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Midsomer Murders: The Devil's Work (2023)
Don't watch if you don't like it
Once this episode got going, I loved that the writers set up an interesting change of pace. The cliché for pretty much any mystery show that starts with a similar set up, where the universally loathed and wild family member returns, and who is set to inherit, would be promptly killed off. I love watching mysteries but most make it pretty obvious at the start who the victim will be. I'm always delighted when that is not how the plot proceeds, which is exactly what we got here. On top of that, it's the other family members who turn out to be villains, such as the odious, thieving Francis. As the show goes on, viewers are given a chance to start sympathizing with Lucien instead of seeing him as deserving a quick end.
As we start to see past the facade, we learn Francis, his wife, and complicit Ursula are greedy, useless relics of the past. It's actually good that Lucian is finally allowing the public to visit the estate. He is perhaps correct to end the family's traditions and all the misery that came from them. And while an artist's colony sounded silly at first within the confines of the plot, the audience is able to take a step back and see using money to support creative people and the arts is a better use of the family's money than just hoarding, inheriting, and dodging taxes.
To be clear, the writers did show us Lucian still has a dark side when he hit on young Sorrell. Hopefully she will not be his next "muse" after the events of the episode. Then there's the first victim, Jordana. In a more typical mystery of this type, the blond floozy is typically depicted as a scheming, greedy outsider and the family/locals are righteous for wanting her gone. Even though we know Jordana wasn't totally innocent, it was cruel for Sadie to scare her like she did. Sadie was rightly charged with a crime. One doesn't feel too bad for her getting evicted after Lucian found out what she did. That home is where she got to live apparently rent free for 20 years. And had been promised to be allowed to live there for life. But her jealousy did her in.
As for the ultimate mystery, I liked how, as usual, the audience could tell Barnaby was immediately suspicious of the family's schemes from their very first meeting. He solves all these crimes for a reason. It was obvious with just a look that he knew their accusations involved inheritance and might not be on the level. It was also pretty clear he could see through each clue as they went along making it seem as if Lucian was the killer. I did like the twist when we found out that Ursula and Gideon had once been a couple. While his wife, Lila, had once been involved with Lucian. Of course, then it was obvious Caleb would turn out to be Lucian's son. So sad to see his death. And by that time it was more obvious Ursula was the killer. The scenes starting where Ursula confessed she killed her mother all the way through to when she explained why she loved her garden were so sad and touching. Then when Lucian told her he would stay in the house and look after her baby, I couldn't help tearing up. Often these mystery shows present death as an inevitable plot point, but this one was devastating in the end - from how unfair Ursula's upbringing had been, to Lucian mourning the death of Caleb, then all the murders for the sake of staying with a dead baby. The acting from Serafinowicz and Woodward in their final scenes made me feel as if I was watching Shakespearean tragedy.
Finally m, the one scene that felt unnecessary, when Betty was lost in the house, suddenly had a point. Well two points since she found the clue in Ursula's room. But when Barnaby said at the end a person would do anything to protect their daughter, it all made sense because he was thinking of Betty. The acting was subtle but you knew he had some empathy for Ursula. Then when he said to to Winter "you'll understand yourself one day", Winter gave a look, then a step towards the flowers, and it felt like he was acknowledging his own possible future.
This was one of the most interesting and touching episodes that I can remember out of the entirety of Midsomer Murders. I applaud the writing and acting from everyone involved. Then to see reviewers saying it was dull and it wasn't "British enough" is just absurd. All because they ultimately can't get over the show not having an all white cast. They're so fragile and tedious. Don't keep watching if you don't like it. Get a life. You're part of the past, just like the Shirewells.
Lewis: Old School Ties (2007)
Cliché and slow
I'm a big fan of Inspector Lewis and have seen the series more than once, but had absolutely no memory of this episode. It seems it wasn't interesting enough to be memorable. I put this down to it being only the second episode and the crew was still working out some kinks. I actually fell asleep just past the halfway point, then it took me a week before I forced myself to go back to finish it. Of course it's the character development of Lewis and Hathaway, plus their coworkers, the setting, and getting to spend time in their world which make the episode worthwhile. The case? Not so much. The cliché of bright young students getting off playing at being criminals, then being sicker than career criminals, has been done to death. Though I suppose many stereotypes exist for a reason. Add in annoying Nicky and his insufferable wife and I had no interest in any character or their fate. Now maybe I'm completely wrong but Owen Teale's Geordie accent was like nails on a chalkboard every time he spoke. Half the time he sounded more Hindu than British. I was pretty disappointed when his character was not the first victim because that meant being subjected to more of his scenes. I also think Gina McKee was miscast as a believable hippie do gooder turned literary agent. Probably it's because she has only ever come off as the exact same vaguely posh, distant ice queen in everything I've seen her in. The plot spends far too much time on Lewis taking her to dinner then to spend the night at his own home for various heart to hearts. Altogether there's a great deal of talking and telling and very little actual showing of detective work this time out. Far too much of the investigation takes place off screen. Which is how the case breaking clues come out of nowhere at the very end of the episode, and the Ethan Embry lookalike anticlimactically and blandly confesses. I agree with certain other reviewers that this episode is lacking its usual spark that makes it engaging. Well at least it's finally over and the series is on to better things.
