Showing posts with label TV Series Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV Series Review. Show all posts

Saturday, October 13, 2018

NETFLIX TV SERIES REVIEW: The Haunting of Hill House

RELEASE DATE: October 12th 2018


CREATOR: Mike Flanagan

MAIN CAST: McKenna Grace, Carla Gugino, Michiel Huisman


NETFLIX Summary

The Haunting of Hill House is a modern re-imagining of the iconic novel, about 5 siblings who grew up in the most famous haunted house in America.

MY REVIEW

I am only three episodes into this series and I am hooked. It has a slow but freaky build up to something that has not been explained. It has that feeling from the ABC Series LOST, but in a haunted house with real ghost. But it's not so much the house is haunted as it is the Crain family, but don't get we wrong, that house is haunted. The family is very dysfunctional. I was on the edged of my seat most of the episodes I watched. I will update this posting when I watched the last episode. 

Monday, May 15, 2017

PREVIEW: Thoughts on "13 Reasons Why" Coming Soon

I have not been posting because I have been busy watching and getting thoughts together. Yes I am back, but sometimes I have to watch a lot of TV and movies to get my thoughts together. My Template Movie reviews will be coming back soon.

One project I am working on now is a in depth look at the popular Netflix Series "13 Reasons Why".
This series has hit me in the heart in more ways then I can explain, but I am going to try. It's going to be a very long post, because there is so much you can draw from this series.

Stay Tuned, more to come.

Mark G Pogue

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Marvels Agent Carter, Very Smart TV


Last Tuesday night I watched the two hour premier of a seven part series Agent Carter, and I was entertained. This was a smart compelling story and You felt the presence of Stan Lee. And for a first episode, you did not have that long overdrawn introduction of who the characters are and felt the need to build a relationship with them. Yes it is true we know who Agent Carter is from the Captain America movies, but they did not spend a lot of time in building the story, it was already there but not really.

Obviously Agent Carter and a show like HBO's Game of Thrones is very different, but like Game of Thrones it is not over powered by the Sci-Fi /Fantasy genre, but we know it's there. I got the feeling this is going to be the story of what happen to Agent Carter after Captain American. Now you may read this and say no kidding, but do you remember when Marvel Agents of Shield started? In the beginning I could not figure out where the show was going and almost gave up on the show till after it's mid season break in it's first season. Agent Carter TV series, like Agents of Shield will be part of the whole Avengers story line.

With only watching one episode, I am sorry that it's only going to be a seven part series, but I am glad they are doing that so they don't wear out it's welcome by making episodes just to make episodes. But I will catch all of the series and I hope everyone else will too.

I am also hoping to see more Marvel spin offs. Why? well Law and Order worked on NBC, CSI and NCIS works for CBS, so why not more Sci-Fi on ABC. I think LOST 2004-2010 started it all for ABC. And after only 6 seasons ABC learned there lessons about making episodes to make episodes, but the series was very popular and then came ONCE. In most cases networks are learning to make a story instead of having a weekly series. However I still enjoy the weekly old fashion detective show and if the writing is good, there is no problem keeping that type of series around.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

A Collection of The Walking Dead Articles about Coda, Mid-Season Finale

The events that transpired on AMC's The Walking Dead episode Coda shocked me and many more TV viewers then any other tragic event in any TV Show I have ever watched. The tragic death of Beth Green was devastating and very sad and a lot has been written about the episode. here is a collection of articles from across the web about the episode.

