Photo Credit: Quantrell D. Colbert/The CW.
Read on for my recap & review of The Vampire Diaries 3×12, “The Ties That Bind,” aired Thursday, January 19, 2012:
Anything exciting happen in this episode? Oh, just the return of Elijah. Eliiiiiijaaaaaahhhhh! Ahem. Let me compose myself. Eliiiiiiiijaaaaaaahhhh! Okay, okay, I’ll get there. I’ll get there. Ahem. What else happened? Oh yeah, that stuff. Sigh. “The Ties That Bind” was a bit of a mixed bag. A number of the plot developments felt a bit incongruous in the context of the excellent third season. After proving that he’s beyond the whole Elena obsession, Stefan was stalking Elena again? Elena confessed to Stefan that she kissed Damon … in a moment of groan-inducing timing? (Seriously, my Twitter timeline collectively groaned.) Bonnie’s long lost witch mother was revealed to have known about the doppelgänger for years and to have entombed Mikael … and yet the reveal took place in a tepid expositional scene that failed to move me? The central dramatic tension relied on a bond between two people we’ve never met before? Tyler brought in the man who tortured Caroline—Tyler helped rescue Caroline from Torture!Daddy’s clutches, remember—to help win her back? The episode just felt a bit off. Nevertheless, there were some highly entertaining parts—particularly the Alaric-Damon scenes. In fact, this episode was surprisingly hilarious, you guys! We needed some funny. I mean, there was even that part where Tyler attacked Torture!Daddy. Hilarious! Still laughing! Hee. And then there was the final scene. BOOM. On to the recap …
Bonnie’s dreaming of coffins again. Well, more correctly, one coffin, and it’s more like a nightmare. Witches’ lives are the worst. In the opening scene, Bonnie is back in that clearing in the woods from season one, but this time it’s a graveyard, featuring the headstones of a bunch of Bennetts. R.I.P. Sheila. Never forget. Also, in the clearing: the unopenable coffin. Klaus appears and says he figured out how to open it, then he attacks. Cut to darkness. Bonnie wakes up IN the coffin. Aaaagh! Her phone doesn’t work, so she starts yelling for someone to let her out. She tries to use magic, but it doesn’t work. Fiiiiiinally, someone opens the lid, bathed in a beautiful light. It’s Persia White, a.k.a. Bonnie’s mom. You can tell she’s a witch, because she clearly hasn’t aged in the 18 years since she gave birth to Bonnie. Those Bennetts have good genes.
Cut to Elena and Bonnie discussing said dream … in the old Witch House. What?! Bonnie is showing Elena the coffins and explaining everything!? What?! So much for keeping it a secret. She does a little more Original math for the benefit of Elena and the audience. Four coffins. Three coffins contain Elijah and two other family members, plus one mysterious coffin that won’t open. Bonnie’s dreams make her think that the locked coffin will help kill Klaus. Could the dreams be coming from the Original Witch, perhaps? Then Stefan enters, annoyed that Bonnie spilled the beans. Bonnie argues the weakest excuse in history: she needs Elena’s help to find the woman from her dream. Really, Bonnie? Really? Must be Elena’s amazing detective skills. (Though, on an emotional character note, I can totally understand why Bon would want her best friend’s support on this.) Bonnie reveals that she figured out that the woman in her dream is her mom, showing off an adorable picture of her toddler self with her mother. Title card. read more…
Photo Credit: HBO.
I am definitely intrigued by Luck, an upcoming series set to premiere on January 29th at 9pm on HBO. Here is the official description from HBO: “From acclaimed director Michael Mann and Deadwood creator David Milch, Luck takes a provocative look at the world of horse racing – the owners, gamblers, jockeys and diverse gaming industry players.” As a fan of Deadwood, I can’t wait to see another TV project from the mind of Milch, and a look at the world of horse racing seems like a good fit for him. Luck stars the legendary Dustin Hoffman as Chester “Ace” Bernstein, a long-time gambler, released from prison in the pilot episode. The series will follow his involvement in the Santa Anita race track, on a mission to settle a score. Other cast includes Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Richard Kind, Ian Hart, Kevin Dunn, Ritchie Coster, Jason Gedrick, Jill Hennessy, Tom Payne, Kerry Condon, Gary Stevens and Nick Nolte. You can take a closer look in the teaser, trailer, and behind-the-scenes video below:
Well ... at least you had a good hair day, Caroline. That's something. Photo Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW.
Read on for my recap & review of The Vampire Diaries 3×11, “Our Town,” aired Thursday, January 12th, 2012:
Happy Birthday, Caroline Forbes! Or should I say … Happy Funeral? You may not have gotten everything you wanted, but the audience got an amazing episode of The Vampire Diaries. You’re such a selfless heroine. Plus, to paraphrase Buffy, the important thing is that you began a special birthday tradition of gut-wrenching misery and horror. Hurrah!