Wolfblood: Wolfsbane (2012)
Tedious filler
When I first watched this show, I had more sympathy for Shannon and tried to give her the benefit of the doubt as a friend to Maddie. Years later, I just don't like her very much and have a lot less patience with her. I also know these are supposed to be kids and kids don't make great decisions, but it seems to me if Shannon's parents think she's delusional and they are sending her to a psychiatrist, how exactly would it help her case if she were to actually see a wolf at this time? If Maddie or Rhydian were to let her see them as a wolf, then her parents would come home and she'd be saying "I saw one! It's real!" A blurry photo would never be seen as proof. She'd be put in a mental hospital. So her insistence on going back out once again to find the beast, and Maddie saying "let her see us", seems like a terrible idea. But like I said, I have no patience for her at this point in the show.
It's also frustrating because to me the writing is showing signs of weakness and poor choices. Like they'd already gotten bored of the show's premise after just a few episodes. Definitely a warning of what is to come. The characters have become one dimensional. Maddie once again loses control of her wolf side, which never seems to be an issue with Rhydian after the first episode or two when the premise was just being set up. Maddie once again has multiple close calls but it all works out in the end. Then there's Tom, whose only character trait is to mope about, feeling entitled to Maddie and jealous of Rhydian. And Rhydian now exists just to get Maddie out of jams.
I think people deserve to know that the main characters are not going to stick around and the entire premise of the show will end up changing. I wish I knew that when I watched this in its first run. But in hindsight, you can tell by this episode the writers didn't know what to do with a paranormal show with teens still in school. Definitely no where near the quality of writing you'd get on Buffy, or even something like Charmed. This repetitive episode just seems like padding until the season finale is set up.
21 Jump Street: Old Haunts in the New Age (1989)
Better than I expected
I know I watched this series when it was first on but I remember pretty much nothing about it. I rewatched this for Halloween and was pleasantly surprised at how tongue in cheek funny it was. I think I was expecting something closer to typical eighties over the top melodrama and earnestness. Something closer to a "very special episode". Ok, there was a bit of that but it's still a fun, quick watch. The plot is pretty simplistic and the ending is anticlimactic, especially since the audience has no idea who the arsonist is until he is caught. There's absolutely no way to ever guess who the bad guy was, nor do you really care about him when he's caught. I'm obviously used to today's cop shows because I was expecting the ending to also have much more action and stunts or whatever. I thought maybe Dori would end up dying in place of Penhall, since that's usually the fate of psychic characters on tv. I thought the "death in the chapel" might involve that Red Baron plane in front of the organ pipes to come crashing down and hurt someone, since Dori seemed to be drawing that. But nope, we just got a nice story of a preacher buried in the basement. Anyway, the best parts were all the meta references to other movies, Doug's various Close Encounters moments, Hanson as Taxi Driver. My favorite was the Ghostbusters showing up. That was awesome. And I liked the ouija board scene. There was also a scene where Penhall and Hanson are talking to Dori about her psychic visions. Hanson says something about his vision of him in Las Vegas as his happy place. All I could think of was Johnny Depp later staring in Leaving Las Vegas. Obviously a coincidence but it made me chuckle.
Midsomer Murders: The Ghost of Causton Abbey (2018)
Far fetched???
I cannot get over a couple reviewers calling the motive for the murders "far fetched"! It's one of the most primal motives there is - a mother protecting her young. A woman is dying and doesn't want a violent alcoholic to be left raising her children. If she hadn't have killed Adam, one could find what Jenny did understandable. Bad enough they still have a broken father. He even made excuses and pretended nothing damaging was happening to his own children. And since we know issues like domestic violence and addiction are generational, one could even wonder if Paul's father, Irene's husband, had quite a lot in common with Emani. One could fanwank further motive for Irene to have helped Jenny out. She was also protecting her grandchildren as she may not have protected her son when he was a boy.
