Ugly Betty – s03 ep01 – The Manhattan Project

Bettes IZ BACK!

And I have this terrifying feeling there’s going to be a severe lack of Gio-love. Which makes me want to beat my fists against the floor and cry.

So, at the end of the last season, Betty said she’d made her choice between Henry and Gio. And even though I was desperately wishing she’d finally seen the light and decided to give sandwich boy a try, because he’s hot, I had a sinking feeling I knew what was coming.

And it did.

She chose neither, deciding it was time to be on her own, and goes off on a road trip through America.

Which made me want to beat my fists against the ground and cry. Because I need my Gio love!

Anyway, she comes back, determined to show how she’s changed and grown stronger, even though she hasn’t changed, but everything in her life has. Hilda is keeping the coach’s marriage a secret, and I’m not sure why, maybe because she doesn’t want everyone looking down on her?

Anyway, Betty decides to get herself an apartment, and does the single stupid mistake of being drawn in by the real estate agent and takes a room without seeing it first….yes, we all know where this is going!

I love how Wilhemina has turned Mode into a terrifying den of frozen fear – Amanda and Mark are ecstatic to see Betty again, and I love these little moments where they’re obviously delighted to have her around, but pretending not to because she’s not “right”. WIlhemina’s shrewd calculating ways are setting up wonderfully, I wondered where they’d end up going with her character, but it’s great to see her claw her way back, demeaning Daniel in the meantime (who seems to believe he belongs at Player even though he was making terrific progress with Mode and obviously excelled as its editor) and is now sinking her claws into Alexis’ job…and Alexis doesn’t even know it. It’s deliciously evil.

Lindsey Lohan is back, terrorising Betty’s dad, and I think we all saw where that storyline was coming from – she’s jealous of Betty’s success. Although, I think it would have been awesome if she’d confessed her love for Betty, explaining that was why she tortured her in high school. Hee, a little wink and nod to reality there.

Of course, Betty has decided on no romantic entanglements – and right at the end, she runs into her new neighbour, who is a delicious musician – and now I’m jealous of Betty. They’ve managed to mix things up, turn the characters around and I’ll be interested to see where they go this season.

90210 – s01 ep05 – Wide Awake & Dreaming

I can’t say it often enough. The more I see of 90210 up against Gossip Girl, the more I like GG for it’s nasty, twisted characters with their devious, sordid plots and crooked temperaments. Everyone on 90210 is too…nice. It feels like the tween version of GG and makes me feel rather dirty and old whenever I watch it. Seriously, they need to ramp up this show, and fast, because so far, it’s nowhere near offering as good as show as its compatriots.

So, we move rather rapidly to the opening of the school musical, and our intrepid heroine, Annie, has somehow become an understudy for Adrianna, the sole delightfully intriguing character on this show. The rest of them are a raggedy bunch of goodies who seem incapable of staying angry at anyone, nor of actually creating any chaos worthy of their predecessors. Anyhow, her dad catches her making out with whatever the lead’s name is, whose name I have already forgotten…Tai? Or maybe I’m digressing, as that was our flamboyant male lead.

But then the show deteriorates into an after-school special about waiting. Honestly, it’s really uncomfortable watching Annie be all flouncy and preserving her virginity, then decide to throw it away on whatever his name is, then to be derailed by Adrianna and go home to cry. Here I was hoping we’d get into a juicy storyline, maybe he forces himself on her, or leaves her, or it’s simply not as wonderful as she’d hoped…but no, she’s sad because she thought it was true love!

Gah, even Veronica Mars was meatier than this. It’s just the most innocent, sappiest teen show on tv and it irritates me. The storylines are predictable and nothing we haven’t seen before, the characters are all meek and mild without a shred of reality to any of them, and everyone seems to walk around with a forced grin on their face, almost as if they have a gun in their backs forcing them to smile.

Again, Adrianna is currently the only redeeming character, stumbling in every now and again to drama rehearsal and still sounding damn fantastic, recreational drug use, stealing and lying about her home life. After seeing her mother appear in the last episode, I honestly believe she lies for sympathy, has major issued and may just be this series’ Kelly – which thank god, because this show needs it desperately. As long as they keep her messy, destructive and downright nasty, I’ll keep watching. Might help if they tear down a few other characters in the meantime.

Gossip Girl s02 ep04 – The Ex-Files

I really wish 90210 would sit down and watch a few episodes of Gossip Girl because this is what a show about us rich kids should be. Yes it’s trashy and dorky, and apparently based on really badly-written novels but the tv show is the most sinful pleasure of the week.

