Henry wonders if they have any significance.

John and Sherlock go to a vegetarian restaurant/inn. John notices a receipt for meat, which he pockets. While John chats to the innkeeper, Sherlock talks to a local tour guide. The guide insists he has seen the hound, and even shows Sherlock a giant dog print to prove it.

The Baker Street boys decide to investigate Baskerville. They get inside courtesy of a badge Sherlock swiped from Mycroft, and get a tour of the base. They don’t get far before their cover is blown. Major Barrymore, the guy in charge is not pleased. Dr. Franklin, one of the Baskerville scientists, covers for John and Sherlock. Dr. Franklin explains he knew Henry and his dad. He says if they need help, give him a call.

John and Sherlock meet with Henry at his house to make coffee and a plan. Sherlock decides they should seek out the hound, and confront it head on. That night, they do exactly that, only John wanders off.  He sees a flashing light, and interprets the flashes as Morse code reading “U.M.Q.R.A”. Meanwhile, Sherlock and Henry go to the spot where it all began- Dewar’s Hollow. Henry sees the hound again and freaks. Sherlock insists he didn’t see anything.

The next morning, Sherlock goes to Henry’s house. He steals some sugar, and asks Henry why Henry used the word ‘hound’ earlier. The use of the archaic term caught his interest, and is why he took the case in the first place. Sherlock then finds John, and gives the closest to an apology as Sherlock can make. Sherlock then realizes that ‘hound’ does not refer to a canine, but is an acronym- H.O.U.N.D.

Sherlock and John go back to the inn, where they bump into Lestrade, who claims he is there on holiday. Sherlock figures Mycroft sent Lestrade to keep an eye on them after Mycroft realized they broke into Baskerville. John suggests that since Lestrade is there, they may as well use him. Lestrade grills the innkeepers about the meat receipts for their vegetarian restaurant. They admit they got a dog to boost tourism after word of the hound got out. They say the dog is now dead. Sherlock makes John a cup of coffee, but John says Sherlock can stop apologizing for yelling at him the night before.

After hearing there was really a dog, Sherlock and John decide to go back to Baskervilles. Sherlock calls in a favor from Mycroft. (Sometimes having your big brother be a high up in the British government has perks). John wanders around the lab, and is locked in, alone. He hears a growling sound, and hides, absolutely terrified. Sherlock arrives, and tells John that they have all been drugged.

Sherlock tests the sugar he stole from Henry’s house for drugs. He theorizes that he and Henry both saw the hound after drinking coffee with the sugar. And John saw the hound after drinking the coffee Sherlock gave him, made with sugar from Henry’s house. The sugar tests negative for any drugs. Sherlock demands to be left alone, and retreats to his ‘mind palace’.

He realizes ‘liberty’, ‘in’, and ‘hound’ refer to H.O.U.N.D- a CIA experiment that took place in Liberty, Indiana. It was an attempt to create a weapon that created terror in the subjects. The project was discontinued after subjects showed extreme aggression. Sherlock looks at a photograph of the original team, and sees a much younger Dr. Franklin in the photo.

Meanwhile, Henry is quickly going insane. After shooting at Dr. Mortimer, he flees to Dewar’s Hollow. He is about to commit suicide when Sherlock and John arrive, stopping him. Sherlock explains that Dr. Franklin attacked Henry’s dad all those years ago. Henry saw Dr. Franklin’s t-shirt, which featured a picture of a snarling dog, and the words, “H.O.U.N.D”, “Liberty, IN”. Young Henry created a monster dog in his head to rationalize the incident. As Henry got older, he started to remember the truth. Dr. Franklin wanted to discredit Henry, and drive him insane to protect himself.

Lestrade arrives. All the men present see the hound. John doesn’t understand, since Lestrade did not have any of the drugged sugar. Dr. Franklin shows up, and Sherlock rips a gas mask off Dr. Franklin’s face. He realizes the drug is a gas, and is hidden in the fog. The hound comes back, and they shoot it. It turns out to be the innkeepers’ dog. Not  hound, but an ordinary dog.

While they are distracted by the dog, Dr. Franklin makes his escape. He runs away- right into the minefield surrounding Baskerville. Sherlock and co. chase after him, but not before Dr. Franklin is blown up.

The next day, John guesses that when he was in the lab, Sherlock was the one who locked him in. Sherlock admits this, and says he was conducting an experiment. John points out Sherlock was wrong about the sugar being drugged-John had been drugged by gas coming from leaky pipes. Sherlock reluctantly admits he was wrong, and says it won’t happen again.

Other thoughts: 

It was great seeing John pull rank as a Captain at Baskerville. Sometimes it’s easy to forget John is a military man, so it’s nice they remind us.

John calling Sherlock out on trying to be mysterious with his cheekbones and popped collar was hilarious, and spot on. Yes, Sherlock you so do that.

“Is that why you’re calling yourself ‘Greg’?”

“That’s his name.”

When Sherlock was surprised Lestrade’s first name was Greg, was anyone else reminded of the Avengers? (“Phil? His first name’s agent!”) That just makes me really wish the Avengers will one day need a consulting detective. Although that would probably be one too many snarky geniuses in one room.

This episode kept up with the ‘A Scandal in Belgravia’ trend of humanizing Sherlock. When Sherlock said, “I don’t have friends. I’ve just got one” to John, it was a great moment, and shows how far Sherlock has progressed since series 1. Let’s see what next week’s series finale, ‘The Reichenbach Fall’ will give us.

But it’s Leonard Freakin’ Nimoy! So sometimes we got off-track and into a more general discussion proving that he’s just awesome. Topics included, but were not limited to, his “retirement,” photography, and the new Star Trek movies.

And just a heads up, Part 2 of the Fringe Fourth Season Finale airs Friday at 9:00 p.m./8:00 p.m. central on Fox, in which you can see Bell doing what Nimoy calls, “some very strange and fantastic things with his powers.”

Here are the highlights:

Who is William Bell?
“The character of William Bell started out to be rather ambivalent.  We weren’t quite sure whether we were supposed to enjoy him or be afraid of him.  We couldn’t quite figure out what his motivation was.  At the end of last season, he seemed to come around to be less dangerous.  This season I think things have taken another turn.  He’s in another universe and has taken on other characteristics.”

When asked about what drew him to play Bell, he said: “There were challenges in the character itself that were attractive to me.  I could play aspects of a character that I haven’t played in a long time, so it was very welcoming to me.”

When asked about Bell’s journey, he said: “The William Bell character started out to be a very intelligent and rational character.  I think he’s still very, very intelligent but I’m not quite so sure he’s rational anymore.  I think you’ll see some behaviors tomorrow night that have taken him quite a distance from where he started. You’re going to see some interesting activities on the part of William Bell Friday night.  This character has gotten himself out on a limb and is doing some very wonderful theatrical and bizarre activities.  He has become a world of his own.  Take that as a hint. I’m very excited.  I’m looking forward to seeing it myself.  I haven’t seen it in context, so I’m pretty excited about what people are going to be experiencing Friday night.”