One person points out there are new writers this season. I'll take their word for it. I like the idea how this episode implies a break from the past and that the producers are trying to do things a little differently. After all, most episodes of MM involve a crime and secrets from the past that get tied into a modern murder. The show had Barnaby and Winter proceed as if exactly that was happening. And the audience could not be blamed for doing the same. We wonder if the elderly gangster is finally going to be caught. And wonder what secret Adam had uncovered as a ghost writer. (And I'm just getting who the actual ghost of Causton Abbey was) Did the aging actress have done something darker in the past besides gossip about a rival? The entire investigation is focused on past secrets, only for a completely different scenario, involving the future not the past, to have taken place.
And there also is the departure of Cam and entrance of Fleur. She does make quite an entrance. I love that Tom's reaction is not to be standoffish but instead to invite her to dinner! It cracks me up. And says a lot about him. A bit of a spoiler but it takes several episodes for the writers to get Fleur's tone exactly right but she does eventually take it down a couple notches. Anyway, of course MM is not going to fundamentally change where it counts and dark secrets from the past will return.
Murdoch Mysteries: Station House of Horror (2023)
Not my favorite Halloween episode
Let me start by saying I loved Sir³. I get why some didn't and that's OK, but I loved it. I agree with the others who point out you can't have a very long running show and do the exact same thing week in and week out without the cast and crew getting bored, and maybe some of the audience too. I love it when Murdoch tries new things, and I love the occasional spooky, supernatural episode. That said, this one is not one of my favorites. It was a little bland, predictable, and lacked suspense.
I think my favorite story was about Margaret and her meat pies. I usually enjoy stories that involve Margaret and Thomas in general, but also I think that tale had the most humor, a strength of the series, and that's why it worked. I'm not sure if the show wasn't allowed to fully commit to horror or suspense for the other 3 tales because of network reasons, or if the problem was behind the camera. I think if they had been able to bring in a director who is a master of that genre, it would have made a huge difference and I personally would have loved it. But maybe it would have alienated an even larger chunk of the audience? But trying to have it both ways, wasn't very successful.
Not every episode can be a 10/10. They tried and I appreciate seeing something a little different now and then. Oh and the make up on the "automaton" was incredible!
Midsomer Murders: The Silent Land (2010)
A series rewatch is interesting
I've watched MM since it started, pretty much as each season was new, so we're talking over the span of almost 30 years. I have rewatched only a few episodes here and there if they came on tv and I was in the mood. I did try the book series, but after the first two, realized how different they are from the show and that it is very much not for me. But I never sat down and did a full rewatch before. It's interesting that whenever a new season comes out, there are always a handful of miserable people ranting about how terrible it is now and blaming everything on cast changes and that the problematic showrunner was deservedly replaced. But after watching many of these middle season shows, it's pretty obvious a change was long overdue at this point. The show had gotten very tired and lazy. And I would rather watch the newer seasons than get more like this. Of course it's still MM so there are many good points. I will always enjoy Tom Barnaby (though I equally like John). Jones was one of my favorite partners, though he was barely in this one. I appreciated the creepy theme this episode, though there are ones where it is done better. Actually the ghostly theme is the only reason I rank it as highly as I do. Otherwise I agree with another reviewer who says that there's something tired here. I don't know if it was the men in this particular cast who were dull? (And really the more charismatic women, Emma Fielding especially, were tragically underused.) Maybe that, combined with the costumes, the way everything was shot, the direction, maybe even a color desaturated filter were part of the problem? Definitely the writing is lazy. The script seems like a undeveloped first draft. Anyway, I am more convinced than ever that people's problem with the newer shows has nothing to do with switching to John Barnaby's family and everything to do with their hatred for anyone darker than clotted cream.