All hell breaks loose with the Duchess deciding to pay Vanessa off for her silence. Vanessa being Vanessa doesn’t immediately take the $5,000 cheque and hit the shops, she decides to give it back…and catches the Duchess snogging her stepson! Again, congratulations show, on coming completely out of left field with a plausible twist in order to carry a story arc into a new direction. Who saw this coming? How wicked is this, the duchess, who is sleeping with Nate, also doing her stepson who is now with Blair, Nate’s ex? Ack, it’s such a vicious cycle of ickiness.

She shows Dan, who immediately passes her over to Blair, who retreats back into the delicious ice queen we all love and lovingly tells Vanessa to keep her mouth shut.

For some reason, Vanessa can’t even wait 24 hours for a resolution, as she’s pounding the city streets the next morning trying to find Blair to find out why she hasn’t done anything. I forget she really doesn’t know these people, coming from a totally different angle. After all, Vanessa is all about honesty and bluntness, whereas Blair is evil personified (which is why I have a little crush on her). So, Vanessa doesn’t cotton on why Blair is having lunch with Marcus, and leaves before she ensnares both the Duchess and Marcus, convinces them both to leave and to keep Nate’s family safe.

As a result, Vanessa jumps the gun (and seriously, I do like the girl at times, but could she not have waited at least until the end of the day to sort it out? Doesn’t she realise evil plots need time to come together and entwine?) and goes off to tell the Duke? Lord? Whatever he’s called, who puts them both on a plane, but without paying off the Archibald debt, which was something Blair had taken care of, being a human of foresight and intelligence, unlike a certain down-to-earth gallery café manager person thing (seriously, what is her job?)

So, Nate’s screwed. And not in the way he likes, either. And I don’t think he’s too happy with Vanessa for keeping it a secret, so there be troubled waters ahead for the odd couple.

Speaking of which, the Serena/Dan saga continues, only Chuck is now using the opportunity to seriously screw Blair over in a truly ingenious plan which made me chuckle with glee.

New girl, bookish, cute, intelligent, perfect for Dan…except apparently there’s an unwritten rule about winner is the one who dates first…and of course seeing Dan flirting with another girl really hurts and upsets Serena. It doesn’t help when you have Blair attempting to be a good friend by destroying the new girl, Amanda.

What I don’t understand is Dan being angry with Serena for how her friends are treating Amanda. You know, I’ve never understood Dan’s whole point of view here. I mean he places Serena on a pedestal, hates her lifestyle and her friends, ends up breaking up with her, but is still unwilling to see how they’re coming from different worlds. Serena was willing to change for him as much as she could, she wanted to be a better person, but he was never willing to give her that chance. Let’s face it, he’s an ass.

So, he’s blaming her. Even though it’s not her fault, and all along she’s attempting to stop Blair, like she was all last season with her schemes.

So how does this all pan out?

With Serena realising Dan is never going to see her as anything more than a wild, spoilt brat who gets whatever she wants. So, she decides it’s time for old Serena to come back.

The awesome thing is – this is exactly what Chuck planned, in his most devious plan to dethrone Queen B. He found Amanda, made her pretend to be a new student and interest Dan, played him like a violin, and helped get Serena so mad she’d decide to return to her old ways and take over as the queen. That is the devil incarnate – and living proof Chuck has not died and gone to puppy love heaven, he’s back and badder than before – and man, am I in love with him!

Supernatural s04 ep01 – Lazarus Rising

Well, this one took two viewings in order for me to process it properly.

It’s a pretty interesting concept – after all, how do you bring a main character back from hell? How do you settle down enough to watch this unfold after the unbearable excitement of seeing said character die…and go to hell?

So we start with a wonderful recap of 3 seasons to AC/DC, fast becoming my favourite band for this show. We then follow up with random fleeting flashes of Dean’s eye, tinted in red, with tortured screams as the soundtrack….and then he wakes up.

In his coffin.

GAH!

He croaks out a help in his (unbelievably sexy) throaty and disused voice, which, dude, you’re in a coffin – I really don’t think anyone heard you! He manages to break through the shoddily created pine box, which of course allows the piles of dirt to fall on top of him. And ok, there’s quite a few errors here which I would like to gloss over, such as the lack of oxygen available in that coffin (unless the one who brought him back also provided him with emergency oxygen?) and as he’s attempting to crawl through 6 feet of dirt…but yes, we’ll just move swiftly over to the beautiful re-birthing of Dean Winchester! Because that’s exactly what it looks like.

Can I just mention a massive giant SQUEE right here?

So, he climbs and sees the funky surroundings, as all the trees which were initially hiding his grave from view are now lying in a slightly creepy circle…..almost how the park down the street looked after those 2 thunderstorms decided to collide above our houses…so you can tell it was a colossal amount of effort bringing our Dean back to life (and I will bow down and kiss the feet of the person who did). Beautiful imagery of Dean’s shadow parallel to the cross’s shadow.