On “Retirement”
When asked what got him to return from retirement, LFN said: “Well, it’s not just the role of William Bell.  It’s the show.  I think Fringe is a wildly imaginative show.  The writers and the creators of the show, the producers, are very bright and very theatrical.  All the characters are fleshed out wonderfully and the chemistry amongst the cast is terrific.  I wanted to be part of this project.  I enjoy the project. I’m a sucker for a good role and J.J. Abrams, the Executive Producer of the show, is a friend of mine.  He calls.  I take his call.  The writers and producers, Joel Wyman, Jeff Pinkner, and the cast, they’re a wonderful bunch of people and I enjoy being there.  When they called and asked me if I would do it, it was pretty easy to convince me that there was an interesting challenge in the character and a very wonderful company to work with.”

And when asked stupidly obvious questions, like, “If the right show and the right film or the right role came along, are you now seeing yourself as a little more open to doing some more acting or do you still mostly consider yourself retired?” LFN said: “The door is not completely closed.  Obviously, I said a couple of years ago that I was retiring and here I am talking about a performance that I just gave.  There are certain special situations that come along that can intrigue me.  This one did.  As I said before, J.J. Abrams is a friend.  Jeff Pinkner, Joel Wyman, they’re all friends, the producers of the show.” And “It’s nice to get off the couch and throw the clothes on and a little makeup and go back to work every once in a while.  I still enjoy it.  In this case, as I said before, it’s all of the elements that come together at the right time in the right way and I was happy to do it.”

The Napkin and The Spock Doll
“The Big Bang Theory has been an ongoing conversation for a long, long time regarding an appearance.  Some time ago they asked me if I would provide a napkin that I had used and I did.  They used it on the show as a gift to the Sheldon character.  It has become one of the most highly talked about and most highly enjoyed shows of all time I understand.  They are a wonderfully talented bunch of people and it’s a smart show and a show full of talent. They asked me to appear on the show.  For various reasons, a physical appearance didn’t work out but when they came up with this idea of a voicing of the Spock character with Sheldon being given a Star Trek transporter, the whole idea was wonderful.  It was a way for me to deliver a kind of appearance on the show and to work with those very, very talented bunch of people.”

Heroes vs. Villains
When asked if he has a preference for bad guys, LFN laughed warmly and said: “I don’t have a preference for bad people.  No.  I have an interest in playing a broad range of characters.  Obviously, I’m mostly identified with a character who is very responsible and very solid and very intelligent, but there are plenty of questionable characters in my past career.  I’m interested in exploring theatricality and characters with some dimension.  William Bell certainly has that.”

On the Anna Torv Impression
“I saw that.  I thought she was brilliant.  I was very flattered.  I thought she was wonderful.”  But when asked if we’ll see him doing an impression of Anna Torv, LFN said: “I don’t think I could do justice to her the way she did for me.  I don’t think I’m capable of that.  She was quite wonderful and I told her so.”

Oh, Don’t Worry. They’ll Talk.
When asked about returning for Fringe’s final season, LFN said: “I’m sure that we will be having conversations about that before too long.  I haven’t heard anything new about William Bell or the show, except that it has been picked up for 13 episodes, which I think is wonderful.  I know the company was hoping for that that they could have another season to close out successfully.  I haven’t heard anything about Bell coming back, but I’m sure I’ll be getting a call.  We’ll talk about it.  It will depend on my schedule.  It will depend on what they have in mind for the character.  There are a lot of issues that have to be dealt with, but we’ll be talking.”

So keep your fingers crossed, kids.

On working with John Noble
“John is a wonderful actor.  They all are.  Working with John is always a treat and I think the relationship between William Bell and John’s character has been very well written so that we have some delicious scenes to play with each other.  I look forward to it.  When I began working with him I admired what he was doing.  We kind of hit it off personally and in character.  I think the chemistry between the two characters has worked very well.  It was a very satisfying experience working with him.”

On The Cult Show Phenomenon
When asked why Fringe has low ratings, despite it’s loyal fan base (kind of like Star Trek), LFN said: “If I could answer that question I think the networks would all be on me for explanations of what to do about their schedules.  I’m not an authority on ratings and how these things happen.  You’re absolutely right in the comparison to Star Trek.  We did very poorly in the ratings but eventually, the show started to become more and more popular until it became a news story where stations were carrying the show at various hours and various time and sometimes in marathons on weekends and 6:00 every night in syndication. The same thing could happen with Fringe.  I can tell you that when Star Trek was put on a Friday night, which is a date night, not a good night for a show like this, it did very, very poorly.  Fringe has the same kind of audience, a very intense audience, a small audience, but very intense and very committed.  I think it’s commendable that the people at FOX decided to honor that commitment. Now I understand that the show does particularly well in DVR recordings and I don’t know how that works or how they measure that.  What that means is that people who are out on Friday nights record the show and watch it some other time.  That’s a sign of the commitment to the show.”

Monsters? Where?! or, William Bell Gets a Talking To
Reporter: “One of the things I really admired about your career in the last decade or so with the photography and everything is your commitment to humanism.  How does it feel to be portraying a character who turns people into monsters?”
L. Nimoy/LFN: “What’s that about monsters?  I didn’t quite get it.”
Reporter: “Turns people into monsters.”
LFN: “What turns people into monsters?”
Reporter: “You do.  William Bell does.”
LFN: “William Bell turns them into monsters?”
Reporter: “Yes.”
LFN: “Really.”
Reporter: “You have a bunch of—“
LFN: “I’m going to have to talk to him about that.  That’s not a nice thing, is it?”
Reporter: “No, it’s not.”
LFN: “Well, if there is anything I can do about it, I’ll see if I can change his attitude about turning people into monsters.  I’ll have a conversation with him very soon.  I’ll say, ‘William, cut it out’.”

Spock Returns?
When asked if he’ll be appearing in the next Star Trek movie, this is what LFN had to say: “Well, my feeling is they don’t need me.  They’ve got a wonderful cast.  Zachary Quindo has taken on the character of Spock and I think is wonderfully suited.  He is a talented guy.  He is a very intelligent actor, very well trained.  They’ve got a great company of people replacing all of us.  I don’t think they need me, frankly.  It’s flattering to be talked about, but I just don’t think they need me.  I understand, by the way, that they have just finished shooting and they’ve got a wonderful actor, Mr. Cumberbatch, who has a great reputation in the UK and I think is going to build a reputation here in the United States very quickly.  The Sherlock Holmes series that he is famous for in the UK is coming to the United States and I think he’s going to be very quickly recognized as a major talent.  He’s in the movie.  I think they’re going to do just fine.”