 

'The Walking Dead' star Sonequa Martin-Green on Sasha's big mistake and a 'gut-wrenching' midseason finale

 

 

‘The Walking Dead’ Recap: An Eye For An Eye

 

'The Walking Dead' star Norman Reedus on that 'devastating' midseason finale and Daryl's sexual orientation

 

 

[TV Review] “The Walking Dead”: Episode 5.08, ‘Coda

 

 

Emily Kinney gives the inside scoop on that 'Walking Dead' shocker

 

 

‘Walking Dead’ Shatters Winter Finales Ratings Record, Thrashes ‘Sunday Night Football’ Again

 

 

‘Walking Dead’ Midseason Finale Postmortem: Showrunner Scott Gimple Talks Tragic ‘Coda’

 

This is a link to my blog post about CODA

Beth Green We Will Miss You

Links about the Episode CODA from the AMC Site

The Tragic Scene

 

 

Inside Episode 508: The Walking Dead: Coda

 

  

 Beth Greene: The Walking Dead

 

 

Talking Dead: Bonus Scene: Episode 508

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, December 1, 2014

Beth Green: We Will Miss You


We often read in the headlines of a tragedy of a person getting killed by a single gun shot, and we hear of the anguish painful heart ache of the family. Like a mother that lost her son in war and she did not get to kiss him good bye.The father who had that distant relationship with his child and then finds out they are dead. We see crime dramatized on TV, but while it seems sad, we can not say that it was in your face. It did not fully pull at our heart strings. For me that all changed last night with the fatal shot that killed Beth Green on The Walking Dead.  

Beth was a very lovable character, she started out in a very dark place in her life when we first saw her in the second episode of Season Two episode called "Bloodletting". She was not a secure person and had major emotional issues dealing with the new world. But she became stronger as the series went on. She became the bright spot of the group when everything was doom and gloom. It seemed she loved and trusted everyone she was around. She never said no when she was directed to do a task.

I always felt her character gained strength when her and Maggie sang "The Parting Glass" in the first episode of the third season called "Seed". It was in the prison yard with the group around a camp fire. From that point Beth began to accept her role in the group in my opinion. Or at least I started to noticed her more as being a central part of the group.



There is much debate in some social network circles to what her contribution was to the group. It has been said she was not a fan favorite and if true that made her death that much more painful. Because of her innocence and child like qualities. She was the girl next door or maybe reminded you of your daughter. You loved Beth. Because she was not one of the stronger group members you wanted her to be OK. I really thought her and Daryl was going to hook up when they drank moonshine and burned the house down. When she was kidnapped I was worried for her and felt it was the end for her.

At the moment of the shot and you seen the blood come out of her head I felt like a loved one died. when you saw her head fall back you knew it was over. For just a second I saw my daughter who looks nothing like Beth in her place and tears started to flow down my face. My heart sank and it was like getting that phone call in the middle of the night that someone you love has died, this hurt the same way because you witnessed the death yourself. This was unlike any character death in any TV series ever. It was even predicted that she would be killed off But your still not ready for it. I think this was even worse then Hershel's death, even though that was very dramatic and sad, Beth represented the death of innocence more some how.I just can' explain it.

Beth Green was that sunshine on the cloudiest of days. She was that smile when you needed it most. She made you laugh when you was sad. She always had a hug where there was none. She was the last of her family for her sister. She was the path back to the light when the group went down a dark path.

Beth Green Will be Missed

Emily Kinney: I Wish You The Best Where Ever You Go






Thursday, November 13, 2014

NBC's The West Wing Episode :In Excelsis Deo,

"In Excelsis Deo" is Latin for Glory to God in the highest. It is song used by Christians sung at church, and it was used most poetically in the 10th episode of the first season of "The West Wing" on December 15th 1999. There was three over lapping stories in this episode, but the one that hit me in the heart was the one about a homeless veteran that was a soldier in the Korean war that was found dead by The National Mall.

The police calls the White House to speak to White House Communications Director Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) , We later find Toby at the National Mall by the Memorial looking at a dead man on a park bench. It turns out that the man was wearing a old coat that Toby gave to charity some time ago. The coat had a business card in it with Tobye's name and number.

Toby explains the situation to the police but notices a tattoo on the deceased arm. He tells the policeman that the tat is in reference to the Korean War. Toby takes the information of the Veteran to the White House to do some research on the man. The rest of the story is what hits me in the heart.

Toby is in his office on the phone and on hold when the White House Media Consultant Mandy Hampton (Moira Kelly) steps in. Toby tells her who he is on hold for and she asked did you know him, Toby said no and she asked "Why does it matter?" It mattered to Toby.