This episode was an important turning point for a number of our characters. Caroline said goodbye to her human life, with the help of her friends. Elena put to rest her past self as well, facing the truth of how much she has changed. Jeremy said goodbye to his loved ones, off to new adventures in Denver. We also learned the true strength of the sire bond, as Tyler was forced to do the worst thing he could possibly do (boo, Klaus!). And finally, Stefan proved how far he was willing to take this whole bad-boy thing, much to Elena’s chagrin. (Answer: way way way way too far.) All in all, it was a very emotionally powerful episode of The Vampire Diaries. Oh, and SPOILER ALERT: Matt was perfect. On to the recap …
“I’m walking on sunshine! Woooo oooo! I’m walking on sunshine! Woooo hooo!” What? What’s that sound I hear? Oh, it’s just Damon taking a shower, filled to the brim with happiness after last night’s kiss. Well, it’s important to enjoy the small joys in life, as I’m sure horrible things are bound to happen soon. read more…
Photo Credit: Bob Mahoney/The CW.
Read on for my recap & review of The Vampire Diaries 3×10, “The New Deal,” aired Thursday, January 5th, 2012:
I have three recaps to catch up with (I know, right?), so this one is going to be quick. First of all, hurrah for the return of The Vampire Diaries! If you’re reading this, you made it through the long and dark hiatus, so pat yourself on the back. This might even mean that you could stand a chance of survival in Mystic Falls. Oh … who am I kidding? That place is a hellmouthy death trap. It’s a miracle anyone’s still alive. On the plus side, there’s a seemingly bottomless supply of alcohol to keep the townspeople’s pain dulled. Keep on keeping on, Scoobies. We’re rooting for you to get through the week.
“The New Deal” was an excellent return for TVD, picking up where we left off in November. Remember how Stefan stole Klaus’s coffins and then called him to gloat about it? Revenge-Stefan is a barrel of laughs, I tell you. However, with Stefan holding onto Klaus’s family, the rest of the Scooby Gang is left paying the price. Klaus is NOT pleased. Revenge-Stefan doesn’t give a damn, however, because he’ll make Klaus pay even if it kills him … and everyone else he knows. Oh, how far the youngest Salvatore brother has come. He may be basically horrible right now, but he has never been more fun to watch. He gives me the scary shivers, you guys. Shivers! While Damon is not too happy about this turn of events, particularly Elena’s vulnerability, he and his little bro have a heart to heart (involving fisticuffs), eventually entering into a partnership with Bonnie to keep the coffins hidden. There has just got to be another way to destroy Klaus, and they are determined to find it. Go team!
Coffin-hiding -Klaus-destroying wasn’t the only titular “new deal” made in the episode. Elena also made a deal with Klaus to trade Rebekah for Jeremy. She actually shows Klaus the dirty dungeon floor where poor Beks is still lying face down, all corpsified; and Klaus agrees to spare Elena’s little brother. However, this doesn’t ease Elena’s mind, as Klaus isn’t exactly the most trustworthy. He is still obsessed with getting back what Stefan stole. So, Elena, Damon, and Alaric all agreed that Jeremy should be compelled and sent out of town. Say WHA-?!?! Yeah, more on that horrible idea later. read more…
Photo Credit: ABC Family/ Felicia Graham.
On Saturday, Francesca and I recorded a new podcast. We started with discussion of Pretty Little Liars 2×15, “A Hot Piece of A,” aired January 9th, 2012. Then, at the 16:18 mark, we talked about The Lying Game 1×12, “When We Dead Awaken,” aired January 9th, 2012. Discussion of Revenge 1×12, “Infamy,” aired January 11th, 2012, is next, at the 29 minute mark. Finally, we raved over Bring It On: The Musical, our new favorite thing, at the 39:35 mark. Subject matter ranged from the symbolism of Aria’s spider necklace, to the weak sauce explanation of the titular Lying Game, to crazy paternity reveals, and a dancing leprechaun. There are also some tangents, in which we touched upon Supernatural, Cougar Town, Gilmore Girls, and Downton Abbey. You can listen to the podcast on the player below, or subscribe via iTunes.
Photo Credit: Showtime.
Showtime’s new dark comedy, House of Lies, premieres this Sunday, January 8th, at 10 p.m. PT/ET. However, you have the opportunity to watch it now, for free, streaming online. Please note: it contains mature content, not suitable for all viewers. I have embedded it below, but you can also access the video via iTunes and Showtime’s official site.
I didn’t love it. I found the plot and the characters somewhat off-putting and difficult to connect with. However, the stellar cast, including Don Cheadle as Marty and Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars!) as Jeannie, will keep me tuning in. It definitely has potential, and I hope that it will find its legs soon. Plus, the actor who plays Marty’s son is incredibly charming and adorable. I found myself very invested in whether or not he would play Sandy in Grease. The premise of House of Lies relies on the inner workings and power plays at Galweather & Stearn, a company that does … something I have yet to figure out. It’s all very high-powered, money-money-money, and ruthless business moves. However, Marty’s family, as mentioned previously, provide a hint at a heart and soul to the show. We shall see.