The Enterprise: Then and Now
When asked about his feelings about revisiting the Space Shuttle named for the Enterprise, LFN said: “It was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever experienced to see that 747 fly by with the Enterprise Shuttle piggybacked the way they did.  I was out there at JFK when they did their flyby at about 500 feet.  It was an amazing site and then they went around the city.  They went around Manhattan.  They landed right in front of us and I was asked to get up and say a few words. 

I talked about the fact that we, the Star Trek company, had been invited to be there in 1976 when that shuttle was first rolled out out of the hangar and the Air Force band played the theme from Star Trek.  It was thrilling then and it was thrilling now just to see that amazing ship come back home.  It’s going to be parked on the Intrepid in New York City as a part of their permanent museum.  I’m looking forward to being there to visit it there.

 The whole space program has given us, I think, an enormous lift as a people.  It was President Kennedy who said we were going to send a man to the moon and bring him back safely and we did it.  I give so much credit to the scientists and engineers who make these wondrous things happen and I encourage young people to think about the sciences as a future for themselves.”

Star Struck
Moderator: “We have a question from the Voice of TV.  Please go ahead.”
Reporter: “Hello.  Thank you for talking with me.”
LFN: “You are the voice of TV?”
Reporter: “Yes.”
LFN: “Wow!  Hello.”

On The Other Arts
“My wife’s son, Erin Bay Shuck, is a Record Producer at Atlantic Records.  He’s the producer that brought Bruno Mars to the label and signed him.”

Which is presumably why LFN was in a version of “The Lazy Song” video. Which, if you have not seen you should GO AND FIX THAT NOW!

 “I’ve been on his case to let me into the recording study to make some smash hit records.  He hasn’t succumbed to my pleas yet.  I would love to make a smash hit record but we don’t have any definitive plans.”

And as for his photography: “I do still do some of my photography work.  I have a photography website.  It’s Leonardnimoyphotography.com if you want to take a look at the kind of work that I do.  I’ve enjoyed photography ever since I was a teenager and I’m still at it.  I’ve had shows in various cities around the country and I have a number of pieces in permanent collections in museums around the country that I’m very proud of, but as far as the music is concerned, I don’t have any specific plans yet.”

On Being a Pseudo-Secret Comedian
“I love comedy.  I’m not known for comedy, but I love comedy.  I’ve done a lot of it in my lifetime.  The most recent comedy opportunity I’ve had was on the Big Bang Theory show where I had that wonderful funny interaction with the Sheldon character.  It’s not something that I’m known for, but I have done a lot of comedy in my work over the years, mostly in the theater.  Of course, I directed Three Men and a Baby.  Most people are surprised to hear that I made a funny movie.  I love to laugh and I love comedy.”

On The Fringe Folk
“I’m excited about the show.  I’m proud to be connected with Fringe.  I think it’s an intelligent and imaginative and theatrical show.  I told the company when I finished shooting on this particular episode a few weeks ago I said, “You are superior company.  I have never worked with a better company in my entire 60-year career.”  I thanked them all for being who they are and doing what they are and told them how proud I was to be a part of it.”

*spoiler alert*

I was sure, going into the Parks & Rec finale last night, that Leslie Knope would lose the election. All TV characters lose elections because no one likes to move a sitcom forward. But Parks & Rec couldn’t care less about rules like that (other rules they discard: Sam & Diane, cast changeup, idealism aversion). I love every single episode of Parks & Recreation made in the last 2 years and, true to form, I loved the finale.

First of all, Leslie Knope is the sort of character that we need on TV.Jon Hamm has said that every time someone approaches him on the street and says “I want to be just like Don Draper”, her gets a little concerned, because the world seems to want to emulate cool and ignore good. If people would just go up to Amy Poehler on the street and say the same thing, then we’d really be getting somewhere, because the world needs more Leslie Knopes.

Are you kidding me?! How cute is this?!

This season even more than others, the principled, ambitious, loyal brilliance of the character really shone through as she ran for City Council. The loyalty and lovingness of her friends was a major thing too. This season saw Ben & Leslie finally get to be together after a heartbreaking couple months of staying apart (including the heartwrenchingly funny Model UN episode “The Treaty” that saw them go to bitter, lonely, heartbroken war). You’ve gotta love that the best, most interesting couple on TV is Amy Poehler and Adam Scott- no one could have predicted that. The season also brought the unlikely coupling of Ann & Tom (I know, ridiculous, but Aziz Ansari is so wonderful in his sincere moments that it’s totally worth it) and featured the superb recurring guests Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn, the return of Louis CK and a Bradley Whitford walk-and-talk.

In the finale, Ron decided to stay at Parks & Rec even though Chris (who’s sadly becoming a weak point of the show, they’re not sure what to do with him) offered him Ben’s old job as assistant city manager (Ron is a rare Parks & Rec character for whom change is against character and therefore unhelpful). April, meanwhile, found a way to give Andy a real purpose heading into the show’s just-announced 5th season (a smart move considering that Andy’s always gotten more interesting the more he’s grown). Having run Leslie’s campaign fairly brilliantly despite his complete lack of experience (aside from being elected mayor of his hometown at 18), Ben’s heading to DC for 6 months to run a congressional campaign (which, hopefully, means he’ll just be gone over the hiatus and be back for the fall premiere). And Leslie is a City Councilwoman! Thankfully, it’s a part time job, so she’ll stay at the Parks & Rec department, but it also means she’ll moving forward and more storylines will open up.

The finale was so touching that I was close to tears watching Leslie slide her photo onto the wall alongside all of Pawnee’s city councilmen. I love a good dream fulfilled and I love character loyalty, honest friendships and old fashioned dedication, and Parks & Rec‘s fourth season was all about that. About the perseverance it takes to follow a dream and the ragtag devotion of the people you’ve inspired along the way. That sounds cheesy, I know, but I love that Parks & Rec isn’t afraid of being cheesy. It’s funny enough and clever enough to do whatever the hell it wants, and what it wants is to be an idealistic reminder of what we’re capable of. What the Parks & Rec cast and creative team are capable of is being the greatest show on TV.

Season Grade: A+
Finale Grade: A+

Maybe that’s why I had such a hard time investing in this week’s installment, but it also featured some really boring moments. Theon taking over Winterfell should have felt epic (and indeed, it was such a huge betrayal of the Starks and of the man Theon briefly wanted to be), but instead I felt bored. There was a pleasant absurdity to the scene where Theon conquers the great bastion of Stark goodness in the North by simply walking into Brann’s bedroom and telling him it’s conquered. Yet somehow, the moment didn’t entirely stick for me. And the whole seduction scene with Osha was a no-go from the start, and just felt like an excuse to get her naked, even if it did orchestrate Brann, Rickon, Hodor and Osha’s escape from occupied Winterfell.

