My Review of Dexter's 5x11: "Hop A Freighter"

Written by Karen Campbell And Scott Buck And Tim Schlattmann
Directed by John Dahl

Dexter (re Lumen): “Is this the only kind of love I’ll ever find? The kind that ends in blood.”

Okay, Dexter not to channel Jordan Chase or anything but try a little positive thinking. I’m fully convinced in the next episode that Lumen is totally going to kill Jordan and all will be right with the world – I totally believe it. On a serious note, Lumen – why didn’t you wait for back up?

I knew that Emily was basically trying to lure Lumen and Dexter into a trap when she called the former and I knew that Jordan was going to react in the manner that he did. Jordan was pretty much up shit creek and he finally snapped and got his hands dirty by bumping off poor Emily in this one.

I really felt bad for Emily because in some ways, she’s arguably more tragic than Lumen was. Jordan pretty much tore her to pieces in every way possible until she was nothing and then savagely blamed her for everything going wrong. I liked that Emily tried to protect Lumen before being killed but I guess it was too little, too late for her though.

As for Lumen, I am desperate for this show to not for the second year in a row kill off a woman that Dexter loves, so for the most part while Lumen is in Jordan’s captivity, I am going to go out on a limb and assume that she will survive the finale. Surely the writers couldn’t be that cruel to either Dexter or the viewers by killing Lumen off, right?

In terms of their relationship – are Dexter and Lumen really in love? Without knowing who she was talking about, Deb summed up their relationship in a reasonably succinct manner and the interactions between Dexter and Lumen did show the affection that has grown between the pair of them.

We saw them being pretty tactile with each other, Lumen more or less invited herself to Harrison’s birthday which Dexter seemed pleased about and there was also the knife at the flea market. Now some women would prefer diamonds but apparently a swish knife is the key to Lumen’s heart. Dexter, you old romantic.

Of course Jordan wasn’t the only obstacle to Dexter and Lumen this week but he was definitely the better one. Less interesting was Liddy upping his game this week. For me, Liddy hasn’t worked that well as a character so when he kidnapped Dexter, I was pretty irritated rather than fearful for the latter’s life.

I knew Liddy stood no actual chance of getting a confession out of Dexter and I sure as hell wasn’t all that heartbroken when Dexter killed him in self-defence. I know Liddy could be seen as innocent compared to the usual creeps that Dexter manages to do in but given that he was little more than a glory seeking snake who morally did not give a damn about Dexter and Lumen’s nightly activities, I just couldn’t feel bad about him dying.

I’m not trying to make light out of the situation but Dexter didn’t deliberately kill the guy – Liddy attacked first and Dexter defended him as best he could, whilst restrained as well. Unfortunately for Quinn though, I have a feeling that Liddy’s death is going to have more consequences for him than it will for Dexter – at least for the time being.

Speaking of Quinn, it is amazing what the last three seasons have done for him. I’ve gone from disliking him a bit to disliking him a lot to actually feeling bad for him. When he told Deb how and why he actually loved her, I genuinely believed he was telling her the truth and I think she more or less realised that he was as well, despite her anger at his betrayal.

Deb really had some wonderful moments in this episode. Her scenes with Quinn aside, I loved the little conversation that she had with Dexter about her vigilante/accomplice theory, mainly for the muted reaction from Dexter. Deb’s not wrong to want honest relationships and it’s nice that Dexter more or less admitted to Lumen that he does feel bad about constantly having to lie to his sister in his own way.

More importantly, I loved how unfazed Deb was by Jordan as well in this one. Jordan tried his best to undermine her with his self-help rubbish and Deb didn’t fall for it at all and once she found out he was Eugene Greer, it was great to see her piece everything as well as she pursued a court order to prevent Jordan from leaving the country.

Maria also came up trumps this week as well by getting the court for Deb as well. I’m glad that despite Maria’s constant attempts of justifying her actions through politics that she was able to come through for Deb. Maybe they can salvage their friendship after all.

Also in “Hop A Freighter”

Was Sonya acting a little weird during her phone conversations with Dexter? Maybe I’m just reading too much into it.

Dexter: “I’m not gonna use you as bait, it’s too dangerous.”
Lumen: “You know I can do this.”
Dexter: “Yeah, I saw you kill Alex Tilden but we have to be careful. Jordan has more than our eyes on him.”

Dexter and Lumen plotting out a strategy with Harrison’s toys was actually funnier than the cats that farts and bumps on Quinn’s computer for some reason.

Deb: “We’re all waiting for you.”
Dexter: “This doesn’t sound good.”

Deb (to Quinn, re Jordan): “He was probably a really good liar. Men have that ability sometimes. It was his fault, not hers.”

We learned that Jordan/Eugene was from Tallahassee originally and that he had a single mother. Shades of Dexter?

Dexter (re Quinn): “Care? Present tense?”
Deb: “It’s complicated, remember?”

Lumen: “You said that you didn’t want me to leave. Does that mean you want me to stay?”
Dexter: “I do.”

No Harry in this episode but the trailer for next week shows that he’s due to appear finale wise yet again.

Quinn (to Deb): “I do dumb things. I’m a dumb guy. The one thing I did right was to get you to almost like me because I really love you.”

Lumen (re Dexter): “Maybe you should let me call him.”
Jordan: “Yes brilliant because you certainly won’t tip him off in any way.”

Chronology: None specified since the events of “In The Beginning”.

What a ticking time bomb has been set off here? “Hop A Freighter” certainly has done wonders for the anticipation of the next episode but if Lumen actually dies, I will be one pissed off viewer.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

My Review of Being Human's 3x08: "The Wolf Shaped Bullet"

Written by Toby Whithouse
Directed by Daniel O’Hara

Mitchell (to George/Nina/Annie): “Thank you, all of you. You made me human.”

Wow, just bloody wow – they actually did it. They actually went and killed Mitchell and if you’ve read Toby Whithouse’s statement on the BBC blogs you’ll know that this show is coming back for a fourth year and it will be one without Mitchell. Can the show survive without him? We’ll find out in 2012.

I’m going to commend both Toby Whithouse and Aidan Turner. The former, because he’s actually did something genuinely ballsy by killing off a man character that will probably never return and the latter because it was him who suggested that Whithouse did it. Aidan Turner was a huge asset to this series and Mitchell was such a big character but for me, the character’s death made so much sense.

Given the whole atrocity of the Box Tunnel Massacre, Mitchell was on borrowed time anyways and even though Lia’s prophecy actually turned out to be a mind fuck from her, it made total sense that Mitchell would die at the hands of George but not out of revenge – out of love instead.

George had been ready to kill Mitchell when he thought Nina was a goner and when Mitchell begged George to end him, it did take a lot of convincing for George to go through it with. Even the interruption from Edgar and a new arc being put in place couldn’t deter the unavoidable – Mitchell was going to die and George was the one who staked him.

I’ve had my issues with Mitchell throughout the third season but even I cried at his death here but as upset as I am by it, there is no way in hell I’m giving this show up. This season alone has been the series at it’s best and most innovative and I am so looking forward to where it goes from here with George, Annie and Nina against Edgar and the old ones as well. Looks like a fantastic arc has been set in place.

The old ones – maybe it’s not the most innovative of names for a high vampire order but with Edgar Wyndham, they’ve got a charismatic and lethal head honcho at the top. Lee Ingleby is pretty fine casting and it’s going to be incredibly interesting to see how our trio from Honolulu Heights are going to be able to take on that lot with the limited resources and allies they have. George’s fighting words at the end were great but our trio are definitely at a disadvantage right about now.

At least with Herrick, he was just one vampire and something tells me that Edgar is not going to be as easily vanquished as Harrick was in this one. Which leads to a slight disappointment as well with this finale. I was totally expecting Herrick to die and I was definitely expecting Mitchell to do it but Herrick’s death second time round didn’t have the same punch to it than when George was ripping him to shreds.

Plus, I guess I was little miffed that Herrick didn’t get to live long enough to create even more chaos. Instead he went about trying to salvage some of Mitchell’s mess before kidnapping his progeny and George in a bid to get them to kill each other. And even then, he failed but I guess that was largely down to Tom’s welcomed interruption.

