Grey's Anatomy

*SPOILERS*

For those of us who follow Grey's Anatomy (which I have since the pilot even though I believe it may have peaked, I'm pretty invested).  I watched the season finale where they killed off Lexie within the first 15 minutes and thought that was bold, but then spent the summer rationalizing why the show wouldn't kill anyone else off.  Yeah, I was wrong.  There are certain characters who seemed to make the show bigger just be being around.  I was surprised at the momentum the show kept when George died, I will never understand how Meredith survived being "dead" for basically a day after she drowned and suddenly came back (I know, I know... symbolism).  I find myself pretty uninterested in the new batch of interns, but at the same time, there is something to this show that I connect with emotionally.  Something about it from the beginning has been able to elicit emotions better than almost any show.  I think they also used to use music in a wonderful way but I haven't heard that in the recent seasons.

There is one moment in an episode from Season 2 (Ep. 24, Damage Case) where a tired doctor from another hospital fell asleep at the wheel, killing a pregnant mother and injuring her family.  There were sub-plots and other things going on, but the tired doctor kept asking to see the family of the woman he killed so he could apologize.  When the father of the girl comes in, I think most people were ready for a tirade or physical attack, but what we got, was, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful displays of mercy/forgiveness I've ever seen on tv.  All the actors did it exactly right for me, and Kate Havnevik's "Nowhere Warm" plays throughout the scene that never fails to bring tears to my eyes.  So whether or not I love every episode or every character, there are some moments that take my breath away and allow me access to emotions that most tv shows do not.  I have been feeling fewer moments in the later season and I was hesitant to get my hopes up for them to provide a real, emotional reason for another main (some would say vital) character to exit the show.

Obviously, the big story this season has been the fact that Christina Yang (or, more specifically, Sandra Oh) is leaving at the end of the season.  I know I'm not the only one wondering how they could possibly explain a split between Meredith and her after she returned to the hospital following their plane crash.  Well, I am writing this post because I am not often shocked by tv shows and generally a character's exit is predictable (death, transfer, randomly never shows back up).  I was shocked by the plane crash.  I was shocked that they killed George in sort of a weird way.  I cannot, however, think of a show that has surprised me like this past show, maybe ever.  They brought back the one character whose absence I think left a glaring hole, but who also apparently offended much of the cast.  (Not that I have any idea whatsoever what goes on behind the scenes).  To help with Christina's exit, they did what I thought would never in a million years happen and yet was the only thing that would make any sense....  They brought Burke back.

I have missed his character on the show since he was let go and I don't think they settled things well between Christina and him.  I was, however positive that the one thing that could never happen was that he would show up again on the show.  I have not yelled at the tv (well, computer) often in my life, but when I saw him, I couldn't help it.  It was the exit I assumed Christina would never get.  It was the closure that was about seven years coming.  It was all worth it.  I wish he could have stayed on the show, simply from a character perspective.  But the bold move of not just mentioning his character, but letting us all see their reunion and the way he understands her as a surgeon and knows basically the only things to say to get her to leave... For me, those moments are why I cannot give up on this show.  It was awesome and it was gutsy and it was a bold move and I loved every second of it.  I could think of no other reason for Yang to leave... but Preston Burke knew how to do it.  So, Shonda Rhimes and Grey's Anatomy, as a fan from the beginning... THANK YOU for that amazing moment!!!!!

Merlin (SPOILERS)

(This is a post about the final episode only, for those not wanting to be spoiled.  Although in hindsight, I think I may have been grateful to have been spoiled so I didn't expect a wonderful ending.  Your choice.)


I enjoyed the British tv show Merlin.  It is fantastical and funny and the acting is quite good.  I mean, it has Anthony Head who will always get love from me just for the fact he played Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  In fact, the show deserves its own post where I say nice things about it.  And when I get past the series finale, I will write about the good things... BUT having just watched the final episode, I feel utterly misled.  I don't know if I am missing something about British tv, but I'm trying to figure out exactly what the point of the series was and/or what the writers of this show were thinking.

A little background: Throughout the series,  at the beginning of each episode is a voice-over that says: "In a land of myth, and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name... Merlin."  There are also numerous references to the destinies of Arthur and Merlin and how they are destined to unite all of the U.K. (I think) as the Land of Albion.  This is not just something someone mentioned once, those two things are mentioned in almost every episode.  Everything in the series builds towards Merlin becoming a great wizard and Arthur and Merlin restoring the land of Albion (which I think means something in Arthurian legend but I'm not entirely sure what) together.  Ok, so those viewers who watched the entire series felt like they were witnessing the birth of a legend... BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WAS TOLD TO THEM ALMOST EVERY EPISODE!!!!