He wanders off to find people, fluids. Anything and breaks into a deserted fuels tore. And you’d think he’d be asking himself why is this place deserted, but then again, it looks like dead Hicksville so maybe he’s just more interested in the cool crisp water lying inside in the fridge. And I love how you can see a sign behind him saying please keep door closed – and he doesn’t! Heh, as a former store attendant, these things are important to me. So he picks up some water for his dry throat, munches down on chocolate, packs a few provisions for the journey (including busty asian beauties) and then this up the cash register…when the tv flicks on. He switches it off, but it turns back on. So he rushes out to do the salt lines, but is afflicted by the high-pitched whine which shatters all the windows, and little specks of glass flicker over him. And then it’s gone.

All this in near perfect silence. Barely no words are spoken, there isn’t a bounding soundtrack…it’s quiet, stilted and weird. Which is a brilliant examination of how the world would feel to a man who’s been buried dead and gone for the past 4 months. I really love this show and it’s little intrinsic details.

So, he goes to find Bobby, who really doesn’t believe it’s him and nearly kills him, but Dean manages to convince him he’s for real..almost. That little moment where he’s let his guard down and Bobby splashes him with holy water is unexpected and priceless. Heh, how did Bobby know exactly what thousands of fangirls around the world would want?

I love how you can see how Dean’s death has affected them all. Bobby has taken to drinking, unable to cope with failing the person he sees as his own son? It’s a truly beautiful moment.

Dean’s first moment with Sam….I don’t know, I guess it could never live up to the hype (particularly not after the stories I’ve been reading). But seeing Sam’s face, the thoughts running through his head, knowing he did everything possible to pull his brother out and failing, and coming to the conclusion this is not his brother, it’s just awesome. You can see that shock, and that hope vanishing…and then as he realises it is his brother, and he holds onto him, just not willing to let him go. Gah, these boys, they make me cry!

Lot of exposition here, and then we head to meet the saucy tramp psychic who hits on both of them and is kind of cool and I wish they’d have kept her around longer. Because in trying to see who brought Dean back, her eyes are burnt out of their sockets. NASTY!

But we get a name – Castiel.

So, now the boys want to find the demons which led Sam back here, only they find them first. And interestingly enough, they can’t or won’t attack Dean? I’m confused – is he immune because of Castiel? Or are they simply too afraid of the repercussions of touching Golden Boy? See this is my confusion, which I guess will be sorted out over the next few episodes. Ultimately, if demons can no longer touch him (and are too scared to go near Sam, which means they’ve become the untouchables and the most desirables) maybe they’ll find some other way of trying to kill him? (yes, please!)

So they walk away unscathed, and later on that evening Sam slips out as Dean sleeps. You see, Sam wants to waste the demons but Dean is not for going in half-cocked. BUT! Sam has been lying to him and hasn’t revealed he fell to the dark side and started using his powers – his evil powers – with the help of Ruby. Who seems to be inhabiting the body of the girl he was with earlier (and the actress? Is a really crappy Ruby. Bring back Katie Cassidy, for heaven and hell, please!) Now on this point – rewatch is truly is valuable as I can’t see any reason why she would be Ruby the first time. I really think she was a random girl Sam picked up for the night (in his whole I’m tough like Dean mode) and that she only possessed her later – Sam looks a little confused when she first steps in to the diner as Ruby, so that’s my take on the whole issue. I mean, I’m sure she’s been around – see, I really want to see what Sam’s been through in the past 4 months, because that would answer a hell of a lot of questions!

In the meantime, Dean gets attacked by flying glad again, and this time the sound is so bad his ears start bleeding. But Bobby comes storming into the rescue! – and the 2 decide to summon the big bad who pulled him out.

Of course, without reading any spoilers (although this managed to stay out of the spoilers, which is a huge achievement for this show) I still had an idea it wasn’t a demon who pulled Dean back. If it wasn’t Sam it had to be someone good. After all, why else would they bring him back? Why would a demon drag him out of the torment of hell? So I wasn’t as shocked as others by the reveal Castiel is….

An ANGEL.

A hot one at that. Can I keep him?

And He brought Dean back to do God’s will. Hmm.

It was a bit of a shock, let me tell you. And I am excited. I’m excited about Castiel…but a portion of me is also a little upset by this. Well not upset, but it’s another thing where we have to see how the season pans out. I’m not too fussed on this epic good v evil storyline – to me it’s a little too epic and too literal. I don’t believe in hell nor heaven, nor in God. Which, yeah, Dean doesn’t believe in God – but he believes in hell and demons, so his reckoning is a little screwed up. I don’t believe in either side; it’s all nonsense to me, and storylines which start leaning heavily on the God angle annoy me. All you have to do is find my review of Houses of the Holy from season 2. But as early as that I kind of had this suspicion of Dean being an angel and doing the work of good – so I’m going to swallow my own negative conceptions and jump wholeheartedly on the bandwagon – just be warned Kripke, you better not screw this one up!