The only bits of evil that Herrick did manage to express in this episode were his utter delight in telling George about killing Nina and lamenting about having the world at his feet before Mitchell staked him good and proper. Now, much as I love Herrick, I think after this finale, it’s time to lay the character to rest like Mitchell.

As for the other plot points in this episode – am I the only one who watched this episode and didn’t care how Nina survived? I know fans like to argue about plot holes and logic gaps and so do I but I was so grateful that Nina and the baby survived, I really didn’t care because losing her and the baby on top of Mitchell would’ve been too much for me as a viewer.

Similarly I have little issue with Lia being forced into admitting that she made the whole prophecy about Mitchell up either. The girl had every right to want to get even and even her turnaround about revenge sucking made narrative sense following her conversations with Annie in this one. If it hadn’t been Lia, it would’ve been someone else that Mitchell killed.

Last but not least, Tom. I’m glad he survived this episode too and while I liked the fact that McNair left him a letter telling him to move on with his life, I really do hope that he’s a returnee for the next series. Okay, we might need another vampire for the gang (or not) but I definitely wouldn’t object to seeing more of Tom next year.

Also in “The Wolf Shaped Bullet”

Bad news male viewers, Nancy actually died in this one. I was hoping we’d see her ghost but Edgar more or less confirmed the news when he was firing all the police staff in Barry.

Annie: “Oh, Mitchell, I don’t know how to make this any clearer to you – I don’t want you to get out.”

The old ones have infiltrated the police – that makes sense but it does feel similar to Herrick’s methods as well.

Policeman: “That was me? What was I saying?”
Annie: “I don’t know.”
Policeman: “No!”
Annie: “It’s your door. It’s what happens next. I’ll come with you.”

Mitchell: “Yeah, wouldn’t expect you to understand. Your character’s always been pretty consistent.”
Herrick: “I think that was a dig.”

I’m surprised Annie wasn’t pursued by the men with sticks and ropes when she went to purgatory again. This time we saw Lia’s bedroom in it. Very girly.

Herrick: “You’ll be the villain now?”
Mitchell: “Christ, I always was.”
Herrick: “There’ll come a day when one of us will kill the other.”
Mitchell: “But it won’t be today.”

Tom (re Herrick): “He killed McNair.”
Mitchell (re George): “He’s one of your own, Tom, don’t let it happen.”

Both Lia and Edgar used rhyming to draw attention to themselves – Lia through a corpse and Edgar through a police speaker. Lia’s was more effective.

George (to Mitchell): “You don’t say my name now. You don’t even look at me now. You are not my friend. You better go, your boss is waiting.”

Annie: “I was the weapon?”
Lia: “Now she gets it.”

McNair’s name was Anthony Michael McNair and Annie mentioned Gilbert when recommending a friend to Lia. Jason Healy was also blamed for the Box 20 thanks to Edgar.

Annie: “What the hell? I was going to spend eternity in a prison cell with Mitchell, I might as well spend it with you. Besides when Nina gets here, I want her to see a friendly face.”
Lia: “Yeah, I think we’ll be great friends us three.”

Lia: “If you go then I won’t know anyone here.”
Annie: “This is not the way to make friends and influence people, trust me.”

The spin-off series, Becoming Human will air as a 50 minute special next Sunday at 9pm on BBC3.

Herrick: “Look at this world. How does it make you feel knowing that soon this will be ours?”
Mitchell: “Don’t you understand? It always was.”

George: “What you’re asking me to do -”
Mitchell: “Is heroic. George Sands saves the world.”
George: “Yeah, that was never one of my ambitions.”

The show has been officially renewed for a fourth season of eight episodes that will air in early 2012.

Mitchell: “This has to end.”
Edgar: “Sorry, you’re going to dance for me. You’re going to kill and rampage. You’re going to be my attack dog.”

George: “I’m doing this because I love you.”
Mitchell: “I know.”

Standout music: Pretty much the score music in the last ten minutes this one.

Niggles aside, I loved “The Wolf Shaped Bullet”. This season set the bar high and for me, it delivered wonderfully and while there are some who might not want to watch a fourth year without Mitchell, I however will definitely be watching.

Rating: 10 out of 10.

Skins And It's LGBT Sexuality

Five seasons in and with the finale only six days away, you have to hand it to Skins. It really has explored as many facets to sexuality for LGBT characters along with heterosexual characters in a way that a lot of it's adult counterparts have not.

Let's look at Maxxie Oliver for instance. One of the things I liked about Maxxie as a character was that we finally had a gay teen on a series without the angst. The consequence of this might have led to him either doing very little from time to time or dealing with a creepy female stalker like Sketch but as a character, he was the first of a succession of LGBT characters that this show could get right. Pairing him up with Tony Stonem briefly was more innovative than what the US version tried to replicate with his lesbian equivalent in Tea but giving him a boyfriend as the second season came to it's conclusion and the first generation left was probably good in some ways. Like no overbearing angst if it had happened earlier.

Then there's Emily Fitch and Naomi Campbell from Seasons 3 and 4 of the series. The amount of furore these girls have caused was unprecedented but once again, this show mostly got them right. Their slowly but surely relationship was a good step and while the fourth season went overkill on keeping them apart, only to hastily bring them back together was tedious, it did only serve to highlight that a gay couple can have as much clout in a series aimed for teenagers as the straight couples can too. Were people this fanatical about Thomas/Pandora or Cook/Effy/Freddie during the much praised 2nd Generation? Were they hell? Naomily wins and yes, I am embarrassed to be referring to a successful couple I liked by their shipper name. I will absolve my sins in a reasonable fashion.

However the show's most complex strand of sexuality (and it's most innovative to date) has come from Franky Fitzgerald. Here is a young girl who does not want to be labeled anything sexually. She's not gay, she's not straight and she's not bisexual but she does like people and one of those people happens to be Matty Levan. Over the last few episodes we've seen Franky fawn over the guy while Olivia 'Liv' Malone has been seething about it. In a bizarre twist of events, Franky got to kiss both Liv and Mini whilst rehearsing and performing Grace's take on Twelfth Night but while kissing Liv only ignited bittersweet angst that Matty seemed to make ten times worse, kissing Mini was something different. Mini's whole attitude towards Franky throughout this season has been more interesting than anything else concerning her. She went from virtually humiliating the poor girl in the opening episode to smiling after they had to do a kiss in this week's episode and in the finale, clips have been released of Mini being rather protective of Franky. I don't honestly know what to think with the situation between Franky/Mini. There's no actual indication that anything sexual can or will happen between them but the writers in true Skins style have definitely added another interesting layer between them and it's one that neither girl have had with any of the men they've interacted with this season. Will this show buck a trend and give a triangle between Franky, Mini and Matty or is it Matty and Franky all the way?

And then there's the issue of Matty as well. I really wish that Sebastian DeSouza who plays him hadn't let slip that the character was intended to be bisexual because right now, I'm annoyed the show is not venturing down that trope with him. It would've been better than watching him emotionally dick both Liv and Franky about the place and bisexuality is the one area the show hasn't completely explored yet, unless next season either outs Matty, Franky or Mini as definitively bisexual but either way, Glee aside, this show certainly has a more interesting and somewhat realistic-ish depiction on teen sexuality compared to it's glossier rivals. More importantly, what do fans thinks - should it be Franky/Matty, Franky/Mini or something else? I personally don't want to see the former, unless Matty stops acting like a jerk and I'm not sure about the middle to be honest. Maybe something else. Give Matty a boyfriend rather than a girlfriend. Interesting how both Glee and Skins this week pushed sexual boundaries.

My Review of Brothers And Sisters 5x08: "The Rhapsody Of The Flesh"

Written by Molly Newman
Directed by Matthew Rhys

Gabriella (to Nora): “Only Americans find an excuse to frown on pleasure. It’s crazy.”

Okay, nice to know that sometimes cultural stereotyping can go both ways on American television from time to time but as episodes, this one promised fun and I ended up feeling bored and that’s never something I want to feel when watching this one. Not one plot this week made me care or amused me and that’s worrying.

Gabriella for instance – that should’ve worked. Not only did we have a great guest actress with Sonia Braga (who I enjoyed in her Sex And The City and Alias guest spots years ago) but Gabriella finally offered some much needed back story on Luc and even that wasn’t enough to make me care anymore than I should’ve done.

