Angrod TV

Goodbye, For Now

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:04:00 +0000

Hello fellow TV fans,

As you may have noticed, AngrodTV is no longer in production. I am leaving this blog, again, to invest my time in other projects, again. History has shown I can't leave forever so by all means this is not the end of AngrodTV. In fact, I still actively live-tweet through all my shows at https://twitter.com/#!/angrodtv Follow me there to read about and discuss your favorite shows.

I have not given up on traditional reviewing either. You can find me every Monday and Friday on PlayerAffinity.com. A "geek" culture website that is branching out its Television department. I'll be reviewing 30 Rock, Shameless, Community and The Vampire Diaries for them. So if you like any of these, be sure to check my reviews on Monday/Friday.
So hopefully, you'll still enjoy reading my opinions on different websites. Because for the foreseeable future, AngrodTV won't be continueing. I do cherish this blog and hope that one day I can free up my time to cover all your shows for you again. Until then, so long and keep your eyes inside the box!

Kind regards,
Manju Reijmer (creator of AngrodTV)

The Walking Dead - Season 2

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:17:00 +0000

Starting off the season the group of survivors from the Season 1 explosion find themselves stuck on the highway. When one of them is lost they decide to reside on a farm in the neighborhood so they can continue looking.

There you have it, that's the premise of Season 2 and it hardly gets any better than that. As far as zombie apocalypses go The Walking Dead is unique in slowing down the story so much it hardly even leaves a place. Whereas Season 1 was a road trip through zombie nation encountering several diverse groups of people trying to survive, Season 2 is about a farm with a barn and how no one should have kids ever in case zombies take over the world.

The season, however, isn't a complete waist of time. From the extra long season premiere to the extra boring season finale there are a lot of twists that keep the story interesting. But they are all solely based on your relation with the characters. As the group is a little bit smaller it's easier to establish some of the background characters and have the group be as diverse and dynamic as it could be. Most of these characters don't owe each other a thing and that's kind of a great story to build from. Especially since most of the season's slowed down storytelling comes from the idea that some of these characters could (and often should) leave but decide not to.

As far as new characters go the season offers very little. The owner of the farm, Hershel, is by far the most interesting. While he often saves the day, he's also an implied villain. Much of which is done by the talented Scott Wilson. Every other character thrown into the fold leaves room for imagination, making them disposable. The core cast pretty much stays the same though Daryl quickly becomes the season's scene stealer. Aside from him it's hard to care for any of the others. The writer's, apparently, seem to have no trouble with getting everybody shot or attacked. It allows some action in the otherwise surprisingly quiet setting of Season 2 but it also makes you not care.

The story of Season 2 just doesn't seem worth it. When slowly building up a story like the season does for six episodes, the pay-off has to be worth it. And in case of 'Pretty Much Dead Already' it certainly wasn't. The final scenes of the season offered such uninteresting and predictable twists that it felt like you were robbed of seven hours of your life. Looking back, a lot of the filler stories aren't worth watching either. They have so little to do with the zombie apocalypse you feel like you're watching just another soap opera. The penultimate 'Secrets' for instance is exactly about that, everyone has cliche secrets and it's extremely hard to keep them, since you have nothing else to do but shoot zombies and lie.

Nothing is left from the promising Season 1 as Season 2 slows down the game without making you care for characters and offering twists and cliffhangers that ultimately were all irrelevant for the story. I was never a fan of zombies since they are slow, very stupid and more hilarious than scary. The second season of The Walking Dead, unfortunately, is exactly that.

How To Make It In America - Season 2

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:35:00 +0000

The second season of the youth's guideline to success is as promising and positive as it's characters' hopes and dreams. Besides endless optimism and ambition, the show supplies a sufficient stream of drama, comedy and underground feel that makes it stand out from the crowd.

A lot of the show's power comes from the idea that this is New York like no one knows it. For those of us that only see it from our tube it's a completely fresh take on the capital of dreams and it feels edgy, raw and exciting.
As the leads Ben and Cam return from their season one trip to Japan they start the season off with the kind of idealism that much resembles that of fans who have been waiting over a year for new episodes. They firmly believe that they have got something going and they want to make it work.

Their brand, Crisp, gets off slowly but as the season progresses we're launched into the fashion- and distribution industry and all of the social politics that come along with it. If How To Make It In America is a redefinition of how New York plays a part in any film, the show's second season is the behind-the-scenes look of the fashion industry movies like 'The Devil Wears Prada' fell short of telling.

The show's feel translates perfectly to the deals that are made at the craziest parties and the double edged sword of mixing friends with business. As Ben and Cams ideas on how to handle Crisp slowly part ways their personal issues rise accordingly. Meanwhile the diverse cast of supporting characters get mixed up in original and downright wacky stories as Rachel tackles her feelings for Ben and her new job, Domingo rolls through his life without much to think of and Luis Guzman's scene-stealing Rene expands his brand just a little bit too far.

With so many people trying to make it, it's hard to not feel inspired while watching this show. As much as you can't relate to meeting two nearly identically named business partners, sleeping with your boss or arriving late to your SM gallery high and wet, How To Make It In America still tells stories that are real and genuine. Everyone has to make life changing career decisions, is or knows someone that made the wrong one and wonders if they are good enough to fulfill their dreams. Forced Entourage comparisons aside, How To's second season puts down a show that gets significantly better as story lines develop with music that gets you moving and characters that keep you watching. Regardless of your current state of being, it actually makes you want to Make It In America.

The 5 Best New Ships You Need To Board

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:27:00 +0000

In this day and age, a TV show simply doesn't matter if it's not tweeted, tumbled, facebooked (you get the picture) about. And about 90% of all that talk consists of fans fighting about which couple is the best. Some shows are even based around the mere possibility of fans arguing over who the protagonist belongs with (I'm looking at you TVD fans). So with the big slew of new shows settled in, which couples are the ones that make my heart beat faster? I'll reveal all in this list.
Let me say that I really didn't want to care about ships anymore. Writers seem too aware of their abilities and often leave fans hanging for the sake of hanging rather than the sake of romance. Yet, somehow, these news ships looked pretty enough to start caring for and several episodes later I find myself with banners and matching T-shirts watching these shows, cheering whenever these couples share a scene. I present to you: the best new couples of the fall and why you should ship them too:

Dean & Colette Pan Am

Pan Am might be flying low ratings-wise which makes it understandable if you don't want to put yourself out there for a couple that might never make it past mid-season, but Dean and Colette are the engine of your Sunday-night line up. If you haven't been watching; she was traumatized by WWII and he's the golden boy that fought his way up. Their diversity makes them likable, their chemistry makes them undeniable. Having a job where everyone is pretty, it's quite unique that these two match so well.

