Dexter - Comédie des Méprises

Let's get one thing straight. I'm a big time fan of this show, have been since it began. I even start to drool a little every time Showtime releases a new promo. But after five seasons with varying degrees of brilliance, season 6 has been a washout.

Don't get me wrong, the show is still eons better than some of the crap out there (Whitney. Rubbish), but die hard fans expect a certain degree of magnificence from Dexter. And that is sorely lacking this season. Well, for the last four episodes anyway. Wait, didn't Brother Sam die four episodes ago?

The characters have been seriously dumbed down this season. Although incompetence is the rule at Miami Metro PD, Dexter in particular has been off his game. Everyone has a bad day, or even a bad week. But Dex has been fumbling and bumbling for a while now and that's not good. People may argue that Brother Sam's influence may have interfered with Dexter's blind faith in Harry's code, and that is definitely a good argument. But being one step behind at every turn, especially to a stick insect like Travis, does not make for good television. Remember how Dexter stalked Trinity? Trinity could kick Travis' ass.
Fatherhood has also been a suggested reason for Dexter's recent spate of questionable judgement. Although feasible, the perpetual hold his Dark Passenger has had on him far outweighs any confounding factors that would prevent him from doing what he does best.

We expect Dexter's kills to be poetic. Nobody wants to see him drown his victims or jump someone from behind, or stab someone with a pitchfork. That's what normal killers do.

The show has made a mockery of its other beloved characters as well (except Debra), the most significant being Batista. In the first few seasons, Batista had a strong presence which commanded respect. Regardless of his decisions, he always had a certain credibility expected of him. Quinn's influence has seriously made him a cartoon of his former self. His marriage to LaGuerta didn't help. So is this character shift intentional? If it is, I don't get it.
Now that Batista is Travis's newest prisoner, I shudder to think what the writers have in store for him. Don't do it, Travis! Take Quinn instead.

I have no problems with the actors themselves though. They continue to do an awesome job, despite the writers. Even Quinn, who is supposed to portray a dick, has now become the perfect dick.
A special mention for Jennifer Carpenter, who is, in my opinion the Star of season six.

Remember the scene with the Four Horsemen? That is the kind of jaw dropping excitement we expect from this show. That's what separates it from the rest.

Tidbits

- Quinn has got to be the most hated character on television. Well, maybe a notch below Leviathan Dick from Supernatural.
- What is nerd dude Louis' deal?? The writers need to elaborate. And soon. I hope it's not just a man crush. Wonder how Dexter would handle that!
- Travis's accomplices. How boring was their marriage??
- I'm still hopeful that Brother Sam will make an appearance as the newest inhabitant of Dexter's subconscious. Why not? Brian came back. This would be way cooler!

We have 2 episodes left and the promo for next week suggested that Dex will bounce back with a vengeance. It should be interesting. Unless the writers screw up again.

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Hell On Wheels - White Men Can't Jump

The title 'Bread and Circuses' didn't give us much of an indication what this episode was about (until I saw the promos, of course). Nevertheless, Hell On Wheels gave us another engaging episode that kept us on our toes. I only wish Cullen had done the same.

Ol' 'Twinkle Toes' Bohannon found himself on the wrong side (is there a right side?) of Elam's fist this week. Here's the nub of the story. With the construction of the railroad going through some financial difficulties, Cullen informed his foot soldiers (though he was not supposed to. Nice going, genius!) that they won't be getting payed for a second consecutive week (except for the walking bosses. They always get paid. Lucky bastards). So obviously, the grumpiest character on AMC (let's call him Elam), acquired a bug up his ass and got in Cullen's face. And we all know how men settle their differences in the west. A gunfight! Nope. You beat the crap out of each other.

This epic battle between the Titans of Gruff was cut short by Durant, who instead decided to make the bout official (and if a little money was made in the process, who's gonna complain? That Durant! Always working the angles). The rest of the episode pretty much revolved around the fight. After the expected back and forth, Elam ended up delivering the final punch that floored Cullen and for the first time in five episodes, Cullen Bohannon became human.