Now I know this story is fiction, but I wonder how many similar questions has been asked about discarded veterans that spilled blood for this country? Think about this image, a man that fought for his country in a foreign land left to die on a bench on a cold day in Washington DC at the National Mall. I mean the this is like left over pizza left on the kitchen table to spoil and tossed in the garbage a few days later.

Toby goes back to the National Mall to find more information about the deceased veteran. He gets the name of  his brother. later that night he goes to a soup line and ask around about the brother. The brother is slow in the mind, and Toby tells the man that he is going to pick him up the next day for a military funeral with full honors for his brother.

Before Toby Heads out to the service, he meets with the President, Bartlet (Martin Sheen) tells Toby that he can't keep doing this because every homeless veteran out there would come out of the wood works.



Toby replies, "I can only hope sir"

That was a awesome reply, because our men and women in uniform that spill blood for our freedom, are tossed aside like a empty beer can. I know they are not saints, but neither are we and we have never been where they have. We have not experienced what they have.

In the same episode, the Presidents Secretary Dolores Landingham (Kathryn Joosten) tells Charlie Young (Dule Hill) the Presidents Personal Aide about her sons that where killed in a war and that is the reason she is sad around the Holidays.



On Christmas Eve Toby gets ready to go to the funeral and Mrs Landingham tells him she would like to go with him to the service.

So with full honors, a small but heart felt group goes to the national cemetery to say goodby to a veteran that was long forgotten from a grateful nation.


I can not fully express how this episode breaks my heart, but if you watch this , just let yourself get lost and be consumed by the story.


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Téa Leoni

I first noticed Téa in the the 1988 movie "Deep Impact",and for me she always plays the character that is being ignored or taking advantage of and underestimated but will always come out on top of the situation. I am watching her and I am thinking, go ahead say your peace put her down, but you know your wrong. Whenever her character gets on top of the situation and beats you , she is very sweet but not misunderstood and authoritive. Who ever her advisary is they know they have been beaten. I often wonder how she would play a villan. You may not agree with what her character is going to do or think she may be to soft, but after her character hands your ass to you, it don't feel so soft.

The best example is in her current role "Madam Secretary" as  Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord where in episode one she went up against Chief of Staff Russell Jackson played by Zeljko Ivanek. At the end of the Pilot episode she lets the Chief of State know where he stands. Ivanek always plays a almost heavy hand in all his roles. It was almost scary when she confronted him because of the demeanor in his character.



But That is always the the case for Leoni's demeanor. No matter what the odds are she will win some how some way because she is always smart and knows what you don't know. She has a calm personality but her eyes tells all, I guess. I just like to watched her in movies and TV.

If she was ever to play in a zombie movie, she would find the cure while everyone else is killing them. If she was president, she would already have beaten the enemy while congress and the media was debating how to do it.

And just like in Deep Impact, she had the big story while everyone else was looking for it. That is what I like about whatever character she is. I hope to see Leoni in more movies for years to come, and I hope to see her in SyFy and other generes of movies and TV entertainment.

Monday, November 3, 2014

We Still Don't Know Who Was Behind Daryl Dixon

At the end of the 3rd episode of season five of "The Walking Dead" "Four Walls and a Roof", we find Daryl Dixon popping out of the bushes telling some one to come out. But who is it? We may not know till we see the 7th episode called "Crossed" scheduled for 11/23.

The 4th episode called "Slabtown" showed us where Beth was in the hospital surviving another group with hostile leaders, and at the end we see Carol on a stretcher. That means that she was separated from Daryl. I guess that means it's not Carol or Beth behind Daryl in the bushes. Or does it? Could it be Noah that tried to help Beth escape is now with Daryl? I saw a question on Facebook fan page, could Morgan be Noah's uncle?