So now I watched the final episode.  I assumed there would be an epic battle, Arthur would learn of Merlin's magic, he would accept his friend and they would bring about a wonderful kingdom together.  Yea... that's not what happened.  Instead, Arthur takes an entire episode to accept that his friend uses magic... and then he dies.  Oh, and then we see a lonely Merlin walking along a modern road, apparently waiting for Arthur to rise again?  I'm sorry, but what just happened here??  For five seasons I have been waiting to see Arthur and Merlin creating greatness together and for Arthur to allow magic back in to Camelot...  So that doesn't happen.  I've been waiting to see a few episodes where Arthur learns Merlin's secret and how that plays out to become a great destiny... and we got about twenty minutes.

I don't know if the writers were trying for a hopeful end, thinking that the best is yet to come and Arthur will apparently rise from the dead?  But they just failed miserably.  Instead it is a depressing end where an apparently friendless Merlin wanders around with no purpose.  And I don't care if the best is supposed to come in a future time... then show us that time in the future!  As viewers, we've watched the whole series with the promise of these two men sharing a great destiny and that promise does not come to fruition.  It is not shown on-screen.  I feel like it would be like watching Smallville or Superman if they ended right before Clark Kent actually BECOMES Superman, in which case those would be a show or movie about a boy growing up with cool powers and they should be advertised as such.  Don't let viewers spend the whole time waiting to see the guy fly around in a red cape if your intention is never for him to do so.  It's ridiculous.  It's way more ridiculous than Lost.  It may be akin to the Red John reveal in the Mentalist (which, in my opinion, was horrific and ruined the show up until that point).  Either way, it was depressing and I feel cheated because they promised one thing and then never gave it.  If the show was supposed to be a set-up to the glory days of Camelot, I apparently missed those short days.  I also can't imagine any viewer who watched the show who was not expecting for Arthur to accept Merlin and finally accept magic as part of the world in which the show is set.  It's just ridiculous.

Obviously this is all only my opinion.  Others may feel differently.  I feel like I was the subject of a long con by the producers of this show.  Not cool.

The West Wing

The West Wing had it's natural television run while I was in college for the most part, which means I was oblivious.  I was aware that many people watched the show but not a whole lot more than that.  I also figured that if most of America watched it, it was probably middle-of-the-line politics so as not to offend one side or the other... I was so wrong!

The West Wing came back on my radar when I saw it available on Netflix.  Being sick, I had the time on my hands to give the series a proper watch.  What I saw was nothing short of thought-provoking, inspiring, aspirational television.  I love that the issues were debated and both sides were brought up, even if the show ultimately lands far to the liberal side of issues.  I loved the first entrance of Martin Sheen's mesmerizing President Bartlet.  I loved, when in one episode, they gave me goosebumps by simply declaring "I serve at the pleasure of the president."  I love that the name "Bin Laden" was dropped in a chillingly casual manner in an episode that aired in 1999.  I love recognizing actors who would come to be known on other shows.  And I love that I watched Psych before I watched The West Wing and that only made me appreciate Dule Hill's Charlie Young even more!

For me, the fact that The West Wing introduced characters who had flaws and made mistakes only strengthened the depths of those characters because we got to be aware that they all fundamentally wanted to do the right thing for the right reasons.  I love that the President is almost always the smartest man in the room.  (Without getting too political, I know there are real Presidents about whom the same could not be said).  I loved the honor with which they show him overcoming adversity without sugar-coating those things in his life that were, in fact, adverse.  I love that these characters challenge each other and respect each other and demonstrate their intelligence in each episode.  Sam Seaborn, Josh Lyman, Toby Ziegler, CJ Cregg, Leo McGarry and others are idealists, while being imperfect human beings.  It is how I would love to imagine the White House to truly exist.

This is well-made television, particularly the first 3-4 seasons, although I am glad it ran the course it did.  To transition the Bartlet administration out of office seems like a fitting way to transition its viewing audience away from their habitual watching.  In fact, while I do think the show shifted a bit after Sorkin left, the only thing I could not wrap my head around was the arc for Toby in the final season.  I won't go into it here yet because I'm going to encourage people who have not seen this show to watch it.  Plus, I may feel the need to write about this show in seasons or particular episodes.  I am just not sure.  Of course, it would have been more fitting for John Spencer to end the show with the rest of the cast, but he had certainly already made a mark with his character.  Anyway, agree with it, disagree with it, it doesn't matter.  It matters that it is impossible not to think about it.  And isn't that what all television should aspire to?