Up until now, we have seen our hero handle every situation he faced with the utmost Clint Eastwoodness (pardon the comparison. Couldn't come up with a better word). His loss to Elam brought things back down to earth. But contrary to what you may think, this defeat actually made him cooler than before. My favorite scene was Cullen lying on the floor, contemplating the humor of his situation. I found myself laughing along with him in the end. I'm starting to really like this guy!

In the meantime, increased Union presence in the area compelled Reverend Cole (Tom Noonan, yay!) and Joseph to pay a visit to Chief Many Horses, who also happens to be Joseph's dad. Expect the Chief to visit our favorite dusty settlement next week to start the 'peace' process.

Lily finally decided to tell Durant that she does have the bloomin' maps he's been looking for. In exchange, she asked for recognition for her late husband's work. That's not an unreasonable request, is it?

This episode continued the upward trend the show has been having. Now that we've eased into the characters, this is gonna be fun to watch!

Tidbits

- Lily Bell looked mighty fetching in this episode. She literally lights up every time she sees Cullen. Her husband's been dead for how long?
- The Swede is awesome! Nuff said.
- Durant was kind of a dick in this episode. Lily should have held onto the maps for a little longer.
- Cullen and Elam, the Titans of Gruff. Catchy, isn't it? And guys, what's with all the hostility? I thought you two were best buds. Elam just ran out of friends.
- I secretly wanted Cullen to win, just to see if Common might actually change his facial expression this season.

Too sleepy to type. Dexter. Review. Tomorrow.

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Boss - Frasier's a Badass!

How the hell did I forget to include this awesome show in my poll?? I need to get my marbles in order. I saw Boss last night. And after watching Supernatural's spectacular episode, I didn't expect the night to get any better. But it did!! It did like a MOTHER.

For the unenlightened, Boss is the newest addition to the STARZ network's list of underrated and mind numbingly good shows (except Camelot. Camelot sucked). I've been watching this show since it began and damn, it's good!

It follows Tom Kane (Kelsey Grammer, the new God of Television), the mayor of Chicago who gets diagnosed with a degenerative neurological disorder called DLB (Dementia with Lewy Bodies). The condition is quite similar to Parkinson's disease so you can imagine how difficult it must be. The series follows how he tries to run the city with an iron fist, at the same time juggling his political and personal life while concealing his condition from everyone (including his wife).

Without revealing too much of the story (watch this show, dudes! Seriously!!), Kane is portrayed as cold, brutal and ruthlessly calculating in his actions. Never before have I rooted for such a genuinely vicious character. It takes an exceptionally cold-blooded person to sell out his own family for political gain, and Kane does it multiple times. Everybody knows politics is a dirty business, but the way Kane operates, you hope against hope that the depiction is unrealistic.

Kelsey Grammer delivers an awe-inspiring, breathtaking and mind-blowingly awesome performance as Tom Kane. He's just that FREAKIN' GOOD. I grew up watching Frasier reruns in the evenings and I've always been a fan, but slap my ass and call me Judy (I got that from an old episode of Friends)! He's just that FREAKIN' GOOD! Grammer radiates this aura of malevolence, so much so that he almost intimidates you across the screen. His performance in itself is brilliant enough to carry the show on its shoulders, but as fate seems to have blessed this show with unlimited awesomeness, the supporting cast is exceptional as well.
Connie Nielsen as Meredith Kane, Tom's wife and Martin Donovan as Ezra Stone are two other characters who blow the socks off their respective roles. A special mention for Francis Guinan as Governor Mac Cullen. He's got the most humorous case of potty mouth I've ever seen!

The story is too engrossing to delve into here. Suffice to say you will not be disappointed. The character of Tom Kane is already in the league of other famous names like Walter White, Vic Mackey and Al Swearengen. And Grammer already has a trophy case containing all his Emmies and Golden Globes. I suspect it's time to get another one.