Next week we find the group that left on the bus at the end of episode 3 lead by Ford, with Maggie and Glen runs into trouble. So I imagine they will not dwell on Beth or the rest of the group. I am guessing that episode 6 "Heart Drift" that is scheduled to air 11/16 will take us back to the Hospital with Beth and Carol. A big question is was Carol faking it on the stretcher or did she let herself be caught. I do kinda find it hard to believe that Carol made a mistake and got captured. I would not be surprised if she did not plan this and is getting ready to blow the Hospital up like she did Terminus. If that is the case it could be possible that Carol and Beth is in the bushes, but that seems to easy, I am leaning towards Noah.

However, consider this. There is only 5 more episodes left till mid-season. Could they stretch the answer till the the show returns in 2/15? I don't think so, but I still think it's possible. It also seems that we are learning more about whats going on in others parts of the country. For example Noah said he was from Richmond Virginia. I guess we can assume that most of eastern coast is gone for sure. It is still not clear whats going on in other parts of the country in the west, however Ford was certain that Washington D.C. was a safe zone. Richmond, Va is not the far from DC. So if DC is a safe zone, how many miles does that cover?

I really think we will know a lot more after the end of season 5 finale in 2015. But with the knowledge we get this season, rest assured there will always be more questions.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

TNT Should Not Cancel Dallas!, the "DALLAS TNT FAN GROUP" on Facebook Speaks out

On September 23rd 2014 I posted this on "Dallas TNT Fan Group



I just posted this on Dallas TNT and TNT Facebook page:

You know if you move Dallas to a better time slot like Friday night, it is possible it would get better ratings,Dallas is a great show, but why are you making it compete with Monday Night Football and other mainstream popular shows. TNT needs to build the audience not demand it. Come on TNT be fare!

It had a over whelming response from other Dallas Fans, they had this to say in the comments


Laure
yep that's right.they should've left it on Wednesdays instead of switching it to Mondays and I bet it would've been fine


Dianne
I agree all the way around Friday night would be a much better night


Cindy

These networks either need to pay attention to the fan base they want when scheduling to make sure the fan base isn't already claimed or accept the fact there's not going to be huge numbers when up against juggernauts. Last spring season I had 4 shows that were all on at 9 on Mondays. Dallas won out for watching live but still... Wednesday nights seem to be my slow TV nights. Or even Sunday nights after 9. Still ticked they put The Librarians against Once Upon a Time. Again, same fan base.


Lola
Now don't be silly puttin it on Friday would kill it for sure . That's when everyone gets paid n is out n about. They could move the time up like to seven n it would do a lot better.

Darrin
Friday night,,,just like the old Dallas shwos....well it didn't really compete with MNF as football season just started a few weeks ago

Beth
Yeah, Friday's would be good, that way I don't have to fight my husband over the remote every Monday. He likes to watch Fast and Loud, but of coarse I always WIN! I have to have my Dallas fix.

Bryant
I remember the "Dukes of Hazzard" came on at 9:00 and "Dallas" at 10:00 until 1981 when "Falcon Crest" got the 10:00 slot and the other two shows were moved an hour earlier. "Knots Landing" was on Thursday at 10:00 and "Dynasty" was on ABC on Wednesdays at 9:00. For awhile, "The Colby's" was on at 10:00 after "Dynasty. During the 80's, there was a primetime soap on every weeknight for many years and then we were left with "knots Landing." So, #DALLAS belongs on Friday nights

Brad
Now we're stuck with a bunch of crappy reality shows while great primetime dramas continue to get cancelled

Starla
Sadly ppl are watching the reality shows. It may work on Fridays now it may not. Bluebloods and that other cbs show have a nice following that night. With the dvr I dont see the day matters much.

There are plenty more comments you can read at the Dallas TNT Fan Group, But agree or disagree with Friday night, it is clear that TNT  needs to rethink what night to broadcast Dallas. TNT says it's about drama, then they need to be about Drama for people who like TV programs and less about how to compete with the other networks. TNT will have their fan base if they just stick to there audience. TNT has some great shows, and they are not afraid to stretch the imagination. For one final time I ask TNT

PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL DALLAS!