Heroes s03 ep02 – The Butterfly Effect

And we slam straight back in to the second episode, wondering how much dope Mohinder has running in his engine, whether Claire will be alright following Sylar’s attack and exactly what has he done with Peter? Besides placing him into the gorgeous body of VM’s weevil? (And oh my, I can hear the fanfiction writing itself there) I really loved this episode.

Even if Mohinder and Maya do get it on in a very naked, hot and sweaty sense, the idea of his skin peeling it off as a result of his experimental drug taking makes me hope this isn’t going to become a really stupid storyline and maybe he’ll back off on the whole thing.

Claire makes another interesting discovery – whatever Sylar did to her, she can lo longer feel pain. I wonder if she feels anything now? What a poor little creature she’s become, the fate of the humans lives on her shoulders, particularly as I suspect she’s the light Hiro’s father was talking about in his video to his son (Which I’m totally talking over because Hiro’s storyline bores me. Obviously he had half the formula for their powers but you know? I DON’T CARE)

I love how Elle is constantly dressed down by her father. Yes, Sylar got away but she saved Mohinder and Maya and she did a good job – but no, she gets berated for letting him get away once more.

So, coming back to find your dad must be a shock, but I love how she immediately realises where Sylar has gone and she knows exactly who can help her – Noah Bennett. So she lets him out, only to be knocked down by Sylar, who then shows Mr Bennett exactly what he took from his daughter and at this point I was severely freaking out, as the only new character I liked from season 2 was Elle and the thought of them killing her off made my stomach turn.

But obviously the company did one good thing, by testing to see how strong her power can be, because she notches it up, takes out the grid, knocks Sylar on his ass…and there’s a wee shot of ….errr Jesse(WEEVIL!)/ Peter making sure she’s ok…god I miss Veronica Mars. And then she gets fired for letting the monsters of Level 5 go free. Even though that same move also rescued her life and stopped Sylar. That’s the gratitude the poor girl gets?

So, Peter is now stuck in a dangerous weapon, known as Jesse, who is also known as the gorgeously wonderful and beautiful Weevil who I miss so very dearly. He’s tagging along with all the other villains, I guess realising on his own he’s dead because no one will believe it’s Peter, but also to keep an eye on this murdering crazy creeps. And let me tell you, next to these guys? Sylar is as dangerous as a newborn kitty.

Claire’s pulling out the video camera and I don’t understand why, it’s not like she’s in danger of losing her memory or anything (and I want the Haitian back – he rocked).

We finally find out what Mama Petrelli’s power is – she’s also a dream walker! Of sorts, her dreams come true, or she dreams the truth…it’s a confusing one….but nice to finally be able to know what it is she exactly does. We have Matt in Africa, seemingly talking to a turtle, except he’s actually talking to an African man who paints the future. And their cast is way too big because I have no idea who else is on this show or where their storyline is going, besides Mr Bennett going back home and leaving Claire’s real mum, the fire-starter as her protector. Yeah, I can see this going down in flames.

Heh. I crack me up.

I want to know how Nikki became Tracy, what they’re planning on doing with Nathan who’s now on a Godly mission, and seeing Lindeman (who’s dead, so I’m confused). I want to know how Peter will ever get himself back and how badly screwed up will he be in the meantime and whether anyone else will realise just how awesome Elle is and decide she needs to be at the forefront of every scene of every episode. At the top of my list of demands is exactly how Peter’s one action from the future is going to screw this new future up royally. I reckon it’s going to be really bad, if next volume’s title of Fugitives is anything to go by.

Heroes s03 ep01 – The Second Coming

It’s back.

It jumps in head first, reminding me of the initial rush from the pilot episode, where everything is being thrown at you and you spend the hour in a constant attack of adrenalin. I miss that rush.

We’re in the future, seeing the repercussions of Nathan’s initial speech in last season’s final…and we find Peter…Peter with that damn scar, which seems to show he’s destined to have that scar as it’s appeared in 2 potential futures. Claire is also here, a dark, sinister and slightly stupid Claire who seems to forget a bullet won’t kill Peter.

Throughout this whole scene I was getting a suspicion in the pit of my stomach and I couldn’t believe it when they revealed it to be true. The person who shot Nathan? Future Peter – coming back to change history, to stop Nathan from revealing his powers, to stop that future from ever happening. That is absolutely awesome and totally out of left field. Well done, show.

Of course, rather than seeing the future and ensuring it doesn’t happen, a la Hiro, Peter has gone back and physically changed the course of history…which sets into motion a whole change of events which will totally create what is setting up to be an awesome season.