The show has already given us seven good episodes in what will be a short season. With only the finale left, I wholeheartedly recommend you watch this show from the beginning. You won't regret it!

Tidbits

- Until episode 7 (Stasis), the storyline involving Kane's daughter Emma and Darius, the drug dealer was a complete waste of space, on paper and on screen.
- People should watch the first six episodes just to watch episode 7. A lot of bone crunching moments that literally make you gape like a fish.
- Zajac is my worst character on the show. Which makes episode 7 so sweet!
- In case you haven't noticed, I loved episode 7 the best.

Dexter and Hell On Wheels are coming up tomorrow night. I'm conveniently not mentioning The Walking Dead because I need some catching up to do. I do work for a living, you know.

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Supernatural - They're My Boys

HOLY CRAP!! It takes a lot of guts to pull off what Sera Gamble did last night. Supernatural has the unique tendency to really pull at the viewer's heart strings, but HOLY CRAP!!

This was without a doubt the most heart-wrenching and the BEST episode of Supernatural this season (if not the best of the series). Bobby has been the anchor Sam and Dean have come to rely on since, well, before Dick ate his first kidney. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Sam and Dean without Bobby is like Sam without Dean. Which is precisely why this episode packed such a wallop to our respective noggins.

The relationship between Bobby and the boys is (I can't bring myself to say 'was') such a special one that it warrants a separate place in our hearts. Bobby's story has always taken a back seat throughout the series. The flashbacks about his childhood, his relationship with his wife, the bond he shared with Sam & Dean, all these revelations gave us a heart warming picture of the man and the Hero. To top it all off, Jim Beaver is an awesome actor!

I don't think I've ever seen Sam and Dean so lost. The raw emotion on display was there for everyone to see. For seven and a half seasons, the boys have clawed, bludgeoned and blasted their way out of the most hopeless situations with one thing in common - Bobby was always there. The man's presence had such a calming influence on the boys, that the abrupt realization he's really gone leaves them pretty much in the cold.

The last five minutes of this episode were arguably one of the finest moments in television this year. I kid you not, my heart was racing, there was a lump in my throat and I was staring dumbfounded at the screen, with my mouth wide open, unable to process (for a good 3 minutes) that this was real. The chemistry between the three actors was just brilliant. Even the death of John Winchester did not have as significant an impact on the boys' lives as this will.

So what's next? Bobby is gone and the Leviathans are still at large. Sam and Dean have beaten the odds before, but without Bobby to steer them in the right direction, they will handle this the only way they know, sheer recklessness. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Blind vengeance can be a powerful motivator. There's a reason why Crowley and his subjects have kept a low profile. If history has taught us anything, you don't piss off the Winchesters.

Tidbits

- How badly did you want Dean to wipe out that sickening smile from Dick's face? I've already imagined 6 different ways in which Dick is gonna die. And all of them are long and painful.
- I was stoked to see Rufus again. His character needed a lot more screen time in the series than he was given.
- How pissed off was Dean? That being said, I'm an organ donor and you should be too.
- I kind of expected Death to put in an appearance. Although Bobby's demise had a certain finality to it, the Winchesters aren't exactly known for their tactfulness. I wanna see Julian Richings again!

This season just got the kick in the pants it needed. And although it's five weeks away, the best is definitely yet to come!

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Supernatural - It's On Tonight!!

This is my first post about Supernatural. I've been intentionally holding myself back for a couple of weeks, but NO MORE! I FREAKIN' LOVE THIS SHOW! I love this show so much I'm going to write two posts about it before and after tonight's episode.

So here we are. If you have been following the Winchester brothers like I have, you would be an obsessed maniac about this show. For those of you who watch it occasionally just for kicks and think it's okay but nothing special, you sicken me. After six seasons of going through Heaven and Hell (literally), we are almost halfway through season 7 and have arrived at the much anticipated mid-season finale with mixed feelings of excitement and dread.

If you aren't up to speed about the story so far, TOUGH NOOGIES (I can't believe I just said that! My apologies. I'm just excited about tonight!).

