TV Rundown

TV, from ends to middles to beginnings...

~ENDS~

On the last episode of BSG:
It wasn't bad...it wasn't great, but it was what it was, and it was the end. I think there are a few gaping holes in the logic of how to settle an established civilization on prehistoric Earth...but it's sci-fi, so I maintain a fairly strong suspension of disbelief as to what one can and cannot do within the genre. Still, it was a fantastic two hours of TV, action packed, emotional, breathtaking in its scope, drawing to what I suppose can only be called a logical conclusion with as little deus ex machina as you can get with a show that features robots as gods...

Highlights: HUGE HONKIN' SPOILER ALERT

1. Jumping Raptors from inside the launch tubes.

2. Ramming BSG into the Cylon colony. It was up there in my "favorite destroying iconic ships moments", right alongside crashing Enterprise NCC 1701-D in Generations.

3. A final conclusion to the opera house sequence.

4. Starbuck: "There must be some kind of way out of here..." John thinks this redeems the use of "All Along the Watchtower," but it still sticks me as a too-convenient plot device.

5. Starbuck pulling a "You're Welcome"...I just don't know what to make of this. But I'm kinda glad Lee's on his own. (And it makes Sam's little parting quip that much more poignant.)

I could go on and on, but overall, all I can say is that I'm sad to see the show go. As John has pointed out to me, it's taken seven to tell a four-season story. So they've really prolonged the pain/ecstasy. I look forward to Caprica.


Best thing ever: I did not know that Hot Dog was Adama's son! (No, this is not a spoiler...in real life, Edward James Olmos is father to Bodie Olmos. It's so weird that I never saw it before, but when you put the two side by side...)

~MIDDLES~

On Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles:
Meh. As a whole, not impressive, but what this show does well is reveal aspects of each character's life in vignettes.

SPOILER ALERT

John's confrontation with Jessie was fairly intense, but it seems all the confrontations in the show are like this. Quiet, subtle, with that hint of violence trembling just beneath the surface. And that's pretty much every character in this show in a nutshell. Thomas Dekker (John) is still a fairly good actor for the part, but I'm hoping to see more development in all the leads.

~BEGINNINGS~

On Dollhouse:
By far the most interesting and challenging episode to air yet....

SPOILER ALERT....

...Not just because rape is always a hot-button topic, but because all the moral issues dancing around the show were made so clear in this single episode.

I've heard quite a few rants from fans complaining about how Joss is "trying to kill his fanbase" because Dollhouse is "not feminist" since it portrays the subjugation of women, but that's a ridiculous complaint since they seem to be viewing the show entirely out of context. Yes, the show is about taking power away from a group of people, but that's what's supposed to make us mad. And last night's episode was definitely hitting you over the head with a "YOU SHOULD BE MAD ABOUT THIS" sledgehammer.

Important to note is Paul/Helo's (I'm going to have a hard time calling him anything else) rise from hapless FBI agent being led around by his tail to hero. The story seems to be more about his quest than Echo's gentle rise to self-awareness. (And no, that does not mean the show is sexist because Paul is trying to rescue a supposed damsel in distress). How it all gets played out and how the twain shall meet is what will make the show fun.

Highlights (BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT):

1. Helo vs. Faith (er, I mean, Paul vs. Echo), Round 1--awesome battle, with Tamoh Penikett's MMA skills in clear evidence. Lots of drop kicks, body slams...Penikett is, like, 6'2.5", and Dushku is only about 5'5" yet somehow they manage to break even in this fight.

2. Penikett shirtless--nekkid tiemz are good anytiemz!

3. Sleeper agent neighbor--I KNEW it!

4. The chubby computer dude's assessment of Paul's fantasy, and his own tragic tale. Pure Joss Whedon writing at its tragicomedic best.

I look forward to more of this show. It beats watching Heroes.