Best Performances of the Week: American Horror Story: Coven's Lily Rabe and The Vampire Diaries' Matt Donovan

Welcome to the fifth edition of Best Male and Female Performances of the Week. This is a weekly update that will occur, for the most part, on Thursday’s – or shortly thereafter – once I’ve finished watching and reviewing the past week’s worth of episodes, where I will single out one male and one female performance that I believe merits special attention for the week. This, like my reviews, will be based solely on my opinion of the shows I watch in a week, and if you don’t like who I’ve picked, well that’s your problem, isn’t it?

This week my choices came out of a pot of nineteen series’ (and if you don’t know which, go check out my reviews from the last week). For any not caught up in American Horror Story: Coven and The Vampire Diaries, please feel free to exit promptly from this blog. I am not a spoiler free source for shows. THIS BLOG MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

Best Female Performance of the Week:

Lily Rabe as Misty Day in this week’s second episode of the third season of American Horror Story: Coven. While there were a few other notable female performances this week, Lily Rabe ultimately won the coveted spot for me. Even though this season of the series is not living up to my expectations, or anywhere near as good as the first season, this woman’s performance of her character was a step above all of the other actors on this series, including the wonderful Jessica Lange.

Rabe’s portrayal this week as the witch Misty Day was mesmerizing. As I said in my review of the episode, I was absolutely enamored with the character as she sung along to Stevie Nixx. The way she was able to so completely capture the vulnerability of her character, desperate to have someone like herself around, to be accepted, it was just beautiful. She stole the show, merely gracing us with her presence because she sees fit.

Having watched Lily Rabe jump from season to season, role to role, she is an amazing actress. She has been able to play gold-digging 1920’s housewife, Satan possessed nun, and now a vulnerable lover of life witch. While I cannot recall having ever seen her elsewhere from this show, she is the daughter of Jill Clayburgh, so talent must run in her veins. Just from evidence of this series, she deserves a long, fulfilling career, and I’m excited to see more of her in the future.

Best Male Performance of the Week:

Zach Roerig as Matt Donovan in this week’s third episode of the fifth season of The Vampire Diaries. While this seemed to have been a slow week for astounding male performances, Zach Roerig was able to shine through. This series may have grown tiresome and repetitive, but there are some things that keep me watching, and Roerig’s performance this week was one of them.

Some may question why I picked Roerig for Best Male Performance this week, and I can point you to one exact moment in this episode to dispute your confusion. A traveller, otherwise known as a gypsy, is thrust into Matt’s mind – I suppose – and for a time takes over his body. Roerig’s portrayal of Gregor in Matt’s body was so convincing it sounded like it was almost dubbed over his own voice. The anger he was able to expel in that moment was gripping.

I have yet to see this young actor – okay, he’s seven years older than I am, he’s still young – outside of this series, I do think he has the possibility for great talent. The writing is not always there in The Vampire Diaries, but he does seem to be able to make the best of what he’s given. I’ll definitely feel the need to check out a role or two outside of the character of Matt Donovan to see how well this man can act.

This lateness thing seems to be a bit of a habit when it comes to this post. So, I apologize for not having this out two days ago, but I really needed yesterday as a break. I’m going to off and watch Haven now, and hopefully have that review up in about an hour, hour and a half. Stay tuned.

Best Performances of the Week: Revenge's Charlotte and Once Upon A Time's Peter Pan

Welcome to the fourth edition of Best Male and Female Performances of the Week. This is a weekly update that will occur, for the most part, on Thursday’s – or shortly thereafter – once I’ve finished watching and reviewing the past week’s worth of episodes, where I will single out one male and one female performance that I believe merits special attention for the week. This, like my reviews, will be based solely on my opinion of the shows I watch in a week, and if you don’t like who I’ve picked, well that’s just too bad for you.

This week my choices came out of a pot of nineteen series’ (and if you don’t know which, go check out my reviews from the last week). For any not caught up in Revenge and Once Upon A Time, please feel free to exit promptly from this blog. I am not a spoiler free source for shows. THIS BLOG MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

Best Female Performance of the Week:

Christa B. Allen as Charlotte Grayson in this week’s second episode of the third season of Revenge. While there are many remarkable performances in a week, Allen managed to outperform all the other females this week on Revenge.

This season the actress has been doing outstandingly well on the series. Not only has her character become less annoying, she’s also managed to make her feel like she stands for something. Charlotte this year is sticking to her guns, she’s become a stronger person, and has grown to have a better style this year. It’s easy to see the character has become an adult that is starting to find her place in this world.