The last episode left us with the impression that all is not well with Bobby. The hole in Bobby's hat courtesy of Leviathan dick, or rather a Leviathan named Dick, was supposed to signify that he might be dead or at the most seriously injured. But if you're a die hard fan like I am, you would have read the storyline for the next episode 'Death's Door', which clearly indicated that this will be a Bobby-centric episode. The name itself kind of gives us the impression that he might be fighting for survival and Sam & Dean have to race against time to save him or something like that. Now I haven't seen tonight's episode yet. So if I just revealed some spoilers without knowing it, TOUGH NOOGIES (okay, I'll stop).

I haven't really enjoyed the Leviathan storyline this season and yes, the show hasn't been at it's best. After the pure awesomeness of seasons 5 (freakin' Lucipher!) and 6, season 7 has been kind of a disappointment. Rumors are abuzz that the show might be nearing the end. I would tell those rumors to bite their respective tongues.

But seriously, after fighting demons (freakin' Lucipher!) and angels and vampires and werewolves and wendigos and shapeshifters and dragons and fairies (hee hee) and the Mother of All (whatever the hell she was), the Leviathans just don't seem to be as scary or powerful as they're being made out to be. Yes, it's a bitch to try and kill the bastards, and yes they eat human internal organs (and themselves apparently), but it isn't something we haven't seen before. The discovery that they're vulnerable to borax was, well, ridiculous with a certain degree of goofiness involved. However, ridiculous and goofy are not unfamiliar traits for this show. So I guess it works.

Both Castiel and Misha Collins are sorely being missed this season. It's a pretty safe bet to say we will see Cas again. His 'death' was a little too unceremonious to be true. I'm not sure how this season is doing as far as the numbers go, but if a boost is needed, he needs to be back sooner rather than later. If Supernatural is to regain it's former glory, two other characters need to put in more appearances - Crowley and Death. Aren't they like the coolest characters on the planet??

On the whole, nothing would please me more than to see Sam and Dean chop off a few Leviathan heads every week. Although, I would prefer if this Leviathan business was dealt with as quickly as possible and the Winchesters move on to more important business.

Tidbits

- Sam and Dean without Bobby would be like Sam without Dean. So there!
- I get the feeling the Winchesters are gonna need some serious backup this season (other than Bobby). Without Castiel, who do you think it should be?
- Dean has had a butt load of funny lines this season. Kudos to the writers! Hope there's more where that came from.
- Why the hell is Crowley scared of the Leviathans? Couldn't he snap is fingers and make Leviathan Dick explode??

Did I mention how excited I am about tonight's episode?? Bring it on!!

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The Office - Mind Games

In what has been a largely forgettable season of The Office, there have been only a few episodes with moments of brilliance that reminded us why this show is so special. After the exit of Michael Scott, the show is undoubtedly a shadow of it's former self. That being said, I actually found myself laughing and having a good time while watching tonight's episode 'Mrs California'.

Steve Carell left a giant crater behind that desperately needed to be filled and James Spader's assimilation into the cast was supposed to be a 'stimulus package' of sorts for the show. Yet so far Robert California has played a less than minor role in the goings-on at Dunder-Mifflin, Scranton. Tonight we were introduced to his wife Susan (played by the talented Maura Tierney), who Robert brought along with the promise that she would be given a job at the Scranton branch. Except Robert doesn't really want her to work there, and drops the hot potato on Andy to make sure she doesn't. Which put Andy in a hilariously awkward position. This episode almost made me not miss Steve Carell.

James Spader is funny as hell. But his talents have been disgracefully wasted so far this season. The first time we met Robert California, he was a creepy, glassy-eyed, evil genius, and that's why we liked him. His character did a complete one eighty this season and now he's just another not-so-memorable boss. I would even settle for Alan Shore to make an appearance. In fact, if he had just continued to BE Alan Shore, things would have been a lot more entertaining. But I'm getting off track.

