Teen Wolf 4.12 Review: Who Wants to be the Baddest Monster?

If only Teen Wolf aired on Tuesday’s; then it really could’ve boasted a full moon on a full moon. Alas, the series does not, but the season four finale did air Monday night, titled ‘Smoke and Mirrors’, and it had so much going on, it encroached on Wolf Watch, going a whole fifteen minutes over its allotted hour. Normally I wouldn’t mind that, but it did mean I missed out on fifteen minutes of the after show, which just so happened to have ballooned up to a forty-five minute episode. It’d have been nice to have gotten a head’s up on that, but I relent.

This week’s season finale felt more or less like this season has felt, iffy on a hole with it’s season long arc, but nonetheless still good. Compared to 3B’s season finale it was unimpressive, but the writing on this season has been so back and forth and all over the place, I wasn’t altogether that surprised. I mean, the benefactor issue gets fixed last week, and then we have to deal with Peter again, really? He is interesting as a villain, but I really enjoyed having him pop up every now and again with his quippy little one-liners, and having make another 180 and go back to being evil Peter just felt like a devolution. Besides, the way the actor had been playing him most of this season – without the knowledge of Peter’s “true” intent – didn’t feel like it was leading toward this. And what’s the point in killing Scott anyway, when you can’t become an Alpha by stealing from a True Alpha?

As always, I adored Stiles this week – he’s continuously unmistakably fantastic. Loved the face he gave Derek when the latter was explaining to Liam what the “talisman” was. (Side note: is anyone worried that the use of mantras predicts Liam leaving Scott’s pack for the docile one?) It was really great seeing Stiles discussing with his dad everything that was going on with Scott and Kira in Mexico, and him having to go there because there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the pack (read: weird family, a la Buffy), particularly being Scott’s best friend. Despite his ferocity for the sardonic sense of humour, I really feel like Stiles, in this moment, shines as a young adult because he really has his priorities straight and understands responsibility. Speaking of responsibility, absolutely adored at the end when Sheriff Stilinski cuffs Stiles to the desk – perfect punishment.

One thing I do have to commend this week is the use of sound. The eeriness when Kira wakes up to her open cage and calls out for Scott thinking it was his doing (No, sweetie, it’s not Scott. Don’t you watch horror movies?) devoid of any other music or sounds other than what would be natural to that environment was absolutely perfect. Also, the final song of episode I greatly enjoyed.

Speaking of technical aspects, there’s also the ever-enjoyable cinematography I need to take note of. Despite a few choice close ups at the end – I’m looking at you Kate and Argent – that didn’t really give the actors a lot of good light, most of the filming was done quite well, including the shot of Peter skidding to a stop with his shocked face in regards to his nephew. The CGI-ing, though, or whatever it was, towards the end of the fight between Peter and Scott when Scott’s stopping all of Peter’s punches, was kind of terrible, but otherwise it wasn’t too bad.

In other respects to the episode, I may be one of the only people that don’t really care of Braeden and Derek. I mean, yay for Derek and his discovery of a non-homicidal – at least not yet – girlfriend, but much like how Stiles and Malia started, these two felt like they were just kind of haphazardly thrown together. For the most part, I didn’t even feel like those tears were real for the loss of someone she cared about (read: cared about, not loved, so many goddamned shows throw the word love around too much without believability).

A couple other final things to mention – one being the fact that Liam was the one that brought Scott out of his Berserker state. Okay, sure they have that commonality of worrying whether they’re monsters, and Liam finally got the hang of that this week (and whoa was that ever quick), but I would’ve hoped that at least Stiles would be the one to get through to him. Maybe it had to be a werewolf, and maybe that werewolf just happened to have to be Liam because he’s Scott’s Beta, but I don’t know, I was just a bit bewildered at this when it happened – although maybe it was just the acting. Also, thank God Derek is still alive, and how cool is it that we’re going to get to delve into the whole werewolf myth – hopefully – next season with Derek’s complete transformation. I bet his mama would be proud. And, finally, I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, and I’m going to keep on saying it: I adore Coach; he is absolutely fantastic, and possibly my favourite adult on this show.

All in all, this episode, much like its season, was unimpressive and a bit too discombobulated. Individually this season’s episodes have been good, but they haven’t quite meshed well. Then again that’s how this series seems to be. It’s a rollercoaster of ups and downs, goods and bads, and the stories are just interesting and well enough done that it keeps me interested and coming back. Plus, who doesn’t need a guilty pleasure show stock full of drama and otherworldly nonsense to keep them going through their average day?