While my only other knowledge of Ms. Allen is from the performance she made in the Jennifer Garner film 13 Going On 30, by way of Revenge I can see her acting talent developing before my very eyes. Although I can’t be certain how greatly she will develop as an actress, I look forward to seeing her on this series as well as any other roles she may take on in the future.

Best Male Performance of the Week:

Robbie Kay as Peter Pan in this week’s second episode of the third season of Once Upon A Time. Despite how dreadfully terrible the writing is on this series at any given time, Kay was able to play a rather villainous character more adeptly than any I’ve seen on the series in a great long time.

In a sea of adults this young man was able convincingly portray his character more realistically than any of the other actors on this series. While I have a soft spot for the likes of Emma, Hook, and Neal, it was Robbie Kay’s portrayal of Peter Pan this week that sat more strongly with me. Perhaps it is the devious attitude he appears to have, or just that evil is a more fun character to play and thus he enriches it, but either way the young man plays his character beyond fantastically.

Like many newer actors to the scene, I cannot recall ever seeing Robbie Kay in anything else. As the young man is a British born actor, moving to American television was quite the illustrious decision. I hope to see this man in future projects, as he seems to be one that could develop a renowned career.

All right now ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the lateness of this, but I’m Canadian and this weekend was Thanksgiving, so there’s that. I’m now going to go catch up on Friday’s episode of Haven, and then watch tonight’s Once Upon A Time and Revenge… I’m just honestly surprised I haven’t given up on these by now, I guess I’m growing up and actually wanting to improve myself.

Best Performances of the Week: Nashville's Scarlett and Bones's Sweets

Welcome to the third edition of Best Male and Female Performances of the Week. This is a weekly update that will occur, for the most part, on Thursday’s – or shortly thereafter – once I’ve finished watching and reviewing the past week’s worth of episodes, where I will single out one male and one female performance that I believe merits special attention for the week. This, like my reviews, will be based solely on my opinion of the shows I watch in a week, and if you don’t like who I’ve picked, well that’s just too bad for you, go off and make up your own mind.

This week my choices came out of a pot of sixteen series’ (and if you don’t know which, go check out my reviews from the last week). For any not caught up in  and Bones, please feel free to exit promptly from this blog. I am not a spoiler free source for shows. THIS BLOG MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! Proceed at your own discretion.

Best Female Performance of the Week:

Clare Bowen as Scarlett O’Connor in this week’s second episode of the second season of Nashville. Although I quite enjoyed a number of female performances this week, particularly on this series, as well as the character that’s quickly becoming my favourite female this season Charlie on Revolution, Bowen’s characterization managed to stand out above the rest. Though, to be fair, I might have chosen Spiridakos had I not highlighted her performance last week.

This week, Scarlett played most prominently against three characters on Nashville: Gunnar, Avery, and – most significantly – Deacon. The way Bowen just subtly made her character appear awkward against Gunnar was quite realistic for the character. She also managed to almost play down any reaction to Avery, who so obviously wants to get back in her good graces. But what stood out the most was how stubborn she was acting opposite her character’s uncle, as he struggled with possibly never playing the guitar again. The way she pushes his character, and stands strong against him, despite how weak-willed she was early last season when it came to Avery, not only shows an improvement in the character, it demonstrates how much stronger her acting has gotten.

While this is the first time I can recall ever witnessing her acting skills, I still think the very fact Bowen is able to play Scarlett is quite astounding, and I would definitely be willing to check out her other performances after this. Also, can I just highlight how awesome her hair looks? I mean, I’m completely jealous of how she kind of resembles an old time movie star, with a vintage kind of style. Also, her voice is wonderful, being that I am not a fan of country music.

Best Male Performance of the Week:

John Francis Daley as Dr. Lance Sweets in this week’s third episode of the ninth season of Bones. While I at first thought I was going to choose Justin Hartley in his short appearance as Patrick on Revenge, Daley won me over with his performance as Sweets this week.

The variety he was able to intone into his character this week was just astounding. Normally, Sweets is this happy go-lucky kind of guy, with this almost geeky sense of humour, but after Pelant used Sweets profiling of his coworkers to their disadvantage, he was left guilt ridden and needed to feel useful to society. Enter, this center that he’s been giving back to the community through. It creates this whole new Sweets, that’s more driven, and has more of a backbone than he previously had. He’s standing up for himself and becoming his own person, without having to rely so heavily on Booth in the field.