I don’t want to give too much away, but the different crossings here are brilliant. I love how intrinsically entwined all these characters and their destinies, and how the butterfly effect does come into play – Claire’s worst nightmare comes true, Peter and Matt end up god knows where, Nathan is brought back to life and has another chance to make things right in the world (although I have a feeling he’s again being used as a spawn) and Nikki is alive.. only now she’s Tracy Strauss.. and can freeze people! I think I just got my episodes mixed up but I don’t really care, I’m too excited!

Sylar is back and he remains extremely evil…..although we finally find out exactly what he does with the brains he collects…and no he doesn’t eat them (bummer) he just figures out where their special ability is kept and kind of, takes it from them. Which is kind of different to what I expected and I can’t believe he’s s till around.

Matt and our Peter find out it’s future Peter and he sends them away, which cool power…and questions, since Peter can absorb powers, does that mean he can absorb his own future powers? Is that how he gets them? Or is that going to make my brain hurt too much?

Mohinder has decided he’s jealous of everyone else being special after discovering how the powers work, through the adrenalin glands, not the blood. So he works out how to extract them, ejects himself with it and goes all superhuman. Not until after he fights with Maya of course, who is still around being useless as ever.

We are introduced to the company’s mysterious level 5, where apparently the deadliest people are kept (along with our own Mr Bennett) – an aspect which will come into play in the next episode.

No Molly, no Micah, and no Elle – the last of which upsets me greatly as she has become one of my absolute faves (and it has nothing to do with her being in Veronica Mars, not a single thing)

I sued to really love Hiro, but I haven’t been able to stand him since the feudal Japan story. I honestly believe they should have kept him there, allowed him to choose to live his life in a time when he would have been happy. I mean, at some stage they need to shed some characters rather than continuously expanding them, and so far, the only person who’s been gone for good is Isaac. Why not give Hiro a proper send-off? Of course he can come back as he chooses….maybe have had him return an old man, once he’s lived his life with his true love and he wanted to return in order to say goodbye to his old friends and die peacefully. It would have been a perfect ending.

Still, enough discussion, I’m over Hiro and his naïve beliefs and interpretations. I’m intrigued they’ve introduced a character who can travel at immense speeds (another one of my ideas, dammit!) but hopefully they do start dropping characters, allowing the story tog row more organically rather than attempting to twist 29 storylines in 20-odd hour episodes.

Bones – s04 ep04 – The finger in the nest

Amazingly enough, this episode reinstated whatever feelings I had for the show. Believe me, I’m surprised.

It’s always pleasant to see Booth and Parker scenes, mainly because he’s such an integral part of the character and we really don’t see it often enough.

I love the random ways people find these remains…although I can’t for the life of me remember hoe the finger got into the bird nest, and I really can’t be bothered going back to look it up again. See this face? Not ready for a second viewing.

Loads of good things happened this episode – there was actually some tension between Angela and Hodges, none of which existed in the last episode, where it almost felt like they were strangers. Hodges is obviously struggling to deal with them breaking up and Zach’s betrayal and he takes it out on this week’s assistant, a jack of all trades who sold him a dodgy car about 15 years ago. It’s good to see, and even nicer is seeing his interaction with Sweets, where you can see how his addition to the team can be helpful. He seeks out Hodges, puts out the word and then sits back and waits for him to come. And he does.

It looks like they’ve decided to drop the conspiracy theorist Hodges which makes me upset, because I loved that aspect of his character. But I guess it’s another gradual phase of his life and they’re dealing with it pretty well here – using it as a means to move one with his feelings and actions and allowing it to be a natural passing and moving into a new stage…misery. So I’m guessing there’ll be more snarky Hodges to come? I’m not sure if they’ll continue the Hodges/Angela relationship, after all the effort they went through to put them together, I don’t understand tearing them apart.

Bones and Booth also work well here, without the really crappy and pathetic humour from the last couple of episodes. This is a return to form, and it’s making me realize I really don’t them getting together, because I think it really will mess with the show too much.

And this is of course the episode with guest star Cesar Millan – the dog whisperer. I was intrigued to see what they would do with him, besides having him come in and do his special technique. He wasn’t crucial to the plot, and this really did feel like they stuffed a guest star in because they could – but he’s not too bad of an actor, and it was nice seeing him on something like this – merging the threads between reality and tv land a little closer.

If we keep getting episodes like this, I’ll be happy because this so far has been the best one of the season.

Gossip Girl – s02 ep03 – The Dark Night

After a gleaming shiny start to the season, this show has thrown me into the dark pits of despair by potentially starting and breaking up my 2 favourite couples on this show – one of them in a gut-wrenchingly sweet sacrificial way, and the other in a rather silly and insipid way.

Basically, this whole episode is setting up the couples we will be watching closely throughout the school year as they pine away for each other…all to the backdrop of a New York heatwave, climaxing rather humorously with a blackout – apparently NY’s power grid can’t cope with the heat either. And it all comes to a head at Blair’s Back to school party. Of course.