My rating: 7.5 out of 10 – this season: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“I can keep you from going.” – Sheriff Stilinski tells his son. “I’d find a way.” – Stiles replies. “I can throw you in a cell.” – his father volleys back. “I’d still find a way.” – Stiles states, full of conviction. (Awe, Stiles all loyal.)

“Okay, okay, great. Do I get a fun?” – Stiles asks his father, after he agrees for them to both go down to Mexico together. “No.” – Stilinski exclaims.

“I’m not okay with that.” – Braeden says to Derek, upon realizing he knows he’s going to die. “I am.” – Derek replies, simply. (A simply beautiful line at that, and so much behind those two words.)

“If everyone is sufficiently freaked out, I say we get going.” – Peter states.

“You, you were dead.” – Kate mutters, shocked. “No, I was evolving; something you will never do.” – Derek corrects, after changing full form back to human shape.

“Okay, I believe you.” – Coach says. “Really?” – Liam replies incredulously. “Absolutely not.” – Coach shoots back.

Oh, and a friendly reminder, don’t stand between Lydia and her friends, she’s getting mighty handy with a bat.

Revenge 3.05 Review: Vulnerability can Create a Strong Relationship

Anyone that has yet to watch last night’s episode of Revenge, entitled ‘Control’, I suggest that you do so immediately. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

For a late night soap opera such as Revenge, this was a very good episode. The writing was tight, the acting perfect, and the little games afoot also spot on. The red herring of Charlotte being the one that caused the car accident (to which I actually thought she had been the one to commit it, and was almost doing a happy dance for having guessed correctly for once) only to turn out to have been caused by Patrick was beautifully written and acted out. I’m curious to know why he tried to kill Conrad, but I think it may have something to do with how the weird relationship he has with his mother, and did so to try and get her out of Conrad’s clutches. But I suppose we’ll learn the answers in coming weeks, I just hope it doesn’t interfere with his relationship with Nolan because Patrick is gorgeous and Nolan deserves some honest, well-intentioned love. Plus that scene at the end: hot, with a capitol H-O-T.

One performance I was enamored with in this episode was Jack’s. His anger during the confrontation with Aiden when he has every right to have wanted Conrad dead was brilliant. Then his whole heated speech with Emily where he asks her what happened to the sweet, little girl he used to know. He really gave it his all, and I’m actually starting to remember why I loved him so much during the first season, only to find him dull last season. While Emily VanCamp is a good actress, her acting as Emily in this series is not the main reason I watch the show. It’s for the intriguing plot and all the other actors that make up the cast, and this week Nick Wechsler brought his all as Jack.

Nolan, as always, I adored in this episode. His friendship with Emily is beautiful and perfect, just the thing she needs. He seems to be the only one she is ever able to fully count on, or trust, because we all know Aiden is a loose canon. Aiden, who tried to threaten Jack out of town, and I believe Emily only said those things to because she saw Jack moving on. I would’ve liked to have seen a little bit more of a loose canon from this week, and for his jealousy to come through a little more clearly, like it seemed to have done in the promo for the episode.

As Emily began to lose her control of Daniel, Nolan gave her a solid piece of advice, to give him a piece of herself despite her incredible aversion to him. She took it to heart and masterfully weaved a bit of her honest vulnerability into the life of Emily Thorne. The tears solidified her character’s ability to both act, and show the side of her she so rarely shows. And just like that, dimwitted Daniel is like putty in her hand. That innocence in his eyes as she told him part of her familial story just told me how naïve he really is. Compared to Charlotte, who is growing to become a younger, more polished version of her mother, Daniel is definitely the artist type.

All in all, I quite enjoyed this episode. Seeing the straining muscles in Patrick as he shed clothing and also while he painted. Also seeing Jack’s nice abs as he totted Carl around was wonderful. Emily was beautifully dressed for the launch party for the magazine Daniel works for, with her hair and jewelry perfect. As in most of this season, I also enjoyed Charlotte’s look a great deal throughout this episode, including her ensemble as she told Conrad she had been the saboteur, and her hair during the dress shopping. The emotions, the writing, the acting, it was all just great for this series.

My rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Phones still have numbers?” – Nolan sarcastically asks Patrick in rebuttal.

“But then again, I’m just a self-made billionaire with a 170 IQ, what do I know?” – Nolan remarks to Emily, in reference to Aiden’s accountability.

Alright, folks, that’s all for tonight. Check back in tomorrow for reviews of How I Met Your Mother and The Blacklist. Bones and Sleepy Hollow don’t return until November 4^th.