Midsomer Murders: The House in the Woods (2005)
The motive
A good, solid episode of Midsomer Murders. Falling back on the signature theme of a current case being related to another secret from the past. And I'm so happy for Jones to begin his tenure. I like him so much more than Scott. His character just easily fits right in with Barnaby with no stress or drama. As an American who remembers the old show Barnaby Jones from my childhood, I have always appreciated using the two names as partners on MM. I see a few people questioning why the first couple were killed. As near as I can tell, Charlie did it to frame his brother and get him sent quickly back to prison. That way he'd be free to sell the house and pocket the money. The couple were just in the wrong place and the wrong time and Charlie seized the opportunity to get rid of Jack. I really appreciate the talent of guest star George Baker who realistically made Jack and Charlie look and feel like two completely different people. Anyway, I like the ending of this one, with Jack and Harriet fixing up the old house, even if Jack had to wrongly spend all those years in prison. There are a few MM's where the ending feels unsatisfying or open ended or even plain confusing. This one feels hopeful.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The Chick Chop Flick Shop (2007)
Memorable horror movie send up
I think if you don't like camp, this episode is not for you. This likely explains some more negative reviews. At its heart, CSI is camp and I eat it up. This is one of the most memorable and delightful episodes of the whole series. It has everything that keeps me coming back to CSI. Suspense, a touch of horror, friendship, humanity. I just watched an absolutely terrible episode from season 15. Now I realize much of what it was missing, all the many, many great characters moments between the main cast. I think all my favorites are here, having great interactions with each other, mixed in different pairings throughout. Nick with Brass, Wendy and Grissom, the moment of confession between Sara and Greg, the lab rats watching Wendy's movie, Catherine throughout, Doc with David. And on and on. These are great, fun, interesting characters who we used to tune in for week after week to catch up their friendships and adventures, their warmth and bonds. Without that, the show is nothing. Then there is this episode's case of the week which was brilliantly over the top, with so many meta moments parodying horror and the entertainment business in general. The plot switched easily between humor, a touch of drama, then a good amount of classic suspense. Great direction! And also great character actors. Loved the Knee High P. I. himself, Martin Klebba's attempt to seduce Catherine. And Will Sasso, who I've been a fan of since Mad TV, who was so sweet and dopey. Everyone was perfectly cast. Even if they got only a few moments of screen time, they made themselves noticed. Zach, Weatherly, the producer and editor, the crew. They were all perfect. I especially appreciated the use of horror movie camera angles and tropes which added to the suspense and creep factor when it was called for. I would love to get a cast commentary to hear all the inside jokes and behind the scene's dish. I'm sure there was a lot. A classic episode!
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The Book of Shadows (2014)
Ridiculous and hacky
I was hoping this would be a fun episode for Halloween. What I got was at least 20 years out of date Satanic Panic nonsense. Sure an episode based around the occult among the faculty of a school could have been intriguing and atmospheric. Completely hack, but intriguing. But no one did at least the most basic, basic research into witchcraft or the occult. How about contact an expert or two? This gobbledygook of made up garbage would be at home in something from the eighties. One doesn't expect such ridiculous writing in 2014. This is more like you'd see in the old Friday the 13th tv series, if it was slow moving with mostly boring characters. The only bright light was Marissa Jaret Winokur whose way too small part was delightfully unhinged. Which was something she brought to the lame writing herself as a good actress. Bella Thorne was better than expected as well. The rest of the cast were nondescript and lacked charisma. This episode came across like a writer did a bunch of white powder then threw absolutely every possible plot point in a jar in a desperate attempt to repeat the prime days of CSI, then shook it up, and got goo. High school athletes doping, a cheerleader who's secretly been SA'd, oh and she is also the head mean girl who secretly had a heart of gold. There's a whiff of a drug dealing biker gang. A test cheating scandal. A faculty member having an affair with a student. On and on. The plot ping pongs from one buzz phrase to another, making nothing but a hot mess. I'll leave this off my list a CSI to rewatch for Halloween.
Midsomer Murders: The Straw Woman (2004)
Good & bad points
I thought this episode was decent for what it is but it would never show up on any top 10 list. First the bad points, then the good. My biggest issue is that many plot points didn't make sense, most especially the mob yelling about witches. It was super confusing as to why the townspeople were suddenly getting violent and threatening, towards Liz especially, besides simply that the plot needed it to happen. Backstory and character development were nonexistent. If modern people were going to behave so extraordinarily, there better have been some logic behind it. It also didn't make sense how people would have moved the moderately sized straw woman to the town square and never wondered why it suddenly weighed an extra 180 lbs, give or take. It didn't make sense how Barnaby and Scott were unable to put out the fire on Liz when they had items perfectly capable of smothering the flames. They just gave up and let her die. Also, by the way, 'pas' does not mean 'step' in French as far I as know. It's 'étape'. And what is 'evil step' supposed to have meant anyway? These are all just a sample of illogical plot points.
I do want to add, in movies like athe Wicker Man, the Man is ritually sacrificed to their gods to guarantee a good harvest. In this episode, the straw woman seems to have been burned as a reminder that witches get burned in that town. Somehow the teacher feels it's a nice tradition to revive? And this makes the townsfolk think she's a witch? It makes no sense.