Snow White & James Once Upon A Time

If you don't like big blockbusters with Kristin Stewart in them you might as well tune into Once Upon A Time's re-telling of the classic fairy tale. Forget the lead and the hot sheriff, the true heart of the show can be found in one of the most epic couples in the history of storytelling. These two are obviously destined for each other, but that only makes it easier for the creators to forget about character. Luckily, Snow and James are fully fleshed and when they are not saving each other they are off sharing cute banter about how they aren't made for each other. Did I mention she calls him Charming?

Max & Johnny 2 Broke Girls

Ok, he's played by Nick Zano and this is a show that mainly feeds on girls being awesome and female empowerment so I wouldn't blame you if you thought this wasn't a couple worth investing in. Except that it kind of is. Johnny appeared out of the blue a couple of episodes ago but he's been slowly opted as Max' love interest. I don't know what makes me want this more, the idea that James can melt the fierce Max or the fact that, with a girlfriend and a lot of bad communication, the writers aren't willing to let Johnny be with Max that easily.
Charlotte & Declan Revenge

This is a story about Revenge and how the lead is torn between zzzzz, never mind what the actual story of this show is, between the lies and schemes there's some serious young love going on. He's the poor boy with a dream, she's the rich girl who's overlooked. Works like a charm. What helps is that Declan (who wins the TV award for original name) is active in pursuing Charlotte and that Charlotte isn't a pretentious snob. Between their worlds they find common ground with each other and that has worked since Shakespeare wrote something really tragic.

Nick & Jess New Girl

Let's be real. If I hadn't put the title in there you thought I was talking about Newly Weds, didn't you? No? Well, than that's just Google I guess. Either way, the much promoted (and then unsolicited-deprived-from-our-schedule) New Girl has three male roommates. Do you really think there's not one love interest there? Yes? Oh, maybe you're smarter then I thought. Or I'm just bad at guessing games. But let's face it, with Zooey's eyes and Jake's beard we're good to go. They both got their hearts broken and she's extremely weird. Could work right? Though there's a big chance this couple will take seasons to get together, their feet pointed at each other. And that means something, dammit!

Allright, so obviously those were my picks of the fall TV line-up. Which new couples have got your attention? Which ones make you swoon or are the only reason you even watch a show? Let me know in the comment section!

Grey's Anatomy S08E09 - Dark Was The Night

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:14:00 +0000

Grey's Anatomy is here again. After more than a year of healing we are here again, in that moment where everything can go wrong, where no character is safe from pain or destruction and viewers are doomed to do nothing else but sit and watch. The show is at its best in those moments. But for our emotional well being, it's probably best those moments don't come around every week.
The episode starts off pretty dark with the news that Zola won't be completing Meredith's happy family. It all happens through brief conversations so the impact is minimal, but Meredith's attitude for the remainder of the hour sticks. She did put herself out there for a child and now she's lost it. This woman knows pain.
But she isn't alone. Soon enough another woman will know pain too. Henry is going into surgery and Teddy is fixing mistakes Callie and Jackson made, so Cristina is unknowingly doing the procedure. It makes up for excellent drama as Cristina is being her indifferent self and carelessly witnesses how Henry is slipping away. The tension built there and the horror that arises when Cristina finds out is powerful. It's drama from such a strong level that it's easy to forget how often Shonda Rhimes and her team have put her characters through this. Denny DuQuette has a new buddy.
Another melo-dramatic plot expands as Alex and Meredith are sitting in an ambulance slash timebomb in the middle of the road with a dying newborn while Derek and Arizona are listening on the phone. You prepare for the worst but even that's not good enough. Of course Rhimes went there of course I find myself wondering if there really is a possibility that Alex will meet his end or that the ambulance is going to exploid. This show presents a case, prepares you for what could go wrong, gives you hope and pulls the rug right under you. You do not stand a chance.
And so another moving episode comes to a close, where characters found new issues or faced familiar ones that aren't any easier. And with winter break at our front door, viewers are just left picking up the pieces, of their TV loving self.

How I Met Your Mother S07E09 - Disaster Averted

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:23:00 +0000

How ridiculous can it get? No, I'm not going to complain about how How I Met Your Mother is past its prime because this episode had just enough ridicule. I love crazy, as long as it's so crazy that we can all laugh about it. And with bears attacking out of nowhere, you're doing just fine in my book.
This was actually one of the best episodes of the so-so season for How I Met Your Mother. Kevin remained in the background where he belonged and we were actually locked up with the gang, the way it should be.
I love hurricanes for that reason. They force the group of any show to get together and just explore the characters. However, How I Met Your Mother didn't even go that deep.
The entire episode served for comedy's sake first and everything else second. We had chases, saving children, slap bets and well, the bear just was really funny.
Also, this wasn't your standard exploration episode. In fact, the episode moved fast through the timeline, allowing for more stories, revelations and developments. Exactly what the show is good at.
Meanwhile, characters got some wonderful moments as Lily got sick of Marshall and Robin's daddy issue was addressed again.
A lot of factors worked really well in the episode. Everything was incredibly well dosed and I loved every development. Even the most cheesy, predictable one at the end of the episode. Somehow, ridiculous twists like that are forgiven as long as everything else is just as bizarre. For the first time in weeks, I'm pleased with How I Met Your Mother.

