Supernatural 9.05 Review: Dean Winchester, Animal Whisperer

All those that have yet to watch Tuesday night’s episode of Supernatural, entitled ‘Dog Dean Afternoon’, now would be a good time to do so before reading ahead. As this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

For the first, I don’t know, half of the episode, I thought to myself, ‘Yay, two monster-related episodes in a row. This series is finally getting back to its roots where angels and demons were few and far between.’ So, I was a lot happier with this episode than I have been with this series – other than last week – in a long time. Still, it didn’t cap off nearly as exciting as it began. It was only a human with a shaman spell. Which makes two witch-like villains in a row. Please give me some actual monsters.

My one big issue with this episode was the ludicrous aspect of Dean communicating with animals. It was kind of stupid, made it too easy, and just wasn’t written well enough to be depicted in a realistic – for this show – kind of way. Sure, it brought a lot of humourous moments to this episode, but that’s with my currently low expectations of this series that should have ended three years ago. Seriously, they are running this series, that I have loved for five years, into the ground. End it soon, every series has a shelf life, this one has passed its.

There were some funny moments to this episode that I did enjoy. Dean pulling out a gun on the bird that was mocking him was simply hilarious. Also, Sam having to rub that dog’s belly for it to give them answers. But still there were some bad points too. The villain’s ridiculously fake looking “wolf” teeth comes to mind, as well as how easy it is for them to get answers with the Men of Letters bunker library. It makes me miss the point to this series, two brothers going on the road to hunt things. Not angels specifically, not demons, all evil. I miss Kripke. Also, the guy ate the kitty, what the hell?

Overall, better than a lot of the episodes this series has been putting out. The current show runner is much better equipped than Sera Gamble was, whose only big achievement was the episode where Sam and Dean end up on the Supernatural set. Otherwise, this series is still growing stupendously disappointing. I really am done after this season if they don’t give me what made this show great in the first place. There is evolving a series, but not forgetting its roots altogether.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I don’t like the way that owl’s looking at me.” – Dean grumbles about the dead and stuffed owl.

“I always knew I’d find the source of all evil at a vegan bakery!” – Dean announces to Sam.

“You know who wears sunglasses inside? Blind people, and douchebags.” Dean tells Sam.

“That’s monkeys.” – Sam says to Dean, about the animal that knows sign language.

“Oh shut it, you winged rat.” – Dean shouts at the bird.

Okay, all caught up now. Just have to watch Revolution and American Horror Story: Coven, of which both I am excited for, so it’s a toss up to which I’ll watch first and review. Stay tuned. Or not.

Bones 9.05 Review: Make the Most Out of the Life You Live

All those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Bones, titled ‘The Lady on the List’, then now would be a great time to do that. This is not a spoiler free blog; there is a chance that this episode, and previous episodes, may be ruined below. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

While very much the same as most episodes of Bones, there was a beautiful message to be had in this particular one. The idea that life needs to be made the most of, and that you can cross off everything on a bucket list but it will never be finished because you’ll just keep adding more. It was a wonderful notion to state that a life can only be fulfilled when a person does their best every chance that they get, to let go of the past, let go of the negativity, and just live to make yourself happy. It certainly was a very wise thing to say.

Now, more on the episode. I quite like Dr. Wells, not because – to quote Angela – he is a douche, but because he stirs up these different characteristics in these characters that are not so easily shaken. Cam is constantly taken aback by what he says, Angela almost treats him like a child that needs to taught better, and Brennan is astounded of the thought he acts smarter than her. Anyway it’s put, he brings an interesting dynamic to the show. He almost seems to have characteristics of someone with Asperger’s, or something of the like.

Despite this series having become more or less the same, with very little change from season to season (ever since Brennan got pregnant), there are some humourous moments to the show that keep me coming back for more. I just loved Sweets whole issues with Val, although I completely agree a computer cannot pick up on something that is so subjective, it was still quite fun seeing him freak out over the whole thing. Hodgins’s bucket list was also funny, in that he was astounded that anyone wouldn’t want to be launched out of a canon. Then there was the moment where Dr. Wells is asking out Brennan on a friend date, and Hodgins walks in at the wrong moment, then Brennan turns around and he’s just standing there. Such a perfect Hodgins moment; he’s so much lighter in this series than he used to be.

While I don’t think this series can go on much longer, I am finding episodes pleasant to watch, if a little predictable. I did guess the killer a good ten minutes before Brennan figure it out, and I’m not usually one that picks up on that so easily. Perhaps it’s because my brain has grown more critical after the amount of reviews I’ve done in the last month. Either way, I don’t think this show can last more than a season after this one, otherwise there’s the threat of running it into the ground. And let’s be honest, it should’ve ended a while ago, but I am glad to be able to see the unthinkable happen in the whole wedding between Brennan and Booth next week. It’s sure to be interesting, despite my idea that Brennan would’ve worn something more different than a simple white wedding dress. But, oh well.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Right now I’m gonna go with yes.” – Cam says, in reference to the way Dr. Wells speaks.

“Never discount random luck.” – Wells states, proving Angela right in relation to his douchery.

“It’s less icky if I call it cerumen.” – Hodgins says to Cam, about earwax.

“I hate Val, she is stupid. I hate her.” – Sweets expressing his frustration toward the program.

“If it was the wife, she’s brilliant. In a murderous sort of way.” Wells mutters.

“Oh my God, I don’t.” – Wells exclaims, about his not knowing what happened and who the murderer is.

Okay, ladies and gents, I’m off to go watch Sleepy Hollow, then I’ll finish things up for the night with The Blacklist. Stay tuned.

How I Met Your Mother 9.05 Review: Marriage is about Partnership

All those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of How I Met Your Mother, entitled ‘The Poker Game’, then now would be a good time to do so. As with all my blogs, there is a chance that this, and previous episodes of the series, could be spoiled below. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed with caution.

Last night’s episode of How I Met Your Mother was a rather pleasant episode to watch. There were some throwbacks to previous episodes, like the Slutty Pumpkin, and just after Marshall and Lily’s wedding that were like nice little Easter eggs for the longtime fans of the series. Welcome little tributes that help signify that this really is the last season of the series – enjoy it while you can.

So there’s forty-eight hours to go before the wedding, and we’re five episodes into the season. Despite how ludicrous it would be that all of the stuff that has happened would happen in such a short period of time – especially last week’s episode where Ted went around doing all these Best man tasks – this is still a funny series. I loved the scene where Lily pops out from under the table, and then Ranjit and Zabka follow suit soon after. The other hilarious moment was when Barney breaks the vase before leaving his brother and mother in the room, as well as when Robin’s won Barney’s mom’s shirt off her. So there are definitely a lot of laughs going on.

While it still doesn’t completely feel like the previous seasons, particularly because it encompasses such a short period of time, this is still one of the better sitcoms of the ages. I’m proud to have been a fan for the last few years, and wonder what television will look like next year without new Ted antics, finding out who the mother is, Barney’s “awesome” ways, Lily and Marshall’s life entanglements, and Robin’s man-like ways. I’m trying to treasure these final few episodes as they come, because I wasn’t quite old enough to be able to treasure the final first airing of the Friends finale.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Let’s go get to the bottom of this.” – Zabka says in reference to finding out whether it was Ted that bought Marshall and Lily the coffee maker.

“See ya losers.” – Barney yells at his mom and brother, before breaking the vase.

All right, folks, that’s all for now. Check back in about an hour for my review of the latest Bones episode. Then it’s Sleepy Hollow and The Blacklist to round it all out.