Stuff about television.
“Look around, big brother. What do you got?” (Eli)
What a bad-ass follower to the stunning season 2 premiere. A bit more action, a bit more plot and a little faster narrative tempo was all it needed, apparently. It gives us the impression more things are going on in one episode – even if they’re really not. In fact, this episode completely ignored one thing constantly criticized about the series: the uneven focus on its main characters. Which I gladly care nothing about.
“Do you want to talk about it?” (Lincoln Lee)
The two previous episodes established the new world in which Fringe’s fourth season enrolls perfectly. We got a grip on the characters – how Peter’s removal from existence changed them versus what essentially stayed the same. The only character I could not quite grasp was Walter. Had Saint Claire’s made him even crazier? Was it really that simple? Turns out it wasn’t: in Alone in the World, Fringe dives into an old man’s broken heart.
“You’ll be judged by what you succeed at, boy, not by what you attempt.” (Commodore)
Boardwalk Empire returns after what felt like an eternal hiatus. Over the course of the years, the series got very polarizing reviews. A lot of people, especially critics, felt is was the best thing since sliced bread (or Deadwood); others, however, criticized the show’s slow pace and focus on certain characters exaggerated. Those people just wanted to see more Chalky White. And they got their wish.
“Stop acting like you care.” (Jimmy)
Boy, what a spectacular end to the first season. Characters that didn’t interact during the entire season suddenly stood face to face once more to blow up bridges that ultimately built new ones that will come into play in the second season. Let’s dig in, shall we?
“I’ve always thought there were people who leave an indelible mark on your soul. An imprint that can never be erased.” (Broyle)
Exciting things are happening on the Fringe front. Seriously: who has the guts to temporarily remove a lead character from a series like this? Sure, you can start waving the Charlie Sheen flag all you want, but Two and a half men didn’t start a new timeline/dimension/universe/whatever to remove him from the show. What Fringe did is more radical: it removed him in a way that he was never there. But once you take that ballsy step, where do you? What do you tell?
“I’ve got gout… of the dick!” (Jason)
Whenever we watch an episode of True Blood (which is not often enough at the moment) and the end credits roll, me and my bloodsquetiers are left wondering what the point of all of it is. Surely, someone (in this case: Alan Ball) has something to say with this. There’s always a theme or an overarching tone. But this series? I’m not buying it one bit that it oughta be about vampires. Then is it just about sex? I’m not convinced it is either.
“I’m so fucked up.” (Shinji, after masturbating over Asuka’s comatose body)
Hooo boy. Where to even begin? Neon Genesis Evangelion is a true classic, a mastodont of a work, with an unintelligble plot and the strangest-yet-most-real characters ever to be seen in an anime series. It encompasses religion, philosophy, psychoanalysis while telling a story about robots fighting monsters and preventing the end of the world. And it’s also a coming of age story.
But in the end all it really boils down to is that one quote above.
“I am. The question is: are you?” (Van Alden)
Holy crap, Van Alden! He’s the Boardwalk Empire wildcard – the one that can get away with just about anything. First he bangs Lucy Danziger, and now he actually drowns a man? Boy oh boy, Boardwalk Empire does kick off the nastiness in its penultimate episode.
“It’s been there as long as I can remember.” (Olivia)
Fringe is back, continuing past what might be the greatest season-ending cliffhanger since “We have to go back”! All throughout the Summer, we were left wondering what the five final minutes of season 3 would mean for the fourth season. Have all memories of Peter Bishop been erased from existence? Does he still exist somewhere? And what about the two worlds? Have they merged into one or is the room with the machine a mere bridge between the universes? Many of these questions – if not all – were answered in a spectacular way, and we got a nice case-of-the-week for free.
“That’s me. The tin woodsman. Just need a bit of oil.” (Richard)
It should be no secret that I love The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I don’t know what it is about the book that seems to stick the way it does, but it does, and for that I’m glad. So naturally, I’m completely in love with this episode and am left with but one question: how much does Atlantic City have in common with The Emerald City?