Luc having issues with his mother also should’ve given him something outside of Sarah but if anything this episode unwisely decided to try and draw comparisons between Sarah and Gabriella, ones that didn’t remotely ring true either. How exactly are Sarah and Gabriella supposed to be the same?

They might be both strong women but Gabriella’s got an irresponsibility about her that would drive Sarah nuts because the latter is a more practical character. I’m actually surprised (and relieved) in a way that the episode didn’t try and set up a rivalry between Sarah and Gabriella for Luc’s affections and that’s possibly the only thing good to come out of the episode.

Gabriella took an instant liking towards Sarah and the latter repaid that by making sure that Luc would come to a dinner that Gabriella was supposed to be cooking. Heck, even when Gabriella was getting a little friendly with Karl, Sarah managed to not want to rip the woman’s weave out and both she and Nora didn’t go crazy after Justin kissing Gabriella either. Maybe I am overreacting to this episode after all.

Anyways, back to Gabriella, I actually sided with Luc here. Sure, she’s a lot of fun and while no-one can be a more awful parent than Monica from Shameless; her flighty behaviour did show the obvious signs of narcissism. I wasn’t remotely surprised when Luc admitted to Sarah that his mother had abandoned him and his father but similarly I didn’t care enough.

However one thing that surprisingly got on my goat was the off-screen argument that Luc and Gabriella were having in Nora’s as well. I don’t care how fiery their characters are supposed to be, neither of them (or was it just Gabriella?) had any right to start smashing crockery in the kitchen. For some reason, that just really pissed me off.

This episode might have been a little more original if Luc and Gabriella hadn’t made up but truthfully, it falls back to me not caring and I should care because this was finally an episode that delved more into Luc but emotionally, it left me cold. It shouldn’t have because I don’t hate him at all but I didn’t care enough. Not even the emotive ending with nearly everyone watching Gabriella’s movie ignited any emotion.

And continuing with stuff that didn’t engage me – Justin, you man whore. It’s not that I disapprove of him enjoying some casual sex but Scotty is trying to run a business and Justin screwing some of the female staff could’ve caused some major problems. Luckily Angie and Kimberley didn’t scratch each other’s eyes out but it did make Justin look like a total dolt this week.

Even the stuff with Justin and Kevin comparing penis nicknames didn’t work for me at all but one of the few things that did was the continuity to Scotty’s infidelity. It’s nice that while all is actually forgiven, the storyline itself isn’t completely forgotten. Not that I want to ever see Marcus again or for Kevin to throw the adultery in Scotty’s face anytime they have a fight but I guess I appreciated the continuity.

As for Nora and Karl, wow they didn’t wait that long for them to hook up. I knew they wouldn’t but I am not going to invest in them because I know it won’t last and that’s a shame because fawning over Gabriella aside, he’s actually a likeable guy and most of his advice is reasonably sound as well. Sometimes I wonder what has to happen for Nora to get a permanent love interest. You’d think with being an executive producer on this show, Sally Field would’ve sorted that out by now.

Also in “The Rhapsody Of The Flesh”

The title comes from a movie that Gabriella did from years ago. I actually thought it was going to be a porno because I couldn’t think of any other reason why she didn’t tell Luc about it.

Sarah: “What did you say?”
Nora: “Sarah, honey, if you’re planning on buying the station then I really think you should take an interest in it.”

Sarah buying the radio station was mentioned in this episode but we’re still in the dark on whether or not she did. And who was that other guy Nora was having issues with at the start of this episode?

Scotty: “Apparently both you Walker boys find restaurant work arousing.”
Kevin: “You know about Justin?”

Kevin: “You called your penis Captain Happy? Of all the straight clichés, I never ...”
Justin: “Oh, I don’t know. Why don’t you ask Little Big Man?”

So there you have it – Justin is Captain Happy, Kevin is Little Big Man and Tommy is Magnificent Seven. Kevin’s response to Tommy’s nickname was amusing though.

Nora: “Oh, it’s just my luck. I finally find a man I’m interested in and The Rhapsody Of The Flesh shows up.”
Sarah: “You’re interested in Dr Karl? Mom, why didn’t you tell me?”

Luc: “You could not give me a real family when I was growing up and now I’ve finally found one, you come here and tear it apart.”
Gabriella: “Luc, I came here to be with your family, not tear it apart.”

Matthew Rhys directed this episode and the episode did not feature Kitty, Saul, Holly or David. The latter two were not missed.

Luc: “At least now you understand why I have all these problems with her.”
Sarah: “Well, I understand why you’re angry with her but I don’t understand why you can’t talk to me about it.”

Standout music: Sara Bareilles “Breathe Again” at the end of the episode but the song was better used in The Vampire Diaries.

Justin (re Scotty): “Funny, I don’t think he’s gonna miss me.”
Kevin: “Well, don’t take it too badly. He fired me, so I’m gonna sue him.”

Chronology: A while since the events of “Resolved”.

On reflection, I’m standing by my original thoughts – “The Rhapsody Of The Flesh” was rubbish. I didn’t enjoy anything enough to really care and I have a feeling when I get the Season 5 DVD, this will not be an episode I’ll want to watch over again.

Rating: 5 out of 10.

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby - Glee Spoilers

What is it with teen shows and the need for the sex ed episode? More importantly, aren't these characters a little old for it too? Perhaps but it did make for an interesting episode of Glee, cheekily titled, Sexy.

Santana Lopez, what can I say? You're a humongous bitch. Your treatment towards other people is terrible, your ability to burst into tears over the least thing is erratic at best and your attempts of going all ghetto when you're clearly a privileged kid make you look silly. On the plus side, you are also the best character on this fecking show and are increasingly becoming a rather multi-layered one too. Hats off to Naya Rivera in this episode as Santana finally admitted to Brittany that she loved her, only for Brittany to refuse to dump Artie for her. Santana's comments about Artie being a "stupid boy" might have been selfish but let's face it - a) she's said way worse, b) she's not entirely wrong about Artie, much as I do like him and c) it's been nearly five months since they hooked up and I still don't buy into Brittany and Artie as a couple. They lack spark, the same kind of spark that Brittany and Santana have in spades. This episode might not have brought Brittana together in the way fans would've liked but it definitely made the right steps, though it should've been them singing Landslide together rather than Holly. And Sam's obliviousness to the extent of Brittana's closeness cannot end well for him either.

With the bisexual segment of the episode dealt with wonderfully, the gay segment is also a winner. Unlike some fans, I can actually wait a while longer for Kurt and Blaine to come together because the groundwork is being set up nicely here as it has been in the last few episodes and it's nice just to be getting to know Blaine for himself as well as a prospective love interest for Kurt. Kurt's viewpoints on sex were pretty damn believable and I liked that Blaine had gotten Burt to have the dreaded birds and the bees speech with Kurt, if only for the fact that I empathised with Kurt for having to have that conversation with his father. Much as I can see the pros of parents having that conversation with their kids (and it was definitely an awkward one for both Burt and Kurt), I think I'm actually glad I never had that conversation with my own dad. As for that duet with Kurt/Blaine - Animal, um, more please? Because again, let's face it, they are literally the Warblers at this point. Through Blaine and Holly, this episode also made some pointed comments about the need for sex education from both parents and a school system in relation to kids without being overly preachy about it as well.

However one of several things I did find worrying in this episode was the naivety of the kids when it came to sex. It was definitely stretching credibility with Brittany believing that babies came from storks (and briefly believing she was pregnant when she wasn't), given that she more or less witnessed Quinn giving birth last season and why the hell would Mercedes think cucumbers would give her AIDS? I expect that sort of stuff from Finn but not Mercedes and why did Puck and Lauren think that a sex tape would do them any favours? It's moments like this where I can understand why the series gets criticised for it's consistency problems. Neither Rachel nor Emma were as rigid about sexuality last season as they seemed to be now in their celibacy club but the main thing here - Emma's still a virgin?