Monday, September 15, 2014

Into The World of "The Walking Dead" Part 2 , Glenn and Maggie

This post will have to be edited later on when Netflix adds the 4th Season of "The Walking Dead" to it's service. I have not connected some events to the series time line and episodes. But do to the fact that I am the type of person if I don't do it now it will not get done I wanted to make sure I continue the series. This is going to be a on going project till I get each part right. There will be a day when I get this and all parts of the series done. But its like every time you watch a episode you see something new.



Rick makes it to Atlanta and after he is overwhelmed by Walkers he is in a Tank and just before he commits suicide, he hears a voice on the radio. This is Glenn Rhee, he is like the gopher of the group. He is like the experiment before the group commits on pushing forward. He is awkward as he is smart. He is not good at keeping a secret. But he is committed and may be one of the most trusted people in the group to make the right decision. Glenn's awkwardness is very noticeable when he is in the drug store getting a pregnancy test for Lori and Maggie finds Glenn. Glenn puts the Pregnancy test in his back pack and grabs a box of condoms and does not know what to say. Maggie shuts him up and tells him she will have sex with him.

Glenn broke the news to the group that there was walkers in Hershel's barn. It was Glenn that broke the news that Lori is pregnant. But the thing about Glenn is that I think he is the one person of the group that really cares about everyone. It is very clear that he wants to make a stand in the episode "Home". Glenn wants to make his stand at the prison. He is angry and wants revenge. "Home" was the episode after Glenn and Maggie was taken hostage at Woodbury. Merle Dixon beats and tortures Glenn. 

However what really brings a spark to Glenn is the unyielding love he has for Maggie Green. Maggie as you might remember was introduced to the group in the episode "Blood Letting" where Glenn sees her for the first time riding a horse like a hero. I think they fell in love at that moment, however Maggie thought the whole group was crazy when they lowered Glenn down in the well to pull the "Well Walker" out. This is before she becomes a ass kicking walker killer herself, you will have to watch the episode "Cherokee Rose" to see Maggie make that statement.





In some of these pics from youtube ,Maggie looks kind of crazy her self after the reality of the Zombie Apocalypse hits you. 



Glenn and Maggie are obsessed with each other, and while they are still committed  to the group they are evermore committed to each other. This was never more apparent then through the second half  of the forth season after the fight with the governor at the prison, and Maggie lost her sister Beth and Glenn. She was more obsessed with finding Glenn because I think she thought Beth was safe with Daryl Dixon and Judith. I am not really clear on that. I will have to re watch season 4 when it become available on Netflix. What worries me about Glenn and Maggie's future is at the end of last season in the episode "us" They are reunited, and Maggie tells Glenn that he will never need a picture of her. To me that was a ominous warning that someone is about to die. But who, Maggie or Glenn? I guess we will find out in season five.



TNT! Please Renew Dallas, Because it's All About The Drama


Sometimes there is a TV story that lives forever. It has hero's and villains. And sometimes the villains are the good guys but you still hate them. The plot can be twisted every direction. Some plot lines are a little far fetched and maybe just a little unbelievable. But you don't care this is your TV show and you need to know how the family is doing.

Dallas is that type of show. It has everything you could want in a drama. Some of the things that happen may be on the border line of unbelievable, but the writers keep it simple and we understand whats going on. Dallas is your show. it's about family, family feuds , sex, crime , back stabbing fun. no matter how unreal some critics think it might be, you can sit down for a hour and escape into other family problems.

It is my hope that the powers that be at the TNT networks will consider what Dallas means for a huge fan base. And know not everyone is a part of the Nielsen Family. I know Dallas can not go on forever, but just a few more years. However if the network executives decide to cancel Dallas, I ask them to at least give it a final episode that could be brought back for a network mini-series now and again. And maybe one day the we can give Dallas a final farewell for all the long dedicated fans.

However, to the fans use social media, to save your show. Talk about it on Twitter and Facebook. Hash tag it, tag the networks and the official show twitter pages. Do not relent, do not stop , Blog about it and put it out there for social media and for the world to see. If you watch a episode of Dallas, make sure the social media world knows it, not just your connections.