Gossip Girl S05E06 - I Am Number Nine

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:29:00 +0000

What a marvelous episode! It really had everything that makes this show so much fun to watch, including some very stupid mistakes. With a lot of characters acting like spoiled children it's a relief that there are two who make it all worth it. Chuck & Blair are, even when separated, icons of modern day television.
But let's get all the clutter out of the way first. Because there certainly was a lot of during the hour.
'I Am Number Nine' saw Dan Humphrey in the top seller list boosting his ego so high he could only hear himself. In a professional meeting about turning his book into a script, he threw a fit without even so much as consider the possibilities. I mean, a Glee version of the Upper East Side isn't the worst idea, right Rachel Berry? Luckily, his producers expected nothing less of him and it was all just a scheme to get him to drop out. Which says everything about the way things go down on this show. Our beloved characters may act like 9-year olds, but so do those who should know better.
So I really can't blame Nate for wanting to be a public couple with Elizabeth Hurley. After a lot of complaining, Nate complained some more and then decided to make his boss turned lover jealous. Because that's the only way to resolve things. Target of the day was Charlie Rhodes who had her very own agenda for kissing Nate. Meanwhile Serena put her career on the line to help an undeserving Dan. If everybody could mix business and pleasure as well as these kids, the world would be a Greek tragedy.
Thank the writers for adding some much needed delicacy to the fold. Blair was looking for bridesmaids and that saw her minions and, strangely, Charlie competing in hilarious contests. You can't make this stuff up.
But Blair had more to offer. This would be her last scheme. Her final manipulation method before she would become a princess. Though the matter was hardly a heavy one, it felt natural that Blair could give up her lifestyle so easily. She had already grown out of it, literally, baby bump and everything.
The strongest performance was that of one Ed Westwick who added solidarity and truth to his complex character of Chuck. Change doesn't happen over night but Chuck has been growing in magnificent ways. He is one of the most dynamic and complicated characters on TV and his path to redemption is a tough nut to crack. A setback was that his shrink was a weak, underserving cow who only shattered the remaining trust left in Chuck, but it didn't harm him the way it would have before. In fact, standing up in a crowd was actually a good way to deal with it. Putting his shrink out of business and his rival in the corner. Yet, this was no Gossip Girl takedown. This was Chuck opening up and explaining what was wrong. No retaliation, no schemes.
And that wasn't even the biggest treat. After the dust had settled and everyone found their place for the upcoming episodes, Chuck apologized to Blair. For everything. In a not-to-miss moment, Chuck showed his deep regret for his wrong-doings. It wasn't to get her back, it wasn't so that Chair fans and myself would form picket lines in front of the writers' office to get them together. It was so Chuck could have peace of mind. And so it ended. Seemingly the only one, Chuck grew up. He owned up for his mistakes, accepted his faults and tried to change for the better. I can't describe the feeling of recognition when Chuck admitted that he gave up when Blair never did, but it was a statement that cut through the very foundations of the show.
The episode had a lot of what we already seen before. And if the adults and bosses on the show can't do better I hardly think these characters will ever escape the drama. But some of them are growing, some of them are moving on. I can't say I have hope for Nate and Dan but Serena seems to make progress too. I love how this show is growing and growing. Even when their corner couple has separated and moved on, they remain the pillars on which the story stands. Brava.

Pan Am S01E07 - Romance Languages

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:42:00 +0000

One of the best hours of TV of the season. It's impossible to believe a show like Pan Am would have anything to offer but pretty faces and a lot of drama. How mistaken those are that can't see past those factors. Because behind the pretty faces lie incredible acting chops and an engaging way of storytelling that hasn't been opted since a show had a different kind of airline at the centre.

It's easy to make big comparisons or to scream this is brilliant television. Let's make it clear that it's not brilliant. It's just really, really good. In just one hour Pan Am offered timeless stories in clever, fast moving packages that got my heart racing and my stomach tingling. 'Romance Languages' is indeed, incredibly romantic. If you're not for the "love trumps all" message, you won't enjoy it. If you are, the hour proves to be a powerful declaration of love and an industry standard of how guest stars should be treated.
The episode mainly focused on Kate and Lauren who both tackle the difficulties of love during war and hatred. Racism is barely ever touched upon on TV these days, which is not a bad thing. I believe that the normal equality is portrayed the better it translates into society. However, it's never wrong to revisit the times that such mentality was unique. The show's timeline allows it and so, when the story hinted it would go there, I was curious as to how it would work out. No sugarcoating necessary, the writers must have thought. Don't get me wrong, Pan Am didn't turn dark and gritty but it was as honest and real as it ever could be. The character of Joe was just introduced a couple of scenes ago before he gets kicked out of Maggie's apartment. While he tries to win over Lauren, Joe suddenly is attacked for no apparent reason. It might not be poignant but it worked so well. The best thing about the affair was that the connection between Lauren and Joe wasn't obvious. Until the very moment that Lauren turned to kiss Joe, there was no real guarantee where the story would go. Having this kind of hatred and wrong doing on the backdrop, without milking it out or making it prettier than it would have been, was splendid.
Meanwhile, Kate's love for Nico was put to the test. In a classic 'it was just a job but then I fell for you' story it's hard to stand out. But Kelli Garner and Goran Visnjic owned it. I'm not easily convinced to put down my iPad while watching shows but the scene in the interrogation room did it. And I haven't picked my tablet up since then. See, that particular scene was just about clarification. But the truly powerful moment of their relationship came with the departure. Two lovers who had overcome so much stood there, restrained to show affection, talking in the same metaphorical language as they did earlier in the episode when they were just flirting, saying goodbye before flying to opposite ends of the world. I swooned out of my chair.
I'm utterly blown away by how powerful these supporting roles were written. Doomed to not last very long they lifted the story beyond the need to see the regular cast and closed in the viewers' heart within the span of minutes. Though my favorite pairing of the show, Dean and Colette, only got one scene, I was completely in love for the better part of the hour.
This is drama the way it should be. Engaging, powerful, painful but optimistic. Very, very good.

The Walking Dead S02E04 - Cherokee Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:36:00 +0000

While the predictability of the show keeps growing the entertainment value remains constant. The Walking Dead is one of those shows where the slow pace feels right.
Another episode that has some good twists but is just as crazy as it feels real. Throw an Asian in a well to a get a fat zombie out? Sure, we're up for it. Or investigate an empty house by yourself to find a girl? Very smart.
It doesn't really matter what loops this show lets its characters jump through, it makes up for some damn entertaining TV.
There's absolutely nothing believable about trying to save water for consumption after a zombie has been conserving in it but it's a twist I am willing to accept. These folk are deserted and water is needed to survive, so let's get that mother out. Too bad the fat bastard was pulled out and then broke in half. But you know, that stuff happens.
No, what makes this show work is the quiet conversations. The moments where these diverse characters get a chance to shine and show what they are made of. Whether it's resorting back to primal needs and having sex for the sake of it or confessing that those hateful slurs that were made a couple of episodes back meant absolutely nothing, these characters feel real. The best twist was when the patriarch of the house our gang is resting in confessed that they were not welcome there forever. Something that's completely understandable considering the track record this group of people has.
And then there's some soap stuff going on here too. A man offered another man up to the zombies and has to live with that guilt now, which makes up for good TV too. And the female lead of the show is pregnant, which is a storyline every show deals with at some point. Fun stuff.
While all of the crazah stuff is what makes the show addicting, I'll enjoy the true characters moments when they occur. Preferably before a zombie gets his brains blown out.

