"Fringe" - "Haven"

`
Another review page --

"Fringe" - I never watched "Fringe" when it was airing because it looked to be just like all the other strange goings-on shows, like The X-Files, Supernatural, etc.  But a guy at work bought the DVDs and loaned them to me.

At first I wasn't much impressed. The first few episodes were pretty much like every other WTOTW (Weird Thing of The Week) as in other shows of this genre, but once they got into the alternate universe episodes, with the alternate-but-same characters, it got interesting.

And the fourth season was the best for me, since both sides had to cooperate to find out who was trying to destroy both universes. But in the last episode, they had to close the bridge between worlds.

So in this final 5th season, they are about 20 years in the future trying to take back the world from the Observers. And so far I have been sorely disappointed.

I   WANT   the alternate universe stories back!!  
The very least the writers/producers could do is look in on the alternate-verse to see how everyone is doing.

One more thing - Olivia and Peter had a daughter, and for some reason, the writers named her Henrietta. And she is frequently called Etta, which I think is about the ugliest woman's name I can think of (with apologies to any woman named Etta). Maybe that's why they killed her off in only the third episode.

Hopefully, the stories will get better.


"Haven" - I surprised myself by watching this one because it is one of the WTOTW kind of show I normally don't watch. But so far I have really liked it (it is in the second season now).

The main character is Audrey Parker, played by the delightful Emily Rose. The premise of the show, set in Haven, Maine, is that many of the residents are afflicted with 'The Troubles' - strange, supernatural powers that wreak havoc on the town and its inhabitants. But for some reason Audrey is immune to these "Troubles."

Not much else to say about this show, other than I'd like to see it go on for a few more seasons (13 eps per season).
`

"Once Upon a Time" - "Major Crimes" - "Blue Bloods"

`
More TV reviews starting with --

"Once Upon a Time" - this isn't a new show since it's just started its second season, but I like it a lot and so do a lot of other viewers. Its about fairy tale characters that were magically transported to Storybrook Maine by the evil queen of "Snow White" fame. There was no magic in Storybrook until the end of season one.

And now in season two everyone remembers who they were in "fairy tale land" and are angry at, and want to do harm to,  Regina (the queen). Almost all fairy tale characters you recognize have, or will, show up, including Snow White, Prince Charming, the Seven Dwarfs, Red Riding Hood, Jiminy Cricket, Mulan, Captain Hooke, Rumplestiltskin, Pinocchio, and many others.

I like this show and am glad it got a second season.


"Major Crimes" - This is a spin-off from "The Closer" and I really didn't have much of an expectation since so many of the characters remained, but with the replacement of a new captain - Captain Raydor (Mary McDonnell) for Brenda Leigh Johnson, but I have been pleasantly surprised since Raydor was so disliked in "The Closer". The stories have been good and I like all the returning cast members.

I see this one lasting for a few more seasons.


"Blue Bloods" - another returning show, starring Tom Selleck as the New York City police commissioner, Frank Reagan. This is a show I didn't watch from the beginning, but caught up with watching it On Demand (which I still do since another show, "Haven" is on at the same time).

One of the characters - Danny Reagan, is played by Donny Wahlberg, brother of the more famous Mark Wahlberg. Which is a shame because Donny does a really good job in the show. I normally don't care much about male characters, but I can't understand why Donny hasn't been nominated for an Emmy (which is another reason why I don't watch the Emmy awards - the people and shows I think should win are rarely even nominated).

This isn't to say the other characters in the show aren't worth recognition. It IS a really good program and the other cast members are really good - Bridget Moynahan, Jennifer Esposito, Amy Carlson, and all the rest of them.
`

"Arrow" - "Revolution" - "Chicago Fire"

`
There have been quite a few new TV shows that I've been watching; some good, some not so much. So in the next few blogs I"m going to review them in no particular order, starting with --

"Arrow" - About Green Arrow, although in the show he's just called Arrow. And this is pretty good so far. Got some good looking women it it, always a plus. And the stories are pretty good. Arrow isn't the goody-goody that Batman is - he doesn't mind killing the bad guys (using, of course, a well-placed arrow).

I understand this has been given a green light for a full season. So unless it gets terrible, I will continue to watch it.


"Revolution" - The power has gone out all over the planet for some mysterious reason, and the story picks up 15 years later. So far the stories have been interesting. But I wonder why everyone is wearing nearly new clothes and always seem to be so clean (and the women still use makeup, and shave their underarms and legs).  There are some good characters, and the women in the show are all attractive (I guess all the plain/ugly ones died off).

This also will go for a full season.


"Chicago Fire" - About...Chicago firemen (DUH!).  The actions scenes at the fires and other happenings that require Fire and Rescue are very good. Lots of danger and good effects. But when things are calm and the stories go to the lives and dramas of the men and women, well, it's pretty much the same thing as other shows - the guy who needs pain-killing drugs, the on again/off again relationships, etc., etc. And, as usual, all the women on the show are very easy on the eyes

I hear that this show hasn't generated the audience wanted and it is in danger of being canceled.
`

They Did It AGAIN!!

`

And so, once again, the goddamned TV execs have decided to program Monday nights with too many conflicting shows. Why the hell can't they spread them out during the week?

What I am talking about:

* 8 p.m. --

Bones

Switched at Birth

Alphas

*9 p.m. --

Major Crimes

Warehouse 13

*10 p.m.

Revolution

Alphas (rerun)

Of course I can watch them On Demand later (except Switched), but it just pisses me off because there is NOTHING on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights that I want to watch, so why load up Monday nights?

I think they do this to me on purpose...

...or maybe not.

`

2011 Emmy Awards

.

Just short and not-so-sweet----

The Emmy nominations are out, and although I never watch (mainly because 99% of the shows I like and watch are never nominated - Lauren Graham and "Gilmore Girls" as perfect examples), I think that shows on the pay channels (HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc) should NOT be nominated because not everyone (including me) can afford to subscribe to them, and therefore aren't able to watch the shows.

That's all.

.

Shiri Appleby's "Life Unexpected"

Watched the pilot episode last night, and it was ever bit as good as the promo clips promised. But then, I've never seen Shiri in anything she didn't do a good job with (okay, "Darklight" wasn't so hot, but her character, Lilith, left me wanting another TV movie or series). But as I stated in an earlier blog, I find Shiri very attractive (not to mention very sexy and delightful to watch).

All the characters were pretty likable, especially Shiri and Britt Robertson, who plays Lux (we never found out if that was a nickname or her real name}. Just a day or two after Cate's (Shiri's) boyfriend freaked out after finding out Cate had a kid, and she gave back the engagement ring, she (Cate) spent the night with Lux's dad - Baze. I guess this was to show us that Cate isn't perfect. And they reinforced that when she decided she wanted to do right by Lux, and then asked her boyfriend to marry her (he accepted). No doubt the night with Baze will come back to bite her in the ass (and what a NICE ass it is!!).

This is supposed to be "Juno" meet "Gilmore Girls" and I can see how the "Juno" part fits since Lux is somewhat savvy and precocious. But except for Cate having a daughter when she was 17 (pregnant at 16), I've yet to see the bond between Cate and Lux that there was between Lorelai and Rory. But I guess as the episodes unfold we will (should) see more of it.

This is one show I definitely will watch every week.