Official Twitter tag for Dallas TV Show
@Dallas-TNT

Official Twitter tag for the TNT TV Network
@tntdrama

Tweet if you watch Dallas on DVD, Netflix, etc

Hash Tags for Dallas in general

#DallasTNT

#Ewingswin

That is just a couple.

Bottom line is, watch Dallas and let the world know, talk about it on social media.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Into The World of "The Walking Dead" Part 1

lets TRY not think about who the actors are, who wrote the episode, what network it is on. Lets just pretend for a moment that the Zombie Apocalypse is very real and out there is a group of people lead by Rick Grimes. I will refer to episode names and insert a few Youtube Videos here and there, but for the most part I want to keep this as real as possible. There will be a lot that is not explained, but as I was watching the series I just took a bunch of notes and now I am trying to put them in order for this Blog Series, however I will skip back and forth in the time line of the TV series

PART I

At the start of the series we find in the episode "Days Gone By" that Rick has problems with his marriage to Lori. Shane Walsh is Ricks best friend and they are both officers for the sheriff. Shane is very interested in how the marriage is holding together. Why is that? Is he truly worried about his best friends marriage? Is he waiting in the wings if things fall apart? He seemed very concerned about his friend Rick that was laying in the hospital from a gun shot wound he got from a stand off gone wrong when Rick and other officers stopped a group of outlaws at a road block .

Shane went to Rick's bed side several times before the start of the Zombie Apocalypse, when it appeared that he could do no more he blocked the door from walkers and soldiers getting into Ricks room and then told Lori and Rick's son Carl that Rick was dead. Could have Shane done more? How much time had passed since the last time Shane was at the hospital and when Rick was reunited with Lori and Carl.

Rick wakes up in a different world. He wakes up thinking no time has passed since Shane's last visit because at the moment he woke up, he made fun of the vase that Shane brought him with flowers from the Sheriffs office staff

Rick wakes up, stumbles through the blood cover hospital halls, Bodies laying everywhere. He comes to the Cafeteria that warns not to open there is dead inside

He keeps walking on, bodies of the dead are everywhere. As I am watching this I am thinking what would I do if this was me? What would be going through my mind. Rick goes home and hits himself and tells himself this is a dream , but he does not wake up, He tries several times to wake himself up, trying to convince himself that the Zombie Apocalypse is a nightmare gone wrong, but he does not wake up and must face the reality of the new world that now surrounds him. After getting cleaned up and dressed, he starts the journey into hell and there is no return trip back to the world he once knew. It starts when he  sees a little girl. He is looking at her feet from underneath a car and notices she bends down to pick up a teddy bear. So this girl must be ok. He then approaches her and speaks to her and she turns around and she is a walker. What kind of horror is going through anyone's mind when you would see a child holding a teddy bear that has become a monster.



 Rick keeps walking, and later finds a crawler with only the upper torso and uses it arms to crawl on the ground like a insect. This walker has a back story before Rick ends its un-dead life it never asked for. This is what she use to be. You can Find other parts of the story on Youtube or the AMC Web site


Before Rick kills the crawler in the park and starts his horse ride to Atlanta, he meets Morgan Jones after getting his head bashed in by Duane Jones who is Morgan's son. Rick wakes up recovering from the blow to the head. He is tied to the bed just to be safe because Morgan does not know who Rick is. Morgan pretty much gives Rick a crash course on how to handle a walker. But Morgan has a debate of the heart that comes up so many times in the story. There is a walker that use to be his wife and mother to his child. He knows what these walkers are but when he gets her in his sites from the upstairs window in his house he can not shoot her.

This is what amazes me with the whole Zombie Apocalypse experience. It is like when we see a loved one in the hospital on deaths door step. Very sick and we want the suffering to end, but when the loved one does die, the overwhelming grief hits us. I think that is the feeling the writers try to explain with Zombie stories. They are sick and not themselves but we still love them. The people around are yelling you need to shoot them in the head, but that person still sees something that that crudely intimates life. Much like the love a mother has for a child or the spouse that loves a abusive mate that suffers from alcoholism. You can't see the monster for love you have for the human it use to be.