One particular reason I think Daley’s performance this week stood out above all was because of how good he is at a more dramatic role. As I said, normally this character is a lighter kind of persona, but with all the drama that Pelant has created, Daley is able to play his character at a deeper level. Humour and a light air are certainly useful when dealing with the often strange and gruesome material that Bones handles, being that it is about murder, but drama is also necessary. Finally being able to see a deeper version of Sweets is a refreshing change, and something I’d very much like to see more of with Daley. I know he writes comedy, but he can definitely do drama.

All right, ladies and gentlemen, that’ll be all for tonight. My apologies for both the lateness, and if it’s not quite as good as the last two, I’m running on three hours of terrible sleep, and having worked an eight-hour shift. I’ve been up since nine thirty this morning, had three red bull, three coffees, and been through several spurts of burnt energy. I’m tired, had to go to a great uncle’s funeral, and turned out to be the only one of my first cousins to actually go (and I come from an Italian family). You can tell all this by the over hour long time it took me to write what will likely be my poorest blog review… Okay, maybe that medal’s already been given to one of my How I Met Your Mother or New Girl reviews. Anyways, to make a long story short, no Haven review tonight, unless I wake up fully rested in the middle of the night (okay, the middle of my night, aka most people’s day). Okay, I’m signing off now before I write any more ramblings down.

Best Performances of the Week: Revolution's Charlie and Nashville's Deacon

Welcome to the second edition of Best Male and Female Performances of the Week. This is a weekly update that will occur, for the most part, on Thursday’s – or shortly thereafter – once I’ve finished watching and reviewing the past week’s worth of episodes, where I will single out one male and one female performance that I believe merits special attention for the week. This, like my reviews, will be based solely on my opinion of the shows I watch in a week, and if you don’t like to whom I’ve picked, well that’s mighty big of you, for picking on someone’s opinion.

This week I had choices from fourteen separate series (and if you don’t know which series’ those are, go check out my reviews from the last week). For all those not caught up with this week’s episodes of Revolution and Nashville, please kindly step away from this blog. This is my weekly update of Best Performances of the Week, and there may be spoilers pertaining to the two aforementioned shows. I repeat, THERE MAY BE SPOILERS! You’ve been warned.

Best Female Performance of the Week:

Tracy Spiridakos as Charlie Matheson in this week’s second season premiere of Revolution. This may be a bit of a controversial choice, being that I know a lot of people didn’t like Charlie last season on Revolution, but I really liked the strength she showed in this episode. Last season she was very much this naïve, yet strong-willed person, but this year she’s been through a lot, and that’s chipped away at her and made her an intriguing character. She almost seems to be a bit dead inside, and coming back from that will prove to be no easy task.

Last year was about saving her brother, and now that he’s dead, it seems this year will be all about finding and killing Monroe, seeing as he was what caused her brother to be killed. From the previews for next week, I can already see that this will come to ahead, and I’m just incredibly excited to see where all of this goes.

Damaged characters, I find, are people that can bring the most compelling storylines. Everything Charlie has gone through just elevates the places in which she can go. And Spiridakos has already proven that she can go there. Her acting has greatly improved over the course of just a year, and I’m very much looking forward to following her along through the rough edges she pours into this character.

Best Male Performance of the Week:

Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne in this week’s season two premiere of Nashville. Despite how well James Spader performed in the premiere of The Blacklist, it was Esten that stole this week’s performance for me. The amount of anger this man poured into his character, and the size of guilt we could see in his interactions with other characters was remarkable. I was really able to see his transition from defeated, to that slight glimmer of hope he had when he learned Raina had survived.

I don’t expect this quality from week-to-week, but I was happy to see where he had come from last year’s season finale, to this weeks premiere. The struggle this man has with alcoholism was evident to an extreme last year, as well as in the memory flashes Raina had while in her coma. I liked being able to see the glimmer of happiness in this man in the moments when he was with Raina in her memories, to the almost deadness he felt while speaking with his lawyer. The very moment when he sold it for me, was when he screamed at his niece for calling him a father figure for her, bringing to the surface the guilt he felt in being the cause of the crash, despite not driving.

Not having seen Esten before Nashville, I look forward to seeing his career throughout this series. The man has an effable ability to really become his character. The transitioning between emotions, and gruffness he brings to Deacon is just wonderful. As someone not a fan of country, I can see why some people adore the men. This character, and actor, is definitely someone to watch.

That’s all this week, but check back in next Thursday for my next update. In the meantime, come back tomorrow for my review of Haven, and then Sunday night is Once Upon a Time, Revenge, and possibly Betrayal, depending on whether or not I actually watch it. Have a good night!