Allen Gregory S01E02 - 1 Night In Gottlieb

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:59:00 +0000

The second episode gives us exactly what you expect; more of the same, but in the case of Allen Gregory that's not necessarily a good thing.
One of the reasons I didn't feel like reviewing the first episode was because it was too focused on settling the characters. That's not a bad thing to do for a pilot but it left little room for interpretation of what the show would be about. The teaser suggested it was about this rich kid trying to fit into public school, a premise that held up so well it brought me back for a second episode. Now that the show had time to try on some new stories I'm not sure if Allen Gregory is that kind of show I hoped it would be.

I anticipated a witty, wise-crackin' lead that would comment on everything viewers would regard as normal. Allen is like that, in a way, but he's much more active than that. He pursuits the acceptation of his peers in shameful and improbable fashion which is entertaining too, just not as "smart" as I thought it would be.
My biggest issue with the show is the storyline of Allen and his principal, Miss Gottlieb. Where the awkward, weird base of such relationship was borderline funny, the show pushed it too far. '1 Night In Gottlieb' sees our protagonist spreading a rumor that he and Gottlieb made a sextape. Partly to impress the school's cool guy but also to wreck Gottlieb's marriage to Allen's shrink. Because he is, in fact, serious about getting it on with Gottlieb. Say whut?
And while the majority of the episode tried to make that story happen, the show's only real voice of reason, Julie, had to prove to her eccentric dad that her friends exist. Now, as ridiculous as it may sound, is a much more accessible story. But even then the weird Jeremy and Patrick were too big of a characters to allow any of Julie's sharp wit to come through. Not to mention that of her friends.
Julie is a solid reason to check back in next week but I wonder if the creators recognize where the stronger humor can be found. If Allen Gregory continues to tackle unlikely stories I'm not sure if it's worth the ride.

Grimm S01E01 - Pilot

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0000

The show starts with a wonderfully recognizable scene that ends quite shockingly. It sets the tone for the show perfectly. It's fantastical and full of references but it's mainly grim.
The introduction of the show's detective couple works rather against me. I hate to think in stereotypes but I can't help it. The black cop is, unfortuntely, characterless. He cracks some jokes but falls short of helping our protagonist or even believing in him. Not to say our lead is interesting. He wants to propose to his girl and has a good eye but through out the rest of the episode he remains functional opposed to actually likable.
The story these characters serve, however, is good enough. Starting with the famous Red Riding Hood tale, Grimm seems to want to tackle every story the brothers wrote and put it in a contemporary setting. And though it was very easy to choose for a child/molestor setting, it worked. But more importantly, it gave us the episode's best character. The werewolf wasn't introduced very naturally (he first attacked and later invited our lead in for a drink) but his flaws, his intention to do good and his fear of being compromised made him very interesting. I actually want to see more of him than anything else.
The main problem of Grimm is that it tried to serve the audience more than anything else. Instead of focusing on characters or explaining the plot, the show went out of its way to have fight scenes, scary faces or shocking shots in it. Most of which weren't necessary for anything. Much of why the Grimm descendants should die isn't explained, for example.
I'm not extremely interested in how the show pans out but even with a bad execution, Grimm still has one of the best concepts of any crime show out there. So I might turn back in, this week. How about you?

How I Met Your Mother S07E08 - The Slutty Pumpkin Returns

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:13:00 +0000

How I Met Your Mother is quickly becoming that show I love but can't get rid of while it shamelessly waltzes over my heart. Every. Week.

I don't know why I even bother to get invested in any of the stories this show puts in front of me. It's certainly not for the laughs that, these days, rarely occur, and not for the characters, who start to feel like they come from a Hannah Barbara show. So why hope that a descent guest star and the revisitation of an old, familiar and slightly nostalgic story would straighten things out?

As far as the last part goes, How I Met Your Mother is a solid player for nostalgia. Often it seems to be the only card this show has left to pull. So when they decided to bring back The Slutty Pumpkin, it was the perfect opportunity to score some points. But instead, they ruined it.

On one side the story was rightfully executed. There really wasn't any other way The Slutty Pumpkin could have come back into Ted's life and have that story end. She isn't the mother and she never was. So to turn the story of Ted finding her into an awkward relationship was right. But why did it have to be so damn cartoonesque?

Points have to be rewarded for revisiting the entire relationship later on. Seeing how Katie Holmes' pumpkin went through the same awkward relationship as Ted did brought back some respect to the show. The chemistry just wasn't there. But of course, for comedy sake, we had to sit through the better part of the half-hour thinking Ted was stuck with this too-flat-to-be-true character. I have to admit, seeing it from the Pumpkin's side (did she even have name?) added a must needed layer to all of it. But we still had to go through Ted being an absolute coward and raping the definition of "I love you". Again.

I absolutely hate this Ted. I have hated him a lot over the length of the show but always related to the romantic guy that just tried to find the mother of his children. Now he just keep messing up relationships, if you would call them that, with beautiful girls for the no apparent reason. And his fifteen year-old self has to come visit to get him to bone random chicks? Classic. And if hating him wasn't enough, the writers have to make him promise that the next girl will be the one. As if we can trust them.

Meanwhile Lily was in a pregnant haze or something, that was slightly funny but, again, only for the sake of being funny. But at the end she wasn't in that haze...or something. I didn't quite get it, but it was another suburbs versus city conversation. Oh, and Barney is Canadian. Because there was a chance that was funnier than when Cartman discovered he was part ginger.

Truth be told, I only still watch this show because of my roommate. But all of the characters are stuck in a story that shouldn't be told anymore. Let's meet that mother and be done with it. Because when episodes become this easy to swallow the show has lost all connection to the smart, witty version it once was.