I might not have liked Holly's method of getting Emma to admit to Carl that she did have feelings for Will but at this point in time, Emma really does need to sort her issues about sexuality and sex out. I'm not condemning her for being a virgin and I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with asexuality either but if the message of the episode was that Emma is saving herself for Will, then that's kind of depressing. Especially considering that Holly made a move on him after spending most of the episode giving him the brush off. As for Holly, I liked her in this episode (but that version of Do You Wanna Touch? was so inappropriate) and while she wasn't always the most constructive in her advice or had one song too many, she was a bundle of fun and this episode sure as hell benefited from that. With seven episodes left to go and two relationships that are in need of taking to the next levels, can Glee actually deliver? Here's bloody hoping.

My Review of Dexter's 5x10: "In The Beginning"

Written by Scott Reynolds
Directed by Keith Gordon

Lumen: “I wanna be the one that does this.”
Dexter: “It’s one thing to watch it, it’s another to actually do it.”
Lumen: “I know.”
Dexter: “It’ll change you.”
Lumen: “I’m already changed.”

Ain’t that the truth or what? Lumen really is changed and it’s kind of what Deb was alluding to when it comes to the victims of Jordan and his cronies. Something as traumatic as what the barrel girls were subjected to would change anyone but Deb was wrong to an extent with Lumen – she is surviving and that we have Dexter to thank for.

It was only a matter of time before Lumen actually got to kill one of her captors and despite Dexter’s warnings, it made sense that she took that next step. I had no sympathy at all for Alex Tilden and I actively cheered Lumen on for killing the bastard because once Jordan is done with, Lumen’s dark passenger will probably leave. Dexter, she’s not.

Alex definitely fell into a different category than the men that were previously killed. While Boyd was deluded into thinking that he was a saviour and Cole and Dan were both threatening and fiercely loyal to Jordan, Alex seemed more than happy to hand Jordan over if it meant that his life was going to be spared.

Perhaps Alex was right to be that treacherous to Jordan but did him no favours after Lumen actually finished him off. Now with four out of five men down, Jordan’s going to have up his game if he doesn’t want to end up as part of a slide collection because he’s clearly not grasping the concept of getting in over his head.

I loved that his attempts to threaten Dexter during the swabbing for DNA scene spectacularly backfired on him this week as well. Jordan’s used to manipulation but Dexter’s one of a few men who doesn’t fall for his seminar bullshit and Jordan did seem surprised when Dexter wouldn’t back down. Similarly I also got a kick out of seeing his attempts to get Deb to discover Dexter and Lumen at work with Alex backfiring as well. For a man who’s quite clever, Jordan’s making a lot of mistakes.

Leading to another thing – what he did actually hope to achieve by getting Emily to tell Lumen everything about her own ordeal at the hands of Jordan and his mates? Probably for Lumen and Dexter to slip up but that one has backfired on him so far. Still though, I was a little freaked out over his hold on Emily.

Given the absolute monstrous things he subjected Emily to with his friends, Jordan’s control over her was a scary sight to behold. The poor woman really seemed to hang off his every word and was desperate to please him. What was also interesting was the reveal that Jordan himself never seemed to rape Emily but only riled the others into doing it. Seemingly he must have done that with the others girls as well, including Lumen.

Getting back to Lumen, Dexter took a lot of tentative steps with her in this episode. He moved her into his apartment, he got her more involved in picking a kill room and even showed her many of his tricks of the trades. They even dressed similarly as well during their attack on Alex and that was before they slept together.

This led to the next thing – Dexter and Lumen having sex. There was no way that was not going to happen and the fact that they waited this long was actually good timing. Mainly because it felt earned and it felt logical and even though it’s likely Dexter’s relationship with Lumen won’t last after Jordan’s out of the picture, as a viewer I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can for the next two episodes.

Meanwhile in relation to the investigation side of things, can Deb get any better at her job? Again, I loved the way she just naturally kept piecing things together until she copped on that the killer for Boyd, Dan and Cole was one of the barrel girls lucky to escape and while I hoped that her suspicions of Jordan don’t die down any time soon, it just goes to show how great she actually is with her job. It’s almost enough for me to want her to arrest Jordan, even though I know that won’t happen.

Also in “In The Beginning”

Jordan Chase is really Eugene Greer and Emily was forced into taking that picture of him with Boyd, Dan, Alex and Cole.

Dexter: “They say history has a way of repeating itself but I will never put my family in danger again. Now that Jordan Chase knows that Lumen and I are on to him, I need to plan for the worst.”

I think Dexter was wise to send Harrison with Sonya to Orlando but Jordan could still easily get to him through Deb as well.

Dexter: “Congrats. Looks like your filing days are over.”
Deb: “Yeah at least until LaGuerta’s mood changes.”

Emily: “Do I look like the kind of person who knows Jordan Chase?”
Lumen: “He knows who you are.”
Emily: “How?”

There was still tension between Deb and Quinn as well as Maria and Angel in this episode.

Lumen: “I know you risk your life every day that you’re with me. You’ve been my only way through this.”
Dexter: “I guess we both met each other at the right time.”

Dexter: “People may be stronger than you think.”
Deb: “Believe me on this one, you’re wrong. There’s no way of coming back after this.”

It was actually effective but harrowing of Lumen watching her own DVD and Deb watching the other 12 DVDs of the barrel girls, especially with both scenes cutting into each other.

Liddy: “Usually it’s the boy child that ends up doing the police work, not the girl, but here you are in the geek squad.”
Dexter: “Yeah, blood spatter suited me more.”
Liddy: “You like the blood, huh?”
Dexter: “I like catching bad guys.”

Jordan (re Lumen): “You told her about Alex?”
Emily: “I told her the truth, like you said though I didn’t want to. Are you in trouble, Jordan?”

It’s interesting that both Jordan and Liddy were spying on Dexter and Lumen and both of them seemed to miss that they switched houses when they were killing Alex.

Jordan: “Thank you Dexter. I’m here for you.”
Dexter (to himself): “And soon, I’ll be there for you.”

Dexter: “But with Lumen, I’m someone different. In her eyes, I’m not a monster at all.”

Chronology: Not long since “Teenage Wasteland” and this episode did not feature Harry.

Awesome episode. “In The Beginning” continued the excellent trend of strong episodes and with only two more to go, it will be interesting to see how this is all wrapped up. Jordan Chase, you need slapping down.

Rating: 10 out of 10.

My Review of Being Human's 3x07: "Though The Heavens Fall"

Written by Toby Whithouse
Directed by Daniel O’Hara

Herrick (to Nina): “I remember every moment, so now not unreasonably, I want him to suffer but not for moments – for days, weeks, months and the best way to do that is to kill you.”

And on a list of TV characters I would like to see not die in 2011, Nina Pickering has risen to the coveted position of number 1. It’s an interchangeable list but seriously, Herrick, you evil bastard. How dare you stab the only person in that house who showed you kindness and leave them for dead? Have some standards, man!

For all the people who’ve bitching constantly bitching for the last fortnight over Nina dropping Mitchell into the cops, I hope you’re flipping happy now. The poor woman got rightly shafted for trusting Herrick and while I saw it coming a mile off, it doesn’t mean that I wanted it to happen.

I’m not gonna come out with an outlandish statement such as ‘if Nina dies, I’m done with this show’ but I really do hope that both her and the baby pull through in the next episode because even though she made a mistake with getting the authorities involved and not letting Mitchell stake Herrick, she is nowhere near the nasty, selfish, cruel person that half the insane fans online are portraying her to be.

George snapping at Nina when he realised that she inadvertently unleashed a shit storm did annoy me actually but I guess he was thinking of the bigger picture in terms of Mitchell being arrested and at threat of exposure, something which is undoubtedly going to have a big role in the finale but I really don’t want him to lose both his girlfriend and unborn child at the same time either.

Herrick’s return to menace however was undoubtedly a superb moment. Where Mitchell failed, McNair’s vigilantism succeeded and it was a shame that the latter had to die for Herrick to be restored but shit happens I suppose. I liked McNair but he was way too overconfident with his attempts to kill both Mitchell and Herrick and it backfired spectacularly for him. I can’t see Tom coping with his death particularly well either.

The one thing I will credit Herrick with is that he doesn’t do things by half measures. Killing McNair may have brought him back to himself but aside from stabbing Nina, he also managed to chomp on a load of coppers and Nancy for effect too and the sheer relish of it meant that Jason Watkins really stole the show in this episode.