As for certain reviewers' claims that this episode was anti-Christian, they seem overly ready to paint themselves as victims. First of all, the first two religious characters were victims of murder, never portrayed as bad people. The priest was hysterical at the end but then his partner was just gruesomely killed in front of him. And he lit the fire! Margaret Hopkins was definitely a Karen on steroids but that stereotype exists for a reason. Besides, Margaret didn't commit any crimes and was moderately helpful to the police. That leaves just religious hypocrite Dr Cole, but he is another stereotype we know exists for a reason all too well these days. Cole was also a super unethical doctor, but no one is claiming the episode is anti-doctor. I wonder why that is? And though the show hints at the possibility of Margaret and Cole being homophobic as a motive, that turned out to be a red herring and they never do exhibit any homophobia. As for the illogical mob chanting about witches, none of them are ever given actual religious motivations, or any motivation at all really, which was my problem with the show to begin with. To paraphrase a saying, when you are used to being part of a very dominant group, over privileged and over pampered, seeing some truth occasionally can feel like oppression. Just watch social media or the news, people like Margaret Hopkins and Dr Cole exist. If you are offended by them, that's not the fault of the scriptwriters.
So what did I like? The scenery was gorgeous and evocative, as usual. I liked how it was appropriately creepy at times, perhaps I would have liked even more creepiness but it worked. I thought most of the acting was good and everyone was well cast. Maybe some were a little over the top at times but the script called for it. I liked that the main culprit wasn't obvious from the start so I was looking forward to getting answers. And having two guilty parties helped drive the mystery. All in all, I'd call this an average episode of Midsomer Murders, but then that is way better than most other shows, so that is a good thing in my book.
Midsomer Murders: The Electric Vendetta (2001)
Slow and hard to like
For all the complaining people do about later seasons, while claiming the early ones are just so much better, I'd make them watch this. In brief, I found it very slow moving, for all the deaths that keep happening. I checked the timer repeatedly hoping it was almost over. Worst of all, I think there was not a single character who was likable or interesting. Even the dying woman came off poorly seeing as she led on two men at the same time to the point that it caused a lifelong, murderous vendetta. Then there are the couples who hate each other but stay together. Everyone is cheating. Even the two biddies at the post office were boring and off putting. How did this go so wrong? As many point out, there are egregious loose ends. There's some very poorly done day-for-night shots, one where you can clearly see blue skies and clouds. Without watching again to check, I swear there was a "night" scene, then a shot of daytime, then back to night, but I think it was supposed to be all the same evening? Also at the end Barney asked Christian if he killed a certain person and he firmly says "I have never killed anyone in my life!" But we already knew he did kill someone, the first victim, with his security system. And apparently he wasn't going to get in trouble for it? Maybe if he did, his lawyer would point out Barnaby's illegal search and the case would become a mess. LOL. Plus Barnaby kept annoyingly unnecessarily telling people how to do their jobs, clearly for the benefit of slower audience members. "Ok everyone, take this body to the morgue right away!" What else did he think they'd do with it? "Gavin, see this evidence in the evidence bag? Take it to forensics!" Perfect place for the "yes, I know, it's my job" meme. In the end, I was just happy to see so many of the horrible characters get justice. I think one of the only good parts was Chekhov's combine.
Sanctuary: Pavor Nocturnus (2009)
Like it but not the placement
I really liked this episode but I feel it either should have come before Hero or else much later in the season. I really love Hero and rate it highly but the tone felt off, showing up immediately after Eulogy, where Magnus finally was mourning Ashley. It felt strange for there to be a humorous episode the very next week, where Ashley wasn't even mentioned and Magnus' seemed cheery. Then right after that, we get the events of this episode, where we're told Helen had spent weeks (months?) looking for a way to shorten her own life out of grief. But perhaps the order of episodes was more of a network decision and this one should have come after Eulogy?
Knowing Stargate SG1 (and sci-fi in general), where they did so much with alternate dimensions and time travel, I don't see this episode as having only been a dream. I do think the entity Magnus encountered did allow her into an alternate timeline as a warning. She mentioned a couple times that the ancient tv Mayans (not actual Mayans) were messing around with time before their empire ended, which sees like a big clue. But it is never set in stone, so one could interpret it their own way.
I thought young Nicole Muñoz, later to be in another favorite show of mine, Defiance, did a great job as a feral survivor. I liked the hint that in another lifetime Will and Kate could be together. And that Druitt was willing to sacrifice himself out of grief after the Helen in that world died. I like that the show's CGI sets allow the audience to experience such a total change in their environment. If I watch the series again, I have to remember to change up the sequence of the episodes to gauge the emotional impact.
Sanctuary: End of Nights: Part 2 (2009)
Sanctuary 2.0
I have a slightly different view of Ashley after watching the series yet again after a few years. I know there's a lot of talk online about why she was written out, mainly speculation that maybe her character was disliked, or else that specifically Amanda Tapping did not get along with the actress (like it can only be women who don't get along with each other, never men having an issue). But why does it have to be that someone didn't get along with others at all? Her loss was definitely shocking the first time I watched. But now I see her departure differently. On the one hand, if you have an action/adventure type show where none of the main characters are ever in danger, a great deal of suspense is lost. Characters have to get hurt or even die from time to time for viewers to feel the risk. I also see how Ashley's character was probably specifically planned to have this fate from the very beginning of the show - as they said, she was the only child of two people who took in the source blood. Her fate was always to be taken by the Cabal and experimented on. No backstage drama ever required. Yes, it's sad to lose a character many loved but it's part of the drama of the show.