Pan Am S1E06 - The Genuine Article

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Christina Ricci's Maggie gets her own episode, which was needed. Because sustaining her peppy hip swings for any longer would be inhuman.
Luckily 'The Genuine Article' is genuinely a character-driven episode. It reveals the moral compass that many of the characters have been lacking so far. But for once, the Pan Am crew makes the wise decisions, stick up for each other and touch upon real emotions.
It's hard for me to like any coupling on any show these days. Most of the time they are being torn apart within a few weeks, or purposely being held off so they can last more seasons. So I'm not getting to much invested in Kate and Niko. But even though Kate is basically a prude, their chemistry feels all right and with his Eastern dark background, there's something there. iLike.
The episode scored, however, most on the character of Maggie. Ricci's huge eyes and skinny figure are a presence, but that walk of hers was downright annoying. It was nice to see some backstory to it and have Maggie actually be someone who has worked her way up and certainly knows how to get things done. On top of that, she was actually pretty flawed, choosing her job over her loyalty to her co-workers. A harsh reality that is very, very true.
I liked Dean's character too. The diner was downright uncomfortable. I ship Dean and Colette more than I'm willing to admit but it's just sad to see Dean spend his time with this recurring guest who cheats on the Wolf from The 10th Kingdom. It was nice to see Dean, and some others, including Laura, make some good decisions. Ted, for example, did some good after being the bad guy all the time.
The team got a little more sincere this week but there's still a lot to be done before they step out of their soapy surroundings. Pan Am might very well be the soap opera that aims at being a guilty pleasure, but it needs to decide if it wants to be. Right now it's pending between a real drama and a soap opera and that is not a good place to reside.

How To Make It In America S02E05 - Mofongo

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:46:00 +0000

How To Make It In America comes with a refreshing episode that proves the show still has what it takes.
A unique look inside New York's scene, a twenty-something drama packed inside a clean look, a story about real people in a hipster world. This episode had all of that balanced out and it resulted in a very good half-hour of TV.

I think what saved the episode was the clear goal of the boys. They had to move on with Crisp otherwise they might not get anywhere. So Kirsten and Kristen, who formed a nice distraction in this episode, had to be taken out on the town, much like every viewer who has never really experienced New York. And while the awesome party was going on there were still matters of bromance and romance going on. The honest truth of a drunk girl who shows definite interest in a guy or the try-hard guy who can't pull of a sweater like the dude who doesn't care. It's so relatable, it's real.
Meanwhile Lake Bell's character (sorry, I forgot her name in the show) was taken on a ride. The scene of her cycling through the city went without a word but the feeling was translated smoothly to the screen. No, I'm not on any drugs, I just found the scene to be incredibly well done. Just like the story of Renee. The issue between him and his wife was little enough to know the matter would be resolved this week but the way it was done, felt honest and true to their relationship. It's also admirable that a story of sexual confusion was executed so subtle. No forced coming outs, not even a random 'caught-in-the-act' scene, just a dad picking up his girl because he wants her home.
I might be overselling the episode but I felt like it was a stand-out one. From the male genetalia in one of the earlier scenes to the transvestites later on, from characters in a cab screaming at the camera to the random, albeit predictable, ending. How To Make It In America put down a creative, down-to-earth episode that is worth recognition. Surprisingly well done.

Grey's Anatomy S08E07 - Put Me In, Coach

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 09:06:00 +0000

How awesomely character-driven was this episode, huh? I thought it was just stand-out. The fast-pace with numerous story lines kept the episode fresh while every single character had something going on. A tough concept but it worked.
Grey's Anatomy has grown a lot over the years and now it feels even more soapy than it did all those years ago. But somehow I like this version of the show. It's comfortable, cozy and most of all enjoyable. This episode had some drama but it was packed in such an enjoyable, social package that it hardly stood out. Yet it was that same underlying tone of drama that made the episode so good.

Where to start, I don't know. Because there were like a bagillion things going on. Mark was suddenly dating, Lexie suddenly cared, Derek was pissed about something though I couldn't figure out what and Hunt was just trying to piece together a soft ball game. What, with the lack of exploding ferry's the doctors had enough time to play some ball.
I liked how there was no real introduction necessary for Mark's flirt. No one thinks it's going to last and it's hardly a question how Mark got to score a date so I'm glad the writer's left that part out. Instead we got to enjoy jealous Lexie and, consequently, an angry Jackson. That last story was done in just a few shots which was so subtle it made my head hurt. It left me begging for more which will probably be given next week.
I also like how Hunt is suddenly so much more in the picture. I thought becoming Chief would make him dull but he's even more important than he was before. And Richard is more fun, which leads to me liking him for the first time in eight years.
But the best part of the episode was the Bailey/Meredith clash. I've been waiting for it to happen but I didn't think it actually would. It was terrific though. I can't wait for these two core characters to start bickering over lab mice.
But the BEST part (I'm losing my credibility, no?) of the episode was the team spirit. When Hunt was giving his speech the camera looked around and I thought 'I love each and every one of these characters, except that random dude behind Mark, does he even work at Seattle Grave?'. I think it's pretty admirable for any show to have this big of a cast, balance out stories for all of them without feeling cluttered and making your audience love them. Or maybe I'm just an easy lay, who knows.
All I want to say, wonderful episode. Loved it. Can't wait for more.

The Vampire Diaries - S03E06 Smells Like Teen Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:20:00 +0000

The show takes a step back in pace after last week's finale-like extravaganza. Not that there aren't enough twists this week to change to the story drastically...
It does kind of amaze me how Caroline tries to keep things positive every week. "Sure we lost some folk last week and one of us turned into yet another supernatural being, but all is cool 'cause we in high school" or whatever. The episode doesn't give her and her friends much time to breathe though. Stefan is coming back to school to keep an eye on Elena and Rebbekah is joining him. Looks like we're going go spend a lot of time in school this year.. Oh who am I kidding, even the teachers are seen more off campus.
About that: Alaric is trying to teach Elena some fighting skills, which, after a dead aunt, numerous attacks and a relationship with a predator, seems kind of late. But the intentions are good. Now, Elena didn't get her kung fu on but she did get some self esteem. I love it when characters have to convince themselves they are strong. But in Elena's case it kind of worked. Her message is basically that she continues to believe in the human side of Stefan. No matter how many innocent girls he forces to play Twister.
Much pressing matters arrived in the form of Tyler, who has a mysterious and rather dangerous loyalty to Klaus. Lots of story potential there. But instead we spend much of the episode in the ghost world, as Vicky tried to get back to our side. I don't know how it all worked but the end result was that even people who are on out side concerning Klaus form a threat to Elena and Matt is a wiccan now.
I didn't really care for the ghost story though it offered up some nice twists and insight to Matt. But even better was the ending with Jeremy and Anna. Bonnie who? And for the first time I'm deeply concerned for Katherine, even though she doesn't have to worry about contract negotiations or anything.
Yes, this week was all about wrapping some stuff up. But more importantly, it set some things up that we'll likely see develop in the next couple of weeks. If anything, it got me stoked for the next big episode ofThe Vampire Diaries which can't be too far away.