As for the other Stark boys, there biggest threat in this episode may just be seventeen year old boy hormones. Robb chats up the gorgeous nurse that previously chastised him on the battle field, only to be reminded by his mother that he is promised to someone else. Jon Snow, despite his vow of celibacy, finds himself spending the night with an angry red head who delights in making Snow feel uncomfortable at the feel of her body. It led to my favorite moment of the night: Jon’s “angry cuddling” face, which was as close to adorable romantic comedy as this show gets.

Danaerys’s storyline was particularly hefty, leaving her without dragons and one pissed off Targaryen. But it felt meandering, with her talking to Xaro about how much she deserves power and rebuffing his marriage proposals for most of the episode, and the ending theft of her dragons lacked the punch it should have elicited.

Most of the cool action was reserved for King’s Landing, where Joffrey’s kingly temper tantrums lead to his whole posse getting set upon by the common man. One of the great strengths of the novels is in their ability to visualize the effect that all this kingly drama has on the little people. Around the opulence of the iron throne are thousands of people starving slowly. Here, that bubbles up in terrifying violence that almost sees Sansa murdered. It also gives us a great opportunity to see how smart and terrified Tyrion is by everything going on around him. Sometimes, the show plays Peter Dinklage’s spot-on portrayal as so cooly cunning that you forget that at heart, Tyrion is a guy trying to do the right thing. Here, you see just how deeply he feels for the people around him, and just how little he thinks of Joffrey (plus, bonus slaps!).

Arya, meanwhile, is forced into using her second kill because of her Stark curiousity. I love the relationship between Arya and Tywin, even if it is entirely “made up” for the TV show, and I loved the little dance of recognition that Arya played with Littlefinger tonight. The scenes at Harrenhall need to be a bit more harrowing and damaging to Arya, but I enjoy the moments of levity where Tywin sees the depth and cunning behind Arya’s subservience.

A meh episode of Game of Thrones is still thrilling, funny, and plot-moving-forward-y, but I look forward to the return of Brienne, Jamie, Davos, and (even?) Melisandre in the weeks to come.

This week took last week’s conclusion and fast tracked it. I’m use to discontent playing out quietly in the background for three seasons before anyone does anything about it. For that matter, so is Don Draper. But Meghan is not of the mindset. She’s part of a new generation of people who believe they deserve everything they want (unlike Don, who in my favorite line of the night explains “I was raised in the 30s. Our dream was indoor plumbing.”). So when she realizes that she feels stilted in her current job and that she still yearns to be an actress, she tells Don and quits her job to focus full time on acting.

Don is surprisingly cool about it, too. In fact, we may have seen some actual growth in Draper, as when he explains to Roger that he doesn’t just want Betty 2.0. Joan and Stan may be cynical about Meghan (and about Meghan and Don), but Don is really trying to be supportive and a different man than he was for his first marriage.

Peggy, similarly, has shown tremendous growth throughout this series. One of my favorite moments last week was watching Peggy’s legitimate joy for Meghan’s success. This week, she stood up for Don, for Meghan, and for herself. And when she tries to see the best in Meghan’s leaving (and in Meghan in general), I believe her. And when Don attacks her because he can’t attack Meghan, it’s tremendous to think of the huge jumps that had to occur in their relationship in order to get them to the point where Peggy can silence Don with “You know what, you’re not mad at me, so SHUT UP.”

Showing way less growth is Pete Campbell. Since the first episode of Mad Men, Pete has been a boy trying desperately to convince everyone around him that he’s a man. He’s a manipulator and a striver, and occasionally his desperate yearning has given way to moments of true emotion. But most of the time, he’s trying to paint in the life he thinks he should have.

Early in the episode, Roger calls Pete in to talk to him about a set of skis. Pete struggles to understand the situation, to understand Roger’s role in it, and his relief when he thinks he has figured it out is profound. Similarly, Pete falls into an intense situation with a deeply unhappy woman (played by RORY GILMORE), and is too much of a child to see her use of him for what it is. For a man so adept at manipulating other people, he fails to see the way he is perceived by the people around him. The moments when he is a tool to Roger’s ambition, or to relieve Beth’s hopelessness.

A lot changed this episode, but Mad Men is more about the effects of change than the changes themselves, so there’ll be more to talk about as we watch the ripples of Meghan’s departure and Pete’s new obsession. Not to get too on the nose, but this episode set up the broken, teetering edge of an elevator shaft. We still have to wait to see who’s going to fall down it.

Random Observations:

• Some great humor in tonight’s episode, from Pete’s “do they explode or something?” to Ginsberg’s physical pain listening to the music selection “Turn it off. It’s stabbing me in the f—ing heart.”
• Additionally, Vincent Karatheiser deserves an emmy for his physical comedy with those skis.
• This was probably the best use of Harry in a while
• I almost turned the TV off during that awful Miracle Whip pitch

Sherlock

We pick up right where we left Series 1. Our heroes Sherlock and John are in a showdown with Moriarty. It’s a tense face off, when suddenly the Bee Gees start playing. Moriarty’s cell phone went off, and yes, his ring tone is Staying Alive. Moriarty takes his call and leaves. “Sorry, wrong day to die.” After months and months of speculating of how Sherlock and John get out of that one a live….a phone call? Really? It’s brilliant, because it’s so obvious, but no one I know thought of it before hand. Well played, writers, well played.

Back at 221B Baker Street, Sherlock listens to potential clients, and dismisses them all as too boring. Eventually he gets a case and sends John to the crime scene armed with a web cam. Sherlock views the evidence from the comfort of his flat: a car backfired, and a nearby hiker died from blunt force trauma to the back of his head.

Sherock and John in Buckingham Palace. Sherlock decided not to put on pants.

Sherlock goes to Irene’s, where she is waiting for him. Completely naked. This not only makes John extremely uncomfortable, but renders Sherlock unable to deduce anything about Irene. While Irene flirts with Sherlock, and asks about his hiker case, John goes in the hallway and sets off the fire alarm. Irene instinctively looks to the hiding place of her phone- a safe behind a mirror.

Before Sherlock can guess the combination, CIA agents burst in, demanding Sherlock open the safe. Sherlock manages to figure out the combination (Irene’s measurements). The safe is booby trapped, and it’s just the distraction Sherlock and Irene need to incapacitate the CIA agents. The involvement of Americans has Sherlock intrigued. He guesses that the phone has more than just compromising photos of royals. Irene knocks Sherlock out, and escapes with her phone.

Irene Adler: The Woman

While Sherlock is unconscious, he dreams about Irene. She solves the hiker crime- the hiker was distracted by the car backfiring, hit with his own boomerang and killed. Irene also returns Sherlock’s coat. When Sherlock wakes up, John assures Sherlock Irene wasn’t there. Then Sherlock notices his coat. And his cell phone, which Irene has programmed to make an orgasm sound whenever she texts him, which she does, frequently.