Quite a few predictable moments throughout this one. Of course, Jenny has to be caught out criticising a Waldorf dress, get fired for it, be caught in the offices with Ms Waldorf herself, and then ingeniously worm her way back into a job by being correct. Or something. Highly predictable throughout, but at least they are giving her a story beyond sappily following Blair around like a lost puppy – this Jenny has some backbone, and a new path to follow.

No Eric, which is a shame as he’s probably the most likeable character on here (and it has nothing to do with him punting on the other side…) but we do have Chuck’s inability to perform without Blair – ridiculous to believe, and I really hope they get over this because why should Blair have all the power in this relationship? Chuck is stronger and damn better than all this. He was brilliant last year when Blair came crawling back to him and he turned her down point-blank. I want that Chuck back.

Anyway, he gets his own back by overhearing Blair trying to get into Marcus’ pants during the blackout, and whisks away to Blair in her darkened bedroom before our British lord gets the chance. Of course, the lights turn on, Marcus catches the 2 deviants going at it and turns on his heel. Blair runs after him and somehow convinces him to stay? By telling him he needs to sleep with her otherwise she’ll find someone else? Does not bode well for the relationship, let me tell you that. I do like his description of her as a delicate flower, she does portray that soft angelic façade, but that’s exactly what it is, a façade. Anyway, she gets what she wants and Chuck it seems gets boned (but not, in a way) out of the whole deal. They love jerking him around (Yet again, not in the way he wants!)

Nate is no longer happy being the Duchess’s puppy, bidding to her every need and decides he wants to break their deal and seek help elsewhere. And apparently he wants to get back with Vanessa. This turn of events I’m not too sure about, how serious can he be when it seemed to flame out at the end of last season, he slept with another woman all summer long and only know when he’s happy with how he’s being treated does he decide he wants to be with her? I have a sinking suspicion he’s playing with her. Which is a shame, because I really like this pairing, as Nate has always been the one questioning the meaningless lives they lead and he would have found direction with Vanessa. And she’s ready to fight for him. But she runs out of the party, crying, telling him to stay with the Duchess. Why? Because Nate, not realising how much power he was giving the woman, told the Duchess where his father is hiding. So, if Nate ever leaves her, the Duchess is going to turn his dad over to the Feds – which leads Vanessa to sacrificing her love in order to save his dad. That was an unexpected turn of events and goddamned sweet – I love the sad twist and the repercussions. Finally, this blasted storyline has some sense!

And now to the true love story of the show, Serena and Dan. Who apparently won’t talk about the issues which broke them up and I must say I’m struggling to remember what they are, because Dan held Serena on a pedestal? And because Dan did leave her the second he learnt the truth?

The most ridiculous moment is when a trio of young socialite wannabes corner Dan and ask him why he’s back together with Serena. They’ve been following Gossip Girl, who apparently also has a whole discussion thread dedicated to whether they should be together or not. Anyone thought to turn around and say it’s none of the world’s damn business? I find this a little stilted, to tell you the truth.

They then get caught in a lift, and somehow the issue comes up…except it’s Dan can’t cope with Serena’s rich background and Serena…what was it again? I don’t really understand why they broke up. What happened to talking it through? These 2 confuse me and I’m starting to fall out of love with them.

90210 – s01ep04 – The Bubble

The bubble has burst with this one, my friends.

Yet again another sugary episode of a fairly routine show which so far has remained extremely placid as opposed to its predecessor. Yes, 90210’s fourth episode just simply doesn’t have the same thrill as the original, and the shiny is rapidly rubbing off.

It’s not that it’s a bad show, just there’s nothing which makes it rise above all the other soapy shows about rich kids. It’s even worse in this case as it had quite the hell-raiser to live up to – while the original may have started the trend of the soapiest, angsty shows known to teenagers, it also had some brilliantly whacked-out storylines, truly demoralising American teens. The OC is a better little sister to the original 90210 then this showpiece.

We have a story about the school play in an effort to bring lovable Brenda back into the picture. A story about rich snobby power kids who really have deep-seated family issues, proving how well-rounded and wholesome they really are. And problems such as Daddy is sleeping with another woman, or my brother has severe OCD. Nothing compared to good old Jackie Taylor who was a hurricane of her own power. We also have the good little Kansas girl setting her heart on our hero (who incidentally was wonderful in Supernatural, I guess it really is the show and the scrip, not the actor!), only to have it stomped so she must now go back to the mega-rich singer and captivate his heart again. Ugh. Then there’s the other Kansas boy, whacking someone’s mirror with the car (And exactly how did he manage that without getting that silver finish scraped all over the shiny red van?) So to get out of it, he gets a job at the Peach Pit (a la Brandon Walsh) to pay it off and can’t keep up with his schoolwork.

I’m sorry, but I feel like I’m watching a show for tweenies.