As for the rest of the episode, I'm a fan of Lynda Boyd and she was extra badass and evil in this one. Though I'm not quite clear how the Cabal had such instant and thorough access to the Sanctuary's security cameras during attacks. LOL. I love how the audience has now been introduced to the whole, world-wide Sanctuary network this season. For a show with a small budget, they expertly manage to give it an expansive universe. I'm also a fan of the character of Kate. The actress definitely has a tough act to follow and certainly some fans will always have something against her for replacing Ashley, but that's their issue. Tesla is super enjoyable as always and any episode he is in is a favorite. Also by my own metric of good acting, Amanda Tapping's scene at the end where she pleads with Ashley made me tear up, while I felt little when Clara died. Altogether, a sad but exciting and interesting start to the new season!
Sanctuary: Instinct (2008)
The fully formed team
Solid, fast moving, suspenseful monster of the week episode. Yes, the premise has become a bit of a cliche: a pastiche of the tv show Cops (which is different from the found footage trope). Probably the first version of this was an awesome episode of X Files. It was also used on a super emotional, impactful set of episodes of Stargate. There was a whole show named Death Valley that was based on Cops with supernatural creatures. So it's not original. But once you digest that, and get past the loathsome reporter character, this is an entertaining episode. They sprinkle in a bit more info on what the Cabal is up to. We see the Sanctuary team fully formed now at the end of the season. Everything has built to this. Will has been fully integrated. Henry is now out in the field. Everyone shows their own strength and specialty working together as a team. And the ending hints at how people we come to care about can be killed in an instant.
Sanctuary: Edward (2008)
Watch the whole episode before you judge
I wasn't going to write a review of this episode, because I don't find it meaty enough to analyze. But I have to address the accusation that the show is "offensive" and depicts people on the spectrum as savants with magical powers. Now perhaps that person didn't watch the entire episode, but I thought it rather clear that Edward's abilities don't come from autism. That's merely what Magnus and Will (and the audience) assumes at the start of the episode, along with assuming the dad was horribly abusive and didn't actually commit suicide. But we eventually learn Edward is an abnormal, from a family of abnormals, who happened to also be born with autism. In the end, we realize both his father and brother have at least a version of the same abilities while also being neurotypical.
My issue is that I just never cared much about Edward or any member of his family, nor did I find their brand of abnormal compelling. Also their happy ending seems like it will be short-lived. We're to believe it was The Cabal who swooped in with the power to end the police investigation and take the dad's body. Why should we think if the boys just go home, The Cabal won't just make them disappear as well? Why should we think suddenly the boys will be able to control their powers while their dad never could? Magnus doesn't seem like she's planning to give them any instruction or follow up visits. Frankly the mom, who came off like a borderline neglectful space case, doesn't seem like the best guardian to go home to either. All this is why the ending left me feeling dissatisfied. A rather bland filler episode.
Sanctuary: The Five (2008)
Tesla!
Finally! I feel like the show is really starting now. We needed all the episodes up until now to get introduced to most characters and find out a bit of how the world works, but the show really gets going with this episode. And we finally meet Tesla! He's such a good character and I love the joy and energy the actor brings to him. I didn't remember him showing up so early but I'm so glad he does. Plus we now know much more about who everyone is, how they are related, and we're introduced to The Five and more of the show's mythology. Druitt is such a great character also. The casting for this show was amazing. I wish the show could have gotten 200 episodes!
Sanctuary: Nubbins (2008)
Still early days of the show
I wish this episode focused solely on the nubbins plot and was much faster paced and funnier. The B plot about Sophie and her grandfather had much too different a tone and really dragged down the episode. But on the positive side, we finally get much more Henry. Up until now he was more of a minor character. I like the show much more when he's a full member of the team. This is also the first episode where Ashley is mildly likeable and shows personality. (I know I'm in the extreme minority not liking her character) Her interactions with Henry especially were some of the best parts of the episode. Well, she was likeable up until she allowed the one nubbins to escape then argues too much against rounding them up. Sadly, the writers never developed what happened when Will found her with the nubbin and what caused her to lose time. Obviously it had been influencing her but the script never followed up on that. If so much time hadn't been wasted on Sophie's storyline and the overall slow pace, this could have been a much better, more entertaining episode. In the end, Sophie's ESP felt unnecessary for saving the day and the overall ending was flat. A strangely mediocre entry from director Peter Deluise, who can usually create create side splitting comedy as well as suspenseful action. I wonder what went wrong?