Rick leaves behind his hometown on horse back for Atlanta, he is overwhelmed by a massive heard of walkers when he gets there, he escapes to a tank. At that moment he gives up and loses all hope and ask Lori and Carl to forgive him in a prayer and Puts the gun to his head and just as he is ready to pull the trigger, he hears a voice on the radio. He has got a new dose of hope and pulls the gun away from his head.

I can not in my wildest dreams imagine what it would take that would make me want to commit suicide, But it happens over and over again in Zombie stories. it is as if the ZA is the final push over the edge that will make people give up on life. The shock of waking up to a new world is a punch to the gut and your soul. What we have today we may not have it tomorrow, How would we deal with losing our cell phones, internet and TV. No more doughnut shops to go to meet our friends. The game of the week is finding food. The banks are gone, hospitals are closed and our doctors could be dead. Maybe you don't have a gun but the police are gone, your house is on fire but 911 is not working. How can it get any worse? You are about to find out.


TO BE CONTINUED


Thursday, September 4, 2014

Peter Capaldi is Doctor Who


Ok so I have watched two episodes of Peter Capaldi as Doctor Who, and I like  him and the change. I think Capaldi brings that classic touch that has been missing since Doctor Who came back in 2006. Ok, hold on , all the actors that have taken up the part of the Doctor have been great and I have enjoyed all the story lines. But Peter Capaldi brings back that maturity that was so visible in the classic years but yet holds on to his human qualities. When he ask Clara if he is a good man that question mergers the old and new Doctors. That question brings all the Doctors together from the first Doctor. Before that happen there always seemed to be a separation between 1-8 and 9-12 until now. I like what his style brings to the series.

I have read news of Doctor Who ratings slipping. I hope that this is just a quirk that will work it's self out and fans will embrace the new Doctor. There is a change in style and attitude of the series and I think it's a positive one and will give future Doctors more room to make changes to the mood of the series.The changes we have now should reflex a complete circle for the Doctor Who franchise. Peter Capaldi brings a different personality to the Doctor and yet still shows some of the Doctors insecurities which I think was missing in Doctors 1-8 but was reveled in 9-11. It is a clever unique way of installing Capaldi as the New Doctor.

I am hoping fans will be open minded to the changes and embrace what Peter Capaldi brings to the series. I think what the shock is for some fans or the way I see it is that David Tennet and Matt Smiths Doctors resembled each other, and now we have this change and it is a shock. But I don't think it's a shock that should scare fans away. By embracing the new Doctor is no way saying you don't appreciate the former Doctors but it should say that we can expand the character and still keep him who he is and what he is about.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

The Strain from FX: We know what happened, but we don't know whats next!



I am really impressed how the the writers have developed the story over the course of the first season. You don't see that to often in series , and if you do the fans lose interest. The story starts out with deaths of all the passengers on a airplane, in the cargo was a mysterious box that may hold the secrets of the coming crisis. The story starts out with all kinds of unrelated drama, but soon the story comes together around the four survivors of the people that died on the plane. Episode by episode  the story develops and you know who the main cast is going to be.

Unlike AMC's The Walking Dead where Rick wakes up half naked in bed during the Zombie Apocalypse, you don't know what kind of crisis is going on. Is the Strain a virus or a disease, Zombies, Vampires or something more evil. Your not really sure. There are several connections to the monsters that have a zombie/vampire likeness. There are a lot of questions and they all kind of fit I think. I really like the creepiness with different elements in the story. I am even wondering if there is alien involvement because of events that happened in episode seven called "For Services Rendered" If that was or was not aliens, the writers are doing it well. The show is produced by Guillerermo del Toro. This guy is not afraid to take a chance on imagination.

However I still love and will always watch "The Walking Dead", But I really do like "The Strain"

Monday, September 1, 2014

What is in a Series Final Episode?