Revenge S01E05 - Guilt

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:22:00 +0000

In the best episode yet Revenge steps up its game. As the story unfolds, the web of lies gets some much needed clarity.
The episode opens with a shocking twist. Unfortunately it's also the episode's biggest twist which begs the question why the writers insist on giving everything away from the start. Not that it really stops the episode from being extremely addictive. For the first time, Revenge is the powerful drama it always promised to be. Besides the usual lies and infidelity, the show added murder, passion, hatred and guilt.
The episode was all about stories being exposed. Trevor's (aka the sneaky best friend of Daniel) sabotage came to light but only paired with him stirring the pot some more. Daniel realized his father's mistakes which led to him fixing some of them. His relationship with Emily also broke new ground, adding layers to how far Amanda Clarke actually is willing to go.
Somehow most of the characters acted surprisingly sincere, which carried the episode. Whether it is Victoria begging her daughter for forgiveness, or Emily looking at Jack or Lydia wanting her life back, it was all real and heartfelt. It offered some much needed insight in what these characters truly wanted, adding new dimensions to them and creating sympathy with the viewers.
I also loved how the story moved. We were given some background to the flight crash in '94, where Victoria stood in all of her relationships but more importantly, the element of installing a spy-cam in Emily's house offered some great developments. Everything worked extremely well en kept the engagement of the viewer. Add an event, power struggles and uncovered secrets to the mix and you have a new kind of Dallas. Only this one is more serialized, with deeper integrated mysteries and a very diverse set of players. I can't help but wonder where this show will go, but I'm hoping it's going go be good.

Gossip Girl S5E04 - Memoirs Of An Invisible Dan

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:19:00 +0000

No one likes to see one of the Gossip Girl leads completely destroyed more than I do and this episode delivered in every way.
I didn't think Dan's book could be this engaging but it led to some amazing revelations. Not only through some classic throwndowns but also through the eyes of the book that made a lot of fans a whole lot happier.

When we return to the beginning, Dan's story, which was a big part of the entire show, was always about being an outcast looking in. Though that obviously changed throughout the years we revisited it by this book that mocked Dan's life and much of everyone in it. It was kind of perfect to see Lonely Boy return to his roots and be the same cynic he was all those years ago. The difference, which was also one of the stronger parts of the episode, was his love interest. Way back when it always felt as if Dan and Serena were meant to be, back when I believed there was such a thing on this show. Now that very relationship was brought up again like it was some vague dream I once had.
The trick that made it work was Serena. It's easy to see her the way Dan portrayed her in his book and I think a lot of fans still see her that way, but she has changed. She has indeed grown up and owned up to all of what she has done. In the midst of all the drama it's easy to overlook that Serena is in fact an adult now, and more importantly, a three-dimensional character. Her conversation with Dan might be the first time I sincerely respected her, which only fired up my hatred for Dan. I can't feel sorry for him. He might not have ever wanted the book to be published, but he wrote it anyway. And now it's out, he can only think about how no one should complain because HE gets off worst. For real. But that wasn't even the lamest prank he pulled, no, when his ex, a girl he once loved, asks for a grown up conversation, all he thinks about is the girl he loves this week. I didn't think Dan's feelings for Blair ran this deep but him prioritizing her over Serena cleared up a lot. Kudos for Blair for pointing out exactly what his chances were. But that doesn't even come close to how Rufus reacted. It was the final nail in Dan's coffin, one I personally didn't expect.
This was also the first time I actually respected Rufus, which is a miracle on itself. The dude is so pointless his bracelets could carry more storylines than him. Anyhow, he was seriously offended and that gave him some much needed backbone. Chuck, meanwhile, continued his road of redemption by seeking help from the only person who was ever truly loyal to him: Lily. I don't know if it's because they have no legal binding whatsoever but they feel like mother and son and they're awesome. If anyone can help Chuck be the man he is destined to be, it's her. I kind of loved how he pointed out that he can't always be the villain. Wonderful television.
But not as wonderful as Nate being mad at Dan for having to share a role with Eric. Pride much? The episode was far from the best showdown of the series but it was a very welcome one. It put things into motion that are truly exciting and I can't wait for Dan to become the lonely boy he so deserves to be.

How I Met Your Mother S07E06 - Mystery vs. History

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:10:00 +0000

In what is destined to be a season-long love/hate relationship with the show, this episode provided one of the best moments yet combined with some of the more cartoonistic ones. The concept worked fantastically with Ted's dating life put in the spotlight while the rest of the gang plus therapist Kevin were painting the babyroom. This time the problems were the desocialization of dating as well as the analyzation of the group dynamic. That said, bowel movement and Canada-puns were present too.

The very best part of the episode was when Kevin finally snapped how the gang dealt with one another. Seeing all of the problems was extremely hilarious, but the real LOL came when Kevin adressed the lack of physical misbehavior and we were presented with an awesome montage of several moments of physical abuse. It was How I Met Your Mother at its best. Quick, simple, funny and with an underlining sense of nostalgy. The rest of the episode was so-so. Amber Stevens was her awesome self which fits well with the show but it does kind of suck to have to see Ted screw up yet another date just because he couldn't keep his cool. It didn't fit as well with the character as it did with the story, which points out my problem of the show forcing stories for comedy's sake. Don't even get me started on Ted's dick move of running away from a girl who used to be fat. What does THAT have to do with anything? Anyway, putting some emphasis on how mobile influenced life is nice but certainly not refreshing. It's a minor flaw of the episode considering how great the ending was that saw Marshall and Lily finding out the baby's sex through a note on a foot. Once again I'm torn whether to hate this show for filling so much time between its mysteries or to love it for making up so much fun history in the meantime. Either way, I kind of love the show regardless.