Several months pass. It’s Christmas, and Sherlock finds Irene’s camera phone on hi s mantle, gift wrapped. Sherlock thinks this means Irene is dead, because she told him camera phone was her life. He and Mycroft identify her body at the morgue. Sherlock tries to guess the code to unlock Irene’s phone but isn’t successful.

A couple days later, John is taken to an abandoned building where he expects Mycroft. Instead he finds Irene. Surprise, she’s not dead! She wants John’s help retrieving her phone, but John refuses and tells Irene to tell Sherlock she’s alive.  She texts Sherlock and they hear Sherlock’s ringtone go off just outside the room. He heard the whole thing.

When Sherlock comes home, he finds the CIA agents have taken Mrs. Hudson, his landlady hostage. Sherlock is angry to find that the CIA agents have hit Mrs. Hudson. Nobody roughs up Sherlock’s landlady and gets away with it. He easily overpowers the head agent and throws him out a window. Mrs. Hudson had managed to hide the camera phone from the agents, but Sherlock is still unable to get in it.

Irene shows up at 221B Baker Street. She opens her phone and shows Sherlock an email on her phone containing a code. Sherlock realizes it is a seating arrangement for an airplane, and even works out what flight the email refers to. Irene secretly texts Moriarty this information.

Later that night, Sherlock tells Irene about Coventry in World War II. The Allies knew the Germans were going to bomb it after deciphering a German code. They let Coventry be bombed so the Germans wouldn’t know the Allies were onto them. Sherlock thinks the plane is going to be a similar situation to Coventry. Irene flirts some more with Sherlock and he responds by holding her hand/wrist. But the flirting comes to an end when Mycroft sends for Sherlock.

Mycroft explains that a terrorist cell was planning on blowing up an airplane. Mycroft and the American agents had arranged for a plane to be filled with passengers who were already dead, to fool the terrorists, and save innocent lives. However, since Irene texted Moriarty, this plan has been ruined. A smug Irene shows up. She has a list of demands in exchange for her not releasing any more information.

Mycroft is about to give in to Irene, but Sherlock stops him. Sherlock tells Irene he knows the code to her phone. She got carried away with the game, and let her feelings for him cloud her judgment. Irene scoffs that she never had any feelings for Sherlock, and was just playing him. Sherlock tells her he took her pulse when he held her wrist earlier, and knows she is lying. He solves the code to her phone: I am SHERlocked. Irene asks the Holmes brothers for protection, but is coldly turned down.

Several months later, Mycroft tells John that Irene is dead. She was captured by a terrorist cell and beheaded. Mycroft and John agree to tell Sherlock Irene is in the Witness Protection Program in America. Sherlock accepts this calmly, but asks to keep Irene’s phone. As he looks at it, there is a flashback, revealing Sherlock found Irene and saved her.

Other thoughts: 

Why do modern adaptations always make Irene a baddie? She wasn’t in the original stories, nor did she have anything to do with Moriarty. Just a slight complaint.

I loved the references to the original stories. John writing a blog post titled ‘The Geek Interpreter’ as a reference to ‘The Greek Interpreter’ was particularly funny.

Sherlock using a deerstalker to hide from the press was also hilarious.

This episode had so many quoteable quotes. You are correct, Irene: “Brainy is the new sexy.”

Sherlock played the violin more in this episode than probably in the entire first series combined. It was fabulous!

This episode did a fantastic job of showing Sherlock’s relationship not only with John with the other characters. There were great brother scenes with Mycroft. And Sherlock defended Mrs. Hudson more than once. And he was rude to Molly, but then apologized. He apologized. John is clearly rubbing off on Sherlock and humanizing him.

It’s me (Borah. Just to clarify).

I’m back to rant and rave about The Legend of Korra once more. With feeling (Yeah. Went there). This time it’s Episode 5: “The Spirit of Competition”.

If you’ve just stumbled upon this and are thinking to yourself, “What’s a Korra?” you can read my little intro/catch-up/explanatoryramblefest here.

I feel compelled to warn you that:
a) this may make little-to-no sense out of context, as it will be in the live-blogging style,
b) it will probably have quite a lot of capslocks exclamations (seemingly at random), as well my theories/wishes for plot turns, and probably a lot of comments that are actually just me excitedly repeating quotes from the show,
and
c) it’s one of those days where I’m kind of tired (in a loopy-making way), and feel prone to burst into song out of sheer exhaustion. I’m not sure if this is a thing that other people experience or not, but on the off chance of not, I just thought I’d give y’all a heads up.

Anway.

ONWARDS!

Uh-oh, we start with “Love is in the air.”
I feel about this phrase the way that Timon feels about this phrase
(Yes, Timon from The Lion King. What other important Timons are there?)
Oh god.
I might hate this episode.
For those of you who don’t know me personally, I don’t do well with on-screen love thingies. Romcoms make me shrivel into tiny balls of parasocial/empathetic embarrassment. Capital R Romances make me cringe and/or gag, usually. The well-done romantic elements of other stuff usually ends with me crying (star/time/dimension-crossed lovers, etc) or going “….meh,” and wondering whether the editor could have cut down the mushy junk some more. So, fair warning, this might get crazy (in terms of my reactions).
Also, they’re teenagers.
So much hormones and built-in angst.

“Will love prove to be Korra’s most formidable foe yet?”
Do they have to call it love? Calm down. It’s a crush. And he’s a troubled, scarf-wearing angst machine! Ugh. Teenagers.
I also do realize that I am the oldest 22 year-old ever. GET OFF MAH LAWN!!!

Pro-bending practice. Korra’s there! Way to be on the team, kid.

Ah she’s taking a leave of absence from the task force. Good girl. Better would be to just tell Tarlok to stick it where the sun don’t shine and officially cut all ties. But your way is fine, and my way would probably spin out of control in a media shitstorm. *Le sigh* Proceed.

Ooh. Unnecessary team huddle.
You know you guys are all the only people in the room, right?
What’s the point of sticking your sweaty foreheads on your teammates’ sweaty foreheads?

Oh. It’s to clarify the existence of the love triangle.
Dang it! Bo, I expected more from you.
But to be fair, they planted the seeds early and I should have known.

Crap! Asami’s there!
I irrationally hate her (partly because she’s turning out not to be the Equalist agent I so hoped she would be. Also she’s just so…. NICE. It’s freaky).

Hey, remember that one time when Mako said he’d tattoo his chest with a company’s logo because he’s a moron?
Yeah, these are the uniforms with the logos that the adult businessman went with instead.
Also, it occurs to me that unless Mako spends an odd amount of time sans shirt, that wouldn’t even be a very good marketing plan for the company. And theoretically, he’s never going to be shirtless while he’s in a pro bending match

Asami called Mako “sweetie.”
I have never heard anyone who wasn’t a grandma or Dr. River Song make “sweetie” work.