The Wire

\

I had already seen half of the entire series of The Wire but I recently got on a kick of re-watching and wanting to finish the last two seasons.  I am still convinced it is just outstanding in almost every way.  In a total of 5 seasons, there was only one character who annoyed me (Marlo), and when dealing with feds, police, politicians, kids, druggies, dealers, etc. that is saying a lot.  I am amazed this show did not get major awards in its time.  I am amazed that watching it now feels just as relevant, if not more so, than when it originally aired.  I am amazed that the actor who portrayed Bubbles was an Ivy League grad.  I am amazed that they hit home the hypocrisy to "do more with less" so damn well.  

I loved Season 1.  I thought it introduced great characters who I got attached to, so I was wary when they moved outside of Barksdale's organization, but the scope of the show was great.  The meaning behind the few words in some scenes had me hooked.  If a show can teach a life lesson and an overview of its entire season while one drug dealer explains chess and can also have an entire conversation and exploration of a crime scene using only the word "fuck," it is deep in more ways than one.  This show can be violent.  It can be suddenly and graphically violent.  It is one of the very few shows I can think of though that didn't turn me off because of it.  It's really not gratuitous.  I wouldn't let my kids watch, of course, but it also doesn't glamorize violence in any way.  

I recommend Season 4 to anyone teaching and feeling frustrated... truly.  It just works on every level.  I felt for every kid and teacher, wanted the best for the them and knew there was no way for most of them to achieve it.  And for Bubbles, I was pretty sure things would not work out, but his storyline really worked for me.  The show is frustrating... the good guys do stupid things, they don't always prevail, and sometimes the lesser of two evils is the one that gets put away.  But I thought about every episode.  Maybe I'll write about each season separately... It certainly deserves it.  But while it was fresh in my mind, I am taking the time to remind everyone just how well crafted and well acted this show was.  If you haven't seen it and you're an adult... watch it.  Watch at least 3 episodes.  Then we can discuss, debate, agree, whatever... but I absolutely encourage more people to learn about this exceptional television series.  

And I leave you with characters I loved... good and bad: Bunk, Omar, Bubbles, Duquan, Lester, Daniels, Prez (Seasons 4/5), Sydnor, Avon, Bodie, D'Angelo, Stringer Bell, Gus, Greggs, Bug, Carver, and Carcetti's aide who laughed at all the madness in the final episodes... Thank you to all of those actors for leaving an impression and giving me something to think about.  Thanks to them, I still love seeing them whenever I notice a connection.  I have seen Lance Reddick (Lost, Fringe), Andre Royo (saw him in Fringe), Michael K. Williams, Deirdre Lovejoy (had an awesome and odd few episodes on Bones), Wendell Pierce (FBI psychiatrist in Numbers), Wood Harris (who I loved from Remember the Titans before I saw The Wire and I still bought him as Avon Barksdale), Idris Elba (Pacific Rim, Thor, Luther), Pablo Schreiber (Orange is the New Black), Michael B. Jordan, and I know I've seen others.  They all deserve a standing ovation for The Wire.

Haven (Season 1)

Ok, so oddly enough... even though I can't grasp what exactly I like about Haven, I find it pretty addicting.  I finished Season 1, although it was only 13 episodes, so not crazy long.  The lead actress to me still isn't quite standing out but in the moment, while I'm watching, I like her.  She reminds me too much of other actresses though, like a combination of Maggie Grace, Stana Katic, Anna Paquin, Robin Tunney and Mariska Hargitay.  But not really as good of an actress as any of them.  (Well, Robin Tunney is questionable, in my opinion).

I recognized only two people from the first season.  I'm used to seeing supporting actors and trying to figure out what else I've seen them in but so far I'm not recognizing anyone except for a guy who was killed off in the first episode of Buffy and the female lead from The Dead Zone (and she was only in the first episode).