Where are the accidental freshman suicides, or the alcohol fuelled car accidents? Not to mention the raging bitches scheming and clawing at each other in the school corridor? The brooding rebel with a nasty motorbike and totally crazy parents who get themselves blown up? Where’s the drugs, the sex, the alcohol? Why is 90210 so PG?

It’s sugary sweet, which is why I’m happy I can get my fix of evil on Gossip Girl. Sure, they may not be as nasty as the old gang from West Beverly, but they do know how to screw each other, figuratively and literally.

Day 20 – Time is on my side, No rest for the wicked – THE END

Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve reached the end of our journey. It took me 20 days to watch 60 episodes of Supernatural, 20 days which I’ll never get back. Admittedly, it’s been fun. Particularly since I am now super dosed up on adrenalin – and I can actually see the new episode, sitting there and taunting me with the shiny. But alas, I promised myself I’d finish reviewing before watching. So if this makes no sense, that’s because I have literally just finished season 3 finale and am dying to know what happens next.

03×15

Second last episode. They didn’t string the last, last 3 episodes together like they did for the first 2 seasons, which I miss. It doesn’t actually feel like the end of the season until the last episode. That might be solely due to the beautiful song by Kansas which makes my heart rate skyrocket every time I hear it.

So the boys have finally started looking for a way to save Dean (cutting it a bit fine there with, what is it, 3 weeks to go? Although we;ve finally been given an idea of how tie flies on this show, given as there is a 3 week difference between this episode and the next one!)

I lvoe how Dean is finally starting to realise just how much crap he’s in – everyone is waiting for his trip down south to pay him back for all the torment his family has put them through. ouch.

Sam wants to cheer him up with zombies. And hell yes, they haven’t covered zombies yet! Wow 59 episodes nd no zombies? WHAT THE…?

But wait, it’s all a ploy in roder to try and entice Dean to find this Dr Benton who has found immortality by using live people for spare parts. Erm….somehow I really can’t see Dean going with that. This is the guy who refused to sacrifice one virgin to save a town of people…..yeh, he’s so not going to go for this. And yet Sam really is that desperate.

Ugh and all that maggot? You didn’t gross Dean out enough, but you definitely did to me. What’s with the maggot obsession this season? Nasty vile creatures. Bleugh.

They seperate again this episode- wow, they relly got  break this seson, didn’t they? I like how they find their own original ways of attempting to save Dean – he wants to find Bela, get the Colt back (which so far has been vastly useless on this show god knows why he wants it back) and kill the deon with it…obviously not cring the demon could within that time decide Dean is reneging on his deal and kill Sam. I don’t know show, soehoe you don’t manage to alwys explain yourself all too clerly to the viewing public. And Sam is still all about the braaaaains, wanting his brother to become a walking, talking Frankenstein. What love.

I like this new hunter, Rufus. I like his style. Why not use people to buy you good booze for information, get sloshed and almly reveal to them how awesome you are by letting slip you already know everything there is to know not just about them but everyone they know? I want to have his babies. And that’snot just because he’s hot.

And Sam is most definitely built. When the doc tied him to that table….my brain went to a totally different place. My god, how built can the boy be?

Sam has become rather stupid lately, hasn’t he? Dean keeps figuring out all the little mysteries, including here, while Sam decides to go running off after the old doc on his own on a half-cocked plan to save Dean. And he calls Dean the crazy one?

We of course find out Bela’s back story, finally and it all makes sense. I was blase about her to begin with but then when we got here and I realised she was doing it all to get herself out of the deal, and she ade that deal because of her abusive father, gah, how twisted! She’s not as evil as you think. She is the way she is because she also had a fucked up childhood, albeit fucked up in a slightly more normal way and now she’s paying the price for making a decision as an angry 14 year old. Ouch. Now that is cruel. On re-watch I have absolutely allen in love with her. You can see Dean putting the pieces together, you can see it in his eyes, the slight flash of pity and sypathy as he realises exactly why she stole the colt. And i agree with him; if she’d simply come forward earlier, the story would have gone in a totally different way and they could have tried to help her. Now, they’re all fucked.

That last scene, where she plugs the beds and realsies Dean got one over her is priceless. Seeing her cry into the phone and beg for help broke me a little, because she finally breaks down. And he won’t help her. That line, I’ll see you in hell while angry is also said with regret and acceptance. He knows he’s going to hell, and she’ll be there. Rather bittersweet line and perfectly poignant.

Heh yet again Dean figures out how to get rid of the doc once and for all..burying him alive…which I’ve seen on Heroes and also happened on Torchwood. Hmm, I think all the writers sat down during the strike for  coffee and all of them decided being buried alive would be pure torture…because why was it suddenly repeted in all these season finales?