Trophy Wife 1.04 Review: True Friendship Can Survive Harrowing Trials

Anyone that has yet to watch tonight’s episode of Trophy Wife, entitled ‘The Breakup’, then now would be a good time to go and do that. As always, this is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

Not a bad episode of television. While I don’t think Trophy Wife will be winning any awards for writing or refreshing takes on life, it is a nice and easy sitcom to sit down and watch for half an hour.

The friendship between Kate and Meg was tested a bit in this week’s episode, something that must happen in all close relationships, when a new dynamic is explored. Sure, Meg isn’t the smartest person out there, but she balances out Kate nicely. I can really see, while not at a deep level, that these two women have been friends for a very long time. It’s not as easy to see as in long running series, like How I Met Your Mother, where the audience has seen the relationship develop over time, but there is a clear history there.

Hillary is beginning to get a little on my nerves though. While she may appear to be growing up to be just like her mother Diane, there is an obvious spoiled syndrome going on with her. Sure she’s seen her father going through two failed marriages, but she seems a little too anti Kate sometimes. It be nice to see her soften up to her once in a while.

As well, Diane has become a little too smothering. I get that the writers want to keep these ex-wives in and out of newly married Kate and Pete’s lives, but she’s encroaches a little too often into her children’s lives. Particularly this week with Warren, where she snoops on his studying at not her home, but his father’s. That was a little too much for her character, I think it’d be a good time to scale it back just a tad.

So, yes, this series needs some work when it comes to developing a little more depth to its characters, but the stories are nice and easy to follow along with. There are some easy laughs, and some funny characters that I do like in this show. The only problem with it is that I wouldn’t be heartbroken if it were cancelled.

My rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“It’s due in three weeks.” – Hillary says, regarding her ruined project.

“You want me to pee in another cup? I’ll do it!” – Meg shouts, claiming innocence over the ruined project.

“Are you talking about our honeymoon?” – Pete asks Meg, who says her best friend vanished for a week after the wedding.

All right, I’m off to watch Supernatural, then it’s The Originals time. Stick around.

Once Upon A Time 3.03 Review: Belief is a Powerful Thing

All those that have yet to watch last night’s episode of Once Upon A Time, entitled ‘Quite a Common Fairy’, or are not caught up in the show at all, please go and do so now. This is not a spoiler free blog. THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

For a non-Emma centric storyline, this was a solid episode. I have to say that I think I prefer the Fairytale Land That Was scenes for Regina when she’s not the Evil Queen. It’s much nicer seeing her with a bit of innocence still left in her eyes, and the long hair definitely helps to age her down.

Before Regina basically betrays Tinkerbell by not going to the man that should be her soul mate, I really enjoyed the friendship they were beginning to have. It was nice seeing Regina friendly around someone and not plotting their death. The two actresses seem to have easy friendship chemistry between them; they bounced off each other very nicely. If Regina hadn’t done what she had, I’m certain they could’ve been good friends.

I really think it’s moronic to change it from Emma being the savior to Henry being the savior. The boy that plays him is not a good actor, and he’s rather annoying to look at because of this. Every scene he’s in I just hope he keeps him mouth shut because everything with him is so much worse when he speaks. It’s like he’s constantly just trying too hard, exuberating too much intensity into everything he does, it’s distracting. That’s why every storyline that focuses around him is just something I don’t look forward to.

Was I the only one that saw Robin Hood being Regina’s soul mate coming? It was so very obvious from the back of his head that I was just waiting to see the tattoo pop up. Though I could’ve sworn earlier on it was on the other arm. While this isn’t a bad idea, am I supposed to believe that Maid Marion either died or is not his true love? That’s rather idiotic when the basis for Robin Hood heavily relies on the fact that he loves Maid Marion. Just another Beauty and the Beast storyline that I won’t like, just this time at least the age difference isn’t ridiculous.

While I’m glad to see Neal has gotten to Neverland, I do hope that the relationship between Hook and Emma can still continue to grow. The chemistry between these two people is just amazing, and they almost work together better than her and Neal. After all, Neal did leave her and chose not to come back when her destiny was basically fulfilled – which, again, happened a season too soon.

What is this business about magic dying? How can magic die? It’s not like there’s a finite amount of it, or that it’s a living creature. I just find it ridiculous that that is what they’ve set up this “heart of the truest believer” nonsense in order to save it. Maybe that’s just going a little hard on them, but I just can’t understand the logic to it. Are they going to set up so that technology is the big evil causing kids to no longer believe in magic? I just… I don’t know.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Best Lines:

“Which will end in your death, and more importantly mine.” – Hook says to Regina about her just magicking them to Pan’s camp.