Sanctuary: Kush (2008)
Not a favorite
I love this series and I've seen it a few times, but this episode probably ranks towards the bottom for me, although bad Sanctuary is still very good relatively speaking. Maybe it's issues are due to the series was still figuring itself out? We do learn slightly more about Helen's past with Druitt, and we see the trust developing between her and Will. It's too bad we say goodbye so soon to Sylvio because I liked his character. I'm also a fan of Sarah Strange so it's good to see her here even though she doesn't have much to do. She's also yet another Stargate actor who carried over to this show. My big issue is that the actions of the creature of the week make no sense. Why is it killing when it could have just stayed with the group and left the mountains? Or else why not just escape to freedom wants to stay? It's not killing to eat. Why not kill everyone right away when it had the chance? Why does it create all the dreams and hallucinations? It makes sense to appear as someone trustworthy to get close to its prey. In that respect, it reminds me a lot of the Himalayan Rakshasa from an episode of Kolchack, which was loosely based on a real creature from Asian mythology. But what was the point of Helen's dreams, besides an excuse for backstory exposition? Why have Helen seen the wounds on that body one way and Will see them differently? There's just way too many unanswered questions. By the time it ends, I am left feeling too frustrated and unsatisfied to have enjoyed the mystery. Oh well, there's always a rough episode or two when a series is first starting.
Stargate SG-1: Frozen (2002)
Relates to the series mythology but meh
I find myself agreeing with the reviewers both giving this episode a high rating and those panning it. I agree maybe this storyline had too much going on to tackle in one episode, yet they wasted way too much time on issues such as debating who Ayiana might be. They already knew the Ancients existed and built the Stargates. Why did it seem to take half the episode to say "she might be one of the Ancients!" That was excruciating. I also agree the decision to make her 30-50 million years old was bad. And what a coincidence she was white! (Buffy had already introduced The First two years before this and they had the sense to make her African) That all added to the really poor science throughout this episode, most egregiously, the complete lack of protective gear when exposed to Ayiana beyond simply calling her location "the quarantine room". But then if they had followed even basic scientific techniques, the plot couldn't happen. Often on this show, you can ignore small inaccuracies but this episode made it impossible to ignore them. Add to that how, yes, she is way too similar to Lelu in The Fifth Element down to copying Milla Jovovitch's performance and hair. Not to mention also copying The Thing. Nevertheless, this episode does serve the greater mythic arc of the show. We learn slightly more about the Ancients. Ayiana does later do a cameo at the start of Stargate Atlantis. And O'Neill will briefly become a Tok'ra, which we know will have permanent effects. So I understand many impacts of this episode are important. I just wish the writers did a better job getting from point A to B.
Halloween with the New Addams Family (1977)
Special Guest Star
To get it out of the way, I see some people complaining that Carolyn Jones was listed as a guest star. Now I'm not in the actor's union so I don't know details, but I've heard about this before, that being listed as a guest star allows an actor to be paid at a higher rate. I'm guessing the rest of the cast was getting what's usually referred to as scale or a regular day rate or similar. But Jones probably would not participate unless she got a lot more money. But to do that their union requires actors to be listed as a guest star. It's weird when you see the credits but it wasn't because the producers considered her to be less important to the cast. Anyway, as for the show itself, it's pretty mediocre. I'm glad I watched it as a big Addams Family fan, but I don't know how many times I'd ever watch again. The writing is dire. The idea for the plot is decent enough that it was reused, in part, for the 1991 movie - imposters pretend to be family to get access to the house in order to find a certain safe to rob. Even the part about the kids playing in the graveyard with their dead ancestors was recycled into the movie. But the movie had great writing and that made all the difference. Even the direction makes things here awkward and humorless. I find it hard to believe this was a pilot for a reboot since so there seems to be so little effort into making this something you want to keep watching each week. For me the biggest positive was seeing the old cast in color. I know many don't like it but to me it somehow makes the characters and home more real or maybe modern, although it also highlights how cheap some of the costumes were. Also, considering this was made for kids, I like the idea that they were waiting for a Great Pumpkin-like character and sang a Halloween carol at the end. It's too bad most of the rest of the plot was such boring nonsense.
Corner Gas: Cousin Carl (2004)
Carl is Brent!