We often hear of one of our favorite series ending it's run. Most of our favorite shows that survived the ratings have that final episode. Some fans are upset that their favorite shows don't go on forever. While I am sad to see some of my shows go, I am glad they are ending it while the story is strong. nothing is worse then when your show has run out of imagination and it's canceled. But there are shows networks did not give a fare chance to grow with the audience and then get the ax, no final episode, but just gone.

By my question today is what makes a good final episode?

The NBC's 1994 Comedy sitcom Friends, it had a ten year run and went out with a great ending for the fans. To me it was a big thank you and good buy to the fans that stuck around and supported the show for ten years.

Here is a clip





My next favorite but not fan favorite is ABC's Drama/Syfy?Fantasy LOST, because for six seasons it kept us lost. Every time you thought you knew what happened, just to find out you did not, you was lost. I mean how else could this end? I thought the writers ended this in a perfect way. What it means to me may not mean the same to you, I thought it was awesome it ended the way it began. Jack opens his eyes in the first episode and Jack closes his eyes in the finale.

Here is a clip



There is one show that has a favorite farewell and I am sorry to say I never watched every episode, and that was CBS comedy M.A.S.H. The show had a 11 year run and for many fans it was like saying goodbye to family. I did watch the finale episode just last year. That is right, 30 years after this show ended, I watched the last episode.

Here is a clip



Just recently True Blood on HBO ended and fans where truly unhappy. I guess I can understand that. The writers went with a everyone is happy and life goes on. Come on , can life in Bon Temps Louisiana ever be normal?.But that is the choice they went with. And why did they kill bill off? Bill should have lived. I think they could have done better, I could not find a good clip of the final scene to share, so here is the trailer for the final season




 The 1999-2006 NBC political Drama The West Wing. I don't care what political party you side your self with, I would vote for a President Josiah 'Jed" Bartlet. This Drama cover the most of the first term and the whole 2 term. It had a perfect finale, I am not sure if it was better then MASH, but it was complete. it was what every finale should be modeled after. Life did go on but Barlet's story was over and his staff moved on.

Here is a clip



In all, my question to the viewing audience is what is a perfect last episode and can the series your are addicted to have that satisfying ending. When a series runs it's course is there anymore to be said? Do we expect to much from writers. One aspect of a show I am always afraid of is it was all a dream. Fans have suggested the the Zombie Apocalypse in the AMC 2010 popular Drama/Syfy is a dream and is all in Rick Grimes head. I truly hope that, I would hate that type of a ending and don't want to see it end that way.
However back in 1990 the 1982 show Newhart ended it's run with a dream, and for me it worked. Do you remember the 1972 Bob Newhart Show. I end this post with that final clip


Saturday, August 30, 2014

I Want Jack Bauer to Have a Happy Ending on 24

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Season after season I watched the Fox Series 24 Staring Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer. While not all seasons ended on a sad note, Jack Bauer always got the bad end of the deal. He would save the world and he would be in trouble at the end of the season. He has been on the run, been a victim of a toxic leak and the list goes on.

This past series 24: Live Another Day ended very sad , I was heart broken at the way it ended. Yes, This is hard to admit, but this 51 year old male cried like a baby when it was all over. It was not enough that we had the President taking his daughter home in a casket, and he has Alzheimers's, it was what he said. He let the viewing audience know that soon he would not even remember his daughter and would never know she existed. As sad as that was I could have handled that.

But to add insult to misery Jack Bauer surrenders himself to the Russians to save the life of his family and long time partner Chloe O'Brian played by Mary Lynn Rajskub. We don't know if there is going to be another season for Jack Bauer. To think this could be the last time we see Jack is very sad to me. If there is only one more day for Jack Bauer then I want the end to be Jack goes back to his daughter and Grandchild.

Maybe that's the point of the whole Jack Bauer story is that you can't always have a happy ending. Jack does the job to get the job done and will blow away anyone in his path. Could Jack Bauer fit back in to a normal society? That question may be part of the reason he never has a happy ending.

So for however long it takes, the 24 fans will  have this question. 

I wonder whats going on with Jack?