“Where I used to live, that’s it.” – Emma answers her own question about what Tinkerbell’s lair reminds her of.

Okay, I’m off to watch Revenge, then I’ll be calling it a night. I’m all caught up in shows after the one more. Yippee!

Nashville 2.02 Review: A Time for Letting Go and Moving On

All right, let’s keep this brief. If you haven’t watched last night’s episode of Nashville, titled ‘Never No More’, then now would be the time to do so. Otherwise, it’d be a good idea to exit this blog, as there may be spoilers pertaining to the episode. I repeat, THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Beautiful episode, all around. The character and story progression, the realness to these people’s situations, all of it felt so genuine. I know that this is a drama series, and at times those shows can get a bit soapy, but this series isn’t feeling like that to me. All of what happened in this episode felt like something very possible, and not at all outrageous.

First, let’s consider Scarlett. She just had some fabulous scenes with Deacon. I really feel like her character has grown in strength since last season, particularly since she found her own footing after her split from Avery. The progression she has found within merely a year’s time is simply astounding. Her awkwardness with Gunnar was spot on, and her brief encounters with Avery were wonderfully well done.

Then there’s Gunnar, aside from his moments with Scarlett, I really liked his interactions with Zoey. Although I really hope they don’t go the route of a romance between these two, because that really would become soap opera territory, I’d like to see a friendship bloom between these characters. Just the real ease they seemed to have with each other, despite not really having spent any time alone together was really nice to see.

It was really nice to see Juliette this week, opening up. Though it’s likely just as a PR stunt, to see any real emotion from this character other her usual territorial, climbing for the top emotion, was a nice change. While I can completely see where this character is coming from, getting to see anything into her past is an oddity, but she is easy to get.

When it comes to Avery, his interactions with Juliette were really nice. Although it’s clear he still loves and wants Scarlett, and that he’s not going to fall for the fame thing again, I like seeing this new kind of friendship with her character. She normally doesn’t have anyone she can really trust to be there for her and for her fame, and it’s enjoyable to be able to see that he’s just there for her. And I also really liked his brief moments with Scarlett; he really looked like a boy crushing on a girl. The writers really seem to have a handle on his character this year, more than last.

Okay, was anybody else thinking that when Will signed onto Edgehill Records, he was doing it self-sacrificially for Gunnar? When he spoke with Gunnar, about not being an artist, just being a performer, it felt like something was clicking there and that he was going to suggest him as his alternate with Raina. I really thought that was going to happen. But maybe he just thought he could grow best with the conglomerate record company, rather than her artist oriented company.

For once, I really liked Maddie in this episode. She really seemed to be a much less annoying character. While her sister really isn’t all that great, being that she doesn’t have much of a role, she is very much becoming her own person. The way she voiced her issues to her mother about her true parental lineage was phenomenal. Not only did she make that instance believable, it also didn’t make me want to scream and bitch slap her across the face. So I really hope they keep going this route with her character. Also, keep the glasses away from her; her face looks much better without them.

Then we get around to Raina. I can see how her near death experience has really gotten to her. She really does have this fresh outlook on life. While I completely agree letting go of Deacon is the right thing to do, I’m still hoping this isn’t the end of their relationship. But they definitely do need some time apart. And I would really like to see a Raina in charge of her own record company because she may have built Edgehill Records, they don’t really seem to able to grow her anymore, as an artist. I really do like this Raina, just trying to leave her life, and keep on looking forward.

Finally, there’s Deacon. His encounters with both Scarlett and Raina have seemed to kind of really put him on the right path, particularly his exchanges with Scarlett. He finally seems like he’s going to move forward and become the man he needs to be, on his own two feet, not with Raina. This character really needs to grow up, get passed his addiction, and become the man he always should have been. Only then will he be good enough to be with Raina, and be the father he should have been.

Overall I really loved this episode. It progressed the story perfectly, and the music fit quite well. All of the character interactions, particularly with the two new characters of the episode, were intriguingly done, and I look forward to the way this show goes with all of them. I’m not beyond excited for next week, but I am looking forward to it.

My rating: 4 out of 5.

There were no particular lines that jumped out at me this week, although there were a few well-written speeches, specifically the ones between Raina and Deacon, and Teddy and Raina.

Okay, ladies and gents, I’m off to watch the show I was most looking forward to this week. The one, the only, Revolution. Check back here in an hour or so for the review on that.