I like that there are elements of a procedural show here but it is spun in a way I haven't seen before, except perhaps in Fringe.  There are obvious similarities between the two shows and Fringe comes out on top of all the categories except that I would say Haven looks a little prettier.  But seriously:
- Science Fiction?  Check
- Blonde lead female FBI Agent?  Check
- Stoic African-American Superior FBI Agent?  Check
- Characters who are somewhat helpful and yet obviously not telling you everything they know?  Check
- Blonde lead, with two male co-leads?  Check
- Mysterious cases to investigate that somehow she is right in the middle of?  Check
- Weird occurrences, believed only by our small investigating team?  Check
- Sinister undercurrent?  Check
I could keep going...

What I find intriguing as well as what makes me apprehensive is that there is an over-reaching science fiction arc throughout the whole season.  (And being that it wasn't resolved, I'm assuming throughout at least the next season as well).  We are left with questions about the town of Haven, Maine, its quirky townsfolk, the FBI Chief, and the origins of our main character, Audrey.  The questions are interesting enough to keep me watching but close enough to Lost to make me wonder if they will ever be answered properly or if we're supposed to think that loose ends are good?   I want to hope they will provide answers, but with Lost and The Mentalist, I am beginning to wonder whether hoping for answers is just an exercise in futility.  What is the saying...?  The definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing over and over again while expecting a different result?  Are these television shows driving me slowly insane?  Hopefully not.  Until then, I am on to Season 2.

Haven

Just started watching the first few episodes of a show called Haven.  Not sure if any of you have heard of it?  It wasn't my intended pick, as I went on to Netflix to start watching either Almost Human or Justified, but then this show was listed as a top pick for me so I decided to check it out.  So far, it feels like a lesser version of a lot of shows I like, almost an amalgamation of Lost, Fringe, X-Files, Gilmore Girls (for the small town feel), Supernatural and maybe a little Persons Unknown thrown in for flavor.  I looked it up and it airs on the SyFy Channel, which I don't think I have seen anything from before.  That is, if they do other original programming, I don't think I've heard of it, but these days it seems almost every station is starting to do original programming, which I think is very cool.  Diversity and imagination is good for television!  The first few episodes that I've watched have a "monster of the week" feel to them but there are hints that the show may go for a larger arc that may be interesting.   I like the main character, a blonde female FBI agent, but she is no Ana Torv.  Something about the characters so far has not drawn me in.  I don't know what it is, but it doesn't have the quirkiness and immediate draw that most of the other shows I listed above had for me.  The main guy so far seems so bland that I find myself forgetting about him and I don't think I'd recognize him if he was in anything else.  My initial take is if they had found a better male lead, this show might have grabbed me right away.  Anyway, I think I will give this show that I have never heard of a try until it loses my interest or I determine I don't like it.  Maybe neither of those things will happen.  The other series will be there when I need a new one but for today, I think it's fun to have found a potential series to be interested in that yesterday I didn't know existed.

Fringe (Season 4)

I've been watching Fringe lately...  First thing that always comes to mind is that I do not understand how John Noble (Walter) never won an Emmy.  I don't even think he was nominated, which is ridiculous.  His subtle growth as a character and his questionable sanity in the earlier seasons are pretty incredible.  As a show, I think all the actors seem "just right."  I think that's much more clear when they all start playing different versions of themselves and I can always keep straight who is from which universe and yet all the characters are different and real.

I'm glad Fringe was kept on the air as long as it was.  I read somewhere yesterday that it was the lowest rated show at one point and it was still renewed.  So often I wonder why networks cancel perfectly good shows or shows with a lot of potential and in this case a show that was intelligent and interesting was allowed to grow and have a proper conclusion, which is awesome.

I admit I struggled to get through Season 1.  I was wondering if this was going to be another Lost... with so many questions without proper answers but then they started answering questions in unique ways and I think Season 3 was pretty brilliant.  I am in the middle of Season 4 and so far I am feeling a little unsure of the "new" timeline.... Has the character development from the first 3 seasons and the relationships we watched grow between characters all been erased?  I am not sure how it will end up, but at the same time I am impressed that the show took a bold step and has stuck with it so far.  I've read quite a bit about showrunners who change their initial ideas because of fan feedback or fan pressure and I would prefer to just see a series play out the way the people who created it intended.  There have been a few episodes I didn't connect with, but so far this Season has as much potential as the last one.  I've been wanting to get to the end of each episode and see what happens!

To me, Fringe is pretty brilliant.  I am interested and intrigued.  For some reason though, that I haven't put my finger on yet, I am not as emotionally invested in the characters as I have been in other shows, even shows that I would consider much lower quality.  Not sure why, but I definitely encourage people who are looking for interesting, intelligent, sci-fi tv to check it out if you haven't yet.