Oh god. Mako and Asami just rubbed noses.
Gross.
I hate them SO MUCH.

They left them for a lunch date. UGH.

Oh no. BO’S GONNA MAKE A MOVE.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
DON’T DO IT!
IT IS THE WRONG CALL!!
BO, YOU AND KORRA ARE NOT ENDGAME!
THIS WILL ONLY END IN TEARS FOR YOU!
And possibly a lot of bitterness toward your brother, which might cause you to go off the deep end and join Amon and be his new right hand man, and then you and the creepy goggles guy who’s his right hand man can duke it out due to master-jealousy.
…. Never mind, Bo.
Ignore everything I said before.
Chase Korra.
I would love to see this arc happen for you.

Subtle avoid, Korra.

Cut to: The Boys in their (remarkably, unexplainably spacious for poor kids) pad.

Paboo gets a uniform? Also he really seems not to enjoy being bathed.

Also… this Bo vs. Mako over Korra issue might just happen yet.

“I MEANT FOR ME. LEAVE SOME LADIES FOR THE REST OF US!”

Bo is my favorite. La la la la la la. (In my head, this was a song).

“Uh… yeah. That’s what I thought you meant.”
Meathead—I mean, Mako. You fool no one.
Also, can you actually be undecided while full-on dating Asami? I guess people do this in real life, but it’s always baffled me there too.
Like, doesn’t dating the one PRETTY EFFECTIVELY tell the other that they’re second string or something?
People be crazy.

“BRO, YOU’RE NUTS. KORRA AND I ARE PERFECT FOR EACH OTHER! She’s strong – I’m strong! She’s fun – I’m fun! She’s beautiful – I’m GORGEOUS!”
Oh Bo, you are gorgeous. And the best.

Mako points out that dating a teammate (especially during the tournament) is a dumb move.
Meathead has a point.

Whereas dating the sponsor’s daughter is a shark move.
Can you tell I don’t love him?

“You know what I’m talking about Paboo. Talking about real love.”
Oh Bo, first of all, you’re hilarious but wrong. And second of all, all of your dreams will be crushed. My condolences.

Cut to: Korra and Tenzin’s girls making girl talk

Eldest Tenzin Girl, I like you so much, but you’re weirdly reminding me of a prowling divorcee/pushy older aunt in your exposition fairyness right now.

“TELL US ALL ABOUT THE MAGICAL ROMANCE!”
Little girls, man.

“I’m—I’m, I’m not into Mako. Or any romance stuff.”
Good cover. I’m sure you sold them with that, Korra.

“But let’s just pretend: If I were… what would I do?”
…Are you seriously asking for romantic advice from elementary schoolers?
How did that sound like a good plan in your head?
Also, I realize now that Korra doesn’t have any friends her own age (other than Bo and Mako. But clearly, they would not help right now). Poor kid.

Who will she dye her hair stupid colors with?
And watch 10 Things I Hate About You (NOT THE SHOW) with?
And have the rest of this what-to-do-about-my-boy conversation with?
…
No joke, the world can be pretty cruddy without a best friend.
And if you were wondering, 10 Things far exceeds it genre and IS AWESOME.
And I’m pretty sure I can quote the whole thing.
Mr. Stratford’s lines are my favorite.

Writers, could you give Korra a best friend please?
Triangle participants DO NOT COUNT. And neither does Poppa Tenzin.

Back on the farm…

“I recently read a historical novel …”
Of course you did. This is why you’re great.

The other one wants Korra to make a love potion and eat clouds. Or something.

THE WRITERS HEARD ME!!
But they made the best friend actually a wise woman. And it’s Tenzin’s wife Pema.
Maybe this’ll be good for Korra.
Please let them be besties, despite age difference and the fact that Pema has looked about ready to deliver that baby since Ep. 1.

Advice giving.
Ooh. The (very short) story of Tenzin and Pema.
Who was the Asami in that equation?
I really want it to be Chief Beifong. Writers, can that be real, please? Don’t play coy; I know you can hear me.

Uh-oh, Korra’s smiling.
She’s going to do something stupid about Mako. I just know it.
ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU DO NOT GO FOR A DUMB JEALOUSY-MAKING PLOY BY DATING BOLIN!!! YOU CANNOT DO THAT!!! OKAY?!

Cut to: The Pro-Bending Match

Oh, THAT’S what that announcer looks like.

Also, The Fire Ferrets are now The Future Industries Fire Ferrets.
Grody.

The Fire Ferrets are winning super easily. Shut out?

SHUT OUT!!!!

Meathead: “Wow. We were really connecting out there in that ring.”
Uh oh.
Korra: “Yeah-“
No no no nononononononononononononono
Don’t do it, Korra!
Still Korra: “-I feel like the two of us have really been connecting well out of the ring, too.”

ACK!!!
Korra, why you do this?!

K: “So I was thinking that we should spend—“
HORRIBLE AWKWARD CONVERSATION.
RUN AWAY!!

Korra: “LOOK, I REALLY LIKE YOU AND I THINK THAT WE’RE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER!”
Ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod
Whaaaaa? WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?!!!!

I may have said all of the above out loud. And my voice may have reached new, previously unexplored octaves. They are not pleasant and you are happy that pitch cannot be communicated here.
Trust me.

“Sorry I just don’t think of you that way”
And he’s wearing the wince face.
*Shudder* I hate these scenes, and OH GOD, WHAT IF THE WRITERS REALLY DON’T MAKE KORRA AND MAKO ENDGAME?!!!!
And then it’ll be awkward like this FOREVER/til the end of the season at least.
Oh god.
I think my heart would explode.

Oh, and now Asami’s here, being grossly sweet. I really do hate her. But I’ve been told that I have issues with randomly hating The Pretty Girl. So maybe some of my issues are seeping through here. But she’s a cartoon, so I don’t really think they are (even I am not THAT ludicrous). I think I just hate her ‘cause she seems to have no personality of her own beyond blanket niceness, and she’s moneyed but otherwise useless.

Korra is in a tragic violin-assisted fugue state.
Bo, now is NOT the time to press your suit, okay?

“I don’t feel very date-worthy.”
Oh, Korra.
Mah heart, u haz it.
This is when you should go find Pema and tell her that her plan sucked and do the stereotypical girl thing and eat ice cream (which is stereotypical, blah blah blah, but who doesn’t like ice cream? Come on) and watch movies….
or listen to radio programs, I guess.

Bo’s speech!
It’s adorable, and something I’m pretty sure every person ever wants to hear at some point, but also going to cause some Trouble.
Yes. That capital T is there on purpose.
To indicate the magnitude of the trouble.
It will be big Trouble.