However, reading some of the reactions online and even checking the cast list for the finale, I’m also beginning to wonder if there’s a possibility that Nancy might have been turned as a vampire. I mean, Cooper was so impressed with her detective skills that he tried to turn her (before Annie staked him) and I wouldn’t be surprised if Herrick saw something in her that justified turning her.

Plus, in the last two episodes Nancy had really stood out as a character. She had been clever enough to get past both Mitchell and even Nina’s deception in order to realise that Mitchell had killed those people in the Box Tunnel and her banter was always pretty damn amusing as well, especially in her scenes with Annie – and that’s despite the fact that she didn’t even know Annie had her back either.

Now, as for Annie, I really felt bad for her this week. There have been times in the season when Annie’s faith in Mitchell has been gravely misplaced and she got one hell of a nasty wake up call thanks to Nancy and Cooper. There was a part of me that would’ve preferred if Annie had pieced Mitchell’s killings together all by herself but her reactions were definitely believable though.

Annie had every right to tear into Mitchell after confronting him over the murders but like Nina, telling Mitchell to turn himself in wasn’t a good idea. Exposing the supernatural world aside, how the hell is Mitchell actually going to get out of this one at all? Unless the wolf shaped bullet prophecy is actually fulfilled, it doesn’t seem like Mitchell has a lot of options right now. Well, I suppose Herrick could maybe throw him a lifeline but that’s not likely to happen, right?

Also in “Though The Heavens Fall”

Twenty years ago, Herrick had witnessed McNair survive a cage fight with a wolf and become infected with the curse. That’s two Herrick flashbacks we’ve had in the last two weeks.

Herrick: “Tell me about yourself. Married, kids?”
McNair: “Maybe one day.”

I never thought I would say this but prior to wolfing out, Robson Green actually looked pretty damn fit. I’d still take Tom over him though.

Mitchell: “I wouldn’t have known you.”
Annie: “Play my ‘what if’ game.”
Mitchell: “I’d tear the world apart.”
Annie: “That’s the correct answer.”

Herrick: “Do you trust Mitchell?”
Nina: “If Mitchell said the sky, I’d have to go outside and check.”

Solving a season long mystery, it turned out that McNair killed Daisy and was planning to add Herrick to his tooth necklace collection before his death.

Tom (to George): “You people really do swear a lot, don’t ya? Just an observation. McNair says it suggests a limited vocabulary.”

Nancy (re Daisy): “So now you think she didn’t have anything to do with the murders?”
Mitchell: “It’s pretty unlikely, yeah.”

Okay, interesting that vampires can leave prints and very clever of Nancy with the glass as well.

Herrick: “But we’re not at war.”
Mitchell: “Oh, we are. It’s a secret war but yeah, we are. And sometimes we’ll be asked to do things that seem to be bad but they’re not. And this is very important, they’re not bad, they’re brave.”

Nancy (to Nina): “Something is going on in this house. The people in it think they can lie to me and I don’t like that.”

We found out in this episode that Nina has been pregnant for sixteen weeks instead of eight, which makes sense given that she’s showing. Or she’s really giving birth to a wolf.

McNair: “Another barbarity, fucking southerners. Let’s see if this jogs your memory. You walked unharmed from a plane crash, only now I don’t know what to do with you. Ring any bells?”

Mitchell: “How did you find out?”
Annie: “Nancy and a vampire. Does it matter? Was Daisy even involved?”

Standout music: A bloody fine selection with Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like The Wolf” and Shirley Bassey’s “History Repeating” during Herrick’s slaughter of Nancy.

Annie: “Let this happen, Mitchell, please Mitchell. Please no more killing.”

Nina: “Where are you going?”
George: “The police station. I’m going to get him out of there.”

Chronology: It has to be 2011, if Nancy kept being specific about Daisy “dying” in 1941.

What a mind fuck of an hour was this? “Though The Heavens Fall” really did up the ante and then some. I would say best episode of the series but I’m going to wait until the finale airs but either way, this definitely shocked me.

Rating: 10 out of 10.

True Blood - Season 4 Paleyfest 2011 Spoilers

With summer only a few months away, it's finally nice to have some more gossip on the upcoming fourth season of True Blood. Paleyfest 2011 saw the main cast taking to the stage and also unleashing some particularly interesting spoilers as well in relation to their characters and respective arcs this season. Spoilers including ...

- Hoyt and Jessica are still on but Deborah Ann Woll did suggest that the fairytale can't last forever.
- Arlene and Terry's baby issues will be growing exponentially throughout the season, with Terry under the impression that the evil in the child can be corrected. Arlene on the other hand is doubtful.
- Jason will still have involvement with the police but there are strong hints that his role in the Hotshot crew could become similar to his fate in the books.
- Sookie and Bill will NOT be getting back together but there is definitely going to be stuff with Alcide and Eric for Sookie to be getting on with.
- Eric is definitely getting the amnesia plot. A clip was released of him naked in the woods with no memory of himself.
- Sookie will also be different after coming back from spending time with Claudine. Both her and Jason have different genetic gifts as well in relation to the fae lineage.
- Sam may be getting a love interest this season and Tommy will also continue to be around, so he's not dead. Did anyone really think he would be?
- Another clip was released of Hoyt, Jessica and Pam dealing with protesters outside Fangtasia, following the fallout of Russell's on air attack.
- Tara will definitely be in a different place when she returns to the series as well.
- Expect to see Godric in flashbacks and maybe some Eric/Pam flashbacks too but there will definitely flashbacks with Bill and Eric.
- Gary Cole, witches, more vampires, a handful of shifters,a new werewolf, a couple of humans and a child are also being promised this season.
- Nothing was mentioned about Hallow's character. I'm guessing they're holding onto her presence in Season 4 for a little longer. Russell on the other hand, will return and he will be pissed.

Cast Interviews: http://www.spoilertv.com/2011/03/true-blood-cast-interviews-from-paley.html
More Details/Exclusive Clip: http://community.livejournal.com/trueblood_tv/760936.html#cutid1
Tweets Spoilers/Eric Clip: http://community.livejournal.com/trueblood_tv/760777.html#cutid1

Overall, this is exciting stuff. I can't wait to see Season 4 during the summer.

Doctor Who - Series 6 Latest Filming/Comic Relief 2011 - EDITED

Attention folks, awesomeness ensues.

Okay, this blog has been edited for a big ass spoiler - CYBERMATS!. I know Matt Smith is a fan of The Tomb Of The Cybermen but this is awesome. I can't believe they're back. In scenes filming, both the Doctor (liking the green tweed outfit) and Craig with a baby are doing battle with one of the nasties. So I guess Cybermen are totally in this episode then. Credit to Timeboy on Gallifreybase for the snap and filming footage linked below this blog.

Is this the end of Amy and Rory? When this picture was released, it seemed to confirm to fans that both characters were on the way out but given that the finale hasn't been shot yet, it seems premature to assume they're going. Okay, I do think that by the end of Series 6 or the 2011 Christmas special, both characters could be gone but until Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill's exits are officially announced, perhaps it's premature to think the worst just yet. Still though, it does look like Amy and Rory are having an argument or some kind of a disagreement in that picture.

And doing such a great job last season, James Corden began filming his episode this week, which is the 12th one being written by Gareth Roberts and apart from scenes with Matt Smith, it's looking likely that Craig is definitely in this episode for more than a cameo. There were also scenes with Amy and Rory in a shop and various on set tweets also mentioned something about a woman remembering her childhood. Amy? The director of this episode has also been confirmed as Steve Hughes.

Elsewhere Lynda Baron (Captain Wrack from Enlightenment, singer from The Gunfighters) has also been cast in this episode, though her role hasn't been confirmed but it's being suspected that she could be playing Craig's mother, which makes sense. Sadly, no news on whether or not the lovely Daisy Haggard will be reprising her role as Sophie in this one.

However close to home, Comic Relief 2011 will feature not one but two four minute scenes, written by Steven Moffat and featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory. The scenes called Space and Time feature the gang and two versions of Amy Pond, which will undoubtedly go down a storm with the male population, especially as Moff cheekily said that we'll see Amy flirt with herself. The scene can be seen on March 18th on BBC1 and with any luck, a new trailer for Series 6 might surface but that is not a promise, just a hope on my part. There are increasing rumours that the first two episodes of the new series will air on April 23 and 24th respectively but nothing's confirmed yet. Perhaps Thursday's issue of DWM might shed some light.