Morning Madness (10/12)

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:22:00 +0000

Just because Tuesdays don't offer a whole lot of TV (unless you're a parent, twin or Southern girl) doesn't mean nothing new-related happens. Quite the opposite, it's a morning madness per usual. But with so many news channels covering what goes down in the hills, you got to have someone to filter out the noise. Enter AngrodTV. Find all of TV's current headlines all in one place. Now you never have to miss anything ever again. Enjoy!

Behind The Scenes
AMC fearfest kicks off with the season two premiere of The Walking Dead
The beloved, decomposing zombies are back October 16th (Read more at TV By The Numbers)
The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean on how the show was saved
Such a big fan you're still reeling from the possibility of losing your yellow friends? Find out why you kept your sanity (Read it at TV Guide)
Ringer bosses preview The CW thriller
No actual spoilers just a lot of teasing (Read it at TV Line)
NBC buys Courteney Cox-David Arquette pilot Ten Years
Couple is still going strong...career wise. (Read more at TV Line)
Syfy's Being Human sets premiere date
Show returns January 16, followed by Lost Girl (Read more at The Hollywood Reporter)
NBC's Harry's Law gets order for 6 more scripts
The show might be struggling but so is the network (Read more at Deadline)

Casting
Justified casts Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson as season 3's baddies
Mags Bennett who? Gear up Timothy, it's getting busy... (Read more at Inside TV)
Rachael Harris to join New Girl
The funny girls' episodes are likely to air in 2015 (Read more at Inside TV)
Hart Of Dixie adds Dawson's Creek vet Meredith Monroe
Character might not become as dull as her previous one (Read the exclusive at TV Line)
Parenthood casts Rafi Gavron as baby daddy in season 3 episode
Remember him from Life Unexpected? Neither do I. (Read the exclusive at TV Line)

Ratings
What's TV's No. 1 show? Not Two And A Half Men anymore
Take a look at the top 10 shows of the season. Don't see much difference with last year though. (See it at Watch With Kristin)
CBS places 20 of the top 30 programs in viewers through the first three weeks, a first for any network in television history
While CBS is "winning" I believe The CW accounts for the other 10 (Read more at TV By The Numbers)
Two And A Half Men is the night's #1 broadcast in key demos
Kutcher man enough to keep the show's good ratings steady (Read more at TV By The Numbers)
ABC's Castle is the most-watched scripted series at 10pm, topping CBS' Hawaii Five-O for the 4th consecutive week
Anyone remember when this show was on the bubble? No? Anyone care? (Read more at TV By The Numbers)
Monday night final ratings: Terra Nova, House unscrambled, Mother, Sing-Off, Broke Girls, 2.5 Men, Hawaii 5-0 adjusted up, Castle, Mike & Molly adjusted down (Read more at TV By The Numbers)

Interviews & Specials
Bryan Cranston discusses Breaking Bad season 4 finale, Batman: Year One role
Apparently those are the exact same thing (Read it at TV Line)
James Roday and Dule Hill preview Psych season 6
Is that show still on? (Read it at The TV Addict)

Gossip Girl S05E03 - Jewel Of Denial

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:43:00 +0000

The season heats up as story lines are picking up pace and characters actually become likable.

By the end of the episode I found myself respecting each and every main character at the same time, which, I don't think, has happened before. Serena showed the nice girl she always pretends to be in fixing "Charlie" up with the fairy tale dress as well as making her feel right at home. Dan actually steered both Chuck and Blair in the right direction while Nate stood up for himself. Look how these kids are growing..

I find myself loving the "Charlie" storyline more and more as we progress. At first I was very careful with the promotion from Kaylee DeFer to series regular. With "Charlie" basically being abandoned from the Upper East Side, her mother being done with the family and Ivy being done with playing, I literally didn't think the story had anywhere to go. As if anything is as final as that. Within a few minutes all of Charlie's doings are forgiven, Carol jumps back in the city as if she has a giant trampoline and nobody seems to even care where the real Charlie is. I thoroughly enjoyed "Charlie" getting her scheme on (inspired by the queen of scheming herself) and letting herself stay. Her motives were sincere and understandable and by seeing her personal struggle so far, I was all aboard. Even more did I love Carol's quick adaptation to the situation by simply wishing her fake daughter good luck. But the story was already coming a head with Nate discovering the name, and nothing but the name, of one Ivy. (Hopefully forcing me to get rid of the "quotation marks.")

A far more pressing matter could be found in Blair's baby issues. Though it's such a standard mystery it could easily be disposed of, the result very well impacts the future of the show. Even Upper East Siders can't deny to bond a baby brings along… (Actually they can, does anybody remember Blair's half sister? Is Vanya even alive anymore?) I honestly didn't think the writers would take this path but now they have I guess one group of shippers have to face possibility of never getting their happy ending. Gossip Girl truly is a Greek tragedy of modern times.

Far less tragic was Dan! What a hero spending his hours forcing Blair to face her future and buying Chuck a…puppy! No for real, that doggy rocks the world. I want him to have own story lines involving ducks at Central Park and biting Dan's ear off. But never mind the wonderful scenes in which Dan was pushed on the floor (yay!) or when he was called out on his cowardly ways (double yay!), no the real kicker of the episode had absolutely nothing to do with Lonely Boy. It centered on a lonely boy holding his dog finally feeling something. Damn, that scene worked. Westwick was painfully cold yet unmistakingly tourchered.

Another terrific episode that promises so much drama I can't even begin to remember what I was talking about. Oh well, see you next week!

2 Broke Girls S01E04 - And The Rich People Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:41:00 +0000

The one where they became friends.

After three episodes of pointing out exactly how different from each other and how poor Max and Caroline are, the two find common ground as Max reveals to be quite the diva too, if she gets the tools.

One of the worst parts about the episode was the over-exagguration of a scene in which the girls tried to find a cheap dentist. With bulletholes and a guy only screaming out of agony when no one was talking the scene itself felt as cheap as it was supposed to portray. It was almost as if we walked onto the set of a '90s sitcom and we had to witness the death of comedy. I could've tuned out right then and there but I'm awfully glad I didn't.