Also, Korra, it’s not your fault that you don’t know this (because you have no best friend. This is prime best friend discussion material)—
But you don’t date guys just because they like you.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK THAT YOU’RE MEANT TO BE WITH THEIR OLDER BROTHER!!!
This is just common sense, brought to you by your parasocial, out-of-world surrogate best friend Borah.

And, naturally, Mako is making crazy faces all during this exchange.
Because it ain’t over yet, folks.
Oh man. I might end up feeling bad for Asami by the end of this. Crud.
But who knows, maybe it’ll make her grow a personality.
That would be great.

“YES! WHO’S THE LUCKIEST GUY IN THE WORLD? RIGHT HERE, BOLIN!”
It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die.

Cut to: Date with Korra and Bo and noodles.

Man, I am way too suggestible about food.
When I watch cop shows/SVU all I want is donuts or the inevitable Chinese take out they eat when they’re up at all hours trying to crack the case.
Right now all I want is noodles.

Also, Bo, your insecurity is showing.

And Korra, I am also curious. Who IS that creepy guy in the corner?

“That’s Tano, and the Wolfbats. Reigning champs three years running. DON’T MAKE EYE CONTACT!”
Bo, this is why you’re great.
But really, Tano’s harem thing is really making me crinkle my nose in irkedness.

I love that Bo’s response to fear/impending confrontation is to stuff his face. Me too! I mean, for me it’s usually preceded by me running away, but still!

Oh god, he hasn’t even started talking yet, and I can already tell that this guy’s gonna drawl, and drag words out in a creepy/superior way.
No me gusta

“Weeell, welllll, welllll.”
Oh god I was super right.

Oh, please don’t hit on Korra right now. I’m at my limit with you already.

“If you wanna know how a real pro bends, I could give you some private lessons.”
WHAT DID I JUST SAY!?!?!

Ew. Nose to nose challenge but still with the remember-when-he-hit-on-you-5-seconds-ago-why-would-you-put-your-face-that-close-to-his-face?! things.

Bo providing sidebar of useful information: like that hitting Tano will result in disqualification from the tournament. You know, random trivia type stuff.

FACE OFF!!!

Korra can do that awesome whistle thing (I can barely regular whistle, and find this skill really impressive. Even in cartoon characters). She uses it to call her polar bear dog, which roars at Tano and makes him squeal in fear.

It really annoys me that Tano makes large, general hand gestures, and thus commands his flock.
I’m sure we’ll meet again. Ick. Probably toward the end of the episode.

Bo adores her. Crud.

Cut to: Korra and Bo, drinking soda.

They have a burp-off, which horrifies the people sitting near them. But endears them to each other.
This is going to be messy.

Cut to: Bo and Korra on the balcony of a building.

Oh, no. She’s making dumb tourist faces and he’s making the sparkly Isuperloveyou face at her
NO NO NO NO NO!!!

Cut to: Korra walking up stairs.

Our favorite Meathead is there.

“What kind of game are you playing?”
“Uh… pro bending”
Nice, Korra. Nice.

Oh no, confrontation time!
THIS IS WHY YOU NEED A BEST FRIEND, KORRA!!! NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF YOU’D HAD A RESPONSIBLE BEST FRIEND!!

Accusations of manipulation and jealousy!
No, I’m just looking out for my little bro!
No you’re not, you secretly love me, but also your random girl!
I HATE ROMANCE.
CAN WE STOP NOW?!

“What? Jealous? Pfft. Don’t be ridiculous!”
“Admit it! You like me.”
“No! I’m with Asami.”
“Yeah. But when you’re with her you’re thinking about me, aren’t you?”
OH MY GOD THIS IS REAL AND THIS IS HAPPENING AND I’M HYPERVENILATING AND MAKO AND KORRA ARE FIGHTING AND WHY???!!!!
I mean, I know why they’re fighting BUT WHY WOULD SHE SAY THAT?!
OUT LOUD?!!!!
DO THESE PEOPLE NOT HEAR THEMSELVES SPEAK?!

So… this match is going to go really well, huh?

Cut to: In the probending ring

Korra slams right into Mako, causing them to lose the round.
Naturally.

Bo’s the only sensible one.
And his reaction to impending poverty is to train his pet to perform minor circus tricks on the street.
Just sayin’.
This is where we are right now.

Oh, we’ve never seen a pro bending tie before.
Apparently they go into a coin toss for element choice and then a sort of duel between the bender of that element from each team.
Interesting.

Bo is taking charge, steppin’ up and whatnot.

Bo wins!

Cut to: Korra and Mako outside

Oh no, more confrontation spillyourguts times for Korra and Mako.
My life is full of struggle right now.

“You’ve made it clear how you feel about me.”
“No, I haven’t.”
NO NO NO!!
STOP RIGHT THERE!
JUST TAKE THIS LITTLE EMOTIONFEST OFF CAMERA PLEASE!

They’re not listening to me.

And now he’s rambling and stuff about “it’s really complicated” which bugs me, ‘cause I don’t know, it implies that she wouldn’t understand or something. Which is stupid. She’s right there, it’s not like there’s a whole lot of back-story that she missed and you have to explain or something. Also, Mako, it’s not really that complicated, you’re just being dumb about this.
KORRA’S KISSING HIM!

Obligatory dramatic music swell

Uh oh.
That’s Bolin.
And now his little marshmallow feeling are about to be decimated.
Oh god.

He’s holding flowers.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
(Man I feel like Luke Skywalker today)

And now he’s crying.
As much as I love him, it’s pretty hysterical actually.
It’s not my fault! It’s the way he’s crying! It’s funny!

And if he’s crying comically now, it means he’ll live and get over it.
…
…But he probably also won’t become Amon’s new right hand man.
….
…Now my dreams are broken.

Mako and Korra are fighting.
Again.
They’re going to be pains in the patooks, aren’t they?

“Well played, Korra.”
Indeed.
But don’t worry. I’m still petitioning for that best friend to come through, so maybe that’ll help in future.

Cut to: Mako looking for Bo

Aw. He’s at the water tribe restaurant. Eating his feelings.
Like you do.
And now in a snot-covered food coma.

And I’m currently also considering the possibility that Bo’s noodles were alcoholic.

Mako is literally carrying Bo over his shoulder out of the restaurant.

“I told you dating a teammate was a bad idea.”
“YOU’RE A BAD IDEA.”
I think we can all agree, Bo’s got a point there.

They are going to suck at this match, aren’t they?

Cut to: The Match

Well… that’s going about as well as expected.

Uh-oh, Bolin is losing his noodles.
Grody.

Bo! You are really pretty awesome almost all the time! Pull yourself together! She was never your endgame! So find yourself a nice Moon Princess or Kyoshii warrior!

Also, I’m pretty sure that Flameo was something Aang used to say when they were in the fire nation colonies.
Easter eggs make me feel warm and fuzzy.

The Fire Ferrets are full of struggle.
And friendly fire.
SYMBOLISM!