I've seen this a few times but suddenly realized Cousin Carl is a Bizarro version of the real Brent. We know Corner Gas is the real Brent imagining what his life would be like if he never became a comic and left his small town. In this episode, Carl is also Brent, in his own self-deprecating way, imagining what people in his hometown think of him whenever he visits. Brent travels the world, meets famous people, and works out of Vancouver - just like Carl. Though we all know his friends and family don't actually think he's a pompous loud mouth! Though my favorite part of the show is maybe Oscar yelling "I'm a senior!" and scamming $1.20 out of everyone in town.
Newhart: New Faces of 1951 (1984)
Mediocre finale
Sort of a bland season ending that almost seems like it was a leftover script from the beginning of the season. Kirk's wife has vanished, actually she's been gone for a bit, along with all references to her. Should we believe even she was too busy for the party? Kirk's also back to being his worst, season one self. His character improved so much over season two, it's a shame this is how his last show went. Add to that, Michael and Stephanie dating has been dropped. And then the writers forgot George has been in at least two clubs who he was written as hanging out with regularly and having a great time. I think there were some town committees as well. Now he is a sad sack with no friends? Heck, where's Larry, Daryl, and Daryl? I agree with the reviewer who said this just wasn't too funny. The writing and characters improved so much over the course of the season, only to all be left out. I was never a huge Kirk fan, but like I said, it's a shame this was how we last see him. Apparently this script is the very first thing the writer of this episode ever did, and it shows. He also only went on to be credited on a handful of other things, the biggest was two episodes of Charles in Charge.
The Phoenix: A Presence of Evil (1982)
Horse farm bandits
The episode starts when Bennu is hitching a ride to a family's horse farm. He tells the female driver who picked him up that he's "looking for Indians". At a pitstop, he fights off some bikers, something that has nothing to do with the plot. No idea why it was included. It felt like the bikers should have showed up later but they don't. But afterwards, the driver does blow thru a stop sign and gets stopped by a cop. This is import but it's skipped over and not shown. Why? It's such a bizarre choice by the director. Apparently, what we don't see is that the cop recognized Bennu and notified Preminger. Maybe they didn't show the interaction because it wouldn't make sense for Bennu to not read the cop's mind and know he was spotted?
Anyway, Bennu arrives at the ranch and asks for a job. I guess he was planning to stay a while? His timing is terrible because the man of the house just happened to get involved with some thieves. The thieves immediately double cross him and illogically escalate the situation, seeing as that is how they eventually get caught. As so often on tv, if the crooks had played it cool, they likely would have gotten away with it.
Oblivious, Bennu takes a horse ride into the hills with the family's young son. He finds a cave and has another encounter with the mysterious male alien creature and he shows off his powers a bunch. Meanwhile, Preminger's bosses hook him up with a paranormal researcher with access to psychics. Then he gets the call about the recent Bennu sighting and pretty much immediately tracks him down. Bennu, of course, gets away and no one apparently tries to follow him. Within about 60 seconds, he saves the day and is off again on his travels. In regards to the over arching plot, this felt a bit like a filler episode, as Bennu really didn't learn anything and seemed to easily give up on trying to stay in the area to discover more. The violence felt pretty gratuitous and a little intense for the type of show this was and on family tv. I wonder if this is partly why audiences didn't want to watch this when it first aired? I know the Fugitive-like premise wasn't original but the alien with powers plot twist makes it interesting enough. I can't find anything on why this show failed.
The Phoenix: One of Them (1982)
Credits are wrong
I wrote this because the credits given here in IMDb are very obviously wrong. The Sheila Frazier listed as playing Mira is not the woman in this episode as the woman in the show is a white woman with possibly hazel eyes and the woman linked here is Black. Perhaps the show spelled the actress' name wrong or she changed it soon after. I've noticed that was pretty common in the seventies for those doing small rolls to not have their names listed correctly. Perhaps the woman was not primarily an actress but was a model, like Shelley Smith in the pilot. She definitely had the look. Anyway, it's super annoying and listed the same way in Wikipedia. Also the little girl at the end of the episode, who was not credited, is not Shannon Doherty. Shannon had already done other credited roles prior to this and was about to become a regular on Little House On the Prairie a few months after this aired. If you look at photos of her on that show, she clearly looks different than the actress who appeared in this episode. And the one photo currently linked here is very obviously not from this show. Anyway, my review is this this episode was better than the previous one. I'm surprised Bennu managed to find some answers so quickly. I thought this show might just be another Fugitive/Kung Fu/Incredible Hulk/Highway to Heaven with Bennu wandering aimlessly week after week and getting nowhere, just helping people. Glad to see it's not. However the story of the crazed boyfriend didn't make any logical sense as a realistic character, And I'm already tired of Preminger being so close behind yet always missing Bennu. Two episodes left.