Because what came afterwards was some actual sincerity. Not only was it good to see where Caroline came from but it was also fun to see the roles being switched around. Suddenly Max was in a place where she wasn't comfortable in or familiar with and she had to adapt. I might be reading too much into the story but I thought it was quite nice to see the two actually did have stuff in common.

It might just be the part of me that has a weakness for grown ups dancing around like they are twelve but the scene, as sweet as it was, worked for me. What worked even better for me was that Max actually showed some respect for Caroline and that the girls crossed some nice boundaries to make up for the fact that they actually are poor. "Show don't tell" right? You can have characters proclaim that they are poor all you want but without the desperate actions to go along with it, I'm not buying it.

But here you have it, I bought it and I'm cool with it. Can't wait for the 2 Broke Girls to become even better friends.

Morning Madness (10/11)

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:00:00 +0000

A wonderful day to you! While you get in your gear for another day in paradise, I'll collect all the TV news you may have missed while you were hatin' on Monday. From some Games Of Thrones scoop to sad New Girl news and some entertaining casting news, Monday was quite eventful.

Behind The Scenes

FOX tables original New Girl on Tuesday, October 18 too

Our reward for loving New Girl instantly? Having to wait for the remainder of the month for new episodes. (Read more at The Futon Critic)

Game Of Thrones season 2 slated for April, 2012 premiere

Where the show will go without one of its key players? Don't know, but it'll involve a lot of nudity, violence and Carice van Houten (Read more at TVOvermind)

Showtime developing drama series about little-known LGBT subculture with Merritt Johnson & Lee Daniels

No lettuce, gravy, bacon and tomato included. (Read more at Deadline)

Casting

Dean Cain, Kevin Sorbo head to Apartment 23

It's the ultimate clash! Hercules vs Superman vs. Dawson. Except that it's not. At all. (Read more at TV Guide)

Games Of Thrones casts wild beauty Ygritte

The integral role of the upcoming season is filled by Downtown Abbey's Rose Leslie (Read more at Inside TV)

Scoop: Once Upon A Time bewitched by Buffy alum Emma Caulfield

She'll play a wicked witch that eats children. Just so you're prepared. (Read more at TV Line)

Ratings

AMC's Breaking Bad breaks record by growing more than any other season 4 drama in basic cable history for 18-49

Hey, it's not the biggest record but it is a record nonetheless… (Read more at TV By The Numbers)

Desperate Housewives ties ratings low: fans explain why

Because it's quite unimaginable why people wouldn't want to watch 60-year olds anymore. (Read more at AOL TV)

How I Met Your Mother S07E05 - Field Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:53:00 +0000

Perhaps it's because it's early and my head just isn't there yet but a lot of this week's stories didn't appear to reach their full potential.

The main story of the week revolved around Ted trying to inspire a group of fresh college students. It saw him taking twenty-something interchangable figurants to various places, including the bar and to various settings, including letting them decide on various disagreements between Ted and Barney.

A fun concept that begged for some adventures that never came. Why not let them get lost in the city? Or meet up with some old characters? Or buildings that Ted wanted to make or actually made? It just felt like the group represented the audience, going various place without really wanting to be there.
An even worse executed story is that of Marshall trying to save the world. Literally. The story was about saving the planet and the prospect of everything dying anyway. I didn't understand half of what was being said but in the very basics, Marshall probably did the right thing. Without cursing.

A different story sees Robin and her therapist getting closer. I'm all for giving Robin some distraction from that guy that left for Japan or, even worse, Barney, but there was zero chemistry here. Of course the How I Met Your Mother creators know how to pitch a couple. So you're definitely charmed when Robin and the therapist meet up for seven days to have casual breakfast. But on a show that thrives on telling long lasting stories (is Barney ever getting married?) we're not really in for one-episode pairings, regardless of how awkward and fun they might be.
The tone of the season is definitely not about progression. Instead it feels like we're filling up time where a whole lot of nothing happens. Some of the stories are still fun but the matters that are waiting to come out are pressing on the comedy side of things. Meanwhile, every character is just waiting for his or hers story to come full circle. In the least attractive manner thinkable (let's not get started on Barney actually doubting his feelings because of a 'Star Wars' formula).

Desperate Housewives S08E03 - Watch While I Revise The World

noreply@blogger.com (Manju) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:26:00 +0000

After all those years, you have to wonder...how did this not happen before?

Carlos and Susan have been around since day one and in the very basics, they aren't a wrong TV couple, so it was only a matter of time before that storyline reached the surface. And now it has, I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

If a show goes on for a lot of years it's always fun to play around with the dynamics of your core group. Finding that two of them haven't exactly interacted a lot opens up new possibilities, which is what I love about this pairing. Now, I don't think anyone is looking forward to see Susan and Carlos hook-up, but I am enjoying the tension that is building up. The best thing about the story is that is moves as quickly as it can. When the two found each other last week the prospects were very clear. All the more surprising that they were visited the following week but without feeling rushed. In the scheme of things, it's only natural that Carlos and Susan find each other and connect. It is also a wonderful way to include Mike in everything that is going on.
Meanwhile a lot less natural progressions went on with Bree who was faced with the possibility of her boyfriend being her stalker. Because that sort of thing happens to Bree. It's not that I didn't enjoy the clumsy mission of Bree and Gaby, it's just that it felt forced. Of course Chuck wanted to propose, of course was everything blown out of proportion and of course did it end with a semi-underlaying message that all of it was a big mistake. The plot felt anything but subtle and didn't exactly move the bigger story forward which is the only way anything should go. I do wonder how Chuck will fit into the future and what on earth Bree is going to next since her only connection to the case, just walked out of her life.
More sincere stories could be found a couple of doors down. Lynette's relationship with her sister wasn't exactly interesting to watch but her realization of her biggest flaws was priceless. For so many years we watched her make mistakes and thinking she was right (often only to realize for a few seconds that she wasn't) but now it finally dawned to her that it affected her relationships. It felt rewarding to have her say it and wanting to deal with it. I'm looking forward to her changing and, hopefully, being the woman Tom deserves.
Lastly, the story of Lee and Renee was genuinely touching. The daughter, whatever her name is, actually acted like a daughter and the obvious points of the story were pointed out on unexpected moments but with descent sincerity. It was simple, effective and touching. Score!