Oh, Korra, you really do have to stop assaulting authority figures.

Everyone’s defeatist.

Bo’s hurt!

Mako’s concerned for him!
Their bromance is intact!

It’s all down to Korra to win the match.
Naturally.

Symbolistic bro handshake!

“Are … we gonna be okay?”
“Of course we will. We’re brothers.”
“Girls, man.”
“Seriously.”

Good talk, boys.

AMBIGIOUS EVEN-THOUGH-STUFF-IS-PRETTY-CONFUSING-RIGHT-NOW-BECAUSE-WE’RE-ALL-JUST-SACKS-OF-RAGING-HORMONES-LET’S-ALL-STILL-BE-FRIENDS,-OKAY? BLANKET COMMENT BY KORRA.

This means she and Mako are still TOTALLY ENDGAME.
But we’ll deal with it later.

Tano’s back. And he’s being really lame and obnoxious.

Asami’s back, being sweet and warm to Korra.
Oh yeah, remember that she exists?
I hate her, I really do. And she hasn’t done anything wrong, she’s JUST SO BLAH IT KILLS ME.

“If we’re all done with the thank you party, I’m in need of some medical attention over here.”

Korra’s all, I can help and Bo’s all
“Gah! HAVEN’T YOU HURT ME ENOUGH, WOMAN!!!”
He’s gonna be fine.
Attaboy.

Oh, she’s a healer!
Oh right, Katara was her teacher!
(I wonder if she knows how to blood bend. I’m assuming not, but man, that might be a useful dark twist come final battle time with Amon!)

Bolin and Korra repairing their friendship:
“I had a great time, honestly. You’re one of a kind, Bolin.”
“Please. Go on. I enjoy praise.”
BECAUSE YOU’RE AWESOME!!!

The Wolfbats won in like five seconds flat.

And there are threats that the Fire Ferrets will need a good doctor after they play the Wolfbats.

THAT’S IT?!

THAT’S THE END?!
Geez.

Okay, so it’s wasn’t my favorite episode ever, because of the mushy junk/angst machines, but at the same time, they managed to keep the humor and avoid devolving into totally self-important crazy people, and clearly, I had a lot of emotions throughout.

See you next week!

Borah, over and out.

Series two of the amazing modern update of Sir Conan Authur Doyle’s sleuth returns to PBS Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday May 6th, and the public channel will air the three 90 minute episodes every Sunday for the first three Sundays of May consecutively, just as BBC One did last January starting on New Years Day. Having already viewed series two on the previously mentioned specialty channels, I can tell fans of Sherlock who are eagerly awaiting its debut on PBS that your wait will be well rewarded with what I honestly believe is the best show I’ve seen on the tube so far in 2012. Fans of series one are in for a great treat this month as they are about to watch three amazing episodes, right up to the thrilling and mysterious conclusion. And unlike the previous season, series two actually tackles some of the most popular stories written about the super intelligent sleuth:

Lara Pulver joins the show as the infamous ‘Irene Adler’, a delicious addition to an already impressive cast.

On May 6th, the second series starts with “A Scandal In Belgravia”; a modern story loosely based on “A Scandal In Bohemnia”, which introduces us to one of Sherlock’s most challenging foes, the stunning Irene Adler. Written by the show’s creator Steven Moffat (who also plays Sherlock’s brother) and directed by Paul McGuigan, the story begins where we left off in season one, the standoff with Moriarty, and then quickly moves on to the new story, which is exciting and unpredictable. The role of Irene Adler is played deliciously by Lara Pulver, she not only holds her own as the complex character but at times steals scenes from Holmes and Watson. You will find her and the story intriguing and very playful.

The first episode sets a very high bar, as the mystery is complex and has you guessing right until the very end. Even the most useless moments all tie up in the end, leaving nothing untouched. Stealing the show mostly was Pulver’s stunningly sexy performance as Adler. She is able to do something that no villain in this series was able to do and throw Holmes off his game, get him to even question himself for just a moment. It was that pause that gives us a glimpse of the compassion and humanity that Holmes is capable of showing. To watch them joust on the screen is like watching two people in a mental kung fu battle where each move is countered over and over and over again until someone makes a mistake. You stay glued to the television, afraid to turn away out of fear you’ll miss that one detail that opens your eyes to what’s going on. Quite a fitting opening salvo for the episodes that are to follow in the coming weeks.

A little slower, but very exciting… the Hound is out there.

The next week, on May 13th, fans will be able to enjoy a movie based on what was my favourite Sherlock Holmes tale; “The Hounds of the Baskervilles”. This retelling takes place in a small town that is accused of doing illegal testing in the area and its township. While the episode does offer familiar qualities one would expect from the popular novel, it’s still delivered without hurting the elements that make this series so popular. It’s a very character-driven episode, and you learn a great deal about each character in this stunning thriller.

What I liked most about this episode is that it presents us with a supernatural element that’s unexpected, and it’s interesting to watch the principal characters respond to it. Just the revelation of something this weird manages to bring out something in Holmes and Watson we don’t expect, and it makes for very entertaining television. All “Hounds” does is present the kind of madness that the show is capable of doing before finally sending us all right over the edge.

Jim Moriarty: “Every fairytale needs a good old fashion villain.”

The series will then come to a dramatic and shocking end on May 20th with “The Reichenback Fall”, an episode that finally pits Holmes against Jim Moriarty, the standoff we’ve all been waiting for. In this thrilling and epic final episode of series two, Holmes and Moriarty focus on ‘The Final Problem’, the same title of Doyle’s infamous final book. The script of the finale is penned brilliantly by Steve Thompson, who brought us last series’s ‘Blind Banker’. Without spoiling a single thing, this episode will shock many viewers and leave them in awe, and likely make them spend the next year trying to figure out what happened.

Last series, I was a little iffy about the character of Moriarty, but after series two I am super impressed with the disposition of the super villain and the exceptional actor who brings him to the small screen. Jim Moriarty, brilliantly portrayed by Andrew Scott, is more advanced and sinister the closer we get to the end of series two, with some of the best acting I’ve seen on television from a villain in a long time. This caps off a great series with a stunning finish that leaves you wanting so much more. But we’ll have to wait until next year, or perhaps even longer until all is revealed.

If you’re a fan of series one, the second will not disappoint. It’s more advanced, more gutsy and takes on some of the best works Doyle ever wrote about his super sleuth. Series two doesn’t fail to bring the goods and I am very confident that viewers on PBS are in for a great month as they enjoy each episode like so many fans did last January. Enjoy the series and then stand in line with the rest of us as we continue to eagerly wait for the release of series three, which has already been approved by the BBC. That’s a good thing because, in my humble opinion, Sherlock is the best show on the tube right now and I’m dying to see more. Watch these three amazing episodes and find out that, like the character, Sherlock has no equal.