BUT! This is where they apparently decided Lilith owns all the contracts. Now, where did this come from, when did they suddenly decide it was Lilith who owns them all? Just last episode they called it a he…and i’m rally confused. When did he become she? IS this simply their way of tying up loose ends, bringing it all together? Did Lilith acquire all these contracts from a male demon (payment of death or the ilk?) I hate it when my brain is jarred by innocuous events like this.

Ug that eye shot. Ah, it’s isgusting. nd then when the doc goes as far as getting ready to scoop the eye…thanks for totally grossing me out, show!

03×16.

MEATHOOKS!!!!!!!!!!

oh my god.

oh my god. the last episode! Which means…

Carry On, My Wayward Son….. There’ll be Peace When You Are Done….sing with me now, everyone.

IT’S THE FINALE!  Which means i’m flailing around like a seal on shore. Which means…….

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I swear to you, I still thought at this point they’d pull out a miracle cure and save Dean, like last year with Dean bringing Sam back..which is how we all got into this mess. Never did I think MEATHOOKS!

Dean’s having the hallucinations, the dreams, hering the howls…only 30 hours to go.  And that show where he’s talking to Sam is very close-range, you can see his lush freckles. Mmmmm…

Sam goes against Dean’;s wishes again but you can see just how bloody desperate he is to save his brother.  And now Ruby comes back into the game, when Sam summons her. See, she reckons she lied to Dean but not to Sam and this was her manipulative plan all along – wait until Sam was desperate enough to unleash his power. And then what? Seriously, then what? Save Dean, kill Lilith….would Ruby really leve him alone after that? I stillr eckon there was a hidden agenda, one which we won’t know about. I guess we’ll see if they bring Ruby back or not, won’t we? Maybe she piggybacks along with Dean? I wouldn’t mind!

Anyway, after she bets the shit out of both boys, Dean shows her time with Bela was spent well as he’s manged tos wipe her demon killing wife. WHich is the new Colt. Since they’ve lost the Colt. again. The pointless Colt which only came in handy for opening the gates to hell and killing ol’yellow eyes. Besides that? Pretty useless. And so they’ve now found a new weapon which can kill anything for our pretty pretty boys to use.

MEATHOOKS! GAH!

And aww…they are each other’s weaknesses….I love how Dean has finally realised how repetitive this martyrdom is getting and wants to put an end to it, so we’ve gone from Dean wanting to live to Dean preparing to die – very inconsistent this season! Maybe his little chat with Rufus last episode showed him death can’t be that bad, if the alternative is crazy old cock.

Love how Dean cans ee now the demons, hope that continues, it would be a neat little party trick..and aww…he’s becoming hell’s bitch….yes, Petra’s brain went to some very interesting places very quickly just then.

Now, it’s not the sme Lilith as last time – pparently she likes using little girls bodies. Ooh that sounded rather dirty, didn’t it?

Now,w e are getting to the good bit. Just as Sam is about to kill the 10 year old inhbited by lilith and terrorising the family, Sa stops him, because Lilith’s gone. But where is she hiding? As they lock themselves up with Ruby in a room, Dean realises it ain’t Ruby anymore, it’s Lilith. Oh my god, this is wehre it gets good. although I do wonder at which point Ruby became Lilith. I’m curious. I think it’s when they find the dad, there’s this odd glint and sharp focus on Ruby for a moment.

So, she bangs Dean on the table and Sam against the all and kate Cassidy does a brilliant job playing screwy Lilith in a grown-up’s body, all weird-like and creepy. She plays with Sam for a little while, then, after saying she doesn’t answer to puppy chow, opens the doors and the hellhounds come for Dean.

My eyes widened and all I could think was…..they’re not saving him? But…he’ll get ripped apart….where’s the rescue? Where’;s Bobby, he’ll have thought of…oh my god, oh my god!

Dean is getting ripped to shreds – blood is everywhere! (Although can someone talk to the special effects guys? Because when being ripped to shreds, blood does not squirt out in a small single straight line like that – there should have been splattering!)

Then she raises her arms to kill Sam – only she can’t. Huh. Sam IS special and he’s stopped Lilith and she can’t raise a figner against him. And then she disappears right before Sam can stab her with the oh so useless demon knife replacing the oh so useless colt.

And then, tears in his eyes, sniffling, he walks over to Dean, lying still no the floor, eyes unseeing. He cradles him in his arms because Dean is dead. DEAD. DEAN IS DEAD. they fucking did it! They Killed him! I think I was hallucinating or soemthing, because never did i believe they would actually do it!

And then?

They fucking send him to hell! He’s tied up on FUCKING MEATHOOKS! IN HELL!

This is when I became this show’s bitch and had it’s babies.

Because that finale? Fucking rocked it all.

And that’s it. Marathon over. Hope you’ve enjoyed….

tomorrow we go back to our regular viewing hours – starting with Lazarus Rising, the Season 4 premiere of SUpernatural! WOOHOO!