Filming Pictures 1: http://doctorwhospoilers.com/2011/

Filming Pictures 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mugim0e/sets/72157626197300272/

Cybermat Attack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUQG9aTglNg

Don't Blow Up A Cow Man

Okay, it's been a fortnight since the last jumble but here's some of the stuff, I've been watching over the last 14 days.

Glee: It's that kind of an episode. The one where everyone drinks and it's bad, right? Except not really to be honest. Sure there's plenty of commentary on the consequences of excessive drinking and the fact that Brittany's version of Tik Tok resulted in her and Santana vomiting on stage but other than that, this episode isn't as moralising as it could've been - thankfully. Bonus points awarded to the continued friendship between Will and Beiste but the whole possibly bisexuality saga between Kurt/Blaine/Rachel seemed a little tacked on. Hopefully the bisexuality arc with Brittany and Santana is better tackled in the next episode.

Desperate Housewives: Fecking hell, RTE2 - three months since the last episode? Um, I liked this one quite a lot. Bree and Keith have a great banter and it was nice that a returning Orson didn't overall damage that but I'm not sure I like the passive aggressive way in which Lynette is trying to deal with Tom and Renee though. Why not just have it out with them? Susan's kidney problems were also surprisingly effective and while I feel for Juanita, I have to admit that I do have a certain amount of sympathy for Gabby as well. She's not coping with Grace being gone all that well as buying that creepy doll displayed and perhaps Carlos should be a tad more sensitive. Better still was the ruling out of Felicia and Mike as suspects for Paul's shooter and Paul realising who exactly Beth is related to. Is it too much to hope that after a shaky start that Season 7 is finally getting it's shit together?

Secret Diary Of A Call Girl: Note to writers - Belle is not Carrie Bradshaw and this show, while liked will not have the same type of fashionista influence that Sex And The City seemingly has. That aside, I did like the fact Poppy had a realistic reaction to learn about Belle's profession and Steph's too. Unfortunately the subsequent whining and lashing out has been far less entertaining to watch. I get Poppy being furious at her mother but how can she act like a bitch to Belle in one episode and then worship the backside of Charlotte in the next one. As for Ben, he's behaving like a douche I almost wish Belle would go off with fanatical copper Harry. As for the movie stuff, a little metatextual but fun enough though. Only three episodes to go.

The Big C: Another episode of this show and I might like it more. It's definitely good stuff and Cathy's an interesting enough protaganist but I always think it could be a little better. Last week's episode where Cathy was trying to discipline her son as her estranged husband played sport was amusing though. I'll stick with it for a while longer.

Being Human US: Okay, I have to catch up with the seventh episode but the last two that I've watched were actually good if still treading UK show territory. Josh discovered the truth about Ray making him a werewolf, Bishop's plotting a vampire takeover, Danny's been exposed as Sally's killer and despite initial friction, both Josh and Nora are being drawn to each other along with Rebecca continuing her quest to sink her fangs into Aidan. The only differences here were the return of Emily and her being attacked by Marcus and Sally's interactions with a poltergeist. It's not as good as the UK series but it's definitely interesting enough though.

Skins UK: Definitely getting better. I enjoyed both Nick and Alo's episodes and while neither are classics, both of them were extremely entertaining and drew some much needed scope for both characters. Alo's episode however was the strongest because not only did it draw on his own failings (and the death of Bessie the cow), it actually forwarded stuff. Rich and Grace took their relationship to the next level, both Mini and Liv challenged Franky on her sexuality (Matty, do not pit Franky and Liv against one another) and it also had a rather nice scene or two between Mini and Alo. For a girl who's such a bitch, Mini can be surprisingly sensitive and she's becoming my favourite female character of this new set. Can't wait to see what the last two episodes give us but in terms of parents, I hated Nick and Matty's father but I could believe in Alo's parents, even if his mum was a total bitch in parts of his episode.
Skins US: I need to catch up with Michelle's episode tomorrow but I didn't mind both Stanley and Abbud's episode, no matter how similar to their UK equivalent they were. The writing is still patchy in places though and I really could've done without Tony and Tea actually sleeping with each other. Tony is now the weakest link of the kids from this show. No disrespect to James Newman but he's just really miscast for the role but given how badly this is doing in the ratings, I'm thinking a second season will be a no go.

- Ryan Devlin will be reprising his role as Seth in Brothers And Sisters later in the season but has admitted that he isn't certain if the show will be picked up for a sixth year.
- Brian Austin Green has left Desperate Housewives but Bree will be getting another love interest later in the season.
- Elizabeth Hurley has been cast as a bisexual villain for the new Wonder Woman series that's due to air on NBC.
- Shameless US has been renewed for a second season while the UK version will be going on a break for a bit.
- There are rumours that the UK version of Skins will be getting 10 episodes for it's sixth season.
- James Callis is the latest Battlestar Galactica alumni to sign up for Ron Moore's new show, 17th Precinct.

My Review of Brothers And Sisters 5x07: "Resolved"

Written by David Babcock And Gina Lucita Monreal
Directed by Michael Schultz

Kevin: “Scotty?”
Scotty: “Yeah?”
Kevin: “I love you.”
Scotty: “I love you too.”

Aww, isn’t that sweet? What? If Paige can gush about Scotty memorising rules, I can definitely do a little bit of gushing at the thought of Kevin and Scotty getting their marriage back on track, can’t I?

It can and has been argued that Kevin and Scotty getting back together after three weeks of separation can be seen as a little too easy but if it avoids having to go through several episodes of them repeating tearing each other apart, then I’m willing to take it. After all, it’s no more rushed that when Emily and Naomi finally buried the hatchet in Skins during their much longer separation.

More to the point, it finally gave Paige an episode where her presence was actually enjoyable. Instead of having yet another episode where she acted like a spoiled brat, Paige instead decided to use her debating into a vehicle of Kevin and Scotty to build bridges. Of course, Kevin was pretty resistant and for that, I cannot blame him.

I’m glad the episode ended with Kevin and Scotty got back together but only because in between the crossed words and avoiding each other did we get a moment for them to vent. Scotty finally got to say everything he needed to about his relationship with Kevin but accepted responsibility for cheating on him. Now that was pretty fair, wasn’t it?

Similarly, Kevin did eventually own up to the fact that he had been pushing Scotty aside and made the step towards forgiving Scotty. I do think that his family could’ve been a little more sensitive though – Kevin was hurting and did deserve to be angry but at the same time, I am glad that he got back with Scotty already. I have mentioned that, right?

This episode wasn’t as amazing showcase for both Matthew Rhys and Luke Macfarlane as last week’s one was but once again, Kevin and Scotty were the dominant focus and I was grateful for that. Apart from the obvious fact that Paige has clearly inherited her meddling from Nora, is it too much to ask for the writers to make the girl this interesting in every episode she appears in from now on?

Because the Kevin/Scotty stuff was the strongest segment of this week, it’s really a shame that everything else wasn’t as good. First of all, the stuff with Holly and David, I don’t mean to sound cruel but I actually didn’t care for it all that much and that’s being nice about it.

David’s not an awful character but I don’t have enough (or really any) emotional investment in him, so the bit where he was high didn’t affect me all that much. Also, it was rather easily solved with Justin not having to say a lot in order to get David to go to a meeting and sort himself out.

Similarly Holly getting her memory back should’ve been a powerful moment in the series but without Rebecca there or even some involvement from Nora; it didn’t really make much of an impact to be honest. If anything with Holly’s memory now back, perhaps it’s time that both her and David left the series. Neither of them really have a purpose on this show and it’s not like Justin’s presence is enough to sustain them as well.

Speaking of Justin, I’m not too sure about his new relationship with Annie. Don’t get me wrong, she’s actually a nice character and the flirting between the two of them was fun but I can’t help feeling that like Jack was with Kitty, Annie will end up just being a rebound girlfriend for Justin. Then again, I could be wrong. Maybe I should be.

As for the least interesting plot – Kitty vs. Sarah. Oh come on, show, you’ve done this better before and seeing the two of them hashing out their hang ups with each other was plain filler stuff and not interesting filler either. Okay, so some of it was a little funny but it’s little things like this that make me realise that the show needs a change of tack in some ways.