This episode had a lot of funny moments. Some of the memorable ones being

- Andy's multiple failed attempts to read Robert's face
- Jim scampering to hide from Andy & the Californias (does that sound right?)
- Dwight's raised work station
- Creed flying a toy helicopter on the roof.

It was also weirdly awesome to see Robert actually scared of his wife!

So are we watching the last season of The Office? This episode was good, but not nearly as good as we're used to. If a salvage operation is to be executed for this season, we need to see a funnier, creepier Robert California.

Tidbits

- Andy is doing a decent enough job as manager. But he's no Michael Scott.
- Jim always seems to end up in bad situations when Pam is not around. Jim minus Pam = Dwight??
- Good to see Maura Tierney back on TV. Her last conversation with Andy suggests we will see her again.
- I'm this close to joining Dwight's gym. It's a little too pricey for my taste. Maybe he'll accept bales of hay as payment.

They're playing reruns of Person Of Interest and The Mentalist tonight. Shucks!

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American Horror Story - Heteropaternal Superfecundation

What the--how the--who--WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THIS SHOW?? Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk must be like two stoned mad scientists brainstorming in between sips of V-juice and morsels of human liver, trying to come up with new ways to torture and confuse the audience. The weird part of it all is, I'm still going to watch this show next week!

This episode was basically a televised scrapbook of ideas pieced together with bits of string, the end result being a complete mess from which it is very difficult to become disentangled. As I'm writing this, I have no clue where to begin. Give me a minute.

This is what happened within a span of forty minutes (Spoilers)

- We were introduced to Elizabeth Short aka Black Dahlia (played by Mena Suvari). We saw her get raped,  murdered (sort of), chopped up and dumped. That was 64 years ago.
- Constance fought with her boy toy, found out that Tate raped Vivien, confronted Tate, then mommy-slapped him for being such a disappointment.

- We saw Hayden have sex with Constance's boy toy...twice. Then she stabbed him repeatedly (thus rendering him dead) and enlisted crazy Larry's help to dump his chopped up pieces into a spot away from horror house (still trying to come up with a better name for the place).

- We saw young Moira flirt with Ben. Then she flirted some more. Then she made out with the ghost of Elizabeth Short (who came to Ben for advice and treatment. Don't ask).

- Vivien's doctor informed Ben that one of Vivien's twins has a different father (you heard me), Ben got pissed, visited Vivien and expressed his displeasure by growling at the back of her neck.

- Hayden tried to seduce Ben again, failed, then hinted that security guy Luke might be the father of twin number 2, Ben got pissed for a second time, confronted Luke who told him that he never slept with Vivien and even if he did, he's shooting blanks anyway, so screw you, and he walked away.

- Constance chatted with medium lady who revealed that when a ghost has sex with a non-ghost like Vivien, the resulting offspring could bring about the end of the world.

Whew! Glad to get that out of my system. So did the story really go forward? I honestly don't know. 

The most significant developments in my opinion were 

- Ben realizing that Vivien was raped and 

- Ben catching his first glimpse of the real Moira. 

So is this the push Ben needs to realize that the house is haunted? Who are we kidding? Of course not. Hayden is walking around the house like she owns the place. And despite getting walloped in the head, and still coming back without a scratch, Ben doesn't suspect she's a ghost. 

Ever squished a cockroach with your boot, or a book? You know that if you lift your boot (or your book), the resulting sight will not be a pretty one. Yet try as you might, you WILL be curious and you WILL see what's underneath, and yes it will be gross. 

American Horror Story is that cockroach. And I will lift my boot every week to see what's underneath, no matter how sick it's going to make me feel afterwards.

Tidbits

- No Violet in this episode. So on the bright side, things could have been worse.

- This episode did not help me with my fear of dentists.

- Are the Harmons having an open house? It seems anyone can go anyplace and have sex anywhere.

- I have a monster crush on Young Moira (Alexandra Breckenridge). So this was my best AHS episode ever.

Noodles. I sense an attack of word salad coming on. Logging off.

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