In preparation for the upcoming series, Showtime has launched a new website: GalweatherStearn.com. Check it out for an imaginative and closer look at the series. According to the press release: “The Galweather & Stearn site will serve as the main hub for all digital content for HOUSE OF LIES, including a look at the inner-workings of the firm, character bios, and a ‘Personal Power Points’ application. The app allows fans to connect using Facebook or LinkedIn, and receive a mock personalized consult from the Galweather A-Team on their work or love life.” Pretty fun idea, right? I love when companies come up with interactive ideas like this. Enjoy!
Photo Credit: Showtime.
An exciting weekend of TV is ahead of us, people. The second season of Shameless is set to premiere on Sunday, January 8th, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime. Finally! I’ve been impatiently waiting for more of the Gallaghers since the finale in March of last year. Woot! Bonus: Showtime is offering a Free Preview Weekend from Friday, January 6 through Sunday, January 8. U.S. viewers will have the opportunity to sample the network’s programming, including the Shameless premiere and the series premiere of the new comedy House of Lies.
Here’s the press release for the upcoming season: “Season two of SHAMELESS finds our favorite dysfunctional family braving the heat and humidity of summertime in Chicago, trying to keep cool…and Frank (William H. Macy) out of trouble. Bearing the de facto parent badge/burden, Fiona (Emmy Rossum) spends her nights working at a nightclub and her days keeping an eye on her siblings as they run a makeshift daycare center at the house. As usual, the motley brood somehow manages to hold down the fort and make sure the bills are paid, the lights are on and there is food on the table.” Hmmm. Summer craziness in January. I like it. Also, that whole makeshift daycare center is sure to implode pronto. For a closer look, check out the trailer and two short clips below. I’m worried about poor Lip’s heart, you guys. Very worried.
Things aren't so "pretty" in Rosewood right now. Photo Credit: ABC Family/Danny Feld.
On Monday, January 2nd, 2012, ABC Family aired the winter premieres of Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game. My sister Paeleena joined me to discuss all the crazy and mysterious happenings in Rosewood, and the possiblity of twin-on-twin violence in Phoenix. Pretty Little Liars is up first, and The Lying Game discussion starts at the 21:43 mark. We tested out my new mic, so hopefully the sound quality is improved. You can listen on the player below, or subscribe via iTunes. Enjoy!
Photo Credit: Quantrell Colbert/The CW.
Read on for my recap and review of The Vampire Diaries 3×09, “Homecoming,” aired Thursday, November 10th, 2011:
Remember that episode that aired two months ago? You know, last year? Homecoming? I’m finally going to recap it. With a brand new episode of The Vampire Diaries set to air tomorrow, January 5th, 2012, I have no more room for procrastination. I found the file with all my notes for “Homecoming,” and it all seems to make sense … except for a cryptic “Elijah and Alaric should form a club.” Why would I have written that? Please share your guesses in the comments. Also, in case you missed it, I did write a short post about “Homecoming” back in November, in which I shared some of my immediate (and sometimes faulty) reactions. Now, let’s get into the detail, armed with multiple viewings, and the wisdom of a whole new year. Read on to refresh your memories about where our favorite show left off pre-hiatus, and to reflect on what has happened so far in this crazy season.
The episode opens on Stefan calling Klaus to tell him that his father is dead. And guess what? He wasn’t even lying. However, Mikael’s death was a bit temporary at this point. Shhh, don’t tell Klaus. Also, Stefan used the sassy skills that he learned on the road with Klaus: “My mistake. Not your actual father, not dead. Mikael … daggered. What do you want me to do with the body?” Oh, Sassy Stefan. You are fun. P.S. Klaus was in Portland. Presumably hunting werewolves to turn into hybrids. So, now we know there are werewolves in Portland. I always suspected.
Cut to one hour earlier. The plotting! So much delightful plotting in this episode. (Perhaps too much plotting, to be honest.) Stefan, Elena, and Damon have been up to all sorts of stuff. They vervained Mikael and found that he had a dagger, which he had planned to use on Rebekah. (Not sure how certain all this stuff is. Assumed?) Anyway, an hour ago, Mikael was dagger-free and plotting. Presumably, the Scoobies convinced Mikael to join forces with them, united in the goal of killing Klaus. Mikael explains that a vampire can’t dagger an Original without dying, so it falls to Elena. Plus, Elena has had all that practice. Mikael actually wants Elena to dagger him, in order to lure Klaus back to town.
I mean, you all wanted to see this picture again, right? You're welcome. Photo: Bob Mahoney/The CW.
How are you handling the hiatus, Vampire Diaries fans? Over at Vampire-Diaries.net, they’re hosting a series of posts by bloggers and recappers to help you through this dark time, featuring the top moments of season 3 (so far). I wrote one, featuring some of my favorite moments on the show this year: Top 3 Moments of Vampire Diaries Season 3 (So Far): Lucia of Heroine TV | Vampire-Diaries.net. We all know that Katherine’s hair is the best part of the show, but I tried to dig a little deeper. You can read everyone else’s awesome lists here.