Another change of tack as well could be applied to Nora and Karl. I’m calling it already – this is not going to last, it never does. This show can give us Holly and David for two and a half seasons but Nora’s love interests never get past four or five episodes. I’d almost like Karl to buck the trend but I don’t see it happening.

However I did like the fact that others in the past, he pointed out that Nora needed to stop trying to fix her children’s problems. Unfortunately this is also advice that Nora will conveniently forget by next week, so technically Karl shouldn’t have bothered trying to guide Nora on that one. As for Sarah potentially buying into the radio station, now that could be an interesting storyline if handled properly.

Also in “Resolved”

Paige’s debate on detention was interesting with Kevin being for it and Scotty against it but I’m going with Scotty on this one because detention really isn’t that much of a deterrent for most kids nowadays.

Nora (to Sarah/Kitty): “Online blowout sales. Is this what your lives have been reduced to? Don’t forget about the photo shoot today.”

I actually liked the opening scene with Kitty, Sarah and Kevin doing online shopping. Oh and it meant that we actually got to see Evan again.

Kevin: “I don’t want to get into this now.”
Scotty: “Okay, when do you because I don’t know how many more times I can apologise or watch you come and go into your office completely ignoring me?”

Sarah (to Nora): “Did you really think my self esteem was so fragile that you needed to protect me from my own sister?”

Kitty thought of magnetic poetry. Okay, now there’s something I’m going to have look up again. Sarah and Kitty’s pasts being brought up were amusing, even though the latter’s seemed a little far fetched.

Nora: “I can’t picture you traumatised.”
Karl: “I can’t picture you picturing me.”

Annie: “I don’t mind you cancelling our date, I really don’t but you didn’t have to lie to me.”
Justin (re Holly/David): “Uh, Annie, I was married to their daughter.”

Annie was played by Odette Yustman, the real life wife of Dave Annable, so now we have possibly two off-screen couples playing on screen ones – Holly/David and Justin/Annie.

Scotty: “Kevin, I am here fighting for us. Can’t you see that?”
Kevin: “Yes I can but I’m scared to let you back in.”

Karl: “You don’t need a psychiatrist, Nora. You just need someone to listen to you. What you need is a friend.”

Standout music: There wasn’t really any that stood out this week for some reason.

Kevin: “Scotty, I want us to be better more than anything. Even if you wanted to, you wouldn’t have the time to look after me. Look at this place. I just wish I could prove how much I want to change because I want to keep growing with you.”
Scotty: “There is something. You can forgive me.”

Chronology: Three weeks since “An Ideal Husband” and neither Luc nor Saul were in this one.

Not as strong as the previous two episodes and apart from the Kevin/Scotty stuff, nothing else in “Resolved” was as interesting but it’s definitely a decent episode. I don’t think Kevin and Scotty’s problems are completely solved but they turned a corner in this one and that’s reason alone for the rating I’m giving it.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

My Review of Dexter's 5x09: "Teenage Wasteland"

Written by Lauren Gussis
Directed by Ernest Dickerson

Lumen (re Astor): “Share something with her. What you did when you were her age?”
Dexter: “I killed the neighbour’s dog.”
Lumen: “Well, don’t tell her that.”

Unlike some people whose comments I’ve been reading on in relation to this season, I never expected that Astor and Cody would completely disappear from Dexter’s life and after watching this episode, I’m really hoping that they don’t either.

Having a huge plot based on teen rebellion isn’t particularly the kind of thing that I want to see on this show but when it comes with Astor – at least she’s not acting like a brat for the sake of it. She has a legitimate reason to lash out at Dexter and seeing her getting wasted with pal Olivia was a good way of showing that.

I liked that Astor didn’t actually believe for a second that Lumen was just a tenant in Dexter’s house because it’s damn obvious that Lumen is beginning to mean more to Dexter than a pet project. Deb even spotted it too when she briefly met Lumen as well and their exchange was somewhat frosty as well. Not that I entirely blame Deb for not wanting to bring out the welcome mat for Lumen though.

As for Astor, she was pretty snappy with Dexter, nursing a hangover and somewhat disillusioned with Harrison as well but the subplot of her trying to help out her friend was a nice twist. Okay, so maybe it was a little obvious upon second viewing that Barry the stepdad was beating up Olivia but I thought it was a great plot regardless.

For one thing, Dexter dealt with the situation that didn’t result in Barry being added to a slide collection whilst at the same time, ensuring that Olivia no longer had to fear him. More importantly, it highlighted his own issues with Astor and by the end of the episode; it was nice that Dexter and Astor began to make some progress.

The best part about this episode as well was the use of Harry. I’ve been relieved that he’s not been in the show for the last three episodes but I liked that by helping Astor and Olivia out, Dexter earned his approval. Oh and can I heap out some praise to Lumen as well? She dealt with Astor’s hostility pretty well and it was her who had spotted that Olivia was being abused, all of which while having to deal with the fact that her existence had more or less been outed by enough people this week.

Now, who would’ve been the worst person to have realised that Lumen was around the place? It could be Deb, given that thanks to her, the barrel girls case has been re-opened but obviously it was Jordan Chase at the end of this episode. That phone conversation was suitably chilling and both Julia Stiles and Johnny Lee Miller played a blinder during it as well.

It’s also interesting that Dexter’s careful work in getting a blood sample from Jordan’s vial was the very thing that blew his cover. If Dexter’s learned anything from last year, it’s that he has to strike while the iron is hot. Jordan now knows that Dexter has interests beyond counselling and Lumen also knows that she’s basically screwed if they don’t make a move. Dexter and Lumen – get your knives at the ready.

Speaking of at the ready, I absolutely loved the fact that despite Maria throwing Deb under a bus, the latter still managed to nail a personal victory. Never put someone as dedicated to her job as Deb in filing because there’s always a chance that she’ll find a hole through a seemingly solved case. She did this week, thanks to her perceptiveness about there being more than just Boyd and Cole being responsible for those barrel girls being killed.

The better part was the fact that Maria was forced into eating some nice humble pie. Maria deserved to be sent up like that after what she did to Deb and I’m glad she had the sense to actually reopen, even if it did take some persuasion. As for the marital problems between her and Angel – I’m sure they’ll probably sort themselves out at some point if they don’t file for a quick divorce.

As for the weirdest part of the episode and yes, I can’t believe I’m actually typing this but I felt sorry for Quinn when Deb dumped him. Okay, he kind of had it coming given that he was investigating Dexter but given that he actually owned up when Deb confronted him with it (except for the Liddy parts); I felt a little bad for the bloke. That being said though, I absolutely don’t blame Deb for her response with him. Quinn fucked up big time there and she has every right to be mad with him.

However when it comes to Liddy, it’s pretty obvious that he’s a loose cannon that needs sorting out soon. Quinn might not be interested in Dexter’s antics now but I have a feeling that Liddy is going to do a little further digging of his own and coupled with Jordan in hot pursuit of Dexter and Lumen, this can’t end particularly well.

Also in “Teenage Wasteland”

To ask an obvious question – who the hell is Emily Birch and why does Jordan carry her blood in a vial? The fact that she’s alive is also rather interesting.

Jordan: “So now you know my secret, are you ready to tell me yours?”
Dexter (to himself): “Over your dead body.”

I actually thought that Jordan had said ‘Play Doh’ instead of Plato when I first watched this episode. Thank goodness mentioning Symposium helped clear that one up.

Astor (re Lumen): “Who the fuck is she?”
Dexter: “You want to try that again, Astor?”

Dexter (re Jordan): “I have a plan to get there. Lumen and I follow this blood trail and take you out.”

Interesting moment where Harrison said ‘mama’ and everyone assumed he was referring to Lumen but instead he actually meant his toy.

Barry: “Teenagers. They can make you homicidal.”
Dexter: “I know what you mean.”

Deb (re Dexter): “I didn’t know he had a tenant.”
Lumen: “I didn’t know he had a sister.”

In the trailer for the next episode, it looked like Deb might start piecing Lumen’s involvement in the barrel girls.

Dexter (to himself): “Deb knows about my partner in crime, the whole station knows that I’m seeing Jordan Chase. This is not my day.”

Barry: “What are you, man, some kind of psycho?”
Dexter: “Not today, just a concerned parent.”

It’s a pity that we didn’t get to see Cody in this one but with three episodes left, there’s still a chance he’ll reappear.

Jordan: “Hang on a second. Tell Dexter one more thing.”
Lumen: “Okay.”
Jordan: “Tell him, time is of the essence. Tick, tick, tick, that’s the sound of his life running out. Could you be sure to tell him that? Take care, Lumen.”

Chronology: I think it was referred that two months had passed since “Hello, Bandit”.

I definitely loved this one. “Teenage Wasteland” certainly pulled no punches in delivering some knockout moments while ably advancing the plot. It was around this time in Season 4 that Trinity had copped onto who Dexter was. Jordan’s done the same but here’s hoping that Lumen doesn’t suffer at his hands in the way that Rita did at Trinity’s.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

My Review of Being Human's 3x06: "Daddy Ghoul"

Written by Lisa Magee
Directed by Philip John

Nancy (re Mitchell): “You don’t think so?”
Herrick: “You wouldn’t either if you knew.”
Nancy: “Knew what?”
Herrick: “What lies beneath the surface.”

For a man who still hasn’t pieced together that he’s a vampire, there’s an almost weird reassurance of sorts that even in amnesiac form, Herrick can retain his evil manipulations brilliantly. Last week, he worked excellently on Nina and this week, the rather delightful Nancy became victim to his scheming.

If Herrick can’t remember who he is and still wants to refuse drinking blood, it’s interesting to see how determined he remains in wanting to bring Mitchell down. Nina did her bit by contacting the cops with dropping Mitchell in it about the Box Tunnel Massacre but Nancy was the only one who was interested in it.

I guess for the cops, they’ve probably endured far too many nutters giving them false leads that when even a reliable one surfaced, they’d question it and dismiss it if they don’t think it’s much cop. I’m actually glad that Nancy was suspicious and wanted to pursue her hunch in regards to Mitchell, even if she does have very little support at the station.

For Nancy, the Box Tunnel Massacre is personal and while she might not be a victim like oh say, Lia, it’s obviously that investigating the case has taken its effect on her and it was also nice that she was able to see through Mitchell even before Herrick got to her. Which then lead to another interesting thing ...

That bathroom scene between Nancy and Herrick was definitely one of the most intense scenes we had this week. Herrick spent most of this episode denying his bloodlust (apart from that bit with a bloodied tissue) and for a second, I actually thought he was going to snack on Nancy. He’s definitely getting closer to becoming the man we know him as, that’s for sure.

However the scene between Mitchell and Nancy was the most tense. Yes, I guess he was naturally going to get back his dossier from her and while I was glad that he didn’t hurt Nancy, I’m not sure what else she can do now to prove that he’s a killer. Also the fact that Nancy joked about her job being the death of her could very much become a literal thing in the next two episodes if either Herrick or Mitchell get their way. I don’t want Nancy to die – I really like her and this show could do with having a recurring, non corrupt detective around.

Speaking of Herrick and Mitchell, their dynamic in this episode was interesting. Mitchell’s desperate to get that resurrection ritual and his frustration seems to be on the increase with Herrick’s refusal to drink blood from anyone. Don’t worry Mitchell, it won’t be long before Herrick does come back to his bloodthirsty self. Only then, resurrection ritual aside, I don’t think you’ll be all that grateful for it.

As for Annie trying to play the role of investigator in the Box Tunnel Massacre – good for her, especially now that she knows Lia was one of the victims as well. Yes, it will probably ruin her relationship with Mitchell and how she sees him as a person but I want her to find out the truth because Mitchell’s continuous lying has created more harm than good and also because like George, Annie has the right to know as well. Sorry, Mitchell but this is your own doing.

In lighter storylines this week – I can’t believe George Senior got introduced into this series by faking his own death. More to the point, I can’t believe how doing something so stupid and illegal actually managed to be a good thing for the man as well as George and possibly Nina too.

For one thing, it finally got George to open to his parents about being a werewolf and while they didn’t believe him, at least George no longer has to hide from them. I’d say that was a result, almost as much as having George Senior punching obnoxious Marcus’s lights out as well when he decided to win Ruth back.

As plots go, it was definitely one of the lighter ones but it was enjoyable nonetheless. We needed a bit of a breather after the intensity of the previous two episodes and overall, it gave George/Nina something outside of Mitchell, Annie and Herrick, so overall it worked for me. Here’s hoping that George Senior and Ruth show up next series.

Also in “Daddy Ghoul”

Annie mixing WH Auden with Cheryl Cole – how do you do that? I didn’t keep a straight face during that scene.

Mitchell: “I don’t need a protégé.”
Herrick: “It isn’t always about you. Why do you think some of us live forever and some of us are like fireflies?”

The flashback to Paris 1933 with Mitchell and Herrick wasn’t one of the show’s best ones but clearly Mitchell’s refusal to make an heir is coming back to bite him now.

Annie (re George): “Did I, did I punch him?”
Mitchell: “Yeah.”
Annie: “See, this is what happens – I panic. I’m not very good with death. What was I thinking?”

George: “You’ll be fine.”
George Senior: “I wish I thought so.”
George: “You will, I promise.”

George Senior’s list of unfinished businesses included telling Linda about something she couldn’t have on the Atkins diet, watching Titanic (and misquoting it) and paying a newspaper. Good job he wasn’t actually dead then. Those would’ve been rubbish things to have resolved before having your door come up.

Nancy (to Nina): “My God that is a good cup of tea. I think I’ve shagged people for less. Do you have any biscuits?”

George: “Dad, death gives you a great sense of perspective. I’m not going to see her. I can’t ever do that.”

I did love George and Nina trying to coach the former’s dad in wooing back Ruth as well as Nina’s conversation by herself with George Senior. Wonderful little character moments there.

Nancy: “This place will be the death of me.”
Annie: “Tell me about it, Reed. Tell me about it.”

Annie (to Mitchell): “I need to help Nancy solve this case. Not just for you, for Lia too.”

Mitchell gave Nancy some half-information on Daisy’s involvement with the Box Tunnel Massacre. Does that mean Daisy will finally appear in this season?

George Senior: “At the funeral, I saw you. You looked, you looked so upset.”
Ruth: “Of course I was upset. You were my husband, George. I loved you.”
George Senior: “Loved or love?”

George: “I’m a werewolf.”
George Senior: “Now, you are taking some form of medication at the moment aren’t you George?”

Standout music: Girls Aloud’s “The Promise”, if only for George Senior’s delightfully embarrassing dancing.

Nina: “Did you dad just misquote Titanic?”
George: “Yeah, just don’t ask.”

Nancy (re dossier): “It’s a bit of a sick hobby.”
Mitchell: “So is taxidermy but it’s not illegal.”

Chronology: Only a day or something since “The Longest Day”.

Okay, “Daddy Ghoul” probably won’t be seen as one of the strongest episodes we’ve had but I actually liked that it was a bit of a lighter one. If the trailer for next week is anything to go by, things are going to get even messier for the characters anyway, so maybe this breather episode was needed.

Rating: 7 out of 10.

White Collar Discussion Lite

Every now and then, I look at some series that I don't usually gush and one of them is White Collar, a series from the USA Network that stars Matthew Bomer as Neal Caffrey, a conman that was once imprisoned and is now helping the FBI with solving various crimes each week, including an amusing partnership with slightly uptight, FBI agent, Peter Burke (Tim Dekay). Okay, so their banter isn't that disimilar from every buddy cop show/movie ever seen but it is certainly amusing to behold.

On the verge of ending it's second season, the bits and pieces from this show that I've seen have certainly interested me. The cases are usually very by the numbers stuff but there's a lot of interesting banter between Neal and Peter and the array of support characters such as Elizabeth, Mozzie and Diana certainly does make for an entertaining show. So, maybe one day, I might take this show on properly if I don't cave into my urge to review The Walking Dead properly that is. I should mention that I'm going to probably review something new at some point. Could be White Collar or it could be The Walking Dead, just not sure yet.

Season 1 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5iVTy-GuJ0
Season 2 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UazHGJY3I-s